Spring Issue 2018

spring 2018 VOLUME11 ISSUE 3

MAGAZINE

where do we stand

An internal conflict

the inner battle of deciding to still love the art that so many abusers created

psychology of dreams

how Dreams can help you better understand yourself and your subconscious mind

artist spotlight: plush life

a local hip-hop/rap collective creates a new sound that can only be defined as plush

from the editor

F

or me, the spring semester always seems easier because I know that summer will soon be upon us. With more sunny days and higher temperatures there’s also the relief of the semester dwindling down, yet spring also means graduation is right around the corner.

Many students begin to feel the pressure of facing their post-graduation plans and whether or not they’ve landed a job in their field. The pressure can be crippling, but why stress?

As a freshman this was something I battled with daily. What am I going to do after college? These things, in my opinion, are nearly impossible to predict. I’ve discovered once I let a little bit of the control go that life

philosophy I remind myself—you shouldn’t be scared about what’s ahead, you should be excited by it.

By this I don’t mean don’t work hard. Work as hard as you can.

Have dreams. Have a goal you want to chase, but don’t put yourself on such a narrow path that when you’re thrown off it feels like defeat.

One of my favorite articles I’ve ever read talks about a recent college graduate who got her degree in journalism. For years after graduation she couldn’t find work. She wanted to be a writer, but nothing was falling into place after college. She was persistent and applied for internship after internship while also working as a hostess to pay rent.

"The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you."

Andrea Heerdt Editor-in-Chief

-Buddha

will sort of fall into place on its own.

Not only does this make life exciting and unexpected, but it takes a bit of weight off of your shoulders.

This is still a work in progress for me. I know how scary it can be to have no idea what direction you’re headed in, but believing in the process makes things a little bit easier.

I know for myself there have been many instances where I was upset I didn’t get a specific internship that I thought would put me on my ultimate path or timeline. Although it was frustrating to accept, ultimately a way better opportunity came along later.

When I’m feeling doubtful of this

That’s right, this woman couldn’t even get a job as a server yet. With a bachelor's degree in hand, she swallowed her pride and started at the bottom.

Still, the woman was persistent.

She moved up the restaurant chain, eventually getting promoted to a server and then to a manager. The humility she experienced was real and relatable as she waited on former classmates who now had prominent, well-established careers. At dinner her classmates’ parents or spouses asked her what she’s doing with her life. Despite feeling this overwhelming sense of failure, she kept writing on the side to get better.

The story naturally unfolds to where the woman gets her big break and a writing position far greater than anything she ever imagined before. It may have been 15 years later than she had anticipated, but the takeaway is that this wasn’t a failure. She eventually surpassed her old classmates despite the rough start. Sometimes the road less traveled is the only way to get there.

I try to remind myself that if something isn’t working out for me now, it doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen. A better opportunity awaits around the corner.

Kellie Sasso

Photography Editor

Taylor Harker

Ana Hurt

Social Media Director

Copy Editor

Contributors Elizabeth Pearson Tanner Barrett Ryan Vellinga Carley Olson Cira Craighead Crystal PulidoLugo Erin Lucas Collin Walter Jana Sayson

Katherine Larsen Copy Editor

Angela Lujan

Robert NuĂąezJimenez

Josie Steehler Emily Dotts Jiah Jewell Cedrik Alcala Olivia Ali Alexandra McVey Stephanie Lamas Karolina Rivas Nikki Moylan Cameron Larsen Tashina Brie

Staff 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 1800's).

Insight Magazine works to correct any errors. If you find a mistake or misprint, please contact the editor at insighteditor@asun.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 2017 National Associated Collegiate Press Conference in the category of Feature Magazine.

CONTENTS LOCAL NEWS

our center works to empower lgbtq+ community and beyond 8 This nonprofit offers an abundance of resources from monthly presentations to educate people to hygiene products and clothes

By Angela Lujan

stereotyped 101: An exploration in unconscious bias 10 Guest lecturer, Karith Foster, discusses how we all have our own biases but must work to create a new sense of normal

By Angela Lujan

REVIEWS Local business reviews 14 Sol Kava, Melting Pot World Emporium, and FinBomb Sushi

By Taylor Harker, Katherine Larsen, and Emily Dotts

book reviews 16 The Hate U Give, Thrown of the Crescent Moon, and The Doors of Perception

By Cameron Larsen, Angela Lujan, and Cira Craighead

movie and concert reviews 17 Your Name and Lana Del Rey

By Emily Dotts and Crystal Pulido-Lugo

FEATURES Psychology of dreams 20 How dreams can help you understand yourself and your subconscious mind

By Ana Hurt

Dating apps swipe college students’ hearts 24 Although college students use dating apps frequently to meet people, many agree it's not the way to find the one

By Nikki Moylan

pack profile: Nick eng—beyond the classic look 26 Nick Eng, inspired by classic rock, recently released his first self-made album and is looking to start a sophomore album soon INSIGHT 4Barrett

By Tanner

from gospel to rap 30 Luke Wynn, local singer and musicican, recently won the 2017 Forte Award for best hip-hop artist in Reno

By Stephanie Lamas and Karolina Rivas

post festival depression 32 After every festival there's a wave of depression that hits every music lover. The only cure: to go again

By Alexandra McVey

Artist spotlight: plush life 34 A local hip-hop/rap collective creates a new sound that can only be defined as plush

By Jiah Jewell

LIFESTYLE rise of veganism 38 More vegan restaurants are opening to cater to the six times as many vegans now as there were three years ago

By Olivia Ali

on living alone 40 The unexpected benefits and drawbacks of living without roommates in college

By Crystal Pulido-Lugo

A year of love 42 One woman's goal of loving herself rather than focusing on dating or relationships

By Tashina Brie

10 college habits you'll regret in 10 years 42 The habits you're forming now may not be the best choices in the future

By Josie Steehler

I tried food hacks so you don't have to 44 We tried a compilation of food hacks from Pinterest. Read to see if they passed or failed our test

By Carley Olson

OPINION Where do we stand—An internal conflict 48 The inner battle of deciding to still love the art that so many abusers created

By Crystal Pulido-Lugo 5 INSIGHT

Photo by Kellie Sasso

LOCAL NEWS

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7 INSIGHT

Photo by Kellie Sasso

OUR CENTER Our LGBTQ Community

Words by Angela Lujan Photos by Robert Nuñez-Jimenez

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ur Center is a local nonprofit organization that provides resources and referrals to the LGBTQ+ community and to the Reno community at large. On January 2, 2018, three windows of Our Center were broken while the building was occupied by a reading group. The windows were broken by an unidentified man. Despite the incident, Our Center put plywood over the broken windows and continued to offer programming.

“We just kept on doing what we do, helping out the community,” said INSIGHT 8

Sherrie Scaffidi, a volunteer at Our Center.

The windows have since been replaced, and the community response was overwhelming. “The outpouring was unbelievable,” said Scaffidi, “I was actually here when a couple came in who said they didn’t think

they wanted to help.”

Going forward, Scaffidi hopes for Our Center to expand and to reach more people. “We’re here for so many different people. Not only the LGBTQ+, but the community in general,” Scaffidi said, “The groups that meet regularly are really important to help people who need that.

As a trans person I know that before I came out I didn’t know a lot about where to go to get information.” Among these groups are The League of Gender Inclusive C i t i z e n s (T-LOGIC), Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and Transgender Allies Group (TAG).

Scaffidi said that this programming is a resource to anyone who wants to

"WE’RE HERE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. NOT ONLY THE LGBTQ+, BUT THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL." they knew anybody who was gay, lesbian, or transgender. They didn’t even know we were here, and they didn’t know what we did. But once they started seeing everything on the news,

learn more.

“Because I’m transgender, I’m very partial to the transgender programs,” Scaffidi said, “It seems like right now we have so many more people coming out as trans.”

Scaffidi is a member of TAG, which puts out a yearly resource guide for trans people in the community.

Scaffidi hopes that these guides can be of some assistance to people, as they list many resources. “The guides list doctors, mental health professionals, churches, stores, all kinds of things that are kind, friendly and geared to

trans people,” Scaffidi said.

TAG also puts on a monthly presentation called Trans 101. “It’s approximately a two hour presentation,” Scaffidi said, “It’s basic transgender information. Numbers of trans people, how to respect a trans person, how to navigate if you don’t know if someone is trans or not, and how to treat them properly by using the correct pronouns.” The presentation is open to everyone, and Scaffidi urges people to attend who have a trans person in their life, “Whether it be a parent, a child, a spouse.”

Scaffidi said that it’s common for parents of trans children to want to learn more, but it also encourages children with trans parents to try and learn more as well. “We talk a lot about parents of trans children, but in my circle we have children that have to figure that out,” Scaffidi said, “At my age most of my friends are 45 and up, and a lot of us have children. I am very fortunate in that my kids are totally 100 percent accepting of who I am. But a lot of other children aren’t [supportive] of the parents, and it’s very sad.” Scaffidi believes that education can help the community to become more inclusive. “I would like people to figure that out, that we’re just all people,” Scaffidi said, “We’re just people.”

Our Center seeks to provide resources to the Reno community at large.

One way the organization does this is through their Free Marketplace.

The Free Marketplace offers necessities for people who may not have access to them otherwise. “At the Free Marketplace we have food that we give people. We have personal hygiene products,” Scaffidi said, “This year’s been a pretty mild winter, but last year we gave away a lot of blankets, sleeping bags, gloves, hats, socks, stuff to keep people warm.”

Scaffidi hopes that more of the community takes advantage of Our Center’s programming and resources.

“We’re here. Anybody and everybody is welcome. As long as they’re not a jerk,” Scaffidi said, “If people are curious, come on down when we’re open, and we’ll give you a tour and explain to you what we do here maybe just sit down and chat for a while.”

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STEREOT AN EXPLORATION IN

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UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

YPED 101 Words by Angela Lujan Illustration by Andrea Heerdt

T

his semester the University of Nevada, Reno held a lecture called Stereotyped 101: An Exploration in Unconscious Bias. The event was led by Karith Foster, who is a professional speaker, comedian, TV and radio personality, and founder of the Foster Russell Family Foundation, which seeks to “Promote free speech and inclusion,” according to Foster. Many college students were in attendance, and Foster led the audience in a thoughtful discussion on issues of stereotyping and diversity, weaving in a bit of comedy. Foster said, “Laughing is a good way to be comfortable and strong enough to address tough and serious topics.”

Foster started off the event by discussing the term “diversity.” Foster claimed that, “Like ‘feminist’ and ‘liberal,’ the word ‘diversity’ has been hijacked.” Instead, Foster chooses to use the term “inversity.” Foster describes this term as inclusive and introspective, with concern for one’s connection to humanity.

Foster had the audience close their eyes and take a self survey. She asked the audience, “Have you ever been in your car and seen a black man, so you lock the door? Have you ever heard a Southern accent and thought ‘that person’s not smart’? Or heard a British accent and thought they were smart?” She then asked the audience to raise their hands if they’d done any of these things, and to open their eyes. Nearly everyone in the audience

had their hand up.

Foster said, “We all stereotype,” and offered three reasons people tend to do this. The first reason, according to Foster, is it’s human nature. “People naturally think, ‘is this a physical or emotional threat?’” Foster’s second reason is that stereotyping is learned behavior, and that it can be learned consciously and unconsciously.

Foster said people learn to stereotype from parents, video games, and even Disney Princesses. The third reason Foster described is the human ego.

Foster said, “The ego likes to rule things, to be right, and to know where it stands.”

Foster went on to describe her experiences as black woman growing up in Plano, a “not very diverse suburb of Texas.” Foster said that the experience was made awkward by stereotyping, and that she was the “Honorary black representative for melanin deficient friends.”

Foster recalls circles forming around her at school dances where her friends would chant, "Go Karith, it’s your birthday." “No, it’s not! It’s coming up though,” she said. She suggests that this behavior stemmed from her friends stereotyping her because she is black.

Foster went on to describe her struggles with her weight, and the different perceptions of weight on the West Coast, where she’s considered heavy, compared to the Midwest, where she’s considered, “anorexic.” Foster said that America is obsessed with weight to the point that, “People are excited to get sick, because that means we get to wear our skinny jeans,” and people will, “Eat at Chipotle. On purpose,”

suggesting Chipotle makes people sick.

While Foster believes that comedy is an excellent way to engage in difficult topics, she maintains that, “Sometimes you have to be a little uncomfortable to hash things out.”

Foster said that there are ways to avoid stereotyping. She said the first way is through conscious empathy.

“Really put yourself in their shoes,” said Foster. She also describes the necessity for active listening. “It’s not what you hear, but how you interpret it,” said Foster, “You have to be an advocate for me, and I have to be an advocate for someone else.”

Foster said that people who are stereotyped should attempt to have “Responsible reactions.” According to Foster, this involves asking the person, “Why do you say that? Do you know what that means?” She said, “It takes patience and maturity,” and can lead to the person learning instead of repeating their mistake. Foster said, “We are all students. How we react to each other is so important.” Foster said, “Where you draw the line is a personal choice, but if you don’t do it, who else will?”

To Foster, “We have to change our perception of normal.” In order to do this, Foster said, “Stretch, grow, get exposed to ideas and grow beyond where you came from. Get out of your comfort zone.” Foster said that people will not always see eye to eye, but, “Hearing somebody out gives you a chance to broaden your horizons.”

Foster concluded, “It’s about better relationships, having an amazing life, and sharing it with people.”

11 INSIGHT

REVIEWS

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13 INSIGHT Photo by Andrea Heerdt

LOCAL BUSINESS REVIEWS

FinBomb

Photo by Carley Olson

L

Words by Emily Dotts

ocated in Midtown, FinBomb is a restaurant that sells sushi burritos and poke - two foods based on raw fish. They prepare the food in front of you to show off both their freshness and to tease your hunger. You can either create your own burrito or poke or choose from their menu. Of the two foods, their Americanized sushi burritos are tasty and filling while their poke should only be eaten by people who have never tried poke before.

There is something strangely American about sushi burritos.

Influenced by the Japanese dish, sushi, a sushi burrito is one long, INSIGHT 14

uncut sushi roll. The large size is not what makes the meal filling but rather the two proteins you pack in and a variety of sides and sauces in the burrito. The variety of choices and the sushi burrito’s filling nature separate it from Japanese sushi.

While their sushi burrito was tasty and satisfying, their poke would disappoint anyone who grew up eating it. If you have never tried poke, the Hawaiian dish consists of raw fish cut into inch sized cubes marinated in whatever sauce you choose. FinBomb uses the same raw fish from their sushi burritos with their poke, and they don’t fully soak

their fish into the sauce. The sauce is drizzled on as an afterthought and creates more sauce on the rice than on the poke. Additionally, their fish is cut in half of the size of normal poke and lacks that classic mouthfeel of fish crammed into the side of your cheek as your teeth smoothly cut down. Instead, you get a tiny squish like pre-popped bubble wrap.

If you are in Midtown, FinBomb’s sushi burrito will leave you satisfied.

But, if you decide to try their poke, be aware that it more closely resembles sashimi than authentic poke.

Words by Taylor Harker

S

ol Kava is a hidden gem in the center of downtown Reno that offers expression and ventilation through the drinking of organic teas. The idea was started by Kristen Jaskulski as a way for people to spend their evenings in a tranquil and open environment while practicing holistic relaxation remedies. The business is largely focused around one herb: kava.

Kava is obtained from a Polynesian shrub, its ancient tricks would often be used by native islanders for medical treatment and religious ceremonies.

Today, kava is very popular for its natural yet effective ways to relieve anxiety and uplift the mood while creating mental clarity. The Sol Kava menu is created from plant-based organic ingredients to give customers a native and captivating experience.

Besides kava, there is also a wide variety of consciously sourced teas, tonics, and elixirs offered. The goal of Sol Kava is for people to leave feeling better than when they first arrived. Anyone is welcome to come and unwind by drinking kava and

E

Words by Katherine Larsen

ver crave unique, quirky culture mixed elegantly in one location?

Voted Best Place to Shop for Playa Garb by Reno News & Review 2008-2012, Melting Pot World Emporium is a go-to store for yogis, burners, stoners, and indie Renoites alike. With incense, tutus, tapestries, pipes, and everything in between, Eric and Monique Baron have turned this brick building along Virginia Street into a staple of Midtown. Items housed within Melting Pot are found around the world, as the Barons work with fair-trade manufacturers and small business owners to make sure the store is stocked to perfection. Festival-goers can find a plethora of costumes to ramp up their wardrobe for the main performance, playa dust wishes it was covering the steampunk gear, and even a quick gift can be found throughout the grandeur.

Sol Kava

Photo by Collin Walter

sharing meaningful conversation in an intimate setting.

The traditional ceremonial kava is served in coconut shells and usually goes along with a classic chant, adding depth to the cherished root of what kava is. The Kavatenders

are there to help guide you in your selection of the different teas and kava combinations to fit your desired mood. Sol Kava is here for people to alleviate their everyday stressors in a genuine and gentle practice.

Melting Pot

Your first visit may be a tad overwhelming as you enter the colorful store, but take a deep breath of incense and walk around. Many a sticker, original t-shirt, and Buddha statue have been bought for my own obsession, and I am sure to return to see the latest of their collection. The staff will help find what you need and make sure you leave set for your next adventure!

Photo by Carley Olson

15 INSIGHT

Book Reviews

The Doors of Perception Book by Aldous Huxley, Review by Cira Craighead

The Doors of Perception is an intriguing essay which details the author’s experience taking mescaline, a psychedelic drug, for research purposes. Aldous Huxley was one of the first to experiment with it in the name of science, and it was clearly life-changing for him. After a short history of peyote, the story flows through his thoughts while on the drug. He moves from sensations and thoughts to philosophical and scientific musings in such a way that the reader feels like they are on the journey with him. He mentions the implications of his findings for art and religion at the end, focusing on Native-American religion due to their cultural use of peyote and the spiritual awareness they must have as a result. Heavy with jargon and the names of philosophers, artists, and scientists, the essay is short but dense and took more time to read than I had expected. That being said, with any interest in the effects of hallucinogenic drugs, philosophy, or history, this is an engaging read.

The Hate U Give

Book by Angie Thomas, Review by Cameron Larsen

The Hate U Give is a novel by Angie Thomas, a former teen rapper. This book really makes you think. It makes you question our society and what goes on behind closed doors. The Hate U Give is fiction, but it parallels some of the issues we have had as a country since our founding. This book’s story is built around an incident in which a young man by the name of Khalil is shot and killed by a white police officer during a traffic stop. Starr was there with Khalil when he was shot. This leads to many twists and turns in Starr’s life such as going to court and struggling with her white friends. This book addresses these issues along with some other topics. The author addresses ghettos, white privilege, racism, the everyday struggles of African-Americans and minorities as a whole. I believe the author gives her audience a new perspective on things, but she does not always do it in the best way. Some of the themes in this book try to send messages, be powerful, and invoke change, when in reality this book is fiction, and it should be read with that in mind. It is not a first-hand account of a murder, it is a fictional account that tries to send a message. It has inaccurate portrayals of the issues it tries to address. It falsely represents some people and has a tendency to be overly critical of certain situations. I would definitely read this book cautiously and with an open mind. Expect to feel defensive and possibly offended. I would recommend reading this book, but I would also recommend reading a few pages before buying it.

Throne of the Crescent Moon Book by Saladin Ahmed, Review by Angela Lujan

Photo by Kellie Sasso

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Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed is a fantasy novel that follows Adoulla, a ghul, or monster, hunter, on his quest to save his city, Dhamsawaat, from the greatest threat its ever faced. This is inconvenient for Adoulla, as he’s not in the best shape of his life, and he kind of wants to retire. I appreciated that this book forgoes the traditional worldbuilding of fantasy novels and creates a more implied world, trusting the reader’s intelligence. It made for a fast paced read that I didn’t feel I needed a glossary and a map to understand. Meanwhile, it kept my favorite aspects of fantasy: danger and comfort. The book moves seamlessly from adrenalinefilled fights with the supernatural to the comforts of home and a reminder of what the hero is fighting for.

Your Name

I

Words by Emily Dotts

f you are a fan of animated movies, you will love Your Name. This Japanese anime love story follows Mitsuha, a country girl, and Taki, a city boy. An unknown event causes them to occasionally switch bodies despite never having met. To deal with the body swap and to not worry their friends and family, they learn to act like the other. By living each other’s lives, they grow to know one another and fall in love. The beautiful animation along with a creative twist on the body swap cliché makes this movie a must-see.

Lana Del Rey's LV Concert

O

Words and Photo by Crystal Pulido-Lugo n her way to the moon, singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey stopped in Las Vegas to bless the Mandalay Bay stage with her saccharine and ethereal voice. In her sparkling, disco ball-esque dress and the looks of a Hollywood starlet, Del Rey put on a show that left a dent for years to come. I have attended many concerts in my life, ranging from sold out arenas to dimmed bars, but I’ve never experienced such a meaningful, needed, and all around encapsulating show like Lana Del Rey’s.

Fans lined up hours before the show, all hoping to get to the front row. I being one of the fans, waited for seven hours. I was mesmerized by the passionate and eclectic group of humans Del Rey attracted and smiled to myself as I wrote observations in my pocket journal. Finally after hours, we were allowed to enter the venue and we all raced for general admission. Half an hour or so later Lana Del Rey’s opening act, Kali Uchis, warmed up the crowd and moments after Uchis’ performance, Del Rey graced the stage as we all ungracefully pushed forward to get close to the singer.

Under the colorful lights, projections, a sea of iPhone screens, plastic palm trees, and her background singers, Del Rey welcomed the crowd with “Thirteen Beaches”, a song from her new album Lust For Life,

released last summer. We were all packed like sardines, but the happiest sardines in our sparkles, cherry earrings, and flowers, singing in unison with Del Rey. In her syrupy speaking voice, clearly notable from the years of listening to her through speakers, the singer began her show.

The singer continued on with her set list, and though I love all of her songs equally, her performance of “Cherry”, off of Lust for Life had me in aw. It was my summer anthem and hearing it live was better than anything the record could offer. Being in love with her music since I was fourteen, I feared that seeing her live would ruin the illusion of “The Lana Del Rey”, but she did not disappoint. “Cherry”, along with all her songs, were even better live, which was something I never dreamed possible. Del Rey and her background singers swayed on stage and danced sensually with an almost burlesque style of dancing, perfectly matching the heavy imagery and charm of “Cherry’s” lyrics.

Singing along to her older songs like “Video Games”, “Born To Die”, “Ride”, and “Summertime Sadness”, had my fourteen-year-old self feeling all sorts of feelings and was a treat.

Though her older songs and listening to “Cherry” live were some of the

highlights of my night, hearing her speak about the tragedies like the Florida shooting and Trump’s presidency, touched my heart. She began to sing “God Bless America And All the Beautiful Women In It.” After, she followed with another song that was undoubtedly a side effect of America’s political climate: “When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing.”

The crowd was choked up and the power in the room could have even the most apathetic soul knocked down to their knees.

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FEATURES

INSIGHT 18

INSIGHT Photo by19Jana Sayson

y g o l o h c y s P the of

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s m a e r D

Words by Ana Hurt Photos by Kellie Sasso Illustration by Erin Lucas ou walk in front of a room full of people, nervous to give your big speech. Just as you’re about to start, you look down and realize you’re completely naked.

Luckily, after what feels like eternity, your alarm clock goes off, and you realize you’re safe in bed, the tragic social mishap just in your mind.

Dreaming of being naked is incredibly common. But what does this dream mean? Dream analysis can help you figure this out. Dr. Andy Drymalski, a Jungian psychotherapist based in the Reno area who has been practicing since 1997, explains that, in dreams, being naked is often a symbol of being revealing. So, depending on what’s going on in your life, this dream could be telling you that you’re being too revealing or that you need to be more revealing.

But dreams are often much more complex than this, and contain many

Y

different situations and images that need to be unpacked through psychotherapy in order to better understand them.

“There’s different levels to dreams.

There’s a level of personal association, so let’s say if you dream of a dog, the proper interpretation of that symbol may involve your own associations to dogs,” said Dr. Drymalski.

“But there can also be cross cultural or mythic level to that symbol. So, for

"To

dreams, though? Well, it can help you in many ways, mainly in helping to better understand yourself and your purpose in life. According to Dr. Drymalski, dream interpretation reveals the work of the psyche, or the Self with a capital “s,” and its attempt at promoting growth and healing while we sleep. The idea of the Self, or the core of one’s character, comes from Carl Jung, negating Sigmund Freud’s idea of conflicting parts of the

talk about these things helps

a person get feedback and develops a dialogue between their ego or

conscious mind, and their deeper self." instance, a dog is often a symbol of a guide to the unconscious. So you take in these different levels and examine each level, and see which one seems to resonate and fit together with the rest of the dream story. And when you do that you often get a better sense for what that dream might mean.”

Why try to get to the bottom of your

personality.

When working with clients, Dr. Drymalski starts by asking them what dreams they remember from the week, or what dream they’d like to talk about. He then asks clarifying questions about the symbols and situations of their dream, as well as their associations to them. He takes note of

21 INSIGHT

what the dreamer does in the dream, how they felt upon waking, what they think it might be about, and what’s going on in their lives at the time.

“To talk about these things helps a person get feedback and develops a dialogue between their ego or conscious mind, and their deeper self and that always has a healing effect because you become more conscious,” said Dr. Drymalski.

Once he and the client have gained an understanding of the dream and what it’s telling the client, they explore what to do with the meaning, and how to embody that “greater conscious awareness.”

Dream work can be especially important for students and young people in this stage of their lives, Dr. Drymalski notes. Paying attention to our dreams can help to guide us in the right direction.

“There’s more to you than you realize, and life and your deeper self want you to reach your full potential, and your dreams are one way that the psyche communicates to you and wants to help you to find your path and negotiate the challenges of relationships and career and so forth,” Dr. Drymalski said. “Because it’s very important that you guys find your path, that you do the right thing, that you be with the right people.”

Not everyone has the time or the finances for a psychotherapist, however. If you want to examine your dreams on your own, Dr. Drymalski suggests writing them down and giving them titles, in order to reflect on them and treat them like a story. Then write your associations with images in the dream.

“If you dream of the house you grew up in, what are your associations to that house, what were you like back then? That may be saying you’re still like that now or still living in that house in some way,” Dr. Drymalski said.

Then explore what mythological or cross cultural meanings the images might have by googling them or looking them up in a dream book. You can also share the dream with a friend and ask what they think it might mean.

Determine how all of these meanings fit with the dream and what you’re going through, then work out how you can apply it to your life.

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23 INSIGHT

Dating Apps SWIPE COLLEGE STUDENTS' HEARTS Words by Nikki Moylan Illustrations by Andrea Heerdt

I

f you’re looking for a hookup, summer fling, or full-fledged relationship, dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have become increasingly popular on college campuses. With around 46 million active users and more than 9 billion matches since the creation of Tinder in 2012, you’re likely to find someone to connect with on the level

are heavily advertised on TV and social media and have been around since 1993. Singles can find people with similar interests and get personalized matches based on algorithms.

However, the less advertising and complications, the better for college students. Proximity plays a key role in Tinder and Bumble’s success.

How have these apps fared for some students around Reno? Kilee Mendiola is a journalism student at UNR and said she has used dating apps before she met her current boy-

"College students are going to classes, meals, and social events with their peers and many live in residence halls, so this is the best face to face time in someone's life as I see it." you’re looking for.

Dating apps work in a pretty simple way: after declaring your name, age, a little bit about yourself, and uploading a few photos showcasing the best you, other users in the area are able to determine if they’re interested in you by swiping to the right, or never wanting to see you again by swiping left. If the other person has also swiped right on you, it’s a match and the two of you can chat together.

Other dating services such as Match

INSIGHT 24

friend. “People with a certain purpose are on there, and I feel that it all can be really superficial,” she said.

Mendiola believes that the best way to meet people is in person, especially when they have the same interests as you.

I created a survey with basic questions such as what dating services people have used and if they have had positive or negative experiences.

Shared on Facebook in a Class of 2019 group, 27 students who attend UNR

responded.

Many students agree that they have also had bad experiences, meeting what they call “creeps and weirdos.”

Others, though, stated on numerous occasions that they have met their significant others on Tinder and are still happily in that relationship.

It’s not just apps for heterosexual people that are popular in the area, either. Many individuals that are a part of the LGBT+ community have used apps such as Her or Grindr. One respondent wrote during the survey that despite trying to meet women in person, “Her was great for meeting women” because they “did not know if [women they’ve met in real life] were queer or not.”

So does this mean that there’s hope to finding “the one” on an app? A survey taker stated that “It’s weird to tell people that you met your significant other on Tinder or Grindr, so no.”

People tend to find that meeting people through friends or at school is the best way to find a romantic partner.

It usually happens organically, and there isn’t the pressure to appear as perfect as their profile appears to be.

When asked if they would recommend dating apps to a friend, most people said no because the relationships on there don’t always have “a genuine connection.” Others said yes, only if their friends were looking for something short term. “They’re fun and can help you meet people you wouldn’t normally meet,” said one respondent.

Deborah Cohan, Ph.D, is a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, who writes about topics such as sexuality and gender, domestic violence, and intimate relationships.

“Students today are more tethered than ever before to their phones.

Dating apps like these are a logical

extension of inhabiting so much life on, with, and through the screen,” she said.

Cohan also notes that people today would rather go on their phones instead of initiating face to face conversations, raising the chances of people misrepresenting themselves.

“College students are going to classes, meals, and social events with their peers, and many live in residence halls, so this is the best face to face time in someone’s life as I see it,” she continued, “There really should be less reason to meet online and much more of a reason to not hole up in one’s room and to get out...it’s also good practice for all things in love and in life.”

“I also have students who have met each other online, and for one reason or another, delay meeting in person for weeks or months. Everything has to recalibrate in terms of pacing and rhythm.”

Cohan also said, “This puts young people at risk for very fast courtships,” which can lead to relationships that become abusive.

Whether you swipe right or left on online dating, students today need to understand that there is another person on the other side of that screen, and everyone should be allowed to have a safe experience when trying to meet people.

25 INSIGHT

PACK PROFILE: Nick Eng BEYOND THE CLASSIC LOOK

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Words by Tanner Barrett Photos by Andrea Heerdt

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hen I first saw Nick Eng, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind whether or not it was him who had just walked into the venue he was set to headline that night. From the black mop haircut, long sideburns, and well put together clothes, Eng embodies everything people envision when they think of The Beatles. It’s his image, and he runs with it effortlessly.

Quickly into his performance that night however, it was made clear to me that Eng is more than just his classic look.

Eng, born and raised in Reno, Nevada, is a 21-year-old singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is fresh off the release of his first official album. The self-titled album,

released January 26, 2018, contains ten original songs written and recorded by Eng himself. From the first track to the last, Eng replicates the ‘60s British Invasion sound that once captivated an entire generation and adds his own modern flare to it. The record’s upbeat melodies and often relatable lyrics welcome anyone to enjoy the songs no matter their musi-

“I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember. I’ve always liked recording myself and hearing it played back,” he said, adding “Performing gave me an outlet to be extroverted when I am naturally introverted.”

It’s no surprise that The Beatles are Eng’s number one influence, and that influence they have over him has been there since he first discovered them in his childhood. He found them relatable because of the way they looked and the reason why they formed in the first place. To Eng, they weren’t “gussied up” and were simply “four kids who just wanted to get together and play music.”

As he got older, Eng was able to further appreciate the group as musicians, and see them transform into the more serious artists they became.

“How they started out as a pop

"PERFORMING GAVE ME AN OUTLET TO BE EXTROVERTED WHEN I AM NATURALLY INTROVERTED." cal preferences. On his record and on stage, the combination of Eng’s look and sound creates an atmosphere anyone with a love for music from the ‘60s to ‘80s can appreciate.

For Eng, playing and performing music has always been a part of him.

27 INSIGHT

phenomenon and moved into more serious artistic recordings is why I think I’m still so drawn to them,” he said, noting “There is always something to discover by listening to their vast catalogue of work.”

Eng only began his professional music career just a few years ago at the age of 18. He didn’t have a band, but through the years he released two demo albums that he used to create a name for himself. The demos consisted of rougher versions of the songs on

his newly released album, but nonetheless gave him original songs to

or anywhere else they needed him.

It wasn’t long before Eng got airplay on the radio.

His song, “The One for You is Me” made it to number five in the Reno Gazette Journal’s top original local music list in 2015, but never once did he let any of the recognition go to his head.

“There was a part of me that was like ‘okay not bad, I can do better,’” he said.

At the time, he was certainly proud

"I TELL PEOPLE, WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, I WANT TO BE A GOOD MUSICIAN. I WANT TO LIKE WHAT I’M DOING."

28 Sasso PhotoINSIGHT

by Kellie

perform at the many gigs he started to play at. If he wasn’t performing solo gigs, he was performing covers with other bands to fill in on vocals, guitar,

of his music, but it had yet reached the level he wanted it to be. Despite that, in 2016 as Eng was still trying to perfect his sound, he was nominated for a Forte Award that recognizes local artists in the Reno-Tahoe area.

While balancing being a journalism major at the university and launching his professional music career, Eng was finally able to get his music to the caliber he envisioned, and his new album reflects that.

Just last year he found his bandmates that he just started performing with at his sold out album release show at the Potentialist Workshop on January 26. With Reed Barrus on lead guitar, Chris Monzon on bass, David “Pudge” Gervais on drums, and Eng on lead

vocals, his band simply dubbed "Nick Eng" is able to play his originals off the new album and a variety of covers that include, but are not limited to, The Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, and of course, The Beatles.

When I saw Eng perform for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice just how comfortable he seemed while performing solo before his band joined him. I could sense how in his element he truly was as he played guitar and belted out vocals without dropping a note. When his band finally joined him, they brought the house down.

Eng is currently in the early stages of recording his forthcoming sophomore album, and has five songs from his new album playing in rotation on

100.1 the X and NV89. The album can be streamed in full on Spotify or Apple Music, and is available for purchase on Bandcamp, iTunes, and NickEngMusic.com. For Eng, there is nothing he would rather be doing than playing shows and creating music, and nothing that will stop him from achieving his goals.

“I tell people, when push comes to shove, I want to be a good musician. I want to like what I’m doing,” he said, adding, “You can’t wait for someone else to make the move for you. You gotta just do it, take matters into your own hands, and make something happen.”

29 INSIGHT

From Gospel to Rap:

Luke Wynn wins 2017 Forte Award

Words by Stephanie Lamas and Karolina Rivas Photos Courtesy of Mike Lucido

L

uke Wynn, 25, is an aspiring singer and musician who received the 2017 Forte award for Best Hip-Hop Artist in Reno. Growing up with an aunt who served as a songwriter for Quincy Jones and Diana Ross, this win assured Wynn about his career choice. He hopes to make it into the big leagues in order to inspire others.

Wynn was brought up in religious household where his father is a bishop and his brother is a pastor. He got his start playing at church and producing Christian music, but by the time he was 17, Wynn began to steer away from church music and gravitate towards the hip-hop genre.

“My dad didn’t like rap, and I was like 17 trying to not live for my parents

but trying to make them happy,” Wynn said, “But rap is way more influential than gospel music. I think rap is one of the most influential genres right now because you hear molly Percocet on a song it makes you want to go get some Percocets and mollies. I feel like rap is that powerful.”

After going through difficult times and overcoming obstacles in 2016, Wynn was ready to give up music completely. He could no longer find the will to continue music until his father convinced him to carry on and not throw away his “gift from God.” “He understands what I’m trying to do. He understands my heart that I have for music and that it’s not to be a stereotypical rapper which is all about me, me, me. He understands that I’m really doing this so that I can point the focus to God. He was like ‘don’t stop doing music. Just put it into the right perspective,’ and now I do,” Wynn said.

Photo courtesy of Luke Wynn INSIGHT 30

Being raised in a spiritual family that is heavily involved in music, Wynn believes that his musical talents are the work of God and finds it no coincidence that many famous singers got their start in church.

“When you’re going to school everybody is trying to get you to believe that God is not real,” Wynn said. “If you look at people in the music industry some of the best singers come from the church. I feel like it really is a God given gift that people have, including myself. For me specifically I feel like there’s certain things I just never been able to excel at but music is just something that comes naturally to me.”

According to VH1 News, some famous singers who got their start singing gospel music include Whitney Houston, John Legend, and Brandy.

Although gospel music is no longer his priority, Wynn still listens to it to calm his nerves before a big show.

“I don’t hype myself up. I listen to slow worship songs before I go up. I just want something to relax me before I go on that mode," he said.

The Atlantic states that only 0.0086% of the world is famous but Wynn believes that if a proper situation occurred, he would stop pursuing music professionally and become a full-time pastor. Luckily, winning the 2017 Forte Award for best Hip-Hop

Artist in Reno gave him hope that he is on the right track.

At the Forte Awards, Wynn was confident he was going to win. It wasn’t until his category came up and the speakers began to announce his competitors’ names that he began to feel nervous.

Now as Forte’s 2017 winner, Wynn continues to credit his success to his faith and aspires to serve as an

example for young people. The advice he has for people who would

said, “If you have an unction that every song you make matters, every word you sing, everything that you do can impact somebody’s life, and it can change music, I would say keep going for it.

There’s always going to be somebody saying 'no don’t do this'. There’s going to be times you are going to want to quit or give up but sometimes it’s just time for you to reset. Don’t allow anybody to stop you."

"I don’t hype myself up. I listen to slow worship songs before I go up. I just want something to relax me before I go on that mode.” like to enter the industry is to continue pursuing their dream if they wish to make an impact on the world. He

31 INSIGHT

Words by Alexandra McVey Photos by Kellie Sasso Illustration by Ryan Vellinga

A

s another year passes and spring begins, festival season approaches and the cravings for an exhilarating adventure begin when post festival depression (PFD) kicks in.

When we think of festivals we reminisce about how the music and positive vibes made us feel —an uncontrollable need to keep that moment alive for as long as we are able to. We aren’t sure when we will get this incredible feeling of escaping reality again, and this aggravates our PFD. When we’re at a festival we feel free and live in the moment. We feel unreal happiness, and everyone around you is looking out for one another and

in that moment, we feel like one big family making unforgettable memories. With these memories, we return to the real world and can’t help but remember those moments. It becomes difficult to separate real life and our festival lives, which leads us to investigating which festival to attend next.

Balancing reality and our musical cravings can be a challenge.

The process of actually getting to the festival can be tricky, stressful,

good festival experience depends immensely on the people we choose to attend the event with; this will diminish the PFD indefinitely. The dream festival group can go with the flow and is excited about expanding their taste in music. Being interested in the new talent and music that will be at the event is essential to having a good time at any festival. Undeniably there are many styles that artists bring to the table in one genre alone. It’s one big musical experiment that everyone gets to listen to firsthand.

Everyone wants to experience the vibes in the crowd when the DJ plays the one song everyone hoped they would play, like Alison Wonderland playing “Happy Place” before the ball drops to begin the new year at SnowGlobe Music Festival. We want to tell the story about how it felt when we

"When we are at a festival, reality seems to escape us as we enter our own version of a happy place.”

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and not to mention expensive, but to an avid festival goer we believe that listening to our favorite artists live is well worth the struggle we go through to make it happen. Also, having a

experienced it for ourselves. Let’s not forget the magnificent crowd. They’re always looking out for one another, and the abundance of positive vibes going around begins to be contagious.

Everyone accepts you for who you are, and this helps everyone have a good time and create happy memories that won’t soon be forgotten. When we are in the thick of this environment we forget about how much money we just spent and soon get lost in the moment right then and there. When we are at a festival, reality seems to escape us as we enter our own version of a happy place.

The amount of freedom we feel at a festival is one of the main reasons we can tolerate how much money we spend to attend these events. We always say we are “broke college kids”, but then a “can’t miss” festival comes up, such as Coachella or Lightning in a Bottle. In addition to the lineup being just right, we can’t miss out, creating serious FOMO, and suddenly we have cash to spend, even if it’s our food money for the rest of the month.

The lengths we will go to just smell festival air is extreme, but it’s always worth it to satisfy our PFD. We crave the intense stimulation we feel through the music, giving us energy and enhancing our spirituality, letting us learn more about ourselves and letting us bond with others around us. We want these moments to last forever, and sometimes it feels as though these moments really will.

We will always keep the memories we make at a festival near to our musical souls where reality can’t touch them.

Having PFD is not only a sadness of not being at a festival, but it’s also about how much you crave the experience, and this craving is hard to ignore when it’s pounding in your head when you’re trying to focus on reality. The hardest part is coming home and realizing that the festival is over and so is the fun. After a few days of recovery, we go looking for the next festival and repeat the cycle of getting the squad together and raging some more, keeping in mind that our bank accounts will forgive us later.

33 INSIGHT

ARTIST

SPOTLIGHT PLUSH LIFE Words by Jiah Jewell Photos by Cedrick Alcala

S

temming from Reno, the Plush Life Collective has spanned across the entire West Coast region. From Reno and Carson City, to Portland, and Washington, the crew has come together to produce some of the best music that’s out on the market today. It’s hard to draw comparisons to other artists within the hip-hop/rap community, and that’s the way they want it. Their sound has great bass, beautiful lyrics, and sweeping melodies. There’s really only one actual word to define their sound: plush.

Plush Life consists of Lil Traffic, Icy Dave, Theonly1197, Lord Saiyan, Brooksy, Cvrlos Enrique, and 86’bul.

Lil Traffic, Icy Dave, and Theonly1197 should sound familiar to you, as they have been slaughtering the Reno market when it comes to local hip-hop acts with a mainstream and underground appeal, throwing shows at the Holland Project and Potentialist Workshop as well as being opening acts for performers that come into town, most notably being Rich the Kid and $uicideboy$.

Lil Traffic’s biggest feature was on the track “Let Me Go” off of the 2017 album Hilo, released by EDM artist, Graves. Outside of that, he has quite the body of work, and it’s all very high quality. Tracks like “I wanna be a superhero” featuring Icy Dave, “Halle Berry Backwood” featuring Lo Adams and Icy Dave, “Gems” with Lord INSIGHT 34

Saiyan, and “Bounce Out” all show his versatility in being able to sing and rap. Lil Traffic is a Reno artist now living in Portland that you should be on the lookout for this upcoming year.

Theonly1197 recently came out with a self-titled mixtape on January 8th of this year. The tape is self-produced as well, and shows great versatility as well as good lyricism and instrumental structures. Outside of his mixtape, Theonly1197 has some hard-hitting features that’ll start mosh pits wherever its played. High energy or somber, Theonly1197 can do it, and do it well.

Icy Dave has this high-octane delivery about him, spitting unrelenting bars at a fast pace. Some of his tracks

download the app off the apple and andriod store

that you need to check out are “31 Below,”, “Lindsay LowEnd,” and “I married a Wiccan” featuring Theonly1197. These tracks show his ability to do either slow or fast tracks, and execute properly. Personally speaking, I’ve started many mosh pits and have just gone bonkers when listening to his music. All in all, Icy Dave delivers a fast-paced fury of fire on any beat that he hops on.

Lord Saiyan is originally from Vancouver, Washington. Using social media and Soundcloud to link with the Reno members of Plush Life, he has become an integral member of the group. Boasting a good online presence with his statistics on Soundcloud, it’s easy to see why once you listen to some of his music. “Vlad Tha Impaler” is a track that shows how fast Lord Saiyan can rhyme, and his melancholy repeating of “I can’t sleep no more” puts the listener in a trance before being knocked with a spirit bomb level of flow and

lyricism. He’s also performed in Reno twice and looks to do so again in the future.

Brooksy is currently out in Utah, but he’s around in the Reno area, which is how he got together with the Plush Life crew. His voice puts listeners in a trance, although he has a small offering available on Soundcloud currently,such as “Whowhatwhere” featuring

the forefront. He, along with his own collective known as the Bass Boys, have also been killing each and every stage they’ve been given the opportunity to perform on, with hard hitting songs such as “Mix n Jax” and “Underrated”. 86’bul is also a new addition to the roster, but it’s easy to see why.

Literally with every track that he’s featured on or releases himself, it shows an improvement and progression.

Overall, Plush Life is a group that boasts hits in many genres, as well as many diverse styles that it brings to the table. Factor that in with a group that with each release their music exemplifies their artistic styles and unique personalities, and you have a unique collective that's making noise within the underground hip-hop and rap community. Plus, they’re from Reno, and it’s important to support your local artists, especially when they’re doing it big like Plush Life.

"IT’S HARD TO DRAW COMPARISONS TO OTHER ARTISTS WITHIN THE HIP-HOP/ RAP COMMUNITY, AND THAT’S THE WAY THEY WANT IT." Lil Traffic as well as “Too Much”.

However, Brooksy has been around and has much more than is offered on Soundcloud, making it worth seeing him live and anticipating his next music release.

Cvrlos Enrique is a new addition to the Plush Life roster, although he brings his own energy and sound to

35 INSIGHT

LIFESTYLE

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INSIGHTSasso Photo by37Kellie

f o e The Ris

Words by Olivia Ali Photos by Kellie Sasso Illustration by Erin Lucas

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or some, following a vegan diet is a way to apply their morals to their lifestyles. University of Nevada, Reno graduate student and teaching assistant, Kathrine Wright, chose to pursue a diet free from animal products due to her affection for them.

“I have an attachment to animals, and I felt guilty harming animals, so I decided I didn’t want to do this anymore so I made the transition about two years ago,” Wright said.

For others, their primary reason for adopting a vegan diet was for health reasons. Cheyenne Culp of San Diego, INSIGHT 38

California, first adopted a meat-free diet after learning about health benefits from popular documentaries, as well as from the influence of her friends.

“I had two friends who were vegan that taught me about veganism, and after watching Cowspiracy on Netflix in 2014, I started cutting out meat and dairy,” Culp said.

Culp and Wright are part of a much larger trend of Americans becoming vegans. While there is debate over whether or not veganism is healthy and sustainable, people do not foresee the diet diminishing among Americans.

According to Plant Based News, the number of Americans following a vegan diet has increased to six times as many in the last three years. As of 2014, only one percent of people

described themselves as vegan compared to 2017’s six percent.

As increasing numbers of people become vegan, the demand for vegan options at restaurants and grocery stores are rising as well. Julianna Scala, now the president of the popular vegan restaurant, Great Full Gardens, saw this demand and decided to make vegan meal options accessible to consumers.

“We noticed that there was a new customer emerging that was vegan, so we wanted to provide options for them,” Scala said.

When Great Full Gardens was first created, they were just selling their soups in Pathways at the University.

Now, they supply 18 different vegan soups and a plethora of other vegan meals to their three locations, as well as Whole Foods grocery stores in the Reno area.

While Great Full Gardens is just one of many popular restaurants among vegans, a diet without any meat or dairy products is not for everyone.

Shaun Brooks, a powerlifter and personal trainer from Sacramento, California, is sure a vegan diet is not the diet for him.

“I definitely considered it but I do a lot of powerlifting and my goal is to squat 700 pounds. It is just impossible for me to hit that goal without getting the amount of protein that I get from meat,” Brooks said.

Even Culp, who was once a devout vegan, decided eliminating dairy and eggs from her diet was impractical for her lifestyle in late 2016.

“It takes a lot of discipline for some people and for me it was getting difficult towards the end,” Culp said. “I mainly went back because of random dishes and family recipes that were always in my childhood had dairy and eggs, and it was difficult as I still live with my mom who primarily does the grocery shopping.”

There is also heated debate over whether a vegan diet is healthy. Nutritional expert, Caroline Kurtz, warns people that diets are not one size fits all, and veganism is no exception.

When asked if veganism was a healthy way to live, Kurtz said, “In the short period of time, if people have preexisting conditions these diets could either exacerbate those

conditions, or if they have a condition where these habits are helpful, a vegan diet could be helpful.”

While Culp was still vegan, she noticed that she was substantially healthier than she had been when she was following a standard diet.

“I’m super sensitive to animal abuse, so that was my main reason, but the other thing was I could lose some weight and be healthier overall from being vegan,” Culp said. “When I was vegan, I was losing weight in a healthy way and I felt much more energetic.”

Wright also said that she has found veganism to be a healthy lifestyle for her, as it assisted her chronic migraines.

“As a chronic migraine sufferer, I went from having 15 migraines a month to only five a month when I went vegan,” Wright said.

A vegan diet does have the potential to be healthy, as Kurtz said. The problem most vegans face is deficiencies in nutrients that we primarily get from meat and dairy. According to Kurtz, those following a vegan diet should be sure they are obtaining these vital nutrients in other ways, whether it be through supplements or introducing new foods to their diets

to replace the ones they are eliminating such as tofu as a meat substitution, non-dairy milks such as almond or soy for use in coffees, cereals, or other recipes, and replacing traditional dairy products such as cream cheese, yogurt, or ice cream with new dairy-free substitutes that have hit the market in recent years.

According to research from Reader’s Digest, vegans and vegetarians are much more likely to lack nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein, calcium,

restaurants become accommodating to this diet.

“When I first went vegan, meat substitutes and foods that were specifically made to be vegan were extremely expensive. Now, there are options almost everywhere and the price of meat substitutes has dropped significantly,” Culp said, “It’s just proving that veganism is more than a trend.”

Scala of Great Full Gardens said that the restaurant’s success was due to how many people are becoming vegan, predicting that this diet will not be leaving anytime soon.

“Two of our three most popular dishes are vegan.

If veganism wasn’t so big, neither would our restaurant,” Scala said.

Nutritional experts, despite their view on the health factors of veganism, are noticing that this is becoming more than just a trend.

“Veganism isn’t going anywhere.

Had it stopped growing a couple years ago, it could have died out soon, but at this point, it’s not a fad diet anymore,” Kurtz said.

"Veganism isn’t going anywhere.

Had it stopped growing a couple years ago, it could have died out soon but at this point, it’s not a fad diet anymore.” and vitamin D. Although there is a great amount of skepticism around veganism and whether or not it is a practical diet to follow, people foresee veganism becoming a constant in American culture.

Culp, who has transitioned back to a vegetarian diet, is attempting to return to a vegan diet as it becomes an easier way to live as more stores and

39 INSIGHT

on -

Words by Crystal Pulido-Lugo Photos by Kellie Sasso Illustration by Elizabeth Pearson

A

ll of my life I was welcomed by familiar faces, whether it be a mother or roommate, once I returned home from school.

Though I enjoyed living with my family and being my roommate’s roommate, I decided to take a leap and live on my own for the first time. I had always dreamt of living by myself and of being the shepherd of my decisions. So, after my first year of college I moved into my own place. My

INSIGHT 40

friends and family figured I was either crazy or brave. To this day every time my grandmother phones me or sees me during breaks, she asks why I’m not scared of living by myself. I tell her that it’s just living alone, and I could be doing braver things. It’s been six months now, but to be honest with you, the only reason why I’m still kicking and haven’t burned my place down is because of my philosophy: You just gotta wing it. And my, have I winged the heck out of this whole living alone thing.

I’ve asked people why they would rather live with roommates, despite the horror stories, and they always tell me they like having someone to come

home to. Some even have told me they’d go mad if they didn’t. Though I have my days where I agree with these people and miss having someone to come home to, I enjoy having my own place that houses the things that make me, me and the space to do whatever I want. So here is my college-studentwho-lives-alone’s manifesto on what I’ve found charming and liberating about this experience. Maybe you’ll consider living by yourself in college too, or if you already live alone, maybe you’ll be able to relate to this on personal level.

Rocking out to your jams without a care in the world. When I lived with a roommate I felt a little self-conscious singing in our room. I always feared being caught. Now that I live alone I can blast all the Father John Misty, Foxygen, and Blondie I wish. Only bothering my plants with my noise.

Decorating. Your space is your space. Adorn your walls with the photographs and art that give you comfort. Hang banners and streamers if you want to. Want to put the rug in your room that you found out on the street? GO FOR IT. Every knick knack and book on the shelf is a part of you.

There’s something independent and freeing about choosing what you want in your space.

Being able to take a breather. After a day full of lecturing and interacting with numerous people and seeing numerous faces, it’s nice to come home to a place that’s only yours. I can’t tell you how many times I have been overwhelmed and coming home to the sound of silence has given me the space I needed. Sometimes having roommates robs you from the serenity of a good sleep and sometimes if you’re unlucky, you can’t take that breather you need because of various moods and attitudes. Everybody is entitled to have their bad days, but it can become toxic when you always face some kind of drama. Having a place to breathe and not dealing with problems has helped me a whole lot in school and has made me a happier person. I appreciate conversations and people more because of it.

Compromising. Compromising is great, but when you live alone there is no need for it. Your bathroom is yours, your time is yours, and your

place is yours. There is no need for scheduling time for friends or shower times, so they don’t conflict with your roommates. You can have your friends over when you want, or wake

attended to my place, myself, and my grades more than ever. If something goes south it’s because of me, and I have to accept it. If I eat junk food I can’t blame my surroundings on my

"I f something goes south it’s because of me, and I have to accept it.” up late and take an unplanned shower when you wish without ruining your roommate’s routine.

Being accountable. You’re accountable for picking up groceries, picking up the mail, locking doors and not losing keys, cooking for yourself, and taking care of yourself and your health. Living alone is a huge responsibility, but because of it I have

dietary decisions. If I see a dirty dish, it’s all me! A downside of your mess being your mess though is that, well, your mess is your mess. You come to realize what a swine you are and can’t be mad at anyone but yourself.

When I first moved in, I placed my collection of books in their place, gave my plants a windowsill home, organized my pens, fluffed my pillows,

and placed flowers in a vase. My new home had my old home’s things, but I just couldn’t get into the groove of living alone for the first few days. School began and when I got back from class I began to cry. Not because I missed my family or because of the new semester, but because I had forgotten to put water in the fridge and all I had was warm sparkling water. I called up my friend in a panic ,and she promised me I would soon get the hang of things. She was right. I have gotten the hang of things but to this day she always reminds me to put water in the fridge unless I want to revisit August’s tragedy. Not everyday is peachy.

Some days I want to see a face, but then I realize I can call up a friend.

There’s some days when I just sit on my bed and look at the chair covered in clothes and want to scream. There are days when I am too used to being alone and lounge around too much.

But one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t trade the experience of living alone for anything.

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year of Love Words by Tashina Brie

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ather than starting the new year off with resolutions that picked apart and magnified my insecurities, I wanted to begin 2018 with something derived from a positive place. I decided to spend this year loving myself. Do not get me wrong, I am not stopping myself from any possible romance. It honestly was the lack of romance in my life that led me to be informed of the real issue. I could not expect anyone to love me if I did not truly love myself. So many relationships are based on the misconception that a significant other is what is needed to feel complete. I tried that, and it led to me being emotionally

dependent on an individual who left me broken. I learned from that experience that a relationship is meant to be between two individuals who are whole. I was not whole, so I could not expect a relationship. To be whole, I needed to evaluate my sense of self.

I was insecure and mean to my body, and I knew that needed to change. Rather than being hard on myself for my facial features, not meeting the American standard of beauty, and spending every day hating my thicker thighs, I started appreciating how I am different. I now wake up every morning reminding myself how I am beautiful and how I love myself inside and out. After watching Teal Swan’s YouTube video “Self-Love- The Great Shortcut to Enlightenment,” I decided to dedicate my year to loving myself.

Teal Swan’s video was what taught me the importance of being whole and prioritizing myself. She encouraged this year of self-love.

Personally, I wanted to make selflove a routine that lasts beyond a year.

The goal is to make every action the answer to the question, “What would someone who loves themselves do?”

Even though it has not been a long period of time, I have never felt so good.

I noticed a difference in myself within two days. Friends described my presence as lighter and more positive. My vibrations instantly heightened from listening to my intuition. Until more recently, I would often give my energy and time to people who did not seem to appreciate it. I have stopped making an effort with those people.

They do not deserve me, and I do not require them. I shut a lot of doors and managed to figure out who genuine people in my life were. If someone wants to be in my life, they will make the effort. I will not allow a one-sided friendship to consume me. When love comes, I will love without expectations. Expectations allow for disappointment. I can only control myself and how I react to others. I am an instant gratification type of person, but life does not always allow for things to happen instantly. What I desire will fall into place, and I must be patient.

I am fine with only loving myself for now. I am whole and content with myself. I have self love and I intend to continue 2018 loving myself.

10 College Habits You'll Regret in 10 Years Words by Josie Steehler College is a harbor for a commonly classified time to “have fun” or “let loose”, but there are many habits that we engage in at this time in our lives.

Habits that can haunt us in the future.

Those that we will learn to regret in the subsequent years of our life. Here is a collection of habits we all tend to partake in during our college career that have the possibility to burgeon and affect our futures.

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1 Using sarcasm as a second language

Imagine walking into a job interview and clamming up because of nerves.

Your initial reaction is to revert to a response of humor because this is a common response to most situations in your life now, as a college student.

When asked what your greatest weakness is in the interview you reply with, “Wishing I was dead” followed by subdued laughter. Not only will this not get you the job, but it will make the interviewer concerned for your mental health. There is a time

and a place for sarcasm. Quit adopting it as a second language and consider other coping mechanisms for instances of temporary grief.

2 Being Unrealistic About Everything Turning Out Okay

College is a facade for everything turning out okay, that going to college secures a profitable future. This is fake news. Sorry to be so damning, but it’s true. Everything is not going to be okay. There are going to be hardships and trials that will test your strength and remind you that oftentimes life has no mercy for its

participants. Knowing this fact, and preparing for unexpected outcomes is a key to success.

3 Having No Filter

This is especially relevant in the way that social media works today. While you can say things in person that utilize tone to be portrayed effortlessly, there is something unnerving about saying whatever you want to whoever you want on the Internet. Today we have no regard for the amount of impact that this can bring in ten years.

Sure you’re joking around with your friends, but what happens when that business firm doesn’t want to hire you because you are too vulgar, or what happens when no one wants to hire you because you go around spouting your opinion in every post that disagrees with your viewpoint. No filter is no good, so if you don’t want this to hinder your future success, and you insist on being obnoxious on the Internet, privatize your account.

4 Documenting your entire life on Snapchat Thinking that there is any privacy in the realm of Snapchat, and really any social media is a sick joke. I’m sure you’ve heard this all before, and every time you hear it you convince yourself that no one from the FBI is really interested in your Saturday night practices. The FBI shouldn’t be what you’re worried about, what you should worry about is sending to people and posting to people the types of things that they will use against you in the future; things that will deter future employers from hiring you.

Snapchat’s uniqueness stems from its ability to disappear after 24 hours. Do you really think a documented photo sent over a public WiFi connection is going to disappear forever?

5 Having “No Ragrets”

That butterfly tattoo, that drunken phone call to the wrong person, that one decision that you try so hard to shut out of your head. Some may say that you need these regrets, that you have to build your character with some regrets in some way or another. Sure, have some regrets, but living your life

with “no ragrets” can leave you broken, wandering through a world that will take everything you are because all that you’ve done through life is act upon whims of carelessness. Oh look, another theme of life’s mercilessness.

6 Not Making Friends

Success feeds off of many sources, being antisocial in college is something you will regret in your future because you not only are missing out on having a support system in times of need but, you are also misunderstanding social cues and lacking a strong network of individuals when you exit the safe haven that is college. Existence is hard from time to time, existing alone when there are 7 billion people out there is a vapid mistake in a competitive world.

7 Being a Hopeless Romantic

Falling in love is great, until it consumes your entire soul, routine, and every thought. Sure, you always have someone there for you, but have you ever heard about the success rate of young love? It’s infamously known for being unsuccessful. Falling in love with the first person who sweeps you off your feet is only going to work out life-term for a handful of individuals.

When you structure such a young life around someone else you are inviting introverted tendencies, social control, and a lack of freedom into your college career. I know you’re wondering, ‘who hurt you?’ I’ve lived through this experience and so have multiple friends of mine. We have this regret, and it’s not even the end of our college career. Live your life exactly how you want right now. In ten years there will be more than enough to-dos that will eliminate your current freedom.

8 Attending College

College is not for everyone. I do not think that this verity is stressed enough. I know too many people who complain far too often about being in class and having to work hard on assignments. Funny concept, right?

Sure we all complain about school from time to time, but why are you here, what do you want to be doing?

Why aren’t you doing this? Consider

what college is offering you, and what you think the greatest reward is from attending. Don’t fall victim to society’s socially accepted standards without first giving your consent.

9 Relying on Other People to Guide you Through the Course This is a habit that is too addictive.

We’ve all been sitting in class; asking a million questions, stating out loud how confused we are and how the professor didn’t explain anything well enough. The harsh truth of this is that you just aren’t paying attention, you aren’t actively invested in the topic, but you should be because in ten years this habit is not going to help you get a job. It will expose employers to your indolent habits from the get go, and they will be more than happy to not hire you. Don’t be that person; learn to engage in your present circumstances.

If not, this habit will only indulge you into becoming the person you, hopefully, don’t want to be.

10 Taking Shit too Seriously

Don’t be that up-tight, stuck up, “I’m better than you because I don’t do that” person. No one likes that person.

Life isn’t that serious, and I can assure you that college is even less serious than that. This isn’t to say that there aren’t instances of being serious, it’s just a matter of grace and acceptance at that point. Still, nothing is so detrimental that you shouldn’t be able to develop a care-free outlook to accompany you in years to come. A quote that gets me through the day is “don’t take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive” and just like that I am reminded of life’s fleeting character.

Shift your perspective, realize that college is a blip in time. There is no room for horrible habits to accumulate, and to hold you back from a future that you see as so fulfilling right now. Become conscientious of the things that you do, how you do them, and how you could change them for the better. No one is going to force you to do anything, but as soon as you are in the real world no one is going to tolerate your horrible college habits.

43 INSIGHT

I TRIED

Food Hacks

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO

I’m sure we’ve all seen some form of a life hack. You know, the little fun ‘hacks’ people create to try to make our lives better. My favorite are the food hacks. Because I love food so much, I decided to pick out some food hacks from Pinterest and give them a try to see how they work. So let’s just jump right in shall we?

Words and Photos by Carley Olson

THREE INGREDIENT NUTELLA MUG CAKE For this hack you will need a microwave, a mug, ¼ cup Nutella, 1 egg, ½ tbsp of cocoa powder, and a whisk or fork.

This hack is supposed to help create a quick, chocolatey dessert. To start, mix all the ingredients together in a mug until it has a batter-like consistency, and put it in the microwave for one minute and 10 seconds. Once it’s done set it aside for about 15 minutes. Now I can admit, I was a little skeptical. I’ve tried mug cakes before and haven’t been that thrilled with any of the results. I was even more skeptical about this one when I realized the jar of Nutella itself says do not microwave. When I pulled it out and looked down on it, yeah I

S’MORES IN THE OVEN For this hack you will need ice cream cones, marshmallows, chocolate, tin foil, and an oven.

This hack is supposed to help you recreate the famous campfire s’mores but with your oven. I love s’mores, so I was especially excited to give this one a go. First pick out your cone, I prefer the Oreo ones myself, and fill it up with whatever you like.

It could be the classic milk chocolate and marshmallows fillings, or you can mix it up. You could add butterscotch, white chocolate, INSIGHT 44

peanut butter, or anything that sounds good to you. The next step is to wrap it up in tinfoil, and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes. I had to keep mine in for about 15 minutes before I really got that melty effect. I took it out of the oven and gave it a couple minutes to cool. Then I just took off the tin foil and dug right in, and it was absolutely fantastic. I will definitely be making this for dessert again. I would strongly recommend this one.

wasn’t too impressed. It definitely didn’t look like any of the fancy Pinterest photos. I set it aside to let it set, and soon enough it was time to taste it. I was pretty nervous, can’t even lie. I think it’s something about cooking an egg in a microwave. Tastewise it was actually pretty decent. It tasted a whole lot better than it looked, however the consistency wasn’t my favorite. It’s similar to a cake consistency, but not quite there. Again, I think it may be the egg. But hey that’s what I think, if it sounds interesting to you give it a go! I think adding some ice cream on top would have been a really nice touch. So overall, I guess we can call this one a success.

HARD SHELL MICROWAVE TACOS For this hack you need a microwave, soft tortilla shells, and a mug. This one is pretty simple, but I never would have thought of it myself.

All you have to do is place the tortilla into the mug then put it into the microwave for one minute.

It definitely puffed my tortilla

up. When I first took it out of the microwave it seemed to be going a little limp. I left it alone for a few minutes and when I came back it had set similarly to a hard shell, it even had a slight crunch. I could see myself using this one again, too.

Success!

COFFEE POT QUESADILLA For this hack you will need soft tortilla shells, cheese, olive oil, a spatula, and a coffee pot. Make sure to wipe the bottom of your coffee machine off first before you do this. Turn on your coffee machine, and add a bit of oil to the bottom.

Once the plate is heated place your tortilla, add some cheese, and fold it up so its laying over the hot plate.

Since it will be hot make sure to be careful. Once you’ve let the cheese melt on one side, flip it on over to the other side. Now my tortillas were a little big, and my coffee pot is

pretty small, so I used half a tortilla to make a little quesadilla snack.

It actually came out pretty good.

The hot plate adds just a little extra crispiness that a microwave can’t do. Realistically though, this hack would probably be more useful for those of you who live in the dorms and don’t have access to a stove top. A stove does the same thing, and with it you can make bigger quesadillas. I would still classify it as a success though for those who don’t have stove tops but want some quesadillas in their life.

BETTER THAN FRIES For this hack you will need a potato, olive oil, butter, salt, pepper, a cooking pan, and an oven. First, cut the potato into thin strips almost all the way through. Then drizzle it with a little olive oil, butter, salt and pepper, then pop it in the oven on the cooking pan at 425 degrees for 45 minutes. I put jalapeño olive oil on mine to add a little extra kick. I had a hard time cutting it into thin strips, but I eventually got it down. When I

took it out of the oven the first time it was still pretty undercooked. So I popped it back into the oven for another 15-20 minutes, and at that point it was safe to say it was done for. Some parts were overcooked while some were still undercooked.

I think it’s easier to just cut it up and lay it the pan versus doing this. So I’m personally going to have to give this hack a pass, but hey that’s just me!

45 INSIGHT

OPINION

INSIGHT 46

47 INSIGHT

Photo by Jana Sayson

STAND AN INTERNAL CONFLICT

WHERE

DO WE Words by Crystal Pulido-Lugo Illustration by Kellie Sasso

T

here’s something in the air. The mist of our problems possibly, or the political climate giving us a shivering fever. There are a number of factors honestly, but one thing is for sure—the tension is thick, and I’m feeling it as I write for you today.

Something that’s been on my mind has been the sexual assault and sexual harassment in various industries, the taboo it has been for years, the domino effect of Hollywood’s exposing of its elite, and what it means loving the art of abusers. Does us loving their films, their music, their shows, and the art they’ve brought into this world, make us anti-feminist? Are we supporting their abuse by finding comfort in their work? Is it time to boycott what makes us, us because of their actions?

These thoughts have been on my mind since last fall when I heard of the allegations that proved to be true against film producer Harvey Weinstein. At the time I didn’t care to look into it. I was always against feeding myself negative information, but now looking back on it, it was just me being apathetic to what was going

on. Women for most of history have been the lowest of the low. Though the once expected domestic pattern of archaic Americana and being the perfect housewife who attends to her home, her children, and her husband while juggling the decorum of a saint with a red lipstick smile has vanished, things are still unfair. In the last century things have changed, and women have been given the opportunities to break romanticized roles, but just because they have the opportunity doesn’t mean it’s promised to be easy for them. Women are still being mistreated, abused, harassed, assaulted, belittled, and depending on

these injustices. Since the fall, movements like Me Too and Time’s Up have been helping women speak up against their abusers, giving the once voiceless a platform. Though abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and inequality doesn’t affect everyone, it still occurs each and everyday, in all industries across the country and around the globe. Movements like Me Too and Time’s Up are here to be the platform of difference, but it is up to us to be the productive catalyst of change.

What changed and motivated me to start doing something was when it began to affect me, as selfish as that sounds. I have always respected and admired creative people, but in the fall my world became winter. A friend of mine messaged me an article about Jann Wenner, Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone Magazine. The creator and innovator that I admired for years turned out to be one of the abusers. He had assaulted Ben Ryan, a journalist who looked forward to writing for Wenner. Wenner attempted to offer him a career advancement and bylines in exchange for sex, and this inflicted a lifetime trauma for Ryan. I couldn’t believe a hero of mine was capable of inflicting fear onto a fellow writer. I

"These women are our professors, our doctors, our lawyers, our police, our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our cousins, our aunts, and our best friends. These women are us.”

INSIGHT 48

a collection of factors, their obstacles maximized and the respect for them minimized. These women are our professors, our doctors, our lawyers, our police, our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our cousins, our aunts, and our best friends. These women are us. So, why is this going on?

Thankfully we are living in a time where women and men are standing up and saying enough is enough of

put Wenner’s biography on the floor, placed my writer’s arsenal of pens and current journal under my bed, and laid on my sheets. I feared for myself and feared for women and the little boys and girls who will one day dream to only be let down. I feared that the only way to make it in these already unstable and arduous industries was to face the inevitable and succumb to people with power.

I didn’t write for days.

It was in those days that felt I wasn’t doing enough for the abused, the women in my life, and for little girls and boys who are asked what they want to be when they grow up. I wanted their dreams of being doctors, lawyers, engineers, and astronauts to not only be possible, but safe for them. I then began to loath the fact that I supported Wenner; the source of inspiration for me, but the source of fear for another and not knowing of this my whole life.

My friends loathed in the fact that they supported and admired men like Weinstein and other figures like Louis CK. “At first, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that [CK] got away with his inappropriate actions for so long. I couldn’t believe that a human could be so awful by taking advantage of his success and power. I couldn’t believe that he would take advantage of his fellow comedians who looked up to him. I then went through a stage of anger. I was angry with CK because I spent so many years watching Louie and his standup specials,” Emily Muramatsu, UNR student and journalism major said during an interview for The Electric Bunch, a blog I created profiling the women and future of industries who are under fire because of abusers.

My friends and I felt cheated. If we felt this way, we couldn’t even imagine

the hurt in their victims’ hearts. These men have been figures of admiration.

An illusion for us, but something sinister for the women and even men they took advantage of. They were our Kevin Spacey, the actor we adored in films like American Beauty and shows like House of Cards. They were our James Franco, our fun-loving co-

share popcorn over Freaks and Geeks.

I couldn’t stand the fact that a person who brought us so much joy, was really a facade. As humans, we are prone to make our mistakes, but as humans we should never be the villains. I couldn’t support him anymore and refused to let my impressionable younger brother, only a teenager, think that Franco’s behavior is acceptable.

I felt conflicted up until a friend of mine told me that the accusations shouldn’t take away from their art and shouldn’t be hated. However, the accusations do take away from who they are as people. I gained the clarity I yearned for and learned that he, and all of these abusers, cannot steal these things from us. They aren’t entitled to that, too. Sure, they’re behind these films, shows, books and all, but aside from them, these pieces and worlds were created by honest men and women. One man’s mistake shouldn’t take that away from them.

We should praise the other minds behind these works.

“Honestly, it’s so much easier for us to compartmentalize and separate the artist from the art. Especially when we enjoy the art so much. It’s hard to suddenly dislike it because we now despise the creator. It only makes us anti-feminist to support their work when we blatantly ignore their wrongs and not hold them accountable for their actions,” said Audrey Cagasan, a Computer Science major at UNR. And, she is right. If we ignore the issues, if we continue to support these men without accountability and not support the others behind their works, we become the problem. We become apathetic.

UNR English and women’s studies

"I couldn’t believe a hero of mine was capable of inflicting fear onto a fellow writer.” median, writer, and filmmaker with the raunchy, yet lovable humor we couldn’t help but laugh with. They were our Woody Allen, the man behind films like Annie Hall who left an impression of film enthusiasts and critics. But, for the women and men behind the scenes, their employees and in some cases, even their family, they were the monster under their beds.

I asked my friends and myself ‘Should the art of these men be loathed and banned as well?’ Should we as women give up on their films,

"I FELT CONFLICTED UP UNTIL A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THAT THE ACCUSATIONS SHOULDN’T TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR ART AND SHOULDN’T BE HATED.” books, shows, or whatever else that has shaped us into us because of the men behind it? James Franco for example was a role model of mine.

My thirteen-year-old brother and me would bond over his films and shows.

We supported Franco so much, we watched his recent film, Disaster Artist, two times in theaters. We would

49 INSIGHT

instructor, Patricia Eagan, has noticed a rise of this conversation about sexual assault and sexual harassment in her classes and when asked if it made women anti-feminist if they support the work of problematic men. Eagan gave an answer that made me realize that as fans we have the power.

“I don’t think you should stop liking their art, but perhaps think of ways in which their conduct affects their art or deconstruct their art, so you can see and others can see, where their art ends and self-indulgence begins,” she said.

I don’t look at James Franco’s art differently.

It’s a picture in its golden frame.

I cannot change how it made me feel at the moment. I respect him for placing smiles on people’s faces and his work ethic, but as a person I view him as something different and his work post-exposing will be viewed critically, following Eagan’s advice of checking where the art ends and self-indulgence begins.

After taking some time off from writing, and after I stopped thinking nothing was worth it because despite of hard work, it will only be tampered with in the end, I began thinking of the incredible and creative souls in my life. From my favorite author, Patti Smith, and the incredible life she’s lead by being a risk taker, to singer Selena Quintanilla and the way she challenged the male dominated industry of Tejano music, and my mother whose strength has motivated me to be as tough and independent as her. I phoned a fellow creator and we spoke for hours about the admirable men and women in our lives. We spoke of the pain the victims must be in and hoped for their peace. She confessed to me how betrayed and cheated she felt when Weinstein, the film producer of some of her favorite films, was raping women, harassing and threatening them for sex, and being accused of numerous of sex crimes, while she daydreamed of working for him.

After spending some days away

from my pens and spending my days phoning and engaging with people with passions all spread out on the spectrum, I felt some relief. The more these men are exposed and the more these once taboo topics are talked about, the more that these women’s realities becomes ours. I realized that the women and men I was talking to about this domino effect and frenzy, were going to be the future of these industries. There is hope. The stories of victims need telling, and it’s our job to

their music, and so on. Filmmakers like Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Ava DuVernay (Selma), Sofia Coppola (Virgin Suicides), and Nora Aniello (When Harry Met Sally) are women to start supporting. Musicians like Beyonce and her anthems like “Who Runs the World (Girls)” and “Flawless” and Christina Aguilera’s catalog full of gems like “Can’t Hold Us Down,” “Fighter,” and “Beautiful,” are only a couple of women that you should start and or continue to support.

If you have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, and or inequality, know that there are movements out in the world trying to protect you and who are rooting for you. You are not alone and thankfully, UNR offers counselors, their Title IX office, and their police department are here to assure you that you are safe and to remind you that you deserve to feel safe on your campus. All of their contact information is located on UNR’s website. There are millions of beautiful people fighting for you and fighting for a change with the hopes of turning sexual assault, harassment, and inequality, an archaic issue we can one day will read about in disbelief.

Remember that you are allowed to advocate for a change and allowed to stand up for what you believe is right. You’re allowed to speak up and allowed to comfort others. You’re allowed to be a fan and allowed to cut off the things you feel uncomfortable supporting. Remember that these abusers, whether they’re creators or a real monster for you, are not entitled to steal your happiness away because of their actions and self-indulgence.

Your spark is yours. Your body and your life is yours. Change is coming and things are happening, and I’m here for it. I hope you’re here for it too.

"I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD STOP LIKING THEIR ART, BUT PERHAPS THINK OF WAYS IN WHICH THEIR CONDUCT AFFECTS THEIR ART OR DECONSTRUCT THEIR ART SO YOU CAN SEE AND OTHERS CAN SEE, WHERE THEIR ART ENDS AND SELF-INDULGENCE BEGINS.”

INSIGHT 50

be the storytellers. It’s our job to be the advocators. The more we talk about it and speak up, the cleaner these industries will become. Sex crimes, abuse, and harassment will no longer be tolerated nor will inequality. Ladies and gentlemen, bring your sage and lighters, these industries need one hell of a cleanse and it starts with us.

There are many things that can be done right now to begin this change.

Though it will not change the world tomorrow, it will change the world for our children and their children.

You can start today by having an open heart and open arms for victims. Talk to your friends about their experiences, though it might be a touchy subject for some. Aid your young surroundings by teaching them what it means to respect people and teach them consent. As trite as it sounds, children are really our future. Teach others and yourself about consent and what it means to have it or not to. Donate and make an economical contribution. You can visit Time’s Up website (www.timesupnow.com) to order some Time’s Up merch or donate. All proceeds go to the legal defense fund for the women who cannot afford it on their own. Start supporting female creators by watching their films, reading their books, listening to

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