11.29.2017

November 29, 2017 34st.com

november 29 2017

LOL

3 HIGHBROW

overheards, winter’s here bitch

4 WORD ON THE STREET

penn's toxic culture Is our responsibility

5 MUSIC

man’s not hot, soundtracks

8 EGO

eotw, dogs at penn

LOL

10 FEATURE

transgender at penn

12 VICE & VIRTUE bobby flay

LOL

LOL

14 FILM & TV

tis the (fall pilot) season

16 ARTS

art as activism

18 LOWBROW LOL

students take easy class, penn announces "campus denial of real issues" event

Orly Greenberg, Editor–in–Chief Dani Blum, Managing Editor Chloe Shakin, Audience Engagement Director Teagan Aguirre, Design Director Carissa Zou, Design Director Corey Fader, Photo Director Nick Joyner, Features Editor Julia Bell, Features Editor Angela Huang, Word on the Street Editor Dalton DeStefano, Film & TV Editor Annabelle Williams, Highbrow Editor Haley Weiss, Ego Editor Andreas Pavlou, Vice & Virtue Editor Talia Sterman, Music Editor Colin Lodewick, Arts Editor Claire Schmidt, Lowbrow Editor Catalina Dragoi, Film & TV Beat Michaela Reitano, Film & TV Beat Sabrina Qiao, Ego Beat Maria Riillo, Ego Beat Natalia Sanchez-Nigolian, Ego Beat Lucia Kim, Highbrow Beat Daniel Bulpitt, Highbrow Beat Angela Lin, Highrow Beat 2

LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR

I did it guys. I did the one, singular thing you're not supposed to do during the fall/winter season. I got the flu.

I hate even typing those words.

My dad is a doctor. He religiously gives me a flu shot the day they're released, and has some pretty strong words for anti–vaxxers (specifically, "you're wrong.") He is the biggest advocate of shots, and instilled that faith in me. And yet, I was just slightly too late this season. My family lives in California, and I usually go home to get my shot over Thanksgiving break. Unfortunately, the flu came early this year. I watched as my housemates got their shots in September. I ignored the CVS advertisements. I scoffed at Penn's attempt to

keep me healthy and their offers of vaccinations.

I was an idiot.

I've spent the last two weeks profusely sweating, shaking through the chills, crying, and curling up in bed. The flu is not just a cute cold that you get over in a week.

It is the worst. It ruined my body.

Even though the fever is gone, my lung capacity is nonexistent. I don't want to say I can't breathe, but I also don't want to say I can breathe.

The thing is, it's been kind of nice.

And I know that sounds crazy. But it's made me slow down. For the past two weeks, I've been wholly devoted to self–care. School work, going out, and searching for jobs all fell by the wayside. My friends brought me

food and medicine. They checked in on my temperature and my comfort.

They brought me to the ER at 6 a.m.

I had the chance to step back and appreciate my friends and take care of myself—definitely for once this semester, and maybe for once in my time at Penn.

Look, I'm not recommending you get the flu. Please, please get your flu shot. But being able to get a little distance and take stock of the important things? Not so bad.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET AYO (IT'S US. WE'RE THE MIRACLE. AND YOU, TOO, I GUESS, BECAUSE YOU'RE READING US. HAPPY HOLIDAYZ SZN.) Nick Castoria, Highrow Beat Paul Litwin, Music Beat Amy Marcus, Music Beat Aliya Chaudhry, Music Beat Noah Kest, Music Beat Michelle Pereira, Music Beat Jess Sandoval, Music Beat Shoshana Sternstein, Lowbrow Beat Dano Major, Lowbrow Beat Lily Zirlin, Lowbrow Beat Cami Potter, Lowbrow Beat Noa Baker, Vice & Virtue Beat Lily Snider, Vice & Virtue Beat Morgan Potts, Vice & Virtue Beat Julia Messick, Vice & Virtue Beat Jillian Karande, Vice & Virtue Beat Molly Hessel, Vice & Virtue Beat Gina Alm, Arts Beat Sherry Tseng, Arts Beat Linda Lin, Arts Beat Michaela Tinkey, Arts Beat Staff Writers: Isabella Fertel, Caroline Curran, Kiana Cruz, Clare Kearns, McKay Norton, Chen Chen Zhang, Brookie McIlvaine, Steph Barron, Lauren

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Donato, Frankie Reitmeyer, Jamie Gobreski, Brittany Levy, Jessica Li, Maria Formoso Zack Greenstein, Design Editor Christina Piasecki, Design Editor Katherine Waltman, Design Editor Simcha Stadlan, Design Editor Anjali Berdia, Design Editor Gloria Yuen, Illustrator Anne Marie Grudem, Illustrator Avalon Morell, Photo Editor Autumn Powell, Photo Editor Megan Kyne, Photo Editor Christina Piasecki, Photo Editor Emily Hason, Video Director Daniel Rubin, Video Editor Megan Kyne, Video Editor Lea Eisenstein, Copy Director Sophia Griffith-Gorgati, Copy Editor Nancy Liu, Copy Editor Kimberly Batista, Copy Editor Colleen Campbell, Copy Editor Nadia Goldman, Copy Editor

Catherine de Luna Copy Editor Jennifer Cullen, Copy Editor Riley Wagner, Copy Editor Cole Bauer, Social Media Editor Paige Fishman, Social Media Editor Hanniel Dizon, Social Media Editor Carly Shoulberg, Social Media Editor Julia Klayman, Social Media Editor Merry Gu, Social Media Editor Chae Hahn, Social Media Editor Sarah Poss, Social Media Editor Lily Haber, Social Media Editor Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by Corey Fader, Autumn Powell, Megan Kyne, Christina Piasecki, and Brinda Ramesh.

Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Orly Greenberg, Editor–in–Chief, at greenberg@dailypennsylvanian.com. You can also call us at (215) 422-4640. www.34st.com "Nick, not everyone likes your pig noises." ©2017 34th Street Magazine, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a-okay.) All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc., 4015 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19104, every Wednesday.

HIGHBROW

Photo by :Fran Rogers // CC 1.0

over heard PENN

BITCH

at

Whartonite: My ex was too nice to choke me. I felt bad.

Spinster: Can we submit Penn Crushes for each other?

Self–aware self deprecator: I would have bullied myself as a child.

Highbrow's guide to hibernation FOR YOUR BODY Your boyfriend jeans aren’t going to cut it in this sub–40 degree weather (4.44 degrees Celsius, for those hailing from countries sensible enough to use the metric system), and the verdict’s still out on which has more holes: your cable– knit sweater or the logic behind “fashion over function.”

Sorry, did you just say your passions are haute couture and hypothermia? Because that’s what it sure sounds like.

Find a happy medium, stick to a warmer wardrobe (translation: layer the fuck up), and save yourself a muggy–eyed

trip to CVS for cold medicine.

Then again, it’s prime time for your sweatpants to come out of hibernation. They count as athleisure, right?

FOR YOUR FEET If you want to take a memory trip down into the deep, dark fashion abyss of your middle school years, now’s your time. In any other season, it would be impossible to rationalize wearing furry boots anywhere but in the safety of your own home.

But hey, if your feet are cold, then your feet are cold. And if geometrically–repulsive, ethically–questionable footwear

makes the trek down to DRL that much easier, then so be it.

FOR YOUR SOUL If Sharon from down the hall is spiting you for Jingle Ball Rock–ing out already, then cut that frosty fucker out of your life. As they say, there are two types of people at Penn...people who think it’s okay to jam out to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in mid–November, and the socially–irrelevant. Oops!

FOR YOUR MIND Highbrow hopes you’ve been paying extra attention in your poli–sci lecture or at least

THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED STREET ANYWAY.

have skimmed the news lately, because tense, politically– charged, familial infighting season is right around the corner! Your perennially drunk uncle has been fixing up to debate you since last Christmas' debacle, and your sweet but oh–so–gullible grandma has a loooooooooot to say about the new Starbucks holiday cups. Highbrow will take a gingerbread latte with a pump of “intellectual diversity,” please.

FOR YOUR LIVER Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate. Need we say more?

ANGELA LIN

Not Nick Cannon: Mariah Carey just is Christmas to me. It goes Mariah Carey, then Jesus, then Santa.

Modern day Don Juan: I'm not a heartbreaker, I'm a dick provider.

Boy in backwards hat: I think, therefore I frat.

Guy screaming on the sidewalk: Jesus, where were you?

Getting lube?!

Health–conscious stoner: Know what I could fuck up right now? An edible arrangement.

Distinguished alumna: I am no longer dating guys who go by their Roman Numerals.

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WORD ON THE STREET

word on the STREET

I

PENN'S TOXIC CULTURE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY JACKSON BURKE

couldn't help but scoff when President Gutmann student actions, I trust that we can lessen the overall began her speech at the Campus Conversation by levels of stress on campus. thanking students for attending and being “a part I’m not trying to brush off the responsibility of the of the community.” The irony, of course, was that she administration. Certainly, there are massive instituspoke these words to an auditorium devoid of nearly tional problems related but not limited to financial any students. Only about one hundred students were aid and social event policies that negatively impact in attendance­ —abysmal for a campus of 10,000 mental health. And this isn’t a criticism of all stuundergrads. After Dr. Gutmann opened, she and Provost Pritchett were interviewed by UA President Illustration courtesy of Anne Marie Grudem Michelle Xu. Next came a panel with two Psychiatry professors, Reverend Chaz Howard and Dr. Angela Duckworth. And finally, students were invited to participate in several small group discussions where they could air their grievances, which would purportedly be shared with the administration.

This event was not profound in its content. The event covered topics ranging from suicide to natural disasters to financial aid, but in addressing everything, it addressed nothing. However, this event was notably an official admission from the administration: Penn has a problem, and the administration wants to work with students to combat it.

Unfortunately, the poor student attendance signaled to the administrators that there is not sufficient buy–in from the undergrads: another big problem. When tragedy strikes, we rush to social media to post our support and talk about the need for reform, but once the topic is no longer trending, it’s back to normal. It’s reminiscent of a politician's generic response to any national trag- dents, either. There are admirable, supportive peers edy: social media support and a week touting mental and clubs all around us. But there is no doubt in my health, gun reform, or disaster relief. Then back to mind that, as a community, we can and should do business. more.

But these problems aren’t solved by a hashtag Last spring, I sat in a meeting with one of the campaign or any taskforce. The best remedy for the University’s deans along with several other student prevailing high levels of stress and unwellness on our leaders. We were free to discuss anything we wanted, campus is an organic, bottom–up, student–led cul- but he was mainly interested in how the school was tural change. The fundamental problem with Penn doing in terms of student life and happiness. The is that everyone thinks their time and energy is infi- conversation centered around the hyper–competinitely more important than those around them. By tive environment and unfairness in club recruiting reframing mental health not as a problem that ad- processes—relatively unoriginal talking points. But if ministrators must address, but rather as a function of these problems are broadly recognized, why do they

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The environment on campus is ours to shape.

still persist? We vehemently command those around us to run fair processes, but when we as individuals are faced with accepting either our sister’s friend into our club or the more qualified candidate, we too often choose the former. We talk about ameliorating mental health, but when confronted with the opportunity to make a difficult but positive change as a club leader, we find it easier to ignore. Fortunately, the first steps are pretty simple.

When you’re in the position of denying students from a club, take the extra ten minutes to write a meaningful, personalized email.

When you’re accepting someone into your club, make sure it’s based off merit—not because they look like you or went to your boarding school. Set aside some time for community service. If someone asks for help in a class, don’t respond with “No way, that’ll mess up my curve,” but instead consider offering your support.

Think critically about expanding the acceptances of your club if it makes practical sense; there ought not be an inherent premium attached to exclusivity. When someone is down, reach out—not with a4 “Let me know if you need anything,” placing the burden on them to opt in, but with a genuine and forceful “How are you doing? Let’s grab coffee if you’re free!” When someone isn’t down, still check in. And after a tragedy, make those affected a priority.

Give them your notes, open up your home, and make sure the rest of their life is not derailed while they are grieving.

We must take care of ourselves, too. We can’t all be therapists, and we need to make sure that taking care of others is never done at the expense of our own mental wellness. But as Dr. Duckworth said at the Campus Conversation, “When I get a text message [from a student] that says ‘Hey, do you have a minute to talk?’ the answer absolutely has to be yes.” Random acts of kindness need not be prompted—they should be the norm. The environment on campus is ours to shape, and I hope we turn towards benevolence and generosity—not only for for future Penn students, but also for ourselves.

MUSIC

Photo by Batiste Safont // CC 4.0

A DEEPER DIVE INTO BIG SHAQ'S "MAN'S NOT HOT" The meme–worthy U.K. rap parody is more than a mindless chart–topping hit

You might already be aware, but for those of you who aren’t, Big Shaq’s “Man’s Not Hot” is not a track meant to be taken seriously. However, here’s some quick maths (Ed. note: Yes, maths) for you: Man’s Not Hot is currently #8 on the U.S. Viral 50 and the Global Viral 50. The hit single, whose beat sounds like one of many current rap songs coming out of London’s hip– hop scene right now, is anything but one of those braggadocious U.K. grime tracks. In reality, “Big Shaq” is actually a character created by Michael Dapaah, a British comedian. While this article tries to seriously analyze some of the U.K. rap stereotypes that Dapaah utilizes for his parody, it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, the nature of Man’s Not Hot’s tone is closer to a song from the Lonely Island than to one from Skepta.

Dapaah became famous for his freestyle on BBC Radio 1, where his opening line, “Two plus two is four, minus one that’s three, quick maths” instantly garnered enough fame for Dapaah to incorporate it as the opening line for “Big Shaq’s” successful single.

The line itself, along with other lyrics, clearly mocks a pattern in

the U.K. rap scene for artists who love incorporating mathematics into their lyrics. South London rapper 410, in his song “Mad About Bars” previously rapped “Eight two that’s 82/times five now we’re onto you," while the hook on Skepta’s “Numbers”

you man were ducking,” makes fun of many British grime artists’ use of “ting” in the lyrics, especially when referencing a gun.

Skepta rapped in his song "Are You Ready," “Murder another 25 MCs/so dig me a larger grave/ spray my ting like aftershave,” us-

Canadian artist not only uses the word extremely often, but also gave legendary artist Skepta an interlude on his latest album, More Life. While it has been debated as to whether or not Drake is in the wrong for utilizing cultural slang that isn’t his, it’s evident that

MANY OF THE RIDICULOUS LYRICS ARE SIMPLY AN EXAGGERATION OF TRENDS IN BRITISH RAP.

includes the lyrics “Quit talkin’ numbers, calculator/quit talkin’ numbers at you haters/that’s a three, talkin’ numbers, n–n– numbers.” Big Shaq’s line about addition and subtraction is purposefully nonsensical, poking fun at this “mathematical” fad in the U.K. grime scene. The line sets the stage for the ridiculousness of the song, parodying some of the absurd trends in London rap one by one.

One of Shaq’s more preposterous pieces of wordplay, “When the ting went quack quack quack,

ing “ting” seriously as a stand–in for gun. Shaq’s use of “ting” as a gun is obviously a bit more playful, mocking not only the use of the word for “gun,” but also the overuse of the word in general— even Drake has used the word to exhaustion, rapping “Now you man are on a diss ting/just know man like Chubbs/he's a fixer if I ever gotta fix tings/just know man like Fif, he’s a sickaz/you get tanned, he don’t miss tings.” Ting has become one of the symbolic words for Drake’s capitalization of the surging grime wave, as the

many including Dapaah believe that “ting” has reached a point of being overused.

Arguably the most famous (and memed) aspects of “Man’s Not Hot” is the line of the song name itself, along with Big Shaq’s insistence that he will refuse to take off his jacket throughout the song. Before becoming viral as Big Shaq, Michael Dapaah had another alternate persona by the name of “Roadman Shaq,” a parody of the British “roadman.”

Roadmen, a term unbeknownst to many Americans (including

me), typically applies to teenage boys who commit petty crimes and tend to exclusively wear tracksuits and/or jackets, in addition to Nikes, Adidas, or any fashionable streetwear brand. Thus, Big Shaq’s “Man’s Not Hot” lyrics reflect the roadman’s aggressive insistence on a certain lifestyle, especially the puffy jacket aspect.

What appears to be an insignificant, yet humorous, theme in the music video (and song title) is yet another parody the followers of the thriving U.K. hip–hop scene.

Dappah’s viral track is undoubtedly a joke song, but without even realizing it, many of the actual jokes initially went over my head. For some Penn students (such as myself) not attuned to some of the stereotypes of grime, “Man’s Not Hot” seems like a parody song thanks to the pairing of ridiculous lyrics and a “serious” beat. Yet, many of the ridiculous lyrics are simply an exaggeration of trends in British rap, where there is no shortage of rappers making nonsense with numbers, lyrics using “ting” to the point of exhaustion, and cultish followers who love their jackets.

PAUL LITWIN

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MUSIC

MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS THAT GIVE US ALL THE FEELS Call Me By Your Name’s highly anticipated soundtrack has us reminiscing about past great movie soundtracks.

From Easy Rider to Rushmore and The Breakfast Club, certain films are instantly recognizable for the unique song choices that underscore pivotal moments of the movie.

Songs tell stories. They make us feel. Soundtracks, in particular, mesh these songs into a certain storyline. A film's soundtrack, which encompasses film score (the original music written specifically to accompany a film), can also incorporate contemporary popular music.

One of the first films to weave popular music with film narrative was 1967's The Graduate, in which Simon and Garfunkel's folk–rock songs reinforced the main character's emotional anxieties.

The soundtracks of today’s films stem primarily from the popularity of rock music in the 1960s, which emphasized the emotional triumphs and struggles of the individual.

This newfound prioritization of songs within a film’s soundtrack allowed for a new dimension: filmmakers could use music to reinforce motifs and expand the sensory experience of the viewer.

The much–anticipated film

by Director Luca Guadagnino Call Me By Your Name, is likely to be one of the most revered soundtracks of 2017. Sufjan Stevens, the eccentric singer and songwriter behind critically–lauded albums such as Carrie & Lowell, Illinois, and The BQE, helps to compose the music for Guadagnino’s film, adding three original compositions to Call Me By Your Name’s

soundtrack. To gear up for the film, Street took a look at popular movie soundtracks of the past.

and literally have the perfect score for the perfect score.”

With the opening heist of the film, "Bellbottoms" starts off 1. BABY DRIVER (2017) the prolific 27–song soundtrack that features timeless artists, In Edgar Wright’s acclaimed such as T. Rex, Commodores, film, the protagonist constantly Beck, Young MC, and Simon immerses himself in music to & Garfunkel. drown out his tinnitus and focus on his job as a getaway driv2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (2017) er. In his interview with Variety, Wright himself suggested that a While executives of Marvel song, Jon Spencer Blues Explo- Studios repeatedly told Guardsion's "Bellbottoms," inspired ians of the Galaxy director James the idea for the film itself. “I Gunn that “nobody is going to would listen to that song and want to hear this music," Gunn imagine this car chase. The idea still created the revered Awesome that started it all off was: maybe Mix Vol. 1 that the protagonist a getaway driver is listening to of the first Guardians of the Galthis song, and he’s actually try- axy holds onto as a memory of ing to time out his getaways his mother, Meredith. With the

Photo by General Artists Corporation and Columbia Records // CC. 0 6

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release of the superhero movie’s sequel, Gunn doesn’t disappoint with Awesome Mix Vol. 2. The film begins with Electric Light Orchestra’s "Mr. Blue Sky" and incorporates songs by Fleetwood Mac, George Harrison, and Glen Campbell. The sci–fi action movie’s soundtrack is a gift to anyone with a love for the zeitgeist of the ‘80s.

to grow emotionally. Coupled with the movie’s memorable soundtrack, the viewer feels the anxieties and triumphs of the protagonist as she tries to find a new apartment in New York City. In a hilarious and telling moment of Frances Ha, Frances furiously runs through the streets of Brooklyn to David Bowie’s "Modern Love." Similar moments of folly and joy can be heard through the songs 3. BOYHOOD (2014) of Georges Delerue, T. Rex, Richard Linklater’s Os- Paul McCartney, Hot Chococar–winning, 12–year project, late, and Dean & Britta. which follows the life of an average child attempting to 5. WHIP IT (2009) navigate the world, features a In her directorial debut, soundtrack that acutely represents the shifts of popular Drew Barrymore tells the story music over time. Starting the of a counterculture teenager project in 2002, Linklater tells a who finds an outlet to escape simple, humanistic story about her humdrum Texas town the joys and sorrows of growing through competitive women’s up. In doing so, he also prof- roller derby in Austin. Starfers a soundtrack pertinent to ring Ellen Page, this hilarious an entire generation that empa- depiction of teenage life incorthizes with Boyhood’s protago- porates the music that its irnist. With classics such as "Do reverent characters would listen U Realize??" by The Flaming to. From American punk–rock Lips, "Beyond The Horizon" bands like Ramones to all–girls

by Bob Dylan, and "Crank rock trio Peaches, the film’s That" by Soulja Boy, the film’s soundtrack emphasizes the insoundtrack creates a palpable tensity of roller derby. In more emotional moments where the sense of nostalgia. protagonist deals with the hardships of a burgeoning romantic 4. FRANCES HA (2012) relationship, the soundtrack Directed by Noah Baum- features more indie soft–rock bach and starring rising indie tracks such as "Unattainable" star Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha by Little Joy. Altogether, the pays tribute to the French New music within Whip It thoughtWave film movement. The fully portrays the complex permovie centers on the narrative sonality of its protagonist and of a woman in her late twenties the world she explores. who faces the unfavorable realiAVNEET RANDHAWA ties of adulthood and attempts

Find out about joining our team in the College Houses next year!

RA

INFORMATION SESSION TOMORROW

November 30 at 7:00 PM 223 Houston Hall (Golkin Room)

RA applications open November 28.

Learn more at: www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/ra N O V E M B E R 2 9 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E

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EGO

DOGS AT PENN:

Photos by Megan Kyne

THE UNIVERSITY'S PRIDE AND JOY

It's 6 p.m. and the dogs chase each other, frolicking across the field. The owners watch from a distance and laugh as the dogs scamper by with flopping tongues.

If you’re in need of some puppy love, stop by the High Rise Field around 6 p.m. each day and you’re bound to stumble upon a crowd of Penn pups and their proud owners.

This pup round–up was originally unintentional, with owners bringing their dogs out to play, but it is now a coordinated event organized via GroupMe. The group formed as an iPhone group message until it reached its cap limit and became a GroupMe named “Puppy Parents.” Currently, there are 54 owners and primary puppy caretakers engaging in the GroupMe, scheduling when their pups are going to play.

Davis Polito (C ‘20), Shilo’s dad, says “I think the coolest thing about this group is how much it's grown since the beginning of the year. When I joined it was maybe then or 15 people and now it has grown to 50–plus.” Davis hopes that Penn will eventually create a fenced area where dogs can mingle. Davis’ only advice to Penn students interested in getting their own pup: “Do not buy a puppy during the school year! Potty training was difficult enough over the summer whenever I had nothing else to do. I can’t even imagine what it would be like if I had classes.”

Street got to know some of the pups behind the GroupMe, but you’ll have to head to High Rise Field to meet the rest.

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Find more doggos at 34street.com

LAUREN DONATO

EGO

EGOOF THE WEEK: MEGHANA NALLAJERLA-YELLAPRAGADA The Chair of PAGE on gender equality, intersectionality, and Nutella HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Georgia MAJORS: Psychology, Gender Studies, minor in South Asian Studies ACTIVITIES: PAGE Chair, Co–Founder of the Spice Collective, South Asian Women's Space, Vagina Monologues

Did you have any personal experiences with gender equality at Penn that led you to get involved with PAGE? I came into Penn knowing that I wanted to get involved with gender equity work and I think PAGE furthered that and made me grow a lot in terms of learning more about gender equity, women’s rights, and stuff like that.

When I was 16 there was a gang rape that happened in Delhi, and a lot of people were talking about it and I wanted to know how I could get involved. It was the first time I saw my community [the South–Asian–American community] really talk about sexual violence very openly and I wanted to know how I could get involved and be part of those conversations.

That was the first time I really got involved with gender equity. My friends and I held a penlight vi-

sual and a protest, and after that I wanted to continue that and that’s what made me apply to Penn as a Gender Studies major.

What things do you want to see PAGE do in the future?

I think definitely continuing on the path we already begun which is really incorporate women who are marginalized in multiple different ways. So talking about women of color, LGBTQ women, low–income women and bringing in more conversations and really working with other organizations on campus doing this work. I think that we have become more purified in certain ways and I’d love to see that continue and try to be more inclusive of communities that are not traditionally represented in feminist spaces on campus.

What do you think overall are Penn’s biggest gender equality problems?

I think, maybe it’s not specific to Penn, but for me it's centering women that are not traditionally represented. So for me I think intersectionality is definitely a big issue not just in the context of race but other things: transphobia, homophobia etc. to be inclusive of those various communities. For me as a South–Asian woman, I have to think about both racism and gender based discrimination and intersectionality addresses both of these things. I would love to see feminist spaces on campus address these issues, too.

What are you most proud of from your experience at Penn?

I think I’m definitely proud of Spice Collective. I co–founded it with my friend and it was borne

WHAT WAS YOUR COMMON APP ESSAY ABOUT? It was about my experience with sexual harassment.

WHAT’S THE BEST CLASS YOU’VE TAKEN AT PENN? South–Asians in the US—it changed my life.

IF YOU WERE A FOOD, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? Nutella, because you can put it on anything and it tastes incredibly amazing.

space for Penn women of the future is something that makes me very happy.

We Offer a Wonderful selection of Cantonese & Shanghai dim sum and dishes from the Jiang Nan region of China.

LIGHTNING ROUND THERE’S TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE AT PENN… Activists and non–activists.

out of the need for both of us being Asian–American women feeling like we weren’t fully represented in either feminist spaces or in spaces like the Asian community on campus, so we felt like we needed to create a space for that. The group has bi–weekly sessions and talks about different aspects of Asian– American identity.

When I was a facilitator, we would talk about anything from our parents, pressures we feel, and things like that.

This was one of the spaces I felt fully represented on campus and to create this

3939 Chestnut Street 215-921-5377 Monday Tues - FRI Saturday Sunday

11:30AM–10PM 11:30AM–2AM 11AM–2AM 11AM–12AM

Join us for dim sum all day and night!

KITCHEN OPEN UNTIL 1am Bar and Lounge until 2am also come by for a complImentary game of pool

IS THERE ANYTHING I FORGOT TO ASK YOU? I think one thing I want to mention is thinking about Penn in the greater context of Philadelphia. That’s something I’ve been thinking more about as a senior in terms of how Penn is a gentrifying force in the neighborhood and, as a student leader, ways we can work with the community and community organizations to build a better relationship. I think it’s on us as students who are part of that gentrification to work on that.

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F E AT U R E

When Aiden Castellanos–Pedroza (C ‘19) searched for colleges, he looked for three qualities: a robust financial aid program, a strong Psychology department, and the capacity to accommodate queer and trans students. Aiden’s college application process began like so many others do—with a Google search. One school consistently topped the results: Penn.

“Campuspride.org. That’s how I found out.”

Campus Pride, a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting inclusivity on college campuses across the U.S., lists on its website a “Campus Pride Index,” which rates institutions on a scale of one to five in terms of queer–friendly policies, programs, and practices. Penn earned all five stars.

“At least when I was searching, Penn was actually number one in regards to trans support services. I was pretty blown away,” says Aiden, who identifies as transgender. He wasn’t aware until he was accepted that Penn was an Ivy League school.

When Aiden first arrived at Penn his freshman year, he found the university’s reputation generally accurate. “When I ended up getting accepted,” he says, “they were really, really accommodating with being able to get my name changed, with being able to get my gender marker changed.”

But as Aiden eventually found out, there are gaps in Penn’s protection of trans students.

Imagine consistently being referred to by a wrong name, or by pronouns that are not your own. Imagine feeling like you do not belong to your body.

Imagine what it would be like use the restroom with constant fear of harassment.

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These are common narratives of the trans experience used to elicit empathy from the cisgender majority—those whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Outlets like Vox, Time, and The Huffington Post have all relied on “imagine if ” rhetoric—scenarios or hypotheticals that try to recreate the trans experience.

These stories tend to be easily digestible ways of expressing sympathy for trans people, whose gender does not match their assigned sex. But they communicate a fundamental truth: trans people face specific, pervasive obstacles.

Elliot Oblander (W ‘18), who uses they/them pronouns, deals with those obstacles every day. Per-

haps the most routine one is where they can use the restroom. As an undergraduate Statistics student in their fifth year, they spend much of their time in Huntsman Hall. Despite the building’s 324,000 square feet, it only has one gender–inclusive facility—and it was just added in 2016.

F E AT U R E

“As opposed to just taking an existing bathroom and relabeling it or something, they had to build a whole new one,” they say. “So they’re not taking away from the cis people,” they laugh. “It’s a single stall bathroom in the very back corner of the basement.”

Elliot, whose hair cascades down the left side of their face, explains that once when the gender neutral bathroom was in use, he went to the men’s bathroom next door.“ As I was washing my hands a guy walked in and saw me and walked out, and then walked back in looking really confused,” they say.

“Where am I going to pee today?” is a question Elliot has to ask everyday before heading out to class. Should they wear something more masculine–presenting in case they need to use the men’s restroom? Over 80% of Penn’s non–residential buildings still lack gender–inclusive restrooms.

Even when they do, they can be hard to find.

Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services is aware of the need for more gender–inclusive accommodations on campus. “There are multiple prongs of the process,” says University Architect David Hollenberg, who oversees all of Penn’s campus facilities and their proposed changes.

The process of finding a suitable bathroom can be even more difficult in some of Penn’s older structures, such as Fisher Fine Arts Library, whose historic significance can hinder renovation. But if not all students can easily use the facilities in one of the most central libraries on campus, is the building fulfilling its duties?

For non–cis students like Elliot, asking, “Where is the closest gender–neutral bathroom?” is, effectively, outing oneself.

The question of when and if to reveal one’s gender status varies by situation. Dylan (E ‘18), a

Computer Science major who preferred not to be identified by their last name and uses they/them pronouns, explains: “Every time I form a professional relationship with a professor, I go through the process of asking myself: do I tell them my pronouns off the bat? Will this alienate me from them?

Will they think I’m some special snowflake who wants attention? Or will they just respect that at face value and move on? I almost never experience the latter.”

The challenges extend also to professional environments. This year, when they went through On– Campus Recruiting, Dylan asked a firm about its diversity initiatives during an interview. The interviewer replied: “I myself have three homosexuals on my team.”

“You’re going to need to pay $1,000 if you want nipples,” a hospital receptionist told Aiden the day before he came in for a bilateral mastectomy, known colloquially as “top surgery” in the trans community.

Through the Penn Student Insurance Plan, Aid-

reach out for the care they need.

“I’m not completely sure of what they cover and what they can do,” says Martina Liu (E ‘20), who identifies as a nonbinary butch lesbian and uses they/them pronouns.

As a low–income student, Aiden faces additional hurdles. He uses CVS needles to inject doses of testosterone, but the cost was initially a barrier.

“I didn’t think that I would be supported in terms of being able to get needles until I had to say: ‘I’m way too poor to afford this. I don’t think I can medically transition because I can’t afford it.’

It wasn’t until I said that [that] they were able to make accommodations.” SHS now provides him with needles free of charge.

But the University’s initiatives only go so far.

“Penn’s interaction with trans people is limited to ‘Do you want to change the name on your PennCard?’ and ‘Do you want surgery?’” says Dylan. “That’s super limiting for non–binary folk.

I don’t necessarily want to change my name. I’m very comfortable being called Dylan, but I would like it if my professors knew beforehand ‘Hey there’s someone who doesn't go by he/him, she/her in your classroom.’

“I’m only as much of a trans person as I want to be cut up—to Penn anyway,” they say. “For everybody that doesn’t need or want a surgery, there’s zero recognition.”

BY THE NUMBERS:

#1 of 50 Great LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges source: https://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/50-great-lgbtq-friendly-colleges/

#4 of 50 Best Colleges for LGBTQ Students source: https://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/best-lgbt-friendly-colleges-and-universities/

en was able to have all components of his surgery covered, from the administering of anaesthetics to the actual performance of the procedure—with the exception of nipple grafts. PSIP does not cover expenses for cosmetic procedures. Nipples, according to the insurance plan, are considered a cosmetic concern.

But Aiden has stayed positive about the benefits offered through Penn’s plan.

Without the inclusion of transition–related surgeries and procedures in the PSIP—something that has placed Penn at the forefront of trans health care policy at the university level—Aiden could not have gotten his surgery at all. And beyond Penn’s progressive insurance plan, Student Health Service (SHS) is home to an LGBTQ Working Group, a coalition of a dozen–plus providers with expertise in LGBTQ+ care. SHS staffers also receive training on how to work with queer students.

But without a common knowledge of the accommodations SHS can provide, students may not

It might seem that the Penn community is supportive in ways that the University, as a larger institution, is not. If you’re struggling to come to terms with your sexual or gender identity, there’s a student–led mentor program to help you along. There are groups like Penn Non–Cis, the Penn Queer and Asian Society, and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (oSTEM), among others, aimed to support specific subgroups of queer students. Penn Non–Cis is the only group explicitly designed for trans and non–cis visibility and advocacy.

The queer community at Penn celebrates Halloween with an annual, much–anticipated party called Swalloween. This year, it was hosted in an off–campus house. A $3 cover granted entrance to a dark staircase descending into a maze–like basement filled with sweaty revelers.

When Dylan arrived at the party with two friends, they went through the familiar motions: knock on the door, take a step back, and wait for the “Cash or Venmo?” request. When the door did crack open, though, they overheard something unsettling: “It’s two guys and a girl. Should we make them prove they’re gay?”

These remarks are not uncommon within Penn’s queer community. Although trans students at Penn

#1 of Newsweek’s Top Gay-Friendly Colleges source: https://www.thenation.com/article/university-pennsylvania-ranked-top-gay-friendly-college/

#3 of Best Colleges for LGBTQ Students source: http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-colleges-for-lgbt-students/

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F E AT U R E

can find refuge from institutional ignorance within the queer social scene, it doesn’t always provide the safe haven they need.

Students say that queer social spaces on campus are often dominated by white cis–men. “Things that I wish were better?” Martina wonders. “That it was less focused on white gay men.” And when racial and class identities intersect with gender or sexual identities, isolation becomes even more prominent.

In part because of their homogenous nature, queer spaces on campus are often teeming with microaggressions. A microaggression is an offhand remark, gesture, or behavior—intentional or not—that subtly communicates a negative message toward a member of a marginalized community.

Amber Auslander (C ‘20), who uses they/them pronouns and is a member of Penn Non–Cis, believes that microaggressions “don’t come from a place of maliciousness.” They are a result of socialization—for example, how individuals are raised learning that blue is for boys and pink is for girls.

The University has not embarked on any unified effort to combat transphobia. The educational efforts that do exist are the result of home– grown efforts within the trans and non–cis community at Penn. Non– cis students like Amber must advocate for their own identities.

“We have to educate the community about how we exist and why we exist,” they state.

In addition to providing a space of non–judgment and inclusivity, Penn Non–Cis also administers Trans 101 presentations to groups that request them. The presentations run approximately an hour and cover themes ranging from gender identity and expression and the differences between the two, issues people within the trans community face, and how to be a good ally.

But the groups that need the most education are often the least likely to actually search for it. To request a Trans 101 presentation, Dylan notes, “You already have to be a little woke.”

“To reach out to Penn Non– Cis you have to have some idea

that Penn Non–Cis exists,” Amber echoes. Without any mandatory sensitivity training or education among Penn staff and faculty as well, trans and non–cis students must deal with transphobia in and out of the classroom.

Trans students must constantly police themselves. Trips to the bathroom, interactions with potential employers and academic mentors, dealing with health and counseling services, and navigating informal

binary, or gender non–conforming, according to a University report on faculty diversity.

Addressing the most minoritized group, trans students of color, and the unique issues they face is a place to begin. Julia Pan (C’ 19), who as chair of Lambda, Penn’s queer student advocacy group, is constantly seeking to engage with all facets of the queer community, laments: “They feel like they don’t fit in in either space,” referring to queer and race–centered student clubs. “So they just disengage.”

Aiden, whose intersecting identi-

spaces all become moments of potential harassment or denigration.

And though Penn as an institution is among the most supportive universities for queer students, there is always more to do.

Penn’s status as one the most LGBTQ+ friendly universities in the United States is due partly to the LGBT Center, the hub of queer activity on campus.

Diversity in the classroom, though, is a different story. Only 0.32% of faculty identify as transgender, non–

ties as a low–income, trans person of color often make it difficult for him to engage in Penn’s elite subgroups in and out of the queer community, explains: “There’s been an amount of times when I’ve wanted to drop out. There’s been times when I didn’t necessarily feel like I could even just be thought of in a considerate way here, whether by other students, whether by Penn professors, whether by staff, and so it’s isolating still being here.”

“Which is why I’ve had to find

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other resources apart from campus, because I just don’t really get to see that that often at Penn,” Aiden continues.

Some say that mandating sensitivity training for professors could help support trans students. “To me that just seems like a no–brainer,” Eliot says, “That seems like it should be trivial.”

A system for keeping track of student pronouns would also help. “It would take a minimal amount of effort to have a portal on Penn InTouch where you can say ‘This is how I want to be referred to,’” argues Dylan.

The lag to address trans issues on campus has led to a feeling of numbness among students. “I’ve become complacent in the way I’ve been treated as a trans person at Penn,” states Dylan.

The persistent day–to–day struggles take a toll.

“My only coping mechanism left is trying to be able to laugh at how much people hate me,” he says. “It wears down on you.”

VICE & VIRTUE

MEAT AND GREET WITH BOBBY FLAY

Photo courtesy of Bobby's Burger Palace

Bumpin' elbows with the King of Bobby's Burger Palace

Bobby Flay himself is setting the record straight: Bobby’s isn’t just burgers.

Bobby Flay opened his first location in 2008 as a foray into the fast casual dining space. The chain has since grown, now with 19 locations including the University City spot. Flay, who studied at the French Culinary Institute, brings a gourmet touch to his cooking. He elevates the fast food standbys of burgers, fries, and shakes far beyond the McDonald's standard.

"I create everything, especially at BBP. It's very hands–on," Bobby said.

In addition to the regulars, Flay creates a burger and shake of the month for the menu. As for December, Flay revealed the specials to be a Christmas–themed burger and a dulce de leche milkshake.

He finds inspiration for his cooking everywhere. “My whole life revolves around food. When I’m traveling, when I’m eating at other restaurants, when I’m competing on my shows. I dream about food.

I see finished dishes.” His love of food is reflected in his menu— from his city–inspired burgers to the variety of ketchups and sauces provided on the table.

Recent additions to the regular line–up have included meat–free options to cater to the growing vegetarian population. “I pay very close attention to what people are eating and what trends are going on. When you say the Penn campus is very healthful, I would say every campus is. People in that age group are very healthful. I have a daughter in school out in California, and they are very thoughtful

about the food that they are eating.”

The menu features three salads: Chopped Crunch, Super Kale, and Palace Quinoa. These are no sad side salads either; they are hearty meals filled with a variety of mix–ins. “When devising a salad, it is important to have a lot of things going on,” Bobby said of his more recent menu additions.

The Chopped Crunch is inspired by his daughter’s namesake "Sophie Salad" at Flay’s Mesa Grill.

Featuring chickpeas, avocado, feta, and cucumbers, the $8.95 salad competes with Sweetgreen in terms of freshness and flavor.

A self–declared “burger purist,” Flay did not add a vegetarian version to the menu for years. When challenged to cook a veggie burger on his TV show Beat Bobby Flay, he was impressed enough with his creation to add it as a permanent item to the menu. “If you are with two friends, and they all want burgers, I don’t want to lose you as a customer. I was happy to be given that challenge.” The burger, crafted from barbecue wild mushrooms, chickpeas, and quinoa, is served cheeseburger–style with spicy mayo to top it off. While the burger doesn’t pretend to be the real thing, it doesn’t have to. It's spicy and flavorful in its own way.

And Flay plans to expand. "We are definitely going to be doing more licensing deals. " As the true burger king, Flay's palace could soon grow into an empire.

MOLLY HESSEL

Insights from Practice: The Corwin Case Moderator LAWRENCE HAMERMESH University of Pennsylvania Law School

Panelists STUART M. GRANT Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.

WILLIAM D. SAVITT Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

GREGORY P. WILLIAMS Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.

Wednesday, November 29 Panel Discussion 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Reception 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Silverman 245A, Levy Conference Room Penn Law Information: http://www.law.upenn.edu/ile

The Institute for Law and Economics is a joint research center of the Law School, the Wharton School, and the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

This program has been approved for 1.0 substantive law credit hour for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credits may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should bring separate payment in the amount of $40.00 ($20.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys) cash or check made payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

This event is sponsored by the Institute for Law and Economics, a joint research center of the Law School, the Wharton School, and the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

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FILM & TV

YOUR DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO FALL TV PILOTS What's worth watching

Right now, we're living in what has been called the “Golden Age of Television." But I’m not sure why anyone’s calling it that.

I mean, I see that Netflix and Amazon have been major disruptors to the way TV works.

But come on, seriously? If this is the gold standard, we need to take a step back and reconsider.

What’s made the bleak reality of the “Golden Age” even bleaker was this year’s fall pilot season. Let’s just say it felt… lacking. And by the numbers, it was: this year featured 74 pilots versus the 88 purchased last year—and that includes the yet–to–come midseason releases. Not to mention that a large number of this year’s pilots were unoriginal and/or uninspired in origin. For the most part, it’s been spin–offs like Young Sheldon, reboots like Dynasty, and even more derivative superhero reimagines like Inhumans. Suffice it to say, the TV stratosphere has been feeling a little stale.

Here’s the thing: if you’ve been feeling fed up with the bulk of bad content out there right now, you’re not alone.

But if you’re like me, you’ve still got to watch something to take your mind off of the minutiae of your miserable existence as a semi–intellectual.

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So here’s a charitable contribution to assuage some of your suffering: I went through the season’s best and worst so you don’t have to. And some of them were not easy to watch, so you’re welcome in advance.

THE GOOD The Deuce (HBO): This new HBO drama about sex workers and the emergence of porn strikes the perfect balance between grit and camp.

While the first couple episodes are a pretty slow burn, the pay off is worth it. Plus it stars James Franco as twins and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a prostitute, both of which make for pretty good content anyway.

Dynasty (The CW): I live for CW trash about the lives of attractive one–percenters and the network’s unrealistic depiction of glitz and glamour.

I’ve been clamoring to find something to fill the hole Gossip Girl left in 2012, and finally the CW delivers. In this reboot of the synonymous '80s soap, audiences get a CW–style retelling of the wealth and woes of The Carrington’s, America’s richest family. And it’s the best the network’s looked in a while.

The Mayor (ABC): The Mayor is a depressing sort

FILM & TV

of godsend: while it’s considered (and is) the best comedy of the season, the fact that it ranks so highly this year is a sad reminder of what TV has come to. Starring Lea Michele and Brandon Michael Hall, this show about a rapper who becomes mayor is funny in all the most obvious ways. The show gains redemption in its few moments of subtlety on matters of politics and civic duty. It’s funny, it’s well–meaning, and it’s sweet, exactly as a cable sitcom should be. And in that way, The Mayor is a satisfying watch.

SMILF (Showtime): Starring Frankie Shaw as a young Boston mother, SMILF is that rare, intimate kind of comedy. The pilot is a little disappointing (as so many pilots are) but this is one of those shows you can tell is going to be worth it. Stay tuned.

The Good Doctor (ABC): For those of you live for medical dramas, this one's for you.

The show is basically a carbon copy of the genre’s essentials: hospital romances, department tensions, and long and unnecessary monologues. Here’s the twist: the main character, played by Freddy Highmore, is an autistic surgeon who’s a medical wunderkind. It’s a derivative, emotionally manipulative melodrama, but Highmore is great. All in all, it’s exceedingly entertaining in a weird, guilty–pleasure kind of way.

Young Sheldon (CBS): I’m not a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory, but this show was a pleasant surprise. It’s a cross between The Middle and Fresh Off the Boat, and it achieves a difficult balance—mild but not boring, funny but not hokey.

It’s a difficult balance I didn’t expect the show to get right, but I’m happy to say I was wrong (for the most part).

THE NOT–SO–BAD The Gifted (FOX):

I won’t lie, shows about the THE NOT WORTH THE Marvel or DC Comic franchisAIR TIME es are not my forte: they tend 9JKL (CBS): to feel weak and pandering.

9JKL is worse than 2014’s The Gifted is a slight exception to that rule, because it forges its path differently from its X– Men predecessors. That said, the dialogue is weak, and the acting is subpar (which is actually not that surprising given the genre). If superhero shows are your thing, then this will hit all the right marks.

Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (ABC): This show feels like cable’s very own version of the Bruce Almighty franchise, but with a less specific goal. It has all the bones to be something, I’m just not sure the audience (or even the writers, really) can tell what. God and other religious content is hard to do well in a comedy, but the effort shows.

"What's made the bleak reality of TV's 'Golden Age' even bleaker was this year's fall pilot season."

Mulaney, and it's without the respite that came from knowing that Mulaney and Pedrad had, at least, the ability to be funny.

Deeply, deeply, disappointed and confused by the network’s choice here.

Seal Team (CBS): Law & Order True Crime: The A military drama starring Menendez Murders (NBC): David Boreanz, Seal Team is the It’s not that this show (the best of the military–themed offerings this season. While it’s a obvious and plain, it's engaging. If you planned to invest 2229 Spruce St. your time on any of the military 215-735-7357 shows this season, this would be the one.

Will and Grace (NBC): As much as it pains me to say this, the return of this turn–of– the–millennium game changer feels tired, probably because it is. I mean, by now, half of the stars have teenage children, and have between them a handful of mid–tier movies, several failed pilots, and the still–painful Smash season two under their belts. Don’t get me wrong, no one is as happy as I am to see the return of Debra Messing to the small screen, but it’s a little weird to see her and the rest of the cast spit–taking for a live audience and making Trump jokes. They aged out of this type of thing. And that’s okay.

plot of which is pretty self– explanatory) is bad or poorly done. It just feels forced, and to be honest, wholly unnecessary.

miere episodes of this Marvel– based show, I was already bored to the point of tears. If there’s anything superhero shows should be good for (even when they’re exceptionally bad), it’s intrigue. But Inhumans is so overwhelmingly silly and poorly executed that it feels satirical.

The Orville (FOX): This show, which comes straight from the mind that brought you something called Zoomates and runs for a full hour, has already been renewed for a second season. So I guess if you are amongst those who found Ted 2 funny (and hopefully you aren’t), then maybe you’ll like this. But still, probWhy did Dick Wolf think no ably not. one would see his obvious attempt to cash in on the true– Ten Days in the Valley (ABC): For all its best efforts, this crime craze? Law and Order is one franchise that definitely show has no drive. Sure, we does not need expanding. I’ll have Kyra Sedgwick as a damstick to my Mariska and Ice–T, aged TV producer whose daughter goes missing, but the thanks. show itself is boring, melodraInhumans (ABC): matic fluff.

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ARTS

ART AS ACTIVISM The future's in your hands (literally).

Screenshot // Youtube To be completely honest, I never really understood art.

I was that person who would stand in front of a painting, confused as to what exactly I was supposed to be seeing.

Abstract art was the worst; why was Pollock so famous for splattering paint all over a canvas? Even someone as artistically inept as I was could do the same.

That was because I couldn’t relate to Pollock. I couldn’t see the splatters as marked attempts to break free from the rigidity of societal structure until I found myself wanting to do the same. It was only then that I began appreciating his work (though, granted, I still think I could splatter paint all over a canvas, but you wouldn’t see me making

$32 million for that). But this is why art is so profoundly important and irreplaceable; it captures emotions in such a subjective way that touches the audience at the heart rather than the brain. One movement of a body, one stroke of a brush, or one line of a poem can be enough to speak to someone such that it represents an entire mental state.

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When art is used for the purposes of expression, its influence is magnified a thousand times. As a medium for activism, that influence is boundless. In the words of Alicia, one of the primary organizers for Art as Activism, a subsidiary event for Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, “art really resonates with everyone, regardless of culture, language, and boundaries.

This allows us to raise awareness and really make change around the world.”

The event, which took place this past Wednesday (November 15th) in the Hall of Flags, highlighted just how art could be used in activism. Over sushi and bubble tea, the Art as Activism members spoke about how they evoke their identities and social problems through their forms of media, poetry, and literature.

The first speakers were Nicole Frazzini and Anushka Mahkija of Arts House Dance Company, a student-run dance company, specializing in contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, pointe, and hip– hop. Aside from their shows and guest performances, the

Company have since started an IMPACT Series, designed as concept videos with the objective of “exploring challenges impacting the community and world at large.”

One video, “Matthew,” choreographed by Nick Silverio and inspired by the story of Matthew Shepherd, who was brutally murdered because of his sexuality, focuses on LGBT violence. To the voiceover of Matthew Shepherd’s father’s narrative during the trial, the dancers retell the story, drawing out through their movements reflecting what happened and the emotional impact of the event.

Another video, “Reborn,” choreographed by Jennifer Li, centers on the social norms of beauty and body positivity. To Mary Lambert’s “I Know Girls (Body Love),” the dancers fall at the words “as the knife hits the skin,” and stand tall at the words “You are worth more than a waistline.” Wordlessly, the dance showcases the rollercoaster of emotions that can otherwise not be captured through merely verbal expression.

Other speakers included

ARTS

THIS IS THE SECOND TO LAST STREET ISSUE OF 2017...DON'T CRY FOR ME PHILADELPHIA Carol Zou, the director of programming at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philly. Speaking on the numerous programs and workshops the initiative offered, Zou touched upon how art was a means for expression. On the initiative's current art exhibition Hurry Up and Wait, which is a reflection of the tensions between policy and humanity, Zou says, “art humanizes policy and articulates the complexity of experiences,” meant to show the range of emotions that “make migration much more than simply a political issue.” And this is what art in activism does. It gives otherwise distant and meaningless conceptions and problems a human factor that allows for empathy and sympathy—feelings that ultimately contribute to driving change in the world.

Beyond dance and the fine arts, art can also be used as activism in film, as seen in the remaining speakers, Barry Oshiba, founder of NEXO Productions, and Imran Siddiquee, director of How to

Hurt Like a Man. What is so important about art is that it’s creative. There’s no formula, nothing. As Oshiba puts it, “it’s you in the sky. You have the dirt on the ground and you have to reach for the sky. You gotta build your own ladder.”

With film, the novelty is with minority representation; after all, people are tired of hearing the same stories, which typically involve white men. For Siddiquee, film has been a way to talk about masculinity and how that intersects with race. It’s a way to show boys and men the negative impact of fragile masculinity without really using the direct words to speak about it.

At the end of the day, the power of art is in the very fact that it’s subjective. It takes feelings and captures it. In a way, art can do something linguistics, by the nature of its limits, cannot. Because of this, each piece of art, regardless of whether it entails words or sounds, speaks so much more to the human experience than anything else.

SHERRY TSENG

Screenshot // Youtube

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STUDENT WHO "WANTS AN EASY CLASS" WILL TAKE ONE ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

What a breeze!

Meghan Whittier (C ’18) was looking for an easy class.

Something low–key and vaguely interesting, with a take–home final and no midterm. And after weeks of searching, asking for recommendations on various group chats, and scouring Penn Course Review for classes, she’s found one—URBS 247: Community Engagement and Empowerment in West Philadelphia.

“Everyone I talked to was like, ‘Oh yeah, this class is fantastic, a really wonderful look at honest engagement and interaction with the West Philadelphia community.

Plus, there’s a take–home final.’ Once I heard the part about the final, I was sold,” said Whittier.

Whittier added that URBS 247 is “the perfect way for me to like, get a credit and a super easy Pass on my transcript.

Not even totally sure what the class is about, but I’m sure it’s like, about the city and stuff.”

Whittier’s academic advisor, who declined to be

named due to professionalism concerns, commented, “This class will be a fantastic way for Meghan to round out her transcript and expose her to new things.” When asked about the fact that Whittier appears to not understand the subject of the class, her advisor added, “Ideally she would understand the class subject already, but I’m sure she’ll get there. Probably.”

Whittier, speaking from her Radian apartment late last night, added, “I’m just truly so thankful that I found this class,” said Whittier. “I’d been looking for something to balance out my schedule for WEEKS, because like, I’m taking three real classes so I need like, a joke class or whatever.”

Whittier added that if URBS 247 didn’t work out, she could always take “like, a BS class on the history of oppression in the world, or something.”

CLAIRE SCHMIDT

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The message emphasized that and and and most most most imp im The email, which was signed the discussion will be “a part of inging ing to towait towai w by five of Penn’s top administra- our larger ongoing effort to supwatching watching watching 7272 m tors, including President Amy port and care for the Board of onon Megavideo onMegavid Megav Gutmann and Provost Wendell Trustees.”

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