While we do not have many apparent season changes here in New Orleans, there is always a new sentiment in the air as the year comes to a close. Perhaps it is the distant sound of music as Jazz Fest approaches, the distinct smell of crawfish, or the crisp feeling of diplomas and final grades. Whatever it may be, as April and May approach the seasons shift into an array of goodbyes, reflections, and next chapters. Here at The Crescent Magazine, our goodbyes are marked by the consistent and passionate hard work of our staff, with talents stemming from a variety of fields that all ensured our publication met both quality standards and a greater audience. These values gracefully lead our publication to achieve our goals beyond prediction.
Most importantly, we reached a record number of monthly article output, with topics from all 6 sections sparking discussion, new ideas, and adventures around New Orleans. In our Fashion and Beauty section Olivia Marujo’s “The Intersection of Fashion and Self-Care” dove into two things many of us love: beauty and rest! In The Common Ground section, Amelia Hechts’ “The Courage to Disagree” was a powerful piece within a world of stark polarization. In our Entertainment section Patricia Gomez’s “Lights, Camera, Action for the Planet: Movies that Matter for the Environment” presented environmentally conscious entertainment in honor of Green Week. Nola 360 produced “Exploring Historic Shops in the French Quarter” by Grace Wood. Sex and the Crescent City combined music with dating in “And Just Like That…the Bare Minimum Is a Massive Turn-on” by Evelyn Young, and last but not least College Life depicted the environmental implication of student trends in Ella Cecil’s “What’s With All The Wigs?!”
Not only did our magazine produce incredible articles from a multitude of influential topics, but our meetings hosted multiple guest speakers, all proud alumni of The Crescent Magazine with flourishing careers in journalism, content creation, and fashion, who spoke to our members. Our guest speakers included Max Cohen (TikTok), Jordana Comiter (People Magazine), and Sophie Cohen (Fashion). Their advice, both lighthearted and impactful, guided our members who aim to harness their creativity throughout their post graduate journey.
Lastly, The Crescent Magazine was able to collaborate with other recognized student organizations throughout the year, and spread our organization’s values and passions through multiple outlets. With TU Fashion, we hosted a photoshoot at the infamous Trumpet and Drum Coffee House that aimed to showcase student creativity through academia. Both clubs wrote articles using images from the photoshoot, including my article, “One Word at a Time: The Power of Student Creativity.”
With Epsilon Eta, Tulane’s Environmental Pre Professional fraternity, we hosted a week in October called Green Week. Members from The Crescent Magazine and Epsilon Eta were encouraged to write an article advocating for the Environment, and I published 2-3 articles a day on The Crescent’s website. Additionally, we hosted a Halloween clothing sale, with the proceeds donated to The Water Collaborative of New Orleans. Lastly, we hosted an event at the end of the week to celebrate both organizations’ commitment to environmental journalism and advocacy. Watching Green Week come into fruition represented the idea that through change comes possibility. Our members were able to use their voices to advocate for environmental awareness through creativity, including poetry and personal narratives. By doing so, we provided students with a platform to foster change, promote community growth while inspiring perspective shifts.
Having the opportunity to foster growth within The Crescent Magazine this academic year and watch our magazine flourish has been an honor. While the seasons may not fully change in New Orleans, I look forward to watching The Crescent move through each one, continuing to evolve through its roots: student voices.
About Aviva Blumenthal
Aviva is the Editor-in-Chief of The Crescent Magazine. She is currently a senior, double majoring in English and French, with a minor in Psychology on the pre-law track. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, reading, hot yoga, and spending time with friends exploring New Orleans.
Aviva is the Editor-in-Chief of The Crescent Magazine. She is currently a senior, double majoring in English and French, with a minor in Psychology on the pre-law track. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, reading, hot yoga, and spending time with friends exploring New Orleans.
