Fall 2016 Issue 14

ONTAP

ISSUE 14

FALL 2016

Local Brands: Big City STyle Local brands that you should know about; Fall fashion (28)

Saying "I Do" While in College too Getting married in college. How will effect you? (20)

Cover Photographer Vince Jupiter

CONTENTS 4 5-7

Staff Page

24-25

Carlius A. Williams

Editor's Letter Joshua E. Abbott

8-9

Freshman's Guide to VSU

26-27

Perks of Valdosta

28-35

Empanadas and More Angel Lewis

14-15

HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Through the Years Evelyn Dunn

16-17

Global Issues and Tiny Solutions Lauren Sims

18-19

How to Vote: First Time Voters

20-21

Saying "I Do" While Studying Too

Evelyn Dunn

Lauren Sims

22-23

Budgeting in College Veronica You

3

ONTAP

Local Brands: Big City Style Lauren Sims/ Cynthia Papailler

Angel Lewis

12-13

El Chapo: Mexican Druglord or Champion Escape Artist?

Carlius A. Williams

Cynthia Papailler

10-11

5 Things other than Pizza to Eat in College

36-39

In Defense of Rom-Com's: A Review of

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Presley Lovins

Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF

Joshua E. Abbott MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel R. Miller

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Haylee Friel

CONTRIBUTERS Cynthia Papailler Angel Lewis Evelyn Dunn Lauren Sims Veronica You Carlius A. Williams Presley Lovins SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Marquez Slaughter PHOTOGRAPHERS

Genevieve Kennett

FACULTY ADVISOR

Dr. Deborah Hall CONTACT

Ontap@valdosta.edu

4

ONTAP

Editor's Letter When I was a young child, I remember clearly what my teachers all said: I could be whatever I wanted to be, and that meant anything. So what did I want to be? First, I wanted to be a veterinarian to help animals. Then it was all about becoming a Zoologist and taking care of zoo animals. I spent much of my time obsessing over animals, and watching way too much Animal Planet.

One day I woke up, and I realized that my teachers were wrong. I can’t possibly be anything I want to be. That fact alone disturbed me, and in that time I was lost. I had to learn who I was before I could say who I would become. I decided to pay attention to all subjects that interested me and to try out new things. I became good at many things, but never a master of just one thing. That was always the case until high school.

In high school, I learned all about business and how to manage money. I thought to myself, “Wow! I am good at this, maybe I can be a sales representative.” That too quickly faded when I discovered my real passion was computer technology. I would waste the next four years of my life dedicated to computer technology. Two years of that was actual schooling, and the other two casual tinkering. Life hit me hard.

There I was jobless, carless, living with my parents.

I was educated, but unable to find a job. The short three-month internship I had in college did nothing to secure me a job. I was quickly becoming hopeless and depressed. Then one day I got a call from a close friend. He had decided to go back to college. I was supportive of course, but talked constantly about how bad my experiences had been.

5

ONTAP

6

ONTAP

Before long he convinced me I should go back to class too. Of course, he said for a different reason than I had ever imagined. He told me what I had known all my life, but was afraid to act on. I was a natural leader, a natural teacher, and a natural speaker. I was patient and kind, he said. I pondered on it for a while and soon we would chat daily. After a few months of preparation, we moved in together in an apartment on the best side of town.

The apartment caused me to change into the adult I needed to be. For those first few months, everything was good. We got along great, as best friends should. Eventually life became a daily hell of managing classes, cooking, studying, and trying to be a friend.

The stress became too much, and eventually I moved away back to my parents house.

My teachers weren’t trying to really tell me I could be anything when I was younger. Now that I’ve gotten older, I realize they meant I would accomplish great things. That I was the leader of my destiny, and I alone would decide where I would go next. Because I never gave up, I learned the most valuable lesson of all: sometimes failing is passing.

Maybe I’ve lingered for far too long. The real point I guess you could say is that life isn’t always going to be the same. Accept change before it’s too late. Go out there and experience it. Don’t be afraid to take your life into your own hands. At the end of the day, you are the master of your destiny.

I decided to transfer to another college, and spent my summer preparing. That summer was the most lonely and depressing summer of my life. I was still without a car, and had no job. I spent most weekends getting friends to take me to bars just to drink my life away.

At this time, I was at my lowest.

Finally, I made it to my new college, and moved into the dorms at 24 years of age. I was the oldest and weirdest roommate on my entire floor—I am sure. The times I’ve experienced since then have been a lot better.

I got involved with a couple of organizations and decided to work on myself. I branched out and got support from counseling to overcome my self-destructive behaviors. My therapist met with me weekly and we talked about all my past issues. I met with a social anxiety group once a week as well, and this helped me overcome anxiety. I now am able to talk to strangers and present topics that I was never able to before. As time went on, I became comfortable with myself. Eventually, I met someone and fell madly in love.

I like to think back on those early years of my adult life as hardest, but most worthwhile years so far. They taught me a lot about growing up, and being true to myself. They also taught me that I could be something I wanted to be. Something I could be proud of, and that meant I could be almost anything.

7

ONTAP

Freshman's Guide To VSU

By: Cynthia Papailler | photo credit: Joshua Abbott As incoming Freshman at Valdosta State “Freshman 15” and how binge drinking is University, we are given tours of the campus, “evil”, so down below are some additional tips shown all the great things the school has to and advice to help insure a smooth freshman offer, and are given the chance of talking to year at VSU. real college students—who are basically equivalent to paid actors—to learn about THE PLASTIC DEVIL how college works. Yet, upon starting college, we quickly learn that no amount of tips Checking your bank account has to be the acquired from pamphlets or student most stressful thing to do as a college student. handbooks could prepare us for what college Some of you guys will be fortunate enough is really like. In this “freshman’s Guide to VSU”, to have loving rich parents that will keep your I will outline 7 helpful tips to help make your bank account filled. But for the rest of us, freshman experience better. learning to manage the small budget that we might acquire is crucial. No matter how much As a freshman, I came into college anxious you dread it, I would recommend checking and eager about what to expect. ” In a perfect your bank account at least once a week. With world, college students are hardworking and online banking and mobile apps, checking studious; we attend all of our classes, eat your bank account can be done quickly. healthy, and study each day. Yet, we all know Before making a big transaction, check your that there is way more to college living than account! Make sure you have it. Those our studies, and that outside the classroom is overdraft fees can be a pain in the butt and where things get more complicated. As usually cost you more than you initially over Newbies, we are constantly told about the drafted.

8

ONTAP

ROOMMATE ETIQUETTE

DINING BUCKS, FLEX ACCOUNTS, AND REFUNDS

First off: YOUR ROOMMATE PROBABLY WON’T BE YOUR BEST FRIEND. You and your roommate may be total opposites, but that doesn’t mean you cannot get along.

The first encounter is always kind of awkward and strange.

Unless you have a private room set up—lucky you!—this is the person you will wake up to and see daily. In rare instances, you might have one of those “ghost” roommates that you barely ever see because they are always out and about OR you’ll have one of those roommates that are always there. I highly suggest that you and your roommate both fill out that roommate contract. Hopefully conflicts will not arise, but the roommate contract can help figure out those differences without the awkward conversation about how it’s not okay for him/her to leave their dirty drawers laying out. The best way to be a great roommate is to follow my rendition of the golden rule: Be the type of roommate you would want to live with. If things seem like they just won’t work by the end of the first month back room changes can be made. So you can just take a trip down to the housing office to sort that all out.

These are all very important things to know about when attending VSU. Dining bucks is money placed on your 1card that can only be used on campus at the many different fast-food joints and the two markets found on campus. The money you choose to put into your flex account is more useful than Dining Bucks because you can use it on the vending machines, in the bookstores, and there are actually restaurants around Valdosta offcampus that treat Flex. Flex is also how you pay for your laundry. Now refunds, the holy grail of college. Refund money is leftover financial aid money, and it is distributed at the end of the first month of the semester. You can either have a check mailed to you or set-up a direct deposit, which a lot faster. Sometimes people like to use their refund to buy books from the bookstore. There’s a way to take from the money that you will be refunded and add it to your flex account before refunds are distributed.

COMMUNAL BATHROOMS The dreaded communal bathrooms can be any freshman’s nightmare. When filling out our preferences for dormitories, we tend to try and avoid the dorms with communal bathrooms, but if you’re one of the unlucky people who gets stuck with one, these tips might help you out. You should invest in shower shoes and a waterproof basket for your shower supplies. Besides a towel to dry off, it’s always nice to have a cover-up or shower robes—traveling back to you room will be a lot easier. The best time to take a shower is either early in the morning or late at night; the hot water will be running best at these times. The best time to use the bathroom in peace is at the awkward times in the day when everyone is in class or asleep.

LAUNDRY Laundry is a time consuming and expensive task. It’s usually one of the least favorite duties to complete. If you want to be able to complete you laundry efficiently, I would recommend you do laundry during the middle of the week, and more specifically Thursday or Friday nights when everyone is out partying. Also, try to do your laundry frequently to avoid having to do large loads. Having to lug around a huge clothesbasket back and forth is a great workout, but not that fun.

9

TIME MANAGEMENT Time management is a very important skill to have. The University offers seminars and classes designated to help students acquire these skills. It’s important that you learn to manage your time as best as possible. This way you can avoid missing important deadlines and assignments.

Procrastination can lead to stress and anxiety, so try your best to keep track of your syllabus and calendars. Investing in an agenda or downloading an app to manage all of your assignments isn’t a bad idea either.

GET INVOLVED College can be very intimidating and making friends can sometimes be difficult. Getting involved in the campus community is one of the best ways to meet people who have similar interests to yours. Whether it is a regular club or pledging to some Greek Organization, getting involved in something helps keep you social and opens you up to many networking opportunities. College can feel lonely sometimes and making friends is a great way to help fill that void. At beginning of every fall semester, VSU throws an event on the front lawn called “The Happening”. The Happening is an event where all the clubs and organizations set up tents on the front lawn and provide information and sometimes goodies for the students. Now I know that was pretty hefty stuff, but I really hope that these 7 tips and pointers helped set your mind at ease.

College is what you make it, so I suggest you make the most of it. Remember that you came here to get an education and make some life memories. Now take advantage of these tips and embrace your experience here at VSU!

ONTAP

Perks of Valdosta By: Angel Lewis | Photography: Joshua Abbott/ Angel Lewis As college students, we’ve all learned that sleep is a weak substitute for coffee. Between the exasperated sighs as we trek to our early morning classes and the all-night study sessions pulled during finals week, caffeine has become the life raft to which we all desperately cling.

However, when the line at Starbucks is practically wrapped around the building and the craving is gnawing at your soul, what other options for a fix are there? Well, coffee connoisseurs, your options in Valdosta are not as limited as you might think.

Grassroots Coffee Originally established in 2009, the coffee shop was founded by Spencer and Megan Young in Thomasville, Ga. However, in 2014, GC transplanted a second set of roots here in Valdosta. If you’re in search of the perfect place to relax, unwind, and sip an endless supply of coffee (aka Heaven), then look no further. From bitter shots of espresso to sweet vanilla blenders, Grassroots offers something for everyone. Here, you’ll find that the mellow atmosphere perfectly harmonizes with the smoothness of its certified organic coffee.

10

ONTAP

As a native of Thomasville, walking through the doors of GC was like coming home. The scent of freshly ground coffee danced through the air as the blender hummed a familiar tune in the background. The beauty within the walls of this particular café is not simply within the decadence of the coffee. It is within the perfect combination of cream and sugar; the merging of big city flavor with small town charm.

The standard hot coffee is definitely strong.

Full bodied, bitter tastes are a preference of mine, but if you prefer sweet flavors, requesting a flavor and adding cream and sugar will sweeten the beverage.

In order to provide a rich brew for their iced coffees, Grassroots brews their coffee twice as strong, then lets it chill in the fridge. This prevents the drink from being “watered down” when poured over ice. The iced vanilla coffee found here is remarkable. Simple in theory, yet extremely flavorful! The vanilla flavors add the perfect amount of sweet to complement the dark roast.

If you’re looking for something more decadent, I highly recommend the caramel

twist. Filled with espresso, milk, and caramel and vanilla flavors, this beverage is delicious hot or iced. It’s sweet, but not overwhelmingly. It’s rich, but not overpowering. It’s perfection!

a coffee house, though, Elliano’s does not offer much. However, for college students who are caught up in the whirlwind of five classes, two jobs, and one very small social life, Elliano’s is a saving grace!

The Beanery Coffee Roasters

Aside from the quick service, ECC also offers a myriad of beverage options. The Italian inspired brews vary from Elliano’s signature blend to the more decadent creations, including Tuscany Toffee, a toffee latte drizzled with caramel sauce, and Venetian Vanilla Créme, blended espresso and vanilla with frothed half and half.

While the company has been thriving in South Georgia and North Florida regions since 2004, it transferred to new owners, David and Kurt Peterson, in 2015. The father and son duo was committed to producing flavorful coffee and has since turned the skill of coffee-making into an art form.

Don’t let the small space fool you, the coffee found at The Beanery packs BIG flavor! The minimal seating of a small bench and two high top tables is quickly overlooked by the maximum potential of coffee creations offered. With dozens of coffee blends and an extensive amount of flavor options, the combination possibilities are endless!

Unlike Grassroots Coffee and The Beanery Coffee Roasters, the house blend hot coffee found at Elliano’s is subtle. The flavors are present, but not bold. Adding a flavor shot would definitely bring the cup of joe to life. Similarly, the basic iced vanilla coffee was just that: basic. Lighter blends and softer flavors take center stage here.

Similar to Grassroots Coffee, the Bankers Blend hot coffee at BCR is rather bitter. With their wide variety of house blends, though, it’s easy to find one suitable for your taste preference.

For instance, the Holiday Blend only contains 10% espresso blend, making it a lighter flavor.

Sweet and anything but simple, the vanilla iced coffee is packed full of flavor. Rather than receiving a basic beverage, I happily accepted something else entirely! Instead of wandering down cookie-cutter lane, I found myself taking an unexpected trip to tasty-town! The rich vanilla flavor was perfectly complemented by subtle hints of warm cinnamon, offering a delectable form of serendipity.

One of their more complicated creations is the Southern Diversity. Layering the sides of the cup with ribbons of dark chocolate and peppermint, a generous amount of BCR signature cold brew is added. After adding a dollop of whipped cream, caramel, white chocolate, and more dark chocolate is drizzled on top. The drink is rich, creamy, and practically sinful.

Elliano’s Coffee Company Since 2002, Elliano’s Coffee Company has experienced quite a growth span; originating from a clear, effectual idea into a dominating franchise of the Southeast. Founders Scott and Pam Stewart noticed the success of the drive-thru and America’s constant need for caffeine. By combining America’s love of quick service and coffee, the coffee shop drive-thru was formed. Elliano’s has been striving to serve “Italian quality at America’s pace” since opening its drive-thru window.

Since ECC caters specifically to individuals who are on-the-go, seating is not offered indoors, but a small outdoor patio is provided. For those seeking asylum within the sacred walls of

Elliano’s signature creation of the Caffe Dolce was also quite delicate with its gentle whispers of caramel swirls inside a white mocha latte. Overall, if you prefer your coffee quick, easy and simple, this is the perfect spot for you!

Each coffee shop offers something different for every coffee connoiseur. For a deeper indulgence of the caffeinated beverage, Grassroots Coffee offers richer brews with ample seating to escape the hustle and bustle of college life. The Beanery Coffee Roasters guarantees flavor for every taste preference. While group study sessions and larger groups of coffee enthusiasts might find themselves cramped in small quarters, the cozy environment does act as a pleasant retreat for solo and duo coffee-runs. For those merely seeking a jolt of caffeine in a hurry, Elliano’s is the way to go.

11

ONTAP

Empanadas and More By: Angel Lewis | Photography: Haylee Friel & Joshua Abbott

“For over thirteen years, we have dedicated ourselves to cooking food from multiple ethnic origins. We have found a way to express our sensitivity and love we have for human beings and nature through our food.�

12

ONTAP

A well-kept secret of Valdosta, Empanadas & More has been serving delicious Latin American cuisine for years. The combination of a warm and welcoming atmosphere with recipes that comfort the soul highlight the main reason why E&M has so many returning customers: the empanda.

Found in many countries including Latin America and the Southwestern United States, an empanada is bread that is typically stuffed with a smorgasbord of meat, cheese, vegetables, or fruits. The pastry is then baked or fried to a crisp, creating a mouthwatering handheld pocket of yummy goodness.

Neither I, nor my lunch companion had ever tried an empanada before entering E&M. However, I now consider the empanada one of the basic food groups. We tried three different flavors: beef and cheese, ham and cheese, and chicken and cheese.

The pastry shell was crisp and flaky, the meats were all juicy, and the cheese was melted into every crevice of the food. It was perfection.

After downing the savory empanadas, we were in dire need of something sweet. Luckily Empanadas & More does offer a dessert: sweetened plantains.

A member of the banana family, plantains are more

starchy than sweet. However, when fried with sugar, the vegetable clings to the sweetened flavor.

A mushy texture resembles that of a sweet potato, but has a definitive banana flavor. Although it sounds a tad strange, it was quite an enjoyable dessert!

Aside from the delicious cuisines offered, the main reason I will be returning to Empanadas & More (and recommending it to every person I encounter) is the quality of the service. We were immediately greeted upon entering the business, and were also asked if we had ever visited before. Shaking our heads, our greeter warmly smiled and recommended a few of her favorite dishes. After ordering, the food was prepared quickly and immediately brought to our table; trails of steam following behind the plates. While dining, we were frequently visited by our waitress, who was more than happy to share her knowledge of the foods served within the restaurant.

The business is owned and run by individuals who not only have a love and appreciation for food, but also for their customers. They strive to ensure that every customer leaves with a filled stomach, and a full heart.

13

ONTAP

HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Progress Through the Years By: Evelyn Dunn| Photography: Evelyn Dunn In 1985, there was at least one reported case of AIDS in every region in the world. Four years earlier, doctors were stumped, with the only clue being rare and deadly infections in patients’ bodies. It was brought to the media quickly, resulting in demands for the government to address the problem.

President Ronald Reagan vowed publically to Congress that they were going to make this pandemic a priority. Finally, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome was named, three years after cases were reported. Human Immunodeficiency Virus was later given an official name in 1986.

Doctors discovered later through patient interviews that cases involving AIDS were typically among homosexual men. Everyone was in a panic, thinking that they could get sick by simple contact. This, however, was far

14

ONTAP

from the truth. A couple years after the first outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered and announced that casual contact, food, water, and environmental similarities were not a source for the virus spreading from person to person. Nevertheless, people were still nervous; prejudice between the healthy and the infected was common during the first decade.

AIDS was the number one leading cause of death for Americans by 1990. The number of AIDS cases reported in the U.S. hit about 100,000 citizens. At this point, people were constantly encouraged to practice safe sex, and to set an example by providing free condoms at public facilities to try and reduce any more spread.

Finally, in 1996, the number of diagnosed cases declined for the first time since it all started 15 years ago. This was a ray of hope in the nationwide pandemic, and motivated scientist and doctors even more to find successful treatments.

Dr. David Ho started the “hit early, hit hard� treatment, which became the new customary HIV care in 1997. This involved the attempt to keep newly diagnosed patients healthier longer by putting them on a new, more aggressive treatment. However, most patients that had been taking the drugs for a long period of time became resistant to them if they missed a dosage. Because of this, the treatment was abandoned sometime later.

Since 1992, former President Clinton has held the reins through this crisis, and has established and funded many acts and health centers with the hope in creating vaccines and providing protection/help to the HIV/ AIDS community. African-American and Hispanic communities were the groups that statistically had the most cases of HIV/AIDS reported. Clinton stated that this was a harsh and ongoing crisis within the minority groups.

He therefore allotted an Executive Order to help emerging countries by importing and manufacturing HIV treatments. Later in 2000, he declared that this disease was a threat to national security.

A year later, the CDC established a goal to decrease the annual percentage of HIV cases reported to be cut in half within five years. The FDA also approved the first testing kit for HIV that could be used in the U.S. There was much excitement about this new test because it provided results in as little as 20 minutes, and had a 99.6% accuracy. This test could also be used outside the customary clinics and did not require any special equipment. This ease of access resulted in more people taking the test, which in turn kept them from unknowingly spreading the virus.

By the end of 2004, multiple organizations came together to increase the accessibility of antiretroviral drugs in emerging countries.

These organizations were the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). With their help over 700,000 people were able to receive medication.

The Bounce Back: After more extensive research and a couple of hard years, new preventative measures have emerged. We already know to use protection during intercourse, not to share needles under any circumstance, and to get tested regularly if you have multiple sexual partners. However, in 2006, a new study from the University of Illinois found that a medical circumcision of men greatly reduces the risk of obtaining the virus during heterosexual intercourse. The result is a whopping 53 percent of less transmissions.

AIDS and HIV have been a part of U.S. history for over thirty years. Since then, we have created and approved multiple remedies; from aggressive treatments to advanced blood testing. Today, we have medication that helps prevent the virus from replicating in our bodies, the most well-known one being antiretroviral thereby (ART). It is highly recommended as a treatment, and has been helping victims for many years. If taken every

day and exactly as prescribed by a doctor, it will result with less HIV in your body. This means your immune system can catch a breath and have a chance to fight off the infections. Also, the likely hood of infecting someone else decreases.

These new treatments today suggest a brighter future for people affected by AIDS and HIV, and the mounting anticipation that a cure will be found with more research and funding. Organizations like the International AIDS Society (IAS) is one of the biggest and well-known associations, consisting of over 14,000 members from 190 countries and who also has a wide expanse of researchers from around the globe. These types of foundations are the ones that will bring our nation closer to the cure for AIDS/HIV, and help the people around the world that are affected by it.

All of this information and more can be found at AIDS.gov.

15

ONTAP

Global Issues and Tiny Solutions By: Lauren Sims | Photography: Joshua Abbott

When thinking about the global climate issues of today, there are many things to be said and addressed by humanity. What’s happening? Why is it happening? Is this the natural weather pattern of Earth? What will happen to people? The first question we one should ask when addressing issues such as pollution, global warming, oil spills, chemtrails, and greenhouse gasses, is “What are the solutions”. Many organizations and determined individuals have taken a stance against the destruction of the Earth, and are fighting the good fight to create awareness of the severity of environmental issues and the simple solutions people can explore. Many have suggested solutions as simple as recycling, composting, planting trees, and gardens, but others have explored a far more extreme solution to humanity’s environmental problems. “What is this extreme solution?” You may ask, well here are a few hints. They are small. They are adorable. They’re selfsustaining, and they are conveniently mobile! Alright, Alright, I’ll tell you already…Tiny Houses! All around the world people are down-sizing and going tiny! The small dwellings range between 150-400sq. ft. and include all of the necessities plus storage. That’s right!

Bathroom, Bedroom(s), kitchen, and living space and

16

/or office depending on the chosen design. The Tiny House Movement has grown tremendously since its start in the late 1990s, in the small town of Spar, Texas.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, Who lives in a tiny house? How am I supposed to live in a tiny house?

Eekk! I just don’t see how they do it! Here are a few reasons why people have made the switch and how they’ve adapted to living in a tiny House. As some may already know, the Tiny House Movement picked up and became more popular after the premier of the HGTV hit series Tiny House Nation. This show, along with a plethora of other media mediums, demonstrates to viewers how the process of building a tiny house takes place, prices ranges for the cost of building one, and extremely thorough tours of the finished products.

Those who fall under the tiny home enthusiast category, and have taken the leap of faith to down-size are backpackers, minimalists, campers, newlyweds, retired empty-nesters, college students/new alumni, small families anyone who wants to break away from the chains of excessive/mainstream living and anyone who’s in search of financial freedom! Tiny homes cost anywhere between $5,000-$50,000 depending on how

ONTAP

much space you need, but they’re dirt cheap to build, maintain, and live in, in comparison to an apartment or a normal fixed house. Many of the tiny homes have the option of being on-grid or off-grid and can be run completely off of sustainable, eco-friendly sources of power, which include solar, gas, battery, ethanol, and rain-catchment systems. Which, for some can also mean… no bills! Unless of course, one decides to connect to city water, heating, and gas, then you’re looking at bills; however, if the house is parked on a plot of land that is self-owned or lent to a tiny homeowner, then those bills will more than likely come out to less than $100.00 a month in tiny home. If the homeowner creates an arrangement with a landowner to rent out the chosen land lot, then a potential rent rate would be established, but that’s rare amongst many tiny home owners.

Many tiny home owners have described the switch as “awesome!” and “such a freeing experience.” (Tiny

"We're conditioned to live in a state of excess. We live in a world where 'bigger is better' but it's not!"

House Giant Journey) Others have also expressed initial anxiety in the beginning but now they wonder why they were ever worried. One new tiny Home owner from Auckland, Australia who recently sold his home, and is living in a 175sq.ft. tiny Home with his girlfriend says, “Often times, we get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of a busy life trying to maintain an excessive lifestyle that we don’t even need anyways. We’re conditioned to live in a state of excess, we live in a world where ‘bigger is better’ but it’s not! When I was getting rid of all of the things that I kept in my big house, I couldn’t believe the amount of crap, that I simply didn’t use, and once most of it was gone and I moved into my tiny house, it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Letting go of those things gave me the freedom to travel, quit my job, and spend more time doing the things that I want to do. And no one can ever make me go back or change my mind about this decision, it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.” Countless others have said the same and have been more than satisfied with their decision to

go tiny. Even colleges have explored the possibility of making tiny living an option for student housing on college campuses. For example, the Atlanta campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design has taken a section of their parking deck and built, what they call, SCAD Pads. The SCAD Pads are awesomely designed and student constructed dwellings, equipped with a sleeping area, kitchenette, and bathroom. Each SCAD Pad is decorated with a certain theme in mind (American, Asian, European etc.) and right outside of the dwellings are crated garden sectionals, where the grey water from the dwellings goes, and a community living area. The students also compost their waste and use it in the garden sectionals as well.

All around the world, people have been becoming more and more interested in the freedom, mobility, and innovative lifestyle that comes with living in a tiny house. Tiny home owners have also come together and started educating interested buyers, leasers, and builders on the process of building a tiny house, and have even gone as far as hosting conferences, conventions, workshops, tool schools, and seminars.

Basically, the informational resources for building a tiny house are accessible to everybody, it doesn’t cost much to build one, and there’s so much help and guidance on building a tiny house even the most inexperienced builder can do it! Tiny homes are only one of the many solutions people have been exploring to help fix the environmental issues that humanity is facing now. What started as a few people simply wishing to simplify their lifestyles while helping the environment, is now a progressive movement leading people to smaller carbon footprints, more time to fulfill dreams, and financial freedom!

For more information check out the following : YouTube Channels: •

Tiny House Giant Journey

•

Living Big in a Tiny House

•

Fair Companies (Kirsten Dirksen)

•

Relax Shacks

Website: Tinyhousecommunity.com

17

ONTAP

How to Vote: First Time Voters

By: Evelyn Dunn | Photography: Evelyn Dunn Voting is a unique way to speak our minds, to have our voices heard and our ideals listened to. According to Munsey, some say that it is a chance for us to fit in, and become more involved in our society. The right to vote goes to us young adults when we turn eighteen; however, for the individuals—like myself—who have never voted before, might have difficulties finding places to register, and vote.

18

ONTAP

Requirements to vote: Let’s start with the basics: what are the requirements?

You must be a U.S. citizen and at least eighteen years of age to register and to vote on Election Day. For specific states, like Georgia for instance, you must be a legal resident. However, if you find yourself changing residency, then you can apply for an absentee vote or “mail-in voting.” This is to provide individuals—who are away from their homes—a different method to vote on Election Day. Some states require a legitimate reason for why you are applying for this ballot. Fortunately, Georgia does not fall under that list of states.

Where to vote: Another common misconception among new voters is where to go for registration. Can you do it online? Yes, you can, which is exactly what I did last year. As long as you meet all the necessary requirements needed to register, previously mentioned above, you’ll be fine. The same guidelines are applicable for outside registration: there are public facilities like election offices, assisting agencies, or places that offer state or local registrations for that specific date. Simply find the one nearest you, and pick the most opportune time to go.

Whom to vote for: Now that you know where, how, and why to vote, whom do you vote for? Members of our younger generation do not keep up with most political debates and news like our parents have before us. So, we might be at a disadvantage as to who our important vote will go towards. You need to gather a sense of who will make the best next president, rather than going in blindly and picking the first lever you touch on Election Day. Luckily, for those that would like a simpler approach, you can go to a website called isidewith.com, and take a voting quiz.

This quiz will ask you important questions about economic, social, and environmental issues. Then it will pair you with candidates whose views you most agree with. Even if you get someone you would never have thought of, you can at least have a foundation of who you will might follow more closely from now on.

Voting is not as complex as it seems. For the people who have never voted before, there can be misconceptions. I know I had plenty of questions. However, with help, the process can be quick and easy. Without any of the confusion of where, how, or whom to vote for, we can take the steps into electing our next president of the United States.

19

ONTAP

Saying "I Do" while Studying Too By: Lauren Sims | Photography: Joshua Abbott So you’re sitting in your dorm room, watching Netflix, eating Ramen or candy, on your twin sized bed with the guy, or girl, from Wednesday’s lecture hall. You’re happy, you’re anxious, you’re wondering what you should do with your arms. Should you cuddle? Should you wear an outfit, or dress comfortably?

What movie will you watch? These are the questions that come to mind when you’re hanging out with potentials. After all, you don’t want to send the wrong message, but you also don’t want to hide who you are. Of course these are questions we ask ourselves in the beginning when things are new and fresh, and we’re still lost in the loveliness of having somebody new in the world that you’ve built around yourself. But let’s be honest, after about the third of sixth month, the mask comes off, the farts start sounding like trumpets announcing the Queen’s arrival, and comfort levels are on the rise. After “the tingles” have worn off the reality of who

"When you know, you just know! I didn't have to think too hard. " you’ve decided to commit yourself to begins to change and in the famous words of Morgan Grimes from the show “Chuck”, “Well well well the truth comes out!” It’s the classic cycle of relationships, infatuations, marriages, LOVE! However, there are those few couples that figure out what it takes to make their relationships work and understand the time, energy, work, thought, and even prayer that it will take to make their way through marriage, and all before the age range of 25-30 years old. Atlanta Magazine did a survey amongst millennials and found that “most young people within the twenty-first century are more likely to get married around the ages of 26-30, in comparison to the youngsters of the 70s era, who got married typically, around the ages of 21-25.” Nowadays, young people

20

everywhere are thinking about their futures, careers, and the overall pursuit of happiness, which apparently excludes the rush to get married and settle down in the beginning of their 20s. However, in light of the popular decision to stay away from tying the knot, there are a few members of VSU’s own community who have been asked, asked, and answered one of the biggest questions of their lives.

In an interview with the couples, I found that they all had something in common when it came, not only, to talking about their relationships but also in describing the big decision to get married, simplicity. For example, Kim and her husband have been in together for ten years total and have been married for three years. After meeting in a creative writing class at Darton University and becoming friends shortly after husband’s break-up with his previous ex, Kim says, “Honestly, I really expected to be a rebound.”

Lightheartedly in describing how the couple came to be. “We kept talking after they broke up and we just kept spending time together ever since” Says the young wife. I asked her what her deal-breakers were at the time that they were dating, and what helped her come to the conclusion that she was going to marry her husband, she said, “Well, I knew I wanted kids so whoever I was going to be with had to have the same desire to have kids as well, but other than that I didn’t really have many deal-breakers.” Kim was very nonchalant when she talked about she and her husband’s love process, simply put, they dated, moved in together, and got married. Since then, the couple has moved from Albany, Ga to Tifton, Ga as Kim pursues a degree in creative writing at Valdosta State University. The couple has plans of starting a family in the near future.

But couple Maya and Josh has a slightly different love story that’s brought them to make the big decision of getting married.

Maya told me all about their spiritual love journey saying that their relationship has

ONTAP

been built on a foundation grounded by God, she says “He directs how we interact, how we love, how we forgive each other. Without faith, I have no idea where we be as a couple or individuals.” When asked if Maya was afraid of getting married or was worried that she was missing out on anything because she was getting married so young she told us, “I have no apprehensions at all. I credit the Lord with that. This is a change - I'm starting my career as an educator, ending college and getting married. I'm excited to see what life brings and I'm so blessed to have somebody by my side to take it in.” The couple has been together for two years and their story has become popular amongst the local campus community with Maya being a published spoken word poet and president of VSU’s Deep Release Poetry Society, and Joshua being an active participant in the college ministry at CrossPointe Church. Maya’s confidence all stemmed from one moment her sophomore year when Josh showed his true colors both as a man, but also as a dependable companion; she told us “I knew Josh was the one on a night of my sophomore year. It was about 6 months into us officially dating. I got really sick one night and had to hospitalized. I was terrified and having anxiety attacks. Josh drove to the hospital at 2 in the

morning and stayed with me all night. He read scripture to me, and prayed and sang to me.

As I recovered, all I remember was seeing his face when I woke up and when I went to sleep.

That's when I realized he was down for me through anything and could see myself being with him in the high points and in the low points.” And with the biggest smile on her face. The couple is set to be married this in the summer of 2016 with their closest friends, family, and church family. Talk of starting family hasn’t been mentioned but the couple has decided that they do want to have children eventually.

When considering the enormous investment of marriage, age doesn’t have to be the biggest element of concern. These couples have shown us that love has no age, time limit, or plan. Many songs have tried to explain this concept for years and years, yet still many people consider young age and marriage to be synonymous with some type of negative taboo. Although this belief is common more so amongst millenials, the stigma is still alive and well. However, when we see the love and confidence of those who have chosen love above all other things, despite popular opinion, I guess it’s as simple as knowing.

21

ONTAP

Budgeting in College Managing money is difficult, especially when you're in college working more than likely a minimum wage job at the hours you can squeeze in between classes. But there are ways to save some cash while in college.

By: Veronica You | Photography: Kimberly Cannon

College, the place where young adults finally get the freedom from their parents’ house that they have so desperately been looking for.

Moving into their first dorm or even apartment, the freedom is something that young adults have been yearning for since they got their driver’s license. But with this great freedom comes great responsibility:; earning your own money to pay for things on your own or budgeting the money that your parents are giving you while at college. Young adults jumping into the “real world” often have a hard time budgeting the money that they have on the necessities (food, bills, etc…) and the wants (alcohol, new clothes, going out with friends).

Many kids are not taught how to budget their money at a young age, making college some of the most difficult times in a persons financial life. Generally speaking, most people in college spend a majority of the money that they make on things like going out with their friends and eating out. Those kids who have things such as rent or other bills tend to spend most of their money on their bills and any extra money they have left over on things like alcohol or going out with their friends. To help control how much one is spending in college, it is great to write down how much you spend

22

ONTAP

each time you go out, (cover fees, drink fees, taxi fees) and how much you make every month. When you have it all written out on paper, you can visually see how much you are spending on certain things. For example if you make $1,000 a month and your rent and// utilities are $600 a month, you now have $400 extra a month for other things. By writing down all the other things you spend your money on, you can see exactly where the hard earned money you are making is going.

Tips for saving the extra money that you make each month include as already mentioned writing down where you spend most of your extra money. If most of your extra money goes to things such as going out to the bars every weekend with your friends, maybe try only going out one or two weekends a month and you’ll save at least the cover fees for both of those weekends. Another tip to save money while in college is to buy your own groceries at the local grocery store. While it may seem like going through the drive-thru is money savingsaving money, as you’re generally only spending five dollars$5 or less generally each time, it is actually cheaper to cook most of your meals at home if possible. A box of cereal is roughly under six bucks$6, plus the milk to go with it being under five bucks$5 can feed

a person generally eight to ten servings. If you do the math, you spent roughly nine dollars for both of these and have had up to ten breakfasts with it, that’s under one dollar per meal, while. iIf you were to go through Cchick-fil-Aa ten times, you would spend upwards of $50 in that same ten day period, for just breakfast alone! Another good tip to manage your money through college is to buy things in bulk such as mouthwash or feminine necessities. It will cost more money upfront to buy the two pack of mouthwash or the 100 pack of tampons, but these items will not go bad sitting under your bathroom sink, and overall the price per unit will be less. A regular thing of mouthwash is four dollars, while the double pack is six, you will get twice the mouthwash for only two dollars more. Also, many generic brands are just as good as the name brands. The 99 cent toothpaste will work just as well as the five dollar crest brand toothpaste. Even though that seems like taking being on a budget to a new level, small changes like switching a couple of your name brand products to generic can save you a pretty penny. Addicted to Bath and Body Works lotion? Wait for the semi-annual sales when bottles

23

of their lotion are only $4 instead of $11, you can then buy three bottles of lotion for the price of one regularly! Things like this can save you a good bit of money if you just look out for good sales.

College is known as the time you are going to be broke, stressed and over worked; but simple things such as going out just a little bit less, planning purchases around big sales, and buying your own groceries can help you avoid the added stress on top of all the school work of being broke. Learning to budget while in college is also a great way to get ready for post-graduation and having to budget your money among all your bills.

ONTAP

5 Things Other Than Pizza to Eat in College What makes pizza so clutch? I assumed it would be the different kinds of crust you can order, the plethora of sauces, cheeses, and toppings.

By Carlius A. Williams

24

ONTAP

Pizza. Everyone loves pizza. Pizza seems like the best thing to eat for 5 dollars, other than the McPick 2 for $2, Wendy’s 4 for $4 or Taco Bell’s $5 box. A recent USDA study revealed that over 13% of Americans consume pizza on any given day, with college- age people among the groups with the highest reported percentages. The study says that 26% percent of males and 18% percent of females age 12-19 reportedly consume pizza on any given day. The numbers fell to 16% percent of males and 13% percent of females ages 20-39. What makes pizza so clutch? I assumed it would be the different kinds of crust you can order, the plethora of sauces, cheeses, and toppings. You can basically make a pizza out of anything you want on it, from breakfast foods to soul food and even wings. Today I’m not here to talk about pizza; instead I’m going to offer five alternatives that taste better than left over pizza.

Pasta: Spaghetti: Some discount stores sell the noodles for only $0.75 and 1 lb. of the sauce starts at $2. Buying this in a 5 lb. package can usually start at $4.99. Cook this at home. Store in fridge in an air sealed container to extend shelf life for leftovers. Bring in cold lunch bag and re-heat in microwave. The pasta in spaghetti helps with vision and helps hair growth. Pasta is also good for skin cell growth and helps improve cardiovascular health. Pasta is advised for athletes because it can help prevent muscle stiffness around the body and helps muscle spasms and pain. Pasta is rich in protein and amino acids that help maintain healthy bones.

Potatoes: Buying these in bulk, a 10 pound bag may cost only $3.49: Cook at home, store in cold lunch bag, pop in microwave at college; you can also add water instead of milk if you still enjoy the taste. On the healthy side, a single potato can provide the body with 3 grams of fiber but most of it resides in the skin. Potatoes can lower cholesterol, and prevent colon cancer. Potatoes can lower blood pressure and prevent obesity. Potatoes are so unique that once you cook and cool them they become loaded with a starch that naturally helps the body burn fat.

Tacos and Quesadillas Mexican food is easy to prepare, calls for ingredients that are relatively cheap and easy to buy at your nearest grocery store, and it also tastes delicious. Mexican dishes are good vegan options for college students to make. The healthiest option is a nonfried corn tortilla instead of fried or flour tortillas. Frying the shell adds a lot of fat and calories. Beans are a great low-calorie option since they contain a lot of fiber, but eggs, lean ground turkey, chicken, and fish are also good alternatives. If you want to lose weight, you need to limit calories. Foods like beef with a lot of fat tend to have more calories for a small amount of food. The added volume from the vegetables will make you feel full for longer even though you consume fewer calories.

Superfood aka Salad: Salads are one of those meals that are quick and easy to throw together because they require zero cooking time. Of course, chopping up veggies can be painstaking and time consuming, but busy (or just lazy!) college students can pick up pre-chopped and peeled veggies at the grocery store. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods often have an excellent selection of veggies and items to easily throw on a salad. For the basics, start with a couple cups of kale and add whatever your heart desires. Vegetables in salads are good sources of insoluble fiber, which keeps your digestive tract healthy. If you add nuts, seeds or beans to the salad, you'll get a boost of soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol and keeps blood sugar balanced. Men should get 38 grams and women need 25 grams of fiber in their daily diet. ’m not here to bash pizza because most of its ingredients like pepperoni and cheese provide fat and some protein to ground the body's surge of serotonin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness and tends to flow freely after you eat a meal. There are some risks involved that could possibly put your health on the line, so lay off ordering pizza every weekend. You can even order a veggie pizza every now and then. With these alternatives maybe you do not have to depend on pizza.

Chicken – You can get a 10 pound bag of legs for as low as $4.99-$6.99 on sale: Heat at home, bring in cold lunch bag to class, and reheat in microwave. Chicken is high in protein and low in fat. It is a natural anti-depressant and high in the amino acid tryptophan. Poultry is known to increase the serotonin levels in the brain; thus, enhancing your mood, blasting stress, and soothing you to sleep. The protein in chicken helps prevent arthritis and suppresses and control homocysteine levels. Chicken is also a metabolism booster and will help keep blood vessels healthy, and energy levels high.

25

ONTAP

El Chapo: Mexican Drug Lord or Champion Escape Artist By: Carlius Williams| Photography:Luis Mendez/Ashley Bell

He started out selling fruit as a teenager and by the age of 40 he had built a billion dollar drug syndicate and has infamously eluded police time and time again.

26

ONTAP

Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably didn’t miss El Chapo escaping from one of the world’s most revered prisons and offering money for Donald Trump’s head. El Chapo may have been born on either December 25, 1954 or April 4, 1957 as Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera. Nobody really knows his exact date of birth, which only lends more mystery to him. He is a Mexican drug lord who heads the Sinaloa Cartel. He started out selling fruit as a teenager and by the age of 40 he had built a billion dollar drug syndicate and has infamously eluded police time and time again. The intense manhunt from El Chapo began in May 1993.

In Mexico, El Chapo became a larger-than-life figure as he eluded authorities while expanding a drug empire that spanned the world. His life story became the topic of bestselling books as well as rap song. In the United States, he is wanted on multiple federal drug trafficking and organized crime charges. El Chapo is also known as "Shorty," a moniker which matches his 5-foot-6-inch frame.

He was caught in June and was sentenced to nearly 21 years in a maximum security jail. In November of 1995, he was transferred again. He first escaped jail on January 19, 2001 when a security guard opened his electronically operated cell door. Then he was rolled through several doors and out the front door by a maintenance worker.

He made his escape in the trunk of a car and was transported out of town. This elaborate escape only cost him $2.5 million.

climbed out of a mile long underground hole. There was even a bounty placed on his head and several officials were arrested in connection to his escape. El Chapo was so wanted so bad that the airport in mexico was shut down.

In October of 2015, after already being in hiding El Chapo had a meeting with famous actor Sean Penn. He was interested in getting a movie made about his life. This meeting led to authorities finding his location. He fled again and was tracked down in January of 2016. He was transported to the same prison that he escaped from in July of 2015. El Chapo must have been the king of hide and seek as a kid. It is not every day that one lives after escaping jail not once but TWICE. He has been known for evading police and all different kinds and levels of military.

With his fortune, this was not a problem for the self-made billionaire. He was considered the most powerful drug trafficker in the world by the US Department of the Treasury in 2003. In the past, El Chapo manipulated U.S. authorities and drug officials to gain power by having his rivals locked up, and he single handedly broke a pact with two of his rivals, causing a war amongst his enemies that would reign him supreme in the Mexican drug game..

By the end of 2006 there were 50,000 lives lost due to the Mexican drug trade. In 2008, at the height of his prominence in the drug trade, his son was assassinated.

This drove El Chapo into hiding while his empire continuously grew. After several years in hiding, he was caught in 2014 when authorities found him in his ex-wife’s house. They could not break into his steel front door, and he seemingly escaped through a tunnel system.

800 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31601 CALL US: (229) 242-483

He was however arrested a couple weeks later. His time in jail was not long as he escaped again in July of 2015 through a tunnel under his shower inside his jail cell that led to a house construction site. There he successfully

27

ONTAP

Local Brands: Big City Style Models:

Stylist:

Cynthia Papailler

Cynthia Papailler

Lauren Sims

Lauren Sims

Brianna Mercado Joseph Thomas

Clothing:

Loren Spencer

Hallelujah Trends

Casey O'Kelley

Nu Royalty Empire Casey O'kelley's closet

Photographer: Vince Jupiter

28

ONTAP

29

ONTAP

30

ONTAP

31

ONTAP

32

ONTAP

33

ONTAP

34

ONTAP

35

ONTAP

In Defense of RomComs: A Review of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

By: Presley Lovins| Photography:Ashley Bell

Condemned to the movie morgue after death by genre but resuscitated by its star-studded cast, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days follows the elaborate tale of how two tangled tales lead to love. Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a columnist for Composure magazine who is given the opportunity to write about whatever she wants once her column becomes famous. To achieve this fame, she sets out to write an article entitled “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” in which she chronicles how she uses the classic dating faux pas to drive away a man in a little over a week. The subject of her experiment—Ben Barry. Ben (Matthew McConaughey) is an advertising agent who is trying to shift from the alcohol and athletic department to the jewelry market. In order to prove to his boss that he can sell jewelry, he is asked to sell himself to a woman by making her fall in love with him in, conveniently, ten days. The brunt of his bet—Andie Anderson. With high stakes for both parties, neither Andie nor Ben is willing to surrender. Therefore, Andie is stuck with a guy who won’t get lost while Ben is stuck with a gal who is hard to love.

from the The A.V. Club compares the film’s plot to “bland and uncomplicated” comfort food; and A. O. Scott from The New York Times headlines his review of the film as “Ever-SoClever Games of Love that End as Expected.”

These assessments are perhaps true…to some extent. I’m not here to unveil some hidden plot twist in the movie or to divulge top-secret information to change minds. I am, however, here to challenge mindsets about why these qualities seem so “appalling,” as Peter Travers suggests in his Rolling Stone review.

At first, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days seems as far-reaching as Kate Hudson’s smile and as predictable as Matthew McConaughey’s shirtless scenes. Critics have had a field day with Donald Petrie’s film and its not-sooriginal qualities. Joshua Tyler from CinemaBlend describes How to as “another harmlessly blah trip to the tired out filler of the rom-com movie trough.” Scott Tobias

The answer lies in the two words sketched on How to’s toe tag: Romantic Comedy.

Rom-coms are known as women's guilty pleasures, but I argue that the term is guilty of much more than pleasure. Rom-com insinuates a “chick flick” with inferior acting and writing to be tossed into the five-dollar movie

36

ONTAP

After all, the movie is unrealistic and predictable, but that’s the whole point.

Movies are an escape from reality. Think about it. Action movies, such as Fast N’ Furious, are expected to be literally unbelievable. In fact, the whole premise of a science fiction film is, well, fiction: the plot is supposed to be unnatural and the premise impossible. As far as predictability, Petrie never told his audience to expect the unexpected. Why then has this film been disparaged for possessing these qualities?

bin at Walmart and enjoyed while women bitch about their love lives and gorge on Krispy Kreme. Because How to has been labeled as a romantic comedy, the far-fetched and predictable elements of the film are suddenly unacceptable. In the words of Twyla Tharp, one of the best fusion choreographers America has ever known: “I am beginning to think that walls are very unhealthy things,” (“Twyla Tharp”). Twyla does not believe in categorizing art and therefore has been able to weave different styles with different music and to create masterpieces without the limits of genres. “Either something works, or it doesn’t,” she claims. And that, ladies and gentleman, is how we should judge films—by how the films’ qualities work together and not by the genres by which they are so mercilessly pigeonholed.

How to accomplishes an excellent portrayal

of moods and themes throughout the film which demonstrate just how much thought and preparation went into the making of this downgraded so-called “rom-com.” However, like any human creation, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is flawed and, like any film, is not for every moviegoer. Critics complain of How to’s lack of development in plot and characters and lack of excitement in the second act, citing McConaughey and Hudson as the film’s only driving forces.

Josh Ralske from AllMovie claims that How to does not develop the characters’ occupations as thoroughly as needed: “The film isn't very convincing in portraying these peoples' work lives, which are pivotal to the fairly ludicrous plot.” Although Andie and Ben are seen in their work environments several times throughout the film, the audience (myself included) is not fully convinced of the

37

ONTAP

importance of their jobs since they are rarely seen actually working. Also, while Andie claims, “I want to write about things that matter, like politics and the environment, andforeign affairs—things I’m interested in,” we never once hear her talk about these issues. If the film had added more depth to her interests, Andie would have been a more fully developed character.

McConaughey is a reactive actor, and to maximize his acting qualities, Petrie would literally throw stuff at an unknowing Matthew during filming, such as vegetarian food or Kate’s kisses. While these actors do a superb job of portraying Andie and Ben’s story, Donald Petrie showcases his directorial talents to illustrate the themes of their relationship— humor, mischief, lust, love, and family.

Stephanie Zacharek from the online magazine Salon suggests that How to would be more riveting if it were “nastier.” She claims that Andie and Ben should have continued their plotting against one another even after falling in love: “When Andie starts to really fall for Ben, director Donald Petrie…lets things go

When it comes to humor, How to serves its audience a comedic cocktail, mixing the intoxicating ingredients of scheme, slapstick, and psychopathic humor. The devious ploys concocted by Andie remind me of the hilarious 1987 film Overboard, in which Kate Hudson’s mother Goldie Hawn stars. In this

Although the actors are not the only driving forces in the movie, they certainly give the film a huge boost. all gooey, instead of riffing on the vaguely thrilling undertones of treachery and deviousness he’d set up in the couple’s early scenes together.” While this continued scheming would bring a more complex element to the second act of the film, it simply does not work with the plot. Andie and Ben go from strangers to lovers. Therefore, it would only make sense for their games to become less nasty rather than more.

Although the actors are not the only driving forces in the movie, they certainly give the film a huge boost. I am especially impressed with the acting after learning that many of the film’s most praised scenes were improvised. Apparently, Kate Hudson is an excellent ad-libber and has enhanced more than a few scenes with her magic. During Andie and Ben’s hilarious couples’ therapy scene, Kate grabs a handful of tissues and shoves them under her armpits rather than wiping her eyes with them. Also, as I have learned from Petrie’s commentary, Matthew

38

ONTAP

movie, the male (Kurt Russell) is actually the one playing tricks on the female (Hawn). In the end, they fall in love despite the trickery and deceit, in much the same way that Andie and Ben work out their differences in How to’s finale. With its slapstick aspects, How to is almost comparative to I Love Lucy but with a risqué twist. In fact, during the director commentary, Donald Petrie remarks that the character of one of Andie’s work friends is inspired by Lucy. For those with unconventional tastes, How to offers us some effervescent psychopathic humor. In my favorite scene of the movie, Andie interrupts Ben’s poker game with his buddies and goes berserk when she sees that their “love fern” (a plant Andie gifted to Ben, claiming it to be symbolic of their relationship) is drooping.

“Youuu let it diiiee!” Andie cries with crazed eyes. Then, as she grabs a tray of food for the boys, she overhears Ben remark about her sanity (or lack of it), sneaks up behind him, and yells “Are you saying I’m some kind of MENTAL PERSON?” as she catapults the carrots

into their poker game. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days encompasses a wide range of comedic tastes, ensuring that most every viewer experiences a few chuckles.

The atmosphere of scheming and conniving is achieved through camera angles and variations in music. In the director commentary, Petrie reveals that the sound technicians would dull the background noise and add “tango” music to a scene whenever characters were plotting their next moves. This film trick draws the audience into the machinations of the characters’ minds. Also, to further indicate the act of scheming, Petrie would have the camera zoom in to the character, bringing the plans into focus. This camera angle gives the audience a sense of intimacy with the characters and their schemes.

The film uses imagery to set the mood for different scenes and to subtly convey the themes of lust, love, and family in Ben and Andie’s relationship. In their early scenes together (before Andie turns psychotic), the sexual tension between Andie and Ben is very evident. Despite the lovey-dovey song “Let’s Stay Together” playing as background music, Ben and Andie can’t deny their lustful longing for one another. The mood is dark, mischievous, and sexy: Andie wears a dark grey dress; the lights are off; and they are both planning their agendas. Petrie also notes that the ginormous mirror on Ben’s wall is symbolic of the characters’ duplicitous motives. The filmmakers use setting, costume, and lighting to transition to the themes of love and family. Andie wears white during these scenes, perhaps signifying her pure motives. The scenes with Benjamin’s family are shot outside in the daytime glow. Andie’s hair is natural in big curls for the first time, symbolizing her carefree attitude and the fact that she has let her guard down. When they finally make love, it is a drastically different scene than the lustful one: Ben and Andie strip their clothes and agendas in a homey bathroom at his parents’ house. Petrie comments, “I

wanted their lovemaking…to be as innocent and playful as possible.” Also, to illustrate whether a scene is from Andie or Ben’s viewpoint of the relationship, Petrie uses either a female or a male singer in the background music. These theatrical symbols not only allow Andie and Ben to advance to different stages in their relationship but also allow the audience to subconsciously shift from each mood to the next.

Although How to has been dismissed as a predictable and unrealistic romantic comedy, we have learned that art knows no boundaries and that these qualities are not viable reasons to hate the film. Also, we have acknowledged the film’s downfalls in development but have uncovered some gems in the film as well—the depiction of various themes symbolizing aspects of Ben and Andie’s relationship. So go ahead, escape to fiction mountain with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and uncover more of the film’s treasures for yourself.

Back Cover Photographer Vince Jupiter

39

ONTAP

To contribute an article email us at: ontap@valdosta.edu Visit us on the web at: www.ontapvsu.com Follow us: VSUOnTap Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Issue 14 Fall 2016 Valdosta State University