Summer 2016 by Main Street Magazine

MAIN STREET MagAzine Summer 2016

A Class Above Ground pg. 20

Editor’s Note Summer...Summer...Summer...Summer... Summer! It’s our vacation! Well, almost. Just a few weeks left. Finishing up the semester and taking finals is really hard but Main Street Magazine is here to serve as an educational and fun distraction.

albums mentioned.

In this issue you can read about what it’s like to be on medical cannabis and also what it’s like to love the Kardashians. As usual, we have book, food, music, and movie reviews. Feel free to procrastinate from studying by listening to one of the many

Displayed on the cover this issue is aerialist Larissa Claar. On page 20 you can read about her experience with what it’s like to take a class in the air. As usual, a huge thank you to all of our contributing writers. And, congratulations to our graduating staff; Jack Shea, Claire Cortese and Liz Haas. Best of luck in your future endeavors. Main Street will miss you. Until next year Wildcats!

Morgan Cutolo, Editor-in-Chief Jack Shea, Content Editor Liz Haas, Content Editor Corey Scarano, Content Editor Claire Cortese, Photo Editor and Contributing Writer Lilly Radack, Contributing Writer Ally Couture, Contributing Writer Larissa Claar, Contributing Writer Cierra Dubinsky, Contributing Writer Beccy Anderson, Contributing Writer Alli Weseman, Contributing Writer Kyle Kittredge, Contributing Writer Jamie Smith, Contributing Writer Andrew Hartnett, Contributing Writer Domenic Paolo, Contributing Writer Brendan Freund, Contributing Writer Rebecca Ma, Contributing Writer

-Morgan

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

Main Street Magazine Summer 2016, Issue 4

Featured Article

An Open Letter to the Class of 2016 “Do not let the uncertainty of your future scare you. Consider it a blank canvas upon which you can paint whatever your heart desires, no matter what that may be. The world is your big, beautiful oyster.”

Page 28

Features 12 Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? 16 I Use Medical Cannabis 27 The Life of a Host 35 UNH “Bucket Lists”

Local 14 College in 3 Years 24 UNH Women’s Rugby 26 Vape Culture 34 Co-ed Living

Reviews 6 Book 7 Film 8 Music 10 Restaurant

Opinions & Satire 13 #HummusFace 22 Instagram You vs. Real You 23 In Defense of the Kardashians

22 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.

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.mainstreetunh.com @mainstmagazine

Contributors In order by row: Jack Shea, Alli Weseman, Beccy Anderson, Jamie Smith, Lilly Radack Liz Haas, Brendan Freund, Larissa Claar, Claire Cortese, Kyle Kittredge Ally Couture, Andrew Hartnett, Rebecca Ma, Corey Scarano Domenic Paolo, and Cierra Dubinsky

Staff Picks

Things MSM Staff Love Right Now

Kale Chips- Not all “chips” are bad for you. This melt-inyour-mouth snack is packed with vitamins A and C and calcium and comes in flavors from Ranch to Texas BBQ to Mango Habanero (and more!). Want to save a few bucks? You can make them at home in 30 minutes. -Liz

Amazon Prime Music- Who even knew this came with the subscription of Amazon prime? With prime being as amazing as it is already I thought no way this could get better..... It does. Amazon Prime Music is an app FREE that is basically Pandora and Spotify all in one- and yes- there are no ads. It is amazing and all I’ve been using to listen to music lately wether at the gym or driving to work. Amazon Prime has my heart... And my credit card information. -Corey

Crepes- Nutella, banana and strawberry crepes are so good that they should be their own food group. -Claire

Student Loans- Just kidding! This is gonna suck. -Jack

Stonyfield Yogurt Smoothies- You have to try these! Trust me, even if you don’t like yogurt, still try them. Once you do, you’ll always have a quick, filling breakfast. Also, don’t be embarrased to buy more than one box at a time; my roommate and I buy 8. -Morgan

Book Reviews “Ready Player One” By: Ernest Cline

eady Player One is a science fiction and dystopian novel published in 2011 and written by Ernest Cline that involves heavy references to 80’s pop culture, nerdy gaming jokes, a reenactment of the movie War Games and one messed up future society. It is at a high school reading level, so the writing is a little flat and kind of cheesy, but it’s also fun.

stacked on top of each other.

Wade’s luck turns once he discovers a clue containing the Easter egg that the creator of the OASIS, James Halliday, made for users to solve once he died so that someone could take control over the OASIS. By discovering the first key, leading to the next clue, Wade is brought into a world of adventure, fame and danger after everyone else scrambles to find the keys The novel takes place in the year 2044, where so- that unlock three gates in the OASIS to solve the ciety has become overpopulated and crime-ridden. giant puzzle and claim the virtual reality world for Food shortages are everywhere and big companies themselves. hold all the power. The twist is that a public virtual reReady Player One is a futuristic version of Charlie ality system called the OASIS is frequently preferred and the Chocolate Factory, combined with every 80’s over real life, with most people living entirely within movie, game and TV show you can think of. This asthe system. pect of the book can become annoying after a while, The OASIS functions as a massive multiplayer as does the author’s frequent “showing” instead of online role-playing game, and this is where the main “telling,” but, if you read past that, it holds up and character, Wade Watts, comes in. He is a teenager speaks about how addicted society is becoming to the that epitomizes the gamer within society, logging on online world. for hours each day, hardly sleeping, making microIf you are a true nerd, you’ll love this book. wave food to sustain himself and living in a crowded “trailer park” that consists of multiple trailers -Kyle Kittredge

“The Winter People” By: Jennifer McMahon

he Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is a fantastic novel that triumphs as a suspenseful thriller. The storyline forms around past and present ghostly rumors that haunt a small town in Vermont. Darkness falls around the Devil’s Hand, a creepy wood that swallows up characters and rarely spits them back out. McMahon masterfully weaves together two timeframes, 1908 and present day, into a cohesive story. She does so with a few common threads: location and experience with tragedy. Sara, a woman who suffered a tragic life with the passing of her daughter, was found murdered in the backyard of an old house near Devil’s Hand. We learn of her life through a secret diary she wrote when her daughter passed away many years before the other protagonist, Ruthie, and her family moved into that same secluded house. Ruthie struggles to protect her family’s privacy after her mother goes missing. Though these characters are separated by more than a century, they each find that their house is filled with supernatural secrets concealed beneath floorboards and within hidden compartments. The book alternates between

Sara and Ruthie’s lives, and, although it took some getting used to, it was a strategic choice by McMahon. McMahon has a knack for fashioning a disturbing fictional world, and the proof is in the nightmares it gave me when I read “The Winter People” before bed. She writes quick moments of terror introduced by long spans of tension. She capitalizes on the feeling of being followed, the anxious suspense of a rattling door handle and bringing back the dead in a new, gripping way. This novel is an example of a classic ghost story that has risen to new heights and surpassed cliché “things that go bump in the night.” A book that is made up of secrets and mysteries is one that is often easy to read, and The Winter People is no exception. With every page there is hope for the secrets to be revealed, but the twists keep winding up until the two stories become one, exposed with terrifying detail. -Beccy Anderson

Film Reviews By: Rebecca Ma

Jiro Dreams

Sushi

don’t know about you but I love food documentaries. I used to be obsessed with the show “Unwrapped” because it was the food version of “How It’s Made”. If you look strictly at the title and the poster, it seems like a weird hipster documentary on a crackpot old man who is addicted to sushi. However it ends up being quite the contrary. While it may seem like a boring film about how to make sushi, it ends up being a heartwarming and bittersweet story of a man’s passion for sushi, his adaption to the changing world, his fame, and his relationship with his son. Jiro Ono owns a ten person sushi restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station. His sushi is considered the best in the world at $300 a meal. He was awarded three Michelin stars that further added to his fame. The viewer is taken through all of the steps in the sushi making from the fish market to the customer. It shows his technique, all the prep work done by the apprentices, and his love put into the work. The director also goes into different aspects of Jiro’s life which are often overshadowed by his passion for sushi. Jiro has two sons. His eldest son still works under him in his restaurant while his other son has his own restaurant in another district in Tokyo. Jiro says that

2011

he’s concerned if his eldest can even continue his legacy but people who used to work with Jiro say otherwise. There is a tense part between the two as Jiro refuses to let go of his traditional values to work until death and his eldest is left in his shadow until then. The movie really hits close to home and presents a real Asian father/child relationship where honor and tradition are the major themes. Jiro ends with commentary of overfishing and the dying ocean because of the demand of sushi. The movie was something lyrical and reminded me of eating a good meal. It was fulfilling and had all five flavors.The film mirrors his sushi whereas less is more, and the minimalist aspect adds to the appeal and brilliance of the film. They said that eating his sushi was like hearing an orchestra. The movie paired with a classical score, attempts to show the viewer what it is like to eat sushi at Jiro’s. There was much more to the film besides the interviews and comments from each of the people in Jiro’s life. What was not said in the film between Jiro and his son made up some of the most important details of the film. It’s a beautiful documentary that is easy to fall in love with and leaves you hungry for more.

The Barkley Marathons:The Race

f someone asked me to choose a documentary that best represents America, I’d pick this one. This is a documentary about an ultra marathon that is considered one of the toughest in the world. At face value, it doesn’t seem like that exciting of a documentary. It’s one of the hundreds of ultramarathons that people train their entire lives for or do for fun. Unlike other ultra marathons, there is an low budget, enjoyable, part of it. There is a comedic aspect to the documentary rather than film of people crying and popping blisters. The co creators, Lazarus Lake and Raw Dog are pictured as rednecks who want to have fun. They choose people who enjoy themselves and that they enjoy too. It becomes a film that is somewhat inspiring and reaffirms faith in humanity.

that

Eats Its Young

processes including a test and eventually Lazarus and Raw Dog pick out 40 contestants.The race is comprised of five 20.6 mile loops in the Frozen Head National Park in Tennessee. The course changes every year and is mapped by Lazarus and Raw Dog. Each loop goes up 12,000 ft in elevation and back down 12,000 feet. The runners have 60 hours to complete all five loops and with every loop, they must collect pages from books hidden on the course. Majority of the course is off trail and in the middle of nowhere. GPS and another another electronics are banned and there is one master map that the runners must copy if they don’t want to get lost. As each runner drops out, taps is played for them on a bugle and they get to push the easy button. The film receives commentary from former contestants and current runners in the 2012 marathon. They document the different definitions of The film documents the 2012 Barkley Marathon. success and failure that every runner experience and It goes into the history and the logistics behind the how in the end everyone genuinely enjoys their time marathon. Every year there are only forty runners with each other . chosen out of the hundreds of applications they get. One of the runners is chosen because they are The movie is hilarious and incredibly American. the “sacrificial virgin” who will drop out first. In the It really makes you question what success is what film, it’s a guy named Tim. The application process kind of people you associate yourself with. It has the requires the applicant to find an address from a Bar- perfect amount of ridiculousness to counteract the kley veteran or someone else applying. The person suffering of the runners. It also has some heartbreakthen has to send a dollar sixty, a license plate, and an ing moments when your favorite runner is forced to essay about why they think they should be entered quit. It’s one of the best documentaries that everyone into the marathon. The applicants go through more should definitely watch.

2014

Music Reviews

The Ready Set

M83

Laura Welsh

The Ready Set “I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love” Hopeless Records

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 M83 “Junk” Naive

Overall Rating: 4.5/10 Laura Welsh “Soft Control” Polydor Records

The Ready Set is a name that might ring some distant bells for most people, being the one-man band behind the 2010 platinum-selling single “Love Like Woe.” Since then, he has fallen back into the dark a bit and has released a handful of EPs, some singles, and one other album that didn’t gain much traction. However, his newest release I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love is ready to throw him back into the radio spotlight with its stadium sound and infectious melodies, and just might be a contender for the top album of 2016. This album’s tracks blend genres all across the board, and make some musical influences very evident in certain tracks. The album begins on “Disappearing Act,” a track that brings pop rock to the forefront and shines through its guitar lines, layered vocal harmonies, and bouncy electronic percussion. That same pop rock idea can also be seen in “Run With Me” as it starts with an intro that sounds like something written by The 1975, grooving along into an energetic chorus and even more guitar lines that truly fuel dancing, all under lyrics that will be stuck in heads for days at a time. The track “Being Afraid” gets a bit more electronic, relying heavily on electronic percussive sounds, steel drum-sounding synths, and unbelievably catchy melismatic vocal phrases found slightly droned out. The electronic beIt has been nearly five years since M83 released their last album, which threw the one-man synth machine into major fame with the hit single “Midnight City.” This new album, entitled Junk, has been highly anticipated by tons of fans for a long time, and its release can be seen as both a living gem of nostalgia and a great letdown at the same time. This album will be an overall hit or miss, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth giving a shot. The first two tracks on this album are hands down the best on the album. “Do It Try It,” the lead single, breaks out with shining new wave movement and a choir of synths blasting away, shooting chills through any listener. The song also features a really intense synth solo, which is provides a fun listening experience. “Go!” is also beyond fun, with memorable pokes from guitars and bass, even more of that synth goodness, and smooth guest vocals from Mai Lan that make for a song that perfectly fits the definition of indie pop perfection. That track will definitely get those car windows down on a summer’s day drive, with the speakers as loud as they go. Unfortunately, after those two tracks, the rest of the album can be found fairly underwhelming for most, as it is both very nostalgic and similar to the last album, yet so far In a time where Adele is the dominating female R&B and soul voice, Laura Welsh is definitely something different. There are similarities such as their British nationality and their deep, raspy voice. But instead of telling a tragic story of a bad break up or longing for an ex, there is a different story told. Welsh tells the story of loving, and the frustrations that come with it. She opens up and shows the vulnerability with her lover. She projects her emotions through her voice varying between silkier and rougher textures.

Overall Rating: 8/10

In her album Soft Control, she creates an almost cinematic album the blends different forms of music all tied together with a controlled and steady voice. She starts out with a slow and sweeping song, “Soft Control”. With a softness in her voice, she sets up the entire album as deep and moving. The lead single from the album, “Break the Fall”, shows her abilities as an R&B singer. “Unravel” shows her desperation

comes even more dance-based, with a slight tropical influence to the likes of Kygo, in tracks like “Good Enough,” “Swim,” and “First.” Things take a bit more of an electronic reggae turn for the track “No Love” which features Ansley Newman, the frontwoman of Jule Vera. The offbeat synth hits are warm yet dark, and the vocals pop in, firing off rapid verses at times, almost as a nod to The Weeknd. Again, this sound is comparable to that found in the title track “I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love,” bringing real bounce to the beats and even more droning on the vocals. The final two tracks are taken back a bit, and show the real passion in slower movement. “Fire in the Sky” is a bit of a ballad to a lover, still utilizing the keys and synths, but in a slightly more somber and reflective way. Then “See You” hits the brakes even harder, putting Jordan behind the piano with background chords that are meant to sound like a slightly hazy orchestra, ending the entire album on a note that leaves a listener really craving more. This album is an adventure from start to finish, satiating anyone’s hunger for good tunes that all have their own special twist. The Ready Set is getting ready to become a big name again, so it would be best to hop on that beforehand and get ready to blast this album all summer long. -Domenic Paolo from the great things that made the last release such a hit. “Walkaway Blues” has some chromatic blends that are chilling and a powerful brass section, but overall the tune is repetitive and doesn’t have much of a need for a second listening. Tracks likes “Solitude” and “The Wizard” are both mostly instrumental and are significantly slower than the rest of the tracks, almost to a point that they drag on, causing the desire to press the next button before the song even ends. “Laser Gun” and “Atlantique Sud” show off piano talent, but are also repetitive in nature and have no form of satisfying climax that gets someone to want to listen again. The last bit of shining light in this release can be found on “Time Wind” which features big-name artist Beck; the tune relies heavily on groovy bass lines and ethereal harmonies with some electronic brass and synth ideas floating around to make the piece sound very 80s based. Overall, for a fifteen track album, this release does not offer enough satisfaction. It might be great for one listen through front to back, but it’s definitely not a release that many listeners will revisit. This album is almost as if M83 hit their sophomore slump on their seventh studio release. -Domenic Paolo as someone who is willing to give everything to their partner and the vulnerability they feel. “Cold Front” is an incredibly smooth song that is paced with staccatos. “Hardest Part” is the most traditional R&B song. She features John Legend on the track and makes some kind of 90’s R&B vibe. At the point, it starts to taper off. “Breath Me In” is a modern Donna Summer like track. Overall, the album is a great happy medium between R&B and pop. It keeps its distance from both though and creates a unique sound. There is enough substance to make it alternative. It also manages to make a smooth and coherent sound without being too repetitive. The songs have a mind of their own but together it’s a better story. Laura Welsh is successful in sharing her frustrations. She doesn’t leave any ends open and instead opens and closes them in one go. -Rebecca Ma

Restaurant Reviews By: Lilly Radack and Corey Scarano after ordering, I have never waited long for a meal to arrive. The wait staff may always be running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but they are always extremely accommodating, and they bring out these free fried chips with duck sauce after you order, which is a super unhealthy but delicious appetizer to Although it may be the farthest walk for food on nibble on while waiting for your food. campus, Mei Wei is well worth the trek. Whether I love seafood and sushi, so the volcano roll with a you are lazy, don’t feel like cooking and want to order seaweed salad on the side is my favorite menu item. take out or are going for a Saturday night pregame But don’t be worried if you aren’t a seafood lover or if meal and scorpion bowl, Mei Wei is an excellent sushi freaks you out: Their menu has over five pages choice. of delicious options. Freshman year I knew it as the place to get a scorpion bowl and never heard anything about the fact that they actually serve good food. I didn’t indulge in the food there until my sophomore year, and after Locals Restaurant and Pub that moment I’ve never turned back. Their menu has everything you could want from an American Chinese 215 Lafayette Road restaurant, including an extensive list of sushi and North Hampton, NH 03862 special rolls. Most of us UNH students are balling on a budget, and Mei Wei won’t break the bank for a good, greasy eggroll or box of pork-fried rice. Although Locals may be a 30 minute drive from The atmosphere made me hesitant at first. The campus, it is well worth it. Especially during the restaurant is almost always hectic with people spring- Local’s being just 10 minutes away from the coming in for drinks or ordering out. However, entire Rye beach coast. Local’s is only 3 years old but already had a huge regular crowd. Every meal is made

Mei Wei 7 Mill Road Dover, NH 03824

to order and there is a wide variety of appetizers, lunch and entrées to choose from. But besides the hand-cut sirloins and wildly popular grilled pastrami and Swiss cheese sandwich- the full bar has even more to offer. The bartenders are always smiling and glad to make small talk. Drink specials rotate and the 12 beers on tap are always rotating. A made in house watermelon puree makes for the perfect margarita addition, whether you want that on the rocks, with sugar or salt on the rim. Budweiser sponsors Locals- meaning for every Boston sports game that airs there are awesome deals on bud and bud light pitchers and pints that you can’t beat. Local’s although new just created an even newer addition- the Seacoast Cigar Bar- which is directly next door. In the Seacoast Cigar Bar you can order your cigar of choice and smoke it along with your favorite whisky, mixed drink, or beer. The Cigar Bar is fully furnished with leather seats and couches to make for a sophisticated time. Whichever way you choose to go, Local’s and the Seacoast Cigar Bar are both lovely stop in points for this spring and summer. Directly located off Route 1you can’t miss it!

Spring Breakdown By: Alli Weseman

he week before Spring Break in my opinion is usually the toughest on students not just at UNH but at every college. Students feel burned out from all of the studying for midterms and the papers and lab reports that have been written. Professors on the other hand warn students that they have to be in class all week and not to email them regarding having to leave early because of travel plans. That moment when people’s last class is over is when everyone feels truly “free.” All of the hard work and long hours that they have put in since coming back from winter break has paid off and now is the time to reflect on what is left to be done before May comes.

back from Spring Break is the hardest thing to do. Everyone has spent the week relaxing and now they have to get back in their school mode and concrete until May. Professors realize this and some take it as an opportunity to give tests the first day back. Again comes the frustration that Spring Break is a time to relax and feel the need not to study. Students such as myself realize that the information that professors lectured about is now gone to say. They can’t recall the readings that I had done or the formulas that they before now suddenly seems like a foreign language. The weather doesn’t help with the return to “school mode” as it warmer and lighter out. Winter is still holding on but spring is on its way which means having the windows open or going to T-lawn to study or nap. The problem lies here with the idea of being lazy and not logging those long hours at the library. The thought that you can only put in half the effort/time and reap the maximum benefits such as studying for a C and thinking that you will receive an A on an assignment, test, or paper. Then add in all the events that are happening around campus such as Spring Concert, May Day, and Solarfest. It seems like a recipe meant for disaster but students should realize that they only have to hang on for a couple of more months then summer will be here.

Spring Break allows students to relax for a week and not have to worry about classes, homework, or tests. For me it allowed me to “breathe” and see that I needed to step up my game if I wanted to get the grades and GPA that I wanted. I also was allowed to sleep and binge on Hulu and not have to worry that I was wasting time. The only problem was that was that one of my professors made homework due the Monday on Spring Break. Naturally, I tried to finish it before I left. That meant that I was in the library until 12:30 in the morning just to call it quits because I still had to do laundry and pack before I left UNH. Though I only had three hours of sleep before leavUntil then, everyone should continue working ing, it felt amazing to know that for a week all I had to hard no matter what the weather is like outside or worry about was enjoying myself. what events are going on. For me this is especially As most people know though, the Sunday coming true because last year, I went to a school right next to

the ocean yet I still pushed myself to get a high GPA. The warm weather should be an excuse to go study outside while also rewarding yourself at the same time. There is nothing wrong with breaks as long as the person stays focused. With all of the events happening on campus, that could serve as a person’s free time or the goal of going to Spring Concert. This could keep the student focused on all the fun stuff that is happening. It may be tough now since spring break is over and the next time we have break from school is summer. Now is the time to get shit done and balance whatever is left on our plate. This is resents in me because now in the point of second semester in which I feel like not going to class but the fact that I’m paying for school is a pretty big motivation for me to go. It allows me to be accountable for myself which many students can relate to. In order to get through these last couple of months before summer break, I have relied onto this saying “it’s second semester, fourth quarter.” No matter how much work I have to do, this saying allows me know that it’s almost over and I can breathe again. I can enjoy summer without having to worry that I let myself get lazy after spring break. Students should remind themselves that they are working towards a bigger goal such as graduating and obtaining their dream job. If that doesn’t get them through until summer then I don’t know what will.

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? By: Jamie Smith

ine times a week, the lights inside the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Manhattan’s West 46th Street dim in preparation for the show about to begin on stage. People from every walk of life pack into the theatre, some even standing in designated areas during the show’s two-and-a-half-hour run time, for a chance at seeing something that has effectively turned musical theatre on it’s head. Seeing this show has become a status symbol, with celebrities flocking to it in droves and edging in for a photo with its creator and star. Fans line up for days for a one-in-thousands chance at winning tickets to a performance, while traditional ticket buyers book their seats nearly a year in advance. It is, by all standards, the hottest ticket in town. The show is Hamilton, and since its August 2015 opening on Broadway, the world has been turned upside down. Hamilton tells the story of one of the United States’ Founding Fathers, first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. He’s likely someone you know better as the guy on the ten dollar bill, or someone you probably thought was a president at some point. Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow published his book Alexander Hamilton in 2004. Lin-Manuel Miranda, an actor and composer previously known best for his Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights, read Chernow’s book while on a vacation a few years after its publication and quickly began formulating in his mind what would later become Hamilton. After years of workshopping and a sold-out off-Broadway run earlier in 2015, the show opened to universal critical and commercial acclaim. But what is it that makes Hamilton so special? Most striking is the music of Hamilton. It is primarily a hip-hop musical, with influences of R&B, BritPop, and traditional musical theatre elements unlike that which Broadway has ever seen, save for

Miranda’s aforementioned hit In The Heights. Just as important as the music, the entire cast, with the exception of the actor playing King George III and a few ensemble members, is made up of actors of color. The combination of these two elements create a dynamic that plays shockingly well off of Hamilton’s life story: that of a headstrong orphan from the Caribbean with a formidable mastery of words and the law. That alone, however, does not a Broadway hit make. Many musicals have been worthy of being deemed “ground-breaking.” Hair in the 1960s took the sexual revolution happening in every major city and put it on stage, nudity, drug use and all. The 1990s brought us Rent, following AIDs sufferers in New York’s dingy Alphabet City. The 2000s saw the premieres of the racy rock musical Spring Awakening and what is potentially Broadway’s most blasphemous show, The Book of Mormon. Each of those shows, plus countless others, caused critics and theatre-goers alike to reconsider what theatre can do, each seemingly maxing out the limits to what stories the stage can tell or what emotions an audience member can feel. But something about Hamilton feels different than these shows.

case. A main theme in the musical is ownership over one’s own narrative, encapsulated in the oft-repeated line, “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” It is human to want yourself to be represented in the best light possible, and on the flip side, it is easy to feel disenfranchised when, as a member of a certain group, you are not being portrayed in an accurate manner. This is, naturally, how stereotypes work. Thus, when the opportunity arises to regain control over one’s own narrative, we take our shot to do right by those who had previously felt wrong by history’s telling. This is what Hamilton does with such thoughtfulness. And that is what makes the show so electric.

I had the pleasure of seeing Hamilton this past February. I went with my sister, also an avid musical buff, with tickets I got for my birthday. I had been listening to the cast album since its release in the Fall (pro tip: the show is nearly sung-through, so giving the cast album a listen is a really fantastic way to get a feel for the storyline). I’d sat through dozens of Broadway shows in my lifetime. I had a handle on American history. And I was completely unprepared Perhaps it is timing. The show comes at a time of for what I was about to witness. political upheaval and social unrest. Each day, it beThe energy from the cast was mirrored in the comes clearer that a number of people in this country reception the audience gave each number. The feel like their stories are not being heard, and that quick-witted jokes and the songs that pull on the their interests are not being cared for. This is evident heartstrings each landed with perfect timing and dein the support for candidates like Bernie Sanders or livery. The feeling that I was watching something that Donald Trump. In the media, narratives both told is likely to be looked back upon as a turning point for on the news and on scripted shows paint warped theatre and art as a whole was not lost on me. It was stories of certain people or groups, or forget to tell a theatre-lover’s dream come true, to be sure, and it their stories at all. In classrooms below the college was also a reminder to me on a personal level just how level, American History courses are taught through important art is. I have often said that musical theatre rose-colored lenses. Perceptions and stereotypes saved my life, and I believe Hamilton is the kind of art about the world as we know it echo across most facets that is going to help a lot of people in ways they didn’t of everyday life. In Hamilton, however, this is not the even know was possible.

#HummusFace By: Ally Couture

ollege kids are prime showcases of the latest social trends. Whether it’s the clothes on our backs, the music streaming from our weekly Spotify playlists or some elaborate recipe we found on Pinterest, our culture thrives off of the influences of our peers. As we soar into our second decade of the millennium, we find the quirkiest parts of life becoming common ground. Eating gluten free is a prime example. There are many people who live this lifestyle because they’re under a certain impression that it’s insanely good for you, and then there are those who do it as a necessary health factor in their lives. Whether you are really into eating refined grain substitutes that are low in fiber, minerals and vitamins or are one of the unfortunate souls where gluten takes a physical toll on your body, there’s an insane food that is making its way into the popular world. It’s tasty. It’s beautiful. It’s gluten free. It’s hummus. Hummus is a multicultural food dip and spread made from chickpeas blended with other ingredients like tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. As to where this genius invention was born, there’s a constant debate among Mediterranean nations that dates back centuries, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt its current popularity. It was predicted that 2015 was going to be the year for hummus, and it totally was! It’s now considered the NFL’s official dip. We can thank Pepsi for its success in the snack food industry, as Pepsi owns of Sabra, the top selling hummus brand.

can also eat it on anything you can think of: Cucumbers, crackers, tomatoes, peppers and a MEAN pita all provide fantastic platforms on which your taste buds can dance. When it’s 3 a.m., your apartment is completely out of groceries and your eyes are doing everything but staying open, lick it off your dirty-ass college fingers—or a spoon—‘cause it will still taste bomb as hell. Hummus is also making an appearance as “the new mayonnaise.” If, like me, you absolutely despise mayo and cringe at the thought of a heavy, white substance being slathered onto your sandwich, then hummus just created a whole new world for you—a world that discriminates against flavorless sammies and veggies and is dedicated to expanding the palette of a college student. Are you already into the kale trend? Do you eat/sleep/drink green everything? Then Cedar’s married the flavors of garlic and kale just for you. Are you and all your friends sriracha diehards? They have that too. Because healthy lifestyles are the trendiest of trends within our culture, it only makes sense that a super heart-healthy dip would be making its way into our new age habits.

So next time you’re in HoCo about to make a turkey wrap, think about how much better it would be if you spread some chickpea greatness on there. All the kids behind you will definitely be thinking “Wow. What a cool kid, I’m going to put that stuff on my sandwich too.” You can help define the hummus trend of the world. Your taste buds will thank you, What else makes hummus a super trend in the lives your body will thank you, Indra Nooyi from PepsiCo of the young adults? Well for one it has a light and will thank you and more importantly: Hummus will smooth texture that melts into each and every inch of thank you. your mouth while distributing explosive flavor. You

College in 3 Years By: Liz Haas

hen I arrived on campus in the fall of 2013, I didn’t plan to graduate early. I didn’t even have a major. But here I am less than three years later, simultaneously feeling like a junior and a senior, taking 20 credits to finish my honors thesis, discovery requirements and German minor, and counting down the days till graduation. I have three main reasons for graduating early: Saving money; I could make it work, so why not; and, honestly, I’m ready to be out of school. The saving money part of graduating early is substantial. My fourth year of in-state tuition and fees would have cost $17,624, and that doesn’t factor in food or ever-increasing Durham rent. If you’re outof-state and live on campus, you could save up to $31,424 in tuition and mandatory student fees and $10,938 for not having a basic meal plan and dorm double—that’s $42,362-worth of student loans you won’t have to pay off. Since I took one J-Term class and earned 10 credits—which I had to pay for—at my internship last summer, I didn’t save quite a year’s worth of tuition, but it’s still far less expensive than paying tuition or housing for even just one additional semester. I’ll now graduate debt free and have money to study abroad in Germany for 12 weeks this summer. Depending on your major’s requirements, graduating early can be feasible with a few J-Term classes and 20-credit semesters—or it can also be an absolute nightmare. As a journalism major, I only had 10 required classes, a three-class concentration and an internship to complete before graduation, so the real challenge was making sure I got requirements out of the way as early as possible to ensure I had room for classes only offered once a year. Many COLA majors are like this, and, if you start planning freshman year—or even the beginning of sophomore year like me—you can fit your major, honors college requirements and a minor into three years without too much difficulty scheduling-wise. You just have to accept having an abbreviated social life. If you’re in CEPS or COLSA, where many programs have rigid four-year plans, you might not be able to cut your time at UNH short. The good news: You’ll likely have a lucrative job after graduation to pay back your student loans. I, on the other hand, likely will not.

Now, had I taken the normal four years to my undergraduate degree, I might not be so burnt out from taking 20 credits, working two jobs, tutoring, writing for TNH and still somehow squeezing in time to rock climb most weekends. I still attempt to get eight hours of sleep most nights, but my social life has undeniably suffered in the past two years; since, spending an hour getting lunch with friends at HoCo was quickly replaced with a fifth class and working at the Connors Writing Center. I do “play” a little bit on weekends and was able to camp in the White Mountains every weekend from August till November the fall of sophomore year, but I only made it work by writing papers during the cars rides to and from campus and by eating lunch and dinner in the library most weekdays. This past semester I’ve been even busier, only having time for half-day weekend fun, and, compared to the stereotypical Libby’s and Scorps regulars, I’m a pretty lame college student. I’m 21, and haven’t “gone out” more than a handful of weekends this semester. I enjoy relaxing with my boyfriend and catching up with my roommates and our friends who stop by my house on Friday and Saturday evenings, but I’m usually leaving early the next morning to sneak in a climbing session before writing this week’s TNH Test Kitchen, so waking up with a hangover isn’t an option. Now, if you’re still interested in the three-year track, here are some tips for making it work: Write everything down. I’ve managed my overly committed schedule by noting my every assignment, writing center shift, thesis advisor meeting and coffee date in my daily planner. While I don’t actually use the hour-by-hour format, I like to plan at least a week in advance for two or three of my classes to avoid pulling all-nighters—something I’ve never done in my three years here. I also eat at least one meal a day in front of my computer and sometimes wake up at 6 a.m. on Saturdays to finish assignments before I leave for outdoor excursions. While this system isn’t always ideal, especially the waking up early on Saturday mornings to study German grammar part, it does allow me to get my work done while still fitting in the extracurricular activities I love. If you do decide to graduate early, I’d recommend not working more than five hours a week. Taking five classes is manageable if that’s your only commitment,

but lose a day or more of your week to work and your social and/or sleep life will begin to suffer if you want to maintain your GPA. I work between 10 and 12 hours most weeks, and it can get to be a lot, especially during midterms and finals. If you do have to work several days a week, pick your 20-credit semesters wisely, stacking up on 400- and 500-level discovery courses and saving your hardest in-major classes for 16- or 18-credit semesters. I’d also recommend taking at least one J-Term class to lighten one of your more difficult semesters. This past winter break I took “Global Environmental Change” to satisfy my physical science discovery requirement, and the workload was reasonable—no more than 12 hours each week. I actually had more free time taking one class in four weeks and starting my honors thesis than I do during the semester when I’m working. Just make sure that you pick classes that sound interesting and doable over break. I tried to take a political science class in three weeks over J-Term my freshman year and quickly learned that hours of dry political reading were not for me. I dropped it. Taking an online class or earning credits through an internship over the summer can also help satisfy discovery requirements or just chip away at the 128 credits you need to graduate. Overall, my three years at UNH have been a positive and highly formative experience, thanks in large part to the many dedicated professors who taught me how to write profiles, dig through the University Archives, and the perils of food waste and encouraged me to take advantage of the many research and career-building opportunities the University has to offer. However, at this point I’m more excited by the thought of pursuing my work as a journalist and exploring more of the nation’s mountains and cliffs than I am by the idea of spending another year in southern New Hampshire. I also don’t consider my time as an undergraduate cut short, as I feel like I’ve had four years’ worth of college experiences, just condensed. Consequently, I believe I made the right decision, for me, by graduating early, and I feel like I maximized at least two of my three years here because of that decision. However, graduating early isn’t for everyone, especially those who truly feel that “every day is a great day to be a Wildcat.” If you’re in that category, then maybe saying $20,000 to $40,000 isn’t worth missing a year of UNH experiences. It’s up to you to decide.

I Use Medical Cannabis By: Anonymous

isclaimer: I am over 18 and a legal medical marijuana patient. This is my personal experience with the drug. All medicines will affect different people in different ways.

My medicine is a plant called cannabis; it is subdivided into sativa, indica, and hybrid. Originally the subdivisions were thought to correspond to the active cannabinoids, but in fact it serves as a guideline for the types of plants people should look for. Two of the main components of cannabis is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). These are only two of 70 under researched chemicals that make up cannabis. The typical effect of THC is a high that stays in the head, the chemical CBD causes a sedating body high. In addition to medical marijuana, I take an SSRI that I was prescribed for my depression. I use cannabis to help treat and manage major depression, anxiety, ADHD, and insomnia. The cannabis works in conjunction with the SSRI to boost the effects of it. Before I decided to pursue the process of being approved for cannabis use, I was only using my SSRI and therapy to manage my anxiety and major depression. Most of my days were weighed down and gloomy. I was having a hard time with school and having difficulty being in a relationship and doing regular day-to-day activities. The true turning point for me in choosing to add cannabis to my treatment was the moment when I ended up being hospitalized

during a peak of anxiety and depression. I was afraid of the side effects and the possibility of taking many medications without knowing how each would affect other. The side effects and risks from taking other drugs would’ve outweighed the benefits.

comfort of my own home because my family asks me to keep it very secretive. This is so that our friends don’t judge my parents and say things like “You have failed as parents for letting your son use pot.” It did get out because some of my brother’s friends saw my vaporizer and smelled some of the cannabis from it. I came across the alternative treatment when two They later told their parents and in turn their parents years ago I started doing research for my grandconfronted my mom, catching her completely off mother of different drugs she could take for her variguard. Very few people know all the medicines I take. ous ailments. I found that cannabis would be the most effective drug for her to take in regards to her chronic Another really big problem is the lack of accessibilpain and lack of appetite. ity. There are two small dispensaries close to where I live, neither of which have a selection of more than One of my favorite things about my medicine is two strains. What the dispensaries do have, I can that it allows me to get through a day without having barely afford, nor are the right strains, with the outto step out of class to go cry because of my depresrageously inflated prices they have. I chose to use a sion. It makes me feel happier throughout my day, delivery service, but they made mistakes with my orboosts my energy, and gives me an increased ability der and were weeks late. After I received my order I to focus during my classes. found there was an incorrect strain. A few weeks later Some of the biggest issues I face are not the dry the company fired its employees and took down its eyes or the cottonmouth, but the looks people give page, leaving me scrambling to find another way to me when they pass by me. I am very boxed in, in terms obtain medicine. of how I am able to use my medicine anywhere other I would like to erase the stigma surrounding canthan my home. nabis use. I am not “high” all the time, nor do I smoke I carry around a vaporizer so I can stay on track tak- to the point where my functionality is impaired. I’ve ing my medicine four times a day every three hours. learned that cannabis users are not just “burn outs” Even though I’m not taking bong rips in the quad, or losers, they do actually care about school and their people still judge me for taking my medicine some- health. They are no better or worse than people who don’t use. Cannabis has benefitted me a lot, and I’m where other than my dorm. very happy with my decision to use it. Though my family has supported me through all my mental health issues, it is still hard to use in the

I Use Pharmaceuticals By: Rebecca Ma

need to start this off with a disclaimer. Medicine affects everyone very differently. Some things work and some things don’t. It’s all dependent on your body chemistry and what you need it for. I take Lithium, antidepressants, and anticonvulsant medication for treatment of my bipolar disorder. Pharmaceuticals are heavy stuff. It should be taken seriously and not just as something to try on a Friday night. Only your doctor knows what might work for you and only you know what’s good for you. It was my choice to turn to pharmaceuticals and mine alone. When it comes to yourself, it should be nothing but your choice. This article is strictly my opinion and my experiences with different medication for treatment of bipolar disorder.

Why I decided to take pharmaceuticals because I wanted something that I knew was a surefire way of helping myself and would be fast. Mood stabilizers are always an option and there isn’t someone forcing you to take them. I made the choice to take them because I was desperate for anything that would stop me from feeling the way that I did. Getting out of bed was difficult and I would skip classes because showing up was too exhausting. I would often go AWOL because getting out of bed or doing something is too exhausting or too much. I used to have a really bad tense in my chest that felt like a lead ball. It’s something that I feel I need to have in order to control myself. It’s something that I know I need because I don’t think I can do it myself or simply with seeing a therapist every week.

The Positives It works fast. It’s a faster method of controlling mental illness. Once you find what works for you, it is incredibly efficient and really makes a difference. There is still a buffer period where the medicine is kicking in and your body is getting used to it but after stabilization, it feels great. As my psychiatrist describes it, “Lithium is the gold standard for bipolar treatment”. Medication has a high success rate and there is more research and information about it.

The negatives Body Changes Lithium is notorious for causing a significant weight gain. Antidepressants are notorious for causing weight gain. A friend of mine went from a 00 dress size to a 4 on Lithium. I have most definitely gained weight and that is really discouraging and is a side effect I wish didn’t exist. However the absence of more violent mood swings have made up for it. For people with vaginas, their menstrual cycle might change because they body is getting used to it. My period was thrown out balance because of all the changes made. My psychiatrist mentioned this to me and it is important to be put out there. Side effects You know how in medicine commercials they spend half the commercial listing out the side effects? They aren’t shitting you. Side effects are a serious thing. Like most medicine, there are many side effects that have the potential to be harmful. My anticonvulsant medication has a tendency to make a person really sick right after taking it. Afterwards, there is a 25% chance of developing a rash. At that point, it’s recommended to go to the ER because there is a chance of death. Different medication has different side effects and they do depend on how your body takes them. Some antidepressants can cause dry mouth, which is awful, and teenage boy acne. Digestion is also effected. It can be effected for a short term or for a long time. Diet changes

A person is considered weak if they take medication. They are considered crazy and psychotic for taking them. And if they’ve been taking it for a long time they’re considered unreliable and not being human. Because of the chemical component of pharmaceutical medication, there are a multitude of reasons why people dislike them. When one friend was talking about herself and her stance on medication she said “I don’t want to put that shit in my body”. Unfortunately I haven’t had much support from people in my life because of the stigma of mental illness and pharmaceutical medication. How it feels How it feels is dependent on what medication is taken. Originally I was just on anti-depressants and that sent me into a six month long mania where I would buy everything I saw, started smoking cigars, and got addicted to sleeping pills. However I felt the closest thing to happy. I actually wanted to get up in the morning and anti-depressants are potent shit and they really work. In my case of having bipolar disorder, they worked too well. While my self-esteem shot up and I had an overall better mood, I was hypomanic and the furthest away from reality that I have ever been. After I got a new doctor and he realized that the antidepressants were the wrong medication for me, he started me on the anticonvulsant medication and I was stoned 24/7. On my current combination of medication in addition to Lithium, it feels less confusing. Lithium dampens the mood swings of someone with bipolar and almost neutralizes them out. It feels great and like I have more control of myself but there is still this feeling of neutral and nothing. It does affect decisions where I speak in a more neutral tone that is more careful and metered. I do feel more rational in my decisions but also more like a loaf of plain bread. I am afraid of how neutral I can get and if it’ll take anything out of me. That being said, I do feel better and feel that it has toned down my mood swings significantly. It keeps me in check and has improved my life.

There have been significant diet changes since I’ve started taking Lithium. I have to constantly watch my salt intake as foods taste saltier and there is more salt in my system. I love coffee but I can’t drink it that often anymore. With milk, I get awful headaches and body tremors. Anything with caffeine except for tea gives me body tremors. I can’t have anything with too much sugar because I get headaches and nausea. Not all mood stabilizers require a diet change but these I’m still not stabilized. I’m still working with my psychiatrist on looking for a combination that works It feels amazing. It is extremely effective and will are changes that I felt I needed to make. that won’t make go crazy again. It still is a work in help in the long run. While I’m still in the trial stage, Stigma progress and requires me to really take care of myself I feel much better than I did before. It has made a sigThere is a huge and overbearing stigma against and watch myself more closely. Even though there nificant change in my life that I feel. I am in a better place and have more control over myself. Antidepres- anything associated with mental illness and that in- are so many side effects and changes that come with sants are very potent and they can make someone cludes pharmaceutical medication. While it is con- pharmaceutical mood stabilizers, the benefits greatly feels incredibly better. When the right medication sidered essential and the gold standard in the mental outweigh the negatives in my opinion. It does force is found and matched, it the effects are positive and health field, it is still highly stigmatized. There is the me to live a very white bread life but it’s all in the hope stigma surrounding why a person chooses to take it. that I will eventually get better. effective in treating the patient.

Photos By: Claire Cortese

A Class Above Ground By: Larissa Claar

ometimes I peel the skin off of my callused hands in public, and then realize people are staring at me. Sometimes I’ll stop right when I see them trying to contain a face filled with disgust, and sometimes I don’t. What’s worse is I never really care. I’m kind of proud of it in a way. I think it’s funny that it grosses people out, because it never grosses me out. At this point I’m totally used to it.

then bend their body into weird positions? Those are two of the many apparatuses that are a part of aerial dance. By definition, it’s a broad term for a unique style of dance that essentially encompasses hanging equipment. More simply put, it’s just pretty damn cool. UNH first offered aerial dance as a class in 2002, when director Gay Nardone added her expertise to the Theater and Dance curriculum. The following year it was incorporated into the UNH Dance Company annual dance concert, and has been a part of the lives of many dancers since. I started doing aerial my sophomore year, after I longingly watched upperclassmen perform all year when I first came to school here. Freshmen are not allowed into the class, and after being a part of it myself I understand why, it’s dangerous. With limited space in the class, I was beyond excited to be enrolled, but I was naïve in thinking I was going to be good right from the start.

Actually, I’m used to a lot of things that aren’t typically viewed as “normal”. It’s inevitable that my hands will peel, my whole body will be covered in weird bruises and I’ll most likely spend most of my days walking awkwardly from being sore in places that I didn’t even know possible. I have scars on my back from fabric burns and take way too many trips to the chiropractor. I always smell like icy hot and I’m very rarely dressed in anything but athletic clothing of some sort. I cringe while trying to rip the rings off of my fingers because my knuckles are swollen from When I first came to college my preconceived the day before. At night I get exceedingly too excited notions of sitting through a weeks’ worth of class to lie down in my bed and in the mornings I wake up involved taking notes, fidgeting in my seat, and tryand contemplate my every day decisions when I realing to retain everything well enough to successfully ize I can’t really move my neck. complete my homework assignments. I was comI know what you’re thinking… This girl sounds pletely accurate. I do all three of those things on a crazy, right? Let me explain why these things are a daily basis, but on top of the time taken out of my normal occurrence in my life. I do aerial. schedule for academic obligations, I have almost doubled those hours in physical activity. Yes this is You know those fabrics that look like curtains my own decision, but it doesn’t make the schedule hanging super high from the ceiling, and that susjuggling any easier. Every Monday, Wednesday and pended hula-hoop thing that people climb onto and Friday I spend two hours dancing in THDA III, the

upper level dance class offered at UNH which integrates jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical and many other styles. Then with a ten-minute break in between, my day rolls right into two hours of aerial. Doesn’t seem too bad right? Well that’s what I thought at first too. You know those times when you’re sitting in class, doing everything you can to keep your eyes open, but every being in your body is telling you to sleep? Well those types of days can’t exist in aerial class. We have to be constantly alert, constantly aware of everything going on around us and constantly ready to work. And when I say work, I mean physically work. Sweating in the middle of the day and then continuing on with the rest of my classes is something that I’ve gotten used to. Showering and going to class feeling clean and looking good? Well that just doesn’t happen. When I had my first aerial class I was convinced it wouldn’t be too hard. Honestly I’ve seen it on the TV, I’ve seen YouTube videos and I’ve seen it performed in person, and they all make it look so easy! I went in willing to learn, and attempted my first pullup on a trapeze hanging eight feet off the ground, that’s when I realized this was in no way what I anticipated. For the next two weeks, I couldn’t pull up my pants. Is that an over-exaggeration you ask? Nope. I dreaded getting dressed in the morning for that very reason, the muscles in my arms felt as if they had been ripped apart. It may sound dramatic and over the top, but what’s crazy is that it’s all true. Aerial is just like anything, the more we practice

the better we get. What people don’t always understand though is that just like any other class, we have work to do outside too. We keep journals to record and describe every new trick we learn. We draw pictures along with these have visual representations to ensure our safety when we go about practicing. We also work to put on a performance at the end of the semester, which involves a self-choreographed piece on one of the many apparatuses. We get graded on our attendance, our work ethic, our progress and above all our willingness to self-motivate. We have learned to power through the pain, and set it aside so that we can experiment and push ourselves to the limit. There have been times I have looked at the mirror and observed my many burns and bruises and asked myself why I do it, and I can honestly say that the hard work pays off. It’s a sense of adrenaline. The spinning, dropping, posing and pure control creates a stunning result. The thing is, we put our own lives at risk every day. We meticulously wrap our body in aerial silks over 20 feet in the air and let go, just hoping that everything was done right. We plummet towards the ground trusting that the silks will catch us at the bottom, most likely wrapped around one of our limbs (and yes, often times resulting in terrible bruises). I say that in a cavalier way, but in reality we have spotters with a very critical eye ensuring our safety the moment our feet leave the ground. We depend on each other at every moment, like when we bend our bodies and strain our backs while holding onto the cold metal bars wrapped in tape, sometimes ripping open our hands, just to get that perfect pose on the lyra (the one that looks like a hula-hoop). In addition to this our equipment is rigged and maintained with a high degree of professionalism. Needless to say, this should not be tried at home…but seriously. We do everything it takes to improve and get stronger every day with a set warm up that conditions our bodies to help minimize the risk. So when people ask, “Does that like, hurt?” My answer always comes through with a slight undertone of laughter. Yes, it hurts. It all hurts really, really freaking bad… literally, all the time! The toll it takes on our bodies is something that only fellow aerialists understand. We have bruises, burns and cuts that reopen every day because “rest” is very rarely an option. Yet somehow, we are able to embrace the aching, ignore the sores and smile while we perform, because frankly it’s just fun. Aerial takes dedication, perseverance and a hell of a lot of guts. Sometimes we’re told that we’re crazy, and at this point I take it as a compliment. My schedule is stretched even further based on the fact that I am a dancer and aerialist on the UNH JTA (Jazz, Tap and Aerial) Dance Company. The professionalism that I referred to is engrained into our minds on a continual basis through our abundant rehearsals that occur weekly. This is a sizeable commitment, and sometimes I find myself struggling to balance it all, but I have also found that this type of commitment has taught me to prioritize throughout my college career. Yes, it takes some time away from other activities, but what I have gained through the knowledge and experience of having a curriculum that is physically demanding is that I know I can always push forward. Large tasks seem to become smaller, and I am always willing to try new things. I have realized that this mentality doesn’t just apply in aerial class. I can take these lessons with me anywhere I go, and I undoubtedly will do just that.

Instagram “You” vs. The Real You

By: Lilly Radack

o you think it will get a lot of likes? Is tially acceptable to post. Once they finally post one, this a good filter? Are you sure this is they anxiously wait for the instant gratification that a good photo of me? Should I crop it? yes, “fuckboi69 likes this photo,” and that’s exactly what they were looking for, right? The struggle of Instagram is a dayto-day process. It has become an adIn fact, 93 million selfies are taken every day on diction that constantly disrupts our attention spans, Android devices alone. That calculates up to 64,503 making it seemingly impossible for students to last selfies per minute, not including those taken with iPthrough an entire lecture without peering beneath hones. What is going on? their desks. We are constantly scrolling, stalking, Instagram has 400 million active users worldwide searching and screenshotting posts. and is growing 10-times faster than any other social What is it about Instagram that makes it the most media outlet. It was bought by Facebook in 2012 for active social media site in the world? The answer is $1 billion and is now worth $35 billion and has 100 the selfie and what goes along with posting one. million more users. Selfie: (n) A picture taken of a person by that perHowever important the selfie may seem, the Instason—It was adopted into the Oxford English Dictio- gram sensation does not just fall onto taking pictures nary in 2012. of yourself. Recently we have been caught in the “will you take my photo?” phase of life. Standing in some What is it about this word and action that makes awkward position that makes your leg look broken, it so appealing to post to the world—or your 500 folsunset in the background, turned around with your lowers? Although we, as a society, have accepted it bathing suit bottoms hiked up your ass, you hear: into our vocabulary, it still has a red underline in my “Okay, I took 10.” You walk back to your friend, look Word document. Let’s see, Microsoft Office would at the photo, say “ew” and repeat the process until like me to change the word to either of the following: you are decently satisfied with one photo you think selfish, selfless, sulfides or sulfites. Hmm…looks like you can edit the shit out of to post later that day… I a contrast of opinions Microsoft. know how it works ladies; I’ve been there. Somehow I agree with them. A selfie goes handAnd it’s not just about the filters you can pile on or in-hand with your persona. Meaning that, when girls the contrast and brightness you can mess around with take selfies, they could take 50 at one time, judge to enhance your appearance. Lately, on my following and evaluate each one and then find flaw after flaw in page, I have witnessed girls blurring out their skin themselves until they have a handful that are poten-

to appear flawless. I saw one post over spring break that was touched up so much that the girl’s belly button was hard to see. And then there are those who stretch photos to appear skinnier, suddenly making the panels of the house behind them curve as well. My question for you is: What happens when all of the attention you get from guys on the Internet doesn’t transpire to real life? The world now imagines you a certain way. And when a guy enters your bedroom and is taking off your clothes, there are no stretching or blurring tools. But why would you want them anyway? When it comes to your body, the only opinion that matters is your own. What girls are doing to themselves is going to have life-long self-esteem side effects, so please, for the love of god, stop the madness. Sure everyone uses filters on Instagram, personally I’m a fan of ‘slumber,’ but using apps to blur your skin or make your boobs bigger, legs thinner and ass fatter isn’t good for anyone. People will think you’re something you are not, and why would you want to be anyone besides who you are? You are miraculous and do not need validation of this fact from anyone else on social media. Of course we all feel insecure sometimes, but it is time to move away from the editing apps and filters. Embrace your dimples, paleness, bumps, bruises, hips and belly button. The reality is the pictures we post are beautiful no matter who or how many people like them.

In Defense of the Kardashians By: Jamie Smith

ince I began writing for Main Street nearly two years ago, I’ve often found myself skewering celebrities left and right, attempting to take down heavy hitters like Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow. Thus, it is hard for a celebrity to win my praise and prompt me to write (case in point: my piece about grudgingly becoming a Belieber in our Winter issue). Nonetheless, I have found myself inspired to put pen to paper to defend a family so widely discussed that the mere mention of there name might have caused you to have skipped this page entirely. I am speaking about the Kardashians--well, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe to be exact.

You’d likely have to live under a rock to not know that the impetus for the Kardashian-Jenner clan’s television deal was Kim’s leaked sextape with musician Ray J in 2007. Those who are vocally critical of the show and the family as a whole often cite this tape as a reason to dismiss the notion of their feminism entirely, falling victim to the notion that sex tape equals whore. And yes, it is true that they are not famous for being talented or bright or funny. But consider this: the tape released without her consent in what was likely meant to be something kept private indefinitely. Rather than allowing the chatter that ensued to slut-shame her into oblivion, however, she and her family inked a deal with the E! Network to make a reality show, a smart business move indeed. It My love for the trio of sisters is multi-faceted.On was a make-lemonade-out of-lemons situation, and it a pure entertainment level, they are good television. hasn’t stopped since. Their long-running eponymous “reality” show is one I am always up for binge-watching. Sure, their What has also yet to stop, unfortunately, is the lives are as fantastic to me as an episode of Game of constant slut-shaming the three of them receive. CeThrones, but that is part of the fun. I do not kid my- lebrity comes with the expectation that not everyone self to think that what I’m watching is a cutting edge will like you, but the inordinate amount of hate they documentary, but if I wanted that, I’d head to Netflix. have gotten over the years is absurd. Here’s a fact: There is a level of authenticity I find with the three women are not sex objects. Thus, if a woman desires of them that I haven’t often found on other shows in to show off her body, it is not first and foremost to the genre (and trust me, I’ve watched many). They arouse a man. Maybe, it is (God forbid) that she likes have an ability to laugh at themselves, and are fierce- the way her body looks. Maybe she is proud of it. ly loyal to each other. The show is certainly a guilty Maybe she actually is using it for sex appeal, which pleasure at best--not thought-provoking or intellec- is okay and natural because women are people and tually-challenging--but it is by no means the worst people like sex. Whatever the reason may be, if the thing on television. worst thing someone can say about them is that they are exhibitionists with their bodies, then that person Deeper than my appreciation for the sisters as is grasping at straws. Women should not be made providers of amusing television, however, is my apashamed for feeling good about themselves. preciation for them as women. There is a lot of to-do regarding whether the three of them are feminists Moreover, sex (and sex appeal) is not antithetical or if they’re helping cement the patriarchy further, to feminism. Feminism is about equality of women and after careful consideration, I believe it would be and men in all aspects, be they social, economic, or wrong to *not* recognize the work they’ve done (be political. Women, just like men, have the right to it intentional or not) for women. enjoy sex, discuss sex, and be free from having their

bodies policed. For those who take the stance that the Kardashians are not good role models for young girls specifically, consider this: your daughter is likely going to grow up surrounded by people telling her to hide her body, yet make it look a certain way, yet be ashamed of it, yet be willing to display it for any man who asks to see it. Is the idea of a woman being proud of her body a message you don’t want your daughter to hear? Capitalizing on sex as a woman is going to be looked down upon for as long as women are looked down upon as sex objects, so discussion over whether the Kardashians even deserve their fame because of the tape is a nonstarter. The fact is, they became famous for a specific reason, and they have since built media empires of which women are the main beneficiaries. More than half the executive producers on Keeping Up are women. The sisters have aligned themselves with the likes of Lena Dunham, Emily Ratajkowski, and Beyonce. Kim herself even said she was a feminist in 2015. So are the Kardashians feminists? Yes, and that is why I like them. If you are a feminist reading this and are still not convinced with my defense of the sisters, keep in mind that people are flawed. Could the three of them be using their show or their social media to promote women’s issues? Of course. Could they perhaps use a different tactic to be subversive other than their bodies? Sure. Could there be someone out there who would be a fantastic feminist activist but doesn’t have the level of fame or privilege that the Kardashians have? I’d say that’s 100% likely. But tearing them down, as many women do, is counter-productive. They may not be the feminists we want, but they may actually be the feminists we need, and for right now, they are the feminists we have.

Photo By: Brad Orner

Spotlight on UNH Women’s Rugby By: Alli Weseman

rugby match starts out similar to an American football game. The ball is kicked off and received by the opposing team, then run down towards the end of the field. As the team is running, players are tackled, but in rugby a ruck is formed when the player goes down. Once the team gets the ball, it passed all the way down until someone scores or is tackled. If the ball is knocked out of bounds though, the referee will either call a scrum or a line-out. Rugby has roots in Europe but is starting to gain ground in America with colleges and some high schools playing the game, and UNH has a rugby club for both women and men. The UNH women’s Rugby Club is coached by Joel Mullins, former rugby player for Life University. He came back to coach at the college level because he “missed playing the sport and enjoyed being part of a rugby club.” He also wanted to “bring the experience of playing to UNH women’s rugby.” Rugby is a grueling sport that requires a lot of strength both, mentally, and physically. That means when players don’t have practice, they will be in the gym doing workouts that the coaches put together. On days when there is practice, they have to show up mentally prepared just like any other sport. It may be a club sport but that doesn’t mean it’s easy; it actually requires a lot of time management.

“When I go to rugby, it’s about rugby and school The majority of players on the women’s team are is about school,” said team captain Anneli Johnson “I former athletes who wanted to stay involved with have to be dedicated because this is my family.” sports while in college. This led this them to rugby as few didn’t know what it was or how to play. After Looking at past years, senior co-captains Johnattending the info meeting and learning more about son and Caitlin Doonan agree that this year’s rugby it, Johnson joined and started her first week of her team is the closest and most family–like they have freshman year. “I joined rugby because I loved team seen. “It’s a combination of coaching and players sports, I wanted something that would challenge me who are on the team that played last year, everyone both mentally and physically.” is dedicated,” said Johnson. “We’ve been involved since freshman year so we are pretty invested,” said Players all around have said that being on the rugby Doonan. “But it’s cool I think that people from all team is like being in a family. They look out for one different walks of life (year at school, major, age) can another both on the field and off. It doesn’t matter if come together and be equals and teammates and so it’s your first year or your last year. What does matter supportive of each other. It’s a really amazing envi- is accomplishing the goal, that the team has set out ronment and it’s almost like you don’t get it unless for the year. Once the goal is accomplished, then the you’re in it.” team knows that for the next season to set their sights on an even bigger goal. All of these women have givReflecting on their final season playing, Doonan en it their all to be the best of the best. said she has been able to get a lot out of being a captain and has been able to relate this to life. “A signifFor everyone on this team, it means supporting icant part is being a well-rounded person and being each other when they have had a bad day, practice, able to take practices and games seriously and be a or game. It doesn’t matter how bad or great that they good role model to the team. At the same time you did, all that matters is that they are still getting better need to have a sense of community towards every- every day. At the end of the day, when the final whistle body and be willing to level with every single person. is blown and everyone has a smile on their face, then In rugby specifically with it being a club sport it was they know that all the blood, sweat, and tears were a real challenge to keep the discipline we wanted to worth it. The family that will give you a pat on the have to be a skilled team while also maintaining a fun back or a hug because 15 as 1. environment, and ultimately it comes down to mutual support and having a common goal.”

Stigmas and Stereotypes of Vaping By: Kyle Kittredge

ape became officially included in the wanted to smoke and thought it would be healthier.” Oxford English Dictionary in 2014 as Giles doesn’t think all of her friend who vape are a verb meaning “to inhale and exhale losers. Yet she said that most were not very driven or the vapor produced by an electronic motivated in life. cigarette or similar device,” with the past participle “vaping.” Others think differently.

Swanson. “I have customers who are 70 years old, and they tell me: ‘I’ve been smoking two packs a day since I was 12, I need to quit smoking cigarettes.’”

“It just doesn’t knock my socks off like some people who spend thousands of dollars to vape,” Swanson said. “I got into it originally because I wanted I haven’t seen this word used much other than in Sophomore Ben Skelly vapes daily but hates the to quit smoking cigarettes. There’s such a negative social media posts such as memes bashing it. Do whole culture of vaping and never uses his vaporizer connotation with cigarettes. I would get such bad, people often think of “vapers”—those who vape—as in public. dirty, gross looks.” losers for doing so? More recently I’ve seen a few Swanson said that vaping can be cheaper than conHe says he does not want to be judged for vaping, articles citing vaping as being a better alternative to have anyone’s smoke exhale blown in his face or have stantly buying packs of cigarettes, since you’re just other smoking options. I don’t smoke regularly. I other vape users come up to him to talk about the cul- buying new bottles of liquid to fill your vape pen with. don’t mind if anyone else smokes or vapes though, ture behind it, such as different brands of batteries, However, depending on how often you vape, it can be and I’m curious to know what the latter is all about, just as expensive. tanks and what liquid they prefer. and what UNH students think about it. “You can walk in here and get fully set up, with nic“I love the taste and how much better I feel not Vaping uses heated liquid propylene glycol and smoking cigarettes,” Skelly said. “But, to me, it’s otine and get off butts, for $50,” Swanson said. “Or, vegetable glycerin—different chemicals from those if you really want to get into it, right now I can get you more of an embarrassment than a hobby.” found in cigarettes and cigars—and is commonly a setup that’s like $700. They’re both going to do the done with a vape pen, which is like an e-cigarette with Skelly started smoking cigarettes when he was 13 same thing.” a little to no nicotine. years old, and became “truly addicted” by the time he Vaping seems to be treated the same way that cigwas 15. For some long-time tobacco users, vaping has arettes, cigars and all other forms of smoking are: as become a step in the process of quitting smoking. A He was first introduced to e-cigarettes at 17 and a bad habit, regardless of its uses. I don’t see vaping Society for the Study of Addiction survey of 6,000 liked the idea of their being cost efficient and a becoming less stigmatized than smoking any time current, former and non- users of e-cigarettes in the healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. soon either. I’ve seen signs—even here at UNH— United States and United Kingdom found that “72 that prohibit smoking of all kinds in dorms and “My clothes, fingers and breath wouldn’t smell like percent of users reported that e-cigarettes helped other buildings around campus. Last year the UNH them to deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms, cigarettes, and I could use it anywhere,” Skelly said. Student Senate even discussed creating an entirely “The problem with being able to use it anywhere was 92 percent reported reductions in their smoking smoke-free campus, and, although at the time vapwhen using e-cigarettes and only 10 percent reported that it definitely increased my addiction to nicotine.” ing didn’t seem to be part of the discussion, I think that they experienced the urge to smoke tobacco cigVaping is seemingly everywhere now. In Durham, it might be included soon if its popularity continues. arettes when using the e-cigarette.” Elite Vapor, located at 7 Jenkins Court, sells vaporizSo why are students vaping? It seems like many er pens, parts and juices. Is this why so many students are using them? people are turning to it as a means of quitting smokGeorge Swanson, a senior English major and Elite “One of my friends did it to quit cigarettes, but ing cigarettes, despite the negative feelings others then he started smoking cigarettes again, so now Vapor employee, said that most people go there to may have toward it. They should if it helps. And then he’s doing both,” said freshmen Georgia Giles. She quit smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. there are those who simply want to try it out, which is knows another couple that “just started because they “All demographics of people come in here,” said alright too. However, I’ve decided it’s just not for me.

The Life of a Host By: Brendan Freund

arties, a major staple of the college experience for pretty much any student who attends a university. When the weekend comes around everyone’s mood starts to pick up and they start preparing for a night out of drunken debauchery and late night munchy runs. Everyone is excited as it gets later and they start getting ready and pre-gaming before the actual parties start. Progressively getting more and more drunk the partygoer then stumbles their way to party after party dancing with friends and maybe causing a little chaos at this party or the next. I have been there plenty of times myself, but the aspect of what a college party is, changes when you become someone who hosts the parties that everyone goes to. Being a host for a party doesn’t mean that we don’t have our own almost ritualistic activities that we do before every party. The first thing my roommates and I do first is clean the apartment, because for some unexplainable reason we wait until an hour or so before the party to do so. Once the apartment is clean the pre-gaming begins and makes having a party a little more enjoyable. The first people to arrive are almost always close friends and significant others of my roommates and I since they are the first people

that we invite. Then the randos, people that I nor my get out of the conversation. There’s also always that roommates know, start to show up and that’s usually one person who is looking for their friend group, but when people start to get a little more rowdy. disappears before you can answer so you never know if they found their friends or not. We sometimes, on As the night progresses my roommates and I would very rare occasions, have a person pass out in our usually retreat to one of their rooms since I would apartment usually in the bathroom. Depending on have to cross a sea of sweaty, stumbling college kids where they are asleep in our apartment, we will move grinding on one another to get into it. Once in the them to the couch with some water and a blanket, and rooms, that’s where me and my fellow hosts will usuby the time my roommates and I wake up our guest ally hang out in until the party starts to die down since is gone. it gets tiring trying to keep watch over your whole apartment. At this point we just hope no one steals or Eventually people start to filter out until we need breaks anything, because it isn’t fun trying to make to ask the remaining people who are too drunk to sure all your shit is still there and unbroken, and have realize the party is over, to kindly leave our aparta good time with your friends at the same time. ment. Once all the randos are out those of us remaining will migrate from one of the bedrooms to There’s always a variety of people that come in and living room where we will survey the scene and see out of our apartment throughout the night when we what happened in our apartment. The morning after have parties. There are the kids who are dancing and the party is perhaps the most interesting part of the sweating the whole party, as well as those who are at whole party throwing process. When my roommates the party for the sole reason of going home for a one and I are sober enough to make a real sweep of the night stand, to couples standing in the corner making apartment we usually find some interesting items left sure that no one tries to flirt with their significant othbehind from the night before. From pairs of shoes, er. Then there are the people who have had one too to jackets, backpacks and even a solo ugg boot, we many drinks and talk to you for an hour straight about never know what we’ll find the morning after. nonsense before you politely make up an excuse to

An Open Letter to the Class of 2016 By: Claire Cortese

ear Graduates, Fellow Wildcats, and seniors had already received all of their college acLost Souls, ceptance letters, and made a final decision on where they would be going the following fall. I was one of When I was in high school, each the final few who were still stuck in limbo, unable member of my senior class had to to decide what I wanted. I felt helpless and lost. The deliver a speech on a subject of their problem wasn’t just that I couldn’t make a decision, choosing before we were able to graduate. One by it was that I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t know one, each senior student stood up on stage and gave a where I wanted to go to school, I didn’t know what I speech to a crowd of hundreds of students and faculty wanted to major in, I didn’t know what career path I members at our weekly school assemblies. I signed wanted to follow once I graduated. I stayed up nights, up for one of the last spots in the schedule, and delaying in bed trying to figure out my life. Until finally, livered my senior oratory a mere month before high I accepted the uncertainty. And so, I wrote my speech school graduation. At that point in time, most of the on how it’s perfectly okay to not know what you want.

Four years later, and I seem to find myself in the same place as before. I am graduating, and still, I do not know what I want. I have spent several months, as we have drawn closer and closer to graduation, worrying about what I will do when I am finally flung out into the real world. The truth is, I have absolutely no plans for after graduation. I don’t know where I want to move to, I don’t know what career path or vocation I want to pursue. All I know is that I want to travel – but to so many different places, that I don’t even know where to start. For the past few months, these open roads have caused me a great amount of stress. It only recently dawned on me that this year, with the

end of summer, I will not be returning to school next fall. With each passing day, more and more people ask me “what are your plans for after graduation? What do you want to do?” For some reason, I always feel slightly ashamed and embarrassed when I shyly reply, “I don’t know.” To everyone who has their plan for after graduation all mapped out – congratulations! You have goal, a dream, and you are working towards it. I wish you luck on your journey, and hope that you find everything that you’re looking for. But for those of you who still don’t know what it is exactly that you’re looking for – breathe steady. Do not let the uncertainty of your future scare you. Consider it a blank canvas upon which you can paint whatever your heart desires, no matter what that may be. The world is your big, beautiful oyster. You do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed for saying “I don’t know” to people’s pestering questions. Not having your whole life figured out by the time you graduate college does not make you a deadbeat. Buzzfeed has informed me that at the age

of 23, J.K. Rowling was broke, Sylvester Stallone was cleaning up animal poop, Oprah Winfrey had just been fired, Tim Allen was in prison for selling cocaine, and Walt Disney was so poor that he resorted to eating dog food. Not everyone grows up to live in the center of the media’s attention, but the point is that you always have a chance to rise, whenever that may be. If you end up on a path that turns out to lead you nowhere, you can always change direction. The only person in charge of your life is you, and wherever you end up is a product of your own decisions, with maybe a pinch of fate thrown into the mix. Don’t be afraid to feel lost. Just because the future is a big uncertain looming mass before you, does not mean that it isn’t your friend. Don’t be intimidated by it – see it for the all the possibilities that it presents you with. Consider it a blank canvas with which you can paint whatever you want. If you want to move to Hawaii, move to Hawaii. If you want to start your own business, then start your own business. These things won’t just happen for you, you have to make them happen. They will take hard work,

commitment and total dedication. But if you really want them, they are possible. But until you figure out what it is that you want, it’s okay to just float for a while. Life is big and beautiful and you can make it into anything. But that doesn’t mean you have to get started right away. As young 20-somethings, we are only just starting to truly be carved out as independent individuals. We can’t be expected to know how we want to spend the rest of our lives when we are only just now about to get a taste of the real world. The advice I gave to my graduating high school class four years ago is still relevant today: The more you worry about not knowing what you want, the farther you are from finally figuring it out. So breathe steady, and just know that it will all work out. College graduation is perhaps the most pivotal moment in our lives so far. It’s okay to be scared of change, but just don’t forget to be excited too. Live big and bold and brave – I’ll see you on the other side Wildcats.

Photos By: Beccy Anderson

The Steps to a Successful Darty By: Cierra Dubinsky | Pro Tips contributed by: Jesse Vaughan

our alarm sounds at 8 a.m. but for some reason today you don’t feel the need to hit the snooze button. Your roommates are waking up too and beginning to get rowdy. You hear music bumping and crowds of people gathering outside. You double check your phone to make sure you’re not dreaming, no- the hype is real- it’s a Saturday, it’s May, and it’s 70 degrees outside.

Dages are your opportunity to rock that out-there piece of clothing you can’t wear otherwise. This is not a day for tight skirts and expensive shirts. You’re going to sweat, fall on the ground, and most likely spill food/ drink on your ensemble. Wear something comfortable that you wouldn’t mind posting a few pictures in. I prefer funky sunglasses as my essential day drink item.

JESSE’S PRO TIP: Day parties (darties) in spring at UNH never dis-the less clothing the better appoint. Wherever you find yourself wandering, whatever you find yourself doing, there will be a mass -the more out-there the better amount of people attempting to gather to join your -if you don’t have sunglasses turn around go home parade of fun. Follow this critical guide to day drinkand get them ing I’ve provided, and you cannot go wrong. -be like my friend Damian who wore his American If you’re someone who considers all other possibilflag speedo on the Webster’s balcony as the crowd ities and responsibilities before letting loose, let me cheered from below convince you not to stress. Here at UNH, we are so fortunate to have a campus/ community that enables Speaking of essential day drink items… us to dage (day rage). So when asking yourself the Step 2) Fill a disposable container that you don’t question of whether or not to day drink, the answer is ALWAYS yes. Think of all your underprivileged city care about losing with alcohol. I have personally school friends who envy our culture. Go snap story never made it back from a day drink with whatever the 300 people outside the Webster’s and contin- container I took out. R.I.P to all my Contigo water ue to make them jealous. Your homework can wait. bottles. I hope you’re happy out there. YOLO right? Go frolic around campus. You won’t JESSE’S PRO TIP: Drink a half liter of juice regret it. throughout the week, then the morning of said Dage, If I haven’t convinced you yet, I promise you will fill the rest with a hard alcohol of your choice. This meet more people during a day drink than any night tactic sets you up for the whole day- you only have party you’ve attended. People are statistically nicer one plastic bottle to carry, and it’s okay if you lose and more upbeat when it’s 70 degrees and sunny. it- plus you’re getting your vitamin C.

Get ready to wake up with 10 tagged pictures on Step 3) Eat. The most important factor when day yourself on Instagram posing with people you didn’t drinking is in fact not the drinking. It’s keeping your know before today. Trust me, it won’t just be another body relatively hydrated and fed. I’m not saying pack weekend at the same parties with your same crowd. a lunch and whip it out mid darty (although you’d Now that you’re itching to darty, it’s time to pre- definitely be the life of the darty at that point) but pare yourself to make today the best experience pos- make sure you get a few substantial meals in. It will ensure you remain the person others aren’t ashamed sible. to be seen with, and provide a foundation for a lessStep 1) Assemble outfit complete with funky tank er hangover the following day. Do your thing until top. campus seems to be dying down and then head to the closest dining hall or order a pizza. You NEED suste-

nance and rest if you want to continue into the night. JESSE’S PRO TIP: Eat a smaller breakfast in order to avoid inhibiting your alcohol consumption. Save the mass amount of food eating for later when you’re saucy and can have a blast in the dining hall. Okay, you’re almost at the fun part. You’re dressed, rowdy, full (but not too full), and hear people yelling outside. What’s next? Step 4) Drank Grab your essential items (alc, phone, ID, sunglasses) and get outside. Campus will be littered by 11 a.m. Get your squad and go somewhere. Things typically get broken up at the Webster’s around 12:30-1. Fear not, however, for one day drink getting broken up only leads to another gathering elsewhere. JESSE’S PRO TIP: Listen to the police and do not single yourself out. The more peaceful everyone is the less likely cops will break up future day drinks. Keep the tradition alive. Step 5) Nap (or don’t) This is totally based on your own preference. I napped my freshman year in order to make it out for a night party. Sophomore year, I frolicked over to Sigma Beta while everyone was sleeping and played volleyball. If you’re feeling up to it, go out of your comfort zone today and hang out with people you typically don’t. I guarantee you’ll be happily surprised. Either way, listen to your body’s signals and don’t push it. JESSE’S PRO TIP: For all you non-nappers, drink a Redbull or coffee to ensure you’re lively when everyone wakes up. Follow this guide and you’re sure to have the time of your life. Most importantly, stay safe & have fun Wildcats. **Only for those Wildcats over the age of 21**

How to Bake a Boyfriend By: Larissa Claar

oyfriends are like cake. They are sweet and delicious and you just can’t help but be happy while you’re eating it. Sugary and addicting, but sometimes undesirable emotions come along with eating that very same cake, like the post-splurge guilt. Or sometimes they make you angry because you want it so bad but know you shouldn’t eat it. Sometimes they are a tease because you think it will be worth it to just take one bite but then get screwed and decide to eat a whole piece, then two pieces, then sometimes the whole damn cake. After, you are left shifting uncomfortably with a sugar high and a waistband that now feels snugger than before, and inevitably the high will subside. Promptly following is the crash and burn. Then there are those times when you bake your own cake and it comes out perfect. Tastes good, looks good and the only thing that comes along with the experience is pure satisfaction. More often than not, those cakes are really stinking hard to come by. My boyfriend was the type of cake that you eat because you believe it is going to be so delicious and worth it in that very moment. Then later you realize you just really didn’t need it at all. The cake that sits on the counter after a party and you keep it there just because. It’s sits there taunting you and you like to look at it and you don’t throw it away because you put so much work into making it, but after a while you

don’t even want it anymore. Eventually you decide Butter… To make it light and airy. He has to be that if the left over cake is not going to be eaten, it is free-spirited and make you laugh. better off to just be thrown away. Baking soda…To help the cake rise. He needs to I didn’t throw my boyfriend away obviously, but be able to keep you on your toes, a constant sense of our relationship did end. It was one of those intense excitement and wonder that grows each day. connections right from the start; the heart-fluttering, Eggs… To bind everything. He needs to care butterflies in the belly, unnecessarily sweaty palms enough to commit to that bond. type. That lasted for a while and it was wholesome and happy. Then the sugar high began to fade. It Vanilla… For flavor. Everyone has personal preferwasn’t what I thought. It was like taking a bite of a ence on this one. slightly dried out cake that you bought from the Milk/water… Makes the cake moist and gives a store. Looked so appealing through the glass next to better texture (not sure how this applies). all the other tasty pastries but then you bring it home, take one mouthful and…disappointment. What I told Frosting…To top it all of, that little bit of extra. He myself to get through the bad times? It’s just one should go above and beyond for you. cake. There will be plenty of others. The chances of a cake having the perfect amount You go to the grocery store to buy the ingredients of all of these ingredients is certainly more likely than you want in your cake, just like we search for all the a man having all of these qualities. Some of us like qualities in a man that will make the “perfect” boy- more of one thing than the other. We tend to create friend. this idea in our heads with standards that must be met. Sometimes our standards are set too high and Flour… The base of it all. He needs to be your we end up being disappointed. Too chocolaty, too rock, and you should be the center of his life. dry, too dense, too sweet, not enough flavor, too Sugar… To make the cake sweet. He needs to be crumbly, spotty on the frosting… it’s hard to bake to sweet and caring, but not too sweet because that’s perfection. Still there will be that one cake, one day. just not palatable. You will take a bite and it will be the best you’ve ever tasted, and you’ll never want to try to bake another Salt… To cut the sweetness. He needs to have cake again. It will be just right, for you. some edge.

Guys and Girls, Living Together By: Andrew Hartnett

wo months into my freshman year at UNH I hesitantly called my dad to tell him that some friends and I were looking to move off campus for the following year. He was happy that I had found a place on my own, but when I told him it would be one other guy, four girls, and myself he simply chuckled and said, “Good luck.” When I talked to friends and family about the move, they responded in roughly the same way: with nonchalant disbelief and sarcastic laughing. I couldn’t blame them for their less-than positive responses, I was making plans to move in with a group of 5 students I had known for about eight weeks. Bu to get good housing around UNH you have to look early, and I was just trying to get by. Most of my friends were girls when I was trying to find somewhere to live, and we all wanted to go off-campus, so we decided to live together. Realistically, that’s about how easy the situation turned out to be. There’s a thousand articles out on the internet, likely either Buzzfeed or the Odyssey, about “how to know if you’re ready to live with guys/ girls,” but after living with both for about six months, the only fact that seemed more true than anything else is you don’t need to worry about it. If you’re living with people you get along with, gender becomes a secondary issue. My roommate Stef recalls opening the conversation about living with guys to her mother: “My mom said, ‘Boys are grimy, Stef. Boys throw big parties, Stef.’ But I think we’ve all been fine.” All six of us, it seemed, had encountered some sort of negative response from most people we told about the move. My dad laughed in my face. Stef’s Mom gave her the parents’ version of the Riot Act. My roommate Jeff’s parents were on the edge of signing the lease at all until a short while before the final contract. The problem, though, is that all the negativity

and worry seemed to come from others without any it an issue, so it never was. real source of distress. In other words, the only anxiMany more have asked if it’s more difficult to relax ety about living with members of the other sex seems at home with girls around. Short-answer: no. For the solely grounded in fears of the other sex that we’ve first week I may have made sure to pick up after mycompletely abandoned at this point in our lives. self a little more, but that was more for a first-week Dylan O’Neil, a friend who also lived with both good impression than anything else. The girls in the guys and girls this past year joked that I title the ar- house felt the same way: there’s no reason to be on ticle, “Girls: a lot messier than you think.” This was, edge just because there’s guys around. After a month ironically, the opposite of Stef’s mom’s previous ad- of living together we had all seen one another in the vice, warning about the dangers of dirty guys. Based throws of Sunday morning after a Saturday night that on experience, most people end up in about the same ran a little too long. After a scene like that, there are “relatively clean” category a few months into a new no more standards to live up to in the eyes of the othlease, anyway. Everybody leaves his or her half-full er gender. coffee mug around sometimes. There’s a point in time where the house becomes “Maybe it was a good thing we split the bath- home. You make it your own after a while, and there’s rooms,” Stef joked later when reflecting on cleanli- a comfort that comes with that. ness. We did end up splitting up our two bathrooms Reflecting the past year’s living situation, my between genders, but only because it was an easy roommate Jeff said, “I thought it wasn’t going to be way split up what was available in the house. When that bad, and it turned out not to be that bad.” it comes to staying clean, everyone takes care of himself or herself how they will. Some people are messThe simplicity of the statement makes up for the ier, and some aren’t, but gender isn’t the defining lack of eloquence, as it proved to be true. All six of us characteristic here. had heard warnings from other people about what living with guys or girls could really be like for a whole Others more worrisome than ourselves might care year. All six of us agreed that the warnings were not more about dividing between boys and girls, and for very well-based in truth. We sat around in between those, maybe co-ed living isn’t for you. For my roomclasses for a year talking about the Presidential race mates and I, living together came naturally. Most and discussing the best music festival to see this sumof our time was spent listening to music or playing mer. Looking back on it now, we all agreed that we Gamecube. Our friendship was founded in similar probably would have been doing that if we lived with tastes in music, classes, arts, politics, etc, and it reall guys, all girls, or any mix in between. mained based in that while we lived together. A good roommate isn’t just someone with the same private As Jeff and I began to discuss whom we might live parts as you; sometimes a roommate is just someone with next year, he asked with a loose finality, “I don’t to see sitting on the couch when you come home. know, living with your friends is just living with your friends, right?” As for the many, many people who asked if anything “happened” between roommates, we were all I can’t fight that logic. As long as you’re living with otherwise romantically interested. Again, if this is your friends, you’ll be fine. Everything else works your main concern about living with others of the itself out. other gender, maybe it isn’t for you. We never made

UNH “Bucket Lists” By: Kyle Kittredge

raduation is upon me, and as I look each one. I thought that I would get to them naturalback at what defined my experience ly. I was wrong. at UNH, I try to remember what made I had actively tried to submit work to campus pubthe experience special. What were the lications. I’ve already had stuff published in The New most outrageous things I did? Hampshire, Aegis, Sandpaper and The Granite YearWell, I haven’t done much. book (as well as Main Street Magazine of course). However, I sort of cheated and only submitted black I had wanted to do a lot more. I even made a “buckand white photos to Aegis and Sandpaper. et list” senior year. I guess I have a fear of missing out. My freshmen year one of my friends asked me if I wanted to camp out in the library during finals week. My list included: spend a day completely outside He had a tent, pillows, movies to watch, and coffee on one of the lawns, attend a UMaine vs. UNH hockey and doughnuts: the whole setup. I politely declined, game, participate in a UNH tailgate, go to a SCOPE not wanting to pull an all-nighter. I should’ve said concert, have some piece of work in every campus yes. publication and stay in Dimond Library overnight during finals week…that last one I wasn’t too sure of. While I will try to finish as much of my list as possible in the few days I have left before graduation, I’m If you had to guess which ones I’ve done, you left wondering how my list compares to others’. So I might think some are super easy and that I’d quickasked other students what they plan or planned to do ly checked them off. Well you’re wrong. I’ve only before they leave UNH. completed one item: participate in a UNH tailgate, and that one I did this past fall semester. I got there “I wanted to go to one last CAB Grind,” senior around 1 p.m., so I didn’t even go for the full day. Adam Cook said, “because I haven’t been to that Pretty pathetic, right? many, and when am I ever going to be able to do that again?” My tactical flaw was deciding I’d “go with the flow” rather than actually going down the list and doing “I’d like to win an intramural t-shirt, especially in

floor hockey,” said sophomore Andrew Kots. “It’s probably never going to happen though.” Senior Tom Lynch hasn’t made a list but still had a few ideas. “I’d want to walk around Main Street on just my hands,” Lynch had told me jokingly. Regardless the silliness of the idea, it would be pretty cool to achieve. Others had list items that I definitely wished I could have accomplished. For example, sophomore Sam Pollari aims to climb one of the tallest buildings on campus. That one would be hard for me to achieve, but it would definitely be worth it if someone had the chance. It’s tough to come up with achievable ideas for a pre-graduation bucket list. So many students don’t bother making lists and instead just have general ideas of things to do before leaving. While the sophomores I talked to have plenty of time left to complete their lists, I don’t. That’s not to say I hated making mine though; I simply wish I could have completed more of it. So, as some closing advice, make the best of your time here at UNH.

MSM