The Wake - Issue 2 - Fall 2021

fortnightly student magazine

volume 21 — issue 2

Shopping Local in the Era of Etsy

p. 8

Tripping on Sidewalks

p. 17

Race to the Start

p. 11

Biden’s Promises VS. Policies

p. 18

After Line 3

p. 13

Dacey Q&A

p. 22

ART

Art by Linnea Baerenwald Ghost Photo

©2021 The Wake Student Magazine.

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in

All Rights Reserved.

which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as

Established in 2002, The Wake is a

fornightly student magazine

VOLUME 21 — ISSUE 2 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief

Marley Richmond

Managing Editor Cities Editor

Jemma Keleher

Voices Editor Online Editor Copy Editors Music Reviews Editor Multimedia Editor Multimedia Producer

Ian Knoll Mitchell Levesque Na’Jai Wilson Autumn Sanders Peter Nomeland Tosin Faseemo Linnea Baerenwald Noah Berghammer

registered student organization produced

The Wake Student Magazine

by and for students at the University of

126 Coffman Memorial Union

Minnesota. The Wake was founded by

300 Washington Avenue SE

Chrin Ruen and James DeLong.

Minneapolis, MN 55455

PRODUCTION

THIS ISSUE

Executive Director Creative Director

Esther Chan Chae Hong

Writers

PR/Ad Manager

Hannnah Lundquist

Mcclurg, Sean Ericson, Zoe Hoornbeek, Joshua Kloss,

Social Media Manager Art Director

Skylar Neuber Megan Bormann

Jemma Keleher, Srihita Raju, Carter Starkey, Hannnah

Web Manager

Natalie Blum

Maddie Roth, Nina Afremov, Avery Wageman, Griffin

Distribution Manager Distribution Assistant

Shannon Brault Emily Baude

Jacobs, Halle Fodness, Jack O’Connor, Shannon Brault,

Designers

Gavin Schuster Makenna Larsonn Zoe Foster

Editorial Interns: Holly Gilvary, Marie Ronnander, Srihita Raju, Carter Starkey, Nina Afremov, Carly

Production Interns: Patrick Gagnon, Gracie Kibort, Renee Mottet Art Interns: Madison

Quast, Veroninca Nowakowski, Anika Wilsnack, Erica Bouska Music and Review Interns: Avery Wageman, Griffin Jacobs Multimedia Interns:

Kuehn, Natalie Yang, Katerina Trachtova

Cecilia Harold, Natalie Aue

THE WAKE

a whole. To join the conversation email eic@wakemag.org.

fortnightly independent magazine and

Holly Gilvary, Marie Ronnander, Vishalli Alagappan, Quinn

Lundquist, Alessandra Benitez, Isabella Spitznagle,

Tosin Faseemo Art 1 Katka Trachtova, 2 Jack Rahill, 3 Natalie Williams, 4 Baqir Noor, 5 Megan Bormann, 6 Katherine Regas, 7 Madison Kuehn, 8 Kezia Kim, 9 Natalie Yang Cover and Feature art by Natalie Yang and Madison Kuehn, Feature article spread designed by Makenna Larson Chernobyl Movie Falls innto Abyss, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Hitler Wears Hermes 8, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Dandelion, The Band CAMINO images from original sources.

Art by Sommer Wagen

wink! one page magazine

Nina

Natalie

My twin and I dressed up as fairy princesses

Chae

Hannah

mooooooo

Vern

4

Jemma

Marley I was Sailor Moon (apparently without front teeth)

Megan

Skylar

Before I cried because the taffeta was too itchy :)

In 2009, I went as Abby from NCIS and I think about it to this day

Erica

Linnea

Me as Casper the ghost when I was 8 months old

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

INSIDE

UPCOMING EVENTS 10/20–10/21

10/21–10/30

Dr. Dog: Last Tour

Twin Cities Film Fest

The current presents DR. DOG: LAST TOUR at First Avenue.

10-day celebration of independent and Minnesota-made films. This year’s festival will be a hybrid event with 70+ films screen in person at the ShowPlace ICON Theatres.

First Avenue + 7th St Entry

ShowPlace ICON Theatres

The Spectres of Stillwater

10/22 + 10/29 @ 7-8:30pm

10/23 @ 8am–8pm

Reddit Sucks, Which is Why I Love It

Minneapolis Ghost Walk

Posters for Parks 2021

11

Race to Start

13

After Line 3

Join us to learn legends, ghost stories, mysteries, and more of downtown MPLS. Hear real history & experiennces, and learn the truth behind the folklore.

Posters for Parks is an annual show featuring limited-edition posters created by local artist who are inspired by MPLS parks.

16

Time to Create

American Ghost Walks

Online Event

Elon Musk and Grimes

10/23 + 10/30 @ 9am-1pm

10/21 + 10/28 @ 11am–3pm

17

Tripping on Sidewalks

18

Biden’s Promises VS. Policies

Mill City Farmers Market

Four Sisters Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market is Minneapolis’ trusted source for healthy, local and sustainable groceries, combining a vibrant marketplace with community connections.

An Indigenous-centered food market, focused on both Indigenous and hyperlocal foods from Phillips and surrounding neighbordhoods.

Mill City Farmers Market

1414 E Franklin Ave

8 9

Shopping Local in the Era of Etsy Quaint Cafes I Spy with my Little Eye a Brown Family at the Park

10

An Open Letter to Movie Watchers 19

The Brutal Truth of Being a Freshman in College

20

Six Reviews

22

Dacey

THE WAKE

5

Letter from the Cities Editor Initially, I wanted this letter to be a bit of a send off and reflection of my time with “The Wake” and its Cities section, as I approach the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel that is graduation. However, as I look back on the fun and welcoming staff I’ve worked with, the creative writers whose ideas I’ve helped bring to fruition, and the unique and wonderful events I’ve attended (everything from spook-tacular art exhibits to cat videos on the silver screen), I’m left with the realization that “I” was never the key component in any of those equations.

Now to be clear, I’m by no means trying to drag myself through the mud, or say that my work doesn’t have value (after all, someone had to write about those cats). Rather, I’ve come to understand that most of what we do in life is a team effort. I couldn’t fulfill my role as Cities editor without our under-appreciated and under-recognized Copy, Creative, Distribution, Management, PR, Social Media, Multimedia, Web, or Financing staff, let alone the freelance writers who fill our pages with their unique and thoughtful words. Similarly, I couldn’t ramble about Webkinz for 300 words (Volume 19, Issue 6, check it out) if a father and his two sons hadn’t decided to open a toy company in 1950.

My point is this: life is a relay race, not a marathon. Who we are and what we accomplish is ultimately defined by the people we surround ourselves with. None of us are perfect, nor will we ever be. But by letting in the right people—the ones who accentuate our strengths and help us make up for our shortcomings—we all become greater than the sum of our parts. So as the resident authority on all things community here at “The Wake,” here’s my advice to make that happen: get weird. Ask the old lady who gets off the train with you how her day has been. Find out what that record store owner has been listening to lately, or what the cashier you always see at Walgreens has been up to. Call the friend you haven’t seen since kindergarten. Attend the pitch meeting for that cool student magazine, even if you’re afraid that you won’t fit in, or how the journalists will treat you because you’re a random engineering student (turns out they don’t bite). Making weird connections is certainly better than only making a few. Not everyone is going to become your best friend (that’s not the point) but any bond you make, no matter how small, can have value, and can change both you and the communities around you in profound ways. Thanks for being a part of ours.

Ian Knoll Cities Editor

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OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

ART

THE WAKE

Art by Chae Hong meet oliver

CITIES

Shopping Local in the Era of Etsy Does buying from Cities-based sellers on Etsy have the same impact as shopping from local storefronts?

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BY HOLLY GILVARY In 2021, almost everyone’s heard of Etsy. It’s an expansive online marketplace where pretty much anyone can start their own business. I’ve purchased a fair share of goods from the website over the past decade, including everything from a cringe One Direction tank top when I was 14 to a customized pillow for my freshman dorm room. Shopping on Etsy is a feel-good transaction compared with other online shops or marketplaces such as Amazon. It’s nice to know that, while you could have purchased a similar product at a big-name online store, you made the conscious decision to support a small business for a much higher-quality product, even if that means sacrificing a lower price or faster shipping speed.

However, Etsy is not without its faults. Like any business, it has to make money somehow--and sometimes that means taking profits away from its sellers. According to its website, Etsy requires a 20 cent listing fee for each product a seller wants to list, along with a 5% transaction fee and a payment processing fee of 3% plus 25 cents. Etsy also encourages sellers to provide free shipping to customers on orders over $35 and ranks shops and products lower on its search algorithm if they don’t.

However, different Etsy sellers have different views on the website’s business model and its requirements for sellers.

Amy Kulseth, the owner of Etsy shop AmyMarieArtsMN in Minneapolis, has a generally positive view of the website, especially for beginners. Kulseth started her business in 2010 and began selling her paintings at art festivals and other events before later moving her business online.

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“I think Etsy is a great place to begin. You can learn a great deal about business, and they have great tools to help beginners,” Kulseth said.

At the same time, Kulseth acknowledged that Etsy could only get small business owners so far. “Etsy is great but only reaches a specific audience,” she said. “I find great success in marketing on other social media platforms as well.”

Other Etsy shop owners echo this sentiment.

In February 2020, the Star Tribune published an article highlighting multiple Twin Cities small business owners’ decisions to move their businesses from Etsy to brick-and-mortar storefronts. The owners featured in the article, including Lindsey Cason, co-owner of Carousel + Folk in south Minneapolis, emphasized that Etsy’s seller fees were hard on their profits. Nevertheless, there was a shared sentiment that Etsy, which started mainly to promote small artists and quality products, has turned into another corporate marketplace. Jessie Witte, the owner of AudreyRose Vintage, said in the article that while her Etsy shop is still open, she’s now more focused on her physical storefront and catering to local customers.

So what does this mean for local, Twin Citiesbased Etsy shops? Should consumers continue to buy from them on Etsy? Should we seek out other forms of business from the sellers (if they have it)? Or, if supporting small and locally-owned businesses is our primary goal, should we stick to brick-and-mortar shops where we can support local artists in person, especially now that COVID is (hopefully) on the decline?

I think we should be doing all three. Browsing physical storefronts in the Twin Cities seems like the best bet in terms of supporting locally owned businesses. Still, not everyone has access to adequate transportation to store-hop—and not every business owner has the ability to open a storefront. On the flip side, some may prefer to shop in person because of the absence of shipping prices and other buyer fees or the ability to try on garments before purchasing. Overall, a healthy mix of online shopping (both on Etsy and businesses’ websites) and in-person shopping seems to be the most effective way to support as many small businesses as we can. And if one form of local shopping works better for you, do that.

Especially in these times where marketplace giants such as Amazon have a monopoly on almost every product—along with the added blow of a global pandemic—small, local businesses deserve (and could use) all the support they can get. While Etsy may not be the most ethically perfect way to shop small and local, there’s no need to feel guilty over purchasing an item on Etsy versus visiting a local shop in person; at the end of the day, we as consumers should feel good about choosing small, local businesses when deciding where to put our money.

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

CITIES

Quaint Cafes The best of the lesser-known Twin City cafes

BY MARIE RONNANDER It’s autumn in the Cities; leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and school is slowly becoming more intense. Now is the time to find your favorite hole-in-the-wall, grab a hot drink, and settle in to study for hours. These charming cafes are the perfect places for just that.

ROSE PATISSERIE 171 Snelling Avenue, Saint Paul

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Walking into the Rose Patisserie feels like entering the tent of the Great British Baking Show. This authentic French patisserie prides itself on having world-class ingredients while maintaining a neighborhood feel. Every tiny treat is stylishly laid out for you to drool over. Choose anything from savory quiche, bonbons, to olive baguettes. Their buttery pain au chocolat is one of the best that the cities offer, especially paired with their signature oat milk draft latte.

Located right on the corner of Snelling and Selby, you can pop into one of the many local shops while enjoying your french delicacies.

The lack of BIPOC in public outdoor spaces and the efforts to repair historic barriers

BY VISHALLI ALAGAPPAN

MAYDAY CAFE 3440 Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis Right next to Powderhorn lake, this cafe is the perfect stop after a long hike. Decked out with mismatched chairs, Mayday serves an eclectic but cozy, small-town vibe. They serve hearty sandwiches and soups with a bakery menu that changes daily but is packed with unique flavors. You’ll be surrounded by local art and calming music as you nibble on a basil cheese scone. Be sure to order a warm mug of tea, seeing as they make their blends.

MIM’S CAFE 1435 N Cleveland Avenue, Saint Paul Craving something a little heavier than brunch? Mim’s cafe has all your bases covered. This Middle Eastern cafe sits just across the street from the Saint Paul campus, making it accessible for a quick coffee or a quiet meal after classes.

Milk substitutions are free of charge (I’m right there with you, my lovely lactose intolerants), and if you tip, you might receive an extra falafel. Mim’s employees are the nicest people you’ll find and take care to cook your meal to perfection every time.

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THE WAKE

I Spy with my Little Eye a Brown Family at the Park My family has a strange affinity for waterfalls. We always seem to hike our out-of-shape butts to waterfalls, eat the standard Indian picnic lunch of rice, yogurt, and fried potatoes, and argue about how many rocks my brother and I can bring back home. As much as I loved these summer day trips, I always felt out of place with our modest swim trunks, strong-smelling packed lunches, and loud conversations.

This is a common sentiment with people of color since the American park system was created to promote an American identity: white, male, and young.

US Parks have been conceptualized and actualized by racist white men. To John Muir, often accredited as the founder of the National Park System, Indigenous people who have lived here for centuries “seemed to have no right place in the landscape.” Although historical racial discrimination has repelled BIPOC from outoor recreation, it’s important to note that cultural differences are a contributing factor to this nature gap. White Americans’ leisure behavior should not be the benchmark, something that BIPOC must reach. However, there is much that can be done to repair historic barriers that excluded BIPOC in public outdoor spaces.

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation partners with Juxtaposition Arts every year to bring BIPOC youth insight into park planning. Juxtaposition Arts apprentices designed the interpretive steel rail featured in the Great Northern Greenway Overlook on 26th Ave N, illustrating the connection North Minneapolis has to the Mississippi River.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also offers various outdoor educational courses in multiple languages, as well as a college-to-careers pathway program for underrepresented STEM students. As these initiatives develop and expand, I hope to spy with my little eye more BIPOC families enjoying public outdoor spaces without apprehension or the pressure to follow white practices of outdoor recreation.

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CITIES

5

4

The Spectres of Stillwater

The same things that make it great sometimes make it awful

BY SEAN ERICSON

How a small town stays relevant through stories

Is Reddit a good website? That depends on what you mean by “good.” Is it fun to use? For me, definitely. But does it harm people? That’s a more complex question.

BY QUINN MCCLURG

I can’t remember when I started using Reddit, but over the course of my adolescence, it became one of my favorite places on the internet.

It seems that this time of year, everyone in Stillwater has a ghost story to share. It’s difficult to walk down mainstreet without hearing fragments of Stillwater’s supernatural past: civil war soldiers, ghost children, and haunted hotels, it’s easy to hear it all. But of all these cliche stories, one piqued my interest the most. This is the story of the blue glow of Arcola High Bridge, and of my subsequent investigation.

I started by interviewing one John “Giovanni” Kirschbaum.

He’s been an active member of Stillwater’s community for 21 years, and has accumulated plenty of stories. “I guess I do live next to one of the most haunted bridges in Minnesota,” John let slip when pressed. “I don’t know if I’d buy it, but I swear I’ve seen a couple weird things up there.” Legend has it that in 1910, a worker fell to his death during construction of the bridge. Ever since, his soul wanders the bridge at night, blue lantern in hand.

15 minutes out of Stillwater, the bridge waited, rusted browns and wooden hues stretched into the night. I parked my car, clambered onto the bridge, and sat in silence. Though I didn’t see anything, I couldn’t shake my unease; many have fallen to their deaths here, and I wasn’t content to become another one. I left, shook off the silence, and drove back into town to call my second contact.

Specializing in Stillwater’s history comes with the territory for Dick Zimmerman. He has been a tour guide with Stillwater Trolley for nearly 14 years. During our interview, he made his insight clear on what ghost stories do for a community. “I think they add to the character and ambiance surrounding Stillwater. It’s an old town, and people like being reminded of that.” Zimmerman’s testimony is hard to deny; the countless paranormal tours and investigations can all be seen as a celebration of community and history. They draw people in, making the mundane seem supernatural and the past seem alive. Although we may never find any real ghosts, we can find community and our place in a past long gone; isn’t that just as good?

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Reddit Sucks, Which is Why I Love It

Reddit (mostly) doesn’t let you post without selecting a specific community. People don’t usually use their real names, and profile pictures are rare.

These things are relics of the old internet, a world predating verification check marks and sponsored content, but I think they’re also part of Reddit’s enduring appeal. You can find a community devoted to just about anything, from TV shows to hobbies to niche meme formats.

However, there’s also a dark side. Pseudonymity and community can lead to groupthink. The site developed a toxic alt-right subculture that spread bigotry and harassment, while administrators often did little to stop it.

Reddit’s anonymous communities can create a false consensus. If you read post after post agreeing with a certain point of view, it can feel obvious, even if it’s ridiculous.

I think this is one reason Reddit developed a problem with extremism. There aren’t actually that many incels in the world, but if you gather them all in one place, it seems like a huge movement.

I became an enthusiastic participant in the site’s culture war, spending my time mocking and arguing with the site’s most noxious users. Like many young people, the internet helped form my political views, and these fights were a big element.

Reddit drama was part reality show and part debate club.

In the years since then, I think admins have done a better job of cleaning up the site’s worst elements. I am no longer a keyboard warrior. These days, I prefer to simply lurk, which I find less stressful.

While Reddit is minuscule in comparison to some other sites, I think that it is instructive for understanding social media in general, in that the same things about the internet that connect us can also drive us apart.

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

CITIES 6

Race to the Start

Running a marathon is as much a personal journey as it is a physical one

BY ZOE HOORNBEEK The night before my first marathon, I learned that its first runner had died. The marathon came from the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who reported Greece’s victory at the Battle of Marathon by running from Marathon to Athens. He collapsed after 25 miles, not even a full marathon. As I sat on my living room floor, I couldn’t help but think, “If I didn’t train, would I die?” The long runs on Saturdays, the mid-week runs and the literal blood, sweat and tears that persisted throughout, was that all they were for?

During my training, I ran with people who had run a hundred marathons. Some had run Ironmans (which consist of biking, swimming, and a marathon’s worth of running). They were so passionate about the sport that I knew I could do it. When the running group did the long runs on Saturdays I would often find myself saying, “This is the furthest I’ve ever run.” All I had run before training were 5Ks. Last summer I trained for a halfmarathon, so I figured the next progression was a full marathon.

The night before the race, I made sure I had all of my fuel and was ready to go, my clothes laid out on the floor like a flat version of myself. My mom sent me a picture of myself when I was nine, holding a medal from the Twin Cities one-mile race. I looked so angry. I used to hate running, and now here I was, about to run 26.2 miles.

THE WAKE

The morning of the race, I put in my AirPods and listen to “Golden” by Harry Styles— a go-to—while I eat peanut butter toast and take Ibuprofen. I go through the checklist in my head, noting that Pheidippides probably didn’t have any fuel when he ran his marathon.

The car ride there flies by, and by the time I look up, U.S Bank Stadium is already towering over me. With a large crackling, a man on the speakers starts shouting, “Helloooo runners, welcome to the Twin Cities Marathon. You should be drinking enough water to stay hydrated, as there is a risk of heat stroke, but if you drink too much water your kidneys may go into kidney failure.” The medical professional continues, but by now I can’t focus.

Not long after, I hear the gun go off. It is 8:00 a.m., and the race has started. My dad and I look at each other and smile, knowing we’ve finally made it. “See you at the end,” I say as I fist bump him and take off.

When I finally make it to St. Thomas, an intense pain shoots down to my knee. I can feel the tears want to well up behind my eyes, but due to the dehydration, none come. Three women and a man see me struggling up this hill and call out: “If you run backwards, it helps your quads!”

We all run backwards up the hill, and I wipe the imaginary tears away.

At the end of Summit Avenue, the Capital is within eyesight, the hill propelling me straight down to the finish. In front of me I see a man wearing flip flops, just like Pheidippides would have, while above the noise of the crowd I hear the “Go Zoe!” of my friends and family cheering me on. As I look for the man in flip flops, I find him barefoot, the flip flops now in his hands. My friends are now running with me towards the end.

I catch up to the man with the flip flops once I cross the finish line. I laugh out loud and he looks at me. “That is impressive.” I say, gesturing to his flip flops.

These streets are normally bustling with cars, but today over 4,500 people have gathered to “Running a marathon is impressive,” he says. run a race that tests their physical and mental endurance. The first few miles my adrenaline is pumping, the crowd cheering me on. One such onlooker is a man in a Dr. Seuss’ costume with three different signs, one of which loudly proclaims, “This is a sign.” When I see him, I am at mile 20 and rapidly hitting a wall. Before this I felt like I could run forever.

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CREATIVE WRITING

Pumpkin Head

BY JOSHUA KLOSS James thought there was nothing worse than walking the frost of a September morning, the dew on those bright blades of green grass glaring back at you. He soon realized, though, that the frost was worse in October.

So was the weather. That Florida sun he once knew, during every moment of the year, was always nice. It grazed his cheek with the touch of a mother and held him tight till he was hot.

But the October sun here was a mere taunt, a subtle warmth that glazed over his skin before he became cold to the bone once more. Cold in the wind that never seemed to stop blowing, cold in the sun that don’t shine, cold in the stupid place he’s got to learn to call “home.”

It was a home that didn’t feel like home.

The wide glass let too much light in, and it made him feel like a goldfish in a fishbowl, like he was being watched, living a premier episode of The James Show.

But today he was being watched. James didn’t notice the spot of orange at first, but as he dragged his feet out the door for class, he saw it: just before the woods grew dark and thick, there was a man wearing all black with a pumpkin on his head. The carving was intricate, handled with care. A wide grin, mean blank triangle eyes.

He looked disgusted. The pumpkin head looked disgusted. He looked like he had a lesson to teach, with James as his student. He looked mean.

Now how’d you go ahead and do that, huh?

Turned a pumpkin into a man…

Or into a menace.

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James began his walk to school. His steps were bounces. He didn’t dare drag his feet.

At school, James ate with his friends Sofia and Zoe. Behind the glass, James saw that pumpkin boy again. He was staring right at James. Those mean blank eyes looked ready to pounce.

“Do you guys see that?” James asked. Sofia and Zoe looked at James, and followed his gaze to the window. They saw Pumpkin Head.

“Mhm.” Sofia said, unimpressed.

“Pumpkin Head, so dope.” Zoe added.

“Pumpkin Head?”

“That’s what he goes by. He’s a grade above us, I think. And every October, he wears a pumpkin on his head every day through Halloween,” Sofia explained. She spoke like he was a celebrity, in a voice of deep praise.

“No, but who is he?”

“Oh, I’m not sure who’s wearing it. No one ever admits to doing it, it just kind of happens. Kind of like a mascot for the fall.”

James ate the rest of his lunch in silence. His bites became forced, his stomach taut.

Later that night, James threw a house party with Sofia and Zoe. That pumpkin boy lingered outside James’ house, but James was glad the boy knew he was not welcome.

But his hands… they looked braced, wanting to grab something. Anything.

At the end of the night, James dragged his feet to the bathroom. His skin was hot, his forehead glistening. His breaths were heavy and his walking uneven. He didn’t like when the floor looked like it was spinning, like it did now. He thought he saw the shadow of a boy wearing a pumpkin on his head.

The next moment he was holding his head over the toilet of the bathroom. His stomach lurched, his clammy hands gripped the toilet seat. The smell of pumpkin spice grew pungent in the air, rushing forth suddenly and filling the room. It smelled of pumpkin rot, like somebody burned alive while roasting pumpkin seeds. It was enough to bring James from nausea to a violent throwing up.

That’s when he felt the cold hand touch his back, sending shivers down his sweaty skin like fire and ice.

Who are you?

“I’m Pumpkin Head.”

That pumpkin boy.

“Pumpkin head, so dope.”

His hand menacingly tightened its grip.

Let go of me.

“Gonna mash you into pumpkin spice.”

No. James could hear the smile through the deep, gravelly voice.

“Gonna turn you to pumpkin rot.”

The next day, Sofia and Zoe couldn’t find James anywhere, and their pumpkin spiced lattes tasted odd, like pumpkin rot.

James didn’t see the pumpkin boy after that. He felt safe in the horde of people partying, taking solace in the fact that the glass windows of the house separated him and that pumpkin boy. For once, he felt safe in his fishbowl.

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

After Line 3

Now that the pipeline is complete, what comes next?

BY JEMMA KELEHER

FEATURE

FEATURE

For almost a year, voices have cried out in opposition to the construction of Line 3, an oil pipeline being built in Minnesota by Canadian company Enbridge. Young and old residents alike have spoken about the repercussions that the extension of the pipeline will have on both the environment and Indigenous populations in the area. Now that the pipeline is moving oil, it’s time to examine this effect and look toward the future.

What do we do now?

The influence that this pipeline will have on tribal communities isn’t unknown; it is legally acknowledged and accepted by the state. In Minnesota’s Environmental Impact statement, they admit that Line 3 will have “disproportionate and adverse” impacts on Indigenous peoples in the area.

How is this blatant disregard for environmental racism possible? It’s explained by how both the federal and state governments handle environmental impact upon tribal communities.

Michael Dockry, affiliate faculty to the American Indian Studies department at the University of Minnesota and member of the Citizen Potawatomi nation, said, “The government has to disclose potential environmental impacts. It doesn’t say that you can’t have environmental impacts; just that [you] need to disclose it.”

Construction of the pipeline takes full advantage of this allowance, and will threaten resources crucial to the livelihood of Indigenous communities. If the pipeline leaks oil, Anishinaabe peoples will lose watersheds important to growing wild rice, or manoomin, which is a centerpiece

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of the tribe’s culture and a main source of sustenance. Indigenous communities are already some of the most vulnerable in terms of health access, and it is anticipated that the pipeline will exacerbate this inequity.

The impacts of this pipeline aren’t hypothetical; it’s already harming the environment, which is vital to tribal communities. Tre Tellor, a fourth year at Augsburg University and member of the movement against Line 3, said, “The environmental impact of this pipeline is already devastating. Enbridge, [the company building the pipeline], boosted their permit to pump water up to 5 billion gallons during the middle of the drought… I saw rivers dangerously low, some even mostly dried up.”

This harm was just during construction of the pipeline; now that it is built, the impacts will undoubtedly increase. “Enbridge already had the

US’s largest inland oil spill right here in Minnesota.

It’s only a matter of time before this pipe busts and we see a repeat of that.” That was the Line 3 oil spill, which occurred near Grand Rapids in 1991.

Tellor also noted that the pipeline will increase oil transportation, enabling the production of unsustainable energy that will contribute to the destruction of the planet. “There will be a significant impact just from the fact this pipeline allows more oil to be sold,” they said. “We’ve already passed a point of no return with climate change, and now gallons upon gallons will be flowing through to be burnt and bring us to climate collapse even faster than we were approaching before.”

An argument in favor of Line 3, that was often used to excuse its environmental impact, was that it would create jobs in the area and boost the stagnant economy; however, Tellor asserted that this isn’t what it seems. “These jobs the pipeline allegedly brings are temporary. Many

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

FEATURE

of these workers are from out of state, and even the in-state [workers] will be out of a job once construction is over,” he said. “What little economic boom [comes] to these rural communities will dry up as soon as [the pipeline is fully completed]. The economic benefits of extractive industries are only temporary.”

Although the pipeline began moving oil on October 1, the fight for the rights of Indigenous peoples and environmental justice isn’t over. “One pipeline is one thing, and it’s something for people to rally around. But it’s not the pipeline itself,” Dockry said. “It’s this broader change that we need to make with society.”

Tellor sees the fight against Line 3 as inspiring a bigger movement, one that will now have experienced organizers. “My endgame with Line 3 isn’t just stopping this pipeline… I also hope that many of us have learned from this movement: learned how to mobilize people to action, how to run media campaigns, how to do jail support, how to plan and execute direct action,” they said.

“There are so many skills people have had to learn, and I hope that people take what they learned, bring it home, and keep fighting colonialism and capitalism however it manifests where they live.”

Another point of education in this struggle can be found in listening to Indigenous voices, especially on issues that pertain to environmental threats.

“Tribes [and Indigenous people] are leading the way in our approaches to climate change, and we as a society haven’t listened to them and given them the respect that I think they deserve,” Dockry said.

“We have not been able to solve our problems by doing the same thing we’ve always been doing. It’s really time to listen to tribes… They’ve shown over and over, in this region and beyond, that they are the leaders in climate adaptation.”

But listening to the words of Indigenous peoples isn’t enough; we also need to uplift and support them. “Indigenous voices have been silenced since European colonizers arrived in 1492,” Tellor said. “I think the best way to [uplift Indigenous voices] is for people here in the Twin Cities is to follow the indigeous groups and leaders fighting this pipeline: Giniw, Camp Migizi, Red Lake Treaty Camp, the RISE Coalition, Honor the Earth, etc.”

And while spreading information about the topic is an act of allyship, Indigenous voices need to be amplified. “As much as we all want to put our own words out there... make sure you’re boosting the words and work of our Indigenous comrades just as much, if not more, than your own,” he said.

This can include stepping back in conversations regarding Indigenous rights, supporting Indigenous activists, and at the very least, sharing words from Indigenous experiences on social media.

Through listening to fellow Indigenous voices, Dockry has found a clear message: things need to change. “No matter what happens here, the tribal voices that we’re listening to… are saying that we need to develop renewable energy solutions and move forward with a carbon free future, [using] energy that doesn’t contribute to global warming.”

Tellor echoed this sentiment. “If I could send one message to folks about Line 3 it would be this: We only have so much time before capitalism and colonialism claim the life of this planet,” they said. “Indigeous people protect 80% of this world’s biodiversity; if you’re interested in preserving life on this planet, we ought to follow the leadership of our Indigenous relatives. We need you in this fight, and we need to win, not only to preserve our planet, but to right the centuries-long wrong of colonization and genocide.”

Line 3 is complete and carrying oil, but that doesn’t mean that the fight was for nothing; if anything, this is a stepping stone for Minnesotans into the fight for both environmental justice and Indigenous rights. The time to amplify Indigenous voices and save the planet is now.

VOICES

Time to Create If making time to do what you love is so rewarding, why is it so hard to do?

BY SRIHITA RAJU Every October, artists from around the world come together to participate in InkTober—a 31-day challenge to create an ink drawing based on prompts.The beauty of having an event like this is that it encourages people to take the opportunity to challenge themselves while also getting to spend time doing something they enjoy.

But why does it take a challenge to get people to do something they enjoy?

I was taught to view creative hobbies as things that would keep me occupied when I was a kid, not passions I would hold onto into adulthood. Or I feel guilty if I use my time to outline a chapter I want to write instead of searching the internet for more internships to apply to, even if I have already looked twice in the past week. Even when I manage my time, I feel guilty if I use it for nonschool things. And feeling guilty makes me procrastinate or just flat out give up and decide to do something else.

Writing is a skill I want to keep working on for the rest of my life, even if it doesn’t lead to getting published or if no one else ever reads what I write. Most importantly, it is something I care about that brings me so much joy and fulfillment. And I shouldn’t feel guilty for making time for that. Having passions and hobbies outside of your daily school and work obligations can be so powerful, because it is something that is just for your own happiness and fulfillment. And if you’re having trouble making the time, participating in an event like InkTober (or creating a challenge for yourself) could help give you that extra push.

Moments like that can be hard to find when you’re trying to balance school, work, and your social life, so when you can find the time, don’t hesitate to make it count.

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Elon Musk and Grimes And why we’re overly invested in multi-billion dollar relationships

BY CARTER STARKEY Yet another of the landmark billionaire relationships has recently fallen apart. Elon Musk and Grimes, aka Claire Elise Boucher, have split. What does this mean for our lives? After an extremely deep breath, it becomes clear that it means very little. Regardless, there is a noticeable trend of billion-plus dollar relationships falling apart, and we would be remiss not to take note. One of the first ultra-rich relationships to end was Warren and Susan Buffet in the 1970s (though they never divorced). Then we had Jeff Bezos and McKenzie Scott break up in 2019, Bill and Melinda Gates this year, and now Elon Musk and the mother of his child, Grimes. What a sad world we live in.

Here’s the deal. There are hundreds if not thousands of articles pontificating over these people and their relationships. Many are asking why these powerful couples broke up or what it means for the world. I believe that these articles say a lot more about the people writing them than it does about the billionaires themselves. So is our interest as a society just an empathetic reaction to the pain that we’re seeing? I would argue that it depends.

For some, there may be genuine sadness that people they idolize (rightfully or not) are struggling. For others, it could be taken as a statement on their own relationships: “If a billionaire can’t maintain their relationship, how can I?” In either case, it’s important to remember that money does not equal happiness. I’d urge our society to pay less attention to the love lives of these people and more to holding them accountable. Let the uber-rich process their feelings when they’re done feeding the hungry.

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OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

VOICES 8

Tripping on Sidewalks The beginning of a new cycle

BY HANNAH LUNDQUIST I’ve been tripping on sidewalks recently. By that, I mean literally falling. It’s been happening to me for weeks now, and I didn’t know what it meant until recently.

I had a huge realization about a week ago, one I haven’t had before. It happened after I had tripped on the sidewalk for the second time that day. It hit me hard—really hard. This realization had been following me for some time, pushing me onto the sidewalk. It was pushing me in a metaphorical and also a literal sense. I figured this realization must be related to the spiritual awakening I had experienced at the start of the pandemic. Prior to my awakening, I thought I had been doing everything correctly, doing what needed to be done and going about my life, but I hadn’t been, and this realization was another reminder of that. This reminder was telling me it was time for a new life cycle.

I had been resisting this new cycle for many reasons. A large part is that I didn’t feel worthy enough for these changes—good, solid changes— to come into my life. The changes I started to see happening were related to my friends, my major, living by myself, and uprooting just about everything from my previous lifestyle. I was afraid to fully commit to a new cycle, one that would bring light to places I had been hiding in, places that needed exposure and openness. I had been subconsciously trying to stop myself from letting in what needed to be let in and letting go of what needed to be let go. There are things from

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previous cycles that I am not ready to let go of and I am scared that if I let go I might not experience something like that ever again. But I ask myself, and I ask you: what if letting go is the only way to let in? You must feel something too: something is about to happen. I think change always happens regardless of if we’re ready or not, but the push onto the sidewalk that makes me look like a fumbling idiot to people on the street is a signal to not only my physical body, but also to my brain, that it’s time, and I need to stop resisting.

I have stopped putting up resistance over the past few weeks because while I didn’t understand why I was tripping on sidewalks, I knew I needed a change in my life. I also knew I needed to further my spiritual journey. For me this looked like meditation, connecting with my tarot cards, eating three meals a day, and getting nine hours of sleep at night. Once I did that, things began to fall into place like they hadn’t before. Now, on the path of least resistance, as I like to call it, one where I no longer resist good changes, I am able to see why I needed to let go of past things and make way for the new. But if following the path of least resistance is so hard, why must we do it? I find myself asking that question to anyone and everyone, including the sun, the moon, and the stars. No one has a definite answer, but I think I might now.

you wouldn’t have had otherwise. The path of least resistance, much like tripping on a sidewalk, can be embarrassing. It can mean quitting something that you just started, or it can mean putting up boundaries with those you love or yourself. It can be asking for help when you need it, or it can be doing anything that is solely focused on you.This new cycle doesn’t only apply to me, as I believe it is a major change in the collective consciousness: we’re in this together.

So with that, I ask my final question: are you ready for this next cycle? And have you been tripping on sidewalks too?

Following the path of least resistance brings you things that you didn’t know you needed, places you didn’t know you needed to go, people you didn’t know you needed to meet, and experiences

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VOICES

Biden’s Promises versus Policies While campaigning for the 2020 presidential election, Biden had strong stances regarding immigration policy and promised to reverse many of Trump’s policies—but did he deliver?

BY ALESSANDRA BENITEZ One of the Trump administration’s most blatant attacks on human rights was how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) treated detained immigrants. On the news, clip after clip showed the inhumane living conditions that they were subjected to. When the time came for the presidential race in 2020, one of Biden’s commitments was the reversal of Trump’s policies. He said that he would put protections in place for DACA recipients and enforce better training and transparency for ICE, among other seemingly progressive proposals. After over a year of campaigning, Biden won the election and got to work. He started out with what seemed like a lot of progress, signing executive action after executive action in his first 100 days in office.

However, a sector he has failed to make a direct impact in is the issue of ICE and the rules they operate under. Images of border patrol agents attacking Haitian asylum seekers were recently released and caused outrage across the country. This is the same story we have been hearing over and over again. Many question Biden’s so-called “progress” regarding immigration. The fact is, Biden is not and has never been opposed to forceful immigration policies, regardless of the well-being of the people at the receiving end of them. During his time in the Obama administration, the number of deportations increased exponentially. The president is, above all else, a politician. While Biden may have promised many liberal reforms, he has the moderates’ opinions to worry about, especially since his actions are a reflection of the Democratic party and their priority is, and has always been, to secure votes.

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An Open Letter to Movie Watchers Why talking during movies is not a bad thing.

BY ISABELLA SPITZNAGLE Growing up, movies at my house had to be watched in utter silence. I was shunned for saying a single word. But this didn’t stop me from blurting out whatever came to mind, whether it be crying out over the sheer destruction of the “Percy Jackson” movies, the killer double plot twist of “Knives Out,” or the foreshadowing throughout the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy.

As I got older, I found friends who enjoyed talking through movies too. Suddenly I wasn’t threatened with being kicked out during movie night. They were more than happy to listen to my endless questions or analyze the developing plot over a bowl of popcorn. And trust me, I had a lot more fun shouting about the character development of Will Hunting or announcing how good the score of the newest “Avengers” movie was than I had with all of you “traditional” movie watchers.

Maybe we’re movie nerds, but I doubt my friends and I are the only ones. All of us movie talkers have got to unite. I’m tired of being ostracized for my movie watching habits.

What’s the point of watching a movie with other people if you’re going to spend two hours staring at a screen in silence? When movies were invented, they were less of a personal immersive experience and more of a social gettogether. A movie can be so much more than an internal experience, so why do we scorn those who don’t comply?

Ultimately, while one might argue I’m paying less attention, I feel like my respect and understanding only grows with some healthy discussion. Opening up conversation allows us to understand how others are interpreting the movie and reacting along the way. Call it a socratic seminar; I don’t care. Movie night this weekend at my place, and don’t worry, there will be discussion questions.

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

VOICES

The Brutal Truth of Being A Freshman in College

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A few things I have learned so far.

BY MADDIE ROTH The comedian John Mulaney once said, “College is just a game show called ‘Do My Friends Hate Me or Do I Just Need To Go To Sleep?’” When I first heard this joke, I didn’t understand it, but I laughed anyway. Now, after (somewhat) successfully navigating my first month of college, I understand what John Mulaney meant. Being a freshman in college is hard, and I mean HARD. From attempting to make friends to sobbing on the floor to eating cold ramen noodles at 3AM, college has significantly impacted my life. Here is to the brutal truth of being a freshman in college.

Ah, Welcome Week. An entire week dedicated to awkwardly introducing yourself to complete strangers and adjusting to an unfamiliar environment. After traveling 341 miles I thought I was ready to tackle the beast that is the Twin Cities. Boy, was I wrong. I barely knew anyone and making friends was more difficult than I expected.

My roommate introduced me to an eager group of my peers and I immediately assumed that these were my people. I quickly realized that this was not the case. I found myself pretending to be someone I wasn’t just to fit in. My mental health rapidly declined; I stopped eating and sleeping.

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I pushed off all of my homework and fell behind, even though the semester had just started. I was not happy. Instead of focusing on school, I went out with my “friends’” and stayed out until two in the morning. This wasn’t me, and this was not who I wanted to be. Something had to change.

It took me about three weeks to figure it out. One of my friends stayed the night at my dorm and I finally opened up to them about my struggles.

Until this point, I had trapped my emotions underneath my tongue and refused to tell anyone what I was going through. No one knew me here and I was scared I was going to push people away by opening up, but the most beautiful thing happened: my friend stayed. He listened to what I had to say and offered his best advice. He told me that almost every freshman felt the same way I was feeling. In the short time I had been at the U, I had never felt so alone. Talking to my friend made me realize that was so far from the truth.

Here is the harsh reality of being a freshman in college: college will not always be easy. College is hard. College will not always be hanging out with friends and ignoring every responsibility. There will be tears shed over failing your first exam. There

will be immense anger over a dumb fight with your roommate. There will be moments when you think everyone is smarter than you and that you don’t belong. There will be moments when you will want to give up because college is not what everyone said it was going to be. But I promise you, it will all be worth it in the end, because college will bring out the best in you. College will introduce you to some of the best people in the world who will wipe away the tears and calm the tidal waves of hurt. You will pass the next exam and you will fall in love with all of the opportunities college has to offer you. That’s what happened to me, and I promise it will happen to you too. Good things take time. College takes time.

When I listen to John Mulaney’s joke about college now, it makes sense. The first Friday night here I was overwhelmed with the idea of college, but I realized I should probably just go to sleep. No, your friends don’t hate you. You just need to go to sleep.

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SIX REVIEWS

Hitler Wears Sometimes I Might Hermes 8 Westside Gunn Be Introvert

Chernobyl Movie Falls into Abyss

BY NINA AFREMOV The past decade has seen a rise in the number of films about the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster that, to this day, tallies an uncountable number of radiation-related deaths; arguably, it also marked the beginning of the end of the Soviet regime as citizens rapidly lost trust for the “motherland” that they had been conditioned to so adamantly love. What sets apart “Chernobyl: Abyss” (otherwise called “Chernobyl: 1986”) from other such media is that it is a Russian-produced film. As a Russian-American, I was eager to understand how mainstream Russian media would portray the tragedy.

Little Simz

BY GRIFFIN JACOBS

BY AVERY WAGEMAN

After having its back-half delayed, the entirety of Westside Gunn’s final “Hitler Wears Hermes” project is out. Gunn starts right where he left off, nearly perfecting his signature style. “Hitler Wears Hermes 8” is defined by a joyous contrast between bourgeois and brash, interlacing French fashion news with braggadocio and WWE soundbites. Its production revolves around slowed and stretched lo-fi samples, which allow you to savor every word like the richest cheesecake, reminiscent of Madlib’s best work.

Lyrically, this project doesn’t go into many new directions, sticking to fashion, drug dealing, and gang violence. However, the emphasis and incongruity provided by the beats here make the mixtape feel like drunkenly peeing on the floor of the Louvre, high art covered in graffiti.

Little Simz, the British-Nigerian rapper best known for her song “Venom” that blew up on TikTok earlier this year, recently released her newest album, “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.”

Considering the 27-year-old artist has been in the industry for over a decade and has an extensive discography of four albums, five EPs, and four mixtapes, Little Simz is fiercely underrated.

“Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is a deeply personal record that touches on race, identity, womanhood, career, and family. Many of the tracks amalgamate R&B, soul, and funk that perfectly mesh with Little Simz’s poetic lyrics and velvety voice.

“Introvert” kicks off the album with an epic beat, angelic backup vocals, and strings that intensify Little Simz’s verses about political corruption and The movie follows a fictional firefighter-turnedthe experiences of being a Black woman. This Chernobyl liquidator. Both civilization and his son, track matches the energy of a boxer stepping out who suffers from radiation poisoning, depend on into the ring but wielding words instead of fists. his success and bravery. Unfortunately, although this movie has a high production value and Along with “Introvert,” Little Simz’s quick and witty many resources, it still somehow misses the point, rap style is best on display on tracks like “Rollin perhaps even purposely.

Stone,” “I Love You, I Hate You,” “Little Q, Pt. 2,” “Speed,” and “Standing Ovation.” Tracks such as This film is exploitative in terms of emotion. The “Woman,” “I See You,” and “How Did You Get Here” audience is prompted to be so invested in this balance out the album, mixing in ‘70s R&B, soul, single fictional character that we hurdle past the funk, and jazz. Sprinkled throughout the album crucial details that led to Chernobyl in the first are interludes often narrated by “The Crown” star place, which has much to do with the rampant Emma Corrin, which create respites amidst this negligence and bureaucracy steeped into Soviet lengthy album. life. One character says some generic words against “bureaucracy,” but the writers clearly got Little Simz is an incredibly talented artist, an instructed to beat around the bush. eloquent wordsmith. Her album, “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” is an example of what a It’s not a bad movie; although the dubbing great album sounds like. certainly doesn’t help, it’s missing the historical accuracy and activism to be a great one.

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Gunn said he wanted his features to outshine him on this tape, which makes sense given that his nasally and in-your-face style is best enjoyed in small doses. To his credit, these beat and guest choices match fantastically, as even unexpected features like 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne shine. In addition, the kinds of guests that one would expect from Gunn, like Mach-Homme, Griselda label-mates Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher, also bring their best here.

Being a double album, with 33 tracks and nearly an hour and 45-minute runtime, some filler is inevitable. However, unlike some records, the filler here mostly comprises interludes and skits rather than mediocre music, making the record feel shorter than it is. A stretched-out, compact piece of dirty elegance.

OCTOBER 18 — OCTOBER 31

SIX REVIEWS

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

BY HALLE FODNESS “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” re-tells the story of Tammy Faye Bakker, drawing from the 2000 documentary of the same name. This time, Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield take the reins as new-age televangelists, acting through heavy prosthetics and layers upon layers of makeup. The care that was put into this film is clear, especially visually. Each department, from hair and makeup to visual effects, brought exactly what was needed to make the story feel lived in and accurate.

Spanning the latter half of the twentieth century, we get to taste each decade and what it meant for the Bakkers. The eighties shimmer in shades of pearlescent gold, the sixties in muted browns. Television graphics flash across the screen bringing scenes from The PTL Club to life. Chastain, appearing in the gaudiest sequined jumpsuit imaginable, sings recreations of Bakkers’ wacky gospel music, ramping the energy up to a ten. This contrasts well with much of the darker themes and unhappy end to the Bakkers and their embezzling Christian empire.

Because of the sheer weight our central couple pulls (Chastain and Garfield smash both roles), other characters come off as underdeveloped and some elements seem lost. But all in all, this film combines themes of humanity, humor, and silliness with greed and corruption, and manages to walk the line for a very enjoyable look into the craze of televangelism.

Dandelion The Greeting Committee

BY JACK O’CONNOR Kansas City-based band The Greeting Committee’s second studio album “Dandelion” hits listeners with an emotionally tragic story of life after a failed relationship. Through crushing lyrics and a constantly changing sound, lead vocalist Addie Sartino takes us through the emotional downfall and eventual recovery that comes with moving on.

Sonically, this album does a fantastic job of having each song differ from the rest. At times, the anthemic drum work will have you in a trance; at other times, you’ll find yourself humming along to the base.

Sartino starts the album with lyrical gut-punch after lyrical gut-punch, including “Can’t eat, I just sleep” from the opening track “Can I Leave Me Too?” and “My life don’t feel like mine these days” on “Float Away.” These feelings of confusion and desperation following a breakup make up a focus of the early tracks.

The most depressing track and lyrics come thanks to “Bird Hall,” where Sartino devastates listeners with lyrics like “I don’t wanna be in love all it ever got me were reasons to hate me.”

With unique instruments like a saxophone and distorted vocals being used as an instrument, “Make Out” signifies the first steps to healing.

Concluding the album, “Ten” asserts Sartino moving on with “It’s kind of nice I feel alright” as the final lines.

“Dandelion” presents the entire spectrum of emotions of a crushing breakup, from inescapable sorrow to eventual acceptance.

With strong lyricism and catchy melodies, “Dandelion” leaves us wanting more from The Greeting Committee.

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The Band CAMINO A stunning re-debut of the indie giants

BY SHANNON BRAULT The Band CAMINO is no stranger to the indie music scene. Still, after kicking out one of their band members when sexual misconduct allegations came to light in early 2020, they are back with a stunning and refreshing new debut album that offers a true and honest way of looking at life and love.

The album starts with the song “EVERYBODYDIES,” which I initially thought was a pretty morbid way to start the journey. Still, it truly is a stunning song with a hyper-awareness of what it means to be in your twenties, emphasizing being unapologetically yourself.

It starts with the lyrics, “woke up 25 years late to the party, I don’t want to live in my head anymore, so sick and tired of saying ‘I’m sorry’ when I don’t even know what I keep saying it for.”

We’re so conditioned into doing what we think everyone else is doing and what they want us to do that we forget a lot of the time that we don’t have to say sorry for showing up and taking up as much space as we need to feel whole.

I was blown away by the raw realness of the lyrics throughout the whole album. It’s cohesive and universal poetry describing what it’s like to be this mini adult trying to navigate the world and find your place in it. The Band CAMINO outdid themselves on this album, and I think everyone can find a song that speaks to them on a deep level.

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Q&A

Dacey

BY TOSIN FASEEMO

Dacey is a Vancouver-based indie/alternative R&B band consisting of singer Dacey Andrada, bassist Josh Akow, guitarist Nathan Chan, and guitarist Justin Tecson. Keep reading to find out more.

: How did you guys meet?

D: We met at this recording school here in Vancouver. It was about three years ago. I got into a session with Josh and JT first. That’s how I first met JT. I met him through Josh, because they were also in the same class. We decided to form a trio, plus a drummer, and then Nate joined in.

Jo: It was a lot of fun hanging out with these guys and making music with them so I was like hey, let’s do it. We definitely wouldn’t have met each other, including our old previous drummers if it weren’t for that school that we all went to.

to us joining in with her. We figured that everything started with Dacey, even before us, so might as well just keep the name the same. : What’s your creative process like?

D: Oftentimes I’ll come up with an idea on the guitar and record it onto my voice memos and I’ll send that straight to JT, Josh, or Nate, if I have an idea. I usually just write based on experiences.

So far all my music that I’ve written is about heartbreak, relationships, and love. : What’s it like being part of the Vancouver music scene?

: How did you guys decide on a band name?

Jo: Dacey already kind of had her thing going. She was already making music and performing prior

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Ju: It’s a pretty tight knit community. Everyone knows one another. It’s been pretty cool; we’ve met a lot of good people.

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Q&A : What inspires you guys to make music?

Jo: It’s fun. It feels right. It never gets boring. Being able to put words and music down on paper and create one unified artistic vision is very satisfying.

N: I get inspired by other people too. If I see other very skilled musicians, it inspires me to hone my craft.

Ju: I played Rock Band once and I’ve just loved music ever since.

D: I grew up listening to my dad’s music collection.

Music has always been a part of my household, so I was always surrounded by it. : What is it like making music now under a label, as opposed to before, when you were making it independently?

Ju: It’s all about the timelines and deadlines.

It’s good to have someone on your back and supporting you.

Jo: It’s definitely more stressful, but at the same time, sometimes we need those deadlines to make sure we actually get stuff done. Theoretically, you can work on a song forever. Even though it’s a bit more stressful, at least we have someone on our ass.

Ju: It keeps us liable. : Who would be your dream collaboration?

D: I would love to collaborate with Tyler, the Creator, and Anderson .Paak. Those two, and many more.

Jo: Kali Uchis, SZA. Any of the Drain Gang guys over in Sweden.

Ju: I want Timbaland and Kenny Beats to produce a song for us. Or Kanye.

N: Personally, I would want Yvette Young; she’s a math rock guitarist that I’m really into. And also, Brendan Murphy from Counterparts.

Dacey’s music video for “LUV U A LIL BIT” is out now. Give it a listen.

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