VALLEY paving fall 2011
way
the
With the determination and drive that got her to Penn State, Jasmine Rushum is now bringing our community together.
GADGET GIFT GUIDE on page 31
PURSE PICKS Don’t leave home without these products in your bag!
DEAR OLD STATE
What was PSU like before you were born?
LOOK COOL IN THE
COLD
with the five trends on page 58
SURVIVING
SORROW: A Dado Sister’s Story
mr. charles
It’s a charmed life
contents
FALL 2011 9. Letter from the Editor 10. Ask the Staff
16. Health Nut
28. Throw a Nautical Party
Are nuts fattening or healthy?
All hands on deck for an awesome night
What’s playing on your iPod while you walk to class?
17. Your Plate or Mine?
30. Wintry Mix
A relationship can affect your dining habits
The perfect songs for winter weather
beauty & health
18. Runway to Your Way
30. Spark Your Holiday Spirit
Three big, bold beauty trends
Movie selections for a season of celebrations
entertainment
31. Great Gadget Gifts
11. Meet Alyx Coppelli 12. Nailing It! Nail art that will polish your look
13. Static Solutions Get rid of the frizz this winter with these hair products
14. Purse Picks Makeup essentials every girl should have in her handbag
15. Different Faces, Different Places Ditch your old makeup routine for these fresh ideas
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Get your tech-savvy friends exactly what they wanted
23. Meet Daren “DJ Remedy” Donofrio
self-improvement
24. Spotlight on: Happy Valley Artists
33. Meet Ashley Eyster
Four current talents in the campus art scene
26. Tuning in to State College Stop fiddling with the radio dial and listen to these stations
27. Unlocking Pandora’s Box Take this quiz to find your perfect Pandora station for the night
Fall 2011
34. Smile for the Camera How to look your best in photos
35. The Five Friends You Need at PSU Befriend each of these girls before you leave Happy Valley
36. Cook Like It’s Your Job
46. PSU Then and Now
Pro tips from Zola New World Bistro’s executive chef
How student life at University Park has changed over the years
38. The Dos and Don’ts of Budgeting
48. Must-See: Student Sitcom 304
Finance expert Farnoosh Torabi shares secrets to managing your money
This TV show gives students a chance to run the show
39. Roommate Recollections
49. Cultural Cuisine: Holy Basil Chicken
The good, the bad and the just plain weird
40. Surviving Sorrow A Dado sister’s story
campus culture
Learn to cook this delicious Thai staple
50. Paving the Way
Show off your skills online
45. Clowning Around Campus The Clown Nose Club’s little acts of kindness go a long way
Find out if your pumps are worth the pain
58. The Five Trends You Should Be Wearing These winter looks are a must this season
60. These Boots Were Made for Walking Forget the UGGs — stay warm and look cool in these shoes
61. Accessorize and Go!
Featuring cover girl Jasmine Rushum
Add these pieces to your outfit for an instant style boost
fashion
62. Beauty in Motion
43. Meet Christi Graver 44. Blog Your Way to a Better Job
57. The Folly of Fashionable Feet
70. Meet the Owner: The Rag and Bone
55. Meet Stephanie Harrison, Alisha Acquaye and Rachel Cichowicz
Vintage virtuoso Shelley Banker talks about her downtown store
56. Carried from Day to Evening
71. When the Lace Met the Tee: A Love Story
These bags can go from breakfast to the bars
It’s DIY time! Create your own lace T-shirt
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editorial division
President / Editor-in-Chief: Haley Blum Design Director: Jessica Gottschalk Photography Director: Ann Sciandra Managing Editor: Jen Kach
beauty & health
Beauty Editor: Anita
Beauty Writers:
Oh Lindsay Carolla, Cassidy Clauss, Tomorrow Helton-Ingram
entertainment
Alyssa Blanco Ross Marcinizyn, Megan Prucnal, Joanie Vasiliadis Entertainment Editor:
Entertainment Writers:
self-improvement
Self-Improvement Editor: Kaitlyn Knopp Self-Improvement Writers: Noelle Mateer, Sarah Retchin
campus culture
Campus Culture Editor: Kathleen Gormley Campus Culture Writers: Shaina Stern, Alyssa Sweeney, Rachel
Yamin
fashion
Fashion Editor: Elysia Mann Stylist: Samantha McCloskey Fashion Writers: Emily Grier, Manouska
Jeantus
graphic design
Lauren Byerly, Erin Gehringer, Audrie Kapinus, Kate Kreisher, Nicole Leva, Kathryn Simpson
photography
Photography Editor: Lindsay
Lipovich Nina Abbott, Stefan Choquette, Jennie Lichtenstein, Ian Lopera, Jillian O’Brien, Julianna O’Malley, Yuting Zhang
Photographers:
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Fall 2011
Photos by Ian Lopera
board of advisers
Christine Arbutina, Erika Isler, Karen Magnuson, Pamela Monk, Jill Shockey, Ronald Smith, Ann Taylor-Schmidt, Suzanne Wayne, Jennifer Zeigler
business division
Taylor McNamara Alexandra Farrell Carlene Murdy
Vice President / Managing Director: Assistant Managing Director: Financial Director:
advertising
Creative Director: Megan Prucnal Creative Assistant Director: Jess Edwards Sales Director: Alissa Strong Sales Assistant Director: Cassandra Nissi
Creative Team:
Cassidy Clauss, Lindsay Gunderman, Marianna Saucier Sales Team: Alyssa Belz, Jordan Bonder, Tara Gottlieb, Hillary Katz, Cristina Pignio
events management
Events Management Directors: Allison LaTorre & Kara Latos Events Management Assistant Director: Katlin Cardillo Events Management Team: Taylor Cohen, Melissa Cropper, Sarah Emeigh, Molly
Ferguson, Samantha Malandra, Katie Rudan, Jenn Sheridan, Alex Steinman
marketing and public relations
Marketing and Public Relations Directors: Alexis Giua & Lindsay Zeky Marketing and Public Relations Assistant Director: Marenah Dobin Marketing and Public Relations Team: Jenna Hammond, Sarah Hoffman, Maria
Lobron Kristi Myers, Nicole Pulli, Kimberly Schmohl, Sarah Townsend, Kara Yacovone
social media
Social Media Director: Julianne Gamache Social Media Assistant Director: Ashlee Mercogliano
The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not the Pennsylvania State University or the University Park Allocation Committee.
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For any occasion, add a touch of Lipstick.
letter from the editor Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I’m goofy. Like, really goofy. I talk too fast
Photos courtesy of La Vie archives, Nina Abbott, and Ann Sciandra
and sometimes too much, and there is nothing I love more than awkward dancing. So when I accepted the position of editorin-chief last semester, I was immediately struck by a panic-inducing thought: How am I supposed to live up to Valley’s former EICs? Over its past seven issues, this magazine has seen some amazing editors. The three that I’ve worked under — Arianna Davis, Devin Tomb and Erin Mawe — always carry themselves with a calm poise (think Kate Middleton) that I was sure I could never replicate, and I was unsure how my silliness would translate into my new job. Throughout this semester, I had to remember that I might not be Grace Kelly, but when it comes to what I love — journalism, music and any mix of the two — I work
hard and I’m serious about accomplishing my goals. That, I realized, is what I have in common with Arianna, Devin and Erin, and what really matters. While chasing your goals, your way is only going to work for you. As the late Steve Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” Our cover girl, Jasmine Rushum, also had to figure out what works for her — and to fight for it. Growing up in an environment where working at McDonald’s is preferable to going to college, Rushum has faced many obstacles that would make most others quit. Since coming to Penn State (which took applying for 75 scholarships and some serious determination), she has spent her time working to unite not only the black community, but the whole student body as well. Read about her amazing story on page 50.
For this issue, we also had the chance to speak with alumna Nicole Dado, sister of Joe, about how she dealt with her brother’s death in September 2009. She gave advice for any student experiencing grief after losing a loved one. You can read what she had to say on page 50. Can you imagine a time when THON was just a small thing — or even nonexistent? Read about the days of Penn State when our parents and grandparents were the ones walking around campus on page 46. (Turns out, we are hardly the first generation to curse an 8 a.m. class after a night out.) We’ve also got your food fix, so you can put away the Easy Mac (at least for a night). Learn to cook a tasty traditional Thai dish on page 49 and pick up pro tips from Zola New World Bistro’s executive chef on page 36.
Haley Blum
Haley Blum
“Don’t be trapped by d o g m a — w h i c h i s living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your ow n i n n e r v o i c e .” - S t eve J o b s 9
ask the staff What’s playing on your iPod while you walk to class?
“Made in America” b y J ay -Z a n d K a ny e We s t f e a t . Fr a n k Ocean “This song empowers and motivates me to go to class. It’s a smooth and melodic reminder of all the brave and hard work put forth by so many people I find inspirational, past and present.” -Manouska Jeantus ( fashion writer)
“Modern Love” by Matt Nathanson “It’s an upbeat song that matches my walking pace perfectly! This song reminds me of getting to see him live in concert at the Nittany Block Party this year.” -Jen Kach (managing editor)
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“Party Rock Anthem” b y L M FAO “I like to pretend I’m in the music while walking to class. It makes going to class a little better.” -Ashlee Mercogliano (social media assistant director)
“U Should Know Better” by Robyn feat. Snoop Dogg “Her catchy, energetic beats and take-no-prisoners attitude makes you feel like you’re unstoppable.” -Ross Marcinizyn (entertainment writer)
Fall 2011
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson “Blasting Michael Jackson never gets old. This fun dance classic makes me forget that I’m walking to class. The only downfall? I have to resist the urge to moonwalk in public.” -Taylor McNamara (managing director)
“Don’t Stop” by Gin Wigmore “It’s that adorable song from the Lowe’s commercial. I can’t help but smile when I hear it. Plus, it’s upbeat, which keeps me on time!” -Jenna Hammond (marketing and public relations team member)
beauty&health we are... beautiful
A LYX CO P P E L L I Age: 21 Year: Senior Major: Integrative arts Hometown: Miami, Fla. What she does: President of Penn State dance club RAM Squad, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority member, dance teacher at Kennedy Dance Centre in Bellefonte, Pa.
Dance inspiration: “Dance is the one thing I have the most freedom in. I’m inspired by whatever I’m feeling at that moment. I can’t make up good choreography unless I’m emotionally attached to the song. Dancing is good for that because it makes me happy.”
Most memorable performance: “RAM Squad performed at THON my freshman year. It was the biggest performance I’d ever done. We practiced months before for a 12-minute performance, but it was totally worth it in the end.”
Beauty philosophy: “I like the natural look — just a little mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss and concealer.”
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
Best advice for Penn State students: “Always try to be positive about everything. No matter how bad things are, if you’re positive, you’ll still be happy in life. You’ll always find something to smile about.” By Anita Oh
NAILING IT! C a s s i d y C l a u s s s h ow s yo u h ow t o d e c o r a t e yo u r d i g i t s with four simple nail trends t o p o l i s h o f f a ny l o o k .
B LU E - J E A N B A BY For a fun design that doesn’t take much time, try “skinny denim” nail-polish strips (Sally Hansen Salon Effects, $9.50, Target). The strip peels and sticks easily, and the excess can be removed with a nail file. Add a pop of color by cutting a circle reinforcement sticker ($2, Staples) into a heart. Place the rounded part of the heart one-third of the way down the nail and paint the tip in a bold red (we like Sally Hansen in Cherry Red, $3, Target).
ICING ON THE CUPCAKE
The reverse French tip, or half moon, is a great spin on the classic style, showing off the crescent part at the base of the nail instead of the tip. To sport this look, simply place reinforcement stickers ($2, Staples) on the bottom third of your nail. Then paint the other two-thirds of your nail with a fun color (try Wet N Wild in Blazed, $1, Walmart) from the sticker at the base all the way to the tip. Wait for polish to dry, then remove the stickers and add a clear topcoat over the entire nail.
A sprinkling of sparkles adds a nice touch to this sweet style. First, frost your nails with a light color like white or pink (try Studio Makeup Nail Laquer in #10, Prima Ballerina, $4.50, studio-make-up.com). Add a sparkly finish with a glittery coat (we like Wet N Wild Fast Dry in Party of Five Glitters, $2, Rite Aid).
OV E R T H E M O O N Instead of leaving the crescent at the base of your nail colorless, as above, create a two-toned look by painting the entire nail the color desired for the crescent (we like My Favorite Martian by Confetti, $2, CVS) and let dry. Then apply the Not-So-Plain Jane technique to add a darker color (like SaGreena the Teenage Witch from Wet N Wild, $2, CVS).
beauty & health 12
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
N OT- S O - P L A I N JA N E
STATIC
SOLUTIONS Most of the school year takes place in the dead of winter, and that can be rough on our hair. Lindsay Carolla found the best products for combating the pesky static that so often comes with dropping temperatures.
For medium and thick hair Those with medium-to-thick hair have an advantage in the battle against static. Thicker hair isn’t prone to dryness because it tends to retain to the natural oils produced by the scalp. Nevertheless, winter hair needs all the moisture it can get, so richer shampoos and conditioners will increase your likelihood of having luscious locks. What works best: The Moist Collection by Aussie ($6-$7, CVS). Doing some research ahead of time to find good moisturizing shampoos that work with your hair is the best defense against static, but if it still happens, don’t fret. A light spray of anti-static mist will send static packing and (bonus!) give hair a subtle sheen. The trick is to find a product that doesn’t make your ’do look greasy. What works best: Sunsilk’s Winter Collection: Anti-Static Mist ($8-$9, Walmart).
Portrait by Stefan Choquette; Products by Ann Sciandra
For fine hair When struggling with static, fine hair requires a different strategy. The secret is finding a shampoo regimen that doesn’t leave your hair limp and greasy. To obtain tantalizing tresses, condition daily but only shampoo two to three times a week. What works best: TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac shampoo ($10, CVS). If that relentless static still rears its ugly head, take any regular household dryer sheet and smooth it over your hair. This adds a pop of fragrance without making hair appear oily. Use the same dryer sheet on the inside of your winter hats to prevent further static cling. Toss a few in your purse, and keep them handy for any static emergency. What works best: Gain brand dryer sheets: Apple Mango Tango scent ($4, Walmart).
PURSE PICKS Ti r e d o f yo u r ov e r f l ow i n g c o s m e t i c b a g ? A n i t a O h ex p l o r e s t h e a b s o l u t e e s s e n t i a l s eve r y g i r l s h o u l d c a r r y i n h e r p u r s e .
B AT H & B O DY WO R K S Midnight Pomegranate B o d y Lo t i o n $10.50, Bath & Body Works
Finding the right perfume isn’t easy. Some fragrances are overpowering while others don’t last through the day. Applying a light body lotion will keep you moisturized while adding a fresh, clean scent.
M AY B E L L I N E Fit Me Concealer $7, CVS
With flavors like lemon, tangerine, sweet mint and honeysuckle, this is the perfect product to keep lips hydrated and protected!
A L M AY
NARS Th e M u l t i p l e A l l - O v e r H i g h l i g h t e r, $39, narscosmetics.com
Fall 2011
Intense I-Color Eyeshadow Trio $5, Walmart
This three-toned eyeshadow can do wonders for your eyes, but it can double as a light shimmery bronzer! Use the medium tone to contour around your cheekbones and the lighter gold shade to blend.
Photos by Ann Sciandra
This is your magic go-to stick. Smudge it lightly in the inner corners of your eyes and along your lower lid to brighten eyes, or use it as an eyeshadow, blush or lipstick. Highlight right under your brows to frame the face.
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Lip Balm Sphere with SPF $3, Target
Using your finger, gently dab concealer over dark circles and blemishes. For a flawless face, be sure to find the right shade for your skin tone.
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EOS
DIFFERENT faces DIFFERENT PLACES
To o o f t e n , w e f a l l i n t o an unchanging makeup routine, applying the same e ye l i n e r a n d m a s c a r a f o r eve r y occasion because t h a t ’ s a l l w e k n o w. J o a n i e Va s i l i a d i s s h ow s yo u h ow to switch up that go-to look.
Casual For everyday wear, the natural look is best, so avoid overly dramatic colors. Start with a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone. If you have oily skin, you can also dust on a light powder. Apply a coat of dark-brown or black mascara to brighten up your eyes. Cover up under-eye bags with concealer. Use a light lip gloss or leave lips bare to avoid looking overdone.
Professional For a job interview or internship, you want to look polished. Apply neutral eyeshadow to the lids (try a light champagne color), a mid-toned brown for the crease to create contour and brown eyeliner paired with dark-brown mascara. Use a nude color for the lips. Finish the look with a light blush on your cheeks rather than a bronzer.
CASUAL
PROFESSIONAL
ROMANTIC
PARTY
Romantic If you’re going on a date, amp it up without looking too made up. Start with a midcoverage foundation and add a shimmery bronzer for a sun-kissed glow. Create soft smoky eyes using shimmery gold and brown eyeshadow for a sophisticated look without being too severe. Add black or brown liner and multiple coats of black mascara, and use a pink lip gloss to pull the look together.
Photos by Ann Sciandra
Party A Friday night social is the perfect excuse to go a little wild with your makeup. Bronzer is a must when pictures will be taken, since it compensates for the white flash of a camera. For the eyes, apply darker shadows: grays, blacks, silvers and even purple or emerald for a pop of color. Add dark eyeliner and mascara to complement the shadow. Keep the lip nude, or, if you opt for a bold lip color, tone down the eyeshadow.
beauty & health 15
HEALTH NUT E v e r yo n e l ov e s m u n c h i n g o n n u t s o f o n e k i n d o r a n o t h e r, b u t a r e t h e y h e a l t hy ? A r e t h e y f a t t e n i n g ? We i g h i n g t h e n u t r i t i o n f a c t s , S h a i n a S t e r n ke e p s yo u f r o m b e i n g d r i ve n , w e l l , n u t s . With all the conflicting information about nutrition, it’s hard for anyone concerned with his or her health to sort it out. The pros and cons of nuts are under constant dispute, but Kelly Hoffheins RD, LDN, an on-campus registered dietitian, insists that nuts should be included in a healthy diet, regardless of whether you’re trying to maintain, gain or lose weight. “The tricky part for losing weight is that nuts can be high in calories,” explains Hoffheins from her University Health Services office. “Watching portion size is the most critical part.” But if you think cutting out nuts and other fat-packed foods is the way to go, think again. Hoffheins warns against these weight-loss misconceptions, which can actually do more harm than good. “One myth is to eat no fat, or very little fat,” she says. “But the truth is you need a decent amount of fat in general. It’s mostly about getting the right types of fat in your diet.” In fact, you need unsaturated fat — the type of fat in nuts — to absorb other vitamins and minerals. When you eliminate fat from your diet completely, you put yourself at risk for vitamin deficiencies (E, D, C and K in particular), which ultimately is worse than eating fat in the first place. That’s why Hoffheins tells patients that nuts, eaten in moderation, are a great addition to a healthy diet. Nuts will keep you full because they’re packed with protein, and they can help lower your cholesterol. Hoffheins adds that Penn State researchers have even been investigating the latest benefits of nuts for a healthy heart. Which nuts should you choose? Walnuts and almonds are Hoffheins’ top choices because they’re high in omega-3 fatty acids and have the most nutrients overall. She notes that it’s best to consume nuts in their most natural form, instead of in spreads or beverages, so that you get all the nutrients and don’t overeat. So stock up on your favorite nuts and consider them an overall treat: hearthealthy, nutrient-absorbent and absolutely delicious!
Photo by Nina Abbott
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Fall 2011
Photo by Jillian O’Brien
Is your diet affected by your r e l a t i o n s h i p? A l y s s a B l a n c o consulted Dr. Elaine Rodino, a private-practice psychologist in State College, for the answer. Committed relationships often result in unanticipated changes in your everyday diet. Like riding a dining roller coaster, you might find yourself with Emeril Lagasse one moment and Ronald McDonald the next. Regardless of individual food preferences, the emotions that arise in a relationship — healthy or dysfunctional — can alter the normal eating habits of either partner. In large part, this is due to what Rodino refers to as “a need to affiliate.” “We often get into relationships with people that have similar styles and similar likes and dislikes because it’s fun to engage in activities together,” she says. If you date someone who leads a healthy lifestyle, you’re likely to adopt a similarly healthy one. However, if your other half tends to overeat, eat too little, or eat the
use food to compensate or console. wrong foods, it’s possible you could pick up “Internal conflict in a relationship can those habits as well. also [lead to] stress that triggers unhealthy High stress levels stemming from habits,” Rodino says. strained relationships can also put your However, she points out that there are dietary habits to the test. Low self-esteem, ways to deal with dietary issues during a lack of fidelity, differing emotional needs troubled relationships. and compatibility issues are just a few of the “In terms of self-help, it’s always better situations that can deliver a real hit to your to catch issues sooner so that resolving diet and nutritional needs. That’s because them becomes more of a probability,” she says. your well-being is just as influenced by your “Activities such as dieting together, havthoughts and feelings as by your sleep and ing fun picking menus and cooking together exercise habits. can help bring couples closer together.” “Studies show that strong mind-body Communication, Rodino says, is key. connections tie stress levels” to a person’s “Regardless of the method or solution, overall health, she says. all of these steps begin with talking,” she For instance, severe emotional problems, says. “It’s all about really saying, ‘I’m not such as depression or the need for excessive happy with … fill in the blank.’” reassurance in a relationship, can lead to So the next time dating is getting the best fluctuations in weight. Furthermore, those of your dining habits, stop and consider the in comfortable relationships also can slip toll it may be taking on your body. into unhealthy eating habits if they believe “Being able to talk about issues,” she says, their partners will accept them no matter how their eating has affected their appearance. “is the best way for couples to lead happy and healthy lives.” If incompatibility enters the scene and a relationship goes awry, people often tend to
beauty & health 17
BRAIDED
beauty Big braids are in this season! For a quick and easy hairstyle for class, braid big portions of hair back to the ear and secure with a bobby pin. For date night, switch it up and plait your hair along a bold side part. Let your inner creativity shine. It’s all about experimenting with different shapes, styles and sizes to make a look uniquely yours. Easily transition for a Friday night social by adding a flirty accessory like a feather headband, which gives you feather extensions without the hassle ($6.50, Delia’s).
Makeup by Rachael Taylor (Looks Hair Design), Hair by Sam McCloskey
RUNW AY TO YOUR WAY 18
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Fall 2011
Inspired by the hottest trends o n t h e r u n way, A n i t a O h s h ow s yo u h ow t o r o c k t h i s s e a s o n ’s b e s t b e a u t y l o o k s w h i l e s t ay i n g effortlessly chic. P h o t o s b y I a n Lo p e r a
beauty & health 18
MAGNIFICENT
manicures Say goodbye to boring, neutral shades and the repetitive French manicure. This winter, it’s all about bending the rules. Think outside the box, like mooned manicures and texture for your nails. Try pairing a metallic polish with a deeper hue for an eye-popping, iridescent effect. For extra texture and volume during a night out, play around with seed beads, glitter and nail glue. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shades and textures!
Makeup by Samantha Jeffery (Looks Hair Design), Nails by Kelly McMurtrie (Looks Hair Design)
WINGED
woman It’s time to break out the liquid eyeliner, because it’s all about lines this season. Dramatic winged eye makeup paired with a statement lipstick is perfect for a Saturday night out. Use charcoal tones to create sultry smoky eyes, and set them off with gorgeous lips in shades of deep red or luscious pink. For a busy day filled with classes and meetings, draw a thinner winged eye and tone it down with nude eyeshadow lipsticks or glosses that add just a hint of color. Makeup by Rachael Taylor (Looks Hair Design)
beauty & health 20
M-F 10-8 Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5
entertainment entertainingU
DA R E N “ DJ R E M E DY ” DONOFRIO Age: 30 Year: Senior Major: Labor studies & employment relations
Hometown: Eatontown, N.J. What he does: Resident DJ, aspiring actor, co-founder of Penn State dance club RAM Squad
How he got his name: “I used to go to a small club … that housed a DJ that was absolutely terrible. My friends would always say, ‘Man, this guy is awful! I wish we had a remedy for this dude.’ And I replied, ‘I don’t know how to spin yet, but I can be that remedy.’ And the name just kind of stuck.”
Where to hear him: “I currently hold a residency at Kildare’s on Friday nights. I also guest DJ at Ceoltas [Irish Pub] in Harrisburg and Synergy in Williamsport on Saturday nights.”
What entertainment means to him: “No matter what mood a person is
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
in, you can help make their night better. It’s your job to help them enjoy themselves — and that’s kind of unique to entertainers in general, I think. I try to uplift people’s spirits, and if I’m not doing that, I don’t think I’m doing my job.” By Alyssa Blanco
Anna Bower
PENN STATE SPOTLIGHT ON
HAPPY VALLEY ARTISTS D o o d l i n g i n t h e m a r g i n s o f c l a s s n o t e s m ay b e t h e c l o s e s t m o s t P e n n S t a t e r s h ave eve r c o m e t o “ a r t e d u c a t i o n ,” b u t t h e s e f o u r s t u d e n t s a r e b e yo n d d r a w i n g s t i c k f i g u r e s . R o s s M a r c i n i z y n i n t r o d u c e s yo u t o s o m e c u r r e n t t a l e n t s i n t h e c a m p u s a r t s c e n e .
Devan Shimoyama Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing
“The main thing is finding the right venue to direct one’s artistic expression into,” he adds. His past work has been on display in the Zoller and Patterson galleries, located in the Visual Arts Building and the lobby of the Patterson Building, respectively. At press time, a number of his pieces were set to be shown in the Zoller Gallery in November.
Artist Shimoyama began his education at Penn State on a rather different path: science. Soon enough, though, he realized there was nothing he’d rather be doing than making art, so he swapped the science labs for art studios. Even though he ditched the lab coat, he says he still likes to experiment, trying out different artistic techniques and media. He Jessie Rommelt integrates controlled spills and pours with Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in different kinds of paints, fabrics and materials. sculpture The Penn State Painting Club president During her Penn State career, Rommelt says he plans to attend graduate school to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree, and wants to practice art in whatever capacity he can. From there, he wants to head to school yet again — this time in a teaching role. “I want to teach specifically on the collegiate level eventually because I find it important to give back and continue to inspire others who seek to pursue a career in the visual arts,” he says. It’s important for people to know that many possible career opportunities exist in the arts, Jillian Shearer Shimoyama says.
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Fall 2011
has concentrated on working with non-conventional materials to create her sculptural artwork. She’s created pieces using everything from foam to plastic sheeting to digital fabrications — even inflatable pieces. Rommelt, a co-founder of the Penn State Exhibiting Artists group, says she always knew that she wanted to be involved in the arts, and began her Penn State education in the arts program. In her introductory classes, she realized she was more attracted to three-dimensional creations, thanks to the passion of an energetic and encouraging teacher. The almost never-ending possibilities of the three-dimensional art form continue to interest her, she says. “You can build with anything you can get your hands on,” she says. Rommelt’s artistic goals lie far from anything “there’s really a name for.” Instead, she’d like to pioneer a hybrid among art residencies — special programs where artists live for months at a time to focus solely on creating — art education, art outreach and gallery spaces. Early in the semester, Rommelt was preparing for an exhibition in the Robeson Gal-
this show will soon be on display in on-campus buildings.
Jillian Shearer Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing
Devan Shimoyama
lery in the HUB entitled “A Complex Weave,” which began on Sept. 27 and is set to run through Dec. 4. She’s also begun work curating an alumni exhibition at the Green Drake Gallery in Millheim, Pa.
Anna Brewer
Photos by Jennie Lichtenstein and Artist submitted
Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing To Brewer, being a contemporary artist “is about using all and any materials.” Despite her formal declaration in painting and drawing, Brewer has found herself working in many disciplines, including performance art, sculpture and even doll creation. Brewer was brought up in an artistic environment where art was always easily accessible. Both of her parents are artists, she says, and growing up they had their house and then a second building just for art (her father designed both). This past summer, the co-founder of the Exhibiting Artists group had an internship with the Mattress Factory Art Museum in Pittsburgh. The experience not only showed her the inner workings of a successful art institution, but also affirmed her relationship with art. “It’s a great example of what you can do with just a couple of people and some artwork,” she adds. Brewer also was the first-night featured artist for a Sept. 1 exhibition at The Wherehouse in Pittsburgh. All of her pieces, painted in acrylic on canvas or paper, had to do with themes of erotica and the body, and exposed “the raw scores of sexual and social turmoil that [fueled her] characters.” A number of her paintings from
Shearer has taken art classes since she was 5 years old and felt that it was only natural for her to study and create art. “I didn’t want to do anything else,” she says. Working mostly at creating realistic oil-painted portraits inspired by sociology, human interaction and emotions, Shearer describes her work as pieces that convey emotions and feelings through the figure’s eyes and expressions. She’s inspired by relationships, good and bad, and by the stereotypes and judgments people make based on how someone looks physically or stylistically. “I’ve always been very sensitive to the interaction between people in the sense of emotions and body language. I feel like people can relate to a certain glance or look a portrait gives off, which also changes the emotions they’re feeling,” says the Penn State Painting Club vice president. She plans on going to graduate school to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree and wants to teach art classes on a collegiate level. “I really felt as if I could teach students who could use my experience and appreciate it, as well as learning something from them in the process,” she says. Her senior solo show will be March 11-17 in the Patterson Gallery.
GET
INVOLVED!
I f yo u , t o o, l ove a r t , Penn State has a lot to o f f e r. H e r e ’s h ow yo u can join the Penn State art scene:
Penn State Exhibiting Artists The members of this organization know there’s great student work out there and are dedicated to seeing that the artists behind it have the ability to showcase their work. Founders Rommelt and Brewer recognized a lack of showing space coupled with a need to organize the undergraduate art community, so they started the group in an effort to create more exhibition opportunities. Even non-members can get in contact with Rommelt or Brewer to discuss exhibiting possibilities.
Painting Club The name doesn’t exactly say it all. While president Shimoyama and vice president Shearer, along with the other members, are dedicated to brushstrokes and easels, the organization’s members do more than just paint. The club also plans trips to museums and galleries, including a professorguided trip to a SoHo gallery in New York City. Painting Club also coordinates visits and personal critiques by guest artists, making it a great setting for personal artistic growth.
Pennsylvania Art Education Association:
Jessie Rommelt
The Penn State chapter of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association organizes art educators, artists and art lovers to share their passion for art and creativity through community service and social events. During visits to retirement homes and schools, co-presidents Katie Diorio and Jordan Tates and chapter members cultivate an appreciation for art and its creation. Any major is invited!
TUNING IN TO STATE COLLEGE By Joanie Vasiliadis
Majic 99: D o yo u f i n d yo u r s e l f s p e n d “We Play It All” i n g a n e n t i r e c a r r i d e l o o kStation: 99.5 FM ing for the perfect radio s t a t i o n? S t o p t u r n i n g t h e Format: Hot adult contemporary dial and find the music Six artists you’ll hear: Michael yo u ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r r i g h t h e r e . Jackson, Katy Perry, Madonna, Black Eyed Regardless of what you want to hear, radio stations in State College offer a variety of music for all listeners. Not only can you listen to the music you love, but you can also tune in to hear some unique personalities. With disc jockeys that include Penn State alumni, faculty and even current students, these stations are definitely worth tuning in to.
The B:
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Eagle 98.7:
BIG Frog: “Today’s Best Rock” “Hoppy Valley’s Best and Most Country” Station: 98.7 FM Station: 101.1 FM Format: Alternative rock Six artists you’ll hear: Papa Roach, Format: Country Blink-182, Godsmack, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Six artists you’ll hear: Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Foo Fighters, Breaking Benjamin Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Keith Urban Website: eagle987.com Website: bigfroggy101.com What to Look Forward to: The What to look forward to: station hands out bumper stickers all over Christmas Carol, where the station visits Happy Valley. Get spotted with an Eagle 12 houses for 12 days in a row with aid from bumper sticker to win prizes. community organizations and industries. Fast fact: The Eagle just launched this Listeners can send letters to nominate semester and features jocks that are all Penn families in need. State alumni. Fast fact: Boss Frog says this is a station for mom and the kids and that dad will come along for the ride. Fall 2011
Photo by Ian Lopera
“All Hit Music for Happy Valley” Station: 94.5 FM Format: Contemporary hit radio Six artists you’ll hear: Rihanna, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa, LMFAO Website: b945live.com What to Look Forward to: 25 Days of Christmas, where the Morning Zoo Crew will team up with 25 local businesses to give families all over Centre County huge Christmas gifts. Fast fact: The Zoo Crew is made up of Penn State students currently interning at the station.
Peas, Bon Jovi, John Mayer Website: majic99.com What to look forward to: AllChristmas Weekends, where listeners can hear Christmas music all weekend long in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Fast fact: Morning listeners who know exactly what they want should tune in between 9 and 10 a.m. for a request hour.
The Bus: “The Best Rock Ever Recorded” Station: 93.7 FM Format: Classic rock Six artists you’ll hear: AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger Website: thebus.net What to Look Forward to: Listen in for giveaways from your favorite venues, including The State Theatre, Bryce Jordan Center and Eisenhower Auditorium. Fast fact: Morning show host Jeff Brown is the general manager of ComRadio, Penn State’s student-run radio station on the Web.
UNLOCKING PANDORA’S BOX
Go through the music quiz to find out what Pandora s t a t i o n i s p e r f e c t f o r yo u ! By Megan Prucnal
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR TONIGHT? STAYING IN Are you hanging with the girls or having a boy over?
GIRLS NIGHT OUT Are you feeling nostalgic?
PARTY TIME You’re heading out with...
A BIG CREW OF FRIENDS Are you looking for an impromptu dance party of a sing-along?
BRING ON THE BOY Are you trying to set the mood or stay in the friend zone?
NOT AT ALL Time for a dance break or a diva off?
Time to dance!
Yes! Take me back to my childhood!
Just a friend, nothing more.
Let’s belt it out like Beyoncé!
LMFAO You’re ready to start your night with a bang! This station gives you hits from the Black Eyed Peas, Lil Jon and, of course, LMFAO. Get this station bumpin’ in your apartment — an impromptu dance party might lead to an unforgettable night.
ADELE Bond with your girls as you belt out the songs of great artists together. The Adele station gives you not only the genius of the amazing British songstress, but also chill music from John Mayer and sing-along songs from legends like Aretha Franklin.
Setting the mood — time for a cuddle sesh!
BACKSTREET BOYS Everybody loves a throwback song. Whether you’re with your girls or hanging with a guy friend, this station will remind you of your middle school days. You’ll be pleased that you still remember the lyrics to TLC’s “No Scrubs” and BSB’s “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).”
BRUNO MARS So you’ve got a guy over. Now what? Throw on the Bruno Mars station to slow it down and set the mood. Let the smooth sounds of Bruno, Chris Brown and other modern crooners echo through the room.
THROW A
NAUTICALTHEMED PARTY! Ahoy!
Hosting a nautical-inspired party will make you feel like you’re seaside and basking in the summer sun on even the coldest of winter days. R o s s M a r c i n i z y n s h o w s y o u h o w.
Food & drink:
DRESS:
Making summer-inspired food and drinks will add a great vibe to your event. For snacks, lay out a platter of small finger sandwiches and a bowl of fruity candy for your guests to enjoy. When your scorchinghot party leaves your friends feeling thirsty, serve them frozen, virgin margaritas or daiquiris to cool them down.
For both guys and girls, try channeling yacht club–inspired looks. For guys, shorterlength shorts and button-down shirts are best. Finish the outfit off with a pair of boat shoes or flats. Girls can also take a preppy approach by wearing dressier shirts. However, they should never underestimate the power of a sundress. The latter look is best completed with a pair of sandals, whether they’re flat, high-heeled or somewhere in between. Stripes, anchor patterns and other pieces inspired by the sea will only strengthen your look.
MUSIC: Not surprisingly, summer music will work best here. Classic summer songs are always great choices for your party playlist, but don’t forget to add some songs that remind you of your own past summers. Think back to the tracks you and your friends loved to hear during your past vacations together. It will remind you of the summer warmth and bring back memories with your favorite people.
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Anything that reminds you of the summer! Hang life preservers around the room and throw beach balls onto the floor. If you’re feeling adventurous, store your beverages in a kiddie pool filled with ice. Not only will your drinks stay cold, but the event will get an extra dose of summer fun.
Photos by Yuting Zhang
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DECORATIONS:
SPARK YOUR HOLIDAY SPIRIT S e t t l e i n t o w i n t e r w i t h a c u p o f h o t c o c o a a n d o n e o f t h e s e h o l i d ay h i t s .
Jingle All the Way Back to a Classic
Have a Merry (No, Really!) Christmas
Take a Walk in a Winter Wonderland
Sometimes the holidays serve as a personal time machine. It’s easy to slip back into the comfort of your childhood — and what better way to do so than by watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas? You can pop in the original animated Dr. Seuss version (1966) or upgrade to the more recent Jim Carrey film (2000). No matter which one you choose, you’ll find both the comfort of Christmases past and humor that will make you smile over and over again.
Plenty of films dub the holidays a season of love. However, only one film proves that “love actually is all around.” With its ensemble cast and overlapping storylines, Love Actually (2003) has everything from a courageous little boy who is honest with his crush to a risk-taking Romeo who tells a friend how he truly feels. After watching, you may find yourself wanting to take a chance on love this holiday season.
Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit quite like a great comedy, and Four Christmases (2008) gives you just that. In this underrated holiday film, Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad (Vince Vaughn) struggle to see both of their families in one day. With crazy parents and off-the-wall siblings, Four Christmases will remind you of your own unique family traditions. By Megan Prucnal
Rain
SLEET
These upbeat tunes include cheery vocals that can liven up the gloominess of winter rains.
The fast-paced beats and guitars of these songs match the rhythmic tinkling noises that frozen rain makes on your windowpanes.
“Somewhere in Brooklyn” –Bruno Mars
“VELVET SNOW”
“Horchata”
–Kings of Leon
–Vampire Weekend
Wintry Mix
“Winter Winds” –Mumford & Sons
By Cassidy Clauss
SNOW The calm and pretty image of snowfall deserves similarly soft and sweet acoustic songs.
“Valley Winter Song” –Fountains of Wayne
“Snow Day” –Matt Pond PA
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With winter rapidly approaching and the cold already kicking in, music can help you embrace the temperature change. You know how some songs just sound better on a rainy (or snowy, or sunny) day? We’ve categorized these songs based on different types of wintry weather, so you can choose the perfect tunes no matter what the sky decides to do.
Fall 2011
Frost For the season’s iciest days, these songs are bitter cold with percussion and vocals that will give you shivers (the good kind!).
“COLDEST WINTER” –Kanye West
“COLD SHOULDER” –Adele
1 2 Though you might think mix tapes are a lost art in a dead medium, ThinkGeek.com has revived the old-school concept and transformed it into the perfect gift for the holidays. The USB Mixtape Memory Stick is a digital twist on a classic cassette tape. The stick provides a gigabyte’s worth of storage space — all you need to do is choose some music ($30, ThinkGeek.com).
Help a friend crank up some tunes this holiday season with the MP3 Retro Speaker Amp. The miniature amplifier connects to your iPod, computer and even your phone for louder sound. The speaker can be powered by a USB cable or AAA batteries and comes equipped with adjustable bass, treble and volume knobs ($24, Urban Outfitters).
GREAT GADGET GIFTS
Photos by Ian Lopera
Wo n d e r i n g w h a t t o g e t t h a t t e c h - s av v y s o m e o n e i n yo u r l i f e t h i s h o l i d ay s e a s o n? A l y s s a B l a n c o g u i d e s yo u t o f o u r u n i q u e g i f t s t h a t f i t yo u r b u d g e t .
3 4 Time to trade in those tiny ear buds for some serious sound with Urbanears headphones. A modern take on a classic design, this full-size, on-ear headset pumps out rich sound and comes equipped with a plug that allows friends to connect and share music. Choose from a variety of colors to fit your style ($60, Urban Outfitters).
Know someone crazy about photography? Snag them a Pop Cam, which will let them indulge their inner Andy Warhol — one snap takes four pictures, each a different color. Marilyn Monroe not included ($10, People’s Nation).
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Authorized Retail Store
With so many items to choose from, you’ll find what you’re looking for.
self-improvement psYou, you, you
A S H L E Y E YS T E R Age: 21 Year: Junior Major: BFA in printmaking Hometown: State College, Pa. Involvement: President of the Open Meditation Society, which is designed to offer a space for students to fit meditation into their busy lives at Penn State. The group meets every day Monday through Friday in the Bridal Room at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at designated times. (Details can be found on its website: clubs.psu.edu/up/om/)
Latest project: “We are going to be doing a daylong retreat in Stone Valley,” an outdoor recreation area in Huntingdon County, Pa.
How meditation helps students: “In my particular practice, we try to be in the present. With how active you are at Penn State, you lose that sense of now because you are so worried about what’s going on in the future … It’s so nice to reconnect with yourself.”
Advice: “Take a moment to breathe.”
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
By Kaitlyn Knopp
Smile
3
1
FOR THE CAMERA
2
4 5 G o t s n a p - h a p p y f r i e n d s? N o e l l e M a t e e r f o u n d f i ve p o s i n g t i p s s o yo u ’ l l n eve r h ave t o u n - t a g eve r a g a i n . Think you look awkward in pictures? You’re not alone. But there’s good news: “You don’t have to be physically attractive to be photogenic,” says Chuck Fong, owner of Studio 2, a popular portrait studio in downtown State College. Fong and photographer Jessica Paholsky, a sophomore majoring in art and photojournalism, share their secrets to stunning photos every time:
1
Master the head tilt
2
Now smile ... like you mean it
A natural smile looks best, so try thinking of something funny next time your friend whips out her camera. Plus, creating a slight gap between your upper and lower rows of teeth will “give it that laugh effect,” says Paholsky. Still concerned? Try joking with your friends to relax and lighten up. “I tell a lot of bad jokes,” Fong says.
of Light 3Try Speaking to stand by any light available, as opposed to relying on the flash, which can cause red-eye and a harsh, glaring light. “Shooting with available light gives you more candid, more natural photos,” Fong says. Outside, ditch direct sunlight for a shadier spot with softer lighting.
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Remember those group photos you took for your high school yearbook? Your coach, teacher or band director probably had your side of the row angled toward the center. Turns out, he or she was right to do so — it’s best if you don’t face the camera straight-on. Don’t lock your knees or point your feet in the same direction, either. This not only makes for a more interesting photo, but will cast a softer, more flattering light on your body.
5 Just Relax
As Fong says, the most photogenic people know to relax in front of the camera. Just remember you’re gorgeous and all the other tips will fall into place!
Photo by Jillian O’Brien
“Looking through Facebook pictures, you can tell that some people tilt down and look up,” says Paholsky. This will help avoid what she calls the “deer-in-the-headlights look.” Tilting your chin downward also makes your face appear slimmer, Fong says.
4 Avoid Right Angles
The Five Friends You Need at
PSU By Emily Grier
We a r e a s o c i e t y o b s e s s e d with having more — of everything! Ye t , a s t h e s ay i n g g o e s , i t ’s q u a l i t y ove r q u a n t i t y t h a t matters (unless we’re talking about shoes, in which case, the more the merrier). In r e a l i t y, t h e r e a r e o n l y f i v e e s s e n t i a l f r i e n d s ev e r y g i r l n e e d s i n H a p p y Va l l e y.
Illustrations by Audrie Kapinus
The Social Butterfly You know those nights when the only thing you want to do is lounge with your two favorite guys, Ben and Jerry, when you know you should be hitting up one of the zillions of soirees you’ve been invited to? This is why every Penn State girl needs to befriend a Social Butterfly. True, it’s a bit much to go out every day ending in “Y,” but every girl deserves to have some fun now and then. Throw on your favorite stilettos and let this girl show a memorable night in the happiest of valleys.
The Die-Hard Nittany Lion As much as we love JoePa, it was beyond freezing cold at Beaver Stadium during his 400th win last November. Thus the need
for The Die-Hard Nittany Lion. This friend will make sure that you stay until the end of every single football game, no matter how much you can’t feel your fingers in the cold. She’ll also bring you to every pep rally and spirit week event — including Homecoming, which is practically Christmas for her. The Die-Hard Nittany Lion will always be the “PENN STATE” to your “WE ARE ....”
The Twin Wait ... so we’re not actually the same person? The Twin has the same taste in music, movies, clothes and (possibly most important) guys as you do. You two will always share a Saturday morning craving for the Waffle Shop and an obsession with trashy reality shows. The best part about The Twin is that you always have someone to drag to Starbucks for holiday lattes and to secretly pine for an *NSYNC reunion concert with you.
The Fierce Competitor A little healthy competition among friends is always a good thing. Every girl needs that one friend who motivates her to excel in all aspects of life. Not only will The Competitor help you ace that killer CHEM 100 final, but she’ll also make sure you ask out that cute guy you’ve been eyeing up — before she does.
The Polar Opposite Because sometimes you want to hang out with someone who is, well, not you. This is the friend who can explain the oh-socomplex rules of basketball when you’re not quite Sporty Spice and the friend who encourages you to try a new flavor at the Creamery instead of your usual “Death Dish.” The Polar Opposite pushes you outside of your comfort zone and broadens your horizons, which is really what college is all about.
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COOK LIKE IT’S YOUR JOB:
TIPS FROM A PRO CHEF Zo l a N ew Wo r l d B i s t r o i s known for its fine dining and perfectly polished meals. Kaitlyn Knopp talks to the c h e f b e h i n d t h e m o u t h - wa t e r ing menu for inside advice o n c o o k i n g l i ke a p r o. The quietness of late morning at Zola New World Bistro belies the dining rush that is just hours away. A tall, dark-haired man in a chef’s coat walks across the gleaming wood floor with a big smile. “I’m Paul,” says the executive chef and coowner of Zola. “Come on in.” A graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., Paul Kendeffy has also apprenticed in French cuisine at Maxime’s in New York City. While later working as a cook at State College’s Carnegie House, Paul met Dave Fonash, a line cook at the time. The two became friends and soon talked about opening a restaurant together. “One day, we just decided to go for it,” Kendeffy says, adding that they saved for more than a year and a half to open Zola on West College Avenue. Now, at 38, Kendeffy has cooked in Zola for 11 years, and has plenty of pro tips to share. “Let’s go back and start cooking,” he says.
Kendeffy’s Must-Have
Ingredient: “Salt and pepper.” Dorm Item: “George Foreman Grill, if it’s allowed, because you can actually cook on it.” Editor’s note: Unfortunately, it’s not allowed in on-campus residence halls, but try out the easyto-use grill at a friend’s off-campus apartment.
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INGREDIENTS • 1 piece salmon • 1 serving pasta • 1 clove minced garlic – “This is fresh — never use from a jar,” Kendeffy says.
• ½ shallot, minced • ½ red pepper, chopped • 1 cup arugula – “You can use spinach, too.” • ½ zucchini cut in slices – “If it’s a young [small] zucchini, I leave the seeds in because they’re still tender. If it’s an older [big] zucchini, I cut the center seeds out.”
• Salt and pepper • 1 tablespoon minced basil – “If it’s fresh, add it at the end. If it’s dried, add it early [in the cooking process].”
• ½ cup white wine – If you don’t have white wine, “use lemon and water or just leave it out.”
Photos by Ann Sciandra
• ½ lemon • ½ tablespoon butter • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil *All measurements are approximations.
Kendeffy’s RECOMMENDED
Directions • Cook pasta; strain and set aside. • Place butter and half of olive oil in pan on high heat. • Season salmon with salt and pepper. Lay in hot pan, searing both sides 2-3 minutes each. Turn heat to low, and lightly squeeze the lemon over salmon. • While salmon cooks, chop vegetables as directed and place olive oil in a second pan over medium heat. • Place garlic and shallots in pan; cook 1-2 minutes. • Add pepper and squash; season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly in pan, cooking until tender. Add white wine and allow liquid to cook out. • Add arugula and pasta; stir and cook for 1 minute. • Add basil and cook for 2 minutes more.
Plating “With a dish like this, if you just slid it all onto the plate, then you would lose all the goodies of the dish on the bottom just because of the weight of everything,” Kendeffy says. “So scoop your pasta out first, and then put the vegetables on the bottom of the pan on top.” Place pasta on plate. Top with salmon and add microgreens, or let stand alone.
BURGER: “Never buy a pre-pattied burger … also, fat content is important — 80 percent is ideal. And don’t over-mix it. Gently fold it [into a patty]. Do as little to it as possible. Add salt and pepper and a hot grill.” Easy Recipe: “Besides ramen noodles? Ordering takeout.”
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DOs & DON’Ts of BUDGETING
THE
Making the decision to start a budget is e a s y. D e s i g n i n g a n d s t i c k i n g t o t h a t b u d g e t ? Not so much. Entering the world of f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e c a n b e a b i t s c a r y, especially if you don’t know where to begin. Luckily, personal finance expert and P e n n S t a t e g r a d Fa r n o o s h To r a b i , a u t h o r o f P s yc h Yo u r s e l f R i c h , o f f e r s u s h e r t r i e d and true advice on making (and sticking t o) a b u d g e t i n H a p p y Va l l e y. By Emily Grier
DO TRACK YOUR SPENDING We’ve all been there. One minute you’re walking down College Avenue and suddenly there’s a Starbucks latte and a frozen yogurt from Kiwi in your hands. As college students, it’s easy to lose track of frivolous purchases that could have been avoided completely. Keeping track of what you buy and how much it costs can give you a better picture of how you’re spending your money. “The fact is money is really intangible and abstract unless we make a conscious effort to track it,” Torabi says. “If you can make this a daily habit, you’ll be much better off.” She suggests sites like Mint.com and Bundle.com for free software to help create a budget. Programs like these allow students to “sync all their bank account information, watch how they’re spending and stick to a budget,” she says.
DO BE REALISTIC
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MAKE IMPULSE PURCHASES “I remember sometimes going to McLanahan’s on College Avenue and ending up buying a lot of useless crap,” Torabi says. For many girls, when it comes to shopping willpower, there’s almost no such thing. Keep in mind that little changes can make a huge difference in your budget. Avoid the impulse-shopping pitfall by making “a list of the ‘needs’ you need to spend on that week — from gas in your car to your utility bill,” Torabi says. “Then budget the rest for your ‘wants.’” If you still want to go out with your friends, she recommends you try to “meet up with them afterward or just for dessert toward the end of dinner.” While tracking money is important, as Torabi says, “Self-control is a big part of budgeting well!”
DON’T RELY COMPLETELY ON YOUR PARENTS Sure, $80 seems like a bargain for those shoes — unless you’re the one actually paying for them. When you’re earning and spending your money, living frugally suddenly becomes a high priority. “The best way to understand a budget is to make, spend and save your own money,” Torabi says. “When I was in college at Penn State, I was a hostess at Mario & Luigi’s, sold ads at The Daily Collegian and worked for Nittany Notes.”
Photo courtesy of Farnoosh Torabi
It’s one thing to say you can survive on $10 per day. It’s an entirely different thing to actually do it. So how do you decide how much to budget in the first place? “Start the week with a budget, say it’s $100. Take out that $100 from your bank’s ATM at the start of the week and see how long you can hold onto it,” Torabi says. “Using cash, as opposed to a debit card or credit card, is more painful ... seeing it leave your wallet makes you think twice about a purchase and that, in and of itself, can help you save money.”
DON’T
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH ROOMMATES
ROOMMATE
recollections By Sarah Retchin
Photo by Yuting Zhang
Roommates come with all “My freshman year, I roomed with my best d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f p e r s o n a l i - friend from high school, and it was a total t i e s , b a c kg r o u n d s a n d l i f e disaster. We don’t even talk anymore. Last styles. And when you’re time I saw her she flipped me off.” assigned a random roommate — Samantha*, junior to share your on-campus r o o m , yo u ’ r e a t t h e m e r c y o f “I found my roommate on Facebook and got a l o t t e r y s ys t e m t h a t d o e s n ’ t along with her really well, but my neighbors care if you are a morning also found each other the same way and person or night owl. But didn’t get along at all. They ended up switchsometimes, even rooming ing roommates.” — Caitlin*, sophomore w i t h yo u r b e s t f r i e n d f r o m high school doesn’t work out. We asked some of your fell ow “My roommate and I went to the same high school, and it was a good experience because N i t t a ny L i o n s t o r e f l e c t o n it took away the chance of us not getting t h e i r r o o m m a t e ex p e r i e n c e s — the good, the bad and the along.” — Shannon, sophomore just plain weird. “My freshman year, I didn’t have a roommate for the whole first semester. Spring semester, I had a roommate who was on the equestrian team, so our room smelled like a farm all the time. It was really gross, but she was a cool girl.”
“My roommate has been the same since summer session of 2010, and we get along really well. We go on vacation together and everything.” — Britney, sophomore
1. Talk to your roommate as soon as you move in. Get to know each other — what you like, who wakes up when, your feelings about overnight guests. 2. Take the on-campus roommate contract to heart. It breaks down exactly what the roommates’ expectations are for the living environment. 3. Address issues when they’re little. Don’t allow insignificant issues to grow into big problems. Confrontation is always easier when it concerns something small. 4. Create guidelines for misunderstandings. Problems are inevitable, but before they occur, talk about how you will work them out. Some people like to be blunt and straightforward, while others are more wary of confrontation. 5. Accept your differences. Two people from different backgrounds and lifestyles can still get along, but that means being open and respectful of dissimilarities. 6. Keep a balance between personal rights and compromises. Be flexible about your living situation, but not at the expense of studies or health. At the same time, honor your roommate’s rights to guests and socializing. After all, he or she pays for the room, too. 7. Be honest not only with your roommate, but with yourself. You need to be realistic about your comfort levels. If you really don’t feel comfortable with overnight guests, speak up. Don’t just compromise in order to avoid conflict, because this creates issues in the long run. 8. Above all else, treat your roommate the way you want to be treated. Whether you end the year the best of friends or not on speaking terms, you can take comfort in the fact you treated your roommate with respect.
*Names have been changed.
— Elizabeth*, fifth-year senior
“I knew a girl who got kicked out of school because she put nail polish remover in her roommate’s water.” — Laura*, sophomore
“I got back home from a late class one night and I had no i d e a w h e r e my r o o m m a t e wa s . I t t u r n e d o u t t h a t s h e h a d been hiding under my bed for two hours, waiting to scare m e b y t h r ow i n g a b ox a t m e . S h e h a d e ave s d r o p p e d o n a Skype conversation of mine for those two hours.” — Alicia*, freshman self-improvement 39
Surviving Sorrow A DADO SISTER’S STORY
N i c o l e D a d o ’s l i f e w a s t h r ow n i n t o t u r m o i l t h e d ay h e r b r o t h e r J o e d i e d — a d ay t h a t l a i d a h a r d r o a d o f g r i e f f o r h e r f a m i l y a n d d r ew n a t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n , r ev i v i n g d e b a t e o n t h e d r i n k i n g c u l t u r e a t P e n n S t a t e . K a i t l y n K n o p p g o e s d e e p e r i n t o h ow t h e P e n n S t a t e a l u m n a s u r v i ve d t h e d ay i n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 9 w h e n h e r w o r l d f e l l a p a r t , a n d h ow o t h e r s can learn from her strength. Police searched with helicopters and dogs. Family members distributed fliers in the HUB and waited anxiously by the phones. All of Penn State held its breath, watching every breaking headline along the way. Many remember the weekend Joe Dado died as tragic and humbling — but for his sister Nicole, the emotions go beyond grief and despair. “I was watching the Steelers [on Sunday], I think, and my sister [Natalie] called, saying my brother’s roommate had texted her saying he hadn’t seen him in a while,” Nicole says. “It took a while to sink in that something was seriously wrong.” Nicole has never spoken publicly about that day until now, and remembering still brings her to tears, but she talks willingly in loving memory of her brother to give hope to others experiencing grief during college. After Natalie’s call, both sisters tried and failed to contact or find Joe, and the police were called. With friends and a community
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“I wanted to give him space to have that of thousands of supporters, Nicole and freshman experience,” she says. Natalie banded together to find their lost Looking back now, Nicole says she rebrother. members only positives about Joe. “I felt better when I was actively doing “When I think of my brother, I think of something,” Nicole says. “All of my friends him laughing,” she says. “Anyone around were just actively doing stuff to help. I’m him was immediately uplifted by his spirits.” sure they did stuff they haven’t even told me.” Following Joe’s death, Nicole says the Handing out fliers, searching buildings on foot, even offering a monetary reward for “magical Penn State feeling” disappeared. She and Natalie went home every weekend information, the Dados tried everything. to mourn and be with their parents and “I had friends from home who were in younger sister, and Nicole did her best to college, too, and who immediately got in stay busy. Campus also was different for her, their cars and drove up to help,” Nicole says, choking up. “By the time they got there, haunted by shadows of the weekend the Dado family’s life changed forever. there was nothing to do.” “Every building was tainted with memoAs hours passed, media outlets increased ries of searching for him that weekend,” she coverage; The Daily Collegian and online says. “It took me a long time to be OK with student news source Onward State both walking through campus.” posted breaking updates on their websites. Nicole also says that, for her and Natalie, Nicole describes these memories as “defithe experience was harder because of nitely some of the hardest I have.” constant reminders of what she calls Nicole was a 20-year-old junior in the “sensationalized” news stories. College of Education when her brother “Sitting in class, a student would be sitdisappeared. Natalie, 21, was an industrial ting there in front of me, reading the Colengineering senior, and reported seeing legian, and there’s a picture of my brother Joe at 1:45 a.m. the night he went missing. on the front page, staring back at me,” He had been in Natalie’s apartment before Nicole says. “It made it more exhausting. It heading to Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji. sort of made me angry.” Across the street from the on-campus Nicole says the media turning her brother fraternity house is the stairwell between into a poster child for the dangers of underthe Steidle and Deike buildings where age drinking still upsets her. maintenance workers would find Joe’s “The media made it worse than it had to body on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. be,” she says. “There was no need for us [my “I went into shock — just my body trying family] to press around the TV and watch to protect me — and yet I remember every that stuff. To this day, I don’t care what moment,” Nicole says of hearing the news. other people have to say about it. “None of my Penn State experiences were “What matters most is he’s gone,” she the same after.” says. “Nothing else matters.” Before that weekend, she hadn’t seen The aftermath of Joe’s death left the much of Joe, although they both were atDado sisters mourning while still finishtending Penn State. She did, however, see him ing their college careers. Nicole says they at a family tailgate prior to his disappearance.
Fall 2011
Photos courtesy of Nicole Dado
leaned on each other, though their grief was “different.” “My sister is like my best friend,” Nicole says. “She was incredible. She was a senior and she never missed a beat — at a time when it might feel like you want to melt down, she didn’t.” Nicole describes her own grieving as “taking it day by day.” She went to counseling at Penn State’s Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and relied on the support of family and friends, including one standout professor. “I had one professor, who was absolutely amazing, for [a] CAS class. She was so supportive and understanding. She really went out of her way to make me feel OK,” says Nicole, who says she feels the professor would prefer to remain unnamed. “The empathy and compassion she had for me and my situation was so appreciated and made me feel like someone really cared.” Then came the one-year anniversary of Joe’s death, and Nicole says she remembers not wanting to let it pass without doing something. So friends and fellow students gathered and lit candles to remember Joe. Nicole honored her brother by visiting the stairwell where he fell, a place she avoided for an entire year. Standing at the place where he died — due to what autopsies revealed as head trauma — she says she felt surprised at how little impact it had. “But it took me a whole year to be able to do it,” Nicole says. Nicole, now living in Maryland and teaching in Delaware, says that when she looks back, she is simply grateful for the people who helped her pull through. “I think now I can look through all the grief and pain and see all the family and people around me, and I appreciate them all the more,” she says. “I had my friends who basically put me in a bubble and they protected me from anything hurtful.”
She says she also learned to appreciate everyone around her. “Don’t be afraid to lean on people,” she says. “Do not be afraid to ask for help.” Nicole says she thinks about her brother every day — not that she feels he wants her to. “I think he would tell us not to spend so much time talking and thinking about him,” Nicole says. “I know he would tell us to move on and be happy because we’re going to see him again.”
Nicole and her family started a scholarship fund in his name at Greater Latrobe Senior High School in Latrobe, Pa., from which all the Dado children graduated. To other people suffering the loss of a loved one, Nicole reaches out with insight from her grieving experience. “Even if they feel like they aren’t going to get better, [they] will,” Nicole says. “You think, ‘How could I be happy again?’ ” “But over time,” she says, “it gets easier.”
" Eve ry b u i ld i n g w a s ta i n te d w i t h m em o ri es of s ea rch i n g fo r h i m tha t w e e k e n d . It took m e a lo n g ti m e to b e O K wi t h w a l k i n g th ro ug h c a m pu s . " self-improvement 41
campus culture AD cultures 101
C H R I S T I G R AV E R Age: 21 Year: Senior Major:Animal sciences, business option Hometown: Lehighton, Pa. What she does: President of the Penn State Collegiate Cattlewomen
Getting started: Living on a farm all her life, Graver showed cattle at 4-H Club livestock shows and county fairs. She says she knew growing up that she wanted to come to Penn State for its animal science program.
Farm fun: As a freshman, Graver joined Collegiate Cattlewomen, which had recently branched off from the Block and Bridle Club, and worked her way up. As president, she says her main goal for the club is for members to have fun with each other while promoting the agriculture field.
Free meat?: Each spring, Collegiate Cattlewomen puts on an event called Meat-In Day. The club members give out meat and cheese to students at different spots on campus, informing them that it is important to have animal products in their diets. “This is one of my favorite parts about the club because I enjoy making all the T-shirts and promotional material for it,� Graver says.
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
By Kathleen Gormley
cultures 101
BLOG YOUR WAY TO A
BETTER JOB
W i t h s o m u c h o f t h e w o r l d o n l i n e t o d ay — i n c l u d i n g p o t e n t i a l e m p l oye r s — c r e a t i n g yo u r ow n p e r s o n a l b l o g c a n b e a n i m p o r t a n t t o o l i n n o t o n l y m a k i n g s u r e yo u r vo i c e i s h e a r d , b u t a l s o g e t t i n g yo u t h e j o b . By Shaina Stern
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blog and followed it,” Toll says happily. “It was well received, which made me proud.” Toll says she hopes to pursue a career in television and film writing, and she’s specifically interested in comedy. If humor is relevant for a prospective job, she says she will definitely list her blog on a résumé. “The blog made people laugh,” she says. “Having that outlet to write and practice my skills is definitely connected to my career goals.” Though Toll’s career path does include writing, Mazzant says students can connect blogs to other fields. For instance, one student was studying to be a chef and decided to maintain a food blog. Other students have blogged about student teaching and translated the practice into their own classrooms later on. “It shows an employer what you know, what you’ve done and what you’ll do if hired,” Mazzant says.
Photo by Julianna O’Malley
not simply your own opinions. You can’t just To keep their curricula up-to-date, some “rant and rave,” as Mazzant puts it. Penn State professors have begun incorpoIn-class blogging can lead to outside rating blogs and e-portfolios into course inspiration. Jaime Toll, a senior majoring requirements. Cynthia Mazzant, a lecturer in the Department of English, is one of them. in telecommunications, began blogging for the course Diversity in Communications Blogging in the classroom, she says, can (COMM 479B) and realized how much she translate into a scholarly hobby and evenenjoyed it. Motivated by her class assigntually an impressive portfolio of writing. When you apply for a job or internship, your ment, she decided to document her adventures studying abroad in Rome using a blog, blog can give a potential employer a better not just the Facebook pictures on which sense of your ideals and commitments. many of her peers relied. “Whether students blog about a subject “Today, everyone is spending hours on within their field or another interest, it Facebook and other social media sites,” Toll shows that they read and follow the news,” says, “but having pride in your own personal Mazzant says. “Well-thought-out and researched blogs can say, ‘Hey, I’m educated!’ ” blog is so much more fulfilling.” Through her own writing, pictures and That is why it’s important to blog about videos, she was able to show off her worldly a topic that really excites you: a hobby, a experiences in a more impressive manner. cause, an idea. You have to be willing to “When I got home … everywhere I went put in the extra effort and reflect on other people were telling me that they loved my people’s writing and credible information,
CL WNING AROUND CAMPUS A group of students has made it its mission to spread good vibrations among the people o f H a p p y Va l l e y. R a c h e l Ya m i n f i n d s o u t j u s t w h a t t h e C l ow n N o s e C l u b i s a l l a b o u t a n d the story behind its unusual name. says Littlefield, now a junior studying rehabilitation and human services and psychology. “I wanted to open it up and make the social atmosphere more comfortable.” A few months later, his simple action was transformed into the Clown Nose Club, an organization that encourages everyone to interact personally with those around them. The club focuses nearly all of its events and projects around the concept of taking positive social risks and engaging others in a positive way. One venture the club completed last year, called the “Library Personalization Project,” allowed club members to chat with and video-interview staff members from the Pattee and Paterno libraries. The video was sent across the university’s faculty LISTSERV and allowed viewers to get to know the people who work with and around them every day.
Another successful project the club took on, “Blast Bus Drivers with Bravos,” involved club members showering CATA bus drivers with candy-filled mugs and thank-you cards. Members also encouraged the other students on the buses to give the drivers standing ovations as a way to show their appreciation and respect. Every little thing counts, Littlefield says, such as telling your friends how much you appreciate them or thanking the cashiers at McLanahan’s by their first names. “The concept of the Clown Nose Club is more of a lifestyle,” Littlefield says. “You don’t have to attend meetings to take your own positive social risks; it should just become routine.” Follow the Clown Nose Club on Facebook or Twitter to get more information about the club and meeting times, and to get a jump on spreading joy of your own.
Photo courtesy of Clown Nose Club
At times, Penn State can seem like an overwhelming place. Students rushing to class, to the bus, to football games. Sometimes we fall short of noticing what and who are around us. We often fail to tell the person sitting next to us in the HUB that we adore her shoes or to thank, by name, the barista who got our mocha Frappuccino just right. However, the Clown Nose Club is on a mission — a mission to get the rest of the population to do just these kinds of things. The idea for the group occurred to Chad Littlefield, a freshman at the time, in the fall of 2009, when he decided to sport a clown nose on his way to East Halls. He waved and smiled at the crowds he passed, and he says he was amazed when every single person responded to him positively, either with applause, a laugh or a high-five. “Being a freshman, I did not know very many people and it seemed everyone was in their own bubble, doing their own thing,”
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PENN STATE THEN & NOW By Alyssa Sweeney
Fo r a s c h o o l t h a t p u t s s o much emphasis on tradition, P e n n State has seen a lot of change over the years, especially in…
… Dating. Most Valley readers wouldn’t have been allowed to attend Penn State until 1871, the first year women were admitted to the school. As far as the dating scene went, it took more than just a casual text message to get the ball rolling, says Lion Ambassador Sophia Perri, a junior studying broadcast journalism and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies. “When a guy wanted to ask a girl out, he had to write a formal letter to the dean of the women’s college about why he wanted to spend time with her,” she says. “If he was even approved, they only got 15 minutes to sit outside on a bench with the dean sitting in between them.” … Nightlife. Technically, the dating rule was on the Penn State books until the 1970s. But it wasn’t enforced, says Class of 1978 journalism alum Eileen Minto, who now works as an attorney in Louisville, Ky. Fraternity and sorority mixers, parties and formals had filtered into Penn State culture by then and, much like today, the dean wasn’t invited. “Fraternities had parties, probably five or six houses a night, not like how many there are today. But it’d be packed. Occasionally, there’d be a live band playing,” she says. “Fraternities and sororities partnered up for Spring Fling — that’s what we used to call Greek Week. It was usually kegs at parties, no bottles or cans.” The most popular nightlife spots downtown were The Allen Room, The Train Station and The Shandygaff, Minto says. Everyone carried “LCB cards” — issued to 21-year-olds by the Liquor Control Board — to get into bars. “Monday nights you could get dollar hurricane drinks — you only needed a couple of dollars to have a good time,” says Minto. “If you took too much money with you, you’d never make it to your 9 a.m. the next day.” Good to know not everything has changed.
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… Philanthropy. Two of Penn State’s claims to fame, good parties and world-renowned philanthropy, went hand-in-hand up until the 1980s. A Penn State tradition called the Phi Psi 500 — eventually abandoned for safety reasons — had members of the Greek community participate in an annual bar crawl beerchugging race to benefit local nonprofit organizations. At the time, binge drinking for charity was condoned by the university. Today, just the simple act of wearing THON gear to parties with alcohol present is a big Four Diamonds faux pas. “THON wasn’t even THON at the time — it was just referred to as The Dance Marathon,” Minto says. “And only Greeks were allowed to attend. It was just a small thing.” For anyone who’s ever been to THON in the past 10 years, calling it “a small thing” wouldn’t quite do it justice. … Hazing policies. THON may have been invented by the Greeks, but, contrary to popular belief, hazing was not. “There was an intense rivalry between Penn State classes in the early 20th century — freshmen in 1904 were prohibited by upperclassmen to wear school colors, be out after 9 p.m. or leave a classroom or chapel before upperclassmen,” Perri says. “Freshman boys had to wear little caps called ‘dinks,’ freshman girls had to wear green buttons and name cards. At any point, an upperclassman could stop a freshman on the street and demand they recite the alma mater. If they didn’t know it by heart, they were forced to roll a single peanut down College Avenue, down on all fours, with their noses.” At least nowadays, typical freshman attire — the unmistakable lanyard around the neck — is voluntary. The university now participates in National Hazing Prevention Week every
September. Both the Penn State Panhellenic Council and the Penn State Interfraternity Council recognize the event. You could argue that not all change is for the worse — especially if you’re a freshman.
Photos courtesy of La Vie archives
… The job market. Minto says the biggest difference between 20th-century and 21st-century students is that students today are growing up faster. “It’s almost as if we were kids for longer than you all seem to be, with fewer worries than you have now about the pressure of finding a good job and things like that. Just having a college degree was the key to success,” she recalls. “Seems to me that the people I knew all had jobs lined up by the time they were graduating.” … Tradition versus evolution. Although things like the price of a book — an “expensive” book then was $35 — and the job market have changed, many Penn State traditions remain. The Movin’ On concert at the end of the year, the annual Blue-White game, the guarding of the Lion Shrine prior to the Homecoming football game and dozens of downtown eating and shopping establishments are Penn State staples that current students and alumni all love. “Football ruled the fall, and nobody
wanted to leave in May,” Minto says. “That’s how it was back then and probably how it always will be.” University archivist Jackie Esposito says Penn State history is rich enough to fill shelves upon shelves of books, documents and La Vie yearbooks. “There’s just so much to go through. I’ve had students come in to thumb through who get lost in the old pictures and stay for hours,” she says. “Everyone feels such a connection to this school; it’s really neat to feel a connection to its past.” Perri says she thinks Penn State is so successful because of its balance of honoring tradition with the ability to modernize and change with the times. “I’ve talked to alumni who have traveled to Germany and France wearing Penn State sweatshirts and get WE ARE’d by Europeans,” she says. “You’re Penn State until you die; you bleed blue and white, and I think that’s the best tradition that we have here — our school spirit, regardless of the changes the school has been through. Whether or not we have a winning football season or break a record at THON, it’s how everybody has unity in their love for this university.”
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MUST-SEE:
STUDENT SITCOM Th i s s t u d e n t s i t c o m ex p l o r e s t h e l i v e s o f c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s j u s t l i ke yo u , a n d K a t h l e e n G o r m l ey h a s t h e s c o o p .
3-Oh-What? A collaborative effort from the School of Theatre and the College of Communications, 304 is Penn State’s own student sitcom, a situational comedy centered in a student residential house — number 304. The show has been running for six semesters, with its fourth season airing this year. Each season typically has between four to eight episodes and takes around five to six weeks to write, shoot and edit. School of Theatre professor Matt Toronto has been tapped to direct the show’s newest season. Casting was set to happen in October, and Toronto says he plans to start filming in early January. The series centers around the exploits of the three college students living in the house, Toronto explains. “Just like any house on campus, new students are going to move in every year and
that is the way they are going to justify the cast change,” says Toronto. To kick off the season, “the first episode is about a business that they are going to start together,” says Toronto. Specifically, a cookie delivery business. The characters of the house — Malcolm, Jack and Tony — will then follow this “freshly-baked” story line for subsequent episodes.
The Mastermind(s) Behind the Scenes The dean of the School of Theatre, Dan Carter, says that he conceived the idea more than 20 years ago. He knew a lot of theater majors were hoping to work in the film and TV industries, and he wanted to give them another opportunity to gain some acting experience. Starting a few years ago, 304 has been run almost completely by students. Both the School of Theatre and the College
304
of Communications have contributed to the show’s writing, editing, producing, directing and acting. This year, Carter will even get a chance to directly be a part of the show he created, appearing as the character Ted.
The Beauty of It All Carter says his favorite part about 304 is “the creative spark that really gets going between the writing, acting, directing and producing, that people are really creating something brand new and it is their own ideas.” He mentions that for the students, this form of acting is “exactly the model that many of them want to move into in the acting profession.” Toronto says he enjoys that he “gets to work with and collaborate with all the students and the great ideas that come through when we work on the script. It’s an exciting prospect to work on a TV script.”
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Photo by Jennie Lichtenstein
304 can be viewed online at: http: // exposureroom.com/ members /okonski/.
CULTURAL CUISINE
Wa ke u p yo u r t a s t e b u d s w i t h a d i s h a l l t h e way f r o m T h a i l a n d . By Kathleen Gormley
Photo by Nina Abbott
HOLY BASIL CHICKEN
This dish comes from Mridula Chawla, a junior international student from Bangkok, Thailand. She explains that it’s a staple in her native country and that many people cook it at home or order it in restaurants. Although Chawla likes the “spicy, zesty taste” of this version, she says that native Thais have a much higher tolerance for hot foods than most Americans do. You might want to decrease the amount of chili peppers in the recipe (think one instead of four to seven) if you’re worried about the heat. Four chili peppers will make the dish as spicy as, Chawla says, one of the “hot” options at downtown restaurant Cozy Thai. No matter how much you choose to spice it up, this dish will be sure to make your taste buds stand up and take notice.
INGREDIENTS
1. Clean basil leaves and heat vegetable oil in stir-fry pan.
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce (can be purchased at an Asian specialty food store or Wegmans’ International Foods section) • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • ½ lb ground chicken
2. Mince garlic and chili peppers. When oil is heated, add them to pan. 3. When garlic starts to brown, place ground chicken in pan and cook for a few minutes.
• 1 to 2 packages holy basil leaves
4. Add fish sauce to pan, along with sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
• 4 to 7 minced Thai chili peppers
5. Add basil leaves and stir-fry.
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • Pepper, salt, sugar
6. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and serve with any kind of rice, preferably white.
(preparation: 20 min., cook time: 10 min.)
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paving the
way
Wr i t t e n by H a l e y B l u m P h o t o s by A n n S c i a n d r a
Lollipops. In third grade, Jasmine Rushum made sure she didn’t earn too many lollipops. “The teacher gave lollipops every day to the student who got the most answers right,” recalls Rushum, now 21 years old. She won the sweet prize every day for a week but faced a not-so-sweet reaction from her peers. Over iced coffees on a sunny day early in the semester, she now laughs lightly at the memory of how some classmates would knock down her books. “Everyone was like, ‘She’s a nerd!’ ” she says. As school went on, she learned that in order to fit in at her inner-city Philadelphia elementary school — part of a school system in which she says cutting class was a common occurrence — she’d have to tone down the smarts. Instead of answering three questions a day, “I would answer three in a week,” Rushum says. Now a senior at Penn State, she might still be a nerd — or just plain smart — but you won’t find her hiding her brains anymore. As the president and founder of the recently established Black Student Union, Rushum has taken her natural ability to solve problems to add to the cohesiveness and vibrancy of Penn State’s diverse community. “I thought it’d be nice to have a collective voice where we can break down communication and talk about our differences [as multicultural groups],” Rushum says of one of her reasons for creating the group, which officially started this August. There are many multicultural groups at Penn State, says the senior majoring in journalism and sociology with a minor in economics, but a lack of communication between the organizations sometimes hinders their effectiveness. “One of the things people told me to join [when I came to college] was the Black Student Union,” she says. “One of the things I quickly realized was that there wasn’t one.” As a freshman, starting a brand new student organization wasn’t exactly her first course of action. Getting acclimated to college life, she joined the Penn State chapter of the NAACP. “I wanted [to join] something for my culture,” she says. She also worked on public relations for the MLK Jr. Commemoration Committee and wrote for The Drum
Newsletter, a campus periodical focused on diversity at Penn State. “Freshman year, I just wanted to explore and [get] my grades. I got my 3.5 [GPA] and I was fine,” she says. “And then sophomore year I realized that I really wanted to try to be a leader on campus.” Rushum ran for NAACP vice president against two other students who had been in the organization much longer than she had. She won. As second-in-command, Rushum initiated and planned a Penn State version of the Image Awards, NAACP’s “multicultural awards show from an African-American point of view,” according to its website. “Over 300 people attended, and R&B singer Bobby V performed at the ceremony. “It was really good because a lot of different people were nominated – it wasn’t just black people — we had everyone,” says Rushum. By the time her term as vice president came to a close in the spring of her junior year, Rushum says she wanted to focus on uniting not only those in the black community, but Penn State as a whole “so we can learn from each other.” Creating the Black Student Union, she says, was her opportunity to do that while also promoting career development. “A part of the mission is to close that expanding gap between students and careers,” she says. The Black Student Union emphasizes on professional preparation, which Rushum says is a crucial supplement to a college education. Members learn to perfect networking skills and participate in events such as the America’s Next Top Hire competition, which the group held in September. “We have the social and the professional [aspects],” she says, “to give students that equal balance.” While students can join the group independently, the Black Student Union also has representatives from campus organizations such as Club Kreyol, the National Society of Black Engineers, the National Association of Black Accountants and the NAACP. With hopes to collaborate with different types of campus groups, such as the Interfraternity Council, on various projects, “we want to bridge out into the whole community instead of being so separate,” Rushum says. Rushum’s resume is evidence that she’s
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already made a considerable effort to be more exact. City Line Avenue area. involved throughout the Penn State commuWhile she did her best to keep her lolnity. She sits on The Daily Collegian’s Board lipop collection at a not-so-nerdy number, of Directors, she’s a PRIDE Fan Ambassador, she was still dedicated to her schoolwork. she’s a member of the Campus Girl Scouts, “All I cared about in elementary school she was a 2009 Homecoming Publicwas my grades,” Rushum says. “I did nothity captain, she participated on a THON ing else. I was like, ‘Let me get my grades, Morale committee as a junior and she was because that’s the ticket out.’” a discussion-group TA for the popular class After racking up report cards full of A’s SOC 119, Race and Ethnic Relations. and B’s, Rushum transferred to a public Rushum’s friendly leadership style is an magnet middle school in fifth grade. She asset, says Althea Lloyd, the Black Student found herself surrounded by a diverse Union’s public relations co-chairwoman. student body filled with other driven peers “A lot of times people feel intimidated — an enormous change of environment. when it comes to interactions with student “I realized that I was [still] smart, but I leaders because they’re in that position wasn’t the smartest anymore,” she says with and they have that title, but Jasmine is a laugh. “In elementary school, I don’t think able to relate to others and make them feel I did 100 percent. I was just like, ‘Oh, if I do included,” Lloyd says. 80 percent, that’ll be good enough.’ But I And Rushum knows a thing or two about learned that there are people who are smart, leadership and business. At the end of her period. And I wanted to be around those junior year of high, she was accepted into people, so that definitely made me push more.” Emma L. Bowen Foundation, a program Rushum went on to attend a magnet high that aims to prepare minority youth for a school, as well, where she continued to corporate career. Since then, she’s spent five excel academically. But it wasn’t until her consecutive summers at Comcast’s Philadel- junior year, she says, that she began to think phia offices, getting a taste of a new departseriously about her future after graduation. ment every summer. She says she was surrounded by the mentalThe internship brought her into a corpoity of “graduate and get a job.” rate setting for the first time, where she says “I just didn’t like the environment around she’s learned everything from how to dress me,” she says. “And I was just like, ‘Well, I professionally to time management. Even don’t want to work at McDonald’s — it just after five summers, she says there’s always has to be something better.’ ” more to learn. Rushum didn’t have a computer at home, “I didn’t think I could learn anything else, so she and a friend skipped a few lunch I was like, ‘I know everything!’ ” she says, hours in the spring of her junior year to laughing. “I just realized that you should research internships in her school’s library. never, ever, ever stop learning.” Into the Google search bar she typed, This past summer she also picked up “Paid internships for high school students in another learning opportunity in the form Philadelphia.” of an internship with THE VOICE, which The Emma L. Bowen Foundation was is the Ryan Seacrest Broadcast Foundation “like the second link, and I didn’t even apply at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. to anything else,” she says. In addition to working five days a week at After surviving her first professional Comcast, she spent her Sundays producing interview, she got the gig. TV and radio programs for sick children Rushum was ecstatic. and teens staying at the hospital. Her parents were not. So she’s an overachieving college “I just feel like most parents, they want student who has had internships. No big their kids to do well,” she says. “Like my deal, right? Not quite. mom, she had her times where she didn’t want me to do this, she didn’t want me to do that, because she [thought I wasn’t] being Rushum grew up in like everyone else.” Philadelphia — no, not in a town “But my dad was outright against every40 minutes outside of Philly, which for thing,” she says. “He thought what you’re some reason often gets called Philly. Actusupposed to do is go to high school, gradually in Philly, the city. North Philly, to be
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ate and then work and give money to the family, because that’s how he grew up.” The topic of college applications also caused heated debates between Rushum and her father, she says. “My dad was like, ‘Well, you can’t afford it. I’m not signing off on any loans. So you can’t go.’ So I was like, ‘Well, then I’ll figure out a way to go myself!’ ” she says. “He thought I was trying to be better than everyone else, and he thought that I didn’t care about the family,” she says. In February of her senior year, her father threw her out of the house. For the rest of the school year, Rushum lived in a homeless shelter. At 18 years old, she was the youngest person there. “I just noticed that the other people [staying in the shelter] just gave up on life,” she says. “They just gave up. It’s hard being around people like that, because it almost made me do it.”
But she continued to go to school during the day, returning to the shelter every evening. On a particular night, she came back to find that the shelter had organized a game of Jeopardy. The TV show is Rushum’s favorite, so she immediately signed up to play. Although her team lost in the last round by one question, Rushum had answered almost every question for her group during the game. “A lady that worked there told me, ‘Why are you here? You’re better than this,’ ” she says. The woman told Rushum she was “too smart” to be in the shelter. “That day, I started filling out scholarships,” Rushum says. She applied for over 75 scholarships, and received more than 50. “I just kept writing and writing and writing and writing,” she says. “I would write [essays] on notepads, and then I would type them up at the library in my school.”
At that point, she had been accepted to 17 of 20 schools to which she applied. She eventually decided to become a Nittany Lion over attending second-choice Drexel University in Philadelphia. “When I came to Penn State, everyone was like, ‘Hi!’ and just smiling. I was like, ‘Wow, this isn’t like Philly!’ ” Rushum says, laughing. “People are nice here.” Over the past few years, the born-andbred city girl says she has gotten used to spotting cows on her drive to State College, and says she loves the connection that all Penn Staters share. “I love that no matter where you go, that bond is immediately there, even if you don’t know the person,” she says. Rushum has made a bond with Barbara Gee, a Penn State alumna and vice president of E-Commerce and Mover Sales at Comcast, but it’s one that goes beyond the typical Penn-Stater-to-Penn-Stater variety. The two met each other upon Rushum’s
“I was amazed with her attitude of ‘I’ll find a way to get it done.’ ” - Barbara Gee campus culture 53
entrance into the Emma L. Bowen Foundation internship program, for which Gee sits on the national board, and have developed and maintained a close personal relationship since. “I literally packed her things into my truck and drove her up to start school at Penn State,” says Gee, who describes Rushum as her “little sister-slash-daughterslash-model-mentee.” Although Rushum never worked for Gee’s department in Comcast, she says she is impressed by Rushum’s enthusiasm and work ethic. “That really made her stand out from the others, just because it was creating a way — where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Gee says. “And I was just totally amazed with her confidence in herself and her attitude of ‘I’ll find a way to get it done.’ ” To this day, Rushum has paid for school exclusively through scholarships. While she does not speak with her father, she says her mother has come around to the idea of her daughter attending college. “With my mom, my relationship is good, now since she knows I’m going to graduate. She definitely supports me now,” she says, adding that her mother recently visited Penn State for the first time with Rushum’s two younger sisters, ages 14 and 16. She also has a 20-year-old brother, who attends community college. Rushum also had one older sibling, a brother. When she was in seventh grade, he was studying at Boston University and living in the city, moving there after having a similar disagreement with Rushum’s parents about higher education. “I just remember the call that we got. I was actually in class and…” Her voice trails off. Her brother was leaving work at a diner when he was shot and killed. Rushum’s normally bubbly personality is subdued when talking about her brother and the events of a day that changed her world forever. “I remember us being close but I remember him moving away when I was in fourth grade,” she says, “so I didn’t know him too well.” After a few long moments, Rushum is ready to continue with the interview. “She’s someone who just keeps pushing,” says Laurie Mulvey, co-director of the World in Conversation Project, of which SOC 119 is a part. “She’s been through a lot
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in her life and she’s really come through.” But you would never know that about her, says Mulvey, who got to know Jasmine during her semester as a TA for the course’s discussion groups. “She just seems like she’s had a comfortable life,” she says, “but I know she’s had a lot of struggle.” DJ Seballos, program manager for the World in Conversation Project, agrees.
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“When she smiles, I see a little kid, and not like a timid, little kid,” she says, “but like, ‘I’m happy about this world, and I’m content.’ ” “I don’t like to tell people my problems,” Rushum says. “I’d rather help them with theirs.” Hair by Tanya Rissmiller, Lipstick Salon Makeup by Shani Piljhman, Lipstick Salon Clothes from Mr. Charles and Macy’s
fashion collegiate couture
A L I S H A AC Q UAY E , R AC H E L C I C H OW I C Z & STEPHANIE HARRISON
Ages: 20, 22, 20 Years: Senior, senior, junior Majors: Journalism; public relations and art history; English What they do: The three are Penn State’s College Fashionista Gurus, working with the national CF website to find and feature their fellow fashionable peers.
On online celebrity: Acquaye: “When my outfit was featured on the site, I was extremely flattered and so excited that a website dedicated to college fashion existed.”
First fashion-related memory: Acquaye: “When I was 8, I told my mom that I didn’t want her to choose my outfits. She was displeased, but at least I was able to wear the sweater/skirt set and Mary Janes that I had been contemplating for a while.” Cichowicz: “My beloved My Size Barbie was constantly naked because I was wearing her sparkly dress and heels to kindergarten. My teacher eventually called my parents and said I was having trouble ‘expressing myself’— I thought I was doing a great job.”
Photo by Lindsay Lipovitch
Best part of being a CF Guru: Cichowicz: “Being part of such a widespread network of writers in universities all over the world.”
55Stylish www.valleymagazinepsu.com tip for Penn Staters: Harrison: Fall “Style2011 should never be sacrificed — always put your most fashionable foot forward, whether you’re strolling through NYC or past the BJC.” By Elysia Mann
Carried from
DAY TO EVENING I t ’s a s t r u g g l e t o f i n d a s t y l i s h b a g t o a c c o m m o d a t e a l a p t o p , t ex t b o o k , p l u s a l l o f yo u r d a i l y n e c e s s i t i e s , l e t a l o n e a s c h o o l b a g t h a t c a n g o f r o m l e c t u r e t o Fr i d ay n i g h t . E l ys i a M a n n f i n d s s o m e w o r t hy o p t i o n s t o c a r r y yo u ( a n d yo u r s t u f f ) f r o m d ay t o n i g h t .
Convertible Shoulder Bag The easiest idea is simply to use a stylish medium-sized purse. The option to wear it across the body is a necessity as a supplement to the shoulder strap. Neon accents, extra zippers and sophisticated colors are details that can take you from PowerPoints to party time. Apu $62
Envelope Shoulder Strap Clutch This is the ideal option when you have plans immediately after a class or meeting. Large enough to fit a notebook, comfortable enough to tote around for several hours and chic enough to fit in at a bar. Perfect. Apu $52
Backpack
Photos by Ann Sciandra
Finding a quality, stylish backpack strong enough to hold heavy belongings may take some time, but once you nail one, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it. A vintage leather version is consistently chic, as is DIY-ing a basic black one with studs, or anything else you please. Canvas, military-inspired backpacks are also cool and versatile. Stylist’s own
The Folly of
fashionable Feet
Photos by Yuting Zhang
Th e m a j o r i t y o f P e n n S t a t e l a d i e s c a n a t t e s t t o t h e u n r u l y c o n d i t i o n s t h a t p r e s e n t t h e m s e l ve s w h e n d o n n i n g a p a i r o f p u m p s i n H a p p y Va l l e y. A l ys s a B l a n c o c o n s u l t e d a p o d i a t r i s t f o r a g u i d e t o h e e l s t h a t w o n ’ t d e s t r oy yo u r f e e t .
As the majority of fashionable females know all too well, in the battle of style versus comfort, style prevails — no questions asked. We willfully forget the blisters, bumps and aches to come as we slip on a pair of heels for the night. The next morning, though, brings only regret. As Dr. Patrick J. Clauss, a podiatrist practicing in Moscow, Pa., points out, a pair of snazzy stilettos is often more crippling than chic. “The primary downfall that results from any style of high heel is a secondary contracture of the Achilles tendon,” he says. “The tendon flexes the foot, and when heels are worn, it is kept in that flexed position, causing it to gain leverage over the other muscles that extend back up the foot.” Resulting side effects can be extreme. Not only can you experience pain ranging from the heel to the calf, but you could suffer scarring from blisters, calluses and rough spots. And that’s assuming you can stay upright all night. Ouch. Breaking down the composition of high-heel shoes by style adds to the list of potential injuries. “Pointy-toed shoes have a greater effect on pre-existing conditions,” Clauss says. “They also have the potential to generate bunions, hammer toes and a slew of other toe deformities.” Pointy-toed heels present their fair share of problems, both short- and long-term, since they compress your toes into an unnatural shape. The worst offenders, though, are sky-high pumps, which have the most
negative effect. Stilettos provide less support due to the unevenness of their arches. These arches also force all the pressure of your body weight to be centered in one defined area, the ball of your foot. No wonder you’re limping by the end of the night. So, what is the best type of heel? Clauss suggests “a low heel that offers good support, which more evenly distributes weight over the bottom of the foot.” Don’t kick all heels out of your closet just yet, though. For those die-hard height enthusiasts out there, Clauss recommends wedges or flatforms. Wedges are an “alternative,” he says. “They give you more surface area and are better for support.” Flatforms, a trendy hybrid between platforms and wedges, also make a great addition to any closet, offering the added height without the ankle-breaking arch. Bonus: They were also featured on designer runways this past spring, so you can still stay on-trend. Your feet are what carry you around all day, whether you’re running to the fridge for a yogurt or across campus to class. Extending their longevity and health is essential. If you absolutely can’t live without your heels, though, Clauss offers some recommendations by way of compromise. “You should wear them around an office or classroom, but don’t walk for long distances or spend a long time standing in them,” he says. “Sitting is preferred, as it places less pressure on the foot and can help extend the health of your feet.”
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The
FIVE TRENDS You Should Be Wearing
S t ay i n g o n t o p o f t h e l a t e s t trends can be exhausting, but Elysia Mann did all the work for you to find t he five hottest things you’ll be wearing this season.
Jewel-Toned Faux Fur Rex Rabbit fur infinity scarf, Mr. Charles, $300 Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Mr. Charles, $165 Long-sleeve t-shirt, Velvet, Mr. Charles, $62
Jewel-Toned Faux Fur
SHEER SKIRTS
Tailored Shorts Shorts, Necessary Objects, Access, $38 Sweater, Sans Sauce, Access, $33 Belt, (no brand), Access, $12 Sterling silver ring, (no brand), Access, $43
With a student’s budget (and sometimes morals), real animal fur is out of the question. That leaves the wonderful option of faux! Not only does it insulate unbelievably well, but it’s also über glamorous — two things State College could use some more of. Take this trend to the next level by picking out a piece in an electric tone, like violet or sapphire.
No, we’re not advocating a voluntary wardrobe malfunction. The key to mastering this look is playing with layers. Find a diaphanous maxi skirt to wear over a bodycon mini-dress or a frock with alternating panels of opaque and sheer to test it out. This is a trend you can play around with all season without fail — unless you flash all of campus, that is.
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Sheer Skirts T-shirt, Alternative Vintage, Connections, $22 Sheer maxi skirt, Blaque Label, Connections, $94 Gold earrings, Mia, Connections, $22 Guitar necklace, Zad, Connections, $24 Mod shapes Crochet dress, Free People, Connections, $110 Shoulder Pads Vest, Nicole Miller, Flesh Decor, $250 Dress, French Connection, Flesh Decor, $169
www.valleymagazinepsu.com
Photos by Stefan Choquette
MOD SHAPES
SHOULDER PADS
TAILORED SHORTS
Take a break from constricting pencil skirts and corset belts this season. Boxier shapes are all the rage. Steal inspiration from the icons of the ’60s (Twiggy is a given, but don’t forget about Edie Sedgwick and Mia Farrow) and rock a mini-dress with clean lines and sharp hemlines. Add a pair of opaque tights, some knee-high boots and a cat-eye makeup job to complete the Go-GoGirl-ready ensemble.
Don’t be scared. This is not an ’80s horror film. Add a pop of couture to your wardrobe by punctuating a look with a strong shoulder. We’re not talking four-inch padding — just a subtle lift to define your frame. Don’t knock it until you try it. Whether it accents a party dress or a blazer, the result is perfectly chic.
Mix up the boring winter cycle of jeans and leggings. When you add a sleek pair of tailored shorts layered over textured tights to your repertoire, dressing in the morning will become much less of a chore. There’s a huge amount of options for this trend: high-waists, smooth silks, suedes or tweeds, sequins, eyelets and scalloped hems. Invest in a few pairs and remember that a bit of a heel will flatter this style best.
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THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR
WALKING Clarks Desert Boots Clarks are solid, worthwhile shoes. The great thing about them is that they aren’t always very gender specific (truth be told, a few girls have been spotted around campus wearing mens Clarks). These beige or brown Clarks are great for perfectly cuffed jeans, but don’t be afraid to branch out. If the weather is still somewhat warm, a pair of denim shorts will work just fine — in fact, they’ll really show off the quality shoe you’re wearing. Isn’t that the point, after all? (Barefoot, $100)
TOMS BOTAS
No girl’s shoe collection is complete without a pair of combatstyle boots. Slip on some black combats to add style to any outfit — whether it’s a pair of jeans or (gasp!) even a mini-dress. The juxtaposition between a cute frock and masculine boots creates the perfect amount of edge. (Barefoot, $115)
Fall 2011
Small details can sometimes take your boot to the next level. These mid-top beige boots come equipped with a buckle strap along the back and contrasting textures. Search for the cuffedjean combination that’s right for your style or sport autumntoned pants for a fall look. (Metro, $58)
Photos by Jennie Lichtenstein
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Steve Madden TROOPA
bamboo boots
TOMS has made a name for itself by creating casual and effortless flats. This fall, the charitable company decided to take its shoes to an entirely new level by creating fleece-lined boots. With a pair of dark skinny jeans, these boots will give off the relaxed vibe that TOMS shoes are known for, all while keeping your feet free of the cold and snow. (Barefoot, $95)
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B o o t s a r e t h e p e r f e c t way to take your outfit to the n ex t l eve l . T h i s s e a s o n , s t ay wa r m — a n d l o o k c o o l — i n the Penn State cold with the perfect pair of boots. (UGGs n e e d n o t a p p l y. ) By Ross Marcinizyn
ACCESSORIZE We a l l h ave a wa ke - u p - a n d - g o outfit. And it tends to get old r e a l l y f a s t . E l ys i a M a n n h e l p s yo u a d d t h e r i g h t a c c e s s o r i e s t o a d d a b o o s t o f style to your morning routine.
& GO! THE CUFF
If you’re too lazy to pile up a wristful of bangles, the cuff is your new best friend. Slide it on, and you’ve got instant edge. The wider, the better.
THE WATCH Tired of being late and looking for some sophistication? Solution for both problems: a beautiful, chunky watch. If you wear one accessory this season, make this one it. Note: It’s always OK to arrive fashionably late. Seiko, Moyer’s, $237
(No Brand), Flesh Decor, $15
THE BELT What could pull an outfit together better than a waistdefining, versatile skinny belt? Over cardigans, dresses, the pair of jeans you wear a bit too often — the belt can do it all. Tip: Find one that’s easily adjustable so you can wear it multiple ways. Abe, Sydney Mac, $18.95
The Earring
Photo by Ann Sciandra
THE SOCK A textured sock can transform your summer cutout booties into part of the coolest outfit you own. The best part is that your toes will be warm and stylish! Also, try layering a knee-high pair over leggings to peek out from your boots. Free People, Connections, $22
Providing some sparkle to highlight your face will instantly give you a fresh look. Don’t save your earrings for nights out. They can supply an ounce a style to the most snooze-fest of an ensemble. Since your lobes will be a focal point, you’ll also save time on makeup. Bonus! JEA, Syndney Mac $15.95
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bea
mot Shirt: Connections $98.; Camisole: Connections $12; Pants: Flesh Decor, Ya $45
auty
tion beauty motion in
P h o t o s b y A n n S c i a n d r a S t y l e d b y E l ys i a M a n n a n d S a m a n t h a M c C l o s ke y
Shirt: Flesh Decor, Mink Pink $66; Skirt: Dwellings $60; Scarf: Mr. Charles, Ya $72; Shoes: Shoebox, Madden Girl $50
Shirt: Dwellings, Ark&Co $40; Jeans: Access, Flying Monkey $58; Necklace: Access $13; Bracelets: Access $14.50
Coat: Access, Tulle $80; Shirt: Mr. Charles $56; Camisole: Connections $12; Skirt: Mr. Charles, Double Zero $50; Heels: Shoebox $50 Slippers: Model’s own
This page: Jeans: Access, Free People $68; Shirt: Connections, Guess $89; Earrings: Dwellings $9; Bracelet: Dwellings $23 Opposite: Sweater: Access, Mystree $54; Dress: Sydney Mac $45; Necklace: Sydney Mac $18; Gloves: Mr. Charles, Echo $32
“[Although] I wouldn’t say that I have designers in mind” when selecting pieces for the store, Banker says, “I see vintage inspiration in designers’ pieces.” She considers Nina Ricci, Rodarte and Ralph Lauren to be designers with memorable vintageinspired details. While some might be surprised to find such a unique store in Happy Valley, Banker says that was part of the reason she wanted to open the vintage boutique in the first place, noting that “there was nothing like it when I went to Penn State.” Drawing on inspiration from her favorite stores, Banker took the “best parts” of other establishments when conceptualizing her own. “I try to keep a boutique-like feel,” says Banker, noting her dislike of the typical
MEET THE OWNER:
THE RAG & BONE Tu r n b a c k t h e f a s h i o n c l o c k w i t h Th e R a g a n d B o n e , H a p p y Va l l e y ’s ow n v i n t a g e boutique. Emily Grier talks t o ow n e r a n d P e n n S t a t e a l u m n a S h e l l e y B a n ke r a b o u t h ow s h e c h o o s e s p i e c e s , t h e international origin of the s t o r e ’s n a m e a n d t h e b e s t way t o i n c o r p o r a t e v i n t a g e l o o k s i n t o yo u r w a r d r o b e .
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Fall 2011
“jam-packed feel” that plagues similar stores. The Rag and Bone is “easy to navigate, well lit, roomy and [has] a mix of fun and unique things.” Because of Banker’s exceptional attention to detail when selecting only the most fashionable clothing, shoppers can rest assured that they have purchased quality items. “We take great care to put out highquality pieces. We sell hand-picked items that were gone over extensively,” she says. “I’m very particular about cleaning and repairing clothing.” While some might be wary of adding vintage clothing to their wardrobe (after all, nobody wants to walk into her 8 a.m. dressed like she’s headed for a Halloween party), Banker insists that seamlessly adding vintage pieces to your closet is possible without looking like you wandered off the set of Mad Men. Her advice is simple: “It’s all about mixing it in with what you already have. Something small can go a long way.” “A lot of shoppers come here to supplement their existing wardrobe. They might shop at Abercrombie and Fitch normally, but they buy a funky blazer or ’70s chain necklace here,” she says. “You don’t have to wear head-to-toe vintage.”
Photo by Stefan Choquette
Have you ever walked into your first lecture of the day, rocking the cutest, newest dress, feeling on top of the world — until you realize that the girl beside you is wearing exactly the same outfit? Talk about a mood killer. And at a school with more than 40,000 students, keeping your wardrobe unique and stylish can prove to be a challenge. Luckily, Shelley Banker, owner of The Rag and Bone at 224 E. Calder Way, has been providing downtown State College with her expertise in vintage clothing since summer 1995. After earning her undergraduate degree in advertising in 1993 from none other than Penn State, Banker turned her love of vintage clothing into a full-fledged career and business.
“I’m a big believer in finding something you love to do as your job,” she says. You might not be sure what to expect when shopping at a store with a name like “The Rag and Bone.” Banker says she took inspiration for her store’s name from a phrase she learned while studying abroad in London. “ ‘The rag and bone man’ would collect stuff that [others] might take to a thrift store and sell what he collected,” she says. But The Rag and Bone in State College is anything but salvaged goods. Banker personally hand-selects all of the clothing and accessories. The store sells everything from your roommate’s grandmother’s old jewelry — anyone can drop off vintage gear at the store and Banker will decide whether or not she’s interested in selling it — to items that Banker discovers while traveling. The bubbly owner also says that, in the past decade or so, she’s become much more interested in high-end designers, drawing fresh ideas from their fashion spreads in magazines. “One thing we started doing is cutting pictures out of magazines like Vogue that show vintage inspiration and displaying them in the store window,” she says.
WHEN THE LACE MET THE TEE: A
Love Story
Le a r n h ow t o c r e a t e t h e p e r f e c t u n i o n o f c o m f o r t a n d t o t a l c h i c n e s s . M a n o u s k a J e a n t u s s h ow s yo u h ow t o c r e a t e yo u r ve r y ow n l a c e T- s h i r t .
SUPPLIES
1 T-shirt, 11” x 15” piece of lace, ruler, washable marker, scissors, fabric glue, cardboard
1
2
STEP 1: Begin by turning your T-shirt
STEP 2: On the back of the tee, about 5
STEP 3: Using scissors, cut out the
inside out.
inches from the neckline, use your marker to draw your desired shape. To get it just right, make a stencil you can trace.
shape you just drew.
4
Photos by Jillian O’Brien
3
5
6
STEP 4: Apply fabric glue all along the pe-
STEP 5: After you have secured your lace
STEP 6: Allow the freshly glued shirt to
rimeter of your shape as you lay down your lace a little at a time. Make sure you place cardboard inside the shirt so that the fabric glue doesn’t make contact with the front. Apply the glue a little at a time so it doesn’t dry out. Press the lace down on top.
with fabric glue, trim the excess.
dry for about 6 to 12 hours. Turn your Tshirt inside out again and enjoy!
SHAPE IDEAS heart, square, rectangle, oval, diamond, vertical hexagon, star fashion 71
Be a social butterfly.
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