Gainesville: A City Frozen In Time

Photos by Melissa Hernandez De La Cruz

Gators for Change

Story by Alexis Vega

The University of Florida is home to over 57,000 students as of fall 2020, according to the Gainesville Sun. That’s 57,000 people with their own unique thoughts and beliefs about the events happening around them. On occasion, these beliefs are expressed through protest. But students using their voices to champion change is not a new occurrence in line with the times. UF has a long history of students acting upon their First Amendment right to protest. “When the university creates an auditorium … which is really designed for speech-based events… one of the First Amendment rules is that the government, in this case, the University of Florida, cannot discriminate against potential speakers in that venue based upon their viewpoint,” said Clay Calvert, a law professor, the Brechner Eminent Scholar in Mass Communication and Director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at UF. “So, a major First Amendment principle is what we call ‘viewpoint neutrality,’ that the government cannot discriminate against people based upon the offensive nature of their viewpoint.”

The Vietnam War

According to an online selection from the Smathers Library Exhibit Gallery, on Oct. 15, 1969, the University of Florida Student Mobilization Committee (SMC) organized a nonviolent protest against the Vietnam War called “Gentle Wednesday.” There were around 1,800 students and faculty in attendance, assembled at the Plaza of the Americas while the SMC distributed armbands. The number ‘644,000’ was written on them as a tribute to the number of American casualties in the war.

By 1972, the rage over The Vietnam War had bubbled over and students felt compelled to make their stance heard. On May 2, 1972, Gainesville residents organized its largest anti-war rally yet, according to the Gainesville Sun. It was nowhere near peaceful. About 2,000 protesters fought against Gainesville police and other law enforcement officers on West University Avenue. The brawl escalated when law enforcement used weapons such as tear gas and water cannons against protesters.

Kent State

When Richard Spencer finally spoke at the university on Oct. 19, 2017, he was greeted by 2,500 impassioned hecklers, whom he called “shrieking and grunting morons,” according to The Washington Post. About $600,000 had been spent by UF for the event’s security.

“In the ‘marketplace of ideas’ in the United States, we tolerate a lot of hateful speech, and the remedy to it is counterspeech, which by that I mean that people who oppose the viewpoints that they find offensive or hateful should engage in their own expression against it and have a counterprotest,” said Calvert. “And that’s what we saw with Richard Spencer coming to campus, so that’s a great example of counterspeech.”

Considering the level of law enforcement personnel, the protest was nonviolent. Demonstrators shouted out different chants to drown out Spencer’s speech. Some shouted, “Black Lives Matter!” Others opted for, “Not my town, not my state, we don’t want your Nazi hate!” The message was clear: Intolerance is not tolerated at UF.

Campus Safety

After the tragic 1970 mass shooting that resulted in the death of four Kent State University students during an oncampus, anti-war protest, the University of Florida held its own rally in response. The protesters demanded that classes be suspended, but UF President Stephen O’Connell did not oblige. Instead, he proclaimed a day of mourning for May 6, 1970. About 3,000 students rebelled against this decision and, as a result, campus was closed from May 6 to May 8.

So how does UF’s legacy of combating injustices uphold today?

Controversial Guest Speakers

The University of Florida has hosted several guest speakers; however, as a public institution, it cannot choose which speakers are allowed to visit. This would be an infringement on the First Amendment. Needless to say, there have been instances in which a guest speaker has evoked strong feelings of anger and fear in the university’s student body due to said speaker’s platform.

The president of the National Policy Institute, Richard Spencer, requested to make an appearance at the university on Sept. 12, 2017. A prominent white nationalist, Spencer’s rhetoric was bound to incite violence on campus, especially in the wake of Charlottesville fights between white nationalists and counterprotesters, according to an announcement from UF News. This risk of physical violence is what allowed UF President Kent Fuchs to decline Spencer’s request. However, after the threat of a lawsuit from a local First Amendment lawyer, Gary Edinger, the university acquiesced to Spencer’s demands, according to The New York Times. It decided on a later date to have time to plan for the event’s security. Even something as seemingly mundane as campus safety has led to fervent calls by the student body for better treatment.

On Sept. 17, 2019, students organized a protest to advocate for the installment of “blue lights” on Fraternity Row.

“Blue lights” are the blue emergency poles scattered across campus that give students access to police when they are in danger or need assistance. Notably, out of the 357 that existed at the time, none were installed on Fraternity Drive, according to The Independent Alligator. The fact that the blue lights were intended to be visible from each other further magnified the issue of their absence on Fraternity Row.

“In spring [2019], the SG Senate failed to pass a resolution that would expand blue light coverage on fraternity row. A primary reason it didn’t pass was the failure to contact the Interfraternity Council presidents,” said the article.

As a result, students took the matter into their own hands. About 200 students, along with the Gainesville chapter of National Women’s Liberation, marched down Fraternity Row holding signs and chanting in unison for the installment of blue lights.

By Sept. 27, 10 days later, the university announced that it would be installing four new blue light emergency posts to the Fraternity Row area, according to UF News. Florida Gators have continually proven not to shy away from conflict when it comes to standing up to intolerance. The rich history of students finding their voices and using them to enact change for the greater good has brought about many questions as to how they can continue to uphold this legacy. Though there has been conflict with law enforcement, institution presidents and even the First Amendment itself, UF’s students have been shown not to give up so easily on what is worth fighting for.

74 The Origins Issue The Origins Issue 75

The Age-Old Makeup Industry and the Trends of Today

Story by Carissa Costello

The cosmetic industry has seen dramatic changes since its explosion in the early 20th century. In 1929, a pound of face powder was sold annually for every woman in the United States. The 1980s brought bold and bright colors not long after the popular, natural skin look of the 1970s.

According to makeup artist Kara Winslow, trendy makeup has its place on Instagram, but natural, feature-enhancing makeup will stay timeless.

Behind every flawless face on screen is a makeup artist. Winslow has done makeup for television, film, magazine and runway. She began doing makeup full time in 2012, and before that, she was a spokesmodel for YBF Beauty on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). In addition, she was the official USA makeup artist for YBF Beauty from 2013 to 2018. However, this only scratches the surface for Winslow, who left the brand to create her own company and is now trying breakthrough products and trends.

Based in Gainesville, her specialty is getting clients camera-ready. Since she began doing makeup full time, she has been across the country from Nashville to New York City working with models, celebrities, politicians and athletes.

When you do makeup for a living, you know what looks good on camera and in the real world.

With over two decades in the industry, Winslow has seen beauty revolutionize. She shares her advice for an ever-evolving industry.

Photos courtesy of Kara Winslow

Use matte highlight and blend

Highlighting and contouring are techniques that makeup artists have been utilizing for years.

Contouring can enhance your bone structure by using appropriate shades of light and dark to achieve dimension. The truth is, contouring on social media has made a timeless technique far more intense.

“We don’t do it the way it’s done now,” said Winslow. “Now it’s like stage makeup, and I’m like ‘honey, please blend.’”

Aim for brows that balance your face

The Instagram craze of “baking,” highlighting and contouring eventually morphed into what Winslow now calls the 2019 brow. It’s the brow trend that only needs the year attached for one to understand. The makeup artist grew up in the '90s where brows were razor-thin and plucked into overarched oblivion, “which made us all look like aliens,” she said. Now, brows have returned with a vengeance.

In other words, brows have gotten big and freespirited, sometimes being brushed completely upright using soap (yes, actual bar soap.) These brows are arched and defined until they fade toward the front, inner corner.

“I’m really, really, really over this squared, ombre eyebrow,” said Winslow. “Like I’m not really sure what that’s about, because, like, no one’s eyebrows are naturally squared and ombre.”

Makeup artists have been doing it forever — they just blend it, she said. She also said to make sure brows are filled but balanced on your face.

She recommends using matte highlighter as long as it’s blended properly, but shimmer doesn’t read the way you want it to in photos. “Highlighter is one of the worst things out there,” she said. “It reads as oil, it reads as dirt and gives a blowback effect.”

So, unless you want to look like a shiny disco ball, ditch the Anastasia highlight and try Laura Mercier Matte Radiance for a natural glow.

76 The Origins Issue “I have people come to me and say, ‘you're not going to give me a 2019 eyebrow, correct?’ And I'm like ‘no, I will not give you a 2019 eyebrow,’” she said.

Be wary of lashes

Social media is also currently emphasizing the “false” in false lashes. However, according to Winslow, it’s all about finding balance with makeup. “I love a good pair of false eyelashes, I'm all about them,” she said. “But we're seeing absolutely insane ones where, like, it literally looks like your entire eyeball is being eaten by an eyelash.”

Winslow is also wary of magnetic lashes because of the reaction people can have with eye products. She worries about the long-term effects because they’re so new. Most lashes are trimmed to fit an eye properly, but magnetic lashes can contain magnets on both ends.

“I've also been told by clients who have ordered them that it was way harder to put on magnetic lashes than it was to put on regular lashes,” she said. “I haven't tried them and I'm not really planning to.”

According to Winslow, her clients aren’t asking for trendy makeup. If anything, they ask for the opposite. Trends on social media are using techniques makeup artists love and taking them a bit too far. Like chocolate brown lipstick, the sexy, futuristic alien look is the makeup of the past.

Knowing what not to do is great, but how should you spend your money?

Spend on a few good brushes

“Good brushes are really important,” said Winslow. “Brushes can make or break your eye makeup.”

She uses MAC Cosmetics brushes on her clients, and for herself, she uses the brushes that come in the Urban Decay Naked palettes — more specifically, the Naked Cherry and Naked Honey ones are great.

The origins of makeup can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. In ancient Egypt, liquid eyeliner (called kohl) and a green paste were used to adorn the eyes. While trends come and go, some products and techniques never fade away, even after thousands of years.

“I enjoy a lot of the over-the-top makeup,” she said. “It's great for Instagram, but it's not an everyday thing. And so, I would like, you know, to have some of the everyday stuff come back a little bit just so that people aren't intimidated by it in the same way they are right now.” For Winslow, using trends is about balance, “but just have fun with it. It's makeup. It's not serious. It's fun.”

The Origins Issue 77

Awaken Your True Self Through Zen

Story by Carissa Costello

Photos courtesy of Shana Wood

During the pandemic, many have had to change how they live. Financial and emotional instability has emerged as people may be overwhelmed, busy, fearful and coping with altered lives. Yet, despite the despair, fear and anxiety, there is a local meditation community providing increased happiness and support to those willing to sit and be silent.

Meditation has been practiced for a millennium under different guises. Zen began 2,600 years ago in India during the fifth century B.C. with Shakyamuni Buddha, who discovered awakening through Zen meditation, according to the International Zen Association.

In the 20th century, the West grew interested in the practice. Meditation has a wide range of benefits from reducing stress to improving concentration. Research on the brain has confirmed what practitioners have reported for centuries. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, meditating can even alter the structure of your brain. It promotes a heightened sense of well-being and joy while addressing anxiety, improving memory and heightening concentration.

Founded and owned by a senior spiritual student Shana Smith, the Gainesville Retreat Center (GRC) is a spiritual meditation center located just down the road from the University of Florida on over 100 acres of secluded conservation land.

According to its website, the center boasts an expansive complex with a 1,200-square-foot Dharma room, a full vegetarian kitchen and miles of hiking trails. It hosts weekly online and socially distanced Zin, Yin and chair yoga during the week. The facility is typically open for private use and retreat time. The weekly schedule can be found online at gainesvilleretreatcenter.com.

“We so rarely allow ourselves to be sitting and silent in this daily life,” said Smith. “The opportunity to stop and see what happens when you allow yourself to settle into a quiet space —that’s where the power is really getting to know yourself.”

In addition to founding and owning the center, Smith is a yoga instructor. It was through Shavasana, also known as the corpse pose and often used as relaxation at the end of yoga class, where she first explored the silence and stillness similar to that of Zen, which brought her to meditation.

Zen is the Japanese name for the Buddhist tradition. According to Smith, Zen is inclusive of all traditions. You can be a part of any other tradition and still practice Zen.

To Smith, Zen means “awakening to the dynamic reality of this present moment. By cultivating awareness through silent sitting mediation, you begin to perceive reality more clearly.”

The goal of Zen is freedom from the “monkey mind” — the endlessly chattering and judging inner critic. Meditation refers to a broad range of practices. Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, focuses on

78 The Origins Issue full awareness and a broad scope of attention, free from a specific fixated point. This is attained through a disciplined regulation of attention and bodily posture.

“It helps you shake off the mud of what your busy mind gets you involved with so that you can just experience life as fully and authentically as possible,” said Smith. “It doesn’t involve a lot of work. The power is in the sitting and exploration that comes with that. People are feeling a sense of relief when you practice. When you really sit and look at what’s going on, you want to kind of laugh because it invites what life is really about, which is joy, happiness and compassion.”

During the weekly online Zendo on Tuesday nights, participants sit for 25 minutes, walk for five and sit for another 25 minutes. Beginners to meditation are encouraged to join and can go at their own pace. According to Tricycle.org, like other schools of Buddhism, Zen begins with the understanding that all humans suffer, and it offers a solution to this suffering by shifting from a perspective of separateness and recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings. Compared to other Buddhist traditions like mindfulness, this is even simpler. It emphasizes sitting in silence and the insights garnered from that.

Teachers play an important role in the Zen tradition. Fourteen years ago, Smith attended her first Zen group. One year later, Smith met her teacher, Valerie Forstman Roshi, 65, an associate Zen master of the Sanbo lineage. Forstman dove into meditation in 1994 and never stopped. It was 2014 when Smith became a formal student of Zen, although she said that one does not need to be a formal student to utilize the practice. Zazen is the key ingredient to awakening one’s inner wisdom and compassion. She finds that people come to the practice to address deeper, more important questions. Zen offers meditators a way to investigate questions like, “Who am I? What is it to be human? How do I address my own suffering and through that also, the suffering of the world?”

“I teach one thing and one thing only… suffering, the causes of suffering,” said Forstman. “How we can live in freedom and compassion.”

Meditation can help remove old, conditioned patterns of the mind that keep one stuck.

“I like this description of it as a solvent,” said Forstman. “Just that sort of crust around our hearts or the assumptions we have about ourselves and others — those judgments that are really so arbitrary they start to melt away or they get so transparent you can see through them.”

Forstman goes to the GRC three or four times a year to lead retreats. She answers questions and leads meditations at least twice a month through Zoom online at the center.

Zen offers practitioners a way to investigate the great matter of life and death. It’s related to increased compassion, peace, attentiveness and joy. It is a universal solvent that can help in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The way of Zen is very simple: Sit down and be silent.

The Origins Issue 79