VALLEY Magazine | Fall 2019

FALL 2019 ISSUE 24

NATALIE CAMPBELL BREATHING DREAMS LIKE AIR

EDITORIAL DIVISION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SHANNON KAVANAGH MANAGING EDITOR MARY JOYCE WEB DIRECTOR CHRISTY MCDERMOTT

BUSINESS DIVISION BUSINESS DIRECTOR CAMILA BERTAGNI ADVERTISING DIRECTOR CHRISTINA DROFICH EVENTS DIRECTORS

YAMIYA FOWLKES, CAROLINE ROBINSON BEAUTY & HEALTH EDITOR CARMEN DIPIPPO SELF-IMPROVEMENT EDITOR KERRY BRENNAN CAMPUS CULTURE EDITOR EMMA CREAMER FASHION EDITOR ABBY FORTIN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR KELSEY LENTZ THIS JUST IN EDITOR ABBY LUKE COPY EDITOR LUCY MCKEEVER PRINT WRITERS

KYLEE MCGUIGAN, CARLIE FOX, JESS MARTINO, HANNAH BINGHAM, OLIVIA RUEGER, MADDIE WINTER, LAUREN EDWARDS, NICOLE ROGOSKY, MJ BERGIN, ELISE TECCO, GABBY SOLON, KATIE O’REILLY, KATIE GERGEL

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORS

COLE MAJERNIK, JORDAN PIETRAFITTA FINANCE DIRECTORS JACKIE TUCKER, MADELEINE ALDRICH ADVERTISING

KYLEIGH GRAHAM, KATIE PAV, JILL SAMPERI, SARAH YERMALOVICH, SOPHIA SMITH, BROOKE BAILEY, SYDNEY MCCORMACK, MARGO YELLIN, JESSICA MILLER, JULIANA BAPTISTA, PHOEBE SEBRING EVENTS

ALYSSA LAMPROS, EMMA SCALORA, AVA SILVERMAN, ABBY MCCLATCHY, DELANEY PETERMAN,CHRISTIE REDINGER, ALYSSA BOTBYL, MEGAN AMMON, TAYLOR QUINTANO

WEB WRITERS

AMANDA VAGNINI, MEG WALLACH, KRISTIN GJELAJ, MADISON SUNDERLIN, LIA PAGNOTTA, CHLOE SPENCER, ELLIE MURPHY, MATTHEW DUNN, MADELINE MCCABE FRANKLYN BRUTUS, SHANNON HARNEY RACHEL WAXENBERG

FINANCE

DANIELLA SIRIANNI, MARIA NATALIA VALERY, ANJALI PATEL, GABRIELA VERAS,LIZZIE SCHRANGHAMER, SHAYNA MCNAMEE, ALISHA TANDON PUBLIC RELATIONS

WEB TEAM

TAYLOR KOST

CREATIVE DIVISION

SHANA BIGLEY, TOR GAFFNEY, ELLIE DEARDORFF, CLAIRE AIRO, ALAYNA SNAVELY, GRACE RHODES, MAR FRANCO, BELLA FERRARO, HALLE SZUMIGALA, ELISE PERZ, CAROL ANN URREA, LANDON PICA, ALYSSA GUARNESCHELLI, MIA HOLLIE, ADELLINE SASSANI BOARD OF ADVISORS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA MAYER DESIGN DIRECTOR KYLIE RADICK DIGITAL DESIGN DIRECTOR ASTRID NAVAS FASHION DIRECTOR RACHAEL MUIR PHOTO DIRECTOR BEN PIETRUSINSKI ASSISTANT PHOTO DIRECTORS GRACE SOUTHERN,

SHANNON SOBOSLAY VIDEO DIRECTOR TARA TYNDALL DESIGNERS

EMILY WATKINS, MEGAN TAM, CARLY WEILHEIMER PHOTOGRAPHERS

DARYA ALVAREZ, PATRICK MCGOVERN, LUKE ADAMS, HUNTYR KEPHART, CAMERON SORAVILLA, ANNIE PRINCIVALLE, ANDREW KIM, CASSIDY DAVIDSON, ALEA TOBIN

MARIE HARDIN

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MATTHEW CACCAVONE, MARYKATE SANTALUCIA, NICOLE SCELTA, SOPHIE ESTEY, TARA TYNDALL, JORDAN DAWSON, ALLY ROBINSON, PAUL TRONGONE, MATT FARRELL, DEJANAE GIBSON, JACKIE KURTZ, BRAEDEN BOYLE, ALLYSON LIPPOCK, KRISTEN SAVARY AINUR IMANKULOVA, CAT CAI, CHLOE BUTLER, JORDAN DAWSON ALANA YAMARICK, KYRA-NICOLE BARKLEY, ADELINE MAHONEY KELLI MCCARRON, ERIN MCCLOSKEY, DESMOND TAYLOR, BRAEDEN BOYLE, MARYKATE CADDEN, ANNIE WARD, TARA TYNDALL, MATT DE LA NUEZ

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

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.

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BEAUTY AND HEALTH

10-13 14-15 16-17 18 19

Seen, Not Seen The Perfect Combo The Cost of Being a Woman Makeup Is The New Merch Going, Going Blonde

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SELF IMPROVEMENT

22-23 24 25 26-27 28

Herbal Hypocrisy Dating Game Color Therapy How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Land Your Dream Job Building Multicultural Competence

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CAMPUS CULTURE

30-35 36-37 38 39 40- 41 42-43

Breathing Dreams Like Air A Closet Raid For a Good Cause Why Penn State?

Thou Didst Mold Us Penn State Sports Throughout the Eras Tracing It Back

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ENTERTAINMENT

46 47 48-49 50

So Many Streamers It Feels Like a Party Cartoon Cognisance Remaking the Rockstar If You Got It, Flaunt It?

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FASHION

52 53 54-55 59-63

Casting Call Retail Revolution Menswear Looking Threadbare Out of Office

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 2019 magazine is VALLEY’s twenty-fourth issue.

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Photo by Ben Pietrusinski

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LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

From the moment I picked up my first copy of VALLEY Magazine, I knew I wanted to be a part of this incredible publication. I was originally drawn to VALLEY because of the writers’ abilities to convey such inspiring and impactful stories of students on campus. I wanted to be able to do the same.

There is a multitude of people at Penn State who are making their mark on this world. I have been so honored to speak to and write features about a few of them, but nothing has been more memorable for me than being able to write about Natalie Campbell.

Upon interviewing her, I knew she had to be the cover star. She has experienced so much heartbreak, but she lives as though she is the luckiest person in the world.

Her grace and strength completely moves me. So, thank you Natalie for giving this magazine so much; I cannot wait to watch you change the world. You are such an incredible soul.

The staff of people who work together each semester to make this magazine happen deserve all of my gratitude. First, I want to thank all of the Editors-in-Chief that I have been able to work under. I have learned so much about everything that goes into creating a magazine from each of them. They inspired me to want to become the Editor-in-Chief.

I would like to thank the Creative Director, Jessie, and her wonderful staff. Your vision has truly brought all of the articles to life and you have been such a pleasure to work with. You make your very difficult role look so easy! Thank you to Ben, the Photo Director, for capturing the most incredible photos and the rest of the Creative team, for working so incredibly hard to make each of these 64 pages flow so nicely. I would like to thank Camila, the Business Director, and all of your directors and their various staffs. Without all of your help with advertising, events, public relations and finance, this magazine would not be possible.

To my incredibly talented editorial staff: thank you, thank you, thank you. The web writers have worked so hard this semester to keep our website updated and the print writers put so much time and energy into each of their articles. Thank you to the section editors for editing articles every week all while writing your own articles. Christy, my Web Director, you truly keep me sane. Thank you for putting so much emphasis on making our website so incredible. I really appreciate all the hours you spent on the phone with WordPress fixing our wide variety of technical issues! To my Copy Editor, Lucy, thank you for spending so many late nights editing this magazine. You made that process seamless with your expansive knowledge of AP Style and your creative way with words. And finally, Mary, my Managing Editor, thank you for being my go-to gal. I was so blessed to have someone who I could count on for anything at anytime. You made my stress much more bearable and never hesitated to listen to my worries!

There is so much that went into this magazine — so much time, energy, passion and creativity. To the readers, thank you for taking the time to look at this finished product. This staff has worked day and night to make this possible and we are so happy to finally be able to share it with you all.

Best,

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Career Services is a unit of Student Affairs U.Ed. STA 20-106. This publication is available in alternative media on 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.

BEAUTY + HEALTH “Under Armour allowed me to rebuild myself. Not just in my body, but in my soul.

Finding an environment where you can grow and focus on personal change is key to bettering yourself.”

SENIOR // SUPPLY CHAIN

Photos by Shannon Soboslay

JULIA NEVEL

To read more about Julia, visit valleymagazinepsu.com 09 9

SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN, SEEN,

NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT

SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN

Photography by Grace Southern and Shannon Soboslay | Makeup by Becca Valez

Jack is wearing the Killwatt Freestyle highlighter by

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Fenty Beauty.

Patricia is wearing the Jawbreaker palette by Jeffree Star.

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Luisa is wearing the eyeshadow palette by Morphe x Jaclyn Hill.

Nathaniele is wearing the Jawbreaker palette by

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Jeffree Star.

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THE PERFECT COMBO

By Carmen DiPippo

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Food combining — the latest “miracle” diet that has taken over the influencer world — promises weight loss without sacrificing the foods you love. But like any diet, there are pros and cons, and it’s important to remember that they don’t all work the same for everyone.

New diet trends, like food combining, that advertise the “best” way to eat seem to pop up overnight and can especially gain traction through social media. Many people who stay up to date on diet trends are often looking for the fastest, yet most effective way of losing weight — the main result that food combining promises.

THE FACTS

THE DANGERS

Food combining is an eating pattern that rearranges when you consume certain foods, in order to maximize and ease the digestion process. However, that’s only the beginning. There are many aspects to implementing this diet aside from just switching up when you eat particular foods, including only eating fruit by itself, always eating a raw salad before anything cooked, and never mixing any kind of starches with proteins, whether animal or plant-based.

With social media now giving us the power to see everyone’s daily lives, those with large followings can communicate information faster than ever before.

Using a food combining chart, a person can identify which combinations of food to use in their meals to supposedly maximize their digestion and ultimately lead to improved overall health, weight loss and feeling less bloated after meals.

One main critique surrounding food combining is the fact that weight loss happens so quickly that it’s borderline unhealthy. While weight loss might be a popular fitness goal, it is almost always unhealthy to shed a large amount of weight in a short amount of time.

More often than not, these miracle diets might allow you to lose weight quickly, but do so at the expense of your overall health.

THE ROOTS While food combining is a popular trend right now, it actually takes us back to the ancient eras of cooking and preparing meals. Thousands of years ago, humans would hunt before each meal. Sometimes, a grain would be incorporated, but for the most part, meals consisted of just protein.

As we’ve all grown busier and as processed and prepared foods have become readily available at every grocery store, it is increasingly hard to eat simple, fresh foods in the ways that our ancestors did.

“Humans were not designed to eat the way we are eating today,” says Amy Lewis, a registered dietician at Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio.

The danger with food combining in the modern era is that it’s being advertised as a way to lose weight in a short amount of time and without a ton of restrictions. It is supposedly easier than going vegan or keto or following other eating patterns that may seem more complicated.

These influencers have the power to persuade us into thinking that their way of doing things can be better simply because they told us so. But as any of our parents would tell us, you can’t believe everything you see on the internet.

While food combining can be effective for some, and supposedly aid with digestion, it’s important to make sure you are still getting the calories that your body needs. This diet doesn’t work for everyone, and many people may see a decline in their health if they choose to try it.

THE VERDICT No two human bodies are exactly the same, so the way we nourish them can’t be identical either. Depending on your dietary restrictions and lifestyle, it may be harder to follow a diet with a long list of rules.

Food is a necessary source of energy, but it should also be something that you can look forward to preparing and eating. Creating a positive relationship with food is the first step in living a balanced lifestyle, which will always be more important than following a strict diet. ■

“Food combining is a great way to make people aware of exactly what they are putting into their bodies,” Lewis says. “It’s not, however, a panacea for weight loss or improved digestion; that’s a secondary or a tertiary response.”

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Photos by Annie Princivalle

THE COST OF BEING A WOMAN

By Maddie Winter

Whether the average consumer strolling down the personal care aisle is aware, there is a cost that comes with being a woman. Gender-based pricing, also known as the “pink tax” or the “gender tax,” is a reality with no explanation other than being a form of gender discrimination. Though this is not a literal tax, there is a tendency for products marketed toward women to be more expensive than the same products marketed toward men.

Products that appear to fall victim are those generally used by any gender: shower gels, razors, deodorants, shampoos and other toiletries. According to Consumer Reports, corporations assume women are more likely to pay more when a product is marketed toward them specifically.

The Pink Tax refers to the price difference in products made specifically for women in comparison to gender-neutral products or those made for men. Named for the typical color of products marketed toward women, the Pink Tax is implemented by advertisers, corporations and even the U.S. government.

What may be seen as a simple marketing strategy is, in reality, gender discrimination. A 2015 study published by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs stated that women pay roughly 11% to 42% more than their male counterparts for identical products — the conclusion being that retailers see women as their primary target demographic.

Emotional advertising is thought to be a possible contributor to price discrepancies, leading to wider consumption of the product. Corporations are able to raise prices on specific items by creating insecurities within their target population. For instance, advertisements for women’s toiletries promote the idea that women must buy these products in order to be feminine and desirable. Pricing experts argue that these insecurities create a stark difference in regard to how much men and women value personal care products, which promotes these emotional advertising tactics.

When a product is labeled as solely for men, it creates what is thought of as a purchase barrier for women.

Women distinguish these products as “not for me,” based on the blatant differences in advertising strategies.

Another aspect within this issue is the “Tampon Tax.” Legislatures have ruled that feminine hygiene products are considered “non-essential luxury goods.’’ This gives state governments the ability to put a tax on them.Yet, other “non-essential” items are not treated to the same degree; ChapStick, Viagra and dandruff shampoos are not subjected to this “luxury tax.” People argue that feminine hygiene products should be classified with other tax-exempted necessities, like groceries and other medical items, as half of the global population has a menstrual cycle.

Action has been taken to combat this issue, through both legislation and nonprofit campaigns. Slowly but surely, voices are being raised and awareness is being spread.

In July 2016, Rep. Jackie Speier from California introduced the concept of the Pink Tax to Congress by proposing “The Pink Tax Repeal Act.” The bill proposed legislation to outlaw the tax nationwide, on both goods and services. However, the bill died while awaiting a vote, leading to its reintroduction in April 2018 where it met the same fate. Congresswoman Speier refuses to let it end there, as she continues to push the conversation forward about gender-price discrimination within the United States.

Period Equity is the nation’s first law and policy nonprofit organization for menstrual equity. Co-founders Jennifer Weiss-Wolf and Laura Strausfeld have committed their careers to abolishing the tax, stressing that law and policy must reflect the reality that half the population menstruates. Their newest campaign, “Tax Free. Period.,” has allowed them to team up with LOLA, a New York-based company that makes organic feminine hygiene products. Together, the two aim to eliminate the Tampon Tax in all 50 states by Tax Day of 2020. Though facing various obstacles, change is becoming evident. Already 11 states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut banned the tampon tax. But this change isn’t exclusive to the United States. Dozens of countries across the globe, from Kenya to Ireland, have abolished taxation on menstrual products, spreading awareness and advocating for other movements. Advocates are now exploring legal strategies to challenge the tax as the movement gains traction across the world.

The more awareness generated, the more the movement can pick up steam — bringing to light even the more subtle forms of gender discrimination and axing the tax for good. ■

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Photo by Alea Tobin

Makeup Is The New Merch

By Olivia Rueger The makeup industry is lucrative and growing, with large social media platforms becoming a key ingredient for effective brand marketing. Brands such as L’Oreal and MAC Cosmetics have been popular for decades, yet are now having trouble connecting with younger consumers, who are looking to social media for makeup marketing.

The future of the nearly $500 billion makeup industry is focused on one new marketing technique: matching a face with a particular product.

Rihanna’s groundbreaking makeup line included tones for everyone. This inspired other mainstream brands like Maybelline and Neutrogena to introduce foundation and concealer in a wider variety of shades. Rihanna often uses her own social media accounts to promote her makeup line, and the line also has its own Instagram account with over 8 million followers.

According to Business Influencer, today Jeffree Star has an estimated net worth of over $50 million – his cosmetics brand generating a whopping $45.9 million in sales this past year.

Influencer marketing profits off the concept of consumer tribes. An audience identifies with an influencer and their group of like-minded followers. When the leader of the group promotes a product, the follower then subconsciously considers purchasing it as an act of belonging.

By obtaining the product, consumers confirm their membership to the social group.

Kylie, being her own brand as well as a pop culture personality, is also able to advertise her cosmetic line In March of 2019, Forbes Magazine named 21-yearthrough Instagram to her 144 million followers alongold Kylie Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire in side her usual selfies, vacation photos and family photos. history. Kylie used the celebrity status gained through The advantage to this type of marketing in the modern appearances on reality television to catapult herself into economy is that her followers don’t perceive each “Their audience wants to identify with them, reprethe makeup industry. promotional post in the same way that they would view sent this person and their hustle and their philosophy,” a typical advertisement. People choose to follow Kylie’s Zimmerman says. “Not being fake — to be able to be Since launching in 2015, Kylie Cosmetics is now personal life and by doing so, they commit to her brand there with no makeup on — mastering the things that estimated to be worth $360 million, with revenues only and support her product. make you endearing to your audience is a key element of projected to rise. The majority of sales had been made online success.” online until a recent distribution deal with Ulta.

Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and YouTube have been crucial for consumer outreach, and manufacturers Aside from Jeffree Star, makeup gurus like James Charles, Bill Zimmerman is Penn State’s former social media have made it easy for non-chemists to design products Zoella, Kandee Johnson and Huda Kattan all used their manager, a digital public relations professor and the using pre-made formulas. platforms to make their mark in the makeup industry. founder of the podcast “Happy Valley Hustle,” a biweekly Through influencer marketing, these gurus have found show that hosts local entrepreneurs.

“It’s very exciting that the digital age is empowering success in selling their products. people to be their own boss, pursue their dreams, and to “Research is showing us that younger generations, specif- have creative fulfillment in their work,” Zimmerman says. Unlike traditional modes of advertising that consumically Gen Z, connect strongly with online influencers,” ers tend to tune out, through influencer marketing, Zimmerman says. “A product paired with the right YouTube beauty guru and internet celebrity Jeffree audience members welcome influencer content and influencer can be incredibly effective.”

Star turned his fame into profit by creating Jeffree Star even proactively seek it out. The market is shifting, and Cosmetics, which launched in 2014. Jeffree Star’s fame makeup is no exception.

Numerous celebrities have come forward with brands originated on MySpace, but he now has over 16 million of their own, like Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, Jessica Alba’s YouTube subscribers. His followers witnessed him start Capitalizing off social media platforms is a skill mastered Honest Beauty and Kat Von D’s namesake beauty line. his cosmetic line in a state of bankruptcy, and were able mainly by young entrepreneurs. In this new world of Even Kim Kardashian West made an entrance into the to watch and support him as his brand took off. beauty influencers turned makeup moguls, the success of beauty business, selling cream contour kits under the a business does not rely so much on the product, but on name KKW Beauty in 2017. the person behind it. ■

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GOING, GOING BLONDE

By Kylee McGuigan

Are you thinking of channeling your inner blonde and making a drastic change to your untouched, never-dyed hair, but aren’t sure how to do it? Going blonde is a risk to take if your hair isn’t naturally the color — especially if your locks are on the darker side — so it’s important to know what you could get yourself into.

No matter the color, dying your hair is something that takes a lot of planning and thought. This change to your appearance becomes an investment in the long run. Blonde hair is on-trend right now, with shades ranging from a darker, ashy tone to platinum blonde and silver. If you’re new to the hair dying world — and to going blonde in particular — there are some things to keep in mind before making a change.

Do Your Homework

For those with lighter, thinner hair, sometimes simply getting highlights can quickly change your hair color to fully blonde. If your hair is on the darker side or of a thicker texture, it may take more than one appointment and more than just highlights to dye your hair entirely blonde. If that’s the case, start with some light highlights so that your hair can take the color and will eventually be able to soak up all the dye to make it fully blonde.

Book Your Calendar Once you’ve gotten an initial color or highlights to transform your hair to a base shade of blonde, make sure to plan out future appointments for the upkeep of your color. Dying your hair is a process, and more often than not, it requires at least one trip to the salon every few months. When going blonde, it may take up to a few highlights or dyes in just one month, or across the span of four to six months, for your hair to really absorb the color so that it looks natural.

“At first, I did a full head of balayage,” says Madeline Anasiewicz (senior, communication sciences and disorders). “Now, I go every three to four months to get a half head of highlights.”

Balayage is a highlighting technique in which the dye is painted onto the hair to create a more natural-looking effect, easing the hair into the dying process.

When planning appointments, it’s important to keep in mind the cost of highlighting or coloring your hair often. The dye that is used to create a blonde color has bleach in it, which can

get expensive after a visit or two to the salon, so you have to be committed to making this type of change to your hair.

If you want to ease your way into being blonde, schedule an appointment once every six months, so that your hair can take in the color naturally. If you’re determined to be blonde as quick as possible, plan an appointment once a month for a routine highlight and glaze to prevent your hair from becoming brassy or dark again.

Up Your Game Once you step out of the salon, you must figure out the best way to maintain your color and style on your own. Salons use brand name products and tools to cut, color and style hair, so it’s often impossible to recreate those looks by yourself. To get hair that’s as close to salon-perfect as possible, figure out how you want your hair to look on a daily basis in terms of style and texture, keeping in mind that you also want to maintain a bright, blonde color.

Photos by Cassidy Davidson

Research, research, research! Make Pinterest your best friend to find not only the best shade of blonde to fit your personality, but also to find a hairstyle to complete the whole look. Once you’ve come across a color and a cut that you know you can rock all day and night, it’s time for you to find a stylist that can make your blonde ambition come true. If your regular stylist has some background in blonde coloring, contact them to set up a consultation or appointment to see what steps you need to take to have your hair dyed.

Natural shampoos and conditioners are best for hair that has been dyed blonde, since ordinary hair products may contain chemicals and ingredients that can damage the texture or color.

Some say that purple shampoo is a miracle worker for blonde hair, but that’s not always the case.

“Using a purple shampoo may interfere with the dye used to turn hair blonde, causing the color to have a green or red tint, especially if the water that is used to wash the hair is harsh on it,” says Dawn Scola, stylist at Christopher Moore Salon in Washington Township, New Jersey.

Read the labels on all shampoos and conditioners to avoid products that have sulfates and dyes that may tamper with the blonde tone.The same goes for various gels and hairsprays for those who may want to texturize their hair for the entire day, or even a night out. Overusing some products may break or thin your hair, which could hurt the color and cause your hair to look dead.

If you’re considering changing your look, be prepared to invest in the time and the products that go along with it, because blonde hair looks great when it looks healthy. ■

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PERSONAL BRANDING. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. All communications students are welcome to join PRSSA!

https://sites.psu.edu/pennstateprssa/ @pennstateprssa @PennStatePRSSA @pennstateprssa

The Center for Arts & Crafts at Penn State Spring Art Classes starting January 27

Catalog for spring classes will be out prior to winter break.

Classes include pottery, painting, stained glass, drawing, a variety of workshops and more!

Register in 3 Ritenour

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter For more info, email craftcenter@psu.edu

studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/craftcente r 20

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. U. Ed. STA 19-283

SELF IMPROVEMENT “Self-improvement starts with being comfortable with who you are. Who you are and how you navigate the world is reflective of how you treat other people and how you make them feel valued.”

2ND YEAR // LAW

Photos by Shannon Soboslay

SHIFA ABUZAID

To read more about Shifa, visit valleymagazinepsu.com.

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HERBAL HYPOCRISY

By Lucy McKeever

Society knows the wine mom. It has grown familiar with and has accepted her stereotype: the tired, stressed mother whose unwinding comes in the form of a glass (or bottle) of wine at the end of a long day. Wine mom culture thrives on Pinterest and at Target, with cursive-printed wine glasses and slatted signs replacing ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ with ‘Mama needs her wine’ and similar declarations of love for a daily Pinot or Chardonnay. However, a new breed of mom is moving in on the wine moms’ territory. Several news outlets have reported on a new group of women who have dubbed themselves “marijuana moms.”

The concept of the marijuana mom is similar: getting together with groups of fellow mothers who can relate, or just relaxing at the end of the day, the only difference being the replacement of a stemless wine glass with a joint. Marijuana moms smoke to relax, to enjoy themselves, to generally feel as though they’re parenting with more patience and even-temperedness. Mothers proudly identifying as marijuana moms have been interviewed by outlets like TODAY and Vice, and have made clear the harmlessness of their pastime. However, the harmlessness of that pastime has been hotly debated in relation to individuals who don’t fall under the umbrella of white women.

When Philando Castile was shot in front of his girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter in 2016, many factors were cited as reasons for the murder. Some included a broken tail light, Castile’s attitude toward the officer, and the officer’s claim that he was reaching for a firearm in the front seat. But marijuana also played a part in the shooting. Jeronimo Yanez, the officer in question, noted at his trial that he smelled marijuana in the car, associating the smell with a clear disregard for the four-year-old passenger’s safety, given the exposure she may have had to the smoke.

This mindset, in which the presence of weed is indicative of a dangerous personality with a reckless nature toward the well-being of their own children and the safety of those around them, is markedly absent in the general treatment of the aforementioned marijuana moms.

According to the ACLU, white and black people in the U.S. use marijuana at roughly the same rates. However, black people are an average of 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for possession. In states like Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, that number jumps to 7.5 to 8.5 times more likely. In spite of making up only 31.5% of the national population, according to the Drug Policy Alliance, black and Latino Americans make up 46.9% of drug law violations.

Some objectors to the idea that racism plays a part in marijuana arrests, or even in events as tragic and drastic as Castile’s murder, cite legality as a contributing factor. These objectors state that those who choose to smoke in states where marijuana is not yet legalized should face the penalties of breaking the law. However, legality was noticeably absent in Yanez’s testimony; his focus was centered rather around the dangers of marijuana for the child in the car and how that danger reflected Castile’s personality and moral code.

While white mothers can turn wine to weed and bring Pinterest arts and crafts with their newfound method of stress relief, 90.8% of the 659,700 people arrested for marijuana law violations in 2017 were arrested for possession only. And while the arrest records themselves are alarming, especially given that 12 states have legalized various forms of recreational marijuana and 22 have legalized for medical purposes, the implication of the discrepancy of treatment between white women and black men is a commonly discussed subject from those who point out the racial biases surrounding the culture of and lawmaking in relation to marijuana.

When those called upon to uphold the law choose not to discuss the law, but rather the perceived implications of a stranger’s morals based upon unfounded and unchecked medical analysis, and that perception and analysis are used to justify murder, a prejudice is clearly at play. When white women can partake in the same behavior and get rewarded with interviews where black men are rewarded with funerals, the prejudice at play is clearly racism. ■

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DATING GAME

By Mary Joyce Dating today — especially as a college student — is an absolute minefield. In our era of Snapchat streaks and Tinder matches, most of what we base our love life on depends on the use of some app or another.

While there’s nothing wrong with allowing hookups to become increasingly normalized — something that continues to be stigmatized to the fullest, especially when it comes to women — this culture has allowed for other equally harmful stigmas to come to fruition.

Today, dating relies on more or less “stages.” These stages range from “talking” to “hooking up” and can even make it to the rare and elusive full-blown dating.

But the stigma attached to clarifying where you stand with someone usually stops college women and men alike from trying to attach emotion to a relationship in fear of either too much commitment or their desire for commitment not being reciprocated. This lack of connection usually leads to denial on both ends, regardless of intention. Time is wasted avoiding any clarification until it becomes unavoidable — when someone either wants less out of the relationship or to get more serious.

The most confusing part of it all is that while we sometimes rely on social media to keep up our relationships, social media doesn’t help when it comes to trying to find clarity in these relationships that stem from what’s at our fingertips in the first place.

Alicia Drais-Parillo is a professor of social psychology at Penn State. Through an informal study she has been conducting for many years with her students at various universities, she’s been able to observe a decline in trust in romantic relationships. She believes that this could have something to do with our increase in cell phone and social media usage.

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The phone is an extension of the body to some degree, but I also see that people are isolated,” Prof.

Drais-Parillo says. “Yes, you make connections but it’s all very controlled connections.You can draft texts and even Snapchats, and while it’s seemingly minute to minute, it’s still very controlled.”

We can see when someone opens our texts, when they view our Instagram stories, when they’re near us on Snapchat — but what does any of that really mean?

In some cases a quick like on an Instagram picture could mean someone’s interested, in other cases a like could be nothing more than a habitual double-tap through that day’s feed.

“When you like or view something you immediately take whatever it was that was your motivation and you broadcast that onto other people,” Prof. Drais-Parillo says. “You’ll say ‘well they must be doing this for the same reasons I do.’ People are motivated in very different ways. Sometimes it’s just an excuse and sometimes it’s a real thing. We don’t understand anybody any better just because we can see evidence of their behaviors.”

In starting or trying to keep up a relationship using primarily social media and texting, we lose all of the social cues that we would have been able to pick up in a face-toface interaction. There’s no way to tell what tone of voice someone is using when you’re only talking through text or Snapchats that disappear in 6 seconds. It’s things like this that make trying to figure out intentions messy.

And while all of this confusion makes any relationship kicked off on social media seem impossible, it is unavoidable that our phones and what we do with them are massive parts of our generation’s socialization that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Prof. Drais-Parillo says that in some cases our social media skills are useful when it comes to figuring out a good idea of how well we’ll match with someone.

“It’s two pronged; on one hand, social media gets us through that information gathering phase,” Prof.

Drais-Parillo says. “If you meet somebody in person, how long does it take you to find out information that really matters?”

Despite all of the negative effects of social media in this dating game, our generation seems to have mastered this information gathering phase — we can find out almost everything about a person from their favorite music to who they dated in 8th grade, sometimes before we even meet them face-to-face. And though it sounds a bit crazy when it’s written out in black and white, some light social media stalking is something that every one of us has done in one relationship or another.

Social media isn’t all bad. With a dating pool as big as the one we all belong to at Penn State and on any college campus, in some ways social media has become a way for us to clear through the masses to find the people who we could potentially work best with.

Though just as a college relationship wouldn’t be able to work if every waking moment is spent with your partner, a relationship based solely on your cell phones couldn’t last either. ■

COLOR COLOR COLOr tHERAPY tHERAPY

By Nicole Rogosky

Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a type of holistic healing that uses color to improve one’s mood, emotions and mental or physical health. Different colors emit different energies, vibrations and properties that are believed to help the energies within the mind and body.

Color therapy is often works by looking directly at a specific color in order to improve your emotions or mood. Along with the use of our eyes, color and light can also directly enter our skin. When using color therapy as a holistic healing method, colored light is often reflected onto a specific area of the body.

The practice of color therapy has been around for thousands of years dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece and China. While other cultures use color and its healing abilities in their modern medicine, western medicine is still researching and developing the science behind colored light to back up the concept of color therapy. Although color therapy hasn’t been adapted into western medicine, it has become a popular treatment.

Photos by Patrick McGovern

“As an artist, you can’t deny the effects that color can have on a person,” says Brad Klem, a Penn State ceramics professor. Klem questions whether or not the physiological effects of color come from a product of our culture or even our environment. “The concept of color changes depending on where you are in the world and what culture you’re raised in,” Klem says. “Color tends to be very culturally specific — depending on the culture, color can have all sorts of meanings and effects.”

Red Red creates feelings of energy like passion, power and courageousness. When it comes to using the color red for improving both mental and emotional states, it is often advised to never be used. Red is considered a stimulating color, meaning that along with feelings of energy previously mentioned, red can also provoke agitation, stress and aggression. It can also have physical effects too — it can improve pain in rheumatic joints such as legs, shoulders or knees.

“People usually tend to associate the color red with aggression but red is also a color that can be associated with hunger,” Klem says. “I’d say around two-thirds of restaurants signs you see are red or green because they’re known to make you hungry.”

Orange Just like the color red, the color orange is considered a stimulating color, and it can even promote over-stimulation, especially for those who suffer from anxiety. But orange often creates feelings of joy, wisdom and well-being. Along with its psychological effects, orange also has physical benefits like its ability to promote good circulation and its ability to heal organs like the liver, kidneys and the heart.

Yellow The color yellow is often known for its warmth and cheeriness, but it also creates feelings of joy and intellect.Yellow plays a big part in improving mental blockage that can cause strain in the head, neck and back. It’s considered a great color to begin the day with because of its ability to improve mental functioning by reducing brain fog.

Green The color green is said to be one of the “safest” colors to use when experimenting with color therapy.

Because green promotes feelings such as love, health and happiness, it is most commonly used in forms of color therapy and can be used all over the body. Along with these three feelings, the color green brings a great sense of serenity, which has shown to help with migraines and relaxation.

“Like blue, green is also associated with calmness because it reminds us or connects us to nature,” Klem says. “Restaurants use colors like green because it makes us think of nature and things that are clean and fresh.”

Blue “Blue is most commonly what people associate with feelings of calmness,” Klem says.

The color blue is also known for promoting feelings of relaxation and is often used in forms of color therapy to help with meditation. Because of the color’s calming and relaxing nature, it can help increase sleep in those who don’t get enough and even help people who suffer from insomnia. The color blue can also increase feelings of depression, sadness and loneliness.

Purple The color purple is often associated with feelings of spirituality, relaxation and bliss. Much like the color blue, purple can be beneficial for relaxation and calmness but can increase negative feelings if used too much. Purple can also be used to improve inspiration, imagination and intuition.

Have you ever painted your bedroom walls a calming color to help with sleep? Or bought colored lights to help you study? The concept of color therapy is more common than you might think. ■

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How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

Photos by Cameron Soravilla

By Hannah Bingham

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Your IQ score may not be assessed in a job interview, but your EQ might be. EQ, or emotional intelligence, is the ability to be aware of, name and manage one’s emotions as well as being able to recognize and understand the emotions of others. Emotionally intelligent people are able to relate to others both personally and professionally, and they understand the emotions and dynamics of others even when they aren’t spoken.

You may be wondering what your emotions have to do with scoring your dream job.

The truth is, people with a higher EQ are able to manage stress and maintain balance even in difficult situations and in turn are able to be a better leader, team member or even friend. Your emotional intelligence is always being assessed, but it can be even more important when you enter the workforce.

Major companies have started to realize that it is imperative for their employees to be emotionally intelligent. Daniel Goleman, writer for The New York Times reporting on the brain and behavioral sciences and author of the book, “Emotional Intelligence,” wrote that there are five primary aspects considered to be critical for hiring successful employees. These are motivation, self-awareness, empathy, social skills and self-regulation.

These five aspects, while they may seem basic, are often being assessed the moment you show up for an interview. Julie Mendelson, a recruiter for Aerotek and an alumna of Penn State University, says hiring candidates with emotional intelligence ensures that they will be able to handle obstacles they may face in the workplace and do it with a level head.

Assessing a candidate’s emotional intelligence often starts with observing their body language.

“If someone is avoiding direct eye contact when they speak, they are likely nervous or uncomfortable,” Mendelson says. “However, if someone is slouching in their chair and leaning back, it might be a sign that they are too comfortable in a professional setting.”

All of these are signs that let recruiters know how you would handle yourself in the workplace.

When finding your dream job, it is also important that you have chemistry with the company you are hoping to work for. Recruiters look for that connection with behavioral questions that not only help humanize the interview, but also let the recruiter analyze your reaction to these questions.

“There are four main things we ask in each interview: how you motivate yourself, how you motivate others, an example of how you react when confronted with a difficult decision, and to describe something outside of work that you are passionate about,” Mendelson says.

College students are often taught that being academically intelligent is the most important thing. However, Penn State students also have the unique opportunity to develop emotional intelligence in their classes.

Jennifer Eury, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of management and organization at the Smeal College of Business, teaches two classes in which she says she discusses emotional intelligence — BA 304: Management and Organization and MGMT 355: Leadership and Change in Organizations.

“I often encourage students to take time to engage in self-reflection exercises such as keeping a journal,” Eury says. “The key is, like with leadership in general, it takes commitment and a willingness to want to develop this skill-set.”

Emotionally intelligent leaders help their employees to feel like they can influence their environment and have some degree of control over it rather than feeling as though they are simply moving through it.

John Streitmatter, a partner at a consulting firm and a Harvard Business School graduate, considers emotional intelligence critical in his work. When working behind the scenes to build better leaders and more effective teams, he emphasizes the importance of being able to look below the surface at the way people behave.

When assessing a client or potential client’s emotional intelligence, Streitmatter often finds himself looking more at the clues he receives from their behavior and the way they respond to certain situations.

Do they understand the impact that their own emotional state has on themselves and others? What is their range of vocabulary when they’re describing their emotions?

Is it just happy, sad, afraid or do they have multiple words to describe the various versions of those emotions?

Emotions are a central part of all of our personal relationships and unsurprisingly many of the social skills that help us build emotional intelligence are learned early on.

Streitmatter says that experiencing failure helped him gain emotional intelligence.

“I completely failed in my first leadership job,” he says. “It took the sharp pain of failure to force me to think beyond myself and to embrace that there were others around me that knew way more than me.”

Despite how much emphasis can be put on one’s IQ, studies show that people with high levels of emotional intelligence have greater career growth as well as better personal connections. In the professional world, it has become harder to stand out.

“What’s going to differentiate people is their ability to navigate the unseen, uniquely human aspects of life,” Streitmatter says. “College is likely the last time in life where the consequences of not getting it right are low and the people around you are the most diverse and interesting.”

While emotional intelligence is on every job recruiters wish list, it can also help you with your own personal relationships. The ability to pause and take in a comment before reacting or being able to listen better are skills that will not only make you a better leader but a better person. ■

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Building Multicultural Competence

By Abby Luke

The cultural landscape of our country continues to diversify, and it is increasingly important that we recognize systems of oppression and build our multicultural competencies. While the road to multicultural competence is a seemingly lifelong journey, it is a necessary piece of living within a globalized society. From employers implementing diversity and inclusion trainings to universities initiating campaigns to address diversity on campus, it is more important than ever to understand what multicultural awareness looks like.

Background & First Steps In the United States, the idea of building one’s multicultural competencies continues to grow in relevance. Dr. Dawn Witherspoon, a professor of developmental psychology at Penn State who adopts a multicultural perspective in her work, explains that humans have a natural tendency to surround themselves with those who are similar.

“Multicultural competence is demonstrated by individuals that can bridge differences, understand difference, identify it, and see it as a positive asset,” Witherspoon says.

The idea of multicultural competence stems from the broader discipline of multicultural psychology, which aims to study how individuals think, act and feel within their broader culture. Specifically, multicultural psychology focuses on how culture impacts one’s behaviors, feelings, beliefs and attitudes.

Witherspoon continues that within the discipline, there’s a recognition that behavior is learned within one’s cultural context. Further, the multicultural psychology takes a comprehensive approach to culture, including not only race and ethnicity, but also religion, sexual orientation, ability status, socioeconomic status and so forth.

On the path to building multicultural competencies, it is important to begin with self-reflection. While multicultural competence is largely interpersonal in nature, careful consideration of one’s own worldviews is necessary prior to understanding other perspectives. Specifically, Witherspoon suggests consideration of questions such as “how do I view myself?” and “how has my culture impacted how I perceive the world?”

According to Witherspoon, upon engaging in this self-reflection, we can question our own biases and prejudices and recognize how they might affect others. Central to this reflection is the idea of being comfortable with the uncomfortable in order to achieve optimal personal growth.

As one becomes increasingly self-aware, they are better able to serve as effective allies for groups they are not a part of, thereby bolstering multicultural competence. It is vital for those who are privileged to empower those on the downside of privilege within society.

Yet another important aspect of multicultural competence is the recognition that it is not a finite state to be achieved.

“Multicultural competence is ever growing and developing because we as individuals are growing and cultures are dynamic,” Witherspoon says.

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One must recognize that these competencies are built through continued experiences throughout the lifespan.

In the Workplace Building multicultural competencies has been an increasing focus of employers, with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training, growing in prevalence. Not only have companies begun to recognize the value of diversity within organizations, but employees are also learning how to best collaborate with coworkers of varying backgrounds and experiences. Embracing diversity not only refers to demographic characteristics, but also to opinions and perspectives.

As young people are beginning their careers, the value placed on multicultural competence will only continue to grow. According to the US Census Bureau, the millennial generation in the United States is the most ethnically diverse ever. Thus, it is important to see this diversity as an asset and learn to work as an effective whole.

At Penn State Besides individuals and employers, large universities like Penn State have taken steps to address diversity and foster a culture of multicultural competence. Perhaps Penn State’s most recent commitment to diversity and inclusion is the “All In” campaign, with a mission to “spotlight the importance of diversity at Penn State, demonstrate the University’s commitment to inclusivity and inspire all members of the community to take an active role in promoting respect and embracing diversity.”

However, Witherspoon contends that more work can always be done to create a climate of multicultural competence, suggesting a more top-down approach. For example, strategic hiring would provide a more diverse representation of different groups across levels of the university and enable the interests of the student body to be better reflected.

In Our Current Political Climate Despite strides being made across organizations and institutions, many see the divisiveness of the current political climate as counter to multicultural competence. With the recent uptick in hate crimes and growth of white supremacy, it is important to spread notions of multicultural competence throughout all levels of society.

“Being more unified doesn’t mean that we agree or see everything the same way,” Witherspoon says.

While the effects of this political rhetoric are yet to be seen, increased cultural diversity underscores the need for multicultural competence throughout society. It is important to view multicultural competence not just as a psychological construct, but as actions that can embolden powerful change for the better. For when we strive to be multiculturally competent through self-reflection, appreciation and understanding, we foster a culture that recognizes the value of difference. ■

CAMPUS CULTURE “I’ve been working on my #SoFab series for around three years and I think it is ironic how people say whatever we post on social media is ‘so fake’ so I wanted to turn that around with my #SoFab art.”

SENIOR // LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + SCULPTURE

Photos by Shannon Soboslay

LEO WANG

To read more about Leo, visit valleymagazinepsu.com.

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Natalie wears top by TopShop, skirt by Reformation, shoes by Steve Madden, clip from Bulletin.Co.

Photography by Ben Pietrusinski Styling by Rachael Muir, Jessie Mayer, Kylie Radick | Makeup by Astrid Navas

NATALIE CAMPBELL BREATHING DREAMS LIKE AIR

By Shannon Kavanagh Natalie Campbell lives an incredibly exciting life, spending many vacations, over the years, hiking, skiing and exploring all around America with her family.

All of this adventure came to a screeching halt as Natalie was about to start her senior year of high school. In the months before her final year, Natalie often felt severe chest pain but always brushed it off — something she says she gets from her dad. On a hiking trip in the Grand Canyon, Natalie was having trouble breathing and had frequent bursts of this chest pain.

“I was just having such a good time, and I was in the moment,” Natalie says. “I had been waiting for that trip for so many years, so I just looked past it.”

After her return, Natalie was in constant pain, yet was still trying to live a normal life.

“I would dread waking up in the morning having to sit up on my own,” Natalie says.

Just before the start of her senior year, Natalie says she was excited to go to field hockey tryouts and was even planning on becoming a captain of her team. The ordeal she endured at tryouts will be ingrained in her mind forever.

During a run, Natalie felt the same, familiar pain in her chest, but this time it was so debilitating that it literally stopped her in her tracks. Her mom brought her to her pediatrician and the doctor diagnosed her with asthma and gave her an inhaler. From this point on, the pain only got worse and worse until she had to be rushed to the hospital.

The Diagnosis Natalie was brought in and given a battery of asthma tests, only to find out that she didn’t have asthma at all — what she had was much worse.

“I was sitting in the waiting room with my dad and eventually a ton of doctors started talking and I realized that something really bad was happening,” Natalie says.

She says, “I was in the zone and I was like, ‘Whatever you have to do, just do it.’”

After surgery, Natalie stayed in the hospital for about a week and was attached to a chest tube chamber, which helped clean out her lung. Natalie was told the removal of the tube would be a simple, 3-second procedure.

The doctors came in and began to remove the tube, but it wouldn’t come out.

What was supposed to be the easiest part of her recovery, turned into the most painful experience. Natalie described it as horrible and intolerable.

She says, “I can physically feel the pain if I think about it.”

Upon leaving the hospital, Natalie was told by many different doctors that her lung was back to normal and functioning properly, and that she would never experience lung issues again.

Distrust in Doctors After her surgery, Natalie started losing weight rapidly. At her post-op appointment, she got on the scale and could not believe the number she saw. She went to her doctor and was told that she had to wait two weeks before they tested for anything, so that they could rule out that it wasn’t a virus, which would have passed in two weeks.

“I know my body and I knew that something was wrong,” Natalie says. “I knew this wasn’t normal and nobody listened to me.”

She had to see both a nutritionist and a psychiatrist so they could rule out the possibility that it could be an eating disorder. Both doctors told her that she needs to eat more.

“They were not compassionate or understanding of my situation,” Natalie says.

“They kept making me feel like I had an eating disorder,” even though she had lost weight so rapidly — something that would not happen if she did have an eating disorder.

She then went to a gastrointestinal doctor for more testing.

She was soon told that only one of her lungs was functioning properly. Natalie was sent immediately to another hospital so that she could be rushed into surgery.

“I was hoping something was wrong just so they could fix me.”

This ordeal would prove to be the biggest test of her strength and perseverance in her life up to that point. Upon arriving to the second hospital, Natalie was rushed into surgery. She laid on the operating table and was told that she had to remain awake through it all.

They said that her stomach was healthy and they didn’t have an explanation for the sudden weight loss.

She finally went to her pediatrician and was told that she had an infection that was eating at her intestines — something that is not extremely uncommon after an operation like hers.

She reminded herself of her strength and what she had already dealt with leading up to this moment.

The constant bouncing around to different doctors and never receiving the same diagnosis left Natalie feeling hopeless.

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“I was in the zone and I was like, ‘Whatever you have to do, just do it.’”

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Purse by ZARA.

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Round Two About a month following Natalie’s first surgery, she felt the same severe chest pain that she was told she would never feel again. Her parents immediately brought her to the doctor and the nightmare all started again. She knew her lung had collapsed a second time.

None of the doctors she saw could tell her why this would have happened again, so she was eventually sent to the Chief of Pulmonary, who decided to put her through numerous tests.

“The fact that I even had to talk to him, I was like, ‘Shoot, they really don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Natalie says.

She went through some of the same tests she went through before: asthma tests, X-Rays, and a few new ones like a cystic fibrosis test in which she was put in an air-tight box with no oxygen.

Matt was experiencing allergy symptoms during the summer of 2019, so he decided to consult an allergist. They found that his white blood cell count was very low, but told him not to worry about it being leukemia, despite the fact that in most cases, a low white blood cell count points directly to leukemia.

Matt was just about to begin his senior year at Ohio University while Natalie was about to begin her junior year at Penn State. Their parents planned to drive Natalie back to school, and although they were a bit hesitant because they were waiting for the results from Matt’s tests, they decided to go.

About halfway into the 8-hour drive, they received a call from her brother — he was sobbing.

When he got a call from his doctor about his diagnosis, the doctor told him that she thinks he has acute leukemia and needs to head to the hospital immediately to undergo more tests.

“It was horrifying, but I just had to do it,” Natalie says. “I had no choice.”

All of these tests came back ‘negative’ for chronic conditions, so the Chief of Pulmonary recommended she get a surgery that would prevent her lung from collapsing again, but they decided to schedule it three months away. So, she was sent home with a collapsed lung.

“I left that day so scared,” Natalie recalls. “Nobody knows what’s wrong with me and nobody is helping me.”

After the few months Natalie spent trying to live a normal life, she had her second surgery. “ This surgery was a lot better than the first one,” Natalie says. “I was strong-minded and prepared. I had been through it all before.”

However, this was also much bigger and more serious. The recovery was longer and much harder. The doctors also informed her that based on the scar tissue on her lung, they believe that she had up to six collapsed lungs in the year leading up to her first surgery. Natalie had skied and hiked as if there was nothing wrong this entire time.

A Sibling’s Bond Growing up, Natalie and her brother, Matt, did everything together, and their bond stayed just as strong even while they attended different colleges.

“We always talk about how we are so connected in such a different way than my relationship with other people in my family,” Natalie says about her and her brother. “We always think the same thoughts.”

Throughout the summer of 2019, Natalie finally felt that she was moving past her illness and living her life without fear.

“The memories of my lung history used to be vivid and I’d replay them in my head every day, living my life carefully and cautiously,” Natalie recalls. “Each day they get foggier, and my mind is more at ease.”

Unbeknownst to Natalie and her family, Matt was just beginning his own life-changing journey.

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Natalie took this news with a grain of salt — she had been misdiagnosed time and time again, however, this time it was real.

“It was very weird timing,” Natalie says. “He was excited about what was to come after this year and he was excited to graduate with his friends. He had so much to look forward to.”

Natalie and Matt were in similar points in their lives when they received their diagnoses. They were each approaching a major milestone, when suddenly their lives seemed to stop.

“I truly believe that my situation mentally prepared all of us to expect the unexpected when it comes to health issues and not be in fear anymore,” Natalie says.

Matt is currently in treatment for his leukemia, and was unable to return to school for his senior year.

The Journey to Penn State The day Natalie left the hospital after her second surgery, she got accepted to Penn State as a health policy and administration major in the College of Health and Human Development. All that she had been through, influenced her to want to run a hospital of her own one day.

“My story has inspired me to want to make a change,” Natalie says. “Even just starting with patient and doctor interactions. I’m obsessed with the fact that I can fix these kinks in the system. There doesn’t have to be mistrust with anyone else.”

What Natalie and her family have gone through in the past few years has completely solidified her choice to become an HPA major — she says that running a hospital is her biggest career goal.

Natalie and her family’s strength has been tested time and time again, but throughout everything, they have remained so connected. Together, they always manage to find the light at the end of a dark tunnel.

“A lot of people tell me that my family is a bunch of fighters, always so strong.

But the truth is, it was the point of my lowest weakness that I gained my inner strength.” ■

Natalie wears dress by Princess Polly.

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A CLOSET RAID FOR A GOOD CAUSE

By Carlie Fox

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We all need a good closet binge every once in a while. With countless pairs of unworn jeans and wrinkled shirts at the bottom of our drawers, it is sometimes best to gather all of our old clothing pieces and start fresh.

But before you try to sell your old clothes to Plato’s Closet, consider donating your unwanted pieces to a local women’s shelter instead.

With many women seeking clothes and other necessities — such as feminine hygiene products, wet wipes and even makeup — homeless shelters and safe houses across the State College community could really use your help.

Women, ranging from children to young adults, seek shelters such as Centre Safe in State College for housing, food and clothing all year round. While Centre Safe helps to provide women with essentials they need for everyday life, it offers so much more than that. Centre Safe an organization that works hard to empower survivors of abuse and helps to eliminate violence in our community.

Sarah McPherson, the Director of Outreach and Education at Centre Safe, helps inform the community on what this abuse really looks like and encourages all women, men and children to identify the red flags within relationships. “[Centre Safe] is kind of born out of the women’s movement and the realization that women are being harmed and we help anyone who may have experienced sexual assault, dating or domestic violence or stalking, and we provide a wide variety of services,” McPherson says.

Gender-exclusive names for organizations make it harder for marginalized groups to seek help, which is why Centre Safe recently changed their name from Centre County Women’s Resource Centre.

It is important to remember that Centre Safe prioritizes the needs of women as well as children, men and members of the LGBTQ community. All are welcome to contact the center if they or someone they know is in need.

The organization recognizes it is not always easy to walk through the doors of an establishment like Centre Safe, as it can be a big step to take. So, they offer a free, 24-hour hotline to encourage individuals to engage in an open conversation about their struggles — whatever they might be and whenever they might be experiencing them.

They also have emergency shelters and a transitional housing program. The emergency shelter is a short-term living arrangement — created to help individuals when they leave the Centre Safe office. Aside from housing, they offer free legal services, as well as a Child Access Centre for children caught in the crossfire of parental domestic battles. Counseling and support groups are always available to those in and out of the shelters.

The organization relies heavily on donations to be able to support the community with the supplies and clothing that they need. With limited space at their office, Centre Safe asks for clothing donations to be made to Saint Vincent De Paul Thrift Store. Clothing for women, men and children are accepted and can include different items from winter jackets and baby clothes to shoes and accessories.

Centre Safe provides their clients with coupons to shop at this thrift store, ensuring that individuals and entire families have easy access to affordable clothing.

Centre Safe partners with Gender Equity, an organization on Penn State’s campus, to provide awareness toward the pressing issues of violence and abuse.

If you are ever unsure of how you can help or where to donate your used clothing or other goods, members of Gender Equity can help. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available at Centre Safe and around campus if you are interested in getting further involved and making a difference within the community.

Housing Transition, another shelter in the State College area, is a home for women seeking refuge during a crisis. The shelter focuses on bringing stability into the lives of those who need it most. The organization also greatly appreciates clothing donations, as well as feminine hygiene products and first aid supplies.

Photo by Andrew Kim

“Everybody is welcome,” McPherson says. “We know that acts of violence don’t discriminate and they can impact anyone at any stage of their lives.”

Sometimes, the simple act of trying on a new outfit can make an individual feel capable of facing even the most difficult of times. If you’re considering donating your old clothes or any other essential items to a local shelter in need, take a look at their website to see what they are looking for.

The dedication of organizations, like CentreSafe and Housing Transition, to helping survivors is something that should be shared across State College. Their passion along with community contribution greatly helps many individuals to overcome any hardship that life may bring.

If you or someone you know is in need of the resources mentioned above, please call the Centre Safe 24-Hour Hotline at 814–234–5050 or their Toll-Free number at 1–877–234–5050.

For The National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1–800–799–7233.

For a full list of what can be donated to Centre Safe, please visit ccwrc.org. ■

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Why Why Why Why

Penn Penn Penn Penn

State?

State?

State?

State?

Three International Students’ Journeys to Penn State

By Emma Creamer

On a campus where first-day icebreaker questions about hometowns are often met with the standard “20 minutes outside Philly,” about 8% of Penn State students travel just a bit further between home and school. According to the school’s admissions website, about 7,000 international students come to Penn State’s campuses from miles away. This begs the question: Why Penn State?

Yana Markedonova Yana Markedonova is originally from Russia but grew up in Beijing, China before moving to the US to finish high school in New York and Pennsylvania. Falling in love with the East Coast, she chose Penn State for undergrad to major in psychology.

“The culture, language and meeting new people was a huge part of moving.” As the founder and president of the Russian Student Association,Yana says that the largest reason for founding the club was creating a space for individuals to connect.

“I wanted to start this club so people could genuinely come together,” Yana says.

“I just wanted to meet new people and learn from their experiences.” Among other things, the club provides an environment for students to comfortably adapt to the United States. Looking to the future,Yana says she hopes to stay in the United States, but she is open to any opportunities that come her way.

Vickia Lai Vickia is from Nanning, located in the Guangxi region of southern China. Majoring in actuarial mathematics, she began her journey to the United States searching for a college with the major she was looking into. Vickia says she was ready to take the challenge — immersing herself in an entirely new culture and a particularly difficult major was not easy. Much like Yana, Vickia said that the biggest difference with the transition to the United States is the change in values.

“A big difference was the freedom of speech people have here,” Vickia says. “We can share our opinions. When you have a different opinion, you aren’t judged here.”

Vickia wants other international students to recognize the value of speaking up in classes and conversations. She is unsure of her plans given the realities of obtaining a visa — an issue that many international students struggle with. It is generally easier to obtain one to attend school than for job purposes. After graduation, an employer must sponsor the visa, which many aren’t willing to do. Vickia would like to stay on the East Coast and work in insurance upon graduation.

Faisal Hakami Faisal is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and from Saudi Arabia. Faisal took a gap year and was given a list of several schools to choose from. He narrowed down the list to Penn State and University of Colorado Boulder. Ultimately, he chose Penn State because we have over 1,000 clubs, the name is recognizable, and have an alumni network of more than 500,000 people. The opportunities here are endless for someone like Faisal. Because of the thousands of miles between State College and home, Faisal says it can be hard to make time to go home.

“My first year, I realized there is no point to going home … so I decided I would travel around the United States in my breaks,” says Faisal.

This summer, he bought a one-way ticket to Denver, Colorado. He spent the break voyaging for two months across the western U.S. — sleeping on friends’ couches, spending nights in hostels and camping in national parks. He set one goal for his time in the United States — to see as many national parks as possible.

And, this summer he got to check some off his list.

At Penn State, he is involved in several clubs such as cross country, outing club, the Saudi Association in which he serves as the THON chair, and the photography club. He is also a media chair at 3 Dots Downtown and a TA for physics.

College is hard for many — adjusting to being away from home isn’t always easy. Whether a student is 20 miles away or 2,000 miles away, it is something new to get used to. The community that Penn State provides its students can help make everyone feel a little more at home. ■

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Photo by Luke Adams

“One of the biggest challenges for me was learning that the values were different,”Yana says.

THOU DIDST MOLD US

By Lauren Edwards If there is one thing that all Penn Staters can agree on, it’s that there is no other place in the world like Happy Valley. There are so many unique landmarks and traditions on campus that make Penn State such a special place to spend your four years of college.

Whether you’re a freshman just starting your journey at Penn State or a senior dreading graduation, we can all acknowledge that there are many aspects of our school that just can’t be recreated anywhere else. Penn State makes it easy to love or love to hate this wild experience that is college.

THON

sporting green and flooding downtown in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day (a couple weeks early).

Berkey Creamery Penn State has so many iconic spots, but the creamery takes the (ice cream) cake. But our creamery isn’t your typical ice cream shop — at Berkey Creamery, mixing flavors is against the rules.

The only person to ever be granted permission was President Clinton in 1996. The ice cream is so good that even the founders of Ben & Jerry’s had to come and learn how it’s done here.

Some of the must-try flavors are Bittersweet Mint, Alumni Swirl, Peachy Paterno and Death by Chocolate.

Downtown State College

This 46-hour dance marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer research is an experience unlike any other. Every year famous artists, like DNCE, Mason Ramsey and others, come to perform as dancers and students stand alongside each other. In 2019, THON raised over $10 million all for the kids. The final four hours are the most impactful when cancer survivors and their families share their stories and remind us why we band together year after year to fundraise for this cause.

State College is one of the best college towns in the country.

No matter what you’re craving, there is no doubt that you’ll find a quick bite on College or Beaver Avenue that has exactly what you’re looking for. From $1 pizza at the locally famous Canyon Pizza, to browsing McLanahan’s for all of your game day necessities, to the Jonas Brothers’ favorite bar, Champs, nothing can compare to this downtown scene. When it comes to nightlife, food, shopping, school spirit and fun, State College never disappoints.

Football and Beaver Stadium

Campus Quirks

There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you walk into Beaver Stadium. The student section is one of the best in the country, and what is a Penn State student section without the “We Are” chant (and a few chicken baskets)? Nothing compares to tailgating and cheering on the Nittany Lions with thousands of Penn Staters by your side.

Penn State is rich with traditions and landmarks, but there is an endless list of random quirks about campus that only Penn State students themselves have come to know and love.

Movin’ On Movin’ On is Penn State’s annual outdoor music festival that is run by the students themselves. Students look forward to the well known artists on the lineup with past performers including Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and many others. Movin’ On has always been a unique way for students to celebrate the end of another year in Happy Valley.

State Patty’s State Patty’s Day, which usually happens at the end of February, was created by students in 2007 when the real St. Patrick’s Day happened to fall during spring break. Students can be seen

Along with the construction noise, the Willard Preacher’s loud, conservative opinions are unavoidable on your way to class.

Even with construction and the Willard Preacher, Old Main never fails to put a smile on the faces of students passing by.

And on a nice day, Instagram and Snapchat stories will be flooded with Old Main pictures.

Most importantly, if you’ve walked around campus, you know that Penn State squirrels are different from the rest. Some people would even consider them domestic because they come right up to you and you can feed them.

All of these quirks, both big and small, separate Penn State from any other college. Each of these things has shaped us and prepared us from the first day of freshman year all the way to the moment we are handed a diploma at graduation. If one thing holds true, it’s that Penn State students love to love Penn State! ■

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By MJ Bergin MJ BERGIN

With each new era, Penn State sports have brought new achievements to their consistently growing rosters. From football to fencing, there is no shortage of big wins from these Big Ten teams.

Every Penn State sport in this timeline has earned the honor of winning not only for themselves but for their school. Records held, championships won, NFL players and Olympians created, in the past few decades Penn State has given their athletes the tools and the support they need to take them to the next level.

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The 1970s The Penn State gymnastics teams dominated the ‘70s. The men’s team won the NCAA national title in ‘76 and the women’s team took the title home in ‘78. The men’s team won three individual national titles including an All-Around won by Marshall Avener in ‘73. The women’s team saw even more individual success during this decade.

In total, they won nine individual titles. The most decorated athlete on the women’s team was Ann Carr who took home the All-Around national title in ‘77 and the All-Around, uneven bars, floor exercise and balance beam national titles in ‘78.

The 1980s Penn State’s women’s sports started the decade winning four national championships. Fencing, field hockey, gymnastics and lacrosse won their respective national titles in ‘80. The following year, fencing and field hockey won again. The women’s fencing team won their final national title of the decade in ‘83. Women’s lacrosse went on to win the national championship two more times during this decade in ‘87 and ‘89.

The football team won their only two national championships during the ‘80s. They took home the ‘82 and ‘86 titles.

The 1990s The men and women’s combined fencing team celebrated seven national championship wins in the ‘90s. Men’s fencing won four consecutive individual sabre national championships from ‘91 to ‘94.

Men’s gymnastics won three pommel horse national championships during this decade — two of which were won by Mark Sohn who won this title all four years of his collegiate gymnastics career.

Women’s volleyball ended the decade winning their first national championship title in ‘99.

The 2000s This decade marked the time when multiple teams took home four or more national titles. After their winning streak from the ‘50s through the ‘70s, men’s gymnastics reentered the scene to win three national championships in the 2000s. They won titles in ‘00, ‘04 and ‘07. Women’s volleyball won four consecutive national titles from ‘07 to ‘10. The co-ed fencing team took home national titles in ‘00, ‘02, ‘07 and ‘09.

Many individual titles were also won throughout the decade. Men’s gymnastics won three All-Around titles and three still rings titles.

The women’s outdoor track and field team won three individual titles including the discus, the 4x400m and the 400m. Men’s swimming took home the 200 backstroke title in 2008. Men’s fencing won a total of five individual titles in foil, epee and sabre and women’s fencing won a total of six individual titles in epee and foil. The wrestling team took home two individual titles.

The 2010s In this most recent era, wrestling broke through as a top competitor in the nation. They won individual national titles in every year except ‘10.

In total, they won 23 individual titles. They took home the team national title in every year this decade but ‘10 and ‘15 earning them a #1 ranking heading into the 2020 season.

Women’s volleyball won the national championship in ‘13 and ‘14.

The following year, women’s soccer won their first national title, marking the first Big Ten team to win the title.

The largest crowd at Beaver Stadium was in the 2017 season, as 110,823 people watched the Nittany Lions defeat the University of Michigan with a score of 42-13.

Former Penn State soccer players and Olympians, Ali Krieger and Alyssa Naeher, won the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

In the last few years, there have been multiple football players drafted to the NFL. In 2018, Saquon Barkley was drafted to the Giants as the 2nd overall pick. Trace McSorley was drafted to the Baltimore Ravens and Miles Sanders was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019.

Since Penn State is such a sports oriented school, it can sometimes be hard to know all of the ins and outs of how each sport became notable in the world of college sports. As each era progressed, more and more teams achieved success in their division. From the 40s to now, Penn State sports have earned their place at the top of college sports. ■

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SUSTAINABILITY AT PENN STATE 42

By Kerry Brennan You and your friends leave the dining hall after a satisfying, all-you-can-eat meal.You take the extra two minutes to separate your leftover food into the compost bin, plastics into recycling, and the rest into waste. Then you head back to your dorm and don’t even think twice about it. In reality, what did that extra minute of separating trash from recycling from compost really do? On a campus of over 40,000 students, it does a lot.

BEHIND THE SIGNS Out of all 14 of the BIG Ten schools, only University of Maryland has a spot on Best College Review’s Top 25 Green Colleges for 2019. While it may not make the list just yet, Penn State has been showing clear efforts to become a more sustainable university, from students to faculty to administration.

Look around campus on any given day — you see stickers asking for the lights to be shut off after leaving the room, the “Are You Sure?” signs hanging over the garbage cans — giving you a second chance to think about whether you can recycle that item, and even videos playing in the commons highlighting the importance of not wasting food from the dining halls.

But, how much power can a few signs around campus truly hold? According to Anna Sostarecz, Penn State Housing’s Sustainability Coordinator, these little reminders can do a lot.

“The recycling rate on campus is between 60% and 70%,” Sostarecz says. “However, in dorms, it can be as low as 20%.”

While the numbers for the rest of campus are great, Sostarecz points out that everyone seems to skip over reduce and reuse and jump straight to recycle. Penn State has created many programs to help change this.

One of these programs is Green2Go boxes, which is run by Penn State dining and offers students a reusable takeout box as an alternative to styrofoam. Even better, every tenth meal with a Green2Go box is free!

A lesser known program is the reusable mug discount, which is applied to coffee purchases through Penn State dining if a student uses a reusable mug with their purchase. By simply engaging in convenient and rewarding program, Penn State offers students the opportunity to complete the entire reduce, reuse and recycle trifecta.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES! In recent years, a new culprit of environmental destruction has arisen: red meat. At a school like Penn State, where we pride ourselves on our pastures, dairy and cows, how does this get factored into our attempts to be sustainable?

Well, for starters, the vast amounts of vegan and vegetarian options in dining halls. Unbeknownst to many students, nearly three quarters of all of the menu items on campus are vegan or vegetarian. In fact, Penn State even received an A+ rating from PETA with regards to our vegan options.

This program was only established in Spring 2019, so considering the starting point, there is a very bright future for diminishing food waste at Penn State.

NEW DEVELOPEMENTS

One of the many things Penn Staters pride themselves on is the beauty of our campus. Perfectly mowed grass, architecture that is both modern and collegiate, and the unrivaled landscaping.

While it may seem like this is all kept up by employees and nature itself, that is not quite true.

In fact, students play a huge role in keeping the landscape of Penn State lush and pristine.

Another new development in American society is charging for plastic bags. to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags and, therefore, decrease the amount of plastic being produced and littered.

Many dining commons have their own little convenience marts, like Louie’s in Redifer Commons and Market East in Findlay Commons. If you walk through any of these, you may see a few students carrying plastic bags that are holding just one item.

On the flip side, go to any on-campus event and there’s a good chance you’ll see a volunteer handing out huge reusable bags with their organization’s logo on the side. It seems that the availability of plastic bags on campus defeats the sustainability of even a free, reusable one.

However, this is changing. This past semester Penn State began rolling out a no plastic bag policy at their convenience marts. For students that forget to bring their own bag, there are reusable bags for sale at a low cost. This is just one of the many ways that shows how Penn State is taking strides in the battle to be eco-conscious.

LEAN PATH SYSTEM No one can argue that the logistics of Penn State are a marvel to think about. How does one create class algorithms, ensure there are enough dorms for freshmen and guarantee three meals a day for tens of thousands of students? Similarly, how on earth can there be enough food for everyone without having a ridiculous amount of food waste? The answer is the LeanPath Food Waste System.

Sostarecz explains this system as a way for both students and housing employees to see the impact of food waste on campus and also to prevent it. LeanPath is a system that shows a very detailed analysis of what was thrown out, and then helps to set and achieve goals regarding food waste. The effectiveness of this program has been overwhelming.

“We saw really impressive results in the first four months,” Sostarecz says. “Almost 30,000 pounds of food waste was diverted between all of the dining halls.”

KEEP OUR CAMPUS BEAUTIFUL

By composting food waste, students directly contribute to the soil that helps our greenery thrive. According to Whitney Ashead, the director of campus outreach for The Student Farm, this compost also helps to grow vegetables at The Student Farm that are then served in the dining halls. Ashead says, this gives students “a hands on learning space.”

The farm is an organic practice farm, which means they utilize the sustainable practices established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This ensures that the food being grown, eaten, and eventually composted is all organic and all in the hands of Penn State students.

Penn State has our very own compost facility on campus, which is just another thing that makes this place so unique. The University Park campus has won national awards for our landscaping, which is fueled by the food that students toss into the compost bin. So, next time you’re debating tossing half of your chicken tender into the trash, think about that!

IT’S YOUR TURN! Forty thousand people is a lot. Ask anyone about Penn State, and the first few words out of their mouth will likely be, “That school is huge!” With these numbers comes the power to change our legacy not just here in State College, but throughout the world. Penn State offers so many ways to be sustainable and to create a better future. Imagine if all 40,000 students recycled their bottles instead of trashing them or used refillable mugs instead of plastic coffee cups. Penn Staters are fortunate enough to have the power and access to the tools needed to change the world, so let’s start right here on our beautiful campus. ■

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ENTERTAINMENT “I find a way to tell the stories that inspire and move people. Films that show characters going through incredible hardships are my favorite ones to watch and produce.”

SENIOR // FILM + BIOLOGY

Photos by Shannon Soboslay

NATALIE RUIZ

To read more about Natalie, visit valleymagazinepsu.com 45

SO MANY STREAMERS IT FEELS LIKE A PARTY

By Katie Gergel Netflix. Hulu. Amazon Prime. Disney+. And soon – HBO Max, Apple TV+ and Peacock. There is no question that the entertainment media landscape is drastically evolving. We no longer sit down at 8 p.m. to watch a specific show on a specific channel. We have the content at our fingertips anytime, anywhere. Where will this media evolution lead?

NETFLIX: PAST ITS PRIME?

IT’S DISNEY’S WORLD

Picture this: you and your roommates are settling in for a night of relaxation after a long day.You decide to pop some popcorn and watch something on TV. Where do you go first to find the content you want?

Most likely, you are turning to a subscription streaming service like Netflix or Hulu to watch an episode of “The Office” or the newest installment of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Netflix has obviously taken note of the impact that other big services in the game might have on its popularity and subscriber count.

When “Friends” leaves Netflix for HBO Max or when “The Office” leaves for NBC’s upcoming streaming service called Peacock, the company may no longer be the go-to spot for all things film and TV.

Unless there is something specific to tune into live on television, such as a competition show finale or an episode of “The Bachelor,” people these days are turning less and less to cable television and more to these streaming services that offer plenty to watch with the click of a button and the virtual swipe of a credit card each month.

Rod Bingaman, a film and video professor at Penn State, outlines various reasons for this increasingly prevalent switch from “appointment viewing” to streamers.

“It’s more convenient to schedule your own watching time around other activities,” Bingaman says. “Also, the way we get information about programs is perpetuated by those viewing habits. I don’t necessarily get a schedule for when a program is aired, but I might read a review of it or sense a buzz about it on social media, and then seek to watch the show in episode order.”

Originally, Netflix was the major player in the episode-order game.

The company sensed the demand for a television-watching approach that allowed viewers to watch entire seasons in a day rather than waiting a week between two episodes. Now it seems that with each passing month there is a new streamer stepping up to bat with their own vast libraries of current content.

Netflix was founded in 1997 with an original business model centered on DVD rental by mail. It wasn’t until 2010 that the streaming aspect of Netflix was introduced, and from that point forward the company’s success skyrocketed. Netflix has increasingly turned to the creation of original content over the years, starting to expand its library most drastically in 2016. That year saw the premiere of “Stranger Things” in July, which quickly rose to fame and received a wide variety of accolades.

The streaming service devoted $8 billion to the creation of original content in 2018 with the goal of a content library made up half original material by 2019.

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One of the biggest disruptors in the streamer landscape was the announcement in November 2018 that a subscription service called Disney+ would be introduced in late 2019. Accessing Disney’s massive library of content, Disney+ would include content from all of the media conglomerate’s entertainment studios, including Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox and National Geographic.

It was later revealed that the release date of Disney+ to American markets would be November 2019 for a competitive price of $6.99 per month. Consumers also have the option to purchase a streaming bundle of Disney+, ESPN+ and the ad-supported version of Hulu for $12.99 per month. This announcement understandably excited many, considering this service would be the one-stop shop for everything from “Star Wars” to Marvel to Disney Princesses to “The Simpsons.” It could come to be very difficult for Netflix to continue to thrive as the go-to streamer, despite its continuous production of original material.

WHAT’S NEXT? The introduction of so many competing services begs many questions: which ones will viewers find most essential? Which ones will have the content to keep paying customers coming back? It is unlikely that the majority of consumers will opt for all of the streamers, so who will they cut and who will they keep in the wake of giants like Disney+, HBO Max and Apple TV+ coming at them with both much star power and original series? No matter how hard media execs fight for the ratings, the content and the finances, it is ultimately up to us, as the paying customers, to decide. And though we may not want to have to choose between “Stranger Things” and “Game of Thrones,” our wallets may make the decision for us. ■

BY ELISE TECCO

By Katie Gergel

CARTOON COGNISANCE

By Elise Tecco Didn’t life seem pretty simple when you were little?

The smell of breakfast in the morning would fill the air as you rolled out of bed, headed downstairs and turned on the TV. You’d flip through channels until you found one of your favorite shows to watch.

Maybe it was “Arthur,” because you loved hearing DW’s sassy remarks. Or perhaps you loved Miss Frizzle’s adventures on “The Magic School Bus” or the goofy antics of “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

When thinking back on our childhood, so many of these TV shows played a vital part in our lives. Now, as college students, we look back on these times and feel a strong sense of nostalgia every time we hear an old theme song or think of a character we used to adore.

Many people believe that kids shouldn’t watch any TV. Others think that TV shows are purely for fun, without realizing their deeper impact. Regardless, we can probably all agree that these shows should be compatible with different stages of childhood.

Molly Countermine, human development and family studies professor at Penn State, says an appropriate show should, “cognitively match” the child who is watching it.

“For a two- or four-year-old, a show like ‘Kipper the Dog,’ which is slow-paced and simple, would be better than ‘SpongeBob,’ which moves very quickly and has a lot of aggressive behavior displayed by the characters,” Countermine says.

Saving the Day

Yael Warshel, assistant professor of telecommunications at Penn State, provides an interesting perspective on the value of kids’ shows. She explains that for many people who live in crime and conflict-ridden places or even lower income areas, watching television, no matter what the show is, could “literally save their kid’s lives.”

This is because watching TV keeps the children inside and off the streets where it may be dangerous. Thinking about it in this way, even having the opportunity to decide what is “good” or “bad” for children to watch is a privilege, since it means you’re choosing shows for their entertainment or educational value — not because they merely serve as a type of protection from outside harm.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

One of the most watched shows is “Sesame Street,” which has been on the air for five decades and has been watched by 150 million children worldwide. “Sesame Street” was created to help kids, especially those with a lower socio-economic status, prepare for school. The educational show is constantly changing as the show’s researchers pull new information from focus groups to see what

works. Cookie Monster, for example, was brought on to show kids how to control impulses.

Penn State media studies professor, Mary Beth Oliver, says “Sesame Street” teaches kids about prosocial behavior, helping children to be compassionate toward others and deal with their emotions. She also points to “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” as another great example of television encouraging positive traits like kindness.

“I think the thing that the show really did well was making the child feel safe, validating a kid’s emotions and showing the audience that people can be good and kind, which is wonderful,” Oliver says.

“Blue’s Clues” presented a unique way to engage kids. The host posed questions and paused, waiting to hear the viewers’ answers. This allowed children to think and respond to what was asked. “Blue’s Clues” also included a lot of repetition to help kids feel like they could master new topics. Nickelodeon would air the same episode every day for a week before moving onto a new one.

Warshel agrees that “Blue’s Clues” does a great job at fostering a kid’s sense of ability, showing them that what they think matters.

She cautions, however, that even though a lot of research goes into children’s programming, there is no guarantee that kids will learn the messages that are taught.

Viewer Beware, You’re in for a Scare

What if the point of the story is simply to scare us? Oliver refers to an interesting study conducted by Kristen Harrison and Joanne Cantor titled, “Tales from the Screen: Enduring Fright Reactions to Scary Media,” which found that 90% of the 153 college students interviewed still reacted with fear to scary TV shows and movies they watched as children.

“In a lot of children’s programming, much of the content is centered on a conflict happening, and only a small portion of the show actually resolves the conflict,” Countermine says. “This means that kids are actually learning more about conflict than about conflict resolution. So, there is a correlation between the amount of screen time and kid’s aggressive behavior.”

Sunny Day, Chasing the Clouds Away

As kids, we didn’t choose our favorite TV shows based on their educational quality or whether or not they succeeded in teaching us anything. We chose our favorite shows for very different reasons –– they might have made us laugh or maybe we were able to connect with the characters we saw on screen.

Looking back now on those childhood afternoons we spent with beloved characters like Clifford and Oswald, it’s hard to believe the ways in which they were affecting us as we grew up. With this in mind, it may be interesting to see how the media we consume today as college students will make an impact on the rest of our lives. ■

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Photos by Huntyr Kephart

REMAKING THE ROCKSTAR REMAKING THE ROCKSTAR REMAKING THE ROCKSTAR

By Jess Martino

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“UNFORTUNATELY, CELEBRITY IS A POWERFUL THING. IT CAN “INFLUENCE PEOPLE. BUT IF IT CAN INFLUENCE PEOPLE IN A “GOOD WAY, THEN THAT’S A GREAT THING.” – DAVID FURNISH The power that follows fame seems to be something that only those who are lucky enough to possess it will understand. It’s a mystery —so it’s no surprise that producers have been pining after the lives of Hollywood icons to create their next box office successes. Over the past two years, three artists in particular have had their legacies played out on the big screen. In 2018, “Bohemian Rhapsody” rocked Queen fans with its dramatic homage to band members Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. Netflix released “The Dirt” in early 2019, documenting the wild rise to fame of Mötley Crüe, and later in the year, “Rocketman” hit theaters celebrating Elton John. What is it that makes these musician’s lives worthy of a film over others?

One thing for certain is the popularity of their music during the ‘70s and ‘80s.Yet along with their talent, there was tragedy – drugs, overdoses, accidents, addiction, rehab, illnesses, divorce – all common themes in these films.

MUSICAL NOSTALGIA Thomas Cody, professor of music theory at Penn State speaks about the prime of their careers, when these legends were “larger than life.”

“Their work came from someplace deep inside; their work was original,” Cody says about Elton John and Queen. According to Cody, not only were they talented songwriters, but they were entertainers who invited their fans to take a unique journey with them and their music, which was not dictated by one specific genre.

Elton John and Freddie Mercury were artists who could write and perform a rock song that you couldn’t resist dancing to, as well as a ballad so heartfelt that tears could unknowingly swell your eyes. Mötley Crüe’s rise to multi-platinum was hard earned. Cody described how the band became “the trend setters” of the ‘80s, only after their third album, “Theatre of Pain,” along with the help of MTV airing their music videos. But after climbing their metal throne, the band’s releases became highly anticipated.

“Their shows were parties and everyone was invited to do whatever they wanted,” Cody says.

While their music centered around the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll attitude, Cody says that the band showcased some of the best songwriting of the ‘80s. All of these

musicians were extraordinary, but it wasn’t just the music that fueled their crazed fans. Their performances were a spectacle with bright lights, volumes that thumped in your chest, and constant daydreaming of the power that these musicians inhibited both on and off stage.

Yet years later, we are still feeling the power of these iconic performances and the hazardous lives of their musicians through the big screen — what happened to rock music and its champions? Cody pointed out that the genre didn’t just fade out. Crediting Nirvana with reshaping rock music in the ‘90s, he suggests that rock bent to grunge — taking a new direction as music often does. The change of how music was produced and consumed also took a toll on the excitement of rock and roll.

“In the ‘70s and ‘80s, people had to wait for a full album to be released, and if it had good songs, got radio play, and the band toured, people had to wait to see them,” says Cody. “I think people were more invested in what they liked back then. Now it seems like everything is disposable.” With that being said, it seems that these films are trying to remind the world that these stars are not disposable.

RENEWING THE CLASSICS “Think of it this way: performing is like sprinting while screaming for three, four minutes. And then you do it again. And then you do it again. And then you walk a little, shouting the whole time. And so on.Your adrenaline quickly overwhelms your conditioning.” — Bruce Springsteen.

Take it from another rock legend himself — the adrenaline of being on stage is unlike any other feeling. It covers up all the bad, and creates a need to fuel this feeling over and over again. This is where that dangerous lifestyle comes in. While this theme is certainly enticing and creates an exciting plot, it’s fragile, especially when it’s true.

McKenna Roy, a sophomore majoring in film and video, spoke about how the directors of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Dirt” and “Rocketman” may have handled the explicitness of these true stories.

“I don’t believe there is necessarily a line that can and cannot be crossed in film,” Roy says.

“Directors push limits to evoke emotion. This line can only be defined by the directors themselves.” Roy says that although part of that line, if one does exist, is pleasing fans of these stars, the ultimate goal for directors is to tell a brilliant story, having the audience gain something special from the film. Yet, of course, pleasing fans is hard.

They already know the story of these stars and often by heart. It can be difficult for directors to decide exactly how to play out this story when fans expect it to go a certain way. Roy also pointed out that it can be a challenge for directors to ensure that they have chosen the right actor to recreate the life of an idolized celebrity because viewers form a bond between the actor and the character that they are portraying.

In “Rocketman” viewers watch Taron Egerton portray Elton John. Being a popular British actor, he has starred in many different roles. It can be difficult for directors to choose these popular actors for their roles because they have already been seen in many films.

“We may find that we dislike their character in certain films, but love them in other ones,” Roy says, also pointing out that it can also be hard to separate a popular actor from the person that they are, with the well-known person that they are portraying.

But of course, these audiences were not entirely full of strictly die-hard fans. Millions of fresh eyes from a generation that didn’t grow up listening to Queen, Elton John and Mötley Crüe have been exposed to the music of the past, while it has become popular all over again for those who have always known and loved these rock stars.

“I think that it is great that movies like this are reintroducing these artists to a new generation,” says Cody. “The quality of work done by these artists has the potential to influence and inspire future generations of musicians. Things that are truly great at one point in time tend to be great in the future too.” ■

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IF YOU GOT IT, FLAUNT IT?

By Katie O’Reilly

It’s 2019 and the feminist movement is continuing to move forward. Whether you’re striking in the streets to stand up for women’s rights or silently hopping on the bandwagon, there really isn’t such thing as the “average feminist” anymore. Sounds like a good thing right? A movement supporting women is gaining momentum and growing at a rapid pace!

At this rate, women will take over the world by 2025!

The only issue with this is that when more women define themselves and their actions as feminist driven that means that these ideals we all share become a little … gray. For example, one who is not familiar with the feminist movement would think that every feminist is pro-choice, right? Wrong, actually. During discussions about recent abortion bans, many women have expressed that it’s perfectly acceptable to consider yourself a supporter of fellow women and still be pro-life. So again, the idea of the “average feminist” is ever-changing and can’t really be defined.

The most prevailing trend that falls under the umbrella of women empowerment is wearing less on social media. Although this isn’t a new phenomenon, this trend has transformed from showing some stomach in a crop top to a full-blown naked selfie.

Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and Bella Thorne are no strangers to showing some nudity on their accounts. After posting a picture of herself completely nude with some censoring, Kardashian explained her intentions in a blog post saying, “Enough is enough with the body-shaming and slut-shaming.”

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This raises a multitude of questions. Is wearing less clothing and showing more of your body considered women empowerment, sexual empowerment, or self-objectification? The argument here is that posting these risque photos plays into male fantasy, ultimately contradicting feminist values. Another argument questions what this trend is implying to young women. Is it giving the message to love your body? Or is it encouraging girls to flaunt their bodies for others on social media?

The biggest issue people seem to have with this trend is the role model issue.

Women are constantly being pressured to lead their lives as the “perfect role model” for generations of girls to come. Essentially, our society is demanding women, especially famous women, to empower everyone by dressing well, having an amazing job, being a great mom or and staying pretty PG on social media. Clearly, being open about your body and sexuality doesn’t really fit into those parameters.

But how much “showing off ” is too much? Where is the line drawn between a feminist act or just flat out overexposure? Going back to the picture posted by Kim Kardashian, there’s two sides one can take. Kim clearly has a body that does not fit into the “be skinny and have straight hair” standard. So this naked selfie, of course, promotes embracing curves and self-love. But in a world where women are constantly defined by their appearance, sometimes we need to prove that we’re more than just a body.

Can one truly define what it means to be a feminist and support women in black and white terms? Of course not! This is because the list of things that make a woman feel truly empowered is never-ending and unique to each and every person. Some women feel empowered by posting a naked selfie. Some women feel empowered by protesting and picketing. Some women feel empowered after a good spin class. Every woman is entitled to create their own self-portrait of what they want the world to see.You don’t like the picture someone posts? Stop judging and keep scrolling. ■

Collage by Shannon Soboslay

IF YOU GOT IT, FLAUNT IT?

FASHION On why she decided to embrace fashion-entrepreneurship:

“There was a market open, and I was in the right place at the right time. I just wanted to go for it. There’s always room to add value or make an impact, no matter how small.”

JUNIOR // FINANCE + MANDARIN CHINESE

Photos by Ben Pietrusinski

MCKENNA KIMMEL

To read more about McKenna, visit valleymagazinepsu.com.

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CASTING CALL

By Abby Fortin The modeling industry is glamorous and mysterious to an outsider, but it isn’t all catwalks and free flights.

Many models experience underrepresentation, mistreatment and harassment, a side of the job that has hardly been publicized until recently, and many people in the profession are standing up to create change.

Caroline Fish, a Penn State senior and veteran model, started out in the industry when she was about 15 years old. After she was signed to Marilyn Agency in May 2015, she moved from southern New Jersey to New York City to live in an apartment with other models and to work without the commute.

“Diversity in the modeling industry is moving in a positive direction,” Caroline says. “I don’t think it is quite there yet, but it is making strides. It all starts with the brand itself, as well. The people who are in charge are the ones who are going to cast and hire the models.”

Photo by Darya Alvarez

Caroline uses the example of Victoria’s Secret’s recent shifts to show how change can begin with those in power. The former chief marketing officer of the mega-famous lingerie brand, Ed Razek, once implied he would never cast transgender models in the show. Following Razek’s retirement, the company recently hired their first transgender model.

“Times are changing and brands and companies are starting to realize that inclusivity is incredibly important when they are trying to appeal to customers,” says Addie Sassani, a first-year Penn State student who signed her first official modeling contract this summer.

People have begun to realize that the truest form of beauty is that of natural women and men and the fashion and modeling industries are starting to follow suit. Gone are the days when the runway was exclusive to 6-foot women with 23-inch waists and tiny noses — diversity is being demanded by both experts and fashion lovers around the world. Not only does the incorporation of more and more diversity into runway shows and ad campaigns show that these styles are meant for everyone, but it also helps to smash the decades-old idea that there is one specific way people should look.

“People with all different body types, identities and skin colors have been able to pursue modeling and other careers in the fashion industry due to this society of inclusivity,” Addie says about the changing atmosphere in the industry.

For years and years, teen models as young as 14 have had the spotlight turned on them, showing an unattainable standard for beauty and youthfulness that is simply unrealistic for many girls and women. Although the modeling industry may be making strides toward inclusion and diversity, models are still facing unfair treatment at the hands of many higher-ups in the industry. The #MeToo movement, which gained notoriety in recent years, is focused on acknowledging the prevelance of sexual harassment and sexual assault, especially within the entertainment industry.

At his death, veteran designer Karl Lagerfeld was remembered as a remarkable creative who helped many models reach their potential and strengthen their careers.

A lesser known side of the late designer showed his disrespectful opinions of the models who walked in his shows. In an interview with Numéro Magazine close to the time of his death, Lagerfeld spoke out in disagreement with the #MeToo movement. In a controversial statement, he shared that he believed models should “join a nunnery,” if they don’t want to be mistreated in the industry. He also said, “If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model.”

To hear such a contentious statement come from a beloved industry star can be unnerving, and definitely leads us to wonder whether feminism and fashion could ever really mix. However, with the growing acceptance, within the industry, it seems that fashion and modeling may be changing for the better.

“The #MeToo movement is beyond important in the modeling industry,” says Caroline. “When you are younger, as most models are, you are so afraid to speak up.”

Since Addie has only been in the industry for a short period of time, her experience at the hands of industry higher-ups is limited. However, she already recognizes that models who weren’t born into the industry are not treated as well as those who were.

From the start of the #MeToo movement, social media has played a key role in helping models regain lost confidence and expose photographers and other players in the industry who have treated them unfairly or inappropriately. Instagram accounts like @diet_prada have become outlets to tell the stories of mistreated models, and in many cases, those who are exposed for their unprofessional actions have been fired after their stories have gone viral. For models, this life-changing movement has made an incredible difference in the way they go about their day-to-day work.

“Girls are now able to tell their agents about a client or a photographer who puts them in an uncomfortable position without getting backlash or affecting their careers,” Addie says.

The #MeToo movement brought to light many unspoken issues present in the entertainment industries and has reached individuals all over the world, allowing them to speak out against the harassment they have faced in silence. ■

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L

RETAIL REVOLUTION

By Gabby Solon

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking over all commerce sectors, the fashion industry being anything but an exception. AI is redefining both the business value chain and customer experience of the fashion industry, bringing a competitive edge to all businesses that engage with this new technology. Starting with design and moving all the way through manufacturing, logistics, marketing and sales, new and improved methodologies using AI are being implemented.

Scrolling through 20 pages of options on your favorite brand’s website before finding the exact color and style of pants you want is about to be an old routine that you will soon forget you ever had to partake in.

“Artificial Intelligence is changing everything,” says Andrey Golub, CEO of Else Corp Virtual Retail Company. “It allows us to track everything on a micro level and is leading into a revolution for the fashion and retail industry as well as every other industry.”

One of the many rising issues among retailers is the millions of dollars of unsold inventory left at the end of every quarter.Yet, with pools of data that have been growing and becoming more diverse, AI is able to more accurately forecast demand and improve the capacity planning of individual companies.

With up to 52 seasons of clothing to cycle through each year, companies struggle to keep up with the new trends that pop up, causing them to miss the creation of profitable items. AI systems have begun to fix this issue by constantly monitoring the consumer market and ultimately determining the best fabrics, colors, patterns and marketing to maximize customer satisfaction and increase profitability.

AI systems monitor the customer market as a whole while also tailoring recommendations for each individual customer. The individual systems will suggest certain brands and styles that align with previous purchases, search history, returns, etc. in order to cut down the time one spends searching for the items they desire.

AI has also been implemented in order to improve the consumer product discovery process as well.

Instead of going to multiple stores or endlessly searching online for a certain style you saw once and wanted, some companies have implemented programs allowing users to snap a picture of what they see and upload it to the application. Then, the program sorts through pools of data to provide a list of exact or similar matches to what you searched for. These companies have also implemented algorithms similar to the tailored recommendations program in order for customers to ensure correct sizing is selected based on previous successful purchases.

The connectivity between businesses and customers is increasing at an enormous rate, rapidly changing the retail experience each day. Personalization has become an incredibly important factor for businesses to embrace in order to improve customer loyalty. AI-powered chatbots or “smart assistants” have been implemented on online platforms in order to deliver instant customer service to resolve simple issues. This allows the human customer support agents to focus on more complex problems.

Levi’s Virtual Stylist is an example of a program where customers can find their TrueFit of each product and get style recommendations. Another company using AI is GlassesUSA. Their Virtual Mirror program allows users to upload a photo of themselves to the website and try out different frames.

These virtual assistants will soon become the norm for most shopping experiences for customers, and the use of mirrors depicting how a certain style will look allows customers to never have to go into fitting rooms or leave their homes.

The “retailtainment” takeover sees entertainment and retail fused together to create unique experiences that elevate shopping above anything it has ever been before. From a skate park inside the Vans store to the Sephora IQ scanner that provides custom makeup shade recommendations, major brands all across the globe are creating new experiences both in-store and online to increase customer engagement and loyalty.

AI has also turned the supermodel sector of the fashion industry upside down by creating a group of virtual supermodels that showcase major brands’ clothing and accessories in fashion campaigns. Shudu Gram is one of the leading virtual supermodels with over 185,000 followers on Instagram. She recently modeled for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and appeared in GLAMOUR’s AW18 issue. Other virtual supermodels have gained traction and followings as well, leading to what is being seen as a possible transition away from well-known models, like Slick Woods and Ugbad Abdi.

Are you ready for the AI Revolution? ■

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MENSWEAR LOOKING THREADBARE

When shopping around, it’s easy to find tons of unique stores and styles for women’s fashion. However, finding a store that caters only to men’s fashion is a bit more rare. While stores that carry stylish men’s clothing exist, for many stores, men’s fashion seems to be an afterthought.

Pressure to Dress to Impress?

So what is the reason for more focus on women’s fashion than men’s? One possibility could be societal pressure for women to always look their best. This pressure has led to other booming industries such as lingerie, body hair removal, skincare and makeup.

These businesses either don’t exist for men or are less targeted toward them, and this same phenomenon is likely responsible for the lack of men’s fashion.

Drew Jessup, an influencer with over 22,000 followers on Instagram, shared his thoughts on why fashion is mostly targeted toward women.

“I can’t blame stores,” Jessup says. “You’re investing in the space and materials, and women are the dominating demographic typically for a brand offering both women’s and men’s clothing. It’s definitely a women’s game.”

There are many stores that cater solely to women’s fashion — Free People, Aerie, Brandy Melville and endless online boutiques.

Adding men’s fashion to these stores would be a seemingly smart idea as they would be opening up their brand to the other half of the population, yet many continue pursuing a very specific, niche consumer group.

Stores like Madewell have recently began selling men’s clothing, yet it is clear that women’s clothing is a priority for these stores. These websites and storefronts mainly display their women’s fashion, sometimes making it unknown that they even carry men’s clothes.

These stores also tend to carry a much more limited variety of clothes and accessories.You don’t see too many unique or trendy pieces for men in these stores, so while they can claim to be appealing to men, are they really?

Brock DeHaven, an influencer with over 15,000 followers on Instagram, has experienced this firsthand.

“I definitely have a hard time finding clothes that I find stylish in the mall,” DeHaven says. “Women tend to have a variety of options, where men typically only get the major fast fashion brands, which is something I don’t personally support.”

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Luckily, there are some stores that do try to equally appeal to men’s fashion as they do women’s. American Eagle, Abercrombie, Urban Outfitters, H&M and Vineyard Vines have stores that are fairly split.

But shopping experiences for men and women at these stores can be very different.

It is not uncommon for a woman to walk out of a store such as Urban Outfitters completely stocked with bags full of everything — trendy pants, tops, cute accessories, lingerie, shoes and beauty products. However, men tend to be more pick-and-choose when it comes to revamping their wardrobe. Finding a complete wardrobe full of clothes and accessories that are all stylish and fit well is harder to come across for men. This leads to men sometimes having a go-to store for things like jeans or t-shirts.

“You have to have an idea of what you are looking for before you go shopping,” DeHaven says. “Go in with a plan, look for colors that you are drawn to, and make sure things truly fit you. Don’t force anything.You should feel comfortable and confident in whatever you wear.”

Part of this problem could be the different needs between men and women. Women’s fashion tends to focus more on trends — sure an item may not be the best quality fabric or fit super well, but it’s perfectly on-trend and that is the selling point. For men, the item may not be super unique or trendy, but it’ll fit like a glove. That’s why the very few men’s-only stores focus on fit over trends. Stores like Men’s Wearhouse and Untuck-it specialize in men’s clothes, and while these are meant to fit perfectly, they are not exactly the best options for everyone, as they tend to be more formal.

“I think men in America historically have not placed an emphasis on their fashion outside of getting a suit for work,” DeHaven says.

“As the fashion climate changes, combined with the emergence of Instagram to help inspire men to dress better, I hope that retailers recognize men need options too and start to offer more choices.”

So What About Both?

While stores are seemingly getting better at offering more variety for men, there is clearly still a long way to go. When looking for stores that offer a great fit and are very trendy and fashionable, it can still be a struggle.

Photos by Grace Southern

Fit vs. Trend

“Guys can absolutely be fashionable as well,” DeHaven says. “There is definitely a societal negative connotation in this country towards men investing time in themselves and their fashion, but I do believe it is changing.”

Finding the right clothes takes some training, but once you solidify your fashion sense, the rest comes easy. So, it’s not that men are any “less fashionable” than women by nature. Perhaps it’s just the fashion industry that makes putting together a wardrobe a bit more difficult. ■

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Photography by Ben Pietrusinski, Kylie Radick, Astrid Navas, and Rachael Muir | Styling by Rachael Muir and Jessie Mayer Location courtesy of Samantha Fink, State College Country Inn & Suites

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Nusheena wears headband by J.Crew, dress by Urban Outfitters, top by J.Crew, shoes by Sam Edelman, socks by Madewell.

Janelle wears jumpsuit by Urban Outfitters, belt by BERSHKA, shoes by Doc Martens.

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SORRY TO INFORM OF OUR UNAVAILABILITY

OF OUR UNAVAILABILITY SORRY TO INFORM

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TAKING THE

DAY OFF Amanda wears glasses by Free People, coat thrifted, bike shorts by Champion, belt by Off-White, shoes by Nike.

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Eric wears top by Urban Outfitters, pants by TopMan, shoes by H&M.

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Kyle wears top by Urban Outfitters, pants by ASOS, shoes by Air Jordans.

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Thomas wears top by Urban pants by ASOS.

Outfitters,

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