ING December 2016 - January 2017

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CAFETERIA HACKS

WHAT TO WATCH OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK

Recipes for sweet treats for this season

SPARTAN INNOVATION

Students Evan Goble, Mary Jane O’Connor & Braden Cleary achieve and innovate

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WRITing

TIME TO CELEBRATE

A letter from the editor

In this issue, we celebrate some of our peers with stories of Spartan innovation all over campus, along with stories about making the most of last semesters and appreciating local business. It’s a good time to recognize the work some of our peers are doing, while also celebrating other things in the area.

On the theme of celebrating our peers, we’ve covered a student-run hackathon, SpartaHack, which takes place each year on MSU’s campus. This 36-hour programming competition lets students show their skills in a place they are encouraged to thrive. Any student is eligible and welcome to participate in this free event taking place Jan. 20-22.

Or, if you’d like to stay up for 36 hours straight on your own, we’ve provided a list of killer shows for you to do just that.

These shows are perfect to binge watch over winter break, as the temperatures drop and you’d rather stay inside where it’s warm. Cuddle up on the couch and tune into these popular shows on your favorite TV watching service.

When you need a break from your vigorous TV-watching and are craving a snack, check out the Holiday Hacks: “cafeteria food edition,” for some great ideas for adding some seasonal variety to your meals. Give in to your chocolate craving with treats like ice cream and cookies, or a super fudge sundae.

These treats are sure to spice up your diet and give you something to look forward to.

The holiday fanatics can be seen emerging from their hiding places as decorations spring up around town and in stores across the nation. If you consider yourself one of them, you’ve come to the right place! Luckily for you, we’ve got everything you’re looking for in this issue: best of the holidays, holiday hacks, DIY holiday fashion and so much more! And, for those who are not necessarily all about the holidays, our celebration theme will keep you hooked with stories of local business, senior scaries updates and celebrating singlehood among other intriguing stories.

Grab your blankets, a mug of hot chocolate and relax with this issue of ing.

Allie Wilson is a senior professional writing major from Niles, Mich. She currently works in the Writing Center and is an intern for Espresso Book Machine. When her nose isn’t buried in a book, she spends her free time obsessing over Grey’s Anatomy and eating. She aspires to be an editor for a publishing firm that specializes in young adult fiction.

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ON THE COVER 6 CAFETERIA HACKS 8 SPARTAN INNOVATION 20 WHAT TO WATCH

FEATURing 14 CELEBRATING THE BEST OF 2016

IN THIS ISSUE 4 ENGAGing 7 SAVing 11 LIVing 12 GOing 16 STYLing 18 PHOTOGRAPHing

december/january

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ENGAGing

SpartaHack 2016

SPARTAHACK IS BACK!

MSU’s student-run hackathon celebrates students of all disciplines for the third year

BY DANIELLE SCHWARTZ

Your eyes droop as you reach for another Red Bull.

You could head to the designated nap room, but you only have one short weekend to create something the world has never seen. You haunt Wells Hall — exhausted but excited—with 500 other students, each competing for prizes and networking with sponsors you’ve always dreamed of working for like Google, Microsoft and Amazon.

You must be at SpartaHack.

SpartaHack’s Executive Co-Director Matt Hammerly, a senior in computer science, described the event as “a 36hour coding marathon for students to learn about coding and network with sponsors.”

He and Lauren Bretz, a second-year graduate student in applied statistics, are the executive co-directors of the

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event for the second year in a row. This year they want high school, undergrad and grad students of all disciplines to know that everyone can learn something at SpartaHack.

When she first joined the SpartaHack team, Bretz had never written a line of code in her life. She hopes others like her feel comfortable joining the community that SpartaHack has formed.

“I would encourage girls to sign up and just don’t be afraid,” Bretz said. “We really emphasize being inclusive, we’re not cool and flashy. We want to be good rather than prestigious,” she added.

Both Bretz and Hammerly agreed that a hackathon can be intimidating. “There are infinitely many reasons to be nervous,” Hammerly said. “But just go.”

Executive Co-directors of SpartaHack, Lauren Bretz and Matt Hammerly

Sam Berndt, another senior computer science student, had the same advice to give to those considering attending SpartaHack. He and his team won third place overall at the 2016 SpartaHack with a virtual reality web browser called Browsvr, inspired by an episode of Futurama.

Photo by By Danielle Schwartz

“SpartaHack is by far the best hackathon I’ve ever been to,” Berndt said. “I came into computer science not knowing what I wanted to do, but the thing that actually got me into computer science was having an idea and making it into something. It made me fall in love with my major.”

Like Berndt, some students find that an experience like SpartaHack is exactly what they need to supplement their courses. “Many students want to do more, but don’t know where to start,” Hammerly said. The two codirectors believe that this is one of SpartaHack’s strongest contributions to the MSU computer science community.

“Tech is moving so fast, it’s hard for the university to keep up with the curriculum,” Bretz said. SpartaHack acts as a resource for students to learn what leading companies desire in a job candidate, as well as the latest trends in the tech world.

at 17.spartahack.com. No matter your skill level, there’s a place for you to participate in the upcoming hackathon.

If you’re interested in learning about coding, technology or networking, be sure to check out SpartaHack’s website

Danielle Schwartz is a junior studying English and professional writing. She loves books, dogs and tea. Find her on a yoga mat or working with MSU’s Fourth Genre journal.

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HOLIDAY HACKS:

Cafeteria food edition

Easier than an Easy-Bake Oven

BY ANGELA SAVICH

‘Tis the season for visiting with family and friends and making poor food choices (mainly the latter). Health negligence and the holidays go hand-in-hand. It’s a time when kale and quinoa are left to expire on grocery store shelves and calories seem non-existent. Luckily, the sugarfilled indulgences that take place throughout December can be made up for with a New Year’s resolution.

However, if you’re living on campus this holiday season, dessert binging may not be as enjoyable as it would be if you were home. You’ll most likely end up resorting to the boring and mediocre desserts the cafeterias have to offer.

If you’re looking to broaden your dessert horizons here on campus, consider channeling your inner Betty Crocker and trying these simple holiday-hack recipes that will prove that ice cream isn’t just for the summer months.

SCREAMWICH

I scream, you scream, we all scream when that number on the bathroom scale is a few pounds more than it was before the holidays began. Add to all this yelling and try a homemade ice cream sandwich. Ditch the usual cookies and milk for this tasty treat.

INGREDIENTS • Vanilla soft-serve ice cream • Two chocolate chip cookies • Sprinkles DIRECTIONS 1. Put a dollop of vanilla soft-serve ice cream on one chocolate chip cookie 2. Place the second chocolate chip cookie on top 3. Pour sprinkles around the ice-cream center

SUPER FUDGE SUNDAE

If you’re a chocolate lover, this is the recipe for you.

Dress up your plain chocolate ice cream with these tasty 6

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ingredients. This super easy, super fudge sundae will have your taste buds feeling pretty super themselves. Judy Blume would approve.

INGREDIENTS • Chocolate soft-serve ice cream • Brownie • Chocolate sprinkles DIRECTIONS 1. Put chocolate soft-serve ice cream in a bowl 2. Place the brownie on top 3. Pour the chocolate sprinkles over the sundae

A CLASSIC BANANA SPLIT

You can never go wrong with a banana split. This traditional treat goes a long way without having to put a split in your wallet. Change up your regular ice cream routine by adding this simple twist.

INGREDIENTS • Twist soft-serve ice cream • Banana • Candy topping • Chocolate syrup DIRECTIONS 1. Put twist soft-serve ice cream in a bowl 2. Place the banana on top 3. Sprinkle the candy topping over the ice cream 4. Add chocolate syrup Voila! Dessert is served.

Angela Savich is a junior majoring in professional writing with an emphasis on digital and technical writing. She stays up later than she should, eats absurd amounts of pizza and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

SAVing

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Accessing your account remotely

BY DEIDRE DAVIS

Advances in technology have made it almost effortless to stay connected with friends, family, and current events. The same can be said for your finances. Just because you are going home for the holidays doesn’t mean you won’t be able to manage your finances. Many credit unions offer remote services so their members can stay connected to their accounts despite the distance.

Let’s talk about them!

MOBILE APPS

Depending on your credit union, it is likely they have a mobile banking app where you can check your account balances, make payments, transfer funds, communicate with the credit union, and more. The services available are determined by your credit union, so be sure to check out what they offer. Apps are a great way to stay up-todate on your account activity anywhere you go.

ELECTRONIC DEPOSITS

If there’s a mobile app, there’s a good chance you can make electronic deposits to your account by simply taking a picture. Snap pictures of the front and back sides of a check made payable to you, and the funds are deposited into your account immediately. This is a great way to deposit those holiday checks to your account without having to visit a branch or ATM. Even for members living in the same town, electronic deposits add convenience to their lives.

SHARED BRANCHING AND CO-OP NETWORK

Beyond technology, most credit unions belong to a network where members can access their accounts from other credit union branches and ATMs. One example is the CO-OP Network, which includes almost 30,000 ATMs and more than 5,000 shared branches across the United States, where you can access your account surcharge-free if your credit union belongs to the network. While some services are limited, you can perform most of your day-to-day transactions at these locations. To find which Credit Unions participate in the CO-OP Network, check out co-opcreditunions.org.

It’s a digital age, and your credit union knows that.

Many institutions have other remote services as well: call centers, electronic messages, and chat features. With these, you can perform most transactions and even submit online loan applications. Going home for break or even moving away doesn’t mean you have to lose the great service you’ve experienced. Talk with a representative from your credit union and see how they can help you access your account no matter where you are.

Deidre Davis is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at MSU Federal Credit Union.

MSUFCU’s headquarters are at 3777 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823. Contact Deidre at deidre.davis@ msufcu.org or (517) 664-7877.

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MICHIGAN STATE

CELEBRATES

SPARTAN

INNOVATION MSU has a great campus, but we are even more impressed with its amazing students

BY DIANA NICOLETTI

What do NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, actor James Caan and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler, Ralph Gilles all have in common? Other than being renowned leaders in their professions, they all are alumni of Michigan State University. And while these Spartan graduates are some of the most successful people to have come from MSU, we currently have many other incredible students that also deserve to be celebrated for their achievements and innovative ideas.

Junior Mary Jane O’Connor is the perfect example of a groundbreaking Spartan, as she was one of eight MSU students selected to travel over 7,000 miles to participate in a worldwide advertising contest, hosted by The One Club in Shanghai, China. Pursuing a major in creative advertising and a minor in graphic design, O’Connor was the only junior chosen to attend the event this November after placing fourth this past September in “Minds (Wide) Open: Communication Problem Solving From Two Sides of the World,” an international advertising competition hosted by Michigan State’s very own Professor Henry Brimmer and MSU’s Department of Advertising and Public Relations.

From Columbia, Missouri, O’Connor competed with students from all over the world as each team spent five days creating an advertising campaign that was presented on the final day of the event. After participating in such an esteemed global competition as a Michigan State student, 8

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O’Connor looks forward to what the future holds as she continues down her creative path.

“I either want to be doing something with motion graphics at a production place, or I want to be writing at an ad agency,” O’Connor said. “I just want to be somewhere where I have a really big say in what I get to do and a big impact on how things go.”

With an impressive portfolio at only 20 years old, there is no doubt that O’Connor has a successful career ahead of her as she pursues her passion for creativity, which began years before she came to Michigan State.

“In high school I had to take a media class where I worked with Adobe programs [including] Illustrator,” O’Connor said. “From then on, I realized working creatively could be a real thing for me. I’ve always really liked art, so when I found out I could be creative for a job, I was like, ‘okay, I can do this.’”

O’Connor is not the only Spartan to watch. Sophomore Evan Goble can relate, as he created his very own computer system. An applied engineering student at MSU, Goble took on the challenge of building his own computer this past summer once he realized that the many programs he needed for his major would not be compatible with his current device.

Photo by Diana Nicoletti

(Left to right) Evan Goble, Mary Jane O’Connor & Braden Cleary

“There was too much processing information for my laptop to handle,” Goble said. “I knew I needed to do something and that I needed something stronger.”

“Once they all arrived, I put it all together,” Goble said.

“It took me about five hours. A lot of it was following directions, but it required a bit of creativity, too.”

After putting over 40 hours of research into learning about the necessary components and steps of how to assemble a computer, Goble purchased the parts and hit the ground running.

Goble’s hard work turned into a fully functioning, information processing computer that supported all of his needs. But how did he find the motivation to take on such a feat? Well around his junior year of high school, MYINGMAG.COM

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he started hearing about other people who built their own computers.

“I thought it was really cool,” Goble said. “But back then, it was something I didn’t have the money for, and something I just couldn’t imagine myself doing because it seemed like such a huge endeavor. But then, I slowly realized that it was part necessity and part interest that pushed me towards building a computer. The more I looked into it, the more I realized it was something I wanted to do.”

Like Goble and O’Connor, the director of marketing for the Entrepreneurship Association, Braden Cleary, is also a one-of-a-kind Spartan. Cleary designed his very own clothing company with three other business partners from his hometown of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Cleary began his business, named The Mount Co., the summer before coming to Michigan State, but this idea was one of many Cleary has had prior to becoming a college student.

“I’ve always wanted to start a company,” Cleary said, “And I kind of started my entrepreneurial craze when I was in seventh grade when I showed my parents my little businesses that I wanted to start.”

Now as a junior marketing major in the Eli Broad College of Business, Cleary has already had great success with The Mount Co. With 97% of their sales online, about 9,200 Instagram followers, 1,500 Twitter followers, a presence in all 50 states and nine other countries, The Mount Co. is recognized as a high quality clothing company with an awesome mission to accompany its apparel.

“Our company is based off three things: love, life and the outdoors,” Cleary said, “We are all very involved with the

BE

outdoors, and it’s kind of corny, but nothing matches love.

Finally, all four of us know how fragile life is, and that’s something we don’t want to take for granted.”

In correlation with its inspiring message, The Mount Co. has a great logo to complement its brand’s personality.

Designed by Cleary himself, The Bearded Man is everything that the company embodies.

“I got on the computer one day and out popped this guy that we ended up naming The Bearded Man,” Cleary said.

“Without The Bearded Man, we are not The Mount Co.” Not only is Cleary’s dedication to The Mount Co. apparent in its tremendous success in such a short amount of time, but he plans on graduating from Michigan State and going full-time with the company as well.

“It is going to be really nice and unique to walk into my own business straight out of school,” Cleary said. “That’s not something a lot of students get to say that they can do.”

As we admire the accomplishments of Cleary, Goble and O’Connor, we also celebrate the incredible focus and endurance it took for each of these students to pursue their passion. Just like the legends of Michigan State before them, we look forward to seeing where the future takes these three and the many other innovative, talented Spartans on this incredible campus. Go green!

Diana Nicoletti is a senior pursuing a double major in professional writing and creative advertising.

When she isn’t typing away, she is jamming out to Fleetwood Mac and discovering new albums to spin on her record player, appropriately named Stevie. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @dnicks23.

Lauren & Shanon Wieber

Act. Donate. Get Involved. komenmichigan.org

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LIVing

CELEBRATING SINGLEHOOD Why the holidays aren’t always better with a significant other

BY TAYLOR DOWNS

If there’s anything single people hate the most, it’s the holiday season. Why is that? Mainly because everybody gets all lovey-dovey and cuddly during this time of the year. So, of course it’s ideal to have someone special to shop for, celebrate with and stay warm next to. After all, it is considered “cuffing” season, or, “when everyone starts getting into relationships.” We at ing Magazine want you to celebrate being single and take this holiday season to be grateful for getting to spend it without a relationship! Here are some reasons why the holidays aren’t so bad alone.

SAVING MONEY This one is especially nice for college students on a budget. We all know how expensive the holidays can be, so not having a significant other to spend a ton of money on will keep you from overdoing it this year. Not to mention, you can spend the money on things for your family instead, or even treat yourself to something nice.

SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY Being away at college can make it hard to see your family during the school year. The holidays are especially great because it gives us a chance to go home and see our loved ones. In a relationship, sometimes it can be difficult to balance your home life with your relationship. However, being single this holiday season gives you the chance to focus on spending time with your parents, siblings and

extended family. After all, it’s only a matter of time before we head back to school and our busy college schedules.

FOCUSING ON YOURSELF One of the most important aspects of being single is learning to give yourself some TLC. There’s nothing wrong with not being in a relationship; being single gives you the opportunity to really think about what you want and focus on yourself. Many people look at being single as a chance to better themselves. You’ll have much more time to do the things you’ve been wanting to do or work on the things you want to change. Always wanted to take a kickboxing class?

Now’s your chance. Been thinking about a spa day? Go for it. Take some time to yourself by relaxing during these upcoming holidays and really think about all the things you have to be grateful for as you head into the New Year.

The holidays are a time to celebrate. All that matters is that you enjoy the holidays and remember all the good things you have going for yourself. Whether you’re looking for a relationship or not, just remember that being alone doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. Happy Holidays!

Taylor Downs is a senior professional writing major from Kalamazoo, Mich. You will almost always find her with coffee in hand or hyperventilating at Sephora. She loves going out to eat, indulging in TV reruns and spending time with her family and friends.

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Photo by Taylor Sterenberg

GOing

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESS:

STRANGE MATTER COFFEE CO.

Local coffee shop provides a unique atmosphere and exceptional drinks to warm up the greater Lansing area

BY ELIZABETH WEITZEL

This winter, escape the cold, shake up your study routine or get out of the house to catch up with friends is by checking out a unique, locally owned business.

Strange Matter Coffee Co. celebrates the experiences that surround drinking coffee by providing students and residents of Lansing alike a perfect atmosphere and delicious, warm drinks. Only a few minutes from Michigan State’s campus at 2001 E Michigan Ave., Strange Matter opened its doors a few years ago and has been bringing cool vibes and great coffee to the area ever since.

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Strange Matter boasts a fairly extensive menu with many options for the average coffee drinker, including various iced and hot blends, nitro coffee, seasonal drinks and the popular cinnamon and honey latte, which is a must-try. For non-coffee drinkers, there are plenty of options including various kinds of tea and hot chocolate. Strange Matter also makes their syrups, sauces and chai in-house, which adds a personal touch to the already high-quality blends.

Frequent Strange Matter customer Megan McCaffrey says that tea is her favorite drink on the menu. “My go-to is

They have snacks, too. Strange Matter keeps an array of delicious pastries available for customers, delivered daily

by Zingerman’s Bakehouse. So, whatever you’re craving, Strange Matter has a satisfying solution.

Other than popular drinks, Strange Matter has a one-of-akind, quaint, yet modern atmosphere that sets it apart from other coffee shops. Brick and wood accents, a chalkboard menu and rotating art exhibits line the walls, making time spent in the shop all the more enjoyable.

“I love the atmosphere there, it’s pretty small but very chill and unique.” McCaffrey also recognizes that it’s “important to patronize local businesses.” This aspect makes McCaffrey, as well as other supporters of Strange Matter, appreciate the shop more than typical coffee chains.

McCaffrey also chooses to spend time at Strange Matter because it gives her a piece of home while she’s away at school.

“That’s one thing that I really miss about home—all of the local restaurants and coffee shops.” Strange Matter’s inviting atmosphere provides a cozy haven for students and anyone else looking to relax or get some work done.

Taylor Sterenberg, another fan of Strange Matter, first found the coffee shop on Instagram’s “Discover” page and was immediately drawn in by the pictures reflecting the shop’s unique aesthetic. “The shop is simple, but design oriented. Whether I’m studying or visiting with friends, I’m content.”

Sterenberg also commented on the shop’s study environment for students. “Strange Matter plays ‘study’ music, but also upbeat music. It’s welcoming and warm on the inside and the workers are always inviting.” So, if you’re looking for something a little more laid-back, Strange Matter offers a mix of chatter and background music that creates the perfect den for studying, a stark contrast from the library and other coffee shops.

The next time you’re craving coffee or tea, looking for a motivational study spot or a place to meet a friend, give Strange Matter Coffee Co. a try. Supporting Strange Matter means you’re supporting the Lansing community. With every sip, you can feel good knowing you’re celebrating a local business as well as enjoying a delicious cup of coffee.

Elizabeth Weitzel is a senior majoring in English and professional writing, with an interest in editing and publishing. She loves to put her editing skills to use as a consultant at the Writing Center at Michigan State. On game day, you can be sure to find her in the student section cheering on the Spartans.

Photo by Taylor Sterenberg

the chai tea latte with almond milk. They also have a lot of really good loose leaf teas; blend 333 is amazing.”

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FEATURing

CELEBRATING

THE BEST OF 2016

What we’ll miss from this year

BY CYNTHIA BEZINQUE

2016 has been an exciting year, but as the new year approaches, there are some events that we must sadly say goodbye to. Here are some highlights that we are happy to remember and celebrate as 2017 rolls in!

UNITED STATES TAKES HOME THE GOLD! AND SILVER! AND BRONZE! This year the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, held in Brazil, were a fantastic showcase of skills from around the globe. The United States triumphantly returned home from the 17 day celebration with a total of 121 medals; including 46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze.

Way to go, U.S.A.! The individual stats on some of the athletes made the victories even more grand: Gwen Jorgensen and Helen Maroulis earned a gold medal in the triathlon and women’s wrestling, respectively (a first in both for the United States); Kim Rhode won a sixth consecutive Olympic medal in shooting; and Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 28 medals. Katie Ledecky, at the amazing age of 19 years old, set two world records on her way to winning four gold and one silver medal.

Simone Biles continued the tradition of U.S. women’s gymnastics success with four gold medals, and Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an individual gold in swimming, in addition to setting new Olympic and American records, which earned her another gold and two silvers. Many United States athletes proved their merit and brought home the experiences of the Olympic Games to set forth into the New Year, with new goals for the next Olympic Games and beyond!

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INDIA SMASHES THE PLANTING RECORD On July 11, as part of the commitment India made at the Paris Climate Conference, 800,000 volunteers planted 49.3 million trees from sunup to sundown.

India recognized the amount of pollutants in its cities and whole-heartedly dedicated themselves to helping solve the problem with reforestation. As a tree takes in carbon dioxide from the air and photosynthesizes it along with water and sunlight, thus creating glucose for itself, it also creates oxygen that is released back, to “refresh” the air. Trees and other flora are the best air filters our world has to offer. Thanks to India’s efforts, deforestation is on its way out and reforestation will be on its way in.

AROUND THE WORLD ... WITH NO FUEL? The Solar Impulse 2 airplane made a remarkable journey this year, finishing with a bumpy landing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in July. The plane collects its “fuel” from more than 17,000 solar cells and boasts a 236 foot wingspan, wider than a Boeing 747. Solar Impulse 2’s global journey included stops in China, Japan and several U.S. locations including Hawaii, San Francisco, Phoenix, Oklahoma and New York. It went 16 months with no fuel, other than what the sun emitted, which was then converted

into energy by the solar panels attached to the plane. It was a marvelous accomplishment in clean energy engineering.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: THANKSGIVING In honor of Thanksgiving, a time of celebration in which we join our families in being thankful for the bounties of life, there was an exceptionally long list of stores closed for the holiday. Among them: Mall of America, Barnes & Noble, select Bed, Bath & Beyond locations, GameStop, Costco, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, IKEA, Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, Nordstrom, Petco, PetSmart, Sam’s Club, Von Maur and others. However, while these stores were a leading example of supporting American

families to spend time with one another, there were still a handful of big-name retailers that were open: Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears, Target and Walmart. It can only be through the desires of the customers that the list of closed businesses continues to expand, allowing more families to be together on one of the United States’ most important holidays.

Let’s make 2017 a year to remember, and celebrate!

Cynthia Bezinque is a senior studying professional writing, editing and publishing, with a minor in documentary production. She loves to sew, play tennis, and read. Board game nights are a thing in her family.

Not just another showtime!

includes movie ticket, loaded fries* and a draft beer, Starry Night Cocktail or a Mountain Dew Frozen. * Loaded fries are subject to change

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STYLing

DIY Holiday sweater A guide to holiday fashion

BY ALLIE WILSON

Dressing up for the holidays almost seems to be a requirement these days. But how do you shop for cute holiday sweaters and find one that someone else doesn’t already have? Doit-yourself sweater making can be very simple,

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just collect your favorite holiday decorations and a plain sweater. It’s a fun and relatively inexpensive way to express yourself during the holiday season and a surefire way to set your sweater apart from store-bought versions.

Use this easy DIY guide to create your own unique sweater. You’ll need the following supplies: • A plain crew neck sweater • Decorations: items like tinsel, bows, festive holiday characters, ribbon, pompoms, ornaments and even string lights will all look great on a holiday sweater.

• Other tools that you may need. Items like a hot glue gun with refill glue sticks and a pair of scissors are good to have on hand.

You’re now ready to make your holiday sweater!

Here are the steps: 1. Prepare a work station on a table or other flat surface – be sure to cover the area with newspaper to protect against any spills.

2. Before you glue anything down, it’s a good idea to lay everything out that you want to include on your sweater in the correct position. Play around with your decorations until you find a style that you like

the best. For example, you could create a sweater that looks like a Christmas tree by diagonally wrapping the tinsel around the sweater and adding small ornaments throughout it. While you’re doing this, switch on your hot glue gun so it’s ready to use.

3. After you’ve decided on a layout for your sweater, it’s time to secure the items to the sweater by removing and gluing them back down one at a time for the most efficiency; that way, you won’t forget where each piece goes.

Once all the decorations are securely glued down, hang up your sweater to make sure nothing snags on it. Tah-da!

You’ve just finished your one-of-a-kind holiday sweater.

Now it’s time to attend holiday parties and stand out in your festive, custom-made sweater!

Allie Wilson is a senior professional writing major from Niles, Mich. She currently works in the Writing Center and is an intern for Espresso Book Machine. When her nose isn’t buried in a book, she spends her free time obsessing over Grey’s Anatomy and eating.

She aspires to be an editor for a publishing firm that specializes in young adult fiction.

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PHOTOGRAPHing

HUMANS OF E

BY CYNTHIA BEZINQUE

DURAY P. PROFESSIONAL WRITING: EDITING & PUBLISHING

What are you celebrating this winter season?

The existence of a small bundle of energy: my adopted sister, Ava.

What does your celebration, holiday, or other activity mean to you?

Having a family that supports me.

What activities do you partake in for your holiday, celebration, or other activity?

Going to decorate. We are going to bake things, but I’m not sure what, yet. Watch movies. Sword fight.

What is the best aspect of your winter and/or your celebration?

Having people I love and care about around me.

HANNAH H. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY

What are you celebrating this winter season?

Lots of things. Christmas with the family and Yule with the pagan community. New Years. Imbolc.

What does your celebration, holiday, or other activity mean to you?

Christmas is when you get together with the family. Be grateful for each other and all the things we have. For Yule, that’s the festival of light, we’ll celebrate the return of the sun. Imbolc is the festival of inspiration and new beginnings. We start looking at what projects you’ll take on, what active things you’re going to do for your community.

What activities do you partake in for your holiday, celebration, or other activity?

For Christmas I have a meal with my family and with Yule, a ritual with the pagan peeps.

What is the best aspect of your winter and/or your celebration?

The community. The celebration of the pure meaning of community and family.

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EAST LANSING PALAK S. COMMUNICATIONS GRADUATE

What are you celebrating this winter season?

A new phase of life. Beginning of adult experience. Christmas.

What does your celebration, holiday, or other activity mean to you?

Freedom, uncertainty, the stress, but also excitement… My parents live in India. [But] I have some cousins in Indiana. I visit them and cherish the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with family.

What activities do you partake in for your holiday, celebration, or other activity?

[It’s] fun to celebrate with friends from MSU. My cousins have young kids so it’s about Santa, cookies, decorating and spending time with [my] younger family members.

What is the best aspect of your winter and/or your celebration?

[It’s] a good way to wrap up a year, a good refresher on what matters in life. We get caught up in life and forget.

Getting the hands-on experience of working with Goldfish Swim School in Okemos as an Advertising & Marketing intern, and getting used to post-grad life.

ALISTAR P. PROFESSIONAL WRITING: TECHNICAL WRITING

What are you celebrating this winter season?

Life in general.

What does your celebration, holiday, or other activity mean to you?

That I’m not celebrating something specific ... it’s a variety of things. I just sort of enjoy myself.

What activities do you partake in for your holiday, celebration, or other activity?

My entire extended family lives across a big puddle [the Atlantic]. My close family celebrates dad’s birthday, on Christmas Eve. On Christmas we hang out, eat food, decorate, and cut down a tree. I’ll hang out with my family. It’s good to have chill time, we’re just going to relax.

Opening presents, going for a walk, and playing board games.

What is the best aspect of your winter and/or your celebration?

The family. They’re annoying at times, but I love them.

My sister lives out of town and it’s one of the few times I get to see her.

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SHOWing

CELEBRATING FREE TIME Shows to binge watch over winter break

BY HANNAH BULLION

Now that fall semester has finally come to a close, are you at a loss for how to spend your newfound free time?

For most, this extended break is the perfect excuse to curl up in bed and get acquainted with a new television show.

Celebrate your hiatus from responsibilities by catching up on all the shows you’ve been hearing about for the past few months.

Whether you’re looking to spend three consecutive days watching or you like to take it slow, we’ve rounded up five shows that are sure to catch your attention. Queue up your favorite streaming service, grab a cozy blanket and start watching!

STRANGER THINGS one season, eight episodes

Although it’s deemed as the year’s favorite science fiction/ horror series, you definitely don’t have to be an avid sci-fi fan to enjoy watching this show. Inspired by 1980s pop culture, Stranger Things follows the disappearance of a young boy in a small town and the resulting search which uncovers a host of terrifying secrets. This show quickly became a social media phenomenon. Junior elementary education major Megan White said, “Every time I look on Twitter, someone is talking about it. I can’t wait to take the time to watch it.”

Where to watch: Netflix

GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE four episodes

Whether you’ve been a Gilmore Girls fan since the beginning (16 years ago) or you’ve just decided to binge the entirety of the series during the last winter break, the show’s revival is just like coming home. Senior graphic design major Chloe Jennings can’t wait to relive the Gilmore Girls phenomenon: “My best friend and I are going to try and watch the whole thing together!” Plus, rounding in at only four 90-minute episodes, this show isn’t a major time dedication.

Where to watch: Netflix 20

DEC. 2016/JAN. 2017

MR. ROBOT

two seasons, 22 episodes

One of the most raw and real psychological thrillers to date, this show is sure to catch your attention. Mr. Robot follows a young programmer, who works as a cyber-security engineer by day and a vigilante hacker by night. He finds himself at a crossroads when the mysterious leader of an underground hacker group recruits him to destroy the conglomerate he works to protect.

Where to watch: USA Network or Amazon

MASTER OF NONE

one season, ten episodes

Hilarious yet poignant; Aziz Ansari writes and stars in this comedy about a man struggling to find his place as a 30-something in Manhattan. This imaginative show concerns topics such as racism, relationships and ultimately, the art of being a decent person. Master of None is for anyone that loves a heartfelt laugh.

Where to watch: Netflix

HOUSE OF CARDS four seasons, 52 episodes

Didn’t get enough politics during this past presidential election? House of Cards follows a conniving congressman and his wife as they bring suffering upon those who have betrayed them in the capitol. “I recommend putting your phone down when you watch this show. There are so many minor details that are easy to miss, so pay attention because it’s so good!” said Aleks Popovic, a biosystems engineering major.

Where to watch: Netflix Hannah Bullion is a junior studying professional writing with a mad interest in all things social media. She hopes to flee the Midwest and pursue a career in fashion in New York City. She is also the social media director for MSU’s fashion and lifestyle publication, VIM Magazine and an intern for the College of Arts & Letters.

CALLING ALL WRITERS ARE YOU A SKILLED WRITER? WANT TO BE PUBLISHED IN A MAGAZINE? ing Magazine is looking for freelance student writers to contribute to the monthly publication.

If you’re interested, please email Ami at ami@m3group.biz with your experience, along with three samples of your work.

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