Jillian Spiller, a junior here at Elizabethtown College, started at The Etownian during her sophomore year, writing for the Features and Campus Life columns. It wasn’t long before her skill and potential was noticed and Spiller was asked to take on more responsibility.
As an English secondary education major with a minor in creative writing and a love for authorship, journalism was a growing interest for Spiller. The Etownian was her opportunity to explore that interest and become more comfortable in her place on campus. In Fall of 2025, Spiller assumed the position of Campus Life Section Editor.
“I interviewed for the editor position because last year’s editors reached out asking if I’d be interested. They thought I would be a good fit and I said I would only do it if Bec [Rebecca] could be my assistant,” Spiller said. Since she began her role as Campus Life Editor, Spiller made quite the impact at The Etownian.
“Jill brought so many new ideas to the Campus Life section,” stated Editor-in-Chief Andi Gates. “We went from pages full of ads and graphics to longer articles, new segments covering college life and just overall pages where you could really see campus represented. In just one semester she helped transform the section.”
The hard work put into improving the Campus Life section was notable, but not what Spiller deems her biggest accomplishment. Although she went into her position full of nerves, she was able to shake off those initial jitters and come to enjoy being the editor everyone knew she could be. “My biggest accomplishment as editor was proving to myself I could do it,” Spiller said. “I definitely had imposter syndrome and was extremely nervous, but by the end of the semester I was excited to make the layout and play with it to make it more exciting and fun to read.”
Unfortunately, Spiller has recently been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Due to its advanced and aggressive nature, she will be taking medical leave for the spring semester. Spiller will be greatly missed both in and out of the news room.
“I miss having my best friend on campus, I think that’s the worst part of it,” Gates said. Despite her diagnosis, Spiller intends to fight and return to campus in the fall of 2026. When she does, The Etownian intends to welcome her back as a writer with open arms. “If she has the time, I’d love to have her back as a writer,” Gates said.
Although for now, she has a message for The Etownian. “I loved being a part of The Etownian as a reader, then as a writer, then as an editor, and now again as a reader,” Spiller said. “All the staff for The Etownian puts in so much work and I’m really heartbroken to have to leave so suddenly. I’ll always love The Etownian and remember how much fun I had working on it.”
Despite it all, we look forward to welcoming her back once she, in her words, “whoops cancer’s butt.”
