Home: December 2019 Issue

EDITOR

Isabella

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CULTURE

IDENTITY CRISIS

My experience as a third culture kid

FAR FROM HOME

How experiencing life elsewhere from where we grew up shaped our view of home

WHY ALL HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES ARE THE SAME

And why I still watch them

MODA MADISON’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

The special traditions we look forward to during the holiday season

WE’RE BABY

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME (IN YOUR OWN BODY)

Getting there isn’t always as simple as clicking the heels of your ruby glass slippers

DIFFERENT WAYS TO WEAR A LOST ONE’S LOVE

How wearing lost ones’ clothes—or not—can aid grief

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WHAT IS “HOME” WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS TOXIC?

Finding home outside of a toxic environment

IN MY HOUSE

The importance of found family within the ball culture of New York

2010S WRAP-UP

Society and culture has evolved a lot since 2010

THE HOPE OF SCHOOL AS A HOME

DECEMBER The salient purpose of school is to recreate a place of belonging and community for each student

ARTS

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A HOME TO LONG AND TO SEARCH FOR

The music of the quest for stability

WHO ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Examining “The Sopranos” at 20

LIFESTYLE

THE BRICK HOUSE

An O’Neill - O’Neil legacy

TIA, TANTE, AUNT

Being an aunt changes your life, in the best ways possible

FEELING AT HOME

Three perspectives on creating a new home in college

HOUSE OF SHILOH

How the Shiloh Court cul-de-sac became the home of a lifelong friendship

THE ONES WHO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Appreciation for our best friend soulmates

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

How going away to college changes the relationship between twin sisters

THE HARDEST LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP

How to stay connected with your siblings in college

CO-OP COMMUNITY

FASHION

MODA’S GUIDE TO 2019 HOLIDAY FASHION

Winter trends inspired by vixens and Victorians

A SWEATER STATEMENT

Six ways to update your ugly holiday sweater

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FEELING AT HOME IN YOUR CLOTHES

How creating a personal style can make us look and feel our best

NOT YOUR FATHER’S WARDROBE

Take a peek into your dad’s closet. you never know what you’ll find

FASHION TRENDS OF THE DECADE

A look back on the most iconic yearly trends since 2010

FEATURED

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COMFY CHIC HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

DECEMBER 2019 5 Reflections on an unconventional living arrangement

THE PLACES WE

About a week ago, I wrapped up one of my favorite courses I’ve taken in my college career: literary journalism. For my final essay, I pulled the idea of homes as a non-tangible, nonphysical places from different works I read throughout the semester. I drew from characters from the Great Migration to powerful female advocates, and dug deep into the way they contextualized and orientated themselves in the world. The idea of seeking labels, characteristics and ways of thinking that define your personal identity is incredibly powerful; it’s arguably the search in life. As we begin to categorize not only where but what and who (and, conversely, what is not, and who is not) contribute to our concept of ourselves, we begin to feel a greater sense of belonging. What is the meaning of existing in the vastness of our world if we can’t feel rooted to something?

There is a profound significance in the phenomenon of habitats and spaces developing and thriving as a byproduct of sorting through our individual experiences. These are spaces to rethink, reorganize and, simply, live our lives. These spaces are our homes.

To Safa Saeed, who describes herself as a ‘third culture kid,’ home is a mindset that she’s created for herself despite moving around multiple times during her childhood.

TO

For some, the feeling of belonging is sharing memories with friends or family; watching movies and carrying on traditions. For others, it’s the clothes we wear—both those that we buy to feel at home in our bodies and those that are passed down from lost loved ones. Deputy Editor, Elise Andersen, who discussed returning back to her hometown after living elsewhere for a year, shared the perfect quote: “You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of living and knowing people in more than one place.”

The power of writing and storytelling comes from the ability to bring a sense of connectedness within people through sharing our triumphs, trials and tribulations. In sharing how we’ve found our various non-physical homes—the ideological places we belong to—we can encourage others to do the same, or help others to realize the same. We have the power to create homes for each other to exist and live in through our shared experiences; through just merely attempting to make sense of all that goes on in our lives. I hope this issue can do just that for you.

Cheers,

6 MODA BLEO

By Kate Lawless, Lifestyle Editor

Elise Andersen & Kate Lawless photographed by Annika Ide, Photography Director

WINTER TRENDS INSPIRED BY VIXENS & VICTORIANS

The winter holiday season is upon us and it is time for another round of celebratory events. Struggling to figure out what to wear to your friend’s endof-the-year bash or to the living room for your family’s annual holiday party? Moda’s got you covered with a guide to this season’s hottest (or warmest, thankfully) holiday party outfit trends that will flatter any wearer. According to predictions based on recent runway shows, the trends that will be trickling down into our holiday party ensembles are truly varied.1

This year, influences from the Victorian era can be seen in the large sleeves and shoulders on sweaters and dresses. Inspired by their modest values, long sleeves and square necklines can show off your collarbones, while keeping the rest of you covered. It’s all about emphasizing that dramatic, vintage look with a uniquely sophisticated flare. Dust highlighter across your decolletage for a little extra glow.

One of the bolder holiday trends is the modern power suit, as seen on iconic celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Blake Lively.2 No longer only for the workplace, wearing a colorcoordinated or patterned suit and pairing it with eye-catching jewelry pieces is a sure way to make a statement when you go home for the holidays. Dress up the look even further with heels, or opt for a comfortable flat shoe—either style works with the versatile power suit! To make the look more party-specific, try a blazer dress paired with heels or boots.

1 Ross, Anna. “Women’s Key Items: Evening & Special Occasion.” WGSN, November 5, 2019.

2 Wahi, Sukriti. “Kendall Jenner’s Latest Street Style Look Consists Of A Jacket And No Pants.” Harper’s BAZAAR, September 10, 2019.

For a sexier vibe, look no further than the lingerie-inspired looks you can expect to see everywhere this season. Lace detailing, slip dresses and delicate shoulder straps give you a sultry aesthetic. This trend combines the comfort of boudoir-wear, while flowy and silky fabrics will keep you feeling comfortable all night long. You can even opt to wear a midi or mini version of this trend depending on how much skin you want to show. Layer over a tighter turtleneck, shawl or cardigan to keep this trend on the warmer side.

Keep these styles in mind when dressing to impress while simultaneously trying to stay warm at holiday parties this season. Trends this season emphasize class without sacrificing comfort while you mingle and dance the night away at your end-of-the-year celebrations. There is something for everybody, no matter if your aesthetic is vintage glamour, modern chic or brazenly boudoir-based.·

THE BRICK HOUSE

AN O’NEILL-O’NEIL LEGACY

Written and Photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Contributing Writer

HOUSE

The exterior of a red brick house looms large in my childhood memories. The vines that stretched across each brick seemed to grow by the minute as if the house was being engulfed by Mother Nature. Valleys of wild grasses surrounded the house, tangled into a beautiful mess of fragrant green terrain. Arriving at the columned concrete porch, we would glance left and right in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the sculptures that adorned each side of the steps. A man and a woman, whimsically chiseled into stone, coaxed my imagination into believing that the house was not only filled with love but also with magic.

Though the house was old, its interior seldom showed signs of wear. The blue ceiling above the foyer depicted clouds, branches and a single blue jay. A wave of heavenly smells hit every time our family entered through the door, varying depending on the season. Often times, that smell was of pine and ancient books.

Grandma Peppy refused to leave any surface plain, preferring to use all available spaces as shrines to our family’s accomplishments. Year after year, pictures and Christmas cards multiplied, and artwork would be dusted to look as if it were new. The artwork displayed was eclectic, ranging from old French posters to prints of renaissance paintings. An Irish family blessing stitched onto cloth in delicate green thread hung to the left of the doorway. Pictures of the family hung from the walls and sat propped up on the large living room table. My grandparents were Catholic; paintings of Jesus and various saints were displayed proudly over the mantle of their grand living room and throughout each room as if in an attempt to encircle the house with the Holy Spirit. My grandmother granted one room solely to my Grandpa Bruce’s pride and joy: the Milwaukee Brewers. The first-floor bathroom reflected shades of blue and gold. Years worth of memorabilia were showcased proudly. The rest of the walls were dressed in warm yellows and textured wallpaper. The house radiated happiness.

My young heart used to skip with excitement as I would bound into the house, haphazardly acknowledging the adults while continuing on towards my favorite destination: the playroom. Plush carpeted stairs made way to the second floor of the house where the pink room was located. I would often run my hand over the textured wallpaper and imagine decoding each indent as if it were braille. There, I would steal my grandfather’s ties, carry a law book and mimic his grand presence by straightening my posture and attempting to present intricate speeches.

The house was my escape from the stress of kindergarten; a haven where no one would judge me and all I could feel was love. The pink walls of the playroom, the multitude of books and the brightly painted picnic table all emitted a sense of comforting familiarity.

Left of the pink room, a tall wooden door hid the steep stairs which led to the attic where my father slept as a child and later as a drunken teenager. Bottles of noteworthy beer lined the crown molding of the dim, cluttered room. Neil Young smirked downward from a poster tacked onto the low ceiling. Decades of old paintings, grade school sports trophies and clothing lined the edges of the room so that only a fragment of carpet was visible. As a child this room was of no significance to me, nor was I interested in its history. As I learned of the parties, celebrations and mischief that occurred, the attic became an emblem of teenage rebellion; an escape from adult small talk where my cousins and I could be free.

Once I reached my teenage years, my grandfather was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function. As the years passed, behind every joyful photograph and under every carpet, the core of the family home began to grow fragile as our family accepted the inevitability of his death. The great house became a reflection of his condition. There was no longer the same warm feeling of hope and luck encircling the home. The

temperature dropped significantly as my grandparents spent their nights in hospital rooms. Law books, once scattered throughout the house as my grandfather forgot to put them back, disappeared. It looked like the house was slowly being stripped of life, because though its inhabitants were busy moving elsewhere.

As Grandpa became weaker, the house was cleaned and pared down in order for him to safely move around with a walker, and eventually a wheelchair. A bed was moved into the once cheerful TV room, which suddenly became a makeshift hospice. The kitchen became less plentiful as my grandfather began to receive his nutrients through a tube. Every alteration to the house after my grandfather’s diagnosis felt impersonal and disheartening. Decorations were replaced by medical equipment and family parties were replaced by brief, sorrowful visits. I began to doubt the feeling of contentment that I had associated with the home.

Eventually, Grandpa’s speech was impaired to the point where we could

no longer understand him. Afraid of misunderstanding his words, I stopped visiting altogether. I so wished to hear the booming and passionate voice that once chanted, “I love you all,” rather than the raspy, slurred whisper that replaced it. The last time I saw my grandfather in the house, I saw his condition mirrored in the home our family had created. A oncestately haven had become a withered reminder of the past.

Two years after my grandfather passed away my grandmother did too. She passed from grief masked as brain cancer. We considered selling it and met with some potential buyers, until my family realized that we were not ready to let go. The day before we planned to sign with a realtor, we decided to move in. The dingy attic bedroom, once filled with piles of old newspapers and family memorabilia, became my bedroom. The vines began to grow again, family photos were recovered and replaced, celebrations were had, fires were lit and we began to restore the brick house as our own home.

For years I have struggled to communicate why this house means so much to me. Now, I walk past the spot by the sofa where the wood floor remains worn from the soles of my grandfather’s shoes. I bound up the stairs and see photos of our family on the walls. I am comforted by these small consistencies which have guided my existence. As I spend time with my family in the same spots I had once been with my grandfather, I feel an inexplicable comfort.

The house remains standing as the emblem of my family’s love for one another. I spent the vast majority of my childhood oblivious to the fact that one of the greatest men I would ever know was my own grandfather. Now, I recognize the house as an intimate replica of his presence in my life. As we continue the O’Neill-O’Neil family’s 48-year legacy in the house, I am grateful for every experience I have had there and all the encounters with my grandfather that have shaped me into the woman I am today.

The brick house has always been home.·

“TIA... TANTE... AUNT

BEING AN AUNT CHANGES YOUR LIFE, IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE

By Sydnie Albert, Lifestyle Editorial Assistant Illustrated by Lauren Chung, Editor-in-Chief

What is an aunt? What role does an aunt play within a family? Nowadays, aunts are much more than the sibling of a parent—they have one of the best learning experiences someone can have.

When children come into the world families form closer, stronger bonds. Extended family members become a strong support system for both the children as well as the new parents. As a result, an aunt’s relationship with her siblings becomes stronger.

Your love for your siblings grows deeper and you trust them more when

material things. A life worth living includes family, love and happiness.

My family’s relationship has had its challenges, but having my niece and nephew born caused us to develop much stronger bonds between one another. We can tell each other anything, rely on each other and know that we have each other’s best interests at heart.

I learned what it means to be a good aunt by learning from my parents and my sister. I have learned from them that being kind, understanding and present goes a long way with a child. I’ve learned to love them and support them through their accomplishments and their struggles. I get to teach my niece and nephew different ways of thinking to help them maneuver through life. Everything I do and however I act, I’ve learned, sets an example for my niece and nephew; I can set the bar for how to be kind and caring for those around us —for them to be the best person they can be. Because of this dynamic, my niece and nephew make me and my family want to be better people. If our nieces and nephews see us share and why we do it out of kindness, they will do it too. If they see us asking for help or confiding in others, they

won’t be scared to ask for help or express themselves.

Being an aunt at a younger age is even better. I’ve had the opportunity to experience the joys and responsibilities of kids before having my own. Since their births, I’ve matured a little faster. My priorities shifted and I realized what is truly important in life: the little moments; like how watching a movie with my niece and nephew in my lap is worth more than any exotic vacation. Because I’m there, I’m present. I’m putting in the time to be there with them, and they’ve not only seen that love, but felt it.

I am an aunt to my 2-year-old nephew, Roman, and my 17-month-old niece, Olivia. I have also been lucky to be Olivia’s godmother too, which made my last Christmas pretty special. They are two wild kids who’ve taught me so much about life and family. I’ve enjoyed every little moment with them, like cuddling up on the couch to watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ or just running around and making them laugh.

They teach me to be a better aunt and person, to put others first and to have patience. It’s not always easy, but I’m learning every day and every moment because I want to be a good example for them. They deserve to experience a loving and loyal family because they have made our family stronger than we ever thought possible. I don’t ever want them to question their worth or to feel unloved. I choose to be a part of their lives out of love, not out of obligation.·

CRISIS identity crisis

IDENTITY

MY EXPERIENCE AS A THIRD CULTURE KID

By Safa Saeed, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Arts Curator

“Where are you from?”

This has always been my least favorite question because I don’t have a real answer. Most people respond with where they grew up or where they feel most at home—but I have never felt at home anywhere.

I was born in Pakistan, where most of my extended family still lives. When I was two, my dad got a job in Saudi Arabia and we moved there. Saudi Arabia was a huge cultural adjustment for my parents. My mom went from practicing law to not working and not being able to drive.

Saudi Arabia is an extremely international country, with more than 30 percent of residents being foreigners. This creates a divide. Foreigners, also known as expats, typically live in different parts of the city and are more likely to attend international schools with other foreigners.

The school I went to growing up had people from every corner of the world. I was constantly part of an extremely inclusive community filled with a multitude of different people with different backgrounds. The worst aspect of international schools, however, was that everyone was always moving around, so your friends were never there for too long.

Though I was given a vast global exposure at a young age, it negatively impacted the way I saw myself. I was constantly struggling with my identity, as were my parents. There was the culture that they grew up with, the culture of the country we had just moved to and the cultures of all the different people surrounding us.

Going “abroad” for high school was something fairly common at my school. So, when I turned 14, my parents sent me to boarding school in Tacoma, Washington. It was around then that I started having my biggest identity crisis. People would ask where I was from and I would say Pakistan and Saudi, despite not being a dual citizen.

I couldn’t fully say I was from Pakistan, as I didn’t have the typical experiences of a person that lived there. But I also couldn’t really say Saudi, as I didn’t have a passport from there and also had experiences unlike those of Saudi natives.

During my sophomore year of high school, I met a girl who had spent her whole life moving around and described herself as a “third culture kid.” According to sociologist David C. Pollock, a third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents’ culture.1

A third culture kid builds relationships with all cultures but feels no ownership to any. I had finally found a phrase to describe the way I felt my whole life: disconnected. However, this disconnect is crucial to my identity.

I think of most people as trees with roots deep in the ground. Their roots keep them there and remind them of where home is. I, on the other hand, see myself as a potted plant: fully able to move and adapt to make a home wherever necessary.

To me, home isn’t a place, and it isn’t even fully the people—it’s something I create for myself wherever I go. Home is a mindset.

Home is dancing in the rain after a year-long drought in Saudi. Home is airports and sixteen-hour flights. Home is my sister not leaving my side for three days after getting my wisdom teeth out. Home is crying at rom-coms and eating Chipotle. Home is boarding school food and waffles on weekends. Home is silk-painting with my mom and having long conversations with my dad. Home is living with your friends.

Home is the food, culture and people life brings you—non-specific to any particular part or place in your life. You don’t need a place to define where you’re from.·

Comfy Chic

Soumika Gaddameedi photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Staff Photographer

Directed by Maria Dayneko, Creative Director, and Nina Waech, Creative Team

THE

THREE PERSPECTIVES ON CREATING A NEW HOME IN COLLEGE

By Juliette Cohen, Ally Steinberg & Soumika Gaddameedi, Contributing Writers Illustrated by Channing Smith, Arts Curator

When you enter your freshman year of college, there is a laundry list of things you have to do to adjust. Some of it is fun, such as decorating your new room, buying college apparel or finding your new favorite foodie spots. Some of it isn’t so fun, and are, in fact, the most difficult for transitioning freshmen. The single hardest step that every student must make? Leaving the place that they grew up in and establishing a new home at school.

JULIETTE

I went to the same school for 13 years. I considered it my home. The brownstone buildings saw me through my childhood, my long-lasting awkward phase and my imminent evolution into an adult. While I loved my school and all of the experiences I had there, I felt like I was ready to leave. I came to terms with moving onwards. What I didn’t expect was for the place that felt like home to feel foreign when I came back.

I walked through the halls I journeyed thousands of times, yet, they felt cold, unfriendly and sad. The people in the grades below who used to look up to me were all applying to colleges and getting ready to take the next step in their lives. They all asked me about my first few months, listening with hope and anticipation that they could leave high school behind them too. They all seemed desperate to escape just like I had a year ago. Even the teachers walked around with stacks of papers and looks of defeat. The place that had seen me through good and bad was like an unfamiliar, uncomfortable foreign land,

I have been a student at UW-Madison for four months now, and already it feels like more of a home to me than the school I went to for most of my life. My friends, sorority, classmates and clubs helped me assimilate and create a space that is warm, welcoming and fun. I’ve created a new home that is a place for me to adapt into as an adult—to come into my own. I’ve learned so much about myself since school has started. I’ve discovered a newfound independence, self confidence and awareness, As well as the ability to live with others while still being selfless. I’ve learned to multi task, schedule, plan and think about my future while still living in the present and enjoying myself.Wisconsin is my new home and I feel extremely lucky to rock my Badger red and white.

ALLY

My first few months of my freshman year were not great. I was homesick. When my mom came to visit in November, it was as if she had packed my childhood home in New York in her suitcase. I was no longer homesick.

I soon realized that home wasn’t where we lived, it was the feeling I had when we were together. It was the smell of her cooking roasted sweet potatoes, and the peaceful feeling during morning walks on a trail. We could still do the things we loved to do no matter where I was living. When she visited, I didn’t feel pressured to entertain. I was able to enjoy her company, arguably even more so than when I was at home. When she visited, it was just her and I—no work or responsibilities.

Even though creating my new home in Madison was hard, I realized my mom also had to create a new home for herself in New York in my absence. I am the youngest of two, and since I live halfway across the country, it left my mom an empty nester. I was beginning a new, exciting chapter of creating my life, but she was ending a chapter of hers. No matter where we are in life, however, we’re able to maintain our feeling of home in each other through Facetime calls and occasional Snapchats.

SOUMIKA

We all know at least one person who is completely the opposite from their family in terms of opinions and values. We wonder how they could diverge so much from those who raised them. Yet, this is not the only question raised by this phenomenon. What is significant is how they are able to embrace their true passions regardless of those around them.

Once I realized that I can take away as much or as little advice as I want from each person I encounter, my life turned around. It’s fundamental to remain respectful of everyone’s choices, recognizing everyone has differing opinions. However, you have the choice to either agree with them or simply respect your difference. This is how you can continue to grow as a person in any environment, regardless of whether you move to a brand new location or not.

The question is, however, should you bloom where you’re planted or expand beyond your roots? While it’s critical to build mechanisms to cope with situations you’re placed in, it may be equally important to acknowledge when it’s time for change. Every single event and act in someone’s life shapes their preferences and desires, causing vast outcomes regardless of similar upbringings. Many people find happiness where they grew up because they were lucky enough to fit in perfectly. But, do we confuse familiarity with happiness?

A handful of people don’t feel at peace where they grew up. It often isn’t even noticed because nostalgia makes us homesick for places that may not hold significance anymore. It’s all too easy to stick to comfortable locations and schedules, rather than exploring places you may end up falling in love with.

***

The feeling of home is a continuous spectrum in which it’s important to distinguish between nostalgia and current desires. Going out of your comfort zone in any situation is the only way to build upon that feeling. Our definition of home changes over time as various people and places become what’s most comfortable. While we may associate home with what’s well known, it’s important to go beyond your comfort zone and create new spaces to call home. ·

far from home

HOW LIVING LIFE AWAY FROM OUR HOMETOWNS RESTRUCTURED OUR VIEW OF A ‘HOME’

By Elise Andersen, Deputy Editor & Ashleigh Perry, Special Events Coordinator Photographs Courtesy of Elise Andersen & Ashleigh Perry

ELISE ANDERSEN

I recently read a quote that said, “You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

One year ago, I was packing up two suitcases and boarding a oneway flight to Florence, Italy. I spent four months studying abroad there, followed by two months in San Francisco completing an internship. As an individual who has always struggled with change, the onset of these transitions was daunting.

I could go on and on about how I struggled with homesickness or how I eventually made an effort to make these places feel like home, but, in hindsight, that was not the most challenging part of these temporary moves. What I struggled most with was returning back to the place I have called home for the past 22 years.

Growing up, I had a love-hate relationship with my hometown. Part of me resented the Midwest, and I dreamed about the day I would be able to move away. Although smalltown Wisconsin might not be where I belong, another part of me has always found comfort in its familiar roads and faces. While I constantly longed for a more progressive place with a more diverse population, I was always too afraid to make such a change.

After deciding to stay in-state for college, studying abroad was the perfect opportunity to (temporarily) experience a new environment. Having the ability to pick up and move to a foreign place for a short period of time and then return to the comfort of my real home seemed like the best of both worlds. So when I returned to Madison after eight months of living out of a suitcase and felt more out-of-place here than I had in Florence and San Francisco combined, I didn’t know how to cope.

When I arrived in Madison mid-August, I instantly felt a sting of uneasiness that still has yet to fully subside. Part of me felt like it had been years since

I last walked down State Street, while another part of me felt like I had never left. Seeing the people I hadn’t seen in months felt forced and awkward.

I constantly felt like I was an outsider, like there was an inside joke that everyone was a part of except for me. Conversations began to feel hollow. Constantly being asked, “How was studying abroad?” and, “How was your internship in San Francisco?” reminded me of my fond memories of those times; I found myself going on and on, talking more than the people who asked those questions really wanted to hear.

I felt a sense of disconnect between myself and the place that was supposed to be my home. I had had all of these new experiences, many of which I didn’t even realize the weight of their impact until recently. Although I couldn’t exactly pinpoint how I had changed, I just knew that I did.

I have been back in Madison for over four months now. Although it hasn’t been an easy adjustment being back, I’ve realized that I have a choice. I can either continue to spend my days in my head or my camera roll, reliving the moments I spent along the Arno River eating endless amounts of gelato, or I can make an effort to reaccustom myself to Madison.

While I have spent much of the past four months doing the former, I’m beginning to understand the importance of the latter. I had to make an effort to feel at home in both Florence and San Francisco, and although I might not have expected it, I have to do the same in regards to being back in Madison.

I also have to remind myself that nostalgia has a deceitful way of making the past appear better than it actually was. While the past year was overflowing with laughter and adventure, I must remember the innumerable moments where I felt alone, unsettled and anxious.

I’ve spent the past few weeks reaching out to new and old friends alike and growing my sense of community. I’m constantly focusing on the little things

that I’ve always loved about Madison, such as spending my Friday mornings at Colectivo or taking a yoga class at InnerFire. Whatever I can do to make myself feel reconnected to this city, I’m doing my best to do it. Soon enough, I will move away from here too and long for these very experiences in the same way I currently long for the experiences I had in Europe and California.

Moving around on three separate occasions within the past year has proved to me that home is not a place, and it’s okay to not feel completely at home in any one environment. Although I am physically in Madison, part of my heart will always be crossing the Ponte Vecchio in Florence or strolling down Chestnut Street in San Francisco.

As time goes on and I continue to live and grow in various surroundings, I will leave pieces of myself wherever I go, while also adding new experiences to the ever-evolving being that I am. We are all a unique combination of the people, places and moments we have encountered, and I’m beginning to find that more comforting than any four walls and a roof could ever be.

ASHLEIGH PERRY

I wouldn’t say that I was ever too attached to the idea of home. I always knew that there was some grander place laying just beyond the horizon.

I dreamed of graduating high school and moving to a big city, finally living the life I was destined to live. I wanted that place to be as far away from my childhood home as possible. For me, that distance did not need to manifest in a certain amount of miles on the odometer—the distance meant that it needed to feel different. It needed to be bigger, more bustling, maybe a different temperature, but definitely not familiar.

I wanted to break out of my comfort zone, to live without fear of wounds caused by the shrapnel that could be launched from shattering my current, safe reality. Then, like so many other highschoolers, I found out how much college actually costs. This pared my dream down quite a bit, forcing me to move to another city—if you even really

want to call it that—near my hometown in Wisconsin.

The food, the weather, the scenery and, unfortunately, a lot of the people were a whole lot of the same. This put me into a state of endless regret, wondering what more I could have been or could have done if I had forced more change upon myself.

What the first two years of my college experience lacked in being different I vowed to change by studying abroad during my third year. I chose a place unfamiliar to me and most people I know.

“You’re studying abroad in Athens? I’ve never heard anyone do that before.”

Good. I wanted to forage my own path. I was done being comfortable.

I was done being the same.

Upon landing at the Athens International Airport, I was almost brought to tears. As I emerged from the plane and stepped foot onto the Greek soil, I looked up and saw the most beautiful blue sky with undisturbed sunlight.

Seeing sun like that at the end of January was an out-of-body experience for a Wisconsinite like myself. I did not take that clear sky for granted that day—or any other day—during my time abroad because I knew how it felt to be trapped in a gray haze for nine months of the year.

I did not take any of the differences for granted because I knew that all too soon I would be flung back into the homogenous atmosphere of my

upbringing. I took my time abroad to soak up everything that I possibly could. I laughed, I cried and I spent too much money—but nothing was in vain. It was done in pursuit of finding a home for myself.

Though I may not end up back in Athens specifically, being thrown so far beyond what I was so used to for so long showed me that I was destined for more. It showed me that I could adapt and make a place for myself anywhere in this world.

Now, when I look out my window and see the grayscape that is Wisconsin, I try not to let myself get caught up in the mundane; I conjure the sunlight from that tarmac and remember that there are brighter places in the future, and that I will make them mine.·

HOUSE OF SHILOH

HOW THE SHILOH COURT CUL-DE-SAC BECAME THE HOME OF A LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP

By Shelby Evans, Lifestyle Staff Writer Photos Courtesy of Shelby Evans

Meg lifted herself from her knees, tried to wipe the chalk off of her pants and hands, grinned and declared, “It’s finished.”

Our cul-de-sac was completely covered by a chalk drawing outlining the town we designed. We had drawn roads that we could drive our scooters down and we each had a house furnished with beds, bathrooms and pools. We thought of everything we could possibly need for our little chalk town.

It was always Meg, Anna, my brother Austin and I. There is no exact start to our friendships; our lives just became inseparable. We spent our childhoods running through the cul-de-sac that stood between our yards.

Meg was the oldest and our ring leader— she planned our summer talent shows where we rallied the other kids of the neighborhood to perform in front of the crowd of parents in foldable chairs. Next, was my brother. Austin was the only boy in the neighborhood which meant we could always make him do things he didn’t want to, like drinking a “potion” that was just mud and grass. Anna was two years older than me, and five younger than Meg. Anna and

I were the closest friends in the bunch. There were sunny days riding bikes, rainy days playing “book store,” turning basements into pretend houses, puddle jumping, inventing magical worlds and many more adventures between us. Our family began going up to the Floersch’s cabin at some point, and the parent’s friendships were just as important as the kid’s friendships.

At some point, the Gonzales family moved next door, and, Izzy, who is five years younger than me, joined our little family. The Gonzales’ soon joined in on our cabin adventures. We even began our own Christmas Eve traditions with their family and ours.

We attended kid’s mass at church to watch Izzy perform in the nativity scene (we continued attending that same service even once Izzy stopped participating). We returned back to the neighborhood, put on pajamas and walked across the street to their house. Izzy’s dad cooked us his marinated prime rib and Texas toast. It wasn’t a traditional holiday meal but we look forward to it every year, making sure to stuff ourselves full of it. We then built a fire in their fireplace and spent a couple of hours playing Apples to Apples.

As kids, we had pretend weddings and argued about the way a bride is supposed to walk down the aisle. We couldn’t wrap our heads around the fact that some 13 years later we would all be in the audience at Meg’s actual wedding, then again the next year at Austin’s.

The neighborhood, parents and kids alike still know how to party today. At Meg’s high school graduation the cops issued a noise complaint from an unfriendly neighbor. At Meg’s rehearsal dinner, we began dancing and singing causing the bride herself to shut us down because the partying had to be saved for the next day. We were always the first ones on the dance floor and the last ones off.

The families that lived on Shiloh Court became one family. Our houses were each others’. As we grow older, we are no longer running barefoot across the cul-du-sac to ask if someone wants to play. Yet, we still find ways to keep in touch. We always make time for cabin weekends and time together during the holidays. Though we no longer live on Shiloh Court, we still refer to ourselves as “House of Shiloh.” ·

WHY ALL HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES ARE THE SAME

AND WHY I STILL WATCH THEM

By Nicole Golownia, Contributing Writer Hannah Moses photographed by Nicole Golownia, Staff Photographer

I am a self-proclaimed Hallmark Christmas movie fanatic. I eagerly watch the Countdown to Christmas premiere movie each year. I have Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas app on my phone. My mom and I play Hallmark Bingo.

After watching so many movies, the lighthearted plots interweave as much as a string of tangled holiday lights. A white, straight female— usually played by a ‘90s actress you almost forgot about—stumbles into a white, straight male in a Christmasobsessed town. One of the characters works for a corporation in the big city and the other has a humble, noble profession in the snowcoated town.

They both have Christmas related names—hello, Nicholas and Holly. Oops, I mean Chris and Eve. They spend time together in a spacious, well-decorated house drinking hot chocolate or baking cookies. They go on flirtatious holiday excursions like ice skating and picking out a real tree (fake has no place in said wholesome town). An old, wise character—often one who looks suspiciously like Santa—offers guidance and knows the two characters are in love. The big city character realizes he or she lost sight of traditional values at the community’s tree lighting ceremony or annual festival. The conflict—usually born out of a very minor miscommunication—is easily resolved, and the movie ends with a G-rated kiss.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas. Year after year, Hallmark reproduces iterations of the same plot structure. Why? Hallmark’s movie formula makes money and attracts an audience. Last holiday season, Hallmark Channel was the highest-ranked and most-watched

cable network among women ages 18 to 29 and 25 to 54.1

The channel’s consistent programming and large, female-driven viewership creates a safe choice for television advertisers. In fact, Hallmark Channel now models its year-long programming strategy after Countdown to Christmas.

The channel offers Winterfest, Countdown to Valentine’s Day, Spring Fever, Countdown to Summer, June Weddings, Christmas in July, Summer Nights, Fall Harvest and Five Nights Stuffed Full of Original Holiday Movies.2 This new model leverages seasonal opportunities, just as Hallmark greeting cards capitalize on special occasions

and violence do not exist in the Hallmark Christmas utopia. The channel provides innocent, family-friendly narratives suitable for all audiences while pushing a nostalgic tone. While Hallmark maintains a consistent brand by hiring the same actors and actresses, the casts are primarily white. Of the 24 new Countdown to Christmas movies this year, only two casts included people of color as leads: Charley Rose and Rome Flynn in “A Christmas Duet,” and Holly Robinson Peete and Rukiya Bernard in “Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy.”

There is virtually no Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander or Hispanic representation nor any interracial couple representation. Hallmark also underrepresents the LGBTQ community, with the channel only once hinting at a gay, adopted side character in Hallmark’s 2018 movie “Road to Christmas.”3

Hallmark is, however, slowly progressing in religious representation, as the channel is celebrating Hanukkah for the first time in its new movie “Double Holiday,” premiering Sunday, December 22.

and holidays throughout the year.

Another answer as to why Hallmark Christmas movies are all the same is that the non-polarizing plots allows for a cross-generational audience. While other networks compete to have the most edgy or shocking content, Hallmark thrives on its neutrality.

It is nearly impossible to object to the plot of any Hallmark Christmas movie. Alcohol, drugs, politics, profanity, sex

1 “Hallmark Channel Once Again Reigns as Leader in Holiday Programming.” Multichannel, 9 Jan. 2019.

2 Yarborough, Kaitlyn. “Everything You Need to Know About Hallmark Channel in 2018.” Southern Living, 2018.

Despite repetitive storylines and a clear need for greater diversity, I still watch the Countdown to Christmas—albeit guiltily. The programming provides a temporary escape from holiday stressors—namely studying for finals and buying the perfect presents.

At the end of a long year, nothing is better than 10 weeks of wish fulfillment. I find refuge in the picturesque Hallmark universe in which fate exists and goodness prevails.·

3 Nguyen, Hanh. “Hallmark: No More White washed Christmas, But It Could Make the Yule tide Gayer.” IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2018.

“DESPITE REPETITIVE STORYLINES AND A CLEAR NEED FOR GREATER DIVERSITY, I STILL WATCH THE COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS— ALBEIT GUILTILY. THE PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A TEMPORARY ESCAPE FROM HOLIDAY STRESSORS.”

AN APPRECIATION FOR OUR BEST FRIEND SOULMATES

By Isabella Byrne, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Clara Huskin

As author and creator of “Sex and the City” Candace Bushnell once said, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.” 1 These wise words challenge the idea that a soulmate is solely romantic.

Let’s give some credit to the ladies that deserve it all; the ones who have listened to our long, drawn-out rants, wiped our tears and made us laugh during the times we didn’t think it was possible to smile. Whether it’s the reassuring idea of knowing you can be unapologetically yourself around them, or how with just one look they can tell you’ve had a bad day and wrap their arms around you before you can even get the words out—that’s what home feels like.

These bonds are so special that they have the ability to transcend distance, time, hardships and anything else life throws at us. I met a special group of soulmates in college, and with just a little bit over one year of friendship, it feels as if I have known these incredible people my entire life. That’s how you know it’s a forever friendship; you never want to know what life is like without them again and you know that you’ll never have to.

I have found that the individuals who make up pieces of my heart were in California, Colorado, Connecticut and New York. For some reason, by mere chance, we were meant to meet in the middle. I experienced 18 years of my life without these people. When they came into my life, I began to look at the world in an entirely different way.

1 Bushnell, Candace. Sex and the City. Milano: Mondadori, 2009.

I think of each one of these best friends like a piece of a puzzle. Each piece is incredibly different in the best possible way. When one piece is missing, things are incomplete. When we are all together and when the puzzle is complete, it feels as if nothing could be more right in the world. We form a beautiful chaos, as I like to call it. We are aligned in our views of the world, values and goals in life, and it never fails to amaze me how well we understand each other, or how hard we make one another laugh.

Soulmates are the people that have watched you fall, and fall hard. These are the people that watched you succeed, and have genuinely said the words “I am so proud of you.” You share disappointments, raw heartbreaks and the ugliest of cries with them. They felt these emotions with you.

In some of your happiest moments of life, you can recall looking around at each of them wondering how you ever got so lucky; wishing you could stop time to appreciate and hold onto that euphoric feeling just a little bit longer.

Soulmates act as a constant reminder of the love that you deserve, offering you a solid connection that doesn’t ever leave you wondering if you are worthy of it. They inspire you to become the dream version of yourself, to love deeper and laugh harder. Your soulmates enhance the parts of you that you may view as a flaw, rather than asking you to hide it. They want to brighten your light—they never attempt to dim it.

Last year, one of the pieces of our puzzle transferred to a school back home and we were terrified that things would never be the same. One year later, our special bond has not been affected—in fact, it’s grown even stronger. We speak to each other every single day, we’ve traveled across the country together, and we’ve already created traditions that will continue throughout the rest of our lives. This is the power of the soulmate connection we have with one another. It has transcended every obstacle that life has presented to us.

A friendshipsoulmate connection like this is rare, special and so incredibly beautiful. As the “Sex and the City” quote goes, “after a while, you just want to be with the one(s) that make you laugh.” It’s important that we celebrate these people because we are lucky enough to have crossed paths them—those that fill our lives with an easiness that feels like home.

With the holiday season in mind, make sure to remind your home-away-fromhome people how much you appreciate them. To my best friends, you are my home-away-from-home—my soulmates. You know who you are; I love you all with every ounce of my being.·

MODA'S FAVORITE

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

THE SPECIAL TRADITIONS WE LOOK FORWARD TO DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

By Audrey O’Neill, Channing Smith, Elise Andersen, Kate Lawless, Katie Herrick & Lauren Chung Illustrated by Channing Smith, Arts Curator

EXTREME COOKIE DECORATING AND FROSTING

Katie Herrick, Culture Editor

My mom and I LOVE decorating cookies. I don’t mean that weak colored frosting and a few sprinkles bullshit… we go hard. For as long as I can remember, my mom went all out while decorating cookies. We had carrot sprinkles for the snowmen’s noses, we made EVERY color of frosting and we would decorate tree cookies with strings of lights and ornaments made from sprinkles, frosting and candy.

As I got older, I slowly became more and more precise and detailed with my cookies. By the time I was 16-years-old, cookie decorating had become a five hour affair where my mom and I sat decorating one cookie for 30 minutes. My younger step-siblings and brother would whip through 20 cookies in the time my mom and completed one stocking with our name spelt across the top in black sprinkles.

Cookie decorating is something I look forward to every single year. I love sitting with my mom and brother to roll out the dough, cut the shapes, decorate each cookie perfectly and, of course, “accidentally” break a few to munch on. Sitting for four hours with family—no arguments, just the sound of Trans-Siberian Orchestra in the background—is home to me and makes me feel the most in the Christmas spirit.

MATCHING CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS

Kate Lawless, Lifestyle Editor

On Christmas Eve, everyone in my family gets to open one present after dinner. My mom always picks out the gift my little sister and I get to open, and every year it always happens to be matching pajamas. Over the years, we’ve worn quite a range of styles. We’ve had blue matching sets adorned with pictures of polar bears, pink and green

camouflage, red plaid nightgowns, and, easily the most embarrassing, elf outfits.

I used to hate matching with my sister. My mom would always take a ton of pictures and I’d cringe at the thought that matching with my sister made me uncool. Over the years, I’ve started to understand why my parents always pushed this tradition. First of all, it’s adorable. I’m actually glad to have those photos from over the years. You can see us evolve through all the phases of our lives, from the bangs to the braces to both of our intense middle school growth spurts.

I’m really glad my mom started this tradition. In the future, when I spend Christmases with my sister and our future families, we can carry on the tradition and have our children match with their cousins.

“WHEN IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME”

Audrey O’Neill, Staff Photographer

For every Christmas Eve I can remember, my family has gone to my greatgrandma’s house to celebrate Christmas together. The best part of the event every year—aside from my aunt’s signature cookies—is the “Christmas Time” song. All the kids, including the teenagers, sit on the

guest room bed. To pass the time while we wait for Santa to visit and drop off gifts, we sing a song made up by my aunts. The song goes:

When it’s Christmas Time

You must sleep in your own bed

Not in your Mom’s Not in your Dad’s Not in your dog’s Not in your cat’s litter box

I always look forward to singing with my cousins, and, as I get older, I have realized how the song and the tradition has kept our family close. It reflects the originality of our traditions and the steadfast love of our family.

*FACETIME PUN HERE*

Channing Smith, Arts Curator

Being Jewish in Madison, the holiday season can be a bit lonely. While most students are anxiously awaiting the end of finals to get home to their families for the holidays, Hanukkah usually falls smack in the middle of finals. I find myself especially homesick during these eight days. Growing up, Hanukkah was an excuse to gather as a family around the dinner table— with two working parents, this was an abnormal occurrence.

After relocating to Madison, I felt the absence of this tradition immediately, but distance doesn’t stop my family from celebrating together.

Spanning four time zones—my mom in Seattle, my sister in Boulder, my dad in Connecticut and myself in Madison—we always manage to light the menorah together over FaceTime. These FaceTimes are carefully planned, and often come with technically difficulties. Nevertheless, they are the highlight of my days. Being able to take even just 10 minutes away from my studying frenzy to spend time with my family supplies the sanity I need to get me through finals season.

SNOWBALLS AND SPAGHETTI

Elise Andersen, Deputy Editor

Coming from a very proud Italian family, Christmas has always been a time of family and LOTS of incredible food. When my greatgrandparents (better known as Nonno and Nonna) were still around, Christmas feasts were held at their house and featured plenty of traditional Italian foods, all made with hand-written secret recipes passed down through the generations. The star of the show? Spaghetti with my family’s infamous homemade red sauce and meatballs.

While my Nonno and Nonna are no longer with us, my family continues to keep their spirit alive throughout the holiday season with a Christmas Eve dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.

After dinner, the feast continues with some good old competition. Ever since I can remember, my mom has made “snowballs” — peppermint ice cream formed into balls, then covered in coconut flakes and a chocolate shell. Everyone at our Christmas gathering gets a snowball on a plate, which is then topped with a lit birthday candle. The object of the game is to eat as much of the snowball without extinguishing the candle. Whoever finishes first (without the candle blowing out, of course) is the winner, and receives a small gift, which is usually a gift card or lottery tickets.

No matter how far my siblings and I venture from our true home over the years, I can always count on these traditions to bring me back to what’s most important during the holiday season: quality time spent with loved ones.

“WHO WANTS TO FIGHT?” Lauren Chung, Editor-in-Chief

Usually, when you think of the holidays you don’t tend to think of competitiveness. Christmas is a time of giving and celebrating all the joys life gives us, right? Absolutely… except when my family is indulging in one of our favorite past-times: game night.

Game nights at our household include every cliché you can conjure up. We have an excess of snacks to fuel our competitive edge ranging from elaborate cheese boards to holiday candies to my mom’s infamous butterscotch oatmeal cookies. Music can be heard in the background—when we aren’t contesting rules and objecting each other’s decisions in games—and a neat pile of board games rests by our sides.

Our game nights include anything from Boggle to Uno to Mahjong, a classically loved, traditional Chinese game. Our favorite game, though, is Catan, or formally known as Settlers of Catan. Catan and its many variety versions can be extremely intricate, but at its base it’s all about the fates of the dice and learning how to strategize, trade and maneuver in order to be the ultimate settler. The trading aspect is what brings our family the most trouble. Negotiating deals amongst competitors can, rightfully, bring about that competitive edge. Simply put, Catan is notorious for starting fights amongst players, and our family is no exception.

With all our frustration and cunning personas we put on aside, Catan and all the games we play during game night brings us together. My brothers and I are grown up now, but that doesn’t stop us from giggling at absurd drawings in Pictionary with our parents. Game nights are a chance for us to put down our phones and actually interact with each other, rather than watching a movie or TV show. Many of our inside jokes as a family are products of the silliness that comes from game nights. Holiday breaks would not be complete in my household without them.

·

WE'RE BABY

Creative direction by Katie Herrick, Culture Editor Amanda Jentsch, Ashleigh Perry, Gabrielle Gronewold, Gylf Forsberg & Katie Herrick

Photographed by Emma Gray, Staff Photographer & Jessica Tenenbaum, Contributing Photographer

GABRIELLE

A SWEATER STATEMENT

By Kyler Haupt, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Lauren Chung, Editor-In-Chief

Imagine this: in a few days you will be back home celebrating the holidays with your family, old friends and maybe even a hometown fling. When you arrive at your family gathering, you are greeted with a warm hug from your grandma and a tug at your hand from your annoying (but adorable) little cousins. You kick off your boots and unzip your parka to reveal—BOOM the ugliest holiday sweater your family has ever seen.

Your ugly holiday sweater sparks conversation. No more questions about post-graduation plans. No more awkward prying into your love life. The only thing on your family’s minds will be, “wow, that sweater is something.”

As a staple for the season, the ugly holiday sweater is a great way to show off your creativity and grab the attention of friends, family or even a mistletoe crush. *wink, wink*

Here are six tips and tricks to make your ugly sweater the hot topic of the holidays.

ORNAMENTS

Adding ornaments to your sweater is a great way to make it fun and 3-dimensional. Pull some bulbs right off your Christmas tree and hang them on your sweater. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, sub out the bulbs for some chimes and let everyone hear how in the spirit you are this year with every step you take.

Another option is to buy some felt and make your own ornaments. Cut the felt into holiday shapes (think snowmen, gingerbread people, presents) and

secure them to your sweater for a slimmer, lighter way to incorporate ornaments. Don’t forget bows. Everybody loves bows.

LIGHTS

Shine brighter than your ubersuccessful older sister and deck your fit out with lights. Flashing, pulsing or static lights will make your sweater one to remember. For extra bling, drape the lights around your neck as a festive necklace. Otherwise, wrapping the lights around your waist can make for a flashy holiday belt. Make sure your lights are battery powered so you can take them on-the-go!

BIG, BRIGHT COLORS

Nothing says holidays like the classic color combinations: green and red and blue and silver. Embrace these color combos and make them pop by exaggerating their presence in your look. The best ways to amplify these colors is to accessorize with them. Throw in some red socks to coordinate with green tights to show the most Christmas spirit. Toss on a silver headband and bring out your blue undershirt to get into full Hanukkah mode! You get the idea, make it annoying how colorful you are.

SPARKLE

Get in touch with your inner snowflake and sparkle it up! There is no such thing as too much glitter when it comes to making your holiday sweater memorable. Silver and gold are festive metallics that are perfect to sprinkle (or pour) onto your knit. Copious amounts of tinsel can also catch people’s eyes. Make sure to really secure the sparkle to your sweater or else you will be

leaving a trail of shimmery goodness behind you.

MAKE IT SEXY

This option is probably more appropriate for parties with friends rather than family (sorry to your creepy uncle). Show some skin by getting yourself a cropped sweater to show off your midriff. Another way to get a little spicy this season is to sport an off-the-shoulder look; it is simple but effective when it comes to getting a crush’s attention. If you want to show off some leg, try an ugly sweater dress that compliments your figure and pair it with some fashionable boots. Give the people what they want this holiday season, just make sure to wear a warm coat on top!

TELL A STORY

Become a walking Hallmark movie and tell a story with your holiday getup. A Santa hat or reindeer antlers are fun ways to transform yourself into a character from our favorite holiday classics. Attaching strands of garland to your outfit will emblemize the family Christmas tree and sporting some white wings will make you appear as the angel on top. Wrap yourself in wrapping paper and stick a bow on your head to be everybody’s favorite gift this year. If you want your sweater to win over your friends and family, the most important thing is to make it relatable and festive — so get creative and have fun with it!

Start a conversation, make a statement and dive into the holiday spirit this season with these tricks to making your sweater the ugliest and cringiest at the party. Happy Holidays! ·

FEELING AT HOME IN YOUR CLOTHES

HOW CREATING A PERSONAL STYLE

CAN MAKE US LOOK AND FEEL OUR BEST

By Gabrielle Gronewold, Contributing Writer Gabrielle Gronewold photographed by Josh Redfern, Staff Photographer

Personal style is a form of selfexpression, something that allows us to physically represent the uniqueness of the bodies we live in.

When it comes down to it, our clothes, hair, personal outlook on life and even our home decor directly correlate with the person we are or want to be. When it comes to fashion, personal clothing choices have a direct impact on our lifestyles and mindfulness, allowing us to to manifest the feeling of home through what we wear.

As fashion designer Ralph Lauren once said, “Personal style is about a sense of yourself, a sense of what you believe in and wearing what you like.”1

Science backs Ralph Lauren up. It’s no secret that the clothes we wear can directly influence how others perceive us. Within the first three seconds of meeting someone, we make our first impressions—often judging them on their physical appearance and clothing.2 However, the clothes we wear can also impact the way we perceive ourselves and how we perform.

According to a 2014 study, wearing high status clothing—like a suit—can “increase dominance and job performance in ‘high-stakes’ competitive tasks.”3 Moreover, wearing high-class attire could even “influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style.”4

The psychological impact of clothing on aspects such as our personal success has ignited the mantra, “dress for success.” Dressing for success alludes to the multifaceted benefits of wearing formal clothing in professional settings, allowing us to not only impress others but ourselves as well.5 You can’t tell me you don’t feel 10 times more prepared for an interview once you throw a blazer on.

1 Ralph Lauren, AZ Quotes.

2 Ben Fletcher, “What Your Clothes Might Be Say ing About You,” Psychology Today. April 20, 2013.

3 Michael Kraus, Wendy Berry Mendes, “Sartorial symbols of social class elicit class-consistent behavioral and physiological responses: A dyadic approach” American Psychological Association. 2014

4 Michael Slepian,“The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing,” Columbia University. 2015.

5 Dennis Green, “It turns out dressing well can actually make you more successful,” Business Insider. August 5, 2017.

However, clothing is much more than a tool for personal gain and professional development. If done right, clothing can bring people happiness.

Marie Kondo’s book “Sparks Joy” dives into this phenomenon by encouraging a minimalist lifestyle. She suggests only owning things—including items of clothing—that bring you joy. Kondo asks her clients if they feel joy when holding an item. If they don’t, she advises that they discard the item all together. By owning clothes that only “spark joy”, people can surround themselves with a wardrobe that makes them feel good and happy, creating a safe, welcoming home for themselves in their clothes.6

Similar lifestyle trends have popped up all over in recent years. One example is the capsule wardrobe, which originated in the 1970’s by Susie Faux. Faux, the owner of a London-based boutique called Wardrobe, has been committed to helping women build their personal style for the past several decades.7

According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a clothing collection of a few timeless essentials that can be accessorized with selective seasonal pieces. Creating a capsule wardrobe starts with choosing a wardrobe color scheme made of several base and accent colors. Capsule wardrobes also take into account silhouettes, shades and patterns.

One goal of a capsule wardrobe is to create a high-quality, timeless collection of clothes that suits the wearer for years to come. The main goal of a capsule wardrobe is to create a collection of pieces that are exclusive to an individual’s style and sense of self.8

When I pick out pieces for my own wardrobe I consider the item with regard to the “rules” of a capsule wardrobe. I tend to go for base shades of nude, black and white, with pops of light pink and blue colors that make me feel like myself. I also find myself attracted to denim and wool, fabrics I find timeless, durable and comfortable.

6 Parade, “Marie Kondo on How to Recognize What Sparks Joy,” Parade. December 25, 2015.

7 Susie Faux, “About Susie Faux” Confidence Tricks From Susie Faux.

8 Wikipedia, “Capsule Wardrobe” October 30, 2019.

When I open up my own closet doors and take a step back, I immediately feel excitement over the pieces I own and the looks I can create with them. I prioritize having a wardrobe that is an extension of myself and the things I love—like light pink and a good leather moment.

A huge aspect of the capsule wardrobe is ditching the quick trends of the fashion world.

Faux says, “There are two kinds of shopping at our end of the market. One is all about buying big brands. People want the name; they may buy over the internet; they don’t care (or perhaps are just not aware) if it doesn’t fit them perfectly; and they assume, rather than understand, the quality just because of the name.”

9

The rapid turnaround of trends and fast fashion gives clothing items short shelf lives and takes away the magic of individual style. When individuals buy clothes that are true to who they are and their personal style—rather than what’s trendy at the moment—

9 Susie Faux, “A good outlook for investment sales” Confidence Tricks from Susie Faux, June 27, 2011.

they are creating a wardrobe that goes beyond a moment in time and establishes something unique. This line of thinking is something Faux reports is steadily becoming prevalent in the minds of modern shoppers: “The dramatic changes in fashion that drive big brand sales are slowing down as people realise that what’s important is that their clothes look and feel great on them as individuals.”10

The best part of this minimalist mindset are the environmental benefits. The fashion industry produces 10 percent of all humankind’s carbon emissions, is the world’s second largest water consumer and pollutes oceans with microplastics.11 By avoiding shortterm trends through purchasing highquality pieces that will last a long time, individuals with capsule wardrobes and other minimalist-inspired closets are quite literally helping to save the planet.

Shoppers can help our environment even more by thrifting and making an effort to purchase sustainable and 10 Ibid.

11 Aylin Woodward, Morgan McFall Johnson, “The fashion industry emits more carbon than interna tional flights and maritime shipping combined.” Business Insider. October 21, 2019.

ethically sourced clothing. Who knew looking and feeling good could change the world?

Personally, wearing clothes that are ethically sourced and produced brings me a little extra joy when I put the piece on. As we know from Kondo, feeling this type of joy towards our belongings is great for our wellbeing.

Personal style has astounding weight when it comes to the way we carry ourselves and our outlook on life. Clothing is much more than just threads and fabric—it’s an extension of our souls through personal taste.

Yves Saint-Laurent once said, “Fashion fades, style is eternal.”12

As seen in the capsule wardrobe, individual style should be comprised of fabulous pieces that represent who we are and make us feel great for years to come. By honing in on our individual styles through creating a wardrobe that exemplifies such, we can truly feel at home in our clothes.·

12 Yves Saint-Laurant, Brainy Quote.

A HOME TO LONG AND TO SEARCH FOR

THE MUSIC OF THE QUEST FOR STABILITY

By Shannon McManus, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Keely Bradish

The typical songs most think about when it comes to the holidays and home are the classics, such as, “I’ll be Home for Christmas” and “Please Come Home for Christmas.” Yet, so many artists focus on their longing for home throughout the entire year, which brings different perspectives to one’s relationship with their homes.

Believe it or not, you are allowed to listen to Michael Bublé outside of the holiday season. The classic singer croons of going home for the holidays for a month in the year, yet his true desire is to escape from his bustling life. Bublé longs to return to his home as he feels “like [he’s] living someone else’s life]”1 Bublé resonates with many people who feel lost without the ability to return to their old home. As we grow older, we find new places to call home. However, as described by Bublé, the constant moving from place to place can make one desire their old home

1 Bublé, Michael. Home. On It’s Time. Reprise Records 49347-2, 2005, compact disc.

more, even as exciting as the new places may be. He has visited many exotic places and still feels the desire to go back to his roots, showing the impact one’s original home can have. Yet, not everyone desires to return home, rather they have a longing for the home they will achieve one day.

In the iconic song “Temporary Home” by Carrie Underwood, Underwood sings of different lives all with the same mindset of yearning for a place to truly call home. The foster child, single mom and elderly man all believe in the place better for them–their final home. Yet, throughout the song, they acknowledge how they are living in their temporary home, a place that they inhabit at the time, even if it’s not perfect. The feeling of not knowing where their permanent home will be resonates with many feeling lost in their lives. The lost souls describe their current place as “just a stop on the way to where I’m going,” showcasing their hope even in dark times. Rather than feeling stuck in the temporary

home, Underwood pushes for the recognition of always moving forward to get to where you truly want to be: your true home.

2

These two songs highlight the longing for home throughout the year. No matter what point you are at in life, there will always be a home to either return to, or to search for. As I was listening to these songs, I was inspired to think about whether I was searching for a new home or longing to return to a familiar one. In all honesty, I love returning to where I was born and seeing the place that raised me. However, I’ve realized that just like Carrie Underwood, I’m looking for my permanent home too. Like many of us, I don’t know when I will reach it, or where it even is, but I maintain confidence that I will find it. So, this holiday season, my goal is to visit my old home while continuing on my path of life that will lead me to my permanent home.

·

2 Underwood, Carrie. Temporary Home. On Tem porary Home Arista Nashville 88697-63337-2, 2009, CDr.

By Amanda Jentsch, Culture Editorial Assistant Amanda Jentsch photographed by Annika Ide, Photography Director

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

Onscreen, 16-year-old Judy Garland squeezed her eyes tightly shut and tapped her heels together. When she opened them, she wasn’t back in her black-and-white version of Kansas, but on set at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios.

The rest of her typical day consisted of a grueling shooting schedule—often working until five in the morning—and then being put to sleep with the use of sleeping pills before being woken up again a few hours later, reenergized by stimulant pills.1

In addition to sleeping and stimulant pills, Garland was on appetite-reducing pills and a diet of chicken soup, coffee and cigarettes to avoid looking like “a fat little pig with pigtails,” as the MGM executives so delicately put it.2

While actresses today may not be forced to subsist on such a diet, the same pressure persists. Celebrities like Viola Davis, Amy Schumer, Hayley Atwell, Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Lopez have all discussed the frequent demands to have a certain “look”—skinny.3

Growing up in our modern society where figures in the public eye need to look perfect, yet still face constant criticism, has an awful impact on the self-image of our generation. This self-image is only inflamed with the microscopic selfscrutiny of social media and the modern world’s absolute refusal to stop passing judgement on others’ lives.

Negative self-image starts early enough in life that many don’t have any idea what it’s like to live without it. The “perfect” images circulated by media platforms warp children’s ideas of what an ideal, healthy body looks like forty percent of elementary school girls reported thinking that they needed to lose weight.4

1 Elena Nicolau. “What Made Judy Garland’s Life So Tragic.” Refinery29. 20 September 2019.

2 Colin Bertram. “Judy Garland Was Put on a Strict Diet and Encouraged to Take ‘Pep Pills’ While Filming ‘The Wizard of Oz.’” Biography. com. 23 September 2019

3 Ally Hirschlag. “7 times women in Hollywood pushed back against the pressure to lose weight.” Business Insider. 29 June 2017.

4 “Eating Disorders and Societal Pressures.” Sex

For me, the little voice that hisses insecurities when I look in the mirror first piped up at 10-years-old when I was backstage at the annual Nutcracker dress rehearsal for my dance studio. My group had been cast as the Arabian dancers, requiring costumes similar to the animated Princess Jasmine, but in purple. They were complete with a nude-colored leotard underneath so we weren’t exposing too much skin.

I have a very precise memory of standing backstage, all of us waiting to go on in full costume and makeup, our hair pulled tight into a bun, and to pass the time: comparing how much our stomachs stuck out of our costumes. I couldn’t help but notice that mine stuck out the second-farthest.

I was in dance for five more years after that show. Every time I looked in the huge mirrors that covered the walls, standing under the harsh fluorescent lights, I compared myself to other dancers. I noticed as they grew tall and lithe, while I remained a head shorter, and (in my eyes) stouter. No amount of reassurance from my mom, aunt or even the pediatrician could alter the potbellied image that I saw in the mirror.

Around the same time that I was learning how to compare myself to others, a social phenomenon took to the Internet that has now grown to occupy significant digital space. Instagram launched in 2010 and within a month, had over one million users. Over the past nine years, that number has grown to over 400 million.5

As the social media platform grew, so did we, changing and developing physically, mentally and emotionally. People from the ages of 13 to 24 tend to gravitate towards reward-seeking behaviors, and Instagram and other sites involved in the social media explosion in the 2010s cater directly to that.6

Studies show that the more time we spend focusing on “likes” and other forms of online approval, as well as scrolling InfoOnline. 7 May 2018.

5 Dan Blystone. “The Story of Instagram: The Rise of the #1 Photo-Sharing App.” Investopedia. 19 May 2019.

6 Nicole Fisher. “Neuroscience Explains Why Instagram is So Bad For Teen Girls.” Forbes. 30 June 2019.

through the picture-perfect narratives of others’ lives (particularly celebrities), the more unhappy and dissatisfied we become with our own bodies and lives, particularly for women.7

People have even made careers out of looking perfect on social media. Popular Instagrammers include Kylie Jenner, Vanessa and Veronica Merrell, Ellie Thumann, Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber—to name a few. Essena O’Neill, an Australian model and Instagram influencer, left social media completely in 2015—but not before deleting numerous posts and changing the captions to more “unfiltered” ones.

In her farewell, she also posted an emotional video to her Youtube channel. “[Representation of life on social media] is not real. You don’t have to be a fucking model...It’s just not real,” O’Neill stated.8 Her Instagram captions pointed out how long certain photos took to get just right and how unnaturally she posed her body to look “perfect.”

I remember my dad showing me that video one day during my freshman year of high school in an attempt to show me that it’s okay to not look like her, or any other social media Influencer. He was trying to prove to a self-conscious, self-critical young girl that that representation of that life isn’t truly real or fulfilling.

However, while the video was playing, all I could think about was that even “dressed down” and “real,” she was still conventionally attractive in a way I never would be. She was thin, an achievement I so desperately coveted. Even though she didn’t think that she— or anyone—was the unattainable ideal, at least she was close.

From where I stood looking in the mirror, all I could think was that I would never be anywhere near what society thought was beautiful. As I look back at the things I saved on Instagram and Pinterest under boards labeled “goals” over the years, I can’t help but notice the obvious, destructive and self-loathing trend: flat stomachs, tiny waists, slim thighs and pretty faces.

7 Ibid.

8 “WHY I’M REALLY QUITTING SOCIAL MEDIA,” Youtube video, Essena O’Neill, November 5, 2015.

To be 14, 15, 16, 17 or any age, and accept that I was not what society deemed as beautiful or attractive was an Atlantean task. There were so many workout plans made and abandoned a few days later as I realized that waking up at 5 am to work out before school wasn’t feasible.

There were so many times that I felt like caving into the normal human desire for ice cream with my friends after a Friday night football game. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t ever discipline myself enough to be able to achieve the one thing I wanted most: to feel pretty, thin and desirable.

Unrealistic expectations of beauty and the body still runs rampant today. Unfortunately, college students, desperate to avoid the “freshman 15,” are more susceptible to crazy diets or quick fixes, as well as feeling critical of their own bodies. At least 75 percent of college students report dissatisfaction with their bodies. On top of that, 44 percent of collegeaged women and 27 percent of collegeaged men are currently dieting to lose weight.9

There has been a push recently to include plus-sized models on the runway and plus-sized fashion in stores. However, the movement seems half-hearted. “Plus-size models” aren’t actually plus-size: many brands employ “curvy” models for sizes 10 and 12, when the average American woman sits at a size 14.10 In addition, “plus-size models” are disappearing from the ranks of fashion shows, indicating that agencies rode the high of the trend and are now ushering it out in order to focus on the new.11

9 Jacqueline Ekern and Crystal Karges. “Diet Fads and Eating Disorders.” Eating Disorder Hope. 16 April 2019.

10 Leeann Duggan. “Plus-Size Models Aren’t Ac tually Plus-Size Anymore.” Refinery29. 7 January 2014.

11 Landon Peoples. “Plus-Sized Models: Not Small

Sometimes, there is backlash against these plus-size models. Jazzmyne Robbins, a Buzzfeed creator and body-positive activist, discovered this when she starred in Michelle Khare’s Extreme Body Makeover Youtube series. After posting about her meals and workouts on Instagram, Robbins got comments from her followers questioning her motives and her message. However, she emphasized that the changes she made in her life weren’t about her weight. Instead, it was about how she felt mentally and emotionally.12

Self-image can take a huge toll on mental and emotional health, as I’ve experienced in my own life. How I feel about myself on a given day often depends on how good I felt about the image I saw in the mirror that morning, i.e. how pretty and thin I thought I looked.

The comparisons that used to echo through my mind as I stared at my body in the huge mirrors at the dance studio are now automatic as I walk down the street to class, or pass people by in the hallways.

She has a smaller waist than I do. Wow, I could never pull off that top but she has the boobs to do it. Man, she’s really pretty, but my cheeks are too chubby and I will never look like her. I’d love to wear that outfit but Enough, Not Big Enough.” Refinery29. 7 Septem ber 2018.

12 “I Gave Jazzmyne Robbins a 6-Week Fitness Makeover,” Youtube video, Michelle Khare. July 7, 2019.

short, stubby legs don’t look good in long, flowy, Bohemian pants or skirts.

This automatic looking and selfjudging doesn’t require any mental energy on my part, yet it drains from my happiness and satisfaction.

Fighting a negative self-image and insecure voice in the back of our minds is a battle many of us struggle with every day. I may not be the best person to give advice on how to navigate a society where thin still equates to pretty, and where pretty equates to valuable. I’m still working on my own negative tendencies and loving the body I was given rather than the one I wish I had.

Experts on all things health have outlined a process to follow as you journey along the way to selfacceptance. Start with identifying the negative thoughts and criticisms. Challenge that inaccurate thinking and adjust your mental narrative.13 Remember that no matter what society, social media or our insecurities say, it is our job to acknowledge that we have the right to feel at home in our own bodies.

Peggy Carter from the “Captain America” movies said it best: “Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say ‘No. You move.’”14

Don’t let society tell you that you and your body are somehow less valuable, desirable or worthy because of what you look like. We have to live with our bodies for the rest of our lives. You deserve to feel at home there.·

13 Mayo Clinic Staff. “Self-esteem: Take steps to feel better about yourself.” Mayoclinic.org. 12 July 2017.

14 “Captain America: Civil War” DVD. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (2016; Atlanta, GA: Marvel Studios).

“REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT SOCIETY, SOCIAL MEDIA OR OUR INSECURITIES SAY, IT IS OUR JOB TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL AT HOME IN OUR OWN BODIES.”

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

HOW GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE HAS CHANGED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY TWIN SISTER AND I

By Jamie Randall, Contributing Writer

For those of you who have siblings, saying goodbye when you leave for college can be especially hard. You realize that you aren’t only leaving your parents behind. For me, when I packed my whole life away into four heavy suitcases, I realized that I wouldn’t be seeing my twin sister for three months.

In high school, my twin sister and I’s relationship started off close. We both played basketball, were in the same friend group, went out together and had the same summer job. It got to the point that we were referred to as “the twins” or “the Randalls” because we were always together. Eventually, being around each other so often made me feel like I wasn’t my own person.

We would get into arguments over who initiated which friendships first, who was going to be making plans to hang out, or even about who would drive the car to and from school. These arguments would happen often, but eventually died down before going to college.

Our relationship improved by the time we went to college because we knew we weren’t going to see each other every day. I was going to Wisconsin and she was going to Pennsylvania. We

knew that going to schools in different parts of the country was going to be tough. We realized that we weren’t going to see each other for a while, and if I wanted to visit her, it would have to be by a plane.

Identical twins are often seen as mirror images of one another. Their chances of going to school together are higher, along with their chances of having the same profession. My sister and I are about as different as they come. She is tenacious and determined to be at the top with everything she does. I have a more laid-back personality; while I was competitive, I didn’t mind being in the middle of the pack. When I thrived on the basketball court, she shined on the newspaper and became the Editor in Chief. Despite our competitiveness with one another, she was still my builtin best friend. I didn’t realize it until she left for school, but once she was gone, it felt like I lost my best friend.

After my sister and I started college separately, I was able to build friendships that were my own. It felt nice going to college without my sister because I wasn’t the girl that was known as one of the “twins” like I am back home.

It has taken me time to tell my new friends in college that I have a twin sister because I want people to see me as me, not half of a pair. The same goes for my sister. While on Facetime, she told me, “Jamie, it took me a month to tell my friends that you were my twin.” I told her I did the exact same thing. We both needed a chance to make our own friends before we told people about each other.

Going to college has strengthened the relationship between my sister and I because we had to get used to not being around each other all the time. We Direct Message and FaceTime regularly, and text every day. Psychologist Carl Pickhardt states in the article “College Send-Offs Change Sibling Relationships” that “the separation that happens between siblings when one leaves for college can be great for relationships in the vein of ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’1 I can say that being separated has been for the best. Although we may not be by each other’s side forever, we will always share a unique bond. ·

1 Casey, Laura. “College Send-Offs Change Sibling Relationships.” The Mercury News. The Mercury News, September 6, 2011.

HOW WEARING LOST ONES’ CLOTHES—OR NOT— CAN AID GRIEF

By Ariana King, Culture Staff Writer

Katie Herrick photographed by Seth DeGier, Staff Photographer

It’s a cold Saturday in January, and I’m shuffling around my dresser drawers searching for a sweater that I swear I brought home from school. I slide my door open and holler into the hallway, “Dad, have you seen my sweater?”

Silence falls until I hear heavy footsteps right outside my door.

“No, I haven’t,” he replies.

I let out an angry sigh.

“It’s not a big deal. Why not just use Mom’s?” he asks.

I stifle a huff and simply say I’ll find something else to wear instead. Dad walks away shaking his head. He’s suggested wearing Mom’s old clothes multiple times when I can’t find something of my own.

It may not make sense to him, but it feels strange to wear anything of Mom’s other than socks and earrings. It’s not even about our difference in style, but the fact that I’ve already taken on my mom’s role more than anyone expected me to. Even though I’m acting like Mom, I still want to look like Ariana.

Yet, not everyone shares my same attitude towards wearing loved ones’ clothes. My sister, for instance, loves to cuddle up in Mom’s oversized sweatpants and jackets. Everyone’s responses are so diverse because grief, despite being a universal feeling, is explored individually. Clothes do not mean the same thing to everyone.

For instance, in contrast to my refusal to wear my mom’s old clothes, Katie Herrick, a UW senior and Moda’s very own Culture Editor, finds great comfort in wearing her great-grandfather’s sweaters. For Herrick, they are a

tribute to a man who was a parental figure to her and, while only around for a short period of her life, had one of the greatest impacts.

Like many who choose to wear loved ones’ clothing, Herrick says it’s a positive way to connect with him even when he cannot physically or emotionally be there.

However, other people find using— or even looking at—loved ones’ clothing to be extremely painful. It can sometimes bring on strong memories, making the loss even tougher to handle.

goodbye to the good memories that came with them.

Meeting somewhere in the middle, plenty of those going through loss take old clothing and accessories and make art. This can be a good alternative for people who want to wear loved ones’ clothing but can’t due to differences in size or style.

It’s also a great way to deal with grief for anyone who loves art or anyone who wants something productive to do to create some semblance of normalcy. One day, I’d like to make a t-shirt quilt to honor my Mom. My cousin honored our grandfather by cutting out a blue pocket square of his and sewing it into the back of her wedding dress.

That’s why my Dad cleaned off my Mom’s dresser and took her robe out of the bathroom. They reminded him of how she wasn’t there to wear her jewelry or get ready in front of the mirror anymore.

Yet, even with this pain, many people like my Dad still refrain from getting rid of the clothes entirely because the gesture somehow solidifies the finality of the loss for them. For others, getting rid of clothes isn’t about finalizing a loss, but rather the fond memories looking at their clothing can bring. It would be difficult to give them away because it’d mean saying

There are also people whose views on loved ones’ clothes are neutral. While they may not have an outright defiance to wearing loved ones’ clothes like I do, they may not find the clothing particularly significant either. Instead, they might choose to honor their loved one in a different way. This might mean making a point to do activities their loved one enjoyed, preserving and scrapbooking their old momentos or listening to their favorite songs.

No matter the choice a person makes, grieving is an individual affair. No one can make the choice for someone else about whether to wear a loved one’s clothes or not. The most important thing is that the griever feels comfortable and supported in their time of loss and heartache.

Grief is universal, but there are no rules. So, go ahead and wear your loved one’s favorite t-shirt or hat, or don’t. Whatever choice you make, just make the one that’s best for you.

·

“IT’S NOT EVEN ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCE IN STYLE, BUT THE FACT THAT I’VE ALREADY TAKEN ON MY MOM’S ROLE MORE THAN ANYONE EXPECTED ME TO.

EVEN THOUGH I’M ACTING LIKE MOM, I STILL WANT TO LOOK LIKE ARIANA.”

THE HARDEST LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP

YOU'LL EVER BE IN

HOW TO MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SIBLING AT COLLEGE

By Lauren Feiges, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Arts Curator

“I just don’t want you to leave me, Laur-Laur.”

It was our last dinner as a family until Thanksgiving. My family and I were sitting around the table at a local Madison restaurant. We avoided making eye contact, knowing our time as a physical family unit was coming to a close for now.

I was picking at my taco until my 14-year-old brother, Ethan, blurted out that he didn’t want me to go. I looked up to see that he was staring at me, eyes full of tears. I started to cry, which then made my mom cry. All of us crying caused my dad to roll his eyes and smile sheepishly. Pretty soon, my family was a big pile of tears, and the waitress didn’t know what else to

do besides offer us extra napkins and gently set the check down on the table. We hugged each other tighter than we ever had. After that, my brother and I went our separate ways—me to my new apartment in Madison to begin my second year of college, and him back home to Washington to start his first year of high school.

My brother and I are five years apart. To say we were always the best of friends is a lie—our relationship has waxed and waned as we have both faced the hard parts of adolescence and growing up. Now that we are both older, I recognize that at the end of the day he’s there for me. I look to him for inspiration in the same ways he looks to me for guidance. It’s hard to go away to college and not have that

person waiting for you at home every day like when you were younger.

I only go home to Seattle a few times a year. Between expensive airfares and crazy schedules, it’s almost impossible to make going home a regular occurrence. I’ve learned that you have to put effort into your relationships, especially with siblings, or else it won’t continue to grow as it should. Now that my brother is in high school, he calls me every day to talk about the perils of freshman year—homecoming dances, hard math classes and even where to sit at lunch in the cafeteria. My brother turns to me for solutions because he knows I have the answers.

When I first moved away last year, we didn’t have this connection just yet,

so our conversations were limited. I missed him in the same way that I do now, but it’s different once your siblings are going through a similar experience that you once did. His uncertainties navigating his first year of high school have stipulated a connection between us.

My relationship with Ethan is not one-sided. Although the questions about high school are never-ending, my brother always remembers to check-in and ask about my life here in Wisconsin. Whether it’s by sending me a meme about cheese or calling to check in when he knows I had a hard test, Ethan is sensitive to my new reality in the same way that I acknowledge his. Our day-to-day challenges may be very different due

Every sibling pair has its quirks that make them unique, but when life gets hectic and distance causes things to grow tense we can all remember that our siblings are there for us to turn to. They are someone we can reach out to for guidance, no matter their age.

My brother inspires me to stay creative and positive even when things are not working out the way I planned. His simplistic and optimistic outlook on life reminds me to take things slow when I start to ramp up how much I am taking on at once.

Take your support where you can because no one can rally behind your dreams like your siblings can.

At the end of the day, there will be no one who understands the house you grew up in better than your siblings. No matter how easy it is to forget about family when you’re at school, your siblings are the people you can rely on the most. Having someone who has your back no matter what is a special thing that cannot be replaced. Cherish and nurture your relationship with them in any way you can. It’s worth the time.

·

WHO ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?

EXAMINING THE SOPRANOS AT 20

By Elm Stephenson, Arts Editorial Assistant

Much has changed in the world since the Soprano family first graced television sets at the beginning of 1999.

“The Sopranos”, which was lauded at the time for its rich characters and cinematic presentation, grew more influential and impactful through the course of its eight year run. The show elevated television as an art form, attracting famous actors and directors to the burgeoning prestige of the small screen.

However, in the years following the final season, the show has gained deeper cultural meaning. The show serves as a postmodern deconstruction of the Mafia and, more broadly, an examination of the intersection between tradition and the contemporary world. (some light spoilers ahead)

In comparison with organized crime entertainment properties, such as “The Godfather” and “Scarface”, “The Sopranos” critiques the excesses of the Mob. Films about organized crime gained cultural purchase after the societal upheavals of the 1960’s, glorifying the masculinity and decadence of the Mafia.

“The Sopranos”, on the other hand, takes a decidedly different track. Instead, it functions as a psychoanalysis of the mob, examining the personalities of the crime world. The show chronicles protagonist Tony Soprano’s journey through talk

therapy, as the show starts with Tony’s pursuit of treatment after a panic attack and ends just after his therapist, the good Doctor Melfi, decides to stop treating him.

Through this clinical lens, the viewer can, in a sense, diagnose the psychosis of the Mafia and its place in the modern world. The show furthers this psychiatric treatment by showing the consequences of the actions of the show’s consortium of mobsters. Large portions of episodes are set in the hospital, showing the human pain and suffering caused by the violence of the Mafia.

Furthermore, this postmodern treatment extends to broader interrogation of the intersection between tradition and societal progress. “The Sopranos” juxtaposes Italian-American culture and the social mores of the contemporary world, illuminating the corrosive impact of this conservative culture. Episodes take controversies of the time, such as homosexuality and the veneration of Chrisopher Columbus, and apply them to the religiousity and machismo of Mafia culture. In essentially every encounter with modern values, the ugly side of tradition bears through, leading to violence and misery at the hands of made men. This cultural conservatism is at odds with the decadence and promiscuity of the show’s characters.

The show adopts the rock ‘n’ roll ethos shared by many baby boomers, as the characters are men living outside the law in an extravagant lifestyle of sex and drugs. Additionally, the show’s soundtrack is populated by rock music, with Stevie Van Zandt of Bruce Springstein’s E Street Band even having a major role in the show. In this way, “The Sopranos” identifies the strain of social conservatism that runs through the newfound sexual and cultural freedoms of American culture after the baby boom.

The scope of “The Sopranos” is not limited to the personal lives of the show’s cast of characters, as the show also mirrors the world’s historical tumult of the time. “The Sopranos”, which is steeped in the cultural moment of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, presents an America decaying under the weight of its excesses. The gritty tone of the show seemed to foreshadow the paranoia and panic of Bush’s post-9/11 America.

As a whole, the show predicted the unease and dread of our times. It may sometimes feel like my generation, in the words of Tony Soprano, “came in at the end”1 of the excesses of the baby boom. Many critics have tried to pinpoint the “death” of rock ‘n’ roll and its masculine excesses. I would contend that the show’s abrupt ending is as good a marker as any.·

1 The Sopranos. “The Sopranos.” Episode 1. Writ ten and Directed by David Chase. HBO, January 10, 1999

WHAT IS “HOME” WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS TOXIC?

FINDING HOME OUTSIDE OF A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT

By Amaya Muñoz, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Channing Smith, Arts Curator

When we’re young, we’re oblivious to the toxicity of our home environments. As we grow older, we start to see those Christmas movies that show happy families, we hear our friends tell us stories about their loving homes, and we wonder: why don’t I have that?

Toxic homes come in many different flavors—though all are bitter. Some are parented too little, some are parented too much. Maybe there is no quiet place in your “home” to do schoolwork because of the yelling and fighting. Maybe anytime you bring up something you love to your family, you’re berated and shut down. Or maybe there are outdated gender roles governing your family. Maybe you just don’t have the freedom to be yourself.

Toxicity can be rooted in culture, or it can be taught by parents that weren’t sure how to be good role models or help you flourish. However your toxic home came to be, whether you fought against it or embraced it, knew it the whole time or realized it later, it has the tendency to affect you throughout your entire life.

The largest struggle for myself, and many others, has been in finding my definition of “home.” When we think of the word, we think of safety, warmth

and love—but we didn’t all have that. In a way we feel homeless—but that also doesn’t feel right to say, because we did, or do, have a place to sleep at night. But is that all it is?

Is a home just where we live, or is it where we are comfortable? Do we all have homes? Can the place you live not be your home? I think so. I think a home can be found outside of the place where you sleep every night.

Maybe your home isn’t a place, or one specific person—but that’s not the end of a search for home. I know people who have worked incredibly hard their whole lives for the sole goal of being able to move out and have a place to call their own—to create their own healthy and happy environment. It can be a goal to move out and find a space you can call your own.

The search for a home may even be more long-term. Even if you didn’t have a happy home growing up, you might feel like you can make up for that by creating a “good” home environment for your future family. It might seem hard without any example growing up, but it is possible.

If the future seems too far away and finances aren’t suitable to get your

own place just yet, there are always other places to get that homey feeling. Finding a group of friends who genuinely care about you can make you feel at home when you’re with them. Even just knowing they’re in your life and that you have people you can always go to helps.

The real “home” we find can be a bit toxic too, however. Some people might end up making their home in one person, which can turn into a large burden that ends up hurting them in the end. The person they’ve found home in may not want to be that for them—or simply cannot. There are also ways to make home in people without being overbearing. Setting healthy boundaries can allow you both to feel comfortable with each other and want to be around one another.

The hardest part of having a toxic home or family is feeling like you have no one, so having some type of community, or even just one person you trust can help.

It can also help to join clubs, movements or support causes you really care about. Investing yourself in something that you love can give you a sense of belonging. Home does not need to be the place you live.

·

In My House

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOUND FAMILY WITHIN THE BALL CULTURE OF NEW YORK

By Gylf Forsberg, Culture Staff Writer Illustrated by Clara Huskin

The hit FX show, “Pose,” has brought the spotlight back to the legendary world of the ballroom. The show centers around the ball culture of New York City in the 1980s, and follows the members of the House of Evangelista, a fictional group of queer people of color who find family and acceptance in each other.1

A “house” is a concept that was produced out of the increasing racial and social tension in the city at the time. In response to the outward—and sometimes inward—tensions, groups of individuals came together to create a unified community that would provide support for each other. The houses had a house mother, or father, who stood to support all of the members of the house, both emotionally and financially, with economic support and shelter.

At ballroom events, house members would “walk,” or compete, in different categories—butch queen vogue, face, runway—to name a few. The competition served as a way to both better connect house members as well as diffuse tensions between contending houses.

The House of LaBeija is credited as being the first of these houses. Legend has it that in the 1960s, Crystal LaBeija was the first to create a house and serve as the mother. The house served as a proxy family for the young queer Black and Latinx kids who were often shunned and thrown out by their birth families.

Other houses originated in the following years—the houses of Corey, Ninja, Xtravaganza, Dior, Dupree, to name a few—and were consistently growing and competing with each other to be the most extravagant, legendary and fierce family of them all.2

This competition fostered a sense of togetherness in these houses, creating a space in which queer individuals could feel loved and supported.

And while the House of Evangelista in “Pose” is a fictional family, the experiences and trials of the group are far from fabricated. For years, the ball culture has been a way for queer Black and Latinx

1 Joyce Chen, “Ryan Murphy Helps Make History With Transgender Cast of ‘Pose’,” Rolling Stone, LLC. June 25, 2018.

2 Les Fabian Brathwaite, “Striking a ‘Pose’: A Brief History of Ball Culture,” Rolling Stone, October 4, 2019.

individuals to express themselves and find their communities. Houses served as the family that individuals so needed at this time in history.

The 1980s were the peak of the AIDS crisis in the United States, and the rates of homelessness among gay youth were astronomical. The houses and house mothers created structure and support amisdt the chaos for young queer individuals in New York City.

The AIDS crisis is a defining moment of the twentieth century, and an integral piece of queer history. By the end of the millenium, most cases of AIDS were diagnosed in men who engaged in sexual contact with other men, with 79 percent of those affected being men and 61 percent being Black or Hispanic.3

These communities—already more readily affected by the disease—were marginalized at the time the disease began to spread, allowing those in power to turn a blind eye to the crisis.4 The sociopolitical status of affected individuals produced a barrier to assistance and response of officials, in addition to the deadly side effects of the disease.

At the height of this crisis, the houses of the ballroom became more unified and provided an immense amount of support for one another. This support was extremely needed in the landscape of the crisis. Ballroom culture wasn’t perfect, though.

The pageants trace back to 1920s Harlem, where drag artists—mainly white men—would perform and compete in different pageants.5 Blackperformers were often absent from these events, and when they were present, they were expected to lighten their skin.

In the 1960s and 1970s, following the Stonewall riots, the community saw an emergence of a more inclusive ball culture. This new culture allowed ballroom to become a place for young, 3 Centers for Disease Control, “HIV and AIDS --United States, 1981--2000,” Centers for Disease Control, 1 June 2001.

4 C. O’Manique, “Responses to recent infectious disease emergencies: A critical gender analysis,” in Global Health and Security: Critical Feminist Per spectives, London, Routledge, 2018, pp. 112-130.

5 Rachel Buckner, “Underground Ball Culture,” Subcultures and Sociology. Grinell College.

queer people of color to find belonging and community.6

This primarily underground culture was then catapulted into the public eye with the release of Madonna’s “Vogue,” which highlighted—exploitatively— members of the ballroom community in the music video.7

The culture was subsequently documented by Jennie Livingston in her ground-breaking film “Paris is Burning.” The film documented and explored the subcultures of ballroom and illustrated the many facets of the culture. Livingston outlines several important elements of the culture, defining the words “shade,” “reading,” “categories,” and, perhaps most importantly, “house.”8

The film “Paris is Burning” contains many interviews with house mothers and fathers–Pepper LaBeija, Angie Xtravaganza, Dorian Corey–and explains their position in the community.

“When someone has rejection from their family, when they get out in the world, they search. They search for someone to fill that void,” Labeija voices. “I know this from experience because I’ve had kids come to me and latch hold to me like I’m their mother or father because they can talk to me. That’s where a lot of that ball mother business comes in.”9

The ball culture has continued to support queer individuals throughout the years, with the presence felt just as strongly today. The legendary houses of the 1980s have stood the test of time, with new house mothers and fathers rising to the position of leading the houses.

These houses, and the ball culture in which they rule, are an attest to the resliliency of the queer community throughout the years. This resiliency is captured in the plotlines of “Pose”, brilliantly weaving together and illustrating stories not too far from reality, creating a series that has drama, excitement and a whole lot of heart.·

6 Ibid.

7 Madonna, Vogue, directed by David Fincher. The Burbank Studios, video, 1990.

8 K. Austin Collins, “Paris Is Burning Is Back—And So Is Its Baggage,” Vanity Fair. June 18, 2019.

9 Jennie Livingston, dir., Paris is Burning, (1991, Off-White Productions, New York City)

for the HOLIDAYS

Directed by Sarah Troy, Fashion Editorial Assistant Sophia Markowitz & Kianna Hess-Jones photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer

FINDING COMMUNITY IN A CO-OP

UNCONVENTIONAL LIVING SITUATIONS HAVE MANY LESSONS TO TEACH

By Philomena Lindquist, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Riley August

A year ago I began searching for housing for my third year of college. During my freshman year, I lived in a dorm. My sophomore year, I lived in an apartment with two friends. Though I enjoyed living in both, I was ready for a change. So, I began the apartment hunt once again.

Or so I thought.

A cooperative is defined as “a jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit.”1 In terms of a living arrangement, that means we don’t have a landlord. Our house, Phoenix, is run by Madison Community Cooperative, a nonprofit organization that includes 11 houses across the Madison area. Thus, when we pay rent it goes into the house and MCC as a whole, rather than into anyone’s pocket.

I discovered the Phoenix Cooperative while scrolling through the Madison Sublet and Roommate Board Facebook page. I was still early in my search and I stumbled on a post from someone wanting to sublet their room.

Immediately, I loved the idea of living in an unconventional way, especially one where I could be a part of a community.

Once I moved in, there were a lot of factors I hadn’t considered, making me unprepared for the reality of what it’s really like to live in a co-op. I began to realize that it’s like living in a coed fraternity but with people from the ages three to 30.

I say this because, similar to fraternity houses, the bedrooms are private spaces, but the living, dining, bathrooms and kitchen spaces are all communal. We also share groceries, so access to food—groceries and five cooked meals per week—is included in the rent. Cooperatives aren’t just for students.

1 “Cooperative.” Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cooper ative?s=t.

In fact, it’s not necessarily who they’re designed for; it just happens to be very fitting for my life as a student. This means my housemates are far more varied than they would have been if I was living in any other type of housing.

There have been ups and downs with co-op living, as I’ve experienced with the dorms and apartments, but there have been new and wonderful surprises along the way.

Co-ops are set up to be a place of inclusivity and access. I’ve learned that, in a house this size (28 of us altogether) with so many different types of people from so many walks of life, classes and races, there are bound to be conflicts. Conflict is

room and a less tightly-knit situation than sharing an apartment with only a few roommates.

Overall, I’ve found that community and a feeling of home will come if you establish yourself and try to harmonize with those around you. Yes, there are conflicts sometimes, but I feel very connected with the people in my house. Sometimes people hold small parties to invite all our friends to cook and eat together. We also have Sunday brunch together at least once a month. I’ve made lifelong friends. I’ve learned cooperative values such as accountability and collaboration on a new level, particularly because of the shared responsibilities and the need for clear communication among such a large group of people. I’ve had to learn to better understand my own privilege and shortcomings as a community member. I’ve been able to live and exist with people from all over the world who have been kind enough to share space, stories and time with me.

difficult no matter what, but listening to as many different perspectives and listening well has done a lot for me. It’s made me wonderful friends. It’s given me a new way to contextualize my place and privilege in the world, all while teaching me to be a better, more understanding part in my house.

I’ve also learned how to be independent in a space shared with many people. One of my favorite things about living in a co-op is that it gives me the perfect combination of privacy and connectedness. I know I have people in the house to support me and care about me, but I’m able to live on my own terms within my own space. Living in the co-op has given me a renewed sense of independence because of the privacy of my large

I was initially interested in living in a co-op for the novelty and convenience, but I’ve come to realize that it extends well beyond that. Those initial reasons were incredibly shortsighted and entitled. I’ve grown away from that perspective and come to realize that I’ll utilize this experience and its lessons for the rest of my life. This experience has helped permanently shape how I understand what home means. No matter how adaptable a person is, when living away from familiar things, it can create a disconnect between house and home. In my case, choosing to live in a co-op meant living away from familiar people, traditions and organizational systems. It meant including a transition that was more than I expected. By learning from those around me and embracing a newfound community, I was able to find a new home.·

“ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING

IN A CO-OP IS THAT IT GIVES ME THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF PRIVACY AND CONNECTEDNESS”

NOT

YOUR FATHER'S WARDROBE

TAKE A PEEK INTO YOUR DAD’S CLOSET. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL FIND

By Sarah Troy, Fashion Editorial Assistant & Jessica Katz, Lifestyle Staff Writer Photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer Illustrated by Lauren Chung, Editor-In-Chief

I’ve always stolen clothes from my mom’s closet. In fact, she often does the same to me. Sharing clothes is a part of our relationship. It’s always interesting to see how we style each others’ pieces differently. Recently, I decided to explore my dad’s side of the closet, but for different reasons. My dad’s clothing is more simple and comfortable; everything he owns is so cozy that wearing them feels like a big, warm hug.

I like to wear his sweatshirts and large tees as pajamas in the cold weather. I even bought him a ‘Wisconsin Dad’ shirt and wore it the day after. He didn’t mind. He’d come home from work and giggle as he saw me rummaging through his wardrobe once again.

When I began packing for school, I knew I had to snag some of my dad’s clothes for good. It sounds kind of silly, but whenever I’ve felt homesick, lonely or overwhelmed while making college my new home, I throw on one of his shirts. I am instantly comforted. It feels like my dad is welcoming me into his arms.

For my first outfit, I wanted to spice up my dad’s plain green tee. I tucked the front of the top into medium wash girlfriend jeans and slid on some chunky Fila sneakers. Since the look was pretty simple, I added some edge with accessories. For jewelry, I layered some silver necklaces and wore matching silver hoops for consistency. I topped off the look with a neon green Billie Eilish bucket hat.

For the second outfit, I focused on comfort. I took my dad’s red XL fuzzy quarter-zip and paired it with simple black leggings. To keep the look colorful, I threw on some neon orange Jordans.

While my dad’s shirts don’t fit like a glove, I have a lot of fun challenging myself to incorporate these comforting pieces into my day-to-day outfits.

SARAH

Coming to college was an exciting leap in my life, especially because the leap was from my home in Seattle, Washington. The plane ride to Madison is about five hours long, and there is a two hour time difference from Seattle. While I love my home here in Madison, there are times I wish I was at home staring at the mountains and towering evergreens. So, anything that reminds me of home brings me comfort—especially my clothes.

In high school, it was difficult to sneak into my sisters’ closet undetected, so I often raided my parents’. Each time I snuck into their wardrobe, I would find something unique to style. When my mom or dad caught onto my scheme they would act frustrated, but secretly I knew they were proud that their wardrobes could be turned into something hip and trendy.

Over time my parents gradually began to donate their old clothes to me, knowing I would put them to good use — my dad especially. The best part was finding a multitude of ways to style each item.

My dad gave me an abundance of his old T-shirts, and while they were plain at first, I took my own spin on them. Knowing distressed garments are currently in, I took my scissors to my dad’s T-shirts and made them into something versatile and trendy. In my first outfit, I am wearing my dad’s old black Calvin Klein T-shirt with white fishnets and light washed vintage Levi’s jeans. I added a silver wallet chain and silver jewelry. I topped the look off with a cream cropped jacket and tan booties.

For my second outfit, I am wearing my dad’s Seinfeld bomber jacket with a yellow turtleneck and plaid pants. I paired it with my platform Doc Martens for an extra bit of edge.·

2010'S WRAP-UP

SOCIETY AND CULTURE HAS EVOLVED A LOT SINCE 2010

By Katie Herrick, Culture Editor

I was born in the 90s before the 2000s even began—if you count 1998 as the 90s. Either way, when someone pointed out to me that 2020 is the end of the 2000s AND the 2010s, I was shocked. In my head it’s still 2008, how has time flown by so fast?

The amount I have grown in 20 years is insane. I look back on myself in 2010—hello 10-year challenge—and barely

2010

Top Movie: “Toy Story 3”

Top Song: Tik Tik by Kesha

Top Memes: Bed Intruder video, Double Rainbow video, Old Spice commercials

Meme Trends: Viral Videos

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•The financial crisis and high unemployment continue.

•The Winter Olympics are held in Vancouver, Canda.

•The Affordable Care Act passes in the United States.

•The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

POP CULTURE:

•Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart start dating.

•One Direction auditions on The X Factor UK.

•Lady Gaga’s meat dress.

•AMC’s “The Walking Dead” first airs.

recognize that woman. So, while all the years, trends and memes have become one amalgamation in my head, I decided to look back and separate them all. While the round-up of each year is fun to look back on, the most fun was rounding up how these trends, movies, songs and movements have shaped me throughout the years.

2011

Top Movie: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”

Top Song: Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Top Memes: Hipsters, Moustaches, Cats

Meme Trends: Basic Meme Format is born (text, image, text)

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot at a public appearance in Tucson.

•Japan Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster following a tsunami.

•The Joplin Tornado devastated Missouri.

•The U.S. Military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that banned open homosexuality in the armed forces was officially repealed.

•The Occupy Wall Street movement begins.

•The Royal Wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William.

POP CULTURE:

•Amy Winehouse and Steve Jobs passed.

•R.E.M. announces they are breaking up after 31 years.

•Russell Brand and Katy Perry file for divorce.

•Charlie Sheen is fired from one of the most popular TV comedies, “Two and a Half Men”.

2012

Top Movie: “The Avengers”

Top Song: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye ft. Kimbra

Top Memes: Grumpy Cat, Overly Photogenic Guy, Overly Obsessed GF, Ermahgerd!, McKayla Maroney Unimpressed

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Shooting during “The Dark Knight Rises” screening in Aurora, Colorado.

•The Summer Olympics are held in London, England.

•Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time.

•Felix Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier without mechanical assistance when he jumps over New Mexico.

•Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast.

•President Barack Obama is re-elected for his second term after running against Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

•Sandy Hook shooting killed 26 people, mostly children.

POP CULTURE:

•The end of the Mayan calendar, or the end of the world as some believed, is observed with little to no consequence.

•Whitney Houston passes.

2013

Top Movie: “World War Z”

Top Song: Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz

Top Memes: Doge, Miley Cyrus twerking at the VMAs, Harlem Shake, What Does the Fox Say, UnFlattering Beyonce, Hot Dogs or Legs

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•The Boston Marathon Bombing killed three and injured 264 people.

•The Moore Tornado devastated Oklahoma.

•Edward Snowden leaked information about the NSA’s secret internet and cell-phone data-gathering program.

•Target customers’ data was stolen in a large security breach.

•The acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin led to the creation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

POP CULTURE:

•Miley Cyrus releases Bangerz and tries to remake her image with a series of stunts.

•Paula Deen dumped by the Food Network after use of the n-word.

•Beyoncé released her new self-titled album with no warning.

•Vine is released by Twitter.

•Google Glass is released.

2014

Top Movie: “Transformers: Age Of Extinction”

Top Song: Happy by Pharrell Williams

Top Memes: Sexy Mugshot Man, Pharell’s Giant Hats, Kim Kardashian Paper cover breaks the internet, Sochi Olympic Issues, “But That’s None of My Business” Kermit, “Apparently” Kid, Alex From Target

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

•Pro-Democracy protests erupt in Hong Kong.

Oil prices crash.

•Ebola strikes West Africa.

•ISIS took control of a considerable amount of territory in Iraq and Syria, followed by a declaration of itself as an Islamic caliphate.

•Russia annexes Crimea and threatens the rest of Ukraine.

•The Winter Olympics take place in Sochi and the World Cup in Brazil.

•Malala Yousafzai is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

•The deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others, by police officers continue the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

POP CULTURE:

•Robin Williams and Joan Rivers pass.

•The ALS Ice Bucket challenge goes viral.

•Emma Watson delivers HeForShe speech at the United Nations.

•Two 12-year-old girls stabbed another girl in honor of Slenderman.

2015

Top Movie: “Jurassic World”

Top Song: Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Misty Copeland became the first African-American woman named principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre.

•The deaths of Walter Scott and Freddie Gray, both at the hands of police officers, fueled the continuation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

•Mass shootings: Roseburg, Lafayette, Chattanooga, Planned Parenthood, San Bernardino, Charleston Church, On Air in Virginia

•The Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia.

•Tens of thousands of people fleeing war-torn Syria and other areas in the Middle East and Africa seek asylum in Europe. Obama’s plans to house refugees are shot down by Republicans.

•The Supreme Court votes to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide.

•Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world.

POP CULTURE:

•Amy Schumer explodes in popularity.

•Hamilton is released and takes over Broadway.

•After eight years and seven seasons, AMC concludes “Mad Men”.

•Netflix produces several hit series, creating a revolution of streaming-only content.

2016

Top Movie: “Captain America: Civil War”

Top Song: One Dance by Drake ft. Wiz Khalifa & Kyla

Top Memes: Damn Daniel, Evil Kermit, Harambe, Views Album cover, Arthur’s Fist, Ken Bone, Joe Biden & Obama

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Trump wins the 2016 Presidential Election with help from Russia interference.

•The Trans-Pacific Partnership flops.

•North Korea conducts missile and nuclear tests against agreements.

•Britain votes to leave the European Union #Brexit.

•The Zika virus spreads throughout the Americas.

•The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

•The Orlando nightclub shooting.

•Standing Rock and the Dakota Access Pipeline protests

•Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem.

POP CULTURE:

•Beyoncé’s Lemonade drops.

•Leonardo DiCaprio FINALLY wins an Oscar for “The Revenant”.

•“Stranger Things” premieres on Netflix.

•Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt break up.

•Kim Kardashian is robbed at gunpoint in Paris.

•Christina Grimmie is murdered in Orlando.

•David Bowie and Prince pass.

2017

Top Movie: “Beauty and the Beast”

Top Song: Shape of you by Ed Sheeran

Top Memes: Elf on a Shelf, First of All..., The Floor Is Lava, Salt Bae, Cash Me Ousside Howbow Dah?, Spotify Playlists, RompHim, The Babadook, Nothing but respect for MY President, Right in Front of My Salad, The Snapchat Hot Dog, Man’s Not Hot, Cracking Open a Cold One With the Boys, Mocking Spongebob, Distracted BF, White Guy Blinking Trends: Multiple memes per month vs year-long memes

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria destroy multiple states and Puerto Rico.

•Britain Triggers Article 50, officially “Brexiting”

•The Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar.

•North Korea continues testing nuclear and missile weapons.

•The Women’s March begins.

•Las Vegas concert shooting.

•The Harvey Weinstein saga and #MeToo movement.

POP CULTURE:

•Ariana Grande’s benefit concert.

•Beyoncé’s twin pregnancy announcement.

•Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi commercial flops.

•Taylor Swift’s comeback with Reputation.

•“Moonlight” vs “La La Land” Oscar debacle.

2018

Top Movie: “Avengers: Infinity War”

Top Song: God’s Plan by Drake

Top Memes: Tide Pods, American Chopper argument, Fortnite, Mason Ramsey/Yodel Kid, Is this a pigeon?, Yanny or Laurel, Big Dick Energy, A Star is Born, Moths, Weird flex but ok, Presidential Alert, Let’s Get This Bread, Surprised Pickachu, Knickers the Large Cow, They Did Surgery on a Grape, Sonic the Hedgehog, iHob

Top Memes: Chrissy Teigan cry face, Left Shark, Netflix & Chill, Hotline Bling dancing, Adele’s Hello, THE DRESS

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Humanitarian crises deepen in Venezuela and Yemen.

Jamal Khashoggi—Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist—is murdered.

•Trump & U.S. politics: trade wars, controversial policies on the Mexican border, and leaving the Iran Nuclear Deal.

•The 21st FIFA World Cup was held in Russia and the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea

•The Brett Kavanaugh hearing takes place and the #MeToo Movement goes global.

•The Camp and Woolsey wildfires rage through California.

•2018 was the deadliest year in terms of mass shootings in U.S. history. The U.S. has had more mass shootings than any other country, and the majority of perpetrators were white males: Santa Fe High School, Pittsburgh synagogue and Stoneman Douglas

POP CULTURE:

•Pose breaks TV history.

•Stephen Hawking, Stan Lee, John McCain, George H. W. Bush, Kate Spade, Aretha Franklin, Anthony Bourdain pass.

•The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

•Beyoncé at Coachella. Enough said.

•Pete and Ariana’s whirlwind romance.

•YouTuber Scandals: The TanaCon Disaster and Logan Paul in the Suicide Forest

2019

Top Movie: “John Wick: Chapter 3”

Top Song: Old Town Road (Remix) by Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus

Top Memes: Sorry to This Man, 30-50 Feral Hogs, Lunch Tables, Area 51, BirdBox Challenge, Marie Kondo, ...and it shows, Bottle Cap Challenge, TikTok, Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich, Baby Shark

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

•Robert Mueller, Michael Cohen and the Trump Impeachment Hearings

•The most diverse class of lawmakers

in history was sworn into the 116th Congress.

•The European Union banned single-use plastic.

•Notre Dame Cathedral burns.

•China-U.S. trade war heightens.

•The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is held in France

•The Hong Kong protests escalate.

•Amazon rainforest wildfires burn.

•Hurricane Dorian devastates the East Coast and Puerto Rico.

•The United States formally begins the process to pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

•Jeffrey Epstein dies in prison.

POP CULTURE:

•Fyre Festival is a massive failure.

•The emergence of Megan Thee Stallion.

•Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin in the Admissions Scandal.

•Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga perform “Shallow” at the Oscars

•HBO’s “Euphoria” premieres.

•Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich causes riots ·

THE HOPE OF SCHOOL AS A HOME

THE SALIENT PURPOSE OF SCHOOL IS TO RECREATE A PLACE OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY FOR EACH STUDENT

Alexandria Millet, Culture Staff Writer Illustrated by Lindsey Swiggum

As the clock slowly ticks toward winter break, we march toward a month spent at home. That month at home is inherently spent at my high school, going to basketball games and catching up with my high school friends and mentors.

When I was in high school, I was routinely asked, jokingly, “Do you ever go home?” It was an odd question. I never realized how I treated my school as a second home.

Schools can recreate the warmth and comfort some feel at home, but for others, it is the first place they ever even call home.

“In high school, I did feel at home with my friends. We had a table we always sat at in the library that was home base,” Taylor Hurst, a junior at UW-Madison, said.1

School can be a place to cultivate relationships and connections. Even at a large school—as Hurst went to— it is possible to create a community that feels like home. School friendships can easily form because of proximity, but the special, lifelong friendships we develop allow us to form a sense of home. It is the beauty of being known by people who are going through the same day-to-day life as ourselves. School becomes home because despite the frustration of an algebra test, there are people walking through it all, friends.

According to the National School Climate Center, a safe and caring school environment is one where students feel three things: positively connected to others, that their work has meaning and a sense of accomplishment. 2

Teachers, staff and administrators are what move school from beyond a social club to a house of learning. They are also the ones that can 1 Hurst, Taylor. Interview with Alexandria Millet. Personal Interview. Madison, November 9, 2019 2 Jennifer Piscatelli and Chiqueena Lee, J.D.State Policies on School Climate and Bully Preven tion Efforts: Challenges and Opportunities for Deepening State Policy Support for Safe and Civil Schools. New York: National School Climate Center. July 2011.

make students feel valuable on a daily basis. Teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling. 3 The more a student feels they are accomplishing, the more they are excited to return the next day.

Student attendance is strongly correlated with educational outcomes—a teacher that cares can make a student want to show up. 4 This is why many teachers take on the role of being a second parent to their students. This dynamic is nowhere in the job description for a teacher, but still, they often take on that responsibility.

Ana Demendoza, a Miami native, remembers the special interest her high school teacher, Mr. Moffi, took in her and other students. Demendoza recalls her teacher going above and beyond to stay two hours after school, daily.

“He wanted to see everyone succeed. A lot of students I went to school with are first-gen, children of immigrants who had parents that did not understand the American school system,” Demendoza said. “He was a white guy from New York who made it his mission to help students of color navigate the system better, and be that mentor.” 5

We applaud the teachers that go above and beyond to make school a positive place for students, but that responsibility should never rest on their shoulders entirely. For example, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for 11 days to ensure an increased number of support staff, such as nurses and counselors, as well as fight for smaller class sizes. 6 They went to bat for their students like a family would—and won.

3 Teachers Matter: Understanding Teachers’ Im pact on Student Achievement. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2012.

4 Elaine Allensworth, and John Q. Easton. The On-Track Indicator as a Predictor of High School Graduation. Chicago: Consortium on Chicago School Research. 2005.

5 Demendoza, Ana. Interview with Alexandria Millet. Personal Interview. Madison, November 8, 2019

6 Leone, Hannah. “Chicago Teachers Union ratifies new contract, avoiding another walkout after 11-day strike” Chicago Tribune, November 16, 2019.

“I think schools should offer more personal resources so students can feel more at home. I think the need for this should expedite the process,” Hurst said.7

The key to a school feeling like home is knowing it is a place where one can stay and feel safe. The problem is that many schools simply cannot keep their doors open beyond school hours to provide for students who may need it because of working parents. 8

In early November, California Senator and past presidential hopeful, Kamala Harris, proposed a bill that would expand after-school programming for districts. This bill regards school as just as central to a student’s life as their true home, and works to value it in the same manner.

The association of a school with a “home” is hinged on consistency. It is made by teachers and administrators showing up every day for their students. Many schools have implemented grand ‘Welcome’ programs on the first day of school, but sometimes it is more than a one-time programing; it’s everyday acts of kindness and care that make schools truly feel like home.

It is the warm feeling of knowing that a teacher is genuinely interested in your life, whether or not you understand the quadratic equation. “Home” is the peace in knowing that everything will be alright—school can remind us of that because of the hope that lives there.

When reflecting back on her high school experience, Demendoza said, “It’s more of a nostalgia thing.” 9 If a school can provide a space that is worth being nostalgic about, it has done its job—and far more. ·

7 Ibid 8 Veiga, Christiana, “Access to after-school pro grams remains a problem in low-income commu nities, report finds” Chalkbreak, August 30,2016 9 Ibid

FASHION

TRENDS OF THE DECADE

A LOOK BACK ON THE MOST ICONIC YEARLY TRENDS SINCE 2010

By Kasey Busiel, Staff Writer

It is finally time to close out the 2010’s and welcome a new chapter in our lives. For better or for worse, our fashion style has evolved extensively over the past ten years. Let’s take a look at our fashion journey by walking down memory lane and looking at each years’ prominent fashion trend within the decade.

2010

SKINNY JEANS

The revival of skin tight denim jeans made waves at the beginning of the decade. Whether they were dressed up with pumps or dressed down with sneakers, showing off one’s curves was a popular trend seen on everyone ranging from celebrities to young high school fashionistas. Today, people are ditching their skinny jeans and returning to a more casual, loose-fit boyfriend jean style.

2011 HAIR FATHERS & TUNIC DRESSES

Who could forget the short-lived hair feather fad? Girls everywhere were going to extensive lengths to receive these glued-in, multi-colored feather accessories. The demand was so high that salons were actually running out of rooster feathers, which were used to create these extensions.1 To complete the hippie-inspired look, tunic dresses with skinny jeans or leggings could be seen on any red carpet or street throughout the country.

1 Petra Guglielmetti, “Feather Hair Extensions: They’re Not Just Trendy, They’re So Trendy The World Is Running Out Of Feathers,” Glamour, June 8, 2011

Noha Abuhadra, “2010s Glamour: The Al ready Unforgettable Fashion Trends from this Decade,” Glamour, April 3, 2018

Rachel Elbaum, “Feather hair exten sions fly off salon shelves” Today, May 25, 2011

2012 STATEMENT PANTS

There is nothing like wearing bold colors with mix-matched patterns to make a statement. Who would have thought sewing your grandma’s couch pattern into trousers would become such a huge hit? Whether paired with a simple blouse or a wild, opposing patterned sweater, we couldn’t get enough of this attention-grabbing trend.

2013 SHORT SUITS & STATEMENT SUNGLASSES

I like to call this trend ‘business professional but make it summer.’ Pairing a staple blazer with a pair of matching shorts gave this power look a refreshing, warm-weather appearance. Adding big and bold sunglasses was the perfect final touch!

2014 DENIM ON DENIM

Who could forget Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ iconic all-denim Red Carpet look in 2001? In 2014, it seems as though celebrities were ‘bringing sexy back’ by recycling this denim on denim trend. The denim material was not only used for classic jean pants, but button-up shirts, jackets, purses and even shoes!

2015

BOHO STYLE

Boho style brought the 70’s to 2015. This popular fashion trend was seen everywhere from high-fashion runway shows to music festivals—especially Coachella. Instagram influencers attending the multiple-day concert extravaganza inspired many with new ways to rock boho looks. As we grew up, our love for boho matured from hair feather accessories into flowy gowns. Statement accessories and hair bands were also beloved by many.

Sarah Wasilak, “All the Coachella Style You Have to See From Last Year's Festival,” Popsugar, April 14, 2016

“Zendaya Coleman Wearing Jeans – Out in New York City,” Celeb Mafia, May 2, 2014

“Jessica Alba Has A Rare Fashion Fail At Dinner,” Celebrity Street Style, October 8, 2012

Megan Gus tashaw, “Spring 2013’s Most Wearable Fash ion Trends,” Glamour, September 18, 2012

This beautiful fabric exploded in the fall of 2016. The vibrant array of colors and the unique texture not only made it a bold, eye-catching piece, but also the perfect material to add a bit of warmth as the temperatures began to cool. Velvet was seen in various silhouettes over this year from pantsuits to evening gowns.

Rachael Comeau, “PFW Spring 2017 Trend Report: Statement Slogans,” Fashion Pulse Daily, October 5, 2016

2017 STATEMENT-MAKING SLOGANS

2017 allowed people to utilize fashion to stand up for what they’re passionate about. Statement-making slogans were plastered on the front of over-sized t-shirts which protested popular global concerns ranging from from feminism, leather, fur and the environment.

2018

CHUNKY SNEAKERS & ANIMAL PRINTS

Who would have thought we would take inspiration from our dads’ closets in 2018? Chunky, white ‘dad’ sneakers exploded throughout the fashion scene. Animal prints, such as leopard spots and snake skin, were also a huge hit. By layering animal print on top of animal print, it is obvious we could not get enough of this trend!

Gina Marinel li, “7 Fashion Trends Shoppers Actually Bought Into in 2018— and What They Mean,” Glamour, December 21, 2018

2019 BIKER SHORTS

This fashion statement screams, ‘When you have a business meeting at noon but a bike ride at 1 p.m.” We are not unfamiliar with athleisure style, but biker shorts took the trend to a more sophisticated level. The unique look of pairing an oversized blazer or t-shirt with tight biker shorts closes out 2019 with a bang.

Megan Logue, “The Power Pair: A Blazer + Cycling Shorts,” Net-A-Porter, 2019

“Adriana Lima Absolutely Stuns in Green Velvet Gown at Charity Event,” InStyle, December 4, 2016