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PERFECT PITCH a look into one ASU a cappella group

Pole dancing exercise classes, farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s markets near campus and more!

Non-Stop Flight Non-Stop Fun

One short and affordable non-stop flight from Mesa to Ogden, Utah gives you non-stop winter fun! Non-stop dining and nightlife. Non-stop trails for snowshoeing, fat biking or winter trail running.

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YOU’RE NOT JUST PART OF A CLASS. YOU’RE PART OF A LEGACY.

At the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University (ASPP), we have a proud history of diversity, academic excellence, and community engagement. Our clinical psychology leaders and distinguished faculty have a deep commitment to the education and training of the next generation of professional psychologists. At ASPP, our Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) degree program offers a concentration in Neuropsychology. With our integrated curriculum, you’ll go beyond books and classrooms and get real clinical experience. This approach reﬂects our commitment to prepare you to meet the challenges of the diverse people and communities you will serve.

And that commitment to you is reﬂected in the profession’s commitment to us. We’re proud to say that our Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program has received accreditation from the APA, certifying that the program meets their rigorous standards. At ASPP, we offer the following degree:

DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY (PSYD) IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Learn more at: ASPPPhoenix.com For enrollment information contact our admissions representative, Michael Hohenstein, at (602) 216-3137. Argosy University, Phoenix 2233 West Dunlap Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85021

The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: (202) 336-5979. Email: apaaccred@apa.org. Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation. Argosy University is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, www.wascsenior.org). Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Credentials and experience levels vary by faculty and instructors. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Argosy University, Phoenix, 2233 West Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021. © 2016 Argosy University. All rights reserved. Our email address is: materialsreview@argosy.edu. See ge.argosy.edu/programoffering/971 for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, salary data, alumni success, and other important information.

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the staff

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Special Thanks

Alexa D’Angelo Ben Margiott Desiree Pharias Heather Hudzinski Charlie Francis Clara Early Becca Smouse Savanah Yaghsezian Taylor Bishop Manali Chavan Aashini Choksi Sierra Ciaramella Kara Curtin Courtney Diddell Lindsay Hahn Sam Herndon Shelby Hyde Alexa Levine Rebecca Lydford Danielle Quijada Madison Alder Larissa Garza Willow Greene Stella Atzenweiler Eric Gonzales Elena Landes Johanna Huckeba

Desiree Pharias, Charlie Francis, Heather Hudzinski, Alexa D’Angelo Photo by Willow Greene

editor’s note You would think, being a writer and all, that these editor’s notes just flow out of my finger tips. You might be surprised to know I’ve had root canals way easier than writing these editor’s notes. This being my fifth one you would think I might have gotten the hang of it by now. You’d be wrong in that assumption, but hey, I always give it my best shot. During production of this magazine, you are holding in your hot little hands I was reading “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer (bet you thought I was going to talk about a T.V. show, huh?) and it really struck a chord with me. In this nonfiction book, written by a journalist, the reader follows the journey of Christopher McCandless who, after graduating college, donated his money and belongings and took off for a cross-country adventure. In learning about McCandless and his story, I found that I needed an attitude adjustment in my life. McCandless inspired me to be free of these things that typically bog me down and to change the things in my life that are negative. Though McCandless ended up dying in the Alaskan Bush, he had the right intent, I think, though I would never traipse across the country because I’m deathly afraid of bears and spiders, and I hear you come across those in the wild. I’m heading into my own wild, unknown where my life is mine and I make the decisions for the course I take. It’s incredibly freeing and I encourage everyone to (A) read this book and (B) let go of those things holding you back. Please enjoy this issue put together by a wonderful team of editors, reporters and photographers who put up with my antics on a daily basis. Happy reading!

features student life

Saturdays at the Market Farmer’s markets become a fun weekend alternative.

More Than a Pole No longer scandalous, women are pole dancing for sport and confidence.

My Inner (Pole) Dancer One reporter finds confidence and sensuality in an unexpected place.

Exploring Beyond Tempe An adventure to find beauty away from campus.

The Adderall Effect When assignments and school become overwhelming, students turn to dangerous alternatives to keep focused.

from the cover

18 08

You’ve Got Male ASU’s all-male a cappella group, Priority Male, wins over crowds with their angelic voices and superb style.

campus culture

How To: Campus Commute Find out the pros and cons to all kinds of campus commuters.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Physical Students find more than a hot bod in Devil-X classes.

Style Watch on Campus Looking at some of the most creative outfits found on campus.

Swing With Me Sun Devils learn how to swing dance both on campus and off for a different workout experience.

business

Blame it on My Hip-Hop Roots Graduate Sabi Megwa went on to succeed in hip-hop music but still remembers his Phoenix roots.

Leaving Our Mark ASU students leave their mark on campus by developing the next hot app, Dropspot.

College Tuition: The True Cost A comparison of college tuition around the globe.

student life

SATURDAYS AT THE MARKET By Rebecca Lydford Photos by Stella Atzenweiler

Every Saturday at 9 a.m. the gates open at the Clark Park community garden where yoga fans sprawl out on their mats and a local artist gets on the microphone to share some good tunes. People from all over the community make their way to Clark Park to gather for the farmers’ market. There is a potent feeling of inclusivity with activities for all ages and with such a wide variety of products for sale. There seems to be something for everyone. This market rotates vendors weekly. On my last visit, there were massages, food trucks, and arts and crafts. There was a wide range of local items for sale including art, honey, baked goods, jewelry, plants, fresh produce and soaps. Barbara Lloyd, one of the founding members of the community garden, recounts how the garden was started from a city grant and the efforts of the Tempe Community Action Agency. “We got a postcard mailer from the city saying the pool was going to be demolished and they were looking for the community to figure out alternatives for use of the space,” Lloyd says. “We wanted something that would have an impact on the neighborhood, take our park back and give the community something to do together so we agreed on the garden.” Another volunteer community member, Frank Quijada, pointed out that soon enough the community garden became part of a bigger project for a community farmer’s market. “We decided to bring back the farmer’s market that use to be on Mill Avenue,” Quijada says. “One thing led to another and our garden committee became a market committee.” Dave Tally, the master gardener, explained that it was really a community effort that brought the market into fruition. “This whole accumulation of the farmer’s market was about three years in the works,” Tally says. “The amazing thing is that people like Frank (Quijada) and the neighborhood association itself have taken ownership of this gar-

SPM | March

den. They do all the marketing. It all is a collaborative effort of the community itself.” On a table resting on a tablecloth, there sat rows of earrings, necklaces and bracelets — all crystal style. There was one pair of sterling-silver earrings that was made by pressing a leaf to create the mold. The maker of these creations, Cherrill Moran, has been in the business for years. “I took a beading class at the Kiwanis Center, and then I took a few more classes and started giving it away to friends and family for gifts and people were like ‘oh my God you should sell this’ and I had a lot of inventory so I started selling it and this is my first farmer’s market,” Moran says. This may have been her first time selling at a market, but not her first visit to a market. She used to go to one when she lived in Idaho. “You would see everybody the same Saturdays,” Moran says. “Everyone was biking or buying vegetable and stuff like that and it just feels like a community to me.” “I like that this is supporting the community gardens and I think it is important for kids to know where their food comes from and how it’s grown,” Moran says. “I love that there are kids here doing community service. They helped set up tables this morning and they are working over pulling weeds, rotating the earth, stuff like that. It’s just another way to connect with people from Tempe.” Another local vendor, Kat Djordjevic, brought her business, Pearl Coffee, to the market. “We have Tanzania and Mexican beans,” Djordjevic says. “They are brewed in the same process but they have totally different flavors. They are from completely different continents so they taste completely different, which is really fun for me.” She describes how she got her business started by saying, “I’ve always really loved coffee. It’s like a cultural thing for me. It’s an excuse to spend three hours talking with somebody and not moving. I was working at a very corporate job and I wanted coffee to be my five-year plan and then I really just started to see how this job was killing me. I was just drained so I decided it was my “today plan” ... I bought

a roaster and that’s it.” Djordjevic says the market highlights the importance of getting face-to-face interaction with her customers as opposed to selling online. “You don’t have interaction with people,” she says. “In the farmers market, you see people walking by and they are like ‘Oh, I don’t drink coffee’ or ‘Oh, I prefer this’ and then you can actually talk to them. ‘Well why do you prefer this? What do you like about it?’ and that helped us out a lot. You know, 20 percent is selling the product and then 80 percent is education and just talking to people.” The farmer’s market as a whole breeds a culture of its own. Sustainability is encouraged through the aquaponics systems, in which fish are being raised and act as a source of fertilizer for plants. The feeling of community is another prominent aspect of the culture. In fact, Clark Park recently adopted the Resolana Project mural, which many may recognize from the wall on the boutique, Here, located on College Avenue and University Drive. Quijada says the difference between the Clark Park Farmers’ Market and others, is that it’s a place to stay, relax and mingle. “We have Press Play that’s a jazz group from ASU,” Qui-

jada says. “And then we have the food and the coffee and crepes and then, of course, the vendors. So they come and sit and socialize and really hang out and that’s the wonderful thing about it. They bring their dogs. We even have a garden dog.” The community even plans to implement a dog park in the future. “Every year we can apply for a grant,” Quijada says. “This shade structure and the bike racks were all done with a neighborhood grant. So we got another neighborhood grant and we are going to put a dog park in. We have a couple good neighbors who can make it happen.” Tally explains some plans to make the park even more sustainable, with the addition of a water tank operating off solar power to use in the bathrooms. The farmer’s market has been a place for members of the community to come together and create a relaxing place to spend a Saturday morning, and will continue to grow and expand in the coming years. “We are just neighbors trying to get people together,” said Perron, to which Lloyd elaborated, “It’s been fun. It’s doing what we intended it to do. It’s getting people out here, changing the community and making a difference.”

student life

MORE THAN A POLE

By Courtney Diddell Photos by Stella Atzenweiler

Pole dancing is a job considered both sexy and scandalous, depending on who’s judging it. However, it is not only a job but rather a reintroduced recreational activity. At one point, it may have been considered a form of income for women associated with the sex industry or for the entertainment of grimy men, but now it is also viewed as an enjoyable aerobic exercise. Because this form of dance is viewed as taboo by some in American society, it may come as a surprise to many people that it is becoming a preferred exercise of many. Just a little over a decade ago, the dance didn’t have much instruction, but now there are studios that teach the art of pole dance. “I understand how some people come from families where it’s the only way to support themselves, so it’s not necessarily looked down upon,” says Bailey Moore, a sophomore dance major at Arizona State University. “I know some people who do it make more money than I make with all three of my jobs combined, so I can see why, if you’re financially struggling, you might get into it.” Prowess Pole Fitness owner Lindsay Green faced many judgmental remarks about her profession in the beginning but has noticed a difference in the way people respond over the last few years. “When I first started telling my friends, I always got the, ‘Ugh. Are you a stripper?’ I used to get quite a bit of scrutiny, and I used to just not even tell people because I didn’t want to deal with it,” Green says. “But now, over the past couple of years, I can tell anyone I’m a pole dancer, and people know what that means. They’re like, ‘That’s awesome. I’ve heard of that.’ It’s come so far; now I tell anyone that I’m a pole dancer.” Because of its provocative history, pole dancing usually isn’t considered as a physical education course. ASU has

SPM | March

created obstacles. When Green contacted ASU about the possibility of bringing pole dancing to the students, the university’s response was that she “would have to make some sort of jersey.” “With any physical education class you have to look at more than just if it would be a fun class,” says Jasmine Gardner, an international dance instructor at ASU. “There are potential injuries to consider — the cost of equipment, availability of instructors, what physical benefits are going to be gained, how the class is going to be run — so many factors go into considering a class.” Fortunately for ASU, if this class were to be considered, Green has volunteered to instruct the class and share her equipment as long as the students are comfortable taking the light rail two stops to avoid having to move the equipment back and forth. Aware of the social concerns, Green assures those who frown upon the aerobic exercise that it’s not the provocative hobby some people make it out to be. “The arm and core workout is intense, you can’t beat it,” Green says. “But other than that, coordination and flexibility are the main physical benefits. (Pole dancing) makes you feel more confident; it makes you feel strong, sexy and then you can take that kind of high self-esteem that you can create with this and use it in your daily life.” But when introduced as an alternative way to increase arm and core strength as well as enhancing one’s self-appreciation and confidence, attitudes begin to change toward it. Moore, who was previously against the idea of pole dancing, said she would definitely take a class. “Pole dancing has a bad name, but just a class itself isn’t any different than doing a hip-hop class,” Moore says. “People will do hip-hop provocatively as well, so I don’t know why it would have to be looked down upon to do it

for fun or for fitness reasons.” The benefits of pole dancing can be found in many other dances as well, but fail to be as intense in most cases. “Sometimes you just need a break, and dancing provides an excellent avenue to rejuvenate the mind and body,” says Gardner. “Good music, getting all your muscles involved and just having a good time moving to the beat makes people happy.” Like hip-hop or cheerleading, pole dancing is taken very seriously by many people. Green is Arizona’s first national and international pole dance competitor since 2009, winning first place in 2012 at Pole Classic before becoming a brand ambassador for Bad Kitty. “People think it’s a strip club thing, but it’s absolutely not,” Green says. “These people are normal, everyday people that want to compete in pole.” Competitions can be as small as a club competition, like at Denim & Diamonds in Mesa, or it can be as big as World Pole Dance, the dream of many pole competitors. “World Pole is the crème de la crème, because you compete against pole dancers from every country, and it’s a very strict competition,” Green says. “For example, their music is instrumental only, there can’t be words. Their moves are very (uniform); they try to make it similar to what you would see in the Olympics.” Similar to any profession or hobby, practice makes perfect. At Prowess Pole Fitness, they offer various classes to help its members rise to the top. For $20, the “Intro to Pole” class teaches the most basic level of pole dance to beginners. Once feeling comfortable, one can choose to begin Level 1 and work their way up to Level 4. Prowess also offers a few unrelated dance classes. Though when Green first started her business, she was often under scrutiny for her chosen profession, many people are studying pole dance at Prowess Pole Fitness. Her studio, a sprawling 2,000 square feet, is becoming too small to fit her class size, Green says. She imagines there will be a boom in the industry of pole dancing exercise classes in the next several years and feels the demand in her studio is indicative of that. Green, as well as many others, hopes her passion can one day be fully accepted by society and young adults as a physical education class that not only can get one in shape, but also boost their confidence too.

student life

MY INNER (POLE) DANCER By Savanah Yaghsezian Photos by Stella Atzenweiler

I definitely couldn’t make a career out of it, but pole dancing is really fun. I can honestly say I never thought I’d type out those words, but last month I decided to put my investigative skills to the test and try out a pole dancing exercise class. After one 90-minute session, I fell in love with this unique way to exercise. Let me preface this by saying I’m probably one the least coordinated and least athletic people on the planet. I can’t dance to save my life and I have the flexibility of an uncooked strand of spaghetti. Most people with my lack of athletic abilities would stay very far away from anything that involves a pole or dancing, but I think I just like embarrassing myself and trying new things too much to walk away from an opportunity like this. I’d heard about pole dancing lessons before, and I’ve wanted to take a class for a while now. I just didn’t have the guts to actually go until last month. I figured if I was go-

SPM | March

ing to cross “pole dance” off my bucket list I was going to need to put myself on a deadline to accomplish it. Originally, I planned on physically preparing myself for the class. I didn’t really know what to expect and I didn’t want to be the only person in the class that couldn’t pull herself more than an inch up the pole. Unfortunately, going to the gym either didn’t fit into my schedule or I found my bed to be way too comfy. My arm, leg and ab strength remained at an all-time low, so I just told myself I’d wing it. Fast forward two weeks and it was time for me to head over to the studio. I had done some Google research and discovered Express MiE in Tempe. It looked clean, friendly and had a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, which was more than good enough for me. I was told to wear comfy workout clothes and whatever shoes I wanted because we would be barefoot during the class (which was great for me because my only pair of sneakers has a giant hole in the toe, and I didn’t particularly want to show up with a wad of duct tape attached to my foot). Finding the studio was a bit challenging. It was tucked behind a Trader Joe’s in the corner of a strip mall, and the side windows were completely blacked out. (I thought that was totally reasonable though, I wouldn’t want some creepy dude peering in on my pole dancing class.) When I finally arrived, all of the instructors I met were friendly and offered me a quick tour of the facility. The studio has two “pole rooms” and one larger room for typical dance classes. The thing that surprised me the most, though, was that the rooms used for pole dancing did not contain a single mirror and were dimly lit by small, red lamps. The dark rooms provided an aura of calmness, making me feel even more comfortable with my choice to take the class. Laura Czarzasty, the owner of Express MiE, says they avoid mirrors and keep the rooms dark so women feel more comfortable. She told me the classes were designed so that women at any level of flexibility or athleticism could participate. I was so unbelievably relieved I wouldn’t have to watch myself awkwardly slide around a pole, or be expected to spontaneously go into the splits. Suddenly, I was a lot more excited for the class to start. I was going to be taking a “Teaser” class. Basically, it’s a

90-minute session that samples meditation, stretches, pole dancing and wall dancing. In my particular class, I was joined by a friend and five other women who were all at least 10 years older than I am. Again, I felt relieved I wasn’t shoved into a class with 10 super-fit twentysomethings who could (literally) dance circles around me. We all sat in a circle on individual plushy yoga mats the studio provided. Minutes later our instructor, Jasmine, entered the room. She was easily one of the most friendly people I’ve ever encountered and her enthusiasm for her job made me consider (for like, two seconds) becoming an instructor myself. We began with simple meditation: sit with your legs crossed, eyes closed, inhale, exhale. My mom’s a yoga instructor, so I’m pretty familiar with calming breathing techniques and the positive mantras they tell you to make you feel more confident. I did feel a lot more comfortable afterwards, so I think it does make an impact on your mental state. We continued on and did some upper-body stretches called “heart circles.” They’re designed to warm up your chest, back and arm muscles. It was basically normal stretches set to music, but they helped release some tension in my shoulders, so I didn’t complain. Before we hopped on the pole, we did some fun little leg kicks while lying on our backs and practiced our “Drag

n’ Step” walks. The goal is to look as sexy as possible while walking across the room. I don’t know how I looked when I was doing this, but I actually felt a tiny bit like a Victoria’s Secret model. Finally, the moment we had all been waiting for: the pole dance. For someone with actual dance training, this would probably be an extremely easy routine, but for me, it was pretty difficult. I feel like I nailed the first half though. All you had to do was walk once around the pole, wrap your right leg around it, bend down, come back up and walk around the pole again. After that, things got tricky. The last step of the dance was the “Polerina,” a quick spin around the pole with one leg extended behind to catch you. I tried as hard as I could, but I could not get over my fear of falling so my Polerina was only sub-par. After a few tries on the pole each, we moved on to my personal favorite of the night: the wall dance. The dance consisted of a Drag n’ Step walk, booty shaking (not twerking, there actually is a difference), T-shirt teasing and sliding up against a wall (hence the “wall” dance) and plenty of leg kicks. I had a lot of fun just letting go and giving the dance my all (even if I did look silly doing it). At the end of the class, we each got pretty pink flowers and a quick demo of what we could learn if we stuck through all nine weeks of the course. It’s amazing what you can learn to do, and how much strength you can gain, in those nine weeks. I’ve never been a big fan of gyms or the most consistent with my workout routine, but pole dancing opened my eyes to a whole new world of exercise. Women of all shapes and sizes can get fit and feel empowered while having fun. I would recommend a pole dancing class to any woman who wants to try something new and feel good about themselves.

student life

EXPLORING BEYOND CAMPUS Photos & story by Willow Greene

One of my favorite places that I always go back to when I feel the need to explore is by the Salt River in Mesa. This area features beautiful views and wildlife, including the Salt River horses. These horses often graze in the tree-covered grassy meadows by Coons Bluff, which is a popular place to stop along the Salt River. Coons Bluff is a great place to explore and spend time with friends. There are overnight camping spots available on weekends and great picnic spots along the river. In addition to the grassy areas by the river, there are also incredible views of the Four Peaks mountains and large saguaro cacti that shape the horizon. In this area, I spent the day capturing photographs and watching the wildlife from a distance. In the meadows dotted with trees at Coons Bluff I smell sweet grass and campfires. Closer to the river, I hear the ripples of the water and skipping of stones. Last time I was at the Salt River a herd of wild horses was grazing quietly between a grove of trees. I observed the horses quietly, but they slowly moved closer and closer to me. There were young foals and older members in this herd enjoying the comfortable 75 degree sunny weather. Along Bush Highway, there are incredible views during sunset with bright golden light that make the tall saguaro cacti glow at just the right moment before the sun sets. Next time you feel the need to get out and explore outside the bounds of Arizona State University, make sure to check out the Salt River and surrounding area! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget your camera, because there are always amazing sunsets.

SPM | March

Student Media Housing Fair March 16-17, 2015

Join the ASU Off-Campus Students Group on Facebook to connect with off-campus students.

Hayden Lawn Tempe Campus 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Are you looking for a place to live? Come to the Fair!

The bi-annual ASU Student Media Housing Fair features services that can assist with your transition to off-campus living. Representatives from a wide range of residential communities and businesses on and off campus will be available to answer your questions. Come by for free food, giveaways, & more!

statepressmagazine.com

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student life THE ADDERALL EFFECT By Kara Curtin Photos by Heather Hudzinski and Eric Gonzales

Everyone wants to ace that test, lose weight or stay alert during work, but it seems that more and more people feel like they don’t have what it takes — unless they take Adderall. A Huffington Post four-part series called “The United States of Adderall,” delves into the reality of Adderall and the abuse of it among college students. The series was published in early February and was written by Lawrence Diller, a physician who practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics. It focuses on the skewed American culture of achievement and its relation to the use of stimulants, focusing on one student, “Amber,” to show how the drug affects students. Adderall is a performance-enhancing stimulant that can be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist. Twenty years ago, it was a “sit-still-in-school” drug that helped children focus in class and remain calm. Now, it is a mainstream drug that is traded like playing cards on college campuses and misused by a completely different demographic. When using the substance, a person is on a high: focused, alert and confident. When that person comes down from that high, they experience harsh side effects that worsen with every dose. “If I don’t take my Adderall, I’ll feel lethargic and lack the motivation to get anything done,” says Nicole Petriw, an Arizona State University graduate. The amount of prescriptions has skyrocketed in the last 20 years, and Diller isn’t the only one who recognizes the problem. Maryanne Penzi, M.D., a former doctor at Winthrop hospital in New York, is hesitant to allow her autistic son to regularly take Adderall because of the tolling side effects

SPM | March

and high risk of addictiveness. “If you really have A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) or A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder), it’s absolutely great,” Penzi says. “But if not, it can ruin your life.” Today, Americans are obsessed with success. Culture norms pressure adults — college students, in particular — to do anything to win and achieve, even if it means falling prisoner to a pill. Happiness is hard to achieve in today’s society because people continue to raise expectations of themselves and others, which amps up the pressure to deliver what students can’t — or think they can’t — naturally deliver on their own merit. Diller coins this mentality “Achievement Anxiety Disorder.” He writes in his series that this mentality is the true cause of Adderall misuse and all of the negative effects it brings. The stimulant causes extreme appetite loss and jitters. When coming down or withdrawing, the user can experience extreme mood swings or depression. Adderall addicts have also been known to develop an irreversible tic, or Tourette’s. When the drug wears off, the user’s mind becomes foggy and unfocused, sometimes to an uncomfortable level. College students are crashing while striving to lose unhealthy amounts of weight, avoid sleep to over achieve and even to enhance their party experiences by mixing alcohol with the drug. Nicole Petriw has been prescribed Adderall since her freshman year of college and uses only the recommended dosage, but she says she feels the adverse side effects when altering her dosage or irregularly taking a pill. Diller described his subject’s, Amber, crashing of sleeping for days, binging on ice cream and crying for no reason as an accurate depiction of an addict’s frequent nightmare. Amber said that whenever she considered getting help for

her addiction, her overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness stopped her. The problem with the Adderall craze has fallen on the shoulders of the doctors and psychiatrists that issue the prescriptions, Diller writes. There aren’t any brain scans or blood tests that can decipher the true needs of a patient, if any. The doctor has to trust what the patient claims they are having problems focusing and require the drug, Diller writes. College students fake symptoms on this rigorous questionnaire that prompts them to describe their emotions and ability to focus in order to be falsely prescribed the drug. Some use it to focus through long school days or just sell it to others who aren’t prescribed. Penzi says her practice normally prescribes a drug that is less desired by the public, such as Ritolin or Vocalin, at small dosages to prevent “giving in” to prescribing yet another adult to the drug. “A lot of people know the game. They know the doctor will have to give them a prescription to Adderall if they are persistent,” Penzi says. Patient care technician Jamie Karch of Banner Health says she and her coworkers are well aware of the illegal trends of selling and abusing Adderall, but they are at a loss because there is no objective test to make an accurate diagnosis. “We monitor how fast a suspicious patient refills their prescription and how quickly they ask for an increased dosage,” Karch says. “But it’s difficult to confront someone and accuse them of lying about their health.” There are questionnaires, focus tests and pure observation, but Diller, Penzi and Karch all agree that it is incredibly simple to flunk these tests on purpose and be minutes away from a prescription that they can either use, abuse or sell. “My suggestion to those students who say they just need

it once to get through an all- nighter is to grab some coffee or a bottle of coke,” Penzi says. “It’s just stimulation and determination. No drugs are needed.”

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Got Male By Manali Chavan Photos by Willow Greene

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It’s silent for just a moment. Quietly, a steady hum is heard. After a moment, another voice is added and then another. The sound of a drum is mimicked through the lips of a man wearing a colorful bow tie. Eventually, each singer joins in. The room is filled with the sound of beat-boxing, humming and vocals. The men begin to dance around, filling the empty space on stage. It seems nearly impossible for anyone in the audience to not be tapping their foot, clapping along or simply enjoying the performance. Priority Male is an all-male a cappella group at Arizona State University, and anyone who has sat through one of their performances can testify to the passion, creativity and pure talent that is displayed during their live shows. “We always want to have high energy in our performances, we want to sound good musically, but the most important part for us is the energy level,” says Mitchell Weeks, a business communications junior. Priority Male was formed in 2009, and although it is a student organization, it functions very differently from the typical ASU club. “This one is different because we are constantly working on something like performances or songs,” says Erik Kausin, an arts administration senior. “It’s basically like a second job for some of us, but we love it, and we’re passionate about it.”

from the cover Within the musical group, there are multiple layers that eventually make up Priority Male. Neurobiology, physiology and behavioral studies senior Drew Hensley has been the group’s musical director since 2013. “The original role of music director was just to plan rehearsals and then teach all the music and make sure everything sounded nice,” Hensley says. “It kind of transformed more into an arrangement because I spend so much time teaching the guys individually, I know what their voices sound like.” In addition to arranging their own music, the musical group creates its own choreography and costumes. Although the main focal point of each performance is singing, other elements add depth to each show. “You can use your choreography to give yourself dynamics and when you’re dancing you can have fun with the people around you,” Hensley says. “If you’re having fun the audience is going to have more fun too.” The group makes sure to put in enough time and effort to every aspect of their performance to make sure everything is at its best level and still fits the group’s image. “A cappella choreography is very different than regular choreography just because you have to remember these

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are singers, they’re not dancers,” Kausin says. “You have to take into consideration that you’re singing the entire time so you can’t do anything super crazy.” Throughout each academic year, the musical group puts on shows around campus and in the community. This has given them much success and has resulted in the group pursuing other large-scale projects, including producing an album. Producing an album requires planning a year in advance, Kausin says. The group needs to fundraise between $10,000 and $15,000 as well as spend a week in the spring recording. However, larger-scale productions allow for collaboration between students that have other specialties. “I love the collaboration aspect of it because I love getting to pull on graphic designers to design our artwork and I love being able to really incorporate marketing schemes,” Kausin says. Last semester, the musical group worked with the allfemale a cappella group, The Pitchforks, on a commercial concert event.

“It costed around $15,000 to produce and a lot of time and effort went into it,” Kausin says. “Plus, it was a huge collaboration and the first concert we did with The Pitchforks.” The performance was at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and seated about 800 audience members. The two musical groups collaborated on everything from performance numbers to the intricate set. “We got along so well because we’re kind of what the other group is missing,” says Arianna Torman, a tourism and development management junior and member of The Pitchforks. The groups complement each other, with the strong male and female vocals. Torman co-produced the show alongside Kausin, because they wanted to create an event they had never done before. “Both of us were really into making it a new experience for our groups and also really cool for our audience,” Torman says. At the end of February, Priority Male competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), which is the largest event for the crew all year. They typically spend the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the spring semester gearing up for the event. This year’s competition was held at ASU’s Gammage Auditorium for the first time. “ICCA is where all collegiate a cappella groups compete against each other to just flex their muscles and show what they’re made of,” Kausin says. Kausin and Torman were key players in bringing the competition to ASU this year and for the first time the competition will consist of only Arizona-based a cappella groups. “We have 10 groups from all over the state so I think it’ll be a really fun competition,” says Felix Herbst, a violin per-

formance and medicinal microbiology sophomore and Priority Male member. In the past, the musical group has viewed the event as more of a competition, but this year the members aim to enjoy their performance and make sure their audience is having a good time. “We’re comfortable, we’re fun, we understand our sound, we like our sound and if the judges don’t like it that’s OK, because we know we’re going to kill whatever we put out there,” Hensley says. Many of the group members see a cappella expanding even more in the future, with more groups and more competitions. Priority Male will likely lead the movement in Arizona. “I just see it growing from here, but I also see it becoming much more serious,” Hensley says. “Now it’s a music form that’s playing on the radio and fighting for Grammy’s.” For many of the members, Priority Male has been a creative outlet and a place for each of them to find their place at ASU. While members prepare for the future, whether that be pursing a musical career in Los Angeles, gearing up for another year of Priority Male or simply enjoying these last few months, it’s certain that Priority Male will have a lasting effect on each of them. “When I think of college, I think of Priority Male,” Hensley says. “It’s everything.”

from the cover Meet Priority Male’s President Erik Kausin

Every time Erik Kausin feels creative, he sits in a corner of his college library with a pair of earbuds on and a blank piece of paper in front of him. He often sits there for hours watching live performances and listening to the original version of a song his a cappella group has arranged. “Priority Male has been the best thing that’s happened to me while in college,” Kausin, the president of the group says. When Priority Male takes the stage, the audience can expect beat-boxing, perfect pitches and colorful bow ties. However, the musical group was not always what it is today and much of that can be credited to Kausin. Like most freshman students, Kausin was itching to join a club at ASU, but Priority Male didn’t come onto his radar until a mutual friend suggested he try out. At the time, Priority Male was looking for a choreographer, beat-boxer and a member who knew music theory,

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Kausin says. Luckily, the group found all three that year. “My freshman year was such a wacky year,” Kausin says. “It was not the bow ties you see today back then. It was these goofy guys that could sing really well, but no one really took them seriously.” Although the boys had color on their ties, they lacked the vibrant image they were aiming to portray. Eventually, Kausin began stepping into leadership roles and finally decided to make a change. “I thought, ‘Let’s rebrand ourselves to really reflect the Priority Male that we are today,’” Kausin says. The black, long-sleeved button downs with dark jeans changed to white button downs with gray pants. The signature colorful ties transformed into the colorful bow ties the group would soon become known for. “It was just a cleaner look, it was fresh, it was fun, it was exactly what we were looking for, and everyone loved them,” Kausin says.

While much of Priority Male’s signature characteristics grew while Kausin was a member, he found himself transforming through the years as well. Undergraduate Student Government adviser Jamie Ingrisano, who later went on to become the faculty adviser for Priority Male, has seen the integral role the musical group has played for Kausin. “It’s a central part of who he is in his college experience,” Ingrisano says. “It’s part of everything he does and thinks about whether he wants to acknowledge that or not.” Kausin was also able to incorporate Priority Male into his capstone project through the main stage production of VS (verses), the collaboration show with The Pitchforks. The show included video interludes, choreography, new musical numbers and gave many of the members the creative freedom they crave. While this show gave Priority Male the opportunity to flex

their vocal skills, Kausin found himself fitting into his own place in the music management industry. Co-producing the show allowed him to rebrand Arizona a cappella. “Erik is amazing with coming up with all of these ideas and bringing these things to a cappella, especially here in Arizona, that haven’t been done before,” says Arianna Torman, vice president of The Pitchforks. As Kausin’s college career and Priority Male career come to an end, he hopes that Priority Male will continue to expand. While he may no longer wear colorful bow tie, the experiences he has gained through Priority Male will stay with him throughout his journey in pursuit of his career in the music administration industry. “I’m so thankful that I got into the group and was put in a position where they trusted me to produce work for them,” Kausin says. “Now I can take that with me to the next step, whatever that may be.”

SPM

campus culture HOW TO: CAMPUS COMMUTE By Becca Smouse Whether you ride a bike or zoom around on some skates to get place to place, there are plethora of ways to get around ASU. Not sure what’s best for you? We’ve broken down some pros and cons of the most popular ways to maneuver the busy walkways.

WALKING Ah, the old faithful way of getting around. It’s just you, a backpack and maybe a lunch box.

PROS Getting fit: That tired saying of “walking is so good for you” actually has some truth behind it! Science has shown we burn roughly 100 calories per mile. Walk only-zone: These sections of Tempe were MADE for you. You are not in danger of being hit by someone on a set of wheels. You can walk through campus with confidence from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at least. Less baggage: You are your own, independent traveler. You don’t need to worry about the possibility of someone cutting your bike chain or leaving your longboard in class.

CONS Slower than molasses: Hands down, it’s the slowest method of getting around. If you’re running late and stuck walking to your destination, you likely break into that awkward running-with-my-flailing-backpack gallop to get to class on time. Always alert: You are constantly in fear of being run over by something or someone, especially those speedy skateboarders. Plus, you’re almost always watching your back while weaving through big groups and getting around slow walkers.

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BIKES According to Arizona State Business and Finance, more than 15,000 students bike to and from ASU’s three campuses.

PROS Covers the most ground: Bikes are by far one of the easiest way to get from point A to point B, especially if those points are really far apart. Students who live off-campus ditch the hassle of a car and finding parking for the convenience of a bike. Free registration: ASU Parking and Transit offers free bike registration on all four of ASU’s location. This allows for free access to bike storage facilities on ASU Tempe and Downtown, and can help police track down your bike in case it gets stolen.

CONS Parts and parking: Speaking of stealing -- Bike theft is a real issue! Students have had chains, wheels, baskets and even entire bikes swiped. Remembering where you left your bike after finding a place to park it has also been an issue for some. Our advice? Take a picture of your bike with some campus markers included to help jog your memory when it’s time to ride home. Accidents are a real danger: Biking can be a serious hazard, especially during rush hour times on campus. There’s legitimate danger looming when riding around campus. Accidents involving another biker, someone on a skateboard or possibly a car if you’re on surface streets are far too common on campus.

BOARDS

HOVERBOARD

These crazy gizmos come in all shapes and sizes, but boiled down they’re all made of the same elements: a board and a set of wheels. Arguably it takes a bit more skill to ride than a bike, but comes with much less baggage.

We saved the best for last. Hoverboards have created some serious buzz since Christmas time! But are they more fun than functional?

PROS Boards with friends: Riding around campus with your friends is much easier if everyone can board.

PROS Zero energy required: All you have to do is be coordinated enough to stand on the board and zoom around. Some of these boards can go as fast as 10 mph! Your friends can eat your dust at that speed.

No hassle: There’s no worries of finding a drop-off place for your board, like you would need to with a bicycle. Some penny boards are small enough to fit in a backpack! In short, these boards are usually lightweight, easy-to-carry and not too terribly expensive.

+A in cool kid category: These boards are definitely on the same track as college gadgets from Back To The Future. The flashing lights and fluid movements give off a high-tech I-need-to-try-it vibe.

Lockers: If you are planning to stay on campus for an extended period of time and don’t want to leave your board unattended, some ASU location do have skateboard lockers. You need your own lock, but it definitely beats having to babysit your board if you’re in the MU grabbing a bite to eat.

Not quite a necessity: We hate to ask, but is this really worth the funds? To be fair, these boards go much slower than a bike and probably cover less distance in the long run than a longboard or your own two feet. Plus, we’ve seen some major crises with batteries exploding in recent news. You may want to think twice before investing in this to get around campus.

CONS Wipeouts: Skating on campus is all fun and games until you run over a rock or a crack in the pavement. This can cause a major wipeout, which could leave you seriously hurt and your board on another side of campus (hopefully still in one piece). Walk-Only Zones: While you’re not as dangerous as a bike to pedestrians, you still need to hop off your board in the Walk-Only Zones.

CONS

Zero cardio benefit: College students are lazy, so we like to kill multiple birds with one stone whenever possible. Riding a bike or walking around campus does have some positive impact on your health! Standing on a battery-powered hoverboard? Not so much.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL By Sierra Ciaramella Photos by Eric Gonzales

Whether it’s to prepare for spring break, or a way to relieve mid-term stress, Arizona State University students can turn to various exercise methods to keep their mind and bodies healthy. “If you’ve never tried a group fitness class before, I definitely recommend heading to the fitness center at any of the campuses and giving it a shot,” says Daniel Labadie, ASU student and Devil-X fitness class instructor. “You can find something you’re passionate about that will motivate you to reach your fitness goals, and group fitness might be a good start for that.” Labadie instructs Stretch, Cycle, Hard Core and Grind at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex on the Tempe campus. He says he learned he had a knack for instructing fitness classes after he became licensed to teach Zumba. “It is important to take care of your body by exercising and doing things that challenge you not only gives you physical determination, but mental as well,” says Marissa Roper, an ASU student. Although Roper says she prefers to workout alone rather than in a group setting, she has participated in Devil-X fitness classes such as Yoga, Pilates, Zumba and Cycle. ASU student Megan Vogt, who has participated in Cycle, Hard Body HIIT and Kickboxing, says fitness is nothing without a healthy and well-balanced diet. Vogt says she likes to exercise at her own pace and push herself so she can reach her fitness goals. Tanner Wagner, an ASU student, who exercises at Edge Fitness, says he used to be out of shape, but he has been exercising at Edge Fitness about three times a week for two and half years and has learned how to live a healthier lifestyle. “Get your nutrition on point, that’s how you see huge changes in your body. Start a nutrition plan, then focus on your workout,” Wagner says. “Have people around you that share a common goal. You can motivate each other and keep each other on track.” Wagner says people can obtain their ideal bodies by

figuring out their goals and making a plan that fits them. “That’s the great thing about group fitness,” Labadie says. “It’s fun to do it in a group setting because you get to motivate each other, especially with the warm weather and bathing suits coming up.” Labadie says they tend to have a larger amount of participants in Devil-X fitness classes when swimsuit season is approaching. But exercising offers more than just a sexy body. “Fitness keeps you less stressed and healthy... for college students this is important for the intense amount of work and involvement,” Vogt says. Vogt says setting aside time a few times a week to exercise gives students a healthy way to relieve stress. “All the energy that students focus on is just toward their studies and they’re not focusing on their bodies. They’re not paying attention to how to they eat, they’re not getting enough exercise,” Labadie says. “When you have a healthy body you have a healthy mind, and vice versa.”

campus culture STYLE WATCH ON CAMPUS By Rebecca Lydford Photos by Stella Atzenweiler

Christen Green Christen Green was my first fashion blog victim, sporting some ripped jeans and braids adorned with metal beads. “The braids are a more natural look for my hair,” Green says. Her style is influenced by much more than just the weather, but like the weather, it is constantly transforming. “It just depends on my mood everyday. I am literally different everyday,” Green says. “Also, I am from the East Coast so you see a lot of different styles from the East Coast than here. Right now, this is just the chill mood. I feel great today. I wanted to show some stomach…I felt like floral and jeans. It’s just something that comes to me.” Green’s appreciation for art explains why she puts so much into her style. “I’m always on Pinterest or Tumblr looking at outfits and I’m always shopping. I try to stay on top of a lot of things…I also love vintage things…I’ll go thrifting sometimes,” Green says. Her tattoos are also a part of her style and her individuality. “They all mean something to me. This is for my grandpa. He thinks cardinals are good luck. Every time I see a cardinal, I think of my grandpa,” she says. Green looks to express high standards with her physical presentation. “I’m not really bummy. I’m like OK, I know I am going to be at school. I have to look cute. Tuesdays and Thursdays I know everyone is out so I have to look super cute,” she says. Looking into the future, Green plans to keep up with her unique appearance. “In ten years, hopefully I am rocking a cool style in a hospital and kids will love me. I feel like I’m going to be that sassy nurse. They are going to see my tattoos, and they are going to see my hair. I don’t need to pretend I’m something I’m not. I am just going to be who I am.”

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Isabel Schlebecker & Francis Dreher Isabel Schlebecker and Francis Dreher were on their way to class when I flagged them down to get an interview. Schlebecker says, “We’re best friends for life.” How long have they been friends? “Two weeks now,” was Dreher’s reply. “We just have Spanish class together so we started talking.” Their styles speak to their heritage and runs along the theme of the class they met in. “We want to make sure you know this is a Latino style. This is like new-age Latinos.” Schlebecker, with her hair in high buns and sparkles on her socks, picked her look with a particular message in mind. “I try to be a little punk,” Schlebecker says. “I think a lot of people on this campus look the same and I don’t want to look the same as everyone else. So I think its fun to be a little different and do something else. Music (is an influence) too. I’ve been walking around campus all day blasting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.” Dreher gave all of us a helpful tip employable in the coming months to avoid the plague of sweat stains. “My thing is that if its not black its not cool,” he fondly added, “We’re like low-key matching.”

06.

Tell us why you should receive the scholarship (in less than 100 words)

... pls

haha, this reminded me of u! haha, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so funny. basically the life of a college student. where did you find that?! ASU lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook page! you should totally look them up on fb!

The good, the bad, and the funny. asulifeasasundevil

campus culture

SWING WITH ME By Taylor Bishop Photos by Johanna Huckeba

You can feel the energy when you first walk in to the small, dim-lit room. The music is fast-paced and you’ll feel like you went back to another time. Dresses are twirling and feet are shuffling all around you. Don’t be intimated, everyone is welcome, this is swing! The Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Jive, these popular types of swing dance first made famous in the ‘20s, are making a comeback in Arizona. The swing dance community is thriving in Arizona with lessons and events happening nearly every night. I went swing dancing for my first time at Kat’s Korner in Mesa, where people of all ages and experience meet to dance every Saturday night. I was surprised by how quickly you can learn the basics and pick up new moves from more experienced dancers. The cover charge was only $6 for students and included a lesson before class started at 7:15 p.m. This lesson was on East Coast Swing, which is a bit slower than the Lindy Hop where most of the basic moves involve triple steps and turns. Kat’s Korner was started by Dabney Hopkins in 2000, and has been a weekly swing destination ever since. Karen and Dabney Hopkins are the primary instructors at Kat’s and they both participate in swing competitions and events around the world. “We teach throughout the week and we also run a

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Monday night dance at the Women’s Club of Mesa called Hepkats. It has the same format except it’s a Lindy Hop lesson beforehand,” Dabney says. The demographic at Kat’s is primarily high school and college students, but all ages come to Kat’s. “I think my favorite thing is that in this day and age it’s really hard to find something where people can connect with a stranger on an intimate level without it being weird,” Dabney says. Members of Arizona State University’s swing dance club, Swing Devils, can frequently be seen at Kat’s Korner and other swing dancing places around Phoenix. The Duce, in downtown Phoenix, offers free swing lessons every Tuesday night. “The alternative these days is to go clubbing. There are just so many other things that are not quite as awesome as coming out and swing dancing, so I just love seeing people catch on and get into it,” Dabney says. “Once you really get into it and you feel a love for it, then you want to spread that love to other people and bring them dancing too.” “It’s like the gospel of swing dancing,” Hopkins adds. “Phoenix has one of the most welcoming and friendly swing dance scenes that I’ve ever experienced.” Anya Hernandez, a junior at ASU, is studying theatre and dance and has been going to Kat’s Korner for over seven years. “I think so many college students enjoy swing because it’s a fun, low-risk way to engage with each other and have a good time,” Hernandez says. “The environment is always very inviting, and the swing community is so genuine and supportive of each other.”

Even a novice feels comfortable on the dance floor at Kat’s, it’s a welcoming and fun environment no matter the skill level. “My favorite part about swing dancing is the ability to get to know someone by their movement. Partner dancing really is a dialogue of movement, meaning there is a lot of physical listening involved,” Hernandez says. “There’s constant communication between the lead and follow, and it’s an incredible feeling when you find that connection.” Swing dancing is a surprising alternative for a college student, when most young adults are spending their evenings at bars or in clubs each weekend. “It’s honestly very refreshing in comparison to the university party culture. If I had the option of going clubbing out on Mill Avenue and going swing dancing, I’d choose swing

every time,” Hernandez says. Nicholas Tran has been a member of ASU’s Swing Devils for two years and says that swing taught him not only dance skills, but also a new way to communicate. “There have been times when I’ve been in a different country, not knowing the native language, but I can dance just as well with the people there,” Tran says. Though I’m no where near the skill level of the dancers in this article, I still had fun getting my groove on at Kat’s. It was a different experience, and definitely a great workout, leaving me sore for a few days, but I would be happy to go again. If you would like to experience swing for yourself or just take a lesson, check out all the great opportunities on Kat’s website: www.thekatskorner.com.

business

BLAME IT ON MY HIP-HOP ROOTS Photos & story by Eric Gonzales

From the Herberger Institute to Los Angeles, this alumnus is making huge musical strides. Sabi Megwa, or SAB, grew up in South Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts with a degree in design management in 2013. While studying, a passionate hiphop artist was born. Through production, writing and performance, the 24-yearold is able to create a new and refreshing sound. Slow, rhythmic melodies and precise bass are infused with lyrics that focus on the hard work and infancy behind his passion. “I’ve been going crazy just trying to break out of the mold” is a crucial line in SAB’s music-based short film “LUCID.” Although SAB now lives in Los Angeles, he doesn’t forget his roots in South Phoenix and his parents birthplace. SAB’s parents emigrated from South Africa and Nigeria, and they have instilled a very strong work ethic that he hopes to convey in his music. He says he hopes his music will inspire students to combine their education and their passion. Q: Who are some of your musical influences? A: “Nas is my favorite emcee, rapper. I also drew inspiration from groups like Linkin Park. Timbaland is probably my favorite producer.” Q: Based on your influences, how would you describe your own music? A: “I’m an artist and a producer, so I would say my sound is unique in that when people hear me they’re not only hearing my message through the rapping, but also in my production. I hope when people listen to my music they are inspired to push themselves. Q:”When did you realize you wanted to perform? A: “I realized that pretty early on when I started making music. I started producing first and then I started writing to my own music. Right after I created my first song (in 2011), that’s when I could see myself performing.”

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Q: Have you experienced a moment when you thought, “Wow I really like doing this, and this is what I want to do”? A: “After I first moved to (Los Angeles in 2014), I started running into some of my musical influences. It’s reassuring, like ‘Okay, I’m doing the right thing.’ One of the first weeks I moved to LA, I was working in a studio, I was walking down the hall and I bumped into Ludacris. Things like that.”

Q: What are some things you want to accomplish in production or performance? A: “I think for every musician the honor of winning a Grammy is something they push toward. For me, it’s making music that people can relate to and being someone’s favorite artist - to put music out and have people no matter where they are from be able to relate in some fashion.” Q: What did you study at ASU? A: “My first year at ASU I was in the architecture program. My third year I switched to graphic design. There were other things, music mainly, that I wanted to veer my energy toward. I finished with a (bachelor’s degree).” Q: Sounds like while you were studying design, you were already thinking about pursuing music? A: “I’d leave school or get off of work and music would be the first thing I would do when I got home. It was, and is, obviously something I’m passionate about. That was a sign, and that sign was something I wanted to make my career out of.”

Q: Do you think your design background affected your work ethic in any way? A: “Absolutely. You can ask anybody in the art or design programs. Those guys don’t sleep. They’re always working on their craft. That definitely transferred over to my work ethic with music. It prepared me for my career and showed me the type of energy it required to excel at it. It’s going to be a lot of all nighters, and the design program definitely prepared me for that. It’s what I’m used to now. It doesn’t even seem like work when you’re passionate about it.” Q: What advice can you give to students who aren’t studying music but want to pursue music? A: “I would say definitely look at what your studying. For me, design definitely correlated with music. Take what you’re learning from other curriculums and apply it to music. You kind of just have to dive right into it.” You can find SAB’s music at www.thesabstory.com.

business

LEAVING OUR MARK By Aashini Choksi Photos by Elena Landes

Facebook. Napster. Microsoft, Yahoo. Reddit. Google. The list of major corporations that were started by college students goes on. These specific companies grew to become majorly successful. While the chances are rare, it does happen. Dropspot. That could be the next big thing. Dropspot is an app that lets you share photos with your friends based on location, founded by Scott Fitsimones, a Barrett freshman at Arizona State University. “Dropspot is an app that lets you leave photos or videos for friends to find,” Fitsimones says. “If you’re having an awesome Barrett dining hall experience and you leave a picture of your delicious gelato, then when your friends come to the dining hall they will get a notification, ‘Hey, Scott was just here.’ It’s more fun the more adventurous you are. You can take photos and leave them, we call them ‘drops.’” Photo sharing apps are all too common nowadays, but Dropspot brings something new to the table. “As you’re going around campus, going around your city, you can take photos and ‘drop’ them,” Fitsimones says. Fitsimones came up with this idea fairly recently and jumped into action. “I was in France last summer and I was standing in front of

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the Eiffel Tower and I was on social media overload,” Fitsimones says. “I was thinking, I could post this on Instagram, Facebook...but it didn’t feel like the right way to share the pictures. I wanted the people who had shared that moment with me to find (my picture). I want the people that care, the people who had been to the Eiffel Tower and people who were coming later that summer to the Eiffel Tower to see my photo. It was kind of way to share photos across different points of time.” A computer systems engineering major, Fitsimones isn’t new to coding and making apps. He has created apps in the past but says this is his first large-scale project. “I have been learning how to develop iPhone apps for a while — probably like five years or so,” Fitsimones says. “When I got this idea, I thought ‘Hey, I could probably make this a reality!’ so I coded a demo by myself in my room over the summer of 2015 and then I started trying to build a team. I got one of my best friends on board — he does graphic design so he helped me design the app and I met some people coming to ASU. We all teamed up and were passionate about the idea and saw where it could go.” The team is a total of six students, including Cyrus Sullivan, a marketing major.

“I got involved with Dropspot rather accidentally,” Sullivan says. “I was at a meeting early one day and the table we were at was reserved for Dropspot. The moment I was first introduced to the concept, I was immediately captivated by it.” Of the six members, two are developers, but every member contributes to the workload rather than being assigned specific roles. “What makes Dropspot work so well is there is a lot of overlap in the roles,” Sullivan says. “No one solely has one role but we are all great resources to use for each other. I help in marketing, outreach, design, ideas, publicity... I do a lot of the odd jobs that Dropspot needs done.” Although it’s been less than a year since Fitsimones even came up with the idea, the team has made a lot of progress. “Our biggest thing so far is that we applied to the Ignite Challenge and we won $10,000 with the potential to win even more if we demonstrate growth,” Fitsimones says. “Basically, the investors are saying, ‘If you can get users, we will give you funding.’” Dropspot is already available to download for both Android and iPhone. The team has a few hundred downloads and is now looking at their next big step. “We kind of developed Dropspot with the things we wanted in mind, and I think that’s a good starting spot,” Fitsimones says. “It makes a lot of sense for us, but we are just trying to make Dropspot work for people who just download it on their own. Our first priority is making it easy for new users to sign up and to find value in Dropspot even if they don’t have a lot of friends using it.” Increasing their user base seems to be the number one priority for Dropspot. With a larger number of users, Dropspot is hoping to receive more funding as well.

“Our number one priority is to get users — that’s the most important thing for a consumer app. Getting active users demonstrates that people like it,” Fitsimones says. “Our goal is to get 1,000 true fans. We’re ordering stickers and shirts and stuff to get people to love our app.” Although still early, the entire team has great aspirations for the project. With ASU ranked number one in innovation in the country, it’s not surprising to hear about projects like these. “ASU is the largest university and we know that our goal is an ASU-centric campaign,” Fitsimones says. “(We want to) integrate Dropspot with ASU culture. It’s so easy for apps to disappear and earning a spot on someone’s phone is harder than you think.” It’s clear that Dropspot has a lot of potential and is on the right track to becoming the next big thing. “The future of Dropspot is to live up to its purpose and fill the void that is currently present in the social media role,” Sullivan says. “The future is to have Dropspot impact people’s lives and people to impact other people’s lives with Dropspot. My goals are to gain even more experience in being a part of Dropspot and make it achieve the greatness it is meant for.”

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