WOOF Issue 1

WOOF M A G A Z I N E

college fashionista

Issue I

SIOBHAN DUNCAN talks style

how to land your

DREAM co-op

the skinny on one girl's struggle

and more

Âť

table of contents scoop 6 #northeastern

Funny tweets about Northeastern from Northeastern students

7 husky roundup Profiles on four campus organizations

8 pantry raid

Recipies you can make using food from the dining hall 9 around town

10 doggie style

polish The holiday edition

Meet our cover girl Siobhan Duncan, founder of Northeastern's CollegeFashionista Chapter

focus

12 (over)occupy northeastern Severe overenrollment cramps the student body's style 16 the weight of silence

A Northeastern student's first person account of recovering from an eating disorder

working dog 18 10 tips to land the job We'll walk you through it 19 say what?! Four students describe their dream job

on our cover

model: Siobhan Duncan photographed by: Chelsea Turner clothing: Siobhan's own to learn more about Siobhan, read our cover story on page 10 winter 2012 | WOOF

Editor-in-Chief Marian Daniells Managing Editor Greg Zintz Creative Director Alexa Fay Treasurer Ali Ahmad Web Director Claire Fogarty Marketing/Publicity Director Marcy Teixeira Front-of-Book Editor Brenna Eagan Section Editors Hannah Holbrook Jamie Ducharme Angel Feliciano Kelliann Dietel Chief Copy Editor Chelsea Turner Contributing Writers Kelly Chambers Hannah Kathryn DeYoung Erin Farnsworth Contributing Photographers Liz Ochse Chelsea Turner Contact WOOF Magazine www.woof-mag.com WOOFmagazine@neu.edu Š 2011 WOOF Magazine All rights reserved

WOOF | winter 2012

letter from the editor » 5

letter from the editor Meet our maker- WOOF founder and Editor-in-Chief, Marian Daniells Hey there, huskies, Once upon a time, there was a bright-eyed, naïve sophomore interviewing for her first co-op, pursuing her dream of being a magazine feature writer. After an interview at Vogue (yes, that Vogue), an editor mentioned to said bright-eyed girl that she had no magazine experience.

Prompted by that statement, our little protagonist got an idea.

That bright-eyed girl was me.

Inspired by a stranger’s constructive criticism, I realized Northeastern’s need for a general interest publication where writers, readers and all the student body could come together to talk about issues that related to them.

I ended up co-oping at Marie Claire, where I shared oxygen with an incredibly talented staff of (mostly) women, who took me under their wing and drop-kicked me into the fast-paced world of magazines. I networked with award-winning writers; shared oxygen with Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles (arguably the only celebrity that I get nervous around), and learned the miniscule details of what, exactly, goes into producing a publication.

And even after all that, I still opted to pursue a career in magazines. Told you I was bright-eyed and naïve.

After months (and months) of working with SGA and the Student Involvement Board and the Finance Board and Student Activities, after months of organizing my initial idea into formal documents and reaching out to friends and fellow students for a board, that idea became 20 glossy pages.

So began WOOF. And no, it doesn’t stand for anything. It’s just a place for huskies to communicate and come together and recognize one another’s achievements. And on a personal note, the name is also a tribute to my family: “Woof” is my dad’s nickname, and is also used as an equivalent to “hey you” or “goodbye.”

It’s been a wild ride, but WOOF has a great staff of talented writers, editors, designers, and business directors that have worked tirelessly over the past months, jumping through the necessary hoops to produce this final publication.

If WOOF’s taught me anything, it’s that I never want to be an entrepreneur or start another organization. And also, that Northeastern’s student body is incredibly talented and diverse.

In our first issue, we profile a student who doubles as a College Fashionista and another student that shares the intimate details of her eating disorder, and how she overcame it. In a school as large as Northeastern, it’s easy to blend into the mass of 15,700 students (see our story on over-enrollment). But looking at the individuals is a unique experience. It’s easy to see what sets each of those 15,700 apart from all the other applicants.

Maybe that’s a bit fluffy. My apologies. But it’s a lens I haven’t looked through before. And I’m excited to see what new extraordinary students WOOF will profile in the future.

Many thanks to Northeastern faculty, staff and students that have advised and supported the magazine staff throughout the last year.

And to the board, writers, and photographers and staff for putting up with my excessive, sarcastic emails.

If anyone wants to participate, vent, share story tips or thoughts, please feel free to email me at editor@woof-mag.com. You can also keep up with us on our website or on twitter. Until next time…

Woof, Marian Daniells Founder, Editor-in-Chief

let's keep in touch facebook.com/woofmag @WOOF_mag

interested in joining our staff? email us at WOOFmagazine@neu.edu or visit our website for more information: www.woof-mag.com winter 2012 | WOOF

6 « scoop

#northeastern Funny tweets about Northeastern from Northeastern students

by KELLIANN DIETEL

@KatieMerry: #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage the line at Rebeccas #Northeastern @Cberds: #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage a co-op cycle. #Northeastern @SarahMoomaw: Whether is Halloween or not, it’s obviously the Monday after Halloweekend proven by the line at Starbucks at 5:20pm. #Northeastern @HahGithegreat: I wonder how many years of my life I’ve wasted waiting for the quickprint #Northeastern @TpLePage: Why is walking to the 4th floor of Hayden or Dodge so much more exhausting than running a race? #Northeastern @NickBeek: Dude wearing a #Northeastern hoodie on the bus & battling the Elite 4 on Pokemon #winning #newfriend @Tsan24: Thank You Stetty East at #Northeastern for cutting us off of water today... #fail #ipayforthisshit @Carro_syrup: No line at dunkin in shillman between class...is this real life? #Northeastern @Brittany_foley: #ThingsOnMyMind #Northeastern is superior to Northwestern because we can say NEU & they’re stuck with NWU. N-doubleyu-yu. That’s a mouthful.

Follow us: @WOOF_mag Blow up our timeline with your #northeastern best (or worst).

WOOF | winter 2012

scoop » 7

huskyroundup s

Profiles on four campus organization

by JAMIE DUCHARME

Student Government Association

body on campus. We work to on is the primary student advocacy The Student Government Associati emics, Student Services (Dining/ in the following general areas: Acad improve the student experience tics, Off Campus life) Student Athle (NU rs Affai ecycling etc), Student Residence Halls/Public Safety/R Groups, and many more. ident

– Michael Sabo, Student Body Pres

NUTV

loped a wide variety of content ts, news and entertainment has deve NUTV’s fall programming in spor n. News shows have ranged from uctio to speed in the world of TV prod while bringing new members up at the Underwear Run. The et and Occupy Boston to a fun look serious pieces on the Farmer’s Mark and Doghouse promos in addits shor ial Sportscenter-esque commerc Sports department has produced have produced a variety of short ages. In Entertainment, members tion to athlete interviews and pack which has taken a look at the big rs”, Hitte parody news show, “Hard skits, a music video, as well as the r. To catch these and countless ulously-long Subway line in Ryde issues around campus--like the ridic interest at all in becoming a any have k out www.nutv.neu.edu. If you other programs, be sure to chec an email at nutv@neu.edu. part of the team, please send us – Rob Taylor, President

Student Alumni Association Northeastern University

Student Alumni Association

part all paired with older members as ately 30 new members, who were a as bond to ter Cen This fall, SAA recruited approxim ce feren Con an overnight retreat to the Warren on t wen We er ram.

Und prog ‘5 y ram, budd of our d our signature prog ni Relations successfully organize of team. Our Vice President of Alum ia, and Design, and Bouve College Med Art, of ge Colle n, ratio inist Adm ness Busi er, of emb ge Nov Colle early the In for 25’, the Big Dog 5K. e of our members volunteered at ity mun com ral seve Health Sciences. In September, som in part n take d us for a Trivia Night. We have also g the Boston Alumni Chapter joine Breakfast Club, and are beginnin ion Hill Road Race and Mission Hill Miss the ding . ities char service events, inclu ren’s child l y bears that are distributed to loca ‘Husky Hugs’, our collection of tedd Liason – Brenna Eagan, Executive Board

afterHOURS

rtainment Industry Student ts hosted by MEISA (Music and Ente afterHOURS features many even ester. RSA (Resident Student sem the ed dbye concert that open Association), including the HelloGoo r events. Lately, we have been host successful movie nights and othe rmers at perfo ted Association) has also held many talen y man inly certa h is great because there are ing weekly Open Mic Nights, whic ng on events, including, but not a lot of cultural organizations putti had have we lly, Fina Northeastern! ean Student Association), NASO Verd e (Cap A Student Association), CVS limited to, LASO (Latin American y), ASU (Asian Student Union), nization), HSU (Haitian Student Unit (Northeastern African Student Orga essful Fall 2011 semester. succ y reall a on). afterHOURS has had and ISAN (Iranian Student Associati -Kira Novak, President

winter 2012 | WOOF

8 « polish

pantry raid: dining hall Stock up on ingredients (and flatware) in any one of our campus eateries to use in these simple recipies

by CHELSEA TURNER photo by LIZ OCHSE “Where do you want to eat?” Northeastern students are faced with this question every day. East, West, or IV? After a few months, it doesn’t seem to matter what’s on the menu. The food all begins to taste the same. So what can a sophomore with a 20-meals-per-week plan do?

To make the dining halls a truly new experience, don’t use the eateries as restaurants. Instead, think of them collectively as Boston’s smallest supermarket. Have a kitchen? Great. The dining halls always have food on display. Foods like eggplants, apples and oranges are yours for the taking. Below, you’ll find some great easy recipes so you can bring the cooking home. Don’t have a kitchen? That’s fine, too. Many of the foods in the eateries can still be combined and heated in the microwave to trick your taste buds into thinking it’s something new. So embrace your innerklepto and try making these easy meals in the comfort of your own place.

Make a salad and add some fruit. A chopped up apple or bits of celery add great flavor and variety- Or, get some grilled chicken, lettuce and dressing. Cut up the chicken and refrigerate. Now you’ve got the ingredients for a chicken Caesar salad!

Ingredients: Apples, celery, lettuce, grilled chicken, Caesar dressing Get a burger patty and chop it up. Mix it with tomato sauce and put it over some noodles for some great spaghetti with a delicious meat sauce.

Ingredients: Burger patty, pasta, tomato sauce Don’t be afraid of mixing foods from multiple stations! Some broccoli from the salad bar, and cooked zucchini from another section would go great with some pasta. Just pop them in the microwave.

Ingredients: Pasta, broccoli, zucchini, tomato/alfredo sauce Get some scrambled eggs and bacon at breakfast, toast a bagel and sprinkle on some cheese from the salad bar for your own bacon egg and cheese sandwich.

Ingredients: Eggs, bacon, bagel, cheese Don’t forget dessert! Put a cookie or brownie in the microwave and mix it with some frozen yogurt for your own brownie sundae a la mode.

Ingredients: Cookie and/or brownie, frozen yogurt Our most versatile tip? Don’t pass up the sandwich station. Even if you don’t want a sandwich now, you might want one tomorrow at work. Get one on your way out, or grab some raw ingredients to make your own later. And don’t forget to mix it up! There are endless possibilities at this station. Need inspiration? Look at what other people in line are getting for some new ideas!

WOOF | winter 2012

polish » 9

around town: the holiday edition

by BRENNA EAGAN and CLAIRE FOGARTY

The weather outside is frightful and finals are far from delightful. But don’t forget: it’s the most wonderful time of the year! And Boston offers some of the best holiday activities on this side of the North Pole. So before you head home for winter break try to take advantage of this winter wonderland. Here are some WOOF-approved activities to get you in the holiday mood.

Boston boasts a thriving theater scene in the heart of its downtown.

This season, get dressed up to the nines, grab a pair of binoculars and head to the ballet! The Nutcracker at the Boston Opera House is a staple of Christmas traditions. Tshaikovsky’s classic offers a truly magical experience and melodies that you won’t be able to stop humming. The charming sugar plum fairies and dancing toys could warm even Ebenezer Scrooge’s heart.

In a season special, the Wang Theater will host the famous Rockettes in their classic Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Now you won’t have to travel all the way to the Big Apple to see those impressive high kicks.

Want to see a show around campus?

Just walk down Huntington Avenue to our neighbors at Symphony Hall. You can catch the Holiday Pops any time during the month of December.

Malls are the ideal place to amp up your holiday cheer. Between mall

Santas, twinkling lights and oversized displays, major shopping centers go all out to get you in the spirit of giving.

If you have someone with expensive tastes on your list, head to the Copley Place Mall to pick up some high-end gifts. With everything from Louis Vuitton to Saks Fifth Avenue, the ultimate gift is just a MasterCard swipe away. For the rest of us college students on a budget, window shopping is just as festive.

And for affordable holiday shopping, The Cambridgeside Galleria is just a T-ride away. Hit up stores like the Gap and save a little money gift shopping this year.

Looking for a holiday experience that’s a little less commercial? Head down to the Downtown Crossing Holiday Market on Summer Street next to Macy’s. It’s an enclosed tent market that is gaining major popularity. You’ll find more than 30 different vendors each week selling a variety of goods ranging from jewelry to housewares.

Increase your hipster cred and check it out before the masses discover this Christmas secret. While you shop, snack on New England food favorites such as When Pigs Fly breads, Wicked Whoopies, and Q’s Nuts. This market is the perfect place to find charming handmade goods for your one-of-akind friends or stock up on random trinkets to hand out as needed.

When the temperature dips below freezing, most people might be inclined to bundle up indoors. For those brave enough to face the cold, there’s tons of holiday-themed fun to be had. Create your own Charlie Brown moment at the Boston Common Frog Pond. The ice rink is open all winter and is a great place for a festive date. Impress your beau with a bold gold-medal-worthy triple salchow or your mutual lack of skills. With only a $5 skating fee and a $9 skate rental fee, you’ll still have enough cash leftover to grab a hot chocolate for your post-skate stroll around the park.

Speaking of, giant Christmas trees can be found all over Boston in December. Faneuil Hall’s 75-foot Norwegian Spruce is sure to make even the biggest Grinch stare in awe.

Spend an evening doing a “tree-crawl” and enjoy our city’s holiday decorations. The best part? It’s all free.

Stroll through the Commonwealth Avenue Mall where the electrified trees form a glowing arch above the sidewalk or explore the North End’s candle-lit windows and green garlands. Finally, end your long day of holiday shopping by treating yourself to a delicious Christmas cannoli at Mike’s Pastry on Hanover Street. You deserve it.

Don't take our word for it- explore Boston's holiday offerings yourself Wang Theatre Box Office 270 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116 (866) 348-9738

The Boston Opera House Box Office 539 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 (617) 259-3400

Boston Symphony Orchestra 301 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02115 (617) 266-1492

Boston Common Frog Pond Public Skating Schedule: Mon: 10 am - 4 pm Tues, Weds, & Thurs: 10 am - 9 pm Fri, & Sat: 10 am - 10 pm Sundays: 10 am -9 pm

10 « polish

doggie style:

NuFashionista A Q&A with Siobhan Duncan, founder of Northeastern's CollegeFashionista chapter written and photographed by CHELSEA TURNER

Fashion’s rapidly changing trends are enough to drive any college girl insane.

Leggings are out by middle school, but back in style once you hit college. Flare jeans were quickly replaced with skinny jeans and boyband tops were replaced with skimpy tank tops. It’s hard enough keeping up with what is “in” and “out” of fashion nowadays, never mind having to bring back the trends that my mother had me wear in kindergarten. How do I rock hippie chic? How do I pull off the casual rocker? If I’m trying to be a hipster does that automatically make me not a hipster? Many students would say good luck to making any outfit look at all fashionable if you’re going to finish it off with a pair of Uggs. Unfortunately, Boston is not doing so well in the fashion department. According to GQ we are ranked the No. 1 most unfashionable city in the United States. Not good, Boston, not good.

WOOF | winter 2012

However, there are many Northeastern students that think we can do better.

Students are breaking down the drab walls around us and trying to praise those who bring a touch of style to our beautifully landscaped campus. For instance, CollegeFashionista, a fashion blog site for those who are passionate about the latest college fashion trends on campuses around the world, just opened up a Northeastern University chapter this year. “This website allows students and other young adults to view photographs of what their peers are wearing around college campuses and gain valuable insight and tips to incorporate these looks into their own college fashion wardrobes,” says their website. I briefly spoke with Siobhan Duncan, Northeastern’s fashionista representative, about the CollegeFashionista process and her background in fashion.

polish » 11

How long have you been interested in fashion?

I have been interested in fashion for as long as I can remember. As a little kid I adored playing dress up, and when I learned to sew in first grade I made clothes for my dolls. In middle school I started to branch out and explore my personal style. I got it wrong most of the time, but I was always known as the fashion girl because I didn’t dress like everyone else. It wasn’t until senior year that I really developed an understanding of the industry and became interested in all facets of fashion.

Who are your style icons?

This is difficult because there are so many people who inspire me in fashion. But I would say I am consistently in love with the styles of Lauren Santo Domingo of Moda Operandi and Vogue, Teen Vogue editor Jane Keltner de Valle, and blogger Louise Ebel.

How do you feel about the fashion scene in Boston?

I feel like it’s growing. As it’s very much a college town you have that element of it – jeans, hoodies, UGGs – but I also see some really inspiring style. And as a city, it’s always going to be a better environment to foster fashion. In the suburbs, no one understood fashion. Here, I can wear whatever I want.

Why do you think GQ named Boston the top worst dressed city? How do you think we can change that?

First off, Manhattan was in the top 10, which made me question its validity on the whole.

But that aside, Boston does have some issues: like I mentioned, the college thing, you have tourists, New England prep gone too far… et cetera. But the Boston fashion industry has really ramped up its efforts and I think it’s a retaliation to that article. They want to be taken seriously. I went to Fashion’s Night Out last year and it was horrid. The only place I found celebrating was Saks, and all they had was a DJ (sort of) and some drinks. This year’s FNO Boston was incredible! They shut down Newbury and everyone was throwing a party. Boston Fashion Week showed the same effort from their marketing to the way they emphasized The Tent. Fashion in Boston is bigger than it’s ever been and is on the ascent.

What are some of your go-to outfits/ accessories for the winter months?

My parents used to make fun of me and my weather-resistant wardrobe, like, “Siobhán, it’s

five degrees out… why are you wearing opentoed shoes?” I’ve gotten a little more sensible since then. I have an arsenal of scarves because they are such a versatile piece.

Throwing one on in a contrasting color not only keeps you a little warmer, but also makes the outfit more stylish as a whole– très Parisienne.

I am also a huge proponent of tights and sweater tights, that way I don’t have to give up my mini dresses. And of course, a cute wool pea coat is indispensable.

How did you first get involved with CollegeFashionista?

It’s kind of funny and convoluted… this summer I interned with Teen Vogue in New York. I was the events intern and worked extensively on planning the sixth Annual Teen Vogue Fashion University. My boss asked me to look into this website and do some research on the background and its founder, Amy Levin, to see if I thought she would be a good seminar leader for Fashion U. I of course loved the website and told her we should absolutely do a “CollegeFashionista seminar”. About a month later, they brought her in for a meeting and I was able to introduce myself. Amy encouraged me to apply since there wasn’t a branch at Northeastern yet… so here I am.

What determines the style of the person you select for a photo for CollegeFashionista?

There are several things that play into whom I pick to photograph each week. First, there are the logistical factors. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve missed a fashionista because she’s on the phone, she’s in a hurry, she’s got her headphones in, etc. It can be really disappointing. I don’t want to photograph something too similar to looks I’ve shot previously. Sometimes, there will be one off element about an outfit, like a great dress and accessories but worn with flip-flops. But mainly I just look for someone who’s got a killer style that would make a good bent for the article. I zero in on an aspect of the outfit, whether it’s a particular piece, a color, a feeling, or a way of putting it together that would be interesting to write, and subsequently read, about.

What are your suggestions for people who want to get involved with CollegeFashionista?

Read the site! Interact with Style Gurus on the site, if you see an article you particularly like, leave a comment. Explore and perfect your own style, it will help you on so many levels.

What is your best advice for someone who is looking to be more stylish?

I have a few pieces of advice. Start by doing your research. Read magazines, read blogs, and build a picture of what your style is or what you want it to be. Then be confident. No matter what your style is, no matter how much your clothes cost, exude confidence and people are going to respect that. Confidence puts you in a great place overall and will help you pull off any look. Last I advise you to absolutely take risks!

That’s what fashion is all about.

For more from Siobhan, visit Northeastern's CollegeFashionista page: www.collegefashionista.com/school/northeastern_university

winter 2012 | WOOF

12 « section

OCCUP

WOOF | winter 2012

focus Âť 13

PY

NORTHEASTERN: high enrollment numbers lead to overcrowding

Growing prestige, record-setting application numbers and students deciding to come to Northeastern is great for the university, but not so much for surrounding neighborhoods

by HANNAH KATHRYN DeYOUNG photos by LIZ OCHSE

winter 2012 | WOOF

14 « focus

P

resident Aoun made it no secret in his September convocation address that Northeastern University was the most applied to private university in the country last year, beating out other schools with a record-setting 43,254 applications. And while this year’s incoming freshman class includes students with the most impressive GPAs and test scores of any class in the school’s history, the high volume of new students has caused Northeastern to be more over-enrolled than ever before.

According to Northeastern’s Office of Institutional Research, the school enrolled 3,082 freshmen this fall versus the 2,837 enrolled in 2010. Considering that the university’s yearly admissions cap for the past few years has been 2,800, this all adds up to one clearly over-enrolled institution.

“It’s gaining prestige.

People are learning about the co-op program, and it’s a huge selling point in the economy right now. You can graduate with up to 18 months of work experience without paying any extra tuition, so both parents and students want to hear that."

The issue comes down to the fact that Northeastern is still accepting roughly the same number of students as in years past, but more are actually deciding to attend. Although unprecedented at this level, the high number of enrolling students continues the school’s trend of a constantly growing student body. Simply put, over the past few years, Northeastern has become a much more popular choice among prospective students.

Demonstrating Northeastern’s rising reputation, Office of Student Admissions employees Isabel Leong, a middler sociology major, and Tedi Rosenstein, a sophomore biology major and criminal justice minor, buzzed about how a celebrity and his daughter had come in to see the school earlier this fall, and offered several theories as to why admissions heated up so much this past year.

“A really big reason of why Northeastern’s becoming a more popular school is [that] it’s

WOOF | winter 2012

gaining prestige,” said Leong. “People are learning about the co-op program, and it’s a huge selling point in the economy right now.

You can graduate with up to 18 months of work experience without paying any extra tuition, so both parents and students want to hear that.

And also the fact that Northeastern really pushes study abroad: people love to hear that it’s such a big part of our education. Once they get it it’s like, ‘Wow, why wouldn’t I come here?’” said Rosenstein.

Leigh McNamara, a junior psychology major, also said the emphasis and growing value of experiential learning is responsible for spiking enrollment numbers. “It’s that more students are understanding the benefits of experiential learning, not just necessarily the co-op… it’s other key points of experiential learning as well,” said McNamara. “Whether it’s research or studying abroad, community engagement… that all comes into play. A lot of times, too, as soon as the students come to visit they see that we’re not just a splash of buildings in the middle of the city, we have that confined campus. So yes, our students can benefit from the urban environment, but they also get that sense of community that I think is pretty rare for a lot of urban schools.”

Looking at the numbers, something is working for Northeastern internationally as well. “I think you’re also seeing a really big push from our school to become more enticing globally,” said Michael Russo, senior chemistry major and Husky Ambassador. “We have a huge influx of international students trying to apply here and I think it’s because we’ve kind of restructured our marketing strategies to better reflect some of the higher schools that had a bit more precedence before us. So rather than settling for the mid-level, we’ve really actively gone after and searched for students who are

more challenging and looking to apply to those Ivy-League schools.”

President Auon and his senior staff recently gave the admissions department permission to expand into a new facility this coming February, and Russo admits “I think a lot of it is just because of like students like [the freshman class] who are changing the face of Northeastern pretty quickly.”

Though the growing popularity is exciting for Northeastern, not everyone is as supportive of the school’s resulting population swell.

Michael Ross, Boston City Councilor, reprimanded Northeastern last year for failing to curb its enrollment as promised, which would have eased local housing issues like rising rent costs. Nonetheless, Johanna Sena, Director of Community Relations for Ross, explained that ultimately, “It’s up to the school. The Councilor of the community can only make those suggestions about capping enrollment to discontinue the growth of campus students.”

She went on to explain that Northeastern is required to file an Institutional Master Plan every ten years with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (the government institution that guides the master planning process) as the primary way for the community to have input on the school’s plans. The most recent revision, submitted in 2006, committed the school to cap the student body at approximately 15,000 students, though there were 15,700 full-time undergraduates enrolled last year.

Ross’ concerns about over-enrollment and housing, however, have made some headway. In a letter to Northeastern in 2006 about the Master Plan, Ross wrote: “Given the challenges Mission Hill and Fenway neighborhoods have experienced regarding offcampus housing, I hereby request a change in Northeastern’s policy that would mandate

Fall 2011 Enrollment Number of applicants: 43,254 Admissions cap: 2,800 Freshman enrolled: 3,082 Transfer students enrolled: 498

source: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH

section » 15

Currently there are only 8,501 beds available for students.

With nearly 6,000 of those beds set aside for students required to live on campus, roughly 2,500 are left for the rest of the undergraduate population.

freshmen and sophomore students to live on-campus. Such a policy would alleviate the negative impact of students living in abutting residential neighborhoods.”

Former Northeastern vice president of government relations and community affairs Jeffrey A. Doggett also said before stepping down in 2010 that, “I have learned that success is best achieved through collaboration and partnership—that ‘together we can’ is not only virtuous but effective. The best relationship an urban institution can have with its neighbors is one of mutual investment—the realization that our destinies are linked, and our successes are amplified by those of their partners.”

Consequently, Fall 2012 will be the first year that both freshmen and first semester sophomores will be required to live on campus, as the school continues to try and appease the surrounding community as well as current students. Northeastern also guarantees a dorm room for third-year students, though currently there are only 8,501 beds available for

students. With nearly 6,000 of those beds set aside for students required to live on campus, roughly 2,500 are left for the rest of the undergraduate population. The remaining students, including many upperclassmen, will be forced to find their own off campus housing in surrounding neighborhoods.

Kate Lieb, middler journalism major and writer of “The Over-Enrolled,” a blog about Northeastern’s over-enrollment issues, spent a few weeks looking into the issue of colleges over enrolling, specifically at Northeastern. She found that although new dorm buildings like the YMCA site are scheduled to open in the coming years as an attempt to keep up with the school’s growth, the campus is not expanding fast enough to keep up with the size of the student body. Further issues include overregistered classes, including some wherein late students are left without desks to sit in.

Something has to give if the university wants to keep its image as a world-class, mediumsized urban school.

If Northeastern really is becoming a top choice for many high school seniors, the admissions office must start thinking like a more selective college and begin accepting fewer applicants. Until new housing is opened, freshman admissions is going to have to base enrollment on the school’s current limits, with many members of the student body and surrounding neighborhoods believing a smallerthan-usual enrollment year seems to be in order. With Northeastern’s popularity soaring and more people looking at the university than ever, it is crucial for is the school to make improvements and find a way to properly accommodate the student body.

McNamara thinks these improvements are within reach. “One of the things I’ve always really respected about Northeastern is that it’s so innovative. I mean it’s definitely not a school that just rests on its laurels. It’s just constantly pushing forward."

winter 2012 | WOOF

16 « section

the weight of

silence

by KELLY CHAMBERS photo by LIZ OCHSE

W

hen I was 10 years old, I was your average active, fun-loving, exuberant kid. I was more stubborn than most, but always displayed a sense of excitement for life. Most people liked me, and I paid little attention to those who didn’t—until, almost over night, I became acutely aware of their criticisms. All of a sudden, I began to realize the ramifications of every action I made and every word I said. I began to feel like everything I did was an imposition on everyone around me. For the first time, I started thinking about how much easier life would be if I could just learn to shut up.

My sudden self-awareness showed me, for the first time, that my life wasn’t perfect. I come from an extremely stable family, so much so that my high school English teacher called my family the “American Dream Family.” My mother is a stay-at- home mom who showers my sister and me with attention and love. My father is a successful man, but manages to balance time between work and home.

WOOF | winter 2012

Everyone in my family is light- haired and blue-eyed. We live in an upper-middle class suburb in a fairly large house with a fenced yard and a golden retriever. Up until fourth grade, it seemed everything in my life was going according to plan.

Before that year, I had been so oblivious that I didn’t realize every teacher in school, my mother, and the school’s special education staff had been monitoring me. My mother informed me during December break that once I returned to school, I would be pulled out of class a few times a week to speak with a woman named Mrs. Perry. This plan didn’t bother me until I began meeting with her. Our meetings seemed pointless to me, and I hated being pulled out of class. I can’t even remember what we talked about, but I was forced to speak with multiple learning consultants and was finally diagnosed with nonverbal learning disorder, or NLD. The day I was diagnosed I left the office unfazed, but slowly the label began to bother me.

focus » 17 I didn’t understand what having NLD truly meant. Even worse, every time I fought with someone, they would deal with me differently. I got in constant screaming matches with my parents, and they would give me books to read about my disability that always went unread. I just wanted everything to stop.

I began to internalize all sorts of criticism. Even the smallest negative comment upset me, and the amount of emotion I started to feel was brand new to me. The carefree me quickly disappeared, and I desperately searched for a way to stop feeling everything so deeply. I had to find a way to disappear. More than anything, I wanted my parents to stop yelling at me, teachers to stop noticing me, and peers to stop being annoyed with me. The simplest solution, I thought, was to quit eating. It wasn’t possible for me to control the people around me, but it was possible for me to control my energy level, and I knew that not eating would leave me with no energy.

I saw instant results. With my decreased energy level came a decrease in stubbornness, drive, and my physical size. My initial goal hadn’t been to lose weight, but losing weight provided me with the satisfaction of knowing that I was accomplishing my goal. With every pound I lost, I had less and less energy, and the more slender I became the more invisible my presence was. My existence within my school, community, and household quickly became minimal.

Day-to-day life became very mechanical. I woke up, drank water, and had half of a frozen waffle for breakfast.

Lunch started out as half a sandwich and was quickly reduced to nothing. Dinner was the hardest part of the day. It was always different, and every member of my family was around the dinner table staring at my lack of food intake.

I was so wrapped up in my own world that I really don’t know how long my disorder went unnoticed by my family. My focus became calorie counting and preparing for every food situation the next day might bring me. Teachers started noticing how often I threw out my lunch, so I had to be sure to give all my food away. If there was a birthday or holiday being celebrated at school, I had to know how to make it look like I was eating a socially acceptable amount without actually consuming anything. Meals with my family became impossible to sit through. I would try to leave the table after playing with my food and consuming very little, but my mother would force me to stay at the table and eat.

This struggle would go on for about an hour, but normally only resulted in me eating one or two extra bites of food.

After a few months, I began to realize that my disorder had done essentially the opposite of what I had intended. I had only brought more stress into my own life and become a larger burden to my family. By that time, though, I was too attached to my routine to change it. Anorexia was my secret for the first month or two, but it wasn’t long before my bony body, sunken eyes, and washed out complexion spilled the secret to everyone. My parents had stopped fighting with me, but started fighting about me. Though I

didn’t realize it fully until recovery, I was still the problem, even if I had zero participation in any dispute.

During all this time, I only attended a few therapy sessions. I would sit in an office for an hour and be talked at without listening. I was determined to prevent anyone from talking me out of not eating. I didn’t listen to a word my therapist said for months, until she she said something so shocking I was forced to feel real emotions for the first time in half a year. She looked at me and said “Kelly, the human body is like a car; you have to put gas in a car to keep it running. If you don’t put food in your body it will shut down like a car that has run out of gas.”

I didn’t say a word, but my mind was racing. I hadn’t realized until then that I had been slowly killing myself. She proceeded to say that unless I started taking care of my body, I would be hospitalized. Nobody had told me this; nobody had mentioned the possibility of death. Shortly after that, another woman measured my body fat and told me I would not be allowed to swim because the chances of my body not being able to handle the water temperature were too great. I was supposed to start sailing lessons in two weeks and I was told there was no way I would be allowed to participate. It dawned on me then that I had lost control. For so long I had thought the only way I could lose control was by eating, but I was beginning to see that by obsessively limiting my calorie intake, I was losing control over everything else—including my ability to live. That very night I ate a hot dog, mac and cheese, and green beans, more food than I was used to eating in an entire day. After that meal I was mentally overwhelmed and physically overfilled, but some piece of me felt happy. I really can’t put into words how that meal made me feel. I was shocked I actually ate it, but I felt a release as well. For so long I had been restricting myself, but in that moment I was simply eating a meal. That meal was the beginning of my recovery.

The following days were hard. I began to eat more normally, but only at structured times and only with foods I was comfortable with. All summer, I refused to eat alone.

I regimented myself to three meals and two snacks a day, ignoring feelings of hunger in favor of my schedule.

This wasn’t exactly a normal outlook on food, but I was eating a much more normal number of calories than I had in a long time. The period immediately after starting recovery is a blur, but gradually my grip on eating loosened more and more.

Today my eating behavior is normal. I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full. I indulge in the occasional Stetson East chocolate chip cookie, and I a not afraid to order an entrée that may have a few more calories than another option. I made a full recovery from anorexia, but many are not so lucky. Today I am a member of Newcope, Northeastern’s Eating and Weight Concerns Project. Our goal is to provide students with support and information concerning eating and exercising behaviors or disorders, body image, and nutrition.

“With every pound I lost, I had less and less energy, and the more slender I became the more invisible my presence was.”

To learn more about Newcope, e-mail newcope@neu.edu or visit www.atsweb.neu.edu/newcope/index.htm

winter 2012 | WOOF

0 TIPS TO LAND THE JO

Ever wonder how you’re going to get that job you’ve been dreaming of?

WOOF gives you the scoop on the ten simple steps: how to prepare, stand out from the crowd and finally land the job

by HANNAH KATHRYN DeYOUNG

Constantly look for good opportunities When you get the chance to apply for the job, you want to be ready. Before there’s an opening, try to take advantage of other ways you find to improve your skills or get more experience. You want to know you’re ready for your dream job and are able to make yourself indispensable to any future employer.

Know why you’re applying for the job Plenty of people nowadays are living in the mentality that any work is good work. You may want to ask yourself, “Why do I want this job? Why is it a good fit for me?”

Having strong answers to these basic questions will help you feel more confident as you continue through the application process.

Do your research.

Learn all you can about the company prior to the interview.

If you know the philosophy of the company, their products, history and competitors, an interviewer can see that you understand what they are all about. Vice versa, if you don’t know that much about the company you are applying for, it just shows the interviewer that you are not very interested and makes you a far less desirable candidate. It is also possible that in your research you may realize that the company you’re about to apply for isn’t the right place for you. At least you saved yourself some time.

So you did everything right and got the interview.

Congratulations, but there are a few things you need to remember if you have your heart set on landing the job.

Dress the part.

First impressions are crucial—especially with an interview.

You want to look professional and make them feel like they can trust you to represent their company well. “When in doubt, think classic.” says Adam Glassman, creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine. Also, be sure to consider the kind of workplace you are applying to. Some interviews will be much more formal than others and wearing the right ensemble can convey an image of you much quicker than just words.

Come prepared.

Before you leave for your interview, triple check that you have everything you need. If there is something you would like to discuss with them that are easier to show than explain such as blogs or pictures, bring those as well. Of course, also prepare answers to common questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” and “So what do you know about our company?” Be confident that you are as ready as possible.

Arrive early.

That’s right, not on time—early! It shows that you are serious about working and responsible enough to get there ahead of time. Plus, you get a couple of minutes to relax and think over your answers.

Have questions in mind for your interviewer.

Don’t forget the interview process is a two-way street: You also are interviewing them to see if the job is a good fit.

Having questions shows genuine interest and really want to know more about it. Come up with questions about things you can’t get from a website or job description such as, “What is the work atmosphere like?”

Hold yourself well.

Don’t forget a firm handshake. How you present yourself will determine that important first impression. Do sit confidently? Are you listening? Do you hunch over, avoid eye contact and talk quietly? It always helps during the interview to keep good posture, show them you’re listening, speak clearly and make eye contact.

Be yourself.

In the end, the most important is to be genuine to who you are. Know what makes you unique and use it to your advantage. And again; relax! Now’s the time to smile and be proud of all your accomplishments that led you to this.

Send a thank you note.

Just because you’re done with the interview does not necessarily mean that the application process is over.

Remember to send a handwritten thank you note as soon as possible. Many students forget this basic courtesy. Plus, it’s another chance to set yourself apart from the rest of the crowd and show the interviewer how thoughtful you really are.

Good luck!

Did you land the ultimate co-op?

We'll give you this page to brag about it.

Email us at WOOFmagazine@neu.edu

working dog » 19

If you could have any job at the moment regardless of the circumstances, it would be… written and photographed by ERIN FARNSWORTH

Andrea Medina, Freshman Major: Behavioral Neuroscience Dream job: A princess "I wouldn’t have that much work to do. Why wouldn’t I want to be a princess? I could rule a country; I’d have power in my hands. People would see me a lot."

Jordan Wingenroth, Freshman Major: Environmental Science Dream job: Head of Green Peace "It’s very proactive, and I want to have an impact in the most positive and purposeful way I can."

Amber Hall, Sophomore Major: Health Science Minor in Human Services Dream Job: Combat Med in the Army "Women aren’t allowed in combat roles, but I’ve always had an interest in emergency medicine and the military."

Natalia Casillo, Freshman Major: Architecture Dream Job: Owner of a café "I would be able to express my personality and at the same time provide a cozy environment for people to hang out and study in."

winter 2012 | WOOF

20 ÂŤ section

WOOF | winter 2012