Hannah Quinton has always loved magazines. Now, as a senior public relations major at Western Washington University, she is wrapping up the final issue of her very own magazine. 

The Rage magazine, started by Quinton in 2023, is a student-run fashion and lifestyle magazine club. Since its conception, The Rage magazine has grown to work with around 50 students and released four issues. 

“I’ve been working on magazines since I was in middle school,” Quinton said. “That’s one thing a lot of people don’t know about me, that this is not my first [time at] the rodeo.”

When Quinton transferred to Western, she was looking for a place to grow her photography, which she had begun at San Diego State University. She went on the social media platform Yik Yak and realized many students were also looking for a creative outlet.

“At first, it was just ‘Rage magazine,’ but I was like, ‘no, I want The Rage’ because I like the two syllables,” Quinton said. “I like how intense it sounds.”

Their most recent issue, “Essence of Etherealism,” was released on Jan. 31, 2025. Issue four is their largest and best issue, according to Quinton. The 68 pages are full of entirely student-run projects ranging from features on rave culture and growing up in a Hispanic household to a boxing-inspired photo essay.

While Quinton said the most recent issue is her favorite, the first issue will always hold a special place in her heart.

“It was made from so much love,” Quinton said. “It was just like, we’re just gonna wing it. Versus, now we’re a little bit more established.”

Currently, The Rage publishes an issue twice a year. Each issue is accompanied by a launch party at the Blue Room. Ragefest offers live music from Pacific Northwest bands and pop-ups from local vendors.

“It’s an essence of myself, Ragefest,” Quinton said. “Ragefest is the celebration of people’s work and creative freedom and dedication. I want it to be a place for people to feel good about their art.”

The recent Ragefest had performances by Teza Talks, Actress and Tekhia. It featured stations where attendees could get tooth gems and flash tattoos based on the recent theme.

While The Rage has grown to become a common name on the Western campus, their goal remains the same.

“The mission statement has always been a place for students to come and learn about studio photography, editorial work, styling,” she said. “It is to provide a space for students to learn and provide it in a way that really encapsulates the voices of not Western students, but people in General.”

While Quinton is leaving the magazine after the Spring quarter to study abroad in China before graduating, The Rage will live on. She is excited to wrap up the storyline she’s been curating over the past two years. 

Readers may not be aware, but each issue theme follows a story, she said. What started on Earth with the first issue looking at the past decades, then went to space in issue two, “Sun, Moon and Stars.” Readers landed on the planet “Rage” with issue three, “Elements,” and looked at what makes people happy in the most recent issue. The upcoming issue will look at our relationship with technology with the new theme “Rage Ex Machina,” or rage against the machine. 

“What someone else takes from the magazine, that’s going to be a completely different story, completely different creative direction,” Quinton said. “But my thing was, for me, it was representing the cycle of humanity.”

Starting in Fall 2025, Peter DeMonte and Anijah Polo will be taking over as The Rage’s creative directors. While it’s bittersweet to leave behind what started as her late-night brainstorm, Quinton said she has full confidence in her successors.

“I feel like I am going to be really sad. But a part of me is also really looking forward to seeing where it goes afterward,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to having a breath of fresh air for it and letting it blossom.”

DeMonte has been at The Rage since its inception. He shared his first quarter at Western with the magazine.

“I can say with certainty my life and goals would be measurably different had The Rage not existed,” DeMonte said. “I’m so excited to continue to cultivate that type of creativity and passion in the student community with The Rage in the future.”

Polo joined the magazine to celebrate her love for fashion and meet other creative people with similar goals.

“I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to be the incoming editor-in-chief, and am beyond grateful to get to work with so many talented individuals and see the way their art develops in each and every issue,” Polo said.

All of The Rage’s past issues are available on their website, along with blogs written by students.