Atlas Magazine: The Pink Issue

ATLAS

magazine

SPRING 2018 The Pink Issue

ATLAS SPRING 2018

EIC: Caitlin Smith Managing Editor: Amelia Semprebon CREATIVE TEAM Head Of Design: Ziyue Chen Creative/ Fashion Director: Rachel Scalera, Emma Cox Stylist: Elise Sanchez CITY City Editor: Olivia Woollett City Writers: Carissa Dunlap, Cassandre Coyer, Isabelle Braun CAMPUS Campus Editor: Emily McNeice Campus Writers: Anapurl Friedman, Christine Hachem, Lily E. Doolin GLOBE Globe Editor: Shafaq Patel Globe Writers: Charlie Boyle, Hannah Ebanks, Victoria Torres HEALTH Health Editor: Elizabeth Hartel Health Writers: Emily Cristobal, Emily Mason, Monica Petrucci STYLE Style Editor: Alexandra DiGennaro Style Writers: Carly Thompson, Grace Griffin, Lily Bump PHOTO Head Photographer: Amelia Wright Photographers: Ayodele Oldaeji, Emma Lopez, Madison Douglas, Nia Vital, Oona Baker COPYEDITING Head Copyeditor: Tara McDonough Copyeditors: Carly Thompson, Emily Cristobal, Maria Porada, Monica Petrucci MARKETING Marketing Director: Sarah Molloy Publicist: Isabelle Braun, Logan Pastron, Victoria D’Angelo

MEET THE EDITOR To Our Readers, If you couldn’t tell by now, our theme for this issue was pink. So let me preface this letter by declaring the incredible irony that I, me of all the people in this world, was the editor for the pink issue. I am/was a complete and total champion at the avoidance of pink (ignore the photo to the left). Even more than that, I fought against it. I did not want to be seen as the delicate flower that pink conjures up in your head, the feminine girl that plays into the traditional tropes of womanhood, the cute and pretty thing only identified as the cute and pretty thing. That wasn’t me.

But, that isn’t any of us. None of the many woman who worked on this semester’s issue are solely flowers or traditional or cute and pretty. Although they all identify with one form or another of this concept of womanhood,this concept of pink, they’re so much more than that.We are all so much more. Which is what became the ambition for this semester’s issue of Atlas. We redefined what pink is, what the symbol of womanhood should be or what it means to us.

We are pink, in the strongest form of the definition, in the most active form of the definition, in the intelligent and aware, the changing and believing. By this way we are pink.

Like every issue, I would like to take a moment and thank all of the editors, writers, photographers, and bloggers that took the time to contribute to the Atlas experience and make a great magazine. I would also like to take a moment to recognize some graduating seniors that have been with Atlas for multiple semesters: Elizabeth Hartel, our Health Editor, Lauren Lopez, our Blog Editor, and Olivia Woollett, our City Editor. Thank you guys so much for all of your hard work through the years and we all wish you luck in the next stage of your life. We hope you keep reading.

Atlas Editor-in-Chief Caitlin Smith 3 | PINK

MEET OUR STAFF

Alexandra DiGennaro Style Editor

Amelia Semprebon Managing Editor

Amelia Wright Photo Editor

Emily McNeice Campus Editor

Emma Cox and Rachel Scalera Creative/ Fashion Directors

Olivia Woollett City Editor

Lauren Lopez Blog Editor

Tara McDonough Head Copyeditor

Shafaq Patel Globe Editor

Elizabeth Hartel Health Editor

Sarah Molloy Marketing Director

Ziyue Chen Head Designer

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IN THIS ISSUE 12

50

28

CIT Y

CAMPUS

GLOBE

Boston, Where Did Your Women Go? Pg. 10-11 Cassandre Coyer

Emerson Residence Assistants ‘Destined’ for Greatness Pg. 18-20 Lily Doolin

Pointe Shoe Pink Pg. 28-30 Victoria Torres

Giving Youths More Than Words: How Young Adults Are Taking Charge of Their Story.

Pg. 12-13 Carissa Dunlap

Procrastination and its Relation to Mental Health Pg. 21-23 Christine Hachem

Small but Mighty: History of Women’s Suffrage in the Cayman Islands Pg. 31-33 Hannah Ebanks

Helping the Prison System Pg. 14-15

“Night of Colors”: Where Art Meets Social Justice Pg. 24-25 Anapurl Feldman

Staying Pink: the Forced Femininity of South Korean Female Celebrities Pg. 34-37

Isabelle Braun

ATLAS | 6

Charlie Boyle

SPRING 2018 45

56

18

HEALTH

ST YLE

COVER

Açaí and Pitaya: The Healthy but Delicious Superfood Pg. 40-42

Gender Politics of Fashion Pg. 50-52 Grace Griffin

Photographer: Oona Baker Model: Daysia Tolentino

Emily Cristobal Healthy Living: Finding Balance Over Pressure Pg. 43-44 Monica Petrucci

Models Say #MeToo Pg. 53-55 Carly Thompson

Why Being a Feminist Could be Good for Your Mental Health Pg. 45-47 Emily Mason

Should I Go if it’s Not Front Row? Pg. 56-57 Lily Bump

SECTION PHOTOS Photographers: Rachel Scalera, Amelia Wright, Oona Baker Models: Somari Davis, Bruce Song, Bean Vega, Wei Quan, Michael Zomick, Noel Perrotta, Moronta Mastrandrea, Kristen Mitchell, Henry Johnston, Franco Araujo, Olivia Luise Makeup: Jenn Redington, Daysia Tolentino, Alejandra Spruill Hair: Madeline Leto

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CITY Boston, Where Did Your Women Go?//10 Giving Youth More Than Words//12 Helping the Prison System//14

BOSTON, WHERE DID YOUR WOMEN GO? WRITER: CASSANDRE COYER PHOTO: NIA VITAL

N

orma was a top student, like many in Boston studying in coffee shops or reading in the Common. But, after suffering through sexual and physical abuse and teen pregnancy, her education fell to the side. With undiagnosed mental illness, her life became too stressful to handle on her own. And then, she found Rosie’s Place.

“Without Rosie’s Place, I know I probably would have been dead. If not from suicide, it would have been from a drug overdose or by the hands of a man. Rosie’s Place is the place for me at this point of my life, and it will be a place for me forever,” she said.

Indeed, the pretty Commons and the bou-

ATLAS | 10

gie coffee shops aren’t welcoming for homeless women in Boston, in fact there are very few places that are welcoming to women down on their luck like Norma. According to Michelle Kahan’s publication “Women and Homelessness in Massachusetts” from 2005, the supply of low-income housing in Massachusetts is shrinking.

The ever-increasing high rent prices and the wages not following this rise is proven to be linked to the rise of homelessness in the city with more Boston residents living in emergency shelters than in any of 25 major cities surveyed nationwide, according to a report from 2014 by the US Conference of Mayors.

Kahan explains, “Many working mothers are

unable to afford the high cost of today’s housing, yet they earn too much to be eligible for shelter; as a result, families are forced to live in unsafe, overcrowded conditions.” Indeed, to remain in shelter, a parent with two children must earn less than $15,670 annually ($7.53/hr).

But thankfully for Norma and many other women, they found Rosie’s Place.

Founded in 1974 as the first women only shelter in the United States, Rosie’s Place’s mission is to “provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.” For such, Rosie’s Place provides shelter and nutritious meals, housing and education, as well as employment support.

Clare Mills worked at Rosie’s for about six months, 25 years ago in 1992. She was living at the shelter with the women, and answering their needs almost 24h/7. She said her six months at the shelter changed her life, and to this day, the memory of her experience remains very sharp.

When Mills started working at the shelter, she was a college student who wanted to become an artist. But she said that her work at Rosie’s brought out something in her that she didn’t know she had, and that it made her interested in women’s health and social services.

Looking back on her experience, she explained how important it felt for her, but also for the bigger cause she was serving. Mills believes that not enough services are provided for homeless women, nationally but also in Boston, and that is why Rosie’s Place is such a special and important place.

According to Rosie’s Place’s website, women and children are the fastest growing population homeless population. Fifteen percent of Massachusetts children are currently living in poverty.

“I think a lot of women feel stuck, and if they knew they had somewhere to go that would be safe and that would help

them. Not just put a roof over their head for a little while but actually give them the resources to find their own place, to help give them childcare, to help educate them so they can get better jobs and support themselves. I think it would solve a lot of problems, not just homelessness but other problems in our society as well,” Karen Sikola, a volunteer at Rosie’s Place, said.

Sikola will be running the Boston marathon to raise funds for the shelter on April 16th, 2018. 85 cents of every dollar raised will go directly into the services for their guests, and the other 15 cents will serve for employee wages.

When volunteering there, Sikola and other volunteers prepare meals, serve food, and clean after the end of service.

She appreciates how Rosie’s treats women, with a particular dignity, how meals are prepared in the kitchen and, then served on real plates and served to women at their table.

According to Women’s Lunch Place website, the day-shelter for homeless women, Women’s, homeless women are the most at risk on the streets but in shelters as well. “The truth is,” as their website reports, “that homeless women are physically vulnerable, and at a heightened risk of sexual assault, human trafficking and all kinds of violence. On the streets, there are homeless men, drug dealers and pimps who prey on women by offering ‘protection’.”

Norma’s story, like many others of women that were rescued by the shelter, is a testimony of the importance of a place like this in Boston. Today, the center survives on its own, without accepting any city, state or federal funding, according to its website, and relies entirely on the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations.

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GIVING YOUTHS MORE THAN WORDS How young adults are taking charge of their story WRITER: CARISSA DUNLAP PHOTO: NIA VITAL MODEL: NICOLLE BATISTA

“T

here is power in work,” Jodi Rosenbaum, More Than Words Executive Director says. “It’s the building blocks for youths to find their way, to lift up the best parts of themselves.”

More Than Words is a nonprofit social enterprise that employs minority and at-risk teens to run a thriving online and physical bookstore. It initially began as just a job training program, but soon expanded to a hands-on support system built into the workplace.

Jodi Rosenbaum has spent a majority of her career helping vulnerable youths who have big dreams but haven’t had the opportunities to achieve them. Prior to MTWs launch, Rosenbaum had grown angry and frustrated at the failure of system to provide aid for young people. As she believed too many efforts to get them on the right track have been based on the wrong methods.

“She was really struck by the poor outcomes and by the poor services being provided for youth,” says Senior Development and Marketing manager of More Than Words, Naomi Parker.

Instead of tapping into the immense amount of potential in minority youths, the foster, criminal or educational systems would try to fix what has been broken or missing in their lives.

Rosenbaum was inspired by a friend who discovered a pile of discarded books on the sidewalk. Through research, they realized the books’ value, and how they could easily be ATLAS | 12

looked up and sold online.

“She realized young people could do that.

Young people could be using the computer, learning those skills and looking them up, selling them, seeing the money come back in, and those funds could help pay for their journey,” says Parker.

After spending a year learning about the online book industry, she partnered with a local group home to set up a small office in Cambridge. She recruited a group of young men from the program and taught them how to process and sell books online.

In 2004, Jodi Rosenbaum launched a small, used bookstore, More Than Words. It has since expanded to open other bookstores in Waltham, Massachusetts, and in Boston’s South End neighborhood. They’ve also grown a large online presence through notable sites such as Amazon and Ebay. In 2017, alone, MTW’s has received $2.6 million donated books, and $2.1 million in revenue.

“We pretty quickly realized that in addition to training youth on how do you work, how do you show up on time, how do you be held accountable, and how do you receive feedback that none of that would matter if they weren’t able to help start making progress in their own lives and applying those same tools in their personal lives,” says Senior Development and Marketing Manager Naomi Parker.

As an associate, teens are required to work 20 or more hours per week earning minimum wage,

with opportunities to move up into higher positions within the business. They help manage and staff the online and retail bookstore operations, while meeting business and personal goals, whether that be to show up for class or to meet a monthly sales quota.

Most teens spend six months to a year working at MTW, and at the end of two years, 80 percent of graduates are either working, going to school part-time or full-time or both. This compares to a 20 percent employment rate for all low-income minority teens in Massachusetts.

Additional support programs, like “the YOU job” and the Graduate Program provide guidance for young adults after their time with MTW by offering workshops on a variety of life skills.

Programs covering everything from banking to housing, preparing for employment opportunities, giving tools to handle uncomfortable situations and sexual harassment in the workplace, all ensure that MTW employees have a life beyond the stacks.

“This job really helps you and takes the time and steps to prepare you for a real job setting.

I’ve created a resume, and I’ve never done that before. No other job is going to do that for you.

This is the first level step for all of us, for many reasons,” says 20-year-old employee Kaneisha.

Part of the program entails youths creating a question zero – a question before all questions, a personal goal to look forward to and achieve.

And the question zero is different for every youth who first comes into More Than Words. Some are tackling the challenge to receive their diploma, pass their high school equivalency test, or even to hold an entry level job.

“My question zero is to become an EMT. Another question zero of mine is to get my permit and my license,” says Kenisha.

There was pushback and questions as to whether you could take those who were most challenged and teach them how to run a business, especially as many didn’t love books, technology or working. According to Rosenbaum, what they really loved was getting paid and being in control.

“To be honest, when I first applied, I didn’t want to be a part of this at all. I wasn’t willing to work. I was used to sitting at home. I wasn’t ready for a job, but I got talked into it,” says Kaneisha, who had been in and out of the foster care system for most of her life. “I’m really happy I took the steps to be a part of More Than Words. It’s such a great environment, [with] great people who really care and really want to help you.”

Kanesha is set to graduate from More Than Words at the end of March and will move on to the Graduate Program. “I’m going to come back one day, and I’m going to be an EMT. I’m going to come here in my uniform, and be like, guys I did it. And that feels great.”

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HELPING THE PRISON SYSTEM WRITER: ISABELLE BRAUN PHOTO: OONA BAKER

“P

rison has been used as the chief method of punishment” according to Andrew Dugan, an Emerson College professor with a focus on prison culture. Across the prison system, the United States needs to determine a single way of how to treat prisoners.

There needs to be a level of fairness in how certain communities are treated and what things they have access to. Two community treatments that need to be addressed more are those of the LGTBQ+ community and that of the women community.

There are large populations of both communities that need help within the prison system. When asked if specific groups were targeted by officials, Andrew Dugan stated that there are “entire classifications of people placed in prison.” This determines that there are certain groups that exist with the prison system more than others. Currently, there is an increasing number of the LGTBQ+ community within the walls of the prison system.

According to a UCLA study titled “Incarceration Rate of LGB People Three Times the General Population,” done by UCLA’s

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Williams Institute, there are 238,000 sexual minorities who are locked in the prison system within the United States. The findings of this study found that there are large numbers of each community country wide; some of the numbers include the following: 94,000 men within the system are gay or bisexual and 56,400 women within the system are lesbian or bisexual. These people are trapped within tight confines with little to no help from the outside world. Not only are they subjected to negative judgment and treatment outside of prison, they cannot escape that judgment within the stone walls.

As there is a large number of LGBTQ+ individuals within the prison system, there needs to be a certain level of treatment. Prisoners have rights to hygienic materials and other life sustainable materials. One female prisoner, twenty-year old Crystal, is staying at Logan CC prison.

On a blog website, she wrote that if there is no outside financial support for a prisoner, it is difficult to get these supplies.

“Things, [like regular and hygienic supplies,] are so much…you can’t even get all

your personals with…the state pay of $10 a month.” Some of the hygienic supplies is that of keeping clean and maintaining a certain level of presentability. Sometimes these materials are donated to the prison system in order to increase the amount within the stores. However, these necessary life sustaining supplies are not often given to the prisoners; instead, these supplies go to the commanding officers. This treatment of the communities in prison is unexceptable. These supplies are meant to keep the prisoners healthy and comfortable while they stay within the confined walls.

Making products affordable and accessible is one of the priorities that Black and Pink has on their very long list. This organization focuses on abolishing the prison industrial complex and the toxicity it creates. They hope, as a result of doing this, to improve the lives of those who identify as LGBTQ+ or as a woman who live within the system. This organization is the prime candidate to help change the prison system as the board is made up of current and former prisoners from across the United States. These individuals know how the system works within the walls. When asked if prisoners should have a say in how the prison system is run, Dugan claimed that they “should have considerable say.”

These individuals know how the process works. Who else is better to advise on how to adjust the prison system?

Part of Black and Pink’s goals is to keep prisoners well informed of what is happening in the outside world. On a monthly basis, a newspaper gets sent to over 13,000 prisoners. Within the newspaper, an editor letter, relevant news, history, and prisoner submissions can be read. Transparency is

key within the paper. The 2018 January issue has an article titled “Are Private Prison Companies Using Forced Labor?”—written by Josh Eidelson—explaining a lawsuit that a group of prisoners filed against Geo Group Inc. Eidelson stated that the private prison threatened solitary confinement if the prisoners refused to work without pay.

The prisoners won the lawsuit. Black and Pink included this article possibly to show that prisoners are not always at fault, and to lift their spirits up a little bit. It would also give the prisoners hope that there are people in the outside world who are holding the prisons accountable for the wrong doings they have committed.

Black and Pink wants to fix the issues within the prison system. They fight for prisoner rights and provide materials that are necessary to live a little bit more of a comfortable life within the walls. They are able to identify the problems and have come up with solutions, and now only need to execute them. Black and Pink encourages the public to be involved within their community. People can visit the Black and Pink website and see what chapters the organizations has around the country.

One location is in Boston, Massachusetts.

People can volunteer at differAent drives to create wellness packages or donate items to the drives. Website visitors have the option to become a penpal with a prisoner who is within the system. Black and Pink’s goal is to make lives better for those within the walls. Join the cause for those who can’t fight for themselves.

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Pink: Redefining the term “seeing pink elephants�: Discovering absurdity, innovation, and/or creativity in the mundane; seeing the world differently/from a unique personal perspective

CAMPUS Emerson Residence Assistants ‘Destined’ for Greatness//18 Procrastination And Its Relation to Mental Health//21 “Night of Colors”: Where Art Meets Social Justice//24

EMERSON RESIDENCE ASSISTANTS

‘Destined’ for Greatness

I

am floating through space, vivid, neon-colored celestial bodies gliding past me as I make my way through Piano Row’s twelfth floor residence hall. I mingle with lions, scorpions, rams, and two women whose faces are etched with the same details.

The cosmos swim before my eyes, constellations aligning themselves- as they fall into place, I feel my own destiny taking form.

Yet, I fall back to Earth as I sit with Residence Assistants Ilina Ghosh and Dimitrie Flores in the un-inspired, suffocating common rooms of Piano Row. These walls are a bare beige, unadorned with the astrology theme that Ilina and Dimitrie crafted for the twelfth floor. Unless one is looking to write an ode to dullness, the living spaces- at face value - offer little to no creative inspiration “As it is, every floor just looks the same,” Flores said with a saddened gaze around the almost prison-like bareness of the walls.

A Residence Assistant, RA for short, is a student that has the responsibility of overseeing one floor of a residence hall, primarily ensuring that residents are adhering to residence policies. However, the job a RA goes beyond playing hall monitor. One of the several duties of a RA is to transform the residence halls from an impersonal, unfamiliar place to one that students feel is their home away from home- one that they feel comfortable living and working in.

Flores hand-painted the astrological chart that greets residents right as they step off of the elevator. Each individual sign is painted with flawless accuracy, every little detail of the intricate shapes manifested in the colorful paint etched onto the plain, black background. While he could have just created a board using printed images like most RAs do, ATLAS | 18

WRITER: LILY DOOLIN PHOTO: AYO OLADEJI

Flores said that his hand-made work is in an effort to bring more traditional art pieces to the Emerson campus.

“A lot of my boards have been painted because I love traditional art,” said Flores, “We don’t have enough traditional art at Emerson.”

Additionally, RAs are tasked with arranging programs that engage residents with not only other students on their floor, but the larger Emerson community. Flores is also incorporating more traditional styles of art, such as painting and drawing, into the programs he orchestrates for residents. Just a few weeks ago, Flores held a canvas painting program that attracted so many residents that the eager artists were elbow to elbow in the common room. Flores says that these programs are in an effort to get more residents’ artwork displayed around the residence halls.

“I feel like it would be great to showcase residents’ art, make it more of a personal space,” Flores said.

Flores’ work as an RA goes beyond injecting creativity into the dullness of Piano Row, however. Having openly identified as queer to his residents, Flores serves not only as creative inspiration to his residents but he also inspires courage among many of them.

“I’m very open not just about my personal life, but who I am- my gender identity, my sexuality, my race/ethnicity,” Flores said, “It creates a safer space for people with identities that are often marginalized.”

Flores’ other programs are based in trying to create a more unified, accepting community among Emerson’s queer population.

“There’s no real space where a lot of non-binary people can come together and talk about their identity,” said Flores.

Thus, Flores orchestrated several events

where non-binary individuals can come together and talk about their struggles of being under-represented on campus. Flores has also worked with the Office of Housing and Residence Life to make the housing selection process more gender-inclusive.

Ghosh, on the other hand, is the social and civic engagement RA, a special designation that sets her apart from other RAs. One of her duties is to connect her residents not only to the larger Emerson community, but the greater Boston community as well. While she still creates boards to decorate the living space, her boards often have interactive elements that allow for residence to declare what sort of community service projects they are interested in. In the fall semester, Ghosh created a board that asked residents what sort of service events they wanted to see on campus.

“People were drawing on the board and talking about different civic engagement opportunities they want to do, which was cool to see,” Ghosh said.

After collecting the input of her residents,

Ghosh got into contact with fellow Emersonian Arasha Lalani. Lalani is a member of PERIOD, a U.S. nongovernmental organization focused on providing menstrual products to women who can otherwise not afford it.

Ghosh worked closely with Lalani to establish a chapter of PERIOD here at Emerson. In October, the chapter worked to create menstrual care packages for women effected by both Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

“We worked with her to get pads, tampons, and other sanitary products for shelters,” Ghosh said, “We got to have a bunch of packing parties and educate others on that.”

The chapter, made up of both females and males, is continuing their work to provide free menstrual products to other shelters within the US. Additionally, they are working to make menstrual products more readily available- and free- here at Emerson.

“Now, the chapter here at Emerson is really large,” said Ghosh, her eyes alight.

Ghosh also likes to plan more relaxed, fun events to engage her residents. She talked with 19 | PINK

me about an event she did earlier in the school year: a two-floor block party where new residents could come and meet one another, and also perhaps engage in a friendly game or two.

“In all of the elevator bays, we put up lights and board games,” Ghosh said. “People were coming and decorating door-stops.” Laughing, she added, “We had pizza and cake.”

While life-changing service projects and big, flashy events are likely what people see as Ghosh’s mark as an RA, at a closer look, the little things she does are just as important. Having taken a walk to Ghosh’s dorm, I noticed a large box just outside her door. Residents told me that Ghosh typically leaves toilet paper in this box for her residents to take- for free.

Hailey Briggs, a twelfth-floor resident who lives right next to Ghosh, gave voice to how Ghosh has helped her and her suitemates.

“Ilina has helped us create a little plan so we can clean together,” said Briggs, adding about both Ghosh and Flores that, “They’re both so kind and willing to cater to whatever you need.”

Nada Alturki, another resident on the twelfthfloor, also spoke to me about her experience.

“They’re always available when we need help or

ATLAS | 20

assistance in any way, either as a friend or an RA,” said Alturki. “I see Dimitrie all the time. This is my first semester at Emerson and there’s a lot I don’t know, so they’re really helpful.”

As the year draws to a close, Flores and Ghosh are looking not to the beaches and warm weather of summer vacation, but instead to the desolate, dull residence halls once more. Both expressed interest in returning as an RA next year. However, regardless of whether or not they’re given the chance, both are pleased with what they’ve been able to accomplish thus far.

“I wanted to be an RA because I really wanted to make a difference at Emerson,” said Flores, “I feel like a lot of people don’t have a strong queer figure to look up to… and I feel like we really need that voice- I want to be that voice for people.”

“I have mostly freshmen residents, so I hope that they got a good first impression of Emerson, and that they felt safe… coming home every day,” Ghosh said, “If they don’t leave with horrible experiences of Freshman year, then I did my job.”

PROCRASTINATION

AND ITS RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH WRITER: CHRISTINE HACHEM PHOTO: NIA VITAL MODEL: NICOLLE BATISTA

21 | PINK

P

rocrastination is something just about everyone is familiar with — especially at Emerson College, as students habitually overload their schedules. Ironically, this author is no different as this draft is being handed in five hours before the deadline, as a result of my own procrastination. Procrastination is, by definition, the action of delaying or postponing something. You might tell yourself, “I’ll have more time tomorrow” or “it won’t take long,” and “I work better under pressure.”

When in reality, if you were to split up your work between days, you would have more time to do what you love. By ending your procrastination habits, you’ll also end your FOMO and aid your mental health.

Just recently, Emerson College sent out their first survey regarding students’ mental health and well-being. It was Emerson’s ambition that the survey would shed some light on the causes and effects of mental health on campus. In working with the JED foundation, an organization that aims to bring awareness to emotional health and suicide prevention, Jim Hoppe, Emerson’s current Vice President and Dean for Campus Life, was able to review Emerson’s programs and services for students who suffer from mental health problems and symptoms, such as procrastination.

In 2004, a topical conference regarding mental health was held. Although overwhelmingly successful, it did not yield insights into what school influences are worsening or causing student’s mental health problems, resulting in the most recent survey.

Emerson College does provide a strong counseling service for its students. Just recently, Emerson added two full time counselors, added to the ECAPS—Emerson’s Counseling and Psychological Services—budget, and increased diversity among the staff members. Despite the improvements to the facilities, Hoppe does not believe it is enough. “When you’re in the midst of a crisis,” Hoppe clarifies, “there’s really no such thing as enough support or the right kind of support”. In reality, everyone responds to everything in different ways and there is no ‘cook-

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ie cutter response’ on how to treat these issues.

Kayla Mitchell, a sophomore at Emerson, says, like Hoppe, the services provided are not as beneficial as she would hope. Mitchell describes that the problem starts with the lack of understanding with professors, since many are inflexible in their schedules and do not fully understand certain sensitivities As a result of this, they do not realize how many students suffer from a mental disorder or how to properly handle it. Although ECAPS tries their best, Mitchell does not believe their services compare to her home therapist, as her connection with them is stronger since they know her better and provide her with a steadier aid.

Another student at Emerson, who will be kept anonymous for privacy reasons, reports on having a positive experience with the ECAPS facility. “I visited in order to get referrals for talk therapists in the area and was pleased with the service they provided.” But, this one positive experience doesn’t counteract the numerous horror stories swirling around campus about students. “My friend dealt with a roommate who had hostile intentions towards her and her other roommates. When they reached out for guidance, no help was given and the situation was ignored.” This student suggests, to improve upon this, maybe the faculty at ECAPS could check up on the students who come in seeking help.

Whether students are seeking out help for diagnosed or undiagnosed problems, many students discover their own difficulties with one form of procrastination or another. According to Fast Company, an online business and lifestyle magazine, there are five different types of procrastination.

There is The Perfectionist, someone who gets easily stressed out by imperfections and fears embarrassment from their mistakes. Perfectionists tend to have poor time management as a result.

Next, there is The Imposter, someone who is afraid of not living up to someone else’s expectations due to the belief that he or she is unqualified for the task.

Then, there is the Dread-Filled form of pro-

“Finally, there’s The Lucky One. Lucky One Procrastinators are the kind of people that believe their best work comes from last minute pressure.”

crastination, where someone avoids doing the work because the project assigned does not interest them. The fact that the work is boring and unpleasant, in their opinion, leads to a lack of motivation, and therefore, a lack of action.

The Overwhelmed procrastinator is someone with high levels of anxiety from their overfilled To Do List. Mitchell puts assignments off until the last minute and will end up watching T.V. or making friendship bracelets instead of completing homework to relax her mind, but it ends up resulting with a failure to complete work.

Finally, there’s The Lucky One. Lucky One Procrastinators are the kind of people that believe their best work comes from last minute pressure. If one succeeds under pressure once, that person will believe that they can succeed at anything at the last minute. However, this will most likely lead to poor results.

Most Emerson students are extremely busy, so, what can you do to stop binging your favorite show and complete your work? Hoppe

described how often students feel embarrassed for feeling the way they do, but in fact it is normal and better to be in tune with who you are and with what is going on with yourself. It is necessary to plan beforehand, if you start feeling minor symptoms, like fatigue or restlessness, have a plan in place for what you’re going to do in more severe cases.

Mitchell suggests surrounding yourself with motivated people, for their motivation will work for you as well. Another Emerson student suggests “Just get it over with. If you get it done now, you have more time to do what you want later. What’s the point of going out and having fun if you’re anxious about getting something done the whole time…?”

It is also extremely important to take time for yourself. Whether that being finding someone to confide in or reading a good book, taking time to recharge will be worth it in the long run. As for right now, stop procrastinating, put this article down, and get back to work.

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“Night of Colors”: Where Art Meets Social Justice WRITER: ANAPURL FELDMAN

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alking down a dimly lit corridor in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), one might think they’ve wandered into the wrong wing until, eyes drawn to a haloed light, they glance up to see two illuminated figures leaning against the wall. These colossal structures, more than ten feet tall, are the statues of King Anlamani and King Aspelta, regarding passersby with stormy granite eyes.

This is the Art of the Ancient Worlds gallery, currently featuring Nubian Art from 500 B.C. It is the largest and most comprehensive exhibit of Nubian Art available in the world, second only to its excavation site’s museum in Cairo, Egypt. Nubia, which spanned the Central Nile Valley, was one of Africa’s earliest kingdoms. It was powerful in the trading world for both its mining of carnelian and gold, which was traded to Egypt for other manufactured materials, as well as its location amidst well-traveled routes. The Nubian Empire lived peacefully and prosperously for centuries with its many neighbors.

While visiting the MFA’s exhibit in 2017, Andrew Lawrence, a VMA senior at Emerson College, found

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himself moved by the Kings’ statues. He especially took interest in the sarcophagus of King Aspelta, the largest of its kind to be excavated by Western powers.

“In a way, I see a correlation between how Western ideologies look at black art as something to keep, rather than something to admire-- from a distance,” says Lawrence. The pieces, Lawrence explains, have been extracted from their rightful place in Nubian tombs, taking them outside of their cultural context. They’ve become renowned as relics of the past instead of as timeless artistic pieces.

“It’s the first example we have of art from people of color,” Lawrence says. “I can’t believe I hadn’t learned about it until I went to the MFA.” Despite its cultural and historical importance, art from the Nubian Empire is for the most part unknown to the general public, sought out primarily by those with an already-determined interest in the arts. Nubian art is the beginning of the story of black art and Lawrence wants to continue telling it. He explains that Nubian art is not something to be viewed frozen in a time and place of the past,

but rather as the foundation for a prolific, monumental movement and culture.

The exhibit inspired Lawrence’s idea for his BFA film, “Night of Colors”. The film’s premise, he explains, is to add to the story of black art, as well as to shed light on the historical and institutional race divisions that exist within the United States and in particular, Boston.

On their IndieGogo page, a fundraising platform website, Lawrence and his two producers, Amber McCleese and Sydney Rae Chin, talk about the film’s emphasis on diversity, both in front of and behind the camera. Lawrence’s team is comprised almost entirely of people of color. The setting of the film is inspired by the MFA’s Nubian Art exhibit. It will feature twelve fictional characters, all of whom come from varying cultures and demographics of Boston, who serendipitously cross paths during a staged art event called Night of Colors. While the film is script-based, Lawrence emphasizes the impact guerrilla filmmaking has had on him, that he does not believe in a “pampering process” in which he has set expectations of his actors. He hopes that they go off script. “In this way,” says Lawrence, “the vision is redefined over and over again.”

He hopes to show the unity that can exist among people from all walks of life when we disrupt the divisions created by oppressive systems such as redlining. “There are those with privilege, with money,the people you see on the TV,” says Lawrence, “And then there are the marginalized groups looking

in: those that are able to see what both privilege and struggle look like.”

Assistant producer and Boston native, Jalissa Evora agrees that the sentiment is important to talk about. “These things are really happening and are being completely ignored,” Evora says. “I feel for a lot of the characters. I’ve seen these stories played out especially in the parts of the city that don’t get a voice when we hear about Boston and I appreciate them being told in an honest way.”

All the characters enter “Night of Colors” bringing their past experiences with them.

For example, one character, Jeremiah, deals with the trauma of seeing his brother die on the street. He comes to the museum intent on finding his brother’s murderer and getting revenge. As the characters peruse the art event, they find each other and in doing so, also find peace of mind.

The film will be completed on April 16th and Lawrence has aspirations to do a large screening both at Emerson and the MFA in late April.

As the film moves toward its steps of finalization, Lawrence explains his gratefulness in being able to immerse himself in the history, art and culture of people of color at a time when the political climate is particularly emphatic on the dominant narrative of whiteness.

“I didn’t ask to be black,” says Lawrence.

“But I am so blessed to be.”

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Pink: Empowered.

Women reclaiming it as a power color.

GLOBE Pointe Shoe Pink//28 Small But Mighty: History of Women’s Suffrage in the Caymen Island//31 Stayin Pink: the Forced Femininity of South Korean Female Celebrities//34

Pointe Shoe Pink WRITER: VICTORIA TORRES PHOTO: OONA BAKER MODEL: KENNA MCCAFFERTY

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oston Ballet soloist Diana Albrecht immigrated from Paraguay to Brazil at the age of fifteen to pursue ballet.

She later came to the United States to compete in a ballet competition without knowing the language or having a coach.

However, when the audience sees her on stage, they won’t always see years of hard work and tribulation but rather her grace and elegance.

When most people hear the word “ballet,” the first thing that comes to mind is women who float across brightly lit stages in long tulle skirts. They think about that fifth grade trip to see The Nutcracker and the way the sets glittered as much as the dancers.

With new shows and movies emerging such as “Breaking Pointe” and “First Position,” a more competitive side of ballet is being shown.

While these are not always the most accurate portrayals, it does recognize the ballerinas’ diligence before they reach the level of renown audiences expect.

From years of dancing, Albrecht gained confidence and structure. “Being away from my home country and my family made me mature quickly and become a strong human being,” Albrecht says.

This self-assurance translated into other aspects of her life, pushing her to pursue a degree in Business Management at Northeastern University.

“Now that I am months away from my gradua-

tion, I am proud that I did not let myself give up or ease down on the workload,” she says, describing the balance between student and dancer, “It is possible; it just takes a lot of effort and focus.”

Furthermore she speaks on how the act of dancing itself, and the feeling of being on stage has allowed her to be more empowered. “When you are on stage, you own the space and you want everyone to look at your work, at your movements and your expressions and you want everyone to feel what you are feeling,” Albrecht says, “I think that we feed from this empowerment.”

Albrecht is just one of many dancers in a long legacy of female empowerment in ballet.

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While the classical period was defined by women as ethereal and delicate characters, this began to shift with the emergence of choreographers like George Balanchine, Martha Graham and Agnes DeMille in the 1950’s and 60’s. Women’s movement became more dynamic, and powerful while partner work began to be less defined by gender roles.

Balanchine’s choreography focused on women and the power they could project as a large group. His ballet, “Four Temperaments,” part of a series of “tights ballets,” where dancers ditch their elaborate costumes for just a pair of tights and a leotard, is known for being one of the first ballets to push the boundaries of gender in dance.

“It was genderless in the sense that the man was not standing behind the woman and presenting her beautifully,” says former Boston Ballet soloist and Emerson ballet professor Leslie Woodies, “They were dancing together and creating shapes.”

Agnes De Mille’s, “Rodeo,” has had a similar legacy. The ballet follows a young cowgirl as she struggles to find herself and eventual love in a world where she is the odd woman out. De Mille’s cowgirl mimics the movement of the men in many ways and her choreography is characterized by powerful jumps and floorwork.

“Rodeo” upset many of the gender norms in ballet, such as allowing men to dance in large groups without partners, and allowing the lead ballerina to be both strong and awkward, in a comedic way.

These redefined gender roles continue to influence choreographers today, such as New York

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City Ballet’s, Justin Peck, who recreated “Rodeo” in 2017. His version focused around 15 men and one woman in which the original narrative was entirely stripped away, instead focusing on the music.

The men represented the more sensitive and pensive parts of the music while the woman was the force of power.

As more and more choreographers continue to push boundaries, ballet is thrust into the spotlight of popular culture. This, along with movements in the entertainment industry for women to speak out, points to the impact powerful women can have in the arts world.

“There is something so powerful and so exciting about women working together,” says Woodies, “I know that we have been disregarded for years, but I think there is movement that we can be hopeful about.”

The ballet world is not only moving but propelling forward into a new age, as companies begin to reassess how gender stereotypes have shaped the industry. These are dancers, but they are also women who hold their passions, responsibilities, and empowerment in the world, which they are now bringing to the stage. These new perspectives are the first step in continuing the conversation.

Small But Mighty:

History of Women’s Suffrage in the Caymen Island WRITER: HANNAH EBANKS PHOTO: HANNAH EBANKS ILLUSTRATOR: SHAFAQ PATEL

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n 1948, Georgette Ebanks and 23 other women wrote a letter to the Cayman Islands commissioner that started the women’s suffrage campaign in the small islands of the Caribbean. One of the lines from that letter was, “we declare that it is our intention to exercise our constitutional right to vote today.”

That day, however, did not come until 11 years later, in 1959, when the islands’ constitution was amended allowing women to vote.

In between the original letter, there was petitions. Groups of women from each of Grand Cayman’s five districts signed petitions in 1957, transforming the campaign into an island-wide movement.

Ebanks, whose last name was Hurlston when she signed the petition and has no relation to the author of this article, is the only signatory alive today.

Satina DaCosta, one of her granddaughters, said, “I asked her what inspired her to sign that petition, if she was thinking about future generations and she said, ‘At that point I was thinking about myself and the opportunity I as a young woman at the time was missing out on.’”

Many would refer to the Cayman Islands as “an ideal or idyllic place or state,” the definition of paradise. Its natural beauty, clear, blue seas and white, sandy beaches attracts millions of tourists each year. Seven Mile Beach, the most well-known beach on Grand Cayman, was ranked fourth in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

But, for some of the residents, they have not always seen the island as “paradise.” Those residents are women who currently account for 51 percent of the population.

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The Cayman Islands is not the only Caribbean country with issues of gender equality. The World Economic Forum produces an annual report on the global gender gap. “The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks 144 countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment,” according to the website.

A key finding from the 2017 report showed that while globally there was a reduction in the gender gap, countries still need to do more to accelerate progress. The WEF calculates that at the current rate of progress, it will take close to 79 years to close the gap in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is the third lowest score.

The fourth area, political empowerment, is where the Caribbean is not meeting the global standard. The percentage of women in both elected and appointed positions is 19.46 percent, according to U.N. Women Caribbean.

The global standard set by the United Nations is neither sex should have less than 40 percent representation in the government.

“I have never ever not once in my working life, even at school, I never felt like I couldn’t be or do what I wanted because I was a girl or woman… I don’t know if that’s because of the family I came from… the way I was raised… female-focused family [which] filtered into my school and work life. I never experienced any personal obstacles, but I know they exist. Particularly in politics and certain corporate environments, like law,” DaCosta, who is a content manager and writer, said.

In the Cayman Islands, female representation in government is a work in progress. Minister Tara Rivers, the current minister of financial services, is using her background as the former minister of education and gender affairs to further gender equality in the islands.

“In my current role I am the minister of financial services. Now, financial services is one of the key industries in our country and traditionally... we have never had a woman that has had the responsibility for setting policy, driving the agenda for a portfolio such as financial services. … Certainly I think that particular

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barrier is now broken in the minds of the public, in the minds of young people, in the minds of aspiring women politicians that may want to one day run for office,” Rivers said.

During her time as minister of gender affairs, she worked to include the islands in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, a U.N. initiative that emphasizes a country’s responsibility to promote gender equality through policy.

“As compared to many other places I think Cayman has certainly made some strides in that area. … We have a lot of the legislative tools to support having a more equal society... so in many respects we’re far advanced to other countries and other societies,” Rivers said.

When Women’s Marches were organized around the world to support women’s rights in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump, there was a small group who also gathered on a beach in Grand Cayman. It was a mixture of mostly women and young girls who were either residents or tourists who held up signs about women’s rights.

The 60th anniversary of the suffragette movement was celebrated in 2017 with the release of a short documentary, “Her Story is Our History: The Women’s Suffrage Movement in the Cayman Islands.”

The documentary was commissioned by Rivers’ ministry of education and gender affairs.

An outside production company was hired to compile and produce the 22-minute documentary about the fight for women’s suffrage.

The images used in the documentary were sourced from the Cayman Islands National Archive, which along with assisting the government with managing records is responsible for preserving the islands’ history, according to Charisse Morrison, a deputy information manager at the archive.

The archive was established in the early 1990s and has maps, images, film, audio clips, transcripts, and a reference library.

In conjunction with the images, the archive also created facsimiles of the 1948 and 1957 petitions, which were displayed at an event to promote the documentary, Morrison said.

High resolution cameras were used to photograph the petitions, which were printed, enlarged and framed. The replica even mimics the fire damage the petitions sustained when there was a fire in the government building in 1972.

Gesturing to the framed petitions, Morrison said, “We’re here because of these women…

[They] did something very brave.”

The right to vote was only the beginning of the path to gender equality in the Cayman Islands.

When asked what her ideal of equality in Cayman would look like, Minister Rivers responded, “To me, it would be don’t even have to have a conversation about it. Where it just is, where a child would have no reservation or hesitation to be or do whatever without necessarily considering this is for ‘girls’ or this is for ‘boys’. Moving past in many respects the inhibiting stereotypes in some areas still seem to have. To ensure that people can just live and be and create to their fullest extent possible. Keeping in mind we’re not trying to say that boys and girls, men and women are the same because we’re not. But our differences shouldn’t equate to a difference in the ability to achieve or succeed in whatever arena we choose to do so.”

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the forced femininity of South Korean female celebrities WRITER: CHARLIE BOYLE PHOTO: NIA VITAL

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F

emale celebrities, all over the world, suffer from double standards when it comes to money, public images, and personal lives. But in South Korea, this is taken to an extreme. The reason can be traced back to Confucian standards.

From my time in South Korea, I found that Confucianism traditionally states that women should follow behind men in all things and should above all be chaste and pure. Ahyun Lee, a student from South Korea, says that these beliefs come from the mid-sixteenth century, when a group of Confucian philosophers gained influence and installed stricter standards for each gender, limiting how much control women had in their own lives.

Female celebrities each have to consider their role as a woman in their Confucian society and what this conservative country will accept them as, then examine if they can be successful and stand out from amongst the rest. As a result, many women try showing different concepts of femininity as they promote themselves, waiting for the “role” that would best fit.

There are three common concepts that female celebrities usually try to adapt as their “role” in society. First, there is the cute girl, who is either adorable and quirky or pure and innocent. The cute girl represents typical Korean ideals: respectful towards her elders and doesn’t challenge the status quo.

Cute girls face less criticism in this role as

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long as they remain true to their role, but they will have a harder time standing out, as this is the most popular role to fill, the role of least resistance. Apink is a Kpop girl group that has gained significant success in this role, due to their commitment to innocent and girly songs over their eight years.

Second, there is the “sexy diva”. “Sexy divas” show cleavage and extra skin, they hint at semi-scandalous topics on game shows, but they are still expected to grow out of this phase. “Sexy divas” will face backlash until they gain a large enough fan base to counteract the bad press with the good press. The soloist, HyunA, has unapologetically dominated this role since 2007, with songs and music videos banned for being too provocative. HyunA is still young and popular, but if she continues to release such controversial videos as she ages past thirty, it is likely that she will lose most of her fanbase.

Third, there is the girl-crush.

The Girl-crush is Korea’s version of a badass, although a more watered-down Western version. She is becoming increasingly popular in Korea as foreign influences strengthen. Girl crushes will either sing or speak about loving themself and presents more feminist notions, but also will have less of a chance of becoming popular. Another label for the girl crush is the “modern-woman,” as she is less expected to follow a traditional way of life. A group that consistently sticks to this role is Mamamoo, three vocalists and a rapper who challenge Korean beauty standards

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with their song “Yes I Am.” They rose to prominence in Korea not for their looks or dance skills, as many groups do, but for their exceptional singing voices, outspoken nature, and quirky behaviors. Aaron Choi, a Korean-American student from Irvine, says,”Because so many girl groups get plastic surgery and try to act the same, Mamamoo really stands out. They look natural and don’t seem to care about dieting like all the other groups. One member in particular has gained a large fanbase for her non Korean-like body, in that she flaunts curves and thicker thighs like American singers usually do.”

Plastic surgery has a huge impact in South Korea, with many young Korean girls getting popular procedures like double-eyelid surgery as graduation gifts. It has often been called “The Plastic Surgery Capital of the World,” due to people’s relaxed and often enthusiastic opinions on it. It is a popular thought in South Korea that one should always be improving their looks if possible, and thus many female celebrities are told by their companies that they need plastic surgery in order to be popular.

Dieting is another way that companies can control their female celebrities. Many companies have weekly weigh-ins that their trainees (celebrities in training) have to comply to, with some thrown out if they repeatedly miss the ideal weight. The thought is that if these trainees don’t want to be successful enough to change their weight and their face, they aren’t a good investment for the company.

All of this is to gain fans, at the cost of being true to oneself. This is because fans are vital to survival, even more so than in many other countries. Fan-culture in Korea is intense, one action can gain a celebrity enough fans to lift their career, but one false move can more easily ruin one forever.

Dating scandals are a common way for a female celebrity to lose many of the fans she had worked to gain. Lee says, “People react much more sensitively when female celebrities are related with an issue than male celebrities.” She gives the example of how many celebrities have to hide that they are dating because when fans find out, they react as if betrayed and are more likely to blame the female over that of the male.

The worry of losing fans have made female celebrities stick closely to these concepts and roles for many years. However, Korea is beginning to change, seen in the new influx of the “girl-crush” role. More women are choosing to not follow traditional ways of life and prioritizes their career over starting a family. They are starting to see the beauty in both natural faces and those with plastic surgery, respecting the fact that they have the option to choose. South Korean youths admire new thinking and more representations of what beauty and talent can be seen as. As this new, modern-woman is becoming more popular in South Korea, hopefully this will make the entire society more accepting of a wider interpretation of femininity.

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HEALTH Açaí and Pitaya: The Healthy but Delicious Superfood//40 Healthy Living: Finding Balance Over Pressure//43 Why Being a Feminist Could Be Good For Your Mental Health//45

Pink : In ve (adj): (i.e. ry good infor h mal ealth or phra se - spirits in th e pin k)

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Açaí and Pitaya: The Healthy but Delicious Superfood WRITER: EMILY CRISTOBAL PHOTO: MADISON DOUGLAS MODEL: KAYLEIGH DAY

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ave you ever been in the mood for a smoothie, but you didn’t just want a drink? Well, an açaí bowl provides the perfect combination to satisfy both cravings. Or if you’re feeling adventurous for something more tropical, a pitaya bowl.

Visually, açaí and pitaya bowls are beautiful— totally Instagramable. They look just as good as they taste.

Açaí bowls consist of a thick puree of açaí berry pulp, banana, strawberries, blueberries, and some kind of liquid; everything from variations of milk (regular, soy, almond, hemp) to apple juice. Depending on what you put into the blend results in the consistency and taste of the final product, milk if you want it creamier and apple juice if you want a slightly thinner consistency and a more tangysweet taste. The same can be done with pitaya bowls by substituting açaí berry pulp with cubes of pitaya in the blend.

On top of the blend is a mixture of cut fruit (pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, banana, or any other fruit of your choosing), granola, hemp seeds, coconut flakes, peanut butter, and a drizzle of honey, agave, or maple syrup. The list is literally endless and is totally customizable to whatever you are in the mood for.

Açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) berries are native to the rainforests of South America. They grow on açaí palm trees and look similar to blueberries.

Pitaya, on the other hand, also known as dragon fruit, is native to Central America. The fruit grows on cacti and has a pink, spiky exterior. When you open it, the fruit has either a pink or white flesh.

You may be thinking that something that sounds as delicious as açaí and pitaya bowls can’t be healthy, but they are both known superfoods and contain a number of health benefits.

IMMUNE SYSTEM Açaí contains antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, polyphenols, Vitamins A, C and E. Fruits

that contain antioxidants that you may be familiar with are cranberries, blueberries and strawberries. However, the açaí fruit may even contain more antioxidants than the fruits listed above.

In an article in Food is Medicine, Dr. Axe says that pitaya contains Vitamin C and flavonoids, which aid in breaking it down and make the Vitamin C more effective. This large amount of vitamin C is useful in combating the flu and the common cold.

Both açaí and pitaya are rich in Vitamin C, which are known to boost immunity. They are also a good source of fiber and other vitamins and minerals your body needs to function.

Bella Edwards, a junior at Emerson College and Instagram food and fitness blogger, explained that smoothies are also an easy way to get extra servings of vegetables in your diet, a plus is that you can barely taste them.

She said, “Although smoothies are incredible, they’re often quite high in sugar. Subbing some fruits for vegetables that allow for the same texture is a great way to get more veggies in and keep that glycemic index a bit lower. I always add spinach or kale---more so spinach because of the creamy, delicious texture. I’ve also implemented riced sweet potato and cauliflower---sweet potato makes it sweet and adds the prebiotic qualities.

Cauliflower makes it extra creamy! Some other great veggies you can use are beets and carrots!”

Edwards said that vegetables also include tons of fiber, minerals, and nutrients that help your digestive system and make your skin glow. She said that substituting sugar with vegetables also keeps her more energized throughout the day, since she no longer experiences the crash sugar often causes.

DIGESTION AND WEIGHT LOSS Nikki Baptist, a freshman at Emerson College who co-runs the Instagram food page 0682fork, said, “I really enjoy eating açaí and pitaya bowls because they satisfy my sweet cravings in a health41 | PINK

ier way. They also have a lot of protein so they keep me full longer.”

Because açaí and pitaya are both good sources of protein, they can also boost metabolism. An article from Organic Facts, titled “7 Amazing Benefits of Dragon Fruit”, explained that many of the proteins we eat are “metabolized by enzymes in our body and turned into usable proteins that can speed up cell repair, enhance strength and metabolism, and help us lose weight and increase muscle mass.”

APPEARANCE These antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E are also in many skin care products. WebMd says that Vitamin A aids in cell growth and is often used in anti-aging treatment, Vitamin C helps tissue grow and repair itself, and Vitamin E helps the body regulate retinol which is essential for healthy skin.

ENERGY AND STAMINA Açaí also helps boost energy, says Dr. Edward Group of the Global Healing Center. He explained in an article that açaí extract can increase energy and stamina. It may also aid in combating fatigue and exhaustion.

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TRENDY ALTERNATIVES Baptist said, “I think these smoothie bowls started as a trend, but I think they are here to stay. The trend started around 2015 but since then, they have always been around. They just keep innovating bowls in new and different ways.”

Although açaí and pitaya bowls are somewhat of a seasonal food up here in New England, in places that are mostly warm and sunny like Florida, California, and Hawaii, they are always a good choice for a filling snack or well-balanced breakfast.

But the cold and gloom of a Northeast winter shouldn’t stop you from eating what you crave and searching for a healthier option.

Adopting a healthier lifestyle can be intimidating and it’s easy to get caught up in the newest health trends---dairy free, gluten free, keto, sugar free, the list goes on, but it is important to stay true to you and start small. Remember, everybody’s body is different.

Edwards suggested eating as many vegetables as you can. “Start with adding greens to your smoothie and throughout the day! Also swapping processed foods for healthy snacks that will energize you. Reading labels is huge too. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, odds are our body won’t like it! Overall be kind to yourself and listen to your body!”

So go out into Boston and try an açaí or pitaya bowl! You can find them almost anywhere, from Juice Press, which is right on Boylston Street, or Revolution Juice, which is a short T ride away. Be adventurous and eat something that will make you healthy and happy.

Healthy Living: Finding Balance Over Pressure WRITER: MONICA PETRUCCI PHOTO: MADISON DOUGLAS MODEL: KAYLA KEATING

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omen have daily suffocating reminders of what we’re supposed to look like, what we’re supposed to eat, and what we’re supposed to spend our time doing. We notice it constantly, from billboard ads for bikinis and commercials for ridiculous diets to conversations we have with our own friends.

I often notice self-pressuring mindsets from friends saying things like, “I can’t go out with my friends for pizza tonight because I treated myself last night,” or “I have to go to the gym right now (even though I’m exhausted) because I’ve skipped the past two days and I’ll hate myself if I don’t go.” Women are constantly making themselves visibly unhappy as a result of societal pressures subconsciously put on them.

Kayla Keating, a sophomore at Emmanuel College, has been down the road of pressured lifestyles and learned from it. “Diets don’t even work,” she says. “Eating isn’t a negative thing, and people need to realize that. Don’t beat yourself up when you decide you want to have some ice cream after a long day.” Putting yourself in a pressured mindset that doesn’t allow for pleasure or reward can lead to a cycle of anxiety surrounding food. The key, she says, is to listen to your body. “Sometimes it wants spin and a salad, sometimes it wants pizza and a nap.”

Judith Matz, a therapist that specializes in eating disorders, says the foundation of healthy relationship with food is recognizing its purpose. “Food is a source of nourishment and pleasure...A healthy relationship with food occurs when people eat

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when they’re physically hungry, choose from a wide variety of food, and stop when full.”

Things like green smoothies and weight lifting feel great, and sometimes your body is really craving it. But health isn’t defined by how often your body does these things – it’s the ability to balance these with indulgences and pleasures. The key to all of this is working to find a balance within yourself. Recognize when your body wants something, whether that be rest, a pilates class, fruit salad, or a pizza to yourself.

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The absence of these balanced indulgences isn’t a game of strong willpower or good progress – it could be the signs of a disorder. An article on Self describes orthorexia as an eating disorder categorized by forcing yourself to only eat clean/healthy foods. Eating healthy all the time isn’t always directly correlated with wellbeing.

Another related disorder is Excessive exercise disorder, which is categorized on WebMD as recurring obsessive and excessive exercise habits that can have negative physical and psychological effects on the body. These disorders can lead to major anxiety and depression, among other future health issues.

Recognizing these symptoms in your peers’ or your own behaviors is crucial to confront possible health issues. Matz says that social beauty standards and pressure-based lifestyles lie at the root of the issue. “Unfortunately, we live in a diet culture that values the pursuit of thinness over physical and emotional well-being.” It’s become the norm to equate “health” with harmful habits like undereating and over-exercising.

Matz cites a healthier lifestyle option of intuitive eating. “The key is to let go of dieting behaviors, and instead practice positive sustainable behaviors such as eating based on internal cues, physical activity that fits with your lifestyle, good sleep patterns, managing stress, meditation practices, and social connection.”

“It’s truly freeing to be in a place where you can recognize what your body wants and give it to it, without holding back,” Keating says.

“You have to work for this balance...but it’s completely worth it.”

Why Being a FEMINIST

Could Be Good for Your Mental Health WRITER: EMILY MASON PHOTO: AYO OLADEJI MODELS: HANNAH EL-MOHANDES, YONA DERVISHI, DALEY PEDERSON, ISABELLE HUNG, JULIA CHAMPAGNE, ALTHEA SMITH, ADRIAN OCON, ALYSSA CARAHER

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n its most basic sense, a feminist is simply somebody who believes in the equality of the sexes. A feminist can advocate for their belief by attending rallies or protests, writing about feminism, joining a school club or lifting up other women whenever the opportunity presents itself. But being a feminist could possibly help your mental health, too.

A study conducted by Appalachian State University looking into the relationship between feminist ideology, empowerment, body image and disordered eating found that of the group of undergraduate women sampled, a strong sense of feminist ideology was associ-

ated with positive body image. The study describes that in Western society societal norms constantly pressure women to have thin, toned bodies, regardless of individual body type. The study points out that many women internalize these societal message and preoccupy themselves with how they believe others view their bodies. The study suggests that these cultural pressures may be related to the consistent rise of eating disorders throughout the years. The study goes on to say that a feminist ideology can act protectively and lead to critical evaluation and awareness of these societal pressures.

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The study implemented four psychological surveys to gather data: Eating Attitudes Test, which measures participants’ attitudes towards eating; Eating Disorder Recovery Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, which measures an individual’s body image and assesses their relationship with food; Empowerment Scale, which measures a person’s sense of empowerment along five factors (self esteem, power/ powerlessness, community activism, optimism and control over the future and righteous anger); and the final test is the Feminist Identity Composite, which breaks feminism into different stages and assesses which stage participants are in. One must keep in mind that all of these tests are surveys and subject to the confounding factors that can compromise such tests, but in the right scientific hands can still provide valuable insights.

The study found no relationship between feminism and disordered eating, but did find that people in later stages of feminism were

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more satisfied with their bodies and evaluated their appearance better, and that the more empowered a person felt the more positive their body image was. The study also found that people in later stages of feminism scored higher on the empowerment evaluations.

There are many ways to feel empowered, but this study shows that being a feminist is definitely on that list. Feminist involvement is also valuable in its capacity to make people aware of pressures that may be affecting their lives and image of themselves, as illustrated by Appalachian State University’s study.

While being a feminist has the potential to positively impact your life, you can only get as much out of it as you put in, at least according to PhD of Psychology Miriam Waldheter. She says that consistent involvement can make an impact on a person, even if it isn’t radical. The effect participating has on a person “depends on the community and degree of involvement,” Waldheter says. “How involved you are

in something changes how much you are impacted by it. Somebody who went to one protest isn’t going to see a huge personal shift.”

In order to see any significant impact in one’s life – or one’s mental health – involvement needs to be consistent, even if it’s as simple as attending a weekly meeting.

Senior VMA screenwriting major, Rachel LaBonte, experienced the sense of empowerment that can come from consistent involvement in feminist activities. LaBonte is a member of the club Emerson Feminists and says of her time in the group that, “being able to do something with all the stuff I’ve been thinking about felt good. It felt like I was actually making my mark somehow and was able to do something that had real meaning.” Waldheter expressed a sentiment that describes LaBonte’s experience well, “By joining together there can be a restored sense of power and community which can be

healing.” LaBonte’s experience with the club also led her to other like-minded people, whom she could befriend and draw support from on campus. According to her, the group has many discussions in which members are encouraged to bring up any issues that they want to work through or possibly try to change. LaBonte said that the feeling of power she experienced from Emerson Feminists seeped into other areas of her life. “It’s given me the inspiration or motivation to actually do the things with the different opportunities I have in front of me.” In addition to inspiring her, the time in the club has led her to attend more protests and donate regularly to organizations like Planned Parenthood. LaBonte is only one member of a small club at Emerson, but this base level of involvement has given her confidence and encouragement to continue to advocate for her rights and take advantage of life’s opportunities.

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Pink (noun) : one dressed in the height of fashion

STYLE STYLE

Gender Politics of Fashion//50 Models Say #MeToo//53 Should I Go if It’s Not Front Row//56

GENDER POLITICS OF FASHION WRITER: GRACE GRIFFIN PHOTO: AMELIA WRIGHT MODEL: AUDREY PETERSON AND ISABELLA CARTULARO

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W

omen from Hillary Clinton to Rihanna and Ellen Page have been known to wear masculine clothing both in their professional and personal lives. They’re celebrated for it. Although women’s fashion has evolved to embrace and incorporate traditionally masculine clothing, society as a whole has placed gendered-based boundaries on which clothes are supposed to be worn be who.

Clinton’s infamous pant suits became a staple of her campaign, while Rihanna consistently makes “best dressed” lists for award shows, whether she’s wearing a dress or a suit. Most female-identifying people in the 21st century wear pants almost everyday, a luxury once refused.

Women’s fashion initially evolved due to necessity. More recently, the evolution arose due to a rejection of social norms.

The power structure in American culture has, and still does, contribute to changes in fashion over time. Women began dressing like men for functionality, to try and challenge the social hierarchy that has placed men above them.

“We see these periodical, generational pushbacks,” said Cynthia Miller , a cultural anthropologist specializing in popular culture and visual media and senior faculty member in the Institute of Liberal Arts at Emerson. “When women went to work during the war, they started wearing functional and more masculine clothing because they were doing these masculine jobs.”

The victorian dress reform, a movement propelled mainly by middle class working women, offered women the opportunity to dress more comfortably and practically.

The clothing women began to wear after the reform movement was also more tra-

ditionally masculine, including pants instead of dresses.

“There’s nothing about a pant that has anything to do with anatomy,” Mary Harkins, associate professor specializing in costumes and the head of the theatre design/technology program at Emerson.

“Society has determined that the pant is associated with men and the skirt is associated with women. It’s just sort of arbitrary. There’s nothing about anatomy that says that’s true, it’s culture that says that’s true.”

Though the invention of bloomers in 1851 was the first widespread look at the idea of pants for women, it wasn’t until the 20th century that pants were gradually worked into women’s wardrobe and eventually became a staple in the 1960s and 70s.

Women have reformed their dress to redefine their sexuality. Reform movements have worked to embrace women’s sexuality, the way they see it, rather than by letting men dictate what was acceptable.

“In the 1960s with women’s liberation, women are burning their bras, and they’re wearing see-through shirts,” Miller said.

“They’re saying ‘hey, my sexuality is right out here.’”

Even though the first pant for women was introduced in the early 1850s, men’s fashion has not progressed to include traditionally feminine clothing pieces over 160 years later.

Men, specifically straight men, have always existed as the patriarchs of the social hierarchy, and therefore have never had to use fashion as a way for reform or to protest current conditions.

“In male culture… there haven’t been that many shifts in the definition of a man’s social role, or a man’s relationship to society that would prompt those kind

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of changes,” Miller said. “We see this in small pieces.”

If men were to begin regularly wearing skirts, dresses, or other pieces traditionally associated with femininity, the aforementioned power structure would essentially be reversed.

“Until you get a power structure that’s truly equal, there’s not going to be that breakdown in who gets to wear pants and who gets to wear skirts,” Harkins said.

Some more traditionally feminine clothing has been adopted and reformed for men’s wardrobe. Items like the “man purse” and “mankini” are often ridiculed, but still exist as a take on more traditionally feminine attire. Including the word “man” in front of these articles denotes their feminine nature, but highlights them as masculine alternatives.

Both men and women have adopted more universal clothing styles, wearing colors and silhouettes that could be perceived as either masculine or feminine.

“What you see more now is not men

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wearing skirts and women wearing skirts, you see more unisex looks. There’s a lot more blending of the sexual differentiations in the clothing itself.” Harkins said.

“I think that’s a lot more about sexual equality through neutral dressing.”

Many magazines have shows spreads and photos of androgynous models wearing gender-neutral clothing to show the crossover between mens and womens clothing in modern dressing. For gendered clothing to become truly homogenous, the gender power structure must be equalized. Men must be willing to push boundaries with fashion the way women have and support other men’s to decisions to wear different styles.

Jaden Smith is a good start, but if male clothing is to truly evolve and become more inclusive of traditionally feminine style, many changes need to be socially implemented.

Models Say #MeToo WRITER: CARLY THOMPSON PHOTO: EMMA COX

I

f you participate in the universe that is Twitter, or even live on the planet that is Earth, you’ve probably heard of #MeToo. The #MeToo movement went viral this past October after sexual misconduct allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein were revealed to the public. The phrase, coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, was popularized in 2017 by actress Alyssa Milano, who encouraged women to share the hashtag with the goal of showing how common it is for women to experience sexual misconduct in Hollywood.

What followed was an astonishing flood of #MeToo posts with individuals and their stories attached to them, like Jennifer Lawrence, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd. Names including Harvey Weinstein, James Franco, and Kevin Spacey, as well as the current President of the United States, eventually joined the list of the accused. The entertainment industry has been upended by scandal after scandal, story after story, and now the truth has been unearthed by this online revolution. But is Hollywood the only industry building momentum behind the hashtag?

It seems the answer is no. #MeToo has taken over the conversations in many sectors of our society: the Church, finance, politics, sports, medicine, music, and even the military seem to be shaken by these waves. But is the fashion industry?

In an article published last month in New York Magazine, Jessica Pressler asks the same question.“...The famous photographer who everyone knew propositioned his models?... the cool and capricious casting directors?”

She seemed to ask, do they make the list too?

Sexual misconduct in the modeling industry has been happening continually for decades, so when a reckoning from this recent #MeToo movement never came, was anyone really surprised?

Sara Ziff, a former model and activist, released her revelatory documentary, “Picture Me” in 2009 and was the first to accuse once-celebrated photographer Terry Richardson of sexual assault. Pressler quotes her saying, “It’s been well known for decades that sexual abuse of models is a pervasive problem.”

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It’s been almost a decade since Ziff first spoke out and not much has changed. She continues to explain that it is the industry’s enabling culture and lack of accountability which has hindered progress. It seems that, even as people speak out, the fashion industry refuses to acknowledge the problem. So what do newer, younger social media savvy members of the industry have to say about its failure to recognize a wake-up call?

It seems, unfortunately, young models like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner are giving pretty superficial responses. Jenner shared on Twitter, after attending the Golden Globes with Vogue, that she was “honored and humbled” to be at an event with such an empower-

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ing theme for women. “My eyes were opened and my heart is full seeing all of the men and women who were part of this vital change,” she wrote. “I too stand with all the women of #TimesUp.” This is a nice gesture and all, but she doesn’t mention the failure of the fashion industry to also emulate this activism and change. Jenner even continued to talk about #MeToo in her April cover story for Vogue, but still didn’t criticize this inaction. As for Hadid, she did speak about the #MeToo movement during New York Fashion Week this year, expressing her support and concern for models in the industry, but failed to address the recent allegations of rape against her own father from model Miranda Vee.

While it may not be coming from the most influential young names, there definitely is some push back. 30 year old designer, Myriam Chalek, organized one of the only shows in NYFW to address the #MeToo movement. “It’s not just going to be a bunch of women walking the runway; there’s a twist to it,” she told “The News”. “It’s going to be very emotional...

Some [women] are actually going to speak for the first time about their experiences.” Many responded to Chalek’s politicism with support and encouragement, designers like Diane von Furstenberg encouraging women to “denounce the pigs!” But many members of the fashion industry, particularly the men, remain silent.

The reaction of the fashion industry to the strides of the #MeToo movement is definitely not what we hoped for. Instead of joining these women in enacting reform, it seems that superficial support and deference to powerful men is still the major attitude. Not devoid of hope, though, we may end up seeing a slower, more gradual overhaul of sexual misconduct perpetrators in the fashion industry over the next couple of years.

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WRITER: LILY BUMP PHOTO: RACHEL SCALERA MODEL: FERNANDA JAKUBOVICZ

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R

ihanna. Millie Bobby Brown. Lindsay Lohan. Alexa Chung. ASAP Rocky.

The Queen. What do these figures of notoriety have in common? They’ve all perched their heavily publicized selves down in front row seats of prominent fashion shows.

Celebrities of all sorts of caliber and influence are invited to fashion shows, and, based on the somewhat strange celebrity pairings we often get, the arrangement of their seats seems almost entirely random. People who are never normally associated with one another, find themselves creating unlikely groupings in the best seats at fashion week. So, what gives? What qualifies certain people to earn some of the most exclusive and sought-after seats in the world?

While the arrangements might seem incidental or even haphazard, fashion marketers put much thought into who makes the cut.

While the intricate designs, prestigious labels, and perfect catwalks might seem to be the driving force behind fashion shows, who sits where can draw a lot of attention. Getting a good seat at fashion week could be considered a lucky feat, but actually, brands benefit from the publicity as much as the celebs do. Having celebrities present at fashion shows creates more exposure of their designs, with cameramen aching to get a shot of Nicki Minaj or Beyonce.

Elise Sanchez, an Emerson freshman who attended a New York fashion week show, commented that, “at the end of the day, [celebrities] just want people to see they were front row. It’s like a show within a show.” This makes sense considering the fact that many of the celebrities in the front row of fashion week aren’t people who are even necessarily well-versed in the fashion world; while Jake Gyllenhaal and Trevor Noah are extremely talented in their fields, they don’t contribute much to style editorials.

However, the politics in the fashion world are ever-evolving, especially when it comes to who sits in the front row. As social media continues to expand and become ever more present in our daily lives, those who have a big role in online style are finding themselves on the sidelines as well. Prominent figures such as Leandra Medine, the creator of the fashion website Man Repeller, or Susie Bubble, the creator of stylebubble.co.uk, are becoming front row regulars.

Although these style bloggers are getting a shot at seeing the designs up close, not all prominent players in the fashion world are happy. Editors of arguably the most infamous fashion magazine, Vogue, have published their thoughts on 2016 Milan fashion week, describing bloggers as ‘pathetic’ for taking a spot in the front row, even going as far as to call them ‘the death of style.’ Nonetheless, these bloggers don’t hesitate to fight back. Bryan Yambao, known as bryanboy across social media, tweeted in retaliation to the harsh words by Vogue, saying, ‘I’d have a bounty for my head if I namechecked all the editors who told me they only go to certain shows because they’re advertisers.’

While the front-row seats at fashion weeks might seem to be fought for tooth-and-nail, the truth is, a lot of the people sitting there are paid to be. Regardless, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t highly exclusive and sought after; celebrities Jill Zarin and Angela Simmons have even been known to leave if they don’t have a place in the front row.

Emerson freshman, Nick Chambers, had a different stance on what fashion week seating arrangements meant to him. After attending a show for New York fashion week, he said, “I was in the VIP section, which was general admission, and it was a pretty good layout. Sitting in the fourth row was fine, I had no difficulty seeing the show.” Speaking on infamous celebrities who step out when not awarded a front row seat, he said, “It’s not a matter of them being affected by the seating, it’s a matter of them wanting to prove their status by the seating.”

Chambers commented that “the first row was sponsors and family members.” The public don’t recognize who is sitting in the first row, it’s ultimately who the designers want to be there, but as Chambers states, “for the bigger shows, it’s all marketing and publicity.”

Fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone once infamously said if you’re not sitting in the first three rows, don’t even bother going. In the end, though, the shows are about the fashion; and if you have a chance to go and watch, why not take it?

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MEET THE BLOG The Boston Coffee Shop Guide for the Coffee-Obsessed Emersonian Victoria Stuewue | Assistant Blog Editor

I’ll just say it: I’m addicted to coffee. I haven’t always been, though. In fact, the first time I had it, I thought it was horrible and bitter. That could, of course, be the fact that I was drinking Starbucks beans with milk, but I digress.

Now, I can’t get enough of it.

Coming from Southern California, there are so many coffee shops to choose from, but most of my favorites are rooted at home and don’t have locations on the East Coast. I probably sound like a “coffee snob” but I’m not a big fan of Starbucks and very few chains appeal to me, so, I’ve had to find new places in the great city of Boston to curb my coffee obsession.

Y’all Think Texas is Like This?

Elise Sanchez Y’all really think all Texans are like this? As a Texan, I have come to answer your burning questions about Texas. Even though Austin is the live music capital of the world, has amazing food and shopping, and is becoming one of the most popular cities to live in, I obviously show no favoritism whatsoever to Austin. After moving to Boston, I have been asked all of these questions. Some are more ridiculous than others and I still think it is hilarious that people actually believe these preconceived notions. So here is my best shot at answering these recurring questions, Y’all (And I’ve even included my own personal pictures).

The Challenge of Being Female on the Internet Emma Goodwin

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I had a friend request from myself.

Worse than the unsettling experience of receiving a friend request from you that you hadn’t sent was the fact that it wasn’t really surprising at all. Since, for the past week or two, I’d been occasionally contacted by a Goodreads account that was an exact copy of my own.

As someone who has discovered a love for rereading books I loved in childhood, I set a goal of rereading every Sarah Dessen book in 2018. As I finished another reread of the queen of middle school literature, I logged into Goodreads to update my review.

Before I did, I checked my notifications. And saw my own profile picture. My name, with the same lowercase E I use on my profiles. “emma started following you.”

Tinder for Dogs Emma Lopez The hardest thing for me about moving to college was not leaving my friends, family, own room, or even free food… It was leaving my dog. Sophie was everything to me, and still is. She was, in internet terms, a perfect floofer that I had the liberty of cuddling with when I was having a bad day, or when I just wanted some lovin’. My first week of Boston, I had somes serious pupper withdrawals; symptoms include: waking up in the middle of the night petting your pillow, having every background picture on your devices a picture of your pupper, and calling home and asking to speak with said pupper.

I knew this could not continue, so when I heard about doggo Tinder, (Wag), I signed up immediately. The sign-up process and background check took about two weeks, and after that I was in! I began to get notifications from ever floofer, woofer, and pupper in a 2 mile radius. I could not believe my eyes as countless pictures flooded my phone of dogs who wanted to be walked by me, me!

Extreme PinterestWriting Prompts Lily Doolin Hi, my name is Lily, and I’m addicted to Pinterest.

Specifically, I like to pin interesting writing prompts onto a board, and then never revisit them again. Seriously, who comes up with all these creative ideas? I’m lucky enough to be able to come up with one great idea for a story every millennium or so. I could probably have ten bestselling books right now if I actually just sat down and wrote utilizing these ideas.

Well, move over JK Rowling, because today, I’m actually going to do some writing, using Pinterest prompts as my sole inspiration. To raise the stakes a bit more, I’m going to limit myself to a mere 100 words… who doesn’t love a challenge?

If you’d like to join me in this adventure, pick up a pen yourselves- or open a word doc if your hand forgets how to operate a writing utensil- and write along!

LAWN-GUYLAND Madeline Leto Lawn-Guyland is the correct pronunciation for Long Island. Usually, it sounds like one word instead of two.

I have to explain this to everyone at Emerson because people are always making fun of my accent (even though I never notice it). The Long Island accent mostly changes any “o” like sound to an “aw” sound. Therefore, if I was going to say “I’m going to take my dog on a walk along the boardwalk”, I would say it like this: “I’m going to take my dawg on a wawlk alawng the boardwawlk.” But Long Island accents are not the only things we are known for.

Below I have listed just some of the things that make Long Island, Lawn-Guyland.

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