For the last couple of weeks, I’ve struggled to think of what to write here.

I’m the illustrator-I draw things-and sometimes it’s infinitely easier to show something to someone than to tell them about it. This visual preoccupation, combined with my horrible storytelling skills, has led me to a life that does not involve much writing, outside of an academic setting.

So, I thought about drawing a column, which spawned a lot of corny art history jokes in my head about whether it would be Ionic, Doric or Corinthian. But then I thought, “You know, I might as well write something.”

And this is how we got to this point, me babbling away about classical architecture and my lack of communication skills.

Drawing for The University News for all of these years has taught me a few things. First of all, you don’t know whether you can draw something unless you try. Consequently, I’ve drawn tons of stuff that I never thought I would draw.

Like the Billiken. I had no idea what the little creature was before I set foot on campus, but I’ve spent the last four years drawing him almost every week. It’s gotten to the point where I can draw the little bugger from memory. That scares me as someone who has no school spirit whatsoever.

I’ve done tons of caricatures, mostly of political notables like Gov. Sarah Palin and President Barack Obama, but my favorites have been the caricatures of my friends on the staff. This column has given me the perfect opportunity for that, creating such lovely pieces like Kat as the tennis playing-beauty queen-ice skater, Will as a smiley-faced procrastinating fool and my dear Editor-in-Chief, Adam, as a suave, fedora-wearing newshound.

Second, I don’t always get to draw what I want.

That’s the hardest part about this job: Being told what to draw. The editorial board gives me ideas every week. Sometimes I like them, and sometimes I don’t (especially if they involve the Billiken in any way). I have to digest these ideas and come up with some sort of joke or pertinent caption to go with them.

More often than not, the jokes and slogans come easy, and I have to decide which one to use. But on rare occasions it’s like pulling teeth, trying to come up with a good idea that won’t be too obscure, or even coming up with an idea at all.

When I have independent ideas for cartoons, they usually get shot down. Sounds sad, right? Most of them involve going after the University administration, in some way. The staff has learned that I tend not to walk on eggshells when I want to criticize the administration, so they usually act as my artistic conscience, steering me toward a less controversial path.

All in all, drawing for The UNews has been what my parents call a “character-building experience.” It’s forced me to do some things I wouldn’t have normally done and allowed me to get my art out there.

So keep the commentaries coming, and maybe someday I’ll get to draw you. See you in the funny pages.

Elizabeth Glueck is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is illustrator for The University News.