VALLEY Magazine | Fall 2018

FALL 2018 ISSUE #22

Megha Tuladhar

THE POWER OF A PROMISE

BUSINESS DIVISION BUSINESS DIRECTOR ALEXA TURKOVICH ADVERTISING DIRECTOR CASSANDRA DELACRUZ BRANDED CONTENT DIRECTOR ALEXIS DUDAS EVENTS DIRECTOR KAIT MILLER ASSISTANT EVENTS DIRECTOR JORDAN ALBRIGHT PUBLIC RELATIONS/MARKETING DIRECTORS

CAROLINE SORRENTINO, EMMA SHEEHAN FINANCE DIRECTOR CASSANDRA KEARNS SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR SAMANTA RODRIGUEZ DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR ZOEY GOTTLIEB

EDITORIAL DIVISION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MAGGIE KREIENBERG MANAGING EDITOR TESS PETAK CREATIVE DIRECTORS ELEANOR WING, NICK WILSON DESIGN DIRECTORS COLLEEN WADE, ALEXIS STERN PHOTO DIRECTOR EMILY ADAR ASSISTANT PHOTO DIRECTORS MATT BROWNLOW, CARISSA FLORES DIGITAL DESIGN DIRECTOR HANNAH SCIBETTA WEB DIRECTOR RYAN SALAMO VIDEO DIRECTOR GRANT DONGHIA WEB TECHNICIAN RACHEL SMITH BEAUTY & HEALTH EDITOR MARY JOYCE SELF-IMPROVEMENT EDITOR SHANNON KAVANAGH CAMPUS CULTURE EDITOR KATHERINE GOULDIN FASHION EDITOR MATT BROWNLOW ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR KATIE GERGEL COPY EDITOR SARAH PRICE PRINT WRITERS

ABBY THOMAS, ABIGAIL ROE, CARLIE FOX, CATIE GORE, CHRISTINA CHAMBERS, DEVON MACDOUGALL, HANNAH FERENCI, JACQUELINE NAPOLITANO, JENNA PELOWITZ, JORDAN PIETRAFITTA, KATIE O'REILLY, KAYLA RAMIREZ, KELSEY LENTZ, KYLEE MCGUIGAN, LUCY MCKEEVER, OLIVIA ERNST, OLIVIA RUEGER, TORI ROONEY, VALERIE MURPHY

PR/MARKETING

AVERY HOLLAND, BELLA SPADAFORA, BRITTANY ACOSTA, CAILYN MCCUTCHEON, CHRISTINA GONNELLA, EMILY DESSEL, GRACE LEIBOW, INDIA WARREN, ISABELLA FERRARO, JASMINE CLARK, JESS GLOMB, JORDAN MILLS, KERRY BRENNAN, LAUREN MCGONIGLE, MACKENZIE HUGHES, MEGHAN TOTZKE FINANCE

AMANDA MILLER, AMANDA SABATELLA, BREANNA BOEH, JACKIE TUCKER, KAITLYN CARPENTER, MADDIE ALDRICH, SARA JACQUES ADVERTISING

ADRIANA GUIDI, GABBY CORRAL, JILLIAN SAMPERI, KARLY KNEIDINGER, KATIE PAV, KYLEIGH GRAHAM, LAUREN CLEMENTS, MEGAN AMMON, SYDNEY MCCORMACK EVENTS

GWYNETH MULLIKEN, KRISTINA HAHN, MONICA POWELL, RACHEL AUL, TAYLOR QUINTANO, TAYLOR RODRIQUES SOCIAL MEDIA

CAMILA BERTAGNI, CAROLINE FISH, ETHAN WILLIAMSON, JAMIE STEINBERG, KYLIE WEISSENBURGER, LAURA PRYOR, MARIA URENA, NICOLE GRESEN, SARAH ROBIE BOARD OF ADVISORS

MARIE HARDIN, DEAN OF THE DONALD P. BELLISARIO COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS

WEB WRITERS

ABBY FORTIN, ABBY LUKE, BRIANNA REYES, CARMEN DIPIPPO, CAROLYN SISTRAND, CHRISTY MCDERMOTT, EMILY HAYES, EMMA CREAMER, GABBY SOLON, HANNAH BINGHAM, JESSICA MARTINO, MAIVE BELLIOS, SOPHIE STEIN DESIGNERS

BEN PIETRUSINSKI, EMILY WATKINS, JESSIE MAYER, KYLIE RADICK PHOTOGRAPHERS

ANISSA ERKERT, DANA WELTMAN, DANIELLE LASDAY, GRACE SOUTHERN, JOSIAH KIM, JOSIE CHEN, KEN KALBACH, MITCHELL VALENTIN, SOLEIL NAGODA VIDEO

ALLISON ROBINSON, BRAEDEN BOYLE, CALEB LAUBSCHER, DEJANAE GIBSON, DESMOND TAYLOR, LEO MASSEY, RHEA JHA, TARA TYNDALL

TO CONTACT VALLEY MAGAZINE:

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ARE YOU A CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR STAFF? VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. WWW.VALLEYMAGAZINEPSU.COM THE CONTENT AND OPINIONS OF THIS PUBLICATION RESIDE SOLELY WITH THE AUTHORS AND NOT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY OR THE UNIVERSITY PARK ALLOCATION COMMITTEE. PRINTED BY JOSTENS FUNDED BY YOUR STUDENT INITIATED FEE

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BEAUTY AND HEALTH

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Glazed Over Cruelty-Free is the Way to Be Nutrition Label Literacy The Person Behind the Scars Truthfully Nutritious A Glass of Wine a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?

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SELF IMPROVEMENT

20-21 22 23 24 25

Beyond the Horoscope Becoming You What Does Your Handshake Say About You? In Your Dreams Feeding Curious Minds

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CAMPUS CULTURE

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The Power of a Promise To Be or Not To Be (In A Relationship) Balanced Brains Everyone’s Able To Advocate The Best Of Penn State Bad & Boozy Before the Bon Voyage

42 ENTERTAINMENT Penn State’s only student-run life and style magazine.

VALLEY Magazine is published once per semester and distributed for free on Penn State’s main campus in University Park, Pa. Our mission is to recognize Penn State students for their academic and extracurricular accomplishments and to feature local style, entertainment and lifestyle trends.

VALLEY Magazine is named after Happy Valley and was founded in September 2007 by former Penn State students Nicole Gallo, Meredith Ryan, Katie Zuccolo and Kathryn Tomaselli. The Fall 2018 magazine is VALLEY’s twenty-second issue.

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Playing With Sound Film Fatale Privacy vs. Policy How to do it For The Gram They did it For The Gram What Brings the Buzz

52 FASHION 53 54-55 56 57 58-63

Fashion Week For Dummies Men’s Fashion: An Artistic Expression Going Global When Ink Becomes Art A Natural Order 03

Letter from the Editor Up until my junior year of high school, I wanted to be a school teacher. I loved the thought of shaping our country’s youth and guiding the next generation. Every day after elementary school, I would play pretend in my living room and talk to my “class” — aka myself.

But it wasn’t until I joined VALLEY in the spring of 2016 that I realized teaching doesn’t happen exclusively in the classroom. In that moment I made a promise to myself: give every word I write and every article I publish a purpose.

When I first met Megha Tuladhar, her presence humbled me and her story inspired me. I immediately knew that a girl like her was going places, and I was confident her actions could truly do good for the world. I hope her story speaks to you like it spoke to me. We should all carry a little Megha in us — intelligence, selflessness, strength.

I hope you know that those qualities reside in you, too.

With a staff of over 100 students, it truly does take a village to produce what you’re holding in your hand. To my creative directors, Nick and Eleanor, and design directors, Colleen and Alexis, your artistic vision is unparalleled. Thank you for creating yet another outstanding piece of art. Emily, my photography extraordinaire, your talents behind the lens put me in complete awe whenever one of your photographs is in front of me. To my go-to girl, right-hand man, managing editor, Tess, I don’t know what I would have done without you this year. Thank you for going along with everything I asked of you and always going the extra mile. And, Sarah, thanks for helping us edit over 25 articles in just a few short days. Ryan, your dedication to the website does not go unnoticed. Without you, VALLEY would not be the digital force that it is. To Grant, you made an entire video team basically from scratch. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t on the team. And last, but certainly not least, to Alexa, the business mastermind and the one who knows how to get things done. Through the ups and downs of the year, you have handled everything thrown your way like a boss and have taken the business division to new heights.

In the end, I can’t thank anyone more than you, the reader, for graciously accepting this copy and taking the time to read this issue.

Without your support, the words we write and the photographs we take would pass by like ships in the night.

I made a promise to write with purpose and I hope you feel a bit of that promise shine through as you flip through the pages. Never underestimate the power of a promise, the power of your passions or the power of you.

Best,

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YOUR NEXT

STEP

STARTS HERE

Do work that you truly love. Connect with our dedicated team of career professionals to help you navigate the career planning journey while at Penn State and beyond!

DROP-IN CAREER COUNSELING Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bank of America Career Services Center

Tuesday Nights

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

HUB-Robeson Center (Freeman Auditorium)

FIND US AT studentaffairs.psu.edu/career PSUCareerServices

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Career Services is a department within Student Affairs U.Ed. STA 19-123. This publication is available in the alternative media upon request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Photo by Matt Brownlow

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& HEALTH

BEAUTY

NAME: Christina Valentino YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Broadcast Journalism, Bachelor’s in Psychology Valentino’s take on health, beauty and life as a whole are far from conventional. Living by the Costa Rican phrase Pura Vida, or “pure life,” Christina strives to live purely in every aspect of her life — emphasizing the importance of learning what it means to truly connect with yourself.

“How beautiful you are is not based on how you look,” says Valentino. “If you’re healthy, you’ll radiate beauty. If you have positive energy, your aura will be stronger and you’ll be happier. I think beauty is based on how far you’re willing to grow as a person.”

Photography by Matt Brownlow

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MAC Lipglass Lip Gloss, NYX Ulimate Shadow Palette, FLESH Fleshpot Eye and Cheek Gloss.

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Welcoming State College’s newest boutique, Ethereal Boutique!

...

Ethereal is ais retail women’sclothing, clothing, jewelry, Ethereal a retailstore storeselling selling women’s jewelry, home goods,home and lifestyle products. goods and lifestyle products.

The goal for Ethereal is for people theshop shop The goal for Ethereal is for peopleto toleave leave the feeling feeling better better than they they entered. than did they when did when they entered.

ORCHESIS Orchesis is a student run dance company specializing in contemporary and jazz

COME TO OUR FALL SHOWCASE NOVEMBER 30TH OR DECEMBER 1ST IN THE FLEX THEATER AT THE HUB YOU CAN ALSO FIND US PERFORMING AT THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME ON DECEMBER 2ND

ORCHESISDANCE ORCHESIS DANCE COMPANY

How You Can Help

CRUELTY-FREE IS THE WAY TO BE By: Devon MacDougall A lot of people mindlessly purchase makeup on a daily basis without realizing the cruel animal testing that happens behind the scenes to create those products.

Knowledge is power, and VALLEY is about to lay some facts on you.

The main way to take a stand against animal testing is to support the brands who pledge against it and boycott the brands who participate in it.

There are a lot of brands that are against animal testing. One easy way to spot these companies while shopping is to look for the Leaping Bunny logo, which signifies that a product is 100 percent cruelty-free. LUSH, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tarte, Bite Beauty, Method, Stila, The Sephora Brand and Too Faced are some cruelty-free cosmetics companies.

On the other hand, there are still brands that incorporate animal testing into their product creation. Some name brands you might not expect to use animal testing are Maybelline, Covergirl, Benefit, L’Oreal, Rimmel, NYX, Victoria’s Secret, Clinique, Avon, Estée Lauder, Make Up For Ever and Dove.

Although our country has yet to join the list of those who have banned animal testing, you can still choose to support cruelty-free brands. An animal’s life is worth far more than a price tag on any product.■

Who According to Humane Society International, it’s estimated that 500,000 mice, guinea pigs, rats and rabbits suffer and die from animal testing experiments across the world every year.

What When animal testing occurs, the animal is kept in a small, dark, enclosed space until they are needed. Then it is brought into a lab where multiple tests are carried out, the most popular being a skin and eye irritation test. During this test, chemicals are rubbed into the skin or dripped into the eyes of the animal.

@bunnyjuneau

These animals are brought into laboratories and used to determine the safety of cosmetic products, such as lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara and foundation. Each and every ingredient in the product is tested on an animal before being approved to go on the shelves.

These types of tests often cause pain and distress to the animal including blindness, swollen eyes, bleeding skin, internal bleeding, organ damage, birth defects, convulsions and death.

Where Many popular American brands are based out of China in order to keep their production costs low. The problem? China requires by law that all skincare and cosmetic companies submit to compulsory animal testing in government labs before products can be approved and released to the general public. Most companies allow this in order to be able to keep producing in the country without any problems.

“It’s important to remember that these companies choose to sell in China, knowing that they will have to pay the Chinese government to conduct tests on animals in Chinese laboratories as part of the requirements of selling in mainland China,” says Amanda Nordstrom, company liaison for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

When The World Takes A Stand As of now, the European Union, Israel, India, Norway and Switzerland have all banned the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. Unfortunately, the U.S. is still not on that list. However, according to Vicki Katrinak, animal research issues manager at the Humane Society of the United States, Congress is considering legislation that will phase out the production and sale of animal-tested cosmetics.“The bill currently has 250 companies endorsing it as well as 177 sponsors and co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Katrinak says.

Photo by Eleanor Wing

“This switch from companies conducting or commissioning tests on animals in the U.S. and other countries to paying for tests to be conducted on animals for their products in China has made China the new battleground for the fight to end tests on animals.”

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NUTRITION LABEL LITERACY

By: Tori Rooney

Gaining a better understanding of a clean and wholesome diet starts with interpreting those sneaky chemicals written out on ingredient labels. Oftentimes we come across the same ingredients and additives, but do we actually know what they are or why they are there?

Our nation’s progressive obesity crisis is frequently credited to the rising consumption of processed foods and all of those confusing, hard-to-pronounce chemicals on labels. In an article published by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, nutrition literacy is defined as a single subset of health literacy. It is the ability to obtain, process and understand nutritional information to make healthy, diet-related decisions.

Look At The Label According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducted by three certified doctors, many U.S. consumers struggle to fully understand nutrition fact panels.

Head to your pantry. Grab a snack, and look at the label. Chances are you are looking at a long list of unrecognizable additives such as maltodextrin, palm oil, xanthan gum and high-fructose corn syrup. Do you know what these ingredients are and why they are in your food? Exactly.

The inability to understand the labels on your food choices actually influences your daily eating habits.

Valerie Sullivan, registered dietician and Penn State nutrition professor, is an advocate for making people literate and informed consumers.

“You can make choices to eat sugar, but you should be aware of that sugar you’re putting into your body,” she says.

So why do brands contain these ingredients in their products and fail to let the public know about their true effects?

“Everything is to prolong shelf-life,” says Emily Johnston, a nutrition and diabetes certified educator and Penn State nutrition professor.

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This becomes a problem when companies make claims on the labels of their products, such as whole grain bread. Just because a product claims it’s whole

grain doesn’t mean it necessarily is. As long as a product contains a small amount of that ingredient, companies are permitted to make those claims. If you’re a shopper looking to get more informed about the foods and snacks you’re buying, your best bet is to avoid what is said on the front of the box.

Find Your Foodspiration

“I just tell people to flip the box around. In an ideal world, the nutrition facts would be facing you, not the pretty picture of the field where the food came from,” Johnston says.

Madeline Tague, a 25-year-old wellness blogger and recipe developer, strives to promote her message of wholesome eating on her Instagram account, @mad_about_food.

Shop Healthy

“To me clean eating means eating real, whole foods,” Tague says. “I eat as little processed food as possible.

If I do eat a packaged food or snack, I make sure there are minimal ingredients and that it is low sugar.”

Sullivan suggests students on a budget shop for canned and frozen items because they are cheap, healthy and usually don’t contain questionable additives. Shopping locally at a farmer’s market is also a cost-effective way to stock up on fresh produce, as it is typically cheaper than what you might find in a grocery store.

Encouraging consumers to adopt a healthier lifestyle or diet is not about telling them to avoid packaged foods all together, but knowledge is power, and acknowledging what you’re putting into your body can go a long way mentally and physically.

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is practicing everything in moderation. People shouldn’t be getting wrapped up in having a pristine, clean diet because it’s not always realistic. And while it’s not uncommon for the average college student to be living a hectic, on-the-go lifestyle, abiding by budgeted grocery shopping, the idea of a wholesome diet doesn’t have to be associated with expensive or inaccessible.

At the end of the day, the consumer’s behavior and decisions cannot be entirely controlled or influenced. It is up to the consumer to become cognizant and decide whether a long-term investment in his or her health is a good investment to make.

Finding the inspiration to become nutrition label literate can even start by turning to credible health bloggers online. These bloggers have dedicated their lives to eating clean and living a healthy lifestyle as best they can.

In a societal culture where genetically modified foods and chemical additives are taking over for cost and convenience purposes, many consumers have lost sight in the benefits of real food and simple ingredients.

“I see a trend with my recipes on my blog and Instagram that the more simple the recipe is, the better people respond to it. I like the challenge of seeing how creative I can get with just a few simple ingredients,” Tague says.

A fully stocked kitchen of primarily fruits, vegetables and whole grains can go much farther than some may think.

So, next time you walk through the grocery aisle, look at the label before you throw the product in your cart. ■

The Person Behind the Scars By: Carlie Fox

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Photo by Grace Southern

She recommends the CeraVe Cleanser and Moisturizer or the Neutrogena Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit Cleanser, all of which can be purchased at local drugstores. For extra moisture, Dr. Som raves over the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum and the Olay Facial Moisturizer. She does recommend seeking prescribed treatment for those who feel their acne is not getting better with over-the-counter medications.

“Like seasons of change, all acne will get better no matter how severe it is,” she says. “Listen to your body. Acne can go away but come back in different forms.

This is your body’s way of letting you know something is not right, like stress or lack of vitamins. It could even be an imbalance of hormones.”

Natural Remedies Who says you need to look any farther than your own kitchen cabinet for acne solving remedies?

Struggling with acne is more than just splurging on different creams and oils. For some, the struggle means waking up every morning to see someone in the mirror they don’t even recognize behind the bumps and scars.

Acne can make a person feel alone even when they are surrounded by others. But, there are ways to combat the blemishes and help you embrace the skin you’re in.

How It All Begins Before beginning any acne treatment, it is important to understand your skin type.You may notice that your skin is oily or prone to dry patches and cystic acne.

Whatever the case, everyone’s skin is different and beautiful in its own way and requires a specific skincare routine.

Dr. Hanh-Dung Som, MD, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist, shares her experiences with patients’ struggling with acne and how she helps them overcome their insecurities.

“Don’t wait too late to seek help, or you’ll receive acne scarring, and that doesn’t go away easily,” Dr. Som says.

“Applying a 1-to-1 ratio of warm water and white vinegar to the skin can act as a brightening toner and can decrease oil production,” says Dr. Som. “Applying 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with ¼ cup of juice from a lemon or lime will help with hyperpigmentation from scarring. Fresh turmeric powder is also known for decreasing acne, but it can stain clothing and bed sheets.”

In addition to those remedies, people looking to clear their skin should drink plenty of water, cut back on alcohol and caffeine intake, regulate spicy foods, and get ample amount of sleep.

Get Your Glow On The key to beautiful skin comes from having a beautiful mindset. In order to glow from the inside out, it is important to feel confident in the skin you’re in and radiate that positivity.

“Love yourself, treat yourself well, don’t treat acne as the enemy — welcome it because it is a part of your life,” says Dr. Som. “Have your toolbox ready so when acne comes you are fully prepared for it.”

She expresses how important it is to love your skin and accept it for how it is — bumps, bruises, freckles and moles included.

When you struggle with acne, leaving the comfort of your home is easier said than done. But, think of it this way: acne is nothing more than another few bumps in the road. Pimples, scarring and any other blemishes on your face do not have to equal imperfections. Instead, view them as more features that make you, you. ■

She recommends starting medical treatment as soon as you start to feel your acne is getting out of hand and before it has the chance to affect your self-confidence.

Banishing Those Pesky Spots Dr. Som knows that acne can be time and money consuming — with acne products ranging in price, it may be hard to find medications that will clear your skin without breaking the bank. However, she says you do not have to pay a fortune to see results.

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From juice cleanses to eating 3,000 calories a day, each year a new and exciting diet trend emerges. Although this new and seemingly easy diet appears as “all the rage” – is it actually healthy? It could be leaving your body with damages you didn’t have beforehand. Are 2018’s most popular diet trends truly sustainable and worth the effort?

VALLEY found out.

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TRUTHFULLY NUTRITIOUS By: Katie O’Reilly and Olivia Ernst Intermittent Fasting Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Well, this trendy diet wants you to rethink everything you were taught as a child about maintaining healthy eating habits. Intermittent fasting is unique in that it can vary depending on the specific way it’s done.

The two most common ways are whole-day fasting and time-restricted feeding.

Whole-day fasting is done in a 5:2 ratio, with five days spent eating normally and two days spent fasting. This fasting period gives a 500-600 calorie grace period that the faster is allowed to consume.

The time-restricted fasting involves eating only during a certain number of hours each day, with the most common form being a 16-hour fast followed by eight hours of eating. Although many dieticians were concerned by the diet’s direct effect on metabolism, a Harvard Health Blog article indicated that if the dieter stays true to the timing of his or her fast, this diet can be an effective approach to weight loss, fat loss and diabetes prevention.

Researchers at Harvard Health suggest avoiding sugars and refined grains, and i nstead fill the eating period with fruits, vegetable, beans, lentils, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. This type of diet may not be suitable for every lifestyle, but can be a quick and effective way to lose weight.

Gluten-Free Recently, going gluten-free has turned into a trendy diet for those who are trying to eliminate processed foods, improve cholesterol levels and increase energy levels. Diets are always telling us to cut out the carbs, so becoming gluten-free can’t be all that bad, right?

According to Medical News Today, the only people who should consider going gluten-free are those who have gluten disorders, such as celiac disease. For those who suffer from celiac disease, consuming something as simple as a crouton can lead to severe illness. But for those who aren’t? Becoming gluten-free cuts out essential nutrients — meaning you’re not eating what your body needs! A study published by the British Medical Journal in 2017 concluded that a person who follows a gluten-free diet without having celiac disease has a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term.

Ever hear the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” — this is exactly the way one should feel about starting up a gluten-free lifestyle.

Ketogenic Diet The ketogenic diet, or more commonly known as the “keto diet,” is a new twist on extreme weight loss.

The keto diet has become one of the most critically acclaimed diets due to its need for high-fat, adequate-protein, and low carbohydrate intake. Maintaining this high-fat diet forces the body to go into ketosis, which essentially means your body becomes a fat-burning machine.

This diet can produce quick weight loss and provide a person with more energy throughout his or her day. It’s extremely rich in proteins such as processed meats, eggs, sausage, cheeses, fish, nuts, butter, oil, seeds and fibrous vegetables.

According to the Harvard Health Blog, the ketosis process itself is not harmful.

But typically those who have lost a significant amount of weight while on the keto diet regained most of that weight back in a year. Ketosis becomes dangerous once the ketones build up within your body, leading to high levels of dehydration and changing the chemical balance of your blood. If you’re interested in this diet, consult your doctor to find if it would work for you.

Vegan Being vegan means that you are not consuming any foods or drinks that contain animal by-products. Veganism isn’t as difficult as you may think, because many vegan substitutes and options are available from food companies and at restaurants.

A plant-based diet may sound healthy for the body, but is it truly nutritious? A well-balanced vegan diet that keeps salt intake to a minimum is sustainable as long as B12 vitamins — a nutrient essential for blood and nerve cells that can only be found in animal products — are incorporated into the vegan diet.

Following a vegan diet will promote diverse bacteria in the body and will improve colon health.You may notice a boost in energy and even acne can begin to clear.

Preparation and dedication are key because both are needed to sustain a vegan lifestyle.

Paleo Diet The paleo diet eliminates grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes, and focuses on meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Named after the Paleolithic age, the purpose of this diet is to eat the way early humans did before farming was invented.

Alex Nella, University of California Davis Health System dietitian, says that Paleo is a great starting point to a healthy diet, but warns dieters to not be too restrictive. He says to incorporate other nutritious elements such as beans, lentils and whole grains for a healthier body and more nutritious lifestyle.

Restricting several food groups may affect your energy levels due to the change in the amount of calories and types of carbohydrates you are consuming. Another health concern is the amount of saturated fat your body will take in. Excessive amounts of red meat can increase your blood cholesterol levels as well as increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. All in all, there is not enough scientific evidence and long term research to show if this diet is beneficial for our bodies in the long run.

Raw Diet Prepare to pack your kitchen cabinets with fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds as well as grains and legumes if you plan on following the raw diet. This is because the raw diet operates under the belief that all foods should be prepared under 115 degrees Fahrenheit so that nutrients and the enzymes that live in the natural state of our food won’t be destroyed.

The fruits and vegetables that dominate your palate will help control your blood pressure and keep sodium intake low, reducing your chances of heart and kidney disease. However, the allure of a colorful plate may blind some to the potential harm that is associated with the raw diet. Raw foods go hand in hand with food-borne illnesses like Salmonella, which is found in raw or undercooked chicken and unpasteurized milk.

“The risk of food poisoning from eating raw or undercooked foods outweighs the benefits of this plan,” says Kathleen Zelman, director of nutrition for WebMD. “The diet is a nutritionally inadequate and highly restrictive plan that will be hard to stay on for the long-term.”

Losing body fat is strongly associated with the raw diet, but its negative health consequences outweigh the positives of this plan.■

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Photo by Danielle Lasday

A Glass Of Wine A Day Keeps The Doctor Away?

By: Kayla Ramirez

Whether it is a night on the town, a chill night in, or a romantic dinner, there is a wine for every occasion.

Some people swear a glass of wine a night promotes a long life — but is this true?

Numerous studies have researched what wine can do for your health, and they have all come to the same conclusion: In moderation, wine might actually be good for you.Yes, you read that right.

Red wine, specifically, can have a myriad of health benefits that help improve the quality of your life for years to come.

So what makes red wine different from white? Well, it all comes down to the fermentation process — the way that the grapes become wine. Red wine is made from dark red or black grapes, and the skin of the grape is kept intact during the process. Grape skins carry tons of antioxidants, which is widely believed to be the reason red wine has so many great effects on the body. When making white wine, grapes are stripped of their skins before fermentation, leading to less antioxidants.

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The grapes used for wine making are very different from the ones that you would buy at the grocery store for snacking. Bill Daly, Chicago Tribune food and features writer, says, “Wine grapes have bigger seeds and a thicker skin, and they tend to be sweeter because the sugars will be turned into alcohol during fermentation.”

Fermentation usually takes around 10 days to a month, depending on how long it takes for the sugars to be converted into alcohol. Once fermented, the winemaker filters the wine in a process called clarification — the last step before the wine is either bottled or aged further. Wine that is bottled immediately tends to be less expensive. Aged wines are stored in steel or oak barrels until they are developed to the desired complexity and typically have a higher price tag.

A 4-ounce glass of red wine per day has been linked to lower chances of cardiovascular related death according to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

“Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart,” says one report published by the Mayo Clinic.

Wine has also been linked to lower chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease and can help lower low-density lipoprotein, commonly referred to as LDL or “the bad” cholesterol. Another theory is that wine can reduce your chances of cancer due to a chemical called resveratrol. However, researchers and doctors alike are still wary about the credibility of this theory because it has yet to be proven in clinical trials.

Ever wonder why you sometimes wake up with a strong hangover after drinking red wine? Darker wines cause intense hangovers because of congeners, a byproduct of fermentation. The longer the wine is fermented, the more congeners the wine contains. Red wine has a high alcohol content meaning it is fermented more, leading to even more congeners.

In the end, a glass of wine might not lead to a longer life. But, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass every once in a while, right? Cheers! *VALLEY does not encourage underage drinking and always advises you to drink responsibly.■

IMPROVEMENT

SELF

Photo by Clarissa Flores

NAME: Rachel Braun YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Information Sciences and Technology Braun experienced culture shock after moving from Germany to America, but was able to overcome it by getting involved in various activities at Penn State. “Giving others a voice starts with finding your own,” she says. “To find your voice, you must embrace the never ending journey of creating your best self.”

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Beyond the Horoscope By: Kylee McGuigan So, when is Mercury in retrograde? The universe has a strange way of making us feel, act or be a certain way just because of the alignment of the planets — especially based on how they were aligned on the day and time we were born. Weird, right? It may seem simple to understand the makeup of our character and personality from our horoscope, but there’s so much more to that.

Daily horoscopes are easy to keep up with. If you’re feeling down and aren’t sure why, you can figure out what may be wrong from any astrology website that is accessible to you. If you’re having an extraordinarily good day, again, you can go online and prove to yourself that your specific zodiac sign was destined for some positivity. Some may be skeptical of this practice, though, because how sure can the internet really be?

“Horoscopes are [actually] very accurate,” says Susan Mears, an astrologer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “The question of accuracy is truly a question of the skill level of the reader of the horoscope.”

You may wonder how your horoscope is even determined based on your zodiac sign. Well, according to Mears, “A horoscope is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of birth, [which] serves as the blueprint of an individual. [It] is a sky map showing where not only your zodiac sign and your Sun was located, but also [where] the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were located on your birthday.”

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So, your horoscope was intricately designed just for you since no two days are factors: the Sun sign, which reveals your purpose in life; the Moon sign, which reveals your flow in carrying out the Sun’s intention; and the rising sign, your approach to life. The planets also contribute to this makeup in various ways.

“The remaining planets’ effects on an individual include their driving force, as shown by Mars; how they express love, as shown by Venus,; and the quality of their mind, as shown by Mercury,” Mears says.

You may be questioning if your personality is truly shaped by your zodiac sign and horoscope. Well, to finally clarify your suspicions, the answer is yes. This is explained in terms of the different flows of energy that are present within you.

The energy is separated into three forms that the zodiac signs can describe. The first energy is cardinal energy, which is a forward moving energy. It is seen in the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. These are the signs that coincide with strength.

The second energy is fixed energy, as it does not readily move. It is seen in the signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. These are the signs that are determined.

The third energy is mutable energy, as it continuously moves about. It is seen in the signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. These are the signs that are always on the go.

“If one could see their specifically made blueprint, and can see that one, two or three of these energies and corresponding signs are represented in the Sun, Moon or rising sign, one can anticipate that those types of energies are flowing through that person,” Mears says.

Now, with a better understanding of the concept of a horoscope, read about your zodiac sign. The accuracy will finally make sense. ■

AQUARIUS January 20-February 18 Aquarians tend to be shy and quiet, but there are some who are eccentric and energetic.

They’re highly intellectual and excellent problem-solvers, so they’re very aware of the energies around them. Aquarians have a strong imagination, allowing them to envision a world of possibilities for themselves.

PISCES February 19-March 20 Pisces are very understanding and affectionate.

They’re easygoing and accepting of others, so they’re able to mesh well with other personality types. They have a very strong presence in groups, allowing others to feel comfortable around them.

ARIES March 21-April 19 Aries is the competitive sign — they try their hardest at everything they do. They’re loyal, smart and impulsive, and are always wanting to keep themselves busy. Aries want to make sure their work, social and personal lives are lined up with the life they envision for themselves in the future.

TAURUS April 20-May 20 Tauruses are the best friend of the signs.

They’re smart, ambitious and trustworthy, and value honesty above all else. Their personal relationships tend to be drama free, and they’re always willing to see other points of view from those around them. Tauruses are not people pleasers, so they have no problem developing their own opinions.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

LEO July 23-August 22 Leos are natural leaders. They’re bold, intelligent and courageous and are determined to make a name for themselves. They have high self-esteem and are proud of themselves for everything they do.

Leos have no problem praising themselves for the good things in their lives, but still know that others around them will admire them.

VIRGO August 23-September 22 Virgos are go-getters. They’re smart, sophisticated and kind and can get any job done without a complaint. They’re great friends and are always there if someone is in need of advice. Virgos are adamant planners, as they like to plan out their lives so they know what they’re doing. This makes them feel secure and in control.

LIBRA September 23-October 22 Libras look for lives that are good. They’re intelligent and kind and are always willing to put others before themselves. They want to see different points of view, allowing for easy compromise or mediation between themselves and others. Libras love big groups of people and being surrounded by those they love.

SCORPIO October 23-November 21 Scorpios are big on authenticity. They value genuine people and want to uphold the same standard for themselves. They’re passionate and independent and aren’t afraid of creating their own path, no matter what others think.

Geminis are the chameleon sign, as they have no problem blending into different groups.

They’re smart, passionate and dynamic, as they are able to vibe with all personalities. They focus on the future, and try not to dwell on the past, so they’re always looking ahead in life.

SAGITTARIUS November 22-December 21

CANCER June 21-July 22

CAPRICORN December 22-January 19

Cancers are the most intuitive — they can read people, relationships and situations before anyone else can. They may seem unfriendly at first, but once they’re known better, they’re able to be understood better. A Cancer prefers deeper conversations with smaller groups of people, but that makes for stronger relationships for him or her.

Sagittarii are natural-born leaders. They aren’t afraid to go after what they want, despite what others may tell them. Because of this, they’re very strong-willed. Sagittarii love adventure.

Capricorns tend to always get what they set their mind to, in both their personal and professional lives. They’re smart and hardworking, allowing them to be fully in control of their own destiny.

They are rule-followers, though, so they know what is right and wrong in life.

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BECOMING YOU By: Shannon Kavanagh

The pressure of coming out seeps into many closeted individuals’ lives. Our society is accustomed to assume people are straight unless they state otherwise. This ingrained heteronormativity forces people to come out just so that they can be seen as who they truly are, instead of who society wants them to be. Until heteronormativity in our society is overcome, coming out will be a huge part of many people’s lives.

Coming out can be can be defined as recognizing, accepting and sharing your sexual or gender identity with other people. This can be telling a close friend or family member for the first time or it can be casually saying it to a stranger while living as an openly gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. person. The thing with coming out is that it never truly ends.Yes, you may be coming out for the first time on social media or telling everyone at once, but even after that, when you meet new friends or start a new job, there might be a moment of coming out there, too.

It can even happen without you planning on telling someone. For instance, if someone were to ask a cis-female — someone who’s biological sex matches their gender — if she has a boyfriend, and she has to explain that she doesn’t and actually has a girlfriend, she didn’t plan on telling that person, but it still came up.

Basically, coming out can be as extravagant and exciting as posting a picture at Pride with the caption, “I’m Gay!,” to simply telling a stranger your partner is of the same sex.

As many “out” people say, the pros of coming out and fully expressing yourself heavily outweigh the cons of staying in the closet or only coming out to one or two other people.

Dr. Christine Libby, a women, gender and sexuality studies professor, says that one of the positives to coming out is, “a feeling of sameness between personal life and public life.”

Libby says that by coming out, you no longer have to hide a part of your personality. It allows you to be the same person with family, with friends, at work and in other settings. It also allows you to be fully present in conversations

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about your life. It can be trying and difficult to hide such a huge part of your identity from people you spend so much time with.

Although coming out can be liberating and introduce you to a whole new community of support, ideally, it is something that shouldn’t have to be done. Our society assumes everyone’s sexuality is heterosexual and our gender is what is indicated on our birth certificate. But, what if we stop thinking like this? What if we allow people to tell us how they identify instead of placing our assumptions on them?

“I think it seems like things have been moving that way,” Libby says. “If people continue to move in the direction of not so heavily stigmatizing what they would understand as different sexual practices and different identities, I think that it would become easier and easier.”

Until heteronormativity vanishes in our society, coming out will be a big part of most people’s lives that are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

It can also be difficult finding the correct terms to identify with when coming out of the closet. Some people feel more comfortable figuring those terms out prior to coming out, while others come out as one thing and then later decide it wasn’t their correct identification. Some never identify with a label or a term.

There shouldn’t be so much pressure on figuring out a label or a box in which to put yourself. Some people love having a label, while others find that there isn’t a label that truly works for them.

Gender and sexuality is a spectrum — a continuum that accounts for all sexualities and identities. There is no need to confine yourself to either end. Everyone can find their own places on that spectrum that’s best suited for them.

Although it may seem like the grass is greener outside of the closet, there is no need to rush through coming out if that is not something you are comfortable with. It can take as long as you need it to, and it will happen when the time is right.

The process of coming out is different for everyone and it never truly ends. If you are having trouble coming to terms with your gender or sexuality, remember that there are always people around that will support you. And, there are plenty of resources on campus, such as Penn State CAPS and LGBTQA Student Resource Center, that can help you to be true to who you are.■

What Does Your Handshake Say About You? By: Abigail Roe

They say a picture can speak 1000 words, but did you ever think a handshake could too? Just as humans are unique in their own ways, our handshakes too are unique to each and every one of us. Did you know that there are several different types of handshakes? From the strong man to the dead fish, here are what the most popular handshakes mean for you.

Dead Fish

Hand Hug

This handshake is named the dead fish for a reason. Accompanied with no movement, the hand is limp and has no energy — just like you are shaking hands with a dead fish!

This is a two-handed shake with one hand on top and the other on the bottom or side. This typically means the person doing the hand hugging wants to convey warmness, honesty and gain your trust. This is a favorite among politicians.

Matthew Ishler, associate director of career services at Penn State says, “There is a risk that a limp fish handshake communicates a lack of confidence or a lack of interest.”

Shug

Strong Man Have you ever shaken someone’s hand and thought, “Wow, that is a strong handshake!”? That’s probably because they hit you with the strong man hand. If a handshake could scream confidence, the strong man would scream loudly. On the other hand — no pun intended —if the handshake is too strong, it could be interpreted as too dominant.

In the professional world, no matter what stage of the job you’re in, your employers are looking for something specific in your greeting.

“Employers may interpret a handshake as a sign of confidence, or as an indication of how this person may perform when meeting people in a professional environment,” Ishler says. “The handshake is seen as part of a first impression, communicating professional poise and a desire to build a connection.”

Princess The princess handshake is distinguished by only the fingers greeting each other and not the palms. Rather than a grip of the fingers, it could instead signify a desire for personal space.

It is as if you’re giving someone a hug while shaking his or her hand at the same time. This combination portrays friendliness and openness. Because of its intimacy, this handshake is designed for people who are typically well-acquainted with each other.

The handshake is a social norm and is used in many situations to establish oneself.

But how long should a handshake last?

According to Carli C. King, a licensed professional counselor, people who have an urge to connect and communicate effectively tend to initiate handshakes.

“From an American cultural perspective, a handshake communicates not just your level of confidence or professionalism, but how you connect with those around you,” King says.

How people relate to those around them can also be sensed in their handshakes.

“A loose handshake often conveys passivity. A firm handshake is commonly perceived as a sign of confidence and respectability. And, a too firm handshake often reads as an affinity for dominance over others,” explains King.

Who would have thought that there is so much complexity behind a simple handshake? When you find yourself reaching your hand out for shake, take note on what you do. What does that say about you? ■

Three Ways To Shape Up Your Shake: 1. Go for a web touch where the webbing between your thumb and index finger meets the same webbing spot on the other person’s hand.

2. Make sure your hands are clean and that they are dry.

3. Smile and look the person in the eye when shaking hands Tips from Matt Ishler, Penn State Career Services

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IN YOUR

DREAMS

By Hannah Ferenci

Have you ever had a dream that left you scratching your head? You can forget it in a flash, or you can try to interpret your dream’s deeper meaning. Turns out, dreams are actually maps of our minds so VALLEY turned to dream expert Lauri Loewenberg as our guide.

Common Dreams Picture this:You’re catching z’s when suddenly your dream self takes a long fall. This is one of the most talked about dreams. Just about everyone has dreamt about tumbling down from the sky.

So what exactly does this startling dream mean?

“Falling dreams tend to happen when we have suffered some sort of let down in waking life,” says Lauri Loewenberg, a dream expert featured on “Good Morning America,” “The View” and “Dr. Oz.” When our waking selves are brought down by a disappointment or challenge, a falling dream can occur as a reflection of that.

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You may be surprised to hear that this next dream is a popular one. If you’ve ever dreamt about being pregnant, you’re not alone. In fact, Loewenberg says that this is an even more common dream for men.

According to Loewenberg, this usually symbolizes “something new you have in the works.” Your subconscious is telling you that what you’re developing “will likely result in a ‘new life’ for you.”

The Chase Most of us have experienced a suspenseful dream about being chased that leaves us waking up breathless and a little shaky.

Another common dream is your teeth falling out of your mouth. If you’ve had this dream, it likely means that you’ve said something you regret.

Typically, being chased in a dream symbolizes avoiding something in waking life. According to Loewenberg, people who have recurring dreams about being chased “tend to avoid confrontations because they don’t want to ruffle feathers.”

Loewenberg says that the teeth in your dream symbolize this because you are “allowing something out of your mouth that should have stayed there permanently.”

Want to stop having this dream? Think about what it could be that you’re avoiding. Tackle it head on, and the dream should quickly go away.

Nothing To Be Embarrassed About Have you ever dreamt that you were naked in front of a full classroom or lecture hall?

Usually this dream means that you are feeling vulnerable or insecure about something.You could be feeling afraid of judgement, failure or rejection.

While your dream self is typically humiliated in this type of dream, Loewenberg notes that other people in the dream aren’t usually aware of your nudity.

“No one else in the dream seems to notice or think it’s out of the ordinary … it is our subconscious gently reminding us that we are the only ones giving this issue any energy, no one else is going to be as critical as we are of ourselves.”

It can be exciting to understand and interpret the meanings of your dreams. If you listen to your dreams, you can learn things about your subconscious that your waking self hasn’t even realized yet. So, goodnight, Penn State. Keep on dreaming. ■

FEEDING CURIOUS MIND MIN DS When curiosity arises, channel your desire to know more. Sharpen your mind, learn how to be happy, and tap into more ideas that you didn’t know were out there. Podcasts, TED Talks and even books can answer your unspoken questions and feed your craving for curiosity.

When you are reflecting on your college experience, the number one thing you don’t want to feel is regret. Time ticks faster than you think, and eventually you might wish that you took more opportunities to fill your mind with greatness.

Instead of making a huge lifestyle change, simply implementing small tasks into your daily routine ends up being a feasible goal to enhance your mental health and expand your mind.

The first step is pinpointing your curiosity. This will not be difficult because you just have to think of something that you are highly passionate about.

Tap into this curiosity and implement it into your life. On your walk to class or commute to work, pop in your headphones or plug in your AUX, and press play to a podcast or TED talk. This way, your commute won’t be consumed with your thoughts or old music, and you’ll feel more productive as you seize the day.

From a self-help perspective, there are a multitude of speakers who have spent their careers delving into topics to become experts, and now share their knowledge with the world. “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” “Waking Up Podcast” with Sam Harris, and “The Feeling Good Podcast” are good places to start when delving in to learn about challenging topics and self-improvement.

By: Katherine Gouldin

TED Talks can be another great place to fulfill your desire to learn.TED is a media organization that posts videos to inspire and teach their viewers.

independent conferences in 2010, with ideas worth sharing being spread to the Penn State community and far beyond.

Herbert Reininger, TEDxPSU license holder and faculty advisor, says, “The impact is huge on the speakers and also on the attendees, what they pick up from the talk and then go back to the world … they change something.”

“We learn our information so differently than 20 and even five years ago. We are able to learn all of these skills and different ways of thinking just from these short talks that are formatted into a way that allow you to actually pick up on key things instead of listening to a professor give a lecture,” says Michael Miller, the TEDxPSU co-director of content.

“You can learn anything. Having this platform that is quick but authoritative, it pulls a little bit of the world outside into your world.”

TED has been expanding their reach, making it easier for curious minds around the world to learn.

“In the last nine years, TED has exploded around the world not just at universities, but in cities, in rural communities, in villages in Africa, in prisons, too,” Reininger says. “In any day of the year, there are 10 TEDx conferences around the world. So in a way, it’s a movement, it’s a family, it’s a club.You can find people with similar interests and passions as you. It changed the way I look at people.”

The TED Talks, “Your elusive creative genius” by Elizabeth Gilbert, “The tribes we lead” by Seth Godin and “The psychology of your future self ”

by Dan Gilbert are some profound talks that will change the way you view the world.You might even consider ‘The TED Talk MBA’ created by the Moving Worlds Blog. This entails a free excel sheet consisting of 145 talks, crafted with the purpose of teaching you the general concepts covered in a real MBA program.

In 2009, Chris Anderson, owner of TED, decided that his nonprofit organization needed to be much bigger so he created TEDx, the x meaning an independently organized TED event. TEDxPSU was one of the first licenses granted by TED for

In this age of acceleration, it is often easy to forget to take time to tend to your curiosities. With the distraction of technology comes the advantage of having the information we are most interested in at the tip of our fingers. Fill your brain with the information you love, and you will become mentally sharper and healthier.

Deedee Spaniel, TEDxPSU curator, says, “TED talks build a mutual understanding for people. Across the globe you can hear a talk and it means something to you no matter what religion or where you’re from. Those ideas bring us to some common ground where we all have similar thoughts and feelings, and I think that’s really important to get to a better place with humanity. When you start to relate to each other or at least understand someone else’s position.”

Whether it be watching a new TED talk every day, listening to a podcast, or flipping open a new book, feed your mind with what it craves. Look at your curiosity as a gift of motivation. ■

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CAMPUS CULTURE

Photo by Clarissa Flores

NAME: Brendan Bernicker YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Undergraduate Degree in Philosophy, Justice, Law and Values option; Masters in Political Science (4 year integrated undergraduate graduate program) Bernicker desires to ignite change in the world and has taken matters into his own hands. He strives to make the criminal justice system more fair, transparent and equitable through countless hours spent volunteering. “The fact that I try really hard not to be prejudiced toward people and the fact that I don’t want to live in a world where people suffer from different treatment because of how they look doesn’t mean that I don’t benefit from it,” says Bernicker. “I can’t stop myself from taking from these people, and I feel like I need to do everything I can to give it back,” he says.

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MEGHA TULADHAR

THE POWER OF A PROMISE By: Maggie Kreienberg Photography by Emily Adar and Eleanor Wing

At 14 years old, Megha Tuladhar found herself working as a legal intern for Maiti Nepal, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking. During one of her first days on the job, she found herself sitting across from two parents, listening to how their daughter quickly became a victim of trafficking overnight. The couple didn’t have any photos of their child, only the memories of her characteristics ingrained in their heads. It was up to Megha to pry as much information out of the couple as possible. What does the girl look like? How tall is she? What was she wearing when you last saw her?

Megha translated the Nepali conversation into English and sent the description to Maiti Nepal’s branch offices at neighboring borders. Later that day, the child was found at the China border and safely returned to her family — the reunion impossible without Megha.

In that moment, 14-year-old Megha realized how much her actions can affect people. Living in an underdeveloped country, she finally recognized the poverty that surrounded her and now knew there was actually something she could do to change that.

She made a promise to herself: be the driving force of change for Nepal and for the world.

The First Dose of Responsibility Megha has been surrounded by powerful, influential people all of her life. Both her mother, a gender equality and social inclusion advisor at USAID, and father, a share and stock investor and real estate investor, have both had profound impact on her life.

One high school summer, Megha’s mother wanted her to get involved in helping others rather than just sitting around. So Megha went to volunteer for Anuradha Koirala, the founder of Maiti Nepal and 2010 CNN Hero of the Year award recipient.

“You get to go see what strong women in Nepal are doing,” Megha’s mother exclaimed.

Megha started her internship without hesitation. From that fateful day she saved a young girl from trafficking to all the other instances where she made an impact, Megha’s promise was still rooted inside of her.

Her work at Maiti Nepal gave her a sense of responsibility. Parents, family members and friends of sex trafficked victims were asking for her help because they believed she was capable.

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“You know you can’t slack off on this,” Megha told herself. “These people are actually counting on you.”

She felt a responsibility to save the world — to help those in need. In fact, this yearning was so strong that she found another cause to dive into a few years later. As part of a high school course, Megha volunteered for Cerebral Palsy Nepal and was quickly touched by the young patients affected by this disorder. She spent her time helping teachers, creating coursework and learning about cerebral palsy. Turns out, Megha had a knack for helping others — something that came so naturally to her.

“When I found out I’m not too bad at helping out other people, I think that’s when I caught the niche of it,” she says.

The realization that no one is immune from hardships transformed Megha. It’s all a matter of chance. She could have easily been a victim of sex trafficking or born with cerebral palsy.

“I can’t just settle for being happy with my own world.”

“It made me feel that I have a sense of responsibility,” she says. “I can’t just settle for being happy with my own world or just working and doing and donating so often.

I don’t think I could have ever done that because I never feel satisfied with what other people are doing.”

Megha’s a problem solver, a doer and a go-getter. Nothing would stop her.

When The Ground Shook For Megha, accepting her offer to Penn State was an easy choice. The first few weeks of April 2015 after she received her acceptance letter were filled with joy and the anticipation of what was to come. But, as her family basked in her accomplishment, disaster struck.

On April 25, 2015, a devastating earthquake disrupted the capital city of Kathmandu. The earthquake, which registered as 7.8 on the richter scale, killed around 9,000 people and injured thousands more. Megha’s happiness and excitement quickly vanished. Although her home was safe, her neighbors, her city and her country were not.

“Everyone knows in Nepal you are not supposed to build a house taller than three to four stories high. But there were [buildings] like seven, eight stories high,” says Megha.

Top courtesy of CONNECTIONS, pants thrifted.

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Top by URBAN OUTFITTERS, pants by TOPSHOP, shoes by TREASURE & BOND, earrings by TARGET.

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Despite her diverse experiences, there is a common theme — everything Megha commits herself to helps people in some capacity. At Behrend, her sorority raised money for various philanthropies. With Ascend, she encourages her fellow students to tackle the job market and put themselves out there.

“I will know I have impacted a lot of people, and I have done what 14-year-old Megha promised to do — create that change.”

Making Passions Collide

When the ground shook, many citizens rushed to find shelter indoors, only to find themselves trapped by the rubble and collapsing buildings.

“The more I learned about economics practically, the more I could relate it back to Nepal: the society, the caste systems, how consumers and suppliers think, resource management,” she says. “I kind of understood that this is a subject I could study and apply in Nepal.”

Megha asked herself, “What is my country going to do?” But, the Nepali government was not prepared for a catastrophe of this magnitude. While the region is prone to earthquakes, a shock of this scale only occurs every 70 or so years, so no one expected an earthquake of this severity to strike anytime soon. Now was the time for Megha to fulfill her promise again.

“I went door to door asking houses that were not affected if they were willing to give anything that they did not need, or even money. I ended up getting loads of stuff. That was incredible. During crisis, people were willing to give — that was just shocking to me.”

Once items were collected and donations were received, Megha called on the help of a local social venture to make use of her efforts. After collaborating with Bihani Social Venture, she prepared all of her materials and headed to a nearby village in need.

“I remembered we had to unload everything from a far distance because the road was blocked off. We got there and we saw so many people who just needed help,” she recalls.

The World Keeps Turning In August 2015, with her parents still occupied helping Nepal recover from the earthquake, Megha found herself flying to college alone. Spending two years at Penn State Behrend, Megha was quick to find out that Erie, Pennsylvania and Kathmandu, Nepal were like apples and oranges. Still, her desire to do good didn’t disappear.

She became a sister of Alpha Sigma Tau because she wanted to be involved in philanthropic work. She raised money for THON and cleaned up a stretch of a Pennsylvania road as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

But unfortunately, Alpha Sigma Tau does not have a chapter at University Park, so when Megha moved to State College in the fall of 2017, she had to find other opportunities to express her passions.

Since Megha is an economics major, it may come as a surprise to hear Megha’s first encounter with economics was not a pleasant experience. For some reason, her economics teacher and her were like oil and water — never getting along. Ready to drop the course and enroll in a theatre class, she decided to do some research on the topic. After all, her mother studied economics, so she was not going to let her daughter give up that easily.

Megha had suddenly fallen in love with the topic, and her professor and her, who were once so opposite, finally found common ground. Although this newfound passion was stirring up inside her, she struggled to find a focus. She wanted to be an advocate for the poor, fix gender issues, and promote sustainability. How could she decide which was most important to her?

“I felt like I was equally responsible for all sides,” Megha says.

That’s when she discovered Muhammad Yunus. A pioneer in the concept of microfinance and a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, his work inspired Megha, and she found that microfinance combines all of her passions into one idea. For Megha, microfinance could be the key to development in her beloved Nepal.

A Promise To Keep When Megha walks across the graduation stage this year — yes, she is graduating in December — her time in America will not come to an end.

With plans to work for an American non-profit that specializes in economic development, her yearning to make an impact will never settle.

In her opinion, working in America is the only way for her to gain an international perspective on this issue of economic development. When more experience is logged and skills are perfected, Megha will return to Nepal to fulfill her promise.

Perhaps one day she will have her own organization where she will be able to implement her innovative ideas for development and change. Her work, she believes, will be worthy of an award.

“I know one day I would love to have a Nobel Peace Prize. Not just because it’s a Nobel Peace Prize, but because then I will know I have impacted a lot of people, and I have done what 14-year-old Megha promised to do — create that change.”

Now, Megha is the director of signature events for Ascend’s Penn State chapter, which is a national organization for Pan-Asian business professionals. In her role, she plans several networking events for Ascend’s members. Her biggest accomplishment? Ascend to Vegas, a networking fair held in early September that brings students and potential employers together for a night of casino games and conversation.

“I will know I have impacted a lot of people, and I have done what 14-year-old Megha promised to do — create that change.”

Megha spent the summer of 2018 in State College completing one of Penn State’s premiere internship programs, the Development and Alumni Relations internship. After working for the University Libraries all summer, she is now the Marie Bednar development intern for the University Libraries. Just another addition to her already impressive résumé.

The power of a promise is life-changing.

The power of a person is strong.

The power of a passion is limitless.

And it only takes an intelligent, kind and dedicated person like Megha to prove that. ■

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THE POWER OF A PERSON IS STRONG. THE POWER OF A PASSION IS LIMITLESS. THE POWER OF A PROMISE IS LIFE-CHANGING.

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exposure to beauty — whether natural or aided — are people preferring to keep their options open because someone “better” or more “ideal” could potentially come along? Or, are there other social factors contributing to this trend of noncommittal hookups?

“I think that people our age choose to be single because there’s no stress,” says Mike Brillante, a psychology major. “You can go out, have fun, do what you want, and not have to worry about fulfilling the expectations placed on a boyfriend or girlfriend status. Why settle when there’s tons of options?”

The college environment breeds the tendency to see others as disposable. Being surrounded by 45,000 other people everyday gives young adults the deluded belief that someone new and better is on the horizon. There is almost an anxiety that pervades the mindset of young men and women that if they commit to a relationship, they might miss out on an opportunity to experience someone superior. It’s like hookup FOMO. “Apps like Tinder, Snapchat and Instagram have definitely made a huge impact on how people view relationships in college,” says Gianna D’Angelo, a communications major. “You don’t even have to be in person anymore to flirt with someone.”

The preference of choosing screen-time over actual face time is fueling the disposable mentality. A “like” on an Instagram or a “view” of a Snapchat story now constitutes as flirting, and someone can show interest without promising commitment. By taking in-person interaction out of the equation, we’re also reducing our ability to empathize and connect with others past the obvious (and base) physical attraction.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE (in a relationship)?

Is romance dead? Not quite, but it sure does feel like it is sometimes. When and why has the “no strings attached” mentality become the norm for the college dating scene? What are the implications of this new normal? VALLEY decided to start the conversation.

A 2012 review conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information illuminated an interesting trend among young adults, stating that noncommittal hookups have become, “increasingly typical and socially acceptable.” While this form of intimacy has always existed, it has never been so prominent. Why now?

Recently, whenever any pattern of behavior strays from the traditional, everyone defaults to the blanketed statement, “It’s because of technology.”

But what exactly does that mean? What is it about our devices that cultivate the tendency toward noncommittal sex?

By: Valerie Murphy

Instagram and Snapchat — and apps of that nature — quantify people, and because of this, VALLEY wonders: Are we being conditioned to view others as a number in our follower count?

With so many photoshopping apps and staged candids, “perfection” seems to exist. Due to this

“College is only for a few years. I don’t necessarily see myself committing to any one person when I know that I’ll most likely be settling down somewhere outside of State College after graduating,” admits Leah Morris, a political science major.

It’s difficult to rationalize making a long-term investment when the possibility of a long-distance relationship looms after graduation. Sure, social media and technology have made it simple to keep in touch despite distance, but that doesn’t necessarily satisfy having that person there with you physically. Is it worth developing feelings for someone whose career may make it necessary that he or she move away? Are we rejecting potential happiness because we’re afraid that we’ll eventually get hurt, or have we all just become lazy?

But maybe we’re looking at this hookup trend a little too cynically. Maybe having more experiences with different partners teaches you what you like, what you don’t, what’s tolerable, and what is an absolute deal breaker. Maybe the no strings attached attitude makes us smarter, and if that’s so, is the “me” before “we” mentality justified?

Maybe Carrie Bradshaw was right when she said, “Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you.

Now it means you’re pretty sexy, and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.” ■

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BALANCED BRAINS By: Tess Petak Being human is a delicate balance of so many things. From the seesaw of different parts of our lives, to our own brains, one little shift can make the whole thing tip.

We all have different chemicals and transmitters in our brains solely responsible for our feelings and emotions. If you’re feeling unhappy or blue, your brain may be a little out of whack, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

As college students, we experience a wide array of different emotions on a daily basis. From feeling stressed about an exam, to happiness while hanging with friends, there are neurological factors that contribute to all of these emotions and feelings. Why do our day-to-day emotions change so much, and what is responsible for creating these ever changing feelings?

Here’s The Breakdown Human brains have a very complex and unique system of chemicals, neurons and neurotransmitters that are responsible for our emotions, feelings and moods.

According to Dr. Sheree Logue, a biobehavioral health professor at Penn State, we all have a very basic circuit in our brain responsible for every human feeling, emotion and reaction. For example, our amygdala is responsible for fear, and our hippocampus is responsible for sense of direction and creating new memories.

But from here, it gets even more complicated. We have a set of neurotransmitters, which simply put, are chemicals released when our neurons fire. There are two sets of these transmitters: excitatory and inhibitory. According to Dr. Logue, a chemical called glutamate is our primary excitatory transmitter.

“If I release an excitatory neurotransmitter, which glutamate is pretty much always an excitatory, that means that the neuron I’m talking to is more likely going to pass on that message,” says Dr. Logue.

On the other side of things, we have inhibitory transmitters, which calm things down. Dr. Logue says that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is our primary inhibitory transmitter.

“In the cortex, if all of the glutamate signaling is just firing everything up, GABA is going to increase to bring it back down and to try to regulate it.”

Common mental conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, are an imbalance of chemicals and neurotransmitters. According to Dr. Logue, it all depends on the specific person and their makeup.

“Two people with generalized anxiety disorder, could actually have it for two different reasons. So one person’s inhibition levels might be fine, but their glutamate might be overactive. The other person, their glutamate might be fine, but their inhibitory is low.”

While side effects of mental disorders can be more complex and challenging to combat, a mental disorder is nothing to feel embarrassed about. It’s just a chemical imbalance.

In Your Feelings For the most part, humans feel a lot of the same emotions on a day-to-day basis.

We all feel stress, for one reason or another. According to Dr. Logue, the feeling of stress occurs due to elevated levels of a hormone called cortisol.

Different factors contribute to the rise in cortisol levels, such as taking an exam.

Dr. Logue says that the act of going to take the exam is an immediate stressor and an external stimulus, but an increase in your cortisol level in the weeks leading up to the exam is an internal stimulus. According to Dr. Logue, chronic stress can lead to other problems, so it’s important to allow your cortisol levels to come down after a stressful period of time.

Our everyday feelings are a result of our different neurotransmitters being released. Serotonin is mostly responsible for your mood. A lower level of serotonin can lead to long-term conditions, such as depression. The release of dopamine leads to a feeling of happiness. That sheer bliss you experienced after seeing that puppy on campus? That was a result of dopamine.

“You see a kitten, it makes you smile, it also stimulates dopamine,” Dr. Logue says.

Balancing Act It can be hard to manage all of these different feelings. When it’s system overload, it can be easy to spiral into deeper depths of stress, anxiety or sadness.

Dr. Logue suggests, “controlling your breathing, quieting your mind, [and] sitting quietly, in a quiet area, not interacting [with others], brings down the whole tone, so you can calm yourself down.”

She even says forcing yourself to smile has actually been proven to increase happiness.

Dr. Logue also noted how important living in the moment is. The future can wait.

Enjoy the now. College students are always focused on the future — something that’s instilled in us from the moment we apply to colleges. It’s OK to plan, but when life happens and things change, remember it’s never necessary to worry about something that’s out of your control.

There are some immediate things we can practice that are in our control. Terri L. Means, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) says she recommends limiting caffeine intake, getting plenty of sleep, limiting alcohol consumption and exercising regularly.

“Exercise is the most underutilized antidepressant,” Means says.

Change of space can also be incredibly effective, with Means advising, “When in doubt, get out.” She suggests going for a walk, switching up your environment, or leaving your apartment as ways to minimize the stress and calm down anxiety.

It’s easy to feel alone in the way you are feeling, but you are never truly alone.

Many other humans experience very similar feelings to yours. It’s important to remember that these feelings are just the results of chemicals and transmitters in your brain. It’s just part of what makes us human and contributes to our unique life journey and experiences. What a beautiful gift it is to feel. ■

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Photo by Josie Chen and Anissa Erkert

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WHIPLASH DANCE DANCE TEAM TEAM WHIPLASH ANNUAL SPRI N G SHO W CA SE April 12, 2019 7 p.m.

Schwab Auditorium

Whiplash Dance Team

FREE ADMISSION @whiplash_danceteampsu

LGBTQA STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER We provide a safer space for our LGBTQA students & their allies.

Offering many events, programs, and support services, including: discussion groups | mentorship program | scholarships | faculty/staff safe zone trainings | student peer ally trainings | lounge space.

LGBTQA Student Resource Center 101 Boucke Building studentaffairs.psu.edu/lgbtqa lgbtqa@psu.edu 814-863-1248

facebook: /pennstatelgbta | twitter @psu_lgbtqa | insta: @pennstatelgbtqasrc | tumblr: psu-lgbtqa | snapchat @psulgbtqa

Photo by Ken Kalbach

EVERYONE’S ABLE TO ADVOCATE By: Ryan Salamo For so many students at Penn State, volunteering means embracing people’s differences and coming together to do some good. It is time to recognize the dedicated student organizations that are committed to helping individuals, no matter their abilities.

Athletes Helping Athletes Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) works with children and adults with disabilities in order to promote inclusivity within the community. They partner with local, college and high school sports teams so that those with disabilities have the opportunity to spend time with the athletes during and outside of the games. Volunteers in AHA can spend time with members during these activities and at other community sporting events.

“I love the kids,” says Katherine Pappler, vice president of Athletes Helping Athletes. “They’re just so happy and energetic. They’re so sweet and they love going to the games, and it’s just so nice to give them that opportunity to have the best time of their life.”

CB’s Rookies Similar to AHA, CB’s Rookies also helps students with special needs get involved in the athletic community. Braeden Boyle, a junior and the founder of CB’s Rookies, was inspired by the welcoming atmosphere that her high school athletic department had for her brother, Christopher Boyle, who was born with global apraxia. This club, however, focuses on Mount Nittany Middle School, where they plan activities to engage the children in the classroom. CB’s Rookies also invites the students and their families to attend sporting events together.

“Social interaction is a huge thing, especially for special needs kids in middle schools,” Boyle says.

“They can sometimes feel excluded and stuck

within their own group and their own classroom, so having that outside interaction with other people, other students and other young kids is good for both ends — for the students and also for the Penn State students — to be exposed to that different community.”

Best Buddies Comprised mostly of adults, Best Buddies is a club that invites people with and without disabilities to make friendships throughout the year. A person with a disability is matched with a person without a disability, and they meet at least once a month outside of meetings to get to know each other better.

Betsy Allen, secretary of Best Buddies, says, “This past meeting, the buddies came together and hugged everyone in the room, and it just made me realize that we’re making a pretty big impact on them, and they’re really happy to be there. I get emails from parents just thanking me so much for having this club here, and it’s really cool to see how happy it makes them.”

Harmony Harmony is a multidisciplinary performance group for individuals with and without special needs. They partake in various performing arts such as singing, dancing and acting, all culminating in an end-ofthe-year performance at Schwab Auditorium.

The organization also created a new group called Harmini to accommodate younger children with disabilities.

President Taylor Balliet says, “They’re people too, don’t treat them like they’re children. If you see somebody walking around campus who you can tell might have down syndrome or cerebral palsy — where you can see that they’re different — don’t talk down to them. They’re humans, they want to be a part of this community. Sometimes you might need to adjust as time goes on, but when you’re first meeting them, treat them like they are the same age

as you because it’s a lot of those things that make them feel left out of the community.”

LifeLink PSU Perhaps the most well-known resource for students with disabilities, LifeLink PSU is a school district classroom in collaboration with Penn State.

“I volunteer because I embrace people’s differences from interests and hobbies to beliefs and values,” says Ashley Wong, a senior who volunteers at LifeLink PSU. “It’s a truly amazing opportunity to gain a different perspective from other Penn State students, and it has been nothing but enjoyable.”

Penn State students have the opportunity to volunteer as mentors for students in the LifeLink classroom, and responsibilities can range from escorting students to classes to helping them in the classroom, or even simply getting lunch together.

Ellen Cannizzaro, LifeLink program coordinator, has been working with people with disabilities for 29 years.

“Come and watch and you will want to jump right in. There’s a lot of friendship that happens between [LifeLink] students and Penn State mentor students. It’s an everyday conversation where a Penn State student will say that this program has been life-changing for them,” says Cannizzaro.

On a campus with over 40,000 students, these organizations are unifying the university and bringing people together no matter their differences.You have the power to take actions that can positively impact the rest of someone’s life forever.

We Are Penn State — and that means each and every one of us.

For further information on how you can participate in these resources, visit the Office for Student Disability Resources in 116 Boucke Building. ■

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The Best of Penn State By: Jordan Pietrafitta

After being named the number two school for CEOs in the U.S., it’s easy to see just how many success stories have started at Penn State. Many people have had a Penn State education and have had the ability to make incredible names for themselves, so VALLEY wanted to talk to some of Penn State’s most famous graduates to get some tricks of the trade and hear about their fantastic careers.

Adam Cohn Adam Cohn graduated in 1993 with a degree in Graphic Design, but initially came to Penn State with the goal of becoming a lawyer. When sophomore year rolled around, a friend pointed out that he was really talented at graphic design. He made the 180 degree twist from law to design and the rest is history. He showed off his talents at Nike for nine years, before heading off to Converse, where he is now the Vice President of Global Brand Design.

V: How would you define success? Do you believe you’ve achieved your definition of

success in your life?

ADAM COHN: I believe success is complete command and peace with the way you’re

Ty Burrell Most know him best as Phil Dunphy from “Modern Family,” but many may not know that Ty Burrell started his career at Penn State. He came to Penn State mostly because of the stellar faculty in the MFA program but says that the tie-breaker between Penn State and other schools was definitely the football team. Burrell graduated in 1997 with a Master of Fine Arts degree. Beginning his career on the stage, he eventually transitioned into film and television, which gives him more time to spend with his wife and kids. He has won many awards, including Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

V: Can you briefly describe your Penn State experience and how your career began

after school?

TY BURRELL: My Penn State experience was almost entirely positive. I spent my

three years there wearing a path between my apartment and the Theatre Building. It was a time of accumulating my “10,000 hours,” and it was bliss. The faculty was so remarkable and there was always a sense that we were doing something meaningful with our lives. I really tried to keep that with me as I entered the world of auditions. I needed every bit of meaning to make sense of the tempest of failure that is auditioning, and it kept me afloat. I still value the ideas that I learned there, even if my job may seem to be mostly silliness.

V: Is there something that happened that caused you to completely change your mind

about the trajectory of your life?

TB: The most prominent event that clarified my passions was the passing of my father

when I was 21. I was fairly lost at the time and it was, ironically, a rebirth for me.

Wanting his legacy to have meaning drove me to find something that I loved. I’m awfully lucky that it happened to be acting because I don’t seem to have any other skill sets.

V: How has your experience on “Modern Family” shaped you as a person?

TB: I hope that the show hasn’t changed me. I feel like I’ve always wanted my finger

sandwiches at room temp with the crusts cut off and untouched by anything but pure silver. Kidding, obviously, pure gold…In all seriousness, though, I spend my days laughing with my friends, trying to make something that people find nourishing in some way. I couldn’t ask for a better life than that.

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living your life but that it’s not the same thing as satisfaction. There will never be a design that can’t be improved or a relationship that can’t be strengthened.You should always be honest with everyone in your life and be able to be at peace with the way you go about doing things. I personally don’t believe I’ve ever achieved that level of success. I’ve gotten to plateaus but never to that level.

V: What is it like to be the Vice President of Global Brand Design for Converse?

AC: There is a partnership aspect which is really great because team members are

experts in different things. I have a leadership role, without a doubt, but it’s way more about partnership and collaboration. There is a mentorship aspect to up-and-coming designers, but I’m still learning so much about the new talent, especially because they’re closer to our target generations.

V: What’s your favorite memory from your time at Penn State?

AC: My favorite memory from Penn State is definitely getting into the design

program. There were only 20 spots available, so even after taking a few semesters of design classes and putting together a portfolio, there was still a chance that my dream could be delayed or not even happen. Getting accepted into the program from 150 or so applicants is a pretty amazing memory and was the catalyst for everything else in my life.

Keegan-Michael Key Keegan-Michael Key, a successful comedian and half of the legendary duo, Key and Peele, graduated from Penn State with a Master of Fine Arts in 1996. After graduating, he found a network of people in Detroit and co-founded both the Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck, Michigan and the Detroit Creativity Project. Key still bleeds blue and white, frequently visiting campus and proudly supporting Penn State Football.

VALLEY: Did you experience any hardships while trying to make your way in the

entertainment industry?

KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY: I attempt to look at everything that happens in my life as a

Andy Alvarez When Andy Alvarez went to Penn State, he already knew that graphic design was the field for him. After working in the BMX industry, riding bikes, taking pictures, and designing ads, he realized that he really enjoyed all of the work. He wasn’t your average student because he started the intensive, competitive program when he was five years older than his classmates. Paying for his degree on his own, Alvarez worked a full-time job and landed a position with Adidas after graduation. After working with other companies, Alvarez eventually made his way back to Adidas, currently working out of Germany as the Art Director of Global Brand Design.

V: What is one thing that you learned in college that will always stick with you?

ANDY ALVAREZ: The head professor of graphic design, who had a character similar

to that of Clint Eastwood in “Gran Torino,” gave me some great advice. He told me to look at what everyone else is doing and do the opposite because for better or for worse, you’ll stand out. Being able to stand out in the sea of the same will help people recognize you for that. Even if you fail, people will still appreciate you for trying.

V: What’s your favorite part about working at Adidas?

AA: Right now, I can make it what I want it. There are more opportunities for me to

put myself into it, and I’ve really been trying to do it all. Photography has always been a huge part of my life, and it’s a huge passion of mine. I love to hire people to do the right job, including outsourcing our photographers, but I also try to think about how I could’ve done it differently. It’s not typical of the same person to do all of the pieces, such as the ad and the photography, but I’ve been trying it all.

gift or an opportunity. Were there challenging times in my life? One hundred percent.

But I think that people should rejoice the challenging times in their life. I found a network of people, as a young guy, who I really love and who are passionate about the same things I’m passionate about, and even though we didn’t have a lot of money, we were happy because we felt like we were doing something important. It’s all about how you perceive reality, and I perceived it as a wonderful adventure.

V: How has comedy shaped the events of your life and the course of your career?

KMK: I had no idea that I was going to be an actor who was going to be administering

comedy to the world. I had every intention of being a dramatic, Shakespearean actor.

But, comedy has been the thing that has given me the most exposure and opened up the most doors in my field, so I think that it’s made an enormous impact. I have to thank all of the people that I’ve worked with, especially with improvisational comedy, because these skills have all come in amazingly handy in my work.

V: What was the most surreal or craziest thing you’ve ever gotten to do as a part of

your career?

KMK: I think it’s really the people I’ve been blessed to work with, but to pick an

event, being able to watch my partner, Jordan Peele, win an Oscar was pretty amazing.

Seeing Jordan holding an Oscar in his hands and giving an acceptance speech at the Academy Awards was insane. Within six months of doing that, I got to make a movie with Eddie Murphy, my favorite comedian. I’ve also had a few instances where I’ve gotten to meet Robert De Niro.You just have this imaginary Mount Rushmore in your mind of who are the most influential people who practice your craft, and then you meet them, which is really something else. But right now, watching Jordan give that acceptance speech was really unbelievable.■

V: What is your greatest piece of advice for a college student who is unsure about his

or her future?

AA: I would ask them what they’re unsure of because degrees of worry are relative to

age and surrounding. Asking questions like, “What are you worried about?” to yourself is extremely important. I came back a few years ago and spoke to the kids in the design program and asked them: “Are you afraid it’s not going to work or are you afraid of what your parents are going to think?” I would say to do what’s best in the moment, and to just try, and try wholeheartedly. Don’t give yourself an out before you even try because you’ll just fail.

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BAD & BOOZY Surrounding yourself with positive influencers may come as a struggle in a culture that thrives off alcohol and drugs. The stress of a lifetime fills you, so in return you fill yourself with things to help you temporarily forget about it all. It has always been that way in a college town like Penn State, so what has changed?

College. Degrees decorating his office walls show his extensive education in psychology. Morrison works with students, teens and adults who struggle with or want to know more about substance abuse and mental health. Living and working in the area for 20 years, he has seen the changes in Penn State’s drinking patterns firsthand.

Picture this: It’s a Thursday night.You want to, and frankly should, be studying for your exams, but your roommate is getting dressed up to go out.You get the speech about how “you’re only in college once,” so naturally you begin getting ready, too. One drink turns into two, and before you know it, it’s 9 a.m., and the hangover is real. How did you get to this point?

Taking shots was uncommon, and liquor is the root of the problem for the current generation, according to Morrison.

“It has always been this way,” says Kathleen Archen, an alumna of the class of 1984, about tailgating. “We would wake up at 8 o’clock in the morning and start drinking immediately, and it doesn’t seem like much has changed in that regard.”

“Today, these students have far more disposable income to use for things like going to the bar, and we all know how expensive that can get,” claims Morrison.

Students have even created State Patty’s Day, an event invented and designed for drinking. From bars to apartment parties, Downtown State College is painted green and alcohol is the center of attention.

State College is in the middle of nowhere and sometimes it seems like drinking is the only thing to do. While the social scene is extremely active, this drinking culture can have its drawbacks.

Despite popular belief, Morrison didn’t attribute the change in drinking patterns to increased stress levels among students. He says that there has always been anxiety and pressure, but what has changed is the generation’s way of handling it.

Penn State students will probably never put their cups down, but the drinking culture doesn’t have to continue on this dangerous trend. The community is seeing big changes as far as the drinking culture goes, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out for the future

People’s perspective on alcohol has been altered at Penn State over the last few years. A fraternity president who wishes to remain anonymous says that his position in his house has changed his perception on drinking.

“I see it as a liability now,” he says. “So many things can go wrong because people can’t handle themselves. Our actions have an infinite amount of consequences that I’ve gotten to see over the past couple of months.”

Walter Morrison is a licensed professional counselor at Centre Counseling Associates in Downtown State

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By: Jenna Pelowitz

“We would go out and get a pitcher of beer, it was very rare that we would buy a mixed drink,” says Morrison about his time as a Penn Stater in 1969.

“Back when I went to school, you had the fear of failing out and being sent off to the draft. People are more vocal about their problems nowadays, but that doesn’t mean people have never felt that,” says Morrison.

“Happy Valley is the perfect storm. The college scene is a casual and social setting that throws 18 to 22-year-olds into meeting new people and having to make connections.”

When you combine the desire to fit in and the struggle of being away from home, it is easy for

new students to succumb to the social pressures of partying to fit in, show off or let loose.

As soon as the fall semester kicks off, tailgates take over students’ Saturdays. If you look up at the sky surrounding Beaver Stadium you may see planes sporting advertisements circling the area where a Coors Light flag is billowing. The product placement is perfect for the environment and demographic, as tailgates are synonymous with drinking.

Drinking is a choice, so don’t ever feel as though you have to do anything you are not comfortable with. If you are having a problem or want to talk to someone be sure to reach out to Walter Morrison at 814-861-2055 or visit centre-counseling.com for more information. *VALLEY does not encourage underage drinking and always advises you to drink responsibly. ■

Photo by Dana Weltman

Dear Adventurer, It all came in moments.

Denial hit me after the eight hour plane ride as I got into the taxi with my roommates, the door slamming in my face.

Anxiety hit me when a psychiatrist came during orientation to tell us about the struggles we would face.

Stress hit me when my roommates and I wandered in circles around a Piazza looking for any store that sold towels.

But after a few weeks, those scary, nerve-wracking moments diminished.

Joy hit me when I cheered a glass of white wine.

Happiness hit me when I tasted the best food I’ve ever had in my life.

Astonishment hit me when my mom and I walked into a church and teared up at the sheer beauty that surrounded us.

Before the Bon Voyage

These moments, good and bad, big and small, define going abroad. The best part?

I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

By: Jaqueline Napolitano The amount of students that go abroad each year, especially at Penn State, is immense. From the high highs and the low lows, many students may not know what to expect when studying in a foreign country. Before you pack your bags and stamp your passport, think about the thousands of students that have come before you, and prepare for some of the best few months of your life.

You can never truly predict how the semester will turn out. Between the happiness of experiencing a new place to the culture shock of the drastic lifestyle change, studying abroad is about embracing every moment. It’s about making yourself feel at home, no matter where you are in the world.

Meghan McGrath, a senior who studied abroad in Florence, found a simple way to do just that.

“I took a theatre class, which is something I did in high school and something I’m passionate about. It was something I was comfortable with in a place where I had nothing that I was comfortable with,” McGrath says.

If you are about to go abroad, you are may be organizing all of your adventures and stressing about your travel itinerary. But know that during your first month away, some things may not go according to plan. Even if things do go wrong, remember why you wanted to visit this country in the first place and what you wanted to learn from this opportunity.

“You can plan as much as you want, but then once you get there you just have to let it go and experience what’s around you,” says Jamie Weaver, an education abroad advisor. “That can be difficult considering you are jumping into a new culture.”

When the plane lands you can feel overwhelmed, exhausted and confused as to where to go next. But remember, this is a normal feeling that you should take in as part of the experience, and there are good times to come.

“In my program [IES Madrid], everyone transitioned easily. Everyone wanted to make friends,” says senior Allison Waksman. “I remember the minute I got off the plane. I met the people in my program and then I was thrown in a taxi off to my home stay.

I had no cell service, the driver didn’t speak English, and I remember having that moment of, ‘Did I make a mistake?’ Only because you have no idea what you are going to walk into.”

Adjusting to a place you have never been before can be scary. However, once you’re acclimated to the environment, you’ll find that there is so much to look forward to.

“Once the second week of classes hit, I got into my routine and started going to the same places every morning. That’s when I finally felt adjusted,” says senior, Marissa Tarangelo, who studied in Florence.

And when it is all said and done, the place that used to feel so foreign is now a second home.

Emily Lippincott, a senior who studied in Florence, spent her last night in the Italian city in awe and pure gratitude for the experience she had.

“The last night we were there my roommates and I went and got gelato, sat at the Arno [River] and watched the sunset. We were just sitting there and looking around, and I had that moment of ‘I just spent four months here, wow,’” Lippincott says.

You’ll notice that the overwhelming and intimidating feelings of getting off the plane at the beginning of your journey will turn into confidence and independence on your flight home.You can do almost anything from navigating public transportation to traveling to new cities every weekend.

“I think my happiest moment was when I knew how to get around Paris, order something in French, and wasn’t intimidated by the city anymore,” says Danielle Hoang, a senior who studied in Paris.

Going abroad is a rollercoaster of transitions and changes. Embrace it, enjoy it and cherish it forever—all of it. ■

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TAINMENT

ENTER

Photo by Clarissa Flores

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NAME: Catherine A. Rivera Chardon YEAR: Fifth-Year Senior MAJOR: Broadcast Journalism, Theatre Minor Despite hardships in life and obstacles often faced by those pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry, Chardon’s work ethic and motivation have allowed her to excel at Penn State and gain prestigious internship experience at companies like Telemundo, E! Entertainment, the Orlando Marketing Agency and NASCAR. “Don’t underestimate your potential,” she says. “Go after your dreams and create your own path. After all, that’s what life is all about — creating yourself.”

Photo by Kristina Abuladze

PLAYING WITH SOUND By: Mary Joyce We’ve all heard that good things come to those who wait. But on a Friday night, dancing to the music of local student band, Danger Berry, it’s clear that Penn State’s DIY music scene is a good thing waiting for no one.

DIY bands are more or less what you would expect — completely do-it-yourself. They create music with no manager, no publicists and no major record deals. But what they lack in representation, they make up for in dedication to their music. Jake Tiernan, a junior studying landscape architecture, is a strong advocate for pushing this movement of music at Penn State.

“I interpret it as a far more liberating and community-driven artistic experience, Tiernan says. “After all, when you have no label to answer to, you have a lot more freedom to do things on your own terms, and that has helped to book some insane musical movements that redefined how we think about music.”

Overall, Tiernan believes that DIY music is all about what you make of it. He says that there’s almost no way to make it in this scene without connecting with others and putting yourself out there. In other words, if you support the scene, the scene will support you.

”DIY is about solidarity and mutual support between artists. Nobody gets to really be huge without a little help from their friends,” says Tiernan.

Though it’s not something that Penn State is typically known for, Tiernan says that our area, being between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, is a hotspot for bands touring nationwide. Booking shows at Penn State offers these touring bands the opportunity to play in unconventional settings for our massive student base and offers all of us the new musical experiences that we never knew we needed.

With these bands, there’s no doubt that you can find the typical genres you would expect to hear at shows for college students — the all-time classic mix of punk, indie and rock. But Tiernan says that the ball is rolling to expand the genres available in these off-campus shows to include uncommon sounds that were widely underrepresented in the DIY landscape in the past.

“We get to have a lot of fun changing up what a DIY show can be, stacking it with really odd mixed bills,” Tiernan says. “Right now, I’m working on a show with a Darkwave, a form of dance-oriented, goth rock heavily influenced by synth pop; a Powerviolence, a form of extremely fast and aggressive hardcore; and a hip hop act. It offers everyone a chance to see something they like while simultaneously pushing them out of their comfort zones.”

For those looking to explore new musical experiences and weave their way into this little-known gem of Penn State, Tiernan highly recommends checking out Arts Crawl, a free, one day only music festival hosted in venues all over North Campus by Penn State’s Students Organizing the Multiple Arts.

The day-long show features a large variety of DIY bands from all over the country and allows a larger crowd of PSU students to be able to experience DIY music and art.

Though this DIY music scene at State is both artistically wild and constantly evolving, it doesn’t just cater to those who follow the scene closely.

Tiernan stresses that the range of these bands are here for everyone to experience — no matter your taste in music.

“We don’t care what your background is with this music. We don’t care if you only listen to the Top 50,” Tiernan says. “Depending on the band that week, shows may involve moshing or dancing or singing along. It’s just a fun environment where everyone gets to see some great bands they wouldn’t have otherwise.”■

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Photo by Grace Southern

FILM FATALE By: Abby Thomas

No matter how much of a dream the world of film seems, gender roles and sexism unfortunately can still exist there. The magic of movie making has been a maledominated field in the past. However, Hollywood today presents a totally different narrative, not only behind the scenes, but in front of the camera, too. With national organizations dedicated to female filmmakers and powerful female lead characters, women have finally been given a chance to shine on and off the silver screen in a new, empowering light.

Go ahead and think of a director off the top of your head.You may have thought of Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese. Whoever it was, it most likely wasn’t a woman.

And why is this? It can all be traced back to the days when gender roles were the driving forces of a functional family. The typical female duty was to stay home and take care of the children, the cleaning and the cooking. If they even had time for a job, they were expected to work somewhere practical that would produce easy money for the family. And a career in the arts, especially in filmmaking, was the opposite of practical.

A respected female film editor, Dede Allen, confessed that being behind the scenes was meant to be a man’s job. A recent New York Times article about revolutionary female filmmakers quotes a famous phrase of hers, “It was not considered proper for a girl to come in and take a job from a father with children.” However, Allen ended up turning that idea on its head, as she edited her first successful feature in 1959 and went on to work with notable directors on legendary films such as “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Dog Day Afternoon.”

According to the same article, Allen wasn’t the only female making waves off the screen in 20th century Hollywood. Maya Deren, a Ukrainian filmmaker, is credited with inventing experiential-style movies after her short film “Meshes” came out in 1943. Barbra Streisand directed herself way before George Clooney was praised for it, starring in her first self-made movie in 1983. An illustrator named Mary Blair, who worked for Walt Disney in the 1950s, is the one behind all of the eye-popping, colorfully mystical animation seen in “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan.” The barriers that these women broke down have opened up an entirely different world in which females are not just permitted to work behind the scenes that they are encouraged to. There are entire production firms dedicated to supporting exclusively women, such as Tangerine Entertainment and Women Make Movies.

Pearl Gluck, an accomplished filmmaker and film professor at Penn State, emphasizes the importance of leveling the playing field in Hollywood. When her students are required to do a project on a director at the end of the semester, more than 60 percent of the projects are about females. This makes Gluck proud as most of them had not even heard of female directors previously.

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“It’s not about changing an old boy’s club to an old girl’s club,” she says. “It’s about changing the narrative so it doesn’t matter what gender you are. It matters what stories you have to tell.”

Most of today’s films seem to disregard what is statistically “likeable” and instead, generate their own original storylines. Through films such as “Hidden Figures,” “The Help” and “Brave,” the main women are presented with characteristics that are far from typical. Leading ladies are finally being depicted with a sense of true female complexity having strength, wit and confidence.

We live in an age in which women are free to exceed what’s practical and to become more than just a princess waiting to be saved by a prince. The narrative of film, both on and off screen, is slowly maturing to stop concerning itself with the silly technicalities of gender. Amanda Renee Knox is a director, producer and actress who had her Academy Award nominated film “Night Call” recently screen here at Penn State. She emphasized that films are a reflection of the society they are produced in, bringing forth morals and expectations relevant of the time.

So, let’s change our society. The gender of an individual shouldn’t merit any assumption about who they are or what they have the ability to do. ■

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PRIVACY VS. POLICY By: Sarah Price

Photo by Colleen Wade

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Do you actually read the terms of a website’s policy before blindly clicking accept? Most people don’t. It is time to take a closer look at the progression of technology and where privacy fits into the internet of things. Here is the breakdown of everything you should know to protect your data while still being able to connect online.

While the world of technology continuously evolves, there is one thing that remains constant: we want to feel safe online. The word privacy comes to mind but, in the end, that word can mean something different to everyone you ask.

In a general sense, it means to feel secure. This could entail putting curtains on your windows, but, in the terms of the internet of things, it becomes a little more complex. We need to take a closer look at what is considered data distribution.

Dr. Patrick Plaisance, the Don W. Davis professor of ethics in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State, researches various media ethics theories and says he continues to wrestle with the gray area.

“We will never all consent to what privacy means,” Plaisance says. “It is better to think about it in terms of individual agency and public interest.”

If you are considering the benefit of the technology you are using, whether that is social media, your laptop or an Amazon Alexa, you need to consider how technology affects you as an individual, as well as society.

For example, if you are someone who uses an Alexa, it records everything you say, do and even sing to the point where it’s able to customize your Amazon shopping recommendations. However, it also sends a lot more personal information than your shopping list to businesses.

“We need to continue to illuminate ways in which online communication can escape digital media’s individualistic entrapments and help create a digital world that emphasizes the public good,” Plaisance says.

While you benefit in the short-term with customized recommendations from Amazon, in the long-term, businesses can purchase all of your personal data.

This information can include all the websites you visit, from your Facebook feed to your Google searches and even the streaming of your favorite show or sports team.

“If you look at the terms of service it is very clear. Facebook says “your data becomes ours to use as we wish”. As a society we are still struggling with what might be our privacy rights when it comes to our data,” Plaisance says.

If you think about all the technology that has surfaced over the past 10 years, you can see the reason behind this national discussion taking place. It is not uncommon nowadays to see students with tape over on their laptop cameras because they are concerned with just how much privacy their own technology allows.

Drones are another device that have sparked this nationwide conversation. What stops someone from recording through your bedroom window?

“Some people will certainly reject [new technologies], but that won’t stop the eventual wide-spread use of these devices,” says Barton Pursel, an affiliate associate research professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State.

“Most of these devices provide incredible new affordances for everyone, from professionals down to hobbyists, so it’s impossible to stop things like drones from growing in popularity.

But like most innovations, they can be used for both good and evil.”

Now knowing the potential risks that come along with new technologies, you may give the connectivity between devices a second thought. From linking your smartphone to your laptop, Alexa, drone or whatever comes next, technology is communicating and sharing information about you.

In this time of advancement, society is facing a shift in the way that the digital

environment is viewed. It has enhanced the need for personal gain above the benefit of the community.

When you use the internet, the desire to receive likes, followers and personalized recommendations can overwhelm your sense of community. While you are connecting to people across the world, do you consider your next-door neighbors?

“Research has compellingly documented the corrosive effects of filter bubbles and links between social media use, with negative traits, such as low political knowledge and narcissistic tendencies,” says Plaisance.

In America, these topics are gaining traction in social and political arenas, but in Europe the government has already taken action.

The European Commission has launched the European Data Protection Regulation that included what is called “the right to be forgotten.” This is a large step in data distribution protection.

According to BBC, “it argues that old, inaccurate or even just irrelevant data should be taken out of search results if the person involved requests it.”

In other words, if you request information about yourself to be removed, while it will still be online, search engines cannot index it. This means your data will become confined instead of popping up on the very first page of a Google search.

The progression of technology cannot be stopped, but the way it is used can be changed for the better. As a country, America has been slower than others to accept regulating its online usage.

However, after the Zuckerberg hearing, an important question became, will the government now take a larger role in data distribution with the internet of things?

“The jury is still out on this one (pun intended).” Pursel Says. “It seems the government leaders of Europe are interested in getting directly involved in aspects of data and privacy, so we’ll need to see how this plays out and hopefully borrow what works well and ignore the things that don’t work.”

While America has been hesitant to initiate regulations, the topic has become a larger part of everyday conversation.

“We are in a culture of deregulation right now politically. That we are even talking about regulating this huge industry that since its birth has enjoyed complete lack of regulation, that’s a watershed moment,” Plaisance says.

Users need to become more aware of what they are signing up for and how it can affect their social and political ideals. Becoming educated on the language of the internet of things is key to moving forward.

One term in this language that has been used recently is blockchain technology, which got its start in Bitcoin.

According to Plaisance, blockchain technology is basically a sophisticated use of cryptography in software that offers a different way of sending and distributing packets of information online. This means you can safely exchange digital assets without fear of it being fake or duplicated, such as Bitcoin.

Blockchain technology makes this possible by using a network that is not owned by anybody. Essentially, using blockchain while engaging with a news site or social media platform allows you to decide what information you are sharing and with what companies.

“It could be a revolutionary alternative to the Facebook model that dominates our media landscape right now,” Plaisance says. “Revolutionary.”

While the internet of things has made privacy harder to obtain, you can practice personal methods to keep your data safe. It’s all about knowing the effects that your actions can have online.■

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how to do it

FOR THE GRAM By: Kelsey Lentz

“Always keep in mind quality over quantity. I think our egos want to see that we have a gigantic following, but having a following that cares about you and is engaged is more important,” says Zimmerman.

The Challenges Ever wonder how Instagrammers and social media professionals make a living off of social media? Well, social media is in fact a real job and to many, it is a dream job because of the freedom, creativity and flexibility it allows.

Here is everything you need to know about building a digital brand.

We live in a world in which social media is so embedded into our culture that it is almost second nature. And while we may all be familiar with the terms “Instagram Famous” and “Social Media Influencer,” not a lot of people can say they actually know what it is these social media savvy professionals do. Though it would shock generations of the past, social media has evolved into an industry of its own and is now something you can have a full-time career in and even earn a degree for. Social media has taken on a whole new meaning and flourished into a tool that enables artistic expression, expert branding and marketing techniques.

The Breakdown Since this field is still relatively new, the main thing everyone wants to know is how it’s possible to make money from social media. The first step in doing this is acknowledging how much work and planning goes on behind the screen. If you are pursuing a career in social media or just curious about how some of the top influencers you follow got to where they are, know that social media is more than just the snap of a picture. Though it is not your typical 9-to-5 job, it can still be a very trying career path that takes just as much planning, time commitment and hard work as any other career.

Penn State professor Bill Zimmerman who specializes in digital public relations, says that strategic planning is essential when it comes to creating a successful social media career.

One concern for social media is that it’s just a trend. Zimmerman, however, thinks the industry will continue to take shape rather than become obsolete. In terms of staying up-to-date on the trends and changes within the field, Zimmerman advises refining marketable skills like writing, visual communication, photography and video editing.

“People who are getting into it and want to create the most stable career prospects are going to want to be cross trained,” Zimmerman says. “If you sharpen the skills it takes to be a good social media person, you’re going to prepare yourself for any ebbs and flows that may happen in the industry, and you’ll be ready to transition if things change.”

The social media industry has professionals waking up at early hours, attending meetings all day, and networking just like any other job. In fact, for social media influencers, the workday never really ends. But for many, being able to set your own work schedule is a huge benefit.

“I can definitely see the allure of it. Everyone wants to be their own bosses,” says Zimmerman.

Though this industry has come a long way, there are still some negative connotations associated with careers in social media.

“If you’re too focused inward, you’re not going to be creating content that people want to see.You always want to be thinking of value,” Zimmerman says. “When you’re doing social media professionally, it’s not about you at all. It’s about your audience.”

Social media is not as cut and dry as you may have assumed. But like all careers, if you put in the hard work, you can find success.■

“Some people may be surprised to find that there is more planning to it than what you would consider,” Zimmerman says. “Those who are doing social media effectively have some sort of plan. They put down on paper what they want to accomplish. They set objectives. They decide what the ideal tone is going to be for their social media.”

Branding your social media is the next crucial component. Branding is how people recognize your public persona, aesthetic, layout and, essentially, you. Social media professionals post content that reflects their brand’s interests and unique elements to set them apart from everyone else. Decide what aesthetic fits your personality and then build your brand around that. Sticking with that brand and being true to it ensures consistency and authenticity.

Knowing your audience is crucial. Since successful social media is determined by how well your followers and audience perceive you, it’s important that your posts are of value to them.

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Nancy Berman (@nancyberman)

Sydney Asencio, a freshman studying supply chain management, has over 450,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel.

V: How old were you when you started your

YouTube channel?

they did it FOR THE GRAM

SYDNEY ASCENCIO: I started my channel

around four or five years ago.

V: What made you want to start a YouTube

By: Catie Gore

channel?

SA: When I was younger, I really liked the concept

Among the 40,000 Penn Staters on campus, a few have found social media success of their own, and VALLEY sought these students out.

of video editing and watching YouTube.

V: How did you gain such a large following?

SA: I started gaining a following from one of my

first videos, which was a back-to-school DIY kit.

Now I stay consistent with college content, which provides me with a larger fan base.

Nancy Berman (@nancyberman) Nancy Berman, a senior studying public relations, has grown quite popular on Twitter due to her passion for music and desire to be a part of the music industry. Her account has allowed her endless opportunities to connect with artists and other celebrities.

VALLEY: How old were you when you created

your Twitter account?

Emma Norton (@emmnorton)

Emma Norton (@emmnorton)

NANCY BERMAN: I was 14, and right away I

started following people from the music scene.

V: How did you gain such a large following?

V: What made you want to start an Instagram

up with current events happening in the music industry and would go to pop-up events, and then tweet about [the events]. Soon, I started getting recognized.

V: What does Twitter mean to you?

NB: I think it brings a sense of community.

photography. In high school, I was a huge media nerd, always taking pictures, and I still am!

V: How did you gain such a large following?

EN: I started experimenting with my look and

V: Do you have advice for starting a Twitter

V: Why was Instagram your social media of

easy to go viral, and Twitter is the realest form of social media in my opinion. It’s easy to say exactly what you mean and what you feel directly to your followers.

popular, but that’s not what I advise. Make videos you’re passionate about, and find the people that like your content. Also, definitely practice editing before you start uploading.

EMMA NORTON: I have always been into

brand, tagging companies to get noticed. We would direct message, and I would add a lot of hashtags to my photos.

NB: You have to stay funny and current. It’s pretty

channel?

page?

You truly get to express yourself. I use Twitter to express my appreciation and love for music. account?

V: What is your advice for starting a YouTube

SA: Most would say to make videos that are more

Emma Norton, a senior studying marketing with a concentration in retail, found success on Instagram. Over time, she has perfected her Instagram aesthetic.

NB: I made myself known as a figure. I kept

Photos by Josiah Kim

Sydney Asencio (@beautyqueen18)

choice?

EN: Twitter is not enough.You only get so many

characters to express yourself. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I love that about Instagram.

V: Do you see yourself gaining more followers or

do you feel comfortable where you are now?

EN: I think everyone always wants more, and

there’s nothing wrong with that. A lot of big influencers are losing brand deals because people don’t want to just see them using their products.

They want micro-influencers, which is something that has potential for me..

Sydney Asencio (@beautyqueen18)

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50

Location courtesy of Shawn Burghard

WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT

BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS BRINGS

THE THE THE THE THE THE THE THE THE THE

BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ? BUZZ?

By: Katie Gergel Have you ever wondered why different entertainment trends seemingly appear out of nowhere?

Why is it that one moment you haven’t heard of a movie or song, and the next it’s all over your social media feed? There may seem to be no rhyme or reason as to why certain pop culture phenomena blow up out of the blue, but history has shown that there are some trends that bring the buzz.

What is Going Viral?

We live in a world with all of the tools and platforms possible for something to catch the eye of millions within a day. The internet and social media are breeding grounds for viral media Every individual with an Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat or a variety of other social media accounts can play a significant role in reaching a vast amount of viewers.

With one click of a retweet button or one share on Facebook, an entirely new audience is accessed.

Your share might influence a friend, and then everyone on his or her friend list is exposed. The exposure becomes exponential, and it is unsurprising that certain pieces can become an international sensation overnight.

But why do some entertainment pieces catch more attention than others? We all remember “Charlie bit my finger - again!” — a 55-second video that was posted on YouTube in 2007 that has since garnered over 860 million views. This was perhaps one of the first truly viral video trends that was followed by

so many others covering a wide variety of entertainment: songs like “Gangnam Style,” television shows like “13 Reasons Why,” movies like “Sharknado,” Broadway musicals like “Hamilton,” and even dance trends such as Drake’s song “In My Feelings.”

There are no real topic-based similarities that one can draw from these pieces. They do, however, have something important in common. They got people watching and talking and dancing.

The Perfect Storm Although these examples may not be about the same topics or even come from the same genres, there are still some discernible trends that can be gleaned from the popularity of the past.

Jessica Brock, social media manager at CBS’s Smithsonian Networks, works directly with the Smithsonian Channel’s digital content on social media platforms.

“Virality requires a perfect storm of factors that come together at the right moment,” she says. “But I do think the one consistent factor is timing. The timing of a piece of content is very important because content is more likely to be shared widely if it contributes to a wider cultural conversation or taps into a topic that is top-of-mind for many of us.”

This brings up an important aspect to think about when considering content that has gone viral. We’ve certainly seen our society converse about specific content in the past with pieces such as “13 Reasons Why” that caught the public’s attention because of its controversy about teen suicide.

Opinions on the series were intensely divided, with some believing it was important to address a topic as serious as suicide and others believing that the show was exploiting the topic for entertainment purposes. This debate incited a nationwide conversation that may be partly responsible for the show’s viral status.

Creating the Buzz In terms of social media trends, Brock says that “making the content relatable and customizable for each user is what ultimately allows them to express themselves, and thus, share it.”

Replicability, emotional appeal and uniqueness are also widely agreed upon as large factors when it comes to something gaining mass attention in society or on social media platforms. Additionally, Brock points out that we shouldn’t give social media too much credit for a concept that has been prevalent long before the existence of the internet.

“Ideas have been spread from person to person in a viral way since the beginning of human civilization,” she says. “I think we sometimes give too much credit to modern technology and forget our history.”

From cave drawings to sending memes via Instagram direct messages, humans have always found a way to spread ideas. While some things are seen by a few people, others gain access to millions. Some may wish they knew the formula that brings instant buzz, but besides some noticeable trends that have been revealed by the past, this formula remains a secret. It’s doubtful that even Drake would know the ingredients.■

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FASHION

Photo by Matt Brownlow

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NAME: Michelle Mischler YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Recreation, Parks & Tourism Management Mischler defies the norms of the fashion industry by straying from fast fashion and making it a point to be ecological through the creation of her own clothing line. “When creating my own fashion line I wanted my statement to showcase that recycled fashion is a positive alternative to ‘fast fashion’ purchases,” she says. “Eco-friendly fashion has impacted the way I think about clothing and the fashion industry. By making conscious choices, we all can make a bigger impact on our world and truly redefine what it means to be one-of-a-kind.”

Fashion Week For Dummies By: Abigail Roe Twice a year, the most decorated, artful events in fashion occur across the globe.

Labeled as Fashion Week, thousands of hours, hundreds of designs and millions of dollars go into these extravagant affairs. But, while Fashion Week is monumental for the fashion industry, what exactly does it mean for you?

Fashion Week is what everyone thinks about when they think about fashion, but not many people fully understand the impact that this occasion has on them.

In the wise words of “The Devil Wears Prada’s” leading lady, Miranda Priestly, “I see, you think this has nothing to do with you.”

that had a profound influence on upand-coming trends. The pieces in these collections filter through mainstream society and become integrated fads as time progresses.

Comfort Colors is a generic label that sells t-shirts, long sleeve tees and sweatshirts in neutral, earth tones to larger brands that can put their own logo on the apparel. They are usually worn oversized for comfort, as well as style, and have been seen everywhere in the past few years.

Photos by Eleanor Wing

This is no coincidence.

In the same year that Gildan, a CanaHere’s the thing — it has everything to dian-American activewear brand, condo with you because everything you have firmed a $100 million agreement with ever worn has been escorted down the Comfort Colors to carry the brand’s runway at some capacity before making products, the acclaimed streetwear its way into your closet. brand,Yeezy, debuted its first line.

Fashion Functions Yeezy is known for its neutral color So, what exactly is Fashion Week? It’s a scheme and its dramatically oversized culmination of what fashion designers style. This filtered down into other believe will be the next big trends for streetwear brands, and as the lines the upcoming season. Each week is continued to grow, so did the trends allocated to a particular season that influenced by this stylistic vision. That’s designers and brands keep in mind when when Comfort Colors made its profit creating their collections. off youthful customers who wanted to achieve a similar aesthetic at a bargain Here’s what happens: Designers — price. typically artistic directors — showcase cohesive collections of designs that The Bigger Picture follow closely with their branding.

At the base of it all, fashion is an artform — just as a sculpture or an oil painting.

Each season is hosted in four locations It is quickly discounted because it is internationally: New York, London, used in a universally productive manner, Milan and Paris. There are Fashion but Fashion Week is meant to showcase Weeks hosted in other central locations the creative possibilities and drastic around the world, but these are the extremes that could come about. big four that are highly anticipated and

well-respected.

Not only is it a place to express complete imaginative freedom, but many However, Fashion Week isn’t only about designers also use their platform to the clothes. The influencers sitting in the comment on the direction that society is front rows of these runway shows play moving. There are many cases of brands a major role in the industry. Designers whose entire collection is dedicated personally invite celebrities, socialites, to making a cultural comment. Some fashion executives and publication recent examples of this are Moschino outlets to witness their flawlessly and Burberry who included pieces curated show. These guests attract great that focused on political division and publicity and get those who might not be LGBTQ+ visibility. familiar with the brand more interested.

If a guest happens to be sitting next to Fashion is more than something to put Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue on your body; it has intent, it’s capable Magazine, he or she is probably the most of cultural change, and it offers such viimportant guest of the evening. sual beauty to all that lay their eyes on it.

Trickling Down Take a closer look at Fashion Week next In the fashion industry, everything can time around and maybe you’ll see just be traced back to particular collections how special it is.■

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MEN’S FASHION: An Artistic Expression By: Olivia Rueger

From artists to engineers, these four men have a wide variety of influences that affect their every day fashion choices. Instagram, celebrities and other sources of inspiration help to curate these men’s looks. These Penn State students use fashion as an outlet for personal expression, something that is reflected in their styles.

Leo Wang Leo Wang lives by this rule: It’s impossible to separate art and fashion. As a junior double majoring in landscape architecture and graphic sculpture, he says artistic expression means everything to him.

Wang chooses high quality articles of clothing and carefully selected accessories. Every detail of Wang’s wardrobe flawlessly compliments each other, from his gold eyeglass chain to his J.W. Anderson bag. “[J.W. Anderson] plays with structure,” Wang says. “He creates cutting edge bags, but remains functional.”

Wang absorbs fashion inspiration from designers and artists alike to create his own unique perspective.

“The future of fashion is fun. Mixing interest concepts with function. I see this happening with color, structure or even text and slogans.”

Wang is unafraid to do the unexpected. He has a drive to push the envelope and the creative genius to do so.

Jonah Vitale Jonah Vitale, a junior industrial engineering major, says he doesn’t know too much about fashion but does know that he has a passion for it. Vitale is learning, though, and finds inspiration by rifling through a thrift store or scrolling through Zara’s website.

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“I discovered Frank Ocean in high school, and his influence has inspired me to transform into this bigger person I never thought I could be,” Vitale says. “All of his art and music is so powerful. To me, he is the epitome of fashion. He uses his masculinity as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community, and I think that’s pretty cool.”

Vitale has been embracing our evolving gender climate, opening a whole new world of possibilities for self-expression. Vitale sports what he would consider to be a bold style and believes that men should dare to deviate from the norm.

“Fashion is art. It’s expressing yourself in any way you want to be,” Vitale says. “I wear what I want, when I want. And I don’t really care what anyone has to say about it because I’m an individual, and I’m proving it everyday.”

Chris Buccellato Junior chemical engineering student Chris Buccellato’s fashion inspiration does not come from famous designers or luxury stores. Rather, he finds some of his favorite pieces from thrift shops, such as Goodwill. Buccellato prides himself on his ability to turn the most unique pieces into something great.

“I very rarely will buy something first hand,” Buccellato says.

After learning how to sew in high school, Buccellato began designing. He started a small pocket T-shirt company, but his imagination did not stop there. He created and sold everything from sweatshirt pockets to a Penn State patterned “quad-pock” with four sewn pockets in every corner of the shirt.

Buccellato’s personal style celebrates the unpredictable.

“There are no rules,” he says. “I wear what attracts me, but I also don’t mind riling people up.”

Buccellato’s outfits often do just that. From sporting a tube top at a football tailgate to proudly wearing a tie-dye male romper, his goal is to break down societal norms.

“My definition of masculinity is all about being comfortable with yourself. Whatever you do, do it confidently,” Buccellato says.

Jarred Fetterman Jarred Fetterman, a junior majoring in biotechnology, says he started to find his personal style in high school, and his passion has continued to grow.

“Fashion plays a large part in who I am,” Fetterman says. “What you wear affects the world and how you live within it.”

Fetterman says his style has helped him to find and exude confidence.

“When I’m wearing a good outfit, I feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to,” Fetterman says.

With a wide variety of graphic T-shirts balanced with sharp sweaters, he creates a laid back yet polished look. Although he says he likes to stay up to date on trends, Fetterman believes that fashion is more than what’s “in.”

“It’s what makes you look good and feel your best.”

Fetterman says he finds his fashion inspiration on Instagram and from some of his celebrity idols, such as Ryan Reynolds.

“Everybody has their own style,” Fetterman says.

“It’s all about expressing who you are and owning it.”■ Photo by Matt Brownlow

“My art is my fantasyland,” Wang explains. “It’s the mode in which I can express my passion.”

Vitale has a keen eye for the detail that he incorporates into all of his looks. Vitale’s creative spirit, however, comes from a much deeper place that inspires his clothing, expression and overall outlook.

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By: Lucy McKeever

Throw your hair in a bun, pull on a pair of sweats and walk out the door. Does that sound like your morning routine? While dressing for comfort on campus has become somewhat of a true stereotype in the U.S., international campus culture is actually a case-by-case basis.

difference between various international trends and typical American fashion.

John Kim, a senior information sciences and technologies major at Penn State, describes his style as “a bit mixed up.” Being from South Korea, but having lived in the U. S. from age 1 to age 9, led him to a personal style crossroads.

“I don’t want to follow obvious trends while not wanting to fall behind,” Kim says. He is, however, still aware of said trends. He described South Korean trends as mostly celebrity-influenced with a strong emphasis on streetwear.

Type “college fashion” into Pinterest and you’ll see the typical U.S. university attire: dressed-up joggers, baseball caps, sneakers, the occasional denim — a style that can generally be summed up as “athleisure.”

“As celebrities — I mean mostly rappers — the trend for street fashion has been going towards more high-end brands like Gucci or Balenciaga, and Supreme if you can count that as a high-end brand,” says Kim.

For the average Penn State student, those search results look very familiar. But while rolling out of bed and slipping on a pair off leggings and a t-shirt may be the norm for University Park, no two schools’ trends are the same.

South Korea’s capital city of Seoul exemplifies Kim’s analysis perfectly. Following its inaugural Fashion Week in 2015, Seoul has come into the public eye, not just as an up-and-coming fashion hub, but as a city with a style circulating entirely on its own.

Variance exists between schools just within our country. From New York City fashion institutes, to tiny West Coast liberal arts colleges, to southern universities, each have their own looks. But what about on a global scale?

Manchester Menswear on Women According to Anne-Sophie van der Poel, a third-year fashion buying and merchandising student at the University of Manchester, the city of Manchester has a style that’s entirely its own.

She calls the signature Manchester look “androgynous,” in the sense of menswear not necessarily sticking to just men. A large emphasis among women in the city is placed on “trousers,” or more wide-leg, menswear-inspired pants.

“Girls love trousers,” van der Poel says. “Wide-leg fabric trousers are popular right now for nights out.”

While this going-out style differs from most American students, staple basics are staple basics.

Before ‘Jeans and a nice top’ is the Manchester going out uniform,” she says.”

People shy away from it, but if you don’t know what to wear, then your friend will say ‘Oh, just wear jeans and a nice top.’”

As far as on-campus style, however, Mancunian students stay true to their uniquely fashionable roots rather than setting comfort as a priority.

“No one wears sweatpants or pajamas to class,” she says. “Everyone at least wears jeans and a t-shirt if they don’t have time to get ready.”

The Seoul of Streetwear Effort level and prioritization of comfort versus style is a key component in the

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In a 2017 article from Hypebeast, a media company specializing in men’s fashion, Seoul Fashion Week founder, Jung Kuho, describes the fashion in Seoul as “very much involved with street culture.” Vogue fashion news editor, Monica Kim, agrees, calling Seoul “fast and incredibly trend-driven.”

These trends can be seen on Penn State’s campus, with students from the capital city and beyond fearlessly rocking trends that are rarely seen on American students outside of schools in New York City or Los Angeles, where high fashion is the norm.

American Influencers American college fashion, on the other hand, is rooted in a more classic ideology, according to one 20th century historian. Deirdre Clemente published a book in 2016 titled “Dress Casual: How College Students Redefined American Style.”

The book chronicles decades of American college fashion, arguing that classic casual styles, like khakis and polos, sweaters and jeans, or even simply sneakers outside the gym, were popularized on American college campuses before making the leap into mainstream style in the U.S. This point highlights a potential key difference between typical American college style and the styles unique to various college students internationally. While the norm for students from cities like Manchester and Seoul is to either put in the effort to maintain the image curated by their city life or to stay knowledgeable regarding current runways, American students’ prioritization of comfort and ease has actually created and fostered trends in American culture.

Whether the approach of a given school is to keep up to date with cutting-edge trends or to dress for comfort and let the culture follow, college campuses officially are no longer solely the home of the world’s youngest, brightest minds.

They’re also home to the world’s youngest, coolest closets.■

When Ink Becomes Art

Photo by Anissa Erkert

By: Christina Chambers Tattoos are an art that exhibits an individual’s aesthetic and embody experiences with a unique flair for people to claim as their own. It’s about time to celebrate the permanence of this self expression.

Jordan Hanes, an artist at Paper Moon Tattoo Company in Downtown State College, says she considers tattooing to be a collaboration between her and the client.

“With the internet, everyone has a little bit of an idea of what they’re looking for, but we try and make sure whatever you want, it’s yours. It’s an original,” Hanes says.

and that popularity depends on the internet. The art of tattooing has changed immensely over the years and Domino looked back on previous tattoo fads.

Stephanie Williams, senior biology major and proud tattoo owner, agrees with Hanes’s remarks.

“In the ‘80s, it was okay to get tribal tattoos because of The Red Hot Chili Peppers,” Domino says. “But nobody would get them in the ‘70s because punk rockers were getting them.”

“I like [my tattoos] because they’re a part of me, they express my experiences.”

Williams says she put a lot of consideration into the placement of a tattoo on her side because it symbolizes her relationships with her siblings.

“It moves with me, so it becomes a part of me,” Williams says. “It’s exactly what I wanted the meaning to be.”

“It’s a huge thing to be a part of because you are literally trusting a stranger to be a part of you forever,” Hanes says.

Hanes says she loves making every part of a tattoo have a place so each part has something that draws the eye. Hanes says a lot of her clients get tattoos in spots that are personalized to them, but others are conscientious of where it is placed so they can show it off.

Hanes stresses that each individual she works with is different. It comes down to what their look is, where they want the tattoo, and the meaning behind the ink.

Like all art and fashion, tattoos move in trends.

Timmy “Tatts” Domino of State College’s King Cobra Tattoo claims that tattoo designs are beginning to move towards a more revivalist style

Tony Campbell, from 814 Tattoo and Co., says his customers seemed enthused with a few specific designs from the last few years, one being watercolor ink. However, all trends come and go, and watercolor tattoos have recently declined in popularity.

Amidst the age of technology, it seems that one facet of the self expression stays the same — the thing that makes tattooing such a personal art in the first place.

“You’re creating something beautiful for yourself, so you can look at your body and say ‘I chose that. That’s a part of me because I want it to be,’” Hanes says So wear your tattoo proudly. After all, it’s a permanent, personal fashion statement that’ll never go out of style.■

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Spencer wears jacket by URBAN OUTFITTERS, sweater thrifted.

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Liz Marie wears coat by H&M, boots by DOC MARTENS, sunglasses by URBAN OUTFITTERS, dress thrifted.

A Natural Order Photography by Emily Adar, Nick Wilson, and Eleanor Wing Styling by Matt Brownlow, Emma Sheehan, and Tess Petak

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Christian wears coat by URBAN OUTFITTERS, shoes by REEBOK sweater, turtleneck, and pants thrifted.

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BoYoon wears coat by VOLCOM courtesy of APPALACHIAN OUTDOORS, top and pants courtesy of CONNECTIONS.

BoYoon wears coat by ASOS, shoes by ADIDAS, pants thrifted.

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Gaby wears coat by URBAN OUTFITTERS, boots by HUNTER, turtleneck and slip thrifted.

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BoYoon wears coat by ASOS, shoes by ADIDAS, pants thrifted.

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