Garnet & Black Winter 2012

The elephant in the room: Don’t talk out of your ass

SOCIAL SUICIDES: Why these trends are all the “rave”

How to achieve ultimate wingman status

Why are we PATHETICso ?

Why we don’t give a f#%k

Quiz: Where will you be when the world ends?

STUDENT MAGAZINE of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jordan Osborne

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

MANAGING EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

PHOTO EDITOR

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

ONLINE EDITOR

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR

VIDEOGRAPHER

STYLE EDITOR STYLE ASSISTANT

Blake Welch

Stephanie Pope

Riley Carithers

Ashley McGarry

Elle Olivia Andersen

Jeremy Aaron

Riley Carithers

Tilden Brighton

Claire Richard

Tucker Prescott

Julia Heinz

Erin Chiet

SECTION EDITORS Lizzie Anstey, Katie Campbell, Kaitlin Wernet

WRITERS

Kalyn Oyer, Deborah Swearingen, Madeline Willett, Joybelle Barlow, Kayla Alexander, Tierra Edens, Thomasin Holly, Kenny Clarke

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Patrick Francis, Heather Fowler

ONLINE

Xavier Edwards, Morgan Epperson, Carman Fowler, Morgan Holton, Anna Mathias, Betsy Pippen, Savannah Taylor, Abbie Thielke, Haley Willard

DESIGNERS

Kyle Alston, Kristmar Muldrow, Austin Price, Annie Drowne, Casey Ksau, Daniel Shelley, Marcus Walker, Chris Sim, George Hinchliffe

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Tilden Brighton, Amanda Coyne, Emilio Craig, Amber Daniels, Ariel Edgeworth, Sarah Elliott, Averie Faulkner, Annie Flick, Walker Fritz, Jawondalyn Harris, Ryan Hayes, Kaitlin Jones, Rachel Mangum, Marcie Nelson, Katie Northcutt Jessica Parker, Elissa Visotski

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

ADVERTISING MANAGER

CREATIVE MANAGER

PRODUCTION MANAGER

FACULTY ADVISER

Scott Lindenberg

Sarah Scarborough

Edgar Santana

C. Neil Scott

Scott Farrand

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Lauren Bailey, Christopher Beauregard, Dana Jennings, Adam Harms, Casey Howard, Chad Hughes, Haley Pope, Frank Pisco, Claire Potts

CREATIVE SERVICES

Jemimah Ekeh, George Hincliffe, Carly Keith, Maddie McDowell, Tucker Prescott, Austin Price

ADVERTISING (803) 777-3888

TO CONTACT G&B, EMAIL GANDBE@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 gandbe@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.

*Oops! In our fall 2012 issue, 24 Hours at Carolina writer Haley Willard was miscredited.

Patrick Francis is a third-year Studio Art major, with an emphasis on photography. After photographing the Top of Carolina restuarant, Patrick says, “Garnet and Black has given me the chance to be a part of something larger on campus and gain experience in the field of photography.”

See his work on pages 8 and 10.

TIERRA EDENS

Tierra Edens is a fourth-year mathematics major with a minor in education and journalism. She is a major hiphop fan and simply likes having a good time. “I definitely enjoyed writing the ‘Disconnect from Technology’ article. It gave me a chance to reflect on my evolution as a student and a means to analyze campus life.” She is thankful for the opportunity to write for this issue, and hopes to contribute in the future.

Kenny is a sophomore journalism student from Ramsey, New Jersey. He writes a weekly column for The Daily Gamecock, as well as sketches and political satire. He likes to rock a bowtie every once in a while. G&B has been a wonderful opportunity thus far and he looks forward to contributing to it in the future. He’s also single (probably because of the bowtie).

Daniel is a third-year visual communications student. He’s been working with student media for a year but this is his first semester with G&B. “I love designing for G&B because my work is actually out there for people to see.” Check out his design for Nightlife on page 18.

DANIEL SHELLEY

KENNY CLARKE

PATRICK FRANCIS

When you buy official merchandise, you not only help generate income to support and enhance the scholastic missions of the University of South Carolina but also help protect the university’s reputation, good name and image by permitting only appropriate uses.

Since 2007 the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at the Russell House and Trademark and Licensing have contributed $11,940,000 to university student scholarships.

Show Your Pride

Some of life’s most important lessons are the ones you learn when you least expect it. Taking this position, I felt assured that I knew what was most important to me: my future, career goals and desire to leave a legacy at USC. Instead, during the last three months I’ve actually found myself learning more and more what I really don’t care about. Well maybe not so much what I don’t care about, but where my priorities actually lie versus where they should be.

I can’t even count how many days this year I’ve put school before my own health. When it’s up to me, I make sure to get some kind of exercise at least five days a week. When it’s up to my professors though, some weeks go by where the most cardio I get is hauling it from my apartment to the coliseum at 8:40 a.m. after I snooze my alarm clock one time too many. Then there are the instances I had to put the magazine before my schoolwork. Usually this looks like me zombie-walking out of Russell House as the sun rises over the Horseshoe during our production week (see p. 16, “Real World or Dream World,” on sleep deprivation).

In a sense, I became the embodiment of everything I rag on in my feature “A Pathetic Generation” (p. 24). I misplaced my voter registration card for weeks, grabbed fast food on more occasions than I’m proud of, rushed out of my house leaving all of the lights on and even managed to score a D on a test I completely forgot to study for. There were days I spent more time on my phone and laptop than actually communicating with people face-to-face — which we address in our feature “Disconnect from Tech” on p. 28.

With this issue though, something changed. I realized that there comes a time where, no matter what you’ve got on your plate, you’ve got to take some time for yourself. Sometimes this comes with sacrifices, like taking a run during the day

even though you know you’ll be up all night finishing a huge project. It means going out with your friends during the week because, let’s face it, you really do only live once. However, like we talk about in “Social Suicides” on p. 20, you’ve got to be sure you’re spending your time wisely. Nonetheless, family, friends and helping others when they need it should always come first. No matter how busy you are, you’ve got to take the time to appreciate who and what you have in your life, and if you can manage to fit it in your schedule, to give back to others (see “Ways to Give Back” on p. 14 for ideas).

After all, it is 2012, and we have an “apocalypse” to brace ourselves for; who knows, this may be the last G&B you’ll ever read (if you’re curious, you can find out where you’ll be when the world ends with our “Doomsday Quiz” on p. 46). In the meantime, don’t be afraid to take risks — but make sure you take the right ones. It can be hard to overcome a lack of motivation or the prospect of instant gratification but trust me, in 10 years when you’re employed, in shape and not crashing on your parents’ couch, you’ll be glad you gave a f*ck when you did.

Superlatives most likely to:

By: Tilden Brighton

When third-year retail management majors Johnny McClurkin and Adam Roper founded the t-shirt company, Forever Determined, they wanted their brand to have a meaning that set them apart from the rest. Influenced by the culture of action sports, they decided on a name that indicated the ideology to never give up on your dreams. Roper says, “Our clothing brand boasts something that no other brand does: the idea that being forever determined will ultimately lead to success.”

The company consists of four members: Dan Frey (main owner/founder), McClurkin & Roper (co-owners) and Jesse Rice (promotions). McClurken and Roper initially teamed up with Frey during their freshman year while attend-

ing USC Upstate. McClurkin claims it was his passion for creativity and drawing that motivated his decision to head all media and design projects for the company. As for Roper, natural financial savviness led him to his current position of managing the money. Each individual group member sticks to working on ‘what they know best,’ which, they credit as one of the reasons for their success.

Forever Determined merchandise boasts a west coast vibe, similar to what one would find at PacSun, and attracts clients interested in board or action sports. According to McClurkin, FD’s greatest accomplishments thus far include being feature designers in Fashion Board’s Student Designer Competition, as well as completing their website and online store. Both of these helped the company introduce their products to the greater public.

As for the future, McClurkin and Roper plan to compete in the Student Designer Competition again in the spring and will continue to promote their brand to the USC community and beyond. After graduation, both intend to make a full career out of their work with Forever Determined and hope to build it to a level that attracts endorsements from famous athletes and celebrities.

On advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Roper says, “Stick with what you know. If you dream of something, that idea may be something that others relate to, so why not take a chance?”

Check out their Facebook page: Forever Determined

be endorsed by Shaun White

Photo: Patrick Francis

While studying abroad in Jonkoping, Sweden, fourth-year marketing and management major, Bryant White, learned more than just a few foreign words. “I constantly asked myself –‘What am I here for?’” and decided that, “there must be more to life, more that I can be doing.” Realizing that there is a significant purpose for everyone, Bryant’s journey led him to found A. Bevy. Productions in September 2009. A. Bevy. Productions is a non-profit organization founded upon three pillars; change, progress and growth. The company adheres to a philosophy of positive change, working to influence others and help them to fulfill their life purpose while creating a lasting legacy at USC.

Entering college as a freshman, Bryant claims, “Life had somewhat come to a halt for me. I realized that the world was much bigger than I grew up to think.” This realization, he credits as the motivation behind his desire to give back through A. Bevy Productions. White describes the beginnings as slow, yet effective, enabling him to focus his efforts on one venture at a time and achieve successful results. A. Bevy’s first project was awarding a scholarship to a USC student, made possible through the sponsorship of USC’s National Pan

Hellenic Council (NPHC).

During his last semester at USC, Bryant plans to focus on establishing A. Bevy. Productions as a strong presence on campus. A. Bevy. is now an official USC student organization with a full executive board, membership, and calendar of events. This fall, their biggest event is the annual MOVell Film Festival and are planning an ‘Impress. Your. Self Scholarship Mixer,’ for the spring.

After graduation, Bryant plans to attend graduate school to earn a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in sound design and music technology, and pursue his dream of working in television and film post-production. Ultimately, he desires to form his own production conglomerate, composed of the memorable people he has encountered along the way. He has lofty goals; hoping the company will rival major studios such as Universal Pictures.

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Think for yourself, not through others - and whatever you do in life, be sure that you are doing it for the right reasons... the right purpose.”

For additional info on A.Bevy, check out www.abevyproductions.com or www.abevyminds,tumblr.com

Fourth-year advertising majors, Ashley Davis and Maddie McDowell, credit their decisions to attend an out-of-state university with fostering the personal growth that indirectly, led to their selection as two of only thirteen students chosen for the American Advertising Federation Initiative Future Board.

The American Advertising Federation Initiative Future Board, a creative think tank, works to cultivate upcoming talent in the marketing and advertising industry. Composed of students nationwide, members receive hands-on experience in marketing communications and work alongside industry executives. They will be working alongside a team of two other students and five Initiative agency executives on the campaign account for the fast-food chain, Arby’s.

The girls credit USC and their professor, Bonnie Drewiany, who nominated them, for helping them get their foot in the door of a highly competitive industry. “USC has afforded me countless opportunities for success,” says McDowell. As a U101 Peer Leader, in her last year at Carolina, she hopes to take the opportunity to give back. “It is my goal to help facilitate the transition from high school to college for my 18 students. It is my hope that they will grow to love Carolina as much as I do.” Upon graduation, she plans to enter the workforce as a copywriter in an advertising agency upon graduation.

As for Davis, she plans to embark on a career in Account Services at an advertising agency. She says her experiences at Carolina, “...have helped me become a better leader in so many facets of the Carolina community and beyond. I’ve been able to realize my potential. Most importantly, I know the person I want to be and the impact I hope to have on others, no matter what my surroundings may be.”

When facing the new challenges as a part of the Futures Board, the girls plan to jump into their work head first, sticking to their mottos of, “Don’t hesitate” and “Say yes.”

Photo: Elle Olivia Andersen

Photo: Jeremy Aaron

ALL ACCESS PASS: Top of

Carolina

By Kalyn Oyer // Photography by Patrick Francis // Design by Annie Drowne

DID YOU KNOW

?

1) The Top of Carolina is open for Friday BBQ from 11:30am-1:30pm and for Sunday brunch from 10:30am1:30pm

2) Price: Friday- $10.75 per person, Sunday- $20 plus gratuity per person

3) Phone Number (to make reservations): 803-777-7919

Ever wonder why you see hordes of old people hijacking Capstone elevators on the weekends? It’s not a covert Alumni society secretly living in the bowels of the building. The visitors, usually dressed in their finest attire, are headed to the Top of Carolina, a rotating dining room located on the 18th floor of the dorm that serves a delectable brunch spread and draws tourists from all over the state.

Why is this restaurant so special? Well, for one, it revolves! Not like the tilt-a-whirl at the State Fair or anything. We’re talking a barely noticeable rotation that is just enough to give a great view of the Columbia skyline through its wall-to-wall windows. In fact, it’s the only rotating restaurant in all of South Carolina. One meal usually takes about a full rotation, giving diners a complete 360-degree view of the Columbia metropolitan area while they gorge on some of the finest eating to be found in Cola.

Another reason this place is so unique is its mystery. Sure, many USC students know about its existence, but few have stepped foot on its orbiting threshold. Students can’t access the 18th floor unless they are diners, and then only during specified times on Friday and Sunday. This means finding an elusive phone number, making reservations, dressing in your spiffiest, and

forking over some real cash versus the typical meal swipe. And even if you live in Capstone, the glorious 18th floor is sacred ground to which only the privileged can gain access. Let the mystery linger no longer, its an experience not to miss before graduation.

Why should you fork over that paycheck just to eat USC dining? Because, it’s DELICIOUS. For Sunday brunch, think of every breakfast food your taste buds could imagine: golden-brown waffles dripping with maple syrup, sizzling bacon fresh off the skillet, sweetscented cinnamon buns layered in icing. Then, there’s round two. Because brunch isn’t brunch without lunch. For the second course, you can treat yourself to delectable shrimp and grits, tender slow-roasted turkey, and for dessert, rows of martini-glassed treats. Be sure to save room - this isn’t your ordinary Gibbes breakfast, to say the least.

For a less expensive meal, there’s the Friday Barbecue Buffet. The feast includes mouth-watering BBQ, homemade macaroni and cheese, potato salad and much more Southern deliciousness, topped off, of course, with an unlimited amount of sweet tea and some banana pudding for dessert. So if you aren’t sold on the incredible, one-of-a-kind atmosphere, maybe your stomach will coerce you into dining at the Top of Carolina.

Imagine a dub-step remix of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” played on an acoustic guitar and new age yo-yoing. These were all elements of fourth-year management and marketing student, Matthew Nichols, performance at this year‘s Carolina Productions event USC’s Got Talent? His multi-faceted performance, an acoustic rendition of Gotye’s famed song and Matthew performing a mastery of yo-yo tricks, surprised the judges and won over the audience.

A world ranked yo-yoer, Matthew wasn’t planning on auditioning for USC’s Got Talent. A rare coincidence, being one of four total men in a Women’s Gender Studies class, he befriended Erik Telford, the special programs coordinator for Carolina Productions. Discussing the upcoming event, on a whim, Erik asked Matthew if he had any special talents, to which he replied, “Yeah, but if I tell you, I’ll have to show you.”

Matthew picked up a yo-yo during high-school, sticking with a pop-up trend that spread through his school, and becoming a master yo-yoer, or “Yo-Yo Lord,” as his roommate likes to introduce him. From covering the basics to creating original tricks of his own, Matt’s driven personality to master a skill set has taken him to the world championships and into the small but albeit highly-competitive world of yo-yoing.

The key to developing such a unique hobby he says, “You have to learn to tie in your hobbies with life. You know I’d practice watching Law and Order or when I had down time working. A lot of people say, ‘You must have a lot of free time.’ Heck no!”

Matthew‘s preliminary audition solely featured his yo-yo skills. Playing the acoustic guitar and singing were something he has pursued just as relentlessly. Not until his long-time friend and mentor,

Frick, argued to him, “You can’t win with yo-yoing Matthew. You might win with singing and guitar, but you’re not going to win yoyoing,” did Matthew envision a way to combine his two talents. W ith a last minute change of the MC’s introduction of his performance, altering it to highlight his guitar playing and not his yo-yo skills — made less than two minutes before he went on stage — a surprisingly relaxed Matthew played to his strengths, involving the audience and using the surprising twist of acoustic guitar and vocal performance to dubstep choreographed yo-yo tricks in order to clinch the winning title.

Matthew’s easy-going and talkative personality make it no wonder how he became such a crowd favorite. Of his perfor mance, Matthew says, “I wanted to show the judges that I’m multi-talented. I wanted to pull the blindfold over them and surprise the heck out of them. Luckily, it worked.”

By: Riley Carithers // Photo: Elle Olivia Andersen // Design: Marcus Walker

“I wanted to show the judges that I’m multitalented. I wanted to pull the blindfold over them and surprise the heck out of them. Luckily, it worked.”

Carolina dummies: Ways Give Back

By: Riley Carithers Design: Stephanie Pope

HELP A FELLOW GAMECOCK HEAD HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With roughly 40% of the USC student body from out-of-state, there are many students who resort to getting home by bus, which is uncomfortable and slow, or by plane, which is normally very expensive. A new endeavor created by two USC alumni, RidePost, is an online community where people can share their travel plans and connect with others who need a ride to the same destination. The process is simple. Sign-up is easy via your Facebook account and search through postings from drivers, detailing where they are going and how much they are charging per seat. The website offers a safe platform to arrange an exchange, allowing members to be reviewed and post information detailing past trips. So, what do you have to lose? Gain a little company for the long hours on the road and put some gas money in your pocket.

The time of giving, both ‘thanks’ and otherwise, is upon us, and there is no better time to send a little goodwill out into the universe and give a boost to your karma quota before the year’s end. If you’re stumped on ways to spread the love, read on: G&B has compiled a list of things that are sure to put you on the

Hopefully being a designated driver doesn’t just happen when you’ve lost a bet with your buds, but in case you haven’t had the opportunity in a while, volunteer yourself for the job. Take on the task of DD for a single night or even a couple. Let your friends know this is your present to them for putting up with all the shenanigans you’ve pulled throughout the year (Has your roommate really forgiven you for the latest practical joke you pulled?). Whether you are in the doghouse or not, your friends will be astounded at your sacrificial nature and jump at the offer. They will thank you till the night is done, but hey – you never said that you would let them DJ the ride too. Crank

PAY FOR A STRANGER’S PARKING TICKET OR FILL UP A LOW METER

We’ve all been there. You are rushing to class or grabbing a coffee and before you know it, ten minutes has turned into thirty. Approaching your car, you plead to the skies that there won’t be a dreaded little envelope on your windshield. But, alas – there it is. Parking tickets are a drag, so if you see a meter running low, grab a spare quarter from your pocket and help a stranger out. If you want to go a step (or leap) further, find a car with a parking ticket, fill up the meter and pay the fine yourself. Leave a note so they know what a Good Samaritan you’ve been and inspire them to pay it forward.

LET SOMEONE KNOW THEY ARE APPRECIATED

A little cheesy? Maybe. Totally worthwhile? You betcha. Leave someone a hand-written note that lets them know they are making a difference. Maybe it’s the bus driver you normally stumble past while making the ride to your 8 a.m. class or your bestie who you haven’t been able to see enough this semester. Regardless if it’s a few lines or a few pages, there are far too many people doing positive things that go unnoticed and unthanked.

FOSTER A CAT OR DOG OVER WINTER BREAK

Big brown eyes, soft fur, unconditional love – what could be cuter? Owning a pet in college isn’t always feasible, but when winter break rolls around – consider opening your home to a needy dog or cat for the holidays. Adoption centers constantly struggle with overcrowding and often need temporary foster homes for the animals. It doesn’t come without responsibilities, but who can resist a four-legged partner-in-crime? Check out Pets Inc., The Humane Society or Pawmetto Lifeline in Columbia for more information.

Real World or Dream World?

By Joybelle Barlow

Students think they’ll be able to catch up qucikly after pulling a few all-nighters, but in reality it will take a serious toll on thier health.

The words don’t even make sense any more. The page has just become one blurred version of black and white. I give up trying to decipher the words and take a sip of my coffee. These days, it’s been my only friend. Why is that? Oh, I remember. Because when exams come, I don’t get sleep. And when I don’t sleep, I become a monster with convincingly blood-shot eyes.

Overall Health

According to the National Sleep Foundation, several studies suggest that the obesity problem in the United States is linked to the decreasing amount of hours that people are sleeping. Hormones that regulate metabolism and appetite are disrupted when a person is sleep deprived. When you don’t get enough sleep, you become hungrier and eat more, causing weight gain.

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By now, this monster’s brain is all filled up with five-hour energy drinks that stopped working about two days ago. It turns out that when I replaced dreaming in my sleep to dreaming of going to sleep, I was actually doing myself harm.

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o ooooooooooooooooooooooo o o ooooooooooooooooooooooo oo o o ooooooooooooooooooooooo o

Retaining Information

Only after getting about six hours of sleep do we retain the majority of any newly-learned information. To fully process information, we need REM sleep (the sleep phase where dreams occur) which consumes about twenty percent of an adult’s sleep. Only after getting the necessary amount of REM sleep can you remember old information and recently learned material, which helps you earn higher grades. In terms of GPA, when students slept more each week, they scored better on a test. After just one week of sleep deprivation, both Harvard Medical School and the University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey found that test scores went down dramatically.

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While each person is different, 6-10 hours is the average amount of sleep our bodies need for optimal performance. Sleep debt, or sleep loss, can increase this number. Like at a bank, you can pay it off over time, but your body will break down if deposits aren’t made. Let’s say you need 8 hours of sleep every day, but only end up getting 5 hours each night for a week. You would have incurred a sleep debt of (8-5) x 7 = 21 hours in just a week.

Social Life

Buried in sleep debt, Erin Walther, a first-year Psychology student, woke up one night to find herself in the middle of her suitemate’s dorm. She had gotten out of her bed and walked into the first unlocked room. Sleepwalking, talking or even screaming in your sleep are signs of sleep deprivation. Other symptoms resulting from getting less sleep than our body needs range from headaches and blurred vision to depression and even shortening your life span.

Impaired Senses

Talking in Your Sleep

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When it comes to your social life, sleep deprivation is the fastest way to turn into your friends’ new bipolar enemy. People who lack the required amount of sleep are prone to extreme emotions and mood swings. Before you know it, you are laughing uncontrollably, angrily screaming and/or crying all within a matter of minutes While it may seem like a few sleepless nights may not hurt, your overall health is at risk.

Research by the University of Minnesota shows that one all-nighter can cause more of an impairment to the senses and reaction times than driving while intoxicated. In fact, 1 in every 5 serious motor vehicle injuries is related to driver fatigue, with 80,000 drivers falling asleep behind the wheel every day. Microsleep, which can be similar to blacking out, occurs when the brain automatically shuts down, falling into a sleep state for a period of time lasting from a second to half a minute.

YOUR BODY ON: SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Learning

Can’t remember the info you crammed for?

Proteins in the brain regenerate neurons that enable us to retain information. Without the proper amount of REM sleep, your brain is unable to fire the neurons you use to learn new information.

You probably thought that not getting the reccomended 6-10 hours of sleep a night wasn’t detrimental to your health... Scientific research shows otherwise. The state of your brain going 17 hours without sleep is equivalent to how it would function with a 0.05% blood alcohol content, according to a recent study from the Journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

Speech

DID YOU KNOW?

Can’t form the right words to say?

The neurons associated with processing language in the temporal lobe slow down, causing us to slur our speech.

Weight Gain

Packed on a few lbs. recently?

Lack of sleep causes your fat cells to be less sensitive to the hormone insulin which controls your blood sugar. This causes your body to store more sugar which can build up over time and turn to fat.

TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP?

Turn your TV, phone, computer etc. off thirty minutes before you go to bed. The LCD screen light stimulates your brain causing it not to produce melatonin- your bodies’ natural sleep hormone.

Try reading. It’ll focus your mind on one thing and away from any stray thoughts that keep your mind racing and you awake.

Lower the temperature. An ideal room temperature for sleeping is 60º- 68ºF because scientists believe it mimics your bodies’ natural temperature drop.

Sex Drive

Can’t get it up?

Lack of sleep lowers your body’s levels of testosterone, the hormone that affects your libido, or sex drive. Low levels of testosterone also make it harder to build your muscles up at the gym. Instead they result in muscle fatigue.

Immune System

Wonder why you’re sick all of a sudden?

Lack of sleep decreases your bodies’ vital cells that fight infection (white blood cells), causing you to be more prone to illnesses.

Writer/Design: Stephanie Pope

Illustration: Kyle Alston

game THE ART OF BEING A WINGMAN

BY DEBORAH SWEARINGEN

PHOTO BY JEREMY AARON // DESIGN BY DANIEL SHELLEY

Friday night—finally. You have just arrived in Five Points, and are excited to forget a week full of mediocre test grades and tedious homework assignments. From across the crowded bar, you notice that someone is paying your friend particular attention. While a flirtatious conversation would seem to be the ultimate goal of most, a conversation with a deceivingly old, greasy-haired man is not quite what your friend has been looking for. Freeze! If you or someone you know has been caught in this situation, you’re in dire need of a wingman. Whether it’s that extra boost in confidence you need to approach the hottie three barstools down, or warding off an unwanted advance, wingmen are often essential crew members for any night out. A wingman can come in several forms - a guy, girl, friend or even a stranger. Simply put: a good wingman provides assistance, regardless of the circumstance.

Despite her best attempts, the guy your best friend has been eyeing all night appears clueless to her advances. Wing-woman, now is the time to act. Buy her crush a drink, and hand deliver it “from her.” Forward? Definitely. To avoid unnecessary obstacles, mainly your BFF, refrain from revealing your master plan until it has been fully unraveled—she’ll thank you later.

cock block

An empty bar and frustratingly average DJ are not making for a memorable night. What could possibly make this dull situation entertaining? Your friend has had a terrible week, and you realize this ish is only making it worse. Walk directly up to the DJ, and request a song. Bring your friend out to the dance floor. She might not go willingly, but be persistent. Begin dancing ridiculously, and soon she will join in. Your insane moves compliment her normal ones, and make her appear the sane of the pair. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your own image to help a friend.

As a faithful wingman, you often have to take matters into your own hands. Have a friend who is sulking at a party because he or she has had a string of bad luck with the opposite sex? Channel your inner Barney Stinson [“How I Met Your Mother”]. Find an attractive girl, ask if she has met your friend and immediately walk away. You have initiated a conversation, and provided them with something to talk about - your fool-proof matchmaking skills.

Amidst the perspiring partiers, and the blaring bass behind Nicki’s latest hit, its difficult to hear, and even more difficult to dish out love advice. Create signal words or hand gestures to use at times like this. Your boy’s ex is fast approaching, call out a general [and previously designated] word that will indicate to him that it is time to relocate. Be prepared, so you can skip the awkwardness associated with rejection.

Wingmen and wingwomen of the University of South Carolina, it is important that you truly understand how your actions can make or break a friend’s chances with someone. You know your friends best, and in many situations can make rational decisions for them when they cannot. So let’s all stand together in the fight against the potentially uncomfortable, embarrassing predicaments that can come with drinking and fraternizing with the opposite sex.

Simply put: a good wingman provides assistance, regardless of the circumstance.

suicides social YO TH U TO AY'

Youth

By: Thomasin Holly

Design/ Photo: Stephanie Pope

today have a tendency to take quick risks that can come with serious consequences...

Every few years or so, college campuses become the breeding grounds for new, widely-followed trends. Many of these crazes sweep across a broad range of student demographics, regardless of whether or not they come with serious, long-term consequences. This “monkey see, monkey do” mentality can cause students to take risks they may not normally be comfortable with, just for the opportunity to fit in.

More recently, though, many of the fads have become popularized in social contexts and among students who will go to extremes to fulfill certain stereotypes. Whether this willingness to take risks stems from a desired body image, reckless behavior or having excuses to make mistakes, the aftermath is hardly ever taken into consideration before it’s too late. These are all things you can find within the USC community, and throughout the youth of this country in general for that matter. Follow us through a night out in downtown Columbia and decide for yourself if these trends are really all the “rage.”

drunkorexics

Picture this: you’re sitting at a bar when a girl walks by (if that’s what you would call her sideways half strut). You can tell this chick is “white girl wasted.” It’s obvious she parted ways with both her dignity and shoes long ago. Coming from what you assume was a ‘Merica mixer, she now looks like she pulled a “Katniss Everdeen” and volunteered as tribute in the Hunger Games. She has cuts and bruises all over her legs, perhaps from stumbling up and/or tumbling down the hills of Cola or perhaps from doing something else “free-spirited.”

At some point in the evening, this girl came to a fork in the road, the point when she decided whether she was satisfied with having just a little fun or whether she was going to go all out – after all, there are no redos for a Saturday night. And when the weekend comes, spending your money on a hearty dinner versus in Five Points just isn’t appealing. Little Miss Patriotic figured she’d skip dinner to save the money and calories, a minimum input for maximum output. However, wandering through Five Points alone and losing all personal possessions isn’t something you would wish on your worst enemy now-a-days. Any of this sound familiar? Skipping meals to save money, avoid the the extra calories then getting intoxicated faster is a growing trend, unofficially dubbed “drunkorexia.” Aside from ensuring a nasty headache the next morning, eating a restricted diet before drinking leads to faster absorption into the bloodstream, thus intensifying alcohol’s effects and increasing the possibility of alcohol poisoning and liver disease in the long run.

The New York Times quotes a study by a team of Swedish researchers in which a group of 10 people consumed a few drinks on days where they either fasted overnight or ate a modest breakfast. In the case of those who ate something before having a drink, the rate of intoxication was slower even though the amount of alcohol didn’t change. Blood-alcohol

“She can’t go less than five days a week at the tanning salon and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

levels were also about 30% lower on the day the subjects ate something beforehand. Another interesting result of the study was that, in some cases, eating something beforehand could make the difference between a person’s blood-alcohol level staying under the legal limit or surpassing it. I don’t know about you but I’d have to say the extra carbs in a slice of pizza are much easier to work off than DUI community service hours.

must be in an altered state to fully experience the show. More and more people outside the stereotypical “druggie” persona are trying substances they wouldn’t normally touch, and aren’t hard to convince that it’s the “cool” thing to do. Potential severe dehydration and brain damage aside, you can’t miss out on the ‘true’ experience, right?

Relieved and thinking you’ve seen the worst of the night, in marches the next person to quickly change your mind. This guy has an infinite energy source; acting like he could stay awake and dance through the night. Unsure of exactly what his substance of choice is for the evening, his mumbling of “everyone looks so beautiful” and talk about how he likes your “energy” gives you a pretty good idea. This guy’s getup looks like a neon paint spin art machine threw up on him. Covering his blood shot and glazed-over eyes is a pair of matching neon shutter shades. Believe it or not, those are the tamest elements of his outfit. What once was a bright colored tank is now a remnant of its former self. It appears that, in a sudden burst of energy, he attempted to remove it a-la The Hulk. The ensemble isn’t complete without the numerous glow sticks around his wrists and head. Mumbling the latest Skrillex mix, he sits down next to you and starts slurring about this sick DJ party he came from. After being ignored by the bar tender as he tries to get a drink that he surely doesn’t need, he “floats” his delirious self to his friend’s place for the after-party.

Not only are the clothes you watched this guy leave in blinding, but so are the side effects of the behaviors that typically go along with the social trend they represent. Blurred vision, rapid eye movement, increased heart rate and blood pressure, hallucinations and depression are a few of the negative side-effects that result from frequent use of clubs drugs such as Mollie and Ecstasy. These drugs aren’t necessarily new to the scene, but as more people are attracted to following this musical trend and thus the alternate experiences it offers, club drugs are evolving from taboo into a normal activity.

The recent shift of dubstep, techno and house music into mainstream culture has resulted in the explosion of events like DayGlow and Barstool Blackout, as well as outdoor music festivals such as Bonnaroo and Counterpoint. These mass gatherings often create the mob mentality that you

As the place starts to clear out for the night, you spy a girl across the room who seems to have something odd about her. After a moment, you realize she has an odd orange glow surrounding her. Maybe its the contrast of her jet black hair and sheer white top, but as you head to close out your tab, her leathery textured skin is a dead giveaway. Looking like an Oompa Loompa’s distant cousin, you have seen this girl before. She can’t go less than five days a week at the tanning salon and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

As much as everyone loves a summer glow, its hard to ignore years of research that blatantly attributes tanning to the largest cause of skin cancer. A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that using means of indoor tanning increases the risk of skin cancer by 2.5 for squamos cell carcinoma and 1.5 times for basal cell carcinoma. Keepign up with the pressures of staying a bronze godess year-long may be high up on your list of priorities, but the length of your life may pale compared to that of someone not quite as concerned with their skin tone.

fake and bakers textaholics

Frightened thinking about who you may encounter next, you pay your tab and leave. On the road, you end up behind some car whose driver apparently never had to pass the whole “stay between the lines” part of his drivers’ license exam. You assume they must be under the influence until you quickly pass the driver and realize he’s texting. Its dark out, he’s most likely returning from Five Points, the streets are lined with pedestrians (not to mention other drivers on the road who are possibly under the influence), but of course, that text message just can’t wait. He clearly isn’t willing to disconnect himself long enough to get from point A to B without recklessly catching up with his friends already at the after party he’s headed to.

Many young adults claim they can handle multitasking but do they really understand the risks?

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation released in 2009, texting while driv-

ing facilitates a risk of crashing that is 23 times higher than that of a non-distracted driver. The same report averages that sending a text message takes a drivers’ eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. If you’re driving at a speed of 55 mph, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field... blind.

You may be asking yourself why students don’t consider what they’re getting themselves into before they make such careless decisions. Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all, generic answer to this question. Drake’s reinforcement of a “YOLO” mentality does, however, provide us with some insight into the thought (or lack, thereof) that goes into making these decisions. If you only live once, why not live life to the fullest, without regard for a small chance of lasting repercussions? Well, to some effect, Drake’s got a point. Maybe it’s what makes you step out of your box and try new things; maybe it gives you the courage to approach that guy or girl in the bar that you normally wouldn’t.

Third-year biology student Krupesh Dave says, “I personally don’t think it’s that big of a deal, as long as people are aware of the consequences of their actions. We’re all adults and are all capable of making our own decisions.”

On the other hand, many students don’t realize that attempting absolutely everything that college life can offer may hinder their opportunity to live a successful life in both the rapidly approaching and far-off future — or to even have the ability to live at all.

Second-year exercise science student Angelle Moore believes, “People our age think that it’s socially acceptable to do these things because we’re young, but these activities are dangerous at any age. Being young isn’t any excuse or justification to do them, and you don’t have to do them to have fun.” Taking part in these types of activi ties don’t necessarily make a person more admirable just because they’re willing to take adventurous risks and put paranoia on the back burner.

When it comes down to it, it’s all about picking your battles and going into them fully armed. If you’re going to engage in dangerous activities, at least know the risks that accompany them. Whether your knowledge comes from research or just common sense, be sure to, at the very least, avoid ignorance. Gut instincts are there for a reason and sometimes being the odd man out can lead to real gratification when others realize the severity of their choices down the road. It can be rewarding to live a little, but if you do it in small doses, you’re likely to see more of it than your skinny, fake-and-baked, text-aholic peers.

“If you’re driving at a speed of 55 mph, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field... blind.”

A PATHETIC GENERATION

BY: JORDAN OSBORNE // PHOTO: JEREMY AARON // DESIGN: GEORGE HINCHLIFFE

We don’t give a fuck. Unlike our parents’ and grandparents’ generations, we’ve got it made in the shade. We aren’t living during the Great Depression or in the middle of a World War. Students living in the 60s were willing to challenge First Amendment rights, even if it meant suspension or expulsion (think sit-ins and organized boycotts). Our parents made history with events like Woodstock and all we’ve been able to manage are mass music and drug-fests that lack any real purpose. Even if some take small steps like driving a Prius, working out daily or attending class, students often pick and choose ways to get involved that are most convenient or beneficial for themselves. This ultimately causes a bystander effect and they assume others will pick up their slack. The clincher? We aren’t doing much to fix the way our generation thinks.

Since the earliest days of our middle-school history classes, we’ve learned about our forefathers and those who paved the way for us to live a life of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These people fought so that we could have this privilege, and even lost a few of their own teeth in the process. Being born into a world where these

if we aren’t even willing take care of the planet that the White House sits on. A scenario we see all too often: students ditching plastic bottles in a trash can just because it’s more convenient than taking the seven extra steps to the in-your-face, brightly colored, deliberately placed recycling receptacle. Students will think of a hundred reasons why that one bottle doesn’t matter, but if that’s the mentality of every average carbonated, sugar-water drinker, the “green” bins will end up filled with chewed gum and unwanted coupon sheets.

Jacob, a fourth year accounting and finance student says, “It depends on how busy I am; if the bins are beside each other I’d definitely recycle, but if it’s across the street I probably won’t go out of my way.”

Recycling and environmentally friendly solutions aren’t new ideas but we are one of the first generations that must seriously consider confronting the status of our degraded planet. The Natural Resources Defense Council supports that recycling, (especially in large areas like college campuses) becomes less expensive as it’s done on a large scale and, in the long run, will be cheaper than

things are expected, we have lost the motivation to continue fighting for them.

VOTER TURNOUT

Activists like Susan B. Anthony dedicated much of their lives to ensuring all people have the right to vote regardless of gender, race or education. According to the 2008 census (during the last presidential election year), 62.1% of those between the ages of 18-29 with some college experience voted and 35.9% without college experience made it to the polls. In 1972, these numbers were almost 10% higher (ranking at 72.5% and 41.8%, respectively). The younger generations of decades past used to be the first to stand up and advocate for equality and the right to democracy. However, too much of today’s youth today can’t even put down the remote or a joint long enough to get off the couch and take a stand for what they believe in (assuming they’ve even taken the time to formulate their own opinions and beliefs).

SAVING THE PLANET

In reality, it doesn’t matter whether we vote or not

If you are under 21, it is against the law to buy alcoholic beverages. All South Carolina regulations enforced.

dealing with the problems created by landfills. Similar to shopping at places like Costco, it’s better because you’re saving in bulk (and you can mooch a free meal off the samples); the more you have of something, the cheaper it becomes to produce and manage.

Everyone’s heard the statistics — put one way or another — painting a picture of Americans’ accumulated trash and how it can wrap around the equator three times, be stacked high as skyscrapers or stretch the length of hundreds of football fields. These types of grandiose visuals, despite their factual accuracy, create the misconception that small actions can’t make a difference. Take this example: the Clean Air Council tells us that between 1997 and 2007, bottled water consumption in the U.S. grew from 13.4 gallons per person to 29.3 gallons per person (more than double). News flash, water is one of nature’s most abundant renewable resources. We claim that we drink bottled water for the convenience, but it’s really because we’re too lazy to try the alternatives. One word, people: Camelbaks. Suck it up, make the one-time investment and start saving the planet with baby steps.

The craziest part is that we let things go so far that

it’s not just a matter of making sure our voices are heard or leaving a lasting and positive impact anymore. Our lack of concern runs so deep that we don’t even care if we stay healthy and fit enough to stick around for retirement.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Obesity and malnutrition have become issues that are all too prevalent on college campuses; the one place that they should be combated most aggressively. The Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study that showed college obesity rates growing from 5 percent in 1993 to 8.4 percent in 1992 and eventually a full-blown 10 percent by 2007. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that’s about 5.2 million students today.

Being raised in the era of fast-food empires, it’s tough to justify spending the money for more nutrutious options when cruising through a drive through is twice as convenient. It’s completely typical for us to place our personal health last on our lists of priorities. Most colleges offer top-notch workout facilities (much like Strom), as a means to staying in shape while at school. Yes, Strom always seems full but it’s usually packed with the same crowd. You can rest assured that you’ll see just as many, if not more, students chowing down on Taco Bell, Burger King, Chick-fil-a and Pizza Hut in the student union on a daily basis. For some students, the most exercise they get all day is trekking up the spiral staircase in Russell House.

Some would say that only 10 percent of students having a BMI of over 30 percent sounds relatively low, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the other 90 percent are the picture of perfect health. Although being skinny is the modern “ideal,” young people will go to extremes in order to make their bodies look “good” regardless of the internal or long-term consequences. Not taking care of your body now can lead to a whole slew of complications later in life including diabetes, heart disease and, ultimately, depression, according to information from the LiveStrong organization. Reports from the U.S. National Library of Medicine say as many as 9 out of 10 students eat less than the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and six out of 10 students work out less than three days per week doing 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 30 minutes of moderate-intensity. Most students say they’re too busy to make it to the gym any more than that, but they don’t seem to have the same difficulty finding time to make it to Power Hour or Pint Night in the middle of the week.

LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Along the same lines as planning for the future,

many students attribute their lack of motivation to the job market that awaits them after graduation — serving as more of an excuse than an actual reason.

“The job market is a scapegoat,” says second year journalism student Emily Muldrow. She believes students who work harder to set themselves apart,and look for opportunities beyond those handed to them won’t have a problem getting hired after they graduate.

Much of our generation feels as if they don’t have to push themselves to get involved if they “can’t” get a job when they graduate anyway. This leads to low and irregular class attendance, embarrassing graduation rates and a “burnout” lifestyle. This year, the Associated Press reported that 53 percent of recent college graduates are either jobless or are under-employed somewhere where their degrees aren’t being utilized. In the past, fewer people held college degrees. Now that so many more young adults are attending school, having a diploma is less valuable than having actual skills. However, there are steps that students can take outside of the classroom to put themselves ahead. If students don’t put in the time with extracurricular activities, student organizations or networking because they prioritize football season and Five Points frequenting above all else, they’ll fall to the bottom of the hiring pool and wonder why they’re serving tables once May rolls around. Of course, it’s important to have a good time and live up the four (or five) years that you spend in college. “Working for the weekends” will be just that though, if you don’t distinguish yourself from the rest of your peers.

Our overall willingness to build a better future for ourselves is minimal at best. This isn’t to say that we are not spending our days at Carolina among the future doctors, lawyers, politicians and leaders of tomorrow. Many people work tirelessly to stay in shape, meet their goals and keep our country in good standing.

As a whole, our generation is making seemingly less progress than those of decades past. We don’t see any radical youth movements of Title IX-like proportions on campuses today. The typical student isn’t willing to help out unless it’s easy and benefits them in some way (i.e. buying a pair of Tom’s). In a time where flunking an exam warrants going out and partying until you forget about it, how can we expect to change attitudes in a fundamental way? It’s pretty clear where we’ll end up if we maintain our same pace; it’ll be like trying to escape quicksand by the time we realize how far gone our values and motivation have become as a generation and as a country.

As for this problem, I’d like to come up with some profound solution, but after some thought, I just really don’t care...

Could you, would you with a book? Could you, would you not take a look? I’m dropping a Dr. Seuss rhyme on you to ask: Could you disconnect from technology? Could you not check your Facebook or e-mail, refrain from tweeting and leave phone apps untouched for a week? Connect or disconnect? That is the question.

We use our smartphones and iPods to listen to music while running at the gym. We check Facebook between classes. We use e-mail to reach managers, communicate with other students and contact professors. So, where or how would we be without all this? Well, we’d be in 2001. So, let’s hop in our shagmobile and travel 11 years into the past. Yeah, baby, yeah!

This year, I am a returning student at the University of South Carolina. When I began at the University of South Carolina in the fall of 2001, I didn’t have so much as a cell phone. The presence of mobile phones was not nearly as evident as it is now. My roommate, her friend and my suitemate were the only students I knew on campus who owned one. When I wanted to contact another student on campus, I used the USC directory to call their room, ventured to their dorm, ran into them on campus or passed a message through someone else.

As a freshman, I rarely checked my university e-mail. I would unintentionally go days (or longer) without signing in to my account. E-mail primarily came in handy around campus for sending amusing forwards or chain mail. Blackboard, a resource we use now for every class offered at USC, was essentially non-existent; I only had one teacher who used the system. Most necessary information was communicated during class time or featured in our syllabus (we couldn’t skip class and download the PowerPoint later).

Eva Czabarka, an Associate Professor in the Mathematics department, says she would miss, “Well over 100,” e-mails in one day if she didn’t check it. She continues, “I’m a bit e-mail addicted now, too. Not every five minutes, but I do check my e-mail even when I don’t necessarily have to. One of the problems is that my work is connected to my e-mail. If I don’t have access to my e-mail I would be considerably behind in my work.”

Thinking about the differences between now and then, I realize the profound effect that technology has had on the way I interact.

I am far less physically sociable. Mainly resorting to using my cell phone

Writer//TierraEdens

GAMECOCKS USC

Designer//CaseyKsau Photographer//ElleOliviaAndersen

to call or send a text to relay information, I associate with my professors and other students differently. E-mail is an integral part of my life, along with Facebook and Twitter. The time I used to spend physically facilitating social interactions I now have freed up to spend in other ways. There is no more wasted time walking across campus and knocking on a friend’s door to check if they are around or waiting for my professor to turn up in their office. I can practically reach anyone with a few taps on my cell phone. My battery dies? Not a problem. I could ask any one of my classmates to borrow their phone for a minute or two. With Wi-Fi practically everywhere, I am virtually accessible 24 hours a day. Realizing how much more technology plays a role in my daily interaction, I began to wonder — could I disconnect from technology? Could I exist as I did in 2001? Has all of this increased technology really improved my way of life? Over a threeday period, I challenged myself to unhook

completely. With the exception of carrying my cell phone in case of an emergency, I planned to abstain from using my phone to make calls or send texts, and I wouldn’t check my e-mail, Facebook or Twitter once.

I didn’t even make it through the first day without a screw up. Forgetting I was supposed to be totally ‘disconnected,’ I woke up that morning and, without thinking, tapped the Facebook app on my phone. I decided to start over at 8 a.m. only to attempt checking Facebook a second time at 8:25 a.m. (and again when I made the same mistake for a third time later on). Needing to make a few phone calls, I found a pay phone and using napkins to protect my hands from the possible germ-infested receiver and buttons. Finding no dial tone on the other end, I went to a nearby BI-LO to make my calls. This counts as redemption for my earlier mess up in the day, right?

Day two of disconnection started off a little better. I didn’t check Facebook at all but, while at the State Fair, even though it was ‘against the rules’ I decided to take a picture with my camera phone. I really wanted to capture the moment with my son and I never carry another camera in addition to the one built into my phone. Additionally, because of a last minute change in plans, I had

HEADQUARTERS:

“All I need now is Google. If they told me to do research from a huge book, I wouldn’t know how to narrow down information for a paper,” says Adrianna Rivest, first-year biology student.

when I wake up, one of the first things I do is check Facebook.

a baby-sitter. Even though they were necessary, I shook my head in disappointment with myself as I made these calls.

On day three, I was fully committed. I didn’t make any phone calls, send any text messages or check my e-mail, Facebook or Twitter. Throughout this period of disconnection I didn’t miss any text messages but I did miss eight calls, five school related e-mails and a Facebook message. I found that I didn’t feel I had missed much of anything relevant by not constantly checking my Facebook. I spend most of my time on the site reading other peoples’ status updates for laughs. It’s true, social media can be helpful in quickly finding out about issues in the community or on campus, but it’s not something that watching the news couldn’t resolve. For me, though, as is the case with most other students, it serves as an outlet to voice opinions, send mass messages with ease, laugh and relate to friends and family. It it necessary? No. Do I usually use it for pure entertainment? Yes. Would I miss it? Well... probably. I did find myself checking my phone often just to see if I had any missed calls. It was a habit I couldn’t break over such a short period, and would probably take much longer than three days to rid myself of.

As we all know, there are countless benefits of technology and its use in daily interactions, both inside and outside of the classroom. Technology is convenient, useful and, above all, efficient. We should ask ourselves though, has so much technology actually made us better? For example, bringing a laptop to class may be a faster, easier way to take notes and save money in the long run, but it’s also a distraction. I’m much more inclined to check Facebook when I don’t understand what my professor is lecturing about or I’m just plain bored, instead of paying attention and asking questions. And if I miss something — well I can just e-mail my professor or classmates later.

Simple things like using actual library books for research (or even finding them) aren’t common knowledge any longer. Now we’re used to getting our information in a blink of the eye, as we type our query into an online search engine.

Adrianna Rivest agrees, saying, “For someone who grew up on technology, it would be really difficult (to not have it). All I need now is Google. If they told me to do research from a huge book, I wouldn’t know how to narrow down information for a paper.” She further adds, “I think (technology) helps us get things done a lot quicker than we used to… So, it’s definitely helpful, but it’s almost like we’ve become too reliant on technology.”

your new code name: Screen Eye,

mission: retrieve all your technical devices (iPods, iPads, cellphones etc.) and leave them with Headquarters

You will be provided with a temporary phone. The number is stored in the phone.

You have 24 hours to provide your new number to all contacts.

Should you have to, choose to, or accidentally abort your mission, you are to report Headquarters immediately with consequences. God speed, Screen Eye. God speed.

the of an era Trend

Inspired by a series of five paintings entitled “The Course of Empire,” by the late American artist Thomas Cole, this issue’s fashion editorial explores what it is like to delve into each of the differentiated works. The paintings depict the same location over a period, showing how a civilization can both develop and destroy itself given enough time. With this, we translated the emotion and colors from the art into monochromatic winter looks that will appeal to the “empire” of USC.

Stylist: Julia Hienz

Photography: Elle Olivia Andersen

Assistant Photography: Jeremy Aaron Hair/ Makeup: Ashley McGarry

Assisting Stylists: Annie Drowne, Molly McNutt

Models: Tyler French, Kate Dolan, Stephanie Pope

A

ppreciate beauty in the unrefined. Organic colors, natural knits, fresh faces.

Tyler: pants, white shirt, vestCirca 1332

Kate: jeans, sweater, headband, belt- Bohemian

Feel the luxury of a Golden Era in warm, rich fabrics, fur and jewels.

Tyler: pants, sweater- Britton’s Kate: pants, sweater, fur vest, clutch - Bohemian

In the end, wear black.

Stephanie: Skirt, top- Bohemian

Kate: Pants- Britton’s sweater- Bohemian

Tyler: Shirt- Circa 1332

Stephanie: Jeans, top- VanJean Jacket- Bohemian Belt- Britton’s

L eather puts up a fight during the wake of destruction.

Problems Problems Carolina Carolina

8 a.m. classes

By Blake Welch

As a senior at USC, I’ve had just about every type of class schedule possible. From stacked Tuesday and Thursdays to really spread out, with only two to three classes a day, I’ve tried them all. While I’m sure there are those that will oppose any university wide changes, consolidating class schedules and pushing back morning courses, should have a great impact on both our academic and outside lives.

1.) Not offering Friday classes creates a sort of balance between taking classes on MW or on TTh. There’s no doubt that parking on campus is worse on certain days compared to others and only having to come to campus for class twice a week instead of three times would mean a lot less parking lot jockeying. Increasing the amount of MW classes available would distribute the number of students coming to campus across every day of the school week instead of packing the majority in on Tuesday/Thursdays. Not to mention, erasing the anxiety of attempting to create a course schedule each semester without the dreaded Friday classes.

2.) For students that have jobs in addition to attending school, requiring certain types of classes to be held on specific days of the week or at a specific time of day will make it easier to create cohesive schedules. Instead of having to rearrange your work schedule, or in some cases find a new job altogether, you can more easily set aside those three or four days for work from the days you have class.

3.) Everyone hates 8 am classes. I don’t care if it’s a Tuesday or a Friday, it’s never fun. While pushing classes back thirty minutes may not be the best news I’ve ever heard, I certainly won’t complain about the new schedule. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned during my time at USC, it’s to take your time to rest whenever and however you can, and sometimes even thirty minutes can make a big difference.

While altering the system may not be the perfect answer for everyone, it will prove to be far more efficient for the student body as a whole. A system that makes parking easier, gives a more consistent schedule and the chance to go out with friends on Thursdays? If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

By Julia Hienz

At first thought, having classes start later across the board (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.) and eliminating Friday classes seem like the best thing ever. But after giving it some thought, there are a multitude of complications that could result, making the proposition seem not at all attractive. Here are my top three reasons why USC should leave the current class scheduling system alone:

1.) 8:30 a.m. start times would throw off the entire class schedule.

Current 8 a.m.’s last for one hour and fifteen minutes, meaning new classes starting at 8:30 wouldn’t get out until 9:45. This would inhibit the ever popular 9:30 a.m. class from existing because everything would have to be pushed back 30 minutes. The result would be a confused student body and a later ending time for the last normal class (at 5:15 p.m.). No thank you!

2.) 30 extra minutes won’t make a big difference in attendance. If USC thinks that college students will rejoice over 30 extra minutes of sleep and show up for a class they’d otherwise skip, they are surely mistaken. People who skip 8 a.m.’s will probably be just as unmotivated to get up for an 8:30 a.m. class. When it comes to waking up, 30 minutes seems like a drop in the bucket and that alarm clock will be just as annoying at 7:45 as it is at 7:15. Now, an extra hour is a different story...

3.) Cutting out Friday classes = jam packed days.

Sure, having consistent three day weekends seems like it would be relaxing, but that time off has to be made up somewhere else in the week. This means longer classes, tighter schedules and less time to study and do homework during the day. Consequently, Friday would be filled with catch-up work. This situation would also complicate schedules for anyone holding an evening job or lab, because packed days allow for very little flexibility. Basically, a mess would ensue if USC changed start times and cut Friday classes. Instead of complaining about getting up early and having to go to school on a Friday (GASP), we should be thankful of the opportunity to be here, gaining an education.

Photo: Heather Fowler Design: Ashley McGarry

By: Kenny Clarke Design: Ashley McGarry

We'd love to have written a highly enlightened political piece on the 2012 election and the promising (or not so promising) term of our newly elect. We could have analyzed the pros and cons of having our chosen president for the next four years, broken down the goals of the new administration and continued arguing about our poor fiscal policy or shook our fingers at the ne'er-do-wells who didn't even take the time to vote. Unfortunately, the logistics of making a magazine didn't allow it. So instead we realized that you probably had heard enough about politics from someone else throughout this election race and decided you might have some opinions of your own to express with a political mad-lib. And to make a statement, the only thing not debated in politics is their controversial nature so, instead of telling you what you should think about some highly debated topic or another, we have a few key rules of thumb to keep in mind for when politics take over.

Now that the ______________ presidential election is over with, we can finally start _______________ with our_____________ lives. Mitt Romney and Barack Obama fought like ___________________ and it’s safe to say the winner is ______________________. This was an important election because the __________________ people of America will be _____________ by the outcome. The campaign strategies of the two parties sure were ___________________. They showed us how ________________ the candidates can be. The debates were ________________ to watch too. Mitt and Barack _____________ a lot. The first debate was _______________. Jim Lehrer, the moderator, was pretty _______________. He ______________ and _______________ like he was _________________. The Vice Presidential Debate was ________________. Everyone loved to watch __________________ make a fool out of himself. Don’t they know that the VP debates are ___________________? Paul Ryan is a(n) _____________ and Joe Biden is a(n) __________. I would’ve liked to see ________________ run for president. ________________ would have given _______________ Romney and _________________ Obama a run for their money. Regardless, whoever wins is definitely (a) ________________. It must be __________________ to say “I’m the ______________ of the _________________.”

Things to consider before arguing your side

Pick your battles when it comes to arguments and be educated about what you’re arguing about. You never know who you’ll ignite, and that could end in poor taste for you if you don’t know what you’re talking about. You also don’t want to start fireworks. If you’re a left-winger, you might not want to boast your opinions to your radical republican uncle during the holidays. That’s a perfect segue into the next point.

Twitter is not a reliable source for political information. When you see a trending political statistic next to “#ReasonsIDumpedYoAss”, don’t trust what people are tweeting, unless it refers you to a reliable news source.

Media is biased. Don’t believe everything you hear from political analysts.

Whichever outlet you use, whether it be Fox News or MSNBC, there’s always a great chance that it will be slanted right or left in order to appeal to viewers’ opinions. Remember, there are two sides to everything.

Celebrities aren’t politicians either, so don’t believe everything they say.

ADJECTIVE

ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE

There are republicans who are pro-choice and there are democrats who are opposed to gun control. Before you make a generalization, make sure you know what the person stands for politically.

ADJECTIVE

Since when do all these ____________ people think they’re politicians? Don’t they know anything about _____________? The presidential election comes around and ____________ take to Twitter to argue their _____________ off about which ___________they think is____________. Most of the ____________ arguments aren’t even ___________! I have to say, I had to ___________ a lot during the election season. ______________ just really got on my nerves! I guess for a ____________ like me, the election means more than just competition. It means _____________ and ___________. I guess that’s why I’m so ___________ about some people. I don’t know about you, but the fate of our _____________ nation is_______________ to me. ADJECTIVE

Save the political junk for appropriate times. Don’t argue with family members during Thanksgiving dinner. To be honest, politics are important, but the chances that everyone cares about what you’re arguing about are slim. Don’t trade jabs with your buddies while at church or at work, either. You won't sound cultured and intelligent; you’ll sound arrogant and brash. Do, however, argue on Twitter as much as possible because it can be entertaining for your followers.

And remember just because a politician affiliates his or herself with a certain party, does not mean he or she agrees with every single part of the party’s platform.

By: Kayla Alexander

The semester’s almost over! We all know what that means: Christmas presents, a break from schoolwork, home-cooked meals, and unlimited sleeping hours. But the one thing standing between us is the most stressful part of the year: exams. Between going to class all day and studying all night, how do we stay stress-free without resorting to some sort of retail therapy? Well, here are a few stress relievers that will keep you calm, cool and collected without breaking the bank. How you feel can directly relate to what you eat! Some foods will keep you feeling energized and awake while others will just make you want to take a nap. Once you start thinking about what brain foods to pick up, it might be better to add fruits like strawberries and blueberries as well as tea and some leafy greens! All of these foods help retain memory and improve learning capacity. Now, I know nobody wants to eat healthy, especially in the middle of the night when cramming for exams. It’s actually been shown that milk chocolate improves visual and verbal memory. So go ahead, grab the cosmic brownies and candy bars.

Why not use resources that you’ve already paid for? The Thomson Student Health Center, along with other places on campus, has made it easier for you stay calm and keep you at ease. When was the last time you got a massage?

Most spas charge you $35 to get a massage but why not stay a little closer to home (or campus that is)? On the 3rd floor of Thomson Student Health center, massage therapy is available for students for $20. Although it’s not free, it’s definitely worth the pay! Massage therapy produces endorphins, which will keep you energized and relaxed!¬¬

Designed by: Kristmar Muldrow

Between work, homework, studying and sleeping, how many of you guys have time to play video games? (For those of you who procrastinate doing your homework til the morning before don’t count!) A study done by students at ECU shows that playing video games from time to time can affect psychological tension. Now don’t go out and buy every new game you see, just try and beat the ones you already have!

Instead of heading to Starbucks every morning, why don’t you make your own Chai tea for half the price AND half the calories? Studies have shown that Chai tea can lower stress, relieve tension, and foster a clear mind. All you need is 2 tea bags, water, a stick of cinnamon, a piece of ginger, milk to taste, brown sugar, and some black peppercorns. Add everything except for the milk, tea and sugar to a pot and let it boil. Let it steep for about 10 minutes off the burner, then put it back on the burner, add in the tea and let it steep again for another 5 minutes before adding the sugar and milk and that’s it! Your own custom Chai tea for free!

Feeling mentally and physically exhausted? Head over to Yoga Masala for some “hot yoga.” Yes, you read that right. Basically, they leave the room around 95 degrees for the duration of the class which not only protects your muscles, but releases endorphins, helping to reverse the negative effects of stress. Yoga Masala is on Bluff Road, down the street from Williams Brice, and introductory classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 and Wednesdays at 5:30. Once you master those, there’s a whole list of classes to choose from every day of the week! It’s only $5/class for students and a great way to stay calm and collected (not necessarily cool…). Now guys, I know yoga might not be your thing, but think of all the dating potential. Plus you’re in a room with a bunch of girls do

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With the 21st of December fast approaching, it is time to figure out what you will do with your last days! In case you haven’t heard, according to some scientists and historians that have studied an ancient Mayan calendar, the Long Count Calendar, the world will supposedly end on December 21, 2012. So what will you most likely to be doing on your last day?

By Madeline Willett

Your sister calls you on a Tuesday night at 2 a.m. She leaves you a voicemail in tears because her boyfriend has broken up with her. You:

a. Call her back immediately–poor thing!

b. Decide to call her back in the morning. She will be more rational then, and you need to sleep.

c. 2 a.m.? You don’t have time for that—you are still out with your friends.

The first time you heard anything about the 2012 theories you thought to yourself:

a. If the world ends, at least I will go with no regrets!

b. How long could I survive on that jumbo pack of ramen noodles in my pantry?

c. I can’t wait for this killer Heaven and Hell party!

In times of crisis, you usually:

a. Are calm and collected. Surely things will work out in the end.

b. Are panicked and worried—you just wish you could control the situation!

c. Whatever. You just want the weekend to get here.

Mostly A’s- Family First

Quick! There are a few minutes before class starts, you:

a. Reach for your phone to call Mom—you needed to check in with her anyway.

b. Crack open your textbook to brush up on material for next week’s exam.

c. Review your event invites on Facebook – class is boring already.

You heard there is a huge toga party this weekend. You decide to:

a. Go for a little bit—you can always go home if it turns out to be lame.

b. Stay in; you don’t want to be tired tomorrow, and you haven’t known about it for long enough to have planned out the rest of your weekend accordingly.

c. Be there no matter what it takes!

Your go-to TV show is:

a. Everybody Loves Raymond; you can never get enough of that crazy family.

b. Anything on the Discovery channel, MythBusters blows your mind every time.

c. Jersey Shore—you can so relate!

For you, family always comes first and you will be spending your last days alongside those who truly care about you. You are a very appreciative and caring person, and those qualities have given you a great perspective on life. You will relax, enjoy being with your loved ones and keep your cool during this time of crisis, and that will pay off for you as you spend your pre-apocalyptic days graciously and happily.

Mostly B’s- The Doomsday Prepper

You are someone who will spend the twenty first of December indoors, surrounded by your surplus of emergency supplies. You’ve triple checked your store of water and have enough batteries to power a small colony for several months. No matter what it takes, you are determined to survive the impending disasters.

Mostly C’s- Party Planet

With only a few more weeks to live, you intend to live to the fullest! You are more likely to hit up the craziest bash in Five Points than to spend your last days huddled in a bomb shelter awaiting “the end.” There is no doubt that the parties leading up to December 21st will be wild, and you are not planning on missing a single one. So give in and go have fun; spend time with your friends and consider this your last opportunity to have a blast.

Photo/ Design: Chris Sim

Think of it as a Rant & Rave meets Missed Connections meets Overheard at South Carolina.

10.15

Design: Austin Price

Vista Lights

Whether you’re looking for a night out with your significant other, a jump-start on the Christmas magic or some unique options for your holiday shopping, Vista Lights is one Columbia’s marquee events.

Free Admission Location: The Vista

12.2

USC-Clemson Basketball Game

USC’s new head coach, Frank Martin, will lead the Cocks against Clemson in this early-season game. With free student tickets, this is a great chance to de-stress and get your fix of Gamecock sports before the exams.

Location: Colonial Life Arena

until 1.6

Perhaps the biggest event this year by the Columbia Museum of Art, Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade features dozens of watercolors by one of the most influential and wellknown artists of the 20th century.

Student Tickets: $5

Location: Columbia Museum of Art

11.30

Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade Eric Church Concert

This fall, Colonial Life brings one of the biggest acts in country music to Columbia in Eric Church. With discounts for students, you don’t have to travel outside of the city to see national your favorite stars.

Tickets: $32.50 and up Location: Colonial Life Arena

11.28-12.2

11.16 G&B Winter Launch Party Holiday Market

Come out and celebrate the launch of another issue and the end of the semester with Garnet & Black Magazine.

Tickets: $3 cover fee; must be 21+ to enter

Location: Five Points Pub

In it’s 27th year, the Holiday Market is one of Columbia’s premiere shopping events. Featuring many vendors, this is a great chance to handle your holiday shopping.

Entry: $8

Location: SC Fairgrounds