Nerve: October 2019 Issue

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TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF Lauren Chung

ART CURATOR Channing Smith

DEPUTY EDITOR Elise Andersen

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Annika Ide

ART DIRECTOR Allyson Konz

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Maria Dayneko

WUD PRESIDENT Tanvi Tilloo

FASHION EDITOR Ethan Fenske

WUD PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE DIRECTOR Carlo Romagnolo

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Kate Lawless

WUD PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE ADVISOR Jen Farley

ON THE COVER Andrea Wang by Audrey O’Neill

CULTURE EDITOR Katie Herrick ARTS EDITOR Naomi Gallagher ARTS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Elm Stephenson SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Emily Bian SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Ashleigh Perry

STAFF WRITERS Ariana King Alexandria Millet Amanda Jentsch Elm Stephenson Gylf Forsberg Jessica Katz Sydnie Albert Shelby Evans CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Abigail Smith Ally Steinberg Amaya Jean Muñoz Gabrielle Gronewold Grace Bezek Ivis Estrada Lauren Feiges Naomi Gross Olivia Stack MODELS Adjua Nsoroma Andrea Wang Antonio Sanchez Emily Bian Fame Turner Katie Herrick Kate Lawless Olivia Stack Sarah Troy ART Allyson Konz Channing Smith Jade Christensen Lauren Chung Riley August PHOTOGRAPHY Audrey O’Neill Emma Gray Josh Redfearn Jessica Tenenbaum Molly Jacobs Zach Pulvermacher

OCTOBER 2019 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2019

CULTURE

8 20 24

BLIND SOCIETY How the American psyche has become blind to tragedy

SOME NERVE Dress codes made by schools are just another function that oversexualizes and criminilizes black women

NERVOUS WRECK A collection of personal poetry from the last 4 years, revealing the truths of heartbreak, depression, and anxiety

32 38 48

MEET FAME

56

A WORLD ON EDGE

58 71

CHANGE IN SMALL WAVES

Non-Binary Dressing on Campus

THE GIRL THAT PLAYS FOOTBALL Yeah, hi, that’s me

THEY’VE GOT NERVE Women in politics making major waves despite all the “-isms.”

How climate change affects both the environment and mental health

What I didn’t expect during my study abroad experience

THE NOTORIOUS RBG The life and becoming of Ruth Bader Ginsberg

LIFESTYLE

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13 22 30 44 53 54 64

SEXY, REVOLUTIONIZED Sex and body positivity are teaming up to redefine what sexy means

SEARCHING FOR A SPARK Dating again after a bad break-up takes some nerve

HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARDS Taking chances in your 20’s can open you up to new opportunities

DARE TO CHANGE You have the power to transform your life, if you’re brave enough

BIGGER, BRIGHTER & BOLDER Own your originality through your favorite trends

DID I MENTION I’M A TRANSFER? Switching colleges comes with navigating a new home and long-distance friendships

HOW-TO: SULTRY, SMOKEY-EYE Lifestyle’s step-by-step guide to the perfect look for your autumn aesthetic

MY INTERNAL STRUGGLE Turning my Crohn’s disease into a positive experience

ARTS

10 37 60 4 MODA

UNWOUND AND UNNERVED Art Section’s horror movie guide

RADICAL REPRESENTATION The body in Contemporary Art

UNDER THE INK Tattoo art outside of the gallery space

FEATURED

14 65

LUCID AT MIDNIGHT ROUGE

FASHION

41

LONG LIVE THE QUEENS

42

OPINION: GUCCI’S CONTROVERSIAL TIME

46 50

ON THE RISE

61

MEET THE HEROINE

The influence of drag in modern-day fashion and beauty

Gucci’s execution has recently missed the mark, but where their intent lies may be a larger comment on the current state of the fashion industry

Modern designers rising to the top

SHOOT FOR THE STAZ A UW student using his passion for fashion to spark social change

The story behind the inspiring Canadian brand of scarves and flags

OCTOBER 2019 5

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

W

e are as cliche as it gets: studying abroad was the most eye-opening and extraordinary time for both of us. Yes, living in a new country—for Elise, one that spoke a different language—was terrifying, as was making new friends and taking classes at a foreign university. But it wasn’t as much about the culture shock or physical change in scenery as it was the change in attitude we both had in wanting to turn around our lives.

College is undoubtedly a stressful time for a multitude of reasons. When school, work, internships and your social life are coming at you so fast you barely have time to catch your breath, it’s easy to shove aside the things that make you unhappy.

Covering up the things that need to be confronted can only last so long. Topics such as toxic relationships and mental health are things that so many of us deal with, but work so hard to cover up through our perfect Instagram feeds and fully-booked schedules. There comes a time when not even a filter on your photos can mask how you’re truly feeling.

We both reached points in our lives where “faking it until we were making it” was unfulfilling, unachievable and, frankly, exhausting. Both of us were desperate for change, For us, choosing to study abroad was more about actually taking action in turning things around—living the lives we always dreamed of. It was recognizing not only what we wanted, but also what we deserved, and advocating for just that. *** In this issue, Culture Staff Writer, Gylf Forsberg, wrote about how we have become nerve-blind to tragedy. We are a generation that’s grown up watching 9/11 documentaries and a new mass shootings broadcasted every week.

Forsberg writes that because of this, we’ve developed a dissonance between ourselves and reacting appropriately 6 MODA

to tragedy in order to save us distress. Amaya Jean Muñoz wrote about “eco-anxiety” amongst our generation and how it is perpetuated through the hopelessness of our world leaders in enacting change for the future. With the help of the media, it seems that all we see in the world is catastrophe and suffering.

However, with every piece of bad news there exists the hope for renewal—hope for change. There might be a lot to be afraid of, but that is all the more to conquer; to bring us together in these last two months left in this decade.

With the days getting shorter and the temperature quickly dropping, it’s easy to sit back and watch life pass us by.

Many refer to these final months of the year as “The Last 90 Days” —instead of allowing ourselves to slip away into bad habits until the arrival of the New Year signals a fresh start, it’s a chance to finish the year with the same momentum we have during those first 30 days. An opportunity to take a risk, or make a difference. What are you going to do that you never had the nerve to do before?

Maybe it’s as small as putting yourself outside of your comfort zone byn watching a horror film or rocking trends that go against the grain. Maybe it’s as big as finally getting the nerve to date again after your worst break-up yet, or applying to study abroad. Or, maybe it’s as monumental as not only idolizing your icons, like Ruth Badger Ginsberg, but taking the risk in becoming an equally powerful and strong icon yourself.

We only have two and a half months left in this decade.

Don’t sleep on taking charge of your life. Don’t wait to make a change.

Cheers,

&

LIFESTYLE

SEXY REV LUTIONIZED

By Kate Lawless, Lifestyle Editor Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator

don’t look or act like a porn star, you aren’t measuring up to other women.

In the 1960s and ’70s, the sex-positivity movement began encouraging people to view love and sex as a natural and positive part of life. Today, those ideas still pervade, perhaps now to a fault. Advertising and entertainment media still struggle to reconcile their rampant sexualization of women with body positivity.

Sex, or the implication of sex, is everywhere. We are bombarded by images of idealized women’s bodies, posed in suggestive ways or even naked. We see sex, or how women are supposed to behave or look to be sexy, on everything from billboards to our Instagram feeds.

It’s become normal for females to see themselves as sexual beings at increasingly younger ages.1 With all this information bombarding us at all times, we might feel overwhelmed or pressured to look and be this narrowed version of sexy. This pressure can lead to feelings of anxiety and shame related to your body.2 You might feel that if you McCall, Catherine. “The Sexualization of Women and Girls.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, March 4, 2012. https://www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/overcoming-child-abuse/201203/ the-sexualization-women-and-girls.

2 McCall, Catherine. “The Sexualization of Women and Girls.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, March 4, 2012. https://www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/overcoming-child-abuse/201203/ the-sexualization-women-and-girls.

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Media representation, especially when it comes to women’s bodies, still leaves a lot to be desired. Sex, like all things that involve human connection, is messy and imperfect—and the bodies that are involved are imperfect too. Don’t expect your sexual encounters to look airbrushed and choreographed. You, like the majority of people in the world, probably don’t have a director, personal trainer and a team of make-up artists making sure you look “perfect.” Don’t expect your body to behave as you do, and, frankly, don’t be with a partner who expects that either.

The ideas behind the sex-positivity movement have thankfully begun to work in tandem with the body positivity movement in a few media representations. Sex is being portrayed as not only normal and healthy but normal and healthy for normal people.

Take shows like “Shrill” and “Crazy ExGirlfriend,” for example. The characters in these shows are an honest portrayal of adult women who are both sexual beings and realistic, complex people.

Their bodies aren’t a size zero, but they have great sex anyway. It shouldn’t be, but for many women this kind of representation is revolutionary.

Still, everyone has something that they just don’t like about their bodies. That, combined with the fact of being intimate with your partner can make you feel vulnerable during sex. It’s important to be kind to yourself and set boundaries that make you feel comfortable when

it comes to sex. Be honest with your partner if something they do makes you uncomfortable or if you aren’t in the mood. You don’t have to be sexually available at all times or behave in a way that doesn’t feel natural to you.

Sexy is not a size, shape, skin tone, an absence of one thing or an abundance of another. We are taught so much about what sexy is not, but we don’t talk about all the things that it is.

Being sexually appealing doesn’t mean the same thing to every person. Just because one person isn’t attracted to you, doesn’t mean no one is.

Attractiveness is not limited to one kind of behavior or appearance. How boring would that be?

In a broader sense, sexy is an allencompassing term because, truly, anyone can fit into the definition. You can be sexy, look sexy and feel sexy all depending on how you feel about yourself and your partners. Sexy is being able to ask for what you want from your partner. It’s getting lost in the moment, not even having to think about what you’re doing. Most of all, it’s a feeling that doesn’t come from anyone but yourself.

Your cellulite, weight, acne, body hair, stretch marks, skin tone, age, and scars are natural parts of living in a human body. They’re not boxes left unchecked on a sexiness qualifications form you fill out before a hook-up.

Your body is fierce. It works hard and never stops protecting the amazing person that lives inside it. And that’s about as sexy as it gets.

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OCTOBER 2019 7

CULTURE

BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND

SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY

HOW THE AMERICAN PSYCHE HAS BECOME BLIND TO TRAGEDY

By Gylf Forsberg, Culture Staff Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator 8 MODA

We see it on the news, we scroll past it online. We retweet, repost, but how do we react? Do we brush past it? Do we cry? Do we tweet #prayfor_______, and then seemingly forget about it within an hour?

In truth, the American psyche in recent years has become increasingly desensitized to violence and tragedy. Just in 2019, we have experienced 283 mass shootings,1 the Amazon Rainforest burning and a resurgence of a once dormant disease. 2 Each one of these incidents merits a large response, but it seems that the reactions to these occurrences have been brief and forgotten about within weeks or days following the event. Is it because we are so inundated with tragic events that we forget one when another arises? Or is it because we have taken different approaches to dealing with these events, reacting in a more numb, desensitized manner?

Looking back to the shooting at Columbine, which happened now twenty years ago, the reaction to violence and tragedy looked much different. An hour after the event, coverage on CNN and other major news stations began and continued unbroken for several hours into the evening of April 20th, 1999.

The shooting held the front page of the New York Times for two and a half weeks following, and much longer for local Denver news outlets. 3 The topic of Columbine has buzzed around in documentaries, books and tours in the following two decades. It begs the question, how would Americans in 2019 react to the same tragedy?

It is extremely easy to compare Columbine to recent tragediesー Parkland, Pulseーand the resulting Jason Silverstein, “There Have Been More Mass Shootings than Days This Year,” CBS News (CBS Interactive, September 1, 2019).

2 “Global Measles Outbreaks,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 4, 2019).

3 Annika Neklason, “The Columbine Blueprint,” The Atlantic (Atlantic Media Company, April 19, 2019).

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responses. It would be false to say that modern society does not react to these tragedies, rather that the manner of the reaction is different.

This can be exemplified in a tweet issued by Donald Trump, then presidential nominee, following a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando which killed more than 50 individuals. “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!” 4 In his reaction to the Pulse Nightclub shooting, Trump took a national tragedy and reacted in a way that leant itself to his political plan rather than a reaction to the event itself.

While this may be extreme, it shows how some American politicians, on both sides of the spectrum, have become nerve-blind to tragedies and those directly affected by them.

When public figures respond this way they are disregarding the pain felt by those directly affected by tragic events, instead using them as a political jumping point for their strategies and plans.

nature of these bits of information lead to a diminished impact of the story? When these tragic events are condensed to the height of a smartphone, it may lead readers to associate the gravity of the tragedy or violence with a diminished severity. Although, this numbness to violence and tragedy may be just that, a numbness.

Several studies have been conducted on the psychological impacts of extended periods of inflicted pain.

When looking at groups of refugees, researchers at the University College London have posited that when individuals are exposed to long periods of repetitive pain they are likely to experience a sense of dissociation; their minds remove them from the pain and replace it with a numbness. 5 Are we reacting the same way? When Columbine occurred, society was in a place where it was unimaginable that a student was at risk of being shot in a school. The twenty-first century was punctuated by a new age of tragedy and violence that has steadily increased over time.

The public response has also become quite different as time has progressed. The emergence of social media has played a large role in the transfer of news and information.

The age of the hashtag has allowed for topics to heighten almost instantaneously. News stories are rapidly gaining attention but seem to lose steam as people’s social media feeds become inundated with the next topic.

Our generation grew up with active shooter drills, documentaries in history class every September 11th, and more recently, headlines of a new mass shooting every week.

When we see these events of violence and tragedy repeatedly on our smartphones, news outlets and social media, we are experiencing this same dissociation. We take ourselves out of the event to potentially save us from the distress of dealing with these shocking circumstances.

As we scroll past the 14th picture of a wildfire raging in California, what do we do? We simply say, “what a shame”, and move on to the next story contained in 140 characters. The brevity of this information may be a blessing一but it also may be a curse.

Much like victims of torture, we are continually subjected to pain and violence through media coverage of world events, and this perpetual exposure has led to society losing our reaction to these tragic events, becoming nerve-blind.

On one hand, we are able to intake a greater amount of information in a short period of time. However, on the other, does the compact 4

Donald J. Trump, Twitter post, June 12 2016.

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Amanda Williams and Jannie van de Merwe, “The Psychological Impact of Torture,” British Journal of Pain 7, no. 2 (May 7, 2013): pp. 101-106.

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OCTOBER 2019 9

ARTS

UNNVERVED &

UNWOUND MODA’S GUIDE TO ALL THINGS HORROR

By Elise Andersen, Deputy Editor & Lauren Chung, Editor-in-Chief Graphic by Lauren Chung 10 MODA

The month of October, with its slight chill in the air and eerie energy, is the perfect backdrop for a scary movie marathon.

Whether you’re a horror movie fanatic or a new to the genre, we’ve got you covered with everything from the classics to the spine-chilling and everything in-between.

CULT CLASSIC The Shining Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel of the same name, “The Shining” follows aspiring writer Jack Torrance, his wife and his son, Danny, as they move into the isolated Overlook Hotel deep in the Rocky Mountains. Cut off from civilization, things quickly turn south as the hotel’s horrific past starts to unravel by way of Danny’s psychic abilities.

As time goes on, Jack’s mental state deteriorates due to the influence of these supernatural forces, leading him to wreak havoc on himself and his family. Already seen “The Shining”? Get ready for it’s sequel, “Dr. Sleep,” coming out November 8.

The 6th Sense Eight-year-old Cole Sear who has a dark secret. His secret quite literally haunts his sleep and follows his every move.

Psychologist Dr. Crowe works to uncover the supernatural aura in Cole’s life is utterly shocked when he finds out the truth of the mystery. As M Night Shymalan’s directorial debut, “The 6th Sense” has a classic horror film feel with a modern and surprising twist that is sure to have you thinking about how our personal lives and narratives can live on after our time.

The Silence of the Lambs This 1991 film remains one of the most disturbing and mesmerizing horror movies of all time. “The Silence of the Lambs” focuses on the unique relationship between Hannibal Lecter, an incarcerated cannibal killer, and Clarice Starling, a young FBI cadet who enlists Lecter’s help to catch another serial killer. If the plot doesn’t sound enticing enough, “The Silence of the Lambs” is the only horror film to date to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

Christine Based on another Stephen King novel of the same name, “Christine” was quick to become a cult-favorite after its release in 1983. “Christine” is the name of Arnie Cunningham’s sleek red and white car whose exterior is just as captivating as its interior, but no, we aren’t talking about the leather seats, we’re talking about Christine’s actual mind. Cursed with an unholy spirit, Christine possesses vegenenece and evil like no other. After seducing Arnie under her spell, she will stop at nothing to maintain his devotion.

THE NEW AGE Us Adelaide Wilson, her husband and two children visit her childhood vacation home for the summer. There, Adelaide is met with a whirlwind of nostalgia, plus an unnerving

and unwanted haunting of a past experience . When four strangers appear in their driveway, Adelaide’s worst nightmare becomes true—only to find out, it’s worse than she could ever imagine: the four strangers are exact replicas of her and her family. In a fight for survival against replicas that know the Wilson family better than they know themselves, “Us” presents a gripping plot with twists and turns that leads to a mind-boggling ending that’s sure to have you thinking for days on end.

Hereditary “Hereditary” takes the cake for a film that will leave you feeling uneasy long after it’s over. “Hereditary” follows a family haunted by a demon after the death of their distant grandmother. As time goes on, the more they learn about their family’s terrifying ancestry and attempt to outrun their ominous fate. “Hereditary” adds a unique take to new-age horror.

A Quiet Place “If they hear you, they hunt you.” Evelyn and Lee, parents to three young children, must live in silence to avoid having their family killed by creatures who hunt by sound. The postapocalyptic setting adds to the chilling storyline, making us question what might actually happen to our world in the not-so-distant future.

Searching When David Kim’s daughter, Margot, goes missing and the police move at a glacial pace, Kim takes to his own devices: Margot’s social media. Kim begins combing through Margot’s Facebook, Instagram, Youtube channel and even Venmo account for any signs that may point towards Margot’s disappearing. Soon, Kim begins to realize a rather truthful nuance, despite Margot being his prized, only child: we are never truly as we appear online.

Midsommer Truly one of the most bizarre horror films of our time, “Midsommer” follows a couple on a trip to visit their friend’s rural hometown in Sweden for it’s infamous midsummer festival. What they expect to be an idyllic retreat in the land of eternal sunshine quickly takes a sinister turn as the villagers invite their guests to take part in the midsummer festivities, festivities that are nowhere near ordinary. In a twisted way, “Midsommer” will leave you stumbled and craving more.

TV SHOWS Haunting of Hill House Based loosely on the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, this Netflix series follows five siblings who grew up in a mansion called Hill House, only to urgently flee its haunting beauty one night in 1992. The series follows each sibling as both independent family members and as relatives to each other by alternating between flashbacks from their childhood to the present day. Every moment and detail in the house becomes its own puzzle piece in the larger picture of who Crian family is. The beauty OCTOBER 2019 11

in this show can be found through the way director Mike Flanagan introduces each puzzle piece: ordered in a purposely chaotic way that leaves the audience in suspense, confusion and utter shock.

American Horror Story: Notable Seasons Murder House American Horror Story’s first season, “Murder House,” follows a classicly known story line: a family moves across the country to a large old house that is seemingly haunted.

But the appeal and charm to the show lies within what the producers and creators do to turn a familary plot line into one with incredible neaunaces, mind-blowing horrors and intricate character development. “Murder House” was the first of its kind, and still continues to have that ultimate shock, utterly disturbing, yet wholeheartedly intriguing, feel. This first season will forever be a cult favorite, and there’s many reasons behind that. Start at the beginning to find out.

Apocalypse The most recent installment in the AHS series, “Apocalypse” was announced as a cross-over between previous seasons “Murder House” and “Coven.” Set 18 months in the future after a nuclear apocalypse, the world’s chosen elite survive in bunkers created by the mysterious “Cooperative”. When Michael Langdon, a representative of the Cooperative, arrives unexpectedly at one of these bunkers, order is thrown into chaos. The only way to overthrow Langdon and save humanity? A final battle between good and evil.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS Get Out You might have heard quite the hype surrounding Jordan Peele’s film and thriller debut, and guess what? All the hype is deserving. “Get Out” follows a young AfricanAmerican man who meets the family of his Caucasian girlfriend, only to uncover a deeply disturbing secret the family possesses. Peele’s masterpiece has details and eastereggs that foreshadow the family’s secret (and comment on society at large) in endless ways, causing you to want to watch the film back more than once.

Shutter Island Martin Scorses’s film adaptation of the novel “Shutter Island” takes place in 1954 and surrounds the disappearance of Rachel Solando, who has been admitted to an asylum on Shutter Island after murdering her three children.

Teddy, A WWII verteran and current federal Marshal, and his new partner, investigate the case only to find deep suspicion and horrors of the treatment involved. But, that isn’t it. Teddy too has a secret of his own: the murderer of his wife is also on the island. Trapped on the island due to a hurricane, the two attempt to unravel the issues at hand.

The best part? The solution to their troubles is truly an utterly shocking twist.

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10 Cloverfield Lane After surviving a car accident, Michelle wakes up chained to the wall in an underground bunker with two unfamiliar men. One of the men, Howard, explains that a chemical attack has rendered the air toxic, and the only way to survive is by staying inside. As the plot thickens, Howard’s increasingly controlling and manipulative behavior towards Michelle makes her want to escape. In an elaborate scheme in collaboration with the other man in the bunker, Emmett, Michelle finally gets out and discovers the truth about the outside world—a truth that most wouldn’t expect.

Se7en A young Brad Pitt stars as David Mills, a detective who partners with a retiring police detective William Somerset after stumbling upon a number of elaborate murders.

They quickly realize that these murders have something in common —they each seem to be based upon one of the seven deadly sins. In a joint mission packed with twists and turns, Mills and Somerwset track down the serial killer behind these gruesome murders. Full of action, suspense and an award-winning cast, “Se7en” will leave your jaw dropped until the very end.

The Others After the second World War, Grace and her two children retire in an old mansion. Awaiting the arrival of Grace’s husband from the war, Grace works fearlessly to protect her children who have a rare, photosensitive disease, creating rigid, yet pertinent, rules (both in housekeeping and religion) to ensure safety. Out of the blue, the hired help in the mansion disappear, and new people arrive to take their place. Suddenly, strange and mysterious paranormal activity occur. Grace’s daughter expresses numerous encounters with “intruders” in their home, causing Grace to question her own sanity. The end to the disarray of “The Others” is an ending you won’t want to miss.

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LIFESTYLE

SEARCHING FOR A SPARK DATING AGAIN AFTER A BAD BREAK UP TAKES SOME NERVE

By Ivis Estrada, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Keely Bradish After a break-up, the last thing you are probably thinking about is dating again. Although the idea of getting back out there might seem miserable, finding your confidence in dating again, though not easy, is possible.

Opening up your broken heart is hard, but there are some hidden gems in every breakup. You learn from those experiences what you do and do not want in a relationship; what bothered you, what you needed more of, and so on. A breakup is a learning experience for the next relationship. It will also teach you, in terms of a relationship, the exclusivity of it; are you looking for something long-term, casual, or nothing at all? These are all great questions to go over before your search, because the most important question right now is, are you actually ready to date again? Or should you focus on yourself first?

If you decide you are ready to put yourself out there again, realize that it is easier said than done. First, you have to present yourself as available, something you are not used to after being in a relationship. You have to be ready to initiate a conversation and show interest in someone else. It might be difficult at first, especially if you are shy, but it is the best way to get someone to ask you out. And, hey, who says women can’t make the first move? Don’t be afraid to put yourself

out there and ask for what you want.

The worst thing they can say is no.

If you do go on a date, make sure it’s a date you are comfortable with. Don’t pretend you’re down for a “Netflix and chill,” if you aren’t ready to be that vulnerable. Instead, opt for a quick coffee date. Depending on how secure you are feeling after your breakup, you will be able to determine what kind of date you think will be the best fit for you. This is crucial. If you keep going on bad dates that don’t make you feel confident, you are going to discourage yourself from finding the amazing experiences that are out there.

Likewise, keep in mind that you are not always going to have a great first date, or even a great third date. Don’t let that scare you away, though. Remember that it is just two people getting to know one another. It might be easy to think that it was simpler with your ex, but you have to remember that every relationship grows from somewhere.

Remind yourself that the best way to ensure you have a healthy transition into a new relationship is to not compare the next people who come into your life to your ex. They are not them and that is a good thing. You should be open to finding something new, not a replica of your last relationship. Be open to giving people second chances, and keep in mind that the other party is nervous, too.

O n t h e flipside, if you are not ready to date again, that is okay. Take this time to know what you want in life, further your career plan, focus on school—whatever it is you think you need. We all know that quote that goes something like “You can’t love someone else before you love yourself.” There’s some truth to that. Relationships are smoother when you both have self-love. It makes it easier in the long run so that you can dedicate time to each other, instead of struggling with yourself. But if you do still want to have some romance in your life while figuring your life out, then maybe try the casual route.

No matter what you choose to do after a breakup—whether it is taking more time to heal or getting back on the wagon the next day—just remember it takes a lot of nerve to do either. Breakups, especially bad ones that leave you feeling insecure, are hard. Remember how much courage you have within you and no matter what you choose, make sure it makes you happy.

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OCTOBER 2019 13

14 MODA

LUCID AT MIDNIGHT Creative Direction By Maria Dayneko, Creative Director Andrea Wang photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Staff Photographer

OCTOBER 2019 15

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OCTOBER 2019 19

CULTURE

SOME DRESS CODES MADE BY SCHOOLS ARE JUST ANOTHER FUNCTION THAT OVERSEXUALIZES AND CRIMINILIZES BLACK WOMEN

By Alexandria Millet, Culture Staff Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator

Around midday at a top Chicago middle school, Calice Robins, an 8th grader at the time, walked into her school’s writing center with a new outfit her mom bought her. The shorts were colorful with blue, neon pink, green and orange, along with a neon green shirt to match. As she says, “I was cold with it.”

The day was warmer than most, but anything is warmer than Chicago’s blistering winters. Her outfit was loud and fun, and in mind for the forecast for the day. Although proud of her new clothes, she was there for academic guidance.

It was a great shock to Calice when the first thing out of the writing specialist’s mouth was, “Where are the rest of your clothes?” A question implying Calice’s outfit was incomplete, unfinished, like a question waiting to be answered.

The specialist then sent Calice to the dean’s office to receive a detention for 20 MODA

her “too short, doesn’t follow policy” shorts. Calice, terrified of being in trouble at this school she worked so diligently to get to, called her mother to come rescue her.

racist undertones that corner black girls in particular.

As her mom arrived at the office, a group of about six girls walked in with shorts significantly shorter than Calice’s. And when brought to the attention of the Dean, in layman’s terms he said “it’s above me.”

Many school dress codes include a regulation of tank tops, leggings and length of skirts and shorts. The majority of rules listed in these codes are specified to girl students, rather than their male counterparts.

Calice got detention that day. The other girls that walked into the office that day, did not.

The subjectiveness of many dress codes, in phrasings like “too tight” or “too revealing,” distinguishes black girls’ experiences with dress codes compared to white girls. The sometimes present, more curvier shape of a black female student coupled with the historical hypersexualization of black women, creates an even more drastic disconnect in the relationship of black girls and dress codes. This is the intersectionality of being both black and a woman.

Calice is a black girl, and the writing specialist, the dean and other girls were white.

This is just one example of the racialized and sexist dress code in K-12 schools across America that unfairly target black girls. The regulation of clothes in schools have sexist and

“Dress codes are to control somebody, especially with black girls,” Robins said.

NERVE The myths of black women as the “Jezebel” is recreated in schools when black girls are routinely sexualized because of their clothing. The “Jezebel” stereotype is that black women are immoral, seductive, and sexually promiscuous. It also points to the adultification of black girls—there is no innocence assumed.

This stereotype of black girls being more sexually provocative has its roots in slavery. It is claimed that the promiscuity of the black female slave justified rape by their white slave master.

Dress codes oversexualize black girls, and then push them out of class and schools because of it. Black girls are seen as more deserving of punishment.

In America, Black girls are six times more likely to be suspended than white girls.1 In the same school year, 2011Williams Crenshaw,Kimberlé. Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced, and Underprotected.

New York: African American Policy Forum and Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy, 1

2012, Wisconsin produced the highest suspension rate for black girls in the country. Even though black girls only represent 16 percent of girls in schools, they account for 42 percent of girl expulsions and more than a third of girl’s school-based arrests.

Punishments for non-formal suspensions are “shame-based” for these girls. This can include attention-grabbing clothing changes that cause embarrassment for wellintentioned girls.

“Dress codes do more than slut-shame black girls. They marginalize and criminalize them. They cast them as deviant and reinforce social ideas about black girls’ identity in a way that can be very destructive.”2 2015. Accessed September, 2019.

2 Dr. Monique W. Brown, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools (New York: The New Press, 2016), 93.

The open season on black girls’ bodies in K-12 school dress codes, has long lasting effects and larger societal implications.

“I felt the need to cover up. It’s not just covering up your body, its covering up your emotions, its covering up your opinions, because you don’t want to come off as a certain way. I think clothes are the tip of the iceberg,” said Calice after reflecting on the events of her 8th grade year. Calice is now a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dress codes aren’t built for black girls. However, instead of modifying the actual dress codes in schools to accommodate all body types, black girls are policed in hallways and asked to change. It leads us to question the nerve these school policymakers have to create guidelines and rules that target the most vulnerable among us.

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OCTOBER 2019 21

LIFESTYLE

HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD TAKING CHANCES IN YOUR TWENTIES CAN OPEN YOU UP TO NEW POSSIBILITIES

By Sydnie Albert, Lifestyle Editorial Assistant Photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Staff Photographer Illustration by Lauren Chung, Editor-In-Chief 22 MODA

Have you ever missed out on an amazing trip because you were scared of going to a new country? Or missed out on a great promotion because you didn’t speak up? You’ve probably heard the cliche that failure is a part of success, that fear is a tool used for growth. When we are first foraying into the world of independent adulthood, we are encouraged by our families and mentors who’ve lived through this time to take risks and expand our comfort zone. But many of us still fear failure, so we don’t even try.

This fear can feel like it dictates our lives, especially in our twenties. This is when we have to take responsibility for our lives.

When we have to be in charge of our finances and bills for the first time, set our own goals and figure out adult relationships.

But maybe, just maybe, by doing what terrifies us, by going out of our comfort zone, we could gain the skills and experiences we need to grow as young adults and become wiser and bolder.1

Being social can bring amazing benefits to our lives. We improve our communication skills by meeting new people. We learn to be comfortable around different groups of people and in new environments.

College especially can seem terrifying, full of the new and unknown. It teaches us to push our limits and become better versions of ourselves. It teaches us to have the courage to speak up, to ask for help when we need it. We develop the confidence in ourselves to not be afraid to make our voices heard in a public setting. If we can speak up in class, we can speak up in meetings and much more. We are prepared and have the skills to take on the world when we graduate.

“BUT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, BY DOING WHAT TERRIFIES US, BY GOING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE, WE COULD GAIN THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES WE NEED TO GROW AS YOUNG ADULTS AND BECOME WISER AND BOLDER.”

Moving from a place you’ve lived your whole life to one that you don’t know at all can be terrifying. If you don’t have family or friends from home there, it can feel lonely and daunting.

Maybe you’re moving away to college, or to a new state for work, or even to a new country to study abroad. It’s easy to get into a routine that isolates you: get up, go to work or class, run errands, come home, watch Netflix and go to bed. While this is a rather comfortable routine, it can lead to further complications down the road.2 As humans, we naturally crave socialization. Without it, we are Noonan, Dannielle. “Risks You Should Take in Your Twenties - or Live to Regret.” Metro.

Metro.co.uk, August 19, 2015. https://metro. co.uk/2015/08/17/risks-you-should-take-in-yourtwenties-or-live-to-regret-5330554/.

2 “Socializing and Depression: Socializing When Battling Depression.” NewLifeOutlook, June 21, 2019. https://depression.newlifeoutlook.com/ socialization-depression/ 1

more likely to fall into a depression.

So, get involved! Join a club, a bible study or church, go to community events, talk to someone you see regularly but don’t really socialize with—just get out of your routine and meet people. 3

We eventually don’t feel as anxious or uncomfortable when we talk to new people. We develop confidence in ourselves that will be seen by the people around us. Best of all, we gain new friends. You’ll never know who can turn out to be a new friend —someone to lean on, laugh and cry with and everything in between— unless you talk to them in person.

Minter, Thomas. “Taking Risks in Your 20s Accelerates Careers and Eliminates Student Loans.”

Think Save Retire, July 29, 2018. https://thinksaveretire.com/taking-risks-in-your-20s-acceleratescareers-and-eliminates-student-loans/.

3

R e l a t i o n s h i p s take work.

Asking someone out is just the beginning of that.

We may fear rejection from someone we like; so, instead of making our move, we wait.

But, what if that other party is just as scared as we are? Finding the courage to ask someone out takes some guts.

When we are confident in ourselves, we have the nerve to stand up for ourselves—we won’t settle when it comes to relationships and what we need in a romantic partner.

Your twenties are for trying new experiences, growing from what we learn and building on those lessons for the future.

By trying things we’ve never done, like going skydiving or modeling in a fashion show, we learn to use fear to our advantage.

We learn to, “Speak up!” as Elle Woods would say, make ourselves known.

The truth is, these experiences may hold the greatest reward in the end. We become confident in ourselves, in our abilities, in our failures and we will no longer settle for the first kind of life the world throws at us.

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OCTOBER 2019 23

CULTURE

nervous wreck A COLLECTION OF PERSONAL POETRY FROM THE LAST 4 YEARS, REVEALING THE TRUTHS OF HEARTBREAK, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY

By Katie Herrick, Culture Editor Photographed by Emma Gray, Staff Photographer and Jessica Tenenbaum, Contributing Staff Photographer Trigger Warning: The contents of this piece mention sexual assault, depression and selfharm. If you or someone you know is in danger of harming themselves please contact the national suicide hotline (1800-273-8255) or UHS Crisis Services (608-265-5600, option 9).

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You can’t wash away an action You can’t leave the skin that’s been touched You can’t forget something you can’t remember You can’t say no when you’re not asleep You can’t say yes when you’re not there You can’t make them see why it’s wrong You can’t fix pain people don’t get

OCTOBER 2019 25

Isn’t it strange?

How most people look at knife and see danger and warning.

But when i look at a knife I see lotion.

One that needs to be spread on my skin.

Not harmless, helpful.

Not important, nothing major.

Just there.

Like the small ripples in the ocean.

The wrapping paper on a present.

The numbers on a license plate.

Skin is just a cover.

Like plastic wrap on our leftovers.

What would happen if it broke?

Nothing? Probably.

The pain doesn’t go away.

The pain won’t come.

Nothing comes.

Numbness.

I thought medicine makes it better.

I’m starting to look at knives differently again.

Hungry Hunger Starving teeth crunch Lips licked Depression eats it all All. 26 MODA

Will it get easier.

Will I hear a slow song and be happy.

Will I smell your smell.

See a picture.

Think of a memory.

Without tears in my eyes.

Will there ever be a day where I don’t miss you.

Long for you.

Love you.

OCTOBER 2019 27

Do I sleep next to you for the warmth?

Or for the familiarity?

Maybe because I don’t know how to sleep alone.

Do you?

Is it love we share?

Or tolerance?

Does your cup run over with appreciation for me?

Or does my cup’s runover fill yours?

Maybe I’m just hungry, a hunger I’ll never cure.

Or maybe you’re the appetizer for the dish I really want, but what if I want you to be the entree?

Do I sleep next to you because I want you?

Or what I thought you were?

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I shouldn’t have to wonder if you love me.

I shouldn’t have to wonder why I’m not enough.

I shouldn’t want to stay only because I’m afraid to watch you love someone the way I want you to love me.

OCTOBER 2019 29

LIFESTYLE

DARE TO CHANGE

By Amanda Jentsch, Contributing Writer Emily Bian photographed by Josh Redfearn, Staff Photographer

Fall is the season when the old fades away and makes way for the new. Like nature, sometimes our lives need some pruning and sprucing up too. It takes courage to take a long, hard look at our lives and decide to take a new path.

Maybe it’s starting a new class, trying a new extra-curricular, or reaching out to someone that you haven’t seen in forever. How can you change your life this semester?

You can change the people and attitudes with which you surround yourself.

There’s a quote from motivational speaker Jim Rohn that goes, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Take time this fall and examine who those five—or more—people are. Do they make you a better person? Or do they drag you down and hold you back? The same also applies to virtual relationships. Does seeing someone’s constant Instagramperfect pictures make you feel bad about yourself? If it does, then why do you follow them? Going through your social media and clearing out anything that, in the words of Marie Kondo, “does not bring joy” can bring some muchneeded peace and change into your life.

30 MODA

You can change surroundings.

your

physical

Our personalities and our lives are reflected in our homes and mostvisited spaces. Something quick— refolding your t-shirt drawer, making your bed or organizing your bathroom—can bring a breath of fresh air into your everyday life, and not only literally. By switching up your wardrobe or changing your décor, it is easier to feel that boost of energy by simply seeing something new every day.

Transformation doesn’t have to be limited to where you call home.

Change where you get your morning coffee, or where you study. Take a new route to class. Switching up where you spend your time is a simple solution to finding new perspectives.

You can change your actions.

Feeling a little bored with the same kinds of classes or activities? Join a new student organization or try out a campus activity that you might have overlooked. There are always a million-and-one events happening on campus. See new movies playing in

Union South, or play a game of tennis on one of the open courts. Go listen to Memorial Union’s Open-Mic Night and support a local performer playing live music. Wander down State Street and into a bookshop (listen to the owners’ recommendations—they’ll be good), or tour the Chazen Art Museum for free. And of course, there’s no shortage of really amazing coffee. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll see that might alter your life or simply provide an interesting diversion.

It may seem like you are already on a particular track, like you couldn’t possibly get off that train and explore a little. Feeling stuck and stagnant can hit hard, especially as the winter months approach. But know this: you have so many options available to you. You have the power to decide how you spend your time, where you spend it and who you spend it with.

In the words of Disney’s Brave, “If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?” So, how will you approach that challenge? Will you choose to stay in a safe place where things are comfortable, but perhaps not the most exciting. Or will you dare to change your life?

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OCTOBER 2019 31

CULTURE

F

MEET

FAME

NON-BINARY DRESSING ON CAMPUS: Q&A + LOOKBOOK

By Abigail Smith, Contributing Writer Fame Turner photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Staff Photographer

32 MODA

OCTOBER 2019 33

Fame Turner is a student at UWMadison studying computer science.

Fame loves their skirts, platform shoes and fake eyelashes—especially when strutting around campus to their favorite local bars on the weekend.

They exude confidence, strength and empowerment, especially in the moments they feel most vulnerable.

While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and living in the city, Fame has encountered discrimmination and judgement simply because of their identity.

As a non-binary person of color at an overwhemingly cis and white university, it takes courage to step out and be authentic to themselves. Moda sat down with Fame to ask some questions about their style, their life experiences and how they found their nerve to be authentically them, despite the possible dangers and hatred.

MODA MAGAZINE: “Who is your style inspiration and why?”

FAME: “My style inspiration comes from the fashion industry trending page. Then I usually thrift for clothes that are on trend, and I modify the clothing to fit me. I love looking at what is trendy because I enjoy changing my look. Thrifting is the most inexpensive way to try to be trendy. I love it so much.”

34 MODA

MM: “What empowers you to be authentic to yourself?”

FT: “Well, for 18 years of my life, I was living for someone else and that made me miserable. When I started college, I met people who are my friends now, where they didn’t care what I did and gave me room to explore my sexuality and self expression, even through my clothes. Every now and then, I try to remind myself to live for me and do things for me.”

MM: “If there was one thing you wish people understood about you and your identity, what would it be?”

FT: “I just wish people didn’t care about how I look. Yes, I always dress for myself. Yes, I feel confident in it.

Yes, I am minding my own business.”

MM: “What are some examples of times you’ve felt judged or discriminated against because of your identity? “ FT: “Everyday I get looked at, and I know they’re judging me. I would be walking down the street and random people would stop and stare. One time, a man just stopped and said ‘What is that?’ I just kept walking, and my friend stopped to try to confront him. I told her it’s fine, I don’t care what he thinks.”

MM: “How did you find the nerve to overcome the judgments of others?”

FT: “I don’t really care what they think. I just don’t understand why

people care so much on what others are doing. I’m just trying to walk down the street to get food. But I’m also not perfect. I do have my bad days. I have a really good support system from my friends and family. They’re always there for me no matter what. Thanks to them, I am this confident. They’re my cheerleaders, and they’re always making me a better person.”

MM: “What are some words of advice you would give to other students on campus who want to embrace their true selves?”

FT: “Well there are a few easy ones. First─start living for yourself.

Question what you are doing─will it make you happy or will it make you sad? Surround yourself with people who are always making you laugh and cheering you up. There’s so much negativity in the world already, why are you trying to spread that around?

Also being a bad bitch is a mentality, so start believing in yourself or nobody will. You have to be your own cheerleader too.”

Fame’s story is just one example of the experiences of non-binany people of color on UW-Madison’s campus. Putting themselves out into a world that is full of judgement and preconceived notions yet still remaining true to who they are is a quality we can all learn from and find within ourselves.

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OCTOBER 2019 35

36 MODA

ART

Photo Credits to National Gallery

RADICAL REPRESENTATION THE BODY IN CONTEMPORARY ART

By Elm Stephenson, Arts Editorial Assistant In the world of the arts, the body seems to find itself at the vanguard of artistic expression. This was evident during the time of the great Italian masters when Raphael and his ilk rediscovered perfected classical forms through their perfectly proportioned human bodies. The potential of the body can also be seen in the self-portraits of Van Gogh who captured his frailty and inner turmoil through painterly expression.

The body’s role in the steady march of artistic innovation extends to the world of contemporary art as well, where intimate and disquieting representations of the body forged a path out of minimalism and into the art installation.

Minimalism was a movement centered on the art object’s interaction with space. Adherents, such as Donald Judd, sought to make art that was devoid of reference, resulting in geometric and spatially protruding sculptures made out of industrial materials. Minimalists took great care in their surfaces with an emphasis on the reality of their construction.

Rather than attempting to create the illusion of a figure, instead, Minimalist

pieces made their surfaces mirror the medium they were constructed with.

This combination of formal elements produced confrontational art that disrupted the bodily experience of the viewer—even to a deadly fault.

One massive work by Minimalist artist Richard Serra killed one of the men installing it, revealing the fundamentally aggressive nature of Minimalist sculpture.

These ideas surrounding Minimalism, while problematic, were revolutionary and ripe for further development. The world of art is ever-changing, and artists began to build upon the spatial presence of minimalism. One artist at the fore of this effort was Eva Hesse, who utilized a minimalist conception of presence while gesturing towards a return to figural representation.

One particularly striking work of Hesse’s is his 1968 installation entitled “Contingent,” which consists of several hung strips of cheesecloth encased in fiberglass. The cheesecloth give the work a definite materiality, yet it is not removed from figural reference. Initially, the strips may be

reminiscent of the abstract nature of Minimalism, but the organic quality of the material’s appearance belies a complicated story. While she created the piece, Hesse was suffering with brain cancer, and the liminality of her life and her body were in sharper relief. This reveals a bodily context to aid in understanding “Contingent,” illuminating the figural element of the piece. The translucence of the work changes the surface of the composition with changes in the light, reminiscent of human skin. “Contingent” represents an encapsulation of the body and its evolving nature.

Representations of the body continued to be present once art installations came in vogue. These installations, which draw upon the interrogation of gallery spaces that is inherent in Minimalism, incorporate the body of the viewer into its surrounding space.

However, they do not merely invade the space of the viewer. Instead, they invite the viewer into a world of the artists’ creation, producing an experience of understanding rather than imposition.

OCTOBER 2019 37

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CULTURE

THE GIRL WHO PLAYS FOOTBA A GIRL? ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM? YEAH, HI, THAT’S ME

By Naomi Gross, Contributing Writer Images provided by Naomi Gross 38 MODA

O ALL

With no intention to become the token advocate for feminism, I became “The Girl That Plays Football.”

Before my junior year of highschool, I decided I was going to play varsity football. This decision came after my high school soccer coach and I got into an argument over my priorities: I continued to choose my nationallyranked club soccer team over my high school team. Because of this, he told me I was not going to be allowed to play for the high school team that year, even though I had played on the varsity squad since I was a freshman. He made it clear that he believed I did not possess any other talents and that he expected me to come crawling back to him my senior year, begging for a spot.

Anyone who knows me can attest: I am a very headstrong person. When I learned I was not going to play on the soccer team, my mouth ran quicker than my brain allowed. Without thinking, I assured my coach that I could do absolutely anything I set my mind to and that, in fact, if I wanted to do something absolutely wild, like play on the men’s football team, ─ I’d do it─and I’d do it damn well.

As I walked away from that coach, tears running down my cheeks with frustration, I knew I had to do it. I knew that I had to go play football, because.... I’m a relentless bitch.

Playing football had honestly never crossed my mind. But there we were; I’d said it. I put those words into the universe, and now nothing could make me change my mind.

The first person I told about my plans laughed. Most of my classmates thought it was a joke. Some of the boys on the team joked about “coming for my uterus” to keep me away. No one really believed I’d follow through with it.

For an in shape soccer player, I was incredibly out of shape in the football weight room. ─ I could not compete with the numbers my teammates were putting up. My running times were pathetic in comparison. Despite all this, and the mandatory three-days-a-week workouts, I showed up every day. In the least possible cliche way, I made sure to

be the first person there and one of the last to leave.

The year went by fast. I became stronger and faster. I finished endurance runs in the middle of the pack. My body became a finely tuned machine.

The summer came along and I became excited for the training camp. Every team member would be there. I soon realized I would not be attending. They could not accommodate a girl.

So, as any persistent athlete would, I found a camp that would take me.

I learned how to kick a football (it is NOT the same as kicking a soccer ball). I was the only woman at the camp. It was in some newspaper somewhere. The head of the camp was an ex-pro player. At the beginning of the camp he told me he knew I’d be fantastic. While he seemed sincere, I was uncomfortable that he continued to pick me out of the crowd.

Tryouts were around the corner and I was scared I wasn’t ready.

Unsurprisingly to me, on the first day, I threw up. I literally ran until I threw up. It wasn’t my cutest moment. Day two came and I managed to keep my stomach goop in my body. Day three I finally got to kick a ball. Expectations were very low, so when my kicks matched our starters, everyone was very confused. It did not take long for mine to surpass his in accuracy. To his credit, he helped me become a better kicker and was incredibly gracious throughout our senior year.

Cuts were made. My name was on the list. The school was in shock. A girl? On the football team? Yeah, hi, that’s me.

After a couple days of practice (in shoulder pads made for a man), we had our first game. I assumed my coach had messed up in the email he sent to the team. I was… starting? I couldn’t believe it. Surely the kicker with more experience should do our first kickoff of the season. Nope, my name lived on the starting chart. I was about to kick off our football season.

Game day was like any other ─ the boys gave their away jerseys to their OCTOBER 2019 39

girlfriends or prospective lady friends. I just kind of existed in my own space.

The day was over before I could blink.

I made sure to email my high school soccer coach to alert him that we had a game and he should come see me play, as I’d be starting.

An hour before the game, I sat in the women’s locker room, alone, on a wooden bench. I listened to the Mulan soundtrack. I compared my journey to hers. The transformation scene in which she put on her armor was how I imagined putting on mine.

The scene where she chopped off her hair, I tied mine in a loose braid and tucked it into my jersey. When I was all suited up, I looked in the mirror one last time. I remember thinking, holy shit, don’t mess this up. How people view women’s athletic capabilities is completely dependent on how you do today. After knocking to make sure the coast was clear, I walked into the men’s locker room, absolutely terrified.

We had a short inspirational talk and then the special teams unit walked down to the field to warm up. After a couple kicks, I took off my helmet to rearrange my hair. The other team freaked out. I heard someone say “is that… a chick?”

Fans were arriving. Many held signs with my face on it. Many were people I did not know. The rest of my team took the field. I kept reminding myself to breathe. It was time for kickoff.

Breathe. I jogged out to the 40 yard line and placed the ball on the tee.

Breathe. Please don’t fall off, ball. Eight steps back. Breathe. Five steps to my left. Okay, breathe. The ref nodded at me, smiling as he noticed I’m not a 40 MODA

boy. I looked over to my teammates on either side of me.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Let’s go,” one reassuringly.

replied,

nodding

I walked then began to run straight through the ball, remembering the technique I’d worked so hard to perfect. I kicked the ball far, high and to the left, just like I was supposed to. I ran up to my spot, praying their player didn’t make it far enough for me to have to hit him. We tackled their player within five yards. I hustled off the field as fast as I could, grabbing the tee as I went. I heard fans chanting my name. I high fived the bench.

Okay, women can rest easy, I thought, I haven’t disappointed anyone yet.

After that first kick I was confident I could actually have a positive impact on my team’s season. Everything was going so well. All my kicks that game were good. My coaches and teammates were very happy with me. But as the game drew to a close, I began to get nervous again.

We needed to shake hands with the other team. I took off my stuffy helmet.

I always got claustrophobic in there. I let out my braid. I lined up to say “good game.” The first thing I heard was “wow, you’re not ugly for a girl that plays football.”

“Can I get your number?”

“Are you getting a train ran on you, princess?”

Most of my teammates were too absorbed in the post-game buzz to hear these comments.

I didn’t know how to respond. After all the work I’d put in I was absolutely shattered that this was the response.

However, I decided to use their comments as fuel to improve. If I were playing well enough, I thought, they would only care about my stats.

I was wrong, of course. No matter how well I played, I was still the only girl in Maryland playing varsity football. I would still get hit on during and after the games. I would still get snide remarks when I wore shirts with our football logo.

“Is that your boyfriend’s?”

“But, you’re just a kicker right?”

“I can’t believe your dad let you play!”

Luckily, I’ve been blessed with thick skin. What I took away from football is much more than just a topic that I get the pleasure of writing about every once in a while.

Football gave me the confidence to swim against the current. I learned to put very little value on what people think about me, so long as I am proud of who I am. This is something I am very appreciative of in college as I change my life plan over and over and continue to grow and discover new things about myself.

Watching other women get into a sport that I love has been incredibly rewarding. While I did not always have an easy time, I hope that my experience has paved the way for others. More and more often you hear about women playing high school football and I know that they are growing in more than simply their physical strength, much like I did.

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FASHION

THE INFLUENCE OF DRAG IN MODERN-DAY FASHION AND BEAUTY

By Sarah Troy, Fashion Editorial Assistant Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag queen, considered one of the most commercially successful drag queens. In 2009, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was launched on television. Through this show, Rupaul popularized drag in mainstream culture. This Emmy-winning series depicts a group of drag queens competing for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar, as well as a cash prize of $100,000. It did not take long for the show to go completely viral.

Suddenly, drag became normalized, and its influence quickly spread.

After the success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the makeup industry was the first to catch on. With heavy drag makeup, drag queens were able to metaphorically “put on a mask” and become a different person, or sometimes the person within themselves they were too afraid to show people. This sense of empowerment spread to men and women alike as drag makeup began to influence the makeup community.

It started with makeup trends. Make up artists began to take great influence from the way drag queens applied their makeup. Trends such as contouring with different shades of makeup to sculpt the face and extreme eyeshadow and eyelashes gained immediate popularity.

Soon after, Instagram and YouTube

makeup influencers began spreading this new wave as well.

extravagant pieces by designers like Moschino, Gucci, The Blonds, Versace, Mugler and many more.

After makeup came fashion. As drag queens upped their makeup game, fashion rightfully followed.

Fashion in drag primarily began the trend of gender ambiguity. In recent fashion, gender ambiguity has become increasingly popular. For Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2016 Women’s Collection, Jaden Smith was among the model cast. More and more, fashion is encouraging society to bend the rules of genders. This is especially evident with the “power suit” trend for women. The power suit allows women to take a piece of clothing once deemed only appropriate for men and use its power for themselves, showing that no piece of clothing is made for just one kind of person.

We even see the effect of camp from drag in smaller forms, such as the idea of being “extra,” which is when one is considered to be doing more than needed. In fashion, being “extra” is similar to the concept of camp, where you take your self-expression to another level. For example, the famous trans Instagram influencer Nikita Dragun is well known for her overthe-top outfits often filled with latex, feathers and rhinestones. It is exactly this kind of unconventional, bold look that Dragun’s following praises—it is the very idea that Dragun is not only bold, but so overtly over-the-top that inspires and incites appreciation.

The idea of camp in fashion also came about through drag’s influence. Camp is an aesthetic in fashion that uses irony and exaggeration to challenge the modernist view of art. This year’s theme for the Met Gala was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” inspired by Susan Sontag’s famous essay on camp which she described as “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.” Many celebrities came to the event wearing

The influence of drag in fashion and makeup must be recognized. Drag queens deserve credit for the barrierbreaking steps that mainstream culture has taken towards an accepting environment. Without drag’s influence, many people would not have the confidence to express their true identities. As is fashion, drag is everchanging and will hopefully continue to evolve and influence the world around us.

OCTOBER 2019 41

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FASHION

GUCCI’S CONTROVERSIAL TIMES GUCCI’S EXECUTION HAS RECENTLY MISSED THE MARK, BUT WHERE THEIR INTENT LIES MAY BE A LARGER COMMENT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY

By Ethan Fenske, Fashion Editor

Recently, fashion news has been inundated with woes of controversy amongst big name designers, namely Gucci. In their runway shows, they’ve been accused of racial bigotry and misrepresentation of mental illness… but what exactly was called into question?

Alessandro Michele was appointed Gucci’s creative director in 2015. Since his takeover, Gucci has been wrought with controversy. A recent runway incident sparked controversy over whether or not a design was paying homage to imitation artist Daniel Day (more widely known as “Dapper Dan”) or blatantly copying his work.

In Michele’s 2018 ‘New Renaissance’ cruise collection, one look featured a bomber jacket with balloon sleeves and the Gucci double G logo. The media was quick to point out the similarity between Gucci’s look and that of a jacket Dapper Dan had made for Olympic medalist Diane Dixon1.

Schneier, Matthew. “Did Gucci Copy ‘Dapper Dan’? Or Was It ‘Homage’?” The New York Times.

The New York Times, May 31, 2017. https://www. nytimes.com/2017/05/31/fashion/gucci-dap1

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Gucci claimed their look was paying homage to Dapper Dan, however, many were not convinced. Even Dixon posted side-by-side images on her personal social media asking for proper credit to be given.

In their F/W 2018 line, Gucci showcased a balaclava jumper that included an attached black mask with a cutout of red lips around the mouth. Rightfully, people pointed out the similarities the jumper had to blackface, including Day, who was very vocal about his discontent with the jumper.2 At their last show, Gucci created yet another stir. Models wore straightjackets in Gucci’s attempt to comment on the ways creative people might be restricted in what they can and cannot say due to our current cultural zeitgeist. per-dan-jacket.html.

2 Cheng, Andrea. “What Gucci Can Teach Other Companies About Handling Scandals.” Footwear News, May 22, 2019. https://footwearnews. com/2019/fashion/designers/gucci-controversy-turban-blackface-response-1202783586/.

“[Michele] designed those blank-styled clothes to represent how through fashion, power is exercised over life, to eliminate self-expression.”3 During the show, however, a model protested the looks by writing “Mental Health Is Not Fashion” on her palms, showcasing her message as she walked down the catwalk. This sparked massive debate regarding Gucci’s sensitivity towards mental illness and the imagery straightjackets can infer.

A bit on the nose? Yes, definitely—but, due to the number of times Gucci has been called into question recently, it was a necessary response to the allegations. Was it targeting mentally ill people in specific, or trying to make a broader claim on the state of the industry? Most probably the latter.

Was it in good taste? Maybe not. I personally think that no brand in their right mind would decide to take mental Pasquarelli, Adrianne. “Gucci Back in Hot Water, This Time for Mental Health Imagery.” AdAge, September 23, 2019. https://adage.com/article/ cmo-strategy/gucci-back-hot-water-time-mentalhealth-imagery/2199561.

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JACOPO RAULE VIA GETTY IMAGES

health and make it chic, especially not one as large and well-known as Gucci.

There’s a distinction between a flop of an idea and blatant appropriation.

Straightjackets are a relic of history, and while they were used on mentally ill patients, that’s not their only use.

Generally speaking, they are used to restrain a person as much as one possibly can, for one reason or another.

If Gucci feels as restrained as their SS20 show would lead one to believe, it isn’t out of the question to use one of the most iconic garments for restraining people as a part of a larger statement.

Should they have thought a few steps ahead and foreseen the obvious allegations that would come in as soon as they ran the show? Definitely.

Was the artistic direction not where

it should be? 100%. Could they have found a more delicate way of getting the idea across? Yes. But, that doesn’t mean that their main goal with the collection was to compare themselves to mentally ill patients of times past. It was a bad idea, and should be called out as such; however, art is full of terrible ideas! For every truly applauded piece of art, there are hundreds of pieces that miss the mark, and that’s okay.

Today, if you’d like to make a statement that goes against the grain in any way —aside from a few prescribed and accepted ways of doing so—you’ll immediately be villainized and cast out from your peers. Is this really how art should be made? The greats are considered greats because they went against the grain—because they called out what needed to be called out. For

something to be a truly great piece of art, it needs to be married to the current culture in one way or another.

Is restricting what can and cannot be commented on the right way to correct for gaffes? It’s something to think about.

While most agree that mental illness isn’t something to glamourize, does that mean that artistic ventures should be dragged into cancel culture? That certain historic iconography should be immediately swept under the rug and deemed unacceptable? It seems like a restriction on free speech, which most of the western world can agree, is necessary. It’s almost as if artists are being put into straightjackets.

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OCTOBER 2019 43

LIFESTYLE

44 MODA

BIGGER & BOLDER

By Lauren Feiges, Contributing Writer Kate Lawless photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer If you ask anyone who knew me in middle school what I was known for, they would say I was “that one girl who always wore red lipstick.” As soon as my mom gave up on regulating whether or not I wore makeup to school I would wake up an extra fifteen minutes early in the morning just so I had enough time to apply my foundation and my signature bright MAC lip, all at the ripe age of thirteen.

Even though I was already gifted with fairly large lips, I still loved drawing attention to them by painting them a rich red every morning before school.

This became my favorite part of my morning routine. I felt naked at school without it, like my sense of self was incomplete without my bright red shield. At first, I didn’t really know why I loved my MAC collection so much, but it quickly became an important part of how I presented myself. I wanted the rest of the seventh grade to know that I wasn’t afraid of what they thought. In short, I loved myself and my bold lipstick.

According to Maya Allen at MarieClaire, the trends for the upcoming decade are calling for platform shoes, wide-legged pants, giant

hoop earrings and sparkly makeup.1 All of these things might be considered too big, bright or bold, but embracing the campy-ness of what’s yet to come down the fashion pipeline is what I adore about these trends. Why bother hiding when we can rock what we got?

There’s little point in trying to mask who you are by using your style to hide the body you’ve been given.

We see your height regardless of the flats on your feet, we see your thick brows despite the way you brushed them this morning, and we see your ears regardless of the way you tried to hide them under your hair. You might as well wear taller shoes, a darker brow and a bigger earring. You’re hiding your insecurities when even the hottest trends are celebrating how beautiful you are.

I know that finding that confidence is easier said than done. For years, I was not comfortable in my own skin.

I was always comparing myself to others, wanting what everyone else Allen, Maya. “Beyoncé’s Makeup Artist Sir John Says These Will Be the Coolest Makeup Trends of 2019.” Marie Claire. Marie Claire, January 29, 2019.

1

had and wondering why I wasn’t good enough. At 5-feet 9-inches I am already taller than most of my peers. But the great thing about confidence is that it’s everchanging. Despite my height, I fell in love with the chunky sneakers trend. I didn’t know how much I would love my platform Supergas until I tried them on for the first time and thought to myself, ‘“Dang, my legs look so much leaner with these shoes!”

Exhibiting confidence in a silent, but powerful way keeps me going throughout my day. Trying on wedged sneakers for the first time took me back to that very first vampy MAC lipstick I purchased. I knew that dark lipstick was a little out there for middle school andI knew that platform sneakers are unconventional for taller girls, but I don’t care.

I just want to rock something that makes me happy. So here’s to wearing chunky sneakers, big hoops, cheetah-print pants, and a dark red lip. Here’s to loving what you’re made of.

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OCTOBER 2019 45

d FASHION

on the rise MODERN DESIGNERS RISING TO THE TOP

By Anna Snell, Fashion Staff Writer Graphic by Lauren Chung, Editor-In-Chief

The fashion industry is one of the most competitive fields to make waves in and there are constantly new designers trying to break into the game. These designers have been gaining attention from not only their garments, but also through their efforts to speak on real life issues.

Marine Serre Mariane Serre is a 26-year-old designer with nerve running through her veins. Serre’s first collection, “A Radical Call for Love,” was a comment on the political state following the terrorist attacks in Paris (2015) and Brussels (2016). “A Radical Call for Love” expertly fuses late nineties sportswear trends and 19th centurary Arab garments, this idea echoes throughout the collection along with the desire to connect existing links in the world.1 Serre prides herself on becoming engaged in the current issues around her. The models wearing her Spring 2020 collection were covered head to toe in black, and accessorized with reclaimed materials. This most recent collection, titled “Marée Noire,” roughly translates to “Oil Spill.”2 These bold collections seize the audience with their statements on current issues, Serre stands apart from other designers who may not even talk about current events, let alone have collections surrounding them.

BODE Emily Bode, based out of New York, is currently creating a new space for women in the Menswear industry. She seeks out fabrics that are traditionally crafted by women, and that, to her, represent “the home.” 3 Bode incorporates pieces from tablecloths, handkerchiefs, lace, cowhides, quilts and a wide variety of other vintage materials.

Though these materials have a traditionally feminine connotation, Bode contrasts this notion with the strong menswear silhouettes crafted out of traditionally female materials. Her nuanced and bold creative approach have “MARINE SERRE.” LVMH PRIZE. Accessed October 7, 2019. http://www. lvmhprize.com/designer/marine-serre/.

2 “About.” Marine Serre. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://marineserre.com/ about.

3 “About.” BODE New York. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.bodenewyork.com/pages/about.

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46 MODA

not gone unnoticed by the industry, as Bode was the first woman to be featured in the NYFW Men’s runway.

Amina Muaddi Shoes Amina Muaddi only just recently launched her first solo shoe brand last year, but is gaining recognition in the fashion community with the help of celebrity support.

Both Rihanna and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were spotted wearing Mauddi’s shapely shoes.4 Muaddi embarked on this journey by travelling to Riviera del Brenta, the mecca of Italian shoe design, to learn the ins and outs of shoe construction.5

Yang Li Born in Berlin, Yang Li was relocated to Australia at a very young age. Due to this, he spent his teenage years fairly isolated. Li spent most of his time skateboarding, which gave him his first glimpse into the fashion world.

After being awarded a highly prestigious scholarship to Central Saint Martins in 2007, he interned under Gareth Pugh. Li eventually dropped out from CCM, and then interned for Raf Simons before releasing his eponymous label in 2010. Since then, he has consistently worked to disrupt the fashion industry by making clothes catered to a digital era. He’s been known to shake up the traditional idea of a fashion show. In the past, he’s done virtual “anti-shows” where he asked friends of his to post pictures of themselves with their Yang Li clothes on their Instagram stories. Most recently, he did a show where collection was shown digitally on 3D scanned models that wore glossy, surreal fetishistic latex looks that were reminiscent of his most iconic styles 6.

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Mundigo-Moore, Isabel. “Literally Every Stylish Celebrity Has Bought a Pair of These Cult Shoes in 2019.” Who What Wear. Who What Wear, July 16, 2019. https://www.whowhatwear.com/amina-muaddi.

5 “About.” Amina Muaddi. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.aminamuaddi.com/about.

6 Holth, Madeleine. “Yang Li Disrupts PFW with His Virtual Fashion Show.”

LOVE. LOVE, October 1, 2019. https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article 4

yang-li-disrupts-pfw-with-his-virtual-fashion-show.

7 Menkes, Suzy. “Raf Simons and the Heart of Art.” The New York Times. The New York Times, January 16, 2014. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/ fashion/Raf-Simons-and-the-Heart-of-Art.html.

OCTOBER 2019 47

CULTURE

THEY’VE GOT NERVE WOMEN IN POLITICS MAKING MAJOR WAVES DESPITE ALL THE“-ISMS”

By Gabrielle Gronewold, Contributing Writer / Illustrated by Jade Christensen 48 MODA

2018 was declared the “Year of the Women 2.0” when a record number of women were elected to the 116th U.S Congress.1 This moment redefined and reshaped the face of the U.S. government and became a symbol of hope for many. It took bold moves from bold women to successfully make this shift in representation happen.

The success of women in the 2018 midterm elections was indeed mesmerizing, but it did not signify the completion of gender equality in politics. It’s no secret women politicians still gracefully face trials and tribulations every day due to their rarity in the field. Yet, the bold women who inspired a nation in 2018 have reigned on, continuing to change the political game despite the challenges they may face.

“Change by nature takes friction,” Alexandria O c a s i o - C o r t e z , representative of the New York 14th District said, “it’s just a question of how we move through it.” 2

It took nerve for Ocasio-Cortez to stand up and stand out with such comments the way she did. This bold energy has put her name on the map, and, according to Time magazine, has made her the “Wonder Women of the left” and the “Wicked Witch of the right.”6 Kamala Harris, democratic 2020 presidential candidate and California senator, has expressed the essential role women like Ocasio-Cortez play in official positions.7

gun control, Medicare for all and the reexamination of ICE.9 However, being a bold women in politics doesn’t come sugar-coated.

Ocasio-Cortez admits the start of her term came “really, really, really hard,” making her feel “physically ripped apart in those first two to three months.” 10 Indeed, Ocasio-Cortez has faced backlash since she hit the floor of congress back in January 2019. The republican party, social media trolls and President Trump—who once claimed her socialist policies would cause Americans to start eating dogs—have all dished their ridicule toward the New York representative.11

“BEING BOLD IN POLITICS ENABLES WOMEN TO BRING THEIR NEEDS AND EXPERIENCE TO THE CONVERSATION AND REVOLUTIONIZE A GOVERNMENT THAT CLAIMS TO REPRESENT A DIVERSE POOL OF PEOPLE.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is just one crowning jewel that arose from the 2018 midterms. She has created a celebritypolitician status for herself by forming a doting fan base and sporting bold legislation. Ocasio-Cortez has expressed overwhelming support of the Green New Deal,a bipartisan campaign finance reform, abolishing ICE, Medicare for all and a presidential impeachment, just to name a few.3 Ocasio-Cortez recently made waves with her support of the California gig worker bill, a bill that will make it harder for companies, such as Uber and Postmates, to classify their employees as independent contractors.4 OcasioCortez took to Twitter to defend the Mettler. Year of the Women 2.0 (Washington Post Magazine, 2018).

2 Edmonson. How AOC learned to play by Washington’s rules (New York Times, 2018) 3 Alter. Inside Rep. AOC’s unlikely rise (Time, 2019) 4 Berhmann. AOC rips Barbara Boxer (USA Today, 2019).

1

bill and call out a former Democrat senator Barbara Boxer’s efforts against labor regulation, saying Boxer’s efforts were “an abuse of power” and “a stain on public service.” 5

“I don’t think it’s possible to name just one challenge—from the economy to climate change to criminal justice reform to national security, all issues are women’s issues—but I believe the key to tackling the challenges we face is ensuring women are at the table, making decisions,” Harris said.8 Harris has proven to be an outspoken figure for gender equality and an equal playing field in our challenge-ridden political world. Her 2020 campaign has been based off free college tuition, Ocasio-Cortez. Frm officials (Twitter, 2019) 6 Alter. Inside Rep. AOC’s unlikely rise (Time, 2019) 7 PBS. What does Kamala Harris believe? (PBS NewsHour, 2019 8 Politico Magazine. Biggest problems women face today (Politico Magazine, 2019) 5

It took moments like these to make Ocasio-Cortez stand up and declare, “Make fun of me. Do it. Draw the little insults on my face,”12 taking back her voice and her right to raise important societal questions.

If she sat down and kept quiet, the legislation Ocasio-Cortez envisions and the work her and others put in would be obsolete.

“They’ll tell you you’re too loud — that you need to wait your turn; and ask the right people for permission.

Do it anyway,”13 OcacioCortez claimed, proving that she is submerging herself into the political world.

Being bold in politics enables women to bring their needs and experience to the conversation and revolutionize a government that claims to represent a diverse pool of people. Women such as Oscasio-Cortez and Harris prove that just being offered a seat at the table is not enough—having our voices heard is the true means necessary to incite political transformation.

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PBS. What does Kamala Harris believe? (PBS NewsHour, 2019) 10 Tracy. Ocasio-Cortez opens up about new fame (Vanity Fair, 2019) 11 Ibid.

12 Ibid.

13 Ocasio-Cortez. Latino Victory Hispanic Heritage Month (Twitter, 2019) 9

OCTOBER 2019 49

FASHION

SHOOT FOR THE

staz

A UW STUDENT USING HIS PASSION FOR FASHION TO SPARK SOCIAL CHANGE

By Elise Andersen, Deputy Editor Antonio Sanchez photographed by Annika Ide, Photography Director

Many of us can attest to having an entrepreneurial spirit—having a desire to start a business or be our own boss. It takes nerve to actually pursue these ideas, especially in the face of judgment and failure. Antonio Sanchez, a UW-Madison student studying economics, decided to make his dreams a reality. In 2016, Antonio launched “Staz Industries”, a forward-thinking fashion label with an emphasis on unity through diversity. While packing up recent orders, Antonio offered some insight on his brand’s mission, roadblocks and advice for future CEOs. MODA MAGAZINE: How did you come up with and start Staz Industries?

ANTONIO SANCHEZ: I came up with the idea for Staz from my diverse background. Being both black and Mexican, I always felt conflicted 50 MODA

between the two cultures. I felt like I couldn’t identify with both. On top of that, the majority of my friends were white, which furthered my confusion about my identity. One day, my best friend Rafa (who is also Mexican) and I decided to stop being ashamed of our races and instead embrace and express what makes us uniquely different.

Rafa is more into the design aspect of Staz, while I am interested in the business and fashion side—we make a strong team. When we were seniors in high school, we applied for business and art scholarships in order to get the funding to establish the brand. I won a business startup scholarship, which allowed me to make Staz an official LLC in collaboration with Rafa, who is still the brand’s Creative Director. From

there, we designed our first shirt and sold it to family and friends. Since then, we have designed three more shirts and have plans to expand into more pieces.

MM: What is the deeper meaning behind Staz?

AS: Staz is a way of life. There’s two ways of looking at it: one way is that the word “staz” is slang for stars, and stars represent the future, which we strive to change for the better as a company.

The second way of looking at it goes a little bit deeper: we derived the name from our favorite symbol, a star. The sun itself is a star, and light from the sun allows us to see. This light that the sun gives off is made up of UV rays. We see Staz as the sunglasses that allows one to see

up of UV rays. We see Staz as the sunglasses that allows one to see the diverse spectrum of colors that make up these UV rays. Staz aims to enhance one’s ability to appreciate the unique diversity in our world.

In a time when racial and cultural tensions act as a divider, it is hard to see the beauty in our differences and the power in our unity. At Staz, we see a future that is proud, connected and unafraid to acknowledge a need for change—a future that is always moving ultra forward.

parents faced. I see myself in Abloh, who is a UW alum. He majored in engineering, which was my major coming into college. Although a prestigious career path, Abloh knew he wasn’t meant to succumb to the typical American lifestyle, and instead decided to follow his passion for design and fashion.

After realizing I was unhappy with the engineering major, I decided to switch to business so that I could learn how to grow my passion into something bigger.

MM: Where does your inspiration come from?

AS: Most of my inspiration comes from my mentor, Virgil Abloh. He grew up like me—in a poor family that pushed him to get a typical corporate job so that he would never have to face the difficulties that his

I admire the way Abloh is changing the fashion industry and the world as a whole. Studying abroad in Paris last semester gave me the opportunity to attend the Louis Vuitton Men’s Show during Paris Fashion Week (Abloh is the Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton’s

Menswear). Attending this show was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that fueled my drive for Staz further.

I use his life and career as inspiration to keep pushing forward in pursuit of my dreams.

MM: What judgment have you faced for being a straight male interested in fashion? What have people said?

How do you respond?

AS: It isn’t necessarily the status quo to be a straight man that’s into fashion and the business behind it.

I grew up without a father figure, so I often found myself doing whatever my mom and sister were doing. This often involved shopping, and from a very young age I have been interested in fashion. While some people might have their own negative opinions about what I like, I’ve been pretty lucky to have OCTOBER 2019 51

so much support from the people around me.

a product, pitching your label to retailers?

There have been instances where people have told me that Staz will fail. I have been told that Staz will just be added to the list of failed businesses. My response to that isn’t verbal—it’s simply continuing to do what I do and proving those people wrong. If people don’t like what I’m doing, that’s fine—there’s plenty of people that do.

AS: Failure and rejection happens, and it’s happened to me. One example is when I was rejected from collaborating with the University on a collection. Staz’s “The Disorient” shirt features the word “Wisconsin” in scrambled letters. The University owns rights to the word “Wisconsin” being printed on any red shirt. I wanted to collaborate with the University in order to make my design happen. When they told me no, it made me angry - I thought, “I’m a student here, I should be able to do something like this.”

MM: Where does your confidence come from?

AS: To me, confidence is hard to explain—it’s just in me. Dressing well makes me feel confident. Feeling productive makes me feel confident.

You have to believe in yourself and trust yourself in order to achieve your goals, and that in itself makes me confident. I’ve failed before, but I’m confident enough in myself to know that there’s always a solution to any problem.

MM: How do you deal with failure or rejection—whether it be an idea, 52 MODA

Instead of staying angry, I decided to use that feeling to fuel my next design. I found another way to make the shirt without using UW’s patented logo, and it was a huge success. Whenever I wear that shirt, I get so many compliments and people want to know how they can get one.

Like I said, there’s always a solution, and that’s what keeps me going in the face of failure or rejection.

MM: What is your biggest advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

AS: My biggest piece of advice is that you have to love it. It’s so much work in the beginning, making hardly any money, and you don’t know if it’s actually going to succeed. But if you love it, it won’t feel like work.

My passion is what keeps me going.

MM: What do you envision for the future of Staz?

AS: I want to expand the brand into collaborations with non-forprofits that aim to help diverse kids in need. I want to improve my marketing strategies through unique ways that get my name out there. Eventually, I want Staz to become more than a t-shirt brand—I see it one day becoming a whole movement full of people who are dedicated to our mission.

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Find Staz Industries on Instagram: @stazindustries or online at www. stazindustries.com

LIFESTYLE

DID I MENTION I’M A TRANSFER? SWITCHING COLLEGES COMES WITH NAVIGATING A NEW HOME AND LONG-DISTANCE FRIENDSHIPS

By Shelby Evans, Lifestyle Staff Writer Transferring to a new college is weird to explain. In a way, it’s like being a freshman again as a junior. I have already gone through orientation, swallowed my pride to ask upperclassmen for directions and sat in on kick-off meetings for student organizations. I have already felt the complete vulnerability of navigating a new place and trying to find friends— and myself—along the way.

I transferred for one very convincing reason: Money. A private East Coast college is just as expensive as you would think it is. I thought the status and education was worth it. It wasn’t.

So, to have to go through that all those transitions again is frustrating. It feels like being a teenager again, refusing to let my mom treat me like a child anymore.

I am a seasoned college student. All I want to do is prove how mature and grown up I am, but now it feels like the world doesn’t see me that way.

Going through the typical first-year experiences again clashes with my identity as an adult. It’s not like freshman year at all. I already know how college lectures and office hours work. I already have great friends and shared college experiences with those people.

But those friends are a thousand miles away—or 912 miles, to be exact.

Somehow, in the confusion of getting oriented to my surroundings, those friendships have begun fading.

Distance and time are numbing regardless of how hard I’ve struggled not to succumb. Now it feels like there is no way to bridge the gap that stands between me and the friends I left behind.

When I transferred, I left all of the small everyday experiences of friendship back at my old school. Staying in contact is difficult when we can’t sit at the kitchen table doing homework together, or greet my friends casually when they walk through the door at the end of the day. Every time I get to interact with them it feels like a big deal, an intentional action. I can still stay in touch and know that my friendships were real, but slowly, it feels less and less natural. I don’t casually remember things about my day and share whenever you feel like it. Instead, when I do catch up, it’s like playing just the highlight reel of my life. I feel like I miss out on the everyday comfort of knowing the ins and outs of my friends’ lives.

I know my old friends won’t understand what I am going through now; they haven’t seen how the frustrations of transferring weighs down on me, and I don’t always have the words to express it. To call them out of the blue and try to explain why I am having a bad day feels difficult. They have moved on, they have people that are there for them at the end of every day, while I don’t. Everything they know comes from what I tell them about it, not what they see from me.

So when a transfer student cannot shut-up about being a transfer student this just might be why. They are trying desperately to gain validation that this is their new home. I kick myself every time I mention that I am a transfer student in initial conversations. I know that I’m fitting the annoying stereotype, so much so that I have to laugh at myself.

It’s hard to put yourself out there again.

Sometimes all you can do to comfort yourself is try to explain to people that you are so scared and overwhelmed because you are a transfer student, even if they don’t understand the weight that comes with it.

OCTOBER 2019 53

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LIFESTYLE

SULTRY SMOKEY EYE

sultry smokey eye

LIFESTYLE’S STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE PERFECT LOOK FOR YOUR AUTUMN AESTHETIC

By Olivia Stack, Contributing Writer It’s October, a transitional month for Wisconsin. Since summer is turning into fall and our skin is slowly surrendering its sunkissed glow, it’s the best time to change up our makeup to reflect the changing seasonal aesthetic. Step boldly into the fall season by following these six essential steps to the perfect autumn smokey eye:

STEP 1: THE BASE

STEP 5: BRING IT DOWN LOW

Start this look by putting a skin-colored shade all over the lid.

Take the same dark brown and an even smaller eyeshadow brush to blend the color below the lower

STEP 2: ADD SOME DEPTH Take a light brown shade and use a big blending brush to blend it through the crease and outer corner.

STEP 3: NOW DOUBLE THE DEPTH Take a darker brown shade and the same big blending brush to blend this through the crease and outer corner— just like in the previous step.

STEP 4: ADD THE SMOKE Add the darkest brown shade in your palette to the outer corner and end of the crease of your eye using a smaller eyeshadow brush.

54 MODA

lash line —make sure to blend well!

STEP 6: THE STAR OF THE SHOW...

SPARKLES Last, but definitely not least, mix the lightest shade in your palette with any sparkly shade and apply this to your inner corner and the beginning of your lid. Pro tip: use your ring finger instead of a brush to get the most pigment.

STEP 7: THE FINISHED LOOK Now you have no excuse not to rock a smokey eye while heading into fall! Just follow these easy steps to have the best bold look for hot girl fall!

1 “Vanilla on Vanilla”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

3

“Pre Game”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

4 “Mimosa”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

“Close The Tab”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

5 “Mimosa”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

2

6 “Martini Mama & Bday Bitch”, Sipping Pretty, Kylie Cosmetics

7 OCTOBER 2019 55

CULTURE

A WORLD ON EDGE HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE ENVIRONMENT — MENTAL HEALTH TOO

By Amaya Jean Muñoz, Contributing Writer Illustration by Riley August Climate change is undeniably reeking devastating effects on our planet. What most people aren’t aware of, however, is that it is also negatively affecting our minds and mental health. Recent studies have shown a rise in what people are terming “eco-anxiety,” anxiety that stems from the deteriorating state of our planet.1 Earth’s impending doom is the root of this new existential crisis─our generation feels Charlson, Fiona. “The rise of ‘eco-anxiety’: climate change affects our mental health, too,” The Conversation.

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pressure for both ourselves and future generations. Science tells us that if we don’t start doing something now, earth, as well as human kind, are headed down an unstoppable road to destruction.

This is especially difficult to hear knowing the current government refuses to acknowledge what is going on, and therefore, refuses to make the necessary policies to prevent further damage. When the people who are supposed to make change refuse

to listen, it can lead to a sense of hopelessness or feeling out of control— both of which are common symptoms of anxiety.

Imagine knowing when you are going to die and that when you die, everyone else is also going to die—even those younger and more helpless than you.

Imagine knowing someone can stop it, but they refuse to listen to your cries. To make matters worse, you can’t stop it either because you don’t

have the power. You are screaming and screaming and it feels futile, as if you’re the only one who cares. They don’t even hear your screams. They don’t acknowledge the gravity of the situation. They are going to let you die.

This is the frustration and pain that our generation feels. Even writing that, I felt the anxiety creep into my body and morph my face into worry. If things don’t happen right now, we are all doomed… so, how can we stay positive?

Recently, new environmental trends, such as metal straws, going vegan and using reusable bags, have been populating all over social media.

Finding motivation to follow these trends, however, can be hard. These are things that are only impactful if everyone does it. Often times it feels like most of society doesn’t care enough, causing us to feel as if we’re restricting ourselves for no reason.

I felt so helpless and discouraged. It is frustrating when your government pretends they hear you, but do nothing you want and need.

For some, the anxiety is debilitating.

For others, the anxiety is channeled into angerーan anger that can drive them to make change.

Sixteen-year-old Swedish climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, spoke at the United Nations on Monday, September 23rd. With her collected yet heart-wrenching anger, she spoke to those in power, “You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency, but no matter how sad and angry I am I do not want to believe that because if you really understood the situation and kept on failing to act then you would be evilーand that, I refuse to believe.”3 We can all resonate with this. I don’t want to believe it eitherーI’d rather blame ignorance.

However, sticking to these trends can also help alleviate some anxiety, and make us feel like we are doing something beneficial—even if it’s small.

When I remember to bring a tote bag to the grocery store or don’t take a straw at Starbucks I know I’m not making a huge effect in the now, but I also don’t feel the guilt and shame that comes with not doing anything.

Young people like Thunberg carry the burden of advocating for environmental policy change. The turnout of youth at the September 2019 climate strikes, internationally, was enormous. In New York City, my younger sister, a senior in high-school, skipped out on school and took the train downtown to Franklin Square to attend one of these protests.4

On the flipside, there are also a lot of people who would rather follow these trends, convincing themselves they are saving the planet, than do the only thing that could have an actual effect on climate change: protest.

The day of, when I asked her about her experience, she sounded so empowered. “Little kids were standing on lampposts and it was so beautiful to see the youth and realize that the future actually cares about our future, you know? Because honestly, it’s all up to our generation to preserve the environment. All of the teens and middle schoolers, just people you don’t expect to put their voices out there that did and that’s so important and I realized that today. It was completely silent and I started a chant and everyone else screamed along and I felt so powerful for once, like I was actually doing something.”5

Our current president denies that change is even happening to our environment, whittling climate change down to being a hoax. Yet, anyone aware and educated can see that this is not true. Because of this attitude, policies the United States have long needed have yet to be made.

Additionally, we took our largest step backward when we stepped out of the Paris Agreement in 2017.2 The people had no power in this, and personally, Roberts, Timmons. “One year since Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement,” Brookings.

2

“Greta Thunberg tells world leaders ‘you are failing us’, as nations announce fresh climate action,” UN News.

4 Ibid.

5 Interview with Jaylene Muñoz. Phone, September 20, 2019.

3

This sense of urgency from the youth also travels up to parents who are scared for their children’s futures.6 They worry about the kind of world they are leaving behind for their children. Will they have a world where they are able to grow up, have careers and children of their own?

Or will there no longer be a place for them to do that?

These thoughts can haunt someone’s mind and pressure them to instill a love for the environment in their children, but is that enough? Once again, everything goes back to that hopelessness that has developed ever since the U.S. fell back on the Paris Agreement.

The symptoms of eco-anxiety can be worked on through typical treatments for anxiety, but we may never truly be at ease while the problem still exists—especially knowing it has the potential to be solved. When the people who can solve it finally do realize this, it may just be too late.

Not everything needs to be so negative, though. We need to remember that while we may feel completely helpless, we aren’t.

We should channel our feelings of eco-anxiety into ways that can make change, rather than letting it paralyze us.

We can start by considering that the problem isn’t bigger than us, it’s ours to solve. The global climate strike was a huge step in furthering action for environmental policy change. Every time an activist speaks to people who can potentially make change, we are potentially saving our planet.

When we buy a metal straw or use a tote bag, we ease some of those anxieties and they can be stepping stones to a greater, more immediate change our world.

Even if our world is destroyed, at least we all did everything we could do. It is up to us to save our future for ourselves and for those who may come after usーterrifying, but the fear that we all need to motivate us. · 6

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Elks, Sonia. “Children suffering eco-anxiety over climate change, say psychologists,” Reuters.

OCTOBER 2019 57

CULTURE

CHANGES IN SMALL WAVES WHAT I DIDN’T EXPECT DURING MY STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE

By Ariana King, Culture Staff Writer Photographs provided by Ariana King

August 13th, 2019. My ears are humming as the plane begins its slow descent towards Marseille, a beautiful city in France that shares a border with the Mediterranean. Despite sitting in the center row, I manage to catch glimpses of the clear shimmering water down below. It’s an endless pool of blue surrounded by a small frame of boulders that look like mere pebbles from above.

The scenery is magnificent, but when I think about it, it only represents the larger picture. For a moment, I forget about all the little pieces under the sea that make the Mediterranean what it is at the surface level─but I shouldn’t have.

You see, the study abroad experience is easily comparable to my view of the Mediterranean. The understanding my family and friends have of my life in France is the glamorous view on the plane: magical, surreal and the experience of a lifetime. Study 58 MODA

abroad is all those things, but, more importantly, it’s about all the small waves that are imperceptible from above. They’re tangible, but you have to pay attention to them to fully understand how you’ve changed.

Coming to Aix-en-Provence in southern France, I had already put myself in the mindset of change. I knew I needed to accept that everything was going to be different and not hold onto the past.

After a series of unfortunate events during my first two years of college, change was exactly what I needed.

Yet, it isn’t the big changes, like speaking French all day and taking classes at a French university, that really stuck with me. Instead, those big environmental changes simply acted as catalysts for personal growth and the acquisition of a certain kind of fearlessness.

This is all best explained through the context of my first living situation.

The first Saturday after my arrival, I was introduced to my hostーa semiretired psychologist who made dinner conversations and quality food of the utmost importance. While I was optimistic at first, her constant judgement and commentaire about my Asian-ness, family and eating habits were impossible to ignore.

With the encouragement and support of the program staff, I set boundaries.

I told my host that her comments made me feel judged and asked her to stop. She replied that she couldn’t think before she spoke or she wouldn’t speak at all. The next day, she told me she didn’t want me to live there anymore. Two days after that, she told me I could live there on a week by week basis because I could “possibly be happy there.”

After all the drama I’d been through, it didn’t take bravery to decline her offer.

No, the true nerve was way before that.

It was the day I decided to stand up for myself and declare loud and proud that I have the right to define my own identity as a Chinese-American and the right to live in a judgement-free environmentー even when it meant getting kicked out of the apartment. Speaking up was the right thing to do because living in a place where I couldn’t be myself wasn’t really living at all.

Part of being more open also means advocating for my mental health.

I used to hide my anxiety fiercely because I didn’t want to be judged.

Thirteen-year-old me would not believe that I walked into the program office two weeks ago and explained, completely in French, that I was having issues with anxiety-related insomnia and needed help.

So far, that’s the biggest lesson study abroad has taught me: that being fearless is sometimes simply being yourself. Even if we view fearlessness as a synonym of adventure, it really is all about the small changes you make to live as you are.

Fearlessness is also about confidence.

Even though my French isn’t perfect, I dive head first into conversations with French students because I know my French is good enough, even if others don’t think so. I’ve also become less prone to panic when I can’t find my way around town because I know that I will eventually come back to a section of the city I knowーwith or without Google Maps.

In addition to standing up to my host, I’m much more open than I used to be back in the States. I’m not afraid to tell people I’m American, despite the negative stereotypes, or confess that no, I didn’t understand what you said in French.

Last, but not least, living in France has allowed me to be brave enough to discover who I am. Back home, I was

the mini-mother to my little sister after my mom’s death. I spent so much time caring for her, supporting my dad and being a rock for friends going through tough times too. I don’t regret any of it and I would do it all over again, but being away from my support system has allowed me to push my own limits and see what I am capable of.

All in all, the biggest shock of my study abroad experience has been the amount of growth I have achieved simply through a series of tiny, seemingly miniscule changes that have only bolstered my desire to fight through challenges.

Of course, I will make mistakes, but now I have even more confidence that I’ll still make it out okay. Well, more than okay. I know who I am now, and I know I’ll get through it with grace.

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OCTOBER 2019 59

ART

UNDER THE INK

By Grace Bezek, Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

“Art is not Art unless it challenges the meaning of Art.” This is a phrase that I remember one of my old professors posing to the class, oftentimes evoking little to no response from me and my peers.

Many think that we can’t put into words what art is supposed to be or how art is supposed to function. My take is that the definition of art is ever evolving—it changes just as the tides do and is not bound by what we understand it to be. Art is fluid, and the media and techniques artists use are constantly changing.

In the contemporary art world new mediums are highly sought after.

Every artist wants to be apart of the Avant Garde movement, or whatever may be the next revolutionary art movement. In this search for novelty, many seem to disregard the ink that a large percentage of us bare on our skin as a form of art. Is the human body too avant garde, or maybe not avant garde enough?

There seems to be a form of cognitive dissonance wallowing inside our 60 MODA

unconscious mind that prevents us from recognizing this meticulous craft as a form of fine art. Where does the emergence of this art form fit in the complex web of art history, and why are so many tattoo artists forgotten or dismissed from this narrative?

I think a large part of this dismissal is due to many of us unconsciously believing that in order for something to be classified as art it must reside in a museum or a gallery. Many believe that for art to exist it must be institutional.

Paired with institutionality, there has historically been a commercial aspect to fine art as well. The misconception that drives a wedge between tattoos and other forms of art is that if tattoos are etched into an individual’s skin, they are unable to be showcased in institutions, thus making them unable to be sold as a piece of fine art.

However, I see the tattoos I bare on my body equivalent in value, in terms of “fine art,” to the paintings you would see in a museum.

Tattoos provide a uniquely intimate experience for how I engage with artists. As a practice, this

is a phenomenon that does not accompany any other medium.

I may go to the Chazen Museum of Art and look at dozens of paintings, drawings and sculptures, but with none of them do I get the opportunity to be a guest to the creator’s artistic process.

Tattoos are incredibly intimate because of the idea of their permanence on the body. Not only is the person who has the tattoo a viewer of the piece, the wearer is also part of the piece itself.

Because of this intimate relationship, there exists a unique experience in getting a tattoo that cannot be matched to the event of purchasing a piece of traditional fine art.

Although tattoos may not be physically present in museum or gallery showings, and are not able to circulate from buyer to seller, tattoos are not to be forgotten by the art world. It doesn’t matter that the works of art that we bare on our skin are not housed within a traditional institution.

They reside on our bodies—each institutions in their own way— and, in my opinion, are one of the most avant garde mediums of all.

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FASHION

MEET THE HEROINE THE STORY BEHIND THE INSPIRING CANADIAN BRAND OF SCARVES AND BRANDS Written and Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator

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OCTOBER 2019 63

LIFESTYLE

MY INTERNAL STRUGGLE HOW I TURNED MY ATTITUDE AROUND ABOUT MY CHRON’S DISEASE

By Jessica Katz, Lifestyle Staff Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator Four years ago, my brother was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a condition characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract.

His case was fairly severe. He had trouble growing and gaining weight.

I remember going with him to his treatments, watching his face scrunch up as nurses poked at him with IVs. I wanted to be a source of positivity for him, especially when he heard bad news. While I was sympathetic towards his struggles with Crohn’s, I never quite understood how he felt until I went through that struggle myself.

As my symptoms appeared and worsened, I felt disgusting. I had a recurring burning sensation in my stomach, leaving me weak and unenergized. I simply didn’t feel like myself anymore.

The grossest aspect of Crohn’s, in my opinion, is constipation. This issue drastically altered the way I thought about myself and my body.

I constantly felt bloated and refused to accept that. With my newfound negative view of my body, some unhealthy habits arose.

I hated eating. I would try not to eat everyday, but as soon as the hunger kicked in I caved and felt a pang of guilt for putting food into my body.

I constantly worried about the way I looked. When in public, I would wrap my arms around my body to conceal my stomach. Looking at myself in a mirror became a painful experience. I would turn my body from side to side, poking and pinching at my skin and sucking in. Stuck in my head, I became obsessed with hating myself.

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When I gained a negative bodyimage, I lost myself.

My poor physical health brought down my mental health too. I felt trapped, as if the pain would never end. I saw the toxicity of my thoughts and behavior, but I didn’t know how to stop.

The hardest part, though, was not knowing what was wrong with me.

After almost a year of doctor appointments and health-testing procedures, I finally received a diagnosis: Crohn’s disease. To me, this diagnosis felt like a fresh start. I finally had hope that my suffering could end.

My doctor put me on medication to stop the inflammation, starting the slow process of recovery. I finally realized that although I had no control over the speed of my recovery, I did have control over how I dealt with that process. I understood that I had to let my body do its thing—to trust its natural processes —to get back to its normal state.

Fitness soon became part of the controlled factors in dealing with my recovery. It wasn’t easy to go from lying in bed to working out almost every day. At first, I had to force myself to go to the gym, but after trying out different classes and discovering the workouts I enjoyed, I found myself looking forward to my time in the gym.

Since I used up a lot of energy working out, my eating habits changed. I treated myself after trips to the gym with scrumptious, yet healthy meals and felt no remorse. I began to think of food as fuel and as a positive in my life.

As for my mental health, I worked hard to focus on what brought me the most joy. I started listening to music religiously, creating playlists of my favorite songs to put me in a positive state of mind. I wrote a great deal of poetry which became an important creative outlet for my thoughts. I tried to dress boldly, finding outfits that made me feel the most comfortable and confident.

After focusing my energy on the aspects of my life that thrilled me, I found happiness in myself again.

I was proud of my progress. I slowly regained confidence, knowing I was treating my mind and body the best I could.

I still have symptoms of Crohn’s. I sometimes get burning sensations in my stomach or feelings of nausea, feeling so weak I just want to lay in bed for the entire day. The difference is, now, I don’t let those symptoms control me. I focus on the positives. I know that I have no control over how my body works, but I do have control over how I live my life.

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ROUGE Directed by Ethan Fenske, Fashion Director Assistance from Sarah Troy, Fashion Editorial Assistant Aduja Nsoroma & Sarah Troy photographed by Zach Pulvermacher OCTOBER 2019 65

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OCTOBER 2019 69

CULTURE

THE NOTORIOUS RBG THE LIFE AND BECOMING OF RUTH BADER GINSBERG

By Ally Steinberg, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Curator Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s life can be characterized by a passionate pursuit of equal rights for all. Born in 1933, she has served on the United States Supreme Court since 1993.1 Growing up in a lowincome neighborhood in Brooklyn, Ginsberg followed her mother’s footsteps in valuing independence and education.

Even though her mother did not attend college herself, she worked in a garment factory to help pay for her brother’s college education.2 Ruth admired her mother’s selflessness, and later channeled that into her own life and career.

After graduating from James Madison High School, Ginsberg attended Cornell University and finished first in her class.3 That same year, she married Martin D. Ginsburg. Their first child was born shortly after Martin was drafted into the military in 1954. He returned after two years, and the couple returned to Harvard to pursue law degrees.4 There, as she balanced her life as a mother and a law student, Ginsberg faced discrimination based on her gender. As one of eight females in her 500-person class she was even criticized by the dean for taking the place of a qualified male. Even so, Ginsberg excelled in her studies and eventually became the first female member of the Harvard Law Review.5 In 1956, Martin Ginsburg was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to take a leave of absence from school. On top of continuing her own studies, as well taking care of their daughter, Ruth also attended and took notes for her husband’s classes. When “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fast Facts - CNN.” Accessed September 24, 2019.

2 “Ruth Bader Ginsburg - HISTORY.” Accessed September 24, 2019.

3 Ibid.

4 “Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Movie, Husband & Education - Biography.” Accessed September 24, 2019.

5 Ibid.

Martin recovered, graduated and relocated to New York City to accept a position at a law firm, Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School. There, she was elected to the school’s law review and graduated first in her class in 1959.6 After graduating, she lectured at Rutgers and eventually joined an equal pay campaign in 1963 after discovering her salary was lower than her male colleagues at Rutgers Law School. In the 1970s, she founded and served as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, where she argued six landmark Supreme Court cases on gender equality.7 In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She served there until 1993, when she was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton. As she currently serves in the Supreme Court, Ruth presents a strong voice in favor of the separation of church and state, gender equality and the rights of workers.8 Ginsberg’s most pivotal stance was during the Bush vs Gore Supreme Court case in 2000, where she departed from the traditional “I respectfully dissent” in excluding the adverb and answering simply with “I dissent.” Even though the ruling was outvoted, this poised, yet stern, statement rattled the political world.9

1

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In recent years, Ginsberg has demonstrated massive dissent towards President Trump. In 2016, she Ibid.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

6

criticized him by calling him a “faker.”

Yet later, she issued an apology saying she believed the remarks were inappropriate for a judge to make.10 In January 2018, President Trump released a list of his potential Supreme Court candidates in preparation for the impending retirement of a few elderly justices.

Ginsburg, however, signaled she wasn’t planning on going anywhere by hiring a full slate of clerks through 2020,11 despite her pancreatic cancer treatment and removal of cancerous nodules removed from her left lung.12 Despite her tiny frame—at about 5 feet tall and weighing only 100 pounds13—Ruth Bader Ginsberg made a tremendous impact on the United States judicial and political systems. Ginsberg has demonstrated her nerve not only in her position as Supreme Court justice, but in her tireless strife for equal opportunity for women throughout her life.

·

Ibid.

Ibid.

12 Ibid.

13 “Slide Show: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Through the Years | The ....” Accessed October 1, 2019.

10 11

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