W27 Fall 2020: At Home Edition

At Home Edition.

Fall 2020

Fall 2020

W27

A Letter From The Editor Truly, what a bizarre year it has been for us all, might I even say sort of like an episode of the Twilight Zone. But with each bit of strangeness, there are pieces of hope, and pieces of joy. At this moment, we are living at a peak time in history, quite an odd thing to put on your brain. But as such a time as this, we must use our voices, we must all come together and rise up with hope. In these pages beyond me, contain stories, moments to reflect, pieces to relate, but most importantly, a virtual community for you.

Oh, how I wish I could hand out a freshly printed newspaper to you all; I have hopes for our futures, but for now, may this issue grace you with warmth, community and revelation.

This W27 Newspaper wouldn’t be able to exist without my wonderful team of writers, artists, graphic designers, and editors. To all of my graphic designers; Jennie, Kathleen, Jake and Ethan, thank you for working so hard with us, I have immense gratitude for you all! This newspaper is a vessel for the voices of FIT. It’s been a dream and such hard accomplished work to make this all happen. I would also like to say a special thank you to my Assistant Editor in Chief, Vice President, and creator of our newly W27 Podcast, Prerna Chaudhary, my right-hand gal. This amazing issue wouldn’t be possible without my beloved team. Thank you all for supporting us!

Sincerely,

Charlotte Spaid Editor-in-Cheif, W27 Editor in Chief and President Charlotte Spaid

Contributors

Jake Valliere Ethan Sawyer

Abigail Zwirecki Kathleen Nolan Charlotte Spaid Pamela Valdez Isabella Beggs Ashley Lawson Katie Motta Jake Valliere Prerna Chaudhary Charlotte Spaid Jennie Keating Jarred Shango

Social Media Manager

Art Contributors

Assistant Editor in Chief and Vice President Prerna Chaudhary

Art Directors

Kathleen Nolan Jennie Keating

Designers

Lauren Brown

Kaili Woop Adriana Klinkert Ascanio Ashleigh Simpson William Mun Ashley Vargas Aurora Hinz

Faculty Editorial Advisors Ellen Davidson Alexandra Mann Cover Drawing by Kaili Woop Fine Arts 2023

@w27newspaper http://linktr.ee/w27newspaper

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Fall 2020

Table Of COnTenTs:

4

My Unconventional First Year

By Abigail Zwirecki

5 6 8 9

Revisiting “Twilight” as an Adult

By Kathleen Nolan

Jams for You! A Quarantine Playlist

By Charlotte Spaid

Should Brands Use Their Clothing and Products to Encourage People to Vote?

10 11

By Pamela Valdez

Quarantine Cooks

By Isabella Beggs

How Social Media Can Be Used for Activism and the Issues of Performance Activism

By Ashley Lawson

The Tea of FIT Podcast

12 15 17 18 21 23 24

W27 Hiding from COVID-19 in a Tent

By Katie Motta

Student’s Work of Art

Online Learning: Spaces and Outfits

By Jake Valliere

#Girlboss: Is It Time to Move On?

By Prerna Chaudhary

Falling Back in Love With My Hometown

By Charlotte Spaid

A Career After Corona

By Jennie Keating

Creative Class Complacency

By Jarred Shango

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My Unconventional First Year

By: Abigail Zwirecki (Advertising, Marketing and Communications, ‘24) My name is Abigail Zwirecki, and I am a freshman here at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Never would I have thought my first semester at my dream school would turn out this way. It’s sort of an “unconventional” first year, of course. With a fully remote setting, my experiences are very different from the typical first-year student a year ago, but I have learned to make the most of my situation. And after all, I am getting a great education.

This isn’t just any education either. It’s education from one of the top fashion schools in the world!

For the past 13 years, I have been hauling my backpack in the halls with my zombie-like attitude. I’ve always wondered what a typical homeschooled kid’s day was like. Now I’m her. I treat each day as if I were actually attending class. I wake up early (I know, I’m crazy), take a shower, make sure to fleek my eyeliner and brows. A prepared outfit is ready for my upper half, but I settle for a comfy pair of FIT sweatpants on my lower half, obviously.

Why do I do such things, you ask? Well, I do it for myself. I genuinely feel better (mentally and physically) if I am looking professional and put together for the day. I believe that this is the key to success in the real and virtual world.

One thing I feel obligated to do is put my camera on for my professors. Not only do I feel bad for all of the students who can’t be on campus, but I feel just the same for professors. I hate the idea of someone talking to an emotionless profile picture. What I do love is seeing another student’s face and interacting with them through our facial expressions. When a professor cracks a joke or some sort of glitch happens, I love laughing along with my friends.

“I miss the human connection I once had pre-COVID.”

In terms of learning from home, I’d say it’s not as bad as you’d think. I try to listen as best I can through the muffling microphone sounds from students who aren’t quite familiar with how to mute themselves yet. I do my assignments, study the material and take notes. But it’s the focusing part that I really struggle with. My eyes become strained, and I stvart to lose feeling in my legs from sitting for so long in my less than supportive swivel chair. I spend hours fantasizing what it would actually feel like to attend class at my dream school. I make up scenarios in my head constantly as I imagine walking through the halls of FIT admiring my fellow students’ attire. I think about all the fun I would’ve had staying up late and just talking with my roommates. At this point, I have realized that being homeschooled actually sucks. I spent all of those years envying homeschooled kids just to realize it’s not all about waking up in your pj’s and doing school in bed.

I miss the human connection I once had pre-COVID. Being around people definitely pushes me to do my best and work hard. It blows my mind seeing all of the creativity FIT students hold.

What’s so crazy about remote learning is that the semester is going by incredibly fast. Although I’m going crazy and cabin fever is kicking in, time is flying. I’m definitely seeing quite a few Jack Torrance characteristics in myself lately. All I have been doing is work, work and more work. There is absolutely no play, and I’m obviously going crazy because of it. Some days I get in my car and simply drive around blasting Nelly Furtado and end up strolling around my dead galleria mall. As the sky gets darker and the season changes, time will start to slow, and I will officially be over this. I will be over the classes and over the boredom.

What I have learned throughout this experience is that I’m not alone. I’ve stumbled across instances where I need to remind myself that everyone is in the same boat, and it’s not just me struggling during these unprecedented times. I am certainly thankful I haven’t been affected greatly by this virus and that I am safe in my own home, being fed and taken care of. Living through COVID-19 is an experience that has changed my life forever, but will never change my love for the Fashion Institute of Technology, 227 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001.

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REVISITING TWILIGHT

AS AN ADULT By: Kathleen Nolan (Graphic Design, ‘21)

During the initial phases of quarantine, I was faced with a lot of free time like everybody else in the world. I spent my days staring at the ceiling and browsing through almost every streaming platform. No new shows enticed me, and my lack of commitment was beyond frustrating. I mean, where was I even going in the middle of a pandemic? This should not be an inner battle to have!

Because of my indecisiveness and all the time in the world, I wound up falling down a rabbit hole that brought me back to movies I watched almost a decade ago. At first, I started off with some romantic comedies. “Knocked Up,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.”

The list went on and on ranging from classics to cheesy Netflix produced films. After I had enough of that genre, I took on the challenge of every “Harry Potter” movie. I have met Harry Potter before, but had never actually seen any of them. I figured I owed it to Daniel Radcliffe and quite frankly, myself. To summarize, I absolutely loved them and wished I got into them sooner. I was honestly shocked that I had been missing out on such a great thing for so long. While watching “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” a door unlocked in my brain. One that had been shut since 2012. That of course was the cinematic masterpiece we all know as the “Twilight Saga” starring Robert Pattinson. Or so I thought was a cinematic masterpiece…

From 2008 to 2012, “Twilight” was an entity that consumed the majority of preteen girls’ brains, including my own. Looking back on my middle school experience, nothing stirred up more drama than whether you were on Team Edward or Team Jacob. Seeing Pattinson as Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter” opened the floodgates again for me, and with that, I just had to visit my old friend Edward Cullen.

Revisiting “Twilight” was probably one of the funniest moments for me during quarantine. A film series that I once obsessed over had turned into a comedy, and it made me question a lot about my 12-year-old self. If you haven’t

rewatched any of the “Twilight Saga” as an adult, I highly recommend that you do. Although not in the genre of comedy, it is a high contender. From the painfully cringey drama to the most memorable quotes, you will be left with the existential question, “How was this as popular as it was?”.

As I rewatched the series, I became increasingly obsessed with the reasoning behind why “Twilight” did as well as it did. While reading more and more about it, I discovered I was not the only one fascinated and confused. One of the biggest reasons for its popularity was that every preteen girl seemed to desire an Edward in their life, yearning to be in Bella’s position, a normal girl who just so happened to have to choose over a very good looking vampire or a very good looking werewolf. Every 12-year-old girl wanted their very own Edward Cullen, myself included, so no judgment passed here.

After rewatching “Twilight” (more than once I might add), I reinstated my dormant crush on Pattinson. This of course led me to watch every other film he had starred in either over again or for the first time. If you have not seen any other R Patz film, I’d say take a pause on reading my article right now and open your laptop because he is actually a very good actor. It’s ok, I’ll wait…

Welcome back! How was it? Obsessed too? Let’s continue.

Pattinson, although becoming a superstar from “Twilight,” didn’t even enjoy the films! Gasp! If you were to look up any interview he did on the “Twilight Saga” he never really has anything nice to say about it. In an interview with Moviefone, Pattinson was asked, “Would you be a ‘Twilight’ fan if you weren’t starring in the movies?” He then replied, “I would just mindlessly hate it.”

Stay tuned for 2022 because Pattinson will be the new Batman! (Yay!) If anyone would like to A. start an R Patz fan club or B. See The Batman when it comes out, please contact me.

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You know that video of Timothée Chalamet dancing and singing to this song? Yes, that’s why I fell in love with it. But seriously, the amount of times I have sung to this in my car, it’s such a good song to groove to. Mariah is a queen!

by Nena

Moving into quarantine, I had to adjust my music listening. No more sad junk. Only tunes from here on out that make me feel GOOD! Sometimes, you truly have to just dance it out. The following are some carefully curated songs that I have enjoyed all quarantined, some are new, some are old, but all of them are jams to me.

This song comes from my inner Lorelai Gilmore. This plays in the scene she’s sitting in the waiting room, about to give birth to Rory, listening to it on her Walkmen. This song is a classic. It rocked the world in the ’80s, making top charts all over the world. Though there is an English version, I think the original German version is the best. This song was stuck in my head for a month, and I wasn’t mad about it!

by Gorillaz

This jam has circulated back from when I first got this record in high school. The Gorillaz know how to make an electrifying groove. I have a distinct memory of putting this song on my record player, I was dancing and cleaning, my mom comes in and joins me, she says she used to dance to this song too! Sometimes it’s funny how good music sustains us through time and many memories.

by Crumb

I can’t honestly tell you how I found Crumb, but I’ve been jamming out to this band since 2018. One of the best shows I’ve seen was her band, for free, at Rough Trade. She’s Brooklyn based, she’s the coolest, the baddest, and makes some serious bangers. This song makes me feel like I’m having a party with aliens in outer space.

by Soccer Mommy

If I could live inside a song, it could quite possibly be this one. This song came out with Tame Impala’s new album back in February, but I truly didn’t love it until May. I saw the coolest girl ever playing this song on the bass guitar, and then I tried playing it on my acoustic, didn’t sound as cool, but at least I tried! I danced to this song on the beach, I rode miles on my bicycle to this song; this song shoots me back into some warm adrenaline that we all need right now.

Soccer Mommy is everyone’s alt-indie mom. This song will make you feel you’re invincible and empowered, nothing can stop you now! Ever need to get out of your feelings? Listen to this song, and dance it out.

by Pheobe Bridgers

This song came out early quarantine, and it was just the song we all needed. Compared to all of Phoebe’s other angelic-sad songs, this song will make you want to sing embarrassing karaoke in front of your friends. Kyoto will also make you feel like you’re bee-bopping around Kyoto with Phoebe Bridgers.

This album came out in August of 2019, and it has carried me since then. Though in recent times, Tik Tok has made Clairo more popular, giving her the credit she deserves. This song is so empowering; it’ll make you want to sing, dance, maybe even scream, just like you’re walking out the door with some serious baggage and kicking it to the curb.

Who knew that Steve from Stranger Things could make some serious bangers? This song has been one of my favorites to blast. From transitioning to fame and becoming a musician again, Joe Keery most certainly delivers great jams.

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by Better Oblivion Community Center

Ah, another Phoebe Bridgers jam, this time featuring Conor Oberst.

I had the pleasure of seeing this live as well. This version of “Sleepwalkin’” is a groovy-techno remix that’ll guarantee to shake your blues.

by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

I found this UMO song through Florence Pugh’s wonderful cooking Instagram stories. She not only has a great music taste, but her cute cooking videos were another thing that got me through quarantine.

by Soccer Mommy Actress Remix

This remix also came out during quarantine (can we take a moment to appreciate all of the good music we have received amidst all of this craziness). This song makes me feel like I’m in Blade Runner, driving through the night. This song is spooky, but it also makes me feel so alive.

by Frank Ocean

The amount of times I have listened to “Channel Orange,” but let alone “Pyramids,” is absurd. I love anything Frank Ocean, I so wish I could be his friend. “Pyramids” feels like a 10-minute masterpiece. Anytime I need to be hyped up, cheered up and just want to jam, it’s this song.

Will this song ever get old? Probably not.

by The Psychedelic Furs

I have loved this song since my first time watching “Call Me By Your Name.” I also have another playlist themed from that wonderful film.

This song transcends me into an Italian summer in the ‘80s. Oh how I wish I had seen this song live.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5polUePkBAsqkpN6aEAPsL?si=PJ7UuLyRT0284Shj3EAWlQ

by Men I Trust

This song I have revisited quite a lot. Something about Men I Trust makes me feel so empowered and invisible. You can feel everything through this song, the acoustic version is beautiful too.

by Harmless

Ah, another song found through Tik Tok. This is the normal version, but the slowed version is a banger too. “Swing Lynn” makes me feel like I’m in an endless summer.

by Glass Animals

This new Glass Animals album also came out in quarantine. They never fail to deliver some serious jams, with their most original funky sound. This album is golden, but “Hot Sugar” will make you want to have a solo dance party.

by The Smiths

I recently bought this Smith’s record so it’s been on repeat. I feel like I’m grooving with some ‘80s nostalgia when I listen to this. Sometimes there’s nothing better than blasting this with your windows down. This song also belongs on my Rory Gilmore themed playlist, if you feel inclined to channel your inner Rory.

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By Pamela Valdez (Fashion Business Management, ‘24) As Election Day is getting closer and

According to the H&M website, the company has “teamed up with seven American artists to encourage voters or this presidential election. ”These artists’ names are written on the section of the website as well, and H&M claimed that the collection is limited edition for this voting season.

closer, many people are being encouraged to register to vote and vote early if you can. It seems as if you can’t go on social media without seeing a post about #IVoted or some celebrity urging you to cast yours as soon as possible. These celebrities include Hailey Bieber, Ayesha and Stephen Curry, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Jennifer Aniston and more who want to remind their audience.

There are several pieces of clothing with colorful designs such as “Take It To The Polls” and “Get Up! Stand Up! Go Vote!” written on the front of the clothing Even Instagram, Spotify and Snapchat items. It is a subtle yet effective way to have launched their own voting camget people to do it. It is less about being paigns for their millions of users on how a political statement and more of using to register and learn more information. creative work to empower those to want But as many well-known actors, actressto make a change. es and others in the industry endorse The collection itself is also very inexpenthis, brands such as Nike, Macy’s, Foot brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, etc. But sive ranging from as little as $17.99 for Locker, Under Armour and 700 oththis didn’t mean that Marc Jacobs gave up on trying to a shirt to $39.99 for a hoodie. This was er companies signed up for “Time To catch people’s eye. a collection which started on September Vote.” According to Business for Amer22, and H&M said it would be making ica, “Time to Vote” is “a movement Marc Jacobs released a traveler bag called “The Tote Bag donations to the artists’ hometowns’ where more than 400 companies across Marc Jacobs” in several different colors and edits, such as American Civil Liberties Union chapters the country came together to make sure a teddy material, a Peanuts X Marc Jacobs collab, Madga as well. all of their employees had the time to Archer X Marc Jacobs collab and most recently, a patch vote.” On their website it also states, that you can attach right onto your bag.

While these brands are using products “Our goal for 2020 is to grow participato make a statement, Nike also has a tion to include more than 1,000 compaSince the words “The Tote Bag” are written very clearly section on their website called “You nies.” But are brands doing this because on the front of the bag, it catches the attention of whoev- Can’t Stop Our Voice.” The “You Can’t they really care about their consumers er walks by. But people can now buy a “V” patch to put Stop” words are used very actively in the heading to the polls, or is this a good directly over the “T” in “Tote” and make it now say “The regularly produced Nike merchandise marketing strategy to get more coverage Vote Bag.” Not only is this extremely clever, but the Marc in relation to exercise, working out and and exposure to their company?

Jacobs website also informs you that with this purchase, your health since this is what the brand $10 will be donated to When We All Vote. WWAV is is mainly focuses on. But when you visit There are three brands that actuala “non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the website, it says “Election season is ly stood out in terms of creating and increasing participation in every election and closing the here. Make sure you have everything producing original products relating to race and age voting gap” according to the Marc Jacobs you need to vote in your state.” Several encouraging consumers to vote and use website. links and resources are given to those their voice. Patagonia went viral within who are unsure of where to find a pollthe last couple of weeks after a user on ing place, looking up ballots, a Voter Twitter @CoreyCiorciari posted a picToolkit to inspire those to take action ture of the tag he had on his shorts. On within their own community, and a the tag it said, “Vote The A**holes Out.” Voter Guide. They even have a code Since then, everyone started reposting called NIKE2020 which was available it. It has made headlines such as on USA from Oct. 24 to Oct. 30 to have Lyft Today, Esquire, Business Insider, CNN riders get $10 off their ride to the poll. and Abc27, to name a few.

The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, claims that he has been using this quote when he talks to politicians who don’t believe in climate change since Patagonia’s mission as a whole is to help save our planet by becoming carbon neutral by 2025. This made a lot of people who don’t even purchase from Patagonia themselves question if this was a good marketing tactic because if it was, then it definitely worked since it went viral on social media and to the news.

Marc Jacobs is another brand that has

not been very high in popularity within the last couple of years as many people have been looking to other luxury

All of the actions taken by these brands are a huge step towards inspiring people to take time out of their busy day and schedule to vote for the country we live in as it’s our duty. Providing resources and even merchandise is an interesting and creative twist that brands are doing to get people to do this. Some may say this is more of a marketing tactic to go viral, get coverage and get reposts, but as long as the message is continuing to be spread and no harm is being done, then To continue supporting voters, H&M launched their own this is definitely the right move. collection called “H&M Votes X Blank Artist Collab.” This Picture Sources: was not only a way for increasing voter participation, but Top: vmagazine.com ; just like Marc Jacobs, you are able to showcase that you Bottom: GQ endorse voting right on your shirt, hoodie or long sleeve.

After visiting the website, it also tells you how many people viewed the item on that particular day. On the day this was written, it said that 788 people recently viewed this item. Almost 800 people are probably looking at this a day, and some are purchasing it since it is only $15.

Turning their classic bag into a statement about voting is a smart way to market to those who really want to endorse voting themselves. Whether you’re going to get groceries, running some errands or just need this bag for traveling, there is no doubt that people will definitely see the V and probably be encouraged to vote themselves.

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Many people have used being in quarantine as an opportunity to spend time on their passions or hobbies they never made time for before if they had the luxury to do so. A common practice that people have picked up – whether it was out of desperation or desire – has been cooking. Some would consider baking sourdough and banana bread a rite of passage as a phase in quarantine. We hope you enjoy one Fashion Institute of Technology student’s experience with cooking in quarantine.

Sincerely, The W27 Editorial Board My name is Isabella Beggs. I have a strong passion for design but along with that I love to cook, and quarantine really gave me the time to practice my skills and create different dishes for me and my family! Hope you all enjoy and maybe recreate [my recipes]!

Thank you, Isabella

Mastering the poached egg Avocado toast is a popular food for obvious reasons, it’s delicious!

But have you ever topped it with a poached egg? Mastering a poached egg is tough, but creating a vortex in the water allows the egg to wrap around itself. Some may add vinegar to the simmering water because vinegar supposedly helps the egg coagulate. Truth is, the amount of vinegar you would need for that to work is far too much and you’ll end up with an acidic and vinegary egg. Dill and chives are a perfect topping for the poached egg and avocado toast.

Ratatouille

(yes it’s a food, not just a movie)

Ratatouille is a dish that consists of thinly cut vegetables aligned to create a beautiful pattern. It is featured in the very popular Disney movie, Ratatouille. Slicing the veggies as thin as they need to be is very difficult, I found that using a mandolin on the thinnest setting was the way to go. The veggies lay on top of a bell pepper sauce and are baked in a cast iron for about an hour. The veggies melt in your mouth since they are so thin.

Zucchin Zucch inii and squash ravioli ravioli minus the pasta (and the carbs)

Zucchini noodles, zucchini lasagna, zucchini this and that, but zucchini ravioli was something I’ve never heard of. Thinly sliced zucchini and yellow squashed using a mandolin on the thinnest setting is used for the “pasta” part of the ravioli. I then assembled 3 of the slices, varying between 2 squash and 1 zucchini slice or vice versa into a star shape. Then with a mixture of ricotta, Parmesan and goat cheese, I scooped a small amount into the center of the star. Folding the slices of vegetables one by one around the cheese mixture and then placed them into a baking dish seam side down. Colorful grape tomatoes, garlic and thyme, underneath and around the ravioli bake along with it to create a sauce.”

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By Ashley Lawson (Advertising, Marketing and Communications, ‘23)

Clicking through Instagram stories, one will become

the influencers and celebrities who they had been following aware of the increased amount of activism on the social for years using and not using their platforms to spread awareness media platform, not just by influencers, but by their friends about important discussions such as those. and family too. The majority of this year has been filled with chaos, from coronavirus to the brutal murders of innocent An example of someone considered “an activist” who recently Black people. People are fed up and are turning to social underwent a scandal for performance activism is Nadya Okamedia platforms, especially Instagram, to voice their opin- moto, creator of the non-profit Period, which is an organization ions and share their ideas. geared towards helping homeless women get access to period products. While she was once considered a role model to women, The immersion of this activism movement on Instagram Willamette Week reported that she allegedly “routinely muscled has led many to question, are people reposting these stories out Black and brown activists, monopolized resources and took for show or do they actually care about what they’re postcredit for other people’s work.” ing? Are the influencers and celebrities being told to support the Black Lives Matter movement for acceptance from The people we look up to most can surprise us, whether that be their fans or are they using their platform for good? Some influencers participating in performance activism or the people influencers aren’t even posting at all. we thought were friends.

The increased use of the word “performance activism” has become more relevant this year as the country and world experience horrible events. Performance activism is when a person, usually with a significant following, claims to be an activist or participates in activism objectives for social approval and acceptance, rather than being actually motivated and devoted to fighting for a cause. This is especially problematic during this time in history as social media becomes a prominent way for influencers to connect with their fans.

Alana Anderson-Nelson (AMC, ‘24), who actively uses her social media to promote donating and educating others about important issues noticed firsthand performance activism from one of her favorite influencers. “I’ve seen tons of influencers participate in performance activism, and it’s honestly just annoying. For example, Emma Chamberlain was basically forced to post about BLM by her fans on Twitter. It wasn’t until she almost got canceled for her to actually share information. Although I love her, it was just annoying and irritating to see,” Anderson-Nelson said.

The Black Lives Matter movement, although founded in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his murderer, became a much bigger development this year in 2020. George Floyd was murdered on May 25 by a police officer kneeling on his on his neck, all captured on a video that went viral. Millions of people were outraged by this and the continuous systematic racism in law enforcement in the United States. While thousands of protests and petitions were occurring, social media had a huge uptick in the amount of people using it to express their feelings and frustrations with what had occurred.

Nelson also stated that although her friends have continuously been posting about important issues like the Black Lives Matter Mov-ment, she wouldn’t be afraid to cut off anyone who wasn’t actively helping change occur.

This time period has really opened up a lot of people’s eyes to the ignorance and The general public, mostly Generation Z individuals, reposted ways to donate to the BLM movement, petitions to hatred that many people sign, infographics on the extremities of what was occurring possess, but also the love and great ideas that many and more. The use of Instagram for activism expanded; although the Black Lives Matter movement is sadly still on- people have as well. going due to a lack of justice, people have begun to use the Jules Krainin (Photography, ‘24), continuously uses her Instaaction of reposting or simply just using their In-stagram to gram to post about the Black Lives Matter movement, voting and speak about other causes in their own posts, like LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+ rights, among other topics. rights, voting, the actions of the president, and any other “I don’t really have a platform, so I use Instagram as a way to share topic they feel is important. Millions of fans became aware of . my beliefs and show people who may not be as educated as others on things that are happening,” Krainin said.

While there are people who use their platform for good, performance activism is a serious issue in today’s world and needs to be addressed more than it is being addressed now. Society needs to hold any person who holds a high position or influence accountable for their actions related to activism. People who don’t care about the well-being of other people shouldn’t be given praise and success. As social media becomes more a part of daily life, know how to use it for good.

Picture Sources:

Top Left: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFXleoTjVcx/ Bottom Right: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFXleoTjVcx/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CFORRo-pST0/

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Tune in to our brand new podcast, “The Tea of FIT!” We are covering topics ranging from

what it’s like to date amidst the pandemic to what it’s like to be learning remotely. We will publish an episode every month, so stay tuned for our freshly brewed tea. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Since we are a new podcast, it would really help us if you left us a review. You can also let us know your thoughts by emailing us at w27_newspaper@fitnyc.edu or DMing us on Instagram @w27newspaper.

Artwork by Jennie Keating (major and year of grad) https://anchor.fm/theteaoffit

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HIDING FROM COVID-19 IN A TENT by: Katie Motta (Photography and Related Media, ‘23)

I really liked living with my 80-year-old roommate in Manhattan. She was very kind and warm, and it was almost like living with the grandmother I never had. She sometimes made me dinners or desserts, left me cute notes about where she was if I was out at school and always wanted to talk politics at 7AM as I was getting ready to go to class.

When the threat of COVID-19 started creeping into our lives in early 2020, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Is it a flu? Is this all just being blown out of proportion?

The weekend before NYC’s first big COVID-19 surge in March, I had a feeling that I should go back to my hometown in Massachusetts to visit my parents and boyfriend.

A friend had told me on Saturday that she heard that the police/state would be closing the city borders down and not letting anyone leave or enter the city starting on Monday. Unsure of the truth of this rumor, I decided to pack as much as I could in a suitcase, a backpack, and my purse and hitch a ride back home with my aunt that day.

She happened to be visiting, and I seized the opportunity to not have to take public transportation back to Massachusetts amid the potential madness.

I decided I would stay home with my family for a few days and decide later in the week when I would go back to NYC. I visited them, then headed to my boyfriend’s apartment to stay with him and his roommates for a few days longer. Within 4 days, NYC was making headlines across the globe for its surging rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths. I knew I needed to decide what to do soon.

Going back to Manhattan was not an ideal option for many reasons. For one, I would not be able to get back there without taking a bus or train for 4+ hours. I also certainly did not want to endanger my 80+ year-old roommate, already at higher risk, by potentially bringing COVID-19 into her apartment. Lastly, there was already talk of FIT shutting down, so what other reason did I have to go back there? I was in a panic - I could not go back to NYC, and I could not stay with my parents. My dad is freaked out about germs on a normal day, let alone when there is an unknown virus sweeping the planet, and he and my mom were both at higher risk too. My only real option was to stay with my boyfriend.

At the time, he was living with 3 other people: his brother and his brother’s two friends. They are all my age, with my boyfriend being the eldest and a few years older than the rest of us. He asked them if it was okay that I stay with them indefinitely, until we could figure out what to do. They all agreed, under the assumption that we would all follow some new household rules: we were all to wear masks and gloves when leaving the apartment, we were all to use hand sanitizer immediately when coming into the apartment after having been out, and we all had to ask other people if they were okay with any visitors coming over, including family members.

My boyfriend and I naturally and immediately agreed, and even took it further than the others by showering and washing our clothes immediately after entering the apartment and keeping to ourselves in my boyfriend’s bedroom so as to avoid disturbing the normal status quo of the apartment. Luckily, the apartment is a 2,500 sqft. converted office, and my boyfriend’s room was in a totally separate hallway from everybody else’s rooms.

Everything went well for a while, until tensions started to rise with the other roommates. Once the weather started getting warmer, they started to feel cooped up in the apartment while working from home. While my boyfriend and I were being extremely careful and only leaving the apartment to get groceries and take walks in nature, the other roommates started to get lazy in following their own rules. We started noticing that they would come in without masks and gloves, and that they would leave on weekends to go out drinking with friends or significant others from other cities or states. Nobody cared to even just notify us of what was happening.

One weekend, we found out through social media posts that one of the roommates (let’s call him Steven) stayed in a hotel with his girlfriend (Hannah), who was visiting from Florida, which was also surging at the time. Since I didn’t live there officially on a lease and wasn’t contributing to rent because I lost all three of my jobs in NYC due to COVID-19, I didn’t feel as though I could call them out on their behavior and explain how immature, rude, and dangerous they were acting. I mostly had to relay the message through my boyfriend, who would talk to his brother about it. The roommates knew we did not approve of their irresponsible behavior, so they decided to continue to keep everything from us instead of respecting our feelings and reconsidering their actions.

My boyfriend and I had a bad feeling that this would get too close to home, so we started looking for ways to get out of the apartment. If they were going to keep acting this way, we did not want to be a part of it. (cont.)

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that one of the roommates who decided to keep this information quiet was my boyfriend’s brother, who has known me for several years and has known his brother for much longer than that. That night, a serious argument erupted in the apartment; tensions were higher than ever.

Thankfully, a free testing clinic opened the next day in a nearby town. We immediately went for testing, and then anxiously awaited our results. We knew that if we tested negative we were lucky, and we needed to move out of the apartment quickly. Since everything was already packed up, we needed to sort out where we would be storing our things, and where we would be living. We ended up finding a new apartment to live in, but the lease would not start until August 1st, about three weeks later. We called around to our families, trying to brainstorm ideas.

We were running into a major obstacle: money. I had lost my three part-time jobs, and my boyfriend had lost his full-time, salaried job, all over the past few weeks. We simply did not have enough money saved to be paying for my NYC apartment, his apartment, and a new one.

Out of desperation, we started looking into campsites.

We have always wanted to travel and camp together around the world, so we figured “why not start practicing now?” While looking for a solution for our living situation, we were simultaneously packing up all our possessions into moving boxes. I wanted to be prepared to leave the minute we were able to.

For about a month, we had been living out of boxes in his bedroom. One day in June, after our things had been (luckily) mostly packed up, we got a text from my boyfriend’s dad asking if we knew of Steven’s test results yet.

Not only did we not know his results, but we did not even know Steven had been tested for COVID-19 or why.

We called my boyfriend’s dad and stepmom to ask if we could stay in their spare bedroom. We had stayed there for overnight visits, but since his stepmom was working full-time in a nursing home, they understandably did not want to risk having us stay inside of the house. They live on a rural farm, so I started thinking about camping in the backyard instead. My boyfriend had an old tent at his dad’s house, and they agreed to let us camp out there, but only if we tested negative for COVID-19.

Three days passed. It felt like it had been years since we got the test done, and we wanted so badly to get out of the apartment. We finally got a phone call. After a few agonizing minutes of verifying identities and confirming information, the woman on the phone gave us both our results: negative.

We called his dad to get an explanation and found out that during the recent long weekend when the roommates were all away, two of them had gone on a beach trip, drinking and partying in a rented house. Steven’s girlfriend Hannah flew up from Florida again to join them. During her visit, she found out that her friend (whom she had previously hung out with in close proximity) had tested positive for the virus in Florida. After Hannah flew home, she herself tested positive as well. My worst fear had come true – there was a good chance that even with the measures we had been taking to stay safe, COVID-19 had found its way into our lives.

We were shocked at the blatant disrespect from the roommates. They knew the whole time about her positive test result and that there was a high chance they would contract as well, and they still chose not to tell us.

Between when they found out about Hannah’s positive test and when we found out about it, we had visited my family. Thankfully, my family has been extra cautious, so we stayed outside while visiting and kept more than six feet apart. But there could have been a much worse outcome from that situation. My boyfriend and I struggled to comprehend how somebody could justify withholding potentially life-threatening information. It was worse

Immediately, we went online and rented a U-Haul truck, packed it up and moved out the same day. We stored all our things in a barn at his dad’s property, and for the first time in our 3 years together, my boyfriend and I set up the tent to start camping. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off our shoulders. We were much happier than we had been in months. I had never been camping before, and we were both jobless, so I knew this was a unique (and maybe once-in-a-lifetime) opportunity for us. (cont.)

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One thing we really wanted to do was get out of the digital world for a while, spend time with the people we love and enjoy and appreciate our planet more. We spent all our time being outside and enjoying nature. We read books about survival and camping and achieving life goals. We ate healthy food for every meal of the day.

We got plenty of sun exposure and saw more stars in the night sky than we had seen in two years of city living.

We spent a lot of quality time with his dad and stepmom that otherwise would not have been possible when we lived further away. When a huge thunderstorm came with lots of rain, we were able to appreciate the water leaking into the tent. Nothing else mattered when we were out there, just as long as we had each other.

During that month we learned how to fish, how to weather seal our tent and about new spaces in nature around our hometowns that we had never known about.

We didn’t use our electronics unless it was to watch a movie at night in the tent. We played board games and talked for hours. We grew so much in this time and learned a lot about ourselves and each other. During the few months we were living with the roommates, we felt like the anxiety and stress would never end. But instead, we got to experience something new.

We learned and grew, and now we had some important takeaways from the experience...

RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE

You never know how your actions can affect other people until the damage is already done. This is especially true in this ongoing and tragic COVID-19 situation – we are all navigating these uncharted waters for the first time together. We need to help each other through it by understanding others’ feelings and adjusting our lifestyles accordingly.

ENJOY THE WORLD AROUND US

Everything has slowed down since this pandemic first hit; it’s a perfect time to notice, feel and explore our surroundings. Even if you are in a city, explore (wearing your mask) and just observe the small details that you might not notice if you were running to work or school. You might catch the details on a building’s facade, the sound of a pigeon’s wings as it takes off, the colors on the sidewalk or the way light reflects off of the windows.

There is so much beauty in the world, and we normally don’t have time to see it.

SPEND TIME WITH THOSE YOU LOVE

Family, friends, significant others, etc., as much as you can, in person or just over a video chat. Take the time to re-learn about your favorite people. Have long, meaningful conversations. Talk about world issues. Share your opinions and ideas on everything, and listen to other people’s as well. Forge more meaningful connections.

Even in this pandemic, you never know what you can learn from yourself, other people and the world around you.

PHOTO CREDITS Katie Motta Instagram: KatieMottaPhotography

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Student Work Ashleigh Simpson (Fashion Design AAS, ‘21)

Kaili Woop (Fine Arts, ‘23) “Bonding” 8.5”x11” ink sketchbook entry The sudden lockdown of FIT made me very stressed out, wondering when I would step foot in the college as well as NYC in general again.

Fortunately, I have been able to cope with these feelings by spending more time with my cats that I was not able to do before. There are many changes that I will encounter throughout life, but living with cats will not be one of them. I grew up with ten cats up until I was thirteen years old. Quarantine has played a role in helping me realize my love for my cats, and how I will always see them as my family.

Artist Statement for our Cover!

“Intimacy in Times of Uncertainty” 19”x12” Gouache and Chalk pastel Masks cover our faces where we show a lot of our emotions, such as intimacy towards our partners. Many people have experienced separation from their partners during quarantine. Luckily, I live with my partner. Before the lockdown, my boyfriend and I had conflicting schedules, and would never see each other during the day. Once the lockdown happened, we had more time to see each other and communicate about how to overcome the challenges of quarantine together. One of the ways we spent time together is when we used to walk around the park everyday, discussing what we wanted to accomplish for the day.

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Adriana Klinkert Ascanio (Accessories Design, ‘20) My recurring theme when I am not designing is the human form. I am particularly fascinated by the expressiveness I can find in hands and faces. I am inspired by all the colors that surface from under our skin.

I am in constant search of depicting that emotion with a celestial feel, as a sacred projection of our inside.

Directed and Produced by: Aurora Hinz (Advertising, Marketing, and Communications, ‘21) William Mun (Film and Media Studies, ‘21) Ashley Vargas (Illustration, ‘21) Edited by: Meagan Cherry (Film and Media Studies, ‘22) Nancy Pramanand (Film and Media Studies, ‘22) Mary Richards (Film and Media Studies, ‘22) Featured: Adesewa Adekoya (Illustration, ‘21) Obi Emmanuel Agwam (Illustration ‘22) Angela Diep (Advertising & Digital Design, ‘19) Ashley Hajimirsadeghi (International Trade & Marketing ‘22) Karisma Hishikawa (Fashion Design ‘22) Navan Islam (Entrepreneurship ‘19) Nabi Williams (Fashion Business Management, ‘21)

The socially-distanced documentary “Through Our Eyes 2020” was made to amplify voices of Black, Indigenous, and POC students on the Fashion Institute of Technology’s campus. The 2019-2020 school year has impacted students’ lives deeply. The documentary features interviews with eight current and former FIT students regarding how the 2019-2020 school year, in addition to racism on campus, affects their educational and creative lives. The students discuss their experiences with the racist MFA Fashion Show, the COVID-19 crisis, and the Black Lives Matters uprisings across the nation.

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FALL 2020

By Jake Valliere (Accessory Design, ‘21)

W27

Do you get dressed up for your 9AM? Or do you roll over and flip your laptop on while you do class from bed? In this article I asked students about their experience transitioning from in-person to online learning. Each student shared a picture of their learning setup as well as an outfit breakdown.

Tina Dirosa (Photography, ‘21) Julian Ruggiero (Accessory Design, ‘22)

“This semester has been the hardest one yet since freshman year.

Learning remotely and having my lectures held via video chat is already awful for every student. Though, I am grateful to be back surrounded with the resources I need. I am an out of state student from Florida, and it was already hard to hear that this semester is going to be fully online. I was not planning nor did I want to stay another 4 months at my parents house, where everyone was going insane from quarantine. So I had to figure out a living situation because dorming was not going to make my situation better, especially knowing we couldn’t have outside guests. So I moved to Chelsea with my younger sister, who is also an FIT student attending her first year.

Every morning I try to at least get dressed into something other than pajamas, to feel somewhat accomplished and put together.

Normally, I’d get dressed for an evening class because I usually try to go outside of my apartment to run errands earlier in the day or go for a walk so I can keep sane. Afterall, I am stuck in my tiny bedroom for hours “in class”.”

“So once the pandemic hit, I was pretty much left with no choice but to follow along with what FIT was doing “as protocol” in response. I lived in Kaufman for less than an entire school year. Once we were kicked out of the dorms I was forced to find my own apartment so I would be able to live and work in NYC still.

Going back home was barely an option for me, since both of my parents were in the middle of moving at the time.

I found myself in an empty bedroom in brooklyn sleeping on an air mattress next to an outlet that had my laptop charger plugged into it. We barely had any furniture at the time and I had been eating every meal on a fold-out poker table in the kitchen for a month. I pretty much had to shift ALL focus from helping my family to isolating myself in my room with my computer. This was probably one of my least favorite school experiences ever. my outfit - cdg3 pajama pants, nike sb bennassi slides, shirtless, with socks.”

Jennie Keating (Fabric Styling, ‘21)

Kathleen Nolan (Graphic Design, ‘21)

“Due to a semester home, I was faced with the question of where I was going to do my work. My bedroom had no space for a desk and I was constantly getting flashbacks of sitting at the kitchen table being watched by my parents while I learned how to multiply and divide. With that fate looming over my head, during the first 3 months of quarantine I decided to clean out an old storage room in my house and make it a suitable workspace. Although very tedious, I am proud to say I successfully renovated a room completely by myself. In typical Kathleen fashion, there is an organized chaos throughout the room and easily reflected in the picture shown.”

“Here’s my desk. My outfit honestly depends on how early my class is, it’s usually a pair of jeans with a tee shirt or tank top but if it’s an earlier class I’ll sometimes stay in sweatpants and a sweatshirt then change into daytime clothes after class ends. As far as far as coming back home - since my parents are divorced and I have two homes 30 minutes away from each other, adjusting and establishing a routine was a little tricky and it took me awhile to get my rooms to a way I liked (I think I was holding out in hopes of returning back to the city soon). But im at the point where both homes have an environment that I’m able to focus in and be comfortable in while trying to navigate the chaotic waters of online learning.”

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By Prerna Chaudhary (Advertising, Marketing and Communications, ‘22) #Girlboss: a perfectly Instagrammable story about a woman who bootstrapped her business and brought it to a multimillion dollar evaluation. The term seemed so perfect – maybe too perfect – until these girlbosses were exposed for their self serving agendas and lack of practicing actual feminist values.

The word “girlboss,” often preceded by a hashtag, was popularized in 2014 by Nastygal founder Sophia Amoruso with her eponymous autobiography. Netflix adopted her story into a show, and she founded a media company of the same name, too. “Girlboss” was used for women who were in positions that were traditionally filled by men, especially in business. It was easy to believe that they could do it all and shatter glass ceilings because their images were so alluring, picture perfect.

Where the girlboss differed from other archetypes of career oriented women, however, was her presence on social media. She was great at branding her business, as well as herself, with a feminism-through-capitalism lens. Emily Weiss of Glossier, Stephanie Korey of Away and Audrey Gelman of The Wing were all in this boat, until the facade, not the glass ceiling, started to shatter.

Girlbosses are always Instagram friendly, which often means being white, upper-middle-class, cisgendered, able bodied, conventionally attractive and thin. The term is often associated with Millennials and Generation Z. Melissa Tombro, the founder of the Women and Gender Studies Minor and English and Communications Studies professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, pointed out that in the media, she didn’t know of a single person that was portrayed as a girlboss who wasn’t white.

In Hulu’s “Shrill,” Annie Easton attended a convention plastered in millennial pink that seemingly celebrated female entrepreneurial victories. In reality, however, some of these women were praying on other women’s insecurities to make a profit, like contouring makeup for “ugly” legs. Easton questioned the convention founder on how she could lift up all women, as it said in the mission statement, if the price point of the convention was so high and “inaccessible.”

In “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid, social media savant Alix Chamberlain tried to achieve wokeness (as if that is something to be attained or awarded) by getting to know

a publicly recognized Instagram post from several employees to address the issues they were facing and begin to change the company “Bojack Horseman”’s Stefani Stilton ran culture. a publication with articles about topics like empowering roles for women over In an article for Fast Company in 40, but that would actually be better for February, The Wing’s co-foundJennifer Lawrence as she put it. Stilton er Gelman expressed feeling the always pushed her employees to write pressures of being a perfect female articles for clicks and not actual female entrepreneur because that is the image the media sold to her and empowerment. everyone else. That image of a woman who can have it all, which While these women are fictional (or even personified animals), and girlbss- in this case is a balanced personal es are often portrayed as caricatures or and professional life, is unattainin a satirical tone in media, it is fright- able for most. She acknowledged ening to see how similar their reactions some of the micro and macro aggressions that were happening at are to real-life girlboss’.

The Wing, but the company’s plan According to Buzzfeed News, BIPOC at the time to work on these issues was not enough.

(Black, Indigenous and other People Emira Tucker, her young Black nanny, but Chamberlain still thought that she knew what was best for Tucker.

of Color) Glossier employees voiced their concerns about being treated worse than non-BIPOC employees by management and customers. Although their concerns were brought to the management’s attention before, it took

In June, Gelman resigned from her position as CEO. The Wing started as an application only high end co-working space for women who were a part of the gig and self

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employed economy with a starting monthly charge of $185 in 2016.

Its pink plush in-triors, which Vox called “an interior designer’s Instagram-perfect fantasy,” covered up systemic problems the employees faced.

Most of The Wing members were white, and many of the employees were BIPOC, an employee told The New York Times. When 26 former employees voiced their concerns about being treated poorly and underpaid for their physical and emotional labor, the higher-ups never raised their wages. On the same day as posting a Black Lives Matter picture on The Wing’s Instagram along with a promise to donate $200,000 to “causes associated with the Black Lives Matter movement,” The New York Times reported that the company failed to provide some of its employes with $500 for being laid off amidst the pandemic.

The Wing was all for female empowerment, but not for their employees.

These girlbosses prioritized getting themselves ahead while using feminism as their brand. Equating girlboss practices with feminism is incorrect by definition. Feminism is about having gender equality for all. It is fundamentally intersectional and includes women of color, trans women, low-income women, disabled women and any person of any gender.

Understandably, these leaders that may have once set out to shatter glass ceilings lost their way, but that should not distract us from striving towards feminist values of equity and inclusion. Professor Tombro said, “like a lot of the movements in the past decade, the face of [the girlboss movement] is very white.” The failure of the term girlboss is not alone its flaws; it reflects movements in the past.

The downfalls of a few girlbosses should not stop us from having more women and underrepresented people in power. Instead, we should use this opportunity to consider how to restructure the business world to make it better. “The girlboss movement is emulating problems we’re having in general – with tech in startups,” said Professor Tombro. Although these situations have brought to light that we need more representation in higher-ups positions in copanies and more inclusive company culture, this immense pressure to make systemic change should not only be a women’s responsibilty.

All leaders and their companies should be held accountable for their actions. It is unacceptable to be creating and perpetuating a culture that reinforces the structures that have only allowed some people, particularly the privileged, to succeed. The problem with these situations, however, is that women are typically held to a higher standard than men. This moral responsibility to make systemic changes should not be placed on women’s shoulders to bear by themselves.

This type of performative feminism kept the doors open for people from privileged backgrounds and continued to leave marginalized people behind. In “Lean In,” Sheryl Sandberg discussed how to excel in the existing system and workplace structure. Renée Leibler, Professor of Entrepreneurship and seasoned entrepreneur herself said, “I don’t think that we as women should accept trying to figure out how to excel in a system when the system is broken, and that’s what produces women that feel that they have to claw their way to the top.”

Professor Leibler pointed out that it is not women’s fault that they have felt the need to only look out themselves and in turn compete with other women. “It’s the system that forced them to fight so hard to be able to break through that they had to do it at all costs.” She acknowledged that that may not have been the best way to go about rising to the top, but now it is time to move on. “Instead, I suggest be brave and try to rework the system to a better system that’s more inclusive overall, and I will bet you will be more successful than trying to work with a system that was very much male dominated.”

We also need to provide a space for people to learn the term girlboss, even with all of its issues, does have some benefits. It made people question their associations with the word “boss” and who should be in charge. Questioning our beliefs is a way of learning. “Learning is not a straight road.

It’s certainly not easy,” Professor Tombro said.

“We all take on slogans…but maybe we don’t really know the context of it. Maybe we don’t know the history of it. But a lot of times those actions lead us to more understanding,” and that leads to growth.

Not only were there criticisms of how and who the girlboss archetype was used for, but there were also criticisms of the word itself. The term girlboss infantilizes women; why not call them women?

Professor Leibler expressed her dislike of the word “boss.” She much preferred the term “team leader” over boss because she felt that it is the type of leader who would make a company great, not a boss.

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Josie Wang (CFM, ‘22), the President of the BIG Entrepreneurs student organization at FIT, pointed out that she would not want to be known as being a girlboss because the term is unnecessarily gendered. “Why can’t it just be boss?” she questioned. To her, the term boss meant someone who was in charge of their career and life. There are various interpretations of what a girlboss truly is.

Nidhi Bhasin (FDM, ‘20), who worked on designing the new Girl Scout nationwide collection, echoed a similar response. “I think it’s great that I’m known as a young female Indian designer, and those things make me really happy to represent, but I also feel like I just want to be a designer. I don’t want to be put in a smaller box.”

On social media, “you can talk about extremes on either side,” Professor Leibler said. “Typically on social media, the bad extremes have a louder voice. The reason for that is because our technology companies’ algorithms work and are written such that they promote confrontational attitudes or extremist attitudes. Why? Because it gets more clicks, and that’s the business they’re in.” The girlbosses we see portrayed in media and online are not the majority of this definition of successful women, and we shouldn’t let that dictate our views of women in power.

While the term girlboss has proved to be problematic, there are some benefits to it, and some members of the BIG Entrepreneurs club felt that this way, too. Andrea Homes (ITM, ‘22) felt that it could be used as a way for young women to feel like they have someone to look up to, but using the term girlboss isn’t necessary. To her, actions speak louder than words. Cindy Rojas (AMC, 21) felt that if the values of a true girlboss, a truly empowered and successful woman in her own definition, were to be communicated, then we could have more female role models.

Girlboss, and other gendered terms of achievement, are on the path of acknowledging all that women have accomplished that they had not received recognition for or had opportunities for before. Eventually, Bhasin hoped that the term girlboss won’t be necessary. But, we aren’t quite there yet, Wang noted.

The exposure of the reality of the girlboss trope and its flaws should serve as a wake up call. “While it is essential to have more women in positions of power,” Professor Tombro said, “in order to reach these kinds of goals, simply swapping out people within current power structures is not necessarily going to make the world a better place.” It is about changing and breaking down existing power structures and not excelling in the current ones.

The girlboss lifestyle is a product of the rise of workism and the long history of women being excluded from stereoptically masculine jobs. Maybe stepping back from our workaholic culture and practicing feminism with all of its intersectionality will help us move on from the girlboss trope. The girlboss in practice is not the exact antithesis of a feminist, but it certainly flirts with the idea. In a few years, another version of the career woman, independent woman, or girlboss will arise, but we have to remember that we shouldn’t expect ourselves to do it all alone.

We can all learn about the pressures on women and our flawed systems to improve. Currently, women do most of the unpaid and emotional labor at home by taking care of their kids and their family needs according to Pew Research Center. This extra burden, only exacerbated in pressing times like now with COVID-19, on women that men do not face makes it more challenging for women to rise on the corporate ladder.

If men were given paternity leave, then there would be a greater expectation for both partners to care for children.

Women would also be less likely to have such great income disparities between them and their partners.

This is an opportunity to learn about the problematic sides of female leaders expecting to have it all, but we should also acknowledge that not all successful women are like this, and not all women want this, either.

Picture Sources: Pew Research Center and Indie Wire

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Falling Back in Love With My Hometown

FALL 2020

By Charlotte Spaid (Fashion Business Management, ‘21)

W27

My usual New York morning goes something like this: I wake up about 20 minutes before I have to catch my subway. I somehow throw together a “cool” looking outfit. I put on my AirPods and feel the adrenaline with my music blaring. Fast walking with my fellow New Yorkers, squeezing together on the L train. It was either rushing to work in SoHo or rushing to the Fashion Institute of Technology. If I was heading to FIT, I’d usually stop at East One on 23rd to grab a coffee.

My favorite thing was seeing the Chelsea Hotel on my way out; it greeted me every morning with a piece of motivation.

My days started early and ended late. My days were filled with people, people I know and love plus strangers I love.

Each day being inspired by my surroundings, each day living a life filled with joy and business.

But things change. And that’s ok. Coming to terms with it all was tricky. How would I function in a slower-paced life? How would I still find that inspiration around me?

How would I love the place where I lived? How can I feel joy through it all? I turned 21 on March 10, and I went home to Ohio just two days later. It had been a while since I had spent more than a month in my hometown. couch and bed welcomed me with comfort. My room was this shade of blue as bright as the sky, and an old tapestry hung over my head. I missed my environment and all the decor I had collected for my apartment.

I decided to spice up my room. My mom and I painted my room a beautiful shade of light pink, and the whole entire time we jammed out to ‘70s music. I hung up a new tapestry of “Monet’s Poppy Field near Argenteuil.” I painted some watercolors for my walls, accompanied by my beloved photographs. It was this space that felt warm to me again instead of an old museum it once was. It’s this space that feels like home again.

When I’m away, I call my family as much as I can. Anytime I needed a bit of encouragement or comfort, my mom was always just a phone call away. Sometimes I so dearly wished we could spend a Saturday together, go to the museum and bond over some coffee. Now, some aspects of my pandemic-coming-home are a blessing in disguise. I am able to spend precious time with my family that I usually wouldn’t get.

My mom now gives me comforting talks when we lay in her big bed. Something that she tells me that always sticks – everything always falls into place; I have my whole life ahead of me. For now, she says, we are not hibernating, we are going to make the most out of our time here in Ohio. We have made art together, painted, sewed dresses, watched classic movies, did some fall activities, read books we never had time to read before, swam at the beach and went to 21 some Ohio wineries.

FALL 2020

W27 don’t miss the train delays and subway grime.

Now, I have come to enjoy driving, I always take the scenic route. Listening to my favorite music, some music I used to listen to while walking down the street in New York City. Now, I am listening while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful trees I know. Blaring my music with my windows down, sometimes our bikes hooked up to my car on our way to the towpath, singing alone or with my friends. Always in good company, whether with my townies or my trees.

Fast forward to now. I feel more emotionally sound than ever, wildly through a pandemic. I never thought I could be as joyous as I am right now, I have been able to grow immensely in this space, knowing who I am and where I am going and what I want. This is the fresh air that I needed. To be surrounded by nature I love every day, to feel hugged by the stillness of my forest. To be surrounded by the people I love every day, my family who I cherish, my old school friends, and my new beloved ones. Before this, I rarely got my time with them, and my heart yearned for them.

Surely, I do miss my New York friends, but we write to each other and Facetime, praying for the day we can all be reunited, safely.

“Falling back in love with my hometown took some time.”

I feel as though I am living in an A24 film, and it’s wonderful. Though this time in our lives there are many hardships, I think it’s important to still have joy, it’s what gets us through.

The only thing holding me to NYC right now is my small things in my storage unit. Though my things are there, I can wait here, in my small town, just for a little while longer. I can be graced by my family and my Ohio loved ones, just for a little while longer. When, oh when, would I get another time like this, with them, with us, with my town. Ohio isn’t so bad after all. .

My park and my woods hold dearly a special place in my heart. When I am away in New York, I yearn to be in these trees. In the city, in my free time, I always find myself going to the park, whether it be Madison Square Park or Prospect Park, each beautiful in its own. But this park you see, in Ohio, greets me with a particular peace and friendship.

Walking through my pines I feel like I’m in an episode of Twin Peaks. With my big tall oak trees, and the falling leaves hugging me, I feel like I am walking with Walt Whitman. Then walking through my field on a hill I feel like I’m standing with Jo and Laurie. When I sit by my pond with my paints, it feels like I’m with my Monet. When I sprint through my woods, I am filled with vigor and adrenaline. I now take with me a giant scar on my hand from being impaled by a stick. Some of these moments, in my trees, I am waltzing by myself. But others, I am accompanied by true friendship and love, from my wonderful hometown people.

It was in these moments, I realized how joyous I was, how I have been blessed in times of strangeness.

Occasionally, I do miss taking the subway. I miss being able to clock out and not think on my way home, I miss seeing all of the cool outfits from strangers. But I most certainly

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By Jennie Keating (Fabric Styling, ‘21) As many young people contemplate their futures post graduation, they are also burdened with the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus. The following is an interview with NYU student Grace Antino, about how today’s world has impacted her scholastic career and what she sees for her future plans as far as a job goes.

What year are you in and What’s your major?

I am a senior and my major is Media, Culture & Communications with a concentration in visual arts. In my courses, I learn about media and how it relates to gender and race studies among other topics. I combine my creative and scholastic classes to get a well-rounded look at the world of media.

What was your career path/interests pre COVID-19?

I was doing freelance styling gigs and was interested in working in an editorial fashion. My goals were to work in magazines such as i-D, Dazed & Confused, or POP!.

I also love photography, graphic design, writing and the creative visual process.

Did you always think you would be in the fashion industry?

Yes, as a kid I was always really interested in fashion and ending up in NYC for my college career. Those passions were really brought to life around a year ago as I started interning in fashion, and I was certain this was the industry for me.

After the immediate impact of Corona hit, what was life like for you?

I was devastated to leave New York but extremely fortunate to have a family to move back to within Massachusetts. Moving back to the suburbs felt very mundane, and I lost a lot of my creative spark. Even though I am back in New York, I still feel that loss with online classes and less creative work being available.

Has your outlook on the fashion industry changed?

I have forever adored fashion and all that came along with it, but in a world “We, as young people enplagued by sickness, unemployment and tering the industry, need systemic inequalities among races, fashto change the narrative ion has begun to feel frivolous, to say the of fashion to focus on inleast. With the virus disproportionately clusivity, preservation of affecting the unprivileged and people of the environment and find color, the financial gap between the lower and upper class continues to widen. ways to utilize our creative Small businesses across the country brains to help those less have been forced to close, yet we see fortunate.” high fashion houses continuing to sell - G. Antino items worth thousands of dollars. In a year that has made these inequalities UN Conference on Trade and Development strikingly obvious, we have also witas the second most polluting industry in the nessed a civil uprising in the fight for equality and demanding of respect for world. Considering all of this, I can’t help Black lives. The movement has naturally but reconsider the purpose of fashion in our extended itself into fashion, where we world. I feel disconnected and more aware of how materialistic and self-fulfilling it can be. have long predominantly seen white people on runways and across editorial How has this outlook changed spreads. On top of it all, our mother earth is being abused by our consum- your opinion on your future caerist- driven society and is rapidly reer path? running out of resources. Every day I still love fashion and hope to integrate it our environment is facing irreversible into my future. But I definitely feel different damage due to impact, as people contin- about how I want it to be incorporated in my ue to ignore warnings and instead use life and society as a whole. The fashion indusmore than what was made for us. Fast try needs to make some major, major changfashion accounts for a large amount of es. These things have needed to change, but I the waste we create, with three-fifths of feel like we overlooked them and assumed that all clothing ending up in incinerators they would naturally fix themselves over time. within a year of production. The fashion With the pandemic making these problems industry itself is considered by the

come to the front, I no longer believe we can ignore them. If I am going to continue with fashion, I plan to be a part of the change. We, as young people entering the industry, need to change the narrative of fashion to focus on inclusivity, preservation of the environment and find ways to utilize our creative brains to help those less fortunate.

Are there any long term lessons that you will carry with you into your future career?

As most students today with a desire to work in fashion, I am left to ask myself, what is the purpose of fashion today? In a world tormented by sadness and doom, does it deserve to have a purpose? Are we allowed to consider things “essential” if they are essential to the heart and creative brain or is this a privilege in itself? How can we turn the tables so that fashion acts in a more socially productive, nuanced way instead of with selfish, materialistic intent?

Over the past seven months, I have debated and gone back and forth over these questions countless amounts of times. At the end of the day, I believe that creativity will always have a place in our world. I feel more empowered to use my creative brain to better others and spread positivity. Fashion mirrors society and I believe there is no better time to bring about positive change and fresh ideas into the industry. The lesson I have learned through this time is that empathy is key in all realms of life.

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Creative Class Complacency

By Jarred Shango (Product Management, ‘22)

After the election, New Yorkers flooded the streets, disavowing COVID-19 protocols, claiming that the source for this widespread celebration was not for Joe Biden’s win but Donald Trump’s loss. Over the past several months our social media accounts have been oversaturated with dull platitudes like “our democracy is at stake” or “GO VOTE!” — the overarching themes being “orange man bad” and progressives “pushing Biden left” when he’s in office.

VOTE HIM OUT 2020

Joe Biden and the DNC made it very clear that this leftward shift wasn’t going to happen from the beginning. In April, Biden appointed Larry Summers (pioneer of Wall St. deregulation) as his economic advisor. In June, Biden told wealthy donors attending a fundraiser at The Carlyle Hotel that “nothing would fundamentally change.”

In July, when developing the party platform for the next 4 years, the DNC voted against Medicare For All, legalizing marijuana, and denying aid to Israel if they annex the West Bank. In August, more than 70 former GOP national security officials and congressmen from Reagan to Bush’s administration (war criminals) penned a 10 point letter explaining the rationale for their endorsement of Joe Biden.

Despite these events, the creative class obliged; blindly indulging in this cultural and informational warfare, clinging to partisan fallacies instead of taking an ideological stand. We imposed a full blown attack on political viewpoints we disagree with instead of finding common ground on political viewpoints we do agree with.

The creative class vilified Trump supporters instead of participating in the traditional liberal practice of identifying the reasons why his supporters continue to vouch for him after four years of his administration evading campaign promises. We applauded corporations for profiting off of “social justice” and virtue signaled by way of activism that stopped at donating, protesting, and reposting colorful infographics potent with disinformation on Instagram.

We — the creative class — are responsible for the cultural implications of the new reality we inhabit. We set the precedent for a new economic infrastructure to be developed that allows politicians and multinational corporations to perpetuate the cycle of gaslighting working class Americans through the advocacy of utopian concepts and initiatives. We celebrated and heroized elected officials for their willful incompetence, allowing incrementalism to be feasible for the next decade. The creative class echoed the term “systemic change” this entire election cycle, and we celebrated the literal embodiment of the system we claim to oppose. We are complicit and complacent with the establishment of a permanent underclass in America, and we should be ashamed.

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