The Wake - Issue 2 - Fall 2022

fortnightly student magazine

volume 22 — issue 2

Boba Showdown

p. 8

Food from Here

p. 17

I’m in my Grandma Era

p. 9

You should never study in bed

p. 18

20 in 22 Q&A

p. 22

Debt and Capitalist Culture

p. 13

ART

Art by George Mignogna

©2022 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

Fortnightly Student Magazine

Minnesota. The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen and James DeLong.

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

Volume 22 Issue 2

Editorial

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.

Production

Editor-in-Chief

Srihita Raju

Executive Director

Marie Ronannder

Managing Editor

Sophia Goetz

Creative Director

Laura Kuchar

Cities Editor

Vishalli Alagappan

Finance Manager

Rashmika Cheekati

Voices Editor

Carter Starkey

PR/Ad Manager

Gracie Kibort

Online Editor

Quinn McClurg

Social Media Manager

Renee Mottet

Copy Editors

Vern Nowakowski

Art Director

Megan Bormann

Music Reviews Editor

Peter Nomeland

Web Manager

Sahra Hussein

Multimedia Producer

Ben Villnow

Distribution Manager

Selam Gerezgiher

Multimedia Editors

Natalie Aue

Designers

Makenna Larson

Kailee Baumann

Mallory Paul Kat Regas

Cities Interns: Sydney Peshon, Ava Rausch

PR/Ad Interns: Cheyney McKinney, Jacob Nelson

Voices Interns: Devna Panda, Goamaar Paul

Social Media Intern: Makayla Hilluka

Features Interns: Sophia Goetz

Art Interns: Sarah Jiang, Natalie Williams, Brooke

Online Interns: Zoe Hoornbeck

Lambrecht, Alex Kozak

Music Reviews Interns: Shanna Sivakumar

This Issue Writers

Art

Somer Wagen, Beatrice Handlin, Danielle Croom, Abby

1 Megan Bormann, 2 Natalie Williams, 3 Brooke

Vela, Allie Parker, Matthew Zeichert, Sophia Goetz, Ava

Lambrecht, 4 Mallory Paul, 5 Ben Villnow

Raunch, Nithya Venkat, Gracie Kibort, Harriet Bennett, Chandra Baviera, Carter Starkey, Peter Nomeland,

Cover and Feature Art: Makenna Larson

Srihita Raju, Rogan Isbell

Feature Spread Design: Kat Regas

Creative Submissions

Nolte Center, God Save the Animals, Cinnamon in the

George Mignogna, Caitlin Simmons, Kat Regas

Wind, Smile, “Entergalactic” by Kid Cudi, and Cool it Down, Yeah Yeah Yeahs images from original sources.

The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

THE WAKE

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

wink! one page magazine

Did you, perhaps, pick up this issue in hopes of getting a fresh Halloween costume idea since you’ve spent all month worrying about school? Well, my friend, you’re in luck! Your fellow Wake enjoyers have left their best (but sharable!) ideas right here.

QUINN m) (they/the ELANCER WAKE FREnder eyes (no

QUINN (they/the m) SAINT

cles u ☐ dark cir ys) da ) 7 in sleep on website erch ($25 m n o ke ti a ic W ☐ add g caffiene ☐ cripplin

☐ white choir rob e ☐ halo / crown m ade of y zip ties ellow

GRACIE (she/her) HANNEL 2000s DISNEY C T SUPPORTING CAS

shion” ☐ peak 2000s “fa rdo (Lizzie Go as ☐ icons such rper (Wizards McGuire) and Ha of Waverly Place)

BIANCA (she/her) JESSE PINKMAN

☐ layers ☐ striped beanie ☐ big ol’ pants! ☐ skater boy shoes – to really nail it!

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JACOB (he/him ) R U SSELL ☐ yellow b

aseball h ☐ match ing butto at n down ☐ khakis ☐ orang eb ☐ your o andana / scarf ld scout gear!

BEN (he/him) K YEARBOO

arbook” t with “Ye ir sh te it ☐ wh ross it written ac g! for signin s ie ☐ sharp

SELAM (she/her) POKEMON TRAINER

☐ athleisure! ☐ keep it monochromatic ☐ bonus points: carrying a pokemon plush with you!

KAT (she/the y) CLOSET C OSPLAY ☐ work w it

h what y ou have home! y ou’re bo at und to fi somethin nd g that w orks ☐ if all e lse fails, eyeliner some sh and itty athe perf face tattoos.... ect depic tion of a soundclo ud rapp er!

OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

INSIDE 8

The Dinkytown Boba Showdown

9

I’m in my Grandma Era Surviving and Thriving

10

Groceries at the U of M

11

A Walker’s Guide to the U of M

UPCOMING EVENTS 10/16 - 1/8

10/21 - 11/26

Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi

Dead Serious: a solo exhibit by Luis Fitch

In Renaissance Florence, artists saw art anew, inspired by ancient marbles and myths as well as the humanism of ruler and patron Lorenzo de’ Medici.

At the center of it all was Sandro Botticelli, whose genius for transforming classical themes into wholly original art inspired new ideals of beauty. Now, in a remarkable partnership with the Uffizi Galleries, Mia is hosting a major exhibition exploring the fevered creativity that defined this time and place.

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Student Debt and Capitalist Culture

16

A Deep Dive into Halloween Costumes

2400 3rd Ave S

17

Food From Here

10/20 - 10/29 @ 7-9 PM

18

Ephron Girl Fall

Shadows and Spirits of the State Capitol

You Should Never Study in Bed 19

Storm Coverage in Action

20

Six Reviews

22

?? Q&A

Join a one-hour guided tour of the restored Capitol through the shadowy rotunda, hallways, and chambers, lit with original early 1900s lighting. Visitors will encounter historical “spirits,” including a night watchman, Civil War veteran, a woman suffragist, and more, who will tell stories of the Capitol’s early history.

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

10/21 @ 5 PM Movies in Parks: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Check out Mexican artist and graphic designer Luis Fitch’s exhibit at the Viewpoint Gallery! He was named “Artist of the Year” by City Pages and “People to Watch” by Graphic Design U.S.A. Magazine – you won’t want to miss this exhibition!

591 Hamline Ave N

10/21 @ 7 PM CRAZY BROKE ASIANS featuring KISS THE TIGER & MORE Join in the celebration of asian excellence in the Twin Cities’ music community!

Doors open at 7 PM and the show begins at 7:30. This IS a standing show, so be prepared or call ahead to make accomodations!

416 Cedar Avenue South

10/23 @ 11 AM - 7 PM Taste of Asia Major market of delicious food vendors to get full on. Watch incredible live performances from local Asian dance or art studios, and take part in other events like cultural activities and kids games!

214 4th Street East

Start your evening with food provided by a variety of food trucks, then bask in the glory of drag performances by Nocturna Lee Mission, Anastasia Principle, Ann Omerta and Geneva Richards! The movie starts at 8 PM (remember a blanket or chair)!

Harriet Island (Target stage)

THE WAKE

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Letter from the Executive Director Dear reader, I would like to say I wasn’t supposed to be the Executive Director. My first staff meeting at The Wake was spent anxiously wondering if my New Yorker tote bag was overkill. I remember thinking, “wow, I will forever be an intern.”

I’m here by complete chance.

Entering my freshman year, I was terrified of my own opinions. I would’ve called myself an extreme pacifist, I hated stepping on other people’s ideas.

As far as I was concerned I didn’t know anything and listening would be the only way to understand. I guess you could say I joined The Wake as a sort of immersion therapy. Working as an intern meant that I not only had to have an opinion, but I had to share it. So I started with what I knew best, listening.

My first articles were simple reviews where I could knit together outside opinions with my own. Slowly, but surely, I began to take the reins of my own thoughts until I was fueling the idea behind my articles. I wrote about fashion addictions, coping with isolation, and how terrifying men are in a rave setting.

My experiences became something to contemplate, and I found myself wanting to tell my version of the story without cowering away from outside opinion.

Now, after hastily accepting an offer via zoom, I’m trying my best to carry a legacy. The wake was founded to inspire change and empassion a community. With the recent imposing realities such as the loss of women’s rights and extreme environmental destruction, I’m realizing the importance of community more than ever. The Wake is here at the front lines to call attention to what this world needs to fix. But more than that, we’re here to celebrate the steps we’ve made in the right direction.

Writing helped me find my voice, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted. As I enter into a new position, I’m excited to speak out for what I value. What’s more, I’m excited to see new interpretations of old thoughts and meaningful experiences from all walks of life. Our lived stories can change how the world perceives, and by sharing them, we can begin to make a difference for the better. The Wake magazine is at the heart of my beliefs; compassion inspires connection that inspires change.

I hope you can empathize with our stories. I hope you find a community in our pages. I’m glad I took that offer over zoom, and I still (shamelessly) carry my New Yorker tote bag to staff meetings.

XOXO, Marie Ronnander Executive Director

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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

ART

THE WAKE

Art by Caitlin Simmons

CITIES

The Dinkytown Boba Showdown

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Why are there so many boba places in Dinkytown? Which one is the best?

If these questions keep you up at night, don’t fret, because we’ve done the investigating for you! (No need to thank us…or our stomachs…)

BY SOMMER WAGEN AND BEATRICE HANDLIN Dinkytown is exploding with boba tea shops.

What was once a rare delicacy has flooded the market. Originally from Taiwan, boba, also known as bubble tea, has seen a recent increase in popularity in the United States. thanks to its unique texture and wide variety of flavors. We decided to hit the streets to investigate this phenomenon ourselves by visiting the five Boba Shops on 15th Ave in Dinkytown to make sure University of Minnesota students are informed about the best places to find Bubble Tea. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE THIS EXPERIMENT. YOUR STOMACH WILL HURT AFTERWARDS. Tiger Sugar: Friend of the busy and lactose intolerant.

• $6.00 for Brown Sugar Milk Tea with pearls • Pros: authentic & tasty drink, good stopand-go place, clean with cute decor, great service! Has a cute stuffed tiger near the front.

Doesn’t upcharge for milk alternatives and is the perfect level of sweet and savory. Boba is still warm and melts perfectly in your mouth.

• Cons: Paper straws that disintegrate in your drink, limited flavor options, ordering at the digital kiosk is a little hard to navigate, no places to sit and hang out inside.

Chatime - Even the employees hated being there.

• $6.52 for Salted Caramel Pumpkin Milk Tea with Pearls • Pros: They offer lots of coupons with their loyalty program. Many tables and couches with cute decor. Large variety of flavors and customizable options.

• Cons: Service is not great, the employees had beef with each other which was amusing but the vibes were rancid. The music was too loud, the menu was hard to read, and it was very busy inside. The drink tasted horrible.

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had a weird black pepper aftertaste, and was very watery and the pearls were very cold and solid.

S: I’ve been to Chatime several times. My go-to drink there is the Nutella milk tea with pearls, so go for that one if you want something reliable. But whatever you do, DON’T get the lavender milk tea with coconut jelly- it tastes like straight-up soap.

Bober Tea & Mochi Dough - Lots of Style, Some Substance • $7.62 for Taro Milk Tea with Pearls • Pros: Drinks have super cute bear shaped lids. The drink tasted great and had a smooth consistency. The boba was cold and solid but melted in the mouth. The drink was big despite being the smallest size available, so come with an appetite!

• Cons: Store looks like social media influencer bait on steroids. The music was loud, there were cheesy neon slogans everywhere, and it was kind of dirty beneath the bright pink shine. It was very busy inside and had a touchscreen kiosk that was nearly impossible to use with way too many steps.

MangoMango Dessert: “There’s an inside??” Yesand it’s amazing!

• $6.15 for Thai Milk Tea with Pearls • Pros: fantastic decor, music was a good volume, comfy seating. cups are semireusable, great drink taste and consistency.

Wide variety of tea and desserts available.

• Cons: Menu is cute but hard to read, service is a little slow. The pearls had a nice texture, but were flavorless.

KungFu Tea - “Beans in my tea? It’s more likely than you think!”

• $5.78 for Red Bean Milk Tea with Pearls • Pros: little sticky notes you can draw on and

post on the wall! The service was great and the employees were super nice. The drink tasted good but there was nothing to write home about.

• Cons: Shares a space with a restaurant so it was very busy and loud inside with limited seating and space. The menu is hard to read.

Drink was leaking out of the cup. The pearls were hot to the point of it melting in the drink and the drink we ordered had literal red beans mixed in with the pearls which wasn’t in the description.

B: I’m still not over the literal beans in the drink.

That was my villain origin story.

Best Taste: 1.

MangoMango Dessert 2. Tiger Sugar 3.

Bober Tea & Mochi Dough 4.

KungFu Tea 5. Chatime Most Affordable: 1.

KungFuTea 2. Tiger Sugar 3.

MangoMango Dessert 4.

Chatime 5. Bober Tea & Mochi Dough Best Store Ambiance: 1.

MangoMango Dessert 2. Tiger Sugar 3.

Bober Tea & Mochi Dou 4.

Chatime 5. KungFu Tea Final Ranking 1.

MangoMango Dessert 2. Tiger Sugar 3.

Bober Tea & Mochi Dough 4.

KungFu Tea 5. Chatime

OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

CITIES

I’m in my Grandma Era

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Hot grandmas crochet the day away

BY DANIELLE CROOM If you or a loved one are suffering from symptoms such as: excessive crafting, spontaneous urges to bake, chronic tea drinking, and voluntarily going to bed at 8:30 PM, you may be in your grandma era. Most people go through a grandma era at some point in their life, whether it happens in your late teens or early 60’s. For those of you who are not intimately familiar with the experience, it’s quite simple. The grandma era is a period of life dedicated to comfort and creation.

Mine started in the throes of the pandemic, when I had hours upon hours with nothing to do, much like a retired old lady. Naturally, I decided to pick up crochet, having already learned embroidery, sewing, and knitting. Okay, I admit, maybe my grandma era started earlier than I thought. Regardless, my first project was the Harry Styles JW Anderson sweater (you know the one), and I’ve never looked back. From then on I devoted my plentiful spare time to endearingly sloppy crochet. I added baking bread, drinking herbal tea, and scrapbooking to my regimen before my grandma asked if I wanted to take some of her hand-medown clothes. That was the moment I accepted myself as a young grandma. I, of course, took the clothes.

It’s not just me either–there are hundreds, if not thousands of young grandmas out there. And it can happen to anyone. This phenomenon is likely a continuation of COVID crafting, combined with the rise in popularity of thrifted aesthetics. I know I have my fair share of shabby sweaters that I swear “have potential”. But there is also a mindset that accompanies the grandma era. In a world where everything moves at high speed it is a choice to slow down and take the time to savor small things, whether it be a morning coffee chat with an old friend or watching a scarf slowly spiral out of your knitting needles.

More than anything, the grandma era is about learning to be alone and content, or at the very least keeping your hands busy. Behind each gifted handmade sweater is a fortnight of rhythmic tactile work. So whenever I feel the urge to get cozy all by my lonesome, I turn on a rerun, make myself a cup of chamomile, and bust out the crochet hooks. Oh, and by the way, if you have a grandma that’s still around, give her a call; keeping in touch with your bingo buddies is an essential part of any grandma era.

THE WAKE

Surviving and Thriving: The Work-Life Grindset and How Try to Survive It We can make it through college, I promise.

BY ABBY VELA Oh, work-life balance, you elude me so. How do I keep myself afloat? Honestly, I’m not too sure. I’ve been thinking about my schedule a lot lately and why I haven’t had a mental breakdown yet. Although I have all of the makings for one, I’m still here and (generally) mentally stable.

I’m preaching to the choir, but college students are expected to do so much more than we’re qualified for.

40 hours of school work? Absolutely. Multiple resumeboosting extracurriculars and leadership positions?

Basically required. A campus job so you can give that money right back to the U? Of course! And why not take up a second or third? The University’s understaffed, and we need the money.

All this sounds fair, right? Of course not, but that’s our lives.

How do we survive it?

I have two jobs on campus: one as a managing editor for CLA and another as a peer advisor in the MLK program. I took these on knowing it would be a lot, but I didn’t quite realize how much it would be. Starting office work at 7:45 am and staying up late editing stories gets old quick. What has kept my head above water so far is thinking about what I’m doing. I’m doing things I’m passionate about: writing and social justice. I’m making a positive impact on the lives of others, amplifying voices. It’s fulfilling, even if it means my sleep schedule is that of an infant who can’t sleep through the night.

My advice to those of us who are struggling right now: find that tinge of passion. It’s not a fix-all; I don’t mean it to be.

We’re still cogs in the capitalist machine of higher-ed, but thinking about the big picture can make those 8 am’s a little less painful. We deserve to be here. We’ve got this.

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CITIES

Groceries at University of Minnesota: Where Can I Find Them?

Locating Fresh and Affordable Food in a Campus Food Desert

BY ALLIE PARKER If you live on campus or in the surrounding area, you are living in a food desert where purchasing affordable and good-quality fresh food is a challenge. Additionally, according to the College Student Health Survey, 19.1% of University of Minnesota students face food insecurity (which is defined by the USDA as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food”).

The collection of these factors begs the question: Where on campus can students shop for fresh and affordable food? Here are some potential options.

Fresh Thyme Market Fresh Thyme is by far the largest grocery store close to campus. Its prices are a bit on the higher side for a college budget, but it has a wide variety of produce and is always well-stocked. The downside is that it’s in Prospect Park and is about a 12 minute walk from the edge of campus. Luckily, it’s located right next to a light rail station and riding the bus is another easy option.

These two stores, which are both on campus, are the best “grocery stores” location-wise. Although, that’s about where their perks end. They both have extremely limited options for produce and are on the pricier end. Speaking from experience as a previous Superblock-dweller who often relied on these stores for non-dorm food, you’re not likely to find anything much healthier than a few cubes of watermelon for a hefty price of six bucks.

After venturing to each grocery store at the University of Minnesota, it is clear that campus has a couple core options for grocery shopping but definitely needs some improvement. Furthermore, if you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity, make sure to check out university resources such as Boynton Health’s Nutritious U Food Pantry, which is open the last week of every month during the semester on the first floor of Memorial Union.

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Target Ah, the infamous Dinkytown Target—where prices are at a premium but produce is sparse. It’s about a 5 minute walk from campus, so many students living in or near the area get their groceries from here regularly. Sorry Stadium Villagers, this one’s a bit of a trek. Generally, though, if you’re looking to get in a quick grocery run and aren’t overly tight on cash, Target is an adequate option.

Walgreens & CVS

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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

CITIES

A Walker’s Guide to the University of Minnesota With a few exceptions, the U of MN makes walking around campus a walk-in-the-park

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BY MATTHEW ZEICHERT For students on college visits to the University of Minnesota, the official tour of campus stresses one thing ad nauseam: the U of MN is walkable. Other transportation options such as bussing or light-rail are mentioned in passing, but the expert tour guides mention walking considerably more.

Truth in advertising? Yes… mostly. Specifically for most first year students living their best dorm life, walking to classes in the beautiful fall/spring weather can be a breeze. A few dorms make walking to class difficult, but that is neither here nor there. Superblock kids are at a particular advantage because they can travel on foot to the student union and many collegiate sports stadiums in (at most) 15 minutes.

A quick word about St. Paul. As much as it pains me to say it, the University of Minnesota has clearly chosen favorites in regards to the St. Paul vs Minneapolis friendly rivalry. The Minneapolis/ Minneapolis-adjacent campus has considerably more university buildings than St. Paul, thus making life a little bit harder for the U of MN students of St. Paul. It would be a lie to say that University of Minnesota is a ten on a one-to-ten walkability scale because of this anomaly.

other. Sure, you could zoom by in one of those nifty Lyft or Lime scooters, but doing so makes stopping to smell the metaphorical roses next to impossible. In an exaggerated sense, those who walk around campus are simply more in tune with nature and its beautiful creatures; Most notably the omnipresent squirrels and turkeys.

In regards to grocery shopping on campus, there is a considerable lack of grocery stores that are walking distance from most places of student residence. CVS and Walgreens are great for impulsively buying snacks or a single grocery necessity, but the prices and variety at both Washington Avenue locations are subpar.

Most, myself included, take the light-rail to either downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul’s Midway section for grocery needs.

During the winter months, walking above ground is a chore. With bitter wind chills and flurries that seem to last forever, many students take advantage of the tunnel system that connects many school buildings rather than braving the bitter cold.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of restaurants and cafes that one can walk to in no time practically anywhere on/near campus. Live in Dinky? Al’s for breakfast, Tony’s for lunch and Wally’s for dinner.

Live in Superblock? Bruegger’s for breakfast, Afro Deli for lunch and the Test Kitchen for dinner. Have I mentioned the coffee options? Frankly, it seems like you can’t walk five steps without seeing a Starbucks, Caribou or independent coffee shop. All this and more is simultaneously a blessing and a curse to college students. The aforementioned lack of grocery stores a walking distance from campus can make dining out extremely convenient, but before you know it, you have already spent your entire paycheck on said convenience.

When the weather is “Minnesota nice”, taking a leisurely stroll to places is an activity unlike any

Despite the lack of grocery stores, the University of Minnesota campus has health care services for

THE WAKE

both Minneapolis and St. Paul students. Boynton offers a variety of services all while Fairview Hospital has emergency care service. If you are gonna break your ankle tripping over your untied shoelaces, you might as well do it on campus.

Which leads this article to its next point: minor inconveniences. It is no fun walking to a class you are already late for only to trip on a gap in your path. Narrowly avoiding being struck by bicyclists, scooter users and motorists is also NOT IDEAL! These accidents hardly ever happen, but every time they do you will be forced to question what in the hell compelled you to walk everywhere in the first place.

When all is said and done, University of Minnesota tour guides are not outright liars when they say the ability to walk around campus is one of the advantages of attending the U. Plenty of students walk everywhere during the school year. The Twin Cities may not be “the walking cities” the way Boston is “the walking city”, but it suffices for avid walkers.

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ART

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Art by Kat Regas

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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

Student Debt and Capitalist Culture

FEATURE

BY SOPHIA GOETZ

THE WAKE

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FEATURE

The Good ‘Ol Days Debt. It’s practically what defines being a college student today in the United States. While the start of freshman year is typically preceded with dorm shopping, orientation, and welcome week, it is also accompanied by FAFSA forms, loan counseling, and accumulating interest calculations (what’s the difference between fixed and variable again?).

A recent calculation by the Federal Reserve estimated the total amount of student debt in America to sit just below $1.75 trillion. And while a college education is considered a privilege, by this statistic alone, we can infer that there are certainly more than an elite few having to take out a significant amount of debt in the form of student loans.

But that’s just it: we live in an era where more of us are going to college than ever before, a lot more than our parents, and even more so than our grandparents. But

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it’s also no secret that the economy isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of singular minimumwage jobs that had the capacity to provide for basic living expenses, a car, a house, and even a family.

The “deal” between corporations and workers that once promised security and room for growth in return for hard work and loyalty is now off the table. In its place stands a very over-saturated and competitive job market, exploitative work environments, and skyrocketing inflation rates. While we don’t need to take an Econ 101 class to understand the gravity of America’s modern-day economic landscape, it’s more of a question than simply how we got here. It is how we as a capitalist nation have chosen to treat this shift in student loan debt, becoming insidiously more normalized and yet more of a problem than it was fifty years ago.

Bootstraps At the Ready!

Just before the start of the 20th century, the expression “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” first appeared. It is said to have originated from a physics textbook published in the late 1800s that included the example question, “Why can’t a man lift himself by pulling up by his bootstraps?”

The question was intended to be ironic or to imply that

socioeconomic advancement was an impossibility, but instead, it soon became a common expression, often utilized in conservative fiscal rhetoric. Throughout time, as the phrase’s recognized meaning changed, when we encourage someone to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” we’re suggesting that socioeconomic growth is something that everyone should be able to do.

The Wake Magazine was curious about the student loan debt situation of our fellow students here at The University of Minnesota.

When asked how much debt would be held at the time of graduation, we received answers varying from figures of $15,000 up to $80,000. Students also answered the question of whether or not they would have to cover either part or all of their tuition during their time as undergrads. While a couple cited generous relatives and parents, the majority planned on either paying off their student loans via scholarships or future postgraduate employment. But as we observed previously, the means by which modern-day college students who lack a generous benefactor or full-ride scholarship must pay for their tuition and living expenses have remained stagnant for nearly half a century. In short, the landscape has changed, but college students have been instructed to navigate it the same way.

The Evolution of the “Grindset” It’s just as they say: “capitalism breeds innovation,” right? One of these innovations, borne mainly out of the illusions purported by social media and “flex culture,” is that of the “grindset,” or “hustle.” College-age members of

OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

FEATURE

paying back this loan for 30+ years is already hitting me. I am already having to make payments while in school, and it’s over $600 a year, and that’s just interest. Very scary!”

Generation Z are all too familiar with rhetoric that if you aren’t committed to the hustle, then you’re simply not cut out for success, nor are you deserving of its benefits. In essence, it is just the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps’’, repackaged. The basic tenets of hustle culture include juggling two or three jobs, along with a high school or collegiate course load, all while cultivating a healthy yet rigorous personal lifestyle (I’m looking at you, GymTok).

10k From President Biden: Fair or Unfair?

At the conclusion of our survey, we wanted to find out from students what they thought about President Joe Biden’s recent student loan forgiveness plan to the tune of $10k. While one hundred percent of our responses came back as positive, there has been much talk–mainly in conservative news spheres–about whether or not the President’s plan is “fair” to those who have already paid off their student loans.

Students’ answers to the question asked in The Wake’s survey on student debt, “If you’re the one paying for part or all of your tuition, what challenges do balancing a job and college work pose to you?” displayed the harmful consequences of “grindset” culture being marketed so rampantly to today’s generation.

One student remarked that their constant hustle to afford college was taking a toll on their mental health. “I work two part-time jobs on top of being a full-time student. I’ve been good at managing all three, but whether or not it will all be enough to cover the cost of college is a large source of anxiety for me. I’m not sure how anxiety is supposed to ‘aid’ me.”

The whole debate around whether or not canceling student debt is “fair” actually reveals a much larger problem with US’ capitalist culture as a whole. And that’s that we have been conditioned to believe that life in America should be hard. Not only have we been conditioned to believe that achieving basic success in this country should be difficult, but we have also been told that this is a good thing.

Most of the rhetoric purported by those who believe student loan forgiveness is “unfair” often follows their descriptions of struggling to survive and make ends meet in America, with some sort of iteration of “but that’s how it should be!”

Because working one’s way through college without the help of student loans is no longer an option, the “norm” is instead working unsustainable hours in order to afford rent and living expenses, all while accruing interest on loans taken out to afford tuition. Another student commented on their experience. “The mental toll of knowing that I will probably be

THE WAKE

that we are not provided with systems that would afford us basic necessities because then we get the chance to work for them. Not only do we get the privilege of getting to struggle in order to survive in the U.S., but we had better be grateful for that opportunity because that is what freedom costs. One of the wealthiest nations in the world has successfully convinced its citizens that not only should life be hard, but you’re not going to get any help, and you don’t deserve any help.

Instead of telling people to just work harder, wake up earlier to start another side hustle, or just start a business, perhaps we need to turn the conversation and ask why in order to survive we must work ourselves to death in a hyper-capitalistic society. Despite what hustle culture tries to convince us of, taking care of yourself is important, and relating your selfworth to how much you can work promotes a negative obsession with productivity and pushes the idea that the amount of labor we can produce equates to our purpose as human beings.

This country does not provide its citizens with healthcare, housing, paid family leave, and a number of other things that other wealthy nations are able to give to its taxpayers. But this toxic culture of working oneself to inhuman standards is inscribed so intrinsically into American living that it eventually is sold back to us. We are told that it’s actually a good thing

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VOICES

A Deep Dive into Halloween Costumes How to prepare for the biggest fashion show of the year.

BY AVA RAUNCH One common goal among all college halloween costumes seems to be: how close can I get to the actual costume without breaking the bank? I take this as a challenge each year to create the most timeliness costume without stepping foot into a “Spirit Halloween.”

Growing up I loved looking through the Party City Halloween magazine each October and circling all the costumes that caught my eye. Most of them were princesses, the occasional superhero was thrown into the mix, but I distinctly remember falling in love with the “salsa dancing princess” costume that I begged my mom to get. She had to call three Party Cities but in the end, I got my wish of becoming a salsa dancing princess. The only downside of trick-or-treating in Minnesota is having to wear a winter jacket over your costume. No one knew who I was…but I did. Nowadays, I would rather catch hypothermia than wear a winter jacket over my costume.

It is estimated that the average person spends $33.59 on a Halloween costume each year. While it may not seem like a steep price, it adds up. If you get a Halloween costume for all 4-years of college you would end up spending more than $134.36. This doesn’t include the additional costumes you buy for the multiple nights of “Hallo-weekend”-the weekend of Halloween, (because you obviously can’t celebrate for just one day).

Before you know how to afford your dream costume you need to figure out what you want to be. Playing dress up is fun and all but it can be exhausting choosing between a thousand different options. The best thing to get your

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creative thinking flowing is deciding what genre you want to be: horror, pop-culture, animal, movie character, celebrity etc. Narrowing down your options by what intrigues you the most allows you to separate practical costumes from a dream you had a couple nights ago will evade the panic attack you’ll have before going out because you can’t get your costume to look right…so you end up wearing a basic cat costume. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with dressing up as a cat but we all know how little effort goes into wearing all black and drawing whiskers with a sharpie on your face.

Looking at trends is very important in your costume selecting process because it not only gives you inspiration but it also lets you know what costumes not to wear. You don’t want to show up with five other Cassie’s from Euphoria at the same party. You can tell what costumes are going to be overdone by how popular the show/celebrity/ character has been that year. Going along with the Euphoria example: there have been countless tutorials on how to do Euphoria inspired makeup, Euphoria inspired parties and outfit ideas. If there is anything you should take from this article it is that you shouldn’t dress up as a Euphoria character this Halloween.

You don’t necessarily need to follow trends from the year, go ahead and march to the beat of your own drum.

But it is important that people know what you are dressed as. Nothing is more embarrassing than having to explain what you’re dressed up as.

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Jane heels? A fairy or princess costume will fulfill your fantasies. I personally use Pinterest as a lifeline while selecting outfits, you can simply type in an accessory or piece of clothing you want to make an outfit out of and it will spew out a multitude of trendy ideas in a split second. I don’t know where I would be without Pinterest. Not to mention, there are a ton of DIY costume ideas that college students post for the exact same reason: inspiration. There’s a mutual understanding among most college students that we are all broke, which works in favor of mostly all costumes being made rather than being store bought. It eliminates the financial burden and stigma associated with making your own costume.

Halloween costumes are something that have been around for years and have been constantly evolving. I remember calling my grandma about this piece and her saying how she made my mother’s Halloween costume, she was a witch mostly every year because my grandparents couldn’t afford elaborate costumes that the other kids in the neighborhood were wearing. Halloween is a time for self expression and wearing what makes you comfortable is the best costume you can wear.

One strategy to make your selection smoother is basing your costume off an article of clothing that you already own. You just got adorable white Mary OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

VOICES

Food From Here Why do we know so little about Indigneous food?

BY NITHYA VENKAT In July 2021, Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson (better known as the Sioux Chef) opened up their restaurant Owanmi in downtown Minneapolis– on Dakota lands. This restaurant was a feat, gaining the attention of food critics nationwide for its authentic Indigenous menu. According to their website, they say that their food has no dairy, wheat flour, cane sugar, or pork, beef, and chicken.

It is, what they call, a decolonized approach– sourcing directly from Indigenous farmers. A restaurant like this is inspiring, especially in a time where social media has homogenized our diets into avocado toast and “Gigi Hadid’s vodka pasta.”

There is a freshness and a boldness in the work of the Sioux Chef, but the question is why has it taken so long? Why don’t any of us eat ‘food from here’?

And bigger yet, why don’t any of us know what food from here is?

The answers to these questions are not so simple and must be discovered delicately. The core of Indigneous knowledge is a commitment against consumption for the sake of consumption– so encouraging the spread of Indigenous food might just relapse into dangerous cycles of mass production that is so antithetical to Indigenous wisdom. That sort of thinking has destroyed Indigneous lifestyles. Perhaps, this is the primary reason Indigenous food hasn’t taken hold in our meals or in our minds; that the legacies of colonization, capitalism, and agribusiness have decimated local food systems. From the first Europeans hunting bison to almost extinction to the cultivation of cash crops that are not local to the regions they grow in, the US has almost no biodiversity in its food– and no evidence of the food that existed before. A report from the Chatham House in 2021 notes that global food systems are the primary drivers of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the primary threat to endangered species.

Take corn, for example. Before the time of mass production and business farms, corn grew in a variety of colors. Blues, reds, and oranges. But then came the streamlining of crops and in came the era of yellow corn. When we lower biodiversity, we restrict the productivity of ecosystems– rendering it unable to support the life that relies on it.

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In her book “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, she writes that in some Native languages, the word for plants translates to “those who take care of us”. While yellow corn might sound like a rather dull consequence, it represents the greater struggle. That the lack of Indigneous food consumption and knowledge lies in the intentional action to destroy Indigenous ways of being.

The second reason is perhaps more nuanced– that Western food standards don’t play to Indigenous food. Western food is rigid and compartmentalized, appetizer, entree, dessert, with a starch or a carb, some veggies, some acid. This is what a ‘plate’ consists of. But other cultures, especially Indigenous ones, don’t operate in this same way. Food is made to be shared, served to each other, eaten together.

One person doesn’t eat one thing, but rather we all as a community eat our food. These ideas and this way of looking at food isn’t easy to sell. It’s not easy to put into a restaurant. It would require a distortion of culture to fit a consumable mold. Not to say that the people of the Sioux Chef have desecrated tradition, but rather they represent a masterful connection between consumption and creativity.

They (literally) brought to the table a new picture of what food can be.

The line this walks is tricky. Things don’t find validity when people can buy them, and I stand by that ideal firmly. We should avoid a popularization of Indigneous food to avoid a capitalist take that convolutes the core of what it is– decolonization.

But there is also another side, that people learn through seeing. It is undeniable that Owanmi has brought Indigenous food front and center. That the sheer existence of this restaurant motivated this very article. Visibility is important, but it is up to us to walk that thin line of seeing and learning versus taking and buying. That is how we learn, grow, eat and enjoy food from here.

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VOICES

Ephron Girl Fall And I don’t mean Zac

BY GRACIE KIBORT Following each Hot Girl Summer, must come sad girl Autumn; we’re forced to sit with ourselves, reckoning what is to come as daylight diminishes and tan lines wane. We swap iced lattes for hot PSLs and sticky afternoons for toasty evenings beneath blankets with an affectionate read. However, few things offset the looming dread of the equinox as a Nora Ephron rom-com. As an Ephron stan (Is there a fan club to join?), I’m obliged to spread the word of my lord and savior & and have converted a few non-believers. My prophets? You’ve Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally.

These films emanate the essence of autumn; the hues, the palette, the warmth. We accompany our leading lady, Meg Ryan through the seasons as she shleps pumpkins and embellishes trees in bookstores.

Ephron utilizes minute details of the setting and tracklist to convey her deeply sentimental world of wonder, love, and appreciation for the little things in life in each movie. Through meticulously selected snug sweaters, Louis Armstrong numbers, and deep tones of amber, Ephron conveys the coziness and adoration for the plotline and characters. Suddenly I’ve been transported into the Upper West Side circa 1989, anxious to see for the 100th time if Ryan and Crystal/Hanks will make it work.

This fall, I’m asking you to join me as I take a note from Ephron’s handbook and ring in the season in style. Steps include: Carrying a giant pumpkin along the city streets (Dinkytown will suffice) and looking so enchanting while doing so, donning chunky knitwear and a funky hat as you stroll through the bronze-hued trees, and listening to “Dreams” by the Cranberries on repeat. Escaping to a digital time where the only online threat was solitaire, I implore you to explore Ephron’s perception of the world through her witty vocal precision and well, pumpkins.

It’s the reason for the season.

You Should Never Study in Bed

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The importance of a good study space, and how to curate your own

BY HARRIET BENNETT After a long day at class, the warm comfort of your bed can look pretty tempting. Especially if you live in a dorm, there aren’t many options for study spaces, and you may end up resorting to your bed to finish your assignments. However, studying in bed has proven to be detrimental to both study and sleep habits due to distractions and messed up sleep patterns, which isn’t what any student needs.

Sleep is associated with your bed, so if you study in bed, you might be fighting to keep your eyes open.

This could lead you to not finish your work or to turn in something you could have potentially done better on.

Studying in bed is not good for keeping productivity up, so if you have a lot to get done, it’s best to stick to studying at a desk in a chair.

Further, if you study in bed a lot, you will train your brain to think that your bed is the place to study. So, when it’s time to sleep, you’ll have a much harder time falling asleep because your brain won’t want to turn off. If you already have trouble falling asleep, you definitely won’t want to study in bed.

Studying at a desk in a chair is best for productivity and sleep habits, but there are things you can do to make your study space even better. First, you’ll want a space that is fairly distraction free. With roommates this can be difficult, but if you can put a desk in your room, that would be perfect. If you share a room, you can dedicate quiet study hours where both you and your roommate will be able to be the most productive. Make sure your space is clean, has good lighting, and has enough space for all your study materials.

Studying in bed is a bad idea for multiple reasons, and creating your own study space can motivate you to want to study somewhere more productive, which will allow you to get more done. Now you’ll be able to finish that essay you’ve been putting off!

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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

VOICES

Storm Coverage in Action If you’ve ever seen a natural disaster, you can help immediately in the time of crisis

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BY CHANDRA BAVIERA Below the beauty of wealthy and prosperous land, a deadly twister springs up to destroy.

Awareness of the alarming risk from the beastly disaster’s greatest impact from the wild west coast to the elegant east coast will only remain in our memory. Hurricanes seek to overpower, being a beauty in disguise. Cautions everywhere with the sound of emergency and sirens coming, the only hero recognized in the moment, are paramedics, ambulance drivers, food donors, and police.

Whether it was Katrina, Maria, Harvey, or even Tohoku, the media has missing footage of the truth. A natural disaster is not only the most scary scene to experience. The social consciousness reported is absolutely unwritten, it is simply in the mind. Trapped in a wickedly dark experience, the psychology behind warps a tremendous storm which drives deeper trauma. Now in a time to turn for help, the only way to face the crisis of reality is to survive.

During the tragedy of the experience, winds blow heavily, fragile glasses break. This suddenly leaves the victims seeking shelter in immediate loneliness.

The sky was gray while the highest sight under a gloomy day was the towering palm tree. Being alone in what is now an isolated environment, the grounds are unsafe to walk on. On a free land located in North America that is a tropical paradise, the earthly beauty is even gone. With floods so high, the children are only floating for shelter. The young and old adults run to escape the chaos. This most dangerous twister emerging

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from the ground, sprung up to destroy. Panicking on the street to seek the home that they lost, the sorrow was endless. Now here is the moment when, the media comes.

It’s absolutely insane the news has to be heard.

The media has to say something. Coming in, tall, dark, with a white collar and black dress pants, the top journalist, Theo*, reminds us of the time we need to survive. “The weather here is terrible, strong winds at the humid eighty degrees!” He exclaims, nearly losing his breath. However, his tall figure gazing at the gloomy day in typhoon rhythm suit his pacing of broadcast. Being a journalist was extremely hard for him to capture the breeze in the moment. Every detail around him falls quicker than lightning’s struck.

Later on the camera is turned off. Here is time to focus on the reality of the present. Relief after days came for the storm. It was so indescribable and standards were absolutely strict. However it’s overjoy when food comes. Now that there are food trucks people can come freely. Even more there are drives in improving universities to support the victims. Hunger doesn’t end up as the most largest problem in the world. It’s finding the audience to feed as the most genuine person. In the most respectful way, having the heart to hold a hand, even if you’re set far apart gives joy. Whether it was being the star of the party or hopeless until your heart is aching, there is support for you.

The brilliance of a victim is an opportunity for bravery. An unimaginably unique way to get along is the most beautiful. Whether the internal cry for help is the real struggle. The deal is that the cry for the less fortunate is calling all of us to help somebody. We are not the people suffering from fear. Instead of fear, we are the most free. The truth to express emotions but act according to the behavior is the tremendous lesson for this diverse community of incredible people.

When someone is seen struggling, the first thing we’d naturally do sometimes is judge. Sadly, what we know about them is only their appearance.

The most spectacular difference you can make in their lives, is to brighten their day. No matter who you are, you make a smile in the song. Your kind actions to send gifts count. The emotion to sympathize with care is so pure. To really know somebody’s name and call their name properly shows that you can save. Donating does not just mean to the most identified less fortunate person.

It’s graciousness and kindness that is seen in a giving heart.

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SIX REVIEWS

God Save the Animals Nolte Center East Bank campus’s dusty little secret

BY DANIELLE CROOM Nested in the crook of Church street and Pillsbury Drive, Nolte Center stands a humble three stories.

Its ivy-covered exterior blends in with the rest of the buildings in the area, but the real charm is on the inside. While the second and third floors seem to be victims of late 20th-century renovation, the main floor houses a plethora of dark wood finishes and delicate crown molding. In the spacious study room, it’s easy to forget what year it is and easier still to forget the hour. But anyone who has stepped foot into Nolte Center knows its true gem: the old dining hall. Faux candlelights comprise both the dangling chandeliers and the sconces that dot the walls. From the top of the very dramatic stairway entrance, the entirety of the red carpet floor is visible, accented by an additional patterned rug in the center. It’s a place that feels secret, even when you can see two or three students studying in the corner.

Despite its prime location and gorgeous details, Nolte Center seems to be a forgotten relic of campus. The building just to the North with an almost mirror-image footprint doesn’t even have a name. And Nolte Center is notably absent from the National Register of Historic Places; it’s technically not a part of the surrounding Old Campus Historic District. Regardless of the mystery, Nolte Center deserves a walk-through the next time you’re in the area. Just don’t take my study spot.

Kate Berlant is in Control of her Comedic Chaos

Alex G

BY PETER NOMELAND

BY CARTER STARKEY

About 5 minutes into Kate Berlant’s new Hulu comedy special “Cinnamon in the Wind,” an audience member arrives late. Like many comedians will do in this situation, Berlant calls the person out, which gets a laugh out of the small but packed audience. But then the comedian expands, creating an entire fake scenario around a fake high school tournament, making the late audience member a character in the story. “Two weeks until regionals? We’re screwed!” she exclaims.

As the guitar strums me into “God Save the Animals,” the overwhelming feeling I have is that I’m about to experience something that I may not fully understand right away, something that needs time and space, but there is a sense of starting a journey on the title track “After All.” This has been called the most polished Alex G album to date. The farthest removed from his DIY roots.

For me, it couldn’t matter any less how this album relates to the others. I’m focused on how it makes me feel here and now.

This project is grounding for me. In a life that is endlessly confusing and feels to be pulling me in all different directions, well, I turn to music like this. Since its release as a single in June, “Runner” has been doing just that, keeping my feet on the ground. With a catchy folk-rock flow, this song is able to lift the sense of hardship right off my shoulders. It heals me.

Later on in the record, songs like “Mission” and “Miracles” are standouts in the same vein. They so delicately take on the feelings that you go through as you age past the dreams you once held. There is an undeniable religious theme to the album, which also does not go unnoticed.

Intertwined with these soft, introspective songs are elements that dip into other genres. Songs that depart from the central themes of the album while maintaining the instrumental palette we’re used to getting from Alex G. I’d be remiss, not to mention the hyper-pop elements of the latter half of “No Bitterness,” which are executed well.

In the end, I’m thankful for what this album has done for me and what it will continue to do for me.

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Cinnamon in the Wind

The special is filled with these fake background scenarios, with Berlant mentioning her husband (she is single), her eight sons (she doesn’t have any), and how she and her family “grew up without wheat” (juries out on that one). In an age where so many comedy specials seem to revolve around a comedian’s personal journey, a subverting and absurdist comedian like Berlant feels like a breath of fresh air.

Berlant acts with constant movement, reminiscent of a classic Robin Williams routine.

Her background is in improv, and the show feels like its bits are improvised, but in many interviews, the comic has stated that it is mostly not. Yet throughout all the chaos, you never feel that Berlant is not in full control of the stag.

Directed in black-and-white by fellow comedian Bo Burnham, who also directed Jerrod Carmichael’s brilliant “Rothaniel” earlier this year, the special utilizes the small space that Berlant struts around in, as well as a mirror that reflects her and the audience. A follow-up one-woman show, also directed by Burnham, is currently running on Broadway and is expected to be released as a special.

Unsurprisingly after watching the full hour, the title “Cinnamon in the Wind” is never referenced.

OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

SIX REVIEWS

Smile A review of 2022’s most heavily marketed horror movie

BY SRIHITA RAJU On September 30th, “Smile” starring Sosie Bacon premiered in theaters. The movie follows psychiatrist Rose Cotter as her life begins to unravel after meeting with Laura, a patient who was brought in for an emergency evaluation.

After Laura describes the entity that has been ruining her life, she dies in front of Rose, and Rose now has to reckon with this mysterious entity as it takes over her entire world.

Watching it in theaters, it was immediately obvious to me that the director, Parker Finn, had intentions of experimenting with the classic components of American horror movies. While there were jump scares, they’re timing felt careful and intentional. The suspenseful music laced throughout the movie was more than just ominous noises and loud violin E-string rips but measured quick beats and anxiety-inducing rhythms. The visualization of the monster wasn’t some cheap stranger-things knock-off but something that I have no doubt will be burned into my memory for the next few weeks.

One thing I appreciated was that the movie lived up to its marketing. From having an intense, unforgettable trailer to the real-life appearances of actors making the movie’s signature “Smile” face at various sports games, I was nervous that this movie would be nothing more than a good premise with so-so execution. But “Smile” does something that many big-production studio horror movies fail to do. “Smile” wasn’t just jumpscare after jumpscare, and the chilling “Smile” face wasn’t overused. There were moments when the scene unfolding on screen made me gasp and hold my hands to my chest in a rare feeling that can only be described as true and pure horror.

While “Smile” may not be ideal for fans of A24Esque psychological horror movies, it does what it was meant to do, which is give you a good scare that will have you avoiding eye contact with every person you pass on your way out of the theatre.

THE WAKE

“Entergalactic”

by Kid Cudi The album is a soundtrack to his new animated film available on Netflix

BY ROGAN ISBELL Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi has had a successful 2022. He recently finished the North American leg of his To The Moon tour and hosted the inaugural Moon Man’s Landing music festival.

Now he has a new album that serves as a soundtrack to an animated Netflix special he created, both titled “Entergalactic.”

While Cudi is one of my favorite artists, this didn’t impress me as much as some of his previous projects. I haven’t watched the special yet, so the songs may sound better with context, but several of the songs somewhat feel like background music.

There are beautiful instrumentals with luscious strings and synths, even bordering on psychedelic, but they often don’t build to anything or stand out from each other. The lyrics try to create the feeling of falling in love, but I don’t think it’s written strongly enough to convey that fully.

It feels safe, but it’s still enjoyable. There are still plenty of his signature layered croons and hums, and there are some energetic trap bangers like “Do What I Want” and “Can’t Believe It,” which has a great 2 Chainz feature.

I would’ve enjoyed hearing more of those types of songs.

If you like Kid Cudi as I do, you’ll probably still enjoy this. But considering Cudi advertised this as a full album, it doesn’t have the staying power or memorability one might want. There are rumors this could be his final album, but I hope we get plenty of new Cudi music in the future.

Cool It Down, Yeah Yeah Yeahs The perfect album for our electrically -charged dystopian world

BY BEATRICE HANDLIN The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are finally back after nearly 10 years, and it is a sweet and beautifully dystopian return. Their 5th studio album, “Cool It Down” is a short but satisfying compilation of 8 tracks that keep the art punk heart of the band while continuing to give us the space to dance.

The album begins with “Spitting Off the Edge of the World,” featuring Perfume Jesus, a mellow punk anthem that hooks the listener and sets the dystopian yet hopeful tone for the album.

The weakest point of the album is the track “Lovebomb” which slows the album down right after it kicks off. While it has a nice aesthetic, it kills the vibe set by the first track and should have been moved somewhere else on the album.

The next few tracks pick the momentum back up with a combination of a need to hit the dance floor, amazing vocals by Karen O, and creative instrumentals backing her up.

As the album draws to a close, the songs continue the desperate feeling of dancing while the world burns around you. The album closes with the melancholic spoken word “Mars” which takes the listener up to the stars with tear-filled eyes. A perfect goodbye to a long-awaited album.

“Cool It Down” is an amazing comeback for the band with its crunchy musical textures, poetic lyrics, and steady instrumental backing - it only loses its momentum in some of the track order choices.

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Q&A

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The Wake: 20 in 22

BY PETER NOMELAND On October 8th, The Wake celebrated 20 years with a alumni event with several past staff members of the magazine over the years. During the event, current staff members hosted a Q&A with some of the influential members of years past, and here is a portion of the wide-ranging conversation.

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: What is the most authentic way to network?

Kay Steiger: The best way to network authentically is just to be genuinely interested. Be genuinely interested in what the people you talk to are saying. I live in DC now. And basically, everybody in DC is there because they’re an extreme nerd about something. And I think just like figuring out what makes them excited, you have to bring your own anecdotes to the table.

Alex Lauer: Tap into any possible network, Like not being afraid to ask the most random people and find anybody you can meet up with. (Early in my career) I met up at a bar in Williamsburg, which was like, so out of my price range with this guy who worked at People Magazine, and his job was to, you know, write stories about Barry Manilow, you know, and go to his mansion. And I got to meet up with this guy.

: What advice would you give to someone who is entering the journalism or creative space after college?

Chris Ruen (co-founder): You’re looking for examples of people who are doing the same thing you’re doing, and you can kind of investigate how did they get to where they got. In my case, I was able to publish a book at a certain point, but even before I published the book, when I failed at getting an agent on a book that was never published, I reached out to all sorts of agents and put myself out there and got a bunch of rejections.

Morgan May Schultz: My whole adult life has been trying to figure out what, what about work actually, is energizing to me. And, and then, and then more granularly honing in on what gives me energy, you know, what, what do I do, that people might need or, or pay me for so that I can eat? That leaves me feeling more excited and more energized than when I woke up in the

OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 31

Q&A

morning. And so I have been fortunate enough to keep writing professionally, writing or editing professionally for my whole career.

: What is your favorite memory from The Wake?

Alex Lauer: I remember going to the Kitty Kat Club in Dinkytown and seeing Lizzo and the Larva Ink play. She had just moved here from Texas, and, Larva Ink was like this DJ guy she paired up, and the show was really crazy and it was sold out. And now she’s like a global superstar and we have an interview with Lizzo and the larvae in The Wake and I just look back on it and say that is so insane.

James DeLong (co-founder): There’s so many that Chris and I have, just crazy stuff that I probably can’t or cannot remember. But we would always stay up pretty late working on last minute things for every single issue pushing, you know, things like super late in the morning where the sun’s rising, but we would get it done.

: What has it been like watching the Wake grow after you’ve left?

James DeLong: Delong: It’s a huge relief. As the years have gone I’ve checked in, and if we’re on campus and you see issues I go “Oh my God, the issue looks so beautiful. Look at the design. Look at the artwork, look at the cover. Look at these stories that they’re publishing and you see the website, you’re like, oh my God. It’s like such a fantastic functional website.” I’m really astounded and amazed by just like the functionality of things today.

: What was your favorite Bizarro issue and how did that come about?

Chris Ruen: I guess it was from Seinfeld, because of the Bizarto Jerry and the Bizaro Eilanne. I guess that’s where we got it from. And, uh, but I think for us it would have to be the, our first one for our finals, uh, last issue with Yanni being the hater of the year. The top three were him, moktada al-Sadr, and some people didn’t like that because we were making light of a very serious situation in Iraq, but whatever. He was the number two. And third was “The Sinful Seven”, which were the people who denied us funding.

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