Spring Issue 2020 (Cover B)

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S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 | VO L U M E 1 3 | I S S U E 3

MR. AND MR. DANCE FITNESS pg. 24 | STIRR LIGHTLY pg. 27 | FALLING AND FUMBLING FOR FILM pg. 38

Letter From the Editor

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’ve been with Insight Magazine for three springs, making this one my last before I venture off in my postgraduate adventures.

In the last three years, Insight has always been a constant regardless of all of the changes, losses and gains throughout my university career. It’s given me opportunities, a creative space, but mostly importantly, a voice in this community, which I will always be grateful for.

I celebrated my first spring at the magazine with my first published work, and I celebrated my second with my first cover story. I’m now celebrating my third with you, dear reader, as Editor-in-Chief, hoping this issue captures the season and its promise of dreaminess, color, indulgence and vibrancy in spite of hardships.

When I got the job, I vowed I’d make my first

Photo by Kellie Sasso

issue a full labor of love, which with the help of my wonderful volunteers, interns and staff, I’ve gotten to achieve. All of our hard work has resulted in our new logo and this groundbreaking double cover issue, which hasn’t been done before at the magazine. Let’s just say we really wanted to start the new decade with a bang.

Featuring Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness: A Story of Dance, Passion and Love and Stirr Lightly, the covers encapsulate our community beautifully, showcasing our writers as storytellers and showing there’s a lot more to Nevada than dusty casinos and Lake Tahoe. We hope this issue displays our people and helps question what other stories are waiting to be told. So, please take a moment with each page and enjoy what I feel is a labor of love.

CRYSTAL LUGO

Insight Magazine Editor-in-Chief

STAFF

KELLIE SASSO Photo Director

Photos by Kellie Sasso

RYLEE JACKSON

MARINA LEIGH

Staff Writer

Copy Editor

interns

Sruthi Srinivas, Copy Editor Intern Mary Young, Photo Director Intern Reilly Moss, Art Director Intern Olivia Sullivan, Staff Writer Intern Maddie Hall, Social Media Intern

contributors

RYAN ALMAZAN Art Director

KYLA DANIELLE KWAN

Wenei Philimon, writer Melissa Vidal, photographer Kaeli Britt, writer Dahlia Jones, writer Kaitlin Venneman, writer Eric Banavong, writer Alexandra McVey, writer Idalia Concha, writer Mckenna Brunn, designer

Social Media Director

About the Magazine

Corrections

You hold in your hands the latest iteration of Insight Magazine. We hope that you will enjoy it. Not only is this issue the result of a tremendous amount of hard work, but it is also a representation of a student publication over a decade in the works (with origins as the Artemisia, the former yearbook of UNR dating back to the 1800s).

Insight Magazine works to correct any errors. If you find a mistake or misprint, please contact the editor at insighteditor@unr.edu.

Thank you for supporting us. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you're interested in getting involved with us, visit insightunr.com > Get Involved.

Insight Magazine is proud to have placed tenth in the 2018 National Associated Collegiate Press Conference in the category of Feature Magazine.

CONTENTS

NEWS

National Poetry Month Is Coming to Reno The Closing of the U and Textbook Brokers The Coronavirus Fear Guide to the 2020 Presidential Election

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REVIEWS

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FEATURES

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LIFESTYLE

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OPINION

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"The Slow Rush" by Tame Impala "You" Season Two Made to Perfection: Perenn Bakery The Jesse Greta Gerwig's Exquisite Hollywood History Everywhere You Look, There Are Underrated Full House Moments

The Women Behind "Rainbow Rodeo" Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness Stirr Lightly That Mamba-Wolf Mentality

How Owning a Plant Can Help You Adult A "Get You Through Anything" Guide How to Have the Perfect Reno Picnic Falling and Fumbling for Film A Look Into the French Beauty and Fashion

Love and Relationships in the Media Rihanna, Where's the Album?

The Fine Line in Free Speech

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Staying in-the-know is critical. Gain some insight— no pun intended—on the current presidential candidates, the coronavirus, National Poetry Month and the closing of the U and Textbook Brokers in our news section.

Photo by Kellie Sasso "National Poetry Month is Coming to Reno" on Page 8

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NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IS

COMING TO RENO

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Words by Sruthi Srinivas Photos by Kellie Sasso

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ational Poetry Month —one of the largest celebrations of integrating different ideas, thoughts, and perspectives —is observed every April, bringing people of all backgrounds together. In 1995, April was dedicated to poetry by the Academy of American Poets to accommodate a growing “curve of energy.” This dedication to poetry and people’s participation proves it hasn’t been forgotten by American society. Instead, it continues to impact peoples’ lives.

National Poetry Month was inspired by celebrations like Black History Month and Women’s History Month in February and March, respectively. Its goals were not only to appreciate existing histories of American poetry but to look towards the future, too. The Academy of American Poets thus sponsors an annual education project that includes reading, writing, speaking and listening activities intended to get children into poetry and help them find their voice.

Additionally, Youtuber and writer Savannah Brown created a poetry challenge called “Escapril,” where she posts writing prompts every day of the

month for viewers to try. “It’s a great yearly thing to bring writers together,” she explained in her Twitter announcement.

And Reno, too, has found ways to commemorate the occasion. Sundance Books & Music, a supporter and facilitator of the city’s burgeoning literary community, has been hosting National Poetry Month readings for the last 20 years during which over 100 poets have read their work.

Past speakers include Sherwin Bitsui and Gayle Brandeis, and range from MFA students, published writers and published professors.

Other honorable mention includes Reno’s Spoken Views Collective, a youth group of poets and writers, performing at Laughing Planet on Virginia Street last April. The event, hosted

by Wolf Speaks, attracted open mic regulars and newcomers, providing a multitude of performances. The Spoken Views Collective hosts their own events at the Holland Project and will be throwing a Holland slam poetry event this April.

At the time of writing, there have been no new announcements that pertain to National Poetry Month in Reno, but stay tuned for workshops, readings and other events to come.

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The Closing of

THE U AND TEXTBOOK BROKERS

Words by Wenei Philimon Photos by Melissa Vidal

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he University of Nevada, Reno is expanding students’ alternative transportation options. The Regional Transportation Commission has bought out The Union and Textbook Brokers to better accommodate students by extending the Virginia Street route. However, students have found these plans disheartening.

The Union is a popular bar at the southend of the University

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of Nevada, Reno. When students heard it was closing down due to university expansion, students started a petition to stop the bar from closing. The students who started the petition blamed the university for buying the building. However, property was bought by RTC. One person on the petition stated, “The U is my favorite part of Reno, and is such a historical place. Please keep The U.'' Others have made similar comments on it being a historical component.

Textbook Brokers is an alternative to the Wolf Shop, giving students cheaper options for textbooks.

Textbook Brokers is also closing its Virginia Street doors and will be relocating to another Reno area.

Many students are worried about how accessible the new location is going to be.

While The U and Textbook Brokers will be missed, the University’s master plan is to expand and make the university more accessible to all students. This expansion is supposed to make it easier for students to get around, which is why the RTC now offers free bus fare for UNR students, faculty and staff with their Wolf Card.

the

CORONAVIRUS

Editor's note: This article was written in early February 2020. Any information is confirmed to be accurate at the time of writing.

Words by Wenei Philimon Illustrations by Reilly Moss

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here is a lot of global fear concerning the coronavirus, which has been spreading fast across continents with its death toll increasing.

However, when students at the University of Nevada, Reno were asked about the disease, they didn’t really know much about the newfound virus.

Cheryl Hug-English, the university’s Student Health Center medical director, sent an announcement to students about the coronavirus on Jan. 27, 2019.

“Although news about a new infectious disease can be unsettling,” said Hug-English.

“Please know that the CDC and other health authorities

are monitoring this situation closely and that our medical staff is staying up to date with guidelines and recommendations to help promote the health of our campus.”

According to the Washington Post, Chinese health officials have confirmed about 34,000 cases and 720 death cases due to the coronavirus. With cases found in 20 countries, there have been seven confirmed cases in the United States. U.S. officials are currently working on a second round of evacuation for Americans currently in China.

So far, there have been cases confirmed in California, Washington and Arizona.

The closest case to Reno was confirmed in Santa Clara County, which is located in California and only four hours away. There were concerns in Las Vegas, but the person tested negative for the virus.

When a person is suspected of the virus, protocol requires isolation in a quarantine at their local hospital or their location; this is evident in the Japanese cruise ship situation. Once the virus was identified on board, people were quarantined in their rooms. This was the only way they knew how to contain the virus for the time being. However, in the past, efforts to isolate diseases have proven time and time again to not work as planned.

Isolation attempts with Leprosy

fear cases, for example, have been counterproductive since isolation discourages seeking treatment.

According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the coronavirus may have come from an animal source, such as a live animal market, but is now spreading from person to person.

While we are now hearing more about the coronavirus, doctors in China have spoken out about the Chinese government knowing about this and having allowed it to get to this point. Recently, Dr. Li Wenliang, one of the doctors who was the most outspoken about the virus, died from it while being reprimanded by Chinese authorities.

Scientists are currently working on creating a vaccine to combat the virus after receiving samples of the virus from the first U.S. case. They have been studying the virus and are now going through the process of testing potential drugs, testing how it affects animals and how it may affect humans.

There is no cure for the coronavirus but awareness is important. Some symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, masking as the flu. Some ways to prevent it are to wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and to avoid close contact with people who are sick.

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GUIDE to the 2020

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION "I am confident that we have many active and politically aware students here,"

Geneva Wolfe

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Words by Kaeli Britt Illustrations by Reilly Moss

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he difference between a primary and a caucus is small but significant. A caucus is a more public event where people following the same candidate will meet and group together, trying to convince others who support different candidates to join their candidate’s campaign.

Typically, those in attendance are people who are members of their preferred political party and are registered to vote. The group then discusses who they want to recommend as their party’s candidate nomination.

Unlike a caucus, a primary is the general image that comes to mind when thinking of the words “polling” or “voting.”

“The primary election is the presidential election that decides which candidate will represent each political party in the general election.

This happens in each state and U.S. territory throughout the late winter and spring,” said Geneva Wolfe, a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno and current participant

of Elizabeth Warren’s campaign on campus.

Nevada is among the few states and United States territories that chose to hold a caucus instead of a primary during this presidential season. Though all caucuses and primaries are important, the Iowa caucuses, which are held in early February, are vital to the nomination process.

“The Iowa Caucus —which is a primary election —is the first in our country so it does impact the rest of the primaries somewhat. I think the candidates all campaigned very well in Iowa and the outcome was reflective of that,” said Wolfe.

Winning in Iowa leaves candidates with a strong feeling of momentum meant to carry them through the nomination process and onto the general election, which is on Nov. 3.

During this year’s Iowa caucus, there were multiple inconsistencies and confusion with the immediate results of the caucus when they were released the following Monday night. This caused the results to be “delayed by ‘quality control checks’ that still left issues unresolved when the results were released on Wednesday,” according to The New

York Times. Due to the situation, Nevada decided not to use the same app the Iowa Caucus used to avoid issues with counting votes.

In this presidential election season, the top Democratic candidates so far are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. Andrew Yang was previously one of these top Democratic candidates but dropped out of the presidential race on Feb. 11, the same night as the New Hampshire primary.

Both The Associated Press and The New York Times have been updating their webpages with the current caucus results, after votes are counted in each state or territory. At the time of writing, the results were as follows: Pete Buttigieg, 13 delegates and 26.2% of the votes; Bernie Sanders: 12 delegates, and 26.2% of the votes; Elizabeth Warren: eight delegates and 18% of the votes; Joe Biden: six delegates and 15.8% of the votes; and Amy Klobuchar: one delegate and 12.3% of the votes.

Additionally, Andrew Yang, Tom Styer and Deval Patrick are still maintaining less than or equal to 1% of the votes with no delegates.

The top Republican candidates are current President Donald Trump and William Feld, a previous runner for Vice President on the Libertarian Party ticket in the last election.

Similar to the last election, the younger demographic of voters have continued to show genuine interest in following the campaign from start to finish, expressing their opinions and standing by them.

“I am not aware of the voter demographics of UNRs student population, but I am confident that we have many active and politically aware students here,” Wolfe said.

Editor's note: This article was written before Super Tuesday. Any information on presidential candidates is confirmed to be accurate at the time of writing.

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REVIEW INSIGHT

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Wondering what are some of the coolest shows, music and local spots around? Our reviews section has your back. Check out our take on what’s buzzing.

Photo by Mary Young "Made to Perfection: Perenn" on Page 17

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THE SLOW RUSH

by Tame Impala Words by Kaeli Britt Photo courtesy of Modular Recordings

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fter five years, Tame Impala has finally released a new album titled, “The Slow Rush.” The album is the first project since their third studio album, “Currents.”

Kevin Parker, the Australian musician behind the project, wrote all of the tracks.

“The Slow Rush” consists of 12 new tracks, including preceding singles, “Borderline,” “It Might Be Time,” “Posthumous Forgiveness” and “Lost in Yesterday.” While these new releases sound like what one might expect from Tame Impala, they also branch out into a softer form of the psychedelic genre.

The songs “One More Year,” “Posthumous Forgiveness,” “Breathe Deeper,” “Tomorrow’s Dust” and “One More Hour” stand out because of their new, unique sound and the

MEDIA

storytelling. The songs have a nostalgic and yearning energy as Parker reminisces yet looks toward the future.

For those who aren’t familiar with Tame Impala, or haven’t heard their other work outside of “Currents,” they fall under the psychedelic genre and are often compared to sixties and seventies psychedelia.

However, “The Slow Rush” channels new sounds while balancing the old and wellrecognized sounds that play a role in defining Tame Impala.

“Lost in Yesterday” channels a soft rock sound, maturing from their wellknown psychedelic sound fans love. In “The Slow Rush,” there is a mystical balance between soft rock and psychedelic sounds, showing Tame Impala’s versatility.

After listening to “The Slow Rush,” I’m excited to see what genre(s) Parker decides to incorporate with his next project, whenever that will be.

reviews

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"YOU": SEASON 2 Words by Dahlia Jones Photo courtesy of Netflix

“Y

ou” fans are finally able to catch up with their favorite stalker Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) in sunny California, as he attempts to start anew.

Goldberg, who stalked and manipulated his girlfriend Beck (Elizabeth Lail) in season one, moves from New York City to Los Angeles as “Will Bettelheim.” In season two, Joe/Will makes a conscious effort to stop being a stalker and escape his murderous past; however, when he meets Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), he finds himself resorting back into his old ways. Throughout the season,

Joe/Will tries to hide his past from Love despite obstacles continuously getting in his way like his guilt.

Season 2 writers do a great job on developing Joe’s character by including background on his upbringing and his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Candance (Ambyr Childers), which somewhat explains his behavior. In season one, Joe rationalized his bad behavior, but in season two, he makes an effort not to kill, while still finding it hard to resist.

Hey, you. Are you anticipating Joe’s next chapter?

Great news: “You” has been renewed for a third season, which is set to be released in April of 2021. You can’t wait until then? Binge watch the series on Netflix today!

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Made to Perfection:

PERENN

Words by Kyla Danielle Kwan Photos by Mary Young

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ocated in Midtown, Perenn Bakery is tucked behind busy streets and loud city noises. Guests are welcomed by smiling employees, an environment of tranquility, and the sweet scents of freshly-baked pastries.

From pastries and bread to sandwiches and tartines, I find myself torn between two of their popular menu items, a Vanilla Creme Brulee Kouign-Amman and an Egg Tartine paired with an Iced Chai or Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Although the menu is short and simple, I have memories of frantically trying to decide what to order while

driving to Perenn Bakery. Oh, how great it would be to order all of the above.

I remember the excitement of stopping by before my internship over the summer, and shamelessly, during my lunch break to pick up a baguette for dinner. Perenn Bakery is my go-to for a catch-up-date with friends or for an afternoon to myself.

Perenn Bakery encompasses grandma’s baking talents and the idea of simplistic living, or perhaps hygge, a Danish practice of living in contentment. The bakery is a quick getaway and a sweet reminder to take time to breathe and enjoy a pastry.

Perenn Bakery is located on 20 St. Lawrence St. Their daily hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PLACES

reviews

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THE JESSE

Words by Rylee Jackson Photos by Kellie Sasso

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he Jesse, opened in August 2019 and located in Reno’s Brewery District, embodies a unique experience true to its Nevada roots. The new hotel and bar is named after Jesse Lee Reno, who was Union General during the American Civil War and also the namesake behind the Biggest Little City. The building itself has an extensive history—first as the Royal Hotel in the early 1900s and later developing into The Reno Jazz Club in 2001.

The hotel provides six guest rooms perfect for overnight stays.

Even if one isn’t checking in for the night, the property includes a

comfortable lounge bar area along with Estella, a mini-restaurant specializing in street tacos and mezcal—all of which are available to the public. The tacos are not only delicious, but their Instagram worthiness is evident in the minimalist presentation of the small, white plates—making the colors of the ingredients more striking. The cocktails embrace the local centric theme through their fun names like “Never Leaving Reno” and “Aztec Club.”

What makes The Jesse especially significant is its sense of openness.

Guests and non-guests are able to eat and hang out wherever they please. Whether it’s the snazzy longue or the decorated patio, nothing is off limits—calling for a refreshing experience and making The Jesse a new Reno standout.

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GRETA GERWIG'S

Exquisite

Words by Crystal Lugo Illustration by Reilly Moss

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merican actress and filmmaker Greta Gerwig has been beaming on the Hollywood radar in recent years, venturing into solo directorial success with films like Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019). Gerwig has been changing the Hollywood game with her brilliant, semi-autobiographical writing, innovative female characters and shooting on film.

Gerwig wrote and solo directed “Lady Bird,” a coming-of-age film, starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet and Beanie Feldstein; loosely inspired by Gerwig’s upbringing, the film follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Ronan), a senior in high school from Sacramento who dreams of moving to the East Coast after graduating, claiming “I want to go where culture is like New York, or at least Connecticut or New Hampshire where writers live in the woods.”

This film is perfect for those who want to venture off beyond their suburban, familiar corners.

“Lady Bird” is full of witty dialogue and examines close relationships, getting into the teenage mind and capturing the early 2000s zeitgeist

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in an authentic, refreshing way. The film gained her an Oscar nomination for best director and had many questioning what was next for the filmmaker.

On Christmas Day 2019, “Little Women” became Gerwig’s second solo directorial success, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep, “Little Women” follows Louisa May Alcott’s novel about the March sisters as they find their place in the world while dealing with their sister’s illness and adulthood.

Gerwig pushed to shoot the film in Concord, Massachusetts, where Alcott wrote her novel and pushed to shoot on film: “Greta wanted to tell the story with all the bells and whistles the business has to offer,” said friend and producer, Amy Pascal.

Gerwig added her own vision (for example, the “I’m so sick of it” scene —which brought many viewers to tears) and took a metanarrative take on Alcott’s novel, merging the main character Jo March (Ronan) and Alcott. The adaptation became a sweet homage for Alcott, her legacy and those who relate to the literary

HOLLYWOOD HISTORY icon.

“Lady Bird” and “Little Women” are stories about ambitious dreamers written by an ambitious dreamer; Gerwig’s solo directorial ventures have attempted and succeeded in capturing the essence of womanhood by telling stories of perseverance. Her inspiration and motivation is likely because of her own perseverance and dreaming, having noticed an absence of female directors and female stories in the mainstream. Because of this, her projects are female-driven.

“Having so many girls leading the way on [the Little Women] set definitely changed the tone… we were all completely hyper with each other, and Greta is such a girl’s girl herself, she really captured that energy,” said Ronan to Vogue.

So, what’s next for Greta Gerwig?

According to Vogue, Gerwig and her partner, Noah Baumbach have signed on as co-writers on “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie. However, “There are reports that Gerwig will direct, but for now she says they are just focused on the screenplay.”

Until then, you can find Gerwig gracing Vogue's January 2020 cover and living with Baumbach and their baby, Harold Ralph, in West Village, New York City.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, THERE ARE

underrated

moments Words by Rylee Jackson Illustrations by Reilly Moss

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ith “Fuller House'' releasing the second part of their fifth and final season this year, it’s the perfect time to reminisce on the show that started it all. For a show that debuted in the late 80s, it’s impressive how “Full House” continues to strike the interest of younger generations— possibly due to the reboot trend swarming the mainstream in recent years. In addition to nostalgia, the appeal of the original series lies in its distinct characters and its relatable story line.

We have the obvious moments ingrained in our memory like Uncle Jesse skydiving into a tomato truck before his wedding or the time Stephanie did the most 90s dance routine to Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly,” but there is much more to the show.

For your consideration, here are three underappreciated episodes that will make you say, “have mercy.”

“Secret Admirer” - S4, E11 Season 4 is arguably one of the show’s greatest seasons primarily because of the milestone moments ranging from the introduction of Uncle Jesse’s Greek family to Joey starring in his first sitcom alongside Frankie Avalon. But Cindy, Danny’s new girlfriend, and Rusty, her prankster son, take it to the next

level with this family barbeque episode.

After finding out D.J. was in love with Ricky, the neighborhood paperboy, Rusty decides to compose a fake love letter to make D.J. think Ricky is her secret admirer.

The plan backfires as the letter somehow gets into the hands of each family member—thanks, Michelle.

Kimmy Gibbler even thought Uncle Jesse was in love with her at one point.

As amusing as the episode is, it raises a big question in the series.

What happened to Cindy and Rusty?

Cindy seemed to be the perfect match for Danny—obviously before our queen Vicky came into the picture. After all, Cindy worked as a dry cleaner and there’s no one that loves to talk about cleaning products more than Danny!

There was no explanation for their departure in the series, which is a shame. Jeff Franklin, we need to have a word. Justice for Cindy and Rusty!

“Road to Tokyo” - S6, E3 Throughout the series, Uncle Jesse’s music career has had its ups and downs. From Vulture to Hot Daddy and the Monkey Puppets, Jesse’s greatest career decision had to be his cover of the Beach Boys’ “Forever” with the Rippers.

“Forever,” the anthem to Jesse and Becky’s gospel choir filled wedding, rose to the top of Japan’s charts and soon became the song that made his musical dreams come true.

Jesse and his family travel to

Tokyo to celebrate his success. He is swarmed with adoring fans, a long list of gigs and even an assistant who gives him anything he wants at the drop of a hat. The problem is, he completely disregards vacation time with Becky and the twins and even commits to a year long tour without asking them. His inflated ego is embarrassing through his diva demands for honey roasted peanuts, but it remains a defining moment in Jesse’s story.

“The Producer” - S8, E13 Even though Danny had been a host on “Wake Up, San Francisco” for years, Becky gets promoted as the new producer of a show. This sets Danny into a dumpster fire of jealousy, but he pretends it doesn’t phase him. Once Becky rejects Danny’s beloved “Welcome Back, Kotter” reunion idea, he impulsively quits the show and sadly, doesn’t get the opportunity to honor his favorite characters, Barbarino and Horshack.

From Joey’s desperation for Vanilla Weasel cookies to Nicky and Alex screaming for “besert,” the Tanners are an absolute mess during the last dinner scene. Becky and Danny have an iconic petty fight, which leads Danny to compare the new “Wake Up San Francisco” episodes to a cavity—leading him to say, “If the tooth hurts, suck it.”

There are tons of other episodes to binge watch, so it’s recommended to log into your Hulu account or pop in that old DVD boxset for some more Tanner family fun. You won’t regret it.

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FEATURE INSIGHT

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The features section will give you an inside scoop on the Reno folks you must know. Check out our stories on local band Stirr Lightly, the university’s Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness, three journalism students who are changing the documentary game and Kobe Bryant’s bittersweet influence on our basketball players.

Photo by Kellie Sasso "Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness" on Page 24

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THE WOMEN BEHIND

RAINBOW RODEO

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Words by Wenei Philimon Photos by Kellie Sasso

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riven by their passion to cover stories that are often overlooked and misjudged, three Reynolds School of Journalism students created “Rainbow Rodeo,” a documentary about Reno’s first-ever Gay Rodeo, started by Phil Ragsdale, the Emperor of the Comstock Empire Silver Dollar Court. “Rainbow Rodeo” received critical claim, ultimately winning “Best Documentary at the RSJ Documentary Film Festival in 2019.

Journalism students Bree Zender, Emily MacDiarmid and Carly Sauvageau, collaborated to create “Rainbow Rodeo”; Zender joined the team as the Co-Director and Executive Producer, MacDiarmid as the Co-Director and Director of Photography and Sauvageau as the Editor, Audio Technician and Executive Historian.

The documentary timeline begins with the first rodeo in Reno, Nevada, focusing on different individuals’ lives and the impact the rodeo had on them. One of the individuals was Ray Martin, who shared about his experience living as a gay man in Reno, his friendship with Ragsdale and the impact Ragsdale’s death had on his life.

“I thought it was very interesting because it was so much about breaking stereotypes,” said MacDiarmid. “When we talk about rodeo or when we talk about country music, or even now it’s a very masculine thing.

We were kind of learning about our subject were like, ‘just because we’re gay does not mean we’re not masculine,’

understanding what it means to be in the community and also be a rodeo athlete breaking those stereotypes.”

During their active years, the Gay Rodeo gained rapid attention, going from small crowds to thousands in attendance by 1983 because it was so innovating.

In a regular rodeo, there is calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle and bull riding. The Gay Rodeo, however, included “wild drag,” which consists of a two people (one in drag) and a cow. When the whistle blows and the cow comes out, one of the two people has to get past the sixty foot line, but the person in drag has to get on the cow and ride the cow back. Another activity unique to the Gay Rodeo is “goat dressing,” which is a two-person team competition, testing their ability to put underwear on a goat. The team

that puts the underwear on faster wins the competition.

“It’s something to look at especially during that time, seeing gay people showing affection to each other and holding hands in public was not something,” said Zender. “Even nowadays there’s some anxiety in showing affection within the LGBTQIA+ community.”

By the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic started to spread, and the documentary addressed the effects it had on the Gay Rodeo. With many gay men being diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS, people began to link the LGBTQIA+ community to the virus.

“There’s something you think about just with your own biases about a rural area, country culture, gay culture and then to see that intermingling,” said Sauvageau.

“It’s interesting to see that there are

complexities to everyone.”

The AIDS epidemic ultimately the gay rodeo’s end due to many losing their lives. Ray Martin also ended up losing his dearest friend, Phil Ragsdale, whose drag persona was “Sally Slammer.”

Due to this documentary being historical, the team tried to find footage but unfortunately, the Gay Rodeo didn’t recieve a lot of coverage. However, Ray Martin’s partner helped with finding archived photos and videos. The team also got in contact with people who were involved and open to sharing personal photos and stories, helping the documentary come to life.

While creating the documentary, the team experienced some struggles putting the documentary together.

Sauvageau stated there were many storylines from different people, making it difficult to put everything together.

“We wanted to make sure that it was within a cohesive piece,” said MacDiarmid.

The trio had many options with the documentary’s direction, as well.

However, they did not want to make the documentary about them, so they avoided adding things like narration or cue cards.

“Our main thing was that we weren’t just making this for ourselves but we were making it for the community, to give them a voice,” said MacDiarmid. “we’re not here to tell the story, we’re here to give the individuals the tools to tell their story.

So, sharing that with more people is our goal.”

“Rainbow Rodeo” has been submitted to several film festivals.

The group hopes it will bring awareness about Reno’s overlooked piece of history and is excited about what the future has in store for them.

“Rainbow Rodeo” is currently unavailable to the public due to the creators actively submitting it to film festivals.

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MR. & MR.

DANCEFITNESS A Story of Passion, Dance and Love

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Words by Ryan Almazan Photos by Kellie Sasso

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mong the classes available at the University of Nevada, Reno’s E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center is a Zumba class taught by two instructors whose story and relationship has dance fitness at its core. Meet Daniel Marquez and Javier Leija, the university’s Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness.

The smiling, ever-so positive Marquez sat down with Insight Magazine to chat about his and Leija’s story of passion, dance and love. Daniel Marquez was born in a small town near Los Angeles, California and moved to Reno, Nevada at the age of 3. Javier Leija was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, where he had graduated from university before moving to Reno at age 22 in 2015.

The two met at a Zumba class where Marquez was an instructor.

Introduced to Leija by a friend, the two quickly became friends and started spending time together for months before making their relationship official.

“I asked, ‘So, are we dating?’ It was so stupid, but I still remember he had given me this fake flower.

I still have that flower. It’s hanging in our car,” said Marquez. “I guess it was just when I wasn’t actively looking for and focusing on a relationship that I met the love of my life. It was when I wasn’t pursuing, and when I was focusing on myself.”

Marquez’s views on self-love and self-improvement have influenced him as a dance instructor, bringing people into the fold and encouraging them to find their own form of active expression. Positivity is the basis of his work and passions and summed up by three words he and

Leija use to kickoff every class.

"Peace, love and confidence," Marquez said with a smile. "It's to say just remember to be peaceful with yourself, remember to share love and remember to be confident because we often forget that we have that power."

That power in part refers to the community he and Leija have built over the years at UNR and at other studios. Their UNR class, held on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., is an opportunity for change. While Marquez began as an instructor in 2013, he started teaching at UNR in 2014, with Leija joining him in the 2019-2020 academic year. Each session is about connecting, fostering selfconfidence and pushing people’s boundaries through dance.

“We want all the people to come to our class to feel safe, comfortable, sexy and empowered.

And we love when they start sharing smiles with us, and with everybody,” said Leija. “It is not mine or Dan's class. It is their class and we want them to feel that they are part of our mini club.”

Adding to that sentiment, Marquez said, “Some students will come and really not know many people, and there will be some that have their friend groups that come sometimes. But what we do see a lot is eventually they start to mingle… One of the things that we do see here is a younger demographic. People are into [Zumba] everywhere, but here it's like sometimes we can push the boundaries a little bit.”

The large presence of a younger demographic is unique to the couple’s classes at the university. It allows them to gain special insight into the world from a growing and changing group of students. Changes from their youth to the youth of today includes an increase

in LGBTQ+ representation and Latinx representation — both of which the couple identifies with.

This increased acceptance is something that both Marquez and Leija witnessed a lack of in their younger years.

“I didn't come out until I was 21, and there was a lack of a lot of Latino rep, you know, just like anybody of color. And I didn't see a whole bunch of LGBTQ representation either,” said Marquez. “It was difficult, and I think if it had been like how it is now, hopefully I would have had the courage to be able to [come out] because I was and still am a very, very, reserved and shy person.”

Representation of the LGBTQ+ community, especially of gay men, also comes with a representation of stereotypes. Confronted by the stereotypes of especially white "twinks" led to a certain perception of the ideal gay body type. This perception can be so strong that it can intertwine with the very definition of being gay, creating a distortion of body image that needed to be overcome.

“I always thought that being gay I needed to be fit, and I don't know why,” said Leija. “Now I just focus on myself to be comfortable with myself and to feel good and healthy.”

Being role models is important to the couple since both started

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from a place of insecurity before embarking on a journey of self-love and self-realization. Marquez noted that he was at 255 pounds before he passed by a dance studio, intrigued by the women inside that seemed to be enjoying their workout. Marquez learned to accept and savor his journey at its present.

“Decide what you want to accomplish, and then create those goals towards it, but don't just like say ‘I will be happy when I get to minus this amount of weight,’ or ‘I will be happy when I have a six-pack,’ or ‘I will be happy when like I have a thick butt,’” said Marquez. “It's almost like the seasons. Be happy in the season you’re in right now. Find that silver lining.”

When speaking with Marquez, there’s a certain twinkle in his eyes, showing his deep-rooted love for his work; this love follows in his and Leija’s dedication. The two create

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their own choreography and playlists, spending every Thursday combing through the Billboard Hot 100 and charts for countries around the world.

They include different genres like K-Pop and Brazillian Portuguese funk music to shake up their speciallymade playlists.

“What we’ve noticed is that people here really enjoy a lot more of the top 40, including reggaetón, which is stuff we really like. It makes us really, really happy that the genres and the style that we enjoy everybody else seems to vibe with,” said Marquez.

And although the future is scary (according to Marquez), Leija and Marquez don’t foresee any kind of end to Mr. and Mr. Dance Fitness any time soon.

“We do what we love,” said Marquez. “The people that we interact with — we don't consider them clients or patrons. They’re our friends.”

STIRRLlGHTLY

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Words by Kaitlin Venneman Photos by Kellie Sasso

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xpect nothing less than pure electricity, honeyed voices and an overwhelming sense of belonging when indie rock trio Stirr Lightly takes the stage. A quick look around the room of any of their intimate concerts, you will find dozens of faithful fans donning their favorite Stirr Lightly t-shirt, friends ready to have the greatest night, and unsuspecting locals about to hear their new favorite band.

Stirr Lightly is certainly no stranger to the local Reno music scene. Consisting of Courtney Mayer on lead vocals and bass, Bijou Bell on vocals and drums and Victoria Almanzán on vocals and guitar, the group has accumulated hundreds of fans, written and produced their own EP, and gotten over 20,000 total streams on Spotify.

Despite the huge outpouring of support, the band announced they would be taking a break for a few months to work on their new album in July 2019; many fans were left wondering when they would come back. Rest assured, the hiatus is almost over as they work on finishing their upcoming album.

The three have always had a deep love for music. They all attended Las Vegas Academy of the Arts to study music, but they didn’t officially meet until they each found themselves studying at the University of Nevada, Reno and floating around in various local bands. Almanzán and Mayer soon started playing guitar together and were set on having an all-girl band amongst the maledominated music scene.

“In a world where playing shows

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is mostly done by dudes, it’s nice to let it be known that we enjoy the same thing. I took inspiration from other all-girl bands, too, like Grass Widow and the Vivian girls, and watching them have fun and write whatever music they wanted made me want to do the same,” Almanzán said. “[Almanzán] always talked about wanting to be an inspiration to other girls. The music scene in Vegas was especially male saturated and [we] thought it’d be cool to break that standard… I also feel like I’m able to be more honest and personal when it comes to our songwriting,” Meyer added.

All they needed now was a drummer, and Bell, a percussion major with a passion for their same indie sound, fit the bill perfectly. Stirr Lightly officially came together in early 2017 and have been a band ever since.

When discussing what has been the most influential for their growth, Bell is quick to say the Holland Project, a non-profit dedicated to showcasing local music and art in Reno, has helped immensely. “The Holland is pretty much where we get the really great gigs,” she says, mentioning that many of her favorite shows have been played here.

Additionally, Reno radio station KWNK has provided a great deal of interest in the band. “We are played on KWNK a lot…

We’ve played there before and we’ve done live shows that are broadcasted on the air… [they] are so wonderful in promoting our growth,” Bell said.

Their new untitled album is set to release in the near future after almost two years since their selftitled EP broke through the Reno music scene. The girls only write their music together, so Bell admits the album has been taking longer

than anticipated. This time, they are focusing more on the process and writing as much as they can whenever they’re together. The venture has proven to be quite difficult with Bell finishing her percussion major, Mayer working towards her masters in counseling and Almanzán working as a teacher and waitress. “[With] the last album we wrote, we kind of pushed ourselves by setting the album release date and then rushing through it, but it takes longer because we only write our songs in practice together,” said Bell.

So far, a few songs have been finished, and Bell confirms the sound will be way different than the “soft surf ice cream” their fans are used to. Coined by the band, the term describes their dreamlike music, which is a combination of indie, surf and math rock.

“I feel like [soft-surf ice cream] is an outdated term that we have yet to update because we still don’t know what our sound is… I don’t know a band that sounds like us,” said Bell.

Still, the album will stay true to the dreamy aesthetic found in their past songs such as “Blue Collar,” and will include more three part singing similar to their song “Sap,” as opposed to many of their other songs with Mayer taking the vocal lead.

“We all have been through some crazy boy problems in the last five months, so it’s going to be inspired by being gaslighted, by being lied to. We have a lot of anger about that,” Bell admits.

For updates on Stirr Lightly’s album release, visit their instagram @stirrlightly. Their music is available on Apple Music and Spotify. Want to catch them live?

Check them out at the Holland Project on April 26, 2020.

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THAT MAMBA -WOLF MENTALITY:

a look into Kobe Bryant’s legacy on Nevada

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Words by Eric Banavong Illustration by Reilly Moss

“K

obe!” you shout as your classmates watch you with anticipation, hoping you make the paper ball into the trash can.

Fifteen feet away, the same distance as a free-throw—you’ve got this.

The ball shoots from your hand in a perfect arch and lands right in the can. Perfection.

To the generation that grew up with Kobe Bryant, dedicating each throw to Bryant in hopes of gaining his Mamba luck was a part of our culture. So when Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, passed on Jan. 26 in a tragic helicopter accident, the world was in disbelief. A man dedicated to sport, philanthropy and being a “girldad” was suddenly gone, leaving three daughters, his wife and his heroic legacy behind.

Bryant first gained recognition after declaring for the 1996 National Basketball Association draft right after high school. Known as the “Black Mamba,” Bryant had four AllStar Game MVPs, eighteen All-Star Game selections, five NBA titles and countless other accomplishments under his belt.

His work ethic inspired a new generation of basketball players, and his off the court successes impacted many lives; he showed the world that putting enough work and time into anything could mold you into the best, which made him a hero to

many. The University of Nevada, Reno’s basketball teams were no exception to his reach.

Nevada Men’s Basketball guard, Kane Milling, sat down with Insight Magazine to chat about Bryant’s legacy and how it’s caused a loving sibling rivalry. Milling and his younger brother always argued about who were the better teams, franchise and basketball players.

His younger brother, who favored Bryant, would make good points, causing Milling to love Bryant, too.

Despite their differential beliefs, Milling admitted he understood his younger brother’s admiration for Bryant.

“I still always admired [Bryant], loved watching him, reading what he does, what he did as a player. He really influenced my work ethic,” shared Milling. “on the court he was your worst enemy but off the court he was your best friend… that’s just a great mindset.”

Bryant’s mindset also influenced forward Zane Meeks, and has shaped his work ethic. “He worked so hard. A lot of the dudes worked hard, but he was the first one that was a real combination of incredible athletic ability and ridiculous amount of hard work,” shared Meeks.

When recalling some early, fond memories of Bryant, Meeks recalled a moment when he was in the third or fourth grade and watching the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics play. “ I remember Kobe was just going crazy and was getting

buckets everytime… that was the first time I was like ‘Kobe’s the dude.

Kobe’s a stud.’”

Robby Robinson, a forward for the Nevada Men’s Basketball team, is driven to play basketball professionally after college, hoping to channel Bryant and put in as much time as Bryant did. “Nobody worked harder than him, and I just try to apply that same kind of heart and passion into my individual career,” said Robinson.

Aside from his incredible work ethic and sportsmanship, one of his greatest impacts on basketball stemmed from his love for his four daughters. In an interview with CNN in 2018, Kobe described his support for the Women’s National Basketball Association because of his daughter Gianna “Gigi,” his second oldest, who strived to be a part of that league.

“Gigi would have most likely become the best player in the WNBA. She would have made a huge difference for women’s basketball. Gigi was motivated to change the way everyone viewed women in sports,” said Vanessa Bryant, Gigi’s mother and Kobe’s wife of 18 years at their memorial held on Feb. 24 at the Staples Center.

Bryant and Gigi’s influence touched Marguerite Effa, a forward for Nevada Women’s Basketball team. “Kobe is definitely one of my influences. Not just on the basketball court with his mamba mentality, but also with the support he had for the WNBA.” Bryant would often show up to

women’s college basketball and WNBA games with his daughter.

His mere presence brought attention to the league—showing young girls that basketball isn’t just for boys.

“I would tell him ‘thank you so much for having a positive impact on so many kids who looked up to you. I would tell his family to stay strong and be very proud of what he has accomplished in his lifetime because not many people have done what he has done,’” shared Effa.

Off the court, Bryant won an Oscar for his film “Dear Basketball” and wrote “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.” These endeavours inspired LaPrasiah Johnson, a guard for the Nevada Women’s Basketball team.

After Johnson watched his interview on his successful first book, she was amazed. “He truly just showed me that you can do everything you love in a lifespan.

He was the greatest of all time while being the over the top father during and after the season. It made me realize how much I have to maximize my time,” said Johnson.

On and off the court, Kobe Bryant inspired the world. Bryant was a man who was dedicated to his craft and wasn’t afraid to branch out and conquer challenges, which is something we can apply to our daily lives. Bryant once said, “Heroes come and go but legends are forever.

He knew. We knew. The world knew. He is forever.

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LIFESTYLE INSIGHT

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Our lifestyle section captures the essence of Reno and current trends.

Join us as we try to create the perfect Reno picnic, learn about film photography and the ways plants can help us adult and as we look into French beauty and fashion. Trying to get through anything? We have a handy dandy guide that’s got you covered.

Photo by Mary Young "How to Have the Perfect Reno Picnic" on Page 36

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HOW

owning a plant

CAN HELP YOU ADULT

Words by Alexandra McVey Photo by Mary Young

W

ell it’s happened again.

You’re sitting there, watching your one beloved plant turn into a crumbling mess from too much sun exposure.

Or was it the over watering?

It's hard to take care of ourselves sometimes, so why are we constantly buying plants and hoping to keep them alive? Let’s get it together and stop commiting plant murders!

A great way to start is by naming our plant —creating that emotional connection —and setting a time to water it.

Next time you go into a plant shop, ask the store clerk about watering and placement recommendations.

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For example, some plants only need to be watered occasionally and some plants require low light conditions rather than direct sunlight. Put yourself in your plant’s pot. We know that being thirsty or sunburnt is not fun at all, especially simultaneously, so why should we put our plants through that?

Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing, but they also make your home an inviting space. If you're looking for a plant to compliment your home but are on a budget, check Moana Nursery and Lowes out to begin your journey into parenthood.

If you’re looking for a specific plant, then Sierra Water Gardens and Natural Selection are great options.

We are capable of this responsibility; we can keep our plants alive. If we can take care of a plant on our own and manage to

live our everyday lives, then we are one step closer to being good at something called “responsibility.” It’s a part of the adulting gig. Plants teach us to be dependable and honest with ourselves; if your significant other can’t keep their plant alive, that's a red flag and you should probably have a talk. But don't worry, as long as you're there for your plant, your plant will be there for you.

A plant is a commitment that can give us the opportunity to grow. Next time you purchase a plant, try and make an effort in keeping it alive, so you and your plant can thrive together.

A GET YOU

through anything GUIDE

Words by Sruthi Srinivas Illustration by Reilly Moss

Recognize Your Feelings and Express Them in a Healthy Way

ou’ve had a bad day.

Maybe you didn’t get that internship or job you wanted. Maybe your love life is in shambles.

Maybe your best friend is drifting away. Maybe everything that could go wrong is going wrong, and you don’t know what to do but scream.

However, remember to breathe.

See, we’ve all had our fair share of bad days. It’s a universal experience without a universal remedy —until now. Well, kind of. We’ve tried making something that’s hopefully pretty darn close.

So, here you go. It’ll be okay.

Write. Yell into the void. Smash things up (in a safe, controlled environment). Organize your room, mess it up and reorganize it again.

Whatever gets all of your anger and frustration out and whatever makes sense. Whatever it needs to be — without harming yourself or others.

Y

Go on a Long Drive Let the wind blow against your face. Going somewhere with no real destination or real purpose is therapeutic. Nothing between you and your car —except the music.

Here are some great tunes that will remind you life isn’t too bad.

• “24/7/365” by Surfaces: Makes me believe in simplicity.

• “Play That Song” by Train: Pure nostalgia.

• “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson: Super cute. Warm and fuzzy all over.

• “Sunflower” by Rex Orange County: Reminds me that at my darkest times there’s still a bright sunflower, waiting and growing and blossoming.

• “Take It All Back 2.0” by Judah the Lion: About taking control.

Realization and its power.

• “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo: Pure bad b*tch energy.

• “8TEEN” by Khalid: Sentimental.

• “Buttercup” by Jack Stauber: Absurd but oddly uplifting.

Watch and Listen to Things That Make You Feel Good Let’s be real: your thoughts are a b*tch sometimes. Sometimes, you need a pick-me-up, something wholesome or just something to slap you across the face (metaphorically) and inspire you in ways you didn’t know were possible. Here are some podcasts and books to help.

Books: •

•

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck” by Mark Manson: A brutally honest book that teaches you how to disconnect when your f*cks won’t let you.

“The Gift of Mindfulness” by Yvette Jane: Simple. It will renew your serenity and peace.

Take a Walk There’s beauty everywhere — even in the mundane silence of a suburban neighborhood or the bustling streets of the city. Go to your favorite spot, where the world is uniquely personal, and absorb it. Absorb the calm, the crazy and the in between.

Indulge When self-care is mentioned, people usually resort to laughter and excuses. “I don’t have time for that,” is the college student’s go-to. But you can’t always wait until you have time to do something for yourself.

Sometimes, you have to make the time. So get some ice cream, watch your favorite Netflix show and snuggle up with blankets. Or maybe buy yourself a face mask or better yet, make one. Time well spent isn’t always studying or working, so be kind to yourself and relax.

But most importantly, remember to breathe.

Podcasts: •

• •

“Thick and Thin” by Katy Belotte: Vulnerable, honest musings of a twenty-something.

Definitely speaks to the soul.

“Everything is Alive '': Witty, hilarious and thought provoking.

“Personal Best”: A funny and quirky take on selfimprovement. Sure to brighten your day.

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MODELS

Megha Malik Kennedy Vincent CHELSEA TAYLOR INSIGHT

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Words by Kaitlin Venneman Photos by Mary Young

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icnics have long been a summer tradition for many. Some may plan weeks ahead to ensure a few hours with their loved ones, indulging in treats and the warm weather. And yet, planning one could seem like a lot of work. With the following tips and tricks, you will have the perfect Reno picnic —guaranteed.

Choosing the Right Location Luckily, Reno has plenty of beautiful areas to choose from.

For a grassy spot by the river, Idlewild or Wingfield park will make for a great, playful picnic.

For something on the unique end, Rancho San Rafael has plenty of spots to choose from, including beautiful gardens and a museum to visit after your picnic. If you’re willing to drive a bit further, areas around Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe have small nooks of sand between rocks that provide some gorgeous views.

Planning Your Picnic Meal For some, a takeout meal might make for the ideal picnic. Places like Laughing Planet or Rubicon Deli provide easy, handheld meals you can bring. For a lighter picnic, try picking up some pastries and coffee at your local coffee shop or bakery. Homage, Perenn, and House of Bread are delicious bakeries, and JoStella and Bibo Coffee Company have a variety of delicious drinks to try.

Alternatively, a homemade spread can be a lovely choice.

Try a potluck with fruits, cheeses,

chips, dips and sandwich materials, such as deli meats.

Being aware of any dietary restrictions is critical. Vegetarian and vegan friendly alternatives and gluten-free bread are available in many shops, including Trader Joe’s.

Packing Right A thick, washable blanket and reusable plates, cups and utensils are essential. It’s important to make your perfect picnic perfectly sustainable, as well. Try swapping plastic packaging with mason jars or tupperware. And, if you’re really into the spirit, bring some throw pillows and blankets for a sweet, cozy picnic.

Watch the Weather Reno is known for having plenty of sunny days, especially in the spring and summer, but it’s also known for its moody, random weather. Is it snowing and/or freezing outside? Indoor picnics are totally possible by taking the fun, music and treats inside.

Bring the Entertainment Games are a perfect way to ensure a good time. Smaller card games are easy to transport, but there are also plenty of games that require no materials at all, such as Mafia or Paranoia; instructions for both are online.

Make the Memories Last Taking pictures is an excellent way to document your day under the sun. Want to get a little creative? Try snapping your perfect picnic with an Instax Camera, Polaroid or disposable camera.

Remember to Be Flexible While planning ahead can certainly help to ensure the perfect picnic, this is not always how things will pan out. The perfect picnic is not always about the sunny weather or grassy field. It’s about the delicious treats, the good company and the memories.

Preparing the Perfect Playlist Bring a speaker to listen to some great music as you eat and hang out with friends. Curating the perfect playlist is simple if you combine all of your favorite tunes.

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falling and

fumbling for

film

Words and Photography by Crystal Lugo

I

have always enjoyed documenting my life through visual pursuits; over the years, I’ve kept journals, created collages and snapped photos on my phone, hoping to remember it all.

Those around me would say I’m a pretty sentimental gal.

When I was first introduced to digital photography and enrolled in my first photography course, I quickly fell in love; it gave me space to document my life in an artistic, thoughtful manner, giving me the option to experiment with composition, light, patterns and editing.

However, the more I got into photography, the more I gravitated to certain photographers like Linda McCartney, Vivian Maier and Emma Elizabeth Tillman — all of whom are film photographers.

Film photography and its process overwhelmed me at first. Being so used to seeing my photographs right away, the idea of only having 24 to 36 exposures and not being able to see my shot was intimidating. Still, I figured I would dabble in it, hoping to capture that soft filter, vintage aesthetic McCartney and Maier achieved, but most importantly, that technique and intimate aesthetic Tillman achieves today.

“Looking at Emma Elizabeth Tillman’s photography is a lot like being a tourist in the life you wish you had—lots of travel, hot people surrounding you, with an eye for extreme beauty in small moments,” said Casey Ireland, a writer for Slutever.com.

Unlike Tillman, I didn’t have a

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rock star husband (Father John Misty) or the Chateau Marmont to photograph, but I did have enough money to buy myself a camera and some cheap film and the drive to capture “extreme beauty in small moments” in my own right. I went into an antique shop one evening and purchased my first film camera, an Olympus, which I still use today.

After struggling with my film relationship — for example, losing rolls by loading and unloading the film incorrectly — I slowly started learning and finding my film groove.

Because of film, I’ve become more patient, detail-oriented and selective with my work. I’ve also learned about the film roll differences and their effects, lenses, and have, finally, mastered loading and unloading film. I’ve begun emulating my inspirations’ works and replicating their techniques. For example, I started experimenting with color like McCartney did and taking Polaroids like her, too.

Because I’m comfortable with film, I decided to document my last year of university on film and disposable cameras, helping me enjoy my last months as an undergraduate. Aside from aesthetics, I decided to do this to be more selective in what I capture, to not spend too much time behind a camera and to indulge in moments rather than trying to get that perfect shot. Are you interested in capturing your year on film or just want to dabble in it? Check out some of the tips and tricks I’ve gained over the last two years.

•

•

Avoid lenses with fungus. I know, it sounds disgusting, but it’s important to keep in mind that film cameras and their lenses are older. Fungus can damage your lens and make your photographs look odd and fuzzy.

Like your Instagram filters, your

•

•

•

film choice can have the same effect on your photographs. You can shoot on color negative film or black and white film, depending on your personal preference.

Also, there are many brands and ISO (measures light sensitivity) options within the two categories. Some interesting ones include Kodak Ultramax 400, Ilford LP5 Plus 400, Kodak Portra and Fujifilm 400 Superia X-TRA. Keep your digital camera handy.

If you want to get a sense of what your film photo will look like at its settings, apply the same settings on your digital camera and snap a picture.

It’ll give you a better understanding.

Spend some time on Youtube.

There are many film photographers on Youtube who share their own tips, tricks and camera recommendations. One of my favorite film Youtubers is Willem Verbeek.

Developing your film, unless you can develop your own, can be pretty expensive. Reno doesn’t have an on-site film developing location anymore, so I’d suggest checking out thedarkroom.com for decent developing prices and options. The turnaround time ranges from 3-7 days, depending on when you submit your photos. Want to stay local? Action Camera has you covered. The camera shop sends your film to a developing lab in California, and their turnaround time is approximately two weeks.

A friend once told me, “Film photography is like opening a present every time you get your photos back.” And I totally agree. Learning about film has also been a gift—and one that keeps on giving the longer I spend time with it.

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viendras-tu à Paris avec moi? a look into the French Beauty and Fashion

MODEL

JILLIAN GILBERT

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much about fashion “ it’sbutnotmoresoabout what clothes make you feel.

Words by Dahlia Jones and Crystal Lugo Photos by Mary Young

”

Camille Charriere

in layers. A white button up tucked into a pair of high waist he French Girl trend jeans with an oversized coat is has come and gone always a go-to. for over 100 years, “I think women in France figure stemming from the la out what suits them, what they garçonne style populike wearing and what their men larized by Gabrielle Coco Chanel like fancy them in or whatever; in the 1920s and found today in they work on creating a wardrobe laid-back ensembles. In recent around those. So, it’s not so much years, the French look has grown about fashion but more about in popularity due to celebrities what clothes make you feel,” like Camille Rowe and Lily-Rose shared French-British influencDepp, as well as influencers like er, Camille Charriere with Alexa Orion Carloto, Gabrielle Rojas Chung’s Youtube channel. and Camille Charriere.

Want to feel a little more French-American model CaFrench? Add some delicate details mille Rowe collaborated with like a gold pendant necklace or Vogue Magazine’s Youtube chan- gold earrings. Going on a coffee nel to discuss her skincare and date? Try pairing your outfit with makeup routine. Rowe’s makeup a Jane Birkin-inspired basket to routine consists of many ways to carry your things in a chic way. appear more natural. For examWhat is the French Girl look ple, she uses her foundation as without the hair? You can find a concealer and uses clear brow someone sporting the classic gel instead of filling them. A fresh French haircut with short to medicanvas and simplicity is important um length hair, sometimes paired to French women. with chic, effortless bangs. The “I don’t mind a few imperfecFrench Girl look isn’t complete tions,” said Rowe. “If you go to a without the effortless, not-so-efparty and look like you have no fortless makeup look. Try some makeup, it’s a win-win situation. blush (or even a pinch of the They’re either like, ‘oh, she looks cheeks), light foundation, mascara amazing and she doesn’t have any and a bright, bold red lip to masmakeup on’ or ‘wow, she’s not ter the look. wearing any makeup and she still “What we want is to be ourhas the balls to show up.’" selves—not a better version of It doesn’t take much to slay ourselves. We feel like it’s better French Girl fashion, either. The to be used to something than to look calls for simple, yet elegant try to change it. So we think: What ensembles, natural makeup and style can I have with this face, and sexy bed hair. Dressing like a with this hair? That mentality is French woman is about having 100 percent French,” said Violettte the basics in your wardrobe. Sim- Serrat, French makeup artist and ple, interchangeable pieces such Global Beauty Director of Estée as turtlenecks, sweaters, jeans, Lauder to Vogue Magazine. dress pants and button up shirts The French Girl look is perfect are a must. Different variations for those who are on-the-go and of the look feature neutral colors, want to let their natural beauty such as black, greys, browns and shine through —but in a chic and white, while pairing the elements classic way.

T

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OPINION INSIGHT

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Trying to broaden your horizons and challenge your perspective? Take a look at our opinion section as we cover love and relationships in the media, the fine line in free speech and Rihanna — yes, Rihanna. Where the heck is her album?

Photo by Marina Leigh "Love and Relationships in Media" on Page 44

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L OV E A N D R E L AT I O N S H I P S I N T H E M E D I A

MODELS

Mary Young Mitch Bautista

L OV E A N D R E L AT I O N S H I P S I N T H E M E D I A INSIGHT

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AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDI LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND Words by Olivia Sullivan feared fans wouldn’t respect their wishes despite how unhealthy the MEDIA L Photos by Marina Leigh E AND MEDI relationship was. ince I was a child watching Although social media plays a Disney movies where the large in the surge in pressure LOVE AND MEDIA L beingEpart AND MEDIA LOVE princess and her prince put upon people to want in love, to to achieve for perfection, movies AND MEDIAfall Lhappily E AND binging cheesy Rom-Coms and shows contribute to the hype with my friends in highschool, I can behind teenage love affairs and say that there was never a romanticizing. Movies and E showsAND MEDI MEDIA L positively shortage of expectation for what my like “Clueless” (1995), “10 Things life should look like. As most do, I Hate About You” (2018), “Gossip LOVE AND MEDIA L IGirl” E(2007)AND MEDIA LOVE imagined myself being one of those and “Glee” (2009) princesses, being whisked away by become ingrained in our AND MEDIA L and falling madly have E AND prince charming culture, playing a big role in in love. I fell in love with the idea shaping teens expectations of of love early on.

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MEDIA L not E AND MEDI found on social media platforms, Was it simply that I had watched as much as it can be found in films one too many movies and had and on television.

On social media, become idea LOVE AND MEDIA L E brainwashed ANDby theMEDIA LOVE many push a faux narrative through of perfection? Or was it something perfectly orchestrated photographs much deeper and subliminal than AND MEDIA L E AND and filters. However, it’s rare that? What are the dangers of this people share the not-soromanticism?

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Aside from just messing with David Dobrik and Liza Koshy are expectations, movies and shows a great example of how social media lead people, especially young LOVE AND MEDIA L can E AND MEDIA LOVE only shows the Instagrammable and adults, into staying in situations they brighter moments in relationships. aren't healthy for them. Signs AND MEDIA Lwere afraid to shine know E AND The Youtubers of an abusive partner may be set a light on their failed relationship, aside because the media encourages they were very open working on relationships toE keepAND MEDI MEDIA L which about on their respective social them stable and love overpowering media accounts. They feared they pain. Sure, there is some truth LOVE AND MEDIA L our E AND MEDIA LOVE would disappoint their fans and in both ideas but Hollywood’s AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDI LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE AND MEDIA LOVE 47 | INSIGHT

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These relationships were unrealistic and unhealthy, yet as a society we rooted for them to end up together and readily watched with excitement as they reached their happy ending.

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dramatization doesn’t necessarily offer tailored, thoughtful solutions for real and respective situations.

The idea that “we hurt the ones we love” has been continuously played out in movies and television shows, along with romanticization of stalking, deception, persistence and manipulation. As a teen I would romanticize the idea of relationships, even the obviously toxic ones like Big and Carrie from “Sex and the City” and their power dynamic, and Bella and Edward in the “Twilight” movies and their codependency.

These relationships were unrealistic and unhealthy, yet as a society we rooted for them to end up together and readily watched with excitement as they reached their happy ending.

Some other examples of toxic relationships are Beck and Joe from the popular Netflix show “You” (2018) and the infamous Harley Quinn and the Joker, most recently seen in “Suicide Squad” (2016). Both relationships are textbook examples

of abusive relationships, yet people find their relationships to be exciting stories of passion and love. Actor Penn Badgley, disturbed by the outcry of love for his Joe character (a murderer and stalker) in “You,” points out a grave issue in that we have not matured in our perception of these toxic norms.

This isn’t a call to stop consuming romance in movies and television —I don’t think I could commit to that either. Using Hollywood as a scapegoat for our unrealistic expectations would be far too easy, so I can’t wholeheartedly blame them since there are other factors that can make us decide things in our relationships. However, I hope we can start seeing movies and television shows that portray perfection as things to indulge and not base one’s life around. You will find love in your own time and live life on your own terms —and it won’t have to fit any genre or time frame to feel real.

RIHANNA,

Where's the Album?

Words by Rylee Jackson Illustrations by Reilly Moss

“A

nti,” released on Jan. 28, 2016, is arguably Rihanna’s most cohesive and exploratory album. And though it was only released four years ago, it sure feels like it’s been about 87.

For a lot of iconic artists throughout music history, this long gap between albums isn’t all that shocking of a concept. But for those who have been with RiRi since “Pon de Replay,” it feels odd to not have a constant flow of hits ready for us. For a good portion of her first decade dominating the pop music sphere, we’ve been fed an album every 1-2 years, so it’s only natural to expect new material from her. But, unless you’re living under a rock, you would know that our girl is occupied with building a fashion and beauty empire beyond the bops.

Rihanna is a multi-faceted artist. It’s evident in the way she constructs her album cycles. As much as she puts into crafting hit songs, Rihanna puts just as much creative energy into being the whole package through her visuals, fashion and makeup—making her one of the only pop artists of our time to have recognizable eras.

From the youthful essence of “Music of the Sun” to the stripped down badassery of “Unapologetic,” she teaches others to explore the different characters within themselves.

We always want Rihanna on tour, performing at awards shows and blessing us with a multitude of red carpet looks a year, but there’s more to her than being a pop star—although not seeing her

at the 2019 Met Gala hurt more than expected. She has created eight studio albums and acquired 14 number ones on the Billboard Hot 100 amidst a plethora of other accolades since her debut in 2005, so it’s warranted for her to focus on other passions.

With that being said, all that creative energy and knack for visuals Rihanna has should be able to exist within the world of beauty and fashion. Let’s be honest, there’s no one more perfect for the job than her. Since the release of “Anti,” Rihanna has done just that. In 2017, Fenty Beauty changed the game with its much needed inclusivity across all skin tones, as seen in the launch of the Pro Filt’R foundation—now including a total of 50 different shades. This was a wake up call for many brands who originally didn’t carry a full range of shades, which should have been a concern far earlier.

Fenty Beauty aside, who would’ve thought the time Rihanna ended modeling careers left and right by simply strutting to “Phresh Off the Runway” during her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show performance in 2012 would be a precursor to the dominance of Savage X Fenty? Unlike Victoria’s Secret, RiRi’s own lingerie brand champions inclusion in every form. Outside of the runway, influencers and celebrities like Lizzo proudly rep the brand and its all-embracive values. As evidenced in the brand’s recent runway show on Sept. 10, the beautiful models represented a variety of races, gender identities and sizes. Much like in 2012, once again, she showed

everyone how fashion shows should be done.

Despite all Rihanna has given us within the past few years, we still want new music. Yes, she lied to us on social media by mentioning the album would arrive in 2019, but we still love her.

Since the year ended without a Rihanna album in sight, plenty of hilarious memes have popped up to heal our broken hearts.

Twitter user @janmichaelxx’s created a viral meme with the caption “me disguised as Rihanna’s weed so I can listen to her album,” leaving Rihanna to troll us and the user by tweeting, “Who is in charge of this account?”

Though we’re sad about the music dry spell, we have to see the bigger picture. After all, she’s making change for diversity and inclusion in industries that haven’t embodied this value in the past.

Whenever the album comes, we know it will be a moment. Until then, all we can do is support her game-changing endeavors and wait.

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THE FINE LINE IN FREE SPEECH

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Words by Ryan Almazan Photos by Kellie Sasso

H

ow do you approach the question of respect in the age of the internet? When you read a text or a post, the nuances you’d catch in speech and body language disappear. The bounds of 280-character tweets and one-sided 10-minute video essays on YouTube aren’t a strong platform for discourse, but we still use them anyway. Civility is either desperately held onto, or it is thrown out the window in favor of inflammatory statements. Even if you’re not sure how to approach such a question, one thing is for sure: people don’t know what respect is really for.

A phrase has become common on the internet: “Respect my opinion.” This is usually coupled by an insistence on encouraging free speech principles through volatile conversation. Clearly, respect still matters in some capacity, even if it has taken a backseat. However, "respect" in this context usually means a decision not to evaluate and reconsider an opinion.

Considering that context, why do you need to respect someone’s opinion?

Opinions are someone’s subjective viewpoint on something. “Pineapple on pizza is good” is an opinion, and to breakdown why it is, you need to understand how this constructs someone’s own reality and only their own. Another opinion is “homosexuality should not be tolerated.” It also constructs part of someone’s individual reality. Make no mistake — constructing your own reality doesn’t mean you aren’t affecting someone else’s.

There is a new false equivalency on the block, and it’s that all opinions should be respected because they’re just opinions.

Internet users have condemned others who appear to consider opinions more critically, calling them “thought police,”a reference to George Orwell’s novel, “1984,” and accusing them of infringing on their freedom of speech (even though such freedom only applies when referring to the government). Other dystopian and Orwellian references are evoked, and suddenly people become overly protective of their opinions and say whatever they want.

Sorry to say, but that’s wrong.

The idea that the opinion must be respected has led to more than internet debates, especially in more polarizing topics. Arguments over a person’s rights as a member of the LGBTQ+ community have, in some cases, led to hate crimes. These conversations are more than just conversations.

Saying “respect my opinion” then comes off more as a deflection from actually talking about the implications of such a statement.

Some might say it contributes to the polarization in America’s politics.

You can easily isolate yourself online from people who think differently from you, creating a bubble of false reality. The truth is that the implications of an opinion dictates whether it’s a good or bad one.

Not all opinions have the same kinds of implications. Saying that sexuality should not be justification of job termination is not equal to saying the opposite. Not all opinions are equal.

In the age of social media, people tend not to consider the implications of an opinion. Consumers have become more readily accepting. We see more scenarios where people don’t want those implications to be considered, then they isolate themselves. We also see people that want responses to their opinions but don’t want certain aspects to be

MODEL

HANNAH KNAPP evaluated. So they plead for respect.

People approach “respect” and shallow “civility” in the wrong way.

Don’t respect the opinion. Opinions are meant to be debated. Respect the person.

We’ve seen far-right radicals defend harmful ideas by saying that it’s an opinion to be respected.

Enough with the opinions, you’re talking about people. The real, tangible reality of people and how opinions affect those realities should override faux-intellectual opinions about them.

So sure, “trans people should not be able to align with their gender identity” is a valid opinion. It’s also one that definitely encourages hatred towards the transgender community and others that do not conventionally align with the gender binary. And that’s the crux of the conversation: respecting opinions doesn’t mean anything if you don’t respect people, and especially if that opinion has absurdly negative

consequences.

Among the negative implications that exist is the twisted sense of free speech. Those looking to do damage are already emboldened behind a username and the mask of a profile picture of anything but their face. The idea that spewing edgy and potentially violent vitriol is just okay since it might be protected by their country's policies on free speech is itself not okay. Those that do partake usually are the ones that get the most hate and responses, and ironically cannot take the same energy. The backlash you might receive from saying something controversial on a public platform is then also protected through freedom of speech clauses. You are not to be saved or shielded from it.

The bottom line is this: don’t pretend that opposition is somehow detrimental to free speech and free expression. Carefully consider how your opinion affects people, and respect people.

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