The Wake - Issue 7 - Spring 2020

fortnightly student magazine

volume 19 — issue 7

Desserts -n- Drag

p. 7

Q&A: The Florists

p. 16

The Coven Community Workspace

p. 8

How To: Have a Respectful Debate About Politics

p. 18

Why So SAD?

p. 11

Six Reviews

p. 22

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Art by Megan Bormann

FEB 17 - MAR 2

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 7 EDITORIAL: Editor-in-Chief

Tala Alfoqaha

Managing Editor

Emma Chekroun

Cities Editor

Sylvia Rani

Voices Editor

Esther Chan

Music Editor

Tosin Faseemo

Online editor

Sammi Divito

Copy editors

Autumn Sanders Hannah Haakenson

BMM EBZ

Multimedia Editor

Sebastian Alfonzo

Multimedia Producer

Courtenay Parker

Editorial Interns: Ian Knoll, Isabel Teitelbaum, Megan Bormann, Marley Richmond, Kylie Heider, Prahlad Sankrti, Emma Smisek, Martha HusonKinga Mozes, Jemma Keleher

PRODUCTION: Executive Director

Macie Rasmussen

Creative Director

Kiley Nelson

Finance Manager

Nikhil Barr-Saxena

PR/Ad Manager

Claire Redell

Social Media Manager

Madison Amland

Art Director

Morgan Wittmers-Graves

Designers

Kelsey Hanscom Samantha Fischer Ellie Kestner

Web Manager

Juan Rujana

Distribution Manager

Cassie Varrige

Production Interns: Grace Augustin, Skylar Neuber Art Interns: Joe Price, Gavin Schuster, Selena Philaphandeth, Laura Kuchar

THIS ISSUE: Writers Š2020 The Wake Student Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota.

Trent Andersen, Megan Bormann, Samantha De Leon, Hannah Dove, Tosin Faseemo, Kylie Heider, Jemma Keleher, Harram Khan, Ian Knoll, Kinga Mozes, Nina Raemont, Sylvia Rani, Marley Richmond, Josephine Takeshima-Allen, Isabel Teitelbaum, Katie Tiffin,

The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen & James DeLong.

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole.

To join the conversation email eic@wakemag.org The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

THE WAKE

Art 1 Morgan Wittmers-Graves, 2 Gavin Schuster, 3 Meredith Song, 4 Lauren Bastian Medhane, Lerado, and Mavi and Fine Line art from original sources Cover and feature art by Joe Price

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wink! one page magazine

Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo the wake

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FEB 17 - MAR 2

UPCOMING EVENTS

INSIDE 6

Letter from Social Media

2/18

2/27

7

Desserts -n- Drag

Electric Guest w/ Soleima

Brews Against Abortion Bans: Trivia Night

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The Coven Community Workspace

9

Umami Fries Review

11

Why So SAD?

16

Q&A: The Florists

18

How To: Have a Respectful Debate About Politics

19

Guy-entine’s Day

20

Doom ‘n’ Gloom

21

Casual Dating, Casual Racism

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Six Reviews

Fine Line

7:00pm - 9:00pm Fair State Brewing Cooperative

2/21

2/27

Creative Mornings: Skye Ross

100 Gecs

8:30am - 10:00am Paikka

Fine Line

2/21

C

A

All That 90s Party 9:00pm - 2:00am First Avenue, 18+

2/22

B

Midwest Corgi Fest

A

Boom Island Brewing Company

2/22 CHONKFEST

C B

12pm Fair State Brewing Cooperative Join us in the taproom for an all-out celebration of everything chonk with Kitty Revolution, a local no-kill cat shelter.

THE WAKE

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Letter from the Social Media Manager Hello readers of The Wake, I’d like to informally welcome you to 2020. It is the start of a new decade, a new semester and many new beginnings. We have already seen so much in just the first month of this new year. The what seems to be never-ending impeachment trial, the iconic jaw-dropping JLo and Shakira halftime show performance, and the tragic helicopter accident that took nine lives and impacted a nation forever. We have learned that life is too unexpected and too precious. We have learned that we may not always have the answers or the correct responses to difficult times. We have also learned the importance of continuing to question anything and everything.

This is a time full of huge changes in my life, as I’m sure is true for plenty of others too. I find myself questioning absolutely everything. Am I doing enough? What will I do once this semester is over and I am officially a college graduate? Did I pick the right major? What about my minor, was that a waste of time? My mind is flooding with questions of self-doubt and insecurities. Often, I would let these negative thoughts and feelings get the best of me, preventing me from moving toward the changes. Not this time. Even though I am uncertain about everything that is coming my way, I am choosing to remain optimistic. I know that whatever life throws at me, I can handle it.

I think we put too much pressure on ourselves. We feel like we need to have a game plan and a timeline for the rest of our lives. We feel pressure to have a plan for what we’ll study in college, where we will work after, how much money we want to be making, when we’ll buy a house, when we’ll start a family. I am here to say that is a load of crap. These pressures we feel have been ingrained in our brain since we were little kids, which probably hasn’t had the healthiest impacts on our lives. Not knowing what your next move is going to be is totally acceptable. I don’t know about you, but personally, I feel more comfortable and free when I allow myself to just go with the flow of things. I don’t want to have my life planned out.

That doesn’t sound very fun. I want to live in the moment and take things one day at a time, because we aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow. That may sound corny, but it’s true. Why spend your days stressing about what your future is going to look like, when you could simply be enjoying the life you are currently living.

This year, I am making it a point to push myself to start being more present, for myself and for others. Taking the time out of my busy schedule to take a step back and appreciate all that I am and all that I have. I will speak out about things that I believe are important. I will acknowledge the hard work of myself and my peers, and not let it go unrecognized. I will tell the ones important to me that I love them.

I will cuddle with my cat. I will eat and drink whatever makes me feel good. I will continue to express myself through my love of fashion. Maybe I will even dye my hair a fun color and get more tattoos. Jeez, who knows. This year, my only plan is to do what will make me the happiest.

I urge you to do the same.

Thank you for picking up this issue of The Wake! I hope it brings you insight into at least one thing you didn’t know you needed to know.

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Take care, Madison Amland

FEB 17 - MAR 2

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Desserts -n- Drag University of Minnesota’s attempt at a Drag event fails to live up to the culture and popularity of the movement

BY IAN KNOLL The vibrant and welcoming community of drag has, in modern years, exploded into mainstream recognition with younger audiences, and the Twin Cities has a historic and thriving drag scene. One would think this combination would make the University of Minnesota the perfect spot to host a drag event, but Desserts-n-Drag was just that: a drag.

Hosted by local drag Queens Valencia and Cariño, Desserts-n-Drag was an opportunity for UMN students to have some sweets, play party games, win prizes, and see a few drag performances along the way. The idea of a more casual drag experience has potential (especially for the uninitiated), and what college student doesn’t love free stuff? The problem, however, lies in execution.

While the prizes were great for college students (things like essential oils, a crockpot, and a fleece blanket), the games themselves were little more than highschool assembly affairs: the usual stacking marshmallows, eating Oreos off your face, or guessing the price of an item ala “Price is Right.” Lacking any extra panache, these quickly get old.

One would think that the drag performances would be a welcome break, and while this certainly was true, the performers were woefully underutilized. The energy, dexterity, and overall sexiness of Valencia and Cariño’s performances clearly won over the crowd, but four brief musical numbers in two hours isn’t much, and the venue (a conference center on the upper floors of the Memorial Union) clearly isn’t the ideal space for these queens to strut their stuff.

Despite what felt like a dull first attempt, I still feel Desserts-n-Drag has the potential to be a great event.

The audience is certainly there (the nearly 180 person capacity of the room was filled in minutes), but when nearly half of that audience leaves before the end, the excitement clearly isn’t. My suggestion? Use a more appropriate space (there is an entire stage just a few floors down after all), devise some more active games, and give those queens the chance to really shine. Maybe then, Desserts-n-Drag will be an event worthy of the drag culture that surrounds it.

THE WAKE

Walker Art Center’s “Free First Saturday” is Perfect for College Students There’s something for all ages at the Walker

BY JOSEPHINE TAKESHIMA ALLEN Free First Saturdays are perfect if you’re a museum loving broke college student like I am. The first section of the museum that was open was intended for kids, but creativity has no age limit, so I proceeded.

When we entered the area, a volunteer told us that a mythical creature had come to Minneapolis, and felt homesick. It was our job to make something that made us feel at home to welcome him. As an “adult”, I don’t feel like I get many opportunities to just sit and make something with no assignment requirements and no grade attached to it. Once I was finished, I hung up my masterpiece, made of scrap pieces of paper glued onto an old postcard, and moved onto the galleries.

Several of the galleries were open, including Five Ways In. That collection explored the blurring of genres of art, such as sculptures which were also landscapes. There was also a gallery on the nude body, a welcome surprise at an event that I assumed only catered to children. There was also a unique opportunity to snowshoe through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, allowing patrons to see a part of the museum that is rarely accessible during the winter.

Three short films were playing throughout the day: The Maid, Kohl, and Felt Tip. The first followed six sculptures sold to very different people. Kohl explores the effect coal has had on our society and hints that the power it has over us is still being used. Felt Tip showed that though women are advancing through the ranks of white collar work, they are still constricted and molded by a patriarchal society.

The films were all uniquely captivating, and the opportunity to see them in a gallery was amazing. These events happen every first Saturday of the month, and it is a fun and free way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

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CITIES

The Coven Community Workspace The Minneapolis-born startup extends its reach to St. Paul 1

BY SYLVIA RANI Hold onto your hats, witches! There’s a new safe space in town. The Coven St. Paul opened its doors for the first time in late January, welcoming a new chapter of women and non-binary folk into the gorgeous buildout that spans two floors of Cathedral Hill’s Blair Arcade. More than twice the size of its original Minneapolis location, the pristinely decorated co-working space is one of the only ones on the other side of the Mississippi.

Founded with the intention to create a safe and comfortable space for humans from every industry, age, and socioeconomic background, The Coven offers members more than the average shared workspace.

Private showers, a self-care room, and onsite childcare are only a few of the amenities that the Coven holds within its high-ceilinged walls. In addition to an immaculate shared workspace, the Coven hosts thoughtful events focused on a range of topics. From professional development and networking to reiki and conversations on climate change, the events bring together people from all different industries and backgrounds to connect and share their worldly wisdom.

The interior of the Coven is nothing short of gorgeous. Imagine country-club-meetsAnthropologie chic. Minimalist, modern furniture is accented by vibrant pillows and matte gold wall decals that spell out quotes from influential women. On the lower floor, pieces by local female and non-binary artists decorate the exposed brick walls. Friendly potted succulents and fuschia orchids add a touch of nature to the atmosphere. Above the marble countertops in the kitchenette area, large lettering on the coral tile reads “Do the Most Good,” a core tenet of the Wicca tradition.

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Doing the most good certainly seems to be a driving force for the Coven. After years of experience in advertising, the four founding members grew frustrated with the sexist and exclusionary nature of the industry. From covertly gendered slights to an overt lack of diversity in the workplace, the women had enough of working in systems that seemed to be stacked against their success.

As they stepped out of their advertising careers, the founders felt a strong desire to try to dismantle the de-facto systems that kept them underrepresented, undervalued, and overlooked. Born out of a powerful combination of frustration and desire to enact change, the Coven aimed to be a space that would bring women and non-binary people together to work towards a better future. The founders knew that destroying the patriarchy would mean building a new world, one that values inclusion and equality. With these principles in mind, they created the Coven as a community space where brave individuals could come together and pursue those goals.

is possible when people work together. To ensure the space’s inclusivity, for every five annual memberships purchased, the Coven offers one fully-paid scholarship to a person who cannot currently afford a membership.

Priority for these scholarships are given to people from historically marginalized backgrounds.

At the new location’s grand opening, people of all ages and backgrounds gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. Local businesses including Mississippi Market Co-op and Nothing Bundt Cakes provided evening snacks and beverages. An air of excitement and optimism filled the space; a warm, hopeful energy that carried on well into the night. In the Coven, it seems that when women and non-binary people come together, the things they create are nothing short of magic.

While not all members of the Coven identify as witches, the space’s name is more of a tongue-in-cheek reference to our culture’s response to women coming together and standing in their power. The Coven offers a radical type of space where professionals can show up as their full selves and challenge the scarcity mindset that keeps people complacent. Operating from a place of abundance in a society that teaches people to always be afraid of not having enough is an act of resistance in itself. The Coven was founded on the principles that there is, in fact, plenty to go around, and that change 1

CITIES

Umami Fries Review Dinkytown’s newest restaurant puts a unique spin on Asian dishes

BY TOSIN FASEEMO Umami Fries is a brand new Asian-American restaurant located in Dinkytown. The Oklahomaborn franchise specializes in American meals with Asian-inspired spices and toppings.

Those who attend the University of Minnesota know there is no shortage of places to enjoy Asian cuisine near campus. Num-mi, a Vietnamese restaurant formerly located in Dinkytown, was widely appreciated by the U of M community until it closed late in the fall of 2019. Umami Fries has sprung up in its place, adding to the wide variety of Asian restaurants accessible to UMN students.

The menu initially appears to be centered around meat, but vegetarians can request a substitution, like tofu, on each meal. The options range from tacos, to loaded fry dishes, to burgers served with a side of seasoned fries. There is a wide variety of Asian cultures featured on the menu. Customers have the option of ordering the kimchi burger, which showcases Korean toppings, or curry fries, layered with Indian herbs and spices. The menu also features bubble tea, a drink originating from Taiwan, in several flavors.

Prices at Umami Fries are reasonably low, presumably to cater to student budgets. Nothing on the menu exceeds 12 dollars, including the burger-fry combos. The portions of food are quite generous; customers can expect to leave the restaurant with leftovers.

In addition to being plentiful, the food is also loaded with flavor. The Japanese slaw burger was sweet, with creamy slaw packed onto a beef burger. I was initially confused about the use of such a sweet sauce on a burger, something that is usually considered a savory meal.

But as I continued eating, I realized that was the point of the entire restaurant: to make you rethink what you think is possible for food.

THE WAKE

A Hot Doggery Classic with Hints of Chaos and Character Vienna beef, basketball shorts, and toy dinosaurs—what more could you want at your neighborhood hot dog joint?

BY NINA RAEMONT

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Within seconds of walking in the door, I had sensed the overall character of the Wienery. The restaurant has a simultaneous run-down yet wellrun aura to it: toy dinosaurs, an empty maple syrup dispenser, and a “Curious George” coloring book scattered one vacant table. Below that table, two toddlers assumed the role of fire hazards as they played on the floor and blocked the entrance, while above them, the owner took, cooked, and delivered orders expeditiously. Dressed in an old t-shirt and Adidas basketball shorts, he cordially welcomed those old and new, remembering the regulars’ orders and explaining to Wienery virgins how the menu was organized.

The plethora of options on the menu accommodates all kinds of dietary restrictive foodies, from vegans to carnivores. At such a classic diner, you wouldn’t expect modern options.

I tried the Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, while my friend ordered the vegan version. The dog was delicious; its beef was flavorful, yet the size of the dog was smaller than anticipated. The vegan dog was intensely flavorful but the “snap” of a conventional dog was understandably absent in the meat alternative. Cheap, delicious, and filling, the Wienery Combo offers any style hot dog of your choice, a hefty side of perfectly crisp fries, and a fountain drink, all for $7.50.

This place felt like a hidden gem of West Bank with its welcoming and quirky nature, delicious dogs, and cheap prices. Nested between the Cedar Cultural Center and the Baarakallah Restaurant, the Wienery provides a hole-in-thewall diner experience with all the comfort and customer service of a well-run establishment and effusive character that will leave you with pleasure long after the meal has been finished.

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Art by Hannah Brausen

FEB 17 - MAR 2

FEATURE

Why So SAD? Getting out your winter gear in northern states means sun lamps, vitamin D gummies, and workout clothes to battle the “winter blues.”

By Isabel Teitelbaum THE WAKE

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FEATURE

The first snowfall of the year can be a beautiful sight—it’s hard not to feel a little appreciation for the winter wonderland. However, the initial awe and enjoyment of the fluffy scenery can wear off well before the snow makes its final departure in May. The days get shorter, the temperature colder, and the students busier.

“In the winter months it gets super gloomy, and the snow is no longer pretty and Christmas-y,” said University of Minnesota student Nadia Zamoida. “It really makes me wanna sleep all day, which can lead to further depressive symptoms.”

Zamoida is one of approximately ten million Americans who are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s more commonly known as seasonal depression or the “winter blues.” SAD mainly strikes when people experience a decrease in sunlight exposure which causes a change in serotonin and melatonin levels in the body.

Everyone is encouraged to get outside for at least 30 minutes every day. Your body produces vitamin D through sunlight exposure and uses that vitamin D to help produce serotonin. According to Dr. Jean Larson, from the Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, research suggests that serotonin deficiencies are associated with depression.

A personal or family history of depression can put you at a greater risk of experiencing SAD. Some people struggle with seasonal and major depression simultaneously. The age of onset ranges between 18 and 30, meaning college students (especially those living far from the equator) often find themselves experiencing symptoms without being

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properly diagnosed. In addition, SAD is four times more likely to affect women than men.

Dr. Ziah Nahas, professor and vice chair of the University’s psychiatry department, said that hormones play a big role when explaining the spike of women experiencing depression during college. Women experience substantial hormonal changes twice—in their early 20s and again in their early 50s.

Another 10 to 20 percent of Americans deal with milder SAD symptoms.

SAD has symptoms of depression, but there are different causes and varied treatments.

“I get tired very easily, and when I’m tired, it’s difficult to set myself up for success. When it’s dark out all the time, it makes it difficult to wake myself up fully,” said University of Wisconsin-Madison student Maddy Gray. “When this happens I’ll tend to isolate myself and my eating habits get poor, which starts the cycle of SAD.” Seasonal depression comes from a lack of sunlight. We have circadian rhythms with a daily cycle. This rhythm is an internal clock that responds to light and darkness in a person’s environment. “That clock, in the winter when there is not enough sunlight and when the sun is taking too long to come up in the morning, is going to shift forward,” said Dr. Nahas. “So the shift makes it difficult to wake up in the morning, making us fatigued, clearly affecting our mood.”

A common treatment for SAD is light therapy. It resets the body’s

FEB 17 - MAR 2

FEATURE

circadian rhythm by jump-starting it in the morning, helping to normalize the body’s sleep cycle. Light therapy is measured in units of illuminance intensity called “lux.” Ten thousand lux is used for 20 minutes in the morning to mimic sunlight and energize you when you’re starting your day. However, the harmful UV rays are removed from these lights, meaning all of the vitamin D intake you normally get from the sun is absent as well.

Light therapy is expanding into new forms and becoming more readily available. In 2016, Sunspot, a light-therapy bus based in Duluth, Minnesota, opened with the purpose of helping people fulfill their sunshine needs. Student Miranda Almendinger said that the bus helped her when she first tried it during finals week at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She tried to implement light therapy into her more regular schedule, which she found helpful until her lamp burned out.

There are resources available to students who are curious but not ready to commit to buying their own sun therapy lamp. On the St. Paul campus, Magrath Library allows students to check out or reserve SAD lamps.

Light therapy may not be everyone’s favorite. Student Molly O’Brien hasn’t gotten any relief from it. She first noticed that her regular medication to help with her anxiety and depression wasn’t working in December of 2018. She was aware of her personal and family history of depression when she moved from California to Minnesota but found the lack of sunlight in Minnesota difficult to deal with.

in Madison and has one in her hometown she sees when home for extended visits, which has helped. She tried going to therapy every week and found it beneficial but too expensive. She’s made a personal choice to not to take medication for her depression and instead has been meditating and working towards mindfulness.

Almendinger found her preferred methods of treatment to be talking to close friends, using a salt lamp, and a new friend—she adopted her dog, Kieko, at four months old during her sophomore year. This came a year after health services confirmed her depression was amplified during the winter months.

“She’s not a very cuddly dog,” Almendinger said, “but her presence really helps, especially when she lays at my feet or when she sleeps on my legs. She’s like a gravity blanket.” While pets are not listed in common seasonal depression treatments, pets help refocus attention from yourself to be responsible for something/someone else.

“One size rarely fits anyone—it’s a combination of these,” Dr. Larson said about treatments. “They all depend on the individual and her/ his needs.”

SAD is something that can affect the everyday lives of those in the north. The treatments are not a guaranteed fix, but through experimentation and focus on a healthy lifestyle, everyone can hopefully find the tools to take care of themselves.

“It’s something that is talked about as an issue, but the reality isn’t really addressed as being unable to get out of bed and being unmotivated or just out of energy,” O’Brien said. “It’s something that I feel like I can’t ask disability for, but [it] would help at times. The stigma is so prevalent that people end up sacrificing work or school, and then it can worsen the depression.”

She’s found some relief by taking vitamin D gummies and an increased dosage of her medication based on her psychiatrist’s recommendation. However, she discovered the exercise she got during frisbee last spring helped greatly. “My psychiatrist said that routine exercise is equivalent to an increased SSRI dose!” SSRIs are a type of antidepressant that work by increasing serotonin levels in the body.

Anita Campo, a UW-Madison student, gets plenty of exercise on her own as well as through her work at a kickboxing gym. “But, of course, SAD gets in the way,” she said. In addition to her social anxiety, there are days she finds it hard to leave her bed. In a hopeful effort, she’s experimenting with meditation and is meeting with a psychiatrist this month to discuss medication.

Dr. Nahas said that exercise is one of the most predictable antidepressants that there is. Exercising, a healthy diet, getting outside, and maintaining a healthy mindset can all help to reduce SAD symptoms. When the symptoms are persistent, some people may need other resources, such as therapy or medication. Dr. Nahas stressed that “if the symptoms are mild, you shouldn’t take an antidepressant drug.”

Therapy can be comforting and a good way to draw people out of isolation. Gray said that she sees a therapist every three weeks

THE WAKE

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ART

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Art by Mckinley Roche

FEB 17 - MAR 2

ART

THE WAKE

Art by Jane Borstad

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Q&A

The Florists

BY TOSIN FASEEMO The Florists are a Minneapolis rock band composed of three UMN alums.

Luke Michaels plays the bass and synth, Jo Kellen sings and plays the guitar, and Jared Hemming plays the drums. Read on to learn about the band’s unique perspective on live performances.

: How did you all meet?

Jo: Jared and I met doing stand-up comedy when we were students at the University of Minnesota.

I knew Jared worked at Radio K. I just thought he was very cool, and we ended up winding our way into a jam session.

Jared: We knew right away it was going to be a silly band. I met Luke at Radio K. I DJ-ed after him, so we would hang out at the end of his shift.

I noticed that he had picked out “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain” by Pavement, and I thought that was really rad. We got to talking about Pavement, and we were like, “We’ve gotta jam sometime!”

Jo: Then my first time meeting Luke was at the first Florists rehearsal. I had no idea ‘til we were playing music together.

Jared: I also just imagine an alternate universe version of us, like a sitcom version, where we all own a flower shop that’s also called The Florists.

: Like, where you each own your own flower shop?

Jared: No, we all own one collectively. And it’s about our hijinks running a flower shop. But then our secret identity is that we’re a rock band.

: On that topic, genre-wise, would you position yourselves as a rock band? Or are you more fluid with genre?

Jared: Quack punk?

Luke: Definitely a lot of honking.

: How did you decide on your band name?

Jo: I had wanted to name a band that since I was 15. I don’t know why. I think it’s funny when bands are named after occupations, or things that feel unintuitive.

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Jared: Queer jock?

Jo: Yeah, queer jock. I usually open shows by saying, “we’re a rock band called The Florists.” I’ve just done that out of habit, but I would say we play rock music, but a lot of people find us difficult to categorize. We can be very heavy and noisy

FEB 17 - MAR 2

Q&A and wild one minute, and play a soft, melodic ballad the next. So I’d say the most consistent one would be noise pop. We’re a weird band with pop sensibilities.

idea that you bring to two other people who play completely different than you do, that song becomes a new thing. It becomes something that each one of us has a stake in emotionally.

Luke: We all like pop music a lot. Our tastes come through in the music in a really interesting way that has made it evolve from being a simple rock band.

We all love a lot of different music and I think that shows in the music that we play. It samples a lot of different genres. But we are a rock band at its core.

: I’ve been to one of your live performances, and it was super crazy and fun! It was almost sort of theatrical. Is that intentional?

Jo: Yeah, absolutely. I think that a big premise that we have as performers and artists, is that the line between the performer and the audience should be blurred, and that acknowledging the performance of your own personality is a really fraught and interesting topic for art. We’ve had other stuff. We’ve had tap dancers on stage, we’ve done skits, we’ll do choreographed dances. We’re all trying to push those boundaries.

Jared: We have a character called Clancy the Pig. Jo: I think that when we decide we’re done playing rock music, y’know, sometime in 2025, we’ll probably just all move to LA together and write a sitcom based on our life as a rock band.

Luke: To me, I feel like there’s nothing more boring than just watching a rock band stand still on stage.

I think showing energy from the stage is essential if you’re expecting any energy from the audience, and interaction is such a huge part of that. I’ve always held onto that idea, that I’d someday play in a band that was more than just a simple rock band. The energy that we give off on stage is all based on our passion to see something exciting.

Jo: Yeah, it sucks to watch people who think they’re cool. I hate that. What makes someone cool is not their ability to follow a trend or their ability to project an image. It’s their ability to be themselves without apologizing. A lot of the band has been about us personally figuring out how to be Jo, Jared, and Luke onstage.

: Does the fact that you all went to the U influence how you’ve been able to build up your band in Minneapolis?

Jared: Yeah, it was a really great built-in audience, because you’re instantly connected to so many fellow U people. record all the songs with a live feel. We had really played the crap out of them, so they were ready to be birthed into the world.

Jo: As you get to know a song better, you play faster. This is the first record that we have where there are only three songs that are over three minutes long. It’s all super fast and probably a little more punk than we intended. But I think that we all are perfectionists too, so when we come into the studio it’s really important to have the craft of the song down pat. So I think that was a part of the thinking behind touring all of the songs and then playing them in the studio. We try to capture what the live show sounds like. We track live; we don’t try to do multi-tracking. We do all of the instruments live, and then we do the vocals in the next take.

Luke: On top of that, the studio gives us so much more of an opportunity to... expand on our sound in a way that makes the records more interesting.

: When it comes to writing songs, what is that like? Is it more collaborative?

Jo: It depends. Usually, somebody is kind of coming in with an idea. Depending on who has what idea on which instrument they want to play, we build from there. We improvise a lot in rehearsal; somebody might land on some exciting melody that they want to explore. We’ll just intuitively write around it and play around it. Occasionally, that turns into a really awesome song.

So it’s a mix; it’s all collaborative.

: When it comes to going to the studio and recording your music, how do you approach that? I feel like a lot of your performance has to do with interacting with people, so how is that different than when you go to the studio?

Luke: No one’s ever writing for someone else’s part. We all write what we play, so if I’m playing guitar, I probably wrote that guitar part.

Jared: We’re working on a new album for 2020.

One thing that was really great is, we were able to go on a 2019 summer tour in early August. We were on the road for two weeks playing the set every night, and then we immediately went to the studio a day after coming home and were able to

Jared: I think, to some degree, when you’re working solo, you can get bogged down with your own ideas.

When you have an

THE WAKE

Jo: House shows, shows in Como, and Radio K, which is awesome. Then that stretches out too; we’ve had our music on The Current, we’ve had our music on college radio stations all over the country. It all starts there. It all starts from us throwing a show in Luke’s basement. That whole community is full of people who are just trying things.

Jared: I think I joined Radio K and The Minnesota Daily just to meet people that would form a band with me, and it worked out.

: What is your greatest artistic inspiration?

Jo: Definitely John Darnielle from the Mountain Goats. His lyrics are really important to me; I write a lot of lyrics for this band. I love using words in both this way of thinking about how the words are going to activate a live crowd, and also in a traditional poetic way, where you’re constructing sentences that seem to access a catharsis that feels true. And I think that guy is the master of that.

Luke: It’s just hard to say one, because there are guitarists that I grew up listening to, like Kurt Vile and George Harrison, that really formed the way that I play guitar, but I wouldn’t say hold the same influence over what I do now. Dolly Girls, Dreamcrusher, Prison Religion, all really cool New York bands and acts that are redefining punk music in a way that I think is much needed. It’s kind of strange how antiquated punk music can sound sometimes. When people breathe new life into it, whether it be with new instruments or a new way of approaching the music, that is some of the most inspiring stuff to me.

Jared: I love Dave Grohl because the man drums, but then turns out he can sing. I’m a big fan of Prince. He played all the instruments on his own records. I think that’s really cool, and that adaptability is something that’s really important to me.

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VOICES

How To: Have a Respectful Debate About Politics

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Within a political landscape of unequal valuations of human life

BY TRENT ANDERSEN As a political science student on the precipice of graduation, this question haunts me, and its answer continues to elude me. How do we have a respectful debate about politics? How are we to critically engage with each other on political topics without screaming or totally shutting down?

Too often I see people throw on the rose-colored glasses called “agreeing to disagree” or shelter themselves behind filter bubbles and simply rebuff these conversations. Such conclusions are steeped in a myriad of privileges. When an individual or group’s humanity is in question within political discourses, “agree to disagree” is gravely insufficient in facilitating fruitful and respectful discussions. If anything, it only exacerbates the divide. To understand how we can create respectful political conversations, it is imperative we understand the nature and definition of respect.

To respect is to consider worthy of high regard.

With this definition, it is impossible to have a respectful debate about politics without the prerequisite condition of mutual respect.

Admittedly, the dilemma is how are respectful political debates possible when one views people of color, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and/ or immigrants as undeserving of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? An effective democracy is predicated on a politically engaged electorate, which is born out of discussion. However, such discussions cannot be rooted in the degradation of one’s humanity. Therefore, the question becomes:

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how can we work to minimize the chasm between respect and political discussions?. According to Professor Emerita, Dr. Joan Tronto, we can accomplish this goal, and so much more, by prioritizing the ethic of care. In her book, Caring Democracy, she defines care as, “a species activity that includes everything that we do to maintain, continue, and repair our ‘world’ so that we can live in it as well as possible,”. Rooting ourselves in caring relationships breeds respect. Respect lays the foundations for meaningful and productive discussions. Fruitful discussions can lead to a healthy, and thriving political landscape and society. Tronto argues, and I wholeheartedly agree, that “we need to rethink American democracy, as well as our fundamental values and commitments, from a caring perspective.”

Anecdotally, it seems many political conversations that go south view rights as something finite. As if granting rights, resources, and opportunities to one group, immigrants for example, means less for another group. I view this mindset as being rooted in American individualism while also relating to the field of political psychology. The key takeaway I learned in a course about political psychology of mass behavior is that people think in groups.

They view themselves as part of a group and want to see their group win. In this sense, politics can mimic sports. People who identify with a particular party want to see their party win, because it makes them feel like they are also winning.

However, a consequence of this group mindset is the creation of the categories “Us” and “Them”. As

mentioned above, people want to see their group, and by proxy, themselves win. This competitive mindset within the political landscape seems counterintuitive to creating meaningful change and building a more just and caring society: because it is! I believe, as does Professor Tronto, that there is another way.

What if we stretch and expand these rigid categories of us and them, until they shatter. We see our shared humanity as the foundational source of these discussions. In doing so we shift our collective political mindset away from a paradigm of winning and losing towards one of care, and subsequently, respect. The questions now become: How can we orient our society to create the most good, for the most people? How can we optimize the life chances of our fellow humans? Make no mistake, I am not advocating for folks to run around screaming “I don’t see color,” or minimizing the wide array of experiences and identities that make up our world. Rather, by recognizing our shared humanity, we can forge the prerequisite respect necessary for productive political conversations. One that acknowledges and celebrates differences and builds bridges.

Our country is a product of genocide, slavery, and colonialism. These are legacies that must be dealt with directly. Therefore, before respectful political discussions can be forged, there must be a balancing of the scales through the (re)articulation of our shared humanity.

FEB 17 - MAR 2

Guy-entine’s Day

VOICES

Semester Exchanges - A Flimsy Narrative

Celebrating male friendships instead of subscribing to toxic masculinity

Are short-time cultural exchange interactions too banal?

BY MARLEY RICHMOND

BY HARRAM KHAN

One sweet day in February 2010, the idea of exclusively romantic celebrations of Valentine’s Day came to an end when Leslie Knope of “Parks and Recreation” enlightened us with Galentine’s day. Starting as a TV show plot, Galentine’s Day (February 13) soon became a real-life celebration of platonic love and female friendship. But while Galentine’s Day dismantles the idea that romantic love should be prized above friendship or family, it leaves some people out—individuals that, arguably, need an even greater opportunity to share their love for one another: boys! Introducing, Guyentine’s Day, the celebration of platonic male love that we ALL need.

You’re a semester exchange student and at an American university for a few months. Because it is a cultural exchange, the dictated purposes of your visit are not purely academic—rather your exchange sponsor would call it “interculturally interactive” while you resist conjuring up the image of yourself in class wearing a saari. You don’t know how health insurances work or what “cinnamon toast crunch” is, and every person you come across ensures vehemently that the weather is bound to get much worse. That is the preface to an average conversation you will have in the next four months.

When was the last time you told your best friend that you loved them? Maybe recently, or maybe you can’t remember. For many people, especially men, expressing platonic affection can be seen as weak, “unmanly,” and taboo. Toxic masculinity includes this enforcement of restrictive gender roles—praising stoicism and anger in men—and is closely linked with misogyny and homophobia. It can also contribute to rates of domestic and sexual abuse. The American Psychological Association links such a mentality with mental and physical health risks and lower rates of men seeking psychiatric help compared to women. Making space for men to share their emotions is one way to fight back against a gender-biased system leading to such risks.

You tell the “local” about your exchange semester status (or are led to tell as such by the natural stream of dialogue people tend to follow), and instantly, a frenzy ensues where the local must be categorically self-critical of the foreign policies of a certain president. Suddenly, you must be an entire country’s spokesperson or an exhibitionist at the least; anything short of that role is a defamation to your South East Asian heritage. The well being of that farmer in Punjab’s remotest, romanticized village depends on your indifferent shoulders.

Speaking of exchanges, I have felt that the room for personal discovery has been greatly limited by the nature of instructions sponsored exchange students receive from different institutions. Instructions that teach about how to behave in conformity with American culture not only leads to ingenuine connections, but it does nothing to further the cause of organic cultural exchange. For instance if exchange organizations and sponsors emphasise too much on the “American” way of shaking hands, the sponsored students only get uneasy about their own conduct. They feel that they cannot be more honest about general things, and have to be agents, instead of real people existing in real, rich and very different cultures. Cultures that have multiple folds of complexities, and are not simply “better” or “worse”.

While Guyentine’s Day can hardly dismantle an oppressive system by itself, promoting male friendship and expressions of positive emotions are an essential part of creating true gender equity.

As the celebration of women supporting women becomes more popular, opportunities to advocate for emotional vulnerability and expressions of platonic love between men are just as important!

It’s about time that we have a Guyentine’s Day too, so boys can celebrate their love for all their buddies, mates, or bros without any stigma. So get together the guys, celebrate your friendships, and tell your friends you love them.

Identifying the place I’m from, and feeling connected to its history and aesthetics, I have always seen myself in its light. Having said that, I wanted this semester to be an opportunity to go down that Walt Whitman flavored path of “self-discovery” by trying different masks, questioning my deep-seated identities and sailing the Great Lakes with a ukulele for company (not the third part). However, since being here, I have found myself deeper in the trench of those inborn and ingrained identities and labels.

THE WAKE

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VOICES

Diversity Beyond Tokenism How the Lack of Racial Diversity Among UMN Professors Impacts Students

BY TRENT ANDERSEN During my college career, I have attended two community colleges and two state universities—messy, I know. What is even messier is that during that time I have only had four professors of color. It has been critically important to my personal, professional, and intellectual development to have professors who share my marginal identities. These professors include voices in their syllabi that may stray from the canon, enriching the learning experiences for everyone in the classroom, regardless of their race..

Being able to discuss the nuances of race at a predominantly white institution has been invaluable.

Particularly given that discussions on the topic of race are often wrought with microaggressions and pointblank racist statements, intended and unintended alike.

John Coleman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, states that “to truly engage with the community, CLA must be a reflection of that community,” but it currently isn’t. In order for Dean Coleman’s vision to be effectively realized, the decision makers on this campus must grapple with the reality we are faced with and consciously recruit and include diverse faculty members in important, systemic decision-making processes.

The University’s student body is 67% white, and 76.5% of professors are white. There must be a system-wide push to not only recruit faculty of color but to allow for their full participation in university systems. This feels especially timely and critical in light of the Board of Regents voting 10-1 against President Kaler’s proposal to rename buildings on campus titled after racist figures.

The University has a moral obligation to ensure students and faculty of color are given the resources necessary to succeed beyond their college careers, rather than simply serving as token representatives during discussions on race.

Doom ‘n’ Gloom

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100 seconds to midnight and other grievances

BY KYLIE HEIDER Every now and then, we are affronted with truths that are, to put it plainly, hard to reconcile with.

Such things are often passing reminders of the collective distraughtness of our times—things that will fundamentally unsettle or disturb us but just as quickly be resigned to obscurity.

I usually encounter these truths on my Twitter news feed. For example, last May, I watched a man burn himself alive on the White House lawn on my feed.

He died shortly after as a result of his injuries. It would seem such an act would carry some weight and would not so easily be chalked up to be the coincidental result of an altered mind, but the incident was soon forgotten.

These random events, evoking a chilling sense of existential apathy, are fascinating to me. Most recently, on my feed, I saw that the Doomsday Clock had been moved to “100 seconds to midnight.” “We have a doomsday clock?” I thought, “What is that?” According to the website of the Bulletin for Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock is “a metaphor . . . of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.” When we overcome the fact that the phrase “100 seconds to midnight” evokes cheesy allusions to apocalyptic 80’s movies and move past the strangeness of an object designed to measure time until the apocalypse, there’s a grim and unconsolable reality behind the clock’s time.

Everyday, the faltering impossibility of our future stares us down. Though we may look away from its harsh gaze, it is always there—right in front of us—looming. When they moved the hands of their fateful clock, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists were not informing the public of something unknown.

They, like many others, were reminding the world not to look away.

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FEB 17 - MAR 2

VOICES

Being the Best You

It’s never too late to start your journey

BY SAMANTHA DE LEON When we discuss the topic of wellness, whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual wellness, our ideas of it vary greatly. To me, wellness is about taking action towards maintaining a healthy body, both physically and mentally. Essentially, I think of wellness as a journey you undergo to find what works for you along the way, and the difficult part is that often times you never really figure out what does work for you. However, don’t let the seemingly lack of success discourage you. You may encounter challenging obstacles, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Beginning your journey starts with commitment.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide when you are ready for change; no one else can force you to start changing. If you yourself are not 100 percent committed, you won’t reach your goals. No one ever said it would be easy, and it may be an unbelievably long time before you find success or even make progress. That is not to say that small steps aren’t worth taking. I learned that placing yourself in an environment with people who bring out the best version of you is where you want to be. Furthermore, eating healthy, regular exercise, and limiting social media are beginning steps to success.

In reality, we can’t always be our best selves.

There are always going to be days when we feel down or not motivated—that’s okay. If you fall, you’re still going forward. Having a glass of wine or indulging in a slice of chocolate cake is not going to set you back, it’s going to taste great. Prioritizing your health is up to you, and it is important to remind ourselves that “perfection” is subjective. Change doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time and a sense of self-sufficiency.

Casual Dating, Casual Racism Shows like “The Bachelor” have much to improve on in the race department

BY JEMMA KELEHER If you’re anything like 90% of the population, you’ve heard of dating shows like “The Bachelor” where attractive singles gather to compete for true love. If you’re like me, you even watch an episode once in a while (or rather every Monday night). While the show is entertaining in its nasty, brash way, one aspect is often overlooked: its disrespect towards people of color.

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A quick survey of the contestants demonstrates a blatant lack of people of color being cast on the show. “The Bachelor” has had over 500 contestants, yet only 38 have ever been black women. Of all the Bachelorettes, only one, Rachel Lindsay, has ever been black—a move that is hardly enough to resolve the racial issues that plague the show.

The inclusion of diverse bodies is a step in the right direction, but this inclusion is corrupted by the subsequent treatment of black women. When black women are cast, they are portrayed as background characters who are there to fill space. They often don’t make it far before being sent home in a quiet, unnoticed manner. In comparison, white women are portrayed as fully feasible candidates.

In addition to issues facing black women, there are also significant limitations placed on men of color.

Black and asian men are often delegated to the “best friend” role. This effectively desexualizes men of color and shoves them into a corner where they are deemed unappealing in comparison to their white counterparts.

There are clear racial issues ingrained in dating shows, but because these shows are entertaining, we become complacent and fail to problematize this blatant racism.

Despite what we’ve been conditioned to believe, these representations are not, and should not, be treated as normal; rather, we should view them for what they are: casual racism packaged as harmless fun.

THE WAKE

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SIX REVIEWS

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Little Women

BY MEGAN BORMANN Greta Gerwig’s new motion picture hit the big screen on December 25, 2019. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, and Meryl Streep, Gerwig’s retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale goes in a modern and feminist direction.

The casting of the characters reflected the thoughtfulness and brilliance of Gerwig’s interpretation. Saoirse Ronan’s performance as the strong-willed and creative Josephine March brought a new kind of liveliness and ferocity to the character. One cannot forget Meryl Streep as Aunt March, bringing a dry, comedic twist to a character who is often represented as a mean old woman. Streep brings heart and redemption to a woman who is just trying to make sure the March sisters thrive in the lives they choose to make for themselves.

One of the most notable performances in the film was Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Amy March. Pugh was able to take a character who is often portrayed in a negative way and make her into a character that audiences could empathize with.

Instead of telling the story in chronological order, Gerwig flashes back and forth between the past and present. Through the film’s lighting effects, the audience was able to distinguish between the glowy, golden memories of the past and the gloomy, harsh reality of the present.

Although Gerwig’s film is not the first adaptation of Alcott’s creation, it is refreshingly modern and provides the audience with new ideas and female role models to look up to.

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Vampire Weekend Medhane, Lerado, at a Bernie and MAVI Sanders Rally At the Whole Music Club

In Cedar Rapids, IA

BY KINGA MOZES

BY HANNAH DOVE

Earl Sweatshirt’s influence was evident in all of the artists at The Whole on January 31, yet they were able to craft their own distinct sounds.

Before MAVI performed, Medhane hypnotized the audience with his raw, deep voice and unflinching eye contact. His skin glowed blue as he paced between bodies, rapping about his struggles with mental health on tracks like “Affirmation #1.” It was refreshing to witness someone focused not only on telling his story but also on truly connecting with those listening, unafraid of any darkness that lingered between the bars.

Local rapper Lerado was more playful, characterized by his monotone and glasses. He jumped into the audience to crowd surf.

At its core, rap is poetry. Few demonstrate this better than MAVI, whose performance transported the crowd to a sun-scattered spot in the grass. Trickling piano loops set the tone for the track “Eye/I and I/Nation,” in which he philosophically reflected on black pride. Despite the absence of hooks in his songs, he kept the audience entranced.

A biology student at Howard University, his intellectual lyricism was on display during the track “Self Love,” with lines like, “Clasp the windows to my soul/smoke thicken grab my mental by the throat.” Although his music is somber and meditative, he turned up the energy for “EL TORO COMBO MEAL,” and no one could resist nodding along to the beat.

It’ll be challenging for the Whole to book artists as bold as these in the future.

Ever since Bernie Sanders’ first go at the presidency in 2016, Vampire Weekend has consistently shown him support. The night began with a performance by singer-songwriter Lissie Maurus, mirroring Fleetwood Mac grooves with an oddly patriotic cover of Paul Simon’s “America.” The eagerness for Vampire Weekend’s performance became palpable as hype beasts Michael Moore, Representative Ilhan Omar, and Dr. Cornel West gave way to the man of the hour, Senator Bernie Sanders. The atmosphere was similar to being in church—quite an unorthodox political rally.

Though one of the political pundits joked about how “some of you may only be here for Vampire Weekend,” it didn’t feel as though Vampire Weekend was the main act—they were an opener for Bernie. However, that feeling quickly faded as Vampire Weekend burst into an acoustic version of “Harmony Hall” and the crowd surged forward in a frenzy as hot and bothered as one can get in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mixing together old hits such as “Walcott” along with new bops “Gold Rush” and “This Life” off of their latest album “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend managed to fit a snapshot of each of their albums into an hour, with a lightning round including deep cuts “California English Pt. 2,” a song from the Peter Rabbit movie, and a cover of “The Boys Are Back In Town.” Though Iowa is a cursed state, the power of Bernie Sanders and Vampire Weekend may be the only thing that can drag me back again.

FEB 17 - MAR 2

SIX REVIEWS

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Sex Education Season 2

Fine Line

BY KATE TIFFIN

Harry Styles

Season 2 of “Sex Education” dropped on Netflix a few weeks ago, riding on the coattails of a successful first season. The show follows the lives of “Otis, Maeve, and Eric” and the sex clinic they run in their wildly uneducated high school. Season 1 hinted at a potential romantic spark between Maeve and Otis, but the relationship took a backseat in season 2. While the lack of focus on Otis and Maeve’s relationship was a disappointment to many fans, this shift allowed space for several new, and frankly, more interesting and relevant, storylines to come to the surface.

BY NINA RAEMONT

Some of the most significant plots that took shape this season were the trauma of sexual assault, the importance of female friendship and support in a world run by men (we see this when the girls go to the bus stop to ride the bus with one character who, because of a triggering event, no longer felt safe riding the bus alone); parental abandonment (which both Maeve and Otis navigate after their parents who left come back into their lives); and the continuation of exploring sex, sexuality, and love. The show portrays each in a complex form. One big storyline that has resonated with audiences online is a sex crime experience and the fallout and trauma that someone carries after experiencing this.

No matter who you are, everyone can find a little bit of themselves in the show’s second season. Although the final was bittersweet and somewhat divisive, it left audiences excited for season 3 of “Sex Education.”

After two and a half years of silence from one of the most iconic descendants of the boy band music industry, Harry Styles released his sophomore album, “Fine Line.” Styles established himself in 2017 with his self-titled album, avant-garde fashion taste, and growing fanbase consisting of 1D stans old and new and Beliebers who have rightfully converted.

“Fine Line” shows maturity and intense emotion, with hints of self-deprecation and an emotionally aware Harry who acts as the narrator of a tale of bright love turned heart-wrenching separation. “Golden,” the first song off the album, reminds me of the honeymoon stage of any relationship where things are almost “too bright” to feel real. Through swanky background vocals and touches of piano, Styles effectively paints a picture of an idealized relationship. No matter the song, Harry’s ability to bring the listener into his story, through his use of instruments and vocals, is strong.

In the experimental songs of pleasure and self-acceptance, like “Watermelon Sugar,” Styles alludes to forbidden fruit—a tired metaphor, in my opinion—to implicate his sexuality and in “Lights Up,” he urges you to consider whether “you know who you are.” The vulnerable ballads, like “Cherry” and “Falling,” contextualize his breakup and demonstrate an acknowledgment of his mistakes. The second half of the album provides songs that don’t particularly fit within the theme of the album but are enjoyable nonetheless.

In “Fine Line,” Harry dipped his toes into the experimental waters to test his ability as a songwriter and musician. He proved successful, showing depth and quirk, but has room to grow and cultivate his own voice and (no pun intended) direction.

THE WAKE

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Uncut Gems

BY JOSIE TAKESHIMA ALLEN When people think of Adam Sandler movies, they often think of goofy, feel-good comedies. Their appeal is not in that they are good movies, but in that they never leave anyone feeling bad. They also left no lasting impression on me. “Uncut Gems” leaves viewers feeling like they have been punched in the gut (in the best way possible).

Howie Ratner is a man caught in the grips of a gambling addiction, and he will do anything for his next hit. The movie depicts addiction in a way usually reserved for hardcore drugs. It is gritty, heartbreaking, and exhilarating.

I found myself rooting for Howie in the same way that I root for characters in other movies, who do bad things because of their diseases. It is so clear that Howie spiraled out of control a long time ago and has no chance of quitting gambling on his own.

But every time he had a chance to make things right, I wanted so badly for him to take it. But the mistakes he made began having higher and higher stakes and he was making them more and more often. By the end of the movie, I felt like I was Howie and that my money and my family was on the line.

Don’t go into this movie expecting to feel good when you come out. That being said, I will remember this movie for years, and I think it is the best movie that Sandler has ever made.

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Pitch Meetings for Spring Semester:

2/24 3/16 3/30 4/13

Every other Monday, @ 8pm Folwell Hall, Room 104

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