Jerk October 2023 by Jerk Magazine

Oct 2023 Vol XXI Issue II Syracuse, New York Your student fee

THE OCT ISSUE

Hey, are you thinking of the Roman Empire?

Jk, we know Jerk is for the girlies.

@jerkmagazine

jerkmagazine.net

Eden Stratton EDITOR IN CHIEF

Lang Delapa

Julia Walker

Karla Perez

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

EDITORIAL

DIGITAL

EDITORIAL

DIRECTOR: Emma Novy

FOB EDITOR: Julia Reedy OPINION EDITOR: Emane Haque

ASST. OPINION EDITOR: Madeleine Oliveros FEAUTURES EDITOR: Isa Naro ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: Qiong Wu & Joelle de Poto GAWK CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lily Brooks & Lily

Rubenstein

GAWK ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Ella Collins GAWK FEATURES EDITOR: Lily Rubenstein GAWK STYLING COORDINATOR: Cassia Soodak GAWK ASST. STYLISTS: RenéebKurie, Sophie Sledd,

Camille Pitaniello NOISE EDITOR: Chloe Langerman ASST. NOISE EDITOR: Sophie Davis & Julia Carden

EDITORS: Ella Welsh, Haley Moreland, Sophie Davis,

Kylie Adedeji, Yewon Hong DESIGN DIRECTOR: Anika Dua WEB COORDINATOR: Brandon Veale

STAFF WRITERS: Josephine Vanry, Catie Scott, Lauren

Eschenbrenner, Waverly Brannigan, Christian Slowinski, Samayee Gupte, Tori Baker, Nickaylia Anderson, Olivia Jackson, Sierra Huff, Gia Rebstock SOCIAL DIRECTOR : Alexandra Taitano ASSISTANT DIRECTOR : Giana DiTola SOCIAL TEAM : Elizabeth Calvo, Christian Slowinski,

Madison Harp, Maya Espinel, Molly Meisner CREATIVE DESIGN DIRECTOR : Eva Morris

DESIGNERS : Anna Bayly, Megan Radakovich, Nicole WRITERS

Jackson Barnes, Dehlia Bies, Maddy Brousseau, Nicole Cheah, Fei Chan, Linnea Hopfenbeck, Kiran Hubbard, Sierra Huff, Madalan Jones, Sneh KC, Lily Leggat, Daisy Polowetzky, Delia Rangel, Miguel Rodriguez, Catherine Scott, Brenne Sheehan, Lily Tcath, Lance Watson, Nadia Weller, Jojo Wertheimer, Kandra Zaw, Tara Binte Sharil FRESHMAN INTERNS

Tara Binte Sharil & Linnea Hopfenbeck

Cheah, Bella Lucina

ILLUSTRATORS: Anna Chang, Caitlin Golden, Abigail

Shim, Mara DuBay, Nicole Cheah, Ande Wittenmeier, Adam D-j, Megan Ebken, Freddy Toglia PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS: Maya Lockwood, Abby

Johnson

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Callan Nagel-Dubin, L.J Guerra,

Isabel Lamporte, Mahika Mor, Ellie Sternschein, Ashlyn Garcia, Kailyn Peng, Diana Valdivia, Eli Green

Harriet Brown ADVISOR Through its content, Jerk is dedicated to enhancing insight through communication by providing an informal platform for the freedom of expression. The writing contained within this publication expresses the opinions of the individual writers. The opinions expressed herein are not those of Syracuse University, the Office of Student Activities, the Student Association, or the student body. Additionally, the ideas presented in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Jerk Editorial Board. Furthermore, Jerk will not be held responsible for the individual opinions expressed within. Submissions, suggestions, and opinions are welcomed and may be printed without contacting the writer. Jerk reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions at the discretion of its editors. Jerk Magazine is published monthly during the Syracuse University academic year. All contents of the publication are copyright 2021 by their respective creators. No content may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Jerk Editorial Board.

JERK THIS JERK 1-14

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Over the summer, I had a long conversation with an

political group Moms for Liberty, and on page 31 we

editor about active and passive voice. Despite literally

deconstruct how VEO scooters pose various hazards to

wanting to write for a living, I’d never been a grammar

our student community.

person. She emphasized that active voice was intentional, and makes each sentence have more weight. There’s no more important time to intentionally use our voices than right now. As we watch systemic violence rock the people of Gaza, it’s more important than ever to critically analyze the language we use and the way in which we use our own

We’ve proven time and time again as a student community that we are a powerful force—we can uplift voices and create change better than anyone. So, on behalf of everyone here at Jerk, we’ll continue to draw attention to the issues that affect our community, no matter how difficult or complex they may seem on the surface. It’s more than our job. It’s our calling.

voice. In every news article that pops across our feeds, we

While we couldn’t write about the war in Gaza in this

fail to acknowledge that Palestinians were killed— they

issue, we will make it a mission to cover its effects on our

didn’t just die. There were conscious actions that led to

community in our coming issues.

disaster and we as a community must recognize them as such recognize those intentions for what they are. We dedicate this October issue to the thousands

Much love, Eden Stratton

of innocent civilians who have died over the past month. We honor them by bearing witness, speaking out, and continuing to advocate for those without a voice. Despite those who will tell you to ignore what’s happening in Gaza, we at Jerk implore you to do your part in making change—even the smallest actions can create tidal waves. Trust me, I know it’s easy to feel apathetic about this world—our generation hasn’t seen much good come out of it in recent years. Yet, as deaths from genocides rise, political turmoil perists, and wars erupt into chaos, I can’t help but think about the purpose of this magazine. We’ve been around since 2002, trying to “jerk” people out of their apathy and to do so with our chests. That mission has never been more important as countries go to war, minorities are targeted, and it seems like there is no hope. At Jerk, we are. And we will. This issue, we’ve chosen to highlight the issues that are affecting our communities – on page 23, we showcase the continued debate over I-81, and the potential consequences of its removal. On page 15, we discuss the University’s position on the infamous

Eden Stratton

Editor In Chief (They, Them Their's)

JERK THIS

SMUT

BITCH

FRONT OF BOOK

FEATURES

OPINION

7 Jerk on the Internet

15 To Censor or Not Censor

23 Removing I-81

9 Hit/Bitch

But wait, there’s more...

Julia Reedy

10 October Horoscopes

Julia Reedy and Julia Walker

11 Sex: Open Relationships Julia Reedy

Student by day, tattooist by 13 night

Kiran Hubbard and Julia Walker

The Cost of Fitting In

Tara Binte Sharil and Linnea Hopfenbeck

31 35

Karla Perez

Sleepy Syracuse Joelle de Poto

Jojo Wertheimer

14 21 +/- Cinnamon Apple Margarita

Highway to the Hospital

Megan Carr and Kandra Zaw

Death to Hickies Isa Naro

Voice of the Future?

Sierra Huff and Lance Watson

Jenny Han Can Do Better Fei Chan

Madeleine Oliveros and Qiong Wu

Viral SU Comics take over our FYP Maddy Brousseau

H. Grey Supply Co. Miguel Rodriguez

JERK THIS JERK 1-14

GAWK FASHION

NOISE

ARTS

41 Field Day

53 Saturday Night Scaries

49 Fashion Aesthetics

57 Package: TLC

51 How to Dress Like a Poster Girl

65 Luna and the Carpets

Gawk Team

Emane Haque

Cassia Soodak

52 Closet Case: Artist's Clothing Gawk Team

Dehila Bies and Sophie Davis

Nicole Cheah, Emane Haque, Chloe Langerman, Nadia Weller

Dehlia Bies

66 Life's Fantastic- It's Fantastic Maddie Jones

PB 7

Listen to Jerk’s weekly podcast, Hit and Bitch — where Zoë, Emma, and Kenny discuss the things you hate to love and love to hate — on Spotify today!

Jerk Magazine is exploring new ways to compliment our print mag. Find additional content on social media and our website jerkmagazine.net.

JERK 1-14

Bringing you the latest and the littest @jerkmagazine

JERK THIS

JERK ON THE INTERNET

HIT

What we love THE ERAS TOUR DOCUMENTARY OCTOBER 13 Jerks, if you missed out on the Eras Tour, don’t fret — the next best thing is coming out in theaters, and only in theaters. Directed by Sam Wrench, the documentary is two hours and 48 minutes long — so grab your merch (or Travis Kelce jersey) and prepare to sing your Swiftie heart out.

SOFIA COPPOLA'S PRISCILLA NOVEMBER 9 We all remember the summer of Elvis — and how could we forget, since Austin Butler still can’t seem to shake that accent. That being said, we’re ready to enter the lacy-pink melodramatic dream world based on the book Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley. The film is sure to land an Oscar nod or two.

BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES MOVIE NOVEMBER 17 The latest installment of the Hunger Games series follows a younger, sexier, and slightly less evil Coriolanus Snow as he mentors a girl from District 12. Unfortunately, we won’t see any actors from the original series reprising their roles, but with a cast that includes Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, and Peter Dinklage, we know we won’t be disappointed.

Words by Julia Reedy

BLACK FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18 Going to the mall is overwhelming already — but now we have to make it a competition? This year, spend Thanksgiving grateful that you won’t be pushed into the racks at Victoria’s Secret or snoozing in the line at Bath and Body Works the next morning. We’re forgoing it altogether — Black Friday is just Cyber Monday’s meaner older sister anyway.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS NOVEMBER 5 Daylight savings is just like low-rise skinny jeans, just when you think they’re out, they’re suddenly back in, and back with a vengeance (I mean seriously, so last season.) We’ll take the extra hour of sleep, but you lost us at a 4 p.m. sunset.

HALLOWEEN FALLING ON A TUESDAY OCTOBER 31 Sunday Scaries seem a lot creepier when they occur in a Wednesday morning class the day after Halloween. Since we’re all going to show up at our 8 a.m. classes in last night’s makeup anyway, we might as well make it fun and embrace wearing our costumes from the night before, too!

BLACKOUT WEDNESDAY HANGOVER NOVEMBER 23

HACKNEY DIAMONDS ALBUM BY THE ROLLING STONES OCTOBER 20

While we’re all excited to clean our plates this Thanksgiving, we’re fearing that dreaded hangover the morning after Blackout Wednesday. Add some family tension on top of it, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a splitting headache. Remember, though — the cause is the cure.

As long as the Stones are still alive, we’ll always be eager to hear what they’re putting out. Never mind the fact that Mick Jagger is freshly 80 — Hackney Diamonds is sure to be a bona fide hit, featuring Lady Gaga, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Wonder.

EXPENSIVE FLIGHT HOME FOR FALL BREAK NOVEMBER 19

PINK FRIDAY 2 BY NICKI MINAJ NOVEMBER 17

For those of you flying home over Thanksgiving break, we know how costly flights can be. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to see your family (and your hometown hook up — we suggest downloading ‘tis the damn season by Taylor Swift for your flight).

This one is for the Jerks with the booming system! That’s right, Barbz — put your pink wigs on and prepare to get super freaky, because Pink Friday 2 is en route to our eardrums. Minaj’s fifth studio album is reminiscent of her 2010 album of the same name — a fresh take on a classic hit.

What we hate

BITCH

OCT HOROSCOPES

GEMINI

This month, use your hot-headed nature to your advantage. Energy is abundant, but make sure to channel it into something productive, otherwise you might end up with much more than you bargained for. This means avoid dwelling on past relationships and stop mulling over those same conversations that are stuck in your head.

Taurus, we know how practical you are, so we suggest sticking to a routine this month. Find the joy in repetition—try waking up early and at the same time each day (after all, it’s time to beat those stereotypes of all Taurus’s being lazy). It may just be what your steady-minded self requires most.

Gemini, you’re a hopeless romantic— use this to your advantage! Romance doesn’t necessarily mean sharing it with someone else, it could just be something you share with yourself. All this talk of “cuffing season” may make you feel a bit lonely, but remember, it’s the relationship you have with yourself that really counts.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Cancer, although you can be sensitive to tough love, remember that your loved ones only have your best interest in mind — remember to turn to them in times of need.

Lovely Leo, things are looking up! After a difficult past few months, you’ll be moving forward into the colder months with ease. It’s time to channel all that stagnant energy of the summer into something productive. Getting your groove back took some time, but sure enough, you’ll see it was all worth it.

Virgo, your stubborn nature can sometimes make you stick in situations that no longer serve you—it’s time to let those go. You deserve more, but you need to start demanding it, too. Move with compassion and watch as you thrive.

LIBRA

SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Did somebody say Libra season? That’s right, Libra, it’s your time to shine, but it’s easy to get caught up in how you want others to view you. Try your best to tune out the noise and turn inwards to what sets your soul on fire.

Scorpio, oh Scorpio—we know how deeply you feel. This is your greatest virtue and greatest vice. Time for yourself can be good, but it’s time to reexamine just how you carve out this time. Accept help from those around you and know when to separate yourself from your emotions.

Starry-eyed Sagittarius, don’t forget who you are while dreaming of who you can be—there’s no time like the present. Thinking too far ahead and chasing the shinier things life has to offer can make you feel stuck. Enjoy the not-so-shiny things of the current moment before they’re gone—after all, hindsight is 20/20.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

For being known as one of the baddest bitches of the signs, you seem to be struggling with your confidence lately, Capricorn. Try making a “glow-up list” of goals to build that confidence up little by little (even if those goals are as simple as drinking more water).

Aquarius, this is your month—but prepare for a busy one. You can look forward to reaching new heights in your career, but as life races full speed ahead, make sure to slow down and reflect on your goals.

Pisces, the anxiety building from the past few months is about to erupt into a bright moment of love, parties, and change. Take those chances and make the first move in a budding relationship and allow yourself to jump onto any last-minute plans.

Jun. 21 - Jul. 22

Sep. 23 - Oct. 22

Dec. 21 - Jan. 20

Apr. 20 - May 20

Jul. 23 - Aug. 22

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Words by Julia Reedy and Julia Walker | Art By Caitlin Golden

May 20 - Jun. 20

Aug. 23 - Sep. 22

SAGITTARIUS

Feb. 19 - Mar. 20

JERK 1-14

TAURUS

Mar. 21 - Apr. 19

JERK THIS

ARIES

SEX:

OPEN RELATIONSHIPS Understanding what they are and how to navigate them Words by Julia Reedy Art by Freddy Toglia

Hearing the term “open relationship” can trigger a range of reactions. Some are huge proponents of this “laxed” style of dating, and some believe that being in an open relationship is just another way to show you have a fear of commitment. But the latter is mostly rooted in misunderstanding, and an otherwise outdated idea of commitment. So what is an open relationship? Generally speaking, an open relationship is a relationship in which there is a mutual understanding between two or more people who have the freedom to have sexual or romantic relations with other people. In every relationship, the boundaries can look different, but it is ultimately up to the people involved to communicate these boundaries in a way that works for them. In 2019, Ronald Rogge, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, published a study in the Journal of Sex Research titled Delineating the Boundaries Between Nonmonogamy and Infidelity: Bringing Consent Back Into Definitions of Consensual Nonmonogamy With Latent Profile Analysis. In the study, Rogge posed an online survey to individuals who were at least 18 years of age and in relationships. Explaining the nature of the survey questions and the results, Rogge said “We didn’t just ask how they labeled their relationship. We asked them how much they communicated about it, how much did their partner know, and how mutual the consent was to that relationship structure. And we found that in the consensual non-monogamous relationships, the one where both partners agreed to the structure, they were both comfortable with it, they communicated about it, it wasn’t some hidden secret, and it wasn’t one partner wanting to have an

open relationship and the other partner going along because they didn’t want to lose them—but when it was a very mutual and open thing, those relationships look just as happy as monogamous relationships.” Take, for example, junior Ames Gerstenberger, who has been dating their girlfriend for six months. At the time they began dating, neither of them were looking for anything serious, so they agreed to keep their relationship open. Gerstenberger explained that having conversations with their partner regularly has laid the foundation for a relationship built on trust. “My girlfriend and I don’t have full romantic relationships with other people—we’re both on Tinder, we hook up with people, we go on dates with other people. We’ve talked about it and as of now that’s what our boundaries are,” Gerstenberger said. “If anything were to happen in the future with other people, it’ll be up for discussion. We have boundaries with other people—we know that we love each other. I’m cool with her seeing people, she’s cool with me seeing people.” Navigating an open relationship, especially when so many are quick to express their opposition, isn’t easy. However, Gerstenberger offered a different perspective. “I’ve learned that it’s something I can be good at doing long-term. We’ve just been taking it one day at a time,” they said. “I guess with relationships in college in general, you never know if you’re going to make it through the summer or through winter break, it’s all up in the air.” While meeting your partner’s other partner may seem like a nightmare for some, Gerstenberger revealed that this has actually been a highlight in

JERK THIS JERK 1-14

their relationship. By coincidence, their partner had matched on Tinder with someone they were seeing over the summer—and after texting, they decided to meet up. “I think it's always really neat when you get to meet people who your partner is, I guess ‘getting with,’ for lack of a better word,” they said. “It’s nice to know that you don’t need to worry about your partner always being afraid that you’re cheating. Because why would they cheat when they can just ask for it?” That, of course, is the question for many—and for those who are questioning whether or not an open relationship is right for them and their partner, Gerstenberger shared this piece of advice: “I say have the conversation, and the worst thing that they can tell you is no.”

FRAMED:

STUDENT BY DAY, TATTOOIST BY NIGHT SU sophomore Cait Sweeney tells Jerk about her tattoo business Words by Jojo Wertheimer Provided by Cait Sweeney Upon walking into a college student’s apartment, one may expect to find some notebooks, a vacuum, and maybe an old, uneaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich left out on the counter from the night before. SU sophomore Cait Sweeney’s apartment, however, houses a foldout tattoo chair, a tattoo gun, and a plethora of needles and ink caps. That’s because Sweeney, who has eight tattoos and a deep passion for creating art, is a student by day and tattoo artist by night. She runs her business, @tatsbycait on Instagram, out of her apartment in downtown Syracuse. Her journey as a tattoo artist began last summer with an apprenticeship at Madé tattoo shop in Denver, Colorado, where Sweeney not only learned to tattoo, but also how to brand her business and herself as an artist. Her first client was her sister’s boyfriend Sam. “A close mutual friend of ours passed away a year and three months ago, so the first tattoo I ever did was on Sam—and it was their apartment number where they lived together,” she said. “ It’s things like that which really inspire me to keep pursuing tattooing and improving, because I love being able to put a sentimental experience through art on someone’s body forever.” Like other forms of art, tattooing takes creativity, precision, and skill. However, because a tattoo artist’s canvas is the human body, the art form is extremely nuanced, which is precisely what draws Sweeney to practice it.

“Tattooing is a very intimate experience, and people want to share why they’re getting a tattoo. I love getting to know people more than through surface-level conversations, so tattooing definitely opens that door for me,” she said. As a communications design major with a minor in entrepreneurship, a career in the tattoo industry cohesively combines Sweeney’s passions. However, balancing all the different aspects of college isn’t easy, and spearheading an increasingly popular business only makes it more difficult. “Someone comes to you, thinking that your job is an artist. They sign up, they get their tattoo, and they go. But for me, the process is a lot longer than that,” she said. “I am a person before I am an artist, and sometimes, in order to make sure that they go home with a product that they paid for, I need to take a step back— whether I’m sick, or overworked, or have so much homework that I don’t know what to do with myself.” Sweeney typically takes two to three clients on Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends, allotting the other days to school. Even with little time to spare, Sweeney has no plans to stop. She hopes to continue growing her business throughout college and open a tattoo shop of her own upon graduation. “Big things coming, as the cool kids say,” she said.

Fall in a cup—with a splash of tequila. Words by Karla Perez Photo by Eli Green There’s nothing cozier than fall in Upstate New York. The changing leaves, the oversized sweaters, the crisp autumn air—and, of course, the excuse to drink apple-flavored anything. Here at Jerk, we believe we can reinvent margaritas to fit each season—that, or we just really like tequila-based drinks. Regardless, the cinnamon apple margarita is the perfect summer-to-fall transitional drink for those not ready to give up on Tequila Tuesdays but ready to embrace Sad Girl Autumn. So, gather your apples and tequila shots—it’s fall, y’all.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • •

Cinnamon sugar for the rim 1 oz of tequila blanco (i.e., Jose Cuervo) 1 oz of Triple Sec (or Cointreau) 5-6 oz of apple cider Crushed ice (optional) Apple slices and cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

PROCEDURE 1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon on a flat plate Using an apple slice, lightly coat the rim of a glass of your choosing. Dip the glass into your cinnamon-sugar mix Add the tequila, Triple Sec, and apple cider into a cocktail shaker with some ice Shake until fully mixed (have some fun with it—we recommend playing a Pitbull song) Add some crushed ice to your glass (for optimal chill) and pour the mixture Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick Cheers!

JERK 1-14

CINAMMON APPLE MARGARITA

JERK THIS

21 +/-

15 15

TO CENSOR OR NOT CENSOR Should freedom of speech or freedom of information come first on college campuses? Words by Julia Walker and Kiran Hubbard Art by Nicole Cheah

Intermingling through bake sales, book fairs, and school council meetings across the country are a group of moms sporting pearl necklaces and hair bobs. They call books about the LBGTQ+ community “pornographic” and quote Adolf Hitler in their speeches and on their website. They worm their way onto news segments and wave their freshly painted pedicures, claiming that children across the country are being contaminated by the race, sexuality, and gender content included in modern education curriculums. Some call them a hate group. Some consider them free speech warriors. But Moms for Liberty is the official name for this national, rightwing advocacy group, which has a chapter in Onondaga County. For what seems like a split second, Moms for Liberty were invited to haul their pearls, bobs, and Hitler quotes to Syracuse University’s campus for an SU Republican Club event in September. That was until The Daily Orange announced the controversial guest speakers on Instagram and students erupted in protest under the post. “Abhorrent and disgraceful,” “Given the track record of SU and how it treats its minority populations … are we shocked?” and “Hate speech is not free speech,” were three out of 109 student comments responding to the announcement, many of which planned to protest the event. Just one day after the news broke, the president of the Republicans Club, John Parker, announced the visit had been canceled. When asked to interview, Parker considered the canceled event a “non-story” that “does not require an interview.” He then declined to speak further on behalf of his club. But Jerk, along with national news outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News view Moms

for Liberty as newsworthy because of the moral controversy surrounding them. The non-profit group originated in Florida, a state which recently enforced laws to ban books such as “The Life of Rosa Parks,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Hunger Games” from school libraries. Given this information and the recent SU Republicans club squabble, Jerk has a few questions. What responsibility do private universities have to monitor who can be given a platform on their campus? Some advocates argue that upholding freedom of speech is paramount over objections of content. Should this principle stand if the speech in question promotes censorship and limits access to information? Free Speech versus Hate Speech Debate In one of their infamous controversial speeches, Moms For Liberty warned parents to “beware of terms like social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion. Stop this toxic curriculum.” However, allowing a group that champions erasure of entire identities a platform at SU to spread their ideology seems far more threatening than reading the word “diversity” in a textbook. Furthermore, allowing a group that quotes the once leader of Nazi Germany proudly on their website to speak in our educational environment also seems like an area of major concern. After being questioned about the quote: “He alone, who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future - Adolf Hilter” written in blue font on their website, one Moms for Liberty member claimed that the group “stood by” those words, which draws uncomfortable parallels considering book burning events helped fuel the rise of Nazi Germany by eliminating literature written by or about Jewish communities. “It’s a bad idea,” said SU Political Science Professor, Thomas Keck, about censoring topics from books and educational environments.

16 16

JERK –21 JERK JERK15-22

speakers (even those who spew hate speech) despite protests against those speakers. SU, like many private schools, has a more blurred line around censorship. After the Moms for Liberty incident, however, many SU students are calling for our school to take more responsibility to prevent hate speech from reaching our campus. The primary issue with hosting Moms For Liberty lies with their intention to ban knowledge and discussion of critical issues rather than arguing a particular stance – a fact that could sway first-time voters. Sophomore Shane Rubenstein shared that he feels somewhat confident about his first time voting in the upcoming presidential election, but does not know whether he would be able to gather enough information to be completely sure. “Having as much information as possible from a variety of different sources is the best way to make a decision,” Rubenstein said. Keith J. Bybee, a professor in SU’s Political Science department, explained that the removal of certain perspectives through book-banning and censorship of the kind promoted by Moms For Liberty would be detrimental to all members of a society. “Free expression means that different people can articulate different points of view, they can clash and conflict in public debate,” said Professor Bybee. He elaborated that these debates allow observers to determine the truth, or to solidify their understanding of a truth. “Pruning points of view short-circuits the process by which we identify truth and better public policy,” he concluded.

BITCH BITCH BITCH

“It is contrary to important First Amendment principles, and it is also symptomatic of some broader trends regarding democratic backsliding world wide.” What Keck referred to as “democratic backsliding” describes America’s danger of becoming less democratic in terms of power imbalances and symbolically annihilating communities by refusing to acknowledge them in media. Keck said that the democratic backsliding that occurred in Hungary has “disturbing parallels” to the current state of Florida. “A pretty common example leading to democratic backsliding is undermining free speech, political groups attacking the media and attacking universities often because those can be sites of independent thought, or attacking the speech of oppositional political actors,” Keck said. SU’s sponsorship of an extremist group, such as Moms For Liberty, could act as a display of tolerance for their inherently racist and homophobic mission and promote ignorance of social justice and human rights issues. It also could contribute to something political scientists are concerned about when it comes to censorship: the attempt to remove communities from our media and create a less equal community and democracy. To Censor or Not to Censor While this squabble seems like a “non-story” to some, or an SU-specific story to others, it is symbolic of a national debate to censor or not to censor – and the societal impacts of those decisions. Public universities take a noncensorship approach with no limitations to public

17 PB

THE COSTS OF FITTING IN Is your social life woth the price? Words by Linnea Hopfenbeck and Tara Binte Sharil Art by Megan Ebken

Whilewe weallallhave havedifferent differentways waysofof affording While affording it, it seems unanimous that college is fucking expensive. If you’re a freshman at SU without scholarship or financial aid, you are expected to pay about $77,000 per year. While you could afford to live on that bill alone, any college student knows it’s not that easy. We’ve all heard the saying ‘money isn’t everything’... but it isn’t nothing either. From necessities like textbooks and toothpaste to the necessities of college life like football games, campus concerts, late night partying (including the outfits and drinks), or a chill impromptu Tuesday dinner with the bros, the cost of college is more than what you see on your Bursar’s account. But how much more? What’s the price of fitting in – is it worth it? “I knew going into a more expensive college that some people would have more money than me, but I didn’t realize how insensitive some people could be towards the situation,” said an anonymous SU freshman. “So I think socially, money was more of a barrier than I expected.” If you feel either the pressure or desire to be social (and do it the ‘right’ way), your weekend might seem unaffordable. Events that seem fairly small to some can become a burden if the budget doesn’t fit. If you go out for sushi once, “because everyone else is,” that might cost $20. Expect to pay $50 for a ticket to the game, or $30 if you want a ‘Cuse shirt to show your orange pride, plus another $10 if there’s a boba break, already making two days $110! The strange thing is, those weekend activity costs don’t include

the social circumstances that dictate our expectations to spend money. Greek life can easily cost thousands per semester (yup). If you want to join sports and clubs, those will often have added semester expenses, too. Depending on who you’re spending time with, it’s easy to feel the pressure of spending money on drinking, drugs, expensive clothes and doing it all with a relaxed smile that says “yeah, I’m a easy going, fun person with an endless source of money who definitely didn’t just spend the last two hours freaking out about how to pay back my parents over the next five years.” Carly Conway, a sophomore and secondyear member of Alpha Xi Delta member, shared that the cost of Greek life alone is generally agreed to be very expensive and “not as accessible for everyone,” even without paying to live in a sorority house. Although there are needbased scholarships for sororities, Conway explained that they are difficult to get, having not been granted a scholarship in the two years she has been a member of her sorority. In addition to the participation fee, there are also optional events that sororities organize in which the cost and transportation fall on those who want to take part. “It does make my life more expensive,” Conway admitted, while explaining she still intends to stay in her sorority for her final two years at SU. “It’s worth it because of the friends I’ve made and the things we do.” As much as Conway loves the “sisterhood” a sorority provides her, she believes that

Take it from SU sophomore Danielle Blyn. “I’m very cautious of the money I do spend and

JERK 15-22

Greek life isn’t necessary to have fun at SU, although she believes “it will elevate your experience.” As if attending college as an American student is already overwhelming enough (for the love of God PLEASE do something about these prices), what about the 14% of the Syracuse student body who come from all over the world? Mapping out your new adult life in an entirely different country is overwhelming enough, but trying to track finances in a capitalist country? That’s too much. With the help of her parents, international freshman Naz Erdogan uses her frugal habits to make sure her finances are on track. “I don’t specifically have a set budget,” Erdogan said. “I’m not someone who spends a lot of money, I only spend on what’s necessary or something that I really want.” Organizing social events with a friend group can often lead to awkwardness and potential deal breakers in friendships. This is pretty universal, whether it happens in college or not. Erdogan discussed an experience she had while making plans with friends. So, is college going to be cheap? No, probably not. But if you keep track of your spending, are thoughtful about when to save, and surround yourself with people who are compassionate and understanding, hopefully you’ll find you’ll be able to do everything (or almost) that you want to. Whether it’s going for a dining hall supplied picnic, going to an Orange after Dark event, having a roommate approved dorm movie night or even organizing a walk to a part of town or nature you haven’t been to - there’s a lot you can do when you get creative. Money is (unfortunately) going to be in all of our lives, for the rest of our lives, so make a budget, see how much money comes in and out of your account and see how much you can spend.

BITCH

I try to ration it out. I’ll only eat out maybe once a week or I use my dining dollars whenever I can,” Blyn said. “I’ve been very grateful for not having to worry about it [money], but I definitely do try to be cautious of what I am spending.” Yes, college is expensive – it’ll continue to be so. But no matter where we are and who we are with, it’s important to remember that despite our differences, we all just want to feel understood and accepted. That, at least, should be free.

JENNY HAN CAN DO BETTER Exploring Asian representation in American media Words by Fei Chan Art by Abigail Shim Korean-American writer Jenny Han’s most notable works have been successfully adapted into streaming favorites, one of which even spawned a spin-off series. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before follows Lara Jean Song Covey, a Korean-American teenager who tries to temper the chaos that comes from the unexpected mailing of her secret love letters. The first movie, of the same name, was released in 2018 and is one of Netflix’s most watched original movies—in turn, setting the stage for two sequels. The Summer I Turned Pretty was adapted as an Amazon Prime series, following Belly Conklin, a teenager navigating a love triangle between two brothers. For years, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me whenever I rewatched To All the Boys. Lara Jean was a character I held—and still hold—close to my heart because I saw myself in her. She was an

Asian American teenage girl, like myself, and the star of her own story. Lara Jean, who had depth and a storyline independent of her love interest, reminds young Asian American girls and women of the value of their own stories. As I’ve gotten older, though, I began asking myself if Han's works and adaptations were the perfect representation I thought they were, especially as the recent The Summer I Turned Pretty TV adaptation skyrocketed into popularity with its White-boysonly love triangle at the forefront of its appeal. Han’s works ultimately still appeal more to a Western, White audience. Most notably, they feature the stereotype of an Asian woman pursuing a White man, reminiscent of Orientalist narratives, with their end love interests both being White men. While Asian American representation should be expansive and inclusive, Asian American

BITCH JERK 15-22

stories without this proximity to Whiteness also deserve to be told and valued. Lara Jean is written as biracial (Asian and White) in both the book and the adaptation; Belly is written as White but is biracial in the show. Each character has a Korean mother and a White father. Some supporting characters are also Asian and White, including Steven (Belly’s brother) and Shayla (Steven’s former love interest). It is important to note that the love interests from both series are mostly White, including Peter Kavinsky, both Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, Taylor Jewel, and John Ambrose McClaren, who is written as White but portrayed by a Black actor in the second To All the Boys movie adaptation. Mindy Kaling’s Netflix series Never Have I Ever is another show in which an Asian American lead ends up with a White love interest. This is a common theme in American media, even today. According to UCLA’s 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report, Asians represent only 6.5% of theatrical film roles and 5.8% of streaming film roles. While this is an increase from previous years, it is still a very small percentage, especially considering that few of those roles are leads. Debra Kue, a Hmong-American doctoral candidate in the English department at Syracuse University, has noticed the shift in Asian American media representation. “Now in our current moment, we understand that aesthetics are not cutting it,” Kue said. “We’re not caricatures, stand-ins, or comic relief–we’re real people with complex, intricate lives. I’m optimistic to say that while these representations aren’t perfect, they're moving in the right direction.” Rylee Dang, a Vietnamese American student at SU, explained that it was refreshing to see Asian Americans represented in the rom-com genre, especially because she, like Lara Jean and Belly, is Asian and White. However, the longer she thought about the adaptations, the less authentic they felt. “At first, it was ‘hooray! There’s an Asian character like me,’ but when you do a deeper dive, you think ‘How is this character interacting with others? Why are they the way they are?’” Dang said. “None of it really aligns with anything I’ve really known.” While it is unreasonable to expect Han (or any other storyteller) to be able to “perfectly” represent

sent Asian Americans in work, their work, still for Asian Americans in their there there is still is room room for inclusion plenty of opportunity to inclusion and plentyand of opportunity to place Asian place Asian Americans at the foreground of these Americans at the foreground of these stories. stories.Fong, a Hong Kongese and Thai American Grace Grace Fong, a Hong Kongese Thai American student at SU, commented on and the negative impact student at SU, commented on the negative impact of the racial stereotypes interwoven into Han’s of the racial stereotypes interwoven into Han’s books and adaptations. books andinto adaptations. “We play this race stereotype where White “We play into this race stereotype where White people are always at the center and people of people are always at thetocenter and people of color are always trying achieve Whiteness,” color are Fong said.always trying to achieve Whiteness,” Fong said. Movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Everything Movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Past Lives, and JoyEveryRide, where portray All at Once, Pastaspects Lives, and JoyAsian Ride, which which different of the portray different aspects of that the Asian American American experience, show Hollywood is trying experience, Hollywood is trying to move to move in a show more that progressive direction. However, in a more progressive However, there is there is still a long waydirection. to go. still a long way to go. towards satisfying the “Hollywood is geared “Hollywood is geared towards satisfying market. We cannot separate cinema from the market…We cannot separate cinema from capitalism in capitalism unfortunately,” Kue said. “Traditionally, unfortunately,” Kue said. “Traditionally, America, the screen has been White.” in America, theanscreen has with beenCBS White.” In interview News, Han stated “I had In an interview with CBS “I had tried to sell a book with anNews, Asian Han mainstated character tried tothis sellone, a book an Asian main character before andwith people weren’t really interested before this one, that and people weren’t inter- to in it,” explaining publishers werereally less willing ested ina it,” explaining that publishers were less accept book with an Asian lead. willing to accept a book with an AsianAmerican lead. To criticize the imperfections in Asian To criticize theinimperfections innot Asian American representation Han’s works is to condemn representation in Han’s works is not to condemn the stories themselves. The problem of adequate the stories themselves. The problem of adequate Asian American representation does not lie entirely AsianHan American doescreator. not lie enwith or with representation any other individual But tirely with Han orperpetuates with any other when Hollywood theindividual myth that creator. POC But when Hollywood thefor myth stories require culturalperpetuates whitewashing our that stories POC require cultural whitewashing to be stories relatable, compromised representationfor our stories to be relatable, representaresults. Asian Americancompromised stories, whether they be tion results. Asian American stories, whether coming-of-age or romance narratives, can be they be coming-of-age romance narratives, can be successful on their or own. successful on their to own. Still, I look forward seeing how Asian Still, I look forward to seeinginhow Asian represenrepresentation is expanded future adaptations tation is expanded in future adaptations of Han'sof of Han's work. For example, XO, Kitty, a spin-off work. For example, XO, Kitty, a spin-off of Tosister, All To All the Boys, follows Lara Jean’s younger the Boys, follows Lara Jean’s sister, Kitty, Kitty, as she navigates going younger to an international as she navigates to an international school school in Korea. Itgoing features a predominantly Asian in Korea. It features a predominantly Asian cast cast and includes elements of the K-Drama genre. and includes elements the K-Drama While the show has alsoofreceived its fairgenre. share of While the itshow has also share of criticism, is a great stepreceived forwardits in fair centering criticism, it is a great step forward in centering Asian Americans in their own stories. Asian Americans in their own stories.

OBITCHUARY:

DEATH TO HICKEYS The markings you wanted at 15 but dread at 20 Words by Isabella Naro Art by Abigail Shim

POV: you wake up after a fun night out. You’re reminiscing about the hot hookup you just had and can’t wait to debrief with your friends. You walk to the bathroom to wash your face and low and behold, reflecting through the mirror, are two huge hickeys right on the front of your neck. And now, on this Friday morning, you have to walk into your discussion section looking like you’ve been brutally attacked by a blood thirsty vampire the night before. Hickeys are the most inconvenient presentations of affection in the world. They may feel good to some or look good to those who like markings, but to those who don’t, they certainly aren’t fun to wake up to the next morning. The paradox of a hickey is that it takes something so intimate and makes it very public. Whether it be with a one night stand or with a long term partner, hickeys are physical trophies of lust. We at Jerk are not shaming those sporting a hickey or two, we are merely trying to exterminate the unwarranted hickey, and are presenting three reasons to do so. Number one, hickeys can be a considerable violation. Unless you deliberately ask someone to suck on your neck so hard it leaves a bruise, hickeys are typically unwarranted. Though they can be formed by hard kissing or biting, it usually takes intentional sucking to burst your skin's capillaries. Bruises of this nature require at least 15 seconds of sucking to form such an obvious mark, meaning you are well aware when you are giving them to the person you hooked up with and should check in whether they want the temporary physical souvenir you are leaving them with if they don’t realize it themselves. Number two, they are a pain to cover up. The only thing worse than having multiple surprise hickeys planted on the front of your neck is failing to cover them up with makeup. Not only do you have the preexisting purple and red splotches, but now you also have weirdly blended streaks of Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer on your neck as a sad attempt to hide your recent hookup.

Your alternative: a turtleneck, which only works when the weather deems appropriate. This is not to say you must cover it up but maybe you or the person receiving the hickey doesn’t want a nosy roommate, overbearing mother, or “pointing-out-the obvious” type of friend speculating on the nature of your intimate affairs. Number three, the pain of hickeys are rarely discussed, both during the sucking and when you wake up the next day. It’s a bruise after all, and those on the neck are equally as tender as those on the knee or elbow. Additionally, massaging it away with a whisk isn’t exactly equivalent to a spa-like massage experience. Whisks are for batter, not for bruises. Hickeys can be a huge inconvenience to remove and a violation that many don’t ask for. While you should never be ashamed of a hickey or two (all power to you if you’re not) the inconvenience outweighs the pleasure and there are many ways to show your sexual attraction to someone rather than giving them an unwanted giant bruise on the front of their body. So, as spooky season is underway, we at Jerk hope we’ve convinced you to watch out for vampires.

In Smut, we deep-dive into aspects of on and off-campus life that affect you (yes, YOU!).

REMOVING INTERSTATE 81

VOICE OF THE FUTURE?

HIGHWAY TO THE HOSPITAL

Paving the way to connect communities

Voting at SU is complex – or is it?

VEOs are accessible and convenient – but are they safe?

SLEEPY SYRACUSE Photoessay

JERK 23-40

FEATURES

SMUT

REMOVING INTERSTATE 81 Paving the way to connect communities Words by Madeleine Oliveros and Qiong Wu Art by Adam DJ

In the early 1960s, the 15th Ward was a vibrant, flourishing neighborhood in downtown Syracuse, New York. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, this neighborhood was home to nearly 90% of Syracuse's African American population. However, residents of this neighborhood soon became jarringly disrupted by the construction of Interstate 81 (or I-81), a highway that extends from Tennessee to the Canadian border in upstate New York. To make space for I-81, the city tore down houses and forced residents to relocate. Upon completion, the highway cut off the 15th Ward from the rest of the Syracuse downtown area and physically separated different communities in the city by wealth. The highway also allowed the wealthier population, who are mostly White, to seamlessly move into the suburbs. This left the poorer areas in the city with little means for moving up socioeconomically. Nearby residents were also plagued by loud noise and air pollution, the second of which often led to respiratory illnesses that sometimes resulted in death. These effects remain to this day. Over the past few years, as the highway has reached the end of its lifespan, there has been debate in the city about what should be done about it. Eventually, it was decided that I-81 should be torn down. This decision was supported by Syracuse University, with Chancellor Kent Syverud publicly endorsing the plan. But what happens after that? Maren King, emeritus associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at SUNY-ESF, conducted a research project drawing from voices of community members to build a possible model of what the area might look like following rebuilding after the highway is torn down. The project, according to King, involved

twelve community members who built physical models of what they wanted to accomplish. Their goals included improving air quality and adding a buffer between the roadway and nearby houses. The designs were then discussed and improved upon to make them more realistic. According to King, the conversations that occurred through the modeling process gave community members a more active voice. "Part of our mission is to have a collaborative sharing of knowledge [so] that it's not just me taking information from community members," King said. King submitted a report on the process and findings of the research project to the city, not intending to offer any definitive solution as to what the area should look like, but rather show

JERK 23-40

Kumiega said that with the clear disparities in resources given to areas on either side of I-81, a more community-centered design approach would be the most effective approach to the remodeling plan. He did, however, express concern for isolated neighborhoods that have already been relocated and said that the appropriate measures should be taken to better unite the whole community. “I feel like it depends on the way they go about it. If they gentrify it and turn it into a Syracuse University Part Two, then I don't think it's good for the community as a whole because then they're basically just kicking out all those people that live in the housing developments over there,” Kumiega said. “But if they do it in the right way then I think it would just make downtown feel a lot bigger.” Even though Kumiega is more familiar with the Syracuse area, he said that the project will affect students coming to Syracuse from all areas. He discussed how difficult it is for students to travel downtown and engage with the community. “You're basically secluded to this one kind of pocket right now and then, you have to drive if you want to go downtown — you have to drive if you want to go to Erie Boulevard,” Kumiega said. “Syracuse is not really a good walking city. It's very car-centric, so I feel like that would get people walking all over there [downtown] probably.” The desire to connect the community and improve students’ safety was also

SMUT

how it would be rewarding to include community members in the landscape design process. Though the city responded positively to the report, it remains to be seen whether or not they will include community members in the actual design process once the time comes. One of the key parts of realizing the importance of community involvement in planning is education on the issue. Providing people with the background and history of the effects of I-81 construction may encourage conversations about how to make positive changes for the future. Syracuse University is not shy about discussing I-81. Several courses offered at the university delve into the history, location, and even architecture of this highway. The discussions inform and help students to understand the importance of changing the design of the highway. Justin Kumiega, a junior studying Television, Radio, and Film at Syracuse University, is from Cazenovia, New York and often travels on I-81. Kumiega said he was unaware of the full history of I-81 until he took a geography class during his freshman year. In the class, he was tasked with writing a paper on the history of I-81. He said that he has become more aware of the effects of the location of the interstate. “I didn't really realize Syracuse was a pretty racist city until doing all that research for that class,” Kumiega said. “And I am totally on board with getting rid of the highway because there's a really clear difference in, from one side to the other, how much the city seems like they're taking care of it.”

mentioned by Zoe Orr, a sophomore studying Architecture at SU. Orr said that redesigning I-81 could make it safer for students to explore the new community that they are a part of. She too discussed the difficulties she has encountered while traveling by foot. “I know I've tried walking from Armory Square back up to the university and the area feels very unsafe because there are not a lot of good crosswalks or sidewalks in that area,” she said. “So fixing that and allowing for a more community aspect to be brought in that area versus the highway — I think it's going to be great for the university to interact with the community more.” Orr, who is from Camillus, New York, also talked about her knowledge of the history of I-81. She said that she learned some information on the project through the news or family discussions. Even while driving through the area, she could see a clear division between the two sides of the interstate. Orr mentioned that once she began attending Syracuse University, her First Year Seminar course discussed the history of I-81. She also took an architecture course that discussed the issue of redlining that changed her perceptions of Syracuse. The education of students combined with the group efforts of the community has facilitated conversations about the past, present, and future of I-81. While the interstate has a history of division, the new plans show the community’s desire for change. Until there are physical changes brought about by the project, there is a community working together toward their goal.

SMUT JERK 23-40

VOICE OF THE FUTURE? Voting at SU is complex – or is it? Words by Lance Watson and Sierra Huff Art by Freddy Togila

If your email looks anything like mine, then you must be drowning in reminders about the importance of voting and dodging forms to fill out. You know you should vote. You know you should look into how to do it. But when you're not sure where to start, and those reminder emails are sandwiched in between endless notes about assignments you haven't done yet and meetings you have to attend — it's easy to push figuring it out to the bottom of your to-do list. That's annoying, and of course you feel bad, because you know voting is important. Especially in smaller elections, a lesson that smacked many of us in the face in 2016 when we watched the winners of congressional and senatorial elections choose to let an orange (meant in the derogatory fashion, not in reference to our beloved mascot) criminal lead our country. So even though you're busy and the logistics can seem overwhelming, you know you have to figure it out, because to quote every speech you've heard since orientation, we are the voice of tomorrow and all that jazz. Voting can also seem like a lot of work, especially if you are from a different state and have to figure out voting by mail. Luckily, there are many resources available that understand

SMUT JERK 23-40

29 this struggle and want to help. In fact, right off Marshall street you can find the new offices of New York Public Interest Research Group. This organization has worked for the past few years not only to get students access to vote, but also to understand how important our vote is. “[Students] are seen as outsiders coming in from other places swaying the politica direction of an area when in reality students live in these areas for most of the year. And are directly affected by a lot of policies that affect everyone,” an anonymous NYPIRG staff member said. For many years, local governments were not interested in college students’ votes. Historically, students have been discouraged from voting in their school’s surrounding areas. Even those working within an organization focused on voter access have had trouble locating proper polling places in areas around universities. They have experience with people who sent their votes in by mail only to have it sent back to them because someone at the post office was unaware that vote by mail ballots don't require postage. They've seen all these obstructions and take the time to work with students planning to vote. Whether in Syracuse or back home, NYPIRG works to inform students about what's on the ballot and to help them make a voting plan. Voting by mail adds more stress to the already complicated process of college voting, by requiring extra steps and forcing students to closely follow politics happening far away. Voting in general, and voting by mail more specifically, aren’t standardized processes, so each state has its own unique (and uniquely challenging) process. Jerk spoke with students from Florida, Ohio, and Virginia, who each explained their voting processes. For Colin Mashkuri, an SU junior from Virginia, requesting a mail-in ballot is a fairly easy process, requiring only an online application. However, for Sorem Oppenhiemer, an SU sophomore from Florida, requesting a vote-by-mail ballot requires him to call his Supervisor of Elections, then send in requested personal information. He described voting by mail as a long and daunting process, especially when done alone for the first time. Kai Blunt, an SU sophomore from Ohio, faces a similarly complicated system, as he has to mail in his request for a ballot, receive it by mail, and then mail it back – a process he expressed frustration with due to the difficulty of mailing from South Campus. “I’ve had my very important mail get given to the apartment above me,” Blunt said,

highlighting just one of the many potential complications this reliance on the postal system could cause. Complicated processes and lack of reliability are scary, especially when they affect something as vital as voting in a democratic nation. So, it seems logical to ask, why do students vote by mail? To some extent, it’s due to lack of awareness. Blunt mentioned that many students don’t realize that they can register to vote with their temporary school addresses. “Until I saw a sign in Schine this week I didn’t realize that I was eligible to vote in New York,” Blunt said. Many students are already registered to vote at home when they get to campus, so this confusion makes sense. However, submitting a voter registration form to New York does not require students to inform their home state of their new location, as re-registering cancels the student’s registration at home. Luckily, campus organizations such as NYPIRG, and the SU Office of Government and Community Relations (the owners of the aforementioned sign), are helping to support student voting at SU. However, this isn’t the only reason many students choose to vote at home. Many students feel obligated to vote where their voice will make the most difference, and often find that it’s not in New York. New York is particularly well-known for being a blue state, with many policies supporting human rights. But with SU students coming from all over the US, there are many students from states with wildly different political standpoints. Many students feel pressure to keep up with politics back home, and may choose to vote by mail when their opinion is in the minority. In the three interviews Jerk conducted, students felt some level of social obligation to vote at home to make the largest difference. Oppenheimer explained why voting at home is important to him, discussing how he disagrees with the political direction of Florida, and therefore feels his vote counts more there. He also felt voting at home was important on a personal level. “As an LGBTQ individual, a lot of my rights are under attack in Florida, and I don’t think I can in good conscience vote somewhere else,” Oppenheimer said, further showing how personal pressure has impacted his decision to vote at home. Jerk found similar stories in our interviews with Blunt and Mashkuri. Mashkuri described Virginia as being in constant danger of going

JERK 23-40

students, the extra stress and potential fights with the postal service are worth it. With organizations on campus ready to help, students will continue to exercise their rights to practice democracy both in Onondaga County and anywhere else they may call home.

SMUT

red again, explaining why he feels the need to vote by mail in his home state. Blunt talked about the prominence of gerrymandering in Ohio, as well as efforts to suppress voting, to explain why he feels his vote is more impactful at home. For all three students, voting by mail is more than just obligation, or lack of knowledge of other options. It’s a necessary way to make their voices heard where it matters the most. Voting by mail is complicated. It’s stressful. But for many politically-conscious SU students, it’s worth the time and effort. College students are a population who have been suppressed and overlooked for years when it comes to voting, so we know that each of us can make a difference – it’s just a matter of where. When your home state is passing laws against your rights, against your morals, or to further suppress voters, paying attention becomes vital. For these out-ofstate

HIGHWAY TO THE HOSPITAL

VEOs are accessible and convenient – but are they safe? Words by Megan Carr and Kandra Zaw Art by Anna Chang

VEOs, the leading e-bike and e-scooter company for many universities across America, have now become a staple mode of transportation for SU students and faculty – and a burden for its sidewalks, roadways, and grass patches. VEO, like its counterparts Lime and Citibike, is a micro mobility company, seeking to incorporate cleaner transportation that is convenient and attainable for the public. Although their “green future” initiative has questioned society’s dependence on carbonheavy vehicles; how does this narrative fit in with college students?

SMUT JERK 23-40

33 Jerk conducted a poll inquiring SU students about their habits regarding VEO bikes and scooters, including topics such as frequency of riding, major opinions, and overall safety. The questions reflected Jerk’s very own writing team’s personal experiences with VEOs as well as their own concerns as students who are much affected by them; whether it is using them or being on the unfortunate end of VEO accidents. It returned with 50 responses, including individuals from every grade level, with many participants agreeing that VEOs are “cheap, accessible, and convenient.” To ensure the safety of the participants, Jerk decided to keep students who engaged with the poll anonymous. Multiple students that were interviewed personally chose to keep their identities private out of preference, as well. This is the fourth year that both the scooters and bikes have been in Syracuse, as well as across 40 other cities and campuses in the United States. It is evident that their popularity bades well, as an overwhelming 85% of students Jerk surveyed think they are a good form of transportation, and 25.5% of students use them once or twice a week. They are mainly used for going up and down the Mount hill, getting to class in a pinch, or exploring outside the Main campus. VEO conducted their own inquiry combining app, user, and poll data. Among their findings, they concluded that 53% of the 492 Syracuse riders “do not own or have access to a car”, which shows the necessity for micro mobility, said Paige Miller, the Senior Manager of Policy Communications at VEO. Despite their popularity and their good intent, an overwhelming majority of SU students have had a negative experience at one time or another concerning these vehicles, from misuse to technical difficulties. “One time, I was standing in front of Insomnia Cookies on Marshall Street. This kid had a VEO bike, and it turned on by itself and rammed into my leg. I had bruises and a huge gash on my leg for weeks. I was bleeding a bit, too. They are constantly broken and unreliable,” one participant said. Like this participant, there are countless other reported anecdotes of injuries due to a variety of reasons. Some within Not only are students getting hurt from the vehicle itself, but many report blatant misuse as well. “I have witnessed many people crashing their bikes into walls or falling off the back,” another participant said. The regulation breaches reported to Jerk are concerning. It is also to be noted

that the majority of these accidents are usually not reported to anyone, whether it be the Department of Public Safety or VEO themselves. VEO noted that if there is any injury, the rider is liable and not the company, as they outline in their safety procedures. “We outline safe riding practices in our user agreement, through in-app guidelines that riders must review ahead of using our service, on social media, through push notifications sent to riders, at community outreach events, and more,” Miller said. They work to become safer for others with the installation of no-ride zones, such as the main campus of SU. This is to prevent further injuries and accidents from occuring on the strictly walking paths of campus. Their “Safety” page states that all riders must follow their Terms and Conditions before riding, including being at least 18 years of age, following the road signs, using bike lanes, wearing a helmet, staying sober, and having solely one rider on at all times. According to Jerk’s poll, however, only 6.4% of riders thoroughly read through these rules, and only 10.6% follow all the administered regulations. Realistically, this cannot be enforced in any form. While most young adults in general don't wear bike helmets, the most concerning safety violation is staying sober. It is strictly prohibited to drive any vehicle, including electric vehicles, under the influence per New York state law. However, 44.7% of polled students admitted to riding a VEO while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The question of whether or not operating a VEO under the influence is equivalent to that of driving a car intoxicated, was answered by Miller as well: “Riding a scooter while under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance is illegal, just as operating a motor vehicle while under the influence is illegal.” This is not only a problem from a legal and safety standpoint; technically, an intoxicated rider found by the Department of Public Safety could be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both, according to New York State Law. Likewise, “Anyone proven to be operating a vehicle under the influence will immediately be banned from VEO for life,” Miller said. While there are many safety precautions in place, such as a capped speed, without anyone to enforce these regulations the nature of the electric vehicles become a hazard for pedestrians, other drivers, and the riders themselves.

SMUT JERK 23-40

However, for many, this is the only way to get home. Walking may not be the safest option, especially late at night when Marshall Street, surrounding off-campus neighborhoods, and South Campus have proven to be unsafe due to crime. For 36.2% of students, VEO has felt like the only option. Uber, a popular transport service, is far more expensive for students to take on a regular basis, and many participants noted that VEO was the cheapest option for them. “I live on South Campus, so it is not the most ideal, but when I am late to class or in a pinch I will go for a VEO instead of the bus,” one participant said. “Sometimes the buses are not on schedule or too packed so it is definitely not ideal but it helps.” Though some of these incidents are not life-threatening, such as one time when an anonymous participant and his friends accidentally crashed into someone’s yard, it poses a more serious threat of possibility – a car accident. A major reason for such incidents is a lack of legitimate bike lanes on the streets surrounding campus; VEO vehicles are being operated on the same road as cars, or on sidewalks with many pedestrians. The use of VEOs for a quick ride home can be a more environmentally-friendly mode of transportation. While the intent is to provide a clean and easily accessible mode of transportation for students at Syracuse University, without an authority to enforce the safety regulations, VEOs can cause unsafe habits and harm to pedestrians, the riders, and those they share the road with. As college students it is difficult to find affordable and sustainable transportation. While VEOs do present this alternative option, the safety risks that come along with the use of VEOs make relying on them hazardous.

35 35

PHOTOESSAY:

SLEEPY SYRACUSE Everybody sleeps, or at least they try. Words by Joelle de Poto Photos by Diana Valdivia

This collection of photography depicts the strange sleeping habits of Syracuse University students, which directly result from the academic, emotional, and social pressures of being a college student. We used different settings and photographic styles to depict different types of SU sleepers. One setting shows a couple sleeping in bed together with technology as a disrupting presence. Each individual seems to be out of sync with the other, making their sleep asynchronous and disjunct. They want to be present with each other but are ridden with anxiety about the “what-ifs” that are commonly paired with college relationships. Depicted in a different setting is a student asleep on her living room couch after a long night of going out. She looks peaceful and unaware of the strangeness of her situation. There is a certain brazenness to the way she sleeps, a fearlessness fueled partially by inebriation. Another setting shows a student falling asleep at her kitchen table while studying. It would not be too far off to say that she is an overachiever and – like most overachievers – a tad bit masochistic. She is afraid of failure and wills herself to stay awake with Celsius and cold brews, but ultimately cannot resist being lulled to sleep while writing the last page of her paper.

SMUT JERK 23-40

These vignette-style photographs provide insight into what college students value, or what they inevitably trade the basic human need of sleep off for. Sleepy Syracuse explores how the uniting factor of sleep, or lack thereof, interconnects SU students.

SMUT JERK 23-40

SPEAKEASY:

VIRAL SU COMICS TAKE OVER OUR FYP American High Shorts is a viral hit Words by Maddy Brousseau Illustration by Ande Wittenmeier

Television, Radio, and Film students Julia DiCesare and Aidan Micho took the rare opportunity to work on their craft inside and outside the classroom by creating sketches for a Syracuse-based production company, American High. “I never planned on doing sketch [comedy] as a large part of my career,” DiCesare said. “But I’m very comfortable having this be the jumping-off point,” This past summer, comedians Aidan and Ryan Micho, Grace Reiter, Luke Burkeyes, and Julia DiCesare were promoted to working full time to create 15 to 25 sketches per week for the film company. Whether it be a video making fun of unreasonable professors or the overbearing hall monitor we all encountered in high school, American High has covered almost every aspect of student life and it’s all over our For You pages. “Their stuff is hilarious. We literally analyzed one of their sketches in my screenwriting class last week,” SU sophomore, Kaitlyn Kushner, said. As the only part-time students of the group, Aidan and Julia are still committing to a full-time schedule creating content for American High. How? Their passion for comedy mixed with the ambition to be successful in their field. “It’s tough, it’s literally a full-time job while I’m a full-time student. It helps that they’re [school and work] both really fun,” Micho said. “We don’t really view it as work.” DiCesare enjoys her packed calendar, and she attests it to the bond she has formed with her fellow comedians. “The fact that I get to work with all these incredible

people who I like— do you know how crazy it is to like all the people that you work with? It’s insane!” DiCesare said. “That’s why we’re able to crank out as much as we do, because we all just trust each other and help each other so much.” “Overall, Julia is the weakest in terms of collaboration, so it makes sense that she said that. She needs us,” Micho said, jokingly poking fun at his fellow collaborators. Their funniest and most popular content is created on a basis of trust and respect. Some of their best jokes have come from improvisation. “What’s really the best part about it is even if I write something that I think is funny, when we go to shoot it, they will inevitably make it better,” says DiCesare. The comedians have found their groove together. The five of them have garnered over a million followers across Instagram and TikTok and are continuing to produce funny and original content every week. They hope to one day progress to longer form content. Regardless of what the group does next, Jerk is confident we’ll be laughing with them all the way.

H.GREY SUPPLY CO. Words by Miguel Rodriguez Photo by Isabel Lamporte

In Cazenovia, NY, a small town just outside of Syracuse, there is a community center that disguises itself as a boutique. H. Grey Supply Co. is a local business run by partners of 10 years: Travis Barr and Alex Altomonte. Travis, a Cazenovia native and former New York City drag queen, moved back home in 2021, following a spinal injury which ended his drag career. His drag name was Anita M. Buffem. Long live Anita. “I had three separate people on three separate occasions and three separate events say to me, ‘you should open up a store in town you'd be so good at it,’” Barr said“After the first person I was offended. I'm a performer. Like how dare you? Don’t you know my credentials, the places that I’ve performed, and who I've worked with? And then two other people said it [and] I was like, okay, message from universe.” The shop owners run their store from a place of passion and love, a factor which was pivotal in its development. “We just said to ourselves, like, at any point, if it doesn't feel right, or it's not fun, then we'll just say, ‘nevermind, we're not doing this anymore,’” Barr said. The strong force of love which drives the store is immediately present when walking in. Colorful couches, comfy autumnal sweaters, a coffee bar—all of it contributes to the extremely comforting brain-hug one experiences when inside the store. The shop’s inventory consists of small, independent brands such as Utica Coffee

and Kansas City Preserves. Sold goods range from niche hot sauces to a clothing brand owned by employee, Nick Lanza. “They let me operate my own business over here. I feel like I can go to them for anything,” Lanza said. When asked about their unique variety of products, owner Altomonte said, “we want to make sure you come in here and you're always finding something unique and fun- hi, how are you?” The end of that last quote was one of the many times a Cazenovia local stopped by the shop to say hello. The sense of community the business provides for its small town is infectious. The owners’ Frenchie, Harlow, regularly hangs around, ready to greet all the smiling children that walk in with their equally excited parents. “I think the customers are like the pulse of what we do in that they're sort of informing us of what this is.” Travis said. “If you're coming with love and positive energy, you are welcome here.”

JERK 23-40

Casenovia’s general store is as charming as it gets.

SMUT

DISCOVERY SYR:

PB 41

Words by Name Photos by Name

Y Y

Dek

A F EA

D DA L IELDDAY FIELD D A E I RE U T : RE

GAWK JERK 41-52

WELCOME TO SYRACUSE HIGH Photos by Lily Rubenstein

Gawk Team

Head Creative Directors: Lily Brooks, Lily Rubenstien Asst Creative Director: Ella Collins Head Stylist: Cassia Soodak Asst Stylists: Renée Kurie, Sophie Sledd, Camille Pitaniello

GAWK JERK 41-52

STRIPPED:

FASHION AESTHETICS Ignoring Non-Eurocentric fashion styles is so last season. Words by Emane Haque Art by: Lang Depula Embodying a new fashion aesthetic nowadays is akin to the effortlessness of throwing on one garment after another without thought. You go on TikTok or Pinterest, search and scroll under hashtags such as #fashiontok, #styleforecasting, or #trendpredictions, and find various looks to recreate. Some trends are rooted in socioeconomic statuses, such as the “Old Money” aesthetic, in which images of Ralph Lauren’s designer clothes and dainty Cartier watches join forces to create the illusion of understated, expensive elegance. Similar aesthetics adjacent to social capital are the “Coastal Granddaughter” (think blue, white, and beach at the Hamptons) or “Dark Academia” (imagine students at elite British universities in tweed and corduroy). Other aesthetics are more eclectic, like “Y2K” (2000s to 2010s looks with a particular nostalgia of Paris Hilton), or “Coquette” (flirty Regency Era busts and bows). There are hundreds of aesthetics to choose from. All of the examples above are part of the most popular, and all have one tie or another to the Western world. These guides can be helpful tools in emulating a look and curating one’s appearance, yet many only idealize the Eurocentric. The admiration of prominent aesthetics may be attributed to a collective ethnocentric bias shaping our tastes—a given byproduct of living in the United States. Western fashion aesthetics are not more well-received on platforms because they are the epitome of innovation or creativity, but because they have been given more space in the industry. This unfair prioritization trickles down to social media, where aesthetics gain traction outside of the runway. Not only are fashion industries beyond our borders left to gain recognition themselves, but they combat a range of prejudice when trying to break into ours. When other cultural aesthetics make it to the mainstream, they run the risk of being ripped off,

renamed, or rebranded by Western cultures. Or if multicultural clothes remain as intended when brought here, they are romanticized to the point of exoticization. In Developments of Cultural Appropriation in Fashion: An In-Progress Research, an analysis of 2,281 fashion shows from 2010 to 2020 observed in the Vogue archives found that while “one-fifth of [brands] have not presented elements of cultural appropriation… other fashion houses have been counted up to seven times in five collections.” Equally problematic, appropriate cultural references were lacking. Of the analyzed fashion shows “it was observed that occasions for the use of cultural tangible or intangible symbols occurred less than 150 times.” This may be because the West rejects what it does not recognize. According to Eurocentrism In the Study of Ethnic Dress, “we are taught as children that the way we dress is the way one ought to dress,” providing us with a false sense of righteousness we carry into adulthood. While preference for the familiar is not a bias only Westerners have, our dominance in the global landscape dictates what looks are normalized versus othered. From a survey reported on in Women’s Wear Daily, it was found that consumers are slow to adopt non-Western labels into their closets. Conducted in the United Kingdom, from 1,000 consumers it was found that 43% of Britishers were unaware of any non-Western fashion retailers. This demonstrates the sheer volume of people completely unaware of other companies and brands they could support. Not only would more representation in fashion weeks and fashion media mean more financial gain for brands, but it would offer something of meaning to the customers as well. From other cultural innovations, we get fashion staples that we may have remained aloof towards. Maison Margiela’s Tabi line has been a talking point for years in the high-end shoe scene.

JERK 41-52

recommended by Eurocentrism In the Study of Ethnic Dress, “to counter Eurocentrism, we must recognize that contemporary styles of dress are the consequence of a history in which internal and external forces of change have selectively shaped the form. (...) Whether or not change occurs slowly or rapidly, is internally or externally determined, dress traditions evolve to reflect social change, as new materials, technologies, and ideologies are introduced and have an impact.” How slow or fast we are to question who and why is given merit not only by the fashion industry but by us, as consumers, will dictate how contemporary styles of dress evolve. The fashion industry needs to be more equitable, and the fashion market needs to be more accepting. How we value fashion needs to come from respecting style, quality, and novelty—not just the spaces we are comfortable in. To only value a select few Western countries for their fashion aesthetics leaves out a whole world of items our closets, shoe racks, and jewelry boxes could be filled with—and that is so last season.

GAWK

Inspired by Japanese footwear, Tabi shoes have a small split between the big toe and the rest of the toes. According to the Vogue article “How the Margiela Tabi Went From Art School Niche to a Cornerstone of Celebrity Style,” the shoe style originated in “15th century Japan, where splittoe socks were thought to promote holistic and physical balance,” because they were designed to align with the natural functions of the foot. After Mason Margiela’s debut of the shoe, it took years for the Tabi to gain significant traction “because western show-goers hadn’t seen a shoe with a cleft toe before.” Now, the Tabi is considered a must-have shoe for fans of luxury footwear. If we continue to rely on trends to come from the people and places we’ve always turned to, fashion becomes stale. From luxury to affordable pieces, greater visibility of diverse options allows for fashion innovation to flourish. Monotony is the antithesis of fashion—it was the industry itself that coined the phrase “so last season” when referring to outdated looks. The phrase can also apply to antiquated conventions. As

FORM AND FUNCTION: How to dress like...

A POSTER GIRL Words by Cassia Soodak Photo by Ashyln Garcia Modeling by Emily Saad

Poster Girl company, founded by classmates Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville, broke the internet this fall with their video campaign released all over social media. They debuted their ‘Poster Girl’ with her stomping through court, the jewelers, and past a gawking Karen wearing outfits that would make your grandmother squirm. We all have a Poster Girl inside us waiting to come out. She doesn’t give a fuck, and she doesn’t care if you do either. They beat the misogynistic haters to the punch line by saying “what if we are crazy? So what… we're still hot.” Confidence isn’t revolutionary, and at the end of the day it’s still an ad campaign, but Poster Girl reminds us to have fun regardless of society’s perception.

Poster girl is a little delulu in her confidence, and it doesn’t matter if she’s on the runway or in her lecture hall— we think it’s fun.

Syracuse's poster girl is always sexy. Study session in Carnegie? She’ll be in fishnets and a bra. It’s okay though, when in doubt, wear it.

Poster Girl still dresses for an occasion and understands the nuance of fashionable professionalism better than any frat bro.

Poster Girl always has some girly touches, but she’s not cosplaying as a schoolgirl.

It’s all in the pose. At all times she’s ready to be gawked at and knows she looks good, and you do too ;)

52 52

Words by Lily Brooks Photos by Lily Rubenstein We often think that the art people make is the intentional, beautiful and only artistic thing that person is doing. However, what they wear is also a work of art. It may not seem like it, but each artist is very intentional about what they wear, whether it be for functionality, comfort, style, or to show off the communities and culture their apart of, like a badge of honor leading them to make important things. The things we wear while we are in a particularly vulnerable state (pouring emotion into our art takes guts, and even more to show it to the world) should be viewed as stylish tools that comfort us to put ourselves out there. Here's a few students whose clothing they wear while they make art shows more than you may think. Ainsley Dahl: Ainsley Dahl is a third year architecture student who uses her creative skills to materialize structures out of thin air, even if it means pulling double all nighters. When sketching or working on a big project, she prioritizes being comfortable: “With any creative major there’s some people who are really expressive with their fashion, and sometimes I’ll show up in sweats, no makeup, barely slept!” But she doesn’t envy her

peers who aren't as cozy as her. Dahl is ready for a power nap at all times to keep her going. Kelly Kringen: Kelly Kringen’s main accessory is her notebook, and she keeps it close by in case any inspiration strikes. Kringen finds herself most creative when she’s listening to music late at night in her favorite sweatshirt: “When I started drawing in Syracuse more it just became a habit, and now it feels like it’s part of my ritual.” Her jeans are splattered with ink and paint, and her favorite essential artistic accessories are her headphones and a cup of tea. Artists are just like the rest of us too, you know. Ashlee Cypress: Ashlee Cypress, who is member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, lives on the Big Cypress Reservation in the Florida everglades, which is where she typically creates her art: beading jewelry. “At about 6 or 7 my grandma taught me how to bead.” She wears handmade earrings and a choker, and a shirt her aunt made to bring attention to the thousands of indigenous women who go missing each year in the United States and America. Her medicine bag hanging from her neck and the necklace she is currently making use both red, black, white, and yellow colors representing the medicine colors used for protection.

JERK 3–21 JERK 53-66

ARTIST CLOTHES

GAWK NOISE

CLOSET CASE:

NOISE JERK 53-66

SATURDAY NIGHT SCARIES How do house show venues keep a night that feels like a classic coming of age movie from turning into a horror movie? Words by Dehlia Bies and Sophie Davis Photos by Maya Lockwood & Kailyn Peng

Good music. (Relatively) cheap drinks. A Sharpie X (or maybe a rubber stamp) on the hand. Dancing (or maybe just swaying). A couple aggressively making out against the wall. A drunk cig on the porch next to a couple of thrift girlies sporting their low rise jeans, the tiniest of tiny depop shirts, and oversized leather jackets. It’s crowded, sweaty, and gross– but you love it. These scenes might seem like they were ripped straight from indie sleaze Tumblr circa 2014, but for many of those who find themselves frequenting house shows, these vignettes have become synonymous with Friday and Saturday nights here in Syracuse. A desire for performing opportunities for students in Newhouse and VPA’s esteemed programs for music and recording industries coupled with a lack of major concert venues nearby uniquely situate Syracuse as a hub for the D.I.Y

music scene. On any given weekend, students flock to staple venues like Redgate and Mudpit to hear anything from the funky jazz stylings of Pop Culture to the melancholy folk musings of Luna and The Carpets. These venues have generated scores of loyal fans, poised to send venmo payments as soon as they announce on their Instagram story that presale tickets are available for whatever the coming weekend’s lineup happens to be. For many, these shows are so appealing because they provide the opportunity to party in an environment that isn’t a bar or a frat basement (‘cause frankly we’ve all had enough of the Heads Will Roll remix and the ABBA EDM). As cutting-edge as this idea might feel, D.I.Y live music is deeply ingrained in the pantone 021c orange fabric of Syracuse University. In fact, these informal concerts date back to as early as 1969, when Jabberwocky, a student-run club

located in what is now the Kimmel Hall MakerSpace, opened its doors to host legendary acts such as Talking Heads, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor alongside cheap beer and all-you-can-eat fries. Unfortunately, Jabberwocky’s youthful exuberance was burnt out after the passing of the 1984 Minimum Drinking-Age Law, which raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. But not before it hosted a farewell bash, featuring a tour de force performance by James Brown, that has since become the stuff of Central New York legend. It’s also difficult to discuss the roots of Syracuse’s D.I.Y scene, and the inherent griminess that comes with it, without also discussing Livingstock, an impromptu springtime music festival held on the corner of Livingston and Clarendon starting in 1970. The completely student-run event amassed roughly 1,000 guests a year over the course of its decadesspanning history. The hazy, homegrown fun of Livingstock came to a crashing halt in 1999 when the beloved festival morphed into a riot, resulting in massive bonfires in the middle of the street, the arrests of twenty-one Syracuse/ESF students for altercations with police officers, and $22,000 in property damage. Ben Tupper, affectionately referred to by many Syracuse students as Rent From Ben, has fond memories from the Livingstocks of the late-80’s and 90’s, and vividly recalls the May night that would sour the event’s legacy, if not erase it altogether. “The police went full police mode and started beating the shit of any human being they could get

in touch with. There were like 100 cops there with their billy clubs chasing people all the way down Westcott Street.” Tupper is quick to point out that there is virtually no record of the event on the internet and many current students are unaware the event and its complicated history, saying “[they] don't care that this happened for years and it was wonderful, SU whitewashed it, SU destroyed it, SU made it clear that no one would ever do this again.” In the years since, SU has introduced the Bandersnatch and Block Party concerts presented by University Union as a more controlled alternative to the freewheeling sensibilities of years past. As one of the nine people in the crowd for Faye Webster at last spring’s Block Party, there’s no denying the frigidity of a near-empty Dome is a far cry from the unruly masses of students and locals alike who once danced their nights away at the Jabberwocky and counted down the days until the next Livingstock. While it may no longer be explicitly sponsored by the school, the heart of the D.I.Y movement lives on in the student-run house shows of today. Sure, you might not be seeing this generation’s James Brown at Redgate, today’s D.I.Y venues have hosted the likes of Laundry Day, Charlie Burg, and other indie artists that boast impressive online followings. Of course, it’s not entirely irrational to draw a parallel between the events of Livingstock 1999 and escalating safety concerns about parties thrown in SU and ESF student housing. So is this unsavory, largely erased chapter of SU history bound to repeat itself?

If you ask those most closely involved in the logistics of Syracuse’s D.I.Y scene, they’ll do everything in their power to keep that from happening. “That’s always a thought in the back of our heads. Its fucking terrifying actually.” says Sam Stehle, who spent the last two years co-running the venue the Harrington, on the increased frequency of altercations incited by Syracuse locals at student parties. As for how he and his Harrington housemates helped curtail this risk, Stelley says “We never had any issues with that. The people we had working our door are people we trust to know what to look for. Obviously there are locals so you have to deal with it.” Will Harrington, the venue’s namesake, went on to say that “we’re pretty type A about how we ran things. We’re always aware of what’s going on.” Redgate, SU’s most popular house show venue, echoes the Harrington when it comes to precautions they take to make sure shows run smoothly. Dylan Fox, a senior who runs Redgate, believes that presenting shows on an almost weekly basis has allowed the venue to work out any kinks in safety. “Obviously there are a lot of logistics that go into it. It’s very much a system, we know exactly what we’ve got to do. We’ve gotten our efficiency down to a tee. We care for our guests above all else. We’re going to continue to do our best and hope that nothing happens.” The Garden, a D.I.Y venue that ran from the fall of 2021 to the spring of 2023, combatted similar safety concerns by blocking underage followers and vetting those they sent their address to via Instagram to make sure they had ties to the school. Jen Jordan, a 2023 graduate from Syracuse’s Setnor School of Music, believes that “the fact that it’s unregulated is what makes it so special,” sharing that that’s “the whole point” of D.I.Y venues.

Jordan went on to say that the team running The Garden ensured that there were at least two people working the door at all times, and were intentional in finding mainly women and non-binary bouncers to foster a safe and unintimidating atmosphere. As the house show scene at Syracuse looks to the future, The Recital, a smaller venue with an emphasis on showcasing acoustic music through a monthly curated experience, hopes to carve out a similarly safe space within the house show community. María Nido, who co-runs The Recital with her longtime bandmate and roommate Corey Chun, believes that “it really isn’t an environment where violence could even start,” adding that “just the spirit of it being a woman-owned venue, it’s very calm and relaxed.” Nido went on to share how she believes there is space and demand for a variety of venues here in Syracuse, sharing that after their first show was over, many of those in attendance made the quick trek across the street to Mudpit, a venue who’s name alone suggests that it aligns itself closer with the unruly youthfulness often associated with the house show movement. “I think the venues can work in conversation with one another,” says Nido. Live music here at Syracuse has come a long way. With a seedy, rebellious, and at times triumphant history spanning over 50 years, the tradition doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. While it makes sense to have a healthy amount of anxiety about safety at these events, take comfort in the fact that venues and concertgoers seem to be on the same team. As Jordan says, the idea at the heart of house shows is “making sure we as a community watch out for each other,” because we can all agree that the scariest part of your Saturday night should be running into your ex at Mudpit.

REALITY TELEVISION'S GUILTY HISTORY Replaying the Genre’s Legacy of Highs and Lows Words by Nicole Cheah Art by Anna Chang When we think of reality TV, an endless list of shows – full of dramatic whip pans and tearful confessionals – come to mind: Survivor. Big Brother. Dance Moms. 90 Day Fiance. The Bachelor. RuPaul’s Drag Race. And many, many more. The genre is incredibly extensive, covering topics from dating and makeovers to outdoor survival and hidden camera-style experiments. Besides its seismic impact on popular culture, reality TV was the driving force behind the fame of many of our generation’s biggest names across a plethora of industries. Think the KardshianJenner clan, featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which ran from 2007-2021. Or Harry Styles, who first rose to stardom on The X Factor in 2010 alongside his One Direction bandmates. Kelly Clarkson won the first season of ABC’s televised talent contest American Idol in 2002, and there’s also fashion designer Christian Siriano, Project Runway’s season four winner. Reality TV has defined who in society we put on a pedestal. The definition of reality TV is always evolving and expanding, but the genre is generally defined as programming that aims to show how ordinary people behave in everyday life, or in situations (often set up by the showrunners) intended to mimic everyday life. Although the roots of reality TV can be traced as far back as the late 1800s, with the sensationalist, dramatized genre of yellow journalism, the story of reality TV more officially began back in the 1940s. The premiere of The Original Amateur Hour, a reality competition show where guests would come in to showcase their talents, set the stage for shows like American Idol and The Voice. That same year, Candid Camera, a show which captured the real reactions of people to pranks and funny situations, made its debut. These broadcasts eventually paved the way for realitystyle shows like An American Family (1970s) and The Real World (1992).

Reality shows became a staple on network and cable channels beginning in the late 1990s, offering an alternative, more lucrative strategy to other productions. Because they employed a cast of ‘‘real people’’ instead of actors, they tended to cost less for producers. Showrunners also hired fewer writers as reality TV was easier to put together plot-wise, with many following set formulas – compare this to a sitcom or drama with a well-known cast and complex plot-lines. Sets, especially for gameshow style programs, were also significantly more cost-effective. According to CBS writer Ryan Nakashima, “Producing one [set] on a broadcast network can cost about $950,000 per episode, versus $1.7 million for a scripted drama.” Much of what we define as reality TV today comes from a slew of new concepts and shows from the early 2000s, also known as the reality TV boom. At the turn of the millennium, many showrunners were figuring out just what could or could not be put on TV; would viewers want to tune in to see a group of contestants marooned on an island without food and shelter, completing challenges, and forging alliances, all for a million dollar cash prize? The answer turned out to be a resounding yes. The showrunners of Survivor, which aired in 2007, struck gold with the audience. The show went on to run for a whopping 44 seasons and, as we know, that number is still rising. Like other shows from the 2000s, Survivor defined modern reality TV as we know it. The genre is well known for its sensationalistic, addictive nature. “Once you start watching, you really can’t stop until you finish the whole season, because every episode ends on a cliffhanger,” said student Samantha Chavez. The freshman Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism major enjoys Single’s Inferno, a South Korean dating show set on a deserted island. She described procrastinating getting

JERK 53-66

guests”, are monitored 24/7 by live TV cameras and personal microphones – was a huge catalyst for surveillance-style reality TV, and was named after a character of the same name in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. In the novel, Big Brother is ostensibly the leader of Oceania, a totalitarian surveillance state, and the story cautions readers against the dangers of privacy invasion. Reality TV has also been critiqued for fueling our obsession with shallow, superficial people who can play it up for the audience – these personality traits are often evident in participants chosen by producers for reality TV shows, a deliberate way to ensure maximum drama and entertainment for viewers. For the sake of a more captivating plot, people who even exhibit toxic traits are given a huge platform through their appearance on reality TV shows. Finally, some contestants endure psychological and physical suffering during and sometimes after the show ends: uneasiness, discontentment, anxiety have been reported in the past. An article by Frank Feldinger & Tina McGilton for The Wrap describes how Katie Gold, a contestant on Survivor’s Australian edition who made it to the final four, received a continuous stream of hateful letters throughout the program. When the show was done, Gold continued recieving hate mail and suffered from clinical depression. She had to undergo years of psychotherapy to deal with, as she described, “serious trust and abandonment issues.” Mental-health workers have discovered that often people who compete on shows like Survivor and Big Brother — even those who win — suffer severe and often long-lasting psychological trauma as a result.

NOISE

homework done when episodes of the show dropped because she felt like she had to watch the new episode immediately. It goes without saying that reality TV is considered by many to be a guilty pleasure, something to indulge in that has little meaning and value, slapped by media critics and the older generation alike with the ‘‘low brow culture’’ label. We all know it – reality TV is synonymous with trashiness and superficiality. But these shows are, and will probably remain, widely popular: this is in part because we often see ourselves reflected in the people on screen. Regardless of the shows’ premises, we all love to root for the everyday person. On the flip-side, if the casts’ relatability isn’t the main draw, oftentimes the absolute absurdity or craziness of certain personalities keep us hooked. First-year Public Relations student Lexi Mathai recalled an incident on season seven of her favorite series, Dance Moms, when two moms, Yolanda and Stacey, ended up in a physical brawl over their daughters, with one mom attempting to strangle the other. "I don't actually want to be involved in the drama, because things get too messy, but it (the show) gives me an outlet to experience the drama. I get to be a part of the messy friend group, without the consequences," she said. As entertaining as reality TV is for us – and as lucrative as it is for studios – the genre undoubtedly has its problematic areas. Reality TV as a whole is heavily dependent on surveillance and regularly involves invading participants’ privacy. The ethics of commodifying people's lives and emotions -- such as immense stress or humiliation -- for extended periods of time is frequently called into question. Some say the genre is very TrumanShow-esque; referencing the 1998 film where a man’s life since birth has taken place on a huge set populated by actors, and unbeknownst to him, his entire life has been broadcast worldwide. Big Brother – a hugely popular show in which contestants, known as "house

59 59

MAKE UP, MAKE OVER Makeover television shows sustain tired beauty standards and fatphobia. Words by Emane Haque Art by Mara DuBay The first time many of us were introduced to the idea of transformation was in the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, “The Ugly Duckling”. For those unfamiliar or who have forgotten, allow us to refresh your memory on this nursery school story. TL;DR: a flock hatchling of ducklings ostracized a differentlooking “duck” for its size and feather color; the bullying gave him self-esteem issues; he ran away in favor of self-exile; he unknowingly glowed up and saw his reflection in passing to realize in actuality he was not a duck but a hot swan, and, once transformed, finally got the respect of the entire avian community. Today, we don’t need to turn to fables to learn about themes of transformation; we can just turn on the TV. Hit shows on IMDb’s reality television makeover catalog include Extreme Makeover, 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, and The Biggest Loser. From IMDb’s synopsis, Extreme Makeover follows people who are “chosen to receive the makeover of a lifetime which includes: plastic surgery, Lasik surgery, cosmetic dentistry, hair, makeup, and fitness” over the course of an episode. 10 Years Younger in 10 Days uses “the help of leading experts to use clever tricks and cutting-edge treatments to turn back the clock,” while The Biggest Loser revolves around “contestants transforming mentally and physically as they compete to lose weight and win a cash prize.” These are only a few programs out of many with a persistent impact on the current state of reality television. To this day, certain networks like TLC are filled with series surrounding similar premises of taking ordinary people and forcing them into the mold of our society’s beauty conventions. Telling of our misplaced values, America is fascinated with these sorts of before-and-after programs. These shows rake in large audiences, with The Biggest Loser drawing in 10 million viewers at its peak in 2009, according to Statista. Watching people move up the ranks of accepted beauty criteria as a form of entertainment stems from the hope that we, too, will achieve impossible standards– an unreachable yet constantly pursued dream. Under the guise of

self-improvement, transformation and makeover shows reinforce the harmful societal beauty paradigms in place for its contestants and audiences alike. Results from the 2007 study Exposure to Television Makeover Programs and Perceptions of Self suggested that “more frequent exposure to makeover shows, in which physical perfection and improvement are emphasized, should be related to viewers’ holding beliefs consistent with these messages… and [these frequent watchers] believe more strongly that physical perfection is valued” which correlates to lower self-esteem and an increase in body dissatisfaction. While The Biggest Loser ended its run in 2020, weight loss shows like My 600 Pound Life continue in their legacy of fatphobia and bodyshaming. The promotion of unhealthy measures to aid weight loss and the lack of measures taken to encourage sustainable ways of healthy living demonstrates a blatant lack of care for the well-being of the people these networks are making money off of. These programs exploit people’s bodies and health struggles to create on-air “freak” shows. While people may be able to recognize these shows as unethical, arguments linger that the weight of these people is unhealthy regardless of whether they are televised or not and that these people should change for the sake of their health. These shows are reflective of our culture’s reductionist medical and health industries and do not operate from a “Health at Every Size” approach, which provides “a framework of care for both providers and individuals to approach health without a focus on weight or weight loss” according to the Association for Size Diversity and Health. The why and the how that motivates weight loss efforts need to be truthfully examined. Rarely is a decision to lose weight made in a vacuum free of societal pressures. Other than weight loss, decisions to alter one's appearance through plastic surgeries and injectables are also to some degree motivated to appeal to what is or isn’t desirable to others. Extreme Makeover, which capitalized on people’s insecurities created

JERK 53-66

type and eye color, able-bodiedness, or gender conformity, you are worthy of respect. While some people often do treat you better when you fit the standards of beauty, that fault is with them, not yours. To mitigate such prejudice, it must be called out and refuted. When it comes to damaging and predatory makeover shows, turn off the TV and remember beauty is not the determining factor of your self-worth. The “before” versions of us are portrayed as the antithesis of beauty when in truth, value exists in every stage and form we take.

NOISE

further stigma around features deemed as unconventional. Appealing to ageist sentiment, 10 Years Younger in 10 Days blatantly suggests that signs of a storied life are to be feared. Makeover shows that center on fixing what is natural are deplorable show business practices. Hopefully, as the cultural conversation around body image shifts towards condemning such depictions, the backlash will prevent shows that uphold beauty tropes from regaining popularity and cancel the remaining few. Luckily, a few makeover television shows center on holistic transformations. TLC’s What Not to Wear, which ran for 10 seasons, solely empowered its guests through style and grooming suggestions. Currently streaming, Netflix’s Queer Eye facilitates the transformation of mindsets, hair and skin care, wardrobe, cooking, and home. The moral of “The Ugly Duckling” is not that we should change physically in order to gain respect, nor that we should only grant respect once someone’s appearance changes in ways we deem worthy; the lesson is that self-acceptance is the strongest mode of personal transformation. Unfortunately, our systemic failings enable us to perpetuate lookism. Regardless of skin color or tone, body shape, height or weight, hair

6161

THE NOT SO SWAGGY (LEE) TRUTH BEHIND DANCE MOMS And at the bottom of the pyramid we have...the exploitation of young children. Words by Nadia Weller Art by Adam DJ

“I don’t want to go on Broadway. I just want to stay at home and eat chips.” This classic one-liner from seven-year-old Mackenzie Ziegler on Lifetime’s cherished reality TV show, Dance Moms, was just one of many quotes that made the nation fall in love with the show, along with the talented girls and the catty drama that ensued for over eight seasons. Each episode began with leader, owner, teacher, and choreographer (what couldn’t she do?!), Abby Lee Miller, using a pyramid of headshots to rank the dancers based on their performances from the week prior. The pyramid left audience members eager to see which mom would bitch out Abby for putting her kid at the bottom. Regardless of how entertaining (traumatizing) that sounds, we must recognize that pinning young girls against each other for content is emotionally abusive. Although it was Abby’s specialty to behave as an ill-mannered, obnoxious, and often despicable person, we can’t deny she created a system of abuse in which the mothers played along by using their children as pawns. Not only was there pressure put on the young dancers to win competitions from

Abby and their mothers, but they were also facing pressure from the entire country to live up to their stardom. In addition to being subjected to criticism from hundreds of thousands of viewers and fans, the girls were constantly getting their self-esteem torn down by Abby, as she mocked their technical abilities and physical appearances. It was normalized for at least one of the dancers to break into hysterics each episode with cameras capturing every last tear. One of the biggest controversies of Dance Moms was when Abby told then 13-year-old Chloe Lukasiak to “get her eye fixed.” While this unforgivable quote was edited out of the show and voiced over with one of Abby’s typical insults, Chloe and her mother, Christi, spoke out about the situation that made them leave the show, claiming that Abby poked fun at her medically diagnosed silent sinus syndrome. Not only did one of Chloe’s supposed role models taunt one of her greatest insecurities, but the whole thing became a spectacle as it aired on television. “As a Dance Moms follower since childhood, watching the show now, though still entertaining, I definitely see undertones of abuse for what was evidently a very toxic workplace for both the moms and the girls,” says Cara Steves, a junior at SU. “Since many of the girls have spoken out, watching them crying on TV is more than just silly drama— it is a reminder that they were children when the show was filmed.” While we at Jerk can’t deny that we’ve giggled and gabbed about Holly Frazier telling the chair to do a solo or Jill Vertes defending her “little” Kendall, we realize that at the end of the day, Dance Moms was nothing more than a bunch of mothers living vicariously through their daughter’s fame to make a buck.

62 62

NOISE JERK 53-66

63 63

A THOUSAND TIMES, YES A deep dive into the reality show that changed wedding TV Words by Chloe Langerman Art by Ande Wittenmeier Kleinfeld Bridal: the famed New York City wedding dress salon looks like something like a fluffy tulle heaven. Its bright, white wedding dresses, eccentric bridal consultants, and rather outrageous price points (one dress in the seventh season sold for $70,000) have combined to create the dress-shopping show your mom is probably still obsessed with. Say Yes to

the Dress, which first aired on TLC in 2007, still follows its strict format during its 22nd season. A bride comes in with an entourage of friends and family: a mother or mother-in-law wants to dictate what the bride buys, and she’s swept away by a consultant to try on dresses. The bride shows her entourage some gowns, bickering ensues, and finally, she tries on the perfect dress. Adorned with a veil and tears, of course. Then, the consultant (Randy Fenoli, I’m looking at you) asks those seven essential words: “Are you saying yes to the dress?” For a show with a simple premise and an all-but-foretold ending every episode, why do audiences keep coming back over 15 years later? In short, Say Yes to the Dress is endearing. It’s entertaining, as a TLC show should be. But unlike other wedding reality programs like Four Weddings and 90 Day Fiancé, SYTTD isn’t about guffawing at others' wedding choices (hey Big Ed), but empowering brides of all looks and backgrounds to find a gown that brings them joy. Undoubtedly, SYTTD appeals to its audience

JERK 53-66

brides with a lower budget struggled a lot more… I think that [SYTTD] showed the stressful parts of wedding planning,” said SU junior Sarah Beck, who watched the show growing up. Today, the wedding industry is worth over $70 billion and increasing, despite declining marriage rates, according to Zippia. And, according to Upstate NY wedding planner Ashley Paul, an average wedding these days can cost upwards of $75,000. While the show majorly promotes overconsumption, this doesn’t mean the women of SYTTD who want a “fairytale wedding” or an expensive dress should be discredited. The process of searching for a dress that makes a bride feel confident is an inherently empowering experience and wanting to get married isn’t something to be looked down upon. “A ‘perfect’ wedding could very well be achieved every time – after all, typically each couple gets married,” Paul says. At the end of the day, if the girlies are happy, we should be happy for them. It’s what Randy would want.

NOISE

past just wholesome notions of wanting to see each bride get their happily ever after. Drama has certainly catalyzed the show’s success, and an important aspect of each episode includes one (or many) entourage members who think that their opinion should dictate their loved one’s wedding decisions, or a bride with extremely high expectations. We are also drawn to people we see in reality programs who may remind us of people we know in our own lives, like friends or family members. As Laura Grindstaff, sociology professor at University of California, Davis says in an academic journal, “Self-service television affords the opportunity for acquiring celebrity cafeteriastyle: it enables ordinary people to walk in and serve themselves to celebrity status without the bother of extensive training.” Previously established character archetypes (like the bridezilla or the nasty mother-in-law) mean viewers already have a broad sense of how people on the show will act, making the experience predictably drama-laden. Such character stereotypes and their gendered roles puts many of the women on the show into a negative light. Despite such stereotypes, SYTTD has also taken strides in diversity in the context of reality TV, which has long underrepresented people who aren’t white, straight, and able-bodied (only in 2020 did CBS create a proposal for 50% of reality TV casts to represent people of color). The show has strayed far outside of the conventional American wedding norm, including queer couples, transgender brides, and disabled brides throughout the series. While the show enforces a historically exclusive tradition of marriage, it has demystified the concept of what a bride should and can be. Despite the show’s sentiment, SYTTD isn’t free of flaws. The show enforces the weddingindustrial complex, which has influenced scores of couples to plan the biggest, most outrageous weddings possible. “I definitely noticed that the

AMPLIFIED:

AMPLIFIED: LUNA & THE CARPETS Words by Dehlia Bies Photos by Maya Lockwood

From singing on the carpet of their dorm room floor to playing at some of Syracuse University’s most well-known venues, Anjali Engstrom and Grace Ferguson have taken the student music scene by storm—and we are 100% here for it. Self-described as a “folk rock girl band duo”, Luna and the Carpets bring an entirely new sound to the indie-pop-dominated house show lineups. Engstrom and Ferguson, who are both currently sophomores in the Bandier and Music Industry programs, began writing their own songs long before coming to Syracuse, but by some twist of fate, they found a new voice together freshman year when they became roommates. “I was never able to write something I was proud of until I started writing with Grace,” says Engstrom, in announcing their debut album I Wish Venus Had A Moon, which was released on October 13th. The album has eight tracks, characterized by beautiful vocal harmonies and vibrant acoustic guitar that are reminiscent of classic folk music and also take inspiration from eclectic rock styles. The Carpets were born with their lead single “Door County Sunsets,” which according to Ferguson,

“started as a couple of guitar riffs on our dorm carpet” and led to the lyrically brilliant album we all know and love. However, the most magical thing about them isn’t their entrancing guitar riffs or their expert-level lyrics (though they are pretty damn bewitching)—it’s their bond with each other that makes them so remarkable. Their dynamic both on-and-offstage (and in their Carpet Series videos on their Instagram) is one of true friendship, not only in their shared laughter but in their support for one another. You can feel their sisterhood throughout their discography in their authenticity and how they, at 18, capture the modern day feminine experience. The title of I Wish Venus Had A Moon was inspired by the idea that Venus stands all alone out there in space with no moon by its side–a feeling that, in each other’s company, Grace and Anjali will never have to know.

She’s Still Fighting The Patriarchy, He’s Just Ken Words by Madalan Jones Art by Mara DuBay

Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator, noticed a difference in toys between her daughter, Barbara (Barbie!!), and her son, Ken (Ken). Barbara had baby-dolls, while Ken was living it up with action figures. Handler was fed up with the inequality between her two children, and decided to fix the problem herself. With Barbie being an empowering toy for girls everywhere, it’s hard to imagine her getting into scandals, but, as the 2000s rolled around, she found herself in hot water. Dr. Marika Tiggmann, a researcher specializing in body image, suggests societal beauty ideals/norms are withheld through socio-cultural transmissions, such as toys. Barbie faced backlash when word spread that she was encouraging negative beauty standards. Her impossible measurements were expected to be altering young girls' perception of themselves, not to mention the upheaval among preteens and young adults alike. Barbie was too Barbie. Anti-femininity feminism spiked in the 2010s, “ I felt like I would be taken more seriously by men if I wasn’t like other girls,” said Syracuse University freshman Lauren Lukacs, when talking about her universal middle school phase. Barbie was everything that girls were expected to be: full face of makeup,

skinny, good with kids… It was terrible, diabolical, surely a stunt pulled by Mattel Co. to force all women to submit to the patriarchy. Feminism is simply the fight for equality, no matter the lifestyle. Some girls want to pull on cleats and hit the field, like Pro-Soccer Barbie, and others want to rock gingham aprons and bake scrumptious cookies, like Baker Barbie. Some want both. It doesn’t matter. Barbie shows people a girl has options. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie saw the reputation of this classic name, and decided to bite the patriarchal allegations in the ass. Robbie knew she wanted the film to be for everyone, stating her decision to join production may have been different if multiple Barbies weren’t included. Barbie was for everyone. Hence why the film included Barbies with a variety of body types, races, and abilities. “I guess the only thing that changed as I got older was a guilt of losing interest in the story I created,” freshman Mia Wagner says. Honing in on a universally shared feeling. Many expect that, like their childhood, Barbie’s days are over but given the Barbie movie’s success, it’s safe to say that her story isn’t done yet, which is a good thing. After all, she’s like the other girls–and that’s why we love her.

JERK 53-66

LIFE IS PLASTIC– IT’S FANTASTIC!

NOISE

REWIND:

I love Jerk. Am I saying you copied me by picking up Jerk...? You stole my favorite fucking magazine.

jerkmagazine.net @jerkmagazine