VALLEY Magazine | Fall 2021

Fall 2021 Issue No. 28

VALLEY WALKING ON SUNSHINE AVENUE JESSICA COOK

EDITORIAL DIVISION

BUSINESS DIVISION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NICOLE ROGOSKY

BUSINESS DIRECTOR AVA SILVERMAN ADVERTISING DIRECTORS CAROLINE DEMPSEY, SYDNEY D’ORSOGNA EVENTS DIRECTORS HAILEY IMBASCIANI, NAOMI ROTHSCHILD PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORS MASON HART, ELIZA KOSTER FINANCE DIRECTOR ELLA DAY CASTING DIRECTOR ADELLINE SASSANI

MANAGING EDITOR MJ BERGIN WEB DIRECTOR BIANCA ALVAREZ COPY EDITOR KRISTINE WANG BEAUTY & HEALTH EDITOR MASON SHAFFER SELF-IMPROVEMENT EDITOR ELISE TECCO CAMPUS CULTURE EDITOR AMANDA FLYNN FASHION EDITOR HUNTYR KEPHART ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ABIGAIL NEMEC-MERWEDE THIS JUST IN EDITOR MARGARET PFEIFLE

CASTING NICOLE BUTRICO, MICHAEL CANNO, CARMEN DIPIPPO, KATIE FELDMAN, EMILY GAROFALO, ALEXIS LAWRENCE, LAUREN LEE, GIGI MELCHIORRE, ELLIE MURPHY, ADDIE STEELE

PRINT WRITERS SYLVIE AUGUST, ALEXANDRA DRAKE, COLLEEN DUNN, MAIA EGAN, CAITLYN GARRITY, SARA HARKINS, HELENA HAYNES, KATELYN LENZ, TATIANA MCCOMBER, JULIA MCGINTY, KIRA SARSFIELD, CHLOE SPENCER, MARISSA YACHENCHICK

ADVERTISING VARALIKA ANATH, SIDNEY BEAUREGARD, MEAKELENA DIMITROVA, TYLER HOLENDER, ANUSHKA KUMAR, SABRINA LOMBARDO, MEGAN MARKEY, ALLIE MARTIN, LAUREN MEDICO, EVA MEIXNER, SKYLAR MUNDENAR, NATALIE O’DELL, KIERSTEN PARKIN, NICOLE REILLY, MEGHAN RUFO, NINA SALVI, (SONIA) WAN CHEN HO

WEB WRITERS AVA BRETT, LEIGH CHAMBERLAIN, LILI GOLDBERG, EMMA KYLE, LUCY KOZAN, OLIVIA LARE, NISWANA RISAL, SIMONE SKINNER, ALEXA SPILOTRAS, STEVIE VESCIO-FRANZ, CASEY ZANOWIC

EVENTS HAILEY TYRRELL, LAINA MCLERNEY, KATERINA BALUKAS, MEGAN STRALEY, GRACE FAULHABER, KATIE QUIGLEY, CHLOE WOZNICKI, CARA FLYER, KAITLYN SHARMA, AVA GOLDBERG, MILLENNIA JOA, EMILY SCUDERI

CREATIVE DIVISION CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANNIE PRINCIVALLE DESIGN DIRECTOR JORDAN WOLF FASHION DIRECTOR MAYA SAUDER PHOTO DIRECTORS BECCA BAKER, CAMERON SORAVILLA VIDEO DIRECTOR CAT CAO DESIGNERS MEGAN DALE, ELYSE MICELI, LAUREN TARIGO, JESS STENCEL PHOTOGRAPHERS AEVA ROTH, CLAIRE LEWIS, JAKE LAWALL, JENNY LEE, JEREMY BELL, KAY SHANNON, RACHEL SMITH, SHANA ANDREWS, TAYLOR KUSZYK, VANSHIKA A, CLAIRE CONNELL MAKEUP DEREK ULRICH VIDEO MARY BANCO, CHELSEA BARICH, NOLAN BRADLEY, MARYKATE CADDEN RACHEL EASLEY, SARAH HANKS, JILL HEILIG, ETHAN JECK, ANNETTE OSPINO TUSHA PHAM, EMMA REED, SAVANNAH WOOD, GENNA ZAGOREN

FINANCE JULIA FEENEY, STEPHANIE MILLER, COLETTE FRANCISCUS, KENZIE MARINO MOLLY WILLIAMS, SAM MATUSHEK, AMANDA CHIZMAR, NICK ENG, MACKENZIE ZALENSKI, SARAH SHUBERT PUBLIC RELATIONS CAROLINE DIAZ, ANNA PIZZI, CLAIRE SAROSI, ABI TAVENNER, CURTIS TROWBRIDGE, ERYN WERNER, SARA ALVAREZ, JULIA ARGENTO, SETH CONNERS, JULIE JASTREMSKY, MORAYO OGUNBAYO, MANUELA PERALTA, NOAH RHODES, MARGO SILVERMAN, DEVON SNEIGOCKI, HALLE SZUMIGALA JESSICA TJAHYADI, RACHEL DUNCAN, JANE WEINSEIMER, MICHELA NICHOLAS, CAROLINE LEHMAN, OLIVIA TAYLOR, GRETA AGEE BOARD OF ADVISORS MARIE HARDIN TO CONTACT VALLEY MAGAZINE EDITOR@VALLEYMAGAZINEPSU.COM FOLLOW US TWITTER @VALLEYMAG INSTA @VALLEYMAG FB /VALLEYMAG LINKEDIN /COMPANY/VALLEY-MAGAZINE-PENN-STATETIKTOK @VALLEYMAG JOIN US ARE YOU A CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR STAFF? VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. PRINTED BY JOSTENS FUNDED BY YOUR STUDENT INITIATED FEE

7 BEAUTY AND HEALTH

VALLEY Penn State’s premier student-run life and style magazine.

VALLEY Magazine is published once per semester and distributed for free on Penn State’s main campus in University Park, PA. Our mission is to recognize Penn State students for their academic and extracurricular accomplishments and to feature local style, entertainment and lifestyle trends.

VALLEY Magazine is named after Happy Valley and was founded in September 2007 by former Penn State students Nicole Gallo, Meredith Ryan, Katie Zuccolo and Kathryn Tomaselli. The Fall 2021 magazine is VALLEY’s twenty-eighth issue.

The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not the Pennsylvania State University or the University Park Allocation Committee.

Funded by the Student Initiated Fee

8 9 11 12 13 19

Traditions Lost in Translation The 411 on SPF I Love Me Hot Girls Have Stomach Problems Golden Understanding the Stigma

22 23 24 25

Let Your Angels Be Your Guide Jealousy, Jealousy The Ebbs and Flows of Success Girl-On-Girl Crime

21 SELF IMPROVEMENT

26 CAMPUS CULTURE 27 28 29 37 39

Haunted Valley Making my Way Downtown: Bars Edition Walking on Sunshine Avenue P.S I Love You PSA: Penn State’s Alcoholism

41 ENTERTAINMENT 42 43 45 46 47 49

Hollywood’s Easter Hunt What’s Up with Wattpad Last Name=Fame?

Suburbia Euphoria Manic Pixie Dream Girl Filmmakers at State

50 FASHION 51 Main Characters 53 Tattoo Taboos 55 Inclusivity in the Industry 57 The Cowboy Renaissance 59 Fashion, Meet the Female Gaze 61 IDGAF

LETTER LETTER EDITOR EDITOR FROM FROM THETHE

Perception Perception is a funny is a funny thing.thing.

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I I was awas quiet, a quiet, scared scared girl who girl was whoterrified was terrified of being of being noticed noticed and and that all that changed all changed once once I joined I joined VALLEY. VALLEY.

compassion compassion and talent and talent makemake people people feel seen feel seen and special. and special.

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I couldn’t I couldn’t stop thinking stop thinking about. about.

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To allTo of all theof the When I first applied to Penn State, I wrote in my admission eseditors-in-chief editors-in-chief before before me, thank me, thank you for youletting for letting me walk me a walk a say that When I wanted I first applied to become to Penn the editor-in-chief State, I wrote in of my a magazine admission semester semester in your in shoes. your shoes.

I wouldn’t I wouldn’t have have beenbeen able to able dotoany do any one day, essay and that everyone I wantedthought to become I wasthe insane. editor-in-chief Don’t giveofup a on of thisofwithout this without Tess, Tess, who let who me letjoin methis joinincredible this incredible magazine magazine your dreams magazine noone matter day,how andcrazy everyone or unimaginable thought I was they insane. sound.

Don’t as a first-year, as a first-year, or Christy, or Christy, who granted who granted me the meopportunity the opportunity to to They give might upjust on come your dreams true. no matter how crazy or unimaginable become become her right-hand her right-hand man and manmanaging and managing editoreditor as a secas a secondthey sound. They might just come true. ond-year. year. I’ll I’ll forever forever be be grateful grateful to to you you both. both.

All my love, To our Tocreative our creative director, director, Annie, Annie, thankthank you for youwelcoming for welcoming me me All my love, into your into space your space and letting and letting me watch me watch the magic the magic unfold. unfold.

Your Your talenttalent is beyond is beyond compare compare and Iand don’t I don’t knowknow what what I would I would have have donedone without without you this yousemester. this semester.

I’ll listen I’ll listen to Clairo to Clairo with you with you at anyattime, any time, even even if no one if noelse one will. elseTo will. our Todesign our design director, director, Jordan, Jordan, thankthank you for youyour for incredible your incredible artistic artistic visionvision and hard and hard work work towards towards making making this issue this issue breathtakingly breathtakingly beautiful. beautiful.

To To our photo our photo directors, directors, Cam Cam and Becca, and Becca, you are youboth are both as good as good of of Nicole Rogosky, Editor-In-Chief photographers photographers as you asare youhype-women. are hype women.

Your Your kindness, kindness, Nicole Rogosky, Editor-In-Chief Without Without this publication, this publication, I don’t I don’t knowknow who Iwho am. IVALLEY am. VALLEY has has let me letbecome me become the person the person I’ve always I’ve always wanted wanted to beto …be myself. … myself.

I’ve had I’vethe hadchance the chance to make to make unforgettable unforgettable friends friends and write and write stories stories I onceI once dreamed dreamed aboutabout writing. writing.

And without And without Jessica Jessica Cook,Cook, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be able be to able share to share my favorite my favorite story story yet. yet.

Photo by: Cameron Soravilla

Photo by: Cameron Soravilla & Becca Baker

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We all have highs and lows in life. You can’t get caught up in either one — just take life in and enjoy it.

AND

BEAUTY HEALTH

Andres Montero Pronouns: He/Him Year: Third-year Major: Kinesiology Photographed by: Cameron Soravilla, Becca Baker

TRADITIONS LOST IN TRANSLATION Bianca Alvarez With beauty trends taking over the world a couple things tend to get lost in translation — especially their origin. From gua sha facials to sugaring to yoga, the borrowing of these practices has caused an erasure of history many are trying to combat and repair.

While the American market puts a spin on ancient or cultural practices, experts in the industry are taking a deeper dive into the issues surrounding this increased usage. While economically the American beauty and wellness industry financially thrives, as stated by the Global Wellness Institute, the focus should be on one thing: decolonization.

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, here’s what it means. Decolonization is the undoing of colonialism. The term is familiar in the context of countries and traditional history lessons. But, what about beauty and health?

Decolonization in beauty refers to the honoring of history, crediting those communities who have practiced these trends originally and repairing and decentralizing the “whiteness” in the world of beauty and health.

WHY IS THERE A NEED? If you open up your phone and happen to stumble across a beauty or wellness video, chances are the influencer on your phone and the product being used are American are pretty high. Chances of the practice being derived from another culture? Also pretty high.

“Some of what we practice within wellness spaces are the same practices that were stripped away from communities, especially Indigenous communities, and that they were vilified for and penalized for practicing too,” Rebeckah Price explains to Refinery29.

Think about the issue of decolonization like a game of telephone. As one person uses it and it goes to another person and they use it, and it continues to become a mass trend, nobody can ever attribute the credit to the correct person and the end result is a jumbled mess.

One way to look at the need for decolonization of beauty is looking at the hit beauty trend that made headlines this

past year: gua sha. Beauty stores along with health and wellness shops increased their supply of jade stones, because it became popular after numerous individuals saw the benefits of the practice and wanted to get their hands on it. I mean who could blame them? The traditional Chinese practice leaves your face looking incredible!

Problem is … the technique was done incorrectly by many on social media, and original businesses were being pushed aside and went unrecognized. Many ran to American chains such as Sephora and Ulta to get in on the skin secret.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE Whenever you join in on one the latest crazes that have been modified, appropriated or commodified, ask yourself some important questions. These questions cause a deep self-reflection on behaviors and patterns that have been done subconsciously without any mal-intent.

How can I undo harm?

How have I involved myself in this practice?

Is this marginalizing the creators and their community?

Is this ethical?

Is this product sourced from the right individuals?

Leading others to resources and experts is another way to implement a change. Influencers, who gained popularity partaking in beauty and wellness trends, found ways to show cultural appreciation without appropriating it. “I just want to be sure we’re all aware of the cultural significance of this practice,” Devon Kelley says in her TikTok, following her viral video showing the results of gua sha.

It’s easy to want to join in on new and exciting routines that appear on our timelines or that we’ve seen others have success with. The communities behind these “new” practices have a long rich history that many outside the community are now experiencing. It’s not about certain groups not being able to join in; it’s about the outside individuals doing their part to acknowledge those cultures, celebrate them, undo any past harm and support owners and businesses who are sharing their culture with the rest of the world.

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THE 411 ON SPF Tatiana McComber When people walk outside in the winter, oftentimes they don’t think they need protection from the sun — but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. No matter the time of year or how cold the State College weather can get, your skin is susceptible to sun damage. Sunscreen shouldn’t just be a summer essential but your year-round best friend.

Though it may not seem that important, taking preventative measures will ensure you have healthy, nourished skin now and later in life. All too often, people are going outside without applying some sort of SPF, which stands for “Skin Protective Factor,”and prolonged exposure can cause signs of premature aging or develop skin diseases and skin cancer at an early age.

What’s important to keep in mind is that your skin is your protective barrier. Every day your skin comes in contact with toxins, germs and UV radiation. According to MedlinePlus, your outer layer of skin contains melanin which protects your skin from UV rays. Though it is true that your skin uses the sun to produce vitamin D, too much exposure becomes harmful. MedlinePlus defines a sunburn as “UV rays penetrating through the deep layers of skin, killing cells.” With recurring unprotected UV exposure, permanent damage can arise.

According to the American Cancer Society’s key statistics report concerning melanoma for 2021, the rate for women below 50 being diagnosed with melanoma has increased — despite the average age of diagnosis ranging around 65. In recent years, melanoma has become more common amongst young adults and adults below 30.

It’s important to note that over the course of a year, your skin is exposed to different UV rays. Dr. Nina Jablonski, a Penn State professor of anthropology who is known for her research in the evolution of skin color in humans, recommends choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against two different kinds of UV rays: UVA and UVB.

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“ UVA is present in sunlight year-round and can potentially penetrate deeply into the skin, causing damage to connective tissue, leading to wrinkles and pigment irregularities. UVB is present in strong sunlight, generally occurring in the summer and causes burning of the skin and damage to DNA in skin cells, leading to cancer,” Dr. Jablonski says.

Dr. Jablonski says that as long as you stick to the directions on the packaging and choose broad-spectrum, you can use one type of sunscreen year-round.

“ People with darker skin experience less damage, but everyone’s skin is damaged by UVR if the skin is not protected by sunscreen or clothing,” Dr. Jablonski says. “The damage caused by UVR can cause skin cancer (mostly by UVB) and wrinkles (mostly by UVA).”

Though it can be a common oversight or thought of as a tedious task, wearing sunscreen is preventing your skin from effects that can be detrimental to your overall health and well-being.

Over the past year, SPF has been a heavy topic of focus, especially on TikTok. Many people are sharing ways to implement SPF applications into your daily routine.

Whether it be direct application to the face with sunscreen or incorporating it into your makeup routine, the ways to go about using SPF are versatile and easily implementable.

When trying to find an appropriate factor for everyday wear, Healthline recommends wearing at least SPF 30.

This gives your skin 30 times more of a protective barrier than it normally has on its own. Dr. Jablonski also recommends looking for sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as they are better for the environment and aren’t as irritating to the skin. Choosing to use SPF is a simple and effective way to protect your skin and aid in its natural line of defense now rather than later.

Photographed by: Jacob Lawall, Claire Connell Model: Gianna Straza

*Trigger Warning: pornography, sexual language*

I LOVE ME

Sylvie August

Let’s talk about sex, VALLEY! According to the Oregon Health & Science University Center for Women’s Health, a healthy sex life can include benefits such as “improved self-esteem, decreased depression and anxiety, better sleep, natural pain relief, overall stress reduction” and more. Sexual health is still a conversation full of taboos and questions that no one wants to ask. So we want to ask, why?

One possible explanation for the taboos surrounding sexuality and pleasure is children’s increased exposure to pornography at a young age, as well as a lack of proper sexual education. For example, in many sexual education classes, the clitoris is not pictured on female sexual organ diagrams. This small distinction causes young girls to separate their body’s enjoyment of sexual pleasure from their body’s reproductive purpose. Sex becomes a means to reproduction rather than a pleasurable experience.

Many children are exposed to pornography as they are exposed to the internet, which is often before they are able to receive a proper sexual education. Pornography produces unrealistic expectations of a healthy sexual dynamic between two partners to a young person who has perhaps not yet experienced a real, strong sexual relationship.

According to a study on the effects of pornography on children and young people conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, “gaps between expectations and reality [in pornography] can produce ‘sexual uncertainty’ about sexual beliefs and values and may also be related to sexual dissatisfaction, anxiety and fear.”

Young people in heterosexual partnerships may attempt to mimic the dramatized dynamic between a man and a woman in pornography — a dynamic that often forces the female into a role of the subject of a male’s desire and removes her own sexual enjoyment from the experience.

But that’s not the only sexual taboo that people face.

Another obstacle that causes a detriment to sexual health is the lack of education and conversation surrounding masturbation. This taboo dates back to biblical times.

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According to a 1986 study about the twentieth-century attitudes towards masturbation, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, “certain forms of sex were condemned because they were believed to threaten the possibility of conception.”

However, this sexual taboo has unnecessarily endured throughout time. A study performed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute about the role of masturbation in healthy sexual development among young adults wrote, “despite

efforts to identify masturbation as a strategy to improve sexual health, promote relational intimacy, reduce unwanted pregnancy, STIs and HIV transmission, masturbation as a context for healthy sexual development has been met with silence or trepidation in the scientific and educational communities.”

Essentially, masturbation is a sexual health practice that has proved to improve sexual health in individuals by decreasing STD transmissions. However, the misconception that it decreases the chances of reproduction led to the practice being discouraged in a time before contraceptives and safe sex was properly emphasized in the sexual health community. Consequently, there has been a lack of education surrounding masturbation; however, it may be time for this taboo to be discussed in sexual education classes in order to improve widespread sexual health.

If one chooses to not be sexually active with a partner, their sexual wellbeing should not have to suffer.

Being sexually uneducated and naive is a more socially acceptable attitude, but a lack of sexual knowledge can cause insecurity, denial of sexual pleasure and the health benefits that it brings as well as a possibility that uninformed, riskier decisions will be made regarding sex. However, if young people are educated and outspoken about sex, society, unfortunately, looks down upon them. This stereotype must be debunked in order for young people to pursue sexual empowerment.

Too often, we find ourselves saying, “I love you,” but it’s time to start saying “I love me.”

HOT GIRLS HAVE STOMACH PROBLEMS Mason Shaffer How many times in the last year have you seen a tweet, TikTok or post somewhere along the lines of “hot girls have stomach issues?” How many of those times have you resonated with that sentiment? Do you ever think it’s possible that you have problems with your gut such as IBS or Crohn’s Disease? As these issues become more normalized, it’s easier — and more important – than ever to recognize what’s going on in your own body.

In the last two years, the discourse regarding stomach problems has not only gotten an overwhelming increase in exposure but the way in which they’re discussed has done a complete 180. What once used to be a taboo and hush-hush subject is now a hot topic of conversation.

Why the sudden switch? The phenomenon of “hot girls with stomach issues” initially starting as an online punchline has slowly become a micro-movement for young women’s gut health. People turning their stomach issues into tweets and anecdotal TikToks have now created a community and a safe space for people to learn about problems they may be having with their digestive system. There are resources available now more than ever to learn about issues with your digestive system. It is no longer the awkward, uncomfortable conversation it once was.

As with most issues with discourse on the internet, such as mental health, the once taboo stomach issues are losing the stigma they used to carry. The discourse surrounding stomach problems seems to be resonating most with young women, and there seems to be more than one explanation as to why.

Many stomach issues — such as bloating, cramping and constipation — can be attributed to a woman’s menstrual cycle, particularly around the time of your monthly period.

These issues are often exacerbated by issues with a period, especially if it is irregular or you are already prone to stomach issues in the first place. Additionally, many of these common stomach problems can be attributed to issues related or subsequent to eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food. Your body can develop intolerances to foods you’ve previously forced yourself

to reject or avoid. If you have a history of abusing substances like laxatives or diuretics, your digestive system has also likely become more sensitive in the process, causing you to feel sick to your stomach on a more frequent basis.

Abbey Lyle, a Penn State fourth-year majoring in management information systems, first noticed stomach issues of her own roughly two years ago, during her second year of college. Lyle discovered she had a wide variety of food allergies, which made her nauseous, caused stomach pain and created a lack of appetite.

As Lyle pointed out, many stomach issues are food-based.

One way to aid your digestive system is by consuming low FOD-MAP foods, which reduce bloating, constipation and cramping in those with IBS. Foods such as chicken, tuna, turkey, pork and prosciutto are all considered low FOD-MAP meats and would be easy on your digestive system to regularly eat. Fruits such as strawberry, orange, pineapple and banana and vegetables such as carrots, celery and cucumber are also low FOD-MAP foods that are delicious and easy to incorporate into your regular diet.

So if you’re a hot girl who thinks you might have stomach issues, what should you do? First and foremost, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to let them know what symptoms you’re experiencing. Lyle saw a gastroenterologist, or a GI, as well as an allergist to get to the root of her stomach issues. Everyone’s experience will be different, but do your research on your symptoms and potential doctors in your area to get an idea of what the next steps may be for you. There are more resources and support than ever to help you along the way — especially knowing your fellow hot girls have your back — which Lyle says has made her feel so much more comfortable discussing her stomach issues.

“ Other people have been willingly sharing that they have stomach problems too — without even knowing I have them,” Lyle says. “Realizing just how many people have similar issues makes it feel so much more normal.”

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Photographed by: Taylor Kuszyk Lighting by: Jacob Lawall Makeup by: Derek Ulrich Models: Paige Cohen, Brooke Mullarky

GOLDEN

YOU ARE THE SUN

*Trigger Warning: abortion, sexual assault, abuse*

UNDERSTANDING THE STIGMA Bianca Alvarez “ Believe it or not, everyone knows someone who has had an abortion,” Dr. Meera Shah says in “You’re the Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion.”

While it is oftentimes viewed as an uncommon and taboo subject, abortion is another topic under the gigantic umbrella that is reproductive health. Why is it like this though? While it’s a topic in some conversations, many refuse to bring up the subject despite the fact the data and odds show more women have or will have had one.

According to Planned Parenthood, 1 in every 4 women have an abortion or will have an abortion before they’re 45. Understanding the stigma and learning ways in which to destigmatize it, can have an everlasting change in the world of women’s reproductive health.

WHO GETS IT

When Dr. Shah spoke with medical residents, she recalls some of her students found that women who got an abortion were seen as “lazy” or “irresponsible.” Those who find themselves undergoing the quick procedure have their own reasons as to why this was the best option.

“ Abortion is very common, and people have abortions for many different reasons,” Planned Parenthood says.

Let’s break down why some people choose to get the procedure done.

According to Planned Parenthood, many reasons include: • • • • • • • •

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They’re not ready to have a baby.

Now is not the time.

They are focusing on work, school or other goals.

The person with whom they conceived the fetus is abusive or not the one to raise a child with if taken to the full term.

They don’t want to be a parent.

The fetus won’t survive the pregnancy.

They are a victim of sexual assault.

The pregnancy is dangerous and has potential risks.

There is not one set age, ethnicity, race or background that gets an abortion. Various people find themselves choosing this route compared to alternative options as they feel it is what is best for them.

THE PROCEDURE

It’s a common thought that the two different procedures in which someone can have an abortion are dangerous and can cause life-altering changes to the female body.

However, the two abortion options have a safety rating of 99% according to a study released by the National Academics of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

Medication abortions — 1 of 2 options that involve taking mifepristone — have been FDA approved since the year 2000.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

Much like how there is no standard or cookie-cutter person who gets an abortion, there is no standard feeling. According to experts, many assume one will feel a sense of guilt and shame. While many will feel a different emotion after undergoing the procedure, Planned Parenthood statesmost people can be relieved and don’t regret their choice. Each individual processes and handles abortion differently, but these feelings are never unique to this experience.

POLITICAL LENSE

The tool in every political kit. It’s easy to believe abortion is just a fight among political parties or a topic in a headline about the war on reproductive health. With abortion being commonly seen as a political issue, the actuality of abortion is lost in translation for many. From supreme court hearings to party discussions to heartbeat bills being signed into action, politics has found its way into reproductive rights — especially those who are people of color, those who are low-income and many more.

WHY WE SHOULD BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA

VALLEY spoke to a Penn State Brill Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Dr. Susanne M. Klausen.

Dr. Klausen has strong opinions on what needs to happen in order for women to feel like they can speak more openly about their experiences.

“ This is something women have always taken up as an option throughout time and across countries,” Dr. Klausen says.

Without the destigmatization of abortion, the misconceived perception will remain causing legislation, misinformation and beliefs to continuously circulate for years to come.

While this may not be seen directly, problems can occur — including unsafe abortions.

When we shift the way we approach the conversation of abortion, it will allow those who have had one to claim it when they’re ready to do so without fear of judgment from society. This can cause a domino effect for women who have had one to feel comfortable enough to come forward.

“ Women from all walks of life, of all ages, have needed abortions in the past, present and will in the future, so we need to normalize it,” Dr. Klausen says. “It’s a part of everyday reproductive decision-making.”

HOW TO BREAK THE STIGMA

Now how do we break down the stigma that has been around for so long? Through conversations, this taboo subject can be a regular topic of discussion — yes it may be weird at first — but it all starts with a small step.

The attempt to destigmatize abortion is nothing new to society and women. Campaigns around the world have worked for decades to find ways in which society can understand abortion from a non-political lens.

Dr. Klausen laid out the fundamentals of breaking down the stigma surrounding this area of women’s reproductive rights. Ways in which one can find themselves normalizing abortion according to Dr. Klausen include: removing shame and guilt, recognizing those who’ve gone through such procedures and those who provide one, seeing abortion without a political lens, pushing back against misconceptions and having an open dialogue about it.

RESOURCES

Whether you yourself have undergone an abortion, know someone who has or is looking to aid in the process of destigmatizing — there are so many resources to help you feel comfortable about speaking up. From studies conducted by experts, to podcasts, to support groups, many are looking to do the same thing … destigmatize abortion.

If you feel like you need help or someone you know is struggling, Penn State provides Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 814-863-0395.

The UHS advice nurse can also help at 863-4463, option # 2 or visit clinic hours: Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Wed 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

SELF

IMPROVEMENT

Pronouns: He/She/They Year: Fourth-year Major: Musical Theatre

Photographed by: Cameron Soravilla, Becca Baker

Wash, tone, and moisturize every morning and night. Wear sunscreen every day. Drink lots of water. Also remember you’re only responsible for your own happiness and making sure you’re not making others unhappy!

Teddy Wilson

LET YOUR ANGELS BE YOUR GUIDE Helena Haynes Whether it’s scrolling through your Instagram feed or walking down the main street of your town, there’s no doubt that you’ve seen an angel number somewhere.

With the rise of the so-called “spiritual” side of social media, including crystals, tarot cards and of course angel numbers, they’re basically unavoidable at this point.

Although you may enjoy the aesthetic of these numbers, do you really understand the meaning?

Angel numbers are said to have originated from Pythagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher born in 570 BC. He believed that numbers correlate with the universe, and that each number contains its own specific energy.

Of course, the term “angel number” did not become common until modern times, but since Pythagoras is considered to be the father of numerology, much of the meaning behind the term is credited to him. Today, people embrace the energy of angel numbers by purchasing angel number jewelry and posting sightings of these numbers to their social media pages.

For many people, there is a specific angel number that resonates with them more than others. They may feel this connection as a result of simply seeing it more often or because they are looking for it due to its special meaning. Even though each number is said to have a certain significance, much of it is up to your own interpretation.

111

This particular angel number is known to be a powerful tool when it comes to manifestation. It is a clear sign that you’re on the right path with your current intentions.

Trusting your gut is important, and this number is a reassurance that you are moving in the right direction.

222

Being present in the age of technology is something we all need to work on. 222 is a signal to trust where you are in life and remain present. Many people also view 222 as a symbol of coming together. This can indicate the forming of new relationships. Be open to love and friendship if this number is reoccurring in your life.

333

Balance is important to find, and 333 is your reminder to do so. If you find yourself seeing 333 pop up throughout your day, this is a sign for you to prioritize your mind, body and spirit. Trust your intuition and let go of past stress and anxiety. This number sequence is also an indication to bring more forgiveness into your life.

444

During tough times, it’s normal to feel lost. 444 is a sign that things are looking up for you. It’s also a sign of

protection, meaning that your spiritual guides are taking you down the right path. Awareness is key if you find yourself seeing this angel number throughout your day.

“ While I appreciate the messages each number represents, the number I tend to favor is ‘444,’” Julie Jastremski, a Penn State third-year student, says. “This number means protection, and whenever I see it, it’s like a little reminder that the world and my angels are watching over me.”

555

Change is something that inevitably has to be faced.

Whether you love change, or dread it, 555 is your sign that it’s about to happen. If you’re someone that fears change, know that the universe is only making these changes to bring you where you are supposed to be.

Without change, you would never be able to grow.

666

Although 666 is a somewhat controversial number with negative religious connotations, it is also considered to be an angel number. Forget thinking of 666 as “evil,” and start thinking of it as a sign to trust yourself, rather than seeking validation and answers from other people.

777

It’s easy to feel fearful about the future, but there is also so much excitement about embarking on your next adventure. When you see 777, it’s an indication that you need to let go of any hesitation and trust the process. 777 is considered to be one of the most spiritual angel numbers.

“ To me the number 777 means that I’m following the right path and I am where I’m supposed to be in life,” Nina Fonash, a Penn State first-year, says. “I’m also not chasing anything or stressing over things. I’m letting things come to me.”

888

Letting go can be difficult to do, but we’ve all been in situations where leaving something behind is necessary.

888 is an indicator that it’s time to let go of something in your life, whether it be a person, a place or even a job.

Cutting ties and moving forward can come with growing pains, but it only means things are looking up.

999

If 999 is a common spotting for you, it’s time to take your life to the next level. Embrace the things that serve you and provide you happiness and let go of the clutter.

Essentially, it’s time for a bigger and better chapter of your life. The best is yet to come.

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JEALOUSY, JEALOUSY Katelyn Lenz When something ecstatic happens for you, whether it be a dream job offer or moving into a brand new apartment, the first thing you typically want to do is share the news with the people closest to you. However, has it ever been noticeable to not receive the same gratitude back?

Many reframe your exciting news from that “dream job” into “it’s going to make you work over hours” and that “brand new apartment” into “it’s way too expensive and will drain your pockets.” It can be extremely hurtful when receiving judgment for sharing exciting news that you did not expect a negative response from — but why? Why would people closest to you make you question and put you down for things you’ve always wanted?

This is a reflection of jealousy. If others have felt this way about your accomplishments, have you ever let yourself feel this way about theirs?

Jealousy comes from an emotional reaction that occurs when someone feels threatened, which activates undesirable feelings such as insecurity, rejection, anger and worry.

Projecting stems from three core issues: insecurities, comparison and successfulness.

PROJECTING INSECURITIES

Jealousy is bringing out what you don’t want to face about yourself. It comes out as envy when it stems from your own insecurities. Jealous insecurities turn anger and frustrations you subconsciously have into negative emotions towards someone else. Being jealous or envious has the power to ruin relationships and hurt yourself by giving negative energy back to people you care about.

It also takes away your own power from focusing on yourself and making your dreams become a reality. When one feeds into bitter feelings, it demolishes your self-esteem more than you think by ignoring the deeply rooted issues causing an envious emotion within. When you allow your insecurities to turn into jealous behavior, it shows a lack of confidence in yourself.

COMPARISON

Trying to fit society’s standards is already hard on its own, never mind feeling the pressure of others around you. It can be difficult to see anyone you know or even people you don’t “living their best life” on social media.

It has become an outlet to allow jealousy to form more.

In reality, their life is tweaked to be perceived that way on social media. Even if your jealousy isn’t based around social media perceptions and is instead one of your best

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friends who seems to have life figured out, it’s hard to accept when the world seems like it isn’t on your side.

Comparing yourself to someone else from looks, accomplishments and more will just destroy you in the end. When you decide to feed your energy into jealousy and anger for not getting what someone else has, it takes away from the potential of yourself.

SUCCESS SCARES OTHERS

Have you ever experienced FOMO watching others live out their dreams? Even if they aren’t your dreams, the success of others can make you feel like you’re falling behind.

Right after college, some are given once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that can make you feel like that’s what you should be doing too. Jealousy starts to form when you begin to feel like a failure to some extent.

“ Speech pathology is a very competitive field where it is limited to receive a high-paying position in a hospital, Penn State Alumna Gianna Andreula says. “When I got my first job, which happened to be in a hospital that a lot of my friends interviewed for as well, it was a lot of backhanded compliments because it was one less medical position for them.”

One thing to remember is there is always room at the top. The things that you want and desire will always be there in another form — no matter what pace it comes at. Do not let time affect you or your life goals. If it doesn’t happen immediately after college graduation, that doesn’t mean it’s never coming your way.

RECOGNIZING EMOTIONS

Learning methods to stop yourself from feeding into envy comes from inner work. Digging deep into your emotions and asking yourself why do I truly envy what another has?

You will face the truth instead of deflecting it in other ways, facing it head-on. When you learn to use this tool on yourself, you can see it in others’ behavior as well. It helps explain why people are not happy for you when you share exciting news or are confident in yourself.

Everything in your life is happening for a reason and taking you where you’re meant to be. Your dreams are going to be different from everyone else’s in every aspect of your life — that’s what makes everyone so unique.

The key to avoiding jealous behavior within yourself and others is to remind yourself what is meant for you will never pass you.

THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF SUCCESS Julia McGinty Success is not linear. Despite all the “right steps” we try to take in life, we’re bound to miss a couple on the way. But no one really wants to believe that failure is inevitable. The concept of failure can be especially terrifying as a young professional entering an unpredictable job market.

Generation Z has been taught to be cutthroat and stack up accomplishments like building blocks. At colleges across the country and Penn State, students are encouraged to take advantage of seminars and networking resources.

The message of the “sooner the better” is persistent.

While it is prudent to be prepared, this vigilance has bred an agonizing culture of what-ifs. So how does one deal with FOMO? Regrets? Feelings of academic inferiority?

It’s hard to answer. But one thing that’s certain is success stories can be found in all sorts of places.

Thomas Berner, a retired Penn State professor, spoke to VALLEY about his experience getting into the journalism field. Berner says that he got started in the newspaper business at the age of seventeen but lacked the money to go to college. He didn’t see many options for himself after graduation and decided to join the navy.

However, when the GI Bill of Rights passed, Berner had the financial means to go.

“ Regardless of what communications field you want to go into — as long as you can write clearly and concisely — you’ll have a lot of opportunities,” Berner says.

Berner is also a proponent of internships or even shadowing, whenever possible. For those reaching for success “anything that contributes to critical thinking ability” is a step in the right direction.

If you still feel behind, some of the world’s most well known names have encountered obstacles just like you.

Oprah Winfrey is now one of the most well-established women in media. Before becoming the household name

that she is today, Winfrey endured poverty, sexual abuse and a turbulent homelife. Her parents moved her from house to house to curb her rebellion and care for her other sisters at the same time. After making a greater effort in high school, Winfrey was an honors student, won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant and placed second in the nation with her speech team. The talk show host and philanthropist has since used her platform to advocate for mental health and gender equality .

Adam Driver, well known for his portrayal of Kylo Ren in the Star Wars franchise, didn’t start his career as an actor. After high school, Driver worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman and telemarketer. The now famous actor was even rejected by The Juilliard School of Drama. Driver served from 2002 to 2004 in the United States Marine Corps before attending the University of Indianapolis for a year. After that year, he reapplied to Juilliard and was accepted. Although his path was derailed, he is now an Emmy nominated actor and a Tony award winner.

Responsible for bringing “The Mummy” series to life, actor Brendan Fraser had risen to the spotlight in the late 1990s — only to allegedly be cast aside by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after Philip Berk, the former president of the HFPA, allegedly sexually assaulted him.

Fraser spoke to GQ in 2018 about the incident, saying he felt like someone had “thrown invisible paint” on him.

How do you hold yourself together after losing a dream job?

The burden of chasing older generations’ version of the American Dream can feel suffocating. But success can be found even after changing schools or career paths. The idolization of overworking may never go away, but taking a step back is a necessary act of self-preservation.

You are more than your number of extracurriculars and Linked-In connections. While it can be terrifying to be confronted with a path that deviates from one you’ve put significant time into, regrets often come from things unexplored.

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*Trigger Warning: Slut Shaming*

GIRL-ON-GIRL CRIME Sylvie August Maybe you have joked about Taylor Swift’s dating life, maybe you have turned away from a book or piece of music because it was written or sung by a woman or maybe you have made a subtle dig at a female friend in front of a group of people to make you look better.

Many young women can say that they have been the victim and the perpetrator when it comes to girl-on-girl crime.

Why? Women are subjected to internalized misogyny.

According to the University of Missouri, internalized misogyny is defined as “when women subconsciously project sexist ideas onto other women and even onto themselves.” Women being put down in everyday life, particularly on social media, conditions the minds of young women to think that they are not good enough and that they need to put down other women. Oftentimes, this occurs in the presence of men in order to be seen as special or valued.

Internalized misogyny is difficult to shut down in conversation, because defining how a woman can be sexist herself, as a woman who simultaneously experiences exterior sexism, is a complicated issue.

Kira Means, a graduate student at Western Washington University, composed her master’s thesis titled “‘Not Like Other Girls:’ Implicit and Explicit Dimensions of Internalized Sexism and Behavioral Outcomes” about internalized sexism in an attempt to create more valid scientific research on a sparsely-researched issue.

“ I had seen, in my own life, women not supporting other women, and I was interested in why that happens,” Means says.

Means directed focus groups where she showed groups of women an episode of “The Bachelor”’ and asked them questions about the show. Means found that some of the women in the focus groups stereotyped the women in the show with belittling qualifiers such as being “too emotional to think logically” or “catty.”

“ I think part of this issue is prevalence,” Means says. “How often women are willing to participate

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in the oppression of people like themselves and really perpetuate these myths that we’ve been told growing up, like sexism, that we have internalized throughout our lifetime and put those expectations and rules on other women.”

Means explains that sexist comments made by women are often a result of unconscious biases. Women frequently put down other women in more subtle ways without even realizing that they are doing so. Stereotypes and sexism have become such commonplace among conversation that many people do not even view them as wrongful or dehumanizing.

More and more women are becoming aware of this issue as it expands on social media, in the scientific world and in conversation. However, awareness is just a first step to breaking down internalized sexism. Now that you are aware, you can make direct decisions to decline your sexist intuitions.

Obviously, you can’t control your thoughts; however, you can control how your thoughts transform into your words and actions. If a comment pops into your head that puts a woman down or degrades her into a stereotype, recognize and filter away those thoughts. Think of how a young girl would feel about what you are saying and how it would impact her self-view. Conditioning your mind to reject internalized sexism is not only good for your individual mental health, but it also changes how young girls in the future will approach self-esteem and friendships.

Furthermore, forgive yourself and be kind to yourself.

Internalized sexism is not an issue that you face alone. It is something that almost all women have been pre-conditioned to think by seeing and hearing about stereotypes of women in their personal lives and in the media. If you are beginning to unlearn these sexist tendencies, take pride in the steps that you have taken.

Ultimately, debunking internalized sexism is important because it changes how women feel about themselves and others. Deconstructing sexist tendencies empowers women and allows them to fight exterior sexism.

Keron Sidhu

Pronouns: She/her Year: Fourth-year Major: Industrial Engineering

CAMPUS

CULTURE

It’s better to regret doing something than wonder what could have happened. .

Photographed by: Cameron Soravilla, Becca Baker

HAUNTED

VALLEY Chloe Spencer If you’ve been at Penn State for any significant amount of time, you’ve probably heard whisperings about haunted spots on campus. Have you ever wondered where you can go to catch a glimpse of these ghosts?

Look no further, because ghost spotting isn’t too far away. Just around the corner on campus, you may find yourself in a P-S-BOO spot!

SCARES IN THE STACKS The first, and probably the most commonly known haunted spot on campus, is the Stacks at the Pattee Library. It was here, in 1969, that Betsy Aardsma was fatally stabbed, and the killer was never caught. She was killed between book rows 50 and 51, and the spot has been known to provide a creepy experience when visited — with sudden temperature decreases, the feeling of phantom hands touching students and eerie messages scrolled across the bookshelves.

BOTANY BUILDING BOOS Another popular spot that is considered to be haunted is the Old Botany building on Pollock Road. It was built in 1887 and is the oldest building on campus.

This building is directly across from the grave of George Atherton, the longest-serving Penn State president, and it is said that sometimes his wife, Frances, can be seen in one of the top windows, pacing around and watching over her late husband’s grave. Rachel Ross, a secondyear student studying early childhood education, claims that during several of her late-night walks around campus she has stopped by Old Botany to try and catch a glimpse of Frances.

“I have seen something weird the few times that I’ve stopped,” Ross says. “I’ve noticed a shadow that darts to and from the window, and seems to kind of disappear once you pause to get a good look.” Although it once was a botany lab and was surrounded by a garden, it is now used for administrative offices … Perhaps Frances is just helping with some paperwork?

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APPARITIONS IN THE ARBORETUM Close by the Old Botany building and Atherton’s grave is the Schwab Auditorium. This spot is known to be frequented by several ghosts, including Atherton and Charles Schwab, the man who paid for the Schwab auditorium to be built. They are said to be heard speaking and walking around the auditorium late at night and also sitting in the audience seats and moving through walls. The next time you go to see a performance at Schwab, pay attention to the paranormal performances, as well.

DISTURBANCES IN THE DORMS Some of the dorms at Penn State have also been deemed “haunted,” oftentimes due to tragic deaths that have occurred in the past. Among these haunted dorms are Runkle Hall and Tener Hall.

Runkle Hall is considered to be the most haunted place on campus, with many people experiencing terrifying activity, especially on the third floor. It is said that oftentimes lights will turn off and on, furniture will move, and in the worst-case scenarios, people have felt a presence in their bed as they hear random banging sounds coming from their walls.

Siri Halve, a fourth-year studying kinesiology, even reports that she was “shaken” from her sleep by what felt like several pairs of phantom hands. She says that they felt “ice cold” and that the feeling of their fingers gripping her arms stayed with her for several days.

Some students began using Ouija boards to find out more about the ghosts, and allegedly the board spelled out words exclusively in Spanish, which aligned with the experiences of some students whose televisions would constantly switch to Spanish-speaking channels without any explanation. One time, a student even reported seeing an elderly woman sitting in one of the study lounges. A word of advice: if you plan on visiting Runkle anytime soon, prepare yourself for some terrifying and unexplainable encounters.

Tener Hall residents will sometimes report hearing a woman screaming or a presence in their bed with them, and this is attributed to the fact that a past student fell from the 8th floor and ended up passing away from her injuries. It is speculated that she committed suicide, but the one thing we know for sure is that some seriously creepy things have happened up there since then.

Overall, with Penn State’s rich and long history, we are bound to have some freaky occurrences. The next time you’re out and about at night, pay attention to what’s going on around you … Perhaps you’ll discover some creepy tidbits that you had never noticed before!

Colleen Dunn Taking on the Penn State bars for the first time is no easy feat — especially if you’ve just turned 21 during the pandemic. If you’re confused about the ways to go about navigating the multiple bars on campus, VALLEY has all of the information newcomers need to navigate the downtown bar scene like a pro. Let’s go to the bars!

“You have to be aggressive,” Corazzi says.

THE BARS

“Venmo is also a very useful tactic at a bar if you’re there with a lot of people,” Corazzi says.

It’s not always easy finding the bar that is the perfect fit for you. Fourth-years Sara Eckelmeyer and Alexa Corazzi, who just turned 21 last September, have spent the past year getting to know the bars and they’re ready to share their expertise with the rest of Penn State.

For starters, Primanti Bros. is considered by Corazzi as the “Greek life” bar — but that’s not to say only people from fraternities and sororities go to P-Man. But according to Corazzi, “they make up a big chunk of the crowd.”

If you’re looking to stand and socialize, P-Man is the spot to be.

Champ’s, on the other hand, provides more of a clublike scene. For a more relaxed and social atmosphere, head downstairs where there are pool tables, arcade games and another bar top.

“It’s a DJ, lights off, can’t move in a crowd type of bar,” Corazzi says.

Café 210 is known for its patio and its pitchers. With an expansive food and drink menu, Café 210 offers a more relaxed, sit-down and eat, social setting.

“I think I would say it’s the best place to bring your parents when they visit,” Eckelmeyer says.

Right through the iconic green door on Beaver Ave. and down the stairs is The Phyrst. It’s smaller and darker than other bars because it’s in a basement, “but that makes it more fun, right?” Corazzi says. “If you’re looking for live music, The Phyrst is the bar for you.”

If the weather is nice, head to Doggie’s Pub. They offer an outdoor beer garden that is a real crowd-pleaser.

For a more relaxing night out, there’s cornhole and non-conventional bar music to keep you entertained.

If you’re still hesitant about going to the bars, you’re in luck because Doggie’s Pub is the perfect place to socialize without feeling overwhelmed.

“You can’t beat it,” Eckelmeyer says.

ORDERING A DRINK Waiting in line to get into the bar is the first battle.

The next one is getting the attention of the bartender to order a drink. It’s every man for themselves at the bar top.

If you’re struggling to push through the crowd, ask someone who is sitting at the bar to order a drink f or you. Chances are, they’ll oblige, and you might even make a new friend.

Rather than everyone ordering drinks separately, one friend can take one for the team and pay the tab.

SIGNATURE DRINKS Some of the bars are known for their special cocktail creations. Have you ever seen the infamous white plastic cup with the Champ’s logo stamped on the front? Chances are, it was filled with a Dirty Sprite.

The first stop for newly turned 21-year-olds should be The Phyrst for their signature birthday shot. Put your hands behind your back, lick the whipped cream off the side of the shot glass and throw back the rich and creamy drink.

“You have to do it … I don’t make the rules,” Eckelmeyer says.

HAPPY HOUR & SPECIAL NIGHTS If you want the best bang for your buck, make sure to keep track of all the bars’ Happy Hours on their websites because the times and special offers change depending on the night.

Bill Pickle’s Tap Room has Country Night every Tuesday, where they play all the country music your achy breaky heart desires. On Wednesdays, the Shandygaff holds Gaffeoke, so you can enjoy a beer and belt out your favorite tunes.

TIPS & TRICKS If you’re still a little nervous about entering the bar for the first time, here are a few tips and tricks for your “phyrst” night out on the town: If you’re sick of waiting in long lines, consider buying a LineLeap to make the wait a little more bearable.

Bring cash on the weekends for covers. (They usually range from $5 to $15.)

Stay with friends because it can be hard to find each other once you separate.

Order two drinks at once to avoid waiting in line again.

Make sure you don’t cut the line.

Most importantly, it’s all about the memories you make, not the bars you go to. But if you have the chance, Eckelmeyer suggests trying out each bar.

“You can have a good time and make amazing memories wherever you go,” Eckelmeyer says.

Photographed by: Becca Baker, Cameron Soravilla Model: Jessica Cook

WALKING ON SUNSHINE AVENUE Nicole Rogosky

E

There’s something so mesmerizing about Jessica Cook. Whether it’s her infectious laugh or kind smile, she exudes a warm, blinding glow that one can only describe as sunshine.

Just like the sun, she’s magnetic — pulling people into her orbit, making them feel calm and welcome in every instance and in any circumstance. The people around Jessica rave about the light within her, as she strives to be a force for positivity.

But she hasn’t always felt like this. Her rays began to dim the summer before her senior year of high school.

FATEFUL FINDINGS Growing up in St. Augustine, Florida, Jessica never felt any different from her peers — until the third grade. At the age of just nine years old, she began gaining weight randomly and rapidly.

Despite her hatred of needles, her concerned parents took her to get a blood test. The results: hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid becomes underactive and unable to produce sufficient hormones — leaving her with a lifelong need to take medication that acts as her organ. The condition also causes a number of symptoms — one of the biggest being weight gain.

In the time of middle school and the early 2000s, where thigh gaps were all the rage, Jessica couldn’t help but compare herself to everyone else. Watching herself gain weight, despite now having an explanation, was so difficult that she would cry at doctors’ appointments when she saw the number on the scale.

“Back then, I was just like, ‘I wish I was skinnier,’” Jessica says. “It was a trend to be skinny, and I felt like I was overweight all the time — not really loving my body.”

Her feelings towards her body carried over into high school, despite losing the weight she gained from her hypothyroidism.

“I was still so insecure of my body. I had a fear of gaining weight again,” she says.

While the intensity of going through drastic weight fluctuations at such a young age hurt her confidence, she was still optimistic about her routine check-up with her doctor the summer before her senior year of high school — hoping it was the last time she would have to see her doctor. Not fully understanding how reliant her body was on her medication, she thought that he might possibly give her the all-clear to stop taking it.

At the appointment, her doctor examined her throat and stumbled upon a lump in her thyroid. He sent her to get an ultrasound of her throat and a biopsy that would remove tissue from her thyroid gland. Tired and not really focusing, Jessica wasn’t thinking anything of his discovery.

“I kept thinking, ‘I’m fine,’” Jessica says.

She continued on with her summer like any normal seventeen-year-old would by hanging out with friends and family, taking in the last couple of months before her senior year of high school. And then a couple of weeks later, her doctor called and asked if she could see him.

For the first time — just minutes away from seeing her doctor, Jessica thought of what felt like the impossible.

“I remember sitting there with my parents thinking in my head, ‘What if I have cancer?’” she says.

“Then, I was immediately like, ‘Never think that ever again, Jessica.’”

When she walked into his office, the sad grimace on her doctor’s face became the telltale sign that her recent pang of worry just might be true.

Her question was answered. They found a tumor.

Her whole world came crumbling down. In shock, she remained paralyzed from fear, unable to speak as her doctor told her that her next steps were finding out if the tumor was benign or cancerous. The only way to do so was surgery, where doctors would perform a thyroid lobectomy, the removal of half of her thyroid, along with the tumor.

“It was good they caught it,” Jessica says. “But, I just kept thinking, ‘Am I going to die?’ I woke up every morning thinking about it. I felt miserable and the thought just kept repeating and repeating.”

Finding out she had a tumor also meant she would eventually have to relay the news about the last few months to her friends.

“I hated people worrying about me,” she says. “I always wanted to be okay [for others], back then.”

Nervous to explain, Jessica let it all out on the table — metaphorically and physically. During dinner with her friends one night, she confessed to her recent findings and was met with nothing but support. On August 31, 2018, the day of her surgery, Jessica was given a huge poster filled with supportive messages from those who have been touched by Jessica’s positive light — now looking to be that support for her.

But instead, she received news she never saw coming.

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“

Something cancer has taught me is that life isn’t perfect. It throws you problems, and it’s how you deal with them that matters. No one is perfect.

“

Part of her thyroid and tumor were removed, and although she was discharged the next day, she was in a world of pain. She could barely move her neck, but she tried to remain positive about her potential diagnosis.

But then a week later, Jessica’s mother gave her the news. She had cancer.

“I try to put on a brave face, especially around my parents, who care so much about me, but I was in shock,” she says. “I sat on my bed and kept thinking, ‘Cancer? Why? Why me? Come on, I have a life to live.’”

The long and aggravating process of having to go back into surgery and remove the rest of her thyroid was physically and mentally draining — leaving Jessica feeling behind.

“By that point, I was like, ‘What do I do next with my life?’” Jessica says.

PENN STATE, ARE YOU THERE? IT’S ME, JESSICA The world didn’t stop for Jessica. She had to keep trudging forward and pretend to be just like any other high school student as college applications were quickly catching up to her.

“Everyone is thinking about colleges and how to make memories of their last year in high school, and I have cancer at seventeen years old,” Jessica says. “What seventeen-year-old gets a tumor in their throat? It was a lot to handle mentally, and I was just like, ‘I can’t do this.’”

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Still behind, Jessica applied to college … and then got rejected. And then got rejected again and again to the point she didn’t know where she was going to end up. The pressure of going to the “perfect” school festered within and gradually rose to the top until she broke down crying to her doctor about her next steps.

Mad at the universe, she couldn’t find her “dream” school, and it was hard watching her friends get into their school of choice. While working, a friend visited her to share the news about their college acceptance, which prompted her to call her mom, begging for any new updates. Her mom told her she got into Penn State — even after applying on a whim and almost forgetting she even applied. Something immediately clicked and she began crying.

“I thought, ‘I think it’s a sign from the universe that I should go to Penn State,’” Jessica says. “I wanted a change, and I think it was a great time to branch out.”

THE EPIPHANY Despite the exciting news, cancer was still in the back of her mind. The thought of having to explain her story and the scar across her throat was eating at her.

With Penn State on the horizon and a few months left of high school, the transition to college seemed like a daunting task, and her mental health wasn’t improving.

“I wasn’t living my life,” she says. “I thought, ‘I’m so depressed. I’m killing my mental health.’”

But, Jessica had an epiphany.

She thought to herself, “I need to enjoy this.”

“Cancer is the biggest word,” she says. “It causes a lot of pain. But no matter what happens in my life, I need to enjoy it. I need to live it.”

Jessica realized that she needed to take each day one step at a time and appreciate the smaller things in her life. The struggle to become a perfect version of herself also weighed on her mind. Being reminded of her cancer journey and “having problems” was hard for her to accept, but she began to look within at who she wants to become.

“I constantly want to be a better person,” Jessica says. “I want to bring good into this world through my art.”

FLOWER POWER Amidst Jessica’s journey with her hypothyroidism and cancer, she was also on another journey — her journey towards becoming a filmmaker.

Coincidentally enough, at the age of nine, Jessica knew she wanted to enter the world of film around the same time she was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

She grew up in a world of imagination, constantly creating and watching stories, and once she got ahold of her mom’s old laptop, she began filming short movies and music videos. All throughout middle school, she was constantly writing scripts and producing movies as a way to pass the time and let her creativity soar.

What some thought was just a fun hobby turned out to be her lifelong passion. In high school, she finally realized becoming a filmmaker was plausible when she met other passionate film fanatics like herself.

“I decided I wanted to go to a school where I could actually use my craft,” Jessica says. “I wantedto make my own films and learn more throughout that process from [established] professionals.”

When she finally got to Penn State and had the opportunity to put those years of filmmaking to work, she began learning even more about her art and herself. Stepping out of her comfort zone and making more and more connections, Jessica decided to bite the bullet and make a feature-length film — a project that would kick-start her career.

“Stories from Behind the Lens,” a 48-minute documentary about Penn State students that spent a year working on one film during COVID-19, prepared her for her biggest career accomplishment yet: “Sunflower.” Showcasing a man going through a breakup, her short film, “Sunflower,” discusses what it’s like to blossom in a time of hardship and pain.

“I was in a relationship with someone and it went south for a while, and it just wasn’t working out anymore,” Jessica says. “We broke up, and I had this idea of creating this experimental film that played with experiencing different emotions. And then it clicked in my head that I was going to talk about the five stages of grief.”

After a few months, she took an experimental class that allowed her to make the film with a full production crew and professional actors. With the help of her producer, she began storyboarding each stage of the film, and she eventually created a movie that represented a number of circumstances Jessica dealt with herself.

From the death of family members, heartbreak and even her own cancer journey, her film captured the intense stages of grief she’s experienced these last few years — all while telling her audience that happy endings do come true.

Her film caught the eye of the judges for the Splice Film Festival 2021 Audience Choice Award, landing “Sunflower” its very first award.

“I thought, ‘Wow. I’m an award-winning director and creator,’” Jessica says.

Her next steps: taking what she’s learned from working on “Sunflower” and in her film classes at Penn State and applying it to the next two films she’s working on.

“All of my films will have a piece of my heart because I work so hard on them, but you have to know when it’s time to end it, so you can go on and make another one,” Jessica says.

Not only is Jessica an award-winning filmmaker, but she’s also the president of the Student Film Organization — a club for aspiring filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Ever since she joined her first year of college, she never thought she would become president … until her vice president encouraged her to apply, despite not having any officer experience.

Afraid of taking on the role of president, Jessica settled on social media manager until she finally decided to take the leap and become president this past year.

“My goal as president was to get the whole film community together, and give younger students who are filmmakers a chance to connect with students who are older,” Jessica says. “We’ve been doing so many fun things and making sure everyone is involved.”

The most rewarding part? For Jessica, it’s wondering who could potentially be the next president or even the next award-winning filmmaker.

“I feel like a mom, watching every filmmaker and

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film lover enjoy their time on staff,” she says.

But she remembers that just a few short years ago, she was in their shoes — feeling lost and scared of what her future might look like.

“I would’ve never imagined my life at school here,” she says. “Beating cancer was my biggest accomplishment, but being here as an award winning filmmaker and SFO president, [it is something] I didn’t think would happen. I never thought I could get here.”

GROW THROUGH WHAT YOU GO THROUGH But life as an award-winning filmmaker who has also happened to defeat cancer hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Throughout college, Jessica has suffered from PTSD-like symptoms such as flashbacks and triggers.

Especially during the start of COVID-19, her fears were coming back to light and she was getting triggered by the thought of cancer.

“I’ve always had a fear that I was going to get [cancer] back,” Jessica says. “I had a fear I was going to leave my friends too early when I haven’t done enough with them.”

These recurring thoughts prompted her to go back into therapy.

She discovered that practicing self-care was something she needed to start working on, and little by little, she incorporated activities like journaling and meditation into her routine in order to help with her mental health.

By doing such, she realized mental health is something she’s willing to strive to struggle for and hopes others are willing to do so too.

“Take care of your mental health,” Jessica says.

“We all go through traumatic experiences that shape us to be human beings, and especially for college students, your mental health is so important.

Something cancer has taught me is that life isn’t perfect. It throws you problems, and it’s how you deal with them that matters. No one is perfect.”

Something that’s helped her on her mental health journey is the phrase, “walking on sunshine avenue” — a motto she came up with in high school to help her through the growing pains of growing up.

“Sunshine is radiant,” Jessica says. “So when I tell myself to ‘keep walking on sunshine avenue,’” I tell myself to keep moving forward and to ‘keep walking towards a happy life.’”

P. S. I Love You Elise Tecco “SO HOW DID YOU GUYS MEET?” If you’ve heard the term “meet cute,” then you know it describes a unique and interesting first encounter between two people, which eventually turns into a significant relationship or friendship.

Movies are full of “meet cute” scenes — from Troy and Gabriella singing karaoke together to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dancing at a ball. But chance moments like these happen in real life too. VALLEY has gathered a few memorable “meet cute” stories that unfolded right here at Penn State.

FROM A FAKE WEDDING DATE TO A REAL ONE Norah and David’s story began their freshman year when they both were put on the same Dancer Relations THON Committee. On the night of Yellow Shirt Orientation, the two met on the steps of the Willard Building with the rest of the committee members. David immediately noticed Norah, even thinking she was “wife material.” Norah also noticed David’s “kind nature and how positive he was.”

Later in the semester, Norah and David both attended a party. The theme of the party? A wedding, ironically.

The night of the “wedding,” Norah had gotten dumped by her boyfriend. At the party, David was the one to console her. Three weeks later, David asked Norah to one of his fraternity events, where Norah said they shared their “first, awkward kiss.”

Although Norah got back together with her exboyfriend, she and David remained close friends.

David was happy to be friends but told Norah “if the opportunity arose, I would be interested in dating in the future.”

From then on, the universe seemed to be doing everything it could to push the two together.

Second year, they were paired on the same THON committee again, and third year, they (unintentionally) moved in across the street from each other on West College Ave. Norah and David were best friends.

They studied together, shared conversations together on Norah’s balcony and even submitted their THON captain applications together.

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“THON has truly always been at the center of our relationship,” David says.

After spending summers apart studying abroad, they bumped into each other the first weekend back at school fourth year at the Phyrst downtown.

From there, they went to every football game together!

Norah was the one who asked David out on their first “official” date. “I knew the ball was in my court as David had expressed his interest in me since day one,” she explains. “I didn’t want to start dating David until I was 110% sure I was ready and committed to him, because he deserves nothing less.”

The two spent their first date night at Cozy Thai, and the rest is history.

After 3 ½ years of dating (and 6 ½ years since they met), David proposed to Norah. They finally got to have a real (not fake!) wedding and live happily ever after.

A MATCH MADE IN (ICE CREAM) HEAVEN Mary decided to work at Penn State’s Berkey Creamery her first year for some extra money and because of its proximity to her East Halls dorm. Little did she know she was about to meet her future fiancé.

She only worked two days a week, and one of her shifts overlapped with Tim’s. “Tim was in his third year — a frat boy studying Material Science and Engineering, whose main hobby was lifting weights, and I was a freshman who became infatuated with him almost immediately,” Mary says.

Mary explained that during her first couple of shifts, they would exchange glances in passing. One day when Mary went to grab a three-gallon tub of ice cream in the freezer, things heated up.

“When I turned around, Tim was right behind me, ready to formally introduce himself,” she says. Tim asked herout on a date the following week.

“At work, I wore an ill-fitting navy blue smock and a standard issue “Berkey Creamery” hat that was too big for my head, so I know Tim did not ask me out

solely on looks alone,” Mary jokes.

The couple took things slow in their relationship. But that didn’t mean Mary didn’t see a future with him from the start. After their third date, she told her roommate she was going to marry him.

The next year, Tim was set to graduate in the spring, while Mary still had two more years at Penn State.

“We initially thought that might pose a problem,” she says. “But, it actually just gave us more to look forward to. It gave me room to grow and be my own person at school.”

The distance allowed Mary to figure out her major and make new friends and allowed Tim to focus on his career.

After dating for about three years, Mary and Tim took a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands with his older siblings.

“I made a joke a few weeks before we left about how funny it would be if he proposed while we were on this trip, and he laughed it off and told me that would be too predictable,” Mary says.

But in fact, and much to Mary’s utter surprise, Tim got down on one knee and asked her to marry him during their vacation.

Even though Nick had a different LA that was in charge of his group in the class, he specifically chose to attend Claudia’s office hours.

“He claims it was because I was a familiar face at first,” Claudia says. But alas, as Nick showed up at her office hours more and more, she realized he was coming for other reasons.

“He was honestly doing great in the class,” Claudia recalls, laughing. “He came in once with only one wrong question on a test. He obviously didn’t need my help.”

As their conversations strayed further away from biology topics, they really got to know each other. One day, Nick decided to come toward the end of Claudia’s office hours so they could walk out together. He asked if she wanted to go to the library with him.

“Of course, I took out my books to work, but we just talked the entire time like we did in office hours,” Claudia admits.

They finally exchanged numbers so Nick didn’t have to keep pretending like he needed help with biology, and he asked if she wanted to go with him to a Christmas event at the Arboretum.

“It really was the perfect time,” Mary says. “We were in a beautiful place surrounded by loved ones after a long year of quarantine.”

“We ended up talking and walking around for like two hours!” Claudia says. Afterwards, they went to the HUB and talked for another two hours — and both finally admitted how much they liked each other.

Mary and Tim promise their wedding will be “one big Penn State reunion.”

After they returned from winter break, they decided to make it official. Then COVID-19 hit.

L(A)OVE

“We became long distance all of a sudden, and as a new couple, that was really, really hard,” Claudia says. From talking daily to virtual Zoom movie dates, they really had to put in the work to build their relationship. “We weren’t getting anything else out of the relationship besides our talks with each other. I think it actually helped us grow.”

Claudia initially met Nick during the fall of their second year in a class they both took in order to become Learning Assistants (LAs).

“When I met him, I just got this feeling that he was going to be someone I was going to know for a while,” Claudia says.

But what truly brought them together was the biology class in Thomas 100 where Claudia worked as an LA — and where Nick was a student.

When you consider all the many ways you cross paths with people on any given day, it seems like fate when one of those chance moments becomes a “meet cute” story you’ll never forget.

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*Trigger Warning: Alcoholism*

PSA: Penn State’s Alcoholism Mason Shaffer In college, how many drinks would you have on a typical weekend? How many times a month would you say you blacked out? Do you feel like you need alcohol to have fun? To unwind? Do you feel like you have to get drunk every time you drink? If so, know that that isn’t a habit that most likely will go away overnight or magically stop when you graduate — that could be a sign of a problematic drinking pattern.

Blacking out regularly on weeknights or going through a bender on a weekly basis is not actually a normal or healthy alcohol consumption, but you wouldn’t know it based on the culture surrounding alcohol and partying on campus. Binge drinking has become normalized in larger college campuses and schools deep into party culture. This behavior seems to be not only accepted but encouraged in this sort of environment — leaving you with a rude awakening after graduation.

When you leave State College and spend some time with friends or family who don’t or didn’t attend a big party school, do you notice you drink more than them?

How often have you or a friend made casual jokes about being alcoholic that may or may not quite be a joke? Comments and statements like these seem to be commonplace at universities such as Penn State, but are not considered normal on smaller college campuses, or campuses that are less heavy on party culture.

Danielle Haluska, the assistant director of health promotion and wellness at Penn State, is the supervisor of programs such as BASICS and MIPS, Penn State’s mandatory services for alcohol and marijuana violations, respectively. Haluska says that high-risk drinking on college campuses is a “national public health crisis — and has been since the 90s.”

Haluska says it’s important to note that there is a major difference between an alcohol use disorder and problematic, high-risk drinking. High-risk drinking, commonly referred to as binge drinking, as defined by Frostburg State University is “for males usually involves drinking more than 1-2 drinks in an hour or more than 4-5 drinks over the course of an evening event. For females, high-risk

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drinking is characterized as consuming more than 1 drink per hour or 3-4 drinks over the course of an evening event.”

High-risk drinking is often what college students on large campuses such as Penn State often engage in, whereas an alcohol use disorder is what often is classified as alcoholism or a substance abuse issue.

While the two can be related, they are not necessarily bound to one another.

Haluska believes the reason high-risk drinking is so common on Penn State’s campus is because of the reputation the university has been given.

“Penn State has been given this reputation of being a party school — this norm has been set, so incoming students often have this expectation of the university. They partake in what they believe this norm — which is drinking — is, because this is what their expectations are,” Haluska says.

These consistently reinforced expectations have made drinking culture at Penn State what it is, which is likely what causes high-risk drinking, which according to Penn State’s PULSE data, two percent of students regularly engage in.

“Traditionally,” Haluska says, “Penn State has a higher high-risk drinking rate than the national average.”

While this statement may seem startling, it doesn’t necessarily equate to campus-wide alcoholism or substance abuse disorders — but it also doesn’t mean there may not be some kind of underlying issue. Whether you drink solely in social settings or crack open a cold one on the daily, it’s important to take that step back and evaluate your drinking habits and patterns.

If you or someone you know is struggling with either high-risk drinking or a potential substance issue, Penn State’s BASICS offers self-referrals or you can call the Recovery Centers of America’s confidential hotline at (833)-926-1168 for further help.

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Take advantage of the endless opportunities, clubs and resources at Penn State. You can truly do anything you want with the support and connections of this amazing university.

Photographed by: Cameron Soravilla, Becca Baker

Pronouns: She/her Year: Second-year Major: Broadcast journalism

Kathryn Tague

ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood’s Egg Hunt Hollywood’s Egg Hunt Hollywood’s Egg Hunt Hollywood’s Egg Hunt MJ Bergin Aside from being obsessed with deeper meanings of songs and hints to follow up movies, the world of entertainment has found another thing to obsess over: Easter Eggs. Easter eggs are small, almost unnoticeable, clues or homages to other things within that show or song that only diehard fans of those will notice. They can also span over multiple TV and movie universes and from artist to artist within songs.

While most people may only be familiar with easter eggs that have appeared in the media in recent years, they are not a new entertainment phenomenon.

Easter eggs have actually been around since 1973, popping up for the first time in a video game called “Moonlander.” However, the phrase wasn’t coined until 1979 by Steve Wright, the then-director of software development in the Atari consumer division — in reference to an easter egg hunt. Wright coined this phrase in order to describe the hidden message in the game “Adventure for the Atari.” The whole point of the use of an easter egg in this particular game was so players could view a message or a secret level of the game.

In the movie “Ready Player One,” directed by Steven Spielberg based on the novel by Ernest Cline, a large portion of the film is centered around easter eggs within video games. It demonstrates how some game makers come up with the most intricate ways to reveal an easter egg and how only the most dedicated players can find them.

Now, easter eggs are becoming more and more common in entertainment. It has come to the point where people are recognizing them almost without even having to look for them.

Some of the biggest users of easter eggs are Disney and Pixar. Both of these animation studios use their movies to send messages and clues to their fans regarding other movies that they have made in the past or will make in the future. The most common of these messages is putting characters from other films in the background of a scene in a completely different film.

Rapunzel walking into the castle amongst a crowd in “Frozen,” a photo of Stitch on the wall in “Big Hero 6” and Mrs. Potts and Chip in “Tarzan.” In Pixar films, some noticeable easter eggs are: The Incredibles family in “Coco,” Riley from “Inside Out” in “Finding Dory” and a wood carving of Sully from “Monsters Inc.” in “Brave.”

Moments like these may not be the easiest to find due to the determination of filmmakers to keep them almost completely hidden so not to take away from the film itself. These quick cameos or hommages to other films are a way to give fans the opportunity to see what these characters do when they’re not busy starring in their own movie.

Cameos in movies can also be considered easter eggs — to some extent. When you see famous actors appear for a minute or so in a movie, that is usually a tell Spielburg tale sign that the actor has a great love for or connection to the film. For example, Brad Pitt in “Deadpool 2,” Mike Myers in “Bohemian Rhapsody” or the most notable one — Stan Lee in every Marvel film.

As for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are a lot of easter eggs and connections that have been formed due to those films. Even though Stan Lee’s cameo connects each film and all the actors in the franchise by showing up in each other’s movies, there is something on a larger-scale cinematically that has come from them. The idea where multiple films can be a part of the same universe.

Movies like “Star Wars” and “E.T.” reinforce this meta concept. While they both are fictional and both have fantastical elements, you’d never expect Elliot and Luke Skywalker to be walking around in the same solar system — let alone think about Elliot watching “Star Wars” with E.T. However, there’s a little boy dressed as Yoda in a scene in “E.T” which sparks the idea that inside the world of “E.T,” “Star Wars” exists.

There are many different ways to go about looking for and understanding easter eggs. Whether it’s to connect universes or see if your favorite animated character is still around, chances are if you look hard enough — you’ll find some.

The most notable appearances in Disney movies are:

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WHAT’S UP WITH

WATTPAD Sara Harkins

Fanfictions have become a huge part of our world — or rather, provided an escape into another one. From “imagines” of your favorite boy band, to retold stories of a world where Bella ended up with Jacob, in a quick write or search, you can have the unexplored storyline you wanted.

Wattpad, one of the largest online reading and writing platforms for user-generated stories, has always housed fanfictions. But recently, the app has evolved into something more, opening possibilities for new authors to create other kinds of stories with promise for bigger projects.

No one knows of this possibility better than Anna Steffey, author of the hit “Falling Series” on Wattpad.

Combined, her series has over 4 million reads and has become part of the Paid Stories program, Wattpad’s footprint into monetized works. But Anna never planned for this success — she only began to post her first installment of her series, “Falling Helplessly,” in 2016 after seeing the interactions other authors her age were getting.

“The coolest part was that a lot of these people whose stories I was reading were my age ... it seemed like something that was tangible — like I could do it, too,” Steffey says. “I was seeing the kinds of interactions they were getting with the community and it was pretty insane.”

With over 90 million users, Wattpad has taken the book community by storm by providing a new way to digest stories. From a writing perspective, it’s self-disciplining.

There are no deadlines for posting chapters of a book, which Anna says makes it great for young writers since it’s not too strenuous.

“You get that instant gratification when you post a chapter because people will flock to read it — which is another great thing about Wattpad because it’s very motivating,” Steffey says. But more importantly, it’s fun and interactive. You can upload photos or videos, or create your own covers, playlists or graphics, and do it all while interacting

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with readers. From a reading perspective, nothing is gatekept; therefore, the work on the app is raw.

Essentially, you see everyone’s first drafts and how it evolves over the years.”

At its best, Wattpad provides new opportunities and communities. At its worst, authors may run into copyright issues. As a writer on Wattpad, you must file your own copyright claim, which makes it hard for young writers to create true ownership over their work — especially on an app that thrives on tropes, tags and genres. Even then, there are no guarantees with posting your work online. Anna’s work is currently being posted onto a mirror site, which copies her chapters from Wattpad to another site called NovelHD. “Every time I post a book on Wattpad, I hesitate because of those fears of it getting stolen,”’ Steffey says. “I never post an idea until it’s set in stone, even if Wattpad is thorough with copyright investigations.”’

But it’s a give and take.

“If you’re sharing your work online, you never know who could see it, or who could publish it,” Steffey says. Wattpad itself, could even choose to publish it.

The app almost operates as an indie publishing company now, and one of the ways it’s evolving is through their Wattpad Stars program, which Anna became a part of in August of 2020. The selective program highlights promising authors on the app who Wattpad wants to further assist. Being a star is like being verified on a writing platform with extra perks. Their work as authors gets first pick for exclusive opportunities within Wattpad’s reach. Star’s works will be pitched to different Wattpad sectors like Wattpad Paid Stories, which is the monetary component on the site, Wattpad Books, the publishing sector, or Wattpad Studios, where they share books with other publishing companies and film studios like Netflix. It’s where movies like the popular “After” series on Netflix originated from.

Because Anna’s work has become a part of the paid program, she gets monetary benefits while her work sits on the Wattpad homepage, driving traffic. She also got to work with the Wattpad team to create a digital cover design and notes of other perks such as editing services and editorial coaches.

“You start off writing online for fun and now you have possible TV and movie deals at your fingertips which is absolutely insane,” Steffey says.

Naomi Black, a student at Penn State and author of the hit “PSU Series” on Wattpad, would know of this too, having never expected the success of her series. She started “Even The Playing Field,” her first book in “The

PSU Series,” in December of 2020. Currently, it has over 4 million reads, and has impressively marked #1 in college, slowburn and fiction in rankings. Based on her real life, her story follows her main character, a college student at Penn State, navigating friendships and tough relationships. Her alias name, Naomi Black, is also the name of her main character, blurring the lines between her real life and her books.

Like Anna, Naomi never intended for the possibilities that came from writing her story on Wattpad. She used Wattpad as a crutch from a bad breakup.

“I decided to write my side of the story, but from my point of view … I wanted to give myself the happy ending I didn’t have,” Black says. In doing so, she brought her story to Penn State and escaped into another world where things might have worked out. To Naomi, Wattpad is “the place where your imagination can become real to other people.”

Although she may not have gotten that happy ending in her relationship, it morphed into something greater: a community and a possible new writing career. Her book wasn’t even finished when it started going viral, but once she completed it, millions of people binged it.

“I didn’t even plan for it to blow up, it was just writing for me to get over him,” Black says. Her readers share in her character’s experiences — from things such as mental health, family trauma or their own past relationships. Through their comments and bringing different insights to a relationship so personal to her, it helped her heal. Despite the evolution that Wattpad is taking with its new programs, it will always be centered on community — it’s most powerful tool.

“For the longest time, I felt like I was wrong for feeling the way I felt … They’ve definitely brought me closure, knowing that people can relate,” Black says.

Now, Naomi has multiple social media accounts where she interacts with her followers, or as she terms them, her “best friends.” She regularly speaks with her readers, from people messaging her about applying to Penn State, writing her quotes on their graduation caps, creating fan accounts or sending voice memos recounting their day.

“Growing up I didn’t have that many friends, I was like the weird girl that nobody wanted to talk to in school,” Black says. “Now, I have friends all over the world.”

On Wattpad, anyone can find stories that make them feel less alone or help them escape. It’s great for people to gain a following, feedback or a community — to find another avenue into publishing, to read an alternative storyline or write the happy ending you wish you had.

Kira Sarsfield

LAST NAME =FAME?

Let’s take a look at the glamorous Hollywood scene, where connections are essential to make it in the entertainment industry. Consider A-list celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid and Jake Gyllenhaal — whose family connections have arguably helped them land modeling and acting gigs.

But … is their fame all because of their last name?

This is the debate that surrounds nepotism babies, which has become the new ‘pandemic’ in Hollywood.

More and more celebrities are achieving their big breaks with help from their personal connections … but at what expense of new and unaided talent?

WHAT IS A NEPOTISM BABY EXACTLY? The term ‘nepotism’ comes from the 17th-century Italian word for nephew, in which prominent priests would give their positions to family members as opposed to deserving candidates.

More recently, Twitter has revamped the term ‘nepotism baby’ to categorize celebrities who have achieved major success with the aid of family connections.

SO, WHY ARE NEPOTISM BABIES ALL OVER THE INTERNET? With the prevalence of cancel culture, nepotism babies are all the rage among social media platforms. On TikTok, the #nepotismbabies has generated thousands of videos, with users “rating” their favorite nepotism babies and documenting their lifestyles.

Take model Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of actor Johnny Depp and singer Vanessa Paradis, who is known to be one of TikTok’s most notorious nepotism babies. On TikTok, users glamorize the aspects of her celebrity lifestyle — like Depp’s modeling success, luxurious vacations and more.

The fascination with nepotism babies is apparent, with TikTok and Twitter users romanticizing their “easy” lives handed down from their parents. However, the online world can be a cruel place. Through Twitter and TikTok, social media users have discredited nepotism babies for their “undeserved” success.

PRODUCTS OF NEPOTISM Take Tori Spelling, daughter of film director Aaron Spelling, who was given not one — but eight acting roles in her father’s productions. Many argue that these gigs could have been given to someone solely based on their acting skills.

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Destry Spielberg, daughter of director Steven Spielberg, is considered another product of nepotism.

She was under fire by critics for collaborating with only well-established producers and writers for her film “The Rightway.” Many called her out for her family connections, which led her to admitting in an apology tweet, which she later deleted, that she was “born with privilege.” This is a concept many people feel nepotism babies can’t comprehend.

DO PEOPLE THINK NEPOTISM BABIES ARE BAD? The unfortunate reality is that well-deserving candidates have lost out on acting or modeling gigs due to those with connections in the entertainment industry.

Nepotism exists in all talent industries, so it’s difficult to consider nepotism as a bad thing. Some nepotism babies have true talent and earn success on their own; however, new talent may become discouraged from pursuing their Hollywood dreams due to the advantage nepotism babies hold in the industry. Realistically speaking, why would anyone try out for a gig that is already given to someone else?

HOW DOES UPCOMING TALENT FEEL ABOUT NEPOTISM BABIES? Kate Fahey, a fourth-year majoring in musical theatre at Penn State, has witnessed the impacts of nepotism on the entertainment industry. Although she has never personally experienced nepotism through Penn State’s acting program, Fahey said nepotism was prevalent in her shows prior to college.

“There were people who knew people,” Fahey says.

“And that meant that they would get the part.”

With the popularity of social media, Fahey mentioned that large social media followings can be the make-orbreak decision for an acting gig in Hollywood.

“Consider the new remake of “He’s All That” with Addison Rae,” Fahey says. “She’s not an actor. She got [the gig] because she’s this celebrity figure with a large following on TikTok.” Besides the obvious nepotism in the industry, Fahey still believes that Hollywood producers and directors try to seek out new talent. Following graduation, Fahey plans to move to Hollywood to pursue her acting career.

“I don’t feel discouraged about going into the industry because my story is my story,” Fahey says.

“But, it does hit a nerve because there are going to be so many times that I’m up against someone who has more of a connection to the crew and director than I do.”

With many of the most-known celebrities falling under the nepotism umbrella, Hollywood’s landscape has created an environment that most new actors feel an inability to make a name for themselves. But it doesn’t mean that they will never have the opportunity to become a household name.

SUBURBIA

EUPHORIA MJ Bergin Suburbia is a thing we all know well — since most of us live in it. However, we live in the realistic version. In film and television, neighbors come over for backyard barbecues, whole towns show up for sporting events and everyone knows your secrets because there’s nothing else to talk about. It’s the perfect setting for storylines to easily be carried out and for things to go wrong, which is why we are all so infatuated with it.

Due to the close-knit nature of the “small town,” many films and TV shows take advantage of the established narrative in order to create a wide array of stories. A set group of people are readily available, a handful of distinct locations are already there and the closed off “unique” feeling is established.

It also not only caters to thrillers and fantasies like “Riverdale” and “Big Little Lies,” but it creates the idea of a perfect little world that so many people live for. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in Stars Hollow from “Gilmore Girls” and spend weekends at fall festivals and winter carnivals?

But what does that desire say about us loyal watchers?

We look to an unattainable style of living, since it has become ingrained in our brains from such a young age.

We grew up watching movies where the main character goes to a picturesque school in a scenically beautiful town and somehow has time to spend hours at a coffee shop or diner before school. Realistically, we all got up 20 minutes before first period and barely had the energy to do homework by the end of the day.

Instead, we look to the version of suburbia created by filmmakers as the blueprint for how we want our lives to play out. We even find ourselves almost looking for something bad to happen in our perfect, quaint towns to keep things interesting.

Recently, it has become the halfway point between a utopian society and a dystopian society. The notion that it’s this perfect idealistic place to live, but teeters on the precipice of falling into disarray.

Back in the 60s, 70s and 80s, suburbia used to invoke a blanket feeling of comfort and the ideal lifestyle. “The Wonder Years” and “That 70’s Show” are both happier and lighter depictions of suburbia. The notion that all the good things in life happen in your neighborhood.

There’s no struggles between classes or no political agendas — just a simple life in the suburbs.

In recent years, there has been a much darker shade cast on suburbia. While it still uses the same cookie cutter outline, much more sinister and other worldly things happen in this version of the suburbs. “The Truman Show” depicts suburbia as suffocating and something that sucks the individuality out of a person, which is why Jim Carrey’s character is so desperate to escape. “Stranger Things” is another dramatic portrayal of a seemingly normal town being turned “upside down” and shows the dysfunction of a once normal town, while also using walkie talkies and riding around on bikes.

One of the biggest architects of suburbia in film is A24. The movie studio that has concocted stories like “Minari,” “Lady Bird” and “Mid90s,” which all touch on some aspect of the suburbs and some way of life that is eventually pulled apart and looked at with a much closer lens. We as an audience begin to see that there are certain things about their versions of “life in the suburbs” that aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

While there may be many different lenses to look at suburbia through, and its meaning within film and television, one thing remains the same … there is always some aspect of it that we can relate to.

Chances are, none of us have ever run from a monster after playing “Dungeons and Dragons” in our friends basement or jumped out of a moving car after being yelled at by our moms. But, we have all most likely faced something within our own lives that feels like a personal demon. Or at least we’ve all probably felt like the town we grew up in was nothing special.

Suburbia is the place we can escape to without feeling like we’ve gone too far from home.

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MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL Marissa Yackenchick The “manic pixie dream girl” trope is a cinematic staple as well as a famous pop culture cliché. The widely held idea of a manic pixie dream girl is usually confined to a particular fashion sense — maybe she has purple hair or piercings. She has a personality that is equally angsty and quirky — daddy issues for sure — and an ability to make smoking cigarettes look chic. Like Clementine from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” right?

development without said man ever having to take any accountability.

Wrong.

Believe it or not, you can be a manic pixie dream girl.

Technically, even your dad could be someone’s manic pixie dream girl. This would blow John Green`s mind.

It is not hard to figure out how the term translated the way it did into pop culture as words like “manic” and “pixie” have their own connotations. But while a manic pixie dream girl might be a magnetic chainsmoker with purple hair who always knows what to say, they can also be a socially awkward vampire from Seattle.

Yes, Edward Cullen is a manic pixie dream girl.

The term was coined by critic Nathan Rabin in his review of 2005’s “Elizabethtown” to describe the cheerful, bubbly flight attendant played by Kirsten Dunst. In the review, Rabin stated that the manic pixie dream girl “exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.”

Typically these static characters are love interests and they are almost always unabashedly youthful and girlish.

Despite the term itself being exclusive to girls, there is absolutely a male counterpart to the manic pixie dream girl. While many manic pixie dream girls do sometimes share similar internal and external features, it’s an accident. These are merely just writers being lazy and falling on clichés.

Just because she is the quirky female counterpart of the male lead does not mean that she is a manic pixie dream girl. A manic pixie dream girl is a character who hides behind his/her love interest in their own journey — without showing any real urgency on their own.

These characters teach the main character a lesson about themselves or about life in general. Typically, that life is worth living. The trope reeks of misogyny as the manic pixie dream girl exists solely as a plot device through the experience of their miserable love interest.

Jack Graham, a third-year Penn State film major, believes that the trope is so popular, because it depicts this idealized portrayal of a man’s emotional

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“Everyone wants a manic pixie dream girl to swoop in and change their life so that they don’t have to,” Graham says. “It’s an idea that takes away the option of personal responsibility about one’s own emotional maturity.”

The misunderstanding of the term goes beyond girls declaring themselves a manic pixie dream girl for dyeing their hair a certain way. As a matter of fact, the term is so mistaken that a lot of the tropes poster girls are actually undeserving of their recognition.

Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind is arguably one of the most identifiable manic pixie dream girls in cinema. She is a sexy weirdo who masterfully balances being intelligent with being impulsive and absolutely fun. In the film, Clementine certainly changed the trajectory of her love interest’s life but not because she made a conscious effort to.

As a matter of fact, her self-actuality was really quite loud.

Zoey Deschanel’s character in “500 Days of Summer” is also widely considered a manic pixie dream girl.

After her relationship with the protagonist, Tom, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, fails, his world is flipped upside down. He decides that love is not real, but in the end, she teaches him that it is absolutely real — just not with her.

Your manic pixie dream girl radar must be buzzing at that and it’s understandable. Not only is her character a free-spirited hipster oozing of steaze, she also was the reason for another’s transformation. So what is the catch?

She does not exist in his fantasy world. As a matter of fact, she completely shatters it. She was doing her. His transformation was actually triggered by her independence and urgency in her own life to get what she deserves.

So think twice before you throw around this word as it is a lot deeper than having a perpetual mind bank of quirky expressions and being a gold member at Anthropologie. Actually, it is really quite lame.

Photographed by: Taylor Kusyk, Claire Connell Model: Rayna Jones

FILMMAKERS AT STATE Amanda Flynn Our cover star isn’t the only filmmaker on campus.

Located just shy of the Willard Building on Pollock Road, Penn Staters can find the home of these hardworking film production students in the Carnegie Building, housing the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. The process of crafting a film can be considered tedious, especially for full-time college students, but it can be extremely rewarding. Each semester, extensive amounts of creativity, thought and time are poured into the films produced by Penn State’s very own.

The film production major at Penn State offers some of the most cutting-edge and advanced teachings.

“Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, students gain hands-on experience as writers, producers, directors, cinematographers and editors. The program emphasizes personal expression and collaboration along with the technical and creative skills needed to succeed in a career in media production,” the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications official website says.

Paige Taylor, a second-year studying film production, knew she wanted to pursue filmmaking from an early age.

Taylor’s desire to professionally work in film sprouted while she was in high school, specifically when she was part of the stage crew and moreover, when she took a film appreciation class in her junior year.

COVID-19 took a toll on Taylor’s first year at Penn State, but that has not stopped her from exploring what excites her most about filmmaking — writing.

“Personally, I really enjoy the pre-production, screenwriting side of things,” Taylor, who serves as the social media coordinator for Penn State’s Student Film Organization and the social media chair for Penn State’s gender inclusive cinematic fraternity, Delta Kappa Alpha, says.

This summer, Taylor dived into a project of her own — writing a 40-minute pilot episode. She recalls being a large fan of film, but after working on this piece and exploring the different methods of writing, Taylor found a new appreciation for the small screen.

“Before this, I had usually stuck to short films or documentaries,” Taylor says. “It was a really good experience for me.”

As seen with Taylor’s curious ambition, being a student of Penn State film production means that creative juices are constantly flowing, in that students have the opportunity to experiment and find styles of film that align with them.

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Film production fourth-year, Jack Hemhauser, resonates with this idea, as he has had time to find his passion for television, theater and comedy during his time in the program.

Even throughout a global pandemic, Hemhauser has been keeping busy in the world of film. From September 2020 to May 2021, he and friends from home wrote a screenplay for a “goofy but uplifting” comedy series they first thought of back in high school. Once the summer hit, they began filming. “We just set our minds to it,” Hemhauser says.

The series will follow a group of four college graduates asking themselves, “Well what do we do now?” Set to release next year, the series will be produced and released

by New Mountain Media, the production company Hemhauser and his peers created.

Hemhauser describes the experience as the “biggest project” he ever dreamed of working on.

As film production students endlessly create different forms of media, one of the many special aspects that comes along with it is the audience’s emotional response — something fourth-year Mary Banco holds close to her heart.

“My only goal I have set for myself is that I love to make people feel something. That is my only job as a creator,” Banco, the fourth-year film production major, says. She recently premiered two films: “Convergence,” a film following stories of college students, and “Why-Omissing,” a documentary about her hometown, this past summer.

Banco first thought of “Why-Omissing” a couple of summers ago after she had the idea to create a “homey” documentary, after noticing that most films made about her town were historical.

After the premiere, Banco felt solidified with her work as a filmmaker.

“Having people be like, ‘Oh my gosh you had me loving our town,’ or ‘I don’t know this town but it made me feel something,’ means the absolute world to me,” Banco says.

For those considering film, Banco says, “Whatever you want to do [if] you have a film degree, it will be useful.

It’s what you make it. The film major really helps you to market yourself and there are so many people out there to help you.”

Alex Blomstrom

Do what makes you happy! Take time to explore your passions and get involved in activities that make you feel fulfilled.

FASHION

Pronouns: She/her Year: Fourth-year Major: Finance Minor: Psychology

Photographed by: Cameron Soravilla, Becca Baker

Photographers: Becca Baker, Cam Soravilla Models: Kayla Pierre, Janae Sayler

Tattoo Taboos Alex Drake

Photographers: Shana Andrews, Aeva Roth Model: Derek Ulrich

A decade ago, returning home from a night out with friends, suddenly marked with a random tattoo, might not have been well-received by most people in your life; however, in recent years, the idea of getting meaningless tattoos has become much more conventional.

The Americanized shift towards tattoos as we know it, is extremely prevalent, especially within our current job market. We are nearing the end of the bias toward tattoos that solely validates them as bodily art if they hold a deep symbolism or significance to the person they occupy. The social understanding of tattoos, specifically Americanized tattooing, has morphed into a method of self-expression, the same way piercings, hair dye, nail designs and personal style always have been.

Tattooing is noted to have originated in Western Asian and Polynesian cultures. In Polynesian lands such as Samoa, tattoos represented the area of the country someone came from; thus, patterns of tattooing differed based on where one lived. This was a method of recognizing where an individual lived and provided clarity on how Pacific Islanders should approach one another.

Dating back to 1720 Japan, tattooing was used as a means of punishment, where law enforcement would tattoo criminals in highly visible places — branding them for “nonviolent crimes.”

The common traditional Pacific Island and Asian practices of tattooing did begin to diminish their regular practice in the 16th and 17th centuries, through the efforts of European colonization. The justification through colonizers' minds was supported by the idea that if one could wipe the identity that one’s tattoos offered, the people would more easily assimilate without the ink exposing their culture. Tattooing did not fit their narrative, which was an idea that unfortunately continued for centuries to follow.

Tattooing then shifted into an Americanized representation of grit and hardcore identities, through 17th-century sailors. For sailors, tattooing became an expressive commemoration of nautical or war achievements. This sparked a positive shift in tattooing, but the positive attitude catered only to specific groups of people, predictably excluding women.

Amongst American prisoners, tattooing boomed in the 1930s. Similarly to distinction among Pacific Islanders, they were used as a means of identification. This, however, was representative of prison gang affiliation, rather than culture or location. We may be able to dedicate the rejective schema toward heavily tattooed people, to this tie between the prison systems and tattooing.

Jenny, a tattoo artist at Ikonic Ink in downtown State College, reflects on her experience with tattooing and pursuing her passion as an artist, coming from a traditional Asian household.

It wasn’t until Jenny’s father got COVID-19 and almost died that he began to accept tattooing as his daugh-

ter’s path. Jenny revealed that her father’s attitude toward tattoos is based upon the negative stigma they still hold in Asia today.

She’d kept her first tattoos at the age of nineteen hidden from her father’s sight. The evolution of the job market’s “tattitude” offered a drastic change even in the last five years. Chains such as Sheetz and Best Buy did not employ applicants with visible tattoos on the hands or face that could not be covered.

Studies show that in recent years there is less of an “unemployable” attitude towards applicants with visible and profound tattoos. We personify roles in the job market and create idealistic beings that match the role, based on what we have been exposed to and based on the idea of “appropriateness” in the workforce we have been told.

The 9-5, white-collar expectation sits on a concrete foundation made up of suggestive appearances that push you to assume someone is “professional.” A social narrative does not develop through micro-trends over a small duration of time. Instead, the narrative thrives in the petri dish that is mainstream modern media. Its growth is owed to the stereotypical portrayal of what the traditional American lifestyle looks like. The media exposes social expectation, and as consumers — whether it's conscious or not — feeds into it. We allow the continuity of this “mainstream” portrayal through views, shares, sends, likes and comments.

As we stray away from the imposition that tattoos pose on our expectations, we offer our eyes a new lens of their potential as an ever-evolving art form. One that evolves like sneaker trends or photography techniques.

The narrative of “professionalism” that upholds the idea behind tattoos only being acceptable in the workplace when they can be covered has much less to do with the personality of the tattooed and more to do with the social assumption that those tattoos suggest.

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Huntyr Kephart

Inclusivity in the Industry

Within the past year, both diversity and inclusion have become crucial factors within the fashion industry. Many fashion enthusiasts have taken a step in the right direction by only purchasing clothing from brands that they deem ethical. Sustainability has been ringing in the ears of every fashion brand, as they begin working to use more environmentally friendly materials to sustain their client base. Yet, inclusivity hasn’t exactly been on some businesses’ radar.

Photographers: Shana Andrews, Aeva Roth Model: Sruthi Mannivan, Tera Sackey

The fashion industry impacts the lives of everyone around the world, yet continues to exclude the massive range of races, sizes, body shapes and more that complete it, and this past year has made things perfectly clear just how far the industry still has to go to be more inclusive.

The pressure for the fashion industry to become more inclusive reflects the important social, political and technological changes that continue to take on the world.

From the rise of social media and activism, inclusivity is more important than ever to consumers.

Many catalogs, magazines and different brands have treated diversity as another box to check off or a trend rather than wanting to make true inclusivity a company goal. Throughout time, the beauty standard was represented as thin, white ciswomen and perfectly sculp-ted cismen who are dangerously photoshopped to look like a perfect human promoting clothing on every commercial and advertisement in sight. With images of this ideal beauty constantly surrounding consumers, the lack of representation in fashion pushes people to feel as though they have this one standard in which they can never attain.

Until more recently, mainstream media lacked representation of women and men of color, ranges of different body types, hijabs, people who don’t identify as cisgender and people who are differently-abled. Hundreds of years of being left out in the dust has consumers calling out brands who refuse to offer representation in their advertisements and images and inclusive sizing.

“I think it puts unnecessary expectations on people,” Sonya Wilmoth, director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, says. “We all come in different sizes, different shapes, different colors and we are still valued, and we still need to be valued as human beings.”

Why Exclusivity Sells Inclusive fashion can’t happen until exclusivity stops selling. Everyone loves owning that one-of-a-kind thing that makes them unique, but what if that’s how businesses are plotting their hold on consumers? Brands use exclusivity to their advantage by capturing the attention of their customers and making them feel as if they are a part of something that others aren’t. Releasing products that are exclusive and have a limited supply drives customers into purchasing them — even if the price is extensive. This leaves out a large part of a consumer base with a smaller income and can’t

Wealthy celebrities and models are often looked at for inspiration for the next trendy item to add to your wardrobe, but are these huge trends only deemed as “cute” because they’re on a thin, wealthy celebrity?

The fashion industry has had a disturbing obsession with skinny culture and this only becomes more evident when searching the internet for outfit inspiration where almost every outfit photo on Pinterest is of a thin woman. Models like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber are praised for their style, yet when women with different body shapes recreate the looks, it is often seen as “boring” or “unflattering.” This begs the question many people are asking, “Is it trendy, or is she just skinny?”

With almost no representation of other body types in the media and in fashion, finding clothes that fit and make you feel good is a huge issue for so many people.

necessarily spend $300 on a Gucci belt, adding another factor into why the fashion industry continues to be less inclusive.

This leads consumers with a smaller wallet to purchase from less ethical brands that produce mass clothing for a cheaper price and are extremely unsustainable and only contribute to the extensive waste produced from the fashion industry. With the push for sustainable fashion, companies make it difficult for everyone to choose a sustainable option when it costs significantly more. Many brands that claim to be sustainable are also not size-inclusive, adding another factor to why so many people aren’t able to afford the apparent luxury of sustainability.

How Social Media Changed the Game We all have our own love/hate relationship with social media, but there is no denying that it has become the most powerful tool of the decade. Social media has given people an outlet to share their thoughts and highlights from apps like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and more. A new rise of the self-made influencer has allowed anyone with an audience to rise to celebrity. This effect has had both its positives and negatives on the fashion industry. On one hand, so many more different types of people have the ability to work for brands and companies, yet on the other hand, these companies are still only choosing to work with people that fit their business standards.

Social media has not only allowed this new world of influencers to become celebrities but has amplified the voices of so many people around the world about an array of issues — one being the lack of inclusivity in fashion.

Influencers like TikTok star Remi Bader have called out companies for their lack of inclusive sizes. In her videos, she displays the clothing she buys through a try-on haul as many TikTokers do, yet she gives her honest opinion of the pieces stating how confusing larger-sized clothing can be for consumers and how companies can make shopping for your body type an actual living hell.

When a size XL fits perfectly in one size of pants but is too small in another, or a cute shirt only comes in a size XXS, the only outcome is frustration.

Fashion Society of Penn State member and first-year student Arden Vaughan says that fashion is such a large portion of her life and hates the idea of that being limited to only a certain group of people.

“Brands got away with it for so long, and with this new digital age, there’s been a lot more discourse and conversation,” Vaughan says.

“People are starting to be more critical of these brands for not supplying inclusive sizing and only having one certain type of model.”

Ways Brand Are Making the Change With consumers rightfully condemning and calling out brands who don’t offer representation and size inclusivity, change is finally happening in the fashion industry.

Some of the most notable brands that have been adding these necessary features are companies like Aerie, SavagexFenty, Good American and Girlfriend Collective.

Aerie, for example, launched its #AerieREAL campaign in order to promote body positivity and inclusivity, while brands like Victoria’s Secret profited off their inability to be more inclusive until more recently. Aerie only uses photographs that are unedited of women of all different body types and races with their most recent campaign including women who are differently-abled and have chronic illnesses in order to market everyone — not just a select few.

The fashion industry has only scratched the surface on its long road to inclusivity, but with more brands taking better steps to market to the many different types of people in the world, inclusive fashion is no longer a distant dream.

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The Cowboy Renaissance Maia Egan

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It is well known amongst fashion fanatics and historians that fashion is cyclical and trends repeatedly come and go over time. Many people predicted Y2K low rise jeans coming back or 70s crochet summer tops, but it was a surprise to see designers start pulling cowboy couture out onto the runway. Cowboy boots are something traditionally worn more in the south, but they have been moving their way around America as a fashion staple. Plus, a sparkly cowboy hat is a perfect accessory for a party adopted by college students.

The return of traditionally western cowboy fashion includes a ton of different pieces that can be styled in many different ways. Some textures that are commonly found within this clothing are leather, suede, denim, fringe and cow print. Denim, leather and suede are quite thick and durable materials, which makes sense considering this aesthetic is based off of workwear and should be long-lasting. Many also associate metal belts or ornate metal belt buckles with this style as well.

Other classic pieces that represent this style are cowboy boots, cowboy hats and clogs.

Corey Steinruck, a 21-year-old fashion enthusiast, owner of the vintage brand, Thrifting King, and State College Urban Outfitters vibe specialist, shares his thoughts on cowboy fashion.

“Western and cowboy fashion was influenced

by American history. In the past Fourth of July, people used it as a way to show their true American heritage. I believe it has made such a comeback because of the power of social media and young people in the power of the media,” Steinruck explains. “This style has bits and pieces of unique fashion like flared jeans and chaps, but mainly the cowboy hat.”

well. Kacey Musgraves, a well-known Grammy-winning country-pop singer reps cowboy-chic fashion consistently — mixing cowboy fashion with Versace on red carpets. Musgraves opened for Harry Styles and released the song “Space Cowboy” in 2018, leading many younger women outside of the southern U.S. into appreciating the style in a more modern, girly sense.

Another well-known song that utilized a western aesthetic is the song “Old Town Road,” by Lil Nas X. One thing many cowboy enthusiasts wonder about in this age of quickly moving trends and overconsumption is, will this style last?

“I believe the western fashion will eventually fade but it will make appearances in microtrends and fast fashion. Cowboy hats and bootcut jeans will definitely stay in trend for longer than the other statement pieces,” Steinruck claims.

Those who obsess over what is “in-style” and popular may buy cheap cowboy boots and plastic cowboy hats from Amazon and Shein to throw them away for next year. It is smarter to invest in quality pieces either from thrift stores or higher-quality clothing stores. These are items you can love forever and wear them as long as they last. This rejects fast fashion and over-consumption, as these Western-designed clothes are built and designed to last.

The true origin of cowboy boots is not completely known, but many believe inspiration came from Spanish vaqueros, which were essentially cowboys from Spain, who came to the Americas. The Kansas Historical Society gives credit to Charles Hyer for creating some of the first American cowboy boots with his brand, The Hyer Boot Company, during the 1800s. Cattlemen, rodeo performers and movie stars all had cowboy boots made for them after soldiers came back from the Civil War requesting a new type of work boot. These new boots included features we typically see in cowboy boots today: leather, pointed toes, covering the calf and a larger heel.

“The western fashion has different aesthetics and cultures that everyone can embrace,” Steinruck says.

The perfect example of a modern and feminine designer cowboy boot is the Jeffrey Campbell Dagget Boot.

It is expensive, yet the perfect shoe for a slip dress or funky pair of pants, and has had a large effect on influencing women outside of the South to buy into the aesthetic.

Tons of celebrities have been utilizing this aesthetic as

Photographers: Vanshika Agarwal, Annie Princivalle, Rachel Smith Model: Kaitlin Dabney, Jack Howard

Fashion, Meet the Female Gaaze Caitlyn Garrity

While trends change and we might view some outfits as “out-of-style,” another perspective has shaped the way we view what’s attractive. The idea of the female gaze versus the male gaze has always been around in pop culture, but recently, fashion has seen the way this theory affects our internal thinking when it comes to putting together an outfit.

What is the Male Gaze?

The term “male gaze” is coined by Laura Mulvey, a feminist film theorist, and it refers to the idea that male creators of films, books and other literary works shape female characters to please the male eye. This means that the films focus their main or most of their female characters to reflect the desire and gaze of a male. This often portrays females as hypersexual and submissive to their male counterparts. We can see this theory in examples like perfume commercials or even superhero movies, where men are always the hero and females are the damsel in distress. But it’s not just film where the male gaze occurs — it’s also in your closet.

Male Gaze in Fashion When it comes to fashion, the male gaze is the dominating force in what we depict as conventionally appealing; however, it can be more objectifying than we might realize. Not only does the male gaze dictate what is acceptable for women to wear, but it also reinforces the idea that women should dress solely for male viewing. Despite it being 2021, with modern feminism engrained in young women’s minds, we can still find ourselves subconsciously playing into this stereotype. It can be so easy to get dressed in the morning and find yourself thinking what a man walking past you on the street might think.

So how do we change this mindset?

Now, The Female Gaze Doesn’t it feel better when a woman compliments your outfit as opposed to when men do? A woman’s compliment oftentimes means that your outfit itself is clever or cool, rather than the sexual appeal of it. The female gaze of fashion focuses on the elements of an outfit and how a woman feels, rather than how it conforms to the male perspective of “feminine” or beautiful.

Penn State University Professor of French and gender studies, Dr. Tracy Rutler, says that femininity is a complex idea, and it varies from woman to woman. The idea of being feminine as being beautiful is constantly challenged with gender fluidity and distinguishing the difference between sex and gender. The female gaze has become a popular contradictory term to the male gaze to empower women to wear what they want with the purpose of self-love and self-acceptance.

“The female gaze aims to switch the script without complete reversal of the theory,” Dr. Rutler says.

Photographers: Jenny Lee, Claire Lewis Model: Sid Ballad, Sam Felice

Applying the Female Gaze into Fashion Dressing in accordance with the female gaze is a lot more ambiguous than how the male gaze depicts fashion. Wearing clothes that you feel best and suit your personality and lifestyle is at the core of this theory.

However, with the normalization of the male gaze in pop culture, reprogramming your brain to feel confident in unique outfits isn’t going to be easy.

“We need to create art and other cultural media that is designed with a more open audience in mind,” Dr. Rutler says.

So, until more films and other showcasing of women characters reflect the female gaze, here are a few ways that you filter out the idea of dressing to please the male eye.

Consume content from feminine-positive fashion influencers. Instagram can be a toxic place for confidence and body positivity; however, there are many influencers that focus their content around empowering yourself through fashion. Influencers like Victoria Paris and Olivia Bolish on Instagram are just two examples of the female gaze at play. Looking up to people that actively dress the way they want to is a great way to motivate and even inspire new looks in your day-to-day wardrobe.

Practice affirmations in the mirror. If you tell yourself something enough times, you will begin to believe it.

The male gaze has long told us what to wear, so becoming confident in wearing clothes that make you feel good might take some getting used to but it’s a step in the right direction.

Find clothes that you feel comfortable. One of the most important aspects of incorporating the female gaze into your life is about finding clothing that makes you feel empowered — regardless of what others might think.

Photographers: Becca Baker, Cam Soravilla Models: Kayla Pierre, Janae Sayler

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