THE EDGE Holiday 2015

THE EDGE THE MAGAZINE OF THE PENDULUM VOL. 6 | EDITION 8 HOLIDAY 2015 ELON, N.C.

HOPE SEXPECTATIONS

FIVE BOYS, ONE DREAM PG. 32

PG. 22

IRIS APFEL

BEHIND THE GLASSES PG. 41

WHO HAS YOUR VOTE?

OUR ELECTION GUIDE PG. 14

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THE EDGE “Just don’t make us look like a boy band”

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-THe Hope Boys

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Letter from the Editor

College is a time for change. We choose majors, make new friends and have critical discussions. This past year, I dyed my hair darker, got a nose ring and visited a newfound favorite place, London. And I know 2016 will bring with it even more changes: graduation, moving to a new city and — everyone’s favorite burden — getting a job.

But some things never change. I’ll always go home to a house lit by Christmas lights, and I’ll always stand side-by-side with my neighbors as we fill our subdivision with luminaries (similar to what we do here). I’ll watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve (in some form or fashion) and giggle as I tease my friends in later time zones that I’ve already entered the future.

And these things offer me comfort, despite the many changes occurring in my life over the next few months. There’s something really nice about counting on these pockets of tradition in times of such evolution. It doesn’t matter that I’ll no longer be a student or that I’ll be commuting home for the holidays from New York — the Christmas lights and luminaries will always be there to welcome me home.

As we move on to 2016, we have many things to look forward to: new relationships (pg. 22), a heated presidential election (pg. 14) and a changing world of entertainment (pg. 64). Not to mention, The Edge is getting a new Editor-in-Chief (excited for you, Brooke). 2015 has been a great year, but it’s time we ring in 2016. Here’s to another eventful, wonderful year.

Lindsey Lanquist, Editor-in-Chief

y f irst m f o e n o o #t bt t hoots wit h The fashion s y t o t hink how az Edge! C r we’ve c ome. far 4 | SECTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS election guide Style pg. 14

holiday sexpectations Health & Wellness pg. 22

helping other people eat features pg. 32

iris apfel fashion pg. 41

men’s holiday looks Fashion pg. 52

a dickens christmas features Pg. 56

Hollywood & capitol hill entertainment Pg. 64

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Editor-in-Chief of The Pendulum Michael Bodley

THE EDGE Editor-in-Chief of The Edge Lindsey Lanquist Design Chief Ingrid Frahm Creative Directors Ingrid Frahm Brooke Lowrey Fashion Editor Brooke Lowrey Digital Editor Katy Bellotte Assistant Editor Kristina Lee Assistant Editor Hannah McCarthy

Features Editor Lauryl Fischer Assistant Editor Alyssa Potter Features Writer Melina Casados Features Writer Carley Richards

Entertainment Editor Amanda Garrity Digital Editor Kate Nichols Assistant Editor Tatum Pederson

Health & Wellness Editor Xernay Aniwar Assistant Editor Courtney Campbell

Style Editor J.C. Craig Assistant Editor Sarah Baum Business Manager Xernay Aniwar Copy Chief Lauren Phillips Photo Editor Virginia Kluiters Photo Assistant Carolina Brehman Social Media Editor Maggie Griswold Videographer Bekah Richin Designers Katy Bellotte Mackenzie Clarken Kristina Lee Haley Longbottom Elizabeth Sheer

Photographers Ellie Anderson Ingrid Frahm Emily Genzer Haley Longbottom

Contributors Lauren Bach Erin McDowell Kelsey Payne Emma Braun Olivia Rose Taylor DeBlock Jordan Hsu Ashanti Desauguste Allie Dietz Hanna Siverling Erin Turner Eric Hernandez Courtney Thompson Kayla Hoey Janay Tyson Alex Lewis Charleen Lopes Briya Ware Christina Mann Kaitlin Welch

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LOVE LANGUAGES A

nd so it begins — the season of giving. Everyone loves coming up with that perfect gift for their best friend, significant other or favorite family member, but the pressure to be creative can be stressful. We at The Edge believe the secret to finding the ultimate present is to really think about the person you’re giving to. A great way to start is by figuring out their love language. According to marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman, everyone has a primary love language. We’ve broken down the categories and come up with some fun ways to cater to each language. Have your subject take the quiz online then hit the stores with their results in mind. Happy gifting!

a gift guide for the care ethical giver

PHYSICAL TOUCH For the person who is sometimes annoyingly touchy-feely. This is the person who lingers a few extra seconds every time you hug them.

To them, a simple touch on the arm can be reassurance for a lifetime.

TIPS

- Pick out a cuddly life-size teddy bear - Get them a huge body pillow to add to their bed - Give them a relaxing massage or buy a gift certificate for one from a professional

Quality time For the person who just loves to be near you. This is the friend who doesn’t care what you’re doing as long as you’re together. Don’t worry about spending a fortune on them because they’ll be happy as long as you’re spending time with them.

TIPS

- Plan a picnic in your favorite spot - Buy tickets to a movie and help them sneak in all their favorite candy - Look into taking a cooking class at a nearby store like Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION For the person who just needs to hear, “You are special.” This language is all about saying what you feel and being totally open with your feelings.

TIPS

- Craft a compliment jar by filling a mason jar with pieces of paper that have kind words on them - Write a long letter detailing the impact this person has had on your life — it may sound sappy, but it will go a long way - Create a playlist of songs that have inspiring or special lyrics

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Receiving Gifts This person loves that you were thinking of them while you were getting your morning coffee. They like the old-fashioned feel of a gift “just because,” but don’t necessarily crave the finer things in life. This category is the likeliest to be a splurge, but as long as there is thought behind it, it doesn’t have to be.

TIPS

- Buy them a subscription to their favorite magazine. Seeing that you know their interests will mean a lot to them - Grab something next time you’re at Target or Walgreens that “just made you think of them.” The fact that they’re on your mind will show how much you care - Pay attention to any and all hints in the weeks leading up to the holidays … this person will love that you get them exactly what they wanted

For the person who has a big to-do list.

For them, a little good deed can go a long way. Doing something for them before they have to ask will be the best gift they receive this holiday season.

TIPS

- Clean their room or apartment - Make a nice dinner or prepare break fast in bed. Make sure to clean up afterward!

- Surprise them by bringing them lunch from their favorite restaurant in the middle of a busy day

Acts of Service

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HOLIDAY HUNGER FOOD INSECURITY AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON j.c. craig STYLE EDITOR

M

ost of us approach the holiday season with a very distinct mindset. We go into our long winter breaks knowing full well that we will be stuffing our faces until we return to campus. While we may be hesitant to put on the pounds, it’s often hard to resist all the cookies, candy canes, massive family dinners and special cooking traditions. What began as a season of giving and spending time with loved ones has almost turned into a celebration of food. Beginning with the obvious feast that is Thanksgiving, we spend the holiday season on a journey of what equates to a month and a half of sheer indulgence.

In our little bubble that is Elon University, we rarely consider that the holidays don’t mean the same thing to everybody. While we happily endure our food comas, our neighbors are struggling to put a meal on the table. Food insecurity is more prevalent than ever during the holidays, and it is an issue that many more people than we may realize must deal with.

Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, defines food insecurity as “lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.”

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Sometimes it means not knowing where your next meal will come from. Sometimes it means struggling to make ends meet. What it always means is constantly worrying about providing for your family — especially in what is supposed to be a joyous time of the year.

According to The North Carolina Association of Feeding America, the United States is the largest and most efficient food producer in the world, but somehow, almost 50 million Americans are food insecure. That means one in every six Americans is struggling to find guaranteed access to healthy and substantial meals.

Food insecurity is not contained to urban areas or rural communities — it’s all over the place. In fact, in a study conducted by Feeding America titled “Map the Meal Gap 2015,” it is reported that food insecurity exists in every county in the United States.

To localize this problem even further, the report goes on to say that in 2013, counties in the South Atlantic region of the U.S. had by far the highest rate of food insecurity. Our anomaly of a college town is located in almost the exact center of this region, but it goes by almost unnoticed.

In 2013, Alamance County had a population of

152,472 residents, Feeding America reports.

Of that number, the estimated number of food insecure individuals was 24,450. This rate is not only higher than the national average for all individuals in the U.S., but also higher than the average food insecurity rate for all U.S. counties.

With statistics like that, how can we not wonder what the holiday season will be like for our neighbors in Burlington, Graham and other surrounding towns?

Many Alamance County residents are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. They — along with 45 million other Americans — receive federal nutrition assistance each month. Stephanie Jones is one of these recipients. Jones, a mother of two, has to plan exactly what to spend her food stamps on each month.

Around Thanksgiving and the holiday season, strategizing her trips to the grocery store becomes even more essential.

“The ham and the turkey, that’s what the kids like to have. You know, it’s a traditional

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thing for most people,” Stephanie said. “That takes $20 off my regular groceries that I could get usually three or four meals out of. But when you’re looking at holidays, you’re going to spend a little more.”

The more extravagant meals pose a problem, but so does the extended time her children have off from school. All public schools in the area provide lunch to students, and some even provide breakfast. This means five to 10 more meals that Stephanie and other SNAP recipients have to worry about when their children are on extended breaks from school.

For families on food stamps, splurging a little extra for the holidays can mean running out of resources by the end of the month.

This is where places like Allied

Churches of Alamance County (ACAC) step in to lend a hand.

Stephanie, along with many other families in the county, has been visiting ACAC for some time now.

According to its website, ACAC “provides emergency services in a safe and healthy environment, while moving individuals toward self-sufficiency.” ACAC provides weekday lunches and dinners and also operates as a temporary shelter for the homeless.

The food pantry and shelter is always looking for volunteers, and it is extremely easy for local residents and Elon students to lend a hand.

Whether it’s being onsite to answer phone calls and serve visitors or simply donating a canned good, anyone can contribute to the great things ACAC does for the community.

how you can get involved Start by visiting the Elon Volunteers! homepage on Elon’s website. The page lists the many opportunities available to Elon students and links to contacts within each program. There are three Elon Volunteers! programs related to food insecurity.

Allied Churches Volunteers will do everything from answering phone calls, picking up food, stocking shelves and filing paperwork. If you don’t have the time to be on-site, Allied Churches gladly accepts donations. According to their website, their current needs include sugar, bottled water, 2 percent milk, deodorant, toothbrushes and more.

Campus Kitchen Campus Kitchen at Elon University is an on-campus service opportunity through the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement.

Volunteer tasks include joining

cooking shifts to create nutritious meals, delivering meals to Allied Churches and helping with setup and clean up and harvesting food at Elon’s Loy Farm.

The Salvation Army Soon we’ll start seeing those red cans and bell-ringers popping up on sidewalks outside of stores. The simplest way to get involved is by dropping your spare change in the bucket. You can also donate used clothes and other items to your local Salvation Army. To volunteer in shelters or other programs, visit www.salvationarmycarolinas.org to email a representative from our nearby Salvation Army location.

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THE EDGE ELECTION GUIDE

Be up-to-date on everything there is to know about the upcoming Presidential election. hunter purvis STYLE WRITER

W

hat do you get when you combine an avowed racist, a former First Lady and an Einstein lookalike? The race for the American Presidency! As we come closer to 2016, the presidential campaign (still comparatively in its infancy) has been heating up. We remain almost four months away from the first primaries, where one can expect Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to politely debate issues while the Republican Party rips itself apart at the seams. There has been a plethora of enjoyable — and in some cases unbelievable — moments. Who will ever forget Donald Trump (every writer and comedian’s dream candidate) branding millions

of latino immigrants as rapists? Or Bernie shouting his eternal “enough with the damn emails!” There is even more to come, and the debate will only intensify as important dates start to approach — the yearly budget decision in Congress will focus arguments without a doubt.

Who has the stamina, support and — perhaps most importantly — the money to fight their way to the top of the pile? Will America be stuck with yet another Bush vs. Clinton election cycle? Will current outside contenders like Donald and Bernie give the front-runners a run for their money? Or will a hitherto unknown candidate step up to make their case?

ISSUES TO WATCH Economy

HEALTHCARE

The first issue on most American’s minds. Most Republican candidates like Jeb Bush have continued to toe the party line — lowering taxes across the board (but especially for wealthy Americans), deregulating banks and corporations and making it easier for companies to utilize cheaper labor overseas through trade partnerships. This is the formula that has been in use by the GOP for almost two decades, and it has been relatively successful in garnering moderate support. While the mainstream Democratic Party does differ in opinion on some of these issues, many candidates have reputations for being moderate-to-right leaning in there economic views. On the other hand, some have called for a higher minimum wage, more regulation on Wall Street and fewer tax loopholes for the rich.

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ND A S E I ERN

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The Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare, for those with a more dramatic flair) has so far provided healthcare for millions of Americans, but it remains a hot topic for many candidates and the Republicans in particular. They have found some parts of the act that they have serious issues with, such as requirements for employers and funding for organizations such as Planned Parenthood. The Democrats vary widely — most have long been supporters of expanded healthcare, while some want to push even more for a European model of socialized medical care for all working Americans.

The case remains one of stalemate in Congress, but the reality that millions of Americans lack adequate healthcare because of economic circumstances has put pressure on many candidates.

DONA

LD TR

Photo Credit: Flickr.com/photos/80038275@N00/14399468286 & flickr.com/photos/80038275@N00/20897434781

UMP

JEB B

USH

With an ongoing drought in California now affecting food production across the United States and environmental issues feeding into the current chaos in the Middle East, the environment has steadily increased in importance as a major issue. Most Republicans have agreed that other issues are more pressing, and their plans to deregulate industry while defunding the EPA are clear indicators that they do not prioritize environmental conservation. Hillary (the frontrunner in the Democratic Race) remains squarely in the middle, falling into the camp of President Obama, who has given lip service to sustainability while continuing to focus on fossil fuels and practices like fracking and offshore drilling. Bernie Sanders, the nominal underdog, on the other hand, spoke clearly on the issue at the Democratic Debate — he identified environmental change and reliance on fossil fuels as the greatest strategic threats to the United States. Whether you agree with him or not, this will clearly be a hot topic during and after the primaries.

TON N I L C Y ILLAR

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Environment

Education

Some would say that education is more important as a state issue — programs are funded and organized on the state level, for the most part, without a massive amount of federal interference. The recently implemented Common Core has had mixed reviews, though, so education remains an important issue. The cost and debt burden of public universities in particular has come to the forefront of many debates, particularly on the Democratic side. Conservative candidates have tended to avoid the issue, though the entertaining Donald Trump has suggested cutting funding to some educational programs in order to pay off the massive U.S. debt. Progressive candidates have suggested that the United States move to a more progressive program of free college education for those with the requisite grades — and have even gone as far as to suggest that Wall Street speculation be taxed in order to pay for it.

Campaign Finance

Photo Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sA_hdLZwb6w/RbSgu_j2rJI/AAAAAAAAAG8/K4XGawOKW0k/s400/hillary.gif &https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Jeb_Bush_at_CPAC_2015,_National_Harbor,_MD_08.jpg

This is perhaps the surprise inclusion in this year’s political debate. Bernie Sanders has made it clear that he wants to end Super PACs — groups that have made corporate donations more important than individual contributions from citizens. Donald Trump has also pointed out his independency from the Republican mainstream funding system, though he has nonetheless accepted large corporate donations since declaring his presidency. All other candidates have all accepted millions of dollars through the Super PAC system, and as such will be unlikely to shut the system down once in office. If the inevitability of elections has been a reason not to vote in past elections, perhaps this is the issue to get you into the mood this season.

Immigration A huge issue in today’s United States, and one that most candidates have addressed. From Donald’s border wall to Jeb’s moderate solution to Hillary’s comprehensive plan, U.S. voters are spoiled for choice when it comes to ideas surrounding immigration.

With millions of undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States and more arriving each day (compounded by instability in the Middle East and environmental degradation elsewhere), immigration reform is badly needed, whether it be brutal refusal of entry enforced by gunpoint or a program to accept some and deny others.

Women’s Rights

Foreign Policy

Most Republicans have advocated for a more substantial presence overseas, increasing the military budget while keeping a hard line with foreign threats like Russia and Iran. Surprisingly, Hillary Clinton, the democrat with unarguably the most foreign policy experience, is largely on the same page, at least in terms of the big picture, as many Republicans. In light of the recent deadly Paris attacks and the expansion of the Islamic State, whether the future president can handle foreign policy threats is a crucial requirement for whoever will be taking the White House.

Another key issue that has come to the forefront in the past several years. While Republicans continue to shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to supporting women, Democratic candidates such as Hillary and Bernie have made it clear that they support equal pay and women’s health programs such as Planned Parenthood. The religious convictions behind many Republicans’ opinion may be valid, but nonetheless they have succeeded in alienating a powerful voting sector and lobbying group by either failing to address important issues or being downright misogynistic (see some of Donald’s recent comments). If you have strong feelings about gender equality, then be sure to tune into this year’s election, as it will no doubt continue to be a hot topic.

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CANDIDATE OVERVIEW

Now that we’ve discussed their stances on the election’s biggest issues, here’s a look at four of the top candidates. Some might feel like the current crop of electables is not particularly appetizing, while others feel this cycle is the best chance to elect someone who will represent their interests. In any case, the candidates will have to work around the clock to truly have a chance of getting that treasured seat in the Oval Office. Maybe we should start with the candidates that pundits, statisticians and probably your grandparents see as the obvious frontrunners for this election.

HILlARY CLINTON democrat

bernie sanders democrat 18 | STYLE

On the Democratic side, the long-time assumption has been that Hillary Clinton will win both the nomination and have a real shot at the presidency she so intensely envied back in 2008. Hillary is an interesting candidate, to say the least — the first legitimate option for a female president that Americans have had in long time, she has been a longtime supporter of both women’s rights and healthcare for all Americans. She and her erstwhile presidential husband Bill campaigned strongly for healthcare as early as the 90s.

She has the dubious advantage of being squarely situated in the Washington “in” crowd. Her work as Secretary of State under President Obama has given her a wealth of foreign relations experience, though it’s brought its own fair share of scandals her way. All in all, she represents a moderate, and malleable, option for left-leaning Americans, and one who has promised to work hard and accomplish her moderate — and flexible — goals.

Another Democratic frontrunner is Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont who has been making waves of a comparable size to Donald Trump, but with very different methods. Bernie has been a long-time independent within Congress, which in some ways gives him an advantage over long-time Dems like Hillary. His straight-to-the-issues approach has won him many supporters, and his unwavering loyalty to his own convictions — as well as his belief that people, not dollars, remain the best way to win an election — has appealed to millions from both sides of the aisle.

Running as a Democrat so as to not pull votes from Hillary in the general election (the ghost of Ralph Nader hangs over us all), Bernie has done well with fundraising and polls despite lacking a Super PAC (a group that is allowed to funnel infinite donations into a candidate’s campaign).

He is adamant about getting big money out of politics — a stance that has intrigued many and worried more than a few. If you can get past his accent and socialist moniker, Bernie might just be the candidate for you.

On the Republican side, the fundraising and polls have indicated that Jeb Bush should be considered the leading candidate for their nomination and perhaps president. As much as some Americans are reticent to see yet another Bush vs. Clinton campaign (George Sr. and Bill are still suffering PTSD), thus far Jeb has shown himself to be relatively moderate, especially when compared with some of the nonsense candidates being spewed out of the American Right. Nonetheless, his lack of rhetoric and blasé countenance have failed to grip the hearts of conservative Americans in the way some expected him to. Perhaps a third Bush in the White House is just a little too much for most Americans to handle. But his strong governor experience and long line of political connections in Washington and elsewhere should remind everyone to keep him in mind despite his lack of entertainment value.

And speaking of entertainment, this article would be nothing without mentioning the (in)famous Donald Trump, whose campaign and occasional diatribe have earmarked this year’s election as one to tune in to.

Trump’s actual stances are both intriguing and varied. As one of the most famous members of Big Business America, his tax plan looks to keep taxes low for all groups (a long time Republican objective) while at the same time decreasing the already crumbling regulations that have been placed on banks and corporations. Perhaps most famously, he has repeated his intention to build a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border and crack down on illegal immigrants currently in the country. His apparent hatred for those making their illicit way into the United States has manifested itself through the occasional racist rant — including the one during his presidential announcement, when he referred to Mexican immigrants as drug-dealing, crime-committing rapists. Despite the fact that many see this as a death knell for a Republican Party that has repeatedly failed to stay in touch with minority voters, Donald’s charisma and brutal honesty has attracted numerous supporters who may give the Republican establishment a run for its money in the upcoming election.

jeb bush republican

donald trump republican

Therapeutic CANDLES & AROMATHERAPY

1 peppermint

3 lavender

Seek out this scent before you leave home for break. Peppermint can clear your mind and will definitely help get you through those late nights studying for finals.

One of the most commonly known scents, lavender can help put your mind at ease and lessen any headaches you may be experiencing. Light a lavender candle if you need some balance in your life.

4 pine

2 frankincense

Similar to frankincense, pine can help lower your stress levels and can even help with depression. Pine is everywhere during the holiday season, so prepare to be relaxed.

While it may be difficult to find in a candle, you can burn some frankincense in the form of incense. It is said to alleviate feelings of anxiety, perfect for when your relatives ask what your plans are after college for the eighteenth time.

5 cinnamon A cinnamon candle will be easy to find during the colder months. It will help cure your fatigue and give you the energy you need to hit that ice skating rink or cookie decorating party.

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Winter TEA BENEFITS 1

1

black

Not only does it help wake you up, but black tea is also high in the antioxidants theaflavins and thearubigins, which are linked to lower levels of cholesterol and may reduce the risk of stroke.

2

herbal

Depending on what’s in the blend, the benefits can vary. For example, chamomile tea may help with sleep and peppermint tea can calm a stomachache.

3

green

Green tea may prevent everything from cancer to heart disease because it’s full of the antioxidant catechins, a subgroup known as EGCG. It may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, burn fat and counteract oxidative stress.

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2

3

white

Since the leaves are less processed, they contain more antioxidants, offering more cardiovascular and cancer-fighting benefits than other teas.

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HS OLIDAY EXPECTAT

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HOW H FEELIN OLIDAY CU LT GS OF INADE URE CONTR QUAC IBUTE Y IN S S TO INGLE PEOP LE

FACT The most common birthday is September 16.

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ou may have noticed in the past two or three months that you’ve been celebrating an excessive amount of birthdays. To bring this full circle, this means that the most common month of conception must be December, nine months earlier.

In fact, there is a Google-able chart that clearly maps out the concentration of birthdates, and the majority fall between the months of July and September, which means that the most popular months for conception are between October and January.

Another study tracked patterns of STI and HIV test data, abortion data and condom sales. Their findings confirmed that there is indeed heightened sexual activity during the Christmas and New Year period.

But why?

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HALLOWEEN AND THE SCIENCE OF FEAR It’s been proven time and time again that fear can heighten sexual attraction. If you’ve taken any psychology classes, you might remember a study by Arthur Aron where he asked some guys to walk across a bridge.

TEST: Both bridges were situated over a 230-foot drop, but one was wobbly, and the second bridge was stable.

As each man walked across the bridge, an attractive woman asked him a series of questions.

She then gave each man her phone number for any

“follow up questions.”

The point of this study was to see if men would feel more attraction to the woman in a high-fear versus a low-fear situation. It was hypothesized that this would be measured by the amount of men who would call back for a “follow up” with the woman after the study.

RESULTS: This suggests a connection between feelings of attraction and fear, which explains why watching a scary movie one-on-one is kind of the universal “first move” to getting closer to someone we’re attracted to.

THANKSGIVING Honestly, just one word: relatives. If Aunt Sally asks one more time if we’re seeing anyone special, mark our words, cranberry sauce will fly.

A lot of the time, you won’t even realize that you’re feeling lonely until you feel like someone/something insinuates that you should be, like our dear Aunt Sally. So why get it on in November? When we’re feeling low, we’ll reach out a little further for some lovin’.

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CHRISTMAS Even if you don’t celebrate it, there’s no escaping the “merriment” that comes with it. Whether it’s a cheery sweater ad for Macy’s, Nat King Cole’s smooth voice in the grocery store or one too many reruns of “Love Actually” on television, there are reminders everywhere that it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

The reality? Outside of the decorations and music, nothing’s really changed from any other time of year. But the guise of holiday cheer can trick many of us into feeling extra low, and once again, reaching out to someone trying to fill that void.

36%

of single people feel additional pressure during the holidays to be in a relationship.

58%

of single adults didn’t want to attend holiday office parties alone.

PRO-TIP If you start slipping into the Christmas blues, hang with friends or family, read a book or spend your time doing good for others. Go spend some time at an animal shelter!

30%

of participants have stayed home from events because they had no date.

*According to a study by Match.com

NEW YEAR’S We’re expected to have the best night we’ll never remember. Reflecting on the year can bring regret, but a new year brings optimism for a fresh start. Mix regret and hope with alcohol, and sexual stuff happens.

Turn on any channel as the ball drops at midnight, and you’ll see hundreds of people locking lips. Is a kiss at midnight really all it’s amped up to be? We asked for your opinions:

remember to wrap your packages!

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“I think it’s a tradition that is cute if you want to participate.”

Abbey Maloney “Honestly, I think it’s overrated. I never really found it all that important.”

Bella Mazzola

A reminder from SPARKS: “Sexual relationships should be reciprocal, based on respect, and should never be coercive or exploitive.”

SPARKS Verbal Abuse – If your partner gets a kick out of insulting you, calling you demeaning names or just making you feel bad, that’s some negativity you don’t need in your life. Buh-bye!

Controlling behavior or demands – If you find your partner constantly

asking you “who, what, where, why” questions when you’re not with them, take a step back and make sure there’s enough trust and respect between the two of you.

Isolation – Ask yourself, if your partner ended things with you tomorrow, would you have a support system to turn to? If the answer is no, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate or reach out. College is a time for connecting and networking. If your partner doesn’t support your engagement in social activities, ask them to talk about why they feel that way.

Unwanted physical aggression and/or sexual contact – Only you (and you alone) are in charge of your body. This might seem like a no brainer, but if you don’t like something that your partner is doing physically, speak up immediately.

Need to talk (confidentially)? Contact: Jessica Clark, the Coordinator for Violence Response at Elon, during office hours (8-5, Mon. thru Fri.) at 336-278-5009.

Need to report something (confidentially, or nah)? Call SAFEline at 336-278-3333. They’re available 24/7.

xERNAY aNIWAR

HEALTH & WELLNESS EDITOR

S

tarting around age eight, I began silently battling anxiety and depression that would inevitably last a lifetime.

My symptoms came and went, but when they came, they hit with a force.

For weeks at a time, I would cry uncontrollably and have panic attacks triggered by daily activities that I now don’t think twice about.

Additionally, I was extremely anti-social and had a non-existent appetite, which resulted in weight loss and an extremely weak immune system.

As an only child with a single, working mom, I spent a lot of time alone. Things were bad, but could have been much worse. I never cut myself, I never turned to drugs or alcohol and I never attempted suicide. As I saw these choices being made by others around me, something always held me back from going “there.”

One thing in particular that I attribute to helping me keep my head above water: my cat, Holly.

Days spent out of school were spent with Holly. Her no-bullshit attitude put a smile on my face when nothing else could. My antisocial tendencies might have kept

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Cat in college A story of an emotional support pet

me away from my human friends, but I would never turn away the company of a furry friend. And maybe, that made all the difference.

Maybe that saved my life.

Illustration Credit: http://livefastmag.com/2015/10/mood-board-chat-noir/

A new home away from home The day I met my new roommate, she was slouched against the wall of her cage at the animal shelter, surrounded by her kittens, so I called her Momma.

Her kittens were still young and remained warm, clean and fuzzy.

But it was clear that Momma had been through a lot. She walked with a limp, carrying her thin frame awkwardly. Her eyes and nose were crusted over with scabby remnants of dried tears and too many sneezes from a recent respiratory infection. She had ripped-out patches of her own fur from stress.

As her kittens climbed over her, she lay with her chin resting on her paws. I imagined her contemplating the sorry state of her life and made sure to give her an extra few words of encouragement before we left for the day.

A week or so later, I was back at the shelter. Momma was still in her cage, but her kittens were all gone. As I watched, she moved from pacing, to sitting, to aggressively grooming or itching. She seemed unsure, overwhelmed and a bit crazed — I could certainly relate.

I then realized that she remained un-bathed.

I walked up to the front desk.

“Would there be any way for me to take one of the cats home for a night and give her a bath?” I asked.

“No one’s going adopt her looking

like that, people don’t even want to touch her.”

The woman spun around in her chair and smiled. “We have a foster program,” she explained. “Which cat is it that you’re interested in?”

“Storm,” I responded right away.

It was the name written on her nametag, the name she had been given upon rescue, the day she was found stranded with her kittens on the side of a highway.

A change of scenery Storm, now named Momma, is officially, legally under my care. She is registered as an emotional support pet with Elon University, which allows her to live with me on campus.

Like my little furry warrior, her strength to overcome her situation inspires me everyday. I am privileged to have been a part of it.

Be their hero this holiday season.

Visit, foster or adopt a new roommate from your local shelter.

HEALTH & WELLNESS | 27

gluten-free

sweets *

Looking for a quick and thoughtful gift this holiday season? Nothing says “love” like a box full of homemade treats.

Snickerdoodles 3/4 cup salted butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar 2 large eggs 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. baking powder 2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon + 4 Tbsp. sugar 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and confectioner’s sugar — beat until it is light and fluffy.

2. Add in the eggs and vanilla and continue to beat until smooth.

3. Slowly pour the flour, cinnamon and baking powder into the wet

mixture until dough forms.

4. Separate the dough into two pieces, wrap them up and place in refrigerator for two hours.

5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare your baking sheets by lightly greasing them.

6. Form small balls of dough and create flat circles with them.

7. Coat the circles thoroughly in cinnamon-sugar.

8. Place them on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

White Chocolate Cranberry Bark 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cup dried cranberries 1 1/2 pounds high quality white chocolate chips 2 tsp. vegetable oil

Peppermint Meringues 3 egg whites pinch of salt 1/3 cup regular sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract A few drops of red food coloring

1. In a large bowl, combine almonds and cranberries. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture.

2. Place white chocolate and 2 tsp. oil in a large heatproof bowl and set over medium saucepan of simmering water.

3. Stir with a spatula until chocolate is completely melted.

Preheat oven to 325 F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

4. Remove the chocolate from heat and fold in the almond mixture.

2.

Separate egg whites from yolks and put whites in a large, clean and dry mixing bowl. Dispose of yolks.

5. Spread mixture evenly onparchmentlined baking sheet. Sprinkle on the reserved 1/4 cup topping.

3.

With an electric mixer or a strong arm (we got our workout in with a whisk), start rapidly whisking until everything gets foamy.

6. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate has completely set.

4.

Add the pinch of salt and gradually add regular sugar while continuously beating until stiff peaks form and there’s a glossy sheen. Ultimate peak-age will happen after about five minutes with an electric mixer, or about 10-15 minutes by hand, depending on arm strength.

5.

Add powered sugar and peppermint extract. Mix to incorporate.

1.

7. Break the bark into small pieces and serve.

TO MAKE SWIRLS: apply several drops of red food coloring randomly around bowl of whipped mixture. DO NOT STIR. 6.

Spoon mixture carefully into a zip-lock bag.

Cut off a small corner of the bag and use as a makeshift pastry bag. As you pipe little dollops of meringue onto the parchment paper, red swirls will form automatically.

7.

Put ‘em in the oven for 40 minutes then turn the oven off. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR YET. Let meringues sit in oven for at least one hour, or up to three.

SECTION | 29

love your

#Selfie Ask any serious beauty guru, and they’ll tell you that not all hair is created equal — it comes in a range of types, and each one requires different care and attention. We scouted girls from all over campus with hair from all points on the spectrum.

Type 1: Straight It’s a 10 Miracle silk smoothing balm “It’s my favorite product because it doesn’t make my hair look greasy. It does 10 different things, but basically it’s a thermal protector and it makes my hair smooth.”

All ie

Me too!

Type 2: wavy Garnier Fructis sleek and shine intensely smooth leave-in conditioning cream “It smells yummy and keeps my hair moisturized. Use leavein conditioner instead of gel — it makes curls look natural, it doesn’t make hair crunchy like gel does and it’s light.”

30 | FASHION

Arielle

Type 3: curly Garnier Fructis sleek and shine intensely smooth leave-in conditioning cream “It’s my favorite since it doesn’t mess up my hair like gel does. It helps make it soft and helps the curls dry nicely. I have a lot of thick hair so I use a lot of leave-in.”

Sabrina Type 4: coily Shea Moisture deep treatment masque “I like that it has all natural ingredients and it’s relatively affordable. It’s my secret to keeping my hair so soft and moisturized during the week. My tip is to deep condition no matter what.

It helps protect hair from all the things we do to it. If you don’t do anything else, please deep condition. Your hair will thank you.”

Gabr iel le FASHION | 31

five boys, one dream, thousands of lives impacted Lauryl Fischer FEATURES EDITOR

32 | COVER STORY

D

uring one of Elon University’s many snowy days last winter, while some students enjoyed their day off or caught up on work, Chris Coble was off campus. He was at the local food pantry, getting to know the community.

It was part of Helping Other People Eat’s (HOPE) mission to stay connected with the hunger issue in Alamance County. While other members volunteered in the back, Chris Coble stood in line with everyone else, got his own plate of food and found a spot to sit. It was on this especially chilly day that he shared a meal with a woman from the Burlington community. Over their fresh, hot meal, she told him about her twice-daily walk to the food pantry, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Two miles there, two miles back.

It was one of the moments that reminded Chris why HOPE matters.

“I got to have relationships with people I would have never had if I had just served,” Chris said.

“You learn about the real impact and how much they depend on those meals.”

This is HOPE, Elon’s own hunger nonprofit. It began with one vision, five boys and hundreds of hours of hard work. And three years later, with more than $10,000 donated to the local food pantry, HOPE — and its founders — has grown up.

Their roles have changed since the initial meetings. The amount of time they’ve spent with HOPE has fluctuated from semester to semester. And it’s actually been some time since the five friends have been able to coordinate their schedules so they can gather in one room to talk about the nonprofit. But the five boys were circled around a table: Jensen Roll, Greg Stone, Steven Cobb, Drew Dimos and Chris Coble. The table was stacked with pizza and soda, small talk and steady rain outside filling any potential empty space, as the group warmed up to walk back through HOPE’s earlier days and look toward the future.

It’s only right to start with the five boys themselves before jumping into HOPE’s story. Without

all five, there would be no HOPE. Jensen is the de facto leader, though he’d be quick to shake off the title or list the people to whom he owes his successes. Drew’s the designated artist — though Jensen jokes it’s just because he has “the coolest hair” among the boys. Steven’s the articulate boynext-door (literally; he’s a Burlington native) and currently the secretary; Greg, sincere and straightforward, is the numbers man and fact checker.

And last but not least, Chris, their very own communications guru, is the loudest of them all, with a secret talent for climbing walls (YouTube him when you get the chance).

What connects them is faith. The five came together through Intervarsity their freshman year, where their prayer group became a place for friendships to grow and for ideas to take root.

Faith is at the heart of HOPE, and where HOPE went to thrive.

LEAVING THE CLASSROOM It’s hard to pin down where HOPE really began.

Each boy has his own origin story. For Steven, it was moments before a business competition, when his friends grabbed him to join the team. For Greg, HOPE began in Smith Hall over prayer with Jensen. These conversations, at the right time with the right people, are part of HOPE’s timeline.

But before these conversations, HOPE was just an innovative idea in Jensen’s head, inspired by his volunteer work at food pantries.

“I was really frustrated at the systems they had — I was kind of like, why are you doing it this way?

You’re throwing away food, you’re feeding people stuff that didn’t have nutritious value,” Jensen recalled. “I talked to executive directors [of local food pantries] and they said it’s all about money. It’s fickle money. So I asked, ‘How can we provide financial resources to these organizations in a sustainable way so they can refocus on their mission?’”

His solution was what HOPE is now: a bridge between food pantries and donors, with donations happening in restaurants. Jensen’s vision was to

COVER STORY | 33

change the way people eat out — to consider donating one dollar of their meal to a food pantry, which could become up to five pounds of food.

Jensen used the model he was thinking about in an entrepreneurship class, then a 10-page final paper for Sociology. Then it sprung from the classroom walls and entered his conversations. One conversation stood out in Jensen’s memory: KOBC, spring of freshman year. Under the vaulted ceilings, while procrastinating on homework with Chris, brainstorming for HOPE began. Then the brainstorm began to resemble a plan.

“We were supposed to be working on something else, but I just said, ‘Chris, I got this idea, what do you think?’” Jensen said. “If it had been anyone else, they would have told me it was stupid, but because Chris is a positive and uplifting person, he was like, ‘Yes, let’s do it!’ And we actually started writing something up.”

From there, HOPE spread among some of Jensen’s closest friends. It went quickly — the day after the conversation in KOBC, Drew was on the team, and soon after Greg joined. One by one, what would become the founding team fell together.

On return to Elon in the fall of their sophomore year, they turned to the Triple Impact Challenge, Elon’s 5-minute pitch competition that challenges students to present solutions for social and environmental issues or ideas for new business ventures to a panel of judges. It could be the first step to getting HOPE off the page.

On the way to the first meeting for the Triple Impact Challenge, they picked up their final founding member: Steven.

Five sophomore boys lined up in front of the judges’ panel in their suits as they pulled up their PowerPoint and made their pitch. A handful of slides and five minutes later, it was done.

They’d won first prize and a lunch with President Leo Lambert.

“He told us he loved what we’re doing, and his words were very impactful,” Jensen said. “He’s been a big supporter.”

The luncheon is another place that the boys toss around as a possibility for HOPE’s beginning. They

34 | COVER STORY

weren’t just friends anymore, but teammates and business partners — and they felt like a team. The reality sank in: HOPE could make a difference.

HOPE TAKES BURLINGTON Then the real work began.

Their luncheon with Leo began conversations with Allied Churches of Burlington, which is heavily involved and knew the right people to talk to. HOPE needed more support to get off the ground, and Allied Churches presented the perfect opportunity.

After talks with Kim Crawford, Allied Churches’ executive director, the church took the budding organization underneath its wing. “[Kim Crawford] was the first company or organization that said they were going to give [us] a chance,” Jensen said. “We learned a lot under them and learned a lot about what the hunger industry was like.”

That wasn’t the only part of their learning experience. Allied Churches was one partnership, but for Jensen’s model to work, they needed restaurant partners, too. And a restaurant was a whole different animal.

Drew and Steven began visiting restaurants around Burlington with zero experience when it came to delivering a pitch — their winning one for Triple Impact notwithstanding. They received many long side-glances and rejections — a lot of “What will this do for us?” But with each no, they regrouped and went on to the next restaurant.

“Our dreams kind of crumbled a little because it was harder than we thought,” Drew said about the entire experience, but then he laughed and the rest of the group joined in. “Those times were some of the most entertaining. Convincing other people of the vision that we had was so interesting.”

Greg, Steven and Chris scored the first major partnership with Mosca, finally breaking through the wall of negativity they faced. From there, it became easier. They polished their pitch and got three additional restaurants soon after, many of them Elon staples, including Mel’s Good Times Bar and Grill. With relationships in place within the restaurant industry, the HOPE boys graduated from cold pitches and drop-ins and worked their way through

COVER STORY | 35

36 | COVER STORY

the partnerships they’d made to gain even more partners. Currently, they have eight restaurants who are “HOPE-certified.”

“Some restaurants have actually come to us because of Elon faculty asking ‘Why are you not Hope-certified?’” Jensen said.

“Stokeley’s actually asked us if they could be HOPE certified,” Drew added.

It’s not the first time they mentioned Elon faculty.

Without Elon, HOPE would not be possible, from the Dean of the Business School to the faculty at the Kernoodle Center — Steve Caldwell and Tammy Cobb, especially.

Jensen told one story about his life entrepreneurship teacher, Christopher Gergen.

“I explained the concept to him, and he was like, ‘I don’t want to hear anything else about it until you’ve done it,’” Jensen said. “That was a huge kick in the butt to go do it.”

Within six months of coming under Allied Churches’ generous arms, HOPE had enough support to become a nonprofit in its own right. The process took about a year, but by the fall of 2014, they became at 501(c)(3) and moved out from under Allied Church, but kept the positive relationship intact. HOPE had also grown internally by then. New members, including Alex Goeldner as vice president, had joined the board, which all five boys credit in a big way for making HOPE more professional. They were even able to hire a few employees, who they pay through Federal Work Study.

“We did it [becoming a nonprofit] faster than anyone we had talked to,” Jensen said.

Roles began to shift as the five friends took opportunities outside of HOPE. Jensen went abroad one semester, Drew and Chris the next. But their absences did not slow HOPE down, only presented chances for it to expand, change hands and gain additional support. According to the boys, HOPE quickly became bigger than all of them.

UPGRADE TO HOPE Now it’s the boys’ senior year, and HOPE’s senior year, too. Graduation looms as a gray, amorphous shape in the future. It’s a shape they can fill with

anything. And even though the founders are leaving Elon, HOPE isn’t — it’s just getting redefined.

“We had to come up with a model that was scalable,” Jensen said. “So all of us sat down and talked about all the different ways we can do this — we learned all the wrong answers.”

The right answer? Jensen holds up his phone.

“You have to meet people and interact with people where they’re going to be,” he explained. “And this is where people are.”

For the past semester, HOPE has been getting an upgrade. The old model revolved around donations made on slips of paper, forcing the HOPE team and restaurants to jump through hoops to get the slips transferred into money and then deliver that money to the local food pantry. If HOPE was ever to expand out of Burlington, it needed a way to manage its donations and streamline funds. An app could handle all these jobs with the press of a button. The app the HOPE team is developing can do even more.

The Edge got a preview of the app, which uses location technology to find HOPE-certified restaurants in a given area. It’s a lot like a nonprofit version of Yelp. Users can read reviews, leave their own and get sneak-peeks at menus. Then, when inside the restaurant, they can make the decision to donate straight from their table, even while eating. No middle-men, no hoops, just money funneled to the nearest food pantry (and in the interest of full disclosure, 15 percent of every dollar goes back to HOPE to cover overhead and allow for further expansion).

Jensen even said that there could be an option to set up the app to donate automatically when a user is in a HOPE-certified restaurant, to cut down the fuss to virtually zero.

If the app works, expanding HOPE to Raleigh, Charlotte or other cities in North Carolina is more of a possibility than ever. Jensen even hinted that it could be possible by next year.

“All you’ll need is the app to expand regionally,” Greg said. “All you need is for other restaurants to be part of this app and for them to have it listed somewhere. The customers can donate then and there.”

The app will be free and available on any iOS product for now. Eventually, with enough funds, HOPE

COVER STORY | 37

will release a version for Android products and begin moving away from a temporary hybrid model. The hybrid model — which includes the traditional slips of paper and the app — will roll out when the beta version of the app does, around February 2016.

But it’s HOPE’s vision to one day be paper-free completely. They’re a nonprofit with a bold, Millennial vision resembling tech startups, from this new model down to the audience they’re aiming to attract. HOPE is aware that using apps mean a younger audience, but that’s who they want to reach, influence and educate about the hunger issue.

“We’re moving away from an older version of business,” Jensen said. “We’re trying to be innovative as a whole. We want to be involved with and directly dependent on technology.”

Their new logo, coming with the app, embodies this new move. Gone is the round, dark blue-andgold button with the stock silhouette of some city or another. The new logo is shiny gold, the design elements stripped back. It’s friendly to mobile, naturally, and looks great in app-form.

Drew summarizes the new direction best. “I think we’re trying to clean our look up a little bit. Our style was a little old, and it wasn’t us,” he said. “But we’re growing up.”

FINAL WORDS The idea of growing up kept popping up in the conversation. It’s been a long three years leading up to where the five original founders are now. Some of the nitty-gritty particulars were hard to remember.

Not all the memories they recalled are pleasant — there were ups and downs, times when all the boys didn’t think HOPE would work out or moments when they became frustrated with each other. Even these less-than-idealistic recollections are part of HOPE’s story. They define who the boys have become and how their friendships have changed and strengthened.

Each boy still remembers why he joined HOPE in the first place. Each boy still knows the hunger issue, and food insecurity, is important.

For Steven, a Burlington native, it’s even more per-

38 | COVER STORY

sonal. When he’s volunteered at the food pantry, he’s seen people he knows, even went to school with.

“One of the most impactful times for me when I met this guy who was a substitute teacher, and I started talking to him, and I came to realize that he was at my high school when I was going there,” Steven said. “I don’t know if I ever had a class with him, but it was then I realized that a lot of the people in my high school were not well-off … and they could have been there too [the food pantry]. So it’s changed the game for me.”

Chris agreed about how local the issue is. He has an intimate connection with the community because of the meals he has shared with people at the local food pantry. He has plenty of stories of meetings with people that put the hunger issue into perspective.

“These are our neighbors,” he said. “If you see someone starving, how can you not help?”

Chris’ comment gets to the heart of the matter — this is something the boys all feel called to do.

“The faith reason is why we’re all still here, it’s our anchor, and it’s our brotherhood,” Drew said. “It’s that belief that has helped us believe in each other.”

One of the pizza boxes was completely empty, and the second hour of the interview was rapidly approaching. Steven Cobb had to go early, but he was quick to say thank you. After that night, business was to continue as usual. There was an app to finalize, promote and roll out and other interviews to conduct. But even as everyone started to clean and gather their things, Jensen had a few more things to say about HOPE — and his friends.

He said he owes them.

“I thought, when I started this, I was going to lose my best friends and just have a team,” he said. “That was something that never happened. I’d say our friendship has grown stronger, and we’ve all taken different paths within HOPE … When it was an idea in my head and a sentence on a sheet, it wasn’t anything. But when you get five guys to come together, to pray about it, to bring it to other people, it can get bigger and bigger and bigger. When I think about all the people who have touched HOPE and HOPE has touched … I wish we had a number.”

COVER STORY | 39

flickr.com/photos/brenda-starr/4488427912

40 | COVER STORY

The woman behind .THE.

GLASSES

.Inspired by Iris Apfel .

By Kayla Hoey . Fashion Contributor

FASHION | 41

I

ris Apfel, renowned interior decorator turned style icon, brings more to the table than wild accessories and largeframed glasses. Her quirky sense of style and fearlessness to dress in a way that some would call over-the-top has given her a name in the fashion world, landing her talk show appearances, HSN features, showcases in museums and her own documentary.

Behind the glasses, Apfel embodies the importance of self confidence, individuality and being “pretty.” Even at 94 years old, she is heard before she is seen. It’s not because she moves with volume or has a particularly boisterous voice, but because of the clinking of her accessories. A jingling of bracelets, clacking of a necklace — they’re the telltale signs that Iris Apfel is about to enter a room. It takes more than confidence to step out in New York City in the bold patterns and meticulously planned layers of costume jewelry that Iris wears each day. For Iris, it is not so much a disregard for what others think, but a pure assurance in who she is and in her sense of style.

Iris mentions repeatedly in her documentary “Iris” that she never planned for this life, she just fell into it. When she saw opportunities to grow herself as a brand and as a person, she took them, often jumping in blindly and learning as she went. She started as an interior designer and began designing fabrics when the pattern she had in mind did not exist. Her textile company designed several White House restorations,

42 | FASHION

FASHION | 43

44 | FASHION

from the Nixon’s to the Kennedy’s. From there, more opportunities arose, leading her into the world of fashion and design where she still reigns. Her outfits have appeared in Bergdorf Goodman windows on Fifth Avenue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Department, bringing record crowds a sneak peak of her creative and glamorous mind. Iris, dubbed “The Rare Bird of Fashion,” developed her own personal style through global traveling, looking for eccentricities for her company and pieces for her own closet. She is characterized by large statement pieces, mostly necklaces and bangles of varying textures, patterns, origins and colors from her elaborate expeditions.

Pretty is a word thrown around haphazardly in magazines and Instagram captions, but what does it mean to be pretty?

Is it professionally contoured cheekbones and sleek hair, or is it something more?

Iris doesn’t believe the word carries any weight. “All the girls that I know who were very pretty girls, and got by on their looks, as time went on and they faded, they were nothing. And they were very disappointed,” she said in the documentary.

Being characterized as “not pretty” never did and never will bother her — unable to fall back on her looks, it simply pushed her to become successful.

One day while shopping at Loehmann’s in New York, the owner approached Iris.

“Young lady, I’ve been watching you,” she said. “You’re not pretty, and you’ll never be pretty. But, it doesn’t matter. You have

something much better. You have style.”

There is a distinct difference between fashion and style. One is fleeting, and one is something intuitive. Style isn’t simply buying the latest runway fashions and adding them to your closet. In fact, Iris rarely indulges in runway styles and instead shops in obscure stores in Harlem or vendors at flea markets for one-of-akind pieces that reflect her personality.

These pieces are not easy to find, as is evident in the documentary — cameras follow her around New York as she haggles vendors, searching for the perfect additions to her closet.

When someone is truly stylish, the seasonal changes of Fashion Week don’t give them a run for their money. Instead, they use the trend of the season to accentuate the style they have already created.

While Iris Apfel is often called an icon and many women covet her style, there’s a line between taking inspiration and being unoriginal. As Iris said in an interview with The Daily Beast in April 2015, it’s important to remember that copying a person is not being stylish.

Originality and individuality are what separate the stylish from the poseurs. “In the 40s, I was probably the first woman to wear jeans,” Iris said in the documentary. Although she had to fight for weeks to get her jeans, her persistence didn’t fail her. That’s the difference — the drive to embrace one’s own style and to break barriers with clothing and accessories — that makes a truly stylish person.

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FASHION | 47

An Inside look into

Islam

Culture At Elon Most Elon students associate the holidays with pumpkin flavored treats, holiday carols and a season of gift giving.

It’s what’s expected from a campus where the majority of people who identify with a religion identify with Christianity. But while most Elon students prepare for their holiday season, Senior Shahad Haswa has already celebrated her favorite holiday over the summer in Amman, Jordan.

Melina Casados FEATURES WRITER

a different kind of normal As an international student, people are often surprised when Shahad admits that she never experienced culture shock in her transition from Jordan to the United States.

She credits her quick transition to her ability to understand American culture more than people would expect.

“I knew where I was going,” she said. “I knew what type of people I was going to be meet. I was always exposed to American culture in a way, so I never found it really hard.”

Though her primary focus at Elon University is her Entrepreneurship and Marketing double major, Shahad made the decision to focus her extracurricular involvement within cultural programs such as the Muslim Student Association, the Arabic Language Organization and the Elon African Society. She decided that, while in the process of receiving her education, she could educate people in her own way by serving as an unofficial ambassador of a little-represented faith on campus: Islam.

Religious holidays within Islam include Eid Al-Fitr, a celebration after a month of fasting called Ramadan, and Eid Al-Adha, a celebration after Hajj, a journey described as an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that every Muslim must make at some point in their lives. The holidays usually occur between the summer and early fall. Shahad describes the holidays as major celebrations that stress the importance of peace, having good character, family and giving back. Her personal favorite tradition is fasting within the month of Ramadan.

“The whole thing is centered on how you are with people,” Shahad said. “You’re being sympathetic, you’re understanding how some people don’t get to eat every day, and it’s very spiritual. You’re on a whole different spiritual level, and it’s very nice to get in touch with yourself that way. It’s like meditation. Everyone is very peaceful.”

The overall peace, spirituality and understanding of the world through the readings in the Quran are Shahad’s favorite parts about her religion.

“I see that my religion, it believes in the good nature of people,” Shahad said. “It believes in the peaceful nature of people. It believes in you doing right, doing more, not judging anyone, and I love that.”

islam at elon With her religion being such a major part of her identity and culture while she was growing up in Jordan, Shahad recognizes the differences between Islam at home and Islam at Elon. With less than ten students who identify with Islam, the Muslim community is simply not prevalent at Elon.

There is such an absence that when Eid Al-Adha (what Shahad describes as Christmas for Muslims) came in September, while her family was in celebration in Jordan, it was an ordinary day at Elon for Shahad.

“It was on a Thursday,” Shahad said. “I went to class, I went to the gym, I went to sleep early that day … no one knew. It’s like, ‘What am I going to do, skip class alone and just sit?’ There’s no reason for me not to go on with my normal life.”

The lack of Muslim student life is an issue that Shahad became aware of her first year at Elon. When she first arrived on campus, there were 10-15 Muslim students on campus. They were a tight community and they decided to start the Muslim Student Association (MSA). Shahad grew close with the group of students, but a challenge presented itself when she realized the majority of Muslim students would graduate in a few years. When the students graduated, Shahad was the only member of the MSA left on campus. It was then that she and University Chaplain Jan Fuller knew a decision had to be made: the MSA could stop and wait to pick up again when Elon gained more Muslim students, or the organization could remain but take on a new task of spreading awareness about Islam to non-Muslim students throughout the campus. Whereas some people would see the task of

“If You’re running around the topic but not touching it, you’re not achieving anything.”

Shahad Haswa

FEATURES | 49

taking on a club with no members as a burden, Shahad chose to see it as an opportunity to educate people about a religion not highly represented in the university.

“Our Muslim student population is small,” Jan said.

“They’re out there, but they just might not be telling us, and I get that. There’s so much bigotry, hatred and misunderstanding that I think I’d be silent as well.”

Jan has worked with Shahad throughout her time at Elon. They believe in the importance of bringing awareness to a culture that is often misrepresented at school and in America in general. With the current focus of the MSA on educating non-Muslims, Shahad and Jan hope to continue seeing growth.

“I see this as an opportunity to educate and spread awareness,” Shahad said. “I think about some incidents where Islam was not represented properly, and that annoys me more than anything else. You should not have a misconception about something you don’t know about.

But how would they know if they don’t talk to someone?”

bringing perspective Shahad has taken on the task of being a voice for Islam within the student body. Her passion for her culture and desire for it to be understood is what drives her to be that connection. It also keeps her from viewing the task as a burden. Rather, she sees it as a responsibility for someone who wants people to be more understanding through education.

However, Shahad’s constant opinions and addressing of issues also comes with the explanation that there is a difference between her own perspective and opinions and those of an entire religion. She describes speaking for every Muslim as an unrealistic, impossible task.

“It’s hard to be the only symbol of Islam,” she said.

“It’s unfair. Not for me, but for the Muslim community.

I can’t represent a guy in South Africa or a girl in the Middle East. But I know the basics of my religion and I know about the Quran. That’s by the book, we can have a conversation about that.”

By acting as a voice of Islam, she focuses on making

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sure every perspective and belief is being considered. This task often includes clearing up simple misconceptions about her religion, helping her fellow understand things such as the fact that there is a difference between Islam, a religion, and the Middle East, a geographical location.

“I always say you could be from the moon and be Muslim,” Shahad said. “You don’t have to be from the Middle East to be Muslim. A lot of people there are not Muslim. You have Jewish people, you have Christian people — all of my best friends are Christian. We celebrate both Eid and Christmas. It’s our thing, there is no divide.”

The sense of religious unity that Shahad feels when she is in Jordan is something she longs to see within Elon’s campus. She senses a lack of religious integration within everyday lives, and sometimes she herself feels the distancing. Shahad does not believe this has to be the case. She wishes for people to choose accepting and respecting over categorizing and excluding.

“Back home, there’s no line. You would never know who’s Muslim or Christian — you would never ask,” Shahad said. “I would like to see that happen here. No them and us, no you and me. Just everyone. It doesn’t matter what someone believes in or prays to because there are so more similarities than there are differences.”

There is plenty of room for growth as Elon integrates Islam culture, and Shahad recognizes this. But she remains optimistic through her belief that people will soon feel the need to break down barriers. She sees it as a road to progress and hopes to be able to one day return to a campus where she can see her culture being represented and respected.

“People try not to touch on certain topics,” she said.

“They’re like, ‘You don’t know who’s going to get hurt,’ but I feel like we should get hurt, to some extent. That’s where the problem solving begins. If you’re running around the topic but not touching it, you’re not achieving anything. Being honest, being clear and being willing to talk is a huge step. At the end of the day, even if you reach a point of agreeing to disagree, you’ve reached some point beyond where you began.”

shahad haswa

.HOLIDAY EDITION. Khakis and a polo may be the easiest thing to throw on, but they’re so “Jake from State Farm.” With the holiday season and countless photo ops fast approaching, it’s time to find a new go-to. Mix things up and circulate different pieces in your wardrobe. Trust us, you and your number of Instagram likes will thank us. This season we’re taking a few hints from the Europeans — think tapered, well tailored and cozy.

Collar Pop

An average peacoat can look frumpy and outdated. Instead of conforming to the classics this year, throw down with your collar up. To catch people’s eyes, let a hint of color peep out among a monochromatic palette.

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Barbour Shop

Get down to earth and play with natural palettes. Corduroys and cable knits go together like pizza and beer, but a twist on a classic is always welcomed — cuff your pants to show off a pair of sharp shoes or roll up your sleeves to highlight a worthy watch.

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Shiraz Semblance

Make your pants something more. A dark wine-colored pair will not only be a conversation starter, but it’ll hide spills like a champ.

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Here’s the Skinny

Don’t shy away from tapered pants — they may have roots in grungy rock and roll, but they’ve evolved into sophisticated slacks. Add a festive Fair Isle sweater and finish it off with chukkas and a coordinated coat.

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Holiday

MAGIC A Dickens Christmas

Carley Amanda Richards FEATURES WRITER

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T

he scent of hot chocolate and evergreen hangs heavy in the air, blanketing Burlington’s downtown district with holiday warmth despite the chill. It is the second Friday in December, when everyone is rushing around to finish holiday shopping and decorate their Christmas trees. Children laugh and dart around the snow machine, giggling as snowflakes come to rest on their eyelashes and clothes. Santa lets out a deep belly rumble and waves to onlookers while Elsa from “Frozen” poses for pictures with squealing little girls and boys. Nostalgia invades every corner of the festival, taking participants back to times gone by.

This is “A Dickens Christmas,” a Burlington tradition that has become an integral part of the holiday season in this small, tightly knit community. This is an event that strives to welcome people from all walks of life and backgrounds. People set aside their work and the stress of holiday shopping to spend a few hours enjoying each other’s company, supporting local vendors and artists and spreading holiday cheer.

The Ghost of “A Dickens Christmas” Past The event began in 2010 as an idea — a way for the City of Burlington to increase its number of events as well as to raise awareness of the Burlington Downtown District. It was part of a larger initiative to inject new life into Burlington.

That same year, a woman named Mary Faucette was promoted to Special Event Supervisor and became the coordinator for the festival. Faucette was already an active member of the Burlington community, as a co-owner of Om Shanti Yoga and part-time YBAC Hurricanes Age Group swim team coach. And as a mother of two girls, she knew an event like “A Dickens Christmas” would have wide family appeal.

Morgan Lasater, the assistant supervisor of Special Events for the City of Burlington, joined her, and together they began the process for the first Christmas event.

The first meeting took place as early as July 25, and most of the work was done between September and December, so they had a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. They not only contacted and booked vendors, but also scheduled live music, found restaurants and caterers to participate, hired people to wear holiday costumes and recruited more helping hands from the community.

While Morgan and Mary do the bulk of the planning even now, the execution falls heavily on city staff. People from all divisions lend a hand to bring the community together and to see their vision come to fruition. Recreation Maintenance, the Burlington Police, Burlington Fire and all divisions in the recreation department that share part-time employees with Special Events are called out on the day of “A Dickens Christmas.” Overall, about 45 employees from the Parks and Recreation department, plus the police and fire departments, pitch in at some point before or during the festival.

In the past, companies like LabCorp have sponsored the event and provided funding, but there is no guarantee that they will return this year. The City of Burlington carries most of the budget. The Burlington Downtown Corporation provides support through advertisements. In total, this event costs the city about $20,000. It began as an effort to bring new life into this very interesting, but often overlooked, area of town.

“Throughout our Department, it is truly our goal to provide a recreational experience that focuses and impacts the quality of life across the entire community,” said Lisa Wolff, the superintendent of recreation programming for the City of Burlington. She believes downtown events “have become attractive to many, as they offer a comfortable setting in a quaint environment, giving visitors the opportunity to discover an ever-changing atmosphere of activity.”

Channeling Charles Dickens “A Dickens Christmas” wasn’t always what it is today. The first year was entirely different. It transformed in 2011, thanks to a man named Dennis Littell and his wife, co-owners of a downtown glass arts store, The Glass Angel, along with other steering committee members.

They proposed a vision of the holidays that corresponded with that of “A Christmas Carol,” a novella written by Charles Dickens.

It was a time “where dresses were handmade and men wore three-piece suits with top hats,” according to Mary. The quaintness of it was perfect for the holidays. Along with the name change, the date was also tweaked, so the festival now takes place each year on the second Friday in December.

“The event has had several names through the years,” Faucette says. “Holiday Magic, Light Up Downtown, Downtown Lights Up and, to present, its name of ‘Holiday Magic: A Dickens Christmas.’ To me, this is what sets the tone for the event. It clearly states that there will be magic. Walking the streets during the event, I feel the magic, excitement, joy and spirit of christmas. No other event feels the way this event does.”

Morgan felt that magic during the festival as well.

“Although I worked the event and didn’t have enough time to enjoy it, my husband and daughters came. I did stop for a minute and look at their eyes when they walked under the snow machine — it really was magical. It was one of those moments made for Instagram slow-mo camera,” Morgan said.

Great Expectations Though it began as a street festival of sorts, with hayrides, games and children’s activities, the festival exploded over the years into a unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas experience. Not only is it modeled after the classic white Christmas of 19th-century London, complete with costumes, but it brings the community together in a way no other event does during the year. “‘Holiday Magic’ is a very popular event that provides family fun to our existing community and welcomes newcomers to discover downtown,” Lisa said. “The event provides an opportunity for merchants to garner additional business and to cultivate customer relationships.

Holiday Magic results in community building and increases the quality of life for residents of Burlington.”

According to Mary, the event has never stopped transforming, year after year.

“The bands have become more numerous and the Christmas spirit has exploded as the streets of downtown are filled with this amazing event,” she said.

There are dancers performing, men juggling on stilts, bands in Santa hats singing Christmas carols and neighbors and friends embracing each other to stay warm and spread holiday cheer.

The festival now includes a snow play area with sled-

ding tracks, train and carriage rides, a giant snow globe, a selfie booth and fake snow falling all around, creating a very magical environment.

This year, there will also be a craft market at the Company Shops market, planned by the Burlington Coop. There will be scarves and pottery for sale.

“Company Shops will also have a beer garden with a local craft brew,” Morgan said. “They usually pick a holiday brew.”

After walking around for a while and working up an appetite, patrons can stop and get food from any of the various food trucks, similar to those that visit Elon’s campus each year. They will be serving different types of food, ranging from Greek to Mexican and many others. To fight the cold and warm patrons up a little, there will be all kinds of decadent, warm drinks.

“There will be a row of non-profit organizations that will be selling things from cookies to hot chocolate,” Morgan said. “It is a great opportunity to give back to Burlington non-profits, too. There will be a canned food drive going on at the event.”

Elon University sophomore Annie Kang attended this event last year and had glowing reviews. “It was such a cute little occasion where the townspeople came out to decorate downtown Burlington, and the atmosphere was really quaint. I think everyone forgets about small towns, but they are very much thriving and filled with life,” Annie said warmly.

She did notice one thing, though. “There were a bunch of people there, but it was mostly families from around the area and not that many people from our age group,” she said. “I thought that the people that were there for the occasion were just the townspeople, and I just think that it would be so much more popping, but people think it will be boring since it is a sleepy town event.”

A bigger turnout from Elon students will bring more excitement and provide more support and exposure to the local merchants. Small businesses like The Glass Angel and The Rusted Bucket give Burlington its character, similarly to what Acorn or Smitty’s do for Elon.

“It is a place to feel good holiday cheer with your community.”

Morgan Lasater

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Photos: public information office at the City of Burlington Recreation & Parks at “B Town Events” & https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Filmstrip.jpg

These local businesses depend on Elon’s support to thrive and offer a valuable contribution to their communities. Most vendors offer special skills or talents not found in mainstream department stores, their art and household decorations one-of-a-kind.

“Downtowns are critical to vibrant cities,” Lisa said. “And the events hosted by Burlington Recreation and Parks are contributing to the ongoing revitalization of Burlington’s Downtown district.”

In the spirit of revitalization, Elon students not only provide support to the local vendors but also bring youth and life to the community and are strongly encouraged to attend the event.

How do we fit in?

Before Mary took over as a coordinator, she had not participated in the event, but she had been in meetings where her co-workers discussed issues of attendance, the grueling effort and other problems from the past with the event. But because of the “Dickens’ Christmas” theme — along with improvements — attendance is up to around 5,000 people. Mary and Morgan especially want the event to appeal to college students and have steadily incorporated events that will draw in Elon’s crowd.

Mary said college students are great supporters of the bands and music features. Usually the students in attendance grab food from the food trucks and then stroll around the streets until they find a good place to view the band from.

“They tap into their inner kid as they stand among the kiddos with their hands up reaching for the falling snow on Front Street at Danny’s Cafe,” Mary said. “Many of the students wander the streets floating in and out of the Rusted Bucket and the Public House, and typically end up at Company Shops Market taking in roasted chestnuts, beer and wine and enjoying the entertainment along the way.”

Faucette wants Elon students to take advantage of all aspects of the festival, not just the band or the food. She has set up a selfie booth to encourage further participation and has enlisted the Company Shops for a craft brew for this reason. More than anything, she wants students to see what she sees in this event.

“The aroma of fresh baked goods fills the air and warms your heart. Then the music starts, and the streets are filled with smiles, glee and wonder,” Mary said. “This special event offers an evening of live entertainment and fun attractions for the entire community.”

“It is a place to feel good holiday cheer with your community,” Morgan added. “People are walking around with hot chocolate and a smile on their faces. There is joy to be found at ‘Holiday Magic: A Dickens Christmas.’ Come ready to find it!”

T

a cappella #squa

hink you’re rolling with a cool squad? Think again. The six a cappella groups here at Elon University are the coolest crews around, and their passion, talent and dedication to music is unprecedented. These impressive groups are taking their talent past the North Carolina borders, from Carnegie Hall to the front page of Buzzfeed. We had the chance to catch up with these talented groups and find out what sets them apart.

twisted measure

Be in the audience for Twisted Measure’s biggest concert yet, December 4. Special guests and surprises will make it a night to remember.

Number of active members: 17 Favorite warm-up song: “You Go Down Smooth” by Lake Street Dive When looking for new additions: Twisted Measure looks for strong soloists and people who blend both musically and personality-wise with the other group members.

adgoals Texture Credit: flickr.com/photos/brenda-starr/4667747069

rip_chord Number of active members: 14 An artist that inspires Rip_Chord: Justin Timberlake inspires Rip_Chord to work toward achieving endless style, superior swagger and dulcet tones.

Three words to describe Rip_Chord: Melodious, dashing and jovial.

A few days after their fall concert, Rip_Chord traveled to NYC to open for Grammy award-winning artist A Great Big World.

shirley tempos Number of active members: 19 An artist that inspires the Shirley Tempos: They’re obsessed with the queen herself, Beyonce.

Three words to describe Shirley Tempos: Loving, quirky and ambitious.

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vital signs Number of active members: 16 Favorite warm-up song: A mash-up of “Nobody To Love” by Alex Newell and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.

When looking for new additions: Each year, Vital Signs looks for committed musicians and well-rounded, genuine people.

Want to help a good cause & rock out to some great music? Check out their Make-A-Wish Benefit Concert February 20th!

sweet signatures Number of active members: 14 An artist that inspires Sweet Sigs: Nor’Easters, an a cappella group from Northeastern University, is their aca-crush. They also enjoy working towards mastering the techniques of Little Mix and Fifth Harmony, fellow female powerhouses.

Three words to describe Sweet Sigs: Fun-loving, talented and caring.

smooth progressions Number of active members: 15 Favorite warm-up song: “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band When looking for new additions: Smooth Progressions looks for talent and familiarity when looking for new members. Group compatibility is key!

Blurred LineS when Hollywood and Capitol Hill Overlap amanda garrity ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

T

he roles of celebrities and politicians are interchangeable. Essentially, we look to them for the same purpose: entertainment and information. But can too much crossover cause confusion among the respected parties?

Celebrities are now political leaders in their own right. They speak in front of Congress, support internationally recognized causes and have a large influence that puts most of our Senate members to shame.

They are viewed as more than just pretty faces. Their efforts are bringing them from Rodeo Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue and everywhere in between. Celebrities are now do-gooders and game changers, lending their voices to something greater than teeth whitening treatments and MasterCard commercials. They are transforming our world, and we are paying attention.

The power of celebrity is evident.

They aren’t simply recognized in our tabloid-crazed society — they are worshipped. When celebrities combine their power with passion, they have the ability to make a world of difference — or better yet, make a difference in our world.

Celebrities are trailblazers, exuding a blend of charisma and authenticity that many politicians fail to convey. Generally speaking, we recognize politicians as old, cunning men donned in gray suits in cheesy

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ad campaigns. But celebrities are more transparent than ever thanks to the emergence of social media and reality TV. They aren’t posters on our walls — they are now sitting in our living rooms, or so it seems.

Actors and musicians are stretching their roles by also becoming advocates for important causes. In the last year, women in Hollywood pioneered efforts to encourage wage equality in the United States, increase American involvement in the refugee crisis and alter the future of music streaming. They are reminding audiences everywhere that while their red carpet looks should be celebrated, so should their brains.

In the infamous Sony hack earlier this year, the unfair wages of some of Hollywood’s heavy hitters were revealed, and most Americans were appalled. Gender inequality is not a new issue. For years, women have been battling the glass ceiling, but sometimes it’s easier to bat an eye than to put up a fight. But this modern wave of feminism is giving women a new sense of courage that is making gender equality one of the biggest social issues of the 21st century.

When Jennifer Lawrence’s dismal salary for “American Hustle” was released earlier this year, she remained silent. As the Sony scandal died down, Jen let it be known that

this issue is still worth talking about … so she started talking. In a letter penned for Lena Dunham’s new feminist manifesto Lenny, Jen broke down the gender pay inequality situation and why it’s just as crazy as it sounds. To women across the nation fighting for respect in the workplace, Jen championed this issue and showed it who’s boss.

In a topic like gender equality, it’s more appealing to hear from celebrities than politicians. Politicians are politically correct, to say the least. They carefully choose their words so that it appears to be what we want to hear but in fact, it’s less effective. When issues like gender equality and gay marriage are debated at a national level, politicians aren’t speaking from experience.

They’re speaking from assumption.

In a position as powerful as a political leader’s, assumptions are the bane of existence. In the case of celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Patricia Arquette, they are speaking their own truth — how ironic coming from women who make their living acting as other people.

But they aren’t the only ones taking a stand. Taylor Swift made headlines (yet again) when she wrote an open letter to Apple after they announced they wouldn’t pay artists during the free trial period of Apple Music. Taylor, a woman with significant influence, devout fans and a hefty net worth, changed the game of music streaming.

Because of the attention surrounding her letter, Apple changed its conditions for the trial period of Apple Music and artists everywhere rejoiced as their wallets expanded. Would a politician concern himself or herself with the conditions between a mega technology company and musicians?

Doubt it. Celebrities like Taylor are making a difference in places that politicians don’t have time to. And wouldn’t you rather have Taylor Swift knocking down the doors of Apple than our president? We think he has some bigger fish to fry.

We dub this confusing Hollywood-political crossover as the era of “celebiticians.” The tides are changing, and we are simply figur-

ing out how it works — and so is the entertainment industry. Is watching Ben Affleck address Congress a news story or a tabloid fluff piece?

Should we focus our attention on Angelina Jolie’s movie career or her work with the Syrian crisis? The answers aren’t clear, but neither are their job descriptions.

this year, that power may magnify — just imagine that.

But where do politicians come into play? In addition to their diplomatic prowess, politicians are also becoming celebrities and media masterminds. Joe Biden, our VP, made a guest appearance on “Parks and Recreation,” and Hillary Clinton recently teamed up with Amy Schumer for a LOL-worthy skit on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Inadvertently, we are looking to extend this newfound transparency with celebrities to our politicians. By watching them mock the current affairs of the country on “SNL” or dance alongside Jimmy Fallon, we feel that we are getting to know them … and we like that.

We want to know who is running our country just as much as we want to know what Kim Kardashian ate for breakfast. In the converging worlds of politics and entertainment, we seek trust and authenticity — and a touch of inspiration doesn’t hurt either.

“THEY AREN’T POSTERS ON OUR WALL – THEY ARE NOW SITTING IN OUR LIVING ROOM, OR SO IT SEEMS.” Members of the Kardashian family (Kanye included) are the most-talked about “celebiticians” to date. Their family illustrates the 21st century quintessential, large American family — if you ignore the lavish lifestyle and 72-day marriage fiasco.

The Kardashians are the new Kennedys. Their societal and cultural impact is boundless, and their presence is sought-after. To many, their name holds the same power as Barack and Michelle. And if Kanye takes office in 2020 like he mentioned earlier

2015

the year OF ENTERTAINMENT

YEAR IN REVIEW

A

s we flip through our phones and scan our photos, food pics and all, it’s clear that this year was full of tumultuous highs and lows. But we can’t help but realize one thing: 2015 was also the year of the selfie. This is all thanks to Kim Kardashian’s selfie-filled coffee table book and the popularity of a narcissistic, technological advance — the selfie stick. Selfies are no longer conceited photos to let your duck face take center stage. They are now a form of self-exploration and, in the case of a group AXO sorority girls at a Diamondbacks game, the chance to gain a viral following and donate to a charitable cause.

Technology drives us. Well, maybe … if the Google car is all that it’s cracked up to be. But technology is our main information vehicle, bringing attention to major moments of the year such as presidential campaigns, celebrity scandals and cultural celebrations. Apps such as Facebook and Twitter link people together and give us great book recommendations, news stories, movie trailers and the chance to explore the world in a totally new dimension. Using technology as our guide, we have compiled our favorite finds and most memorable moments of 2015.

BEST MOVIE

>> ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL

When a gangly, self-loathing high schooler named Greg finds out that his classmate Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia, a forced friendship turns into a new life outlook. Greg, a comedic amateur filmmaker, takes his parodic film skills to new heights, using Rachel and their budding relationship as his inspiration.

This film’s balance of offbeat hilarity and tear-jerking moments makes this 2015 Sundance hit our top flick of the year.

RUNNERS UP: “It Follows” and “Dope”

BEST Show

>> BROAD CITY

Moving into its third season, “Broad City” is a dry humor sitcom that follows 20-something best friends Abbi and Ilana as they face the trials and tribulations of living in the Big Apple. It may seem like a generic, artsy trip supported by off-kilter camera angles and a blase story of two young New Yorkers, but it’s the effortless, raw humor that brings it to number one on our list.

RUNNERS UP: “Mad Men” and “Bloodline”

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST

>> JAMES BAY

With a vintage sound and melodic lyrics, James Bay is a no-brainer for our number one artist in 2015. The British “Let It Be” singer released his “Chaos and the Calm” album earlier this year, which found its way to the top of U.K. charts with more than 350,000 copies sold. He’s the indie version of Ed Sheeran and, quite frankly, that’s just what the music industry needed.

RUNNER UP: Halsey

BEST Book

>> “SEVENEVES” BY NEAL STEPHENSON

When an impending doom falls upon the Earth, the human population must choose only the best and brightest citizens to enter a space coalition. After seven years hiding from reality, the survivors make an attempt to return to the altered world. This science-fiction novel with a daunting nod to space phobias and apocalyptic worlds makes this book a must-read.

RUNNER UP: “The Brothers” by Stephen Kinzer ENTERTIANMENT | 67

top news story

>> BILL COSBY SCANDAL

One of the most talked about scandals of the year is the corrupted image of the previously iconic family-man, Bill Cosby. Just this year, a slew of women, including household names like Janice Dickinson and Beverly Johnson, came forward with consistent notes of sexual accusations.

And the story continues …

RUNNER UP: The Caitlyn Jenner Story

MOST ICONIC MOMENT

>> THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY SUPREME COURT RULING

Rainbow flags have been flying following June’s Supreme Court ruling for a nationwide samesex marriage referendum. The 5-to-4 vote came just in time for the pride marches to truly have something to celebrate. Popular brands, from Cheerios to Visa, showed that #lovewins — and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of history in the making.

RUNNER UP: The 2016 Presidential Campaign

MOST DEFINING PUBLIC FIGURE

>> CAITLYN JENNER

Before former Olympian Bruce Jenner made the brave decision to announce his desire to become a woman, he was simply that poor sap on “KUWTK” that no one really seemed to care about. But once Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover hit the shelves, it was clear that Caitlyn is someone worth talking about. This top story stirred conversations about gender equality and the reality of being a transgender person in America. It’s about time.

RUNNER UP: Donald Trump

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Rainbow flags have been flying following June’s Supreme Court ruling for a nationwide same-sex marriage referendum.

“

”

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the year

OF CHANGE

2016 70 | ENTERTAINMENT

“I’m facing some new challenges this year: graduating, finding a job, living in a new city and being away from the comfort and security of home, family and friends. I’m looking forward to making a new home, having no homework and doing what I actually enjoy all day.”

- Lindsey Lanquist, Editor-in-Chief

“I’m studying abroad in Paris next semester, and with that will come a countless number of challenges. I’m nervous to throw myself into such an unpredictable situation, but I know the tough moments will make my experience valuable.”

- Hannah McCarthy, Assistant Fashion Editor

New President in the house It’s hard to imagine that the the 2016 election hasn’t even heated up yet. The votes won’t be cast until next November, which means Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and the other candidates will be on the news with even more rigor for 2016. A new president means new changes in government policy, social reforms and more. Who will make the Oval Office home? At this point, it could be anyone.

The British are coming … again It’s not a stretch to say that 2016 may be another year of musical takeover from across the pond. Adele is already back on the scene with her new album “25,” and if things turn out anything like 2012, she may need some help carrying home all those Grammys. Artists such as One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith are bound to have a big year, and newcomers Jamie Lawson and Ella Henderson are likely to find their place on the charts too.

An Olympic affair This year’s Summer Olympic games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting August 5. The Olympics is always quite the spectacle, and it seems this year will be no exception with an extravagant new stadium and the various controversies surrounding it. New games will be introduced in Rio, including golf and rugby sevens — all will make for an interesting summer.

“Gilmore Girls” 2.0 The days in Stars Hollow aren’t over — “Gilmore Girls” is making a comeback. Details about the upcoming revival have not been set in stone, but the show will feature most of the original cast members including the dynamic duo of Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The dramedy will be revived with four 90-minute episodes set at least eight years in the future. Will Lorelai and Luke officially get together? Only time will tell.

The 90s are back Apparently we’re feeling television nostalgia all-around for 2016 as even more networks are pushing for a playback of some of the best shows from our childhood. Nickelodeon has recently started replaying some of the classics including “All That,” “Hey Arnold” and “Rugrats,” airing on the network from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. every night. “Full House” is also making its own return with a new Netflix series, “Fuller House,” set to air in the coming year with most of the original cast.

Apple Dominates Technological advances are nothing new for the Millennial generation, and Apple always seems to be at the forefront. For 2016, Apple is set to introduce even more must-have gadgets, like the iPhone 7, a new music streaming service and updates to Apple Pay. Get your wallets ready.

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SMOKE

&

MIRRORS a fashion lookbook

www.elonpendulum.com >The Edge