EDITORS IN CHIEF

There is no denying the thrill of indulging in your guilty pleasures. It leaves you feeling euphoric, impatiently longing for the next time. There are no right and wrongs when it comes to what makes you feel good. It looks different for everyone. For some, it looks like binge-watching The White Lotus in one sitting. And for some, it seems like manipulating others to feed their lack of sense of self. The list can go on and on. Guilty pleasures make us who we are, and this spring, we are no longer hiding our guilty pleasures but embracing them.

When I think of guilty pleasure, I think of when I was thirteen at Justice. You were the it girl if you owned a top from Justice. Justin Bieber blasting in the background and the overused peace signs slapped on every cutout shirt- it’s a dream. I remember I had my eyes on a sparkly pink top, and I did whatever it took to sway my mom to make the purchase. And, that’s how I became a top-notch manipulator. Lol, jk. Or am I? The persuasion was not easy, but I knew the compliments would be worth it. Even at a young age, validation from others shaped my decisions. While it’s healthy from those you love, it gets concerning when you’re depleting your authenticity for an envious gaze.

As I navigate the beautiful and messy reality of being in my twenties- I find that my experience at Justice translates seamlessly into adulthood. Temptation, validation, and manipulation is still very much present in my life. I’m always in the tussle of doing what I think is “right” and “wrong.” I want to dedicate this issue to the struggles that feel so universal and relatable to all. Let this encourage you to no longer hide but embrace everything that makes you who you are.

personal discussion of academic validation. I hope it comforts all who can relate— lastly, the dramatic and powerful spreads of manipulation. This vision paid tribute to all the girls who had been played. Honestly, this is my revenge. Inspired by marionette puppets, we took power back.

Every spread of this magazine reflects a unique voice. University Girl Magazine is a creative democracy- we stayed up all night and explored new places together. Most importantly, we listened to each other. We work from a place of passion, learning, and understanding. Nothing would have been possible without my partner, Britney Kirwan, and the incredible creative team, Samantha Fuss and Rhea Srivastava. I will always admire Sophie Walter’s craft in photography. Their artistic abilities animate the magazine. Of course, the entire executive team’s creative visions and impeccable work ethic is truly unmatched.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank University Girl Magazine, especially Chloe Hechter, for trusting me to become the Editor-In-Chief. I also want to thank Samantha Fuss for taking a chance on me as a graphic designer freshman year. I would go back to learning how to package an InDesign file in a heartbeat. I wish I were kidding, this publisher was why I committed to Syracuse University. My time here has pushed my creative boundaries and encouraged me to pursue my ambition of becoming an art director. Thank you to everyone who made this an unforgettable issue - writers, editors, directors, designers, stylists, photographers, and social & PR teams. Each of you has made a huge impact on my life, and I will cherish this experience forever.

So, let’s end on this note: why do you feel guilty doing what you love?

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In the temptation section, we created the most whimsical shoot, inspired by Adam & Eve. Think magical free spirits basking in the spring sunshine, it’s a dream. Then, we turn to the most adorable spreads- the validation shoot. Mixing coquette ballet core with a childhood princess aesthetic, we are bringing the inner child to life. Here, you will find a

It’s hard to believe that I’m sitting here writing this letter, let alone for a second time. However, I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. Being Editor-In-Chief (E-I-C) means more to me than just being in charge. Before attending Syracuse University, it was always hard for me to find like-minded people and I never felt like I had anyone who understood me and my creativity. The way I wanted to express myself was not typical of where I’m from and a part of me always felt like I was different. Once I joined University Girl something clicked instantly. All of a sudden I was in a room full of girls who “spoke the same language” as me and I felt as though I could express myself in ways that I had always wanted to. Because of UGirl, I began to write about things that interested me and allowed me to break out of my comfort zone. From being afraid to pitch an idea for an article out of fear of being judged to running the magazine as a whole wasn’t just something that happened overnight. It was through the magazine and the friends I’ve made while being in it that have made all of the difference. Being E-I-C means stepping up and being the person that helps other girls grow with confidence and break out of their comfort zones just like the E-I-C’s before had helped me do.

Our Spring ‘23 issue is all about Guilty Pleasures, which means something different to everyone. To some people, it has to do with validation, temptation, or manipulation.

In our validation section (pg. 7-16), we explore the ways in which validation is present in our lives. It could come from getting good grades, to our physical appearance, and our everyday relationships. Things that we feel we need to be validated can be healthy, but oh boy can it be unhealthy. Our Validation shoot (pg. 7-8) is meant to portray inner child validation. By validating your inner child, one can improve the relationship they have with themselves.

Moving on, our temptation section (pg. 1729) talks about everything from last year’s tempting situationship to battling temptations with food and body image. We wanted to convey this concept in our photoshoot (pg. 17-22) by conveying a modern-day Adam and Eve. We’ve all been tempted by something, and we all can relate to this shoot in one way or another.

Our last section is all about manipulation (pg. 30-38). It’s definitely not uncommon for us college girls to say that we have experienced this at one point or another. The ways in which people have manipulated us as well as the media. We’ve been told by a young age that our looks are what make us worthy. But I’m here to say that that can’t be far enough away from the truth. Our Manipulation shoot (pg. 31-34) portrays more of a manipulative relationship. It can all be seen by the girl trying to control the boy through puppet strings, while he looks helpless and gives in.

For this issue, I of course want to thank my Co-Editor-In-Chief, , for helping make this magazine come to life. I want to thank our Creative Directors, Samantha Fuss and Rhea Srivastava our Photography Director, Sophie Walter and our queen of Social Media, Chloe Hechter. I would also like to extend my thanks to Aviya Garg, Jenna Lopes, Kylie Gorsky, Kari Marvel, Phoebe Block, Chloe Weinstein, Julia Short, Gianna Davis, Rachel Musman, Emily Bruck, Rebecca Carr, Hannah Karlin, and Kate Bartolleti. Also, a huge thank you to Elizabeth Wolf Catie Haugen for the design of this issue. I have had the most amazing experiences running this magazine and all I can really say is “Thank you.”

Xx,

Srivastava, , and