14 minute read
THE IMPACT OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG'S PASSING
THE IMPACT OF RUTH BADER to complications with metastatic pancreas cancer. She archal structures and standing up to everyday sexism. and human rights in general and was just a really but the causes she had been fighting for. cancer many times then, we were in a very fragile place GINSBURG'S to begin with,’”said Winfrey. “I think if we learn something from losing her it is that we all need to step up and take responsibility to do that work.” PASSING Now that Bader Ginsburg is no longer a member of the Supreme Court, her potential replacement, Amy Coney Barrett, who has a more conservative standBY CLARISSA MERSCHMAN point, will ultimately change the dynamic of the court. Ruther Bader Ginsburg was a feminist icon and a abortion and same-sex marriage to be reexamined by Supreme Court Justice until her death on Sept. 18 due the court. lived to the age of 87 and had previous battles with Adrienne Lyles, associate Director of Equal Opporcolon and lung cancer for the past 20 years. tunity and associate teaching professor in the departRuth Bader Ginsburg is best known for her examples Bader Ginsburg’s passing will impact structures in the of overcoming oppression, fighting misogyny, patri- United States. This could cause matters like a woman’s right to an ment of Philosophy and Religious Studies, believes that Part of her journey included attending law school as a “[I feel] terrible sadness because we have lost a genmother, a student and the wife of a husband with can- uine national treasure and voice for justice, fairness, cer. This journey spoke to many student and working and equity,” Lyles said. “Hope that people will carry mothers. what she represents into the future and as a beacon for what fairness can look like. Anger because of the Rachel Junck, an Iowa State junior majoring in chem- way her death has been politicized. Disgust at the way ical engineering, a member of Ames City Council Amy Barrett, with whom I worked at Notre Dame Law and the youngest woman elected to any office in state School, has been falsely compared to this remarkable history identifies as a feminist and has been inspired by scholar, Justice, woman, human being. Unlike Barrett, Bader Ginsburg’s journey. RBG argued for the equal protection of all sexes/gen“Ruth Bader Ginsburg was definitely an icon of gender not know the jurisprudence or lived experience of both equality, she always was fighting for women’s rights of these women.” strong figure in making those decisions that made peo- Even with the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the ple’s lives better,” said Junck. Supreme Court, the ratio of men to women that serve Her passing will impact not only the Supreme Court, still leaves women in the minority. ders. Those who compare Barrett to RBG simply do “I do think that there is a political element to say ‘well, Kelly Winfrey, assistant professor in the Greenlee we’re replacing a woman with a woman, so we’re not school of Journalism and Communications examines sexist,’ that’s the way it feels to me,” said Winfrey. “I impacts that Bader Ginsburg’s passing will have. think feminism isn’t just about supporting women, it is about supporting women’s choices. Feminist values “One of the things I saw on social media when she are not necesarily tied to anyone’s sex or gender and I first passed was ‘if all of these rights were hanging by a don’t know any feminists that would call Amy Barrett a thread by this one very old woman that had beat feminist.”
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MASKS: FASHION'S NEWEST SECRET WEAPON
HAVING A BEARD IN A PANDEMIC: IS IT POSSIBLE?
MASKS: FASHION'S NEWEST SECRET WEAPON
BY AUDREY MCMILLAN
Trends come and go. One year it’s fringe, the next it’s neon, or maybe even tie-dye. Masks - whether people like it or not - are here to stay and are quickly becoming important garments within the fashion industry. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, designers and manufacturers have been busy creating various designs of masks from dressy, silk masks to breathable masks suitable for working out.
Masks are the influential trend of 2020. Period.
Masks are a quintessential element of streetwear in the modern era. They have been a popular trend in many Asian streetwear markets within the past several years and were popularized on a global scale through music festivals. But solely for fashion purposes, not necessity. Streetwear brands are now making these masks available worldwide and are producing them on a much larger scale.
Brands such as “Anti Social Social Club” and “OffWhite” and designers such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton have released masks that have been spotted on countless celebrities and influencers. Streetwear website, “Grailed”, has seen its number of daily searches double in the past months and is flooded with Generation Z fashion enthusiasts searching for the newest, coolest masks.
However, masks have surpassed simply the streetwear lifestyle; masks of all kinds are worn on a daily basis and are a key component in planning one’s wardrobe. While masks haven’t always been a wardrobe consideration, they are now and there are many ways they can be styled effectively and with little effort.
Neutral colors are key when purchasing masks and choosing an outfit. Monochromatic is always sophisticated - even with a mask. More understated, a neutral mask still reflects a sense of effortlessness (even if a lot of thought was put in). All black, all white and, even, all beige are easy to pull off and work both with business, everyday, or workout clothing.
This monochromatic style is often the chosen mask style for Iowa State student, Nicholas Yowell, a junior studying mechanical engineering. He feels that masks do not need to be “the focal point of an outfit” and prefers masks that are more “low profile.”
Wearing a printed mask with a simple outfit, or vice versa, is a foolproof way of developing a cohesive, sophisticated look. It is possible to still look put together and feel comfortable while wearing masks - it might just take a bit of extra effort. According to Steven Nguyen, junior majoring in apparel merchandising, masks influence his outfits depending on the “colors and prints.”
Though Nguyen initially wore medical masks, he now prefers masks with “neutral colors that have a breathable fabric, like nylon.” Comfort is especially important for men while purchasing masks as they often are worn all day, especially when working or going to classes in-person. Materials like nylon and silk-blends are lightweight, yet still appear polished.
Let’s face it, masks are a fashion fact of life today. In fact, they have some chance of becoming an essential facet of our wardrobes for some time to come. Right now is the perfect time to experiment with this newfound accessory to find exactly what works best for you.
When the pandemic hit, a lot of things changed within our normal routines. Some of us started school fully online, others started to work from home and some of us decided to grow out a beard. Quarantine was the perfect opportunity for people to experiment with their facial hair and a lot of people have kept their beards since returning back to school and work. This was a new adventure for some beard-growers, and for others, this was nothing new.
Daniel Hayes, a junior studying political science at Iowa State, has not been clean shaven since 2018, but he has been growing his facial hair out for the past month. Wearing masks has been difficult for a lot of people, but it certainly has been even more of an issue for people with beards.
“Wearing masks annoys me so much because it makes my beard itchy,” Hayes said. “It’s not terrible, but it’s still bothersome.”
The styling of beards has also changed for some people.With beards getting bunched up in a mask, or poofing out of it, people have had to adapt to make sure that their beard is in tip-top shape.
“Honestly, styling it hasn’t been too different,” said Hayes. “I think it’s more important to look good for the times I have my mask off than when I have it on, so I still style it to look good without a mask on. I will say that wearing a mask messes up the flow of my beard, and it looks messy when I take it off, so I try to keep my beard comb with me so I can brush it and make all the hairs go the same way.”
People have adapted to the way that they style their beard, but some have been able to keep it the exact same way without any worries. To further assist people with keeping their beards well maintained, beard masks have been a new emerging product for those wanting to cover their beard entirely.
Markina Smith, who runs Kya Kya by Markina on Etsy, has been custom-making masks on her Etsy since COVID-19 hit, including beard masks. Markina started selling on Etsy when she moved from Los Angeles, where she worked as a production pattern maker, to Houston. To make ends meet when the pandemic hit, she started selling and giving away masks.
When masks became mandatory in most states back in July, she was producing hundreds of masks a week, including beard masks. Beard masks have been a custom option that has been a popular request ever since she started producing them. When asked if she will continue to make beard masks after COVID-19 is over, she says that, “Post-pandemic I may target motorcyclists and trail riders and be open to ideas from my customers.”
Is it possible to still look good with a beard during the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is, yes! As long as you find what style works for you, practice proper hygiene and find the perfect mask, the world is your beard’s oyster.
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MAKING THE BEST OF QUARANTINE
BY ALEX SCHMIDTKE
It almost seems as if COVID-19 came out of nowhere when the decision was made for Iowa State University students to not resume in-person classes after spring break for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester. Many students had previously made arrangements for an internship for the summer. . However, with the emergence of a pandemic, the typical summer internship did not look quite the same anymore and many students were unsure as to what would happen next.
There are many students who, unfortunately, had their internships cancelled all together as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, many companies decided to take their typical summer internship and make it virtual or make some tweaks to allow in-person work. For example, Kohl’s decided to adapt an online platform for their internship this past summer instead of opting to cancel the internship positions, like many other organizations had done.
As for the virtual work itself, it can take some time to get adjusted. . Constantly dealing with glitches, connection issues, miscommunication and distractions are a few of the issues that plague remote working every day. Despite this, many employers found ways to adapt and do their best to keep their workplaces and internships up and running. “I feel like they handled the virtual experience amazingly,” said Caitlyn Norris, a senior at Georgia Southern and a buying office intern at Kohl’s this part summer. “They executed the internship so well despite it being their first time.” said Norris.
Despite the pandemic, some companies were still able to provide their interns with an in-person experience after making adjustments. Spencer King, a senior at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, worked as a warehouse intern this past summer for Exact Sciences.
“In that role, I worked mainly with Excel and other management systems as well as daily operations within the warehouse,” said King. “I also helped streamline some new processes that arose because of Covid.”
According to King, Exact Sciences was able to make this possible due to their regulations such as requiring masks be worn unless at your desk, as well as requiring employees be tested for COVID periodically. It will be important moving forward to be able to adapt to working in a virtual environment, or at least a post-COVID environment. Even once we have moved past COVID-19, it appears that more and more workplaces will be willing to offer remote work or will set up tighter regulations on everyday life at their companies. This could certainly become a trend in the near future and as students, it will be vital that we are open and willing to lead the ever-changing landscape of our post-grad careers.
MAKING THE BEST OF QUARANTINE
BY MADISON BAUMGARTNER
The year 2020 has brought with it one shock after another and the United States being put under quarantine was the first of many. On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to coronavirus and soon after the United States was forced to “at-home quarantine.” Americans were advised to stay in their homes for two weeks, businesses were closed, jobs were lost and the U.S. began adapting to a new lifestyle. The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across the world as many lives were lost, but for those unaffected and at home, everyday life took a 180-degree turn.
Weeks without social contact with the outside world was an experience unlike any other, but on the bright side, isolation gave many people the opportunity to take a break from life, focus on themselves and create a newfound love for hundreds of different hobbies. Although it sounds relaxing, being stuck at home surrounded by family, friends and even oneself can drive a person to the point where you have no choice but to find something to occupy your time.
Quarantine was like this for Chris Theros, current business student at The University of Illinois.
“In the beginning there was nothing to do and time was moving too slow, so I eventually picked up running as a new hobby” said Theros. Theros describes his newfound love for running as “a great stress reliever and escape” from the pandemic drama around the world.
Aside from his fitness endeavors, Theros also dove headfirst into the world of online shopping,
“Since everything was closed and I wasn’t spending money on anything else, I figured why not?,” said Theros. Online shopping provided Theros with something to look forward to, as the days seemed to loom on.
Nick Conger, a student at Illinois State University decided to better himself and a prolonged break served as the perfect opportunity to do so.
“I was sick of my lifestyle, unhealthy diet and what it was making me look like,” Conger said. “I figured it was time for me to change that.” He went on to describe how being in quarantine without a gym forced him to find new ways to work out and challenge himself.
“I switched everything to mainly body weight, so I never actually used any weights,” Conger said. “Calisthenics is different ways to control your body so you can gain strength without having to actually lift any weights.”
Conger eventually brought his love for fitness to social media by creating an Instagram account to aid those who have the same passion as him.
EDITOR IN CHIEF HANNAH MAUSER MEGHAN SHOUSE
ONLINE DIRECTORS ELLA BREAM: STYLIST HANNAH IVERSON-JONES: STYLIST GRANT TETMEYER: PHOTOGRAPHY GENNA CRISTOFORO: GRAPHIC DESIGN
EDITORIAL DIRECTORS JULIA MEEHAN: COPY EDITOR SIERRA HOEGER: ONLINE COPY EDITOR JACKIE FRAISE: LIFESTYLE EDITOR HANNAH SCOTT: FASHION EDITOR ALLISON MARTYR: TREND FOR MEN FASHION EDITOR ALYSSA BRASCIA: TREND FOR MEN LIFESTYLE EDITOR AVERI BAULDER: BEAUTY EDITOR
ONLINE COMMITTEE HALEY YOUNG JORDNA KELLEHER CLEO GREEN ANNA GRACE MOLINARI NAYELI ACOSTA JOSHUA MCCUNN MEGAN LENZI GABRIELLA SAHOLY RYLEE VANCLEAVE
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE KAYLEI FEAR LAUREN GABBY JILLIAN GABBY EMILY UITERMARKT CLARISSA MERSCHMAN EMERSON LATHAM ZACHARY BROWN LORETTA MCGRAW MARIA EPPERLY JESS MOUW AUDREY MCMILLAN MADISON BAUMGARTNER ALEX SCHMIDTKE
