College News: Spring 2019 by Magazine

Spring Issue 2019

SUMMER HOLIDAYS TO BOOK RIGHT NOW

Shannon Downey

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Crush Exam Anxiety

WITH THESE TIPS

MADS MIKKELSEN TALKS HIS NEW NETFLIX SERIES: POLAR

ON ART AND ACTIVISM

RAMPAGE JACKSON ON LIFE AS PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER AND ACTOR AND WHERE HE IS NOW CN1.Cover1-19.indd 1

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Contents SPRING 2019

EDUCATION & CAREERS

COVER STORY 32

As the students in your life wrap up finals and projects, here’s our gift guide for what to get them

ACKNOWLEDGING & CONQUERING EXAM ANXIETY

ENTERTAINMENT

Exam anxiety is one of the biggest 36 problems facing students today. Learn about what it is, its triggers and how to overcome it for a more stress-free exam period

WRITING THE PERFECT RESUME On average, hiring managers spend just six seconds considering a resume before deciding whether to dismiss it

TIPS FOR TEXTBOOK BUYBACKS

DROWNING IN DEBT The total national student debt is $1.5 trillion owed by 45 million 40 borrowers who will spend the next few decades paying it off

SEX & DATING 19

LOVE IN THE TIME OF HOOKUP APPS Navigating romance while at college can be confusing

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX BABY, LET’S TALK ABOUT STDS Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases isn’t a big deal, we promise

THE BALLERS OF COLLEGE SOFTBALL When you think of revenueproducing university sports, football and men’s basketball immediately spring to mind. NCAA softball now makes that list

In a passionate and inspiring interview, gymnast-turned-actor Mads Mikkelsen discusses his latest movie and offers an insightful glimpse into a successful career

NOOTROPICS: CAN THEY MAKE YOU SMARTER? Nootropics—those herbal and synthetic brain boosters—are a revolutionary step in optimizing cognitive health, something that is often neglected within today’s fastpaced, modern culture

OUR CHOICES FOR OUR PLANET How do different industries impact the environment? And what can you do to lessen your footprint?

LIFESTYLE BRIGHTER, WHITER TEETH

SCHOOL’S OUT

Follow these easy tips and see a big difference in your smile Sun-drenched days, wild nights and some much-needed recuperation— did someone say “Summer Break?”

FASHION 47

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING A SWIMSUIT We’ve lined up the best swimsuit types to flatter your assets and keep you body confident

SPORTS 29

MADS MIKKELSEN: POLAR, GYMNASTICS AND PLAYING THE BAD GUY

DECODING MODERN DATING TERMS Here’s the tea about breadcrumbing, stealthing and gaslighting (we explain what all of that means)

19 17

FEATURES 38

How to get the most bang for your buck when getting rid of your textbooks at the end of the year

RUNNING WITH RAMPAGE Rampage Jackson—the legendary UFC fighter and film star—reflects on his fighting career, experience on the silver screen and how he even got here in the first place

GIFTS FOR GRADS

LAST WORD 50

THE RESISTANCE WILL BE CROSS STITCHED

29 32 COVER STORY:

Rampage Jackson

An interview with Shannon Downey of Badass Cross Stitch about activism, crafting and unexpected tools of the resistance

collegenews.com | Spring 2019

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Spring 2019 | CONTRIBUTORS

Welcome! The time before I was just about to graduate was a period of mixed emotions. Yes, I was thrilled to close those expensive textbooks for the last time (read our tips on how to save money when it comes to your textbooks on page 15)—but I was also sad to be leaving behind a home I’d grown to love and nervous about the wide expanse of the future. Navigating your way through a new phase of life can be tough, which is why we’ve addressed in this issue some of the challenges you may face and tried to prepare you for what’s ahead. Check out our guide to writing the perfect resume on page 12, and read about handling student debt in our feature on page 17. We won’t coddle you: the world seems to be falling apart right now. Every system and institution we once thought of as stable is now showing cracks in their facades. We know it can be especially intimidating to step out into a world full of so much uncertainty and upheaval, but it’s important not to get discouraged by the bad news. To learn about how small, daily actions can add up, read our feature on helping the environment on page 40. And be sure to read our interview with Activist Shannon Downey on page 50, to learn about how even crafting has an impact on our world. Once you’ve taken the time to page through our issue, you’ll be ready for anything. Happy reading, all!

Group CEO & Publisher Kevin Harrington Editor Elika Roohi Design Friyan Mehta Jason Craig Production Director Jo Harrington Production Coordinator Ava Keane

collegenews.com Editor: Elika Roohi College News 123 West Madison St Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: (312) 572 7727 © College News, 2019. All rights reserved. All material in College News is wholly copyrighted and reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Neither this publication nor its contents constitute an explicit or implied endorsement by College News of the products or services mentioned in advertising or editorial content.

Elika Roohi, Editor

Contributors 1

1. LAUREN MCLEMORE

3. JULIA ESCOBOSA

Lauren is a junior at the University of Central Arkansas studying Journalism and Marketing. She has a passion for good storytelling and serving her community. In her free time, she works as a freelance writer for several publications and hopes to work in communications for healthcare facilities that serve women and minorities after graduation.

Julia Escobosa is a SoCal native currently living in East LA. She graduated with an A.A. in Merchandise Product Development in 2009 from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and with a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) in 2014, while also serving in the Army National Guard. She currently works as a Merchandiser for Lulus.com and moonlights as an organizer for the Ladies Cocktail and Champagne Club of LA.

2. LAYNE RUDA 4

Layne Ruda earned her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. She works at a bookstore specializing in Children’s and Teen literature. When she’s not at work or in class, she can be found working on her YA novel, at a concert barricade or binge-watching Gilmore Girls with her cat, Tink.

4. HANNAH FOSKETT Hannah Foskett is a graduate from the University of Surrey, where she obtained a BA in English Literature and

Creative Writing. Pursuing a career in publishing, she is currently enjoying her new job as an editorial assistant in London. When she’s not at work, Hannah continues her passion by writing children’s fi ction and watching The Devil Wears Prada on loop.

5. ANETHA SIVANANTHAN Anetha has a BA in English Literature from Brunel University London. Following her graduation in 2018, she has written for a diverse range of publications with a focus on politics, lifestyle, health and art. In addition to writing, in her spare time Anetha enjoys experimenting with oil pastels and traveling.

collegenews.com | Spring 2019

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Gift Guide | EDUCATION & CAREERS

Gifts for Grads As the students in your life wrap up finals and projects, here’s our gift guide for what to get them BY ELIKA ROOHI

GIFTS ON A BUDGET

raduation season is officially here, and if you have someone in your life who’s about to walk across the stage in a cap and gown and into a new chapter of their life, then we have the gift guide for you.

YOUR INTRAMURAL CHAMP COUSIN

YOUR BROTHER WHO’S TAKING A GAP YEAR

YOUR BFF WHO WAS WITH YOU FOR EVERY ALL-NIGHTER

For the grad in your life who is following their dreams after college and needs something to pack their socks in, a sturdy duffle or a nice luggage set will get them across the world on their new adventures. We also love travel pouches that let you organize your toiletries, make up or other essentials when you’re on a trip.

YOUR FEMINIST STUDIES SISTER When its looking to be a long summer of job hunting for the grad in your life who’s about to get her major in women’s studies and minor in political science, give her the gift of distraction. Opt for a book like I Might Regret This by Abbi Jacobson. She also might love a classic red lipstick like Stila in Beso—the preferred color of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Without the student recreation center in their life anymore, gifting a six-month gym membership would be appreciated in this case. They also might love a set of hightech, moisture-wicking socks or a proper yoga mat.

To say thanks for four years of snack support during every all-nighter you pulled together, consider a chic laptop sleeve. If you and your BFF loved to spend time together on the campus trails, opt for a donation in their name to the National Park Foundation. And if neither of those seem like your BFF, pick out a cool graphic calendar and circle your first post-college reunion in red.

Are you a student, looking to buy a fellow graduate a gift, but also looking ahead at looming student loans? Try these budget-friendly tricks: • Shop second-hand • Gift card to a place you both loved in your college town • Something small, but memorable • A framed photo of your college days

THE IMPOSSIBLE-TO-SHOP-FOR CROWD For those hard-to-buy-for family members and friends, you can never go wrong with an artsy mug and a nice box of tea or coffee. If they’re moving into a new place, add a chic set of coasters with your gift. If you’re really scratching your head for what to get—well, we’d never say no to a Target gift card. cn

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Exam Anxiety | EDUCATION & CAREERS

ACKNOWLEDGING & CONQUERING

Exam Anxiety

Exam anxiety is one of the biggest problems facing students today. Learn about what it is, its triggers and how to overcome it for a more stress-free exam period BY LAYNE RUDA

t’s 8:57 and your American Literature exam begins at 9:00. You’re tapping your pencil on the desk running through symbolism in The Scarlet Letter when you remember to pass this class with an A, you need to score at least an 83 percent on the exam, otherwise you’re looking at a B in a major-specific course. You’ve read the novel and you’ve completed the seven-page final essay. Yet, the second the exam is dropped on your desk, you freeze. Your heart starts to beat a bit faster and your stomach turns. Months of preparation are slipping while exam anxiety takes its place.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) defines General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as “persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things” breaking down that “eight percent of children and teenagers experience an anxiety disorder with most people developing symptoms before age 21.” Keep in mind throughout the article that these are blanket statistics and anxiety affects students to different degrees. The ADAA lists three major causes of exam anxiety: fear of failure, lack of

preparation and poor test history. Final exams carry much weight to them, in some cases they can make or break a final grade, which causes anxiety in students. While some students perform best under pressure, others equate their grades to their self-worth, especially when it comes to exams in their field. A lack of preparation is plausible, especially when full-time students take around 20 credit hours of classes, and it can be difficult to prepare adequately for exams with an average workload. Lack of preparation also derives from poor study habits where

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EDUCATION & CAREERS | Exam Anxiety

ANXIETY VS. WORRY • Worry is in the mind. Anxiety is a feeling throughout the body. • Worrying is specific. Anxiety is a vaguer, looming feeling. • Worrying is more controllable because one is in a headspace to problem solve. Anxiety snowballs and solutions are trickier to find. • Worry is caused by more practical, day-to-day concerns. Anxiety tends to more long term and caused by worries that begin to pile up. • Worrying does not interfere with your daily tasks and interactions. Anxiety can be severe to the point where you begin to avoid daily tasks and social interactions.

also derives from poor study habits where information is not being retained because of a negative environment or distractions. Having a history of poor exam grades or experiences can influence a student’s perception of exams and cause anxiety for upcoming tests. Aside from these mental causes, there are large physical impacts exam anxiety can have on a student. These include nausea, lightheadedness, headaches and can elevate to panic attacks where students have a hard time breathing and reach immense physical discomfort. Anxiety can also cause negative emotions, and it can go hand-in-hand with depression. With exam anxiety, students can become angry, sad, irritable and disappointed in themselves, which can cause a layer of emotional stress on top of exam anxiety. These causes can culminate into cognitive issues as the exam creeps closer, such as difficulty concentrating when studying due to worry about the exam itself. However, it is 2019 and mental illnesses are now widely acknowledged as well as a variety of solutions to help relieve some of the symptoms and the hardships, at least temporarily. A very easy method that can help get your head into a different space is to take a walk. When you’re studying, take a five-minute break to walk around your building and clear your mind of the test. If you need a longer break, although they may be communal, showers help to decompress your muscles by allowing hot water to run on your shoulders for a few minutes. Finally, there is always music at your fingertips. Whether you need something soft to soothe you, or you need something to crank to let any bad energy release from your body, you have a spectrum of music to help you destress before coming back to your study material. If you’re in the middle of a test, take a quick walk to the bathroom to break contact from the material and approach it with a fresh set of eyes, like hitting the reset button. If you’re not allowed to leave the testing room, close your eyes and focus on your breathing until you are prepared to return to the exam in front of you. If you find your symptoms are above your own help, campuses have counselors dedicated to assisting students with these things. Never fear seeking help from a professional. cn

Spring 2019 | collegenews.com

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Education & Careers | Resume

Writing the

Perfect Resume By Hannah Foskett

riting the perfect resume is one of the toughest parts of job-hunting, and also one of the most important. If the grueling odds of success are making your job prospects seem as sad as your blank resume, don’t worry. Even if you have little or no work experience, knowing how to draw on relevant skills and a clearly set out resume will help you to sell yourself effectively. Here’s how to impress a recruiter in six seconds flat.

Format If your recent nightmares consist of being stared at by a blank page, there are plenty of resume templates available online that can help you get started. Remember to list your experience in reverse-chronological order and choose a format that plays to your strengths. If you have less work experience, you may want to feature your education first. If you’ve been exploring the industry during college, you could highlight a separate section about your relevant or professional experience.

Unfortunately, the design of your resume is important, too—hiring managers may have to read thousands of applications and they won’t appreciate the extra work if your information isn’t clearly set out on the page. Design rules: • Aim for one page, but if you have information that is highly relevant, add a page instead of compromising on a clear layout • Choose an easy-to-read font and keep this consistent

On average, hiring managers spend just six seconds considering a resume before deciding whether to dismiss it

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Resume | Education & Careers

Tips! Statistics are your best friends—exactly how many followers did you attract to social media pages? Even if a company doesn’t ask for a cover letter, you should almost always include one. Submit a separate document that highlights your strongest skills and qualifications or include it in the body of an email with your resume attached

Step-by-step resume checklist  Decide on a resume template and make it readable

• Use a variation of font sizes (make headers and your name larger) • When choosing a font size, many resumes follow a 24, 12, 10 format—the name is 24pt, the body headers are 12pt, and the bullet points are 10pt • Create white space by breaking up text with paragraphs or lines • Never set margins below .5—if you lack experience, stick to one inch margins • Focus on readability

Profile summary Including a brief profile summary or statement at the top of your resume can be a great way to attract attention and show the employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job. E.g. “Self-motivated and adaptable business graduate with proven experience in business, marketing, sales and communication.”

Education With entry-level applications, graduates benefit from emphasizing the education section on their resume. Include the names

of institutions, their location, the date of graduation and your degree. Only include your GPA if it is above average. You may also wish to mention your thesis or the most relevant courses that you took.

Work experience Yes, getting professional work experience whilst you study greatly helps to differentiate your application from your competitors’. If this isn’t you though, don’t panic—you may have more experience than you think. Part-time jobs, volunteer work, summer internships and college clubs will all work to embellish your resume. Include the company’s name, location, your title and the dates of employment (month and year). Use around three to five bullet points per experience to cover your main duties and achievements.

Additional sections While education and experience are necessary to a resume, adding additional sections can help to strengthen it. Examples include: skills, interests, certificates, publications and languages.

 Make your contact information easy

to find and use a professional email address  Write a brief profile summary that responds to what the company are looking for  Write your resume content—most relevant and most recent experience first

 Check your skills clearly match those in the job ad

 Check you use tailored keywords, quantification and action verbs

 Proofread thoroughly before sending

Perhaps most important here is a skills section that features soft and hard skills. Soft skills include attention to detail, teamwork, critical thinking, etc. Hard skills include technical expertise, foreign languages and SEO knowledge. Don’t try and save time here—each resume should be tailored to the individual job ad. Don’t list all of your hobbies, unless they’re relevant—you’ll need things to discuss in the interview. cn

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Sell Your Old Textbooks for Cash at Textbook prices are out of control, and the average student now spends over $1,200 on books and materials each school year . To make matters worse, once the semester ends, those books often become useless to them, adding insult to financial injury. Traditionally the only respite was the campus used bookstore, which would only take books in near perfect condition, and paid pennies on the dollar or put books on consignment. Thankfully, today there is a better option – TextbookCashback.com. TextbookCashback.com is an online textbook buyback company that makes it simple and easy to sell old, unwanted textbooks for cash. Students can quickly look up their textbooks using the on-site ISBN search and get an instant quote on what the site is currently

paying for that book. Prices for most books are higher than the other big buyback companies offer, and If the number sounds good, all a student has to do is print out the free USPS shipping label provided by the site and drop their books in the mail. Upon acceptance, TextbookCashback.com will immediately cut a check or send an instant payment via PayPal. Students can sell new and used books, even if they have a minimal amount of writing or highlighting and reasonable wear and tear. Best of all, the site takes the work out of selling privately, making unloading old books as easy as a few clicks. Thanks to TextbookCashback.com, students now have a hassle-free option to reclaim some of the hardearned money they’re forced to shell out for textbooks every year.

Careers Advice by College News College News’ dedicated careers section offers expert tips on: Building the perfect resume Writing a stand-out cover letter Finding an internship Acing interviews—and more!

Head to collegenews.com/careers/ to get started!

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Textbooks | EDUCATION & CAREERS

Top Tips for

Textbook Buybacks BY ELIKA ROOHI

Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck when getting rid of your soon-to-be no longer needed textbooks

n top of rising tuition costs, fees, accommodation and food—paying $200 for a book feels like the nail in the coffin of your student budget. Even if it’s not much, selling your textbooks back can be a good way to score a little extra cash. College News has a few tips on how to make sure you’re getting the most money out of your used textbooks.

CAMPUS BOOKSTORE Generally speaking, your university bookstore is the worst place to sell your textbooks. Owing to quotas, revenue and incentives from publishers and professors, you’re likely to get the least amount of money from the campus store, even if you bought your books from there brand new. LOOK ONLINE When it comes to being thrifty, research is always on your side. Look up online textbook

retailers, such as Amazon and Chegg, to see what their rates are—you can even use textbook buyback comparison websites to see where the best deal is. BOOK CONDITION This one requires planning ahead—when you buy your books, try to keep them in the best condition possible to get the most amount of money back. It can be tempting to highlight or fold the pages, but this is a don’t if you want to sell your books at the end of the semester. Use sticky notes and tabs to mark things instead. PLAN AHEAD Time is of the essence with textbook buybacks. Most of the time, retailers are looking to buy books back the week of finals. And while it’s okay to hold off on selling yours at that moment, the sooner you can get rid of your books the better. Before the semester ends, look around for the best buyback deal and make a plan for when you’re going to mail your books back. SELL TO STUDENTS Finally, the best and easiest way to get rid of your textbooks for cash is to sell them to underclassmen at your school. Put up signs in your department’s building or advertise on your university’s social media forums. At the end of the year, most students know what they’ll be taking in the fall, so they’ll be on the lookout for next year’s books, as well as trying to get rid of their old ones. cn

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Advertorial

What If I Still

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keeps rising, so does the need for students to find ways to cover that cost. Savings, grants, and scholarships are often not enough to pay for college, leaving student loans as one of the primary options to finance the education you want. Before you decide to jump in with student loans, you should consider all of your funding options.

Private Student Loans?

Private loans are provided by lenders like banks and credit unions, as opposed to federal student loans, which are funded by the federal government. Federal loans have their benefits, but there is a maximum borrow limit. You should start by utilizing federal student loans if you can, but with the rising cost of college, federal loans may not be enough. Private student loans can help fill this gap.

Give Me Some Credit

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affect your approval odds and the interest rate offered if you are approved. Private loans commonly give you the option of having a cosigner too. With the right cosigner, it may make it easier for you to acquire a private loan with a good rate.

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If a private student loan fits your needs, LendKey connects community banks and credit unions to students like you. Because LendKey partners with community banks and credit unions, these institutions prosper when their customers prosper, so they want you to succeed. Lendkey also streamlines the lending experience. You can complete the entire process online, including reviewing your loan, applying, and making payments. When you work with LendKey and one of their partner lenders, you have a strong team behind you, helping make your dreams come true. For more information visit www.lendkey.com.

There’s more to consider than just the interest rates. Will there be reliable customer service? Will the lender also be the one to service the loan? LendKey

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Student Debt | EDUCATION & CAREERS

Drowning in Debt BY LAUREN MCLEMORE

The total national student debt is $1.5 trillion owed by 45 million borrowers— borrowers who will spend the next few decades paying it off

eceiving a college degree is a highly rewarding accomplishment that requires an extensive amount of dedication. And often, a college education awards you with a higher salary than others who lack it. Perhaps, it’s true that you do indeed have to spend money to make money, but with annual tuition expected to increase by an average of 2.4 percent at private colleges and 3.2 percent at public universities, according to StudentDebtRelief.us—the amount of money to be spent requires taking out a lot in loans.

The amount of student loan debt varies between public and private universities, leaving undergraduate students from private universities owing, on average, around $7,000 more than their public school graduate counterparts. With the total national student debt sitting at about $1.5 trillion, some of the 45 million borrowers who collectively owe that amount could be paying off their loans for the next few decades and maybe even longer. Around 2.8 million people who are age 60 and older were still paying off the 66.7 billion dollars of their generation’s debt in 2017.

TYPES OF LOANS There are different types of student loans out there for students. Before attending a university, students are encouraged to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the document that allows universities to tell their applicants what type of aid they qualify for. This aid can come in many forms. A direct subsidized loan is often the best option because the U.S. Department of Education will pay the interest while the borrower is still a student and potentially for some time after they graduate. Unsubsidized loans put the responsibility

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Education & Careers | Student Debt

of paying interest on students, who oftentimes aren’t able to pay while they are still in school, allowing their debt to steadily increase while they complete their education. Another option is a federal student loan, which offers fixed interest rates and favorable repayment terms such as allowing borrowers to pay less when they first start to work. Some also offer extended repayment plans, which include loan forgiveness after the borrower has made, depending on the plan, 20-25 years of payments. Private loans, with variable and high interest rates that rarely offer repayment plans, are typically only used in the event that the borrower has exhausted their federal loan options and is still in need.

What’s the right choice?

Graduate student loans Graduate students have intimidating student loan debt as well. Lindsey Denton, a graduate student at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, began pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing in January 2019. “My program is a total of 43 hours which comes out to $33,000 for [only] tuition. I am taking out loans to pay for the whole thing [plus] extra to help me pay for living and eating,” Denton said. “Right now, I live rent free, but if not, I would be taking out [about] an extra $15,000 just to pay for rent, not eating or gas or books.” She has no scholarships. According to 2014 statistics from msnedu.org, “The average salary of experienced MSN-educated nurses in

Tennessee can be as high as $168,000.” That number is more than twice the average salary of Registered Nurses in Eastern Tennessee, which the website has listed as $51,240. In 2015, studies showed that over the last 15 years, the average student loan balance for post baccalaureate certificate completers at public institutions had been 57 percent higher. For doctorate students, the balance was 64 percent higher for those at public institutions and 107 percent higher for those at nonprofit private institutions.

Other options The reality of student loan debt has led many students, both undergraduate and graduate, to seek out more grants and renewable scholarships, neither of which have to be paid back and are always readily available through websites, universities directly and many local businesses.

For students who have already accrued student loan debt, some schools, like the University of Central Arkansas, offer free access to use the resources provided by Solutions at ECMC. Their website describes Solutions as “a service of the non-profit organization ECMC and is dedicated to helping students manage educational loans.” cn

One of the growing questions surrounding this daunting idea of loan debt is: “What happens if the career I invested money into being educated for doesn’t pay well or worse, isn’t there at all?” Often, it’s less of a question of whether or not to take out loans and more of just figuring out how much is necessary. While the skills obtained from related coursework could be valuable for various other jobs, actual careers available in

some fields, such as the postal service, agriculture and journalism are quickly diminishing. For bachelor students, considering the expected salary of their future career is arguably the biggest factor in their decision of how much to take out in loans. It’s not unlikely for graduates to switch career paths or pursue other, more profitable areas of interest, strictly due to the fear of not being able to make enough money to pay those lenders back.

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Apps | Sex & Dating

Love in the Time of

Hookup Apps Navigating romance while at college can be confusing

fter spending four years in and out of high school relationships where the extent of dating is holding hands while walking each other to class and putting your partner’s name in your Twitter bio, you are now at a larger school with a new sea of faces and a spectrum of relationships. This is your roadmap to navigate three major categories that your new relationship is likely to fall into.

Keepin’ it casual In his article, “Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review,” Justin R. Garcia of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University reports that, “a combined 81 percent of undergraduate

By Layne Ruda

respondents engaged in some form of hookup behavior.” Hooking up is a relationship with a partner without involving feelings; it’s typically a sexual relationship. Dating apps and social media are two popular places to meet partners. Intentions can be communicated without making things uncomfortable within a friend group or a classroom. Your friends at school will have their own friends and as long as tides are calm between you, your friends and your partner, there’s no harm in casual sex. Communicate to your partner that the situation isn’t working out and you would like to put an end to things. This can get tricky if your partner

is present in your everyday life; however, without commitment, there isn’t much justification for bad blood as long as you do the respectful thing and communicate with them. If you’re meeting a partner off of social media, let a friend know. Text them where you’re going, or who is coming over, along with an address and a screenshot of your partner’s social media profile. Keep your friend updated once an hour and set a time limit for them to take action if they don’t hear from you. If your partner is involved in your friend group, ensure all of your friends are alright with the relationship because it’s never worth throwing away a friend for just casual sex.

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Sex & Dating | Apps

In his article “A Million First Dates” published in The Atlantic, Dan Slater shares a conversation with a friend, Jacob, where Jacob explains, “Each relationship is its own little education...You learn more about what works and what doesn’t...I’m not jumping into something with the wrong person, or committing to something too early.” Commitment in college can be scary, and it’s alright to not be ready to dive into a relationship with somebody. You go on dates, you hold hands and people know that, to some extent, you two are an item. It’s a relationship without the pressure of a label or the intimidation that can come with commitment in your late teens/early 20s. Start a conversation with a person you’re interested in that sits near you in class or by discussing common interests in a club. Stay away from people you know because it can be tricky to have a partner in this stage in your friend group, because although there isn’t commitment, there are still feelings involved. Because feelings are involved, communicate them to your partner and be honest with what you want and where your feelings are at, and do what is best for you. This stage is the gray area of relationships and to ensure you and your partner are taking the same steps where it will influence your status, communication is key. Find a term that is well-known and establish terminology

when beginning this relationship that is easy to explain to a wide demographic and is also comfortable for you and your partner.

It’s Facebook official Cara Newlon of USA Today reported that a Facebook Data Scientist study released in 2013 found that about 28 percent of married graduates attended the same college as their spouse. Even in the generation of hooking up and dating apps, romance on campus is not dead. When you’re in a relationship, there is exclusivity with you

Seeing someone

and your partner, using concrete terms like boyfriend and girlfriend. There are intentions to grow with your partner and there is permanence in your relationship. Relationships can begin in a plethora of ways, from friends to social media to meetcutes at Jimmy John’s. If you’re interested in someone, never hesitate to make a move and keep in mind that the worst they can say is no. If you want to end things, be honest, be open, and be kind. Remember that you’re only in college and you have time to grow independently and you’ll meet people along the way. If you attend school with your partner, you’re prone to run into them. Try to avoid people who live in your building in case things have a rocky ending. These are pivotal growth years, so to maintain your independence in your relationship and remember you don’t have to share all of your interests with your partner. Also, make time for your friends throughout your relationship. It can be easy to isolate yourself from people that aren’t your partner, but try to set aside at least a night a week for your friends. In this generation, dating is more complex than it once was. There are a spectrum of terms and statuses your relationship could fall on. Although this culture is experiencing constant growth, at the core of any relationship lies communication and honesty, and with those two things in your pocket, you can navigate through any relationship. cn

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24/04/2019 12:59

Sexual Health | SEX & DATING

Let’s Talk About Sex Baby Let’s Talk About STDs By Hannah Foskett

Before you rush to turn this page, know that getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases isn’t a big deal, we promise

n 2018, rates of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia in the US had climbed among young adults aged 15 to 24 for the fourth consecutive year. However, according to the Guttmacher Institute, only 22 states and the District of Columbia require sex and HIV-prevention education in grade school, and only 20 of these require information on condoms and contraception to be taught. Twentysix states require abstinence be stressed when teaching students about sex, so it’s time to shout the words ‘sexually’ ‘transmitted’ and ‘diseases’ from the rooftops. In today’s Sex Ed class, learn how to protect yourself from STDs and seek help discreetly.

Some prevalent STDs include: • Chlamydia • Gonorrhea • Herpes • HPV • Pubic lice • Genital warts • Hepatitis B • HIV & AIDS • Syphilis

At risk The bad news is that anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. The good news is that, in general, STDs are highly

preventable. While the only guaranteed method to prevent infection is to abstain from all sexual contact, there are some sure steps that you can take to reduce your risk of contracting an STD if you’re exploring sex in college. Outside of the act itself, educating yourself about sexual health and taking a couple of precautions before engaging in any sexual activity can help to reduce your risk of getting an STD. The following may sound obvious, but in this case, the phrase “better safe than sorry” definitely rings true. Remember: taking control of your body isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

A not-so-fun fact

What are STDs? STDs are passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal and oral sex. They’re common, but 80 percent of people who have them do not experience any symptoms.

One in four college students has an STD—young people aged 15 to 24 acquire half of all new STDs. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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SEX & DATING | Sexual Health

Take these precautions: • L imit your number of sexual partners. • E xplicitly talk to potential partners about your sexual histories. • G et tested, along with your potential partner, before having sex. • Avoid having sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. • G et vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV).

Safety first

With most people who have an STD displaying no symptoms, it’s really important to get tested if you think you could be at risk. STDs can cause serious health problems if they’re left untreated, and having one also makes you more likely to get other STDs, like HIV. According to the American College Health Association, only 52 percent of young people actually use a condom during sex, so let’s keep it real. Ideally, you should get tested after the first time you have sex and between every partner. The best part about getting tested: once you get it over with, your mind will be at ease. Most STDs are easy to treat and getting checked can be quick and simple. Depending on what you’re being tested for, your healthcare provider may take a blood sample, a swab or ask you to pee in a cup—easy! It’s normal to feel embarrassed or uneasy about getting tested for STDs, but safe sex is a reality for everyone, because everyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting infected. Here are some tips on how to get checked discreetly: • Take advantage of college resources. Most campus health centers will be able to answer your questions about sexual health, prescribe birth control, distribute condoms and dental dams and even offer STD testing. • B ite the bullet. Search for a nearby healthcare center by zip code on websites like STDcheck. com and the CDC’s website—many take walk-ins. • O rder a self-test kit. You can test for certain STDs from the comfort of your own home. • Rope in a friend. Offload your worries onto a close friend or make getting checked for STDs into a group outing (soooo Insta-worthy). cn

Okay, so you’re having sex—but how can you make it “safe sex”? From male and female condoms to dental dams and gloves, the world of barrier protection is vast and in place to help protect you against STDs. The most popular form of barrier contraception is the trusty condom, which may not be so reliable if used incorrectly. Be sure to check the expiration date and that the condom package has an air bubble (to show it hasn’t been punctured). Read the instructions on the box and ensure you know how to put the condom on correctly. Use condom-safe lubricant, make sure it doesn’t slip off, and never reuse a condom or take it off and put it back on. You might be feeling confident that your condom game is strong but, while barriers are good at preventing the exchange of bodily fluids, they do not prevent the transmission of infection entirely. Syphilis, herpes and HPV are all STDs that can be spread through skinto-skin contact, so take precautions and talk openly to your potential partners. If you’re unsure, seek advice from your healthcare provider.

Get tested

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SEX & DATING | Language

Decoding Dating

In case you haven’t heard the tea, she showed up without her bae, but everyone knows she’s totally been talking to that one guy who is gonna end up ghosting her By Lauren McLemore

A glossary Tea (n.): So, tea is basically just another way of saying gossip. Its origins have been said to stem from a few different places, one being John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and another being

a reference to the traditions of Southern women meeting to gossip over cups of tea. You can also just use the letter T. Bae (n.): Your bae is usually the person you are in a relationship with, but the term is also sometimes used informally to describe a close best friend. Talking (v.): This is the term used when two people are pursuing each other or, in some cases, have admitted they find each other attractive but have not officially started dating. In any case, if you hear this word being used, the person being talked about, while not in a relationship, is still pretty much off the market.

Thirsty (adj.): Girls described as thirsty are thought of as trying too hard or, in some cases, acting fake, just to get a potential partner’s attention. It’s interchangeable with desperate and usually is not a compliment. Shade (n.): When one is said to be “throwing shade,” it means they’re being passive aggressive toward another person, usually an ex. Ghosting (v.): While the word sounds spooky and cool, if someone is ghosting you, that person is avoiding you. This is commonly used to describe someone who, after a date, simply just stops responding to texts and phone calls with no explanation.

ou might be lost, but that is a normal sentence about dating these days. If reading that makes you feel like you’re doing a brain teaser, we’re here to help you with our guide to the language of dating in 2019. Popular slang is always changing and keeping up is a chore in itself, but the one thing we’re pretty sure of is that “LOL” and “OMG” have been replaced with different terms.

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Language | SEX & DATING

Gaslighting (v.): This term is used to describe people who use their actions and words to make others, usually their partners who are being rational and logical, feel as if they are being irrational and ridiculous. Gaslighting is an attempt to force people to question their sanity and is often thought to be abusive. Stealthing (v.): Stealthing is a serious slang term used to describe a person who takes off a condom during sexual intercourse without informing the partner. It is sexual assault. Breadcrumbing (v.): Similar to how Hansel and Gretel left a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way home, breadcrumbing is done by people who sends f lirtatious signals, such as text messages, to lure those they are attracted to. Often, but not always, breadcrumbing is used to try to draw in a partner for the purpose of sex.

Where did slang come from?

it can be used to describe a person’s current mood using a picture or GIF. In today’s technology, it also allows for more clear and concise communication over text and especially on social media platforms such as Twitter where only 280 characters are provided for users to get their point across. The internet itself, but more specifically, the emergence of apps used for dating and meeting potential partners online, has generated an entirely new category of scenarios that can occur between partners, creating the need for words to define these occurrences. For example, “catfishing” occurs when one person pretends to be someone they aren’t when they’re online, deceiving the person they’re communicating with. This word would mean nothing if it weren’t for the internet’s ability to let users remain anonymous or pretend to be someone else.

SLANG AND TECHNOLOGY

A sign of the times

Sometimes, slang is simply the shortening or combining of words to make an acronym of sorts. This is also known as “textese.” A common one is “rn,” typed in lowercase, which stands for “right now.” When it’s not being used to state that a person is doing something right this second,

So, although many of us may remain lost, the current dating slang is and has always been a way for the youth and young adults of this day and age, who are more or less technologically advanced, to better communicate the stages and scenarios of dating as it evolves in 2019. cn

While language is constantly evolving— just think of how much has changed since the Shakespearean era—it will continue to change as new things that need defining appear. Many of the terms

above come from the ball culture— an underground LGBT subculture of the ‘80s and ‘90s where drag shows were performed—and black gay culture vernacular. Slang itself is the product of terms either coined by subcultures or groups of people to describe a behavior or type of person or terms that already existed as functional word in the English language but has had its meaning changed to mean something different. According to the encyclopedia Britannica, “While many slang words introduce new concepts, some of the most effective slang provides new expressions.” Overall, while some slang terms are often created by groups such as gangs or radical political groups, most have an origin that is unknown and are used for the sole purpose of freshening, refining and adding dimension to the native language.

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Softball | SPORTS

The Ballers of College Softball BY ELIKA ROOHI

When you think of revenue-producing university sports, football and men’s basketball immediately spring to mind. NCAA softball now makes that list

he funding of college athletics isn’t straightforward, and it can also get controversial—especially considering the statistic that in more than half of states, the top paid public employee is a college sports coach. Athletics funding comes from the revenue-producing college sports (usually football and men’s basketball) and is increasingly subsidized by tuition. While the figures of Division I colleges can feel astronomical (The University of Texas football program is estimated to be worth $133 million), only one in eight of the 200-plus Division I colleges actually netted money between 2005 and 2010. The politics of the athletics budget

gets complicated when you consider the big spending of the big sports measured against the revenue they bring in, as well as all the smaller sports universities offer, such as volleyball, track and field, soccer, baseball or swimming, to name a few. These smaller sports can feel neglected in the face of football matches that draw over 100,000 fans to their half-billiondollar stadiums (a sum more than the gross national product of some small nations). All this may explain why people tend to divide college sports into revenueproducing and non-revenue producing. And while most are imagining the traditional sports leading, the data shows that there is a new team in town, ready to play in the

big (expensive) leagues: Women’s College Softball.

SOFTBALL SUCCESS In 2016-17, NCAA softball reported $450 million in revenue, putting it fourth after football, men’s basketball and baseball— the only sports to report larger revenues. The Department of Education reports revenue on at least 30 men’s college sports, so at least 27 of them are not doing as well as softball. Examining the data provided by the Department of Education, which dates back to 2003-04, shows that there has been an explosive growth in softball over the last 15 years. Today, the sport is worth 450

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SPORTS | Softball

BY THE NUMBERS $989 million the amount earned by the NCAA in 2014 $133 million how much the University of Texas football program is worth $6.3 million the amount a home football game for University of Nortre Dame brings in $100-$1,000 cost of a ticket to watch a popular football game

times what it was just over a decade ago. To put this growth in perspective, it’s worth looking at the growth of a few other sports. Between 2003 and 2017, college basketball revenue grew from $1.1 billion to $2 billion. Over the same period, football revenue grew by 116 percent, and men’s basketball grew by 185 percent. Even women’s basketball revenue grew during that time by 158 percent. However, none of these impressive figures can hold a candle to college

10 BEST COLLEGES FOR WOMEN’S SOFTBALL • University of Florida • Baylor University • University of Tennessee Knoxville • University of Arizona • University of California Los Angeles • University of Tulsa • Fordham University • University of Michigan Ann Arbor • University of Oklahoma Norman • James Madison University

softball—which grew 217 percent. It’s growing faster than any other college sport.

EVERYONE’S WATCHING Softball’s growth is evident not just in its ballooning revenue, but also the amount of attention, viewers and fans the sport has garnered. In 2017, it was reported that Oklahoma’s two-game sweep of Florida averaged 1.72 million TV viewers. The opening game of this series had 1.6 million viewers. These numbers are notably higher than what ESPN was attracting for Monday Night Baseball that same year (an average of 1.1 million viewers). They are also record-setting for the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) and represent an incredible upward trend. The television ratings tell the same story as the revenue reports. Women’s college softball can no longer be written off as just a fulfilment of Title IX, they are now a great asset in their own right.

COACHES RECOGNIZED For so long, the coaches of Division I football and men’s basketball teams have been the ones bringing home huge salaries, while the rest of the personnel in the education system nets a modest amount.

A report published in 2018 found that the highest paid public employee in 39 out of 50 states was a football or basketball coach, with the highest paid earning $11.1 million as the University of Alabama football coach. (Roll Tide?) We can’t speak to the resolution of systemic income inequality or gender pay gaps, but it does feel satisfying to know that softball coaches are at least starting to get their due, given the importance of the sport these days. The highest paid softball coach earns $1 million annually at the University of Oklahoma, with softball coaches at other Division I schools also catching up.

LOOKING AHEAD Revenue reports, coaches’ salaries and television ratings all tell an important story about softball. The sport is growing and will continue to grow. Of course, getting paid much to play college softball is still in the future, and while graduating players can go to the National Pro Fastpitch League, the league is still quite young. This year is its 16th season, and it takes time for fans to develop emotional attachments to the teams in a sports league. But history tells us that with patience, this does happen. And clearly, softball is on the right path—or perhaps we should say pitch . cn

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Cover story | Rampage Jackson

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Rampage Jackson | Cover Story

Running with Rampage By Elika Roohi

Rampage Jackson—the legendary UFC fighter and film star—reflects on his fighting career, experience on the silver screen and how he even got here in the first place

hen I speak to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the professional fighter turned actor, it turns out he’s remarkably kind and funny—something, which, if I’m honest with myself, I hadn’t expected from a man called “Rampage.” Jackson’s career is impressive and diverse. His first big break in the wrestling world came in 2001 in Japan in the country’s Pride Fighting Championships. A few years after that in 2006, he started fighting in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships). Coinciding with his rising success in the professional fighting world was the world’s growing interest in professional fighting, and it was this media attention that helped him launch his acting career. His jump into acting came during time off he had to take to nurse an injury. He was cast in a movie, and after watching Jackson act, the director told him he was a natural. “He said I should pursue acting, and so I did—that was that,” Jackson says. When Jackson started wrestling in high school, he took it up as a hobby to stay fit. He never would have predicted that afterschool activity would lead him on to a legendary wrestling career and starring roles in major films. “Not in a million years!” Jackson exclaims. On his acting break Arguably, Jackson’s biggest break came when he landed the role of B.A. Baracus in The A-Team (2010). Until then, he had

“

My dreams brought me out to California, and I had to leave my hometown. Sometimes your dreams take you places, and there are consequences you won’t realize in the moment.”

been firmly in the wrestling world—when he wasn’t fighting for UFC, he was working on small films about fighting. The A-Team brought him a much broader audience on a much larger screen, alongside Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel. Working on the film was great, Jackson tells me. He had been a fan of the television show The A-Team when he was a kid. “I loved Mr. T!” he says. But acting on that level was a learning experience. “You know, I had to bring my A-game, because those guys are great actors. I had the least experience out of everybody,” he says, but then adds: “But you know, my role was perfect for me because all I had to say was ‘Shut up, fool!’”

Jackson still remembers how lucky he felt just to be working on The A-Team. During the audition, he forgot one of his lines, he admits. “But in that moment, I remembered my acting coach told me, ‘If you mess up, don’t break character, just pause and remember your lines, and then go from there.’ So that’s exactly what happened when I forgot my lines—I took a nice deep pause, and then I remembered my line. “And right when I said it, the director was like, ‘Cut! Cut!’ And I thought I messed up, but he was like ‘Excellent!’ And we walked away, and he said, ‘You got the part.’ He told me later actually that test is what got me that part.” On fame “It was real strange,” Jackson says, when I ask him how his life changed when he suddenly found himself in the public eye. Particularly because the UFC and MMA weren’t as popular when his career started as they are now, Jackson never anticipated the attention. “At the beginning of my career, I was fighting in Japan. And that was nice, being famous in Japan,” Jackson says. “Not gonna lie, I loved it. I loved the attention in Japan, ‘cause then I could come home, and nobody knew who I was. I could be a regular guy. “I was a big guy, and people could tell I was an athlete but no one knew that I was a professional athlete really, only the hardcore MMA fans. But it was around

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Cover story | Rampage Jackson

2007, when I won the belt in America, and it changed my life overnight. Suddenly my neighbors knew who I was, and you know, there was less privacy. The more popular you get, the less privacy you get.”

On the physical toll At age 40, Jackson’s reflections on his fighting career, including the toll it’s taken on his body, are thoughtful. “You know, I’ve been doing sports since I was 17, so I got a lot of bumps and bruises along the way,” he tells me. These days, Jackson works with cbdMD, a company that sells hemp-derived CBD oil products as a natural alternative to chronic pain—products that have helped him a great deal. “Thank God for cbdMD,” he says. “The products have really changed my life. I’ve been complaining less in the gym. My coaches are happier with me, because now I’m performing better. They took a lot of pain away and some of my smaller injuries have healed up.” It’s not just him—it’s also his dog that’s benefitted from cbdMD. “I didn’t even know they offered dog treats!” Jackson exclaims

about his discovery. “I’ve got an older dog that had a bum leg, and CBD helped him out a lot. You know, he’s 12 years old. That’s 70-something in dog years—maybe even 80. So, he’s really old, and he’s doing a bit better now.” On social media Because today, social media is a large part of the work of being a celebrity, I’m curious if Jackson has any rules for himself in how he approaches it. Jackson has 500,000 Instagram followers and has managed to avoid controversy enough to stay out of the headlines. But he says no—he’s just himself online. “I like to have fun with it. I try to be as sociable as I can. You know, it’s a fun tool to connect with fans that you would never see. Honestly, I don’t do anything different,” Jackson says. Well… “The only thing,” Jackson says, “is that sometimes you get annoying people on social media, they just slide into your DMs and be like “sup?” I don’t know what to do with that.”

I ask him if he ever answers. “Hell no! I used to talk to a lot of fans in my DMs, until I found out that once you accept their DM, then they can DM anytime. They be out, living in your DMs. They just move right in—they’re like those friends that sleep on your couch for a few days, and next thing you know it’s been two years, and they’re eating all your leftovers in your refrigerator.” On what’s next Jackson has two new movies coming out soon. A Psycho’s Path, due to be released in fall 2019, is about a sadistic killer roaming the streets of a sleepy desert town. This is his first time working on a horror film. The other movie is an action film. Boss Level, with Rashad Evans, Mel Gibson and Ken Jeong, is about a retired special forces officer trapped in a never-ending time loop on the day of his death. It’s due to come out in summer 2019. “They’ve got me looking funny in it though,” Jackson says. “I’m playing a German guy—that’s all I’m gonna say about that!” CN

On family Jackson made headlines last year when he said in an interview with ESPN that he regretted how much time he was away from his family owing to his demanding career. The fighter moved away from his hometown of Memphis when his little sister was only eight. He tells me that on a recent visit back to Tennessee, he realized all of his cousins had grown up and had kids—kids he hasn’t gotten to meet. “If you’re gonna follow your dreams, make sure you’re okay with leaving your loved ones behind sometimes,” Jackson says, when I ask him what advice he would give to young wrestlers who are just starting out. “Me? My dreams brought me out to California, and I had to leave my hometown. Sometimes your dreams take you places, and there are consequences you won’t realize in the moment. “I can’t really tell people, ‘oh don’t follow your dreams because you’re gonna leave your family behind.’ Just make sure and make time to still go and be with your family, because family is everything.”

Spring 2019 | collegenews.com

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Entertainment | Mads Mikkelsen

Spring 2019â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; collegenews.com

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Mads Mikkelsen | Entertainment

Mads Mikkelsen Polar, Gymnastics and Playing the Bad Guy

In a passionate and inspiring interview, gymnast-turnedactor Mads Mikkelsen discusses his latest movie and offers an insightful glimpse into an extremely successful career Interview by Hannah Foskett

e’s starred in everything from Hannibal to Casino Royale, The Hunt and Doctor Strange, and he’s here to talk to College News about his latest movie on Netflix: Polar. One of Denmark’s biggest actors, Mads Mikkelsen commands the screen as Duncan Vizla, a recently retired assassin better known to his colleagues as Black Kaiser. It’s graphic, it’s intense and it’s a journey about grief, friendship and redemption. COLLEGE NEWS: First things first, can you tell our readers a bit about your upcoming film, Polar?

MADS MIKKELSEN: Polar is based on a graphic novel—it’s about a hit man who is supposed to retire and, in his effort of doing so, he tries to go out into the real world and see if he fits in there. But he’s quite socially awkward and bumps into another person who’s equally socially awkward, and it becomes a funny little meeting between these two characters. On the other side, we have a simultaneously running story where a high-paced film is taking place—crazy action characters who are chasing and hunting down this character. So these two different entities will eventually collide in the film and that’s part of the journey. CN: How did you first become involved with the project and its director? MM: The graphic novel came my way a few years

ago and I loved every thing about it. Then it came again with Jonas [Åkerlund] attached to it and then we started discussing and coming up with ideas and polished the script more and more together with writers. Jonas was just a fantastic match, he’s a completely insane person, and I think that really was a good match for this film.

CN: So, you’re playing a retired assassin who shows younger killers a thing or two–how would you say your approach towards acting has developed as you’ve grown older?

MM: I don’t know really. I mean, it’s one of those

questions that’s really difficult to answer as an actor. I think if you asked someone who’s 90—what are their techniques, what have they learned—they would always say “can you just wait one year, I don’t know.” One of the things I have learned, years ago, is that the better everyone is in a scene, the better the scene is, the better you are. If anyone feels uncomfortable in a scene, it’s everybody’s job to make this person not uncomfortable and to do their best. So we need each other to make a good scene.

I was a working class kid learning how to dance. So, I did that for ten years and through the dancing thing I discovered acting. I was very pleased about that; I thought I might have been a little more in love with the drama of dancing than the aesthetics of dance, so I applied for a drama school and I went in and then from there on I’ve been an actor and so far, I love it.

CN: What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far? MM: There are obvious highlights that people

would point out, and of course, you would have to mention winning at Cannes with The Hunt. Being part of the Bond franchise was a highlight. But there are many highlights in the sense of personal highlights, you know? Certain things you discover, certain things you’re very proud of, and I try to make my next project the highlight every time. I just try to make this the most important thing, so it doesn’t become a stepping-stone in my career but it becomes the most important thing. I think that’s the best approach I can have.

CN: What does your future career look like at the moment? MM: I’ve got a couple of months off. Then I will

hopefully start up something this coming year with Thomas Vinterberg that I’m looking very much forward to. CN

CN: Do you have any favourite or most challenging scenes to shoot from Polar? MM: Well the most difficult ones were obviously

some of the long stunt sequences which, in the nature of themselves, are quite difficult. It doesn’t make it easier that I’m not wearing any clothes and it’s taking place in a concrete hallway, you know. And it’s very cold, so that was by far the most difficult. Some of my favorites were the ones I had with Vanessa [Hudgens]. These two awkward people who are trying to have a normal conversation and it turns out to be quite awkward… and I love those scenes—they’re sweet and comedic in a subtle way.

CN: Can you tell our readers about how you first got into acting? MM: It was kind of strange; there were some

detours in my life. I was a gymnast. After that I discovered dancing, because I wanted to do some flips in the background of a musical. And then the choreographer of that musical asked me if I wanted to learn that craft and that was a Billy Elliot kinda thing.

collegenews.com | Spring 2019

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FEATURES | Brain Health

Nootropics

Can They Make You Smarter? “Brain boosters” are a revolutionary step in optimizing cognitive health—something that we could all pay a little more attention to in today’s fast-paced and modern culture Nootropics to the rescue?

Nootropics, or “brain boosters,” work by increasing and decreasing the activity of brain chemicals. For example, GABA is a brain chemical responsible for reducing anxiety, whereas the neurotransmitter norepinephrine heightens adrenaline in humans. Other neurotransmitters include serotonin that regulates anxiety and dopamine. A lack of dopamine can cause insomnia, fatigue, memory loss and abrupt mood swings. Moreover, chemical imbalances can be triggered by either too low or high glutamate levels, with the latter being a symptom of Alzheimer’s and the former creating cognitive problems, like ADHD in children.

Herbal nootropics

Nootropics can come in herbal or synthetic forms. Herbal nootropics use the herb ashwagandha, which was used historically in the holistic practice Ayurveda. The herb works to revitalize your mental performance by improving attention levels and reducing fatigue. A secondary benefit of ashwagandha is its potential to restore a mental harmony, therefore ideal for those who suffer from anxiety within social interactions.Native to South East Asia, mitragyna speciosa, which is commonly known as kratom, is another herbal nootropic. Adopted by tribal societies in South Eastern Asia to provide energy, stimulate hunger and treat wounds, Kratorm is now used as a cognitive stimulant to maximize productivity levels.

By Anetha Sivananthan

ur modern lifestyles require us to retain more new information today than ever before, from rigorous exam preparation to big deadlines at work. Dominating this fast-paced information-filled world is social media and its effect on cognitive health. Social networking platforms portray an elusive mirror of supposed perfection

and happiness; however, excessive usage has cultivated multiple cognitive problems such as loneliness, depression and social anxiety. In a study published by Psychology Today, findings demonstrated that real, direct social interaction was negatively linked to excess Twitter use in university students, with loneliness being the prime cause.

Synthetic nootropics Synthetic nootropics, available globally, are used to improve memory and concentration levels. Modafinil is one such example of a synthetic brain booster, available only through prescription to ensure its is the right and most effective type of treatment to meet the specific needs of a patients. Modafinil is also used to treat narcolepsy, the chronic brain disorder causing individuals to fall asleep at random. Synthetic nootropics are also widely utilized to treat social and cognitive problems. The compound Phenibut is a derivative of GABA and was once embraced by the Soviet Union as a medicinal drug. Its properties allow it to have a stress-reducing effect and improve the sleep quality of its users. CN

Summer 2018 | collegenews.com

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FEatures | Climate Change

Our Choices for Our Planet How do different industries impact the environment? And what can you do to lessen your footprint? By JULIA ESCOBOSA

Fashion Fashion’s harsh impact on our environment cannot be denied, and its negative effect is further amplified by consumers prioritizing price over ethics. When is the last time you were at a fast fashion retailer and considered what your purchase would mean to the environment? You probably thought about the price, the trend, the places you would wear it and maybe considered the cost-per-wear. But did you consider the amount of water used to manufacture that garment? The emissions created from transporting that garment from overseas? The chemicals and dyes used to give that garment its color? How many pieces just like yours that will end up in a landfill in a matter of months? The next time you’re indulging in some retail therapy, take a moment to consider

the full life that item has lived before it found itself in your hands. What can you do Participating in the second-hand clothing economy is likely the easiest way to reduce your footprint. If sifting through Goodwill bins isn’t quite your thing, there are many curated second-hand retailers where you can shop online and in person for gently used, on-trend pieces.Whatever you do, keep your clothes out of the trash.

arlier this year, as the Midwest was plunged into its coldest weather on record, on the other side of the planet, wildfires raged in Australia’s record-breaking heat. This is weather in the age of extremes. It’s clear that an answer to climate change is needed at a policy level. While acts like the Green New Deal that propose economic stimulus programs aiming to address climate change are being met with the tired mantra of “we can’t afford to do it,” a louder voice is finally starting to answer in response: we can’t afford not to. Outside of politics, individuals can make small changes in their personal lives that support a healthier planet. College News takes a look at the impact of a few industries, and what we can do about it.

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Climate Change | FEATURES

the move towards sustainable manufacturing practices.

According to the EPA over 16 million tons of textile waste were generated in the US in 2014 alone. Over 10 million tons of that ended up in landfills. If pre-loved clothing just isn’t your jam, you can become a conscious consumer of new clothing as well. Take a couple of minutes to research your favorite brands and take a look at their stance on sustainability. Many brands are making

Technology Technology may seem ecofriendly—it saves time, paper, energy and transportation; however, with most of us updating our gadgets as soon as they are released, more tech waste than ever is being generated. According to The Balance Small Business, only 15 to 30 percent of tech waste is recycled. Twenty to 50 million tons of tech waste is generated worldwide every year, which amounts to over five percent of the municipal waste stream. Seventy percent of hazardous waste is deposited in landfills. And tech waste is expected to increase by eight percent each year. What can you do Whenever you upgrade your technology, recycle your out-of-date tech. Many office supply stores and community centers host recycling drives for used tech. If your tech

is still functional, it’s worth trying to trade in when you are buying your new tech or take to a reseller platform to sell your gadget directly to its new home. Pollution If you look around, you’ll see waste everywhere. According to Rubicon Global, the average household in the United States produces over four pounds per day of trash and over 56 tons per year. Forty percent of the world’s total waste is produced in the United States despite the country only making up five percent of the world’s population. Six hundred and forty pounds of solid waste is produced by the average college student annually. Ninety thousand pounds of waste will be left behind by the average American for future generations. What can you do The easiest way to effect change is by creating less waste in our daily lives and responsibly disposing of the waste we do create. In addition, we can try to help clean up the waste created by others. Next time you see a piece of trash on the ground, do your part for the planet and dispose of it responsibly. Every piece of trash kept out of the environment adds up to reduce our negligent waste on this planet. cn

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Want to keep up-to-date on everything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening on campus, across the country and around the world? Follow us on Twitter (@CNcollegenews) and friend us on Facebook! Trust us, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did!

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Smiles | LIFESTYLE

Brighter, Whiter Teeth Follow these easy tips, and see a big difference in your smile BY ELIKA ROOHI

offee, tea, wine—when we really think about it, it’s a wonder our teeth aren’t more stained already. Even things like tomato sauce, blueberries and soy sauce can contribute to dimming your bright white smile. Professional teeth whitening shows immediate results and lasts quite a long time, but it also costs around $500 and isn’t usually covered by insurance. So where should someone on a budget look?

HOME WHITENING KITS You may be able to get rid of superficial stains by yourself. Tooth-whitening products use a surface-type bleach to break the bonds between the stains on tooth enamel. Dentists use a highly concentrated amount to achieve more dramatic results, but the at-home kits, which use a smaller amount, can achieve results too. Expect that any at-home products will require multiple applications over a week

or two and have a gradual whitening effect. If you do opt for a professional whitening treatment, dentists often recommend using at-home products as a booster to keep your teeth whiter for longer.

can remove up to 70 percent more plaque than manual brushes. They also remove more stains by vibrating or rotating more effectively.

WHITENING TOOTHPASTE Perhaps the simplest way to stay on top of your teeth whitening is to pick a whitening toothpaste to brush with every day. While whitening toothpastes don’t lead to dramatic changes in color, they usually contain a small concentration of hydrogen peroxide that will whiten your tooth enamel over time. Ideally, you’re using a whitening toothpaste in addition to other whitening solutions, says New York cosmetic dentist Edward Alvarez. But this is a good place to start.

The best way to whiten teeth is to observe some preventative measures so they don’t get too discolored in the first place. Good practices mean avoiding staining substances, the most egregious of which are red wine, coffee and tobacco residue. But other foods that contribute to stains are tea, tomato sauce and balsamic vinegar. If the thought of avoiding any of those feels out of the question, try rising your mouth out with water after you eat. Brushing your teeth is even better. And of course, regular flossing and dental check-ups never hurt either.

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH

LADIES, TRY THIS

Another simple trick to up your teeth game is to swap out your standard toothbrush for an electric one. Electric toothbrushes

Wear a red lipstick with a blue undertone to give your teeth the illusion of being brighter than they actually are. cn

PREVENTION IS KEY

collegenews.com | Spring 2019

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Summer Vacation | LIFESTYLE

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Sun-drenched days, warm nights and some muchneeded recuperation— summer vacation is on its way and we’re here for it

etting off for summer vacation is a rite of passage for college students all over the world. Consider our favorite destinations offering the best sun, fun and sand of 2019.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

Daytona Beach lies in Volusia County and is an easily accessible party spot that is perfect for students on a budget. If you’re looking to spend sunny days relaxing on a 23-mile stretch of sunkissed sand before stepping out to the hottest club scenes in Florida, head to Daytona Beach for amazing surf and headlining DJs. Explore the uniquely drivable beach by renting a motorcycle or bicycle, and maybe even plan a trip to Walt Disney World, Sea World or Universal Studios in Orlando—it isn’t far. Student friendly and one your parents may even approve of—get the sun, surf and nightlife without breaking the bank.

CANCÚN, MEXICO

One of the most-visited student destinations on the planet, Cancún is the ultimate, unforgettable experience. Situated on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, this convenient location is easy to fly to and is known for its breath-taking tropical beaches, turquoise waters and unrivalled nightlife. If you somehow get bored of white sands, non-stop pool parties and worldclass DJs, you won’t have to look far to encounter water sports, island shopping, authentic Mexican cuisine and huge whale sharks to swim with. One of the most sensational attractions in Cancún is the Museo Subacuático de Arte, an underwater museum that features more than 400 life-sized sculptures. The sun, sea, food and swarms of party-lovers are all accounted for.

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LIFESTYLE | Summer Vacation

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS

The city of Nassau can be found on New Providence Island—the 11th largest of 700 islands in The Bahamas. With low-cost flights from much of the East Coast, the island offers students sundrenched beaches, clear blue waters, foam parties, dance clubs and casinos (think Las Vegas meets tropical paradise). The whole island is set up like a resort, so a break from the sun can offer world class snorkeling and diving, every water sport imaginable, an assortment of shops and restaurants, boat-renting and even an authentic pirate museum. Tracing its heritage to the shipwrecking days of Blackbeard, the locals will tell you that Nassau is where rum originated. Whether you’re relaxing in paradise or enjoying the wild nightlife, you can expect to do it with a rum punch in hand.

Amsterdam is high on most students’ lists of places to visit and is one of the most multicultural places in Europe. If you’re looking to swap crowded beaches for the relaxed way of life this year, you can actually do so on a tight budget. Traveling with a group will secure you cheaper rates, and Amsterdam’s free tours, afternoon concerts and countless other cheap tourist attractions will keep you busy without emptying your wallet. From the world class Van Gogh Museum to the famous Anne Frank House, you’ll be enjoying the city’s never-ending selection of attractions, festivals, food and nightlife.

Stay Safe When traveling, make sure to: • Check any rules or restrictions in an area before booking • Stay close to friends, making sure everyone is accounted for • Always check the credentials of your taxi driver • Lock valuables away • Keep your drink with you at all times • Never go to an ATM alone or flash your cash in public • Never swim alone or enter the water if you’ve been drinking • Watch the weather for storms that can move in fast

Just a two-hour flight from Miami, the popular summer vacation spot of Punta Cana is located on the easternmost side of the Dominican Republic. As the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Punta Cana’s unique tropical climate suits those who want to lounge on sun-soaked beaches, as much as any adventurous-types looking to try a catamaran or zip line through the rainforest. The party animals and the dolphin lovers will feel at home here too, and so will those seeking to witness some of the most beautiful views of Punta Cana astride a dune buggy. If you’re struggling to choose a destination, why not have it all? Cn

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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Swim Style | FASHION

Your Ultimate Guide to

CHOOSING A SWIMSUIT BY HANNAH FOSKETT

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lined up the best swimsuit types to flatter your assets and keep you body confident

collegenews.com | Spring 2019

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FASHION | Swim Style

ith endless categories being used to define women’s bodies, swimsuit shopping has become an impossible task—especially as clothing tags don’t tend to say: “buy this if you’re an inverted triangle.” This season is all about body positivity and feeling good in your own skin, so let’s leave the apples and pears in the fruit bowl and get back to soaking up the sun. Baring all in a string bikini is easier said than done, however. If you feel more confident drawing eyes away from a certain area or giving yourself a little more support, our swimsuit guide for different body types has— literally—got you covered.

SMALL CHEST

If you’re looking for a suit that flatters a smaller bust, go for an embellished or ruffled design up top to help give the illusion of a larger chest. Alternatively, there are many styles on the market that have sewn-in padding to give you a little extra boost.

BIG CHEST

A triangle bikini may not be your friend, but cup sizes, underwire and thicker straps are. Choose a stretchy material that won’t dig in, don’t be afraid to get coverage by going up a cup size, and consider flattering your décolletage with a deep V-neck. Halter straps may place pressure on your neck, but halter-top suits that sit higher up on your chest can provide great support.

BROAD SHOULDERS

If you’ve got wider shoulders, you can balance them by going for suits with an asymmetrical neckline that will draw the eye up and away. Similarly, patterned bottoms with a plain top, or a solid-colored suit with paneling details, will give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

BROAD HIPS

Solid bottoms and printed tops will draw the eye away from broader hips and balance out your body. Off-theshoulder numbers will also serve to elongate your clavicle and give you a curvy silhouette.

BIGGER BACK

If love handles are getting you down, tuck them away with a one-piece or high-waisted bikini bottoms that cover the belly button (to prevent a muffin top). If your problem area is higher up, go for pieces with a high back and thick straps that—instead of digging in and creating depressions—flatter and smooth your profile.

SHORT LEGS

To elongate shorter legs, go for high-cut suits that sit further up on the hips, creating a V-shape. If you’re feeling brave, thong-style bottoms will work to generate an optimum limb-length.

STRAIGHT FIGURE

If you have an athletic or narrower figure you don’t need to worry about balancing proportions. To create a curvier silhouette, you can add dimension with cutouts, shirring and bold prints.

TUMMY

To hide a tummy or the liters of seawater you accidentally swallowed, sport a peplum style one-piece or a tankini for a cute cover-up. Ruching will also work to conceal a stomach and a plunging neckline will draw eyes away from your mid-section. Tummy control suits are revolutionary—offering easy curves and ample stability.

FOR THE GUYS

Boys: will you be bold in briefs or opt for comfort in board shorts? These are longer than swim trunks and are perfect for adventurous-types that plan to surf or skate whilst catching rays (hence the word “board”). More options include square leg swimsuits, which are the equivalent of boxer underwear, and swim jammers, which hug the legs and are ideal for endurance pros. cn

WEAR WHAT YOU WANT

If your waistline is closer to your chest than it is to your hips, you have a small torso. By lifting the bust line with a bikini and donning low-rise bottoms, you can serve up an elongated mid-section. Adding halter straps will also work by showing off your neck and shoulders, instead of your short torso.

LONG TORSO

Long torso girls can really rock a one-piece. Bikinis with high-waisted bottoms will also work to give the impression of a shorter mid section.

Swimsuit shopping, harsh dressing-room lights and friends with mile-high legs can be more-than-enough to ruin a beach day. Remember that nobody is looking at you. In fact, everyone feels this way—we’re just all built differently. Try to focus on emphasizing your favorite feature when choosing a suit, not covering up your least favorite. If you’re comfortable, protected and having fun, swimsuit season can’t get you down.

SHORT TORSO

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LAST WORD | Activism

THE RESISTANCE Will Be Cross Stitched INTERVIEW BY ELIKA ROOHI

It’s the décor that might adorn your grandmother’s walls—but then again, not quite

hen Shannon Downey, of the Instagram account @badasscrossstitch, picked up cross stitching a few years ago, she quickly found that she was interested in using the crafty medium in unusual ways. She stitched a large sign for the women’s march that read “I’m so angry, I stitched this just so I could stab something 3,000 times.” She stitched another piece—the one that launched her Instagram account into the public eye—in response to the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape. That piece reads, “Boys will be boys held accountable for their fucking actions.” We reached out to Downey to ask her about Badass Cross Stitch, craftivism and her new project, Badass Herstory. COLLEGE NEWS: First, tell us about Badass Cross Stitch and how it began.

CN: Your art went viral after one of your pieces was shared in response to the Harvey

Weinstein news breaking. What was it like to suddenly have a much larger audience to share your message with? SD: When that piece took off it was because millions of survivors were using it as the illustration to accompany their #MeToo stories. It was astounding to me that a piece I made was connecting with so many survivors. I was deeply humbled. The digital community that grew out of that moment is amazing. It fills me with hope every day that social media can, in fact, be a tool for connection, conversation, growth and change.

CN: Right now, you’re working on a new project, Badass Herstory. Tell us about that! SD: Yes! This is my most ambitious project to date. I’m asking all women, female identified, and gender non-binary folks on the planet to participate. The quick overview is that folks are asked to “tell me their story” on a 12”x12” piece of fabric. Then, send it to me. There will be a giant public art installation and a digital museum. I want one million stories. I want the world to see the complexity and diversity of stories from the most marginalized voices. CN

SHANNON DOWNEY: I ran my own digital marketing company for 10 years. Around year seven, I started to get really cranky. I was connected to a device 24-7, and it was really having a negative effect on me. I stumbled across a Star Trek cross stitch pattern on Etsy. I hadn’t cross stitched since I learned in fifth grade. I stitched it up and felt transformed. I felt creative and calm and there was real satisfaction in having made something with my hands. I kept stitching and the more I stitched the better I felt. It really evolved from there into an expression of and tool for my activism.

Spring 2019 | collegenews.com

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