Volume 3 Issue 1 October 2014 College of Charleston’s student-run feature magazine
cisternyard.com
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professor roof: the man behind the beard
Inside the Yard
Volume 3 Issue 1 October 2014
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4 Letter from the Editor 5 Events 6 40 years of Charleston soccer 10
A true American experience
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Behind the screen: Coding with Will Jamieson
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Viva los beardos! The man behind the beard
20 Pop-Up Charleston Owen turns experience 24 Kelly into words
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Julian Harrell’s 26 Abstract: hip-hop perspective
28 Secret study spots
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to have a vogue-worthy 30 How wardobe on a college budget
34 Eating from Bay to Broad green space in 38 Finding Charleston
38 38 Editor-in-Chief NICOLE DEMARCO Managing Editor GILLIAN SPOLARICH Creative Director WESLEY VANCE News Editor DYLAN TAYLOR Sports Editor JASON LUTZ Feature Editor CHRISTINA D’ANTONI Blog & Opinion Editor JESS SPENCE Design Assistant RACHEL WILBOURN
Contributors CHELSEA ANDERSON, HOLDEN CURRAN, COURTNEY EKER, STEPHANIE GREENE, JUSTINE HALL, MEREDITH MALPHRUS, SAMUEL MCCAULEY, MEG MONTGOMERY, SAM OLEKSAK, ASHLEY SPROUSE
media news radio
For advertisement inquiries with The Yard, please email: cisternyardsales@cofc.edu
Letter from the Editor When I first set foot on this campus four years ago, I was in love. From the moss-covered trees to the exposed bricks, I took in everything around me and I knew that I had found my new home. What I didn’t know was where I would fit in. As a confused, even slightly awkward freshman, I was over eager to get involved – trying everything from SGA to Greek life. I needed to find my niche. Everybody has one, but for me it took quite awhile. I strongly believe, in the most cliché way possible, that everything happens for a reason. Of course you have some degree of control over your own life, but sometimes something great just falls right into your lap. Next thing you know, you can’t imagine your life without it. This is exactly what happened to me. Sure, I had always been involved with CisternYard News, and don’t get me wrong I love everything about it…but something was missing. In the fall of my sophomore year I ran into an old friend on the street and this all changed. After the incredibly difficult decision of whether or not to return to the sport of diving, three weeks later I was on the team. Between my job and this new commitment, I had absolutely no free time (and I still don’t), but I was content. These two activities and all of the experiences I’ve had over the years make me who I am. They are a part of me. Without any planning, stressing or endless searching, I found my niche. It is for this reason that this issue is about celebrating the individual, and all of the amazing things our students and professors do. I had the pleasure of interviewing Will Jamieson, co-founder of Yik-Yak who found his passion and his niche in computer programming (page 14). In our cover story, featuring Dr. Paul Roof, we share how one man found his calling in the captivating world of beard competitions (page 16). We also highlight the stories of students following their dreams in the local music scene. Sophomore Julian Harrell, was strongly influenced by hiphop music (page 26), and junior Peter Spearman sought to create a sense of community through live ‘Pop-Up’ shows (page 20). If you haven’t found your niche yet, not to worry. It will happen. Maybe you’re interested in fashion (page 30) or just love spending time outdoors (page 38), and recognizing these things will help you find your way. If you feel completely lost, don’t fret…it’s as simple as running into an old friend on the street and it can happen at any time. In the mean time, sit back, relax and enjoy the latest copy of The Yard – perhaps while trying out some of our favorite eats from Bay and Broad (page 39). Until next time,
Nicole DeMarco Editor-in-Chief
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events orlando jones Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
College of Charleston’s own Orlando Jones returns to campus on Oct. 4 at the Emmett Robinson Stage for a night of comedy that you won’t want to miss. You may recognize Jones from various shows on TV or even from the latest cover of College of Charleston Magazine. Jones is the full package with credits ranging from actor and writer of the hit show “Madtv” to his most current gig as Detective Frank Irving on FOX’s new show, “Sleepy Hollow.” There’s no doubt that his show will be hilarious, relatable and entertaining. Joining Jones are comedians Alex Scott and Reid Clark, the latter who was discovered by Jones himself. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $25 for seniors, CofC students and employees with valid ID. Part of the proceeds will go to the Department of Theatre and Dance.
an evening with david finkel Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m.
This year’s College Reads! book is David Finkel’s The Good Soldiers, which chronicles several months that Finkel spent in Iraq as a reporter embedded in several infantry divisions. Finkel, who is a reporter for The Washington Post, is also a Pulitzer Prize winner for Explanatory Reporting and a MacArthur Fellow. Join him Oct. 14 in the Sottile Theater as he discusses his novel and career. The event is open to students, faculty and staff, as well as the Charleston community. No tickets required.
aaron carter at the music farm Nov. 12, 8:00 p.m.
Relive your early 2000s tween dreams when Aaron Carter comes to Charleston in November! One of your biggest regrets in life is probably the fact that your mom never let you attend an Aaron Carter concert. But now, all of that can change. Don’t forget your style muse when preparing your outfit for the concert: Lizzie McGuire. You’ll need flare capris, sketchers, and pompom hairbands to start. The rest is up to you. Be sure to pregame the concert with a catchy playlist featuring the likes of the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Hilary Duff, and Mandy Moore. Don’t forget the infamous, “I Want Candy.” Tickets are $17-$20. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the show starts at 9:00 p.m.
by GILLIAN SPOLARICH photo by WESLEY VANCE
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of Charleston soccer by SAM OLEKSAK
The 1974 team led by head coach Ted Miller, the “father” of Charleston soccer. Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston Alumni Association.
In the 40 years since its formation in 1974, the College of Charleston has built an impressive reputation as one of the top mid-major schools for Division I soccer. Since the school became Division - I members in 1991, the team has won five conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament on five occasions. The first head coach, or “father” of Charleston soccer, was Ted Miller. Miller served as the head coach from 197478, amassing an impressive 50-30-8 record and helping to build a winning program. Miller was a “jack-of-all-trades” man during the 70’s for the College’s athletic department. While running the soccer program, he also served as
The first varsity soccer team at the College in 1970. Photo courtesy of College of Charleston Athletics Communications.
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the head wrestling and golf coach. In the Cougars’ 2014 opener, Miller was inducted into the men’s soccer hall of fame to commemorate the start of the 40th season. While Miller may have gotten the soccer team off the ground, it is thanks to current head coach, Ralph Lundy, that the program has gained the respect it has today. Lundy is in his 28th season as the Cougars’ coach, and 39th season as a head coach in total. He spent 11 successful years coaching at Erskine College, finishing with a 131-71-13 record. Since coming to Charleston, he has compiled a 292221-50 record, coaching the team to 19 winning seasons. When Lundy took over the team in 1987, he described the team as in a “down” state, so Lundy worked to “redo” the program. Focused on building a winner, Lundy scheduled demanding matchups to challenge his players with the best competition. “All my buddies would play me home and home: Duke, South Carolina, Clemson, North Carolina, Wake Forest,” Lundy said. His rivalries with fellow coaches proved helpful, as the Cougars soon proved they could hang against big time opponents. In 1989, led by Luiz Viera and Chad Carithers, the Cougars upset Notre Dame, while still a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), an athletics association that was second-tier compared to the NCAA. As men’s soccer played more exhibitions against D-1 the yard
opponents, the College as a whole made the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division I, thanks to the efforts of then-president, Harry M. Lightsey. “He was an amazing man and a visionary. He knew what the College of Charleston could be,” Lundy said of Lightsey. When they first moved to D-1, the College joined the Trans-America Athletic Conference, or what is known today as the Atlantic Sun Conference. In six seasons in the TAAC, the soccer team won four straight conference championships from 1993 to 1996. In addition, they reached the NCAA tournament three times from 1994 to 1996. Charleston’s most exciting run in the NCAA Tournament came during the 1994 season, their first appearance in the national tournament. Following an undefeated season in TAAC play, the Cougars faced the number four seed in the tournament, UNC Charlotte, in the opening round. In a three overtime thriller, Charleston prevailed 1-0. Keeping with their overtime theme, they defeated North Carolina State, 4-3, in four overtimes, earning them an unlikely spot in the quarterfinals against UCLA. The Cougars’ cinderella run ended there, however, as they gave up a last minute goal and UCLA squeaked by, 3-2. The leader of the program during their four straight TAAC titles was tenacious midfielder, Aaron Olitsky, one of the best to have donned a Charleston jersey. Olitsky single-handedly qualified the Cougars for NCAA Tournament play three times, scoring the winning goal in the clinching game each season from 19941996. In 2001, he died tragically in a car accident, prompting the College to rename their season opening
Head coach Ralph Lundy meets with his 1990 squad. Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston Alumni Association.
tournament the “Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic” in 2002. “He was a great player on the 1994, 1995 and 1996 teams whose attitude and persistence have become the standard for our program,” Lundy said. “He was a bit of an underdog with a spirit that said ‘I will not be defeated’ not only on the soccer field, but in all his endeavors. Every day, I challenge our players to be more like Aaron Olitsky.” In 1998, the school made the move from the TAAC to the Southern Conference. After a very successful run in the TAAC, the move to the more challenging conference
An action shot from the 1983 season. Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston Alumni Association.
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The team celebrates after defeating nationally ranked Stanford University in August 2012. Photo courtesy of College of Charleston Athletics Communications.
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presented a number of transitional years for the soccer team. “We had a real special group that had to endure [the time] when we couldn’t win any championships,” Lundy said. Finally in 2004, after losing in the conference finals the year before, the Cougars won the SoCon tournament for the first time, defeating Davidson in the championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they fought past South Carolina, 3-2, in the first round, before falling to fellow SoCon member UNC-Greensboro 3-2 in the second round. The program experienced continued success through their next several years, however, they repeatedly fell short in postseason play. In 2006, following a 12-41 campaign, they lost 2-1 in a gut wrenching double overtime game to UNC-Greensboro in the conference
semifinals. The two teams met in the postseason again the following year, this time in the SoCon championship, but UNC-Greensboro proved to have Charleston’s number, taking down the Cougars by a score of 2-1. The Cougars most recently reached the NCAA Tournament in 2010. After a regular season where they sported a 104-3 record, they earned an at-large bid and defeated East Tennessee State in their opening game. In the following round, they were matched up against the top seeded University of Louisville, where they fell 3-1 to the Cardinals. Charleston’s final two seasons in the SoCon were disappointing. In 2011, the Cougars finished with a winning percentage below .500 for the first time since 2001, ending with a 4-8-5 record. In the
Defender Daan Brinkman is one of three seniors on the 2014 team. Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston Alumni Association.
Charleston took on the University of South Carolina in a 1975 exhibition match. Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston Alumni Association.
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2012 season, their last as SoCon members, the Cougars followed a difficult non-conference slate with a solid 4-2-1 performance in conference play. Although they finished with an overall record two games below .500, they qualified for the SoCon Tournament, but lost to Appalachian State in their opening game. The College made their much anticipated move to the Colonial Athletic Association in 2013, putting their athletic teams up against tough opponents from across the eastern seaboard. Much like their first seasons in the SoCon back in the late 90s, their initial season in the CAA was a difficult one for the Cougars. On top of their new conference opponents, they had the toughest non-conference schedule of any team in D-I soccer. They finished 2-4-1 in the CAA and 4-11-1 overall, but all four of their conference losses were by one goal, which was something Lundy viewed as optimistic for 2014. “The Colonial is really, really tough. We lost a lot of one goal games [in 2013]. I got three great seniors [in 2014]: Troy Peterson, Tanner Clay, and Daan Brinkman. They are great leaders, so to tell you the truth I am happy,” Lundy said. Led by those seniors, the Cougars believe 2014 will be a much improved campaign, although they had a rough start to the season. Lundy was confident that their poor performance at the 2014 Olitsky Invitational, dropping both their games, was an aberration. “I wasn’t happy because I felt like we didn’t play anywhere near our ability. We were sloppy and had a lot of turnovers. We were our own worst enemy,” Lundy said. One Cougar in particular, freshman starting goalkeeper Brian Kilgallon, has been recognized for his terrific early season play. He was named the CAA rookie of the week following back-to-back shutout performances in Charleston’s wins over Georgia State (2-0) and North Florida (4-0) at the Gray Griffin Memorial Tournament hosted by
Lundy speaks with the referees before a 2013 game. Photo courtesy of College of Charleston Athletics Communications.
Furman in September. Leading up to their Oct. 4 conference opener against Northeastern, the Cougars have shown that when they can control possession in the midfield and get the ball to their forwards, they have a dangerous attack. However, much like last year, inconsistent play in the midfield and struggles defensively against talented offensive opponents has been Charleston’s achilles heel. With conference play ready to heat up, the Cougars are poised for the challenge, a challenge that Lundy thinks this 40th anniversary team is ready to take head on. “I think we can win a championship, win the CAA and make the NCAA Tournament. My guys are getting after it, working hard and making great strides,” Lundy said.
The 2014 season is Lundy’s 28th year as Charleston’s head coach. Photo courtesy of College of Charleston Athletics Communications.
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A true American experience
by JUSTINE HALL
“The semester had been in session for over a week but I don’t think any of my classmates realized I was an international student,” said Julia Laot, a junior studying at the College from Nice, France. “One day I asked a question and then everyone turned around and looked at me. Someone asked whaere I was from, saying they didn’t recognize my accent. Everyone was so interested that I was studying abroad in America.” Most students at the College only think about leaving Charleston to go abroad for a semester, yet what they don’t realize is that there are over 170 students from around the world spending their semesters studying ‘abroad’ in Charleston. Laot described the process for coming to the College as challenging but well worth the effort. “I had to take the train for 3 hours into Paris to get my student visa and I had to make sure it was ready by the time I was leaving to come to America,” she said. “There was a lot paperwork that I had to complete,” but she said it only helped her to become even more excited about Charleston. “I’m the only one of my family and friends who has come to America to study.” Laot said she had traveled to the United States before, visiting California, New York and Wisconsin. However, she loves being able to live in Charleston and attend classes at the College.
photos by HOLDEN CURRAN
Julia Laot is an international student from Nice, France.
Laot explained that the university she attends in Nice gave her a list of colleges outside of France they were partnered with, and while she said she considered going to Asia, she finally decided on Charleston. Melissa Ochal, Associate Director of the Center for International Education (CIE) on campus, said the College partners with 25 universities to bring students to Charleston each semester. The most popular countries that the College’s international students call home are Germany, the UK, Brazil and China. While thousands
A group of international students preparing to go on a boat cruise sponsored by the Center of International Education.
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of miles, continents and oceans separate these students from one another, they all made the common decision to study abroad at the College of Charleston. Their reasons for doing so don’t differ greatly from American students choosing the College. Jiqiong Yu, a student from China, explained one of the main aspects drawing her here was “Charleston’s culture and background with such an amazing civil war history.” Juan Carlos from Goais, Brazil said, “the welcoming atmosphere with friendly people and wonderful food” were what brought him to Charleston. Similarly Rio SpellerDrews from Ontario, Canada said, “I love the location of the school, the beautiful campus, as well as the friendly atmosphere. I like that the school is located in a city but you are also so close to the beach.” Close proximity to the ocean was also a deciding
factor for Maria Sarter from Mainz, Germany, “ I chose Charleston because of the nice surroundings and the beach.” While their reasons for selecting the College are similar to American students, their experiences proved to not quite be the same. Two all-you-can-eat dining halls on campus, unlimited drink refills and weekly in class quizzes were just some of the culture shocks the students had to get used to when they arrived in Charleston just over a month ago. “Everyone here eats so quickly,” Laot said. She also found it surprising that food and drinks were permitted in class, “it is so different that students can be talking to professors while eating.” The amount of homework also came as a surprise to Laot. “In France we don’t even use textbooks, everything is on PowerPoint. Here the workload is very heavy. We don’t
“It’s really fun rediscovering Charleston with someone who has never been here, or in some cases to America, before.” -Julia Thompson
International students enjoy spending time and shopping on King Street, taking advantage of the American stores.
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have weekly reading quizzes in France either, if you don’t read that’s your problem.” Sarter also found that one of the biggest differences between Charleston and her school in Germany, the University of Applied Sciences Mainz, was the amount of homework given. A special program, called Cougar Ambassadors, was created to help students adjust to the many changes they experience while studying at the College. It is comprised of ordinary CofC students who have either studied abroad in the past or those who are interested in the opportunity to meet and build relationships with international students. Laot’s ambassador, sophomore Julia Thompson said, “being a Cougar Ambassador gives me the opportunity to experience a different culture while still going to an American college in America.” Thompson described her favorite parts of the
“Being a Cougar Ambassador gives me the opportunity to experience a different culture while still going to an American college in America.” -Julia Thompson program saying, “It’s interesting to learn what is just an American word or habit, versus a human or cultural universal characteristic. It’s also really fun rediscovering Charleston with someone who has never been here or in some cases to America before. And when I get pizza handmade from an Italian for dinner and crepes for dessert made from someone who lives in France that’s pretty amazing too.” Ochal explained that each Cougar Ambassador is paired up with a student from abroad over the summer, allowing communication to begin before they even arrive in Charleston. The program not only gives international students the opportunity to ask the ambassadors any questions they may have about the College but it also allows them to feel more comfortable when they arrive, knowing that they already have a friend in Charleston. Laot said she thinks the Cougar Ambassador program was a great idea: “the international center was very While the students are from countries all over the world, they have quickly become friends and enjoy their time in Charleston together.
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helpful, I was worried I wouldn’t know anyone or anything when I got here but the whole program was very well organized.” She said she especially appreciated that the CIE picked her up from the airport, saying it made her feel extremely welcome from the beginning. “They also took us to Target which was definitely an experience, we do not have any stores like that in France,” Laot said The CIE and the Cougar Ambassadors work together to plan activities throughout the semester to assure the students get to experience everything Charleston has to offer. “We took the students on a beach trip to Isle of Palms the first weekend after the semester had started, when of course, there was a 106 degree heat index” Ochal remarked, but regardless of the heat, everyone still managed to enjoy the day. Ochal said further events the CIE has planned for the students include a harbor cruise, an International Night at a Charleston men’s soccer game, a Halloween ghost tour around campus, a trip to Magnolia Plantation, a white water
rafting trip over fall break and a Thanksgiving dinner with the provost office. But the activity the students are most excited for is attending a Citadel football game, something Laot described as a true American experience. Before leaving Charleston at the end of the semester, many students have bucket lists of things they want to do and places they want to see in the U.S. Laot said she wants to shop at Forever 21 and Victoria’s Secret, “everyone loves Forever 21 at home but we only have one in Paris.” She said she also went paddle boarding with the outdoors club, “it was so beautiful and so fun,” she said she would love to go again before she leaves. Carlos decided on going to California and Disneyworld in Florida before he returns to Brazil. Sarter, from Germany, said she intends on visiting the Bahamas, New York, and the West Coast. Ochal remarked that at the semesters end all of the students are sad to go home and love Charleston, “which I take as a really good sign.”
Julia Laot (top right) with other international students she has become friends with while in Charleston.
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behind the screen: coding with Will Jamieson
by NICOLE DEMARCO photos by WESLEY VANCE 14
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t was in eighth grade that Atlanta-native Will Jamieson, that by getting involved with various organizations first fell in love with computer programming. It started and auditing additional classes just for the purpose of as a fascination in the purest form. He was enamored by learning. the sheer capacity that he could program his calculator Although he continues to work on various projects, to do his homework for him. Not long afterwards, he Jamieson is committed to having the full college made his first iPhone app at the age of 16. experience. He is a member of the club tennis team, the “I just became hooked on this efficiency of life and Intercollegiate Programming Competition (ICPC) team from there I went on to really dive into my passion of and the Hackathon team. When asked how he balances coding. There’s obviously a lot more that can be done his busy schedule, he replied, “I just find myself not than a calculator,” he said. getting a lot of sleep.” It sounds simple, right? Perhaps Jamieson’s lack of This should’ve been a sign. sleep is what fuels his savvy While Jamieson did try problem solving. While he was his hand at graphic design unable to share details, it’s clear and video effects, it was that he is working on some very inevitable that he would one exciting products. day return to his passion. Jamieson’s latest is a long“The app game is so term music app, which involves much more fun because you group listening in any type of have the concept of making environment. His schedule is something and having already filled with meetings to millions of people using discuss the new app, including something you’ve created. potential endorsement deals with It’s such a rewarding Cleveland Browns quarterback, experience,” he said. Connor Shaw and rapper, Waka Now in the midst of his Flocka. junior year at the College, Small World, is another app Jamieson has created seven Jamieson is developing which different apps, with two serves networking purposes in additional projects in the various cities. The idea behind developmental stage. One the app is that the world is of these apps has spread actually not small at all, as it like wildfire to over 600 uses technology to find personal campuses across the country connections in the area where and currently ranks as the #5 Jamieson still uses Yik Yak daily, admitting it was his favorite you’re traveling. free app in the iTunes App app to develop. Jamieson explained that he Store. That’s right; Jamieson doesn’t brainstorm ideas for apps, is one of the three founders of the popular anonymous but tries to find solutions to problems faced in everyday messaging app that has everyone talking: Yik Yak. life. “I’m not constantly trying to think of ideas. I’m Jamieson created the app in cohorts with two trying to think of problems that I can fix myself,” he students from Furman University, Tyler Droll and Brooks said. Buffington, but it was his skill and experience that led For those who are interested in technology the pair to recruit Jamieson into the project specifically. entrepreneurship, Jamieson suggests that learning to Soon after, he created the Android component and the code is essential because while everyone has ideas, not trio launched the app. many people can execute them. And there is no better Jamieson admits that it was his favorite project to time than the present. work on, because of its huge success. However, his own “College is the time to take chances, and if you don’t ‘yaks’ have most certainly decreased in number since its put yourself out there – then you’ll never know if you inception. “I still love to use it, but I used to spend all will succeed,” he said. day on it – that was my life,” he said. So what’s next? Jamieson plans to continue In June, the founders had already secured $11.5 developing apps, but not at the expense of his time million in investment money to continue the project. in college. One thing’s for certain, we can expect big While Jamieson remains a co-founder and shareholder things from him in the future. in Yik Yak, he no longer codes for the company. “Post-grad, I’ll be doing my own thing in Charleston. “I decided I wanted to stay in school. I really just I still don’t know what. It could be Small World, it could want to get the most out of everything and what the be my new music app or it could even be something school has to offer,” Jamieson said. He has done just entirely different,” he said.
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A V I ¡V S O L ! S O D R A BE
⏎ THE MAN BEHIND THE BEARD by COURTNEY EKER photos by STEPHANIE GREENE
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August 10, 2004 marks the last time that
Professor Paul Roof picked up a razor and shaved his face. Since then, he has been growing, grooming, gelling and garnering public attention for his facial hair. Maybe you’ve taken one of his sociology classes. Maybe you’ve seen him around campus. Or maybe you’ve seen his face staring back at you as you take a swig from a can of a Holy City Follicle Brown brew. It doesn’t really matter how you know him, but it’s almost guaranteed what you know him for: his beard. Dr. Roof is not a new (bearded) face on the CofC campus. In fact, this semester marks his third time teaching at the College. And yes, he was the man in the news this summer for getting fired from Charleston Southern University because he appeared on a beer can. More on that later. The good news is that he’s back, beard and all. Initially, Roof worked at CofC beginning with a three year stretch from 2000-2003. At which time, Roof, originally from Columbia, decided to leave South Carolina and try something new. This takes us to where the beard began - Farmington, New Mexico. Roof was teaching at San Juan Community College when he made the decision never to shave his face again. Why? In college, when Roof realized that he was capable of growing a beard, he thought to himself, “This is going to be cool one day.” His girlfriend at the time did not agree. Roof said she made him shave his beard, and that, “while I was doing it, I felt emasculated–I did this for a girl.” From that day forward, Roof stopped shaving almost completely. Luckily, he found a wife who insisted he have a beard on their wedding day. Since the wedding, Roof has shaved a grand total of two times. After a couple years spent in the Southwest with his wife, the couple decided to return to Charleston in 2005 in order to settle down and start their family. Roof’s first child, KK, was born that fall. Meanwhile, the beard grew longer. After returning to South Carolina, Roof began developing a blueprint for a new club specifically created for those with interesting facial hair. In 2007, Roof founded the Holy City Beard and Moustache Society and is the current chair (to which Roof remarked, “I’m the Commander…
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How ‘bout that?”) Currently, this group is made up of 27 members and it’s still growing. The Holy City Beard and Moustache Society meets monthly at different bars around town. In addition to their monthly meetings, they travel to different cities or even countries for beard and moustache competitions. Roof said, “Here’s the thing with a beard competition, it’s an excuse to have a good time.” Just like any other type of competition, there are categories, judges, a scoring system and even costumes. Roof said, “It’s like a beauty competition.” The difference? More hair. Men of all ages participate in these competitions. Roof said men show up “that look like they’ve been in ‘Lord of the Rings’, without having gone through makeup.” Men with such voluminous beardage have to braid their hair for daily wear because it becomes an inconvenience. Roof explained that having a beard can make it seem like you’re wearing a napkin on your chest all the time. With a chuckle, Roof said, “There can be situations when facial hair isn’t the best thing–but beauty has a price.” Not all men at these competitions resemble Gandalf the Grey. Beard competitions can appeal to a younger crowd, too. For example, Dr. Roof is preparing to hand down the beard wax to one of his students here at CofC, Daniel Lowder, who has been growing his beard out for roughly seven months. Lowder hopes to join the society in the next couple years when his beard gets long enough, at which time he will participate in the “College Beard” division. But it’s not all hairspray and Pabst Blue Ribbon for these self-pronounced “beardos.” The Holy City Beard and Moustache Society hosts an annual competition here in Charleston that benefits the Center for Women, a charity for ovarian cancer research. Roof said that in the last five years, the club has raised close to $30,000 for ovarian cancer research. That’s not to say that the weekend of the competition, which typically takes place in the Spring, isn’t filled with tomfoolery. Roof said, “People come from all over. There’s people from all different incomes, ages and professions. It’s a community. People know me as ‘The Professor.’” Don’t think that this fun is only limited to men. Where’s the thrill without the occasional bearded lady? Introducing, the Whiskerina Category. It’s not necessarily
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Roof reflects on his termination from Charleston Southern as being mad, sad and glad.
the testosterone-imbalanced woman at the circus that you’re picturing in your head; whiskerinas are women who create beards out of assorted materials and compete in two categories: “Fake Creative” and “Fake Realistic.” Some notable “Fake Creative” beards include ones made of five O’cork Shadow (made of wine corks), Spongebeard Squarepants (made of sponge) or even a Paul Roof Holy City beard (made with beer cans to commemorate Dr. Roof’s famous image.) Roof said, “Whiskerinas are like groupies, the free-lovin’ souls that they are, but they get competitive too.” Many of you are probably wondering how exactly a beard is judged. In the competition, there is a variety of categories that cover a broad spectrum. Beards are judged in length and measured from the lower lip, color, density and personality. Men can wear their beards au natural, or they can choose to enter the freestyle competition, where they can style or gel their beards to take another form. This process includes assorted hairsprays, beard batters, beard savers, beard balms, pomades, leavein conditioners and waxes. Unsurprisingly enough, the styling can take hours. This is Dr. Roof’s area of expertise. Coming from a man who has styled his beard into the form of the Liberty Bell (pendulum and all), Roof’s perspective on freestyling is not to be taken lightly. The precision in which Roof styles his facial hair has led him to a plethora of success in the Beardo world. In competitions, Roof takes all details into consideration. Trimming split ends. Taming “flyaways.” All the way down to the color of t-shirt that he wears, there is a very precise plan of action behind every time Roof stands before a judge. This precision in his art got Roof and his club featured in an episode of the TV show Whisker Wars (available on Netflix, in case curiosity gets the best of you). Roof, who has participated in numerous competitions since 2007, nationally and internationally, said, “Sometimes my wife and I go to the world championships as an anniversary trip, the two that we went to together were Alaska in 2009 and Norway in 2011.” Just last year, Roof took second place in the country for freestyle beard when he styled his facial hair to take the form of a giant pair of scissors.
The 30 Minute Beard
STEP 1: Work some Got 2B Glued Flat-Iron Leave-In conditioner into the beard to loosen it up. Comb thoroughly and leave for 3-5 minutes.
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STEP 2: Give the beard the “butt cut” (Split the beard in half down the middle).
STEP 3: Use a blow dryer to blow while using a hefty amount of Got 2B Hairspray to spray the beard in a horizontal form. (Beardo’s note: “This is not healthy for your hair.”)
STEP 4: Apply Got 2B Glued (a bearded man’s holy grail) while still using the blow dryer to form the hair.
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That same winning style ended up on the can for the Holy City Follicle Brown brew. At the time that Roof’s image was placed on the beer can, he was working at Charleston Southern University. In the midst of the first week of classes during this past summer, Roof found out that he would no longer be teaching at the university due to the fact that his face (and the hair that comes with it) appeared on the alcoholic beverage. Roof commented, “Charleston Southern is a Southern Baptist school and they had a problem with that.” The beer can, which has since helped raise a significant amount of money for ovarian cancer research, can be purchased locally. Charleston Southern released a statement this summer saying that sometimes difficult decisions must be made for the school, because the values of Charleston Southern “are always paramount.” Apparently, Roof’s debut on the beer can did not fall under those values. Roof was teaching a class on a Thursday, and by the following Monday, that same class had a different professor. However, Roof is happy to be back at the College of Charleston. “The College and my colleagues here came to my support when I needed it and the College has been a part of my life since 2000. I don’t plan on leaving it again,” he said.
But let’s get back to that beard. To Roof, it’s just hair that he takes care of. Like the rest of us, he washes it, shampooes it and conditions it just like in any regular beauty routine– with the exception of the daily application of beard oil. “But the interesting thing about a beard,” he said, “is how others perceive it and [let it] define you.” Roof pays close attention to the sociological attention that comes with having a beard. Many undertones of gender, grooming and beauty tend to surface pertaining to Roof’s scruffy appearance. Although he says it can become a master status, he also said that when he’s around town with his family, people don’t see him specifically for his facial hair, “they just see a dad with a beard.” As for his children, they’ve never known him any other way; the beard is older than they are. Roof’s secondborn, Matthew (6) aspires to have his own moustache one day. As for now, Roof will continue keeping his promise to never shave again by growing out his beard until the day he dies. Roof said, “Hopefully at my funeral it will be very gray and I will have lived a long and productive life.” And with a glimmer of happiness in his eye and a grin broadening underneath the 14-inch-long scruff, I can’t help but believe that he’s on the right track.
Beardos use enough beauty products to make a teenage girl swoon. Amidst the variety you’ll find pastes, sprays, creams, gels and waxes--all used for styling.
STEP 7: Expect to receive interesting looks while walking down the street.
STEP 5: Take a glass cup of desired gerth and form hair around the circumference, all while using the heat from the blow dryer to set the mold of a curl around the glass.
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STEP 6: Pinch some moustache wax between your pointer finger and thumb and work it into the tips of the moustache hairs. Form accordingly.
STEP 8: Lather, rinse and repeat with shampoo and conditioner until regular texture and form returns. 19
b
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Peter Spearman hosted the past few shows at his house, also known as “The Pink Palace.”
GR
CHARLESTON
yJ “It’s about creating a sense ES of community,” Peter Spearman, SS senior at the College, thoughtfully PE NC explained, “Or really, it’s just E something silly.” Earlier this year when Liza Anne, a close friend and musician from Nashville, proposed the idea of touring to Charleston, Spearman offered his house as a makeshift concert venue. He and his three roommates decided that with only six months of rent left, they would take a chance and let her perform in their backyard. Maybe it would anger their neighbors, maybe their house would get trashed or maybe no one would even show up. Yet the impromptu event proved to be surprisingly successful and the residents of 293 King St. decided the music should not stop there. Spearman’s house affectionately came to be known as Kevsco Alley and continued to play host to a slew of
EE NE
POP UP
IE musicians, from N Spearman’s old A H R.A. to well-known P
concerts. Everyone participated either by creating and hanging posters or managing hospitality since they were also a ‘hotel’ for the traveling musicians, providing free drinks to the audience. Amongst the four of them, the word spread rapidly about Kevsco. Over the next six months, they welcomed musicians such as Cory Kilgannon, Family and Friends, Steven Fiore, Tiger Hudson, She Returns From War and Michael Flynn to Kevsco, the majority of whom were either locals or traveled from nearby Southeastern towns, namely Columbia or Nashville. While Spearman was in charge of booking the artists, he soon found it was not very difficult. Instead, they had begun to reach out to him. “Apparently,” Spearman said, “all the small bands in Southeast are friends.” Undoubtedly through word of mouth, their shows grew and soon the brick-laden patio with graffiti walls was brimming with people young and old. Artists were likely eager to fuel the
E ST locals. Located beside y b s the restaurant, Fire, on King o phot Street, one would push through
the wrought-iron gate with Kevsco scrawled on the top to be led down a small narrow brick pathway. Progressively widening, the alley finally opens into a large paved space, nestled between brick houses and iron scaffoldings. Bands, which played for free, would set up their equipment in the open square and an audience would trickle in from the street, filling up the alley and fostering a community. Of course, Spearman was not alone in running the house shows. His roommates Matthew Navey, Patrick Walker and Addi Greene were also original founders of the low-key 20
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“If you take care of people, they’ll take care of the artists.” -Billie Fountain spark of a thriving small-scale music venue or perhaps just share their work with a diverse yet neighborly crowd. “The atmosphere at Kevsco really does feel like a closely-knit community,” Spearman emphasized. People are friendly, chatting between songs, and easy-going, never hard on the performer if they make a few mistakes here and there. It really takes the pressure off the musician, which is perfect if they do not have much live experience. So when those six months came to an end this summer, Peter felt obliged to preserve their monthly community the yard
gatherings. Thus, Pop-Up Charleston was formed. Essentially, it still consists of house shows, but the house hosting the concert will change each month. Not because they do not want the concerts at their own place anymore but in an attempt to get more people involved. At least, this is their ideal plan; first, they have to scout locations. So far, they have only held shows at their new home on Hanover, the last show being Youth with Cole Collins on September 16th. Youth (a.k.a. Julian Dente), was an indie-rock darling from Nashville and was completed with local Cole Collins’ ambient rock. While the genres at Pop-Up are normally a collection of alternative or folk-indie, there is no imposed restriction on the artists’ welcomed to the house. There has never nor will there ever be a cover fee, and the roommates provide a couple cases of beer and bottles of wine for whoever shows up. Spearman admits that they lose a lot of money on the shows (any donations go solely to the performing artist), but he wants to provide for people and make them feel welcome. Billie Fountain, a Kevsco veteran and Clemson graduate student, told him that he was right in his methods. “If you take care of people, they’ll take care of the artists.” Essentially, through eliminating all the other expenses there is a stronger chance for people to donate or buy some merchandise. While their donation-based system has caused a few bands to decline the offer to perform, Peter is sticking to his promise. “That’s not what it’s about,” he said. As an English and Theatre major, Spearman is obviously well invested in the arts and understands Pop Up leaders do everything for the show, from supplying beer to cleaning up.
Cole Collins brought a unique twist to the Pop Up shows with his serenading voice and clever violin looping.
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The tower of Kevsco Alley could be considered the best seat of the house with its spectacular view of the musicians and the crowd.
the importance of feeling involved in a production. This is what led him to evaluate other venues in Charleston and realize they do not encompass a strong sense of belonging. At least, not like these house shows. Ultimately, Spearman and his roommates are just striving to make Charleston the music community it should be; placing it on the map with Atlanta, Columbia and Nashville so that the city is no longer excluded from an artists’ tour dates. Between the youth of the College and the tourism industry, Charleston should be an obvious destination in the southeast yet the ceiling is still too low. Even local artists have a tendency to pack up and leave since the historic city does not offer them enough. Spearman’s Pop-Up Charleston is a step in the right direction; a step towards a flourishing, communal music and art scene. If you want to stay in the know about upcoming Pop-Up Charleston shows, watch out for posters tacked around campus or send Peter a friend request on Facebook where he sends out event invitations. All of which are signed “Sad Boy” Spearman in light of his honorable nickname from his first leading role and his uncanny ability to cry at will.
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kelly owen turns experience into words by CHELSEA ANDERSON photos by SAMUEL McCAULEY To practice what you preach, a cliché that rings true. In Kelly Owen’s case, to practice what you teach sparked what would become a five year literary journey. With 20 years of higher education experience already under her belt and two and a half earned degrees, the College’s very own English professor has put her skills to the test by publishing her debut novel, The College Chronicles: Freshman Milestones. Unlike any before, this “New Adult” novel explores the uncharted territory of freshman college
life in its rawest and purest form. From sex to biology and drinking, Owen’s narrative illustrates the dynamic course and experience that is college. The novel delves into the life of protagonist Cadence Cooper, who finds herself facing more than what is to be expected of her first year at Charlestowne College. With threats of expulsion from a professor knocking at her door, encounters with a pestering roommate, hookups and tentative class schedules, Cadence must strive to endure the challenges that surround the world of the college experience. Nearly defeated and ready to end her hopes of higher education, Cadence finds solace in romance and lands the job of student photographer. Learning lessons from class and the city, she discovers issues of rape, suicide and scandal. Skip Lines A Georgetown, S.C. native, Owen attended the University of South Carolina, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and collected her master’s at the Graduate School of the College of Charleston, before the fate of writing a novel crossed her path. Room 319, March 6, 2009, was not just an ordinary day on the job, for it was in her very own classroom where Owen experienced her life altering revelation. The day’s lecture focused on an in-class writing assignment in which Owen instructed students to skip lines as they went about their work. As a reminder, one student in particular wrote SKIP LINES on the back of her hand before proceeding with her task. Owen stated that as she stared at those two words, she heard a small voice in her head of what the student might be thinking. “Who the hell does she think she is asking us to remember to ‘skip lines’? Is that really important? As if by instinct, I grabbed a blank sheet of paper and after a short time, one entire side was filled with lines chronicling a series about college. For some reason, the pen in my hand was red and the ideas appeared as if they had been shed in my own blood. Hours later, the story was racing out of my mind, down my arm, and to the hand that kept track of a narrative gone wild. When I got home, I opened a long-unused leather journal and wrote what will become one of the most memorable scenes in the series.” 572 pages later, on March 14, 2013, the story was complete.
Owen just published her first novel, The College Chronicles: Freshman Milestones.
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Historic Settings While the fictional college of Charlestowne takes place in the historic city of Charleston, Owen clarified that her created institution is not to represent The College of Charleston. Using her personal education experience and the involvement of teaching higher education, Owen drew from these experiences to develop the backdrop for her story. And despite the familiar places and scenery of Charleston, characters within the novel are not actual students that attend the College of Charleston, but rather lasting personalities and essences of students she came in contact with. Within the novel, readers discover that characters are minimally and vaguely described. From this, Owen challenged, “What does the typical college student look like?” Because college is a diverse affair and experience, there is no set physical description or predetermined fate of what a college student may face on their journey. Owen’s strategic aspect makes her narrative that more captivating and appealing to all students in the system of higher learning. Owen’s Milestones Upon its July release date, The College Chronicles was warmly welcomed by faculty and staff at the College of Charleston. Along with photos, scences from the book and videos, thecollegechronicles.com displays a growing fanbase spreading their inquiry and love for the novel through Facebook, Instagram and the hashtag #whatsyourcourse. Additional features include music written and sung by her “rockstars” or students of Owen whom she taught. Readers can also explore a set of questions based on the book to guide along with readings. Owen expressed that she has received much support from family members, coworkers and students, making the new experience of becoming a self published author easier. And although nothing but good news and success has generated from the novel, Owen confesses that the hardest part of this journey has not been penning down her words, but actually spreading it and selling it. With the help of her
husband, Matt Owen, the daunting hurdle of publishing was accomplished with the formation of their own company Boxer Publishing, LLC. This feat allowed Owen creative freedom on not only the physical attributes of the novel, but where and how it is distributed. From Amazon to iTunes and even local bookstores, The College Chronicles’ pages are being flipped, discussed and mentioned literally and digitally in places as far as the UK. The Future of The College Chronicles As an English professor to freshmen students, it was asked if Owen would ever share her novel and incorporate her work into class curriculum. Owen replied “I would never force my students to read my work. I would rather them discover it on their own.” That being said, Owen admitted that it would be great and aspires to see other educators use her story within a classroom setting. Now that the first stage of the series is already out, and with three more novels to complete, each documenting a year in her characters’ college lives, readers can anticipate the second part of Cadence’s journey hitting shelves soon. On where she expects the series to go in the future, Owen mentioned that while the ending of the series is already written, “as a writer [she] knows where its going, but sometimes characters make twists and turns that you don’t expect.” Mirroring that of her characters, Owen’s embark on this new and thrilling journey is life changing not only for her, but for readers, reiterating the fact that life is a college, but what course you take is in your hands.
Owen was inspired to write her novel by an assignment she gave to her students one day in 2009.
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Abstract:
Julian Harrell’s hip-hop perspective Freestyle Fridays: that is where it all started for Julian Harrell, sophomore International Business major and notorious local rap artist, Abstract. After moving to North Virginia in high school, Harrell met Saul. A year older, Saul was a step ahead in his rap career; he already had a studio set up in his basement, mixtapes recorded with friends, and a finetuned talent for rhyme. When Harrell saw him perform for a class project, his interest was immediately sparked. He’d been writing lyrics in a composition notebook for years, but it was not until watching Saul perform that he recognized his own need to find his voice. After a few sessions freestyling together, he asked for an opportunity to record. Unfortunately, Saul said no. “He said, you can’t record with me yet,” Harrell explained, “because you have to get better.” Determined, he took the initiative and invested himself in an art he had been only toying with since seventh grade. Between recording a few tracks in his own home, refining beats and cadence, and continuing to freestyle on Fridays in the cafeteria, he quickly made progress. Saul noticed Harrell’s strides, but more importantly, so did Harrell. There was always a natural passion for the craft, something he had regarded as a past-time and still doesn’t allow to become his top priority. “I didn’t come to College of Charleston for my music,” Harrell admitted. “My mom said, school first, then you can do what you want. As long as 26
by JESS SPENCE & DYLAN TAYLOR photos by SAMUEL MCCAULEY
school work gets done first,” and he hasn’t strayed far from that principle. However, rap is still a large part of his life, and a successful one at that. Since arriving at College of Charleston, he’s performed in a multitude of venues: Sneaker, King Dusko, Kevsco Alley and the Sottile Theatre to name a few. He took part in the Spectra Talent show for incoming freshmen this year, participated in Open Mic Night during orientation week and was featured at Von Postum’s Radio Show launch party. However, he declared Kevsco Alley as one of his most significant shows merely because of the atmosphere and support from the crowd. He doubted that anyone would show up; however, not only were there people, but donations were made. It was, in effect, his first ‘paid’ show. Although his live performances have been thriving in Charleston, it’s a recent venture. He had been recording and releasing mixtapes throughout high school, but his first show wasn’t until his senior year at his cousin’s mixtape release party in Georgetown, S.C. To date, he has five collections released (one of which is a collaboration) and has been featured on his friends’ work as well. Instead of approaching the mixtapes in search of perfection, he views them as milestones of personal development. The creative freedom that comes with that perspective has led to a variety of tracks, some influenced by jazz elements, others with an electronic underscore and at times just a the yard
simple beat. His last release, “Sketch,” breaks that habit and cuts down the list to less than 10 songs. The mixtape also represents the first time he has recorded outside of Saul’s basement and the first time he’s produced hard copies to distribute. Sacrificing Knowledge Eradicates Thoughts of Conscious Humans is the acronym Harrell created around the word to encompass the themes discussed in his music. In his lyrics, he tries to weave in pieces that will challenge someone’s way of thinking and acting, or just question society as a whole. He admitted he sometimes feels as if he’s a mother in doing so. While he emphasized his desire to educate people through music, he refrained from making it seem like the only purpose behind his rap. “I’m just trying to make good music people can jig too,” he finally admitted, brushing off the serious undertone of taking on a teacher-student position. His affection for contradictions and keeping things in the scope of a bigger picture is what initially inspired the name Abstract. Just as he views his rap career (which he hesitates to even refer to as a career) as one piece of his entire being, he encourages his listeners to take a step
back and diversify their lives. “I try not to pigeonhole who I hang out with,” he responded when I mentioned how well-connected he seems to be at the college. Harrell strongly voiced his idea of a creating a bigger community through his music. He wants to host shows where there are “random people that you wouldn’t see chilling together otherwise.” Essentially, his end-goal in creating music is to try and get as many people involved and connected as possible. While he’s considered the possibility of becoming a producer or creating his own record label, he has a skeptical approach to the business. “Rap is a very volatile industry,” he explained. Right now, he just hopes to keep progressing with his own music. After all, Harrell admitted that hip-hop has influenced everything else in his life. “[Hip-hop] makes me look at things differently; how I talk, think, learn everything,” he elaborated. When he’s trying to make sense of something, he relates it to music to come to an understanding. Even if he doesn’t pursue rap in the long run, he sees the benefit of his investment in music and the changes it has made in his life. That passion is all that really matters in the end.
Harrell, a.k.a. Abstract, has a passion and gift for rapping, but always manages to keep his school work a number one priority.
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Secret study spots to get you through the school year
by ASHLEY SPROUSE photos by WESLEY VANCE The library is a great place to meet up with friends and to study together. However, hanging around Addlestone too long tends to get us down. While we like to venture out and explore new areas every now and then, sometimes we want to have a place in mind already. Luckily, we’ve created a guide of go-to secret study spots to help you get through this semester.
1 The Multicultural Center 207 Calhoun St.
“I really like studying at the Multicultural Center because the nice workers, building, and low traffic makes the environment very homey,” says Junior Mamiko Higa, “but without the distractions of being in my room.” Higa isn’t lying when she says the environment is homey at the Multicultural Center. Upstairs there’s a room that is complete with beanbag chairs, couches and even a charging station that has multiple ports to give battery life back to every type of phone from Androids to iPhones. The Multicultural Center also has free printing downstairs. If you’re worried you don’t fit the mold to use the center then fret not. No matter what your ethnicity is, the Multicultural Center is open to every student on campus.
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2 Stern Student Center 71 George St.
Stern Center isn’t just a place to pick up Chick-fil-A for dinner, but also an area full of secret study spots. Outside on the courtyard, anyone can take a yoga mat to lie on while catching some rays and getting caught up on class readings. Inside, there are couches and tables on each level that make studying convenient and comfortable.
Christophe artisan 3 Chocolatier 90 Society St. Just because we’re in the Holy City doesn’t mean we can’t be in a more European state of mind. Grab your books, maybe a beret and head over to Society Street for an atmosphere that mimics that of France. While there isn’t an Eiffel Tower within viewing distance, Christophe Artisan Chocolatier does offer an outside courtyard that offers a tranquil environment to hit the books. There are plenty of food options to munch on from chocolates to macaroons. Oh, and did we mention the free Wi-Fi?
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4 The New Science Building 202 Calhoun St.
If organic chemistry, physiology or even introductory biology has you stressed out then it might be a good idea to head to the Science Building located right across from the library. There are plenty of rooms with white boards to help break down chemical compounds right before your eyes. While you’ll be able to find a room to study in by yourself, you can still find classmates in the building to compare notes. “I’m around a ton of other people studying the same material as myself. We tend to help each other out, while also having a good time,” says junior and biochemistry major Travis Varner. Hey theatre majors, there’s still space for you in the New Science Building, too. The building is open to everyone.
5 Brown’s Court Bakery 199 St. Philip St.
We can’t help it but every time we start to develop our thesis, we crave something sweet to help us get through the next paragraph. At Brown’s Court Bakery, the food options aren’t just limited to sweet pastries but extend to different types of baguettes, coffee and more. We prefer to have our pastry and eat it too in the upstairs area complete with multiple chairs and tables. There’s even places to crack into the books on the balcony. However on humid days in the Holy City, we’d rather sit inside the bakery to enjoy the music and atmosphere.
6 Honors Balcony 10 Green Way
While most students are aware of the Honors Center, which is located in the middle of campus next to Cougar Mall, the balcony attached to the center is a little less known. The hideout creates an even more tranquil space to study compared to inside. “I can concentrate much better than at the library,” says senior Cassandra Awgulewitsch, “it’s quieter.” Looking out from the balcony, you can admire the Spanish moss and watch students pass by below. Enjoy the breeze, study your notes and take it all in. october 2
photo by Colin Johnson
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How to have a
VOGUE College
worthy wardrobe...
on a
budget by MEREDITH MALPHRUS photos by SAMUEL McCAULEY
S
ince 1892, Vogue has graciously bestowed upon us the very cream of the crop of fashion. As one of the most prestigious and respected fashion magazines in the world, why look further than Vogue to get some fall style inspiration? Vogue’s Fall 2014 trend predictions have so far been, as expected, right on target, featuring Art-Deco prints and relaxed-fitting trousers from bigtime designers like Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Chanel, Tom Ford and more. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t as lucky to buy and wear these incredibly gorgeous and incredibly expensive brands. We are college students. We are on the “Ramen Noodle every night” kind of budget. However, for the thriving fashionistas out there, there are tricks of the trade to be learned inside Vogue’s pages. Let us forever be inspired by the high-cotton fashion designers who set trends into motion, but let us seek and succeed in finding fashionable clothing at affordable prices. Do not disregard the magical wonders of retail department stores, such as Belk, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx,
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H&M and Forever 21. Designers have created special, one-of-a-kind collections for department stores at a reasonable price for us everyday girls. Their clothes may not be bagged in hand-woven silk or served with a glass of bubbly on a silver platter, but their clothes are quality, and with the right eye, one can achieve a stylish, “designer-brand” look wearing them. As mentioned before, look to the world’s finest fashion designers for inspiration. Notice trends, the overall style, then go find alternative pieces to create your own Vogue-worthy wardrobe. Substitute pricey cashmeres for comfortable cable knits and Italian-made leather loafers for patent flats. With these tips, and the help of department stores, having the “Vogue” look is achievable. Inspired by Fall 2014 Fashion Week and aggregated by Vogue’s favorite collections, here are three examples from three different collections on how to channel designer-brand looks into your everyday wardrobe – from the runways of New York City to the streets of the everyday woman. the yard
Designer Francisco Costa, the Women’s Creative Director at Calvin Klein, impressed us with his use of textured quality of tweed and quilts paired with the classic fall favorite, cable knits, and utility boots laced with silver wire. According to Costa, silver lace is a “musthave” for fall. For a more affordable version, try these H&M black leggings with leather, textured patches that spice up the normal, plain leggings ($19.95). Pair it with a comfortable sweater/Tshirt like this one from H&M ($17.95), a worn pair of Steve Madden boots ($59) and the adored Target floppy hat ($17.75). Voilà! The perfect edgy, fall, designer-inspired outfit ready to wear without sweating bullets over the cost (or the heat).
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Michael Kors hit the ground running with his coastal Californiainspired collection for Fall 2014. Kors’ collection is so Cali: sporting slouchy, wool pants, cozy knits, suede and chiffon fabrics and peasant skirts. He called it, “big Sur meets big city,” which we Charlestonians can definitely relate to. Incorporating Kors’ laidback style into a less pricey outfit, the best advice is that boyfriend jeans are always a good idea, like these from Urban Outfitters ($79). Complete this effortless look with a Forever 21 cozy, rosy-colored sweater ($12.24), a Marley Lilly clutch ($29.99), understated Madewell flats ($55) and a J. Crew linen blazer ($119) for some added class at a lesser cost.
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! à l i Vo
Prada’s Fall 2014 collection strutted with a 70s style look, flaunting silk scarves, V-neck sweaters, wedgeheeled boots, art deco prints and the classic coat trimmed with shaggy shearling. Modeled by: This 70s-esque collection only confirmed Prada’s remarkable taste in fashion as a Charlotte Pinckney, benchmark in the industry. So Prada, we look to Communication you. An affordable, alternative ensemble would Major be a sweater dress from H&M ($34.95), and to convey the 70s style, sport a pair of trendy, wedge-heeled boots from Steve Madden Taylor Yates, ($48.95). Polish it all off with a H&M silk Marine Biology Major scarf ($5.95) to portray the Prada girl look without breaking your budget.
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EATING from Bay to Broad
by CHRISTINA D’ANTONI, photos by STEPHANIE GREENE East Bay and Broad; these are the streets that shape our city. Geographically, they split the peninsula into boroughs, namely Ansonborough and South of Broad. Historically, they signify Charleston’s great centers of commerce and jurisdiction. And culturally, they define and complicate this beautiful city we live in. King Street and Battery Park clog tourist pamphlets and receive notoriety for their commercial beauty and charm, but as we Charlestonians know, there is so much more to
• EAST BAY •
this peninsula held on the backs of these boroughs and their less nationally acclaimed locations. Anyone can feel it, walking down King, Broad, East Bay or Meeting – that premonition that each side street passed is a missed opportunity, capable of both sunny sojourns and twilight secrets, a “maybe later,” a forlorn feeling. And this doesn’t stop at strolling, shopping or, of course, eating. There are restaurants and specialty shops from Bay to Broad that the neighbors know, and are waiting for you to visit… East Bay St., originally just “Bay,” has a certain marshy stillness to it, as if you drove and drove miles to the shore and you arrived to a quietness. But in Charleston, this happens in a matter of minutes and intersections. As you walk down Calhoun towards East Bay, there isn’t a single hint that you’re coming closer to the edge until you look straight ahead and the buildings start to grow larger and more sparse. East Bay and its surrounding Ansonborough have a subtlety found less so on the rest of the peninsula. There is no air of pretension or as many historic porticos, but there are wealths of local seafood and meats.
Ted’s Butcherblock sits back in a strip mall off East Bay, and looks anything but charming. But as you walk in, you see the packed cases of meats and realize you’re not just in any sandwich shop or deli. Owner Ted Dombrowski stocks the shop 34
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OPINION with cheese, artisanal bacon (for the bacon of the month BLT) and a selection of wines. The bbq pulled pork panini stands out as the customer favorite, with house-smoked heritage pork, cheddar cheese slaw and house bbq sauce. And of course, their gouda mac & cheese, stuffed into plastic cups on almost every customer’s table.
Making your way down the street, you’ll find that 289 East Bay is no longer painted the color of orange juice, but white with steel, now 167 Raw. CofC alumni, Jesse Sandole and Kyle Norton, opened their gourmet seafood market and cafe as a second location and companion to their family seafood market in Nantucket. Sandole states, “Charleston has an incredible food culture, [and] we wanted to bring the concept of a fish market/restaurant to town because it’s a bit different than what people are used to experiencing...we’re bringing in all the best seafood we can find from up and down the East Coast which makes for an exciting dynamic in our kitchen. Our menu is small and simple but by having the seafood case at our disposal we’re able to change it everyday.” And they do. Customers come by cars and by foot to 167 Raw to scope out the case and take home boxes of scallops or tuna poke and chips for dinner, or to serve as sides. Its Ansonborough’s neighborhood seafood jaunt, and it feels very at home there.
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• BROAD • Broad Street is stately, there’s no denying it. Maybe it’s the large churches, or the Greek Revival of the Four Corners of Law, but most likely it’s because (at least historically) it has the broadest streets in Charleston. Art galleries feel dignified here, and so does really every building that seems to tower over you, making walking down the street a humbling experience.
Tucked onto Church Street, right off of Broad under a black awning is the very quaint fromagerie, goat. sheep. cow. The shop carries over 200 types of cheeses from both the U.S. and Europe, and with cheese lovers in and out daily, goat. sheep. cow. began to make a “sandwich of the day” to appease them. Patty Floersheimer, a co-owner, commented, “It seem[ed] to work as we did not want to become a sandwich shop but still wanted to give our clientele what they asked for.” Daily sandwiches with ingredients like Finocchiona, marinated feta cheese, roasted red peppers and local arugula are now hot-items at goat.sheep.cow., and while most of their sandwich customers “were regulars who live[d] and work[ed] in the neighborhood,” Floersheimer said, “Now we seem to reach well beyond these boundaries.”
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OPINION
A couple blocks away on Broad, Gaulart & Maliclet, known lovingly as “Fast and French,” is really
anything but fast and plainly French. In an interview with Manager Lawrence Mitchell covering everything from gazpacho to the original founders’ philosophies, he divulged the nickname is less about the food and more of a play on a certain artistic lifestyle. Mitchell states, “We continue to want to be the place that people can come to every day.” At community tables with a total of 33 seats in house, there are “students, artists, tourists, and then you have jurors, clergy, and lawyers. We don’t stick to a category, but it’s really an interesting place where all that mingles...the whole place is designed as a social experiment – bringing people together.” With low prices (Try the Croq’ Monsieur for $4.10 or the O’Rye for $8.25), and a wide variety, Fast and French is 30 years strong and somewhat of a Broad Street institution. Mitchell said, “We’re always thinking about how to take care of the [Fast and French] building. We’re married to our building. We’d never leave.”
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Finding green space in Charleston
by NICOLE DEMARCO photos by MEG MONTGOMERY
As college students, we often find ourselves holing up in the library with less-than-interesting textbooks, heading indoors to avoid the heat or spending our free time enjoying some of the shops and restaurants this wonderful city has to offer. Well sure, Charleston’s not a huge city, but it’s almost too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of King Street and forget about the many parks and outdoor spaces available to us. We’re talking about green space, and some of these favorites may become your next inner city escape. Battery Park, Chapel Street Fountain Park and Washington Square are three must-sees on any beautiful day in Charleston. Now what are you waiting for? Go enjoy the great outdoors!
Chapel Street Fountain Park This little hidden gem is located just north of Calhoun at the intersection of Chapel and Elizabeth Street. It’s the ideal place to escape from the everyday stress of college life. The small triangular park boasts a large fountain at its center, surrounded by benches and lush flora. The soothing sound of the water is enough to drown out all of the static city noise, making it the perfect place to dive into a new book or just get away for a little while. It’s not typically crowded, save for the occasional dog-walker. The one-of-a-kind green space that is Chapel Street Fountain Park may become your new favorite retreat.
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Battery Park
It’s true; located at the southernmost point of the peninsula, Battery Park is the ultimate Charleston outdoor space. Where else can you enjoy breathtaking views over the water, feast your eyes on the city’s top real estate and relax under the live oaks? On any given day the park is alive with students, joggers and plenty of four-legged friends all enjoying the vast green space. Its many trees make it the perfect place to hang a hammock, have a quaint picnic or just lay back and let time pass by under the Spanish Moss. The shade makes Battery Park accessible on even the hottest of days, but if you do happen to get caught in the rain, the gazebo in the center is the perfect spot to wait out the storm and keep dry. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Washington Square
Washington Square is located just off of Broad Street at four corners, tucked away behind wrought iron gates. This is the ideal spot for any history buff, as the park dates back to the early 1800s. It was renamed to honor George Washington in 1881, and the park features various statues including a small scale Washington Monument in the center. Why is it the perfect green space? You can live in Charleston for years and not even know it’s there. Washington Square is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet moment under the shady oaks, take a break from work or enjoy a takeaway lunch from any of the nearby favorites. Its floral displays change throughout the year, so there’s never a dull moment.
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