Garnet & Black Fall 2014

CHAIN LOCAL VS. RESTAURANTS

Those Lavender Whales

Are People Over Being Nice?

KYLE CARPENTER

THE STUDENT BEHIND THE HERO

HEADLINERS

19

KYLE CARPENTER

Carolina’s own American hero talks student life, newfound fame and more.

24

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Is being nice lost on our jaded millennial generation? Maybe. Maybe not.

26

ON THE TRAIL

These students are working on state-level and national political campaigns.

SPOTLIGHT

8

MAN IN THE MIRROR : WES WILLIAMS

Watch out: He’s about to make all your childhood dreams come true.

9

WOMAN’S WORLD : TORI MOORE

This girl knows how to make a mean costume.

STYLE

30

CLUELESS IN COLUMBIA

As if!

PERFORMANCE

36

POP... : MOVIES YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE SCARY “Glitter” makes the list.

37

...ART : DENTON CRUSER

Caught on camera.

38

HEY, MR. DJ : MASON YOUNGBLOOD

The WUSC DJ talks electronic music and his secret love for Ariana Grande.

39

NICK @ NIGHT

See what’s coming up at your favorite local film theater.

12

FISH OUT OF WATER : OFF-OFF BROADWAY & RIK-A-SHA DANCE CLUB

We sent two uncoordinated students to performance clubs. You can guess what happens next.

SCENE

14

SWEAT & TELL : SPINNING

I can totally do this, right?

15

THRIFT OR GIFT : HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Yep, you can find entire costumes for $1.29.

16

FOOD FIGHT : CHAIN VS. LOCAL

What’s better: Moe’s or Cantina 76? We found out.

18

SUITE STYLE : TAPESTRIES

Liven up your space with these boho-chic tips.

40

SCENE & HEARD : THOSE LAVENDER WHALES

Columbia’s music community rallies behind its favorite leading man.

ENCORE

42inVENT

Stop hogging the yoga mat, you monster.

43

HOW TO : DECORATE A PUMPKIN WITHOUT CARVING IT

The holiday icon you love without the guts you hate.

45

QUIZ : LET YOUR FAOVIRTE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DETERMINE YOUR MAJOR

Wine? Such a public relations person.

46

OVERHEARD AT... : RUSSELL HOUSE

“When I was drunk, I gave a homeless man my CarolinaCard in exchange for Cook-Out hushpuppies.”

STUDENT MAGAZINE of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR ARTICLES EDITOR

Christopher Rosa

Lisa Ashworth

Thom Bell

Kalyn Oyer

EDITORIAL

COPY CHIEF STAFF WRITER EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amanda Coyne

Andrea Wurzburger

Caitlin Edahl, Grace Stewart

Matthew Bowen, Sarah Ferraro, Karie Duncan, Jessica Gorman, Connor Hazelton, Seth Ismail, Gabriela Herstik, Hope Johnson, Taylor Kane, Gillian Kerner, John Manigo, Jake Margle, R. Kyle Norris, Alex Peeples, McKenna Porter, Alyson Russo, Shelby Sipperly, Sarah Stone, Kristina Wakefield, Rose Walker

ART DIRECTOR PHOTO EDITOR ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR VIDEOGRAPHER STAFF DESIGNERS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Ashley Crompton

Hannah Cleaveland

Ida Garland

Nicholas Johnston

Willie Kinard, Lina LeGare, Savannah Taylor

Adam Collins, Hailey Crider, Amelia Dupont, Alexandra Herstik, Kathryn

Lauritzen, Jada Samuels, Amelia Smoak, Josh Thompson, Megan Vince Alden Earl, Kellen LaGroon, Kristmar Muldrow, Brittany Pyles, Amelia Smoak, Nina Waring

WEB EDITOR WEB ASSISTANTS

Erin Spencer

Katherine Finney, Taylor Halle, Lizzie Steimer

PUBLIC RELATIONS

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR EVENTS MANAGER PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANTS

EVENTS ASSISTANTS

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

ADVERTISING MANAGER

CREATIVE MANAGER

PRODUCTION MANAGER

BUSINESS MANAGER FACULTY ADVISER

Ally Soule

Anna Mathias

Hannah Ashmore, Sarah Barreca, Rachel Braun, Brooke Butler, Angela Cooper, Devyn Doyle, Raven Ellis, Alyson Russo, Caitlin Fretz, Jessica Gorman, Rachel Holyfield, Parker King, Claire Kudata, Juliette LaFerlita, Victoria Majoros, Courtney Mras , Anna Shull, Kelsey Spencer

Courtney Moyers, Kerry O’Conner

STYLE

STYLE EDITOR STYLE ASSISTANTS

Scott Lindenberg

Sarah Scarborough

Edgar Santana

Degan Cheek

Krisitine Capps

Scott Farrand

Alana Fuscardo

Rachael Nornellas, Dominic Bellotti

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Advertising: (803) 777-3018

Jake Rose (Student Advertising Manager), David Cheetham, Thomas Digennaro, Michele Dressler, Amber Grant, Drew Hart, Holly Heaton, Ian Peacock, Erin O’connell

CREATIVE SERVICES Lina LeGare (Student Lead Designer), Ashley Crompton, Rannah Derrick, Kody Kratzer

To contact G&B, email sagandbe@mailbox.sc.edu or visit www.gandbmagazine.com.

Garnet & Black magazine is produced four times a year by students of the University of South Carolina and is distributed free to members of the university community. All editors and staff members can be contacted at (803) 777-1149. The office is located in Russell House room 339. Email letters to the editor to sagandbe@mailbox.sc.edu or to Garnet & Black magazine, Student Media, 1400 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Letters should be 250-400 words and must include name, address, phone number and academic information (if applicable). Garnet & Black reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be published.

Fourth-year retail student Rachael Dornellas is living her dream of working with style and visual merchandising as Garnet & Black’s style assistant. “I wanted to work with G&B because it is one of the few ways students can express themselves creatively on campus and have that expression shared with other students,” she says. Check out the photo shoot she worked on this issue on pages 3035. –Alyson Russo

ALEX HERSTIK

What does a junior mass communications major minoring in psychology do in her spare time? Easy: take pictures for Garnet & Black. Alex Herstik joins the G&B team for the first time as a photographer alongside her editorial-leaning twin sister Gabriela. If photography doesn’t work out, she hopes to one day become a professional banana pudding taster. Check out Herstik’s photography for the ...Art spread on page 37. – Connor Hazelton

contributors events

GABRIELA HERSTIK RACHAEL DORNELLAS YOLANDA COOPER

OCTOBER 1- NOVEMBER 2

As a junior fashion merchandising major and print journalism minor, edgy and motivated Gabriela Herstik is interested in writing about fashion - high fashion - as one can tell from her fabulous wardrobe. Not only has she been writing for G&B for over a year, but she also pens a fashion blog, “Breathing Fashion,” that incorporates her spirituality and passion for avant-garde styles. Check out her …Art piece on page 37. – Kristina Wakefield

Yolanda Cooper is a third-year English literature and theatre major as well as an exchange student from the University of Kent. She created “The Embarrassing Life of Yolanda Cooper,” documenting her comical outlook on life with her colloquial and entertaining writing style; she also blogs for Garnet & Black. She says, “It’s important not to take things too seriously. Life is too short.” –Taylor Kane

PHOTOS BY MEGAN VINCE AND HANNAH CLEAVELAND

SCARECROWS IN THE GARDEN EXHIBIT

With scarecrows crafted by Columbia businesses, families and organizations on display at Robert Mills House gardens, you’d have to be brainless to miss this exhibit!

OCTOBER 27 @ 7 P.M.

SKRILLEX CONCERT AT TOWNSHIP AUDITORIUM

Put some dub in your step with this EDM master who almost has cooler hair than beats. Bangarang with Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites all night.

OCTOBER 31 @ 6:30 P.M.

GREENLAWN BAPTIST SPOOKY TRAIL

On Halloween, stop by Greenlawn Baptist Church to witness various horrors, including a mad scientist, a gravedigger and local children in the midst of sugar highs.

NOVEMBER 1 - 2

REPTICON REPTILE & EXOTIC ANIMAL SHOW

Vendors will be offering reptile pets and supplies at this Jamil Shrine Center event, perfect for those of you who fantasize about owning venomous snakes.

BY JOHN MANIGO

I must confess: I procrastinated writing this letter until the last minute. Each prior attempt resulted in a blinking white screen taunting me unmercifully for my lack of wit. I felt like SpongeBob when he was writing his “What I Learned in Boating School” essay. What the hell should I say to say to Carolina’s student body? Why do they care what I think?

In times of crisis, I turn to Madonna, my favorite singer and Supreme Queen of the Universe. For this particular pickle, I put on Madonna’s most introspective and beautiful album to date: 1998’s “Ray of Light.” In the transcendent title track, Madonna sings, “I feel like I just got home.” And then it hit me like a big yellow school bus (à la Regina George in “Mean Girls”): This issue is all about coming home.

Kyle Carpenter came home. Our cover guy, who risked his life overseas to save the members of his platoon (and received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama), is finally a student at Carolina after a long recovery. Carpenter—the friendliest dude you will ever meet—talked to us about his life as a student, how he’s dealing with newfound fame and more. Check out his story on page 19, and send him a “welcome home” message on our website, gandbmagazine.com.

We also talk about home in the literal sense on page 18 in a new series called Suite Style. Learn how to decorate your on-campus or off-campus space with tapestries. I just picked up one myself and fully intend on using some of these tips in my own apartment.

Picking your major is like picking a home in many ways. You have to love it, upkeep it and pay mortgage (um, tuition). We try to help you make this important decision the best way we know how: comparing majors to your favorite alcoholic beverages (duh). Trust us, it’s foolproof. I want to be a writer and my drink of choice is a cosmopolitan. Wait, does this make me a basic b—ch? Dun, dun, dun! Check it out on page 45.

I remember attending my first Garnet & Black magazine interest meeting my freshman year. I was doe-eyed, terrified and sweaty. It’s crazy to think how fast time flies. As a senior and editor-in-chief of this magazine, I’m no longer doe-eyed or terrified (still sweaty, but let’s blaze past that). Instead, I feel a strange and foreign feeling: happiness. I’m so happy with where we are going to take the magazine this year. The staff members, who I am so lucky to call my friends and colleagues, have worked tirelessly putting this issue together—and I couldn’t be more proud. In a way, we just got home.

And after reading this issue, we hope you do too.

Until next time,

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DISNEY WORLD CHARACTER MAN IN THE MIRROR WES WILLIAMS

BY MATTHEW BOWEN // PHOTO BY KATHRYN LAURITZEN // DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH

es Williams stood anxiously backstage for the opening night of his seventh grade acting debut. The show was “The Big Bad Musical,” and he was the lead. Williams listened to the chatter of the audience; butterflies fluttered in the pit of his stomach as his excitement grew. The curtain rose and with it, a dream.

A sophomore theatre student from Lexington, S.C., Williams has since starred in shows like “West Side Story” and “Rabbit Hole,” but his biggest role came last spring semester when he was accepted to the Disney College Program at Disney World in Orlando.

During his freshman year, Williams found himself struggling to juggle his passion with school. “I was so busy, and I didn’t feel like I was doing anything for my major,” he says. He applied to Disney on a whim one night and, within a few weeks, was enrolled in the program.

“I was initially going to be a custodial cast member [until] I heard you could

audition to be a character,” he says. “We found an audition about two weeks out in Atlanta. My mom was like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do it.’”

Roughly three weeks later, a congratulations email arrived and informed the elated Williams his role had been changed to character performer.

Williams began his time at Disney “hanging out” with Pluto. Early one morning, Pluto stepped out of a gate in a remote area of the park, and immediately, a little boy around 10 years old screamed out the character’s name and sprinted over toward the yellow dog with a beaming grin. Pluto dropped to his knees with outstretched arms, ready to deliver the embrace. The little boy tackled Pluto and wrapped him in a tight bear hug, a moment he will never forget.

Williams also spent time with other characters, including Eeyore, Buzz Lightyear, Rafiki, the Green Army Men from “Toy Story” and Greedo from “Star Wars.” Williams says his favorite character to

hang out with was Buzz Lightyear. “He’s kind of the VIP character from Pixar— Buzz Lightyear had the biggest fan base,” he says.

While the experience was rewarding, it was not without challenges. Williams worked 40-50 hours a week while enrolled in three classes. “There were times when I would get off at 10 p.m. [and] I’d be home and done with my homework at 1 a.m.,” he says. “I’d have to wake up at 5 a.m. to get ready and be on the bus to be at a park by 7 a.m. to do a 10-hour shift.”

Though the hours were long and the days were hot, the experience left an indelible impression on Williams. “The biggest thing I took out of it was how much of an impact you can make on somebody,” he says. “You learn how plausible it is to make magic for somebody.”

Williams performed in USC’s production of “Ajax in Iraq,” which ran October 3-11 at Longstreet Theatre.

WOMAN’S WORLD TORI MOORE

COSPLAY DESIGNER

BY R. KYLE NORRIS // PHOTOS BY AMELIA SMOAK// DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH

s burgeoning storm clouds clothe the sky, Tori Moore, a senior international studies student, sits beneath the iconic Maxcy Monument and explains how she dresses cosplayers.

“I started out as a Halloween kid, the kind of person who loves Halloween and doing costumes,” she says, “and I realized how much I really liked it, so I took costume design when I got here.”

After that class, Moore began designing her costumes for cosplay, a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories. (Think Comic-Con.) Shows that focus on this talent like “Heroes of Cosplay” and “Face Off” helped further Moore’s interest. They exposed her to some of the most well-known cosplayers, including her favorite, Riddle Messy, who she met at HeroesCon and again at DragonCon. Moore’s first from-scratch costume design is actually based on a character her idol cosplayed as, a Bettie Page version of the comic book hero The Rocketeer.

Before doing The Rocketeer design, Moore’s costumes were alterations of clothing she bought at thrift stores like Goodwill, like the Poison Ivy costume she made from an ‘80s prom dress. From conception to finished product, The Rocketeer design took her two-and-a-half months, which might seem like a lot of time to a non-cosplayer, but is actually quite short compared to others that can take up to six months. Moore can work on one project for months at a time.

“I started with the comics and Riddle’s cosplay as reference,” she elaborates. “It’s kind of a leather jacket dress, so I made my own pattern for it. I had four different mock-ups by the time I began to put the fabric on my mannequin. From there, I added upholstery vinyl to stand in for the leather, cut my pattern out of the vinyl and sewed it all together.”

At that point, she added the chest piece; her friend Alex Hibbes (fellow cosplayer and fan of The Rocketeer) made the rocket pack for her using two six-inch

shipping tubes. For Moore, cosplay is more fun with friends involved.

Moore and Hibbes went to DragonCon together and entered cosplay competitions. “I met Riddle at DragonCon while I was wearing my Bettie Page costume and she loved it,” Moore beams. She also got to meet Grant Imahara of “MythBusters,” who judged one of the competitions she entered and won. Besides DragonCon, Moore has also won the past two years of University of South Carolina’s own Project Condom, a campus fashion show that raises awareness about safe sex in the form of outfits made entirely out of latex.

According to Moore, cosplay is not just about winning competitions and collecting awards. “It’s an escape; you can be the superhero that you never get to be,” she explains. “If you’re shy, if you’re scared or feel like you don’t have power in your life, you can be someone like Wonder Woman and have that strength.” As the storm clouds break through, she adds, “You can be anyone.”

fishOUT OF WATER

Ever wanted to step outside your comfort zone and attend a random student organization meeting? These students did—and their experiences were priceless.

AN UNCOORDINATED DUDE ATTENDS THE RIK-A-SHA DANCE CLUB

Let’s get one thing straight: I have the natural rhythm of a blind and deaf cockatoo that’s just been given an exorbitant amount of LSD. I don’t know why, but when I try and feel the music, I end up looking less like Chris Brown at the VMAs and more like Taylor Swift at the VMAs. There’s a lot of unnecessary hand motions and bopping up and down. So, I decided to suck up my pride, cobble together a sense of altruism and dive head first into the Rik-a-Sha dance club here at USC.

OK, I’ll try to avoid all Shakira and hip-truthfulness references for the dura-

tion of our time together. Practice started at 10 p.m. and went until midnight, which gave me a sense as to how dedicated these girls are. We must have walked by the practice room a good three times. Surely it’s not the one with all windows to display my abysmal coordination to all of Strom, I thought. Oh yeah, it is.

Kristin Mobley, whose sister started Rik-a-Sha back in 2006 and passed the family torch so to speak, greeted me. She told me we’d be starting choreography on the next segment of their Halloween mash-up that would be performed on October 28 at the Russell House. After a couple of stretches with serious butterflies in my stomach, it was time to get underway. Things started off easy with some simple steps and pops, but any shred of confidence I had was quickly ripped up and tossed out the window when a Beyoncé-esque slide move blew out my hamstring like an old rubber band. Needless to say, this was of much entertainment value to the girls of Rik-a-Sha and my fellow photographer, but in that Gamecock tradition, I soldiered on.

I did my best to keep up, but just “walking” through the moves was difficult. Putting it all to music at an even faster pace left me floundering. The final nail in the coffin came when an attempted shoulder roll resulted in quite an alarming crack from my neck and a genuine sense of concern from the girls. I took a seat, thankful for a break but also thankful that I could finally see the routine from a third person perspective.

They were so smooth. Every transition was so fluid. Mobley said membership numbers have been dwindling the past couple years. I’ll admit I was a little surprised to be practicing with just six others. But I have to admit, that’s what made it fun. After the first couple minutes, it didn’t seem like I was dancing with a bunch of strangers but with friends. Honestly. Not once did I feel like I was being made fun of or laughed at, and at no point did I feel like my lack of skill was a problem to anyone. Renique Richberg, Rik-a-Sha’s chief operations officer, summed it up best in her first email to me: “You don’t need any rhythm, by the way; it’s all about the fun.”

BY JAKE MARGLE

PHOTO BY IDA GARLAND DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH

“ ” RENIQUE RICHBERG SPOTLIGHT

A TONE-DEAF GIRL CHECKS OUT OFF-OFF BROADWAY

What will make a painfully awkward and shy girl feel outside of her comfort zone? (Hint: I am the awkward and shy girl). The answer is obvious: the spotlight. Put me in front of a room full of people, and I will blush harder than a little girl in front of her first crush. And what better organization to put that spotlight right on me than Off-Off Broadway?

The Off-Off Broadway Company at USC is an organization that performs musicals, so I began this experience knowing I would have to sing. But I had absolutely no idea what to actually expect from this meeting. Would I have to sing a solo? Would my voice crack like a little boy going through puberty? Was everyone going to laugh at me? All of these

anxious thoughts were running through my mind the day of the meeting; when the time finally came, I felt like I was going to my death sentence.

However, when I walked in to the meeting, I automatically felt at ease. All of the members were so warm and welcoming to me, and they made it clear that they didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable. We started off by listening to the song that we would be singing—“A Star is Born” from “Hercules.” Then, the directors asked everyone to stand up and sing it.

Welp, this is it, said my conscious, time to let your inner Beyoncé shine. And so the song began, and even though I sounded like some sort of dying animal, I actually had a blast with it! The song was upbeat

and exciting, and all of the singers got really into it. I loved singing the song so much that I even stuck around to rehearse it more than once.

Although I could never be a part of the Off-Off Broadway organization due to my horrendous voice, I walked out of that meeting with a smile on my face. I was proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and actually enjoying it. Now I have something fun to look forward to: Off-Off Broadway’s show “Rise of a Hero” runs November 6-9 at Benson Theater. It is sure to be one heck of a show.

BY JESSICA GORMAN

PHOTO BY IDA GARLAND DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH

ALL OF THE MEMBERS WERE SO WARM AND WELCOMING TO ME, AND THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY DIDN’T WANT ME TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.”

JESSICA GORMAN (left)

OF)

Spin class is excellent cardio. You can burn enough calories in one class to sneak in a drunk Sonic burger and still feel pretty solid about it. With this glorious news, you should feel optimistic (and maybe even—wait for it—excited) to attend your first class. But fast-forward to the morning of and—well, let’s take a look.

The classic Marimba ringtone goes off at 5:30 a.m. There are only a few possibilities for why this is happening. Either a) You drunkenly set the alarm b) Your roommate set it as a sick joke or c) You’re going to spin class. You trudge over to Strom. This beautiful building is sending you delirious pre-coffee waves of resentment right about now. You put your apparently coded palm on that weird hand reader that has always freaked you out. It takes you an average of three tries to get through. Every. Single. Time. Seriously, are you a special agent entering a top-secret laboratory?

You get on your bike and pretend to be really interested in getting the straps just right. The girl next to you is basically Adonis and stretching in a way that makes you think, I can totally do that. Even though, in fact, you cannot.

“Alright everyone, let’s warm up a little bit,” says your way-too-smiley instructor with perfect abs. By the time you are finished “warming up,” you already feel like you’re going to die. But you blaze past that painful side cramp that’s starting to surface.

BY ANDREA WURZBURGER

Mind over matter! Right? (Rookie mistake No. 1: Always listen to your body.)

“Let’s get our heart rates up,” the instructor says. Okay, but yours is already up, and you’re pretty sure if you keep going at this rate, you won’t have any heart rate left.

Just think how great you’ll feel after! You will have sweated out so many toxins, you think to yourself, offering a beyond fake smile to pedal-grinding Adonis and slowly sweating to death. Perky perfect abs suggests you “turn up the resistance.” I’m sorry, what? Just pretend to turn your knob a few times, and then slow down your legs until it looks like the struggle is real. Fake it until you make it.

You really need some water, but reaching your hand over to that bottle of purified Dasani is one of the most terrifying things you can think of doing right now. Your legs are moving way too fast, and you know indulging in precious nourishment during a structured time of masochism gives the instructor way too much control. (Rookie mistake No. 2: Water is life.)

“Cool down.” The two most beautiful words you’ve heard all morning. As your heart rate slows and your body collapses into a sweaty heap, you realize you just did something that was hard but absolutely worth it. Just make sure you bring a pad for your seat cushion next time. (Rookie mistake No. 3: Have your s—t together at all times.)

PHOTO BY HAILEY CRIDER DESIGN BY ALDEN EARL (KIND

Amidst a sea of sweaty gym patrons sits a girl on a spin bike, ready to die.

“Fake it until you make it!”

SCENE

THRIFT Mixed PRICE STYLE

It’s okay to mix it up sometimes and splurge a little here and there while thrifting. This outfit makes great use of thrift store and name-brand finds, or even items you already own. You can even recycle these chic pieces! Because you’d regularly pay hundreds of dollars for a full outfit, $34 for this costume is nothing!

Thrift Gift or

BY KARIE DUNCAN PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND DESIGN BY NINA WARING

GIFT Halloween Express PRICE STYLE

Although this dress makes a cute costume, at $34.99, it costs more than an entire thrifted outfit! You would never wear this except on Halloween, and it’s just not a price-wise option compared to its totally wearable, thrifty counterpart.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

These secondhand costumes come in all shapes and sizes, and have been made from all types of recycled clothing and materials. Some are fabulous and some are fails. Although your thrifted option may be cheap, it won’t always be chic. See which knock-off costumes we would choose, and decide how you will go out this October 31!

THRIFT His House in West Columbia

PRICE

STYLE

After one look at this thrift store gem, you’d think this is actually where tacky tourists shop! The outfit is reminiscent of your grandpa on vacation and, even more importantly, itonly costs$12!

GIFT

PRICE STYLE

THRIFT Goodwill Clearance of Columbia PRICE STYLE

This thrift store find is a total steal for only $1.29! The slippers add a comical aspect to the completely believable smoking jacket, which was made iconic by Hefner himself. You’ll be the life of the party, just like Hef, in this getup.

GIFT Halloween Express PRICE STYLE

You’d never pay $39.99 for a robe in real life, and you shouldn’t do it for a costume. Cheaper versions of this exact piece are everywhere, so save your money and get thrift store savvy.

Hipwazee in 5 Points

In total, this costume costs a whopping $85.96! Other pitfalls of this outfit are its lack of props and originality. You would save $73.96 if you thrifted this costume, which is the price of about 15 beers at a bar!

THRIFT GoodwillClearance, West Columbia PRICE STYLE

Though this outfit most definitely screams evil, it’s not the perfect witch ensemble. Without the characteristic pointy hat and broomstick, you could end up looking like a simple fashion disaster. But if you’ve got a conical cap lying around, this option is quite kind to your wallet: it’s only $1.29 for the dress and boots.

GIFT Halloween Express PRICE STYLE

At $42.97, you would be splurging a bit for this costume, but it would totally be worth it to go out in style this Halloween. Wouldn’t you rather be the cute witch than that girl dressed in the frumpy black frock? And if you’re going to a party and just can’t be bothered to carry around that broom, you’ll save $6.99, bringing your outfit to only $35.98!

THRIFT Thrift Store, Columbia

PRICE

STYLE

This option lacks any style or direction whatsoever. Mermaids just don’t thrift shop, so the price is nice, but it’s just not right! Don’t waste your $6 dollars on this costume.

GIFT Halloween Express PRICE

STYLE

$36.99 isn’t bad for a fashion-forward costume like this. Give Ariel a run for her money, along with every other girl out this Halloween, by adding your favorite pair of heels.

EVIL WITCH

HIPPIE

TACKY TOURIST UNDER THE SEA

HUGH HEFNER

FOOD FIGHT

As a college student, you should already know the three major food groups: burgers, pizza and tacos. And you probably have favorite places to get them (i.e.: the “Old Faithful” chain restaurants that guarantee fast, cheap and occasionally delicious food nearly anywhere in the country). But next time the cravings hit, try thinking inside the box. Local restaurants boast fresh ingredients, unique atmospheres and even some great drink deals for a lot less than you’d expect. You just might discover a new go-to.

BY CAITLIN EDAHL // PHOTOS BY IDA GARLAND // DESIGN BY SAVANNAH TAYLOR

Domino’s: the staple for late-night “study” sessions, post-game dinners and random pizza cravings. It also accepts Carolina Cash as payment and has dozens of special offers and discounts. Most of us would agree that dining experience isn’t this pizza chain’s strongest feature; you (hopefully) wouldn’t suggest a romantic night at the local Domino’s as a first date. But when you don’t feel like venturing outside for that large, three-topping pie, delivery is a bonus. And it’s not going to put a dent in your checking account: a 10-inch cheese pizza costs about $7. For one of its best deals, check it out on Wednesdays when you can get a medium cheese pick-up for only $4!

When you want to go out for pizza, go by Nicky’s Pizzeria in Five Points. It has a casual, sports-bar atmosphere without being too noisy or crowded. The relatively small interior gives it a cozy feeling (though that may also be from the pizza ovens). The outdoor patio is perfect for those valuable moments when the temperature falls below scalding. Though the restaurant is small, the menu is comprehensive and includes calzones, garlic knots and, of course, pizza with a variety of toppings. If you’re with friends, share a $6 pitcher of Shock Top during happy hour, and don’t worry about your budget: a generous New York-style slice is only about $3.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries has been the place to go for a quick, lowpriced hamburger. A prime spot in The Vista makes it convenient, and the large, clean interior makes it a pleasant place to actually dine in. The burgers are standard in flavor but tenderer and more generously portioned than the thin, dry variety found at other fast food stops. Overall, it’s a meal and a dining experience that’s a step up from the typical chain offering. A traditional sesame seed bun, the option for multiple patties and free toppings allow customers to engineer the perfect burger. Throw in some rough-cut fries, a soda and free peanuts for a grand total of about $7.

If the beef bug bites and you have time for a sit-down experience, try out Burger Tavern 77 on Devine Street. The atmosphere is quirky, with vintage bar signs and license plates covering the walls, not to mention a bicycle suspended from the ceiling. There’s plenty of seating, but the slightly dim interior and narrow architecture are true to its neighborhood hangout feel. However, its best feature is definitely the “Build Your Own Burger” menu. It kicks customization up a few notches with veggie, turkey and pork patty options.

In addition, it offers traditional beef and tons of fresh, unique and free toppings like tomato bruschetta, fried jalapeños and Southern slaw. Don’t forget to add some Bourbon BBQ or teriyaki sauce to your masterpiece. You can also choose from eight sides, but a burger is naked without fries, and the ones here are perfectly crispy and dangerously addictive.

Finally, beverage is just as important as food at Burger Tavern, and it always has a deal going on, like $3 “Pint Night” on Wednesday. A custom burger, a delicious side and a pint will only cost about $14 (good times included) and even less if you’re a soda or water person. Sometimes, it pays off to spend a little more for your burger.

When you’re in the mood for a burrito, Moe’s Southwest Grill is usually the automatic choice. The close proximity to campus (no car needed) is a major bonus. Meal deals are also a draw, from old favorites like Moe’s Monday to its more recent acceptance of Carolina Cash. It also has one of those awesome drink machines with nearly every flavor of soda you could ever concoct. A soft-shell taco, chips, regular drink and small side of either queso or guacamole only costs about $7. It’s easy to see why Moe’s is so popular (even if it means waiting in line longer than it actually takes to scarf down that burrito).

When you feel like having a more relaxed, sit-down experience, check out Cantina 76. If you live on campus and can’t make it out to Devine Street, don’t fear! It has a location

on Main Street as well, just a few blocks from The Horseshoe. According to its website, “everything on the menu is made from scratch in house daily.” The roasted chicken taco, with shredded cheese, pico de gallo and Southwestern ranch, is colorful, zesty and made with fresh ingredients. From 5 to 7 p.m., get $1 off all drinks. It’s a great place to eat with friends or with the parents when they visit you at school. Roomy booths, a lively bar, artistic decor and an open concept interior are a welcome respite from the fluorescent lighting and questionable odors at the on-campus dining halls. The best part? The classy surroundings don’t require a well-endowed wallet: two tacos and a soda only cost about $8.

CANTINA 76

BURGER TAVERN 77

TAP INTO TAPESTRIES

BY ROSE

Rooms are like a blank canvas. They’re for coloring in, maybe with a psychedelic pattern. The first thing to strike students moving into a dorm or apartment might be the depressing wall colors. Even the scorching, famously hot Columbia sun can’t always keep rooms light and cheery, so introduce your space to a new bright side: a tapestry. But don’t be boring and nail yours to the wall. Here are some ideas about how to creatively bring in the boho.

BED CANOPIES

Bring your tapestry to the focus by decorating your bed with it. A large tapestry made of light material can serve as the perfect bed canopy. Attach sewing rings to the edges of the material and use Command™ strips to fasten it to the ceiling above your mattress. Only stick three-fourths of the tapestry, aligning it with the length of your bed. Allow the rest of the material to hang above the foot.

PILLOWCASES

For the more needle inclined (no, not that kind of needle), tapestries can become pillowcases. Turn a tapestry inside out, fold it in half and place an old pillow on top. Trace around the pillow’s edges, remove it and then cut the fabric. Stitch the tapestry’s sides together, leaving one side open for the pillow to fit in. Turn it inside out and fill it with your fluffy headrest. Embroidered or beaded tapestries make beautiful pillowcases, but you might end up moving them away from your face during the night. Go for the comfortable material, folks. All about that silk.

DENS

Make a den! The best part is you get to make this one up as you go along. Raise your bed and make the tapestry a curtain for the area underneath. Fill it with cushions and lava lamps. If your room isn’t carpeted, you’ll need a rug; tiles are cold! Otherwise, stick and drape tapestries around a corner of the room, making a cozy nook. Place a bean bag there, and relax in your very own Cave of Wonders.

LIGHT COVERS

For mood lighting, stick your tapestry around your bedroom light and the whole thing glows. It looks amazing. Any pattern that is on your tapestry is accentuated, but make sure it isn’t thick material; otherwise, you’ll be left in the dark. Make sure to let it hang; you don’t want it too close to the bulb for fire safety reasons. If your roommate doesn’t mind, let it take over the natural light as well. Stick it around the whole window and wake up feeling calm and relaxed. Thin fabric won’t block the light, but it will tint it.

WALKER // PHOTO BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND // DESIGN BY LINA LEGARE

KYLE CARPENTER

THE STUDENT BEHIND THE HERO

BY KALYN OYER // PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND// DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH AND ASHLEY CROMPTON

“I’ve taken a few selfies since it happened,” admits Medal of Honor recipient and USC student Kyle Carpenter with a grin. “But I’m really no different, just honored and appreciative of the people that want to come up and say hey or take a picture with me.” That seems to be Carpenter’s main message when he’s talking about what happened to him— the fact that despite his heroic act, he isn’t that different from everyone else after all.

In November 2010, Carpenter dove on a hand grenade to save his fellow platoon members while in combat with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. “It was an instinctive reaction,” Carpenter says. The explosion left the Marine in critical condition, and he was labeled P.E.A.—Patient Expired upon Arrival—when he landed in the Medevac helicopter. Carpenter didn’t wake up for five weeks.

“There was that moment when I woke up and grasped what happened,” Carpenter says matter-of-factly. “When I comprehended reality. That’s when I knew my job had changed. Now, I was a patient and I had more surgeries and recoveries to do.” As his left eye opened (his right was destroyed in the blast), Christmas stockings that his mom had hung on the hospital wall came into view, giving him an overwhelming feeling of normalcy despite his abnormal predicament. It’s what the family would have done in the living room at home.

Carpenter spent two years and eight months recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Wash-

ington, D.C. That’s more than 970 days of his life that he was confined almost exclusively to a hospital bed, enduring constant life-saving and reconstructive surgeries and physical therapy. He underwent more than 40 surgeries in that span, rebuilding all the way from his ankles up to his jaw and eye.

“Time in the hospital put things in perspective,” Carpenter says. “Your times can always be harder and worse. It taught me to appreciate the small and simple things in life, and Afghanistan taught me to be thankful for the luxuries we have here.”

The hospital stay was rough for Carpenter, not only because of the immense physical toll the back-to-back surgeries took on his body, but because of how it affected his spirit and the life he wanted to get back to. While his friends and peers were free to continue on with their lives, go to football games, attend classes, drive to their jobs and live the typical college life, Carpenter was trapped in a hospital fighting for his existence every single day.

“You always have to keep that angle in mind of, ‘I have to do this. I have to

go through the pain to get to that point where I can make the next step in life,’” he says.

Carpenter also felt guilty for putting his family through the emotional strain of watching him die multiple times during surgeries and be resuscitated. It became a draining routine. The medical staff members at Walter Reed became some of Carpenter’s closest friends in those months, and when he was medically retired in July 2013, it was hard saying goodbye.

However, he had a whole support system back home that was waiting for him to return. “I had such love and support from this community and the state that helped me transition and heal mentally and emotionally,” Carpenter says. He also had another supporter who had visited him in the hospital and was about to bestow upon Carpenter the highest military award in the United States.

President Barack Obama met Carpenter in the Oval Office before presenting him the Medal of Honor at an official ceremony. “It was surreal getting to the

White House and being taken back to meet him and his wife,” Carpenter says. He and the president of the United States chatted about typical things: major, studies, everyday life and, of course, Gamecock football. “Then, he told me he was proud of me and that his family, himself and the nation thanks me,” Carpenter—the eighth living recipient of the esteemed medal for the war in Afghanistan—says.

After returning to school in the fall, Carpenter was determined to get back to his life as usual, but there was an undeniable escalated hype around the hero. “I had a lot of close friends before, and I’ve always had great friends growing up. Family and friends didn’t change at all, but the attention did, the social media aspect especially,” he says. “I was getting friend requests from people I didn’t even know and recognized by people while walking to class or going downtown.” However, the fame didn’t seem to faze the humble Carpenter, who is one of the nicest people you could meet on campus.

He did come to realize the balance that his new position required. “There’s a professional side of my life and a student side,” Carpenter says. “I’d say the student side hasn’t really been affected all that much. But when I travel, go speak at places, go to receptions and events, then I can real-

ly tell that my life’s been affected.” So far, Carpenter has traveled across the country delivering speeches about his experience while reiterating the fact that he isn’t that different from everyone else. He’s spoken in San Diego, Las Vegas, New York City, D.C. and more. He has also delivered his story at the East and West Coast battalions of Wounded Warriors.

work a little bit with the National Counterterrorism Center, where I learned the very beginning steps of how information is obtained and end result of how it’s given out on the battlefield. It was cool to see the other side of things.”

In regards to his social life at USC, Carpenter is a sophomore Kappa Sigma member who chills out on the Horseshoe, goes to pool parties at Olympia Mills and hangs out in Five Points on the weekends. He tailgates and goes to football games, he spends lazy afternoons playing Xbox in his apartment and he jams out to Avicii on the way to class. He also enjoys flirting with the ladies, though his love life can still be categorized as “single and ready to mingle.” Better get on that, girls. All this is to say Carpenter is a regular USC student: not all that different from every one of us.

Carpenter’s experience has also inspired his major in international studies. “How the world behaves politically and socially interests me,” he says. “I got to

“Anyone can be a hero,” Carpenter says. “You should just start out by helping people and trying to be a good person every day. People here read my story or meet me and they think I’m on a higher platform, but I’m not. I was just put in a unique circumstance and stepped up to the plate. Everyone’s going to have their own struggles and opportunities, so take advantage of those. My situation isn’t any more special than anyone else’s; mine is just much more rare.”

Anyone can be a hero. You should just start out by helping people and trying to be a good person every day.

“ ”

THEkindness OFSTRANGERS

In this world we live in, almost everything comes with some strings attached, so it’s as hard for us to be kind as it is to accept kindness. But what happens when there is no catch? What happens when someone is just kind? I found out—and the results may surprise you.

BY ANDREA WURZBURGER// PHOTOS AND DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH

Consciously doing nice things is harder than you would think. Contrary to popular belief, there are not always cars in the drive-thru or people in line behind you that you can just whip out an Abraham Lincoln for. Sometimes there is absolutely no one around at all. A majority of my day was spent trying to find an opportunity to buy someone coffee, so if you saw a girl lurking around the coffee shops of Columbia with a crazed look in her eye, that was me.

I decided to start small. Once I realized yelling, “You look fabulous today!” and “You are a superstar!” was only creeping everyone out, I decided to go a different route. Face-to-face interaction seemed far too intimidating. What if people refused me? What if they looked at me like I was crazy? The drive-thru seemed like the most harmless place to start. After cutting off a car in an attempt to get in front of them in the drive-thru, I figured the least I could do was pay for this little old man’s coffee.

My heart started pounding as I pulled up to the window and said, “I’m going to get the car behind me as well.” The cashier’s face beamed as he grabbed my change. I lingered in the turn lane, and caught the cashier mouthing, “She paid for your order,” and the little old man’s mouth turn up into a smile as he retrieved his coffee and donuts. When I looked at my receipt, I saw the cashier hadn’t charged me for my drink at all. He was

paying it forward, too. Who would’ve thought my kindness would rub off?

Not going to lie, I was feeling pretty damn good about myself going to my next location. At Starbucks, I was worried when the girl who got in line behind me had a bad case of what most people would call “resting b—ch face (RBF).” I looked at the cashier, pointed to the girl beside me and gathered the courage to say, “I’m going to pay for her, too.” The look on the girl’s face was a mixture of shock and confusion as she looked around and sputtered out, “What? Are you serious? Oh my God, that is so nice of you! What? You don’t have to! Are you sure? Oh my God, I really needed this!” Her RBF morphed into the cheesiest smile. Like the Grinch, my heart grew three sizes that day. The cashier said, “You are just the cutest. You’re going to have excellent karma.” I could get used to this whole being nice thing.

Since I couldn’t drink any more caf fiene, I decided to give my large coffee to a girl who I saw setting up outside of The Gourmet Shop. My friend convinced me that, if she was working, she would love to get a free cup of coffee handed to her. I did not see a single flaw in this plan. I was coming straight off of what would be my best reaction of the day, after all. Let’s just say the waitress’ face was one that said, “Excuse me? What is in this cup? Is this roofied?” Although she thanked me, I could tell that coffee was going right in the

trash. So, word to the wise, buying people coffee makes them happy. Thrusting a full cup of hot mystery liquid at them will not garner the same reaction.

A few more awesome Starbucks reactions later (someone literally called me his savior), I decided to go to Cupcake. My logic was this: if free coffee was getting positive reactions, a free cupcake would make someone actually cry. Turns out, no one was in the store, but I gave the cashier enough money to buy the next person their cupcake. When I explained to her what I had been doing all day, she said, “I love to see people doing this stuff for each other.” She also gave me a free cake pop, saying it was her turn to “pay it forward.”

Maybe my many trips through the drive-thru didn’t start some insane chain effect of people paying for the car in front of them. Maybe some people thought I was more than a little weird—I’m looking at you, Gourmet Shop girl—but the important thing is that it happened.

The most interesting thing I learned from this little experiment wasn’t that doing nice things makes you feel good. I knew that; I would hope it is pretty much common knowledge. I learned you don’t need to buy people coffee to make them happy. Just being genuinely kind can turn someone’s day around in an instant; it might just cause that person to send out a few more positive rays into the world too.

On the rail

Students let their penchant for politics shine by getting involved in state-level and national elections.

BY AMANDA COYNE // PHOTOS BY ADAM COLLINS // DESIGN BY ASHLEY CROMPTON

It’s a Sunday afternoon in September, and Ursula Wilkinson isn’t nursing a hangover at Waffle House or chatting with friends over brunch. Instead, Wilkinson and state Rep. Beth Bernstein are walking door to door and speaking with voters in the incumbent’s suburban Richland County district.

The third-year political science and international studies student pounds the pavement, often with Bernstein, every Sunday. Wilkinson is an intern on Bernstein’s re-election campaign, focusing on reaching out to voters in the moderate district, which encompasses parts of Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes.

Other days, Wilkinson will be calling supporters for volunteer opportunities. Others, she’ll be helping write and distribute literature detailing Bernstein’s positions and accomplishment in her first term in the State House.

Wilkinson is one of a handful of USC students engaged in state-level and national campaigns. There are opportunities year-round for students to get involved with government and politics

in the Palmetto

State’s capital as pages or interns for legislators, parties or interest groups, but the election season presents an entirely new set of options.

Third-year political science and criminal justice student Mary Frances Martin, currently an intern for the Republican National Committee’s South Carolina operation, started out as an intern for Adjutant Gen. Robert Livingston’s primary campaign this summer. Livingston, an incumbent Republican, faced a primary challenger but no potential Democratic foe, so a primary win became the main event instead of the electoral hurdle it is for more contested races.

Martin rose quickly through Livingston’s ranks, becoming an assistant campaign manager and overseeing all Greenville County operations. Greenville County is a heavily Republican area, thus crucial in a Republican primary.

“It was the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life,” Martin says. “It ranged from getting coffee to worrying about each and every voting precinct in South Carolina.”

Like Martin, many political interns have a wide range of responsibilities. Some on large statewide or congressional campaigns may be tasked with calls to voters and runs to Starbucks or the office supply shop, while those on smaller campaigns may get the opportunity to write campaign material and train volunteers.

While Martin was able to take on a leadership position on Livingston’s campaign, that didn’t exempt her from hands-on work that many interns do on political campaigns.

“I stayed up all night the night before the primary for Gen. Livingston putting up signs all over Greenville County,” Martin says. “But it was worth it. We won by a 70/30 margin.”

Livingston is now running unopposed

“A lot of people don’t even know you vote for superintendent of education. If you really think about it, do you know the superintendent of education from the state of California or New York? Or even your own state? That’s not something a lot of people really pay attention to. When people show up to the polls, we don’t want them to pick a random name.”

- Maggie Patton

HEADLINERS

for Adjutant General, one of nine constitutional offices in South Carolina.

Constitutional officers are members of the state’s executive branch and include the governor and superintendent of education. While the governor’s race is always a hot topic in South Carolina, the superintendent of education is less well known. Maggie Patton hopes to change that.

Patton is an intern for Molly Spearman, the Republican candidate for superintendent of education. Spearman came out on top in June, emerging from a pack of eight in a fiercely competitive primary election. Now working for the candidate, one of Patton’s main objectives is increasing name recognition among voters and raising awareness about the election itself.

“It’s a challenge because we are at the bottom of the ballot,” Patton, a second-year political science student, says. “A lot of people don’t even know you vote for superintendent of education. If you really think about it, do you know the superintendent of education from the state of California or New York? Or even your own state? That’s not something a lot of people really pay attention to. When people show up to the polls, we don’t want them to pick a random name.”

Despite the challenges that a smaller campaign presents, Patton saw the Spearman campaign as an opportunity to specialize in an area she was interested in: education policy.

“It was a campaign that appealed to me because it was something different,” Patton says. “A lot of kids are drawn to major campaigns like Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott ... but this is different. Education is something I’m really passionate about, so I thought it would be great to choose something I’m passionate about.”

Patton has always been interested in politics, but never realized she could make a career out of it. She initially chose to study fashion merchandising at USC because of her interest in style and a potentially clearer path to a career. Patton joined College Republicans because of her political interest and quickly found that she could make a job out of her passion.

“I didn’t know what I could do with politics,” Patton says. “But the more I became involved with College Republicans, the more I liked it — talking politically and helping out with campaigns — so I switched my major and got more involved.”

Being involved in a campaign is different than a typical internship or entry-level job. There’s always work to be done, and every piece of the puzzle is crucial. For students involved, it’s all about

balance, especially for Wilkinson, the Bernstein intern. She takes a full course load and works as a server in addition to working for Bernstein’s House campaign.

“As far as free time, I have none. But it’s worth it,” Wilkinson says. “Every day, I think ‘Why am I doing this?’ But it’s because we’re at that prime age where opportunity knocks and you can’t turn it down.”

Statistically, students like Wilkinson, Patton and Martin are not the norm. Young people turn out to vote in the lowest proportion compared to other age groups. About 45 percent voted in 2012, compared to more than 66 percent of people 30 and older. Wilkinson thinks the biggest problem

is that many young people just don’t care.

“It’s apathy. I ask my friends and they say they don’t really care,” Wilkinson says.

“We’re at that age where we’ll be the next ones taking office. If we’re not working to move forward, we’ll just be stuck here complaining. They complain but don’t want to do anything about it.”

Young people are major stakeholders in the political process, Patton says, even if they don’t realize it. “It’s really important, being involved in politics, but you don’t have to work on a political campaign. The most important thing is to be informed and to vote,” Patton says. “When you vote, you’re voting for your future.”

“It was the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life, It ranged from getting coffee to worrying about each and every voting precinct in South Carolina.” -Mary Frances Martin

STYLE GOES RETRO THIS FALL, AND WHAT BETTER INSPIRATION THAN THE ‘90S CULT CLASSIC CLUELESS?

REV UP YOUR JEEP, BECAUSE CHER, TAI AND THE GANG ARE BACK AND CHICER THAN EVER. AS IF!

STYLE BY ALANA FUSCARDO // PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND AND IDA GARLAND //DESIGN BY LISA ASHWORTH AND ASHLEY CROMPTON // PHOTO EDITING BY ASHLEY CROMPTON // MODELS: JOSH

THOMPSON (ELTON), ALEX PEEPLES (TRAVIS), RACHAEL DORNELLAS (TAI), AMBER LILY BRENNER (CHER), QUINTON JONES (CHRISTIAN) AND VICTORIA INFINGER (DIONNE) // STYLE

ASSISTANS: RACHAEL DORNELLAS AND DOMINIC BELLOTTI

On Rachel: stylist’s own

On Amber: stylist’s own On Victoria: Van Jean tank, stylist’s own remaining outfit. All boys in Salty’s Surf Shop.

TOP LEFT On Rachael: stylist’s own

On Amber: Van Jean top, skirt, boots

On Victoria: Steel Garden top, skirt

BOTTOM LEFT On Victoria: Vestique dress and hat, stylist’s own shoes On Amber: Vestique sweater, stylist’s own skirt, socks, shoes BOTTOM MIDDLE

On Victoria: Van Jean tank, stylist’s own remaining outfit BOTTOM RIGHT

On Rachael: Vestique flannel, stylist’s own jeans and shoes. All boys in Salty’s Surf Shop.

TOP LEFT See previous page BOTTOM

LEFT On Victoria: Van Jean OMG clutch

MIDDLE: On Victoria: Van Jean dress

On Amber: Van Jean dress BOTTOM

MIDDLE On Amber: Van Jean pumps

BOTTOM RIGHT On Amber: stylist’s own On Victoria: Steel Garden On Rachael: stylist’s own. All boys in Salty’s Surf Shop

Halloween is upon us, and you know what that means—time to cry as we watch scary movies through the crack of trembling fingers. It’s a tradition as old as, well, All Hallows’ Eve, and we can’t wait to get our horror on.

“BRIDE WARS,” 2009

Don’t stand between a woman and her dream wedding. In one scarring scene, Anne Hathaway dyes Kate Hudson’s hair blue; Hudson makes a face straight out of “The Exorcist” and then screeches, “MY HAIR’S BLUE!” Nightmares for days.

“THE PERFECT MAN,” 2005

In some half-cocked, psychologically messed up scheme to help her hopelessly single mother, Hilary Duff pretends to be a grown man and sends her mom love notes online. There’s something about Lizzie McGuire posing as Chris Noth (better known as “Sex and the City’s” Mr. Big, but he plays “The Perfect Man’s” resident hunk) that’s particularly chilling.

“HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS,” 2002

We’re sorry, but who gave this monstrous film a PG rating? Twelve-yearold children dodge petrification as a giant snake slithers through the walls of their school.

9 MOVIES YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE SCARY

BY CHRISTOPHER ROSA // DESIGN BY SAVANNAH TAYLOR

You’d be surprised how many non-traditional scary movies are downright terrifying. From “WTF?!” faces to frightening fashion choices to atrocious acting, the following nine films fit the horror genre in their own unique rights.

“KAZAAM,” 1996

Shaquille O’Neal plays a genie who makes mountains of fast food fall from the sky. Cover. Your. Eyes.

“GLITTER,” 2001

Even the queen of all divas couldn’t salvage this saccharine-filled romp. Mariah Carey’s atrocious acting is scream-worthy. This might be the most tear-inducing flick on the list.

“CINDERELLA,” 1950

After her father mysteriously dies, a poor girl is held prisoner by her demon stepmother and two sinister stepsisters. Even though Cinderella gets revenge in the end (with the help of her fairy godwitch), it doesn’t make this film any less scary. At one point, the two stepsisters tear Cinderella’s clothes off and the stepmother locks her in the attic.

“THE WIZARD OF OZ,” 1939

Flying monkeys with lifeless eyes, a pyromaniac witch and a Talking. Damn. Lion. Yup, BYE.

“FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY,” 2003

“Surprise b—ch, I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me” is what Justin Guarini was thinking when he came at us with “From Justin to Kelly” in 2003. Guarini—and the equally cringe-worthy Kelly Clarkson—assault us with bad dialogue, bad hair and horrendous clichés that make us wonder how these two were “American Idol” finalists. You will never be the same.

1

“WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY,” 1971

A crazy, candy-obsessed man lures five children into his chocolate factory and proceeds to torture them. One kid drowns in a chocolate river; one turns into a giant blueberry; one falls down an incinerating chute and one shrinks down to microscopic size. And we haven’t even mentioned when Charlie and his grandfather almost die via a razor-sharp fan. “Halloween,” eat your heart out.

PHOTO IN FAIR USE FROM PARAMOUNT PICTURES

DENTON CRUSER

AND HIS PASSION FOR FILM PHOTOGRAPHY

BY GABRIELA HERSTIK PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA HERSTIK

ART

can be a therapeutic release, and very often the story of the artist intensifies the beauty of the creation. That is the case for Denton Cruser, a senior art education student. Cruser’s eye for photography has led him to capture seemingly ordinary moments and transform them into beautiful and intense black-and-white film photographs.

Growing up in West Columbia, Cruser first began exploring art while at White Knoll High School. Although his first class wasn’t until senior year, the release he found in creating something inspired him to continue studying art and eventually art education. Art wasn’t the first path that Cruser pursued; he considered everything from anthropology to religious studies, and it wasn’t until his first photography class that he realized where his path was taking him. An Intro to Photography course led to Advanced Black and White Photography, which ended with Cruser deciding to cultivate his study of photography and film.

Perhaps it’s the intention behind capturing a photograph that draws Cruser in. Unlike using a digital camera, which is instantly gratifying, the process of capturing a photo on film poses a great risk; sometimes things work out and sometimes they don’t. It’s in the uncertainty that Cruser finds a sort of meditation, because through attempting to grasp a singular moment, there is a risk with a great reward. For Cruser, there is a deeper motivation for photography. After being diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 14, which causes unconscious and compul-

sive movements known as tics, Cruser realized he was relieved of physical compulsions while creating any sort of art. In this way, art and photography became a mental and physical therapy for Cruser. Both the process of capturing the moment and the final result came to be a sort of introspective practice that caused awareness and presence he couldn’t find anywhere else.

Cruser’s artwork reflects this. His photography is full of glimpses of ordinary life caught in an introspective gaze and light. Cruser, who classifies his style of photography as Contemporary Southern Landscape and Still Life, has a penchant for creating a feeling from his photographs. Whether it’s an azalea branch with a unique focal point or bookshelf stacked full of novels, there is a sort of nostalgia present in each piece. It doesn’t quite matter if the image has a sharp or blurry focus; there’s a comfort about Denton’s work not unlike visiting a beloved landmark from your childhood. One of the most exciting parts of photography for Cruser is the ability it gives him to communicate both his views and emotions, silently.

As far as the future goes, this artist has some exciting plans on his plate. Cruser’s work will be displayed at Cool Beans this coming winter, and he is currently working on his first series of color film photos. The series will be of photographs taken at the Congaree River, and the theme will revolve around Cruser’s family and the foundation they helped create for him. If the future of Cruser’s photography is anything like his current work, good things are ahead.

MASON YOUNGBLOOD

Mason Youngblood is a DJ at student-run radio station 90.5 WUSC, where he started the Moas Collective, a group of DJs and producers who broadcast live every Friday from 6 - 9 p.m. He is also making music through his solo project Callosum and the electronic R&B duo Tiger Hudson.

When did you start producing?

I started at WUSC my first semester freshman year. I was into electronic music in high school, but not very seriously. I began with a bigger interest in hip-hop and jazz; the interest in producing electronic music mostly developed here in college. I had the idea for

is a great town, there aren’t a lot of outlets for

So, I wanted to start something where local DJs and producers could collaborate and release music.

You’re also working on a couple projects like Tiger Hudson and Callosum. How did you get started there?

I’m mostly working on my solo project Callosum, which started out last summer. My friend Rupert Hudson, who was the old music director here at WUSC, had introduced me to Thi Lam when I needed a vocalist for a song I was working on. Thi and I both liked working with each other, so we started Tiger Hudson. He is living in Nashville right now, so most of

How much influence do you think being in Columbia has had over your music and ambitions?

I know musicians and producers who moved to other places that might carry more opportunity, but there isn’t nearly as much of a community as there is in Columbia. There is a

But for electronic music, especially club, it’s hard to make it if you’re not in the bigger

and planning on a Ph.D in neuroscience, but at .

Let’s look at your iTunes now. What songs are you most embarassed to say are in your library?

“Be My Baby” by Ariana Grande. Honestly, I’m a big Ariana Grande fan. Both of her albums are great, and she works with really cool producers like Cashmere Cat.

BY SETH ISMAEL

PHOTO BY JADA SAMUELS

DESIGN BY NINA WARING

Any new music obsessions?

There’s a new movement in electronic music called Jersey Club. It’s like how trap [music] exaggerates all the absurd parts of hip-hop; Jersey Club exaggerates the absurd parts of R&B. It’s a lot of fun and really good dance music; I play a ton of it on my DJ sets.

What are your top three pick-me-up songs?

No. 1 is “In the Stone” by Earth, Wind & Fire. I’ll also say “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green and “I’m So Paid” by Akon.

Nick @ Night

BY SARAH FERRARO // PHOTO BY AMELIA DUPONT // DESIGN BY AMELIA SMOAK

Claims that Columbia lacks culture are few and far between now that Main Street is being overhauled, and the Nickelodeon theatre is a prime example. It’s the best indie theatre you’ve walked by a hundred times but never visited. The Nick, founded by USC students in 1979, hosts a rotating schedule of independent films, conversations and festivals. Its events range everywhere from a Björk concert flick screening (November 14) to a festival composed of hilariously awful retro VHS tapes.

The latter, called the Found Footage Fest, hits The Nick on October 25 and is sure to bring tons of laughs with it (and a cringe or two). Its founders, Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, are both former writers for late-night shows (“The Colbert Report” and “The Late Show with David Letterman” – ring any bells?) and have the comedy chops to prove it. They scoured the nation’s finest garage sales, warehouses and dumpsters to find the most obscurely funny home videos to add to the collection. Pickett and Prueher’s finds include some awkward ‘80s corporate training

videos, annoying home shopping television hosts and an instructional tape entitled “How to Have Cybersex on the Internet.”

The pair’s obsession began in 1991 with their very first funny video discovery, and the collection grew until it became a festival in 2004. Now, Pickett and Prueher travel the country sharing their finds (and witty commentary) with the public. So, that embarrassing home movie of you and your siblings getting into a fistfight over who got to be the red Power Ranger? It may not be safe in your parents’ attic after all.

Tickets for the Found Footage Fest can be reserved now on Nickelodeon.org. So, if you and your friends are looking for an escape from the typical dinner-then-Five-Points grind of Columbia nightlife, hit up The Nick for a change. Who knows – you may even see yourself on the big screen.

SCENE & HEARD

Those Lavender Whales

WE TALKED TO LEAD SINGER AARON GRAVES, WHOSE LIFE-CHANGING MEDICAL CRISIS BROUGHT THE ENTIRE COLUMBIA MUSIC COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

It takes a lot of guts to add theatrics to your set when you’re the opening act. Thus, when the four members of Those Lavender Whales don their signature seaweed-green Davy Jones beards, it’s near impossible not to gain immediate respect for them, despite the fact that they haven’t even picked up their instruments. And when they do start playing, they might seem to merely be an odd little crew from Columbia with false beards jamming through folk jingles. But behind the faux facial hair, transcendent electric guitar waves, relaxing acoustic strums, happy-go-lucky drum tempos and pleasantly bright lyrics is a group that even in the darkest of times epitomizes love, support and purpose, redefining what it means to be a “family band.”

They play quirky, infectiously catchy tunes that blend the idiosyncratic folk tailoring of Neutral Milk Hotel with the buoyant rhythms and delivery of They Might Be Giants, and bring back memories of watching Saturday morning programming in your Superman pajamas. They have a camaraderie that seems to grow with every stomp, bounce and slight head bang. And with every song, it

becomes more apparent that they were meant to do this. To hear and see them perform is bizarre, but even more so, it is fascinating.

The band’s leader, 29-year-old Aaron Graves, has an admirably bright and humble view on life and music. “I just don’t like being bummed out,” he says as he watches a light rain veil his view of Main Street. Graves, a Columbia native, has always maintained a goal of bringing local talent together to simply have fun and make creative, raw music under one roof. Inspired by the ‘90s indie rock collective Elephant 6, which included indie titans Neutral Milk Hotel and of Montreal, Graves formed Fork and Spoon Records with friends Jordan Blackmon and Those Lavender Whales (TLW) bassist Chris Gardner.

Fork and Spoon fulfills Graves’ aspirations of being a familial outlet through which Columbia artists, including his own band, can experiment musically with a sense of complete creative liberty. “I’ve always thought that Columbia was

special and that the people and the community of Columbia were really special. Particularly the musical community,” Graves says.

He has impeccable modesty, stating that he doesn’t think he did anything special other than believe in the community and care about it. The channel for ingenuity and unity amongst Columbia musicians that Graves has helped build has made him a local icon. He is giving all he has to his hometown with each note that’s played on a Fork and Spoon recording. So when tragedy fell upon Graves and his family, the city responded in full force.

This past March, after visiting a doctor due to trouble with his vision, Graves was informed that he had a tumor spread throughout his brain. “The doctors looked scared,” Graves recalls with a hint of astonishment, even seven months after his diagnosis. “The only way I can describe what went through my mind was just complete shock.” Accompanied by his wife, TLW drummer Jessica Bornick, Graves underwent radiation treatment

in July at Duke University. During the six weeks of treatment, the two stayed at Caring House, a home for cancer patients in Durham, N.C. “We were the youngest people there,” Graves remembers, “but it was inspiring to see these older people go through much worse stuff and still keep a positive attitude. They would say things like ‘you just gotta take it as it comes, you’ll get through it.’”

Fortunately, the treatment was successful, and the tumor has decreased greatly in size. Graves is progressively regaining his health; according to his blog, he can once again “kick flip on a skateboard.” However, when asked if there will be a time when the tumor is no longer an issue, Graves pauses and seems to stare the thought down for a moment. “It’s likely going to be an issue forever; there’s always a chance of it coming back,” he says over the bellowing, prayerful organ of Arcade Fire’s “My Body Is a Cage” playing on a nearby sound system in a tragic, yet poetic, harmonization.

The response to Graves’ diagnosis from the community has been nothing less than remarkable. “There have just been too many things to name,” he says. “It’s really flattering that so many people have helped us out so much and helped us out for so long. I can’t believe that stuff is still going on.”

Local businesses continue to have fundraisers and benefits for Graves and his family, including Five Points restaurant El Burrito, which offers a full meal menu item called “Aaron’s Lunchbox” every Wednesday. The profits are donated to the Graves family. Papa Jazz Record Shoppe has an “Aaron Bin,” made up of material by Columbia musicians working with the store, who have been kind enough to donate all of the proceeds from the bin towards Graves’ treatment.

Earlier this year, Fork and Spoon put together a compilation album entitled “Tidings From Our Light Purple Gam,” which includes various Fork and Spoon artists as well as an original song from Columbia native and high school friend of Graves, Toro y Moi, and a cover of The Kinks’ “Did You See His Name?” by of Montreal. However, the standout track on the album is an original song by Those Lavender Whales, aptly entitled “I’m So Proud (Of My Friends).”

Conundrum Music Hall and New Brookland Tavern have both held benefit concerts for Graves and his family; renowned dream-pop artist Washed Out headlined a benefit for the

christening of Music Farm Columbia on September 16. All of the proceeds went to the brilliantly-named tumorschmumor.com, a donation website for Graves. The band opened for Washed Out that night, along with South Carolina native Keith Mead. As the beards were donned and Graves walked onstage wearing a “Columbia, SC” T-shirt, the enthusiasm of the packed crowd perfectly illustrated his support system and impact.

What ultimately makes Those Lavender Whales such a special group is that, to them, making music is not intended to be a means to a paycheck but a means to unity. In Columbia, Graves has turned what in many cities is nothing more than a music scene into a family. Concern for who sells the most records, tickets or T-shirts has never entered the picture. It has always been about community and the idea that creative people can feel comfortable doing whatever they want

with those who have the same drive. Graves has united some of the city’s most creative minds; when something threatening came barging in trying to ruin everything, people have risen up to help this one man who has worked to make things better. He’s not stopping either; the band is still playing, Graves is still writing material and he’s hoping for a new TLW album to drop sometime next summer. As Graves said himself, “It goes to show that if you put a lot of energy into a place and the people of a place, then they’ll put it back into you.”

If you would like to help Aaron Graves, his wife Jessica and their daughter Elvie through these difficult times, donations can be made to tumorschumor.com, by purchasing an “Aaron’s Lunchbox” meal from El Burrito or by downloading the “Tidings From Our Light Purple Gam” album from Amazon or forkandspoonrecords.net.

BY ALEX PEEPLES

PHOTOS BY JOSH THOMPSON DESIGN BY SAVANNAH TAYLOR

If you put a lot of energy into a place and the people of a place, then they’ll put it back into you.

”

inVENT

BY THOM BELL, SHELBY SIPPERLY & SARAH STONE // DESIGN BY KELLEN LAGROON & ASHLEY CROMPTON

MOE’S MONDAY

Mondays suck. It is a fact written down nowhere, yet accepted everywhere. Think about it. Have you ever met anybody that’s like, “Oh, Monday is my favorite day of the week?” Of course not. That wouldn’t be a human thing to do. So when I go to Moe’s for the usual Homewrecker with queso inside – yeah, I roll deep – I want a smooth process because it’s still Monday and I. Am. Hungry. “Welcome to Moe’s!” echoes as I push/pull open that strange door that swings both ways. I see the line already formed like a giant winding slinky of death. I quickly scan to see any familiar faces, make awkward eye contact with everyone and proceed to stare at my phone until I reach the counter. I’m within ordering distance now, and the taste buds are tingling in anticipation. Then, it happens. The girl in front of me ogles the menu for a full 120 seconds (which in Moe’s Monday time is threeand-a-half tacos), then lazily turns to her assumed boyfriend and asks, “What do

I like?” *Loses s—t.* All I want is to feel full again! I ask for very little in life, so I make this one request to all Gamecocks: If you are going to Moe’s Monday, practice your order beforehand so I can get my burrito and make sweet, passionate dinner with it.

STROM STRUGGS

To the (probably freshman) girl at Strom today who took the last mat, stretched for approximately two minutes, then left your water by your mat (clearly trying to claim it as your own) while you went to the upstairs track to run for 30 minutes while I waited for the next mat to become available (which took no less than 15 minutes): RUN OUTSIDE. That’s what it’s there for. Or just put the mat back and get a new one later, so the rest of us don’t have to succumb to your clearly very open schedule while we have places to be after we go to the gym. Next time, I will use your mat…and you’ll get more than just the stank face I gave you this time. You’ve been warned.

LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR

Despite being fully functioning adults, people tend to have the spatial awareness and motor skills of a toddler once they step foot in an elevator. One day, an oblivious commuter stepped on my foot three times in a row. Another day, someone entered the elevator, planted his feet halfway across the expanse of the claustrophobic box and placed his hands on two of four walls. I had two questions for this person. First: “Dude, can you please give me some personal space?” and second: “How did you manage to take up 50 percent of the elevator?” But I have been that person before, frantically slapping innocent passengers with my backpack as I fought my way through the mob in those limited seconds before the doors close. Something about elevators and their intrinsic awkwardness bring out the strangest parts of everyone. I’m ready to get to my floor.

HOW TO

Decorate a Pumpkin Without Carving It

BY HOPE JOHNSON // DESIGN BY BRITTANY PYLES

This time of year, everyone remembers why they love fall more than any other season: sweater weather, bonfires, football, fluffy clouds overhead, crunchy leaves underfoot and… pumpkin guts? There are two primary reasons why this disgusting aspect of the world’s finest season should be removed. First, the guts: ew. Second, orange. Just no. Now that we’re on the same page, I suggest that we celebrate the season with its most iconic fruit without its ugliest traits. So in honor of all things (not) orange, here are some creative ways to decorate a pumpkin (without simply carving a face into it).

CHALKBOARD:

This is a super simple step to get rid of that unappealing color with a surface that allows for more creativity later!

First, choose classic black chalkboard paint for a spooky finish. One to two coats of paint, plus a few hours of dry time, and you can scribble all over this stylish squash to your heart’s content. A squiggly “BOO!” is the perfect phrase to start your chalk calligraphy.

CRAYON DRIP:

Probably the most unique and customizable, this style is also easier than it looks! Just paint the pumpkin a solid color; black and white look nice with colorful crayons, but mix it up with trendy gold or silver gloss as a backdrop. Glue crayon halves (or thirds, depending on pumpkin size) near the stem. Crank up your hairdryer and let abstract autumn flow. Select fall tones to make it look like an enchanted forest scene with falling leaves.

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK:

Mimicking the classic candle-lit Jack-o-Lantern, this style is dorm room-friendly with no knife required! To make a luminescent Jack-o’-Lantern face, paint half of the pumpkin with a white base coat to create an even surface. Layer a few coats of glow-in-the-dark paint, then make a face with stickers or masking tape. Paint the whole thing a fun color, let dry, peel the tape off and admire your glowing artistic skills.

ICE BUCKET:

Festive and practical, this adorable ice bucket is great for Halloween parties. Though it will get your fingers a little gooey, you’re not just carving a boring, lopsided Jack-o’Lantern. You are creating a practical storage space for your autumn cider and homebrew collection. Cut the top one-third off the biggest, widest pumpkin you can find (keep the top for a lid). Clean out the innards, add ice and drinks and you’ve got a new cooler. You can also add dry ice instead for a cauldron smoke effect that will wow your party guests. For extra crafty points, add chalkboard paint as a label for what’s inside.

CANDLE HOLDER:

For some extra seasonal ambiance, these pumpkin candles can set the mood while hopefully not setting anything aflame. Grab a small candle of your favorite fall scent and some smaller gourds close in size, cut out a space for the candle to sit in and make sure the pumpkin is cleaned out thoroughly. Then set your candle inside, light it up and enjoy your new candleholder.

If you stick to these decorating tricks, you’ll have the best Halloween treats on the hall.

let your drink of choice DETERMINE YOUR MAJOR

BY GILLIAN KERNER // DESIGN BY SAVANNAH TAYLOR

NEED SOME HELP PICKING YOUR MAJOR? NO PROBLEM. WITH OUR SYSTEM, IT’S AS EASY AS ORDERING YOUR NEXT COCKTAIL.

JUNGLE

BLOODY

With your major(s), you need all the alcohol you can get…

You just saved a woman’s life today. Her name was Mary, and she bled a lot. You deserve this.

Mark Twain, a pioneer of American literature, wisely said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”

Fret not, Greenpeace. There’s a drink that won’t make you feel guilty about its ecological impact! This bourbon’s distillery is on a state-certified nature preserve, so rejoice tree-lovers!

ABSINTHE=

MAJOR ART STUDIO

Vincent van Gogh used to drink this in order to jumpstart his creativity. And look how his work turned out.

WINE= PUBLIC RELATIONS BUSINESS

People in this field are all about presentation, so wine is a perfect compliment. Olivia Pope (of ABC’s “Scandal”) can never look bad with her wine, even after committing corrupt affairs with the president of the United States.

BEER=

You can find this classic drink in any bar you walk into, just like the business majors here at USC.

JUICE =

DOUBLE

MARY =WHISKEY = MAKER’S MARK =

RUSSELL HOUSE

BY MCKENNA PORTER // DESIGN BY LINA LEGARE

Just call us Gossip Girl. Check out issue two and see where we strike next.

Last night on my way home from Five Points, I peed in the T-Coop fountain. (Side note: This was a girl talking.)

I haven’t seen my suitemates since move-in day.

I commented on this guy’s giant package he was carrying in the mailroom, and then he said, “This isn’t my only big package” and asked for my number.

I like my roommate’s boyfriend more than I like my roommate.

Does Breakers take Carolina Cash?

Last night, I walked in on my roommate doing naked yoga. I shouldn’t have gone random.

This morning, I saw my sociology professor buying wart remover and condoms at Publix.

When I was drunk, I gave a homeless man my CarolinaCard in exchange for Cook-Out hushpuppies.

I got pulled over for expired plates and I accidently gave the cop my fake ID.

I haven’t stopped using my ex-girlfriend’s Netflix account. At least she’s still good for something.

I just matched with my RM on Tinder. Could have sworn he was gay.

- Kisses, b—ches!

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