Vindicator Cleveland State University’s Arts and Culture Magazine
MAR 2021
WONDER WOMEN Throughout American Histor y
+
Celebrating Trans Women
17
MAR
MARCH 2021
what’s in this issue? 3
Check Us Out Online
4
Calendar
5
Letter from the Editor
6
Meet Our Contributors
Arts 7
Weird and Wonderful WandaVision by ERIC SEITZ
9
The Bechdel Wallace Test In 2021 by LYNN NICHOLS
23
WONDER WOMEN
THROUGHTOUT AMERICAN HISTORY BY MEGAN MULLALY
Culture 11
The History of Women’s Month by CLAUDIA UGBANA
Beauty + Wellness 27
When Your Feeling Overwhelmed by LAUREN KOLESZAR
29
Essential Stretches For Any Remote Learner by SAMRA KARAMUSTAFIC
31
Not your Average Period Panties: Joyja Review by ABIGAIL PREISZIG
Social 33
Modern Feminine Feats by MEGAN BARANUK
CELEBRATING TRANS WOMEN
35
15 Apple Arcade Games Reviewed In One Sentence by ERIC SEITZ
BY MAX TORRES
13
Poetry 37
Flint by ANABEL BACH
39
Foray into the Opal Night by ERIKA GIFFORD
COMMUNITY FRIDGE CLEVELAND BY ABIGAIL PREISZIG
THEVINDI.COM | 2
EDITOR’S LETTER
CHECK US OUT ONLINE
REVAMP YOUR LIFE THIS SPRING
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“Celebrate the refreshing and transformative energy of this season with a few simple habits that you can throw into your day-to-day routine. ” — SAMRA KARAMUSTAFIC
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Women’s Empowerment “This will continue to change people,” she said. “Hopefully in a positive way and make women and young girls and even more seasoned women feel their power.” — TYISHA BLADE THE VINDI.COM
Seven Pillars Design Co. “How a love for creativity and
#VindiAsks: What are your plans for the summer?
helping people turned into an epiphany that led this CSU alum to start her own business.”— JILLIAN VANDYKE
12% SCHOOL
63% WORK
@vindi_csu stay up-to-date with all things Vindi on Instagram
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25% TRAVEL Follow us on social media to participate in our next poll! @VINDI_CSU
MARCH 2021
w h a t’s h a p p e n i n g i n
M A R C H 3/24 Trivia Night
Social Justice Trivia Night Join URGE (Unite for Rproductive and Gender Equality) for our social justice trivia night! The event will be fun AND educational with the opportunity to win prizes!
3/26 Virtual West African Dance Class
Have fun with the entire family with this West African Dance Workshop with Djapo Cultural Arts Institute that brings together community for Women’s History Month. Djapo is a Wolof word meaning “come together.”
6PM-7PM, VIRTUAL, FREE 6:30PM–7:30PM, VIRTUAL, FREE
3/29 - 4/4 Cle Mac ‘n’ Cheese Week
Cleveland Mac ‘n’ Cheese Week is seven days of paying homage to the comfort food classic. Each participating restaurant will feature their own take on mac n’ cheese. Let your Mac ‘n’ Cheese Week Passport take you on a Cleveland exploration; map out your week, try new restaurants, challenge your taste buds, and share your experiences on social with other Cleveland mac ‘n’ cheese lovers.
3/27 Self Defense
Cle: Grl Pwr Self Defense Krav Maga Cleveland bringing you the ultimate empowering self-defense and all things GRL PWR event! Think upbeat fun getting down and dirty for things like bear hugs, choke holds and more! Feel like a badass!. 1PM–3PM, WARRENSVILLE HTS, $15
3PM–12AM, DOWNTOWN, $5
THEVINDI.COM | 4
EDITOR’S LETTER
The Cleveland State Vindicator was founded as a Black student newspaper in January 1970.
FROM PAST
TO PRESENT
H
appy Women’s History Month! This issue is packed with articles centered around women, and we have plenty of content that centers around celebrating women. Some of our articles
include more information on the Bechdel-Wallace test (if
you don’t already know what that is, check it out now!), a list of recent female firsts, a photo spread on trans women and our cover story (written by Megan Mullaly) covers women who changed what it means to be a woman. These are all stories that you do not want to miss, and there’s plenty in between! New writer Abigail Preiszig writes a review on the Joyja period panties, and interviews the woman behind @communityfridgecle. I’m so excited for all of you to dig into our latest issue!
Megan Baranuk EDITOR–IN–CHIEF
5 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
Faculty Advisor Julie Burrell Web Specialist Daniel Lenhart
MEET OUR
CONTRIBUTORS STAFF HEADS Megan Baranuk Editor–in–Chief
Megan Mullaly Managing Editor
Eric Seitz Copy Editor
Asha McClendon Art Director
Jillian VanDyke Asst. Art Director
Lauren Koleszar Features Editor
Courtney Byrnes Arts Editor
Lynn Nichols Culture Editor
Samra Karamustafic Beauty Editor
Claudia Ugbana Social Editor
Megann Rosecrans Online Content Editor
WRITERS Megan Baranuk Samra Karamustafic Eric Seitz Lynn Nichols
Max Torres Multimedia Manager
JUNIOR DESIGNERS Lauren Koleszar Megan Mullaly Abigail Preiszig Claudia Ugbana
Devin Benko Stefany Belasic Hannah Mosley Megan Mullaly
Jillian VanDyke Emily Williams Emma Splete
POETS
ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Anabel Bach Erika Gifford
Max Torres
Disclaimer The content of the Vindicator does not necessarily represent the opinions of Cleveland State University, its students, faculty, or staff: nor does it represent the members of the Vindicator staff or our advisors unless otherwise stated. The editor reserves the right to comment on any issue that affects the student body in general as well as the multicultural community at large. Letters to the editors and other submissions are accepted, however they must have the authors name, address, major if applicable, and telephone number. All submissions become property of the Vindicator and the Vindicator reserves the right to edit submissions as deemed necessary. Magazine and newspaper theft is a crime; limit one per person. 2121 Euclid Ave, MC 471, Cleveland, OH 44115 216–687–2118 THEVINDI.COM | 6
ARTS
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
WandaVision
WRITTEN BY
Eric Sietz ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Asha McClendon The low-down on WandaVision and its implications on the MCU’s brave new world.
7 | VINDICATOR
A
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
WandaVision’s premise is cute — two Avengers
retro-style sitcom featuring an unequiv-
move to a suburban town and try to blend in, despite
ocally dead Avenger and his grieving girl-
their powers and unique characteristics. However,
friend was hardly the most anticipated
the premise is not what makes Marvel Studios’ first
series when Marvel Studios announced
foray into television so stellar. If WandaVision were
its slew of titles coming to Disney+. For
a cake, its sitcom premise would be the cake stand
many, it was not even not the least anticipated series
— a sturdy yet beautiful stand; one that will hold
(I said what I said). Furthermore, the show’s slow-
up the beautiful cake that sits on top of it; it’s not
burn rollout that had its first few episodes basking in
what you came for, but it sure does help make the
their sitcom-iness was met with mixed reviews.
experience a great one. After all, a cake would just
However, WandaVision’s arrival has made a cul-
be a pile of mush if it didn’t have a stand hoisting it
tural splash, trending on social media platforms
up. Watching those first three episodes and all their
like TikTok and Twitter and sweeping the world as
sitcom-y glory is what gave episode four its oomph.
Marvel Studios’ first offering since July 2019. More
Showing Monica get un-blipped in the hospital and
than halfway through its freshman season, Wanda-
then cutting to the Marvel Studios intro would have
Vision has proven that good things do in fact come
been less awe-inspiring if the show had already
to those who wait.
explained the goings-on of life outside Westview.
When episode four “We Interrupt This Program”
However, audiences go in blind, entering episode
broke from the show’s sitcom-with-a-dark-un-
four with only knowledge of life inside Wanda’s
derbelly format to explore the world outside of the
make-believe town.
sitcom, the audience promptly went — and I’m about
Episode four even nods to the silliness of the sitcom
to use a technical term here — absolutely bonkers.
with meta references from adorably relatable char-
WandaVision has struck the perfect balance between
acters Darcy and Agent Woo. Episode four’s genius
the reality-bent Westview and the characters outside
is rooted in its references to the bizzaro-coaster
trying to figure their way in, and the show’s new-
that the first three episodes just forced audiences
found alternating format displayed that this wasn’t
to endure. Agent Woo’s line sums it up perfectly:
the complete divergence from the MCU’s formula
“The universe created a sitcom about two Avengers?”
that audiences thought it was.
Yes, Jimmy. It did — the Marvel Cinematic Universe
MARCH 2021
hers and Vision’s hands, but the technology of the 1950’s was nowhere near what we see Wanda’s magic portrayed as now, so the scene features two clips bumped up against each other, flashing from a shot of their ringless hands to a shot of their hands with rings on them. The genuineness of that moment is hit home with the very visible fact that their hands are in slightly different spots when they have the rings on them. The MCU is not afraid of altering the status quo (see Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers Infinity War), but its series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil notoriously have little to no bearing on the heavy-hitting films that the MCU is known for. WandaVision proves that this is no longer the case: aAfter months of fans speculating whether the X-Men would arrive in the MCU, WandaVision shattered the wall that separated the two universes with a single cliffhanger scene at the end of episode five. This simple crossover cameo will have ripple-effects throughout the upcoming films from the studios. Further, WandaVision is the first in what is being called a “loose trilogy” story that also includes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (in which Wanda will also appear) and the untitled third Spider-Man film. Perhaps the show’s greatest feat, though, comes
created a sitcom about two Avengers. Darcy’s growing mirrors the audience’s own growing affection — though we were skeptical at first, wondering when the classic MCU magic would come into play, we’ve grown to love its cheesy sitcom format. For being a series that completely ignores much of the world around it, WandaVision is the MCU’s most fourthwall-breaking, meta-referencing, homage-paying
PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE IMAGES
work that the studio has put out. WandaVision is many things. One of its major attributes is that it’s a love letter to various eras of sitcom television. Episodes one and two wowed audiences with their attention to detail in creating sitcom episodes of the 50’s and 60’s that felt true to their respective eras. The series’ music alone is unprecedented magic — Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez wrote the theme songs for every decade-themed episode so far. The result of mashing together of the MCU with sitcom television results in genius songwriting, complete with nods to the events of the MCU and nods to the state of the show’s plot at the time. The songs themselves are stellar works as well, complete with true-to-era instrumentation and vocals. Further, the show progresses in its production technology as the decades advance — in episode one, Wanda uses her magic to put rings on both
in its ability to juggle a serious, MCU-level plot and
“
a sitcom plot at once, making them intertwine with one another as they go along. This is best evidenced in episode five: As Wanda’s fake world seems to be
WandaVision
crumbling around her, so too does the actual plot of the sitcom episode. The storyline of the twins convincing Wanda and Vision to let them adopt a dog
is the
feels truncated and clumsy, and this is on purpose —
MCU’s most fourth-wall-
as Vision grows suspicious of Wanda and as Agnes’s strange nature comes to the surface, the doomed dog storyline reflects Wanda’s descent into turmoil that she reaches at the end of the episode. Vision’s mistrust in her as well as her own guilt over her (presumed)
breaking,
misdoings not only causes poor Sparky to die, but
meta-
also makes her effort to teach her boys about the
referencing,
justify bringing Vision back to life in an attempt to
— work that
her boys that running from their grief is wrong?
the studio
of raising thought-provoking questions on morality,
permanence of death to fall flat — if Wanda could
“
affection for the sitcom midway through the episode
has put out.
run from her grief, what makes her qualified to tell The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a master-class duty, grief, and survival. WandaVision is simply the latest in a long line of stellar storytelling journeys. I didn’t need more of an excuse to continue watching what Marvel has in store, but if you are looking for a reason, let WandaVision be it. It’s got, like, 80 reasons. In each episode.
THEVINDI.COM | 8
ARTS
THE
BECHDEL
WALLACE TESTIN 2021 WRITTEN BY
Lynn Nichols
Examining the history and nuances of an iconic pop culture metric
S
iUr Modern film criticism often involves analysis of diversity and representation in the cast and plot. In these progressive discussions, most of us have heard of the Bechdel-Wallace test, more commonly
known as the Bechdel test. The Bechdel-Wallace test is the most well-known method of evaluating the way women are depicted in a film. As we continue to use it as the standard for feminist analysis, we should take the time to revisit the origins and impact of the Bechdel-Wallace test from the 1980s to the present. The test is widely credited to Alison Bechdel, the cartoonist known for her graphic novel “Fun Home.” The idea behind the test was described in Bechdel’s famous comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” in print from 1983–2008. This conversation that would become the Bechdel test was first printed in an early installment from 1985 titled “The Rule.” Two characters walk through a movie theater and discuss their taste in film. One explains that she will only watch a movie if its script can fulfill “three basic requirements. One, it has to have at least two women in it who, two, talk to each other about, three, something besides a man.” When her friend observes that that sounds “pretty strict,” the first woman agrees, and remarks half-jokingly that she hasn’t been able to watch a movie since “Alien” (released 1979). As feminists continued to discuss the strip through the years, many added the stipulation to rule number two that the two female characters must also have names. This version is reflected in the criteria for bechdeltest.com, an active database where users grade films according to the three requirements. As a quick glance at the recent pass/fail lists will show, surpris-
9 | VINDICATOR
ingly many contemporary films fall short of those standards more than thirty years later. According to the analysis and reviews at bechdeltest.com and mediaversityreviews.com, one third of the Best Picture nominees from the 2020 Academy Awards outright failed the test, while another third passed on narrow technicalities. Only “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women” and winner “Parasite” definitively passed with complex conversations between plot-significant, clearly named female characters. The Bechdel test has taken on a life of its own in pop culture, which has led to some distance from Alison Bechdel’s original intentions. In a 2015 interview with NPR, she discussed the inspiration for “The Rule” and credited the idea to her friend Liz Wallace. She continued that she would be “very happy” if the film fans and critics who use her test would call it the Bechdel-Wallace test instead. As Megan Garber wrote for The Atlantic, a test meant to highlight the importance of conversations between women should “recognize that dialogue” between Bechdel and Wallace in its name. When we apply the Bechdel-Wallace test in film analysis, we must also keep in mind what exactly it is measuring. Some viewers and critics celebrate films that pass the test by using phrases like “passes the Bechdel test with flying colors,” essentially praising films as feminist because they meet the three requirements, but that misses the original point. The characters in “The Rule” are not discussing the films that they enjoy, nor the films that they find meaningful, but rather the films that are worth seeing in the first place. Considering its original context within a lesbian-centered comic strip, “The Rule” speaks to the alienation that women who love women experience when they don’t see any developed relationships between women in entertainment media. What
MARCH 2021
Bechdel conveys in the strip is that these standards
production team have two women in every depart-
ought to be the bare minimum, but so many films
ment. Meanwhile, director Lena Waithe’s test asks
can’t even go that far.
whether the film depicts a Black female character in
RELEASES THAT PASS THE BECHDELWALLACE TEST:
In recent years, many critics have elaborated on the
both a position of power and a healthy relationship.
dangers of assuming that the Bechdel-Wallace test
In the test by screenwriter Noga Landau, a film fails
indicates whether a film is feminist. Films may pass
if a central female character dies, becomes pregnant
the test for superficial reasons without actually cen-
or causes a problem in the story arc of a male lead.
tering women in the story. A conversation between
Finally, director Rachel Feldman proposes a scoring
friends about what to eat for dinner is enough to
system in which a film earns points for meeting cri-
pass the Bechdel-Wallace test. But if later in the film,
teria such as a female director, or a crew made up
one of these female characters dies to advance the
of at least 50 percent women. Of the top 50 releases
•
male lead’s story arc, the other one marries the lead,
from 2016, no one film could pass all 13 applied tests.
Happiest Season
and there are no other named women with speaking
When we consider all of the possible tests and
roles, we should still question whether it is an inclu-
scores, it becomes clear that no one test can measure
The High Note
sive, feminist film. Furthermore, as Anna Waletzko
a definitive best way to include women in film. That
points out in an article for HuffPost, a film can depict
is how we should approach the original from “The
•
a woman’s experiences and development in rich de-
Rule,” too. The ideas of Alison Bechdel and Liz Wal-
tail but still fail the test: if there are only two charac-
lace cannot singlehandedly end all of the misogyny
ters in the entire film, for example, and the other is a
and inequity in the film industry. But their work is
man. Used on its own, the Bechdel-Wallace test does
still meaningful because it introduces a framework
not account for intersectionality either. A film could
for thinking critically about representation and in-
pass the test and center women in the plot, but still
clusion. “The Rule” is valuable commentary on out-
fail to represent women from diverse racial, cultural
dated ideas about a woman’s place in the narrative.
and class backgrounds.
The Bechdel-Wallace test challenges us to consider
Recently, the Bechdel-Wallace test has inspired discourse about other metrics to evaluate the role of gender in film. In 2017, FiveThirtyEight compiled a list of alternative tests created by and named for women in the film industry. One by director and producer Kate Rees Davies requires simply that the film
our media from every angle and ask ourselves: who is included in the conversation?
Bill & Ted Face the Music • Emma. • The Half of It
•
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom • The Old Guard
“
What Bechdel conveys in the strip is that these standards ought to be the bare minimum, but so can’t even
“
PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE IMAGES
many films go that far.
THEVINDI.COM | 10
CULTURE
THE HISTORY OF
WOMEN’S MONTH Claudia Ugbana A look into the history of why women are celebrated through the month of March
W
omen’s History Month is a celebration of women everywhere, along with their achievements and
contributions
to
society.
This month also serves as a re-
minder of the women who fought for several years and gained the rights for women to vote and hold positions in office. Most importantly, Women’s History Month serves as a symbol of how women have made — and continue to make — paramount additions all around the world. The presidential proclamation of Women’s History Month was a long and courageous battle which took many years to achieve, and has evolved over time. What began as a single day to acknowledge women across the world, was later turned into a week long celebration, before the month of March was officially dedicated to womankind. Women’s history celebrations began as a local festivity in Santa Rosa, California, over four decades
11 | VINDICATOR
“
ago. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the
Women’s
Women’s Day: one day in the year dedicated to
History
cal women, men and children enthusiastically
Month is a
presentations that drew in hundreds of entries.
celebration of
parts of the country was simply not enough, so
women - their
proclamation official.
achievements
and historians lobbied for national recogni-
- contributions
when President Jimmy Carter issued the first
to society.
History Week was created. As the celebration
Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration, to line up with International the celebration of all kinds of women. The loparticipated in special contests and classroom However, women celebrating the week in various
“
WRITTEN BY
the women lobbied law officials to make this
In 1980, a combination of women’s groups
tion. They were successfully granted approval presidential proclamation, and thus, Women’s spread across the nation, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon and Alaska were just a few of the states that developed and distributed a curriculum that encompassed the history of women. As the years passed, many states across the nation adopted National Women’s History Week on different dates, until 1986. A total of 14 U.S. states had adopted the national holiday
MARCH 2021
OTHER IMPORTANT MILESTONES FOR WOMEN DECLARED IN THE MONTH OF MARCH: MARCH 1, 1972 The U.S. Senate passed Title IX, a law which prohibits sex discrimination in all federally funded education programs. MARCH 2, 1903 The Martha Washington Hotel became the first women-only hotel to be opened in New York City.
“
MARCH 3, 1913 The first women’s suffrage parade took
In today’s modern world, Women’s History
“
Month and International Women’s Day are celebrated in varying ways.
place in Washington, D.C. MARCH 8, 2014 An organization established to highlight the contributions made by Catholic women into society was created. Thus, National Catholic Sisters Week was created.
PHOTO CREDIT ADOBE STOCK BY MARINA
MARCH 12, 1912 by that year, causing a state-by-state action to lobby
This year’s theme, an ode to the recent election and
The first Girl Scouts meet-
Congress into declaring the month of March National
a continuation from 2020’s theme, is Valiant Women
ing was held in Savannah,
Women’s History Month by 1987.
of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.
Georgia.
The U.S. was not the only country that fought for
Although this theme accurately describes the past
a change in the world, however. In 1908, the famous
year, it remains timely, as we can look back at the
Women’s Day March in New York City piqued the
many female activists who refused to be silenced
interests of a German socialist in Europe named
over the years. We can look at examples such as Alice
Clara Zetkin. She presented the idea at a women’s
Paul, who led the women’s suffrage movement, Mary
conference, gaining the approval of 100 women who
McLeod Bethune, who founded the National Council
were in attendance. From that conference, Interna-
of Negro Women and paved the way for Black wom-
tional Women’s Day was then acknowledged by 1911
en, and most recently, Stacey Abrams, who helped
in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.
register at least 800,000 new voters in the state of
In several countries all across the world, the move-
Georgia for the 2020 presidential election.
ment spread and took life in many different ways,
The theme has varied over the many years and
from thousands of women gathering to march in New
has been created by other organizations dedicated to
York City, to a group of many different women from
uplifting and celebrating women. The United Nations
17 different countries in Europe, to the presidential
(UN) has sponsored the annual holiday, observed in
MARCH 31, 1888
proclamation of a month-long celebration. Women’s
several countries all around the world since 1975.
The National Council of
History Month has become a worldwide event to
When adopting the responsibility of the observance of
Women of the U.S. was
honor the women who started it all; however, the
International Women’s Day, the UN cites its reasons
officially formed.
celebration has since evolved.
as, “a move to recognize the fact that securing peace
In today’s modern world, Women’s History Month
and social progress and the full enjoyment of human
MARCH 1917
and International Women’s Day are celebrated in
rights and fundamental freedoms require the active
A political group dedicated to
varying ways. The National Women’s History Alliance
participation, equality and development of women;
women’s suffrage named The
(NWHA) has declared an annual theme for the month,
and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the
National Woman’s Party was
dating back to the very beginning of its declaration.
strengthening of international peace and security.”
officially formed.
MARCH 17, 1910 Camp Fire Girls, the very first interracial, non-sectarian American organization for girls was established. MARCH 22, 1972 The Equal Rights Amendment was also passed by the senate, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing rights regardless of a person’s sex.
THEVINDI.COM | 12
FEATURE
FRIDGE CLEVELAND INTERVIEW WITH ALEX QUANDT
13 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
WRITTEN BY
Abigail Preiszig PHOTOS BY
Max Torres
Lifelong Clevelander Alex Quandt has fought to eliminate food-waste increases due to COVID-19 by starting Community Fridge Cleveland, a volunteer-based refrigerator and dry pantry setup that provides accessible healthy food to members of the community for free.
C
ommunity Fridge Cleveland (CFC) is a
hoped. I think a lot of people are so used to the idea
community refrigerator that offers free
of charity that mutual aid can seem unrealistic or
food to anyone, regardless of proof of
even intimidating. Julie, the owner of The Root Café,
aid or income level. The local project was
was a lifesaver. I’d been having meetings for months
started by Alex Quandt, who lives on the east side of
before we were put in touch, and right off the bat, her
Cleveland with her husband and one-and-a half-year-
attitude was, “Let’s get started.” She and her staff
old son. After having her son, Quandt began working
have been so generous and have given us the ideal
from home, and she began the CFC project in July
environment for the project.
2020. This isn’t Quandt’s first endeavor as an active member of her community — before starting CFC, she worked as an event planner and did crafts at a senior living community. As she set her heart on starting a community refrigerator, she began looking for a physical fridge, an accessible public location, food and monetary donations and enthusiastic volunteers. By November, the first refrigerator had found its home at The Root Café in Lakewood! ABIGAIL PREISZIG: What inspired you to start Community Fridge Cle (CFC)? ALEX QUANDT: I had seen some community fridges on Instagram that had been met with really great success in their city and figured, why not here? We have such a vibrant and tight-knit community, and I thought that we could really make a difference here.
AP: What do you hope CFC can contribute to our community? AQ: I hope that we can provide a safe space for our neighbors to be able to connect with one another. The platform of the Fridge has allowed me to connect a lot of people with one another to share more than just food — household goods, services, furniture, fundraising, etc. This community is super powerful. AP: What do you desire for the future of CFC? AQ: Expansion! I’d love to have Fridges in more neighborhoods around Cleveland. I have two donated refrigerators in my garage as we speak, just waiting for hosts. I have people DMing me all of the time that their neighborhood could benefit from this project. I want this loving community to get bigger
AP: What is the goal of CFC?
and better in 2021.
AQ: I believe that everyone should have access to
AP: Who manages CFC?
free, healthy food. The idea of food scarcity is a myth-- there’s plenty of food that gets thrown out for one reason or another all of the time. The goal is to create a sustainable food-sharing program that reduces food waste in our area. We are not the haves giving to the have-nots, we all eat this food!
AQ: It’s just me on the administration end. I have an invaluable group of volunteers who checks the Fridge to sanitize it and make sure that things are looking good and are within date. I do the big shopping hauls with money that we get through Venmo, and the rest of the food comes from direct donations within the
AP: What has surprised you most since starting CFC?
community.
AQ: This community grew so fast! Since I’m a working
AP: What are the criteria to host a Fridge?
mom, this wouldn’t be possible without a network of volunteers and community members willing to help out. So many people were on board right away. It still amazes me how many wonderful people are excited to be a part of this project. It’s so energizing! AP: What has been the most challenging part of starting and maintaining CFC? AQ: Finding hosts has by far been the most challenging part. I’ve had a lot of meetings that didn’t go how I’d
AQ: All that’s really needed is an accessible space and electricity! The addition of another refrigerator to an electricity bill results in an increase of under $20 per month. Fridges should be in places that allow foot traffic and are accessible by public transit. AP: Who can take from the Fridge? AQ: Anyone at all. We don’t check documentation or income, which is what makes mutual aid so much
THEVINDI.COM | 14
FEATURE
15 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
more beneficial than government aid or charity.
on Venmo. It’s easier for some people to donate what
Anyone is able to walk in and take what they want
they can toward a haul than it is to physically go
and leave what they don’t because everyone deserves
donate in person themselves!
access to food. I take things myself sometimes that
AP: How do I volunteer with CFC?
we could use in our house! AP: What can be found in a Fridge? What should be donated? AQ: The Fridge is typically full of fresh produce, surplus from local bakeries, pantry staples and dry goods. We keep things vegetarian to be respectful to our host since The Root is a vegetarian café. Things should be labeled and within date. Because of food safety laws and COVID, we can only accept prepared items that have the ingredients clearly labeled and were prepared in a food-safe grade, professional environment. I always say that you should only donate something to The Fridge that you would be comfortable eating yourself or feeding your family. It’s often easy for people to access things that are high in sodium and heavily processed, so my ultimate goal is to make food that’s good for our bodies just as accessible. We also often have baby food and formula, disposable masks, reusable bags, hand sanitizer and menstrual care products! AP: How can I donate to CFC? AQ: We accept donations during The Root’s business hours. You just walk in, and there’s our fridge and a
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS
AQ: Anyone can always directly message me about volunteer opportunities! Full disclosure: I am awful about check ing my email regularly, so DM will guarantee I get back to you a lot faster. AP: Who makes the graphics for your Instagram? They are great! AQ: Me! Thank you. It’s so fun. I love messing around and making dumb memes to send my husband, so it’s been so sick that people like them!
TO FREE,
AP: Anything else you would like to add?
HEALTHY
AQ: If this project resonates with you, be sure to reach
FOOD.
markets and tell them about us. I need all of the help
out to your favorite cafés, shops, restaurants, and that I can get so that we can expand this project all over the city! If you are unsure of what to say, there are phone call templates available on our Instagram.
If you want to learn more about Community Fridge Cle and how to donate, find them on Instagram and Venmo, @communityfridgecle.
dry goods cabinet next to it! We also accept donations THEVINDI.COM | 16
FEATURE
WONDER WOMEN Throughout American Histor y
17 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
WRITTEN BY
Megan Mullaly
Black woman to win a
Celebrating the American women that fought for women’s rights and gender equality, as well as female firsts around the globe
W
custody battle against a slave-owning white man.
After
escap-
ing to freedom and
ith March being Women’s His-
recovering
tory Month, it’s the perfect
Truth began working
her
son,
time to get acquainted with the
as an abolitionist and
American women that have re-
women’s rights activ-
defined what it means to be a
ist. She traveled the
female in America. Before America was founded as
United States, giving
its own nation, women were already challenging the
speeches on the inhu-
idea of womanhood and fighting for equal rights in
manity of slavery and the inequality women — es-
this land. Recognize with us some of the women that
pecially Black women — faced in America, as well as
challenged the idea of a male-dominated America
publishing written works on the subject.
and fought for women’s rights and gender equality
Truth’s most popular speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”
throughout its history.
detailed the inequalities women faced. While fighting for Abigail
Adams
was
the wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams, and the mother of the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. Her
husband
often
sought her advice on
women’s rights in general, it also heavily emphasized the lack of recognition white women’s rights activists gave to the increased inequality Black women faced. Truth faced retaliation, as she was both Black and a woman. She was often accused of being a man, and in one of these instances she pulled open her shirt and revealed her chest. While Truth faced increased adversity, she navigated it with courage and grace, and ensured Black women were not left out of the women’s rights movement.
political matters, and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton followed in Abigail Adams’
she had so much im-
footsteps and led the women’s rights movement
pact on early American politics that Abigail Adams
throughout the mid- to late-1800s. She was raised
is sometimes considered a founder of the United
by a conservative father and a progressive mother
States of America. Adams is one of the earliest and
who supported the fight for women’s rights. Eliza-
most documented American feminists. She was an
beth’s father was one of the wealthiest men in the
advocate for women’s rights and gender equality.
state, and she was able to get a better-than-aver-
She also felt that women should not have to submit to laws that oppressed them and fought for women to seek out an education. In a famous letter to her husband, she wrote, “Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE IMAGES
not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” This foreshadows the relentless battle women have been fighting for gender equality. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery, but escaped with her daughter when she was 29. Two years later, she went to court to recover her son. Truth won the legal battle against her son’s owner and was the first THEVINDI.COM | 18
FEATURE
age education. When her brother died at the age of twenty, she told her grieving father she would try to live up to her brother’s name. To this, her father responded, “Oh my daughter, I wish you were a boy.” In 1840, Elizabeth married Henry Brewster Stanton. During their wedding, Elizabeth and her husband had the word “obey” taken out of the ceremony. She later wrote, “I obstinately refused to obey one with whom I supposed I was entering into an equal relation.” After getting married, Elizabeth and her husband moved to Boston where she was surrounded by women’s rights activists and progressive male counterparts. Because she had an above-average education, Stanton was equality could only be obtained with legal action. In order to take action and gather support, Stanton wrote the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments that detailed women’s oppression — most notably, women’s inability to vote. Stanton also worked to organize a two-day women’s rights convention. It was the first women’s rights convention in American history and had 300 people in attendance. These attendees were invited to sign the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, which went on to be “the single most important factor in spreading news of the women’s rights movement around the country.” Stanton also worked to fight the excessive consumption of alcohol, which was considered a women’s rights issue because men had control of a family and its finances, even if they were alcoholics. She attended the 1852 temperance convention in New York, but was told by the chairman that women were only there to listen and learn and should not express their opinion on the matter. Stanton also fought for dress reform and divorce reform. Bloomers (pants worn under knee-length dresses) were brought to New York in 1851 and were adopted by women’s rights activists as they represented the working woman. After two years, activists returned to traditional floor-length dresses, as the controversy took attention away from the fight for gender inequality. Stanton fought for divorce reform by detailing the unfairness of the husband holding complete control of the family and the inability for a woman to file for divorce if she was unhappy in her marriage. She gave speeches around the U.S. and published an essay calling activists to fight the legal system’s strict divorce laws. Susan B. Anthony was a women’s rights activist and is well known for her impact on the women’s suffrage movement. She was raised in a family that had a passion for social reform, as her brother worked closely with the anti-slavery movement. When Anthony took a job as Canajoharie Academy’s headmistress for the female department, she took issue with 19 | VINDICATOR
“ Sex
the fact that she was paid much less than her male
education had been outlawed,
counterparts. While Anthony didn’t have a great education, she took initiative in educating herself on social reform issues. Like Elizabeth Stanton, Anthony took part in adopting bloomers. The two of them worked closely within the
and when
women’s rights movement. Stanton had seven chil-
women
was unmarried and free to travel the United States.
asked how
strategy while Anthony traveled the U.S., delivering
dren and was often trapped at home, while Anthony Because of this, Stanton would perfect their ideas and speeches crafted by Stanton. Anthony also worked to
to avoid
fundraise money for the women’s rights movement,
unwanted
as its biggest hindrance was lack of funding. Because
pregnancies,
didn’t support his wife’s activism she would be unable
male doctors
After the end of the Civil War, Anthony began to
would simply respond, ‘Abstinance.’
“
able to study law books, and she soon realized gender
men controlled the family’s finances, if the husband to fund the movement. focus on women’s right to vote. She traveled the U.S., giving lectures on the importance of granting women the right to vote and recruiting women for the women’s rights movement. In 1872, Anthony registered to vote and cast a ballot in the election. She was later arrested for illegally voting, and her trial kickstarted a national debate. The news reached women around the U.S. and garnered more support for the suffrage movement than ever before. Anthony continued to fight for women’s rights for the rest of her life; but the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, wasn’t passed until 13 years after her death. Margaret Sanger was a sex educator and birth control activist who established the organizations that have developed into Planned Parenthood. She was born in 1879 and was raised by her father, a women’s rights activist. Sanger married in 1902 and had three
MARCH 2021
children. In 1911, the
the American Birth Control League and the Clinical
family’s house in the
Research Bureau. The new program became known
suburbs of New York
as the Birth Control Federation of America, but the
City burnt down, and
name was changed to Planned Parenthood Federation
they
moved
down-
of America due to conservative pressure opposed to
town
where
Sanger
the term “birth control.” Sanger went on to help found
and her husband got
the International Planned Parenthood Federation
involved in local pol-
and served as president until she was 80 years old.
itics. Sanger’s polit-
She also encouraged philanthropists to donate to the
ical activism led her
development of a birth control pill. This would lead
to write “What Every
to the first FDA-approved, commercially produced
Mother Should Know”
birth control pill. Margaret Sanger continued to fight
and “What Every Girl
for women’s rights and publish her writings on the
Should Know,” which were columns on sex educa-
importance of sex education and contraception until
straight to the point, and this blunt discussion of sex outraged readers. While writing for the New York Call, Margaret Sanger also worked as a nurse for low-class, immigrant women. During this time, she treated women that incurred injuries from self-induced abortions. Sex education had been outlawed, and when women asked how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, male doctors would simply respond, “Abstinence.” While Sanger didn’t support abortions, she recognized that the need for abortion would cease to exist if women were given the proper information. In order to combat the censorship of sex education, Sanger began a campaign to fight government censorship and launched a newsletter, The Woman Rebel, to provide women with information and promote contraceptives. Sanger sent the newsletter through the U.S. Postal Service and was charged with violation of postal obscenity laws. Instead of standing trial, Sanger fled to England where she spent a year refining her stance on sex education and contraception, citing overpopulation as a main concern of censoring educational information. When Sanger returned to the United States, she brought a European form of contraception with her, even though they were against the law. Sanger also opened a family planning and birth control clinic, which she was arrested for nine days later. She was able to post bail and returned to the clinic, but was
“
her death in 1966. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice from 1993 until her death in September of 2020.
The dean... asked, ‘Why
She was born in 1933 to Nathan Bader, an immigrant from Ukraine, and Celia Bader, the daughter of Polish immigrants. Celia often took Ruth to the library to kickstart her education and this early ac-
are you at
tion led Ginsburg to graduate from high school at
Harvard
arts degree in government from Cornell University
Law School, taking the
only 15 years old. She went on to earn a bachelor of and was the highest-ranking female in her class. Ginsburg gave birth to her first child in 1955, but instead of being a stay-at-home mom, she enrolled in Harvard Law School a year later. She was one of
place of a
nine women in a class of 500 students, and classes
man?’ ...and
The dean hosted a dinner for the female students
went on to
taking the place of a man?” Ginsburg mumbled
graduate first in her class.
were held in a building with no female bathrooms. where he asked, “Why are you at Harvard Law School, that her husband was also in law school and “it was important for a wife to understand her husband’s work.” Her husband was offered a job in New York
“
tion included in the New York Call. The columns got
arrested again and charged for running a public nuisance. Her arrest sparked a nationwide fight for sex education and contraception that led to the New York Court of Appeals deciding that doctors could lawfully prescribe female patients contraception. After being released, Sanger opened the American Birth Control League and established the Clinical Research Bureau, the first legal birth control clinic in the United States. For the majority of the following two decades, Sanger traveled the world to give lectures on the importance of sex education and contraception. In 1937, Sanger oversaw the merger of
THEVINDI.COM | 20
FEATURE
City, and when Ginsburg asked to complete her third
To make money while advocating for gender equality
year at Columbia Law School, the same dean denied
and civil rights, Sheila worked a number of laborious
her request. She transferred to Columbia Law School
jobs and drove a taxi for ten years. She took issue with
and went on to graduate first in her class.
the terms “Miss” and “Mrs.,” as they referred to a
Afterward, she worked with the Columbia Law School
woman solely based on her relationship to a man and
Project on International Procedure in Sweden. While
attempted to popularize the term “Ms.” as the title
in Sweden, Ginsburg realized just how unfairly women
used to refer to a woman regardless of their marital
were treated in the United States. Women in Sweden
status. While her attempts to popularize the term were
weren’t expected to be stay-at-home mothers and it
first ignored, a friend suggested that Sheila start a
was normal for them to have a job, unlike in the United
magazine titled “Ms.” The magazine was published in
States. Swedish women had questioned why they were
1972 and quickly grew in popularity. As the magazine
expected to be the primary caretaker of children, keep
circulated, so did the term “Ms.,” and it quickly became
the house clean, and keep their husbands fed.
the default title used to address a woman regardless
When Ginsburg returned to the United States in 1964,
of her marital status.
she began her legal career and focused on furthering women’s rights and gender equality. In 1980, she was nominated and became a judge of the United States Supreme Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; and in 1993, she was nominated and became a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. While serving as a Supreme Court justice, Ginsburg defended her position as a women’s rights advocate. She was an influential voice in issues such as United States v. Virginia that declared state-funded schools must admit students regardless of gender. Ginsburg was also influential in the decision to allow women to sign a mortgage or open a bank account without a male co-signer, pushed for equal pay and protection of pregnant women in the workplace, and preserved women’s right to choose through the protection of Roe v. Wade. Sheila Michaels was an American feminist that popularized the term Ms. as the default title for a woman. She was born in 1939 with the name Sheila Kessler. Around the age of three, Sheila was sent to live with her grandparents, as her mother didn’t want to live with a young child, and took their last name, Michaels. When Sheila was eight years old, she moved back in with her parents and her last name became Kessler once again. In 1957 she attended the College of William and Mary, but was expelled due to the controversial nature of the civil rights-focused articles she wrote for the school newspaper. Around this time, Sheila’s parents also disowned her due to what they deemed “extreme” political activism. They asked her to change her last name back to Michaels, as they no longer want to be associated with their daughter.
21 | VINDICATOR
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player with 39 Grand Slam titles. King is a women’s rights activist; and in 1973, she won the “Battle of the Sexes,” a match against Bobby Riggs. At the time, King was 29, and Riggs was 55. Riggs had taunted female tennis players by claiming male tennis was superior and that at the age of 55 he would be able to beat any female player. He had originally challenged King to a “battle of the sexes” match, but she refused and Margaret Court took King’s place. Court was ranked number one female player in the world, but Riggs had a quick victory and ended up on the covers of “Sports Illustrated” and “Time”. Riggs’ taunting escalated, and King accepted the “Battle of the Sexes.” It was to be aired on prime time television and the winner would take home $100,00 (about $576,000 today). King stated that she “had to win,” and she defeated Riggs in three straight sets in front of 90 million viewers. King knew that beating Riggs would be a huge win for women, as she stated, “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match. It would ruin the women’s tour and
MARCH 2021
“
While the fight for gender equality is far from
not be running for reelection. Harris was endorsed by
match between King and Riggs was made into a film
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden,
starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell. It reignited the
she led the race for the entirety of the campaign, and
fight for gender equality, as it came during the heated
ultimately won the seat in the 2016 general election.
debate around U.S. soccer’s gender discrimination.
In January of 2017, Harris announced her intent to
Since winning the Battle of the Sexes, King used it to
run for president in the 2020 general election. She
back her fight for gender equality and continues to
withdrew from the running in December of 2019,
advocate for it today.
but eight months later she reentered the election
Kamala Harris is the first female vice president of the United States. She was born and raised in Oakland, California, by her immigrant parents. Her mother moved to the U.S. from India and her father from British Jamaica. They both attended University of California, where Harris would later attend law school. Harris became the deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, in 1990; and four years later, she was appointed to California’s Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission. In 2004, Harris ran for district attorney of San Francisco against two male candidates who were both more known than her. She advanced to the general election runoff and posed fierce arguments against the incumbent. In the end, Harris won 56% to 44% and became the first person of color elected as district attorney of San Francisco.
as Joe Biden’s running mate. While women have run for vice president in the past, the Biden-Harris victory marks an important turning point in American history: Kamala Harris is the first female vice president, as well as the first African-American and Asian-American vice president. Throughout American history, women stood up to a male-dominated society in pursuit of gender equality. From fighting for the right to vote to being elected the first female vice president of the United States, women have broken and continue to break the glass ceiling. While the fight for gender equality
over, we can recognize and thank the women that have... redefined what it means to be a female in
“
affect all women’s self-esteem.” In 2017, the famous
America.
is far from over, we can recognize and thank the women that have fought to establish themselves in a male-dominated world and redefined what it means to be a female in America.
In 2010, Harris ran for attorney general of California. While her male opponent led for most of the race, he conceded after a prolonged period of ballot counting, and Harris became the first woman elected as California’s attorney general. In 2016, Harris ran for U.S. Senate after Barbara Boxer announced that she would THEVINDI.COM | 22
FEATURE
23 | VINDICATOR
PHOTOGRAPHED (Left to Right): Joliee Blak Colon, Camilla Keener, Dakota Rosier
MARCH 2021
TRANS
W MEN PHOTOS BY
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Max Torres
Devin Benko
THEVINDI.COM | 24
FEATURE
L U F E C GRA
E C R E FIbold
L U F E C GRA
E C R E FI
d l o b 25 | VINDICATOR
d
MARCH 2021
L U F E C GRA
L U F E GRAC bold
E C R E I F
E C R FIE THEVINDI.COM | 26
BEAUTY + WELLNESS
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING
OVERWHELMED WRITTEN BY
Lauren Koleszar
We sometimes learn health and wellness tips later in life that we often wish we knew a lot sooner. Organized into tidbits for your convenience are ten habits that’ll curb your lack of sleep, acne, stress, and more.
S
bacteria, which grow in the fibers of the washing tool and creep into your pores when your pores open up during a hot shower. Even worse, after you’ve scrubbed yourself “clean,” the bacteria that enter your pores during the hot shower will get trapped in your skin once you step out of the shower and into the cooler air. The cool air will tighten up your pores,
iIf you’re feeling overwhelmed, chances
and the bacteria will stay inside. It’s better to use a
are that a variety of physical and social
washcloth that you clean after every use, or, better
factors are the culprits. Throughout the
yet, just use your hands.
course of your day, you can implement wellness practices that feel like hidden
You Don’t Need to Give Up Coffee
gems once you put them into practice. If you make
There’s a trend of “giving up coffee,” as if it’s
some small changes to your daily behavior, the stress
some secret wellness hack, but don’t be mistaken:
will seem more manageable and you’ll be in a much
It actually packs a lot of health benefits into one
better headspace to conquer it without becoming
cup. The problem with many a person’s coffee
obsessed with it.
habits is the loads of flavoring and sugar included in specialized drinks. Calories in the form of liquid
MORNING
sugars are significantly more fattening than those in solid sweets, and all that excess sugar will end
Detox with Water
up dragging your stamina down in the long run. A
You don’t need anything fancy to do a deep cleanse
cup of black coffee, on the other hand, is high in
of your gut every morning, just a tall glass of water.
antioxidants, boosts your metabolism, and improves
Drinking ample amounts of water is important, but
mental stamina. Opt for a low-sugar coffee option
the time of day that you drink water is important as
that isn’t too heavy on additional cream, and you’ll
well. Drinking a glass of water at least thirty minutes
be consuming one of the healthiest beverages on the
before you have your first meal of the day will
planet.
cleanse your body of toxins, restore your gut health, decrease bloating throughout the day, and boost your
AFTERNOON
metabolism. Accept Compliments Take a Look at Your Loofah
It’s easy to fall under the impression that ignoring
Replace your shower loofah once a month or stop
compliments or refusing help is modest or selfless,
using them. Loofahs are breeding grounds for
but in a way, you’re refusing the kindness another
27 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
person is extending toward you. Think about a time
EVENING
when you intentionally complimented someone. When they refuse it, your genuineness is being
Finish Today Before Yesterday
denied. If someone compliments you, thank them.
If you fall behind on responsibilities, focus on
If someone offers to pay for something, let them.
what today brings before working on catching up.
Accepting kindness is the right thing to do. Like
Otherwise, you risk falling into a cycle of catching up
author and journalist Robin Abrahams once wrote,
on things and feeling hopeless, whereas a fresh start
“Deflecting someone who compliments you isn’t
on a new day is likely just what you need to push you
modest, it’s insulting.”
through any extra work left over from days before.
Quit Complaining
Learn How to Say “No”
Complaining isn’t inherently bad, but when it
Hot take: you’ll do more if you agree to do less. Do you
outweighs
a
have a habit of saying yes to every opportunity that
sign you’re due for a self check-up. You cannot
comes your way? If you’re afraid of letting someone
completely control your thoughts, but you can rewire
down or missing out on something, remember that
your thinking patterns. If you’re used to thinking
when you pile too much onto your plate, it’ll be
negatively, it’s probably because you’ve trained
harder to balance, and you’ll end up spilling food all
neural pathways in your brain to link that way.
over the floor. Set boundaries between yourself and
Practice thinking more about the nature and direction
the opportunities that present themselves to you.
of your thoughts, and don’t convince yourself that
Remember, saying “no” to new projects is saying
you don’t have any control over them.
“yes” to those to which you have already committed
being
proactively
grateful,
that’s
your time. Stop Multitasking Wash Your Pillowcase
abilities, but science shows that you accomplish less
Are you washing your pillowcase every week? If not,
and produce lower quality results when multitasking,
chances are high that this is the reason your face is
versus working single tasks one at a time. Multitasking
breaking out so often. Do a quick Google or YouTube
may serve us well sometimes, especially in college.
search and you’ll quickly see that washing pillowcas-
Maybe you just can’t avoid watching lectures during
es every week is a beauty secret everyone seems to be
lunch or drafting essays while at work, and that’s
discovering too late in life.
fair. But truth be told, you’ll enjoy life more, work harder, and feel more satisfied when you work on
Detox your physical and mental headspace using
tasks one-by-one.
these ten suggestions on how to refresh your daily routines. Simple things such as learning how to say
Working Less Is Working More
no and cutting down on sugary drinks are small parts
If you give yourself limits to work within, you’ll trick
of a large goal that will ultimately bring you effective
your brain into focusing at a higher ability and end
peace and clarity.
up getting more done. Let’s say you have a to-do list of ten items for today. If you stop planning there, you’ll probably end up getting a few of those things done. More likely than not, you’ll end up staring at your computer screen trying to figure out how to start that essay and wander around the kitchen for a while before deciding what to make for dinner. If you want to get everything done on your to-do list, give yourself limited time for each task. Work on your essay for one hour. It might not get finished, but you’ll have an hour’s worth of focused writing. Once that hour is up, move on to something else. We tend to try and work in chunks of time instead of evenly distributing it throughout the day. If you divide your time evenly, you’ll get some work done in every category of your to-do list rather than accomplishing two things.
“
But truth be told, you’ll enjoy life more, work harder, and feel more satisfied when you work tasks one-by-one.
“
We all like to pride ourselves on our multitasking
THEVINDI.COM | 28
BEAUTY + WELLNESS
ESSENTIAL STRETCHES FOR ANY REMOTE LEARNER WRITTEN BY
Feeling tense after sitting at your computer Samra Karamustafic for a few hours? Check out these simple stretches that will make aches and pains ILLUSTRATIONS BY after a Zoom class a thing of the past. Hannah Mosley
R
emote learning has its fair share of benefits: you can attend class while be-
computers for a few hours that that causes us to feel pain and discomfort? Well, according to Start Standing, an organization that’s striving to educate others on the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, any muscle tension from sitting can be boiled down to five main causes:
ing wrapped in your comforter without
Looking down at your screen:
shame or judgment, you don’t have to
The human head weighs about 11 pounds. So, whenever
worry about spending all that money on
you tilt your head forward, like when you’re scrolling
parking passes or wandering aimlessly through the
through your phone or typing away on a laptop, you’re
parking garages, and many more. But, like with any-
straining the muscles of your neck and upper back.
thing else in the world, remote learning has its draw-
Staying in this posture for a few minutes, let alone a
backs too, especially when it comes to your physical
few hours demands a lot of extra work for your neck
health. If you’ve found yourself waking up with some
and upper back.
more back or neck tension than usual, no, you’re not aging prematurely it’s most likely because of your posture! Think about it: due to a lot of classes moving to a remote format, many of us are spending a significant chunk of our days sitting in one spot, hunched over our laptops. Whether it’s because you’re attending a lecture on Zoom, typing up an essay, or taking a study break and watching a YouTube video, your screen -time has increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic. According to a study conducted by Eyesafe, the average screen time for an 18+ individual was estimated to be over 13 hours during March of last year! So if the average person is spending that much time in front of a screen, imagine how much of their day is taken up by sitting in one single spot! But how does it work? 29 | VINDICATOR
What is so bad about sitting and working on our
Rolling your shoulders forward: Activities like sitting, driving, texting, and working on a computer or laptop can contribute to rounded shoulders, which can then cause pain around the neck and the upper back.
Leaning forward from your lower back: If you find yourself leaning forward from your lower back when you’re typing on a laptop, you’re putting a great deal of pressure on the vertebrae of your lower spine, which then compresses your disks and leads to that lower back pain that you may be suffering from. Holding your elbows too far away from your body: It might not feel like anything is actually happening when you hold your elbows too far away from your body, but doing so for more than a few hours every
MARCH 2021
day will start taking a toll on your body. That’s because the farther you place your elbows away from your torso, the more strain you’re putting on your
your body will begin to lock up, causing pain that can
cS
When you’re sitting in one position for hours at a time,
Pe
Sitting for too long:
tr et
ch
shoulders and upper back.
range anywhere from your neck to your wrist. That’s why a good rule of thumb is to take mini “walking breaks” every 30 minutes. Now, this doesn’t mean that you need to go for a walk around the block or anything it can be as simple as a quick one to two minute stroll around your house or office. If you find yourself coming to the realization that you do most of these on a daily basis, you’re not alone! The good news is that you can take practical stepsthere are practical steps that you can take to make working on your computer a more comfortable experience. Your main priority should be to incorporate lifestyle changes that will help you strengthen and improve your posture. You can do this by buying a laptop stand that will help keep your computer at eye-level (goodbye, hunchback!) or even a back-brace that’s designed to “train” you to stand up taller.
arm toward the ceiling. Turn your gaze upward toward the ceiling at the same time. Try to deepen the stretch every time you exhale. Switch sides and repeat.
Seated Figure 4 Take a seat and place your right ankle over your left thigh. Place a bit of pressure on the inside of your right knee with your right hand. Then, with your back straight, lean forward slightly. As you hold the stretch, try applying a tad more pressure each time you exhale. Switch sides and repeat.
Of course, we all know that improving your pos-
Pec Stretch
ture isn’t an overnight process. But if you’re looking
Stand up straight and interlock your hands behind
for ways to get immediate relief from any muscle
your back with your palms facingwhile keeping your
tension, try doing a few stretches! Check out these
hands down toward the floor. Then, squeeze your
four4 stretches that you can incorporate into your
shoulder blades together and hold for 15–30 seconds.
day-to-day routine. They’re simple, they’re easy,
Repeat as needed.
and you don’t need any fancy equipment to do them.
Reclining Spinal Twist
Lunge with rotation
Lie down on your back and bring your right knee in
Begin in a standing position and step forward with
towards your chest. Extend your right arm out to the
your right foot into a lunge. Make sure that your knee
side, at shoulder height, with your palm facing down.
doesn’t extend past your toes. Place both hands on
Place your left hand on the outside of your right knee,
either side of your right foot, then lift just your right
then slowly bring your right knee across your body and toward the left. Keep your left hand resting gently on your right knee, then turn your head to the right. Hold this stretch for 15–30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
S e at e d Figure 4
inal T ing Sp Reclin
wist
THEVINDI.COM | 30
BEAUTY + WELLNESS
NOT YOUR AVERAGE PERIOD PANTIES: JOYJA REVIEW WRITTEN BY
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Abigail Preiszig
Emma Splete
Joyja is a period panty company that aims to replace pads and tampons, and I had to put them to the test.
P
eriods are ugly, and so are the underwear I wear during them. That is why Joyja,
the
“Happy
Period
Panties,”
caught my eye when they appeared on my Instagram feed. Joyja sells absor-
bent panties in so many fun colors, styles and patterns intended to take the place of pads and tampons. They also have a great mission: “To make periods better for everyone.” According to Joyja’s website, about 350 million people do not have access to sanitar y products during their periods. Period-product accessibility is an important cause to Joyja, which is why for every pair of underwear purchased, they donate a pair to a person in need. Reusable period products are also better for the environment by keeping single-use period products out of landfills and conserving resources. Finally, they save you money because you are not spending money on pads and tampons every month. The Joyja panties come in four different absorbency levels for every stage of your period. Each pair has four layers that work to absorb moisture, neutralize odors, prevent leaks, and keep you comfortable all day long. They are also relatively affordable, retailing between $20 and $35 a pair. After doing my research, I had to try them out to be sure they are as effective as they sound. I bought five pairs of Joyja underwear in various styles and absorbance powers. They did not add a fourth absorbency level until after I placed my order, so I was only able to try out levels one through three.
31 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
My total came to $100, including shipping. Their
rise fit of this pair. I feel like my cramps were not as
website was functional, and I received my underwear
painful because the undies hugged my ovaries in all
in two weeks. The packaging was discrete: a salm-
the right places!
on-colored bag made from recycled plastic that fit
right in my mailbox.
and fourth day. I even gave Alice a second chance
I continued this tampon strategy into the third
and I did not experience any leakage. By the fifth
“
They
also have a great mission: “To make periods better for everyone.”
The five styles I purchased are
day, my period was light enough to give Leah and
Cindy in Jet Black, a cheeky cut that costs $20 with
Cindy a tr y, both of which have an absorbance
an absorbance power of one. The feel of this style is
power of one. Both pairs worked well — I did not
a bit like a swimsuit bottom.
experience any leakage!
Leah in Classic Blue, a thong that costs $20 with
Every single pair of the Joyja period panties are
an absorbance power of one. The feel of this style
very comfortable and do not feel any different from
is super soft.
regular underwear. However, wearing them took
Alice in Festive Fuschia, a bikini cut that costs $25
some getting used to because I would feel my-
with an absorbance power of two. The feel of this
self bleeding, have a brief moment of panic and
style is just like normal cotton underwear.
remind myself that this is what Joyja underwear
A mel ia i n Camouflower, a high-rise cheek y
is meant for!
cut that costs $25 with an absorbance power of
These underwear are also a lot more breathable
three. The feel of this st yle is super silk y and
than a pad. When I wear a pad, it tends to trap a
probably my favorite.
lot of moisture, making me feel sticky, stinky and
The last style I purchased is Blake in Zest of Life.
uncomfortable. I did not have this problem with the
This style is a “teen midi brief” and has an absor-
Joyja underwear. I noticed less of an odor and felt
bance power of three. This pair is the thickest of the
a lot more comfortable and confident while on my
five, feeling much more pad-like in the crotch. The
period. I also did not have to worry about a visible
sizing is also a bit different because it is intended for
pad line when picking out my outfits.
younger people. This style did not fit me so I ended up gifting them to my younger sister. I love that they
Washing the underwear:
have fun styles for people new to the period party!
Joyja suggests rinsing out the underwear in soapy
This would have made me feel a lot more comfortable
water, machine washing them, and letting them air
talking about and experiencing my first period.
dry. When rinsing the underwear out in the sink it was quite jarring to see all of the blood coming out
First impression & experience:
of them. I liked wearing them into the shower and
I received my underwear on the second day of my
rinsing them off there a lot better. When machine
period, which is the heaviest day. I was eager to try
washing them I was worried that leftover blood would
them out. Upon opening the package, I was very
stain my other clothes, but that did not happen! The
surprised by how normal they felt. Each pair is a bit
underwear I bled through did not stain whatsoev-
thicker in the crotch, but it is not too noticeable. I
er, and each pair looked and smelled brand new
was disappointed that the absorbance power is not
after being washed.
indicated on the tag or the underwear. I also could not tell by feeling them so I made a blind guess as
Final thoughts:
to which pair to wear that day. This was a mistake. I
I love what Joyja stands for as a company and found
chose Alice with an absorbance power of two. Within
their underwear to be efficient, cute and comfortable.
two hours of wearing them, I went to the bathroom
Although I genuinely enjoyed these panties, I do not
and they had begun leaking out at the edge of the
think they will completely take the place of pads
underwear. By the time I got home, I had bled through
and tampons. I found it more convenient to change
the underwear completely. This did not give me the
a disposable period product every few hours than to
best first impression.
change and rinse out a pair of underwear, especially
The next day I consulted the website and wore
during the first few days of my period when my flow
Amelia with an absorbance power of three. Typically,
is heavy. Despite not completely giving up dispos-
I put a tampon in before work, wear a pad, and then
able period products, these will be something I do
take out the tampon halfway through the day and
use monthly and recommend to anyone who feels
bleed onto the pad. I tried this strategy, but instead
comfortable trying them out.
of a pad I just had my underwear. It went super well! I had no leaks the whole day. I also love the high-
THEVINDI.COM | 32
“
SOCIAL
MODERN FEMININE FEATS WRITTEN BY
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
SARAH FULLER
Megan Baranuk
Emily Williams
Sarah Fuller has broken into a male-dominated industry as the first female to play in a Power Five football game. For those of you who may not be sport-savvy,
Our list of modern day female firsts
Y
ou’ve probably heard of Susan B. Anthony and Amelia Earhart, but what about Sarah Fuller? Or Becky Harmon? Both of these women compose part of our list of modern female firsts, along
with household names, such as Billie Eilish and Jill Biden. Read on to discover modern prominent women who’ve shattered the glass ceiling. BILLIE EILISH This name should sound familiar! Billie Eilish has become a household name since her 2016 debut track, “Ocean Eyes,” appeared on SoundCloud when she was a mere 13 years old. Eilish’s debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” dropped in March of 2019, was a smashing success, and propelled the teenager to fame. Eilish became the first female to win all four General Field categories in one Grammy Awards ceremony on January 26, 2020. Eilish took
the Power Five football conferences are five separate conferences that are considered to be the best of the best in Division I college football. Fuller is a football place kicker for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Fuller is only 21 years old, and we can expect to see her go on to continue shattering records in the sports universe, as she is also the goalkeeper for Vanderbilt’s soccer team of the same name. BECKY HAMMON Becky Hammon exists in a similar vein as Sarah Fuller, breaking records in basketball history. Hammon, 43, is the first female acting head coach in NBA history, specifically coaching the San Antonio Spurs. JILL BIDEN - NON CATHOLIC FIRST LADY Jill Biden made history as the first non-catholic First Lady in the White House! Read more about Dr. Jill Biden and Kamala Harris in our cover article, Wonder Women, by Megan Mullaly.
home Best New Artist, Song, Record, and Album of
AVRIL HAINES - FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
the Year. Next time you listen to “Ocean Eyes” or
Avril Haines currently serves as the first female
“Bad Guy”, you’re listening to an important part of music history!
33 | VINDICATOR
Director of National Intelligence under the Biden
MARCH 2021
administration. Haines is familiar with the White House, as she served under the Obama administra-
STACEY CUNNINGHAM
tion as principal national deputy security advisor,
Stacey Cunningham is the epitome of a female pen-
legal advisor, and assistant to the president. Before
etrating an extremely male-dominated field. Cun-
working in the political scene, Haines has had quite
ningham is technically the second female president
the adventurous life. She worked as a car mechanic
of the New York Stock Exchange, but she is the first
throughout her college years to earn extra cash, learned
female president with full control over the exchange.
how to fly a plane, fell in love with her instructor,
Cunningham assumed her position on May 22, 2018.
married him, then opened a successful bookstore café.
Cunningham’s career within the New York Stock Ex-
To learn more about this multidimensional woman,
change began with an internship in the 1990s, which
check out this article online: https://msmagazine.
then turned to a floor clerk role, which Cunningham
com/2021/02/08/pat-mitchell-women-biden-cabi-
continued until 2005. After a brief hiatus, Cunningham
net-avril-haines/
rejoined the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, and then ] assumed the role of chief operating officer in
JANE CAMPBELL
2015. Cunningham studied at Lehigh University, and
Next up on our list is Jane Campbell, a notable past
has been named one of BBC’s 100 Women in 2018.
graduate from Cleveland State University! Specifically, Campbell graduated from the Maxine Good-
TAYLOR SWIFT
man Levin College of Urban Affairs. Campbell made
If you don’t already love Taylor Swift (but don’t let
history as the first female mayor of Cleveland from
the Swifties on the Vindicator staff know that), here’s
the years 2002-2006, gaining her mayorship at the
an excellent reason: Taylor Swift made music histo-
age of 48. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 19,
ry as the first woman to win the Album of the Year
1953, Campbell is 67 years old today. She is aligned
award TWICE. The albums in question were Fearless
with the Democratic party.
(2010) and 1989 (2015). If you haven’t listened to these albums yet, speed over to Spotify or Apple Music to
JENNIFER KING
listen now! Topically, a great song to listen to after
Jennifer King made history in the sports sector as
concluding this article is “The Man,” a song touching
the first African American woman assistant position
upon the struggles a woman faces in a career versus
coach in NFL history, specifically for the Washington
her male counterpart.
Football Team. She was placed into this position after her coaching internship concluded. King’s monumental
SARAH MCBRIDE
moment in history commenced THIS year on January
This name might be familiar, as Sarah McBride made
26, 2021. King’s experience with the Washington
history as the first openly transgender U.S. Senator.
Football Team began as the offensive assistant after
McBride represents Delaware, and is the highest
her time at Dartmouth College. She went on to intern
ranking openly transgender female. Years prior to
from 2018 to 2019. In addition to her internships, she
her position in the Senate, McBride interned at the
has also attended multiple NFL coaching clinics from
White House, making her the first openly transgen-
2015-2018 and participated in the NFL Women’s Career
der women to work in the White House in any role.
in Football Forum. Impressively, King even has her
McBride’s secured Senate position is a giant step for
own football playing experience! King is a seven-time
the LGBTQ community, as representation in politics
All-American quarterback and wide receiver for the
is central to our democracy. McBride’s assumption
women’s tackle team, Carolina Phoenix.
to office took place on January 21, 2021.
THEVINDI.COM | 34
SOCIAL
15 WRITTEN BY
Eric Seitz
APPLE ARCADE
GAMES REVIEWED IN ONE SENTENCE
App Store’s success has been unrivaled,
All of You 6/10 Despite its intriguing — and often satisfying — Angry Birds-esque physics-based puzzle system, All of You’s gameplay hook proves to be little more than a gimmick, and many puzzles can be solved through
and it (likely accidentally) ushered in an
trial and error.
L
ess than two years old, the Apple Arcade’s game library continues to grow, as does the allure of its $5 monthly price tag. The
I played as many Apple Arcade games as I could in two weeks — here’s my one-sentence review of each one.
era of mobile gaming that has proven to be one of the most lucrative forms of entertainment. Apple Arcade is the tech giant’s capitalization on the success of the App Store — but Apple Arcade promises to shed the ickiness of microtransactions and gacha schemes that dominate the mobile gaming scene. Apple Arcade is a sleek all-star team of highly curated titles that aims to convince consumers to throw another chunk of change Apple’s way. It’s a step that might just manage to bridge the abyssal gap between mobile gaming and console gaming. Available with cross-saves on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, not only is it gaming’s sexiest offering — it’s wherever you want, however you want. But just how well does its library of games stand up?
Grindstone 9/10 Neither adult-swim style visuals nor hyperviolence have ever been my cup of tea, however, Grindstone proves that two wrongs sometimes do make a right — its gameplay, reminiscent of Bejeweled, evokes a tangible satisfaction in mowing down dozens of enemies, and its universe is both fleshed-out and charming. What the Golf? 10/10 Pitching itself as “the golf game for people who hate golf,” What the Golf? is a silly, party-style mini-golf game, and its wacky levels, forgiving quick-reset system, and reference-heavy universe make it the perfect sort of video game comfort food.
35 | VINDICATOR
MARCH 2021
Mini Motorways 8/10 Stripping the job description of a civil engineer to its most basic form, this strategy road planning sim has sweetly short levels that capitalize on its arcadey leaderboard system, though its replayability dwindles quickly. Patterned 7/10 Besides its honorable effort to showcase talented illustrators, Patterned does not attempt to tread new ground in the realm of puzzle games — great for mobile play, this game provides quick, easy-to-solve puzzles that form beautiful patterns once completed, and at that, it excels. Over the Alps 8/10 A narrative-driven game in which your choices affect the outcome, Over the Alps delivers a moody, enthralling story that has me second-guessing every decision I make; but in a game where your choices mean everything, its narrative beats can feel confusing and sometimes misleading. Sonic Racing 5/10 The mascot racing genre is a cornered market, with Mario Kart’s ubiquitous success sucking up all the oxygen in the room, and Sonic Racing does little to dethrone Mario Kart, feeling unoriginal, slippery, and distinctly mobile-game-y — plus the game’s main mode being online multiplayer, gives it a barrier of entry to newcomers who may find themselves frustrated at frequent losses early on.
PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE IMAGES
Nuts 8/10 Employing a stunning art style, beautifully unobstructed with its first-person perspective, Nuts has the player doing the mundane task of setting up surveillance cameras to track squirrel movement in a forest, and the result is a relaxing three-hour-long
overall experience slightly more tolerable, with an interesting blend of genres (turn-based tactics and randomly generated levels of rogue-likes). Takeshi & Hiroshi 9/10 A rooted, brilliantly told story that acts as the perfect vehicle for what can only be described as a “reverse RPG,” Takeshi & Hiroshi takes what gamers know to be the tropes of traditional turnbased RPGs and turns them on their head, challenging players to be the designers of a video game within a video game. Outlanders 8/10 This unforgiving yet encouraging town management sim presents the player with scenarios that contain seemingly reasonable objectives, then attempts to murder the player repeatedly as they fumble their way over the finish line — needless to say, I could hardly put this one down. Dear Reader 4/10 This game prides itself in literary wordplay, however, its puzzles are hardly puzzling, and I found myself able to solve them while only paying about 60% attention; polarizing itself from those who might not enjoy reading very much and threatening to bore bookworms to sleep, Dear Reader fails to secure any audience. Decoherence 6/10 Focusing on strategizing on the fly, Decoherence is a blend of the twin-stick shooter and tactical arena fighting genre that offers players a wide gamut of options and methods of approaching each level, however, the tutorial chucks all of the game’s mechanics at the player, making the learning curve
vignette, wrapped neatly in a satisfying storyline.
incredibly steep, likely to turn away newcomers.
Operator 41 6/10
Overland 8/10
A good gameplay hook with an interesting but in-
Depicting a cross-country road trip that takes place
accessibly low-color-contrast artstyle, this stealth
during the apocalypse, this turn-based tactical
puzzler is criminally short — I was able to start and
strategy game delivers digestible, square-shaped
finish it in less than one class period (sorry Professor)
levels that players must find the best possible route
— and it hardly gives the concept a chance to prove
out of before being attacked by enemies — Overland
whether or not it has legs to stand on.
has struck the balance between managing resources
Dread Nautical 5/10
to feel samey.
and reaching an objective, though its levels begin
A low-poly isometric tactical battle game with brutally sour voice acting, Dread Nautical’s presentation is hard to bear, but it’s gameplay manages to make the
THEVINDI.COM | 36
POETRY
flint mind like apathy precious pride blind, send calvary selfs divide skin from soul body turn, prole ambition burn fractured, firm hands like coal grave dug, hole sick lesson learn massa be, stern cotton be bloody sunken shawl water be muddy wounded crawl bologeon brown hues hungman gonna lose affixed between knot and the gallows cough up a blood clot aim the arrows fire steel
WRITTEN BY
Anabel Bach
37 | VINDICATOR
flint
PHOTO CREDIT ADOBE STOCK
MARCH 2021
Foray into the Opal Night WRITTEN BY
Erika Gifford Let’s leave behind the dingy grays of working nights and holidays, by seeking out adventure grand. With youthful hearts we’ll step out and foray into the opal night with green and purple seeping light on raindrops dripping down the street to swath the night in bittersweet. What’s left behind will seal our fate we pull onto the interstate, take out the rainbow-oil-spillturned-heat-map GPS until— we find our way through lofty heights of elephants at city lights, or blackened sins to underline with rivers turned to turpentine. Where just outside the city wall the evening blossoms into fall, and slinking fur and shiny tooth goes kissing men and missing youth. Through paint-swatch puddles ripple hues of whispered pink and taboo blues or water-color scandal reds like fading into stranger’s beds. We stalk this all evading air from youth gone by through disrepair, but ridicule the antique thought
PHOTO CREDIT ADOBE STOCK
of liberty and dreams we sought. The clock strikes midnight here below where blue and green turn to merlot and mellow with the single thought of what we did, not what we ought.
THEVINDI.COM | 38
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