Boston, Massachusetts
summer 2020 edition
1 | The Buzz
SUMMER 2020 Editorial
3 Acting Like Activists
A Letter From our Editor-in-Chief
Campus
5 LfA: Lack of All Information
Returning to campus in a pandemic.
Food
7 Quarantine Treats
Chefin’ it up in Quarantine
Fashion
9 Sustainable Home Décor Guide
The Hottest Trend for your Apartment This Year is Going Green
11 100 Ways to Shop Black-Owned
Black Beauty and Fashion Brands to Shop Now
13 Shopping your Own Closet
A Brief Look at Quarantine DIY Trends and Some Helpful Tips
Travel
15 Pandemic Planning
How to Travel Safely During COVID-19
Culture
17 Buying Candles Saved Me in Quarantine If You’re Going to be Stuck in Your Childhood Bedroom
Opinion
19 Creativity in Isolation
Getting Creative: Adding More Beauty into the World Gave me a Sense of Purpose
Wellness
20 Create Your Own Face Mask in 8 Steps How to Sew a Face Mask
Music
21 Summer Playlist - COVID Edition
2 | Contents
Staff Amanda Willis Editor-in-Chief Creative Director Solana Chatfield Art Director Emily Snisarenko Managing Editor Alejandra Aristeguieta Head Copy Editor Caroline Smith Publisher Shai Mahajan Photography Director Carina Lee
Creative Team Kenneth Rudolph, Ting Li, Jaya Gupta, Shelby Mitchell, Izzy Critchfield-Jain
Section Editors Campus Anna Cavallino City Geneve Lau Culture Ananya Pancha Fashion Melony Forcier Food Sebastian Jaramillo Travel Amille Bottom Wellness Amelia Murray-Cooper Opinion Jessica Stevens
Illustrations Team Emily Snisarenko, Shelby Mitchell
Publishing Team Social Media Manager Geneve Lau
3 | The Buzz
Photography Team Chika Okoye, Jasmine Li, Kayleigh Schweiker
Editorial Team Campus Haley Paraday Culture Carina Lee Fashion Melony Forcier, Erica Macdonald Food Anna Cavallino Music Carina Lee Travel Amille Bottom Wellness Carina Lee
Contributors Our Summer 2020 issue would not have been possible without the help of many outside students and partners who shared their talents, insights and time. We would like to thank each and every new and existing relationship, and we look forward to our continued parnership in the future. Supporters Dean Thomas Fiedler Elisabeth Symczak Dean John Battaglino Student Activities Office, Boston University Allocations Board, Boston University
On the Cover Aileen wears a red one-shoulder tank top from Urban Outfitters paired with a red tennis skirt from lululemon and a mauve blazer from 1. State. Models Aileen Tran (COM ‘22) Amanda Willis (COM ‘21)
4 | Staff Credits
ACTING LIKE ACTIVISTS A Letter from the Editor-in-Chief
written by Amanda Willis | designed by Kenneth Rudolph
5 | The Buzz
MATTER
MATTER MATTERMATTE
On June 2, 2020, millions of social media users’ timelines turned into a long reel of black squares. Posting these squares was a movement inspired by Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang in an open letter released on Twitter calling for #BlackoutTuesday. Their intention was for people to blackout the newsfeed, so they could reflect on ways to help the black community. This is an example of ‘performative activism.’ It is an action used to increase social capital by publicly showing involvement with a cause. It is activism that people do to be part of a trend. On #BlackoutTuesday people “felt like they had to post.” Sarah Miller, 40, Boston University sociology professor, said, “We are all performing, whether or not we are backed by the actions that make change.” “Some people have been doing this for their entire lives, so participating in…Blackout Tuesday was just like a tiny drop,” Miller said. “In things that they have done in terms of activism.” Oftentimes, smaller groups of genuine activists are the ones creating the policy changes that reach the general public. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University sociology professor Dr. Keith D. Parker suggested members of the cause extend an “olive branch” to “slacktivists.” Miller noted that online activism isn’t only a social media post, but also
a tool that sheds light on racial inequalities in the real world. “More videos have been recorded, and access to them has gotten better,” she said. A more diverse group is sharing these videos to a larger audience, and people are being held accountable. This accountability has been seen on a local level. While working at Haute Headz salon as a stylist in Tallahassee, Florida, Joey Egiziano, 23, met with the all-white owners to suggest ways the salon could become a more inclusive space for people of color. Shortly after her suggestions were made, Egiziano was fired via text message. In the uprising following George Floyd’s murder in May, activists took to the streets of Tallahassee. The salon staff went outside to watch and record a group of protestors passing the salon. Through the chanting of “Black Lives Matter,” Monique Wood, one of the owners, said regarding their ex-employee, “Do you think Joey is there?” This audio was captured in a video that made its way to Egiziano. As the salon posted a black square on Instagram for #BlackoutTuesday, Egiziano used her platform to expose her ex-employer. The salon “had chosen the side of the oppressor publicly,” Egiziano said. The post has 17,200 views, and the comments section has become another way community members are exposing Haute Headz. After seeing the post about Haute Headz, Joi Berry, a 19-year-old activist, said, “It’s a privilege learning about rac-
ism rather than experiencing it.” Just like the one near Haute Headz, murals being painted across the United States are being labeled as Band-Aid solutions to a much bigger problem. “[Slacktivists] do not understand what the people are standing for,” Parker said. Instead of taking actions to change policy, cities are making themselves seem more inclusive by “putting paint on pavement,” said Trey Friedrich, 27, Student Program Coordinator at Florida State University. Through history, using images has had a significant impact on people. “They are part of a much broader collective movement to get people to pay attention,” Miller said. Using the examples of murals painted in front of Trump Tower and on the road leading to the White House, Miller said these statements should be followed by policy changes. In 55 days, Black Lives Matter has mobilized out of Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, and to the global community. Joining the Black Lives Matter movement to stay “on trend” is one thing, but real change comes with changing policies. “It’s incumbent upon leadership to extend Olive branches to individuals and then we try to persuade them about the commonalities we have,” Parker said. Does the future of activism depend on staying trendy, or will a collective change towards educating people help shape social movements?
6 | Letter from the Editor
LfA: LACK OF ALL INFORMATION RETURNING TO CAMPUS DURING A PANDEMIC written by Haley Paraday designed by Ting Li
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston University students were able to cancel their on-campus residents licensing agreement and take classes remotely. Unfortunately for many students, some details that would have made the decision easier were not available until after the deadline. BU has used a disorganized and potentially misleading approach throughout the planning process for the fall semester. This issue hasn’t just affected the students, it has affected the university’s community as a whole. “This has been an extremely topdown, upper administration focused decision-making process in terms of hoarding information and making decisions,” said Jason Prentice, a BU writing professor and faculty union
7 | The Buzz
negotiator. At a recent Boston City Council meeting, Prentice testified about the public health concerns related to opening BU’s campus. He also cited the technological issues that would be faced by the professors and students. “As LfA [Learn from Anywhere] was developed, faculty, the institution’s experts on teaching, were not consulted,” Prentice said during the meeting. “LfA was announced to faculty in bits and pieces often by articles in the university’s public newsletter.” He also mentioned that the university did not give the faculty any direct information until there were protests. For students, when the time came to decide to return to campus or not, they still didn’t feel like they had enough information to make the decision.
As she waited on the status of her student visa, Anastasiia Eremina (COM ’22) was doubting her decision to return to Boston. Eremina sees her decision to return as “reckless.” “I would’ve stayed home and taken a gap semester if it wasn’t too late,” she said. Ahnaf Eram (CAS ’22) was planning on returning to campus in the fall. However, when he saw Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok’s recent letter requesting BU and Northeastern to switch to an online platform, he feared returning to campus and all classes going virtual if there was “any sort of spike in the number of cases.” Bok’s letter states that she believes that both universities’ plans present a danger to the community since nearly 75% of undergraduate students are from out of state. She said that “plans for off-campus
student communities are concerningly weaker,” which puts those who are more vulnerable in the community at risk. William Marx, a communications professor at BU, expressed that “for many faculty members, there’s an enormous amount of apprehension and fear as the students return and the semester begins.” Students are growing anxious about returning to campus as the day grows nearer and are using sites like Reddit to voice their concerns. As move-in day approaches, students are looking for possible ways to cancel their housing agreements and receive a refund. Despite being told that canceling their residence licensing agreement and receiving a full refund was not possible past August 1, when a repre-
sentative of BU Housing was asked, she said, “due to the circumstances, a full refund of housing, dining, and the housing guarantee payment will be given.” This information is not publicized by the university and contradicted the information that is available to students, causing many students to believe they cannot change their previous decision. By not providing students with this information, the university is guaranteeing themselves money from students who otherwise would not return to campus. This isn’t the first time students have had to uncover information themselves. According to an article published in the Daily Free Press, a grad student attempted to renew her lease for two weeks but was denied because her apartment was already designated for quarantine housing. This was later confirmed by BU Real
Estate. The policy was only revealed once a student was inconvenienced by it. Had this not been discovered, BU Real Estate may not have told graduate students until the first undergraduate student was put into the assigned quarantine housing. Across multiple incidences, there seems to be a pattern of BU withholding information from the appropriate parties until it is too late or nearly too late. No one truly knows how the semester will play out, but the lack of information is only making anxieties worse. With the stress building among students and faculty members and the first day of classes draws closer, the situation seemingly mirrors the state of the world. “I think COVID-19 is revealing structural problems with university governance, especially at BU, but not just at BU,” said Prentice.
8 | Campus
QUARANTINE TRE ATS chefin’ it up in quarantine
written by Anna Cavallino | designed by Shelby Mitchell When the pandemic first hit the States, the most immediate reaction was shock and panic. BostonUniversityundergraduateswerehaving blissful spring break when they got news that all colleges and universities were being shut down and that they would be unable to return to campus. Eventually, after the “2-week quarantine” expired, and the danger and longterm nature of COVID-19 became apparent to everyone, the kitchen became an attractive escape for many. With businesses closed, people began cooking up gourmet meals that they would blindly spend over twenty dollars for at a restaurant in the very comfort of their home. However, with many businesses now open across the U.S. and abroad, there has been a noticeable decline in cooking within households (according to social media scrolling) due to people itching to get out and return to normalcy after being cooped up in their apartments and homes for so long. Despite this, you still have time to get in your last home-made meal before returning to campus (or remote learning). Here are a few recipes BU undergrads have perfected during quarantine to give you a couple ideas for your own cooking! Shelli Gorokhovsky (CAS ’22): Shakshuka Ingredients: 2 tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper, 1/2 yellow onion, 1 garlic clove, 3 or 4 eggs, spicy paprika, sweet paprika, Cumin, Salt, Pepper; optional: feta cheese or cilantro to top. Instructions: Chop the tomatoes, bell pepper and onion and put them into a pan on any vegetable oil. Into that, add a clove of garlic, sweet and/or hot paprika, cumin and a bit of black pepper and salt; the more spices the merrier! Usually, people use tomato sauce but you could also use raw tomatoes and just let that sit in the pan on a low fire for as long as you want until it’s saucy and not raw and chunky anymore. After a while, whenever you feel like it’s at the right level of saucy, just make dents in the sauce and crack the number of eggs you’re using (usually people want 2 eggs per person) onto those dents. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the eggs, and let them cook for about 5 minutes, or until they are no longer raw. Finally, top with cilantro and feta.
9 | The Buzz
Mia Sugarman (Sargent ’22): Oat Banana Pancakes Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of rolled oats (or any kind of oats), ½ cup of plant-based milk, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons of baking powder, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, cinnamon (spice), pinch of salt, 2 bananas (smashed); optional: maple syrup (to serve). Instructions: Mix together all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Then, blend the mixture together to get a smooth consistency. Heat skillet over medium heat. Once warm, drizzle oil/butter onto the pan and wait 1-2 minutes for the oil/butter to get warm. Pour the pancake batter into the skillet in round circles. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Once finished, drizzle the pancakes with maple syrup and serve. This recipe makes about 1012 pancakes.
Alex Doval (CAS ’22): Beanless Turkey Chili Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 chopped yellow onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 chopped medium red bell pepper, 1 pound ground turkey/beef/ chicken, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 (28-ounce) can diced/crushed tomatoes, 1 ¼ cups of vegetable/chicken broth; topping: cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, sour cream. Instructions: Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in onion, garlic and red pepper and sauté for 5-7 minutes. Next, add in ground turkey (breaking up the meat) and cook for about five minutes. Add in spices and stir for about 30 seconds. Then, add in tomatoes, chicken broth and corn. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Remove the chili from the heat and garnish. Makes about 6 servings.
Tess Ravick (ENG ‘22): Banana Bread Ingredients: 1 stick (½ cup) butter, 3 large ripe bananas, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add a stick of butter to a large bowl and microwave for 1 minute until melted. Add bananas to the bowl and mash them. Next, add vanilla extract and one egg and mix together in the bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon). Then, combine the dry and wet ingredients and mix until combined. Finally, pour the mixture into the loaf pan and bake for 45-55 minutes in the oven.
10 | Food
The Hottest Trend for Your Apartment This Year is Going Green written by Melony Breese Forcier designed by Emily Snisarenko
After a long summer locked up in our childhood rooms, we finally get a chance to be back on campus and decorate our rooms the way we want. While stuffed animals and posters of One Direction might not have made the cut, spicing up your space with sustainable home décor is one way to create an environment of your own to be proud of. Although stores like Wayfair and Urban Outfittersseemlikego-toplaces (especially since targeted ads from them seem to pop up all the time), these big corporations don’t necessarily follow sustainable practices. Here are some sites that you might not have heard of that have eco-friendly assured home décor to keep your apartment looking chic and green.
11 | The Buzz
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BRABANTIA: At the heart of Brabantia is sustainability. Not only does this company support various initiatives to help the environment, but they also made sure that all of their products are recyclable! Brabantia is an excellent option for home storage and kitchen and bathroom products. Buffy Buffy is one of the trendier home brands popping up on the sustainability scene. You have probably gotten a targeted ad from it at least once. Buffy is a bedding sheet brand that uses responsible materials like recycled plastic and soft hemp to make their products. The best part is you can try the product for free before committing to it.
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IKEA: Okay, this one is no secret. Ikea has long been the go-to brand for college students’ first apartments. But, what you might not know is that Ikea is serious about sustainability. They have committed themselves to send no waste to landfills by 2030. Ikea has also said that they are implementing sustainable materials into their products, and they are using renewable energy to power their production sites.
VIVATERRA: For home decor, check out the sustainable brand VivaTerra. From hand-painted vases to Zen lanterns, VivaTerra is the perfect place to find incredibly unique products. While it may be a bit on the pricier end, this company works to usefairtradepartnersandimplementsustainable practices.
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COYUCHI: Coyuchi is another environmentally conscious linens brand. Not only does the brand use organically grown materials, but it also centers itself around clean and responsible practices. Coyuchi also offers a subscription service where you can receive towels, sheets, blankets or pillows for a low monthly fee. Then once you are done with them, you can send them back to Coyuchi, where they will be properly recycled, and you
It may seem hard at times to sift through every home décor brand and assess their sustainable practices, but there are definitely a lot out there. But it’s worth doing something positive for the environment?? Personally, my apartment will be decked out in some cool finds from these brands, and I will definitely be getting my hands on Buffy sheets (especially since my bed will be my favorite spot for this unusual semester). Whether you are looking to revamp your space or doing a full overhaul of your apartment aesthetic, looking to these brands and others is one easy way to give back to our most important home: earth.
12 | Fashion
100 WAYS TO SHOP BLACK-OWNED
By Melony B. Forcier
By Melony B. Forcier
BLACK BEAUTY AND FASHION BRANDS TO SHOP NOW written by Melony Breese Forcier | designed by Izzy Critchfield-Jain While the shopping black-owned conversation might be evergreen at the moment, one thing to keep at the front of your mind is that this is not just a “trend.” While the Black Lives Matter movement has brought tons of talent to light that may not have been before, we should always be celebrating Black innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs. The fashion and beauty industry is saturated with new brands emerging every day, but seeking out
13 | The Buzz
those owned by the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community is a straightforward action everybody can and should be doing when searching for new products or brands. The fashion industry specifically has had a long history of exploiting black designers, so it is more important than ever to show our support to these artists. It’s a small step you can take that will have a big difference in the long run. Personally, I have had great experiences with many of these
brands. Pat McGrath is one of my go-to makeup brands for when I want to do more daring looks, and I love Local European for incredible basic pieces that still feel unique. Celebrities have also been spotted as fans of some of these brands. From the Kardashians and Bella Hadid to even Michelle Obama, black-owned brands are coveted by several fashion-forward individuals. Below is a list of 100 makeup, hair, skincare, and fashion brands that are all black-owned for you to shop from. Remember to order directly from the brand’s site, so they receive all of the profit!
MAKEUP
Mented Cosmetics, The Lip Bar, Uoma Beauty, Bossy Cosmetics, Danessa Myricks Beauty, Beauty Bakerie, Luna Magic Beauty, Iman cosmetics, Lipmatic, Juvia’s Place, Pat Mcgrath Labs Vera Moore, Fenty Beauty, Laws of Nature, AJ Crimson Beauty, Danessa Myricks, Prime Beauty Cosmetics, Coloured Raine (18), Bahi Cosmetics, Juvia’s Place, MDMflow, Omolewa Cosmetics, B.Simone Beauty, Dehiya Beauty, Ace Beaute, Undefined Beauty, Lamik Beauty, Iman Cosmetics, Black Opal Beauty, KA’OIR Cosmetics, Bustle, Laws of Nature Cosmetics, Jacque Mgido Cosmetics, Gold Label Cosmetics
HAIR & SKIN Vernon Francois, Briogeo, Mielle Organics, Bomba Curls, CURLS, Eden Bodyworks, Epara Skincare, Hanahana Beauty, Lauren Napier Beauty, Beneath Your Mask, KNC Beauty, Hyper Skin, Oui The People, The Honeypot, Piperwai, The Honeypot, Suite Eleven, Pear Nova, Base Butter, Aba Love Apothecary, Mary Louise Cosmetics, Epi.Logic, Golde, The Main Choice, TPH by Taraji, Epara Skincare, Bevel, Pattern Beauty, Luv Scrub, Soultanicals, Pholk Beauty, Loving Culture, Kaike (33)
FASHION
Brother Vellies, Blk Mkt Vintage, Pyer Moss, Edas, Christopher John Rogers, Lemlem, Martine Rose, Wales Bonner, Cushnie, Vavvoune, Fe Noel, Telfar, Coco & Breezy, Comeback as a Flower, Fe Noel, Local European, Hope for Flowers, Jade Swim, Orange Culture, Pyer Moss, Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty, Off-White, Roop, Sindiso Khumalo, Mateo, Sai Sankoh, Lionne, Sika, Sunlight Muse, Shades of Shades, Galerie. LA, JBD Apparel, Two days offFrom Euphoria approved makeup created by Pat Mcgrath to trendy slip dresses from Local European, you are sure to find a wide variety of whatever you may be looking for from these brands. The next time you are online shopping your pains away (let’s be real that’s all we’ve been doing these days) reference this list! Just be ready to fall in love with some new brands in the process.
14 | Fashion
A BRIEF LOOK ATQuarantine QUARANTINE A Brief Look at DIY Trends and Some DIY TRENDS AND Helpful Tips SOME HELPFUL TIPS
written by Erica Macdonald | designed by Jaya Gupta In-person shopping opportunities have been few and far between these last couple months, but, surprisingly, that doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of adding “new” pieces to your wardrobe (and, no, I’m not talking about the ever-addictive online shopping). Some of your newest style favorites are closer than you think—right in your own closet. Quarantine boredom forced a lot of creativity when it came to fashion, and luckily in this social media world, ideas are easily shared via viral platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Even while the world paused, new trends still emerged. A slew of tutorials are available online: bleaching jeans, cutting t-shirts, sewing your own crop tops, painting clothes, and tie-dying absolutely everything.
15 | The Buzz
I delved into a few of these trends myself, finding some pretty great projects to entertain and inspire even the more artistically challenged. For example, your old t-shirts have infinite potential. I’m pretty sure everyone has a dozen assorted baggy shirts, whether gifted at college events, bought at concerts, or left-over from the high school years. The design or fit might not be your current aesthetic, but you would’d be surprised by what you can accomplish with a pair of scissors. Strategic cut-outs and cropping can completely revive that old tee. If you’re handy with a needle, ruching and cuffed hems can create a more fitted look. If you can’t sew to save your life, slitting the sides of
the shirt and suturing them with safety pins (hot glue the closures to ensure no accidental injuries during wear) will give that old 1D band tee a rocker edge (just in time for the anniversary, right?). The point is, some of your old pieces can grow with you. You’ve changed, and they can, too! If this doesn’t appeal to you, a quick google should give you one hundred ways to tie-dye your t-shirt, a look that has made a shocking revival in 2020. My personal favorite project from quarantine was repurposing my Nike Air-Force Ones. The style staple of the last few years, AF1s can be seen on ever y street corner. There’s nothing wrong with a good basic, but if the
white chunky sneaker isn’t looking so white anymore, or months of constant use have given them a “well-loved” look, it might be time to refresh your tried and trues. Personally, mine were in the bin ready to go out due to some holes in the soles (unintentional rhyming), so I knew they couldn’t ser ve their purpose as an everyday throw-on shoe anymore. However, an occasional statement piece? Potentially. Instead of tossing them, I acquired two simple things to resurrect my AF1s: a Mr. Clean magic eraser and a set of acrylic paint. The eraser did a spif f y job of taking months of dirt and grime out of the leather, providing a fresh can-
vas for the next step. With my durable, water-proof acrylic paints (easily and cheaply acquired from amazon or any craft store) I set about filling in my white shoes with a dozen color ful designs. Essentially, wherever the shoe provided a seam, I created a little section of brightly colored flowers or fruits. I almost completely covered the sneakers in hand-painted designs, which dried quickly and are fairly resistant to wear and tear. Even if this failed or was full of imperfections, the shoes were being thrown out anyway, so it was a no risk/high reward scenario. It paid off immensely. I’m thrilled with how they came out, and whenever I wear them, I
get a ton of compliments. My bright painted shoes have a completely new purpose in my wardrobe, and most importantly, I had fun with the process. If you attempt this, you don’t have to do as many designs or could even just color block the shoes, whatever you want! Here’s a pro-tip: that Mr. Clean eraser also does wonders taking of f the wet paint if you mess up. It really is magic. Whetherspring-cleaning caused you to peruse your closet or quarantine motivated you to do some personal rebranding, don’t be so quick to toss out your old clothes. There’s a ton of ways to give them a shot at a new life, and old favorites can very easily rejoin your rotation— now personalized and one of a kind.
D I Y 16 | Fashion
P A N D
Hello, Terriers—Welcome back to the start of another school year! The upcoming semesters may be drastically different from years past, but the Buzz team is here to provide you with the best tips and tricks, plus a sense of normalcy, for the months to come. While traveling is heavily discouraged in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, for some (including us students), it is a necessity. Continue reading below to discover the best ways to keep yourself and others safe while traveling, and to find out what precautions and procedures the student body is required to follow upon returning to Massachusetts and Boston University’s campus. Step 1: Fill Out the Massachusetts Travel Form The state of Massachusetts now requires that all travelers coming into the state fill out a travel form defining their COVID-19 status, starting location and final location. According to the state government’s website, travelers must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, unless they:
“are coming from a lower-risk state or can produce, on request, proof of negative test result for COVID-19 from a test administered on a sample taken no longer than 72 hours before your arrival in Massachusetts, or meet the exemption criteria.” Travelers that do not comply with the state-mandated quarantine and do not obtain a negative COVID-19 test result upon leaving quarantine are subject to a $500 fine per day. Step 2: Wear a Mask This one is simple! Wearing a mask is the easiest way to protect both yourselves and others in the midst of a pandemic. Travelers flying by plane should be prepared for airlines to deny their access to flights if they refuse to comply with mask mandates. Those traveling to Massachusetts must remember that masks are required outside of residences at all times in the City of Boston. Masks can be comfortable, cute and effective;
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written by Amille Bottom | illustrated and designed by Emily Snisarenko
P L A N N I N G 17 | The Buzz
H O W
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many people are making them by hand, and you can find them at practically every store these days! Pro Tip: Wear a reusable and washable mask as an added protection to the environment. Step 3: Wash Your Hands You learned it in kindergarten, and it’s been a part of your daily routine ever since. Washing your hands regularly is one of the most effective ways of fighting against COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control recommendswashingone’shandsaftertouchingpublic surfaces, going out into a public space and before touching one’s “eyes, nose, or mouth.” Scrub for at least 20 seconds for the best protection against germs. Need some help counting down the clock? Check out Buzzfeed’s article: “19 Songs To Sing While Washing Your Hands To Kill The Coronavirus.” Finally, Step 4: Educate Yourself on Boston University’s Coronavirus Practices BU has implemented a vast number of regulations to keep the student and faculty population safe during the pandemic. Students, faculty, staff and any person that will be on campus is required to get tested for COVID-19 twice a week through BU’s private testing
facilities. Additionally, the population listed above is required to fill out daily symptom attestations in order to receive clearance to be on-campus. While intimidating, the process is actually quite simple! Each testing site is run in a professional and efficient manner, and the daily symptom report is quick and easy. The little things will help the community heal as a whole! For more information about BU’s coronavirus measures, and how you can help limit the spread on-campus, check out Boston University’s Back2BU website and the student-run Instagram account @fckitwontcutit. Life is challenging at the moment, but that doesn’t mean Terriers can’t do their part to have a healthy, safe and fun school year. Carry some hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes and gloves while traveling long distances, wear a mask, and play by the rules to make the best of a tough situation. Good luck, Terriers!
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18 | Travel
19 | The Buzz
If You’re Going to Be Stuck in Your Childhood Bedroom, You Might as Well Spice It Up. written by Carina Lee | designed by Izzy Critchfield-Jain
On March 21, 2020, I boarded a Southwest flight to LAX kicking and screaming. Words could not even begin to describe how upset I was. When I was seventeen, I had made the decision to go to college in Boston so I could get as far away from the Orange County bubble as I possibly could. My whole life was in Boston now; so much of my personal growth had taken place in this city. Now, all the progress I made seemed to be thrown out the window entirely. It felt like I was reverting back to my fifteen-year-old self. It was happening right before my eyes and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. Since it seemed like I was already moving backwards, I decided to take a stroll down memory lane. As I began to recall my high school days, I remembered that my AP Psychology teacher in my junior year had told my class that our brains are most receptive to smells. My mind immediately jumped to scented candles. I couldn’t help but wonder what scent could temper my frustration. Maybe if I had a nice smelling room, I could condition myself into accepting a loss of independence. As long as I had cozy candles,
maybe I could tolerate living under my parents’ roof. Even though this whole idea made me feel like Pavlov’s dog, it couldn’t hurt to try. When I arrived home, part of me was also itching to spend money, and shopping for soy candles on Etsy provided temporary relief to my boredom. It got tricky sometimes browsing between different candle companies because of a simple fact…you can’t smell through a screen. Throughout this process, however, I learned that I really enjoy citrusy and musky smells (but NOT a combination of the two), and lavender’s scent never failed to put me at ease. Citrus scents really lifted my mood and made me cheerful, while muskier scents made me feel very warm and cozy. Safe to say, I think the candles worked! As the world continues to fall apart, the only thing within your control is your own actions. And, you can choose to direct your energy towards what truly makes you happy. When left unsupervised, my very niche interests develop. I found that for me, candles were little details in life that just bring me joy.
20 | Culture
CREATIVIT Y IN ISOL ATION
Get ting Creativ e: Adding M ore Beaut y into the World Gave Me a Sense of Purpos e
written by Carina Lee | design by Emily Snisarenko
When quarantine first started, I dreaded being awake. I would crawl into bed at 7 p.m. because I no longer had the will to stay connected with the world. To say that it was hard to find things to do with my time would be an understatement. I realized that so much of my identity revolved around workaholic culture and that I had internalized a really unhealthy definition of ‘productivity.’ So, naturally, the first thought that occurred to me was that I should download Tik Tok. As I delved into the realm of 15 to 60 second long videos, I discovered that many users were posting videos of their own creative projects. Whether it be making polymer clay earrings, embroidering tote bags, bleach tie-dying an old sweater or making a sundress from a bed sheet, people all over the world were starting to invest their time and skills into perfecting a passion or talent. I scraped together some money and bought a sewing machine. Learning how to sew pushed me to think in a different way than I was used to. I study history and philosophy, so I primarily entertain abstract, existential ideas. Planning out the construction of a garment is a lot more practical and methodical. Figuring out how to make the seams look clean and hide the raw edges of the fabric requires a different kind of creativity than writing a paper typically does. And, as the cherry on top,
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being able to make my own clothes empowered me to swear off fast fashion, while saving me a ton of money. For the longest time, I had lost touch with the creative aspect of my personality and nearly forgotten how to express myself. Focusing on fashion design helped me to build my self-confidence too. I am able to see my craftsmanship become more refined, and I take note on what I can improve on in the future. After every project, I had something unique, wearable––a tangible thing that I can be proud of. I realized how important it is to be in tune with your emotions so you know what makes you happy; and especially, right now, we should all be trying to focus on the little things every day that bring us a bit of happiness. There are many ongoing issues with the world currently, but dwelling on your anxiety and stress isn’t productive for anyone. I’m not telling you to ignore your problems, but rather to try adopting healthy coping mechanisms. For me, I feel the most inspired and optimistic when designing and sewing my own clothes. It’s time to rethink the definition of productivity and realign yourself with what makes you happy. Make something that makes you happy. You have the power to create your own happiness.
CREATE YOUR OWN FACEMASK IN 8 STEPS How to Sew a Facemask written by Carina Lee | designed by Ting Li While COVID restrictions increase, your environmental impact doesn’t have to! There are now more disposable face masks in the ocean than there are jellyfish, and littered PPE threatens marine life. Instead of wearing disposable surgical masks, opt for a reusable face mask. With that being said, here is a quick tutorial of how to sew your own face mask! First, follow this link to print out your face mask template: https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/.
MATERIALS: -Sewing machine (hand-sewing option available; just takes longer) -Elastic-Fabric/scrap fabric -Scissors -Measuring tape -Iron (optional) -Seam ripper (optional)
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Cut out two pieces of fabric following each template. You will end up with two lining pieces and two regular mask pieces.
Lay the lining fabric pieces on top of each other, right sides together, and sew along the curve. Repeat this for the regular mask pieces.
Cut little snips along the curves so it folds better. Optional: Iron the seams flat.
Lay the combined lining fabric pieces and the combined regular mask pieces on top of each other, right sides together, and sew along the top and bottom.
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Flip it inside out.
Fold down the side flaps to create a channel for the elastic and sew.
Measure and cut two 7 inches pieces of elastic.
Tuck in the elastic, then sew and you’re DONE!
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A compilation of songs to listen to while losing your mind and missing loved ones written by Carina Lee designed by Kenneth Rudolph
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“Isolation” by Joy Division I hope this playlist finds you well in these uncertain and challenging times. “s o c i a l d i s t a n c i n g” by HONNE Stay the hell away from me. “pity party” by lovelytheband Pity, party of 1. “Going Through Something” by Neon Trees This song is featured on Neon Trees’s newest album I Can Feel You Forgetting Me. We are all definitely going through something in quarantine.
“Bad Decisions” by Two Door Cinema Club It would be a bad decision to go out in public. “Bad Decisions” by The Strokes To reiterate, it would be a bad decision to go out in public. “Nice to See You” by Vansire Wouldn’t it be so nice to see your friends again after the pandemic? “On Your Own” by Vacations You better get used to being on your own. “That I Miss You” by Vansire I miss my friends a lot.
“August” by No Vacation I miss the good ol’ days when I could go out with my friends.
“imreallytiredthisdaysucks” by boy pablo I’m really tired this YEAR sucks.
“I’ll Be Around” by The Growlers Yes, I will most definitely be around. No, we cannot hang out.
“Can I Call You Tonight?” By Dayglow This song is dedicated to all the Facetime calls made during quarantine.
“Guys” by The 1975 Matt Healy wrote this song about how much he loves his mates. I think we all sometimes forget to cherish the people we have in our lives, and this song reminds me of the special place in my heart for close friendships. “Isolation” by Two Door Cinema Club I needed to include two songs titled ‘Isolation.’ Sorry, not sorry. Note: This is TDCC’s cover of John Lennon’s song. “Elegy to the Void” by Beach House The title of this song speaks for itself.
“TSLAMP” by MGMT We are all spending too much time looking at our phones. “Patience” by Tame Impala I feel so cheated by life because I turned 21 in quarantine and I was so excited to hit up these bars in Boston but that isn’t happening anytime soon. “Never The Same” by STRFKR The world is going to look very different after this pandemic.
“Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” by The 1975 Only god can help us now.
“Goodbye Baby” by The Walters This song is dedicated to all the goodbyes I said in March when I left Boston.
“New Year” by Beach House I’m ready to light the Christmas tree and call it a year. (Yes, I stole this joke off Twitter.)
“No Reply” by Turnover Just because I’m always on my phone doesn’t mean you’re entitled to my reply.
“Vacation” by The Mowgli’s Expectations of Summer 2020.
“Mystery Disease” by MGMT Dear god, please let there be a vaccine soon.
“Eternal Summer” by The Strokes Reality of Summer 2020.
“Never as Tired as When I’m Waking Up” by LCD Soundsystem I dread waking up.
“Dear Stranger” by STRFKR This song, to me, really captures how unconventional friendships can form via the Internet.
“Jacket Over Hoodie Over Shirt” by Marco Aziel Hugging the toilet by the end of the night.
“Camilla, I’m at Home” by Peach Pit Yeah, you better be at home. “End Summer” by Goth Babe
“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala Raise your hand if you feel like you regressed back to your 16 year old self while quarantining in your childhood bedroom in your parents’ house. “Dazed” by Goth Babe
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