September 27, 2022 | The Pace Press

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Ukrainian forces reclaim major territory in Kharkiv

JACK PERDUE Contributor

Ukraine recaptured 3,090 square miles of territory previously controlled by Russian forces following a lightning offensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv; the most successful military operation since the war began in February. Russian soldiers were forced to flee eastward, dealing a major blow to Moscow and its campaign to occupy Ukraine.

This comes as one of the biggest developments in the ongoing conflict after months of back-andforth fighting between the two countries. In late February, when the invasion began, Russian troops appeared dominant, taking over much of eastern Ukraine in a matter of weeks and waging an all-out military offensive from land, air and sea. For months, the war stretched on with no clear end in sight as the two former Soviet countries traded blows. The recent triumph against Russia shows signs of a potential Ukrainian victory in the near future, although the roadmap for such a scenario is unclear.

On Sept. 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the newly liberated Izyum to deliver a speech to Ukrainian soldiers only hours before Russian airstrikes rained down on the city.

“We thank all of you for liberating our state from the enemy—from the terrorists of the Russian Federation and from the traitors who betrayed our state with the bills of artificial republics,” Zelen skyy said. “The last few months have been extremely difficult for you. Therefore, I am asking you: take care of yourself; you are the most precious we have.”

While he acknowledged Ukraine’s battlefield successes, President Joe Biden remained hesitant

to send long-range guided missiles to the country to prevent further escalation from the Russian side. Still, the United States has remained committed to supporting their war effort; the White House announced a $600 million spending package on Sept. 15 that would arm Ukraine with weapons and combat equipment.

“To meet Ukraine’s evolving battlefield requirements, the United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities,” the Department of Defense announced in a press release.

The news of Ukraine’s advancements has put Russian President Vladimir Putin in a difficult position as even his allies abroad have voiced discontent with the war in recent weeks. The New York Times reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin that “Now is no time for war” in their regional summit in Uzbekistan on Sept. 16. “Today we will get a chance to discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace,” Modi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, one of Putin’s closest allies on the world stage, also appeared wary to show support for the invasion claiming he had “questions and concerns” regarding the war in Ukraine. These remarks came weeks after reports of declining support for the invasion from within Russia.

‘Don’t Worry Darling’ leaves viewers disappointed

SARAH BERGIN Arts Editor

While “Don’t Worry Darling” has stunning visuals and beautiful sound design, the rest of the film showcases Florence Pugh shining through a lackluster film that leaves more to be desired.

The film opens with aesthetic production design, blinding viewers with a longing for previous decades and eras. It’s clear from the beginning that the storyline is relying on their star-studded cast, consisting of Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine and Nick Kroll. Olivia Wilde, the director of the film, also acts alongside Kroll as his wife.

Pugh and Styles, who play couple Alice and Jack, are married in a seemingly perfect utopia. The viewers know they are in love through the dialogue, but the two usually only interact when arguing or being intimate–nothing more than what you’d expect from a typical young adult novel. Things turn sour quickly, as Alice realizes the reality of the world they live in. Chants of “Whose world is it? Ours!” ring throughout the film, repeated again and again as more details become uncov ered.

“Don’t Worry Darling” relies on Styles for spectacles, having him dance and sing at various–albeit, unwarranted–times. While the audience was receptive to these moments, they were also against his acting skills, laughing at his artistic choices.

Many of those screening this piece were fans of Styles but recognized his lack of experience in the field. The attractions appeared to be bait for the audience, who came to the theater for Styles and stayed for Pugh.

Kenzie Boudreau, a senior at the University, said, “I think Harry bit off a little more than he could chew when he took on this role. While his overall performance was good, his acting was subpar.”

She continued, “It’s very telling that multiple screenings with totally different crowds… laughed at [the] serious parts… it took away from the mov ie. However, I can’t give enough praise to Florence Pugh!”

Pugh and Pine salvaged what was left of the story, but not for long. They only interacted with each other in a small number of scenes, which turned out to be the most intriguing parts of the whole piece. This doesn’t come as a surprise, though, as both of them have been received well in previous works.

When science-fiction elements are at the forefront of a story, worldbuilding is key, and in “Don’t Worry Darling,” it’s blatantly missing. The lack of clarification at the beginning of the film lowered the stakes for the rest of the movie while confusing the viewers. Jack doesn’t have any known motives for anything until the third act of the film, which, in return, leaves the audience in the dust.

White feminism runs rampant in this feature, and it’s quite obvious. The only other characters besides Alice that are looked down upon are people of color, which happen to be Margaret (Kiki Layne), Alice’s old friend, and two children. They’re labeled as “crazy” and “creepy,” and Alice as “delusional.” The glaring differences between the way these charac ters are treated don’t seem like it’s because of the environment in the story, but rather a reflection of the film itself.

Even though there were many missing pieces to this film, there are some aspects that rose to the occasion. The sound design and foley work were fantastic alongside the cinematography and editing. It was a gorgeous film; a gorgeous film with a forgettable screenplay.

The audience was left with multiple unanswered questions after the screening, with an underdeveloped world and static characters overshadowed by casting decisions and alluring shots. There was potential for “Don’t Worry Darling” to be amazing, but it ended up as a cheap execution of “The Truman Show” and “WandaVision.”

Make Instagram casual(ly dying) again

JOSH ILANO Contributor

Gen-Z has never lived in a world without some sort of emula ted reality. Growing up, coinciding with television gamifying regular activities such as love, athletics or leisure has cultivated a generation whose existence is based on some sort of performance. With Insta gram, the question of performance regarding casual yet ge nuine posting validity is a poignant one.

To the un initiated, “Casual Instagram” is Gen-Z’s latest plea for authenticity. Pre viously a marketplace for self-expression, Instagram now stands as a valid communi cative tool for celebrities to further advertise and sell themselves on. It’s another platform to perform, just as they would behind a screen or onstage. Instagram has been seen as a way to propagate pa rasocial relationships through a new curated view of celebrities’ lives.

The emulation of such a practice led to the concept of the microcelebrity, a person whose onli ne presence spans a large but niche group. These two ideas instigated a shift in culture in which Instagram was no longer for “just woke up like this” humble brag posts or “tag your most recent contact” chains. It ce

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mented a culture where posting was a religious ceremony that affirmed precious likes and comments. The idea that your feed’s adherence to an aesthetic is fundamental, your pristi nely edited photos are of paramount importance.

Initially, the response was ma king a “Finsta,” a typically private and separate Instagram account designated to post in-jokes, bad selfies and other relaxed content.

However, the way that this discerns from the Casual Instagram movement was the optics.

The Finsta was still curated; admission still had to be earned. Finstas separated itself from the hallowed main page, inadvertently putting it on a higher pedestal than it was before.

Casual Instagram is more out rightly appealing. It’s in your face, it’s a statement that discerns you are amongst the enlightened many and condemn the ones that still use VSCO. A few of Casual Instagram‘s practices include the photo dump: a method that details months, events or an unrelated carousel of images.

Weeks of Welcome spotlight: brunch with the queens

KATHERINE PAPPAS Contributor

Presence,

To begin the show, Ivory Snow and Inita D lip-synched to their favorite “girl boss” anthems, some of which included “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” “S&M” by Rihanna and “Heart of Stone” from the Broadway musical “SIX.”

“It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way,” Inita D stated.

Following their speeches, the queens hosted a competition where a group of selected students lip-synced to Lady Gaga’s “Judas.” The room was full of shouts, claps and laughter as audience members cheered on their fellow classmates.

NEWS ARTS

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FEATURES

Ivory Snow and Inita D displayed during the Sunday Drag Queen Brunch where University students gathered in the Student Center of One Pace

while watching and participating in an early afternoon drag performance.

Both queens spoke about the importance of love, tolerance and acceptance that this world desperately needs. They expressed the significance of taking care of your mental health and attending to your own needs.

Credit: @newlinecinema on Instagram

Credit: @oneinstamind on Instagram

Ukrainian forces reclaim major territory in Kharkiv

JACK PERDUE Contributor

“Xi Jinping is… backing away from that unqualified, unconditional framing of China’s support,” University Political Science Chair Amy Freedman said. “But I wouldn’t necessarily read it as a lack of support for Russia. Putin, Xi Jinping and Modi are going to continue to hammer home this idea that these shortages and the pain that’s felt around the rest of the world are the West’s fault.”

Despite this, Russia has remained defiant in its conquest of its western neighbor. On Sept. 20, the Kremlin announced it would begin holding “referendums” in the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk territories to determine whether eastern Ukraine should be annexed by Russia. The announcement, reminiscent of the 2014 annexation of Crimea, prompted backlash from the international community

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White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, called the referendums a “sham,” stating, “the United States will never recognize Russia’s claims.”

Freedman remained skeptical about a ceasefire anytime soon. “The question is, what would Putin be willing to settle for?” Freedman questioned. “He has to be able to present whatever the end is as a gain for Russia.”

As the war drags on, both sides have remained committed to the cause, making attempts for diplomacy difficult. This is a developing story.

Uncovering the falsehoods behind the rumored asbestos in Birnbaum Library and Maria’s Tower

LUKE POMFRET Contributor

As the class of 2026 begins to get settled on campus, rumors amongst first-year students have emerged that Maria’s Tower and the Birnbaum Library contain asbestos in the installation.

This is not the first time talks of asbestos have taken root on the University’s campus. In an archive newspaper of The Pace Press, released on July 25, 1998, “Asbestos Emergency at Pace” made front page news, noting that buildings constructed in decades past used asbestos for “insulation, fireproofing, sound absorption, and hot water pipes until exposure was found to cause cancers and disease in the lung and stomach.”

However, while students have rumored about the presence of asbestos in the Library and Maria’s Tower, there has been no evi dence made public about the building having asbestos materials in the insulation of the building.

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, asbestos is a mineral fiber that, when damaged, can release asbestos fibers and become a health hazard. The commis sion says that even if materials contain asbestos, the public should remain healthy as long as no damage is done to release the fibers. At the University, the asbestos rumors have led to inconclusive thoughts and prompted a discussion about the chemical.

In the University master plan, which is currently underway, they have announced the creation of a new aca demic and residential building on Beekman Street that is being constructed.

Amenities in the new building include a new cafeteria, classrooms, study spaces and student housing that is to replace Maria’s Tower on Spruce Street.

In order to safely remove asbestos from build ings, professionals must conduct walkthroughs before a building demolition to ensure public safety. The University has committed to safely disposing of asbestos if found in any buildings during any of the demolitions.

Updates as of Wednesday, Sept. 28: The University’s Facili ties Department has brought to light that “The asbestos in the ma

jority of [Maria’s Tower] has been abated. Through proper testing, Asbestos is found in the fire proofing behind the walls in the public kitchen areas, but it does not pose health threats, since it is concealed and not disturbed.”

Facilities also conducted proper testing in the Library, which concluded that “Asbestos is found in the fireproofing

behind the walls, and above the ceiling” and concludes the same precautionary measures pertinent to Maria’s Tower.

Facilities have taken precautionary measures to limit student and faculty exposure to the chemical, noting that “The asbestos

Inflation data stuns Wall Street for worst day since the pandem-

The New York Stock Exchange experienced a massive sell-off on Sept. 13 that triggered nearly all stocks to close in the red territory, the outcome of which left Wall Street to record its worst day since June 11, 2020, after the August 2022 data was reported.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell from 1,276.37 points (3.9 percent), to 31,104.97; S&P 500 crashed by 177.72 points (4.3 percent), to 3,932.69; NAS DAQ plummeted 632.84 points (5.2 percent), to 11,633.57. All but five stocks from the S&P 500 closed within negative territory.

Tech stocks were targeted in the sell-off, taking the hardest hit of the day. New cycle lows were made while Nvidia (NVDA) plunged through its support barriers and suffered a 9.4 percent loss. Face book (META) lost 9.4 percent and Apple (AAPL) slid 5.87 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index increased 0.1 percent in August and 8.3 percent over the last 12 months.

The U.S. Consumer Index reports that on a 12-month per centage change, food is up 11.4 percent—meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose to 10.6 percent, while dairy and related products rose 16.2 percent. Energy increased by 23.8 percent; fuel oil is at 68.8 percent and gasoline is at 25.6 percent. All items besides food and energy are up 6.3 percent; apparel rose to 5.1 percent and rent of primary resi dences at 6.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“I think the biggest mistake right now is the belief we’re going to return to, essentially, prices sim

MICHAEL HUERTAS Staff Writer

ilar to pre-COVID,” Greg Jensen, a co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates said, per Reuters

Expert market analyst Savita Subramanian and her team warned that prices remain too high, and stocks are still too expensive for the bear market to be over.

“In order to satisfy the rule and signal stocks may once again be due for a bull market rally, S&P 500 firms would have to beat earn ings expectations by an average of 50 percent… or in more extreme scenarios, the S&P would need to tumble more than 40 percent to 2,500 points, or inflation fall to 0 percent,” Forbes reports.

The Central Bank reserves the power to mandate the market’s money supply by preserving low unemployment rates and keeping prices stable.

Because inflation is heighten ing, it caused the Federal Reserve to raise its target rate four separate times since March, with experts predicting that September will flag another rate increase.

Starting on Sept. 20, the Federal Reserve had its two-day policy meeting where they were expected to deliver another interest rate hike to counteract inflation. The August report could lead to a higher-than-expected increase in interest.

The aggressive action to in crease rates is meant to cool off the market but has raised worries that too many increases will guide the economy into a recession.

August’s unexpected infla tion report ambushed unprepared Chinese, Japanese and South

Korean markets as well. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (NIK) slid 2.8 percent on Wednesday, while South Ko rea’s Stock Exchange KOSPI lost 1.6 percent. Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) Index fell 0.8 percent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell 2.5 percent.

After FedEx’s ugly pre-mar ket earnings announcement, its shares sank 21.4 percent on Sept. 16, recording its largest single-day sell-off and erasing $11 billion in market value. The shipping giant warned of a global recession and hinted at a sign of what is to come to investors in the future.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell remains stagnant about the bank’s decision to raise rates until inflation has softened.

“We will keep at it until we are confident the job is done,” Powell declared at the Federal Reserve’s annual conference in Wyoming. “These are the unfortu nate costs of reducing inflation, but a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain.”

Investors fear that market trends are causing many to panic and sell, thus losing out on the markets. Stock insufficiency and bear markets are opportunities for investors to diversify their holdings and focus on their long-term goals. A balanced portfolio will limit the investor from significant decreases in holdings and help down-market longevity.

Still, the broader market index remains about 13 percent above its June lows according to CNBC

found in the fireproofing is not a threat to the public unless the material disturbed, such as the case if there is demolition. The material is only disturbed during abatement. When asbestos abate ment occurs, contractors must follow strict regulations to ensure that asbestos is not dispersed outside the work area. The abate ment area is sealed and segregated from occupied/non-abatement areas using plastic sheeting. Only the abatement personnel with proper PPE and respirators are allowed to enter the abatement area once the project begins. This practice is strictly followed and monitored by an outside agency during abatement at the Univer sity. This is a standard process, and it is done properly ahead of each construction project. The University also provides air moni toring during an abatement project to ensure no exposure from the containment site.”

Additional information the Department wanted to disclose reflects what The Pace Press referenced in the 1998 archive, of which “Asbestos was commonly used in construction supplies, like pipe insulation or fire-proofing, in many pre-1987 buildings. Regulated building materials, like asbestos, pose no health risk when left alone and intact. During maintenance, renovation, or demolition in areas with asbestos-containing materials (ACM), building materials that may pose health risks are managed, abated and disposed of appropriately ac cording to regulations to prevent exposure to building occupants and workers in accordance with NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection regulations. As long as the building materials are in good condition and undisturbed, they do not present a health risk to residents.”

At this time, there is no rea son for concern; the asbestos present in Maria’s Tower and the Li brary does not pose a public health problem unless it is disturbed or physically damaged.

Security cameras to be installed in all M.T.A. subway cars

LYNDSEY BROWN Buisness Manager

With a recent influx of crime in New York City subway stations and trains, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sept. 22 that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin equipping all trains across over 100 stations with camera surveillance.

The $5.5 million project will bring two cameras to each train car, with the project expected to take until 2025 to complete. The MTA will begin installing cam eras in 200 train cars each month until all trains have proper surveillance.

This news comes alongside the recent spike in violent crimes in NYC Subway stations includ ing the recent rape of a tourist on a subway platform and multiple shoot ings, most notably the shooting in Sun set Park, Brooklyn that left 10 passengers wounded.

Currently, there is an existing security network within the MTA of more than 10,000 cameras across the 472 stations, with the new program strengthening the current network. In addition to the instal lation of the new cameras, all new subway cars bought by the MTA will come preequipped.

This funding is a result of a $2 mil lion award provided by the Urban Area Security Initiative federal grant program, a program under the U.S. Department of

Homeland Security Preparedness Grants. Additional funding comes from the Sub way Action Plan, totaling $3.5 million.

Gov. Kathy Hochul stated that she is “proud that we will be installing cam eras on all subway cars–expanding our security capabilities, deterring crime and providing our law enforcement with sup port.”

Despite Gov. Hochul’s excitement, this news comes with slight backlash as well. There are concerns that this additional surveillance will not deter crime as there are already pre-existing cameras in some stations and train cars. Others are con cerned about the true purpose of the camera installation and the plans for the information that the MTA will collect and analyze through them.

However, Gov. Hochul gave a short response to the concerns surrounding the new budget. “If you’re concerned about this, the best answer is don’t commit any crimes on the subway.” With the new safety measures put in motion, the MTA hopes that this will increase business as they have had a decrease in passengers post-pandemic.

Credit: @nycsubway on Instagram

Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96

ZOE POULIS Features Editor

The world witnessed history on Sept. 8 when Buckingham Palace announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II at age 96, making her the longest reigning female monarch in United Kingdom history Having passed in the Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s estate in Scotland, word of her passing was made public at the monarch’s home two hours after her official time of death. Sept. 19 marked the first of a ten-day mourning period to honor the former Queen’s reign and to welcome their newest king, Charles III, son of the former Queen.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor II was born on April 21, 1926, and spent the first 10 years of her life as the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, until her fa ther acceded to the throne, making her next in line. Her childhood was full of tutors and royal privileges until World War II.

At only 14, the princess began accom panying her parents on official business and was appointed colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards. Between this time and her ascension, Windsor married Philip Mountbatten, who would later be known as the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip passed on April 9, 2021, approximately a year before the Queen. Elizabeth and Philip had been married for six years and welcomed two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, before her coronation in 1953.

Ascending the throne at 25, Elizabeth acted as a constitutional monarch, most ly staying out of politics, but regularly meeting with prime ministers. Though she did not have any direct political authority, the queen had a long list of notable accomplishments.

As the figurehead of the country, Queen Elizabeth brought unity and stability to the people postwar. This seemed to be a common thread throughout her life as she was heavily involved in charity work; she was even the first monarch to visit Ireland since they claimed independence, despite their bloody history.

While the Queen was quiet and valued her privacy, she let the public into the life of royals— spending time on social media like Twitter, broadcasting her annual Christmas message and embrac ing the struggles that came with changing times. Through acts like this, the former Queen modern ized the monarchy in a way no one else had before. Though she was never meant to be Queen, she holds the record for the longest reign of any female head of state in history.

On Sept. 19, the Queen was laid to rest alongside her husband at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Before this, her casket was placed at Westminster Abbey, where thousands joined in a queue to pay their respects.

Up until her passing, the Queen was rumored to have health complications for several years. In 2021, she was hospital ized and recommended to take time away from her duties, suffered a back sprain and then contracted COVID-19 the following year.

Though the Queen was rarely seen throughout the last year, it was reported that she was doing well. The statement released shortly after she passed remarked that it was peaceful and she had family at her bedside.

After 70 years, her first-born son, Charles Phillip Arthur George III, has now ascended the throne at 73 and is the oldest monarch to do so. He became King at the moment of his mother’s passing, though his coronation likely will not happen until 2023.

Though Charles’s name was often met with negativity during his moth er’s life due to his troubled marriage with the late Princess Diana, he is simi larly known for his philanthropic endeavors. He has established a number of charities and has served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, on top of fulfilling his duties as the Prince of Wales. The new King has requested an additional seven days of mourning following the funeral.

What the Biden Administration’s student debt forgiveness plan means for students

JOEY GOTTLIEB Contributor

On Aug. 24, President Joe Biden announced that the Department of Education would begin the process of making up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness available to currently enrolled college students with federal loans.

The announcement comes as 45 million Americans owe a total of $1.6 trillion in federal loans. Many hope this relief, although less than what was hoped for by many Democratic officials, will help mitigate the cur rent student debt crisis. An estimated 27 million borrowers will qualify for up to $20,000, according to the Education Department. Those inter ested can sign up for frequent email updates at ED.gov/subscriptions.

Students who are classified as dependent on their parents and have a household income of less than $250,000 a year, and students who are independent of their parents and have an individual income of less than $125,000 a year qualify for $10,000 in federal loan forgiveness. Students that received a Pell Grant for any of the years they attended college are eligible for an additional $10,000. Private loans are not eligible for the relief plan. The administration also announced an extension of the student loan payment pause through Dec. 31 of this year.

The estimated cost of the forgiveness plan is about $300 billion or more, due to variability in how many borrowers actually apply for the relief.

“I didn’t think much of it at first,” said Molly Stallsmith, a sophomore Film and Screen Studies major at the University. “I didn’t get super excited because I didn’t know if I was eligible.” Upon discov ering their eligibility, Stallsmith had mixed feelings. “I mean $20,000 is $20,000,” she said.

“If I was going to an in-state school, it may have covered my entire tuition, but I think my views are dif ferent because of where I am.” The University’s tuition as of 2022 is reported at $48,152 a year.

Another student, who wished to remain anony mous, had a different reaction. “[Student debt] should be getting completely canceled,” they said. “[This] helps out my family a ton because it will basically cover all of [my] debt, especially coming from a lower income family.”

Many have criticized the President’s move as deeply unfair, claiming the $250,000 cap on house hold income is too high. In a statement to The New

Other critics have largely focused on the cost of the plan, citing the current economic crisis and ram pant inflation. The forgiveness plan could cost taxpay ers more than $300 billion. However, this figure can be misleading, as most of the debt was never likely to be repaid in the first place. One in every five borrow ers had defaulted on their loans before the COVID-19 pandemic, which ravaged the world economically. This debt forgiveness plan, in the end, could save taxpayer money.

Borrowers can begin applying for debt forgiveness in early October 2022 and will have until Dec. 31, 2023, to apply, according to the Department of Educa tion Department.

Patagonia founder donates company to fight climate change

EMILY SHAFER News Editor

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, whose company’s estimated net worth is $1.5 billion as of 2022, rescinded his billionaire status by transferring his com pany’s ownership to a nonprofit organi zation and trust fund in an announcement made on Sept. 14.

The nonprofit, the Holdfast Col lective, will now own 98 percent of the company and stock, while The Patagonia Purpose Trust will own 2 percent. To run the trust, the Chouinard family will elect leaders to a board of directors to oversee its functions.

A known environmentalist and adventurer, Chouinard, has donated one percent of the profits from Patagonia to environmental organizations in the past and will continue to do so with this tran sition to a nonprofit. The popular outdoor cloth ing brand will also use the Holdfast Collective to “fight envi ronmental crises, protect nature and biodiversity and support thriving commu nities,” according to The Nonprofit Times

This year alone,

Patagonia has donated $50 million to the Holdfast Collective and has plans to donate anoth er $100 million by the end of the year.

Chouinard had thought of selling the company and donating the profits but was concerned that changing the leader ship to a new owner would compromise the ideals they built the company on. In a blog post, he wrote that he could have also taken the company public but that it was not a viable option because “even public companies with good intentions are under too much pressure to create short-term gain at the expense of longterm vitality and responsibility… Truth

be told, there were no good options available. So, we created our own.”

Chouinard also discussed how he never wanted a business in the first place, but now that he has one and has donated it to a nonprofit and trust, he is relieved and certain it will continue on the path he initially wanted, even after he is gone.

Some people are criticizing the company’s move, saying that they are using this transition to evade paying taxes in the future, but it’s important to note that they did not receive a tax deduction for donating shares of Others are stunned by the generosity and philanthropic values the family must have to give up their billionaire status, while other billionaires “give only a tiny frac tion of their net worth away every year,” David Callahan said in an inter view with The New York Times.

Most people, however, are not sur prised by his decision, given he is known for driving a beatup Subaru, wearing old clothes and not owning a cell phone or computer. Chou inard is far from a traditional billionaire and even more so now that he will not be profiting off of the company anymore.

York Times, Jason Furman, a former top economist for Former President Barack Obama, said the plan “would unnecessarily provide tens of thousands of dollars to many high-income households in a way that goes well beyond even what he promised in the heat of a Dem ocratic primary when the problem facing the country was low inflation—not high inflation.”

Credit: @joebiden on Instagram

Credit: @time on Instagram

‘Moonage Daydream’ puts Major Tom on the big screen

“Moonage Daydream” is a visually-striking cinematic trip through David Bowie’ ative, musical and spiritual journey. Filmmaker, Brett Morgen, eloquently encapsulates the mystery and multitudes of the glam rock sensation by showcasing a colorful collage of video footage, live performances, talk show interviews and more.

Unlike most music-related documentaries and biopics, “Moonage Daydream” lacks any narration and talking heads. The entire film is an electrifying montage of archives from Bowie’s life and 54-year-long career. Rather than following a chrono logical timeline, Morgen created chaos through cinema.

“Moonage Daydream” immerses the audience into an erratic time warp of Bowie’s life and artistic legacy. The film begins with an ominous opening of the song, “Hallo Spaceboy,” then morphs into the “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” tour. From there, a glimpse of Bowie’s melancholy childhood appears. Following his musical experimentation, it moves along to his marriage with Iman and then ends with his death in 2016. The end of the movie is a recording of Bowie revealing his per sonal philosophies and spiritual views while experiencing his own journey.

Credit: IllustrationbyGabiCamacho

Morgen does an excellent job by shining a light on all of Bowie’s artistic elements. His paintings, sculptures, acting roles and dancing were all showcased with extensive visual exuberance. Scenes from movies like “Labyrinth,” “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” and “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” were featured throughout the film.

Migrating from one scene to the next, Morgan used a vibrant splatter of colors and psychedelic images that morphed into footage of the rock and roll chameleon doing what he did best: shapeshifting into whatever version of himself he wanted to be.

Bowie’s resistance to society’s standards inspired generations to express themselves authentically with fashion, art and sexuality.

Before there was Harry Styles, Bowie was one of the first male musicians to appear on stage flaunting a sparkly dress and a red feathered boa. He once showed up to a pub lic appearance wearing alien space gear just to prove that he wanted the audience to question whether he was from this planet. The Thin White Duke made history for being one of the first openly bisexual celebrities. Morgen emphasizes Bowie’s iconic androgynous fashion and ways of life by including an interview, where the musician stated that he didn’t care if people think he looked like a specific binary gender. He wore clothes that he identified with and fit his day-to-day persona.

Morgen’s use of archival footage and recordings of Bowie talking about his personal views and creative experiments allow viewers to perceive Bowie exactly how he intended them to. “When I was sixteen, I decided that I wanted to live a very full life and experience as much life as I possibly can,” Bowie stated.

In his 69 years of life, Bowie wrote and produced a discography of 26 albums, in over 30 movies, traveled the world, studied Buddhism, mas tered miming, got married twice, had two children, created various mediums of art and inspired recent generations to evolve into their most authentic selves.

“Moonage Daydream” is a music documentary like no other. Viewers will be shot out of a rocket and launched into a vibrant visual experience about the gender-defying, creative, always fashionable, Capricorn icon, spoken in his own words. Morgen collected decades worth of archives to produce an artistic montage of Bowie. If being taken on a glam rock trip filled with col orful visuals and music is appealing, “Moonage Daydream” is the documentary to see.

Ethel Cain delivers delectably dark performance at the Bowery Ballroom

Ethel Cain is a reflective character made from the emotions and memories instilled within Hayden Silas Anhedönia’s mind and body throughout her Southern Baptist upbringing. In her discography, Cain utilizes her current Southern Gothic aesthetic alongside an ethereal style of singing, gregorian chants and ambi ent-folk melodies with contrasting classic rock undertones. Even her use of song titles contributes to her overarching stylistic im agery, including “Unpunishable,” “Inbred” and “God’s Country.” Her choice of harmonies in each song are evocative, especially when paired with the chilling voices of fellow audience members, and her concert on Sept. 10 at the Bowery Ballroom was an expe rience to remember.

“A House in Nebraska” overwhelmed the audience as Cain’s powerful lyricism rang through the venue. “And it hurts to miss you, but it’s worse to know that I’m the reason you won’t come home” left parts of the audience in tears during the NYC stop of her Freezer Bride Tour.

Well-attuned to the southern appreciation of Cain’s style of music, an audience member gifted her a cowgirl hat from the front row. Subsequently, Cain accompanied a song not only with her voice, but with a harmonica. She often references traditional American values in her music, such as traveling through the west.

In an interview with STUDIO 01, Cain mentioned that at the

ZORA THOMAS Contributor

beginning of her musical career, people often compared her music and character aesthetic to Lana Del Rey, an artist whose aesthet ic is more about the glitz, glamor and opulence of America. In contrast, Cain’s ballads consist of stories of the “broken American dream.” Her lyricism depicts the existence of being a bisexual, transgender woman raised within a southern church, and Cain takes part in the reclamation of Southern Americana, from which queer people have often been ostracized from.

Through her character, Cain pushes the boundaries of societal norms in terms of exhibiting what mental turmoils people experi ence in silence. This character is an embodiment of the fears and memories of Anhedönia. During the inception of the figure “Ethel Cain,” she often used polarizing and eye-catching imagery to “set the stage” for her aesthetic, like the American flag, guns and churches. Moving forward, she plans to focus on the interpersonal trauma of women, which was announced in an Instagram live on June 29, 2022. This will encompass issues that she has dealt with firsthand, along with stories from other women who have faced the tribulations of living within the patriarchal American society.

Through her music, she explores the depths of grief, hate and grim human nature in a way that acknowledges these ways of thinking without encouraging them. Cain does not demonize these emotions; instead, she uses them as art. “Whenever I started

to develop, I started to come into my own as a trans woman,” Cain stated in W Magazine. “We were a house divided, it was me versus my whole town.”

Musically, Cain is influenced and inspired by Florence Welch and Enya. Like her inspirations, each of her albums are full of dramatic scenes and experimental instrumentals. In the album, “Preacher’s Daughter,” Cain escapes from her overly religious upbringing only to find herself investing in a doomed relation ship. From then on, she experiences moments, ranging from being kidnapped to drug addiction and prostitution. The end of Cain’s journey leaves off with her being devoured by her lover, which can be experienced through her song “Ptolemaea.”

As the beautifully haunting voice of Cain filled the venue with its brevity, she connected with her audience as a whole. Au diences’ hands raised in unison with close eye contact following after. The crowds’ clothing ranged from being adorned with rosa ries, vintage eyelets and ivory-toned cottagecore dresses to those wearing “God is like…” crewnecks and jeans. With the privilege of observing Cain’s performance, tears were shed and she left the audience entranced in a state of awe and reverence. There was an uproar for an encore shortly after Cain left the stage, to which she modestly complied, and the audience got a chance to feast their eyes on her once more.

IDLES and Injury Reserve bring post-punk to NYC

JULES KELLY Contributor

On Sept. 15, British punk band IDLES played Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre for their “Back To Normal” tour with the support of abstract rap group Injury Reserve.

IDLES started the show with their classic opener “Colossus,” which increases in energy and keeps the anticipation building until the last minute. The crowd became antsy as they cheered on the band, aware of what was coming. As the song built to its eventual climax, the band stopped playing and lead singer Joe Talbot smiled at the audience while making a hand gesture of splitting the pit in half. “Are you ready to collide?” Talbot screamed into the mic to an already-excited audience, “Are you ready to love?”

The song resumed, picking up into a cacophony of noise as the two sides of the crowd merged back together. People were dancing, moshing, singing and screaming. Lee Kiernan, one of the band’s guitarists, even got on top of the barricade to perform for the crowd.

The five-piece played hits from each of their albums with their main goal being to unify and uplift the audience. That’s been IDLES’ motive to make music throughout their entire career, but the unity felt authentic in a crowd like that. During the aptly titled song “Mr. Motivator,” Talbot pointed to au dience members, reminding them that they “can do it,” followed by a callback of “Yes, you can!” from the crowd. “Grounds” and “I’m Scum” resonated with everyone in the room, as Talbot screamed lyrics about racial and social equality. Despite being from Bristol and writing songs with their British audience in mind, lyrics like “this snowflake’s an avalanche” tend not to lose their meaning in Brooklyn.

Talbot is an incredible front man and it’s impossible to take your eyes off of him as he per forms. Whether he’s skipping around the stage between songs, standing on top of the speakers and gyrating his hips like a mod ern Mick Jagger, there’s never a

time to be bored during Talbot’s lively performance.

Talbot gives energy to the other members, and they give it back in return. With everyone playing off of each other, they are all just as energetic as the frontman. Guitarist Mark Bowen would slide from one end of the stage to the next as he played. Both he and Kiernan would repeatedly crowd surf, stand on audience members and run across the barricade with joy. The band even went into an impromptu cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christ mas Is You” following “I’m Scum,” one of their most popular tracks.

The performance closed with “Rottweiler,” which allowed the band to truly showcase their unity. During the song’s instrumental section, Talbot played beside drummer Jon Beavis while each member showcased their musical abilities. The performance went on for nine minutes as each player bounced off of one another until they wound down and thanked the audi ence.

Supporting the band on this tour was Injury Reserve, a rap group consisting of rapper Ritchie With a T and producer Parker Corey. The duo played their latest release “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” an album named and dedicated to member Stepa J. Groggs who passed away in June 2020. Sept. 15 was also the one-year anniversary of the release, making the performance an emotional one for both Injury Reserve and the crowd. The duo extended the ending of “Bye Storm” by creating a loud, chaotic and cathartic collection of noise.

By the end of the night, everyone in attendance was exhausted yet buzzing with excitement. Fans left and filled the streets discussing their favorite songs. In one performance, IDLES was able to bring together a room of strangers with their sound, making it an unforgettable night.

Credit: Photo by Jules Kelly

Credit: Photo by Jules Kelly

Coping with homesickness: your September Press-Playlist

SARAH BERGIN Arts Editor

September brings a new school year, and along with that, homesick ness. It’s never easy to leave behind your family, pets or home friends. Regardless of whether you are a freshman or a senior, everyone experi ences that bittersweet moment of leaving everything you’ve ever known to come to the city. Adjusting is hard for everyone both young and old, near and far.

Experiencing new cycles of life is something that has been continu ally tackled throughout decades of music. Writing is a form of expression for many, and songwriting is not excluded from that. From 1970s jazz anthems to 2022 hit singles, there is something in here for everyone. Sit back, relax and process your emotions with this month’s Press-Playlist!

“Leaving Home Ain’t Easy” - Queen

Queen is a legendary band with one of their albums, “Jazz,” fea turing hits like “Don’t Stop Me Now.” “Leaving Home Ain’t Easy” showcases Queen’s theatrical and dramatized tone while focusing on the band’s collective harmonies. Distortion plays a part in the song as well, acting as a bridge. Brian May, the guitarist, wrote this while focusing on the hardships that come with moving and starting a new life somewhere else. Sometimes, it’s best to start fresh somewhere else, but it’s hard to tell until the leap is taken.

“New Life” - FKJ

French artist FKJ experiments with varying sounds and tones throughout “V I N C E N T.” His most recent album, “New Life,” explores the uncertainty of entering a fresh beginning while antici pating what is coming next. Heavy instrumentals uplift the message of the piece, bringing alternative and R&B influences together. Each song on “V I N C E N T” brings a different vibe, “New Life’’ adding a chill, relaxed track into the mix. In November 2022, FKJ is stopping in Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner for three consecutive nights of performances, so be sure to check it out!

“Christmas in June” - AJR

One of the more recent releases on this list, “Christmas in June,” is the final track on AJR’s latest album, “OK Orchestra.” While it’s an anthem about missing out on experiences from afar due to touring, others might be able to relate to its overarching theme of fear and consequence. Missing out on events with friends and family can be common in a new stage of life, but that doesn’t mean they have to be left behind. Accompanied by hyper-aware production, this song is true to itself and speaks directly to the audience.

“Growing Pains” - Alessia Cara

Alessia Cara has shown up on the radio throughout the 2010s, but she has proved again and again that her music is more than that. Her second album, “The Pains of Growing,” is an emotional call for help in an ignorant world. “Growing Pains,” the opening track on the album, reiterates just

that. While the beat is catchy and danceable, the lyrics are undeniably anxiety-ridden. While it is produced with the album in mind, this song stands alone as a direct message to those who feel similarly to her. It’s rare to find something that feels so personalized yet creative, but Cara does this effortlessly with a catchy introduction to her album.

“I Miss Those Days” - Bleachers

In Bleacher’s second album “Gone Now,” Jack Antonoff’s inspi rations are front and center, as most of the album sounds like Bruce Springsteen’s younger brother. “I Miss Those Days” keeps that Jersey grit while longing for a time when they were carefree. Sometimes it might feel like everyone else is on a fast track to an ideal destination, which is exactly what Bleachers expresses in this song. The animated energy from the band along with Antonoff’s chants create an irresistible song that makes it difficult to sit still.

“Scott Street” - Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers is a favorite amongst young adults due to her mel ancholy lyrics and tone. “Scott Street” is off of her 2017 album, “Strang er in the Alps.” In an interview with Bandcamp, Bridgers stated, “I guess ‘Scott Street’ is about being really lonely. Sometimes I want to cop out and say it’s about a lot of different things, but really it’s all there. It’s just a diary.’” It’s comforting to hear these thoughts sung out loud by someone else, especially when finding the words to describe certain feelings becomes infeasible. This visitation of past experiences contains thought-provoking questions that are left unanswered.

“Home By Now” - MUNA

While they are known for their collaboration on “Silk Chiffon” with the previously mentioned Phoebe Bridgers, MUNA has many other melodic songs. MUNA’s self-titled album was released ear lier this summer, redefining their style and artistic persona. “Home By Now,” a single on this album, livens the playlist by bringing up the mood. Even though it’s okay to be distressed, nothing should be stopping listeners from celebrating how far they have come. Enjoy the goals that have been achieved throughout the journey–it’s been a long time coming.

“Home At Last” - Steely Dan

Steely Dan has had multiple appearances in pop culture lately, from their “Euphoria” appear ance to a viral TikTok track. Even though you may know them from this, or your father’s yacht rock playlist, they have remained relevant for decades. “Home At Last,” one of the iconic tracks on “Aja,” alludes to “The Odyssey” while describing how a home can be found in a person, rather than a place. The jazz component of their pieces makes it feel like an intimate listen, whether you are listening through headphones or speakers. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a jazz bar when listening to this–it won’t be hard to get yourself there.

74th Emmy Awards Recap: ‘Ted Lasso’ scores big and ‘Squid Game’ makes history

JAEDEN PINDER Executive Editor

The 2022 Emmy Awards ceremony honoring this last year’s accomplishments in television occurred on Sept. 12, hosted by Kenan Thompson. Despite early technical difficulties, the award show made many of its own achievements in honoring shows like “Abbott Elementary” and “Squid Game.”

Leading the pack with 12 nominations, “Succession” received three awards, including Outstand ing Drama Series, Writing for a Drama Series and Supporting Actor for Matthew MacFadyen.

Mirroring last year’s ceremony, the Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” took home four awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Directing for a Comedy Series, Lead Actor for Jason Sudeikis and Sup porting Actor for Brett Goldstein.

“The White Lotus” dominated the night, receiving five awards including Outstanding Limited Series. Mike White, the creator of the satirical anthology, also received awards for Outstanding Writ ing and Directing for a Limited Series and paid homage to his run on “Survivor” in his thank you speech: “Now I feel like I’ve raised my threat level…Awards are great, I love writing, I love doing what I do–don’t come for me. Don’t vote me off the island, please!”

Actors Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge also received Em mys for their supporting performances on the HBO show.

While elated for Coolidge’s win, Psychology student Benji Mateo was displeased with the discordant speech times for her along with the other winners of the night.

“The Academy will be dealt with holy fire for rushing Jennifer Coolidge off the stage after being in the indus try for nearly two decades and finally getting recognized for her performance. In true Coolidge fashion, she took that moment of being rushed out and made it her own by serving us a comedic dance, which made me love her even more.”

Mateo continued, “Whether the timing was off during the whole program or they gave those with bigger fame more time, it seemed disappointing to take away some actors’ glory and recognition like that.”

“Squid Game” received two awards during the cere mony for Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang Donghyuk and Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae, being the first non-English series to receive these honors at an Emmy ceremony.

Dong-hyuk expressed his gratitude to the audience and fans of “Squid Game” and said, “I don’t think I made histo ry by myself, because it was you who opened up the door for ‘Squid Game.”

“We all made history together and I truly hope ‘Squid Game’ won’t be the last non-English series to be here at the Emmy’s.” He alluded that he plans to return to the ceremo ny again with the second season of the acclaimed Korean series.

Actresses Jean Smart and Zendaya won their second Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy and Drama Series, for “Hacks” and “Euphoria,” respectively.

In one of the most triumphant moments of the night, Sheryl Lee Ralph received her first Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “Abbott Elementary.”

After an emotional rendition of Dianna Reeves’s song “Endangered Species,” the Dreamgirl said, “To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true, I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like.” Quinta Brunson later won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the ABC sitcom.

Singer-songwriter Lizzo received her first Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program for her series “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” which, in turn, ended the four-year reign of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in that category.

“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone fat like me, black like me, beautiful like me. This is for my big girls.” Lizzo said in her moving speech.

Following the singer’s win, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media was awarded the 2022 Governor’s Award for its achievement in promoting gender-inclusive media.

Earlier last week, the Creative Arts Emmys were held on Sept. 3 and 4, which awarded technical pursuits within television. “Stranger Things 4” received a total of five awards, including Outstanding Music Supervision for “Chapter Four: Dear Billy,” which featured Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).”

RuPaul Charles received an award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program for his work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” his seventh hosting Emmy overall.

Other notable Creative Arts wins included Lee Yoomi receiving Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Ji-yeong in “Squid Game” and former President Barack Obama being awarded Outstanding Nar rator for his work in “Our Great National Parks.”

The In Memoriam segment, performed by John Leg end, honored individuals in the broadcast industry lost in the last year, including actors Tony Sirico, Paul Sorvino and Ray Liotta, actress Betty White, comedians Gilbert Gottfried and Bob Saget, performer Sidney Poitier and CNN anchorman Bernard Shaw.

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards will occur next fall, with the date to be announced.

Credit: @hwangdonghyukdirector on Instagram

OPINION & EDITORIAL

THE PACE PRESS

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mandi Karpo Editor-in-Chief

Jaeden Pinder Executive Editor

Gia Sparacino Events & Social Media Manager

Lyndsey Brown Business Manager

EDITORIAL STAFF

Emily Shafer News Editor

Sarah Bergin Arts Editor

Zoe Poulis Features Editor

Priya Persaud Opinion & Editorial Editor

Chloe Fuller Photo Editor

Mikayla Meachem

Assistant Social Media Manager

Bella Micale Assistant Photo Editor

Adam Klein

Faculty Consultant

ADOBE INDESIGN PRODUCTION TEAM

Lexi Krakowski Adobe InDesign Production Manager

Olivia Eleni Athan

Adobe Illustrator and Graphics Manager

Josh Ilano Adobe Photoshop Designer

Michael Heurtas Adobe InDesign Intern

The Pace Press is the student newspa per of Pace University’s New York City Campus. It is managed and operated entirely by members of the student body as it appears above.

The Pace Press reserves the right to not publish any submitted material, both solicited and unsolicited.

All submissions must include the author’s full name and contact information.

The Pace Press

Dear fellow readers,

The scariest obstacle for a writer to overcome is a blank document. Writer’s block is inarguably a black hole that leaves us scav enging to escape. The mind becomes as white as the digital paper in front of us with nothing besides us and the black vertical cursor having a staring contest, to see who will be the first to give out. This very fact validates that my imposter syndrome is not of my imagination, and I truly am sitting in front of this screen, writing my first letter to you, as Editor-in-Chief.

First and foremost, I want to welcome new and returning students back to the New York City campus after a well-deserved sum mer break. With what President Joe Biden has recently declared as commenced, the COVID-era at the University was long-lived, will never be missed and will hopefully never return.

Next, I want to thank you for scanning our QR code and for taking the time to indulge in the first of what could arguably be considered a new era for The Pace Press. This month, we have decided to release an exclusive E-Newspaper and will continue to include this feature with future monthly in-prints.

I am unfathomably grateful for the amount of contribution you, the student body, have dedicated to The Pace Press. None of this would be possible without your support. I also want to give a big virtual round of applause to my incredible staff, who have com mitted themselves to building The Pace Press into a trusted, credible and entertaining news source.

This summer, we had interested students apply to become editors for our News, Arts, Features and Opinion & Editorial sections. Additionally, we opened the application process to dozens of photographers, graphic designers and artists who have contributed their eclectic creativity toward the product you see in front of you–all led by our Photo Editor, Chloe Fuller.

The application pool was highly competitive; my Vice President and Executive Editor, Jaeden Pinder, and I are elated to introduce our newest staff members:

Emily Shafer, News Editor

Zoe Poulis, Features Editor

Sarah Bergin, Arts Editor

Priya Persaud, Opinion & Editorial Editor

Mikayla Meachem, Assistant Social Media Manager

Bella Micale, Assistant Photo Editor

I would also like to iterate that The Pace Press is a rolling admission organization and it is never too late to join as a contributor.

We meet every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Room W509 in One Pace Plaza. Please join us in continuing to provide a voice for the student body to be heard, recognized and appreciated; leave your legacy at the University with us, embedded in black ink on newsprint forever–or digitally within cyberspace.

With love and gratitude, Mandi Karpo President, Editor-in-Chief

DISCLAIMER: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the indi vidual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.

FEATURES

Getting back into the swing of things: September’s Literature Lineup

As summer draws to a close and we are all slowly slipping back into the school spirit, it can be hard to keep up with any reading we might do in our free time. Luckily, The Pace Press has got you covered with seven different recommendations from our Editors to get you through the start of this semester. These novels can help you cope with the ins and outs of university life, ranging from fictional, fantasy or memoir. Get back into the books with some hand-picked reads for college students.

Zoe’s pick - “A Brush with Love” by Mazey Eddings

Trying to find a balance between our academic lives, per sonal lives and everything in between is a challenge we can all relate to. “A Brush with Love” follows Harper, an overachieving fourth-year dental student who has worked her entire life to get into a top oral surgery residency program. She doesn’t have time for distractions, especially not distractions that involve hunky first-years. But, of course, her life is turned upside-down when she meets 26-year-old Dan, who is just beginning his dental school journey. Between school and her new situationship with Dan, Harper struggles to escape the anxiety that has crippled her since she was a child. A charming rom-com that also tackles important discussions around mental health? My ideal book. This sweet (and slightly steamy), friends-to-lovers read will have you smiling the whole way through.

Mandi’s pick - “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas

The first of a five-book series, “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” will leave you with a large ACOTAR-shaped hole by the end of the last novel, making your standards for college hooks-up skyrocket. Transcending into the world of humans and Fae-be ings, the readers follow 19-year-old Feyre Archeron in the Human Realm, bordering outside of Prythian, home to Faeries–immortals who, depending on their court origin, have the ability to shapeshift, distort the mind and its memory, fly, produce fire or manip ulate water with their fingertips. When Feyre kills a wolf to spare herself, she takes the risk of killing a Fae, potentially compromis ing a treaty between the two realms: if a human is to kill a Fae, the price in exchange is a human life. Weeks later, a wolf 10 times the size of the one she killed, breaks through her family’s cottage, speaking in a man’s voice, coming to claim the person responsible

ZOE POULIS Features Editor

for killing his friend. Attesting to her crimes, the Fae gives Feyre a choice: either be ripped to ribbons in front of her family or leave with him to live out the remainder of her life in Prythian, where no human has ever come out alive. I finished this series in a week and did nothing but turn pages for the majority of the end of my summer – it was that good. Even my best friend, who hates fan tasy, has now been turned to the dark side, into the majestic, sexy world of smutty fan fiction.

Jaeden’s pick - “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” by Anthony Bourdain

So much media has been permeated by kitchen and food culture recently (“The Bear,” “Chef’s Table”), and after picking this memoir up, I fear it’s turned me into one of those pretentious people who doesn’t cook but loves to talk about cooking. “Kitch en Confidential” has altered so much of how I appreciate and consume food, especially as a college student whose dinners have often consisted of rubbery Oreos and lukewarm ramen. Bour dain’s writing style is so conversational, and it feels like you’re actually talking to him during a cigarette break; his personality jumps off the page and into your mind. The “Second Course” and “Third Course” of this memoir are hilarious yet informative; if you’ve ever worked in food service, you’ll particularly resonate with the scenes of Machiavellian bosses and behind-the-scenes chaos. Residential students: read the chapters “From Our Kitchen to Your Table” and “How to Cook Like The Pros” to learn how to elevate and enhance your meals, as even little tweaks of influence and revision can make your dinners after a long school day so much more enjoyable.

Lyndsey’s pick - “Normal People” by Sally Rooney

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a heartbreaking novel detailing the course of an on-again-off-again relationship between Marianne and Connell, as they navigate life beyond their small town. Despite growing up in the same town in Ireland, the novel explores their vastly different lives, intertwined in ways unbe knownst to those around them, bringing to light the harsh reality of going to college and leaving all you know behind. As college students, we all understand this tough transition and Rooney captures it all in a painfully beautiful way, as we feel both the joy and suffering of the undeniable tension between Marianne and

Weeks of Welcome spotlight: brunch with the queens

KATHERINE PAPPAS Contributor continued from PAGE 1

The two well-deserved winners of the com petition were awarded University hoodies and a Setter plush doll.

“I really love attending these WoW events,” freshman Glerrys Flores expressed. “It’s such a great way to be able to have fun and meet new people.”

The Pace Press had the pleasure of speaking to the queens during the Q&A portion of the event. When asked to share what performing means to them, Ivory Snow professed, “Drag is such a freeing experience to embrace my femi ninity and my love for performing.”

“I am blessed enough to have a platform to acknowledge important topics, such as mental health awareness, suicide prevention and gender identification,” Inita D voiced. “Drag has given me the opportunity to connect with people.”

She continued, “Performing here at the University has been a full-circle moment for me since I’m an alum that graduated in 2013.”

If you are interested in following the lives of these fabulous ladies, be sure to check out their Instagram pages @theinitad and @theivo rysnow.

Overcome your September slump with these fall festivities

AMANDA CARR Contributor

Amidst a fading summer and the crisp promise of fall lies none other than the bitter sweet month of September. This seasonal limbo can be difficult to navigate, but don’t fret! There are plenty of exciting events still happening throughout the city to beat the mid-September slump, bid summer a proper adieu and leap into fall.

Here are four ways to embrace the changing of seasons and find the perfect medium between water, ice and pumpkin spice with concerts, festivals and more!

New York Burlesque Festival

Swap bikinis for boas at the 20th annual New York Burlesque Festival showcasing glitter, tights and lots (and lots) of skin. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, Burlesque stars from around the world will be strutting their stilettos across four incredible venues and nights–with two shows in Brooklyn and two in Manhattan. Tickets for each night are available for purchase online, so be sure to reserve your seat for the glamorous eruption of all that is burlesque and an unforget table night.

Pier 17 Concert Series

Spend a night at The Rooftop Pier 17 listen ing to some live music whilst taking in the view of the shimmering skyline. This series will run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 29, with tickets available for purchase online or at the box office. You can even sip on a premium drink or order a gour met snack from the concession stand to enjoy mid-concert, so be sure to snag your ticket soon

and take advantage of the last warm nights of the season.

Oktoberfest

What began over 200 years ago as a royal wedding celebration in Munich, Germany has transformed into the world’s largest folk fes tival. Today, Oktoberfest is embraced across the globe as a celebration of Bavarian culture featuring traditional cuisine and entertainment. There are a wide variety of locations to choose from throughout the city, so students can enjoy a big pretzel without having to leave the Big Apple. The Oktoberfest festivities nearest to the University will be taking place until Oct. 31 at The Waterfront Bar at Pier 15. This event is free to attend; just be sure to RSVP via their website beforehand. Throw on lederhosen and head on down for some bratwurst and (for students 21+) a frosted mug of authentic German beer.

Brooklyn Folk Festival

Tune into the nostalgia of fall with the rhythmic banjo strumming and narrative lyr icism of folk music. From Oct. 10 to 23, the Brooklyn Folk Festival will feature live perfor mances of folk, traditional and vernacular music within the beautiful stained glass, acoustic walls of the historic St. Anne’s Church. You can even take part in square dancing, film screenings, workshops and a banjo toss competition! Tickets may be purchased online prior to arrival or at the door for just $5. But who knows, maybe you can barter a harmonica serenade for free entry; it’s worth a shot!

Connell.

Emily’s pick - “Aftershocks” by Nadia Owusu

Recommended to me by Univeristy English professor, Eu gene Richie, “Aftershocks” is the memoir and first book of Nadia Owusu, a 2004 graduate of the University. It follows her years as an undergraduate student living in a small Chinatown apartment, often unable to afford food and struggling with her mental health and personal identity. Throughout her childhood, her family moved to many different countries, making it difficult for her to feel as if she belonged in a certain place. This is the story of her discovering her identity and family history in the midst of conflict and the everyday struggles of student life, written with beautiful style and vivid descriptions.

Sarah’s pick - “The Rest of the Story” by Sarah Des sen

It’s normal to feel lost and afraid at the beginning of a new school year, but you can find solace in the fact that other people feel a similar way. “The Rest of the Story” explores this while giving the reader an escape from reality. Sarah Dessen takes read ers on a trip through North Lake, a scenic getaway for the protag onist, Emma Saylor Payne. Throughout this time, she discovers more about her family and, in turn, herself. As you read through the trials and tribulations of her past, you won’t be able to put the book down. Even though it’s fiction, it’s easy to resonate with due to the natural storytelling from Dessen. If you want to be swept away by a story of loss, love and healing, this is the book for you.

Priya’s pick - “Bunny” by Mona Awad

In this dark comedy, Samantha Mackey, a scholarship student at a prestigious MFA Program located in New England, becomes roped into a wealthy and influential clique who have coined one another as “Bunny.” When she receives an invitation to join the group, situations begin to radiate sinister energy as her persona becomes forever intertwined with the Bunnies’ cult-esque rituals. Awad’s knack for dividing readers with one thrilling piece of lit erature is a skillset all on its own, likely to stick with you whether you love or hate it. If nothing else, this novel serves as a great reminder that my situation can never be that bad.

How to get into New York Fashion Week

CHARLIE MESSINGER Contributor

Year after year, New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is one of New York City’s most ex clusive and anticipated events. Occurring biannually, NYFW displays some of the biggest designers in fashion’s spring/ summer or fall/winter collec tions. This September’s Fash ion Week showcased the fall/ winter collection from fashion houses including Fendi and New York-based designer Mi chael Kors. Several high-pro file figures attend NYFW, including A-list celebrities like the Kardashian-Jenner family, Emily Ratajkowski, Winnie Harlow and Naomi Campbell.

With NYFW drawing the attention of the press and the public eye, many wonder how they can get a ticket to an event or fashion show during this ex clusive time. With the exclusiv ity of NYFW aside, there are various ways for the public to grab a ticket, and while the fall/ winter show has passed, it’s never too early to prepare for the February spring/summer NYFW.

Industry Events

During NYFW, there are two different types of shows. One of which is called in dustry events, reserved for “buyers and press,” according to fashionweekonline.com, where reporters, merchandisers and celebrities are invited by designers personally to attend their show. Industry events are usually kept private and reserved from the public. These shows include well-known de signers including Coach, Tom Ford and other high-profile in dividuals usually in attendance.

However, if you are not a fashion buyer, involved with the press or an A-list celebrity, there is still a way for you to

attend an industry event. Ac cording to the official Fashion Week website, interested peo ple can directly register with the NYFW producers or design houses. The website also mentions that those interested can apply for a ticket with IMG Models, the talent and event management company that coordinates the entire event. Although this method could be helpful for someone who wants to attend a show, many people apply. There may be appli cation fees, so only a small percentage will get the chance to attend such an event.

Public Events

If you are unable to attend an industry event, there are still other opportunities to be a part of the experience. Not all events are only available to celebrities. In fact, there are several fashion week events for the general public to attend. The Fashion Week Online calendar shows what events are open to the public and how much it will cost to attend. In addition, Fashion Week Online members can save 15 percent on their tickets. A ticket can cost anywhere between $35 to $1,595 or more based on the event and admission type.

The calendar for each fashion week gets released a few weeks before the actual event which leaves enough time for the public to purchase their tickets. Even though most large design er houses will continue having industry events, the most recent NYFW offered plenty of events to the public, and according to the official website, will con tinue to do so.

If you can’t make it in person or a show is sold out, another option is to live stream a show online. These tickets are sometimes free, or payment

might be required.

Get Involved!

Another way to get into NYFW is by being direct ly involved with a show or event. One way to do this is by seeking a press pass or ticket by contacting the press inquiry from the respective designer’s website. This method is great for those interested in the press or for potential buyers, but ar en’t able to get invited directly. Large designer houses want to get their styles shown in popu lar style magazines like Vogue, as well as high-end retail stores including Saks Fifth Avenue to showcase their new collections.

On YouTube, fashion stylist Jessica Alberto, who attended fashion week in February 2020, mentioned how quick and easy it was to reach out to a designer and get a press pass or ticket.

Other ways to be directly involved in NYFW, according to Bella Gerard and Olivia Marcus from stylecaster.com, include volunteering at a show by contacting a producer or by being a photographer and taking pictures of the event.

With NYFW happening twice a year, it is worth trying one of these ways to get your hands on a ticket before they sell out.

EDITORIAL

Make Instagram casual(ly dying) again

JOSH ILANO Contributor

from PAGE

Candid photos are yet another practice, in which the subject is typically blurred or their face is omitted. Furthered by sporadic uploads of various art or graffiti, these efforts have provided space for more experimental endeavors.

However, this leads to a grand conundrum. Participating in this movement—castigating the performative nature of what was once a casual platform—then creates a landscape that exposes itself to per formance. Instagram is a platform whose engagement on any level presents a message, no matter how casual, that it still requires what was critiqued in celebrity Instagram before: curation and faux authen ticity. What Casual Instagram does is create an aesthetic, rather than an ideology. Any display of the photo dump, blurry faces or sporadic art creates a statement through the curation the user performs. The believer is still doing what it seeks to destroy, and that’s an inauthentic Instagram usage.

But performance can still be desirable; a process in which one abstracts their beliefs, therefore, it doesn’t necessarily warrant a sinister motive. If engagement on Instagram warrants an inauthentic per formance, perhaps the key to solving Gen-Z’s plea is self-awareness. Casual Instagram is a step forward within Gen-Z’s larger identity crisis, but what Casual Instagram fails to accomplish is addressing the performance within itself.

So you think you want to go to law school?

MANDI KARPO Editor-in-Chief

There are four types of people who want to go to law school.

Person A: You have been told your whole life that you are really good at arguing and that being a lawyer would make an excellent career choice for a person of your stature.

Person B: Deep down, you don’t actually want to devote yourself to becoming a lawyer and fall into one of three categories. One, you’re doing it to please your parent(s). Two, you’re in it for the money, even if you have to sell your soul to corporate America to make a decent buck. Or three, you crave attention, getting off from the gratifying sensation of impressing a stranger just by uttering five little words: “I’m going to law school.” And all of a sudden, you’re one of the most competent people they know, without having to prove the slightest notion of intellect.

Person C: The rare breed who actually loves politics, the constitution, governance, justice, order–the law. Your driving force is deep-seated in your passion for helping others and serving the greater welfare.

Person D: Like Person C, while you plan to go into law school with intentions to represent the good in this world, chances are the lack of money in helping under-represented communities will deter you. You are someone who can be easily persuaded, and eventually, you’ll be shaped into a crooked attorney who works with the District Attorney’s office to get your guilty client a plea bargain they don’t deserve.

So, you think you want to go to law school? Before you even think about answering this ques tion, consider what type of person you are and whether the benefits outweigh the cost.

If you’re anything like me, I consider myself one of the first three types of people, and I’ll be damned if I find I become Person D. I was told from a young age that my tenaciousness and innate

ability to play the devil’s advocate in any given situation was irritating, but would prove resourceful as an attorney. I’d be lying if I said money and prosperity wasn’t a factor, especially considering my dream is to work in-house at The New York Times. That in itself has gotten me the validating, “that’s so cool,” from a new colleague and has stroked my ego more times than I can count. Studying Political Science in New York City, one of the most politically diverse cities in the nation, my love for governance, logical reasoning, methodical thinking and understanding of political ideology is at the foundation of my academic persona. I grew up with an attorney as a father, who ironically never wanted me to pursue law. But we are all a product of our environment, and thus the idea planted root at a ripe age.

So I learned very early on about the power-hunger force that drives an attorney to success. After four years of undergraduate education, aggressively studying for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), three years of law school and assuming you want to be a practicing attorney who wants more than just a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), you pass the Bar Exam and become a lawyer. You then have the ability to write orders and litigate disputes that can change the trajectory of people’s lives and the future of businesses and corporations. There is no greater power than the one you hold over the fate of another.

Now, unfortunately, no one seems to talk about the fact that the business and curriculum end of law school is built for the wealthy. And like most things in life, in order to make money, you need to have money.

Assuming you get decent financial aid, pursuing a career in the legal field still requires you to spend nearly hundreds of thousands of dollars at a four-year institution. Scholarships are also a pos sibility, and if you’re in the top one percent of applicants, you can bet you’ll get some money, maybe even a free ride. But don’t fool yourself; applying for scholarships is a whole other beast on its own. Then, you have to spend roughly $1,000 or more on studying material and a tutor for the LSAT to get a decent score, pay $200 to take the LSAT, pay $195 to subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), the software required to apply to most law schools, pay an additional $45 for each score report you wish to send to universities, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to attend law school and then pay $250 to take the Bar (in New York). At a minimum, you’re looking at spending $2,000 before you even step foot onto campus.

Finally, let’s say you pass the Bar, or after law school, you decide you don’t want to practice law and instead take your J.D. and run. Either way, you will have a large pile of debt waiting for you on the other side. Not to mention the money you have to spend on professional clothing and accessories for job interviews, networking lunches and dinners, all while paying for the cost of living your everyday life.

This isn’t to say that those without the resources to attend law school don’t make it. On the contrary, there are thousands of applicants nationwide and internationally that have under gone unimaginable hardship, and this is the reason why they want to go to law school in the first place. Law schools eat this kind of stuff up when sifting through applicants, trying to find the needle in the haystack that will open a window of diversity into a legal field that has been whitewashed for far too long.

So, you still think you want to go to law school? You have to be a fool to want to go broke and push yourself to the breaking point to get there, just to go even more broke and push your self even further to the cliff’s edge once you make it. Ironically, I fall into this pool of fools, and if this hasn’t deterred you from wanting to pursue law school, then I plan to see you on the battlefield of LSAT Prep and admission deadlines come next fall.

BeReal or BeFake: new social media app takes over

ANNA MURPHY Contributor

Today, millions of people will receive a notification on their phones at the same exact time, alerting them that it is “Time to BeReal.” Launched in 2019 by Alexis Barreyat and Kévin Perreau, BeReal has experienced a meteoric rise throughout 2022 as people flocked to its promotion of authenticity and well-kept friends.

The app’s new popularity has led to multiple copycats and reinforced a need to reexamine the culture that has developed around social media.

BeReal is a unique take on social media that heavily restricts users; there aren’t stories or direct messages or short video clips like most apps. Instead, the app limits users to one post a day by sending out a notification prompting the user to snap a picture. The app’s camera takes pictures from both the forward and backward-facing cameras and then shares the two images with friends and, if the user opts to do so, to a discovery page. Most users choose not to include captions when they post, and while comments are possible, people usually decide to interact with their friends’ posts through RealMojis, an emoji accompanied by a picture of oneself.

The app heavily frames itself as different from other modern-day social media apps, with its description emphasizing that “BeReal won’t make you famous. If you want to become an influencer you can stay on Tiktok and Instagram. BeReal doesn’t care if you have millions of followers or if you’re verified.” With over 27 million downloads, there’s clearly a demand for more genuine, less follower-based forms of social media. This is such a desire that social media titans Instagram and TikTok have begun experimenting with BeReal-esque features on their respective apps. Developer Alessandro Paluzzi discovered and shared via Twitter that Instagram is working on “Candid Challenges,” a feature that would be added to Instagram stories essentially identical to BeReal. In early September, TikTok announced its individualized replication of BeReal with TikTok Now, a feature that will consist of a once-daily notification allotting three minutes for the user to record a 10-second video to share to the platform.

Authenticity appears to be the keyword when it comes to BeReal. There are no options to add a filter or edit; once the notification is released, users have a mere two minutes to capture their BeReal or the post will be marked as late. Additionally, viewers can see how many times someone retook their picture or if another user screenshot ted their post. With this immense transparency, BeReal should be a landscape of mundane every day with a few lucky days that happened within two minutes of something cool. However, with the app’s increase in users, there has been a dilution of the initial mission behind the app.

Some students at the University have expressed frustration with an increase in people posting late, solely because they were purposely waiting until they were doing something deemed as “cool” to share with their friends. Conversely, many have remarked how the notifications frequently don’t line up well with the user’s schedule and therefore enable insecurities if you have three days of BeReals in bed, simply due to the timing of the notification.

Other students have mentioned how BeReal can create awkward feelings, like if one misses a hangout or isn’t invited to something, when they open your feed to pictures of your friends hanging out without you. While those might be very authentic social experiences, it’s likely not what BeReal sought to promote.

In the coming months, BeReal will have to maintain its current popularity while continuously outperforming its rivals Instagram and TikTok if it stands a chance of cementing itself as a new staple in social media. The app has the thrilling benefit of its daily prompt and limited feed to keep users engaged, but whether it can preserve its original purpose of promoting authenticity via its popularity will be the real test.

Credit: @harvardlaw on Instagram

Credit: Graphic by Kyleigh Carpentieri

Crime culture and its controversies

Media surrounding real-life crime cases are referred to today as “true crime media,” a term that has become very popular within the last few years. True crime media can range from podcasts all the way to reality shows focusing on telling stories of actual crimes, with all the gruesome details. Many find true crime to be a controversial genre of media because of its exploitative nature and the lack of care for the cases’ victims, leaving many to wonder if this unethical entertainment can be changed.

The beginning of true crime started in the 20th century through magazines and pulp fiction novels such as True Detective. The magazine was known for publishing fiction and non-fiction crime stories, often telling them in a mystery-like format. During the 80s and 90s, made-for-TV movies about infamous true crime cases such as the Menendez brothers, were popular with TV companies because they were easy to produce and garnered vast amounts of viewers. Because of the nature of these movies, they were objectively exploitative towards those involved in the cases. In 1992, Amy Fisher almost killed Mary Jo Buttafuoco, the wife of Joey Buttafuoco, who Fisher was having an affair with at the time. In Fisher’s case, companies were scrambling to get the rights to her story. In the end, NBC won the rights, paying $60,000 to Fisher. Later on, Fisher revealed that she never spoke to anyone that was involved in production.

Real-time cases such as O.J. Simpson became a cultural phenomenon that dominated the media. The trial of O.J. Simpson was one of the first cases to ever be televised, gripping the country with a 24-hour news cycle on TV channels such as Court TV and

CARLA PAZ Contributor

CNN. Simpson’s verdict trial alone was viewed by 57 percent of Americans.

During the 2010s, true crime miniseries and documentaries became popular due to streaming services like Netflix. “Making a Murderer” became a hit on Netflix, ushering in a new wave of interest in true crime and YouTube channels such as Buzzfeed Unsolved, Kendall Rae and Bailey Sarian, all of which increased the supply of true crime videos during this time as well. In the late 2010s, though, true crime seemingly exploded. Podcasts such as “My Favorite Murderer” and “Crime Junkies” became popular among listeners, and nowadays, have become oversaturated.

Women are shown to be the biggest consumers of true crime media. In a survey by Angelo State University, it was conclud ed that over 70 percent of women were most likely to choose a true crime book over other violent topics such as war and gangs. Angelo State University also found that women are most likely to consume true crime media because the genre is popular amongst social circles due to aspects of eavesdropping and the fear that many women have of becoming a victim of violence.

True crime media is controversial because of the exploitative nature of the stories. Many content creators produce videos and podcasts about these cases without consulting the families of the victims, which often leads to the spread of misinformation about the victim and the case itself. It also becomes disrespectful when the victim’s experience is utilized for entertainment purposes. Content creators often make a living off of telling these stories,

using the life and death of the victims in order to gain money.

Though many see true crime media as exploitative to the families of victims, it’s important to note all the upsides of true crime media. There are content creators who work with the fam ilies of victims in order for them to tell the victim’s story and to increase awareness of the case. Oftentimes, unsolved cases rise in popularity, which results in the public pressuring law enforce ment to reinvestigate these cases. A book called “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” written about the Golden State Killer, was published in 2018. As a result, the case gained traction and was reopened by law enforcement, which ultimately led to identifying the infamous serial killer.

However, it is all too common that the victim becomes lost in their own story. True crime media places focus on the perpetra tor and their life, oftentimes ignoring victims and their families. Serial killers such as Ted Bundy are immortalized in the media while the names of his victims are only known to those who know the case inside and out, proving the point that true crime is about spectacle.

That being said, the world of true crime and its audiences are constantly transforming. Families and victims have an opportuni ty, now more than ever, to tell their stories without focusing solely on the perpetrator. True crime culture does not have to rely on exploitation, it could simply be an informative genre.

The epidemic of New York City influencers

GISELLE BERENTS Contributor

Figuratively and literally, New York City has it all: talk shows, Fashion Week, movie screenings, the MET Gala. Anything you could possibly imagine is here, but NYC has changed immensely from being the classic place where romantic comedies were filmed and where everyone wants to spend their Christmas. In recent years, especially with the rise of TikTok and influencers sprouting from left and right, the city has changed drastically and pivoted into Los Angeles part two.

Normally, influencers would be sprawled across Los Angeles, living in houses together, creating YouTube videos and doing dangerous pranks for larger viewership in an effort to gain fame. But times have changed and many don’t want to be surrounded by that kind of life anymore. That partic ular way of living has become impractical for some, but it’s also leading towards being corny.

Internet personality and major influencer Emma Chamberlain experienced this first hand when her audience noticed that even though she is LA based, she began spending more time in NYC and fell in love with it. Her reason for exploring out east is most likely because Los Angeles has an air of toxicity rooted in its modern culture, especially with rising influencers trying to be like everyone else. LA isn’t for everyone–of course, it’s where people want to start out, but now that has changed.

The upside to living in the Big Apple comes down to one thing: its reputation for vast oppor tunities. In the past, many different types of media have been created here and the need to be a part of that is at an all-time high. The opportunities are endless if one puts their mind to it. Putting your effort, money and time into becoming something pays off pretty easily here, and this seems to be why influencers are ‘migrating’ over to NYC rather than LA.

In a city like LA, there is a lot of room for influencers to be “fake” or have ulterior motives that would be discouraged if it was not also for their wealth, though the same ideology follows in NYC. Dimes Square (located in the Lower East Side) is a popular place where mainly young influencers reside, and the location seems to become more popular by the second. Dimes Square offers a lot and is home to different bars and restaurants that are too expensive for some people’s liking.

Dimes Square is only a section of the city that is commonly populated by influencers. There are a plethora of them across the entire island of Manhattan and now even into Brooklyn. This migra tion is a phenomenon of sorts that hasn’t been completely identified, with new influencers gaining traction on TikTok for an outfit check posted right on the city’s sidewalk, with viewers devouring the content. Whether or not their ‘fit check is scroll-stopping or it’s just because they’re in NYC is up to the viewer’s discretion.

These influencers work hard to make a name for themselves and insert their lives into main stream celebrity culture, dreaming to associate themselves with public figures like Bella Hadid or Kendall Jenner. These icons mainly occupy NYC and there are numerous connections that influenc ers can make here, still tying back to LA, that makes networking a lot easier.

Influencers won’t ever stop moving from place to place regardless of the public’s liking or disdain. They take the locations they reside in by storm whether or not they’re in NYC, LA or even in Paris. Influencers have a certain knack for creating and keeping up with trends. However, trends inevitably die out as they get oversaturated, which means NYC will slowly lose its influencer-orient ed reign soon. What comes after NYC is for the future to know, and for us to find out.

Libra Horoscopes

PRIYA PERSAUD Opinion & Editorial Editor

Aries

Aries and Libra are two sides of the same coin as they are sis ter signs, so take pride in knowing you’re connected to the season as well! Since the sun has now entered your seventh house, it may seem attractive to create new connections and create harmony in your life. Take this season as an excuse to get closer to those around you and focus on your own inner peace.

Taurus

Taureans, Libra season is shining a light on your personal care and productivity. Remember those New Year’s resolutions that you inevitably forgot? Now is the time to let those ideas come to fruition. For you, this season will be about getting into alignment with yourself. Whether it be through exercising, creating new habits or simply focusing on yourself more often, it is your time to act!

Gemini

Geminis, romance is in the air for you! You may be feeling flirty as the sun is now transiting your fifth house, and may be unintentionally attracting people towards you. If you’d like, utilize this to your full advantage before the commitment issues take over and have some fun! Additionally, you may be feeling more inspired to take on more creative roles. Even if you are not the best at it, try writing or painting in your free time.

Cancer

Libra season may bring up ideas involving your home and family. Take this season to finally redecorate your living space, even if it is just where you sleep every night because it’s still a reflection of you! Remember to call your family and keep in touch with them as they will likely want to hear from you this month, you are their favorite after all!

Leo

You are going to be booked and busy this season, and with your light, we can’t blame you! Take Libra season as a sign to get ready for light-hearted conversations as the people around you are going to want to get to know you better. There are good vibes planned out for you, so you simply have to follow where they lead.

Virgo

As the sun spotlights your second house during Libra season, you may feel enticed to feel more secure financially and seek out those opportunities. As long as you are being both logical and rea sonable with your methods, take this chance to pick up extra hours or invest in new projects. Whereas you may have been impulsive ly self-pampering before, this period will give you more chances to focus on your monetary priorities.

Libra

Congratulations Libras, it is finally your season! All eyes will be on you now and for good reason, your positivity and light will be a beacon of hope to those around you. If you have had any issues with people recently, the harmony in the air will allow you to get away from assumptions and rumors for a brief moment. If you are thinking of changing your appearance, it may be a good idea as it will likely have a beneficial impact on how you view yourself.

Scorpio

Scorpios, you have been needing a break - now is the time! Feel free to give yourself a long rest during this season and remain dormant until you are ready to transform into your higher self. This break will give you some time to protect your peace as well as give yourself a chance to gain clarity for any difficult situations you have been subjected to lately.

Sagittarius

Have you been circling around different friend groups and meeting new people? As Libra season has the sun transiting your eleventh house, this is not a surprise! Your peers, both old and new, may be more invested in your friendship during this time and you should use this to your advantage. If you have had any complications with friendships recently, extend the olive branch and watch your relationships reform!

Capricorn

You have likely been hyper-focused on work and school, and your efforts will not go unseen. You are in a perfect position to elevate any and all opportunities you have been seeking out re cently. However, do not let your work take a toll as you still need to find joy in your endeavors! To balance your work and play, try going to a party, or even confessing your attraction to that person you have been obsessing over, chances are it will all work out.

Aquarius

Is there a language or place that is piquing your interest at the moment? If so, Libra season will only heighten the urge for you to explore it! Whatever you may be fascinated with at the moment, it is worth examining whether it be through experiences or your own personal research. You may also be feeling a sense of seeking out your purpose during this time, and you should follow that through to the fullest extent.

Pisces

Pisces, get ready to transform! As the sun goes through your eighth house, it may be time for you to strip your cocoon and grow into a butterfly. You are likely feeling a sense of change during this time, and that’s okay! You will need to do this in order to unlock your full potential and become whoever you aspire to be. Surrounding yourself with those that will prioritize you is also going to be significant for you during this time.