Due South Fall 2019

DUE SOUTH students | campus | community

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

International students contribute to the history and culture of the university. With 312 enrolled, South is a place welcoming of all.

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A FOUNDATION OF INCLUSION

THREE STRIKES: GAY, BLACK & SOUTHERN

USA was founded in the era of segregation but was fully integrated from the start to best serve the community.

The Prancing Elites made national news after facing hatred in a local parade. One dancer talks about his journey becoming his true self.

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fall 2019 | vol. 9, issue 1

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DUE SOUTH VOL. 9, IS SUE1

The University of South Alabama Communication Building, Room 132 Mobile, AL, 36688 Tel: 251-380-2805 | Fax: 251-380-2850 duesouth@southalabama.edu Director of Student Media |

Heather Leigh Stanley

Editor-in-Chief |

Sara Boone

Assistant Editor |

Madison Allen

Contributors |

Breahna Crosslin Liv George

Sydney McDonald

Maggie Linton Lexi Naughton Sarah Patterson Amelia Rose Zimlich Advertising Manager |

Preston Smith

Due South is published twice per academic year-once in the fall and once in the spring. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by Due South. Due South is a production of USA Student Media and does not necessarily reflect the views of The University of South Alabama’s administration. The Editor-in-Chief is decided by the Board of Student Communications. All contributors are freelance.

Cover photo includes people from different stories in this issue as a celebration of diversity and inclusion. Photo by Sara Boone.

Best of the South third place for Best College Magazine, 2018

CONTENTS STUDENTS

CAMPUS

COMMUNITY

01

CONTRIBUTORS

02

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

03

POP CULTURE

05

EVERY BODY MATTERS

09

DIFFERENT ABILITIES

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DOUBLE EXPOSURE

13

OGRES & ELVES & WARLOCKS, OH MY!

15

A FOUNDATION OF INCLUSION

17

FULL SPECTRUM

19

CULTURAL CUISINE

23

TROUBLE FINDING HEELS IN YOUR SIZE?

25

EMBRACING DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE

27

THREE STRIKES: GAY, BLACK & SOUTHERN

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COVERING THE BASICS

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BLURRED LINES

Rounding up the biggest trends from this semester.

Body positivity is a lesson, a life skill and an ongoing journey.

Having a disability can make life difficult, but it doesn’t stop these students from overcoming.

International students at South contribute to the university’s culture.

Taking a closer look at gaming culture on South’s campus and beyond.

The same values that created South still hold strong today.

Spectrum provides a welcoming family for LGBTQ+ students.

Come together and share these recipes from five different cultures all using different kinds of rice.

Drag culture has been around for decades, but it’s seeing a major resurgence right now.

More groups are now being welcomed into different work settings, and Mobile is big a contributor.

The Prancing Elites have faced backlash and made national news. Now, one dancer tells his story.

Exploring the traditional head coverings of four world religions.

Genderless or androgynous fashion shows that clothes are for people, not genders.

I have a twin, and we’re polar opposites.

HEATHER LEIGH STANLEY

Director of Student Media

SARA BOONE

MADISON ALLEN

Editor-in-Chief

LIV GEORGE

Assistant Editor

Writer

I have 3 extra bones in my body.

I can pick things up with my feet.

I used to run a One Direction fan account.

I have the entire Hamilton musical memorized and can sing every single song.

I’ve met Chance the Rapper.

Photographer

SARAH PATTERSON Photographer

SYDNEY MCDONALD Writer

MAGGIE LINTON Photographer

My youngest sibling and I are 21 years apart.

I’ve visited ~30 countries.

LEXI NAUGHTON Writer

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AMELIA ROSE ZIMLICH Writer

There’s a type of flower named after me that grows in Bellingrath Gardens.

CONTRIBUTORS

I won a womanless beauty pageant dressed as a guy.

BREAHNA CROSSLIN

On this page: what makes our contributors unique?

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR After previously completing four issues of Due South as Editor-in-Chief, it’s hard to imagine that I’d have more to say in my Letter from the Editor. Well, this issue is a little different. I looked at current events in the world and saw that we are too polarized as people. We live and work in such close proximity to each other, but oftentimes we don’t reach out to get to know people more. I’m guilty of this too. I know that I am an open-minded person, but there’s much more you can learn by talking to someone and hearing their story.

Before coming to South, I don’t think I ever met a Muslim woman or a drag queen. While these lifestyles are so completely different, there’s something you can learn from each. So, that was my goal with this issue. This is Due South’s very first special topics issue, and it’s on diversity and inclusion.

Diversity is something that’s everywhere, especially on college campuses. We have students and faculty from all over the world...literally. All of these different stories, experiences and lifestyles intermingle to create a community of people who thrive off of differences. We should enjoy learning about the people around us and finding out how we can become more welcoming to people with differences. We, at Due South, are here to cultivate a community of individuals who support each other and understand that the differences we all have are what make us stronger.

This issue brings together stories of people from all walks of life to illustrate the true melting pot this country is. The South is notorious for being more judgmental of different lifestyles, but we’re here to show you that the people here all have a story to tell and a value to bring this community. Even through the process of trying to print this magazine, we faced the harsh reality that some people’s views will not waver. So, as you read, keep an open mind to learning and inclusivity. You just might learn something new that changes your whole outlook on the world.

Sara Boone

Editor-in-Chief, Due South

| Contributors | 02

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| Students | 04

By Amelia Rose Zimlich, Photos by Sara Boone

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EVERY BODY MATTERS

Body positivity is a lesson, a life skill and an ongoing journey. Five USA students recount how their struggles and successes have shaped their body image.

oday, more than ever, body image is a significant topic of conversation. This is fitting in the age where social media is used every day and where Photoshop, apps and filters can be utilized to create a convincing false reality to display to the world. The current conversation surrounding body image and realistic expectations sparks a much-needed jump towards promoting acceptance of all body types.

In recent years, there has also been a shift towards more inclusive body sizes and types used in advertisements and the media. Consumers are no longer satisfied with seeing only the “traditional model type� being represented by the entertainment, fitness and fashion industries. Particularly for women, the standard of beauty as advertised is unachievable, so it’s no wonder that this unrealistic selling point is going out of vogue and falling out of demand.

Women want to see bodies they recognize in themselves and their peers. They want the same appreciation and representation that the bodies in advertisements receive directed towards their own body type. While all these factors progress, society still has a long way to go.

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In college especially (have you ever heard of the freshman 15?), talking about body image is extremely needed and is oftentimes lacking from regular discussion - except when it is mentioned in a negative light. Students, especially females, need to realize that the size of their bodies isn’t the defining factor between success and failure or the principal vessel of their worth; and this message needs to be reinforced by our society and on our campus. For those students who are trying to balance academic life and self-care in an environment where they’re making all of their everyday decisions for themselves, body positivity and self-acceptance needs to be given a greater degree of importance, as it is something that will serve students beyond college.

It’s time to have a new discussion. Let’s replace critical and detrimental dialogue with a conversation that is filled with acceptance, confidence and self-worth. Body positivity doesn’t apply to only one type of body; it applies to every body.

Modeled by Carlie Shively, Malena Butler, Amy Tran, Mikayla McMillian, Robbin Jackson, Gnyata Patel, Annabelle Kirby, Emily Tyne Johnson, Ashley Krantz

| STUDENTS | 06

GNYATA PATEL

Body positivity includes more than just looks and appearance at face value. “I practice body positivity by accepting the way I am and focusing more on feeling healthy mentally and physically rather than trying to achieve that ‘perfect’ body type,” says Gynata, a junior at South. “Body positivity gives me the confidence to pursue my goals and passions. I think it’s difficult to be positive about other things when you’re not positive about yourself.” Her method to feeling confident in herself comes from within.

“I have to practice thinking positively and remind myself to focus on the good things about myself rather than stressing out about all my flaws. There are still times when I don’t feel confident, and there are things that I would like to change about myself.

However, I try to make these changes in a positive and constructive manner.” She also adds that society could benefit by noticing the needs of our community and increasing the conversation surrounding body confidence, such as complimenting someone for being there in their time of need. “You have to own the way you look and stop comparing yourself to others. Body positivity gives you the confidence to believe in yourself.”

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“Growing up, I was told that I was too big... too big to have someone like me because they liked their girls skinny. Once I got to my freshman year of college in 2015, that’s when I started to learn body positivity and building up my self-confidence. It took me many years to reach both, but I will never turn back!” said Mikayla McMillian, a senior at South.

She also stresses the importance of positive thinking turned into actions. “I practice body positivity by speaking it aloud and to others.

Whenever I catch my reflection (whether it’s a mirror or window or even someone’s car), I stop, admire every feature I was awarded, and say, ‘dang girl, you’re looking real good today.’

I also speak positively to my friends. My group of friends is a spectrum of body sizes and each one of them I compliment. I just love me. And I would love for more women and men to love themselves to the fullest.”

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There are a lot of people in the world who believe they are not beautiful because of the standard society and brands have put on us.

-Mikayla McMillian

ROBBIN JACKSON

Body positivity is directly related to a person’s own self-esteem and self-worth and although it is not merely concerned with looks alone, for some individuals, taking care of your outward appearance can contribute to valuing your body in a special way. “I like to have self-care days to help with my confidence,” says Robbin Jackson, a junior at South. “I take a day and treat myself with face masks, doing hair, a massage, getting my nails done, and any other care activity that will make me feel good about myself.” She also stresses how body positivity has contributed to her steady self-image and overall outlook.

“Body positivity to me is being comfortable in the skin you’re in. It is being comfortable with who you are and being completely accepting of your body. It has allowed me to get and maintain pretty high self-esteem and

self-confidence. Because I am body positive, it allows me to be happy about the way I look and everything that comes with me.”

ASHLEY KRANTZ

Positive body image can be a struggle no matter what challenges you face, but the physical manifestations of an illness can add a completely new dynamic in the search for body positivity. “I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata (AA) at the age of two,” says Ashley Krantz, a senior at South. “Since then, I have had many episodes. Around the start of high school, so 2012-2013, my episodes became more scarce. My senior year of high school I had thick, black hair down to the middle of my back. I felt like I had beaten AA. Well, senior year started what felt like a never-ending roller coaster ride for me. Between leaving for college, deaths, car accidents and other traumatic incidents, I don’t think there was a time when I wasn’t stressed out my freshman year of college.” She also highlights the decisions she has made in dealing with AA that have impacted her positively. “By my sophomore year, the hair loss was getting so drastic I had to get on an antidepressant and start seeing a therapist for my anxiety and depression. That was probably the best decision of my life right after deciding to wear a wig, which I did at the end of my junior year of college. Now, in my senior year, I have hair regrowth; I have eyebrows. I feel like I am myself again.” She stresses that her illness is always an uphill battle, but that she has found ways to cope, a big part of which relies in the people she surrounds herself with. “AA doesn’t cause physical pain, but it is a different pain. An emotional and mental pain that isn’t fixed as easily as a bandage on a paper cut. I still have bad days; days where I look in the mirror and bully myself. I can’t see past my flaws. But on those days, I surround myself with people and things that can distract me from my thoughts or remind me that I am beautiful.”

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I AM MORE THAN MY AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

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While body positivity can be a struggle for most people at any given point, having an invisible illness adds an extra challenge.

“I have IBSD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea) and Chronic ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura),” says Emily Tyne Johnson, a senior at South. “Body positivity has played a huge role in my life. I used to be an extremely shy little girl. Until a year ago, I did not know how to socialize, and I did not know how to be my own person.

I was always seeking gratitude, affection, acceptance, normalcy but never knew how to just let things go. I became so consumed by my illness that I went into a deep depression and developed social anxiety to the point I was on medication and needed therapy for months. I quit my job and blew all my savings on my bills; I was at my wits end.”

“After accepting help, I began to find myself... slowly but surely. And now, years later, I have finally accepted who I am and have decided that I will not let my illness define me.” She adds that there are even things about her illness that she can be grateful for.

“I am proud of my fluctuating weight. Not everyone can say they’re slim one day and curvy six months later. It allows me to never think negatively about my body image and makes me focus more on my mental health.”

MIKAYLA MCMILLIAN

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EMILY TYNE JOHNSON

-ASHLEY KRANTZ

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id fferent DISABILIT

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elen Keller, Stevie Wonder, Marla Runyan, Stephen Hawking...While all of these names can be easily and widely recognized, the presence of a disability alone is not their claim to fame. Robert M. Hensel once said that, “there is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.” These four individuals famously known throughout the world owe this fame not to their disability, but to the efforts they made to overcome the obstacles thrown their way. This drive for greatness lies deep within every person. Sometimes, it takes an outside force, such as a disability, to ignite the flame that is individuality.

According to Joy Flanders, a student at the University of South Alabama, there are three utmost challenging aspects to disability: communication, acceptance and understanding.

Joy was born with bilateral sensory-neural hearing loss and is currently functioning as a college student with less than 30% of her hearing ability. In order to overcome the communication obstacle, she has learned to read lips and use conversational ASL. While the social interaction is an evident obstacle for anyone with a disability that revolves primarily around communication, acceptance in society also plays a major role. While Joy has always been aware of this aspect of her disability, she continues to remind herself that, “…people will think what they want no matter what you try to tell them.”

Staying true to oneself in the presence of any affliction is key to finding happiness despite the circumstances.

Following acceptance, the understanding of viewpoints regarding such a condition, while rare, is embraced by those who have had to come to terms with their illnesses. It is important, according to Joy, that each individual is treated as if they are no different than anyone else. Rather, she simply, “… learns things and adapts in a different way than social norms.”

There seems to be an evident similarity deep within those living with disabilities—the longing to overcome. Jessica Williams, another student at South Alabama, has been able to use her vision loss as a way to, “…break down obstacles, stereotypes and misconceptions of blindness.” Serving as the president for the Alabama Association of Blind Students, senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, sight co-

TIES

Having a disability may cause difficulties in life, but these two students show that it doesn’t stop them from overcoming obstacles and achieving incredible things. | By Lexi Naughton, Photos by Breahna Crosslin

chair for the USA Lions Club, parliamentarian for WOX and membership chair for the National Federation of the Blind, Williams has allowed her disability to drive her toward a life of success and accomplishment. While she may continue to struggle with the obstacles that come with blindness such as judgment, frustration and a lack of understanding, she has been able to use her disability to, “…find a new way to navigate the world.” This unique navigation has allowed her to thrive amongst her peers in both a social and professional setting and is key to learning to cope with the life she has been given.

As it has been made inherently evident by these two South Alabama students, living with a disability goes far beyond what is simply seen on the surface.

It is a daily battle that must be overcome in order to continue to thrive in today’s society.

However, making the choice to live a life beyond the disability has and will continue to allow for great societal success.

Helen Keller once said that “although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” It’s evident through the lives of these two students that anything is possible, even when a mountain seems to be standing in the way.

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With 312 international students enrolled at South, this group brings diversity and culture to the fabric of the university’s

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ake a moment to remember the way you felt when you started your college career at the University of South Alabama. Most likely, you were moving away from your family for the first time and leaving your hometown. For some, maybe you were even in a whole new state.

A mix of excitement and nervousness wound up together on move-in day while you said goodbye to most everything you have felt comfortable with for the previous part of your life.

It was a new chapter, a new start and a new beginning. Now, imagine the way you felt that day, but with a small twist — You’re starting your college career at South, but you are in the United States for the first time in your life. You speak little to no English, and your family and friends are a very long plane ride away.

For most international students, this is how their stories here at South begin.

Every year, South accepts multiple international students into their program through Global USA. The Global USA department serves as a way for students to have a well-rounded college experience by providing all the necessary resources for international students to succeed here at South, as well as providing domestic students with opportunities to travel and study abroad.

For most international students, the first step in succeeding at South is going through the English

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Language Center. The ELC is a department set up through Global USA to teach students comprehensive English as a second language.

Ahmed Aldossari, a criminal justice major from Saudi Arabia, started his journey at South in 2013. His sister, Fatemah Aldossari, a pre-med student, followed in 2016.

It was both of the siblings’ first time in the U.S., and the ELC provided them with the tools they needed to begin their college careers at South.

Both Ahmed and Fatemah believe that traveling abroad to study here as international students has given them a new perspective on the world and what they can achieve.

“It’s important to travel to know the culture. If you’re only seeing culture through social media or TV it’s different. Before I came here I thought it was all ‘Hollywood’... and that’s not true,” Ahmed said.

Fatemah explained that in her home country of Saudi Arabia there are strict rules and age limits for attending medical school, so coming here allows her to pursue those dreams without limitations.

“In my country, if I graduated high school and stayed home one year, I could not enter into medical school. I’d be too old, so that is one reason why I wanted to study here,” Fatemah said.

Global USA strives to be there every step of the way for international students wanting to be a part of South’s

history by being exposed to multiple cultures and contributing to each. | By Sydney McDonald, Photos by Sarah Patterson

community for any part of their college career. This is evident in Yolany Ortiz’s story. Ortiz is a Ph.D. student in instructional design from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

“I decided to come to South because of the communication I had with the program coordinator Dr. James Van Haneghan. He was extremely helpful and he was interested in having me as part of the program,” Ortiz said.

Incorporating more diversity into South’s campus is one of the biggest goals of Global USA. It is important that they expand the culture and experiences of students at South, hoping to make diversity a key factor in everyday success.

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DIVERSITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY. -YOLANY ORTIZ

“Having the representation of different people at South will allow others to feel like there are others that look like them, speak like them and there might be times

when they can get together and share experiences,” Ortiz said. “It is also important as part of the college experience that will help you grow, learn from other people and be able to make friends with people who are different from yourself.”

For Axel Yarahuaman, a graduate student in civil engineering, having the opportunity to study at a university in the U.S. was one that has changed his idea of education and its importance.

“The education level in the United States is really high, and I see that at South. The quality of the professors and the classes, it is impressive. They have challenged me and made me want to discover the world,” Yarahuaman said. “Even my classmates here have motivated me. Everyone here wants to discover more.”

Having the opportunity to receive higher education through a university is something that these international students will never take for granted.

Studying at South has opened up doors and allowed them to create friendships that will last a lifetime.

Yarahuaman described the importance of traveling and experiencing new cultures with a quote by Saint Augustine he has held on to during his time as a student at South.

“The world is like a book, and those who do not travel are only reading a page.”

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OGRES & ELVES & WARLOCKS, OH MY! Taking a closer look a gaming culture on South’s campus and beyond. | By Liv George, Photos by Breahna Crosslin & Maggie Linton

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ames seem to be an all or nothing deal. Either your dad sat you in his lap while he played Doom and gave you a disconnected controller, or you simply cannot grasp all of the controls. For those who have been in training since birth, it comes naturally. This makes it hard for someone who may be interested in games to get over the anxiety of being bad at first.

“Everyone sucks at first, it’s a part of the process,” remarked Joseph Echevarrias, who has been playing games since when he was a child. He plays games from Rocket League (think soccer but with cars) to RimWorld (think Sims but colonization). Depending on where you choose to play games, there are very different controls to learn on different devices. These can ward off some beginners (like myself) who find hand-eye coordination hard to come by.

There is a semi-overwhelming environment when it comes to being a beginner. There are tons of games to choose from, a plethora of places to play your games on, art styles, and more to weigh while picking a game. While for someone who is a seasoned pro, picking through the titles is an enjoyable experience to discover a new game to play; for a beginner, it seems like there is no way to find a game you can figure out how to play and you like.

One way to make dipping your toe in easier is to go out to something like a game night. That can be a group of your friends getting together to play Super Smash Bros. However, some bars and restaurants in the community dedicate nights of business to allowing people to come to play games.

Serda’s, a coffee shop downtown, has been known to have game nights from time-to-time. Alchemy Tavern, a bar downtown, hosts game nights on Monday nights. Game nights like this are a great way to figure out what kind of games tickle your fancy.

Tabletop games present similar challenges for beginners, especially when it comes to vocabulary. Video games have a unique lingo, sure, but tabletop games have entire books that spin a world where your character will live. For both

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video games and tabletops, Echevarrias recommends having someone teach you the ropes, “Games have a lot of unspoken rules and jargon. Having someone who can explain these things to you on the fly will be leaps and bounds easier than trying to piece it together by yourself.”

However difficult it may be to pick up games, those who are well-versed in them maintain they are a very rewarding habit. For both video games and tabletop games, there is an awesome culture around them. Sure, that’s part of what makes it hard to break into, but it’s what makes it so rewarding once you succeed. The bonds made over playing games are made from team bonding and problem solving which fosters lifetime friendships. Every party of Dungeons and Dragons I have sat in on has been a very unlikely group of people who despite all of their differences get along swimmingly and tackle the problems ahead of them as they come. This is not without explanation, “Usually you play with a group of close friends—or at least people you are comfortable enough role-playing in front of—so it gets very creative and strengthens your friendships a lot,” Joseph commented on his most rewarding part of playing tabletops.

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WORKING THROUGH THE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE OF WANTING TO QUIT A REALLY HARD GAME, BUT KNOWING HOW GOOD IT’S GOING TO FEEL WHEN YOU FINISH IT IS A REWARDING FEELING.

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-JOSEPH ECHEVARRIAS

Video games are not without reward, either. Scientists have linked the rush of neurochemicals when we win at games to some instances of video game addiction. However, in moderation, they can be very fun and gratifying. The friendships made in these are also long lasting, even when formed from other sides of the world. Video games offer a unique form of escapism where the completion of tasks is rewarded in the most brain-pleasing way, “Working through the cognitive dissonance of wanting to quit a really hard game, but knowing how good it’s going to feel when you get done is a very rewarding feeling,” commented Echevarrias on why video games are a habit he continues to keep up with.

Regardless of your experience level, gaming can be a very fun way to pass the time. Whether you work with a pal to find a game you like or go out to game night to socially play games, you’ll find them to be a very gratifying experience.

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By Liv George, Photos courtesy of the

Doy Leale McCall Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama

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A Foundation of Inclusion South was founded in 1963, in the era of segregation. However, it was founded on the basis of always remaining inclusive, and was an integrated university from the start. Today, these values still hold true as South continues to push the boundaries of inclusion.

he University of South Alabama was founded in 1963, 56 years ago. It was founded largely in part by Dr. Frank Whiddon, the first president of the University. Dr. Whiddon arrived at the campus that, at the time, was the University of Alabama Mobile. There was not a single building that officially belonged to the two-year extension program being run by the University of Alabama charter. Dr. Whiddon understood that what Mobile needed was a four-year, accredited University to truly invigorate our community, for all its diversity.

At this time, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, despite Governor George Wallace winning the gubernatorial election on a platform of “segregation forever.” At the same time, a charter was worked up to fully accredit the University of Alabama Mobile and keep it in the University of Alabama system. However, there was a schism that would cause the creation of the University of South Alabama. It was written in the University of Alabama Mobile charter that the school would be a segregated institution.

The demographics of this area would not be likely to support a segregated school. As a community majorly made up of minorities, the segregated school would not be able to serve Mobile in the way that Dr. Whiddon had dreamed of. He instead sought funding from other sources, meeting Ernest Grove Cleverdon along the way.

Cleverdon was a notoriously self-made man, working his way up at Merchant’s National Bank of Mobile from cashier to director. He was heavily involved in the Mobile community, running beauty pageants and volunteering his time to philanthropy organizations. Cleverdon’s activism in the community meant he would be apt to help Whiddon with his goal of a four-year University.

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Cleverdon was heralded as “as near a thing as a father to the University of South Alabama as one can find” by a University historian, John Craig Stewart.

He helped find the plot of land the school now stands on and was an integral part of getting the charter for the University approved. He was so impactful that both the off-campus apartment complex The Grove was named after him as well as the street its on, Cleverdon Parkway.

Thus, the University of South Alabama was born.

An accredited, four-year, integrated university. A place that many of us now call home. A place that, in spite of adversity, became a beacon of diversity and inclusion.

THE SAME VALUES THAT CREATED SOUTH STILL HOLD STRONG, EVEN TO THIS DAY. Just this year, there is a new position in the administration devoted entirely to further the goal of diversity. There is a very large international student program, where students from all over the world can come and provide perspective Alabamians may never receive otherwise.

There are also numerous student organizations dedicated to diversity. Just a few are the Black Student Union, Muslim Student Association, Indian Student Association, Spectrum, Feminists for Progress, Jaguar Women in Technology, NAACP, Native American Association, National Society of Black Engineers, Women of Excellence and American Association for University Women.

South’s birth was one from a place of diversity.

It only makes sense that almost 60 years later, the same values are held at the core of every Jaguar.

(Clockwise) 1. A group of students sings on the steps in the Student Center. 2. The 1977/1978 homecoming court makes their way through the gym with the queen leading the way. 3. Students in the film making program work on a TV commercial. 4. Students gather at a campus rally.

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By Madison Allen, Photo by Sara Boone

FULL SPECTRUM Spectrum is USA’s LGBTQ+ organization, allowing members of the community to find their place and their family when trying to navigate college and life.

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THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH BY SUICIDE IS 2 TO 7 TIMES GREATER FOR MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAN FOR OTHERS.

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ollege is hard enough with all the stress from trying to be successful and graduate on time; students shouldn’t have to worry about being ridiculed for something as simple as who they identify as or who they love.

Sadly, this is something many students across the country face each day. Living in the south has proven difficult for anyone who dares to step outside the norms of society. Luckily for South Alabama students, there is a club on campus dedicated to being a safe space for students who identify as LGBTQ+.

Spectrum was established in 1991 and is an organization on campus that allows LGBTQ+ students and those in the community to freely express themselves and feel like they have a welcoming home. It is so important for universities to have organizations like this so students can find the place they feel most comfortable. Whether they’ve moved to college to find their home or find their family, Spectrum gives them that—a home and family.

Roe Van Derwood, the 2019 president of Spectrum, says it’s “a group that gave me a support system and the tools to understand my own identity.

The clubs always had a strong focus on creating a familial environment for people who might not have great relationships with their blood relatives.

It was also the first place that I, as a pretty sheltered queer person of color, got to see people of color in positions of leadership.” It is important for LGBTQ+ youth have a place in college.

These four years are tough enough under normal circumstances, and having an incredible support system is vital to making it through.

Spectrum doesn’t just focus on LGBTQ+, the group focuses on bringing everyone in the community together. “We aren’t just there to teach

you about queerness or embrace you as a queer person in terms of gender, presentation, sexuality and romantic attraction. We’re also doing work to recognize PoC and disabled folks and people with neurodivergences and other marginalized communities.”

Spectrum hopes to education everyone not just in the LGBTQ+ community.

It is important, as allies, to understand as much as possible to ensure they are comfortable everywhere and not just in communities like Spectrum.

Spectrum is focused on creating a place that anyone, no matter what, can come to and feel safe regardless of what makes them different. Instead of judging people for being different, it is encouraged and embraced, and that’s something that is needed now more than ever.

The likelihood of death by suicide is estimated to be two to seven times greater for members of the LGBTQ+ community than for others. This organization is so vital to the students on campus because it literally saves lives. “Queer collectives are vital to universities for a lot of reasons, but especially because they give queer youth what’s often their first opportunity to engage with an accepting community and openly be themselves. Suicide rates are high in the LGBTQ+ community, and feelings of isolation are one of the core issues behind that. Providing a space for us to be seen for who we really are is literally life-saving work.”

Spectrum ensures no one is left out of the conversation and that everyone has a place to call home and people to call family. They have been a safe space for anyone to come to for many years and will only continue to grow their community.

Spectrum’s Hallowqueen event provides a safe space for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community to come together for a night of dancing, a costume contest and a drag show.

| CAMPUS | 18

19 | due south |

CULTURAL CUISINE Get out your pots and pans for these five recipes exploring other cultures’ cuisines. These five recipes show the diversity of rice and how similar different cultures can be. | Story & Photos by Sara Boone

One of the biggest things that brings people together from different cultures is food. Whether you’re just visiting a Thai restaurant or you’re participating in another culture’s holiday traditions, food brings people together. What we love about other cultures’ foods is how different they are from our own. African spices are different from the ones used in traditional Southern dishes, and those are different from the ones used in Mediterranean cuisine.

However, many cultures use similar ingredients to each other. While the preparation, spices and finished dish may be different, there are some staple items that countries all over the world use in their traditional meals.

Here, we explore the flexibility of rice in dishes from five different cultures—African, Mediterranean, Spanish, Irish and Native American. Five different types of rice illustrate just how much you can do with a simple grain.

With rice, you can create a main dish like Spanish rice, a side dish like Mediterranean stuffed grape leaves or a dessert like Irish rice pudding. So, grab a friend and learn something new about another culture’s cuisine.

| COMMUNITY | 20

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES INGREDIENTS

◦ 1lb ground beef ◦ 1 handful minced onion (dehydrated) ◦ 1 handful parsley ◦ 1 handful dried mint ◦ 3/4 c. lemon juice ◦ 1 tbsp. cinnamon ◦ 2 tbsp. olive oil ◦ 1/2 tsp. salt ◦ 2 tsp. Allspice ◦ 1 1/2 c. short grain rice ◦ 1 jar grape leaves (in brine)

INSTRUCTIONS

◦ In large bowl: hand mix together the ground beef + dry seasonings. ◦ Roll the grape leaves: Lay out one leaf and cut out the center stem.

Scoop a small amount of meat onto the middle. Fold in the sides of the leaf (like rolling a burrito), then roll up tightly. ◦ Place in pot: Line the bottom of a pot with unrolled grape leaves. Place the rolled grape leaves into the pot and cover with water. Place a plate on top of them in the water. ◦ Simmer & cook: 45 mins.-1 hr. Once finished cooking, serve immediately or at room temperature.

BARIIS ISKUKARIS INGREDIENTS XAWAASH (SOMALI SPICE MIX): ◦ 1 tbsp. cumin ◦ 1 tbsp. coriander ◦ 2 tsp. dried sage ◦ 1 tsp. ground pepper ◦ 1 tsp. ground turmeric ◦ 1.25 tsp. ginger ◦ 1/4 tsp. nutmeg ◦ 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

RICE: ◦ 4 c. Basmati rice ◦ 1/2 c. olive oil ◦ 1/2 yellow onion, chopped ◦ 3 cloves garlic, minced ◦ 2 cinnamon sticks ◦ 2 tsp. xawaash spice mix

INSTRUCTIONS

◦ 8 c. chicken stock ◦ 1 c. raisins TOPPING: ◦ 2 tbsp. olive oil ◦ 1/2 yellow onion, chopped ◦ 1/4 c. raisins ◦ 1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced

◦ Prepare the xawaash: Combine all the spices and mix. ◦ Prepare the topping: Heat olive oil in a deep pot. Add: onions, stirring occasionally until translucent. Add: raisins & allow to soften, (2 mins.). Add: red bell pepper & cook until softened (5-7 mins.). Season with salt & set aside on a paper towel. ◦ In the same pot, make the rice: Heat 1/2 cup oil. Add: onions & sauté until softened (6-8 mins). Add: garlic + cinnamon sticks + xawaash & cook, stirring, for 1 minute. ◦ Stir in stock and rice. Bring to boil, then cover and cook on low heat 20 mins. Stir in: raisins & season to taste with salt. Steam: cover, turn off heat & steam for 5 more mins. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle topping over rice & serve.

21 | due south |

NATIVE AMERICAN WILD RICE INGREDIENTS

◦ 1.5 c. wild rice ◦ 2 tbsp. butter ◦ 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ◦ 1 c. finely chopped carrots ◦ 1/2 c. finely chopped celery ◦ 1 c. finely chopped onion ◦ 1 c. orange juice ◦ 1/2 c. white vermouth ◦ 2.5 c. vegetable broth ◦ 1/3 c. currants ◦ 1/2 c. pecan pieces ◦ 4 medium scallions, tops & bottoms roughly chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

◦ In bowl: soak rice & 3 c. water in bowl overnight. Drain. ◦ In large sauté pan: butter + 1 tbsp. oil + celery + carrots + onion. Cook 5 mins. ◦ Add: rice + orange juice + vermouth + broth. Boil, reduce to simmer, cook 35–55 mins. (until rice is tender). ◦ Add: currants, cook 5 mins. to absorb remaining liquid ◦ In small sauté pan: heat 1 tbsp. oil + pecans. Toss & cook for 5 mins. until browned. Add: scallions, toss & immediately remove from the heat and add to the cooked rice. ◦ Stir and serve hot.

IRISH RICE PUDDING INGREDIENTS

◦ 2 c. milk ◦ 1.25 thin cream ◦ 1/2 c. medium grain (calrose) rice ◦ 1/2 c. powdered sugar ◦ 1 cinnamon stick ◦ 1 tsp. vanilla extract ◦ Pinch of ground nutmeg ◦ 2 strips lemon rind ◦ 2 egg yolks

INSTRUCTIONS

◦ Preheat oven: 325°F. ◦ In medium saucepan: milk + cream + rice + sugar + cinnamon +vanilla+ nutmeg + lemon rind. ◦ Cook: stirring occasionally, for 5 mins. or until it reaches a simmer. ◦ Remove from heat & set aside: 15 minutes to infuse. Remove & discard cinnamon stick & lemon rind. ◦ Add: egg yolks & stir to combine. ◦ Pour: into a 4 cup capacity oven-proof dish. ◦ Bake: 40 mins or until rice is tender and custard is set. ◦ Remove from oven and set aside: cool 10 mins before serving.

SPANISH RICE INGREDIENTS

◦ 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil ◦ 1/4 medium onion, finely chopped ◦ 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped ◦ 2 c. long grain white rice ◦ 2 c. low-sodium chicken broth ◦ 1 c. tomato sauce ◦ Juice of 1/2 lemon ◦ 1 tsp. chili powder ◦ 1 tsp. garlic powder ◦ 1 tsp. dried oregano ◦ 1/2 tsp. ground cumin ◦ 1 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

◦ In a medium saucepan: onion + pepper, cook until softened slightly (3-4 mins.) ◦ Add: rice, cook, until toasted (2-3 mins.) ◦ Add: chicken broth + tomato sauce + lemon juice + spices. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. ◦ Cook: until all liquid is absorbed (15-18 mins.) ◦ Remove from heat & rest: for 3-4 mins, then remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. ◦ Top & serve: top with cilantro & serve immediately

| community | 22

By Sydney McDonald, Photo by Breahna Crosslin

23 | due south |

The drag community is ever-changing to become more inclusive to different types of people.

Simone but Jawakatema was already hooked to me,” Davenport said.

Davenport has worked for years in Mobile and has experienced the highs and the lows that have come with working in drag in a more conservative area.

“Although Mobile has been good to me, it is still in the Bible Belt, and you have some very rude people that aren’t accepting. I just keep doing me regardless of all the opposition,” she said. “Mobile has helped me by showing me I can create my own avenues. We didn’t have talent shows and open stage nights to ‘audition’ and practice doing drag. YouTube definitely wasn’t what it is today. So, I had to knock down walls and build new doors to ‘get in.’”

“

DRAG HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME TO LOVE MYSELF.

“

I

f you take a look back at the history of the world, you will find countless stories of people using makeup and costumes to tell stories and entertain. It’s present in all areas of life from plays and musicals during the Shakespearean era to parties held by the elite in the early 1800s. People, without a doubt, love to entertain and to be entertained.

Drag is a now widely popular term referring mainly to men dressing in women’s clothes and using a persona different than their own as a form of entertainment. It started somewhere a little differently, when only men were allowed to perform in the theatre, therefore all the women's roles were played by men. According to a video by them.us, the term “drag” originated when the men would wear petticoats to perform as women and they would drag across the floor, coining the phrase “putting on their drag.”

Now, drag has taken on a whole new definition and is making its way across the globe as a highly popular form of entertainment, and for many, a lifestyle. For the start of the 21st century, it was mostly linked to the LGBTQ+ community, commonly thought to only involve gay men. But, it has grown in definition to include a wide variety of people and communities.

Even Mobile has developed its own drag scene in the last couple of decades.

One popular spot right here in town is B-Bob’s Downtown, a popular nightclub downtown that puts on drag shows, contests and related events.

There, you will most likely run into Jawakatema Davenport, a drag queen that has been working in drag for over 15 years now.

Working since 2003 in different casts across the area, she has made a name for herself in the Mobile drag scene.

She talked a little about how her unique name came to be early in her career, as a drag queen’s name is a huge part of her identity and persona.

“Before I ever stepped foot on stage, I said that if I ever decided to do drag my name would be Jawakatema, taken from an episode of ‘Martin,’ and people started calling me that before I ever put on a high heel. So when I finally did hit the stage, my name was supposed to be

-LIAM GANN / ANATHEMA

The definition of drag has been everevolving in the last few years, and Liam Gann is a perfect example of this. Gann is only 20 years old and just starting out his career in drag in the peak of mainstream drag culture, but still, his opportunities are sometimes scarce.

“I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to perform because of Alabama’s alcohol laws,” Gann laughed. “I’m sure once I turn 21 I can get myself a gig.”

With little stage experience, Gann is still working on building his persona under his stage name Anathema, which has an interesting meaning; something that someone vehemently dislikes, or a curse by the Catholic church.

“I really take inspiration from the more ‘club kid,’ or an androgynous style of drag. I don’t try to present myself to be very womanly,” Gann explained, “Even with my music choices I find myself leaning more towards alternative, though I will dip into the mainstream…

everyone loves a good Beyoncé song every now and then.”

Gann hasn’t faced many controversies himself, but he has been here to experience things like the backlash on Drag Queen Story Hour when it was brought to Mobile, though he said he can never understand the negative emotions related to drag, saying that drag takes the best parts of him and magnifies them.

“Drag has really taught me to love myself; I’m a more introverted person most of the time,” Gann said.

“I’m having to create this air of utter confidence in myself...that I am the one, the only, the last woman alive! It’s a weird mix of being vulnerable and coming out of your shell.”

Gann describes his stage persona saying “she’s as witty as I could ever be, she’s as funny as I could ever be and she’s as pretty as I could ever be.”

As a younger queen, Gann is standing at the brink of movements into a more diverse and inclusive culture, even within drag.

Gann spoke multiple times about finding ways to make drag more inclusive by not shutting the door on trans men and trans women, stating that some trans women were the pioneers of drag, also shining a light on queens with disabilities.

“I think as much as drag is getting the spotlight right now, I feel like the drag world has a ways to go,” Gann explained. “Some transgender queens aren’t recognized when it comes to representation. Some queens are not getting the spotlight they deserve because they have a disability, they are trans or because they aren’t skinny, cis, white men. We still aren’t being as inclusive as we should be.”

Mobile’s drag scene is steadily growing along with mainstream drag.

As the world is working to be more inclusive and diverse so are smaller communities, like the drag community, to make sure that anyone who wants to be included has a place in their world.

Finding common ground among our differences is what forms a community, and for drag, that common ground is unquestionably the false eyelashes.

| community | 24

By Lexi Naughton, Photo by Sara Boone

EMBRACING DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE

More and more groups are being welcomed into workplaces previously unattainable, and companies in Mobile are at the forefront of the movement.

T

o be diverse in a statistically uniformed world could be considered one of the more difficult tasks that millennials will face as they leave their college days and enter into the working world. College campuses around the country are developing a general theme centered on the idea of diversity, inclusion and acceptance, but what happens after graduation?

Society today embraces diversity in all areas of life, whether that be sexuality, religion, gender, race or any other form of diversity. What many job-seekers are afraid of, though, is whether or not employers will be just as accepting of differences. Students today tend to face certain anxieties about being welcomed and accepted as they enter into the next phase of life, and most would even agree that the company’s culture has the ability to make or break an employee’s overall experience.

For decades, different minority groups have been trying to be welcomed into industrial workplaces. Women went to work during World War II (cue Rosie the

25| due south |

Riveter), and they haven’t since lost that drive and ambition, despite potentially having male co-workers who weren’t very welcoming. Those in the LGBTQ+ community have also found it difficult in the past to feel welcome in industrial workplaces (or workplaces in general).

Even entire races of people haven’t had much luck in the past feeling like a part of the workplace culture, but times are changing for the better.

It’s evident that companies today are striving to make diversity and inclusion a central part of their platform while supporting the present cultures throughout the workplace. As companies around the United States have continued their efforts toward inclusion and diversity, there has been a recognizable difference morale and employee satisfaction as a whole. This is especially noticeable in Mobile, Alabama, a city known for its industries and for its diverse population. With manufacturing and industrial companies such as Airbus Americas and Austal, Mobile is a city that is adopting new practices to diversify

their workforces.

This ideology is central at Airbus, a company specializing in the final assembly of commercial aircraft. From the very beginning of the new hire process, employees have found this inclusion and diversity practice to be so prevalent, not only in the rules and regulations set, but also in the minds and hearts of their peers. Airbus, in particular, has made it a priority to allow people to express their ideas and beliefs openly in a safe environment with a tolerant and peaceful attitude coming from those around them. From Pride Month to Black History Month to ‘Women in Aviation’ celebrations, this company seems to be continually finding ways to reach out to minority groups and allow them to feel included and accepted even in the workplace.

While diversity within the workplace is extremely important in order to build a free-thinking and unique community, the concept of inclusion “…is ideal to creating an environment where all colleagues are respected and

Many industrial companies and STEM-focused careers are now looking specifically to hire women in order to bridge the gender gap in these areas. Modeled by Olivia Boone.

valued for their individual and diverse talents,” according to Elaine Greenstein, human resources coordinator at Airbus.

Greenstein has worked within the Human Resources department at Airbus for many years and has witnessed the many ways in which the diversity and inclusion movement has impacted the working environment as a whole. In fact, Greenstein emphasized the importance of accepting this diversity because it, “… allows new ideas and ways of working to meet team objectives and increase performance.” In growing businesses such as Airbus, these fresh and unique ideas from many different types of thinkers can allow for great success when working toward a broader company effort. This mindset can truly drive the success of a business.

While these efforts of inclusion have proven themselves to be extremely beneficial throughout the workplace, this change did not happen overnight.

After speaking with Daryl Taylor, the vice president and general manager of the Airbus Mobile Final Assembly Line,

the relentless efforts placed toward this movement became extremely evident.

According to Taylor, the overall goal of this movement is to, “…celebrate our diversity and recognize our differences while creating an environment of understanding and engagement, all while having some fun along the way.”

This workplace community engagement allows employees to build relationships with each other while adding a sense of belonging among coworkers and peers.

One employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, spoke of this diversity saying that Airbus, “…does an incredible job at allowing people to feel like they have a home away from home.” This sense of comfort provides security as well as a sense of belonging within a relatively foreign community.

Other employees such as Haley Hill, a graduate from the University of South Alabama now working as an industrial engineer, commented on the matter saying that through these efforts, she has been able to feel, “…respected, valued and empowered.” She continued to stress

the importance of embracing diversity throughout the workplace through “… letting go of preconceived notions about other groups and being accepting of cultural differences.”

Although these efforts toward a greater sense of diversity and inclusion can be clearly displayed through the programs and practices at Airbus, they do not remain exclusive to this company. Many companies and businesses around the country, and Mobile, have shifted their focus toward an inclusive workplace, allowing their employees to gain a sense of belonging within their own career.

When searching for potential career opportunities, it is important to pay attention to the employee engagement within the company and the overall attitude toward the workplace itself.

Making strides toward diversity and inclusion, even within the workplace, is crucial to a healthy and all-embracing career. If a global company such as Airbus can commit itself to a greater effort toward diversity and inclusion in the workplace, what is stopping us?

| COMMUNITY | 26

27 | due south |

Prancing Elites push through cultural barriers in the south as a gay, black dance team. | Photos & Story by Sara Boone.

| Community | 28

A

drian Clemons is the epitome of what you wouldn’t expect to find as a product of Mobile, Alabama. Adrian always knew the potential he had deep within him. However, Adrian’s younger self didn’t anticipate the ceiling he’d have to break through as a gay, black dancer in the Bible Belt, as the southern region of the US is so appropriately called.

From a young age, he always loved music; dancing just came naturally to him. But, Adrian was a boy...and all the dancers he saw in his school were girls. The majorettes performing with the band intrigued him with their fluid, precise movements and their extravagant, glittering uniforms.

Adrian so badly wanted to be part

“It’s my calling,” Adrian said.

Adrian joined the Prancing Elites in 2006. This gay, black dance team of five members has a rough history, but it’s rooted in the mission of empowering those who don’t feel welcome and welcoming those who don’t have a place. The team danced at HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) football games, LGBTQ+ parades and in gay clubs.

One place it was made clear they were not welcome, though, was the Semmes Christmas parade.

“When we went to register our team...I guess they were under the impression that we had girls marching. The day came, and the parade started to move and we

“NOT LIVING A LIE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN EVER DO.” of that world, so he joined the marching band. There, he gained an inside look at the lives of the majorettes, and he was hooked.

Right around this time in tenth grade, he met Kentrell, another dancer who he would one day dance with in the Prancing Elites.

Adrian took technical dancing classes to learn more about the craft and has been perfecting his skill ever since.

29 | due south |

were marching, but a little into the parade we noticed that people were making faces and saying things about us and covering their eyes. But we were used to that, so that didn’t bother us.”

The next year, they tried to dance in it again but were denied.

“We didn’t know we had done anything wrong.”

At another parade, the team once again tried to get a permit

to dance, but were denied and crowded by police officers when they showed up to the parade. So, they decided to dance along the parade route alongside the band, saying “we just want to dance.”

They were faced with vile comments such as “Y’all ain’t no women!...Go home!...You should be ashamed of yourselves!” Just as they were exiting the parade route, one girl named Bella came up to them and restored their hope. She remarked on how others shouldn’t have been treating them that way, and the Prancing Elites ended the day by dancing with Bella.

Adrian said they’re used to getting negative comments in the south, but that they push through it and use them as motivation to keep doing exactly what they love to do.

“A lot of people here in the south are very close-minded and very judgmental.”

When people do encourage them and let them know that they are valuable, Adrian said that it lets them know that they are doing their part and that they are loved.

The video from that first parade went viral, and it caught the attention of Shaquille O’Neal who tweeted out “SHAQTIN A FOOL PRESENTS. THESE DUDES B JAMMIN” with a YouTube link.

Shaq’s endorsement brought the video to over 200,000 views, and the rest is history.

The Prancing Elites were invited to talk on TV shows and they eventually landed one of their own on Oxygen, The Prancing Elites Project. The show followed the dance team’s journey through disapproval, heartbreak and health

problems. Adrian said that this show, however, was much different from any other reality show you see. Adrian said that everything you saw on the show was real and not dramatized for entertainment. He said it depicted their genuine lives together, and that’s what made it so special. The Prancing Elites Project was only on television for two seasons, but it put a spotlight on the hatred they faced in the south along with their triumphs, and it brought hope to many young people who don’t feel accepted.

Ironically, dancing is a stressreliever for Adrian. It’s something he has always wanted to do, but in the beginning he was rejected and told he couldn’t do it. He said that as society is getting into the mindset of “you’re older now and you can do what you want to do,” it has become easier for him. So, now, he gets to live his truth every day.

“There’s no way I’d rather live my life. It’s like a sense of joy and excitement...it’s so refreshing. Not living a lie is one of the best things you can ever do.”

Adrian’s advice to anyone who isn’t accepted by society and doesn’t receive the support they deserve is to live life the way you want to live life.

“Nobody else gets up to make you walk or get out of bed. People are never going to like what you do. Because it’s not about what you do...it’s about how you do it. People may not like what you do, but if you do it right they have no choice but to respect you.”

Adrian went on a hiatus from dancing for a while, but he’s back at it now living out his truth.

| COMMUNITY | 30

COVERING THE BASICS

Few realize just how similar many world religions are. Here, we explore the practice of traditional head coverings in four world religions. | Story & Illustrations

by Sara Boone.

church hat habit

catholic veil

kippah

hijab niqab

I

n today’s society, we place so much emphasis on beliefs. Whether that be political or religious, we are protective of our beliefs and often shun away others who don’t hold the same ideals. However, this is polarizing society to a point that we’re often unreceptive to new ideas. In terms of religion, Americans have been very critical of religions other than Christianity since the country’s founding. This country has been in a constant state of evolution since then, and we have one of the most diverse cultural populations in the world.

While our country has no official religion, Christianity still dominates with 70.6% of Americans practicing it, according to Pew Research Center. Only 1.9% of the country is Jewish, 0.9% is Muslim, 0.7% is Buddhist and 0.7% is Hindu. Not even 0.1% of the United States practices Sikhism.

With such a diverse country in other aspects of life, it’s shocking that the percentages for religions are so skewed. The south itself is known as the Bible Belt, so it can often come as a shock to meet someone who

31 | due south |

turban

burqa

doesn’t practice some form of Christianity. Whether it be from fearing others or fiercely protecting our own ideas, people today aren’t exposed to other religions and beliefs as often as one would think with us living in the melting pot of America.

However, if people would sit down and talk to one another, they would realize that many world religions actually have some common beliefs and similar historical origins. One vast example of how similar religions can be is the practice of using religions head coverings. In post9/11 time, we often think of this only referring to hijabs, burqas and niqabs. But, there are practitioners in every world religion who use some form of head covering. Once you realize that many religious practices are for the same reasons, you can then come to understand that people are people, and they are not defined by what they wear on their head.

Religious stereotypes plague our society, and truly understanding other peoples’ beliefs is the best way to cut down these harmful molds that people are put into.

CHRISTIANITY The most prominent religion in America, Christianity is probably the religion that most of us are familiar with. We know the stories of Biblical times, but we fail to see that so many Christian practices are mirrored in other religions. For example, in early Christian history, women were expected to cover their hair in church, and nuns were expected to wear veils at all times. In 1959, Pope John XXIII said that women no longer have to cover their heads in church, and many nuns stopped wearing veils. This is where the idea of large church hats in Christian churches came from -- the need for women to cover their hair. Since 1959, far fewer women cover their heads in church, but it’s still seen as traditional church attire. Many nuns and Sisters still wear veils to cover their hair, too.

Another example is the veil that Christian women wear during church, specifically Catholic veils. While the tradition was largely abandoned in the ‘60s with other church hats, it is making a resurgence among millennials. This bears a similarity to the wedding veil that brides wear in Christian weddings and in others.

JUDAISM Judaism began as an offshoot of Christianity, and some of the traditions held and many new ones were adopted. Many of us are familiar with the kippah, the hat Jewish men wear during formal or special events. It’s seen as a way of honoring God. Jewish women sometimes follow a similar tradition of covering their heads, but it’s with wigs or head scarves. In both instances, covering the head is a way of honoring God. Like any other religion, not all Jews follow traditional practices in daily life. Some Jewish men only

wear the kippah during formal or special occasions, while others wear it daily. Similarly, not all Jewish women cover their heads with wigs or head scarves.

ISLAM One of the most prominent examples we see in our daily lives of religious head coverings is the hijab. On South’s campus, alone, there are many women who keep this Islamic tradition. The Muslim Student Association is a group at South that Muslims can join to keep a community in an area where it can be hard to find people who practice any religion other than Christianity.

Zara Ijaz, president of the MSA, and Nadeerah Abdul-Addarr, vice president of the MSA, provided some context for why they and women their age still wear the hijab.

“Long before Islam, women of Arabian culture wore head coverings. With the spread of Islam, the Quran elaborated on this practice by mentioning that a woman should cover the neck and chest area in addition to the head.

In the Quran, God has commanded all believing women to wear the Hijab. The Prophet Muhammad’s wife Aisha spoke of how Muslim women were very eager to follow this commandment when it was first established. Wearing the hijab serves as a reminder to ourselves of the impeccable character that all Muslims should exhibit in daily life. Hijab serves as an identity for many Muslim women; it is a part of every aspect of their lives.

Wearing the hijab allows Muslim women to be judged based on their character rather than their outward appearances, which is especially empowering in the culture we live in today. The hijab is meant to bring us closer to God and allows us to be unapologetically Muslim. Even

though it can be difficult to continue to wear the hijab in the face of Islamophobia, we wear it with pride of our religion. It is in no way a form of oppression, as the media may portray.”

Something that is often confused is the difference between hijabs, burqas and niqabs. Hijabs are most commonly used in the US; burqas and niqabs are full body coverings with burqas having a screen over the eyes, and niqabs exclude covering the eyes. Zara and Nadeerah provided clarity and said that whichever one a woman chooses to wear is based on the level of modesty she wishes to demonstrate, and it is in no way a form of oppression.

SIKHISM Sikhism is the fifth biggest world religion practiced by 25 million people worldwide. However, in the United States, there are only about 500,000 Sikhs. While the country may be sparse in practicing Sikhs, it’s still important to understand the religion’s ideologies and practices.

A core teaching of the Sikh faith is that all people are equal. So, it’s mandated that all Sikh men cover their head by wearing a turban, signifying equal status among everyone. Additionally, both men and women Sikhs maintain a practice of having uncut hair. Turbans serve a dual purpose of also providing a way of keeping long hair neat and out of the way. There are many different types of turbans that Sikhs wear for different reasons. For example, dumalla is a large, round turban, and a parna is a smaller, round turban using a thicker, checker printed cloth.

A pagh is a very common style to tie a turban in, and it varies per region —British and African Sikhs tend to tie smaller turbans, while Indian Sikhs tie larger ones.

| COMMUNITY | 32

Androgynous fashion has come in and out of the spotlight for decades. Today, it is largely associated with gender non-binary individuals, although anyone can dress androgynous. Today, we’re realizing that clothes are for people, not genders. | By Madison Allen, Photos by Breahna Crosslin.

ndrogynous or genderless fashion has become increasingly popular over the past few years due to younger generations being more open-minded than ever. It seems the fashion world and traditional expectations of what women and men should wear are being blended, blurred and even re-imagined. Major fashion companies such as Zara, Urban Outfitters and ASOS have learned to embrace this new culture and come out with their own genderneutral lines or have models wearing whichever clothes they prefer..

Genderless fashion has been around a lot longer than when it became increasingly popular in 2016; it has been around as long as there have been gender norms to break. The world saw the first few hints for gender-neutral fashion in the early 1900s when Coco Chanel introduced more masculine clothing for women like pants.

She understood that just because someone was female, that doesn’t mean they should have to walk around in old-fashioned dresses every moment of their lives. Gender-neutral fashion has been around for ages and will only continue to thrive now more than ever. With celebrities like Billy Porter, Harry Styles and Ezra Miller breaking all the stereotypes on what to wear, it will only influence people more.

It also becomes so much more than a fashion statement; it becomes a symbol of hope for queer identifying youth. Seeing queer representation in the media and on the runway is integral to their own self-love and proves there is so much more than the hardships they are facing now. Fashion is all about expressing yourself, and by moving forward with a generation who is more focused on expressing themselves to the fullest rather than following traditional views, we can see society and fashion making big changes as a whole. This long-term trend is becoming more and more present within people’s daily fashion choices. Gender-neutral fashion is an incredible way for individuals to express themselves and feel like themselves.

People are finally realizing clothing is for humans...not genders.

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Modeled by Kalen Means & Waysha Dean

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DUE SOUTH Student Magazine for The University of South Alabama