October 2014 by Tote Media

EMILY RALEIGH Founder of Sma r t Girls Group

Issue No. 9 October 2014

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THE LOOKS 08 12 30

B E AU T Y BAR EVERYDAY FALL MAKEUP TUTORIAL B RE E Z Y BO H O FAL L ESSE N T IALS

FEAT URES 38 44 50 58 60

HAI L TO HAYL E Y SH E'S GOT T H I S TO A T E E I N F U L L B LOO M RE D CARP E T RE ADY SH E'S A SMART G I RL

CONTENTS LIFE & ENT ERTAINMENT 70 72

I N T E RN D IAR I ES BEHIND THE SCENES RECE N T G RAD FROM COLLEGE EDITOR TO REAL WORLD REPORTER

76 78 80 84

F RESH MAN F I L ES E L L E WOO DS MAY B E ON TO SOM E T H I N G CAM P US SAF E T Y E N T E RTAI N M E N T COMING UP T H E ADVE N T U RES O F A BUSY CO L L EG E G I RL

EDITOR’S NOTE

WELCOME OCTOBER As the leaves start to turn to the rich colors of red and orange, there’s the overwhelming feeling of change. The weather is cooling off, pumpkin spice lattes are everywhere, and there is the sense that everything is crisp and magical in only a way that fall could command. But the change is not just in the exterior. Internally, there’s also a movement boiling. And I’m betting I’m not the only one that’s been feeling it. The semester is already halfway through and, sure, you’ve found your groove. Classes. Studying. Friends. Late nights. You’ve got it down to a science by now. Except… the magic of fall brings about a new desire to change. It’s been itching at me for weeks now—wanting to get out of my routine and try something completely and totally unlike me. Because it’s so easy to get wrapped up in your daily routines that sometimes it’s hard to remember the bigger picture. Yes, it’s awesome to get stellar grades and excel in your major. However, college can be more than that; it can be a time to really figure out who you are. So when your friends want to go to that haunted house on Halloween weekend, why not say yes? Or when the brooding guy in your economics class asks you out, don’t give it a second thought. Each moment in our lives defines us. New opportunities can only broaden our horizons. In this issue we’ve got a stellar group of young women who are making their marks on the world. They’re all about seizing the moment and going after what they want. Cover girl, Emily Raleigh from Smart Girls Group is a powerhouse when it comes to women empowerment (pg. 60). College girl Natalie Palter entered a fashion design contest on a whim and won (pg. 58)! Photographer Kseniya Berson let one small moment ignite an entire photography project (pg. 50).

Shelby Newsome

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

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Let their stories inspire you, as they might be just what you need to make that magical change. We love hearing from you! Share your stories with us by sending an email to comments@totemag.com.

Would you like to contribute to Tote? Contact Shelby at shelby@totemag.com

OUR TEAM CONTRIBUTORS Caro Romero Graphic Designer Chanda Kumar Graphic Design Intern

Rachel Parker Photographer Kayla Anderson Writer

Christen Fairley Marketing Intern

Gabrielle Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Writer

Devorah Roberts Editorial Intern

Sydney Adamson Writer Alanna Coogan Writer Amy Yoelin Writer Katie Lemon Writer

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LET'S STAY

CONNECTED Join us on all of our social adventures.

THE LOOKS Everyday Fall Makeup Tutorial Breezy Boho Fall Essentials

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EVERYDAY

FALL MAKEUP TUTORIAL

With fall season in full gear, there’s a ton to keep us busy! Whether you’re headed to class, work, or a football game, start your morning on the right foot with this trusty everyday fall makeup routine. We love a bold lip this time of year, so we will be focusing on a neutral look based around dark berry lips. This look is great for everyday wear and transitions effortlessly for any occasion.

Text: KAYLA A N D ERS O N

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Step 1: Face

Step 2: Eyes

Step 3: Lips

After applying your favorite foundation and concealer it’s time to take care of your cheeks and brows. Start by contouring with your favorite bronzer. I’m using Hoola by Benefit. Using a contouring brush, dust the bronzer under your cheekbones and on your temples to warm up your look. Because we start to lose our tans in the fall, adding bronzer will help give your skin a natural looking glow. Next, it is time for blush. Because we will be applying a bold lip, try going for a neutral warm shade of blush. I’m using Spiced Plum from L’Oreal. Using a blush brush, apply this to the apples of your cheeks, blending upward. After you have applied your blush and bronzer, use a fluffy powder brush to blend out any harsh lines. This prevents your makeup from looking too harsh and gives a more natural effect. For your brows, go ahead and fill them in as you normally do, but don’t be afraid to thicken them up a bit. Remember for any fall look: the bolder, the better!

For this look, I reached for my Naked Palette from Urban Decay. Palettes with essential neutral colors are super popular, so any brand will work perfectly. After priming my eyes, I used a flat shader brush and applied Buck, which is a soft brown color, all over my lid as a base. Next, I used a crease brush and blended Darkhorse, which is a darker brown color, into my crease to darken up the look. Next, I put Virgin, a light cream shade, on a blending brush and blended all of the shadows together. To add a little pop of color, I took Half Baked on a flat shader brush and blended it into the inner part of my eyelid. To finish the eyes, add your favorite black eyeliner onto your upper lash line and follow up with your favorite mascara.

Finally, we have reached the focus of this look! For fall, any shade of dark red or purple will look fabulous, but I am using a NYX lipstick in the color Chic Red. For a quick fix to give your lips a plumper look, try irritating them with the bristles of your toothbrush. Next, moisturize with your favorite chapstick. Once you have picked your lip color, start by outlining your lips and then finish up by filling them in. This ensures clean lines and an overall more put together look. To help your lipstick last longer, try dabbing a little bit of translucent face powder onto your lips with your pointer finger. This trick also helps create a matte look with any shimmery shades.

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Now you are all set for your fall festivities! Remember: The great thing about this routine is that you can substitute any lip color depending on the occasion, and still have the effect of a brand new look!

BEAUTY BAR

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer, $28, Ulta

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oreal True Match Super Blendable Blush in Spiced Plum, $10, Ulta

NYX Cosmetics Round Case Lipstick in Chic Red, $4, Ulta Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Palette, $54, Ulta tote

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BREEZY

BOHO Flowy, layered looks are perfect for fall. We fell in love with these bohemian styles with a touch of grunge from Cloud 9 Clothing located at The Shops at Kenilworth in Towson, Maryland.

P hotogra p hs : RAC HEL PA RK ER MODEL: KIRST EN FRIEND

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FALL INTO WINTER

Tank, Free People, $88; Corduroy Pants, Free People, $88; Daisy Jacket, BB Dakota, $148; Lux Clutch, Joy Susan, $35; Beaded Cuff Bracelet, Pink House, $30; Bracelet, Zad, $19; Skinny Beaded Bracelet, Pink House, $10; Crown Ring, Tiger Mountain, $18; Gold Bear Ring, Zad, $10

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GREEN WITH JEAN ENV Y

Jeans, Free People, $68; Sweater, Free People, $118; Paisley Infinity Scarf, Hat Stuff, $23; Havana Purse, Melie Bianco, $11; Gold Drop Earrings, Tiger Mountain, $30; Round Beaded Ring, Pink House, $18 18

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LOVELY IN LAVENDER

Dress, Free People, $118; Long Cardigan, Free People, $128; Bandeau, Niki Biki, $12; Raw Edge Shoulder Bag, Joy Susan, $57; Skinny Bangle, Tiger Mountain, $22; Thick Bangle, Tiger Mountain, $22; Skull Ring, Zad, $10

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SHOW Me YOUR SUPER SIDE

Pants, Lani, $45 Top, Double Zero, $36; Tube Bra, See You Monday, $12; Alba Handbag, Melie Bianco, $58; Hammered Gold Necklace, Zad, $18; Braided Cuff Bracelet, Pink House, $23

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THE CAT'S

MEOW

Eclectic. Quirky. Hip. Spunky. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I call a fun style.

Shelby Newsome, Founder a nd Editor-in-Chief

3 7

10 30

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FALL ESSENTIALS

4 5

8 9

1. Alexander McQueen “Heroine” Backpack, $1690, Farfetch 2. Trumpet-sleeve Blouse, $40, H&M 3. Black Cat Silicone iPhone 5 Case, $45, Kate Spade 4. Benefit Cosmetics High Brow Pencil in Linen Pink, $20, Sephora 5. Metal Basket, $20, H&M 6. Bridesmaids Help Me I’m Poor Coffee Mug, $16, Etsy 7. The Horse Leather Watch, $129, Parc Boutique 8. Andy Warhol Pocket Planner, $14, Kitson 9. Dior Summer Limited Edition Dior Addict Lipstick, $32, Dillard’s 10. Designer Fashion Celebrity Retro Cat Eye Sunglasses, $10, Freyrs 11. Imitation Leather Skirt, $25, H&M 12. Philosophy Pure Grace Fragrance, $46, Sephora tote

WOODLAND

ADVENTURE

As the leaves start to turn, show your appreciation for your woodland friends!

Ca ro Romero, Graphic Designer

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FALL ESSENTIALS

1. iPhone Dock + Glasses Stand, $145, Etsy 2. Screen Printed Canvas Tote, $18.00, Etsy 3. A3 Floral Alphabet print, $27.00, Etsy 4. Forest Green Dip Dyed Pouch, $15.00, Etsy 5. Orange Fox Pillow, $36.00, Etsy 6. The Emily + Meritt Brass Bunny Table Lamp, $115, PB Teen 7. Bear Return Address Custom Stamp, $65.00, Etsy 8. Mountain Notebook & Pines Notebook Set, $24.00, Shoppe 9. Mint Coffee Mugs, 46.00, Etsy 10. Cotton Relaxed Fit Crewneck Sweater, $69.00, Gilt 11. Franklin the Fox Doorstop, $45.00, West Elm

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MUSTARD &

MAROON This bold color combo is sure to keep you comfy and confident this fall!

Cha nda Kuma r, Graphic Design Intern

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FALL ESSENTIALS 10

1. Cable Knit Sweater, $22.80, Forever 21 2. Mid Rise Skinny Jeans, $14.80, Forever 21 3. Oversized Bow Barrette, $2.80, Forever 21 4. Snap-Closure Faux Leather Crossbody, $17.90, Forever 21 5. Brighten Up Circle Scarf in Mustard, $14.99, ModCloth 6. Toast Ceramics Pour-Over Coffee Set, $65, Urban Outfitters 7. The Beatles Mug Set, $18, Urban Outfitters 8. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera, $100, Urban Outfitters 9. Herschel Supply Co. Settlement Mid-Volume Backpack, $54.95, Evo 10. 2 Row Flower Statement Necklace, $9.99, Tilly's

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TEAM

TOTE Looking to expand your resume and gain invaluable experiences to help propel your career? Join Team Tote!

INTERN Interested in learning about the inner workings of an online publication? Join Tote’s team and have the opportunity to work on various aspects of the magazine. We currently have internships available for editorial, graphic design, web design, and social media. Related majors are preferred. Contact Shelby at shelby@totemag.com with a resume.

CONTRIBUTE Do you love to write? Submit a sample writing along with feature ideas to Shelby at shelby@totemag.com to be considered. You’ll gain opportunities to write for upcoming issues and posts on the website.

BECOME A BRA ND A MBASSA DOR We’re kicking off our Brand Ambassador program! If you’re a marketing major or super outgoing and social, we want you! Gain experience in promotions and networking and become a vital role within our team. Interested in applying? Submit a resume to Shelby at shelby@totemag.com to learn more about the program.

FEATURES Hail to Hayley She's Got This to a Tee In Full Bloom Red Carpet Ready She's a Smart Girl Behind the Scenes From College Editor to Real World Reporter

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HAIL TO

HAYLEY During a time that can feel so fleeting, dipping your feet in a little bit of everything can be exactly what you need. Just take a cue from this busy gal, Hayley.

TEXT: GABRIELLE O’NEAL PHOTOS: MELODI ERDOGAN Crazy, hectic, overwhelming but awesome. That’s how sophomore Hayley Brundige describes her freshman year at the University of Tennessee. “I was involved in a lot of things and I think I might have stretched myself too thin but looking back it was worth it,” says Hayley. Hayley began her college journey a semester early by beginning classes at UT in the summer of 2013. “I started early because I wanted to get a head start on classes,” says Hayley. “I was a little nervous about starting college so I wanted to dip my feet in and take a couple of classes to get started and scope out the area of Knoxville.” Originally a political science major, Hayley was later accepted in the Col-

lege Scholars Program. The program is an interdisciplinary honors program that allows academically talented students to design their own major. “I’m doing a mix of political science, journalism, and Arabic. My plan going into it was that those three areas would prepare me to become a foreign correspondent or a journalist covering political events,” says Hayley. “I chose Arabic because I’m interested in the politics of the Middle East; I thought it would be a useful skill if I do end up becoming a journalist.” College is the perfect time to try new things and Hayley wasted no time getting involved. She began writing for the student run newspaper The Daily Beacon. “I always wanted to be on a newspaper staff in high school but we didn't have a newspaper [at my school],” says Hayley. “So when I

came to college and saw The Daily Beacon on stands I said, ‘Hey, I want to join the newspaper.’” In addition to writing for the paper, Hayley also got to intern for WUOT, the public radio station from the University of Tennessee. “I just wanted to try all different kinds of journalism so I figured I’d give it a try,” says Hayley. “And I applied and it ended up working in my favor.” Through the internship, Hayley was able to get a taste of broadcast journalism. “I helped them with their All Things Considered [segment], getting their news for the newscast,” says Hayley. “I never got to be on the air but I did some interviews and I collected sound for them and edited some of the sound.”

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It was really empowering to take a local problem that has big implications and tackle it through policy.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

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In turn, getting involved on campus lead her to her summer internship with the Roosevelt Institute, a non-profit dedicated to carrying on the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt through leadership and service. Hayley joined the Roosevelt Institute chapter on the UT campus last fall after finding out about it through friends. In the spring, Hayley became the Media Director for the chapter and handled social media like their Facebook and Twitter. “I found out about the summer academy at Roosevelt Institute national office and I applied and that’s how I got [the] internship,” says Hayley. Roosevelt has several summer academies in various cities like New York, DC, the Bay Area, and Chicago. The academy Hayley attended was focused on economic equality and was located in New York City. “I’ve lived in Nashville, Portland, and outside of Denver which are pretty large. I’ve never lived in such an urban area [like Brooklyn, New York],” says Hayley. “But I wake up and go down to the R subway, get on the train, transfer to the N train which takes me to Manhattan and then I go on the 6 train to go to work.” Day to day, as a communications intern in the Roosevelt office, Hayley was responsible for helping with the website as well as social media. The internship involved writing a piece of policy with her fellow interns directed at inequality in terms of development in New York City at the end of the internship to present at the policy expo. “The policy that my Team Based Challenge group decided to write was on the inclusion of English Language Learners in charter schools

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in the south Bronx,” says Hayley. “Our policy had to be hyper-local, so we chose the New York City borough with the highest proportion of ELL students. The Bronx has a huge ELL population, with most students speaking Spanish as their first language.” The expo was held at the Roosevelt Institute national office and interns presented their policy including community members, representatives from different non-profits, family, and Roosevelt staff. “I think our presentation went well! We had spent so many hours working on our policy outside of our internships—on nights and weekends —that we knew pretty well what we wanted to say,” says Hayley. Six groups of interns were given five minutes to present and afterwards four judges critiqued the policies and named the winner. “The judges and the audience were full of the people who could actually take our policies and put them into action,” says Hayley. “It was inspiring, really, because the Team Based Challenge wasn't just a thought experiment it was a real opportunity for young people to take an idea, develop it, and get it to the people who could put it in place,” says Hayley. Although Hayley and her team didn’t win, she believes her time at Roosevelt Institute was a worthwhile experience. “It was really empowering to take a local problem that has big implications and tackle it through policy,” says Hayley. Take a note. Like Hayley, be dauntless and try out anything you’re interested in. You never know where it’ll take you.

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SHE'S GOT THIS

TO A TEE Text: Sydney Adamson P hotogra p hs C ourt esy o f A ly Si lv eri o There are a few select places your average 15-year-old girl can be found: the sidelines of a high school football game, shopping at Forever 21, and—if there’s a dance coming up—the nail salon. But there’s an exception to every rule, and Aly Silverio is that exception. At 15, Aly was most likely to be found in her bedroom crafting handmade jewelry using polymer clay and a toaster oven rather than kickin’ it elsewhere. This DIY endeavor is what marked the beginning of her company Jawbreaking. “In the early stages everything was so hard simply because I didn’t know how to do anything,” Aly says. Aly started her company, originally named Jawbreaking Jewelry, in 2008 when she was a sophomore in high school just because she didn’t want to get a normal job.

She begun making and selling those handmade pieces of jewelry, all while keeping up with her school work. But when she lost the drive and passion to create each piece by hand, Aly threw all the money she made towards apparel. With the jewelry out of the mix, the name was shortened to Jawbreaking. Now take a hop, skip, and a jump to Aly’s senior year. What’s a gal with a steadily rising successful clothing company to do when she’s just graduated high school? Well, there are two choices: go through the grueling college application process and select a school to attend for four (maybe more) years or continue to fine tune her design skills and make Jawbreaking the best it can be. Aly weighed the two options. As far as colleges go, she considered

attending The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), a school that her mom was urging her to attend. After touring and interviewing with FIDM, Aly’s mom eventually realized that her daughter did not want to attend college, and agreed that it would be best to stay home and pursue Jawbreaking. At the end of the day, Aly chose apparel over academics. “It was 100 percent the easiest decision of my life. I was never really crazy about the idea of school,” Aly says. “I was not about to pack up my life and put Jawbreaking on hold for a school across the country, or any school for that matter. I knew what I wanted to do and how I was going to go about doing it.” So far, the decision to forgo attending a university has done her plenty of good. Case in point: One Direction. tote

“ 46

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You won’t accomplish anything by doing nothing. Go out there and make it happen.

”

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Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson of the world famous boy band have been seen wearing her clothes, and so have a host of other stylish celebs. Among them are “Orange is the New Black” cast members Emma Myles and Kimiko Glenn, Disney’s “Jessie” star Debby Ryan, and Ed Sheeran. Even KayKay Blaisdell (of Sugar & Spice, who was featured in our September issue) rocks Jawbreaking on the regular and is featured on the Jawbreaking website homepage. (Peep the ‘As Seen On’ section of shopjawbreaking. com to see who else is wearing the clothes). Her list of accomplishments doesn’t end there, though. A Shorty Award in 2013 for Best Small Business? Check. Jawbreaking apparel stocked in retail stores including Urban Outfitters? Check. “I can’t believe I am where I am today,” Aly admits. How can one 21-year-old girl possibly do so much on her own? Well she’s not Super Woman, but she does have a small staff that help her keep the company in tiptop shape. “Regardless of everyone’s title at Jawbreaking, it’s a team effort to fulfill orders and make our customers happy,” Aly says. “My mom also ended up quitting her 9-5 job to work with me.” Winning awards and clothing the world’s biggest boy band isn’t enough to leave Aly satisfied, though. This entrepreneur still has so much more to accomplish. 48

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Her first step is to get Harry Styles into a tee or tank so he can finally join the Jawbreaking family. “I haven’t given up on Harry wearing [Jawbreaking] yet. It will happen,” Aly says. After that’s taken care of, it makes perfect sense that Aly wants to widen Jawbreaking’s reach by selling Jawbreaking in more stores. She even hopes to open Jawbreaking stores of her own in the future. “We want to take Jawbreaking above and beyond,” Aly says. Aly admits that when it comes to this whole business thingy, she’s still learning. College or no college, this girl has logged enough hours as Jawbreaking’s founder to know what it takes to get what you want out of life. “You won’t accomplish anything by doing nothing. Go out there and make it happen,” Aly says.

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IN FULL

BLOOM Text: SHELBY NEWSOME Photographs BY KSENIYA BERSON FROM "BLOOM" “ A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” –Unknown When 25-year-old photographer Kseniya Berson frequented the flower garden by her home, a moment of serendipity occurred. She was looking through quotes on her phone when she came across the one shown above. To a stranger it may not mean much. But for Kseniya, who has struggled with self-confidence throughout her life, it sparked a photography project. While in her teens, Kseniya struggled with confidence and the

pressure to look a certain way due to media and advertisements. However, she was able to surround herself with a strong support system and learn from her mother the importance of loving yourself. By the end of her time at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, where Kseniya went to study photography, she was a full-fledged confident woman, ready to take on the world. “This is who I am,” Kseniya says. “I’m going to love who I am. And every girl should love who she is for who she is. You should never want to change for anyone.” “Bloom” is the product of that ah-ha moment. Kseniya decided to photograph women of all ages, sizes, and colors

with different flowers to bring the quotation to life. “We need stuff like this in today’s world,” Kseniya says. “Because everyone is so judgmental and so quick to judge before they know you.” When you add the media and pressures of women to look a certain way, it’s enough to want to intervene with positivity. She opened up her search for models to her photography Facebook page. Kseniya wanted women that knew their beauty and were able to tell her what makes them beautiful. “I was worried to post it because I know a lot of girls don’t feel comfortable saying ‘I’m beautiful’ and I don’t know why,” Kseniya says.

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However, Kseniya’s doubts washed away as the responses started to flow in. “These girls were like, ‘I’m beautiful because I’m strong,’” Kseniya says. She found a range of women, 15 years old to early thirties, whom all agreed to participate in the project. Once she found these women, Kseniya had to determine which type of flower would be appropriate for each one. To do this, she had them fill out a questionnaire to get a better sense of their personalities. “Based on their responses, I chose a flower that I thought would match their personalities,” Kseniya says. If a certain girl loved red roses but her personality was timid and shy, Kseniya and her team chose a soft and delicate flower for the girl instead. From the beginning, Kseniya had visions for the project to be captured by still photographs and video. So she joined with videographer Kate McMeans and together they began to work out the details of the project. “I think what I love about this also is all the girls genuinely want to do this to help spread this message,” Kseniya says. “No one got paid. Everyone just actually really whole-heartedly wanted to do this.” It may have taken Kseniya a moment in the flower garden for her to conceptualize the project. However, the actual project itself took a couple of months of planning and two full days of shooting. 52

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But all of the hard work was totally worth it for Kseniya when she was able to learn about each woman’s story. She says that a lot of the women were insecure about their weight no matter how thin they were. But one woman’s story brought the topic to a deeper level. “The next thing that came out of her mouth was, ‘I was always really tiny and really thin and a lot of people made rude remarks and judgments that I wasn’t healthy. People thought that I did things to get this way but I’ve just always been tiny and people are judgmental of it.’” The model, instead of being fatshamed, was being skinny-shamed. The video really allowed the women to open up about beauty and their experiences with it. Kseniya’s hope is to reach more women with the powerful message of her project. She would even like to corral more women with strong stories for another round of photographs to add to the collection. “I would love [to continue adding women to the project], to share a bunch of people’s stories and show them that beauty isn’t necessarily on your face—or your body—it’s who you are inside and what makes you you,” Kseniya says. Until then, she will continue to spread positivity and touch the lives of others in ways besides “Bloom.” Kseniya says that every time she finishes a personal project she wants to do something for someone she doesn’t know to continue a succession of positivity.

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After the project was finished, Kseniya wrote inspirational notes and tied them to different flowers. She gave these flowers to women she would walk past in Philadelphia, simply to brighten up their day. Along with the flower, Kseniya would explain “Bloom” and let each woman know that she is beautiful. “This one girl looked at me. She had her sunglasses on and she took them off,” Kseniya says. “She almost had tears in her eyes. She was like, ‘I was having a really rough day and you just made me feel so much better.’” For Kseniya, those moments are the most gratifying. Kseniya’s actions, just like her words, speak volumes on uplifting each other rather than putting each other down. “Girls are just so mean to each other. Why? It doesn’t need to be that way and I just want them to understand that all those girls in the video are all so incredibly different and they all look amazing because of who they are.” So in true “Bloom” fashion, let’s all think before we make negative remarks about someone based on their looks. As Kseniya has showed us, beauty is much, much deeper.

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RED CARPE T

READY Text: ALANNA COOGAN Photograph & SKETCH Courtesy Of NATALIE PALTER What celebrities wear on the red carpet is always a topic of discussion. Imagine if a dress you designed was worn on the red carpet in front of paparazzi, television cameras, and celebrities themselves. That’s exactly what happened to Natalie Palter, a rising senior at Marist College. Natalie won the Adrianna Papell for E! Live from the Red Carpet Design Contest in 2012. Natalie choose to attend Marist College in New York State for its strong fashion program, but also because it’s a liberal arts college. “I knew that I wanted to go to a school that still gave me the classic college experience with sports, a beautiful campus, and Greek life,” Natalie explains. “Marist ticked all those boxes.” Growing up in California and studying in New York has given Natalie a

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wide range of experiences. She has interned at Adrianna Papell in New York City, BCBGMAXAZRIA in Los Angeles, Harnett and Pope in London, and Weston in San Francisco. These diverse experiences have allowed Natalie to become a wellrounded fashion designer whose talent is anything but ordinary.

“When I got the call about being in the top 5, I was in philosophy class. And when I got the call about being the grand-prize winner, I had just woken up from a nap… So naturally I thought it was all just some insane dream!”

The dress Natalie designed for the contest was a light blue, oneshoulder, draped Grecian gown “I generally get my inspiration from with rhinestones on the bodice a mix of things, like colorful cultures, and a slit up the middle. exploration, architecture, art, and my friends and family,” Natalie says. “I looked at a lot of Adrianna Papell gowns and picked up some of the Natalie’s entrance into the Adrianna main details that the company liked Papell contest was last minute after to incorporate, as the dress was a classmate informed her of it. She supposed to fit in with their Red hadn’t won any fashion contest Carpet collection,” explains Natalie. before and thought her chances of winning were slim. After winning the competition, Natalie’s dress was made into a “When I heard I was voted into reality by Adrianna Papell and the top 25 out of 700 entries, I was worn by a model on the red carpet. beyond excited,” Natalie exclaims. Natalie was able to attend the event

as well, dressed in a dazzling gown and striding down the red carpet next to her own creation.

Natalie’s light-hearted personality even leads her to relieve stress in the fashion lab by taking exuberant dance breaks.

Natalie received strong love and support from friends and family, but there are always people who aren’t happy for the success of others. The fashion industry can be very cutthroat and yet Natalie stays above the negativity in true Californian spirit.

“It sounds silly, but when you’ve been cutting fabric or stitching hems for eight hours straight, stopping to sing ‘Rather Be’ by Clean Bandit at the top of your lungs with everyone around you can do wonders!” Natalie says with a laugh.

“The most important thing to do is to take criticisms constructively rather than personally,” she says.

This free-spirited optimist is happy to have an open future and is ready to go wherever the tide takes her.

Her roots are in California and the Bay Area, but she loves the fashion center of New York. “Hopefully [in ten years] I will be working for a company I love, will have traveled to many more places, will have experienced many new things, and will be surrounded by people I love,” says Natalie. “Besides that, only time will tell.”

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she's a

SMART

GIRL Text: Shelby Newsome

•

Photographs: CARO ROMERO tote

We’re a half an hour late. Caro Romero (our graphic designer who put on her photographer hat for the day) and I decided to meet Emily Raleigh, the founder of Smart Girls Group, on her turf: New York City. Normally, I’m a punctual person. However, the day trip took a couple of detours. I’m not a native to NYC so navigating the subway system was not my forte. Neither was navigating the Bronx, where the Smart Girls Group headquarters is located, right across the street from Emily’s school, Fordham University. But as we finally find the building and make our way up to the Fordham Foundry offices, which houses the Smart Girls Group office, Emily greets me with the biggest hug. “It’s so nice to meet you!” she says, with the warmest smile on her face. The panic of being so incredibly late washes away from me. The 20-year-old junior is so approachable and genuine; you could almost forget that she’s the Founder and Smart Starter of a multi-platform business.

“I wanted to give her something that was different because I was going to be going to college,” Emily says. “I was thinking of everything I wish I knew my freshman year of high school. You know, what teachers to take, what teachers not to take, things like that.” The term “smart girl” showed up early in Emily’s life. She says that her parents always fostered personal growth. “They were always encouraging us to do well in the classroom,” Emily says. “But it was really just about pursuing your passions and trying your best. And that’s what I always saw as the ‘smart girl.’” Once Emily completed the field guide, she felt like something was missing; she felt empty (after all, the guide consumed so much of her time). Enter Smart Girls Group. “The idea of the Smart Girls Group was something that I kind of feel like was cooking throughout my entire life and was just kind of waiting to boil,” Emily says.

But only for a second. Because then Emily talks about the morning she’s had, which includes being interviewed by Forbes and there’s no doubt that she’s a juggernaut, ready to reach more women with knowledge and empowerment. It all started when Emily was a senior in high school and her sister was a freshman. Emily decided to create a field guide for high school success to give to her sister for Christmas that year. The guide would encompass everything a “smart girl” would need to get through those four daunting years. 62

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As the field guide transformed into the Smart Girls Guide, a monthly digital magazine for young women, Emily called upon her female cousins to help her with the first issue. “They started helping me with the content for the first magazine and then I contacted a couple of bloggers who were around my age to see if they would be a part of it and we released the first magazine,” Emily says. “It was 20 pages, nine girls and then from there it just grew to be a lot more than that.” Now Smart Girls Group is an umbrella for numerous brands that

work underneath it but all invoke the same Smart Girls Group integrity. The umbrella includes the Smart Girls Sisterhood, an international community of contributors; Smart Girls Guide; and Smart Girls Loop, a daily news blog. They also have Smart Girls Society, which is a chapter program for middle school, high school, and college women; and Smart Girls School, online classes women can enroll in. In total, there are 13 brands under Smart Girls Group that all work to enrich and empower women. With all of the success of Smart Girls Group, it’s hard to imagine Emily doing anything else. However, if it wasn’t for Smart Girls Group, Emily says she may have ended up at a different university following a much different path. “I’m a sailor,” Emily says. “I actually couldn’t be a college sailor—I couldn’t be a college athlete at all —because of Smart Girls Group but I was planning on going to college for that.” The Long Beach Island native says she would have ended up at a different university if she stayed with sailing. Luckily, that was the only big sacrifice Emily had to make to pursue Smart Girls Group. But making the decision to attend Fordham University has turned out to be integral for the success of Smart Girls Group. Through the school, Emily receives office space for her, her staff, and a number of interns. “You feel like they’re really, truly investing in you,” Emily says.

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“

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What we’ve found is that at every age women are looking for empowerment.

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It also doesn’t hurt that she has New York City as her backyard. “The second you leave campus, you have all the benefits of New York City,” Emily says. With all of the love that she receives from her friends, family, and Smart Girl sisters, Emily has been able to grow one 20-page issue into the platform that Smart Girls Group is today. “They’re eight incredible women who I am so fortunate to work with,” Emily says. “Most of them I would have never met outside of Smart Girls Group and they’ve become my best friends; they’ve become my family.” Originally intended for high school girls, Smart Girls Group has grown to cater middle school girls all the way up to college women. They’re even getting a push from elementary schools that want to take part in the sisterhood. “What we’ve found is that at every age women are looking for empowerment,” Emily says. And that’s not just limited to age, as the sisterhood has members all across the globe in over 40 countries. Smart Girls Group’s message is universal; young women everywhere want to feel empowered and be inspired. They want an outlet where like-minded women can join forces. The feeling of community that Smart Girls Group has created has been distinctly crafted through the dynamic Emily shares with her staff.

“I just like building things and it’s great because where I am in this, is that I’m kind of able to develop something, create it, make a whole plan of action and figure out how to monetize it, and then I’m able to pass it off to somebody who implements everything,” Emily says. Attending school full-time while running a business full-time can be grueling. “We’re at a point where we’re working with big corporate companies sometimes and I’ll get a customer service call on my cell phone and I have to leave my class to be able to answer that,” Emily says. When Emily does get some down time she loves to make trips back to Long Beach Island with friends. But if that isn’t possible, she enjoys exploring NYC, more specifically the Bronx. “The Bronx is such a cool place,” Emily says. “There’s so much culture here. The food is great. There’s the Botanical Gardens right across the street. There’s the Bronx Zoo. So my friends and I have a lot of fun doing that sort of thing.” Emily says that it’s all a balancing act. All her hard work is totally worth it though. Over the summer Emily received one of the most gratifying experiences with Smart Girls Group: the Smart Girls Conference. The conference, held in New York City and live streamed online, gathered together a variegated group of business professionals and Smart Girl Sisters. There were a total of 300 Smart Girl Sisters from

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a total of six different countries. Among the speakers were Shiza Shahid, CEO & Co-founder of Malala Fund; Lauren Bush Lauren, Founder of Feed; and D’Arcy F. Rudnay, Chief Communications Officer of Comcast Corporation.

hope we’re still in the Bronx. I really love it here and I love the opportunity of being here.”

To have so many revered speakers and ardent Smart Girl Sisters attend the conference was very special to Emily.

For now, Emily is going to continue what she’s doing. After all, it seems to be working out for her.

“When you’re doing a lot online you kind of forget that those people are real people,” Emily says. “They kind of become characters in your little world.” The conference brought those characters to life. Emily was able to stand with her staff onstage and see a crowd of young women, all part of the sisterhood. Emily’s family was also in the audience to support her. “Seeing how proud my parents were and my nana, that was just so cool,” Emily says. Emily’s passion shines through with Smart Girls Group. She’s created a community that she hopes will last. As Emily continues college, her hope is that Smart Girls Group will be her only job when she graduates. “I really can’t imagine working for someone else,” Emily says with a laugh. And with the multi-platform powerhouse she’s created for young women, we can understand why. “I really hope we’re doing what we’re doing now,” Emily says. “I

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Besides continuing with Smart Girls Group, Emily says she wouldn’t mind finding more time to sail.

Take Emily’s lead and don’t let anything stand in your way of chasing your dreams, no matter what anyone else has to say. “Women inherently like to put up barriers that don’t necessarily have to exist,” Emily says. “Even if there is a barrier there that does exist, you just got to knock it down.” And with that, we’ll stand tall ready to knock down those walls and behold what the future has in store for us. To join in on the sisterhood catch up with them on their website— thesmartgirlsgroup.com— and follow them on social media:

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BEHIND THE

SCENES The best way to learn if you want to do something is to just go ahead and do it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how 21-year-old Grace Woodrow solidified her dreams of working in the behind-the-scenes world of television.

Text: SHELBY NEWSOME

INTERN DIARIES

If it weren’t for interning at The Wendy Williams Show Grace, a senior at Rutgers University, would not have happened upon her current internship. “I went to Wendy because I had an interest in t.v. but that’s where I really found out that I have a passion for t.v.,” Grace says. The Wendy Williams Show shares the same studio as The Rachel Ray Show. Since Grace found her passion with television, she decided to apply to The Rachel Ray Show. Now, Grace is a production intern there this semester. As a production intern, she gets to work with different departments, getting many different tastes of the behind the scenes work that goes into putting on the show. On any given day Grace could be working with the Audience Department, who escort the audience in and out of the studio; doing research for the producers; or running around New York City finding specific foods for Rachel Ray to cook during the cooking segment of the show. “It’s fun for me because I’m not that familiar with New York so it really requires me to learn the subway system and how to get around,” Grace says. “So I’m exploring New York City while I go on these [runs].” Grace also gets a thrill of accomplishment when she purchases food for the show.

“When I see the show I’m like, ‘Wow, I bought that salmon,’” Grace says with a laugh. “It’s a pretty good feeling because they’ll send you out on a run [for the food].”

Don’t go unnoticed... Make yourself stand out and let everybody know that you’re there to work, that you’re motivated and this is where you want to be. Just try and stand out. Since Grace is on set during the tapings, she’s able to really take in the whole experience, including the celebrity guests that walk through.

The first day of taping for the ninth season Michael Strahan was the celebrity guest. Grace says that it was an exciting experience getting to see a celebrity that she really admires. Being on set has been a valuable opportunity for Grace. While her internship goes until mid-December, she’s already learned and experienced so much. “Being able to stand in in the studio has been very eye opening to see how many different people contribute to the show, how many different positions there are,” Grace says. This experience has only confirmed to Grace that she definitely wants to work in television. “I know that I want to be behind the scenes. Ideally, at this point right now, where I’m at, I want to produce,” Grace says. “I think this internship definitely gives me hands on experience…” Between The Wendy Williams Show and The Rachel Ray Show, Grace’s internships have been integral to her process of figuring out what she wants to do. There’s no time for her to sit back; Grace goes into an internship headfirst. “Don’t go unnoticed,” Grace says. “Make yourself stand out and let everybody know that you’re there to work, that you’re motivated and this is where you want to be. Just try and stand out.”

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RECENT GRAD

FROM COLLEGE EDITOR TO

REAL WORLD REPORTER Text: Devorah Roberts Though some have described college as pointless, Lauren Slavin directly attributes where she is today to her experiences at Towson University. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of my mentors and work at the student newspaper. While college extracurriculars are necessary for your resume to stand out, I think it’s even more important to use those experienc72

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es as indicators of whether or not you could see yourself making a living off what you’re learning,” says Lauren, a 2011 graduate. “… You will learn enough in your classes to make it by, but without some of that mythical ‘real world experience,’ it’s a lot harder to stand out as a job applicant.” During her college career, Lauren was the editor-in-chief at Towson University’s independent student

newspaper, The Towerlight. There, she learned how to meet deadlines, create story ideas, and write the same type of stories she would as a full-time reporter. Now, nearly three years later, Lauren works as a general assignment reporter for The Herald-Times in Bloomington, Indiana. While at The Herald Times, Lauren covers breaking news, writes features stories, and steps into the newsroom when needed.

This is a dream come true for Lauren, who has wanted to write since she was in the second grade. “I always wanted to work at a newspaper, and landing a reporting gig at a daily paper, especially during a time when people associate the word ‘journalism’ with ‘dying industry,’ is so gratifying,” she says. It took Lauren two years, 100 applications, and perseverance to land a full-time job. “I was on sites like LinkedIn, Monster, and SimplyHired for hours at a time. I had dozens of versions of cover letters to send to different types of employers. And much of my time was spent criticizing myself for knowing that I was trying my hardest, and it still wasn’t enough,” she says. Lauren also voluntarily works for Feminspire, a women’s media website. Though unpaid, Lauren says the women who work on it truly care about the issues they write about, whether it’s feminism, LGBT rights, pop culture, or fashion. Originally, she began working for Feminspire while searching for fulltime work. During that time, she asked the site editor if she could assist with social media, as well as work with contributing editors. Since then, Lauren has “interviewed authors, written about women’s representation in the media, and worked with women to develop stories and editorial pieces.” For Lauren, Feminspire was a way to ensure she stayed busy and continued writing, while searching for a full-time position.

“Everyone deserves a break after four or more years of reading hundreds of textbook pages, doing all the work in a ‘group’ project, pulling all-nighters researching and writing, and re-doing entire presentations after your computer crashes. But you don’t want to lose sight of why you went to college in the first place!” she says. Though she now works full-time at The Herald-Times, Lauren still is easily able to balance her two commitments. “Because Feminspire is a volunteerbased passion product, I’ve been able to set my level of commitment based on my other work,” she says. “While I was a freelancer, I was able to write more and learn about managing social media. Now that I’m working full time, I use my downtime and weekends to continue to give back to the site that really helped me stay focused on what I wanted to do as a career.” Lauren advises current students— though, it may sound cliché—to not lose hope when searching for work. “Find small victories, whether they’re having a conversation with someone you respect who is working in the field you’re trying to break into, or taking your applications in a different direction. There’s no shame in part-time work, work in retail, going back to school, or anything that can bring you satisfaction,” she explains. “You have yet to start your hardest assignment. You have no rubric, no due date, and no grade on the line. Giving up is easy. Persevering is hard, but worth it.”

Lauren stresses that college women should actively strive for leadership positions, no matter what type of field they are entering. “Young women shouldn’t fear taking on leadership positions at every opportunity. Find a club or organization you can devote time and passion to, and work your way up to a role where you can make a positive difference. Find female mentors, and be a mentor when you can. By holding up other women, you ensure that every generation that comes after you graduate will be stronger than the last,” she says. Lauren also jokes that everyone should wear sweatpants to class if they feel like it. “You can wear professional attire when you’re dead,” she says. As for Lauren herself, though she still might not know what she “wants to do when she grows up,” she does hope to continue writing, whether it is for newspapers, magazines, or online publications. “… And I can also see myself moving into copy editing, web and social media development, and other areas of growth in journalism,” she says. “… Maybe one day I’ll write a book, or be an anchor on the evening news, or have a little blue checkmark next to my Twitter handle.” In the meantime, Lauren will continue working for The HeraldTimes and Feminspire, and living out her dream as a journalist. “For now, I’m lucky enough to look forward to going to work every day, and that’s all I could ever ask for.”

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IN THIS

ISSUE! Like what you’re reading? Stop by the site for extra content that just couldn’t make it into this issue. Whether you want more info about the trendy clothes from Cloud 9 Clothing or want to watch the video from “Bloom,” we’ve got it in this month’s In This Issue! post. Just click on this page or head to www.totemag.com to find it.

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Elle Woods May Be Onto Something Campus Safety Coming Up The Adventures of a Busy College Girl

ELLE WOODS MAY BE ONTO SOMETHING... Text: AMY YOELIN If you were to ask me what my two favorite things to do are, I’d confidently answer back with “read and write, ” and probably throw a “duh” in while I’m at it. Now, if you’d ask me what are my three favorite things to do, shockingly, I’d add exercise to my list. Do you actually like it, you may ask? Doesn’t exercise require you to move your body, i.e. having your pulse thump thump thump about a million beats per second? And if you do it wrong, don’t you end up looking like a flailing mammal of some sort? To all of these questions, I answer with a definite yes—even to the animal comparison to what your body could contort to while exercising. (But only if you are doing it completely wrong, which is quite a feat!)

pating in PE class. I usually had a permanent seat on the sidelines. And I was okay with that. Why do you need to play dodgeball when you’ve got a good book to read instead? But then I had a sports-related epiphany: There are twenty-four hours in a day. Can’t I at least contribute one to working out at the gym, or in my room?

A few months before college started, exercise may not have been my third answer. I hadn’t done much exercising. I just assumed picking up food with my hands and crunching it with my jaw counted as physical activity. During high school, I refrained from partici-

When I started going to the gym at my school, I was petrified. Back at my hometown gym, I was amongst people who were twice my age. Now, I am surrounded by people who were born the same year I was. To put it into perspective, I’m not the most lithe person

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From that notion, I went to the gym every day, breaking out into a sweat within the first few minutes. After my hour was completed, I would be out of breath, red-faced, and drenched with sweat from head-to-toe. Granted, half of the time I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I physically and mentally felt better and stronger with each day passing.

you’ll meet. And I’m okay with my 136-pound body. The reason why I exercise is to be active and attempt to become healthier. But when you are around people who weigh mind-boggling amounts, it can be discouraging. Not to mention going over to where the weights are, or, as I like to call that part of the gym, the Dark Side. For those of you who haven’t ventured over there, all you are missing are the sights of men and women whose arms and legs are as bulky as bulldozers. It’s not intimidating at all (I say with sarcasm). But, I’m here to assure you, it’s okay to not bench a hundred pounds, or, in my case, to use only ten-pound weights for various exercises. In the end, you have to be proud of the fact that you are either in your dorm room, or at your local or school’s gym, taking charge of your health. “Legally Blonde” could (arguably) be the most empowering, relatable college movie to date. And why is that? Because Elle Woods (the pro-

tagonist, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) maintains her optimistic and affirmative mentality through adversity of all shapes and forms. So, just how is she able to sustain her glass-half-full point of view?

FRESHMAN FILES FRESHMAN FILES

Numerous studies have linked exercise to sleep improvement, as well as the likelihood of better concentration, which wouldn’t hurt to have during an uneventful lecture. More importantly, Elle Woods, notes how staying fit releases endorphins. “Endorphins,” said Woods perkily, “make you happy.” Whether you walk, jog, bike, or use an elliptical (like Woods does in her dorm room), endorphins will release into your body, generating a gradual mood shift. It is recommended that one must be active thirty minutes to an hour per day. As mentioned before, there are exactly twenty-four hours in a day. Can’t one be used to benefit our body and/or mind? As I’m sure many of you have role models, Elle Woods just happens to be one of mine. I strive in my daily life to pursue my passions, and to discover new ones along the way. Even though I didn’t think exercising was for me, I challenged my inner Elle Woods to defy my own standards and aim for the unthinkable. And to tell you the truth, it paid off. The next time you have a moment to spare, do a few sets of sit-ups, or maybe a couple of push-ups. The positives of working out are endless: from mood lifters to more self-confidence, putting your body through work is worthwhile.

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CAMPUS

SAFETY Text: ALANNA COOGAN Going away to college is a scary act in itself. Leaving friends, family, and the comforts of home is enough to upset many young people.

Many students feel secure with the measures taken to protect their safety as long as these resources are fully in place.

Nowadays, with widespread news coverage and social media sites, new college students also have to worry about their personal safety as stories of violent hazing, sexual assault, and even rape are reported on campuses across the country. It is therefore important to know the warning signs of danger and what to do if you find yourself in a threatening situation.

“One time I had to go to the gas station at 4:00 am to get ginger ale for my sick boyfriend,” says Stephanie Conte of Marist College. “There’s always a security guard there so I didn’t worry. This time there wasn’t one and there were no lights in the parking lot either. I was terrified!”

Most colleges and universities explain safety procedures to students during the first week on campus. At night, campuses have extra safety precautions such as security members that patrol less lit areas, emergency buttons spread throughout the campus, and student escort services to walk you back to your dorm if you feel unsafe alone. 78

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Olivia M., a student at Towson University, also expressed concern with nighttime safety. “I don’t like having night classes and having to walk home in the dark,” she explains. “Some teachers actually offer to give students a ride home because they are worried too.” It may appear that the number of assaults on college and university campuses is rising, but actually

these assaults are just being reported more often. The programs that have been created by concerned college authorities are allowing more people to come forward and seek help. As a result, the reported numbers of sexual assaults at some colleges and universities’ are at an all time high according to The Washington Post. In 2012, Penn State University had the highest number ever with 56 total reports of forcible sex offenses on campuses. “If the numbers provide a reason to bring these vastly under-reported crimes into the open where we can share best practices and possible solutions, then we accept the additional scrutiny,” said Penn State spokeswoman Lisa M. Powers to The Washington Post. “We have no greater priority than the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and we should be talking consistently

about this issue and about how we can improve the campus climate.” More worrisome are the colleges reporting extremely low numbers of assaults in comparison to their large populations. Can they really be doing enough to embolden students to report crimes? It is important to keep in mind that if you don’t report an assault, the person who attacked you may do the same thing to somebody else.

some action in preventing assaults on college campuses.

In the meantime, there is plenty you can do to keep you and your friends safe on campus. In fact, there are lots of helpful apps and websites available that deal with personal safety. One helpful website, Kitestring, can send an alert message to your emergency contacts. If you have not verified that you have safely arrived at a It is also frightening to consider the destination, it will send a personmany instances of gun violence alized text to whomever you have in schools. Though this is often listed online. It’s free to have one considered a less likely threat, there emergency contact listed, but have already been over 30 school costs $3 a month to add more. shootings in this year alone accord- For more safety ideas, check out ing to Everytown.org. More than a WatchMe 911, Sex Offender third of these cases occurred after Search, and Life360 on iTunes in a confrontation between stuthe App Store. dents became heated. Therefore, authorities are urging students Unfortunately, according to One in not to intervene if they see others Four, studies have still shown that having an argument. Notify staff one in four college women will exor security and let them handle perience sexual assault sometime the situation. in their academic career. According to Sarah Lawrence College’s webTo further encourage students site at least eighty percent of these to report assaults, congress has assaults are committed by someintroduced the Campus Accountone that the victim knows. Thereability and Safety Act (CASA) and fore, it is important to remember the Survivor Outreach and Support to stay safe even if you are at party Campus Act (SOS Campus Act) in with people you know. It is also viJuly of this year. One event that tal to be extra careful when you are these new acts would require is an consuming alcohol around others. annual anonymous survey of all At least half of all sexual assaults students. Perhaps those who were on college students are associated previously afraid to report their with alcohol use. The Rape Abuse situations will be able to reveal & Incest National Network advisto their college or university how es college students to “trust your many assaults there actually are. gut and stay true to yourself” in all However, the legislation has not situations. If you know what to look yet been passed, but hopefully the for and how to protect yourself, government will be able to take you should have a happy and safe college experience.

Safety Tips

1. Know where the emergency buttons or phones are on your campus.

2. Share your schedule with friends and family.

3. At night, travel in groups. 4. If you have to walk alone, stay near streetlights and away from bushes.

5. Don’t leave visible valuables inside your car.

6. Use indoor ATMs. 7. Always lock your doors (and your windows if you’re on the first or second floor) even if your roomie may think it’s silly.

8. Have emergency numbers, like campus security, on speed-dial.

9. Act like you know where you’re going.

10. Don’t keep information on your keychain; if you lose your keys and the house number is on it, people will be able to use them.

11. Don’t accept drinks from others or leave them unattended.

12. Be careful when online dating. Use a nickname and withhold details about where you live.

13. Don’t let people into the dorm that you don’t know, even if they say they are a student.

14. Always keep your phone charged.

15. Be wary of online book scams.

16. Never get in a car with someone who has been drinking, no matter how in control they claim to be.

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1989 Taylor Swift October 27 Tay’s new album comes with a departure from her country roots and a movement towards more purely pop tracks. Her fifth studio album to date, “1989”, has been quite the work in progress. Her last album, “Red,” came out over two years ago, and provided the perfect synthesis of country crooners and synth pop beats. Expect more of the latter from this chart topper’s latest, in the best possible way.

REFLECTION Fifth Harmony November 17 The debut studio album from X Factor’s Fifth Harmony is sure to be one for the books. Their first single off of “Reflection,” “Boss,” served as our new favorite call to action for fierce ladies everywhere. We love the message they’re spreading and trust that the album will only make us fall harder in love. Not to mention it’ll serve as the perfect background music for impromptu dance parties everywhere.

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MUSIC

COMING UP

TEXT: KATIE LEMON

ENTERTAINMENT

The Pinkprint Nicki Minaj November 28

MOVIES

Whether you’re a Nicki fan or not, you’ve gotta admit that this girl’s got star power. With “The Pinkprint” as her third album to date, Minaj is reportedly going a very different route with the upcoming tracks, aiming to do for female rappers what Jay Z did for male rappers with “The Blueprint.” The two singles “Pills n Potions” and “Anaconda” already gives fans a taste of just how varying and crazy-catchy this album will be.

THE BEST OF ME October 17th The latest addition to Nicholas Sparks’s movie adaptations is sure to be a hit, and no surprise here, a total tearjerker. “The Best of Me” follows the reunion of high school sweethearts Dawson and Amanda twenty years after they first met. The funeral of a childhood friend brings these ex-lovers back together, but when past tensions rise, will their decades-long love story survive?

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OUIJA October 24th This freaky flick starring Olivia Cooke and Douglas Smith follows an innocent group of classmates trying to connect with a recently deceased friend. However, things go horribly wrong and they end up releasing a dark and terrifying presence from the depths of the underworld. This one’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s sure to be a gripping ride from start to finish.

THE hunger games: MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 November 21st The last we saw of Katniss Everdeen, she was jarred awake after barely surviving her second round of the Hunger Games. The Capitol now wants revenge, and promises to show no mercy to Katniss or her cohorts. Par t of the final installment of “The Hunger Games” trilogy, Part I of “Mockingjay” will keep you on the edge of your theater seat the whole way through.

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BOOKS

Leaving time Jodi Picoult October 14th The prolific #1 New York Times bestselling author is back, this time with a beautifully tragic story of mother and daughter. Jenna Metcalf has been searching for her mother since the day she disappeared over ten years ago. But when Jenna enlists the help of a local psychic and the detective assigned to the case, Jenna is forced to realize that the hard questions may have even harder answers— and that her mother’s past may not be as clear as she once thought.

BEAUTIFUL YOU Chuck Palahniuk October 21st The author of “Fight Club” has now penned a novel that panders to the other half of the population: namely, women. The story follows Penny Harrigan, an entry-level professional working in Manhattan who finds herself being invited to dinner by one of the most eligible (and pleasurable) bachelors in the city. But Penny’s paradise comes to a screeching halt when she discovers that her love affair with the billionaire big shot is centered around her being a test subject for his new range of explosively potent sex toys. His aim is world domination by way of erotic control, and in a twisted way we can’t wait to find out exactly how Penny stops his scheming plot from reaching fruition.

THE CINDERELLA MURDER Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke November 18th This mystery read follows Laurie Moran, a television producer with a new show about cold case murders. Laurie is thrilled when the first episode receives rave reviews, and immediately decides to next profile a very interesting cold case indeed: The Cinderella Murder. The victim? A beautiful young student found dead with one shoe missing. Hundreds of unanswered questions are raised, the most important being: who killed this modern-day Cinderella? “The Cinderella Murder” is the first in series that aims to answer this question, as well as follow what happens to Laurie Moran as her show attempts to uncover the truth.

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THE ADVENTURES OF A

BUSY COLLEGE GIRL

A RT A ND STORY: K IRST EN FRI END