fortnightly student magazine
volume 19 — issue 11
Five Must-Reads in Quarantine
p. 7
Q:A: Ambré
p. 16
Internet Rabbit Holes and You
p. 8
Admitting You Don’t Know Something
p. 20
Mandatory Reporting
p. 11
Six Reviews
p. 22
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Art by Megan Bormann
APR 27 - MAY 11
VOLUME 19, ISSUE 11 EDITORIAL: Editor-in-Chief
Tala Alfoqaha
Managing Editor
Emma Chekroun
Cities Editor
Sylvia Rani
Voices Editor
Esther Chan
Music Editor
Tosin Faseemo
Online editor
Sammi Divito
Copy editors
Autumn Sanders Hannah Haakenson
BMM EBZ
Multimedia Editor
Sebastian Alfonzo
Multimedia Producer
Courtenay Parker
Editorial Interns: Ian Knoll, Isabel Teitelbaum, Megan Bormann, Marley Rich-
mond, Kylie Heider, Prahlad Sankrti, Emma Smisek, Martha Huson, Kinga Mozes, Jemma Keleher
PRODUCTION: Executive Director
Macie Rasmussen
Creative Director
Kiley Nelson
Finance Manager
Nikhil Barr-Saxena
PR/Ad Manager
Claire Redell
Social Media Manager
Madison Amland
Art Director
Morgan Wittmers-Graves
Designers
Kelsey Hanscom Samantha Fischer Ellie Kestner
Web Manager
Juan Rujana
Distribution Manager
Cassie Varrige
Production Interns: Grace Augustin, Skylar Neuber, Tymia Phat Art Interns: Joe Price, Gavin Schuster, Selena Philaphandeth, Laura Kuchar
THIS ISSUE: Writers Š2020 The Wake Student Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota. The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen & James DeLong. Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole. To join the conversation email eic@wakemag.org The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
THE WAKE
Megan Bormann, Emma Chekroun, Hannah Dove, Tosin Faseemo, Maia Irvin, Joshua Jordan, Ian Knoll, David Ma, Kinga Mozes, Meredith Oechler, Isaiah W. Ogren, Macie Rasmussen, Marley Richmond, Molly Thompson, Madeleine Ware Art 1 Morgan Wittmers-Graves 2 Joe Price 3 Meredith Song 4 Hannah Sheridan 5 Kinga Mozes 6 Kelsey Hanscom Miss Americana, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Tiger King, It Is What It Is, and I’m Your Empress Of art from original sources Cover and feature art by Gavin Schuster
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wink! one page magazine
Here at The Wake Magazine, we love our pets and figured you would too. Say hi to the animal friends of The Wake! Wen
Finley
Blu
Tilly
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Bean
Fufi
Rocco & Patti
Nala
Stinky
Bubbles
Chili
Bear
Paco
Co-Co
Norman
Wynn
Thank you to our seniors! INSIDE 6
Letter from the Managing Editor
7
Your Quarantine Guide to Window Plants
8
Internet Rabbit Holes and You
9
The Story of Fool’s Errand
11
Mandatory Reporting
16
Q&A: Ambré
18
Love Languages, Mistranslated
19
The Orders of Magnitude that Matter in the Time of COVID-19
20
Admitting you Don’t Know Something
21
Finding Meaning Along
22
Six Reviews
Sammi Divito
Morgan Wittmers-Graves
“Add me on Pokémon Go: sammijamison”
“I am a senior but I stay fresh, man.”
Madison Amland
Kiley Nelson
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rihanna”
Courtenay Parker
Macie Rasmussen
“If you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects. If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.” - Stephen King
“All the things that I used to say / All the words that got in the way / All the things that I used to know \ Have gone out the window” - Sugar Ray
Claire Redell
g
ake is watc hin eW h T
THE WAKE
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Letter from the Managing Editor Dearest Wake Readers, I, like many others, am torn between making this another letter, story, or sentiment about COVID-19 and looking foolish writing about anything else. But I can’t ignore what I’ve learned from being stuck at home. First of all, I’ve learned that I can watch “The Office” three times through and still cry at Pam and Jim’s wedding, that who you live with plays a huge role in your mood—even when you aren’t locked in a one-bedroom apartment together—and no matter how put-together someone looks, we all have at least one breakdown when faced with a worldwide pandemic. Aside from being the year of the coronavirus, this is also the year I will be entering my senior year of college. Like many others, it has forced me to look back sentimentally on the steps that have brought me here. I think it’s easy to forget how special you are when you’re surrounded by thousands of other special people. One of the most amazing parts of college is collaborating with creative, insightful, and hardworking people, but it can also be demoralizing. I have often felt like I’m lesser when comparing myself to others who seem more motivated, more talented, and more eloquent than I am. Even in the midst of a statewide lockdown, I find myself insecure about others who somehow manage to be productive and not just watch “The Office.” I want to encourage you, our readers, to remember that we all cry and we all screw up. We don’t get every internship or job we apply to, we miss deadlines, we say hurtful things, and we don’t always know what to do when life falls apart. It feels corny to say, but in three years of college, mixed with an unforeseen disease, I’ve learned things almost never happen how you expect them to, and that’s usually for the better. My introduction to The Wake was accidentally crashing a staff meeting. I didn’t know that pitch meetings were only every other week, and I walked into a staff discussion. A week later, I attended the pitch meeting and applied to be a music intern. Instead, I became a features intern because no one else applied. But little did I know that that mistake and that internship would change my life. I was lucky enough to work for one of the best editors at The Wake, Chris Shea, who taught me everything I know, and when Chris left, I had the pleasure of trying to fill his shoes. Since then, I’ve gotten to write pieces that have changed how I look at the world and edit features that have touched my heart and overwhelmed me with pride. I implore you to keep writing, keep working, keep trying, and never discount a happy accident. Best, Emma Chekroun Managing Editor
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APR 27 - MAY 11
CITIES
Your Quarantine Guide to Window Plants
Stay connected to nature by growing (and not killing) some houseplants BY HANNAH DOVE As the days grow warmer little by little and you long to feel the dirt between your toes, you feel nature calling out to you from behind the glass. Some may say they have the opposite of a green thumb, that they couldn’t even keep a cactus alive, but the truth is that you keep yourself alive and growing every day. Plants only need what you yourself need: some light, some water, a steady temperature, solid humidity, good ventilation, food, and a place to grow. Just as too much or too little is never a good thing, excesses or deficiencies of any one of these elements can prevent a plant from growing indoors properly. Here are some tips to get started: •
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Don’t actually put “window sill plants” directly on the window sill: Indoor plants are sensitive to sudden, brief changes in temperature, just as we are. Putting them on vents or other heated areas is also ill-advised. Just as our skin gets drier in the winter, so do plants’ leaves: all plants benefit from an increase of humidity in their area, whether it’s from an artificial humidifier or from placing them in a shallow cistern of water. Just as we need to keep up our hygiene, we need to groom our plants in order to keep them nice and healthy. Don’t be afraid to prune areas that seem brown or shrunken, and be sure to “pinch off” your plants (removing about an inch or less of new growth to promote healthier plants in the future). Be aware that while you may take Vitamin D supplements, your plants oftentimes need supplements of their own— diluted fertilizer helps, but make sure only to fertilize from March through September Finally, there’s no need to rush into having the most difficult-to-tame plant—get a feel for your environment and choose a plant that works with you instead of against you. Only have indirect sunlight? Get an aloe plant. Don’t have dirt? Get an air plant. House at 70 degrees? A bromeliad is the one for you.
You may feel disconnected from nature as you watch the tulips pop up or feel the air become warmer. Houseplants grow with you and help show that even as things remain up in the air, there’s always something to keep you grounded. Treat your plants the way you want to be treated, and they’ll reward you with a blossoming friendship, hopefully for years to come.
THE WAKE
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Five MustReads in Quarantine
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Notable literature to distract you from the global pandemic BY KINGA MOZES I know what you’re thinking- why would I read when I can watch shows and binge Youtube videos? The answer is that it simultaneously relaxes and educates you, so pipe down and rent some audiobooks. Reading is fun. Daytripper: Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá WHY: Normally I don’t read graphic novels. I only read this book because I couldn’t find the poetry section in the library. But THIS graphic novel made me cry and then want to read it all again. The illustrations and story emphasize the fragility of life and the beauty that lies within that. Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao: Junot Díaz WHY: This hilarious novel follows Oscar, “a disastrously overweight ghetto nerd” whose adventures include the Dominican Republic and Lord of the Rings. There’s a hint of folklore with the looming fukú curse following Oscar, but above all this book is pure entertainment. Twilight, Los Angeles 1992: Anna Deavere Smith WHY: Although this play is a quick read, it’s impact on me was profound. I am horrified by the atrocities that occurred after Rodney King’s death and horrified about my prior lack of knowledge about an event that occurred here. A necessary read. Night Sky With Exit Wounds: Ocean Vuong WHY: Ocean Vuong simultaneously broke my heart and then pieced it back together again as I read this short collection of poems. As the daughter of immigrants, I identified with much of his confusion, but his message that true vulnerability takes strength will resonate with you no matter what your ethnic background is. The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Milan Kundera WHY: This is perhaps my favorite novel of all time because its philosophical musings about love are spot on. The story follows Tomas, a womanizing sucker who comes to realize the inseperable nature of love and sex.
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Internet Rabbit Holes and You A few of the best websites to spend five minutes—or five hours—on
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BY IAN KNOLL It’s inevitable. With all this free time on your hands, all the shows and movies you binge are going to feel stale, and you’ll want something more than scrolling through Twitter all night. You want something unique or something that feels like an adventure. Maybe you just want something that you can easily kill a few minutes to a few hours on. In my eyes, nothing fills that hole better than a good Internet Rabbit Hole. There’s no singular definition for what these are, other than they’re internet sites that engross you in strange and unique topics or activities that have you keep thinking “just one more page.” Curated for your enjoyment, here are some of my favorites from personal experience and internet recommendations. (Note: this is, of course, the internet, so light NSFW content abounds in nearly all of these.) The “Educational” “Wikipedia: Unusual articles”: Everyone knows that Wikipedia is the premiere source for valuable, if often dry information. What you may not know is that Wikipedia also has a page where they track some of their weirdest (and therefore funnest to read) articles. Want to learn about a metal band that all dress as Ned Flanders from The Simpsons? Or a novel written entirely without verbs? How about a detailed explanation of Judaism in Rugrats? All this and more at “Wikipedia: Unusual Articles”. “Wikipedia’s List of common misconceptions”: This one’s a lot more self-explanatory, but if you’re looking to absorb a lot of minor but valuable information, this is the place to start. Did you know greek sculptures were actually painted with colors? Or that you have more than five senses? Well, now you do.
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Interactive Sites “Windows93”: Immediately nostalgic, Windows 93 recreates the feel of 90s era computing, with the humor of mid 2000s internet, all while being filled with fun (or just bizarre) programs that anyone can enjoy. Watch the entirety of “Star Wars Episode IV,” recreated in text art. Mess around with music synthesizers, or play four Gameboy games at once (for some reason). The crowning jewel has to be the internet browser, which features a very real Myspace clone (which you can even make an account for!) “Geoguessr”: The premise is simple: placed on a random Google Maps location, Geoguessr will have you using things like street signs, architecture, and vegetation to narrow down exactly where on earth you are, all to get closer and closer guesses and win more and more points. Admittedly, the site has gotten restrictive over the years to encourage paying for a premium account, but for someone looking to lose themselves in the world (from the comfort of their home) Geoguessr still has a lot of charm. “The Wiki Game”: This game has had many rules and websites, but in the current most popular version, players compete to see who can get from one randomly selected Wikipedia page to another (clothing to communism for example) in 120 seconds, using as few linked articles as possible. It sounds easy, but the connections can be surprisingly hard (but interesting) to make.
“The Death Valley Germans”: A famous blog which details two expert hikers’ attempts at finding the remains of four German tourists who went missing in Death Valley National Park. Highly morbid for sure, but a fascinating story for those who like cold case or true crime-esque stories nonetheless. Personal Recommendation: @TheSunVanished: This Twitter account is an ARG (or alternate reality game) about an apocalyptic world where the sun no longer rises. Part mystery and part horror, what makes “TheSunVanished” so unique is how integral audience interaction is. Throughout the narrative, the main character will reply to people tweeting at him, or take actions based on Twitter polls. Other ARGs take this further by tasking the audience with solving puzzles across various internet mediums to unlock more story. “TheSunVanished” is an easy to follow intro to ARGs, but most are worth the dive (see also “Marble Hornets” or “Visit Eroda,” which was apparently an advertisement for a Harry Styles single). “TheSunVanished” (and ARGs in general) are my personal recommendation, if for no other reason than they’re a fascinating way of telling a story that you can only do with the internet (that, and the sheer amount of time you can sink into trying to understand them).
Miscellaneous: “The Worst Things For Sale”: 445 pages of strange internet products like wolf urine, fake pennies (that cost more than real pennies), and sudoku toilet paper, complete with the author’s brief, sardonic take on each. For more of the same, see “Wikipedia’s Unusual eBay listings” or “Always Judge a Book by its Cover.”
APR 27 - MAY 11
The Story of Fool’s Errand
CITIES
The sketch comedy group is better than they expected BY MACIE RASMUSSEN These days, it’s hard to admit that pain, isolation, and fear are running higher than usual. Many people say humor is a way to cope with unsettling situations or cultivate optimism. Most agree it’s beneficial for one’s health, heart, soul… or whatever form of wellness you subscribe to.
and he especially appreciates that he gets to do it with his closest friends. He says, “My favorite part is going to shows and looking out into the crowd and realizing that I hardly know anyone out there. It’s gratifying to see people bring their friends to our show.”
That brings me to the definition of a phrase I just googled. Fool’s errand: “a task or activity that has no hope of success.” A different kind of fool’s errand exists as a sketch comedy group. Started by a handful of students at the University of Minnesota, and first performing in November of 2018, Fool’s Errand’s members consist mostly of undergraduate students. (But it’s not exclusively college students!)
Evey performing act comes with challenges, and it’s hard for people to put themselves out there again after they bomb. Oechler describes a performance during the “Discover Dinkytown” event in which “the audience consisted of Henry’s parents, his brother and his brother’s friends, and a random couple in their 30s with two toddlers. I’m pretty sure we performed to silence for 30 minutes, but what felt like three hours.” Of course, they persisted!
The first time I saw their act, I sat in a sea of chairs nestled in the back of Dinkytown’s Purple Onion. The corner of the coffee shop buzzed with chatter as I squeezed past rows of people to where a friend had saved me a seat. I distinctly remember laughing during a skit in which a member assumed the role of a janitor. The fact that I can recall a specific scene says something about the idiosyncratic nature of their performance.
So what’s next for the group? Kueppers would like to see the group grow its digital presence by capturing more of its sketches and uploading them to its social media platforms. That way, those who can’t make it to live shows can still enjoy their work remotely. While they’re having fun on stage, these members hope that amusement spreads to the audience. “I love just doing what we’re doing: making people laugh and having fun,” says Oechler.
While Fool’s Errand’s home is usually at Purple Onion every other Friday, the group has performed in multiple locations: Honey in Minneapolis, Black Dog Cafe, Mixed Blood Theater, The Comedy Corner Bar, The Whole, Rarig Center, and even the basement of a house in the Como neighborhood.
A fool’s errand may be a practical joke that results in a pointless endeavor, but Fool’s Errand has manifested a talented act in the Minneapolis’ comedy community with momentum. Oechler and Kueppers agree that their troupe can be summarized as “Fool’s Errand: Better than we expected.”
Henry Kueppers, one of the founding members, did improv in high school and had been a part of Minnprov and Minnesota Long Form Improv at the U. He decided to form this new group by gathering four friends and brainstorming ideas for content, venues, and promotion. One of those friends was Meredith Oechler. She jokes, “I’m mostly the ‘hot one’ of the group. So, I tend to play the sexy waitress, the lonely single mom, the flirty secretary, you name it.” On the other hand, Kueppers says his humor is based in “going with the flow.” He says, “I’m able to bounce ideas and riff with everyone in the group and contribute in any way that is needed.”
If you want to know more about the group or see some of their shenanigans for yourself, you can find them on Instagram @foolserrandcomedy and on Youtube as Fool’s Errand. We all deserve a laugh right now.
To prepare for shows, the group meets to pitch skit ideas, suggest edits, cast each of them, and then generate a setlist. They’ll meet one or two more times to rehearse before a show. Kueppers strives to brighten people’s days,
THE WAKE
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The Lovers Andrew Zhou
When the television crackles, it speaks of blood. There’s a woman with a microphone gesturing to a spot cordoned off with flashing yellow caution tape. The closed captioning doesn’t match her lips. “Don, please turn that off. You know how sick I get,” I say. “Just a sec.” I try to busy myself with little things: picking up stray socks off the floor, throwing away the remains of last night’s microwaved meals, drawing back the curtains to let the sun in. But I still manage to get bits and pieces of the story. Something bloody and sad, I know. I’d rather see neither. But when I look up to check the clock, I catch a glimpse of it. A man and a woman, naked, lying in the grass, their arms wrapped around each other like they’ve been caught honeymooning. They are doused crimson. “Turn it off!” I yell. Don whips his head towards me, his finger hovering over the remote. His eyes squint, as though he’s searching for me from afar. I instinctively put my feet together. “Please.” The channel changes. Some car commercial begins to play, all sweeping vistas and chrome edges, and Don begins to sing along to the music. It doesn’t fit the commercial at all, I think. I’m not sure how, but the lyrics appear in my head before they leave Don’s lips. “You know that I don’t have the time for you…” Don used to have a great singing voice, which is not evident as he sings. I try to ignore it as I scrounge together a passable breakfast. There are still a few eggs left in the fridge, and I suppose they will have to do. I decide not to check the expiration date. “Even though I don’t have any other…” I look over at Don, splayed out on the couch, his chin practically touching his chest. “What was that on the news?” I ask. He doesn’t stir, but his singing grows louder. “The burning house, the empty zoo…” I step on something sticky as he finishes the verse. “Oh, lover. It’s such a lonely, lonely summer.” Don finally turns his head towards me, wiping his eyes as if awaking from a trance. The image on the TV shifts. “Huh?” “What was that on the news before? Is there another one?” “Oh.” Don scratches his belly and I am reminded of how long his fingernails are getting. I think I’ll have to cut them again soon. “Yeah, another murder-suicide thing in the park. Don’t know why you’d wanna do it in the park, though.”
“I love you, babe.” My heart leaps, and I feel a happiness rush through me. I try to sit next to him and fit my head against his neck, but he’s already hunched over and picking over the eggs with his fingers. The night seems colder than most. I can’t fall asleep, so I stare at the ceiling and think about the sky. I close my eyes and extend my toes and I’m in the air, the world tumbling around me. There’s blue of course, but there’s also green rushing up from below. There’s yellow too, bathing me holy. I don’t like my smile, but I grin anyway. Perhaps I’ll fall forever. And then I’m back under the covers, the ring on my finger chafing. “Don.” I wrap my fingers around his, and his eyes flutter. He might be pretending to sleep again, but I’m no good at telling. “You’ll always love me, right?” “Yeah,” he mumbles. “You promise? You won’t leave me alone?” But he only responds with a dry snore, one that seems to suck all the air out of the room. I turn the other way in case he drags me into the twister, too. When I open my eyes, the room is still dark. I am alone. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but there’s a sound drifting through the room. A melody. Slowly, I get up from the bed and turn the bedroom doorknob. A familiar voice continues softly, and I can make out words. “You know that I don’t have the time for you…” I think about the day I first met Don. He was wearing a leather jacket. His voice was smooth, kind of the way it is now. He croons. “Even though I don’t have any other…” I try to keep my steps silent, although I don’t know why. Don had paid for my dinner that day. I remember. Nobody had ever paid for my dinner before. “The burning house, the empty zoo…” When I round the corner, I see that he is sitting completely still in front of the television. It only shows static, casting flickering lights on Don’s open face. His eyes are completely empty. One of the kitchen knives is clutched in his right hand. I think it’s part of the set I bought last Christmas. There is music coming from the TV as well, though I have no idea how. There are instruments playing, strings and brass together, but there is no singer.
“Wasn’t the one last week in the park, too?”
The brightest, most dizzying smile fills Don’s face as his eyes fall upon my own. It’s enough to make me swoon. He stands up and takes two steps towards me, his arms outstretched to take me into his embrace. I realize for the first time he is naked. This is perhaps the most he has ever wanted me.
“No, it’s usually indoors.“ Don whistles. “But they were all couples, too.”
“Oh, lover,” he sings, his voice puckering. “It’s such a lonely, lonely summer.”
When I hand the plate of scrambled eggs to Don, his fingers brush against mine. His next words are utterly sincere.
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APR 27 - MAY 11
FEATURE
Mandatory Reporting: Helping, Hurting or Irrelevant?
Mandatory reporting was created to help protect those in harm's way, but are the repercussions worth making the report?
ISABEL TEITELBAUM THE WAKE
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FEATURE
Mandatory reporting seems like an effective concept. You see a child or vulnerable adult being abused or neglected, and you report it. But how does the system affect the relationships between workers and the people they work with? The relationships people have with their physicians, social workers, teachers, therapists, and law enforcement are built around trust. Honesty is needed for these people to effectively do their jobs, but is there a cost to them or the people they’re helping? Only certain jobs and licenses come with mandated reporting, mainly those that require working closely with children. It’s an additional responsibility, making those workers legally obligated to report the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of any minors or vulnerable adults. This covers any kind of abuse: sexual, physical, or emotional. Jean Baribeau-Thoennes, director of counseling at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, said that most of the cases she reported during her time as a social worker were neglect.
to report child abuse, and in 1975, the PA Child Protective Services Act was signed. Those who
are vulnerable and at risk in our society need help, but the system rarely fixes the problem. Those who will report people being mistreated will do so regardless of the title they bear. Ideally, the system works by making sure that mandated reporters have an incentive to report mistreatment, but some fear it binds them to a rigid standard that may not always suit the situation.
Reporting can be a stressful undertaking. Baribeau-Thoennes worked at juvenile corrections, juvenile probation, and transitional housing facilities before working for the university. She recalls one of the first times she was forced to report while at the juvenile center. It was a girl, about 14 years old at the time, who she had worked with for years. BaribeauThoennes said that everyone she worked with suspected that the girl was being abused. But she didn’t tell anyone until she was talking with Baribeau-Thoennes one day, and it all came out.
“When I told her that I had to report it, she just begged, `No, you can't. Please, please you can't.´ And that to me was one of the worst experiences,” Baribeau-Thoennes said. “I actually hate to admit this out loud, but I went through this period where I thought maybe I just don’t do it, maybe I keep it to myself. And then I thought, I can’t do that.” To Baribeau-Theonnes, breaking the girl’s trust was the hardest part. As a foster parent and member of Mentor Duluth, Colleen Belk is a mandated reporter. She felt that during training, the foster care system helped her to understand what should be reported. But training cant prepare people for making a report. “It took me years to feel comfortable calling,” she said.
Neglect is harder to prove than physical abuse or malnutrition—there’s no physical evidence. When unsure, Baribeau-Thoennes found it helpful to call the Initial Intervention Unit for her county and run situations by them. Without giving names, Baribeau-Thoennes said she would ask if they considered it a situation that required reporting. After Baribeau-Thoennes decided to report to the Initial Intervention Unit, they would interview suspected victims. Because the victims were often children, the Initial Intervention Unit would interview at school for a safer atmosphere.
Everyone has felt the loss of a stable atmosphere while dealing with the coronavirus. It has had an effect on everything, including the rise of potential child abuse from stressed home environments.Now that kids are under quarantine and at home all day, no one from the outside world can talk to or watch over them and notice absences from school, changes in attitude, or bruises. Things like absences from usual activities and children not receiving adequate care have become harder to monitor. Mandatory reporting was born from good intentions. Pensylvania was the first to enact a law that specifically required certain professions
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APR 27 - MAY 11
FEATURE
talk things over instead of the constant uncertainty about what will happen after a report is made. Since mandatory reporting only applies to minors and vulnerable adults, when someone turns 18, it’s up to them to report abuse.
In Minnesota, mandated reporters must report the abuse of a child that has occured, or they believe has occurred, within the three years of the event. For example, in Minnesota, when someone goes to talk with a mental health counselor, what is talked about during the session is confidential, with a few exceptions. Baribeau-Thoennes said she would be obligated to report if she learned that a child or vulnerable adult was at risk or if the person intended to harm themselves or someone else. This system ages people out of protection, but people don’t age out of abuse.
She has to call a social services number to make reports. When she has called, she’s never talked to a person. She leaves a message and doesn’t hear back. “That experience has been echoed by many people in my foster care support group. They feel like you’re talking into this vacuum when you call,” Belk said. “You don’t ever get any feedback.” She says that the lack of feedback has left her feeling discouraged and unsure of her judgement when deciding to report. Because the system is so overwhelmed, cases can go unaddressed for long periods of time, leaving the endangered party at risk or in a more vulnerable situation than before. This system can turn people off from reporting, feeling that their report will accomplish nothing and will only create more uncertainty. For mandated reporters in Minnesota, failing to make a report is a misdemeanor.
“It is an overwhelmed system, but if nobody is telling what is going on, then for sure nothing is going to happen,” Baribeau-Thoennes said. THE WAKE
According to UnDispatch, the United States has the fifth-best environment for children. In 2018, over 86,000 reports of child maltreatment were made in Minnesota. Over half of those reports were not accepted, primarily because the report did not meet the threshold for maltreatment. According to the 2018 Minnesota Child Maltreatment report, mandated reporters were approximately four times more likely to report and more of their reports were accepted. After a report is accepted, there is an assessment or investigation. In cases involving temporary or emergency care givers, such as respite care, the mandated reporter can be put in a risky position. There is a more personal relationship between temporary caregivers and the family than for other mandatory reporters, such as teachers. “If that family thinks that I’m reporting them, it’s over,” Belk said, “I’m not going to get to be their mentor anymore. I’m not going to be able to step foot in the house. The mom can cut me off any time.” Belk said involving the guardian(s), social workers and foster parents or respite care all in a mediation may be more beneficial for all parties. It’s a situation where everyone would be able to
“I’m not talking about somebody coming in, talking about having thoughts or experiences of suicide— people tell me that stuff all the time,” she said. “Im talking about somebody who has made the decision.” Thoennes considers this responsibility a part of mandated reporting.
It’is important to keep a dialogue, so we can think of innovative and effective ways to prevent abuse. We often think of children as the only vulnerable population, but adults might find themselves in vulnerable positions where they are subject to abuse, and no one reports it. Adults are left with the sole option to persecute, but just because the option exists doesn’t mean a person has the means or ability to do it. Mandatory reporting intends to provide an extra layer of protection. While not a perfect system, it’s still important for people to continue shedding light on abuse. There are repercussions on both ends. A lot of those repercussions directly affect the mandatory reporter and can impact how they do their job. Are resources and training provided to those helping the most vulnerable populations right now, enough?
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Art by Mckinley Roche
APR 27 - MAY 11
THE WAKE
aArt very table byhonest Meganchair Bormann by Calvin Rauls
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Q&A
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Ambré BY TOSIN FASEEMO Ambré is a R&B artist. She’s a selftaught musician originally from New Orleans. Keep reading to find out about her creative process.
: What sparked your interest in music? Ambre: I’ve always been interested in music, I started writing songs as a kid. Brandy was a huge inspiration to me growing up.
: What is your creative process like? A: Every time is different. I get inspired a lot by movies, so when I’m writing I have to be looking at something visually.
: How would you describe your genre of music? A: My genre changes every time I get a new idea. I don’t feel tied to one genre.
: Do you prefer live shows or recording in the studio? Why? A: I love both. They’re completely different experiences.
: Who are your biggest musical inspirations? A: Andre 3000, Frank Ocean, Brandy.
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APR 27 - MAY 11
Q&A
: Your last EP, “Pulp,” has a very smooth, relaxed vibe. What inspired its title? A: It came to me in a dream. Pulp is a coming of age story about four soon-to-be high school graduates who stumble upon a garden of hallucinogenic oranges. Together they go on a “trip” through this fictional city, Lucida.
: What is your dream concert venue? A: Madison Square Garden.
: Who would you like to collaborate with and why? A: Andre 3000 because I love him. He’s perfect….he’s a master of wordplay, cadence, and fresh ideas.
: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to break into the music scene? A: Have fun, be honest, learn and study as much as possible.
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VOICES
A Completely Sincere Moment of Gratitude for that One Professor
Love Languages, Mistranslated
Your class absolutely remains my highest priority in these difficult and uncertain times
And how to forgive the past, even when it isn’t apologising
BY MARLEY RICHMOND
BY MOLLY THOMPSON
Dear Professor, Let me genuinely thank you for your hard work and dedication in setting up online learning. I know you struggle with email, so your perseverance in making a Canvas page and creating a recurring zoom class was truly a Herculean effort. I completely understand that scanning was too significant a barrier to your teaching, so I was more than happy to mail you my midterm and receive my graded essay via the postal service as well. The sock puppet you brought to class on Monday made online learning a joy, and I am happy to say I didn’t open Twitter once during class. Let me offer my condolences for your difficulties during this time. As you enumerated in many emails, I understand your sadness—it’s a shame that your spring break trip to Rome was canceled. I am also aware that your part-time work has dried up, and that your family is feeling rather confined in social isolation. Thank you for forwarding us the essay your nine-year-old niece wrote for her online schooling. It was riveting. Please continue to use our class time as an outlet for your worries; I am happy to stand in for your therapist as I have few concerns of my own to handle. I assure you that my coursework is of the utmost importance during this global pandemic. Yes, my mother is a healthcare worker, and yes, I have family in New York City. My father may lose his job, but of course, my discussion posts will continue to be thoughtful and in no way plagiarized. I take academic honesty seriously and never consult my notes during quizzes. Your refusal to modify our syllabus was a lesson in persistence, and I am thankful for the extra work you assigned to fill my near-limitless free time. What would I do without you?
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Sincerely, A student tired of this shit
Let’s be honest, returning to your childhood home feels like reversing the clock, and with it, unearthing stifled resentments which are now fermenting under the heat of social isolation.
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As I stew in a house of haunted memories, tensions between my mother and I refresh themselves with shiny confidence. It is suffocating and in escape, I run—past the playground my mom taught me how to swing on, by the church she forced me to attend, and each passing spot is a monument to everything she has done for me. Perhaps it feels too long since she told me she loved me, was proud of me, or any words of affirmation, really. But returning to the house that stores these memories, the walls depict a hundred loving images: all the lunches she packed, the clothes she washed, the way she parted my hair before school. They remind me of everything she has done for me while my eyes were blinded by tears from the distance I felt.
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Looking in the past, with its unchangeable flexibility, makes it easier to decipher disguised love, lost in the unresolved differences between love languages. My mom’s acts of service clashed with my need for verbal affirmation. With miles of distance and months of hindsight, her actions suddenly become clear and comforting. Quarantined with the past, my love language bilingualism becomes clouded by proximity, and my desire for explicit affection grows needy. Solving this language barrier does not lie in the persistence of the Duolingo Owl, rather in the persistence of empathy toward the emotions of others. Appreciate these boundaries, but cross the lines occasionally, dipping your toes in someone else’s love language to express your love in more than one way. You just might be surprised how many wounds begin to heal.
APR 27 - MAY 11
VOICES
The Orders of Magnitude that Matter in the Time of COVID-19 Look at some orders of magnitude before you get angry at celebrities flaunting their lavish homes?
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BY ISAIAH W. OGREN When you really know something, you know it in your body. The biomechanics of an NBA jump shot, the schnoz of a master whiskey blender, the way an expert effortlessly weaves description, analogy, and metaphor together to explain a difficult, abstract concept—all of these are embodied knowledge. By contrast, there are certain ideas that the human brain can only process as abstract, that they cannot embody. Take the number two trillion (2*10^9 for my STEM friends). Sure, you’ve heard of that number, particularly if you followed the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations. You know how to add or subtract, multiply or divide two trillion, and otherwise mathematically manipulate that mass of zeros. But you can’t imagine two trillion distinct things. You can’t hold two trillion individual one dollar bills in your head at the same time. None of us can. Trained physicists top out at holding one million things in their head. Most people can barely imagine one thousand things. For the purposes of intuitive understanding, there is no difference in our brain’s level of understanding of two billion, two trillion, or two quadrillion. Why does this matter? And what does it have to do with celebrities? Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen the discourse around celebrities take a sharp turn from the typical hagiography. Hard questions are being asked, like whether it is fair that every member of the Utah Jazz was able to get COVID-19 tests, or why anyone would think it is a good idea to get a bunch of non-singers together to butcher John Lennon. Certainly, this virus is neither the “great equalizer” that some predicted, nor are celebrities in quarantine “just like us” because they can no longer go where they please, when they please.
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Nevertheless, the discourse confuses celebrities, titans of industry, and the government in terms of scale and assignment of criticism. Take Gal Gadot, of aforementioned John Lennon butchery. She has a net worth of approximately $10 million to $20 million. Compare that to the fortune of Jeff Bezos, worth over $100 billion at last counting as of April 2020. The difference between them is the same order of magnitude (1:10,000) as the difference between a reasonably thrifty Carlson school graduate and Gal Gadot. The difference is that our brains can process the difference between us and celebrities intuitively in a way that they cannot intuitively process the difference between Gal Gadot and Jeff Bezos—try as we might. We effortlessly know that we are not Gal Gadot. We have to work to know that Gal Gadot is not Jeff Bezos. This matters even more when we consider how much money the federal government should be spending, how we allocate our attention in the moment, and eventually, responsibility for situations that the world finds itself in. Looking at plans to bring the virus to heel and keep the economy going, one finds that we need to spend at least 10 trillion over the course of the crisis. The difference between that figure and one Jeff Bezos is 1 to 100, not as big as between Carlson Bro™ and Ms. Gadot, or Ms. Gadot and Bezos, but is still two orders of magnitude.
and social media have conditioned us all to be disproportionately interested in the subset of people that are just wealthy enough to raise our ire in a crisis, but not nearly influential enough to do much of anything about it. If you think about it, this is a fabulous arrangement for most billionaires and politicians, the majority of whom escape any meaningful public pressure or scrutiny. It is fine to critique the wealthy for donating tiny amounts of their immense wealth to fighting the coronavirus and expecting a ticker tape parade. We must tax the wealthy more and demand measures that reduce wealth inequality. But in an era where all of our bandwidth is stretched past all reasonable limits, and righteous anger is at a premium, next time you are frustrated with a celebrity complaining about how hard their new life is, instead of retweeting a pithy critique, try calling Congress instead. They can be reached at (202) 224-3121.
What is the purpose of this mathematical parable? The purpose is to show first that the actions of government matter exponentially more than multi-billionaires who in turn matter exponentially more than the actions of celebrities who can’t sing. Secondly, we need to work to allocate our attention responsibly. And I do mean work. Conventional
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VOICES
Admitting You Don’t Know Something Graduate school instills the humility and strength it takes to admit you don’t know something BY JOSHUA JORDAN Realizing that you don’t know: “I think you’re confused.” Having just chimed into the discussion with my own thoughts about the week’s readings, that was the professor’s response to my input. That was, in fact, the expert’s response to me—the uninitiated. “Are you sure? Do you really mean that?” These are questions you might be on the receiving end of in graduate school. These questions, and their variations, converge to instill an important quality in you: humility. These questions train you to admit that you don’t know something, to say, “I don’t know.” These questions, subtle yet forceful, compel you to juggle what you know and what you think you know. And, importantly, they plant the seed that grows into contemplation about what you don’t know—and what you don’t know you don’t know. Accepting that you don’t know: While graduate school crafts you into someone with expert knowledge , it does more than that—it also molds you into someone who is increasingly capable of navigating their way through the complex pursuit of such knowledge. A pursuit that involves enduring professorial polemics and never-ending research articles. A pursuit that involves realizing that you have questions, but not knowing how to answer them. A pursuit that involves exploring both marked and uncharted territory, the former instilling in you that you’re new to this and that you’ve only just begun, the latter watering the seeds of doubt about whether you’re fit enough—since you’ve only just begun—to make your mark.
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Together, the resultant thoughts, feelings, and experiences, coalesce into seemingly countless opportunities to stumble and simply profess, “I don’t know.” That is, countless opportunities to confront what you don’t know and embrace the opportunity to find out. Embracing what you don’t know: The “I don’t know” moments are not “I don’t want to know” moments. They are merely a means to an end—a stepping stone to an end in which you wind up learning something, rather than remaining inimically oblivious to it. Once in graduate school, you—not your undergraduate advisor, who was probably assigned to you based on your last name—are the commodore navigating the treacherous waters to your intellectual destination; each class you take comprises the flotilla that helps you get there, the frigates and gunboats of which fend off the incoming criticism, self-doubt, and insecurity that threaten to seize your confidence and willpower. With each class you take—each threatening to pierce your sails and slow you down, or, worse, sink you in a sea of doubt—you not only gain factual knowledge, you qualitatively become a more critical thinker; someone who can not only absorb information and regurgitate it, but someone who also has the agility to go look for it—or create it, if it doesn’t yet exist. You and embracing opportunities to find out become friends.
So, while the end goal is to graduate with more knowledge—and a degree to show for it—graduating with more “knowledge” includes capturing that elusive humility which renders you able, and willing, to admit when you don’t know and to embrace those opportunities to find out. Embracing the opportunity to find out: When you finally emerge from graduate school, you’re no longer just a consumer of knowledge, you’re a producer of knowledge, as an advisor once told me. You’re someone who is producing knowledge for your contemporaries—and for posterity. This is only done, however, through first accepting your own knowledge deficits and then working to fill them in (incrementally) by having the strength and humility to wrestle with your ignorance. The challenges wrought by graduate school, much like life experiences in general, prepare you for something bigger—whatever that may be. But do not forget that these challenges are also humbling and are a chance to signify your desire to know. Through the ambiguity, they showcase your humility and strength to admit you don’t know something all in a devoted effort to contribute to society’s collective knowledge—to simply discover.
APR 27 - MAY 11
VOICES
Finding Meaning Alone Eat. Sleep. Experience COVID-19. BY DAVID MA Humans are hardwired to need social connection, something which has been readily denied in recent weeks. With that isolation comes strange effects, and there are days where I go about my life in a robotic catatonia because there’s just nothing else to do. This really begs the question: what’s the point of it all? In the face of such isolation, is nihilism the answer? If everything is meaningless, what is there for us to do? Disclaimer: I am not a philosophy major. But I will pontificate about it regardless. One of the main schools of thought in response to nihilism is existentialism, which is perhaps somewhere we can look for guidance. Existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre claimed that “existence precedes essence.” In layman’s terms, this means that while there is no inherent meaning (essence) to life, an individual is defined by the actions (existence) that they choose for themselves. In application to our situation, while you have no choice but to stay home, you still have the freedom to create purpose amidst your new lifestyle. All things considered, COVID-19 is an undeniable condition; the question is what to make of it. Now that we have been denied our friends and classes and perhaps even jobs and loved ones, we must create renewed meaning for ourselves. Cook. Exercise. Call your mom. Find your little joys. Take solace in the fact that your seemingly insignificant act of staying home is saving lives. Marvel at the human spirit as others donate equipment, risk their lives, or sacrifice their careers to protect their employees. It is true that these are difficult times, and it is hard to feel like you have freedom. But do not give in to pure nihilism because it is only through your experiences and actions that you can find your own meaning.
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Feelings of Regression Feeling discouraged that all your progress is taking a step back BY MAIA IRVIN One of the best feelings in the world is when you finally have your life under control. You’re doing well in school. You get that internship that gives you hope for the future. You’ve decided to become healthier. You’ve finally found a group of lifelong friends. In other words, you’re flourishing. Then—bam—the world is hit by a devastating pandemic, forcing everyone to stay at home and regress. It’s hard to push aside the feeling that you’re losing all of your progress. There’s less motivation to study and go to online classes. Maybe the company with that internship has suspended operations, which puts your professional aspirations on hold. Keeping up with your physical and mental health is much more difficult in isolation. Even the new relationships you’ve made are strained. Many of us are feeling the effects of having our normal routines vanish. Not being able to go to class, work, the gym, or even spend time with friends can make you feel like you’ve taken one step forward and five steps back. This doesn’t mean you have to completely put your life on hold though; it just means you have to adjust. Make a space and schedule times dedicated to working on classes and searching for new internships and job opportunities. Do an at-home workout or take a walk around the neighborhood to stay healthy and get outside. Most importantly, stay connected with friends and family through text messages, phone calls, and video chats to keep those relationships, and your sanity, alive. At the end of the day, all we can do is adapt, persist, and remind ourselves that the world will go back to normal someday, and when it does, all that progress we thought we lost will probably still be there, ready for us to keep going.
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SIX REVIEWS
Tiger King Miss Americana BY MEREDITH OECHLER If you’re like me, you’ve probably never thought about Taylor Swift that much. She’s just always been there. From her teenage country days, to the infamous Kanye West scandal, to her unprompted gay anthem “You Need to Calm Down” that garnered a collective “weird flex, but okay” from fans.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower BY MEGAN BORMANN The fact that I’m sobbing into my pillow at two in the morning while watching this should already say something. In 2012, Logan Lerman stole our hearts with help from Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, and Paul Rudd. Director Stephen Chbosky’s film based on his 1999 novel features the quiet, often invisible Charlie as he navigates his freshman year of high school. The famous quote from Rudd’s Mr. Anderson, “We accept the love we think we deserve,” made us shed more tears.
She’s the pinnacle glamorous American pop star, The movie follows Charlie throughout the year, hence the title “Miss Americana.” While this name addressing dark themes such as teen suicide, captures how fans perceive Taylor, the docusexual assault, drug and alcohol addiction, and mentary shows a side of her you don’t see on the abuse. However, Chbosky makes sure to mix billboards. light, wholesome moments and happiness into the story. This combination provides a timeless The film cuts from clips of dazzling performances and relatable essence to Charlie’s journey of during sold-out world tours to intimate scenes self-discovery. of Taylor Swift playing the piano in sweatpants, writing the lyrics to popular songs, and flipping One thing that we have to talk about is the age through her childhood diary. She reveals intimate difference between Charlie and his friends, details about how her experiences in the public Sam and Patrick. It isn’t realistic that seniors in eye have shaped who she is today. high school would be this open and welcoming to a freshman or that a romantic relationship The film also touches on Taylor’s experience with between a senior and freshman wouldn’t be anorexia. Having struggled with the disorder frowned upon. At times, it was uncomfortable to myself, I was wary when this came up. Celebrities watch, because in high school a three-year age and their relationships with disordered eating are gap is significant. often brushed over or glamorized. But Taylor’s words about her experience, the toll her illness Besides that, the film captures the heart of took on her, and the steps she’s taken in recovCharlie, wanting to be loved and feel like he isn’t ery brought me to tears. It felt like talking with a alone in this world full of pain and heartbreak. friend. Just by watching, I too felt infinite.
BY MADELEINE WARE You have probably heard of Netflix’s new docuseries, “Tiger King.” As we settle into the novel sensation of having too much time on our hands, many of us are hungry for an escape from the mind-numbing boredom and loneliness that quarantine has brought us. “Tiger King” is that escape. The docuseries follows gun-toting, mullet-sporting, rainbow flag-waving Joe Exotic, a zoo owner who is known in Oklahoma for his love of tigers and somewhat questionable business practices. Joe’s sworn enemy, cool-cat Carole Baskin, is an animal rights activist in Florida with a big cat conservatory who wants nothing more than to shut Joe’s unethical business down. The series follows a chaotic slew of lawsuits, unsolved murders, and murder-for-hire plots. Along for the ride are a cast of other wild characters, including Doc Antle, the slimy private zoo owner who refers to himself as “Bhagavan,” or “God,” and Joe’s loveable zookeeper crew of redneck ex-cons. The drama is unpredictable, fast-paced, and utterly disturbing. As much as the series is enjoyable and entertaining, however, it isn’t so much about big cat conservation as it is about American greed. Big cats, in American culture, are an unfortunate symbol of status and wealth, and although “Tiger King” may be great entertainment, we must always remember that at the end of the day, big cats belong in the wild, not in an overcrowded cage.
“Miss Americana” was an excellent look into the life of a person who is constantly judged by millions of people. And while her public shield of billboard hits and red lipstick has been strong enough to earn her the title “Miss Americana,” the film shows us the woman behind the mask who bleeds red like the rest of us.
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APR 27 - MAY 11
SIX REVIEWS
It Is What It Is Thundercat BY EMMA CHEKROUN Thundercat’s latest album, “It Is What Is,” opens with the twinkling, dreamlike tracks “Lost in Space / Great Scott / 22-26” and “Interstellar Love.” The 37-minute-long album unfolds like a late-night conversation, existential thoughts and all. Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, flirts with different genres and moods throughout this late-night conversation. From Kamasi Washington’s saxophone solo in “Interstellar Love” to the symphonic close of “I Love Louis Cole,” Brunner proves he is a master of sonic variance. At times, the album feels like it lacks cohesion because it bounces so freely between different moods. But this suits the delirious narcoleptic theme of the album. Bruner’s stunning ability to mix thoughtfulness with humor keeps the existentialist theme of the album from becoming depressing. Song titles like “King of the Hill” and “Dragonball Durag” are a throwback to late-night Adult Swim browsing. “Oversees” stands out thanks to comedian Zach Fox’s closing airplane captain monologue. “Dragon Ball Durag,” the lone music video for the album, is just as comical. Brunner struts around town dancing awkwardly in his all-Gucci outfit, desperately trying to entice a woman, all while donning his dragon ball-print durag. The album closes with “Existential Dread” and “It is What it Is.” The songs bleed into one another, presenting the answer to the existential quandary of the album: “When it all comes to an end / When there’s nothing left to say / It is what it is.”
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In Honor of Bill Withers An incredible musician who fought inequality within the music industry and beyond BY KINGA MOZES Influential singer Bill Withers died on March 30 in Los Angeles. He was 81. His song “Lean on Me” has resurfaced amidst the chaos of COVID-19. Growing up, Withers struggled with a stutter, so he enlisted in the Navy. After he was discharged he decided he wanted to make music, but he didn’t own a guitar. He worked a factory job installing toilets to make ends meet. He made mixtapes and they struck a chord with Sussex Records. They were enamored by Withers’ disinterest in being anyone but himself. His album cover for “Just As I Am” features a photo of him holding his lunch pail. Songs like “Ain’t No Sunshine” demonstrated Withers ’ability to forgo male ego and hypnotize people with songs about heartache. He wasn’t interested in playing by the rules, which led to a clash with Columbia Records, his second label. After a disagreement about covering Elvis Presley’s song, Withers decided enough was enough. He figured if it wasn’t going to be done his way, he had a job at the factory. By this time, he had already achieved success: three Grammys. Despite his brief career, Withers was one of the most influential artists to have ever lived. In 2015 he was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. When asked about why he pursued music, he responded, “I was born that way. The question was whether I was just gonna do it for myself or someone else, know what I mean?”
I’m Your Empress Of Empress Of BY: TOSIN FASEEMO Empress Of, born Lorely Rodriguez, has returned with her third studio album, “I’m Your Empress Of.” The 33-minute album is brief, but full of depth, expressing the conflicting emotions associated with heartbreak. The album begins with the title track, a twinkly song that echoes with the phrase “I’m your Empress Of.” The song transitions smoothly into “Bit Of Rain,” a fun song with a bouncy beat. The tone of the album shifts with “Void,” an understated track about the complicated process of losing feelings for someone after a break-up. Despite the subject matter, the song manages to be more empowering than sad. This is reinforced by some advice given by Rodriguez’s mother in the middle of the song: “You want to make yourself the woman that nobody is gonna mistreat.” Fourth on the tracklist is “Love Is a Drug,” a bumping pop tune in which Rodriguez expresses a cynical attitude toward romantic relationships that contradicts her desire for affection. The next two songs, “U Give It Up” and “Should’ve,” feel bare, as though they weren’t completely finished. “Give Me Another Chance” is similar in its minimalistic lyrics, but the result is intoxicating. A combination of a hypnotic beat and pleading vocals make the track feel more like a love spell than a song. The end of the album signals another change in tone, combining pessimism with yearning. On “Not The One,” Rodriguez sings sensually to a rebound, “You’re not the one, but it helps.” Finally, the album ends with “Awful,” a somber track that plainly states what a break-up feels like: awful.
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Until next time.