College Times 08/2023

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college survival guide 2023

Style in

Sneaker shops keep students looking sharp

PUBLISHER

Steve T. Strickbine

VICE PRESIDENT

Michael Hiatt

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

MANAGING EDITOR

Summer Aguirre

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alex Gallagher, Kylie Werner

DESIGNER

Shannon Mead

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Courtney Oldham

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Nadine Johnson

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Aaron Kolodny

Be

The

11 SNEAKER AND VINTAGE SHOPS TO CHECK OUT

BY ALEX GALLAGHER COLLEGE TIMES

1. AZ THREAD

Located along Central Avenue south of Camelback Road, AZ Thread boasts a lofty selection of sneakers and vintage sportswear.

The racks are tightly packed with T-shirts, jerseys and sweatshirts while sneakers are piled to the ceiling, giving customers endless combinations of products to mix and match.

The shop is open daily at noon and all sales are final.

AZ read, 4733 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, @azthread on Instagram

2. DVA PERCENT

Kansas City, Missouri-founded Dva Percent expanded into Old Town Scottsdale in late 2022 and has kicked up a steady traction of celebrity clientele like Sean Kingston, Matt Rife, Isaiah Simmons and DaBaby, who have all been spotted shopping there.

Dva Percent has also reached a wider audience with its zany TikTok and Instagram Reels. The quaint Old Town Scottsdale shop boasts a stirring selection of sneakers, vintage wear and Dva Percent-branded merchandise.

Dva Percent, 7233 E. First Avenue, Sco sdale, 480-721-4072, @dvapercent on Instagram

3. THE GHOST VINTAGE

The Ghost Vintage describes itself as a curated vintage/streetwear and sneaker shop with statement pieces from the 1980s to current fashion. It also carries custom vintage pieces from local artists and archive designer pieces. The shop is located off Central Avenue just south of Camelback Road and is open various times Tuesday through Sunday.

e Ghost Vintage, 4700 N. Central Avenue, Suite 121, Phoenix, theghostvintage.com, @theghostvintage on Instagram

4. GUEST LIST

Tucked inside Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, Guest List aims to make its customers look like A-listers by stocking shelves with some of the swankiest sneakers on the market.

The store also sells an array of

baseball hats, vintage tees, streetwear and Guest List-branded merchandise.  Guest List also occasionally gives its Instagram followers the VIP treatment by hosting flash sales. The store is open every day during various hours. Guest List, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 412, Tempe, 623-414-2295, guestlistaz.com, @guestlistaz on all social media platforms

5. KNEE DEEP

MELROSE

Knee Deep Melrose is new to the Melrose District of Phoenix on Seventh Avenue south of Camelback Road. Beginning as an Etsy shop selling reworked thrift apparel and vintage clothing, Knee Deep Melrose opened its brick-and-mortar location in early June.

The shop currently features an assortment of vintage sports gear and tie-dyed band tees, sports jerseys and even candles. Knee Deep Melrose is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Knee Deep Melrose, 4519 N. Seventh Avenue, Phoenix, @kneedeepmelrose on Instagram

6. OLD HABITS VINTAGE

Over in the East Valley, shoppers can fall back in love with favorites from their childhood by scouring the shelves and sifting through the racks of Old Habits Vintage. Located on the corner of Val Vista Drive and Ray Road, Old Habits is stocked full of vintage T-shirts, weathered and washed jeans, shoes and raglans.

Old Habits Vintage, 1661 S. Val Vista Drive, Suite 104, Gilbert, oldhabitsvtg. com, @oldhabits.vtg on Instagram

7. PHOENIX SOLES

Just around the corner from The Ghost Vintage is one of the largest sneaker stores in the Valley. Phoenix Soles features hundreds of pairs of top brands like Nike, Air Jordan, Bape and New Balance.

The Downtown Phoenix shop also offers a humble selection of streetwear and vintage wear and is open various times Tuesday through Sunday.  Phoenix Soles, 4700 N. Central Avenue, Unit 114, Phoenix, @phx.soles on Instagram, PHX Soles on YouTube

8. STATUS 24

The West Valley also has a place to

grab some fresh new kicks. Placed Downtown on the corner of 58th Avenue and Glendale Avenue is Status 24, a sleek sneaker store that features some of the latest and greatest releases from Nike and the Yeezy brand.

The shop is open daily beginning at noon and can also occasionally be found at sneaker pop-up events.  Status 24, 5754 W. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, @status.24AZ on Instagram

9. THIRD DEGREE HEAT

Nestled inside the second floor of Scottsdale Fashion Square, Third Degree Heat takes things up a few notches by featuring some of the hottest sneakers on the market, from brands like Nike, Air Jordan, Bape, Yeezy and Kith.

The shop also features a selection of band and pop-culture T-shirts, accessories and Third Degree Heatbranded merchandise.

ird Degree Heat, Sco sdale Fashion Square Mall, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 2124, Sco sdale, 480-947-3144, @thirddegree.heat on Instagram

10. WANG’S CLOSET

Located along Scottsdale Road just past McKellips Road in Tempe, Wang’s Closet has a strong inventory of some of the top trending sneakers on the

market. But sneakers are not the only thing on shelves at this shop.

It also sells streetwear items like T-shirts, hoodies and hats, knickknacks like Kaws figurines, trading cards, handbags and a selection of vintage T-shirts. The shop is open daily from noon to 8 p.m.

Wang’s Closet also occasionally hosts Wangapalooza, a Downtown Phoenix sneaker and vintage marketplace.

Wang’s Closet, 1810 N. Sco sdale Road, Tempe, 480-947-8245, @wangscloset_ on Instagram

11. WANG’S VINTAGE

The sibling shop to Wang’s Closet, Wang’s Vintage has a staggering selection of vintage T-shirts, pants, jackets and hats that date as far back as the ’70s. The shop is located in Midtown Phoenix along Seventh Street near Osborn Road and is open daily from noon to 8 p.m.

The shop also plays host to occasional concerts. The most recent show featured Phoenix indie rockers Breakup Shoes and East Valley alt-punk outfit Diva Bleach.

Wang’s Vintage, 3508 N. Seventh Street, Suite 145, Phoenix, 602-3460121, @wangs_vintage on Instagram  CT

Tempe Toes

KICKIN’ IT

ASU FOOTBALL ALUM GOES LACES OUT AT TEMPE TOES

BY ALEX GALLAGHER COLLEGE TIMES

Tempe Toes owner Cristian Zendejas still remembers the rush he felt when reselling a shimmering pair of red and black Jordan 1 “Bred” sneakers in 2012.

Although he was only 13 and netted less than $40, he became hooked on the thrill of churning a profit.

This excitement followed him through high school and college, where he traded his sneakers for a pair of cleats.

Zendejas served as the kicker for Arizona State University’s men’s football team from 2019 to 2021. His biggest career highlight was sailing 23 kicks through the uprights his sophomore year, becoming the fifth kicker in school history to successfully kick more than 20 field goals in a season.

After studying criminal justice while playing competitive football, the Perry High School alum couldn’t shed the sensation of selling sneakers for a high profit.

Zendejas began selling sneakers via his Instagram account in 2019, as well as out of the Midtown Phoenix sneaker store Phoenix Soles. But he still had a dream of owning a store of his own.

Around July 2022, he returned to the basics of selling sneakers via his Instagram account and stashed his inventory in a storage locker. After a few months of locker sales and meetups, Zendejas was rewarded with an offer to open a store.

More than a decade after selling the red and black Jordan 1 “Bred” sneakers, Zendejas turned his childhood hustle into a business — his store, Tempe Toes or “Tempetoesss,” officially opened in October 2022 on the first floor of Nowadays Creative Lab on Mill Avenue.

“I live down the street — I can honestly walk to work,” Zendejas says with a laugh. “The location for me was just perfect, and it gave me an opportunity to properly use the name Tempe Toes, since I’ve been living in Tempe for the last six years but I sold

in Phoenix for a while.”

He opened at a fortuitous time, as the sneaker market has grown in popularity despite the trend of resale sneakers dropping in price.

“The market is at one of its lighter points right now,” Zendejas says. “But for a new sneaker business owner, it’s perfect because prices on stuff are pretty cheap — whereas during COVID-19, prices were outrageous.”

Offering a variety of sneakers from brands like Nike, Air Jordan and Yeezy to high-end names like Gucci and Balenciaga, Zendejas has noticed new trends among his customers due to the renewed popularity surrounding

a long time without even knowing it,” Zendejas says. “I would just go shopping at Goodwill and find cool stuff.”

As a result, he also proudly sells vintage sports clothing, NASCAR tees, baseball caps and band tees.

“We started carrying vintage clothes the second we opened because it was cheaper for us to get a lot of inventory,” Zendejas says.

Although stocked with a surplus of affordable vintage wear, Zendejas has prioritized higher-end streetwear.

“We still have over 100 Harley Davidson tees and a bunch of random vintage tees, but now we’re segueing into like higher-end streetwear,” he says.

With a crowd of young, fashionforward students returning to his neighboring alma mater this month, Zendejas is excited about the prospect of meeting new customers and possibly selling them their first sneakers.

“The whole shop is loaded with stuff, so I really can’t put anything new in there anymore,” he says with a laugh. “So I’m just excited to see everyone come back, and we have a lot of recurring customers. So I’m excited to see how their summer has gone.” CT

sneakers.

“A lot of people are wearing all black for the most part,” he says. “I’ve seen more people going for the ‘Black Cat’ Air Jordan 4’s — a shoe that used to go for almost nothing that is now selling for thousands — and the Travis Scott Air Jordan Low ‘Phantoms’ — which are all-black shoes.”

Tempe Toes

Another trend has been the rise of incorporating “vintage” T-shirts into modern fashion.

“I’ve been wearing vintage tees for

414 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 120, Tempe 602-600-7000 tempetoes.com

@tempetoesss on Instagram

MAJOR DECISIONS

COLLEGE PATHS THAT OFFER BIG BUCKS, BIGGER OPPORTUNITIES

BY ALEX GALLAGHER COLLEGE TIMES

Every incoming college freshman asks themselves, “What do I want to do for the rest of my life?”

The good thing about college, however, is that it allows students to figure out the answer at their own pace.

Every student will have to take the same general education courses to help round out their education, but when it comes to picking a major, this can feel like the most daunting decision during an undergraduate program.

Though there are hundreds of programs to choose from, here are some that have high employment rates and can earn sizable salaries after graduation, according to a report from Gradreports.com.

ACCOUNTING

Every company needs someone with the aptitude to balance the books of their business, and individuals who understand tax laws are rare to find.

Although accounting graduates could be in debt by a median of $17,750, they can expect to graduate into an industry with a 95% employment rate and a median salary of $53,930.

AEROSPACE, AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Engineering is one of the top majors among STEM students and most enter the field dreaming of working on machinery that can explore extraterrestrial terrain.

Although this is a competitive field, the major of aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering has a median salary of $64,490 and boasts a 99% employment rate.

However, this is a hefty investment, as it carries a median debt of $22,490.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

For students who would prefer to focus their efforts on the problems plaguing this planet, civil engineering just might be their path.

Civil engineers are frequently sought out to design and complete major transportation projects and devise plan infrastructure that can help improve society.

This career has a median salary of $62,880 and an employment rate of 98%. One caveat to this major is its median debt of $24,590.

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

The demand for computer engineers continues to grow each year as

more and more companies become dependent on fast-running computers.

Computer engineers design, build and maintain hardware in modern computers, have a median salary of $74,090 and an employment rate of 96%. Students can expect a median debt of $23,610 by choosing this major.

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

With computer information systems becoming a part of almost every business and organization, this major offers an abundance of opportunities for students.

Because of this, students can expect to graduate in a field with a 96% employment rate and a median annual income of $66,360. This major also boasts a lower median debt compared to other majors at $18,810.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Construction management professionals learn how to mix their knowledge of innovative technologies, construction principles and business management to pave the way for a wide variety of construction projects — from residential and commercial buildings to infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and large facilities.

These professionals are currently being sought after heavily due to construction worker shortages and project delays.

Upon the completion of their degree, construction management graduates can expect to step into an industry with a rare 100% employment rate and

expect to earn around $75,200.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Electricians are becoming increasingly harder to find, so electrical engineering graduates can expect their education to pay off almost immediately.

The field has a median salary of $70,680 along with an employment rate of 97%.

However, this does come at the cost of a median debt of $22,170.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

It is always wise to store a portion of each paycheck with the help of someone who has expertise on how to invest money wisely and plan for the future.

After earning a degree in financial planning, financial planners can look forward to a 96% employment rate and a median salary of $56,840. But, there is also the hurdle of a median debt of $20,450.

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Industrial engineering students will learn everything about the design, improvement, installation and operation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. These studies aim to determine efficient ways to make a product or provide a service. During these studies, students could rack up a median debt bill of $24,250. Once they graduate, though, they will enter an industry with a 97% employment rate and a median salary of $70,180. CT

15 HOT EVENTS ON CAMPUS

BY ALEX GALLAGHER COLLEGE TIMES

ASU INFERNOFEST

Arizona State University will welcome students back to campus for the 2023 fall semester with its annual Inferno Fest concert. The concert is free for students as long as they present their ASU ID. Students can also view the event online. The performing act has yet to be announced.

8:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, free for students with ASU IDs, eoss.asu.edu/fest-tickets

MT. JOY AT MULLETT ARENA

Indie jam band Mt. Joy brings its warm, boisterous sound to Mullett Arena August 22. This will mark the band’s second trip to Tempe this year — it played at the Innings Festival in February — and will feature hits like “Silver Lining,” “Astrovan” and “Strangers.”

7 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, Mulle Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, $39.50-$59.50, 480-564-3497, mulle arena.com

“BEETLEJUICE”

The “Ghost with the Most” is set to reappear on the stage of ASU Gammage. Based on Tim Burton’s hit film, which is currently filming a sequel set to hit screens next year, the musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.

Various times Tuesday, August 22 to Sunday, August 27, Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe, tickets start at $235, 480-965-3434, asuevents.asu.edu

MOVIE ON THE LAWN — “MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU”

Pack a blanket and a picnic and grab a seat on the Fletcher Lawn at ASU’s

West Campus to catch a screening of the Universal Pictures film “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” The event will also feature prize giveaways for several select guests.

6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 26, Fletcher Lawn, 4701 W. underbird Road, Glendale, free, asuevents.asu.edu

ASU FOOTBALL KICKOFF VS. SOUTHERN UTAH

Anticipation will be sky-high when the new-look Sun Devils take the field for the first time this season. Now under the command of head coach Sean Dillingham and boasting a roster of locally recruited players, ASU will look to creep back into the national rankings and end the season with a new championship for the trophy case.

7 p.m. ursday, August 31, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, $30-$225, 480-727-0000, thesundevils. com/sports/tickets

ASU VS. USC FOOTBALL

Fans are expected to bring the Maroon Monsoon to Sun Devil Stadium and rain down cheers supporting the Sun Devil football team as it takes on the Lincoln Riley-coached University of Southern California Trojan football team.

Time TBA, Saturday, September 23, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, cost TBA, 480-727-0000, thesundevils.com/sports/tickets

PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO AT MULLETT ARENA

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will hit fans with their biggest hits — and their best shot — when the duo stops at Mullett Arena for its first-ever rock concert. Fans can expect to hear hits like “Heart Breaker,” “We Belong” and “Love Is A Battlefield.” The duo will take fans as far back as 1979 when the two played their first gig at what was once Dooley’s Nightclub in Tempe. The show will also feature a special guest performance by Jon Waite.

7 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, Mulle Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, $35-$125+, 480-564-3497, mulle arena.com

“TINA — TINA TURNER THE MUSICAL”

The music of 12-time Grammy Award-winning artist Tina Turner will echo throughout the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium at ASU Gammage when the musical stops in Tempe for eight shows over six nights. The show will feature a collection of some of her most beloved tunes and is based on a script penned by Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Katori Hall.  Various times Tuesday, October 10 to Sunday, October 15, Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe, cost TBA, 480-965-3434, asuevents.asu.edu

ASU Football

ASU HOCKEY HOME OPENER VS. MERRIMACK COLLEGE

The Arizona State University NCAA Division 1 Men’s hockey team will drop the puck on its final season in the PAC12 before leaping over to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. But before it can do that, it must take on Hockey East’s Merrimack College — which made some noise in last year’s NCAA championship tournament before losing to the eventual National Champion Quinnipiac University.  Time TBA, Friday, October 13, Mulle Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, cost TBA, 480-564-3497, mulle arena.com

ARIZONA COYOTES HOME OPENER VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS

In what could be its final season at Mullett Arena and in Arizona, the Arizona Coyotes will look to utilize the first home-ice advantage of the season and scratch out a win when the Anaheim Ducks fly into town.

1 p.m. Saturday, October 21, Mulle Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, cost TBA, 480-564-3497, mulle arena.com

ASU HOMECOMING

One of the biggest weeks on campus begins October 22 with one of the school’s oldest traditions, “The Lantern Walk” up A Mountain to illuminate the iconic A. The rest of the week will include other long-standing traditions like the homecoming parade, block party and a game against the Washington State Cougars to cap off the celebrations.

Various times Sunday, October 22 to Saturday, October 28, Arizona State University, University Drive between Forest Avenue and McAllister Avenue, cost TBA, 480-9652586, homecoming.asu.edu

the dance, the Lopes will have to take down rivals from up north at Northern Arizona University.

Time TBA, Sunday, November 12, GCU Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Building 38, Phoenix, cost TBA, 602639-8979, gculopes.com/sports

TERRITORIAL CUP

VS. U OF A FOOTBALL

ASU Football will look to cap off another season in the win column over rival University of Arizona in what is known as the Territorial Cup. This will also be senior night for the team’s seniors, who will be looking to go out on top.

Time TBA, Saturday, November 25, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, cost TBA, 480-727-0000, thesundevils.com/sports/tickets

JERRY COLANGELO CLASSIC: GCU VS. UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND

College basketball fans can get a small taste of March Madness when the Jerry Colangelo Classic fills the Footprint Center with a full day of four games. The tournament will feature these matchups: Grand Canyon University versus University of Portland, Washington State University versus Santa Clara University, Saint Mary’s College versus University of Nevada Las Vegas and University of California Santa Barbara versus Loyola Marymount University.

Time TBA, Saturday, December 16, Footprint Center, 201 E. Je erson Street, Phoenix, cost TBA, 602-379-7800, hoophall.com CT

GCU BASKETBALL TIPOFF VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA

UNIVERSITY

The Lopes will once again take the court in front of their ravenous fans known as “Havocs” and look to paint the Valley purple. Grand Canyon University is hot off of a successful 2022-2023 campaign that resulted in an appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, where it lost to No. 3 ranked Gonzaga in the first round. But before the team can make another trip to

NUMBERS

BY ALEX GALLAGHER • COLLEGE TIMES

Australia is wider than the moon. e moon sits at 2,113 miles in diameter, while Australia’s diameter from east to west is almost 2,485 miles.

e first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut. She traveled to space in 1963 and spent more than 70 hours orbiting the Earth.

In Switzerland, it is illegal to own just one guinea pig.

Humans are born with only two natural fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other fears and phobias are learned or acquired later in life.

e American lobster can live to be 20 years old.

Golf was banned in England in 1457.

In 2016, Mozart sold more CDs than Beyoncé. is is because that October, the Universal Music Group released a box set commemorating the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death. Each disc included in the box set counted as one CD sold, and each set contained 200 discs.

Barbie’s birthday is March 9, 1959 — the day Ma el president and Barbie inventor Ruth Handler debuted the doll at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

e Manha an Project eventually employed more than 130,000 people and reached a price tag of almost $2 billion, or $22 billion in today’s currency.