On Wednesday, May 4, The Bull & Bear’s Arts and Culture Editor Hannah Wallace passed away at the age of 22. Hannah was studying to become a secondary-school English teacher. She was also a passionate and talented reader, blogger, and fiction writer. She took her own life.
Hannah Wallace was a creative, empathetic, and hilarious person. She was a pop culture aficionado and a Taylor Swift superfan. Ever since she began writing articles for the Bull & Bear as an Arts and Culture staff writer in 2019, she provided insight into contemporary arts and culture with unparalleled wit and passion, quickly rising through the ranks with her undeniable writing talent. Whether she was discussing the brilliance of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License,” sharing unique book and movie recommendations throughout the year, or revisiting a Gen Z cult-classic television series with a critical lens, Hannah had a gift for imbuing cultural commentary with an element of the extraordinary.
In her writing, Hannah was also an authentic and outspoken activist. She fought for 2SLGBTQ+ equality, spread mental health awareness during the pandemic, and she held popular children’s authors accountable for spreading antisemitic or transphobic views. Her writing challenged us every day to be kinder and more inclusive people, on campus and beyond.
Hannah was not only a brilliant journalist, but she was also an outstanding editor in the Arts and Culture section. She created a warm, friendly environment in which every writer felt welcome and valued. She helped emerging journalists find their voices and publish their first-ever pieces. Everyone at our magazine viewed her as a genuine and natural leader.
We are truly honoured to have worked alongside her these past few years at this magazine, and we are devastated by her passing. Although we may have witnessed one side of Hannah’s full personality, we nevertheless caught a glimpse of a powerful force of curiosity, kindness, and wisdom.
Please consider donating to her memorial fundraiser here. We also plan to dedicate our Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 print issues in her memory.
The Bull & Bear editorial board invites you to read some of Hannah’s published writing online. May her words provide you with comfort and connection during this difficult time.
