Fall Issue 2020

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FA L L 2 0 2 0 | VO L U M E 14 | I S S U E 1

BRIAN SANDOVAL, NEW UNR PRESIDENT pg. 8 | ADAM BENEDICT pg. 26 | 70s FASHION LOOKBOOK pg. 48

Letter From the Editor

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elebrating victories in 2020 seems impossible.

We are in some of the most difficult times any of us have ever lived through, with university campuses across the world going dim as students everywhere are trapped between adapting to an online environment and fighting tirelessly for civil rights much bigger than any of us.

We have begun to live with the rest of the globe resting on our minds, and have become so wrapped up in ideals on social media that we often forget to take a breath from our own worries.

So when I got the position as Editor-in-Chief at Insight Magazine over the summer, it felt a bit vain to feel proud of myself; recognizing that despite the world around me blazing a little too intensely, things within me are blazing too, and it isn’t always a bad flame.

When Insight Magazine was passed down into my hands,

I didn’t know what any of it would look like. Would anyone want to contribute? Would there still be readers out there?

Would we even do a print issue?

These questions were all uncertainties that I didn’t know how to answer for myself or my staff. But as the months have gone by (albeit sometimes too slowly), I have learned to be okay with uncertainty. I can only control the day in front of me and the lessons I’ve collected behind me.

Our world as we knew it is on the brink of a new horizon, one that we all feel much more personally and deeply. And perhaps, I’m on the brink of a new one, too, with this past year being a constant reminder that despite everything, people are still creating and I am still creating. I am still here and alive, and really, isn’t that all we can ask for sometimes?

I hope that this issue finds you well, ready to look out onto a new view, with a fire blazing within. I

KAITLIN VENNEMAN

Photo by Mary Young

“

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed, that life can be messy, that some days you glide and some days you fall, but most important, that there are no secret answers out there. When you finally accept that it's OK not to have answers and it's OK not to be perfect, you realize that feeling confused is a normal part of what it is to be a human being."

winona ryder

Insight Magazine Editor-in-Chief

RYAN ALMAZAN Art Director

MARY YOUNG Photo Editor

SARAH STRANG Copy Editor

MADDIE HALL

Social Media Manager

STAFF Photos by Mary Young

IDALIA CONCHA Staff Writer

REILLY MOSS Staff Illustrator

OLIVIA SULLIVAN Staff Writer Intern

KIRSTY LENON

Social Media Intern

contributors

Christine Schwartz, photographer Allegra Bertani, photographer Andie Scarborough, illustrator Owen Meguro, writer & photographer Emma Torvinen, writer Annie Lujan, writer Nicole Salcedo, writer Kaeli Britt, writer Elliot Bailey, writer Alexandra Rush, writer Lauren Turner, writer Molly Carnell, writer

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 fifth in the category of People's Choice and eighth in the category of Feature Magazine at the. 2020 Associated College Press Journalism Convention.

CONTENTS news 08 11

Brian Sandoval, New UNR President Sexual Assault on Campus

reviews 16 18 19 20 22

The Lilley Museum Pangolin CafĂŠ Empty Hand Vintage "Enoc" by Ozuna Online Content Highlight

features 26 30 34 37

Adam Benedict Krystal Bick Black Student Organization Stories Untold

lifestyle 42 44 46 48 52

Doing Things for You The Right Coffee Roast Hitting the Road 70s Fashion Lookbook 70s Music Guide

opinion 56 58 59

The Other Side of Quarantine Bohemian Rhapsody Anniversary Meghan Markle and the Monarchy

Photos by Christine Schwartz, Allegra Bertani & Mary Young

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW

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NEWS

UNR’s campus is constantly buzzing with news, and this semester is certainly no exception. Read on to hear an exclusive interview with new UNR President Brian Sandoval, and an advocacy coallition’s goal to end sexual assault on Nevada campuses.

Illustration by Andie Scarborough

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"INSPIRED":

Brian Sandoval

selected as UNR President Words by Ryan Almazan

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Illustrations by Reilly Moss

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fter almost 10 months of extensive searching, amid a worldwide pandemic that has disrupted any sense of normalcy, former Nevada governor Brian Sandoval has been named the new President of the University of Nevada, Reno.

This came at the recommendation of search firm WittKieffer and other University personnel involved in the process, after vetting over 100 candidates. Sandoval joined Chaden Djalali of Ohio University, Jennifer Evans-Cowley of University of North Texas and Jonathan Koppell of Arizona State University as one of four finalists for the position. Sandoval was the only finalist to not have a background in higher education nor to have earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. He has earned a Juris Doctor degree, however.

Sandoval’s roots at the University of Nevada began in 1981, when he first enrolled into the University. During his time as an undergraduate student, Sandoval was very involved in campus life at all levels, including in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and in ASUN. He graduated from the University in 1986 with a Bachelors of Arts in English and Economics.

“I’ve been up on this campus literally hundreds of times — first as a student, then as a visitor, now as the president. It’s very inspiring to be here with the students, the faculty and the staff,” said Sandoval. “It’s very humbling. When I was in school here, I would’ve never imagined that some day I would be the president of the University. This campus has a lot of meaning to me, in terms of the memories I’ve made here and the relationships I’ve built here.”

But the Nevada of 1986 is not the same as the Nevada of today, and the new University President is receptive to that fact. In an increasingly tense atmosphere and world, with evolving issues of race and class, Sandoval says his priorities include improving student retention & graduation rates, improving efforts in diversity & inclusion, advancing economic development and maintaining a safe and secure academic environment, especially in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have amazing faculty on this campus, and we need to find ways to accomplish their goals in terms of research and their academic endeavors,” said Sandoval. “And students too; it’s really important to provide the quality academic experience on a campus where you feel safe and where you feel you have the opportunity to accomplish whatever it is you would like to accomplish.”

This describes the foundation of Sandoval’s vision for UNR during his tenure. That vision also includes making education accessible for all.

He shared wanting to work closely with big name companies, including but not limited to Tesla, Google, Apple and Switch, that have locations or offices in the Reno-Sparks area, to advance the economic development of the community.

He plans to work with the Vice President of Research & Innovation on campus to expand the opportunities available to undergraduate students. He sees the University coming out of the pandemic more innovative.

“One of the things we have learned from COVID is that we can deliver a quality university education online,” said Sandoval. “I think we’re going to be better. I think we’re going to be stronger, and we’re going to have more flexibility and more offerings for students.”

Addressing the need to uphold values of diversity and equity, Sandoval, who is Hispanic, expressed his desire to hire more faculty of color. He stated that he had spoken to the current University Diversity and Inclusion Officer Eloisa Gordon-Mora about the plans that are in place to promote diversity and how to advance them. He also acknowledged the importance of bringing diverse voices to speak on campus and incorporating diverse voices into the curriculum.

“Northern Nevada is changing,” said Sandoval.

“The state of Nevada is changing in terms of diversity and seeing students of color. As these students ascend in the University, I think it’s important to support them and the student groups on campus that face problems associated with diversity and inclusion.”

The vision and goals that Sandoval projects is contextualized by his lack of experience in higher education administration. This was a special concern of many students, especially current ASUN senator Joshua Luers from the College of Engineering. Luers has been vocal about his criticism of Sandoval, going so far as to send a public comment to the Board of Regents that was read aloud.

“I think with his background and experience so far, what he brings to the position is a lot of naivete for these things because he does not have prior [higher education] administration background,” said Luers. “I just generally think that about his background — although I can understand why people might think it’s a very positive thing, I did not think so [sic]. I thought very much that it was coming from a place of his governorship… rather than what the University needed most needed, which was someone with a heavy amount of experience.”

Although Luers expressed his preference for Evans-Cowley as a candidate in the process, he stated that he supports Sandoval’s claim to the presidency. He specifically sees Sandoval’s selection as advantageous for gaining University funding. On the other hand, Sandoval has listened closely to these comments and has taken them in stride. He understands these concerns, and aims to compensate for it through his past in government and a provost with the higher education experience that he lacks.

“I was the first to acknowledge that I do not have an academic background and did not rise from the academy, but I have a very strong record of leadership and a diverse career,” said

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Sandoval. “I have a great respect for what the process is and I’m grateful to have received the support that I did. As the President of this University, I’m going to endeavor to make it the best university it can be. I will work with the faculty, work with the students, work with the staff.”

Another point of contention can be found in the recent de-affiliation of many fraternities and sororities from the University. Some Greek houses, like Tau Kappa Epsilon, are unrecognized by the University despite continuing to accept members. Others, like Sigma Alpha Epsilon (the fraternity the Sandoval used to be in), have recent conduct violations on file, risking their affiliation and support with the University.

Many of these unrecognized fraternities or sororities chose to end their relationship with the University over the rules and conditions that the University set forth in an effort to protect students and hold students accountable, especially in Title IX cases. Some members of these groups advocated for a Sandoval presidency in the hopes that he would repair these relations and ease up on these efforts, which are seen as invasive. Sandoval said he will stand by the current University policy on recognized fraternities and sororities.

“I have no intention to change what’s in place right now, and sexual assault is not acceptable under any circumstances,” said Sandoval. “In terms of speculating where I’m going to be just because I was a member of a fraternity isn’t going to change that I’m going to be very firm in protecting student rights on campus. Under no circumstances would I be willing to loosen up any rules that were put in place to protect students.”

Luers supports Sandoval in his position.

He stated that ASUN and University administrators had made efforts to reconnect with unrecognized Greek organizations, but those efforts had fallen through.

As we approach the end of this transitional period with the new University President Brian Sandoval, the reality of the pandemic and other material issues that have become more visible in recent years remain. While it is impossible to peer into the future, the fact is that the University now has a President that is intimately connected to it and has desires for its growth. Whether he can follow through with his plans in a meaningful way is up to him.

“I understand students’ concerns and I will work hard everyday to earn their confidence and earn their respect,” said Sandoval. “I’m going to be a very active president who’s going to be working with faculty, working with deans, working with students to make this the best educational experience they can have.” I

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SEXUAL

ASSAULT CAMPUS: ON EVERY VOICE'S BOLD PLAN TO END IT. Words by Kaitlin Venneman

Photos by Mary Young

MODEL

Indigo Hinojos Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault.

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Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault.

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t’s not unusual for someone to say that sexual assault happens on college campuses. Statistics from the AAU campus climate survey show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men experience it while in school, and laws like Title IX are constantly brought up in politics. In recent years, students all over the country have demanded that it be more recognized than it has been in the past, with many speaking out with their stories and proving that their voice be heard, no matter the perpetrator.

Yet, we are still a long way to go, and UNR student and Every Voice state director Indigo Hinojos has much to say about how students at UNR can better fuel the discussion and what resources are available to help.

“It seems we only talk about [sexual assault] when involving fraternities, violence, when the person is unknown or on the run, and or when it involves a celebrity,” they claim.

In recent years, names like Brett Kavanaugh, Brock Turner or Larry Nassar have been in the forefront of the news when it comes to sexual assault, leaving many survivors left feeling like their experience is unusual compared to those in the media.

For Hinojos, ending sexual assault on campus is vital to creating a safe learning environment. As

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a state director for Every Voice Nevada Coalition, they are dedicated to writing bills for Nevada that will further support survivors and help to put prevention tactics in place. This bill will involve the “Core 5,” which includes memorandums of understanding between universities and crisis centers, an amnesty policy for survivors, access to confidential resource advisors, climate surveys on campus, and prevention training for students and staff.

“Within Every Voice we want to make sure students and survivor voices are front and center, as well as, wanting to help educate communities on the issues of sexual violence,” they said. “We also want to help introduce and involve students in the legislative process and grassroots organizing.”

At UNR, one of the main forms of sexual assault awareness comes from a video called “Consent is Tea” that is shown at freshmen orientation.

Hinojos argues that while it is a helpful video, a conversation following would be even more impactful and help destigmatize talking about consent and sexual violence on campus.

Unfortunately, Reno does not have a sexual assault crisis center, so many have to find resources elsewhere, such as the domestic violence crisis center or groups like SASS, which provides a sexual assault hotline and text line for

“

It is important to remember that there is no timestamp on trauma, and getting help is about being able to take your power back.

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people to use, including students.

Perhaps one of the biggest measures put in place to help sexual assault survivors has been Title IX, which includes protections against discrimination based on sex in education, which defines sexual assault or harassment as a form of discrimination.

The law requires school to respond and act accordingly to any reports of sexual assault.

Recently, Title IX has been a big political debate, with new policies enacted on August 14 enforcing questionable procedures. One of the changes includes requiring a survivor to have an open hearing where they can be cross examined by someone that the perpetrator chooses.

“Although there were several good additions to Title IX, there were also several negative additions,” they said. “The live cross-examination presents the issue of re-traumatizing survivors due to the fact that the perpetrator can choose anybody, like a parent, friend, greek life pals, etc. This step will not only possibly re-traumatize, but could also create more trauma for survivors.”

Because of this, the state of Nevada has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to combat these new rules, along with 17 other states.

Yet even with Title IX in place, many students feel discouraged from reporting their sexual assault to campus officials. According to the Medical University of South Carolina, only 12% of students actually report to law enforcement or school officials.

“Many survivors fear that when they come forward they will be blamed for what happened to them and that they will lose control over what they went through. The lack of trauma informed training for faculty and police all over the country makes it hard for survivors to feel as though they are heard and valid when going through the process,” they said.

Still, Hinojos urges survivors to get the help they need, whether that is reporting to an official, getting a SANE Kit done afterwards, attending therapy, or doing whatever they deem as fit for their situation.

“Help comes in many different forms, but what works is different for everybody. It is important to remember that there is no timestamp on trauma, and getting help is about being able to take your power back.” I

RESOURCES: Sexual Assault Support Services Hotline: 775-221-7600 Text: "SASS" to 839863 SASS Online: cssnv.org/sexual-assault/

A survivor should go to the hospital if they have sustained injuries. During the SANE kit exam, nurses can treat minor cuts and bruises, but if the survivor has major injuries they should go to the ER first.

Crisis support services in Nevada Hotline: 800-273-8255

RAINN

Hotline: 800-656-4673

Every Voice Nevada Instagram: @everyvoicenv

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The local Reno community is full of bright local businesses and inspiring art, so it’s no wonder that our review section aims to show some of them off and highlight some of our best online content.

Illustration by Reilly Moss

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THE LILLEY MUSE UM Words and Photography by Owen Megura

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he Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno is home to many forms of art that capture awe-inspiring imagery and raw emotion within its small vicinity.

Whether it be an old painting preserved in its ancient frame or a standstill collage of colored birds and interpretive sculptures, there is a piece of art for any visitor who visits this incredible museum.

Featured Artist David Harper finds inspiration within the ingredients in which he creates his art, and emphasizes the connection between the audience and their environment. He hopes that people can perceive and interpret his art in a new light, and wants the audience to make personal connections with their own lives and the history of the art itself.

Harper stated that it's important for his work to make a personal connection to his audience, and that the interpretation of his art allows viewers to create something new through what they visualize.

“I like the idea that there are no two identical ways to see an object and that means that an object or experience is constantly shifting.”

As an artist, Harper appreciates all kinds of art and all the different visuals art provides, which contribute to the audience’s emotion and the history that the artist tries to portray through their work. Harper tries to interpret every piece of art as a story with flowing emotions, and his own experiences as an artist help him understand the hard work and effort others put into their projects.

“My studio has divided material stations and I move from station to station in order to make the

various components that go into an installation,” Harper explained. “ I spend months working on components and then as the piles of objects and pieces add up, they start to take shape into something.”

Freshman Grace Palliser is one of the staff members who work at the Lilley Museum of Art, and took this job through the school’s workstudy program. Though not an artist herself, she is inspired by romantic artwork and historical objects, as they encapsulate and preserve a time in history, and her appreciation of art allows her to connect with more than the museum itself.

“My sister is an anthropology major and art major, and her dream job is to work in a museum,” she said. “When I started working here I felt closer to my sister because I could talk to her about all of the art that is in here.”

Art affects many different people of many different backgrounds, as it personally connects people to history while intertwining that association to the viewer’s personal life. It can inspire and inflict admiration in the most unusual kind of way, and open gateways to imaginative and game-changing possibilities. The endless spectrum of interpretation that some art illustrates can provide an endless wave of interpretation that allows art to last forever in history. The Lilley Museum is an on-campus experience that captures this feeling and helps students make personal connections and admire the art that is featured there. With its diverse genres of art on display, there's something for everyone that can be found there. I

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Photos courtesy of Pangolin Cafe

PANGOLIN CAFE

Words by Emma Torvinen

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angolin Café, although small in size, is big in personality. Owned by brothers-in-law Travis Sandefur and Joel Stewart, Pangolin Café opened in October of 2019 in Midtown, and is a unique family-owned business. The bright cafe is decorated with plants and small knitted animals.

They sell those animals and donate the profit to savepangolins.org. They also donate a percentage of all the chai tea that they sell to help protect pangolins. Pangolins are found in Asia and Africa, and they are the most trafficked mammals in the world.

While living in Africa, Sandefur discovered pangolins and wanted to bring awareness to them.

“We became acquainted with their plight and we thought we want to draw some awareness,” he explained. “It’s a really neat opportunity to talk about what's going on with those and bring some awareness to them.”

Pangolin Cafe’s specialty is fresh turkish delight, not something you would find just anywhere in Reno. Sandefur spent a month in Istanbul, where he first tried it, “While we were there we tasted fresh turkish delight, it was unlike anything we’d had before, it was just amazing. We were just blown away by how amazing it was, and so the wheels just

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started turning.”

He later returned to Istanbul to train with a turkish delight master. Once back in Reno he was not sure what would come from it. He spent a year cooking in his kitchen before he was able to get the recipes adapted to the climate. Pangolin Cafe’s menu includes many interesting flavors including a cardamom latte, and a red lavender latte.

“We wanted to bring these different flavors that we thought were amazing and then add our own flare… You’ll see some traditional turkish delight flavors like pistachio, but then you’ve got things like tart raspberry, sour lemon, you know kind of our own twists on it.”

Despite a global inspiration for much of their menu, they also sell locally made pastries from Rounds Bakery. While I was there a couple came in- they seemed to be regulars. They ordered their drinks, and Sandefur apologized because they were out of matcha turkish delight, which he knew was their favorite flavor. He said he would owe them next time they came in.

Pangolin Cafe not only offers high quality, globally influenced food and drinks, but the opportunity to learn about and help an endangered animal in a welcoming environment. I

retro meets reusable:

EMPTY HAND VINTAGE Words by Annie Lujan Photos by Allegra Bertani

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t’s a crisp Saturday morning when I greet Jordan Clark, the owner of local business Empty Hands Vintage, amongst the light sounds of chatter and the aromas which fill the coffee shop.

Sleek sunnies and mask in check, Clark embodies the fresh persona of an emerging fashion influencer, and arrives sporting a relaxed black polka dotted jumpsuit and timeless pair of Doc Martens platform sandals. What started as a family passion for tattoo culture and embroidery, is rapidly evolving into a sustainably based online business devoted to finding unique and used clothing for the Reno community.

At Empty Hands Vintage, buyers can find all sorts of clothing inspired by the past; the brand’s style aesthetic is a combination of the free-spirited wild west meets punk-burner culture. Clark sells all items through her Instagram account and utilizes Instagram’s stories feature for all sales.

She works remotely out of her home office space, doing so for three years now with assistance from her brother and mother.

After picking and sourcing the vintage, she releases prices on her account. The clothes are sold on a first come first serve basis; clients must DM Clark to claim their item.

Empty Hands Vintage provides a variety of services including specific sourcing requests, custom fittings, and denim pieces.

Often, Clark books styling sessions for clients to find the best pieces to empower the wearer.

In the spite of a long standing era of cheaply made garments and rapid production methods, more young consumers have adopted ethical fashion practices. The term ethical fashion encompasses the sustainability of clothing

design/production, and serves as an umbrella term for various causes such as environmental and animal welfare. Ethical fashion plays a pivotal role in Clark’s own self expression and she enjoys sharing this joy and excitement with others.

“Seeing people so stoked on life [about their clothes], that’s what keeps me being able to continue to pick history and pass that on to someone else” said Clark.

The store’s name is inspired by Clark’s close relationship with her younger brother Hunter, and subsequently, her 1920’s style forearm tattoo of two intertwined hands.

The gesture of shaking hands is displayed as a symbol of the kinship between two individuals. For Clark, it is a representation of the bond these siblings share. Clark believes this element of fellowship and support expresses the core identity of Empty Hands Vintage.

“Empty Hands are for the ones who always seem to stand out, even if they don’t want to stand out and have been misunderstood,” said Clark.

For now, Empty Hands Vintage operates predominantly through social media, but Clark is working towards expanding the store. The next creative endeavors for Empty Hands suggest promising strides in brand growth, with Clark and her brother hoping to launch menswear vintage and focus on the creation of more hand embroidered items. Clark’s ultimate dream? To have established store fronts in locations such as Reno, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Appointments for hand picked items can be booked through @empty_ hands_vtg on Instagram. Jordan Clark can be reached @jordy996 for more fashion and lifestyle content. I

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"ENOC" by ozuna

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Words by Idalia Concha Illustration by Reilly Moss

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uan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, also known as Ozuna, is a Puerto Rican reggaeton/ Latin singer and record setter. Ozuna first hit the music scene in 2012 with his song “Imaginando,” but didn’t break through as an artist until 2016 when he was featured in the song “La Ocasion,” a collaboration with artists such as Mambo Kingz, Anuel AA, Arcanagel, and more. However, he claims that the song that gave him his “big break” was the remix “Si No Te Quiere” featuring Faruko and Arcangel. Since then, Ozuna has skyrocketed through the charts and has grown to become one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time.

A year after the release of his 2019 album “Nibiru,” Ozuna released his new album “ENOC,” an abbreviation for “el negrito ojos claros,” (the black kid with light eyes) a tribute to his fans who have called him this since the beginning of his career. In the process of creating “ENOC,” Ozuna was at the peak of his best creative moment. With the ongoing pandemic, and a lot of free time Ozuna really got the chance to sit down and think about where he wants to take the future of reggaeton. “We’ve learned, we’ve experienced. I’m just going straight to what I really want to do,” he says in an interview with Rolling Stones. “ENOC” is an album that includes wonderful piano melodies, fascinating guitar arrangements, amazing collaborations with artists from both Latin and Anglo worlds all with a hint of classic style reggaeton. It holds the sound of the old Ozuna, but it also contains versatility by allowing himself to tap into the world of Latin trap and hip-hop by combining them together.

The most notable songs of “ENOC” include “Del Mar,” “Enemigos Ocultos” (“Hidden Enemies”), and “Caramelo.” Starting off with a banger, Ozuna features musical guests Myke Towers, Wisin, Arcangel, Juanka, and Cosculluela in the opening track “Enemigos Ocultos.” “Enemigos Ocultos” is a near eightminute gangsta rap that evokes the sound of Wu-Tang Clan or La Coka Nostra. This song in particular poses as a mission statement for Puerto Rican artists in the genre. In the song “Del Mar,” Ozuna teams up with female artists Doja Cat and Sia for a summery beach bum

love song that highlights Caribbean rhythms and reggaeton. It is a bilingual bop that evokes feelings and emotions of being at the beach, laying on the sand soaking up the hot sun, and drinking ice-cold cocktails.

Showing off more of his acoustic side, “Caramelo” is born. Not to be confused with the remix version, Ozuna sings a solo romantic ballad based on his relationship with his wife and gets comfortable with the sound of an acoustic guitar in “Caramelo.” The love relationship that is displayed in this song is told in a world full of sweetness, using sweets as an analogy to describe the tasty details of his relationship and the beauty of his wife. “Siempre seré tu bandolero. Te juro que de to'a, tu amor va primero. No tiene' que preocuparte por lo que quiero. Siempre yo voy a estar por si ese es tu miedo” (I’ll always be your bandit. I promise you that of everything, your love comes first. You don't have to worry about what I want. I'm always going to be here if that's what you're scared of), he sings. It’s clear that Ozuna absolutely adores his wife and does a fine job of expressing his vulnerability and softness on this album.

Without a doubt Ozuna is a phenomenal artist who is clear in what he is doing, what he wants, and knows the direction he wants to take. It’s shown throughout the entirety of his work and individuality. “ENOC” being a prime example of that. Ozuna has his own unique sound and qualities that make him versatile in everything that he perfectly and accurately applied to “ENOC.” J Balvin, a close friend of Ozuna and a fellow Latin trap singer, claims that “[Ozuna] gave melody to trap in Spanish.” He then follows up with “[Ozuna] gave it a unique color. His tone of voice and romantic themes resonated with the audience and made a difference.”

“ENOC” is the epitome of Ozuna. The whole album screams “Ozuna” and it is amazing. The record is creative, fun, sensual, dance-filled, and different. In an earlier press release Ozuna stated that, “ENOC is an album that means a lot to me, as it is a reflection of the musical essence that marked the beginning of my career; but also includes what I have learned in my career as I’ve been able to travel the world with my previous albums Odisea, Aura, and Nibiru.” I

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ONLINE REVIEWS Want reviews on the latest albums, movies, TV shows, and more? Check out our website insightunr.com for our full variety of reviews and other stories!

Declan McKenna’s New 80’s Sound Compliments His Political Lyrics: “Zeroes” Album Review Words by Idalia Concha Illustration by Reilly Moss

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hat do you think about the rocket I built?” cheekily asks a 17-year-old Declan McKenna on the opener of his new album “Zeros.” In his sophomore album, British singer-songwriter, McKenna strays away from the indie rock as seen on his debut album and produces a concept album that explores dystopian 80s rock sounds. He becomes experimental with this album and most importantly, he showcases his political critique, but in rock style. I

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The Album We Didn’t Know We Needed: Taylor Swift’s “folklore” Review Words by Olivia Sullivan Illustration by Reilly Moss

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aylor Swift's eighth studio album was announced only 12 hours before its release on July 24th, taking people all over the internet by surprise. The singer was supposed to be touring music from her last album “Lover” this summer, however, due to COVID-19, she was not able to do so.

Evidently, she took full advantage of the time at home, working hard to create her newest album, “folklore.” I

Michaela Coel’s “I May Destroy You” is the Most Honest Show on Television Words by Kaitlin Venneman Illustration by Reilly Moss

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s soon as I watched the first episode of “I May Destroy You,” I knew that I wanted to write a review of it.

The initial reasons are simple: it’s incredibly well-written, the cast is impeccable, and it's beautiful direction proves that Michaela Coel, the show's creator and star, is a force to be reckoned with. But after finishing the first season last week, I realized that there’s something unique happening with this show.

Despite dealing with a topic as hard to wrestle with as sexual assault, “I May Destroy You” shows every moment of true trauma, from the dreary and grey to the odd moments of joy weaved between. I

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FEATURE

The powerful, diverse, and creative people of our feature section continue to remind us that despite the oddities of our current time period, we are still creating and overcoming anything that the world may throw at us.

Illustration by Reilly Moss

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ADAM BENEDICT Words by Idalia Concha Photos by Mary Young

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“I

think art is the most important thing in my life,” 21-year-old Adam Benedict claims.

Benedict is a young local artist in Reno who is widely known for his art displayed on Instagram. He goes by the name of @softooth on social media and has a big following of 16.4 thousand followers. His page mainly focuses on his art that promotes and advocates for mental health and the LGBTQ+ community.

Adam Benedict, a student at the University of Nevada, never imagined his artwork to blow up the way it did. Starting art in high school as a form of expression and as a hobby to kill time, Adam seeked the platform Instagram as a way to gain motivation to do his work.

“And then as I kind of got older, I realized that through art, you can kind of get to know yourself a little better,” Benedict said.

At the mere age of 18, Benedict started selling his art due to popular requests. Only three years ago Adam began making prints of his art that he could sell and ship out to people inexpensively.

However, it wasn’t until then that he started to get personal requests, commissions, logos, tattoo designs. The real motive behind selling his art was “[knowing that] people seemed interested in what I was doing. And I think the cool thing about art is the ability to share it with other people,” he claimed.

The platform that he has on Instagram came naturally and gradually to him, using it as a way to connect to other artists that he enjoyed. Benedict, who belongs to the transgender community, was also able to discover other trans artists on Instagram, helping him experience and witness the new environment of the art community on social media. To Benedict, his art page is something he considers to be more of a conversation with other people and sharing work with others who can relate to it on a certain level. In a way, he acknowledges Instagram as a platform to speak on social media, but he cherishes and claims the idea of conversing with others rather than just speaking.

“We can all kind of relate to each other in a way that we haven't been able to relate to a lot of the world… Being able to find that sense of community, I think, has been the most important thing,” said Benedict.

Benedict never really expected his art page to become well known and skyrocket the way that it did. He gained a very huge following and he finds it humbling. He became very close with the people that see and admire his art. Benedict prefers to put art out into the world that people are able to see themselves in and relate to in some kind of way.

“The most important thing to me is connecting with other people. It’s so interesting, but also so touching,” he said.

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“

We can all kind of relate to each other in a way that we haven't been able to relate to a lot of the world…

Being able to find that sense of community, I think, has been the most important thing."

"Comfort" by Adam Benedict

The connection that either himself or his followers create from seeing his art, helps Adam to decide when to post his artwork. However, Benedict’s thought process today has taken time to develop from first starting out his page. To him, social media has geared their users to need the acceptance of their followers to build and keep an interest on their profile. As Benedict continues to release his pieces, he helps encourage a quality over quantity relationship with his art based on the connection that himself or his followers can make. “[Before] I used to just be like, ‘I need to post every week. I need to keep people interested.’

It's that weird thing that social media does to your brain where it's like, you crave validation.

And you're like, ‘I need to post. I need people to engage.’ But I think over time, it's become more of an ‘I want to share things that I'm proud of,’ and that I think other people can connect to in a certain way. So really, just when I make something that I think is good enough and I think people will enjoy it and I enjoy it, is especially when I like to post,” he said.

With the coronavirus still a problem in America, Benedict took the time to reflect his time in quarantine. In the beginning, there was a lot of pressure on deciding what to do with the amount of free time, with conflicting thoughts about either working on new big projects or to take the time to improve himself. He also expressed concern of the challenges brought from the trauma that the world was collectively receiving from the pandemic.

Getting rid of the guilt for not creating things during quarantine was a challenge, but fortunately, Benedict was able to form the decision to spend his time in quarantine focusing on himself.

Adam believes that we live in a society where there is this constant pressure because we have so much free time that we must constantly be doing things, especially during the beginning of COVID and the first stages of quarantining.

“I think it's also important to rest [and] let yourself process things,” he said.

Most of his thought process and inspiration behind his art also stem from other people and how they experience gender and sexuality.

Benedict's “Comfort” piece, the final piece for his life drawing class, also introduces how taking time to listen to yourself is important. By using a photo himself photoshopped together as reference photos, he wanted to convey the meaning of being there for yourself from time to time, and how your own comfort can offer a warm presence. He also wanted to express how his time being alone feels like.

“Seeing people live authentically is such a big inspiration for me, both creatively and even just as an individual,” he said.

Not many artists are able to say that their inspiration comes from the everyday lives of strangers. I

"Self portrait with moths" by Adam Benedict

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KRYSTAL BICK Words by Alexandra Rush Photos courtesy of Krystal Bick

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S

tyle and design deeply influenced New York fashion blogger Krystal Bick throughout her childhood. She would spend hours in thrift stores, as well as watching older movies with intriguing costume design. This passion turned into something Bick could call a career. In a constantly evolving world, the fashion industry has persevered through time. Fashion blogging is just one aspect that has changed the way we as a society view new trends and ideas.

Bick started her blog in 2009 and began to post consistently in 2010.

“What I loved about it all, was that it was a way to connect with like-minded women who enjoyed dressing up for what would otherwise be a normal workday,” Bick said.

It took her first 5 years to start working full time, first balancing her blog in her off schedule hours. Like many other influencers at the time, her blog was a passionate side project while she worked elsewhere. Bick

worked as a full-time marketing team member at Google and wrote on her blog before and after work.

“It wasn't until I was tasked with setting up different influencer marketing specific initiatives for my team, that the wheels started to turn -- I realized I was well poised to potentially pursue my fashion blog full time, a decision I would eventually build up the courage to run with several years later,” Bick said.

Bick graduated from college with a background in print journalism, so she always knew she would continue to have writing as her focal point. As the creator of ‘This Time Tomorrow,’ Bick now posts content of everything from fashion to travel. “This Time Tomorrow is the discerning girl’s destination for all things style, travel, art, dating and New York City related,” the biography on her website reads. Bick states on her blog that although she cannot answer how she describes her style, she does “have a penchant for midi-length dresses, a classic Manolo pump and whiskey neat.”

Now, she has big plans in store for her future, including the possibility of writing a book. Bick tells us that she would love to make a photographyfocused coffee table book and a longer format fiction piece she has been working on in her spare time.

“Truthfully, fashion has always played a big role in my life as a means of expressing myself,” Bick said. Now, her passion has turned into her entire past, present and future.

The payoff is worth the hard work, however. “No two days are alike -- I absolutely love wearing different hats at all times. And the second -- the freedom to create and tell a story, visually and through words, that hopefully moves and resonates with my audience,” Bick said.

Social media can inspire and move people, but it is important to remember that it doesn’t define you. Bick says that she has made an effort to take more ‘digital detoxes’ so that she can log back on later with fresh eyes. She worries about the effects these platforms can have on a more malleable, younger generation.

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“My hope, and it's perhaps a bit too overly optimistic, is that we can all start to redefine for ourselves, for our families, for our children, what role and how large a role social media plays in our day to day lives,” Bick stated.

Though it hasn’t happened in many years, she has witnessed hate being thrown at her fellow content creator friends. She says that those wanting to go into digital content creation should focus on the audience that cheers them on instead of focusing on the people that try to bring them down.

As the industry continues to evolve with new apps like TikTok being created every day, Bick says that it is important to her to focus on the platforms that bring her the most joy. Like most careers, the fashion blogging world can also bring about stress.

“Understandably, it's easy to get lost in the noise when you're competing for the attention of that many eyeballs,” Bick said.

As of July, this year, there were officially 1 billion accounts on Instagram. Because of how saturated the industry is, it’s understandable to feel nervous about putting yourself out there. She says that the best advice for anyone considering this type of career would be to focus on the audience you have, don’t compare yourself to others and to treat your platform and relationships like a business.

From stunning pictures in beautiful locations to cinematic videos, Krystal Bick has forged her own unique path within the digital world. Her photos and words continue to inspire and move her audience. If you’re interested in pursuing a passion within this field, the best thing you can do is take a page from Bick’s book– and be undeniably and passionately yourself. I

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BLACK STUDENT

Words by Nicole Salcedo Photos by Mary Young

ORGANIZATION

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From left to right: Asia Stevens, Jonelle Dixon, Malivai Meyers, Britani Faagata

he correlation between hate speech and the current political climate is evident as the U.S. Department of Education has reported a 25 percent increase of reported campus hate crimes from 2015 to 2016.

As a result, it has caused many students to feel an overwhelming sense of fear and uneasiness at the university. It is why organizations and clubs at University of Nevada, Reno are trying to provide safe spaces for students, one of them being the Black Student Organization. Despite the name, the Black Student Organization welcomes all students in the goal of unifying them together with the promise of providing a well-rounded college experience. ​“The Black Student Organization unites students of color and allies at UNR by creating a safe inclusive space for students. We provide students with an academic, educational, and social experience here at the University of Nevada, Reno” said BSO President, Britani Faagata. ​The transitional period of attending college is already a feat in itself, but it is exacerbated when students attend predominantly white institutions.

In order to adjust to their new life at college, students of color will often seek out familiar faces such as people that share their experience and try to connect to those of the same race, gender, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. If students of color are not able to connect to their college, it leads them to feelings of alienation and depression, affecting their academic performance and ultimately leading to students of color dropping out of the university. Students of color dropping out of college is problematic for a number of reasons: it affects the diversity at the university and means less students of color are achieving higher education. Therefore, it is important that students of color are able to connect with organizations such as the Black Student Organization that help students of color with attending predominantly white institutions.

“This organization has given me a safe place to meet students and faculty on campus who understand what it’s like being at a predominantly white institution. Just having peers and mentors that understand and can guide you along the way has made my time at the university so much easier,” said Britani Faagata.

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The Black Student Organization has provided members, such as Britani Faagata, with a memorable social experience, but also a rewarding academic experience. The Black Student Organization strives to provide members with academic and career resources through networking and connections.

“Becoming the president for the Black Student Organization has been such a rewarding opportunity thus far. I get to run an organization full of amazing students here at the university that strive to be successful every day. There is not one person in this organization that isn’t destined for greatness. It’s very rewarding being the president of the Black Student Organization because I get to help everyone in my organization gain connections that they would never have gotten without being a part of our organization” said Britani Faagata.

Currently, the Black Student Organization has an impressive 125 members and President Britani Faagata is determined to grow the organization. The Black Student Organization is a wonderful way for students of color and allies to receive a fulfilling social experience as well as helpful academic resources. With the rise of multicultural and diversity organizations at universities, we can hope that it helps students of color achieve a well-rounded experience. I

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STORIES UNTOLD Words by Kaeli Britt Photos by Mary Young

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I

n the wake of wanting to normalize the conversations surrounding mental health, UNR sophomore Kaitlyn Camille Macato started Stories Untold, a project meant to destigmatize mental health.

“During sophomore year [of high school] I struggled with my mental health and wellbeing.

Only through the power of storytelling was I able to find peace with my truth. I was able to lean on others who created a welcoming environment for me where I could share my struggles. This ultimately inspired the creation of Stories Untold, a platform that aims to end the stigma around mental health,” Macato said.

Because of her willingness to be open about her own mental health and well-being, Macato has been able to then transfer that into wanting to spread awareness regarding other’s mental health.

“Everyone has mental health, the same way everyone has physical health. However, it is easy to forget to take care of our mental wellbeing when it is not talked about as often, Macato said.

“Sometimes I will look back to the sophomore year Kaitlyn and see just how far I came because I took my mental health more seriously. Being able to create that foundation for myself and do more selfcare activities has played an important role in how I look at life now.”

The Stories Untold main platform is on Instagram under @youxstoriesuntold. Macato found a large amount of influence for her project from Brandon Stanton’s “Humans of New York.”

Stanton’s project originally began as a simple photography project highlighting 10,000 New Yorkers on the street, in a candid setting. The project quickly became much bigger than that and ended up being a platform where New York inhabitants could talk about their lives and share their story with a larger audience. z “When figuring out how I wanted the platform to look, I was greatly inspired by Brandon Stanton’s “Humans of New York” book. He would go up to random strangers and simply have a conversation about their life. Stories Untold is currently only on Instagram because I thought it would be an easy way to reach a bigger audience and spread awareness about mental health. As for the stories, themselves, I wanted it to be as personal as possible, while also respecting the storyteller’s privacy and what they were willing to share,” Macato said.

While some people might feel uncomfortable sharing their personal stories about their mental health journey, Macato ensures that her participants feel as comfortable as possible while maintaining her creativity in her process and vision for the project.

“I have recently been finding the inspiration again to form more chapters, and looking for more engaging ways of reaching out to people to

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feature on the platform,” Macato said. “It can feel a little invading to ask people to share their stories, so I try and make it as comfortable a process as possible.”

Macato began her Stories Untold project last year before the pandemic. Since the implementation of COVID guidelines and social distancing, she has had to adjust her creative process and approach in doing things like photoshoots and closely collaborating with each of her participants.

“My favorite chapter would have to be the very first one that began everything. It was such a collaborative process between the storyteller and I,” Macato said. “I wanted to make sure that their story came alive not only through words, but visually, and I believe we both succeeded in doing so.”

Despite the creative setbacks and challenges that Macato experienced because of COVID, Macato has still found ways to continue on with the progression of Stories Untold and telling people’s mental health stories.

“For the first chapter, before the pandemic, I would do a photoshoot with the storyteller, completely inspired by their words and vision.

It was very fun and collaborative,” Macato said.

“Because of COVID, I definitely had to switch the approach which made it a lot more difficult. It took a toll on the creativity and essentially slowed down the chapters and progression of the project.”

While some storytellers have a favorite part of their projects, Macato enjoys the creative process as a whole.

“All aspects of the project have meant so much to me,” Macato said. It’s quite difficult to pick apart these special moments, from starting the conversation to receiving the story.”

Macato has been working on a new project recently after completing three prior ‘chapters’ of the Stories Untold project.

“I do not want to say too much, but I am currently working on a chapter that will hopefully come out within the next month. This one is very near and dear to my heart so I hope at least one person can resonate with it,” Macato said.

Since beginning the Stories Untold project, Macato has grown in her self-confidence and has become a better communicator and storyteller.

“I have gained confidence in myself and wisdom from others through the power of storytelling.

Reaching out to people to see if they would like to share a story can make me very anxious, but with every rejection or acceptance comes a lesson learned,” Macato said. “I found better ways to connect and communicate with the storyteller I am speaking to. There’s so much wisdom that I have received from the stories that are shared with me.

It is a special moment when someone can trust you and tell you their truth.” I

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ESTYLE LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE LIFES

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STYLE LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE LIFESTY

LIFESTYLE

Fifty years have passed since 1970, and yet the influences that the decade brought are still prevalent and trendy today. In our lifestyle section, check out the fashion and music from the ‘70s that inspires us, plus lessons on confidence, coffee, and road trips.

Illustration by Reilly Moss

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doing things foryou Words by Olivia Sullivan Illustrations by Andie Scarborough

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A

fter about a month of living in my new apartment with my three roommates, I was finally fortunate enough to have the place all to myself. I have always been one to thoroughly enjoy the comfort and peace that comes from being alone. Something about an empty house has simply always felt more inviting when devoting time to my relaxation. So, on that warm September night, I decided to use this time to my advantage.

I took a long bath, a pastime of which I very rarely partake in due to my usual lack of care for such a slow paced activity. Then I lit a candle, did a face mask, listened to music on full blast, made myself a simple dinner, and put on a show on Netflix which was recommended to me months ago. By the time my roommates came back, and the apartment became a little less quiet, I found that I felt so much lighter than before. Dedicating time to myself, in which I was my sole priority, was an obvious mood booster. My spike in energy, confidence, and happiness sparked a question in my head, “Why don't I do this more often?”

The simple answer to that is probably guilt.

Guilt of not constantly moving, or constantly bettering myself in some way. A quick check in with my friends helped me come to the conclusion that this isn't just a me thing. We all seemed to be working on bettering our outward selves, thus neglecting our inner selves. Of course this isn't some brand new idea, we as a society have talked about our insatiable need to always be ‘on’ and to always be better than the day before. This mindset is not healthy in the long run, as it is extremely unattainable. No, this

is no new discovery, but it is a new factor in the way I want to live the rest of my life.

This old way of living has not been easy to give up, so I know that calling for a change is easier said than done. To those who are struggling to accept this like I was, please know that you are not a bad person for taking time for yourself. You are important, but the world will not crumble without you. Take a well deserved break.

I wish I would have come to this realization a few months back when quarantine was just beginning and the threat of an unseen villain loomed around us. Those beginning months were hard to live through; it was hard to find a silver lining. Though most of us are back at school now, and back to moving forward, the state of the world doesn't seem to have changed very much.

The stress that comes with this way of living weighs heavy on my heart, as I'm sure it does for many people. Even though I'm back at school and can't forget all my responsibilities, I have vowed to start doing more for myself.

There are many ways to give back to yourself, easy things that might just make your day, week, month, or year a little bit better. Self care differs for everyone, as it is purely whatever makes you the happiest and most relaxed. In short–listen to your body and do what makes you comfortable.

Taking the time to do something you want to do, is one of the most gratifying forms of love you can give yourself. That love has the ability to turn into happiness, which results in a boost of confidence. Of course this concept is subjective, but the principle remains indisputable. We must be more kind to ourselves if we ever hope to truly succeed in this world. I

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how to find the

right coffee roast for you

Words by Elliot Bailey Illustrations by Reilly Moss

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offee is a widely beloved drink, with all its different flavors and preparation options. It is a drink to test out and discover what you do and don’t like, in cafes and at home. Finding what roast and blend you want to make at home can also be difficult because of how many options there are, but this guide breaks it down a bit.

roasts

There are three basic roasts: light, medium, and dark. Each blend within each roast has a different taste, but each roast has a basic flavor profile that most accurately describes each flavor.

Light Roast Light roast coffee is very sweet and tangy, and due to the lightness of the beans, is the easiest to bring more vibrant and unique flavors out of coffee. Light roast blends are best for when you want your coffee hot.

Light roasts to consider: Peet’s Coffee Colombia Luminosa, Starbucks Breakfast Blend, Cameron’s Coffee Breakfast Blend, Starbucks Veranda Blend (my personal favorite)

Medium Roast Medium roast coffee has a balanced, wellrounded, sweet flavor. Medium roasts are a great start for new coffee drinkers, or those who haven’t ventured out of their comfort zones taste wise. Medium roasts are best for hot and blended coffees.

Medium roasts to consider: Peet’s Coffee Big Bang, Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, Starbucks Pike Place, Starbucks House Blend (my personal favorite)

Dark Roast Dark roasts have low acidity, heavy body, and darker flavors; they also lend themselves well to chocolatey, caramel, and/or nutty flavors. Dark roasts are best for homemade iced coffee, as the ice watering down the coffee does not water down the taste.

Dark roasts to consider: Starbucks Sumatra Blend (my personal favorite), Starbucks Caffe Verona, Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass, Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend, Caribou Coffee Mahogany

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types of roasts

Arabica: When roasted, Arabica beans provide a sweet, yet soft taste with low acidity levels.

These beans grow best in high elevations and are typically grown in Africa and Latin America.

Robusta: Yields a strong, bitter, harsh taste when roasted. Robusta beans can stand harsher environments, so they are usually grown in lower altitudes, in Africa and Indonesia.

ways to prepare coffee There are many different ways to prepare coffee, and it’s all about personal taste preferences.

There’s the classic home-brewed coffee, either in a carafe or Keurig, hot or iced, with creamer or just black; a latte, which is espresso and frothed milk, plus whatever flavor syrups or creamer is desired; a cappuccino, which is espresso with frothed milk, foam, and other flavorings to one’s desire; or a macchiato, which is frothed milk and foam with espresso poured on top, and the additional flavoring of your choice. Among other preparations, these are some of the most common and easiest to make at home. The best machines to use to make your own coffee at home are a French press, a filter machine, or a Keurig or similar model. I

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HITTING THE

I

n the summer of coronavirus, traveling is very limited and many people are having no problem making do. More and more people are packing their bags, decking out their cars and hitting the road.

This summer was all gas, no brakes for me.

I was determined to spend the summer doing things, whether it was what I had planned or not.

I decided I was not going to sit and stare at my computer screen, working from home as I had been the previous three months.

I traveled to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park for the first time, visited Yosemite again as it’s one of my favorite places on earth, and excitedly fell in love with new places around California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

And since I had a lot of extra free time after quitting my job and canceling my plans to work an internship, the summer felt like mine to waste.

My boyfriend and I made plans to go everywhere. It started with a spontaneous trip to San Francisco after a coffee date. We hiked five miles to the Golden Gate Bridge, ate pizza and got home by eleven the same day.

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ROAD:

The Grand Canyon, from Reno is about a twelve hour drive to the North Rim through Utah. And it was ambitious to say we could do it in a weekend.

But it seemed doable, so we didn’t think much of it.

The drive wasn't the most important thing. Seeing the Grand Canyon and saying we did it after was what was on our minds. We left Reno in the early morning and drove through the empty desert until the sunset.

Along the way we stopped at places we now have stories about. Zion took our breath away and I’ll never forget the foothills of the Grand Staircase at dusk. It was like we had stepped into an old western movie. The orange rock formations towered above us in Southern Utah, dotted with little green piñon pines, bordered by a little emerald river running through.

Then at four in the morning we woke and drove an hour through the Arizona border to the very edge of the canyon and watched the sun rise over its trees. We hiked down a ways into the canyon, on a trail used mostly by backpackers traversing the whole 25 miles to the other end of the canyon.

What surprised us is that the place was cold and

adapting to travel during quarantine Words and Photos by Sarah Strang

we weren’t prepared. It was frigid and I had to put extra layers on to stay warm.

Watching the purples turn to red on the walls of the canyon was well worth everything we did.

The wall was a rainbow lined with bright yellows, greens and colors many might not expect when they think of the Grand Canyon.

We then drove back through the 12-hour desert back home like it was nothing. Afterwards we crashed and slept like rocks. And the next day it was all we talked about.

The weekend we spent in Utah and Arizona moved me greatly and made me realize there was so much opportunity I was missing out on. A lot of what the U.S. had to offer I had taken for granted and pushed aside.

It was truly in those red hills of Arizona that I felt small and like the world was mine to explore.

Like a small fish in a really big, beautiful ocean.

It was very important for me to discover my love for road tripping, and the trips I took over the summer taught me that I should always strive to make big decisions, because they will surely pay off. I

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'70s LOOK BOOK

A flashback to the fashion of the 1970s.

Photos by Mary Young

MODEL

Julia regan

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n the era of the ‘70s, tall boots, short skirts, and a penchant for yellow, green, and orange were all a must in the fashion world. Today, the ‘70s are making a come back, with many inspired people flocking to thrift shops to find their new favorite outfit.

There are many trends to follow in this era, but most importantly: keep it groovy. I

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'70s PLAYLIST A flashback guide to the music of the 1970s.

Words by Kaitlin Venneman Photos by Mary Young Check out Insight's official '70s playlist on Spotify:

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hen 1970’s music hit the horizon, it set the sun down on artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and The Beatles.

Psychedelic Rock left as quickly as it came, with the Woodstock Festival a mere memory and the death of Sharon Tate a bruise on the heart of hippies everywhere. It’s no surprise that the ‘70s took a turn away from the swaying and flower crowns, instead opting for edgier and bolder styles that were more than just music, but performances for anyone ever left feeling a bit on the outside.

Here are a few genres that really made an impact.

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disco

Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the ‘70s, disco became popular on the dance floor, with many club-goers itching for a good night out. Its sound originated from Black and Latino musicians in the R&B genre, but its culture truly arose in the underground LGBTQ ballroom scene of New York. As famous musicians such as Stevie Wonder began to incorporate its sound, shows such as “Soul Train” blew the door of disco wide-open, creating a genre forever synonymous with bellbottom jeans and sequined shirts.

Highlights: ABBA, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, Chic, Gloria Gaynor

progressive rock Though progressive rock, or prog rock, originated in the ‘60s, its peak form wasn’t until the ‘70s, making this genre vital for the decade.

It’s instrumentation took notes from jazz music combined with the eclecticism of psychedelic rock. The British scene whipped prog rock into fruition, with bands such as the Nice and the Moody Blues serving as a blueprint for what was to come, and handing bands like King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer the torch. Despite its successes, in the late 70s prog rock quickly declined at the hands of punk rock.

Highlights: Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Electric Light Orchestra, Emerson Lake and Palmer

punk One of the most versatile and long-lived genres, punk rock has inspired subgenres for generations since it first rose to fame in the ‘70s. More than that, its music led to the creation of an entire subculture, complete with leather jackets and anti-authoritarian beliefs. Originally, punk rock was used to describe garage rock bands in the ‘60s, but soon became something much harder to grapple. In its beginning stages, the Ramones, Blondie and the Talking Heads played shows in lower Manhattan, primarily influenced by the New York Dolls. Simultaneously, punk in the United Kingdom was rising too, with the Sex Pistols steering the reins that forever changed the music scene.

Highlights: The Ramones, Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the New York Dolls, Blondie

hard rock

Hard Rock also found its footing in the ‘70s as a conglomerate of several ‘60s genres such as garage, psychedelic, and blues rock.

Many of its early pioneers evolved from different genres, with The Who and Led Zeppelin at its head. It spawned stadium rock along with it, with bands like Kiss using theatrics to enhance their performances in arenas.

Highlights: The Who, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Aerosmith, Kiss, Van Halen

soft rock

On the opposite side of hard rock, soft rock began its rise too, with a lighter sound reliant on the radio. It’s “easy-listening” was branched off from pop rock, with Carole King’s “Tapestry” jump-starting the decade. Perhaps its most prominent figure, Elton John, sold out shows across the globe, and Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” became the best-selling album of the decade.

Highlights: Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Wings, Hall & Oates

funk

With groove its primary focus, funk derived from soul music in Black communities of the U.S. At its forefront of creation was James Brown, incorporating syncopation and swung notes to focus around the first beat of every measure. Though complicated in theory, this style of music was easy to get down to, especially when it topped the charts in the ‘70s with Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder.

Highlights: James Brown, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic I

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NION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPIN

OPINION

The bright side of quarantine, the impactful force of Meghan Markle’s feminism, and the simplistic beauty of “Bohemian Rhapsody” are all topics tackled in our opinion section.

Illustration by Andie Scarborough

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THE OTHER SIDE OF QUARANTINE Words by Lauren Turner Photos by Christine Schwartz

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e can sit here all day and night, for the rest of our lives even, and reflect on this year.

2020 brought in a pandemic that none of us were expecting. A pandemic that a lot of us weren’t prepared for. Questions like, “Do we have enough toilet paper?” and “This will only last for two weeks at most, right?” were thrown around, as the world around us came to a screeching halt.

When we realized that this wasn’t something that would go away in the blink of an eye, we started reflecting on what we have missed out on and what we will miss out on throughout the year.

We can count on our hands an abundance of opportunities we have lost out on. From exciting things, such as concerts and vacations, to life altering moments like walking across the stage at graduation, or being there for the birth of a loved one’s newborn. COVID has indeed ripped some of those most precious moments away from us.

Even down to the simplicity of attending a day of school, hugging a grandparent or picking up a jug of milk from the grocery store in less than five minutes. Each and every single one of us has lost a moment or few. Each of us have had to adapt to

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a completely new lifestyle.

And yes, we can sit here and sulk about our missed opportunities but what good does that do anyone? Instead, how about we look at the ones that we haven’t even realized we’ve been able to have because of COVID. Have you been able to take up that new hobby you’ve been waiting to tackle? Or, what about that special phone call you made to that loved one you haven’t heard from in months? Were you able to sit in your pajamas at home and work or study, instead of fighting the rush hour traffic?

Yes, there is an abundance of opportunities we have missed, but there’s also been an abundance of ones given right to us.

Our world may seem like it is falling apart but we need to embrace the positives because there are some positives to embrace. In a negative time, the last thing to do is just add more negativity to the situation. It is only going to make matters worse. So, what have been some positives you’ve noticed?

Have you realized nature has been thriving?

The Venice canals had clear water and CO2 emissions decreased for the first time in quite a while. There’s been a huge focus on essential workers and small businesses. We’ve all

improved our personal hygiene. We’ve adapted and kept the things that we love close to us, such as, drive in movies or concerts.

Throughout this entire year, we have come together, as a world, to rely and count on each other. That is truly a remarkably beautiful thing to think about. We’ve discovered how powerful we are, as a whole, when we come together.

We’ve helped each other and we’ve leaned on each other. We’ve grown tremendously within ourselves, communities and throughout the world. It’s the closest our world has come together in a long time.

“

We’ve discovered how powerful we are, as a whole, when we come together. We’ve helped each other and we’ve leaned on each other.

”

More importantly, as a whole, we have been able to learn about how important the simple things in life are. We’ve learned how important a hug truly is or a kiss on the cheek. We now realize how crucial spending time with our

family and friends are. We can only hope that we take these life lessons with us when the world goes back to normal. That we don’t miss a moment or take for granted a hug. This appreciation for each other and life can become the new normal for us. We won’t feel the fear about reaching out and being open with each other. We’ll be closer and appreciate each other more than we ever have.

So, the next time you make a complaint, also list something that you are grateful for.

We are going through this together, and it has simply brought us all together and showed us how important the world is. We are living through history. This is something that is going to be talked about for generations to come and we can tell them, “Yeah, this world struggled, in more ways than one, but we got through it and we got through it together.” We’ll remember the struggles and the difficulties but we’ll also remember the strength and the power of the world, as a whole.

This is a time for us to reflect on who we are as an individual and who we are as a whole. It’s a time for us to reflect on life in general. It’s a special gift we have to be here on this planet.

That alone is a positive. I

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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

THE SONG THAT NEVER GETS OLD

O

ctober 31st, 2020, marks the 45th anniversary of one of the most recognized songs in the world: Bohemian Rhapsody. Making its debut in 1975, Bohemian Rhapsody came hot off Queen’s fourth studio album “A Night At The Opera.” This six-minute long, genre crossing masterpiece was written by none other than Queen’s lead singer, the amazing Freddie Mercury. It topped the charts in the U.K. and peaked at #9 in the U.S. It wasn't until 1992, when it was featured in the film “Wayne's World,” that it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 list here in the States. Though critics weren't quite sure what to make of the song following its release, it has quickly become one of the band’s most recognized and beloved songs. Following the release of the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a film about Mercury and the band, the song made another resurgence. Once again, people were reminded of the pure talent and artistry that went into creating this hit song.

If anything has been made clear about this song, it is that it transcends time: growing and adapting with each generation it touches.

Unlike other artists, Queen seems to write songs without any intention of giving a finite meaning to their lyrics. Some are easier to decode, while others leave listeners up to their own imaginations: Bohemian Rhapsody being one of the latter.

Speculations have been made about the meaning of the song, specifically in regards to Freddie Mercury, but nothing has ever been confirmed or denied. The beautiful enigma of a song remains as such to this day. Perhaps it is my need to appreciate all that this band does, but I can’t help but admire this decision.

They chose to place the song in the hearts and hands of their listeners, the ones who hear something new each time the beginning note hits their ears.

This song does not take me back to one singular memory, but a cluster of them–all coming together to form one big happy moment. I see the time I was driving around my hometown

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Words by Olivia Sullivan Illustration by Reilly Moss

with my best friend, screaming the lyrics until we cried with laughter. I see a large group of my fellow graduating classmates, a karaoke machine, and the song that brought us together during our last night of high school. I see my mom and I driving to Reno to move me into my dorm freshman year, laughing along with the lyrics so we wouldn't cry instead. The power of a song has never been more obvious to me than in those moments.

Something as simple as a song has connected me to so many people, in the memories we have created together and those they make on their own. People all over the world have created their own unique memories as Bohemian Rhapsody plays in the background, and I think that's kind of beautiful. They are the memories we will hold on to forever.

As sentimental as it may sound, these memories are what make the song so special to me; and many other people as well. Never have I witnessed such pure happiness than when this song is playing. Like a scene straight out of the movie “Wayne's World,” we all seem to share those ‘headbanging and screaming the lyrics at the top of our lungs’ type of moments.

It's one of those things that you just feel obligated to do every time the song comes on. It's something that I believe we will be doing for generations to come, if only out of pure obligation and unparalleled respect for such a magnificent song.

It comes as no surprise to me, then, that the song has come 45 years down the line and still continues to shake us all to our core. The song that takes its listeners on a journey, from start to finish. The song that we will show to our kids, and them theirs.We will continue to pass this song down, gifting it to new generations so that they might also feel that same joy we all felt when first hearing the song. We will do this because we know that a song is easily forgotten, drowned out by time and trends, but memories and moments of great emotion last forever. These memories, the ones this song have given us and the ones it will give those who come after us, will be cherished forever. I

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEGHAN MARKLE’S BREAK FROM THE MONARCHY: Words by Molly Carnell

M

eghan Markle is officially home. And she’s excited about it, “For so many reasons,”she said. We should be too, for so many reasons.

It was announced on Jan. 18, 2020, that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markel, would be stepping back as working members of the Royal Family. I remember being both horrified and exhilarated as I read this news. As a royal enthusiast, I had many questions.

Perhaps the first question that needs to be asked is that of, why did it have to come to this?

Though a mix of sexism, racism and classism was surely involved, the answer may lie somewhere in the fact that Meghan was never going to fit into a box that someone else made for her.

As a biracial woman, actress, American and proud feminist, Meghan walked through the palace gates as a woman entirely of her own. Meghan broke from royal tradition many times, including on her wedding day. Meghan walked herself halfway down the aisle, with Prince Charles meeting her to walk her down the second half. She and Harry also chose not to appear on the Lindo Wing hospital steps to present their newborn baby, instead set up an

Why it had to happen and what it could mean for the future of feminism.

Illustration by Reilly Moss

intimate photo session with a journalist and photographer of their own choosing. Once, she dared to close her own car door. The horror.

I’ve always admired Meghan’s strong feminist beliefs, and her not so subtle ways of expressing them. She became a UN Women's Advocate for Women's Political Participation and Leadership in 2015. In 2017, she penned an essay for Time about the barriers that female menstruation brings to young girls’ education in India. She even publicly supported the #MeToo and “Time’s Up” movements in 2018.

Meghan’s outright support of these movements is significant because traditionally, royals are not supposed to publicly support anything too political, as they reflect the Queen who is a politically neutral head of state. This shows how important Meghan’s feminist beliefs are to her and just how dedicated she is to them.

Now that she’s free from the restraints that royal life requires, she is able to do things like express her feminist beliefs, urge fellow Americans to vote and wear dark nail polish. The couple recently landed a major producing deal with Netflix, in which we can look forward to an upcoming nature docu-series and an animated series about inspiring women.

As far as what this means for the Royal Family, it’s been said that Harry and Meghan’s departure is the biggest break since the abdication of King Edward VIII, yet Harry remains sixth in the line of succession for the throne. I’d wager that Princess Diana’s sons won’t let this be the end of their relationship. As stated on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s official website, “They remain a valued part of Her Majesty’s family.”

Recently, Meghan sat down with feminist icon Gloria Steinem in a conversation for MAKERS to talk women-empowerment and the importance of voting, which might give us a glimpse into what she has in store for the future. With Meghan free to fully express herself, we may even witness the rise of a new feminist icon.

The couple also marked the beginning of Black History Month in the United Kingdom with an interview for the Evening Standard, where Meghan stated the hops she has for the future, “We cannot change history, nor can we edit our past. But we can define our future as one that is inclusive, as one that is equal and one that is colorful.” I

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