Fall 2020

Meet the Staff Jack Chamberlain is a contributing reporter majoring in mechanical engineering and graduates in 2022

Allison Brown

Hannah Richey

Emma Owen

is Kaleidoscope’s opinions editor and a junior philosophy major

is Kaleidoscope’s coeditor-inchief and a junior communications major

is Kaleidoscope’s coeditor-in-chief and a senior journalism major

John Kuykendall

Holley House

is a contributing reporter and a sophomore majoring in neuroscience

is a contributing reporter and a junior majoring in creative writing

Jada Nguyen

Samuel Harris

is an illustrator and a sophore majoring in graphic design

is a contributing reporter and a junior majoring in English

Caleb Wood

Tayyaba Khan is a photographer and a senior majoring in international health and human rights

is a contributing reporter and a junior majoring in creative writing

Sindhu Dwarampudi is a contributing reporter and a Anjali Thottassery sophomore majoring is a contributing in neuroscience reporter and a freshman majoring in political science

Holidays Holidays aren’t an excuse to skip social distancing.......Page 7 Handling flu season during a pandemic................................Page 8 Must-watch fall movies for every occasion.........................Page 9 5 Horror movies to watch this Halloween.............................Page 10

Politics Graduating during COVID-19.........................................................Page 12 Politically Empowered........................................................................Page 15 Managing mental health during COVID-19.........................Page 16 On the campaign with Casey.........................................................Page 19

City Lifestyle A guide to fall in the Magic City..................................................Page 21 Hot takes with Hannah......................................................................Page 24 Painting the way to progress........................................................Page 25 Fall scenery in Birmingham...........................................................Page 29

DIY Easy recipes for fall comfort food...........................................Page 33 Trends for fall fashion.......................................................................Page 35 Crochet creations with Starris....................................................Page 38 Blaze pumpkin carving template............................................Page 40

Contents

Staff Letter.........................................................................................Page 4

Table of

Kaleidoscope

A letter from Kaleidoscope staff

Hello Blazers, Thank you for joining us for Kaleidoscope’s Fall Magazine. Kaleidoscope looks a bit different this year, and we are grateful for the support you have shown us throughout this journey. As you know, we have transitioned from weekly newspapers to online content. With this change, we are also creating online magazines. Our hope is to continue to provide students with content by utilizing digital platforms.

Our team here at Kaleidoscope is excited to present our first digital magazine of the semester. This magazine features the beauty of fall in Birmingham. Fall fashion trends, political opinions and upcoming events are just a few of the pieces that are covered throughout these pages.

While fall is a beautiful time in the city, it’s important to remember to stay safe and healthy throughout this time.

Here at Kaleidoscope, we encourage others to remain diligent by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

As a university, we have worked hard to stay safe and we must continue these practices. Battling a pandemic is a group effort and we must hold ourselves accountable in order to see brighter days.

We hope you enjoy reading the pieces created by our staff members. In addition to our digital magazine, you can view our weekly content by heading to our website, uabblazermedia.com.

If you are interested in joining our team, Kaleidoscope would love to have you. We are currently hiring writers, photographers and illustrators. We have excellent members here at student media and your talents would be an asset to this organization. You can apply for Kaleidoscope at https://bit.ly/ApplyforKscope.

Thank you again for taking the time to read our magazine. We are excited to have you here with us. As you read our fall edition, we hope you can reflect about why fall is special to you. Is it the crunch of the leaves as you walk through The Green? Could it be the chill in the air as you walk home from class? Whatever it is, we hope this fall is one that brings you joy.

Sincerely, Kaleidoscope staff

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Holidays | Opinion

Holidays aren’t an excuse to skip social distancing With holiday season rapidly approaching students have to take the initiative in their own hands to keep their peers and family safe.

Consider the people you’d be sharing food with and being close to while you eat. If you have elderly family members or otherwise at-risk family it would probably be best to stay home as well as have low contact with your other family in your household that will be going to Thanksgiving.

All things considered UAB’s COVID-19 numbers have been low, especially for a student body of this size. This might prompt students to think they can loosen up their own behavior by attending social events, particularly for Halloween.

Ways to have a safe holiday include maintaining a 6-feet distance between you and your family.

If it’s warm enough it would also be a good idea to eat outside. As always, wear your mask to protect others and encourage your family to wear theirs as well.

Unfortunately, that isn’t how things work. Low numbers mean keep doing what you’re doing— not stop. If we stop we will continue to be stuck in the rise and fall cycle we’ve been seeing across the country.

These things can’t always be done perfectly because of various family situations. Maybe your family host holiday dinners or you have a relative who refuses to wear a mask.

UAB reiterated that large and small off campus gatherings are contributing to the rise in cases.

It’s important that we as students at UAB and members of the Birmingham community continue to social-distance and avoid gatherings that could spread the virus.

The same applies to holidays in December such as Hanukkah and Christmas but those may be less daunting if you’re able to quarantine for the two weeks before.

This includes not having Halloween parties at apartments or bars. If the threat of illness or spreading illness doesn’t scare you, UAB has said there will be sanctions on students who violate their interim guidelines which includes suspension.

This obviously can’t be done by everybody. Many students have jobs and can’t quarantine after coming home.

All that can be done is your best.

Keep in mind your family’s health as well as your own.

Explaining how you ILLUSTRATION BY JI SUNG We also need to want to keep them make sure we keep our families safe when safe will probably be received better than we go home for the winter break. COVID-19 saying you don’t want to get sick. symptoms can take up to two weeks to show Holidays will look really different this year for a and you can still be contagious before that. lot of people, but you can still share them with For that reason, students need to think carefully about attending their holiday gatherings, particularly Thanksgiving since it’s less than a week from when we leave campus on Nov. 20.

the people you love, you just need to be a little more thoughtful than before.

Written by Hannah Richey

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Holidays

Must-watch movies for every fall occasion

Written by Caleb Wood

For Election Day: “Boys State” (2020) This recent documentary follows four teenagers during the 2019 Texas Boys State, a week-long program sponsored by the American Legion where high school juniors are tasked with running for office and creating their own government.

What follows is a fight between quiet bipartisanship and outspoken conservatism where dirty tricks abound. The state of our government becomes more understandable while watching the depressing ways in which our future leaders are created.

For Veteran’s Day: “Da 5 Bloods” (2020) Spike Lee’s sprawling epic about four Vietnam veterans returning to the country to retrieve the body of their fallen fifth friend is not a typical war movie. It is an insightful examination of how the United States forces men to fight for freedom while simultaneously denying them that very freedom at home.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

For fall vibes: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book about a clever fox’s heist to rob three farmers comes to life in twee stop-motion. Director Wes Anderson brings just enough of his off-kilter charm to make this child’s tale something all ages can enjoy. And the vibrant colors and various foods give this perfect autumn vibes.

For Thanksgiving: “The Ice Storm” (1997) The Ice Storm focuses little on the food and family aspect of Thanksgiving. Instead it looks at two families coming of age and coming apart during the holiday weekend in the shadow of the Nixon administration. It is a bleak view of the holidays, but many these holidays can be quite bleak.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY PIC-

For sweater weather: “The Holiday” (2006) This is a classic romantic comedy about two women whose struggles and frustration with men led them to completely swap homes with one another for the holiday season. Packed with stars like Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black, you know it’s going to be good.

It’s a little bit of a fall movie, a little bit of a Christmas movie and a whole lot of fun. This movie will make you want to grab some hot coco and your fuzziest socks to curl up on the couch with your friends or partner.

Holidays

Five horror movies to watch this Halloween

Written by Sam Harris

1. “Hereditary” (2018) We are starting with perhaps one of the greatest horror movies in recent cinema.

Hereditary marked the directional debut of Ari Aster—and boy did he come out swinging. This movie is not for the faint of heart - it is genuinely terrifying.

The main characters are grieving the loss of a family member, when their grief turns to involving the supernatural. Involving demons and occultism, there is nothing that the seasoned, and even new, horror film watcher will not enjoy.

2. “The Witch: A New England Folktale” (2015) If your horror movie style involves folklore and legends, this is for you.

Taking place PHOTO COURTESY OF A24 around a Puritan colony in New England, the story follows a banished family who makes home in a secluded forest. Everything seems 3. ”The Ritual” (2017) fine until their recently born son, This one is for our Norse mythology lovers out Samuel, is abducted by a nearby there. witch, marking just the beginning of If The Ritual does anything, it delivers an their woes. enjoyable story with amazing visuals, and combine that with amazing sound design, 4. “They Look Like People” (2015) you get a great horror experience.

Where we see the true horrors of the human mind.

The plot is centered around a group of friends Two friends, Wyatt and who are planning a group Christian,reconnect in New York. trip together. However, After spending time together, Wyatt when an altercation leads gets a random phone call in the to one of them dying, middle of the night, warning him of the group decides to a demonic invasion. Thinking that it hike the Kungsleden in is a sign of psychosis, Wyatt goes northern Sweden in his to see a psychiatrist, but it turns out honor. Everything is going that he might not actually be going great—until they decide to crazy. take a shortcut.

PHOTO COURTESY OF A24

5. “Cube” (1998) Cube is different from its horror contemporaries as it does not contain any supernatural or cosmic elements. It’s a bit of a quirky psycho-thriller.

The film opens with a shot of a man named Alderson who is killed in a weird cube-shaped room by what appears to be a boobie-trap, and then immediately cuts to five other strangers who must try and escape the Cube. But, can they really rely on one another?

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Political

Handling flu season during a pandemic As flu season quickly approaches, Dr. Erin DeLaney, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UAB, said there are precautions that can be made to avoid the spread of influenza.

“The best way to be prepared is to get your flu vaccination, as well as a lot of the preventative measures that we’re already doing with COVID too,” DeLaney said.

DeLaney said mask wearing, hand washing and keeping a distance from others could possibly help us see a lighter flu season.

“I would just say right now we just are really encouraging everyone to go ahead and get vaccinated,” DeLaney said. “Some people are asking, ‘Is it too early to be vaccinated’ and I do not think it is too early to vaccinate right now. The CDC does endorse that September and October are the times to get vaccinated. The CDC has also recommended that people try to have those vaccinations done by the end of October, however, any time during the flu season is appropriate.”

DeLaney said it takes around two weeks to develop antibodies after receiving a flu vaccine.

DeLaney said one difference between COVID-19 and influenza is a loss of taste or smell that is associated with COVID. “I think it is going to be really difficult for us to know the difference between those two and we will most likely have to rely on testing,” DeLaney said. “Then just voluntary quarantining if you’re not able to get tested. Probably the safest thing to do would be to assume that it’s Coronavirus and quarantine for those 14 days.”

DeLaney said the CDC has listed specific precautions families should take when considering letting their children trick-or-treat. In addition to trick-or-treating, DeLaney said she advises individuals to avoid traveling for fall activities, as different areas could pose a higher threat to the spread of flu or Coronavirus.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UAB

Written by Emma Owen

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POLITICS POLITICS

Words from the wise

“I really enjoy working from home,” said Dan Pointer, who graduated in December of 2019, before COVID-19 hit the states. “As far as challenges, sometimes I miss the comradery in the office day-to-day.”

Photo courtesy of Pointer

“This is gold, my face reads ‘are you f***ing kidding me,’” said Madi Schlauder, who graduated in the spring of 2020.

Photo courtesy of Schlauder.

about graduating during COVID-19

“I didn’t get to take the traditional cap and gown pictures,” said Logan McLendon, who graduated in the spring of 2020. “I didn’t get to do a lot of that traditional graduation stuff.”

Photo courtesy of McLendon.

Written by Allison Brown

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Politics Graduating college can be scary enough, and some have had to do it in one of the most unprecedented times in history, without even getting the closure of a proper graduation.

“It seemed pointless, so I didn’t attend it,” Schlauder said. “I think it would have just upset me more to attend my ceremony virtually. I am a first-gen college student so walking across that stage with all of my family in the audience cheering on the first college graduate in the family was something I was really looking forward to.”

“It is no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on our daily lives, including our nature and culture of work, the workplace, and the job search process,” said Dino Martinez, Assistant Director for the UAB Career Center. “We have heard many local and national stories of college students and recent graduates having recent job offers and internships rescinded or canceled amid the pandemic’s peak this summer.

For McLendon, he didn’t feel bitter. In fact, he didn’t really feel anything at all.

Madi Schlauder graduated in May 2020 and said COVID-19 left her feeling hopeless.

“It has been really hard,” Schlauder said. “I started my job search in February of this year in hopes that I could have a job that I wanted, locked down by graduation. Then in March, when COVID-19 first hit, any job I was being considered for or in the process of interviewing and applying for fell through because no one knew what was going to happen with COVID-19.”

March 18, UAB announced that students would not return to campus after spring break, and the remainder of the semester would be finished online.

For some students, this was great news, it meant they could continue with their spring break and the rest of their semester would be a breeze. For some, it was a complete shock, a signal that things were more serious than they had thought. And for others, like Logan McLendon, who graduated in August of 2020, they saw it coming and prepared themselves for the worst.

“I had a chance to brace myself with my close group of friends and we were more or less preparing ourselves emotionally, even if we hadn’t fully prepared logistically for it,” McLendon said. “It was stressful, but it was more like, ‘okay, at least now we know what direction to go and where to take ourselves.’”

A graduation ceremony was held virtually for at least 2,700 students May 1st and 2nd. Twentyseven thousand students had their picture pop up briefly on a screen as a celebration for thousands of dollars spent and years of hard work.

Schlauder said as a first-generation college student, graduating was a “huge deal,” but not getting to properly celebrate left her feeling disappointed and bitter.

“It felt like I didn’t quite have that moment when I finally [graduated],” McLendon said. “It felt a little emptier than I would have liked. The moment itself of graduation, it didn’t feel as impactful and meaningful to me. It didn’t feel like there was closure.”

More than missing out on the graduation ceremony, Schlauder said she felt like she didn’t get to have her “lasts.”

“I missed all of the “lasts” at UAB that [my friends and I] weren’t going to get together.” Schlauder said.

“Our last trip to Sterne to study for finals, our last after-class hangouts, our last class together, our last baseball game together, last el-sol or zydeco night.

Of course, we did have those last nights together at some point prior, but at the time we had no idea they were the last ones we would have before graduating.”

Post-graduation, COVID-19 didn’t go away, and things didn’t get any easier. Some graduates were lucky enough to already have jobs lined up, but even those didn’t go as planned.

Dan Pointer graduated in December 2019, right before COVID-19 made national news. Pointer said he was offered a full-time position at the beginning of 2020 with the company he had been interning with before graduating. His company transitioned to fully remote in March, and Pointer said he has had to juggle some lifestyle changes that accompany working from home.

“For me, I had to revitalize my desk, logistically,” Pointer said. “I had to improve my setup at the house, so I had to bring equipment home from work. I found, for the most part, I really enjoy working from home. I can get a lot of chores done around the house like laundry, walking the dog, that kind of thing. As far as challenges, sometimes I miss the comradery in the office day-to-day.”

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Politics For McLendon, he said he is thankful to have had a job lined up before graduation, because many of his peers weren’t as lucky.

Schlauder was one of those unlucky graduates. Her plan was to take a gap year and work at a low-level position in her field to make money before going to law school. When COVID-19 happened, though, no one wanted to hire.

“I just wanted to stress and complain, but in June, I found a job in a low-level hospitality field that – even though I am not interested in it – could at least hold me over until things look more normal with hiring in the field I am interested in,” Schlauder said. “So, I began an unpaid internship search because I knew people would at least be open to taking on unpaid people, and then I began a job search for something I may not love but that could temporarily pay the bills.”

While it seems that COVID-19 isn’t going away any time soon, Martinez said that employers are looking to get back to work and that means more jobs are going to become available.

“It is a matter of remaining focused, gaining experience, networking, and preparing for the job search process,” Martinez said. “Still, some students and alumni may need to develop and exercise a Plan B and understand how they can gain or market transferable skills in a related or different job or career.”

Pointer said if you are about to graduate, he would advise you to leverage your personal network, and be sure to have conversations with people who are already in the industry about COVID-related changes to expect.

Martinez said due to COVID-19, it is now more essential than ever to have a strong, professional digital presence.

“The UAB Career Center strongly recommends all students and alumni, regardless of class standing or year’s post-graduation, to build or strengthen your digital presence,” Martinez said. “Having a strong LinkedIn profile is just as imperative to your career search as having a phone number or email address is to keep up to date in today’s digital world. The UAB Career Center can help you build your professional profile on LinkedIn and Handshake and other professional digital platforms, such as Portfolium.”

Besides focusing on how to succeed after graduation, Schlauder said no matter how hectic things are, don’t forget to take in the moment.

“You will miss your professor who goes off on tangents during their lecture, you will miss the organization involvement you have at the university, you will miss even just driving through campus,” Schlauder said.

“You will miss your connection to UAB. So, make the most of every opportunity you have as you wrap up your time at UAB: go get a bowl of soup in Hill one last time, go for a walk around campus, show up to all of your virtual lectures and allow yourself to enjoy them, cherish every final meeting with your organizations, and try not to stress too much.”

This is an unprecedented time, so don’t forget that UAB has dozens of services to help you navigate it, from the Career Center to the Blazer Kitchen or to Student Counseling Services.

Click below to visit the UAB Career Center’s website

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Politically empowered Written by Emma Owen Miss UAB encourages students to vote As polls begin to open across the state, one Miss Alabama candidate is encouraging her fellow students and community members to vote.

In the Miss Alabama Organization, each candidate is required to select an area of community service that is important to them, this is called a Social Impact Initiative. Tiffany Millan, Miss UAB, said she aims to increase voter participation among the community through her Social Impact Initiative.

“My platform is called The Importance of voting,” Millan said. “I get people registered to vote, but it’s also about instilling confidence in my peers so that they’re able to talk about what they believe in.”

Millan said she aims to reduce the negative stigma that surrounds the discussion of politics.

“Nowadays, there’s so much negativity around politics and people are afraid to have different opinions or they don’t like talking about politics because they’re afraid it’s going to start an argument,” Millan said. “It makes me really sad to think that we can’t have conversations that we need to have without getting upset with one another.”

Through Millan’s Social Impact Initiative, she also provides resources to students and members of the community.

“We do get people registered to vote, but we also do educational events.” Millan said. “We do events where people can see who they’re voting for. We have offered tests and different links so people can see what side they fall onto or see what the presidential candidates’ platforms are and how they compare.”

Millan said she encourages students to let their voices be heard, because each vote makes a difference.

“Your opinion matters more than you think,” Millan said. “I know a lot of people don’t go out to vote, because they think ‘well, my vote isn’t going to matter, I’m only one person,’ but if everyone thinks that way, then we have a larger amount of people who won’t go out to the polls.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY MILLAN

Politics

Managing mental health during COVID-19

Written by Allison Brown

We sat down for a Q and A with UAB’s Director of Student Counseling, Dr. Angela Stowe, to get real about the struggle of mental health during COVID-19.

What is it about this time that is affecting our mental health?

What is a normal response to all of this stress?

“We certainly can’t put it down as to one or even two things. We’ve never been through a pandemic like this before. We are all living through unprecedented times. Lots of uncertainty, no kind of idea of when we might be through it. We’ll get through it. We know that, but we just don’t know when

“I think the normal response is that there is no normal response. So pretty much anything somebody might be doing, feeling, experiencing the ways that you might behave being would be an expected response to such an unexpected kind of time. People might be sleeping too much, not sleeping enough, eating too much, not eating enough, changes in the level of how you feel like interacting with people. Feeling emotions, super, super strong, or maybe feeling apathy and not feeling them. I think people might feel physical symptoms, heart might be racing.

You might notice that you’re fatigued more than usual.

So, we’re all having to do things differently. I definitely would imagine you know, isolation, it’s just so hard to connect or inability to kind of do the things that we’re used to do doing is weigh in on people. The chronic nature, kind of just the prolonged nature of the stress is definitely increasing over time.

I think people’s behaviors may Financial stress is a huge, huge be a sense of kind of agitation or piece of a lot of our students. I always on edge could happen as know. And not just students, just well. Fear anxiety, a lot of grief. It Photo of Dr. Angela Stowe, people are experiencing a lot of courtesy of Dr. Stowe would be a normal reaction because financial stress whether it’s changes there’s just so many losses of how we do things in jobs or just the economy, we know all of the and even major life events and a lot of loss events that have been happening over the past with COVID as well, maybe just true death that few months related to police brutality and race people have experienced. and racism that is definitely added stress to many, many people.

So, loss has happened in a lot of different ways loss of what your college experience The upcoming election is definitely a piece of it is supposed to be like right now. It’s totally as well. It’s a very emotionally charged time. different than how you had imagined it. I’m sure.

Those things, that folks may have had a year And that’s a loss as well. And so, a lot of grief ago that helped you cope and do things, but a big frustration, anger, exhaustion, all those now it’s a lot harder. It’s just a lot harder to do things I think are pretty normal and common anything, you know? So, a lot of things I think reactions. are going on that are affecting folks right now.

I also don’t want to forget if you’re feeling good, And it’s all under the big umbrella of COVID.” that’s a common reaction right now too.”

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Politics Some people are liking things right now because it’s not as busy and it’s not as hectic.

Some stressors have been removed. They’re getting to spend time with family that they like to spend time with. We also have folks that are spending time with family and that’s extremely stressful for folks.

and it’s getting in the way that you being able to do that, that’s definitely a time to pay attention as well.”

What are some simple coping strategies that can especially help in this time of uncertainty?

People are talking about how they’ve enjoyed learning new things or getting to be creative or just having some time to reflect that they aren’t used to having. So, truly all over the board is what people are going through and all of those things can be one person could be going through that too.

“Well, there’s a few that I have been just real strong about encouraging people to consider.

The biggest one is that self-care is not for after five and weekends. It’s not for after class. When you’re in the week, it is got to be embedded in your every day as part of your life. We just have to focus on that right now.

We can be happy and frustrated; we can be lonely and connected and all those things.”

Things that really are key with self-care is one, if you can have a routine and work in breaks and boundaries and they there, so give yourself some time off, give yourself some time to log off, you know, take a break.

A general rhythm to your day definitely reduces stress. If everything is different every day, your body is in chaos, but a routine can help manage that.

The second is being kind to yourself and others. Practicing self-compassion is so important.

What do you think are signs of more than just some situational anxiety and depression?

When does it maybe start to become something a little bit more?

“I think definitely behaviors like any of those daily activities that you know, that you’re seeing a change. So are you noticing your sleep is different? Your appetite is different, your exercise is different? Your desire to be around people and withdrawing is different

I think folks have a tendency to be really hard on themselves and you know, not getting it right or not doing it the way they think they should and thinking they should be able to do what they did before. COVID in the same way. And you just can’t.

Any of those types of things, energy level concentration, just any change more or less could be like, “Oh, what’s going on? This is different. I might need to pay attention to this.” I definitely think signs are when they’re experiencing symptoms that are impacting their ability to do the things they need to do.

So, if it’s impacting your ability to participate in class, to study, to go to work, to engage with responsibilities at home, or whether that’s just taken care of where you live, or you’ve got other responsibilities with family members

There’s some great resources by Kristin Neff, she has a Ted talk too, if you wanted to look at it. She teaches some strategies for selfcompassion, and then compassion for others, you’re compassionate towards yourself.

You’re more likely to be compassionate to others, but we just need more calmness in the world right now for sure. The third thing would

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Politics be to watch those daily activities: your sleeping, your eating and your movement. Are you sleeping enough to fuel your body? Are you eating what you need to eat to fuel your body and your brain? And are you moving enough so that you’re keeping your body in motion?

call somebody, cause sometimes folks are nervous to make a call. You can go to our website and connect to your patient portal and just schedule that first appointment online.

We try to make it simple and then a counselor will call you for that appointment and start the process with you.

Then, the last thing is, do something fun. Do something to keep you excited to kind of feed your soul, whatever that might be. Sometimes that’s connecting with people in ways that are meaningful, learning something new or serving others. Anything that just kind of is outside of that day-to-day responsibility that makes you smile. It kind of gives you a little bit of light. Those are the things that I would say if you could focus on with self-care and retain compassion for yourself and others, those daily activities of eating, sleeping and movement, and then doing something fun makes you smile.”

We are doing all distanced counseling appointments, but we do have some other online support, especially while students are doing so much remotely. We have an app called Tao and it has a number of self-help resources for things like managing stress, like relationships, anxiety has mindfulness resources. So, a whole lot of things that people can do on their own time for self-help. We’ve got some screeners, we’ve got a resiliency hub that has access to some of the other things that we do. So, just know that there are other online resources, we have a page that has a ton of different apps. Students who might want to look at some ways to help their breathing or ways to kind of have a gratitude journal or something like that.”

Have you seen an increase in the number of students like seeking out counseling?

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAB STUDENT COUNSELING Click “view resource” below to be taken to take page on their website

We have, and that was something that we’re actually really happy to see. We feel like that means we’ve gotten the word out that we want students to come and that they’re doing that. And we hope that means there’s a decrease in stigma as well, but we have seen an increase this year compared to last year.

For the first three weeks of class, it was about a 30% increase from last year. There’s a pretty big number.

What would you say to someone who is maybe a little apprehensive or thinking about doing counseling, but wasn’t sure?

Is there any like kind of message you would want to relay to them?

Well, I certainly would encourage them to give it a try and to reach out. If there are any questions you have feel free to ask those and be an informed consumer. But give it a try and to reach out for help. We try to make it really easy. Students can schedule that first appointment online. They don’t even have to

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On the campaign with Casey Written by Caleb Wood Among Casey’s top priorities if elected, is holding a public rate case for base energy rates. A rate case is a public hearing that would determine the base rates that utilities can charge.

Alabama has not held one in years, after a move to a formula to determine rates in the 1980s. For critics of the PSC like Laura Casey, they see a rate case as a first step to lowering Alabama’s nation-leading energy bills.

Laura Casey runs for Public Services Commission Laura Casey gained headlines for her fight with the Public Services Commission after they ejected her from a hearing in 2019. Now she is running to chair that very commission and push for change from the inside.

The commission she is running for, the Public Services Commission, is not as glamorous a position as governor or attorney general. It is not even one that many people are aware exists, but it serves an important role that affects almost every Alabamian.

The PSC is the part of Alabama’s government tasked with regulating utilities.

Daniel Tait, the chief operating officer of Energy Alabama, nonprofit advocating for renewable energy, said the role of the Commission as a body “meant to kind of act as the regulator on companies that have effective monopolies or sometimes close to monopolies.”

In Alabama, that describes companies like Alabama Power, which is the only choice many Alabamians have for electricity.

The commission is the group responsible for setting the rates that those utilities can charge.

And the three commissioners who serve play a big part in deciding how much power bills will cost in the state.

“Public rate cases are meant to be held every two to three years, it’s an opportunity to open the utilities book, up expenses and make sure rates are fair. Alabama did away with that 40 years ago,” Casey said.

When Laura Casey moved from New Jersey to Alabama five years ago, it was a bit of a culture shock. Casey, a retired attorney, followed her husband after he took a job in Birmingham.

This move coupled with the historic 2016 election and changed how Casey viewed the world.

“So all of a sudden, my mission as soon as we moved here was to understand what was going on to understand what people were upset about (and) what they were thinking,” Casey said.

The fight for the commission extends beyond just one election for Casey.

Casey entered the news in 2019 when she was one of three women ejected from a meeting of the Public Services Commission, or PSC, for attempting to live stream a meeting concerning a proposed increase in service fees on solar panels

by Alabama Power.

Casey took that newfound desire for action and channeled that into politics.

That ejection turned into a larger fight with the PSC. Casey sued the commission alleging that by stopping the livestreaming of the hearing, that they were in violation of Alabama’s open meeting laws. That suit went all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court where they handed down a decision against Casey and for the PSC. Their reasoning was the hearing did not qualify as a meeting because the commissioners did not speak during it.

Casey takes issue with this form of governing. “A PSC with Laura Casey at the helm will be a PSC that opens its doors,” Casey said. “Transparency is so long overdue that it is not even in the rearview mirror anymore.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA CASEY

“Transparency is so long overdue that it is not even in the rearview mirror anymore.”

-Laura Casey

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In 2018, Casey was one of many first-time candidates seeking office in what has been dubbed a “blue wave” when she ran in Alabama Senate District 15. As the sole candidate running for the Democrats, Casey advanced to the general election but was caught by a technicality. To be elected state senator, you must have lived in the state for three consecutive years. She was a few months short.

Casey’s opponent, Twinkle Cavanaugh, is a favorite in the race. She is a two-term incumbent with sizable advantage in campaign dollars and a higher name recognition thanks to previous campaigns for this seat and lieutenant governor. But even if she loses this election on November 3rd, Laura Casey is not done with the PSC. “Once the elections over, it’s coming up with a full-time vehicle to educate, inform and advocate for people,” she said.

City Lifestyle

Hot takes with Hannah Written by: Hannah Richey Food truck rankings

Want to know the highs and lows of UAB’s campus food truck? Here are some reviews of the meals from Magic City Eats. Hannah Richey, writer turned food critic, tested meals from Magic City Eats to provide an honest review.

Wings: 5/5 Wings from Magic City Eats are filling and there’s a lot of variety for vegetarians.

All sauces are vegetarian and there’s a range of spicy to completely unspicy. Since it’s complete protein and sauce, it keeps me full for a long time. Fries are the only side available, but they work with the wings. I think offering chips as well might be nice just to mix it up sometimes.

Burgers: 4.5/5

PHOTO BY HANNAH RICHEY

My personal favorite is the ‘shroom swiss with a vegetarian patty. This keeps me full until dinner, plus there’s a vegetable included so I feel like I’m eating smart.

‘Shroom swiss is impressively not messy but that’s mainly due to there not being 24 enough cheese.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KALEIDOSCOPE ARCHIVES/Magic City Eats sets up on campus each week.

Tots: 4/5 The serving size is large and the vegetarian option doesn’t keep well because of the guacamole. Also, since it’s mainly potatoes, I would like more beans to provide a little more protein and to keep me full longer.

Tacos: 3.5/5 Tacos are hit or miss.

Some days there’s way too much corn which is also really sweet, and even more so when paired with red onion. This too suffers from lack of beans.

The tacos can also be cold sometimes.

I wasn’t a fan of the street corn but the churros are excellent.

Want to try these meals yourself?

Head to https://bit.ly/MagicCityEatsSchedule for the Magic City Eats Schedule.

Painting

the way to progress

All photos courtesy of Jourdan McGowan

A picture says a thousand words, and these paintings say that racial inequality needs to end.

Written by Allison Brown

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City Lifestyle Local artist Jourdan McGowan paints a picture of racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement through his art show “Painted Faces.”

“I wanted to do something about what was going on with the Black Lives Matter and everything that was going on in the world,” McGowan said. “I thought ‘why not do a show to represent and promote things that need to be seen in the art world’ – and not just in the art world but everywhere.”

The show, which has been displayed in Filter Coffee Parlor throughout September, features portraits of black icons, from George Floyd to Lebron James.

Derrick Moten has been friends with McGowan for over ten years and said that the portraits McGowan painted were of those that inspired him.

“I feel like a lot of pieces he just found inspiration in. Everyone that he painted in there was someone that affected his life and that kind of changed him a little bit, and you can tell that from the way he painted them.”

“The painting was already done when I shot it.

I was shooting above the head, but shooting where her image is, it just made me think ‘wow, is this how they felt when they were shooting in her home?’ I heard the sound [of the gun] that I’m sure she heard before she died. It was very emotional.”

McGowan said he hoped that by showing the paintings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that he could grab people’s attention and get them thinking.

“I wanted to make a piece that not only grabbed attention,” McGowan said, “but made you think ‘why does the piece look like that’, ‘why are there bullet holes in the canvas’ or ‘why did the artist paint it like that?’ It was intentional to grab attention and make people think about their own outlook about what’s going on and to just talk about it.”

The paintings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are not just regular portrait images. The painting of Breonna Taylor has eight actual bullet holes in the canvas to represent how many times she was shot by police while in her home, and red paint dripping from the holes to imitate blood.

McGowan said he took the canvas to the shooting range and used a real gun to make the holes.

“The painting was already done when I shot it,” McGowan said. “I was shooting above the head, but shooting where her image is, it just made me think ‘wow, is this how they felt when they were shooting in her home?’ I heard the sound [of the gun] that I’m sure she heard before she died. It was very emotional.”

Besides feeling the power of shooting the gun and the emotional response of shooting near Taylor’s head, McGowan said he felt irony.

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City Lifestyle “I thought it was ironic that I had to be so precise shooting the canvas so that I didn’t break the stretcher or shoot her face,” McGowan said. “But in real life, when [the police] shot her, they weren’t precise at all. It was just free-for-all gunfire in her home.”

George Floyd’s portrait also has a nontraditional turn. His face isn’t filled in all the way and is covered by a big, red X. This was another purposeful decision made by McGowan, who said he felt it best illustrated the point he was trying to make.

“His portrait is only halfway done because it represents that his life was taken prematurely, before it was finished,” McGowan said. “There is a huge X across the canvas that goes through the painted portion of his face to say that you can take somebody’s life, you can try to erase them from the living, but what’s done is already done, you can’t erase them or X them out. What happened to him is going to be something that we forever think about.”

Ricardo Maston initially met McGowan when he commissioned him for a piece of art, and PORTRAIT OF GEORGE FLOYD PAINTED BY MCGOWAN since then, Maston has commissioned McGowan for six other paintings and the two have become like family. Maston said McGowan’s “Painted Faces” show has a direct purpose and a powerful message.

“I think he’s trying to show social injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole,” Maston said. “I think he’s trying to express that through art because everyone loves art, no matter what race.”

The “Painted Faces” show is the second solo show McGowan has ever done. In fact, he never picked up a paint brush until five years ago, when he was a junior in college and decided to take art as an elective.

“I used to try to draw when I was younger, but I wasn’t very good,” McGowan said. “I was about as good as any other typical fourth grader. It was something that I was interested in, but I was busy doing other things. I took that [art] class and I guess my professor saw something in me that I didn’t. She told me should thought I could be an art major and I had to be an artist.”

McGowan decided to try it for a semester, and said at first, he wanted to quit.

“I tried it out and it was very hard because I didn’t know what I was doing,” McGowan said. “I kind of wanted to quit at first, but I kept going and I finally just did everything my teacher said and started to come to the responsibility of being an actual student. And in one semester, everything turned around. I started to become good.”

Maston said he thinks McGowan’s inspiration is just to make others happy.

“He is definitely one of those guys that tries to make everyone happy. It definitely shows through 27

City Lifestyle

his commission work. A lot of those paintings are very personal to his customers and every customer I’ve seen him work with is very happy [with the art]. They sometimes cry and get excited about the painting and that makes his day better.”

Moten met McGowan in high school and said that McGowan was always creative.

PAINTINGS BY JOURDAN MCGOWAN HUNG AT FILTER COFFEE PARLOR

“He’s always liked to express himself through different outlets, Moten said. “He has a fashion mind and a special eye for detail. I think he found a challenge in art because that’s not something you can just pick up a paintbrush and do. A couple paintings he told me he did in less than 30 minutes. You can’t just pick it up and do that, it’s something that takes skill and it challenged him.”

McGowan graduated college in 2017 and opened his own art studio, Art of Truth, in 2018. He said he is still learning, and things are going well.

Maston said he thinks McGowan has put Birmingham “back on the map” for art and is going to do big things.

“Jourdan is an awesome guy. He’s very thoughtful and I don’t even have the words to describe the guy. He’s just a great guy and I think this is just the beginning for him and I think he is going to be something very important one day.”

SELF PORTRAIT BY JOURDAN MCGOWAN

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Autumn views you’ll fall for Written by Emma Owen

Where to find the best scenery

PHOTO BY EMMA OWEN/Located about 15 minutes from campus, Bluff Park offers gorgeous views of the orange and red treetops of fall. Bluff Park has a quaint atmosphere that provides a warm welcome to guests and residents. If you’re looking to grab a bite while enjoying the stunning views, this neighborhood is also home to Tip Top Grill. Be sure to bring a coat if you’re visiting on a cooler day, as the higher elevation causes a beautiful breeze.

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Located just below Vulcan Park, Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South offers vast views of the city’s greenery as it shifts colors for fall. If you head to this view, be sure to wear your walking shoes.

By following this sidewalk further down the road, you will arrive at Books, Beans and Candles. Here, the coffee is warm and the company is fantastic.

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During the fall, Highland Park looks as though it’s the scene of a cozy autumn movie. This is the perfect location for a stroll, as leaves are falling and historic homes are decorated for Halloween.

PHOTO BY EMMA OWEN/Restaurants near Highland Park include Bottega, Chez Fonfon, Surin of Thailand and McFly’s Bird Shoppe.

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DIY

your way through fall

Trends of fall Written by Emma Owen

Find low-cost, trendy items at Plato’s Closet.

Located about 15 minutes from campus at 1725 Montgomery Highway Hoover, AL 35244, Plato’s Closet offers secondhand fashion and accessories at affordable prices.

You can find Plato’s Closet online at www.platoscloset.com.

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PHOTOS BY EMMA OWEN/Model and Plato’s Closet employee, Jayda Marable, rocks a fall look.

By pairing a textured top with jeans, the outfit has a statement piece, without taking attention away from our model, Jayda. She could easily dress this outfit up for a special event, or dress it down for a casual day.

Get the full fit for under $40, including top, bottoms and footwear.

The model is wearing jeans for a day time look, however, by pairing a skirt or dark pants with the top, the outfit can be dressed up for the evening.

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PHOTOS BY EMMA OWEN

Fashion that’s versatile and sustainable VERSATILITY Our model, Haley Mancarella, is wearing a look that is perfect for a fall day. You can rock this look in the cool fall weather, or add jeans and booties as the season begins to change. Layer this fit with a scarf to carry it into winter.

SUSTAINABILITY By selling or purchasing items from secondhand stores, customers are playing a role in improving the environment.

According to the Council for Textile Recycling, five percent U.S. landfills consist of textiles. By purchasing secondhand clothing items, shoppers can save money and assist in lowering the number of clothing items that take up space in our nation’s landfills.

Plato’s Closet will purchase used items from customers to sell in their shops and most thrift stores offer tax deductions in exchange for donations.

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DIY

E as y r eci pes for Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 40 minutes Tools: measuring cup, stirring spoon, medium-sized pan Ingredients: 1 ½ cups dry elbow macaroni 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 2 cups milk ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups shredded cheese (mix and match or stick with cheddar)

Homemade Hot Apple Cider Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 1 ½ - 2 hours Tools: large pot with lid, measuring cup, stirring spoon, strainer, container for storing Ingredients: 1.5 liter apple juice ¼ cup brown sugar 3 oranges, cut into fourths 2 tablespoons whole cloves 1 tablespoons whole allspice 4-5 cinnamon sticks

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 350° F 2. Cook pasta according to directions on box 3. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a pot large enough to hold the pasta 4. Add flour to butter and stir on medium heat until mix is light brown (1-2 min) then add milk and salt and stir until smooth 5. Cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes, then add in cheese and stir 6. Remove from heat 7. When pasta is almost done, drain, add to the sauce and stir well 8. Bake in a greased dish for 20-25 minutes

Procedure: 1. Pour juice into large pot on high heat and add brown sugar; let boil until sugar is melted then reduce to simmer 2. Add oranges with cloves, allspice and cinnamon sticks to juice 3. Cover and let simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours 4. Strain and serve while hot * Try adding spiced rum for an evening drink

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DIY

F a ll Comfort Fo o d Traditional Dressing Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 40 minutes Tools: medium-sized pan, cutting board, knife, bowl Ingredients: 1 ½ cup crumbled cornbread 3 slices dry toast, shredded 8 saltine crackers, crushed 1 stem celery, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 2 ½ cups chicken broth, hot 1 tablespoon oil

Pumpkin Dip Prep: 5 minutes Tools: large bowl, spoon, measuring cup, container for storage Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped spread (try coco whip for vegan alternative) 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 (15 ounce) can solid pumpkin 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 350° F and grease medium sized pan 2. Fry celery and onion in oil until semicooked (not brown) 3. Combine cornbread, toast, eggs and crackers in bowl 4. Add cooked celery and onions 5. Add broth in small amounts, stirring well in between 6. Bake 25-40 minutes at 350° F

Procedure: Mix! * Best served with ginger snaps or apple slices

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Crochet creations with Starris Written by: Emma Owen

Kidd crochets clothing and accessories for customers

Meet the designer

& see the design Inspired by her grandmother, one UAB student is turning her craft into a business, one ball of yarn at a time.

Starris Kidd, sophomore in healthcare management, said she has been crocheting for about eight years.

“I chose to express my creativity in this way because it’s a very easy outlet to allow myself to be creative,” Kidd said. “The beauty behind it is that almost anything can be made.”

Kidd said that while she has been crocheting for years, she didn’t think to turn it into a business until summer of 2019.

“When I began making clothes for myself, I thought other people would like them too,” Kidd said.

Kidd said that there are some obstacles that come with the craft.

“The most challenging part of crochet it when the piece doesn’t turn out how I’ve envisioned it,” Kidd said.

“I’m faced with the decision of either scrapping it or turning it into something else.”

Kidd said the reaction from others encourages her.

“The most rewarding part of this experience would be the looks of shock and amazement I get from people when they see what I’ve made,” Kidd said. “It makes me feel good.”

Kidd said one of the most exciting elements of crocheting is the potential of what could be made.

“My favorite part about creating is seeing it all come together,” Kidd said. “Watching something as simple as yarn develop into something is truly amazing.”

Xavier Turner, sophomore in political science and criminal justice, said he is excited to see his friend chase her goals.

“It means a lot that Starris is pursuing these business ventures,” Turner said. “It started off as a skillful hobby and slowly progressed to a potential outlet for creative growth and economic property. She gives me motivation to try new things and pursue different forms of success.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF STARRIS KIDD/Kidd models her own work, an olive green mini dress and hand bag.

Turner said his friend’s crochet items are not only fashionable, but sensible as well.

“With Alabama weather changing day by day literally, having nice crochet items can protect from the harsh winds or be a stylish accessory to a nice outfit,” Turner said.

Turner said he encourages other students to support her business.

“Starris is so kind and genuine, and she puts her all into her craft,” Turner said. “You will be missing out greatly if you do not support her business.”

Turner said watching Kidd pursue her crochet business has been a joy for him.

“I love to see my friends grow and develop,” Turner said. “Starris has been looking for different outlets to provide her some stress relief away from her academic endeavors.”

Gabrielle Cedotal, sophomore in finance and management information systems, said she has enjoyed supporting Kidd in her crocheting endeavors.

“I am thrilled to see one of my best friends and roommate pursuing her own business,” Cedotal said. “She’s very hard working and very talented.”

Cedotal said Kidd’s work is very intricate.

“I know from personal experience she does her best and pays attention to the smallest details in her work,” Cedotal said. “Her crochet work is very impressive, so you should check it out on Instagram.”

StitchesByStar

@stitchesbystar

@stitchesbystar 39

Pumpkin Template

Illustration by Jada Nguyen

Directions: 1. Print this page 2. Cut out black portions of the template 3. Paste magazine over pumpkin 4. Carve out everywhere that pumpkin is showing through the template ( should be everywhere that you cut out ) 5. Enjoy your UAB Pumpkin!

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UABblazermedia.com Click me!

@KaleidoscopeUAB