Garnet & Black Fall 2015

STUDENT MAGAZINE of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ERIKA RYAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LINA LeGARE

MANAGING EDITOR

KENDRA LITTLE

ARTICLES EDITOR

JAKE MARGLE

ASSISTANT ARTICLES EDITOR

KASEY MEREDITH

COPY CHIEF

MADELEINE VATH

STAFF WRITER

HANNAH JEFFREY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MIKAELLA ANTONIO

AMANDA BUDD

HOLLY HEATON

ROBIN HENDRICKS

JOCELYN LINDER

KATHLINEE MILEWSKI

EMILY RHODES

RACHEL STEIN

COURTNEY STERNS

CATHERINE SULLIVAN

NICHOLAS VERONESI

KELLY YOON

ART DIRECTOR

JUSTIN CARRIER

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

KODY KRATZER

STAFF DESIGNERS

KELLEN LaGROON

STEPHANIE ORR

BRITTANY WILT

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

WESLEY JEFFERIES

ELIZABETH JENNINGS

TORI LEONHARDT

ALLY WILLARD

PHOTO EDITOR

HANNAH CLEAVELAND

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

JOSH THOMPSON

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

BRENNAN BOOKER

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

SARAH SCARBOROUGH

CREATIVE MANAGER

EDGAR SANTANA

PRODUCTION MANAGER

DEGAN CHEEK

BUSINESS MANAGER

KRISTINE CAPPS

FACULTY ADVISER

SCOTT FARRAND

CREATIVE SERVICES

BRANDON BRAZELL

RANNAH DERRICK

LINA LeGARE

KODY KRATZER

Advertising: (803) 777-3018

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

MIKAELLA ANTONIO

CHARLES DYMOCK

JENSEN GRIM

CHARLOTTE JOHNSTON

TORI LEONHARDT

MELANEY MOTTSEY

KAMILA MELKO

SPENCER STEVENSON

VIDEOGRAPHER

WINSTON WARNER

WEB EDITORS

KATHERINE FINNEY

TAYLOR HALLE

PUBLIC RELATIONS & EVENTS DIRECTOR

ALYSON RUSSO

PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANT

JESSICA GORMAN

SHAYE GULOTTA

ALEXANDRA MELTSER

KRISTIE WAKEFIELD

STYLE EDITOR

LINDSAY RIGGINS

STYLE ASSISTANT

DOMINIC BELLOTTI

STUDENT ADVERTISING MANAGER

NICK VOGT

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

JOSH DAVISON

COLE HALTOM

LOWMAN HARLEY

MARYAN TEHRANIE

AMANDA GRANT

To contact G&B, email sagandbe@mailbox.sc.edu or visit www.gandbmagazine.com

Garnet & Black magazine is produced four times a year by students of the University of South Carolina and is distributed free to members of the university community. All editors and staff members can be contacted at (803) 777-1149. The office is located in Russell House room 339. Email letters to the editor to sagandbe@mailbox.sc.edu or to Garnet & Black magazine, Student Media, 1400 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Letters should be 250-400 words and must include name, address, phone number and academic information (if applicable). Garnet & Black reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be published.

Contributors

JESSICA GORMAN

Jessica Gorman is a fourth-year public relations student who’s part of the G&B public relations team. A lover of traveling and writing, her dream job would be to work as a writer for National Geographic. But working in public relations for a non-profit organization is her more realistic goal for after graduation.

MIKAELLA ANTONIO

When she’s not writing for G&B, Mikki Antonio is a poet, painter, photographer and most recently, a bicyclist. She loves the thump of live music. Her poems have been published in Coastal Carolina University’s Archarios and in Whirlwind Magazine. This summer, one of her photos was published in the inaugural issue of Persephone’s Daughters.

Events

OCT. 28, 9 P.M., $26 YOUNG THE GIANT

WESLEY JEFFERIES

Wesley Jefferies is a second-year art education student and this is her first time designing for G&B. She’s been interested in art and design ever since she could pick up a pencil. Her dream job is to inspire students in an art classroom or run the education department in an art museum.

MELANEY MOTTSEY

First-year media arts student Melaney Mottsey enjoys living creatively. Whether it’s art, design or photography, she aims to produce quality content. Her work ranges from various media, aiming to tell a story within each piece. Her dream job is a creative career, such as an art director or a magazine photographer.

Young the Giant will play at Music Farm on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. Presented by Music Farm Productions and Sailor Jerry, the Mind Over Matter tour features music from the band’s first two albums.

NOV. 5, 6-10 P.M., Free FIRST THURSDAYS ON MAIN STREET

First Thursdays on Main Street is Columbia’s monthly art crawl and streetfest, hosted by the Main Street merchants on the first Thursday of every month. This event showcases the revitalized Main Street community and includes our merchants from the Capital Building to Town Hall.

NOV. 7, 12 P.M., Free FIVE POINTS CHILI COOK-OFF

The 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off in Five Points will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7. Beginning at noon, local bands will play, brews will be poured and over 50 chefs will be cooking a variety of chili all day long.

NOV. 20, 8 P.M., $55

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Winter Tour 2015: The Ghosts of Christmas will come to Colonial Life Arena Fri, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.

Idon’t know if Anna Wintour has ever waded waist-deep through mud for Vogue, but after doing so myself at our style shoot, I think she should. As an editor-in-chief, I’ve learned when to be the fearless leader, and when to be the comic relief.

As you can see from our cover, this issue’s style shoot was southwestern themed, which worried me because how the hell do you make that work in South Carolina’s state capital? Well, our senior photographer came in telling us about this abandoned mineral quarry that he found.

And I have to admit, I was blown away.

We made our models go barefoot because we didn’t want to risk ruining expensive shoes that didn’t belong to us. And even with knowing that the ground was soft at spots, I still managed to get stuck in wet clay that day.

Which is a lot like making a magazine:

Letter from the Editor

even though the ground looks firm and many have walked the same steps before you, there are times where you falter.

And I think we’re better for it.

I’ve interviewed a lot of bands, and Pillow Talk was one of the most sincere and open groups I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with. They come off as more of a group of best friends than a band — the last year hasn’t been easy for them, but they still manage to keep each other laughing. You can read their story, our Scene & Heard feature, on page 39.

With the Pride parade coming up on Oct. 24, our articles editor, Jake Margle, sat down with the S.C. Pride’s president, Jeff March, to discuss the future of the LGBTQ movement after the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage, featured on page 22.

I envy contributor Holly Heaton, who

made the rounds sampling Columbia’s best food trucks for our Food Fight column.

And Kathleen Milewski waded through some muck of her own while collecting quotes for “Overheard at … the Frat Lots.”

Sure, this wasn’t easy — anyone on masthead can tell you about what we went through to get this thing into one piece, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t enjoy every minute of it.

So here’s to a good year, right?

MARQUIS JOHNSON

BY AMANDA BUDD // PHOTOS BY MELANEY MOTTSEY // DESIGN BY BRITTANY WILT

To the observer, parkour has aesthetically pleasing movement that appears to require limited effort. However, there is a wide repertoire of skills and experiences that lead to a successful landing.

Marquis Johnson, fourth-year advertising student from Concord, North Carolina, has spent the last three years perfecting his parkour skills. After running track in high school, Johnson originally thought he wanted to be a walk-on athlete. However, after parkour gained hype on the Internet, Johnson decided to his athletic career on a different path.

“I decided when I came to college that I wanted something new,” Johnson said.

Calisthenics, weight training, heavy

stretching and even a 365 routine are just the beginning when it comes to Johnson’s training regimen. He also practices with Carolina Movement, USC’s parkour organization. Johnson said that training boosted his body awareness, strength and confidence, all of which are essential to parkour.

When performing a new parkour move, safety is the most important concern. According to Johnson, if you mess up a move, you don’t get to try it again for a while. He has experienced a few injuries himself, but despite this, Johnson said landing a new move is a feeling like no other.

“Everyone knows the feeling of preparing for something and achieving it the way you

wanted,” Johnson said, “but there is something special about teaching your body a new skill and I think it’s the greatest feeling ever.”

Parkour has offered Johnson many opportunities. Last year he studied abroad in Australia and met many parkour athletes along with participating in his first competition in Sydney. Most recently, Johnson has become an ambassador for American Parkour, the oldest parkour organization in the country.

In terms of the future, Johnson hopes to take his skills and use them by doing stunt work. For now, he intends to compete more and continue to pursue his passion.

“If it’s something you want, don’t just want it. Pursue it.”

KRISTIN WHITTAKER

BY COURTNEY STERNS // PHOTOS BY JOSH THOMPSON // DESIGN BY BRITTANY WILT

Before you start bragging about the new babysitting gig you just got, you should hear about Kristin Whittaker’s job. Whittaker is a senior at USC who scored a broadcasting position at ESPNU. I met up with Whittaker to learn the ins and outs of what many would consider their “dream job,” and what a day in the life of an ESPNU employee looks like.

Last year, Whittaker was talking to one of her friends who was involved with ESPNU Campus Connections, a program that allows students to cover various university sporting events and do fun features on them. Once she heard about this, she knew she had to get involved. “This was exactly what I wanted to do, I just had to make it happen,” Whittaker said.

Whittaker has always been a sports aficionado. When asked what inspired her to venture into this field, she replied she’s grown up around sports her entire life and has a strong passion for this industry.

Whittaker may not get the typical college game day experience filled with non-stop tailgating and the fraternity lots, but the job does come with its own set of perks. At USC’s home opener game against Kentucky, she got to shoot a feature with USC’s marching band.

“I had to be up by 8 a.m. and I didn’t get home until after one in the morning. You’re looking at about a 15-hour day, not including editing, for a two minute video. But I got to ride in with the marching band and it was a ton of fun. I don’t get the same game day experience as everyone else, but it’s rewarding and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

Whittaker said it can be difficult acting as a one-man band. She has to ask the questions, shoot the footage and edit the videos all by herself. Through this experience, Whittaker has learned all the different aspects of multi-media journalism. She has also gotten the opportunity to meet new people and

create invaluable networking connections. She’s very thankful for the opportunities this job has provided her with thus far, and all the doors it has opened for the future.

After graduation, Whittaker’s goal is to get involved with the PGA Tour. She wants to make a difference in the golf world when it comes to women and broadcasting. No female has ever made a big step in that field, so that is her ultimate dream.

Since sports reporting is so competitive, I asked Whittaker if she has any advice for other students looking to follow in her footsteps. Her biggest piece of advice was to get involved as much as you can and really put yourself out there. The university has so many great organizations and opportunities. When Whittaker isn’t working with ESPNU Campus Connections, she reports for Capital City, a sports network through SGTV, and she works with WLTX, a Columbia news organization.

FISH OUT OF WATER

BY JAKE MARGLE // PHOTOS BY JOSH THOMPSON // DESIGN BY JUSTIN CARRIER

The tight-knit nature of Columbia’s art and music scene makes for some truly eclectic shows — you just have to know where to look.

I’ve scraped the surface recently.

A show at the Music Farm here, a local gallery showing there, and the occasional Trustus show peppered between. Time spent perusing local performances made something clear: a lack of performance art.

Columbia manages to stock the stages of the tiniest venues, such as New Brookland Tavern, and fill the largest of shows like those at the Colonial Life Arena. But 20 years in Columbia and I’ve never found myself in the crowd before a performance art show. Maybe my aversion to visual art as well as theater is to blame. I’ve also never understood what performance art meant. Is any act that finds itself before an audience performance art, or is there a formula to follow?

With these questions on the forefront of my brain, I found myself in Conundrum Music Hall one late Tuesday night. Conundrum stands detached from surrounding buildings. Once a small storefront on Meeting Street, it’s since been converted to something that your crazy uncle would have built. It houses a small stage and a surprisingly well-stocked concession stand. I arrived before the show started and watched the small space fill with

a diverse group of people.

I was there to see Ritual Abjects, a group which describes themselves as a “radical pomo witchcraft collective” that explores both noise music and performance art.

Their spot was preceded by three openers: Ahomari Turner’s synth and vocal show, Lucas Sam’s electronic music project, Pray For Triangle Zero and Queens, New Yorkbased experimental rock group You Bred Raptors? Ritual Abjects took the stage slowly amid gentle anticipation. Front-woman Alice Wyrd’s voice started soft but powerful, backed with synth and backup vocals from a pair of girls toying with a ouija board. The entire performance ran with a projected montage of psychedelic graphics and scenes from The Wizard of Oz.

As the scenes of The Wizard progressed into the more climactic parts, Wyrd’s voice and message became more intense. The performance ran for almost an hour, with commentaries on sexuality and perceived gender binary. There were talks of our meaning and origin on this planet and who or what might be watching over us. At one point, Wyrd and her collaborators called upon the demon known as “Zozo.”

Towards the end, she asked the audience to join in by grabbing an item from a pile that she placed on the floor earlier. Antlers,

a white mask, a keyboard, foam swords and various oddities were picked up by the audience. “As an audience, being a part of the performance is a very different experience than purely watching from the crowd,” said Sean Force, third-year media arts student.

As the audience joined in the last couple minutes of the performance, Wyrd moved about the room asking, “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” But none of it felt too forced or too prompted.

That’s not to say I didn’t feel a bit uncomfortable at times. Ouija boards and contact with the “other side” isn’t my cup of tea, especially when you begin summoning a demon. The visuals were fantastic and crucial to keeping the audience active. The brooding synth notes aided in making Wyrd’s voice more cadenced and controlled. There was confidence in her work.

I found myself focusing too much on what she said. I was trying to interpret every word and analyze every idea, but that’s far from the point. It’s about the performance in its entirety. The visuals, the sounds, the objects and the spoken word are each performances on their own, each playing a role in the greater vision at hand. “Where else can you go and see [in Columbia] that can match the unique experience of Ritual Abjects?” Force said. Agreed.

SIGHT

BY RACHEL STEIN // PHOTOS BY CHARLES DYMOCK // DESIGN BY KELLEN LaGROON

Illuminating Art

The space above your bed is no longer reserved for the $5 poster you got before freshman year. If you’re someone who prefers to write your papers from the comfort of your covers, then consider adding a little extra light to your bedroom with lighted wall art. Don’t feel like spending a ton of money? That’s fine — grab some colorful string, a sheet of hardware cloth and a string of LED lights. Your one-of-a-kind lit dream catcher will add a comforting glow, perfect for writing English papers and watching Netflix alike. Browsing Etsy is your best option, but a website called DiaNoche Designs sells a variety of illuminated wall art starting at $149.

Paper Lanterns

You’re getting ready to go out, so you have your favorite playlist blasting and your best outfit on. You want to document the night but face it — no one looks good under harsh fluorescent lighting. Achieve a soft glow for pictures and selfies or simply for a mellow mood by hanging paper lanterns. They’re lightweight enough to be hung with command hooks and add a cozy touch to any space. Use one in the middle of your room for a budget chandelier look or two on opposite sides of the room for separate lighting for you and your roomie. One large paper lantern from Target is priced at $6.39 while a string of 10 smaller ones will set you back $9.99.

String Lights

Christmas lights can be found in nearly every dorm room, so here are a few twists on the quintessential dorm room accent. Make them into a faux headboard, with your favorite photos as an accent, or wrap them around the metal frame of your bed. If you have too much light at night, try making a frame around your mirror. The best part about these lights is that they are inexpensive, chic and can make a room instantly feel warmer and cozier. A 50 count of white or green string lights costs a measly $2.48 at The Home Depot.

Lit Letters

It’s become a trend recently for college students to accent their room by hanging decorative letters, including Greek letters, large monograms or perhaps even an inspirational quote or two. But when the sun sets, no one is able to see the writing on your wall. Trade your stickers, plaques and expensive wooden letters for a custom initial light. Single letters from elightbulbs.com run $24.99 plus shipping.

Each issue we will tackle a different sense. This time we focus on:

Studying in a dorm or an apartment can be depressing with the harsh florescent lights and boring, generic desk lamps. Here are five easy solutions on how to show off your aesthetic while brightening up your space.

N I N HA G G ON

BY NICK VERONESI // PHOTOS BY MIKAELLA ANTONIO // DESIGN BY TORI LEONHARDT

Walk the long footbridge towards Bates West. Look left, and you’ll see a giant wooden structure surrounded by residence halls, train tracks, Blatt and the band grounds. The high ropes course, also known as the Alpine Tower, is one of the coolest places on campus. I got to scale the tower for the first time in September.

Since I first saw it last year, I yearned for a stab at the tower. I got to try out the complex a few times my freshman year, but I stayed on the low ropes portion. I was further intrigued when I worked for a summer camp, where I had the opportunity to run a high and low ropes course, a rock wall and a zip line.

I had all this experience, but I had never climbed the Alpine Tower. It was time.

The instructors warmly greeted me

when I arrived and expressed my desire to climb the tower. I had to sign a waiver for the course, since injuries can occur, and was given the rundown on putting on a harness.

An instructor took me to one of the three empty corners and attached me to the rope with a double figure eight knot. After completing the necessary belaying procedures, I was on my way.

My goal was to grab a swinging log, which is one of three moving obstacles placed on the edges of the tower. They are the toughest obstacles to climb because of the tiny rocks you have to grab onto. Unfortunately, this proved to be too much of a challenge for me because I couldn’t get a grip on the rocks without pushing the suspended object away from me. Most of my path had very small rocks, so I ended up wrapping myself around the pole to stay in place.

Finally, I reached the top.

For those who haven’t experienced it, being at the top is fascinating. I was 50 feet off the ground, above everyone walking on the footbridge. I waved at some of the passersby, even getting a wave back.

Getting down was an adventure. I was told to slide off the edge of the top platform so the instructor could belay me down. He said I would only fall three inches — but I hate free-falling, especially at that height. After freaking out for a minute or two, I slid off and I returned to safety on the ground.

Overall, it was an encounter that I was extremely proud to accomplish. For those who may be reluctant to scale the tower, you should give it a try. Fears can be conquered with execution and accomplishment brings one’s gratification to new heights.

Best Truckin’ Food Around

BY HOLLY HEATON // PHOTOS BY KAMILA MELKO // DESIGN BY LINA LeGARE

In the world of college students, food trucks have become almost as trendy as calling an Uber and rocking white high-top Converse. Mobile dining, food on wheels — whatever you want to call it — we are just as obsessed as the next person. In the past year, these trucks have been popping up all over Columbia at farmers markets, special events and on the side of Gervais Street. Which trucks are worthy of your time?t was my job to find out.

1.

1. THE BELGIAN WAFFLE TRUCK

The Belgian Waffle Truck is another widely known truck in the Columbia area and lived up to its slogan: “Waffles … Not ‘just’ for Breakfast Anymore!” From breakfast options to dessert waffles, and even a veggie-burger waffle, you are sure to be pleasantly surprised. First, I tried the breakfast waffle to experience the waffle in its natural habitat. This waffle sandwich included homemade pork sausage and fried egg, topped with creamy white gravy. It was one of those foods that when you eat it, you can feel your arteries clogging, but you love every minute of it. Next, I tried a dessert waffle with whipped cream and powdered sugar. I stand by this decision because it was so simple and not overwhelming. Honestly, the waffle would’ve been delicious by itself. A crispy, golden brown on the outside and soft and moist on the inside.

2. THE BBQ BUS

The BBQ Bus was hands down my favorite truck. No exaggeration when I say it was the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten, and this is coming from a girl raised in Georgia — I know good barbecue. I ordered the combo plate, which included a pulled pork sandwich topped with homemade barbecue sauce, Cajun mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The barbecue was tender, juicy and bursting with flavor. The mashed potatoes were the perfect amount of spicy and cheesy and everything you could want in comfort food. But y’all — the sauce was outstanding. I recommend mixing a little in with everything on your plate. It was spicy, sweet and tangy all at once. I could drink this sauce, or bathe in it.

3. THE WURST WAGEN

The Wurst Wagen is one of the most widely known food trucks in the Columbia area, and the first stop on my taste-testing excursion. They are known for German sausages, also known as bratwurst, and pride themselves on showcasing authentic German cuisine. I asked the employee working the truck to give me whatever he considered their “specialty.” I ordered the Knack Wurst, which is a pork and beef sausage. It was served with spicy mustard, a thick bread roll and sauerkraut. The sausage was a bit mild and what I would consider under-seasoned. However, the spicy mustard gave it the pizazz it needed, and the sauerkraut was the perfect compliment. While TWW wasn’t my favorite truck that I visited, if you are looking for authentic German cuisine, this is definitely a must for you.

4. 2 FAT 2 FLY

2 Fat 2 Fly is the epitome of a food truck success story because they became so popular that they recently opened up their very own restaurant on Bluff Road. 2 Fat 2 Fly specializes in the holy grail of junk food: stuffed chicken wings. We spent the entire meal discussing the anatomy of chicken wings trying to figure out how they manage to stuff the wings with the to-die-for fillings. Regardless, we feasted like kings. First I tried the “Sucka Punch,” which is stuffed with cheddar cheese, bacon and fresh jalapeños. Next, I had the “Song of the South” — a breaded and fried wing stuffed with collard greens and white rice. Finally, I had my favorite of the three and probably one of the top five foods I’ve ever eaten: mac-n’-cheese-stuffed wings. No words could ever describe how incredible it was — you’ll just have to try it yourself. To top off the meal of perfection, I had a giant basket of fries with Cajun seasoning. Make sure to order the “Fry Sauce.” It will change your life.

2.

3.

4.

RECIPE

MUG CAKES

BY JOCELYN LINDER // PHOTOS BY KAMILA MELKO // DESIGN BY LINA LeGARE

Since I’ve been in college, I’ve found that students have one common concern — food. No longer are we able to walk into our kitchens and have whatever we need at hand, especially when it comes to those midnight dessert sessions we all love. With that one magnificent machine, the microwave, you can satisfy your cravings with this easy mug dessert, no Pinterest required.

Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookie

INGREDIENTS:

1 T butter

1 T granulated sugar

1 T firmly packed dark brown sugar

3 drops vanilla extract

A small pinch kosher salt

1 egg yolk

Slightly less than ¼ cup flour

2 T semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp powdered coffee

DIRECTIONS:

Start by melting the butter in a medium-sized mug. Stir in the white and brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Separate the egg yolk and add to the batter, mixing to combine. Add flour and continue to stir until mixture has no lumps. Mix in the powdered coffee and chocolate chips. Microwave for 40 to 60 seconds, being cautious not to overcook. The cookie will continue baking as it cools down. Best served warm.

Lemon Vanilla Mug Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp lemon juice

2 T unsalted butter

1 large egg

2 T milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup granulated sugar

6 T self-rising flour

Pinch kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

mix in the lemon juice, adding more or less depending on your preference of lemon taste. Divide the batter between two mugs, and microwave each, separately, for 1.5 to 2 minutes.

BY CATHERINE SULLIVAN // PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE JOHNSTON // DESIGN BY BRITTANY WILT

One of the cutest and coziest trends in decorating is the indoor plant. Adding some green to your dorm or apartment is a simple way to give your place an earthy, bohemian vibe without breaking the bank. With a wide range of colors and sizes, there’s a plant for everyone that will fit their style. Even without a green thumb, there are plenty of indoor plants that will thrive in smaller spaces with minimal care. Here are some suggestions for affordable and space-beneficial houseplants that are so good.

Aloe vera plants are easy to grow and thrive in indirect sunlight. They are very low maintenance and only require watering when their soil has dried out completely. Breaking off a leaf or squeezing the gel from the plant is great relief for minor burns, as well as a thick, moisturizing ingredient for hair conditioner, face masks or soap. The Home Depot in West Columbia sells pre-potted aloe plants for $7.99.

Peace Lilies are beautiful plants that are easy to grow. As a houseplant, peace lilies favor low humidity and low light, so you can decorate your room with these plants away from your windows too. With consistent watering, your peace lily will grow into the perfect accent plant for your room. Plant Shop at Old Mill in West Columbia has a variety.

Bromeliads can add an exotic touch to any room, and more color than some other plants. Despite its eccentric appearance, the bromeliad plant is one that thrives indoors and outdoors on minimal watering, and medium to bright light. Bromeliads are available at The Home Depot for around $10.

Cacti are another popular succulent houseplant. Cacti make for great display plants to have on a coffee table or end table, preferably in a sunny spot. These plants are easy to come by, with several local retailers offering small, potted cacti at prices as low as $5.98.

Jade is succulent plant that flourishes indoors. They retain water in their round leaves, and grow well average sunlight. Lowe’s in Columbia offers jade plants and seeds at varying prices all under $10.

Mint is a perfect plant to grow on your windowsill, where it will receive the morning sun and afternoon shade. It’s a great beginner’s plant because it thrives with minimal attention, and will continue to grow with once-aday watering. You can just pick off the leaves as you need them, so reaping the rewards could not be easier. Mint is fragrant, fast growing and is a perfect addition to a pitcher of water or lemonade. Plant Shop at Old Mill in West Columbia offers a wide variety of flavored mint plants, including orange, peach, pineapple, mojito and more for under $7 each.

Student Independence

BY KASEY MEREDITH // PHOTOS BY JOSH THOMPSON // DESIGN BY JUSTIN CARRIER

According to Forbes, students who pay for their own education will perform better.

Imagine you’re coming home from class one day. You eat a granola bar on your way to work as your meal of the day. You work the rest of the day, and then you go home to study. And you wake up the next morning to do it all again.

It’s hard to imagine when college seems like the harbinger of stress and 24 hours seems too small of a number to make up one long day. But for some students, that’s reality.

Big Bills For The Youngest

Third-year broadcast journalism student Jada Williams said, “It may sound like [I’m] super woman until you think about all the debt I’m in right now — because it’s a lot of money for a college student.”

Being the last of 10 kids, the subject of paying for college was transparent.

She got her first job when she was 14, just two months away from turning 15, and she starting building a savings account so it would be there if, and when, she ever needed it. She now works at Rack Room Shoes.

“When I got [to USC], it was kind of a slap in the face,” she said. “You have a lot of time on your hands, but you also have no time at all.”

And Williams’ days just got busier: she’s interning for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

“Now I’m in an awkward middle ground because I have an internship. Ten hours a week for work, time allotted for school, time allotted for my internship, eating and sleeping … where does that all fall into place?”

Williams answered her own question: “Very

strategic planning. I have every single minute of my life planned right now.”

She spends a majority of her free time talking to her biggest support system: her mom.

“Getting that moral support during my free time is very cathartic for me, which is much needed when I have so much on my plate,” Williams said. “It may be overwhelming right now, it may be really, really hard on you right now, but don’t look at it as right now — look at it as the future.”

And her inspiration that gets her through her jam-packed days?

“A really big factor for me is that I want to be a mom one day and I want to be a working mom. I’m doing this now so my kids won’t have to do it later.”

In the spring of her sophomore year, Williams ran out of money.

She had to miss a month of her classes, but she still got As in all of them.

One Girl, Three Jobs

Many students pick up part-time jobs for some cash on the side, but Jessica Parker, fourth-year international business student, juggles three jobs at a time. Unlike Williams, Parker is the oldest of five kids, but she always knew this expense was coming.

“It was something I was always expecting — I’m the oldest of five kids,” Parker said. Parker isn’t disappointed when imagining more down time and socializing in college: “I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything.”

One of the jobs Parker has consistently juggled is working at a pizza place in her hometown since she was 14, which she returned to during summer break. During the school year, Parker has held an array of jobs:

resident mentor, SI leader, cocktail waitress at The Salty Nut Cafe and employee the Visitor’s Center at USC.

Parker suspected she’d have to pay for college, but she didn’t account for the extra expenses that being an IB major requires.

And she was blown away by how much everything in the real world costs.

So, she became a pro-budgeter. When she studied abroad, she found a way to spend 45 euros or less each week, something she said definitely made her more financially savvy.

On top of working 20 hours a week, she’s preparing her honors college thesis and applying to graduate school. Parker recognizes that internships are valued on resumes, but argues that having a job in college is just as impressive.

“In an interview, I think me saying that I’ve worked at the same restaurant and was able to see it grow for the past five years has just as much merit than, ‘Oh, I worked one 12week internship,’” she said.

Parker said she has a great support system, something she learned the value of through her work.

“I learned about knowing yourself, knowing your limits and [knowing] what you need,” she

said.

The days where Parker can sit down and eat dinner without having to multitask are blessings. She admits that she feels like a mom when she says that, but Parker cherishes those days.

“It’s rare, but when I get those moments it’s completely worth it when I look at where I’m at,” she said. “I feel like I have so much more merit to add because I’m still able to have those moments and make those memories.”

A Strong Individual

After high school, third-year broadcast journalism student Caitlin Mathias’ mom told her she was on her own. So, she took out loans and started paying for everything herself.

She said supporting yourself in college is a cornerstone in becoming independent and knowing the value of a dollar.

“By paying for school, supporting yourself, you become a strong individual,” she said. “Once I graduate, it’s not going to be that big of a transition for me.”

Being financially independent puts the simplest things, like grocery shopping, into perspective. She’s got the prices memorized.

“I never used to think about how a gallon of milk costs $4 and a dozen eggs is $4,” she said.

It puts the larger things into perspective, too.

“I know how important class is. I’ll lose $300 if I don’t go to that class,” Mathias said. “I don’t regret anything that I’m doing.”

And she has a lot on her plate. She works 30 to 40 hours a week and 60 to 70 closer to holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas at Four Oaks Farm Country Store.

Mathias makes lists to cope with stress. Visually seeing something crossed off relieves her, and she’s not afraid to buckle down if she has to.

“At the end of the day, I just do it. If I’m starting to get freaked out about everything that I have to do, I just stop and do it,” Mathias said. “I’ll stay up until 3 a.m. and go to work at 7 a.m.”

She said working in college has helped her establish herself.

“Something I’ve learned is that you need to be a good, independent person before you can have others depend on you, or you depend on other people.”

Columbia is a curious place. We find ourselves situated solidly in the Bible Belt, a region termed for its conservative tendencies. Being primarily a university town, we’re thankfully fed a regular, if not modest diet of new ideas and ways of thinking.

Admit it: without the university, Columbia would stagnate, with its multitude of corporate offices and abundant pairs of slacks and blue collars. An outsider might look at it and see it as the least likely candidate for a gay pride festival that has stood proudly for 26 years.

Pride had humble beginnings. It began in 1989, with the first attendees gathered on the grounds and steps of the State House. In the following years it changed its location multiple times. In the early 2000s, the festival found its foster home in Finlay Park with a crowd of only a six thousand. Current Pride President Jeff March remembers these modest moments when he first got involved with S.C. Pride seven years ago. “That was really good but it was a destination event,” March said. “In other words, you didn’t catch

BY JAKE MARGLE // PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND // DESIGN BY KODY KRATZER

people walking by or anything like that.”

March’s first year as president was 2012, which was also the first year that the festival moved to Main Street.

March said it’s been a relatively hurdle-free come up — at least for the years he’s been at the helm. “When we moved to Main Street, it was a very smooth transition and it became so visible. People finally really knew what Pride was then.”

Before breaking through the noise and making the move to Main Street, growth was slow. They pulled a solid crowd year after year but didn’t see nearly the exponential growth that the visibility of Main Street afforded them. “We had the capitol in the background and we took up six streets on Main Street — we went from 6,000 to 17,000 people.”

That type of explosive growth caught the attention of many in Columbia, and attention is what the LGBTQ community needs so desperately. The move to Main Street put Pride in the eyes of so many who hadn’t seen or heard about it before.

After receiving a grant that put them in

six blocks of prime location, March received masses of congratulations. “You should be proud of yourself for bringing Pride out of the closet,” a city official said. March thought that was the best way to put it.

Their new home has finally let both the staff and the festival build an identity.

“We put the flags on the lamp posts out there and we’re very loud and recognizable,” March said. Recognizable is right. Pictures from Pride paint it idyllically, with the State House in the distance and the tree-lined borders of the street.

It’s not all about the parade and the events of that day — it’s about continuing pride even when the last of the confetti and glitter is swept up.

“We have lots of allies and what I think our mission is, and in all Prides, is to gain allies,” March said. Allies have and always will play a crucial role in the visibility and representation of the gay community.

“I think more people now are out, so if it’s true what they say¬, 10 to 15 percent of the population is gay. We need more than that to get votes to swing our way,” March said.

Marriage equality wouldn’t have happened without the immeasurable help of lawyers and litigators across the country¬¬, regardless of the reason they fought for the LGBTQ population.

As for the current standing of Pride in South Carolina, it’s unity and presence is undeniable, but the bar can always be raised.

“I do want to surpass the 20,000 of last year. That’s always our goals, to get a bigger crowd every year,” March said. “We should have an even bigger audience because we’re going to be celebrating marriage equality this year. I’d like to see acceptance reach out to as many people as possible. The festival isn’t just for the LGBT[Q] community anymore, it’s for the general population too.”

With the subject of marriage equality on the table, March was eager to discuss to the future of Pride, not just as a regional or national event, but also as a worldwide way of thinking.

“Well, we still celebrate Martin Luther King [Jr.] Day, so Pride’s not going to go away. Our battles are not over,” March said.

The next light on the horizon is the issue of workplace discrimination in South Carolina. He points out that one can still be fired

for being gay in South Carolina and how bullying remains the ever-stubborn elephant in the room.

“We have a lot more to work on. So we’re far from being equal yet, but we are getting better,” March said. “Marriage equality was a step, but not everybody gets married.”

March makes a good point. Marriage equality in the U.S. was a victory; a home run, a grand slam, a full-on landslide victory. But it was just that: a victory, not the victory. The headlines and emotional pictures brought the marches and advances of the LGBTQ community into the living rooms of those who may have turned a blind eye to it.

So what’s the next monumental hurdle on horizon?

“I think the trans community — we’ve got a lot of educating to do ourselves, as well as with the general population,” March said.

Trans issues have risen to the forefront of LGBTQ topics, especially in the past year as increased media coverage has brought trans frontrunners Laverne Cox and newly crowned social media queen Caitlyn Jenner, into the eyes of millions, along with the concerns of their communities.

In recent years as queer culture enters the

mainstream, media has shined a spotlight on the LGBTQ community. There’s a minefield of concerns as to how they will continue to be represented.

Programs such as Modern Family, Glee, Looking, Orange Is The New Black and Queer as Folk did their fair share of highlighting and presenting the ins and outs of queer culture. But with any spotlight comes a shadow, and the media has faced harsh criticism in recent years over the stereotypes they subtly enforce.

“We’ve always been the extravagant version of gay on TV,” March said. “I don’t know if it’s ever going to be anything different.”

If recent events have shown us anything, it’s that there is no form for our community anymore. Our foothold is stronger than ever. Prides all over the world have contributed to cracking the mold and bringing the LGBTQ community out of the shadows.

Like the first footsteps on the moon, the steps we take in our community will be remembered for decades, if not centuries, but we have many more footsteps that must follow.

We have a lot more to work on. So we’re far from being equal yet, but we are getting better — Marriage equality was a step, but not everybody gets married.

— Jeff March

BY HANNAH JEFFREY // PHOTOS BY BRENNAN BOOKER, HANNAH CLEAVELAND // DESIGN BY LINA LeGARE

There once was a taxidermy beaver that lived in Five Points. It sat perched high above the crowds at Pinch, greeting everyone who came through looking for a shot or cheap beer. It looked out on the mob with its blank stare, seemingly content in its home. And then someone took it. And so, a second taxidermy beaver was installed, and customers were once again greeted by a furry friend upon entering the Five Points hotspot.

But someone took that one, too.

Sarah Harris remembers both beavers. She’s been a bartender at Pinch for almost four years, and while she still hasn’t figured out how people swiped the beavers, she has learned to nail down everything else in the bar so it stays put.

It’s a little after 8 p.m. on what promises to be a busy Five Points Friday night. Harris piles can after can of Natty Light into a massive cooler behind the bar before shoveling ice over the neat rows. Every so often, she walks down the bar in her Jack Daniels tank top and checks in on her three customers, all quietly sipping beers and watching TV.

It’s quiet now, but in a matter of hours, those three customers will be long gone, and Harris will be slinging around bottles and plastic cups, trying to keep the massive college crowds at bay.

THE CALM BEFORE THE DRUNK

When the bar starts to fill up around 10:30 or 11 p.m., Harris estimates, she’ll go into typewriter mode. That’s what she calls it when she and her fellow bartenders go up and down the bar, trading debit cards and cash for beers and shots. Help one customer, then onto the next.

Until then, she’s making sure there are enough lemons and limes sliced up and figuring out where she can get some more gin.

She keeps a towel in her right back pocket and a bottle opener in her left, both of which she whips out with ease when someone spills on the bar or asks for a Coors Light.

Harris, a fourth-year hotel, restaurant and tourism management student, always recognizes people from her classes while she’s working, but they rarely recognize her. When she’s here, her light brown hair is curled and her makeup is fresh. But in class, she’s usually been up all night, either working here at Pinch or in the library, and she looks like a “ragamuffin” in class.

Jaryd Toohey, Harris’ fellow barkeep for the night, gets in just as 10 p.m. rolls around. Together, they’ll keep the masses quenched as best as they can until the bar closes at 2 a.m. and they call it a night. After they close up the bar, they might head down to Bar None or Nightcaps to drink with some other local bartenders, or they might head home. After all, they spend a lot of time in Five Points, and sleep is precious, especially when you work the night shift in a college town.

“I’m not much of a straight shooter,” Harris says, pouring shots of rum onto a tray, one of the last things to be prepped. “I wish I was a badass like that.”

BARTENDER TIPS: TIP YOUR BARTENDERS

There are some things bartenders just know: when to cut someone off, who’s been waiting

longest, which customers to keep waiting. (Hint: if you’re snapping or whistling to get their attention, you’re going to be there a while.)

Last night, a man tried to pay for his drink with four different forms of ID. It wasn’t until Harris rejected his driver’s license as legal tender for the second time that he got the message. His license wouldn’t cover his drink, and he was cut off.

“We kind of just let them be drunk in here,” Harris says. “It’s better than out on the street.”

But some things they can never be prepared for.

Someone once called Harris a “See You Next Tuesday” because she couldn’t find their credit card, which they found in their wallet a few minutes later. Toohey had a cup of ice water chucked at his head after he cut someone off and offered to call them a cab.

But they rarely throw people out. If you’re

throwing punches or cups of water at bartenders — Toohey is still pissed about that one time — you’re gone. Otherwise, you can stay.

Bartenders can rattle off a list of nuisances they see every night: people snapping their fingers to get their attention or waving around cash but not having an order ready or accusing them of shorting on liquor.

Trust them — they know what they’re doing.

“We have a method to our madness,” Toohey says.

But the worst sin a customer can commit? Leaving the bar without leaving a tip.

“The people that get you drunk deserve something,” Harris says. She doesn’t get paid by the hour, which means bartenders rely heavily on customers’ gratuity. If you walk out without paying them, they don’t get paid.

Four or five tall, see-through vases clearly marked “TIPS” are the last things Harris puts on the bar.

You just have to cater to their crazy “

— Sarah Harris

THE NIGHT IS ON

Harris was right. By 10:30 p.m., the bar is getting full, and around 11 p.m. there’s a line snaking out the door and down Harden Street. In what seems like no time at all, Harris and Toohey become blurs behind the bar, while guys buying drinks for girls are yelling their orders, and girls waiting for drinks from guys are yelling the words to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”

People trade places for space at the bar, now littered with plastic cups, where they wait for Toohey and Harris to pour them what they need to keep the night going. Toohey yells for two Natty Lights and a vodka tonic, and Harris is weaving in and out of everyone, like a figure skater cracking open a Miller Light. The floor is starting to get that signature college bar stick to it, while drinks slosh onto the floor en route to someone’s mouth.

“You just have to cater to their crazy,” Har-

ris says, as she grabs two more beers from the cooler.

As soon as the tower of plastic cups starts to dwindle, a bar back is there to build it back up, just in time for Harris to demolish it with the next few rounds of vodka sodas and rum and Cokes.

Behind the bar, it’s outside voices only. People yell across to her, and Harris smiles and hopes they’re ordering another before she fills a cup. She can barely hear them as Backstreet Boys blares and the bar’s din grows louder and louder as the night goes on.

“It’s a party for us back here, too,” she says as she dances away, mouthing the words to “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

If they have a few seconds — though they rarely do — Toohey and Harris have a prime view for people watching. They get a kick out of watching guys hit on girls and an even bigger one watching them get rejected. They’ve seen sick dance moves, and they’ve

seen people get sick all over the bathroom.

They see their regulars and greet them with big smiles and sometimes a shot on the house. It’s free to the customer, but that doesn’t mean no one’s buying it.

“Either you’re paying for it,” Toohey says, “or we’re paying for it.”

It’s not hard to become a regular or a “favorite.” In fact, it’s pretty simple.

Be polite. Make them laugh. Don’t snap, whistle, wave cash or yell. Have your order ready. Don’t start fights. Have a good time. If something’s coming out, get it in the toilet. Get to know the people spending their Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights getting you drunk.

And never forget to leave a tip.

SOUTH BY

This season is all about looks and pieces inspired from the American Southwest. Introducing jewel tones, metal accessories or raw textures to your wardrobe are just a few of the many ways you can get this desert chic look. With Columbia’s steamy fall weather, these looks are not only going to keep you on trend, but also comfortable.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST

Plot Twist Olive crop $ 24.50, Vestique

Betsy and Iya Layer necklace $77, Bohemian

Lack of Color Rocco hat $89, Steel Garden Whaley belt $89, Steel Garden Sanctuary Floral Tunic $79, Bohemian Black Swan Leather Jacket $108, Bohemian

STYLE BY LINDSAY RIGGINS // PHOTOS BY BRENNAN BOOKER, HANNAH CLEAVELAND, JOSH THOMPSON // STYLE ASSISTANT: DOMINIC BELLOTI // MODELS: K. LEE GRAHAM, SARAH SPRING, AINSLEY STOLLAR // HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ANGELA GRECO

Lack of Color Rocco hat $89, Steel Garden Melanie Olive Turtle dress $46, Wildflower boutique

Eye of Sahara Cuff $22.50, Vestique Hobo Cross-body in green $98, Bohemian

Dolce Vita clogs $170 Bohemian

Betsy and Iya colored necklace $ 124, Bohemian Sanctuary suede dress $129, Bohemian

Geometric cuff $14, Vestique

Turkish Earrings $18, Wildflower Boutique Plenty Tracy Reese dress $198, Bohemian

GOLD RUSH

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1. Steel Garden Whaley belt $89, shopsteelgarden.com

2. Bohemian Krewe Olivier Sunglasses $165, shop-bohemian.com

3. Wildflower Silver Coin earrings $12, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 4. Wildflower Silver Turkish earrings $18, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 5. Bohemian L. George Anna Necklace $68, shop-bohemian.com 6. Bohemian Serefina 11 Rings Necklace $94, shop-bohemian.com 7. Wildflower Bob Marley Fan earrings $33, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 8. Wildflower Dream catcher necklace $36, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 9. Bohemian L. George Vertical Ring $108, shop-bohemian.com 10. Bohemian Betsy and Iya Vertical earrings $22 , shop-bohemian.com 11. Wildflower Black Pendant necklace $45, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 12. Wildflower Grey Bou-Cou choker $46, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique 13. Bohemian Hobo Cross-body in brown $98, shop-bohemian.com 14. Wildflower Coolio colorful lens sunglasses $18, Facebook: fivepointswildflowerboutique

PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND // DESIGN BY LINA LeGARE //STYLE BY LINDSAY RIGGINS

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

ANNA

VELICKY

BY MIKAELLA ANTONIO // PHOTOS BY HANNAH CLEAVELAND// DESIGN BY ELIZABETH JENNINGS

In high school, Anna Velicky’s first screen-printing endeavor was a silkscreen T-shirt of the cover art for a Marilyn Manson album. It was the kind of T-shirt she couldn’t find stocked in the stores of her hometown, Florence, South Carolina, whose horror-punk scene remains largely underground.

It was during her adolescent years that Velicky found a home within this counterculture. She made work that reflected her interest in “very dark, emotional material” influenced by album art, comic books and cartoons. She describes her earlier work as an exploration of “feeling like a loose cannon” and not having concrete answers to the questions of who she was or what she wanted to do.

Now, the fourth-year studio art major, with a concentration in printmaking, finds not only that she gravitates more toward realism, but that she has roots as an artist from the South.

This past summer, Velicky was one of three students recommended by Mary Robinson, Head of Printmaking, to Alejandro García-Lemos in a sort of all-or-nothing deal that would result in the creation of a piece that

would act in conjunction with the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art. She and her friends

Kyle Alston and Kaitlyn Shealy, the other two students recommended, divided shooting and printing duties and decided democratically on which Columbians to feature.

From Aug. 11 to Sept. 27, their colorful portraits of Boyd Saunders, Leslie Pierce, Harriett Greene, Shigeharu Kobayashi and Patti O’Furniture hung just outside the Warhol space, offering guests a look at individuals who make South Carolina “a better place for art.”

Through screen-printing and documentary photography, Velicky aims to highlight positive aspects of the communities that she is a part of and to dismantle negative stereotypes about southerners.

“The South isn’t getting a fair shake,” she said, implying that southerners are considered either antebellum types or “trailer trash,” neither of which capture the “unexpected diversity” in the region. The nature of Velicky’s work requires immersive interaction with numerous groups of people, especially those considered to be “on the fringe.”

She admits to harboring a certain degree of cynicism and a tendency to get jaded, but Velicky doesn’t possess a clinical numbness — people still surprise her. For example, she stopped her documentation of the lives of freight train hoppers, attesting to the emotional geography that her work entails.

Velicky hopes to inspire those who view her work to pursue art themselves have reassured her that she is “not the only person who’s been interest ed in these things [or] had these feelings.” And about that Manson T-shirt? “It’s beyond wearable — I made it into a pillowcase.”

“The South isn’t getting a fair shake”

— Anna Velicky

BY ERIKA

Ipulled into a driveway and I saw four punks sitting on a dimly lit porch.

“Do you smoke?” someone asked me as I sat down on a plastic patio chair. I turned down the smoke and took in the scene.

It was 80 degrees out, but Madison Tate Logan, second-year broadcast journalism student and Pillow Talk’s drummer, was still wearing a black beanie and skinny jeans to match.

The four punks sitting and dishing out playful jabs to each other on the porch make up Pillow Talk, which is just as much of a quirky, hodgepodge of a family as it is a band.

After all, they’ve been through a lot together.

ad,” which later led to a pop punk specialty show called “Funk as Puck.” Basl discovered that Logan had a knack for playing drums and a band was born.

“By the way: founder, front-woman, fearless leader,” bass player Andrew Svenson said, pointing to Logan, who laughed and went back to lighting her pipe tobacco.

Logan would text Basl lyrics and he’d send back music to match. Over the course of six months, they had most of an album written before they had even decided on a band name.

Meterognomes, Hockey Moms and Knitting Circles were a few that were thrown around, but Pillow Talk was the one that felt right.

Pillow Talk had a community of support from the get go; 40 people came to their first show, better than Nirvana’s first performance, Logan likes to point out.

“That was complete serendipity, by the way, because if that day hadn’t worked out like this, I wouldn’t be part of this band right now,” Svenson said. “Six hours before their show, I got shot down for a date.”

That night, Basl announced on stage that they were desperately searching for a bassist.

Svenson decided joining a pop punk band might be the cure for a mopey night, and the band welcomed him with open arms.

They decided to be a band of four. Basl and Logan talked it over after the Saturday night show and decided on Sunday that Svenson should join the band. But the next day changed things.

“Then Monday night, we lost Jordan.”

It started in August 2014 when Logan was a WUSC-FM trainee and walked in on Jordan Basl’s radio show. His pop punk live radio set is what caught her attention, and in that moment decided she needed to be his co-host.

So, Basl and Logan joined forces for a freeform radio show called “The Dope Sal-

When Logan started hanging out with her Zumiez co-worker, Adam Jones, Pillow Talk’s current vocalist and guitar player, the band became a three-piece. Jones hit the ground running — he started playing with the band at the beginning of February and had to learn eight full-length songs for a show in March.

And that March show was where they found their bass player, Svenson.

On the night of Monday, March 31, Basl died by suicide.

“You have this initial shock of losing your best friend, and then it’s like, ‘I’ve been playing music with this kid for six months,’” Logan said. “We have an entire album written. We have an entire band put together.”

So, what now? Should they keep going?

RYAN // PHOTOS BY JOSH THOMPSON // DESIGN BY KELLEN LaGROON

Were they going to let go of all the work they had done? Or would they do what they set out to do: put out an album?

They decided to do it. They’d put out the album, but it wasn’t that easy.

It would take $2,000 to record it right, so they started a fundraiser on GoFundMe.

They raised the money in three days.

“All Jordan wanted was to be on stage and to play these songs and have people listen to his music, and we had already decided that we were going to record an album — that was our goal,’” Logan said.

They changed the album’s title to “Cheers: For Jordan” — that’s what Basl would say instead of “goodbye.”

Logan and Jones both pulled up their jeans to show off matching ankle tattoos, reading “cheers.”

During the recording process, Logan had a specific vision — Basl’s vision. The ultimate goal was to finish what Basl started and make the album he would have wanted.

“There was never a moment where we were like, ‘We should stop this,’ because it was a good healing process for all of us,” Logan said. “I remember when we told his mother that we were going to [record the album] — that was kind of like the moment where I knew it was something that we had to do.”

After “Cheers: For Jordan” was released in July, the band started looking to the future. Since then, they’ve added another member — Justin Mosteller, Pillow Talk’s lead guitarist.

“We’re transitioning from being Jordan’s memoir to focusing on us as a band, as a foursome,” Logan said, “without Jordan.”

fact that South Carolina is knee-deep in the nationwide revival of the genre. And it’s all thanks to the community that Jones calls, “the angsty teenagers.”

Logan agreed, adding that while the genre used to have a specific sound, it’s growing and changing every day and appealing to larger audiences — pop punk doesn’t just mean Blink-182 anymore.

Pop punk’s definition is broadening, and more young bands are falling into the genre’s spectrum. They’re getting on bills together and creating the foot-tapping music that’s getting attention, whether that’s from the show-goers or the people sitting at the bar.

“We kind of make you listen to us,” Logan said.

There’s no denying that men dominate Columbia’s scene, but Logan doesn’t know who to blame: the scene or the women in it.

“Anyone can be good at an instrument — it doesn’t matter who or what you are,” she said. “Get out there and sweat on the stage.”

There’s no doubt that Logan leads the group, but each member brings something particular to the table. With inspirations ranging from the Misfits to Lady Gaga to Miles Davis, each adds an element to their sound.

What they’re working on now isn’t the Front Bottoms-esque sound they embodied before — this next album is inspired more by newer groups, like Sorority Noise.

“We have the bones of an EP that’s going to sound like ‘this’ Pillow Talk,” Logan said.

“You might hate our album,” Mosteller said, “but you’ll remember it.”

Even though Pillow Talk is in the midst of big changes, they’ll always stay true to their roots.

Grief can set down roots, but it doesn’t have to stunt growth. Pillow Talk plays with all the enthusiasm Jordan Basl would, and they move forward.

Pillow Talk found their niche in Columbia, with its wide audience for pop punk, and the

Courtesy of: Katy Waller

— Madison Tate Logan

- Justin Mosteller

WITH Korean Seoul

TUNE IN SATURDAYS FROM 6-8 P.M. ON WUSC 90.5 FM

BY KELLY YOON // PHOTOS BY SPENCER STEVENSON // DESIGN BY STEPHANIE ORR

Tori McQuinn is a second-year civil engineering student with a passion for K-pop, the South Korean music trend that has been sweeping across international borders. Her WUSC-FM radio show features a mix of pop, ballad, hip-hop, R&B and electronica, all falling within the realm of K-pop. Catch DJ Taro’s show, “Korean Seoul,” Saturdays from 6 to 8 p.m.

top five songs:

1) Ghost (Ravi Solo) – VIXX

2) Lion Heart – Girls’ Generation

3) Let’s Not Fall in Love – BIG BANG

4) Get – Urban Zakapa

5) I Don’t Need a Man – miss A

How and when were you first introduced to Korean pop music?

In 10th grade, my best friend Brittany, who was one-fourth Korean, was a huge K-pop fan. I already knew a little about it — the big names mostly — but she’s the one who truly got me into it.

What is it about K-pop that allows you to appreciate the genre despite the language barrier?

Even though K-Pop is mass produced, I think it’s done pretty well. Audiovisuals are a huge part that appeals to me, but I obviously can’t show the music videos on the radio show. Still, I think it’s really fun and catchy, and a lot of people seem to like it.

Do you prefer solo artists or boy/ girl groups? Give me your top three.

I like both boy and girl groups over the solo artists. My number one favorite group would have to be SHINee; number two, Infinite; and number three, miss A.

Which singers or groups would you recommend to someone completely new to the world of K-pop?

Either Girls’ Generation or Psy. I would recommend Psy just because he’s popular and everyone knows who he is due to “Gangnam Style.” Girls’ Generation because “Gee,” one of their most popular songs, is really catchy, and everyone I’ve shown it to generally likes it even if they don’t like K-pop.

TRASH TALK

BY EMILY RHODES // PHOTOS BY TORI LEONHARDT // DESIGN BY WESLEY JEFFERIES

TRAIN TERRORS

It’s 1:25p.m. and I’m pulling out of the parking lot of my internship. I left five minutes earlier than usual to make it to my class at 2:20 p.m. I’m not worried — I left a solid 40 minutes before my class. Sure I’ll make it on time! Yeah right, this is Columbia. I’m sitting on Whaley Street and suddenly I hear the worst sound in the world: a train. My blood begins to boil, but I try to relax. Exactly 11 minutes later I begin to lose my cool, literally and figuratively, as I’m running out of time to find a meter spot before my class.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1801

I see a shining, neon orange beacon of light, aka a detour sign, a block away. I weasel my way over, assuming it would take me around the train, right? Nope, this is Columbia. The detour takes me to a part of campus completely under construction. Has USC ever not been under construction? Everywhere I look, there’s a street blocked off, new apartment buildings and no new garages.

BACK SWEAT

At this point it is 2:10 p.m., so I speed over to find a meter by the Horseshoe. Stressed but relieved to be in a spot, I get out of my car and hustle to class. Everything’s good, right? Of course not. After less than 30 seconds of being outside, I have sweat rolling down my face and the lovely back sweat marks that grace us as a form of Columbia initiation. I finally walk into class, but I’m a few minutes late and smothered in sweat. A girl runs in right after me explaining to the professor how she couldn’t find a parking spot, but when he tries to respond to her a train starts roaring.

Which USC Pizza Are You?

BY ROBIN HENDRICKS // DESIGN BY STEPHANIE ORR

1. How often do you use eating utensils?

a. Never. Real food is only held by hands.

b. Sometimes. If my food is messy.

c. Most of the time.

d. Um, always? Like you’re supposed to?

2. What does your room smell like?

a. I haven’t been able to smell in years.

b. Pretty good, as long as I remember to take out the trash.

c. Pleasant. I clean once a week.

d. Febreze, all day, every day.

3. How often do you turn in homework?

a. I don’t know. I lost my syllabus, but my professors haven’t mentioned anything.

b. I’ve been a bit behind.

c. I turn in almost everything, but this calculus, though.

1 4 2 5 3 6

d. I do all my homework, including extra credit.

A: 1 point B: 2 points

4. How do you get to classes?

a. By taking the Carolina Shuttle. For some reason, no one ever sits next to me.

b. By skateboard. I only fall, like, twice a day.

c. By walking. It’s great to breathe in the fresh city air.

d. By biking. So I’m early enough to talk to my professors.

5. How often do you get Starbucks?

a. Never. It interferes with sleep.

b. Three times a day. Is that bad?

c. Only before an 8 a.m. class.

d. Never. I always wake up refreshed.

6. When you’re sick, you:

a. Do nothing. Just stay in bed and whine to anyone who’ll listen.

b. Try to do my homework, but fall asleep to Netflix instead.

c. Do my homework but not much else.

d. Do my homework, email my teachers and offer to tutor via webcam.

C: 3 points

D: 4 points

Pizza Hut Gibbes Cafe Verde Pandini’s

(6-10 points) (11-15 points) (16-20 points) (21-24 points)

You’re nice to have dinner with every once in awhile, but too much time with you can lead to some serious pain.

You get up in the mornings and do your work, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. At least you try.

You vary little in personality, but that’s just because you stay true to what you know best.

You’re the most cultured out of your friend group and it never grows old to hang out with you.

Fraternity Tailgating Lots

BY KATHLEEN MILEWSKI // PHOTOS BY JENSEN GRIM // DESIGN BY ALLY WILLARD

College kids say the darnedest things, especially when their judgment is slightly impaired and the first home game is mere hours away. The unfiltered conversations that result from these conditions are definitely worth repeating. Just in case you haven’t made it out to the frat lots this season, I compiled a list of things you would have heard.

“Whose lip gloss is this? This is some bomb-a-lip gloss!”

“Are those people having sex over there?”

“If the food is free, can we get seconds?”

“I wonder if they clean those couches between games.”

“This is g--damn hell.”

“It’s a good thing it’s not parents’ weekend.”

“I want an ice luge in my house.”

“Don’t judge me, girl, but I just peed over there.”

“I just wanna notate that I am so happy. I could not be happier.”

“Come on, grandma, keep it up.”

“All the f---ing chicken is gone.”

“I have three missed calls from the same b----.” “You mean your girlfriend?”

“We were moving his head up, and it just kept falling right back down.”

“I hate hot dogs more than I hate peanut butter.”

“I feel like I have loose teeth.”

“ I. Am. ALIVE.”

“He tried to come into the stadium holding a bottle of fire ball over his head, and he’s pissed that he didn’t get in.”

“Who is that guy? He just bit me.”

“Wanna get dinner? Let’s raid the tailgates when they go into the game.”

“Last year, this girl said that Waka Flocka grabbed her boobs, and he heard her and called her a lying b----.”