volume 9 / winter 2010
inside this issue...
confessions of a proper lady 3 easy steps and the walk of shame becomes
the walk of glory
25 things to do before you leave emerson
even jackie liebergott weighs in
theetiquette issue majestic fashion photographs
by zac wolf
boston boroughs
what to do in
inman square and old favorites, like
street scene the new rules of etiquette, the emerson way
em magazine is proudly funded by
emerson college sga
,
the
and
our advertisers
table of contents
volume 9 / winter 2010
features 45
It’s Not Easy Eating Green Earth Emerson educates about the benefits of eating green. Are the harms of eating meat the real inconvenient truth?
48
Majestic Fashion Fashion modeled in the Majestic Theatre.
54
Like a Virgin On remaining a virgin until marriage. Why is it so controversial in this day and age?
56
The “D” Factor Diversity at Emerson. Campus Conversations on Race and the Multicultural Center teach students how to respect diversity.
58
Hot Shots Emerson Alums Making Waves in the Real World. Recent grad student Lori Kirk brands herself using the lessons she learned at Emerson. Shane Hurlbut makes waves with his Film degree, 24 years later.
photographs by Zac Wolf cover model Jacquelin Voegtlin, WLP 2011 is wearing clothing kindly provided by LF Boston
60
Confessions of a Proper Lady A DIY Guide to Everyday Etiquette. An interview with an etiquette coach.
winter 2009–2010
Cover shoot:
3
co-editors in chief emily dyess & victoria guerrera founding editors andrea drygas & faye brennan
volume 9 / winter 2010
managing editor joanna arpie
editorial assistants Binsen Gonzalez, Beata Rybka, Michelle King creative consultant Joseph Hebert secretary Emily Holden emerson editor Shana Wickett writers Emily Geaman, Dana Filek-Gibson, Holly Griffith, Claire Carusillo, Kendall Nelson, Cathie Rose entertainment editor Chrisanne Grise assistant editor Catie Colliton writers Megan Donovan, Maria Oliver, Nina Dineen, Lorena Mora, Maria Montemayor looks editor Becky White assistant editor Alexandra Gurvitch writers Samantha Lawsky, Michelle Gilbert, Peter Cocchia, Natalie Gergely, Olivia Moravec, Joseph Hebert, Amanda Furrer head stylist Valerie Molina assistant to the head stylist Justin Reis stylists Caroline Denton, Sofia Gottret features editor Kimya Kavehkar writers Michelle King, Michelle Golden, Erin Doolin, Veronica del Rosa, Rheanna Bellomo relationships editor Lauren Landry assistant editor Evan Sigel writers Krista Mastroianni, Bryan Chabrow, Courtney Preiss, Rachel Zerbato
photography photo editor Casey Neidorf assistant photo editor Danni Scully head photographer Zac Wolf photographers Valentijn van der Sloot, William Tyner, Ethan Walfish, Victoria Reuter, Gaul Porat, Hope Kauffman, Cori Crovo, Lauren Kroll, Ben Austin, Demetra Lymberis advertising & marketing marketing director Debbie Lee advertising director Chris Somerville event coordinator Marissa Estrada marketing staff Kate Horn, Nikki Lecuyer, Kendal Peiguss, Celia Nissen, Julie Hubbard, Teodora Kaltcheva, Elizabeth Santana web editor Elissa Garza web designer Binsen Gonzalez writers Stephanie Thomas, Ariel Knoebel, Bettina Warshaw, Leeanne Smith, Christine Roy, Aleya Miller, Josh Roth, Angie Galan, Christina Roche, Sasha Fastoviskiy, Aimee Carvalho, Karen Harris, Gillian Walters, Matt Haviland, Irina Grechko, Sarah Daniels, Kathryn Shustari design magazine designed by Andrea Drygas design team Jussie Martin, Elizabeth Cormack, Barbara Platts, Maria Murray, Kiona Highbridge, Madeleine Wojdak
head copy editor Diana Filar copy editors Caitlin Bueller, Natalie Casper, Ashley Yee, Michelle Zelman mission statement em magazine is committed to giving Emerson students real life experience in magazine publishing. We serve as a creative outlet for our staff and as an entertaining and informative product for our readers. Each issue of the magazine is completely student produced and we seek to use the wide range of talent from Emerson students. Each issue focuses on the lifestyle of Emerson students, because we think Emerson is a unique place full of unique people! em magazine is published once a semester by students at Emerson College in Boston, MA, and is distributed for free on campus. To contact em magazine, email us at emmagonline@gmail.com. We appreciate your feedback! visit our website: www.emmagonline.com copyright 2010 em magazine Emerson College 150 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116
SPECIAL THANKS: Emerson College, Sharon Duffy, Kathleen Duggan, William Beuttler, Lisa Diercks, the Cutler Majestic Staff, SGA, LF on Newbury Street, LIT Boutique, Club Monaco, and Finale.
table of contents
emerson 07 / The Great Debaters 08 / Street Seen 10 / 25 Things to do Before You Graduate from Emerson College 11 / Give Me a Break 13 / Opinion: Is Liberalness the Same as Open-Mindedness? 13 / Elevator Etiquette 14 / Serving with Style
looks 16 18 19 20 22 23 24 27 28 33 33
/ / / / / / / / / / /
Oh Make me Over Must-Have Fashion Books Couture Collection Break the Rules of Fashion Feel the Burn Pour Homme Model Life Runway Recession Mad Men Fashion Timeless Trends 10 Must Read Fashion & Beauty Blogs
volume 9 / winter 2010
70 / Shabby to Chic Dinner Party
relationships 34 35 36 38
/ / / /
39 40 41 41
/ / / /
42 / 44 / 44 /
First Date Etiquette Bye, Bye, Lucille Ball A Glorified Morning After Fornication Under Consent of Roommate Like a Light Switch Making Business More Personal Date My Parents 5 Things to Keep in Mind When Meeting the Parents The Biology of Jealousy Talking to your Parents About Sex Protect Yourself: Safe Sex Tips
entertainment
35 / Bye, Bye, Lucille Ball
/ / / / / /
A Hidden Gem Behind the MFA Commuter Rail Getaways Emersonian Blogs Midnight Movie Madness Books About Unclassy Broads Shabby to Chic Dinner Party for $10/Person 72 / Dinner for $10 or Less 74 / Boston Boroughs: Inman Square
winter 2009–2010
63 64 66 67 68 70
5
editors’ letter
a letter from the editors the etiquette issue
H
ave you ever wanted to throw a chic dinner party, but your non-existent budget stopped you? Have you ever been frustrated on a first date, because he or she lacks basic people skills? What about when you get a grade in class you believe is unfair, but are afraid to speak up because you don’t want to come off as rude? Are you ever confused about when it’s OK to break fashion rules? This issue is all about learning new lessons to becoming that classy college student you always strived to be. To our staff, this issue belongs to you. We’ve facilitated your talents to showcase your strengths. You’ve put in many hours of hard work — on top of your classwork, internships, and jobs — and we are so grateful for your dedication to the magazine. Working with the student body has been both rewarding and challenging. We are so proud to attend Emerson College, an institution where everyone is so passionate about what they do. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate the participation and enthusiasm of the students and staff here. You’ve helped us set up photo shoots, told us your stories, and most importantly, shared your time and talents. Our goal with this issue is to inform you, the readers, of another side of college, the side that you rarely are informed of unless it is in an argument or conflict. So take our advice and aspire to rise above the stereotype of how college students are supposed to act! we hope you enjoy the issue!
em magazine
Victoria Guerrera & Emily Dyess
6
emerson
the great debaters
the emerson forensics team knows what its talking about WRITTEN BY Shana Wickett
M
etiquette
teammates), and prose and poetry readings. Individual scores are added into an overall team score. Heather Erickson, a lecturer in the Communication Studies Department and Director of Emerson Forensics, said the team’s drive has risen. “[The win] shows growth not just in numbers but in dedication and ambition and talent as well,” she said. “When you’re passionate about something, you get results.” And like most Emersonians, the team members certainly are passionate. They find piece ideas and debate cases before the semester even starts, and they research, write, and re-write their own performances. They travel throughout New England and the Midwest several times a year to compete, and they practice with coaches—Erickson and Communication Studies Department lecturers Patrick Johnson and Allen Vietzke—on a weekly basis. And to top it all off, they wear suits to competitions. “It’s not like athletics, where if you win, you win,” Wright said about the subjective nature of the competition. “At a certain point, it just turns into details, and that’s what makes the difference between winning and coming in second.” “In the end, you work together as a team, but when you’re performing, you have to rely on yourself,” she added. Team members said the volume of time spent is well worth it. “I wouldn’t be doing it if I just wanted the skill,” said Nina Dineen, a Media Studies major, Class of 2011. “It’s really fun because you stand up, and it’s just you, and you have to paint this picture with your body and how you see things in your voice. And if you do it well, people like it.” “It’s just such a great way to keep making new goals for yourself, and you can really measure your progress,” Efron said “It’s good experience for when you go into an interview, or to be able to use impromptu speaking off the top of your head when you’re asked questions,” said Brittany Jones, a Political Communication major, Class of 2011, and debate captain. “When you’re on the job, it’ll give you critical thinking skills to analyze and develop a plan of action.” Emerson Forensics also placed second in overall sweepstakes at the past two Northeast Regional Championships. The team qualified the most members it has ever qualified for nationals last year, and one competitor placed sixth in after dinner speaking at the national level in Spring 2008. The team’s next goal is to add a few more Emersonian names to the list of national competition winners. Emerson Forensics welcomes both amateur and seasoned students to join. “Emerson is a communication school. If you come here, chances are you like to talk a lot,” Wright said. “Where else do you get medals and trophies for talking?”
you need structure and organization, but your professor’s tentative semester syllabus has long been expired: “you
should ask your teacher politely to create a syllabus. if you
still don’t see anything, then go directly to the department chair. there is no reason why students should not be given a syllabus.”
professor stephen shipps / visual & media arts department
winter 2009–2010
Q&A
ake no mistake: Emerson Forensics is no CSI-like science club. It’s Emerson’s speech and debate team, and its laboratory is any room ready for competitive rhetoric. “We don’t examine crime scenes,” said Shawna Wright, a Marketing Communication major, Class of 2010, and individual events captain. “But if you want to talk about a crime scene, go for it!” “You might have a prose piece about dead bodies, but there are no actual dead bodies,” said Corey Efron, a Writing, Literature & Publishing major, Class of 2011, and team president. Emerson Forensics had just three members when it was re-established four years ago after a hiatus and a long history in speech and debate. Now, the team has about fifteen active members, the majority of which are new recruits, and recently celebrated one of its most notable achievements yet. The team won its first-ever overall sweepstakes, a team award, in Emerson Forensics history at the Suffolk Fall Classic tournament in October. This was the first tournament Emerson Forensics attended this year, where the team also won second place in the individual events sweepstakes. Team members were among the top six competitors in all but one event, already qualifying six competitors in eleven events for the national competition Rosetta DePaul, a Film Production major, Class of 2013, said the win was empowering for the team. “It’s nice as a freshman to know that maybe in the smallest way I contributed to that,” DePaul said. “It brought out that team feeling.” Collegiate forensics is broken down into four categories: the Lincoln-Douglas debate, or oneon-one debating, and the three main individual events. These categories include limited preparation such as extemporaneous and impromptu speaking; public address such as informative and persuasive speaking, rhetorical criticism and after dinner speaking; and interpretation such as dramatic interpretation, duo (performed by two
7
street seen
karima carter-davis
pat reynolds
/ media arts production / 2013 & vinnie ferra
/ film / 2011
street larissa green
/ journalism / 2011
seen
photos by Hope Kauffman, Lauren Kroll, William Tyner & Ethan Walfish
em magazine
wilson p. carpenter
8
/ acting / 2010
rachel jespersen
daniel diaz
/ policomm / 201
/ wlp / 201
street seen
brendan field
/ film production / 2013
cody zhou emily rosky
/ painting / 2010
/ sound design / 2013
amanda henning-santiago
lena raff
/ ba acting / 2012 & amy gervis / comm disorders / 2012
/ wlp / 2010
winter 2009–2010
jc sevcik
/ vma / 2013
9
emerson
25 things to do
before you graduate from Emerson College written by Emily Geaman most of us spend only four years at emerson, so why not make the most of it? emerson students, staff, and alumni tell em readers what they should do before graduating to create lifelong memories and gain invaluable experience.
1.
Work closely with an SGA-recognized organization. Whether students join as members, run for office, or work on an event, there’s no douwbt in my mind that they will fully appreciate the experience. molly zervoulis, class of 2011
2. 3.
Join the conversations on race at the college. kathy hassinger, professor Jump in the Public Garden pond. You won’t feel clean for at least three weeks, maybe a month, but it is totally worth it. blake wexler, class of 2011
4.
Take Forbidden Knowledge with Jon Hodge. It’s by far the hardest class I’ve ever had, but the things you learn will change your entire perspective on reading books and looking at the world entirely. It was worth all the stress to see in a different way. derek anderson, former emerson student (suffolk class of 2012)
5. 6. 7.
Be in an Emerson Stage performance. amanda maltz, class of 2011
8.
Ride those damn swan boats if you haven’t. I regret never going on them. faye brennan, class of 2009
Read at least one book not written in English. gian lombardo, professor
em magazine
Wake up right before dawn on a Sunday and go walking with a friend to the Boston Harbor, through Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, the North End, backtrack through Government Center and make a quick stop in the Granary [Burying Ground] - it’s easy to climb the fences if you find the right spot - back through the Common, and back to campus. It will change your life. jamie reich, class of 2010
10
9. 10.
Pledge Theta.
greg epstein, class of 2009
Sit at the wall on Beacon Street, and realize just how important that space was to the camaraderie of the school. joe toto, class of 1984
11.
Go to the castle! Hands down, the best three months of my life. I learned and grew so much. dan tiffany, class of 2011
12.
Join an organization that has nothing to do with your major. jason guttilla, class of 2011
13.
If you’re into poetry, take a class with Peter Shippy. He’s passionate about poetry, as well as teaching. His feedback on the work of his students is extensive, which shows that he truly wants to help us grow and improve as writers. caitlin donahue, class of 2012
14.
Make sure that every summer, and any down time you have between semesters, you get yourself an internship in the field that you are interested in. The more work connections you have under your belt, the more likely that upon graduation you might be hired on as a fulltime employee, if you develop and manage those relationships. Create a social media profile on LinkedIn and starting inviting those who you work with to connect with you. Build up your connections during these internships, as people do move around a lot. You’ll want to stay connected to them wherever they land. max felder, class of 1982
15.
Take an ASL class. It’s a really great opportunity you wouldn’t have at other schools. Today I learned how to sign rap. samantha lawsky, class of 2011
Walk on the Common at night while it’s raining. allison gerlach, class of 2012
Get a liberal arts education, and study outside your major. We are one of the few schools, if not the only school, that encourages the idea of exploring interdisciplinary interests. dewitt henry, professor
18. 19.
Get involved with the evvy Awards. dan gamache, class of 2011
20.
Go to an Emerson production. They are incredible, and it’s great to see your friends and fellow students do what they do best. angela atlas, class of 2008
21.
Bring as many wonderful people into your life as possible. Those will be the people who are with you forever. marlena yannetti, professor
Rollerblade Memorial Drive when it is closed off for pedestrians. nicole witkov-rooney, class of 2003, director of student activities
22.
Make it a point to let those professors who really inspired or affected you in a positive way know. I failed to do it at the time with Dr. Tom Haas, a man whose teaching and directing talent and whose positive response to my acting and writing skills gave me a faith in myself and a confirmation of what I, of course, hoped and wanted to be true. donna sorbello, class of 1969
23. 24. 25.
Sing in the LB lobby just to try out the acoustics. brittany perro, class of 2011 president Go to a baseball game at Fenway Park. I never did it and regret it to this day. george carpenter, class of 1974
two students call time off from college the best decision they ever made written by Dana Filek-Gibson photo by Danni Scully & Lauren Kroll only 49 undergraduates over the age of 24 attend emerson, but these non-traditional students have many stories to share about the unconventional paths they have taken. two of these students, rowan curran & scott galens, explain how they made emerson their next destination. Rowan Curran our years after dropping out of college, Rowan Curran attended his former girlfriend’s commencement exercises at Emerson. He had been thinking about returning to school since his band’s break-up, and he was struck by the valedictorian’s speech. “The valedictorian was a non-traditional student,” Curran says. “It was his like sixth time going back to college. Seeing that just made me feel really rock-solid about the decision that I had made to go back to school.” The 25-year-old sophomore Communication Studies major is minoring in Science and Journalism. He hopes to one day combine these into a career as a science journalist, an ambition inspired by his favorite scientist, an astrophysicist named Neil deGrasse Tyson. Curran expects to graduate from Emerson in May 2011, but he says making up his mind has not always been so easy. Curran entered Emerson as a transfer student far-removed from the path he took six years before. He enrolled in Hampshire College directly out of high school and had a rough time figuring out his goals. He didn’t feel he received the kind of support he needed from his professors during his freshman year and was ready to give up by the end of it. “This is a waste of money,” Curran says he remembers thinking throughout his first year of college. “I don’t know what I’m doing, and I feel like I’m just floundering.” continued on the next page
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winter 2009–2010
Play a sport, but if not support our teams and go to games; submit work to student organizations, and for outside consideration; and learn to write and speak well. I know that freshmen composition is unlikely to be at the top of your list of courses you really want to take here, but nothing will prepare you more for the world of work than learning to write well. jackie liebergott, emerson college president
emerson
16. 17.
give me a break
11
emerson
give me a break continued So, following his freshman year, the Arlington, Mass. native took to the road. After starting a band with some high school friends, he and the Taste of Silver toured the country for four consecutive summers, playing as far away as Arizona, where they ultimately disbanded. “I would not have figured that I would actually be doing this when I was 19,” says Curran. “We were still some obscure hardcore band, but we would go to places on the other side of the country, and people would know us and know our songs.” The experience left an impression on Curran. When he chose to re-apply to Emerson (he was accepted the first time around, but chose to go to Hampshire instead), he wrote his application essay about being a part of the band and touring across the country. Curran’s “super-goal” is to graduate before his 27th birthday, and with all of the extra classes he has taken in between semesters, it is certainly feasible. Though student life at Emerson has taken some warming up to, Curran participated in Emerson’s Next Top Male Model and says he hopes to become more involved in extracurricular activities in the future. Meanwhile, he says he couldn’t be happier with the path that led him to Emerson, and he advocates taking time off. “I think every kid in America should have a gap year,” he says. “Most people have no idea what they want to do when they’re 18, and if they do know what they want to do, then it’s probably not what they’re going to want to do when they’re 22.” Scott Galens here are several things Scott Galens has that many Emerson students do not: a 16-year career under his belt, an associate degree in Horticulture & Landscape Design, and 15 years of homeownership. But right now, Galens says he just wants to be a student. The 40-year-old sophomore Theatre Performance major (with an emphasis in
em magazine
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left to right:
acting) has returned to college more than a decade after leaving it, and he has had to adjust to living on-campus. After owning his own home, the regulations of dorm life and the company of suitemates is certainly a change, but Galens says he welcomes these new experiences. He even made a point of attending one of this September’s orientation events, the ever-popular “Hooray.” “There were a couple of awkward moments,” he acknowledges. Greeting a room full of freshmen and young transfer students would certainly amount to that, but Galens adds, “Everybody seemed very encouraging. People who I’ve talked to randomly have been really supportive.” Galens says he had a less-than-positive experience the first time he gave college a try directly out of high school. He says he attended Finger Lakes Community College in upstate New York for about a semester before realizing he was not ready to be a student again. Despite his love of theatre in high school, Galens’s time as a student of music and voice was brief. “I just hated it,” Galens says. He took a year off, and when he returned to Finger Lakes a second time, he completed his studies in Horticulture & Landscape
Rowan Curran & Scott Galens
Design instead. Galens worked at a family-owned garden center in his hometown for 16 years and kept his love of the stage alive through the occasional performance in local theatre. He says his family and friends encouraged him to pursue his passions and were a driving influence in his decision to return to school. “They were hugely supportive,” Galens says. Though he says his family is now excited, it took some time before they came around. “Their reaction was more subdued,” he says, adding that after living close to home for most of his life, the decision to relocate to Boston was difficult for both him and his mother. When he and his partner sold the property they owned, one of the interested buyers was a professor in Maryland whose daughter had attended Emerson. The professor raved about the college, and Galens looked into the possibility of applying. He visited and knew he wanted to perform in the Cutler Majestic Theatre the moment he first saw it. “This was the only place I applied,” he says. He smiles and shrugs, “And here I am.”
When attempting to force yourself onto a crowded elevator, do not ignore the looks of death. You are not wanted. Do not mock those who did not make it on the elevator. We are not in the second grade. Use the stairs when heading to and leaving the library in the Walker building. The people running late for class need the elevator more than you do. PDA is a thousand times more uncomfortable in a tiny square box. Swap spit somewhere else!
room is available for socializing. if they do not get the hint, i bluntly say, ‘i am not leaving,’ and they usually understand and leave.”
joshua barnaby / writing, literature, and publishing / class of 2013
winter 2009–2010
being interrupted. when that does not work, i hint that the living
etiquette
i try to get their attention nonverbally to signal that i am
Q&A
your roommate’s friends won’t leave, and you’re heading to bed:
“first,
emerson
Turning people away from a near-empty elevator is selfish and antisocial. Hold the door open and make a friend! Your mom can hear you loud and clear and so can the other riders. Stop shouting into the phone.
Kaela Joyner, a Marketing Communication major, Class of 2010 agrees. “I classify myself as a liberal,” Joyner says. “But I try to stay open-minded when it comes to issues where a clear line between Republican and Democratic ideas is drawn. I become frustrated with other students who keep on talking just to prove how liberal they are.” But Emerson students can do one thing to avoid pigeonholing themselves as youth with unfounded opinions. We need to open our minds to other ideals, even if we think they’re as insightful as the Twilight saga. The way to do this is much easier to stomach than watching a single episode of Glenn Beck. All Emerson students need to do is think critically. “When you make a claim, find ways to support it,” Payne says. “Listen to yourself to see if you’re sounding as ill-supported as your opposition.” Critical thinking is severely stunted when we update our Twitter and Facebook statuses with each passing hour. Posting our opinions instantaneously without sitting back and considering what we’re putting out to the world is irresponsible at a school that is known for its students’ impressive communication skills. “I’m a bit of a ‘bleeding heart liberal,’ and sometimes my heart bleeds all over my Facebook,” says Hayley Adams, a Visual & Media Arts major, Class of 2010, who uses Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, and occasionally finds herself posting status updates and tweets that are politically charged. She says this was particularly evident with the recent passage of Question One, which rejected same-sex marriage in Maine, her home state. Try examining the Left-leaning Boston Globe with as critical of an eye as the conservative readers of Boston Herald. When you’re talking to someone you don’t agree with, don’t tune them out. Ask questions. Watch a debate. And most importantly, open your minds.
Move aside when people are trying to exit the elevator. You will get in—we promise! Tone those thighs by walking up to the sixth floor if five has been pressed. That burrito from the Max is not going to burn itself off.
he corners of Boylston and Tremont are an accurate cross section of the Emerson population, a community that has its claim on a variety of different social constructions. We are writers, artists, liberals, vegans, and homosexuals, among other things. But at Emerson, it’s unlikely for students to debate the opposite side of an ideological argument. It’s tough to come by politically conservative students who challenge ideals that many of us at Emerson fundamentally support, like gay marriage or pro-choice sentiments. Without exposure to anything but a near-constant outpouring of the same political mores, unsubstantiated claims can go unchecked. After talking to some of these students with ideals even stronger than their ironclad skinny jeans, I beg the question: Is liberalness the same as open-mindedness? Megan Richardson, a Film Production major, Class of 2010, justifies her liberal narrowmindedness. “I’m not very open-minded towards non-liberals,” she says. “I’d like to think of myself as open-minded towards cultural differences, but I don’t have a lot of time for people who try to limit my rights.” She means Republicans. Dr. J. Gregory Payne, associate professor of Communication Studies and advisor of Emerson’s Communication Politics and Law Association, says that liberalness and open-mindedness are not synonymous. “I think that open-mindedness is the ability to keep a clear perspective relevant to an argument, while liberalness is in regard to government,” he says. “Those with an open mind can weigh both sides of an argument.” Payne has taught Argument and Advocacy at Emerson for twenty-seven years. The lack of ideological opposition stifles conversation and closes minds. “I do have some students who are a little zany and a little wacky with no ideological perspective,” Payne says. “Sometimes they like to hear themselves rattle.”
WRITTEN BY Kendall Nelson
T
elevator etiquette
WRITTEN BY Claire Carusillo
The unspoken rules of elevator etiquette require Emersonians to learn the correct behind-closed-doors behavior. Here are some helpful tips:
opinion: is liberalness the same as open-mindedness?
13
em magazine
Q&A
etiquette
14 - emerson etiquette Q&As by Cathie Rose -
torey ippolito / studio television / class of 2011
“i would approach the professor after class and ask what i could be doing better about my notetaking. that way, it would help me for the next test to study the right material.�
you spent the entire weekend studying in the library, and you even resisted Facebook for a few hours, but your professor still gives you a grade lower than you think you deserve:
left to right: Mitchell Lance (Berklee College), Samuel Tang (WLP 2011), Kelly McCarthy (Marketing 2011), Michael Nourie (Marketing 2011) & Kevin Overshiner (Sound Design 2011)
emerson
emerson
serving with style
tennis: a gentleman’s (and gentlewoman’s!) sport written by Holly Griffith / photo by Valentijn van der Sloot
A
liberal arts and communication school in the heart of downtown Boston might seem like an unlikely place to find athletic success, especially in tennis. One of the most notoriously straight-laced sports, some students still think this is true because they are unaware of Emerson’s tennis teams and their successes. “I know it’s there, but that’s about it,” said Katie Purcell, a Marketing Communication major, Class of 2013. “If it weren’t for that article on e-Campus about the women’s team [and its Fall 2009 season], I wouldn’t have known we even had a team,” said Samm Leska, a Television Production major, Class of 2012. But the Emerson Lions’ tennis teams certainly have a place among the competition. The women’s tennis team closed its most successful season yet this fall. The team gained four players and has gathered steam since its Fall 2008 season, when it had a roster of only seven women. “We lost some matches last year that we won this year,” said Erika West, a Writing, Literature and Publishing major, Class of 2012, and member of the women’s team. This group also improved its performance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament during the Fall 2009 season. After winning the first round tournament match against St. Joseph’s College 9-0, the team buckled down and focused on pulling out a victory against Suffolk University. Though Emerson narrowly lost 4-5, West said the team was happy with their improvement. The men’s tennis team has also had its share of success and achieved second place in the 2009 GNAC last spring, losing the title to Suffolk. “We’re one of the best teams in the conference,” said William Abeles, a Studio Television Production major, Class of 2011, and member of the men’s team. “I’d be shocked if we didn’t win the GNAC this year.” But there is more to Emerson Lions’ tennis than its success. The teams also keep in line with tennis’ rules of etiquette. “You don’t want to slam your racquet down or curse,” Abeles said, because it’s poor form. And the manners don’t stop there. It’s also important for players to make honest calls. “Since we don’t have line judges at the college level, all the calls are on your honor,” he said. Cheering to support each other instead of cheering against the opposi-
tion is another way the players exemplify decorum. “Other teams have different approaches in terms of cheering, but I think Emerson does the best job of staying classy but keeping each other pumped up,” West said. Even Emerson tennis fans are courteous. “You’re supposed to cheer between points,” West said. “Some [fans of] teams will yell across courts, so if one match is going on and a point is made at the next court over, people will yell and justify it with the match on the other court.” Not Emerson fans, though. The team and the
look out, quidditch! tennis could become the next “it” sport on campus.
winter 2009–2010
fans alike keep things classy. But just because fans have to be polite doesn’t mean they must sit in silence and hide their enthusiasm. “I think there’s a misconception that with tennis, fans have to do the golf clap,” West said. “But you can cheer and scream in between points.” Both teams are looking for more fans who are interested in being a part of the class act that is Emerson tennis. “People need to know that tennis is a really interesting sport and that we do exist,” West said. The teams are feeling optimistic after their recent successful seasons. “I’m really excited about the sport and the team,” said Eliza Hamilton, a Communication Studies major, Class of 2013, and member of the women’s team. “It’s going to be tough next year because we’re losing our number one and number three [players], but we’re still going to work hard.” “Hopefully our success this year will get people to come out next year,” she added. Fans riding in spirit vans to and from select matches don’t have to worry about cold or rainy weather because the Lions play on indoor courts. Look out, Quidditch! Tennis could become the next “it” sport on campus.
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section title
e k a m r e , v h o eo m
em magazine
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look 1
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by os 11 t ho 20 12 / p Tech 20 h m itc sign s v i l r u e na 013 ra G ner, D t Jour 2 d n Vo dcas xa ism l e r l a e b yA urn roa y b ls: Am d, B nt Jo b i n la de en Pr erg ing, itt Mo B K wr a i tor elle Vic Mich
looks
D
look 2
look 3
uring Fashion Week, makeup artists pull out all the stops when styling models for the runway. Often during a show, makeup is kept basic and somewhat minimal in order for the designer’s clothing to really shine. These following looks were seen all over the fall runways and will add a new dimension to your every day appearance.
look 1:
look 2:
One of the biggest trends for Fall 2009 was an ‘80s flashback. Models were sent down the runway with shoulder pads, gilded minis straight from Studio 54, and blue eye makeup. This look is great for going out. To make your eye makeup really pop, use a blue mascara like Lorac’s Visual Effects mascara in “Midnight Blue” ($19.50). Dior Electric Lights 259 ($56), a set of 5 eyeshadows, helps to create the perfect blue smoky eye. Lancome’s Color Design Eyeshadow in “Personal Style” ($16.50) also works great. To add pop, use a red lipstick like DuWop’s “Private Red” ($22). Complete the look with Smashbox Blush Rush in “Flush” ($24). Because this look is for you, trendsetters, your perfect perfume is Marc Jacobs’ Lola (starting at $65).
look 3:
This fall, the runways have a solution to perk up your pout: Dark lips. The trend started last fall when Yves Saint Laurent decked models out in gothic garb and black lips. This season the look is back, in a wearable shade of deep plum. Start with a lip primer, like Urban Decay’s Lip Primer Potion with SPF 15 ($20), and follow with YSL’s Rouge Volupté lipstick in “Exquisite Plum” ($34). To complete the rest of the look, try lining your lids with a liquid eyeliner like MAKE UP FOR EVER’s professional waterproof eyeliner ($22), use a soft blush like NARS’ “Deep Throat” ($25), and coat your lashes with Benefit’s BADgal lash mascara in black ($19). Once your face is complete, add a dab of sophistication with Chance parfum by Chanel ($95).
winter 2009–2010
For all you Green Gals, here’s an eco-friendly look that will keep you looking like a bronzed goddess even in the midst of winter. First, go for a tinted moisturizer that will keep your skin hydrated from the harsh winter winds like Korres Watermelon Tinted Moisturizer in “Light Sand” ($28), and then apply a bronzer with hydrating Tahitian monoi oil such as Korres Monoi Oil bronzing powder ($28). To add some color to your cheeks, use Tarte’s Green Siren Natural Cheek Stain ($30). For the eyes, use Tarte’s Emphaseyes High Definition Eye Pencil in “Chocolate” ($18) and Josie Maran Mascara in “Rich Brown” ($22). Then, nature lovers, top it off with the scent of Tom Ford’s White Patchouli perfume (starting at $60).
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looks
must-have fashion books written by Natalie Gergely / photo by Lauren Kroll
F
ashion magazines are great for people who want to know what’s in style right now. But for those of us who sincerely have a passion for fashion, we want to know more about what’s in for the long term. Where does it come from? Why is it hot? And, most importantly, how is it worn? So when fashion magazines simply don’t cut it, the only place to turn to is a fashion book. Here are our top three picks for you true fashion fanatics.
Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, and Everything Glamour by Rachel Zoe Stylist and fashion expert Rachel Zoe covers the essentials of everything fabulous from A to Z. If you’re looking for a guide to looking great beyond just what you wear, this book is where it’s at.
The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia Written by the present fashion director of Marie Claire, this book covers everything from the basics to timeperiod pieces to fashion etiquette. It’s awesome for anyone who loves clothes, but it isn’t always specific about what to buy or when and where to wear it.
em magazine
Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self by Christian Siriano
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Christian Siriano, the youngest winner of the hit TV show Project Runway, offers fashion advice from professionals in the fashion industry, as well as tips on how to be yourself with fashion and still look great. This one is great for people who are interested in working with fashion, because it discusses the obstacles of making your personal vision work both professionally and personally.
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couture collection who said newspapers were only meant for reading? WRITTEN BY Victoria Guerrera / PHOTOS BY Valentijn van der Sloot With Couture Planet handbags, made with 100 percent consumer post newspaper, breaking news never looked so good! Couture Planet was recently founded by Constance Carman, a buyer of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. When she noticed the large amounts of newspaper being thrown away every day, the environmentalist and fashionista in her kicked in. As a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Carman used her design and business skills to recycle newspaper into fashionable, yet eco-friendly the clutch // $48.00
the coco bag // $60.00
michael jackson wristlet // $28.00
winter 2009–2010
the betsey tote // $75.00
handbags. From large shoulder bags, to clutches, wristlets, and totes, Couture Planet handbags are perfect for a variety of occasions. The collections have been featured on the Fox Business News Segment, So You Think You’re an Entrepreneur? The special handbag collections include President Obama Inaugural Special Collection and the Michael Jackson: King of Pop Tribute Collection. Couture Planet handbags are made and manufactured in the United States, and are sold at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel gift shop or at http://www.mycoutureplanet.com.
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break the rules written by Becky White / photos by Hope Kaufman modeled by Olivia Moravec, Print Journalism 2013 clothing provided by LF Boston
We’ve all heard of so-called “Fashion Rules.” Prepare to forget them all. Fashion is about breaking boundaries, not sticking to a rulebook. Get creative with these seven (broken) fashion rules. Match your eye-
em magazine
You can wear white
20
after Labor Day. I’m not suggesting you pull out your linen sundress for a Christmas party— in fact linen should be put away. But as for those white items, keep them out and get creative. For example, try pairing white jeans with some leather riding boots and a blazer and scarf for a chic preppy winter look. Or wear them with a black turtleneck and ballet flats. If you’re hesitant, opt for winter-white, which is more creambased. Feel free to mix gold and silver. Many people still believe you have to stick to one metal or the other. This is fine, especially for more formal occasions, but mixing the two can totally transform your everyday look. If you do it, make sure your jewelry is the focal point of your outfit. Try a group of gold and sil-
ver necklaces or cluster rings of mixed sizes on one hand.
Open toed shoes are
okay in colder weather. Wear them with some thick knit tights in a rich, dark color like black, dark purple
or emerald. For an extra trendy twist, pair thinner tights and some tall slouchy socks in a contrasting color with peep-toe ankle boots. Throw on a skirt or dress and you’re ready to go.
shadow with your outfit. Okay, this one is admittedly pretty 80’s, but designer after designer showed 80’s inspired looks during recent runway shows. Don’t try it all the time—save this look for nighttime. If you’re more daring, go for crazier eyeshadow colors like pinks and yellows. If not, stick to hues of blue, green, and purple. Add some glitter if you want to go all out. You can wear multiple denim pieces in one outfit. Just not all the same shade! No one ever said a Canadian Tuxedo was stylish. Put a denim vest on over a plaid flannel with a dark wash of jeans. Black jeans also work great with jean vests or jackets (because they’re black, most people forget they’re denim anyway).
looks
Your hair doesn’t
winter 2009–2010
have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be perfectly straight, or curled or frizz-free. Find a style that works with your natural hair type and go with it. Curl crèmes or straightening balms are great— put them in your hair post-shower and air-dry overnight. This will not only shave time off your morning routine, but it’s healthier for your hair. Black and brown can go together. If you haven’t done this already, try it! The colors coordinate, not clash. Lighter shades of golden brown as well as darker chestnut tones go with black. Pair brown boots with black jeans, or belt a black dress with a brown belt. The effect is always stunningly stylish. However, stray from extremely dark shades or you’ll risk people thinking you thought they were the same color in the first place.
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feel the burn
the low-down on emerson’s fitness classes written by Michelle Gilbert
emerson hosts some wicked fitness classes. if you haven’t yet taken advantage of them yet, here’s a glimpse into four classes from the eyes of an average gym-goer. easy as pie fuggedaboutit difficulty:
spinning
circuit training
Spin classes can range from endurance workouts to speed intervals to muscle building with high resistance. Instructors like to change it up to keep your body guessing. A vigorous spin class can burn around 700 calories, but that comes with a lot of sweating! Be sure to bring your own water bottle and maybe even a towel.
I began at the bike, followed by eight pound shoulder lifts, ten pound bicep curls, dips, jump rope, squats, a modified pushup, and finally small rapid scissor kicks while on my back. Circuit training is only thirty minutes so it’s great when you’re short on time, and is not likely to get boring. If you don’t like a station, remember you’re only there for less than a minute. Also, each station can be made easier or more difficult to suit your fitness level.
Spinning is a great cardiovascular work out. It’s non-impact, which means that people with joint problems can still fully participate, and it gives runners’ knees a break. Another great part about spinning is that you can increase or decrease the resistance at your own preference, so if you need a breather just crank that baby down.
You get back what you put into it
kickboxing I’m not sure whether it’s the upbeat music, the high energy level or daydreaming you’re punching a bully/ assailant/ your ex in the face, but this class is fun. I’m not very choreographically inclined, however kickboxing most easily compares to a dance routine (that I can do). The instructor slowly demonstrates each punch, knee, side kick, and back kick before picking up the pace and putting it all together. Near the end of class, instructors usually pull out the yoga mats to focus on stretching, abs, and butts. My derriere has never been so sore. It’s not very difficult, but you will definitely feel the burn
Eight stations target each muscle in the body, 45 seconds per station, with 15-second breaks in-between. Now do it three times. This is circuit training; and while 45 seconds doesn’t seem like much, that’s all it takes for your muscles to scream, “What are you doing to me?!”
It’s difficult but doable
vinyasa yoga If you’ve ever thought yoga was too easy, slow paced, and far from exercise, then you have yet to discover Vinyasa Yoga. I too was a skeptic as I entered the class but I left sweating like a pig. Thats not supposed to happen in yoga, right? The class practiced Vinyasa or “breath-synchronized movements” while quickly shifting from lower push-up, to downward dog, to the bow pose, all while elongating our bodies and as the instructor put it “wringing out our inner organs from toxins and waste.” After forty-five minutes my untrained muscles were begging for the Savasana or “final relaxation period”. I’m surprised to say I left the class feeling more rejuvenated than after any nights-sleep this past semester.
etiquette
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gym
em magazine
There’s a balance between difficulty and rejuvenation wipe up your sweat, man: Wipe down your equipment with a towel (and sanitizer). practice good hygiene: Wear deodorant and wash clothes between sessions.
respect time limits: Switch to another machine if you need more time. do not hit on every hottie: That’s not what they came to the gym for.
put your weights away! leave your cell at home. locker room respect: Confidence: walking around a locker room naked. Respect: throwing a towel around yourself. - Michelle Gilbert
looks
pour homme four scents for the gentlemen written by Peter Cocchia
ler's g u yM r d by r e i pire s h n i ” T ogne grance is ought back “Cgolelr’s third friald soap hewbhren he wasenats
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winter 2009–2010
23
section title
model life
em magazine
written by Natalie Gergely / photos by Danni Scully
24
looks
W
ner,” she explains. “There were a lot of drugs involved. There was a lot of sleeping with people to get certain jobs, though I never had to come to that.” Jackie explains that modeling agencies had no problem with girls as young as 14 being drunk and high virtually all the time because they had more control over them that way. “They even made me change my name
myself, “that’s insane, you do look like that,” but before I could say anything she continued, “but I know I never will, because it’s fake. It’s all fake, they airbrush you to look like someone your not.” She confirmed this statement by showing me some of the pictures she had taken in her career spanning from Dolce & Gabbana ads to Victoria Secret ads. None of them looked much like her—in all of them she looked taller, thinner, and lacked the two small moles that she has on her face. “That’s the most important thing I want to tell girls who don’t think they’re ‘pretty enough’ is that it’s not real.” Jackie explains that she wanted to go back to school because she knew that she
in the beginning it was all fun and games from Jacquelin Voegtlin to Jacq Voeg. It’s like by signing a contract you sign over your identity.” In our interview I was shocked to hear Jackie say, “I still look at pictures of models sometimes and think, ‘God, I wish I looked like that.” I thought to
continued on the next page...
winter 2009–2010
hen Jacquelin Voegtlin walks into a room, heads turn. The blond-haired, blue-eyed bombshell stepped right off the runway and onto Emerson’s campus this year, leaving behind a six-figure income, a glamorous lifestyle of travel and luxury, and a potentially lucrative career. All of this begs the question: why would anyone do that? At sixteen, it was evident that Jackie had the body of a model. She began to do some local modeling near the beaches of Ocean City, New Jersey, close to the small farm town she called home. Jackie’s small-time agent saw her potential, and encouraged her to come to Los Angeles to compete in the International Model and Talent Associations annual search for the most talented model of the year (whose past winners include Katie Holmes and Jessica Biel). 18-year old Jackie came to LA and competed against 3,000 other competitors. Despite her “girl-next door” look, she ended up taking the title of female model of the year from the IMTA. This victory launched a career that, up until that point, seemed like a distant dream. After winning her title, she signed with Elite Model Management, and was sent to the Miami. It was there that she landed her first significant job doing print work for Abercrombie & Fitch. “It was the most competitive market I had gone to because everyone down there is the blue-eyed, blond-haired, all American girl,” she explains. She was later sent to Los Angeles and Tokyo, two markets that proved far more lucrative for her. “In the beginning, it was all fun and games…I was so wide-eyed going into it,” Jackie nostalgically remarks. “I couldn’t believe the life I had fallen into, but after two years I just couldn’t take it anymore.” A young and naïve Jackie entered a world free of responsibility where she could get drugs and alcohol whenever she wanted, party with the stars and make a six figure income doing it. By the second year of her modeling career, Jackie felt as if her life had been taken over by the modeling agency she signed herself to. At 5’8 she weighed 96 pounds, “and they wanted me to get thin-
25
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model life continued...
was capable of accomplishing greater things in her life. First and foremost, she wants to speak to young girls who are interested in getting into modeling and let them know a few things about the reality of the industry. At 22, she’s back in college and working on her dream of working in music management. Why music? “Music and my ipod were my saving grace when modeling began to take a dark turn. Without it I felt suffocated.” She’s majoring in WLP because she also wants to write as well. One of her major goals in life is to publish a memoir. Jackie feels fortunate for being able to acknowledge that she had other options in life beyond modeling. An old modeling friend recently called her—“all messed up”—high and hysterical, telling her how lucky Jackie is to be “free.” Her friend said she felt too stupid to be able to do anything else, even return to school. “That’s how most of them are—they don’t believe that they’re smart enough to do anything else,” Jackie explains. In the face of that reality, Jackie now lives an admirable life—working hard in school, and working for WERS as a music writer, knowing her worth and being in control of her own life at last.
10 ways to look like a model
em magazine
Straight from the mouths of modeling agents and professional make-up artists, Jacquelin Voegtlin shares some of the beauty tips she picked up in her modeling career. Here are her top ten tips to stay healthy and beautiful at twenty and beyond:
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1. A lot of water helps your skin look healthy and radiant. 2. Sleep is very important, make sure to get eight hours a night. 3. Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face every morning and night. 4. Take prenatal vitamins for your hair, skin, and nails. There are no side effects. “I’ve been taking them since I was seventeen, and they’ve been working.” 5. Avoid cigarettes. 6. Start using anti-wrinkle cream as soon as possible.
7. It’s definitely better to eat five or six small meals a day than eating your standard three. Control your sugar and carb intake. Eat lots of protein and veggies and avoid fried foods. 8. Drink coffee, tea and red wine through a straw, it keeps your teeth from changing color. 9. Don’t wear too much makeup. Less is more, but be appropriate to your mood and the occasion. 10. Victoria’s Secret model Karolina Kurkova swears by yoga. She says that the stretching lengthens your muscles and gives the illusion that you’re taller.
looks
runway recession
as designers face economic pressures, the runway ante is upped written by Joseph Hebert
R
winter 2009–2010
unway shows, from spring to fall and everything in between, These theatrics, the same ones that have slowly have notoriously been fraught with exciting and nail-biting begun to overshadow the actual point of shows, the moments. Designed as a vehicle to showcase upcoming lines, clothing, can be seen as far back as Autumn of 1998, runway shows are a mode of expression for each and every individual when flames appeared on the runway at Alexander designer. Clothes are styled and accessorized a certain way; models are McQueen. Designers have also featured performorganized to walk the catwalk in a specific fashion. All of the factors in ing artists as accompaniment to their showcases. In a show are planned in accordance with the message that the designer Spring of 2008, Prince performed at the Matthew intends to make about their collection. Williamson show. These performances are yet more This “message” has frequently lent itself to new and exciting fash- evidence of the further shift of fashion houses. A ion moments throughout hisshift that marks the House as less tory. Designers make names for “brand-centric” and decidedly themselves through the quality more “consumer-centric.” and creativity of their garments. A September 2009 Los Angeles And since runway shows are the Times article details how pressure most frequented vehicle to showfrom the recession and therefore, case these clothes, they often bepressure from consumers, are faccome almost theatrical in their ing Design Houses with the harsh productions. This idea has been reality of the changing times. propagated by John Galliano for Author Booth Moore explains Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld that the logic of runway shows and Alexander McQueen. Most are “being questioned by some recently, Chanel’s Spring 2009 of the top names in the business, Ready-To-Wear show featured who understand that shoppers a performance by Lily Allen. don’t want to wait six months beModels traipsed, hay underfoot, tween seeing designer clothes on around a Chanel barn and hay the runway and being able to buy bales, all blessed by Lagerfeld them in stores.” himself. McQueen’s Spring collecThe fashion world is going untion was filmed and shown live on der a determined change in scenthe Internet on a runway that was ery. One that no amount of tulle, outfitted with rolling cranes and sequins or feathers can prevent. cameras for this very purpose. Customers are becoming more A growing number of designand more restless and even more ers are beginning to focus on expectant of brands and departmaking their shows both more ment stores that “who keep the accessible, and entertaining. As customer in mind.” As an incredof the recession, designers in the ibly important factor of fashion, Fashion Industry have been slowrunway shows are very clearly ly bending to pressure from infeeling this shift as well. Many vestors and clientele. To get press designers are making the clothes and to achieve global recognition featured on the runway available as a “go-to” brand, designers and much more quickly, and they are their respective houses have been continuing their efforts to market reduced to making their showthemselves via the Internet. A vecases less about the clothing and hicle that can, and indeed does, more about the theatrics around “provide instant access to style the garments. and fashion advice.” Chanel’s fashion hoedown throwdown.
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you’d be mad to not try these fashions
MadMen
Fashion emersonian style
models
photos by Gaul Porat Tara Jacobsen / Communication Disorders / 2013 // Lane Brenner / Communications Studies / 2013 David Goldberg /Â WLP / 2012 // Parker Simon / Marketing Communications / 2013 hair & makeup by Karen Harris
add drama to your
whether you’re in the boardroom
wardrobe,
or the classroom
dress as if you’re in the corner office, even if you’re only working in a mailroom
looks
timeless trends
10 Must-Read Fashion & Beauty Blogs
written by Olivia Moravec
The boys scouts were right when they said “Always be prepared.” In this case, we’re talking fashion-wise. There are just some items that every girl should have in her closet. For starters: the trench coat. This classy but casual addition to your closet has been around since Thomas Burberry himself in the 1870s. Whether it’s one from H&M or Prada, you can’t go wrong with a traditional trench. Jeans with boots, your “going out” dress, or your casual leggings with a sweater are just three of the many options that your coat will compliment. Your closet should always be equipped with afterfive attire. The little black dress is obvious, but there are many alternatives as well. Eveningwear shows more skin, shows off your figure, and is simply more elegant than what you wear to your classes. Buy a
silky, low-cut top you can easily pair with dark jeans, or a ruffled tunic to wear over leggings.
The essential idea is that you always have something in your closet that makes you feel attractive when you go out. That is a trend that will never die. To top off your evening get-up, what better to add than jewelry? The perfect earrings or bracelet will add the finishing touch to your outfit. Audrey Hepburn’s
written by Samantha Lawsky
10 9 8 7 6 5
classic, high neckline black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany’s wouldn’t have been half as memorable without her pearl necklace and earrings, tiara or gloves. Mix more expensive items you’ll wear again
4
As far as shoes go, a well-made pair of black or brown boots is a wonderful investment, especially for the colder months. Styles have
3
and again with cheaper, trend pieces you can afford to get tired of. Jewelry has been used since before Cleopatra, so why forget about it now?
Be timeless.
2 1
In addition to an outstanding style archive, Maegan posts Hair-To’s and vintage-inspired DIYs. lovemaegan.com
Ballerina Flats: Shoes! Shoes! Shoes! A plethora of amazing finds for your feet on this cute and frequently updated blog. ballerinaflats.blogspot.com
Beauty in Real Life: Product suggestions and how-to’s in addition to great giveaways, from a blogger who proves that “beauty doesn’t have to cost a fortune”. beautyinreallife.blogspot.com
The Comm Ave Strut: A team of ambitious Boston-area students makes great use of the website springpadit.com, which allows the bloggers to not only document what they wore, but to tag and categorize the individual pieces for easy searches. thecommavestrut.com
What I Wore: As simple as it sounds. Jessica posts her outfits everyday and we can see the pieces she used in this online fashion diary. WhatIWore.tumblr.com Fashion Under $100: “Affordable style for everyday fashionistas”. Emulate the look of your favorite celebrity via this innovative site. fashionunder100.net
The Beauty File: Loads of stylish photos for total fashion inspiration. Make the “tutorials” section your new best friend—you’ll learn how to achieve a variety of looks in just a few easy steps! thebeautyfile.blogspot.com College Fashion: A fashion blog written by college students, for college students. The tips here are fantastic when it comes to great savings, but the fashion content can sometimes be a little cliché and cheesy. collegefashion.net
The Sartorialist: Ranked as one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Design Influencers, this site gives a sophisticated view of fashion, showcasing snapshots of stylish women and men from the streets of New York and around the world. thesartorialist.blogspot.com
CoCoPerez: “Where celebrity meets fashion” via the notorious gossip mogul, Perez Hilton. News on latest runway shows, celebrity fashion statements, and your favorite designers. cocoperez.com
winter 2009–2010
changed somewhat over time, but the general concept sticks around. Jeans, leggings, and dresses can all look trendy with the right pair of boots. Dress them down, or dress them up and they’ll still look chic. It’s also important to have a fitted blazer in your closet. Whether it’s casual or interview-appropriate, a blazer won’t let you down. This is why they’ve been rocking the fashion scene for so long. Throw one over a tank top and skinny jeans, or dress them up with a dressy blouse and wide-leg trousers. They’ll gain you fashion points on both campus and in the work world. Clothing items that make your wardrobe versatile are the items that stick around the longest in fashion. So don’t put a ticking clock on your fads.
Love Maegan
33
relationships
the first date
Emerson students sound off on their expectations written by Rachael Zerbato / photos by Danni Scully
A
moonlit stroll on the beach or a romantic dinner for two. Everyone has different expectations for a first date. Here’s what the majority of Emerson guys and girls are saying about their expectations.
guys say
girls say
where should you go? Keep it casual. Grab dinner or hang out at a friend’s apartment.
Go for a walk through the Common or out for a casual dinner.
You go to dinner. Who pays? The girl shouldn’t expect the guy to pay. She should offer to pay half.
We will at least offer to pay, but we expect him to say “no” to our offer and pay the bill himself.
What about drinking? Unless the date is going terribly, don’t get trashed.
Drink sparingly. If you are downing all the beer in his fridge, his male insecurities will make him think he’s just not cute enough.
what about a goodnight kiss? If you’re confident the date is going well, kiss her and secure that second date.
If you had a good time and you like him, kiss him. Nothing is mandatory, however.
who should call the next day? Guys might wait a day or two, but if we’re interested, we’ll call.
em magazine
A first date is whatever you make it, but either way, have fun and keep it casual. Now you have the second date to worry about!
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These tips will have you walking off into the sunset in no time.
We expect the guy to call. That’s his deal.
relationships
1950
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2010
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bye bye, lucille ball tossing out the rules to dating
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steady.” The girlfriend would parade around her boyfriend’s class ring, feeling secure because she “belonged” to him. Women didn’t ask for dates, nor initiate them. Guys wooed girls with flowers, sweet sentiments, and rides in their Cadillacs. Men paid for anything and everything, from a night at the drive-in to a sundae at the ice cream parlor, calling on a Monday to set up a date for Friday. Flash forward sixty years and women are introducing themselves to men at bars, making the initial phone call after a nerve wracking first date, going Dutch and dancing to songs by Beyonce that celebrate the “single lady” and “independent woman.” One-night stands are bragged about, and the amount of sex a woman has with her partner is discussed over lunch (thank you, Sex and the City). Throughout the decades, women went from learning how to be a good wife to how to land the company’s corner office with that beautiful view. Lucille Ball’s idealized life morphed into something unfamiliar, as women
entered the workforce in thousands, asserting themselves as powerful females in a male dominated world. So maybe chivalry isn’t dead, it’s just women too often feel the need to remind men, “Hey, I can do this on my own.” Although their status has changed, a woman’s expectations have not. Women still expect a guy to pay for their dinner and open their doors because that’s the gentleman-like thing to do. And men acquiesce because doing anything but is a blow to their ego. Paying for dates and taking care of their woman still makes them feel like they’re wearing the pants in the relationship. So, toss out the rule books for dating. In today’s day and age, anything goes. Waiting three days for a guy to call has been deemed unnecessary. As a female, if you want to call him, call him. And if a man wants to pull out your chair at dinner, say “thank you.” Part of having power is knowing when to use it. While I know I can open a car door for myself, I still live by my father’s rule. Not a gentleman? Next!
winter 2009–2010
y father ignored the incessant honks bellowing from our driveway. After several minutes of complaining, my sister acknowledged her efforts as futile and dragged her date from his red Honda Civic up to our front door. After shaking hands and giving him the once over, my father told my sister to have a good night, stay safe, and be home by eleven. When she left the house, my father strolled over, peered out the front window and nodded his head in approval. He said to me, “Honey, if a boy doesn’t open the car door for you on the first date, dump him.” Back when my father was born in the 1950s, people weren’t saying “chivalry is dead.” Instead, men were pulling out their sweetheart’s chair at a restaurant and wrapping their letterman jacket around her shoulders when she got cold. Words like “chick” and “babe” weren’t being tossed around, and families were much more conservative, ruling one-night stands almost entirely out of the question. Couples would say they’re “going
written by Lauren Landry
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section title
the walk of em magazine
Glory
36
Making the Walk of Shame Look Good written by Evan Sigel photos by William Tyner
Sulking and avoiding the gazes of others just makes you look more guilty. Having messy hair and a hickey doesn’t give you the right to be less polite, and by doing so, this will make you stick out more. If you’re expecting a wild night ladies, make sure you bring some extra goodies in your purse, such as cover-up, underwear, and even a pair of flip-flops so you’re
step 2: check yo’ self
Take the time to set the alarm on your cell phone before you go out. This will help prevent you not only from oversleeping, but will serve as a reminder to use your cellphone or a mirror to check your reflection and identify any potential problems, i.e. hickies, writing on your face, etc.
step 3: digital damage control
In the words of Asher Roth, “That party last night was awfully crazy / I wished we taped it.” Asher, are you crazy? Taped it? Have you not seen the kind of stuff that ends up on the Internet? You should be jumping for joy that no one taped it, which is the reason you should hold your head high on The Walk of Glory. No one was sober enough to push record (let alone pull focus). If you were caught on camera, however, do damage control. Tighten up your Facebook privacy settings and make sure friends don’t post any incriminating photos. Untagging yourself is not enough. Above all, don’t let people take photos or videos of you at your worst in the first place. So the next time you find yourself waking up across the Common in an apartment you didn’t intend to fall asleep in, don’t panic. Whip out your sunglasses, apply some coverup, and wash that lipstick off your cheeks. Then, collect your things, count to ten, and begin your Walk of Glory.
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step 1: think ahead
not tripping over your 4 inch heels. Gentlemen, a murse (or man purse) is out of the question, but stashing some deodorant and a baseball cap in your coat isn’t.
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hile waiting in line at Starbucks for my double shot espresso, I noticed everyone was staring at me. Normally, I’d take offense, but if I saw a guy with writing on his forehead wearing a stained, white dinner jacket, squinting through his Wayfarers and massaging a hickey the size of a football on his neck, I’d stare too. The Walk of Shame is a rite of passage that can be traumatic. For starters, calling it a “walk” is far too generous; “The Slow-Stagger-Trying-Not-To-Throw-Up-Again-Crawl-ofShame” would be a much more accurate description. But even then, why the shame? Why do we hide our blood shot eyes behind oversized sunglasses or our hickeys under strategicallyplaced scarves? Should we be embarrassed that we’re wearing clothes from someone of the opposite sex because we couldn’t find ours in a sea of sheets? Of course not! Especially if it was worth it. From here on out, I propose—no, I demand—that The Walk of Shame be no more. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to The Walk of Glory and how it’s accomplished. It’s the spin you need to turn disaster into success.
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9:00 pm 9:00 am
winter 2009–2010
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relationships
f.u.c.r.
Fornication Under Consent of the Roommate written by Evan Sigel / photo by Gaul Porat
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ou’ve sealed the deal, you’ve signed her in, and now you’re itching to put that tie on the doorknob. When you turn the handle and step into your love shack, instead of finding the dim glow of the Christmas lights you hung over your bed, you discover your roommate and his two friends blasting away Nazi Zombies while playing Call of Duty. Or perhaps: you’ve sealed the deal, you’ve signed them in, and now you’re itching to pop in that metallic disc and blast away some Nazi Zombies. Instead of finding the low hum of the surround sound system you rigged up, you discover a tie on the doorknob and a few other noises that may sound like Zombies but are something entirely different. Either way, someone’s getting let down. Living with someone presents a number of challenges. Sexiling (the act of kicking out or exiling a roommate for the purpose of having some privacy to do unmentionable things) has existed since the invention of the roommate. The easy answer to this issue is communication; however, actually discussing sexiling etiquette with your roommate can be tricky. In many cases, only one roommate is sexually active, which is not a big self-esteem boost for the one who isn’t. “Hey roommate, listen! I’ve almost beaten Halo 3 on Leg-
endary for the second time, and I really could use the room Friday night” does not sound as convincing as, “Hey, the gorgeous girl who sits behind me in class is coming over.” But here’s a simple trick: don’t make it about sex, make it about time. The division of time, regardless of the reason, is key. It doesn’t matter if you want to get your freak on, paint your toenails, or bust out Dungeons and Dragons: the room is all yours. Simply decide ahead of time when each of you gets some privacy. Perhaps one person gets Fridays and another gets Saturdays. If that system doesn’t work, just be courteous enough to shoot your roommate a text asking ahead of time. Give them a chance to grab some stuff if they need it. By doing so, they’ll be a lot more receptive to say yes, especially because they’ll probably need the same favor from you eventually. For students who are in relationships: at some point your sweetheart will be spending a weekend or two here. You and your roommate should enforce the rule “three nights max and three weeks notice.” Don’t just tell your roommate that your boyfriend or girlfriend is coming to visit: ask. Give your roommate time to find another place to crash for a few nights, and make sure that during the day he or she will have enough time to complete their work.
How do you deal with co-habitation? “We worked out a system – now it’s not an issue.”
em magazine
Gabrielle Rodriguez, Class of 2012
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“Not only are you not getting in, but you’re not getting any either!” Gina Marie, Class of 2012
“As long as I’m not there … go for it!” Ece Dincer, Class of 2012
“If they want to knockboots, that’s fine, so long as they give me time to leave! Irena Zofchak, Class of 2012
“Communication really is key in all aspects. You know, ‘harder, faster, having-sexdon’t-come-in-now.’” Claude Zeins, Class of 2012
“Courtesy is key.” Alfredo Gil, Class of 2012
turn-ons & turn-offs
relationships
like a light switch written by Bryan Chabrow / photos by Valentijn van der Sloot
although everyone has their own unique taste when it comes to dating, there are certain characteristics a majority of people crave or disdain when meeting someone for the first time. within thirty seconds, you can either turn someone on or off, so keep these tips in mind the next time you’re on the prowl.
turn-ons
winter 2009–2010
Sense of Humor A known stress reducer, laughter is the quickest way to a person’s heart. An Intoxicating Fragrance Because smell is one of our strongest senses, an inviting perfume or cologne can leave someone thinking about you for the entire day. Confidence If you love who you are, others will want to love you as well. Nice Smile With a nice smile, people will do anything to see those glistening, pearly whites. Flattering Outfit The better you dress, the more likely someone will want to see you undressed. Independence No one dreams of dating a charity case. Self-sufficiency is a sign of maturity and strength. Nothing is sexier.
turn-offs
Bad Personal Hygiene Crumpled clothes were never in style, and deodorant was invented for a reason. Negativity Pessimism isn’t endearing. Regardless of how good you look, a bad attitude is a turn-off. Pathetic Pick-Up Lines Prince Charming never said, “Hey Cinderella, did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” All you need is a simple “hello.” Ignorance Ignorance isn’t bliss, and it won’t get you a date. No Ambition A lack of drive can drive anybody away. No one wants to date a slacker who spends his or her days eating Cheerios on their parents’ couch. Superficiality While a physical connection is important, it’s the mental connection that will keep your relationship afloat. A person needs to feel loved for both their looks and their charm.
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relationships
making business more personal the pros and cons of dating in the workplace written by Lauren Landry / photo by Danni Scully
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fter two days of working in retail, and after a long, eight hour shift, seeing daily, and it’s easier to spend time toyou realize how redundant your the face of a familiar love was nothing if gether. “It becomes apparent very quickly job is. So imagine my boredom not comforting. if two people are not meant to be,” said after five years of slinging denim, tuckRomance in the workplace, however, Nicole Spirito, class of 2011. “Essentially ing tees, and swallowing the wrath of can get sour fast, as the cons begin to because so much time is spent together, angry customers. My only solace came hold their own next to the glimmering both inside work and outside.” in the form of a curly haired, brown positives. So should you or shouldn’t The large amount of time you spend eyed, six foot male who just so happened you have that coworker on speed dial? together can either make or break a relato be my coworker. “It is a big risk you take when you tionship. If a breakup does occur though, We started off as friends. When I need- commit to dating a coworker,” said Jeff you need to hide your hurt. Libby Erlbaumed to borrow an X-Acto knife, he’d reach Beam, class of 2010. “If your relation- Rumelt, class of 2010, described a relationinto his back pocket and hand me his own. ship ends, it makes working conditions ship she once had with a coworker. When After a few shared casual their innocent office flirtation there was just something lunches in the store’s caturned into a sexual relationnary yellow break room, ship, she realized the sex, and about the way the store s we swapped myspace his personality, were so bad names and soon began fluorescent lighting bounced that she stopped talking to to talk outside of work. him at work for two months, off his almond locks Quickly, we discovered creating many awkward situhow much we had in comations for herself. “Ultimately mon besides just our place of employment, uncomfortable and could make fellow I had to smooth things over because it was such as our love for Bill Cosby, the Boston coworkers uncomfortable.” nearly impossible for me not to interact Celtics, and anything sung by James Taylor. By dating in the workplace, you with him on the job,” she said. One date led to two, and the next thing I could become the subject of gossip. “You Many companies create policies reknew we were in a relationship. have to know yourself,” said Vanessa stricting interoffice dating to avoid these There was just something about Williams, class of 2010. “If you know sticky situations. While these relationthe way the store’s fluorescent lighting that you can’t keep your emotions and ships can work and be beneficial, you bounced off his almond locks. We’d steal relationship drama private, [workplace] need to keep your private life private. glances at each other in the warehouse dating is not for you.” “The rule is that if you have a sexual or and share secretive smirks, telling only When you spend 20 or more hours romantic relationship, keep it profesthe people we truly trusted of our “illic- of your week at work, dating a fellow em- sional at work,” Williams said. “You’re at it” affair. The relationship made coming ployee becomes a matter of convenience. work to work. If you get some ass in the to work pleasurable, rather than painful, You’re guaranteed to see your partner process, well that’s just a bonus.”
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em magazine
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date my parents How to deal when your parents start dating again written by Elissa Garza / photo courtesy of justjared.buzznet.com
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ntil just a few years ago, on any given evening, my single mother could be found on our blue leather couch with a large bowl of homemade popcorn cozying up to Lifetime Network’s made-for-television dramas. In your earlier years, parental dating endeavors were shielded by young innocence, but as that innocence fades, new (and often unexpected) emotions appear. Feelings of neglect, resentment, and rebellion are common when a divorced or widowed parents start to play the field again. “My sister and I refused to meet my mom’s new boyfriend for almost a year and would do just about anything we could think of to sabotage the relationship,” said Leeanne Smith, Class of 2011. “We would be huge brats and would scream stuff at my mom’s boyfriend like, ‘You’ll never be our father.’ I even remember deleting some emails he had sent my mom.” Acting out towards your parent or their new partner is not uncommon, nor is feeling ostracized. “I’m [my dad’s] little girl and to have another woman around, and to have him choose someone else kind of upset me,” said Sydney Kirsten, Class of 2013. “I find myself very similar to my mom and thought, ‘maybe he doesn’t like me either?’” Withholding these concerns can often further the distance and strain of your relationship with your parent. “Make sure you spend one-on-one time with your parent,”
said Karen Estrella, Licensed Mental Health Counselor at the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy. “Make sure you’re not losing track of them or feeling like you’ve lost them to their new partners.” Making the effort to connect with your parent can open up new forms of communication. “When my mom started dating it was exciting because I was at the age where I was dating too,” Kirsten said. “We were dating at the same time, so I’d help her get ready for her dates, and she’d help me get ready for mine.” In addition to creating new lines of communication, reaching out to a parent can positively alter and foster a new type of relationship. “It’s an opportunity to get close to my parents on an individual level instead of a parent-to-kid level,” Kirsten said. “I’ve definitely gotten to know my parents a lot more and have a better and deeper relationship with them than before.” Animosity and tension between divorced parents can often deter you from forming a relationship with your parent’s new partner. It’s important to disregard these types of interactions in attempts to make a clear judgment. “My mom basically discouraged any relationship with my step mom, but a few years ago I decided to make an effort to be her friend, and it’s worked out well,” Smith said. “Now I’m super close with my step mom, and I think that’s just a result of me finally giving her a chance.” It’s necessary to avoid rushing into or forcing a new relationship. Matters of the heart take a quite a bit of effort and a significant amount of time to mend. “It took a good two years for me to be there and not be pissed off because I didn’t want to be a part of any of it,” Kirsten said. Above all, remember to take a step back and remove yourself from the situation; your parents’ happiness should always be a priority. “It took a long time for my sister and I to warm up to my mom’s boyfriend, like five or six years,” Smith said. “I still don’t feel really close to him, but I know he loves my mom, and I feel like he has a good heart, so I’ve learned trust him.”
relationships
this is totally normal, right?
5 things to keep in mind when meeting your S.O.’s parents conservative? Chatty or lowkey? By understanding their background, you can set up boundaries for what is or isn’t appropriate. 2. Use common etiquette. You wouldn’t show up to an interview late, so don’t be late when meeting the parents. Also, wear appropriate attire. Be sure that your clothes are wrinkle-free, stain-free, and don’t smell like last night’s bar outing. 3. Never show up empty-
handed, especially if you’re visiting their home. Make sure the gift is simple but thoughtful. Perhaps the mother’s favorite bottle of red wine, a box of chocolate, an unusual candle, or a small plant. Just find out beforehand if they’re allergic to anything, and if it is illegal for you to buy alcohol, don’t. 4. Once the conversations start rolling, be aware of what you’re saying. One slip of the tongue and you could be
walking home dateless. Save politics and religion for your next encounter...or never. 5. Know your limits. If alcohol is involved, drink sparingly. While a glass of wine or a bottle of beer can help take the edge off, too much will leave you passed out on the couch with a trashcan next to your head. If your stomach doesn’t agree with Mexican, speak up. Rushing out of dinner for Imodium is no way to say your goodbyes.
written by Krista Mastroianni
winter 2009–2010
Nobody wants to face a father with a rifle, or a mother bubbling over with questions about family fertility history. Treat the first encounter as an interview. Cater to your audience without being fake, be aware of whose house you’re walking into, and be prepared for the unexpected. One visit is all it takes to win them over forever. 1. Ask your BF or GF how their parents act. Are they jokesters or are they more
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relationships
the biology of jealousy what to do when the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head written by Courtney Preiss / photo from istockphoto.com
Jealousy:
it is one of the uglier emotions that we feel, and as much as we would like to avoid it, we’re all susceptible to its miserable ways. When we are subjected to jealousy, our minds tend to wander into dark territory. We torture ourselves with questions — Is he losing interest in me? Is she sleeping with someone else? — we jump to conclusions, and yet, we rarely reach solutions.
what is jealousy?
Jealousy is experienced when we feel an outside force threatening an intimate relationship. Seen most commonly in romantic relationships, otherwise levelheaded men and women watch as their inner possessive demons emerge in the face of a threat. Jealousy leads to varying degrees of emotional distress, which can often reach overwhelming proportions.
em magazine
the biology of jealousy
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to become jealous because she fears that he’s giving attention, affection, and emotional investment elsewhere. If the female partner is spending time with another male, her partner will become jealous but in the sense that he fears she’ll end up sleeping with the other man. “Men are very sensitive to sexual betrayal,” McBride said. “I think that’s why women are sometimes more able to forgive and overcome infidelity in a partner, and men have more difficulty because they feel vulnerable in that way.” This evolutionary behavior perhaps sheds some light onto modern day gender roles and stereotyping. “There are these social expectations that women should not be promiscuous,” McBride said. “That comes from women having to conform to being more well-behaved in relationships because men feel such jealousy when sex is involved.”
At the heart of jealousy lies this simple fact: as humans, we have been biologically wired to feel this base emotion, and it can even kick in for reasons that we remain unconscious to. Dr. Eileen McBride, Ph.D., a Communication Sciences professor at Emerson, explains that evolution and the theory of parental investment play a large role in dictating how we experience jealousy. “Men and women are going to experience jealousy differently because they are under different evolucoping with jealousy tionary pressures,” McBride Comprehending the evolusaid. “Biologically, women tionary history and biological are looking for long-term renecessity for jealousy facililationships, as they are wired Hey! I thought you said she was just your study buddy?! tates a better understanding to seek out someone who between partners who are will look out for them and their offspring. They feel more be- experiencing it. If you’re in a relationship plagued by jealousy, trayed and more nervous when they see the man’s attention it is important to communicate and talk about the way you going elsewhere.” both feel. If your partner comes to you with feelings of jealouIn addition to a woman’s evolutionary need for attention sy, don’t deny them these feelings. Validate them and listen to and emotional support, a man’s propensity for competition what they have to say. Talking about the situation will lead to a and aggressiveness also arises from a primitive biological need. reassurance that both parties are still involved and engaged in “Even if it’s unconscious, men are made with this greater sense the relationship, which will then lead to understanding. of core competition that women do not feel,” McBride said. Remember to follow your instincts though. Understand Typically, women respond more to emotional threats, while where this jealousy is coming from and if it is warranted. Dr. the focus of male jealousy revolves around sexual threats. If a McBride stresses the importance of each partner being honmale is spending time with another female, his partner is likely est with themselves. “There are phases in relationships where continued on the next page
people are losing interest but have not yet decided to leave the relationship,” she said. “They may be betraying the other person a little and paying attention to other people, but they might even be denying that to themselves. In this case, the jealous partner’s feelings have a definite source.” In this situation, you need to start asking yourself where the jealousy stems from and how committed you are to your relationship. You need to be able to talk to your partner about where you both stand. Remember that conflict is good because it brings issues to the surface and initiates conversations that need to take place. From within a relationship, it is okay to maintain friendships with the opposite sex as long as you are not welcoming outside influences that are undermining the relationship. This will undoubtedly give the other partner a reason to be jealous. As an outsider, remember to be fair to others in relationships. If the relationship is a committed one, recognize the two as a couple and respect their commitment. Finally, think about the upside of jealousy. “Jealousy is a strong emotion, and strong emotions are always fun,” McBride said. “Jealousy is normal, it’s about fear of loss. It isn’t always bad when a partner expresses jealousy as long as it’s not destructive. You want to be with someone who should be concerned about losing you, but it’s essential to maintain that important balance.”
cyberspace jealousy fear and jealousy in the world of facebook
relationships
biology of jealousy continued
social networking sites have opened up an entirely new realm of jealousy in romantic relationships. little is left to mystery when hook-ups and break-ups are broadcast on a public forum. so in the world of facebook, relationships, and “facebook relationships,” what exactly is overstepping boundaries?
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Don’t exchange passwords with your significant other. While it may seem romantic that the two of you can share everything, romance is lost after a breakup when you can hack into your ex’s page. Having your boyfriend or girlfriend’s password also means you’re free to read their inbox, and emails can be easily misconstrued. Seeing any private messages from the opposite sex will spark jealousy, and you could hastily jump to conclusions. What you may perceive as flirty could just be an old friend saying hello. If you have a desire to snoop, take a step back. There are larger trust issues you need to acknowledge.
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When it’s all in good fun, Facebook stalking your boyfriend or girlfriend is fine. However, if your secret stalking tendencies result in jealousy or accusations, cease and desist.
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Don’t request, or end, a relationship on Facebook without prior discussion. Asking someone to enter or leave a committed relationship via the Internet is not socially acceptable. Facebook is not the real world, but your relationship is. Hopefully.
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Don’t stress about relationship statuses. If both parties are into publicly displaying their love, fantastic. However, some people would rather avoid public eye, and once a relationship ends, the world won’t see it on their news feed, nor will anyone need to answer the “Aw, what happened?” question. –written by Courtney Preiss / photo by Valentijn van der Sloot
what does taking a break in a relationship mean to you?
priscilla patterson / marketing / 2012
mike nourie / marketing / 2011
“I feel like when a girl wants to go on a break it’s because her friends want to hook her up with guys they know. But when a guy wants to go on a break it’s because he wants to have sex with other girls.” ernesto bustillos / political communication / 2013
lauren thompson / radio / 2012
“I think the term ‘taking a break’ is just a way for couples to have their cake and eat it too. It just means that you want to keep the waters clear for all those other fish in the sea, but still have the ability to dive back into a relationship if nothing else works out.” casey regan / film / 2012
collected by bryan chabrow
winter 2009–2010
“A break is really just the relationship definition of insanity. You’re doing the same thing again, but for some reason you’re expecting to have different results in the end.”
“No sex and more sexual frustration.”
etiquette
matt deFaveri / wlp / 2010
“In my mind it means you’re ‘single,’ but if you did hook up with someone it would come to bite you in the ass.”
Q&A
“Taking your mind off of each other and taking your clothes off with other people.”
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relationships
is right now the right time? talking to your parents about sex
written by Krista Mastroianni / photo by Valentijn van der Sloot
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isgust was written all over my mother’s face. After being away on a camping trip with my father for three days, I thought my mother would be excited to see me. Instead, she held up my diary and scorned me, threatening to tell my father the secrets I had spilled on every page. Once she calmed down (and I calmed down about her invading my privacy), we had the mature mother-daughter sex talk I had always wanted, or even more so needed. She made me realize I was not mentally prepared to handle a sexual relationship, and at that moment, I realized maybe if I had approached her, I would have thought twice about my actions. Sex is a familiar subject among college students, but it may still be touchy when involving your parents. Although you’re now independent, your parents still care about what you’re doing. If you’re ready to have sex, or if you already have and feel like you need more education, your parents could be a hidden vault of information. 1. If you’re already having sex and feel like your parents aren’t approachable, don’t make my mistake and leave behind evidence. Your sex life should not be discussed over Facebook, Twitter, or through text messages. Try speaking to a school counselor or fellow parent. While friends may be great to vent to, sex advice is best given from an educated adult. If you own a journal, be cautious where you leave it. Parents are nosey by nature. 2. Research the topic before initiating conversation. You don’t want your mother breaking out a cucumber for show-and-tell because you admitted you don’t know how to put on a condom. Come up with questions about protection and the health risks of sex before the discussion begins. 3. Consider past conversations with your parents to determine if the issue is approachable. If you live with both of your parents, talk to them separately to avoid
a tag-team scenario that may not work in your favor. Try taking a walk with your mother or father in a private setting to allow for some one-on-one time in neutral territory. 4. Let them know the conversation is as awkward for you as it is for them. By starting the discussion with something like, “I’m thinking about having sex,” rather than declaring you are, you will elicit a more positive response from your parents. 5. Be prepared to argue your case. Your parents may not agree initially, but being able to justify why you’re ready to have sex shows you’ve put thought into the situation. Don’t get upset if you don’t receive the response you wanted; just let them know their advice is valuable and listen to their side. 6. Use health centers and places such as Planned Parenthood as resources for information on sex. Planned Parenthood’s website (www.plannedparenthood.org) offers information about birth control, provides sex tips, and gives relationship advice. Setting up an appointment with a member can also help you determine whether or not sex is something you’re ready for.
Protect Yourself
em magazine
Two-thirds of people with an STD contract the disease before age 25, making it vital for college students to practice safe sex.
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☞Birth control does not solve everything. Use a condom to ensure full protection against unwanted pregnancies and STDs. ☞Always use condoms. Latex brands are recommended for anal and vaginal intercourse. Lambskin brands do not protect against HIV. ☞Lubrication can make the process smoother. However, make sure it is water based because oil lubricants can break the condom. ☞Be smart when alcohol is involved. Go out with your friends so you can keep an eye on each other and never leave your drink unattended. ☞Use condoms when perform-
ing oral sex. Flavored condoms are available to make the experience more enjoyable. By not using a condom, you put yourself at risk for Herpes and other STDs. ☞Spermicides increase the risk of spreading HIV. ☞It is recommended you not give oral if you have just flossed or visited the dentist because both can cause cuts to the mouth, increasing the risk for HIV. Women especially should visit their doctor for routine checkups. One out of every four women are carrying an STD, so staying on top of gynecologist appointments is crucial to maintaining better health.
All information, along with further information, can be found at www.positive.org, www.plannedparenthood.org, or www.hasslefreeclinic.org.
features
It's not easy eating green earth emerson educates about the benefits of eating green written by Michelle Golden / photo from istockphoto.com
winter 2009–2010
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features em magazine
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merson College’s environmental club does more than just encourage active recycling. Though recycling paper and cans is an effort towards a healthier planet, Earth Emerson promotes living a greener life in terms of all aspects of the Earth as it relates back to the Emerson community. Living in greener buildings, bringing local food to campus, and teaching students to appreciate the Boston Commons are just a few ways that Earth Emerson encourages green activism. However, the greatest concerns of today’s younger generation are those that come with the negative effects of the meat industry. More and more students, in addition to the members of Earth Emerson, are engaging in this new awareness of the economical and environmental effects of consuming the meat on their plates, while being more accepting of the lifestyle that comes with a greener diet. This October, Earth Emerson had a screening of Food Inc., the new documentary narrated by Eric Schlosser. “It talked about the big meat corporations and what goes on in factory farms. It examined how all of our food is genetically modified and how because of the big meat corporations diseases like E.Coli and Mad Cow Disease are getting into our food,” said Marketing Communications student and Earth Emerson CoPresident Jill Tedeschi, Class of 2011. In addition to the screening of the documentary, Earth Emerson hosts a vegetarian food festival each year, this year transforming it into solely vegan. “A lot of people are vegan at Emerson, and it’s difficult to have great food that supports vegetarianism without hurting the vegans, and veganism is the more ethical choice than vegetarianism. It’s more environmentally friendly,” says Tedeschi. Although groups such as Earth Emerson and sustainable earth-friendly students are making a conscientious movement towards veganism, the necessary foods are not always that readily available on campus, making it difficult to maintain such a lifestyle. In the past, Earth Emerson has tried to work with Aramark, the company that provides food for Emerson’s dining services, to see if the foods in the dining halls are local and which ones are organic. The problem many vegans and vegetarians on campus face is the lack of labels in the dining halls, something that Aramark has previously done on other college campuses. The President of Emerson’s Healthy Options Peer Educators, Catie Colliton, thinks that the way Aramark prepares food is unhealthy. “Coming from the perspective of a vegetarian, it was very hard to find vegetables that were cooked well when I lived on campus. Usually everything is cooked to death and that’s how vegetables lose their nutrients. You should really just eat vegetables raw- that would be the healthy way of eating them,” says Colliton. “All [Aramark’s] fruit is genetically modified so it doesn’t even taste like real fruit, which makes you not want to eat it. The apples- you can hold them in a small hand- that’s not how apples are supposed to be. Apples are supposed to be really big and their bananas are always funny tasting. You can taste the difference, so I always get my fruit at Farmer’s Market. It wasn’t even worth taking fruit from the dining hall for later,” says Colliton. With today’s “Go-Green society,” students are becoming
more aware of the environmental issues their actions have on the planet they live on. Limited dining hall options are not keeping students from staying vegan or vegetarian. Students who struggle to maintain a vegetarian or vegan diet on campus buy their own food. Dana Demetrio, 21, a graduate of the University of Vermont and a volunteer for the Boston Vegan Association, says a lot of young people today know more about what happens to animals and understand “they have the choice to be vegan.” Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal’s protection organization located in Watkins Glen, upstate New York, rescues and rehabilitates farm animals that would be sent to slaughter. In addition to caring for 1,000 farm animals during any given time, Farm Sanctuary has been advocating and campaigning on behalf of the farm animals at a national level through pro-animal legislation and public awareness programs since 1986. Farm Sanctuary Campaigns Manager Jasmin Singer, based in New York City, takes part in a lot of activism in New York. “Here in New York City we have the biggest vegan community in the country, and in many ways from a social perspective, it’s like it’s own city being a vegan and an animal rights activist. It’s like being a part of a real cool person’s club,” says Singer. The increase in vegans, according to Singer, has made it more socially acceptable to be a vegan or a vegetarian and less alienating even as far back as the mid ‘90s when she was in college. “Many more people are starting to make the connection between the food we eat and the animals that their food used to be. When they look into the food production process, they are unhappily surprised. They realize that what and whom they consume is not necessarily in line with their ethical and moral beliefs,” says Singer, “so the natural tendency at that point is to be vegan. I think being vegan opens up people’s eyes of suffering for any group of people. The increase in vegans makes for a more conscientious society.” After being a vegetarian for twelve years, Singer transcended to veganism and has kept to it for the past seven years. “I thought meat was icky, and I think that’s why a lot of people go vegetarian — they just can’t think of the idea of eating flesh,” Singer reminisced. At that point it was not an ethical or political viewpoint that convinced Singer to resort to veggies. She was just simply grossed out by eating meat. “When I was twenty-three or twenty-four I saw footage of animal production, and I couldn’t believe how much cruelty was involved in the egg and dairy industries. I think, to me, the worst of the worst is the egg and dairy industry, and that’s why I went vegan. I had a friend who was vegan, which was really helpful when I decided to do so as well.” That kind of mentoring would be beneficial and helpful to students looking to switch to a different healthy and moral lifestyle. By helping others who want to help the underdogs, as Singer refers to the farm animals, students are speaking out for so many oppressed groups in today’s society. “I think that there are a lot more vegans and vegetarians here. I don’t know if it’s because it’s the liberal hippie atmosphere that just goes along with all the vegetarians and vegans.
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I would say a little less than half of my friends are vegetarians,” says Colliton. “People are interested in vegetarianism even if they’re not vegetarian. I think it’s socially applauded. It is really weird that the dining hall, Emerson’s, and the dining hall in Piano Row aren’t trying to get vegans or vegetarians to eat there. They don’t actually offer any vegan replacements like vegan yogurt and vegan cheese. They don’t have that.” Singer says veganism will continue to grow because if it doesn’t society will be in a much more detrimental position. “Young people are really holding it in their hands. It’s really up to college students to become aware of this so as you go on to influence society or if you choose to have a family, you’re doing so with your eyes open,” says Singer. “Eating animals is a completely unsustainable way of living. It affects human rights, world hunger, world poverty, human health, the environment, and of course it affects animal rights. We live in a time where it’s easy to go vegan. We have resources literally at our fingertips. I’m sure that as the media continues to follow stories about E-Coli and Swine Flu and about obesity and other diseases continuing to rise and about animals continuing to suffer more and more, people will open their hearts and minds in going vegan.” Tedeschi strongly believes that students at Emerson will put more thought into what they eat than other college campuses just simply because they are identified as being creative thinkers. She says adults are more set in their ways and are not as likely as young students to change, but that it doesn’t necessarily mean they are not completely receptive to change. According to Eric Prescott, the Director and Co-founder of the Boston Vegan Association, younger people are more aware that animals want to live and feel. Prescott says, “The interesting
part and a big part of it is that I don’t think young people are incredibly worried about their health so it’s nice that there’s concern about the animals. I like seeing kids who are out there doing the right thing. Young people seem to get it more easily compared to our older generations.” In Singer’s experience, politically outspoken students are much more aware of the animal rights and environmental issues than a few years ago. “I think that Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth in 2007 left out the true inconvenient truth that livestock production is responsible for most of the greenhouse gases emitted that directly contributes to global warming. It left out that huge piece of information and that was in 2007. Even since then it has been popping out all over the place. People are finally talking about it. You’re having books coming out talking about the fact that our planet cannot survive if we continue to eat animals.” David Havelick, a twenty-year old volunteer for the Boston Vegetarian Society and an Executive Assistant in the Epidemiology Department at the Harvard School of Public Health says that if the goal is to be healthy, students will resort to vegetarianism, and if the goal is to protect animal rights and become aware of political and economic issues, the student will turn towards the vegan way of living. “I feel like I have a different relationship with my food. The more people talk about the food they’re eating, the more they understand how their actions are affecting the world around us. Food isn’t everything, but it is a lot. The more that people are talking about it and the more restaurants preparing their menus differently, the more people will able to become healthy and live a healthier life,” said Havelick. “I think colleges are becoming the place now to have these discussions. And maybe I’m wrong, but I think now people are realizing they can make their own lives even better. They’re realizing they can stand up. I think now it’s just going to get better. Once we can see ourselves from the outside we can continue to make better choices.” As a student with an appetite, you know that you do have a choice. Although on the rise, vegetarianism and veganism may not be the right decision for everyone. But if you do decide to change your diet, take the time to do it right. Look at labels for the right nutrients because protecting your body is important too. “We’re part of that wave…the younger generations… we are the ones stimulating these discussions,” says Havelick, “Not like those old white haired guys in Washington D.C. They don’t talk about what they’re eating. They just talk about making French Fries into Freedom Fries. That’s the extent they talk about food, I think. They don’t talk about how it is affecting the world.”
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I think that Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth in 2007 left out the true inconvenient truth that livestock production is responsible for most of the greenhouse gases emitted that directly contributes to global warming.
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majestic fashion photos by zac wolf
Thank you to the Emerson Costume Shop and LF Boston for providing the clothing for this photo shoot!
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left to right: Rachel Jespersen, WLP 2013; Jacquelin Voegtlin, WLP 2011; Anna Finnerty, BFA Acting 2012; Jonalyn Trisolin, Marketing Communications 2013
winter 2009–2010
left to right: Hannah Stolach, Marketing Communications 2013; Jacquelin Voegtlin; Charvelle Holder, Broadcast Journalism 2013
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like a virgin
written by Michelle King / photo by Hope Kauffman model Julie Hubbard, Marketing Communications 2012
began in the early 1980s, centers on the notion that sexual freedom is a key part of women’s freedom. In 2009, sex positive feminism has grown to include cardio striptease classes and Playboy bunny necklaces. Sex positive feminists argue that sex empowers women. Gayle Rubin, a feminist author, spoke in 1984 about the conflict over sex empowering women. “There have been two strains of feminist thought on the subject,” says Rubin. “One tendency has criticized the restrictions on women’s sexual behavior and denounced the high costs imposed on women for being sexually active...This tradition of feminist sexual thought has called for a sexual liberation that would work for women as well as for men. The second tendency has considered sexual liberalization to be inherently a mere extension of male privilege. This tradition resonates with conservative, antisexual discourse.” The question begs to be asked: can sex be empowering? Or, rather, does sex change a woman and her relationships? Christine Allen, a Writing, Literature, and Publishing major, Class of 2012, was raised Catholic conservative and planned on staying a virgin until marriage. However, after a two year relationship based upon a mutual understanding and respect for one another, Allen began to think differently, and after a deciding process that took about four months, Allen decided to engage in premarital sex with her boyfriend. “Sex is a spirtual thing. The Bible says no sex before marriage. What is God going to say? Is He going to be mad? Is He going to accept it?” she says. “But, it didn’t really change anything,” she says. “If anything, I felt closer to Him.” Both Allen and Barkhordari admit to the social pressures regarding sex and both adamantly disagree with this idea. “Sex being a social pressure is one of the most depressing things in today’s society,” says Barkhordari. Perhaps the issue is not what you do, but why you do it. There is a difference between “sex” as an amusing abstraction and “sex” as genuine love. There is a difference between “virginity” as a conscious choice that one is proud of and “virginity” as something you feel forced into. Both Allen and Barkhordari describe their choices as being made for themselves, not for society or the gleaming, but superficial prospect, of being the most desired female in school. Both, in turn, feel empowered and in control because of those decisions. “Sex is not a game,” says Allen. “Whether I’m having it or not, I’m not going to play any games with it or my life.”
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hey are impossible to avoid. They are on every television channel, in every magazine, and splattered across every billboard. You know you’ve seen them: messages for twenty-something-year-olds concerning “safe sex”, unexpected pregnancies, and the risk of STDs. The focus is predominantly on those who have made the choice to explore their sexuality during the college years. And why not? After all, sex has become a common, if not accepted, part of college life. Movies like American Pie (1999) and The 18-Year-Old Virgin (2009) glorify the idea of losing virginity before college. Very little regard is given to those who have made the conscious choice to not engage in sexual relations at this early stage in the game of life. The college virgin has became a rare minority making the cliché lines of high school abstinence posters splattered with taglines like “EVERYBODY’S DOING IT!” a seeming reality. Somewhere along the line, sex became the new black. It’s easy to wonder why some chose not to hop on the bandwagon and remain virgins. The choice to stay a virgin goes beyond the physical meaning of the word nowadays. Gaining a greater understanding of ones self and relationships, along with abstaining from sex until marriage, are the primary goals. It is not just about losing out on a particular physical act; it is about what is gained from abstaining from that act. Channah Barkhordari, a Writing Literature and Publishing Major, Class of 2011, made the decision to stay a virgin until marriage at a young age. She was raised Orthodox Jewish in what she describes as, “a profoundly Jewish home.” For Barkhordari, the decision to stay a virgin has not affected her social life much at all. Barkhordari has, however, had to face some of the social stigmas surrounding virgins. “During my first week at Emerson,” says Barkhordari. “Someone asked the “who’s still a virgin” question. When I said that I was, he was really surprised. He was embarrassed for a second because I’d noticed his reaction, but then he said something like ‘I just wasn’t expecting that because you’re pretty.’ I wasn’t exactly flattered. I think his comment says a lot about the stigma given to the status, and who’s more likely to be a virgin, which in my opinion is just sad.” The definition of “virgin” has come to encompass more than just “has not had sexual intercourse.” In her book Female Chauvinist Pigs, Ariel Levy discusses the new parts in this definition. “Sex appeal,” Levy writes, “Has become a synecdoche of all appeal.” Sex has become a tool and even a form of feminism. Sex positive feminism, a movement that
“sex appeal has become a synecdoche of all appeal...”
winter 2009–2010
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the “D” factor
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n the lower level of Piano Row, among the white-walled meeting spaces and sterile tile, there’s a room that stands out. Go inside, and the difference is apparent: warm, carpeted floors, huge TV, colorful posters on the red walls. Here, in the Multicultural Center, students are encouraged to feel at home and comfortable in their skin. The Center is also the home of the Campus Conversations on Race. From the title, CCOR sound like they should take place in an impersonal lecture hall, with almost no interaction between the audience members. The CCOR, however, are anything but impersonal. The student leaders, or “co-facilitators,” do their absolute best to make the participants comfortable. “I love how a session will start with everyone being quiet and uncomfortable, but within ten minutes everyone has opened up,” said Fernando Febres, a marketing major in the Class of 2012 and co-facilitator of a CCOR session. Febres and his fellow facilitator Ashley Lindsay broke the ice between their group members, representative of a variety of races, with some small talk and snacks. After all, they’ve been there too. All co-facilitators start as participants in the discussion. Each section of CCOR lasts five weeks, so there are five sessions. In the next CCOR they participate in, they have the option to
written by Erin Doolin assisted by Michelle Golden
be trained, and then after training, they are permitted to co-facilitate their third CCOR. The conversation is spurred by a guide packet given to all schools participating in the CCOR. Each session has a topic, such as “Roots of Why Racism Exists.” Each topic comes with a series of prompts to start the conversation. The prompts only serve as a skeleton for the larger dialogue. Soon the session takes off, and every member opens up with their personal stories, fears, confusions, and opinions. The discussion flows easily, and students of every ethnicity are free to expose their own feelings about race in the world today. Nothing is too “touchy” to be discussed. Inside the multicultural center, students find a safe haven. “When I started at Emerson, I was welcomed with open arms,” said Febres, who started his work with the Multicultural Center with a job at the Center for Diversity as a freshman. Febres agrees that Emerson is doing a lot to promote diversity at the school. He’s also a member of the Admission Diversity Team, which focuses on recruiting multicultural students to come to Emerson, and points out how active groups like EBONI, Amigos, Speak Up, and ASIA are when it comes to promoting diversity on campus. “Diversity is not something that can happen all of the sudden, it’s some-
thing that has to be worked on, and Emerson is doing a great job at making it work,” said Febres. Through facilitating the CCOR, Febres feels like he’s doing his part to help open students’ minds at Emerson. “We are not teachers or instructors. We are there to facilitate the conversation, help them discuss the topics and respect other people’s opinions.” Tikesha Morgan has been an advocate, role-model, and friend for Emerson students with the issue of diversity since she became Director of Multicultural Affairs three years ago. Morgan believes that Emerson is doing a relatively good job promoting diversity on campus. The Multicultural Center hosts multiple events, such as lectures, the Cultural Legends Ball in October, band nights, and Music Appreciation Week. The Multicultural Center also employs students in the office, but Morgan insists that it’s more than just a desk job. “If you’re working in the Multicultural Center, I’m not expecting you to just do office work. I’m expecting you to be involved in the cultural groups and the events going on around campus. You need to be proactive.” However, she admits that getting students of color involved isn’t the issue. “A common misconception among nonminority students is that they’re not allowed to come to the events put on by the Multicultural Center. And that sad-
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dens me that anyone would think that,” said Morgan. “Events are open to everyone. “ Morgan suggests that non-minority students step outside their comfort zone, and attend as many cultural events as they can. She pointed to the fact that “multicultural” means every culture, not just black or Asian or Hispanic. “Everyone comes from somewhere. America is a nation full of different cultures, and we should learn from each other,” said Morgan. “Not everything is black and white.” Gloria Noronha, a graduate of Emerson College’s Marketing Graduate
together with students to collectively gain a better understanding of the matter itself. “Because [diversity] is such a vast topic you have to narrow it down to what parts... need the most attention at any university. At some universities it is social class, like at a community college... At Emerson it’s race and ethnicity just because that’s what most students struggle with,” explained Noronha. Emerson’s students, staff, and faculty are working together to figure out where the shortcomings are and then trying to move forward from there. According to Noronha, Emerson is
maintain a more comprehensive diversified campus. “One of our goals is to work closely with the departments on campus to improve community outreach because when students learn in the classroom they gain more experience in application,” said Noronha. “We are taking programs that improved race relations on campus and taking that into the community so that we can say, ‘Hey Emerson is really making an effort to improve race relations on campus and we’re doing it not just for ourselves but also for the community.’ Our hope is that Emerson gets that press, and
“Everyone comes from somewhere. America is a nation
full of different cultures, and we should learn from each other.” still working towards building a more diverse campus, but the biggest step that came to the Emerson College President Jacqueline Liebergott’s office was the Strategic Plan for Diversity, titled “Creating a Culture of Inclusion” which was submitted in September 2008. A group of students and faculty began working on the plan in July 2007 when there was an expressed dissatisfaction with the low numbers of multicultural students evident on campus and then the subsequent lack of racial and ethnicity interaction. “[This] Diversity Report is made up of goals on how to increase diversity on this campus. The good thing about it is that it is a shared goal of the college,” said Noronha. By promoting personal growth, enriching the educational experience for students and faculty alike, as well as strengthening the campus and surrounding community, the Strategic Plan for Diversity aims to develop, brace, and
the students learn all around that we’re all in this together to improve this one thing.” According to the Strategic Plan for Diversity, through the development of multi-year plans for long-term diversity focused projects and growth, supportive relationships will be established between all students in both majority and minority groups. New curriculum plans, diversity training workshops, and open campus forums will expand upon the need for and the acceptance of diversity on the Emerson campus. What it comes down to is that some feel that Emerson students do not yet fully understand other ethnicities. “I think some students think that the ‘multicultural kids’ don’t want them around, and that’s just not true. No one hates anyone,” said Morgan. “Students might have to put themselves in an uncomfortable situation at first, but that’s how you learn.”
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Program and currently the Administrative Assistant of five years for Emerson’s Center for Diversity agrees that culture is not always as visible in appearance. “Some people think ‘if I’m white, I’m without color.’ However, you came from somewhere. You’re not without culture. A lot of people didn’t experience having students of different race and ethnicities in high school,” Noronha said. “This is the sickness of our school. Racism is so raw in our society. You hate to be the policeman because you want the students to take involvement.” Morgan said that learning about diversity in college has positive effects for both minority and Caucasian students, whether it be in dealing with workplace situations or becoming a wiser citizen of the world. But learning about diversity isn’t just for the students. In order to take out the fear from talking about diversity, she feels the Emerson faculty and departments should be working
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emerson alums making waves in the real world lori kirk
graduate class of 2009
written by Michelle Golden / photo by Amelia Kunhardt for The Patriot Ledger
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ori Kirk is far from being a no-name brand. At twenty-four years old, this recent graduate from the Integrated Marketing Communications Graduate Program at Emerson College started Cavata Clothing in July of 2009, less than a year after graduating. Her online T-shirt business is a place where both music and the arts are promoted through creativity and self-expression. “Whether it’s music or poetry or graffiti, the point of Cavata Clothing is to promote creativity and expression, and that comes through with music and art. Today’s society puts a lot of emphasis on standardized tests, on being the best at a sport, and music and art just get left behind,” says Kirk. “They are all very important to having a well-rounded lifestyle. Music and art affect everyone.” Kirk always wanted to start her own business, but was never sure what kind. Kirk finally put her talents and passions together to create a brand of T-shirts that even she would wear, all while supporting a good cause. As an undergraduate student, Kirk started out studying music and then switched to Philosophy and Communications at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Her band, Ivy Hill, broke up after two years of playing at several venues across Boston and New Hampshire. Being a musician will always be a huge component in Kirk’s career, even if she’s not rocking out to her own music on stage. “I’m a musician and also have a background in marketing, and I really love T-shirts and street wear and all that branding, so I figured what better way than to create a brand with stuff that I would want to wear? And it supports a good cause, so that’s why I thought of Cavata clothing,” says Kirk. “It stands for creating a voice for both the arts. Ten percent of every purchase is donated to public schools and non-profits.” To Kirk, Integrated Marketing Communications is just another fancy way of showing how marketing, public relations, and advertising all work together. Studying at Emerson gave Kirk a good foundation for starting a business. Classes like Advertising and Sales Promotion taught her different aspects of marketing, especially with branding. “People think that a brand is a logo or a name, but in actuality it’s a solution to a problem,” says Kirk. In today’s economy, many music and art programs are being cut, and this dedicated musician and entrepreneur felt that schools were not capable of providing adequate funds to keep such programs in place. “The best professor I ever had when I was in grad school at Emerson was Bill Anderson. He taught brand management, and the best thing he ever taught me was that a brand isn’t just a logo on some cool T-shirt. You really have to look at the
marketplace,” says Kirk. “If there’s a need that’s not met, I have the opportunity to come in and offer a customer something that no one else is offering right now. And that’s what I saw; there was a need to support art and music in schools, and there was also a need for another clothing line that would focus on music and art designs that weren’t incredibly cliché.” Branding is more than turning a company name into another billboard brand like Hollister, American Eagle, or Abercrombie. To Kirk, branding is about the entire experience. Customers aren’t just buying a T-shirt. They are actually buying into her brand and the cause that Cavata Clothing supports. “You want people to feel good about buying it. It’s not just like a shirt that you’ll maybe wear one day. You want to be proud of what you wear because what you wear is in itself an expression of who you are.” A T-shirt that you can dress up or dress down, Cavata Clothing has something everyone can wear. “It’s not too hipster. It’s not too crazy. It’s refined chic for street wear,” says Kirk. Marketed to the late teen to the young late-twenties adult, Cavata Clothing provides a specific unique twist of music and art designs, creating a need for such limited apparel. Kirk strongly enforces the idea that Cavata Clothing is marketed to anyone empowered by creativity and expression. Collaborating with freelance artists to design illustrative T-
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emerson alums making waves in the real world shirts, Kirk concentrates on creating T-shirts that are fun and youthful. “I don’t want to make... a mass-market product. If you know there’s a specific shirt that you only can get in certain places and it’s a limited edition, you’d want that more than a shirt from Pac Sun that everybody has,” says Kirk. Customer-relationship management is an essential aspect of Cavata Clothing. “I want to keep customers and have them grow with the Cavata family and build the brand up together,” says Kirk. “It’s not my brand... it’s everybody’s brand. Everyone is influenced by music and art. I’m just sort of the middle person to bring it all together.”
shane hurlbut
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class of 1986
written by Kimya Kavehkar / photo by dslrfilm.com
or cocky, depending on how you receive his strong opinions. “I listen to the director, but I tell him how is movie is going to work,” says Hurlbut. “That works ninety-five percent of the time.” Hurlbut is intent on leaving a different kind of legacy in the film industry. He is currently working on a film about Navy SEALS with his production company Elite Team; his company is set on reducing their eco-footprint and eliminating much of the waste produced in the filming process. Hurlbut went from a crew of 272 people on Terminator Salvation to a crew of fifteen people for Navy SEALS. He was still able to travel the world, but he made better use of his resources. “[There are] less people to feed, less transportation, and we’re using a camera that takes no chemicals to develop…. there’s no waste in that. Everything is a digital entity,” says Hurlbut. “At some point we have to be financially responsible and resourceful.” Hurlbut is also greatly regarded for his knowledge and promotion of the revolutionary Cannon 5D Mark II Camera. The camera is small, relatively affordable, and shoots very high quality videos. “This device is the future,” says Hurlbut. Hurlbut is very confident in his skills and in his ability to use more eco-friendly methods of filming to take over the industry, and he is certainly leading by example. “I’m creating this wave. You either jump on the set or be wiped out by it,” says Hurlbut. “It’s as simple as that.”
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hane Hurlbut, famed cinematographer and Emerson graduate from the class of 1986 walks into a quiet conference room in the Walker Building and shakes everyone’s hand with a firm grip and a bellowing “Hello.” “Shane is a really nice guy, and what he is doing is really credible and great,” says Barbara Rutberg, Director of Alumni Relations and Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement. This statement has been genuinely administered by all who have met him, who practically gush over his friendly nature, and his actual presence does not disappoint. As he sits down to have lunch with a few film students, he tells stories about his humble beginnings and big name Hollywood industry professionals with great fervor. He mimics voices and gestures wildly as any great storyteller would. Hurlbut’s objective from behind the lens is to tell these stories with the same kind of excitement and passion that exudes with his demeanor. Hurlbut gave a lecture at Emerson on November 12, about the Cannon 5D Mark II camera, which is a game-changer for the film industry. Hurlbut is a member of the American Society of Photographers and has worked on studio films such as Terminator Salvation (2009) (Director of Photography), Into the Blue (2005), We Are Marshall (2006), and Drumline (2002). Aside from films, Hurlbut has also worked on many commercials for name-brand companies (Visa and Coca-Cola ) and was the Director of Photography for music videos for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Tori Amos. It was on the set of Terminator Salvation in 2009 that actor Christian Bale made national headlines with his infamous “freak out” to a crew member. That crew member just happened to be Hurlbut. Hurlbut grew up in what he calls a “farm town of 500 people” in Aurora, New York, and attended Emerson College, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Film in 1986. “Boston gave me my urban landscape to dream,” says Hurlbut. Hurlbut has a vision that he shares with his directors in interviews and brainstorming sessions that can come off as confident
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Confessions of a Proper Lady:
a diy guide to everyday etiquette
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winter 2009–2010
itting nervously at a small table inside Tealuxe, I sipped my iced guava pineapple, very conscious of the time. “Where is she?” I thought, worried that I had missed her walk in while I was checking my watch three times in the last minute. You see, after scheduling this interview with a woman named Winston who wanted to charge me $200 for an etiquette lesson, I was afraid that a stuffy, silver-haired British woman was going to proclaim, “Daaarling,” and comment on my clothing, posture, and articulation rather than answer my questions. So I came prepared. Armed with a long list of well-written questions (put in the best possible order to keep the conversation flowing and in control) and wearing my nicest sweater, I arrived at Tealuxe on Newbury Street a planned seven full minutes in advance. I knew, if anything, tardiness would be this woman’s biggest pet peeve. You can imagine my shock when a young, very stylishly dressed woman walked toward me, five minutes late, telling me her name was Winston Jenkins, and she was pleased to meet me. Wearing a simple black turtleneck with a cluster of freshwater pearls around her neck, Winston Jenkins was elegantly chic. Her make-up was light and fresh, her cheeks were warm with a welcoming glow. Jenkins, a Senior Consultant at Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, said etiquette is “simply a basic respect for yourself and others, to be considerate.” She stressed the importance of recognizing that your actions have consequences and that those consequences have a place in the world. Etiquette is not just a snobby set of rules about dining and conversing, and it is actually very myopic and intolerant to think of it that way. Etiquette is everyday courtesy and basic manners, both of which today’s society seems to be lacking. “The problem is that a lot of people just don’t care,” Jenkins explained. “When was the last time you saw someone open the door for someone else, or hold the elevator, or say excuse me after bumping into someone?”
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Her point got me thinking, “When was the last time I saw someone even hold the door, not to mention open it, for someone else?” In the city especially, it has become socially acceptable for people to be rude to one another. It is even an expected trait. But why aren’t we holding ourselves to a higher standard than that? Why do we settle for inconsiderate behavior towards one another? I decided to embark on my own etiquette journey to answer these questions and teach myself proper conduct in certain situations. I wanted to learn how to exercise proper etiquette to fit my lifestyle, which definitely doesn’t include giving up $200. Consulting Judith Martin’s famous Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, I felt like Julie Andrews’ latest protégé in The Princess Diaries (2001). First, and most importantly, be courteous. Open the door for someone struggling with a stack of books. Say “hi” or even politely smile to people you know (or even people you don’t) as you pass them on the street. Always say “please” and “thank you,” even to the waitress that messed up your order for the tenth time. Hold the elevator for someone trying to get to class. After all, these people are just like you. And you very well may be in these same situations someday. As Jenkins simply said, “Etiquette is easy, just show respect for others.” Next, present yourself properly. This isn’t just sitting up straight enough to balance a book on your head. “The way you look is the way you present yourself to the world,” Jenkins said. And she’s right. Walking around the streets
of Boston sulking with your head down makes you unapproachable and even makes you seem downright angry. Miss Manners, Jenkins, and Julie Andrews all agree that dressing appropriately, sitting and walking upright, and acknowledging those you know with a smile are all ways to confidently and adequately present yourself. After that, one must exercise proper table manners. I used a combination of The Princess Diaries (2001) and Titanic (1997) for this one. And although these may not seem like the most credible sources, they acted as a free (and actually very accurate!) lesson in dining etiquette. I did not strap myself to a chair with a fancy scarf like Anne Hathaway in the Disney film, but I did go over the
Social discourse is accurately articulating yourself without dropping the FBomb or screaming over everyone else. It is polite and thoughtful conversation with friends, family, co-workers, peers, professors, etc. “Anyone who spends time and thought on you by taking part in a conversation with you should receive respect for doing so,” Jenkins said. She also stressed the distinction between content and tone, “It’s not always what you say, but how you say it.” I’m not ordering you to stop telling your best friend she’s a “Dimepiece” or telling you to “say ‘yes,’ never ‘yeah,’” as Michael Caine does to Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality (2000). But the one thing you should always do: think before you speak. What I learned is more than the answer to the famous question, “Which fork do I use?” and goes beyond the basic rules of etiquette. From immersing myself in real life examples of these rules, I realized that common courtesy is not common knowledge. In my observations of etiquette (or a lack thereof) in others, I saw that people either appreciate good manners or have a total disregard for them. There are no ifs, ands, buts, or anything in between. I realized that my presumptions of Winston Jenkins were the perfect example of how society regards etiquette. In making assumptions about her, I had done exactly what every one of you may have done at the beginning of this article— or perhaps are doing right now as you read this—and that is to have misconceived etiquette as snobby, snooty, and downright prissy. The truth is, etiquette is nothing more than having respect for others and clearly showing that respect in your everyday life.
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Social discourse is accurately articulating yourself without dropping the F-Bomb or screaming over everyone else.
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settings of a formal, multi-course meal. Kathy Bates tells Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, “Use the silverware farthest away from the plate and move in from there.” Watch and learn. And if you don’t believe me, read Miss Manners. She will tell you the same thing: “Use the one farthest to the left. That’s it. That’s all you need to know.” Lastly, social discourse. Engaging in stimulating, intellectual conversation with the upwardly mobile, though very respectable, is not what I mean.
Quietly nestled behind the Museum of Fine Arts lies one of the bestkept secrets of Boston: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
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a hidden gem behind the mfa written by Maria Oliver / photos by Victoria Reuter
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sabella Stewart Gardner was an art collector and patron of the arts in the late 1890‘s and early 1900’s. She was known for her stylish tastes and unconventional eccentricities. The first painting is John Singer Sargent’s “El Jaleo”. Getting up close and personal with “El Jaleo” requires a quick walk past the entrance and onto the courtyard garden. Some of the rooms are named for the painter whose paintings are on display in the room. There are Titian and Veronese Rooms and more descriptive ones like The Early Italian Room and the Dutch Room. In this particular room, almost 20 years ago, the Gardner Museum was hit by a major robbery. When you look around at all the treasures, it is hard to imagine that the best of the best is gone. The thieves stole thirteen works of art, including three by Rembrandt and one by Vermeer. No one has ever been charged, but the theft has literally left a gaping hole in the Dutch Room as museum officials have never
visit gardnermuseum.org for more information
winter 2009–2010
attempted to fill the empty spaces left behind. It is considered the biggest art theft in history. Gardner’s collection includes work by some of Europe’s most important artists, such as Botticelli’s Madonna and Child with an Angel, Titian’s Europa, and Raphael’s The Colonna Altarpiece. Gardner stipulated that after her death, the museum must be left exactly as she designed it, with each painting and each object in the collection to remain forever in the same place she had put it.
Huge Gothic windows with ornate details and moldings allow visitors in the galleries to view the courtyard from a variety of angles. Most windows have balconies, but these are off-limits. The museum is three stories high: the higher up you go, the greater the view of the courtyard. Natural light pours into the gallery rooms through the massive windows. Depending on the time of day, light streams in and highlights pieces around the space. What might be surprising about Gardner’s collection is the dominance of religious art, but Gardner was fascinated by Renaissance painting. It is an interesting juxtaposition: the dark paintings and the beautiful natural light. Several of the paintings in the museum are portraits of Isabella Gardner; she sat for some of the great painters of the time, including John Singer Sargent, who painted Mrs. Gardner in White and Portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Other portraits of Gardner on display include Anders Zorn’s Mrs. Gardner in Venice and James McNeill Whistler’s The Little Note in Yellow and Gold. These paintings capture the quintessential vitality of Gardner, the same vitality that led her to throw herself into art and share her love with the world.
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newburyport, ma
for those ambitious folks looking to travel outside the bounds of boston
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commuter rail getaways written by Megan Donovan / photo by Megan Donovan
if you have a little money, a free afternoon, and a desire to explore, there is a destination off of boston’s commuter rail that will calm your beantown cabin fever. choose your destination based on how much travel time and money you are willing to commit to this adventure, or leave it to the fates and throw a dart!
destination: providence, ri
how to get there: From South Station, get on the Providence line. travel time: 1:15 fare: $7.75 each way
what to do:
Go to Providence Place Mall. I know you’ve been starved of Forever 21, so get your fix now or just get lost in one of the other stores of this three-story shopping safe haven. If it’s nice out, definitely walk around Brown’s campus and check out the bookstores in the area. If you wish to see Providence’s Historic District, take a stroll down Weybosett Street.
why go? Providence is quaint and adorable.
Besides the slight chance that you see Emma Watson wandering around, which should be reason enough to high-tail it out of here, you’ll be greeted with a less overwhelming Boston feel. There are still a lot of college kids, classic brick paved streets, and great places to eat, just on a much more manageable scale.
destination: newburyport, ma
how to get there: From North Station, take the
Newburyport/Rockport line. travel time: 0:30 train ride, 0:15 minute walk into town. fare: $7.75 each way
what to do:
The center of the city is down by the water, so once you make your way into town, you’ll see restaurants and shops. Black and Blue offers American fare, burgers, and sweet potato fries, and for dessert, check out England’s Micro Creamery, which offers homemade ice cream. If you have extra spending cash, take a cab out to Plum Island Beach. The pedicabs are free, so utilize them (but be sure you have a few dollars for a tip).
how to get there: From North Station, get on the Newburyport/Rockport line.
travel time: 0:30 fare: $5.25 each way what to do: See the Federalist style buildings down Chestnut Street or walk through the Salem Common. For more greenery, check out the Ropes Mansion Gardens at 318 Essex Street. If you come to Salem to see the haunted, go to the Salem Witch Museum and the Old Burying Point Cemetery, where a witch trials judge is laid to rest. Salem has many unique gift shops, like Modern Millie, a consignment/thrift store and Pamplemousse, which offers kitchen and bath items as well as wines, craft beers, and microbrews. For the comic lover, there is Harrison’s Comics and Collectibles. For lunch, do Gulu Gulu Café, which has paninis, crepes, and cheese and meat plates. And don’t forget to dig through the stacks at Derby Square Bookstore or peruse Jerry’s (dusty) Department Store.
why go? It is the perfect place to go if you just want to get out of
Boston and get to know a new town. You can do the whole town in one afternoon because all shops, museums, and restaurants are located on and around Essex and Washington Streets, no map needed.
destination: plymouth, ma
how to get there: Take the Old Colony Line
from South Station. Walk or take a cab 2 miles out to Village Landing Marketplace. travel time: 1:00 fare: $7.75 each way
what to do:
If you haven’t seen the rock, see it. Then, complain about how small it is. Don’t pay $10 dollars to go on the Mayflower II, but sneak in if you can. Try a lobster roll from one of the three restaurants located on the bay. Pick up some ice cream from on of the stores that line the harbor on Water Street, and don’t forget your camera; the boats sitting in the harbor are beautiful.
why go?
It is one of those places you have to go if you’re American. It is a seaside town with little souvenir shops selling things like t-shirts and key chains, but it was also the first permanent settlement in the country. That’s kind of a big deal.
a full schedule of these trains can be found on mbta.com
winter 2009–2010
why go?
This city is based on maritime trade, and these quaint beginnings are at the backbone of what Newburyport has to offer. Originally a fishing and trading settlement, it is characterized by its Federalist and Victorian style homes. Old buildings mix with the new retail shops of the town for a picturesque getaway.
destination: salem, ma
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emersonian blogs that are worth reading
written by Lorena Mora / photos by Ethan Walfish
generic movie blog by ambitious film student at pretentious film school filmswithasideoffrotch. blogspot.com
Ross Tipograph
Writing for Film & TV, 2012 Did anyone even bother seeing My Life In Ruins (2009)? Ross Tipograph did. “THIS WAS NOT A MOVIE. IT WAS A TURD. Worse than Fool’s Gold. I swear,” he muses on his blog. He may not be as eloquent as Roger Ebert, but Tipograph’s off-kilter approach to movie reviewing is both hilarious and brutally honest. His passion for film is obvious when he really loves a movie; his wit and humor are brilliantly put to use when he doesn’t. His love for the CAPS lock key and replacing the letter ‘s’ with ‘z’ when he’s excited makes for enjoyable reads. “Legit, if you wanna have fun, and enjoy a movie that keeps the right tone for its entirety, and says fuck you to a bunch of conventions, and just screams GIRLZ RULE, BOYZ DROOL, then see Whip It.” Tipograph’s reviews are overall goofy, but terrific for deciding whether or not you want to splurge $12.50 on next week’s box office hits and misses.
music down to your soul
downtoyoursoul.wordpress.com
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Kristen DeTroia
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Marketing Communications, 2012 “Ankle deep mud, four hour wait to get in, being a mud-covered soggy wet hippie for more than seven hours. This was no ordinary Festival, it was a muddy All Points West suck fest.” Kristen DeTroia isn’t just any other face in the crowd. Her blog reads a little like a memoir, a little like a music reviewer in the making. Not only is she a frequent concert-hopper, she films and reviews each show she attends. While Emersonians may be flocking to see big names like Brand New and Passion Pit, DeTroia focuses on the smaller, more underground crowd. She name drops local bands like Mondo
Gecko, Richard James, and Dopapod. Check out DeTroia’s blog for new music, photo albums, and bands on the rise right here in Boston.
Audrey Monroe
audreymonroe.wordpress.com
Celeste Kaufman
Writing, Literature, & Publishing, 2010 Fashion. Art. Food. Social Issues. Celeste Kaufman’s blog “Audrey Monroe” is the college-girl-in-the-city version of Vogue. Kaufman reviews everything from recent reads (“Rant: Chuck Palahniuk’s Latest Makes Me Do Exactly That”) to up-and-coming musicians (“Garfunkel and Oates Give Jermaine and Bret a Run For Their Money”). She gives tips on how to dress for job interviews and how to DIY anything from shirts to spa products. There’s even a detailed history on cute rain boots and the science behind being a shopaholic. If only Carrie Bradshaw had been this insightful! Head over to “Audrey Monroe” for funny, irreverent, and smart reads on anything and everything a city girl could fathom caring about.
Family Family Tree
familyfamilytree.blogspot.com/
Family Family Tree branches out in every which way to bring its readers, and each other, the hippest, coolest links on the web. Made up of twenty students, FFT covers everything from films to photography to personal videos to music and includes a couple of strange finds. Memorable posts include “Christian Bale vs. Kermit” where it seems the actor and the Muppet have an astounding amount of mannerisms in common, “Swimming posts” about all things swimming, and the video for “Who’s Loving You” by fellow Emersonian George Watsky, Class of 2010. As FFT puts it, “We use this blog to create, talk, share, and have fun.” So skip StumbleUpon: read FFT for some cool finds and original works from a couple of Emerson kids like yourself.
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midnight movie madness written by Nina F. Dineen / photo by Casey Neidorf
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in the cinema
1. Keep your comments to yourself: If you absolutely have to say something to your friend, say it quietly or take notes if you think you’ll forget all of your witty utterances. 2. Popcorn munchers: Popcorn is a movie tradition for most
people, but stuffing fistfuls into your mouth and crunching on kernels is about as loud as talking. Try keeping it to one piece at a time to keep the noise down, and the small bag might even last you through the first half of the movie.
There are midnight movies for everyone’s taste. You and your friends can sing Transylvanian transsexual ballads to Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) or repeat how the rug “really tied the room together” at The Big Lebowski (1998). Coolidge Corner and Loews at Harvard Square, tiny theaters that sit an intimate audience, play an eclectic variety of films. The films played can be anything worthy of a cult following: comedies, ridiculous so-bad-that-it’s-good films such as the infamous The Room (2003), amateur porn festivals, dysfunctional musicals, or existential classics such as Donnie Darko (2001). The cult followings keep classic movies alive, so contemporary film-goers can see movies in a theater often decades after their release. The Ninth Annual Halloween Horror Marathon in Coolidge Corner, including the remake of the 1950s classic The Blob (1988) and gory 1980s zombie film Night of the Creeps (1986), takes hold of the theater for hours on Halloween night. Although Coolidge Corner and Loews at Harvard are easily T-accessible (Coolidge Corner T-stop on the Green line and Harvard T-Stop on the Red line, respectively), by the time you emerge from the dizzying experience, you’ll have to take a cab. But with quotes, songs, and hilarious comments buzzing in your head—it’s sure to be worth it. Midnight movies are an experience you shouldn’t leave college without.
3. No one cares about your sweetass ring tone: Silence your phone or put it on vibrate. Nothing ruins a dramatic moment more than “can’t read my, can’t read my, no he can’t read my poker face!!!!”
4. Your feet are not appealing: Keep them to yourself. Do not rest your feet on the chair in front of you, especially if there is someone sitting in it, and don’t kick that poor person’s chair either. 5. Just because it’s dark doesn’t mean
no one else is in the theater: No make-out sessions, please! Maybe the film is romantic enough to throw you and your significant other into a fit of passion, but you haven’t paid for the whole theater so keep it PG rated.
written by Catie Colliton
winter 2009–2010
etiquette
he smell of popcorn lingers as students slink slyly through ticket lines, rambling off obscure film quotes, letting their intoxicated laughter explode as they sneak out into the night for a cigarette before the show. Laughing girls tidy late-night hair and chug Bacardi in the bathroom pausing to pick up their dropped Rocky Horror movie ticket from a wet sink. It’s like a midnight Emerson field trip. With just $10, this entertaining and silly experience can be yours. Playing proudly in Coolidge Corner and Harvard Square at the stroke of midnight is the ultimate college activity: midnight movies. There is a very clear distinction between midnight movies and movies that just play at midnight. Midnight movies are interactive. The audience does anything from singing along, quoting in unison, shouting obscenities, throwing relevant objects toward the screen and doing anything else a twenty-something film-lover would do if the theater was filled with their own kind. Needless to say, people go to these showings in groups or on fun dates. They laugh along, shout with each other and, engage in other normally-frownedupon activities that would cause them to be kicked out of other darkened movie theaters. Midnight movies are not just movies, they are experiences, and the dozens of people who show up faithfully to their favorite cult classics, decked out in fanatic gear, are proof that these events are addictive.
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books about unclassy broads written by Maria Montemayor / photo by Casey Neidorf / book jackets from Amazon.com
Perhaps it is “ladylike” to sip tea and not kill zombies, but this is America, dammit. These books show ladies utilizing unladylike tactics to secure their place in history and gain their place on my list of unclassy broads. unclassy ratings: the higher the number, the bigger the scandal.
Six Degrees of Paris Hilton: Inside the Sex Tapes, Scandals, and Shakedowns of New Hollywood Mark Ebner Here’s the deal, this book is not just about Paris Hilton. This book takes a look into the seedy, Hollywood underbelly of sex, drugs, and well...okay a little Paris Hilton. This book looks at the life of real-life con man and all around gross dude Darnell Riley. He weaseled his way into the world of It Girls and new Hollywood royalty by conning his way to the top. While this book is centralized around a misogynist to the max (Riley was obsessed with Girls Gone Wild producer and sleaze ball Joe Francis), Ebner does show readers a very classless look at the so-called “beautiful women” of Hollywood.
Unclassy Rating: 8/10
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Upstairs Girls: Prostitution in the American West
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Michael Rutter Oddly enough, this is probably the most proper of all the improper books. This book looks into an interesting time period with even more interesting people. Rutter gives an intriguing insight into the lives of women basically forced into prostitution by varying reasons beyond their control. Women at this time didn’t have many options when tragedy struck, and they had to go out on their own. Legitimate jobs were hard to come by, and for many women, prostitution was the only hope for basic survival. What I found most vile in this book were not the ladies of the night (many of whom donated extra money to charity), but rather the judgment thrown upon them by the rest of society for just trying to survive.
Unclassy Rating: 3/10
The Blood Countess Andrei Codrescu Sixteenth century Hungary—countess Elizabeth Bathory is convicted of killing and torturing eighty young women and girls. Yes, that is horrible, but wait, it gets so much worse. According to several historians and witnesses, the real number was around 600. Why did this countess murder and torture all these young women? Apparently, to bathe in their blood. Yup, you read that right. This batshit crazy countess believed bathing in the blood of virgins would allow her to stay young. It doesn’t get more unclassy than that. This book is historical fiction, told in a courtroom setting, but Elizabeth Bathory was a very real person. I applaud Codrescu’s attempt to give some sort of face to this horrible blood countess, but in this case...fact really is more appalling than fiction. Unclassy Rating: 11/10 (oh yeah, I went there).
The Borden Tragedy: A Memoir of the Infamous Double Murder at Fall River, MA 1892 Rick Geary We all know the nursery rhyme: Lizzie Borden took an axe gave her mother forty whacks...but this is one of the more innovative storytelling techniques I’ve read about this New England infamous and violent chick. Geary takes some supposedly unpublished work from an unnamed woman who lived in Fall River in 1892 and turns her writings into a captivating graphic novel. What works well for Geary’s book, is that he does not try to sway the reader’s mind either way about Borden’s guilt. Regardless to how innocent or guilty she may have been, she will be remembered in history as one crazy babe.
Unclassy Rating: 6/10
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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Seth Grahame-Smith Two of my favorite things in the world: Jane Austen and the walking undead. This book is awesome. Taking the text by Jane Austen and infusing the befuddlement and misunderstandings of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett with hordes of zombies craving Victorian brains, Grahame-Smith (Emerson ‘98) creates a great way to reinterpret the classics. I would not venture to call Lizzie unladylike, but she kicks major zombie butt. I suppose at that time, it would be deemed impolite for a lady to decapitate a horde of zombies, but I think it takes a whole lot of guts.
Unclassy Rating: 5/10
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Classy Ways to Read Unclassy Literature
o you are sitting in Starbucks or on the T and reading one of the delightful books on my “Unclassy Broads” list. People are staring at you, rolling their eyes or looking disturbed. Here is how to class up your reading choices:
Drink something upscale. If you are at a coffee place go for one of the fancier drinks, something frothy that is hard to pronounce. People will be so impressed with your cultured coffee drink that they won’t see the Paris Hilton book under your nose.
Wear argyle. No one questions someone in argyle. You ooze class and sophistication. No Cosby sweaters for you! People will feel honored that you graced them with your presence en route to the nearest country club with your dinner date with Bitsy and Muffy. The book-in-a-book technique. Popular with ‘80s brat packers, hiding a less than reputable book inside the likes of War and Peace earns you lit cred points. Just beware the classy book you choose, some may illicit literature snobs to engage you in conversation. Good luck, good reading...and as always, keep it classy.
winter 2009–2010
1. 2.
Pinky up! When reading something, put one pinky up as you hold the book. But don’t go as far as two, you will get a devil-horns look going.
3. 4. 5.
Wear sunglasses. You not only get the cool beatnik look, you also get the added aid of disguise. But be careful, do not choose a dark place to read because then you just become “that weird kid.”
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shabby to chic dinner party for
$10 per person
Just 5 Thrift Store Items & Microwaveable Dinner! written by Catie Colliton / photos by hahnsmarket.com & tnvols.blogspot.com
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lanning a dinner party in a tiny apartment or even a dorm room is not the easiest thing in the world, especially when you are low on cash, space, and fancy dinnerware. Invites can be sent out on Facebook or even handmade if you have the time and patience for that. But, there are a few key items that can turn your less than classy eating space into a chic affair.
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The Decor:
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decorated dinner plates: Dinner plates that are decorated with even the silliest of patterns are trendy, so you can’t go wrong in a thrift store. Don’t worry if you can’t find matching ones— the more mismatched, the cuter and kitschier your party will be. Most plates are less than $1 and you can keep them for your next soiree and use them as wall decorations or even ashtrays. Plus, they are so cheap (and mismatched) you won’t even feel bad if one breaks. colorful tumblers: Brightly colored glasses spice up the look of a table setting even before the food is served! If you can’t find any type of Fiestaware
glasses, decorated juice glasses or plain glasses that you can paint designs on are also good finds. tapestry or patterned tablecloth: A tablecloth is likely to have stains or get stained during your party, so the more colorful and decorated the better. This way, the mess will be barely noticeable. A tapestry will do the same job as a tablecloth, and afterward, you can hang it on a plain wall to get your money’s worth. A tablecloth is especially necessary if you have an unsightly table. cloth napkins: You see cloth napkins in classy restaurants, so try to emulate this aesthetic. It is okay if they don’t match, just make sure you give them a wash before wiping your mouth — they are from a thrift store after all. christmas lights or candles: Before your guests come over, dim the lights and add some romance with twinkly lights around a window and some candles in the center of the table. If you’ve used up all your outlets or aren’t allowed to have candles (like in dorms), go for some big, cheap flowers. Just a couple of lily stems will take up a lot of space and add a nice ambiance to your table setting.
Where to shop: *Goodwill (Central Square, Allston/ Brighton, Jamaica Plain) *junky stores in Chinatown *Target (if you’re feeling fancy)
The Food
Once you have your dining space decorated and the table set, a delicious and expensive-tasting and pricey-looking meal is in order. Guests can easily be fooled by a cheaply put together party, but dazzling them with a three-course meal (that only costs you about $7 per person — shhh don’t tell) and welcoming music will not only impress them but have them raving to friends the next day about how freaking classy you are. You can ask friends to bring appetizers, salads, and dessert if you like, but for a small party you may end up doing the bulk of the cooking, so make it easy on yourself. Start the meal off with a garden salad topped with a small handful of Gorgonzola cheese and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. This is a simple salad, but the bitterness of the cheese and the sweet dressing makes for a diverse starter.
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Themes to Spice Up Your Party
arties can be duds if nothing is promised other than drinks, music, and friends. You might be the best company in the world, but having a theme that people look forward to participating in can be what turns a party into a soiree! Check out some of these Emerson-themed party ideas:
Sparty, could include people dressed as a socialite, a stranger with candy, a solo cup, a scientist, a saint, a statue, or Satan. Decorate with streamers, strobe lights, and sparkly things. Don’t forget snacks! Snow peas with sweet and sour dipping sauce, chocolate-covered strawberries, and spinach dip with sourdough bread.
Have a movie party!
Anything But Clothes Party:
Pick a favorite movie or for a bigger, broader theme; pick a favorite director, producer, or writer to base your party around, preferably one who has a variety of award-winning films, or even historically horrible films. You could also pick an actor with wide range of roles. For snacks, think movie set food: meat and cheese platters, mini-sandwiches, cans of soda. Some ideas to get you started: Tim Burton Joel and Ethan Cohen Uma Thurman Ed Wood Quentin Tarantino Alfred Hitchcock Nicole Kidman Jeff Bridges Meryl Streep
Letter Party:
Pick your favorite letter, and everyone dresses as something that starts with that letter. For example, an S Party, or
*“Not your Mother’s Microwave Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms” Recipe Credit: from Not Your Mother’s Weeknight Cooking, by Beth Hensperger. (c) 2009, used by permission from The Harvard Common Press.
Everyone gets the opportunity to show off their creativity by making new clothes out of anything from paper bags to purses, or even old textbooks. Any kind of food will do at this party, just make sure you have some duct tape to keep guest’s caution tape dresses and politician sign pants together.
Crazy Holiday Party:
There is a wacky holiday or some kind of observance for every month and almost every day. Check out holidayinsights. com for ideas. For example, January is Soup Month, and later that same month, the 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day, and the 31st is Backward Day.
Comic Party:
Everyone dresses as their favorite comic (this can include web comics). Serve Dagwood-sized sandwiches, Garfieldloving lasagna, or just check out an Achewood cookbook for ideas.
winter 2009–2010
During your fabulous dinner, play some tunes that are only slightly noticeable to avoid any awkward silences. Using channels on Last.fm or Pandora.com are a good bet if you are looking for variety. Try some of these classy picks: Chanson Francaise Carla Bruni Illustrations Folk-Rock Ambient
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Risotto is normally something you would spend over an hour making, most of which would be spent standing over a stove and stirring until your arm felt like it was falling off. However, this microwave asparagus and mushroom risotto* is the slacker chef ’s dream. You should start this about thirty minutes before your guests arrive and put the finishing touches on when it is time to eat. Start by chopping 6 ounces of mushrooms and 12 ounces of asparagus into bite-sized pieces and heat 3 ¾ cups of low sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians) on the stove. In a microwave safe bowl, heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil uncovered for 2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of minced shallots and cook for 4 minutes. Add 1 and ½ cups of Arborio or Carnaroli rice and stir to coat all the grains, then cook on high for 2 minutes. Add the hot broth and cook on high for 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and asparagus and cook for 8 minutes. Make sure the texture is chewy but also creamy and tender. Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as ¾ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and serve on the spot. Top the evening off with a really easy dessert: Fill a vanilla or chocolate dessert cup (found in the pastry or bread section of most grocery stores) with a heaping scoop of defrosted frozen mixed berries and whipped cream. Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries can be expensive this time of year, so opt for a frozen one pound bag and just defrost and mix with about 2 or 3 spoonfuls of sugar. Top the whole thing with some chocolate syrup or chocolate chips for a little extra detail.
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the poor emerson student’s guide to eating out: dinner for $10 or less
written by Lorena Mora / photos by Victoria Reuter
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fire + ice / 205 berkeley street, back bay Be the chef, do none of the cooking. Pick your own meat, veggies, noodles, seafood, and sauce and watch your meal get made right in front of you. Though the variety of meal options can be slim pickings (the main dishes are usually stir fry and hamburgers), the place is an all-youcan-eat nirvana. It’s a great place for groups, a fun date, or just a good meal that’ll keep you stuffed for a while. Head over on Monday nights when it’s College Night – Dinner is only $10!
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mike & patty’s 12 church street / (between Tremont Street & Fayette Street) Breakfast all day? Count us in! Although Mike & Patty’s is mostly known for their delicious sandwiches, their
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fantastic breakfast is served all day. Menu items include everything from just bacon and eggs to the Green Madame – a fancy little dish consisting of gruyere with dijon crème fraîche, broiled, on pain de mie. It sounds fancy but is only around $9. Not in the mood for breakfast? Mike & Patty’s also serves an assortment of reubens and fancy grilled cheese sandwiches. The only downside is that the place is super tiny, so get there early to grab a seat!
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s & s restaurant and deli / 1334 cambridge street, inman square Inman Square has a fantastic variety when it comes to food. The place is named after the original owner’s Yiddish phrase “Es and es!” meaning, “Eat and eat!” Possibly the only
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entertainment
Jewish deli in Boston, S & S is known for a fantastic diner atmosphere, its large menu, and staying open late. Matzo ball soup takes the prize as most popular item here, as well as almost anything on the Sunday brunch dinner. The place is a nice find for New Yorkers missing their delis or even Southerners longing for Cracker Barrel.
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grendel’s den / 89 winthrop st, harvard square Imagine getting cheese fondue, the Fish of the Day, or mussels from Cape Cod for half as much as you’d find anywhere else! The only catch is that you’ve got to get to Grendel’s Den between the hours of 5 – 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and EVERYTHING on the food menu is half price! Normally everything’s around $10, so you’re not missing out even if you can’t make it to this little Harvard Square gem during those times. Rub elbows with the future doctors and lawyers of America (this is Harvard, after all) or enjoy chatting with the friendly staff. It’s a great place to head over after a walk in Harvard Square; just be aware that it’s a bar, so you’re bound to run into a character or two. vinh-sun / 58 beach street, chinatown Of all the places to eat in Chinatown, Vinh-Sun is one of the best finds. Vinh-Sun specializes in Chinese barbecue and Cantonese food, so it’s not really your average Lo-Mein, Sweetand-Sour Chicken kind of place. Scallion pancakes and Love Bird fried rice are just some of the menu standouts. The portions are grand, so consider splitting your meal in two to share with a friend or to save for an all-nighter. Speaking of late nights, Vinh Sun is open later than most restaurants, making it a great spot to head over to when the rest of Boston is dying down. It may not be the ‘fanciest’ Chinatown has to offer, but it definitely beats the more convenient, closer to campus Chinese restaurants.
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written by Catie Colliton
etiquette Dinner manners are more important than you may think. You’re out eating a meal with friends or family, so don’t curdle their stomachs with any of these common offenses. if you drop your napkin or a utensil, get another or ask the waiter for another
Otherwise, everyone will think you have no regard for other people’s cleanliness, considering your own.
keep your mouth closed when you eat
No one wants to see what your food will look like in your stomach.
say it, don’t spray it
If you absolutely must talk when you have food in your mouth, cover your mouth with your hand to prevent repulsed looks. Same goes with laughing, coughing, or picking your teeth (and don’t pick your nose at the table).
never be rude to a waiter or call him to your table with snapping or whistling
It’s demoralizing, and no one likes a snob. He’s not your dog; he is a person who can choose to spit in your food or not.
always offer to pay for at least your portion of the bill
If the other party refuses more than once, shut it and be very gracious. If you were invited to someone’s home for dinner, bring a side dish, a bottle of wine, or some other small gift to show your thanks.
winter 2009–2010
fajitas and ritas / 25 west street (between bedford street & mason Street), downtown crossing It is simply un-Emersonian to not like burritos. With Boloco down the block and Herrera’s in City Place, you’d think we’d fulfilled our Mexican food intake. Wrong. Fajitas and Ritas is a hotspot for Tex-Mex food. The place serves everything under the sun; fajitas (of course), quesadillas, burritos, and even barbecue. The Ritas portion of the name refers to margaritas, of course, but if you’re not of legal drinking age you might consider ordering a round of Tequila wings for the table. Did we mention free chips and salsa?
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boston boroughs: written by Chrisanne Grise / photos by Demetra Lymberis
inman square is one of cambridge’s hidden treasures. the area is often overlooked or forgotten about, probably because it does not have its own T stop. but inman is full of delightful shops and delicious restaurants and cafes, many of which have won best of boston awards throughout the years. so clear your schedule and spend a day exploring one of the cutest places in the city.
punjabi dhaba 225 Hampshire St
christina’s homemade ice cream
Punjabi Dhaba serves up fast and yummy Indian food in an authentic Indian atmosphere. If that’s not enough to convince you, they’re open until midnight and almost everything on the menu is under $10. Plus, they like to blast Bollywood music, so you can get your groove on while you wait for your meal. But be prepared: this is a popular spot and can get quite crowded at peak times.
all star sandwich bar 1245 Cambridge St.
As you can tell by the name, All Star serves up delicious (and big!) sandwiches and burgers for great prices. Almost everything on the menu is under $10, and there are different specials for each day of the week. The staff is friendly and casual. Be prepared for an intimate atmosphere; the restaurant is small and cozy, so you will sit quite close to your fellow diners. And if there’s a wait when you get there, don’t worry—just help yourself to some free Oreos until you are seated.
1255 Cambridge St.
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If you’re still hungry after a day of shopping and exploring, be sure to stop by Christina’s. They make all the usuals, but for the more adventurous, there are flavors such as Burnt Sugar and Toasted Marshmallow. And just because winter is upon us doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a frozen treat either; get into the holidays with seasonal flavors such as Egg Nog or Peppermint Stick. Christina’s is open until 10:30 PM, so you can get your sugar fix at any time of day or night.
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inman square just hop on the red line to central and either take a bus (the 83 or the 91, either will work) or walk straight down prospect street until you’re literally standing in front of the all star sandwich bar. if you live closer to the green line, you can take the 69 bus between harvard and lechemere to make the commute less painful. before you go, take note: many of these places accept only cash, so be sure to fill your wallet before heading over (or take advantage of the ATM in the middle of the square).
the druid
1357 Cambridge St.
The Druid is a classic Irish bar and restaurant. Many of the staff have thick Irish accents, and most of the diners are regulars who know each other. This lends to a comfortable, familiar atmosphere, and the waiters never rush you. Oh, and the food is delicious as well. Check out their Sunday brunch—it’s served until 3:30 pm and you can get an entire meal for $10 or less. If you’re there later in the day, check out the flipping (pun-intended) delicious burgers. Don’t forget about Wednesday trivia nights either, because you can win both money and alcohol.
ryles
212 Hampshire St.
If you need an alternative to the usual club and party scene, check out the night life at Ryles. This place has everything: live music every day, Sunday jazz brunch, a bar, barbeque, and salsa and swing dancing lessons for $15 upstairs. The food is reasonably priced, and the venue is family appropriate.
lorem ipsum books 157 Hampshire St.
Take a peek into Lorem Ipsum and you’ll find plenty of quirky reads. The walls are lined with hundreds and hundreds of used books. They’ve got everything from Harry Potter to The Pink Panther Work Out Book (yes, you read that right). One of the best parts is the bargain bin, where you can find great books for as low as $2.50. There’s also a small collection of used vinyl records. Lorem Ipsum is a refreshing change from the usual Borders or Barnes and Noble.
boutique fabulous 1309 Cambridge St.
1369 coffee house 1369 Cambridge St.
This café is adorable. They have a delicious selection: both hot and cold drinks along with a full coffee bar and some tasty pastries and mini-meals. But the treats aren’t the only attraction. The staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly and will often strike up a conversation with customers while they prepare orders. Plus the interior with small wooden tables is very homey. Bring a book, a laptop, or a friend and hang out (but be warned, Wi-fi will cost you a few dollars).
winter 2009–2010
Fabulous, indeed. After just one visit, it’s easy to see why Boutique Fabulous was voted Cambridge’s number one gift store. They sell everything: furniture, dishes, secondhand clothing, jewelry, accessories, and art. Some things are vintage, some are new. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a loved one, you’re sure to find plenty of funky treasures. Sure, some of the items are a little pricey, but everything in the shop is so cool, you’ll have a hard time resisting. Besides, you saved all that money on lunch, so now you have an excuse to splurge a little.
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