Pulse
Spring 2012 Issue First Edition
Black and Out A look at the black gay population at Northwestern
5 Classes To Take Before You Graduate page 5
The President Wears Prada page 8
Senior Profiles page 14
Meet Elle Varner page 22
Pulse Magazine
Pulse Pulse Magazine Executive Board Ashley Powell | Editor in Chief, President Baindu Kallon | Managing Editor, Secretary Sydney Smith | Chief Design Editor, Treasurer Sarah Watson | Copy Editor Shannon Powell | Style Editor Iman Childs | Entertainment Editor Ashleigh Nelson | Events Editor Jorona Johnson | Beauty Section Editor Staff Trey Gibson Jarohn Johnson Vanessa Lecky Diamanta Panford Terrance Scotton Designers Amanda Anumba Sydney Smith Writers Iman Childs Clarke Humphrey Jorona Johnson Baindu Kallon Nadira Long Ashleigh Nelson Shannon Powell
Contributing Writers Ebony Page Dallas Wright Special Thanks Charles Kellom Susan Mango Curtis NSBE ASA FMO Amin Elsaeed Leila Pree Eryn Rogers Tajudeen Sanusi
A Very Special Thanks to the Dittmar Memorial Gallery
Congratulations to the Class of 2012!
Letter from the
Editor
Dear Family, Some of us may look back on spring quarter and remember but a few things: a “racist” game of alcohol and cultural misrepresentation, a determined attempt to have meaningful dialogue on Deering Meadow and the quiet dismissal of a hate crime. All of these events have something very important in common, and it isn’t the obvious. Whether we choose to believe it or not, these events were carried out, executed, perpetrated, organized...by our peers. It was a group of fellow students that felt it was appropriate to dress in imitation of different cultures and act out stereotypes for the fun of a drinking game. It was students that pelted eggs at their classmates, proclaiming their intolerance with, “fuck you Asians,” as they fled the tennis courts one evening. And it was a small group of students that mobilized virtually overnight to combat racial injustice and cultural insensitivity without the support or backing of the institution that claims so regularly to care about the well-being of its students. Who are these confused, misguided, and brave young souls? From where does their ignorance, their indifference, their passion for justice arise? Should we take the time to discover the answers or do we even care? The apathetic way by which Northwestern students live alongside one another is creating a culture of just that within the Northwestern community: apathy. A good friend of ours once said last quarter, “at Northwestern, it seems to me that there is a general disinterest in the well-being of others.” I stand here, looking over a publication of color at a majority-white university (not to mention profession) and testify wholeheartedly in agreement. We suffer as a whole from a tendency to sweep things which do not directly affect us under the rug of non-obligation. Though understanding why people feel, act, think and behave in certain ways may be a nearimpossible task, it is our duty as neighbors in this greater community to at least make an effort to try. Members of the senior class of 2012 have tried valiantly to touch the paddles of protest to the chest of a community that has apparently lost consciousness. The class of 2012 may have had the smallest number of African American students in years, but the few students it brought here were remarkable because of more than just their novelty. This issue of Pulse Magazine is a salute to the class of 2012 and an attempt to show the students that follow them the endless possibility that is their future beyond Northwestern. I challenge the readers of this spring 2012 issue of Pulse Magazine to show some love and empathy to your peers in hopes of challenging the culture of apathy that has threatened our community this year. Yours, Ashley P. & Pulse Staff
Pulse Magazine
Contents
Spring 2012
Choose Your Own (Race) Adventure What would you do?
4
page
Nail Art
Looking Back
Stylish new nail inspiration for the summer.
A short re-cap of this year’s race-related events.
Campus
Having darker skin doesn’t mean you’re impervious to sun damage. Find out how to protect youself!
page
6
page
12
Summer Skincare Beauty
5 Classes To Take Before You Graduate The Pulse staff ’s list of the best African American studies classes.
page
5
page
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Senior Profiles
Check out what four amazing seniors have to say about their time at NU and what they’re doing after!
Cover Story
page Senior OpEds
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Senior
Two seniors offer their last words of advice.
page
18
Life
Black & Gay at NU
What’s it like to live where two marginalized identities intersect?
page
Big/Small Screen Reviews
8
Reviews of the movie Think Like A Man and the new ABC show Scandal
page
Check out some Obama gear that’s bound to turn heads come election time.
page
9
Entertainment
The President Wears Prada
Artist on the Rise: Elle Varner Pulse got an exclusive interview with up-andcoming artist Elle Varner. See what she has to say!
page
22
page
24
page
11
Campus
Style
Swimsuits for All Sizes With summer, comes swimwear... and with swimwear, the struggle of trying to find the right style suit. No worries, Pulse is here to help!
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Campus Events
campus
Choose Your (Race) Adventure
All of the fun and none of the consequences! You raise your hand and adamantly protest the definition of ghettoes as “where black people live.”
You’re in History 214 and the lecture suddenly turns to low-income neighborhoods the professor calls “ghettos.” You notice your classmates watching you expectantly.
You point and say, “Racist!” loudly enough for other people notice, and walk out of the store. The clerk reports you to NUPD
You say, “Why? Do you really think I don’t go here?”
You’re perusing the shelves of the Norris bookstore and an older clerk busies herself with random tasks that are uncomfortably close to you.
You smile and say sharply, “I don’t need any help.”
You shake your head and keep walking.
By Sydney Smith
You smile encouragingly. The student decides to attend NU. Dissatisfied with his experience, he transfers.
You forget your keys in your dorm and need to ask someone to let you in the building. The student asks to see your WildCARD before letting you in.
You reluctantly show it to them but roll your eyes while doing so. The student says you have an “attitude problem” and refuses to let you in.
You pass a tour guide group at the arch with a single black family and they make eye contact with you.
You’re walking through Plex and you hear someone singing along to a Waka Flocka song that’s very generous with the n-word. You give them a nasty glare and as a result you are reported to the CA for intimidating residents.
You’re walking down Orrington coming from a friend’s house when you realize you’ve left your backpack. On your way to retrieve it, you notice a squad car creeping behind you.
You turn around, “get buck” with the cop, and recount the history of systemic oppression in America. He ignores your speech and asks you for identification.
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You make a throat-cutting motion with you hand and shake your head. You record the event and send the footage to The Daily. They do not regard the event as newsworthy and decline to publish the story.
You put your head down, and put away the iced tea and skittles that you just got from the Cstore in an attempt to look as unintimidating as possible. You sigh, and take another shot.
Did you think it was over? Well, it’s not! The Race Adventures never end, so go back to the beginning and start again!
You stare intently at your laptop, avoiding all eye contact.
It’s Cinco de Mayo and you hear some people attempting to sing “Cielito Lindo” in fake Spanish accents.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. “Ay, ay, ay, ay, canta y no llores...” Unfortunatley for you, someone records the event and sends it to The Daily
campus
Looking Back
A quick recap of this year’s race related incidents
January April
May
The Northwestern’s Ski Team held a themed party (later dubbed the “Racist Olympics”) where attendees dressed in racially insensitive outfits, mocking the cultures of various nations of color. The student response to the incident took many forms, one being a Tumblr blog where people can share their stories of discrimination and prejudice.
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 5
Photo from Asian NU Project Facebook
After two Asian females were victims of a hate crime on University grounds, a group called the Asian NU Project hosted an Asian Pride Rally to bring attention to the issues Asians at Northwestern face.
More than 100 students convened in Harris Hall after a Latina was subjected to racially-charged harrasment while walking home from the University Library.
campus
5 Classes You Should Take Before Staff picks for the best African American Studies classes
Do Asians and Blacks in the U.S. have anything in common or are they incommensurably different groups doomed to conflict and distance? This provocative class analyzes the historical relations of Asians and Blacks in this country in order to analyze their past tensions and potential and actual cross-cultural collaborations. This interdisciplinary, multimedia historical examination of Black and Asian race relations allows us to understand and interrogate the gaps and alliances between two non-White groups who face distinct yet overlapping experiences with racism. Overall, this look at Asian/Black historical relations reveals how Whiteness frames, but does not determine, inter-minority relations. -Professor Nitasha Sharma
African American literature is often framed through time, i.e., historical eras. Yet perhaps more so than the writers from most "majority" literatures, who rarely feel the need to respond to calumny from another group, a new peoples in the midst of their formation found that they were already being spoken for and defined; even abolitionist discourse assumed their inferiority. It was crucial to "write back" and not only be read, but capable of changing deeply held convictions on white superiority. How did they do it? We will tread through three significant eras of early African American literature: the slave narrative, the turn of the century "race novel", and the Harlem Renaissance to test Warren's claims and work to uncover the historical, social, cultural and intellectual tumults that enabled an entire genre of distinct and expressive art to emerge. -Professor Michelle Wright
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By Ashley Powell
"I really enjoyed this class, I learned a lot and I think I can say it is easily one of the best classes I’ve taken at Northwestern. The best thing about Sharma is that she cares about the material, but she cares more about whther you learn wha tyou’re supposed to. If that means that she doesn’t get to certain readings or that a class dicussion takes up the enitre class, then that’s fine--and that’s what Ioved about the class.”
campus
e You Graduate
What is the relationship between place and belonging, between territory and memory? How have the experiences of migration and dislocation challenged the modern assumption that the nation-state should be the limit of identification? These questions and many more form part of the subject matter of diaspora and transnational studies. This seminar examines the historical and contemporary movements of peoples and the complex issues of identity and experience to which these processes give rise as well as the creative possibilities that flow from movement and being moved. -Professor John Marquez
“A frustrating course for the best reasons possible. Ultimately, my ideas and thoughts were challenged in one of the most productive fashions that I have experienced at Northwestern.” “Marquez doesn’t buy into democratic principles, and the class at times was far too theoretical to feel useful, having said that, I feel as though I can better discuss notions of normative qualities functioning in U.S. society which create the ‘social meaning of race.’”
This course is a survey of the contours of black life from the perspective of the social sciences. What is the black community, geographically speaking? Is that different from the social or political black community? What is the current condition of the black family and has it changed or stayed the same over time? How much wealth is in the black community, and how does that compare with the wealth of whites, or of Hispanics? What are key concerns of black politics, and are they different with Obama as president? What divides and unites the black community? This course answers these questions using insights from sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, economics, history, and related fields. By studying the social relations, political agency, and economic practices of African Americans and other Blacks in the diaspora, we will develop a more complex understanding of the forces, opportunities, and constraints operating within black communities. -Professor Mary Pattillo
"I can personally say I learned a lot from participating in discussions and listening in the lectures. The lectures were always engaging and your thoughts were always considered."
All information obtained from CAESAR and quotes are from CTEC reports.
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 7
Photos from Google Images
This lecture/discussion on the black freedom struggle from the 1940s through the 1970s, will explore the northern and southern civil rights movements and the rise of the Black Power movement. Emphasis will be on new accounts of the movement that challenge or destabilize the standard narrative. -Professor Martha Biondi
life
Black & Gay
By Baindu Kallon
“I was working out at SPAC and there was a grad student that I had gone on a few dates with and I hadn’t seen since the summer. This was last year, my junior year. So we were just talking and catching up. We were talking about gay stuff just a little bit and this guy just comes over and spits and keeps walking towards the exit.”
T
he story of senior Derrick Clifton is one of many that have dominated conversations among students this past year. Northwestern witnessed its share of cultural insensitivity on campus from the “Racist” Beer Olympics to the egging of Asian students on campus. Public outcry against such events has been strong, with student leaders across campus uniting to make a difference. Driving the movement are the stories that have emerged yet some stories are still waiting to be heard--Such as the stories within the LGBTQ community. “Diversity includes more than just
8 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
ethnic diversity. You also have to look at different aspects of diversity including LGBTQ, including disabilities, including classism. All these different aspects which I feel are missing from the movement because it’s so ethnically focused,” says junior Jasmine Wiggins. According to Northwestern University’s LGBTQ center, about 10 percent of Northwestern students identify as LGBTQ. Inside the community are students such as Derrick Clifton, Wiggins, and junior Thaddeus Elliott who not only identify with the LGBTQ community but are also minority students as well.
Derek Clifton
life
All recognize that while both the minority and LGBTQ communities face discrimination on campus they are still separate; leaving those who identify with both at a crossroads of the two communities. “It’s something hard to grapple with when you have multiple identities and you feel like you don’t have a space where you can nurture, foster, and explore that comfortably,” says Elliott. Elliott explains that while there are areas for the LGBTQ community and the Black community as individual entities, there seems to be little space for those who are a part of both.“It feels like you have to be all or nothing. You can’t be in between,” states Elliott. To combat this feeling of isolation,
Morgan Richardson
groups such as Rainbow Alliance, the LGBTQ student group on campus, have responded by joining the Coalition of Colors, a group that encourages desegregation and diversity. “We want to be there to support the multicultural community and have them be there to support us,” says junior and co-president of Rainbow Alliance, Morgan Richardson,. Richardson stresses that Rainbow Alliance is working with groups such as FMO to bring the Black Community and the LGBTQ community together on campus. “We want to bridge understanding and empathy between our communities so we know that we’re not isolated,” says Richardson. Others such as Clifton agree that
bringing the communities together be under MSA, an indication that all is beneficial to the discussion on types of diversity are being included. diversity at Northwestern. In order Richardson thinks that move can only to share ideas, the groups should try bring the two communities closer to collaborate on events and bring together. students to discuss experiences that Yet, Wiggins thinks there is another they share. way to bring the “I think as “Diversity includes more than two communia part of this ties together; just ethnic diversity. You also by having those larger conversation on involved with have to look at campus, black both to reach to different aspects of diversity students and their peers and including LGBTQ, including LGBT students engage them in definitely disabilities, including classism. the conversation have a lot to about diversity. All these different aspects contribute in “That’s what order to make it’s going to have which I feel are missing from institutional to be. I feel like the movement because it’s so people like me changes in ethnically focused.” policy that and those who really include identify as LGand embrace BTQ and black both communities and those at the to go into the LGBTQ community and intersections of those communities” say this concerns you too,” Wiggins says Clifton. says. President Obama rcently endorsed While the communities may be gay marriage making him not only more separate than united now, Clifton the first black president but also the is encouraged by the fact that both first to endorse gay marriage. It in communities are recognizing that they effect brings together both the black share similar experiences. and LGBTQ community which Clif“A lot of members of the LGBTQ comton finds beneficial. munity are also involved in the MSA “It’s also wonderful because it shows culture. LGBT culture is distinct from unity among people who have similar mainstream culture and I think it is experiences of marginalization and a part of the diversity umbrella,” Says to not allow a politics of divide and Clifton. conquer to defeat common interest in Moving the LGBTQ community the long run,” says Clifton under MSA and connecting the comElliot also approves of the endorsemunities through the greater diversity ment yet is indifferent to the entire movement is a start. With these new situation. “It’s great that he’s finally connections, Northwestern can hopein support of it and has come to the fully begin to create a space where realization that puts him more in line students can navigate freely; allowing with the rest of his party but I don’t students such as Elliott to explore all feel he would have supported a bill lefacets of identity. galizing same sex marriage if it came “I don’t want to be just defined as a to his desk anyways,” says Elliot. black person nor do I want be defined On campus, steps have also been by my sexuality. I want to be defined as taken towards achieving a better a person, as individual, as Thaddeus.” connection between the LGBTQ and black community on campus. The LGBT resource center will soon
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 9
style
The President Wears Prada How top designers are mobilizing to support Obama 2012 By Clarke Humphrey
A
Obama’s on everything, from handbags to nail polish
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Photos from Google Images
s the 2012 presidential elections get under way, some of fashion’s biggest names have made their support for President Obama’s re-election public by working with him on a new campaign called Runway to Win, spearheaded by Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. The campaign was announced on Obama’s blog earlier this year and described as “a collaboration by some of the country’s top fashion designers in support of Obama 2012.” These designers are putting their tremendous talents to work for this campaign by creating limited edition, high-priced merchandise and donating all proceeds to the Obama Victory Fund, a fundraising committee authorized by both Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee. Designers are working on everything from handbags and scarves to t-shirts and nail polishes. A website has been launched, selling products by Marc Jacobs, Rachel Roy, Vera Wang and many others. If you were ever looking for an easy, stylish and fun way to show support, this is certainly it. Finding inspiration for all these designs seemed to be no difficult task, designer Rachel Roy told Vogue. “The flag is one of my favorite images to design with because of everything that it stands for, everything that it represents, and everything that it reminds you to believe and dream in,” said Roy, who created an American flag t-shirt to show her support. “If you don’t dream, and if you don’t have the freedom of speech to express those dreams, then what are we here for?” The Runway for Change Inaugural Collection, a series of high fashion handbags and t-shirts created by some of fashion’s greatest to celebrate the victory of then President-elect Barack Obama, set the precedent for his latest campaign. Some of the designers involved in Runway for Change are back for this new project. “We had such a fantastic response to the Runway to Change event in 2008,” said marketing and merchandise director for the Obama campaign, Meaghan Burdick, told Vogue. “When we re-approached the designers who supported the initiative last time, they signed off on making another collection right away.” In addition to selling the items online, Wintour co-hosted a fundraising dinner with Scarlett Johansson to garner support for Obama’s campaign and to celebrate the designers who volunteered their time and great talents for this effort. This campaign, of course, has been met with its share of resistance. The Republican National Committee released a video commenting that the Runway to Win event and following product line is an “elitist spectacle that recession-stricken Americans can’t afford to participate in.” While these items are priced much lower than these designers would usually charge, Republicans are bashing the campaign and claiming that these items are out of reach for the typical American. The fashion industry has never claimed to be created equal but attaching Obama’s name to it could do more to alienate Americans than unite them under his leadership. As a result, Obama has been accused of being out of touch with “real Americans.” But Obama and his team have kept moving forward with this campaign hoping to reach as many demographics as possible with vastly different fashion tastes. More remarkable than the campaign itself is the statement it makes – that even four years after the fact, these fashion heavyweights are still giving their support to President Obama.
style
Swimsuits for All Sizes By Shannon Powell
ave a... h u o y Boyish Figure If
For those of us who are a bit less on the curvy side, there are tricks of the trade to create a curvier look so you can stand next to the Kim K’s of the world and work it just as fiercely. Bring on the monokini cutout. A monokini with cuts along the sides of the stomach, create the illusion of an hourglass shape, giving you a more defined waist and hip area all the while highlighting what you have up top. The cutout monokini can create wonders for the girl with the boyish figure. This one from Target is only $25.
I
Whether on campus, in Miami, or an island far out somewhere, summertime means beach time and your bathing suit of choice can make your beach experience a more enjoyable one. The idea of bathing suit shoping can be a bit daunting. It takes confidence to own what you wear, especially in something like a swimsuit when you’re showing more skin than you would on a typical occasion. But finding the right bathing suit for you can be done. With a few tips in mind, you can find a bathing suit with the right color and fit so you can turn heads this summer, even on a budget!
are... u o fy Small Up Top
If your breast area is a bit more modest, this may deter your confidence when wearing a bathing suit. But don’t worry. If you’re not ready to go out there in you’re A-cups, have no fear, padded bikini tops are here! H&M offers bikini tops for the IBTC (you figure it out) for a mere $5 so you can go out there and work it!
iends say... r f r u o If y “She’s little in the middle, but she got much back” Oftentimes, curves are viewed as something that should be covered up. However, it’s time to rethink this notion. Embrace and flaunt what you’ve got! Men love curves! Amber Rose, Serena Williams and Kim K are all curvaceous and show off their amazing bodies so you should too!
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beauty
Racing Stripe
Bedazzled
Another rising trend is the racing stripe manicure. The muted colors give it a sophisticated look.
By Ashleigh Nelson
Spring 2012 nail trends are shying away from bright, bold colors and moving towards light, creamy neutrals. Check out how nail bloggers, Donne and Ginny of heynicenails.com add their own twist to these trends. The colors may be muted, but these designs certainly are not.
Other Simple Styles to Try
Here is another cute tribal design with a metallic twist. The gold a underneath makes this style perfect.
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Tribal Funky tribal designs make it easy for those who want to do their manicures at home. There are no set rules and it doesn't have to be that neat!
This is a reverse french manicure style that has also become popular recently. It’s a fresh spin on the traditional manicure that’s great for summer.
Here is another, more complicated version of the reverse fernch manicure. You can do this style with a colored nail polish on top for a bright, summery look.
Photos courtesy of heynicenails.com
Nail Art
Here's a fun bedazzled ring finger which adds just a bit of pop to this bubblegum pink nail color.
beauty
Summer Skincare: Sunscreen The hot summer months are defined by backyard barbeques, day trips to the beach and ice-cold lemonade; nothing beats a fun day outside. However, unprotected skin can put a damper on your summer fun. Despite the stereotype that has appeared in the African-American community, everyone needs to wear sunscreen. Although our skin does not burn as easily and provides some protection from the sun, there is still the risk of overexposure which can lead to sun damage, and in extreme cases, skin cancer. In order for you to worry less about your skin and enjoy your summer more, we’ve provided the essential knowledge about sunscreen below: ▶There really is a difference! Despite how we use the words interchangeably, there is a difference between sunscreen and sunblock. Sunscreens use chemical blockers, like oxybenzone, to absorb harmful rays from the sun and prevent them from reaching the skin. Sunblocks contain ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to form a physical barrier around the skin to reflect rays. While both products do provide protection from both long and short-wave ultraviolent rays (UVA and UVB respectively), some of the active ingredients in sunscreens break down after prolonged exposure to the sun; some of them also don’t provide protection from UVB rays. Because of their ability to cover both spectrum of UV rays and their ability to last in the sun, scientists of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) favor the use of physical-blocking sunblocks. ▶Timing is everything Like all good products in your skin rou-
By Jorona Johnson
Photos from Jorona Johnson
Melanin doesn’t give you a pass on skin cancer
An array of sunscreens and sunblocks
tine, you’ve got to give sunscreens time to settle into the skin. Sunscreen needs be applied to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. You also need to be liberal in your application; the recommended amount to cover your entire body is about an ounce, about enough to fill a shot glass.
quickly before you walk outside, there is really no difference in the form sunscreens come in. However doctors do recommend that whether you do use cream, lotion or spray sunscreen, you rub it in thoroughly so that your skin is evenly covered.
▶Apply, Apply, Apply Putting on sunscreen is definitely a good thing, but it can’t just be a once-aday occurrence. SPF – Sun Protection Factor – is the measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB rays, the ones that cause reddening of the skin and sunburns. It measures the time it would take a person to burn in the sun without sunscreen on, as opposed to the time if they had it on. For example, if you usually burn in 10 minutes and use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30, you can expect about 300 minutes, or five hours of skin protection. However, most dermatologists would suggest you reapply your sunscreen every two to four hours. Sunscreen is sunscreen, no matter the form. Whether you methodically use lotion, or spray yourself
▶Makeup Can’t Do It Alone A majority of makeup and skincare products already have sunscreens in them, but that might not be enough. Dermatologists suggest that you wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 on your entire body, which filters out about 93 percent of the UVB rays you are exposed to. Because the skin on your face is more sensitive, it is suggested that you amp up your face sunscreen to SPF 30, which is able to block 97 percent of UVB rays. In addition to putting the right degree of sunscreen, you’ve got to put it on in the right locations. Be sure to completely cover your body, and don’t forget places like your neck and behind your ears. Another area that is commonly neglected is the lips; make sure you wear lip balm with an SPF of at least 15.
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 13
senior
Leila Pree
Hometown(s): 1. Pasadena, California 2. Washington, D.C. Major: Philosophy Minor: Asian American Studies Three words that best describe Leila: vivacious, diligent, personable Extracurricular Involvement: t Chicago Field Studies- interned for Consulate General in Spain t Student Advisory Board (SAB) for Weinberg Asian-American Studies Program t Core Curriculum Committee for Weinberg (SAB) t African American Theater Ensemble (AATE) t Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. t Fusion Dance Company What are your plans for after graduation? I got accepted to the Coro Fellows Program in San Francisco, so I will be there for nine months working for a variety of different organizations, companies and NGOs. It’s going to be insane. After the completion of the fellows program. I hope to be completing my Fulbright in Korea or continue on in graduate school for international policy and relations preferably at Columbia which is my first choice.
Favorite Community (MSA/AASA) Event: AATE’s “The Ritual.” I’ve been all three years. People are so excited to be there during Wildcat Welcome Week. It allows for people to meet freshmen and have that person-toperson relationship. It’s like an induction into the community and I really appreciate that and the fact that AATE is able to think of something like that and set the foundation for what we consider to be family. Favorite study spot on campus: University Library, 3rd floor, south tower ▶hint: look for the carrel with the picture of the Asian baby in the window!
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What’s your dream job? If my life trajectory goes the way I want it to go, I would be the ambassador to South Korea. Where did you get the passion for what you do? When I got to Northwestern I knew that my high school wasn’t that diverse. When I got here there were so many different people from so many different backgrounds. I had a Korean roommate my freshman year who really liked k-pop. She introduced me to Korean culture through Korean food and music and I just became really interested. Then, one of my friends at thw time happened to tell me that Koreans don’t really like Black people. I kind of felt it my civic duty to act as an ambassador for my country, and for the black community here in this country. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been an African American ambassador to South Korea from the U.S. I want to break that barrier.
senior
Tajudeen Sanusi Hometown(s): Norman, Oklahoma
Major: Industrial engineering and management science Three words that best describe Taju: competitive, driven, laidback Extracurricular Involvement: t National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE) As a freshman you don’t come in thinking about jobs and stuff and NSBE helped me plan out my life and figure out what I wanted to do. It helped me have foresight. They pushed me to go to career fairs and things as a freshman so I was better prepared later on. t t
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Engineers for a Sustainable World
What are your plans for after graduation? I’m going to be going to Dallas, Texas to work for Coca-Cola. I’ll be working with supply systems which is a fancy word for supply chain. I’ll be monitoring the proces for making Coca-Cola, from the bottle to the shelf. Why Coca-Cola? I applied for the internship my junior year and the recruiter remembered me. That was my dream job, I had been wanting to work for Coca-Cola since sophomore year. And you can’t really go wrong with Coca-Cola they’re not going to fail. Why’d you choose to go into engineering? I want to learn a lot about a lot of different things. I picked engineering because you can do a lot of things with it. I always liked math and science coming up. The biggest part of it is small changes cause big effects. The smallest thing can change millions of years. I like the versatility that allows you to basically do whatever you want. My dad and grandpa went into engineering so it’s kind of like genetics, like in my blood. Eventually I want to go into healthcare administration.
Taju’s Internships Freshman Year - LEAP Summer Counselor Sophomore Year- Medical packaging plant Junior Year- UPS
What was the hardest thing about engineering at NU? In high school I never studied. I did the homework before class and got A’s. Everyone here is either like that or actually studied and worked hard. I had to actually learn how to study. I think that was the hardest thing…realizing that I actually had to put in work to get the grades. Do you have a role model? Yes, my mom. She got me to where I am. She was pregnant with me in college and her and my dad divorced while she was in college pregnant with me. She motivates me and I’m a lot better off because of her. Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 15
senior
Eryn Rogers Something surprising that most people don’t know about Eryn: I was fluent in Czechoslovakian until I was two and a half. Best memory at NU: My best memory at Northwestern was when I got to go to Grant Park with a few of my friends freshmen year the night President Obama was elected president. I will remember that night for the rest of my life. Not only did I witness history, but I also got to celebrate and shut down Michigan Avenue with thousands of people after. Biggest regret (something you didn’t do at NU that you wish you would have had time to do): I really wish I would’ve gone to more of the shows/events on campus like the Dolphin Show or Wrestopocalypse, and basically taken advantage of every opportunity Northwestern afforded me. Hometown(s): Alpharetta, Georgia Major: Broadcast journalism Minor: Political science Three words that best describe Eryn: ambitious, outgoing, caring Extracurricular Involvement: t National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) t Northwestern News Network (NNN) t Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. t Medill Peer Advisers t Society of Professional Journalists What are your plans for post-graduation? I plan to continue applying for on-air reporting jobs. What is your dream job? I would want to be a primetime anchor on a national network, or host my own television show. 16 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
Favorite class: My Elections class I took this year. We went to Michigan to cover the primaries, and I got to interview former presidential candidate Ron Paul. Favorite professor: Marcel Pacatte Favorite hangout spot on Campus: The lakefill when it’s warm. Eryn’s Personal Mantra: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.” I really love that quote! It motivates and drives me every single day to live up to my fullest potential. It keeps me all around put together.
senior
Amin Elsaeed Hometown(s): Chicago Ridge, Illinois
Major: Communication science and disorders Three words that best describe Amin: enthusiastic, compassionate, ambitious Extracurricular Involvement: t Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma helped make my undergrad career. I got to travel on and off campus and do a lot of networking at the same time. It was a social outlet and a community service outlet. I don’t have any blood brothers so finding that brotherhood was rally important to me. t
For Members Only (FMO) Being a part of that family really helped make Northwestern a home away from home. I grew up in a black neighborhood so finding that here at Northwestern was great.
t
Summer Academic Workshop (SAW) If it wasn’t for SAW I don’t know how I would have transitioned into college. When I look back on it now, it just really helped set the tone. What are your post-graduation plans? I’ll be doing a post-baccalaureate pre-dental program at Loyola, and then I’ll be pursuing my doctorate in dental medicine. What about NU gave you the skills you think will make you a great dentist? Being at NU and going through its academic rigors proved to me that anything I really set my mind to I can do. Going into the dental field, there is a lot of work that comes with it and you need to be patient and you need to be able to work under stress and the holistic experience definitely does prepare you to be the very best that that you can be. Amin’s Personal Mantra: 1) Never go to sleep with hatred in your heart for anybody
Do you have a role model? My mother and father. Seeing everything that they had to do to immigrate from Sudan. Seeing their sacrifice and everything that they did so that we could do what we want to do and so my sister and I could have better lives, it’s very inspiring. It’ s always in the back of my head that I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing this for my family. What’s something surprising that people don’t know about you? I will go on YouTube and watch full-length Disney animated movies. I will watch the Jungle Book in my room, sometimes all alone. I don’t care. I am a grown-ass man and I will watch a Disney movie and just appreciate it for its art. I have no shame in my game.
2) Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave 3) Never give up Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 17
senior
Struggle to Succeed Senior Dallas Wright ‘s advice on getting through NU By Dallas Wright
“You dare to struggle, you dare to win. If you dare not struggle, then goddammit you don't deserve to win.” - Fred Hampton
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any class of 2012ers have spent more time on this Earth than the 21 years Fred Hampton was given. While none of us (yet) head a state division of a Black liberation organization, our accomplishments are plentiful and impactful. What we represent – the hopes and dreams of many generations of family, friends, and strangers – is even more powerful. Do you realize how special we are? For some of us, we'll leave Northwestern for a world of privilege and material success that no one in our family trees has ever known existed, let alone experienced. For others, we'll be continuing a tradition of “talented tenth” excellence that defies Europeanness' relentless domination of our ancestors and us ourselves today. In 2012, “special” hardly suffices to capture the historical significance of our accomplishments. Grappling with our exceptionality begs another question, the question of why we are special. That conversation isn't as rosy. We treat it like ancient history, but it was only 65 years ago that Northwestern University refused to house black students on its campus. Pair that with the image of 1947 America already in your head, and you can see how dozens of Black students graduating from NU – many of whom have served as leaders not only in the minority community, but the mainstream undergraduate community as well – is cause for great celebration. I challenge us to delve deeper, individually and collectively, into why we in this year 2012 remain so special. We're the ones who made it. We weren't part of “the plan.” Throwing aside the incremental, compounding success narrative of Black history that we've been fed, we live in the aftermath of a pushback. After the great strides in attaining human rights and cultivating Black consciousness that marked our parents' adolescence, there was a pushback: the War on Drugs and its turbocharging of the prison-industrial complex, the decimation and privatization of urban public schools, unprecedented government surveillance and police militarization. I could go on, but you get my point. We remain so special in 2012 because we live in a world still working against us. Returning to the words of Fred Hampton at the top of the page, we're only here because those whose shoulders we stand on dared to struggle. Navigating a minefield of institutionalized and socially normalized racism, there was no need to “dare to win” for them. Winning was the only option. I ask that we as Black college graduates not only keep this in mind, but also in body. Shun not the struggle – those words helped me get through some dark days – for it is never without reward. Don't struggle to get to work on time or to decide which condominium to move into. Rather, struggle so that our children don't have to be special. Struggle to create a society that expects as much out of Black boys and girls as we do. Dare to struggle, because someone struggled for us, because we are the products of struggle. If we don't dare to struggle, then we hardly deserve that illustrious piece of paper come graduation day. It was 400 years in the making.
18 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
senior
A Sista's Perspective A graduate’s recipe to survive and thrive at NU By Ebony Page
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igh school class valedictorian. Check. Graduate with a 4.0 g.p.a. Check. Beast ACT score. Check. Student leader. Check. Yeah, so I was more than sure I could handle the academic rigor of Northwestern. It would be second nature right? Somehow, it never crossed my mind that the majority of my peers, aka my "competition" would be enrolled with not only similar credentials but with some that far exceeded mine. So, I was swiftly fed a nice big slice of humble pie fall quarter of my freshman year, particularly thanks to the benevolence of chemistry and calculus. So how did I make it safely to my senior year, remaining pre-med, in a wonderful relationship, surrounded by many, if not all of the closest friends I began with? This is amidst the nearly unanimous views that, 1) it's nearly impossible to come from a disadvantaged background and remain pre-med at NU, and 2) there are no such things as relationships at NU only "hook-ups" or as some of us Black folk say, "cutty-buddies," and 3) most of your friends from your freshman year will fade due to "falling out", fakeness, or some other irreconcilable difference. Well I am here to tell you, although I am blessed and highly favored, I’m not an anomaly. There’s hope for the sistas at Northwestern to attain their goals, specifically pre-med and retain healthy relationships and friendships. As an avid Food Network watcher and future Iron Chef, it would only be right if I gave you the recipe to my success. Disclaimer, just like any recipe, sometimes even when one follows it step-by-step, results may vary. My simple survive-and-thrive recipe ingredients are the following: 3 cups of God, 2 cups of family support and friendship building, 1 cup of networking and good advising, and a mustard seed of faith (Matthew 17:20). If anyone should have stopped being pre-med it was me. However, with complete reliance on God Almighty, I took some faith, family support and received good advising--not from my academic advisors, but from past NU undergrads and NU staff. I found people that were where I wanted to be and asked a million and one questions. I was introduced to my other saving grace: post-baccalaureate programs, which I highly recommend to anyone who has struggled with pre-med classes and desires to graduate with a decent g.p.a. Relationship-wise, I began this journey very naive to the hard realities of not only NU relationship building but youngadult relationships in general. My unrealistic checklist led me to eliminate the majority of prospects. I sprinkled more faith and a hearty helping of discernment from the good Lord, who told me to first focus on me. Then out of nowhere a long-time friendship blossomed into the best relationship I've been in to date. Finally, throughout this entire journey I purposely left out friendship building because in order to gain a genuine friend, yo must first be a genuine friend. I have found that while my friends and I may operate differently we ultimately share a love of God and life that not only united us, but also has become an unfaltering foundation for our friendship. So no matter if it's organic chemistry, relationships, or friendships, don’t be discouraged. You can make it! You just have to find your perfect mix of ingredients and you'll have a deliciously beautiful experience at Northwestern that you can share with those around you.
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 19
entertainment
Think Like A Man Satisfying, but not stellar By Iman Childs
Comedian and radio personality Steve Harvey can add another accomplishment to his resume: his New York Times bestselling book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, has served as the inspiration for a blockbuster film. Think Like a Man is the sleeper hit of the spring, ending The Hunger Games’ four week domination of the domestic box office. The film features an ensemble cast and focuses on four couples as they handle trials and tribulations that are all too common at the start of a relationship. Each of the four women is dating a man with a specific flaw, and use Harvey’s book to “play the game of love,” in hopes that a real relationship will take hold. However, the men soon realize their “secrets” have been revealed,and begin using the book to fool the women into thinking they are changing. It is set up in typical romantic-comedy form, similar to He’s Just Not That Into You, a 2009 film also based on a relationship advice book. With this knowledge, and based on the lackluster trailer, I went into the movie expecting a certain degree of cheesiness and predictability- I mean it is a rom-com after all. And it certainly did not disappoint in this department. Three of the four couples begin dating at the same time, and of course all four break up around the same time. Not to mention that everyone is successful (as seen by their huge apartments) but does not seem to work and their relationships start off ridiculously easy. While I found Candace (Regina Hall), a single mother, and her relationship with Michael (Terrence J), to be the most enjoyable to watch, it’s beginning was too unrealistic. Michael recognizes Candace from high school and begins talking to her at a bookstore. They grab a cup of coffee, and soon after he is infatuated with her. By the end of the film, “I love you” was being thrown around, even though most of the couples had only known each other for three month or less. Surprisingly, the film’s lack of realism was not compensated with humor. While Kevin Hart provided most of the laughs as Cedric, a man going through a rough divorce, many of the movie’s gags simply were not laugh-out-loud funny. The strong point of the movie, shockingly, was the actors. Meagan Good was believable and relatable as a young woman setting standards regarding men and relationships for the first time. I even forgot Terrence J’s day job is as a T.V. show host, thanks to his great performance as Michael, the “momma’s boy”. However, I could not comprehend why Kristen (Gabrielle Union), a professional and attractive real estate agent, would be in a relationship with Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara), who seemed to be mentally stuck in his college years. Overall, the film has great lessons for women concerning relationships, even though I could have done without Steve Harvey randomly appearing on screen to dispense said advice. It was enjoyable to see a diverse cast, consisting primarily of African Americans, in a romantic-comedy simply behaving normally. Think Like a Man’s box office success is proof that diversity does sell. Hopefully this will usher in a new era where African Americans have lead roles in movies from a variety of genres.
20 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
entertainment
Scandal
A review of Kerry Washington’s new drama on ABC
By Nadira Long
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ho’s a gladiator in a suit? Apparently everyone in Olivia Pope’s ragtag team of Washington, D.C. fixers. Grey’s Anatomy creator, Shonda Rhimes’ new show, Scandal, centers on Pope (Kerry Washington) and her crisis management firm where she cleans up the messes of D.C.’s elite. Joining her is Stephen Finch (Henry Ian Cusick), a womanizer who uses sex to get information, Harrison Wright (Columbus Short), a dapper D.C. lawyer, and Huck (Guillermo Diaz), a tech whiz with a tortured soul. As the latest addition to the team, newcomer Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes) has no clue what is going on. And she’s not the only one. Only Stephen knows of Olivia’s ongoing affair with U.S. President, Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn). The pair’s attempts to rekindle their relationship are met with strong criticism from Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry), the president’s right-hand man and one of the show’s many villains. Among the show’s several storylines are a White House aide’s claim that she is pregnant with the president’s baby. At times, this show takes itself too seriously. The majority of the cast and their subplots are introduced in the first episode. This mishmash causes quite the confusion for the characters and the audience, not to mention that some of the cases Olivia’s team takes on are preposterous. Moreover, everyone has a dramatic monologue complete with fast talking, large breaths and few pauses. While this style is what Rhimes is known for, it gets old quickly—and I mean within the first five minutes. Scandal tries to tone this down in later episodes, but every now and then the dialogue returns to its clichéd beginnings, and the plot outdoes itself, becoming a bit laughable. These regressions are forgivable, though they sometimes pull viewers out of the action (here’s looking at you, Huck). What is not, however, is the attention given to the characters on her team. Well, one character... Quinn’s motivations, background and connection to Olivia are entirely unexplored even though she is the first character introduced. She fails to be the sympathetic character that the audience can relate to. The circumstances of the other characters have been explored, albeit shallowly. They often owe Olivia something and came into the business because of her. Quinn is still a mystery. Additionally, she goes against the advice of the wiser members of Olivia’s team for no apparent reason. While it initially appeared that she’d play a pivotal role, she does not. Despite its shortcomings, the show has appeal. The plot is unpredictable and intriguing. The first season may have ended, but the season finale shows that the scandals of the White House run deep. The show’s strength is Olivia Pope, thanks to Kerry Washington’s commanding performance. Even when Olivia is emotionally vulnerable, she’s still a powerful black woman who does her job well. While the other characters are a bit weak, Guillermo Diaz’s character, Huck, has also attracted attention, and viewers should look forward to seeing his character become more dubious when the show returns on screen. I’m ready for more D.C. drama in the future. Are you? Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 21
entertainment
Photo Credit: Johnny Mc Johnson
Artist on the Rise:
Elle Varner
22 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
Interview conducted by Shannon Powell
Meet Elle Varner
entertainment
For whatever reason—whether it be her brassy, soulful sound, or her bright personality and equally bright fashion sense, it’s easy to fall in love with up-and-coming R&B artist, Elle Varner. She may be brand new to the music biz, but her singles, “Only Wanna Give it To You,” and “Refill” were heard on the radio nationwide and she’s been featured on shows like BET’s Black Girls Rock. The 23-year-old singer is set to release her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect this summer, but before all that happens, Pulse got a chance to speak with the songstress about her inspirations, her career goals and more! Pulse: Since your parents were songwriters and you grew up surrounded by music, did you automatically know you wanted to pursue singing, or had you thought you wanted to do something else before you realized music was your calling? Elle: There was a period I wanted to be a scientist [giggling] then I wanted to be a lawyer, but I really really loved singing, and that has always been the number one dream. Pulse: Who were your musical inspirations growing up? Elle: A lot of Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, TLC, Spice Girls. Pulse: How did you come to the decision to attend college before pursuing singing? Are you glad you made this decision? Elle: It kinda just happened. I just applied randomly, I didn’t really think I was going to get in. I got in and was like oh my God, I guess I’m going to New York! I really didn’t develop the confidence fully be a performer until college. I was like okay, I’m in this school with a plan and a back-up plan. Pulse: I heard that you knew J. Cole prior to deciding to work with him on your single, “Only Wanna Give it to You.” How does it feel to see both of you making it? Elle: I think it’s amazing. It just like shows what a small world we live in, you know? In all of New York City, two people not even from here can make it at the same time and we knew each other. It’s just like pretty rare, you know? Pulse: What’s your favorite track from the mixtape and why? Elle: Um, my favorite song, I think it’s “Go.” Even though, “WTF” is like the most fun song, but “Go” really covers so much ground and it’s so many lyrics, you have to listen to it a million times to really even get it all, cus I’m saying a lot in there. It’s just one of the most honest songs on there. It’s a song that’s really close to me. Pulse: So speaking on lyrics, how do you sit down and write a song? Do you have a process? Is it always the same, or how do you go about it?
Elle: I definitely like to write while I’m driving, actually [laughs] not to actually physically sit down and write. I write in my head. I’ll just keep singing something until something catches. There’s no need to write it down because if it’s catchy, I’ll remember it. That’s something that I read from Paul McCartney from the Beetles a long time ago. He said they would never record a song right away. They would sleep on it and if they didn’t remember it the next day, it wasn’t a hit. Pulse: So what advice would you give to people who might want to be in the industry, or might want to sing? Elle: I would tell anyone going after this as a career, and this is coming from someone who’s like really challengeoriented, it is so difficult! I experienced a bunch of pretty difficult things in my life but this takes the cake. Be prepared, be ready to work harder than you’ve ever worked, give it your all, you know? It’s a lot, but it’s worth it. Pulse: You seem to pride yourself on being uniquely you and not changing for anybody, as you sing about in “32 Flavors.” One thing that I have noticed about you that is unique in comparison to other young artists today is that you aren’t overly-sexual: from the way you dress and carry yourself, to what you sing about. In creating your brand as a musician, was this something you planned for yourself? Would you consider yourself a role model to young girls? Elle: Well I think as much as I love the fact that I am a role model, and I’m honored to be that, it’s really just who I am. I’ve never said I want to go out and do this or have this effect. I’m just being myself, having fun singing my songs, and I just happen to be the kind of person that shows sexiness not through skin, you know, or actions. I have different ways of being sexy [giggles]. I think it’s something that if I can inspire people to challenge themselves to rethink sexy, if I make a little girl have respect for herself, and not do this and not do that, that’s dope! But I’m not perfect though! [laughing] Elle is expecting her album, Perfectly Imperfect, to drop this summer.
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 23
campus
Campus Events Africa in Motion: Dance Workshop & Exhibition Sunday, April 29
Complied by Ashleigh Nelson
"I feel like it is truly a pleasure to see people come out and enjoy an important aspect of our African culture, which is dancing" Weinberg freshman, Oluwaseun Ososami
Africafe Wednesday, May 23 'Overall I am glad I did it because now I look forward to doing more performing to rid my body of nerves and let people enjoy what I have put on paper." SESP freshman, Jarell Williams
Greekscene Saturday, May 5 "I was nervous before Greekscene started, but it was good that the hard work we put in paid off." SESP junior, Emmanuel Anderson
24 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2012
campus
Beat the Drum Sunday, April 22 “It was cool except it sucked that it was cold outside.." Weinberg sophomore Adam Jackson
Delta Sigma Theta Spring Slam Thursday, April 26 " I liked that they ere able to showcase the many talents of Northwestern in a very casual, informal setting." Weinberg freshman, Antonia Agbeh
Spring 2012 Pulse Magazine | 25
Congratul all of our
lations to Seniors!
Pulse Magazine
Spring 2012