The Buzz Fall 2020

Boston, Massachusetts

Fall 2020 edition

The Buzz

FALL 2020 Editorial

Food

City

28 The Quarantine Diet

04 Letter from the Editor

26 T. Anthony’s Tackles Covid-19

14 A City Transformed by Gentrification

30 Mana Escondido

17 MBTA: Reachable Musts

Wellness

18 Honoring Boston’s Most Loved

Campus

20 Covid-19: BU Athletics Editition 24 Introducing: Boston University’s Anti-Racist Center

31 Productivity Tips

Travel

51 Covid Friendly Travel 52 An Industry Transformed 54 Covid-19: Trump & Travel

Culture

56 The Academy’s New Diversity Policy

33 Safe Sex in a Pandemic

60 The Chatty World of Podcasts

Fashion

62 Embracing my Natural Curls

34 Fashion Spread: Fashion’s New Look 44 “I Could Never Pull That Off”

Opinion

56 On Being Yourself

48 Safe is Sexy

65 Being a Female Journalist

50 The New App Taking Over the Fashion World

68 Bruised and Violated

Music

70 Protest Music 73 TikTok: Turning the Music Industry 74 Accusations and Alternative Rock

1 | Contents

Staff Executive Editors Editor-in-Chief Amanda Willis Creative Director Solana Chatfield Art Director Emily Snisarenko Managing Editor Alejandra Aristeguieta Head Copy Editor Caroline Smith Publisher Shai Mahajan Photography Director Carina Lee

Creative Team Kenneth Rudolph, Ting Li, Jaya Gupta, Shelby Mitchell, Izzy Critchfield-Jain, Kylie Tamashiro, Lauren Had, Kevin Smith, Thalia Lauzon, Tamar Ponte, Amy Takahashi, Zoe Zheng

Section Editors Campus Anna Cavallino City Geneve Lau Culture Ananya Pancha Fashion Melony Forcier Food Sebastian Jaramillo Travel Amille Bottom Wellness Amelia Murray-Cooper Opinion Jessica Stevens Music Erica MacDonald

Illustrations Team Emily Snisarenko

Publishing Team Social Media Manager Anjali Mahbubani

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Photography Team Arden Grant, Amanda Schneider, Chika Okoye, Richard Royle, Kayleigh Schweiker, Amanda Willis

Contributors Our Fall 2020 issue would not have been possible without the help of many outside students and partners who shared their talents, insights and time. We would like to thank each and every new and existing relationship, and we look forward to our continued parnership in the future.

Supporters Dean Thomas Fiedler Elisabeth Symczak Dean John Battaglino Student Activities Office, Boston University Allocations Board, Boston University

On the Cover Shai wears a white graphic tee underneath Free People washed black denim overalls with layered gold chains.

Models Shai Mahajan (COM ‘22) Autumn Moon (COM ‘23) Maya Cohen (CGS ‘23) Abhinav Penumudi (SAR ‘21) Casey Khan (COM ‘21) Andie Chao (SAR ‘21) Trevor Powell (CAS ‘23) Amanda Willis (COM ‘21)

3 | Contributors

4 | The Buzz

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR written by Amanda Willis | designed by Solana Chatfield

5 | Editor Letter

We start school at the end of summer’s warm and blissful fervor.

Pretty soon, fall begins, and everything¡starts to change. The leaves, our determination to get straight As this year, some of our schedules (maybe overloading was a bit much). Before you know it, winter is here with its first November snows.

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Life continues under the flurries as sports teams play, the Allston Crawl starts back up ‌ and then we stress over midterms in a Mugar cubby. Spring then comes and in a flash: Finals commence all over again.

Some of us graduate.

Some of us start that new internship. Some of us make mistakes. Some of us get wiser.

7 | Editor Letter

One thing is certain: We all change. It’s been happening at BU since 1839.

Some things stay the same, like the beauty of a sunny day in Marsh plaza, but other things change. Each new year brings new professors, new subjects, new challenges. But each year, season by season, we grow. We grow in stature.

Our knowledge grows. Our perspectives widen.

We come in freshman—a little anxious,·a little excited—but we leave as college graduates.

BU has provided me with countless days of fulfillment and toil. It has nurtured me into a leader—someone who my freshman self would be proud of. CAS’s halls have seen me turn into who I wanted to be. This is what I hope for the years to come—that this school remains a place for people to come of age.

Each one of us has changed during their time at BU, and this magazine is a look at how we lived it.·

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9 | Editor Letter

Although COVID has made our lives different, one thing stayed the same...I still find so much joy in working as Editor in Chief. These have not been the easiest times, and we worked very hard to deliver this magazine to you in print as well as online.

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It is not just me behind this effort, but that of all the editors, writers, designers, photographers, and, importantly, you taking the time to see what our hard work produced.

11 | Editor Letter

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Don’t rush it. Enjoy it—because college goes by faster than you think.

It’s all about time.

Sincerely,

Amanda Willis Editor-in-Chief

13 | Editor Letter

Boston: A City Transformed by

A City Transformed by

GENTR IFICA TIO N

written by Kaylee Chin designed by Kevin Smith photographed by Chika Okoye

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A true city is bustling and everchanging, flowing along with those inhabiting it. Boston is a city filled to the brim with tourists and college students. This causes a constant influx of modern movements and developments working to shape the city. With each new bright building and temporary trend followed, a part of Boston’s rich history is erased.

Gentrification is a process that involves altering a neighborhood, typically through architectural and aesthetic changes. Often, the cost of living increases, forcing property owners out of their neighborhood and inviting more affluent residents and businesses. Boston is the third most gentrified city in the U.S. This is largely due to the city’s massive student population coming from multiple universities in the area.

Boston heavily modernized throughout history and more so in recent years. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition

released a study in 2019 that highlighted specific areas in the Boston region that have largely changed due to gentrification.

The neighborhood of Roxbury is the clearest example of gentrification in the South End of Boston. Roxbury is known for being a primarily Black neighborhood.

Most Black families came from the South and the Caribbean during the civil rights movement. This period birthed the Black arts movement and empowered Roxbury’s residents.

In 1980, 79% of Roxbury’s population identified as African American. As of 2016, just over 50% of Roxbury’s population identifies as African American— a decline that could be attributed to gentrification.

The coalition study said, “Roxbury is particularly vulnerable to gentrification since 81% of its residents are renters rather than homeowners.” New renters are mainly college students from schools like Northeastern and Wentworth.

The South End neighborhood has similarly faced a significant amount of gentrification. The Los Angeles Review

of Books, a nonprofit organization that works to represent diversity and inclusivity in literature, describes gentrification in the South End: “The decades-long slog among local community associations to ‘clean up’ the South End or ‘restore it to its former glory,’ hard to find fault with on the surface, was largely an attempt to boost housing prices and excise all traces of the working class from the area.” This process involves companies purchasing and largely renovating existing buildings and changing the area with the intent of attracting a new and “better” audience of residents.

The Seaport is another area in Boston that has recently undergone various changes. The Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy organization that speaks on behalf on the environment and communities, conducted a survey asked residents what the greatest threat to Boston’s waterfront area was. 24% of residents voted climate change, and 40% voted overdevelopment in the city.

The Foundation said “this

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combination of factors has made the waterfront feel unwelcoming to many but the ‘wealthy.’” The Seaport area now boasts high-class apartments, expensive restaurants and tourist attractions.

The waterfronts shift from public space to residential district caused significant controversy. The foundation’s survey indicated how “Black residents are four times more likely to feel unwelcome than white residents,” and “Black and Latinx Bostonians say they don’t feel welcome in the booming waterfront of their own city, though few white residents express the same concern.”

Deeper than monetary changes, race-related issues rise with the changing neighborhood tides of the Seaport.

Chinatown has historically been a hub for Boston’s Chinese community.

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The area is targeted by gentrification due to its close proximity to downtown.

Luxury developers and wealthy business owners are pushing further into the area, building office and apartment buildings.

The MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning said, “Eighty percent of Chinatown residents in Boston report housing insecurity caused primarily by unaffordable rents.” The Department also reported that ChineseAmerican households spent nearly half their month’s income on rent to live in the area.

Further than physical displacement are wealthy investors and corporations taking advantage of areas to gain more profit. The department created a survey, “Forced from Home,” to ask Chinatown’s residents about the changes in their neighborhood. The survey concluded “close to eighty percent of tenants had no information about their rights; forty

percent of surveyed households had no formal lease; and almost sixty percent of those evicted were served only a verbal notice.”

Balakrishnan Rajagopal, an associate professor at MIT and the director of the department, said “This is a human rights crisis although many fail to see it that way. The most vulnerable residents in our cities bear the brunt of displacement, and we need to move to a more peoplecentered approach to urban development that works for all residents.”

Gentrification is a vicious process disguised as progressive change. Shiny new architecture and public spaces may appear to be symbols of modern society, but they ignore what matters to residents.

Bulldozing buildings and digging up land is merely a distraction for societal issues like racism and classism. The truth resides in the purposeful negligence of the city’s past and complicated history.

MBTA Five Must-See Destinations this Fall That Are Only a Short Ride Away written by Lily O’Brien | designed by Amy Takahashi | photographed by Arden Grant Living in Boston means not only is it easy to explore the city, but other destinations in Massachusetts and nearby states are within your reach.

Whenever Boston starts to feel a bit too familiar, hop on the MBTA and check out these destinations nearby. The best part is the $10 MBTA Weekend Pass that lets you adventure on a budget.

SALEM, MA:

Only an hour and thirty minutes away by the commuter rail, Salem is one of the best places for a day trip if you wanted to get in the Halloween spirit. With activities such as the Tales and Tombstones Trolley, fall in Salem is full of spookiness.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.:

A little bit further away but just as worthwhile, Providence is the perfect place to go if you are looking for quality apple picking.

“Very cozy, very warm and friendly atmosphere, wonderful staff, great treats. It’s our special occasion place,” said one visitor on Yelp about apple picking in the state.

WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN, MA.:

Whether it was to see the foliage in the fall or go skiing in the winter, this MBTA-accessible location is the perfect way to spend your day.

ROCKPORT, MA:

As the temperatures drop and the thought of summer floats further and further away, make sure to squeeze in your last bit of seaside scenery only two hours away on the Commuter Rail.

MIDDLESEX FELLS RESERVATION, MA:

If all of the stress that came with the end of the fall semester had you overwhelmed, Middlesex Fells Reservation could be your escape for the day.

“I’ve lived in Boston for a year now and I never realized how many unique places were so close and accessible, it makes it so easy to explore new places,” said Sonia Jones (CGS ’21).

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HONORING BOSTON’S MOST LOVED Remembering Small Businesses

written by Lillian Parrotta | designed by Izzy Critchfield-Jain | photographed by Carina Lee The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life as we know it.

Businesses have had to completely transform their spaces and regular ways of operating to accommodate this new way of life, with little guidance from the U.S. government.

This has brought a lack of certainty to everyone’s life; without the government having strong control over the coronavirus, there is a lot that could happen. An ambiguous future has forced businesses—mostly restaurants—to shut down.

The Boston Globe has compiled an ongoing list of restaurant closures due to the pandemic in the Boston area. As of Sept. 3, 2020, the list reached just under 40. Below are tributes to a few of Boston’s favorite restaurants that have closed. These special restaurants are some of the oldest in town. They have served the Boston community intergenerationally, and they deserve a proper goodbye.

TANGO

Tango was an Argentinian restaurant located in Arlington and had to close after 18 years of business. Bostonians loved Tango for its uniqueness. They were most famous for their chimichurri sauce, specifically combined with their filet mignon. When Tango announced their closure, they bottled their sauce and, unsurprisingly, sold out within two hours. Through their active Facebook page, Tango posted delicious photos of their dishes and live action shots of the chefs. Tango is simply irreplaceable.

BELLA LUNA & THE MILKY WAY

Bella Luna & The Milky Way was a

quaint, local restaurant located in Jamaica Plain. While there is a little distance between Bella Luna and downtown Boston, it was still a family favorite and a home-away-from-home for college students. Bella Luna was known for its bowling alley, live music, fundraisers and even wedding receptions; connection to the community was central to the restaurant’s identity. Because of this, the owners felt it wasn’t possible for the spirit of Bella Luna to coexist with COVID-19.

Being distant from others was an indirect contrast to what the restaurant stood for.

So, after 27 years, Bella Luna had to shut down.

located in Watertown, Mass., which is considered the Greater Boston area.

Frank had a knack for using simple ingredients to execute delicious meals.

Their two sons grew up working in the restaurant, with the youngest one, Mark, finding his career there. Mark bolstered the food menu and wine list, but ensured the traditional atmosphere of the restaurant remained. While an older restaurant can guarantee the customer reliability, the customer can also find new restaurants more dazzling. Even though Stellina sometimes struggled to compete with new restaurants, it was still a local favorite.

THE POUR HOUSE

THE FOURS

The Pour House Bar & Grill, which first opened 34 years ago, was a quintessential dive bar. You could always count on this restaurant for its come-as-you-are vibe, extensive menu and long hours. From its reviews, it is clear that The Pour House had been loved by many. One reviewer said, “This is my perfect idea of the classic college pub that you never want to stop going to even 10 years after you’ve graduated.”

Another noted, “Some places are just classics.” The praises of The Pour House even reached celebrities, who grew very fond of it over the years. Rihanna raved about the chicken wings and dined two days in a row when she visited Boston back in 2019. This restaurant has made its mark on the Boston community.

Since announcing its closure, there has been a noticeable wave of sadness expressed over social media. However, there is hope that a new owner will take over.

STELLINA

Frank and his wife Ginnie Curcio founded the popular Italian eatery, Stellina Restaurant, 34 years ago. It was

The Fours, located on Canal Street, was the sports bar people went to after a Celtics or Bruins game, so it has a special place in dedicated fans’ hearts.

In walking distance from TD Garden, Bostonians have relied on The Fours for decades. Everyone, including visiting fans, are sad to see it close.

The Fours first opened a whopping 44 years ago. Without fans populating the Garden, it wasn’t realistic for them to stay open.

This list truly reflects the grave economic consequences of the pandemic. It is saddening to know that restaurants like Tango, Bella Luna, The Pour House, Stellina and The Fours have ridden the waves that come with owning a business, like dealing with the natural ups and downs of the economy, for decades, but have had to close their doors because of COVID-19.

The presence of each restaurant has influenced and added to the city’s identity. They will be missed, and Beantown will not be the same without each one of them.

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COVID-19: BU ATHLETICS EDITION

The BU Athlete’s Experience During COVID-19 written by Kelsey Martirano | designed by Ting Li | photographed by Arden Grant

21 | Campus

As the coronavirus forced universities across the nation to close their gates and turn towards online learning, college students were left with countless questions, including: How will COVID-19 impact our sports teams?

Boston University, one of the first universities to move to remote learning this past spring, carefully crafted the “Learn From Anywhere” program to ensure their students’ safety during the pandemic. While LfA grants students the choice of living on or off-campus and attending classes in-person or remotely, BU athletes had less of a say in their futures this fall.

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In July 2020, the Patriot League announced that all of their fall sports schedules would be canceled, leaving athletes devastated. At BU, this meant no games for soccer or field hockey and no meets for cross country.

According to BU’s Fitness and Recreation Center website, club sports may meet on a limited basis. However, if a club sport is to meet, they must adhere to strict physical distancing and disinfecting protocols.

“As of right now, practices have changed drastically. We are only allowed to practice in groups of 10 and we are not allowed near other members of the team,” Brenden Godino (COM ’23), one of the BU Cheer Team’s newest additions,

said. “We honestly have no idea if we will be allowed to cheer at basketball games.”

Godino explained that while wearing a mask and physically distancing has drastically altered the team, their practice schedule has not changed by much.

“I think the athletic department is doing the best they can to let teams return to practice,” Godino said. “I think it is great they are allowing us to practice during these tough times.”

Despite not being in season, spring sports have had to alter their practices and plans as well.

“We are only allowed to play within a group of 10 players,” said Andrew Dorman (COM ’22), a BU lacrosse player.

“For all of September, we were on the

“I think the athletic department is doing the best they can to let teams return to practice” -Brenden Godino

field with only 10 players.”

The lacrosse team “progressed into having a maximum of 50 people on the field,” Dorman explained.

“However, even though we have 50 players on the field, we are limited to playing within those same groups of 10,” he said.

On top of having to wear masks throughout practice, all outside competition was canceled in order to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. The result? No scrimmages. In an attempt to minimize the number of athletes confined to one space, lifting sessions have become rarer and practices shorter. All of the team’s meetings are held on Zoom, as an additional

attempt to keep case numbers down.

Beyond lacrosse, Dorman stated that the athletic department as a whole has adapted.

“There are designated rooms for different types of rehabilitation or therapy, and you must make an appointment,” Dorman said. “Previously, there was one room for all athletic training needs.”

When asked about how the BU athletic department has handled the situation, Dorman had only positive statements to make.

“A lot of schools don’t have the resources to test their students as regularly as BU does, meaning they cannot have athletics at all,” he said. “As BU athletes, we are lucky to be given the

opportunity to continue playing. Our athletic department has put countless hours into making sure that we can continue to participate in our sports, but also into making sure we are doing it safely.”

Now, Boston University turns toward the next two seasons of sports as BU’s famous hockey team prepares for their upcoming season. Towards the end of July, the Hockey East Association announced its plan to carry out a season as close to normal as possible. Currently, there is no exact schedule; however, Hockey East stated that they will be “prioritizing competition between league members and the completion of a regular-season schedule.”

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Introducing: Boston University’s Antiracist Center 24 | The Buzz

With Ibram X. Kendi at the Head, Boston University Works to be Antiracist written by Nica Lasater | designed by Lauren Had | graphic by Emily Snisarenko Amidst a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted people of color and spurred people to combat persisting racial violence and inequity spurred after the death of George Floyd, Boston University announced the creation of its Center for Antiracist Research this past summer.

There was conversation surrounding the project for months prior to its formation, but the events of the summer made it clear that there was a need for BU to become antiracist.

At the head of the operation is Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, a renowned historian of racism and author of several critically acclaimed books

including #1 New York Times Bestseller, “How to be an Antiracist,” National Book Award winner, “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America” and W.E.B. Du Bois Book Prize winner, “The Black Campus Movement.”

According to its website, the center’s mission is to “convene varied researchers and practitioners” like scholars, artists, journalists and students “to figure out novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice.”

The center has concrete goals of maintaining the nation’s largest database of racial inequity data. Already, they have

compiled COVID-19 data to determine how vulnerable communities are being unequally affected by the virus.

The university has received several grants to do this work including $10 million from Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, and $1.5 million from the Rockefeller Foundation.

In the founder’s statement, Kendi said, “I have not lost faith in the beauty of human potential, and the possibilities of a world where life, health, equity, and justice are inalienable human rights ...We must be willing to do the hard research and policy and narrative and advocacy work to bring about change.”

The center is now established, and BU’s antiracist effort has commenced.

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T. ANTHONY’S TACKLES COVID-19

How Restaurants are Trying to Save Their Business written by Riley Holcomb | designed by Emily Snisarenko photographed by Amanda Schneider

The world has changed drastically ever since the coronavirus pandemic began. People wear masks, buy dozens of hand sanitizers every time they go to a store, and they try to stay inside as often as they can. Earlier this year, many were told to quarantine, which meant no one was outside, and students were sent home from universities all across the world. Many talk about the empty quads and alltoo-familiar Zoom classes, but no one seems to talk about what happened to the restaurant business, particularly those on college campuses.

In pre-COVID times, going out to

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restaurants was a common occurrence.

People would walk in, be seated by a hostess, look at a physical menu and order food face-to-face. They would maybe stay for an hour or two depending on how many people they were dining with, and leave without thinking anything of it. It was normal. It was how life always was.

Now, customers have to look at an online menu to decide what to eat, dine with no more than six guests and might even have to get their temperature checked before entering the building.

This drastic change is unlike anything the world has ever experienced before.

No one, including restaurant owners, had

any plan in place when they were told to shut down. It was immediate and startling for these businesses. One day they were cooking food and making money, and the next they were ordered to close without any indication as to when they would re-open again. As a result, restaurants needed to find new ways to keep their business afloat amid the madness. Some establishments switched to serve only takeout orders for their guests, a few had to shut down completely and others had to lay off a number of employees in order to save as much revenue as they could.

Restaurants around the world took many different steps to try to salvage their

businesses, and while some succeeded and others failed, they were all challenged in the same way.

There are over 18 restaurants located along Commonwealth Avenue. When BU’s thousands of students were told to leave, they practically lost all of their customers overnight. What was once a fun hangout spot for students, a quiet cafe for people to study at or the best place to go to dinner with friends, was now a deserted, empty space.

One restaurant that was affected and seemed to sadden students most was the famous “T. Anthony’s” pizzeria located across the street from West campus.

This had always been one of BU’s most recognizable and talked-about diners. It was known for its boisterous spirit with teens dancing on tables, playing music from the old jukebox and hanging out with friends. The establishment serves pizza, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks and even breakfast foods. However, the most popular of all is their mozzarella stick pizza. This single dish attracted people from all over campus. “You couldn’t end the night without going to T. Anthony’s,” Aine Stephens (Questrom ’22) said.

However, once COVID-19 hit, the people dancing on tables, music playing from the jukebox and numerous pizza orders all began to disappear as students were sent home. The manager, Joe Rastellini, said the pandemic affected their business, and still is affecting it to this day.

Before the news of the virus broke out, T. Anthony’s was closed for eleven days in February due to a broken pipe in the building. Once fixed, the diner was opened for just two weeks before being told to make significant changes because of the pandemic. This really affected the restaurant because they had already missed out on almost two weeks’ worth of revenue due to the broken pipe. They had already had one major setback and were now being faced with a challenge greater than anyone could have ever imagined.

In order to retain the most amount of customers they could, T. Anthony’s switched to pick-up and delivery orders which, fortunately for them, was already part of their business plan. However, even with these changes, Joe said they still ended up losing about 50% of their business at that time.

When asked about the exact changes that were made to the restaurant, Joe began to name a list of alterations that

took place in order to keep the business alive and make sure people felt safe.

They put up glass barriers near the cash registers and other major employeecustomer contact areas to try to limit the spread of the virus. Joe and all of his employees immediately started wearing masks, and now have a table in the corner of the store reserved entirely for cleaning supplies: Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer and much more. They put arrows on the floor hoping that people would follow the directions and only go in certain areas, but as Joe says, this has not worked as well as they thought. Most customers have been choosing the pick-up option, but just in case someone wants to sit inside, they have blocked off certain tables and chairs to limit the proximity of guests. They have taken all of these steps and more to ensure the safety of their customers and keep their business running.

One of the greatest challenges that Joe described was the fact that some people make the pandemic a political issue.

“It’s hard to deal with people and try to tell them to wear a mask,” Joe said. “I’ve offered masks to people here and there but still we get so much flack.”

This is one of the most difficult things that not only restaurants, but other establishments around the country have had to deal with. They are constantly juggling trying to keep everyone safe, while also attracting customers. Joe says this issue has gotten better with time, but every once in a while, he is forced to ask someone to leave if they do not follow the rules that keep himself, his employees and other customers safe.

Even with the current circumstances, Joe still remains positive.

“We have hope,” he said. “It’s going to take a long time to play out. The economy is not going to recover right away, and any business that deals with customers is going to be tremendously affected. It’s going to be hard [for us] to build back, but we have hope.”

Everyone is struggling in one way or another during this time, and it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure to support and uplift each other as much as they can right now. So if you are a student on a campus, a faculty member or even just live around the area, do not hesitate to go to T. Anthony’s and pick up one of their delicious mozzarella stick pizzas and help their business. At the end of the day, this restaurant will always be a part of the BU community, but it is up to us Terriers to make sure it stays.

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written by Margarette Emin Lee designed by Thalia Lauzon photographed by Arden Grant

THE QUARANTINE DIET

How Pandemic Lifestyle Habits Could be Slimming Your Chances

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In the midst of the global pandemic, people are living in paranoia as hospital ICU beds are overflowing and cases keep rising.

Students have returned to campus and are attending classes anywhere from in person, to the opposite side of the world with the new Learn from Anywhere model of learning.

Wherever you are, the population is experiencing a collective concern for contracting the one virus that we currently fear most: COVID-19.

Everyone knows extensively about the public health efforts to prevent this: social distancing measures, PPE, hand hygiene, among others. But what is less discussed is how your lifestyle habits are a major determinant of your chances of contracting and surviving COVID-19.

Picture what you have eaten most of quarantine. Is it take-out from McDonald’s, fried chicken from BonChon? Chipotle at least once a week? These are just a few examples of what many students described as their quarantine diet. These foods perfectly reflect the classic Western diet: high saturated fats, sodium and added sugars. These dietary habits significantly increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially with lack of exercise—which we have all experienced during quarantine, which Anna Vittoria Mattioli, a cardiology professor at Unimore University, among other scholars, wrote about in a scientific journal

published in ScienceDirect.

These chronic diseases are highly correlated with increased inflammation throughout the body. This means that your innate immune system is running on overdrive trying to cope with the chronic disease, which lowers the guards of your adaptive immune system, which fights infectious diseases, according to Michael J. Butler and Ruth M. Barrientos, researchers at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University. So, these chronic diseases could significantly decrease your ability to fight the coronavirus. This is all highly preventable with eating balanced diets and getting the recommended amount of exercise.

Another aspect that the Western diet assumes is that poor dietary habits are commonly reflective of malnutrition, regardless of the amount of energy intake (i.e., calories) that the person is consuming, as long as there is an unbalanced intake of essential nutrients. One particular micronutrient of interest during this pandemic is vitamin D. Vitamin D is known to be one of the most important and under-looked vitamins essential to our bodies. For example, it functions to aid in strengthening and building your bones with calcium. It’s also vital for proper immune function, even for fighting off viruses such as COVID-19.

Low serum vitamin D in a population found that this deficiency is highly correlated to increased susceptibility to the coronavirus, according to a study published in the FEBSPRESS scientific journal.

Another study published by Professor

William Grant and his colleagues found that supplementation of vitamin D lowered the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the mortality of those who were infected. They also found that vitamin D can induce the production of enzymes that slow the replication rate of the virus while also reducing the amount of proinflammatory cytokines: the causative agent of inflammation and damage to the lungs in pneumonia. At least 35% of the adult U.S. population is deficient in this essential vitamin. This could be because it is not adequately consumed in the diet, there is malabsorption due to chronic conditions, or inadequate exposure to the sun, which is the most timely and obvious issue as people in quarantine are not getting much sun.

The most common way to get this micronutrient is through the sun, but vitamin D is easily absorbed through foods. For example, vitamin D can be consumed through fortified dairy or similar foods, several types of fish and various vegetables.

Although chicken wings and burgers are incredibly tempting and going for a run sounds tedious, lifestyle health has never been more important than during these times. The chronic diseases and low vitamin D levels contributing to higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and mortality are all highly preventable with more attention. In consideration of the student body’s mental and physical well-being, we hope that this can be an incentive to try some New England seafood or take a stroll along the Charles River. Who knows—it might just help save your life one day.

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MANA ESCONDIDO A Hidden Treasure in South End

written by Isabel Contreras | designed by Solana Chatfield photographed by Arden Grant

Boston foodies can easily point out the best neighborhoods to visit for dinner, depending on what cuisine they are in the mood for. For dumplings, we take the Orange Line to Chinatown. We want some good pasta and a nice bottle of wine, and we go spend the evening in the iconic North End. If we’re feeling like hot dogs, we don’t look further than our iconic Fenway Park, and we all know the best seafood in town can be found near the Seaport District.

It may surprise some seasoned Bostonians, however, when I tell you the best Puerto Rican eats

30 | The Buzz

are not in the widely known Latino communities of Jamaica Plain or Chelsea, but instead can be found hidden in the South End. Angel Carrasquillo opened Mana Escondido Cafe 23 years ago, and the restaurant remains a local staple for residents of Villa Victoria, a small residential community located in Boston’s South End. The Puerto Rican eatery serves the island’s most popular comfort foods, including sandwiches, fritters and the customer-favorite mofongo.

A family-owned business, Mana Escondido has relied heavily on the support of Villa Victoria’s tight-knit

community. Carrasquillo moved there in 1978, and his family was among the first to settle in the newly built residential community, predominantly made up of Puerto Rican families.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Carrasquillo was forced to close Mana Escondido Cafe for six weeks earlier this year, and had to postpone opening a new seating section in his restaurant, as well as his new bakery. However, he is convinced that growing up in a family that had worked in the restaurant business for generations gave him the experience needed to keep his restaurant open during these challenging times.

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PRODUCTIVITY IN A PANDEMIC: Staying Productive While Working from Home written by Sabrina Lu | designed by Kylie Tamashiro | photographed by Kayleigh Schweiker

Create a Designated Workspace: Used to studying in your favorite café or nearby library, but can’t because of social distancing measures?

Work around this by creating your own designated study space at home.

You don’t need to invest a lot of money or have a ton of space, and anyone can set one up at home. Clean off a desk (or even a small folding laptop table), make sure there’s good lighting and position it in a space free of distractions. A cup filled with stationary can be a cute and handy addition, or maybe a fun coaster for your favorite coffee mug would be cute.

Use Time Blocking: Time blocking is one of the most efficient ways to plan your day. Time blocking consists of planning out each activity you’ll be doing during the day—including classes, meals, breaks and tasks—and scheduling them into a calendar. It boosts productivity, forcing you to stick to a set schedule and complete tasks that you’ve assigned yourself for the day. This tactic still gives you plenty of flexibility to schedule in snack breaks, Netflix time and time spent with friends. You can do this on iCal, Google Calendars,or a plain old day planner, but doing it on a computer is often easiest to edit time blocks or make changes.

Set Small Tasks: Breaking down work into smaller tasks makes your goals easier to accomplish and increases the likelihood of you actually doing what you set out to do. By having large tasks split into smaller pieces, your work will seem more manageable and much less intimidating.

Make All the Lists: Lists are a classic way to get organized. For anyone who’s typically scatter-brained, lists can help compile ideas and reminders into one place and remind you which tasks need completing. Having them in the Notes App means that they’re always ready to pull up, and it’s easy to add to them whenever needed.

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SAFE SEX IN A PANDEMIC written by Amelia Murray-Cooper | designed by Shelby Mitchell | photographed by Kayleigh Schweiker During a time when public health officials call for social distancing and face coverings, intimacy can be difficult to navigate.

Coronavirus has transformed nearly every aspect of daily life, including sex. Fortunately, being a responsible member of society during this pandemic does not mean giving up sex altogether—it just means having safer sex with trusted partners.

Transmission 101: Coronavirus is a respiratory disease, which means that direct contact with saliva can easily pass on the virus. This means that if someone has the virus, they will likely pass it along through kissing. The disease has not been found in vaginal fluid, though it has

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been detected in the feces of infected people.

A recent study conducted by the American Sexual Health Association also found the virus in the semen of men who had active infections and those who already recovered, though it is not clear if it can be sexually transmitted through semen.

The National Coalition of STD Directors explains that the best way to reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus during sex is to avoid kissing, have all partners wear face masks and use condoms or dental dams to reduce contact with saliva, semen and feces during anal, vaginal and oral sex. However, these measures are not guaranteed to prevent transmission altogether, so partners should proceed with caution.

Just because a person appears healthy and has followed safety precautions does not always mean they are free from the virus. The COVID-19 virus can be spread from person to person, even if someone has no signs of infection. People who are not yet showing symptoms, or pre-symptomatic, can also spread the virus. Even though a partner feels well and does not appear sick, there is still a possibility that they can spread the virus.

You are your safest sex partner: Amid the pandemic, the safest sex is solo sex. Masturbation is a reliable way to get pleasure without worrying about anyone else. Coronavirus cannot be spread through masturbation, as long as it’s done with clean

footprint that may be left behind. If any photos or videos are being exchanged, it’s always important to communicate and ensure that everyone involved provides consent.

Remember that sharing images without someone’s permission, or sending unsolicited images, is never okay.

hands or toys. Set the mood by lighting some candles or turning on relaxing music, then get comfortable! Make sure to wash hands or toys with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.

Take advantage of technology: Remote sex is also a safe option, and in today’s digital age, cybersex possibilities are endless. From video calls to sexting to chat rooms, people can have remote sex with each other from miles away. Try dating apps like Tinder, Hinge or Bumble to virtually meet new partners, or just to make some new friends!

As always, be responsible if participating in remote sex, and be mindful of the digital

Keeping it in the household: The next best option is to have sex with someone you live with, as long as that person is also following safety precautions to reduce their potential exposure to the virus.

Interacting with only a small circle of people helps prevent the spread of the virus. Keep in mind that getting physically involved with a roommate can complicate the living situation if things don’t work out.

“Abstinence-only education has never worked in any setting,” Holly Bullion, a nurse practitioner, said in an interview with Mashable. “Now that we’re half a year into a pandemic, it’s definitely not going to work.

The joy of sex—and everything we do, right— is about making informed decisions.”

If all partners involved are feeling well, staying at least six feet away from other people outside the household, washing their hands often and wearing face masks in public settings, sex is likely to be safe. Whether it’s a partner or a roommate, always make sure that all partners consent to any sexual activity before it begins.

People with high-contact jobs, like medical providers or grocery store clerks, may face additional risks, even if they live with their sexual partners. These people may choose to self-quarantine from others in the household, or they may implement extra measures when arriving home (like removing clothing from their workday immediately). These are optional practices, since there is insufficient evidence on whether they are effective, according to the CDC. Are hookups safe?: During this pandemic, it’s important for everyone to limit close physical contact with anyone outside of their household. However, if someone does choose to have sex with others, it’s important to only choose trusted partners.

While experts recommend that people should have as few sexual partners as possible during the pandemic, this is ultimately a personal choice.

“As with sexually transmitted infections, sex with a new partner always brings with

it some amount of risk,” Kumi Smith, an assistant professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, said in an interview with Everyday Health. “The best we can do in such circumstances is to assess this risk honestly and make an informed decision.”

Just like it’s important to have a conversation with a potential sexual partner about sexually transmitted diseases, it’s also good to discuss coronavirus before engaging in any close physical contact. Before hooking up with anyone, it’s important to ask if they have been diagnosed with the virus, or if they have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed recently. It’s also helpful to know if they have any symptoms of the virus, or if they have had symptoms in the last 14 days, according to the CDC.

Staying safe after a COVID-19 diagnosis: If a person tested positive for COVID-19, then they should not have sex with anyone until they are no longer infectious. According to the CDC, they should not have sex until they have not had a fever for at least 72 hours, which means three full days with no fever without the use of medicine. Also, they should not have sex until other symptoms— like cough and shortness of breath—have improved. The National Coalition of STD Directors also recommends that people do not have sex until at least 10 days have passed since the symptoms started.

According to the CDC, it is unclear whether the antibodies that result from the COVID-19 virus will provide someone with immunity from a future infection. Even if antibodies provide immunity, experts do not know the number of antibodies needed for protection, or how long that protection may last. Therefore, if any sexual partners already had coronavirus in the past but are no longer positive, it is likely safe to have sex, as long as all partners continue to follow preventive safety guidelines.

Ultimately, the pandemic poses new complications to having sex, but it does not prohibit it altogether. This is a chance to get creative and explore sexuality in a new way— whether it’s done solo, remote or with physical partners. As always, make sure that everyone involved is safe, well-informed and has given and received consent before beginning any sexual activity.

33 | Wellness

FASHION’S NEW LOOK

written by Melony Forcier | designed by Emily Snisarenko | photographed by Carina Lee

Fashion has taken on a very new meaning this year as we stay confined to our homes with nowhere to go. But from this sudden shift in our lifestyle came a new era of style, the “work from home” look.

We wanted to convey that being at home doesn’t mean that we remain chained to our sweats and PJs in our fall shoot. For many, getting dressed up can change the day’s entire mood, which is even more

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important now in this dark time.

The clothes in this shoot tell a story about how creativity refuses to be stunted due to the pandemic. Our generation is continually challenging the status quo.

Who says we can’t paint our faces in makeup and put on our favorite chunky boot just to sit in our living room? We urge you to consider that fashion will forever be apart of our lives, in whatever form or place it takes.

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Previous page: Andie wears a blue patchwork sweatsuit from EB Denim while Casey wears a yellow lace slip dress underneath a plaid blazer.

Autumn wears a black cotton turtleneck from Brandy Melville underneath a blue slip dress.

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On the left: Trevor wears an army green jacket on top of a navy blue tee all from Uniqlo.

On the right: Andie wears a white collared top from Bandier underneath a rouched black dress from Lioness.

This outfit is paired with black heeled booties from Topshop.

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Above: Shai wears a light blue fluzzy cardigan from Topshop on top of a simple black tee. Next to her, Autumn wears a black top underneath a plaid blazer.

To the left: Abhi is wearing a black tee underneath a flannel and brown pants. He’s Ita perio dolum laborio. Nem natewearing white Vans.

mosaped mo del mi, omnimen ecusae nobis conem. Ut eum eum estinis intiam isque a consedis mi, cusapis as nis esectur? Mus sita aut doluptiiscia cullupt atiisque minum remolor rupidit reExcerore peruntemque peliquo is eturibu sdanisqui dolor autempo rrorem consect iorrum a volore pe plique pratem veribustiam, a eat quo to debit audis eliquae quatem volut 38 | Thedoluptibus, Buzz quibus sunt officatium,

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Below: Autumn wears a black top underneath a blazer. She wears black pants from Sanctuary and white platform Doc Martins.

To the right: Casey wears a black tank top from Zara underneath a purple cardigan from Free People. She’s wearing black cargo pants and high-top Air Force 1s. Andie wears a white collared top from Bandier underneath a rouched black dress from Lioness.

This outfit is paired with black heeled booties from Topshop.

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Maya wears black denim jeans with chain link sides from EB Denim and a fuzzy purple mock turtleneck

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“I COULD NEVER PULL THAT OFF” Imposter Syndrome in the Fashion World

written by Alexandria Sharpley | designed by Jaya Gupta photographed by Chika Okoye

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My experience with second-guessing my outfits minutes before I leave the house is not unique. That one last look in the mirror often makes me wonder how others perceive me, especially if I’m wearing anything remotely outside of my comfort zone.

In my experience, fashion and confidence have a sticky relationship.

Impostor syndrome is an internalized form of self-doubt that stems from feelings of inadequacy and of not belonging. Impostor syndrome is most commonly talked about in academic and professional settings; where people feel like they lack qualifications and skills to have the positions that they do. 70% of people will experience these feelings within their lives.

Women are particularly susceptible to feelings of self-doubt in academic and professional settings, but the feeling of not belonging can extend to personal style. We experience so much of fashion today through social media, where comparing ourselves to others is hard to avoid.

Fashion models and Instagram influencers are often deemed the coolest and trendiest people in the world. You might see a post and think, “I love what they’re wearing, but how could I ever pull that off?”

The only difference between you and the people whose style you look up to is the feeling of self-doubt. All of us are at different places with our self-expression. Ella Lopez (COM ’23) didn’t always love fashion. At her all-girls school, she wore a uniform all through middle and high school.

“There was really no room for selfexpression,” Lopez said. “Unless you’re counting socks. I was just wearing clothes to wear clothes and feeling little connection to any of it.”

It wasn’t until she got to college that Lopez really started expressing herself through fashion.

Looking to social media and the runways for inspiration, she started experimenting with her personal style.

“The biggest thing that changed for me was learning to love jewelry, belts, and accessories.

Accessorizing is my means to make my outfits

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feel special and makes me feel stylish,” Lopez said.

Addy Arnold (COM ’21) broke out of her comfort zone during the pandemic.

For Arnold, the anonymity that came with wearing protective face masks gave her a boost of confidence to wear whatever she wanted.

“I was much less scared of what people would think that I usually was,” Arnold said.

During this period of time, Arnold also noticed a correlation between her mood and what she wore.

“When we first started taking online classes in the spring, I was in a rut in the sense that I was wearing the same BU sweatshirt and sweatpants every day,” Arnold said. “Once I started to actually get dressed in the morning and get in an outfit to do my classes I started to feel like a real person again. Fashion helped me do a lot more productive work.”

This idea that your mood can be affected by what you wear on a particular day is backed by research. Professor Karen J. Pine of the University of Hertfordshire explains in her book that we adopt some of the characteristics associated with the clothes we put on. For example, wearing loungewear relaxes us, while we are more alert while wearing professional clothes.

“For me, dressing somewhat ‘out there’

manifests a confidence that I don’t have,” Lopez said. ‘’I feel more confident and ready to take on the day.”

There is, however, another side to the coin. Fashion can be the cause of feelings of self-doubt. as well as issues concerning body image. For me at least, wearing things outside of my comfort zone often makes me think about how others will perceive me. I was always hesitant to wear purses, long skirts and dresses. I thought it would make me seem like I was trying to be too girly. It took me years though high school and college to unlearn this. I still favor wearing a pair of pants over a skirt any day, but I’ve grown to be more comfortable with wearing more traditionally feminine styles.

It’s worth being said that I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide that I was comfortable expressing myself through clothes.

Growing up and going out into the world, I learned more about myself and became my own person. I slowly began to explore styles that I had always wanted to try.

However, even people who often wear what they want still experience doubt about their style. Lopez explains that she still thinks about if she can pull off a look and whether or not she will feel uncomfortable wearing something in public.

“I would say that there’s very few people who

can live by the ‘zero fucks given’ motto,” Lopez said.

In this digital age, we are inundated with messages and images from the fashion industry that do not accurately represent the average female body. The human body comes in countless shapes and sizes, and yet only one is represented in fashion. In 2015, models were 23% thinner than the average woman as compared to 8% thinner in 1968.

Lopez explained that there’s a delicate balance between drawing inspiration from fashion runways and getting sucked into comparing yourself and your body to models.

“So many people look at top models and Instagram influencers, and it just understandably makes you feel bad,” Lopez said.

We are often our own biggest critic when it comes to how we look. It’s important to realize that ideas of what others may think of you are a reflection of your own feelings and insecurities.

“People could be looking at me, they could be inspired by my outfit, or they could be not looking at me at all.” Arnold said. “I

don’t want to be thinking about what all these strangers think of me because they’re probably not.”

Overthinking how others perceive us can be a block to expressing yourself through fashion.

However, Lopez explains that generally, she’s only received good reactions to pushing her fashion boundaries.

“People really don’t react the way you think they will,” Lopez said, “in my experience people really cheer you on.”

When asked about breaking out of her comfort zone, Arnold said that one thing that really helped her was thrifting. The hesitancy to buy a crazy piece lessens when it’s only four dollars, she explained. For her, one standout purchase was a bright red jumpsuit from the ’80s. While it was intimidating, the deal was hard to pass up.

Thrifting is a great option for those who want to explore new styles without draining their bank account. Hefty prices on clothing can be another stressor that keeps people from dressing the way they want. Another plus to thrifting is that you’ll find unique pieces that no one else will have.

Going thrifting can be a great tool to try new styles and to get creative with what you wear and buy. Being able to comfortably wear the things you find will come from realizing that you are no less fashionable or trendy than the influencer and models. The only difference is doubt. Lopez advised that the best way to break out of your comfort zone is to just do it.

“Once you do [dress the way you want to], you’ll feel so proud of yourself and will have a new confidence and energy,” Lopez said.

We are all on our own journeys of selfacceptance. Fashion can be an amazing and empowering tool to express your personality to the world, but it can also be a source of stress and self-doubt. These feelings are all normal. Getting past the feeling that your outfit is too cool for you is a hard thing to do. It’s important to remember that the people we look to for inspiration, or people who are seemingly unafraid to push the boundaries, also deal with these feelings. Not listening to the thoughts of doubt from our brain is no easy feat, but we all need to learn to not let these thoughts control our lives.

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SAFE IS SEXY

How COVID-19 Has Changed the Way We View and Express Ourselves through Fashion written by Autumn Moon designed by Thalia Lauzon photographed by Chika Okoye

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In the span of a year, it feels as if everything has changed. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is not stable, certain or definite. Anything is subject to change at any moment.

A year ago, if I had seen someone wearing a mask, it would be noticeably unusual to me. I never could have imagined that one day I wouldn’t be able to leave my home without one.

COVID-19 has infiltrated every sector of our culture and society from how we socially interact, utilize technology, view politics, evaluate friendships and exist in our day-today lives. The pandemic has even managed to alter the way we dress, as masks become less of a liability and more of a fashion statement.

Masks have proven to be vital to stifling the spread of COVID-19, making them an important, valuable tool in battling the pandemic and something simple we can all do to make an enormous difference in terms of decreasing the rate and severity of infection. However, wearing them regularly took some serious getting used to for me. I was willing to do my part in a heartbeat, yet I cannot deny that wearing a mask originally made me feel constrained, hidden and isolated.

For me, it wasn’t only that masks felt physically uncomfortable, but I felt like masks (and the pandemic) stole something that was part of our identity as humans. They took away our ability to express ourselves beyond words—with a smirk, a smile or a kiss. Masks seemed to be just another metaphor for all the life we were

being deprived of due to the pandemic.

Despite this, I knew that wearing a mask could save a life, and above all else, that was important. So, with reluctance, I slowly grew accustomed to wearing a cloth that hid my face—staring simply at two eyes in the mirror. But eyes are the mirror to the soul anyway, right?

With time, as masks have grown to populate the streets, there has been another change. People are no longer viewing them as a liability, but rather, a fashion statement. Just the other day, my friend grabbed a cheetah mask off our key rack while running out the door to attend an outdoor dining event, perfectly completing her already fashionable look with one last bit of glam.

Clothing companies have all started manufacturing masks—from American Eagle, to Garage, to Chanel, to Gucci— you can find a fashionable mask anywhere at any price. Furthermore, improved logistical design of masks has made them softer, breathable and overall, much more comfortable to wear. Not to mention, masks do a pretty good job of hiding that blemish without any need for foundation.

“I feel like masks have actually really added to my outfits rather than taken away from them,” Kayla Lozzi (SAR ’23) said. “They let me show my style the same way a bag or other kind of accessory might.”

There are also so many different ways to wear masks, so many different materials and patterns to choose from, and so many price ranges. Masks—like hats, bags, scarves and jewelry—are morphing into their own form of fashion statement and bold accessory, making outfits go from boring to bland in a heartbeat. They are

no longer a burden, but can be seen as a form of self-expression.

“I feel like masks have come, in a way, to represent my sense of individuality,” Serenity Cray (Questrom ’23) said. “Depending on whether I’m wearing a more fun, patterned mask, or even just a plain black one, the masks I chose to wear can reflect my mood, personality and unique style.”

As more people wear masks to stop the spread of COVID-19, they are also becoming part of the status quo. I feel like now it’s strange not to be wearing a mask on a crowded street. In a mere few months, masks have gone from symbolizing the pandemic’s restrictions to becoming a metaphor for hope. Masks have allowed us to return to life, and although things are not the way that they used to be. Masks empower us to walk the streets once more, spend time with people we love safely and display that we care about the wellbeing and health everyone around us.

I selfishly used to view masks as a hindrance to my life. I would wear one with reluctance, knowing it was right but desiring to feel a cold breeze on my face, yearning to be free to smile at a stranger on the street. Yet, as the pandemic rages on, I have seen masks in a new light. They are enablers. They are powerful. They are a statement. They enable us to live once again, safely. They allow us to express ourselves in new and unique ways. They put less value on how we look and more what we have to say as individuals.

Masks have become a symbol of hope, expression and selflessness—and I would argue that all of that is sexy and fashionable.

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The New App Taking Over the Fashion World written by Melony Forcier | designed by Kenneth Rudolph | photographed by Kayleigh Schweiker If you were to ask your fashion-forward friend where they get fashion inspiration from a few months ago, they most likely would have said Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube. Although, there is an unexpected new app taking the place of these long time loved platforms: TikTok. What once was a place for Charli D’Amelio dances and POV videos has now been infiltrated by the fashion community … in the best way possible. TikTok influencers have utilized their good editing skills to put together dynamic clothing hauls and entertaining everyday #OOTD’s for their viewers. This new outlet for fashion gurus is a much

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more engaging and multi-dimensional way for them to interact with their thousands of followers.

Some popular fashion influencers have made their start on Instagram or YouTube and migrated their content over to TikTok, while others have completely amassed their fan base through TikTok. Chriselle Lim (@ ChriselleLim), who first made her name on YouTube, has wholly embraced the new platform with more than two million followers. She often uses her 60-second videos to take on fashion challenges such as the “one-minute outfit challenge,” where she scurries around her closet to put

together a street style ready outfit in just under a minute. On the other hand, TikToker @Andoej has completely built her following just from the app. Her feed is full of videos that range from “Recreating Kendall Jenner’s Iconic Look” and “Dressing In Harry Styles Inspired Outfits” to more niche and comedic videos.

So, next time you are out of outfit inspiration from your Pinterest or Instagram feeds, head over to your “For You Page” on TikTok for some new ideas to spice up your everyday look. Or, try your hand at making your own tutorials. Who knows—you could be the next influencer on the come-up.

COVID

Another great and easily socially distant travel alternative is camping. If you’re looking to stay close to the city, check out the campsites available on Boston Harbor Islands that provide a beautiful and refreshing new perspective of the city while still feeling like a break from normal life. There are also many other camping opportunities around the state that would serve as the perfect carefree trip away with friends. Be sure to follow CDC guidelines regarding travel and socializing: wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home for meals (takeout is great, or you can learn to cook with your friends) and stay six feet apart from those not in your immediate group of travelers (which should be five people or less, to ensure COVID-19 safety).

VACATION

CAMPING

Travel in the year 2020 has been limited to say the least. As people are practicing social distancing and being more cognizant of the risks associated with commercial travel, they are also finding creative new ways to safely get out of their homes and explore. Despite the restrictions on international travel and the warranted hesitancy to fly, there are still plenty of options for a fun and COVID-safe getaway.

ROAD TRIP

written by Isabel Contreras | designed by Thalia Lauzon | photographed by Carina Lee One of the easiest ways to travel during the pandemic is by road tripping. Grab a couple friends, rent a zip car and explore some of the charming, hidden gem towns of New England. Either make it a day trip or book an Airbnb and spend a few days enjoying a new area or driving through a handful of Northeastern cities. The best places to visit? New York City, anywhere in Cape Cod, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls and the White Mountains in New Hampshire!

If the outdoors isn’t your thing, another ideal travel option to limit public contact is visiting a vacation home. Whether you or a friend has a family home nearby, or you book one on Airbnb, a private residence is a more conducive way to maintain distance from other travelers; it’s also more cost effective.

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REQUIRED FACE MASKS REQUIRED FACE MASKS REQUIRED FACE MASKS

An Industry transformed: How COVID-19 Has Altered the World of Travel written by Amille Bottom designed by Amy Takahashi photographed by Carina Lee

On March 19, 2020, a mere two months after the first diagnosis of the novel coronavirus in the United States, the State Department officially recommended that all United States citizens avoid global travel in a Level 4 “do not travel” advisory. From that moment on, history was changed forever.

Major airlines shut their doors, the lights in hotel windows blinked out and thousands of small local businesses wondered about their fates.

The global COVID-19 pandemic altered the lives of billions, changing the courses of education, economic class discrepancies and politics throughout the world. Travel, too, was

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eternally altered.

While the issue of a modified vacation landscape may seem inconsequential, it is actually a dire issue. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, at least 7.8 million American jobs are in the Travel and Tourism sector; that is 7.8 million people, not including those that rely on those employed by the travel industry for care, who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic’s iron fist on travel.

Businesses across the planet had to change their sanitization, organization and tourism policies in order to hope for a future. From updated disinfecting rituals to newly limited capacities, the travel industry is a world away from what

it was nine months ago.

Temperature checks, required face masks, social distancing and smaller spatial volume are now the new normal at the few open locations across the United States. At Universal Orlando Resorts, staff members promote the “three Ss,” which are “screening, sanitization and spacing.”

All guests and staff members are required to wear masks, while the park (and the attractions themselves) are adapted to accommodate social distancing.

While these precautions are helpful, they are not a cure-all. Large corporations like Disney and Universal Studios are not impacted by the closure of hotels, resorts and parks, but the people that keep the grounds running are.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, 197 million people across the globe could lose their main source of income by the end of the pandemic due to the cancelation of sports events, concerts, and other multimedia events. Moreover, local businesses and historical sites are struggling as less and less people choose to frequent their establishments.

Moreover, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, “the decline in international tourism for the rest of 2020 could translate to $910 billion to $1.2 trillion in lost revenue for the [travel] industry.”

All hope is not lost, however. Travel throughout many parts of the world has begun to continue in a seminormal fashion. While international and transcontinental voyages are not recommended, there are options for those itching to get out of town.

Corporations and businesses, big and small, are taking precautions to open up their services to the public again. Nevertheless, there are many factors to consider about how one’s experience may be altered while traveling.

Major airline companies have insisted on “capping flights at 55 to 60%” capacity, according to JetBlue chief executive Robin Hayes, but that statement does not always end up being true. Pictures, videos and statements about full flights and limited seating on airline booking sites have flooded the internet, making it clear that travel

by plane is proceeding in mass, thus increasing the possible transmission of COVID-19.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a division of the United Nations, has offered recommendations about providing a safe and healthy flight experience to passengers. The ICAO suggested new boarding and disembarking processes that limit passenger interaction, spacedout seat assignments, the checking of all baggage, limited food and beverage services and restricted lavatory access.

As the world continues to adapt to the future of the pandemic, airlines could begin to adopt a more streamlined and contact-less approach to customer and passenger interaction. This could mean the introduction of more touchless elements while checking in and undergoing security checks, as well as an official recommendation to eat and drink before flights.

As airlines and travel agencies become more strict in an effort to contain COVID-19, so do the states and countries that people are traveling to. Many states, such as Massachusetts, require that incoming visitors and residents selfquarantine for 14 days after arrival, or provide a negative test result received 72 hours before traveling.

The introduction of 14 day quarantines to state and national restrictions has provided a new trend in travel, one that could possibly save the tourism industry: long-term travel.

Many people are choosing to stay in

rental homes, through sites like Airbnb, in an attempt to travel. Rental homes decrease the chance of contact with other people, as well as provide a more affordable option for a long-term vacation. Longterm vacations will continue to increase in popularity as more places begin to reopen, as will shorter vacations in terms of both length and distance.

Locales available by car have increased in popularity, allowing smaller local businesses and less widely-known tourism spots to garner more appreciation. Larger and more tourism-centric methods of travel, such as cruise ships, amusement parks, and other high-density destinations will have to adapt in order to increase revenue and tourism.

The main problem with the reopening of travel? The price change. As hotels, local restaurants, and smaller historical sites try to recover from the massive loss of income while facing a smaller group of traveling people, their prices may increase. International and nationwide travel may increase in overall price as well, as destinations attempt to make up the deficit.

While the prospect of travel appears bleak, not all hope is lost. The world of tourism and travel may look different for now, but it will resume its glory in the not-so-distant future.

Yes, things are different—but different isn’t necessarily bad. It just means that the population has to adapt. Wear a mask, frequent local businesses and take as many trips by car as you can. Before you know it, you’ll be jetting off to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle!

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COVID -19: TRUMP AND TR AVEL 54 | The Buzz

How COVID-19 Has Altered the World of Travel written by Sebastian Jaramillo designed by Kylie Tamashiro photographed by Carina Lee   Everyone has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Spring break traveling became not only a slight burden, filled with suitcases and airports, but a potentially life-threatening activity for many Boston University students and their families. Many international students went back to their home country during spring break and were asked to stay put by their university, leaving all of their belongings in their dorm rooms.   For Maria, an international student from Colombia, who asked to remain anonymous, the pandemic has meant traveling from Boston to her native city of Bogota, back to Boston and now to

Florida.

Maria said that “apart from dealing with differing governmental [travel] restrictions, there are also these cultural variations between countries and states.”

“For example, the North and South divide in the U.S. is clear, but I don’t chalk it up to the common stereotypes about each region,” Maria said. “Instead, I think it has to do with the economic, political and cultural aspects of each that ultimately cause people to approach COVID-19 differently, and that has a lot to do with the way people travel.”

Maria had planned to study abroad in Paris during the 2020 summer semester. “[The pandemic] made me re-evaluate my own plans in terms of study abroad,” she said. “For many, it has almost debunked the notion that studying abroad is absolutely essential to be well-rounded. A lot of life experiences can be found locally as well.”

This has been the experience with many other international students

who stayed in their home country and completed their fall semester abroad. For many of these students, including BU student Youmna Sukkar, originally from Lebanon (but resides in London), the summer semester before fall was fraught with worries about losing her student visa.

On July 6 of this year, President Donald Trump changed ICE, or U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, policies in order to make it obligatory for international students to be on campus for the fall semester if they were to retain their student visas. This piece of news caused an uproar for thousands of international students who were planning on completing their semester remotely from their home countries. To add insult to injury, many international students, who went back to their home countries during the summer, could not legally come back to the United States because of the safety precautions put in place by Massachusetts or other states.

Sukkar said that during the summer she realized that the United Kingdom was one of the countries which was

banned from entry into the United States; so, if the Trump administration’s policies were kept in place, she would have to restructure her whole plan of study.

Luckily, MIT, Harvard, BU and a plethora of other universities filed a litany of lawsuits against the Trump administration, in an effort to block the enforcement of the policy.

Additionally, many state officials, such as California attorney Javier Becerra voiced their disproval of the policy.

Becerra said, “Shame on the Trump administration for risking not only the education opportunities for students who earned the chance to go to college, but now their health and well-being as well.”

Due in part to these lawsuits, the Trump administration thankfully reversed their position overnight and struck down the policy on July 14th. Both Maria and Sukkar were able to complete their semester abroad and retain their visas.

Now with the Spring semester coming up, both Maria and Sukkar remain unsure about their future travel plans and living situation.

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56 | The Buzz

FAR TOO LATE, BUT A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION written by Viktoria Popovska | designed by Ting Li | graphic by Emily Snisarenko We recently faced a powerful awakening to the lack of diversity and abundance of institutionalized racism in our country. It took way longer than it should have, but companies across tech, media and beyond have started to do something about it.

The entertainment industry is no stranger to bias and inequity. Over the past year, no organization or award show has been called out for its lack of diversity more so than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Oscars.

On Thursday, Sept. 8, The Academy announced a new set of guidelines to “increase” diversity and representation among Oscars Best Picture nominees. These new rules will go into effect in 2024. In order for movies to be nominated to the Best Picture category, a film must meet half of the requirements The four standards represent different aspects of film production and distribution: Standard A: on-screen representation, themes and narratives. This involves representation in lead and supporting actors, general ensemble and the main storyline/subject matter.

Standard B: creative leadership and project team, encompasses representation in creative leadership, key roles,and overall crew composition.

Standard C: industry access and opportunities including representation in paid apprenticeship, internship and training opportunities and skill development.

Standard D: audience development, meaning representation in marketing, publicity and distribution.

The Academy’s announcement felt reminiscent of the infamous 2015 Oscars and its inspiration for the creation of the #OscarSoWhite social

movement. After watching The Academy award all 20 acting nominations to white actors, April Reign, a campaign finance lawyer, unintentionally sparked a revolution against Hollywood’s deeply entrenched whiteness. Reign’s hashtag spread like wildfire and reached every corner of the Twitter realm. Anne Donahue tweeted “#OscarsSoWhite they prefaced each nomination with, ‘I’m not racist, but…’” and other similar posts attacked Hollywood. The industry could not hide anymore.

Fearing the continued bad press, the world of motion pictures began to amp up their creation and distribution of diverse movies such as “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) and “Black Panther” (2018).

This spike in diverse movies did not leave a lasting impact on Oscar nominees.

Only five years after #OscarsSoWhite began trending, the academy faced another spike in backlash over its lack of representation.

The 2020 Oscars will forever be remembered

by Issa Rae’s announcement of nominees for best director. The list excluded every notable female director, including Greta Gerwig (“Little Woman”). Just seconds after Rae read the nominee’s out, without pause, she said, “Congratulations to those men.” Those four words left the Dolby theatre audience, and millions across the globe in shock.

Rae’s impactful comment and the legacy of #OscarsSoWhite, brought The Academy and film industry to a tipping point. During an era of Black Lives Matter and calls for a blanket increase in diversity and representation in society, the Academy has to—and should—follow suit.

In June, the 2020 class of new Academy member invitees included notable faces such as Zendaya

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Awkwafina. In an effort to publicize their devotion to representation, The Academy stated in a press release, that 45% of the 2020 class was women and 36% were from an underrepresented ethnic/racial group. A full list of the nominees can be found in that same press release.

The Academy’s inclusive 2020 class comes five years after #OscasSoWhite began trending.

Why did it take so long? Did they simply just read the room, sense the social climate of summer 2020 and want to avoid further disparagement?

Maybe. September’s new guideline announcement once again raises the question: is the Academy dedicated to increasing diversity and actively fighting institutionalized racism, or is this all simply performative activism and a “Hail Mary” for some positive press?

The day after the Academy’s announcement, New York Times pop culture reporter, Kyle Buchanan analyzed each section of the Academy’s long list of standards. He concluded that the chances of the film industry changing overnight are relatively low. Buchanan gives case study examples of how films like “The Irishman” or “Joker,” notoriously male and white movies, can soar through the standards without so much as a second glance.

Each of the four standards has its faults, but especially the last two.

Standard C requires that the film distribution company or financing company must either: have at least two interns from an underrepresented group or offer training or work opportunities to people from those underrepresented groups. Along similar lines, Standard D requires some senior marketing, publicity and distribution executives in connection to the film to be from an underrepresented group.

If those standards sound pretty easy to fulfill that’s because they are.

“Since only two of the four standards must be met for a film to qualify for

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the Oscars top prize, and Standards C and D are so easy for most studios to satisfy, best picture contenders could remain fairly homogeneous both behind and in front of the camera,” Buchanan wrote.

Buchanan makes the case that the guidelines themselves are not stringent; however, he recognizes that they may leave an impact on how people in the film industry view diversity. He hopes Oscar voters will be mindful of which films actually prioritized diversity or just worked around the standards.

Oscar voters are representative of the old Hollywood establishment: white and male. Of the 8,469, 20202 Oscar voters, 84% are white and 68% are male. Will these people notice the lack of diversity in movies? Will they recognize and acknowledge the problem? Will they vote accordingly?

Overall, the standards are a big move for an organization that is anchored in decades of racism, sexism and underrepresentation. It is 2020 and changes like this should have been made long ago. The Academy has so much potential to be a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives but they are clearly not taking advantage of their power.

Adding a few more members to the Academy from underrepresented groups and creating lenient guidelines are not enough of a move to properly represent the people that sit down every January to watch the Academy Awards.

So, what exactly should the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences do?

Well, first they need to properly recognize, analyze and admit their past mistakes and faults. Essentially, Hollywood first needs to write the most epic apology ever, then jump right into action.

“Hollywood thinks what it needs is to insert one African American into a movie, usually in a poor stereotypical way, and that will change the problem,” Alex Shores (CAS ’24) said.

Alex is right: Hollywood notoriously portrays minorities and underrepresented people as stereotypes instead of hiring those people to play regular roles.

The Academy has a ton of influence

on its members who have a ton of influence on their respective audiences. If each, or even half, of the members held themselves accountable to upholding and supporting diversity, The Academy could have a tremendous positive impact. If all members were to swear to, for instance, not work on a film that did not pay costars of different genders equally, much like what Benedict Cumberbatch did, that would be a direct action that could spur some real long-lasting change..

To further this mentality and practice, the Academy could adjust its policies and member stipulation. If every director in the Academy were to vow to stop putting people of color in stereotypical roles or every white actor refused to accept roles in movies that do not properly represent American society, we would see inclusivity. We would see diversity. We would see an entertainment industry that is accurately representative of its audience and of the country.

Is that idea pretty far-fetched? Yes, for the most part, but without internally holding each and every academy member accountable, the organization can’t change. Change starts within and it won’t happen till the Academy needs to take those bold steps.

But, it’s not just the Academy that needs accountability, it’s also movie-goers. If every person who strives and fights for a diverse and fair society decides to put their support and money only into movies that reflect that mission, Hollywood and the Academy will feel the aftermath. Box offices matter, because money speaks far more than words in this industry. If those all-white, all-male movies start flopping then there will be no denying that diversity is the only option to stay afloat.

If we want to be able to file #OscarsSoWhite under “success” and leave Issa Rae’s powerful four words as the last ever needed to be spoken, then the Academy’s guidelines need to do more. The Academy and movie-goers around the world need to strap on their big boy boots and fight harder, so that every single person feels at home and welcomed when watching the silver screen.

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THE CHATTY WORLD OF PODCASTS written by Kiana Carver | designed by Shelby Mitchell graphic by Emily Snisarenko

A Short History of Podcasts While it may seem like podcasts are the newest craze, they’ve actually been around for a while. The term “podcasting” was coined in 2004 by journalist Ben Hammersley, and became the word of the year in 2005. The most recent rise in popularity correlates with around 2013. This marks the shift from radio personalities to podcasts, as well as comedians. Stand up performer Marc Maron started his popular podcast back in 2009, and was soon followed suit by other performers. One of the most notable podcasts to break into the mainstream is Serial, which debuted in 2014.

Hosted by investigative journalist Sarah Koenig, the first season covered a crime that happened in Baltimore. The show became so popular that it was even parodied on Saturday Night Live, which often acts as a pop culture litmus test for relevance. Around this time, according to Edison Research, 48 percent of all Americans know what podcasts are and 30 percent have listened to them in the past. This only marked the beginnings of what we know today as the world of podcasts.

Thanks to the ease of streaming and smartphones, podcasts are currently soaring in popularity.

According to Ad Age, podcast ad revenue is projected to surpass the $1 billion mark by 2021. While podcasts have been around for a while, lately podcasts have become a platform for social media influencers to extend their reach. For example, Jonathan Van Ness, who already has a huge following from his role on the show “Queer Eye” and his lively Instagram page, hosts a podcast called “Getting Curious.” He interviews experts about any topic he finds interesting, ranging from guests such as Senator Ed Markey to Reese Witherspoon.

Podcasts are not just a creative outlet, but also a means of monetization in the digital world.

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Many companies are flocking to podcasts as an outlet for advertising because of the unique way that hosts can endorse their products or services. For example, Hello Fresh, a meal delivery service, is known to sponsor popular podcasts and provide unique discount codes in order to entice listeners to try their service.

Since podcast hosts hold a great deal of credibility with their loyal fanbase, this is an effective way for companies to attract new customers. Another way in which the podcast market is a booming business is evident in the creation of networks. “My Favorite Murder” has been one of the most popular true crime podcasts for the past few years, and recently, hosts Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff launched “Exactly Right,” their own podcast network. In addition to their original podcast, they’ve acquired other

popular podcasts like “This Podcast Will Kill You” and “The Murder Squad,” becoming a powerhouse in the true crime genre. They’ve also written their own book and have had multiple sold-out tours, proving that even a self-started podcast can become an international sensation.

While production value for podcasts has become more popularized, there are just as many, if not more DIY podcasts. Starting a podcast is now as easy as owning an iPhone and ordering a cheap microphone from Amazon. Podcasting is the perfect outlet for people to indulge in their favorite niche topics and find a likeminded following.

Many college students are creating podcasts to navigate their experiences or find other people who are interested in their passions.

In fact, Boston University is home to many DIY podcasts.

BU’s Own Podcasters: Many students from different academic backgrounds have ventured into the world of podcasting. Boston University has multiple opportunities for students to start their own shows, ranging from the College of Communication radio station, WTBU, to the student-run Podcast Club.

Sophia Flissler (COM ’22) was

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inspired to start a podcast on internet culture after joining WTBU as a DJ, where she hosts her own radio show, “Sad Boi Hours,” with friends. After sharing podcast recommendations back and forth with a close friend, they began to seriously inquire about starting one of their own. They applied to join WTBU’s podcast network because of Sophia’s connections with the

You’re Wrong About Hosts Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall cover topics that have been misconstrued by the media and research all the details we’ve been wrong about this whole time.

Episode suggestions: The Obesity Epidemic, Anna Nicole Smith

station but also because of their brand-new recording studio.

“There’s a lot of resources at BU to at least try,” Flissler said. “The only thing we really invested in it was our time.” She also found that podcasting has had many benefits outside of the studio, such as improved conversation skills and research abilities.

WHERE TO GET STARTED:

Revisionist History Hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, each episode focuses on an event in history that we likely never learned about in school.

Episode suggestions: Hamlet was Wrong, Free Brian Williams

The Bechdel Cast BU alum Caitlin Durante and co-host Jamie Loftus review films every week and analyze them using the Bechdel Test, a feminist method of examining women’s roles in movies.

Episode Suggestions: The Social Network (with Demi Adejuyigbe), Austin Powers (with Atsuko Okatsuka)

This is Love Phoebe Judge, host of “Criminal,” created this podcast about love in all its forms, from human connections to animals in love.

Episode suggestions: Roselle and Michael, Nothing Compares to You

Why Won’t You Date Me? Comedian Nicole Byers talks about relationships and general life advice with guests who work in the entertainment industry.

Episode suggestions: Black History Year (with Bob the Drag Queen), Embrace Your Sloppy (with Michelle Buteau)

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years too l a

racin b m g e

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a l r c u u t r a l n s , y m te

written by Ananya Panchal designed by Thalia Lauzon | photographed by Carina Lee Up until sixth grade, I wore my hair in a high-ponytail to school every single day. I would wake up, brush my mane until there was a one-foot radius of hair around my head and tossed it into a tight scrunchie that definitely receded my (still recovering) hairline.

In middle school, I discovered a straightener—a product created by capitalist America that caters to Eurocentric ideals of what a woman should look like—and I never looked back.

Until pretty recently, the only time I saw hair that looked like mine represented in the media was on “before” photos. And, of course, the after was a silky straight, probably photoshopped, professionally washed, dried and set hair on a model.

For years I asked hairdressers to thin my hair, which I now deeply regret. I tried all the oils and masks possible, with the hope that they would somehow miraculously change the texture of my hair. And that was the exact problem—instead of learning how to take care of the hair I was given, I did everything in my power to change it. I dropped hundreds of dollars on Brazilian Blowouts that just further damaged my hair.

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My nickname was Hagrid (self-given, but adopted by friends and family) and I accepted that this frizzy mess was the hair I was given. God had favorites. I just clearly wasn’t one of them.

In my mind there was only one idea of what a girl’s hair should look like, and for almost six years of my life, I straightened my hair after every wash. And when I wasn’t making it pin straight, I was curling it for a special occasion. I was taking care of my hair the way you take care of straight hair: leave-in-conditioner, towel drying and brushing. I didn’t understand that there was a different method for hair like mine, and different methods for even curlier hair.

It was only after coming to college two years ago that I started to let natural hair breathe and just be. This summer I finally perfected a routine that works for my type 2c curls. Thanks quarantine free time! While I don’t use the exact products recommended by the Curly Girl Method, I was inspired to try something new after seeing it all over TikTok. So here it is: Here’s what I do.

Step 1: Shampoo and Condition.

The Giovanni 2chic Shampoo and Conditioner and the Aveda Nutriplenish light moisture line are silicone, sulfate

and paraben free products that have been working well for me.

Step 2: My favorite step in the entire process: curl cream. I take a nickel sized amount of the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and rake this through my hair. Then I take a cotton T shirt, or a towel and lightly and scrunch.

Step 3: The Olaplex bond smoother is the BEST hair care product. I distribute this through the ends of my hair and keep scrunching with my hands. This product works really well to soften your hair and eliminate frizz. I noticed a difference after just the first use.

Step 4: Oils! I like the Chi Silk Infusion and Morroccan Oil. Both of these products smell incredible and work to further de-frizz and smoothen your hair.

I put most of the oil on my ends and then whatever tiny bit is left on my hands I lightly add to the roots of my hair, where there is more frizz.

I’m embarrassed that it took almost 21 years to love my hair the way it was.

I don’t feel the need to use heat every day, and I don’t beat myself up when I decide to straighten or curl my hair. It’s a luxury that makes me feel good. My hair never really needed to be “tamed” it just needed to be appropriately nurtured and nourished.

ON BEING YOURSELF Am I the Main Character?

Does it Matter? written by Melissa Boberg designed by Solana Chatfield photographed by Chika Okoye

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of social media attention being drawn to the idea of “the main character.” In these conversations, being the main character refers to being the one worth rooting for, the one with a story worth telling. Main characters are complete with experiences, personalities, and backgrounds, while the people around them fall more easily into archetypes and tropes. You might ask yourself, am I a main character? Who is? Who isn’t?

As much as this phenomenon has boomed on social media recently, it’s been an element of popular culture for decades. We’ve all needed a Molly Ringwald-esque “popular girl” to serve as someone to judge, even if we don’t actually know their story.

In doing this, we fail to recognize

that imposing definitions on the people around us is only satisfactory if the goal is to reduce them into one-dimensional caricatures.

Moreover, when we continuously group others into boxes, we begin to see ourselves within these confines, too. We limit ourselves to certain aesthetics—to certain roles.

I got a nose piercing a few years ago; I had always wanted one, and felt nothing but excitement (and a little pinch of pain) as the piercer put a needle through my nose. However, once I checked my reflection, I had a full-body flash of insecurity. I liked how it looked! But, I was worried about how this tiny piercing might change how I fit into the world.

Was my entire identity now altered?

Could I pull off being a “nose-piercing girl”?

After calming myself down from

this (dramatic) reaction, I arrived at a conclusion: Who cares? Why was I placing limitations on my identity to fit into a category that someone else might come along and try to put me into?

Right now, I have a nose piercing. I have favorite music artists. I have favorite foods. Will these always be true and always stay the same? No, and I honestly hope not! How boring would it be if we all were confined to the same set of interests and circumstances for our whole lives?

The only thing you’ll always be, that will remain consistent forever, is yourself! Why place boundaries around that? Instead, it’s worth embracing your capacity to go beyond any specific role or aesthetic—and to recognize that you are always your own main character! I think that, maybe, it’s better to allow yourself to be free of definitions or limitations.

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BEING A FEMALE JOURNALIST How Trump’s

Demonization of the Media Affects written by Jessica Stevens designed by Izzy Critchfield-Jain photographed by Amanda Schneider

I knew studying journalism wouldn’t be easy. However, when I first got into it my freshman year of high school, when Barack Obama was still president, I didn’t think that becoming a journalist as a woman would be a struggle. For the past four years, I have watched Donald Trump attack female journalists all over the news. Nothing edited—mostly live, pure abuse.

I’ve always been proud to tell people I’m studying journalism; however, over the years, the reaction I get has changed. It has shifted from “Wow! Congratulations!” to “Wow, that’s a really tough field to be in right now.” This shift in attitude is solely because of the messages Trump has sent to the public about journalists.

He has tried to make them seem like the bad guys, when in reality, all they are doing is exposing his ineptitude.

Despite doing everything he can demonize the media, journalists

will not give up. Their perseverance and determination in the face of his despicable intimidation tactics is admirable and proves that they are not the ones who are f lawed.

“What a stupid question that is. But I watch you a lot—you ask a lot of stupid questions,” Donald Trump said to Abby Phillip from CNN. Despite the legitimacy of Phillip’s question, Trump deliberately avoided answering it by verbally attacking her intelligence. For centuries, women have fought to be seen as smart, equal and hard-working members of society, yet women are still inferior in the eyes of the most powerful man in our country.

Phillip’s encounter with the president is just one example of the many times Trump has verbally attacked innocent women journalists who are simply just trying to find out the truth.

Cecilia Vega with ABC News questioned Trump when he said to her at a press conference, “I know you’re not

thinking. You never do.” The stereotype that women are not as smart or as worthy as men is a fight that I had hoped was over. Yet, Trump proves that it is still so prominent in our world.

Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News anchor, has also been subjected to the cruel, inappropriate words of Trump many times. He tweeted on Jan. 11, 2016 at the beginning of his term, “@ megynkelly recently said that she can’t be wooed by Trump. She is so average in every way, who the hell wants to woo her!”

He also made a reference to her period on national television. Did we ever think we would have such a vulgar president?

How are we okay with it? Trump’s almost routine behavior of attacking women’s looks publicly is disturbing, and should have been a deciding factor when casting a vote in this year’s election.

I often ask myself, if I fast forward a few years, would I be able to handle that treatment from the President of the

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United States? The way these women pick themselves up and continue searching for the truth is why they are an inspiration to me. A lot of people would fall back, but instead, these women are back the next day ready to put themselves in the line of fire and take him on again. They are strong because they are women journalists and by no means do they deserve to be treated the way Trump treats them.

I was fortunate to grow up in a country where I knew I had rights as a woman that had been hard-fought for by previous generations of tough, brave women. Yet during my formative high school years, the man running this country tried everything he could to undermine that.

From verbal abuse to sexual assault

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claims, Trump has shown that he does not view women as equals or has any respect for them. When I was younger, I had conversations with my mother about how a man should treat me and what I should look for; Trump is the embodiment of the type of man my parents told me to stay away from. Our country should be led by someone who has enough morality and dignity to not verbally attack anyone, especially female journalists.

Trump’s remarks may seem harmless to some; however, they are fostering the idea in young women that they will not be taken seriously no matter what they do.

In an attempt to steer voters away from Trump, the Lincoln Project created an advertisement called “Girl in the Mirror,”

which illustrates the impact Trump has had on young women and girls.

The ad begins with a voiceover of a woman who says, “Imagine a young girl looking in the mirror searching for role models to give her hope that one day she, too, can make a difference. Now, imagine how she feels when she watches women be verbally attacked, maligned, belittled, harassed, insulted.”

When I originally saw this video, I realized it is not something we need to imagine; It is something female journalists are living through every day.

I understand and respect that people have different political views

and stances. I understand and respect that many don’t see eye to eye on policies.

I understand and respect that there are two parties: Republicans and Democrats.

But I could never understand or respect someone who treats women the way Trump does. His remarks and beliefs contradict everything I was taught while growing up. I was told I was strong and brave because I was a woman. I was told that I could do anything I put my mind to because I was a woman. Yet, in Trump’s eyes, women are objects and not worthy of his respect. He is grooming a generation that could grow up thinking the same way as him, ultimately washing away all the progress our country has made over centuries.

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BRUISED AND VIOLATED

The Night I Don’t Remember, but Will Never Forget

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written by caitlin haviland | designed by tamar ponte | photographed by Amanda Willis

TW/CW: Sexual Assault

One year ago, I woke up laying out on an Allston sidewalk covered in sweat, bleeding and foaming at the mouth. To this day, I can still hear the screaming voices of my friends, their panicked deliberations on whether or not to call 911, and their pleas for me to open my eyes. I can still picture my best friend’s face hanging above mine as my eyes rolled around in my head. I still feel the scraping of the pavement against my barely clothed body as they rolled me over, saving me from choking on vomit. These few, foggy flashes are all I can remember from that night, but I know they will never leave my mind.

Sometimes, I lie awake at night wondering what went wrong that Friday in October. It was supposed to be like any other weekend: We planned to hop from party to party, let loose, meet new people and eventually land on a dorm room floor with a box of Domino’s pizza. We expected a simple, fun night, and it started that way—but at some point, the night shifted.

I remember laughing, screaming the words to songs and dancing without a care in the world. I was having the time of my life, but that’s where my memory stops. I vaguely

remember fighting with my friends as they pulled me out of a party, my few conscious moments on the sidewalk and that’s it. A whole night of my life, like it never happened. A whole night, with no control over my mind or body. A whole night where I was a young girl, in a new city, completely at the mercy of those around me.

The next morning, I woke up confused and terrified. I was in my tiny dorm room bed, covered in scrapes and bruises, and surrounded by my own vomit. I was changed out of my party clothes, and my hair was in a nest on the top of my head, coated in throw up. I had no idea how I got home, who changed me or what the hell happened the night before. The room was a nightmare, and I felt and looked like death.

I spent the next few hours cleaning myself up, desperately scrubbing my room free of vomit, and trying to piece together what happened. My friends recounted the night to me throughout the next few days, but I’m haunted knowing that there are some details that I will never know.

Sometimes, I lie awake imagining all that may have happened that night. I wonder who it was that spiked my drink, what their intentions were, and what happened in the moments my friends can’t account for. I try not to think about it too much,

but sometimes I can’t help picturing what may or may not have occurred.

I do not think I was sexually assaulted that night, but I was still hurt beyond repair. That man, whoever he was, selfishly took away my consciousness that night, and with it, he left me scared, scarred and skeptical of the world around me. Suddenly, I was questioning people’s intentions, double and triplechecking my surroundings and secondguessing myself in nearly every situation.

I found myself walking down the street wondering if the people I passed had seen me that Friday night, if they had ignored me unconscious on the street or if they stopped and helped. I left my dorm that night an innocent, naïvely trusting, eighteen-year-old girl. I came back bruised, violated and emotionally damaged. My trust in the world was taken away from me, and nearly a year later, I still do not have it back.

I don’t know much about what happened that night, and I probably never will. What I do know, however, is that my friends—those wonderful girls who I had only known for four or five weeks— saved my life. That night was the worst of my life, and without them, who knows how much worse it would have been. I am so grateful for those women, and while I don’t remember much from that night,

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PROTEST MUSIC How Society’s Problems Appear in Singers’ Verses

written by Erica MacDonald | designed by Solana Chatfield | graphic by Emily Snisarenko

Oscar Wilde believed that life imitates art far more than art imitates life. But what if neither is a particularly pretty picture? What if realism means really looking at ourselves, at the state of the world? Generations of musicians have documented this phenomenon—world events, social sins, and the human condition—in their art. Their subject matter is not romanticized, glorified, or held as an aspiration. Sometimes music is mirror, and what it reflects back is a rather grim reality.

This is the origin of protest music,

a term that has encompassed a dozen genres over the decades, with its genesis dating all the way back to the sorrow songs of slaves in Ancient Egypt. What, exactly, is protest music? A “protest song” is defined by the all-knowing Wikipedia as “a song that is associated with a movement for social change.” It’s a song with a purpose. It’s a song that draws attention to something important happening in the world. It’s a song acting as a vehicle of change.

Even before the curveballs thrown by 2020, which certainly ignited a need for protest, protest music was a thriving niche

in our modern culture. We’ve come a long way from the golden age of protest music, usually defined as the counterculture rock n’ roll of the 1960s and ‘70s, where rock ballads were used to perpetuate the antiwar sentiment. Some prime examples of protest songs from this era are Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” or Edwin Starr’s “War (What Is It Good For?).”

But in the mid-2000s, the newest genre of protest music really took root: conscious rap.

Conscious rap is a rebirth for protest music. Artists like Tupac Shakur and Nas pioneered the genre. It’s unabashed,

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and far too fed up to pull any punches (or refrain from dropping any names; conscious rap calls people out). Where rockers like Marvin Gaye once nudged his listeners toward change with hopeful ballads, conscious rappers shove them with brutal, militant anthems.The problems we face today, the focus of these conscious rap songs, are inflammatory social sins that necessitate equally blazing calls to action. In 2020, we see artists like Vic Mensa, Noname, Lil Baby and Kid Cudi address a struggling and grieving world through their music.

Police brutality, political polarization, social turmoil, racism— none of these make for light-hearted listening. But we don’t exactly live in light times. The Black Lives Matter movement had a nationwide and worldwide resurgence in the late spring of 2020, following a string of crimes perpetrated on the basis of race. These crimes include the tragic murder of George Flloyd, whose name and story is known globally and has appeared in murals, activism campaigns and, of course, in the lines of protest songs. Now, more than ever, protest music shines a spotlight on the worst parts of society, demanding serious, fundamental change.

With Black Lives Matter rightfully dominating our social conscience, it was no surprise that it led to a similar domination in music—suddenly protest songs were flooding streaming apps, gaining traction on Twitter, and rallying the masses to action. One of the songs that explicitly addresses racism and police brutality is Vic

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Mensa’s “No More Teardrops”, released in August of 2020. Mensa’s lyrics paint the picture of a world on fire: “Strange fruits still swingin’ from the trees White folks protesting ‘cause they can’t leave Try twenty-five to life, that’s a real quarantine They just take the mask off when they can’t breathe But we got officers knees in our esophagus Face blue ‘cause he running out of oxygen Got his brains blew by one of his accomplices Add you to the list of his accomplishments He came forward in the night, now we’re mourning Black fist up to no-knock warrants But the fascism ain’t the only army warrin’ Look at the way the patriarchy took and tore him Look at the blood, the streets filled with teardrops I ain’t slavin’ for ‘em, I ain’t ‘bout to share crop.”

Mensa’s powerful verse is heart wrenching as it calls out the ugliest scars of human history—lynching and slavery—that are not nearly as historical as people like to pretend.

These atrocities have been remediated and given new names: law and order, hate crimes, mass incarceration, etc.

Institutional racism is everywhere in 2020, and Vic Mensa won’t let you forget it. “No More Teardrops”

incorporates masterful lyrics, rhythms that pay beautiful homage to African spirituals and a spoken word finale by Malik Yuself in his newest protest song.

Mensa is no stranger to protest music— his discography is full of conscious rap anthems—and he, once again, inspires the world with the paradoxically ironclad vulnerability of his art.

Some other very notable protest songs birthed from the 2020 BLM resurgence include Noname’s “Song 33” and Lil Baby’s “The Bigger Picture.” “Song 33”, in just over a minute, references BLM activist Oluwatoyin Ruth “Toyin” Salau and George Floyd, whilst succinctly describing the world in a way that leaves the listener feeling vaguely haunted: “I know I dream all black/I seen her everything, immortalizin’ tweets all caps/They say they found her dead/One girl missin’, another one go missin’.” Lil Baby, on the other hand, spends over four minutes in “The Bigger Picture” vividly enumerating the burdens imposed by institutional racism. Both protest songs are mandatory listening for an informed citizen and anti-racist ally.

When the world is so dark and broken, where do we turn?

When our everyday lives are flipped from social events to social distance, face-to-face to FaceTime, self-care to by yourself—what’s still left? I think the answer is always art.

Art, and music in particular, is the sounding board of our deepest concerns, darkest thoughts and strongest desires.

It’s everything we spend our lives trying to say. It is what binds us together, motivates us to change, and hopefully, promotes enough empathy to heal us.

TIK

TOK

TURNING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

written by Erica MacDonald & Bridget McDermott designed by Kevin Smith photographed by Richard Royle

TikTok undoubtedly carries a lot of influence in who and what gains popularity. In fact TikTok is single-handedly responsible for launching certain careers, both for the creators on the app and for the artists’ whose music is used in the short videos. In seconds, a song can skyrocket to fame on TikTok, then streaming apps, then the radio charts and eventually—all the way to the Grammys. Case in point? Doja Cat. Below are five songs TikTok made famous.

popularity. The song garnered enough traction to be nominated for 2 Grammys! A true TikTok success story.

1.) “Say So” by Doja Cat No TikTok song compilation would be complete without a little Doja Cat. “Say So” first blew up after user Haley Sharpe (@ yodelinghaley) created a dance to the song in December of 2019, where it gained massive

3.) “Stunnin’” by Curtis Waters The song of choice for hundreds of slomo fashion videos, “Stunnin’” climbed the charts after Curtis Waters made several videos promoting the song on the app.

4.) “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion

2.) “Supalonely” by BENEE If this song doesn’t instantly remind you of early quarantine, were you even on TikTok? After user Zoi Lerma (@zoiifish) created a dance to this song, it got more than 6.9 billion plays in the month of March alone.

Another quarantine classic—everyone and their mother learned the dance to this song while cooped up inside. If you didn’t know Megan from “Hot Girl Summer”, you absolutely knew her after “Savage”.

5.) “ROXANNE” by Arizona Zervas Ahh, back to simpler times. “ROXANNE” blew up almost immediately on TikTok after being released in October 2019, and proceeded to not leave the radio for months after.

You can’t deny the power of TikTok, and all this evidence sparks important questions about advertising, collaborations, and the future for the music industry in a world increasingly susceptible to the viral trends of youth.

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ACCUSATIONS and ALTERNATIVE ROCK Sexual Misconduct Accusations Against Alt-Rock Musicians

written by Kiara Tynan | designed by Ken Rudolph photographed by Richard Royle

During quarantine, many were allowed time for self-reflection. For some, this seemingly endless time allowed for reflection of experiences that silently plagued them and gave them strength to come forward to bring these dark times to light.

When thinking of the rock bands we love deeply, it’s easy to imagine that given the opportunity, we would fall into their arms and live out our Wattpad-induced fantasies. But for some, these opportunities came to fruition and our music heroes failed us in how they succumbed to their desires and took advantage of their fans’ admiration.

Dozens of indie and alt-rock musicians were accused of a range

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of abuses of power, from grooming to sexual assault. Some artists facing allegations include SWMRS, The Growlers, and Cuco.

On July 20, Lydia Night of The Regrettes came forward in an Instagram post with her own allegations against Joey Armstrong of SWMRS. Following the torrent of abuse stories being made at the time and an Instagram post made by SWMRS a day prior supporting victims, which Night deemed hypocritical, she felt the need to come forward with her own story.

She detailed their relationship at length, beginning from when she was 16 and he was 22.

“For so long I viewed it just as being toxic and not something valid enough

to share but now I know that what I actually experienced was emotional abuse and sexual coercion by someone in a position of power over me,” Night said.

Their relationship and her accounts of times Armstrong allegedly sexually pressured her are discussed in graphic detail, forcing the reader to visualize emotionally conflicting situations that some may find too familiar. Her poignant post not only discusses her experience with Armstrong, but addresses women at large, acknowledging the psychological and emotional struggles anyone can face in situations like hers.

She wrote, “I truly hope many women can see themselves in my story

“We must put an end to the perpetual cycle of abusers damaging lives, making empty apology statements, and being allowed to rebound instantly as if nothing ever happened.”

because I know how hard it is to feel valid in something that’s so nuanced and exists in a space that’s not black and white … You can have feelings for someone and be in a technically consensual relationship and still be a victim of abuse and coercion.”

Joey Armstrong responded to these allegations the following day.

“While I don’t agree with some of the things she said about me, it’s important that she be allowed to say them and that she be supported for speaking out,” Armstrong said.

In his post acknowledging his failures to her as a partner and asking for Lydia’s forgiveness, he does the best he can given the situation. His brief statement can be picked apart for his partial denial of her claims and lack of thoroughness, but what more can we ask of alleged abusers than to understand the weight of their actions, to atone for them, and to work toward bettering themselves.

While this is just one instance of many allegations of abuses of power within the music industry, it provides a good example for how both sides may address these issues.

The victim allowed herself to come forward with her truth at a time she felt comfortable. She acknowledged the privilege of her platform and used it to empower other women and remind them of the validity of their feelings. Meanwhile, the alleged abuser gracefully and publicly took responsibility for himself in the way he hurt her, supported her right to speak out and expressed intent to better himself. This story assures the audience that even if you are in a committed or complicated relationship with someone and give verbal consent, it is still possible to be victimized in the situation. And while victims should be heard, the alleged assailants should be allowed the opportunity to make amends, grow and face the consequences for

the damage they’ve caused.

In light of numerous allegations made against staff members and signed artists (including SWMRS and The Growlers), indie label Burger Records announced their dissolution in July, citing their remorse over their role in the predatory culture that became too apparent in the scene. This calls into question how else we can hold abusers and their enablers responsible for their actions.

In recent years, this fervent call to action to hold guilty parties accountable has been suppressed and belittled as “cancel culture.” While some have taken advantage of the moment, these rare cases shouldn’t be used to silence the many who have been groomed, harassed and assaulted.

The rise of the #MeToo movement and social media have provided victims (women in particular) the platform they’ve been denied for centuries to voice their traumas and seek justice for the crimes committed against them.

From nefarious industry moguls like Harvey Weinstein to the creepy guy in his mid ’20s that shows up at high school parties, silent-moving violators are finally facing a public reckoning.

While there is benefit in shining a light on perpetrators, work must continue to progress past “cancelling” and obtain true justice.

As so many beloved public figures continue to be distorted as alleged creeps and monsters, audiences are forced to grapple with if and how we can separate the art from the artist. The music by artists we’ve loved for so long is now sullied by their dark misdeeds, making it difficult to enjoy if you remain conscientious. This is nothing new to the rock music culture. Legends like Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin faced allegations of consorting with underage girls at the height of their fame. While fans may know of these inappropriate relationships, these allegations have done little to quell their glory and status. It is undeniable that artists

such as these created great music, despite their alleged transgressions.

As a child is separate from its creator, music develops independently from an individual, with meaning that evolves past any one person. The individual body can be appreciated, without considering the broader background of its origin. Though we may love the art, we must be conscious of supporting the art while not supporting the artist.

While it may feel like enough to publicly denounce the actions of abusers, by continuing to stream their music, listeners feed their wealth and allow them to continue to thrive despite their offenses. It is easy to discount one’s individual power in elevating these artists with merch sales, streams, and silent support, but individually, people contribute to the mindset that proven monsters in the industry can go without consequence and maintain their fanbase and influence. While we may still enjoy the art, artists must be held accountable and face concrete consequences, more than just “getting cancelled.” In order to put an end to the perpetual cycle of abusers damaging lives, making empty apology statements and being allowed to flourish instantly as if nothing ever happened.

Nonetheless, recognizing and appreciating great music that happened to be made by someone who committed harmful offenses doesn’t make you an apologist. Audiences are not personally responsible for knowing all of the good and bad about artists we enjoy, just as we can’t possibly know or be responsible for the conditions that go into making all of the food we eat or the clothes we buy. People are not as clearly black and white as we would like them to be and sometimes our heroes fail to meet the pristine views we have of them. It is our responsibility as the audience and as people also occupying these grey spaces to hold others accountable for their offenses, while also recognizing them as humans capable of as much good as they are bad.

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