Main Street Magazine Fall 2015

MAIN STREET MagAzine Fall 2015

V is for Virgin pg. 28

Editor’s Note And just like that the first half of the fall semester is over. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Editor-in-Chief of Main Street Magazine this year. A little bit about me, I’m from Connecticut and am a junior here at UNH. I’m majoring in Journalism and am looking to minor in Business Administration and Dance.

Main Street Magazine represents the honest, funny and sometimes quirky voice of the student body and is here to serve as a guide to life at college. This issue has everything from learning how to die, not loving studying abroad and even something on oysters. Sounds weird, right?

All of the contributing writers and photographers put a tremendous amount of work into this issue and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved putting it all together.

Thank you, everyone, for allowing me to make this magazine (with a lot of help of course) for you. I’m very excited to see where Main Street will go in the future.

Morgan Cutolo, Editor-in-Chief Jack Shea, Content Editor Hadley Barndollar, Content Editor Corey Scarano, Content Editor Claire Cortese, Photo Editor and Contributing Writer Liz Haas, Contributing Writer Ally Couture, Contributing Writer Lilly Radack, Contributing Writer Jamie Smith, Contributing Writer Jenna Ward, Contributing Writer Beccy Anderson, Contributing Writer Kyle Kittredge, Contributing Writer and Photographer Rebecca Ma, Contributing Writer Amy Rixon, Contributing Writer Sage Anthony, Contributing Writer Domenic Paolo, Contributing Writer Kate Sutherby, Contributing Writer

Happy Fall Wildcats!

From Durham with love (and a healthy dose of skepticism) -Morgan

Find Main Street mainstreetunh.com facebook.com/mainstreetmagazine @mainstreetmagazine MUB room 134

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Main Street Magazine Fall 2015, Issue 1

Featured Article

Dream Summer Internship “Instead, I was invited to hang out with people who love climbing and the outdoors as much, and probably more, than I do.”

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Features 14 Stressed Out 18 2nd Hand Shopping 20 Learning How to Die 28 V is for Virgin

Local 12 “No One Comes Here Sober” 26 Up the Punx 32 Madbury Chaos 38 Getting Shucked Up

Reviews 6 Film 7 Book 8 Music 10 Food

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Opinions & Satire 13 Why Partying Sucks and Cats Rock 16 University of No Husbands 25 Kanye 2020 30 Do it For the Instagram

26 Printed by our friends at UNH Printed Services, 10 West Edge Drive, Durham, NH The opinions expressed within Main Street are solely the opinions of the attributed writers and are not necessarily shared by Main Street Magazine, Student Press Organization, SAFC, the University of New Hampshire, or anyone else, for that matter.

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Main Street Magazine is funded entirely by your student activity fee, and we would like to thank SAFC for continuing to fund this publication. www.mainstreetmagazine.com @mainstmagazine

Contributors In order by row: Beccy Anderson, Sage Anthony, Jack Shea, Lilly Radack, Liz Haas Hadley Barndollar, Kyle Kittredge, Kate Sutherby, Jamie Smith, Ally Couture Corey Scarano, Rebecca Ma, Amy Rixon, Domenic Paolo Claire Cortese and Jenna Ward

Staff Picks

Things MSM Staff Love Right Now

Candy Corn- Do I need to say anything about these creamy, delicious drops of melting in your mouth seasonal heavenly treats?

Fall- The crunch of the leaves, the crisp air, apple picking, carving pumpkins! How can you not love everything about fall?

It’s by far my favorite season, the fact that my birthday is in October has a lot to do with it.

- Corey

- Morgan

Sticky Fingers- I discovered the music of these irreverent, partying Aussie hooligans during my semester abroad last spring, and have had their two albums on repeat since. They’re relatively unknown in the States but are a big deal in Oz and NZ, and sound like the lovechild of Oasis and The Dirty Heads. Suggested listening: “Australia Street,” “How to Fly” and “Just For You.” - Jack

Hammocks- Consider all the beauty and serenity of being immersed out in nature, combined with the greatness of napping. Seriously...I love napping. And doing my homework outside. But I HATE getting covered in dirt, twigs and bugs.

Hammocks are the perfect solution for those dilemmas! Purchasing my hammock was the best decision I’ve made in my entire college career.

- Claire

Tree Scented Candles- Nothing says fall in New England like the aroma of pine and evergreen.

- Hadley

Film Reviews: Our Obsession with the Post-Apocalytic World By: Kyle Kittredge

Mad Max: Fury Road

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2015

hen Mad Max: Fury Road first came out, I became immediately excited. It was the most anticipated summer movie of 2105 for me, as well as many others. With its vibrant color scheme, terrific plotline and awesome action scenes, this film holds up the standards and themes of the series that Mad Max fans everywhere love.

From here it is one enormous chase scene as Furiosa, played by a tough Charlize Theron drives across the desert to help Immortan Joe’s breeding wives escape his cruel imprisonment of them.

Along the way Max bonds with the group of woman, and keeps them from harm’s way. He changes from a tough, quiet, loner with no sense of caring, to a brave, respectable, and caring character to others through this journey. It’s almost like taking a road trip, except there’s a hoard of pale, crazy In terms of basic narrative, this film is easy to dudes trying to kill them. follow and has a plotline very similar to many other action and adventure films. Max, now played by Overall I highly recommend this movie, espeTom Hardy instead of Mel Gibson, is a withdrawn cially for anyone who likes action movies with a yet heroic character living in the post-apocalyptic post-apocalyptic setting, and for fans of Tom HarAustralian outback. Through the narrative Max dy, who gives an excellent performance as a chardevelops from being a careless person to a com- acter that hardly talks. plete hero. Skeleton-like men called The War Boys, who follow a dictator named Immortan Joe who controls the water and food supplies, eventually capture him.

Waterworld

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1995

wenty years ago, before Mad Max, the film Waterworld came out. This film is very much the same as Mad Max: Fury Road, with the exception of a few key elements. They both take place in a world where the world has gone to shit. The only difference is that in Waterworld the world has been decimated by global warming and caused all the polar ice caps to melt, leaving no land left anywhere—or so everyone thinks. The plot revolves around a man named Mariner, who is similar to Mad Max in that he is a “lone heroic” type. Another element of this story that is different is that Mariner is a mutant. He can breathe underwater and has webbed toes and fingers, making him a fish-human hybrid. They hardly show this aspect of him, and he doesn’t look too abnormal. He looks quite human in fact. But because of his apparent differences, he gets captured but escapes and goes on the run with Helen and Enola, two women from the colony of people who help him. Together, they run

from the Smokers, a group of villains who hoard precious resources such as cigarettes, oil, and food.

Their leader is Deacon, a dictator similar to Immortan Joe that is harsh and has a cult following.

Over the course of the film Mariner comes to be kind, caring and compassionate.

These are both great movies that show us great plots with lots of exciting action and adventure.

Both films show us how we have long been fascinated with answering the question of what will happen to us after the world ends, and what the post-apocalyptic world will be like. With all of the movies and shows like The Walking Dead, The World’s End, Resident Evil series, This is the End, Shawn of the Dead, The Road, and many others, viewers are offered a sense of what may be to come. Thankfully, these movies are fictional, and we can take comfort in knowing that we are not in a world such as that of Mad Max or Waterworld.

Book Reviews “Why We Broke Up” By: Daniel Handler

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n kindergarten he didn’t give you the red crayon when you asked, so you broke up. Maybe in first grade he played on the monkey bars without you, so you forgot about him. Growing older the cause of a break up is never one reason or incident. This novel, written by Daniel Handler explains many reasons Minerva has, for breaking up with co-captain of the basketball team, Ed Slaterton. The red flags of this relationship are red fireworks exploding in the sky, screaming and sizzling for the reader to notice.

To demonstrate realistic hardships, the author has purposefully crafted these break-up signs.

It is no surprise that Handler is a master with this unfortunate event because he spent years writing as Lemony Snicket. He has done it again, pushing his focal character to re-live the unfortunate events that left her with a broken heart.

Throughout the novel Handler’s narrative work is married to illustrations created by Maira Kalaman. The illustrative work beautifully represents the pieces of this romantic relationship. Min and Ed’s relationship and its demise, are told to us in the format of a letter. A Box filled with trinkets, pieces of their relationship, is the catalyst for the letter. One by one the main character pulls out the little reminders. Through those we, as readers, get a picture of a very relatable high school relationship.

Most people have met an Ed Slaterton, but Handler lets readers get to know him as more than a two dimensional high school stereotype.

This goes for most of the characters in the novel; they are pushed outside of easy writing and given a realistic path. The tone of the novel is relaxed and mimics that of a personal confession. The novel can be read with ease due to this casual tone. Min refers to her ex in the letter as a, “beautiful bastard,” one of the many carefully chosen phrases that made the novel seem more like fact than fiction.

The relationship that evolves and devolves in this book is one of passion. Although the title gives away the ending of their relationship, the bulk of the novel consists of tenacity and love. Handler has written this book so that when Min cries you cry and when she swoons you swoon. The character development is so clever that it becomes an emotional novel. Not recommended for the newly single, without the company of tissues and ice cream.

-Beccy Anderson

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” By: J.K. Rowling

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es I am a potterfile. It’s true. No matter how old I become, I guarantee I will pick Harry Potter off of my shelf to read. The whole series is perfection.

Normally when I go back to read the series I will grab number four or seven. However, this summer I started from the very beginning again. Maybe I was feeling nostalgic about going into my junior year of college. Feeling a little depressed that the real world is peeking around the corner. So yes, maybe I picked up the series I started reading when I was a ten years old to try to stay in that mind set. To answer your question, No, you are never to old to read the wonderful tribulations of “the boy who lived.”

Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s stone is the very beginning of it all. Author J.K Rowling introduces Harry, (the one with the lightning bolt on his forehead) to the great Wizarding world where he had remained absent for eleven years. After his parents were killed he was given to his only remaining

family, the horrible muggles the Dursley’s. Harry encounters magical places like Hogwarts, where lies spells, Quidditch and Fluffy the Three-Headed-Dog. The Sorcerer’s stone as the first book of the series sets up Harry’s journeys and obstacles he must overcome to defeat Lord Voldemort, the dark wizard that had disappeared after failing to kill Harry the night he killed his parents.

This legendary book started the marathon of a story that millions of kids have read and cherished.

I chose to talk about this book because I think that sometimes your mind just needs a little break from your studying and Netflix watching. And I think a great thing to do with your spare time would be to read this series over and over again.

-Lilly Radack

Music Reviews

Years and Years looking confused

Tame Impala

DJ Jamie xx

Years and Years “Communion” Polydor

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 Tame Impala “Currents” Kevin Parker

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 Jamie xx “In Color” Fortress Studios

Overall Rating: 9/10

Years & Years is a band that has started to gain a following here in the United States, as well as build structure around the world. This London-based trio’s debut release Communion is stacked with synth-pop and electronica tunes that are bound to be stuck on loop in a listener’s head for days. After the platinum-success of their lead single King in the United Kingdom, and breaking the top 40 charts in the United States, Years & Years is a band to keep an eye on.

The album opens with Foundation, a track that quite literally sets the foundation to the album, with a building electronic base as Olly’s vocal abilities soar through the dark and chilling melodies.

The album as a whole contains a great handful of standout tracks, with Real having shining sounds and creative percussive ideas, Worship being a dance-oriented track backed by stunning harmonies and melodies alongside personal lyrics that hit home to some listeners, Eyes Shut having empowering lyrics and technically pleasing piano riffs, and Gold spitting chills through a listener with one of the most innovative pop-choruses to happen this year.

This album also features three singles, one being the commercially successful and artistic track King, alongside the passionate ballad Shine that is currently rising on the charts and the house-mix titled Desire that will get listeners off their feet and singing along in no time. The movement from track to track clearly involved strategic placement, as most tracks flawlessly flow side by side in the track listing. The album ends on Memo, with the lyrics chanting “I want more, I want more” as a reminder that things are coming to end, holding a sad connotation on how people constantly want more out of what they already have, nailing an unresolved silence right at the last second that leaves a listener anticipating more from nothing.

Putting Communion in the cd player leads to a 13 track adventure through an artistic and pleasurable album, playing through dance tunes and ballads layered with some of the best synth-pop that has ever graced the music industry and some of the catchiest hooks and melodies of the season. This album is not one to pass up on, it can be snagged digitally, or on CD and vinyl.

Tame Impala, Australia’s Grammy nominated psychedelic rock band have been ever present on the indie charts since their self-titled debut back in 2008. But their latest effort, Currents, may be Tame Impala’s ticket to the mainstream audience.

Officially released on July 17th, we already got a little taste for Currents when the band let out the singles “Let It Happen” and “Cause I’m a Man” back in the spring. It’s no surprise these were our first introductions to the album as they perfectly represent how the band has infused high energy dance hooks while still clinging to the modern psych-rock sound they have been recognized for. With this being their third studio album, this new twist in music may come as no surprise. Most bands go through the same pattern, they introduce themselves with their first album, they lament their sound with their As a longtime fan of The xx, I was extremely excited for the release of this album. However at the same time, I was a bit hesitant about it. Though Jamie xx is a fantastic DJ and what makes The xx original, he is known to be fairly “out there” sometimes in terms of sound. I watched his live set on some London Rooftop and it can only be described as awkward. People were trying to dance to his mellower tracks and it was overall weird. However after listening to his work with Gil Scott-Heron, I decided to branch out a little bit and experiment with different kinds of music. Because of that one moment of branching out, I discovered what is possibly the best album of the year.

-Domenic Paolo

second, and as not to have the audience get restless, they give us something new with the third. Tame Impala has also showcased their knack for song placement in this album. Currents is kicked off with its catchiest song, “Let It Happen”, as if to draw the audience in, then is followed by “Nangs,” a short and instrumental heavy piece that really showcases what people thinking when thinking about Tame Impala. These two songs back to back to start off the album are the best introduction for the following track list, where you have the high energy songs like “Eventually” and hidden gem “Reality In Motion” mixed with the instrumental “Gossip” and experimental “Past Life”. Overall, Tame Impala’s Currents is great for the wide-eyed newcomers and original fan base alike.

-Sage Anthony

a Room” and it features his bandmate Oliver Sim. It’s a minimalistic song that is paired with Sim’s deep voice and the aesthetic of The xx. “Hold Tight” is a track that speeds the album back up again. The next track is one of the best songs of the year. It’s “Loud Places” and it features Romy on vocals again. It might as well be another The xx song because the sound is just so similar. Next is “I know there’s gonna be (good times)” featuring Young Thug. To be honest, it’s not the greatest track. I’m not too keen on Young Thug but that’s just my preference. Second to last track is just “The Rest is Noise” It has the same pattern as the album as a whole. It has a faster tempo in the beginning, slows down somewhere in the middle, then picks The entire album was incredibly well put togethup just before the end. I cannot express how much er and well ordered. The songs blend seamlessly I love the track “Girl”. It is just perfection in four into each other and the album is well balanced. It minutes. To me, it’s everything in four minutes. starts out with “Gosh”, a heavy, percussive song full of noise. “Gosh” then transitions into “Sleep Overall, this is a brilliant album. I highly recomSound” which is a carefully layered song full of mend it. With the exception of Young Thug, the chimes and bass. That melts into “SeeSaw” which entire album is fantastic and definitely worth all the is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It fea- hype. It’s the kind of album that you listen to when tures Romy from The xx and shows more of an you’re sitting and smoking a cigar. It’s also the type electronic sound. “Obvs” shows Jamie’s skill with of album that you listen to when you’re cycling to steel pans and his sampling of other songs. “Just class or to work. With this, Jamie xx shows his brilSaying” is a slower song in the middle of the al- liance and talent as a DJ. bum as if to tell the listener to slow down or to

-Rebecca Ma give them a break. The next song is “Stranger in

Filet Mignon from Top of the Hub

View from Top of the Hub

Dining Room at Cafeteria

Burger from Cafetertia

Restaurant Reviews: Boston By: Claire Cortese and Corey Scarano

Top of the Hub 800 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02199

to the window and the view of the Boston skyline took my breath away.

I started with a Caesar salad, simple but delicious.

The lettuce was crisp and fresh, with newly grated parmesan cheese and croutons so big it made my heart sing. The plate was HUGE, and I only finished two thirds of the salad to make sure I still had plenty of room for the main course. The waiter also came around and offered us a choice of sourdough or cranberry and walnut bread; I chose the cranberry and walnut. It was sweet and savory wrapped into piece of happiness; I wondered how acceptable it would be to eat an entire meal consisting solely of that bread.

Travel 53 stories up to the top of the Prudential Center in Boston, and you’ll find yourself at the restaurant with one of the best views of the city in all of Massachusetts. The Top of the Hub is an upscale American restaurant that should be on the bucket list of all passing Boston tourists as well as the city’s locals. As it is a high-class restaurant, there is a “business casual” dress code you must abide by in order to be seated in the main dining For the main act, I ordered the 10oz filet mignon room. Men are required to wear collared shirts; with balsamic vinaigrette onions and potato hats and sleeveless shirts are prohibited. gnocchi. The most tender steak I have ever eaten, My boyfriend and I went for dinner at 5 o’clock it practically melted in my mouth. We’re talking on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I would about the juiciest of juicy. The sautéed onions on highly recommend making a reservation at least a top added an extra kick of flavor. The gnocchi in day or two before you plan to go, because the place cream sauce was slightly overcooked, but the hint gets very busy. You’ll also have a better chance of of sweet and cheesy complimented the steak very being seated at a table by the window. well.

The restaurant is minimalistic and classy, not Unfortunately, food costs money, and there’s overly embellished with gaudy accents like some certainly no exception at Top of the Hub. Expect upscale places. For casually dressed patrons looking to spend at least $50 a head here; a dinner for two to have a drink and an appetizer, there is a lounge will usually run you anywhere between $125 – 275, area separate from the dining room where the depending largely on how much you drink (there’s a dress code is not required. We arrived a bit early, glass of cognac on the drink menu for a whopping so while we waited for our table, we had a drink $330). The cost isn’t exactly going to be bringing at the bar. A single drink there will cost you more you back every week, but it’s the perfect place for than a whole night at Libby’s, however the Mojito’s a special night out, especially if you get a kick out are delectable, and the champagne really is cause of pretending to be rich and classy once in a while. for celebration. We were seated at a table right next

Cafeteria 279a Newbury Street Boston, MA 02166 While strolling my way through Newbury Street on a hot summer day, I stopped off at one of the many street side patio restaurants. This one was called Cafeteria, and it’s outside seating was beautiful. A happy coincidence it was. The menu at Cafeteria is filled with interesting, delicious salads and inspired sandwiches and burgers like their Cafeteria Cubano, which is roasted pork and ham topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard all on a hot pressed baguette. But even if you just choose Cafeteria for a quick drink, they have refreshing, fruit cocktails like their Cafeteria Bowl made with dark rum, amber rum, simple syrup, pineapple, orange juice, bitters and mint! No matter if you eat inside or out, for a full meal or just a drink, Cafeteria is a great, well priced option with great service.

“Nobody Comes Here Sober” By: Lilly Radack

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very Saturday night at approximately 12:30 am Hundreds of inebriated students of UNH migrate like a school of fish down Main Street. To a driver passing by at this time they may think this mass of people would be odd, but for locals of the campus, they know what the students are here for.

“The only reason I drink is to get DHOP,” I hear a bearded man slur to his friend next to me. This is true for many students of UNH who flood to the Durham House of Pizza after their binge drinking has come to a pause and their stomachs yearn to be filled with something, anything, other than ten-dollar Zhenka.

The street is swarmed with people, yelling, pushing their way to the front of the line that bends outside and down the block from the pizza shop.

Just hours ago the lines were down the street to get into local bars Libby’s and Scorps, but the passing of time leads college kids across the street to satisfy their drunken desires for a slice of greasy pizza.

“I’ve never been to DHOP sober, ever,” says Junior Ryan Peel, in between mouthfuls of the burning hot pizza. This is the case for most students and is evident to staff of the establishment as well.

The past few weeks of students being back at school has kept the business satisfied. When I talked to manager John Petrovitsis he explained, “Every down town establishment can tell you that business is better when the kids come back the late night flow is unbelievable,” he stated with a smile.

Students meander back and forth between the

two late night food options open downtown. down at the Styrofoam container. “But now, DHOP being the cheapest, and most popular, it cre- I can’t even finish this,” he said disappointed. ates the biggest line and commotion from students.

Some of the most common themes among DHOP’s competitor Campus Convenience (aka students ordering late night food are their deCampCo) offers late night food as well. They are manding attitudes and confrontational comespecially famous for their late night “Freddy Spe- ments. I see kids pushing and falling into the cial,” a dish consisting of chicken tenders drenched people in front of them, thinking that somehow in hot buffalo sauce, served with a side of ranch. that nudge will make the line move faster. They act as if they are willing to fight to the death to I am posted in-between the two restaurants, be next in line for the glorious $7.99 special. watching students toss beer cans at one another for the savory last bite of chicken. UNH juWhat I wanted to know as the only sober onnior Adam Hale, a New Hampshire local, gets looker (other than the police force behind me) is nudged from behind while dipping a piece of what made the students choose between Campchicken…sending drops of ranch dressing all co or DHOP. When I asked, I got a variety of over his shorts. He takes the bite, unfazed, and responses such as “DHOP RULES” or “FredI ask him how he likes his food, “It’s the great- dy’s are the bomb” and “am I going to be in the est thing I’ve ever tasted,” so I guess he liked it. paper?” but most of the serious answers were based on whether they were willing to wait in Curiously, I ask a girl to the left of me as the line to pay the $5 minimum on their cards she licks grease off her fingers if she has ever at DHOP, or if they were to splurge the extra had this food in the daytime. She scoffed $2.99 for a quicker, in-and-out spicy chicken dish. and said, “Nobody comes here sober,” turning back to her pepperoni slice, “ever.”

Money is a sore subject for college kids, who constantly think about their loans and $300 This comment left me perplexed. If all the textbooks, but somehow when the high-heels students are here at 12:30 am and are so cracome on and the alcohol goes down, the monzy about the food, why isn’t there more trafey is less of a worry when it comes to satisfying fic through the businesses during the day? a drunk 21 year old with a large cheese pizza.

So I challenged UNH Junior Ryan Peel to Hale explains, “I know every time I go out I am buy a Freddy Special the next day to see how going to either one of those places before 2 am, beit would compare to sober taste buds. I met cause that’s what you do at UNH. It’s all a part of the him the next afternoon to discuss the results, experience.” Behind him a girl leans over into a trashhe said, “When you’re drunk it tastes like it’s can, completing this invaluable UNH experience. been fired in a brick oven pizza,” he looked

Why Partying Sucks and Cats Rock By: Rebecca Ma

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e’ve all faced that dilemma where we find ourselves on a Friday or Saturday night not in the mood to go out. You don’t want to go out in the real world and socialize when you could be in your room dicking around on the internet. Because of the compelling powers of peer pressure, you end up going out. You wind up in a hot room crammed with people you either don’t know or hate and the only thing you’re getting out of this is free booze and the possibility of having mediocre sex under a tree. You spend the time at the party wishing you were at home binge watching Scrubs for the tenth time and hating everyone around you. There is a solution to this. Instead of being a seething ball of hate drinking cheap beer, you can be a cat lady instead. Despite the name, cat ladies are open to any gender under the sun. Anyone can be a cat lady.

The only requirements are at least four cats, a hatred of other humans, and a bathrobe. It’s not that hard and it’s so much better than college parties.

You might run into the problem of how to get cats. After a while, adoption fees might be too much or the lady at the adoption place might tell you that you’ve adopted “too many” cats and banned you from the shelter but that’s ok. There are people around Durham that just leave their cats outside. Gayle from Bob’s Burgers had the right idea when she stole random cats whenever she would leave her apartment. Like her, you will love those cats more than their owners did.

As long as you give them the delicious name brand food instead of the tasteless generic food that their old owners gave them you’ll be fine.

or social functions. All of those cats you brought home last week need kitten mittens and matching sweaters. Shouting at plants is pretty great. It’s a cathartic release and it tends to give you the aura of a powerful speaker. The Internet doesn’t hate you. You’re just one of the millions of people who hate wearing pants and is vocal about your love of cats. If you have any conspiracy theories like how the government is run by a cult that serves the hooded figures in the dog park, you have nothing holding you back from telling people. Society has already branded you based on how many cats you own. You honestly have nothing to lose.

Being a cat lady allows you to take your cats everywhere with you. You can put them in your Mary Poppins Bag. You can put them in your bathrobe pockets. You can also wear them. Remember when people used to wear Fox scarves?

That’s highly unethical and outdated. It’s better to wear your cat if they’re into that. It extends cuddle time with your cat, the cat gets to see the world, and that cat gets to have a chance at looking fabulous. Taking your cats everywhere gives you the chance to judge people in the moment with them.

Together, you can judge random people you’ll never see again as they are in the outside world.

Really sitting at home and cuddling with cats is much better than going out. Cats have proven to be great companions. Cats can bring you the gift of freshly killed animals. They can grant you permission to give them belly rubs until they decide to use your hand as a scratching post. They might not like you and only use you as their servant but as long as you love them, that is all that matters.

As a cat lady, you can try to tell people the truth about who really runs the government or how the water is filled is a chemical that is brainwashing us slowly. You don’t have to wear jeans again, you can bring your cats everywhere with you and you can throw them at people you hate. There are so many benefits to being a cat lady that nothing could go wrong. The worst that can happen is that someone calls you crazy or something along those lines. If you’re lucky, you might become a cat in due time.

While you might not be able to get free booze, you can have a party with your cats. Crack open cheap beer or cheap wine and drink your shame away. No one will judge you. Cats will judge you but cats judge everyone for everything.

It’s not just about owning the cats and being It’s in their nature. They’ll listen to your probphysically a cat lady. It’s also the mentality of a cat lems while you binge eat a meat lovers pizza lady. Real pants like jeans suck. Bathrobes and jogand confirm that you are not crazy for hanging gers are a much better alternative. You can just sit out with them instead of your drunk classmates. at home and knit all day instead of going to parties

STRESSED OUT By: Claire Cortese

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e all know the feeling: it’s late at night, and you’re sitting somewhere deep within the library.

Your head is in your hands, and an overwhelming sense of doom has settled over you. Maybe you have a paper to write, exams coming up or an endless number of pages to read for your classes. You’re probably running on minimal sleep, and there’s no end in sight.

Stress inevitably enters everyone’s life at one point or another, but college students are extra susceptible to the weight of it. Stress can come at you from every angle; Heavy workloads and late nights exhaust your brain and your body, while unhealthy relationships or living environments can be emotionally draining. You might notice some minor effects that stress has on you, but do you have any idea what it’s really doing to your body and your mental health? Here’s a clue: it’s a lot worse than you think. But before we dive into how stress affects us, we need to take a quick side trip to discuss the two different kinds of stress.

Acute Stress: Acute stress is the most common form of stress, and is often fleeting. It is our fight or flight reaction, it appears during a situation in which the body prepares to defend itself. In our daily lives, acute stress might take place if you experience a car crash or are running late to a meeting. It is exhilarating, short term stress.

Chronic Stress: Chronic stress is more detrimental to your health and wellbeing than acute stress. Sometimes known as “the cost of daily living,” chronic stress is longterm and grinds away at you day after day. It can be brought on by the pressure of bills, homework, exams, jobs, poverty or unhealthy relationships. This is the stress that we tend to ignore and push down.

Now that we know about the two different kinds of stress, let’s talk about how they can affect you.

Many of us may recognize some of the common surface effects stress, such as increased anxiety and irritability, fatigue, and weight gain or loss. What

you may not know though, is that stress can have as many as fifty common side effects. Both acute and chronic stress can cause severe emotional distress, leading to irritability, anxiety and depression.

Muscular problems are another common side effect, which may cause tension headaches, back pain, jaw pain and muscular tension. Additionally, stress often has a big impact on your stomach.

Some people eat less when they’re stressed, others eat more. Stress eating is in fact a real thing, and the increased production of the stress hormone, cortisol, causes weight gain. But on top of that, other stomach-related problems include heartburn, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome.

If that’s not enough to feed your fancy, then how about rashes and hives? That’s right, during times of increased stress, some people actually develop skin irritations. On top of that, your immune system also takes a huge hit, and can actually be weakened during times of increased stress, making you more susceptible to colds and infections.

This can be furthered by an insufficient amount of sleep, which goes hand in hand with stress. Lacking

sleep can make you feel stressed out because you are exhausted during your daily activities, however, stress can also cause you to lose sleep - it can bring on insomnia and even nightmares - that’s right, stress can actually make you have nightmares.

Social pressure, financial worries, relationship or family troubles and tense living environments all contribute to the weight of stress that a person feels. Many students have trouble balancing the weight and maintaining a level head; they may become depressed, develop anxiety, and start to break While that list of repercussions might send your under the pressure. If you feel like this might be head spinning, those are only the common surface you that I’m talking about right now, here are a few effects of stress. What many people don’t know is easy ways to reduce stress in your everyday life: that long-term chronic stress can have much more serious and potentially dangerous consequences.

People who suffer from severe stress for extended periods of time are at a higher risk for hyperten- 1. Meditation and yoga sion and stroke, are 27% more likely to have a heart Practicing meditation and yoga is a great way attack, and are also more likely to develop chronic to quiet your mind and restore balance. It slows health conditions, such as heart disease and arthritis, you down and has you focus on the here and now. later in life. Stress can also cause memory loss, as it There are free weekly yoga classes at the Whitt, interferes with neurotransmitters within our brain. so drop by and try one out in between classes.

It is known to trigger asthma attacks, and can actually double the risk of developing asthma. If that’s 2. Spend time in nature not bad enough, stress can also cause premature If you haven’t yet taken a stroll through colaging! That’s right, worry wrinkles are a real thing. lege woods, you should. Getting out into nature For college students, taking on a loaded semes- is another great way to slow down your mind by ter can lead to months of chronic stress, which separating yourself from the busy hustle-and-busmay in turn have any of the previously mentioned tle of campus life. Spending time in nature consequences later in life. General academic pres- can be incredibly restorative for many people. sure is enough to rattle even the most organized wildcat, but many other students are struggling 3. SLEEP No matter how much work you have, with other stressful situations on top of classes.

make sure you’re getting some quality Z’s.

4. Burn candles & listen to calming music

Paired together, these two make the ultimate zen environment to relieve stress, which is great for when you’re doing homework or studying.

Lavender and Eucalyptus candles are great for calming your senses. For relaxing music, I always turn to the “Spa Treatment” and “Your Favorite Coffee House” playlists on Spotify.

5. Talk to someone If you’re feeling overwhelmed to the point where you don’t know what to do, then you need to talk to someone. If friends and family members don’t help, then turn to the UNH counseling center. The counseling center provides a wide range of services for wildcats here on campus, including individual and group counseling and emergency/crisis appointments. There’s no shame in going to the counseling center and asking for help, more students utilize this resource than you might think. The counseling center is located on the 3rd floor of Smith Hall.

University of No Husbands By: Kate Sutherby

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here is no doubt that college is one of the greatest times of our lives; whether we choose to live our college lives as single or in a relationship, both sides seem to have a fun college experience.

However, after a summer of the worst celebrity breakups of all time, my hopes of ever finding a serious relationship have deeply descended. I’m not trying to compare Durham to Hollywood, but strangely there seems to be similarities when it comes to relationships. I don’t know where and when UNH acquired the nickname, “University of No Husbands” but it’s a popular term used around campus. This nickname can be confusing though because it seems as if our campus is split 50/50. Half are in relationships and half are single. But for the 8,000 or so of us who are single and want to proudly use the “University of No Husbands” term then this article is for you.

When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split, I felt as if my world was falling apart. That may be a little dramatic, but for a girl who religiously watches E! news and reads People magazine, this left me feeling romantically hopeless. But Ben and Jen were not the only ones who shattered my hopes of finding love. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, and Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt are just five out of twenty-four couples that have split since Memorial Day. So why do I feel like the celebrity bad break up karma is going to infiltrate my life here in Durham? I think as college students we are constantly immersed in social media and somehow these celebrities in one way or another infiltrate and affect our lives. Even if you are not an avid E! news viewer, you still are most likely aware of what is going on in today’s pop-culture. Maybe most people will look at all of these

Hollywood breakups as a typical occurrence and their relationship pitfalls as imminent. As for me, I believe pop culture stories like these are bound to psychologically affect us in one way or another. Because the media exposes such raw and emotional images of the difficult realities of breakups, I believe that I am subliminally scared of commitment.

The photos of Jennifer Garner looking distraught and depressed in the grocery store are bound to affect my “University of No Husbands” mantra.

There is no doubt it was a rough summer for Hollywood. However, fall and winter is considered to be “cuffing season” when normally single people find themselves in serious relationships. Will the singles of UNH be scarred from the breakups of many beloved celebrities? Will the “University of No Husbands” stereotype also discourage people to commit?

The Resume Turbo Booster By: Kyle Kittredge

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ften, students have hectic days with a lot of rushing around trying to finish essays or memorizing flash cards for upcoming tests while they didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Some get a turbo shot with their coffee. Usually two if it is a particularly stressful day. All of the things that added up to that moment seem pretty small, but in fact contribute quite a lot.

Looking forward in your career after college can be daunting, no doubt, and having a good resume is both stressful and important. But much like your morning coffee routine, you can give your resume a turbo boost with some of the little things such as extra-curricular activities. This extra dose gives your resume the energy that it needs when you may have been struggling with filling it before.

With over 314 organizations on Wildcat Link, it’s fairly easy to become an active member of the UNH community. Nowadays employers aren’t just looking at your GPA, they’re looking to see how responsible, passionate, committed, and independent you are, as these are often seen as transferable skills. The UNH Advising and Career Center will also tell you these are important in anyone’s resume. There are all kinds of organizations for anyone of any personality or major.

To start small (but is actually kind of big), a popular organization is any Hall Council. They offer various events on campus for your dorm all the time. If you don’t have anything to do on the weekends and want to make some friends while beefing up your resume, go check out a meeting. Event planning

is easy and is a good way to exhibit a strong sense and show your true potential rather than hide it away. of responsibility. Also, you’ll meet a large group of It shows there is some flavor to your metaphorical people that are endlessly trying to make every res- coffee; you add yourself some cream and sugar. ident comfortable. From here you can branch out.

If so, there is the Undergraduate Literary For all those business majors, this could lead and Art magazine, Aegis. They create a collection to coordinating expenses, teamwork, and cre- of black and white photography, poetry, and short ative thinking. Thinking of all of the ideas Hall fiction for the entire campus and publish an edition Council comes up with is a transferable skill. once a semester. Perfect for any English or art majors If you don’t live in a dorm, then consider the looking for a chance to show off their hard work.

Campus Activities Board, whose members Another option is the Hep Cats Swing Dance have similar jobs to Hall Council members only Club. Not everyone might enjoy this, but who they focus on organizing campus-wide events. knows? You might end up liking it. They practice Not the indoor, or business type? Would you swing dancing every week in the Memorial Union rather go outside rather than stay in a stuffy dorm Building. Lots of music, and confusion occur, room? Then Campus Recreation is a great organi- but it’s all in good fun. Music or theatre majors zation to consider joining. They provide a bunch might enjoy this as something to say that they of different sports and fun physical activities to took an initiative in to gain cultural enrichment. students. Things like broomball tournaments, socHowever, not everyone can handle a turbo shot cer leagues, basketball, ultimate Frisbee and more. in his or her coffee. Whether you prefer dancThere are many un student job positions available; ing, hiking, photography or events, there is most you can be a referee for intramural sports, a lifecertainly a club or organization for you! Meeting guard for aquatics, or even a fitness instructor. people from clubs and orgs is great networking.

If you like just hiking and backpacking, For example, there is Greek life, which also has then there is also the Outing Club, which goes on volunteering opportunities. There are even clubs trips all throughout the year to various locations specific to your major. There are ones for business, in the area. This can show commitment and ad- chemical engineering, environmental conservaventurous spirit on your resume, and you have tion, or whatever. There’s something for everyone. the opportunity to hike in places such as the When you walking into an interview and White Mountains with groups of people your age. you’ve had that turbo shot, employers will see

For the more creative people, there are a that you are doing what you can to be a good lot of options for showing your passion. Being cre- employee. That turbo shot, combined with a ative shows employers that you have depth to your well-flavored coffee and a few other ingredipersonality. It is important to let the creativity flow ents, will give you that extra push to succeed.

Students, Meet Second Hand Shopping By: Jenna Ward

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hen I arrived to college, I knew I could finally break free from high school’s relentless chokehold. The pressure to model mainstream trends, the dissatisfaction of buying cheaply made namebrand clothes for the sake of having “the name brand,” and the blatant lack of creativity all together. College liberates us from that suffocating grip and allows us to flourish as our true selves.

This is ultimately true in terms of style. The college environment thrives off of people who put their own unique spin on how they want to present themselves. Unfortunately, attaining a niche sense of style can cost a pretty penny. Luckily, students have discovered stores that are both beneficial to your wardrobe and easy on your wallet.

Behold, I proudly present first-hand experience to second-hand shopping. Second-hand shopping? Like buying clothes that have already been worn before? Absolutely! If this is a new idea to you, get ready for a life-changing lesson in achieving awesome style for a quarter of the price.

Throughout high school, I usually wasted regrettable amounts of money at trendy stores such as Forever 21, H&M or PacSun. I didn’t exactly have a set style that I claimed my own, but as a somewhat awkward teen I usually just stuck to wearing differ-

ent shades of black. Alas came college where I was introduced to different styles of music, people and fashion. My style blossomed as I began to idealize fashion trends from the late eighties and nineties. I embodied a tasteful collaboration of a grungy-punk nineties mom. You can probably picture trends that women modeled in this time period. Some that stick out in my mind include but are not limited to, the mini babydoll dress, mid drift tops, high-waist Levis and mini circle skirts. These articles of clothing were usually paired up with chunky combat boots, oversized flannels, tennis shoe/crew sock combo, denim jackets and puffy hair scrunchies.

Run Mall, Savers offers an endless variety of preowned clothing for men and women of all ages.

The place is literally a huge warehouse with an incredible amount of clothes to choose from.

My first visit to Savers opened my eyes to a whole new way of shopping for clothes. Walking in, I felt somewhat intimidated by the seemingly never-ending racks of garments. The aisles are designated for every article of clothing: women’s tops, sweaters, tanks, t-shirts, dresses, pants, jeans, skirts, shoes, bathing suits, jackets, etc. etc. The same trend goes for men and children. Beyond clothes, Savers also offers a wide selection of pre-owned furI wanted a casual, yet edgy, vintage look, but I niture, books, home décor, accessories, and more! didn’t want to pay a ridiculous price. Stores such While browsing through the selection, you will as Urban Outfitters will charge a high price of be awe-struck by how cheap everything is. From $60 for a pair of “vintage” Levi high-waist denmy own experience, I have seen most shirts for im shorts. Yes, 60 whole American dollars for men and women range from about $2 to $10, shorts. The capitalist-fueled madness continues jeans/shorts are typically $7 to $12, and shoes when you browse throughout the whole store. $10 to $20. From this, you can get the idea of Where was a perplexed individual like my- how things are priced at Savers. To add, the qualself supposed to find cool, aesthetically pleas- ity of the clothes do not reflect the price. Poping clothing at a reasonable price? Thankfully, I ular brands donated to Savers include Levi’s, was introduced to second-hand shopping. More Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Talbots and many specifically, Savers. Savers is essentially the full- more. Most clothes seem to be lightly worn. Not blown department store of second-hand clothes. to forget, Saver’s also offers a 20% discount for Located conveniently in Newington by the Fox students who present an ID every Thursday!

Although Savers offers all of these really great things for super low prices, a true trip to Savers takes dedication and commitment. Every trip varies, but there will be times where you will scan every aisle and not find a single thing.

Conversely, there will be times where you end up with an overflowing cart of hidden gems.

“The first time I went to Savers was probably my freshman year for a Halloween costume. Then that unlocked a whole new world for me,” says Chris. Chris, who describes his style as “an aesthetically cool mix of minimalist street style,” says he has found some really distinctive pieces at Savers over the years.

To reiterate, if you want to find cool pieces, you have to be patient and devote a decent chunk of time to the cause. There are days where I spend what feels like an eternity, digging through the racks looking for a shirt that doesn’t completely look like something a frumpy grandmother would sport. Also, to find those musthave high-waist “mom jeans” that perfectly snug your shape, patience is truly key when trying on different sizes. Another bump in the road of second-hand shopping is sometimes you will find a mysterious stain, or a lingering questionable smell on the items. Don’t let this stop you- a wash (or two) will make the clothes feel good as new!

“The most interesting thing I ever got at Savers was probably a rare Bape hat for $3 that sells on eBay for $150,” he said. “My other all-time favorites would have to be my Ralph Lauren crew neck sweatshirt that was practically new when I bought it, and a sick vintage Budweiser golf t-shirt. And not to forget, my Ralph Lauren pajama pants patterned with Polo embroidery.”

ple online who have a similar style, Dana says she usually will take the concept of a desired outfit and mimic it to suit her own style. Savers is an incredible tool in this sense, allowing her to be creative with her look. She has also spotted numerous amounts of quality brands from her experience.

“I’ve gotten super cool Doc Marten shoes at Savers,” Dana said. “I’ve also seen a nice selection of L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer products which are really popular here in New England.”

As a supplier of fresh, authentic clothes, Dana agrees that Savers is a necessity for college kids.

“The stuff is so cute and so good to the wallet,” she said. “I would rather drop $20 at Savers on a good quality vintage piece than on three crappy As a guy who puts considerable effort into fashion shirts that will be ruined after a few washes. You and style, Chris agrees that shopping at Savers is es- definitely have to be patient, but if I’m feeling sential for college kids who want a fresh, original look. good I will have a good shopping day at Savers.”

“Students should definitely take time to shop at Savers. First, to save a ton of money. Second, it lets you be creative rather than buying something Regardless of the occasional cons, the dedicathat’s on the display mannequins at PacSun or tion to a Savers shopping trip is always worth it. something. Savers brings democracy to fashion.”

I can confidently say approximately 75 percent of my wardrobe consists of items from Savers. Some From another perspective, UNH junior Dana of my greatest finds are big, comfy flannels I found Gingras is someone who earns the crown for in the men’s section, nineties high-waist jeans that “queen of second-hand shopping.” Dana, who I cut into shorts, and tanks and tees that I sport as pretty much opened the doors of second-hand trendy crop tops. People all around campus with- shopping to me, has some really great insights. out a doubt notice, too. There have been multiple “I started shopping at Savers when I was about occasions where I rocked my favorite high-waist 15 or 16,” she said. “One of my friends was like denim shorts (that were originally jeans), and my ‘there’s this new store Savers that’s like this gifriends asked if I got them at Urban Outfitters. ant room with cool clothes.’ At first I thought it Men on campus also swear by the awesome- seemed gross but then I realized it was the greatest ness of Savers. UNH senior Chris Kuist is a loyal thing.” Dana paints her stapled look as “nineties customer to Savers, and also says that purchases mom meets seventies boy ready to play baseball.” from Savers make up the majority of his wardrobe.

Inspired by old pictures of her mom, and peo-

At times, it may seem too easy to slip into the monotonous fashion trends that take over every shopping mall and online catalogue. Savers offers a little taste of everything, providing the creative and fashion-savvy shopper with a platter of endless options to choose from. College students benefit the most from Savers because one of the really great perks about living on a college campus is having the ability to stand out with your own distinguished look. Educating young people about how awesome second-hand stores like Savers are is a valuable lesson in terms of style and frugality. Don’t be hesitant; go out to Savers and give it a try! Just remember to keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to try to turn that grandma-looking cardigan into your new signature piece. College is about allowing yourself to develop all around as a person, so let your style flourish!

How to Die By: Rebecca Ma

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e as Americans are ter- tain actions in order to avoid an awful ending afrible at this dying thing. ter death. It’s pretty shitty because a lot of people do certain actions only because they want a hapAs a culture, we generally py ending and to be rewarded in the end. No one try to avoid death at all costs. really does nice things for no reason. We have It seems that it’s only Gothic theories about whether or not we’ll be reincarpeople that embrace death. Even then it’s highly nated or just get transported to a space of nothstigmatized. Being morbid is stigmatized and just ing. Radiolab did a segment on their show about talking about death makes people uncomfortwhat happens after death. One of the theories able. In American culture, death doesn’t really was that the atoms that make us are dispersed, have much of a place. It only has a place as the never to be together again. Radiolab only talked ultimate punishment, the absolute end of life, or about death once to my knowledge. Part of avoidconsequences for not abiding by the rules. Even ing death is also avoiding the subject of death. then, these are very negative positions and roles for death to be in. Because of this, death is ofIn Western culture, we don’t really have any holten feared and seen as an ugly truth rather than idays that directly celebrate death as an event or something that could be wonderful and leading the lives of our lost ones. In Mexico, they have to another phase of life. It can be an absolute- Dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead. It’s a nationly awful experience when we lose loved ones wide holiday to celebrate spirits of loved ones and because they no longer exist in our lifetime. their spiritual journey. In Japan, they have Obon festival. Supposedly the spirits of family members Growing up, death was not always seen as a and loved ones come back to their home and the negative thing. In my parent’s culture, death is but festival honors that. In Western culture, we only another part of life. Rather than the end, it’s the have Halloween. Halloween doesn’t really have beginning of a new life where greatness happens. I anything to do with returning spirits or death at used to have to participate in death day ceremonies all. It’s become the celebration of free candy from for my late grandfather every year and his death strangers, costumes, and scary things that are the shrine was in my kitchen. I sat under it every night farthest from human as possible. In traditional during dinner. I went to the graveyard every year death festivals, the honored spirits are still considfor his death day with family members in the wee ered close to humans as they once were. They are hours of the morning. A bunch of superstitions I treated as such with offerings of food and money. heard growing up had to do with death and spirits.

Halloween has monsters such as werewolves, vamDeath was not viewed as just a negative thing. When pires, or witches that are pretty far from humans. my grandmother died back in February, I was told They are not treated as such and only seen as the that after the mourning part of the funeral, there scary thing in the night. We have Memorial Day was a huge party celebrating the long life that she but it’s not a celebration unless you count barbehad. When my dad broke the news to me, he told ques, and sales as a celebration. It’s a quieter holme that it was a good thing because she was on her iday that is more about dead veterans rather than way to a new life and all that pain and suffering she loved ones and family members not in the military. dealt with in her later years was gone. She was celebrated for the long life that she had and everything In TV shows and movies, it’s flooded with young that she had lived through up until she died. She people in their prime and it more or less talks about left me a message before she died. She told me to living and life. Death to the main characters is not live for her as her kin and to not mourn her pass- an option unless it’s an episode of American Horing but to also celebrate life as a wonderful thing. ror Story or Degrassi. Golden Girls just opened a new box of topics that could be discussed. Because In Western culture, death is seen as the end of it’s about four horny old ladies living in a house life. Where everything ends. There is no new begintogether, they get to talk about death. For them it ning and your life and achievements are all gone. is more of a reality than anything else. They are all We’re so bad at dying that we have disputes over at the point of life where they need to buckle down what happens when we die. Religion is basically a and prepare for death. They’ve all accepted it and safety net for people when they die. They believe are living life, as they want to. Other mainstream in a possible ending for themselves because they TV shows can’t really talk about it. Friends can’t kill hope to not be conscious of what could happen. off Joey or Phoebe. Bob’s Burgers can’t just kill off We are taught to spend our entire lives doing cer-

Bob or Linda. They are characters that have a long time before they kick the can but the concept or the thought of death does not occur on the show.

Chris Traegar from Parks and Rec is possibly one of the greatest representations of the American fear of dying. Chris Traegar is a character from Parks and Rec who is known for being overly optimistic about life and who has comical health routines because of his fear of dying. While it was most likely the result of him being heavily traumatized from almost dying from pneumonia as a child, he does admit that his methods for trying to be healthy are extreme. His goal in life is to be the oldest human in the world and the healthiest person in the world.

He feels that he can achieve this by living an active lifestyle, eating extremely healthy avoiding anything that could shorten his life by a second and consuming a shitload of vitamins. He did this all because he wanted to live forever. Even though his methods are exaggerated such as taking a giant vitamin pill and avoiding anything that he deems unhealthy, it’s not far off from what Americans do to avoid death. We don’t have a shortage of doctors, we have a surplus of patients. While it’s great to be healthy and have a good body, we do it because we don’t want to die early. Like I said, we will do everything that we can to avoid death at all costs.

My message is that we as Americans need to embrace death. You don’t have to do the weird rituals that where you have to burn incense and paper money. You don’t have to purposely put yourself in danger like walking out into an open road or setting yourself on fire.

As a whole, we just need to know that death is another part of life rather than the end of it.

People! Start a bucket list to organize accomplishments you want to achieve before you die. I personally would like to learn how to swim and go to Harry Potter World. There’s the godforsaken phrase “YOLO” that reminds us that we should go for that extra shot or try to jump a shark because we only live once. MIA wrote a song called “YALA” or you always live again. She raps about how death is just part of the cycle of life before reincarnation. We don’t have to always have our eyes on death. We don’t have to relate every single conversation back to death. We just need to embrace it as a part of life. As we begin to embrace death, we can also begin to embrace life. If we can’t learn how to die and how to deal with it, how can we really understand what living feels like?

Dia de Muertos

Obon Festival

Halloween

Photos by Claire Cortese

Netflix and Chill?

By: Kyle Kittredge

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icture this: It’s getting late, and the homework is piling up. You’re tired and it would feel so good to just relax a little bit. You decide one half hour break won’t kill you, so you do the obvious and you text the person that you’ve been talking to recently, the one that you met at that party a few weeks ago and haven’t gotten the chance to hang out with yet, to see if they’d like to engage in a little late night stress relief. Your fingers nimbly maneuver across your phone screen, crafting your invitation as you calculate the perfect message.

You hesitate before finally clicking send. The message contains nothing but a suggestive three-word phrase that is simple in theory but carries highly suggestive connotations: “Netflix and chill?”

Once just a way of asking a friend to take it easy and just hang out, “Netflix and chill” has become the less forward way of asking that special someone to hook up. It didn’t used to be this way. It was the equivalent of having a beer at the end of a long day at work, hanging out with a new friend, and bonding with them over

a movie. No alternative meanings. But now Senior just five minutes into the film, the kissing starts. planation “Netflix and chill” was officially added to Urban Dictionary back in April of this year, its top definition reading “It means that you are going to go over to your partners house and fuck with Netflix in the background.” But how did it come to this? With the rise of streaming services the growing popularity of Netflix, college kids are now using Netflix as a means to attain a new type of one night-stand.

Instead of going out to crappy parties and getting drunk with the person you have been eyeing at all night, you can skip all that and simply send a text, Facebook message, or Snapchat cleverly disguised as an invitation to do something innocent.

“It means that you come over watch Netflix with someone you really like, and that you want to hook up with them,” said sophomore Andrew Kots, verifying the definition.

“Asking someone to hook up is way too straightforward nowadays,” said senior Adam Cook.

Rachel Lindberg gave an exas to why this is occurring.

“It’s because guys are terrible at flirting now, and that’s what they use to get with girls. It’s so pickup-liny,” she said, “They don’t know what else to ask.”

But some don’t know exactly what it means but offer a reason to why it is being used more frequently.

“I didn’t know what it meant,” said senior Matt Long, “But they try to sound suave when using it sometimes.”

Either way, we are probably wired to intertwine sex and movies with each other because of how frequently we see it in them. Plus a dark movie theatre is a good place to make out with someone when you are a hormone driven young adult.

I would much rather “Netflix and cuddle” instead of “Netflix and chill.” Curling up and watching a movie with that certain someone is a much better alternative. However, I can’t see us all suddenly stopping the “Netflix and chill” craze anytime soon.

Reign of Kanye By: Sage Anthony

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t’s Inauguration Day in the year is 2020, Obama and his predecessor have come and gone and the constant campaign commercials have finally left our TV screens. It may be the year of the rat on the Chinese calendar, but here in the U.S., it’s just the beginning of the reign of Yeezus.

That’s right, Grammy winning rapper and producer and pop culture’s signature bad boy, Kanye West has just won the Presidential race.

Too much for some of you to swallow? Even as Donald Trump is leading the current presidential poll and is running against someone going by the name Deez Nuts? Well, while you mope and exclaim “What has this country come to?” in your best dad voice, the rest of us wait for Beyoncé to finish the national anthem to watch Yeezy be officially sworn in to office. And as one looks on and tries to get into one of Kim Kardashian’s many group selfies, you can’t help thinking about what the next four years are going to look like.

There is one thing for certain, unlike a lot of our other presidents, us citizens will never have to worry about President West sneaking deals behind closed doors or selling the people lies.

Because even though he may have the country’s best interest in mind, he doesn’t care for your approval, he’s going to get what he wants done and he’ll tell you point blank. This is apt to be the same with our dealing with our allies and other foreign countries, just like in his position as head producer for GOOD Music. If Kanye likes what he hears he’ll make the deal, if he doesn’t, he won’t. There will be no nonsense about it.

What about his policies? Kanye’s whole campaign centered around boosting free creativity and ending the consumerist society we have built that threatens it. So we’re most likely to see policies that increase funding to arts and music programs and increasing taxes on big business. Because West’s whole campaign was about giving the younger gen-

eration a voice, his biggest obstacles won’t be the American people, but those inside the White House, the many senators and politicians who still cling to the traditions of the past. That’s why Kanye had little hesitation in bringing in his new federal officials.

Jay-Z may have been the obvious choice but Kanye took us all by sweet surprise when he announced that instead Jay-Z’s wife, Beyoncé Knowles would be his Vice President. It took her some convincing but Kanye knew that with her popularity and business savvy, Beyoncé would play a huge role in his election and presidency. To add a little flair, Kanye also appointed Tauheed Epps as Secretary of State. Epps, famously known as his stage names 2 Chainz or Tity Boi, graduated from Arizona Sate University with a 4.0 GPA and already showcased his debate skills while discussing marijuana legalization on the Nancy Grace Show.

Up the Punx- The Musical Life of Zac Mayeaux By: Jack Shea

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he first time I saw Notches play live, front- lot like having a conversation with Mayeaux; the man Zac Mayeaux was wearing a dress. album’s raw, straightforward production conveys a certain feeling of honesty in which the per“I thought it was funny,” said sonalities of its creators shine through with unMayeaux, referring to the incisurpassed clarity. Here, the band sounds like the dence. “I think that at some shows loud, unapologetic lovechild of Fugazi and WeeI feel a little too comfortable and want to zer, channeling their inner grunginess without try something weird. I just try to have fun.” sacrificing any pop songwriting sensibility. Above Today though, Mayeaux was sitting across all, though, the record is undoubtedly fun and the table from me wearing a blue flannel and positive-sounding—exactly what anyone who has black corduroys, his short, jet-black hair peek- met Mayeaux would probably expect from him. ing out from beneath the brim of a black and “I just think it’s catchy as shit,” said Mayeaux. yellow baseball cap with the logo for a band “I’d probably suggest it to anyone who likes called “The Pliers” scribbled across its front. anything loud, melodic, and…I don’t know?”

It’s Mayeaux’s carefree attitude that drives each But for Mayeaux, now a second-semester juof Notches’ fast-paced and undeniably catchy nior studying sociology at UNH, music has been punk anthems. Listening to the group’s recenta passion of his from an early age. A Portsmouth ly-released full-length LP High Speed Crimes is a native, Zac grew up in what he describes as a

“not-so-musical house,” and fell in love with music after discovering the band Nirvana at age 10.

“I remember the moment when I thought to myself, ‘This is my thing,’” said Mayeaux.

Shortly after, he began playing his own music on guitar and attending local shows, eventually discovering an interest in the do-it-yourself attitude of his local punk scene. Before long, Mayeaux was teaming up with friends to form bands at a relatively early age, eventually leading him to his current role in Notches.

“It was all really organic,” he said. “It just kind of happened super effortlessly.”

Aside from handling bass and vocal duties in Notches, Mayeaux also plays alongside his current roommates as bassist for indie rock act Heavy Pockets, who were recently forced to change their

name from “Little My” after receiving a threatening cease-and-desist letter from creators of the comic book Moomin, which both the band’s name and recent album artwork referred to. With each band having recently released their debut full-length albums, Mayeaux has been busy playing shows in the local area and even completed a short tour with dates in Ohio this past summer in which both bands shared the same bill.

While both bands are somewhat similar in their melodic, pop-oriented songwriting approach and raw punk aesthetic, Mayeaux said that each band serves very different purposes in his life. Notches, which came to life in 2013 from the ashes of Mayeaux’s former band, Billy Raygun, is very much Mayeaux’s main creative output, in which he is heavily involved with songwriting and artwork design duties. Heavy Pockets, however, is much more centered around the songwriting of singer-guitarist Shayla Riggs and is the first project with which Mayeaux has not been involved with songwriting. Rather, Mayeaux says that he is a “huge fan on Riggs’ songs, and describes their recently-released LP as “the most well-crafted” album he has played on, giving credit to the disc’s heightened production value and Riggs’s simultaneously political and personal lyrics.

“We took a really last-minute approach with that record, but everything gelled in this cra-

zy way,” said Mayeaux. “It was recorded in to him as a form of artistic and emotional relief. a day, but it really doesn’t sound like that.”

“Music is something that I take incredibly seMayeaux said that he enjoys the self-expression riously but I also realize that if you take it too that playing with Notches allows him, but also ap- seriously, it might suffer,” he said. “I say stupid preciates the opportunity to have a less vocal role things between songs. I don’t think that perin Heavy Pockets, where he is able to focus on his forming music is just for the audience, I think instrumental work. Between his roles in the two it’s also [for performers] to get something out. acts, Mayeaux said that he feels more musically I don’t fuckin’ exercise; what I do is play shows, satisfied than he ever has before, and despite his jump around and get all my energy out like that.” sometimes hectic schedule, he wouldn’t change it.

Mayeaux also said that practicing muAll of Mayeaux’s tireless musical multitasking sic has always felt like “homework” for him, leaves him with little free time, as he is also forced and that he hardly pays attention to honto balance his passions with his academic career. ing his technical skills, but rather focuses on He claimed that he has been able to maintain good using music as a means of self-expression. grades, but in order to stay constantly involved with “I kind of view a guitar or an instrument music, he often finds himself making sacrifices in as a tool—like an extension of when I was his social life, and often chooses music-based activithree years old and would use a crayon to make ties over more partying or hanging out with friends. something,” said Mayeaux. “I don’t really prac“I guess I’ve chosen to do music as my fun tice alone that much unless I’m writing something rather than hang out with people, usu- thing. I guess that’s pretty fuckin’ punk, huh?” ally,” he said. “I still kind of do that, but it’s It’s evident in talking to Mayeaux that he is clearly just with people that play music. I don’t realpassionate about his music. Citing inspiration from ly get fucked up as much as most people my bands that have been able to maintain long-lived muage do, and I wouldn’t change that. I guess that sical careers, it’s clear that Zac is in it for the long run.

I’ve centered my life around playing music.”

“I’d love to keep playing in these bands While music is certainly essential for him, Maforever,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.” yeaux still seems to view and handle it in a lighthearted fashion so that it loses none of its value

V is for Virgin By: Ally Couture

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irgin. Being a virgin in a culture that is all about sexuality is hard. Living in a college environment where sex is a varsity sport might be borderline unbearable. It’s all we talk about as students entering our twenties. Nothing in college excludes sex and you probably feel left out. FOMO is real, and the fear of missing out controls your voice.

Virgin. You might feel like this is something you need to get over with. You feel like if you had sex right now, you wouldn’t feel so naïve to others. Virgin. You’d be able to contribute to these specific conversations that follow a weekend full of drinking and off-campus parties. Maybe you feel like once it’s done, you finally have something that can be said. Or maybe you already show off this title as a laurel and are proud to use this word to describe yourself. You should be.

Virgin. You are probably embarrassed. You may think there is nothing in this world that is more embarrassing than being known as a virgin. Maybe this makes you feel unwanted, and this word is something that does not leave your tongue. Maybe you lie about your experiences and live a life where you hide this piece of you. Maybe you have a certain profile where you go and act anything other than chaste. Virgin. Your options dwindle when it comes to hiding this. You probably feel obligated to add to the conversation, and start dancing around the actual truth. Talking your way around this sub-

ject soon becomes challenging. Friends start to no- ing up with the entire junior class. So let’s talk about tice you don’t talk about it in a casual setting. You sex, or talk about not having sex. Salt-N-Pepa won’t don’t contribute to the conversation like they do. be as disappointed as you would think. Virgin.

You think they’re judging you. They’re not. Virgin.

Every day is a reason to be the 2.0 version of Virgin. Talk about the subject. When your friends yourself. Bettering yourself starts with accepting asked when the last time you had sex was, say nev- pieces of you that were unable to be mentioned, er. Look your friends in the eye and tell them you once upon a time. You are YOU for a reason. have never had sex. The feeling of relief might The way your life plays out should never resemnot come the moment it leaves your lips. In fact, ble the lives of others. Nobody experiences life it won’t. But now there is nothing tossed under quite like you do, so embrace this situation you the rug and stomped on from decades of college are in. Have all the sex you want, it’s your call. students. The more you let others accept this piece Don’t have sex, more power to you. Don’t feel of you, the more you will start to accept it yourself. that just because your shining moment hasn’t come Virgin. You have never had sex, that’s cool. You at the age of 19 or 20 doesn’t mean it never will. might not be ready, and that’s okay. Maybe you’ve It will. Be confident. Don’t just be confident in never even kissed anyone before. THAT’S OKAY. your presentation or your attitude, be confident You might not want to waste it. IT’S OK. Being a in your head. Stand up for yourself, TO yourself. virgin in college is not as uncommon as you think, Overcome this stress and embarrassment you and “shame” should never coincide with being ab- once faced just by thinking about being a virgin. stinent (although having a lot of sex is nothing you Virgin. You should talk about it. You should should be ashamed of either). Virgin. No V-card feel comfortable saying this word. I’m not sayholder walks around with the actual card taped to ing you should climb the fire escape on the side their forehead and there are a lot more out there of Huddleston and scream it consecutively until than you realize. Virgin. Worry about school. it makes you feel better, because that won’t realWorry about family. Worry about yourself. Worry ly do the trick. Accept it. Let others accept it, about how long the stir-fry line in HoCo is getand then accept the fact that they were going to ting because you are busy reading this magazine. accept it regardless if you accepted it yourself. AcDON’T worry about what others perceive you as, ceptance. Virgin. Identifying yourself by these 6 or what they will once they find out about the “real letters should be just as much of a privilege as anyou”. Don’t dwell on the fact that you aren’t hookother’s body count that is 6X yours. Pride. Virgin.

What Jack Kerouac and Instagram Have in Common (or don’t) By: Hadley Barndollar

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hen Jack Kerouac hit the roads of America in 1947, he didn’t have an iPhone in tow. Kerouac, whose “beat Bible” On The Road could be defined as the greatest account of the American road trip, documented his travels by typing on a continuous reel of paper after keeping numerous scribbled notebooks.

So here’s to the main point: “doing it for the Instagram.” In 2015, what does it mean for millennials to experience something genuinely?

Many will argue that social media prevents us from doing so. The constant pressures of appearance and self worth are some of the underlying themes to this growing phenomenon.

In an August New York Times article, Ethan Kross, director at the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan said, “There’s a tendency to curate the way we appear online. Constantly seeing all these positive developments in people’s lives is not necKerouac died before the word ‘Instagram’ had essarily good for one’s emotional well-being.” even been dreamed into being. So what do this counterculture writer and one of today’s biggest Perhaps a valuable point to note, Jack Kerouac media monsters have in common? Everything. embarked on a series of travels out of pure curiosity and romance for life. His experiences would Social media, and this is no secret, has essentially not be published until years later, proving that imchanged the way we as humans digest experience. mediacy isn’t exactly all it’s chalked up to be. So It’s a platform in which millions turn to to watch it’s something to think about. When was the last the lives of people play out around them, or remind time you did something honest and bona fide withthem that their lives aren’t as pretty as a Mayfair or out the desire to share it with the digital world?

Valencia filter with 32 degrees of added brightness.

Ultimately, it’s all about being in the moSounds pretty organic, right? nials today will most likely have grasping this concept, one in phasizes authentic experience

But millena hard time which emand feeling.

ment. These forms of technology suspend us from reality and prohibit us from absorbing the developing life around us. Perhaps time passes so quickly nowadays because we simply aren’t looking; our heads are in our phones.

The term “tech sabbath” has gained traction, referring to a detox from media consumption. It’s a chance to unhook our overly stimulated psyche from the complexity of cyberspace and relish in the essence of the real world. There are real things going on, people. Things have color, sounds, movement. And it’s very apparent we need a reminder that social media is not tangible, it’s a floating device.

And while we may miss the environment around us, the greatest loss comes when we change the way we interact and feel. It’s alarming how significant a real, genuine conversation is today, because of its rarity. Human interaction is the basis for how we digest experience, and once that is tainted, we’ve lost.

It all boils to down choice. Do you want to miss out?

Madbury Chaos

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By: Corey Scarano ore mornings than I wish to remember, I have woken up from a deep sleep to the loud, infuriating noise of a power tool. I throw my warm, cocoon of blankets off myself, sit up and peer out my tiny window shades just to see another man on my roof, jackhammering cement just inches from my REM sleep haven. When paying just under 1,000 dollars a month for rent, it’s hard to justify forfeiting a few extra bucks to purchase ear plugs and maybe some extra strength melatonin. When I’m sick and tired of tossing and turning and trying to count sheep over the pulsing cries of overused power tools and exhausted workers, I throw myself out of bed, despite it being hours before my alarm clock even sounds. But the

construction doesn’t end when my first cup of cof- the complex was near complete. But with its rise fee does. The work is non-stop throughout the day, there is bound to be a fall, Madbury Commons and the residents are very familiar now with the per- may have bitten off more than they can chew. petual power tools being used all over the building.

When agreeing to sign the lease for the apartment It took hundreds of workers, months I can barely afford, I first did some research. What of planning, dozens of floor plans and millions will be offered? I wondered. Madbury Commons of dollars to build the proclaimed “luxurious” answered. They promised a smart TV, brand new Madbury Commons, a new apartment complex appliances, a bank, a coffee shop (comparable to in Durham, housing over 500 University of New a Starbucks), and speedy Wi-Fi, for starters. What Hampshire students all in less than ten months. more could a college student ask for? I signed the lease, along with my three roommates, and paid my Madbury Commons is located right in the first 900 dollar deposit. That was almost a year ago. heart of Downtown Durham, and with the promise of brand new appliances, a full kitchen, Move-in day was a long-awaited, exciteindividual rooms, and fully furnished living spac- ment filled date. Living in Durham year round reales- it’s no wonder the spots filled up well before ly let me see the progress of Madbury Commons as

it went up. There wasn’t a single time I drove by the work site this summer without seeing something being done. Even at night, you could see the lights lit bright in the new standing structures of what would be the North and South buildings. The work was constant, and admirable for sure. But all that work in such short time made me wonder, will the quality prevail over this hasty construction fiasco?

Move in day was a few weeks ago. Since we moved in, there hasn’t been a day pass without a complaint. Madbury Commons’ resident, Abby Short, says, “The constant construction is brutal.

And on top of that, my bathroom was so poorly thought out that when sitting on the toilet, you actually look through the window into the Madbury Commons walkway area. On the first floor.

Needless to say the blinds are always closed.”

Shorts not the only one upset with the layout. Another Madbury Commons resident, Madeline Wheeler says that, “I was disappointed with the storage space in the kitchen. My roommates and I

find it difficult finding space for all of our groceries.” and a lot of money saved. The appliances really are brand-new, and most of the time, fully functioning.

Maybe if all the problems came one at a time, it The location of the apartments is what sold me wouldn’t seem so bad. But for my personal apartin the first place, located right on Madbury road, ment, we simultaneously had to deal with broken just minutes from all my classes and even closer Wi-Fi, a four-day-long cable outage and a shower to Main Street, where I guess I can walk to get my pressure suitable for a mouse that we had to get frothy latte. After acknowledging some of the fixed. Along with these pesky nuisances happening problems being expressed, Leasing Agent for Madwithin the actual apartment, what’s happening outbury Commons, Mimi Roper, says, “We want our side isn’t much better. That bank and coffee shop residents to be completely satisfied and happy with that were promised are nowhere to be found. Intheir living situation which is why do our best to stead, surprise, there is large amounts of yes, more resolve any issue that arises as quickly as possible.” construction going on in the ground level of the complex. The coffee shop, where I imagined rollMaybe living at Madbury Commons this year ing out of bed and ordering a frothy latte from, wasn’t ideal, for us 525 students are paying a lot is instead an abandoned space, filled with sweaty of money for a little of what we were promised. working men and, you guessed it, more power However, after the shops go in and the contools. The “bank” is vacant as well, not even a single struction is over, I believe this really will be the ATM to withdraw 20 bucks of beer money from. luxurious living that was assured. As I sit here and try to read my finished piece aloud, the ohAlthough there are a lot of problems, the living so familiar jackhammer sounds and competes is leaps and bounds better than a dorm. The fully with my voice volume. I can’t help but to laugh. furnished apartments made for a speedy move-in

Barcelona, Spain

Durham, New Hampshire

Why it’s Okay that Studying Abroad Wasn’t the Time of My Life By: Amy Rixon

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stuck in a post-nap grogginess while my roommates were living the dream. It made me jealous, but I realized that at this point in my life, UNH is the perfect place for me. I do not have bad days while I am on campus, because Wildcat Country I left for Barcelona two days after New has helped me shape the person I am proud to be.

Years. My resolution this year was to stop feelI think that happiness is a product of our ing guilty about things I didn’t do. The instant I environment because if what we value does landed in Barcelona, I failed my resolution. I was unhappy, guilty that I was unhappy, shameful that not fit into what we do, it is difficult to live I was guilty, and unhappy that I was shameful. up to our own expectations. I could not live up to my own expectations while abroad, Have you ever ordered a huge burger and went but this does not mean that I failed myself. to shove it in your face but didn’t know how to I will admit that I did not do my research about pick it up to start eating it? Studying abroad was Barcelona before I decided to go. I essentially like that for me. I was starving for new experiences but I ended up with mess all over my shirt. threw a dart at a map because I figured that it is impossible to have a bad time abroad. This myth was I am writing this to tell myself that it’s okay debunked when I got to Barcelona, because the city that it was not the best time of my life. For the and I were not compatible. Barcelona is a city that four months that I was abroad, I cried almost ev- feeds off of tourism and parties, but not much else. ery day. I was homesick and as hard as I tried, it While this is perfect for most of the people that never went away like people said it would. I was study there, it was not my cup of tea. I wanted a difLiving in a large city with so much happening can be really lonely. It’s overwhelming.”

– a quote from my blog while I was studying abroad in Barcelona last semester.

ferent type culture and a few extra hours of sleep.

Now that I am home, the question people always ask me is: “how awesome was Spain?” and my answer is always: “eh, I’m glad to be home.” It is not that I was miserable; it simply was not the best time of my life. Everyone loves the movie Zoolander and I hated it… but that is okay too.

I am incredibly grateful for my opportunity to study abroad and I will never deny that fact. I recently told my friend a story that started like this: “One time during spring break in Germany, I was standing at a castle overlooking a pasture of bison…” She stopped me to point out how outrageous of an introduction that was. My friend is right because I had an experience that I will never be able to do again. I saw places I may never return to or may not have visited without this experience. I would not give back my opportunity to study abroad, because out of all the places I visited, I can officially say that UNH is my favorite.

Photos by Kyle Kittredge

Getting Shucked Up By: Jamie Smith

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ood trends, like other such passing phases, are here one day and gone the next. Like, remember when everyone was obsessed with cupcakes? Bakeries specializing in cupcakes—cupcakeries, naturally—sprung up all across the country.

Nowadays, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cupcake in these parts outside of the dining hall. Or kale? Where on earth has all the kale gone? The last time I ingested what was slated to be “the new lettuce,” Taylor Swift was still a country artist.

that the food that has decisively infiltrated the making the water they live in cleaner and more livSeacoast area is a slick little bivalve that the big able by filtering out nitrogen and other pollutants. cities have known about for years: the oyster.

Thanks to efforts from The Nature

Most commonly eaten on the half-shell, Conservancy and UNH, a concerted effort to try oysters have been part of the American diet since to revive what was once a 900+ acre oyster reef before Europeans landed here. By the 1800s, an oys- in Great Bay has kicked into high gear. One of ter bar could be found on every corner in cities like their largest initiatives is the recycling of oyster New York and Boston. Members of the working shells and surf clam shells from the community class slurped down these salty bites with a pint of in order to create a hospitable environment for beer at their local watering hole because they were oyster larvae to grow into “spat”—a term used cheap, healthy, and readily available. But as has hap- in the growing process when referencing oysters pened with many types of seafood, the oyster was that have latched onto a suitable growing surface overfished and fell victim to disease and pollution. (like old oyster shells). These shells are essenIt went from the food of the working class to a del- tial to the rebuilding of this habitat, and many icacy found in only the most exclusive restaurants. local restaurants are involved in this process.

You could say we are in such phases with foods like fancy hot sauce and bacon; once foods relegated to your local Mexican restaurant or Sunday breakfast, respectively, both have risen to such a level of ubiquity

Yet thanks to the popularity and sustainthat bacon alarm clocks and sriracha tattoos arability of oyster farms, oysters have solidly made a en’t weird things to reference in conversation. comeback. While most farmed seafood often gets a

Surely, it is easy for a food to fall vic- bad rap, farmed oysters are different. In fact, more tim to the trope of fads that’ll make your eyes than 90% of the oysters consumed today are farmed, bleed if you have to see them again, so it evi- and the benefits are immense. As filter feeders, oysdently takes something special to give a food ters don’t need to be fed by those who grow them; staying power. While I cannot say with certainty rather they are able to take what they need from what this something special might be, I am sure their environment. At the same time, the oysters

Naturally, this effort has spawned a surge in oyster farms in the area as well. Fat Dog Shellfish Company was started by Jay Baker and Bob Boeri along with Bob’s son Alex, a recent UNH grad who has a degree in Marine Biology. Baker says that Great Bay is an ideal place to grow oysters because “the entire system is enclosed by land and well protected. That keeps the oysters and the oyster gear protected from severe weather.” Even more

than that, Baker says Great Bay’s distance from the ocean (about seven miles) works in their favor, making the water a little warmer and the growing season a little longer. Because Great Bay is eutrophic, which Baker describes as “a water body suffering from over enrichment” from things like agricultural runoff and stormwater, the oysters’ presence is more important than ever. Development along the edges of the Bay can cause things like nitrogen and phosphorus to create algal blooms, which can be a detriment to many marine organisms. Thankfully, these blooms are filtered out by the oysters, and because they must work quickly to keep the bay clean, oysters tend to grow quickly in the Bay.

Fat Dogs are not the only ones getting in on the action. The Great Bay area alone churns out oysters like the Bay Point, Wagon Hill, Moose Cove, Granite Mountain, Little Grizzlies, and Fox Point. Luckily, an influx of restaurants dishing out oysters in the area has made all of these bivalves even more accessible.

One such restaurant is Row 34 in Portsmouth. The sister restaurant of the identically-titled Row 34 in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston, Row 34 has been making a splash in the area since their Memorial Day opening a few months ago. On any given day, a variety of oysters can be found on the half-shell, fried, or on top of juicy burgers in the industrial-chic restaurant.

Founded as a partnership between Boston restaurateur Garrett Harker, renowned chef Jeremey Sewall, with Skip Bennett and Shore Gregory from Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Row 34 was both a follow-up to their enormously successful Island Creek Oyster Bar (also in Boston) and a response to centuries ago when oysters were accessible to members of any class. They figured that their neighborhood oyster bar concept could succeed just as well in Portsmouth as it has in Boston, and judging by the wait for a table on a weekend night, it’s safe to say they were right.

tions of each oyster offered at their daily-changing raw bar. Again, the comparison to wine is evident, as some of their selections are described as having “mild earth tones” or a “sweet finish.” They too make an effort to get their oysters locally, featuring Fat Dogs, Little Bays, and Moose Coves at the time of my writing this, and also participate in the effort to reseed Great Bay through shell recycling.

Alas, no discussion of oysters is complete without touching on what is likely to be considered the most controversial oyster question: what is the best way to eat them? If getting some on the half shell, they’ll likely be accompanied by some lemon slices, cocktail sauce (with or without horseradish) and a vinegar-and-shallot-based sauce called a mignonette. Also frequently offered is an assortment of hot sauces, from tabasco to sriracha. With all of these options, it can be daunting to choose, which, if any, add-ons you prefer. Jay Baker likes a dash of hot sauce on his, but suggests if you’d like to truly connect to the environment in which the oysters are grown, you ought to “eat them raw, on the half shell, no dressings, and don’t be afraid to take your time with them.”

I personally have been having mine with a squirt of lemon juice and a small spoonful of the Spicy Mignonette from Row 34, though it is hard to beat the flavor of a freshly shucked oyster as is.

Their eponymous Fat Dog oysters are grown via a rack-and-bag method, which involves the oysters sitting in metal cages that are a few inches above the bottom of Great Bay. This method is how Fat Dogs get their deep cups and brittle shells— the pampered life of a rack-and-bag oyster allows them to not have to fight for space with their fellow oysters and can grow as they please. As far as taste goes, Fat Dogs are briny with a clean finish, and all of that has to do again with their growth in the Bay. An estuary like Great Bay is by definition a body of brackish water, meaning it is a mixture of more saltwater than freshwater. Oysters, similar to grapes used to make wine, take on the flavor of

Just over the bridge in Kittery, ME, is the environment in which they are grown--when Robert’s Maine Grill. Located on a marshy area of

Regardless of which topping you speaking wine, this is called terroir, so for oysters, Spruce Creek, it is a hidden gem amongst outlet choose, I am sure that you’ll have time to it is called merroir. The salinity of Great Bay is shopping and fast-food drive-thrus. It is clear that try them all, because oysters are here to stay perfect for growing briny oysters like Fat Dogs. they take their oysters seriously, giving taste descrip- on the Seacoast, and we are all better for it.

Liz with Execuive Editor Alison Osius

Mt. Sopris

Climbing Rocks and Writing for a Magazine

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By: Liz Haas

ost interns fetch coffee. Many listed on the UNH journalism website wasn’t my file paperwork. I did neither. first choice, and the Boston Globe doesn’t hire first-time interns; I attempted to “think outside This summer I found an internof the box.” I had recently discovered—become ship better than any I could have obsessed with—rock climbing after joining the invented, no matter how many UNH club team the previous semester, so I goodays I spent dreaming one up. I interned at Rock gled “climbing magazine internships.” Two magand Ice Magazine, a climbing magazine based in azines popped up: Rock and Ice and Climbing.

Carbondale, Colorado, a small town near Aspen that sits a little over 6,000 feet above sea level. I never I read the description for Climbing first; it soundfetched coffee, but I was asked if I wanted coffee. ed like fun, and I’d heard of Boulder, Colorado, beI was also offered free beer on Friday afternoons. fore, but it did say that I would “organize backstock of magazine issues” and conduct “miscellaneous tasks around the office.” Basically I would get to I discovered the internship during the second write pieces for the magazine when I wasn’t orgasemester of my freshman year. I’d finally com- nizing, filing or getting coffee. I planned to apply. mitted to majoring in journalism and knew that Then I read the description for Rock and Ice. to graduate I’d need to complete an internship I could not have imagined a more perfect infor my capstone. Being type-A, I started searching ternship. The online description read as follows: for ideas immediately. Writing for the local papers

Duties: Internship duties vary depending on experience, expertise and willingness to learn, but typically include: •Writing magazine pieces •Writing website pieces, especially news (we’d like to see at least one news item posted every day) •Researching stories and fact checking •Copy editing •Brainstorming for article and marketing

Perks: •Get the inside scoop on how magazines really work •Hang with an office of fun, outdoorsy folks who want to make you part of the team

Photo by James Harris

•Experience the world-class climbing and run- though I did have to upload old magazine articles ning on Colorado’s Western Slope to the website, a task that everyone in the office, including my executive editor, helped with. I didn’t •Break into the magazine field boulder indoors every Tuesday night with the office crew because the weather was nice. Instead, we left •Go bouldering every Tuesday night work early most Wednesday afternoons to climb Nowhere did it say that I would have to orgaoutside in Rifle Canyon, one of the most popular nize magazines or perform miscellaneous ofsport climbing destinations in the country. I was fice tasks. Instead, I was invited to hang out granted access, free of charge, to a local high school with people who love climbing and the outdoors climbing gym, and my editor asked me to join her as much, and probably more, than I do. And I for lunch-break climbing sessions several times. could go bouldering every Tuesday night. Dream Besides writing four to five articles for Rock and internship found. I applied the next October.

Ice’s website each week, I copy edited drafts of articles that would go into the magazine, fact-checkNow, you might be wondering: Was this in- ing names and dates and looking for ways to ternship really everything it said it would be? Did shorten pieces to meet our strict word counts. I she really get to enjoy all of those “perks”? How saw features transformed from jumbled colleccould a college internship be someone’s dream job? tions of disjointed tales to cohesive accounts of foreign adventures scaling cliffs and evading the The answer is yes and no and much, much more. police. I discussed every change one-on-one with I arrived in Carbondale on Memorial Day and my editor, who compared my notes to hers, tellstarted my internship the next day. After getting ing me which changes she would have made so lost on the way to the office, I arrived before my I would know what to watch for in later drafts. editor—read boss—so I got to meet the online edThe online internship description greatly underitor and the intern I was replacing while we tried to stated the number of perks involved with interning clear two dozen boxes off of an extra desk. Two at an outdoor magazine in the summer. After my hours later, I had my first web article assignment. second week in Carbondale, I was invited to go The next day, I was officially published online. to the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado,

tition in the United States, but also holds events for professional runners, kayakers and slackliners, as well as their dogs. I was handed a VIP pass and a Media pass, which granted me access to athlete lounges for interviews and the media section for photographers respectively. I took over 300 photos of the top international climbers during the World Cup climbing competition, and on Monday morning I began working on an online photo gallery for the magazine. I now have 21 photographs published online—not something I anticipated in the least; since, until then my photography training started and ended in my high school Photo 1 class.

I attended Rock and Ice’s photo camp, a threeday camping trip—we slept in tents—for photographers to learn techniques for shooting outdoor roped climbing and bouldering from professional outdoor photographers. I was there “to help out,” which meant I got to walk around in free Adidas and Edelrid gear after helping carry photographers’ backpacks to the cliffs and making 35 sandwiches. I also modeled some lifestyle shots for the photographers to practice taking profiles and detail pictures.

The result: I came home with a new pair of climbing shoes, a pair of Adidas booty shorts and my picture was printed in the latest issue of the magazine—my one second of fame has come and gone.

The description also failed to mention that I I was never asked to organize old magazines, which not only hosts the biggest climbing compe- would meet and hear PowerPoint presentations

by the top outdoor climbers in the United States, including Sasha Digiulian, at the International Climber’s Festival in Lander, Wyoming; sit in on lectures by renowned climbing writer John Long, “Largo,” and freelance writer, blogger and Rock and Ice Editor at Large Andrew Bisherat at the Rock and Ice John Long Writing Symposium; and travel to Salt Lake City to attend Outdoor Retailer, the biggest biannual outdoor industry trade show in the country. Have you heard of Tommy Caldwell and the Dawn Wall? Tommy signed and wrote #whatsyourdawnwall along the rim of my Dawn Wall pint glass—I was mildly star-struck and more than mildly awkward.

To sum up my experience, which is no easy task, I basically hung out with a small group of writers, there are about eight people in the Rock and Ice office each day, and talked about climbing and climbing news after stalking athletes on Facebook to find out what impressive rocks or cliffs they had

recently ascended. I could take a lunchtime jog if I needed a break from staring at my computer screen or leave early one or two days a week to go climbing as long as I finished the articles and edits assigned to me. I learned that if you work when you’re at work, then you can leave to do the things that make you happy when you’re done, not when the clock says you’re done. Not every job is like that, but maybe more of them should be.

hometown, Hanover, New Hampshire. It would have made life easier, and less expensive, living at home for free instead of paying for gas to drive 36 hours west, but I wouldn’t have gotten to visit Colorado, or Utah or Wyoming. I wouldn’t have experienced a more outdoor-focused lifestyle or spent the summer writing about a topic I love. I wouldn’t have found my dream internship.

So, whether you have to complete an internship for your major or not, first of all, try to find one. In 12 weeks I learned more about modern journalism and what I’d like to do after I graduate than I have in all of my classes up until this point. Secondly, consider thinking outside of your comfort zone when looking for positions; don’t limit your opportunities to what past UNH students have done or what is close and familiar.

Internships can be a much more than just a resume builder, but only if you search for one alI would not have had this experience if I’d lows you to explore and develop your passions. applied to the Valley News, the paper near my So, yes, my internship was pretty cushy, and in a gorgeous setting with hiking and mountain biking trails half a mile from my office and more rocks than I could hope to climb in ten years within an hour radius of my desk. I climbed with my editors on the weekends, and, when I asked from one day off to hike Mt. Sopris, Cardondale’s nearly 13,000-foot backdrop, my editor not only said yes but asked if she could join.

Main Street MAIN STREET MagAzine Magazine

Main Street Main STREET Magazine MAGAZINE Summer 2015

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