November 2018
Emma Yee Yick ‘19 & Allisen Lichtenstein ‘19 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Katherine Leak ‘19 & Claudia Levey ‘19 MANAGING EDITORS
Yudi Liu '19 CREATIVE DIRECTOR SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Emily Supple ‘19 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Allie Goines ‘20 Aoife Henchy ‘19 Yunxiao Cherrie Zheng ‘21 FEATURES EDITOR Juliana Kaplan '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Collier Curran '20 STAFF WRITER Aliya Schneider '20
POLITICS & OPINION EDITOR Sara Hameed '20 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Naava ellenberg '21 STAFF WRITERS Annabella Correa-Maynard '20 Hadassah Solomson '20
NEW YORK CITY LIVING EDITOR Veronica Suchodolski '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Pavi chance '20
LAYOUT DIRECTOR Galiba Gofur '20 LAYOUT EDITOR Nicola Sheybani '22
HEALTH & STYLE EDITOR Isabella Monaco 20
PHOTOSHOOT DIRECTOR Yudi Liu '19 ART DIRECTOR Sadie Kramer '21
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Julia Tache '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kalena chiu '20 STAFF WRITER Annette Stonebarger '21
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Peyton Ayers '21
THANK YOU TO THE RUTH BAYARD SMITH '72 MEMORIAL FUND FOR ITS SUPPORT OF THE BULLETIN
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2 - OCTOBER 2018
A Letter From Our Editors Dear Readers, We begin this letter with a content warning: the following letter and our centerpiece may deal with issues of sexual violence. These past three months on campus have so gone so quickly, but with their passing things are to be acknowledged. We survived one of the most stressful times of the year: midterms, which for some of us are still ongoing. During this time, we had and still have to deal with the ongoing assignments, the news cycle, and the lack of systematic change in place for hearing the voice of survivors. Our centerpiece, “Dr. Ford: Leaving the Darkness,” delves into what it means to be a survivor, how our parts of our society refuse to acknowledge the trauma of survivor, and what we can do to change this. Remember during these times, we are among each other. There is strength in our community. There is strength in each of you readers. And perhaps, most importantly, there is hope in each one of you Barnard students. In these pages, you will read stories on the “Best Places to Cry on Campus”— an act that probably all of us have experienced, but you will also find articles like “The Most “Instagrammable” Cafes In Manhattan” to visit with your friends to practice some self-care and update your feed to take your mind off things for a while. You’ll also find us taking up important issues like representation in articles like “West Side Story: Rethinking the Reboot.” As always The Barnard Bulletin is here through thick and thin, the tumultuous and celebratory, despair and hope. In these pages, we hope you’ll find some solace, peace of mind, and something worth reading. Be well, Allisen & Emma
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IN THIS ISSUE SSUE 3 // Letter from the editors 5 // behind the scenes 6 // trending & playlist
HEALTH & STYLE
8 // Barnard Cribs 9 // Homecoming Fashion 10 // On repeat 11 // Steps Style 12 // NYFW Trends IRL
FEATURES
13 // The Best Morningside Bars That Aren’t 1020 And Mel’s 14 // Dr. Ford: Leaving the darkness 19 // The Best Crying Spots On Campus 20 // Fall Break Destinations 21 // Binge-Watch Study Break 22 // The Facts on Fitbear
POLITICS & OPINION
23 // She Said / She said 24 // Women in Politics - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 25 // “No Means No”: A New Campaign Slogan for Sex Ed? 27 // Courage or Capitalism? The issue of Nike and Kapernick 28 // The Bright Spots 29 // What’s this I’m HEARING?
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
30 // Gallery Gallivanting: Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color 31 // NYFF Review 32 // Sierra Burgess is a Loser 33 // West Side Story Reboot 34 // Broadway Babes 35 // Heavenly Bodies 36 // Surprise, Bitch: Bet You’d Thought You’d Seen The Last Of The Langdons 37 // Fantastic Blunders: Please Tell Us You’re JK
NEW YORK CITY LIVING
38 // Bites Outside the Bubble 39 // Top 5 Little-Known Dumpling Spots 40 // Instagrammable Cafes 41 // Occult Outlet 42 // Old New York 43 // Stink in the City THE BULLETIN -
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Model Jessa Nootbaar Make-up Artist Eva-Quenby Johnson
PHOTOGRAPHY yunxiao Cherrie Zheng ART DIRECTION yUDi LIU
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5 - november 2018
AHS HS Apocalypse pocalypse
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surprisingly funny YouTube series through Bon Appetit where Brad makes all kinds of cool fermented foods. Check out the rest of the channel for more wholesome content!
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Wellness ellness Shots hots from rom Pressed ressed Juicery uicery With Flu Season upon us, these spicy bursts are just what you need to kick away those sniffles!
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It’s t’s Alive live with ith Brad rad Leone eone
The he Mortified ortified Podcast odcast The Mortified Podcast, produced by PRX, is a humorous look back on adolescence. In each episode, ordinary people get in front of an audience and read excerpts from their unintentionally-funny teenage writings. The show is equal parts hilarious and funny, and very entertaining.
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2.
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Beach - Petite NOir
5.
Breathin - arianna grande
Blue ridge Mountains - fleet foxes
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(She's) Just a Phase - Puma Blue
Paper houses - niall horan
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NFWMB - HOZIER
Painkillers - Rainbow kitten surprise
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DANCING QUEEN - CHER
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H&S Barnard Cribs the room a different vibe. My roommate decided to purchase bright pink lights, which makes the room much calmer and more comfortable. The majority of students also decide to put up posters and pictures which reflect their passions and things they admire. The most typical way to brighten up the bland walls is with personal pictures, as they are cheap and remind students of their family. Others fill their room with motivational posters or posters that reflect their interests. In my room, I hung up my high school graduation cap right next to a poster that says, “the tassel was worth the hassle.” The cap reminds me of my high school years, and the quote on the cap, “Find Your Fire,” reminds me of why I am doing the things that may seem difficult. Although I don’t necessarily pay attention to the emotional importance of the cap during stressful times, I like to wake up to in the morning. Barnard students also know
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something about style and coordination. Too many decorations can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if it’s not positioned correctly. Sometimes less is more. First-year student, Elifsu Gencer, has only about 5 posters, yet the color coordination and spacing creates a very welcoming space. Other students use their artistic talents to embellish their dorms with paintings and drawings. Some even sell their art to help others beautify their dorms. My roommate uses her own paintings to cover up the cracks on the walls and to go along with the theme of the room. Regardless of the different ways we choose to decorate their dorms, each technique is a representation of who we are and what we admire the most. These decorations make the dorm feel more like home and help to complete the full college experience.
Illustration by Angela Tran; Photography by Aisha Saleem
F
or most college students, living in a dorm completes the total college experience, and, since most Barnard students live in dorms, decorating the space is of utmost importance. Although you probably don’t spend the majority of your time in your room, you do ultimately return to it at the end of a long day. For this reason, many students have chosen to decorate their dorms, in order to bring more color and life to the room. Depending on the size of the room and personal preferences, the ways Barnard student approach decorating are different. Two of the most common things used in dorms are fairy lights and posters (taped up with blue painter’s tape, of course). Many students purchase normal, white fairy lights, usually from Amazon. The lights not only look cool in pictures but can also add more light to the room. Other students go another route and purchase lights in another color, which gives
by Aisha Saleem
Homecoming Fashion
H
by Isabella Monaco
omecoming is the one day Barnard and Columbia students get decked out in blue and white and show school spirit. From this grand showcase of camaraderie come unique outfits that combine the Columbia aesthetic with Barnard’s strong sense of fashion. Denim and and crop tops were popular this year along with bucket hats and pleated skirts. Many Barnard students were proudly sporting their Milstein fanny packs!
Photography by Isabella Monaco
Luisa (left) is wearing AG jeans and white sneakers from Zara and accessorized with tiny tinted glasses from Local NYC Boutique. Izzy (middle) paired ripped jeans (Hollister) with her Nike Air Max Thea’s and finished off her look with a tied Columbia tee from the bookstore. Janine (right) is wearing a basic white tank from Forever 21 with a windbreaker and Nike sweatpants (both courtesy of Columbia Fencing), and Air Force 1’s. She accessorized with a thrifted blue bandana around her neck and a Milstein fanny pack.
Wynnie (left) is wearing jeans from Zara, long sleeve blue top from J. Galt and white Stan Smiths. She accessorized with a bucket hat with a dancing Roar-ee.
Cropped columbia tops were definitely a trend. Denver, Rika, and Sofia got creative and chopped their t-shirts to make cute hoco tops.
Venus is wearing a navy bomber jacket from Ash Studios and multi-tone jeans (Bani B Jean) from a boutique in Hong Kong.
Pleated skirts are popular among Homecoming-goers. Natalie (left) and Rhea wore white pleated skirts (Amazon) with Columbia shirts and face stickers.
Larissa (left) celebrated HoCo in a faux leather mini skirt and white graphic tee (KITH). Diana (right) wore a white tank top (Brandy Melville) with jeans and denim jacket. THE BULLETIN -
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On Repeat N eed to grind in Milstein for an hour and want something to listen to that doesn’t distract from your work but also won’t put you to sleep? We’ve got you covered. We’ve curated a playlist with a mix of songs with and without lyrics so that you can jam along to the beats without having to pause it to read something. Get your Spotify ready... It starts out with Tomppabeats, a Finnish band that makes surreal sounds that stimulate you while calming your soul. This song blends into a Frank Ocean instrumental featuring John Mayer that doesn’t need lyrics to engage you in rhythmic tempo. This soothing song picks up as it transitions to the next meditative song called “Smile Meditation” by Vulfpeck. This American funk band has created the ultimate study song because it intrigues you with its funky guitar solos and an underlying smooth meditative beat. Wait until the end of this song (and make sure you’re wearing headphones) because the beat becomes quasi-ASMR with a water-trickle sound effect. Once you come out of the ASMR tunnel, A Tribe Called Quest takes you through another relaxing experience that is a little more upbeat. Jinsang will bring you into “Egyptian Pools” with minimal words and various water-like sound effects (I spy a water theme emerging). Continuing this theme, “River” by Leon Bridges will bring the Soul you were desperately craving at this point: deep in your study session and wanting to reach for your phone to check Instagram or Twit-
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ter. Resist the urge. Follow Leon Bridges as you get more than halfway through that paper and he will bring in a chorus sure to motivate you. Then, Mac DeMarco brings in the day-dreamy, beachy “Ode to Viceroy” so as you stare out those huge Milstein windows, gazing longingly at New York City’s street activity, you can take a mini-mental-break as you imagine your next Diana smoothie or winter break on a tropical island. Yo La Tengo continues this vibe to those lazy summer days that we miss dearly. Snap back into the zone with Tomppabeats again as you push with even more vigor to grind out that last paragraph. It’s the home stretch! Ryuichi Sakamoto, who happens to have written some theme music for our favorite summer movie of romance, Call Me By Your Name, composes “Amore” to blissfully make you forget the world around you. Mac DeMarco again furthers that exclusion of the world around you. Finally, you’ve finished that last paragraph, that last page, that last problem. You are done. Feeling kind of emotional? Maybe existential? Mainly, relieved. Post Malone will make you feel all those feelings with “Feeling Whitney” in an unexpected acoustic tune that tells of his sorrowful tales of hardship that help remind you that you are always doing your best. Overall, these songs are soulful, funky, soothing, study music to calm you and get you in the zone. Above all, they are guaranteed to put you in a better mood.
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Image by Lucy O’Conner
by Lucy O’Connor
Steps Style
T
by Evanne Subia
matching maroon socks, and boots. You can typically find her shopping at Hollister or Forever 21; however, Kennedy’s favorite article of clothing is a beige, chenille sweater from H&M which allows her to be cozy yet still put together. While searching for pieces, Kennedy’s mantra stands: “If it’s fuzzy, I want to own it.” Kennedy’s favorite trend currently is wide-legged track pants with the buttons along the sides. Although she does not own a pair herself, she has a love for people who pull them with confidence. Evident from her look here, Margaux Pisciotta is a thrifting queen whose
steps of Milbank, quite simply describes their style as “confused, dapper dan, sk8r boi… and gay.” Their go-to look is a classic sweater, black pants and sneakers. Raina prioritizes comfort yet likes to keep their outfits put together, minimalistic and on brand. Typically, Raina will shop at H&M or American Eagle when they need a new look; they’ve been on the hunt for a cool pair of wide-legged, patterned pants. Tristen Pasternack finds fashion to be an integral part of her life: “Every day, my outfit represents my mood and what I want to portray to the world.” When asked, Tristen’s friends describe her style
however, now and then she will splurge on some Ralph Lauren to maintain a level of elegance in her day-to-day style. Meredith keeps her look classic by adding pearls and red lipstick to any basic outfit. Her favorite trend currently is higher end joggers; Meredith will take any excuse to wear sweats without sacrificing that timeless style. When it comes to fashion, Kennedy Yaeger choses to stick to the “Four C’s”: comfortable, cute, and color-coordinated. Here on the steps of Barnard Hall, she has on a maroon sweater, a classic pair of jeans,
style has been referred to as “Crunchy with a Classic Twist.” While enjoying the view from Butler steps, Margaux has paired a cozy cardigan with a plain black top, a dark denim skirt and her white vans. One of her greatest thrifting accomplishments happened at her home Goodwill in Wisconsin; she scored a $3,000 Yves Saint Laurent leather jacket for 10$. When asked what her favorite fashion trend currently is, Margaux responded: “I have no idea what the current trends are!” Raina Liu, pictured here on the
as “70’s Inspired Philly Thrift” which is easily seen here as she pairs a collared, boldly printed shirt with corduroys, a denim coat, and her favorite cowboy boots as she poses on the steps in front of Diana. Tristen typically wears clothing that has sentimental value to her and finds most of her pieces from thrift stores, her friends’ closets, or while traveling. When it comes to today’s fashion trends, Tristen supports the emphasis on individuality that seems to be taking over; she loves seeing people wear whatever makes them happy.
Photography by Evanne Subia
he diverse fashion seen on the staircases of both Barnard and Columbia’s campuses perfectly reflect the individuality that exists among the students. Whether its Butler, Barnard Hall, Low, Milbank, or Milstein, you can find Barnard students serving looks that express their unique style. Meredith Phipps is pictured here on Low steps in her favorite look: an oversized Ralph Lauren dress, a Barnard “B” sweater, ballet flats, and pearls to tie it all together. Mere describes her style as preppy yet functional, always prioritizing comfort. She typically shops at Uniqlo,
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ith Fashion Month having come to a close, now is the perfect time both to look back and look forward: we can reminisce on all of the most memorable Fashion Week looks to grace the stage in our very own backyard, and we can eagerly daydream about how we’ll echo those looks when Spring/Summer 2019 does roll around. This season, New York Fashion Week brought us so many trends that capture the playful spirit of spring, so preparing for this winter will be so much fun! Here are some ideas on how to bring the runways of Fashion Week to College Walk this upcoming season. Tie Dye-Tastic Our favorite memorabilia from summer camp has just received quite the upgrade. Leading the way was Proenza Schouler, who, after their gorgeous tie-dye turtleneck maxi dress for Fall 2018, are veritable tie-dye pros at this point. This season, they brought their magic to tops, showing three dress shirts that each had different tiedye patterns on the left and right sides. Many other designers and labels incorporated tie-dye into their collections as well, such as Tanya Taylor, Tome, Collina Strada, R13, and John Elliott; notably, Eckhaus Latta’s placement of tie-dye on one particular jacket and Prabal Gurung’s placement of tie-dye on the shoulders garnered a lot of attention. All around, designers’ takes on the fabric treatment reached peak sophistication– all the better for incorporating the tie-dye pieces you already have. Layering, with items such as the peak of a tie-dye tank under a jacket, or a cloud wash denim shirt, allows for some subtle yet fun ways to play with this trend. Quite the Catch A number of collections this year evoked feelings of sitting on the edge of a pier somewhere, surrounde by sea breeze and watching ships pass. A
lasting trend, nautical appears time and time again, but this season particularly reinvented it. Monse heavily incorporated the theme with sailors’ stripes and rope embellishments galore, while Calvin
Klein alluded to the sea with Jaws tanks and tees. Most prevalent, however, was the inclusion of fisherman’s netting as the fabric of choice. 3.1 Phillip Lim, Eckhaus Latta, Pyer Moss, Area, and Dion Lee all reimagined netting in the form of slip dresses. Of course, there is certainly a way THE BULLETIN -
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to pare down the look and wear it to class: namely, the open knit sweater. This piece, much like the runway trend inspiring it, narrows down nautical in an accessible manner, alluding to sailing the day away on a boat but still comfortable on our island of Manhattan. Plus, its breathability gives you a way to wear sweaters well into the warmer weather. Mellow Yellow Just as millennial pink stuck around through the years, yellow is here to stay. Additionally, it has brought a host of new shades with it through Fashion Week. Besides the continuation of mustard from past seasons, lighter shades such as marigold (Oscar de la Renta, Pyer Moss, Carolina Herrera) and egg-yolk yellow (Jonathan Simkhai, Tibi, Escada, Rodarte), bring the color into spring. Pantone even created a fancy name for a particular bright yellow shade they liked, called “Aspen Gold.” Color trends are especially nice to incorporate because you can wear them in a myriad of small ways without making too much of a commitment. Look no further than yellow sunglasses, wallets, phone cases, shoes, and nails to bring that perfect pop of color to your outfit. Fringe Benefit Like the color yellow, the Western fringe detail has made its mark for over a year now. This season’s shows marked a shift in seeing fringe in a larger capacity, such as on the back of a vest, to seeing it as a smaller accent on accessories. Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Cushnie all take on fringe bags, while Oscar de la Renta, Longchamp, Ulla Johnson take on fringe shoes. Stills from shows with these fringe pieces still convey the movement on the runway, which makes me excited at the prospect of carrying a fringe bag that would swing back and forth on the street. I’m all for trends that make pieces as fun as they are functional.
Illustration by Hibah Rafi
W
NYFWby Trends IRL Erin Bronner
The Best Morningside Bars That Aren’t 1020 And Mel’s
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Illustration by Sadie kramer
t’s your typical Friday night, the pregame is winding down, but the night is still young. You’ve been to 1020 more than your 8:40, and simply don’t want to see the entire Columbia football team at Mel’s. Looking to break the monotony? Try some of these bars instead. 67 Orange Street 2082 Frederick Douglass Blvd If you thought there weren’t any speakeasy bars above 14th street, you’re mistaken: Look out for purple pulled curtains and the brass building number “67” to spot this Harlem joint. The bar occupies the location of the former Almacks Dance Hall, one of the first African-American owned bars in the city and a staple of the vivacious and clandestine nightlife scene of the Prohibition. 67 Orange Street nods to this vibrant history through an extensive cocktail menu, with drinks such as The Color Purple and Emancipation Again, and a lounge decked out in shimmering gold wallpaper and wooden walls. Cocktails are significantly pricier than most bars on this list at $14, but it has some of the most expertly crafted cocktails you’re likely to find in the neighborhood. It’s great for a celebration with your gals, or if you’re looking to have a classy drink with your visiting parents. Happy Hour from 5pm – 7pm and all night on Monday. e’s BAR 2888 Broadway (112/113th) Following the closing of beloved neighborhood establishment Amigos, e’s Bar is set the fill vacancy left by the Mexican
by Courtney DeVita restaurant in late October. This will be e’s second Manhattan location, following its original location on West 84th street. The bar’s flagship is known for its dive bar inspired décor, with stickers covering the walls, a diverse selection of burgers and draft beers, and focus on board games to discourage cell phone use. It’s relatively affordable, with a burger clocking in at $9 and a drink at $8.
Head here for a more wholesome night than your typical 1020 outing. e’s Bar opened its doors on October 18th, 2018. Lion’s Head Tavern 995 Amsterdam Ave., at 109th St. For anyone who has ever lamented choosing Ivy League prepsterdom over a state school, head to Lion’s Head Tavern, where you can indulge in a classic sports bar with that frat feel you’ve been missing. Televisions are expertly placed around the bar, so you’ll never miss a secTHE BULLETIN -
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f eatu res
ond of the action of the pro sports game they’re usually playing. The food is all made in-house and what you would expect to find at a football tailgate. Think wings, tater tots, fries, and hot dogs. Come here Saturdays for their best deal, 25 cent wings, and $1 select draft beers. Monday through Friday happy hour until 8pm, with $1 off Select Drafts The West End Lounge 955 West End Ave Up and coming standup comedians, musicians, and regular shows like “Ultimate Drag Pageant” where queens compete for the crown, keep this subterranean bar crowded every night of the week. The lounge is spacious with three distinct rooms including the front room with the bar and booths, a back patio with a pool table, and the back room where the performances take place. If you’re looking to start your night early, go before 8 for their two for one drink special, and try some of their classic bar snacks, like wings priced around $14. Impress a friend from home by showing that you’re cultured, and have your finger on the MoHi pulse. There is a two-drink minimum per show. No cover. While new bars may sound easier said thanthan done, it’s all too easy to get into a routine, especially now that the weather’s changing and it’s increasingly more tempting to stay within a five block radius of your dorm. Trying out new spaces can bring about the best and most memorable nights. Besides, 1020’s not going anywhere.
Dr. Ford: Leaving the D
Model: Jessa Nootbaar Photographer: yunxiao Cherrie Zheng Art Director: Yudi Liu Make-Up Artist: Eva-Quenby Johnson THE BULLETIN -
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Darkness by Leyla Saah
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O
n the morning of October 6th, 2018, three women—Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnic—woke to a nightmare. The man who had sexually assaulted them, Brett M. Kavanaugh, was to be confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States. A few weeks earlier, during the hearing process, the Washington Post published a letter from Dr. Blasey Ford detailing her allegations against Kavanaugh, and she was soon summoned to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. As Ford sat before a panel of white, male Senators, she was the image of pure strength and intelligence: she spoke in a calm yet resolute manner about the night Judge Kavanaugh attacked her, even giving the committee a neuroscience lesson on how the brain responds to trauma. Regardless of her poise, smarts, and bravery, or, perhaps, because of them, Dr. Ford was relentlessly mocked and threatened by many. President Trump publicly doubted her memory and expressed outrage over what her allegations had purportedly done to Kavanaugh’s family. Some may have been surprised by Kavanaugh’s ultimate appointment to the court, but we have seen this story before: In 1991, law professor Anita Hill was called to testify about nominee Clarence Thomas’ purported history of sexual harassment in the workplace. After speaking her truth to a skeptical all-male Senate committee, Ms. Hill’s attacker was nevertheless sworn in. Our collective failure of Ms. Hill and Dr. Ford is indicative of a larger societal issue: We don’t listen to or believe in women, especially women of color. What would the Kavanaugh hearings have looked like if we had treated these women with the dignity and respect they deserved? Would we currently have two sexual predators sitting on the highest court of the land? Would we have elected a man accused of sexual assault and harassment to the Office of the President? These are difficult questions to grapple with, especially after a surge of survivors came forward this past year to share their stories of abuse, baring their souls to the
world. It begs a deeper look into how the #MeToo movement unfolded, and how, or if, America truly heard its survivors. Since actress Ashley Judd first accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault in October of last year, thousands of women, men, and non-binary folks have been coming forward with their own experiences of sexual harassment and assault, often tweeting about their experiences or discussing them with the press. Countless perpetrators, many of them well known and regarded by the public, rightfully stepped down from their positions of power or were forcibly removed after showing reluctance to do so. And while it’s true that some men have been held legally accountable for their sexual violence — Bill Cosby was recently sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison — far more men have managed to walk free. Where’s Harvey Weinstein? Kevin Spacey? Louis C.K.? Why have these predators been allowed to either await potential criminal trials in their mansions and resorts or return to their professions without more than a slap on the wrist? These cases and others demonstrate that we need to do better. We need to believe all survivors — women, men, and non-binary people — and take concrete actions against their attackers, rather than renewing their television contracts or electing them to the Supreme Court. It’s been interesting, and saddening, to see which stories have spurred this national discussion surrounding sexual assault. For instance, it was only after Ashley Judd, Angelina Jolie, and Gwyneth Paltrow came forward with their trauma that hundreds of other women’s stories reached national headlines — what does this show us about which female pain is allowed to take up space in our national consciousness? What does it say about the movement that it took famous, wealthy white women’s pain to allow others to come forward? Is there space in the #MeToo conversation for women of color and queer people? Many people, myself included, are tired. Despondent. Voices hoarse THE BULLETIN -
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from screaming, bodies weary from the weight of it all. But we cannot stop fighting. For the women who came before us and those who will come after, we must continue to raise our voices, shout until our throats ache and speak our minds no matter who is willing to hear us. We must work harder to lift each other up and give space to those whose voices may not be heard. As a professor once told myself and a group of my peers: “We need to look out for each other and take one another’s pain seriously and hold others accountable when they don’t.” How can we, both as a nation and as a campus community, begin to think more seriously about the ways we treat women’s pain? For starters, engage with others around you — there’s no way to have these important conversations if you don’t speak. If you hear someone making a joke about sexual assault or mocking survivors, make it clear to them that those sentiments are damaging to others around them, and if you can and want to, engage with them in a discussion to see where
they’re coming from. Check in with your peers; What have the events of the past few months left them thinking and feeling? See how you can help abate your friends’ pain and allow them the space to feel. This goes hand-in-hand with dealing with your own privilege: Are there certain conversations in which you’re taking up too much space as an ally? What are the ways in which you can help those of marginalized communities feel safe and heard? Although these suggestions deal with these issues on an individual level, engaging with others in conversation is the first step to producing a safer, more just world for women. It won’t be easy, but I know my peers and community will work tirelessly to make this world more equitable for all of us, beginning with radical kindness in the face of systemic hatred. And voting this coming November wouldn’t hurt either!
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Best Places to Cry on Campus by Samantha Shih
I Illustration by Sadie kramer
magine filing into Roone Auditorium surrounded by fellow Barnard and Columbia students. Everyone buzzes with excitement as they grab their seats, uncap their pens, and wait with baited breath for the person on the stage to pull the folded paper card from the tumbler. “Diana Center!” I quickly uncap my pen and mark a big “X” on my board in the top right corner. “John Jay dining hall!” Again, a little less enthusiastically, I put an “X” in another square. “The 116 subway stop, but on the South Ferry side.” Looking furtively at the people around me, I put an “X” in yet another square. “The laundry room in your dorm!” “BINGO!!!!” Throughout my two years here at Barnard, I have cried in all of these conventional spots on campus. These locations have been incorporated into the canon due to their public accessibility, their rather inconspicuous nature, as well as their general convenience. When emotions arise in their typical rebellious nature, you have to let them loose, no matter the time or the place. Keeping face benefits no one around you, and only enables you to avoid confrontation for a finite amount of time As a first year, I wasn’t yet motivated enough to explore off the beaten path. As my time here progressed, I found
a plethora of unorthodox, private spots. While part of me wants to maintain a monopoly on the real estate I affectionately covet, the glass slipper of crying spots is different for every single person. Find the places that make you feel safe and capable to let the mask slip, even for the most brief moment. In all seriousness, my favorite place to cry is on the radio waves emanating from my cell phone in New York. In this space, my thoughts can fly through space, all the way up the East Coast, to the big clunky landline residing on the wall to the right of the island in my mother’s kitchen. In the stress culture in which we live, eat, sleep, we are encouraged to trudge forward like well-trained soldiers. We are determined to best every obstacle presented in our way, and never complain once about the futility of a task or the flaws in the system. From day three of freshman year, I was crying on the floor of my RA’s room. The moment that she asked me how NSOP was going, I couldn’t help but let all of my homesickness and general feelings of upheaval flow out — literally. With a gentle poke, she was able to break open the floodgate that I had ever so diligently been trying to keep up. Another time, in the middle of the well populated second floor Ferris dining room, slow, hot tears dripped down my face as I described a recent academic frustration and the identity crisis de jour. Sitting across the table from my loved one, these traitorous tears decided to fall. While a part of me wanted to reel it all back in, another part of me bravely allowed the rest of Ferris see a chink in my armour. I chose to let this small portion of Columbia in on the secret that — big surprise — I am in fact a human being. We all cry. While some of us, like me, wear their heart of their sleeves, others work to maintain a poker face at THE BULLETIN -
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all costs. On the one hand, I get a great deal of cathartic release from emptying my store of tears and letting that stone cold mask slip for even the most brief cry sessions. These moments are the ways in which I let loose, press reset, and share my most private self with the people I trust the most. On the other hand, I understand how scary it is to put a very private and raw aspect of yourself on display. If you have not yet christened any of these more mainstream crying spots, give them a try. Consider it a rite of passage. You aren’t a real New Yorker until you have cried on a full subway car. Consider it a service to the people who love you the most, as well as the people you haven’t met yet. Having a good cry is just as important a part of taking care of yourself as laughing, sleeping, or eating. Don’t deny your very real human emotion because society has wrongly decided symbolizes weakness. Maybe, weirdly, crying in public is unifying: Not only will you thank yourself for letting it out, but your peers will thank you too for distally reminding them that they are not alone. You are never alone. You are seen. You are heard. I am always here with raw cookie dough, a hot cup of tea, and a full box of tissues. And if you ever need a list of top-secret advanced crying spots, shoot me an email.
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by Aliya Schneider
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ovember is our time to relax, with two whole vacations! Fall break may seem short, but there are plenty of ways to make the most of the long weekend. From making your own staycation to getting out of town, it’s time to think about how you want to take a break from stressors you may usually face.
Explore the City
New York City can be an overwhelming place to live, let alone go to college! Make a list of the things you have wanted to do in the city that you just don’t seem to have time for during the semester. There are free comedy shows every night around the city! You can rush tickets for a Broadway Show! Go to a museum that you can get in for free with using your Columbia ID! (These are listed online.) Wander Central Park! Go to the other boroughs! See who is playing at Brooklyn Steel. Basically, do whatever you would do if you had unlimited time and no responsibilities during the semester.
Relax
Let yourself relax! Clean your room, weed out the clothes you don’t wear anymore and post them on Buy Sell Trade Barnard or donate them to charity! Hand-write thank you notes to friends and family to prepare for and celebrate Thanksgiving. Host a movie-marathon. Watch that Netflix show you’ve been meaning to see. Make cookies (or order them from Seamless.)
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Photography by Aliya Schneider
Fall Break Destinations
Explore the Metro Area
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The Metro-North, Amtrak, and LIRR trains can take us to tons of towns outside of the city, so if you want to get out of the city but want to stay within a couple hours distance, these train lines are your best friend! Enjoy the quiet bustle of a town in Westchester along the Hudson, and walk from town to town alongside runners and local students on the the Croton Aqueduct. If you missed on the Halloween pumpkin craze, find a pumpkin picking orchard that is still open, and top it off with a visit to a corn-maze! A lot of corn-mazes even have night-time options to add some late-Halloween charm to the experience. The Van Cortlandt Manor has a “Jack O’Lantern Blaze” event with 6,000 Go artist-carved Jack O’Lanterns with music and lighting to go Home With a Friend with the show, all in a castle! This event is about 2 hours (Preferably with cute dogs) away. The LIRR can take you to the Hamptons, which has pumpkin picking and vineyards, Go to Canada Want to go home but live too far to make the about 2 hours away. long weekend worth it? Talk to a friend about goMake sure you have an up-to-date passing home with them for the weekend! One of my best port and hop on a train with a friend and go friends lives in California, but I live in Vermont, so we got north for the weekend! Research affordable hoson Amtrak together to visit my family at home. We were tels or Airbnbs or think if you have any family friends able to unwind together with some home-cooked meals from in the area you can stay with. The train ride is about 10 local Farmers’ Market ingredients. We got in my dad’s car hours to Montreal and 12 hours to Toronto, so look at and I literally drove her down my memory lane, showing the views, read a book you have wanted to get your her all the spots I went to growing up. I don’t have any eyes on, catch up on sleep, and bond with your dogs at home, and my parents won’t be around this friend. Then get to Canada, and get lit (within year during fall break, so this year I am going your limits) with your friend (buddy syshome with someone else, who has cute tem!) and enjoy that 18-year-old dogs, and lots of tea! drinking age.
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Binge-Watch Study Break
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idterm season is an unarguably stressful time for the Barnard community. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure of large assignments; forgetting the importance of pauses is a fatal flaw shared by all. To quote a possibly outdated Hamilton reference as advice, “Take a Break.” Fall TV season presents a myriad of opportunities for procrastinating, or–better framed–ill-timed study breaks. This semester, however, have a plan for what you’re going to watch and when. Organization is the key to academic time management–why not know in advance what to binge on your off-hours? Straight from a Barnard sophomore herself, here are the hottest things to watch when your hand is cramping from all that highlighting. The Good Place. As its third season just premiered on NBC, now is the perfect time to watch (or rewatch) this witty comedy from the minds of Parks and Recreation. Here are the facts: heaven is real and it’s known as the Good Place, a conglomeration of unique neighborhoods tailored to its virtuous inhabitants. Eleanor Shellstrop is an inarguably bad person; she’s selfish, rude, and somehow mistakenly sent to the Good Place. There, she is introduced to her soulmate, a professor of ethics and moral philosophy named Chidi. Although dishonesty gives him a stomachache, Chidi is convinced to teach Eleanor to be a good person in order to earn her place in heaven. Chaos ensues. Eleanor’s sharp wit, Chidi’s adorable indecisiveness, and Michael’s mix of colorful suits and bowties are only some of the reasons you should watch this show. If you want a magical escape from
by Alexa Silverman
handling that pesky math requirement, watch The Good Place for funny one-liners and increasingly complex characters. Is it too much of a spoiler to mention there’s a huge twist at the end of Season 1? Each episode is a refreshingly brief 30 minutes, and there are only 28 to date. Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix and Hulu. This is Us. If you’re looking for a good non-school related cry, This is Us is the show. A drama centered on family, this show follows the lives of triplets Kevin, Kate, and Randall. The plotlines are revealed through tasteful flashbacks in which the actions of adorable child actors inform present-day characters. The very first episode presents a question that is explored through the next seasons, an alluring start that helps the viewer remain engaged throughout the 45-minute episode timestamp. Another cable gem, This is Us is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The performances of the (extremely attractive) ensemble cast are unforgettable, and its captivating characters provide the perfect story to follow from your dorm bed. Once you start watching, you’ll quickly understand why your mom’s book club is always raving about it. This is Us’s third season just premiered on NBC, but seasons 1 and 2 are waiting on Hulu. Big Mouth. Switching genres entirely, Big Mouth is a raunchy, animated comedy about the horrors of puberty from the mind of Nick Kroll. Sneakily featuring a celebrity cast (John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate, and Jordan Peele, just to name a few), each 30-minute episode is hilarious and strangely informative. There are musical numbers, there are gags, there are So. Many. Sex
jokes. And season 2 just premiered October 5 on Netflix. As someone who personally steers clear of animated shows for adults, I was skeptical of enjoying Big Mouth. Now, I can’t stop quoting it. While the television and movie world tends to romanticize the adolescent years, Big Mouth is comically realistic about how gross and terrible middle school really was. This show explores human nature, the questioning of sexuality, and parental conflicts through penis jokes of which Freud would be proud. There are only 10 episodes per season, so it’s an easy binge that counts as a study break. Planet Earth II. A personal favorite, Planet Earth II is a documentary series in a long line of incredible BBC specials (notably, Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Life). David Attenborough’s soothing British voice informs viewers about the excitements and challenges of plant, animal, and general organism life. Each 50-minute episode–there are 6 per season–focuses on a geographical element of the planet, some of which include islands, mountains, and cities. If you think this sounds boring, think again. The animal kingdom features complex drama not unlike that among the Real Housewives, so much so that one questions whether to root for predator or prey. Embellished with a robust, dramatic score, Planet Earth II’s high-quality visuals are absolutely mesmerizing. As a bonus, it’s educational, so therefore applicable for that bio midterm. Discover Planet Earth II on Netflix, and you’ll gain a new understanding of the planet. It’ll be the best 295 minutes you’ve ever spent.
The Facts on Fitbear by Julia Pickel
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Illustration by Margaux Pisciotta
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t this point mid-semester, midterms are piling up, the routine of the semester is setting in, and it is becoming a bit too cold to run in Riverside park. Even though it can sometimes feel like the last thing you want to do when it is raining outside and you have upcoming exams, exercise is one of the best ways to combat stress and mix up your routine. While it may be too cold to exercise outside, there are exercise classes open to all Barnard students, faculty, staff, and alumni right here on campus. Fitbear offers Sculpt, Barre Fit, Yoga, Zumba, Core Fit, Total Body, Yoga & Core and Cardio KickBox classes. Classes run until November 30th this semester, and there are also free classes for a week in December (and at the beginning of each semester) if you want to get a taste of Fitbear before committing to buying Fitbear classes. For Barnard students, Fitbear costs $25 per semester for unlimited classes throughout the semester. In comparison, Columbia’s Group Fitness Classes at Dodge cost $175 for a semester’s worth of unlimited classes and a single SoulCycle class costs $30. Fitbear offers classes mostly in the evening with sessions taking place from around 5 to 8pm. There are also some classes in the morning and mid-day, both during the week and on the weekends. Fitbear courses are taught by either trained Barnard students, Barnard P.E department faculty and instructors, or outside instructors. I took Cardio Sculpt for my P.E requirement my first year fall. Sculpt is also taught as a Fitbear class! It normally begins with an aerobic exercise warm-up and transitions into strength training with free weights. While the course format stays the same, one of the things I really enjoyed was that the exercises themselves tend to vary and the course also is varied depending on which instructor is teaching. I enjoyed the course for my P.E requirement and thought the instructor was great, so I started signing up for Fitbear that Spring. While I normally like to attend Sculpt and Total Body, which are fast-paced aerobic and strength classes, I went outside my comfort zone to attend a wider range of classes for this review. One class I attended that I particularly enjoyed–despite being unsure if I would–was Yoga & Core. While it’s not the class you leave from soaked in sweat, it was the perfect ending to my day. I went after a long lab course and we worked on improving the basics of Vinyasa yoga, which I had never seen broken down in such an intentional way. The ending poses done in the dark were relaxing and calming. And to boot, the instructor played music that I thought went well with the yoga and added to the class instead of being a distraction. A disclaimer - if you’re an athlete or already work out a ton, Fitbear classes might not be the most strenuous workout. But regardless of your fitness ability they are fun, a great deal for the price, and a fantastic way to destress during the busy semester!
She Said / She Said by Hadassah Solomson
W Illustration by Angela Tran
hen two individuals make contradictory assertions, and there is no independent evidence to support one claim over the another, perceived credibility determines whom is believed by a judge, jury, or in the court of public opinion. Nevertheless, the principle of innocent until proven guilty – the presumption of innocence – must not be discarded even in the case of a confirmation hearing or campus investigation. The presumption of innocence is deeply embedded in our nation’s view of fundamental fairness. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has endorsed the presumption as a “bedrock[,] axiomatic and elementary principle.” The burden of proof rests on the accuser because, to reverse the presumption is to assume guilt, and would result in the manifestly unjust punishment of innocent people. As notably-liberal Justice William O. Douglas explained, the presumption of innocence is “one of our most important safeguards against oppression.” Abandoning it is not just some technical violation of criminal law, but would inevitably result in such oppression that should be equally concerning regarding non-criminal cases. As such, we should adhere to the presumption wherever an accused stands to suffer severe consequences. The #metoo movement justifiably has increased awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault, and society must encourage victims to speak out. Credible, prima facie claims of abuse must be thoroughly investigated, and proven perpetrators must be punished. Asking a putative sexual assault victim to prove such allegations may seem insensitive, but, a system ruled by sympathy and emotion is no system at all. Requiring evidence is not a referendum on the inherent truthfulness of the accuser. In sum, basic due process requires that people not be punished – e.g,lose their job or place on campus – based on mere accusations. Believing claims based solely on the gender or status of the accuser (or the accused) is a plainly untenable position, which, when employed, has led to false accusations, including, for example, the famous Scottsboro Boys case. That is not to say that the testimony of an accuser cannot, itself, provide sufficient evidence, but bare accusations should be insufficient to ruin someone’s life, liberty, or reputation in any context. THE BULLETIN -
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by Audrey Pettit
believe survivors; I support Dr. Ford; I even changed my Facebook profile picture and posted on Instagram to prove it. And yet, when my honest, long-term friend confided in me about her own sexual assault, I was conditioned to pick apart her narrative and dismiss her trauma as an overreaction. Ashamedly and unconsciously, my seeds of doubt were already planted long before she sought my support. We have all absorbed the archetypes—the vengeful ex-girlfriend, the attention whore, the gold-digger, the scorned woman. These live in our unconscious— so many of us who pride ourselves on believing survivors still withhold full-fledged validation until we receive undeniable proof. For this reason, we must make a communal, conscious, and unconscious effort towards validating survivors’ experience. This is not to say we should villainize the accused without a fair and just trial; they are, of course, innocent until proven guilty. Yet we often forget this innocence applies to the victim as well. When someone accuses another person of theft, it wouldn’t make sense to assume they want revenge and attention; we would not lash out at the accuser for forgetting the exact time and place and drink they were drinking. And yet the extreme scrutiny of victims in sexual assault trials is not due to the endless hordes of scorned women falsely accusing men; sexual violence has the same rate of false accusation as any other nonviolent crime. And who would endure this scrutiny, interrogation, excommunication from their communities, and public humiliation for the sake of a false accusation? So, unless evidence disproving the survivor’s claim is released, we should be generous with our support, patient in victims’ retellings, and uncritical in non-related points of concern—like a victim’s recollection of the exact song playing in the background during the event. In doing so, we might give the 68% of women who do not come forward with their assault, many who fear being demonized by the public, a voice.
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ver the summer in a district that, since 2004, has not faced a primary challenger to ten-term incumbent Joe Crowley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old woman of color with no prior political experience, won in the largest primary upset since 2014. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America and former organizer on Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign, Ocasio-Cortez ran her campaign in New York’s 14th district this summer on a progressive grassroots platform which included ending private prisons, enhancing civil rights and statehood for Puerto Rico, reforming immigration laws , and abolishing ICE. She committed early in her campaign to refuse donations from corporate PACs. Despite her opponent outraising her 10-1 in campaign funds, Ocasio-Cortez’s commitment to keep big money out of politics resonated with voters–she won 57% of the votes with an average donation of $22. Her victory suggests that the trend Bernie Sanders launched in 2015 remains important to voters today. This month, she will face Republican nominee Anthony Pappas, and if she wins, will be the youngest woman ever elected to congress.
by Lily Dillon Ocasio’s policies are just as groundbreaking as the diversity she brings to the table as a woman of color in politics. Ocasio-Cortez is a third-generation New Yorker from a working-class, Puerto Rican family. Born in the Bronx and raised in Westchester, she attended Boston University and interned at the immigration office of former Senator Ted Kennedy while earning her degree. Her position on immigration in the primary set her apart from other Democratic politicians. Despite the plurality of registered Democrats opposing ICE, very few Democratic primary candidates publicly expressed a stance on ending ICE–her campaign was the first to take this position. She also supports a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and has compared current immigration detention centers to Department of Homeland Security black sites in the Middle East. For Ocasio-Cortez, the crisis in Puerto Rico is personal. Her aunt was one of the three thousand Puerto Ricans who died during Hurricane Maria in fall 2017. She blasted Donald Trump’s recent claim that the Puerto Rican government’s estimated death count is too high, and has called the Hurricane “the worst humaniTHE BULLETIN -
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tarian crisis in modern American history.” She spent her campaign raising awareness about the status of Puerto Ricans as second-class American citizens due to their inability to vote in national elections and lack of access to federal funding and aid. She remains committed to the fight for the self-determination of the Puerto Rican people. Ocasio-Cortez’s impact on US politics cannot be overstated. While the Democratic Party continues to grapple with the loss of the 2016 election, the question remains of whether the party should move more to the center or to the left to appeal to voters; a fiercely progressive female politician unseating a powerful member of the establishment suggests that many Americans prefer the latter. Ocasio-Cortez remains convinced, however, that change cannot come from her alone or from other elected officials. In accordance with her grassroots strategy, she continues to express that just voting isn’t enough and that we cannot become complacent in our political activism. At a Columbia event one evening in late September, Ocasio-Cortez stated it well: “The solutions are not in D.C., they are in the room.”
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Women in Politics - Alexandria OcasioCortez
“No “No Means Means No”: No”: A A New New CamCampaign paign Slogan Slogan for for Sex Sex Ed? Ed?
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by Annabella Correa-Maynard
Illustration by Sadie kramer
hen I was in middle school, amongst the kids with a rack of full braces and the “that’s what she said”, and “your mom” joke whispers, twenty prepubescent boys and girls would sit for 47 minutes three days out of the week during period 5 to talk about “General Health”. This education followed a particular routine. The lesson plan would be posted on the whiteboard and all of us would be handed a chart (visual or flow) of some type of general phenomenon--the reproductive system, sexually transmitted diseases and their side effects, the impact of drugs and alcohol on the brain and eating disorders. In 2010, this type of pedagogy was considered progressive not necessarily because of what education it was bringing to children ages 11-13, but as
to how and what implementation it had on children. 28 years after the initiation of the “Just say no” policy initiatives that were piloted by former First Lady Nancy Reagan, these lessons on promoting general health still had the same theme: that good health itself was practically guaranteed simply by saying no to sex, drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Even more harrowing was the fact that social interactions that intertwined themselves under the topic of “General Health”, such as sexual harassment, and sexual violence, and abusive relationships unfolded as case examples before we were able to comprehend the severity and consequences of these actions. Thinking back to 2010, the rhetoric surrounding sexual harassment seemed to foreshadow a corporate atmosphere that was basically foreign to me and my
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other 12 year old classmates. Concurrently, abusive relationships manifested themselves as intangible experiences for those of us who weren’t in, nor had the capacity to be in relationships. The complexities of sexual harassment and abusive relationships were ignored by most of the students in the class at the time, who were just hoping to pass through grade six through eight unscathed by the torments of middle school. Perhaps one of the fallacies of “General Health” in 2010 was that it required cognizance before the actual action. For many people, especially young adults, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and abusive relationships are something that can be visualized in the classroom, but only understood through personal experience. While I am not suggesting that sexual harassment, sexual
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in the classroom about drug use and abuse, sexual harassment, sexually transmitted diseases weren’t the same lessons that I later applied to my life. As a 20 year old, brace-free, fully developed adult it is clear to me that this conversation is far from over. Despite my qualms with general health, I am extremely satisfied in my personal process separate from the classroom. Throughout the formative years of my life, it wasn’t spent sitting in an air conditioned cell watching a video from a cop talking about sexual assault that helped me to fathom its deeply entrenched patriarchal power struggle, and the traumatic effect it has on the victims. Rather it was about the conversations that my friends and I were having about our life experiences, with boys, with our fathers, with our siblings. My wish is that all people, can use the power of active and relative discourse themselves to save them from whatever it is that they experience in the future, I know I’m doing the exact same.
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violence and abusive relationships are mutually exclusive to those who are unfortunate enough to have to experience it personally, I am implying that all general health education uncovers years of self-reflection and education that only formulate at the commencement of our young adult years. In the wake of Brett Kavanaugh and the #MeToo movement, general health and sexual education is metaphor for a time that once was. Thanks to introduction of social media as a vehicle for communication and information, sexual misconduct, harassment and violence are being played in real time, whereas my classmates and I were forced to wait until college or the professional field to ever remotely relate to these discussions. Despite a lack of good health education, students are now faced with the bitter reality of unfortunate but legitimate social interactions among communities. Thus general health and sexual education are essentially left with one decision: to reflect on the authenticity of these distressing accounts and push past a discourse that involves “saying no” to whatever events influence their existence. General health and sexual education in the public school setting that I was exposed to is perhaps the exception to socialism. The lessons learned
Courage or Capitalism? The Issue of Nike and Kapernick by Alexa Silverman
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f you google Colin Kaepernick, the search results yield article headlines ranging from reports about the NFL to coverage of Nike protestors. More telling, though, are the ads that line the page’s right-hand side. Two t-shirts compete with the informative and opinionated articles. One reads “Don’t be distracted, this was never about the flag” and the other a jersey-esque shirt, featuring Kaepernick’s name and San Francisco 49ers number, minus the team’s color and logo. Both are around $25, if you were curious. In early September 2018, Colin Kaepernick was revealed to be the face of Nike’s 30-year-anniversary “Just Do It” campaign. Kaepernick tweeted the billboard September 3rd: a close up of his face with text reading “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Nike later posted a full-length advertisement to Youtube, with that phrase as the tagline. The video is an emotional, inspirational tribute to prominent athletes in which notable sports footage is played alongside a monologue encouraging viewers to follow their dreams; nothing particularly earth-shattering. Kaepernick, who inarguably transcended sports player to political activist, narrates the video. CNN reported that less than a day later, #NikeBoycott was trending on Twitter. You’ve probably seen the videos -- politically conservative men old and young burning and defacing their Nike ap-
parel -- that swept social media throughout September. Colin Kaepernick, an emblem of dauntless political protest, sharply and divisively struck the consumer market through this new ad campaign. And that was Nike’s intent from the start. Nike’s decision to feature Colin Kaepernick was an economic risk, but not a social or political one. Despite the 3% decline in Nike’s stock the week of the ad’s release, Entrepreneur writes that Nike’s overall stock has increased by 36 percent. Nike’s Kaepernick ad campaign added six billion dollars to the company’s value. Despite controversy, despite outrage, despite vandalized socks, Nike is thriving. So the question is, where does Colin Kaepernick remain in all of this? Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the NFL’s national anthem in protest of racially-charged police violence. He has endured violent threats and loss of occupation, persecution as a black man, and degradation by the president. It is not fair that Kaepernick is on the periphery of a campaign visually motivated by his image. Sadly, the Nike campaign silences Kaepernick’s message; his larger points are eclipsed by the brand name and monologue touting inspirational sports propaganda. The ad’s climax, punctuated by a reveal to Kaepernick’s figure, (“Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough”) is irrelevant and insulting to Kaepernick’s courageous actions.
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Kaepernick’s vision of a just world is not just a ‘crazy dream’ to be exploited in order to sell expensive shirts and sneakers. He should not be equated to another celebrated athletic figure because frankly it was not Kaepernick’s sporting abilities that brought him into the limelight. Nike is an enormous platform, and since Kaepernick soured the NFL for Republicans, the world has been watching, waiting for Nike to officially speak out on this politically-charged, sportspertinent issue. Some say the company has spoken. Many articles I read praised Nike for this controversial, audacious move -- not every athleisure company features a player ‘let go’ from his team and the league for contentious political reasons. The protestors certainly believed Nike took a firm political stance. Nike should have done better. Not to say that Kaepernick didn’t have any agency in this ad campaign; obviously he was not forced to comply in offering his face, voice, and mythical persona to Nike. I’m sure Kaepernick will benefit financially from this business venture, another factor to take into account when examining the issue. While Nike may believe itself to have created this campaign with socially just intentions, the capitalistic pride that suspiciously emanates from the controversial advertisements is unforgivable.
The Bright Spots by Katie Peterson
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Women in Power
In Our Backyard
- In June, the prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, became the second world leader to give birth while in office, and the first in the 21st century. She took six weeks of maternity leave and is back in office serving as an inspiration to working women across the globe.
- Girl Scout Troop 6000 became the first Girl Scout troop to serve girls in the NYC Homeless Shelter System. They sold over 30,000 boxes of cookies in their first year and have recently expanded to all five boroughs.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset victory against incumbent Joe Crowley in New York’s 14th gathered the attention of the nation. Ocasio-Cortez’s message of unity and authenticity is resonating with voters. Her campaign is centered around expanding, medicare, making housing a civil right, and guaranteeing federal employment. She is not only a Congressional hopeful, but an emerging leader in the Democratic Party who is pushing new and progressive ideas. - A Native American woman has never before served in Congress, but Deb Haaland (NM-01) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) may change that. Both Native American candidates are running inspiring campaigns to bring new perspectives and representation into the political sphere. Deb Haaland is campaigning on ensuring environmental justice and helping working families and Sharice Davids is running on fixing the economy to help the middle class and promising higher quality public education.
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- Street art has been known for making political statements across New York and 2018 was no exception. After Anthony Bourdain’s unexpected passing, a mural popped up in one of his favorite culinary neighborhoods, the Lower East side. Then, there is the Audubon Mural Project, which illustrates all endangered American bird species across the city streets. Finally, Banksy is known for putting up works across NYC, but this year but one mural on Houston Bowery Wall, in particular made a strong political statement. The mural supported Zehra Dogan who was jailed for her street art against the Turkish military. - In March, the New York Times addressed its problematic past by apologizing for and fixing past reporting. They are adding people of color and women who had been previously left out of their obituaries, including iconic figures like Ida B. Wells, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Plath.
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or many, the 2018 political climate has been nothing short of draining, but as activists and citizens we cannot, for our own sake, only focus on the negative. There are inspiring stories of love, progress, and unity that allow us to fight out of a place of hope instead of fear. Now more than ever there are campaigns to donate to, causes to believe in, people to support, and changes to make. This article isn’t to undermine or diminish the problems in politics, but rather to uplift and give thanks to the hope in the world.
What’s this I’m HEARING? by Aminah Nassif
E Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
very week there seems to be a new government scandal gripping the nation and taking up at least half the content on your twitter feed. The current political climate is a driving factor in getting a larger portion of the public educated about the way our government works. While less than favorable circumstances have lead to this occurrence, greater public knowledge is ultimately a good result. In light of recent events, you’ve probably heard a lot of legal terms thrown around with which you might not be familiar. So what exactly is a hearing? A trial? How does this all work? People will often use the words “hearing” and “trial” interchangeably, but they actually mean very different things. To put it simply, the main purpose of hearings is to listen to evidence. In a trial, evidence is examined in criminal or civil proceedings to judge the defendant’s guilt. Let’s break this down a bit further. Trials entail all the facts of a case being heard, examined, and ruled on by a judge or jury. In civil (non criminal) trials, in order to be found guilty there must be a preponderance of evidence, meaning evidence must weigh heavily in favor of guilt, but it does not have to be absolute. In a criminal trial, guilt must be proven
beyond reasonable doubt. Even the slightest hesitancies should, ideally, produce a not guilty verdict. Because of their high-stakes and often shocking circumstances, criminal trials have the tendency to capture national attention. Think of O.J. Simpson, whose celebrity status brought his proceedings to a national stage, or Jodi Arias, who has become a household name. Hearings do not require the same standard of evidence as trials. There are many types of hearings, from judicial to administrative. Most relevant to current events are congressional hearings- hearings conducted by different United States congressional committees. Within the category of congressional hearings, there are confirmation hearings, oversight hearings, and investigative hearings, just to name a few. If you turned on any news channel in the last month, the type of hearing you saw playing out was a confirmation hearing, a process unique to the Senate. Brett Kavanaugh, for example, had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. This was not a trial, so evidence presented during the hearing was not meant to convict him of any crime. Rather, evidence was presented with the goal of deciding his suitability to serve on the Su-
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preme Court. In this sense, a hearing is like a job interview, meant to assess capability. It can be especially confusing to understand the purpose of a hearing in the case of Kavanaugh and other high-profile confirmation hearings, like that of Clarence Thomas in 1991. Kavanaugh, like Thomas, was accused of criminal activity. However, these accusations served as evidence for a case against hiring Kavanaugh and Thomas, not as reasons for prosecution. Understanding the difference between a hearing and a trial is an important part of being an informed citizen. Knowing the difference can help you better understand what to look for; in a trial it’s guilt, while in a hearing it’s capability. Both trials and hearings are often long, drawn-out processes, and even when you want to stay an active consumer of these mediums it can be difficult. Watch what you can, but also read transcripts to catch up on what you missed. Talk to the people in your life, and read articles analyzing the situation. Major cases, whether they play out as hearings or trials, are part of the public discourse for a reason, so don’t be afraid to join in!
a &e GALLERY GALAVATING
Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color
Rather, the show is a visual think piece about society filtered through rose-colored glasses. As the viewer learns while snaking their way have a long history with the color through the exhibit, pink is tied to pink. Despite the fact that my a number of relevant issues, from mother dressed me almost exgender stereotypes to classism. Case clusively in navy blue, I wanted evin point: In the nineteenth century, erything in pink as a toddler —infor example, the advent of chemicluding the puppy that, alas, I never cal dyes meant that easy-to-make received. Even though my color palvibrant pinks were reserved for the ette has since diversified, I still hold lower classes, while the elite favored the shade close to my heart. It is no the paler cousins of today’s Millennisurprise then, that when I heard that al pink. Later, in the 1980s, hot pink the Museum at FIT’s fall exhibition became a controversial power color was titled Pink: The History of a Punk, for the modern working woman, as Pretty Powerful Color, the show was demonstrated by a certain Claude immediately at the top of my bucket Montana skirt suit. list. This being the Museum at Before I even hopped on the FIT, the ensembles on display were subway, I had high expectations for superb. My personal favorites comPink. I have long believed that the prised an Yves Saint Laurent evening Museum at FIT is the most undergown with a spectacular satin bow appreciated museum in Manhattan. and brocaded “body armor” by ComAside from being free to the public, me des Garçons. Other highlighted the Museum boasts a brilliant curapieces included Janelle Monáe’s torial team and a diverse archive of “vagina pants” from her Pynk music clothing and accessories from all corvideo, a series of stunning creations ners of fashion history. Based on the from India, and, of course, the pussy enthusiasm of the press surrounding hat. But while the clothes themselves the exhibition, I was hoping to see set a high bar, what I most apprecithat the Museum pulled out all the ated about Pink was the exhibition’s stops—and was not disappointed. commitment to its thesis. Rather From the moment you read than devolving into the “greatest the first piece of wall text at the start hits” of famous pink ensembles, the of the exhibition, it becomes clear content of the exhibition was diverse that Pink is not really about fashion.
I
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and unexpected, and challenged the viewer to, for lack of a better phrase, rethink pink. If the works on display at Pink is a lesson in effective curation, then the other exhibition details are equally impressive. The exhibition space is intimate—just two galleries doused in low lighting—but kept calm and pleasant thanks to a soundtrack that ranges from Funny Face’s “Think Pink” to “La Vie en Rose.” Not only that, but the wall text besides each ensemble give the viewer the facts without getting bogged down by jargon. Accessibility is a rare thing in the art world, and it was refreshing to see an exhibit that clearly considers the experience of all visitors. I cannot claim to know everything about art or museums—but I do know what I like. Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color at the Museum at FIT is no doubt one of the best showings happening in New York this season. For your next sojourn below 116th Street, consider going to Chelsea and taking in it all in. You have until January, but I recommend you get there quickly—before the rest of the world finds out.
Photography by Olivia Land
by olivia land
film festivals
THE PHENOMENOLOGY of
By Michelle Chow
L Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page Layout by Huntly Cooper
ike voting and the “selfmade man,” movie-going is a hallmark pastime of classic Americana that’s been on the decline for a few decades. No need for headscratching over this one. Silver screens turn gray with age now that so many faster, smaller screens can stream prodigious amounts of media, lifetimes worth, for virtually no additional cost (other than Wi-Fi). For less than an admit-one ticket, one can subscribe to a month of streaming and watch two dozen movies a day, if they choose; family, friends, even the dog can join (mine likes to watch basketball). All this to say, the movie theater is (almost) verging on the antiquity of the amphitheater or the opera. On the other hand, film festivals are thriving. Major festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, BFI, and even Cannes have shown growing attendance records (this year, +70% for the first from Associated Press; +0.4% for the last from Screen Daily). As appreciation for film as high art, representation behind/on the screen, and technical power grow, it’s a great time to be a cinephile. Now in its 56th edition, the New York Film Festival diverges from those listed because it is non-competitive; movies play solely to be shown, not to win awards. Anyone with roughly $20 and luck in the queue can see a
screening, many with filmmaker/cast discussions (sometimes taped and released online). They also offer an incredibly popular selection of free talks. Why would the festival, largely comprised of movie-going, trend in the opposite direction of its base material? In his influential cultural criticism, “The Work of Art in the Age of its Technological Reproducibility,” Walter Benjamin posits that all art has always been reproducible, yet all reproductions lack one thing: “The here and now of the work of art—its unique existence in a particular place.” Film is the first medium whose “artistic character is entirely determined by its reproducibility;” it lacks the unique original that paintings or manuscripts have. So, how can this breed of fanatic, a zealot for something that exists only as reproduction, further connect to an origin—some tangible object in some real place? Devout believers pray in houses of worship under stained-glass illumination or incense haze. Fans of famous painters find their favorite works casting shadows on museum walls. Music enthusiasts hunt down tickets to live concerts where the artist stands and sweats to create songs anew before them. For the cinephile, whose object of obsession lacks an original to
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pay homage, film festivals seem like the irresistible answer. The screenings are premieres or near enough, so the work feels somehow more authentic, though it’s usually identical to the wide release (perhaps a scene might be added or deleted). The creatives are there, and evermore the artist is just another thing we want to consume, right alongside their art. It’s a vain search for the unattainable authentic “object” of the film, but that heady feeling of getting closer, even falsely, lives up to the indulgent, celebratory title of the festival. This year, I volunteered with NYFF. Volunteers commit to 20 hours from an assortment of shifts and gain dayof admission; for those that go well above, there are perks such as FSLC membership! Mostly, they work at Lincoln Center, though I worked once at the Apollo Theater. Volunteering is a great way to experience the festival and see some incredible films; I saw Sorry Angel, Diamantino, Mid90s, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Favourite, and some Convergence exhibits. There’s an upcoming opportunity to volunteer on campus: the Athena Film Festival. For those interested in NYFF, keep an eye out for the application towards June.
Sadly a Loser
S
ierra Burgess is a Loser has all the qualities that should have made it the next big Netflix movie—the kind that would be shown on hundreds of recently-watched lists for months to come. To start, the cast is the kind that teen romantic comedy legends are made from. I am personally partial to Noah Centineo, with his signature smile, voice, and chin scar. After riding on the coattails of his effervescent performance in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Centineo has become the internet boyfriend of teenage girls nationwide, and his charm is equally as palpable in Sierra Burgess is a Loser. Shannon Purser is an equally exciting prospect as the protagonist of the film, after garnering a loyal social media following for her various sympathetic characters. Her sweet smile and casual confidence have carried her from role to role as a constant fan favorite, most evident when the tagline #JusticeforBarb swept through Twitter after her character’s demise on the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. Needless to say, the cast of Sierra Burgess is a Loser was definitely a promising one. However, this promising cast was forced to maneuver through a screenplay dogged down with unrealistic characters and an upsetting premise. The foundation of the movie is ques-
tionable at best, based around the fact that its protagonist, Sierra (played by Shannon Purser) is not conventionally attractive enough to have a boy interested in her, and that the stereotypical popular girl, Veronica (played by Kristine Froseth) is not smart enough to keep her own boyfriend. The unlikely friendship between the characters is one of the movie’s few strengths, as it does wonders to humanize Veronica’s villainous character and gives a fuller picture of both girls. However, their friendship is still rooted in this toxic concept, and both characters remain a little too loyal to their caricatures. While these actors threw everything they had into this performance, anchoring a downright creepy screenplay in genuine emotion and relatability, their efforts were not enough to outweigh the overall unsettling nature of the film. Though the entire concept of the movie feels outdated, it could have been redeemed if Sierra was not so downright unlikeable. She is portrayed without any real depth, besides sending pictures of animals to her love interest Jamey (played by Centineo) in an ongoing flirtation, and pretentiously spitting out the odd line of poetry. As the film continues, Sierra’s character worsens as her insecurity and desperation to confound Jamey takes over. Through vari-
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is,
ous actions in the movie, Sierra proves how unlikeable she is and displays the faultiness of her judgment. However, it was not until the eventual catfishing of Jamey that the film ventures from mediocre to loathsome. As Sierra and Veronica continue their friendship, they are able to entrap Jamey in a thread of painful lies, as he thinks he is getting closer to the elusive Veronica. This catfishing culminates in a moment of shady consent. I won’t spoil it, but just know that it made my skin crawl. Despite an impressive cast and moments of true tenderness (the text sequences between Sierra and Jamey are delightful), I refuse to get behind Sierra Burgess is a Loser. The questionable premise, coupled with a truly unlikeable protagonist and faulty morals cause the movie to fall short from its potential. While past romantic comedies were based on these sorts of premises— where one-dimensional stereotypes are abundant in creating a typical teenage movie— this is no longer acceptable, and the critical reviews of Sierra Burgess is a Loser exhibit that. But I would strongly recommend anyone to get their Centineo fix with the far superior To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, a movie far more worth your time.
West Side story:
Rethinking the Reboot By Olivia Kowalishin
T Illustration by Stefani Shoreibah
he snapping and rumbling of West Side Story hold a very dear place in my heart. I first saw the film when I was ten, and I remember being mesmerized by the dancing, singing, costumes, and music. West Side Story is a musical that is based off Romeo and Juliet, except set on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the 1950’s. Instead of the Montagues and Capulets, it shows the rivalry of two gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, who come from different ethnic backgrounds. The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1957 and was so popular that a film version followed in 1961. The film was beloved by audiences and critics, earning ten Oscars, including best film.
When I heard that Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner were working on a remake, I was skeptical. At ten, I thought the original was perfect and wondered, why do we need a remake of such a classic film? However, at such a young age, I could not fully grasp all of the issues with the original movie. Looking back at it now, I realize how whitewashed the cast of the original film was. Many of the Puerto Rican roles were played by white actors wearing dark makeup to play Latino characters. Of the three main Latino roles in the musical, two were played by actors who were not from the same ethnic background as their characters. The lead role of Maria was played by Natalie Wood, who was Ukrainian, and the leader of the Puerto Rican group, the Sharks, was played by a Greek-American actor, George Chakiris. Even Rito Morano, who is Puerto Rican, has recently said that she had to have her skin darkened by makeup for the role of Anita. Remaking a beloved classic film is extremely difficult, and it is often a challenge to pay homage to the original while also being unique. One of the ways
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that the remake is looking to improve upon the original is to actually have a diverse cast instead of casting white actors to portray a diverse cast. Through this action alone, the remake is necessary: to right the wrongs of the original movie and to correctly portray ethnic groups. Steven Spielberg has stated that he is looking to cast Spanish speaking Latinx actors for the remake, which is a vast improvement on the original film. So far the only casting that has been announced is Ansel Elgort as Tony, the male lead and a member of the white gang, the Jets. As expected, the internet has been in a frenzy, voicing their opinions. Some people are thanking the casting gods, while others are arguing that Ansel is not the right actor to take on such an iconic role. I am reluctant to pass judgment until I see the film or the trailer at the very least. Nevertheless, I am excited to see what Spielberg and Kushner do with such a classic piece of work since they have the opportunity to correct some of the mistakes of the past. However, I sincerely hope that the nine-minute long dance prologue at the beginning of the film is recreated!
BROADWAY
BABES
ight-hundred and forty-nine dollars. That is how much a ticket for the hit Broadway show Hamilton will cost you on a Saturday night. Broadway is expensive no matter what, but there are affordable ways to see top-notch shows at student-friendly prices. In the last year, I have seen 16 shows on Broadway, all paid for by my work-study salary. I would also like to acknowledge that when I use the word “cheap” in reference to ticket prices, this is in comparison to a full-priced ticket on the show’s website. It is absolutely possible to get discounted prices for tickets, but you do have to put in a little work for what you want. Ninety of the shows I’ve seen on Broadway were through rushing. “Rushing” a show means showing up in-person to the theatre when it opens (usually around 10:00 am) and standing in line to get whatever tickets have not sold for that night’s performance. Sometimes you can even rush standing room tickets, which means standing in the back of the theatre for significantly cheaper tickets. Through rushing, I have been able to see performances such as Book of Mormon (standing room, $27), Waitress ($39), and even Bernadette Peters’ opening night of Hello, Dolly! ($39). This is my personal favorite way to get tickets to shows, but there are definitely downsides. In order to secure tickets, you must get in line for your chosen show
at 9:30 a.m. and risk having the person before you get the last ticket (yes, that’s really happened). If you don’t want to go all the way to Times Square early in the morning, there are also ways to get reduced-price tickets right here on campus. If you’re a first year or transfer student, you’re eligible for the NY Urban Lottery, a Columbia-run program that offers a chance to win free tickets to various performances around New York. Last year, I won tickets to see Anastasia, but I was, unfortunately, unable to go. Even though I couldn’t go to that performance of Anastasia, the Barnard Ticket Booth (located in the Barnard store) was selling discounted tickets just one week later. While these tickets were more expensive than the free ones, they were still only $40 (compared to the regular $70). On-campus vendors like the Barnard Ticket Booth and the Columbia Arts Initiative are great for getting cheap tickets with decent seats. Through the TIC (located in Lerner) I was able to see the Tony award-winning show Dear Evan Hansen for $70—a steal compared to the regular $399.99. If you’re feeling extra lazy and don’t even want to get out of bed, the app “TodayTix” is perfect for you. This free app will find cheaper tickets for most Broadway shows. They THE BULLETIN -
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also often hold lotteries for shows the morning of the performance, and you can arrange the whole transaction without leaving your room. You simply purchase your tickets online and then meet a TodayTix representative 30 minutes before the show starts. One important thing to keep in mind when using TodayTix is the $15 handling fee for picking up your tickets from a representative at the theatre. I would recommend this app for last minute tickets that are still slightly cheaper than full price. While the lights of Broadway tend to draw us in like moths to a flame, the cheapest way to find tickets to top-notch shows in New York is to look beyond Times Square. By seeing Off-Broadway or Off-OffBroadway shows, the audience is able to experience new, raw theatre that is also easier on the wallet. So whether you want to see award-winning theatre or brand new productions, wake up early or stay in bed all day, finding discounted ticket prices for amazing shows is only a few subway stops away.
Illustration by Sadie Kramer
E
by Annette stonebarger
Heavenly bodies:
A Transcendental Experience
T Photography by Gaby Giraldo
he Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art never fails to compel visual satisfactions and discussions throughout the year with their annual fashion exhibition. With this year’s Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and The Catholic Imagination, however, they have truly outdone themselves by initiating an immersive and playful yet contemplative viewing experience. Not restricted to one exhibition space, the show starts at the Anna Wintour Costume Center, continues at the Met Fifth Avenue Byzantine and Medieval Art galleries, and concludes at the Met Cloisters. By scattering mannequins adorned with luxuriant gowns amongst devotional sculpture and altarpieces, exhibit curator Andrew Bolton successfully staged a conversation between modern fashion and European Catholicism. It’s overwhelming to see Vatican vestments and accessories, which have never left Vatican City before, covered with precious stones and masterful embroideries. However, the fashion counterparts situated alongside the religious pieces make for an even stronger visual presence. The
By Sherry Qin ensembles at the Medieval Sculptural Hall bridge the gap between secular and sacred, as well as past and present. Resembling a church interior, the sculptural hall features a central aisle and two side aisles. The monumental choir screen divides the space into two parts while still allowing people to see through. Mannequins adorned in Dior, Balenciaga, and Versace haute couture are aligned vertically along the central aisle, reminding the viewer of both traditional runway presentations and liturgical processions. The curated music playing overhead, Time Lapse by Michael Nyman, adds the theatricality of Catholicism to this hybrid exhibition. The strong bass notes that repeat throughout the piece, just like the mannequins under spotlights, penetrate the viewer’s body, enhancing the transcending experience. The music, creating an ethereal and solemn ambiance, effaces the distinctions between modern fashion and Catholicism. While the section at the Met Fifth Avenue focuses on visual parallels between fashionable garments and Catholic references, the ensembles at the Met Cloisters explore more conceptual relationships between modern fashion and faith. Indeed, the Cloisters’ reconstructed French monastery is the most engaging and contemplative venue of this exhibition. The ensembles here not only present influences of Catholicism on modern fashion but also play key roles in engaging with liturgi-
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cal furnishings and other artworks. In the Fuentiduena Chapel, a mannequin in a Balenciaga wedding dress—similar to the gowns worn by figures depicting the Virgin—stands in front of a suspended, crucified Jesus. The apse, decorated with a fresco depicting the Virgin and the Child, provides a context for this outfit. Her entire body and face are obscured by the inflated dress. From afar, the silky gown bathed in ethereal light looks like a sacrament of baptism and marriage. The inclusion of this ensemble in the Fuentiduena Chapel grants emotional depth and elicits imaginations. One of the most powerful garments of the entire exhibition is the exquisite piece by John Galliano, evoking the medieval Martyr Joan of Arc. The mannequin, wrapped in an armor-inspired black gown, lays recumbent in between its medieval counterparts, two thirteenth-century tomb reliefs. The affinity between the closed-eyed, lifeless mannequin and the sculptural effigies of the sepulchral knights sets a framework for potential narratives and draw viewers into the age of the crusades. Despite inquiries into the superficial appropriation of religious subject matters and icons, the exhibition is successful in portraying the consistent pursuit of beauty in the sacred and the secular. Beneath visual splendor, beauty has the power to capture one’s imagination. The Catholic Church has always employed materiality to evoke the glory of God and the promise of eternity. The fashionable appropriation and manifestation of Catholic imagery and symbols render the immortality of the Catholic tradition and the ubiquity of the Catholic imagination into public memory.
Surprise, Bitch: Bet You'd Thought You'd Seen the Last of the Langdons
I
t’s that time of year again! No, not midterms season... even better, it’s time for FX’s hit series American Horror Story to begin again. Season eight, American Horror Story: Apocalypse, has been highly anticipated as it is the crossover of season one, Murder House, and season three, Coven. With this crossover comes many fan theories about how Apocalypse will play out (WARNING: major spoilers ahead!). The Murder House as a Potential Outpost As we’ve seen in the season so far, the world has undergone nuclear annihilation that has wiped out the population of the earth with the seeming exception of Ms.Venable, Miriam, Coco, Evie, Mallory, Mr. Gallant, Andre, Timothy, and Emily. The group here hopes that they will be rescued soon, but this hope quickly fades. Jump to eighteen months later, and they’re still trapped in Outpost 3. However, their spirits quickly change when Michael Langdon arrives. He announces that he will be picking a few worthy people to take back to an “impregnable outpost,” since three other outposts have been taken over by the now-mutated humans who survived
the nuclear blast. Many have speculated that this “impregnable outpost” could be the Murder House first seen in season one. As we know from season one, Michael, the offspring of Tate Langdon and Vivien Harmon, is the literal antichrist. Since the Murder House is his birthplace, many believe it may have the supernatural strength and power to support an outpost. Could Emily be Lee’s Daughter? From the start of the season, we’re never told much about Emily or her life before the missiles hit. Could it be that Emily is Lee’s missing daughter from Season Six, AHS: Roanoke? Season Six aimed to explore newlyweds Shelby and Matt Miller’s journey as they move from Los Angeles to North Carolina and soon discover that their new home is on the grounds where the Roanoke colony settled after their infamous disappearance. This season also includes other characters such as Lee Harris, sister of Matt, who comes to live in the house with brother and Shelby. However, Lee had a child before Flora—a girl named Emily who was abducted as a child. Emily Harris was
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never found and was presumed dead. With such a lack of background for Emily of Season Eight, it’s surely a possibility. Could this mean a possible connection to Roanoke as well? Keep an eye on in the episodes to come! Is Mallory a descendant of a Supreme? In episode three, “Forbidden Fruit,” it is confirmed that Mallory is, in fact, a witch and was once a very promising student at Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies before the Apocalypse. The episodes hints that Mallory has great untapped potential, very much resembling Michael’s power, thanks to her bloodline. Is it possible that she’s a direct descendant of the first Supreme, Scathach? Scathach was first introduced to us in Season Six and is portrayed as both powerful and evil. Her line of witchcraft eventually lead to the establishment of the modern-day coven, Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies. Regardless of whichever theory you’re invested in, it’s safe to say that Apocalypse has a wild ride in store for us in the weeks to come!
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
by sophia Santos
Fantastic Blunders: Please Tell Us You’re JK
J
By Catherine Ferrante
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
.K. Rowling, author of the wonderfully enchanting Harry Potter series, continuous- ly makes problematic comments about her books and its characters since... well, since she thought it’d keep her relevant. Nagini is the snake that follows Voldemort around like a slave, holds his soul, provides milk to restore his body, and is his literal property. Rowling recently declared Nagini a “maledictus”—a person doomed by blood curse to become an animal. In her snake form, Nagini is effectively brainwashed into becoming Voldemort’s closest and cruelest companion. Worst of all, the woman playing human Nagini in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts film is East Asian. Rowling seems to be attempting to make up for the lack of people of color in the original franchise, as well as the poor representation of the few who were (a quick Google search informs us that Cho Chang is actually just two Korean surnames). However, the casting of an Asian woman in the part of someone who becomes what amounts to a literal pet snake is flat-out inconsiderate. When confronted with this backlash, Rowling defended the casting choice since Nagini is a Naga—a “snake-like mythical creature of Indonesian mythology.” When one of the few characters of color is comprised solely of stereotypes, the positive aspects of proper representation becomes totally eclipsed by the
horror of how the character plays back into racial stereotypes and is portrayed. In 2016, Rowling published a Harry Potter trivia ebook, in which she said the following: “Lupin’s condition of lycanthropy was a metaphor for those illnesses that carry a stigma, like HIV/AIDS. All kinds of superstitions seem to surround blood-borne conditions, probably due to taboos surrounding blood itself.” She claims to have wanted to explore attitudes around stigma, specifically with how Lupin, a kind teacher who also happened to be a werewolf, was mistreated by the community. As a child, Lupin was bitten by the notoriously cruel werewolf, Fenrir Greyback, whose only real characteristic is the pleasure he takes in searching for children to turn into his kind. Greyback is the only other werewolf of note in the seven books. Werewolves written to be akin to gay men with AIDS is some of the worst
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possible representation and only furthers the incredibly untrue and harmful idea that gay men are pedophilic predators hoping to “turn” children. Exploring stigma is a real and valid undertaking for an author. Rowling seems to be well-intentioned, but if she truly wanted to address the stigma around AIDS, she should’ve written explicitly about AIDS rather than a poorly executed werewolf metaphor that doesn’t do the experience of living with HIV/AIDS justice. There are many other instances in which J.K. Rowling tries to be an ally, but comes off performative as if she’s trying to make up for past mistakes without apologizing for them. This is easily seen in her attempted atonement for the complete absence of LGBT+ characters in the original books, and, instead of apologizing, asserted Albus Dumbledore was gay. This is surface-level representation; nothing in the books would have ever given the impression that this was canon. This post-publication bandwagon allyship seems to be a pattern with Rowling… one that many are sad to see. Simply Google her choices on the use of Native American magic, treatment of the Patil twins, representation of Cho Chang, the entire concept of house-elves, or her defense of casting Johnny Depp (a known abuser). What Rowling is willing to say or do and how contradictory she can be is appalling. Her choices seem desperate, and her need to be an ally, performative.
B
d n th o y e e
NYCL
by stella sappington
Perched conveniently on the corner of 10th Avenue and West 20th street, Cookshop gives incoming visitors an excellent view of the High Line as they approach the restaurant. In addition to the view, Cookshop also serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch (on Saturday and Sunday) without too much pretense while maintaining an upscale feel and typical New York prices. While the large space features a hopping bar, intimate date-night corners, and family gathering booth-style seating, not to mention ample tables, you may find yourself waiting “about 30 minutes right now, do you have a seating preference?” However, its location near both the Highline and the Whitney Museum makes the restaurant an excellent weekend brunch spot or part of a fun evening out. In fact, the strength and diversity of Cookshop’s menu is entirely redeeming. Seasonal and complex, the perfect balance between hearty, yummy, and healthy, you will not regret bringing picky, hungry, or even allergic friends here. The staff are incredibly receptive to specifications, each menu features gluten and dairy-free options, and the winos can have their pick from an excel-
lent craft cocktail, wine, beer and cider menu. Brunch and breakfast both have alcohol available, so no worries there, and they also serve coffee by the Brooklyn Roasting Company for the connoisseurs (Bulletproof available for those who eat and exercise to trends). Above and beyond other, similarly fashionable farm-to-table options, Cookshop always seems to be “on.” They are open seven days a week for each meal and they even feature a late-afternoon menu replete with snacks (strong cheese plates!), sandwiches, and baked goods. Dinner doesn’t disappoint with the opportunity to taste oysters from two different origins, followed by a dessert and even a dessert wine (how about a tawny port aged 20 years and the frozen peanut butter candy bars?). Breakfast allows you to entertain veganism with the option of a cold-pressed green juice, but may turn things on their head with a Broccoli and Cheddar Scramble (served in a skillet), a buttermilk biscuit, and truly thick-cut bacon on the side. While the head chef at Cookshop is Wilfrin Fernandez-Cruz, the owners are Marc Meyer, Vicki Freeman and Chris Paraskevaides. Meyer THE BULLETIN -
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and Freeman are a married couple who together own Shuka, Vic’s, Rosie’s, and Cookshop. Their self-proclaimed focus is seasonal food, especially at Cookshop, where many ingredients come from local greenmarkets and meat is often butchered in-house. The restaurant opened in 2005 and the future looks bright; especially if it includes the stunning glutenfree almond pancakes that come topped with berries and cream. No, you can’t tell they’re gluten free. In fact, if the author may editorialize, they have the power to destroy the wheat industry entirely. If you are also not a morning person, enjoy the perfect balance of tangy, bitter, and sweet that can be found in the iced espresso with grapefruit soda. As a snack, try the merguez sausage which comes with a perfectly spicy harissa to dip and a just-cooling-enough yogurt; leave knowing that the meat was probably sustainably sourced. For dinner, pick whatever features the most seasonal veggies, especially if the vegetable ‘dirty rice’ is still on the menu. If you ever walk by starving at lunchtime, the lamb burger is juicy and just rare enough. Whatever you do, don’t forget about those pancakes. You read it here first.
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
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Bub Cookshop
5
Little Known Dumpling Places in New York
by Sherry Qin
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runch or dinner, snack or a complete meal, meat or veggie, dumplings are always a good choice. With many varieties of dumplings to choose from, dumplings are the ultimate comfort food. New York has a big dumpling culture, but here are five little-known dumpling places in New York that should definitely be added to your list of restaurants to check out next.
1. Drunken Dumpling: 7 First Avenue, $$ Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
Drunken Dumpling started a dumpling revolution in New York with their signature XL XLB (Xiao Long Bao), a soup-er big dumpling with chunks of crab, scallop, pork, and chive broth inside. This dumpling takes up the entire steam basket and appears to be roughly six times the size of traditional soup dumplings. The appropriate way to eat it is to drink the hot broth through a straw first, then tear apart the skin and eat up the fillings. Nothing is better than a hot and flavorful broth and chunks of filling for brunch. You will probably need just one piece of dumpling for the entire meal. Also, be aware that these jumbo soup dumplings are limited to 25 per day, so you need to be there early to get your XL XLB.
2. E.A.K. Ramen: 479 6th Avenue, $$
EAK is a Japanese ramen chain on Sixth Ave known for their unique broth. However, the real hidden gem of this ramen bar is their homemade gyoza (or fried potstickers). The gyoza, served in a sizzling hot iron skillet, are pan-fried to golden and crispy perfection with lace underneath—probably the prettiest and yummiest lace in the world. Japanese people call it gyoza with wings, because the gyoza are connected with a crisp sheet of fried starch made out of flour and water. Besides their fancy look, these dumplings have tender skins, crispy bottoms, and savory and juicy fillings. The mix of chive and ginger in the pork filling makes it meaty but not greasy. Just be careful when you take the first bite, as it is really hot. EAK is also vegetarian friendly, serving gyoza with tofu fillings.
3. Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles: 40 Bowery Street, $
The Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles here are good, but the real reason to go to this small restaurant in Chinatown is their dumplings. Compared to other fancy dumplings, they treasure the traditional Chinese homestyle boiled dumplings. Their plump boiled dumplings typically arrive with homemade chili oil. The dumplings’ almost translucent skin and juicy meat and chives with a pinch of chili are a real game changer. At 8 pieces for $4, this may be the best value you can find in Manhattan. They also serve pan-fried dumplings, which add a little bit crunch to the already amazing dumplings. Their dumplings are also available frozen to-go, so you can savor them later by simply boiling them at home.
4. Wu's Wonton King: 165 East Broadway, $ Wu’s Wonton King serves a Cantonese-style dumpling soup which is the perfect breakfast on a chilly morning. They serve different versions of it, but the one to get is the three-flavored dumplings in a milky broth with pork bones. The different dumplings are served with pork, crab, and shrimp in fresh, thin wonton wraps. Their dumplings are larger than average size, packing in savory meaty goodness to satisfy your tastebuds. The rich broth just adds another layer of flavor to the dumplings. Don’t forget to order some dim sum dishes to enjoy along with your dumpling soup.
5. Veselka: 144 2nd Avenue, $$ Pierogies are Ukrainian dumplings that are either boiled or fried, served with sour cream, apple sauce, and fried onions. At Veselka, you can mix and match pierogies with a variety of fillings, including meat, truffle, potato, and goat cheese. With 61 years of experience making pierogies, they are the Ukrainian dumpling expert. This place is amazing simply because it is open 24 hours a day and you can even drop in at 3 a.m. to have a bowl of hot dumplings.
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The Most Instagrammable Cafes in Manhattan
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by Emily Blake
iving in Manhattan, we have a city at our disposal that most college students do not. We can go to a myriad of cute spots all around the city with just a swipe of our metrocard. One of my favorite things to treat myself to is a coffee at a cute café, so I’ve compiled a list of all the spots in the borough that immediately lift my spirits.
JACK’S WIFE FREDA SoHo This cozy SoHo spot is not exclusively great at any specific time of day. Brunch, lunch, or dinner, the food and atmosphere is comforting and cute. The shakshuka and sandwiches are to die for, and its local charm makes you feel good while you enjoy your meal. The classic, neighborhood bistro-esque interior gives you the fashionable community vibe you’ve been longing for.
SANT AMBROEUS Upper East Side This spot is ideal for a leisurely long breakfast in the dining room or a quick pick-meup at their pastry and coffee counter. With packaging and decor reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, your feed and love for aesthetic will be just as satisfied as your stomach. They have the best cappuccinos in the city, no joke. This place can get pretty packed, so at times I’ve stopped in for a coffee and a slice of cake and then walked the short distance from 78th and Madison Ave to Central Park to continue the Instagram glory.
E.A.T
Upper East Side This deli/cafe combination is a nostalgic, quintessential Upper East Side eatery that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. With bright red chairs, checkered marble flooring, and mirrored walls, E.A.T is the perfect place to just drink a cappuccino by the window and people watch, or have a full classic New York breakfast, such as their delicious Lox and bagels.
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Even without its beautiful, colorcoordinated interior, Cha Cha Matcha would be a go-to spot simply for its superior matcha drinks and matcha-infused foods. This little corner of Little Italy is a baby pink safe haven where you can splurge on soft serve ice cream without guilt due to the health benefits of matcha and its contribution to your photos! There are vintage record covers all around the walls with the “Cha Cha” motif where the shop got its name. The perfect match between chill, West Coast tropical imagery, a vintage feel, and delicious drinks, Cha Cha Matcha is the perfect downtown hang out.
Photography by Emily Blake and Lucy O’Connor
CHA CHA MATCHA SoHo
OCCULT OUTLET by Catherine Ferrante
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f midterm season is creeping up on you and you just can’t seem to focus, you may want to take a trip to Enchantments, New York City’s oldest witchcraft store just a block off Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. This is the shop for all things magical. Walking into this calming little occult store, you will be greeted by two black cats, Medea and Eros. They were both rescues, and are always calm, quiet, and seated upon their throne: the tarot deck counter. It’s so relaxed inside with absolutely no judgement and a lot of different vibes from each of the workers and customers. The staff (and cats!) are so friendly, giving the shop a soothing energy that makes it a respite from the bustling city. They cater to a wide array of positive magic and spiritual tastes, as one can tell from their large bookshelf. Whether you’re part of the New Age crowd, into candle magic, or need some spiritual healing, Enchantments is the one-stop shop. The bookshelf is a great place to start if
you’re looking to learn more about how the products at Enchantments are made to help your everyday life, or if you want to delve deeper into a specific type of magic. The store has a large collection of tarot decks, including classics like the Rider-Waite, with most of the decks falling in the $20-30 price range. Eros guards the decks, but the staff is more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Enchantments also carries a large supply of magical herbs that range from $3.50-15.00 an ounce. The biggest draw of Enchantments, however, are their candles. They have what they call picture candles, which are candles that can be burned right away for purposes such as sexual attraction or unblocking. These can burn for seven days straight and are ready to burn— no carving or ritual necessary. They also carry “kits” that come with two medium-sized candles, some incense, oil, and bath salts. The color of the candles, the spell carved into them, and the scent of the incense, the oil,
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and the salts are catered to a specific need, such as academic success, self esteem, love healing, job hunting, etc. These $16 kits come with a howto guide and are a really great deal if you need an extra boost in your life. They also have candle holders and incense burners for sale for about $5 so you can get right to practicing. There are also custom carved candles which cost more, starting at $36, but are perfect if you are looking for something specific. They will carve a beautiful candle with a spell, oil, and glitter catered to your exact needs, as well as guide you in how to get the most out of your candle. So whether you want to learn more about witchcraft, are in need of a new sage bundle, or can’t stop worrying about that one paper you don’t have any ideas for, stop by Enchantments. In a video for Insider, the owner of Enchantments, Stacy Rapp, said that it’s all about “manifesting positive change in your life,” so why not pop in? But if you do, remember what the sign says: always tip your witch.
Old New York role on the Mayor’s Committee on Slum Clearance. Moses was known for his huge-scale urban renewal projects, and his plan to transform the 18 city blocks that Lincoln Center would soon come to inhabit was no different. As a phrase itself, “urban renewal” is not terribly polarizing; it is merely the process of redevelopment of an urban space in poor conditions, particularly if urban decay is present. But what makes this more challenging is the confluence of factors that went into the supposed “need” for Moses’s urban renewal project. According to a New York Times article, “How Lincoln Center Was Built (It Wasn’t Pretty),” the people who lived and worked in the area were displaced and essentially sacrificed for the pursuit of “urban development.” Furthermore, these families, about 7,000 in total, and around 800 businesses were all lower class and almost entirely black and Latinx. The city government had an interest in these “urban renewal” projects as well, because they created middle-class housing. Promises to help relocate them successfully never came to fruition, and the newly-displaced former residents had no choice but to move in to already-existing, crowded, lowerTHE BULLETIN -
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income areas, such as Harlem, leading to more over-crowding and widening the divide between incomes in the city. What is probably the biggest symbolic representation of one group being ousted from their home is what came to replace them: a center for the crafts considered “high culture,” like opera and ballet-- high culture for the high income. Perhaps the saddest irony of this is that the area itself already had a connection to performative culture, as it is the area wherein Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach all spent much time honing their jazz music, according to New York Times article “Cradle for Serious Grooving.” Perhaps the only vestige of this formerly thriving culture of jazz musicianship still evident in the environment is Jazz at Lincoln Center, an organization started by musician Wynton Marsalis that puts on classical jazz concerts and hosts musicians and educational talks about the art form. However, without knowledge of this legacy, it is easy to forget and be entirely unaware of what once existed where Lincoln Center stands today.
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incoln Center has an international reputation as a center for performing arts of the highest caliber. Countless people consider it vital cultural institution, and a huge contributor to New York’s identity as a multifaceted metropolis. Home to the New York Philharm onic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the School of American Ballet, the Juilliard School, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, to name a few, the energy of artists at the top of their respective fields courses through it, lending it a certain sparkle and glow, detectable throughout its 16.3 acre complex and the city streets beyond. For some, especially those of a younger generation, including myself up until a few years ago, it’s hard to ever think of a time when Lincoln Center didn’t exist. It seems as though it is one of those things as old as New York itself, especially because of its cultural relevance. It may surprise you to learn, however, that Lincoln Center may not be much older than your own parents. Lincoln Center was one of the many “urban renewal” projects of Robert Moses, urban-developer-supreme and “master builder” of New York City, specific to his
by Lucy Dickerman
STINK in the CITY
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hen I ask my relatives visiting from suburbia how they like the city, the most common response is “I love it, but I don’t think I could live here.” This is not without reason, as New York City is a place of overwhelming sensory experiences. Because they can handle living in the city, New Yorkers are often seen as the “toughest kids on the block.” However, even New Yorkers themselves can’t stand unfazed at one kind of challenge the city throws at them: foul smells. Certain areas have developed a reputation for being particularly putrid, especially 284 Broome Street. A previous investigation concluded that the smell plaguing the location probably came from raw chicken sitting in the sun. I went on an excursion to see if the longtime title holder of stinkiest place in the city still lives up to its reputation. I began my journey curious, but doubtful. There was no way this place was worse than the time I smelled a mixture of urine and rancid beer next to a Queens park. Nevertheless, I set out with my roommate for the 1 train. When we got off, it turned out that Google Maps had glitched and given me the wrong directions. My roommate’s
by Naemal Bhatti phone calculated a 20-minute walk to the address, and on the way, we strolled through some pretty posh neighborhoods. We decided to check out a cosmetics store, Rituals, on the way. This led to a completely different olfactory experience than I had set out for. After I expressed interest in a product, a customer attendant rubbed the “Ritual of Sakura” scrub into my hands. The sweet smell of rice milk and cherry blossoms wafted around the stoneware sink when she washed it away. My hands were positively fragrant and supple after this. Walking onwards, I took the sugar scrub experience to act as a counterweight if my destination did prove horribly malodorous. After weaving through multiple blocks of Instagrammable cafes and high rise buildings, my roommate and I finally got to a rundown looking neighborhood. Trudging forward, I prepared my nostrils to be assaulted at any moment. We came up to what looked like a closed grocery store and confirmed that the address read 284. However, I couldn’t smell anything besides the ordinary garbage heaps on the sidewalk. Pedestrians were walking by without even the slightest sign of inconvenience. I had spent three hours trekking through the THE BULLETIN -
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city just to get to here (though mostly because I stopped at shops on the way), so I felt let down. Hoping to get a whiff of anything unusual, my roommate and I stayed a couple of minutes longer before heading back to the train station. 284 Broome Street certainly did not live up to its notoriety, although I’m still trying to look for reasons I might have just visited at a bad time. When I visited, the store was closed, and maybe only stinks when open. However, I did some research and that stretch of Broome Street is reported to reek at all times. Nevertheless, the city is still home to a plethora of distinct smells, some heavenly and some downright foul. Some are ephemeral while others are permanent. In a city as dynamic as New York, nothing can ever be expected to stay the same. It seems that the time has finally come for some other obscure street corner to take the title of stinkiest place in the city.