The Yard: Volume 14 Issue 1

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% ( ' $ & % $ " !"## ,-#'$ )*"%+ Dear Reader, Thank you for picking up your copy of The Yard Magazine’s Y2K issue!

CisternYard Media and its subset of CisternYard News and The Yard magazine has always been a place for students of the College of Charleston to come together in a safe and inspiring environment that allows them to work on and grow their craft. When sitting down to begin this next chapter in The Yard’s history; the executive team and I really wanted to put a focus on allowing our volunteers a broad range to write, design and photograph the things they felt most drawn to. This is where the theme of Y2K emerged from. The Y2K era was a collage of ideas the world had never experienced before, blending the old and new, along with changes in technology and creation at every corner.

Stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief was definitely nerve-wracking, and I wondered if I would be able to continue to support and grow an organization that has touched hundreds of students across its years and been the highlight of my own college experience. Creating this magazine has included many bumps in the road, filled with trials and tribulations, but it has also allowed me to witness students connecting with one another and doing what they love, which is all I could ever ask for.

I would like to extend my thanks and express my gratitude to everyone who has helped this magazine come together. To my favorite people-my mother, Charlotte Rhett; and my best friend, Ellie Odom-who encourage me every day to be my best. Thank you to the CisternYard Media team: Zina, Ethan, Chase, Addison and Melissa, for easing my worries and supporting me in this

process. Special thanks to Julia Bianchini, our wonderful Managing Editor, who has served as my rock and helped to lead the production of this magazine; to our Creative Director, Cora Dvorovy, whose creativity and talent never ceases to amaze me; and to the incredible News staff Charlotte, Caz, Sarah and Joey whose hard work does not go unnoticed, I am so appreciative of everyone of you. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers, both old and new; you inspire me in ways you could never imagine. Thank you to all my predecessors in this role, such as Margaret and Lara, and everyone who has been involved in CisternYard News over the years, helping to lay this foundation.

Finally, thank you to my grandfather, Ralph Daniel McGehee, who this magazine is dedicated to. You will always be the light of my life, and I owe my sense of ambition and dedication all to you. Without your guidance, I would not be in the position of Editor-in-Chief. I miss you and love you always.

Y2K may be a time of the past, but as we have spent the past semester working on this magazine, I have realized through the process of creating this magazine Y2K can also reflect the future ahead. The world can be a dark and scary place, especially in times like these, but I wholeheartedly believe that the light in the dark takes form in the newest generations and the ideas of students like us.

So, as you read through this issue of CisternYard News’ The Yard I implore you all take chances, form ideas, ask questions and tune into the world around you; you’ll never know what could happen next.

All my love and un

til next time,

Blakesley Rhett CYN Editor-in-Chi ef

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Blakesley Rhett Editor-in-Chief

Cora Dvorovy Creative Director

Sarah Thomas Opinions Editor

Joey Izzo City News Editor

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Julia Bianchini Managing Editor

Charlotte Ottaiano Head of Photography

Caz Kopf Features Editor

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The Yard Fall 2024 Crossword

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District Finnick comes from in “The Hunger Games” 34. “When is a door not a door?”

19. President played by Robin Williams in “Night at the 35. Fictional family explored in House Museum” of the Dragon 21. Naturally occuring solid material from which a min38. “...Center”, College of Charleston eral can be extracted campus building that was just redone 22. Father of Percy Jackson 42. Bone in the upper arm 23. Nanny; Tutor 43. Owner of the main coffee shop in 24. Hit Britney Spears song Stars Hollow (First Name) 25. Descendant of dinosaurs 44. Season, “I know what you did last...”

27. Common spice orginiating in India 48. Home to Archie and friends 28.

Witch who comes and goes by bubble (Character) 49. Charlie’s older sister in Heartstopper 29. “The ghost with the most” (First Name) 30. “Et tu...” (Quote) 50. Planet with 146 moons 32. Tony Award Winning Best Musical of 2016 51. “And you’re watching...” (TV Chan36. Quick; Nimble nel) 37. Editor-in-Chief ’s best friend 52. Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice 39. Cleo, Emma and Rikki 40. In addition; Besides 41. Longest running animated TV show 45. “...horse”, Stephen Nedoroscik’s event of choice 46. Miley Cyrus’ alter ego (First Name) 47. Aphrodite’s Roman form, planet

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By: Julia Bianchini

The actors behind these characters also gained the support of these new young fans as viewers associated the love for their favorite characters with the actors behind the role.

The turn of the millennium was more than just a date change; it was a cultural shift that shaped a generation. As fashion, music and pop culture shifted into the new decade, television followed suit and became a cornerstone of culture. Sitcom, romance and drama programs became markers of the entrance into this new era and the actors starring in these programs were able to enter into the spotlight.

The likes of Amanda Bynes, Josh Peck and Lindsay Lohan became household names, embodying the hopes and dreams of teens everywhere. But this new found fame came with its fair share of challenges and hardships for these young professionals.

Back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Nickelodeon and Disney were powerhouses; they churned out a constant stream of content designed to captivate young audiences. Both of these television networks reached their peak during the early 2000’s as more and more kids across the country were drawn to their exciting story lines, visual appeal and loveable actors. The cult following for a lot of the programs of this era came as a result of the popular characters which presented a fun lifestyle in their programs.

One of these actors, Amanda Bynes, burst onto the scene with her sketch show The Amanda Show.

This program featured a series of comedy shorts like the popular “Judge Trudy” episode where Bynes was portraying a character resembling the popular TV personality Judge Judy or “The Girls Room” episode where the actors portrayed popular school girls gossiping in the school’s bathroom.

These sketches quickly gained popularity and Bynes became an overnight sensation, charming viewers with her offbeat humor and larger-thanlife personality.

Bynes’ rise to fame can be traced back to a time when networks targeted pre-teens and tweens, aiming to create stars who were relatable yet aspirational. The industry seemed to have a formula: a cute, funny and talented kid plus a hit show equals fame. This equation propelled Bynes into the limelight, leading to movies like She’s the Man and Easy A, which remain popular in the current day.

These movies marked Bynes’ transition away from the Nickelodeon programs where she got her start, which were geared to a much younger audience.

She was able to earn the praises of this new older

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audience, which brought upon some of the harmful effects of the industry. When the star was 16, her harmful relationship with drugs and alcohol began which made it difficult to manage the stressors and demands of her various acting jobs. After the premiere of Easy A, Bynes’ mentioned how she used drugs to cope with her struggling body image. The star explained how she could not stand looking at her appearance in the movie and was convinced that she could never be on screen again.

Actor Josh Peck had a similar experience to Bynes in the trajectory of his childhood success as a result of Nickelodeon TV shows. He was known as the lovable goof from Drake & Josh and his characters would often fit the stereotypical quintessential best friend—awkward, lovable and relatable. Like Bynes, Peck was able to use Nick as a starting point for his TV and film career, later starring in large feature films such as Mean Creek and The Wackness. As the actor was starting to gain more exposure, he was subjected to more of the negative effects of the industry, including his struggles with body image.

He was often compared to his co-star, Drake Bell, and was coined as the “fat, funny friend” between the duo. This teasing and scrutiny lead Peck to turn to drugs and alcohol in order to cope.

Meanwhile, on Disney Channel, Lindsay Lohan was reaping the benefits of childhood fame from her popularity in TV and movie media. She was making waves with her dual role in The Parent Trap, where she pulled off the technical challenge of acting in both roles of the movie’s twin main characters, before transitioning to TV with Lizzie McGuire and That’s So Raven. Lohan’s sweet, girl-next-door persona captured the hearts of many. Disney’s marketing machine worked tirelessly to craft her image, which, for a time, felt flawless. In contrast to some of the Nickelodeon programs, Disney was working to create more appropriate and family friendly content, which meant keeping a close eye on their characters,

but also the actors behind those characters. Lohan’s image was built on strict formulas and expectations in her personal life by the various producers and tv professionals involved in her career, leaving little room for authenticity.

As the decade turned, so did the landscape of fame.

The rise of social media added a new layer to the celebrity experience. No longer were stars solely reliant on the traditional media; they now had direct access to their fans. This shift provided a platform for authentic connection, but it also amplified the scrutiny. For Bynes, social media was a double-edged sword. While it gave her a voice, it also exposed her vulnerabilities. The online world could be unforgiving, with countless comments and opinions about her life and choices. This scrutiny often led to a deeper sense of isolation, complicating her already challenging mental health journey.

As the Y2K stars navigated their post-fame lives, the lessons learned from their experiences became evident. The impact of the TV industry on their trajectories was profound. For Bynes, stepping back from acting was essential for her healing. After years in the spotlight, she focused on her mental health and later expressed interest in returning to the industry on her own terms. This journey of self-discovery highlighted the importance of prioritizing mental health, especially in an industry that often overlooks it.

Lohan’s path was more complex. After years of personal struggles, she began to rebuild her career slowly. The industry’s perception of her shifted, and she sought to reclaim her narrative. Lohan’s journey emphasized the importance of resilience and the ability to reinvent oneself, even when the odds seem stacked against you.

Peck, meanwhile, emerged as a beacon of positivity. He transitioned into a successful career in com-

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edy and social media, using his platform to inspire others. His story illustrates the importance of adaptability in the entertainment industry and the need to embrace change rather than shy away from it.

In the end, the Y2K stars remind us that fame is not just about the glitz and glamor; it’s also about the human experience. They teach us that it’s okay to struggle and that there’s strength in vulnerability. As we continue to consume the content that shapes our culture, let’s remember the real stories behind the faces on our screens—stories of growth, change and the enduring power of resilience.

It’s 2011. You turn on the TV in your family’s living room and switch through the channels. Psych. The Mentalist. Ghost Whisperer.

Somehow every show you come across has something to do with psychics–a phony psychic detective, a genius CBI agent with a tragic psychic backstory, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as a ghost whisperer, obviously. You decide on a random season four episode of The Mentalist (a personal favorite of mine). In this episode, a former client of Patrick Jane (the fake psychic-turned-CBI consultant) begs Jane to use his nonexistent psychic abilities to find her kidnapped son. Despite numerous attempts to prove to her that he isn’t actually psychic, the mother refuses to believe that Jane had been lying to her all this time, even going as far as bringing up accurate predictions of his from the past. Desperate to find her son, she brings in her current “spiritual advisor”, whom Jane knows is a phony just trying to make a quick buck, not unlike his past self. This causes Jane to grapple with the decisions he had made in his past–decisions that had ruined his own life in a horrific, irreversible way. His guilt about leading on vulnerable people and giving them false hope engulfs him. That guilt is a central theme in the show–it propels his character, forcing him to make some morally dubious decisions that lead him further off the deep end.

Watching The Mentalist and other related shows got me thinking about two things: 1) What’s up with our collective obsession with psychic and supernatural media? and 2) Do “real” psychics prey on already vulnerable people, or do they provide hope to the grieving? Now, I put ‘real’ in quotes because your definition of a real psychic depends entirely on whether or not you believe in them in the first place. I personally tend to be more skeptical

of psychic phenomena, but I am not here to tell you what to believe. This article isn’t meant to sway you either way, but rather weigh the morality of perceived psychics. I am simply going to be providing both sides of the argument for you, the reader, to decide what you think. (Though I will say, if you put any variation of the psychic/ detective trope in front of me, I will absolutely be tuned in.)

The existence of psychics is not new; for millennia, people have reported experiencing some sort of psychic phenomenon–seeing visions, hearing voices, speaking to the dead. No one can say for sure if all these people were telling the truth about their experiences, but what is evident is that psychics and their supernatural abilities have been a part of cultures all around the globe and all throughout time. Take the Oracle of Delphi in Ancient Greece, for example. The high priestess Pythia connected the mortal world to the divine world, delivering prophecies from Apollo himself. In modern Russia, up to one fifth of the population reported seeing a psychic at some point, as of 2015. For reference, Russia’s population in 2015 was 145,307,616; a fifth of that would still be over twenty-nine million people.

And that’s just Russia. In the United States, in the South particularly, psychics are everywhere, in part due to the deep history of spiritualism in the southern United States. In fact, Cassadaga, Florida is the psychic capital of the world–something I just now learned existed.

Psychic media particularly saw a huge boom in the ‘90s and 2000s. Ever since the beginning of the New Age movement in the late 1960s, Americans started to shift away from traditional Christian beliefs and toward beliefs more closely aligned with Eastern religions. Many Eastern religions combine spirituality and religion, which is how mystical phenomena like psychics came

Psychics: The Fine Line Between Manipulation and Hope By: Sia Sharma 13

to be more common and widespread, especially by the ‘90s. Once TV stations realized the value of psychic media, they immediately capitalized on it. TV stations were constantly playing infomercials encouraging viewers to call psychic hotlines. Tons of famous TV psychics like Miss Cleo started appearing out of nowhere. Once TV executives realized psychics and crime-solving go handin-hand, there was no stopping them–every TV procedural turned into a hot psychic-detective duo solving murders. (Seriously, it was, like, a requirement for the leads to be insanely good looking.)

The media weren’t the only ones fascinated by psychics, though.

In declassified public documents that can be found on the official website, the CIA admitted to investigating psychics and their abilities, specifically in relation to their hypothetical use for intelligence. The CIA’s main goal is to collect and analyze intelligence–information relating to national security–in order to prevent and thwart attacks on the nation by enemies of the country. One of the ways the

how they operate is important because it highlights how dangerous the job of an asset can be, which may provide some context as to why the CIA would take such a seemingly extreme measure by recruiting psychics. Any asset, but double agents especially, are always under immense threat of being compromised at any moment; having your cover blown as an asset could be a death sentence. Essentially, the moment an asset agrees to help the CIA, they are signing their own death certificate, they are accepting the possibility of death in the event they are ever found out. Regardless, assets are incredibly important in collecting intelligence, so the CIA continues to use them. But what if the CIA could collect the intelligence needed without placing people in incredible danger? That’s where the psychics come in.

“What’s up with our In the summer of 1972, CIA scientists and researchers began collective obssesion research on the topic of psywith psychic and chics. They investigated whethsupernatural me- er presumed psychics could “see” locations without physidia?” cally being there, which, if true,

CIA gathers intelligence is through the use of assets, the official name for what we consider spies. Assets are foreign agents spying on their own countries or organizations on behalf of the CIA; they are not American CIA officers, which is what most civilians generally assume all CIA “spies” are. Sometimes, assets can be double agents, which means they initially started off as an agent for a foreign intelligence agency but were then recruited by the CIA to feed disinformation to their organization, allowing the CIA to be a step or two ahead and hurt the organization from the inside. Knowing what an asset is and

would obviously be incredibly useful in gathering intelligence for the CIA. Remote-viewing, as it was referred to by the CIA, could eliminate the need for assets all together. If the psychics could actually do what they claimed to be able to do, the CIA wouldn’t need to send assets into the field knowing there is a chance they may never come back. All they would have to do is get a psychic to gather intelligence through remote-viewing from the safety and security of a CIA station. No one is in physical danger and the CIA gets the intelligence–it’s a win-win.

So, what did the researchers learn? Surprisingly, they found the rate of accuracy of the psychics’ predictions was too

high to be just coincidental–they seemed to actually be “viewing” locations they had never physically seen. Regardless, the CIA ultimately decided that this wasn’t exactly a reliable way to gather intelligence, so they discontinued the program. Unfortunately for the assets, they would still need to be sent into the field to continue their dangerous work. Still, the CIA essentially admitted to believing in psychics, at least to an extent. And that’s only based on the declassified records. Imagine what the CIA hasn’t told us.

Everything I’ve told you so far has been obtained through research, through secondary sources. I want to go a step further, though. I want to learn from both research and personal experience. What better way to do that than to talk to an actual psychic? A couple months ago, I sat down on a Zoom call with Carol Cottrell, a self-proclaimed intuitive medium, meaning she can communicate with the spirit realm. I’d read a little bit about her life’s story on her website while doing research prior to the interview, but I still wanted to ask her what growing up psychic was like. One of the first things Mr.s Cottrell told me was how she constantly tried to deny her gifts when she was younger, brushing off accurate predictions as coincidences. She was raised in the Catholic Church, so being able to communicate with the spirit world was not something she proudly showed off, but rather kept hidden so as to not draw unwanted negative attention. She kept it hidden for years. Well into her successful marketing career, she found herself searching for a purpose in her life. As it turned out, that purpose was the very part of herself she had been ignoring her whole life–her gift.

After accepting the fact that she possessed incredible psychic abilities, Mrs. Cottrell said she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now that she was free to

be herself, she used her abilities to help others–to help them find their purpose, to help gain closure, and to help them heal. I found that one of the main topics that was continually brought up in our interview was healing. Healing seemed to be the thread that wove throughout our conversation, both in a personal and professional way.

Mrs. Cottrell told me that many people are hesitant to communicate with the spirit world, even if they feel the need to. They fear what they do not understand. “My work is about healing, and fear is not a part of healing,” she told me. This job–this gift–means the world to her, that much is evident in her voice and her words. She wants to help people, she wants to give them a chance to heal. No matter what question I asked, her answers would always circle back to wanting to help people. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to want to help, to believe you can help?

For the sake of the argument, let’s say psychics are fake, that they’re con artists looking to make a quick buck. A grieving woman goes to a “psychic” to find answers about a loved one that’s passed on and the psychic tells her that the loved one is in a better place now, that they are not suffering anymore. Though the words were lies, the woman gets the closure she needs. Is it worth telling her she’s been lied to, even at the risk of her having to grieve a loss all over again? Morally, the lying may be wrong, but emotionally–is it okay to lie to people who desperately need hope to survive the pain of loss? So, whether you believe in them or not, I want you to consider the moral and emotional implications of psychics and the nuance that comes with the topic. Are psychics really just selling hope? Or are they providing closure?

That’s up to you to decide.

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!"#$%$&'()*+$,$&-%.(/*(01+-1&$1(2*%( 0+-1&3$1(4-5(/+6",(738,(029'(:8*-' By: Blakesley Rhett

Photo: Sydney Tate

The local Charleston band, Easy Honey, dives into their album Cupidity Unlimited with an infectious energy that encapsulates many diverse influences from the legendary Springsteen to Romantic era poet William Blake, that all work together to paint a sentimental and representational image of nostalgia and youth for their listeners. The indie-rock band, comprised of friends Darby McGlone (vocals, guitar), Selby Austin (vocals, guitar), Charlie Holt (drums, vocals) and Webster Austin (bass, vocals), pays homage to the simpler times of life-of being young and falling in and out of love with places and people.

The title of the album itself serves as a reference to love, as told to me by bassist Webster Austin. He discovered the phrase that would later become the album title in Kurt Vonnegutt novel, where it was used to describe the American Dream.

“The word cupidity actually means greed,” Austin told me, “but a lot of people don’t know that. I had texted some friends asking about what Photo: Sydney Tate they thought it meant and they said cupid and stupid in love. We [the band] thought it was cool-the idea that things get misunderstood, purposely misunderstanding, and liked that we could kind of make sorta our own version of it. In the Easy Honey world it could mean this to us.”

Easy Honey’s music often curates a sense of homeliness, as if the band is performing in an intimate and passionate setting directly to the person listening. Through the experimental and heartfelt project that is Cupidity Unlimited, the

band’s down-to-earth and wondrous nature shines through. The use of conversational lyrics ensures that the group is able to paint a vivid picture of raw passion and love that always traces back to the beaches of Charleston.

The lyrics formulate a sense of tenderness and realism, sharing dreams of traveling far to Central Spain and sharing love with someone. “Climbing back with your ivy/On my childhood haunted house/Taking off your tattered blouse/Catapults and candlesticks” is lamented in “Homesickness”, helping to curate an image of the listeners’ minds of simpler times to reminisce on-a feeling that everyone can relate to reflect upon.

Cupidity Unlimited served as an experimental album, filled with different types of tones and sounds throughout. “Anything But You” features a crisp repetition of uplifting beats, the sound encapsulating the feeling of summer and laughing nights with friends. The techno and echoey vocals come to life in a rich fashion in “Tell Me, Tell Me” while “Wetakeourtime” takes on a more lyrical sound with a personal and somber tone of reminiscing on what one once had.

The use of non-musical sounds are also featured throughout the album that help to add to the whimsy and dreaminess that Cupidity Unlimited is at its core, formulating a musical wonderland the listener embarks on.

While the songs throughout the album take on vastly different tones and tempos, they are not standalone; they all come together to form a cohesive tone focusing on ideas of nostalgia and wanting to relive the past. By the end of the album, “Right in Myself ” seems to encapsulate a new dawn on the horizon, and its peaceful yet hope-

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ful sound ties back into the opening interlude “Down to Earth,” one that the band sat down to play and came up with in one take, bringing the album full circle, ready to take the listener on another journey of wonder discovery.

The image-provoking lyrics mixed with moody beats combine to make Cupidity Unlimited more than an album; it becomes a personal experience and a conversation between the artists and the listeners. By the end of the album, it feels as though Easy Honey is an old friend, sharing tales of love, loss and everything in between.

“It’s for the searchers,” Austin said when asked about the overall theme of the album and its ties to childlike innocence and wonder, “people who are searching for something greater than themselves.”

“It’s for the searchers, people who are searching for something greater than themselves.”

D9 Greek Organization Spotght: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated By: Hannah Whatley

Within the NPHC greek community the first organization that comes to mind when one thinks about an organization who values sisterhood, exudes a commitment to service and celebrates scholarship is Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Omicron, and are the reason we’re able to serve our community and campus today and for the past 50 years.

These women set the standard and today we proudly carry on the torch that these women lit.

Now that you know more about the LOvely Lambda Omicron chapter, let’s Delve more into Delta Sigma Theta’s story, legacy and mission. Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 illustrious women on the campus of Howard University. With the creation of this organization, from the beginning, there was a clear goal and distinction that set them apart from the rest: A commitment to service and the upliftment of the Black community. Delta Sigma Theta was formed during a time where there were many social issues relating to race, economics and education. Their founders saw this and wanted to take action; they wanted to The Lambda Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta be on the front lines and to help the Black community Sorority Incorporated was the first Black sorority chartered at CofC; On May 25, 1974. We were chartered by with these issues. So much so in fact, that it inspired The 5 Programmatic Thrusts : Economic Development, the Elite Eight: Veatrice Barnes, Doris Carson, Marilyn Harper-Cummings, Lillian deGuire, Christine Green, Educational Development, International Awareness and Harmoniest Simmons Peterson, Mary Seabrook and Cor- Involvement, Political Awareness and Involvement and liss Wise. These women laid the foundation for Lambda Physical and Mental Health. Today Delta Sigma Theta These are the very principles that this sisterhood was founded upon. As a proud member of the Divine Nine, this sisterhood doesn’t just advocate for change, they take charge and lead the way; building a path for future generations of the Black community to follow and succeed. When it comes to this Inspiring organization that I’m proud to be a part of, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a LOvely introduction to the Lambda Omicron chapter here at the College of Charleston.

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has over 1,000 chapters and 350,000+ members in all 50 states, ten countries and growing. With outreach spread across the world, these five thrusts still connect members and are all still the basis of service, initiatives and projects that are done as an organization today. My founders were heavily committed to public service and social activism; and their legacy still carries on today 111 years later.

With a multitude of service projects in each of the 5 Programmatic Thrusts, Delta Sigma Theta doesn’t just talk about service, they stand on it. To ensure that communities receive economic development they host financial literacy workshops to educate the community about investing, building credit and effective saving.

The programming doesn’t stop just there; in the United States Delta Sigma Theta has Delta Days at the UN for the international awareness and involvement thrust.

When it comes to Educational development this organization has built schools in places like Haiti and Ghana, within communities where getting an education might not be easily accessible. Their reach into the educational system continues in the US as well with programs such as “Delta G.E.M.S” and “Delta Academy” which mentors young girls with the goal of them to be interested in pursuing higher education. For Political Awareness and Involvement, there has been the hosting of Voter Registration Drives to encourage the community to

vote and participate in elections. Last and definitely not least, for Physical and Mental Health Delta Sigma Theta is partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to bring to light the negative connotations around mental health and address the stigmas that are believed in the Black community. If nothing else is learned, it’s very important to note that this organization is not afraid to put on their gloves, be on the front lines and put in the work for the betterment of the community and future generations to come.

Now having a better understanding of the history, legacy and impact of Delta Sigma Theta, let’s unpack what exactly the “Divine Nine” is. The Divine Nine is another way to refer to the National Pan-Hellenic Council which is the council comprising the nine historically Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities. The NPHC council entails these nine organizations hence the name “Divine 9”. All of these organizations were founded during times of racial inequality and disenfranchisement. Each organization had specific missions and goals to uplift people of color during this time.

These organizations are as follows:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, founded in 1906, at Cornell University.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1908, at Howard University.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, founded in 1911, at Indiana University.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, founded in 1911, at Howard University Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1913, at Howard University.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, founded in 1914, at Howard University.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1920, at Howard University.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, founded in 1922, at Butler University.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated, founded in 1963, at Morgan State University.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council was created to foster unity between these organizations. Through engagement with the community, service and advocacy, the Divine Nine played a large role during the civil rights movement for the Black community and continues to advocate for justice today.

In conclusion, Delta Sigma Theta, along with the brothers and sisters of the Divine Nine, continue to make waves not only on campus but worldwide. Our sorority may be over 100 years old, however our commitment to scholarship, sisterhood and service is unwavering. Whether it’s through mentoring the next generation of young leaders or advocating against injustice, we’re here to continue the legacy our founders started. So, a warm shoutout is in order to my sorors and sisters in the LOvely Lambda Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and to all Delta women everywhere we are shaping the future, one devastating act of service at a time.

Oooo- Ooop!

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By: Caz Kopf

Barbie summer to Brat summer to… what’s next?

Pop culture has seen an overwhelming phenomenon the past two summers and quite frankly the girls are living for it. It would be remiss to say both Barbie and Brat summer are not geared toward women. The cornerstone and driving force to these two summer themes are that girls are at the center of it. They are the target audience. It is amazing to see something as simple as an internet and pop culture wave unite people, and for women especially. When women live in a society determined to divide them, a silly movie or song being able to bring them together can mean everything. What’s so paramount to these pop culture waves is the encouragement of embracing who you are and living your unashamed truth. And I can’t think of a better embodiment of these ideals than Chappell Roan, the pop singer taking over your social media, Spotify and the world. Is she the next new wave? I mean we already have a viral TikTok dance to her song “HOT TO GO” ready, quite literally, hot to go.

So let’s go back a year ago to the pink induced fever dream that was Barbie summer where “I am Kenough” to the tune of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” was everywhere. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie swept up over $1 billion at the box office, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and was nominated for dozens of other awards. But, arguably, what was so pervasive about Barbie was its branding. It was everywhere.

Margot Robbie wearing Barbie inspired outfits during the press tour, billboards covered in pink with the release date and brand deals with Crocs, Kendra Scott and PacSun. You could even stay at the Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse itself with Barbie and Airbnb’s partnership. When the movie did finally come out, moviegoers were decked out in their own pink, dressing up in Barbie inspired outfits to relive their days playing with dolls as children. These little girls were now adult or teenage women getting to go to the theaters with their friends remembering everything Barbie stands for.

Perhaps they went through what America Ferrera’s character went through upon entering Barbie Land.

Looking around at all the old models of Barbie, she is transported to her youth and reminisces on how she lost one of her Barbie’s shoes and saved up her allowance money to buy the shiny, new Barbie on the shelves. Barbie is a doctor. Barbie is a singer.

Barbie is the president. Barbie is a sister. Barbie is a friend. Barbie is you. There are no limits to Barbie, and there are no limits for any woman. That’s what was so exciting about Barbie summer. Women got to express their femininity and love for something in a world where women are judged for anything they do. A girl likes to wear skirts? She’s a slut. A girl likes to wear long sleeves and pants? She’s a prude. A girl likes to wear traditionally male clothes? She’s a pick-me. When can women just do what they want without having to read a comment or hear a remark about it? During Barbie summer, that’s when. Being

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yourself no matter what form that comes in was celebrated and shared. No wonder the world was looking for a repeat of that. In comes Brat summer.

Now this past summer, while scrolling through TikTok, you may have seen a viral dance going around to a song called “Apple”. Or black letters on an “off-putting” green backdrop as the founder of the design studio who selected this green puts it. These were in response to the viral album, Brat, by Charli XCX. According to Charli herself, Brat summer is about “a pack of cigs”, “a Bic lighter” and “a strappy white top with no bra.” Basically, Brat summer is about having a good time all of the time. Going to clubs and having a drink with friends then ending the night with a cigarette walking the town. This phenomenon is about people getting to let loose, be a little messy and have fun. The little girls playing with Barbie dolls are now all grown up, looking for the next trend to latch onto. Looking for a way to connect with the women around them. And as inconsequential it may sound, Brat summer was that for women.

When they were wearing their all pink outfits and maybe even a blond or pink wig to the theater, they were not being judged. It was fun! It was silly! Add a couple cocktails and a cigarette to the night, and now you have Brat summer.

It does not matter if you get a little messy with your friends, walking home drunk from the bars.

It is just what you do as a young woman. Instead of being judged for it and given a side eye as you tromp home in your too high heels, fellow Brat summer enthusiasts tell you that you look good and they hope you get home safe. Ever gone into a bathroom at a bar or club and gained five new best friends for the remainder of the night?

That’s the kind of energy Brat summer was giving. You get asked what shade your lipstick is, let your new best friends borrow it, walk out and hear “365” blaring over the speakers in a dark, crowded bar. Charli XCX would be proud. And maybe even Barbie would be too. Once “365” ends, everyone’s new it-girl starts playing: Chappell Roan. It’s going to be a night you’ll never

forget with your girls.

If you’re anything like me, you try to listen to new music as soon as it releases at midnight. But somehow, Roan flew under my radar. It was not until this past spring, around April, that I heard the name Chappell Roan for the first time. And of course it was attached to the iconic dance for “HOT TO GO”. I was studying for finals with friends, becoming delirious as the night dragged on and the assignments seemed never ending, and the song weirdly fit the mood. Three young girls, fueled on iced coffee and not enough sleep, discovering the magic that is Chappell Roan.

Since then, I became more acquainted with her music, and it is no wonder she blew up. She is crazy talented with a strong voice writing music for a queer crowd, too often overlooked and underrepresented. One thing that also sets her apart from the pop queens of today is her campy, drag makeup and outfits. She prides herself on her drag and expressing herself in whatever way she wants, no matter what anybody says. Sound familiar? Yeah, sounds exactly like Barbie and Brat. Roan does and says what she wants, when she wants. For example, when at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, she bravely stuck up for herself from overbearing paparazzi. This was met with both contempt and praise. Some reactions on the internet are of the sentiment that when you become a celebrity, dealing with paparazzi is just a part of the job.

But… really? Losing privacy and having to pander to the masses is “part of the job”? An artist’s job is just that; to make art. I personally wanted to high five Roan for not putting up with the all too familiar hounding the paparazzi fall back on.

After all, it’s just part of the job right?

But no matter what your personal feelings on Roan may be, you cannot take away the impact she’s had on social media, the charts and people. Especially queer people. When accepting her award for Best New Artist at the VMAs, she dedicated it to “queer and trans people that fuel pop.” She gives a voice and art to a demographic of people who don’t have near enough people

like them in positions that Roan holds. Positions to look up to. Roan goes on to call out “all the queer kids in the Midwest watching.”

She wanted them to know she “sees you” and “understands you” because she’s “one of you.”

And for anybody who relates to watching a public figure like an actor, singer, politician, activist, etc. who is just like you given a position of authority, you know the impact her words can have. For marginalized people, having somebody in those positions of authority gives hope they can someday be there too. Chappell Roan is giving hope.

So is Chappell Roan the new wave? The new phenomenon? She’s already got a viral TikTok dance and countless viral songs checked off.

Or is something or somebody else coming next summer? Who knows. But one thing I do know is that no matter how hard some people may try, women are going to continue to support each other. They are going to continue to uplift one another. They are going to continue to be. And I for one cannot wait to see what the next trend is that allows women the space to just… be.

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$@~ .D .H45&3 By: Joey Izzo

The College of Charleston is home to an organization that’s making real benefits for our community; helping our teachers of tomorrow. Originally formed at Clemson University, Call Me MiSTER has been a part of the College of Charleston since 2007. The organization’s main mission is to increase the pool of available teachers from more diverse backgrounds, mainly for South Carolina’s lowest-performing elementary schools. The program was created to directly address the shortage of African-American male teachers. Members in the

organization get in-class experience at elementary schools, tuition assistance, job placement support, and much more.

I sat down with Dr. Jimmy Freeman, Director of Call Me MiSTER at the College of Charleston and Call Me MiSTER graduate of 2011, to ask more about the program.

“Call Me MiSTER is a developmental program,” Dr. Freeman told me, “ and it’s used to help minorities who want to become educators develop their skills more outside of the classroom. It’s an experiential program where we learn by doing. So here at the College of Charleston, we want them to participate in the school as well as surrounding schools. ECDC, the Early Childhood Development Center, our MISTERS to help with that program, as well as other elementary schools and middle schools in the area, aside from their regular practicum.”

When asked about his experience being a MiSTER when the program first started at the College of Charleston, Dr. Freeman described “When I first got here, in 2007 there were only five of us, so being the first ones on campus, it wasn’t like you can mess up, because there was no one before you to do it. So it was more like lead by doing, you had to, there was no book you can go through. In doing so, you can either have a successful route or the least successful route. So we chose the route to be successful, and we wanted to leave that behind for everyone else coming after us. So becoming a teacher and at this school and being, you know, a man of color, there are not too many of us who look like us in class. So while we navigated that space, we developed a cohort-type model to where we can always come back to each other and have that common bond, that common space, that place where we can all just get our ideas and our event or anything we need

to do, get our celebrations out and just celebrate each other, and that’s what we wanted.”

Describing his most memorable experience while being a MiSTER, he explained how “It was a pretty good experience being able to travel to different colleges. So I’m from Charleston, I’ve always been in Charleston. So being able to go to Allen University, or South Carolina State University, Clemson University, things like that, I was able to just get those outside experiences that I haven’t had before being in the program. It may seem small to some people to travel to those colleges, but for a program to take time out to say, hey, you’re going to come with me and let’s go explore. Let’s go see more people who want to do the same thing. So you know, you’re not isolated. It’s not just you, it’s all of us who want to do this, who see this calling and this passion as a real profession.

They brought that out of me, and I like those kinds of experiences.”

Further explaining how he’s seen the program impact his other MiSTER’s, Doctor stated “I would say unity and growth between us. We have each other’s backs.

We can kind of go to each other for advice on anything, even past just teaching, just life, kind of lean on each other like a brother.”

Students interested can apply to become a MiSTER before every Fall semester through the Call Me MiSTER page on the College of Charleston’s website.

I also sat down with Corey James, a current MiSTER at the College of Charleston and social media coordinator for Call Me MiSTER. James stated, “What we do is mentor students; go inside the classroom. In the classrooms, students don’t see, you know, African American male teachers. So when they do see us it’s more uplifting, they get to see people who look like them inside the classroom. The program is awesome, and the cohort is a really good brotherhood. It’s a brotherhood that we build this crazy bond, a bunch of teachers just coming together.’

Commenting on his most memorable experience in the program so far, James said “Just working with the kids, man. Going to work every day, and being the reason that those kids smile is just amazing.”

I talked with Tyler Doctor as well, a current MiSTER and the outreach coordinator for the program. When asked how Call Me MiSTER has impacted him personally, Doctor said “I would say it definitely brought a lot of self-growth and self-discovery. I think I wouldn’t be at the spot I’m at mentally without Call Me MiSTER for certain aspects. Just a great place for me to grow.”

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!"#:$%&'($)*+,$-./0$1,$1(/0*(023 By: Audrey Palmadessa If you type “Y2K” into Pinterest, you will be met with various bold prints and colors, low waisted jeans, Paris Hilton and graphic tees that say things like “dump him.” Since 2020, there has been an increase in interest in the Y2K style and aesthetic among Gen Z. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, social media became a crutch for many young people. This led to many mourning the things we took for granted: live music, going to the movies, going out to eat, et cetera. Inevitably, all the rom-com rewatches got the better of Gen Z, and we turned to the Y2K aesthetic and obsessed over it. Gen Z’s obsession with Y2K has led to the development of the term “nowstalgia,” which refers to trend cycles increasingly becoming shorter due to increased nostalgia making things seem like they were much longer ago when in actuality they were recent. The early 2000s were less than 20 years prior to when Y2K was regaining traction in popular culture.

Previously, trends cycled roughly every 30 years, which makes this cycle remarkable.

Fast fashion took full advantage of this sense of nowstalgia caused by the pandemic. Companies such as Shein and Cider quickly developed thousands of products that sold very well for a short amount of time. Fast fashion and micro-trends dominated the Y2K resurgence, especially at the beginning. It was a relatively normal occurrence to see an onslaught of the same graphics and prints being sold in countless places, and for cheap due to the high demand and low labor costs that come with the heavy reliance on fast fashion in our society. In the early 2000s, fast fashion was the norm, however it did not promote overconsumption in the way it does to this day. Shein and Cider did not exist in the early 2000s, which is also a factor in the popularity of Y2K now. Online shopping and the rise in companies that overproduce and sell for relatively very cheap enabled people to worsen overconsumption and shorten trend cycles in ways that have never been seen before. The 2020s and the resurgence of Y2K is the paragon of this development.

Y2K as a style and aesthetic is so iconic because it was the first time Americans consciously fused multicultural and global aspects of fashion in their wardrobes. For example, the “bohemian” style was developed in the early 2000s. This style is directly based on the Nomadic Romani people in the 19th and 20th centuries. Another major influence in Y2K style is African American culture. R & B and Hip-Hop music became very popular in the early 2000s, and artists such as Missy Elliot, Lil Kim, Destiny’s Child and Alicia Keys were influential in both the musical and fashion worlds. These figures and their fashion sense introduced track suits, hoop earrings, and low waisted jeans to the Y2K sphere. If it were not for these influences, Y2K fashion would have lacked the personality it is largely known for.

The recurrence of Y2K in fashion today has many implications. It reflects the sense of loss and nostalgia felt among many during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also reflects the consequences of overconsumption on industry and trend cycles. Overconsumption is a major theme in American capitalism, especially in the fashion industry. Fashion has morphed from being completely convenient to a competitive sphere where people are constantly trying to outdo each other. This process heavily promotes overconsumption, which leads to shorter trend cycles and therefore more waste, which has a very negative impact on the environment. With shorter trend cycles, more clothes are being produced and bought, therefore creating a hefty amount of waste. The shortening of trend cycles can become a larger issue in regards to overconsumption and environmental impacts, it is just a question of how to react to the consequences of these developments.

Y2K has also reminded Gen Z of the diverse influences there are in fashion and other aspects of popular culture. It is easy to think of Y2K as a bright and fun way to dress, but it is important to look at the aesthetic and apply it to its larger influence and impact on the world at large.

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By: Eva Neufeld

It’s not a secret that the media loves to pit powerful women against each other. Female celebrity feuds have been pawns of the patriarchy since Old Hollywood, and even ages before if count Mary Tudor and Anne Boleyns’ feud. More often than not, the media pits women against each other in not only fictional movies or books, but also tabloids and celebrity news outlets.

The patriarchy enforces this idea that women, especially female celebrities, are incapable of achieving greatness without constantly trying to outdo or outperform each other. There can’t be more than one powerful woman in the limelight at once. Obviously this is not true at all, but the media has conditioned us, as consumers, to view successful women as rivals.

The issue of female feuding has existed in Hollywood for decades. In the 1930’s two Hollywood idols, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, had a deep and resentful rivalry. It is thought their rivalry sparked out of Davis being jealous of Crawford’s affair with Clark Gable and Crawford being jealous of Davis’s new appearances in the feature films.

Hollywood grabbed its chance and exploited this feud in every way possible, by not only highlighting it so much that it overshadowed the actresses careers, but also making it commonly believed that this historic rivalry was surrounding a single man, Franchot Tone. Hollywood continues to profit off of their feud by

adding fictitious fabrications to their story and turning it into a television show that aired in 2017 called Feud: Bette and Joan. This tale has been spun time and time again where Hollywood forces women to struggle to stay successful and instead of focusing on the ageism and misogyny they deal with, Hollywood focuses on the man between them.

Going into the 2000s the pop princesses were Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. They presented together at the 2000 MTV VMA’s and even performed together at the 2003 MTV VMA’s. That legendary performance, however, sparked the Y2K feud. Aguilera and Spears were performing with Madonna when Madonna first kissed Spears and then went to kiss Aguilera.

While Madonna was kissing Aguilera, the camera cut to Justin Timberlake, the infamous ex of Spears, taking the moment away from Aguilera and solely focusing it on Spears. Previously in 2002, Aguilera suggested that Spears was an industry plant and implied that Spears lacked the talent she had. This statement was probably because the two women had been relentlessly compared to each other by the media, and as we have seen there can never be two successful women in the same field. The feud eventually fizzled out with people moving on and the two

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women beginning to acknowledge the others successes.

Even if two women aren’t explicitly harboring hatred for each other, the media will always find a way to make it seem like one of the women is coming for the other’s success. Take Cardi B and Nicki Minaj for example. The two queens of rap used to be close coworkers, with Cardi B even looking up to Minaj as an inspiration for her music. That came to a halt when Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” topped the Billboard Charts, causing fanbases to rethink who was really the titled “Queen of Rap.” Apparently, having two powerful black women in the rap industry can’t be fathomed by the media, celebrity gossipers had to carefully curate beef between them.

As seen in Crawford and Davis’ scenario, even if a woman isn’t explicitly seeing another man, female celebrities are often pitted against each other through the vehicle of just some guy.

Since 2018, Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber have been accused of feuding; all because the Rhode Beauty founder married the singer’s ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber. While both of these women are incredibly successful outside of their partners, fans are still invested in the love lives

of celebrities. It is when that investment gets messy that the drama turns from fun to hurtful.

Gomez even had to take to her instagram and defend Bieber against the online harassment.

Given the long history of sexism and misogyny in the media, it’s no wonder that women are often judged more harshly than men.

Mass media is fueled by patriarchal ideas and in turn the media then creates a narrative where successful women cannot relish in their success, but even if they somehow manage to, they are now seen as challengers to the patriarchy which comes with a whole new set of challenges. Since female celebrities often don’t respond to theories about them in order to remain poised in the eyes of the media, fans can become reliant on speculation about their friends and foes that have very little or no truth to it.

Celebrity drama has also drastically changed since the change from gossip magazines and tabloids to social media. Before social media, tabloids served as the primary outlet for celebrity news. Fans had to rely on print media to deliver eye-catching, curated stories and sensationalized headlines. These magazines, while often exaggerating details to grab readers attention, were somewhat contained, requiring readers to sift through a mix of truth and embellishment on their own. The internet makes it easier for rumors and gossip to spread and feed into the narrative, allowing speculation to spiral out of control, fabricating an interactive narrative compared to the traditional model of magazines and tabloids. In contrast to the tabloids, social media fosters real-time reactions and interactions to celebrity drama. Fans can engage with gossip directly, often amplifying and altering them through comments and shares. Just like fans can engage with drama, celebrities can now communicate directly with their fans which can empower them to control their narratives to some extent, something we are now seeing more of now.

However, almost more than the drama, we love when our feuding icons come back together. Recently, Lorde and Charli XCX worked it out on the remix. They two women took their pop music feud, which began when Charli became jealous of the commercial success Lorde was having with her single “Royals,” and turned it into part of a wildly successful brand – “brat”. The two powerhouses decided to come back together and embrace vulnerability in the limelight. While women can play into the drama and the gossip as a way to take back control of the stories presented to the public, it is also an explicit way to profit off of their feuds. It is human instinct to be invested in the lives and successes of people we admire, we just have to ensure that the celebrities themselves get to tell their own narratives and that we, as fans, don’t enable the media to pit women against each other.

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!"##$%&$'()'% $#*+,,#-.&'(+-) By: Blakesley Rhett The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess may very well be the album of the summer, with Chappel Roan cementing herself as Best New Artist at the 2024 Video Music Awards and as a household name for anyone who has been online in the past few months. With Roan breaking records, she is also breaking down barriers in the music industry. Roan has been very open with her sexuality with many calls to her experiences being with women in her songs. Roan has been cited as a queer icon due to her sapphic lyrics and drag attire she wears for her onstage persona, and who the internet has dubbed to be “leading the lesbian renaissance” and making strides for LGBTQIA+ perfomers in the entertainment industry.

As a lover of good music and a sapphic myself, I have been dedicating my time to discover more queer singers and songwriters. So, if you ever get tired of listening to “My Kink Is Karma” on repeat (which let’s be honest, you probably won’t), be sure to give some of these recommendations a listen.

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Zoë Montana Hoetzel (professionally known as Zolita) rose to the scene in 2015 when for her music video for her song “Somebody I Fucked Once”, which featured callbacks to the classic lesbian movie, But I’m A Cheerleader. Zolita later went on to release music videos for her songs “Single in September” and “I Fucking Love You” which expanded the story told in her cheerleader homage.

Zolita is celebrated for her preppy and upbeat beats that tie in well with her descriptive lyrics and her well crafted and narrative-focused music videos. The artist is not afraid to showcase her feminine side and in her songs heavily leans into mentions of sexual acts between women, a topic not typically explored in the music industry. Zolita is currently on tour in North America for her latest EP, Queen of Hearts.

Vibes: Kissing in the rain, Disney Channel Original Movie, Pageant Queen Best Songs: “Queen of Hearts”, “Somebody I Fucked Once”, “All Girls Go to Heaven”

1&23%4"##Known professionally as Baby Queen, Arabella Latham, is a London-based singer-songwriter. Baby Queen rose to fame after songs from her first album, The Yearbook, and a new single made appearances on the soundtrack for the first season of the Netflix hit show Heartstopper, a queer coming-of-age love story. Baby Queen herself made an appearance in the Season 2 finale of Heartstopper where she performed her songs onstage at the character’s school dance.

Baby Queen is praised for her new wave take on music along with her willingness to take on pressing topics within her lyrics such as internet addictions and human rights.

Baby Queen is currently working on her second studio album.

Vibes: Learning French to impress a girl, Teenage Marie Antoinette, 70s rocker band, Nick Nelson Best Songs: “Want Me”, “Nobody Really Cares”, “Internet Religion, Dover Beach”

5#6%7,('8 Titled as one of Spotify’s Pop Rising Artists to Watch, Meg Smith is a New York based singer-songwriter. The artist got her start posting covers and original songs on her Youtube Channel in 2020 and took off with the release of her single “Jesus Christ in a Mini Skirt”. Her first studio EP, Poltergeist, debuted in early September of 2024.

Known for taking to the stage in angel wings and a matching halo, Smith describes her music as akin to rom-com pop. Her songs feature eclectic beats paired with her high soprano to muse on the complexities of dating and relationships. Meg Smith can currently be found on tour where she is opening for Zolita and Misterwives.

Vibes: Getting ready for Halloween, Glitter eyeshadow, Writing in your teenage diary, Former theater kid Best Songs: “DO YOU LIKE ME?”, “you fake your british accent”, “poltergeist”, “jesus christ in a mini skirt”

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Singer-songwriter, Orla Gartland, got her start in music posting on her Youtube Channel where she soon featured vlogs and soon grew a prominent following. Gartland released her first EP, Laughing at My Own Jokes, in 2011 and her first solo studio album, Woman on the Internet, in 2021. Gartland’s single, “Why Am I Like This?”, rose to fame on TikTok due to being featured in the Heartstopper soundtrack used during a scene in which one of the main characters begins to question their sexuality. Gartland partnered with fellow musicians Dodie, Greta Issac, and Martin Luke Brown to form the band FIZZ which released an album, The Secret to Life, in October of 2023.

Gartland describes her style of music as “folk pop” with her songs featuring instruments such as the electric guitar, violin, and fiddle. Many of Gartland’s songs feature on topics of growing up and identity issues.

Gartland is currently working on her second studio album, Everybody Needs A Hero to be released in late 2024.

Vibes: Notes between best friends, Old souls, Writing to your younger self, Contemplating it all Best Songs: “Why Am I Like This?”, “You’re Not Special Babe”, “More Like You”, “Woman on the Internet”

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By: Sarah Neal

When I was a kid, my mom told me the story about when she went to see a psychic. My parents had just gotten married, and my mom and her friends decided to take a girl’s trip. My mom said that the psychic told them not to discuss their readings with each other for a few hours.

Of course, they talked about it immediately, but no one expected what would happen next.

My mom remembers one woman being told that she would discover her husband was having an affair and get divorced, and another woman was told that she would get pregnant soon. These readings came true, but they were switched to the other person.

Psychic readings can come in many shapes and forms. Usually, the psychic will pull three tarot cards: the past, the present and the future.

Most psychics advise against talking about what your reading showed with others because it can change the shape of your future, but that doesn’t mean you can’t talk about the experience of getting one.

I’ve practiced reading tarot cards for a few years now, but I’m still very inexperienced. I’ve always been fascinated by the complexity of a tarot deck. Each card can have a variety of meanings, such as physical appearance, seasons, careers, and relationships. But I’ve never been the type of person to follow readings to a tee, nor do I believe in the existence of a single soulmate. I disagree that everyone was born with a perfect match. Relationships take time and effort; we are

constantly growing and changing as humans.

The first psychic reading I got was in May 2024.

I was walking around downtown Asheville with some friends, trying to kill some time before going to a concert. I stumbled upon a bright red sign that read “Today Only! 15 Minute Palm and Tarot Readings.” Before I knew it, I was sitting across from a psychic named Wren.

We sat in the back of a small store, tucked away in a little cubby with two cushioned seats and a foldable wooden table. The smell of incense and sage sticks for smoke cleansing surrounded me.

As soon as I sat down, I could feel this warmth in my heart; it was like nothing I had ever experienced. There was an energy flowing through me that I still can’t wrap my head around, but when the psychic asked me to move the feeling of my pulse from my palm to my finger, I did it without even really knowing what it meant.

Wren was very kind and told me he had been doing readings for many years. He used a medieval French tarot deck, and as he read my cards, he explained the meaning and symbols. When he read my palm, he would describe what he was looking for and what it meant. I asked him a few questions about relationships, family and career, and he was more than happy to answer them.

The reading took 35 minutes, not the advertised 15.

When our time was up, I thanked him and started writing down things in my notes.

Getting a psychic reading is such a unique experience, and I wanted to get another in Charleston. But I couldn’t find a single psychic who did a reading for less than $100, so as a broke college student, I turned to Etsy.

I was initially skeptical about doing an online reading. I was too captivated by the warmth and calmness I felt when I sat down with Ren, but Etsy readings are a much more affordable alternative. I had already done my own detailed reading, and I wanted to see if it was true.

I purchased four readings, and here’s how they went:

Sofia I was absolutely amazed by this reading. Sofia sent me a downloadable PDF. It was three pages long, incredibly detailed and so personal that I could imagine sitting in a room with her. She even wrote that she’d love to hear back from me.

Sofia gave a soulmate reading and detailed what they look like, their personality and when we’ll meet. With each card, she defined what they meant in this context. She also dug into what our relationship could be like, what challenges could arise and how to overcome them. I purchased this reading on sale for $12.34, and I’d like to think it was worth it.

Hatice This was another soulmate reading I had. Hatice sent me an Etsy message with two pages explaining each card she pulled and what they meant. This reading wasn’t as detailed as Sofia’s, but it was still very descriptive about what might soon happen. While still personal, Hatice explored more into the actual meanings of the cards rather than who they might represent. What surprised me the most was that the three cards she pulled were very similar in meaning to the ones in the first online reading. Actually, the second card was the same. I purchased this reading on sale for $7.84. It was still worth it, but I wouldn’t get it again.

These first two readings weren’t just similar to each other but very close to the reading I had done myself, which made me confident in my abilities and the messages they were sending me.

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Julia This reading was sent as a downloadable PDF; while it was the longest reading, it was very vague. Julia defined the three cards she pulled for me, and that’s all that it was. She repeated the descriptions of each card but changed the phrasing.

It was general information about each card without application or context and wasn’t personal at all. I will say that it seemed like she took some time writing it out and designing the PDF. I purchased this reading on sale for $4.72, and I wouldn’t get it again.

Adelle When I purchased this reading, I expected more from it. Adelle advertises it as a soulmate reading, including the letter of their name, their career, where they are and how we’ll meet. She provided all of this information, plus a possible zodiac sign, in a short Etsy message. Yes, she gave me detailed facts, but there weren’t cards to back it up. I purchased this reading for $10.00, but I wish I didn’t.

Getting an online reading is much cheaper than seeing a psychic in person. I paid a little bit less for the four Etsy readings than I did for the reading in Asheville. An in-person reading is a beautiful experience. If you can have an appropriately priced psychic reading, go for it. The problem with Etsy readings is that you never really know what you will get. I received readings ranging from beautifully detailed to something anyone could look up.

Most people seek psychic readings when they’re experiencing confusion, uncertainty, or going through a change. Tarot readings, in all forms, create guidance, a sense of clarity and different possibilities in one’s life, and these cards are made to answer questions and concerns, show someone the past, present and future, and offer advice for almost anything. I got a sense of hope from Wren’s, Sofia’s and Hatice’s readings. They showed me that the future is not always clear but filled with possibilities if I am willing to create them. Tarot readings can be a reminder that good things will happen, even if they feel so far away. Whether you get an in-person or virtual reading, it’s a reminder that we are responsible for taking the chances life gives us. We can create the futures we want as long as we are open to the possibility.

A Devastated Western North Carona Post≠ Hurricane Helene: What Went

Wrong with Preparation, Did FEMA and the Federal Government Delay in Response and Whatí s Next for Rebuilding?

By: Joey Izzo On September 26, 2024 Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category Four hurricane. Moving north during its 500-mile path of destruction, on the morning of September 27, Helene hit western North Carolina as a tropical storm and caused utter devastation. The National Weather Service had issued a warning to the region days prior of catastrophic record-breaking rainfall, landslides and flooding. This would end up being tragically accurate, with nearly the entire town of Chimney Rock being washed away, the city of Asheville becoming isolated due to destroyed roads and power services and as of October 18 a total of 95 deaths in North Carolina alone. Many areas were left without water, power, food and gas with roads being inaccessible. One video recorded showed an entire house being swept away by strong flood currents in the Swannanoa River. Hurricane Helene has shockingly become the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For North Carolina, the last similar natural disaster was the Great Flood of 1916, making Helene the worst the state’s seen in over 100 years.

This unimaginable loss of life, towns and infrastructure has made many wonder why the region wasn’t properly prepared for hurricanes. Many factors that worsened the devastation could have been mitigated years prior, specifically with climate change legislation. Scientists have already stated that climate change factors worsened the destruction caused by Helene, boosting its rainfall by 10% and wind by 11% according to a study by the World Weather Attribution. With the rise of ocean temperatures, hurricanes strengthen in power and extreme rainfall intensifies.

This means the risk of the flooding and landslides seen with Helene will continue to increase in North Carolina in the future. For years before Helene, North Carolina Republican lawmakers fought against climate change mitigation measures that would have helped the areas impacted by Helene. North Carolina state’s General Assembly in 2006 convened a Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change to study how climate change could impact the state. The final report

of the commission in 2010 asked the state legislature to pass a climate adaptation strategy. This strategy would include conducting a statewide climate vulnerability assessment and, most importantly, an adaptation plan for more frequent and intense hurricanes and flooding. That bill was never signed into law due to opposition from Republican lawmakers, who had secured majorities in both the state senate and house in 2010. In 2020, after the state’s Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan showed once again the many risks posed by climate change, Republican lawmakers continued to block climate legislation.

There were some factors though that couldn’t have been predicted regarding the severity of Helene in western North Carolina. It’s important to note that shortly before Helene hit, there had already been an inland storm in North Carolina that caused the ground to be soaked. This made flooding and landslides much worse when Helene hit. The higher elevation and cooler air of the Appalachian mountains in western North Carolina also caused even more rain to fall. Another important detail is that a major reason why Asheville specifically was affected so badly was due to its geography. Asheville is located at the bottom of a bowl of surrounding mountains. The mountains directed all of the rainwater downward, which caused the severe flooding the city experienced. The state of North Carolina has also devoted very little federal funding for disaster protection in the western areas of the state. The western region of North Carolina is often seen as less dangerous than the coast regarding natural disasters, but Helene proved that to be very wrong.

In the days and weeks that followed after Hurricane Helene’s destruction in North Carolina, disinformation began to spread rapidly on the internet about the federal government not giving aid and having a lack of response to certain areas of North Carolina. The disinformation especially ran rampant around FEMA’s role in providing relief. Many members of the Republican party, including Donald Trump, began to use these

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false claims against President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Vice President Harris responded against Trump’s claims, stating “There’s a lot of mis- and disinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available in particular to the survivors of Helene. It’s extraordinarily irresponsible: it’s about him, it’s not about you. And the reality is that FEMA has so many resources that are available to folks who desperately need them.” The federal response to Hurricane Helene and Milton has now become a key talking point in the upcoming Presidential election between Vice President Harris and Trump. Do any of these claims against FEMA and lack of federal aid hold any validity?

Despite claims from many within the Republican party that the federal government withheld aid for affected areas, this is false. President Biden and Vice President Harris actively supported relief efforts in North Carolina. President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for North Carolina, which allowed those affected access to funds and other resources to immediately start recovery. On September 30, Vice President Harris visited the FEMA headquarters, stating that both she and President Biden would make sure the affected areas would “get what they need to recover.” National Guard members also delivered supplies by helicopter to remote towns cut off by the Hurricane. There was some difficulty in emergency response directly after Helene hit, but it was mainly due to destroyed roads and power outages, not the federal government restricting aid for affected areas. The city manager of Asheville, Debra Cambell, stated: “Let me assure you: The city, county, state, and federal government are working in a coordinated manner and as fast as we can. However, our recovery efforts will take weeks, not days.”

In regards to FEMA, it’s important to understand what FEMA is and what they do. FEMA stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and its main goal is to help people before, during and after natural disasters. They have on-the-ground disaster recovery efforts, focus on funding rebuilding efforts and on funding relief funds for impacted infrastructure. Although FEMA has been supporting those directly impacted by Helene, the hurricane did expose a huge gap in an area of the state that FEMA had not been covering for many years.

Since 1989, North Carolina has received $445 billion from FEMA for projects that build protection against

natural disasters, including flooding. Only 5% of the funding though has gone to those 25 counties in North Carolina that have been declared a disaster after Hurricane Helene hit. This spotlights the lare gap in flood protection and natural disaster adaptation efforts in western North Carolina due to the areas being thought of as less susceptible to the impacts of climate change than other parts of the state. FEMA continues to support those affected by Helene regardless. An article from NPR reporting on FEMA’s efforts stated that as of October 6, “FEMA says it has provided more than $137 million in assistance to six states in the southeast, including 7,000 federal personnel, nearly 15 million meals, 14 million liters of water, 157 generators and more than half a million tarps. The agency also says more than 3,000 North Carolina residents have been rescued or supported by more than 1,200 urban search and rescue personnel, with recovery efforts aided by National Guard and active duty troops. North Carolina has also received $100 million in federal transportation funds to rebuild roads and bridges washed out by the storm.”

What’s next for the region when it comes to rebuilding all that was lost, and how long will it take? It’s hard to say how long the state will need to fully recover from all the damaged infrastructure. In a recent interview with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on a damaged stretch of I-40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee border, he estimated it would cost billions of dollars and potentially years to fully repair. Asheville’s Biltmore Village, reliant on tourism like the rest of the city, is estimated to take months to repair. The mayor of Chimney Rock, Peter O’Leary, commented on rebuilding efforts in the decimated town, stating, “For the business owners who are all just mom-and-pop operations, there’s still so many unknowns. They don’t know if they can open in six months or a year. It’s just, it’s hard on them and hard to figure out how they’re going to move forward from this.” Many North Carolina residents are still reeling from the destruction of Helene, and the threat of future and stronger hurricanes remains. O’Leary, faced with this uncertainty, stated “It’s going to take a long time. But again, we’re hopeful.”

Fpping Houses and Lives By: Nick Rodriguez Charleston– a city known for its deep history, rich culture and an ongoing problem with gentrification.

During the process of gentrification, currently standing homes are bought, fixed up and placed on the market for a much larger price compared to other homes in the same area. This process at first sounds beneficial all around, but in reality is only beneficial to the owner of the property. The process places a large disparity between the previous cost of living in the area and the future cost of living once the process occurs, largely affecting black and brown communities the most.

To put it simply, the high price of the flipped property forces homes in the area to adjust to a similar price range, causing renters of these properties to be charged more than they were before.

For those who reside in the downtown area of Charleston, where most of the area is surrounded by stores and thriving restaurants, these drastic changes may not be apparent unless you leave the city’s center.

It was really known for that.” This really painted a picture of how this specific area used to be, with some parts still apparently associated with this past.

On this street, there’s such a difference between the properties, some being worn-down, others in good condition and another being completely renovated and on the market. This local resident told me, “It was kind of an area that no one was gonna buy in at first you know? It was kind of scary.”

The simple answer is: the cheaper cost of properties. The gravitation toward these low-cost areas by property flippers goes on to make these properties cost several hundred thousand dollars more than their neighboring properties.

The cost of the freshly renovated property on this street didn’t shock me, but what did was when the resident told me “There’s houses going for seven hundred (thousand)…a million.” What she referred to were the properties surrounding this freshly renovated home, leading me to wonder where else these changes were happening.

Lucky for me, this resident redirected my attention to the east side of the peninsula. The area of Eastside, a primarily low-income community, is currently undergoing the effects of gentrification in real-time.

Once you leave Downtown and go further up on King Street, the changes in the scenery become very noticeable. Some homes are rundown, some just in bad condition, but what really caught my eye were the high-end condos right just down the street. Such Fixed-up homes in this area are being put on the a difference in property sparked my interest in the market for close to a million dollars, some being at subdivision of Romney Street. the million-dollar mark already. One may look at these changes through a more naive lens, possibly I got the chance to speak to a resident of the subdicoming to the conclusion that it is in fact better this vision who’s lived on this street for 12 years. way. What they don’t consider is the fact that people will find it increasingly more difficult to pay their The resident told me that when she first got to bills as the cost of living seems to be increasing in Charleston, “…24 years ago this was kind of a bad front of their very eyes. street…That’s where you get your heroin and crack.

Making such large changes to these neighborhoods creates difficult situations for the current residents and causes displacement for these people.

Where can they go when they can’t even afford their own homes?

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An Incovenient Brewth: What a Barista Thinks about your Coffee Order By: Sarah Neal

Espresso You enjoy the taste of espresso and know there’s something remarkable about a perfectly balanced shot.

Go ahead and sit down, I’m redialing the machine to make sure it will pull a lovely espresso shot. You deserve it.

Americano Like getting a black coffee, you might brag about drinking an Americano. Yes, I agree, good coffee is good coffee, but shhh, the sweetened lattes can hear you and you’re hurting their feelings. An alternative is that you’re a quick pop-in-and-go customer. I’ll make it right now. I don’t want you to be late for work!

Redeye Hey, you okay? Do you need a nap? You’re probably a college student in the throws of midterms or finals, or you’re a bartender getting ready for a shift. Either way, you’re not getting enough sleep.

(P.S. It’s called a Redeye because it makes your eyes red from all the caffeine!)

Cappuccino This Italian classic is traditionally made from a shot of espresso topped with six ounces of steamed milk. You enjoy a minimalistic aesthetic and monochromatic outfits. My hands shake while pouring the milk because the art has to be perfect, and I know you want a picture of it. I will click my heels together if you compliment it and gleefully skip away.

Latte Hot: After ordering, you work diligently at a table in the corner. You’ve got your notebook, pens, and laptop out, and I just have to know what you’re working on. A hot latte is a safe and reliable choice, and you may never stray away from ordering it, which is totally okay! If it’s always good, why order something else?

Iced: Even when it’s cold out, you order an iced latte. But don’t worry, it’s like looking in the mirror. You may be wearing layers and layers of clothes, but you just love that feeling of shaking a cup full of ice. You’re also one of those people who goes to an ice cream shop when it’s snowing. But can I tell you a secret? So am I! But be warned, different categories of flavors and amounts of syrup go with personalities (I’m talking about you, pumpkin spice).

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Chai Latte It’s officially fall when chai lattes start popping up. Fall is your favorite season, and you’ve been waiting for this day. Your closet is filled with sweaters and hiking boots and if you leave the house without a beanie or a brimmed hat, you will probably turn around to get it.

Matcha Latte You journal daily and organize your thoughts with colored pens and stickers. If I see you write anything, I will tell you how pretty your handwriting is. You might wear clothes from high-end thrift stores and get your jewelry off of Etsy and I would be lying if I said I didn’t love it.

Hot Chocolate You either don’t like coffee, don’t drink caffeine, or it’s Polar Express day at school. Hot chocolate goes perfectly with cozy pajamas and those tiny marshmallows I just can’t get enough of. For the rest of the day, you’ll watch Disney and Pixar movies, make dinosaur chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and surround yourself with every stuffed animal you have.

The Housing Crisis in 2024 By: Joey Izzo For many College of Charleston students, even the mention of housing brings a sense of anxiety and dread. This isn’t a new feeling though, as students have been dealing with a housing crisis for the past few years, with finding affordable housing becoming an increasingly hard task. In recent years, the college has continued to bring in record-breaking numbers of freshmen. As a result, on-campus housing has become much more limited and inaccessible, leaving many students to seek out off-campus housing.

The college has also undergone new construction efforts, resulting in some student housing buildings being closed for prolonged periods of time, making matters worse. The available on-campus housing the college provides has also seen, in some cases, dramatic increases in pricing in just this past year. Many off-campus student housing buildings have also begun to reach maximum capacity far in advance and continue to raise their rates alongside the college and greater Charleston area. All of these factors have left many students feeling worried, stressed and frustrated with matters only getting worse with every coming year.

For reference, here are the on-campus housing rates per semester at The College of Charleston from the 2023-2024 academic year and the 2024-2025 academic year. Rates for certain housing buildings, such as private rooms in George St. Apartments, saw over a $1,200 increase in just one year. Rutledge Rivers also saw dramatic increases in pricing, with private room rates increasing by over $1,100.

2023 - 2024 Housing Rates 99 St. Philip Street Double: $4,860 Berry Hall Double: $3,672; Triple: $3,348 Craig Hall Double: $3,672 George Street Apartments Private: $5,562 Historic Houses Double: $4,104; Triple: $3,726 Liberty Hall Double: $4,860; Triple: $4,200 McAlister Hall Double: $4,860 McConnell Hall Double: $4,104 Rutledge Rivers Private: $4,750; Double: $4,590 Warren Place Private: $5,562; Double: $4,860

2024 - 2025 Housing Rates 99 St. Philip Street Double: $5,127 Berry Hall Double: $3,874; Triple: $3,532 Craig Hall Double: $3,874 George Street Apartments Private: $6,800 Historic Houses Double: $4,330; Triple: $3,931 Liberty Hall Double: $5,127; Triple: $4,431 McAlister Hall Double: $5,127 McConnell Hall Double: $4,410 Rutledge Rivers Private: $5,868; Double: $5,127 Warren Place Private: $5,868; Double: $5,127

In recent years, the availability of housing has become so bad that the College of Charleston has had to take alternative measures in providing housing. This includes the college having to rent out hotel rooms this past year to over 40 students at a hotel in West Ashley, and this year leasing out apartments at 61 Vandy, an off-campus student housing building. This coincides with the closing and planned demolition of College Lodge earlier this year. In its place will be a new dorm building capable of fitting more students compared to the deteriorating former building. Many are in opposition to this plan though, due to how long it could take, with no current estimated timeline of completion having been announced by the college. The school has engaged in many other renovation efforts, including the Stern Student Center, Simmons Center for the Ar, and Addlestone Library. It brings into question why the college hasn’t dedicated these resources to mending the housing crisis instead of polishing existing academic facilities.

To get a sense of how students feel about the crisis in 2024, I decided to interview some students walking through Cougar Mall on the topic. A variety of different years of students brought insightful commentary and a suggested consensus on how many are dealing with and feel about the college’s efforts regarding the housing crisis.

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Gavin Parker, a junior at the College of Charleston, shared his thoughts on the housing crisis.

Parker had to seek off-campus housing due to a lack of accessibility from the school with on-campus housing.

“It’s getting a lot more dramatic. Kids are trying to find spots to live here on campus, and they can’t, for one, financially, and two, there’s just nowhere to go. As a standalone student who doesn’t have help from parents, I had to look at places [off-campus] between a grand and lower to try to be able to pay rent. My rent recently has increased to 15% more than it was”.

When asked what changes he’d like the college to make in regards to housing, he stated “accessibility, the accessibility to try to get help when it comes to housing is pretty slow. I waited for an email back for three months trying to see if I can even go back into the dorms”.

Parker commented on his plans for housing for his senior year at the college, stating “I’m just gonna have to stay where I am financially. That’s my issue. I have to stay where I am. There’s no other spots I have seen so far [where I’d] be able to provide for myself and, you know, give food for myself and live”.

Whitney Kitchen, a junior at The College of Charleston, also had to find an apartment off-campus due to on-campus prices, stating “It’s cheaper for me to live in my apartment, which is not cheap, than to live on-campus”.

Kitchen described the changes she’d like the college to make with housing, saying “I think there need to be more housing options on campus, and for those options to be more accessible, a lot of people just can’t afford to live on campus. That’s what’s supposed to be the accessible option.”

guidance on the process of getting off-campus housing. “Getting an apartment in Charleston, I had to figure out what I was doing all over [again]. I’m sure there’s someone that I could talk to on campus, but it’s certainly not advertised, so I think that could also be a good idea”.

Jamirika Randall, a sophomore at the College of Charleston, described her worries during freshman year about the increasing costs of on-campus housing: “I go to school here just because of scholarships. With housing prices going up, [I was worried] how much of my scholarships can handle them going up. I was in Berry, which was on the cheaper side, and I was okay, [my] scholarships can handle it this year. But if it goes up more, there’s only so much that my current scholarships can handle, so there [was] some anxiety about that”.

These few students’ thoughts echo thousands here at the College of Charleston. The housing crisis has brought about a level of uncertainty to these students that most others in different colleges don’t have to deal with. There has been strong student discontent with how the college is handling housing with each passing year, but their concerns seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

From drastically increased on-campus housing rates, to the closing of dormitories, with the use of only short-term alternatives and unrelated construction efforts that seemingly take precedence in the college’s mind, no end seems near for the housing crisis at the College of Charleston. Unfortunately, it’s the students, both current and future, who have to deal with this forced and heavy burden.

Kitchen also believes that the college should provide resources to help students who can’t secure or afford on-campus housing with

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!"#$%&'()"*+,-+./( 01+2%(-$(-"%(03#345 By: Chloe Goff

Over the past few years, my love evolve. I came to realize how much I for thrifting has truly blossomed. enjoyed the excitement of finding a new, It all began back in high school one-of-a-kind piece of clothing that I when I was getting tired of new could make my own. A trip to the thrift fashion trends that never really felt like me. Instead of following the trends of what everyone else was wearing, I craved something that would make me feel both confident and authentically me. That’s when I started taking casual trips to my local Goodwill with my best friends. What began as a fun store or a local flea market felt like a way to spend time together soon treasure hunt, each outing offering the possibility of discovering something became a way for me to build unexpected. Soon, a little hobby quickly a wardrobe that was distinctly became the creative outlet I was searchmine—filled with pieces that reflected my unique style. At the ing for. time, my focus wasn’t on sustainability or the environmental When I was studying abroad last spring, impact of secondhand shopping. I would purchase a piece of jewelry It was about saving money and, or clothing item from each country I more importantly, finding clothes visited at a local vintage shop or market. that made me feel comfortable in Not only was this a clever way for me to take home an inexpensive souvenir my own skin. that wasn’t a keychain from a gimmicky shop, but it was something special that As I got older, my style— and my sense of self— continued to I could associate with the time I spent

in each country. I have a pair of dangly, gold heart earrings that I bought from my roommate’s favorite vintage spot when I was visiting her in Amsterdam. I still wear them every day and when I do, I always think about how lovely of a time I had seeing where she lived and studied.

Curating my wardrobe through secondhand finds has not only allowed me to express my individuality but has also deepened my appreciation for self-expression through fashion. Each piece tells a story, and the thrill of finding a vintage Coach bag that a vendor wore in the 1990s or a unique ring constructed by a local artist has brought out a renewed love for how I choose to present my style to the world. I am filled with a sense of pride in knowing that I am dressing in ways that are both budget-friendly and actively reducing mass consumption of clothing.

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Giving pre-loved items a renewed use actively reduces the consumption of mass-produced clothing by fast fashion brands. These brands are continually burning fossil fuels and producing waste that negatively affects our well-loved planet.

Even by choosing to not give your money to these companies by finding similar (or even better!) products second-hand actively gives back to our environment while reducing popular demand for the production of new items. Thrifting has given me the freedom to embrace my style while making a positive impact on the world: something I will never outgrow!

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Entering a thrift store filled with what seems like never-ending racks of clothing can be overwhelming.

It is much more comforting to go into a thrifting session with a certain look or goal in mind–so make an inspiration board! Take inspiration from your friends, favorite celebrities, people on campus, or even a site like Pinterest. I like to build an inspiration board on Pinterest for each season or stage of the year, which makes a thrifting trip more efficient and prevents me from overconsuming. The beauty of both Pinterest and Goodwill is that you never know what you will find or gain inspiration from to curate your style, which can lead you to go in all sorts of creative directions!

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I always find some of my favorite pieces from thrift stores when I really take the time to look. Yes, it does take some patience and effort, but it results in a great reward when you find just what you were looking for! Another reminder: thrift stores are home to lots of good, basic items that you can bring home and style with what you already have in your closet. Even if you do not find a jaw-dropping top, a good black tank top with nice material can sometimes do the trick.

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Flea markets are such a great outlet to interact with local vendors and community members who share the same passion for fashion as you do. You also have a great selection of clothes that were bought with the vendor’s unique taste in mind. It often gives you a wider selection of original clothing bought at different times and from different locations and at an affordable price! Some vendors even sell clothes that they repurpose on their own, adding a new piece to your closet with a unique and personalized touch. Charleston has tons—Charleston Vintage Market, Picklers Hullabaloo and 84flea, to name a few. Most of the time, vendors have grab bins with great items that are all $5 or less—another thing to look out for if you are shopping on a budget!

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Everything is better with friends, so bring along a friend for some thrifting motivation! Not only is it a fun and affordable activity to pass the time, but having another set of fresh eyes can expand your finds.

More than half of the time my friends and I end up swapping our thrift store finds or sharing clothes which ends up doubling our wardrobes and thrifting satisfaction!

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This one is self-explanatory. Have fun ;)

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!"%89($1-(:"3-('$;%( $,($1*(83;61'(8$;;1.+-5( #$<%'(3=$1-(-"*+,-+./(3.2( *%61*6$'+./(8#$-"%'> “Repurposing jewelry and clothes is super fun and creative! It makes me feel like I’ve actually put something of myself into the clothes I’m wearing and is a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. Thrifting/gifting clothes is also a great way to save a bit of money, reduce overconsumption and encourage your closet to sustainably evolve over time!”

- Rhi Wilkinson, Member, Sustainable Fashion Club

“I love thrifting, finding things at flea markets, and repurposing clothes because it is all one of a kind. I find that the production patterns of fashion brands today are often similar and repetitive. By buying secondhand, I find unique pieces that reflect my style and personality that I know I will enjoy wearing. I like to be hopeful that buying second-hand, repurposing, and mending clothing can encourage somewhat of a new norm in the way we interact with the fashion industry, putting sustainability first while remaining original, and of course, fashionable!”

- Claire Ellicott, President, Sustainable Fashion Club

“I started thrifting when I was a junior in high school. I think it mainly started because of social media. I feel like one day everyone I would see online was thrifting.

It opened up a whole new world for me. I found myself rarely ever shopping online from that point on. When my friends and I were looking for things to do, the answer would usually be to go to a thrift store where we’d spend hours looking at every single thing. It’s been that way ever since.

Even now I go thrifting whenever I have the time. I think thrifting is the best way for people to get into practicing sustainable fashion because it provides the second-hand items while still allowing the shopper to have the hands-on experience they’re used to.”

- Olivia Diamond, Vice President Sustainable Fashion Club

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Echoes of Yesterday: The Allure of Nostalgia in Our Lives When we think of our past, many of us shy away from the reality of unveiling the embarrassing moments of us in our pre - teen years. For many of us , the times that we faced in this chapter were unpleasant. We cringe at the idea of the time that we got rejected, or the moment that we froze in the middle of a class presentation. We block out moments of pain and neglect, and force our brain to move forward.

Yet, lately, I have found myself holding onto these exact moments in fondness and wondering why the hell does it make me feel this way? Why do I care at all? The smell of my old perfume, ultimately brings me back to one of the happiest moments of my life, and I wonder, why does this hurt so much to think about yet I gravitate back to that very moment every time something gets difficult.

What is Nostalgia Anyway?

Although we all may think that we know what nostalgia is when reflecting on our personal experiences, it is in fact a quite complicated topic. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, nostalgia is “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.” However, there are certain situations or moments where this definition can elicit more extreme emotions. Nostalgia is the feeling that we “wish we could go back,” or “the person that I used to be” type of thoughts. Even in the bad moments, I look at myself and who I am and where I have come from,and find a certain comfort in the struggle. It is something that we all do- maybe without even realizing it fully.

Another viewpoint on nostalgia comes from Michael Chabon, a writer for The New Yorker magazine. When speaking about his latest novels and endeavors, Chabon says that ‘The nostalgia that I write about, that I study, that I feel, is the ache that arises from the consciousness of lost connection.’

Chabon forces the readers of his works to focus on

By: Sarah Thomas

the feeling that arises from something that once was, not something that we look fondly over presently, but something we used to cherish. This perspective changed my personal view on nostalgia and how it affects me as I navigate through the chapters of my own life.

Why do we Enjoy this ?

Something that I previously mentioned and something that piques my curiosity is the question of why we gravitate towards uncomfortable moments anyways, why do we allow ourselves to feel this “ache?” Although I am no expert at nostalgia, or life, I did come up with my own explanation on why this skin crawling feeling is something that none of us could live without.

The Authentic Self The person we used to be, no matter how embarrassing or brace faced that person may have been, is our old selves. It still lives inside of us. The feelings of isolation, of loneliness, of joy and of sorrow we had once experienced still live inside of us today. Although these feelings ultimately have passed, the comfort we felt overcoming them is still there.

I am able to return back to those feelings by listening to a certain song which transports me back to one of the darkest places of my life. I was a freshman in college, walking to my 8A.M. class across campus in the middle of winter. No one was around me, and I played this jazz band’s album every day. I remember the burnt orange sweatshirt I used to wear and the flannel I wore overtop of that digging my hands in my pockets wondering if this would get any better, if I would get

any better.

This feeling, as uncomfortable as it may have been in the moment, connected me with my authentic self. Forced me to feel feelings that I may have shunned away from at a point and time, and this revisitation to this authentic part of myself allows me to revisit how far I have come.

The authentic self is powerful, and when we choose to let this part of us in with the power of nostalgia, it is then we can truly reflect.

Ignorance Might Actually be Bliss Now, take this next one with a grain of salt, but there is a certain beauty we find in the art of knowing nothing.

When I think about nostalgia, a part of my mind reaches for my childhood. The 2010 Christmas era, the Saturday morning cartoons, the smell of the house during the Fall after I returned home from a travel soccer game.

As we get older, the realities in our life become more real: the problems that we face, our day-to-day tasks once did not cross our minds at all. Paying our credit card statements, getting assignments done, getting a job and having a plan did not occur to us.

Paradox of the Future Although nostalgia is focused on the past, there is a large portion of this phenomenon that translates to our connection to our future, and the future life we see for ourselves. When we remember a time that we were truly at peace, truly happy, we gravitate towards that feeling.

We often at times compare this position to our own lives and how we are currently viewing the world and certain situations.

Personally, especially in college, it is easy to get caught up in the realities of day to day stressors. The question of internships, financial obligations, social life and academics are on most of our minds daily. When I reminisce about the past, I get a feeling that these moments of pure bliss are something that I want to return to one day. I want to reach a place in my life where these feelings are familiar, and the nostalgia is not chased any longer but is in fact lived presently. Nostalgia is also a motivator, whether we see it this way or not.

Nostalgia, while seemingly straightforward, is a profoundly intricate emotion. It varies for each individual, shaped by personal experiences and the moments we’ve navigated. It connects us to our authentic selves, reminding us of who we once were and the relationships we’ve cherished. This duality—its ability to evoke both joy and sorrow—reveals the complexity of our memories. Understanding nostalgia is a significant step in embracing our journey. One day, we may find ourselves looking back on this very moment, feeling nostalgic for the experiences we’re living right now. In this way, nostalgia becomes a bridge between our past and future, guiding us as we continue to grow.

The ignorance of living presently is a beauty that we find in our childhood. The days where the clock was not checked, when our knees were stained with grass and our hair wasn’t brushed for days. The moments where a certain family tradition made its way into our brain permanently, the sounds of laughter from old friends that never needed reassurance. This is the basis of nostalgia, and although getting older is something we longed for our whole lives, this ignorance is what connects us all on one level or another, and maybe one day we can get back to it.

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