WOOF ISSUE 15

THE ADJUNCT FIGHT When schools make money and teachers don’t

MAKING A MURDEROBSESSED CULTURE The phenomenon of true crime

BATTLE OF THE BANDS Meet this year’s winners

MOURNING IN THE DIGITAL AGE How we react to tragedy in the 21st century

18 PRESIDENT

Liam Synan

EDITOR IN CHIEF Shelby Sih

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

McKenna Curtis & Kelley Schneider

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Meredith Peterson

MARKETING DIRECTORS

Sami Bartlett & Ashley Thon

WEBMASTERS

Katie Williams & Matthew Woolsey

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Jordan Mandell

SECTION EDITORS

Zoe Gregoric, Lautaro Grinspan, Christie Macomber & Maxim Tamarov

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WRITERS

Claribel Avila, Zoe Gregoric, Leila Habib, Huimin Li, Adam Michalowsky, Maddison Mitteness, Monil Punit Shah, Kyle Rossini, Alyssa Rubin, Liam Synan, Katie Williams, Matt Woolsey, Susan Xu & Hsiang Yu Wu

DESIGNERS

Brian Ambadjes, Erin Borst, Hannah Casey, McKenna Curtis, Xochitl Lozano, Kelley Schneider, Tia Thomson, Kim Timbone & Susan Xu

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Meredith Fisher, Yashi Gudka, Katherine Kim, Pranav Nayak, Justine Newman, Lori Nsimpasi & Loren Po Cover Photography by Justine Newman

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CONTENTS FRONT

04 Mourning in the Digital Age 05 Celebrities Take Snapchat by Storm 06 City as a Classroom 07 Global Presidential Co-op

Interested in writing for Woof? We take online story pitches and submissions.

Send us your work to nuwoof@gmail.com or visit us on our website.

ENTERTAINMENT 08 Making a Murder- Obsessed Culture

COVER STORY

10 High Notes Continue for Northeastern’s Tipling Rock 12 Jacob SS

WE’RE NORTHEASTERN’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE. LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? EMAIL US • NUWOOF@GMAIL.COM VISIT OUR SITE • WOOF-MAG.COM

LIFESTYLE

13 NU Athletics On the Rise 14 Fusion Foods 15 Long Distance Relationships

FOCUS

16 When Schools Make Money and Teachers Don’t 18 Art vs. Action

Mourning in the #DigitalAge 4 • Front

Written by Susan Xu // Photos by Pranav Nayak

Everyone copes with loss in different ways, whether through communication, art, exercising or various other activities. In the digitallyminded 21st century, some have taken mourning to a new platform: social media.

Isobel Farias, a third-year marketing student, understands why. “For personal tragic events — like a death in the family or something similarly close to home — it can be an appropriate way to deal with grief since, so many people use the internet for sharing in general,” she said. “Larger events toe a line between grief and exploitation, though.”

Many devastating events have occurred recently: the deaths of David Bowie and Alan Rickman, the continuous turmoil that plagues the Middle East, various terror attacks around the world and so on.

One of these tragedies has been the Paris attacks on November 13, 2015, which resulted in the deaths of 130 people and left hundreds wounded. Prayers were sent out all over the world on social media, and Facebook created a filter that overlaid the French flag on top of the user’s current profile picture as a temporary picture. The feature was used by many users to show support for Paris after the terrorist attack.

Farias has mixed feelings about the feature. “Even though I approve of the grief and like the outpouring of support, I feel as though people arbitrarily changing their Facebook profile pictures and reposting the art that was circulated to just keep up with the rest of their newsfeed seemed inauthentic and kind of disrespectful, frankly,” she said.

While turning to social media to mourn is now an almost-automatic response, the practice has not avoided criticism. It has highlighted differences in people’s caring for certain events over others, whether it be the Paris attacks, the Beirut bombings or any other tragedy. This ultimately leads to many questions. Is it impersonal to mourn on social media? Should people be judged by their method of mourning? What do people get from mourning online? Does it actually help them process their emotions? Do they simply want to be seen by others as dutiful mourners? Do they want to belong to a social media fad, to fit in?

Camden Phalen, a third-year computer science and interaction design major said, “It goes either way. I think a lot of people find comfort in talking to others about issues that they’re mourning over, but there’s an equal amount of people sharing things they don’t actually care about for attention or because everyone else is doing it.”

I think a lot of people find comfort in talking to others about issues that they’re mourning over, but there’s an equal amount of people sharing things they don’t actually care about for attention or because everyone else is doing it.

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

Front • 5

CELEBRITIES TAKE SNAPCHAT BY STORM Written by Madison Mitteness

Serena Williams serenaunmatched

Athlete Gives frequent updates on her time spent hanging out with friends Features her beloved dogs and pets quite often Ditches the tennis-player label: there’s hardly ever a glimpse of a tennis court or racket Our favorite snap: Serena lip-synching Italian opera

DJ Kaled

djkhaled305 DJ Shares “keys to success” with his followers Always lets the fans know what Chef Dee whipped up for breakfast (there are also frequent updates from the elliptical) Promotes his online clothing store, wethebeststore.com Our favorite snap: DJ Khaled keeping the camera rolling as he gets pulled over by the police while on a jet ski

Diplo

diplo

DJ/ Record Producer Live-streams his performances for fans not in attendance Posts hilarious car videos with plenty of face filters Keeps followers updated on his travels around the world with geotags

Snapchat has been constantly evolving. What started out as a simple app to send silly faces back a forth soon became ripe with filters, “stories,” geotags, chats and (how could we forget) rainbow vomit.

Through all its changes, Snapchat generally provides more of a private experience than networks like Facebook or Twitter; users have to know the exact usernames of those they want to add, and there’s no way to know who follows whom. As of late, Snapchat has seen a recent surge in star power, as celebrities are joining the snap community and reaping its unique benefits. From offering fans behind-the-scenes looks into their lives to pushing their product lines and music, celebs have redefined the Snapchat experience.

Snapchat is a win-win for both celebrities and fans. For celebs, it’s a genius marketing opportunity, as the the app allows them to cleverly promote themselves and their products. Fans, meanwhile, get to enjoy an illusion of closeness.

Watching celebrities’ Snapchat stories the same way they do friends’, brings celebrities down to earth and makes them much more personable. Plus, no one can really know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook if there’s really a publicist actually running the pages. On Snapchat, that doubt doesn’t exist.

Here are Woof’s must-follows.

Justin Bieber rickthesizzler

Artist Shows what life as a Billboard Number 1 artist is like Posts videos with his dad and siblings when he has time to be home lots and lots of selfies

Kylie Jenner kylizzlemynizzl

TV personality/model Updates followers on her daily modeling commitments and photoshoots Live-streams products from her cosmetics line as they sell out on kyliecosmetics.com Shows off her outfits, especially when going on dates with fellow Kardashians

More Celebrities to Follow: Ariana Grande: moonlightbae Ashley Benson: benzo33 Calvin Harris: calvinharris Cameron Dallas: camerondallas ScHoolboy Q: hoovaq Josh Peck: joshuapeck Luke Bryan: lukebryansnaps Nev Shulman: nevschulman Nick Jonas: jicknonas Tyga: lamboluxury Jimmy Fallon: fallontonight Victoria Justice: victoriajustice Tori Kelly: koritelly Ryan Seacrest: ryanseacrest Arnold Schwarzenegger: arnoldschnitzel Macklemore: mackandryan

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

6 • Front

City as a Classroom

There’s always something happening on Northeastern’s sprawling campus, so it can be easy to forget it’s located in the middle of Boston.

However, the city has much to offer — and students can easily take advantage. Whether it’s a short walk off campus or a T ride away, Boston could very quickly become a second classroom. Here are some suggestions to get started.

Written by Leila Habib // Photos by Yashi Gudka

TH E I N S T I T U T E O F CONT E MPOR A RY A RT ( I C A) : The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) hosts workshops for all ages. For underclassmen aged 19 and under, the ICA offers diverse classes like photography, beat making, graphic design, and participation in a slam poetry team. For those outside that age range, the ICA offers lectures, including a free discussion series called “The Artist’s Voice,” and a book club called “ICA Reads.” For adults who want to create their own art, ICA has a program called “Make/Made.”

R EGGI E T RAC K A ND AT HL E T I CS CE NT E R : With Marino and FITNU’s programs at Northeastern, it seems almost unimaginable to get bored of going to gym. But for those who want more, or even just a change of scenery, Reggie Track and Athletics Center at Roxbury Community College is a short walk down Tremont Street (or one stop on the Orange Line).

T H E I N S T I T U T E O F C O N T E M P O R A RY ART

Reggie offers several exercise classes, including kickboxing, zumba, yoga, pilates and more. Membership to the athletic center also provides access to other facilities, such as the indoor track and weight room in addition to the basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts depending on availability.

G EN E RAL AS S E M BLY BOS T ON: Although it’s a bit farther from campus, General Assembly provides courses on technology, business and design. They offer various learning options, such as full-time courses during the day, part-time courses during the evenings and weekends and one-day classes and workshops.

They even have an option for those who don’t want to leave their comfy bed: online courses and workshops.

According to the website, the company first started as an “innovative community in New York City for entrepreneurs and startup companies” but now “transforms thinkers into creators” through its courses.

G E NE R AL AS S E M B LY B O S TO N

N EW E N GLAN D C ONSE RVAT ORY: For musicians, the New England Conservatory on Huntington Avenue is the place to go for general classes and private lessons.

Instruments include guitar and piano, in addition to brass, percussion, and woodwinds. If your voice is your instrument, the New England Conservatory offers singing and chorus classes. The conservatory also offers music theory, conducting, film music, music history, and various other classes.

F OR M O RE I N FOR MAT I ON:

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) - https://www.icaboston.org Reggie Track - http://www.rcc.mass.edu/reggie-lewis General Assembly Boston - https://generalassemb.ly New England Conservatory - http://necmusic.edu/ce/classes

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

R E G G I E TR ACK AND ATHL E TI C CE NT ER

Front • 7

GLOBAL

PRESIDENTAL CO-OP

Q&A with CAITLIN MORELLI Written by Hsiang Yu Wu // Photos Provided by Caitlin Morelli In January 2015, Caitlin Morelli was gearing up for her first trip as one of Northeastern’s first two Global Officers. Working under President Joseph E. Aoun, her job was to tour the globe for six months (she got to go to 17 countries, to be exact) and build relationships with people working in the social enterprise field. Over the course of her travels, she met with students and parents, talked about Northeastern University, hosted events and did a part-time research project.

During the beginning of her co-op, Woof talked with Morelli about the start of her adventure and what was to come. Now, after her six months abroad, Woof reconnected with her to recap her experience and talk all things travel.

How many countries did you visit? Which was your favorite? Why? I went to 17 countries and my favorite one was India. I spent the most time there and got to know the people and the culture well. People were so friendly that I had a great experience in India.

What was the biggest challenge of your journey?

Working alone in foreign countries was my biggest challenge. I had to set goals for myself to make sure the work would be accomplished.

How did you communicate with the locals who didn’t speak English?

As an English speaker, I was quite lucky, because in most countries I went people spoke English. For the places that I could not get by, I had friends to help me with the language barriers. I also speak basic Spanish so that I could get by [in] some countries.

Were there any food items that you either extremely loved or hated?

This is the most difficult question for me because I was super passionate about foods and what I ate. I understood different countries’ cultures through the food. I usually ate everything that I was given.

What was the most special culture you encountered on the trip?

I was fascinated by Balinese culture such as arts, music, dance and woodworking. I went to Bali for two months in my first dialogue during my freshman year. Thus, I was more familiar with the culture this time when I went back again.

Can you share any tips for general traveling?

Pack light! Ask yourself every time, “Am I going to use this?” before you put stuff into the backpack.

I would use a backpack instead of a suitcase for travel under six months. For safety, one, do not go out too late at night. Two, do not take the risk to go to dangerous places. Three, do not tell [strangers] where you are [staying]. Be a smart person and place yourself in good situations. Then, there is a good chance you’ll be okay! spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

8 • Arts & Entertainment

Making a MurderObsessed Culture Written by Claribel Avila // Photos by Meredith Fisher In the last few months, viewers have been bombarded with shows about murder: “Making a Murderer,” “How To Get Away With Murder” and “Murder Mystery” are only a few of the options available. Chances are, many of the new shows on Netflix feature at least one murderer that you may be inclined to root for.

Austin Fernandez, a fourth-year psychology major, is currently in the middle of watching “The X Files,” and he can’t wait to start another murder-centric shows. When asked for his theory on the true-crime craze, he replied, “I think that it has to do with how we structure the narratives around the murderers’ goals and their backgrounds. A lot of characters who are murderers who we root for are generally shown as being in a situation that is really negative.”

Is Fernandez right? What is it about televised murder that draws our fascination?

Has our romanticism of violence reached a new high, and why are we all rooting for Dexter, and for the characters featured in “How To Get Away With Murder”?

One explanation may be that televised murder acts as an escape from reality. Jack Levin, PhD, is a sociology professor at Northeastern. According to Levin, “The murder that appears on television is so grotesque that it provides an escape for audience members, from the all-too-real everyday problems like paying college tuition … The everyday issues are too real to be entertaining but the grotesque murders that appear on prime-time television seem so unreal that they can be enjoyed.”

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

First year Rae Akinsanya agrees, commenting on viewers’ appetites for sensationalism. “People like seeing the big spectacle. We don’t necessarily gravitate towards the happy puppy on the street – that can be boring.”

A more psychological and nuanced factor may exist behind the demand for murder shows. Perhaps some of us are drawn to the show not because we can relate to the characters, but, as Levin argues, because we might want to avoid becoming like the characters. “[Viewers] don’t want to be victims of violent crimes so they focus on the television version of murder to learn how to avoid being victimized,” he said.

A prevailing character found in shows about murder is the antihero. Flaws allow for more relatable characters and can increase viewer investment. For some characters, the flaw is a bit drastic — they might, for instance, derive pleasure from killing people. Levin is particularly bothered by the portrayal of murderers as antiheroes. “The best example is Dexter, who kills people, but only bad people,” he said. “The idea is that we glorify and romanticize these evil people who should be treated as no more than monsters.”

Despite the abundance of antiheroes on television, Joanne Morreale, a screen studies professor at Northeastern, questions whether this trend has an expiration date. “People are starting to talk about the death of the antihero.

We’ve had enough of this now, the Dexter kind of guy, we are getting a bit tired of it. It’s almost a formula.”

If Morreale is right, what does that mean for murder shows?

Perhaps what we feel towards the murderers in these shows is further enabled by the characterization of their victims.

The victims on these shows tend to be underdeveloped, sometimes even disliked.

Fernandez thinks this is one of the reasons we choose to root for the murderers. “The people who they kill are very oftentimes portrayed in a light that makes them almost an obstacle as opposed to an actual person,” he said. They are made too simple to be viewed as complexly as the murderer [whom] you are sympathizing with. The people killed are not so much people as they are elements used to develop the character of the murderer.” This can be seen in “How To Get Away With Murder,” in which main character Professor Keating mentors students who find

Arts & Entertainment • 9

themselves doing the unspeakable to avoid incarceration.

In the end, perhaps our sympathy for the murderers on television is a testament to a writer’s ability to produce redeemable

“The idea is that we glorify and romanticize these evil people who should be treated as no more than monsters.” characters. We become fascinated by the person, repulsed by their actions and left to question our feelings. Morreale sees this as a

success. “I think that’s the pleasure, or pain, of these shows. You really start to like these people and then they do something so that you’re forced to recognize that the guy is a murderer … it’s that mechanism of moving back between liking them and disliking them: attraction and repulsion.”

Fernandez and Levin stand on opposite sides of this spectrum of like and dislike.

Fernandez prefers to rationalize characters’ bad behavior: “They have to do things they don’t really want to do in order to meet that goal that they are pursuing,” he said. On the other hand, Levin has a problem with the televised portrayal of murder. “What we do too often is delve into every detail of a killer’s life resulting in a sympathetic portrayal of someone who becomes a monster,” he stated.

Akinsanya believes that the industry is

simply giving viewers what they want. “While we like to criticize all the violence in the world, we like to sit and watch it happen,” she said.

“I think that very much plays out in TV shows and the TV industry thinks, ‘These are the shows that people will watch.’”

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

10 • Cover Story

TIPLING ROCK HIGH NOTES CONTINUE FOR NORTHEASTERN’S

Written by Adam Michalowsky // Photos by Justine Newman

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

K

Cover Story • 11

The name Tipling Rock started as a misunderstanding — a shooting location suggested by a photographer was mistaken for the name of another band. When the band realized that Tippling Rock was, in fact, the name of a literal rock in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and not another indie band, the musicians decided to claim the name as their own.

Ben Andre, the guitarist, singer and songwriter for Tipling Rock, is a third-year marketing major at Northeastern. He’s been playing music for eight years and with Tipling Rock since 2014. Andre, Dillon Salkovitz, third-year marketing major, and Tommy Schubert, thirdyear industrial engineering major, have been playing music together since high school and formed the band after meeting third-year music industry major Matthew Lewin at Northeastern.

The band’s synergy comes from a shared image of what each member wants from his music. Music is an integral part of their lives, and they all share similar views for the type of music they want to produce. “All four of us play music because it’s who we are,” said Salkovitz. “We have a deep connection on a musical level that’s hard to come across.”

In addition to spending hours and hours making the music itself, the band has worked extensively towards setting the stage for their success. “We spend time working on tangible marketing plans and organizing concerts and investing in top-of-the-line equipment,” said Salkovitz. At the moment, the Tipling Rock members are working hard to build themselves as a band and set themselves apart from the other indie rock groups in Boston, doing what they can to establish their image and make music that they’re proud of.

Andre says the goal for Tipling Rock’s music is to create something that’s easy for pop audiences to listen to, but contains depth

and nuance that someone with a musical background can appreciate.

Andre gets much of his songwriting inspiration from his music theory classes at Northeastern and tries to combine that knowledge with a pop sound: “I want it to be complex and novel but accessible,” he said. “If it’s too pop-y, then I try to add more nuance and technique. If it’s too intricate, then I add some pop elements.

My goal when I write music is to write pop music that is accessible to people but that also incorporates elements that musicians will enjoy. I try to have thoughtful songwriting.”

When taking the first pass at writing a new song, Andre starts in the studio. “I write songs by recording them. Before I even write the music, I have the mic set-up and recording. I’ll record the entire first half of the song before knowing what the second half will sound like.”

He tries to make music that he would like to listen to, which helps the band create the generally enjoyable sound that Tipling Rock aspires to have. That doesn’t mean he’s trying to make Tipling Rock sound like anyone else.

“Occasionally I think something sounds cool, but I learned a long time ago that I shouldn’t try to recreate something that someone else has made,” said Andre. “It’s hard to end up with something novel.”

Battle of the Bands was not the first time that Tipling Rock had played at afterHOURS. In fact, the first time that they played at the on-campus venue was the first time that they had ever performed together as a band. Their

“MY GOAL WHEN I WRITE MUSIC IS TO WRITE POP MUSIC THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, BUT THAT ALSO INCORPORATES ELEMENTS THAT MUSICIANS WILL ENJOY.”

performance helped inspire them to move on to other venues. The band recently played at Great Scott, a venue that has seen its fair share of up-and-coming indie bands. “Great Scott had a really nice vibe. It’s a venue that’s ingrained in Boston’s indie rock scene, and it was great playing there, especially because it’s such an iconic place for indie bands to start out,” said Andre.

So, where is Tipling Rock going next?

“We have two singles in the pipe that we are really excited for, as well as some cool shows,” said Andre. “We’re actually going down to Florida in a few weeks to shoot a music video for one of them, and we’re really, really looking forward to that. Now we are working with some new managers as well who have been a great help, and we’re getting a feel for the type of music that we want to produce as a band.

It’s a really exciting time. It’s safe to say this spring is going to be big for us.”

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

12 • Cover Story

Jacob SS Written by Liam Synan // Photos by Justine Newman

Classifying and categorizing art doesn’t sit well with Jacob Swindell-Sakoor. Asked what genre of music he creates, the first-year music industry major chuckled politely and explained that boxing up music “in terms of labels and genres – that kind of thing rubs me the wrong way.”

His musical career may still be in its early stages, but he’s had plenty of success so far, playing in shows at the Lincoln Center, opening up at the Middle East and recently winning the audience’s choice at Northeastern’s Battle of the Bands. Receiving that kind of accolade from his peers meant a lot, but hearing the music the other groups produced was its own reward. “Everybody just absolutely brought the funk, man, so it was a good night all around.”

While he primarily performs various types of hip-hop music, Jacob doesn’t want to be known as just a hip-hop artist. “I actually started off as a classically trained musician, and I still sort of look at it through that lens,” he said.

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

Jacob’s first instrument was the violin, which he played 10 or 11 years before tendonitis forced him to change his creative focus. Not that he put the bow down for good. He still “plays in the creational music ensemble, but can’t quite play as hard anymore.” Moving away from the violin gave him time to explore other ways to make music.

“Now a lot of my production is electronic based ... but we’re looking to do a lot more live instrumentation in the future.”

Before playing a new venue with his band, Jacob says, it is important to “rehearse, rehearse, rehearse so we have our tunes down.” But that’s just the beginning of the routine. Next come several rounds of sound checks and adjustments, made much more complicated by the variety of styles and pieces they use in their sets. With the diversity of sounds you can expect from Jacob and his band, they “need to do a lot of remixing and prep beforehand.”

While a multi-piece ensemble makes preparation a little harder, it has its benefits.

According to Jacob, “It’s easier when you have a band … it can take the pressure off.” Jacob believes that a solo performance requires a lot more creative engagement with the audience.

“When I don’t have a band it puts me where I have to interact with the people. I ask them questions, or tell jokes, or bring them up on stage,” he said.

Integrating the audience is critical because Jacob judges the success of a performance by their response. “I want people to walk away feeling something.” But his ultimate measure of success is whether his creation is unique enough to generate a lasting impression.

Jacob is conscious of the fierce competition for a viewer’s attention. “There’s so much media out there that it’s over-saturated. Even for me, and I love art, I forget it exists if there’s nothing special about it,” he said. For Jacob, the best way to make each piece special is to inject each performance with “a tangible feel” for the audience to latch onto.

Regardless of the medium, Jacob believes audience engagement is critical. “I’m just trying to create and have as many people involved as I can.”

Lifestyle • 13

Written by Kyle Rossini and Matt Woolsey Photos by Lori Nsimpasi March 19, 2015 was a big day for Northeastern University. The men’s varsity basketball team, coming off an impressive 23-12 regular season record (a 12 win improvement from the previous year) and 12-6 CAA record, was gearing up to participate in the famed NCAA tournament for the first time in 24 years. As a 14th seed, they were slated to play Notre Dame, who had cruised to a 30-5 record in the regular season and were a number three seed in the tournament.

Despite being underdogs, Northeastern hung in and battled the Fighting Irish all the way until the last buzzer — and when the dust cleared, the Huskies had come up short by a score of 69-65. Despite an early exit from the tournament, things were looking bright for the Huskies’ following season. With the exception of star player Scott Eatherton, the Huskies would be returning every player in 2016, and interest in the Huskies was at an all time high.

In a November interview with Woof, David Walker, the senior captain of the men’s basketball team, touched on the excitement surrounding the the 2015-2016 season by stating, “We have the urge of trying to repeat and get back to the tournament.”

Although the team may not be playing at the same caliber as last year’s March Madness qualifying team, student enthusiasm has managed to not only avoid fizzling, but has actually grown.

“We used the team’s recent success to appeal to students, and I think that excitement has stuck,” said Joe Cristiano, graduate assistant for marketing and promotions.

This excitement was able to boost attendance not only at men’s basketball events, but also at women’s basketball, men’s and women’s hockey, women’s field hockey and men’s and women’s soccer, which both had record-setting years for attendance.

Much of the increased enthusiasm has come from this year’s freshman class which, according to Cristiano, has been “very enthusiastic and involved with athletics including taking on important roles in the Doghouse and NZone,” (Northeastern’s student sections for hockey and basketball, respectively). This is not to say that upperclassman have lost interest, but rather that there is now what first-year biomedical physics major Ian Tournquist called a “good mix.”

However, apart from the women’s hockey team placing second in the Beanpot and having a .797 winning percentage, freshmen and upperclassmen alike haven’t had as much to celebrate as students did last year — men’s basketball’s winning percentage, for instance, has dropped from .630 to .519. Regardless, student interest has held — even grown — as the seasons wear on.

Cristiano stated that the university athletics marketing and communications department has continued to build off of last year’s success by trying to “reach out to as many

students as possible and show them how fun and exciting Northeastern athletic events can be.”

Through events like Midnight Madness, which was held on November 4 and allowed students to ring in the new men’s and women’s basketball seasons by enjoying an NBA All-Star Weekend–inspired environment complete with three-point and slam-dunk contests, and the Winter Showdown, where Northeastern took on powerhouse Michigan State in men’s and women’s basketball as well as men’s hockey all in the same weekend, the athletics department has been able to “build momentum going into the fall sports season across all teams,” said Cristiano.

This big marketing push exhilarated newcomers to Northeastern who may not have know what to expect. “The school spirit was more intense than I expected; the atmosphere was electric,” said Tornquist.

“College is a very unique time in athletics, as students have opportunities to see some great teams, in great seats, for free,” Cristiano said. “And once you graduate, not only are the seats not as good, but it is a little less acceptable to yell at the other teams.”

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

14 • Lifestyle

FUSION FOODS Written by Huimin Li // Photos by Meredith Fisher Catarina Chang, general manager of Koy, a Korean fusion restaurant near Faneuil Hall, believes that the strongest connection we have with our culture is food. In this increasingly intercultural and diverse world, it makes sense that the food we eat has begun to reflect that – as seen in the growing number of fusion food restaurants in the Boston area.

As a second-generation Korean, Chang grew up with a strong Korean background despite her American lifestyle.This, she says, makes her want to give her perspective on different cultures and foods.

“The thing I love about fusion food is that you can play with anything,” Chang said. “There are no boundaries about what you can do.”

Korean food, like stew, usually takes a lot of time to develop flavors.

This is especially true of sauces. Everything has to be made from scratch.

“We combine them with things you don’t usually find in Korean cooking,” Chang said. “Like Spanish, Italian and other Asian food to develop dishes.”

For example, one of the most popular plates at Koy is cheese steak dumplings. The dish is a combination of swiss cheese, bacon, pastrami and kimchi served in a traditional Korean dumpling wrapper and fried with sauce made of Korean chili pepper and Japanese mayo.

Kimchi — a fermented cabbage dish — is an ingredient that many diners may not be familiar with. “Some people are scared of fermented cabbage — but when they try, they really love it,” said Chang. “It’s easier for them to want to taste, especially in a format of fried dumplings, so we can introduce them to our world of Korean food.”

Fusion restaurants aren’t just about the food itself; it also includes the cultural practices. “Asian culture is like, when you see your grandmother, the first thing she said is: ‘Did you eat? Do you want to eat?’” Chang said. “All the different cultures and connections with food are like my backbone. Fusion is my life.”

Alex Clippinger, a first year economics major, also enjoys Asian fusion food. He said fusion food often presents new ideas and flavors he never thought possible in a culinary world.

Hannah Lee, however, said she prefers traditional Korean food because it’s more distinctive and unique. A first year from Korea, Lee moved to China when she was seven.

“I like the culture that comes with the food,” Lee explained. “The traditional dishes really reflect the culture of the nation and that’s why dishes around the world are so different.”.

That’s the reason that Koy still provides traditional Korean food: to keep a balance. But different restaurants have different focuses. In another Asian fusion restaurant aptly called Inboston, traditional Korean food dominates the menu.

JiYoon Lee, a waitress at Inboston, said that their food is mostly traditional Korean but they also serve Korean tacos and seafood WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

pancakes, a symptom of their Mexican fusion idea. “The chicken is a lot like sesame chicken,” Lee said, “which is Chinese food.”

Serving style is another aspect to look out for at a fusion food restaurant. Chutney’s, an Indian fast food chain (which can be found on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston and in The Garage in Harvard Square) serves their meals in a burrito-like wrap. Food can be made for a bowl, wrap or nanini. Customers get to choose vegetarian, lamb or chicken, and they can also add vegetables and sauces to their food.

“The way we make food is basically Indian, but the way we serve here

ONE OF THE POPULAR DISHES AT KOY IS CHEESE STEAK DUMPLINGS: A COMBINATION OF SWISS CHEESE, BACON, PASTRAMI AND KIMCHI INTO A TRADITIONAL KOREAN DUMPLING WRAPPER, FRIED WITH SAUCE MADE OF KOREAN CHILI PEPPER AND JAPANESE MAYO. is not traditional,” said Subhash Swami, a waiter at Chutney’s. “It’s good for people who want quick Indian food.”

Swami said Indian food has some similarities with Middle Eastern food, such as cuisine in Iraq and Pakistan, which all use a lot of spices.

“When American come here, normally they don’t eat spicy food,” he said.“But we do have spicy sauce. If they don’t ask, we won’t make it spicy.” There are traditionalist critics of this cuisine as well. Anisha Samant, a first-year from India, doesn’t like the changes.

“It’s not traditional Indian food and it’s not spicy — it’s too bland,” said Samant. “But I do like their mango lassi. It’s a traditional Indian drink.”

Ali’s Roti, found on Tremont Street, is also an Indian restaurant. They serve curry chicken, goat, beef, fish, shrimp and vegetables.

“We have Indian food combined with food in the Caribbean islands, like Jamaica and Puerto Rico, because foods in these places are similar,” said Donna Thompson, an employee at Ali’s Roti.

Clippinger believes that Ali’s Roti feels local, and that’s what Thompson is proud of. “We add things, but we never change the menu.

We stay the same forever, that’s why people like it,” she explained.

Lifestyle • 15

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS Written by Katie Williams and Monil Punit Shah \\ Photos by Loren Po Canadian novelist Gilbert Parker once wrote, “Love knows no distance, it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.” In the 20th century when Parker was writing, there were no apps that made meeting new people as easy as swiping right or camera phones that allowed you to talk to someone from a faraway locale face-to-face. And if Parker believed that love could transcend space during a time when today’s advanced communication technology was an incomprehensible concept, why does the stigma around long distance relationships (LDRs) exist in the 21st century?

It’s worth waiting for the one person who will change your world [rather] than settling for the mediocre love next door.”

Not only can LDRs lead to stronger, healthier relationships, but they can also lead to stronger, healthier individuals. They yield a proximity-enforced period of self-development and self-discovery.

For one, relationships are a major distraction from school, work, friends and personal time. Maggie Williams, a communications professor at Northeastern, remarked on this issue. In her interpersonal communication class, students learn how to

Not only can LDRs lead to stronger, healthier relationships, they can also lead to stronger, healthier individuals.

From communication obstacles to uncertain futures and unaligned expectations, there’s no question that LDRs are challenging, especially when they involve two college students.

However, no matter how many tales there are about long distance not-so-happily-everafters, not every story is destined for disaster.

In many cases, distance can lead to stronger and healthier relationships.

Those who have been in a LDR might know how much more significant the little things become.

Alexa Pantelidis, a second-year philosophy major who has been in a LDR for 11 months, said she values every second she has with her boyfriend and does not take even the smallest things — like a hug — for granted.

“Distance means nothing to two people who really love one another,” Pantelidis said.

“It’s an obstacle — but it just shows that you’re all the more dedicated to one another.

communicate effectively, resolve conflicts and develop and maintain relationships. Williams said one of the main benefits of being in a LDR is being able to focus more on school or work.

“When you’re dating someone in your physical proximity, you’re going to go on dates and cuddle up on the couch and watch Netflix,” Williams said. “In a long distance relationship, there’s more time to focus on school and work.”

In addition to work and school, individuals are able to focus more on doing the things they want to do. There’s more time to get involved in clubs, spend time pursuing new hobbies or simply taking time to yourself to read or catch up on your favorite shows.

Morgan Weadock, a third-year business major, has been with her boyfriend for five and a half years – two and a half of which have been long distance. Having a boyfriend who lives seven hours away by train has allowed Weadock to

focus on meeting new friends and taking up new hobbies.

“I’ve had time to do things I like to do,” Weadock explained. “I go running and participate in a bunch of clubs … I can kind of do whatever I want with my time.”

A major downfall of relationships is the tendency to become too dependent on one another and to lose one’s independence and freedom. In a long distance relationship, individuals are forced to be more independent and live their own lives, mitigating any feelings of suffocation that can occur from constantly being around their significant other.

So what does it take to have a successful LDR? “The main thing you’ll want is to be able to have very clear, open and honest communication with each other,” said Williams. “Being able to listen closely to the other person, having mutual respect for each other and being willing to make compromises are all key.”

All of these things require a level of maturity.

But according to Williams, LDRs are not hopeless.

“Long distance isn’t easy — college relationships in general aren’t easy,” she said.

“You have to be mature. You have to have a strong sense of self … and so does the other person. You have to be really strong and as clear as possible. [But] it’s not the case that they’re doomed to fail automatically.”

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

“Everything’s working so far!” called out Professor Anne Fleche to a couple of audiovisual technicians by the Snell Library elevators. They gaped back in astonishment. Problems with projectors were a mainstay in her film classes.

On her way out of Snell, Fleche saw a campus cleaner she knows and smiled warmly in greeting; they met at each other’s labor organizing meetings.

The recent contract reached between adjuncts and the administration, which came after almost 16 months of bargaining, is most important to Fleche in its manifestation of a “system now where people are not alone.” Adjuncts are currently voting on if they will accept the contract.* Fleche, a professor of media and screen studies, has been teaching at Northeastern for 12 years. She has a PhD in English and wrote a book, “Mimetic Disillusion.” She is an adjunct professor at Northeastern and MIT. As an adjunct — a part-term teacher typically hired semester-to-semester — she can work for a university for many years and still must be re-hired each semester. Her scheduled classes could be cancelled days before the semester starts with no compensation.

In the past, Fleche has had to show the campus bookstore her hiring letter to make requests for reading materials. She doesn’t have an office and meets students wherever she can.

“Any oppressed, minoritized group is gonna have some internalized oppression,” said Fleche. “You feel that you are unworthy, because you’re treated unworthy, and you feel that you don’t deserve better.”

Fleche, as one of an estimated 1,400 adjunct professors at Northeastern, is fighting to make the adjunct experience better. In the spring of 2014, adjunct teachers formed a union with the help of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and began bargaining with Northeastern, which lasted until January 2016, when they won their contract. Their two main demands — pay parity (equal pay for equal work) and job security, including compensation for cancelled classes — were met, along with the promise of longer employment.

With union dues of 1.5 percent, the lowest-paid teachers will pay $33 for union membership but receive a 100 percent raise over the first contract year. Dues will not begin until the first pay increases are in effect.

Adjunct teachers are a growing part of the fabric of many universities in the US. The lowestpaid adjuncts at Northeastern make around $2,200 per course, said student organizer Nora Callahan. The Coalition on the Academic Workforce said adjuncts on average are paid

$2,700 for teaching a three-credit class.

In April 2015, Market Watch reported that an estimated 25 percent of adjunct teachers benefit from government subsidies such as earned income tax credit, as well as Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps) and more.

“Teaching is my dream job,” said Fleche.

“Just because they’re cheating me, I should get another job?”

Based on tuition costs, Callahan said that the adjuncts were being compensated a value equal to what a single student pays to take their class.

“I can’t understand how the work that person does is worth such a small portion of students’ tuition when they are completely responsible for the education and intellectual enrichment of students.”

Students who have connected their learning conditions with the struggles of adjunct teaching conditions have creatively taken to the fight.

A common refrain is that “teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.”

But nation-wide, as more and more adjuncts start to organize, there is a recurring theme

biggest part of the fight.”

Northeastern hired Jackson Lewis, a Bostonbased law firm that has a book on what Neves called “saying things that are illegal without them being illegal.”

This includes, said Neves, “how to scare workers, how to intimidate [and how to] use certain ways of talking to get around laws around labor.”

According to Neves, Northeastern took some advice from the Jackson Lewis handbook.

He said that in the early spring of 2014, student organizers became aware that deans of each college were being asked by the administration to be involved in union busting and that the “university was calling adjuncts on their phones and intimidating them.”

Students organizing for adjuncts responded by throwing a pizza party.

Deans who decided to not take part in intervening on the administration’s behalf were visited with pizza, but not all were so fortunate.

“We brought pizzas to the deans’ offices and said, ‘Hey, like, we were gonna give you a pizza to celebrate the fact that you weren’t busting the union, but turns out you are so we can’t give you pizza,’ and then we’d chant and march away,” said Neves. “We stormed the dean of engineering’s offices – she was horrified.”

Professor Tom Sheahan, Senior Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, said that the college could not comment on the proceedings leading up to the contract, and that deans were merely compliant with the public progressions of the conflict.

“It’s highly illegal,” said Sheahan of explicit union-busting. “We know better than to mess with federal law and the National Labor Relations Board.” Violations with the National Labor Relations Board are not, however, unfamiliar to the administration of Joseph Aoun, which is facing a trial in February for refusing to provide faculty with legally required compensation information.

Both SEIU organizers and the administration

“Teaching is my dream job ... Just because they’re cheating me, I should get another job?”

WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

of administration apathy. In an attempt to discourage faculty organizing, Duke created the website “One to One” in 2014, which states that they “see no advantage to our faculty, our students or our University in being required to work through an outside organization.”

The statement also includes the information that (SEIU) had total assets of more than $271,000,000 and total receipts of $321,670,000 in 2014. Northeastern had a similar website.

In the fall of 2013, a group of students held a Halloween flash mob in the library quad and changed the beginning of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ chorus to: “It’s time for adjuncts’, adjuncts’ rights! We’re building up momentum, the fuse is set alight!”

“Most people were like, ‘What are they doing,’” said student organizer and fourth-year anthropology and sociology major Troy Neves.

“Now, we talk about adjuncts and it’s such a different conversation because most people on campus know about it.”

Neves said that when a union of adjuncts was formed, students and faculty realized that getting a contract with Northeastern would be “the

AND

have used the rhetoric of bargaining “in good faith.” but there are uncertainties about what that even means.

Northeastern would only allow for a couple of bargaining days per month, each of which usually lasted about three hours. “Our lawyer kept saying, ‘This is not how you bargain a contract, you need day-long meetings, every week,’” said Fleche.

“They were ideologically committed to the idea that adjuncts are not real employees and that the low pay was justified by a market of their own creation,” said lead negotiator Larry Alcoff, from SEIU, in an email.

Alcoff said Northeastern utilized a “‘just-in-time’ scheduling model in the same way that McDonald’s or Walmart does in order to minimize costs.”

With bargaining in a dead heat, students

2013 OCTOBER

THRILLER FLASH MOB

2014

ADJUNCTS BEGIN UNIONIZING IN THE SPRING

SEPTEMBER 30 BARGAINING BEGINS

IN APRIL, MARKET WATCH REPORTS MANY ADJUNCTS REQUIRE FOOD STAMPS

APRIL 14

BOSTON FIGHT FOR 15 RALLY: ADJUNCTS AND STUDENTS MARCH WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND LOW-WAGE WORKERS FOR A FAIR MINIMUM WAGE

DUKE PUBLISHES ITS ONE-TO-ONE WEBSITE AGAINST ADJUNCT UNIONIZING AND SEIU

NOVEMBER 10

GREEN LINE PROTEST GAINS MAJOR ATTENTION ACROSS BOSTON

N’T

OCTOBER

S DO

2015

HER

TEAC

STUDENTS BEGIN ORGANIZING FOR ADJUNCT RIGHTS, LED BY PSA

escalated their actions, notably conducting a human blockade that effectively disrupted service on the Green Line’s E branch on November 10.

“We know that a 20-minute delay in a commute is worth it when we’re talking about people’s daily lives and the fact that they don’t make a livable wage,” said third-year Alissa Zimmer, president of DivestNU, in a statement to The Boston Globe.

In January, adjunct teachers as well as sympathetic full-time faculty organized a walkout day where all agreed not to teach. With the day approaching, and bargaining officially ending on December 16, Northeastern added three bargaining days, the last going until an unprecedented 1:30 AM. “The agreement was reached after the university made it clear to union leaders that their proposed work stoppage next week would not have any impact on the university’s final offer,” said James C. Bean, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, in an email.

“They agreed to our terms when they said it wouldn’t mattered if we walked out; who believes that?” said Fleche.

One of the restrictions of the contract is that it prohibits adjunct from organizing or going on strike, which according to Bean, “will ensure that the faculty’s focus remains where it should: on student learning.”

With ‘student learning’ the purported priority, one might wonder why something potentially distracting, such as contract negotiations, was dragged out for 16 months.

Requiring letter deliveries, teach-ins, flash mobs, pizza storming, call-ins, social media and photo campaigns, shutting down the green line, interrupted alumni dinners, labor marches and a proposed walk out, it was not an easy win for adjunct professors. And it is not complete, as many adjuncts across this country have yet to organize. Recently, SEIU has started laying the groundwork for full-time nontenure track adjunct faculty to also bargain with the university. Despite the successes, there’s still a long road ahead. * Last updated at time of print on March 7, 2016.

DECEMBER

2016

BARGAINING OFFICIALLY ENDS AND NORTHEASTERN ADMIN SCHEDULES EXTRA LATE NIGHTS

JANUARY 14

NORTHEASTERN GIVES TENTATIVE CONTRACT

JANUARY 19

PROPOSED WALKOUT TURNS INTO CELEBRATION RALLY

FEBRUARY 26 VOTING ENDS FOR ADJUNCT CONTRACT

spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

18 • Focus

Op-Ed by Alyssa Rubin // Photos by Katherine Kim

Normally, when someone mentions Northeastern, “art” is not the first gender, race and sexuality. word that comes to mind. Northeastern’s name is usually associated While posters bearing empowering messages like “Stop calling me with the university’s commitment to career services, entrepreneurship baby” and “My outfit is not an invitation” popped up around campus, and research. But that is changing. Art has taken center stage members of the Sexual Assault Response Campaign (SARC) were on campus. looking to make a different type of impact.

For some, the art is inspirational. It beautifies campus, represents The campaign’s primary goal, according to second-year psychology diverse artists and issues and creates space for conversations about major Annie Halcomb, is the establishment of a gender resource center the concepts that the art raises. But for others, the art embodies the on campus. Halcomb, who has worked with SARC for the past two disingenuous message that Northeastern crafts for the public eye while years, said that the campaign works closely with the administration on directing resources and time away from creating meaningful change a number of initiatives related to sexual assault awareness, including a on campus. survey of campus climate and focus groups with OPEN, the Office of In 2014, President Aoun spearheaded an initiative to bring more public Prevention and Education. art to campus. Since then, the campus has been transformed into a However, she feels that Northeastern has not made enough progress canvas for artists from around the world, as well as Northeastern’s own towards the goals that matter. She said that the poster campaign was a students, faculty and staff. great initiative, as it “breached the “We want to inspire our subject for sexual harassment.”

“We want to inspire our students, faculty, and staff students, faculty and staff to Even so, she said, “It’s not about to feel good about the place where we are every feel good about the place where creating posters. It’s about day, where we have to be creative thinkers and we are every day, where we getting a space. They do these think about ideas and art is a great way to inspire have to be creative thinkers campaigns to make [campus] those conversations,” and think about ideas, and art seem like a good, safe space, and is a great way to inspire those then no money is given for more conversations,” said Clare Horn, associate director of marketing. Horn counselors or a gender resource center. They have good intentions … heads the public art initiative, working with President Aoun to select but it doesn’t accomplish much.” artists and bring them to campus.

Northeastern’s Department of Theatre has also made moves to Most agree that the art initiative has been positive — aesthetically, it diversify its play selections, expand audiences and create meaningful adds flavor to a campus that, at one point, was little more than parking conversations around its work. Third-year theatre major Eva Friedman lots and concrete administrative buildings. And, according to Horn, it has said that during the 2014–2015 school year, the department performed begun to attract artists to Northeastern as a hub for creativity and public art. zero plays written by women. But now, that’s changing.

However, some students notice a disturbing issue — not with the art This spring, the department is producing “The Heidi Chronicles,” by itself, but with what the art represents. Fourth-year psychology major Wendy Wasserstein, which follows one woman as she grapples with Naomi Zingman-Daniels asked the pointed question, “Why are we the meaning of feminism, relationships and success. In the fall, the paying artists to paint murals on campus when we pay [adjunct faculty] department produced “Clybourne Park,” by Bruce Norris. “Clybourne poverty wages?” She raises an important point about how Northeastern Park,” based off of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” tackles chooses to allocate its resources: over the last two years, several artists race, family and gentrification, both in the 1950s and the present day. have been commissioned to beautify the campus, but it was only last Friedman, who portrayed the characters Bev and Kathy in “Clybourne month that the administration reached a tentative agreement with the Park,” said that the play brought up many issues relevant to students adjunct union to raise wages and increase benefits. at Northeastern, such as the gentrification of city neighborhoods, The themes represented by the artists commonly include knowledge, stereotyping and “what it really means to be offended.” diversity and gender, among many others. During the fall of 2014, She said that “Clybourne Park” is a “timely” piece, as Northeastern Brooklyn-based artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh installed a poster series on recently announced development plans for a new high-rise dormitory Forsyth Street entitled “Stop Telling Women to Smile,” which addressed on Burke Street. “We talked a lot about gentrification … and how women’s responses to street harassment. Fazlalizadeh’s residency at Northeastern is doing that right now, and we talked about how, yes, it’s Northeastern involved workshops, panels and classes surrounding good for the university and it’s good for the students so we can have WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2016

Focus • 19

more safe places to live … but it’s also forcing people out of their Although Northeastern is making a visible commitment to art and homes and making the neighborhood more expensive.” the values it represents, they need to push further. Instead of allocating Zingman-Daniels, a project leader for Students Against Institutional funds for more murals and high-profile artists to come to campus, Discrimination, commented they should devote more that, while Northeastern has time and resources to done a good job facilitating effecting real change from “The art is certainly important,” she said, “but people conversations about issues the inside out. What is more like conversations because they can point to the consuch as race, gender, disability telling than the fact that versation as ‘we’re working on it,’ without taking real, and privilege, she worries that the public art campaign is meaningful action. I want to see real action. the administration will not put managed by marketing and these conversations to action. communications? Northeastern “The art is certainly needs to prioritize deep, important,” she said, “but people like conversations because they can institutional change over aesthetics. For Northeastern’s stakeholders, point to the conversation as ‘we’re working on it,’ without taking real, meaningful change will reflect more positively on Northeastern’s meaningful action. I want to see real action.” spring 2016 • WOOF MAGAZINE

NORTHEASTERN’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE DOESN’T END HERE. WWW.WOOF-MAG.COM