I S S U E N O. 3 7
f W 2023
Rhythm
IN THIS ISSUE
COVER photographed by Ellen Long styled by Halle Maskery hair & makeup by Katelyn Phan + Alexandra Leurck modeled by Ella Roberts + Yuewenhong Bai
06 - 07 INTRODUCTION
39 - 41 CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE
introducing Rhythm
written by Allison Lee
08 - 09 THROUGH THE DECADES
42 - 45 OFF THE WALL
written by Eleanor Wentworth
photographed by Marina Carey
10 - 13 TRAILBLAZER
46 - 49 A U N AT U R A L
photographed by Deanna Hay
written by Maddy Evans
15 - 17 E AT Y O U R V E G G I E S
50 - 53 FLOW
written by Ava Shaffer
photographed by Ellen Long
18 - 21 MADE BY ME
54 - 56 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
written by Julia Moore
written by Julia Jacobs
22 - 25 FLUIDITY
57 - 59 SOUND OF SEASONS
written by Natalie Luci
w r i t t e n b y R h e s e Vo i s a r d
28 - 31 O N R E P E AT
60 - 62 TIMELESS NOTE
photographed by Kayla McNab
written by Evan Stefanik
32 - 35 THE CONSCIOUS MIND
63 - 65 W A L K T O T H E B E AT
written by Nisso Sacha
written by Megan McConnell
36 - 38 SIMPLE PLEASURE
66 LAST WORDS
written by Anaka Bretzke
from the Executive Staff
STYLISTS
EDITOR IN CHIEF
E lla S al vagi o
LAYOUT DESIGNERS
Alice Momany
Nico l e Go nzal e z
Re b e kah S ho o k
L i l y Hoffman
Me ggi e R as ure
C aro l i ne C i l l ey
Mi t che l l e Ad u-Gya mf i
Mar y E i s e nhar t
Er i n McGove r n
Jo rd an Jame s
D eanna Hay
Hal l e Mas ke r y
L aure n Har r i s
Mad e l i n Jo s e p h
Mo rgan Schramm
Eme l y V i l l al b a
Pr i nce s s Fo rd
PUBLISHER
Ede n B r us h
C ai t l i n C ur ran
Kayl a Mi l l e r
Emma B e ck
L i nd s ey B r i nkman
Ol i v i a Smal l co m be
Brigham Yo ung
Mad e l i ne B ue cke r
Kayl a McNab
Pey t o n Hi l l
Dani e l l e S i l ve r
Pai ge Se nki w
Lucy Hi l l e r
Jako b L awre nce
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Taylor Shockley
DIRECTORS OF FASHION Kel li Amburgey + Kate Steve ns
SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
So p hi a Tayl o r
De anna Hay
Macey C hamb e r l i n
STYLISTS
DIRECTOR OF HAIR & MAKEUP
Re b e kah S ho o k
Mad e l yn L i e d e l
L i l l i an He mpfl i n g
Julia Knol l
Nyah Smi t h
Jack Ke rst et t e r
A b by T ho mp s o n Emma B e ck
E llen Lo ng
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Rya n S i ngh
Tia B e nson
Grego r y Engl e r
EVENT PLANNERS
Prince s s Fo rd
Gaby B e nj ami n
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Kayl a Mi l l e r
C al l i e Fr i me l
Kat i e Gab e
L i l l i an He mpfl i ng
BLOGGERS
Mar i na C arey
Dav i e Av i s
E l e ano r We nt wo r t h
Pai ge Se nki w
Jack Do b s o n
Hal l e Grant
Kayl a McNab
Ol i v i a Smi t h
A naka B ret z ke
Jake R uffe r
Syl v i a East man
Mar i s s a Rot o l o
A b b i e Lyo ns
S he a Smi t h
Emma Kre mp
COPY EDITORS Natalie Luci + Rhese Voisard
DIRECTORS OF EVENT PLANNING
WRITERS
Mar k Pet rows ky
Paul i na Ad ams
L i z Kar i p i d e s
A b by T ho mp s o n
Nat al i e Luci
COMMUNICATIONS
Kame r yn Jame s
Rhe s e Vo i s ard
A l l i e L i nd b l ad
Tayl o r Mo rgan
Evan St efani k
S ara Ro s e Det wi l e r
Kai t l i n McDowel l
E le ano r We nt wo r t h
Kat i e Kr uzi ch
A b b i e Pr ue s
Nis s o S acha
A l ys e Fi s he r
C hl o e Emb e r t o n
Morgan Schramm
Anaka B ret z ke
So p hi a Mye rs
So p hi e Tayl o r
Madd y Evans
E l ai na C al i s i
DIRECTORS OF MARKETING
Ava S haffe r
A b b i e Pr ue s
MARKETING
Alli s o n Le e
E l i z ab et h Mahe r
Mad d i e Kazmai er
Juli a Jaco b s
A nne Mar i e A r no l d
B ro nwyn C ant re l l
Juli a Mo o re
Ke l s ey McC ar t hy
A nna Mue l l e r
Me gan McC o nne l l
Emi l y B ame
Ol i v i a Mi che l s en
Ke l l y Gre i ne r
Kat i e Kr uzi ch
Jack Ke rstet te r + Mia Bril l hart
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Cole Pit tman + O livia Spe nce r
DIRECTORS OF VIDEOGRAPHY Jil l Rime r + Z ach Lawson
BLOG EDITORS
HAIR + MAKEUP ARTISTS
VIDEOGRAPHERS
Kat i e S al ye r
Emily Bame + Charlot te Hudson
Kat e l yn P han
Grace Wi l s o n
Ke l l y Gre i ne r
Kat i e S ho r t
E l l i e Ni cke l
Tyl e r Est e p
ADVISORS
Alexand ra Le urck
R ache l Whar y
Kai t l yn Ol vany
Ke rry Hegarty + Sacha B el lman
E liz ab et h Mahe r
Mar i na C arey
So p hi e Met zne r
Re agan Hami l t o n
E l l a Pawl ows ki
C har l i e Do nahue
Sco ut Ti nche r
Ol i v i a Smal l co mb e
Te agan B r us h
C har l ot t e Ti ro l a
Letter from The Editor
Hanging on my bedroom wall is a poster that reads, “I’m still dancing at the end of the day.” The quote comes from one of my favorite songs, “Light On,” by Maggie Rogers. In a 2019 Billboard interview, Rogers revealed that the song was about “feeling out of control,” but despite the chaos, she was still dancing at the end of it all. When I think about the art of dance, I think about the freeing liberation of the music taking over one’s body and falling into their natural cadence. Rhythm is about pushing the physical limits of the human body and embracing individuality. Julia Jacobs’s “Freedom of Movement,” explores how strong the human body can be and the autonomy that moving can bring. “The Conscious Mind,” written by Nisso Sacha, explores ways to strengthen the body – both physically and mentally. Through those situations where we have no control, we have the opportunity to reflect and discover our true selves. Julia Moore’s “Made by Me” does just that by highlighting individuals who express themselves through the clothes they make. Maddy Evans takes a different approach to self-expression in “Au Natural,” which looks at the individuality associated with embracing one's natural skin. Feeling out of control and embracing one's identity lets us reach our true, free selves. All around us, the world and the people in it are dancing to the beat of their own drum. In Rhese Voisard’s “Sound of Seasons,” she explores the natural rhythm of the earth, and in Evan Stefanik’s “Timeless Note,” he features people who found their rhythm quite literally through music. Deanna, Taylor and I are incredibly grateful to our directors, writers, layout designers, stylists, photographers, videographers, models, marketing, communications, event planning and digital teams, as well as our community members and readers, who had a role in bringing this magazine to life by tapping into their individuality and finding their natural rhythm. As you read through Rhythm, I hope it inspires you to embrace your individuality, find resilience in the chaos and keep dancing through it all.
Much UP Love,
Alice Momany Alice Momany EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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RHYTHM -
(n.) a person’s natural feeling; individuality/freedom; pulse & flow 6 | FW 23
“Let us liberate ourselves from any form of control. Let us focus at the inner drum, where the rhythm aligns with that of our heart. The measure of responsibility, equals to the need for evolution. Just listen, the inner child, let it whisper in your ear.” - Grigoris Deoudis
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layout by Danielle Silver Images courtesy of the Walter Havighurst Collections and University Archives
Written by Eleanor Wentworth Placed in Oxford, Ohio, a charming and historic town in the southwestern part of the state, Miami University was founded in 1809. In 1824, according to the Miami University Foundation’s Student Engagement Timeline, the campus welcomed its first 20 students for the first day of class.
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Often referred to as a “Public Ivy,” Miami became known for its high academic standard and rigorous curriculum, making it one of the top public universities in the country. This title first appeared in 1985 in a book by Richard Moll, titled, “The Public Ivies: A Guide to America's Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities.”
This beautiful campus has seen nearly 20 decades of fashion. Spanning back 214 years, each of these decades has inspired the fashion of today and will continue to do so. "Fashion takes cues from culture,” Caroline Surrarrer, an art professor at Miami, said. “What’s happening around us makes its way into fashion styles because it’s the ultimate form of outward expression.”
2000s/2010s In 1887, women were granted admission to Miami, according to the timeline. “Feminism movements – undergarments became less restrictive, jeans and pants were more acceptable for women to wear as a symbol of changing women’s roles in society,” Surrarrer said. Women valued freedom of movement and expression within their fashion, coinciding with the prominent fight for women's rights in this century. In an article posted by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Harper Franklin, a former graduate student, said women wore leg-of-mutton sleeves, cinched waists and flowing skirts, while men’s shirts were starched to be crisp and stiff.
The appearance of sports became heavily featured in Miami’s yearbook in the 2000s, which reflects the dress of athletic tees with loose pants or jeans. Later in the 2010s, smart dress became casual, and casual dress became fashionable. It was a time of experimentation when no one ruled the fashion world. “It’s been very interesting to see how fashion evolves now because of social media compared to how it used to evolve before those platforms existed,” Surrarrer said. “Styles used to take a much longer time to reach different areas of the world, but now with social media and globalization, the availability to all is instantaneous.”
The outbreak of World War I pushed the need for practicality in fashion, which streamed into the 1920s due to the end of the Great War. The softened silhouette era focused on a fluid, flowy look. Women students wore long skirts, tucked-in pussy bow blouses and boots or flats. Men wore less formal “lounge suits” which consisted of a suit, vest and trousers, flat-billed round hats, tailcoats and tall boots.
The outbreak of World War II led to a shortage of materials and rationing. Due to this shortage, dressmakers and manufacturers began designing shorter skirts and slimmer silhouettes. In a National Archives blog titled “Shorter Skirts and Shoulder Pads: How World War II Changed Women’s Fashion,” Jessie Kratz wrote women stopped wearing stockings and went bare-legged because nylon was only available for civilian use. Miami women students wore white blouses with round neck collars and skirts that just reached the bottom of their knees. Men wore slacks and buttondown shirts.
The “swinging sixties” – a movement focused on youth, emphasizing the new and modern — quickly translated into fashion. Understanding the needs and wishes of women, designers began to create clothing that felt liberating and daring yet practical. Some styles, such as the first women’s tuxedo, questioned the stereotypical gender norms of clothing in society. “The space age with the first man on the moon — inspired designers to utilize futuristic fabrics and styles, like metallics and Velcro actually became popular because of its use in securing items inside spaceships,” Surrarrer said.
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photographed by Deanna Hay styled by Kelli Amburgey hair by Katie Short makeup by Reagan Hamilton modeled by Mary Eisenhart + Ava Shaffer layout by Deanna Hay
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EAT YOUR VEGGIES 15 | F W 2 3
photographed by Nyah Smith styled by Ella Salvagio videography by Zach Lawson modeled by Rakeap Mewael + Hayley Stepek layout by Lauren Harris
Written by Ava Shaffer Ripe red tomatoes, juicy orange apricots and fruity yellow bananas. Smooth green avocados, sweet blueberries and crisp purple cabbage. From leafy greens to tofu and bean proteins, there is a rainbow of colors in a plant-based lifestyle. With that rainbow comes an abundance of choice and creativity that goes into creating a plant-based meal. Oxford community members and Miami University students are increasingly embracing plant-based lifestyles, showing how these eating choices promote freedom of expression and individuality while allowing room for nuance. In Oxford, people can eat sustainably, find community and learn more about plant-based lifestyles without judgment. There are many different reasons people choose to embrace a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or other plant-based lifestyle. Logan Murray, a freshman studying marketing and media and communications, has been vegan his entire life. “My mom raised my brother and me to be completely vegan,” he said. “She was really ahead of the times to make the choice to have two vegan kids as early as 2003 and 2005.” Murray said that his mom cooks a lot of delicious soups at home, as well as a lot of vegan versions of popular dishes.
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He said eating vegan has been relatively easy since their fridge at home is stocked with vegan options. “I really believe in the health benefits. That is definitely a motivation every day, but it also feels really good to know my diet contributes less emissions and does not kill animals,” Murray said. While some people choose to go vegan by cutting out all meat, dairy and other animal products from their diet, there are many variations of a plant-based lifestyle. People have the agency to make eating choices that best fit their own personal lives and nutritional needs. Kristen Impicciche, a fifth-year student studying communication design, chooses to identify with the flexitarian lifestyle. “I primarily cook and eat vegetarian,” Impicciche said. “But if there’s something I want to eat, I’m not going to limit myself.” Impicciche works at an animal shelter, so one of their primary reasons for choosing to be flexitarian relates to their love of animals. They also cited sustainability as another factor in their lifestyle choices.
A member of Zero Waste Oxford, Impicciche believes in consuming food consciously and sustainably in a way that protects the planet. “Just by practice, eating primarily vegetarian already has a sustainability factor to it,” Impicciche said. “There’s less water production and energy production in plant-based versus meat products.” Similar to many other vegetarians, Impicciche can simultaneously be passionate about their food values, while holding empathy and understanding for others’ choices. “For me, I think I became healthier because I was more aware of the different food groups, and then I actually tried to take into consideration how much of each food group I needed a day,” Impicciche said. Health looks different for everybody, and a strict vegetarian or vegan diet might not work for every person. That is why there’s room for growth, learning and nuance in the plant-based community. Some health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle Impicciche cited were elevated energy throughout the day and better sleep at night. They also touched on how their love for cooking has evolved through their journey of becoming flexitarian. “Since I started paying attention to what goes in my food, I feel more joy in cooking. I even started making my own hummus,” Impicciche said. Many people who choose to eat plant-based cook for themselves, but that’s not the only option. It has increasingly become easier for college students to find sustainable and delicious plant-based meals. Moon Co-Op is a cooperatively owned grocery store that opened in 2012. The store is owned locally by people who live in Oxford, and around 1,000 community members invested in the store and have ongoing involvement with its mission. “Our mission-driven grocery store promotes sustainable practices, diets and farming practices, so we try to ensure that the products that we sell in the store are aligned with our mission,” Carla Blackmar, a Moon Co-Op board member, said.
For many people, especially college students, a barrier to entry for plant-based lifestyles includes the time it takes to cook and knowing what to make. That is why Moon Co-Op has a robust prepared food section, where people can buy ready-to-eat meals made with local ingredients. “The food in our ready-to-eat section is consciously prepared, delicious and plant-based. It’s flavorful foods that are intended to be vegetarian,” Blackmar said. Blackmar also shared more about the Moon Co-Op’s community appeal. “We have a beautiful repertoire of vegetarian and vegan soups. We’ve had a whole bunch of talented chefs who've worked at the store. And we have this pretty amazing recipe book that's kind of grown over time with each person who's worked there contributing new recipes to it,” Blackmar said. With a plant-based lifestyle, people have the freedom to choose what they consume and understand how that impacts the world around them. Vegetables are chopped, choices are made and recipes flow through communities, so eat your veggies!
Kristen’s Hummus Pasta Recipe 1. Roast chickpeas in the oven 2. Season chickpeas with garlic or onion powder 3. Blend with tahini and plain yogurt 4. Cook any pasta you’d like, following package instructions 5. Roast zucchini and mushrooms in the oven 6. Mix all together 7. Enjoy!
Moon Co-Op sells locally and ethically sourced food, mainly vegetables, bulk items like beans and chickpeas and other produce. The meat products Moon Co-Op sells are local and pasture-raised by small farmers in the community.
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Written by Julia Moore It’s hard to find someone whose day isn’t brightened instantly by a compliment from a stranger passing on the sidewalk. Even something as simple as “cool shirt!” can uplift an individual. But to someone who spends hours pouring over their own creation, perfecting each detail until they tailor something to their exceedingly high expectations, that compliment means everything. Gen Z has entirely flipped the script when it comes to handmade clothing. Gone are the days of snide one-liners about the “sweater-your-grandma-made;” modern culture has fully embraced slow fashion. In today’s world of rapid consumerism, name-brand shopping and short-lived fads, it’s easy to feel robbed of individuality in self-expression. Drew Vollette, a senior at Miami University, began his embroidery career nearly three years ago with nothing more than an expensive impulse purchase of an embroidery machine and determination. He finds purpose in his craft by creating for others rather than for himself. “I like to create things so that people can relate to each other,” Vollette explained. “That’s where I derive joy from. For me, it’s less about the craft and more about providing things for my community to enjoy.” Josie Stacy, a sophomore at Miami, has been crocheting since her first year of high school. She began small but wanted to upgrade to a larger-scale project that wasn’t a blanket. She experimented with hats, worked up to crop tops, then graduated to cardigans, sweaters and even a skort. “Crocheting gives me a way to express myself beyond the preprovided options,” Stacy said. "You can’t go to the store and find something that fits you exactly the way you want, whether it be a physical or stylistic fit.”
“I was terrible at first and gave up for some time,” he said. “When I started again, I realized I was getting the hang of it. I eventually made a gray pullover sweater, and I was happy with it, so I kept on going.” The physical act of any yarn or thread craft relies heavily on falling into the rhythm of each loop, stitch and chain. Beginner crocheters, for example, often have to physically count each chain out loud out of fear of ruining the creation. Eventually, the hook and yarn become an extension of the self, rendering the creator completely lost in the pulse. Because of the unavoidable need to ground themselves at the moment, many crafters find the act of creating to be its own form of mindfulness. “The process of crocheting relaxes me because it forces me to be intentional about my actions,” Stacy explained. The physical act of creating is only a fraction of the journey to crafting an individual style. Many pieces start with inspiration from another creation. Apps such as Pinterest, Etsy, Instagram and TikTok are abundant resources for modern-day crafters. “I can usually find something I like by looking online on sites like Etsy,” Cieslak said. “If I like the general idea, I can tweak the pattern to my liking. It’s also nice to know I have the freedom to make my own designs if I think of something I’d like to try.” When designing your own clothing, Stacy said there’s no right or wrong way to integrate inspiration. Different colors, patterns, stitches or features can make something entirely unique.
Creation isn’t compulsory like much of today’s buying culture. When one crafts their own pieces, time slows down, and artists can be intentional about the style they’re adopting. “Knitting can be very limiting and difficult,” Dennis Cieslak, a sophomore at Miami, said. Cieslak has been knitting for roughly three years since he found some of his sister’s yarn and wanted to do something with it.
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“I can either follow a pattern from Pinterest or Tiktok, or I can take certain aspects of certain projects I’ve seen and combine them into something that I would like to own and wear,” she said. There’s a heightened feeling of pride and accomplishment when finishing a handmade piece for the first time. There is an overwhelming need to instantly put it on and stand in front of the mirror, transfixed with the creation. After all, any handmade piece is the culmination of dedication, skill and the ability to envision something unique and bring it to life out of nothing but yarn or thread. For Vollette, this surge of pride comes from seeing other people wearing the products he has created. “The ability to do something on campus that has an impact is such a rewarding feeling,” Vollette said. “I see people walking on campus with something I made, and it makes me realize that I’ve made a mark.” Cieslak only wears his finished knit products on occasion. “I worry about wearing what I made too
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often because it might get ruined,” he said. “Just having my finished products is enough to give me the pride of having something to show for the time I spent knitting.” Wearing a handmade piece to be recognized and admired by your peers is a vulnerable moment for creators. People see more than just your outfit; they see your talent and ability, your individual style, a piece of your passion and dedication to something you brought to life. That’s why a simple compliment on a handmade piece of clothing means so much to a crafter. Anyone who has ever knitted, crocheted, sewed, embroidered or upcycled their own clothing or accessory would defend that their craft is much more than a hobby. It’s synonymous with freedom. It's a meditative escape from reality. It’s a breakaway from consumer culture. It’s the right to express individuality and style. It’s a way to hold something that started as an idea and a few preliminary materials and proudly say,
“This was made by me.”
photographed by Deanna Hay styled by Morgan Schramm makeup by Scout Tincher hair by Elizabeth Maher videography by Grace Wilson layout by Caitlin Curran modeled by Giovanna Catanzarite, Bronwyn Cantrell + John Waterhouse garments made by Julia Moore, Caitlin Wong, Ava Williams + Angel Hardy
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photographed by Ryan Singh styled by Brigham Young makeup by Katelyn Phan videography by Ella Pawlowski modeled by Ky Whitehead, Jack Gugino, + Eleanor Prytherch layout by Sophia Taylor 22 | FW 23 22 | SS 23
Written by Natalie Luci The “rules” of fashion: Don’t wear white after Labor Day. Take off one accessory before leaving the house. Mixed prints are too busy. Navy and black don’t go together. You can only wear clothes assigned to your gender. These restrictions have guided cultures and habits, but these barriers, that block true self-expression and individuality, are slowly being knocked down. Because rules are meant to be broken and times are meant to change. Throughout fashion history, gender has played an immense role in dictating who wears what. According to the encyclopedia, cultural norms are “the meaning of being a man or woman and are closely linked to appearance.” This global phenomenon is translated into ideas like dresses are for women, suits are for men, pink is for girls, blue is for boys, jewelry is reserved for females, jerseys for males. However, as our society evolves, this idea of gendered clothing has become a more fluid concept. Lisa McLaughlin, a professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at Miami University, put it into one simple sentence: “The revolution starts with a t-shirt.” “The ‘little black dress’ of the gender-neutral world is a t-shirt,” McLaughlin said. “The t-shirt is the most gender-neutral thing that we actually all have between us that is still OK for everybody to wear.” McLaughlin referenced iconic designers like Vivienne Westwood, known for showcasing men in t-shirts and skirts or dresses at her runway shows. Ahead of her time, men sported garments that once belonged strictly to female models and further ignited a movement that has skyrocketed. “Gender-fluid fashion to me would simply just be the ability to express yourself how you want to,” Jack Gugino, a senior at Miami, said. “A lot of the time, that goes by days rather than your whole life, since it is so fluid. There are so many people trying to confine us to these labels, and through fashion, it’s a really cool idea being able to express who you feel within.”
Historically, men were assigned loose-fitting clothing that was easy to move around in, as they left the house and performed labor externally. On the contrary, women were forced into tight corsets, skirts or aprons, as they stayed home and represented the household. While women can work just as hard as men can at any task they set their mind to, there are still hardships that everyone faces each day when it comes to something as simple as picking out their outfits. Halle Lieffers, a marketing and fashion corporate business student at Miami, believes that everyone should wear what they want and what makes them feel good. “Wearing my sense of style, clothes that I love and feel good wearing, I feel powerful, I feel pretty, I feel important,” Leiffers said. “Clothes are a huge part of our moods, so if you’re not wearing something you want to wear, or you feel like you can’t wear something that you want to wear, it’s really degrading. You feel almost like you’re trapped.” Art, in general, is a fluid concept. There’s a variety of techniques, mediums, concepts, visions and purposes behind abstract paintings or exquisite sculptures. Fashion is an art, so why is there a need to confine or constrict it? Fashion is joyful and exciting, like a game to play. The various colors, textures and fabrics make up the uniform, the world is a playing field, and each player’s style exhibits personal adventures and championships. Fashion is poetry. Outfits speak a thousand words, a runway show is a novel and the world is a blank page for people to emulate whatever message they want. Fashion proves there are no limits to style and no boundaries to self-expression. Gender-neutral clothing helps portray that message. “Fashion is just another part of our identity,” Gugino said. “A part that is just worn on the outside … It’s the first impression we get of others, and that impression is so strong. I would love to be able to walk down the street and see everyone wearing all these different beautiful colors and dress how they want to, whether it’s more masculine or feminine, just as long as it feels who they are.”
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McLaughlin shares similar feelings about fluidity in fashion. “[Gender-neutral clothing] opens up a lot of interesting discussions also about traditional male and female roles,” McLaughlin said. “I wish we lived in a world where men could freely walk around and not be harassed for wearing skirts.”
When Harry Styles took an iconic pose on Vogue’s December 2020 cover, opinions erupted. While many saw no issue, others weren’t impressed. Styles stood proudly draped in a stunning Gucci dress, dazzling rings and a chic blazer. The photo shoot took the idea of gender-specific clothing and flipped it upside down, proving that anyone can wear anything. “The sad thing is that a lot of the time, it does take those big names to make the biggest impact,” Gugino said. “But there’s always that chain reaction where someone’s gonna be like, ‘Wow, I really like that. Let me start doing that,’ and it continues and continues over time.” McLaughlin appreciated Styles’s boldness and authenticity but felt there was still change to be made. “I think it really would take a major sociocultural shift for people to become more accepting of some of this,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not that it’s not possible, change happens in increments. It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s not going to happen because a man wears a skirt.” American fashion photographer for The New York Times, Bill Cunningham, famously said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” For many, clothing is a way to tell people who they are without having to utter a word. For those who struggle with their identities and backgrounds, fashion gives them an outlet to show the world who they are or perhaps who they want to be. “For me, it took a while … being OK with whether or not people are going to like me or support me,” Gugino said. “I don’t care because this is me, and they’re just going to have to deal with it … That happened to me, and I hope that happens to everyone because I want everyone to be who they feel like they should be or meant to be or however they feel inside.” As our world evolves, the status quo will fade away, while other stereotypes will remain, yet one thing is forever constant: fashion will always be ever-changing, inspired, and most importantly, rebellious. Fashion should never be defined by the superficial rules or boundaries put in place by society’s “norms.” So, paint the picture. Write the poem. Play the game. Wear the dress.
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ON REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT
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photographed by Kayla McNab styled by Mary Eisenhart hair by Elizabeth Maher makeup by Julia Knoll + Reagan Hamilton videography by Marina Carey modeled by Delaney Barrett, Kaily Gomez + Lilly Ryan layout by Macey Chamberlin
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photographed by Katie Gabe styled by Morgan Schramm videography by Grace Wilson hair by Katie Short modeled by Marguerite Smith, Alex Millard + Julia Knoll layout by Lucy Hiller
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E H
S N C O I S O U C
ND I M
Written by Nisso Sacha In a world brimming with noise and marked with constant activity, meditation beckons as an oasis of tranquility and self-discovery. Beyond being a mere practice, meditation is an immersive voyage into the depths of consciousness - an exploration of the inner universe within each of us.
Meditation is a multifaceted practice, and its diversity is a testament to its universal appeal. While the essence of meditation remains constant - a focus on presence, selfawareness and inner stillness - some countless methods and approaches cater to different personalities and goals.
Meditation is far from a modern trend; its roots can be traced back thousands of years. Its origins are intertwined with various spiritual and philosophical traditions, from Hinduism and Buddhism in the East to Stoicism and Christianity in the West.
Mindfulness meditation, rooted in Buddhist traditions, encourages individuals to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment, promoting immersion in the present moment and offering therapeutic and stress-reduction benefits. On another side, guided visualization employs a facilitator to lead participants through a mental journey enriched with vivid imagery and storytelling, serving as a conduit for relaxation, personal growth and self-discovery.
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, famously achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath a Bodhi tree. Figures like St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila wrote extensively about the transformative power of meditation in their spiritual journeys. Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius used meditation to cultivate inner peace and resilience when facing life’s challenges. “It’s allowed me to notice when I’m stressed out more and realize that the stress is sort of a lie,” Zach Hayek, a junior accounting student at Miami University, said. “It’s not as serious as it seems, and when you take the time to breathe and recenter yourself, it can feel a lot more manageable.” Hayek’s routine consists of a 10-minute meditation session in the morning to get himself centered for the day. He started meditating in his junior year of high school and found meditation was the most helpful thing to cope with stress when he stayed consistent.
Meditation and intuition are deeply interconnected. Meditation creates the ideal conditions for intuition to flourish, as it helps build a strong foundation of selfawareness, emotional balance and clarity of thought. “When I am intentionally grounding and connecting, then my intuition flows more and more freely because I’m present,” Robin Cooper, a former professor at Miami, said. Intuition is the art of understanding and comprehending without relying on logical reasoning. It’s an intrinsic part of human nature that often emerges when it’s least expected, guiding participants toward better decisions and enabling them to connect with a deeper sense of self. Beyond meditation, there is a multitude of practices designed to nourish the mind, body and spirit.
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One such practice is Reiki, an ancient Japanese healing technique that holds a unique place in the world of holistic wellness. While it stands apart from traditional meditation, Reiki shares a common thread – a commitment to fostering relaxation, reducing stress and promoting an overall sense of balance and vitality. “Reiki, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, awareness and presence all have given me this sense of control over my life to a point that I can co-create,” Cooper said.
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Reiki sessions often begin with a meditative state, where the practitioner and recipient focus their intention on healing and balance. This meditation not only relaxes the body but also helps the practitioner tap into their intuition to guide the healing process and better understand the recipient’s needs. “The question is what’s the difference between restful doing nothing and boring doing nothing,” Nicole Thesz, a professor of German at Miami, said.
The essence of meditation lies in the profound distinction between purposeful rest and a state of stillness devoid of any specific objectives. The key question, as raised by Thesz, is whether the act of doing nothing is undertaken with a specific purpose in mind or whether it unfolds as a state of restful awareness. “If you’re doing it for a purpose and you think you’re going to get something out of it, to my mind, that’s the opposite of what meditation is,” Thesz said.
Meditation invites individuals to be fully present in the moment, cultivating mindfulness. In this way, mediation serves as a powerful vehicle for embracing the tranquility of a “restful doing nothing” without the pressure of achieving or gaining something. “Meditation isn’t as separate from everyday life as we make it out to be,” Thesz said. “It doesn’t have to be ritualized."
At its core, meditation is not about striving to attain a particular outcome or tangible reward.
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Written by Anaka Bretzke It’s 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. Five roommates choose respective places to sit in their living space to do homework. A few sit on the couch, one on the carpeted floor and another sits quietly at the kitchen table. Country music videos play in the background on the television as they type away on their keyboards and nuzzle their noses into the blue light of computer screens. Suddenly, one of the roommates pops her head up from behind her screen. “I need a sweet treat if I’m going to finish this reading assignment,” she said as she rose from the couch. Every roommate followed suit. They scrounge through the fridge and pantry in search of a sweet treat. After much deliberation, they chose to bake gluten-free brownies to indulge in, and voila! One brownie later they find the motivation to finish their grueling assignments. Sometimes, the brain craves a much-needed break. Overwhelmed by life’s stressors and the tasks on our to-do list, we often forget to take the time to sit back and enjoy life's simple pleasures. It’s the little things that bring the brain a boost of serotonin: a few brief moments of happiness that help us get through our day. Receiving flowers from a significant other, a hand-written birthday card from your best friend back home, sitting on the couch and binging a few episodes of your favorite show or even an unexpected runin with an old friend at the local coffee shop. For Brendan Han, a senior computer science major, happiness is found by cooking his own meals.
“I like to cook my meals a lot and experiment with different dishes,” Han said. “Making a nice meal for myself brings a sense of achievement and joy.” Sophie Harre finds moments of joy from her love of playing piano. She started piano lessons when she was 5 years old and continued her musical studies into college at Miami. Over time, it became less about the quality of a performance and more about indulging in the music. “[Playing piano] makes me forget about the outside world because the only thing surrounding you is your instrument,” she said. “When I play, it’s just [me] and the music.” It can be as simple as that. Little moments or actions throughout the day or week that mean the world. “Life can be stressful with all the responsibilities we have, and it’s always a great way to find happiness through the small things in life,” Han said. “I believe that little moments of joy can add up to make a big difference in my day or week.” Harre believes that life’s simple pleasures are about letting go of your stress and worries, whatever they may be. “At the end of the day, you want to make yourself happy," she said. "You want to do the things that bring you peace, make you smile and just make you feel whole.” Sally Fleming, a psychology professor at Indiana University, said the brain reacts positively to these simple pleasures because of our reward center.
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photographed by Princess Ford styled by Meggie Rasure hair & makeup by Julia Knoll makeup by Reagan Hamilton videography by Olivia Smallcombe
modeled by Meenal Khurana, Farah Hajjar + Paulina Adams
layout by Emely Villalba
“It all starts with dopamine, [which is] a neurotransmitter for pleasure," she said. "When something feels good, it increases these neurotransmitters, also serotonin, and that feels good.” According to Fleming, when we reward ourselves throughout the day, behavior changes happen, motivating us to finish the task at hand, whatever it may be. “If we're not going to be rewarded for something, odds are we’re really not going to do it,” she said. “When we reward ourselves, then we’re more likely to continue [a certain] behavior.” However, Fleming said that overindulgence in what we find pleasing can turn addicting. “Overindulgence can lead to negative consequences,” she said. “For instance, take a pie. It tastes good, so we eat one bite,
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but how many people actually eat one bite of pie? We’re not going to continue to eat pie after pie, and while some people do, sometimes that guilt comes in and makes [us] realize, ‘Wait a minute I can’t do this to my body, it's not good.’ Too much of anything is not good.” Simple pleasures, in moderation, can bring a sliver of happiness needed to get through the day. “Everyone has challenges and obstacles, and that’s why it’s so important to have these little nuggets of reward throughout the day just to maintain those neurotransmitters in your brain,” she said. So, indulge: read one last page, cook your favorite comfort meal for dinner, buy that top you’ve been eyeing or even sneak one last sweet treat to cap off the night.
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Written by Allison Lee There is a time in life when nothing is wanted more than to grow up. That tired feeling of being left out in elementary school and the longing for freedom and independence in adulthood is a shared identity for many. Reflecting on it in adult years, many would give anything to be a child again, yearning for sparkly pink Twinkle Toes and Spiderman Crocs. Many women would love to sit down with Bratz dolls one more time when the only worry in the world was whether their dad could help with the math assignment. For others, it’s the loss of being at home with the entire family present. Simple things can bring someone back to that place, like digging through a baby box and finding their safety blanket, going to their childhood home and catching a whiff of the bubblegum lip gloss they wore in the fifth grade. That sweet innocence.
But then comes adulthood. As someone goes through the stages of life, their ego goes through a tug-ofwar between integrity vs. despair. “That’s where, based on your experiences, you get a sense of satisfaction as you age,” Logan Maxwell, a sophomore psychology student at Miami University, said. It’s called the Erickson Theory, and Maddie Cross, a junior psychology major, said she knows many of her friends who have already experienced it.
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Even if they were not forced to grow up early, the media has glorified aging. Movie scenes of getting driver's licenses, sweet sixteens and college seem perfect. “Growing up as a girl in the mid-2000s, there was a very big rush to grow up," Sara Smith, a junior psychology major, said. “As social media grew, the aesthetic of being a teen became very sought after. This caused a massive upsurge in how young girls wanted their teenage years to be, and in turn, caused younger and younger age groups to skip over the awkward tween years.”
childhood
The nostalgia of it all is what hits the hardest. Life was so simple.
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“While the expected age to go through that is in the 60s, you already see young adults feeling that, but on a more minor scale. Had they studied harder, they wouldn’t be feeling so behind,” Cross said.
Change is inevitable. As a child, moving forward is the goal – but as an adult, the “good old days” seem much more appealing. Fear of the unknown is petrifying to many, young and old. “There’s an expression, ‘anxiety is focusing too much on the future, while depression is focusing too much on the past,’” Smith said. “Nostalgia can become very devastating to your psyche. You start to wish you were a kid again as the adult responsibilities flow in.” Whether the future seemed unattainable or not, everything is in the past now.
Life will never be the same as it was. “If I could tell my childhood self anything, it would be that it just gets better. One small blip in time isn’t the end of the world.” Maxwell said.
photographed by Paige Senkiw styled by Peyton Hill hair by Katelyn Phan + Julia Knoll
Cross said, “There’s a lot of things you’re going to experience that will seem like your world is crashing down. It hurts, but it’ll get better.”
videography by Jill Rimer modeled by Emilia Miller, Amelia Chen, Seth Gresham + Taiki Brown layout by Madeline Buecker
“I wish I could tell myself to stop rushing growing up … sit back and enjoy the awkward stages in life because everything will fall in place in due time,” Smith said. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood can be terrifying. Missing the security that it brought hits hard. Returning to childhood is impossible, but taking memories and experiences is an option. Growth is possible. Change is a good thing. Growing up is a part of life. Past situations do not define future results. “You can change who you are despite your circumstances. You can break the cycle of harmful behaviors,” Smith said. “It will be difficult, but there are resources out there that can help guide you through this process of personal growth.”
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makeup by Scout Tincher videography by Charlotte Tirola
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A U N AT U R A L
Photographed by Kayla Miller photographed by Kayla Miller styled by Emma Beck videography by Ella Pawlowski hair + makeup by Katelyn Phan modeled by Davie Avis + Emmanuella Welsh layout by Lindsey Brinkman 46 | FW 23
Written by Maddy Evans Look in the mirror. Maybe you’re wearing makeup or are going bare-faced for the day. You may have freckles, acne, scarring or birthmarks. No matter what, your face is your own, along with the rest of your body. Whether it’s shaping your eyebrows, shaving your legs or moisturizing your skin, everyone does something that helps them to feel more confident and comfortable. These routines may feel innate, especially when learned from parents, other adults and the media. However, we may not realize how deliberate these routines and products are. In the early twentieth century, according to the Smithsonian Institution, companies identified young women as a group to market towards, and new products emerged promising to be the key to beauty and allure. Skincare products were said to cleanse and rejuvenate the skin, giving one an effortlessly glowing face. Makeup companies such as Elizabeth Arden and Madame C.J. Walker began formulating systems of multi-step, multi-piece beauty products that were meant to be sold and used together. Many of these same brands also began to sell makeup products intended to create a natural, everyday look. One of the new marketing strategies of this time was selling shaving razors to women. Previously, razors were only used to shave men’s facial hair, however, these companies rebranded their products to promote hair removal for women. Advertisements showed body hair on women as “masculine” and unattractive, with a 1922 Harper’s Bazaar advertisement reading, “The fastidious woman [today] must have immaculate underarms if she is to be unembarrassed.” With these innovations came the concept of the pink tax, where products marketed toward women are marked up in price compared to their counterparts marketed for men. Even as prices went up, women were still fighting to get the same pay as their male counterparts, according to the Joint Economic Committee in 2016. However, because these products were considered necessities, they continued to sell.
A century later, many of these standards still hold today. Makeup fads come and go, but the “natural” look continues to be coveted. Beauty stores have shelves upon shelves of products promising perfectly smooth, wrinkle-free skin, and razors have evolved into procedures of waxing and laser hair removal. Growing up in the dance world, Olivia McCray, a Miami University alumna, found herself wearing makeup and shaving from a very young age. Some of these routines didn’t last, but others persisted into adulthood. Makeup was something she never found conducive to her lifestyle. “I tried in middle school to get into makeup because of peer pressure, but since I’m so low maintenance and wake up with 15 minutes before I have to leave, that was short-lived,” McCray said. Shaving, however, was something her views shifted on over time. While McCray still shaves periodically for comfort, her perceived need for it has loosened. “I started shaving in middle school and was very strict about it until actually recently,” she said. “I had this misconception that I needed to shave to be clean. I mean, I was shaving my stomach at a certain point.” Still, some routines drive her to this day. McCray always lays her clothes out the night before and sticks to her skincare routine of CeraVe cleanser in the shower and lotion when she feels dry. August Bentley, a senior liberal studies major at Miami, identifies a strong connection between their gender identity and the choice to shave or wear makeup. “I identify as transmasc and have been learning how to present myself in ways that affirm my gender without spending the time and energy I don’t always have,” Bentley said. “I enjoy how I feel and look with body hair. It is a small act that helps me feel empowered by my body in its natural state while also connecting me to a community of people who share this mindset.” Sydney Scepowski, a Miami alum, has found self-care routines that set their day into motion.
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“When I’m feeling motivated to choose self-care, I wash my face with a gentle fragrance-free cleanser,” Scepowski said. “To feel more awake and reduce any puffiness, I roll a chilled spoon under my eyes and around the contours of my face.” While these routines may seem mundane for some people, others like Yessica Magallanes, an esthetician at Style Lash Studio in Johnsburg, Illinois, found her passion through skincare. “Like most people, I struggled with oily, acne-prone skin throughout middle school and high school,” Magallanes said. “What made it worse was that no one else in my family seemed to have it. It was very scary because I felt alone.” In hopes of finding a career combining her interest in skincare and helping others, Magallanes researched occupations such as dermatology, but ultimately found her passion in esthetician school. She attended for two years while earning her associate's degree and working at a restaurant. “It’s only been two years since I graduated, but I’ve already learned so much more outside of school than I did in school,” she said.
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Each day of being an esthetician brings something new. Magallanes provides a variety of services, including facials, body waxing, brow lamination, lash extensions and lash lifts. Her work also brings in many clients, including young girls who feel how she once did. At 22 years old, McCray is still learning how to feel comfortable in her skin, namely, she’s learning to love her freckles, which she said were a big insecurity for a long time. “I think the social pressures lessen as you age,” she said. “I’m at the point now where I don’t need this 400-step anti-aging skincare routine. I want to be able to age and show it.” Scepowksi, who feels similarly, said permitting yourself to just "be" is difficult. “I can witness natural beauty in my friends, in the older women in my family, in the strangers I encounter,” they said. “If I can celebrate what makes all these other people beautiful, then I know I can at least begin to try to redirect that same love and acceptance towards myself.”
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photographed by Ellen Long styled by Halle Maskery hair & makeup by Katelyn Phan + Alexandra Leurck videography Charlotte Tirola
modeled by Ella Roberts + Yuewenhong Bai layout by Deanna Hay
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FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT Written by Julia Jacobs Stepping outside onto Miami University’s campus, a flurry of activity is taking place. Students are walking to class with their headphones in, listening to music or podcasts. Pairs of people are going on runs around the grounds. Athletic teams head to and from the gym. In grassy areas, groups can be seen stretching and doing yoga on towels and mats. No matter the time of day, physical activity and exercise are always occurring in a myriad of different ways. Miami is typically described by its students as a “walking campus.” The culture of walking everywhere makes it unique from other universities in Ohio. However, walking around isn’t the only exercise students can get on campus. Miami students have found many creative, freeing and unique ways to move their bodies. Not only does getting active feel good, but it also benefits students in a variety of ways.
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“My parents always emphasized exercise because it’s good for your mental health and relieves stress, and as students, we face daily stress,” Bitsy Coyne, a junior at Miami, said. “Exercise is a good outlet away from school-based activities.” When thinking about exercise at Miami, the first thing that comes to mind to most is the athletics program. The university is home to a diverse range of teams representing many different men’s and women’s sports: football, basketball, cross country, volleyball and more. The student-athletes on campus put in many hours of work toward the sports that they’re passionate about. “Baseball’s been my favorite sport since I was young,” Landen Looper, a player on the Miami Baseball Team, said. “It positively affects me, and it makes me feel really good ... I love the feeling of pushing myself and
photographed by Tia Benson styled by Eden Brush videography by Jill Rimer makeup by Katie Short + Julia Knoll layout by Madelyn Liedel modeled by Sara Louttit, Gianna Colarich, Rakeap Mewael + Lexi Sorrentino
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doing something that I don’t think I can do. It’s really good for your body, and it’s good to do hard things sometimes.” The Miami Dance Team also practices for hours to perform at the football games and even goes on to compete in Daytona, Florida at the National Dance Alliance College Nationals. “When I’m dancing, I feel like it allows me to take my mind off of stressors in my life,” Taylor Thornburg, a member of the dance team, said. “After practice, I feel accomplished, and as I’ve gotten older, I think I’ve gained a bigger appreciation for the incredible ways our bodies can move.” Student-athletes work hard throughout the year, but they’re not the only way that students can get active. The Recreation Center offers many classes students can sign up for whenever they want – including yoga, spinning, Zumba, pilates and more. If students prefer to structure their own workouts, the Rec Center is also free to use, even for those living off-campus. A hub of activity, it’s usually packed full of exercising students, no matter the hour of the day. “If you’ve played sports throughout your life, but you’re not playing a sport in college, it’s still valuable to exercise,” Coyne said. “The Rec Center has lots of opportunities to exercise without being on a sports team at Miami. I may not be a student-athlete, but I still love to work out.” Aside from official athletics organizations and scheduled classes at the Rec Center, many students take advantage of Miami and Oxford’s beautiful landscape to get active whenever their free time allows it. Students can often be seen going on walks with their friends around campus, and off-campus, Hueston Woods State Park is a popular spot for students to hike on trails. The lakes, treelined pathways and historical buildings make spending time with nature enjoyable for everyone. It’s clear that Miami is full of thriving students, and physical activity plays a large part in that. Students get active to improve their physical and mental health every day. No matter the outlet chosen, moving your body is beneficial, fun and feels good.
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photographed by Rebekah Shook styled by Ella Salvagio hair & makeup by Alexandra Leurck videography by Ellie Nickel modeled by Rhese Voisard + Alexa Hennip layout by Rebekah Shook
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Written by Rhese Voisard The concept of nature means something different for everyone. While one might picture the crimson hues of autumn speckled across the sidewalk in a mosaic of fallen leaves, another might smell the fragrant spring blooms wafting through warm air. Like the coming and going of seasons, the world is constantly moving in rhythm. While some seasons are accompanied by eloquent movement and windows streamed with sunlight, others come with jagged missteps and icy winds biting at your cheeks.
While some might see it as a concept too large and complex for comprehension, Karen Plucinski, the assistant director and an instructor for Miami’s Project Dragonfly, has always seen nature and humanity as linked entities. Project Dragonfly offers master’s degree programs for students studying biology, conservation, education and sustainability. “When I was a kid growing up, humans were almost perceived as being outside of nature in kind of this pinnacle of creation,” she explained.
In other words, nature is unpredictable. As it prevails through the centuries, nature never falters. Embedded with an internal time clock constantly ticking, we tend only to notice the big events scrawled into our calendars. But in reality, the environment is hardly ever at a standstill. Morgan Michaud, a student studying medical laboratory science at Miami University, has spent years learning about the natural world and has discovered that nothing is accidental regarding nature and its rhythms. She said that each process carries intentionality, explaining that even the simple act of birds flying south for the winter can have an underlying meaning. “Migration is a response to a multitude of things, including food, better environments and mating,” Michaud explained. “I find this aspect of nature especially interesting because, like humans, there are obvious key components to life that all animals have found similar ways of accomplishing even if they do not interact or understand each other.” Michaud has a strong appreciation for the complexity of nature as well as the sheer fascination of it all. “I find the natural rhythms of the world both scientifically, and at the abstract level, highly captivating,” she said. “As I have studied different processes like the water cycle, photosynthesis and many more, I realize the ways the world connects.”
According to Plucinski, one of the telltale signs of a connection is through something less physical and more abstract: human empathy. As a former ecotourism worker, she’s seen tourists go against the rules and try to feed the animals – a simple act illustrating a larger need for relationships. “We would see that every day is the desire of humans to feed and nurture another species,” Plucinski said. Hope Bixler, a biology and premed student at Miami, built on this concept, acknowledging the positive results that have come out of ecological conservation. “I do truly believe that nature reflects humanity,” she explained. “When you look around and see the fullness of nature, you see what humans have done to preserve the earth and how beautiful it really is.” Still, it’s easy to wonder how humanity can relate to the boundless expanse of the living world. Well, for starters, nature is vulnerable. We see this in how the sky turns dark and erupts into the most chaotic storms to the splits in the Earth that come from shifts in tectonic plates. Nature is unafraid of showing its true colors and desires, no matter how destructive the aftermath may be. But perhaps even more intriguing, nature is resilient.
When one marvels at the vastness of the universe, it can be challenging to grasp a connection to one’s individual life. Humanity might even wonder what exactly nature is.
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Because even after the most destructive storms, the Earth always returns to its rhythms, slowly but surely rebuilding itself from the ground up.
Michaud emphasized the significance of this universal act of restoration and its contribution to developing our individuality. “Similar to nature, humans have their own unique qualities and experiences that shape who they are,” she said. “On a daily basis, humans are interacting with nature as nature interacts with humans in a multitude of ways because both aspects are very diverse.” To fall out of these natural rhythms is to fall out of the very path destined to go down, yet another connection between environment and humanity: Nature is continuous. It’s always moving forward and pushing ahead despite the obstacles. Just as the branches of trees reach for the sun to grow, humans, too, stretch for the things that bring warmth and joy. So, once again, humanity approaches the question: what is nature? And to respond, nature is us. Humanity and nature are laced in imperfect patterns that weave in and out of branches and limbs alike. They are broken reflections of each other’s habits and experiences, our rhymes and rhythms. Ebbing and flowing like the ocean across sandy shorelines, you can either ride the tide or drown in the waves. Because nature does not stop for humanity. And perhaps that is the greatest characteristic of them all.
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Written by Evan Stefanik Before they can play, a musician needs to feel peace. Reposing their body, they tune into the instincts they learned as a child echoing in their mind. Then, they breathe, and lose their sense of time to the music. The practice and performance of classical music spans hundreds of years and features famous names like Beethoven and Mozart. Artists all over the world compose, arrange, record, sell and exhibit their work, and it almost always begins with the early push from their parents toward piano lessons. But most eventually transpose their craft into teaching themselves. Andrea Ridilla, a Miami University professor of music, loves sharing her passion for classical music with her students. “If I had everything my way, I would teach music all the time,” Ridilla said. Ridilla has lectured music theory and currently leads both the oboe track and a history of Italian opera class, which covers the textbook she wrote. She concentrates solely on her courses every morning before they start, yet still finds 30 hours each week to carve reeds out of bamboo for her oboe. Oboe, a high-pressure instrument in the orchestra’s woodwinds, is so complicated that most conservatories wait to instruct it until the student reaches fifth grade at least. Even at liberal arts schools like Miami, only a handful ever experiment with Ridilla’s favorite instrument. One of them, junior oboe music performance and biochemistry double major Cole Kubesch, serves as the vice president of Miami’s symphony orchestra. When he wakes up, he spends an hour on warm tones, scales and etudes, then two more hours of making reeds and rehearsing daily. Kubesch also runs an Instagram account for his oboe where he gets help with pieces and projects from close friends, networks with professionals and posts self-proclaimed thirst traps of his instrument. He launched it partly for a 100-days-of-practice challenge, but also because an older flutist he knew motivated him to promote his progress. “A big part of professionalism is embracing myself and my personality, so I do that on my account,” Kubesch said. “The funny thing about doing a performance degree is that I just want to be practicing my instrument the whole time anyway.”
His older brother drew him to music around 11 years old, then he chose oboe after his middle school general band director taught him to make reeds. He listens to classical music while studying at Miami and looks forward to auditioning for Yale University and DePaul University for his graduate program. However, other music students sometimes forfeit their interests in order to earn a living sooner. Ricardo Averbach, the conductor of Miami’s symphony orchestra since 2002, risked his current career back when completing his undergraduate engineering degree in his native country of Brazil. Once he toiled in the non-musical field for a while, Averbach realized his urge to return to his roots. “I became more mature and responsible for my life, so I thought I’d better do something I really like,” Averbach said. “Even if financially, it wouldn’t be as rewarding.”
Averbach felt full of doubt at first, especially w hen washing dishes to afford his doctoral education in Communist-era Eastern Europe. He persevered until he could relocate his future to America, where he now devotes all of his time to music. “People really don’t realize how much time it takes to learn the details of a score and then go in front of the class to teach it,” Averbach said. “One minute of a song takes about 8 hours worth of study.” Ridilla abides by that same grit. She cares deeply about the good appearances, charisma and sense of commitment in classical music that her family introduced her to. Her sister influenced her to try the oboe instead of flute, and her teachers encouraged her to use her voice as an instrument. “I learned to love opera because of the singers,” Ridilla said. “Every instrument is hard once you get into it.”
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Since 2008, Ridilla owns the co-author rights with Miami to a patent for a reed gouging machine. She also participates in Miami’s annual Double Reed Day for oboists, bassoonists, prospective students and parents. “Doing music is like marriage,” Ridilla said. “You go into it because you love it, and once you’re in it, it becomes a job and you can never miss a day.” Musical stresses may tempt students to quit before they ever crescendo. Professors like Ridilla and Averbach still pursued their dream. “It’s so competitive, and it leads to sacrificing your ideals and so many disappointments,” Averbach said. “Go into music only if you feel like it’s the meaning of your life.” Like his mentors, Kubesch hopes to play in a professional ensemble and teach in his own studio after Miami. He can hear the rhythm in his head, moving him onward. “As music students, we can forget that it’s a great privilege to study it,” Kubesch said. “We beat ourselves up all the time, but we should take a step back and say ‘this is my sound.’ ”
photographed by Gregory Engler styled by Peyton Hill hair + makeup by Scout Tincher videography by Rachel Whary modeled by Cole Kubesch & Ellen Long layout by Jack Kerstetter
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photographed by Jake Ruffer styled by Nicole Gonzalez videography by Charlotte Tirola hair & makeup by Julia Knoll modeled by Alexandra Cooper + Nick Wallace layout by Erin McGovern
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By Megan McConnell It would be any minute now. Ian Kellogg hit refresh again, his hands beginning to sweat. The page reloaded, and there it was. He clicked the link, added the pair of “Blue Tints” to his cart and hit pay. The Adidas Yeezy 350 sneakers were $220, but he knew they would sell for upwards of $400 in a few years. After all, the pair sold out in just a few minutes.
Like Berkowitz, Maeve Vulcan’s collection is “a little bit of everything,” with shoes ranging from high-top Converse to eagle-embossed cowboy boots. Living in Ohio, the senior fashion and art education double major said she needs shoes for the hot and cold weather.
In high school, the marketing and fashion business co-major said he was “a bit of a hype beast,” always wanting shoes that were “new” and “cool.” But since coming to Miami University and designing for Miami University Fashion & Design (MUF&D), Kellogg has become more selective.
However, instead of purchasing new shoes, Vulcan usually turns to Depop, an online fashion marketplace, or thrift stores, like The Salvation Army.
Laces, for example, are a huge no. Instead, it’s all about balance.
“I’m such a shoe girl,” Vulcan said. “I love a nice one, so I thrift a lot of them, like really gently used or sometimes even new.”
“I’m very interested in it all being very cohesive and very satisfying [with] how it fits,” Kellogg said. “I don't mind if you don’t even really see the shoe because the pants are too big or something like that. I just need the pants to sit on them.”
Vulcan said she considers shoes to be the foundation of an outfit rather than the focal point. However, she will sometimes pick a statement silhouette in a neutral color, like brown or navy.
For Kellogg, sneakers have been replaced with sleek, simple slip-ons – though sometimes he defers to a pair of chunky tennis shoes.
While shoes are an important accessory in her style, Vulcan, who is the design co-director for MUF&D alongside Kellogg, also tries to be intentional when picking shoes that complement her designs and tries to encourage younger designers to do the same.
Currently, he’s on the third pair of his everyday choice: a pair of plain, all-white Adidas slip-ons. Kellogg’s turn to these basic neutrals is reflective of more recent trends that have infiltrated the closets of Miami students. According to an article from Business Insider, the top-selling shoe of the first half of 2020 was the white Air Force 1. Similar styles, such as those worn by Kellogg, continue to remain popular on college campuses today. Ally Berkowitz, a senior psychology major at Miami, tries to stay away from these plain, white sneakers – though she did admit to owning a pair of Air Force 1s. Instead, Berkowitz said she gravitates towards “eclectic” pieces with lots of color. The MUF&D vice president’s current favorite is a pair of chunky sneakers with green soles and pink, gray and white laces, which she styles with oversized neutrals. “I feel like if I’m able to incorporate color in my outfits, like my shoes, I think that can stand out,” Berkowitz said. “I never go for a basic shoe.”
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Berkowitz has 15 shoes with her at school and even more at home. Her closet consists of heels, boots, sneakers and platforms to wear for a span of different occasions.
“I like to ask the designers about shoes because I want them to do something crazy,” Vulcan said. “I want them to do something fun.” Shoes, whether bought as soon as they drop or years later from the thrift store, can be the final touch that pulls an outfit together. For Kellogg, Berkowitz and Vulcan, the styles may differ, but the shoes they wear allow them to walk to the beat of their own drum.
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LAST WORDS From the Executive Staff
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ALICE MOMA N Y
TAY L O R SH O C K L E Y
DE A N N A H AY
Editor in Chief
Publisher
Creative Director
I joined UP Magazine during my first year at Miami as a staff writer. It was the first publication where I ever saw the words, “By Alice Momany.” It was incredibly surreal and rewarding. I continued to write for each issue before serving as Co-Copy Editor and then Editor-in-Chief. It has been an incredible experience, and I am beyond blessed to have two devoted individuals by my side. Working with Deanna and Taylor and witnessing their passion and talent has been truly inspiring. This magazine would not be possible without the talented members of UP and the dedication and work they’ve put into these pages over the past four months. To me, Rhythm is about the freedom of movement and embracing your individuality, and I hope this issue inspires you to do just that.
When I joined UP two years ago, I didn’t realize how much of an impact this organization would have on my life. Growing through the organization from a member of the marketing and blog team, to the Director of Marketing and now the Publisher has been an absolute dream come true. Getting to be surrounded by the most talented individuals in the UP community has been so inspiring and I am so thankful to have had the best people by my side. Alice and Deanna, your hardwork and creativity has been an absolute joy to watch and am so excited to finally be able to share this issue, Rhythm. Rhythm to me encompasses a person's individuality and what factors have led them to become who they are. As my time here at Miami comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on my Rhythm that has brought me to where I am today.
When I was accepted as a photographer for UP Magazine my freshman year, I was estatic. I had been impressed with UP's quality of work and knew I needed to take part. I have shot for UP every semester and led the Social Media team as a CoDirector before becoming the Creative Director for this year. The satisfaction of creating such beautiful work with other students has been more than rewarding. Working alongside Taylor and Alice has been exciting and inspiring. As the creative lead this year, I have invested many hours thinking and literally dreaming about crafting this issue. My goal was to bring in a new edge to UP's established rhythm- I hope you can feel the beat. I could not be more excited to share our staff's hard work and committment to making our magazine not only possible, but outstanding.
photographed by Deanna Hay
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illustrated by Madeline Buecker