About Us

inscoemugfinal.jpgCorey Inscoe Carrboro Commons Co-Editor millermugfinal.jpg Allison Miller Carrboro Commons Co-Editor
Like FDR, Corey Inscoe is a senior journalism major and music minor from Cary, N.C., one of the rare breeds who was actually born and raised in the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. When he’s not doing work for the Commons, he is scouring the Web for new music or taking years off his life stressing out about Carolina football, baseball and basketball. In addition to the Commons, Corey also is a music writer for Uncharted Magazine, an arts magazine produced by UNC-Chapel Hill students, and a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. Corey can also be found toting around a tuba as a member of the Marching Tar Heels, where he is a section leader and pep band conductor. Check out his blog at www.coreyinscoe.com and feel free to send thoughts and ideas to him at corey.inscoe@gmail.com. He just loves fan mail. Allison Miller is a senior journalism and history major. She grew up in Alpharetta, Ga., and also lived in Cary, N.C., for a few years. She really enjoys features writing and likes getting to learn about new people and places through journalism. In her spare time she goes running and contemplates the amazing cuteness of cows. Feel free to contact her at afm@email.unc.edu.
brantmeyermugfinal.jpg Carley Brantmeyer Carrboro Commons Photo Editor mcilwainmugfinal.jpg Virginia McIlwain Carrboro Commons Education Editor
Carly Brantmeyer is a junior photojournalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. Carly had never left the country before college, but since freshman year has been able to travel to Asia, Central and South America and to Africa, where she studied abroad last semester in Ghana. She taught a 10-week photography class to Ghanaian students in the slum of Lima, and featured their work in a public exhibit at the conclusion of the program. She hopes to continue to travel the world while serving others, using photographs to bring light to social injustices. Carly has her own business, Carly Brantmeyer Photography, photographing everything from weddings to kids to corporate projects. You can check out her website and blog at www.carlybrantmeyer.com. Virginia McIlwain is a senior journalism major from Chapel Hill, N.C. She’s proud to have been born and raised a Tar Heel and is thrilled to have spent the past 22 years in this southern piece of heaven! After graduation, she will join the Teach For America corps as an art teacher in the Mississippi Delta.Here at Carolina, Virginia changed her major too many times to count, but she finally found her home (not so far) away from home in Carroll Hall. She loves to write and meet new people, and she’s a real stickler for grammar — apparently journalism was right up her alley all along. vmm@email.unc.edu
kusterermugfinal.jpg Kelsey Kusterer Carrboro Commons Spanish-Language Team Writer espositomugfinal.jpg Kelly Esposito Carrboro Commons Spanish-Language Team Writer
Kelsey Kusterer is a senior journalism and Spanish major from Raleigh, N.C. Kelsey’s favorite places to be at UNC-Chapel Hill are at the indoor climbing walls, but when she’s not conquering Mt. Fetzer she’ll be bustling about campus or hunting down the cheapest cup of java. She’s worked with Blue & White Magazine since her sophomore year, and currently interns at North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC. Next year she hopes to be pursuing Spanish fluency and freelance writing in South America, and return to the U.S. to attend seminary. Number one on her bucket list is to climb El Capitan, preferably in the presence of Colin Haley, a renowned climber. taltha@email.unc.edu Kelly Esposito is a senior journalism and biology major from Wilmington, N.C. Her unusual combination of majors comes from a love for both writing and science; she doesn’t see any reason to choose. Kelly’s internship last summer at Wrightsville Beach Magazine was her first foray into community journalism, and she is glad to get to continue working on the local level for the Carrboro Commons. She is a grammar enthusiast (no, really) and enjoys doing her best impression of Betty Crocker as often as possible. Her goal, besides attending medical school, is to fill up her passport before it expires. You can reach her through her compulsively checked email, kespo@email.unc.edu.
reichmugfinal.jpg Katie Reich Carrboro Commons Spanish-Language Team Writer arrieromugfinal.jpg Elisabeth Arriero Carrboro Commons Town Government Writer
Katie Reich is a senior journalism and Spanish double major from Winston-Salem, N.C. She grew up in a rural area where she learned to truly appreciate summers in the blueberry patch, fall hayrides and the little joys of growing up in a small community. After studying abroad in Buenos Aires last summer, she decided she wants to find a career where she can balance her love for writing and public relations with her desire to work with the Hispanic community. Apart from her work the Carrboro Commons, she also serves as the music section editor for UNCHARTED, a student publication that focuses on the arts’ community. Katie can be reached at kreich@email.unc.edu. Elisabeth Arriero is a senior journalism and psychology double major from Charlotte, NC. Graduating in three years, she will still be 20 years old by the time she graduates in May. In her spare time, Elisabeth enjoys working out at the climbing wall at Ramshead Recreation Center and walking her retriever-shepherd mix, Phoenix. Although Elisabeth’s short attention span can’t seem to commit to reading any novels, she does enjoy reading the newspaper every day. In June, Elisabeth will be writing for the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam Fellow in Phoenix, Arizona. She has fully prepared herself for explaining to everyone there that, “No, I didn’t name my dog after this town because I love it so much. It’s just a coincidence.” If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact her at arriero@email.unc.edu
blackmugfinal.jpg Amelia Black Carrboro Commons Writer and NECD Newspaper Coordinator sattenmugfinal.jpg Erica Satten Carrboro Commons Writer and Public Relations Coordinator
Amelia Black is a senior from Raleigh majoring in Communications (rhetorical studies) and minoring in journalism. She lives in Carrboro so she has an insider’s view of the Paris of the Piedmont. Her goal this semester is to help launch the urban youth newspaper for Northeast Central Durham. blac@email.unc.edu After living in Annandale, Virginia for 18 years, Erica followed her older brother to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to become a Tar Heel. As a junior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, she specializes in public relations. She is also a Spanish major, and her passion for Hispanic culture and cuisine has led her to numerous Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, Uruguay, Mexico and Argentina. When Erica is not in class, she can be found playing tennis or running on Bolin Creek Trail to compensate for her love of food. She can be reached at esatten@gmail.com.
wesselsmugfinal.jpg Becky Wessels Carrboro Commons Photo Editor shahmugfinal.jpg Sarah Shah Carrboro Commons Writer
Becky Wessels is a junior journalism major and communications major, born and raised in the lovely city of Cincinnati, OH. When not getting lost in the mazes of Carroll Hall, Becky is usually trying to find the most efficient way to hang up sweatpants at the Student Stores clothing department. The Carrboro Commons has been her first experience writing for a small-town newspaper. Becky has her first internship this summer at the Cannes Film Festival and is really excited about the opportunity. While not busy with schoolwork, Becky usually watches movies or tries to convince her friends that “We Built This City” is the greatest song ever recorded. Her other favorite pastime is watching UNC beat Duke in men’s basketball. rwessels@email.unc.edu Sarah Shah is a senior political science and history double major with a minor in journalism from Cary, North Carolina. She eats, breathes and sleeps politics and can usually be found political blog-stalking in class. She also loves globe-trotting and experiencing new cultures and places. Even so, she finds no place better than North Carolina, most especially because of the Moravian sugar cake found in Old Salem. Currently, Sarah is trying to figure out her life and post-graduation plans. If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact her at srshah@email.unc.ed
robinsonmugfinal.jpg Kafi Robinson Carrboro Commons Writer nadingmugfinal.jpg Tom Nading Carrboro Commons Writer and IT Guru
Kafi Robinson is a senior from Oxford, N.C., majoring in journalism. Born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., Tom Nading is a junior journalism major with an English minor. In Greensboro, Tom grew up reading the Greensboro News & Record. Active in Greek life on campus, Tom is a brother of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, where he currently serves as treasurer after serving for one year as executive secretary. Tom has played music since he was 6 years old. In high school, he played professionally with a number of rock groups and jazz combos, but he has focused on schoolwork since he has been in college. Nevertheless, it would be hard to pry a guitar out of his hands. Tom enjoys the beach and the mountains equally because, in North Carolina, we’ve got ‘em both. True to his Piedmont heritage, Tom prefers Lexington-style barbeque to all other varieties. Argument with him on this point is futile. nading@email.unc.edu
Jock Lauterer Faculty Adviser
Jock Lauterer grew up in Chapel Hill and then he moved to North Carolina. After graduating from UNC-CH and spending way too much time at the DTH, he helped start and run two community newspapers in the mountains of N.C. His 15 years in the trenches has produced six books, including the survival manual/field guide and text, “Community Journalism: Relentlessly Local.” In addition to teaching writing and photography, Jock instructs the Community Journalism class at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is also the director of the Carolina Community Media Project, and serves as the “fairy godfather” of the Carrboro Commons, aka, the faculty adviser. He is proud to live in “greater Carrboro.” Tell him what you think about the Carrboro Commons at jock@email.unc.edu
auguste.jpgShanae Auguste Carrboro Commons Copy Editor crookfinal.jpg Phillip Crook Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Shanae Auguste is a senior journalism and sociology double-major originally from Boston, Mass., but living in New Bern, N.C. Her dream job is to be a beat reporter for the Boston Red Sox or a sports copy editor for a newspaper. Shanae was chosen to study abroad in Ghana last summer but at the last minute, her parents didn’t want her to go. She serves as the president of the Omega Iota chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority and had an internship as a columnist/blogger for the College Fanz Web site. When she’s not completely enamored in sports and coursework, Shanae enjoys listening to music, blogging, laughing, making others laugh, eating Sour Patch Kids, proving that she knows more about MLB than most males, playing “Rock Band” and learning the ins and outs of her iPhone. Phillip Crook is a senior journalism major from Cary, N.C. Transferring to UNC from Elon University after his first year, Phillip began writing for The Daily Tar Heel covering Chapel Hill’s diverse arts community. In the summer of 2008, he wrote about fashion and local theater as an editorial intern on the features desk of The News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. This summer, Phillip will begin a yearlong arts journalism graduate program at Syracuse University with the goal of becoming a multidisciplinary arts writer..
hambyfinal.jpgTori Hamby Carrboro Commons Copy Editor johnsonfinal.jpg Amanda Johnson Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Tori Hamby, a UNC-Chapel Hill junior majoring in journalism and English, aspires to go to law school and one day work as a legal consultant for a print publication or cable network news channel. She is an ardent fan of classic and contemporary American literature, and her favorite authors include Nathaniel Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Cormac McCarthy. Unlike many of her fellow UNC students, she prefers Tar Heel baseball to basketball. Also, one of her lesser life goals is to watch every episode of “Friends” on DVD, in chronological order. Amanda Johnson, a journalism major from Atlanta, concludes her studies at UNC-Chapel Hill in May. As a lifelong sports fan, she aspires to work in college athletics or for a professional league after graduation. Amanda’s other interests include romance languages, proper grammar and chocolate chip cookies.
jordanfinal.jpgNathaniel Jordan Carrboro Commons Copy Editor katzerfinal.jpg Ashton Katzer Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Nathaniel Jordan, a senior from Winston-Salem majoring in journalism, plans to switch gears and study accounting at the graduate level. He has an intense love for college and professional sports, and particularly loves to watch a certain Chapel Hill team compete. In his free time he enjoys writing, playing poker, playing golf and spending time with friends. Ashton Katzer is a UNC-Chapel Hill senior majoring in journalism and English from Eden, N.C. She plans to pursue her love for traveling by working for a travel magazine after college. She has a passion for Tar Heel basketball and all things related to Tudor England. She also enjoys reading foreign literature and CNN.com and feels you can learn just about anything from watching “Jeopardy.”
latshawfinal.jpgKatherine Latshaw Carrboro Commons Copy Editor mcmillanfinal.jpgCaroline McMillan Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Katherine Latshaw is a senior journalism major and a bibliophile. Some of her favorite authors include Vladimir Nabokov, Haruki Murakami and Charlotte Brontë. Her dream job would be to work as an editor at a publishing house. Katherine is a big fan of blogs and lately can’t get enough of Mark Bittman’s Bitten (http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/) blog at The New York Times. Caroline McMillan is a senior journalism major in the news-editorial sequence, graduating in May. She’s an American-literature junkie whose passion for list-making is tantamount to her love of grammatical minutiae. Consequentially, she’s accustomed to getting e-mails splattered with “Be merciful, I didn’t have time to proofread” disclaimers. After recently relinquishing her position as editor-in-chief of Rival magazine, a joint student publication between Duke and UNC-CH, Caroline ceased her weekly trips to the dark (blue) side. In her newfound free time, Caroline is learning how to cook and rediscovering sleep. She’s the oldest of four kids (oldest of six, if you include the family dogs as Caroline’s youngest brother does), and she loves coming back to her hometown of Charlotte, N.C. But lately R & R has been in short supply because she and her other brother — a sophomore at the University of South Carolina — have decided to relentlessly perpetuate an argument over which university is the real Carolina. She (almost) always wins.
ruiz-esparzafinal.jpgDominic Ruiz-Esparza Carrboro Commons Copy Editor rumbaughfinal.jpgKatie Rumbaugh Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Like FDR, Dominic Ruiz-Esparza enjoys fixer-uppers and a well-earned martini at the end of the day. After four years at UNC, he still can’t find anything to beat a sunny afternoon with a good book. His plans include a book on masculine nonsense and a summer in Spain. Katie Rumbaugh is a senior journalism major from Durham, N.C. Her parents brought her up a Duke fan, but she saw the error of her ways the moment she arrived at UNC four years ago. She enjoys writing and talking about politics, and she hopes to end up working in Washington, D.C. Katie loves the Pittsburgh Steelers, Greek and Middle Eastern food, and “The Daily Show.”
schneiderfinal.jpgMatt Schneider Carrboro Commons Copy Editor stringerfinal.jpg Jessica Stringer Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Matt Schneider is from Cary, N.C., and has worked as a sports reporter for Appalachian State’s student newspaper, The Appalachian. He transferred from ASU to UNC after two years, and is a journalism major. He roots for his beloved Chicago Cubs no matter how many times they let him down. Matt hopes to work for Campus Crusade for Christ at UNC next year. Jessica Stringer is a junior journalism major from Woodbridge, Va. Raised as a Tar Heel since birth, she came to UNC for journalism and basketball. Jessica has worked for The Daily Tar Heel, loves glossy magazines and has an encyclopedic knowledge of movies. She fell in love with London during her semester abroad and wants to cover the Olympics in 2012. When she has a spare moment, she can usually be found watching “The Office” or dreaming about globetrotting and film festivals.
templinfinal.jpgElizabeth Templin Carrboro Commons Copy Editor yerafinal.jpg Stephanie Yera Carrboro Commons Copy Editor
Elizabeth Templin is a master’s student and Roy H. Park Fellow from Charlotte, N.C. Her graduate studies have focused on news writing, editing and multimedia. Elizabeth is finishing a master’s thesis on sustainable agriculture in North Carolina and likes to read and write about food, gardening, the environment and social activism. She hopes to work as a reporter or copy editor after graduation in May 2009. Stephanie Yera is a senior journalism and peace, war and defense major with a minor in Mandarin from Coral Springs, Fla. After spending a semester abroad in Beijing, she decided she would like to pursue a career that would make use of her Mandarin and Spanish-speaking skills. She thinks there is nothing more fun than watching a Carolina basketball game from the student risers section and loves to proclaim her Tar Heel pride wherever she goes. Her favorite extracurricular activities are traveling, meeting people, browsing grammar Web sites and eating Cuban food. This summer, she will intern with Dow Jones & Co. in their public relations department. She volunteers as a writing coach for third-grade students and always enjoys a good story.