About City on a Hill Press
City on a Hill Press is produced by and for UCSC students. Our primary goal is to report and analyze issues affecting the student population and the Santa Cruz community.
We also serve to watchdog the politics of the UC administration. The City on a Hill Press (CHP) collective is dedicated to covering underreported events, ideas and voices. Our desks are devoted to certain topics: campus and city news, sports, arts and entertainment, community and culture. CHP is a campus paper, but it also provides space for Santa Cruz residents to present their views and interact with the campus community. Ideally, CHP’s work will serve as an arena for debate, challenge, and ultimately, change.
CHP is published weekly in the fall, winter and spring quarters by the City on a Hill Press publishing group, except during academic breaks.
The opinions expressed in work produced by City on a Hill Press do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff at large, or the University of California.
Our Staff
Michael Mott, co-Editor in Chief: CHP is a very special part of my college years here at UCSC. In this, I hope to help CHP tell the stories that matter to our audience, as well as to connect our readership with the many great communities of UCSC and Santa Cruz County.
Mikaela Todd, co-Editor in Chief: I am excited to continue working with CHP because it has helped me grow as a reporter, writer and person. This quarter, I hope to help CHP become an even more respected institution at UC Santa Cruz, and in the general Santa Cruz area.
Eli Wolfe, Managing Editor: I am a fourth-year history major and Managing Editor. I’ll write about anything and everything if given the chance.
Rachel Singer, Copy Chief: They call me a copy poppy because I have a knack for grammar and a good sense of style, AP style that is.
Sierra Norsell, Copy Editor: I’m a fourth-year English Literature and Language student who is in love with grammar and syntax! I enjoy long and meaningful talks over coffee, copy editing the stuffing out of my writing, and going dancing on Friday nights. I’m dedicated to providing a clear and concise newspaper for the wonderful students at UCSC!
Lauren Schwahn, Fact Checker: I am a fourth-year History major who is excited to be working at City on a Hill. I am looking forward to doing the research necessary to ensure that every element of the paper is accurate and consistent.
Jayden Norris, Production Manager: I have been of the mindset that accurate and informative journalism is the most important aspect of a fair society since the 2008 Presidential Election and I am enjoying the opportunity to help put together the paper and spread the written word. I joined CHP to be a part of an organization that raises awareness of current events.
Gabby Areas, Production Designer: I am a second year sociology major and have loved being a part of City on a Hill Press. I’m excited to be a part of production and look forward to another great quarter. I love peaches, football, and having fun!
Samved Sangameswara, Production Designer
Ian Evans, Campus Editor: I can’t wait to write about science for CHP.
Jacob Teal, Campus Editor: I am thrilled to be working at CHP, where I hope to share important news with the UCSC community. I joined CHP to improve my writing, engage with my peers in a professional setting, as well as to explore the world that surrounds us, at UCSC and beyond.
Christina Asadourian, Campus Reporter: I am really excited to contribute to the campus desk and become a part of the team.
Abigail Jennings, Campus Reporter: I feel so privileged to be apart of CHP. I have wanted to join the paper for a long time, and now that I finally am I cannot imagine another quarter not being on it. I hope to have a career in journalism so I look forward to bringing the news to my peers as a campus reporter!
Monica Thunder, Campus Reporter
Chris van der Westhuyzen, Campus Reporter: I’m an exchange student from South Africa, and am really stoked to be working with CHP during my visit to UCSC. Hopefully I will learn some useful journo skills to take home!
David Orozco, City Editor: I am a double major in philosophy and politics. I am interested in publishing work that incites thinking and invites healthy debate. I am excited to work with City on a Hill Press to both inform the public and report on issues surrounding the world we live in.
Eli Wolfe, City Editor: I am a fourth-year history major and co-editor for the City desk. I’ll write about anything and everything if given the chance.
Ryan Boysen, City Reporter: I joined CHP because I’d like to be a journalist some day, and so far I’ve found the experience nothing if not tubular. As far as journalism goes, I’m particularly down for the Economist, the BBC Newshour, and Bethany McClean, as well as anything and everything that Michael Lewis has ever done. I also enjoy listening to Cumbia and Baile Funk. Ordem y progresso, Michael Lewis is the man.
Kayla Sikes, City Reporter: I’m a third-year transfer student majoring in History, and this is my first quarter at CHP. I’m excited to learn more about the city I live in, and to connect the UCSC campus with the larger Santa Cruz community.
Ardy Raghian, City Reporter
Jon Vorpe, City Reporter: I’m thoroughly excited to be working with the one and only CHP. I like assigned reading, the occasional peperoncini, how UCSC’s hills look at night, Paul Thomas Anderson, and overly sentimental 90s bands. In the eternal words of David Bowie, “We could be heroes / just for one day.
Mark Rad, Sports Editor: I am excited to be City on A Hill’s sports editor. I’m a third year politics major, starting my fourth quarter at City on A Hill. Also, I love dogs.
Eliad Becker, Sports Reporter
Anne-Marie Harrison, Arts and Entertainment Editor: My name is Anne-Marie Harrison and I am the editor for the Arts & Entertainment Desk. Joining CHP has been one of the biggest moves of my university career. Working for a newspaper opens up so many new opportunities to engage in the community. I hope to continue as a journalist in the future because it is the only field in which you can touch upon so many diverse subjects and engage with so many unique people. I recently made the change to a middle-part and it has changed my life.
Cassandra Cronin, Arts and Entertainment Reporter
Lauren Romero, Arts and Entertainment Reporter: Sugar, spice, and everything informative. A second-year part-time legal studies major and a full-time media & communication enthusiast.
April Stearns, Arts and Entertainment Reporter: I am a third-year Literature major with a minor in Film. This my first quarter working with CHP and I am thrilled to be a new reporter for Arts and Entertainment. I am excited to be part of this team!
Jesseca Simmons, Videographer: My name is Jesseca Simmons. I’m a third year Politics Student who is very passionate about film. As the CHP’s Videographer I hope to contribute stimulating visuals to the already amazing content. I am excited about being a part of such an important organization that is dedicated to seeking the truth. In my free time I volunteer at Jacob’s Heart and watch documentaries.
Christine Hipp, Illustration Editor: I like art, so the whole “illustrator” thing is pretty great for me.
Sal Ingram, Photo Editor: I am a third-year from Sonoma County, CA, majoring in photojournalism. I hope to draw readers into our publication by creating strong visual content to work together with our stories. Thank you for reading City on a Hill Press!
Leigh Douglas, Illustrator: I’m Leigh Douglas – a Scorpio with somewhat of a god-complex. Having said that, I love illustrating for CHP and feel honored to have been given the opportunity to work with all the talented people on staff! You guys make the world go round!
Maren Slobody, Illustrator: Hopefully I add at least a thousand significant and meaningful words to each article I illustrate, without taking anything too seriously.
Jessica Tran, Photographer: I’m a third-year Art major. This is my first quarter with CHP, and I’m really excited to photograph for something bigger than myself! When I’m not busy making art projects, I spend my time at the UCSC Costume Shop, where I make & design costumes for the UCSC Theatre Arts Productions.Daniel Green, Photographer
Tommy Palmer, Business Manager
Amanda Botfeld, Advertising Sales Representative