Barnard Bulletin, February 2017

February 2017

&

Love Letters from Us

Making a Political Fashion Statement 2.9 Million Nasty Women The Meaning of Planned Parenthood: Barnard Edition

ali mcqueen '18 & claudia levey '19 Editors-in-Chief amanda breen '17 Managing Editor

EVENTS DIRECTOR JUDY LIU '19

FEATURES EDITOR Emma Yee Yick '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nicole blackwood '20

ALUMNAE RELATIONS DIRECTOR DEMME DURRETT '19

POLITICS & OPINION EDITOR Sara Hameed '20

PHOTOSHOOT DIRECTOR judy liu '19

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR claudia levey '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Allisen Lichtenstein '19

LAYOUT DIRECTOR anna li '19

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR sharon wu '17

NEW YORK CITY LIVING EDITOR katherine leak '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Veronica Suchodolski '19 HEALTH & STYLE EDITOR Briana Draguca '18

Thank you to the ruth bayard smith '72 memorial fund for its support of the bulletin BARNARD BULLETIN 3009 Broadway New York, NY 10027 TheBarnardBulletin..Com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Follow us on instagram:

THE BULLETIN -

facebook.com/barnardbulletin twitter.com/barnardbulletin instagram.com/barnard_bulletin

2 - february 2017

A Letter from the Editors

F

ebruary is the month of love - the month we associate with the color red, bouquets of roses, boxes of chocolates, and so on. However, if you don’t have a significant other to share Valentine’s Day with, sometimes the whole love thing doesn’t sound quite so enticing.

Here at The Bulletin, we’re asking you to go into February - and the rest of your year - with a different view on love. We’re asking you to see how much love you can share. Start by celebrating your best friends with a Galentine’s celebration, giving a smile to someone passing by on the street, or sharing your box of chocolates with the person sitting next to you. Then, do more.

Our society needs more love. Many people on our very own campus are feeling their rights and identities being threatened by the current political turmoil in our country - share some love with them. Our peers need more love. Columbia and Barnard students are clearly facing extreme mental health struggles and exorbitant amounts of pressure on this campus - share some love with them. And most of all, you need more love. Practice self-care, don’t stretch yourself too thin, and take a breather when you need one. Take 23 minutes for an episode of Friends, 15 minutes for a quick yoga vinyasa, 10 minutes for a hot shower, 5 minutes for a cup of tea, or 1 minute for a few deep breaths. Time taken for your own well-being is never wasted time.

Love is a powerful force for good, so take this month to step up your love game.

XOXO, Ali and Claudia

THE BULLETIN -

3 - february 2017

3 // Letter from the Editors 5 // Behind the Scenes 6 // Trending & Playlist

Health & Style 8 // Never too much glitter 9 // #trackisback 10 // making a political fashion statement 11 // the best of first lady fashion 12 // high fashion, high tech

Features 13 // making a comeback 14 // centerpiece: love letters 19 // babysitter confessions 20 // what paved the way for valentine's day 21 // love, actually: a second per swipe 22 // 2.9 million nasty women

Politics & Opinion 23 // voting: right or civil obligation?

24 // the meaning of planned parenthood: barnard edition 25 // women in politics: betsy devos 26 // she said, she said

Arts & Entertainment 27 // the history of rom-coms 28 // barnard alum book report 29 // celebrity protests 30 // galentine's day 31 // skyline savers

New York City Living 31 // bites beyond the bubble 32 // barnard in the outer boroughs 33 // top 5 little known tea shops 34 // new year, new subway 35 // dategate 2017

ehind he cenes Model breana beaudreault Photography: sharon wu Art Direction: judy liu

Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat

the easiest and most effective on the go concealer you'll find on the market.

For less than $5, this drugstore topcoat will completely change the home manicure game - when they say no chipping, they mean it.

Feminist Fight Club by Jess Bennet looking for a guide to female empowerment in the workplace, or life in general? You must read this book and go join your local girl gang.

THE BULLETIN -

6 - february 2017

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

Milk Makeup Blur Stick

Yellow It's making a comeback. trust us. 2017 is the year of yellow.

Bubble Blender this silicone sponge allows for streak free application of any cream or liquid makeup. $14.95 at whippy cake.

1.

4.

Hoops

shape of you galantis remix ed sheeran

The rubens

galantis

2. all is well

5.

love is mystical cold war kids

austin basham

3.

6.

Chained to the rhythm

i don't want to live forever

katy perry

zayn & taylor swift

THE BULLETIN -

7 - february 2017

H&S Never Too Much

rom the runways of Dior to the pages of Nylon, glitter has become the makeup trend of 2017.Whether you see it as an ode to the nostalgic days of the 90s or just a craving to look like a Lush star bath bomb, glitter has creeped up into our Top Shelf.

The question though for us college students is, can we pull off glitter as an everyday look with our kankens and textbooks? Or should we only leave it for music festivals and our Instagram photoshoots?

by Carolina Gonzalez

Well I put all of my glitter to the test. With some of Lemonhead’s glitter paste and glitter star stickers I bought from an online cheerleader cosmetics store, I went à la Dior and defined my under eyebrow with a line of glitter paste and then added some glitter stars on the apples of my cheek. Although I thought this look was too daring for the professional workplace of my internship, I wore it out to some of my classes and even on a date.

While I did get some looks from my classmates, almost everyone smiled and complimented my glittery eyes. My best friends said it was very “Carolina” (which is just

some code that means “extra”) but everyone seemed to appreciate the looks I was serving.

After a couple of hours of running around campus for class, I headed over to Thai Market for a casual date. My date pointed out the glitter on my face and asked if I had been crafting the whole day. I just started to laugh and tell him it was just one of my beauty experiments.

We carried on with dinner, but he still attempted to make some jokes about my glitter that failed.

The entire day I felt ethereal, as if I was some glitter goddess that graced the presence of everyone around me. Yeah, that might sound “extra,” but glitter is meant for special occasions. So to wear it on any given day made my day feel a little more special than any ordinary day.

Although I might not slip glitter into my daily makeup routine, it’s definitely something I’ll try to wear a bit more on the weekends. I do have a whole pot of glitter paste left on my desk, so I might as well put it to good use.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

F

Glitter

#TrackIsBack

by Amber Shin

H Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

aven’t you heard? The early 2000s is making a comeback... right?

2016, the return of 90s trends.

One year later, and trend setters are pushing fashion trends to move forward to the next decade, the glorious 2000s. The early 2000s was a time when the Ultimate Cool Girl traded in her generic Nokia flip phone for a bedazzled T-Mobile Sidekick, carried her mini monogrammed purse on her shoulder, and of course, strutted in either velour or terry cloth tracksuits that boastfully displayed the words “Juicy Couture” on the butt.

Juicy Couture dominated the 2000s thanks to the immense cultural influences of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and the up-and-coming Kim Kardashian.

Juicy was everywhere; everyone wanted to Be JuicyTM. If you were fortunate enough to casually drop $200+ on the branded tracksuit, you were granted membership into the super exclusive Juicy track suit crew. I on the other hand proudly settled for the knock-off version from Target, which were far from the luxury feel of Juicy Couture velour. When I was able to finally gather up enough chore money to splurge and treat myself to the pink Juicy tracksuit I had my eyes on for years, the momentum of the Juicy trend was weakening and major department stores such as Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue were cutting their ties with the luxury lounge brand. Eventually, Juicy Couture was no longer considered cool and it became a brand of the past: this re-

ality was harshly legitimized with the closure of over 100 Juicy Couture stores and outlets all across the United States. The once-posh image of Juicy Couture was further “tainted” by its non-exclusive deal with the big-box retailer, Kohls.

Juicy Couture is officially dead, Juicy Couture has finally "dried up".

In one last attempt to revitalize the brand with whatever was left, Juicy Couture launched an ambitious campaign in 2016, titled “Track is Back”. The campaign and the resurgence of Juicy Couture to the public garnered varying responses and reactions. Some were delighted with nostalgia, while a majority of the population were either unaware of the “grand relaunch” or doubtful of their success

However, those who weren’t convinced by the Juicy rebranding, were more often than not ignorant of the current generation’s obsession with “retro or “nostalgic” styles and brands. Recently, we have seen a revival of nostalgic styles/ brand with the mom jeans (renamed the “boyfriend” jeans), Champions sweatpants, New Balance kicks, and surprisingly enough, now Juicy Couture. Although the resurgence of Juicy Couture has been slow, the current youth generation, which is immensely influenced by millennial style and social media icons such as Kylie and Kendall Jenner, has shown increasing THE BULLETIN -

9 - february 2017

interest in fashion that was once popular.

The infamous tracksuits have been popping up all over various media platforms via influential celebrities, including Solange Knowles’ debut of the “velour” squad in her “Don’t Touch my Hair” music video and most-like worthy, Kylie Jenner’s playful showcase of the Juicy Couture x Vetements tracksuit on her Instagram.

The brand’s recent and unexpected collaboration with Vetements, a high street brand well-known for their unconventional and pricey styles, may have been the greatest contribution to the slow return of the infamous tracksuits.

The new and revised tracksuits hold on to iconic Juicy stylistic characters such as the soft velour and the ostentatious crystal butt bedazzlement but comes with the Vetements’ price tag, costing nearly $2,000 for an entire set, a remarkable increase from the standard Juicy Couture line, which would typically cost $250 for a set. As outrageous as this may seem, the Vetements’ name and Kylie Jenner endorsement certainly played a positive role in getting millennials back into the nostalgic tracksuit brand; the Juicy Couture x Vetements line sold out almost immediately.

Juicy Couture is taking an advantage of the recent rise of ath-leisure, primarily led by other brands such as Lululemon, Nike and Adidas. With the addition of the millennials’ interest in nostalgic styles, Juicy Couture is bound to make a comeback, however, the extent of Juicy’s success is still to be determined.

Making a Political Fashion Statement

by Emma Bellows

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

W

hile this election sparked an array of influential marches and boycotts, the powerful opposition to Trump’s administration also inspired the rebirth of an unconventional protest: fashion. The exploitation of fashion for political activism is not new--in fact fashion has been used to make statements about disabilities, rape, LGBTQ rights, and anti-fur use for years. So it’s fitting that with the current status of our nation, political fashion statements have skyrocketed with the election. Designers and activists are using their platforms and creativity to communicate their frustrations, while also giving the public clothing that outwardly expresses their active involvement in the widespread movement to take a stand against Trump’s bigotry.

The most literal, recent spectacle of fashion in communication with politics is Chanel’s Spring 2015 runway show. The runway was renamed “Chanel Boulevard,” and reimagined to resemble a street. Each model carried either a megaphone or signs with slogans like “Make Fashion Not War” and “Women’s Rights Are All Right.”

The show became a medium for political expression, bringing fashion to the forefront of the conversation. Similarly, for his show in Florence in 2016, designer Pitti Uomo hired three African asylum seekers to walk in his show to make a statement about integrating African migrants in the business of fashion.

Beyonce also uses her knack for fashion to make political statements. Her demonstration at the 2016 Super Bowl served as a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement and preached the creation of a

united front against police brutality. She sang her hit “Formation” with an army of backup dancers who donned shiny, black leotards and garters, creating a theatrical portrayal of the Black Panther’s uniform and making “Formation” the anthem of the movement.

While artists often use fashion to make great displays of political protest, others use fashion to spearhead a movement and make quantifiable changes. For instance, Stella McCartney advocates for sustainability by refusing to use genuine fur or leather in her garments. She publicized this on her clothing in 2016’s Paris Fashion Week by incorporating the slogan “no leather” in her designs. The manifestation of political fashion relating to the election is most similar to the McCartney model: clothes that visually make a statement about the present while also giving credence to a larger movement.

The first fashion moment of the 2017 election was curated by Hillary Clinton herself when she wore a white pantsuit to accept her nomination at the Democratic Convention. While pantsuits were always a Hillary staple, the white color made her fashion statement powerful. Ever since the Suffrage Parade in 1913, white as a color has been associated with women’s rights. Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan wore white to the 1978 women’s march on Washington. Geraldine Ferraro wore white when accepting her vice president nomination in 1978.

And, most powerfully, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump wore white pantsuits to their father’s inauguration. So, what became a symbol of Clinton’s campaign ultimately THE BULLETIN -

10 - february 2017

reverberated into a larger symbol of female unity.

Next, Trump’s infamous “nasty woman” soundbite inspired a social media flurry that eventually became the trendiest t-shirt slogan of campaign season. The shirts are not only displays of protest, but also serve as a direct rebuttal of Trump’s policies because when purchased online (mainly from googleghost.com) half of the proceeds are donated to Planned Parenthood, a paradigmatic example of fashion as pragmatic activism.

These trends did not wane after the votes were counted. Aerial photographs of women’s marches across the nation show masses of pink due to women wearing knitted pussyhats. The Pussyhat Project became a means to transform the women’s marches into a collective visual statement of women standing up for each other. The project encourages creating a community of women who are in support of creating a clear symbol of women’s rights as human rights. Women are able to knit, sew, or crochet “pussyhats” for other women to wear during the march.

The relationship of fashion and politics is entirely emblematic of contemporary conceptions of opinion, individuality, and expression. In a generation obsessed with reposts and statuses, where bio lines are crafted and geotags are the marker of legitimacy, it is fitting for our clothing to have distinctive voices. Politics and fashion, specifically, showcase this larger movement of individual expression as it coincides with the backlash of the election largely by younger voters who are more privy to this outwardness.

The Best of First Lady Fashion Xenophontoss

by Paraskevi Xenophontos

T Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

he President of the United States may be the leader of our nation but everyone has their eyes on the First Lady.The First Lady is representative of the grace, confidence, and strength of our nation’s womanhood; she inspires us and influences us all with her involvement in our country. But her role as First Lady doesn’t stop at her choices of power, all eyes are on her presentation as well. The First Ladies of our nation’s history have charmed us with their unique clothing styles and exceptional attention to detail.

All throughout the history of our democracy, we have paid attention to many of the First Lady’s’ sense of style as their classy character and unique charm shone through their clothing. With the brink of a new presidential term upon us and new First Lady fashion to look forward to, let’s take a look back at the three First Ladies who left their mark on this nation with impeccable style.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

No other First Lady was followed for their fashion the way that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was—she became a style icon of the 1960s. She was known for her sophisticated choices but she wasn’t afraid to be daring and experiment with different cuts.

First Lady Kennedy paid attention to luxury brands and often wore French Couture brands like Givenchy, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent. As First Lady, she also made sure to wear a plethora of American brands to avoid scrutiny for her lavish spending. She often flaunted her frame in A-line silhouettes, custom Chanel suits, a pair of oversized black sunglasses, elbow length gloves, and colorblock outfits. Every woman at the time aspired to be like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; she was the

spotlight of the fashion world and the memory of her approach to fashion still lives on today.

Nancy Reagan

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan got her start as a Hollywood actress, where she perfected the well-known sense of style she brought into the White House. The type of elegance and simplicity Reagan radiated had not been seen since Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s days as First Lady.

She adorned herself in outfits designed

by Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Adolfo, Carolina Herrera, James Galanos, and Arnold Scassi. When she was in a business setting, she could often be found sporting Chanel-inspired suits and when she was in a more casual setting, she dressed in clothing that embodied her husband’s All-American attitude—think simple slacks, button downs, sweaters, and the occasional blue jeans. Unlike Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Nancy Reagan wasn’t too interested in experimenting with different styles and instead preferred to play it safe and sport looks in her signature red color, which earned her the label “Reagan Red” that was used all over the country to define her looks.

Michelle Obama

Social Media changed the influence of fashion when Former First Lady Michelle Obama moved into the White House.

From 2008-2016, every move of the Obama family was under the public eye and quickly documented on social media as a result. The press specifically focused on Michelle Obama’s incredible style because she was able to create a point of relation to other fellow American citizens through her clothing choices. Obama went against the standard of wearing luxTHE BULLETIN -

11 - february 2017

ury brands and instead opted for established, homegrown and emerging designers. Michelle Obama was appreciative of the designers she wore and would write handwritten notes to them to express her gratitude for their extraordinary masterpieces. Michelle Obama’s down-to-earth personality is seen through her clothing as she represented the type of country that her husband, Barack Obama, wanted to lead. While in the White House, Mrs. Obama became a style icon for wearing bright colors, magnificent gowns, and AllAmerican day dresses. She embodied her strength and femininity in her daily outfits but most importantly, Mrs. Obama wore whatever she liked, reminding the young girls of America that fashion is a form of expressing oneself and Obama’s wardrobe did not fall short of representing her charismatic and loving persona.

As Michelle Obama has left her mark on the infamous fashion history of the First Ladies, Americans are eager to see what kind of fashion First Lady Melania Trump will bring to the White House.

Mrs. Trump modeled for many years so there is no doubt that she won’t bring her eye for detail and design to the White House. She wowed America at the 45th Presidential Inauguration when she presented herself in a Ralph Lauren powderblue cashmere dress and coat. As an immigrant to this country from the former Yugoslavia, she showed her love for the United States by wearing an Americanmade outfit to her first big appearance as First Lady of the United States. As we follow First Lady Melania Trump’s appearances for the next four years, we will keep an eye out for what designers and styles she chooses to wear.

High Fashion High Tech

by Arianne Siegel

Michael Kors Access Smart Watch

No longer will you need to switch from your fitbit to your clunkier designer watch after that SoulCycle class. This glamorous rose gold fitness watch enables you to track everything from time to weather to steps. It features Bluetooth to easily sync with your phone and even has voice commands. And, it’s water-resistant!

Price: $350

Smart Coat by Emel + Aris

This UK-based company takes keeping you warm to a whole new level. Their signature smart coat features a self-heating systems that works by sending heat through a specially-formulated polymer to your lower back and front torso (think: no annoying wires to get in your way).The coat comes with a compact, rechargeable THE BULLETIN -

12 - february 2017

lithium ion battery complete with three heat settings.

Price: £996 (yes, it’s expensive, but hey have you seen the amount of Canada Goose jackets on campus?)

Ringly

This gemstone ring not only serves as a cute accessory, but also tracks your activity, gives you Bluetooth notifications, and is water-resistant. The rings come in beautiful colors including Out to Sea Lapis, DayDream Rainbow Moonstone, StarGaze Black ONYX, and Into the Woods Emerald.

Price: $195

Leaf by BellaBeat

This discrete, small activity tracker shaped like a leaf tracks menstrual and stress levels, and features built-in breathing exercises to help cope with stress. Plus, it has a battery life of 6 months! You can get the classic stainless steel silver design ($139) or the special edition Leaf Nature rose gold one ($149).

Although many of these products might not be in the typical price range for a college student, these new gadgets might be worth the splurge if they’re going to end up making your life easier! And who knows, maybe a in a few years they’ll be just as common as your pair of Adidas sneakers.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

F

ashion and technology are constantly providing consumers with the latest season’s handbag or smartphone. But now more than ever, the two are merging to provide users with hightech trendy pieces. The apple watch and Fitbit may have pioneered the trend, but here are some of our favorite more recent high-tech fashion products to check out:

features

by

N

orris M n y Caitl

a g n i k a M

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

ew year, new me. For the rest of the world, these words are uttered at the start of the new calendar year. For college students, they’re murmured the first day of the new semester before the inevitable wave of midterms, papers, and presentations hits.

By the third week in, you’ve given up on going to any class before noon, let alone exercising every day, eating healthily, and finishing your assignments a week in advance. Don’t despair! These tips will help you get your life back on track.

Reflect on the past semester. . .

You can’t improve something if you don’t know what went wrong in the first place. Think about what challenges and triumphs you had last semester. Maybe you always hit the snooze button when your 8:40 rolled around or you never had time to go out with friends. Write them down and think about how you can change the situation to be more palatable. For example, if you’re not a morning person, try to avoid morning classes. If you have to take an early class, try making your morning more smooth by preparing the night before. You could pick out your clothes, prepare a kettle to brew your favorite cup of tea, or plan to walk to the class with a friend. You know best what factors will motivate you, so take those into consideration when shifting tackling your challenges.

k c a b e m o C

Don’t forget to think about the things that went well too! Since you know they work, you can keep those systems in place for the upcoming semester.

. . . and set goals for the new one!

Going through the semester without setting goals is kind of like going on a road trip without an end destination in mind. Be specific. Instead of saying something like, “Get good grades,” you could be more specific by saying, “Get all A’s.”

Make sure your goals are attainable. Planning to juggle five internships during the semester is admirable, but can you really do that while taking a full course load? That doesn’t mean you should set your sights low. Try to aim for something just out of reach that you can obtain with a little bit of elbow grease.

Also, make sure to make a plan to reach your goals. You can plan to make all A’s, but if you never do your problem sets, things might not work out. Set tinier goals that’ll help you achieve your big one.

Use your planner!

Whether it’s a passion planner, a bullet journal, or a plain notebook with the hours scrawled in, find a planner and use it. I use Google calendar because I can color coordinate things and micromanage my time down to the last minute. Whatever you use, make sure you can plan by THE BULLETIN -

13 - february 2017

the hour or the half hour. And don’t let it gather dust. If one system doesn’t work for you, try another.Your brain is for new ideas, not trying to remember when your next draft is due.

Take time for self care!

As much as we would all like to be our version of Superwoman, we’re all human at the end of the day. All work and no play leads to burnout, and working hard at the beginning of the semester only to have no energy in the middle isn’t a solid long term plan. Remember to make time to do the things you love, even if you have to sacrifice a little in another area. When recounting the glory days of college, no one remembers studying that extra hour for a test.

Reclaim lost hours

Do you wish there were more hours in the day? How much time do you spend on scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? The instant gratification of social media can be hard to pass up after a long day of studying and classes, but try to fight the temptation. All of the minutes spent browsing social media add up to hours of fun time getting out of the Barnumbia bubble and enjoying yourself.

Apps like Forest (iOS and Android), Self Control (Mac), and FocusMe (Windows) help you fight mindless scrolling and actually get your work done.

Model Model////Breana BreanaBeaudreault Beaudreault Photography Photography////Sharon SharonWu Wu Art ArtDirection Direction////Judy JudyLiu Liu

THE BULLETIN -

14 - may 2016

Dearest Bulletin Readers, We love you because you’ve been with us since the beginning.

For 116 years, you’ve looked to us as your source for everything from political information to fashion inspiration.

you as our muses, our favorite article subjects, our reasons for doing what we do.

In turn, we’ve looked to

This is as much as a love letter as it is a thank you note.

Thanks for reading, writing, and just being you.

Your energy and thirst for knowledge keeps us alive.

Without you, we’d be lost.

Libraries and trees come and go, but the love we have is forever.

We know there might be other publications in your life, but you should know that you’re the only student body for us.

We’re committed to you, and only you.

Eternally, editorially yours,

The Bulletin Board

Y

ou are the soft crunch of a freshly toasted bagel from Absolute in the morning and the first sweet sip of a mocha from Joe. You are the coveted seat during rush hour on the Downtown 1 on a Thursday morning. You are the leap in my heart when I look up at the skyscrapers in Midtown that I am somehow privileged to traverse between.You are the lazy hum of Central Park on a Sunday morning, the dogs that run up to me despite their begrudging owners.You’re the street performers, the East Village punks, the women in extravagant fur coats that make me smile as I walk by.You’re the hush of an exhibit buried deep in the Met and the roaring pit of an alt rock concert.You’re a whirlwind, a storm, a fantastic sensory overload that always keeps me on my toes. Sometimes I hated you for it, between delayed trains and slush puddles, but every time I was ready to leave you managed to draw me back in.You’re my everything, New York. Thank you for being mine.

Love, Veronica

AI miss your eyes.Your humor and your laugh. I miss your hair, your hands, your lips. I miss love. Being surrounded by it. The comfort in knowing someone, somewhere loves you. Everyone says time will make it better, but I know only love can. An age old addiction. A feeling utterly consuming.

-F

c, Within the first few moments of meeting you, the words started flowing like a waterfall and I was stumbling over stories that seemed to have just been waiting for you to come along and hear them out.

I remember during those first days you kept telling me to slow down.

“Slow down, take it easy,” you’d say between surprised laughter and a smile that hadn’t left your face since I opened my mouth. “We have time,” you’d add as an afterthought.

But the words kept coming.

And your eyes kept glistening.

And I guess all I have to say now is thank you. Thank you for tagging along on and laughing at my jokes. Thank you for having ears that listen so intently and eyes that exude kindness. Thank you for having a mouth that finishes my sentences and mind so compatible with mine.

Thanks for singing in your best falsetto and for being the best person to have conversations with.

Above all, charming boy, I am thankful that we are both alive at the same time, that we are both going through this life right now, even if we’re not together.

My life was fine before I met you and I’m sure it will be fine after you leave. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and I’ve come to terms with the fact that I don’t want fine, normal, ordinary, or average. I want you. all of my love, anonymous

Dear boy with the kind eyes, I’ve never written a love letter before, but I’ve never felt the way I do now. When I wake up in the morning, I wake up to the sound of a song playing in my mind. Normally it’s a different song every day, but for the past few months since I’ve meet you it’s been our song. Every day I wake up to the sound of your voice singing in my ears, and I smile.

The fact is, when I’m with you it’s almost impossible not to smile.

I love the look of concentration you get on your face when you do your homework; I love the way you squint your eyebrows when coming up with a way to argue with me. I love the way you get overly invested in Jane the Virgin (even though you claim to hate it) and are now heartbroken because #teammichael. I love the way you challenge me and tease me and make me a better person everyday.

I love that you are the man that not even my dreams could imagine.

Happy Valentines!

-Girl whose heart has been won

SYou told me I wouldn’t do this, so I’m doing it. (Which should not come as a surprise because I’m all about challenges). While I don’t even believe the rest of world deserves to know how wonderful our love is, you have come into my life and changed everything and THAT deserves some recognition. So here I am, shouting it out for all to hear. We are the epitome of the college relationship.

From curious across-the-dining-hall watchers to drunken halloween night hook ups, our love started here on this campus and sometimes I have to pinch myself because of how surreal it all is. Everything here is infused with you, our first kiss under Alma’s watchful gaze, our first date at Tom’s where I enjoyed the food sober for the first time since freshman year, our first valentine’s day when you brought an entire bouquet of roses to Butler despite my warning you not to do anything extravagant, the first time I told you I loved you on college walk as we watched the sunrise after a night of dancing and spontaneity (and you telling me you loved me back!!).

This place feels like home because of you. And I know we are young and that we both have a lot of living left to do but of every decision I’ve made over these last three years, vowing to keep you in my life has been the best one. I remember you telling me that if I hadn’t fought for you back then that you probably would have been too afraid and cowardly to do so yourself. While I still don’t fully appreciate that sentiment, a little farther down the line you got your act together and fought right back. Our love has seen two cycles and counting of seasons come and go here, fall walks in riverside park, winter hibernation cuddle sessions, spring picnics on the open grass, and summer adventures in this concrete jungle. All of this and more has made my time here unforgettable. Okay time to wrap this love letter up, you told me I wouldn’t, I just proved you wrong.

Love you infinitely, E

r: I didn’t ask for anything, I didn’t want anything but everything you gave me was from your heart.You’re my heaven, you’re my passion, you’re the answer to all my prayers. You’re the light and happiness of my heart, we are the eternal wealth, a pair made by god.

My head bows my love, what should I do?

I didn’t say anything; I didn’t put any pressure yet you gave everything with a smile. You’re my soul’s comfort and peace. You’re the gleam in my eyes.

You’re my sun, you’re my shadow, my life partner.

There is nothing more that I know. I only know I see my god in you. My love what do I do?

This distance, this helplessness I feel, what should I do? Help me get back to you.

I touched you with my eyes and as you came, it teased me.Your shadow kissed me.

Your fragrance, your talks, showed me the way. You are my heart. I received this world without asking; now help me get back where I belong.

-choo choo

I

Babysitter

watched with my mouth wide open as a friend of mine came home with a Sweetgreens salad for the fourth night in a row. That sophomore spring, I had a very small amount of cash and an even smaller amount of dining hall swipes that were supposed to last me another five months before the summer. The idea of treating myself to a twelve dollar salad on the daily was laughable. How was she doing it?

The answer turned out to be an Upper West Side babysitting job. It sounded perfect. A friendly couple was willing to pay a student to watch TV and help herself to their food while their cherubic four-year-old son slept. A day or two later another friend made an announcement on Facebook. “Two cute kids, ages 6 and 7, UWS, need to be picked up from school, helped with homework, and fed a premade meal, nice family, DM me if interested!” I saw my chance and seized it.

All Uber rides were compensated for, and I liked the feeling of hailing a car with two children in tow, carrying their backpacks for them, feeling some maternal instinct pass through me as I helped them cross the street. We’d get home, I’d

microwave some pizza or chinese food, and I’d run a bath for one while the other did homework. By 7 o’clock the kids were clean, the homework was done, and I was 50 dollars richer. That lasted one week.

The next few months of managing these children proved to be more stressful than my classes.

The day arrived in early May when I was babysitting one last time before wrapping up my finals and heading back home. As a way of saying a grateful goodbye, the parents had arranged for me to take the two children and their friend to a favorite diner a few blocks from their apartment. The entertainment of smearing ketchup on their faces wore off after a blissful ten minutes, and my two children toddled off to the bathroom, leaving me to ask their friend how she was liking school. Her answer was, “I have to do a number two.” I promised her that as soon as the kids were finished, she could take care of that. After fifteen more minutes, I realized something was up and headed to the bathroom, friend in tow as she hopped from foot to foot with a look of agonizing concentration on her face.

It turned out that the kids were

turning the sink into a bubble bath, and it was coming along quite nicely, they told me through the locked door. I told them that their friend needed the bathroom, and that if they didn’t come out now the fire department was going to come chop down the door. Not true, but effective.

I turned toward the girl to lead her into the finally-open bathroom, and was confronted by her horrified face and upsettingly sagging pants. “I don’t have to go anymore,” she told me.

I spent a long half hour in that bathroom, wiping and washing and attempting to salvage a child’s very soiled pants, hoping in vain that the children I was being paid to watch were sitting in our booth, patiently and quietly. It took ten showers and three days to feel clean again afterwards.

In all honesty, I loved those children despite the trauma they often caused me. I loved them because they thought that my pathetic attempts to wrangle good behavior from them were great fun, and for that they loved me, too. It’s the parent’s job to follow through with discipline. It’s the babysitter’s lot in life to be harassed and ridiculed, but loved nonetheless.

Confessions

by Haley Wade

THE BULLETIN -

19 - february 2017

What Paved the Way for Valentine’s Day W hether you love or hate it, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. For some, this means buying flowers for your SO and trying to get those last-minute reservations at Sugar Factory. For others, it means figuring out what to do on a day devoted to treating “bae” when you are completely single.

Setting any bitterness aside, Valentine’s Day was not always a corporate holiday or a cynical, elaborate marketing scheme intended to sell cards and chocolate. Because many of us tend to harp on this “Hallmark Holiday” for becoming too commercialized, we may wonder what Valentine’s Day was like before candy hearts — and if there was a time when it was a genuine celebration of love.

Not to pop anyone’s heart-shaped balloon, but the origins of Valentine’s Day are actually quite dark. Valentine’s Day can be traced back to a Roman festival called Lupercalia, which was celebrated between February 13th and 15th. It was a sordid affair of animal sacrifices, matchmaking lotteries, nudity, and whipping women with hides to increase “fertility” (npr.org). Little is known about St. Valentine of Rome, who is associated with courtly love, or if the actual holiday celebrates him or a group of famous “Valentines” from Christian history. After being executed by Emperor Claudius II for being caught performing Christian marriages on, you guessed it, February 14th, St. Valentine was commemorated as a martyr

(catholic.org). Eventually, St. Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia were combined to get rid of the pagan ritual by Pope Gelasius I in 496 A.D. (catholic.org), and the holiday became much more romantic than committing questionable acts with animal skins.

It was during the Middle Ages that Valentine’s Day as we know it began to take form.The actual date of Valentine’s Day was considered to be the commencement of birds’ mating season. According

to Professor Kathryn Lynch of Wellesley College, one of the earliest mentions of Valentine’s Day in connection with love can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1380s tale The Parliament of Fowls. This romantic yet bizarre story involves the goddess Nature bringing together various birds for the purpose of mating. Medieval references of Valentine’s Day can be found in THE BULLETIN -

20 - february 2017

several writings, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and from this era onwards the celebration of love on February 14th was solidified (todayifoundout.com).

Just as the epoch of suitors and matchmakers has transformed into the days of Tinder and “matches,” the sentiment of Valentine’s Day has surely changed. So, how exactly did Valentine’s Day spring from the pages of romances to become a commercialized holiday?

Following the Middle Ages and into the Victorian Era, an increase in literacy rates proliferated the distribution of handmade Valentine’s Day cards (Early Popular Visual Culture, 2014). The Industrial Revolution led to factorymade greeting cards, and Hallmark has been mass producing Valentines since 1913 (npr.org). Today, Valentine’s Day is a huge industry: more cards are sent on this day than any other holiday besides Christmas (history.com). Valentine’s Day as we know it may not have existed without this industry taking advantage of an existing tradition. The Victorian practice of sending homemade cards may have given way to more expensive expressions of love, but, at the end of the day, the hand-written note will probably always be the most valued of gifts.

Before Twitter taints our expectations for the holiday with images of extravagant dates and gifts comprised of every item from Sephora, we can be assured that we have evolved from the days of fertility and purification rituals.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

by Julia Tache

2.9 Million Nasty Women

O

n the night of the election, like millions of people across the United States and around the world, I was shocked. I was ready for a female president, and I believed that it could happen. When I saw that Donald Trump had been elected over Hillary Clinton, my first thought was about gender. The difference between the two candidates could not be more clear. Instead of electing our first female president, the United States elected a known perpetrator of sexual assault, a man who said on national television that women who get abortions should be penalized, and that women who stand up for themselves are “nasty.”

The day after his inauguration, armed with our handmade signs, with “nasty woman” and “women’s rights are human rights” written in marker on the front, my mom and I boarded buses along with hundreds of other marchers from our area bound for Washington, D.C. to protest a president with seemingly little respect for over half of the country’s citizens.

As soon as we got on the highway, the march began. As far as the eye could see, coach buses filled with protesters from across the country sped down the road. Our bus parked amongst the sea of hundreds of buses at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, where thousands of people disembarked and started the two mile walk to the area surrounding the Capitol building, where the rally was going to take place.

The walk was energizing; it was here that protesters started to take out their signs and start chanting.

Once we arrived at the rally site on the mall facing the Capitol building, we realized there was no way we were going to be able to hear the speakers; the event was packed. And yet, jammed together THE BULLETIN -

22 - february 2017

like sardines, every protestor there was friendly, accommodating, and excited to be in D.C. to protest for such important causes. Pressed body to body for blocks in all directions, moving, and ultimately marching, was incredibly difficult. Every few minutes an enormous cheer would ripple through the crowd, presumably in reaction to what one of the speakers had just said. As one woman next to me said, “I have no idea what they are saying, but I definitely agree.” When the march started, there were so many people that there was no room to walk. Undeterred, I stood with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, signs raised high, demanding to be heard.

I wish that my trip to Washington had been under different circumstances, that I would have watched our first female president be sworn in. But after the events of election night, incredibly empowering and comforting to stand with millions of women on every continent around the globe, united under a common banner of hope, love, and demands for a better future.

For me, the most striking image of the march was before it had even begun, during our procession to the rally. As people streamed down the street, I looked to my left and saw a woman standing by her car crying. Brought to tears by this mass show of solidarity, she was overcome with emotion. As I was watching her watch us, I noticed a woman break ranks from the marchers and walk over to the stranger standing by the car and give her a hug. This act of compassion, of unity, and of solidarity embodies what this march was about.

Hear our voice; we will not be silent.

Photography by Sharon Wu

by Jodi Lessner

P&O Voting:

Civil Right or Obligation?

I Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

n the wake of Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the 2016 presidential election, the system by which presidents are elected has come under increased scrutiny. Much of this focus falls on the electoral college, with many people expressing interest in eliminating it entirely.

Less focus, however, falls on the act of voting itself — specifically, whether or not it should be mandatory for all Americans.

In the U.S., voter turnout is appallingly low. The 2016 presidential election had the lowest voter turnout since 1996, with only about 58% of eligible citizens casting ballots. This issue only becomes more troubling when broken down by age. For the first time, Millennials and Baby Boomers comprised roughly equal numbers of eligible voters.Yet only about 50% of eligible Millennials voted in the election, far below the average for all age groups. Since the majority of Millennials vote Democrat while the majority of Baby Boomers support Republican, unequal voter turnout may have contributed to Donald Trump’s victory.

Few would agree that such disparities should be responsible election outcomes. This, then, raises the question— should voting be required?

While the prospect of mandated voting may seem strange to Americans, it is far from unusual in other regions of

by Pavi Chance the world. Twenty-two nations require all citizens of age to vote, and approximately 744 million people worldwide live in nations where voting is required.

This approach reflects a key difference between attitudes towards voting. In nations where it is required, voting takes on the role of a civic duty, something that one is expected to do regardless of their personal feelings towards it, much like paying taxes. In America, however, the pressure of civic responsibility is all but absent.

Opponents of mandatory voting argue that if voting is required, uninformed voters will cast their ballots without sufficiently understanding what is at stake, posing danger to nation’s political system. This argument, however, overlooks the fact that many uninformed people vote anyway. Others argue that mandatory voting fails to address the root of the problem of lower turnout — political apathy. Forcing everyone to vote or suffer legal consequences might only exacerbate existing discontent with the political system.

Ultimately, however, requiring everyone to vote would eliminate the disenfranchisement of marginalized populations, an issue that has plagued the United States since the emancipation of slaves following the Civil War. THE BULLETIN -

23 - february 2017

The 15th Amendment ostensibly granted suffrage to recently-freed African-Americans, but conservative Democrats passed racist laws preventing them from casting ballots. While these laws were eliminated during the Civil Rights Movement, the Republican Party still discriminates against minority voters in less overt ways, by misleading voters about how or when to vote, or by requiring voters to present ID, a practice allegedly intended to eliminate voter fraud which often disenfranchises marginalized populations.

Making voting mandatory would put an end to this issue once and for all, and would ensure that all Americans have a fair say in the political process.

It is plausible that mandatory voting could provide the necessary incentive to inspire Americans to learn more about the political process, and the importance of their role within it. Ultimately, mandatory voting would shift Americans away from the harmful belief that leads many people to cast protest votes or abstain from voting altogether — that they lack the power to change their nation.The political process is one rarely marked by rapid, sweeping change. Most often, it is about making small changes that move us slowly towards better nation, one vote at a time.

The Meaning of Planned Parenthood:

by Haley George

J

ane,* BC ’18, was 17 years old when she visited Planned Parenthood for the first time for rape counseling services. “I was at a place where I was really lost, and I didn’t know what to do,” she says. She called a hotline that referred her to Planned Parenthood, where, over the course of the next six months, she met with a counselor named Alicia and found a place to go where she did not feel stigmatized. Jane says, “It was good to have a person right off the bat to tell me it wasn’t my fault, and I feel like a lot of people don’t have that.”

Juliana Kaplan, BC ’19, similarly identifies Planned Parenthood as a safe space, describing it as “what [she] would like the world to be… that level of care, that level of safety, that level of inclusivity.” Juliana visited a Planned Parenthood in Boston last summer to receive an IUD after finding that Barnard’s Primary Care Health Service was overbooked.

She was impressed by the clinic’s commitment to confidentiality and the way in which the practitioner explained the procedure step by step. “You could be paying millions of dollars for a primary care doctor, and I don’t think you would receive [care] on that level,” she says.

Yet, in Massachusetts, where Juliana is from, buffer laws preventing protesters from coming too close to abortion clinics were struck down in 2014. When she showed up for her 8:15 a.m. appointment at Planned Parenthood, the sidewalk was filled with protestors, and she walked through metal detectors to enter the building.

Planned Parenthood has become one of the most hotly contested issues in American politics, and for Jane and Juliana - like many Barnard students - the threat of defunding Planned Parenthood is cause for great concern.

When discussing the defunding Planned Parenthood, it is important to understand where the federal funding comes from and what it pays for. About 75 percent of Planned Parenthood’s government funding comes from Medicaid, and the other 25 percent comes from Title X, a federal grant program that promotes family planning and reproductive health. Both Medicare and Title X primarily serve low-income Americans.

Abortions account for only three percent of services rendered by Planned Parenthood. Title X funds can never be used to pay for abortions, and federal THE BULLETIN -

24 - february 2017

Medicaid funds can only cover abortion in cases of rape, incest, or pregnancies that endanger the life of the mother. The other 97 percent of services provided by Planned Parenthood include contraception, testing and treatment for STIs, cancer screenings, preventative treatment for cervical cancer, prenatal services, and general health care services, for instance, flu vaccinations. In states such as Texas, Planned Parenthood closures have left surviving healthcare clinics, which often do not provide all of the services previously offered by Planned Parenthood, struggling to pick up the slack.

Billie Pingree, BC ’20, adds that the information and education Planned Parenthood provides has empowered her. “Planned Parenthood makes me feel safe in a lot of different ways,” says Billie, who had already been using the resources on Planned Parenthood’s website for about a year before she visited one of their clinics. “It makes me feel like I have the support…and the privacy that I need in order to make the best decisions about my health.”

In the United States, the right to choose is legally guaranteed. Planned Parenthood upholds that right and provides quality, affordable, healthcare that saves lives. Jane, who says that the rape counseling she received at Planned Parenthood was one of the most helpful experiences of her life, has one message for lawmakers who want to defund Planned Parenthood: “You’re killing people.” *Name changed to protect identity.

Illustration by Letty DiLeo

Barnard Edition

Women in Politics:

Betsy DeVos

I

by Annabella Correa-Maynard

n late November, then President-elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. Her nomination, along with a host of other nominees to Trump’s cabinet, was met with backlash from political opponents of the administration. However, in the case of Betsy DeVos, the backlash came not only from the Senate committee, but from teachers unions and public school advocates.

As Secretary of Education, DeVos would be responsible for the coordination and direction of all activities through the Department of Education while keeping in mind the President’s political agenda. The Department of Education handles programs that provide assistance in the form of grants, loans and work-study to undergraduate students, as well as assisting students in K-12 education in both private and public schools. DeVos would personally oversee a trillion dollar student loan bank and distribute $30 billion in pell grants to students each year.

Past Secretaries of Education have held administrative or educational occupations, mostly dedicated to policy that make them qualified candidates.

However, DeVos’ nominee has a more unorthodox background with education. She is well known as a lobbyist in her homestate of Michigan, where she sat as chair for the pro-school-choice advocacy group American Federation for Children. During that period, she pushed for government funds to be allocated in the form of vouchers to pay for private school. DeVos

has also publicly supported school choice - where parents would have an alternative to their child’s education and not be confined to a public school system that is determined by socioeconomic status.

However, opponents of DeVos cite that many schools which promote “choice,” such as charter schools, are faltering in the state of Michigan. The Detroit Free Press, a staunch opposer of DeVos, noted that the charter schools that DeVos and her family promote are known

to underperform in statewide tests. Instead of students and their families benefitting from choice, The Free Press notes that most students don’t have proper modes of transportation to these schools.

In addition to criticism about her views on school choice, many question the nominee’s financial history. During what some Republicans called a very partisan Senate hearing committee, DeVos was questioned profusely on the management of her wealth. In and out of the hearing, many opponents of DeVos have questioned the billionaire’s complex financial history. Both DeVos and her husband Dick DeVos are heirs to Amway, a multi-billion dollar American company. Senator Patty THE BULLETIN -

25 - february 2017

Murray (D-WA) was quick to mention that unlike Trump’s other cabinet nominees, DeVos went in for a Senate hearing before her ethics review was complete.

Her political involvement dates back to 1992, where she served on the Republican National Committee, and in 1996, was elected chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. While Betsy DeVos has not publicly released her records, there are estimates that suspect her family has donated close to $200 million to the Republican party, with her incredible wealth pouring its way into a variety of super PACs, campaigns, and committees for decades.

Yet, despite the sharp criticism from many liberals, supporters of Betsy DeVos are quick to overlook her financial history and instead cite her philanthropic work and commitment to providing children with alternative options for education as qualifiers for the position. On January 17, during her senate hearing Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) said that “[DeVos] has been on our children’s side.” Former United States Senator, Joe Lieberman cited DeVos’s lack of experience as a beneficial determinant of her capability if elected as Secretary of Education. But regardless of political association, many parents and teachers are wondering what the future of education holds for students. During DeVos’s senate committee hearing questioning, Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, “the financial futures of an entire generation of young people depend on [her] department getting that right.”

t n

She Said/She Said Electoral College

PRO

C

by Hadassah Solomson

// T

ontrary to popular belief, the Electoral College was not haphazardly strewn together in a premeditated effort to somehow con the country centuries after it was created.

Rather, the Founding Fathers debated different proposals at the Constitutional Congress of 1787, painstakingly honing America’s political process. Since then, the Electoral College has been a faithful servant of American democracy, enabling 56 presidential elections and safeguarding the peaceful transition of power.

Reflecting congressional organization, the 538 electoral votes are proportionally distributed amongst the states, with a 270-vote majority required to elect the president. A state’s entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its congressional delegation. Consequently, to question the premise of the Electoral College is to question the premise of Congress; in principle, both entities function in exactly the same manner.

Initially, the Electoral College was the solution to the problem of an uneducated electorate. Its purpose, however, is multifaceted, ensuring that the entire country is equitably represented and preventing single geographical regions from unilaterally controlling the fate of the country. The diverse nature of the American electorate necessitates a distribution of votes to establish a national mandate, a “regional balance of support,” which facilitates stability and cohesiveness.

Although the Electoral College process perpetuates a two-party system, the process generally shields the public from radical ideologies, forcing candidates to align with more moderate proposals and devise pragmatic solutions in compromise. A direct democracy, on the other hand, would risk a fracturing of the country along philosophic fault lines, with various small groups attempting to impede, rather than compete for, the Presidency.

Furthermore, William C. Kimberling, Deputy Director of the FEC Office of Election Commission, contends that the Electoral College is devised specifically for a case of slight ambiguity – where the popular vote is close – in which case, the position is awarded to the candidate with the widest overall vote distribution.

Many mistakenly view the system as archaic. Quite the opposite, the Electoral College serves an essential, relevant purpose, even if not quite the same one the Founding Fathers intended – a true “tribute to [their] genius…and the durability of the American system,” according to Kimberling. To quote its architect, Alexander Hamilton: “If the manner of it be not perfect, it is at least excellent.” Abolishing the Electoral College would invite more discord than such an action would resolve.

THE BULLETIN -

by Sara Hameed

CON

he Electoral College, in its 200 year history, has received harsh criticism and numerous proposed reforms in its opposition. This denunciation of the electoral college has resurfaced since the 2016 presidential election when Donald Trump, with roughly 3 million fewer popular votes than his opponent Hillary Clinton, began his term in 2017 as President of the United States despite being supported by fewer Americans.

Yet, the country continues to claim its democratic republic status while the system of the electoral college works against the will of the people.

With the “winner-takes-all” method utilized in all but two states, candidates with the most votes receive all the electors from that state, no matter what the margin of victory. This method is often the sole reason which allows for disparity between popular and electoral votes. For example, in the 2016 election, President Trump won Pennsylvania and Florida by a combined margin of about 200,000 votes and earned 49 electoral votes, while Senator Clinton won Massachusetts by almost one million votes, yet only received 11 electoral votes. With this inefficient system set in place, even the voices of the majority are left unheard.

The most popular argument for the electoral college is that it ensures that rural areas and small towns are not marginalized and ignored by candidates in favor of pandering to metropolitan areas with higher population densities. While rural states do receive a very slight boost from the two electoral votes awarded to all states, the electoral college does not lead to a greater nationally focused campaign platform. In fact, according to PBS NewsHour, 90 percent of campaign stops in the recent election were made in 11 battleground states, with two-thirds of those visits taking place in the states with some of the highest electoral votes.

The electoral college thus leaves the outcome of elections in the hands of those living in the few “swing states” of the U.S. Countless citizens then opt out of voting each year due to the inner workings of the electoral college, as it leaves those who live in primarily red or blue states presuming that their vote does not impact the outcome of the election. Ultimately, the efforts of Americans to engage in political activism will remain futile so as long as the electoral college system aids in depressing voter turnout and deflating the morale of its people.

26 - February 2017

s m o C A&E m o R f o y r o t s i H e h T

A

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page | Layout by Antonia Bentel

h, rom coms. It seems inevitable that a discussion of the genre elicits eye rolls from some and a guilty demeanor from others. To me, as I believe is the case with most millennials, the classification alludes to the “vintage” romances of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s. We think of stars like Jennifer Anniston, Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant, John Cusack holding a boombox outside the window of the girl he loves, etc.

And yet, as Glamour magazine points out in their exploration of the genre, the essence of rom coms is the examination of romance in a light tone, a definition that can apply to movies as far back as the silent films of the early ‘20s. We tend to categorize anything ear-

lier than the 1980s a “classic” first, forgetting that, at its core, most art in human history dealt with the very same ideas that trouble us today: themes of romance, lust, power, and human interaction. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, with all its cinematic renditions, is a romantic comedy. The growing love of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dominates a story that encompasses class distinctions, wealth, and societal norms, all the while granted humor by the outrageous silliness exhibited by the Bennets.

What are the makings of a great rom com? To be fair, if we knew what made any movie great, we wouldn’t have to sit through anything like 50 Shades of Grey, the term “flop” wouldn’t terrify so many people as it does, and there would be proper competition in every yearly Academy Awards. Alas, as it is, we don’t quite know what makes it good, but we do know that once a movie succeeds, it’s not likely to be forgotten: 16 Candles, Bridget Jones’s Diary, 10 Things I Hate About You, When Harry Met Sally, Say Anything, Clueless, Mean Girls, Pretty Woman, You’ve Got Mail, Notting Hill, the list goes on and on. What these films have in common isn’t one actor, one location, or one particular plot-- yes, most protagonists get together at

by hadar tanne

the end of the movie, but it’s what brought them to that point that interests us, not the actual happy ending.

These movies persist in our cultural memory because they feel real. They have contention, dislike, banter, humor, attraction, awkwardness, everything that we encounter in our own lives.

But they’re also a heightened version of real life.

They are what we wish our lives would look like, with great outfits, witty comebacks, extremely attractive people, and- sometimes best of all- a fantastic soundtrack.

Great art can reflect reality, it can be inspired by it, but it can also elevate it. There should be nothing inherently deprecatory about depicting romance: it’s a big part of life, and one that hardly anyone has completely figured out. It’s something we dream about, think about, analyse and try to comprehend, we-- men and women (and everyone in between). Demeaning rom coms by labeling them with terms like “chick flicks” and reducing them to purely feminine endeavors utterly invalidates an experience that lies at the heart of our lives. We should challenge it, investigate it from every perspective, and celebrate what it means to be human.

THE BULLETIN -

27 - february 2017

Barnard Alum

Book Report

O

ver winter break, I was bombarded with questions about my first semester at college.

Naturally, I responded with smiles and nods, hoping to skip the typical holiday small talk. Unfortunately, the question I couldn’t so easily avoid was “What’s your major?” I tried my best to make “Undecided” sound fresh and exciting, but to no avail. Just as my relative-turned-interrogator started to give up, I dazzled him or her with my non-academic major, celebrity stalking, and my favorite book from the semester, Lauren Graham’s Talking as Fast as I Can.

New York City draws celebrity stalkers like me from near and far, all hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars and snap the perfect selfie for Instagram. Last semester alone, Barnard and Columbia found their walkways strutted down by some of our most admired figures. Take December 3rd, for example, when Barnard’s own Lauren Graham (‘88) blessed her alma mater with a discussion

on her latest book and a viewing of her anxiously anticipated performance in the Gilmore Girls A Year In The Life revival.

Graham is best known for her infectious portrayal of Lorelai Gilmore, but she excels in every role she takes on, whether it be on the screen or on the page. In November of 2016, Graham released her second book, titled Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (And Everything In Between). The work is a collection of essays, each given its own chapter with clever titles, my personal favorite being “Before My REI Card: Some Thoughts on Being Single.”The essays chronicle Graham’s time as a student/actor in NYC, the struggle to find steady jobs, and her constant battle with the condescending question, “Did you, um, make it?” (the answer to which is obvious to me). What might sound like the standard story of every hopeful teenager turned successful star is instead made incredibly unique thanks to Graham’s witty writing repertoire. She includes charming anecdotes about contemplating veganism to impress Ellen Degeneres and being the worst guest judge to ever step foot on the Project Runway set.

To my fellow Gilmore Girls enthusiasts, prepare yourselves for a trip down memory lane as Graham recounts shooting the THE BULLETIN -

28 - february 2017

show through her diary, complete with candid photos and insight into the making of our favorite mother-daughter classic.

Two hundred and twenty-four pages will fly by and leaving you wanting more of Graham’s inventive storytelling and luminous voice. No need to worry, as you can download the audiobook on your phone and take Lauren’s adventure and personal narration with you wherever you go.

I highly recommend that everyone read this hilariously honest book, and that they pass it on to someone else. I recommended it to each relative I talked to over break, immediately after I finished telling them about my favorite celebrity stalking experience from last semester: the day that I spent twelve hours downtown waiting for Lauren Graham to speak about her latest endeavor at a local bookstore. Complete with a signed copy of the book and a photo-op, the barely thirtyminute experience was worth all the wait.

And of course, I can’t complain about the added perk of a record number of likes on Instagram. But one photo wasn’t enough, so my friends and I eagerly awaited her arrival outside the Barnard gates the following night. Graham was kind and humble, and even delayed her entrance to take just one more photo with us. In the short moments that we shared with Lauren over this unbeatable weekend, we found ourselves beaming and gushing, and talking as fact as we could.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

(by Lilly Kallman)

Celebrity Protests

T Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page | Layout by Emily Supple

he loudest voices in America belong to politicians and celebrities.

We often criticize the former and both fawn and find faults in the other. But for better or worse, these are the people who are representatives of American politics and culture. As these voices grow increasingly at odds, many regard celebrity protests as unwelcome interference in the political process, questioning what the relationship between politics and celebrity should look like.

At the Golden Globes last month, Meryl Streep received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement and used her acceptance speech to argue for the importance of empathy. Her speech was both a criticism of a public discourse that seeks to belittle and humiliate and a defense of the responsibility of the artist to model empathy. Streep summed up her thoughts stating: “Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence. And when the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

Donald Trump responded in a tweet the next day, calling Meryl Streep “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.” He told the New York Times that he was not surprised by attacks at the Globes from “liberal movie people.” Trump’s response is part of a larger pattern of discrediting celebrity protesters by portraying them as out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans and arguing that they should stay out of politics. Back in December Trump tweeted, “The so-called ‘A’ list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary,

by Haley George NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!” him on Saturday Night Live drew Trump

Of course, the problem for into a twitter war with the actor. Viola Trump was that there were no A-list ce- Davis, Beyoncé, Aziz Ansari, Uzo Aduba, lebrities clamoring for inauguration tick- Zendaya, Cher, Amy Schumer, Julia Louets. In fact, his is-Dreyfuss, La“Trump’ s response is part of a larger administration verne Cox, Shonwas having pattern of discrediting celebrity pro- da Rhimes, the trouble finding testers by portraying them as out of late great Carrie any celebriFisher – at a certouch with the concerns of everyday ties willing to tain point it’s easiperform at the Americans and arguing that they er to make the list inauguration, of celebrities who should stay out of politics.” but you can’t have expressed blame the guy for trying to play it off – their support. you might be feeling defensive too after Trump himself is a celebrity failed attempts to book a Bruce Springs- – he’s a reality television star who still teen cover band. serves as executive producer on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Some might even say that he’s out of touch with the concerns of the average American. It’s perhaps Trump’s own experience with celebrity that makes him acutely aware of the threat that celebrities pose to his presidency and ea Streep wasn’t the first to speak ger to discredit that threat by waging war out against Donald Trump, and she will against American pop culture. But we are not be the last. The cast of Hamilton made a country in which all citizens have the a public plea to Mike Pence for inclusion right to free speech, and any attempt by when he attended one of their shows in our elected officials to dictate who should November. Celine Dion and Elton John speak out and who should not is troubling. both publically refused offers to perform It is especially troubling when one considat the inauguration – which was poorly ers that “celebrity” is an all-encompassing attended in comparison to the following label, that many of the celebrities engagday’s Women’s March, where stars like ing in protest are actors and musicians America Ferrera and Ashley Judd spoke and writers. When we say that our artists up to express their concern about prom- should be quiet, should not speak out, ises made during his campaign. Frustra- should not protest, we undermine the tion over Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of foundation of our democracy.

THE BULLETIN -

29 - february 2017

s ’ e n i t n e l a G Day V

alentine’s Day may be a romantic holiday, but it isn’t for couples only! It is a celebration of love, and who loves each other more than you and your girls? If you don’t have a significant other to spend the night with, don’t sweat it—there are plenty of ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day that will leave you feeling just as lovey-dovey as any date would.

Ladies Brunch Start today by gathering all your ladies for a festive Valentine’s Day brunch. Today is a day for treating yourself, so don’t waste any time! Indulge in all your favorite festive breakfast foods like heart-shaped pancakes and pink strawberry yogurt.

Community is always a go-to local brunch favorite or, if you feel particularly crafty, throw on your apron and whip up some treats in the kitchen. If you’re really feeling like a treat, stop by Dunkin’ Donuts for their seasonal heart-shaped brownie batter and cookie dough doughnuts!

yourself and your girls, so let go of your cares and have a day of pampering. Pick up some face masks from Lush (my personal favorite is Cupcake) or make some at home, sit back, and relax.You’ll never feel more beautiful than when you are taking care of yourself!

Secret Galentine The winter holidays may be over, but you don’t need Secret Santa when you’ve got your Galentines! Gather up your girls and organize a Secret Galentine gift exchange.

You can use a website like drawnames. com or do it the old-fashioned way and pick names from a hat. There’s nothing like getting a special little gift from one of your favorite ladies to make you feel special on Valentine’s Day!

Spa Treatments Do you have a bunch of face masks lying around that you’ve been meaning to use?

Have you been dying to paint your nails or give yourself an at-home facial but just haven’t had the time? Galentine’s Day is the perfect day to make time to treat

Binge-Watch Celebrate being a woman with your woman role models on screen! Gather up your gal-pals for a marathon of girl power movies, like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Eat Pray Love. If movies aren’t your thing, binge watch a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls and celebrate the special bond that girl power brings.

Eat Lots of Chocolate Who says those heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are only for lovers? Treat yourselves to a box (or six) and eat them all night long, enjoying every last bite. Valentine’s Day isn’t just about loving others, it’s about loving yourself, and you certainly deserve a treat! If chocolate isn’t your thing, indulge in whatever makes you feel good. Tonight is about enjoying yourself—no calorie-counting allowed!

Pro tip: if you choose to celebrate your Galentine’s Day a day late, all of the Valentine’s candy at CVS and Duane Reade will be on sale!

Pajama Party There’s no need to dress to the nines to feel like a princess! Rather than getting all dolled up to impress your date, don your favorite comfy ensemble and cuddle up with your favorite people for a perfect end to the perfect Galentine’s Day.

THE BULLETIN -

30 - february 2017

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page | Layout by Antonia Bentel

by Emma Cunningham

B

NYCL

d n th o y e e b lE

B i t es

Bub

The Meatball Shop

by Emma Cunningham Photo Illustration by Art Board | Layout by Juliet Sloane

I

t’s 6 o’clock on a Friday night and you have failed to venture out of the bubble all week. You are tired and starving, and the idea of trekking into Midtown for dinner makes you want to curl up in bed with a poptart and binge-watch Netflix for the 4th weekend in the row. You told your mom you would eat more protein, but the suspicious dining hall meat is just not doing it for you anymore, and you have no time or energy to explore the great eateries of New York City.

If this sounds like part of your weekend routine, then you might want to consider hitting up The Meatball Shop.

With a convenient Upper West Side location on 82nd and Amsterdam, this place is outside of the Barnard/Columbia bubble without feeling too far away. After promising to explore restaurants beyond Morningside Heights once a week and failing to

do so many weeks in a row, my friends and I decided to check out the Meatball Shop and we were in for a real treat.

The mini buffalo chicken balls were an excellent way to begin our adventure. These were six for $6.50, and while smaller than your average meatballs, they burst with flavor. It was the perfect appetizer - delicious but not too filling.

From there, customers are prompted to choose a type of meatball, sauce, and whether they want the meatballs over a bed of greens, spaghetti or rigatoni (spaghetti, please!). Meatball sliders and subs are also popular options. From classic beef meatballs with marinara sauce to chicken meatballs with pesto sauce, to even veggie meatballs in mushroom gravy sauce, there is truly something for everyone. If you are feeling adventurous, add the family jewel, a fried egg, to your order THE BULLETIN -

31 - february 2017

for just $2 --The Meatball Shop is famous for this unique topping!

Though we were stuffed from our entrees, we could not resist splitting an ice cream sandwich made with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and homemade brown sugar ice cream. This delectable treat was the cherry on top of our perfect outing.

Everyone finds themselves getting caught in the Morningside Heights bubble once in awhile, but venturing just a few blocks outside of the neighborhood can make for exciting new experiences.

Next time you are craving some good off-campus food and traveling far sounds less than appealing, I would definitely recommend this cozy place -- and with the Meatball Shop’s reasonable prices your stomach and wallet can both leave happy!

Barnard in the Outer Boroughs

Coney Island elephants, and freak shows, just to name a few of its most memorable displays.

Today, Luna Park is all that remains. If you visit in summer, you can walk in the shoes of all the tourists who might have been there in the past - you can pick up a soft ice cream, wander along the endless boardwalk, or ride the Wonder Wheel. There are still sideshows and light exhibits there, and you can even swim in the ocean.

But I love Coney Island in the fall and winter when no one is out except a few fisherman on the pier, when the beach is empty and you can still feel the echoing vibrations of all the people who once danced on its shores. If you do visit in the winter, you can stop at the Dunkin’ Donuts to pick up some sweets, or get lost in thought on the empty boardwalk. I would not recommend going alone after dark, for Coney Island has never been known for its wholesomeness - though sunsets can be euphoric, especially when viewed from the beach. On the day I visited, the sky turned seven different colors in about ten minutes, and the boardwalk seemed to glow solid gold.

Coney Island in the cold is a startling collision of desolation and joy. It feels quintessentially American, full of huge dreams,

THE BULLETIN -

28 - may 2016

but set on fire by its own pride and ambition.

It is a difficult time for America right now, and I would suggest an escape to Dreamland if you need to get away; a long ride away from everything into the unknown, to the vast ocean, can take you right out of the chaos of reality. Coney promises nothing. It is in ruins, hanging by a thread to its former glory - and yet through it all, the ocean is always there, and the seagulls, waiting to fill your lungs with clean air and salt.

I love traveling, taking subways to the end of the line just to feel the stillness there, just for the sake of speeding away. The views from above ground trains are always breathtaking. I always get that same old Postal Service line in my head when I see them - everything looks perfect from far away.

From above, you just catch the outlines of buildings, which look like ruined cathedrals in certain lights, holy and howling with wind, blistering with the energy of both the ocean and the city, those two opposing forces that miraculously collide.

Wherever you end up, there will always be coffee to be found. And if you don’t want to stay, you can always take the train home.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

I

f you ever feel like escaping - like really escaping, entering a parallel dream world of sorts - just take the Q train straight to the end of the line from 42nd Street.

You will end up at Coney Island. The subway ride is long, but is an excursion in itself. Once you rise out of the ground, you pass by beautiful graffiti and houses that look like they could be straight out of a Studio Ghibli film; everything seems slightly lopsided, crumbling and yet suffused with character and life.

When you get out at Stillwell Avenue, you can see the city from high up.You can walk past fast food and sweet shops until suddenly you see skeletal roller coasters and garish paintings of carnivalesque creatures, and then all of a sudden the ocean bursts up like desert oasis.

In the summer, Coney Island is still a working theme park, though its fascinating history reminds us that it was once the nation’s capital of sinful fun.

There used to be three theme parks Dreamland, Luna Park, and Steeplechase - but Dreamland burned down the day before it opened in the 1940s. Coney Island has always been plagued by a strange sense of sorrow and hysteria. Its storied history involves incubator baby exhibits, electric

by Eden Gordon

Top Five Little-Known Tea Shops

D Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page | Layout by Emily Supple

evoid of any big, festive holidays, the first few months of the new year can feel sad, unexciting, and also just downright cold.

Yet there is a way to emerge from this winter slump, if at least for an hour or two: drink a nice, warm cup of tea. Fortunately, we live in a city full of unique and welcoming tea shops, each one providing a new experience and array of options to accompany that cup of tea.

Bosie Tea Parlour

by Katherine Leak fers something a little different. These more whimsical tea shops not only offer afternoon tea service and a menu of over 100 teas, but also serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch. To top it all off, there is an extensive Sweets & Treats section on the menu, as well as various Alice in Wonderland merchandise available for purchase.

McNulty’s Tea & Coffee Co. 109 Christopher Street

10 Morton Street

Located just off the bustling Bleecker Street, Bosie is a welcome and cozy respite from the hustle of New York City life. You feel right at home among the plush armchairs and wooden tables, and the wide selection just makes the whole moment sweeter. Bosie offers a traditional afternoon tea service for 1 at $34, complete with tea sandwiches, scones, macarons, and, of course, tea. Canisters of tea line the walls, visually showcasing the many options that you can choose from.

Alice’s Tea Cup

102 W. 73rd Street/156 E. 64th Street/220 E. 81st Street With three different locations, Alice’s Tea Cup is accessible from both the West and East Sides, and each spot of-

ioned charm back to your dorm room.

Radiance Tea House & Books 158 W. 55th Street

For a complete change of pace, Radiance Tea House offers a calming space to enjoy some peace with your cup of tea. The tea house aims to promote an appreciation for Chinese culture and history as well as an appreciation for the experience of drinking tea. Specific teas can be chosen to invoke a certain emotion or relief, such as the Ancient Path blend with goji berries, meant to uplift the spirit and energy.

Tea & Sympathy

108 Greenwich Avenue

Stepping into McNulty’s is a step back in time, as the location was established over 100 years ago, nestled in Greenwich Village. They take pride in their amazingly large offering of teas and coffees, particularly rare and exotic blends, including Lemon Mint Spice, Dragon Fruit & Rose, and Southern Pecan coffee. A range of sizes, from a 4oz bag to an 8oz tin, are available to purchase, so you can bring some of that old-fash-

THE BULLETIN -

33 - february 2017

In a completely different direction, Tea & Sympathy invokes the charm of all things British. Half store and half restaurant, the location offers quintessential British dishes like bangers ‘n mash and shepherd’s pie while also selling various British merchandise, like Union Jack mugs and Cadbury chocolate. Their take on afternoon tea is very traditional with a three-tiered tray loaded with sandwiches, scones, and cakes, surrounded by quirky and mismatched china.

New Year, New Subway he first phase of the Second Avenue Subway finally arrived on January 1, 2017. It comes with great anticipation, since it has been in the works for quite some time. The idea of a subway on 2nd Avenue had been discussed for nearly 100 years, with the first mention in 1919. Throughout the 1920s, it appeared that the project was well on its way, but when the Great Depression hit, the plan was tabled. The subway continued to be in conversation in the following decades with actual construction starting on the tunnels in the 1970s, only to be postponed yet again due to economic issues. Finally, in the early 2000s, plans moved ahead, and there was a groundbreaking ceremony on April 12, 2007.

Now, nearly 10 years after the ceremony, the Second Avenue Subway is no longer a pipe dream. The first phase of the subway reroutes the Q train from Queens to the Upper East Side; after 57th street and 7th Avenue, the train stops at Lexington Avenue and 63rd street, as well as 72nd, 86th, and 96th street on 2nd Avenue. The upcoming second phase, for

which funding has just been secured, will extend the Q train up to Harlem. Even with only one phase of the subway complete, the Second Avenue Subway will improve the lives of Upper East Siders who live east of 3rd Avenue because of increasing property values and easier commutes to work or school. It will also help Upper East Siders living near the 4, 5, and 6 trains which have been consistently overcrowded and delayed, and the Q extension will ease some of the pressure on the old subway system.

I had the opportunity to take the Q train on January 1, a few hours hours after the train opened at noon. When I entered the 86th street station, I could not believe the sight; the entrance was glassy and futuristic looking, pleasantly different from the other subway lines. I had to take three escalators to reach the Q train track, since the train is far underground, and it was surreal. The artwork was amazing too, featuring artists such as painter and photographer Chuck Close (86th street) and Sarah Sze (96th street).

I have lived in New York City since I was

THE BULLETIN -

34 - february 2017

ten years old, and before I moved to the Barnard campus, I lived on the Upper East Side near 86th street. The Second Avenue Subway means so much to the people who live there. It connects them to the West Side and Madison Square Garden, and to locations in Brooklyn, including Barclays Center and Coney Island.

When I finally arrived on the subway platform, I was shocked at how clean the station was. Generally, the subways are dirty, and I can often feel the dirt and soot seeping into my pores. I am happy to report that this is not the case with the Second Avenue Subway, at least for now. I had to wait about 10 minutes for the Q to pull into the station, as it had only opened a few hours before. When the train finally arrived, I was shocked at how colorful it was; there were letters symbolizing the different lines on the train car. The train ride itself was great, except we had to wait approximately six minutes in the tunnel between 86th and 72nd streets. By the time I arrived at my destination, 57th street and 7th Avenue, I was giddy with excitement.

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page | Layout by Emily Supple

T

by Beth Abbott

Dategate 2017

by Emma Cunningham

V

alentine’s Day may seem like a stress-free holiday when you’re in a relationship; the hard part is over, and now you get to celebrate the most romantic day of the year with your significant other. However, the pressure of having the perfect romantic day can make this holiday far from leisurely. If you’re stuck with the ‘dinner-and-a-movie’ scheme and are looking for a way out, here are some ideas to spice up your Valentine’s Day and give you and your special someone a date you’ll always remember.

There’s no need to pay for overpriced movie tickets when the greatest city in the world has so much else to offer!

Couples Massage

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

Does the pressure of planning the perfect night have you feeling tense? Let loose and treat yourself and your partner to a relaxing couples massage at Oriental Oasis 78 Relaxation Station. Located on the Upper West Side, this studio’s massages can help relieve tension and stress in the body, as well as muscle pains, insomnia, and headaches.

Their 60-minute massage is sure to chill you and your wallet out, since you can get a $99 Groupon for this $250 massage!

Bryant Park! Even though the winter holidays are over, you and your sweetheart skating hand in hand will make you feel like you are in a winter wonderland all over again. Skating is free but skate rentals are $20, so be sure to bring your own

Indoor Rock Climbing

The cold winter months may have you missing the great outdoors, but indoor rock climbing is a great way for you and your S.O. to get a workout and have some fun! Steep Rock Bouldering on Lexington Ave is a community of rock-climbing and outdoors enthusiasts, and they welcome first-timers to come test out the wall for the day. Admission is $25 per person and $23 with your student ID. This all-day pass allows you to climb for as long (or as little) as you like!

Skating in Bryant Park

If the cold never bothered you anyway, strap on your skates and hit the rink at

You and your loved one can learn to make a magnificent meal yourselves! Sur la Table offers a variety of cooking classes, including ones especially for Valentine’s Day. This is an ideal double date, since the class is separated into groups of 4. Try the Valentine’s special Italian Romance class, featuring Burrata and olive oil tapenade crostini, steak tagliata with arugula and fried capers, risotto with pancetta and shrimp, and dark chocolate espresso budino for dessert. Though this date is a little pricey at $85 a person, it promises to be a meal that you and your S.O. will never forget.

Cooking Dinner at Home

skates if you have them! When you get chilly, head to the observation deck for free board games and spectacular views, or check out Wafels and Dinges for a postskating treat!

If you are interested in a meal from scratch but would prefer not to spend so much on a cooking class, treat your valentine to a home-cooked dinner by the fire!

This intimate and romantic gesture is sure to impress your special someone.

Enjoy a fun, themed dinner, like spaghetti with heart-shaped meatballs and red velvet cake for dessert! If you need more recipes, allrecipes.com has hundreds of romantic recipes for a night to remember.

Cooking Class

Looking for a way to add some flavor to your average Valentine’s Day dinner date?

Though it may seem impossible to come up with a unique date idea for February 14th, these are just a few ways you and your valentine can celebrate this special day. No matter how you spend it, enjoying your time with your loved one and celebrating your relationship is the perfect recipe for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. THE BULLETIN -

35 - february 2017