Sara Gelrud

Professional portrait

About Me

I am a journalist and editor for Student Life Newspaper, the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis, where I am a sophomore majoring in comparative arts. My interest in journalism began in high school where I was the Editor-in-Chief of my high school's award-winning newspaper and literary magazine. Growing up, I lived in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. I currently live in Miami when not at school in St. Louis.

Living in so many cities has helped me cultivate a wider perspective on the world and the culture within it. I have attended South by Southwest Film&TV festival as official festival press, interviewing directors and reviewing films. My interest in music began with Kidz Bop 2012 and The Cure songs my mother would play on the ride to kindergarten in the morning. Now, I interview bands in and around the St. Louis music scene.

I am fluent in Spanish.

Favorite Stories

FilmMarch 2026

‘DreamQuil’ premieres at SXSW: meet the WashU alumna who produced it

In a society constantly navigating how to best use artificial intelligence and other forms of technology, “DreamQuil” is a film that asks audiences to reconsider their own connection to what makes them human in this relatively new technological world.

InvestigativeFebruary 2026

Sports betting comes to campus

“Brilliant,” my mother messaged me a few weeks ago on Instagram. When I opened her message, I expected the post she was referring to would be a video of Rick Beato explaining a rock song or maybe even an update on the world of figure skating (two things we love talking about). To my surprise, her “brilliant” was in reference to an ad for the sports betting app Fanatics, featuring Kendall Jenner.

MusicSeptember 2025

Art, empathy, and the joy of being loud: Adam Weiner’s gospel

An interview with Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie about his band’s genre-blending music, dedication to authenticity, stage presence, and the joy of creating and sharing art, tied to his upcoming St. Louis performance.

MusicSeptember 2025

Everclear frontman Art Alexakis on resurgence, relevance, and rock’s future

An interview with Everclear frontman Art Alexakis on the band’s resurgence among younger fans, his artistic influences from the Pixies to Pollock and Van Gogh, and plans for a new album in 2026.

MusicApril 2025

Dirtbag Democracy: Wheatus lets the crowd call the shots

A profile of Wheatus’s “setlist-by-request” concerts and independent ethos, with frontman Brendan B. Brown explaining how crowd-called songs shape shows and hinting at future projects.

FilmMarch 2025

Alex Burunova and her debut feature film 'Satisfaction'

Belgium, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Dominican Republic, and the United States: these are just a few of the countries where film director Alex Burunova has lived. “A little bit here and there,” as she puts it. Her semi-nomadic lifestyle started when she was a child and has continued ever since.

FilmMarch 2025

A recap of SXSW’s films through their oddly specific trends

Every March, filmmakers, actors, critics, industry professionals, and most importantly, film lovers, flock to Austin, Texas, for 10 days to attend SXSW Film & TV Festival. While the festival has specific sections for certain types of films, I have crafted my own categories to recap a few of the films featured at this year’s festival.

MusicFebruary 2025

A southern belle raises hell: Willow Avalon comes to St. Louis

A lively review of Willow Avalon’s sold-out Off Broadway show in St. Louis, praising her charisma, pedal-steel-driven country/folk sound, and momentum behind debut album Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell

MusicNovember 2024

‘Beautiful Blue Collar Boy’: BabyJake on his music, fans, and influences

An interview with BabyJake (Jake Herring) about his album Beautiful Blue Collar Boy, breaking from major-label constraints, genre-blending influences, and building an authentic fanbase, tied to his St. Louis show.

InvestigativeNovember 2024

Mold mayhem: mold in South 40 dorms continues to plague students

Reporting on ongoing mold issues in South 40 dorms, student health concerns, and the university’s response.

InvestigativeOctober 2024

Where does it all go? Behind the scenes of WashU’s recycling program

A look into how WashU’s recycling actually gets processed, the logistics behind it, and where contamination causes problems.

FilmApril 2024

Movie Review | Arcadian

A positive take on the Nicolas Cage dystopian thriller that praises its indie spirit, scary creature thrills, and unexpectedly warm family drama core