The Origins Issue - Atlas Magazine

ATLAS THE ORIGINS ISSUE

EDITOR’S NOTE

As students of Emerson College we come from all different places, backgrounds, and experiences. We are all made up of different friendships, foods, traditions, and memories. College is a time when we leave our roots and come to a new place to explore a different kind of life.

Being away from our childhood homes can often cause us to reflect on the places we come from.

In this issue of Atlas, we explore the origins that create the individuals in our community. From the emerging Allston punk scene (pg. 9) to the history of the marathon (pg. 33), our staff spent the semester learning what it means to be an Emersonian, and a Bostonian.

As always, the members of Atlas aren’t just writing about our theme, we’re experiencing it. Our E-board hosted a potluck dinner party with food from each editor’s past. Our freelancers discuss complex issues of identity in our Campus section. Our staff fundraised with a movie night featuring childhood favorites. Exploring our roots has given us a greater understanding of the people we are becoming.

No matter where you come from, who raised you, or what you have experienced, your origins led you here to Emerson. All of our separate paths have come together to make us who we are today.

We invite you to take a few moments to discover the diverse stories that have brought us together and made us a family.

Sincerely,

Celina Colby

CELINA COLBY Editor-in-Chief Creative Director / JAMIE KAPLAN Managing Editor / CAROLINE CASSARD ARTS Editor / JACKIE MARR Writers / ANDREA PALAGI, MAIREAD HADLEY, CLARE FULLER

CAREER Editor / ERIN CORRIGAN Writers / JASMINE TAYLOR, KELSEY CONNOR

GLOBE Editor / ADAM VIRNELSON Writers / ERIN KAYATA, MICHELLE CICCARELLI, SABRINA THULANDER

PHOTOGRAPHY Photo Editor / ANNA BUCKLEY Assistant Photo Editor / JENNI HELLER Photographers / PAOLA CAMARGO, CATHERINE GESSNER

STYLE Editor / BRITNI BIRT Writers / ASHLYN LILLIBRIDGE, LINDSEY PARADIS, COURTNEY MAJOR

DESIGN Design Editor / JESSICA COLAROSSI Designers / ELISE SABBAG, ANNA BUCKLEY Illustrator / HOLLY KIRKMAN

HEALTH Editor / ALEXANDRA FILECCIA Writers / MEGAN CATHEY, ASHLEY KANE, MIRIAM RIAD

COPY EDITORS Head Copy Editor / CAITLYN BUDNICK Copy Editors / PAULINA PASCUAL, CLARE FULLER, GABRIELLE CHU

CAMPUS Editor / ASH CZARNOTA Contributing Writers / GOLDY LEVY, CASSIE SCHAUBLE, KAYLAN SCOTT, REBECCA FIORE

MARKETING Marketing Director / CAROLINE CASSARD Marketing Team / PAULINA PASCUAL, MARIA KAESTNER

CITY Editors / NICK DUMONT Assistant Editor / MARLO JAPPEN Writer / CAROLINE WITTS

CONTACT US E-mail / emersonatlasmag@gmail.com Website / atlasmag.wordpress.com Twitter / @Atlas_Magazine Facebook / Atlas Magazine

SPRING 2014 43.

19.

53.

ARTS

CAREER

STYLE

HEALTH

7. The He(art) of the Matter: The Isabella Stuart Gardner Art Heist 9. Hardcore Punks with Hearts of Gold 13. Culture Without the Price Tag

15. A Man With Style Can Earn Any Job 19. International Students Figuring Out American Style 23. The Truth About Organic Makeup

25. Dish Fulfillment 27. The Starving Artist

29. The GMO Choice 31. Social Media and Your Mental Well-Being 33. Thanks to Pheidippides

15.

CAMPUS

35. Enlightened on an Empty Bench 37. Cocoa Not Cocaine 39. Presence: an essay on fathers 41. Blank Boxes, Rebecca Fiore

9.

GLOBE

51. Origins of the Palestinian-Isreali Conflict: an Uphill Battle 53. Sophie’s Secrets 57. The Allure of the Little City 59. Take a Bite Out of This

CITY

43. A Story Worth a Thousand Words 45. Finding Our Origins 49. Farm- To-Table Foods & The Families that get it their

photo / ANNA BUCKLEY, CAT GESSNER, JAMIE KAPLAN & JENNI HELLER

ON THE COVER

photo / ANNA BUCKLEY model / GUILIANA RHO

ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR A HOME-COOKED MEAL: Atlas Magazine staff members share their favorite family recipies and the origins of their importance

Britni Birt / Style Editor

Turkey Meatballs in Vodka Sauce

Ash Czarnota / Campus Editor Pierogies with Crispy Bacon Strips

Celina Colby / Editor-in-Chief Dulce de Leche Cake

Adam Virnelson / Globe Editor Dirt Cake

Anna Buckley / Photo Editor Banana Bread

Nick Dumont / City Editor Rice Krispy Treat with Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Alexandra Fileccia / Health Editor Macaroni with Onions & Peas

Jess Colarossi / Design Editor Pasta & Beans with Tomato Sauce

Marlo Jappen / Assistant City Editor Egg Rolls

Caroline Cassard / Managing Editor Honey-roasted Brussel Sprouts with Cranberry & Pistachio Nuts

Jamie Kaplan / Creative Director Fried Avacado Taco

ARTS THE HE(ART) OF THE MATTER: THE ISABELLA STUART GARDNER ART HEIST

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A

woman in red patent leather shoes stops and tilts her head.

Two white-haired men in blazers stare and shake their heads.

Three girls from a high school field trip wander right by without noticing the six empty frames hanging on the walls of the Dutch Room in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Those who are paying attention wonder: What happened? Who did it? How did they do it? How long did it take?

81 minutes: the approximate duration of a Boston Duck Tour; about how long it takes to drive from Boston to Cape Cod; the time it takes to watch Toy Story; and all it took for two unidentified men to steal $500 million worth of historically priceless art from the Gardner Museum.

At 1:24 a.m. on March 18, 1990, two middle-aged men disguised as members of the Boston police force buzzed themselves into the museum’s side entrance under the pretense of a supposed disturbance in the indoor courtyard. With no questions asked, the two men were granted entry into the otherwise desolate building. Inside the museum, two security guards were stationed that day—one at the central security desk, one patrolling the museum grounds. Using their guise to their advantage, the two posing officers lured one security guard out from behind the desk and away from the museum’s only panic button and the only means of contacting the real police. Without much objection, the guard allowed the disguised men to handcuff him, as did the other guard who had wandered back onto the scene. When the security guards did question their detainment, the thieves replied that they were not being arrested but were rather living witnesses of America’s greatest art heist.

For the 81 minutes, these men had the run of one of Boston’s most cherished art museums. They were uninvited guests to the home of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s life work. Up until 1924 when she died, Gardner travelled the world hand-selecting over 2,500 pieces— paintings, rare books, letters, furniture, textiles, ceramics—for her collection. In addition to the careful selection of artifacts, Gardner placed each carefully chosen object in her gallery in a definite, deliberate place. In fact, the design of the museum was set by its female proprietor to be private, homelike, and intimate with much of the art unlabeled and many of the rooms set up to look functional. The placement of each object by Gardner is protected by stipulations of her will. Gardner’s dying wish was that her collection be permanently displayed according to her original design. The will states that if any changes are made to her vision of the museum, the collection would be sold and the money would be donated to Harvard University.

The two thieves in the museum that morning paid no attention to Gardner’s dying wish. After trapping their witnesses in the museum’s basement, the two men began cutting portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings out of their frames. They started with Rembrandt’s Self Portrait, a 1 ¾-by-2 inch etching on a gray scale background of a young solemn-faced Rembrandt whose eyes, though drawn in black lead, twinkle vividly with life and possibility. The piece shows Rembrandt’s face half shadowed from the left as his wispy curls of hair

are strewn in pencil across the page. Despite its postage-stamp size, the men failed to remove this piece from the Museum’s Dutch Room and were forced to move on to The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt’s only seascape, with which they had much more success. The two carried on to take yet another Rembrandt, A Lady and Gentleman in Black, and Johannes Vermeer’s The Concert—one of only 34 known works of the artist. This particular oil painting is valued at $200 million—the most expensive work to be taken from the museum that night. The 28.5-by-25.5 inch canvas depicts three youthful musicians: two women, one singing and the other sitting at a piano, and a man playing a lute with his back turned. The scene is shrouded in darkness except for a ray of light coming in from the left that falls on the musicians. Illuminated in this sunlight are vibrant splashes of orange and bright blue that stand out against the faint, muted colors of the room.

In addition to these pieces, the thieves also took Govaert Flinck’s Landscape with an Obelisk, Édouard Manet’s Chez Tortoni, and five Edgar Degas (CQ) drawings. As small souvenirs, the men took a final Rembrandt etching, a Chinese bronze beaker dating back to the Shang Dynasty of 1200 B.C. and an eagle-shaped finial from a Napoleonic flag. Two trips to the getaway car, less than two hours, and thousands of years of artwork gone.

Ringing in at $500 million, this heist goes down as the largest private property theft in history. The two unidentified men remain unknown to this day, despite an ongoing investigation by the FBI and a $5 million reward from the Gardner Museum for any information that may lead to the recovery and return of the art to its rightful home.

In March 2013, the FBI claimed to have discovered the path that the art had travelled in its years of disappearance. They believed the art was transported from Boston to Connecticut and then to two different regions of Philadelphia where it was put up for sale. The FBI also claimed to have discovered the names of the robbers responsible for the heist and knowledge of the criminal organization to which they belong. Because the FBI has since lost track of the art’s whereabouts in the past decade, these names have yet to be released. No parties involved are making comments on the heist at this time.

So now, 23 years after the robbery, as one walks the halls and moseys about the dimly lit rooms of the Gardner Museum looking at the empty frames hanging on the walls, he or she must wonder, why?

Why only 13 items? Why this specific selection of items, considering there were many of greater value readily available? And why are these supposedly identified thieves not brought to public justice?

The answers to these questions remain at large with only the vague knowledge of what happened during those 81 minutes to guide us towards the truth.

“The thieves replied that they were not being arrested but were rather living witnesses of America’s greatest art heist.”

text / ANDREA PALAGI photo / JENNI HELLER model / LIA BROUILLARD & DEVIN FLETCHER

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HARDCORE PUNKS WITH HEARTS OF GOLD

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oys in hardcore bands are shockingly nice. Home of a musical subgenre of punk that celebrates violent rhythms and sheer loudness, the hardcore scene in Allston, Massachusetts, attracts musicians with hearts of gold. Hardcore sounds are, in plain terms, loud and abrasive. But that traditionally grating style has a unique intention: to bring together peers in a shared space to mosh, scream, and dance their problems away. When paired with hardcore’s brand of tightly knit followers, the dour darkness of basement shows and the maxed-out static of cheap amplifiers create venues for catharsis.

Allston, one of Boston’s most popular suburbs for college-age residents, is a mecca for musicians and artists. The city is home to hole-in-the-wall, well loved establishments like Mr. Music Guitar Center, Stingray Body Art, and the small but endlessly popular venue Great Scott. Kids in their early 20s rule the streets; walking off of the Green Line’s B train onto Harvard Avenue feels like departing into a veritable planet of students with gauged ears, tattoos, and guitars slung across shoulders. The city hums with creative energy and a sense of reckless youth –– a combination that gives way to best friend bands and basement shows brimming with neighbors and loved ones. If there were ever a perfect breeding ground for a genre as heartfelt as it is hardcore, Allston is it.

Musician and Allston resident Mike Agostini can attest to the city’s uniquely creative community. “Everyone has mutual friends,

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and that is what keeps the city pumping out bands,” Agostini says.

Allston’s closely knit community of student musicians lends itself to a supportive, vibrant music scene—one that can serve as a sanctuary for the alienated or insecure. “I didn’t feel like I could fit in anywhere,” Agostini says, recalling his life before involvement in the hardcore scene. “I found myself right at home at local shows.”

That sense of communion with fellow musicians and students fuels Allston’s music scene. Members’ emotional, raw attachment to the subculture forms a passionate and devoted demographic of young audiophiles. A member of both Matahari and Colin of Arabia, two local bands, Agostini particularly enjoys playing house shows in order to tap into that sense of musical passion. “House shows will always be my favorite,” he says. “Most of the people who go to them are open to broadening their horizons to different genres and subgenres, which is awesome. Some of my wildest memories took place in the basements of this city.”

Allston thrives on its infatuation with music. Popular local music blog Allston Pudding, for instance, celebrates and promotes beloved local bands. Though the blog covers genres from pop to trance, its specialty lies in its coverage of punk and hardcore acts. The website flaunts a community calendar for local events at venues like Paradise Rock Club, Great Scott, and Royale, and it also endorses smaller on-the-rise bands that are working on finding their footing in the

hardcore scene. The website’s language is at once conversational (snarky disdain for “the man” and scathing sarcasm run rampant) and musically astute; Allston Pudding has a knack for highlighting the individual talents of the city’s musicians through the eager perspectives of music-loving staff.

The student residents of Allston emulate that sense of musical acuity. The city houses kids from many Boston colleges, primarily Boston University, Emerson College, and Northeastern University. Regardless of their academic institutions, you’d be hardpressed to find a wandering student on Harvard Avenue who doesn’t have a thing or two to say about his or her community’s beloved bands. The eager community of artists, musicians, foodies, and writers seems genuinely enthralled with its own thriving creative community, and that wonderful overtone of kindredness sets Allston apart Hardcore bands especially feed into this local creative pride. Students find time in their schedules, which are perpetually busy in that signature Boston-overachiever fashion, to commune with friends and strangers in the name of harsh, grating,

cathartic rock and roll. Hardcore is a paradox; the sound conveys feelings of distress and violent anger, but the experience of hardcore is purely positive. Because of this, student musicians feel closer to each other and more at ease with their inner tumult.

At an age when everything, from career choices to self-identity, feels entirely overwhelming, Allston’s hardcore community provides relief. Sometimes coming together in dingy basements and releasing one’s most base, primal self through screams and mind-numbing noise is the best solution for the existential dread and worries that plague the archetypal college Allstonian.

If the real world is the wound, then Allston and its musical underworld are the perfect Band-Aid.

“But that traditionally grating style has a unique intention: to bring together peers in a shared space to mosh, scream, and dance their problems away.”

text / CLARE FULLER photo / JENNI HELLER model / LAUREN GODDING, RACHEL DICKERMAN & REID NISKALA

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

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THE ORIGINS ISSUE

CULTURE G WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

oing to see a film easily costs $12. Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts is $25 a person. One Duck Tour ticket is just about $35. A little cultural appreciation gets pricey quickly.

But as you walk by Faneuil Hall, shortcut through Winthrop Lane, or pass by Old City Hall, art of all forms mWakes up the background: sculptures, mosaics, murals. The streets of Boston create a gallery of their own, accessible to anyone and everyone.

The Boston Art Commission compiled a list of the city’s public art and mapped out the locations of 100 different pieces, creating the Public Art Walk. The self-guided tour takes you all around Boston on an art expedition. A few standout stops are the Boston Bricks, City Carpet, and New England Holocaust Memorial, which exhibit this city’s core values: history, education, struggle, and hope. Still, Boston offers even more non-commissioned pieces. Street art and murals allow artists to directly and freely express their art to the public. This city has no shortage of public art and every piece conveys a different facet of Boston’s diverse culture.

Winthrop Lane, a discreet alley between Arch and Otis streets, proves to be a true hidden gem. Interspersed among a walkway made of banal Boston bricks is a collection of bronze relief rectangles created by Kate Burke and Gregg Lefevre in 1985. Each contains an illustration of a notable Boston event. With depictions varying from high prominence—the Boston Marathon or Fenway Park—to lesser-known local specialties—the invention of the golf tee or the first subway system—the Boston Bricks become a trivia game. Legs in motion portray the marathon while the subway is represented by three train fronts. The bricks test your knowledge of Boston’s rich history and allow you to experience its rightful pride in these icons.

As you walk down School Street and pass by the grand Old City Hall, look down. The wear and tear of Boston’s fiercely traveled sidewalks makes Lilli Ann Killen Rosenberg’s City Carpet mosaic easy to miss, but it marks one of the city’s most pivotal principles. The worn down tiles in varying vibrancies of blue, red, and orange create a hopscotch outline, complete with letters, numbers, and depictions of children jumping rope and rolling hoop. The mosaic commemorates the Boston Latin School, the country’s first public school. This

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deep-rooted desire to foster education has only grown with time; presently there are more than 50 higher education institutes located in metropolitan Boston. The City Carpet mirrors the city’s longstanding devotion to accessible education.

A newer addition to Boston’s public art scene, the 1995 New England Holocaust Memorial consists of six sleek, modern, and poignant glass towers. Engraved in the glass are the numbers 0,000,001 to 6,000,000, recalling the Nazi tattoo numbering method and all the victims lost in the Holocaust. Despite the transparent glass, the memorial is so captivating that you lose sight of all other surroundings. It pays respect to all victims—Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses—with a variety of stories etched throughout. he somber memorial is about remembering the power of hate. Boston, through numerous memorials, reminds its citizens of the lost and the heroes, the evil and the triumphs.

The city’s public art scene has charted some less official territories as well, separate from the Public Art Walk. Using the same fundamentals that date all the way back to cave paintings, street art brings to life dreary walls around Boston. From renowned street artist Shepard Fairey’s work to that of local undisclosed artists, from Bay Village to Cambridge, this city is home to a variety of treasures. No two subjects, techniques, or placements are the same. These ephemeral pieces have no accompanying guided tours, but all it takes to experience their explosion of political, ethnic, and artistic expression is going out for a walk and keeping your eyes peeled; it’s there.

From Winter Street, looking up at the back wall of 131 Tremont Street, Shepard Fairey’s now famous Obey Giant face stares back at you. The iconic, black and white face looms. Created with only a few black shapes, the face looks aggressive upon first look, though further inspection exposes a tired, perhaps passive face. It is a face that demands to be seen.

Should you ever find yourself in the parking lot of 8 Yarmouth

Street, you’ll discover an impressive, yet understated mural.

Anonymously created and with no known title, this mystery mural pays tribute to women. It depicts a group of women, some carrying babies––both literally and figuratively. A working woman and a younger-looking one stand with their heads tilted upward. Above them are outlines of female bodies, highlighting their breasts and stomachs—their defining features. The fading mural mixes pops of colors with sections of black and white, conveying both a sense of passion and fatigue. These two pieces are widely distinct and varied, a reflection of Boston’s constantly transforming street art scene.

Muralist, performance artist, and street artist Esteban del Valle believes public art activates a space. It’s “a reminder of the fact that reality is largely constructed from a collective imagination.” He emphasizes this format’s requirement to form a relationship between an audience, the world, and an individual, the artist.

That said, del Valle dapples in both the traditional art world as well as the public art world and values both.

“That kind of complete esoteric and conceptual rigor that is being engaged in this elitist atmosphere does have a profound impact on the way people end up engaging in in a public manner. personally have always liked participating in the art world as well as the public world.

I think that the more important thing is that those two things engage with each other more often, and not necessarily that one dominate.”

Boston is a city rich in history, culture, and diversity—a refreshing and exhilarating mix of old and new. It promotes the evolution of art, the expression of its citizens, and the opportunity for everyone to view art. Public art can be overlooked, but it serves as an interpretation of a space. To every passerby, it displays Boston’s commitment to history, education, and community struggles and victories. These experiences are accessible to everyone; all you have to do is go out and explore.

“Boston is a city rich in history, culture, and diversity—a refreshing and exhilarating mix of old and new.”

text / MAIREAD HADLEY photo / PAOLA CAMARGO

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

STYLE

MENSWEAR 15 ATLAS MAGAZINE

A MAN WITH STYLE CAN EARN ANY JOB B

rooks Brothers pioneered the idea of clothing exclusively for men and was one of the first stores to focus on the art of styling a man. The store has outfitted 39 out of the 44 presidents since it opened it 1818. Stores that are geared towards men offer more of an understanding of the importance of men’s fashion.

For a man who is looking to enter into a professional career, Stephen Ridge, an elder sales associate at Brooks Brothers, says, “When you head out to get a job, really anywhere, it is important that your clothes don’t speak before you do, make sure to wear darker colors, such as a charcoal or a navy blue, so you don’t stand out or become distracting.”

The store offers a wide variety of suits, dress shirts, ties, and sportswear. Emerson student, Ethan Weiser (‘15), who studies film and recently became interested in his professional clothing, says he appreciates a store that centers on men’s clothes.

“I really liked the store and when I shopped there, I was impressed with the large selection of men’s clothing, but it was just too expensive at the time. Maybe, when I am in the professional world, the clothes will be more reasonable.”

It is true the prices at Brooks Brothers are not very cheap. The price of a tie ranges from $55-175. A suit can cost more than $2000.

“We realize we are not the cheapest, but we offer high quality clothing that will last and we even have a student discount. Most of our suits are made in Massachusetts, so customers are also supporting the local economy,” says Ridge.

Some stores are not gender specific and still offer a great selection of men’s fashion. Stores like H&M, Macy’s, and other retail stores offer a cheaper alternative to men who are interested in the latest trends.

“I really do love H&M. Everyone loves it there. It has everything for a guy at a reasonable price. People underestimate the quality of the men’s department at this store,” says Weiser.

H&M has clothes that range from three dollars on sale, to clothes that are around $60. Bulkier clothes like sweaters and jackets are more expensive, but jeans and shirts are usually under $30. Men’s departments of retail stores are much cheaper than Brooks Brothers and still offer men a chance to dress professionally.

Darian Carpenter (‘15), who is studying film at Emerson College and a student with a unique passion for style, says, “I think it is im-

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

portant to dress in business attire, and I appreciate a professional look, but when I get a job and I am established in my own career, I want to incorporate more of an experimental look, with more colors and textures.” He continues on to say, “I like wearing blue turquoise pants or combining checkered designs with stripes, most people don’t think you can do those things, but you can.”

Now, male students can shop for the latest styles, but they don’t even have to leave their room. The focal points of so many online stores have always been women, and now there is an opportunity for men to hop onto to their computers and find exactly what they want.

The Montreal based company, Frank & Oak, is an online store that creates a new experience for men. Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani are the co-founders of this new brand, and they say they want to, “offer premium clothing efficiently, affordably and intelligently.”

Every month, the store offers a new collection of clothes and accessories for men, and the founders try to keep up with the latest of trends. Elliot Friar (‘16), a marketing student at Emerson College with an appreciation for the professional style, says, “I am definitely interested in a store where you can get the latest clothes online and I think men should be more involved with fashion.”

One of the perks of signing up with Frank & Oak Company is the Hunt Club, which is a free service that lets you try out five pieces of the collection and ship them back if you do not like the items. Frank & Oak is an online store that is more affordable to the average college male.

The items range from $27 for a shirt to $180 for the most expensive blazer. The prices are much lower than Brooks Brothers for some of the fanciest clothing.

Frank & Oak CEO, Ethan Song, told Time, “It’s almost like you’re getting a monthly men’s magazine shipped to you in a box.”

For some who are overwhelmed with the countless options provided by retail, this can be a relief. Song says, “Clients wants to go to differ-

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ent stores, pick one item from each store, and mix and match. They want to get their clothes like they get their information and media — in small chunks.”

Frank & Oak is an online experience for men to feel like they are in a showroom, picking out their own styles and having fun with fashion.

No matter what store you choose to shop at, Ridge says, “Everyone is from a different world, but no matter what world you are in, there are options for you to dress in an appropriate way.” text / ASHLYN LILLIBRIDGE photo / ANNA BUCKLEY model / DARIAN CARPENTER & WILLEM SMITH stylist / BRITNI BIRT

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

INTERNATIONAL STYLE, AMERICAN TRENDS

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W

hen Giuliana Rho (‘17) moved from Milan to the United States, she was appalled at some of the American trends she began to notice. “I remember the first time I was studying, I was here at New York University, and my friend would always wear bermuda shorts and high socks… it was very disturbing.”

While many countries have a unified sense of style, America’s diversity leaves style up to a personal interpretation. We are a vast country with multiple climate zones and with many different cultures apparent and expressed, making it too difficult to have a completely cohesive sense of style. Instead, America is bunch of different styles mixed together - a melting-pot of fashion.

Coming from a country with distinct pieces and specific styles can make it difficult to adapt to America’s melting-pot style that focuses on diversity and individuality. This is the challenge international students at Emerson face.

Emily Theytaz (‘17) is a freshman journalism student here at Emerson College who is originally from Geneva, Switzerland. Since moving to Boston, she has adapted the way she dresses while staying true to her personal Swiss-influenced style.

“It’s very European but very simple and casual. I don’t accessorize that much,” she says about her personal style.

Theytaz finds herself over-layering everything and wearing sweaters to battle her home’s cold climate. She especially likes wearing sweaters because she finds, in the winter, they are an easy article of clothing to throw on, but also stylish and can pull a whole outfit together. Beyond that, she describes her Swiss style as having hipster-like influences.

“It’s very cliché, but I guess the hipster look with skinny jeans and a

flannel. A cigarette [pant] is the style that’s been going around lately,” says Theytaz. Yet, she also describes describes European style as more upscale, saying “in Europe everyone has those high-end brands. Everyone has a Chanel purse.”

American college students’ styles seems to consist of Forever 21 and H&M, stores that mass produce to keep up with the trends. Thus, offering more affordable clothing which will only last as long as the trend. These stores offer quantity instead of quality, which is perfect for college students on a budget and whose outfits change as quickly as the trends. This differs from European style, which Theytaz says is more designer brand based and lasts significantly longer.

Yet, Theytaz has found a way to mix the American style around her with her so-called European style. This includes buying clothing she has found her American friends here at Emerson wearing. Theytaz’s friends and family back home have all complimented her newfound style. She says, “They all really like it, which I didn’t think they would because they’re all really snobby about price. But they did.”

To Theytaz this just furthers what she believes, as she says, “American style and Swiss style can really benefit each other.” As she herself, has created a unique and individual style by blending both Swiss and American style.

Giuliana Rho (‘17), is another international Emerson student. Given that Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world, is her home, Rho has a firm understanding of European style. She defines style as, “Part of your identity you want to show to the world and put out there,” and claims her own personal style is, “very Italian.”

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Rho’s main brands are Brandy Melville, which is an Italian brand based of off Los Angeles lifestyle, and Superdry, a Japanese brand. She says she often finds herself wearing high-waisted jeans and is obsessed with shoes. Rho has taken interest in Camper shoes. Camper is an Italian brand that makes stylish, but eco-friendly shoes.

Yet, regarding Milan, Rho says, “Since it’s the capital of fashion, it’s an option compared to, like, Louis Vuitton and high-end fashion brands.” She even finds most of her spring and summer clothes coming from Compotoir de Cotonnier, a French brand that uses natural type fabrics in their clothing. The European standard of buying designer brands and more expensive clothing makes buying ecologically aware clothing that might be higher priced more realistic.

While Rho is interested in environmentally conscious clothing, she has to dress proper and keep up appearances. She says, “Milan is one of the capitals of fashion, so everyone is very self-aware of what you're supposed to wear for every occasion. This goes from your mother stopping you before you go out the door to the pressure of wearing something to school.”

Even though Rho is still fashion-conscious, she explains how when going back home, her friends claim she’s started “dressing like an American.” This may be because she finds herself wearing the hipster style that has developed here in America. Rho considers the American hipster style she finds herself wearing consisting of high waisted jeans and floral print, while she says in Italy hipster style consists of a lot of black, independent designers, and unisex clothing.

Augustin Demonceaux (‘16), who originates from France but describes home as London, England, also has found American style to be a little more relaxed. He says, “I think in America, from what I’ve seen of the East Coast and Boston and Emerson, people are not necessarily preoccupied by style but more by comfort… maybe it’s because in America people are more tolerant of what you’re wearing. It’s very different.”

Demonceaux says his biggest surprise when coming to ARho is still able to stay fashionable because she says, “There’s a sort of saying in Milan that you might never know who you meet in the streets.” merica was that, “people don’t really make an effort.” This surprise could stem from Demonceaux’s past experiences with schools in London, where you were expected to dress properly.

Demonceaux describes his personal style as pretty somber and old fashioned. He finds himself wearing military jackets, jackets with elbow pads, colored shoes, J.Crew shirts, and skinny colored trousers.

Yet, he also finds that London’s diversity has opened him up to many different types of styles.

London’s geography and weather has also had a big influence on the style there. He says, “it gets really rainy and cold in London, not most of the year, but during winter and spring. So you can never wear shorts. You’re always wearing trousers and so you have to find pants you want. And to get nice sweaters too because it’s going to be cold in the winter.”

Living in America has influenced Demonceaux’s style as he finds himself wearing larger and comfier clothing, but he has also held onto the proper dress his upbringing has taught him, as he says, “if I wouldn’t wear something at home I wouldn’t wear it anywhere.” text / LINDSEY PARADIS photo / CAT GESSNER model / EMILY THEYTAZ, GUILIANA RHO & AUGUSTINE DEMONCEAUX

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

THE TRUTH

ABOUT ORGANIC MAKEUP

A

new craze has swept the makeup industry - organic and natural alternatives. Now, cosmetic companies are trying to keep up with this new consumer demand.

Cosmetics can only be classified as organic when composed from materials or other substances that are naturally occurring, such as minerals and plants, or when the product has not been exposed to pesticides and other synthetic material. It will then be labeled “certified organic” or “USDA Organic”, if 90 percent of the product is organic. Cosmetics can also be given the FDA approval if they contain only 70 percent of organic materials.

Organic cosmetics are advertised as being better than those produced in a lab on skin and sensitive areas. Unless otherwise advertised, makeup is usually synthetically made and can often be taken from petroleum, or other harsh chemicals. Over time, these abrasive chemicals in cosmetics can result in redness, irritation, acne, and an overall weakness of the skin, especially if prone to allergy. This occurs because the skin, being the largest organ of the body, gradually absorbs the makeup we wear.

If makeup is labeled organic or natural that does not always mean it is better for your body. As said, for FDA approval makeup needs to only contain “70 percent of organic material” to be considered safe, which leaves 30 percent for man-made chemicals or synthetics. Madeline Lies (‘17), a freshman theater studies, non-performance major, known for her makeup creation, says, “The FDA doesn’t approve makeup, but

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they do make sure that color additives are safe. Pigments and dyes can be irritating to skin.” According to the FDA’s Organic Cosmetics webpage, “An ingredient’s source does not determine its safety.”

Certain plants commonly used in organic makeup contain toxins and carcinogens that have the potential to harm skin as much as makeup produced in a lab does.

When looking at organic makeup, it is vital to see if it is labeled safely. This can be done by checking the ingredients to make sure that the product does not contain harmful toxins, such as a high concentration of sodium laurel, sulfate, talc, or paraben. Lies explains, “The only ingredient that I look out for is parabens, which are often added to makeup as a preservative. They can mess with your hormone systems.”

Not all of her makeup is organic or even natural, but she watches for the chemicals that are put into the product. The fewer ingredients on the back label, the safer it usually is. With this in mind, it may seem confusing as to who would reap the benefits of organic makeup. It’s all about what the cosmetics are made of and in carefully choosing organic makeup with the best ingredients. Remember that the safest organic products are ones that contain a USDA certification.

Aside from organic products, there are also natural products. Natural cosmetics are made with no preservatives and contain nutrients and vitamins for a soothing effect. One product line is the all natural Burt’s Bee’s. Burt’s Bees has a range of natural products from chapstick that runs at $3.00 to face wash at $6.00. Some organic and natural cosmet-

“Cosmetics can only be classified as organic when composed from materials that are naturally occurring, or when the product has not been exposed to pesticides.” ics, like Burt’s Bees, contain substances like Aloe Vera, Shea butter, or Primrose Oil, all of which help to strengthen and moisturize the skin.

The cosmetic line Tarte, which can be purchased at Sephora or online, sells natural products. One of their most popular products is their tinted moisturizer, ranging in price from $36 to $42. This product does not contain sodium laurate and other sulfates, which tend to have a long term harmful effect on the skin.

An affordable alternative that can be found at drug stores is Almay.

Almay’s tinted moisturizer is priced from $8 to $14, and even contains SPF to protect the skin. Organic or natural makeup, like Almay, is ideal for people who suffer from sensitive skin or allergies. Sensitive skin is prone to redness, dryness, irritation, or acne. Certain organic products, like lotion infused with Aloe Vera, has the potential to heal and soothe sensitive skin in a way that synthetic makeup cannot.

While organic makeup has had success in being an alternative for people allergic to the ingredients used in synthetic makeup, it is significantly more expensive. This is in part due to the fact that organic makeup cannot be mass-produced. More research goes into organic makeup, and you pay for the ingredients to be harvested. The increase in cost can be contributed to the many steps of producing and transporting organic makeup. Many people have found themselves making the switch to organic makeup due to the ingredients that are put into lab made cosmetics. Fay Lee Thung (‘17), a student studying for her BFA in acting, says, “Yes, it is more expensive. I think of it as an investment in my health though. I try to be really conscious of what I put in or on my body.” Some cosmetics contain small amounts of harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, which is used to preserve corpses. On occasion, red lipstick has been known to include crushed beetle shells for coloring and some mascaras even contain mercury.

However, more affordable alternatives do exist. Cosmetic companies such as Bare Escentuals and Butter London, which can all be bought at Sephora, advertise a line of natural products that are generally less expensive than USDA approved organic ones. Even drugstores have begun to carry affordable natural alternatives. Physician’s Formula is also a brand carried in drugstores that is all organic and has some USDA approved products, such as their tinted moisturizer at $12.

When purchasing organic makeup, it is crucial to check the label.

The FDA and USDA have a very loose definition of what constitutes “organic”, so it is up to you, as the consumer, to read the label and make sure that the products are indeed composed of organic or natural compounds. text / COURTNEY MAJOR photo / JENNI HELLER

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

CAREER DISH FULFILLMENT

A

dam Penn began his professional life as an “unfulfilled” financial analyst; today he is the dedicated owner of two vegetarian restaurants. Penn was a creatively stifled visionary with little idea what he was getting himself into when he traded an office cubicle for a restaurant license. Now he runs Veggie Planet, a restaurant conjoined with the acclaimed folk music group, Club Passim, and Veggie Galaxy, Boston’s first and only vegetarian diner.

In his college days, Penn never planned to become a restaurant owner. In 1984, he earned a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Virginia. After working at a Wendy’s for a few months post-graduation, Penn got his first real job in financial analysis at Standard & Poor’s. “I worked there for about seven or eight years before I decided I wasn’t happy being a financial analyst,” Penn says. Thinking that he would prefer working in healthcare, Penn attended UNC Chapel Hill full time and received a Master of Healthcare Administration. That brought him to Boston, where he found work doing financial analysis at Partners Healthcare. After three years, Penn changed his mind again. “Initially I thought that being in the healthcare environment as opposed to the finance environment would be more fulfilling,” Penn says. “But ultimately, I found that focusing on finance, whether in the healthcare field or the investment field, felt the same to me—so I still wasn’t that happy.” Thus began his search for a new career.

One thing that surprised Penn when he moved to Cambridge was the scarcity of vegetarian friendly restaurants. He became a vegetarian while living in New York, which has numerous restaurants that cater to vegetarians. That’s when inspiration hit—Penn decided to open a

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vegetarian restaurant. “I had never aspired to open a restaurant before that,” he says, “but the combination of not being happy with what I was doing and seeing what I thought was an unfulfilled need for vegetarians and vegans—it seemed like a good business opportunity. I felt confident that the demand was there, but the supply wasn’t. It also seemed like an opportunity to do something that I would find fulfilling and that would be more of an expression of who I was and something I could feel passionate about as opposed to financial analysis, which was really just a job for me.”

When it came to opening his first restaurant, Penn admits with a laugh, “The biggest challenge was that I had no idea what I was doing.” His only experience with the restaurant business was working at Wendy’s. He needed guidance. Eventually, a co-worker at Partners Healthcare connected him to Didi Emmons, who was the head chef at a local Pho Republique restaurant, whose chain closed in 2009. Originally, Penn hired Emmons as his consultant. Emmons helped Penn find a business location in Harvard Square on Palmer Street. Once Penn finally opened his Veggie Planet in 2001, Emmons acted as Penn’s advisor and generally helped him get his footing in the new world he had jumped into. Emmons and Penn co-owned Veggie Planet for a few years until Emmons left to work elsewhere.

Penn gradually bought out her share of the restaurant. He gained full ownership of Veggie Planet, a restaurant and music club that serves vegetarian pizza, ice cream, rice, and other vegetable dishes.

After about seven years of running Veggie Planet single-handedly, Penn felt confident that he finally knew what he was doing. In 2009,

Penn got the idea for a second restaurant: a vegetarian diner. “I’ve always loved diners and I thought that a vegetarian diner would be something that would have great appeal,” Penn says. “I started to think, ‘There’s an opportunity to open a restaurant that would have broad appeal for people.’” Boston did not have any vegetarian diners at that time. This was Penn’s chance to break new ground.

Penn started up Veggie Planet within a small, pre-built space, so there were limits on how creative he could get. But the site for his second restaurant, which he named Veggie Galaxy, was a large barren room. Penn finally had the opportunity to create a restaurant from scratch. He was excited, but quickly found himself treading in unfamiliar – and somewhat treacherous – waters.

On the plus side, Penn was no longer inexperienced at starting up restaurants. However, this second venture was harder than the first because Penn had to coordinate with contractors and architects and pour lots of money into construction. “I was now back in a situation that was very new to me and again was sort of learning as I went. Looking back I definitely made some mistakes and, you know, if I had to do it a second time – hopefully I will have learned from those mistakes.” The “mistakes” Penn mentions are financial decisions. He wishes he had spent less money building Veggie Galaxy. Even so, result of his labor has been positive. Penn now owns an authentic ‘50s style diner with shiny red bar stools, old-school framed paintings, and a menu boasting vegetarian takes on classic diner staples—veggie burgers, tofu omelets, coconut ice cream sundaes, and then some.

When asked if he finally felt “fulfilled” by his job, Penn takes a

second to think before answering. “I feel like what I’m doing now feels more meaningful so it feels more fulfilling,” he says. “It’s hard sometimes…there have definitely been some stressful moments where sometimes I think it would be nice to have a normal office job. But all in all, there were only a few times that I thought I’d want to go back to what I was doing before. I’m a lot more fulfilled than I was. On a day to day basis, it’s more meaningful to me and, therefore, fulfilling.”

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Looking at Penn, that statement seems a little too idealistic. Penn works hard every day. Only now he is passionate about what he is doing with his life When asked if his business plans for the future included the creation of a third restaurant, a “Veggie Universe” if you will, Penn says he just plans to continue running his two restaurants. Penn devotes nearly all of his time and energy to overseeing Veggie Planet and Veggie Galaxy and does not feel like he has any left over to start up a third restaurant.

Right now he is working to keep up the great service, food, and atmosphere that keeps his customers coming back for more. text / JASMINE TAYLOR photo / PAOLA CAMARGO illustration / HOLLY KIRKMAN

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

THE “STARVING ARTIST” O

ur well-intentioned mentors like to remind us of the “starving artist” archetype. Whether it’s film, writing, visual arts, acting, or anything that falls under the huge umbrella of creative careers, older generations tend to reinforce the idea that pursuing art needs a backup plan because it just isn’t sensible.

For some of us, the idea of a “real job” conjures images of hell and cubicles. These “real jobs” mean standing at the water cooler and making small talk about the weather instead of painting it or writing poems about it. They mean sitting in the I-93 rush hour gridlock every day instead of taking photos on the other side of the world or being published in an international magazine. Pursuing art is not a matter of laziness or entitlement, but a desire to be more than another cog in a machine. Despite loan-induced financial ruin, we continue to work towards careers that offer little guarantee of employment. If, according to American Student Assistance, 60% of students graduate with student loans, then why are we pursuing these low-earning jobs in the arts? The pervasive Millenials’ desire to work out of love rather than greed is a more rewarding way to live.

The older generation likes to accuse us of being lazy, entitled, superficial, and unrealistic. We are supposedly unable to function in the “real world” with “real jobs” and simply do not understand the value of hard work. The Millennials are also accused of thinking that we can get by with just a liberal arts education, which supposedly holds little value.

Even Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, thinks that funding for liberal arts and fine arts programs is not as valuable as funding for career-based studies. Gates says that liberal arts degrees are not directly correlated to

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careers, so they do not create jobs or help stimulate the economy.

However, a career should be more than just a way to make money; it should be a source of fulfillment. After growing up with posters on their classroom walls telling Millennials, “if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life,” it isn’t hard to imagine why we believe we should be focusing on our passions instead of our bank statements. According to Forbes, the average salary for a recent graduate in the field of film is $30,000-with an unemployment rate of more than 12 percent. Stack this against the average of $29,000 of debt that twothirds of private school graduates face, and a future of financial stability is not very likely. On the other hand, the median starting salary for a recent graduate with a degree in computer science is $56,600 per year, and mid-career median pay jumps 73 percent to $97,900.

For artists, recognition motivates more than money. Millenials are, after all, the generation raised on gold stars and participation trophies.

We grew up receiving rewards for every task that we completed, a concept that conflicts with the reality of the world. Fame and this search for recognition drives young people to pack up and move to Los Angeles, sights set on being the next big movie star or Academy Award-winning director. People flock to conferences by big-name writers, hoping to learn the trade secret to writing a New York Times Best Seller. But is this a feasible dream? According to The Book of Odds, the odds of becoming a movie star are 1 in 1,505,000. To put that in perspective, you are more likely to be struck by lightning and survive than you are to become a famous actor or actress.

So, with all of these horrible statistics and discouragement from

“For artists, recognition motivates more than money. Millenials are the generation raised on gold stars and participation trophies.”

family, friends, and thousands of articles shared on the Internet, the question remains: why bother? Doing what you are passionate about can result in dead ends. It can result in resentment for what you used to love, and it can result in poverty. But when students were asked why they are studying something that they may not ever make a significant amount of money doing, film major Ruby Simonoff (2017) summarized the popular opinion given by most. “I’ve always known exactly what I wanted to do, way before money played any role in my dreams for the future,” she said. “So when I realized that I would most likely be a starving artist, it didn’t matter. I knew what was going to make me happy and I followed that. I know the rest will somehow, although probably just barely, fall into place.”

Though he is not a member of the Millennial generation, George Staib knows how it feels to realize that his dreams may not make him rich. Staib is now an internationally-renowned dancer and choreographer. However, this was not his original plan. He studied political science at Dickinson College with hopes of becoming a lawyer.

After working at Georgetown Law School, he took a new direction.

“I thought I was going to be a lawyer because of the money...it just sounded glamorous and cool,” he said. Staib realized that he didn’t connect with law. After accepting that he “wouldn’t have a ‘normal’ trajectory in life,” Staib says that everything changed for the best. Also a senior lecturer at Emory University in Atlanta, he sees many students struggling with their majors and that they often realize this too late.

“But,” he says, “absolutely nothing is permanent. We live our lives thinking that this job or that school is it. It’s not permanent. You can

change something, but the hardest thing is taking that first step.”

Staib also knows firsthand that the opinions of family and friends can make it difficult to pursue your dreams. Born in Iran, Staib says that in Armenian culture, “if you’re not a doctor or lawyer, then you’re really nothing.” However, once you start to finally do what makes you happy, opinions start to change. “I think it takes a while for people to shed that layer of ‘oh well you’re not this, you’re just dancing around.’

But then it starts to sound exotic and rewarding to someone who is stuck at an insurance company, but would rather be doing something else.”

The factor that countless parents and high school counselors fail to take into account is that the desire to create is just as powerful as the desire to make money. In his blog “The Agonies of Writing,” writer Jeremy Lott says that “Nine out of 10 writers, in my imaginary but plausible statistic, will tell you that the best thing about writing is having written.” Creation is a form of expression, which can bring just as much fulfillment as a paycheck.When writers write, artists paint, dancers dance, and filmmakers shoot, it is because they have something in their minds that simply must be released into the world-not because they are too lazy to “get a real job,” but because a “real job” will never quiet the story in their heads. text / KELSEY CONNER photo / CAT GESSNER model / GUILIANA RHO

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

HEALTH

THE GMO CHOICE C

hances are you’ve heard of them: “Frankenfood,” “Answer to World Hunger,” “Devil Incarnate.” Chances are, you’re also confused. GMOs, short for genetically modified organisms, is one of the major buzz terms of the year. We hear about them on the news in government proposals and lawsuits, see evidence of their absence on packages in grocery stores, and read about them in all sorts of opinionated blogs and articles.

GMOs are also at the center of a fierce, volatile debate. The facts are often muddled out and replaced with stark, contrasting views as individuals hold a wide range of perspectives concerning GMOs. The two sides are two extremes. GMOs appear to be qualified as either “killers” or “savers,” leaving many people with questions about the validity of either side. In reality, neither side is truly “right” or “wrong,” as both are strongly based in opinion.

GMO foods are foods whose genetic material, or DNA, has been altered. The modified version of the food could never occur naturally; individual genes have been transferred from different plants or animals in a laboratory to create GMO plants. These plants grow the GMO food that we know very well. It is estimated that more than two thirds of the United States soy crop and one third of the corn crop is genetically modified. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a lot; however, soybean oil and corn derivatives such as corn syrup or corn starch

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are found in processed foods. Now, think of how many processed foods an average American eats in a day or in a week. Chips, granola bars, frozen meals, cereals, and other common food products all have GMOs. When you add up the constant consumption of processed foods, one fact becomes clear: GMOs surround us in America.

There are numerous reasons biotechnologists choose to genetically modify foods. Produce can taste better and last longer than conventionally grown produce. Apples, corn, and soybeans can travel farther and stay fresh in your fridge for an extended period of time--and it will still taste good when you take a bite! GMO plants also allow farmers to grow more crops, which both aids them economically and assists in feeding the country’s growing population.

Some even say that GMOs can help the environment as the crops can be designed to resist diseases and pests, meaning that fewer pesticides are needed during growth.

Perhaps you remember hearing about the grapple when you were a kid. “Crunches like an apple and tastes like a grape” was the major tagline, along with a picture of surfing purple monkey. More recently popular is the pluot, a combination of an apricot and plum. GMOs allow for hybrid fruits, and the increasing produce options encourages consumers to eat more healthfully.

Not all biotechnologists are using GMOs to make fun fruit varieties.

Some scientists are trying to use GMOs to fight worldwide health deficiencies. Enter Golden Rice, created by professors in Switzerland in 1999. Since then, this Golden Rice has been modified to be more efficient. Golden Rice has been combined with DNA from corn to contain beta-carotene in the hopes of correcting the vitamin A deficiencies in poorer, developing countries. As one of the creators, Ingo Potrykus, said in an interview with Slate, 6,000 children die daily from this deficiency, and their GMO creation could help correct this nutrition problem.

Kimberly Dong, an R.D. at Tufts University, says, “There are opportunities to be innovative with GMOs.” However, Dong also says that what most consumers are concerned about are the effects of GMOs when it comes to ingesting the actual chemicals and pesticides.

The biotechnologists are placing pesticides inside plants’ DNA to combat diseases, but the results of consuming those pesticides are unknown. No conclusive studies have been done on their effects, as GMOS are relatively too “new” to be formally studied over time. The studies that are done are by the companies that thrive off GMOs strengths. Dong says the controversy around GMOs is really about transparency. It’s about being honest with consumers and about whether people feel it is worthwhile to know what they’re eating.

“When it comes to the general population,” Dong says, “the question is, ‘Do they want to know?’”

Dong said that consuming GMOs is a personal choice. People do have the right to know what they are putting in their body, but in the end, it’s up to them. When it comes to patients who are just trying to overcome deficiencies and be healthy, GMOs are not necessarily a concern. That said, it is a major worry for many health-conscious individuals.

Max Goldberg, creator of livingmaxwell.com, said that over 60 countries around the world require GMO labeling, and yet the United States does not. Goldberg is a huge organic food supporter, and some even call him an “organic sensation.” He’s also a non-GMO supporter, as organic food does not contain GMOs or conventional pesticides.

Goldberg writes various articles on his site about organic food and the dangers of GMOs. “One issue that is indisputable is that geneticallymodified soy presents very, very serious health risks,” he says. Goldberg

goes on to cite Russian studies that conclude hamsters who consume GMO soy are unable to have babies and have shorter lifespans.

Goldberg is incredibly passionate about avoiding GMOs. He says, “It’s about personal health. GMOs are a human experiment. Sell more chemicals even though it’s ruining our water supply and sickening farmers.” Goldberg urges people to get involved by contacting their representatives in D.C., boycotting GM food, and warning others about GMOs. Goldberg is like many other non-GMO supporters. Many believe that if the effects of GMOs are not yet known, then maybe we shouldn’t be eating them. Roughly five majorinternational biotech companies control more than 95 percent of the GM market. Nonsupporters are concerned about how these companies are profiting.

Many are also worried about genetic transfers from GM plants to other plants nearby.

Genetic transfers can lead to “superweeds,” which call for the use of stronger chemicals and pesticides. These weeds are the result of GM genes transferring to non-target species. New allergies may arise, as the crops aren’t natural and can cause harm to insects and other organisms. The concerns of those in opposition to genetic modification have led them to the Non-GMO Project. The Project encourages food companies to undergo GMO testing in order to place non-GMO labels on their food products. Their aim is to improve transparency with consumers.

The GMO conversation is far from over. As the discussion continues, expect to see more from both sides of the debate. General Mills just announced this past January that their original Cheerios are now GMO-free. While some companies may continue to make changes, GMOs aren’t going away anytime soon. Labeling propositions and lawsuits will continue in 2014, and the media will continue to eat that up. Perhaps we’ll even hear more from the big companies themselves. In the end, the GMO choice is yours. text / ASHLEY KANE photo / JAMIE KAPLAN

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

Social Media and Your Mental Well-Being I

t’s Sunday morning, and you’re browsing your Facebook news feed.

Amidst your aunt’s annoying statuses and people sharing the same Buzzfeed quizzes, you come across photos that one of your friends posted from the night before. The photos show your friends at a party–– a party that you didn’t know about. Their cheesy smiles and party clothes mock you as you scroll through all the uploaded photos. Even though it looks like they’re in a sweaty, crowded room, they appear to be having the time of their lives.

As much as you enjoyed your night in bingewatching Netflix, you feel hurt. You wonder why you weren’t invited.

Due to the popularity increase of social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we are constantly glued to screens, whether they be laptops or phones.

Social media is a great tool for keeping friends and families in touch and offering communities for people with similar interests and beliefs.

On the other hand, recent studies show that constantly scrolling through our Facebook or Twitter feeds can negatively affect our mental health and can make us feel excluded and lonely.

In a study conducted by Ethan Kross at the University of Michigan, researchers text-messaged 82 participants five times per day for two weeks. The text messages contained a link to an online survey that asked them questions about their current well-being, along with their Facebook usage. The more frequently participants used Facebook over a 14-day period, the more their “life satisfaction” levels declined. “On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection,” Kross says. “Rather than enhancing well-being, however, these findings suggest that Facebook may undermine it.”

Social media contributes to “FOMO,” an acronym for “Fear of Missing Out.” The term, coined by Kelley Watson and Diane Wells in the 1980s, refers to the sadness we feel when we’re missing out on fun, memorable times with others. With people’s daily lives publicized more and more on social media, the usage of the phrase has increased in recent years.

Social media can be a double-edged sword; we feel like we’re missing out whether we use it or not. Some may feel antsy if they

“Social media can be a double-edged sword; we feel like we’re missing out whether we use it or not.”

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aren’t able to check their social networks frequently. Writing professor Meredith Jordan says, “When you go on Facebook you automatically feel this sense of comparison and that you’re missing out on these memories.”

Her class, titled Research Writing: Plugged-In, discusses how media impacts our culture. “As a writing instructor, I really like when students have discussions and think about cultural ramifications of things. Lots of times when you’re constrained by 140 characters you often don’t have the chance to think deeply about something,” she says.

Additionally, social media can make us feel like our posts and pictures need to be liked for us to feel validated. If we see that our status didn’t receive as many likes as we intended, we may take it personally. In this case, Jordan recommends taking a break from social media by reading a book, writing, or having a conversation with a real-life person. “Be engaged with your present so you’re the one experiencing the memories,” she says.

Social media doesn’t have to have detrimental effects on everyone’s well-being. Ava Marinelli (‘17), a marketing communications major, uses sites like Tumblr and Twitter to stay connected to different communities. Following different blogs and Twitter accounts helped Ava develop her interest in addressing social issues. “I use both

[Tumblr and Twitter] for fun, but also for activism and news,” she says.

Using social media helps Ava to not only stay up-to-date with current news, but also feel connected to like-minded individuals.

How social media affects our mental well-being depends primarily on how we use it. If we’re actively involved, then we’re more likely to feel more fulfilled when using social media. It’s also important to keep in mind that people control what they put on their profiles; in other words, they’re putting their best selves out there. We also have the power to control how connected we are. If you feel overwhelmed by your social media accounts, try to limit yourself to checking in only a couple times per day. And if social media still makes you feel stressed or bummed, there’s always the option to log out. text / MEGAN CATHEY photo / PAOLA CAMARGO

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

THANKS TO PHEIDIPPIDES A

lone Greek foot soldier sprinted across the flatlands of Marathon to the city of Athens, carrying significant news with him. Against all odds, the Grecian army had overcome the Persians; victory was theirs. “Rejoice! We Conquer!” the soldier Pheidippides heaved, right before he collapsed to the pavement, dead.

According to Greek legend, Pheidippides ran 24.8 miles to report the news. Thus, the marathon was born.

More than 500 marathons are run each year in dozens of countries across the globe. From the Great Tibetan Marathon run at 12,500 feet above sea level to the Tokyo Marathon held in the heart of one of the world’s most modern cities, marathons are testaments of the strength and endurance of both the human body and the human spirit.

Fittingly, the first Olympic races of marathon-length also took place in Greece. While races have existed since ancient times in Greek and Egyptian culture, “Olympic standards” did not begin until 1896.

The course of the marathon stretched from Marathon Bridge to the Athens stadium, commemorating Pheidippides’s historic route. 18 men participated. The first winner was a Greek postal-service worker, Spyridon Louis, whose finishing time was two hours, 58 minutes and 50 seconds.

A great sensation in Greece, the marathon quickly traveled to other countries, becoming an established tradition. Boston held its first marathon the following year in 1897, and London soon followed. In

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England in 1926, the first woman runner was officially timed during a marathon; Violet Percy completed the course at three hours, 40 minutes and 22 seconds.

Nearly 50 years later in Waldniel, West Germany, 40 participants ran in the first all-women’s marathon. Initially, the idea of women running competitively saw great opposition, but the popularity and success of the first women’s marathon launched several more and eventually led to the inclusion of women in the Olympic marathon in 1981.

An integral part of many cultures since ancient times, long-distance running used to display military strength and power. Today, many choose to participate in marathons as a personal challenge of fitness and discipline, as running offers several health benefits. Correct training is vital to success in the race and for physical health.

Lani Cathey, who has run three marathons, decided to run her first marathon in Seattle as a personal fitness challenge. “I had been a runner for many years, and the first marathon I ran was my fortieth birthday present to myself to prove I wasn’t getting old,” she says.

Besides being an inexpensive way to get healthy, running is known to contribute to weight loss, cardiovascular health, increased energy, “greater aerobic endurance,” and releases hormones called endorphins.

Running stimulates the release of these hormones which cause what has been called “euphoric feelings,” more commonly known as

“runner’s high.”

“It’s a high,” says Cathey. “I’ve never felt exhausted.”

Running, more than other forms of exercise, produces the highest level of endorphins.

Interestingly, long-distance running like marathons is known to help strengthen one possibly unexpected organ: the brain. It takes a lot of strategic thinking to keep yourself buoyed as you run a marathon. It’s a commitment of at least a few hours, and you have to learn how to think positively and pay attention to what your body is telling you.

“The physical is never that difficult for me,” Cathey says. “It’s the mental energy and devotion of time. It’s extreme discipline. You have to be prepared for long runs and getting into work outs when you don’t feel like running. It takes a chunk of mental capacity to run a marathon.”

When training for a marathon, Cathey implements a 13-week program. “I like to run by myself. I use it for mental relief time.”

Since the first Olympics in Athens, marathons evolved from a personal challenge to a community activity. While many still race alone as a fitness challenge, it has become popular to run for larger, community-oriented purposes.

According to Cathey, one of her favorite parts about running marathons is the camaraderie experienced during the day of the race.

“I would meet great people along the way. People are facing a very

hard challenge together; they’re doing it by choice. No one forces you to run, and you’ve got linkages with people there, because you’ve all chosen to be there, and you’re all going to try and help each other finish it together.”

Cathey recalls crossing the halfway mark during one of her marathons with two girls in their twenties. She said to them, “We can do this in significantly under four hours!” They continued cheering each other on, keeping up with one another throughout the race.

Many run now to raise money for non-profit organizations such as the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK. Runners commit to raising a specific amount of money by running the race, thus raising awareness of the given cause.

“Finishing a marathon always gives me the most motivation to run the next one,” says Cathey. “It’s such a good feeling. If you remember that feeling, it motivates you.” text / MIRIAM RIAD photo / CAT GESSNER

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

CAMPUS submitted by Emerson writers

ENLIGHTENED ON AN EMPTY BENCH LA GRANDEZA DEL HOMBRE SE REFLEJA EN SUS EDIFICACIONES. EN LOS DETALLES, EN EL AMOR. SOBRETODO EN LOS CUARTOS DE CARACTER SAGRADO.

T

he first thing you will feel will be a rush of air, it will brush your face and neck like silk. It won’t be too cold or too warm.

It will be like mountain air: pristine. Its energy will tingle in you, your heart will be uplifted, you will feel a few steps closer to God. These first moments, these instants embody the nature of this place.

Standing amongst the ocean, the remnants of a Roman city combined with modern architecture, Sagrada Familia has a strength and character of its own that outshines other landmarks in Barcelona, Spain. In Catalan, the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí in 1882. The construction has progressed slowly, as only a quarter of the project was complete when Gaudí died. With its expected completion year is 2026, it is halfway built and open to the public.

Attempting to describe the temple’s intricate details-- the way light is defracted through the stained glass, the height of the ceiling above your head, the façades, the main door --would not do it justice. One could write an entire encyclopedia on this. So, instead, I will tell you the story of my epiphanies as I sat on a lonely bench surrounded by the

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glory of Sagrada Familia.

Rainbow light sprayed over my shoulders. I was people-watching, then moving my head up to the forest-themed sky of the church and down to the patterned floor. All those details, that height. I thought of how much weight this sacred space carries, all the hands that worked on each detail. Every window, every step, every intricate flower in the ceiling; all the minds that had to plan each step of the process for this building to stand as tall as it does; all the willpower it took, from every individual, from the one who carried the first rock to the one who set the budget; each hand, each finger, each nail.

I sat in Sagrada Familia as it touched my heart, my chakras, my soul.

The wonder of a building, of a masterpiece raised high above my head, like Babel’s tower. I realized that this type of tangible miracle cannot be created simply by one human hand. I felt God, any God, every God. I saw the demonstration of human potential and willpower. I saw how much can be achieved if truly desired. I understood that crafty hands with a willing heart can turn a rock into a sculpture of the Virgin Mary.

This is like the weight I carry. As if I were a building, there have been thousands of hands that have sculpted me, that have planned me,

that had set my pieces into one.

I carry the thick thighs of a Polish woman and the taste for sweet that in Yiddish you call “nasher”, all of my mother’s ancestry. They were Jews from Krakow, Poland who escaped the Holocaust and took a ship overseas to Costa Rica.

I carry porcelain skin and the cheekbones of my paternal French ancestry. They were Jews from Alsace, who took a ship to America and landed in Nicaragua, soon before the war exploded.

And, what took them to Latin America? Coincidences, microstories.

I think...

Of my maternal great-grandmother escaping Auschwitz with two left shoes, then becoming a clapper in Costa Rica when she only spoke Yiddish.

Of my paternal great-grandmother running back to find her purse in a party in the middle of the Managua earthquake of 1972.

Of my maternal grandmother, counting grapes to give each child to take to school.

Of my paternal grandmother, following the lineage, attending charm school to be a lady.

Of my father enlisting in the US Army to pay for his education, being transferred to Panama, and then meeting my mother at a bar, although he had met her before and forgot her name.

Of my mother selling tie-dyed t-shirts to pay for her college education, of meeting my father at a bar and not accepting his flirtation.

I also think of all the lines of people who came before, those whose names are not remembered. I carry this weight in my genes. It is in my skin and my soul.

It was hard for me to come to terms with myself and my roots.

The sting was not wanting to be discriminated against. Its hard to be Latina, but not “looking Latina”; being Jewish in a Catholic country; being a woman in a patriarchal society.

Then, as I sat on that bench, I realized all the glory I have been carrying. This is where my seed was planted, and it was fertile ground. I have flourished.

I carry the glory of being Jewish, of being a part of a people that have survived persecution and displacement throughout history.

I carry the glory of being Costa Rican, a country of simplicity, peace, picturesque people and landscapes.

I carry the glory of a strong lineage of women who have overcome hardship and have known how to shape a family of high values.

I carry the glory in my thighs, in my tongue, in my cheekbones, in my white skin. All of which mark me as different, all of which have constructed me. I carry this weight in my genes, in my skin, in my soul.

Like Sagrada Familia, each human is its own building. We are malleable, constantly being constructed and deconstructed. But our roots, our blueprints do not change.

As we understand how we are constructed, we construct the world around us. We create.

I sat in that lonely bench, illuminated by my history, by the history of this church. Illuminated by the sun-rays and by that first breath of air. The marvel of will power and love as it surrounded me.

Now, today, I refuse to believe in evil. I refuse to believe in the “I can’t” and “never”. I refuse to believe in anything but love.

Each individual its own building, touched by thousands of nails, fingers, hands. Each individual created by love. And, if we are created by love, that is the only thing we can give back to the world.

It started in the glory of Sagrada Familia for me. Now, I see it everywhere. It is all love, every building, every park, every car. Our modern world, a display of human potential. text / GOLDY LEVY photos / JAMIE KAPLAN

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

COCA NOT COCAINE

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A

makeshift public bus comes to a thumping halt and more passengers pile in; some get seats while less lucky people find room to stand in the aisle in between overstuffed plastic market bags. Each sharp turn brings the rickety bus closer to the edge of a narrowed road hugging a mountainside. The driver lets out a simple honk at any particularly challenging bend where it is impossible to see oncoming traffic. Every ten minutes or so, he slams on the brakes and two men sitting just behind to the right of the driver jump off, unloading a large wooden plank, maybe six or seven feet long. The worn out tires are coaxed across the board to make it over the big dips in the road. An eight-hour bus ride quickly becomes 12, through the cloud forest and winding mountains of Las Sierras back to Cusco City, Peru.

Tourists flock to the ancient metropolis as they make their journey to Machu Picchu, the “Old Peak,” the hidden village left unscathed during the Spanish conquest 500 years ago. Cusco’s central Plaza de Armas is littered with backpackers who sip on overpriced lattes from an upstairs café beside La Compañía, a 16th century Spanish-built cathedral. Children sell made-in-China llama key chains looped around each finger, and Quechua women in traditional dress pose for pictures with travelers. Young Peruvian women with shirts declaring “Girls just wanna have fun” sell trinkets and tours to historical Incan and pre-Incan sites. Cusco is becoming increasingly dependent on the encroaching tourism industry, for which approximately 80 percent of jobs within the city limits rely.

But another source of revenue is not as commonly talked about. On the cobblestoned streets of San Blas, the most historic neighborhood of the city, women in long, full skirts and stiff brimmed hats, sit with two big burlap bags ready to make a deal. They begin to sort the sacks’ contents into dozens of small amounts placed inside sandwich-size plastic bags.

Deep in the jungle and far beyond Manu National Park, amongst vegetation too thick for any mode of transportation besides walking, Peru hides its best-kept secrets. Land is secluded and left mostly at the hands of indigenous tribes who wish to remain anonymous to the outside world.

In a hidden cut-out of the forest, coca leaves are gathered and the process of extracting the alkaloids necessary for the production of cocaine begins. They’re swept into piles onto a wood platform. Each group of leaves is then treated with a gasoline mixture that separates the alkaloid from the plant itself. Only about half a percentage of the leaf ’s total makeup consists of the element, but 0.5 percent is still enough to make a drug that ships all over the world. Drug mules are offered $2,000 to complete a four-day long journey through the jungle with ten kilos of cocaine strapped to their back.

For hundreds of years, people of the Andean region (present-day Peru and Bolivia) have used the coca leaf in its natural form for a variety of purposes. Chewing the plant is said to offset fatigue and hunger, to give an energy boost. It also remedies symptoms of altitude sickness, particularly important for nomads making the journey from the lowlands of the capital city, Lima, to a steep Andean climb of over 11,000 feet. Consumption of coca tea is a practice just as much about the physical health benefits as it is about maintaining tradition. On a grassy overhang which looks onto Cusco’s valley below, indigenous

Quechua women pick three of their best coca leaves from a small bag, place them together at the stem, fanned out, and blow to the mountains—an offering for Pachamama, Mother Earth.

As number one consumer of the narcotic, the United States, with backing from the United Nations, supports eradication of the plant altogether with the goal of eliminating cocaine production on an international scale. The coca is attacked with a killing chemical that drops from small planes hanging just above heavily covered brush. The tactic is efficient but lacks precision; many plants growing in the same land are also wiped out. During the 1980s and 1990s, Peru was the premiere producer of cocaine, but was surpassed in the early 2000s by Colombia. With recent eradication efforts focused in Colombia (and enforcement coming from countries such as the United States), Peru once again falls under the radar and illegal production has ensued.

Coca farmers are caught in the middle. While some farmers maintain licit cultivation of coca, which can be sold to large national companies for commercialized production of teas, many farmers cannot refuse the economic security cocaine traffickers promise. The Shining Path, a militant rebel group most active in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but still present today, has been instrumental in the recruitment of small coca farmers into the cocaine industry. Although gaining a reputation of violent instigation to further illegal drug production, the Shining Path has also provided food, shelter, and protection for the farmers against military intervention in exchange for their prized crop. Coca farmers acknowledge the deadly effects of the processed drug internationally, but demand a legal distinction between cocaine, and coca, chewed daily by farmers just as their ancestors also did. In a speech delivered in 2009 at the UN’s conference on the Commission of Narcotic Drugs, Bolivian president, Evo Morales, held up a leaf of coca to the audience and began to chew, declaring, “La coca no es cocaina.”

Coca is not cocaine.

The bus lurches and then comes to a stop at a security checkpoint that looks more like an abandoned storehouse than a governmentfunded office. The woman still seated in front, hunches forward in her seat, looking to the ground. Two police officers in protective gear step on board. On hands and knees, the officers crawl up and down the aisles, each with a flashlight. For a moment it seems like a false alarm, but the first officer’s facial expression morphs from a slight frown to a smirk. As the elderly woman’s first plastic bag is opened, an overpowering scent reveals to everyone on board why the bus has come under inspection. She’s been caught with nearly ten kilos of the raw plant, five times exceeding the federal mandate. In the jungle, Peruvian law is left to the jurisdiction of greedy officers, who hastily settle for a bribe. But for poor villagers from the jungle, who do not have enough money for a pay off, the coca becomes the most valuable asset.

Thousands of leaves are confiscated, only to be sold by the officers to nearby communities for a high profit. Weeks of hard work have been wasted. For the last time, the driver shifts into gear and the wide metal frame bumps down the dirt path. text / CASSIE SCHAUBLE photo coutesy of / CASSIE SCHAUBLE

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

PRESENCE: AN ESSAY ON FATHERS

W

hen I was eight, my step dad asked me if I thought of him as a father. It was twilight on a late August afternoon during the last cookout my grandparents threw before they sold their house. We were in the kitchen, just the two of us. I could sense from his tone that he wasn’t messing around. The gravity made me uncomfortable, so I replied flippantly, “Yeah, sure,” and changed the subject. *** I met Doug for the first time when he came over for dinner. He arrived in a soft brown sweater, jeans, and hiking boots, toting a bottle of wine. He was just a little bit taller than my mom, kind of skinny but with a belly. He had pink cheeks and sticky-up salt-and-pepper hair. I feigned to acknowledge his presence with a quick “hello” and then returned my attention to Bewitched reruns, rooting for Endora as usual.

I ignored him, making him struggle to come up with questions to ask me. I was the only child of a protective single mother: we both knew I retained the power of ultimate veto when it came to them dating. I was fully prepared to exercise that power. But he wasn’t garrulous or condescending or creepy, so I tacitly allowed the dating to continue.

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A year later he moved into our house, much to the discomfort of my grandparents who thought things were moving a little too fast, but I didn’t mind. If I felt any resentment it was only because, for the first time in the whole of my existence, I had to share my mother with another person. *** The question on that summer afternoon disturbed me because I didn’t know the answer. I had never thought about fatherhood as a concept before. My biological father died in a plane crash when I was two. He and my mother were estranged at the time, partially due to his doubts about paternity. I think I only met him once or twice in my whole life.

In first grade we made cards shaped like neckties to give to ours dads as a Father’s Day activity. My teacher told me I could make mine for my grandpa, but I declined. That Sunday my mom bought a helium balloon, tied my card to the balloon, and then I released it into the sky over Assawompsett Pond.

“So, it will really get to him in Heaven?” I asked. The logistics of Heaven had confused me. They told us in CCD that Heaven was above.

But could it be in the sky if beyond the sky were all these planets and

stars? And if people could go to the moon, wouldn’t they go through Heaven? It didn’t make any sense.

“Of course it will,” my mom replied.

“But what if a plane hits it?”

“God will make sure it gets to him.”

The balloon bobbed and weaved, got smaller and smaller, and then disappeared into the clouds. I worked really hard on coloring that tie and I regretted not giving it to someone here on earth who would for sure appreciate my artistry. This whole Heaven-via-balloon plan was a crapshoot. *** My mom used to take me everywhere with her, and no one minded because I was so well behaved. When she would go to parties she would dress me up in frilly dresses and present me to the appreciative crowd of cooing grown ups. I withstood some petting and fussing, but then I was left to my own devices. I could haunt the party like a ghost or a superspy, eavesdropping on conversations I wasn’t supposed to hear. I absorbed all of it until my brain swirled with images I didn’t understand and problems I hadn’t known existed.

*** Doug was different from other adults I knew. He talked to me, not at me, or down to me, or around me. He listened when I spoke and took my questions and opinions seriously rather that brushing me off.

He encouraged my interest in books. My favorite book was the fictional journal of a pre-teen Elizabeth I. “What do you like about this book so much?”

I thought for a minute. “I like that she’s really smart and she didn’t let boys tell her what to do… and she really liked fashion.”

A few days later he brought home a biography of Elizabeth I for me and I struggled through the big words and small text and lack of pictures. When I finally finished Doug asked me what I thought of it, and he really cared about my answer.

Some nights he would take out his antique microscope and we would spend the evening looking at slides of onion skins or bug wings or flower petals. He read the entire Harry Potter series to me over years of bedtimes.

Doug seemed limitlessly knowledgeable. I could ask, “How did World War I start?” and he’d think for a few minutes, and then systematically detail, over the course of a half an hour or more, how exactly the Western world entered the modern era. Or I could ask, “How does evolution work?”

“How are different languages related?”

“What’s the difference between capitalism and socialism?”

He answered every one. *** We moved from Lakeville to the Berkshires when I was nine. My mom was pregnant, Doug didn’t want to be a chef any more, and both were tired of watching the small, working-class town they grew up in become bloated with subdivisions and suburbanites. I looked forward to the move. I wanted to reinvent myself.

I had my mother’s maiden name, while she and my one-and-a-halfyear-old baby sister had Doug’s surname. Names are a declaration of kinship and, with cobbled-together families like mine, it felt important to be explicit. So, when I was 12, I went to court and changed it.

When the paperwork came through, he wrote me a note saying that changing my name was the biggest compliment he had ever received.

I was surprised and embarrassed. It honestly hadn’t occurred to me to consider his feelings; I was thinking about myself and everyone else’s perceptions of me. I put the note in a cedar box with my First Communion rosaries and didn’t look at it again for a long time. *** Doug taught me to be a person of principle, to value the absurd and question the conventional, to take nothing for granted.

More than a decade later, his question lingers.

Here’s the answer I couldn’t articulate as an eight-year-old: Doug, you’re my mentor, my teacher, my family, and my friend. If this doesn’t make you my father, then I’m not interested in the term at all. text / KAYLAN SCOTT photo courtesy of / KAYLAN SCOTT

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

BLANK BOXES: COMING TO TERMS WITH RACE

T

hink of the color of your arm after you bump into a coffee table or when the center field player didn’t aim correctly and hit your shin. That color right there. That’s the color I was born.

Most people don’t know this about me because I am of a “normal” complexion now. I was, however, blue until I was about five years old.

My mother recalls the small of my back looking bruised. She had to convince people that she was not beating her child on a daily basis.

Why blue? I can’t fully explain it. All the research I have done suggests it happens to babies from the indigenous tribe, Guarani, in Paraguay. The day my parents met me in a dingy hospital in the nation’s capital was the day they found out I was not an ordinary newborn put up for adoption. I would become part of their olive and white colored family.

I might have been born in San Isidro de Curuguaty, but I was raised in New Jersey. Although my mother is a mix of Irish and German and my father completely Italian, I never looked like the odd one out of the family. My lighter complexion matched my father’s Sicilian skin and no one ever questioned where I was from based on my last name, Fiore. Here I was your average adopted Hispanic child living the life of a white girl from Bergen County, New Jersey.

My upbringing was no different than that of many other Europeanmixed families. I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and made German chocolate chip cookies with my mother. I feasted on Christmas Eve on seven fish in a small brownstone in Brooklyn and ate pasta on the Holy Day. I participated in all the glorious American holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and sometimes even Arbor Day. Growing up, I never thought of myself as Hispanic. It wasn’t a secret--I just never really knew what it meant. I looked around at all my little white friends and figured I was just one of them, only with curlier hair, fuller lips, and a beauty mark on her right cheek. I remember when I was in preschool and all my friends’ mothers were expecting and I wondered if that’s where I was from. I asked my mother and she said to me, “No, you’re from Paraguay.”

I didn’t question that one for years. As I got older, though, I started realizing that I was different. No one was ever racist towards me, per se, but it became more apparent when I started filling out applications.

The Common Application, the SATs, the AP exam, job applications, my driver’s license. I would look at these forms and see the “Check off whichever applies (may check more than one)” and read all the different ethnicities. I know I am not black or Asian… and I am technically not white… or maybe.

I would stop myself before filling anything out and ask my parents, what am I? They would always give me a smile and say, “Paraguayan.”

But just naming a country wasn’t doing it for me. When I asked about

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ethnicity, they couldn’t give me an answer. That’s when it hit me. No one would be able to answer that for me. I felt my world stop as I looked at those little blank squares—none of which I checked off— what the hell am I? During my junior year of high school, when most of this was occurring, I begged my father to let me into my adoption file. He unlocked the drawer and I leafed through the papers. Even with 11 years of Spanish classes under my belt, I couldn’t understand the words.

None of them said who I was. The only picture I have of a past life is my biological mother’s dirty, worn out, black and white image that looks more like a mug-shot than anything else. Her name is Gracia Almeida and she had some children after me. I don’t know anything about my biological father. So much of my origin was re-created for me.

It wasn’t until freshman year of college when I was on the Green Line on a Friday night when a girl asked me, “What are you?” She was so clear. Her eyes scanned me. I said, “Paraguayan and some other things that I don’t know.” She replied with a hair-flip, “Oh, I thought you were Filipino.” I just shook my head. I still don’t know why I did because, in reality, I might be. I could be anything, couldn’t I? The idea of being anything I want is amazing and dream-like, but the idea of having no clue who I am is painful and tormenting.

When I fill in those types of questions I usually put down “white” and “Spanish/Latino” because those are the roots I can identify with comfortably. Coming to school for me meant learning more about different cultures. Being raised in an almost completely white-washed town affected me. I thought I was white. Even now some of my friends at home will call me out on being too “white girl,” when I drink my tall Skinny Vanilla Latte and wear Sperry’s.

My college’s diversity is the most I have ever seen considering the only minorities in my town are Asians and Jews. While I decided not to join any ethnic clubs, I did make it a point to branch out with friends. Some of my friends are African-American, some are JapaneseAmerican, and of course some are white. I still am not entirely sure how to define myself, but being around them and listening to their cultures makes me feel like I can be included in anything.

Sometimes I wish there was still some blue on my back to remind myself that I am a part of something. I don’t speak Spanish. I can’t dance to the beat. I have never been back to South America. But I am Paraguayan. I just also happen to be Italian, Irish, and German as well.

I guess I’m just a blue sponge. text / REBECCA FIORE photo / JAMIE KAPLAN

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Fall 2014

We are accepting applications for all writers, photographers, designers, and copy editors.

Email a cover letter, resume, and work samples to emersonatlasmag@gmail.com THE ORIGINS ISSUE

CITY A STORY WORTH

D

eep in the heart of downtown Boston, underneath a large yellow pencil, sits The Brattle Book Shop.The enormous writing utensil hangs above the Brattle’s brightly lit storefront and proudly bears the store’s name. The large window underneath displays books of all shapes and sizes that draw customers from all over the city. Since 1949, the Brattle has been one of the premier places in Boston to buy used and rare books with over 250,000 books, maps, and other items in their collection.

Throughout their storied history, the Brattle has showcased many rare and valuable items, including a signed photograph of Abraham Lincoln priced at $75,000. An inscribed biography of George Gershwin that included four bars of music, priced at $20,000. Even a first edition of the Cat and the Hat has found its way to the Brattle.

The Brattle is always buzzing with activity on any given day. A customer sits in the back of the store examining an ancient, yellowing map of Boston. Another customer stands in the film section flipping through a book on Irish Cinema from the turn of the century. A young couple trying to sell two boxes full of old, rare law books stands by the front, waiting for the bounty to be appraised.

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Books from different time periods and genres fill every square inch of the three-story building. Books stacked on shelves overflow onto the floor and nearby tables. The rows of discount paperbacks that can’t fit into the building are wheeled outside every morning, turning the deserted parking lot next door into an outdoor bookshop. On a sunny day, dozens of customers wander around the lot just enjoying the weather and three dollar paperbacks. The merchandise is stored in cubbies along the bottom of the walls and sealed shut with big wooden doors at the end of the day.

Like most of the books sold at Brattle, the bookstore is old and has a long history behind it. The store dates back to 1825 when it was originally in the Cornhill section of Boston. In 1949, a young couple by the names of George and Dorrit Gloss bought the struggling store. They raised their son, Ken Gloss, with their passion for books, and Gloss is the current proprietor of the Brattle.

Right from the start, the Brattle was a family business. “My father worked in the shop while my mother was a stay-home mom,” Gloss explains. “When the kids got older, my mother came to work in the store with my father. Now my wife and I work here together. I’m here

A THOUSAND WORDS

almost every day.” He sits at a small round table among his oldest and rarest volumes on the third story of Brattle. Some of the books have cracking leather and yellowed pages; most of them come in large sets that have been bought from estate sales or old attics.

Before Gloss took over the business, his father relocated the bookshop seven times around Boston. In 1980, a fire destroyed the entire store and nearly all of the magazines and books inside of it. Despite the devastating loss, Brattle persevered. The store moved a couple of doors down to its current address, 9 West Street, and left the lot next door open to be used as the outdoor sale section it is today.

After George Gloss’s death in 1985, Ken continues to make the Brattle one of the best bookstores in the city with its growing inventory and friendly customer service. When he’s not working in his store he shares his expertise on PBS’s Antique Road Show, where he travels across the country and appraises rare and antique books. “It’s a lot of fun,” he says. “You get to see other parts of the country that I normally wouldn’t get to see.” Gloss does the show mostly for his own enjoyment but he also says it’s a great way to raise publicity for the Brattle.

As an appraiser, Gloss checks for specific qualities when identifying

rare finds. First, there needs to be a supply and demand. If no one is looking to buy the book, it has no value. Rare books usually possess a unique quality as well. Books published earlier in an author’s career tend to go for money than books published later. Gloss says that the first copies of Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone that were published in London would go for a lot more money than a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Since fewer copies were made of the first book before J. K. Rowling’s fame, those copies are considered more rare.

For Bostonians with a few bucks and a desire to get lost among rows and rows of books, Brattle should be their first stop. Among the shelves and customers will be Ken Gloss, busily tending to a mountain of books older than the Brattle itself. With a legacy so intertwined with Boston and a book for every interest, The Brattle Book Shop is sure to stand the test of time. Just look for the big yellow pencil. text / CAROLINE WITTS photo / ANNA BUCKLEY

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

FINDING OUR ORIGINS 45 ATLAS MAGAZINE

“It’s living history through your own flesh and blood.”

A

long Newbury Street is a gallery of high-end boutiques and ritzy restaurants, but it’s not just a mecca for fashion and fine dining. Amidst the glitz and glamour of this shopping district is the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEGHS), an eightstory former bank building that dates back to 1854. It holds over 28 million documents and artifacts and serves as a haven for wanderers who are curious about their roots.

Rob and Roberta Jackson, a retired couple from Ashland, a suburb outside of Boston meet with Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert for their consultation. “It’s our Valentine’s Day gift to each other,” Roberta says of the $60 an hour appointment. “We’re absolute novices.

This is my first time ever looking into my family history.” They pass by the chandeliers, mahogany walls, and endless shelves of books that decorate the interior of the center as Lambert leads them upstairs to the library.

Lambert appeared twice on the PBS show History Detectives, as well as on the Syfy show Haunted Collector. In 2010, he traced President Obama’s ancestry and discovered he’s tenth cousins with former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. This finding went viral and received a response from the White House.

Lambert, 44, developed a passion for genealogy as a child. When he was seven years old, he picked up a leather book belonging to his grandmother, and out came a picture of his great grandfather. “When am I going to meet him?” Lambert asked, not understanding the picture was from way before his time. But after he learned his ancestor worked on a whaling ship, the seven-year old, who was reading an abridged version of Moby Dick in class, felt connected to him and sought to find out more about his past. “It’s fascinating and brings to life something that is beyond me. I could see how I could fit into context,” Lambert says.

He asks the couple to draw out their family tree—their parents’ and grandparents’ names, ballpark estimates of their dates of birth and death, and where they lived.

Rob admits that all he knows about his past are “skeletons and Splenda.” He feels connected to Jewish culture but is uncertain if he has any trace of Jewish heritage. Lambert tells him that a DNA test would answer that question and gives him information about the process.

Genealogy has taught Lambert that we are all connected. “It puts us at an equal playing field,” he says. “We’re all kind of distant cousins.

We’re a much smaller family as a world.” Lambert takes down a book from the shelf as he explains that everybody has a story, but there are some lost pages. “To me it’s fulfilling to give someone back what they lost,” he says. “It’s a never ending story.”

But the search for the lost pages of our history is now a much easier quest thanks to advanced technology. Jim Power, Director of Marketing and Sales at NEGHS, explains how the genealogy field has grown from the past. Decades ago, people searched archives at Ellis Island and wrote letters to libraries searching for answers. They waited weeks for a response; they were fortunate if they got one at all. Power says the NEGHS receives a great amount of exposure, but its name is misleading. New England is not the center’s only specialty; the staff is well-versed with areas across the United States and beyond.

To combat this misconception, the foundation named their website Americanancestors.org and their magazine American Ancestors. The center differs from commercial genealogy organizations, such as Ancestry.org, in that it’s more of a society. The staff is a community interested in research and authenticating information. They also present their members with specific types of publications and offer them classes and research trips to places such as Albany, Salt Lake City, Nova Scotia, and Dublin. Out of the 65,000 members of the Society, 90 percent live outside of New England.

Like many members of the center, Power’s interest in genealogy stemmed from the loss of a loved one. After his mother passed away five years ago, he regretted never asking her about her past. “I had to

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“To me it’s fulfilling to give someone back what they lost.

It’s a never ending story.”

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write her obituary. It led me to ask other questions,” he says.

Power finds tracing his genealogy to be rewarding. He discovered that his ancestors included a Revolutionary War General, a newspaper publisher, and one of the first Texas Rangers. However, Power was also embarrassed by his relations, as he discovered his ties to an 1800s gangster and a southern slave owner.

These findings forced him to think seriously about the past instead of regarding history as just a story. “It’s living history through your own flesh and blood,” he says. Aside from tracing his own background, he also enjoys reliving the exciting moments that visitors experience as they uncover their family tree.

Lambert directs the couple to the computers and types in Roberta’s family information. “Oh my gosh,” seems to be the most-said phrase of the afternoon. Roberta gleams over each discovery like a child unwrapping a present. She imagines her grandparents arriving in America, a country where they don’t speak the language. She gets a better sense of who they are as she learns about their troubles and adventures—her grandmother came from Germany as a governess and her grandfather fought as a German soldier in World War I. “Watching my background thread back through generations—it’s profound,” she says.

Lambert moves on to Rob. “I always had some passing interest in New England history, but life was so full,” Rob says. “Now that I’m retired I have the time to learn about my past.” He hopes to put together all of his findings to pass along to his children. Lambert pulls up a document signed by Rob’s great grandfather. “It was an emotional surge,” he says. “I got teary-eyed.” Rob discovers ancestors that were unknown to him, family names that he recognizes as well-established businesses in the Massachusetts area. Lambert locates a book about one of Rob’s ancestors and opens it up for him to read.

The society’s collection of documents goes beyond what can be found on the shelves. The archival collection is kept in a dark room that’s as cold as a cellar because light and heat are kryptonite to these artifacts. As an archivist, Judy Lucey’s job is to preserve and collect manuscripts. She wears a cobalt blue lab coat and handles each object with care. Every piece of the collection is a donation, many coming from places outside of New England.

“The history isn’t kept in someone’s attic,” Lucey says. “It continues as it’s shared with a larger audience.” Like silver hair and wrinkles, the documents’ cracks and discoloration are emblems, proving that he artifact has endured the test of time. Lucey’s favorite treasures tend to be more personal items, like diaries, because they offer insight into the lives of everyday people, including women and people of other races that aren’t represented in history books. Her position requires a working knowledge of history as well as in genealogy. “By researching our ancestors, we get to know them as people,” Lucey says. “They aren’t just a photograph. They become real.”

After an hour, the couple’s appointment draws to a close. While they are pleased to uncover some of the “lost pages” of their stories, they are only at the beginning of what seems like an endless search. But the tiny discoveries are what make genealogy thrilling.

Lambert offers the same advice to his clients as he does to his tenyear-old daughter when she accompanies him during his visits to his parents’ grave. “Don’t look at the dates. Look in between.” The hyphen that separates the dates represents the course of the person’s life. These details connect us to our ancestors and help our pasts come to life. text / MARLO JAPPEN photo / PAOLA CAMARGO

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FARM-TO-TABLE FOODS & THE FAMILIES THAT GET IT THERE

P

atty Gagne’s workday begins before most people even wake up and continues after they have gone to bed at night. She and her 27-year-old daughter, Krista, spend their mornings plucking the freshest raspberries at farms near their home in Arundel, Maine, or harvesting cucumbers from the garden in their backyard. They process the produce into jams and pickles in their kitchen during the day and package them in the evening.

The hours are demanding at the Gagnes’ home-based business, the Maine Homestead. But the toughest work begins after production.

“We do 17 farmers’ markets a week in the peak season of summer,” says Patty. They travel around New England, from rural towns such as Kennebunk, Maine, to larger cities like Boston.

Every week, the Gagnes set up a table underneath an eightby-eight-foot tent in Boston’s Copley Square. Copley hosts the city’s largest farmers’ market on Tuesdays and Fridays from May to November. The 30 or so white tents hug the front, back, and western edge of the famous square. Pedestrians are lured in by the scent of ripe melons, blooming sunflowers, and beef on a grill. Merchants greet the visitors at each tent and inform them the fresh food was either harvested or prepared the day before. But best of all, they’ll say, is the ingredients are local.

Patty Gagne insists that the Homestead has always relied on southern Maine’s farms and fields, which is important to Krista. Even though her daughter didn’t travel with her, Gagne deflects praise her

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way. “My daughter is the cook; she does all the making,” she says. “I just help.”

Family businesses are prevalent at the market, but it’s unusual for children to teach their parents a trade—it’s almost always the other way around. Simeon Cook says his parents Marjorie and Lucius started bringing their fresh pies and pastries to the Copley Farmers’ Market 20 years ago. After inheriting the business from them, he moved the Cook’s Bakery operation to Newbury, Vermont. But Cook still wanted to respect their traditions, so every week he drives three hours from Newbury to Boston, with cookies the size of frisbees and freshly tapped jugs of maple syrup in tow. “Usually we bake all day one day, then come down here the next,” he says. “On a good day we sell everything.”

Cook’s Bakery is still a relatively new business compared to Freitas Farm. “We’re a fourth generation farm,” says Darcy Amin, a field worker and marketing coordinator at Freitas. “So that’s, well, let’s see,” she pauses, closes her eyes, smiles, and starts counting. “One, two, three, four. Would that be great grandparents?”

Amin has spent her entire life on the farm, sweating through summers in the field and toiling in the greenhouse during the winter.

Just like Gagne and Cook, her workday begins at sunrise. “We get up at five,” says Amin. “The corn’s always the first thing that we pick every morning. Cold, wet, hot, it doesn’t matter. We’re picking it.”

Family members and hired hands harvest other crops while the corn

“But in the spring, summer, and fall, it’s a daily routine of setting up their stand, hawking their supply, and then leaving for another market.” is tended to. Before they can even eat breakfast or shower, they have to load their trucks with produce so they can be delivered to towns and cities across Massachusetts. Amin claims they set up shop at 17 farmers’ markets each week, the same amount as the Maine Homestead.

It’s difficult to round up the resources and manpower necessary to cover so many markets in a week, but don’t tell that to Dave Henchy, co-founder of the Cape Cod Fish Share. “I’ve covered five locations today,” he says.

Henchy, wearing a teal Cape Cod sweater with pink lettering that hurts the eyes, checks his watch. It reads 1:30 p.m. “I’ve got three more left.”

Henchy also wakes up at 5 a.m., ensures that the catch from the previous day is filleted and packaged, and loads up the stock. He stops at specialty stores, restaurants, and markets. “It’s kind of like I’m uncoiling a snake,” he says.

“Every location requires a tent, a sign, a tablecloth, tape, temperature monitors, coolers with ice, fresh ice, seafood.

There are a lot of moving parts to make it go.”

Not everyone can be as mobile as Henchy. The twowoman team that runs Sprouted Raw Foods, a Lexingtonbased company that specializes in organic nuts and seeds, only hits four markets a week. Aside from their limited staff, their foods take considerably longer to produce.

“These products take three days to make,” says co-founder Leah Baigell. “It’s not like baking, where you just mix it, stir it, and stick it in the oven, then an hour later you’re done.”

Sprouted Raw Foods has an advantage because its business expands in the winter. Their trips to the market increase from four per week to five, whereas most other companies that depend on warm weather for their crops, like the Freitas Farm, or ingredients, like the Maine Homestead, see their business plummet until spring.

But in the spring, summer, and fall, it’s a daily routine of setting up their stand, hawking their supply, and then leaving for another market. When they’re sold out, they start over and return to the fields to harvest more crops or round up ingredients for the kitchen.

It’s an exhausting process, but for most of them it’s a tradition that’s been passed down through their family, and they carry it with pride. “It isn’t always full of sweet, innocent moments,” says Amin. “But I’ve been doing this my whole life.” text / NICK DUMONT photo / ANNA BUCKLEY

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GLOBE

ORIGINS OF THE PALESTINIAN-ISREALI CONFLICT:

AN UPHILL BATTLE T

he Israeli-Palestinian conflict is grey. By that, I don’t just mean that it’s depressing; advocates for both sides like to paint the story as black and white, but reality has more shades than an E.L. James novel.

Palestine and Israel face a dilemma as old as Cain and Abel, though much more complicated. The two states are fraternal twins, born from the same UN resolution in the aftermath of World War II. The land was known as the Palestinian Mandate, and the British had been in charge since they carved the area from the Ottoman Empire in the Great War. After the horrors of the Holocaust, a group of Jews known as Zionists gained momentum within the Diaspora. The Zionist goal was the creation of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East, in an area called Mandatory Palestine. The UN, led by Britain and the United States, decided to give some of Mandatory Palestine over to the Zionists, and never mind the native population (which was mostly Arab).

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Jewish refugees from war-torn Europe flooded into the region, drawn by the promise of a safe haven free from fascism. As Arabs began losing their ancestral land, tensions between the two groups mounted, and by the eve of Israel’s inception, Arab countries in the area were poised to mount an attack, aiming to wipe out the nascent nation before it could draw its first breath.

But they were unprepared for the ferocity of Israel’s counter attack.

The Israeli army, supplied by its Western allies, decimated the forces arrayed against them, which included troops from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. When the dust settled, Israel had taken even more land than was promised by the UN, Jordan laid claim to the West Bank—an area set aside for Palestinians—and Egypt held the Gaza Strip—again, part of what was to be Palestine. This arrangement erased any chance for Palestinian statehood.

This uneasy peace was the status quo for the next 20 years, during which time Israel cemented its place as a major military power.

Unfortunately, Palestinians drew the short straw; with their Arab Palestinian frustration again bubbled up through the cracks. Then, cousins thoroughly cowed by Israel, and no Western allies to speak of, Ariel Sharon, leader of the Likud party and a major figure in Israeli they seemed doomed to perpetual homelessness. politics, visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem—an important site in By the end of the ‘50s, displaced Palestinians became fed up with both Judaism and Islam—and declared that it would remain in Israeli the state of their would-be country and began to form groups bent possession indefinitely, albeit illegally. Riots erupted that day and the on opposing, or even toppling, their occupiers. Chief among these next, prompting IDF forces to use live ammunition against protesters was Fatah, a militant organization formed by the now-infamous armed with stones.

Yasser Arafat to liberate Palestine from foreign forces. For much of its The Second Intifada had begun. existence, Fatah was a fringe group, forced to seek asylum in countries This second uprising was significantly bloodier than the first. From around Israel, namely Lebanon and Jordan, to remain within striking the beginning, the IDF used live fire and heavy machinery in a military distance. manner, rather than a police capacity.

Then, in 1967, Israel launched what According to Amnesty International, “Palestine and Israel face a became known as the Six-Day War about 80 percent of the victims of dilemma as old as Cain and Abel, IDF gunfire in the first year did against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in response to a build-up of military might pose an imminent threat to the though much more complicated. not at Israel’s borders. In less than a week, soldiers firing on them.

The two states are fraternal twins, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula Outclassed by the tanks, gunships and Gaza Strip from Egypt, the Golan and of the IDF, Palestinian born from the same UN resolution forcesartillery Heights from Syria, and the West Bank began resorting to terrorist in the aftermath of World War II.” tactics later in the Intifada. In 2000, from Jordan. The scope of the victory was unprecedented and presented a there were five suicide bombings new set of problems for both the Israeli recorded; in 2001, there were 40; in government and the Palestinian people—problems of governance and 2002, there were almost 50. security for Israel and problems of oppression for Palestinians.

By the time Sharon—the Prime Minister of Israel by this time— For groups like Fatah, Israel’s possession of the West Bank and made peace in 2005, thousands on both sides had been killed, and a Gaza Strip made the Jewish nation Enemy Number One. From that significant portion of the casualties were civilians. Between Palestinian point onward, Palestinian militant groups began to target Israeli bombings and Israel’s iron-fisted retaliation, innocent lives had been security forces with guerilla tactics and fire rockets into Israel. After a caught in the crossfire. failed attempt to wrest control of Jordan from King Hussein bin Talal, In the aftermath of the uprising, Israel began implementing Fatah and other members of the Palestine Liberation Organization increased security measures to insulate Palestinian insurgency. A (PLO) began launching increased attacks on Israeli forces, prompting barrier—called an “apartheid wall” by opponents—was constructed retaliatory strikes. within the bounds of Palestine to ward off attacks, though it effectively The back-and-forth bloodshed came to a head in 1987. Following walls in the Palestinian people. Israel also developed and built a rocketa series of deaths on both sides, an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) truck defense system called the Iron Dome, which was created to fend off drove into a crowd, killing four Palestinians. This sparked the First rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas.

Intifada.

Within Palestine, a division has formed between Fatah—now a Palestine exploded in protest. Riots broke out across the Israelipolitical party instead of a militant group—and Hamas, a party with occupied territories, and in response the IDF, led by then-Defense strong fundamentalist ties and a smoldering hatred of Israel. In 2006, Minister Yitzhak Rabin, implemented a brutal policy: his soldiers were Hamas won control of the Gaza Strip in elections that Fatah disputed, ordered to “break the bones” of protesters. This savagery, combined leading to a clash and Hamas’s eventual dominance within the Strip. with mass arrests and a draconian crackdown on protests both violent Today, the one-time allies remain estranged. and nonviolent, only fueled the conflict, which smoldered for five years.

Despite Palestine’s internal strife, the overriding issues with Mounting pressure from the international community and recognition Palestine-Israel negotiations haven’t changed in recent years: of the PLO by the United States forced Israel to make peace, leading Israel refuses to stop creating settlements within the West Bank— to Arafat’s denunciation of terrorism in 1991 and the Oslo Accords of settlements deemed illegal by the UN; Palestine can’t put up a united 1993. front with which to negotiate; disputes over borders and bits of The Accords, which were laid down in ’93 and ’95, were meant territory go back and forth; Hamas continues to launch attacks from to serve as a temporary measure while the two sides hashed out the the Gaza Strip; and mutual recognition of statehood has proven details of Palestinian self-determination; they outlined the transfer elusive. of autonomy for parts of the West Bank and Gaza from Israel to the It’s no wonder the peace process has been such an uphill battle. newly formed Palestinian Authority. This process was designed to take text / ADAM VIRNELSON five years. illustration / HOLLY KIRKMAN The transfer remains incomplete.

Following the failed peace summit at Camp David in 2000,

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SOPHIE’S SECRETS

W

e all have dreams of what it’d be like to study abroad. You’d spend barely any time doing schoolwork (but still get all A’s), have an unlimited budget and suitcase to buy fabulous souvenirs, be able to easily travel anywhere within the continent you’re living in, and have a Lizzie McGuire style romance where you become an international pop star. Right? Not quite.

The truth is, studying abroad can be a bit messier. There are struggles with how to spend, how to pack, how to travel, and how to budget your time. The reality is that you may have to go abroad with real world constraints. The weather won’t work in your favor, you’ll over pack, and you’ll get a little homesick. Also, you might be visited by the castle ghost, Sophie. (Don’t worry, she’s mostly friendly.)

All this sounds overwhelming and in a way, it is, and unfortunately

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there’s no way to avoid it. You can only figure things out with time.

Luckily, with some tips from this semester’s Kasteel Well program participants, you can get a leg up and figure out how to manage everything that comes with being abroad a little more quickly!

TRAVEL: · Pack for all weather: The weather in Well seems mild because you’re only outside for the 30 seconds it takes to get to class. When travelling, you’ll be out much longer, giving the elements a chance to change and really set in. Packing hats, gloves, and those long johns your mom bought because they were on the suggested packing list are a must. Not to mention, it is almost guaranteed that if the weather says one thing, it’ll be another and the last thing you want is to get caught

“If I learned anything from it, it’s that it is always better to not panic, and to just go with the flow with matters you can’t control.” in torrential downpours in a very puffy winter jacket while in the middle of Dam Square in Amsterdam. · Prepare for setbacks: This way your travel plans won’t be completely thrown off course when your train is 15 minutes late or you miss your bus. Alexis Clemons (‘16), a marketing major who is currently studying at the castle, can attest to this after getting off at the wrong bus stop put a wrench in her plans to get to London.

“It was our first time traveling on our own and we got a little jumpy about missing our stop,” she says of her London experience. “We got off at what turned out to be practically five stops early and had to trek across a small Dutch town, only to wait for a delayed train.” Ironically, when Clemons and her companions arrived at the airport on time, they discovered their flight was delayed. However, thanks to the extra travel

time, the group was safe either way.

While some people might go through this and roll their eyes in frustration, Clemons took from the experience a more positive outlook and valuable travel lessons.

“If I learned anything from it, it’s that it is always better to not panic, and to just go with the flow with matters you can’t control,” she says. “I’m very glad that we planned ahead and built in extra time for ourselves, it offset some of the panic!” · Always carry copies of your passport and passport photos. The worst-case scenario is losing your passport abroad, as Zach Mills (‘16), a film major, can tell you. Mills had rented a car to drive from Rome, Italy to Florence with a group of friends. During that drive, trouble began.

“Somewhere between Rome and Florence that night, my passport (disappeared),” Mills says. “We checked my coat, we checked my luggage, we checked the car several times-nothing.”

Desperate to find a solution, Mills and his companions went to the local consulate, which was closed since it was a Sunday. Armed with only his International Student Identification Card and his health insurance cards, Mills went to the airport to attempt to somehow make it home. From there, he was told to go to the police to file a report on the missing passport and to get their permission to fly.

Unfortunately, this failed. “I recited my social security number five times, gave them my health insurance, gave them everything that I possibly could have given them,” Mills said. Ultimately, he resorted to taking a train home which meant he arrived at the castle a day late, missing some of his classes. Luckily, Mills was recently able to obtain a new passport, but cautions travellers to “keep their passport in a place that they know where it is.”

BUDGET: The more money you have saved, the better. If possible, try to find out the average amount of spending money students spend during the program, then try to go in with a little bit more. This will give you leeway if you need it.

In the months leading up to your trip, consider your purchases. Will you be able to use this when you’re abroad? When packing up your life for three months, would this item make the cut? While it’s tempting to want to blow your money on some great heels, they probably won’t be helpful when it comes to navigating cobblestone streets often found in old European cities. Skipping out on extra purchases that you won’t really need when you’re away is a great way to save some cash before your departure.

Track what you spend! This is generally a great money saving tip no matter what. There are plenty of apps to download to your phone that can help you track where your money’s going. BigSpender is a great budget-tracking app which allows you to set your preferred currency and a monthly budget so you can keep within your means. If you’re not into fancy apps, even something as simple as jotting down what you spend in your phone’s notepad can help you see where you’re spending your hard earned cash! Just remember to do it from the beginning of the trip so you’re not fumbling around halfway through, scared to look at what you’ve spent.

Be smart about shopping. It’s tempting to buy souvenirs for

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“This is truly the most selfish and memorable time of your life. And if you take a few precautions, you can enjoy almost every second of it.” everyone you know. Rather than splurging on tacky trinkets, get postcards for family and friends or perhaps some local snack that you can’t get back in America (read: stroopwafel). For yourself, spend experiences or souvenirs that will help you remember your trip.

Chances are you will remember Amsterdam more from your visit to the Anne Frank house than you will through socks with pot leaves on them from a tacky souvenir shop. And though it’s tempting to buy chain store clothes with an H&M on every corner, buy something unique to where you’re visiting, like macaroons from Paris or cologne from Cologne, Germany! However, also remember you have to bring home everything you buy. Try to avoid buying fragile souvenirs, like mugs or anything else that isn’t conducive to fitting in a 50-pound suitcase. But if you really think buying a copy of Les Miserables in Paris will help you remember your trip, go for it.

TIME MANAGEMENT: DO NOT go by the motto, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” or anything along that variety. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of being abroad and experiencing a lot of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

However, if you keep this motto up, you’ll wind up with doing very little work and getting very little sleep, both which led to disastrous results. Allison Raynor (‘16), a theatre education/acting major can attest to this. Raynor took advantage of every travel weekend until midterms, without taking time to rest.

“I didn’t really take as many precautions or bring as much medication with me…I was just running around everywhere, not

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really thinking about how it might affect me. Raynor’s busy lifestyle eventually caught up to her in the form of a nasty cold.

“When I was in Germany, I was extremely sick,” she says. “I really couldn’t stay out for too long and it really hindered my enjoyment.”

Raynor now recommends taking a weekend off from travel towards the middle of the semester. “You can only take so much,” she says.

Learn when to say no. This is along the same vein of not putting off sleep or work. Know when going out one more night or going to one more site will put you over the edge.

Just take time to do your work. It’s as simple as that. Carve out a chunk of time each day to get work done and do it. Don’t be afraid to take time out from travelling to do so either. At the end of the day, you’re studying abroad and that’s what should come first.

Truly, study abroad will be one of the greatest experiences.

It is cliché, but you really make memories and friends that will last a lifetime. These are the people that will be at your wedding, embarrassing you with stories about what crazy things you did on American Night. These are the memories that will come up whenever someone mentions a famous monument that they visited or a city that they’ve visited. This is truly the most selfish and memorable time of your life. And if you take a few precautions, you can enjoy almost every second of it. text / ERIN KAYATA photo / JAMIE KAPLAN & JENNI HELLER

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THE ALLURE OF THE LITTLE CITY

I

magine this: swarms of eager tourists flocking underneath the of the cityscape, the tower provides a view from about 272 feet above immense Eiffel Tower, eating crepes and buying cheap “I Heart the ground, after its visitors complete a 366-step climb to the top.

Paris” t-shirts. Sounds pretty familiar, right? Now imagine eating The red roofs and cheery white exteriors of Bruges’ homes deliver a a homemade dessert waffle while worthwhile view. strolling through cobbled streets, Bruges proudly displays many “The city is small enough to traverse looking up at an immense bell tower museums as well. Among the by foot, small enough to form one minute while spotting picturesque most popular is the Choco-Story connections with those you meet canals the next; not quite your average (Chocolate Museum), which offers and will likely see again during your its visitors a walk through the history experience abroad. Yet if you ask American tourists which European trip, small enough to become familiar of chocolate, an introduction to the cities they would be most likely to types of chocolate, a room with despite the fact that it’s a city in a different visit, the answers will probably not full of chocolate sculptures, and a foreign country.” surprise you: London, Paris, Rome. delectable gift shop. The Historium Although many of us have never been Bruges offers a comprehensive history to these places, we feel that we know them through the familiar icons of the city by guiding you through themed rooms. Quite a few fun, they tout: Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Sistine Chapel. offbeat museums are also worth a peek, such as the Diamantmuseum Bruges is different. With a population of a little over 116,000, (Bruges Diamond Museum) and the Lumina Domestica (Lamp Bruges, Belgium is home to relatively few people. Instead of London’s Museum), which houses over 6500 lamps and showcases the history of complex Tube, Bruges features a few infrequent buses. The entire city is man’s quest for light. These museums give their visitors a feel for the a mere 54 square miles. Yet smaller cities like Bruges have just as much, city’s quirky personality. if not more, to offer to tourists culturally, historically, and socially.

The food will surely satisfy your appetite for good eats. Belgium Take its big attractions. Like many cities, Bruges has erected a tall is famous for its chocolate, and Bruges follows this tradition with focal point that overlooks the city: the Belfort. Situated in the middle chocolatiers sprinkled throughout the city. Many offering unique, rich

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“Bruges creates an effect in which you can feel comfortable and at home without abandoning the thrill and adventure that comes from discovering a new city.” varieties of this dessert staple, such as orange chocolate or intense dark blends. Belgium also has a penchant for smooth, high quality beer. One bar, De Garre, is home to what is considered one of the best beers in Belgium, De Garre’s own house blend, brewed and sold only in Belgium. The light, smooth beer packs quite a punch with a high alcohol content, and the bar offers an extensive menu of other beverages.

Another favorite food is Belgium’s savory waffle. Belgian waffles are often smaller, sweeter, and thicker than the Americanized version.

They have a grainy texture, and just one is dense and sugary enough to fill you up. Sold either in bite size or full, these dessert favorites can be topped with melted chocolate, sprinkles, fresh fruit, or powdered sugar.

Street vendors on many corners churn out hot batches of waffles for the hungry traveler, handing you the warm, greasy treats in customized paper bags. The city frequently hosts open-air markets, where vendors sell waffles, fresh cuts of meat, cheese, and wine, as well as scarves, shoes, and different clothing and accessories. They’ll ask you where you’re from, smiling and suggesting perfect souvenirs to take back home.

Bruges even boasts a film-inspired tour. Based on the movie In Bruges, a smart-mouthed 20-something year old tour guide jokes and laughs with visitors while guiding them through major spots from the movie, telling the tourists tidbits about Bruges’ history, and

distinguishing between the city’s tourist traps and hidden gems. The tour is two hours long and highlights another of the city’s striking features: its canals. They litter the city, shoved between houses, cold water lapping against the short concrete sides, reflecting the pale moon at night. Walking through the cobbled streets, over the narrow canal bridges, and around the organized restaurants (there is a section for seafood, one for sports bars, etc.), it is easy to see that Bruges offers a charm that can rival the bigger, more well-known cities.

But the element that really draws people to the city? The community. Local artisans sell handcrafted goods. The city is small enough to traverse by foot, small enough to form connections with those you meet and will likely see again during your trip, small enough to become familiar with despite the fact that it’s a city in a foreign country. Bruges creates an effect in which you can feel comfortable and at home without abandoning the thrill and adventure that comes from discovering a new city. Perhaps the visit won’t have the predictable thrills of the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum, yet your experience won’t mirror a travel brochure; it will be uniquely your own. And after all is said and done, it really is worthwhile to have the chance to watch the pale orange sun rise from the top of a little white windmill. text / MICHELLE CICCARELLI photo / ANNA BUCKLEY

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TAKE A BITE OUT OF THIS West Australian shark culling proves problematic for both man and animal

S

omething fishy is happening in the waters of Western Australia.

Since 2011, the average number of shark attacks in Western Australia has inexplicably increased from one a year to more than three. As a result, Australia’s largest state has been granted a temporary exemption from Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act by the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt.

The ongoing exemption, which began in Jan. 2014, is a catch-and-kill policy that allows all fisherman to capture any great white, bull, or tiger shark over three meters in length and shoot them. Australia has been attempting to control the shark attacks for years by netting off the shoreline, but that was on the east coast. This is the first time in Australia’s history that preventive methods are being used on the west coast, and the first time the method of choice is to actively kill sharks.

Instead of using netting, the Western Australia shark cull uses baited drumlines, a method comparable to that used in Jaws, to capture the shark. And when a shark bites, it could be stuck there for hours because there is no one constantly attending to the bait. While it has been shown that the species of sharks targeted in this cull are resilient, there are two flaws to the current system; the first is that there is no guarantee the sharks that bite are in compliance with the rules of the cull, and the second is that after a shark is caught the blood from its wound might easily attract other sharks and could potentially lead to

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cannibalistic behavior.

Shark expert and research scientist at the New England Aquarium, Dr. John Mandleman, felt that using drumlines isn’t an effective way to cull. “It’s very possible that if a small shark gets hooked, their blood could attract bigger sharks into the area. Not only that, but sharks are always moving,” he said. “You can catch ten sharks one day, but there’s nothing to say there won’t be another ten in the same area the next day.

You can argue that this actually gives people a false sense of security.

What is perhaps more disturbing is that there is no evidence proving that the cull will actually work. In addition, Dr. Mandleman believes that because the attack rate is so low anyways, “there is no way to prove the cull is working.” The only other cull on record took place in Hawaii from 1959 to 1976. It cost the state $330,000 and 4,668 sharks died, yet the average number of attacks stayed the same. The Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology has declared it at best a neutral effort. There are few other shark policies in place around the world, but one of the most effective comes from Brazil. There, any shark caught within a kilometer of the shoreline is tagged with a GPS tracker and towed back out to the open ocean. As a result, the sharks tend to stay away from the shore.

Globally, shark populations are in critical danger. Marine biologists estimate that mainly due to overfishing and the affinity for shark fin

soup in Asian nations, the total shark population is reduced by six to eight percent each year. That’s up to 100 million sharks. Sharks are also slow to develop, meaning their growth rates and gestation periods aren’t fast enough to replace the diminishing population. Despite these facts, West Australia’s premier, Colin Barnett, stands by his decision as a way to protect the people of his state.

Barnett is not without great opposition, though. A recent poll conducted by the Australian research group UMR showed that when it comes to sharks, 82 percent of Australians believe they swim at their own risk. 83 percent of Australians have not changed the way they swim or play in the water when they know they are at risk or shark attack. And only 15 percent of Australians believe that sharks should be culled, hunted, or killed in order to prevent attacks. Dr. Mandleman agrees that the energy put into the cull could be better spent elsewhere. “It’s ludicrous to think you’re actually going to protect people by having a

culling program in place. I wouldn’t be surprised if the attacks actually increased. It’s more important to have a public education program to let people know what will keep them safe,” he says.

While Australia’s cull is too short to drastically affect the shark population, culling and the overfishing of sharks is an important ecological issue worldwide. As the shark population drops, species at every level of the aquatic food chain are in danger of becoming either overpopulated or overhunted, putting the balance of the marine ecosystem in jeopardy. To prevent that balance from toppling, strict regulations on shark culling and fishing must not only be put into place, but must also be rigorously enforced. It’s a tall order, but to keep our oceans healthy it is the best action to take.

“Marine biologists estimate that mainly due to overfishing and the affinity for shark fin soup in Asian nations, the total shark population is reduced by six to eight percent each year. That’s up to 100 million sharks.”

text / SABRINA THULANDER illustration / HOLLY KIRKMAN

THE ORIGINS ISSUE

Atlas magazine is a student-produced lifestyle publication that aims to strengthen its staff ’s professional experience and remain accessible to all Emerson students. Through its Arts, Health, Style, Campus, Career, City, and Globe sections, Atlas fosters interaction between all fields of study in its online blog and biannual issue. Atlas also hosts and supports community service and both on- and off-campus events.

Special Thanks To: Sandi Cassard Amy J. Lawson Lani Cathey Pamela McAlpin Sarah Dwyer Max Seiden Kay Kaplan Emerson College SGA and to everyone who donated to our cause.

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THE ORIGINS ISSUE