The Lexington Line_Fall 2023 by LIMCollege

THE LEXINGTON LINE

S/S 23 • vol 9 • no 2

The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

Masthead Editors’ Letter Color Pages Runway Report Beauty Buys Editors' Picks Student Style Behind the Scenes

THE USUALS 06 16 22 36 68

Survival of the Nicest Hope Against All Hope Culture Shock Married to the Method The Thrill is Back

CULTURE & NEWS 12 31 38

Serve Looks, Not Time Student Design Spotlight Funk-Ed

FASHION 28 32 70

Cannabis Goes Highbrow Psychic Snooping Is it All in My Head?

LIFESTYLE 74

BEAUTY

Throw a Riot

TABLE of contents

03 05 10 20 26 90 94 100

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FREELANCE MAKEUP ARTIST

emma.defelice99@gmail.com 203-745-9565

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Carly Gabriel PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

Lola Spring MANAGING EDITOR

Maddie Larson Amelia Mino Photography assistants

Karyme Miranda

Sian Jackson CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tabitha Alessi Sophia Bucci SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Audrey Burch Meghan Mattina

Katie Schroeder Fashion DIRECTOR

Tabitha Alessi MARKETING TEAM

Isabella Magana

Jaedyn Frasinelli BEAUTY DIRECTOR

Lilly Griffins Sylar Hudson Kaylee Johnson Jenna Persaud GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Amanda Thompson Riley Stein Ava Witte

Tatiana Colmenares Olivia Damiano Web editors

Payton Yeargain

Elara Montana EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Abigail Hennessey WEB DIRECTOR Meghan Mattina MARKETING DIRECTOR Kashish Khemlani SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

masthead

Lauren Smelker Editor in Chief

Professor John Deming Professor Joseph P. Sgambati III FACULTY ADVISORS

Raquael Hines PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Dr. Daniel Chaskes ARTS & SCIENCES DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Sohl Garibaldo STYLING DIRECTOR Lauren Simone Nicole Garzon Paige Collins Mia Sherman Delilah Ware Isabelle Ortiz Sydney Schnurbusch TJ McCaffery Ali Reed Alex Padilla EDITORS

Fashion Beauty Accessories Lifestyle Cannabis Culture Music Gender & Sexuality News Sports

Kristine Bakker Imani Moten Assistant Editors

Fashion Sports

Natessa Aldridge • Kally Compton • Khayla Biscoe • Sarah Albert Caitlyn Mae Araña • Christopher Barto • Amie Blumberg Dani Brand • Laura Cioffi • Micahel Donohue • Meredith Finnin Professor Timothy Foran • Erica Fouts • Laura Healy Samantha James • Maranda Janky • Dr. Kenneth Kambara Professor Laurel Lueders • Michael Meyer • Maurice Morency Kristina Ortiz • Pheanny Phen • Olga Raganelli Professor Monica Rakocy • Travis Stephens • Professor Liz Sweibel Dr. Alex Symons • Sabrina Talbert • All LIM College Faculty All contributors to The Lexington Line

MANY THANKS

Michael Londrigan, Business Department Chair Elizabeth Marcuse, President of LIM College Dr. Scott Carnz, Provost

SPECIAL THANKS

Violeta Romanyuk Assistant creative DIRECTOR Alexis Berteau ASSISTANT STYLING DIRECTOR Carolina Barrenchea Cobos Ragini Bishnoi Angelina Piccininni Sampath Tupaki STYLISTS The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

Handmade & Repurposed Jewelry for the Modern Soul

Instagram: @Keachains Etsy: Keachains Jewelry 4

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Preparation for the 19th issue of The Lexington Line coincided with serious concerns about the American education system—specifically, the ramifications of book bannings and misguided curriculum reform in public schools across the country. Without education and exposure to unique perspectives, The Lexington Line would not be here today, and our team of powerful youth would not be able to use our voices against such harmful censorship. Throughout our latest issue, we cover a vast array of ideas that show how our individual educations have shaped us into leaders. We have articles centered on issues new college graduates face when entering the workforce: the power of sentimentality, the perils of women’s predisposition to politeness, the epidemic of hopelessness, the importance fashion holds in controversial moments, and so many more. LIM College’s photo studio provided the perfect backdrop to reflect our fear that banning crucial teachings and books will harm current and future generations. Our styling team expresses these ideas through mundane shades of browns, creams, and blacks—while bright pops of pink, blue, and green symbolize the hope we have for the future. We cultivated each look to symbolize the power of academia and how our education system shouldn’t hide the pain of our past. Our beauty shoot continues this idea, utilizing sharp lines, dark features, and powerful eyes to show how firmly we stand on these issues. The gentle pearls that seamlessly tie each look together represent the power youth holds in society today. As our News Editor, Ali Reed, puts it in her article (pg. 16): “Keep your head up, Gen Z…it’s almost our time.”

editors’ Letter

Dear Readers,

Education is the foundation of our youth—what we learn, what we’re exposed to, and what we value are all tied to the system. The power others hold over our education is immense, but we hold strength in our voices. We won’t be silenced by fear of what our country may become. And with that, we hope you enjoy the 19th edition of The Lexington Line. Always, The Editors

Lauren Smelker

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sian Jackson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Lola Spring

MANAGING EDITOR

Elara Montana

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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SURVIVAL of the NICEST? Why Women Shouldn't Prioritize Politeness

By Abigail Hennessey 6

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Trigger Warning: Mentions of sexual harassment and sexual assault In an empty parking lot somewhere in the world, a woman is probably being harassed right now. That woman may ask herself if it’s because she was being nice. Because she apologized for not helping a man jumpstart his car. Because she kept her mouth shut when he touched her inappropriately on public transportation, or because she smiled when he stared a little too long. Women have been socialized to portray “ladylike” behavior and instill it as a necessity. We are then blamed for our victimization in assault or harassment because we practiced the niceness society taught us. “For the most part, girls' and women's experiences with harassment are still cloaked in silence, and we continue, as a global society, to peddle dangerous advice to girls about ‘staying safe,’” Soraya Chemaly writes in Rage Becomes Her. In 2020, “Crime Junkie” podcast hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat suggested another approach: “Be weird! Be rude! Stay alive!” It is the idea that rather than prioritizing niceness, a woman should use any means necessary to keep herself safe. What prevents women from doing so? The fact that practicing assertiveness has long been sidelined in favor of remaining calm, rational, and likable. “We are so busy teaching girls to be likable that we often forget to teach them, as we do boys, that they should be respected,” Chemaly writes. Society's lack of respect for women’s anger appears first in early childhood rearing and education. Young girls are taught that anger contradicts society’s vision of an ideal woman, and this puts them at risk ROBERTA’S STORY Roberta, whose name has been changed at her request, is a 22-year-old brand representative for a liquor company. She told me that once, she was on a ride-along with her 40-year-old boss to meet with account managers. All of the meetings were at bars, and he bought her a drink at each stop. Throughout the day, she became more and more drunk, and he became more and more flirty.

“I wasn’t even sure if I was supposed to be drinking, or how I was supposed to respond, because it was my second week at a big girl job,” she says. “I didn’t want to come off rude or entitled in such a male-driven work environment.” Towards the end of the day, she asked him to bring her back to her car. “I was in no place to be working or meeting people,” she recalls. But on the ride back—while driving—her boss, who is married with children, began trying to kiss her. “Not sure how to react to him, I just playfully laughed it off,” she says. “At one point, he wouldn’t take his eyes off me and then ran off the road and blew out his two front tires.” Unfazed, he asked her to get in his back seat. Luckily, they were already close to her car, so she got out and called her boyfriend to pick her up. “I look back and wish that I wasn’t so polite and just told him to f*** off,” Roberta says. “But it is what it is.” Chemaly has seen an increase in the “it is what it is” attitude over the past eight years. She emphasizes that women, from adolescence through their twenties, often end up with a “sense of despondency.” “I don't really blame them for feeling that way,” Chemaly says. “We put people in office who actively worked against women, and we sat at dinner tables listening to friends and family members find this acceptable.” IT IS WHAT IT IS Roberta’s case is not an outlier. In fact, sexual harassment and assault are most commonly perpetrated by someone known to the victim. According to the National Institute of Justice, this is the case with 85 to 90 percent of assaults on college women. “The idea of ‘stranger danger’ takes away from a larger threat,” says Meghan Sacks, Associate Professor of Criminology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and host of the podcast “Women and Crime.” While the blame for sexual violence does not fall on anyone but the perpetrator, victims are typically the ones who carry the weight. Reeling with trauma, they are frequently compelled to behave passively after an

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attack—to pretend it didn’t happen in order to keep the peace—but in doing so, they undermine the harassment or assault. Cezanne, a 20-year-old college student, told me about an experience she had with a man she met in the city. She went to his apartment and “immediately felt something off” but didn’t want to be rude and leave. “While we were hooking up, I told him multiple times I had to go and to stop,” she remembers. “He didn’t listen to me, continuing to bring me into multiple rooms and not stopping despite my effort.” She wound up grabbing all her things, shoes in hand, and running out the door. She got on the elevator, but he followed her and stopped the door from closing. “He kept saying come back,” she remembers. “And I said, I’m so sorry—I promise I’ll text you, I just need to go home now. It’s getting late.” The apology and promise were a way to placate her attacker. “Anger seemed like the wrong response,” Cezanne tells me. “It took time to realize I had every right to be assertive and leave.” THE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY As women, we all know stories of harassment. We live in fear of these stories becoming our own—and when they do, we continue to mask our anger. When we let assertiveness slip out, we tend to be labeled as fussy. Reactions to assault and harassment

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that occur in public spaces are often governed by the learned notion of assertiveness as inappropriate. Take street harassment as an example. Chances are, you have witnessed catcalling or have been a victim of it yourself. Did anyone speak up? Did anyone intervene? Did it just feel like a typical afternoon in the city? The minimization of sexual assault and harassment in our society in no way conveys the imprint these experiences leave on a woman. That story is on her mind as she considers a late-night run, uses public transportation, or performs errands alone. In some cases, that story is with her as she clocks into her job or enters her own home. Society's lack of respect for women’s anger appears first in early childhood rearing and education. Young girls are taught that anger does not equate to humanity's ideal picture of womanhood. Chemaly, for her part, has three daughters, and she quickly discovered the cultural pressure to teach them to be discrete, passive, and polite. “I was livid that I had to be the person that was supposed to socialize them this way, and I just refused,” she tells me. “I was not going to do it this way, I was not going to do it the way everyone around me seemed to be doing it.” The sad reality is that disclosing the risk inherent to being a woman is necessary. The decision to shelter your children will not keep them safe.

TRUST YOURSELF If you are a woman reading this article, you most likely have sent a text along the lines of “hopefully he isn't a murderer,” or you have gotten that uneasy feeling in your stomach before a date, in an Uber, or at a work meeting. In turn, you may have brushed it off, called yourself crazy, ignored that feeling because there was no obvious justification for it. Except there was: your intuition. “When you feel the hairs on your neck stand up, your heartbeat racing to tell you something’s wrong, it usually is,” Sacks says. Sacks says she considers this instinct a woman’s “strongest layer of protection,” but that women sometimes ignore it “because you don’t want to offend him.” Offending someone, or even possibly misjudging them, is worth it if it means staying safe. Chemaly points out the importance of women helping each other prepare for the worst. “It is entirely possible for us to role-play and ask what would you do if someone does x, y, or z?” she suggests. “Ask: what would I really do at that moment? What if I freeze? What if there is no one around that I know? What's a funny way to disarm the situation? What happens if I slam his instep with my heel?”

She equally emphasizes the importance of talking to young boys and grown men. “A lot of fathers, brothers, spouses don't know this is happening,” Chemaly says. “When they find out what is happening, they minimize it because it is a failure to do their job protecting you.” It’s okay to make a man feel less-than if it contributes to a safer community for women. It's ok to avoid escalating a situation while realizing escalation—into anger or otherwise—is sometimes necessary. “The feeling that people in the institution are stacked against you is a valid feeling,” Chemaly wants us to know. “That is why collective anger is so important.” Remember: Perpetrators are 100% responsible for occurrences of sexual violence in any manner. Resources for sexual assault or harassment victims are below. National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.HOPE (4673) National Street Harassment Hotline 855.897.5910 National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.SAFE National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs 212.714.1141

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SERVE LOOKS, NOT TIME

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CELEBRITY COURTROOM 'FITS By KATIE SCHROEDER

lothing-based biases are formed very quickly—within a tenth of a second, according to a 2019 Princeton study.

Paltrow (2023), and Lindsay Lohan (2012). Wardrobe choices do indeed hold weight in the legal system, Masel says.

This is particularly important for celebrities when they’re being judged by more than just social media.

“The strategy around how you want to present yourself as a defendant is so layered,” Masel says. “I know for a fact that [Gwyneth Paltrow’s] legal team had so many brainstorming sessions of ‘what will people think’ or ‘what will the jury perceive.’”

“Everything is PR,” says Reb Masel, a licensed attorney and viral TikTok personality. If you’re a celebrity, media coverage comes with the territory, especially when you have been summoned to court. Keeping up appearances is imperative, so it's no wonder that a celebrity court case sometimes bears a striking resemblance to a red carpet. As someone with an affinity for fashion, a passing interest in celebrity gossip, and a deep love of Legally Blonde, I had to do some digging into how much image matters in a courtroom. Courtroom looks will no doubt impact a celebrity’s public image. But how do they influence the members of the court? Armed with my research and general nosy tendencies, I sat down with Masel to examine the intricacies of celebrity court fashion through five iconic appearances: Megan Thee Stallion (2022), Cardi B (2019), Cardi B (2023), Gwyneth

Paltrow was on trial in early 2023 for a 2016 ski collision. Over her eight days appearing before a judge, she donned a slew of simple, understated outfits, not necessarily fit for a multi-millionaire. The most notable is her outfit from the sixth day of her trial, which included simple brown boots, black leather pants, and her own brand’s blouse (G. Label by Goop). “If she had shown up in a full Versace suit, it would look like this rich woman just wants to get away with this or she has the money to pay the settlement,” Masel says. Although it is impossible to know how much Paltrow’s clothing really affected the final ruling, she was found entirely not guilty. As you might expect, many courts across the country have written dress codes, but they typically apply more to professional personnel than to clients or visitors. For a normal

person in a court setting, Masel outlines the general expectations as “no shoes, no shirt, no service,” but there are a number of nuances attached to dressing your best. Color is one of the first major considerations of dressing for a court appearance. It is no secret that colors send messages in our culture, sometimes subconsciously. Our five iconic celebrity looks most commonly include the colors blue, black, red, white, and purple. According to the SAE Institute, the color blue is associated with intelligence, spirituality, loyalty, and strength, all of which are likely good qualities to display in a courtroom. Red is the complement of blue, evoking feelings of excitement, energy, and love, but also danger and aggression. As a softer tone of red, the color pink evokes the idea of love but is more specifically associated with nurturing and compassion. Black and white, while often considered neutrals, are quite strong colors representing depth and simplicity, respectively. Many of these celebrity looks are monochromatic. Lindsay Lohan appeared for court in 2012 wearing a bright blue suit. In accordance with classic color associations, a blue suit is not necessarily a bad choice for a court appearance, but Masel notes

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it is important to be aware of the vibrancy of your chosen shade. “Colors that make you blend are better in court than not,” she says. Blending in is important because, as crucial as your appearance is, you do not want it to be the loudest thing in the room; the subliminal message is that you are more deserving of attention than any justice being sought. Megan Thee Stallion’s 2022 court outfit is essentially the same—a monochromatic pantsuit—but with a more intentional color choice. Testifying against rapper Tory Lanez in a felony assault case, Megan chose purple sending a strong message because of the color’s association with domestic violence awareness. Although a full purple suit does not exactly “blend,” Megan was not appearing as a defendant like the other three celebrities, so the stakes were different. With this in mind, it is important to note that the majority of these extravagant court outfits are photographed outside the courtroom, meaning it is possible that the full outfits don’t make it before the eyes of a judge. This is best represented by Cardi B’s all-white look from 2023, which

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included a lavish fur coat; in the courtroom, she appeared sans coat. This speaks to a level of performative dressing that celebrity media coverage has come to promote. The color white is associated with cleanliness and purity— innocence—but if Masel is correct, then Cardi was taking a risk wearing all white in a sea of lawyers sporting shades of black, gray, and navy. Regardless, Cardi, who was facing attempted assault charges, left the courthouse with a lenient ruling: an extension on her community service deadline. “As a celebrity, you know already that the media is going to roll up,” Masel says. “She was going to be on camera whether she wanted to wear a super boring outfit or not.” Was the white dress intended to send any kind of message in court, or was it a nice PR opportunity? Maybe a little of both. Cardi also made some notable fashion choices in that original 2019 court appearance. She was pictured outside the Queens Criminal Court in a black feather cape and a massive hat to match—the color representing depth, elegance, and mystery.

While the look seemed a little crazy for a courtroom, the base of the outfit was a combination of a white button up and black trousers. Cardi likely wore this safe, simple outfit in the actual courtroom, leaving the feathers and theatrics for the media. For as much scrutiny as celebrity fashion gets in a courtroom, a professional’s fashion is policed more carefully. Following the rules and etiquette involved in court appearances is crucial to a lawyer’s job. “Unfortunately our outfits will speak for us before we can speak for our client,” Masel says. That being said, lawyers and attorneys are not deprived of all fashion-based expression. They are not typically representing a client every time they show up in a courthouse, and in these cases, the court dress code no longer applies. There are even ways to have a little fun with your wardrobe under the stricter dress code. Masel remembers matching her outfits with a co-counsel. “We decided, even if we lose, we were kind of a moment,” she says. “We won so it worked out!”

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H ope A gainst All H ope Why Gen Z Struggles To Enter Adulthood

By Ali Reed

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ave you ever heard the phrase, “your generation is just lazy?” What about, “I already had a house by your age.” Even worse, “you just need to work harder.” Whether you are watching mainstream news or just talking to a family member, the odds of hearing this at some point are ten to none. “Every generation has had that American dream where they aimed to do better than their parents and knew that through hard work, they could,” political influencer Andra Berghoff says. “Gen Z is the first generation born knowing that they probably couldn’t.” In a 2019 study reported by The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, depression and anxiety rates had increased by 60% in American teenagers and 46% in young adults ages 18 to 21. Why are they so stressed out? The reality of the situation is simple. Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012, according to Business Insider—was brought up in a post-9/11 world. Throughout their childhood and developmental years, Gen Z has been exposed to political infighting, an economic depression, a global pandemic, and the reversal of prominent privacy legislation. 18

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From wealth inequality to sociopolitical strife, younger Americans are facing adulthood saddled with an extreme loss of hope. When it comes to financial anxiety and economic barriers within the nation, statistics show that younger generations may have cause for worry. In 2020, the Federal Reserve reported that those born after 1981 only hold 4.6% of wealth in the states, while Boomers made up 53%. The price of education and homeownership has also dramatically increased during the 21st century, oftentimes leaving Millennials and Gen Z in a constant state of financial worry. Berghoff touches on this phenomenon, explaining why some Boomers lack empathy for the generations coming up behind them. “In the 1980s, the main barrier to paying bills for the average single person was just laziness, so in [Boomers’] experience, poverty usually just equates to laziness,” she explains. “The world is much different now than what they experienced, and many of them refuse to accept that times have changed.” Berghoff says that Boomers elected politicians who “put themselves first.”

“Many of the policies they built were selfish and created issues for later generations to deal with,” she says. “During Reagan’s presidency, the federal debt tripled from $738 billion to $2.1 trillion. All of the tax cuts given to the wealthy significantly slowed down economic growth for years to come.” While these policies and the outcome on America’s wealth may cause anxiety, the act of obtaining and keeping a job has also become more difficult. This trend is often depicted on social media, with users taking their struggles throughout the interview process to the internet. “I am so sick and tired of hearing old people say that young people don’t want to work anymore,” Kiera Spann, @famousblonde on TikTok, states. “No one is hiring. I have applied to 40-plus jobs, and I have only gotten two interviews.” During an Instagram live, job recruiter Mike Peditto, @realisticrecruiting, said that only about 2% of candidates that apply to positions are actually getting interviews. So if a person accumulates six figures of student debt but cannot find work post-grad, how will the wealth divide shrink? Political action? Studies show that the most important political issues to

younger generations actually fall within the environmental and socio-political spheres. Climate change, abortion rights, and gun control are just the tip of the iceberg for Gen Z. But older politicians are chronically deadlocked on these issues. A study conducted by Yale’s School of the Environment concluded that over 50% of Gen Z believes that humanity is doomed, while around 40% have become reluctant to have children of their own. Through social media, younger generations have been fed innumerable articles highlighting the damage done to our environment—but when these young adults seek action, most politicians shut them down. During the first Republican debate for the 2024 Presidential election, candidates were asked by a Gen Z activist about their plans for climate change. Very quickly the conversation was led astray, with candidate Vivek Ramaswamy stating, “the climate agenda is a hoax.” Climate denial, to Gen Z, is not smart, shocking, or compelling; it’s irresponsible and exhausting. Along with climate change, younger generations have placed a high priority on gun control. Firearms are the number one cause of death for U.S. children ages 1-17. Given the rise in school

and mass shootings, and a government that actively opposes any bill related to gun control, it is no wonder the youth of our nation is losing hope.

Gen Z grew up feeling ignored by its elders and political leaders. From financial anxiety to the lack of social and political change, what is there to be proud of?

The issue of gun violence extends to racial disparities in police shootings. On social media, Gen Z witnessed first-hand footage of George Floyd being murdered by the now former police officer Derek Chauvin. Protests erupted, but little has changed.

“If you grow up in a world where the government is failing you over and over and over again, why would you trust any of the people in office,” Gen Z for Change activist Christopher Mowrey said on TikTok. “I think we are all united in the idea that we need to change America for the better.”

Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are this generation’s main mediums for national news, and they are subjected to the harsh realities of society's transgressions at every turn. Oftentimes, this phenomenon empowers the youth to draw its own conclusions and protest longstanding government institutions and political positions. This idea is further demonstrated through abortion rights. In a Pew survey conducted last May, 74% of adults aged 18-29 said they believe that abortion should be legal in most cases, a nearly 12-point jump from the next age demographic. When Roe vs. Wade, the legal basis for reproductive rights in America, was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, younger generations expressed outrage on the literal and digital streets, but obviously this had no impact on the court’s decision.

But there is a silver lining to all of this frustration. The lack of hope younger Americans experience has the potential to be their greatest strength; NPR recently called Gen Z the next “political power.” As Gen Z continues to enter adulthood, this power will present itself in high values. During the 2022 midterm cycle alone, this generation outvoted the previous by nearly six points— effectively blocking the projected conservative “red wave.” In 2028, Millennials and Gen Z will become a majority of the voter base within the nation, rising to over 60% in 2036. This means that in a little more than a decade, its voices, stances, and influences will be the norm. Keep your head up Gen Z… it’s almost our time.

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runway report '80s Power Dressing S/S ‘24 runways saw a resurgence of ‘80s power dressing, where women use fashion to be taken seriously. Maison Margiela showcased a black pantsuit that included shoulder pads combined with a dress shirt (collar popped). It screams ‘80s. Ambush took power dressing to the next level by adding a modern twist in their S/S ready to wear collection—it included large bows, waistcoats and a whole lot of plaid. Balmain exemplified what ‘80s power dressing truly looks like; hard to say if anyone would be able to tell if this collection came from 2023 or 1983

Denim on Denim Did someone say Canadian Tuxedo? This is one way to be unique and make a statement. Wondering if you need to participate in this trend? The answer is easy—duh! S/S ‘24 runways featured denim on denim from Valentino, Mancandy, C+plus Series, and Philipp Plein. This isn’t your typical Levi’s look—they gave us diamond encrusted, acid wash and even neon denim. Y/Project continues to outdo themselves with two-toned ensembles. Sacai also came to impress by sending down structural dark denim sets with contrast stitching.

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Mixing Metals Across the globe this season, designers added metallic tones to their looks, creating a new form of exclusive luxury. Paco Rabanne impressed with an Ancient Rome-inspired theme during Paris Fashion Week and chose to incorporate a mix of silver and gold tones into the collection. Prabal Gurung used plain black as a canvas, adding silver and gold fringes for extra glamor. Jean Paul Gaultier brought a metallic royal theme to the catwalk, reminding us elegance doesn't always mean black and white. Metallic is making a comeback!

Dramatic Capes Who needs sleeves anymore? It's time to embrace cold weather sophistication with capes. For their new collections, designers are using capes to add more structure and visual interest to close-fitting silhouettes. Michael Kors featured a mid-length cape in a Star Wars-reminiscent neutral monochrome that expertly blends a short skirt with tall boots. Elie Saab sent a long, brocade cape down the runway layered over a sheer dress with matching gold appliqués. The great diversity in fabric, length, and style of these runway capes makes them the perfect addition to your wardrobe—especially when you don’t want to cover up your outfit.

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Culture shock

Living abroad will complicate your worldview Photos and words By MIA SHERMAN

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rowing up in America, which centers most things on itself, I always dreamed of traveling the word and seeing what else our beautiful planet has to offer. Although I was fortunate enough to go on several family vacations during my upbringing, I always knew I needed to eventually take an international trip on my own. When I saw the opportunity to study abroad in London with LIM College for a month, I immediately started getting visions of spending the summer with new friends alongside Big Ben and double decker buses. However, I failed to think about how my experience as a Black woman could differ from that of my white counterparts. Immediately after I touched down in London, the air felt different. Of course, the air was literally different, but in a figurative way, I could feel a shift. While there was an incredible amount of diversity in the airport, it was almost as though everyone immediately conformed to the reserved, individualistic demeanor considered typical of English culture. For example, I left America with the parting gift of overstimulating crowds, annoying background music, and constant overhead announcements. But as soon as I stepped off the plane in Heathrow, the loud crowds became murmurs, the overbearing music became silence, and the announcements were much quieter and less frequent. The mass of people kept to themselves and even flowed naturally with walking traffic, which is not always the case in America. However, when I met up with my peers and shuttled over to Central London, the air was different yet again.

The open land, narrow roads, and few quaint neighborhoods we drove past quickly became bustling streets, bright lights, and large apartments buildings, or flats. One of said flats, in the heart of Central London on Great Russell Street, would be mine for July. Right away, I noticed an uncanny similarity to Manhattan in the sense that it is an extremely populated city filled with all kinds of people, restaurants, stores, and offices. However, there were a few things that were quite different; the cars drove on the left side of the road, the streets were cleaner, and the people stared. Naturally, in a place with tons of people, you may get a strange look from the occasional passerby. But this was different. It seemed as though everyone walking by was giving glances of confusion or concern. Was it because I am Black? Could they tell I was American? Or was it because I was holding an oversized suitcase and two other duffle bags in the middle of the sidewalk? Over the next four weeks, I found out that it may have been a combination. According to both the U.K. and U.S. Census, Black people make up approximately 23% of New York City’s population and 13% of London’s. Although this statistic does not at all mean that London is full of racists, it does prove that Black individuals are outnumbered. During the first few days, I was in complete vacation mode. Along with the 10 other girls on the trip, I used this time to explore, be a tourist, and get a feel for my new home. While I can’t speak for everyone, I know I was in an almost paralyzing state of joy, excitement, and

inspiration, paying no mind to others’ opinions or to those who may have been staring. Once the adrenaline rush ended and classes began, one of my peers who quickly became my friend, Raiel, informed me that she had seen some content online about racist experiences in London. “I was scrolling through TikTok looking for things to do in London when I saw a video of three girls around my age sharing their stories about being discriminated against at a nightclub in Central London,” Raiel told me. They had to wait longer to get into the club, were charged more, and were treated poorly once they were inside. As a 21-year-old Black woman living in an urban area herself, this concerned her. “I’ve had things happen to me or comments made because of my race in New York, but I didn’t know what to expect in London,” she said. “So seeing this while I was already there made me a bit nervous.” When she told me about this, I tried to stay positive and reassure her that we would be okay, but I kept it in the back of my mind throughout the whole trip. In 2018, The Guardian conducted a survey on everyday racial bias in London. Out of 1,000 surveyed minorities, “more than two-thirds reported Britain having a problem with racism.” Raiel and I spent a lot of time together, so we experienced similar things. On one occasion, we went out to a few stores before exploring the nightlife. At one of the souvenir shops, the male clerk was very forward. He compared my skin color to different foods, made remarks about my “big lips,” and said he loved my “wild hair,” among other

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observations. Obviously, I became extremely uncomfortable, and we decided to leave the store.

But when it was our turn, the search took far longer. The bouncer started by unzipping and searching every pocket in our purses, which is understandable. However, he proceeded to remove items and question what they were or why we were bringing them in with us.

As we walked out discussing his disgusting and unacceptable behavior, a group of men walked by and started to whistle and shout at Raiel. “Since we were going out, I was wearing a cute outfit for the night that I felt comfortable in. But the next thing I knew, these men were calling me a ‘hoochie’ and saying stuff about my ‘chocolate skin,’” she remembered. “It gave me such a nasty feeling that I hadn’t experienced that intensely before.” Although in shock, Raiel and I decided not to let anything stop us, and we continued to enjoy our night. We ended up making plans with the other girls to meet at a local bar/ nightclub chain, Simmons, which we had been to a few times before. While we had not been to this specific location, we expected to have a good time like we had before. When we arrived, our friends had already been waiting in line for a while and were almost at the door. Raiel and I, along with our white friend, decided to hop over the entrance rope to meet up with the rest of our group. Our other friend went first with Raiel following. Before she could get over the rope, the bouncer made his way over to us. I swiftly tried to hop in with my friends so I wasn’t alone, but his deafening shout stopped me in my tracks. As he continued to approach us, the bouncer repeatedly motioned for only me and Raiel to step out of line, ignoring our friend who had successfully joined the group. 24

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By all means, this in-depth hunt could have been purely for safety reasons. But it concerned us that we were two of the only Black people in line and were the only ones being questioned.

Although we were confused about why we were the only ones forced to wait, Raiel and I made our way to the back of the line. The anger began to settle in at this point, but we were still uncertain about why we were singled out. We ended up chatting with the neighboring friend group, which consisted mainly of Black men from London. When we explained what had just happened to us, one of the men responded with, “Welcome to London.” The rest of them chimed in with their experiences, informing us that they believe certain things are harder for Black people to accomplish or enjoy due to prejudice. Eventually, Raiel and I reached the club’s entrance. Following standard protocol, security quickly went through everyone’s belongings upon entry. I noticed the girls in front of us were getting their bags checked within approximately five seconds, so I was expecting the same.

Of course, there’s no way to prove or know for sure that this situation was based on racial bias. If this had been the only incident, we probably would’ve thought nothing of it. According to a 2018 article published by The Guardian, “ethnic minorities are three times as likely to have been thrown out of or denied entrance to a restaurant, bar or club in the last five years.” Aniyah, a 20-year-old Black woman, also went abroad with us for the month. As someone born and raised in New York, she too endured a bit of culture shock—just in a slightly different way. “I haven’t had much experience as a Black woman in other states, let alone other countries,” she said. “So being in London was a very new experience for me.” During the trip, Aniyah did not personally face any forms of racism and came to the conclusion that she actually felt safer there. “In New York, I never feel comfortable walking home at night, especially in a group without men,” she admits. “I felt a lot more relaxed walking through the streets of London and not having to constantly be worried if I was being

followed or looked at the wrong way.” Although she spent a lot of time with our group, Aniyah also explored by herself. This allowed her to get a feel for what it was like to be alone and with others, which she believes did not have an affect on any of her experiences abroad. Considering she has lived in New York for 20 years and was in London for a month, she naturally has had more racist experiences in America. However, Aniyah said she prefers the social and cultural tone of New York. “We [New York] have a lot more diversity and mixture of cultures than what I saw when visiting the U.K.,” she recalls. “Though I am mindful of the fact we were mainly in Central London and didn’t get to visit many of the less touristy areas, Brooklyn’s social aspect definitely feels more welcoming.”

Overall, Aniyah recommends that people visit London. However, she said it’s important to remember to take precautions, because there is not a city in the world that is completely free from prejudice. To be clear, I would not trade my time abroad for anything. In fact, I could potentially see myself spending my older years in the outskirts of London. Because there is truly so much to love about London. Whether it’s the breathtaking architecture on every corner or the exquisite museums and boutiques in almost every neighborhood, there is something for everyone to fall in love with. My personal recommendation would be to spend some time in Central London for its high energy and rich history, but more often than not, to stray away and explore other parts of the city. Try places like Shoreditch, for delicious ethnic foods and vibrant street art, or

Kensington, for a posh shopping spree and a stroll in the Palace Gardens. I would also encourage any person of color traveling internationally, despite the location, to research the culture beforehand and go with people you feel safe around. Fortunately for me, I went abroad with a cohort of girls with similar interests and trustworthy personalities, meaning I had builtin friends. While I most definitely would have enjoyed my trip alone, being with friends doubled as a safety measure and opportunity for companionship. Experiencing life in a different country completely shatters whatever illusion one may have about the world in the best way possible. International travel not only supplies new ideas, sparks creativity, and expands horizons, it also provides valuable learning experiences.

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CANNABIS goes HIGHBROw As long-held stigmas disappear, opportunities abound By Elara Montana Marijuana, weed, reefer, bud, dope, pot, grass, mary jane—whatever you call it, you probably have opinions about it.

88% of the American public favors legalization for recreational or medical use, according to the Pew Research Center.

Classed as a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin, cocaine, and meth, cannabis has long been considered a “gateway drug,” its users characterized as lazy, disconnected, and gluttonous—the “stoner” persona.

Even though there’s a lot left to discover about marijuana’s potential, Lubin says, researchers still have difficulty getting studies approved in the U.S. because of the government’s long history of restricting them. But as more states adopt legalization, the general public’s perspective continues to evolve.

This stigma has been transformed, says Jaime Lubin, Editor-at-Large for the cannabis culture magazine Honeysuckle. “The social perceptions toward cannabis have changed radically in the last decade,” she notes. “Especially over the past few years.” Lubin says a powerful turning point in her perspective came in 2017 when she interviewed the Israeli biochemist Dr. Inbar MaymonPomeranichik, creator of BioDiligence, a company that connects investors to researchers “doing amazing things in medical cannabis.” “She told me about the thousands of different compounds within the cannabis plant that all activate with our bodies in various ways,” she recalls. “She had seen the plant help people with autism, with PTSD, with seizure disorders and cancers.”

First introduced to the states by Mexican immigrants during the 1920s, marijuana quickly became associated with foreigners, which led to cannabis having the same connotation that came with being an immigrant at the time. “The fear and prejudice about the Spanishspeaking newcomers became associated with marijuana,” according to PBS. “Anti-drug campaigners warned against the encroaching ‘Marijuana Menace,’ and terrible crimes were attributed to marijuana and the Mexicans who used it.” Utilized to fuel anti-immigration mindsets, cannabis quickly garnered a reputation for being enmeshed with crime, violence, and many other deviancies––eventually becoming outlawed by more than half the country in 1931.

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In 1936, the film Reefer Madness was released as an “educational movie” that showed the “dangers” of consuming cannabis. In the film, it leads to violent psychosis. Though the propaganda film sought to further deter the population from using weed, it eventually had the inverse effect. By the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Reefer Madness was viewed as satire and used for procannabis platforms, creating a cult phenomenon that cultivated public curiosity. This would mark the start of a gradual shift in attitudes towards cannabis, as it quickly became a popular counterculture vice. “A changing political and cultural climate was reflected in more lenient attitudes towards marijuana,” PBS reports. “Use of the drug became widespread in the white upper middle class.” The government’s tactics of discouraging the use of cannabis through strict punishments and propaganda were no longer working on the general public. Popular culture embraced it over the next few decades—from Cheech & Chong to Snoop Dogg to dozens of satirical films that both laughed at and celebrated recreational use. Even still, government officials continued to implement more bills and restrictions that exacerbated the disproportionate punishments surrounding cannabis, creating a call to action. While President Nixon was declaring a War on Drugs in the ‘70s, organizations like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) formed to combat the severe sentences the government was enforcing. This battle between lawmakers and cannabis advocates carried on for decades as public consensus continued to evolve. A disproportionate number of Black Americans were given hefty prison sentences. Last year, MSNBC produced a short documentary, The Sentence of Michael Thompson, about one of America’s longest-serving cannabis prisoners. Thompson received a 42 to 60-year sentence for selling three pounds of a substance that is now widely accepted. He served 25 years before being granted clemency in 2021. Advocacy has persisted, and there have been small efforts to make amends. When New York legalized recreational use in 2021, its first retail licenses were granted to residents with marijuana convictions. ' 30

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New York is one of 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana since Colorado and Washington started the trend in 2012. The unserious “stoner” connotation has lingered for some, but perspectives have evolved quickly, in part because of the major business opportunities that have emerged. “There were surges of international investments from leaders in other industries like alcohol and pharmaceuticals that suggested cannabis could be viable,” Lubin explains. “In the ensuing years, we’ve seen what happened as different markets began to grow more confident about legal cannabis.” Cannabis was becoming a viable industry and caught the attention of those in neighboring spaces. “More and more people that are involved in the cannabis industry came out of the fashion industry because of the parallels between the two spaces,” says Michael Londrigan, Chair of the Business Department at LIM College and founder of the school’s Business of Cannabis degree program. Londrigan saw this new market potential and took to creating a new program at the college, bringing different aspects of marketing and merchandising to the cannabis industry. “I was listening to this group of panelists, and they were talking about the importance of health and beauty, as well as cannabis, and a light bulb just went off in my brain,” he explains. “‘There must be something here,’ I thought.” Honeysuckle put the first cannabis and hemp brands on Times Square billboards in 2018—“a historic moment that changed 80-plus years of advertising policy in NYC,” Lubin says. Broader cultural acceptance, of course, does not mean marijuana use comes without risks, especially for those genetically predisposed to certain mental health conditions, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Anyone considering using it should consult a physician first. Nevertheless, society is slowly lifting the stigma thanks to changing attitudes, cultural influences, and the tireless efforts of advocates. With the decriminalization and legalization of its recreational use, we are witnessing a shift towards a more open and informed conversation.

Student Design Spotlight: Kassondra Mueller When she was only 13, LIM College sophomore Kassondra Mueller started designing her own garments “because I always had an eye for fashion, thanks to my Oma,” she says. She specializes in satin ball gowns like the one pictured here and hopes to one day open her own special occasions boutique, which she plans to call Black Lotus Boutique. For more, follow her on Instagram: @Kassondra_Anastasia Photo: Carly Gabriel Styling: Sohl Garibaldo & Kassondra Mueller Model: Bridgette Wray The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

PSYCHIC SNOOPING

WHAT CAN PSYCHICS TRULY REVEAL ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE? By Isabella Ortiz 32

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hen you’re in a relationship, revealing the truth to your partner can be hard. Would it help to have a psychic do it for you?

For Angelina, it just created more turmoil. The 21-year-old New Yorker first met Carlos when they worked together at Toscana 49, an upscale Italian restaurant in midtown Manhattan. They hit it off and began seeing each other outside of work. “Everything was great with Carlos. He truly made me fall for him in a matter of a couple weeks,” Angelina says. “From fancy restaurant dates to baseball games, and even a Central Park picnic.” Angelina and Carlos’s relationship was new and exciting. Neither of them thought anything could disrupt their honeymoon phase. But everyone has a past, and Angelina’s began to resurface. One day she received an unexpected ping on her phone from Axl, an ex-situationship. “I miss you.” Her casual relationship with Axl had ended nine months before she met Carlos. But now Axl confessed he wanted to date her seriously even though he knew she was seeing Carlos. The texting continued, and one day, Carlos saw Axl's name on her phone and knew who it was. She played it down, but Carlos remained suspicious. “Yes, the conversation was flirtatious,” Angelina remembers. “But does that equate to cheating?” A few days later, Carlos texted Angelina saying he knew exactly what she and Axl had been saying to each other. And he was right. How did he know?

There are more than 200 working psychics in New York City, according to The Fast Law Firm. They are required to present themselves as “entertainers,” according to Vice, because claiming to accurately predict the future is illegal in New York. But often, their customers are after something more than entertainment. According to Carlos, his psychic was able to provide verbatim a text exchange between Angelina and Axl. In particular, he was concerned that Angelina had told Axl, “I can’t stop thinking about our conversation last night.” Was there really a psychic? Nobody knows but Carlos. Many of Angelina’s friends suspect Carlos snooped through her phone. When I heard the story, I wasn’t sure either, but it piqued my interest when it came to psychics—were they really that specific? I decided to see two and compare the results. First, I entered a woman’s apartment on 47th Street, and as I walked in, an aroma of lavender incense hit me. Dim, moody lighting was accented by a variety of crystals and books lining the back wall. I opted for a palm reading. Palm readers use the lines on our hands to “offer guidance and predictions about a person’s life,” according to West Texas A&M University. She led me to a room with two large purple chairs separated by a circular glass table. I sat down, and she asked me to lay my palms face up on the table. The reading began with many brief, generic assessments. “You’re an old soul,” she told me. “You will get married at 24.”

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Looking closer at my palms, the psychic began to discuss people in my love life. Apparently, my heart chakra is blocked.

Contrary to the first psychic, she told me my heart chakra is open, and a romantic interest will soon find me.

The heart chakra, also known as anahata chakra, is the fourth primary chakra and “serves as a person’s center of love for oneself and others, compassion, empathy and forgiveness,” according to wellness website Mind Body Green.

The psychics contradicted each other, and certainly neither was able to give me the exact verbiage of any text I have ever sent, received, or tangentially cared about.

“You have a negative energy around you,” the psychic explained. She told me I won’t be able to “allow love in” if I continue to let negativity wash over me. The psychic handed me a rose quartz crystal and advised me to meditate with it each night, which would allow my chakra to open up. Sounded promising. Was it true? I saw another psychic to confirm and provided the same prompt— that I wanted to learn more about myself when it came to love and relationships. This psychic gave me a completely different reading. “These are your years of finding love,” the petite, middle-aged woman told me. She encouraged me to put myself out into the dating scene because “my soulmate is waiting for me.”

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Seemingly, psychic readings are based upon faith and some amount of motivated reasoning—a person who wants to believe a psychic is more likely to do so. Could it be that professional psychics are good at reading people and telling them what they want or need to hear? Maybe. So what do we do with Carlos? Did a psychic really know exactly what Angelina texted to her ex? Should we all see psychics to uncover truths that our partners are concealing from us? Hard to say. For me, it was a nice chance to consider how open I am to receiving love in my life—to take the question seriously. But if a psychic really told Carlos exactly what Axl and Angelina were saying to each other, then she clearly had a line on something my psychics did not.

FIRE & ICE? Whatever you like!

@LIMCosmeticsClub Creative Direction: The Cosmetics Club Models: Breanna Dyrek & Yoselin Diaz Photographer: Carly Gabriel MUAs: Callista Anctil, Ariya Suon, & Crystal Vera FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CONTACT CALLISTA.ANTCIL@LIMCOLLEGE.EDU & MEGHAN.OCONNOR@LIMCOLLEGE.EDU The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

married to the method Unveiling the Complex Realities of Method Acting By Lola Spring Rumor has it, Austin Butler had a hard time dropping the Elvis act. Months after his film hit theaters, the A-list actor could still be caught speaking in Elvis Presley’s distinct Mississippi drawl in interviews and on red carpets. His commitment to the role went to such extremes that it landed him in the hospital. “My body just started shutting down the day after shooting,” he told GQ last year. Better yet, Succession’s breakout actor, Jeremy Strong, briught an approach so intense that following the wrap of the last scene of the series finale, he felt compelled to attempt to throw himself into the freezing tides of the Hudson River (according to Vanity Fair).

“I didn’t know I was going to do that,” he said, and neither did Scott Nicholson, who played the supporting role of Colin in the hit series, and who rushed to pull Strong back off the railing. The show’s creator, Jeremy Armstrong, voiced his concern regarding the incident on NPR’s Fresh Air podcast. “I was terrified. I was terrified that he might fall in and be injured,” he said. Strong’s on-screen dad, Brian Cox, also gave his two cents on the actor’s approach to dramaturgy in an interview with Seth Meyers, adding “[Strong] does get obsessed with the work, and I worry about what it does to him… but the result— whatever one says about Jeremy— the result is always extraordinary and excellent.” Of course, a lifestyle of commitment to the character to this degree has been trailblazed by numerous other iconic thespians, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and Hilary Swank.

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It begs the question: what are the ethics surrounding method acting in hopes of achieving the best possible interpretation of a character, even when it may negatively affect those around you? In short, is method acting crucial to an exemplary performance, or does it just do more harm than good? I had the chance to sit down with Michael Mullen, an accomplished actor, filmmaker, and Head of Acting at Nassau Community College (among other achievements). Mullen has come head-to-head with the “sensationalized” concept over years in the industry. “I thought that was the only way to do it. You had to be a method actor. All the best people were method actors,” he says, looking back on his grade school acting days. “I definitely went in that direction, and very destructively, I think, was into it.” Mullen defines method acting by the idea that method actors are “trying to find reality” in the portrayal of their character, while elucidating that the premise of acting is to “create truthful behavior in imaginary circumstances.” The problem with seeking realism in drama is that often, method actors will struggle to maintain equanimity, which can in turn lead to the distress, suffering or even destruction of themselves or others.

“I mean, nobody knows for sure,” Mullen says. “But a very noteworthy theory is that method acting was the end of Heath Ledger.” Mullen is referring to the late legendary method actor Heath Ledger, and how his devotion to the role of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film, The Dark Knight, could have contributed to his tragic overdose. Adding to the argument that method acting has the power to massively deteriorate one’s mental or physical health, Mullen describes the trauma he endured in his experience with the disputatious technique. “I took myself to a really dark place for that, and it took me years to untangle myself from it,” he says. “I would hear a song or be in a circumstance, and I would have a flashback moment, and I couldn’t control my mental, emotional state.” Gambling with the practice for a role in a high school play in which he played a school shooter, Mullen expressed a level of regret for exposing his adolescent mind to such trauma. “Yeah, it was great,” he says. “But was it worth it, for a high-school play, to carry that created trauma with me? It wasn’t worth it.”

“Lee Strasberg used to say, ‘you should be 25 years old, at least, before you start doing this process,' because you haven’t had the life experience to not only have experience, but then to also have perspective enough from your experience not to get sucked in.'”

“If I saw something human about [Ryder], or she told me why something hurt her so much, I couldn’t be sensitive to her when I saw her,” she told E! News. “I couldn’t become too close friends with her because I wouldn’t have been able to attack her.”

Nevertheless, method acting has proven time and time again to yield impressive results, whether or not the actor’s psychological and emotional well-being was negatively impacted in the process.

Ryder shared her reaction to this in-character, off-camera treatment served by Jolie (via Us Weekly), stating, “I think [Jolie] needed to be able to look at me just as the character Susanna, not as Winona. So in a very respectful way, she just kind of kept her distance.”

Gangs of New York (2002), Fight Club (1999) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) are all emblematic products of method acting and the sacrifices made by method actors to provide the most believable character portrayal possible with the audience’s enjoyment in mind. The question is whether the threat of harm to the actor and their colleagues is worth it. When Angelina Jolie worked alongside Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted, James Mangold’s 1999 film adaptation of Susanna Kaysen’s autobiographical novel, she didn’t attempt to form any kind of friendship with her co-star.

In some cases, method acting can make for undeniably fine work, but this all comes with understanding the process as a whole: its benefits, drawbacks and lasting effects. And while many famed method actors tend to garner massive respect for their sacrifices, the overall mental, physical and psychological impacts as a result of method acting may not be worth the risk.

Mullen believes that the biggest risk of method acting is starting too young. He referenced Lee Strasberg’s model of method acting, summarizing the basic premise of his teachings.

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FUNK-ED Sian Jackson

creative director Sohl Garibaldo

Styling director Jaedyn Frasinelli Claudine Lorico Kanahara Miguel LIM College Cosmetics Club

hair & Makeup Raquel Monica Hines

Production director Carly Gabriel Maddie Larson Amelia Mino Karyme Miranda

photography Carolina Barrenechea Cobos Alexis Berteau Ragini Bishnoi Angelina Piccininni Sampath Tupaki

Breanna Dyrek Owen Fu Gabrielle Payne Harveer Singh Bridgette Wray

Models Patricia Alvarado Cecilia Beslity Olivia Duffe Kelsey Feley Sohl Garibaldo Aubrey Hepner Dorothy Lawes Yingyu Li Nirahja Logan Elisandra Morales Rahi Premchan Violeta Romanyuk Leah Russell Ziwei Wang

SET & prop designers

stylists

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: Stylist Owned MODEL RIGHT WEARS: Stylist Owned

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: FOXYLAB NEWYORK —Button Up; Stylist Owned— Pants, Accessories

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MODEL WEARS: Stylist Owned 44

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: FOXYLAB NEWYORK — Pants; Stylist's Own— Pants, Accessories MODEL RIGHT WEARS: A Shirt Story — Top; Stylist's Own— Skirt, Accessories

MODEL LEFT WEARS: Stylist's Own —Blazer Dress, Sara Fancy's—Gloves MODEL RIGHT WEARS: Stylist's Own—Dress; Emma Altman—Earrings

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: Stylist's Own—Top, Shoes; Urban Outfitters—Sunglasses MODEL RIGHT WEARS: Stylist's Own—Varsity Jacket, Jeans

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: A Shirt Story — Top; Stylist Owned—Cardigan, Pants MODEL RIGHT WEARS: A Shirt Story — Top; Stylist Owned—Skirt, Accessories

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MODEL LEFT WEARS: A Shirt Story—Top, Armbands; Stylist Owned—Pants

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MODEL WEARS (Right to Left): FOXYLAB NEWYORK — Top; Stylist Owned—Pants, Accessories A Shirt Story—Top; Stylist Owned— Skirt, Accessories Emma Altman—Top, Skirt; Stylist Owned—Jacket, Accessories A Shirt Story—Top; Stylist Owned—Cardigan, Pants A Shirt Story—Top; Stylist Owned—Vest,Skirt, Trench Coat, Accessories The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

THE THRILL IS BACK New rules reinvigorated the MLB in 2023

By Alex Padilla

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he 2023 MLB season introduced some innovative new rules to make the game faster and more thrilling. The key changes included bigger bases, a pitch clock, and limitations on defensive shifts. The new rules aimed to make the sport more exciting by increasing the action, reducing the downtime between plays, and improving the overall quality of the baseball experience. Now that the season is over, let’s assess: did they make the game better?

Pitch Clock The pitch clock is essentially a 30-second timer between batters and a shorter time limit between pitches (15 seconds after they receive the ball if the bases are empty, 20 seconds if there are runners on). The goal was to make the game faster and more competitive. In October, NBC reported that it shortened games in 2023 by an average of 24 minutes. Some stadiums even reported that it cut into their beer sales, with four franchises extending alcohol sales past the traditional 7th inning stopping point. According to Gaming Today, 22% of fans don't like the pitch clock rule. I tend to agree; if fans go to baseball for leisure, why is the goal suddenly to get it over with as soon as possible? In my eyes, they should just let the game be and have it run for hours like it always has.

Bigger Bases The bases were three inches bigger this year, a change designed to protect players from dangerous collisions, which is good for players, and to encourage more base stealing, which is fun for fans. In September, ESPN reported that the success rate on steals was 80.2% on the season, the highest in the history of the game. In 2022, there as an average 1.0 stolen bases per game; in 2023, that number increased to 1.4, which might sound small, but represents a 40% increase in stolen bases across the board. No doubt, more stolen bases means more exciting games, so the MLB succeeded with this effort.

Shift Restrictions New shift restrictions meant the defensive team was required to have a minimum of four players in the infield, with at least two infielders completely on either side of second base. In recent years, it had become popular to study a player’s hitting data and crowd the areas where he was most likely to hit the ball. The new restrictions were intended to increase batting averages and allow infielders to better showcase their athleticism with great defensive plays. MLB hitters batted .248 in 2023, a five-point increase over 2022, according to Forbes. This was likely from the combined effect of the pitching clock and the shift restrictions. As ambivalent as I am about the pitch clock, the shift restrictions make sense, and it’s great to see more hitting and more thrilling plays on defense. The resulting displays of athleticism make the games more entertaining. “I think it’s going to bring a lot of athleticism back into the game,” Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger told MLB.com. “These infielders are going to have to cover a lot of ground and show off what they can do, as opposed to standing where the ball is probably going to be hit. For me, as just a baseball fan, I think that’s pretty exciting.”

Verdict Statistics improved, and so did attendance, which saw a 9% bump. Players had good things to say about the rules, and the consensus among sports journalists is that more stolen bases and athletic defensive plays made the game more exciting. Okay, so maybe I’m still on the fence about the pitch clock. It shrinks the window of time we spend on the game, but that has its upside, too, as Yankees ace Gerritt Cole told MLB.com, “Any extra time I can get with my two boys and my wife is great.” “...And the New York traffic can be a grind,” he added. “So getting home at 11 instead of 12 or 12:15 on a regular basis is really great. I don’t feel the quality of the game has dropped at all. In fact, I think it’s actually kind of picked up to a certain extent.”

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Is it A ll in My H ead? A D e e p D i v e into S e nt i m e nta li ty

P h otos & Words by L auren Smelk er

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ounding a corner I could drive with my eyes closed, I found myself in my beloved hometown. A familiar cool breeze off Lake Michigan rolled through my open windows. Being back was bittersweet, and I smiled through the crash of memories. Why do I put so much value in objects and places that don’t remember me or stop moving when I’m out of their orbit? My world kept moving, even without my favorite coffee shop and boutique. My family porch swing, hanging in place through each season, doesn’t remember me. The tree in the driveway that looked over me through every first day of school as I waited for the bus? It doesn’t remember me either. These things were a constant in my life, always there, never faltering as relics I could count on when I envisioned home. The routines and patterns I established to keep my orbit around those moments made them grow more significant. I felt that they would always be there, and when that tree was eventually cut down, and the chains were replaced on the porch swing, I took it as a personal attack—as if my own life were at stake if a bit of change occurred to my sentimental order. So why do we value the unvaluable? Why do we attach memories and emotions to items that would otherwise be meaningless? Sentimentality isn’t about the objects themselves, but rather, the memories they help us retain. “Sentimentality is just a natural human function, regardless if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. It’s something unconscious,” Julian D. tells me.

Julian, a Queens College graduate student in Mental Health Counseling, explains that it has to do with the amygdala—a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain. Among other things, it’s responsible for

recognizing feelings we have as a reaction to what we experience and encoding memories with the relevant emotions. “Memories that are encoded with emotions are stronger, they last longer, and they’re easier to recollect,” he says. “When you take a picture, that image is a memory object. It represents a specific time. A specific place. A specific memory.” Of course, the person who took the photo is potentially the only one who knows about the memory. “It’s not that the image holds memories; it’s more your key to unlocking the memories that you have within.” By shifting the question from why we place sentimental value on objects to why they are important to us, we can better understand our own emotions and memories. “Memory objects don’t help us remember, but they remind us to remember, and it’s something only you can understand,” Julian says. Julian gives the example of a lighter he keeps because his uncle gave it to him at a family reunion. “The lighter itself is pretty cheap; you can find it online for probably five dollars. But that’s not why I like it,” he expresses. I picture him flipping the lighter in his hand. “I don’t like it for its purpose or its value. I like it because it reminds me of my uncle. There’s a person, a history tied to the object,” he continues. “He could’ve given me something else, and I would still think about my uncle. It’s not really the object itself, but more of the history behind it.” Similarly, Yasmin Sophia feels connected to her great-grandmother’s solid wood wardrobe because of its history.

“She was a very classy, fashionable lady, standing only 4 feet 11 inches—a teacher, artist, and children's book author,” recalls Yasmin, an Afro-Latina singer, actress, and content creator from New Jersey. “I was always in awe of the fact that she made sure to have her hair and makeup done and be dressed every day all the way into her 90s.”

Ryan controls the narrative by savoring each moment they spend together. By preserving the cards, he’s able to have new interactions with his father in the future. Kitschy Hallmark cards with handwritten mailing addresses, all in a familiar script, hold more power when coming from a parent.

Regarding sentimentality, Yasmin “thinks of butterflies in [her] stomach, with the feeling of deep emotional attachment to something or someone.” From the sweet perfume of her great-grandmother’s clothes that still wafts out of the wardrobe to the idea of who she was as a woman—it creates a feeling of immense gratitude.

“The cards and letters mean a lot to me, because even though I don't want to admit it to myself, his time is coming to an end within a year or two,” Ryan expresses.

“I am grateful to my ancestors who carved the path for things to be better and better for every generation,” Yasmin says. “We are an amalgamation of all our experiences and the people that came before us.” “We have no way of stopping change in our worlds; it's guaranteed things will change,” she adds passionately. “But if we can hold on to something, it can make us feel like we have a little more control over our past and maybe our destinies.” Control seems to be the narrative with Ryan Lombard, who spoke fondly of a collection of cards his father has sent him over the past year.

By holding onto each card and saving them for future days when he knows he’ll miss his father more than usual, Ryan is controlling the destiny of his relationship with his father. “Sentimental items act as a source of comfort and a way to preserve the memory of what has been lost,” he says. Zouie G., originally from the Philippines, has been living in New York City for the past several years and understands the need to preserve memories. She has a particular pink blouse that has brought her good luck on many occasions and prompts positive memories of her time in the city. “Even if it doesn’t fit anymore, I just like to keep it because it reminds me where I am in life and where I’ve been,” she says.

As the PR Director at Hutch Designs in New York, Ryan pays attention to the story, and with his father suffering from prostate cancer that has spread to his bones and spine, the story matters now more than ever.

But what happens when our memory objects aren’t available to us anymore, or when the places we encode with meaningful memories have permanently changed? Why is the sense of loss so profound?

“Lately, when he sends me a card, whether for a birthday or a holiday, I don't even open it,” Ryan explains. “I save it in a folder so that one day when I miss him or I am having a rough day, I have something to remind me of him.”

Dr. Peter Gollwitzer, a German psychologist and NYU professor, has done extensive research on Symbolic Self-Completion Theory—essentially, what makes each individual “themselves” and how they measure success.

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“Objects can be used to indicate who you are and who you want to be,” according to Dr. Gollwitzer. He gave the example of someone celebrating a career milestone by buying a car; it feels as though the message of their success is being communicated outwardly, when in fact, no one but that person knows the car’s significance. Nostalgia plays a critical role, Dr. Gollwitzer says, because it is “a quick and easy way to create feelings of completeness.” When memories objects are gone, then, like the tree at my house, there is a bittersweet feeling that something is incomplete. Nevertheless, I ultimately find gratitude when replaying moments from my childhood home in my mind—gratitude for feeling connections to objects that so clearly define a sense of home. And while the items

and places I hold dearly in my heart may not remember me, I remember them for their significance and the emotions they awaken. Yasmin, Ryan, and Zouie always find their way to gratitude in their recollections, too. While many objects we keep may hold a sad truth to them about change or grief, key memories are the ones we keep most fondly. The ones that signify who we were at that time and who we are now. Sentimentality, properly contextualized, helps us better understand our own journeys and why we make the choices we make. It’s not that we place value on items that would otherwise be valueless; it’s that we hold the key to our past, and these memory objects are a way to unlock them, a way of acquiring a vision of your life that feels complete.

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Throw a Riot Jaedyn Frasinelli

Beauty Direction & Styling Carly Gabriel

Photographer

Jaedyn Frasnelli Claudine Lorico Kanahara Miguel

makeup & hair

Sian Jackson Violeta Romanyuk

Caitlin Mcelwee-Buchala Kanahara Miguel Diorinna Lucariello

Creative Direction

Models

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Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes This is a fantasy book series I’ve reread cover to cover, honestly, too many times. This series is so captivating. If it were up to me, a live action movie would already be in the works.

Editors’ Picks

Sian Jackson r o t c e ir d e iv t Crea

Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon “Who’s the Master? Sho’nuff” is exactly the call and response everyone will shout when you mention this movie. I am in love with classic '80s movies. Between the romance, action and underfunded production, it has a special glow in my heart.

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Dreamgirls Not only is this soundtrack a defining moment in my childhood, the line “Love Me!...Curtis, was supposed to love me!” will grasp my attention for life. It’s such a powerful, heart-wrenching film based on real events in the music industry and the culture of Motown.

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner My everyday makeup routine consists of a glossy lip, full brows, and a sharp SHARP black eyeliner. This black shade practically never runs out, and the tip is flawless. 10/10 would recommend. Faux Fur Coats As a dramatic, but also practical fashion student, I like to don bright-colored fur coats. Living in NYC, the weather is so unpredictable. Once the temperature drops, I like to ensure my warmth, but also my style.

Editors’ Picks

Vintage Leather Trench My vintage genuine leather trench coat is a necessity. I thrifted this timeless piece on a trip to Ohio, and it has come to be a staple in my A/W wardrobe. It’s perfect for layering or just throwing over a minidress on a night out.

Climax This twisted psychological horror film follows a troupe of French dancers who experience a night of paranoia and mindbending horrors. This movie is extremely well done, boasting stunning camerawork, a near-perfect soundtrack, and truly captivating dance performances.

Jones Road Beauty Lip Tint It’s a beautiful hydrating product that has become a crucial aspect of my fall makeup routine. It’s sultry and dramatic, yet casual enough to wear to the grocery store. It’s as if lipstick and lip balm had a cool-toned baby, and it’s become my go-to product. Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion This is a collection of some of Joan Didion’s never-before-seen early works. It highlights her unique and influential writing style while wittily capturing the simultaneous banalities and complexities of the human experience.

NFR! by Lana Del Rey Lana Del Rey, my favorite musical artist, inimitably expresses melancholy, longing, and love in her 2019 masterpiece, NFR! It's been on repeat since its release and stands as my go-to record.

Lola Spring managing E dito

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PawGripz Pollyanna Necklace I recently received this necklace for my birthday, and one of my favorite Yankees, Oswaldo Cabera, wears it every time he plays. The colors are also beautiful, and I love supporting small businesses. This one is run by a former minor-league baseball player.

Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott I have many favorite books, but Five Feet Apart has a special place in my heart. When I first saw the movie, I fell in love with the whole story. I finally had to buy the book and have read it more than 10 times.

Rouge Dior Forever Shade-Forever Passionate I discovered this last year when I lost my Bobbi Brown lipstick. I was testing other brands and couldn't find a replacement until the Rouge Dior Forever lipstick. The pigmentation and smooth application are incredible. I love a good dark red lip.

Afrodisíaco by Rauw Alejandro I am so in love with this album. Its songs are on every playlist that I have because Rauw Alejandro is one of my favorite Puerto Rican artists. I listen to him every day, and this album just makes me so happy.

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Alex Padili a Sports Edit or

Editors’ Picks

Little Women This has impacted how I value womanhood and sisterhood. It's the definition of a comfort film. I love the cinematography and how cozy this movie is.

Stairway to Heaven by SOLIS I recently found the artist SOLIS, and I’ve had her debut EP on repeat for months. Although I love all the songs, my favorite is “The Lonely Star (Intro).” Her music is a light and airy mix of indie and neo-soul.

Editors’ Picks

er d e o r h c S e i t Ka r o t c e ir d n io h Fas Son & Park Beauty Water If you've ever heard anyone say that Korean skincare is better, they're talking about Son & Park Beauty Water. One full-sized bottle can last you a long time. Beauty Water is formulated as a toner that also does some gentle cleansing and light exfoliating. If you like the “Paris" filter on Instagram, this does that to your face IRL.

The Princess Bride This movie was my whole childhood, so much so that my brother is named Wesley (absolutely intentionally). Maybe I am a little dismayed that I was not also named after a swashbuckler, but it is still my favorite. To me, this movie checks all the boxes—fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles. Tender Is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica This is my favorite book at the moment. I read it over the summer and was horrified (in a good way). If you’re interested in moral dilemmas, explorations of humanity and empathy, and a little psychological horror, I highly recommend this. But if you are squeamish at all, save yourself the nightmares.

Half Corset My indispensable fashion essential is an underbust or half corset. I love using them to adjust the silhouette of my outfits. It adds a little bit of drama to an oversized shirt and easily spices up a monochromatic look. If you want to emphasize your figure, you can even find some designed to cinch. (Safely! Please do your research!) I recommend having at least one in black and one in white to have the most outfit-matching options.

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student style

Mohammed Talukdar class of 2026

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student style

Ashley Olivera class of 2025 The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

student style

Ayanna El-Amin class of 2025

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student style

Qiheng Zheng class of 2026 The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

student style

Kanahara miguel class of 2027

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student style

acacia Brunell class of 2025 The Lexington Line • A/W 23 • vol 10 • no 1

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Photographers: Karyme Miranda, Maddie Larson, and Amelia Mino

Behind the

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Photographer: Claudine Lorico

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