Ink Magazine Issue 2 by Ink Magazine

married in college

tying the knot before getting the diploma

perscription medication

are you using or abusing?

go fish!

Richmond sculptures inspiring winter fashion

Vol. 2 No. 2 November 2009

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editor’s l

etter

ink staff SARA D’EUGENIO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MEREDITH RIGSBY MANAGING EDITOR PATRICE DALESSANDRO + MELISSA TABLANTE CREATIVE DIRECTORS KATHRYN GLUSHEFSKI PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR AMY JOYCE + TENOIYA CARTER COPY EDITORS CAROLINE EVERTZ CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR CHRISTINE ERICKSON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES EDITOR JAIME BARNETT ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR COURTNEY MANNION ART COORDINATOR NINA STODDARD VISUAL STAFF MATT SCHMIDT VISUAL STAFF CONSUWELLA CARRINGTON VISUAL STAFF CHRISTINE STODDARD VISUAL STAFF MILLICENT ENCARNACION VISUAL STAFF ELIZABETH FORBES VISUAL STAFF LEILANI LITTLEFIELD FASHION STYLIST SHAWNEE CUSTALOW GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER DENA SPRUILL STAFF WRITER TEDDY GREGSON STAFF WRITER PRAKESHA MATNUR STAFF WRITER SANTIA NANCE AD SALES LAURA PETERS MATT GENIESSE CONTRIBUTORS

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table of contents campus life 4

contemporary issues

VCU’s entry into filmmaking the filmmaking department takes a step ahead of other universities with the purchase of a camera that can film in 4D Promoting societal change through non-violent acts students help those in need by distributing food on a weekly basis Save the trash as the trend of “going green” continues to spread, local businesses try to encourage others to join the cause

10 Nate Waggoner zines, missed connections and the man behind it all

Ghost bikes individuals trade tombstones for bicycles, creating a new way to remember those lost

Google and your online presence ways to bump your name to the top of the search engine results

arts + culture 20

Gotta catch ‘em all interesting collections and those who harbor these unique items

Reinvent your closet how to make a closet of old clothes have the excitement of new ones

Married life students explore the advantages and disadvantages of tying the knot during their early college years

DIY thrift-giving guide give the coolest gifts this year without burning a hole in your pocket

Prescription medication a look at prescribed drugs: do they really work? are you using or abusing?

Can I kiss you? everyone has heard the phrase “no means no” but this simple phrase is often taken for granted: a discussion about consent and how to respect others’ boundaries

Interview with Zac Hryciak and The Jungle Beat Jungle Book and George of the Jungle won’t be the first things to pop in your head when you hear the word “jungle” anymore--a local band produces sounds that will keep you thoroughly entertained

Michael Muelhapt architecture or art? a featured artist whose work will make you rethink that tie rack from wood shop class

Go Fish fish aren’t just good for eating-they may be the bit of inspiration you need. those in the city of Richmond and the fashion industry agree

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Cover by Michael Muelhapt The cover was designed using VCU’s CNC router, a computer controlled cutting machine.

INK MAGAZINE 817 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220 (804) 828-1058 (receptionist) inkmagazine2008@gmail.com twitter.com/inkmagazine issuu.com/ink_magazine

CORRECTIONS FOR ISSUE 1: “Welcome to VCU” by Lee Khleang; “Roommate etiquette” art by Matt Schmidt; “No Money, No Problem: RVA free market” art by Melissa Tablante; “Players Predict Another Successful Season” art by Matt Schmidt; “Building Behind Bars: VCU’s relationship with prisoners” art by Austin Hannah; “How to Eat Healthy In College - and Like it” art by Nina Stoddard and Melissa Tablante; “Independent vs chain coffee shops: room for both in the fan” art by Sara D’Eugenio; “VCU students add Green to their everyday wardrobe” art by Christine Erickson; “Know your rights for equal fights” art by Melissa Tablante; “A little view from the top” art by Courtney Mannion; “Breconstructed” art by Shawnee Custalow; “DIY fall issue: what your walls are wearing” article and art by Jaime Barnett.

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VCU’s entry into filmmaking: purchasing a Red One 4K Camera

Nestled in the first floor of the Temple building, VCU’s primary mass communications building, is the university television station, VCU TV/HD. When you first enter the station, you face the editing cave, where film & photography, cinema, mass communications, kinetic imaging and English major interns stare for hours at computer screens to determine the best cuts and transitions to submit to their PBS-affiliated channel and website (vcutvhd.com). Turn left and you face the executive producer’s corner office, more editing stations and senior producer Lisa Figueroa’s desk. The set-up appears to be a humble abode for housing film and video equipment. The station is not as widely known as other branches of campus media such as the student newspaper, The Commonwealth Times. It’s not surprising, then, that roughly a year has passed since VCU TV/ HD purchased a Red One 4K Digital ULTRA-HD camera but the new addition is practically unknown to VCU students. After suffering the horrors of sitting on a long product waiting list, VCU TV/HD finally bought a professional Hollywood quality camera last summer– but who knew?

Christine Stoddard Illustration Patrice Delasandro

he Red One is a digital movie camera used by elite filmmakers and very few lucky students in film and video programs across the country. The camera, which boasts resolutions more than four times that of HD, has a sensor that can mimic the same angle of view and depth of field as Super 35 mm film. Super 35 mm is an extremely expensive format that has traditionally been used in the film industry but is difficult for independent filmmakers to afford without grants and commissions. Films like “Knowing,” “District 9,” “The Lovely Bones,” “My Bloody Valentine 3D,” “The Book of Eli,” “Che: A Revolutionary Life,”

and “Labor Pains,” have been shot using the Red One. The Red is the kind of prestigious camera that even students at Columbia University’s Film School practically have to beg to use, whereas interns at VCU TV/HD simply have to go through the proper training process and justify using it for a station assignment. Even students in the cinema department, the most highly-funded film and video department at VCU’s School of the Arts, don’t have access to this high-tech device (though that situation is subject to change). Dan Brazda, executive producer of VCU TV/HD, is thrilled at the possibilities the Red presents for the university station and the film industry as a whole. He describes himself as a, “tried and true filmmaker,” yet with a camera like the Red on the market, even he’s converted

to digital. Dan summarizes his career as “twentyfive years of film and one year of Red.” However, that career is steadily evolving into two years of the Red, as VCU TV/ HD produces more and more work with the camera. While the camera’s presence may have been relatively unknown to the VCU community up until now, that is bound to change. How did you get the Red? It was a long drawn-out process. Red One is very new technology; I’ve been following the progress of it for three years. It took a lot of faith to get involved early on, because often socalled ‘amazing’ products turn out to be less than amazing. But the Red One has exceeded my expectations. I was

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Here’s what Brazda had to say about the Red and it’s relationship with VCU: definitely hard to convert since I was a hardcore film guy since way-back-when. Which Red features are your favorite? The sensor size, because in film-making, a shallow depth of field is an incredible storytelling device. Many digital cameras have too much depth of field, but in storytelling, you want to focus your audience’s attention where you want it. Video has not been able to do that without clunky adapters, but the Redis an all-in-one camera allowing you to shoot quality slow motion, time lapse and sync sound. In the film world, I would often get a different camera package to do different things, different applications. The Red is a one-stop shopping camera. Often people will complain about new products, saying the support doesn’t live up, but the Red is a smaller company with top-notch customer service. One of their current programs allows you to get full face value of your Red One camera toward a trade-in on future camera technology like the Epic and Scarlet cameras. Red Digital’s motto is “making obsolescence obsolete.” What are your complaints about the Red? Very few, but I don’t like that you cannot have an open shutter for an extended period of time. In a film camera, you can set the shutter to be open as long as you want. If you want to be shooting things like a time lapse of stars in the sky at night, you’re currently very limited in what you can do with the Red. I also don’t like how, if you want to shoot 120 frames per second, you have to do that at 2 k, not 4 k. It’d be nice if you could use the full speed range at 4 k. They’re actually doing that with the “Epic,” so these issues are already being addressed. How will the Red benefit VCU TV/HD and the VCU community as a whole? It is broadening our approaches/abilities with the programs we produce. Most

of what we have done up until now is cinema verité, shooting from the hip programs. The Red will allow us to do more carefully thought-out, much higher quality programming. We’ll also be able to create archive footage. Anything shot on 4 k will be around forever. How does operating a Red differ from operating other digital cameras? Most other digital cameras, at least on a consumer and prosumer level, are kind of designed to be overly simplified. When you have the ability to manually set everything the way you want it-that’s more of the filmmaker’s way. You want control over everything. You don’t want the machine doing your thinking for you. How heavy is the Red? Fully loaded, with everything on it, 38 pounds. You can strip it down to as lightweight a package as 14 pounds. It’s a real, true transformer. The weight of your specific camera depends on learning all the different accessories that work with the Red and knowing your options as far as viewfinders, lenses, external storage and sound. How does the fact that VCU owns a Red distinguish it from other universities? There are some, but it’s a very limited number. I can safely say we are one of only a handful without having statistics to back it up, but as variations like “Epic” and “Scarlet” come out, you’re going to see Red Digital cameras popping up everywhere. For the same or less than what you would pay for a broadcast camera (with 75% less resolution and lousy depth-of-field), look at what you get. What VCU productions have been shot with a Red already? So far no programs have been shot 100% with the Red. A lot of supplementary footage has been shot on Red and downscaled to HD to mix with other cameras. We’ve also

begun an archival project of imagery from VCU campuses and the Richmond area. In the future, I think it will be used a lot more for programs from start to finish. The Red is capable of producing images that are superior to what most desktop editing systems are able to handle. We won’t be able to use it to its full potential until the editing systems up their capabilities. Once again, I prefer to be on the leading rather than the trailing edge of technology. How does owning a Red fit in with your goals for VCU TV/HD? We don’t want to get into a niche where all we do is cinema verité documentaries. But when we as a station appeal to students from Film & Photography, Cinema, School of the Arts, Theatre VCU and others, you get a great cross section of approaches and the Red is a fantastic tool to achieve all of those visions. That being said, the Red One is simply one thing in our bag of tricks. We can cover the entire spectrum from run and gun to feature film production and everything in between.

Dan ended the interview in saying, “35 mm is not dead by any means. They’ve been saying it’s going away ever since recordable video became a reality but there will always be a place for film. This last year is the first time that digital has actually put a dent in the motion picture industry. The great thing about Digital is that it opens up opportunities for filmmakers who’s messages may have otherwise been lost simply because they didn’t have the deep pockets of the major studios. Red Digital changes all of that and that’s good for everyone.

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promoting societal change through non-violent acts national organization supplies the hungry with food Meredith Rigsby Photos Sara D’Eugenio Every Sunday for the last 14 years, a mob of people can be seen in Monroe Park. However, these individuals are not there to hang out, but to be fed. The individuals providing and serving food to those who wish to take it are part of an organization known as Food Not Bombs. The group is devoted “to developing positive, personal, political and economic alternatives.” The main idea among chapters is that the government should be spending money on food and not on bombs; or rather “society needs to promote life not death.” Food Not Bombs has chapters all over the country, one of which

is located here in Richmond. Volunteers meet at the same house every week around 1 p.m. to begin preparing food. On an average week, about 10 people show up to make food for those suffering from hunger. Some volunteers are regular attendees, while others show up when they can. “There are a lot of meal programs in Monroe Park,” said volunteer Allison Self. “A lot of them don’t come very consecutively, but we have been coming here every year for 14 years.” All of the food that is served is donated by local grocery stores during the week. Volunteers pick up the donations in the event that they are not delivered. Virtually everything is donated, right down to the plastic bowls.

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Information about Richmond’s Food Not Bombs chapter can be found on their website at www. myspace. com/ richmondfnb.

Vegan food is the only type of food that can be found on Food Not Bombs tables. This is the organization’s way of trying to bring about non-violent social change. The change they are looking to see happen is the way that meat manufacturers care for and produce their

product. Often times, animals are severely abused and kept in insufficient living quarters. Meat is also not served partially because of the health risk of serving spoiled meat. “Most of the food comes from stores that are going to throw the food out anyways because it’s past

the expiration date,” said volunteer Nathan Stickel, who recently joined the Richmond chapter. “When you get fruit that is past the expiration date, it’s not a danger to anybody.” People usually trickle in for about an hour, which is about the amount of time Food Not Bombs stays in the park. However, it is a rare occasion that all of the food is eaten. The Richmond chapter used to donate leftover food to a woman who ran an independent daycare out of her house. The woman has since left the area, and now leftovers are given to the Salvation Army or taken home by volunteers to finish. Because the event

is held outdoors the organization is sometimes subjected to varying weather conditions. “If it rains, sometimes no one will come out but I think we do a pretty good job of anticipating how many people will come out,” said Self.

The group does not have any coverage from the harsh weather. Volunteers have expressed a need for tarps or tents but have yet to find someone who is able to donate any items.

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going green in businesses: a focus on a non-profit called Save the Trash Laura Peters Photos Sara D’Eugenio

In the back lot of a bar, restaurant and lounge known as The Camel, there sits hundreds of bottles sorted out by color: clear, green and dark. It is virtually a garden of recyclable goods. Carter Anderson, an independent contractor, started the nonprofit organization, “Save the Trash” to try and make a difference in his community. “The whole idea behind Save the Trash was to have commercial recycling paid for by the community businesses that are around.” One of his first steps in helping the city of Richmond “go green” was getting businesses like The Camel involved. The main purpose of Anderson’s organization is to provide recycling options for businesses and special events around

Richmond. He frequently attends and volunteers at festivals going on in the city, like the Irish Festival and various music festivals, to promote and set up recycling centers. The organization has been saving trash for three years and one of the problems it has witnessed repeatedly is most businesses find it hard to continue recycling because so few places accept recyclables. According to Anderson, building separate containers for each type of recyclable product would make it easier for businesses to sort trash to take to designated drop off centers to be recycled.  Save

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An easy way to go green in the backyard of businesses. the Trash became a legitimate operation a year ago and has since signed on with Cooperative Solutions, another nonprofit, to together benefit the community. Applying for and receiving grants for the organization is now the primary focus of the group. “I rarely get a good response,” said Anderson. “It’s really a oneman operation. It’s usually a question as to somebody doesn’t want to have it, don’t have space for it, can’t be bothered with it.”  Anderson’s main job consists of contracting for businesses in Richmond. He does a lot of work with The Camel building tables and anything that needs to be fixed. The Camel has been recycling for a little over three months so far.  “It does take a little effort. And you don’t get any money for recycling, there’s no financial gain in doing it. It takes extra man hours,” said owner of The Camel, Rand Burgess. “I was very hesitant at first. But once we started, it makes sense as long as we can maintain it.” Julia McCauley, Operations Director of the independent radio station in Richmond, WRIR, has been a supporter of the project for some time. The radio station plays public service announcements promoting Anderson’s Save the Trash organization. “Save the Trash helps WRIR. All of Carter Anderson’s

skills are summed up in Save the Trash. Not just Save the Trash recycling, but also Save the Trash carpentry and design.” McCauley has been building a new live studio for the station and applying Anderson’s skills to the project. According to McCauley, the new live studio is made out of recycled materials, including a volunteer’s old kitchen table. “He [Anderson] pushed me to start a recycling program,” Burgess said.“The City of Richmond doesn’t collect recycling on the back, so he does that. And my employees are all about it.”  Burgess also feels the City of Richmond’s trash system is not safe, economically or ecologically. Investing in smaller trashcans and placing more on each block are some of the changes Burgess thinks will help the lack of business participation. “The City of Richmond’s trashcans, the super cans, the concrete ones or the metal ones, cost $500 to $600 per can,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond talks about expense and whatever, but you put one super can or you could do a whole entire block and reduce the amount of litter.” According to the City of Richmond’s Refuse Collection’s website, each household is entitled to one plastic “super can” which is priced at $55. As for recycling with the city, Richmond works directly with the Central

Virginia Waste Management which comes weekly to pick up recyclables in certain areas. “We’re trying to find other ways for the City of Richmond to increase in recycling,” said head of the City of Richmond’s Clean City Commission, Darlene Mallory. Businesses that are already recycling are not doing so through the city. Instead, they participate with separate companies. Mallory also mentioned that most ideas that the Clean City Commission has are not yet concrete.  With the approach of a green revolution caused by the current economic crisis, Anderson feels that thinking green could produce more jobs. “I want jobs; I want people to have good jobs. I know a lot of people that need good jobs. I think green jobs can do it. I think if people are willing to pay for their recycling, then that’s going to open up money to get paid doing their recycling,” said Anderson.  In the end, Anderson hopes to make a program out of his nonprofit group that offers

scholarships to children who utilize recycling. Not only does he take the reusable materials to be recycled, he uses the recycling to make art. He’s made bar counter tops out of old glasses and concrete bases, one of which can be found at Papa Ningo, a restaurant in Shockoe Bottom. Save the Trash needs to be more organized, according to Burgess, who has plans to create a Board of Directors for the project. Burgess feels the issue needs to be looked at through a more businesslike view, with specific jobs split among a group of people, rather than just Anderson doing all the work. Save the Trash is tax-exempt under Classification 5013 C. Sources  Carter Anderson savethetrash@ gmail.com  Rand Burgess: The Camel Owner  Julia McCauley: WRIR Operations Director  Darlene Mallory: Clean City Commission Darlen.Mallory@ richmondgov.com

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“ Nate

Waggoner— Has he illustrated your Richmond Missed Connection? Christine Stoddard Illustration Nate Waggoner You might have seen his comic, “Slippin’ in the Tub,” which was done in collaboration with Jonathan Scheer in The Commonwealth Times during the 2008-2009 school year. Or maybe you spent an English class with him, giggling and guffawing at his witty remarks and noting his stodgy, professorial sweaters. It’s also possible that you spotted him at the former Richmond.com office on West Main, adjusting his Southwestern-style bolo as he wrote fake but hilarious horoscopes. This humorous man of mystery’s name is Nate Waggoner, and he’s a senior majoring in English and Creative Writing at VCU who recently participated in the third annual Richmond ‘Zine Fest’ on November 15, 2009. Curious about what he’s drawn up and written this year? Never fear, a transcribed interrogation is here! Here are Nate’s words on his brief history with the “zine scene” and his longer experience with comics--as well as tasty clues for how you can get a hold on his work. Why did you start creating zines? I’m Nate Waggoner and I got into ‘zine culture when my friend Katherine allowed me to share her table at Zine Fest last year and sell these comic books I had made. A ‘zine is traditionally defined as a fan-published single-issue magazine, and so I make ‘zines because I want to self-publish little books of cartoons about myself, Richmond, unrequited love, etc., in case maybe someone else likes them. What I make are more just like self-published comics, but so are a number of ‘zines that were featured at the Fest, and I think that the definition of a ‘zine should remain broadly defined. Why did you participate in Zine Fest?  One reason I participated in the Zine Fest is a terrible fear that if I don’t “put my name out there,” or something, whatever that means, I’ll end up starving to death because I’m too unskilled and socially unacceptable to succeed in the real world. The other reason is because I had such a fun time last year. ‘Zine culture, if it can be called that, is so amorphous that it never gets really annoying in the way that, say, pot culture does. As a whole, the culture can not be single-minded about ‘zines, because each person is too busy thinking about the thing that their ‘zine is about. So you have a group of select

”

literary- and artistic-minded people who are nerds or punks or Wiccans or whatever, all talking to each other about the creative process, and that engenders a feeling of genuine togetherness, which is rare but important. I was also excited because this year the Zinefest started on First Friday, when I tabled, and was at Gallery 5. I think that more people saw my embarrassingly personal little cartoons as a result of this occasion. I probably didn’t break even because of the way I priced things and because of how much I usually [mess] up at Kinko’s, and because tablers like to trade ‘zines with each other, but making money is very much beside the point, especially when you’re an entitled little trust-fund bastard like myself. What is your favorite ‘zine? Well, I hope my favorite ‘zine becomes the new one I’ve started working on. I hope it’s not just a pale sequel for the one that I’ll go ahead and describe as being my favorite, which is the first autobiographical cartoon that I’ve ever gotten serious about making and showing to a lot of people. It’s called “A Lifetime of Free Haircuts,” issue #1, and it depicts some of my friends and I in a series of humorous/uncomfortable/poignant situations. There’s also a bird metaphor. What ‘zine inspired you? I was inspired by comic book artists like Harvey Pekar and R. Crumb who really put themselves out there for the amusement of the reader and make characters of themselves. Larry David, too. How long does it take you to make a ‘zine? It took me a few weeks to make it, I guess—all I did was recollect things that happened to me and put them in panel form. I’m kind of a crappy artist, so some things took a few tries. Then I went to the copy place and made a scene because my credit card got stuck in the machine. I always sit on my wallet and my cards end up bent and broken. I hope that it’s a fun read because I made it to amuse myself, and the most compelling thing possible for me to see is myself failing at things or having bizarre interactions. So if you think you’re like me, or that I’m a funny guy, then you’ll like this comic.

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Of course, that’s not all you’ve drawn and illustrated. Could you describe some of the other ‘zines you sold at the ‘zine fest? I’d like the skinny on titles and descriptions. The ‘zines that I sold are “Missed Connections,” “Son of Missed Connections,” and “A Lifetime of Free Haircuts,” issue #1 and at press time I hope #2. The first two are collections of missed connections I found on Craigslist for Richmond. You might see yourself in there! After I made them, “I Saw You” came out, which is a book where a bunch of comic book artists that are better than me illustrated Missed Connections. That’s okay, you should buy my comics too, because I have no need to be, like, “the Missed Connections guy.” Anyone who thinks they’re “the ____ guy” is out of control. Also, I think my missed connections comic says a pretty good deal about Richmond.

For those who missed the ‘zine fest, where can they get your work? Do you sell/trade outside of ‘zine fests? If people miss the Fest they can go to my website (www. natewaggoner.com) or email me at NateWaggoner87@ gmail.com and request something. Or they can see me on the street or call me if they know me.

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host ghost g i b bikes kes

“Daniel Duncan, 18, Died Wednesday, September 3, 2008” Hinkleville, WV

Noticing the increasing bike culture, VCU graduate student John Petrenko developed ghost bikes, a project about roadside memorials. “About 95-98% of these bicyclists have been hit by motorists, whether it be a hit-and-run, drunk driving in the country or an accident in the city,” Petrenko said.

But why highlight these types of memorials? “It helps me better understand people and Richmond. It’s a grassroots culture - ecofriendly and fun.” Petrenko expresses that the bike culture isn’t made up of just one group of people, but ranges from the working stiff to entire families. Having already sought out and photographed many memorials located in the Mid-West, Petrenko plans on visiting New York City, Philadelphia and Portland, Ore. as well as eventually documenting bicycle culture overseas in places like Amsterdam.

“Jennifer Ellen Futrell, 29, Died Saturday, October 4th, 2008” Louisville, KY 12

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i b bik k

h gh g i b

Photos courtesy of John Petrenko

“J. Cecil Jarvis, 58, May 22, 2008” Lewis County, WV in Stonewall Jackson State Park

“Vance Kokojan, Thursday, July 17, 2008” Louisville, KY

“Mandy Annis, Finished God’s Race in 24 Years” Chicago, IL

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Google +

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your online presence Matt Geniesse Photo Shannon Crooks

It is becoming increasingly popular for prospective employers to check up on your history by simply typing your name into a google search bar. The act of googling has become so prevalent that I can safely lowercase it after Merriam-Webster classified google as a verb. But what do people find when they search for you online? Your profiles, news mentions or just strangers who share your name?

Standing out in Google search results can make a difference. The opportunity to showcase work on your site and lead online conversations about your industry can be a golden opportunity when curious managers go digging. Don’t expect them to look too far. If you don’t appear within the first page of results it’s time to get more active online. A few ways to get more involved in the digital world include:

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Profiles. Create profiles on Google, Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, Twitter, Ning and other popular social networking sites. Participate in the conversation. Start posting and commenting on forums and blogs that are relevant to your interests. Blog. Launching your own blog is a chance for you to share thoughts, comment on news and lead online conversation. Link and tag. Sharing relevant links and tagging your posts with keywords will help Google to recognize your content more easily and can make it more accessible.

Being one of the first few links in search engine results won’t help you if you aren’t saying anything valuable. You can leverage Google’s search power by tying compelling content to your name. Here are some tips for talking online:

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Talk about your work. If you don’t love talking about your industry, why are you in it? Stay appropriate. Remember that professionals will probably see what you’re writing, so consider knocking out expletives and questionable content. Have something valuable to say. If you’re only commenting to feel that bubbly sense of accomplishment that you participated online, then keep it to yourself. Show your enthusiasm. This is a chance for you to show employers that you’re truly enthusiastic about the work you do. Check your grammar and spelling. Solid writing skills will always be a plus so don’t degrade the quality of your writing with Internet lingo or careless mistakes.

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married life young students get hitched in college

While most girls daydream about their perfect wedding and what guy will sweep them off their feet, I find it terrifying.

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Christine Erickson Illustration Tim Lamb

The financial responsibilities in a marriage can break a relationship, especially during its early years. As a single dependent, my college loans are large enough, and I’ve almost gotten the hang of paying for my own electricity. My current income hardly allows room for textbooks, food and filling my gas tank. Don’t even get me started on love. We think about all those life-changing questions when coming to college: Am I making the right decisions for my future? When and how will I know? These are the same questions I wonder about marriage. Although marriage is not common for undergraduates some students have found answers to those questions as a couple. Some even find themselves better off than before they were married. Stephen and Katie Brewer have been married since July 2008. Since high school, the

two have been inseparable and marriage was discussed at an earlier age. After high school, Stephen came to Virginia Commonwealth University and Katie attended James Madison University. Finding herself unhappy in her new environment, Katie felt she should be somewhere else and migrated to VCU. Although Katie now lived in the same city as Stephen, the two chose not to be roommates. “Because of our religious beliefs, we’re not going to live together; we’re going to get married,” Katie said. “We knew we were ready. We’ve been dating for so long, we’d have to make all our future decisions together anyway. I told him, ‘I don’t know if I could come here if I wasn’t marrying you.’” While strong beliefs can be a valuable aspect in a relationship and influence major decisions such a living situations, there are couples

that find their marriage just as rewarding without religion. Orry and Crystal McCabe were married in June 2008. The two had been dating for a while and lived together without any problems. They realized they could never see themselves being with anyone else in the future, and felt getting married was the right thing to do. The McCabe’s held a secular wedding. Crystal prefers not to be involved in the ideas of religion and spirituality, and Orry is a very outspoken atheist. “We are best friends who confide in everything with each other,” Crystal said. “We have a lot in common, as well as some huge differences that we appreciate. They make for good dinner table debates and we both know we can be ourselves. We did not change to suit the other. We stay individuals.” Both couples have also found financial aid quite rewarding as a married couple. “So far the financial benefits have been great,” Crystal said. “Our tax return was very nice, and we can now file our own

federal aid. Since we are both under 24, that was a very important thing for us to be able to stay in college.” “We have definitely benefited from financial aid, the one thing we worried about the most,” the Brewers said . “With all the finances, we will have loans to pay back, but all students do.” So what makes a successful marriage in college and at such a young age? “You have to give your all,” the Brewers say, something Katie’s dad advised them about. “You may not be getting it, but you have to care about the person more than your own needs.” As for the McCabes, it is about compromising and staying individuals. “Giving each other space, but not so much that you are pulled apart and no longer emotionally connected. Being open and honest. Be ready to make personal sacrifices for each other.”

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Prescr pt on Med cat on “

Sara D’Eugenio Photo Sara D’Eugenio Illustration Melissa Tablante

Psychiatric medications are becoming more and more prevalent in everyone’s lives, whether your interaction is physically taking pills or seeing commercials about them on television every night. In today’s world, speaking about mental illness has become less taboo. However, new

It makes it seem like you have a problem if you’re medicated and leave you feeling dependant on the prescription. I feel like most things can be handled from within, for example, you just need to be aware that you get depressed sometimes and that you’ll get through it. Medication isn’t a good easy fix, it’s mind numbing and you can become extremely dependant on it. Try painting or going to the gym.

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problems arise:

How much is too much? Are we using prescription medications to easily escape

the emotional roller coaster that is life?

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I think that in certain circumstances medications are incredibly beneficial. I personally have been medicated since eighth grade and it was a decision I made with my parents. Therapy alone was not helping my problem and I am thankful to the medications for allowing me to live my life without having to check something over 50 times.

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I feel that medications must be prescribed on a case-by-case basis. They are neither good nor bad. And on an unrelated note, there are likely more impulse-disordered individuals in my generation, but they are unknown due to its stigma.

Do you believe the side effects of the medications outweigh the benefits?

“

Depends 66.3%

Do you know two or more people who take medication for a psychiatric condition?

Yes 16.8%

Yes 75.8% No 24.2%

Do you take medication for a psychiatric condition?

What is the most common psychiatric condition you’ve noticed treated (amongst yourself, your friends, family and the general public)?

No 73.7%

Anxiety 35.8%

Yes 13.7%

Impulse 30.5%

I used to 12.6%

Mood 22.1%

I am planning to begin 0%

Substance 9.5% Other 2.1%

Do you believe there are positives to this medication?  Depends on which medication 49.5%

Do you know anyone who abuses psychiatric medication?

Yes 40% No 10.5%

No 47.4%

Yes 52.6%

This survey is based on 95 VCU students who participated at random. Out of these 95 students, the responses begin to answer some of these questions.

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Can You What? Caroline Evertz Photo Millicent Encarnacion

Can I kiss you? Seems like a silly question of ask someone. But according to James Ginnell and the Can I Kiss You? Collective in Richmond, asking consent in all matters of intimacy is often overlooked.

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he organization, currently run by Ginnell and two friends named Alison and Carley, helps people in the community deal with sexual assault, whether they’re the victim or perpetrator, and also stress the importance of asking for consent and respecting peoples’ choices. Ginnell explains the body is the “last form of power” that should be valued. But what if you’ve never committed sexual assault? Ginnell says that “everyone is a perpetrator and a survivor.” He explains that consent is not apparent with everyone, and that everyone has situations that make others uncomfortable. A friendly hug to one person may seem like an invitation to the bedroom for another, and that the missing factor is a simple “yes” or “no.” “We found that people didn’t know how to make that decision,” says Ginnell. It began when Ginnell saw that there was a need for a self support system for people who had been sexually assaulted. Ginnell believed that some programs weren’t cutting it, such as sending people to hospitals, which are at times invasive and harsh on a victim. When a friend of Ginnell’s was raped, many people tried to

In our society, the absence of asking for consent is a growing issue.

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blame the friend and push him/her to be medicated, Ginnell says that putting people in those situations do not work and that the Can I Kiss You? Collective tries “to deal with people on a very personal level.” Ginnell does find that some programs work, such as VCU’s Wellness Resource Center (or “The Well”). “I find that the VCU Wellness Center had stepped their game up recently,” Ginnell said. “I think they’re doing a really great job,” he continued. In our society, the absence of asking for consent is a growing issue. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, every two minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. In universities alone, women are four times more likely to become victims; three-quarters of these cases are committed by non-strangers. Tammy McKeown, Coordinator of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services at The Well, helps survivors of sexual assault with needs such as finding counseling, hospital visits or to explain other options. “Some people who have experienced trauma do not think of all the options,” says McKeown. The Well also educates people on sexual assault and stresses the

importance on giving consent. “I try to build consent into just about every lecture that I do,” says McKeown. McKeown continues that the best way to know if you have consent is a verbal “yes,” and that consent is on a continuum from kissing to intercourse. “The absence of a ‘No’ does not equal a ‘Yes’,” says McKeown. “[It is] everybody’s responsibility to get consent,” she continues. McKeown tells victims three main points to remember while struggling with sexual assault. First “abuse is never their fault.” “We need to take the focus off the survivor and on the perpetrator,” she says. Second, that there is no rightor wrong way to react to trauma, and there are many options to handle it through The Well. Finally, sexual assault occurs in all demographics. McKeown says, “It is a social phenomena that knows no boundaries.” After helping people in the Richmond community, Ginnell will remember the effect he had on one friend who realized he was a perpetrator of sexual assault and knowing that something was wrong. Ginnel says, “I got to see him apologize to somebody.”

Sources: Tammy McKeown (804) 828-WELL mckeowntr@vcu.edu

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Gotta

Catch ‘Em All -

Courtney Mannion Photos Courtney Mannion Illustration Melissa Tablante What do Child’s Play, Japanese monsters and the color blue all have in common? They all belong to the unique personal collections of different VCU students. Read on to learn more about these quirky collections and the VCU

students that collect them!

Harrison Möenich Year/Major: Junior/ Double BFA Film-Making/Photo What do you collect? Child’s Play memorabilia Why did you start your collection? It’s my favorite horror movie and Chucky is my favorite villain. How long have you been working on your collection? Since I was 13 or 14. What is your favorite piece in your collection? My 1/3 scale replica dolls. They were custom made by a toy company in 2006.

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Lauren Fink Year/Major Senior/Urban studies What do you collect? Glass containers, mostly blue, mostly empty, but don’t take that as a metaphor or anything. Why did you start your collection? No clue. How long have you been working on your collection? Only a few years. I wasn’t really self-aware until a few years ago at least. A lot of the pieces have been in my family for years, though. What is your favorite piece in your collection? The clear aqua vase that I found in Vermont this summer, the one with the white flowers. My grandma gave me those flowers before I left for school last week.

Michael Skattum Year/Major Senior/ Painting and printmaking What do you collect? Japanese toys Why did you start your collection? I just like how weird all of the monsters were, and I like the link to past pop culture in Japan. How long have you been working on your collection? About four years. What is your favorite piece in your collection? My claw demon from Barom-1. It’s worth a lot and it looks dumb and cheap, a nice homage to vintage toys in Japan at that time.

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reinvent your closet! looking good just got a whole lot easier

Dena Spruill Illustration Sara D’Eugenio Is the recession digging a hole in your pocket? If you’re like me, you’re probably going through withdrawals due to lack of shopping. What’s a broke college student to do? Recession-smart fashionistas know that when you’re running low on cash, instead of blowing your last dollars on a new pair of boots, you should go shopping in your own closet!  Take some ideas from the runway and dig deep into your wardrobe. You might be surprised to find that your clothes are more versatile than you think. Much of what you already own can be reinvented within a matter of seconds, and it

The first step is to determine why you don’t wear something in your closet. Then, try to think of a way to fix the problem. For instance, if a top is too revealing or short, wear something over or underneath of it. If a top is too loose, slap a belt on top.

When you finally do get some cash and decide to replenish your wardrobe, remember to shop for classic pieces that you can mix and match. It’s important to have a solid foundation in your wardrobe before you can actually build on your style. A neon, asymmetrical-cut dress may look cute at next weekend’s party, but a classic little black dress can be worn just about anywhere. Trends come and go, but traditional pieces will never go out of style.

Experimentation is key! Here are a few things you can try without using a needle and thread. Combining colors/patterns that you think normally wouldn’t go together   Tucking a graphic tee into a pencil skirt   Wearing a top over a dress

Wardrobe essentials generally include: A blazer

A little black dress

Basic tees/tank tops/camisoles

Black tights

Cinching your shirt, dress or sweater at the waist with a cute belt or even a ribbon

Dark and light jeans

Black pumps

Black dress pants

Flat boots

Pulling up a low-waist skirt and holding it up with a belt

A pencil skirt

High heel boots

Tucking a dress into a skirt   Layering items of different lengths

Feeling really crafty? You can also try cutting an old band t-shirt into a tank top, or transforming an old pair of jeans into a pair of shorts.

There are some pieces that just won’t work, and there’s no fixing them. Don’t feel bad about selling or donating them. They’re just taking up space in your closet.

With these pieces in your wardrobe and a little accessorizing you can create an abundance of looks just by utilizing the garments you already own. Just because everyone has jeans and tees in their wardrobe doesn’t mean you should underestimate the power of this duo. Go casual-chic by accessorizing with a decorative scarf and bedazzled pair of gladiators. Prepare for a night on the town by pairing a leather jacket with a pair of high heel boots. There are so many possibilities! You just have to experiment and see what items work and which items don’t make the cut. Mixing and matching basic essentials will allow you to take your wardrobe in different directions and make it appear as if you have more clothes than you actually do. Just remember, the best part of fashion is how much fun it can be! There really are no rules. Express yourself and boost your confidence by wearing all the clothes you love without spending a dime.

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DIY

Thrift-Giving Guide Jaime Barnett   Photos Jaime Barnett The holidays can be a tough time for students on a tight budget looking to shower their loved ones with gifts. Rushing out in the midst of every other lastminute shopper rarely fills one with the holiday spirit. Instead of suffering from gift-giving anxiety, why not try an alternative approach that is certain to let you cross everyone off on your list... with an exceptionally original gift at that! Thrift stores are a great place to start (and end) your shopping. Whether you’re looking for a ready-towrap gift or a personalized project to take on, there’s bound to be a little something for everybody at your favorite secondhand shop. Look for items that may be used as fun and kitschy home décor. Clocks, plates and framed

prints can usually be found in excess at any thrift store and easily provide some spice to a wall or mantel.

Idea: Find multiple-sized frames that can be spray painted (gold! if I may add...) and hung together, boasting photographs of your favorite times. It’s an easy project that should cost approximately $5. Not to mention the priceless moments that can now be shown off!    Keeping an open mind when thrift-giving is important. Sometimes you may stumble upon items that are best used as something they are not originally intended for. A bird cage, for instance, easily doubles as a darling jewelry holder if you attach hooks to the top of the inside structure. Hang necklaces up top and store your bracelets and rings on the bottom. Voila!

Thrift stores always contain a section fittingly called ‘bric-abrac,’ which houses figurines, spoons, artwork, etc. A grab bag of interesting finds is an easy gift to give friends who have it all, and may even start their collections of owls that seem so prevalent in every thrift haven. An even more personalized project can easily stem from an item found in any thrift store. One can of spray paint goes a long way in giving an old item a facelift.

Your friends and family will certainly appreciate the thought and love you put into your gifts which will no doubt be oneof-a-kind. The

Idea: Find light switches,

possibilities are

frames, shelving units or

endless when

any item with a flat surface, paint it a solid color (or two) and apply wallpaper with an adhesive backing. Be sure to give it time to dry between coats and applications to ensure a smooth, even surface and a professional-

money is not, so be creative and don’t forget to put a bow on top!

looking finish.

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Zac Hryciak and The Jungle Beat Dena Spruill Photos Courtney Mannion Local musicians Jessika Blanks, Lee Spratley, Chris Harrison and Zac Hryciak together form “The Jungle Beat.” This folk/pop band specializes in heartfelt songs that will leave you daydreaming about the lazy days of summer. You might have seen them perform in local hot spots such as Alley Katz, Gallery 5 and The Camel, or heard one of their songs on local radio stations like WRIR. Influenced by artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Tom Waits and David Byrne, The Jungle Beat is making a name for themselves in the Richmond community. Lead vocalist and guitarist, Zac Hryciak shares a few moments with INK to speak about the band.

How did you form the band name? The band name, “The Jungle Beat,” is not really supposed to represent the band members, but what the music is as a whole. So when I introduce the band, I say everyone’s name first and then I introduce the music as “The Jungle Beat.” However, in short, the name “Jungle Beat” happens to also be the theme song title to the Disney film “The Jungle Book,” which I tend to reference often.

What genre of music do you consider your work to be? I was having a discussion with my fellow band mate Jessika Blanks (violinist and vocals) about what genre we consider ourselves, when she mentioned the only reason our music is considered folk is because she plays the fiddle. That, and when we started playing together three years ago my music was very folk influenced...I think that we’d like to think of our music genre as orchestrated pop rock.

Any major influences? I grew up with a musicallyinclined family, so I’ve been in love with music for a long time. My current biggest influences would have to be, in no specific order, Paul Simon, Stereolab, Rufus Wainwright, Grizzly Bear, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Cat Stevens, Tom Waits, The Incredible String Band, Shugo Tokumaru, Animal Collective, Serge Gainsbourg, Phillip Glass and David Byrne.

How long have you all known each other and how did you meet? Jessika and I met in high school. I saw her play with a friend who wrote folk songs, so we got together and we’ve been playing since. Two years ago we had finally gotten a drummer (Michael Satterfield, formerly from Mermaid Skeletons). He played with us for a few months until he got too busy to play. Jessika suggested asking her boyfriend who was a drummer to come play a

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practice session with us. He came, he rocked and he was immediately asked to join the band. About six months ago, he suggested a friend from the music program at VCU, Chris Harrison, to be our bassist. Where do you get your inspiration? It can be purely from every bad and good thing that happens or thoughts that I’ll have that sound ludicrous when said in conversation, but in song, sound a bit more intelligent. It could be stories about my life, past, present and future. I write about my dreams, when I can remember them. I’ve even written about politics, believe it or not. And I hate politics. But the main thing to remember is that 90% of the time I’m writing in metaphors. I almost never write a literal statement. I’d love to share my thoughts with everyone, as long as you can’t really understand them. I don’t really understand why I do it, it’s just easier that way. What image do you think your music conveys? Are there any main themes or topics behind your songs? There’s a lot of images I’d like to think my music conveys. A lot of times the image I convey is actually not what I meant. For instance, our song “Robbing a Wal-Mart” is about a dream I had about the end of the world. It was terrifying and I wrote the song and I was like “wait, this isn’t scary, people think it’s funny.” Then I realized all of my songs mean something different to other people, and that’s what makes it important to them, which is what music is about. I write about love too much. True love seems to be a reoccurring theme in my music I can’t escape for the

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life of me. Other than that, I write a lot about my personal growth, and my need to be a better person, because, honestly I haven’t thought too kindly of myself in the past. For those of you that still attend VCU, what are your majors? I am majoring in hanging out. I went to J. Sargent Reynolds for three weeks and dropped out. I simply didn’t enjoy school and would rather work on my music full time. Jessika Blanks is majoring in elementary education, Lee Spratley is majoring in English and Chris Harrison is majoring in music business. Our bassist had this to say on juggling music and college: Three of us attend school full time now, and all of us at some point were music students at VCU. I’d say for me, a “music business” student, which means I’m a fulltime music student and also studying marketing at the same time, is a little bit of a struggle sometimes, but it’s also the most rewarding thing in my life. I just have made a decision to completely devote myself to being a working musician, which means not only practicing all the time, but trying my hardest to be a strong reliable business person and a successful student. As for Jessica and Lee, they’re an even better example of juggling musicianship with being students. They are both have decided to study something other than music in college. They, in my opinion, are two of the hardest working, beautiful musicians I’ve had the chance to play with. They put in the work and dedication on their own time, and have very heightened

attention to details. And all three of us are lucky enough to be able to work with a songwriter like Zac, who is blessed with such a great voice, talent and a very serious level of dedication. Where have you performed before? Any favorite or least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows? We have played at local venues such as The Camel, Gallery 5, The Bagel Czar, Nara Sushi, Rumors (before they got screwed over), Alley Katz, the courtyard at 304 Adams St., MACRoCK, Ghost Print Gallery, the Tea Bazaar, The Triple, Cous Cous, Helen’s, WRIR and we’ve even had the pleasure of playing at the Edgar Allen Poe Museum. What has been your biggest challenge as a group? Probably timing. One of us is always late for practice... What’s the ultimate goal for your band? Fame and fortune, or just artistic expression? I don’t think it’s wrong to say that you can have artistic integrity and make a living. I dropped out of school because this is the only thing I can imagine myself doing happily. And thankfully, Lee, Jessika and Chris agree that they want to be a part of this wholly. We would all like to see this music shared and heard by as many people as possible.

The Jungle Beat’s first E.P. “In the Jungle of Fearful Harmony” was recorded in October at Sound of Music recording studios. Check out The Jungle Beat at www. myspace.com/zandthejungleb

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