Issuu

Issue 007 · Spring 2022

COLLEGIETTE

IN THIS ISSUE:

· Black, Queer Bookstore Builds ‘Loyal’ National Following · Indigenous Knowledge is Key to Addressing the Climate Crisis · Misdiagnosed Females with Autism: Neurodiversity in Women · 741741: A Number to Remember · The Reality of Guardianships and Conservatorships in the Wake of #FreeBritney

HER CAM

AMER

LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS

And here it is, issue 007 of Collegiette and my final time being published alongside my incredible Her Campus American family. Collegiette was founded in 2018 when I was a freshman at American University and an HCAU feature article writer. It has been one of my greatest honors to watch this magazine grow over the past four years. The writers, editors and designers behind Collegiette are truly unstoppable and there is no better team to represent Her Campus American. This semester’s Collegiette tackles discrepancies in the physical and mental health industry, critiques pop-culture, assesses campus life, investigates politics, shares personal narratives, features Washington, D.C. life and businesses, discusses representation in education and so much more. These pages are filled with issues our members feel do not receive the necessary amount of mainstream media attention, and the goal of Her Campus American is to create a safe and inclusive platform for these topics, as well as our team, to be well-represented and well-reported on. And I believe Collegiette 007 does just that. Being HCAU’s editor-in-chief this past year has been a dream. It was my goal coming into college to become editor-in-chief of an on-campus publication, and with the help of the HCAU team, my friends, my family and my supportive mother and sister, I was able to achieve this goal. So thank you, Her Campus American, for giving me my Rory Gilmore moment. I will miss this with all my heart. HCXO, Peyton Bigora, Editor-in-Chief

M P U S AT

RICAN I am beyond excited to share the Spring 2022 issue of Collegiette with you! This semester our writers, editors and designers have worked tirelessly to bring to you this showstopping magazine. With an emphasis on mental health, pop culture and the American University community, this magazine is sure to have articles that are interesting and relevant to all our readers. I hope you appreciate the amazing work that every writer, editor and illustrator put into this magazine as much as I do! Happy reading! HCXO, Gabrielle Levy, Publishing Director

IN THIS ISSUE The Importance of Representation in Children’s Literature

Cult or Political Movement? How Political Movements can Become Dangerous

Katherine Mahan

Jordyn Habib

9 Black, Queer Bookstore Builds ‘Loyal’ National Following Peyton Bigora

Camp Culture and its Continued Influence Into Adult Life Annabelle Evans

Misdiagnosed Females with Autism: Neurodiversity in Women Isabel Thompson

Social Media and Sex Work

Emma McDowall

27 Indigenous Knowledge is Key to Addressing the Climate Crisis Emilie Austin

29 Decentering Whiteness: The Need for Representation in the Classroom

The Virtues and Woes of Laughter: Examining Comedians and Mental Health Ellie Blanchard

Gabrielle Levy

741741: A Number to Remember Gabrielle Levy

Examining Educational Disparities Accompanying the COVID-19 Pandemic Finding Accurate News Sources Amidst The Polarization of News in 2022 Ilana Sherman

Sophia Sullivan

The History of American University’s Neighborhoods Sarah Metcalfe

Online Dating: How Women are Protecting Themselves on Dating Apps Evelyn Middleton

The Problem with Hustle Culture at American University Sophie Ridlon

The Reality of Guardianships and Conservatorships in the Wake of #FreeBritney

Sana Mamtaney

55 51 The Art of Self Love

Why Women-run Podcasts Deserve Recognition

Gracie Flach

Gianna Matassa

Our Team

THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Katherine Mahan Illustrations by Lillian Beavers Beginning in preschool, young children are surrounded by bookshelves overflowing with stories. Many children choose books to read based on the color of the cover and the pictures that are inside.

offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange.” Literature has the power to expose children to heavy topics, various lifestyles and different identities that might not be present in a student’s home environment.

Incorporating multicultural literature in classrooms creates a more inclusive school environment for students to thrive in. Classroom bookshelves should be filled with stories about varying life experiences, important world issues and diverse characters.

There is progress being made as 20 years ago, there were only a mere 4.8% of books that highlighted diverse characters. In 2019, a study performed by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center found that 28.6% of books are written about racially diverse characters, up by 23.8% since 1995.

“Children see themselves represented in books, their existence is validated, and they feel that they are part of the world,” award-winning author and illustrator, Eric Velasquez, has been quoted saying. With inclusive books in classroom libraries, children will feel that their presence in the classroom is valued. A lack of knowledge and exposure to diversity in one’s adolescence is a basis for prejudice later on in life. Including more diverse books, encouraging children to be more curious and challenging the systems that assign stereotypical books within the course curriculum is the first step towards change. In 1990, the Mother of Multicultural Children’s Literature, Rudine Sims Bishop, said “books are sometimes windows,

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The lack of diversity begins with the publishing industry and its population which is 76% white. As a result, a majority of the content approved to be published is white-focused, not giving diverse books a fighting chance. This creates an inherent bias regarding race, sexuality, sexual orientation, learning capabilities and various other marginalized stories that are not represented. As we enter 2022, books in classrooms have begun including more diverse identities, yet the problem remains systemic. Not until the publishing industry is more inclusive will true change occur. Teachers must have access to diverse books to foster well-rounded minds, but teachers are not equipped with the materials or funding to include these books in their classroom libraries. This results in many children being underrepresented in the classroom and curriculum resources. It is time to reflect on the books that are used in our classrooms, the people who are publishing them and the audience they are made for. ✿

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BLACK, QUEER BOOK ‘LOYAL’ NATIONA

KSTORE BUILDS AL FOLLOWING

Peyton Bigora

Sarah Golder Illustrations by Yutong Deng

When Loyalty Bookstore opened its doors for the first time in 2019, no one imagined it closing its doors in less than a year. Founded by queer, Black bookseller Hannah Oliver Depp, Loyalty Bookstore set out to line their shelves with diverse literature written by and representing LGBTQ+ and communities of color. The first store in Petworth, Washington opened on Valentine’s Day in 2019. In October of the same year, Depp opened a second store in Silver Spring, MD. Gene Taft, the general manager of the both bookstores, helped Depp pack up the Silver Spring location in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. “We had just opened this location,” Taft said in an interview outside the Silver Spring store, “and we’d barely got a toehold in the community. And I just thought ‘I was proud of what we’d done in the few months that we had it open. But I will not be surprised if this doesn’t open again.’”

“A lot of people look to the store as a pioneer in mission driven bookstores,” Loyalty bookseller Malik Thompson, 26, said. “That was very apparent during the pandemic when we were getting so much attention as both a Black-owned bookstore and a bookstore that is intentionally trying to carve out space for marginalized voices in literature.” Store employees attribute the success of Loyalty to the rising sense of community that came from the pandemic and how neighbors began to shop locally rather than turn to large corporations like Amazon. The store also gained national recognition as the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum following the murder of George Floyd. In response to the surge in demand for anti-racist literature and books by Black authors, Loyalty hired Christine Bollow, 40, as programs and marketing manager in July 2020. Loyalty’s daily online book sales increased tenfold after Floyd’s murder, Bollow said. And to further increase the store’s visibility, Bollow was hired to boost virtual events and promote books.

A record-breaking 200,000 businesses were forced to permanently close in 2020 during the pandemic, according to a Federal Reserve study. Taft’s fear of not returning was reasonable. However, to his surprise, Loyalty not only “Being able to promote books by authors of color, queer survived but saw an increase in sales during the pandemic. authors—we wanted to make sure their books didn’t get Employees say it was the need for community and the rise of overlooked during the pandemic. And then also just to the Black Lives Matter movement that propelled the store’s create that connection with our community since we mission forward. couldn’t all meet in person,” Bollows said. Loyalty gained national recognition in the last two years through the support of well-established authors.

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Sarah Golder Queer author Kristen Arnett praised Loyalty on Oprah Daily, saying, “Their staff is supremely knowledgeable, the book selection is next level and extremely gay, and they work so tirelessly to bring their community together. I drink coffee out of my Loyalty Bookstore coffee mug every morning!” Comedian and author Nicole Byer also acknowledged Loyalty on the Conan Show when promoting, not only her own book, but other Black-owned bookstores as well, in June 2020. National exposure increased Loyalty’s sales during the height of the pandemic. Loyalty shipped to nearly all 50 states, including Alaska, after promotions from prominent Black and queer authors, Taft said.

Though consistently in business and taking online orders, customers were not able to re-enter either Loyalty location until early 2021.

“Being Black and queer-owned, we got onto a bunch of lists and social media,” Taft said. “So there was promoting for us The physical stores reopened for customers in stages, and other stores saying, ‘Shop local, shop Black, shop queer.’ starting with only a pick-up spot for online orders. Then, And people did.” the store set up a register by the entrance so customers could window shop and purchase their books without stepping inside.

“ So there was

promoting for us and other stores saying, ‘Shop local, shop Black, shop queer.’ And people did.

Customers could only access a quarter of each store when it first reopened for in-person shopping. A few months later, both Loyalty locations expanded so half of each store was in use, and continued reopening sections slowly until both stores were back in full use. The Silver Spring location uses approximately three-quarters of the store for in-person shopping and reserves the back for mail orders. The Petworth location uses the whole space, but shares a small portion of it with Willow, a local Washington clothing store. “Pun intended, I do think that there’s a lot of loyalty among our customers, because they know that we practice what we preach,” Bollow said. ✿

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“

Sarah Golder

Yutong Deng

CULT OR POLITICAL MOVEMENT? How Political Movements can Become Dangerous

Jordyn Habib The Foundation of a Cult When the word “cult” is mentioned, many associate it with famous religious cults such as the Branch Davidians of Waco or Jonestown. While these cults turned out disastrous, cults can be more mundane and less obvious. Many fail to recognize that cults are not always distant and obscure groups that are completely blocked off from society. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a cult is “a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much.” Despite the fact that cults are often associated and researched in tandem with religion, political cults are a real thing as well. Even the most educated and seemingly stable individuals can take part in a cult. Fleur Brown, a former member of the Worldwide Church of God stated in an interview with Insider that, “cults have a powerful unifying mono ‘cult-ure.’”

It is often hard to decipher if a group is a cult because the exact foundations of cults are not strictly outlined. However, at the core of most cults is a charismatic leader. Cult leaders are traditionally outgoing people who often are able to garner great attention. They are also extremely narcissistic. Other key factors of cult groups include an indoctrination process or exploitation by either economic, physical or sexual means. The leader of the group almost always exploits their followers.

Political Parties are Their Very Own Cult Despite the general association of cults with religion, other groups can turn into cults. Most notably, political parties can transform into a cult with the creation of a cult of personality empowering idolization of a particular leader. A cult of personality is fully formed when followers “accept the leader as ‘supremely authoritative,’” according to the Center for Global Politics. The Nabb Research Center at Salisbury University stated that a “cult of personality arises when a leader is represented as larger-than-life through imagery and words of uncritical praise and flattery.” In addition, propaganda is a common way to cultivate a cult of personality. There are many claims that almost all politicians are narcissists or have narcissistic tendencies. A study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that “those scoring higher in narcissism participate

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Illustrations by Yutong Deng

more in politics, including contacting politicians, signing petitions, joining demonstrations, donating money and voting in midterm elections.” Narcissism is also a key feature of cult leaders, therefore drawing a connection to cults and political parties is not difficult. In addition, with the intense polarization present in the United States right now, it is all the more likely. Today’s political parties include much of the same characteristics that cults do, including extreme beliefs compared to each other, financial dependence or even exploitation, charismatic leaders and manipulating information. At this point, access to information is almost solely based on political parties.

Jordyn Habib

“Only God could deliver such a savior to our nation, and only God could allow me to help. God bless America!” The Trump party utilized merchandise and signs in order to convey their beliefs that Trump was a savior for our country. Trump’s cult of personality was even accepted at American University, which has a high liberal demographic. Senior Vincent Bellamo, who serves as the senior advisor for American University College Republicans showed off a sticker during an interview that labeled Trump as a prophet. In addition to stickers, the Trump website consists of merchandise ranging from t-shirts emblazoned with MAGA or phrases like “Freedom is Coming” to wrapping paper and dog collars.

Pew Research center did a study on this and found that “Fox News, was used by at least one-third of Republicans for political and election news” and found Fox News was the most popular source for republicans despite a large distrust in media. Of course in a political party, the follower has some choice whereas in a cult there is none. However, there is an argument to be said for manipulation tactics aiding in the creation of an echo chamber.

The Trump Party Trump’s follower base is perhaps the most prominent example of idolization in modern United States history. Many link his fan base to a cult due to the “savior” title Trump’s supporters place on him. Many Trump supporters believe that he was destined to become the leader of the nation and that he was sent by God. His 2020 campaign manager was even quoted as saying,

Jordyn Habib HER CAMPUS AMERICAN | 10

Although donations are a part of any political campaign, it is possible that the Trump campaign manipulated followers for money more than most. In the interview with Bellamo, he stated that, although he does not give donations to campaigns, he does buy campaign merchandise. A key component of a cult is the leader’s profitization off of their followers, which the Trump campaign most certainly has done. Another component of the Trump party is the exclusionary aspect of it. Cult leaders will control every aspect of information that their followers obtain to make sure that it is coming from “insiders.” Similarly, those that support Trump will seek out information that supports their beliefs. When Bellamo was asked if he knew the sources he obtained information from were biased he replied with “yes that’s why I watch them.” Bellamo also stated that he does believe his support for Trump has stifled the potential for relationships. The severance of members from “outsiders” is a vital part of a cult because it leaves an opening for the leader to gain power and influence in one’s life. The Trump party seemingly has all of the features of a cult: a charismatic powerful leader with followers willing to give time, money and devotion to him while separating themselves from others.

The Workers Revolutionary Party The idolization of politicians is not exclusive to the party line and is most certainly not an exclusively American issue. In addition, political cults are not a recent issue. One of the most notable liberal-like cults was the Workers Revolutionary Party in the UK. This political party is much more clearly related to a cult than the Trump party with one writer for the Guardian stating, “They are far closer to the messianic religious sects that obey the orders of semi-divine leaders.” The party’s leader, Gerry Healy, is often under fire for what was quoted by Sam Richards as “gross sexual abuse of women party members over a twenty year period.” The group’s teachings were heavily guarded and closed off, thus creating the insider versus outsider perspective that is the foundation of a cult. According to the Workers Liberty website, the organization had once risen to the largest Trotskyist organization in Britain despite the scandals it often faced.

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However, the group did publish a pamphlet titled “The Anti-Nazi League and Fascism” that required a monthly subscription and included a mail-in section to join the party. This pamphlet was most certainly used as a way to obtain more followers. The group also controlled a news site titled “News Line” that was run by members of the group and supported their ideology. Gerry Healy was admired for his politics and ideology. One member even described a split between him and party general secretary, Mike Banda, as “Jesus falling out with God.” Despite this idolization, Healy was eventually removed from the group altogether due to the sexual abuse claims. The party continued for some time after Healy was kicked out, but some members did, in fact, follow Healy after his exit and stayed loyal to him until his death. This party can most certainly qualify as a cult in ideology, even if there is not a consolidated leader to trace the loyalty to. The members of the party were convinced to spend immense amounts of time supporting the ideology. Just like most political parties, this group believed they were changing the nation with their support, but this group took it extremely seriously. British journalist Nick Cohen has done extensive research on this party and stated that those in the group were surrounded by paranoia and “had to cut off all ties with everyone except the chosen few.” Although the party did not have much of a monetary imbalance, as that would ironically oppose their socialist values, the currency in the power balance was time. Said Sayrafiezadeh wrote in his book “When Skateboards Will Be Free” that his mother, a former member of the party, was forced to move around often without employment and would “devote each minute of her day and many of her nights to handing out party newspapers and pamphlets or putting up traveling comrades.” This group held such conviction in their ideology that when Sayrafiezadeh was sexually abused by one of the members, the leaders responded to the incident by stating, “this is what capitalism does to some people.” With strong convictions and a controlling bureaucratic system, the Workers Revolutionary Party shines a light on how political parties can turn into cults.

Untraditional Cults Although political parties lack much of what is required to be considered a cult, the mere fact that some may have similarities is cause for concern. The idolization of politicians is extremely dangerous as it can promote group-think and authoritarian power. When a leader can essentially do no wrong in a large majority of the nation’s eyes then they are most certainly not being held accountable. Accountability is an essential part of democracy and government and translates into who is voted in. With a lack of critique on leaders, there can be an opening for a leader to gain too much power and abuse it. ✿

Jordyn Habib

CAMP CULTURE AND ITS CONTINUED INFLUENCE INTO ADULT LIFE

Annabelle Evans Illustrations by Sarah Golder On the first day back to school, when “I loved the experience,” Mickey Watson, the teacher asks everyone to share what an American University sophomore, they did over the summer, there are said. Watson attended a summer camp always kids who talk about being away hosted by the Girl Scouts for several at camp. With their wrists still covered years. “It was like a world totally in friendship bracelets, they tell their divorced from normal society.” class that they spent summer away Parents who send their kids to camp at camp. To some kids who didn’t often have their reasons as well. go to summer camp, this whole idea Mallory Patkos, a parent of three kids of spending the summer away from home seems very odd. So what is it that ages five, three and one, hopes that makes kids so attached to their summer by sending her kids to summer camp they will “grow in independence, camp? And why do some teenagers confidence, understanding and and adults return to the camp they empathy for others.” went to as a child every summer? There are multiple types of summer camps, some are religious, some focus on specific sports and others include a combination of fun activities. While these camps have different premises, they often feature similar activities. Obstacle courses, crafts, swimming and outdoor games are among the most popular activities at summer camps. With this commonality existing at many summer camps, this begs the question: are these fun activities the only thing that attract both parents and children to return to camp year after year?

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Kids who attended camp often cite close friendships as a reason they love going so much. Former summer camp attendee, counselor and director, Jake Evans, went back to camp every summer because of the friendships he made as well as the impact he had on his campers. “My camp friends were my closest friends in high school and I would chat with them all year and made sure to plan gettogethers even when we lived far apart,” Evans said. “Some of my closest friends to this day are from camp.”

Watson expressed similar feelings about her relationship with camp friends. “It enhanced the experience of my childhood by providing a place for me to be myself and surround myself with other children who were interested in the same things,” Watson said. Some people feel so connected to their summer camp they continue to be involved in the camp community in their adult lives. Patkos shared that her own positive experiences at camp motivated her and her husband to send their children. “We decided to send them because we wanted to be able to give them experiences that they’ll always remember! We both went as kids and have fond memories and we want our kids to be able to experience the same,” she said. Summer camps have been popular in America for decades, and even with generational shifts, kids are eager to return to camp year after year. ✿

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Jake Evans, former camp counselor, with his friends at summer camp.

Sarah Golder

THE VIRTUES AND WOES OF LAUGHTER: Examining Comedians and Mental Health Ellie Blanchard

TW: Themes of mental illness, depression, anxiety Right before John Mulaney’s most recent tour, “From Scratch,” he completed 60 days in rehab for his alcohol and cocaine addiction. The show was almost exclusively about his intervention, an organized attempt by Mulaney’s closest friends to get him to seek professional help. Not long before, Bo Burnham released a 90-minute special on Netflix titled “Inside.” The show provides a front-row seat to Burnham’s anxiety-prone mind in the isolated and claustrophobic world of the COVID-19 quarantine. Patterns of addiction and mental illness among many of today’s most popular comedians raise the question of whether comedy is a coping mechanism for mental illness or if being a part of the industry is a cause of mental strain. Laughing causes the release of the same endorphins that soothe the brain in response to pain or stress. These hormones behave in the body similarly to highly addictive opioid drugs, according to David DiSalvo, author of several best-selling books exploring the workings of the brain.

This indicates that laughter promotes a feeling similar to a narcotic. Laughing also activates the release of serotonin, just like antidepressants. This can cause short-term bursts of mood stabilization and happiness. It also lessens the body’s stress response, leading to effects beyond the brain. The heart’s blood vessels and muscles are protected with laughter’s antiinflammatory characteristics. “In life, you’re supposed to give to others, you’re supposed to do for others. I really do enjoy making others happy and helping them cope with stuff,” Von Mychael, a Washighton, D.C. based comedian, said in a Zoom interview. Mychael also comments that comics are healers. Laughter has a strong social effect, promoting social bonds and relationships. When a group experiences an endorphin release together, a sense of community and safety occurs. “It’s like a game of endorphin dominoes,” wrote DiSalvo in an article for Forbes. “That’s why when someone starts laughing, others will laugh even if they’re not sure what everyone is laughing about.” Evidence of comedy as a drug-like endorphin rush supports the notion that it can be a form of self-medication for someone experiencing anxiety or depression. However, in an interview with Forbes contributor Lipi Roy, comedian Jim Gaffigan adds that a career in stand-up comedy is not purely an endorphin rush. It is a “strange combination of control,” he said. Comedians have the microphone in their hands but still experience the pressure of depending on the audience’s reaction.

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Illustrations by Anika Kumar Bo Burnham speaks to this idea in his show “Make Happy,” which is now a full-length special on Netflix. Burnham is known for his musical comedy specials with topics ranging from those that are more lighthearted to those that focus on mental health disorders. In particular, Burnham commentates on the pressure of pleasing an audience and avoiding the uncomfortable. “Look at them,” Burnham said of his audience in the special. “They’re just staring at me, like ‘Come and watch the skinny kid with a steadily declining mental health, and laugh as he attempts to give you what he cannot give himself.’”

of health insurance leads many artists to self-medicate with drugs and comedy. Mychael says the most difficult part of a career in stand-up is learning to separate your image as a comedian and your identity as a person. He warns against getting caught up in seeking validation and taking the audience’s reaction personally. He found this to be especially important with the onslaught of the pandemic. When live shows came to a halt, Mychael lost his identity. “I didn’t realize that I was using my career and the audience as my self-worth,” he said. The key to overcoming this hurdle was learning to validate and take care of himself, whether that be drinking enough

In the same special, Burnham emphasizes the way that social media amplifies the burden of performing. For comedians and non-comedians alike, social media requires performing “everything to each other all the time for no reason,” Burnham tells The New Yorker. The pressure to perfectly curate content for social media, whether it is for a personal or professional goal is “prison,” according to Burnham. “It is horrific.” The pressure got so heavy for Burnham that he took a two-year hiatus from stand-up after he began having panic attacks on stage. Comedian Jenny Saldana also spoke with Forbes, adding that most comedians don’t have access to healthcare and go long periods without seeing a medical professional. A lack

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water or affirming himself daily. Mychael uses social media as a platform to share positive mantras and affirmations, hoping to brighten a space that is often a breeding ground for comparison and fear of missing out. Just as in any industry, Missy Hall faced extra roadblocks as she navigated entry into the field as a woman in her 40s. Hall explained in a Zoom interview that she experienced heightened pressure over what a comedian should be. From her experience, the public perceives female comics as being naturally less funny than men or they’re considered to be “raunchy and monotonous.” Despite the hurdles, comedy has served an important role in Hall’s life. It was a tool in working through a divorce and starting fresh in her late 40s and it has transformed into a platform for motivational speaking. Using humor, Hall sheds light on the fact that a person can pursue a wellness journey and make progress in an area they’re insecure about without hating who they presently are. “We spend a lot of time in our heads,” she said. “We have to like what’s in there.” Like any other artist, the best way to build up the comedian community is to support their craft and attend shows. Hall describes a unique authenticity in the exchange of energy between the comedian and audience in a live show that can’t be achieved by turning on a Netflix special. According to Hall, some of the best comedy comes from the smaller-name comedians. She encourages trying out different shows to discover a style that fits best with your sense of humor. “Don’t see one comic and think, ‘I hate live stand-up,’” she said. “You wouldn’t give up on music because you heard one song that you didn’t like.” Comedians agree that the relationship between their profession and mental health is complicated. While the industry creates space to cope with difficult times and uplift audiences, it also invokes the pressure of crowd-pleasing and maintaining a cohesive identity. What should be learned about comedians is that regardless of how naturally funny they are, they’re just as human as their audience. “People think comics are always on,” said Hall, “but I’m a normal person.” ✿

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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ADDRESSING THE

Riley -Kate Pappas Illustrations by Anika Kumar

E IS KEY TO E CLIMATE CRISIS

Emilie Austin

Science and politics have long been dominated by white cisgender-male views. When it comes to climate and environmental science, no one has more authority over the natural world than Indigenous peoples.

In Honduras, the Lenca people often grow coffee bushes underneath the shade of plantain trees. In the hot and dry African Sahel, the shade from trees provide cool temperatures for livestock and farm workers. Not only does agroforestry optimize farmland, but the trees help regulate water sources and absorb carbon dioxide.

Indigenous knowledge is essential to addressing the climate crisis because of traditional practices of using local resources, low-carbon technology and traditional views of the natural world. Traditional Indigenous knowledge preaches protection of the natural world for its own sake, not because of an existential threat to humanity’s survival. One of the most recognizable Indigenous climate practices is sustainable agriculture. Most Indigenous groups view their agriculture practices as an effective traditional practice rather than a way to reduce their carbon footprint. Although this is true, their practices can be effective means towards protecting our environment. For example, Indigenous groups around the world have practiced agroforestry for centuries. Agroforestry is the practice of growing trees and crops together, mimicking a forest and providing mutual benefits to the various plants present in the ecosystem.

Indigenous communities have been stewards of the land for centuries-long before man-made climate change began. The Yurok Tribe in Northern California has been hunting salmon for centuries and considers the fish a cultural centerpiece. But in recent decades, the salmon supply has drastically dwindled and the fish left are sick. The Yurok are fighting for dam removal in court but are also taking matters into their own hands. Frankie Myers, Yurok Tribe Vice Chairman, explained on the podcast “How to Save a Planet” that the tribe removes sediment and cobble from the streams themselves. “We really dug in and, you know, put our hands in the dirt and moved earth back to how it used to be traditionally,” said Myers. Perhaps the most crucial lesson non-Indigenous people must learn is their place and purpose on Earth. Although Indigenous ideas about humanity and nature are diverse, a common theme is that living things are more than their economic or biological value. Indigenous activist and lawyer Sherri Mitchell explains that Penobscot people view themselves as an equal part of their local ecosystem and not the owners or occupants of the land. “When I say that I’m Penobscot, or Penawahpskek, in my language,” Mitchell said on the podcast “No Place Like Home,” “I’m actually placing myself in the center of an entire ecosystem that includes the water, the lands, the people, the animals, the fish, the birds, the insects that inhabit that place we make up, that place of being that we all share”.

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Mitchell also explained that both Indigenous knowledge around the world and modern Western science supports the idea that all matter is connected energetically because all life comes from the same life-giving elements. This idea is referred to in Western science as “quantum entanglement.” Mitchell believes that climate anxiety and the overwhelming urgency of the crisis is because of humanity’s increasing awareness of our connectedness to other living things. “When we’re waking up in the middle of the night with panic that we can’t identify a source to, perhaps it’s true that we’re experiencing the panic of the trees as fire is rushing towards them or as they’re being chopped down in unprecedented numbers,” Mitchell said. “When we’re feeling this immense grief, perhaps we’re feeling the grief of the mother whale who carried her baby around for 17 days trying to show us what we’re doing to her ecosystem and their ability to continue living. When we’re feeling this immense loneliness, perhaps we’re feeling the loneliness of the last white rhino on the planet who has no one left within their species to communicate with.”

One notable modern example of Indigenous environmental activism is the resistance to the Keystone XL Pipeline, proposed in 2008, that would have run through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Indigenous leaders from five Sioux tribes, Nakoda and Aaniiih tribes led protests and legal action to stop the pipeline. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, activists argued that the pipeline would have contaminated drinking water and damaged sacred places. The pipeline was eventually vetoed by President Joe Biden in 2021 after 13 years of resistance.

Indigenous communities have been fighting for environmental rights longer than any other group. Since the rise of Indigenous sovereignty movements in the U.S. in the 1960s, Indigenous activists have been leading efforts to protect the Earth. In addition to cultural connections to land, many Indigenous groups are also directly threatened by development projects like oil pipelines. Around the world, Indigenous communities are some of the first people to face the harrowing effects of climate change because their carefully preserved natural resources are becoming increasingly valuable to corporations. Indigenous communities should not have to fight for this long. NonIndigenous people must support Indigenous efforts to protect their land and preserve the planet. NonIndigenous people can start by unlearning colonial attitudes toward the planet and educating themselves on the ways that Indigenous communities protect 80% of global biodiversity.

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“When we are looking to create a new way of being in the world,” Mitchell said, “we can’t use the same tools that were used to build the broken reality that we’re living in.” ✿

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Nakoda Tribes Western Canda

Aaniih Tribes Montana

Penobscot Tribes

Sioux Tribes Yurok Tribes Northern California

Maine

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska

Lenca Tribes El Salvador and Honduras

“When we’re waking up in the middle of the night with panic that we can’t identify a source to, perhaps it’s true that we’re experiencing the panic of the trees as fire is rushing towards them or as they’re being chopped down in unprecedented numbers,” Mitchell said. “When we’re feeling this immense grief, perhaps we’re feeling the grief of the mother whale who carried her baby around for 17 days trying to show us what we’re doing to her ecosystem and their ability to continue living. When we’re feeling this immense loneliness, perhaps we’re feeling the loneliness of the last white rhino on the planet who has no one left within their species to communicate with.” Cleo Pool

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEX WORK

Emma McDowall Illustrations by Lily Kaiser With the rise of social media, many individuals who are involved in sex work are finally able to show their occupation from their point of view; humanizing and explaining their field working to eradicate stereotypes. On OnlyFans, stars from TikTok show us how they step out from behind the curtain revealing a whole new side of themselves. These TikTokers ask the questions people have always wanted to know and shed light on the mysteries of their lives behind the set, piquing the interest and curiosity of viewers. @thisisnotskyhopscotch, Sky’s TikTok account, opens the door to the world of stripping by answering viewers’ questions, offering tips and responding to hateful comments. It is actions like this that work to demystify the world of sex work and give sex workers a voice. Another great example is TikToker @goth.egg. GothEgg is a popular OnlyFans model who has an

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impressive social presence with 3.1 million TikTok followers. GothEgg posts dance trends, answers viewers’ questions and promotes content for her OnlyFans account. She also shows viewers how her life changed from one of extreme poverty and debt to one of freedom and stability with the help of OnlyFans. Social media has done a lot of good for the sex industry by allowing sex workers to create a community in an otherwise hateful, anti-sex society. While workers have many different vehicles for delivering their service, the creation of OnlyFans puts the power into the hands of the creators rather than in the hands of large porn companies. On OnlyFans, pornstars set their own prices, create their own content, set their own hours and create their own platform restrictions. Most stars set their page price at a monthly

subscription between $5-20 a month allowing OnlyFans stars to make a nice chunk of change from the platform. Some of the most popular creators can make upwards of roughly $30 million a year, more than most professional doctors. It is this agency that has attracted many to the platform. It is also perfectly legal. Many of us grow up being told selling sex is bad, and this idea that selling sex is bad can be found everywhere. Our parents tell us, television and movies show us and our schools force this idea down our throats. Growing up most people are told that sex is a private secret that shouldn’t be shared with the world because there is no pride in it. With social media, sex workers can show the world that the lies that have been shoved down our throats are nothing close to the truth. In turn, social media is debunking sex work. ✿

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DECENTERING WHITENESS: The Need for Representation in the Classroom

Illustrations by Gracie Flach From the lack of diversity in storybooks to the lack of representation in course content, it is evident that white students are prioritized in classrooms across the country. The only lessons regarding racism in America, other than those on the Civil Rights Movement, rarely appear until students are in high school. As a result, students are taught that race is a topic that should not be discussed.

Gabrielle Levy identities impact one’s experiences in the world. This racialized system of oppression disproportionately harms students who hold marginalized identities, particularly those whose identities represent the minority in the school that they attend.

Educators need to ensure that they take the lead from their students when discussing topics that impact marginalized By not opening dialogues surrounding race in the classroom, communities. It is not until educators begin to diversify students are continually limited in their expression of perthe curriculum that other races will be able to hold space of sonal experiences and beliefs. equal value in the classroom.

Teachers often cite school resources and course curriculum as the reasoning behind their educational choices. While there is a mandatory curriculum, there is nothing dictating that teachers must educate students from the perspectives of cisgender-white males.

Individualized vs. Institutional Racism

In subjects such as History and English, which tend to be very white-centric, teachers must make a conscious effort to seek out resources that highlight the experiences of marginalized communities.

Institutionalized racism is embedded within our society. The way that it operates often centers the white experience above all else and fails to acknowledge how race affects one’s experiences in the world. Institutionalized racism exists in every sector of society such as education, the criminal justice system, healthcare and politics.

Representation in the Classroom Racial identities are constructed by both individuals and society itself. With a lack of representation in classrooms across the country, it is evident that certain racial identities are valued more than others. Race, culture and ethnicity intersect to create unique experiences for individuals. Someone who fits American ideals, such as someone who is white or white-passing, has a very different experience from someone who is not. To work towards anti-racist teaching, one must understand how these

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Educators can not work to eliminate institutionalized or individualized racism without first coming to an understanding of what these forms of racism are.

Gabrielle Levy Individualized racism takes into account one’s racist assumptions and beliefs that affect how one perceives others. This takes place in the form of both conscious and unconscious prejudice. As a result of our white-dominant society, we create stereotypes, images and ideologies that are often untrue and unrepresentative of different racial groups.

This is an effort bigger than any one educator. Teachers and administrators must band together to support students in order to break down the stereotypes and white-centric views of society embedded in course curriculum. Incorporating anti-racism in the school curriculum is truly a community effort. While it starts with schools, it falls on everyone to educate themselves and work towards incorporating anti-racist values in their everyday lives. ✿

Educating the Educator Educators can begin to deconstruct the narrative that being white is the standard by understanding that both institutional and individualized racism exist. One way that teachers can do this in the classroom is by decentering standard English and allowing students to express themselves freely without feeling the need to conform to societal standards. By continuing to educate themselves and their students, teachers can begin to take the necessary steps to decenter whiteness and allow for a more representative and comprehensive experience in the classroom.

Gabrielle Levy HER CAMPUS AMERICAN | 30

MISDIAGNOSED FEMALES W Neurodiversity in Women

Illustrations by Lillian Beavers

WITH AUTISM:

Isabel Thompson

Before reading this article, it is important to note that I do not condone the popular use of certain medical and psychiatric terminology used within this piece. Phrases like “mental illness” and “mental disorder” are linked to a history of oppression and shame. The words used to label those with psychiatric experiences are not limited to what is found within the DSM-5. People with psychiatric history have had a vast range of experiences that should inform the language we choose to use to describe people who are neurodivergent. I urge you to do your own research about the lived experiences of psychiatric survivors and the psychiatric industrial complex. Disgruntled parents and childcare workers often share scenes of kids throwing tantrums in their kindergarten class after hearing a loud noise. They also share stories of young boys going silent for hours with seemingly no explanation for their behavior. Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), is commonly known as a “little boy’s” disorder because most of the scientific data on ASD is collected from young men. But, what happens when one tries to apply this same data to women and girls? The American Psychiatric Association created the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a diagnostic tool for psychiatrists. Diagnostic criteria for Autism spectrum condition found in the DSM-5 includes persistent deficits in social communication across multiple contexts and restricted patterns

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of behavior or interests. Similarly, criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) includes patterns of instability in relationships, self-image and emotion. Limitations in the recognized characteristics of autism have created a population of women that exhibit symptoms of mental illness, but do not fit the bill for the classic traits of someone with autism. Consequently, many women are diagnosed with ASC later in life. In their earlier years, these same women are often misdiagnosed with other personality disorders such as anxiety or borderline personality disorder. The UK National Autistic Society found in a survey that 42% of women are diagnosed with a previous mental disorder when being initially tested for ASC, whereas only 30% of men are diagnosed. As one can see, ASC and BPD often have overlapping symptoms, such as anxiety and self-image issues. This is further complicated by the discrepancies made by clinicians when diagnosing women versus men. Findings from researchers supported by the Autism Research Trust show that many women are underdiagnosed with autism because “females may experience greater societal pressure to conform and be part of a peer group and are more motivated to learn how to hide their autism.” Autism Trust Research also states that these women essentially go unnoticed by health professionals because they “pretend to be normal.”

Many first came in contact with the concept of late-life autism diagnosis through the #ActuallyAustistic tag on TikTok. Under this tag, creators make videos sharing their physical behaviors and communication tendencies that are seen as inappropriate by others. Hundreds of thousands of likes and comments from people in the same circumstance prove that no one in the community of those with autism is alone. The professional diagnosis process is complicated by gender. In addition, those with intersectional identities are met with a process that is traumatizing, expensive and largely inaccessible.

Researchers from The UK National Autistic Society wrote that women and girls are able to camouflage their autism better than boys, contributing to a “female autism phenotype.” This theory explains the lack of female diagnosis which posits that girls and women have traits of autism that don’t match those listed in the DSM-5. This phenomenon of mirroring social behavior in people with autism is known as masking. Autistic advocate and social media creator Paige Layle has opened up on her TikTok and YouTube channel about complications in her autism diagnosis process. She says in her video that she decided not to tell anyone about her diagnosis for a year because of shame from her former boyfriend. He told her that he didn’t want to be known as the guy dating the “r******d girl.” “I am autistic, not broken,” says Layle.

“ I am autistic,

not broken,” says Layle.

Once someone believes that they are experiencing traits of autism, exploring self-diagnosis is a way to validate their experiences. As written by the Autism Awareness Centre, “self-diagnosis in the adult autism community is widely accepted.” This is especially true for those lacking the resources to seek a professional diagnosis. However, online autism tests should be handled with skepticism. Finding out about an autism diagnosis is a way for those who are neurodivergent to discover real-life connections without the stigma of feeling atypical. Although the journey often happens later for women and girls, they are able to find solace within one another to share, create and live as their true selves in the autistic community. ✿

“

The transition to adult life is already a time of instability for neurotypicals. For those living with undiagnosed autism, going through life while also searching for answers about being neurodivergent is isolating. After years of feeling misunderstood, the internet now serves as a tool for struggling neurodivergent adults to discover that their “quirks” are not completely unique.

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THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S NEIGHBORHOODS

Sarah Metcalfe Riley -Kate Pappas Illustrations by Simi Singh

Students at American University call the areas around campus home with a majority of them living in Spring Valley and Tenleytown. And each of these neighborhoods have their own vibrant and rich histories.

Spring Valley Spring Valley is one of the wealthiest and most expensive neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. Just over a hundred years ago, in 1917, AU owned most of the land in Spring Valley. During this time, the federal government leased land from AU to create a chemical weapon testing site. Shortly after World War I, the site was shut down and the land was sold to allow for development. Starting in 1928, W.C and A.N Miller Companies sold homes in this subdivision, writing deeds that restricted homes from being bought by those of Jewish, Syrian, Persian or African descent. Jumping ahead to the 1990s, Spring Valley was abundant with families and businesses. While businesses and families were living comfortably, construction workers completing work nearby found rusted bombs underneath the ground. These bombs were ultimately identified as chemical mortar

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rounds and 75-millimeter shells, some of which were still live. These shells contained mustard gas, a very lethal chemical. The army inspected and removed a lot of munition from underneath the houses and land in Spring Valley which resulted in some families needing to evacuate in order for inspections to take place safely. By 1995, the Army deemed the neighborhood safe, but in 2000, there were once again safety concerns. Scientists and engineers showed that the Army missed many pits that contained the lethal chemicals once deemed to have been removed. Upon further investigation, they unearthed twice as many munitions as the first investigation produced.

Tenleytown Tenleytown, once known as Tennallytown, has a rich history dating back to the Civil War. Coined in 1790 by the locals, the name Tennallytown was a reference to the infamous Tennally’s Tavern, owned by John Tennally. Over time, the spelling of the town changed due to confusion between officials. It was settled that the neighborhood would be called Tenleytown instead. This area, once Fort Reno during the Civil War, is the highest point of elevation in Washington. This allowed troops to have the best lookout point. For this reason and many others, Tenleytown served as protection against enemy forces.

With the building of new schools, parks and a water tower, the federal government ultimately caused the collapse of the Tenleytown community. Over the years, traces of Tenleytown’s vibrant history have been lost due to school closings and the forced evictions of residents.

Many Civil War forts were located on American University’s land, including Battery Kemble, Fort Reno and Fort Gaines. Fort Gaines has been traced back to where Ward Circle and Katzen Arts Center are located today.

Education and advocacy for local history are important to each community. Residents should be able to learn and enjoy the history of their hometown through preserved landmarks and other educational materials.

Post Civil War, Tenleytown was a free Black community with 75% of the community being free Blacks and the remaining 25% of the population being white. Despite much of the community being unskilled labor workers, Tenleytown was an active community.

The history we have today would not have been preserved without dedicated historians and volunteers in local communities advocating to keep this history alive. Tenleytown Historical Society is run by volunteers and strives to encourage the historical preservation of Washington. ✿

Riley -Kate Pappas HER CAMPUS AMERICAN | 36

FINDING ACCURATE NEWS SOURCES AMID THE POLARIZATION OF NEWS IN 2022 Ilana Sherman Illustrations by Yutong Deng The term “fake news” has taken center stage ever since the 2016 presidential election. In 2022, this term continues to get thrown around when people see news headlines that they do not agree with. Of course we want the news we are reading to contain accurate information, and in order for this to happen, we must expand our news diet. In doing so, we will be better connected with the world around us. We watch, read and even listen to the news with broadcast, print and podcasts being just some of the ways that we get our information. When we turn the television on, the news is there. Twenty-four hours a day. Seven days a week. This begs the question, where can someone find an unbiased news source? “It is interesting to see how different outlets cover the same story,” American University School of Communications professor Jeremiah Patterson said. “There are lots of outlets who spend a lot of time doing ethical reporting, and a lot of people take them for granted.” Americans’ news consumption has changed drastically over the years along with people’s faith and trust in the news. Since the 2016 elections, the divide in news sources has only increased. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that Trump supporters were relatively uniform with where they got their news from. Forty percent of Trump supporters got their news mainly from Fox News. In comparison, Clinton supporters listed CNN as their top choice for news coverage, with 18% of Clinton supporters being viewers. Both Trump and Clinton supporters also found their news from Facebook with 7% of Trump users calling this their main news source and 8% of Clinton supporters doing the same.

It is important to note that Facebook itself does not produce any news, it simply allows its users to post links to news articles. Although similar percentages of Trump and Clinton supporters list Facebook as their top news source, as the Pew report suggests, readers are most likely being redirected to a different origin. This origin is sometimes an illegitimate or erroneous source. American University School of Communications professor Scott Talan said in an interview, “It is tough to rely on just one news source.” Balancing your news sources lets you get opinions from different outlets and can ensure your information is accurate and up to date. You do not have to be extremely into politics in order to have a variety of news sources. Aiming for three sources is the best for “most people,” this practice allows one to read a variety of perspectives in order to get a more holistic view of the topic at hand, according to Talan. Although the news may seem like just a place to go for entertainment rather than a place to find information, reliable news sources do exist; we just have to be careful picking them out and adding them to our news diet. ✿

Riley -Kate Pappas

ONLINE DATING: How Women are Protecting Themselves on Dating Apps

Evelyn Middleton

There may still be traditionalists who hold out for meeting their partner by chance, but society has normalized the use of technology in dating. The pandemic limited social interaction, making it more difficult for people to find a possible partner. Tinder reported that 2020 was their busiest year to date, and Hinge tripled their revenue in the past two years, according to Statista. This goes to show that people depend on technology more than ever in order to find their perfect match. The Economic Times notes that the pandemic made in-person dating “a distant reality.” As the pandemic is not disappearing, neither are dating apps. Because of how new dating apps are, society lacks socially acceptable behaviors

creating inconsistencies amongst these apps. This can lead to confusion and discomfort between users who have different understandings of norms while using them.

On dating apps, women have experienced everything from security concerns to meetups gone wrong. According to Kaspersky, “55% [of users] have experienced some form of threat or problem while dating online” and “57% of online daters lie to each other, faking a range of attributes.” Women on Tinder have vastly different experiences than men and, because of this, they feel the need to follow strict safety guidelines in terms of online dating. According to research done by Kaspersky, a company dedicated to online safety, “as many as 32% of Internet users are dating online.” As a result, many women are changing their settings and identifying best practices to better protect their safety.

A 19-year-old female student at American University who uses Tinder said that she “sets the age limits to the lowest it can be.” On Tinder, this is 18 to 22 years old. This seems to With the increased use of dating apps, it is important to rec- be a common theme as another female student at American ognize that these apps create a unique platform for users to University, this one being 18-years-old, utilizes “age settings be dishonest. This leads to users having negative experiences. to avoid older people who may want to take advantage.”

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Illustrations by Anika Kumar In addition to age settings, users such as this 19-year-old female find it important to limit the information on their pages to details that can already be found on social media. Those who use dating apps can also change the gender of the people they are matching with. Another 18-year-old female Tinder user explained how she has made her account to only match with women. This is because she believes that women tend to be more honest than men, with men often lying for their own benefit. Transparency on dating apps is important for many reasons, the biggest being safety. With no real way to guarantee safety, meeting people from dating apps in real life can easily become a nerve-wracking experience. Dating apps can have their flaws, so it is important for women to take necessary steps to stay safe while also getting the best out of their experiences. Utilizing specific settings and having solid boundaries are a few ways that women can protect themselves while dating online. ✿

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EXAMINING EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES ACCOMPANYING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Sophia Sullivan Illustrations by Yutong Deng The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to quickly reframe and adopt a learning strategy that allowed for learning to continue while in lockdown.

unable to access their daily instruction. But access to this technology was not a foolproof solution.

“Some students still couldn’t attend class because their parents’ needed their Video communication services such computers since they lost their jobs as Zoom and Google Meet provided a and couldn’t afford their own,” Sydney solution to this issue by allowing stuSchroder, an American University dents and teachers to connect remotely. freshman, said in an interview. “My The adoption of this non-traditional mom received emails from students teaching method was met with a host telling her they had to complete their of contrasting opinions amongst assignments later because of this.” students, parents and educators alike. What seemed to serve as a temporary As economic disparities presented learning environment gradually shifted themselves in the form of class atteninto something more long-term, ultidance, lost learning time accounted mately exposing numerous disparities for delayed academic achievement within the educational system. as students did not receive the same instruction as their peers.

Educational Inequities

While a reliable internet connection and a laptop were easily accessible to students in affluent communities, the transition to online learning was tougher for those who lacked access to the same technological resources. The burden fell on schools to provide technology to students who did not have access to resources, such as computers and WiFi. For schools that lacked the funding and resources to do this, students suffered as they were

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On top of technological frustration, some students had to navigate family tensions and additional responsibilities at home. Sometimes these challenges came at the expense of students’ academic progress. As many parents lost jobs during the pandemic, some students were faced with the effects of financial hardship. The economic downturn of the pandemic caused the United States unemployment rate to reach 13% in

May 2020—the rise of unemployment outpacing that of the Great Recession, according to the Pew Research Center.

Student Mental Health The absence of regular face-to-face interaction coupled with home stressors aggravated students’ mental health, and those previously struggling with mental illness were facing additional strain. The National Institute of Mental Health reported that 17% of the United States population ages 12 to 17 had at least one major depressive disorder in 2020, and its prevalence was highest among those who reported at least two races.

importance of instilling learning recovery programs when in-person classes resume to assist students—programs characterized by extending instructional time and improving learning efficiency. Educators, parents and students have continued to demonstrate patience and flexibility during this unprecedented time as online learning will remain emergent for the foreseeable future. Collective efforts among districts, communities and the government must continue to mitigate its social, economic and educational consequences. ✿

Without equal access to school support systems in place before remote learning, many students had fewer resources to support their mental health. A 2020 report from the CDC revealed that there was over a 30% increase in emergency room visits among 12- to 17-year-olds for mental health reasons. The CDC noted that the higher visitation rates may reflect the unintended consequences of mitigation measures which reduced access to mental health services. Online learning comes with greater screen time, isolation and self-discipline—components that have significant implications for students’ mental and physical health.

An Ongoing Crisis Some are naming this an “educational crisis” because of students’ estimated learning loss. A report from the World Bank, UNICEF and UNESCO in 2021 claimed that the current generation of students risks losing $17 trillion in lifetime learnings (in present value) from school closures due to the pandemic. The publication stressed the

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741741: A Number to Remember

Gabrielle Levy

Illustrations by Lily Kaiser

TW: suicidal thoughts/ideation, mental health In times of crisis, it is not uncommon to have thoughts rushing through your head, making you wonder if your experiences are valid enough to seek help.

Following a late-night conversation on the hotline, a texter left feedback saying, “It was very late and I appreciate being listened to and HEARD.” This is a shared sentiment from late-night texters as another texter shared, “I was crying and felt alone. [My crisis counselor] made me feel like I was loved and important!”

Crisis Text Line is a text hotline that provides free 24/7 support by connecting texters with trained crisis counselors. With over one million conversations each year, Crisis Text Line supports thousands of texters daily.

Crisis Text Line is More Than a Suicide Hotline In 2021, Crisis Text Line reported that texters primarily texted in about anxiety, stress, depression, sadness, relationships and school. Conversations on Crisis Text Line can be a place to vent, seek out resources or find out how to get emergency care.

At night, the platform is busiest on Mondays and Tuesdays with 15.5% of texter volume occurring on Monday nights and 15.1% of texter volume occurring on Tuesday nights. In addition, members of the LGBTQ+ community make up the largest population of texters at night. These texters account for 57% of night texter volume according to Crisis Text Line’s 2021 annual report. Crisis Text Line’s 2021 statistics show that night time conversations, “are 24% more likely to be tagged as high or medium risk by [Crisis Text Line’s] risk detection model than daytime conversations.” High and medium risk conversations are pushed to the front of the queue so that volunteers can reach these texters faster. These texters are often at higher risk of suicide or self-harm.

For both adults and adolescents, mental health crises occur around the clock. No matter the time, Crisis Text Line is there, but there are peak windows. Longer wait times are common later at night as texters are often alone with Although the wait time may be longer, texters are never their thoughts. For some texters, it is alone. While waiting, texters receive check-in prompts as also safer to text in at night when no well as a breathing GIF that they can use as a grounding one is around. exercise before being connected with a volunteer.

Spanish Crisis Services While the majority of texters waiting to be connected with a trained crisis counselor speak English, some speak Spanish more comfortably. This past year, Crisis Text Line launched services in Spanish, allowing a community with little access to mental health care a space where they can receive support. According to NAMI’s 2020 report, only 34% of Hispanic or Latinx adults with mental health diagnoses receive treatment, compared to 50% of white individuals. While this number may seem low, we must also remember that there is an even larger number of the Latinx community that never even receives a diagnosis. This means that the number of Latinx individuals receiving mental health treatment is realistically much lower. In the United States, “only 5.5% of mental health providers administered services in Spanish,” according to Crisis Text Line. This makes Crisis Text Line’s 24/7 Spanish text support an important resource for Spanish speaking texters. With support being offered in both English and Spanish, texters can talk to a trained crisis counselor in a language that is comfortable to them during such a vulnerable time.

Volunteering for Crisis Text Line Crisis Text Line not only helps those who text in, but many crisis counselors report that, after volunteering for the hotline, they themselves are more likely to use the service as they have seen the service work for others.

After seeing feedback from texters saying things such as, “I felt like I had no one to disclose to how I feel so talking to you was a breath of fresh air. You are very much appreciated and I will forever be grateful,” crisis counselors are able to see firsthand the level of support that Crisis Text Line provides.

By seeing how the hotline works, volunteers can identify their own safety levels and seek external support when they need it. Additionally, resources are available to share even when one is not volunteering. Many volunteers end up finding tools and skills that they work to incorporate into their own lives. The training that volunteers receive is comparable to mental health first aid, allowing volunteers to better support their friends and family in crisis.

Access is Key A report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) showed that 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 3 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, experienced a mental illness in 2020. With a lack of access to mental health resources for so many, it is important that people have access to crisis support around the clock. If you are questioning if what you are going through is a crisis or not, chances are it is. When in crisis, it is important to reach out for support. If you are in crisis, please remember that you are not alone. To connect with a trained crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line 24/7, you can text “HOME” to 741741. ✿

Whether it’s your friends, family, or community, everyone needs someone to lean on.

If you don’t know where to turn, you can text HOME to 741741. A volunteer Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line will be there for you. It’s free and 24/7.

THE PROBLEM WITH HUSTLE CULTURE AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Sophie Ridlon Lillian Beavers Illustrations by Simi Singh Forty-hour work weeks are quickly turning into 50 or 60 hours. Hustle culture has permeated through American society and is almost inescapable. According to the New York Times, hustle culture is an “obsess[ion] with striving, relentlessly positive, devoid of humor, and — once you notice it — impossible to escape.” According to Gallup’s 2019 Global Emotions report, 55% of Americans report being stressed, 45% report being worried and 22% are angry. This stress level is 20% higher than in other countries. It’s not just mental health that is being affected. In 2017 the American Journal of Industrial Medicine reported that working 60 plus hours a week leads to a 42% higher risk of coronary heart disease while working 70 plus hours has a 63% increase in risk. The Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine said that a high-demand job with no boundaries increases the risk of getting Type II diabetes by 45%.

This campaign has evolved into what is known as Wonk culture. In short, Wonk Culture is continuously going the extra mile. For some students this means double majoring, having leadership positions in organizations and having completed three internships by the time they graduate. This culture is toxic and unproductive.

Clearly, the United States has a health crisis and not much is being done to change it. American University is no exception. In 2011 the university launched a Public Relations campaign called “WONK.” “WONK” is the word “know” spelled backward. This campaign lasted nine years with the goal being to highlight AU students as “smart, passionate, focused, and engaged individuals who use their knowledge to effect meaningful change,” according to their website.

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According to American University’s Career Center, over 91% of AU undergraduates participate in at least one internship before they graduate. This is significantly higher than the national average of 50% found by the National Survey of Student Engagement in 2020. So why is AU’s internship rate so high? One could easily attribute this to Wonk culture. Many of the students at AU are wealthy so they can afford to have unpaid internships. AU also has the resources to help students get internships. Through the Career Center, students have lifetime access to advisors who specialize in each field, career fairs with top employers and much more.

Regardless of AU’s status, its obsession with getting students internships is not healthy for anyone. “Working two days a week, nine to six, plus 45 minutes of commuting each way drained me physically and mentally. I would have to wake up at 7:00 and get back at 7:00, and afterward, I would be exhausted,” American University sophomore, Caroline Largoza, said. Largoza has had four internships in addition to her double major. “It was also mentally draining. I could not take care of myself in that I skipped meals, skipped exercise, skipped socialization, etc. WONK culture has indubitably made me more and more physically exhausted and mentally numb.”

However, Boose continued saying, “But is that because I’ve been conditioned to think that way or because it’s actually best—I don’t know.” Instead of telling students that they need to get internships, universities should be encouraging them to find what they love. Putting hustle culture, or Wonk culture, at the forefront is teaching students that that is the only way to be successful. AU has perpetuated this unhealthy environment. Sophomore Emma Miloglav, also double majoring, spoke about how AU has made her feel that, if you aren’t interning on Capitol Hill, then it doesn’t even matter.

There is nothing wrong with getting an internship. Instead, the problem is the pressure to get one and the feeling of failure if one doesn’t.

“I was insulted by another person in my internship class for my current internship being my first one and my previous experience being in customer service,” Miloglav said.

Many AU students said that they enjoy the internships that they’ve had and many of the extracurriculars they have done helped them get internships.

Before students even enter the workforce, they believe that they must sacrifice their personal time and mental health. Students should feel empowered to be involved in healthy ways without the fear of failure if they do not go the extra mile. By teaching how to set healthy boundaries and straying away from hustle culture, universities can pave the way for happier and healthier college students. ✿

Rachel Boose, an American University junior majoring in communications, law, economics and government (CLEG) and literature, said, “I learned a lot in my internship and I think internship opportunities can be very meaningful and helpful for careers. If I could get another internship I would absolutely take it.”

Lillian Beavers

WHY WOMEN-RUN PODCASTS DESERVE RECOGNITION

Gianna Matassa

Podcasts have become all the buzz and are gaining popularity amongst young adults with topics ranging from true crime to news and from mental health to gossip. With such a large variety to choose from, there is a podcast for everyone’s interests. One podcast that has gone viral and continues to gain popularity is “Two Hot Takes”, a podcast hosted by Morgan Ashley Absher. Absher hosts her podcast from her grandmother’s former house in Los Angeles, typically including one to two “Two Hot Takes” is centered around Absher reading posts guests. By including guests, Absher is off Reddit about people’s lives and is based on the popular able to air more than just her point of Reddit concept, Am I the Asshole (AITA?). On the podview, hence the title “Two Hot Takes”. cast, she and her guests debate who the asshole is in each situation. Situations range from mother-in-law drama to relationship issues. As soon as viewers hear the famous words “Am I the asshole,” they are instantly enticed. “Two Hot Takes” is just one example of women bringing light to issues that other women may face. Absher’s podcast gained popularity due to her eye-catching content on several social media apps such as YouTube and TikTok. This popularity transferred over to her podcasting platform.

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Other examples of women-run podcasts include “Black Girl in Om”, which includes wellness content specifically for women of color, and “2 Dope Queens”, where comedians Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams discuss a range of topics and host funny guests.

Illustrations by Lily Kaiser There is a power behind women-run podcasts. They offer content that is not seen in other podcasts and offer relatability that is not found elsewhere. According to an article by AdAge, there is a growing trend of female podcast listeners as there is more content created with a female audience in mind. Women also experience a sense of comfort when they hear another woman speaking to them about topics that they care about. There is a stereotype that women only care about drama and gossip, however, there are several women-run podcasts that defy that stereotype, including “Shifting Her Experience”, which discusses genderism and heteronormativity, and “Women in Economics” which talks about economics.

is interested in. Additionally, the numerous platforms mean that the women-run podcast of your choosing can be listened to in various settings including the car, shower or simply while you clean your home. Next time you look for a podcast, consider a women-run one if you want something that is empowering and discusses topics that aren’t discussed in mainstream media podcasts such as NPR. ✿

Podcasts are available virtually everywhere including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. The endless list of platforms means there are endless opportunities to find a women-run podcasts that discuss any topic a woman

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Cleo Pool

Your Your Next Next Podcast Podcast

Society & Culture

Comedy

Education

Crime

THE REALITY OF GUAR CONSERVATORSHIPS IN #FREEBRITNEY

RDIANSHIPS AND N THE WAKE OF

Sana Mamtaney

Illustrations by Gracie Flach

Britney Spears quickly became the face of conservatorships. The iconic singer’s battle for her freedom turned a little known legal concept into a major movement. #FreeBritney created a wave of people who believed that conservatorships are dehumanizing and tyrannical. In many states, conservatorships are known as guardianships and, surprisingly to many, they are meant to protect people. A guardianship is a court order that grants a conservator, or guardian, legal authority over another person. The guardian is able to make decisions on behalf of the person under the guardianship, who is commonly called the “protected person” in legal proceedings. Conservatorships are used for both children and adults. Children under 18, unless emancipated, are under the care of their legal guardian. For adults, guardians make decisions when the protected person is unable to take care of themselves as a result of mental illness, disability or disease. Guardianships take one of three forms: over the person, over the estate or both. For children, guardianships are typically over the person and the estate. A guardian over the person makes decisions regarding the protected person’s well-being, medical, healthcare and living decisions. A guardian over the estate makes financial decisions that often need court approval for spending.

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Courts evaluate the need for guardianships with testimonies from the proposed guardians and protected person. While it is not required that the protected person explicitly consents to the guardianship, they are nearly always asked to. Even if consent is not granted, the court is still able to rule in favor of guardianship depending on the case. The processes for guardianships laid out by legal systems are meant to serve the best interests of the protected person. In some cases, like Spears’s, guardianship is granted temporarily when there is an urgent need. Spears was originally under a temporary conservatorship as a result of hospitalization following a mental health episode. Her guardianship ended up lasting about 13 years. Britney Spears was the protected person under a conservatorship in California—which is essentially the same thing as a guardianship. Following a messy divorce where she was denied full custody of her children, Britney faced mental health struggles that were ridiculed by the media rather than empathized with. At the time, she was depicted by media outlets and the public as “crazy” and “losing it.” In actuality, she was dealing with a deeply personal struggle and was never allowed the time or opportunity to have a personal life that the media wasn’t involved in and judged her for.

After this, her father and an attorney became the conservators of her estate and person, leaving her with little say over her finances and life decisions. The conservators took advantage of her wealth, using her estate to pay for the lawyers who were working against her. Since Spears was deemed competent enough to perform, she should have been competent enough to have at least some control over her estate and life. In a 24-minute testimony on her conservatorship, Spears stated that “I deserve to have “I wanted to take the [IUD] out so I could start trying to have a life. I’ve worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two to another baby. But this so-called team won’t let me go to the three year break and just, you know, do what I want to do.” doctor to take it out because they don’t want me to have children— any more children,” said Spears in her testimony. Her case gained popularity after the #FreeBritney movement began when journalists and fans realized the control Spears The court system and the desire for profit allowed was under. After a long legal battle, including fan protests, a Spears’ conservators to abuse the guardianship process. judge finally ended Spears’s conservatorship in November Guardianships provide security and stability—at least, 2021 after she gave a compelling testimony detailing some of they are meant to. Holes in the judicial system, especially the horrors she faced. She recounted being forced to have an for financial gain, allow for abuses of the process like in IUD to prevent pregnancy, denying her reproductive rights. Spears’ case.

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Guardians provide security by caring for the protected person physically and preventing them from making decisions that could harm them. Guardianships prevent people with disabilities and mental illnesses from harm by institutionalized systems, people with ill-intentions, abuse and more. Nitika Mamtaney, along with her husband, is a guardian of her 24-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome. The parents secured guardianship in New Jersey after their daughter, who gave consent, turned 18-years-old. Their daughter had her own court-appointed lawyer who interviewed her and asked for her to consent to the guardianship. “She can make small day-to-day decisions, but it’s difficult to make big decisions that could affect her safety and wellbeing,” said Mamtaney, including decisions that would affect her “medically, financially, and safety-wise.” This is an

“ She can make

small day-to-day decisions, but it’s difficult to make big decisions that could affect her safety and well-being,” said Mamtaney, including decisions that would affect her “medically, financially, and safety-wise.

“

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example of the good intentions of guardianships coming to fruition. With guardianship, these parents do not have to fear for their daughter’s safety. Conservatorships gained fame with Britney Spears, but the understanding of them did not. Protection is the key in guardianships, but ulterior motives for profit in the court system did not protect Britney Spears from the emotional and financial abuse of her conservators. Britney Spears, unfortunately, is an example of exploitation in the judicial system. For many others who do not have the same level of fame as Spears does, this abuse goes unnoticed and unremedied. Like most legal concepts, guardianships have good intentions and, in many cases, they achieve positive outcomes. ✿

Riley-Kate Pappas

THE ART OF SELF LOVE

Gracie Flach Riley-Kate Pappas Before leaving the house in the morning, one of the first things someone does is look in the mirror. Some may see positive attributes and others may see negative qualities. The realization of how one sees themself is important. Identifying who you are is the first step in self-care. Once self-care is implemented in one’s life, they are able to view themselves in a more positive light. Without proper self-care, one cannot live life to the fullest. However, taking time for self-care is not always that easy as there is a shared mindset in society that believes productivity dictates quality of life. This mindset is what propels the misconception that self-care should take the backseat to work life. When this is the case, there tends to be problems that make it difficult to focus and hone in on a self-care routine. These obstacles in caring for oneself on a routine basis can include a lack of time, energy and motivation. While it is understandable that these blockages make selfcare difficult to integrate into an already busy life, self-care is essential for relieving stress and pressure on the mind and body. Self-care is not only face masks and bubble baths. In reality, it begins with simple lifestyle choices such as sleep and diet. To have a healthy life through self-care means maintaining a positive relationship with yourself. According to the 2017 Forbes article, “Practicing Self-Care Is Important: 10 Easy Habits To Get You Started,” “Selfcare is necessary to remind yourself and others that you and your needs are important too.” Your needs are important and one must practice self-care in order to cater to those needs.

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Self-care can look different for everyone: sometimes it’s opening a savings account or organizing a closet. For others, self-care starts with deep breaths and realizations. Caring for yourself is an effective way to manage stress, anxiety, sadness and a lack of focus. All of these feelings act as signs that you need to take a break and slow down. Constantly running through life promotes an unhealthy lifestyle void of self-care. Whether it’s reading, watching television, running or spending time with friends, the self-care activities that one chooses can easily improve quality of life. Self-care is beneficial because it serves as a reminder that you are important and deserve to live a happy and healthy life. “Hello Gorgeous” written by Lola Sanchez Herrero and Ana Sanchez-Gal contains an entire chapter dedicated to selfcare and the importance of it in everyone’s life. This book highlights the idea that every aspect of your life deserves time and dedication. You are the center of your life and everything else is built around you. When you integrate self-care into your routine and curate a life of healthiness through it, all else will follow. Being kind to yourself is not greedy. Self-care is not selfish. The long-term effects of self-care are positive and show thriving results in each and every person. While self-care is commonly associated with mental health, it is just as much mental health-related as it is related to one’s physical health. ✿

Riley-Kate Pappas

OUR TEAM

Executive Board:

Peyton Bigora Editor-in-Chief Noël Sedona James President Jordyn Habib Vice President Gianna Matassa Managing Editor Gracie Flach Business Director Riley-Kate Pappas Events Director Emilie Austin Social Director Gabrielle Levy Publishing Director Sophie Gilbert Design Director Laisa Gastaliturris Multimedia Director Jordyn Habib, Mackenzie Riley Section Editors Kathryne McCann, Lori Rampini Social Media Editors Hannah Arthur, Sana Mamtaney Print Editors Sarah Metcalfe Multimedia Editor Rebecca Cichock Tik Tok Curator Ellie Blanchard Breaking News Editor Gracie Flach, Jordyn Habib YouTube Directors

Print Team:

Design Team:

Peyton Bigora Editor-in-Chief

Sophie Gilbert Design Director

Gabrielle Levy Publishing Director

Madison Renck Content Manager Sydney Muench Photo Manager Rozhina Amini Illustration Manager

Hannah Arthur, Sana Mamtaney Print Editors Annabelle Evans Ellie Blanchard Emilie Austin Emma McDowall Evelyn Middleton Gabrielle Levy Gianna Matassa Gracie Flach Ilana Sherman Isabel Thompson Jordyn Habib Katherine Mahan Peyton Bigora Sana Mamtaney Sarah Metcalfe Sophia Sullivan Sophie Ridlon

Anika Kumar Illustrations Cleo Pool Content Flavia Marroni Photos Gracie Flach Illustrations Jordyn Habib Photos Lillian Beavers Photos Lily Kaiser Illustrations Riley-Kate Pappas Content, Illustrations, Photos Sarah Golder Content, Photos Simi Singh Illustrations Sydney Muench Photos Yutong (Sally) Deng Content, Illustrations Cover design by Sophie Gilbert Logo design by Elaine Griff ith This magazine was designed by Sophie Gilbert and the Her Campus American Design Team. The text of Collegiette is set in Avenir Heavy and EB Garamond. Collegiette is printed for Her Campus American University by Heritage Printing & Graphics, Waldorf, Maryland.

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LETTER FROM THE DESIGNER Here we are at the end of another semester, and my final issue of Collegiette. It has been an honor to be the Design Director and work with the incredible, smart, talented, savvy women of Her Campus American for the past three and a half years. Thank you to HCAU for letting me showcase my creativity semester after semester, and for all the friends I made along the way. Being a part of a community of supportive women has made my time at AU extraordinary– and is one of the many reasons why it’s so hard to say goodbye. This magazine is HC American’s longest issue of Collegiette yet, filled with fascinating feature pieces that capture the lives of college-aged women in Washington, D.C. and across the country. Our design team produced expressive and fanciful graphics and photos that enhance the hard work our team has put into creating this masterpiece. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Collegiette Issue 007. With love and thanks to my HCAU team always. And for the last time– HCXO, Sophie Gilbert, Design Director

@hercampusau @hercampusau @hercampusAU hercampus.com/school/american/

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