Invasion of Privacy: Managing editor Ella Pearcy
Photo courtesy of Ella Pearcy
Over the past semester, The Lamron has been lucky enough to fall under the leadership of current managing editor, senior English (creative writing) major Ella Pearcy, who will graduate in December. Those who know Pearcy know that she is both stringent and silly; she assembles weekly meeting notes chalk-full of emojis and sidebars, while also effectively keeping our executive board on-track and on-time. I’ve been friends with Pearcy since our freshman year, and adored speaking with her for this Invasion of Privacy about how she has grown into such a brilliant writer, editor, friend, and human throughout her undergraduate career.
While Pearcy is now well-versed in the careful art of Lamron editing, she discussed the hasty set of circumstances that thrust her into an e-board position, including a feat that all Lamron members will know is extremely impressive—learning InDesign for the first time in just one night: “I was an assistant copy editor for the opinion section,” she said. “[Then] randomly at like 6 p.m. one night, [our managing editor] texted me and it was super last minute. [They said] can you come in not only and edit, but also do the InDesign, and I said yes. And so I learned InDesign that night, and I started being the Knights Life editor.”
For Pearcy, sudden engagement in such a high level of responsibility—writing, attending meetings, making budgets, and editing five articles each week—presented an opportunity not only to improve their editorial skills, but also to engage in passion projects. Their revival of the section’s informational sex and relationship column, G-Spot, was recalled with particular fondness:
“I brought back G-spot, which I'm not currently writing, so it’s taking a bit of a hiatus, but I got to talk about something that was really important to me,” they said. “Sexual and reproductive health is such a prevalent for college kids… it’s important to [be] able to talk about our bodies and sex and all that, and also just knowing that the campus has resources like STD testing… it felt very important for the student body.
”When asked about a more recent Lamron-related accomplishment, Pearcy noted her development as a leader, and her position’s engagement with the wide variety of writing put out each week: “I was so grateful to [have] this opportunity to edit all these articles and read all the sections… it’s really awesome to look at all the work from the amazing writers that we have here.” Pearcy also noted that the managing editor position pushed them to write for all five sections, including their first major sports article, which is also published in this edition!
When asked about what she will miss most after leaving The Lamron, Pearcy was quick to mention the distinct community. “It’s like a friend group of writing nerds,” she said. “I love how high-production it is… each editor is writing [or] editing for hours a week, [and] I have so much respect for the people that are a part of it… I’ve grown to love them all.”
After graduation, Pearcy plans to harness their leadership skills into some independent traveling as they await acceptances to New York City-based graduate programs in creative writing; more specifically, they plan to embark upon the Camino de Santiago, the famous 14-day pilgrimage from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
“I’m fascinated by the history [and] with the idea of pilgrimage,” she said. For Pearcy, the Camino would represent a space to push herself and independently engage with history, as well as to meet other travelers undertaking such a significant journey.
Pearcy’s last semester at Geneseo has been a series of milestones: they are an editorial leader within The Lamron, Iris Magazine, and Gandy Dancer, as well as a creative writing course with Professor Bilocerkowycz, for which they TA; they started bouldering, which has been a major source of strength, mindfulness, and confidence; and when they graduate, they are excited to learn how to drive! On the latter issue, Pearcy was sure to comment: “Listen, I grew up with the best subway system in America. I had no reason to drive.”
Of her collegiate accomplishments, one of Pearcy’s most notable is her ongoing writing career, which culminated last semester in a directed study with Professor Beltz-Hosek, a senior reading, and the acquisition of the English department’s Mary Thomas Award in poetry. The concept for their chapbook was based on their grandparents’ home in the Poconos, one of the most significant places in Pearcy’s life, and dealt with themes including marriage, motherhood, childhood, and the dynamics of memory: “[The chapbook] caused me to look at [the Poconos] in a completely different light [and] be able to connect to my family more… I am eternally grateful for that, and I think that I wouldn’t have done that writing without the professors here [and] without the people here.”
As aforementioned, I’ve known Pearcy for nearly four years now. Her friendship has shown me kindness that eludes words. She is ambitious and steadfast, hilarious and insightful; as their senior semester comes to a close, I am both saddened about the end of a significant chapter in our lives, and certain that our friendship is deserving of lifelong cultivation. Luckily, Pearcy seems to be in agreement with my melodrama, though perhaps in more eloquent terms: “I know in my heart that the people that I met here are stuck with me,” she said.
Pearcy has given so much to The Lamron, and to Geneseo’s literary arts community at large. I have no doubt that I will continue to be surprised by the dedication and passion she exhibits in everything she does. However, regardless of whether you know and love Ella Pearcy as much as I do, my parting words remain the same—write for G-Spot!