Summer Issue 2019

summer 2019 VOLUME12 ISSUE 4

MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE

from the editor

F

or the last couple of years, my summers have been times of intense reflection and nostalgia. I go home for the summer, and being in my hometown, surrounded by all the things that built me as a person, brings me back to those formative years. One of the memories that sticks in my mind is hanging out with my siblings in the living room and watching “Drake and Josh” while eating dinosaur chicken nuggets. I also think about all the time we spent in our backyard, collecting leaves and berries to make weird “potions” in the mud.

I think that we all long for simpler times as we grow up and mature. As college students, we are stuck in a liminal space.

We’re figuring out our careers, our personalities, our interests, and shaping the rest of our lives. It makes sense that we would reach out for something familiar like a TV show or a certain band when those things are more available to us now than ever before.

With this issue, we aim to explore some of that nostalgia by throwing it back to 2009. It really was a simpler time, where Disney and Nickelodeon were in their prime, and the “Twilight” movies were sparking a vampire craze across the world. Looking back at my most played songs and photos from 2009, I can’t help but wonder what that little girl thought was in store for her. She definitely never imagined this.

Take time after reading this issue to lose yourself in nostalgia for a bit. Think about your childhood self and what they wanted. Take time to be nice to yourself and to them. We’re all stuck in this liminal space, and we’ll continue to reach back to those summer days of our childhood until we eventually get where we’re meant to go.

about the magazine 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).

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.

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

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

TANNER BARRETT

RYLEE JACKSON

staff writer

copy editor

burned all photo from 2009s

KELLIE SASSO

PHOTO editor

ELIZABETH PEARSON art director

Contributors Nikki Moylan Elliot Bailey josie steehler

alexandra mcvey Carley olsen

CONTENTS Childhood comebacks The impact of Avatar an Ode to the 2009 VMAS What's on our iPods?

Music then vs now 10 years of Parks and Recreation A changing political Landscape Growth in the biggest little city a slice of Venice

CHILDHOOD FAVORITES MAKE A

COMEBACK

Words by Elliot Bailey Illustration by Maggie Schmutz hat is Nostalgia to Millennials?

I'd define nostalgia as wanting to go back to the pre-teen period without the burdens of adulthood. Back when television was relatable with characters that lived something akin to a 'normal life.'

The Jonas Brothers came back with the song "Year 2019" on "The Late Late Show with James Corden", shortly after Nick got married to Priyanka Chopra.

They kept their promise of 'doing fine' with their instant-hit song "Sucker" after a six-year hiatus.

Drake Bell teased that a "Drake & Josh" reboot is in the works, even in the wake of Drake not being invited to Josh's wedding. Miley Cyrus brought back her alter ego Hannah Montana for a night on her social media, pretending to be what Hannah Montana would be like today. Nickelodeon shows depicting characters from "SpongeBob" and "Fairly OddParents" in meme form are spreading across the internet like wildfire. Full House, a staple in Nick at Night, has been rebooted as "Fuller House" with the original cast reappearing in their original roles, with the exception of the Olsen twins.

All of which have, thus far, been extremely successful due to their popularity in 2009. In 2009, they dominated the world of millennials and generation-Z kids, and have maintained this fanbase as the individuals who tuned into them back in 2009 are still listening and watching these shows as college students and adults. This begs the question: Why are all these pop culture figures from our childhood returning to the spotlight, and what does it say about the current state of entertainment?

Is the fact that adulthood and the next stages of life are hitting both these stars and the generation that listened and watched them as they grew up, or could it be that want to be a child again?

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INSIGHT 6

The resurgence of popularity could be connected to the fact that Nick at Night has been rerunning a majority of the shows previously mentioned. Nick at Night plays the adult shows past 10 p.m. for the 'older' viewers to enjoy, shows that are explicitly geared towards teenaged and family life.

Former stars are coming back into the limelight due to significant life events covered by tabloid magazines. Miley Cyrus is constantly putting out new music or doing collaborations with other artists.

Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, has been blowing up on social media due to his part on the remix to Lil' Nas X's viral hit "Old Town Road." Spongebob's creator recent death has been publicized on all media platforms and commemorated during Super Bowl LII. Millennials are creating the memes that circulate through the internet and social media.

Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services are becoming popular, and buying the rights to air these shows could also contribute to this nostalgia. Netflix residually keeps shows that are 'crowd-pleasing', which aired in the 1990s and 2000s to appeal to the most viewers. The success of shows like 'Friends' has caused an uproar for these streaming services to buy rights to 'older shows continuously'. Case and point; the 'Teen' section of Netflix is full of these nostalgic shows, including "Glee," "Degrassi," "Gossip Girl," and "H20".

I believe that we want to go back to the nostalgia of childhood that we all crave and want to share with the next generation because they do not recognize these iconic parts of our youths in some if any capacity. Many of us, while rewatching shows, see the innuendos and entendres - that all of our parents had to suffer through - with a newfound appreciation. Either way, our childhood media is having its moment, and I am more than happy to welcome it back with open arms.

THE IMPACT OF

T

AVATA R

Words by Alexandra McVey Illustrations by Maggie Schmutz he movie "Avatar," which came out in 2009, was the world's highest grossing movie of all time and was shown to be a revelation in movie making.

The following it had leading up to the movie made super fans, and the popularity kept growing. Soon after the movie, people were going crazy for this made up world, trying to escape their own. Fans immersed themselves into this "Avatar" world by dressing up as the Na' vi people and trying to embody what it would really be like to live a Na' vi lifestyle. The strong following concluded soon after the phenomenon, leaving fans curious as to what happened.

These devoted fans had seemingly just vanished, and no one was talking about this revolutionary movie anymore. These are the same fans that had learned the language "Na' vi" and dreamt about the planet of Pandora that was told to be 4.4 light years away. This planet was fictional, but that didn't stop these fans.

Some fans thought that if you died, then heaven would be exactly like Pandora, with glowing vegetation showing a path of adventure and fantasy creatures at every turn, giving them motivation for this afterlife mindset. Most people were crushed to find out that this world was just a made up planet with no Na' vi people to inhabit it. This was hard to grasp for the die-hard fans of "Avatar," after being crushed emotionally, they abandoned

the movie and got back to reality, leaving this movie without its followers. Some fans even reportedly considered suicide after realizing that the paradise of the movie would never be a reality.

Weirdly enough, it came out that most people who saw this movie couldn't tell you the main character's name ten years later.

This movie was huge when it opened, but the story seemed only to impact the most intense of die-hard fans. For some fans, it gave them an escape of their reality and let them explore a new world that was exciting and more diverse than their own. The obsession grew, and when it became unhealthy, it died off. But this particular bandage was harder to rip off than expected, and the fans were very disappointed.

Soon after the obsession was noticed, Disneyland made a world that was supposed to put these fans into the world of Pandora. Real life settled in and showed that "Avatar" was an iconic movie that was meant to be enjoyed in a theme park but not lived. Some fans think that the second film that was rumored to be in the making will not be as good as the first film and might ruin the image of "Avatar," but only time will tell as they wait for that second film to release.

For most people, "Avatar" was a phenomenon that burned and died out, but the planet of Pandora, home of the Na' vi people, will forever stay in the superfans hearts as they wish it could be their reality. Many hope for another world to be out there in the stars waiting for them to come to join and explore the unknown, but as far another planet goes, only time will tell if its name is Pandora.

7 INSIGHT

SALUTES, SCANDALS, AND SURPRISES

S

AN ODE TO THE 2009 VMAS

Words by Rylee Jackson ince 1984, the MTV Video Music Awards has pinpointed its place as a staple for all pop culture fanatics. From Madonna rolling on the floor in a wedding gown to Britney Spears strutting across the stage with a Burmese python wrapped around her shoulders, the VMAs have consistently given us career-defining performances. The most memorable moments from the show always center around controversy and the unexpected rather than the awards themselves, which is what exactly defined the 2009 VMAs. On its 10 year anniversary, let’s flashback to the simpler times of our youth where we stayed up late on our couches to eagerly watch our favorite stars win the coveted Moonman and await the drama about to unfold.

In the wake of Michael Jackson’s death, the VMAs had to design the ultimate tribute because of his unparalleled contributions to music videos and being a trailblazer as the first black artist to be featured heavily on MTV. The show commenced with a reflective speech about Jackson from Madonna, which then was followed by a dance sequence of some of the King of Pop’s most monumental hits. For the finale, Janet Jackson performed a touching tribute to her brother.

As the glass shattered and Jackson appeared alongside the world’s most renowned pop music choreographers, some of the biggest and most composed celebrities in the crowd turned into little kids again. Jackson effortlessly executed the “Scream” choreography with her brother featured on the screen behind her. This served as an emotional moment for the crowd and left a legacy as one of the most impactful opening numbers in the show’s many years.

2009 also served as a breakout year for Lady Gaga.

Recognized for her avant-garde fashion and fearless performances, Gaga proved herself to be an artist who made a statement. She began her performance by singing, “Amidst all of these flashing lights, I pray the fame won’t take my life.” With violins and dramatic pianos backing her up, Gaga’s rendition of “Paparazzi” showcased the INSIGHT 8

horrors of being in the spotlight.

Throughout the performance, Gaga bleeds to death and is strung up by her dancers––leaving her completely lifeless with a blank stare. It served as a metaphor for how scrutinizing tabloids can be toward celebrities and alluded to the countless examples of stars who have fallen from grace. The foresight Gaga had at the beginning of her career to shed light on the dark side of fame was remarkable and will forever be ingrained in VMA history.

This wouldn’t be a proper evaluation on the show without discussing the birthplace of the Taylor Swift and Kanye West fiasco. While Swift was giving her acceptance speech for Best Female Video, West walked up to the stage and uttered the words: “Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” The audience and those watching at home were stunned.

The aftermath of the incident wasn’t pretty and stirred up a huge amount of controversy. An abundance of internet memes started to emerge and to this day, it is still referenced everywhere. After many apologies and songs written about the aftermath between the two artists, the relationship between these two stars has been a bumpy ride, to say the least.

Sadly, the VMAs hasn’t seen a show of this magnitude and cultural impact since. It partly has to do with the current public uninterest in award shows and the trend of major artists declining their invitations. According to an article from Deadline, the 2018 VMAs had a 23 percent decline in ratings and a 15 percent drop in viewership compared to the previous year’s all-time VMA-low. This may be due to our new digital landscape where streaming overpowers the traditional form of media that provided the VMAs with its initial success.

The future of these huge award shows we grew up watching seems uncertain at the moment, but hopefully, there will be new avenues within this current era of media to create impactful pop culture moments in the near future.

What’s On Our iPods?

The Insight Staff shares their favorite bops they shuffled in 2009.

Rylee’s iPod Alejandro

Maggie’s

iPod

d Pees

Single La

Russian Roulette

Em

Paranoid

pire St Jay Z, Alic ate of Mind ia Keys

Jonas Brothers

Me Fly With ers

Best I Eve

Jam

th

rick Boring B

Just Dan

Feedback

Lady Gag

Janet Jackson

ss Weightle w

a

USTME DONTTR 3OH!3 est t All the R u O e v a e L rk Linkin Pa loria! ¡Viva la G

ce

Day N’Nit e

Leave Me Alone

o All Time L

r Had

Drake

Michael Jackson

Paramore

dies

Beyoncé

Rihanna

y Green Da

om Pow

Black Eye

Michael and Janet Jackson

Welcom al Romance ic My Chem s n 21 Gu

Brick by

Boom Bo

Scream

e ck Parad la B e h t o et

Jonas Bro

Tanner’s iPod

Lady Gaga

Kid Cudi

Michael Jackson

Run

Halo

This T Jay Z, Rih own anna, Kan ye West Right No w (N a N a Na) Akon

Beyoncé

y Green Da

Elizabeth’s iP od

Sasso’s iPod

Owl City

Metro Station

Fireflies

Shake It

You Belong With Me Tayl

STARSTRUKK

Parmore

Owl City

or Swift

Decode

Don’t Stop B

Glee Cast

elievin’

3OH!3

Fireflies Dog Days Are Over

Florence & The Machine

t Me Halfwa y Black Eyed P ees

Mee

Tik Tok

One Time

Electric Feel

Justin Bieber

MGMT

Defying Gra vity G lee Cast

White Dem on

The Killers

Love Song

Kesha

Breakeven

The Script Missing When Did Your Heart Go Rooney

9 INSIGHT

Best Albums 2009 vs. Now

Pop

Words by Carley Olsen

Then: Twilight Soundtrack - Various Artists 2018: Reputation - Taylor Swift The "Twilight Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is the official soundtrack for the 2008 film Twilight. The album and movie absolutely blew up in popularity and sparked a widespread era of vampire chick flicks from then on out. The album was released

by Chop Shop label conjoined with Atlantic Records and was ranked #1 on Billboard records. You can find a variety of artists and sounds on the soundtrack from Paramore, to Muse, Linkin Park, Blue Foundation and more. The movie Twilight was a massive success and I, like many others, was obsessed with Twilight! I was absolutely a die hard Twilight fan after that and had that album on repeat for weeks. Team Jacob forever! The variety of genres on the album made me feel so edgy and cool back in the day. When "Supermassive Black Hole" played during the thunderstorm baseball game scene? Pure movie magic right there.

Now, 10 years later, we see Taylor Swift on top with her latest album "Reputation," which dropped on November 10, 2017. This album was released through Big Machine Records. Taylor Swift has since left the country sound for a more electric pop sound.

"Reputation" is Taylor Swift's sixth studio album and, as expected, was a massive hit.

I loved Taylor Swift growing up, and although I don't listen to her anymore, she is still making massive waves through the music industry. So definite props to you Taylor.

Country

Then: Fearless - Taylor Swift 2018: This One's For You - Luke Combs Not only was Taylor Swift's album "Fearless" a huge success in the pop category but it also holds the title for Best Country Album of 2009 as well. Growing up, my girls and I would jam out to Taylor Swift at every sleepover just swooning over the idea of love at the ripe old age of 10.

"Love Story?" A classic. "You Belong With Me?" Fire. "Fifteen?" Break my heart, why don't you? Every young girl was aspiring to be like our girl Taylor after that.

Early in her career, Taylor Swift was known to have a more country sound as compared to nowadays.

Since 2009 we've seen new artists like Luke Combs, an American country singer from North Carolina. Who took to the charts with his third EP "This One's For You" released by Columbia Nashville, June 2, 2017. All five songs in this EP made it to Billboard's Country Airplay. I'm really not a big country music kinda gal, but I actually really liked this EP! Especially "When it Rains it Pours," and "Hurricane."

I'm excited to see what else he releases in the future!

INSIGHT 10

Rock

Then: Dark Horse - Nickelback 2018: Evolve - Imagine Dragons Nickelback is a Canadian rock band that was founded in 1995. In 2009 Nickelback's album "Dark Horse," which dropped on November 17, 2008, quickly became 2009's best rock album of the year. This album included some of their most popular songs like "If Today Was Your Last Day," and "Gotta Be Somebody," Since then, Nickelback memes have just ravaged the internet. There are so many memes poking fun at Nickelback's music but let's be real, a lot of us probably jammed out to some Nickelback back in the day, I certainly did. While not a die hard fan, many of those singles had a place in my young heart. I can vividly tell you about going to Chuck E Cheese with my friends and their dad all while singing "If Today Was Your Last Day," over and over again in the back of an old pick up truck.

Now the title of best rock album of the year, according to Billboard, goes to Imagine Dragons album "Evolve." This is the groups third and newest album which was dropped on June 23, 2017. Imagine Dragons is a pop rock group that originated not too far from us in Las Vegas, Nevada. Neat! Imagine Dragons hit the scene when they dropped "It's Time," a hit single that played in the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." It was also on their overwhelmingly successful album "Night Vision," which got released in 2012. Evolve was released by Interscope Records and Kidnakorner. I'll take Imagine Dragons over Nickelback any day of the year. Nothing against Nickelback but I find Imagine Dragons music just speaks to me a little more.

Hip-Hop/R&B

Then: I am... Sasha Fierce - Beyonce 2018: Scorpion - Drake American singer Beyoncé's third studio album "I am.. Sasha Fierce" was released on November 12, 2008, and quickly rose to the charts as the best hip-hop album. This album was released by both Columbia Music and Music World Entertainment. Beyoncé's album combines both pop and hip-hop, so there's a little something for every Beyoncé fan out there. This album is home to some of Beyonce's classic hits like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)," "Halo," "Sweet Dreams," "If I were a boy," and more. "Single Ladies" is now a classic part of internet culture with thousands of videos replicating the dance.

Now, in my personal opinion, I've never been a big Beyonce fan, but when "Single Ladies" dropped when I was 10, the hype for it was real. To this day, she is still the 'Queen B' with fans all over the world.

Now, 10 years later, we see Canadian singer Drake take to the charts with his fifth studio album "Scorpion" rising to the occasion. This album was released by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records on June 29rd 2018.

This is a double album containing 25 songs covering both rap and R&B orientated songs.

Three songs from the album reached number #1 on billboard hot 100 including "Nice For What," "Gods Plan," and "In My Feelings." Drake, like many others, is a part of meme culture with his song "Hotline Bling" leading to hundred of memes based off that alone.

Beyoncé herself has also played her role in meme culture with the rise in mimicking dances and funny faces. It's great to see how the internet and music itself has evolved!

Overall, it's safe to say music has changed quite a bit over the last decade. With new artists hitting the scene, and some of our old favorites still making strides.

11 INSIGHT

10 Years of Parks and Recreation: A Show That Is 5,000 Candles In the Wind

Words by Rylee Jackson Photos by Kellie Sasso ith the 125 episodes of waffles from JJ’s Dinner and tributes to our favorite little horse Lil’ Sebastian, “Parks and Recreation” had a remarkable seven-year run. The show aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, and exceeded all expectations. The cast and crew gained a lot of recognition along the way including 14 Primetime Emmy Award Nominations and a Golden Globe win.

The show did not necessarily have rapid success when it first aired on NBC. Throughout the entire run, talks of low ratings leading to cancellation were common. To celebrate this monumental milestone, Rashida Jones––who played Ann Perkins–– wrote about the ups and downs the cast and crew went through during the creation of this phenomenon.

“The cast, crew, and writers spent a decent amount of time worrying about getting canceled,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “We nervously waited for our (usually) very low ratings mornings after we aired and every season, we prayed that we would get picked up, even if it was just for six more.”

It is difficult to imagine a time where “Parks and Recreation” was not performing at the level it is now. Oddly enough, “The Office” also experienced similar problems with ratings when it first aired in 2005. With the emergence of Netflix and other streaming platforms, there has been a pattern of a newer generation bringing a whole new life to the legacy of these shows. We see references to these shows everywhere from viral memes on the Internet to Billie Eilish sampling quotes from the “Threat Level Midnight” episode of “The Office” in her music.

“Parks and Recreation” has had plenty of noteworthy moments that have become trends in our popular culture. Every year on October 13,

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fans everywhere celebrate “Treat Yo’ Self Day,” which references multiple episodes throughout the series where Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle decide to spend the day spoiling and pampering themselves to whatever they want. It is a fun day to have no regrets and celebrate your hard work, but there is a high chance of you destroying your bank accounts in the process.

Another holiday that exists thanks to “Parks and Recreation” is Galentine’s Day, which takes place on February 13 each year. This day celebrates the greatness of female friendships over a nice breakfast and multiple gifts, which might include creating a mosaic portrait of each of your friends made of their favorite diet soda if you’re Leslie Knope. This trend has been seen all over social media with women posting pictures of all their friends having a Galentine’s themed party. As Knope once said, “It’s only the best day of the year.”

Besides all of the iconic catchphrases and scenes, what fans love most about the cast is their chemistry on screen and genuine friendship. Even after the show’s ending, fans can see members of the cast spending time together on social media and commenting on each other’s posts. It is rare in the entertainment world to see a cast as connected and supportive as this one.

Recently, the entire cast reunited at a PaleyFest panel on March 21 to commemorate the show’s legacy and give fans a glimpse into behind-thescenes stories. One question fans were dying to know was whether or not a reunion or revival movie would ever happen. Sadly, it looks like plans for a reunion aren’t in the near future; however, creator Michael Schur told fans to never say never.

Even if a reboot never happens, “Parks and Recreation” will still live on the way it was intended to. Here’s to ten years of laughs and making fun of Jerry/Larry/Terry/Gary––whatever his actual name is.

a changing

POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Words by Josie Steehler Illustrations by Maggie Schmutz ack when most of us were still drooling, pulling each other's hair, and having no insecurities (contrary to us all, now) politics seemed far less prominent in our lives.

What has changed in this time seems to be a bit more than, "we grew up." Some of us actually know what is going on in the political climate, while others are staggering around with their opinions being pulled out of thin air and allowing assumptions to be based on headlines.

I was only 11 years old when 2009 brought in the next Democratic President, Barack Obama. I remember watching the transition of the government into a Democrat-run White House. There were feelings of hope and change, as any new presidency brings out in those who follow politicseven those who only follow headlines.

Or maybe there was fear in Republican households, fear that all they ever believed in and worked on throughout the last eight years would be tarnished by an evil‌ Democrat.

Believing that any side is evil, even amid our meme creating, social media giant and current president- Donald Trump is wrong. There are no evil sides in politics; there are only perspectives that offer solutions to the issues that matter most to them. Sometimes these perspectives clash- and in 2019, these differences are far more transparent than they were in 2009 because of the everexpanding media.

"I felt a sense of hope in Obama, and now it's like I don't really care about politics because the president seems to not care about minorities," says Manuel Argueta, 21, International Business major and proclaimed 'no affiliation' when it comes to the political spectrum.

Even at such a young age, Argueta saw so much hope in the newly inaugurated Democrat, but there is a high contrast between the way that he feels about politics now, because of the lack of care the current president seems to portray about the issues Argueta faces.

"Now seeing all of my friends

B

who support him [Donald Trump], and who supported his election, it's weird for me because he doesn't care about the issues that I face and about the issues that Obama made sure he faced." Says Argueta.

This depersonalization of a president's agenda toward the issues a constituency may face can be a concern to people who see politics affecting their personal lives and the inner workings of their everyday lives.

Social media has also become something that has depersonalized, not only politics but the way that the world communicates with each other, especially through politics and the way that we romanticize some personal interests with political affiliations.

Needless to say, the discussion surrounding politics now has become far more stimulated because of the aggressive aggregate of online conversation that anyone is allowed to have a voice in.

"I feel like I learned a lot in college about politics and how to create my own opinions on politics away from my parents' strict viewpoints," says Robert Deiters, 23, Business Marketing and Journalism majors who say he leans more onto the conservative side of the political spectrum.

"When I told my parents I didn't vote for Trump, my whole family freaked out on me, and we can't/don't talk about politics now because we disagree that much." Deiters continues.

Sometimes politics plays a more significant role than it should in our lives, and as it blows up in the media now, all angles being told and all perspectives being spat at audiences are warranted.

It is easier, now, than it was in 2009 to become lost in a sea of diluted 'facts' and opinions disguised as facts because of the public platforms we can all share anything on.

2009 was the year where the brink of everything in our current political climate was set into motion. The United States of America inaugurated a Black president, and the world was forever changed. Technology advanced, and anyone with access to the internet could express anything they wanted about everything they could think of.

2019 and forward will present many challenges in the realm of politics. If people regress in their online interactions and begin to pay even less attention to their effects on society, the risks can cause a downward spiral of cordial human interaction.

Politics is essential to the function of society where there is a central government. People will never cease to have opinions, but that does not mean political interactions must be congested with personal attacks and the posing of opinions as facts. (Seriously people, understand what you're reading) Moving forward, politics will either become better or worse, based on the way we choose to react to our circumstances. Which side will you choose to fight for, a more harmonious humanity or political chaos?

13 INSIGHT

GROWTH IN THE BIGGEST LITTLE CITY Words by Nikki Moyln Photos by Kellie Sasso hat was Reno like 10 years ago? For many people, the cost of living was a lot cheaper, Tesla’s Gigafactory was nonexistent, and tuition at UNR and UNLV was $142.50 per credit for the 2009-10 school year.

In the past 10 years, we’ve seen vast visitor and population growth. Reno’s residents have watched as the “Biggest Little City” has expanded right before their very eyes.

It’s been an exciting 10 years for sports fans. Reno’s soccer fanbase got their wish in 2015 when the 1868 FC came to town. With a partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes, the team made its debut in the 2017 USL Championship. Also, the Reno Aces, an AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, began their inaugural season in 2009. Ten years later, the team has strong attendance, delicious concessions, and the highest-ranking female executive in minor league baseball. Emily Jaenson joined the team last year and shows how Reno has become incredibly progressive within the previous decade.

The last 10 years have also brought legislative changes, some more notable than others. In Nevada, the historic decision to begin selling marijuana recreationally started in the summer of 2017. This was a significant victory for cannabis advocates, as it was only available for medical use beginning in 2001. In the first nine months of sales, dispensaries in Nevada made more than $380 million in taxable sales, according to a KTVN article.

Looking at the actual businesses and the structure of the city reveals even more change. In 2009, Midtown was not as developed as it currently is. New bars and restaurants line the streets now, such as Rum Sugar Lime, Brauhaus 701, and a new restaurant expected to open this summer, “food + drink.” An area in between Midtown and Downtown sometimes referred to as “Mini Portland” has emerged with the addition of three restaurants originating in the hip, Oregon city. Sizzle Pie, Pine State Biscuits and See See Motor Coffee Company have all opened up within walking distance of each other on Pine Street.

Another recent trend is that many restaurants in Reno are now pushing for organic dishes and supporting

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INSIGHT 14

local, homegrown food. One example is Homegrown Gastropub, where owner Spencer Shea states on his website that he is “a strong believer in food that hasn’t been tampered with.” This new way of thinking in local restaurants has contributed to the almost overwhelming number of new places opening up around Reno.

Even the University has seen some significant changes in recent years. Last year we saw the opening of a new STEM-themed residence hall, Great Basin, in the fall. The Residential Life, Housing, and Food Service Department also has plans to reopen Manzanita Hall in the fall of this year after undergoing renovations. And with the completion of the new arts building in February, the construction won’t stop until the new engineering building is completed in 2020.

Students are also excited about popular chain restaurants like Panera Bread and The Habit Burger Grill that are expected to come to campus during the upcoming Fall 2019 semester.

However, it’s safe to say that not all changes in Reno have been positive. The housing crisis and homeless situation have skyrocketed in recent times. Prices for apartments are increasing while the facilities in some complexes have either stayed the same or decayed over time. A one bedroom, one bathroom apartment at Northtowne Summit in Northwest Reno starts at $1,159.

With these negatives we also see more industry coming to Reno, and the city is growing, for better or for worse. Tesla’s Gigafactory held its grand opening event almost three years ago, and as of August, it has about 3,000 employees. Known officially as Gigafactory 1, the company hopes to open more locations across the United States and Europe. Tesla is also prominent in the community, with many recruitment workshops and events occurring on the UNR campus. Unfortunately, the company was forced to lay off about 7 percent of its staff back in January. According to reports from KUNR and the Northern Nevada Business Review, Gigafactory 1 was also impacted, but the numbers of exactly how many workers were let go was not made public.

With all of the changes to the Biggest Little City in the World in the past decade, residents can only hope that the good outweighs the bad and that Reno stays the city we’ve all come to know and love.

15 INSIGHT

a slice of

VENICE I

Photos and words by Kellie Sasso had the pleasure of taking a photo tour with renowned photojournalist Dotan Saguy, creator of the photobook “Venice Beach” as seen on National Geographic, CNN, ABC News, and more. Working alongside Saguy was a treasure, getting a taste of the years of accumulated photographic and cultural knowledge that contributes to his rich storytelling skills. While browsing the boardwalk, I tried to spend some time getting to know the people and the energy there before I instantly started shooting.

Taking a second to absorb the atmosphere really helped me to get a better grip of what kind of subjects I wanted to shoot and how I could creatively and accurately frame them.

Venice Beach was one of the most wild, thriving and exciting places I’ve ever been. It holds its own culture and experience with its entertainment and effortlessly cool characters. Before I knew it, I had spent 12 hours out there.

Here’s a slice of Venice Beach.

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