my roommate is crazy. Bizarre Northeastern roommate stories and tips on dealing with roommate problems
The Doghouse Difference Do Northeastern’s athletes get treated differently?
Meet the Rebecca’s Staff Hilarious encounters with our favorite café’s workers
Political Prodigies. The story behind politically involved students
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kristen McCleary
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PRESIDENT
Sean McGahan
MARKETING DIRECTOR Marcellina Teixeira
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amelia Rossi
EDITORS
Brianna Hollis, Jamie Ducharme, Fernanda Aspe.
WRITERS
Melissa Bartz, Connor Doherty, Danielle Gillespie, Sohee Kim, Naomi Litman-Zelle, Jordan Mandell, Taylor Maxfield, Nicole Ochandarena, Sarah Ripollone, Emma Shuck, Victoria Sigle, Isaiah Thomas, Kelsey Zimmerer, Trisha Rieger.
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DESIGNERS
Priscilla Dunn, Cara McGrath, Allison Minami, Kathleen Mullins, Erinn Scammon, Ben Sewell, Molly Aitken Sheridan.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kendall Alexander, Alisha Keshavjee, Vivian Ma, Nicole McMahon, Lena Smart.
MARKETING
Jessica Gay, Vanessa Mok, Marlana Manzotti, Gabrielle Santi, Liz Ehinger, Shanyi Xu.
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Interested in joining our staff? email us
nuwoof@gmail.com
visit our site
www.woof-mag.com
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CONTENTS front
campus crawl
centerfold
bon appetit
focus
04 study spaces 06 fall hair trends 06 pizza
07 rebecca’ s staff 08 roommate problems
10 personal politics of students
12 Taza chocolate 13 trident cafe 13 must have food apps
14 doghouse difference 16 earlynineties 18 au pair 19 maggie bullock
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4 // Front
Off-the-Beaten-Path Study
Spaces the best places to study at Northeastern Written by Dani Gillespie Photos by Alisha Keshavjee
Rebecca’s Café: West Village H Computer Lab: Though small, this lab’s computers are equipped with full printer access and much-needed programs like Microsoft Excel and Access, making it ideal for business or stats work. The lab is a quieter, lesspopulated alternative to InfoCommons, although users should be advised that the lab is PC-only.
The Café acts as a study lounge between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday nights. Although the restaurant closes at 4, studiers are allowed to bring their own food and drink. A husky card is required for entry. Note that talking is permitted and the noise level will be similar to the first floor of Snell. If you’re okay with a small amount of noise, this centrally located study space is an appealing option for late-night studying.
First Floor of Shillman Hall: Alongside a full-service Dunkin’ Donuts, Shillman Hall is also home to several computers. Let a coffee aid your productivity as you work at one of the tables looking out on Centennial Quad. Although it can get crowded during class changes, this study space is perfect for early-morning study sessions or afternoons during finals week. Dunkin’ Donuts is open from 7am-7pm MondayThursday, and 7am-6pm on Fridays. fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
Front // 5
Honors Lounge:
Basement of Panera:
Featuring four new Mac computers and a comfortable lounge area, this is a comfortable study space for both Honors and Non-Honors students. You’ll often have it all to yourself. Open daily from 8:30am-5pm MondayFriday and located at 150 Richards, the Honors Lounge is a refuge from daily campus distractions.
Located at 289 Huntington Ave., this study space is a great way to get off campus without walking too far. With its easy access to snacks and coffee, comfortable booths and wealth of outlets, Panera lends itself to computer projects and group work. The basement tends to crowd from 11am-7pm, so it is best to pay an early-morning or late-evening visit. Panera is open from 6:30am-8pm Monday-Friday.
Info Commons 2: Located behind Argo Tea in Snell, this computer lab is quainter than Info Commons 1, housing little noise or distractions. Open Monday-Friday from 10am-9pm, the lab is full of PC’s and conveniently located adjacent to the library’s café.
The Basement of Your Dorm: Downstairs from your building’s lobby lies a serene, distractionfree setting ideal for getting some work done. With just the occasional rustle of people doing laundry, this is an ideal place to study late at night or when the weather gets nasty because you don’t have to venture outdoors – and you can stay in your pj’s.
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
Fall Hair “Dos”
Written by Emma Shuck // Photos by Alisha Keshavjee, Allison Minami
Back to basics? We say forget the basics. Trends are popular for a reason, and this fall, self-expression is in. It’s time to take those simple hairstyles and give them a little makeover. Whether you’re ready to embrace a big change or rock a new style without commitment, these looks will cater to your individual level of comfort.
Simple & Effortless: The Sock Bun
Go for the Bold: Ombré
Get Outta Town: Pixie Cut
Everyone always says, “Nothing that’s worthwhile is easy,” but ladies, go ahead and forget that phrase. It’s safe to say there aren’t many trendy hairstyles out there as easy as this one (and no, ponytails don’t count!) If you’ve never attempted a sock bun because you don’t think you can pull off the tight, pulled back look, don’t lose hope just yet. Hair stylist Justin Woods, of Emerge Spa and Salon on Newbury Street, recommends letting a few pieces of hair hang around your face or adding bangs to soften the look. Or try repositioning the bun, either higher or lower on your head. The sock bun was featured in Real Simple Magazine as a “how-to” in 60 seconds. That’s right, 60 seconds. With such a fast and easy way to get a clean, sleek hairstyle, it’s hard to imagine how we ever lived without it. To switch it up, try braiding your ponytail and wrapping it around the bun instead. Chic? Check. Unique? Check. Complicated? Only looks that way.
For a striking, trendy look for fall, take a trip to the salon, lighten your ends and go ombré. An ombré hair color starts dark at the root and gradually fades to a lighter hue for a sunkissed look. The trend has been seen around L.A. and NYC on celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Khloe Kardashian and Mila Kunis, and has just made its sweep into Boston. This hairstyle is low-maintenance, because if you use your root color as a base, it requires fewer trips to the salon. Even if you let the roots grow out for a few months, you’re still rocking the in-style look. For fall, Woods suggests using darker shades. “This fall will have a lot of rich tones, so if ombré is done it should be done in more golden rich hues,” she said. With an ombré look, you can make it your own. No one will have the exact same color or highlights, so you can get a little creative and be sure this look is uniquely yours. For most, dying your hair and going ombré is a big step. But if you want a change that is sure to make a statement, it’s perfect.
Pulling anything from a Miley Cyrus to an Evan Rachel Wood is what you’d call a pixie cut, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. If you’re confident and looking for a wow factor, a pixie cut will give you just that – and maybe even a few jaw drops along with it. What’s great about a pixie is you can make it completely your own by playing with the color, texture, and length. Shorter hair is easier to keep up with, and super feminine and chic, so if you do decide to do it, you may wonder why you ever had long hair to begin with. Scared of going short? Consult your stylist. “A stylist should be able to advise you if you are a good candidate for a pixie cut depending on your hair type, face shape and overall image,” said Woods. Whichever trend you choose to try, don’t be afraid to take risks and put your own spin on things. If you feel good in it, you’ll look good in it. Individuality is the best accessory.
Purging the Pizza from Campus Meetings written by Dani Gillespie // photo by Nicole mcmahon Pizza saturates the college experience. Organizations lure members to their meetings with the promise of the popular snack, and the tradition has been used in excess. Food has a unique way of bringing people together, and wouldn’t it be beneficial for clubs to think outside the pizza box? Certain campus clubs have begun to take an innovative approach to meeting meals and provide a variety of cuisine for members. The Sociology and Anthropology Student Association (SASA), for example, serves Indian, Italian, and even Ethiopian foods from local Boston restaurants. “Our membership tends to skew younger, and some of the kids would never try certain restaurants if they did not come to SASA,” explains Erin Conrad, club president. Ordering from restaurants in the area is a great way to build awareness about the range of food Boston offers, in addition to being a way to support local businesses. It should be noted, however, that the SASA does order pizza once a semester in order to please all group members.
Other organizations try to incorporate the club’s focus into the dishes they serve. The Northeastern University Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (NUSAACS) puts on a liquid nitrogen ice cream social each year. Open to all students and faculty, this event is a way to generate interest in the club and bring members together with a unique cuisine experience. Although pizza is an easy option for club meetings, student organizations should take the initiative to expand their menus. Pizza isn’t the only cheap, easy food you can use to draw people in, and clubs could show a sense of culture and individuality by making the effort to hit other food groups. And by doing so, they could open members up to unique foods and help them build new experiences, or even draw in new members who appreciate the effort. Move aside, Papa John. There’s other food in town.
REALLY?! With the Rebecca’s Staff Written by Connor Doherty // Photos by Lena Smart
If there’s one thing that Northeastern students can agree on, it’s that lunch at Rebecca’s Cafe is non-negotiable. Open between the hours of 7 am and 4 pm, Rebecca’s Cafe is there to fulfill all of your dining desires, from French toast and yogurt parfaits, to tuna melts and turkey burgers. With all of these different cuisine options available with a simple meal swipe, Rebecca’s has turned into a campus hot spot, with a line that extends throughout the entire cafe. Unfortunately, as a result of the hectic, non-stop nature of the cafe, most students are unable to interact with the eatery’s staff, who add a layer of humor and energy to the experience that no food alone could do. In the midst of all this craziness, I took a few minutes to actually engage in conversation with these people I saw on a day to day basis, but knew nothing about. There are only a few moments during the day where you can go to Rebecca’s without being trampled. At 2 pm, I arrived to the fairly quiet cafe to interview the employees. The first two people I approached were Whitney and Katie, who were piling up pre-made paninis. Standing at roughly five- foot-two and sporting her daily do-rag under her Rebecca’s cap, Whitney is the glue that holds Rebecca’s together. She is loud and proud, opinionated, and knows her stuff. Her partner in crime is Katie, a quiet girl, with bright red hair pulled back into a ponytail. She’s more of the silent type, but when prodded, has just as much to say as Whitney, if not more. At the far end of the grill is Adrian, the person you order a burger from on a daily basis. Out of all the employees, he’s the one I had previously noticed the least. He’s non-stop, always flipping burgers or asking what kind of fries you want. But if you catch him during a free moment, you can see that he has a sense of humor, always making his co-workers laugh. Last is Teya, the anchor of the check out station. She may seem tiny and sweet, but she’s no nonsense. When the line gets long and people get hungry, she’s the one to put a stop to the shenanigans and restore order to the cafe. At first, I approached them with a list of basic questions, like, “what is your favorite item on the menu?” Whitney loved the cheeseburgers, Adrian recommended the Buffalo wings, and Teya said that the Tuscan Turkey sandwich was a must. I was surprised to see how excited they were to be interviewed, and how happy it made them, probably because someone was asking for their opinion and not for food. I was also surprised that Teya was the only one of them who knew who Chuck Norris was, but, I digress. They eagerly answered my questions and, here are a few of their more interesting answers:
Campus Crawl // 7
Why do you think Rebecca’s is so popular? Whitney: ‘Cause Whitney works here. Write that down. (Takes the notebook) Let me see this baby. If you’re gonna write about me, you gotta spell my name right.
Adrian: I don’t know why it’s always packed, but it is. Like, people be here and I’ll be like, I’m at Popeye’s. Teya: It’s the sandwiches. What is the weirdest thing someone has ordered?
Katie: “Somebody asked for a wrap with only lettuce and wanted me to put it on the grill - and I was like ‘What? ... No.’” Whitney: “Most people don’t try to order something weird but, if someone tries to order something not on the menu, I’ll be like, ‘Come on, seriously? Look at this face. We don’t have that.’
Adrian: “A veggie burger... with bacon.” What is the best and worst advice someone has given you?
Whitney: “The best advice would be… keep calm when all these damn kids pack up in this damn place. What’s the worst advice I’ve gotten? I don’t know, I don’t really listen.” Teya: “The best advice…when I’m angry and I’m running around and pouting, I just remind myself to keep my head up and that my shift’s almost over.” If there is anything to be learned from this magical experience, it’s to better acquaint ourselves with where our food comes from and the connections we share with even the most unlikely of people. At Rebecca’s, like many other places, we are used to shutting off, ordering and receiving our meals, without any form of interaction or second thought. It’s because of this automatic process that we miss out on the conversation and interaction with the great people, like Whitney, Adrian, Teya or Katie, that makes Rebecca’s Cafe such a vibrant eatery in the first place. By talking to members of the staff, we can learn to better appreciate and understand how fortunate we are to have a place like Rebecca’s on campus. We can also remind ourselves that if we ever find ourselves craving a veggie burger with bacon, not to indulge in our fantasy, because Adrian will probably judge us and who knows what Whitney will do.
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
8 // Campus Crawl
roommate problems Bizarre Northeastern roommate stories and tips on dealing with roommate problems. written by sohee kim photos by alisha keshavjee
Every college student shares one common experience; dealing with roommates. Living with a roommate can be great, but it can also turn into a nightmare if two people with different living styles, personalities, or values are grouped together. Larry Marks, a PhD psychologist at the University of Central Florida Counseling Center, fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
said, “Usually conflicts seem to arise around the classic issues—cleaning, sleep schedules, study habits, friends, personal habits, and communication. For most students, this is the first time they have lived with unknown roommates for an extended period, and it requires them to draw on skills of compromise, negotiation, and thoughtfulness in new ways. There’s a saying, ‘You never really know a person until
you live with them,’ and I think that’s true when it comes to college roommates.” But the question is, how do you deal with a bad roommate while maintaining a good relationship with him or her? Keyne Cahoon, assistant director of Housing and Residential Life at Northeastern, laid out some of the best ways to deal with classic roommate disputes.
Problem: My roommate is messy. Siomara Galavis Herrera, a second year biology student, has lived off-campus with roommates for the past two years. During her freshman year, she lived with two roommates whom she got along with well. Even though Herrera loved her roommates, she said she was sometimes frustrated by her roommates’ messiness. Solutions to a roommate who is messy: Herrera said confrontation worked for her. “We had a roommate meeting and we sat down and talk things through. We just kind of said then and there everything we were having issues with,” she said. “We came up with cleaning schedules so that each person would have to do certain things each week. After we came to agree with these rules, we really had no conflicts at all.” Like Herrera, Cahoon strongly encouraged having a conversation about messiness, even if it is uncomfortable. If that seems too hard, Cahoon recommended bringing the problem to the Residential Life staff. “That is why we have residential life staff who are trained mediatorsto help with those conversations,” Cahoon said. “Not necessarily to do it for them, but to help them start the conversation between roommates.” When a conversation between roommates does occur, Cahoon said to ask for a compromise and make clear suggestions to each other, like creating a cleaning routine and allocating specific jobs to each person. Problem: My roommate always has guests over. Cleanliness wasn’t Herrera’s only roommate problem. “We did have this one conflict where we had issues with visitors,” she said. “Sometimes we would have too many visitors at our place. People would be there all throughout the week.” Solutions to a roommate who brings visitors: Negotiating a visitation issue can be a little bit trickier, Cahoon said, since everyone living in the room has the right to invite friends over. In this case, conversation and compromise is again necessary. Cahoon suggested sharing each other’s schedules to show who is free and who is busy, as a prior notice to inviting visitors. Herrera also said deciding on specific policies worked for her. “We also came up with rules like no visitors during the weekdays from certain time periods,” she said.
Cahoon again highlighted the role of Residential Life. “If the conversation does not sink into your roommate and compromise does not occur,” she said, “that is when you must seek help through Residential Life or friends.”
without permission. “One day, my roommate would be wearing my clothes at a party,” she said. “Sharing was never an issue for me as I have a sibling, but I think it is common sense to ask before using anyone’s stuff.”
Problem: My roommate is crazy. Sunil Patel, a fifth year behavioral neurobiology student, dealt with a unique roommate issue the summer after his sophomore year. “[My roommate] would wake up in the middle of the night and start screaming at me for no reason. He was normal during the day, but in the middle of the night he just screamed at me,” Patel said. “It was really weird and really creepy.”
Solutions to a roommate who steals or uses your stuff: Mok said she dealt with her roommate issue by talking it out and laying out the problems with her roommate. “At first we got into a huge argument because my roommate wouldn’t admit the fact that she was using my stuff,” she said. “But in the end, she apologized and we resolved the situation by setting ground rules on asking the person before using the other person’s stuff.” Mok said the longer a problem is ignored, the worse it will get. Cahoon said its important to set ground rules as early as possible. She said that if those rules are not set up front and you share things from the beginning, there is a natural assumption by your roommate that he or she can use your stuff. Cahoon also recommended putting possessions in a place only you have access to. If the problem has escalated to the point of theft, Cahoon urged students to involve the authorities. “If it is the case of starting to lose your valuable things such as cash, jewelry and expensive things, then you need to seek for help from the police,” she said. “If you do ask for police help, I would recommend that you ask their opinion on whether or not they can have a conversation with the roommate first, since their advice is the best to follow up with.” Roommate challenges are one of the biggest conflicts college students experience. With the number of students coming without having shared a room with somebody before, roommate challenges are understandable. Whether your roommate is your best friend, a total stranger, a person who has similar values as you or is very different from you, communication needs to happen—and early. “Conversation between roommates needs to happen before you arrive, and constantly when you are living with them, because opinions and values change throughout your transition,” Cahoon said. “You have to say things prior, because the roommate would not assume that he or she is wrong or doing something wrong. The more you allow little things to build up, the bigger the problem is going to be.” So talk it out. Resolve your issues and you never know, your arch enemy roommate could turn out to be a really cool person.
Solutions to a roommate that has psychological issues: Cahoon stressed that it is dangerous to label a roommate as if he or she is a great threat when that isn’t the case. If a situation has grown serious, though, Cahoon said a conversation is necessary. “It is important that somebody in a joint living situation really thinks about the person versus the behavior. You need to address your roommate on his or her own behavior without hurting them, and that again is to be done by having a conversation,” she said. Cahoon also recommended addressing problems with specific behaviors, rather than character or personal traits, to avoid being hurtful or unnecessarily harsh. Since such talks can still get touchy and personal, Cahoon suggested walking away from the conflict if the conversation grows too heated. “Remove [yourself] from the situation, take a couple of deep breaths and then go back and try to address it again or find somebody else to help,” Cahoon said. “If it is to the point where things are just getting out of control, it is best that you seek a room change through the help of residential life, which can be an option too.” Cahoon noted that there are many university resources for a roommate who needs help. “We are always looking for students to advocate for themselves and advocate for others in order to make sure that they are going to be successful,” Cahoon said. “Knowing that UHCS is available for you and knowing that Northeastern is in the Mecca of incredible hospitals in the area is important. UHCS is absolutely fabulous for a first stop.” Problem: My roommate is stealing my stuff. Vanessa Mok, a second year communications student, has been living with roommates since middle school. Her roommate problems, she said, were often about using her stuff
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
10 // Centerfold
Personal Polictics of If you haven’t noticed the politically charged atmosphere around campus, you probably don’t own a television, a social media page, a communication device or a pair of ears. Lately, it seems like everyone is under the impression they’re a political activist and/or expert. For many, “politically active” means watching the recap of the debates on CNN’s YouTube channel; to some, it means catching up on all the hot button political issues and casting an informed vote.
But to an inspiring few, it’s the time of year when a lifetime of political knowledge and involvement culminates to impact the fate of our country. Election season. The best time of the year. College is a time when many people grow into adulthood and realize the responsibilities that come with that, like voting and becoming involved in politics. And to a college-age community, the personal nature of some of the issues debated in the election has pushed voting and political involvement a lot closer to home. So how did some college students reach political junkie status? John Trakas, a junior political science major, has been involved in politics since a very young age, stemming from his father being politically involved. “My family has always been very politically active and informed, especially my father. He was the one who got me interested in politics. I even remember staying up late to find out who won the 2000 election; unfortunately I’d have to wait weeks for that answer. Politics has been a part of my life for a long time,” Trakas said. “I would say that politics plays a substantial role in my everyday life. Personally, I read news articles or watch the news daily to keep up to date. In addition, I’m friends with many politically affluent people and this means that more of my day is taken up by politics.”
Written by Kristen McCleary, Nicole Ochandarena and Isaiah Thomas
Students Trakas, a Republican, is actively involved in politics in both his personal life and his campus life. Trakas is a third year member of Northeastern’s College Republican’s club, the counterpart to Northeastern’s other partyaffiliated club, the College Democrats. When it comes to these clubs, the clash between political and personal lives seems to know no bounds. Many students’ memberships, in both clubs, stemmed from coming to meetings because of a friend, boyfriend or even another student at orientation. And membership, for many, translated into phone banking, fundraising, dorm storming, voter registration, canvassing and other political involvement. The College Democrats host very actionoriented meetings, frequently bringing in speakers such as Northeastern alum Dan Bridges, the Regional Director for Obama for America and Michael Dukakis, a former Massachusetts governor and Northeastern professor. The College Republicans, in contrast, ask new members to introduce themselves and their favorite Republican issue, lead members in a “quiz” involving politics, current events and pop culture as obscure as the name of Honey Boo Boo’s pig. “Our long-term goal is to bring like-minded students together once a week,” said Scott Farnham, a middler political science and economics major and College Republicans executive board member. “We’re not too serious. If you take it too seriously, no one comes.” Members can share views in an open forum, acknowledging a spectrum of beliefs reaching from staunch conservatives to an independent executive board member. In one meeting, members voted to express their positions on abortion, taking into consideration a variety of viewpoints. More than fellow club members, these people are friends. They host debate viewing parties, holiday celebrations, serve snacks and ‘hang-out’ at meetings. “I transferred as a third year from a community college,” said Andrew Leandre, a junior pre-law student and a College Republicans
executive board member. “I met Eric, the former [club] president. Now the majority of my friends are in this club.” Several politically active students agreed that finding friends within the same political beliefs can eliminate arguments. Friendships and relationships may not be limited to those who believe in the same things politically, they said, but two extremely opinionated people on opposite ends of the spectrum will clash. “I really hate to think of [politics affecting relationships], but I can see it as a possibility in certain corner cases,” said middler international affairs major Anthony Turner.
“We’re Americans in the end, Same country… different methods.” “For example, say there was someone who I was friends with who wouldn’t stop talking about an issue that I disagreed with him or her on. That would be okay, as long as we could agree to disagree. Unfortunately I have run into people who are simply relentless in defense of their position and take things personally… It would not be a deal breaker for me per se, however, I can envision a scenario where it could be an issue.” “I don’t mind at all if someone has different views as long as they’re rational and can make an intelligent case for it,” he added. “It’s when I hear ignorant or, worse yet, bigoted comments that I lose respect for people. That’s why I hate election season. People start to show their true colors, and when their true colors are ignorance or bigotry, it’s definitely a deal breaker.” Turner, a current co-op at the Massachusetts State House and a politically active student, became personally involved in politics around 2003, around the time the United States entered Iraq. “The more I learn, the more passionate I get, and that just makes me want to learn more,” he said. “Who I am shapes my political beliefs more than my political beliefs shape who I am.”
Centerfold // 11
Middler Cori Austin, an intensely active democrat and political science major, has been involved in politics as long as she can remember, also stemming from politically active parents. Austin worked as a page at the U.S House of Representatives in high school, and now works as a co-op intern at the Barbara Lee Political Office and Family Foundation. Austin is also the vice president of College Democrats and volunteers regularly for the Elizabeth Warren, Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, and Barack Obama campaigns. Austin said for her, political beliefs are absolutely a question in relationships. She couldn’t imagine herself being romantically involved with someone with completely conflicted views. “I couldn’t date someone whose view of the world was so hugely different than mine. If someone had differing view on, say, trade policy or details of the tax code, okay, let’s talk about it. I am okay with moderates whose views don’t perfectly align with mine,” she said. “But if you don’t believe that we need to ensure that women get paid the same as men, or that gay people can’t have the same legal rights as straight people, or that working people who can’t afford decent health care should just go to the ER when they are so sick that they are dying…That’s a kind of person that I just can’t be close to. I love diversity, but that is immoral to me.” Though students like Turner, Austin and Trakas care deeply about politics, both clubs agree that, despite their best efforts, student involvement in politics is not as high as they would hope on a campus as large as Northeastern’s. Trakas agreed that membership, in terms of numbers, is nowhere near where it should be to foster a politically active campus community. “There are not enough students in either club that should be,” Trakas said. “We recently had a debate with the College Democrats over the Obama Stimulus Package of 2009 in which I took part. It was honestly a great debate and both sides laid out there cases spectacularly. The turnout was not where I would have liked, or frankly, expected it to be. However, those that came out got a lot of information and a good show. I would say both clubs are doing great things with the cards they’ve been dealt, however it is not near where we need to be as a community.” Turner agreed with Trakas that student involvement could be better. “I don’t think [the average student’s political knowledge] is as good as it should be. Maybe I’m underestimating how many people are involved, but it seems like a lot of people don’t care as much as they should,” Turner
said. Turner, who is not affiliated with either on-campus political club, said “it’s never a bad thing to get people informed, as long as [the clubs] are being honest.” Trakas agreed that many students are not as informed as they should be, but still spoke to the importance of exercising the right to vote. “I can’t speak for the entire student population, but if I had to guess, I would say that the average political knowledge is below where it should be, but higher than the general public… [Voting] is their choice. I think everyone should be informed and be aware of their right to vote, and I would encourage them to do so. Uninformed people have every right to vote, for better or for worse,” Trakas said. “To some extent, whether you realize it or not, politics affects everyone, every day. Everything from clean running water to taking taxes out of your paycheck is born from politics.” Both clubs also stressed that their goals are often more involvement-based than partisan. The main payoff, they said, is to be involved in something bigger than themselves and positively impact lives. Political action is often personally motivated, as demonstrated by the drive and conviction of members of both parties, and both clubs hope that members will form independent beliefs regardless of party alignment, suggesting that politics can be highly individual and still relevant. More than pressing their own political agendas, the College Democrats and Republicans hope to inspire people to get involved. Both clubs have members involved in NUVotes, the school’s nonpartisan voter registration organization. While always keeping their stance on issues present, both groups were very concerned this election season with simply getting people to vote, not necessarily furthering political agendas. “I think everyone who’s knowledgeable about the issues should vote, no matter what side they’re on,” Turner said. “All over the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, people are overthrowing their governments with automatic weapons so that one day, hopefully, they’ll be able to do it with the stroke of a pencil, without a single drop of bloodshed, like we can. It’s a pretty important power we as citizens have and it would be kind of foolish not to use it. That being said, you’re voting for the powerful man in the world, someone with the ability to do a lot of good or a lot of harm. Don’t cast a vote if you’re going to treat it like you’re voting for the next American Idol.”
The clubs, and their politically active forerunners, hope to motivate students to become involved in political movements on and off campus. “We want to create a strong community,” John Erland, Communications Director for the College Democrats, said. “We’re making an effort to make sure not only that Northeastern is engaged politically, but also Back Bay, Roxbury and other areas [nearby]. We want to use our voice to better the community.” “We’re Americans in the end,” Erland said. “Same country…different methods.” Both organizations can agree, however, that it’s in students’ best interests to be politically involved, at least by casting a vote. “Your opinion matters,” Leandre said. “Be as liberal or conservative as you want on any topic…Your voice is heard when you put your ballot in.” “You don’t have to know extremely detailed information to vote. It’s pretty basic,” Austin added. “If government is going to be effective, everyone has to have a say. Plus, voting is so powerful! It’s the great equalizer. Rich, poor, black, white, woman, man - we all just get one vote.” Regardless of who you voted for in the election, and whoever wins the election, politics affect everyone, particularly college students, who are at a pivotal point in their economic, professional and personal lives. For those personally engrossed in politics, however, it’s more than just a vote once every four years. It’s a lifetime dedication to educating, inspiring and changing the world.
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
scoop
alex whitmore
founder of taza chocolate factory A profile of Alex Whitmore, president and founder of Taza Chocolate, based right in Somerville, MA, about a 15 minute drive from Northeastern. Willy Wonka was undoubtedly a pretty cool guy. But what’s a chocolatier like outside of the world of Roald Dahl? A Swiss guy beating some silky, milk chocolate? How about a Bostonian? Meet Alex Whitmore, a Vassar College anthropology grad. In 2005, a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico introduced Whitmore to an ancient method of stone ground chocolate. Inspired, he learned all he could about this method of chocolate-making, brought it back to Massachusetts, perfected it, and Taza Chocolate, based in Somerville, MA, was born. It all began with his passion for food, and a dream to start a chocolate company. “I remembered back from my days as an anthropology major that cacao and all sorts of other wonderful food substances are from the Americas,” Whitmore recounted. “Mexico was kind of the first place that cacao really existed in a culture.” So he planned a vacation with a friend. Whitmore found that his voyage became an endless source of inspiration, blown away by what he saw. It was here that he discovered stoneground chocolate. These stone mills, known as molinos, are still carved today by Alex himself. “That was really our big innovation—taking that inspiration and transplanting it,” Whitmore explained. “We studied under a miller in Oaxaca and learned how to dress the millstones, which we still do here by hand at the factory.” It is this unique history that contributes to the originality of both the company and the flavor and texture of the chocolate itself. Of course, it was a while, “years,” admitted Whitmore, before he could actually manufacture a quality product. In other words, it took a lot of bad chocolate to get to good chocolate. “We have such a minimally processed product that it really just tastes like the ingredients we put into it,” he said. fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
Written by Sarah M. Ripollone // Photos by Kendall Alexander
It’s for this reason that bean production is a crucial factor for creating the unique texture and taste that Taza offers. Unbeknownst to most, chocolate is a fermented food. “There’s a lot of cheap chocolate made where the time isn’t spent to allow the beans to ferment, but that’s what gives our chocolate its dynamic complexity,” said Whitmore enthusiastically. It is at the farms, located in the Dominican and Bolivian regions of the “Cocoa Belt,” that the cacao pods are harvested. The beans are removed from the pods, fermented, and allowed to dry. After this process is complete, the beans are packed into sacs and shipped to Somerville, MA, where the real magic begins. “The fermentation and drying process is critical to the flavor development of the bean,” Whitmore said, demonstrating his expertise. This process can impact the flavor profile of a finished chocolate bar. So, Whitmore works closely with them to ensure that the process is done correctly. That’s why Taza chocolate is as true to form as chocolate can get. In fact, sometimes the only added ingredient is organic cane sugar. Don’t be misled, however. The gritty texture, thanks to the mill grinding, and the occasional spice, vanilla bean, cinnamon, or even chili, make flavors such as Cinnamon Chocolate Mexicano, Chipotle Chili Chocolate Mexicano, and Salted Almond Chocolate Mexicano. But Whitmore not only cares about his chocolate; he cares about his producers too. The “Direct Trade Agreement” between Taza and its cacao bean producers in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic guarantees that they are compensated fairly for the high quality cacao they harvest. Whitmore visits producers at least once a year to discuss quality and “make sure the relationship is sustainable and happy.” “It’s a lot of work, a lot of travel, and a lot of conversation — in Spanish mostly. But, it’s also a lot of fun. It’s one of the ways that I drive a lot of satisfaction out of my job,” he explained.
Taza also boasts environmental sustainability in its production, energy efficiency, carbon neutral shipping and human-powered delivery. They are a “company full of cycling enthusiasts” and, unlike most CEOs, Whitmore proudly still rides his bike to work. Whitmore also got a little help from some friends on this endeavor. Especially, a former boss and Taza co-founder, Larry Slotnick, with whom he worked at Zipcar. “We couldn’t have done this without Larry,” Whitmore stated. “He was an interval part of the company and did a lot for it, starting up, that I couldn’t do either because of travel or focused on making the chocolate.” Whitmore’s wife, Kathleen Fulton, is another co-founder, who is now Taza’s brand manager. She is his support and does all of their graphics and packaging. Outside of Taza, Whitmore is pretty much your average guy. He and Kathleen are raising a little girl, and he even admits that he cheats on his own chocolate. “I’m a huge fan of the Snickers bar,” he said sheepishly. “It’s like the best candy bar formula ever. It’s perfect. I’m a big fan of peanuts—I love anything chocolate-covered-peanut related.” Of course, he divulges in his own creations and has a few favorites, such as the Salt and Pepper Chocolate Mexicano Disc and Taza’s Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts. Alex Whitmore was a man on a mission, and proved that persistence pays off. When it comes down to it, he’s really just doing what he loves. “Travel, food, sustainable agriculture—all of these things resonated with me and it’s just something that came together in this business,” Whitmore said. Although it’s probably still hard to imagine the idea of a modern day Willy Wonka, it’s not too hard for Whitmore. So what would he be doing if this elaborate dream never really took shape? “I’ve never thought about that,” he said. “No time to look back!”
Vegetarian Column: Trident Booksellers Café
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Written By Naomi Litman-Zelle // Photos by Vivian Ma
A Column/Review on area restaurants with good options for vegetarian or vegan diners. This month’s restaurant: Trident Booksellers Café on Newbury Street. I stumbled upon Trident Booksellers Café back when I first arrived in Boston my freshman year, and it took only moments for me to fall in love with it. Located amidst the posh, designer shops on Newbury Street, Trident stands out as a place that emanates a more distinguished form of class, drawing me to it instantly. Walking by it, you won’t see any brightly colored marquees or elaborate window displays—just a wooden sign with golden lettering hanging above the entrance. Upon entering, I was surprised to see how packed it was. I took this to be a sign that the food was popular, but I was still a bit disappointed that there was a wait to be seated. However, as I waited for the staff to prepare my table, I browsed the book and magazine selection in the adjacent area of the café, and was able to easily occupy myself while I waited by flipping through an award-winning cookbook taken from a nearby shelf. I was eventually seated at a high-top table near the entrance of the restaurant, next to a few other students who looked to be about my age. I took a look at the menu and was surprised yet again, but this time much more pleasantly so. To my good fortune, there was an abundance of vegetarian options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that included anything from a breakfast burrito to a black bean burger. It’s not uncommon anymore to find one or two solid vegetarian options on a restaurant’s menu, but to find that many options at a restaurant that didn’t advertise itself as strictly vegetarian or vegan was impressive. I was so relieved to have already found a potential veggie-friendly haven so early on in
Top 5 must-have food applications Written by Fernanda Aspe
my college experience. Trident provided me with an instant vegetarian niche that I had feared would take years to discover. I ordered a coco-banana smoothie at the recommendation of the waiter, and the breakfast burrito as an entrée. Prior to that moment, I was never one to order a breakfast burrito and always advocated for the classic eggs and pancakes ensemble. It is not an easy task for any cook to successfully craft something as dense as a burrito into a breakfast dish, so I have always been wary of ordering one. But this burrito actually tasted like someone had rolled everything I love about both breakfast and Mexican food into a neat little tortilla wrap. It was too good to be true, yet it was—and totally meatless. The smoothie was also a phenomenal combination of banana and chocolate; two very strong flavored that somehow didn’t overpower each other or turn into an overly flavored drink. It was sweet and tantalizing like a dessert, yet energizing like a smoothie. My waiter clearly knew his smoothies. I have returned to Trident several times since that initial visit, and each time I’ve ordered something different—something I can say I don’t do at any other restaurant, usually due to lack of options. I’ve gotten breakfast sandwiches, vegetarian quesadillas, and vegan chili, as well as sampled several of their loose-leaf teas. When people ask me for recommendations, I end up excitedly listing off about half the menu, because it really is that good. To this day, this quirky hybrid restaurant-bookstore has remained one of my all time favorite places to eat.
Even if you are not a foodie or a great cook these five food apps will make your cooking and/or eating experience all the better. Deciding what to eat, where to eat, what to cook, or how to cook it can be as stressful as browsing through the endless number of applications that could be of some help. In a world full of applications for everything and everyone, all meant to simplify our lives, it’s difficult to narrow down which ones make it to the top. Don’t panic! We’ve chosen five musthave food applications that will leave you as satisfied as a five-course meal. Trust us, even foodies and culinary students gush over these. Best of all, they’re all free!
Epicurious Have you ever stared inside your refrigerator or pantry wondering what to make? Well, you’re looking in the wrong place. Epicurious will save your life, or at least, make it much tastier. This app allows users to assemble entire meals for a week, which in turn helps you create an easy shopping list. Or, if you don’t feel like making the trip to the grocery store, you can simply browse recipes that use the ingredients you already have. “Epicurious, for me, is an app that has revolutionized the way that we look at recipes,” said Ana de la Guardia, a senior studying culinary arts at Johnston and Wales University in Providence, RI. The application is extremely user friendly, with an endless variety of options. You can choose the ingredients to work with or the type of meal you want to create, from seasonal recipes to party ideas. It is an all-inclusive app. “It is a recipe customizer that helps with the creative process of choosing what to cook,” de la Guardia said. “It tells you how much you need of each ingredient, and there is a recipe for practically everything. It’s definitely an app that you’ll be using constantly.” Kitchen Math For all you geeks, control freaks, and clueless first time cooks out there, here is an app that will simplify your time in the kitchen. Need to translate pounds into kilograms? Or how about Fahrenheit into Celsius? How many ounces are in a cup? Kitchen Math is designed to do that pesky math for you, and fast. It is especially useful when you want to adjust a recipe for a specific number of servings. This app will automatically give you the correct amount you need of each ingredient. “Many baking recipes are meant for large servings, like at least a dozen cupcakes. If I want only ten or six or even one, this is the app I go to,” said Mariella Garza, a Bentley University senior and baking-enthusiast. “Trust me, even if you’re the best at doing math, this will make your life easier. Who doesn’t want that?”
Streetfood Boston Being part of the food truck craze has become much easier. Stop chasing food trucks around the city and just look at Streetfood Boston to see which ones are near you. This is an app that every street food-lover must have. It will tell where and when the best food trucks will be in your area through a weekly schedule of each truck’s time and location, and a description of the food they serve. Plus, they have the truck company’s phone number, email, website, and all the other good stuff that helps track them down and makes your daily meals more fun. Urbanspoon For all those who look at recommendations before eating in a restaurant, Urbanspoon will help ease your trust-issues. With a simple shake of your phone, this app lets you know what restaurants are close by using your phone’s location. It also gives you a percentage review that spares you from scrolling down through endless, and mostly useless, comments. “It is really quick and has a simple interface,” said Miki Onwundinjo, a senior journalism student at Northeastern, and an avid foodie. “Everything you need is in this one app.” Drinks and Cocktails Thirsty? Drinks and Cocktails is guaranteed to quench your thirst, no matter what ingredients you have lying around the house. This app features over 8500 recipes, and can help you create new drinks based on the ingredients you already have. This means you don’t have to go above and beyond to make a delicious cocktail or drink. The design and layout of the app make it easy to navigate. You can search for recipes by favorites, category, ingredients, or random, in case you’re having a hard time finding inspiration. Drinks and Cocktails features all types of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, too, like milkshakes or juice.
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THE DOGHOUSE Boston is known as a booming sports center, and with many professional and college teams in the city, it’s no wonder that fans can turn into fanatics. Athletes on both levels can be put on a glorified pedestal and treated with a celebrity status. On a college campus, this treatment can have a major impact on the athletes involved. A case could be made for this effect at Boston University, in light of the scandal in September, in which two players on the men’s hockey team were accused of sexual assault. These accusations lead to an uncovering, by the university, of privileges and overlooked misdemeanors the five-time Division I national champions had amassed, and revealed that the team had established a reputation of being held to different standard than the average student. This “athlete is king” mindset may hold true on the BU campus, but it has not seemed to permeate Northeastern’s. Two neighboring rivals, BU and Northeastern, are only miles apart, yet are strikingly different in their culture of athletics. While there are undoubtedly perks given to players at both universities, the student to student athlete relationship sets the Husky apart from the Terrier.
Honing in On Huskies
Northeastern Athletics did not allow current athletes to comment, but to better understand the climate of athletics at Northeastern, two former NU athletes weighed in and shared varying experiences in and outside of the classroom.
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
“Professors basically treat the student athletes as normal students,” said Danielle Kerr, a former NU hockey player who is no longer able to play due to injuries. “We have special permission to leave classes for team events, and if we miss quizzes we are allowed to make those up. Other than that, no extensions and no extra time.” AJ Stueck, a former NU soccer player who recently transferred, said he felt differently. “Professors, for the most part, are easier on athletes,” he said. “I had a teacher basically just pass me because she knew I was missing so many classes that were out of my hands. They usually respect that we have busy schedules and are being demanded more of than the other students in the room.” Both Stueck and Kerr agreed that extra resources outside of the classroom are available to athletes. Athletes are privy to the student athlete study room in Cabot Center, where they have access to academic advisors, in addition to the ones made available to them through their majors. To further aid them, some players have books and tutors already paid for, and athletes can register for classes before the general student body. Despite these perks during her time as a varsity player for NU, the intensity of the program left Kerr very little time to experience Northeastern like the rest of the student body. “It’s difficult to make friends outside of athletics,” she admitted. After classes, her time was committed to practice, training and team bonding in the dining hall. All new athletes, freshmen and transfers, are mandated to clock up to five hours of study hall each week. Some
upperclassmen, depending on their grade point average, also have to attend study hall. Then, typically, athletes travel on the weekend to games. Both former athletes reported a disconnect between athletes and the rest of the school. Allegedly, some athletes refer to students outside of the athletic community as “muggles”, referring to the term in the Harry Potter series used to describe non-magical people. Stueck said the difference stemmed from the fact that athletes represent the school in a much different way than the rest of the student body. But that difference does not necessarily come without a shift in attitude. “It’s much more in the lime light,” he said, “which for sure gives you a little bit of a strut about yourself, whether deserved or not.” He added that when he would tell people he was on a varsity team, they were often impressed. “It for sure helps with the girls,” he said. “Athletes are celebrities,” said Rob Smith, a certified consultant for the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. “There is a certain amount of admiration that you get for being on stage. People you don’t even know would walk up to you and talk to you about what a good game you played.” “When you make the sport really big, it’s where the old expression ‘big man on campus’ comes from,” said Jim Connelly, the former public relations director for the American Hockey League. “It was always that athlete mentality that they were the kings.” For Kerr, the difference was in the level of commitment athletes owe the school. “From what I gather, varsity athletes don’t feel like normal students,” she said.
“... I had a teacher basically just pass me because she knew I was missing so many classes that were out of my hands.” -AJ Stueck
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DIFFERENCE Northeastern’s campus is situated just a short bus ride away from the home of the BU Terriers, but students around Huntington Avenue generally agree that the hockey culture and general athletic culture established at BU has not travelled into Husky territory. Even though Kerr and Stueck saw a difference between NU athletes and the rest of the student body, the consensus between the two students was that there is not a culture at this university that fosters privileging the athletes. Greg Dale, a professor of sports psychology and sport ethics at Duke University in Durham, N.C., agreed that at certain schools the status of athletes can get out of hand, but that it would be wrong to assume all programs operate this way. “There’s certainly pockets around the country within certain programs where it is prevalent, and really bad,” he said, “but it comes down to the coach as the leadership on a team and what they’re willing to allow happen. But it would be a mistake to make the generalization that this is rampant among college campuses.” Non-athlete students agreed. Freshman communications major Marina Mano said that “athletics has a strong presence on campus,” a belief stemming mostly from the uniforms athletes sport to classes. Though Mano she said she assumed athletes must be a little more glorified than other students, she said she had not seen a drastic difference between athletes and other students. Sophomore pharmacy major Daniella Gaccione also said she had not noticed a rift. She said she had several athletes in her nutrition and general chemistry classes in the past and “they were pretty much just like everyone else,” though she always knew whom the athletes were because, like Mano noted, they always wore their NU athletics sweats. Gaccione did mention one difference between her and her classmates who were on sports teams: When athletes missed a class, teachers would record their lectures to post online so the athletes wouldn’t suffer for missing a class.
LOOK TO THE LEADERS
According to Dale, the behavior of a team is rooted directly in the code of ethics mandated by the coach. “The coach has to set the expectations, and set the standard and send the message that regardless of how talented you are, that you have to meet our standards and that we do things with integrity,” said Dale.
WRIT T EN BY KEL S E Y ZIMMERER
Stueck agreed; he said the coaches were extremely influential to his life as a Husky. They set rules for when the players could go out on weekends, including when they could go to parties, he said. Stueck explained that this year, the soccer team was forced to live in on-campus housing because the coaches felt it would help them keep a closer eye on their players, after a few mishaps last season.
“The coach has to set the expectations, and set the standard and send the message that regardless of how talented you are...”
He is not alone in that opinion. When players are treated as elevated students, experts believe it takes a strong and involved leader to keep a team in check—the kind of leadership that was discovered to be lacking at BU. For Kerr, the coaches’ job at Northeastern did not end after practice. “They are basically your parents away from home,” she said. This parental status came from staying informed on the players’ lives, monitoring their Facebook and Twitter accounts, to making sure they were staying on top of their grades. On multiple occasions, individuals on the team were reprimanded for inappropriate photos posted online, asked to remove them, and given a speech about the responsibility of representing Northeastern, Kerr said. Coaches were also in tune to what players did in their free time. “There were times where people would be going out and we would have a game or practice the next day. If you were caught doing that, coach would not dress you for our upcoming game and you would lose a lot of respect from your teammates,” explained Kerr. Upholding a positive reputation for the team and the university was made a priority, in addition to winning games.
“The coaches who do the best job are the ones that have good relationships with the leaders on the team and have their ear to the ground and know what’s happening,” said Smith. A coach, he said, needs to take disciplinary action after the first offense, and before the mentality forms that the team operates under a system of “look the other way.” “It really is about the head coach; not just to win games and be successful, but to really raise these student athletes as young men and women and make them better citizens in the communities they exist,” Connelly said. The parent-like presence Northeastern coaches have has an impact on the conduct of the athletes, whether it is seen by fellow students or falls under the radar. The Huskies have maintained a respected image on campus. While the coaches were also not given permission to comment by the Athletic Department, experts in the field say the behavior of a team is a direct reflection on the dedication and diligence of the coaching staff. “As a coach, the culture starts from you,” Dale said. “You obviously want to get the captains or the leaders on your team to establish that. But it starts with you, and it comes down to what you value, and what you are willing to stand for and allow to happen.”
- Rob Smith
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
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Meet EARLYNINETIES’ frontman Adam McGuinn
Written by Ben Sewell Photo by Dave Yang
“EARLYNINETIES! EARLYNINETIES! EARLYNINETIES!” The chant rises through the crowded floor of the House of Blues. It might be a calm autumn night outside, but the tone inside is anything but mild. This is the moment every musician dreams of… EARLYNINETIES, a collaboration between Adam McGinn and Andy Nagashima, have recently been taking the Boston music world by storm. The duo have recently played gigs at the Middle East Club in Cambridge, and opened at the Illumina show at the House of Blues on September 21. McGinn took some time recently to reflect on the history of his project, and to share some insight into where he sees it going next.
Q: When did you start playing?
The band is evolving into a more focused sound. Conveying emotion is very important. Anger, frustration, and confusion drive a lot of the new sounds. The band is always evolving, and I think the culmination is the live show. We have had so much support and love. People coming out and getting crazy. I aim to take stage like Jim Morrison or Eddie Vedder and getting a crowd to give everything they got energy wise. I went to see Amos Lee, very talented singer/songwriter at the House of Blues. People talked through his entire heartfelt set. They don’t get that opportunity at an E90’s show.”
Q: What’s the significance of “Early Nineties”?How did you choose that as your name?
Adam McGinn: “The progression began in Lynn, MA, 13 years
AM: “EARLYNINETIES is a shot at the nostalgia of the 90’s and being
Q: Where was your first gig?
I honestly don’t remember how we landed on E90s as a name. I just know we have been trying to come up with something better ever since the beginning and it always falls back to E90s. That nostalgia makes it hard to give up.”
old [I] started rapping and making beats. Moved to guitar - Jimi Hendrix - heavy metal, acoustic singer songwriter material, then started dabbling in electronic music inspired by albums like Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm and Peter Bjorn and John’s Writers Block. Organic and anolog sounding albums that borrowed from electronic music. I made a few songs that ultimately took shape into the album Why Do I Matter in the Universe. [That’s] partly why it borrows from so many styles.”
AM: “First gig was a cafe in Lynn to 15 people. First Boston gig was
the infamous All Asia Cafe to about 8 people (laughs). You needed to get 10 people to get paid for the show, the toothless doorman explained to me, while blowing cigarette smoking in my face. I grabbed the entire stack of money from his hand and booked it. Haven’t played there since. In a year’s time from that moment we took stage at the House of Blues.”
Q: How has the band evolved since? AM: “From the beginning, the band has always been treated as a
blank canvas. You can get pigeon holed into a certain theme [or] sound of music very quickly with rock music or singer songwriter material. EARLYNINETIES lets us explore any genre, any emotion, without having to worry about it. If I want to say “fuck”, I will. If I want to talk about death or drugs or desperation, I do. Stuff like that removes from the beauty of more delicate styles of music. This way, it enhances it.
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
a child. The simplicity. The magical feel of the night time, of the summer, or nature. It’s everything pure and innocent. EARLYNINETIES is the longing for that innocence while growing older and realizing more and more of the truth. Hardships, confusion, searching, the end. It’s good versus evil.
Q: How would you describe yourself/yourselves as a musician(s)? AM: “I watched this interview between Jerry Seinfeld and Kramer in
his web series ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’. Watching Kramer’s mannerisms and personality I thought to myself: This guy could never do my dad’s job or any desk job for that matter. Kramer is not a comedian by choice, it’s just who he is. Just as grass is green. It just is. That’s how I feel about music. If I was still making music in my basement that I only let my best friend listen to, that would be good enough. I don’t really have a writing process. The songs build in my head and melodies over weeks and months. Then I stay up late one night and the next day there is a new song. Almost like blacking out. I feel like this is who I am. Whether I ever get any recognition, or money, I will still be that person.”
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Q: Where does the inspiration for your music come from? AM: “High School. Anxiety. Teenagers. Drugs. Sobriety. Coming of age. Death. Nature. Cities. Streetlight shining through trees. The good versus evil. Love. Loss.”
Q: The inevitable question: Who are your influences? AM: “Old school hip hop. Wutang. The RZA and how he samples. Dre and Snoop. 90’s R&B. Nintendo Synthesizers. Kele Okereke, Death Grips, King Krule, Grimes, BATHS, Miles Davis, Jim Morrison. The Streets.”
Q: You recently played a show at the House of Blues. Have you played other gigs of that caliber? How did it feel?
AM: “Never. We sold out the Middle East downstairs. And that was
incredible. A year ago that seemed like an impossibility. House of Blues is the pinnacle for a Boston band. I quit good paying jobs because of shows I saw at House of Blues. I thought to myself if I’m not on that stage then I’m doing something wrong. I was so envious, jealous. Taking the stage to a G/A capacity crowd was mind blowing. We owe it all to E90s fans. We played the show simply because there was a need to sell tickets, and E90s fans came out in the hundreds. When everyone ‘E90s’ chanted after our set… Damn.”
Q: What instruments/programs do you use primarily when creating and editing your music?
AM: “Super Nintendo 16 bit synths run through distortion pedals and a variety of amps. Drum samples from everything from the blues brothers to Jay-Z. Fattest synth basses I can find, I’m always searching, Old Yamaha keyboards. Pro Tools. I use two things people despise. Abusive amounts of auto-tune and fruity loops. The more people dislike it the more I use it. Everyone that fucks with 90s sees past that to the words, the emotions. It’s how we’ve done E90s from the beginning. It’s rootsy. In a way, we have refused to evolve in that aspect. But I think in the meantime, we’re creating music a little different than anything else.”
Q: Listening to your new album, there is a lot of variation in the style of music. How would you describe your music to those who’ve never listened before?
AM: “Our new album is actually The Exceller. Why Do I Matter in the Universe predates all the new material by 5 years. I’m excited to drop the newest album. It’s easily the most evolved and tight. Production and lyrically. Gonna aim for it to drop sometime before year end. If I described the music? Left-Field R&B.”
Q: Who are you listening to right now? AM: “Death Grips, King Krule, Gary Clark Jr., his 110 album, A$AP Rocky, Grimes, Miles Davis, The Streets, [and] The Doors, always.”
Q: What’s the craziest song you’ve ever written? Which song are you most proud of?
AM: “Craziest? (laughs) Not sure. Maybe Zombie Madonna. Probably
Sam Hustler. It’s a song I wrote with the intention of a British co-worker re-recording and becoming the next UK rap star. I instead recorded it myself as a joke and it’s probably our most popular live track. (laughs) It’s really a satire along the lines of Zombie Madonna and Miami off The Exceller.
The song I am most proud of… Wolfgang is a new song, and I’m proud of it. Lyrically, it means something to me. Putting in a lot of work to relationships that only hurt you. I’m proud of The Exceller as one piece of work. I was having intense panic attacks at night, meditating on my own death. That album is about those fears. So as a whole, I am most proud of that.”
Q: You played a show at the Bowery on November 1st. What else is on the horizon?
AM: “Yes. With Paper Diamond. He’s a Diplo prodigy killer producer. New York City is on the horizon. To be announced…”
Q: Are there any messages you’d like to convey to your fans at Northeastern?
AM: “THANK YOU.”
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
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au pair {oh pair} 1.
A young foreign visitor, employed to take care of children, do housework, etc. in exchange for room and board
2. Someone who enjoys cleaning baby
3. That foreign chick Chuck Bass lost his virginity to on Gossip Girl
4. How I spent the last year of my life
poop abroad for very little money
Written by Victoria Sigle Photos by Allison Minami, Amelia Rossi, Erinn Scammon
fall 2012 | Woof Magazine
After graduating from high school, I took a year off and lived as an au pair in Paris. I suppose there are a few reasons why I did it, but I would say that 90 percent of the reason can be aptly expressed through the age-old expression, “for shits and giggles.” Or, in the wise words of South Park’s Eric Cartman, “I do what I want.” Obviously, there was a little bit more to it than that, but it was a fairly impulsive decision. At one point senior year, I was at a party and started talking to a girl who had graduated the year before me. She had lived in France for the summer after her senior year, and as she was telling me about it, all I could think was, “I could do that.” And so it came to be. After the party, I thought about it more closely and decided that it was in fact both plausible and beneficial to go—I would learn French, and I could take some time off before diving immediately back into school—but it was really all decided in that single, impulsive moment. A few days later, ready for action, I excitedly told my mom about my new plan and her loving response was, of course, “Absolutely no way in hell.” I started looking into families anyway because, as I said, I do what I want. Once I had finished my college applications, I spent most of my time working on figuring out the logistics and on figuring out how to convince my mother. Eventually, after months and months of highly intensive planning, I had a family in Paris and the support of Mama Bear. I deferred my acceptance to Northeastern and I was off. On Sept. 7, 2011, I arrived, visibly trembling, in Paris, and was picked up by my host mom. I didn’t encounter my first big problem until, I don’t know, about five minutes in. I had taken French in high school, but it turns out that means absolutely diddly squat in the real world. My new host mom started talking to me, and though I assume she must have been attempting to welcome me, for all I knew she could have been listing her favorite animals in alphabetical order, or explaining the secrets of snake charming. I realized in that moment that I genuinely had zero idea what was going on. I had moved to a country where I didn’t know anyone, or, apparently, even the language. It was going to be a rough year. The first three months were, if not awful, pretty close. Living as a guest for that long, not knowing what is going on a majority of the time, and having no way to meet people between the ages of 10 and 40 can wear a person down. It turns out that all my planning had not actually prepared me very well—or
at all, really. I was all ready to call it quits, to go home for Christmas and not come back, when, out of nowhere, I made a friend. I was shopping at a market, buying myself some florescent underwear with the inspirational saying, “propriété privée” (private property), written across the butt—a necessity for anyone with any self-respect—when a girl turned to her friend and said, in English, “Damn, it’s buy one, get one half off and I only want one!” It was a sign. It was my chance. It was my one big break. It was now or never. “I’ll go in with you,” I blurted out. And it was settled: friends for life. The next eight months went astronomically better. Once I had figured out how to make friends, I did it all the time. A few weeks after that moment, everything just kind of clicked in my head and I started to be able to actually speak French. The kids finally started to respect me and even to like me, so my job became immensely easier and even fun. The year I had dreamed about was becoming a reality. Thank god I have such great taste in lingerie and was at that market to take the first step. I spent the rest of the year being harassed by dressed-to-kill Parisians for still wearing my Birkenstocks and a little bit too much tie-dye. I was lectured by a 4-year-old pretty much every day for doing things like saying “ouais” instead of “oui” and for giving a spoon a masculine article. (In fairness, sometimes these lectures were deserved. At one point I told the kids I was making a boobie pie instead of a pumpkin pie and then didn’t understand why they were all giggling at me.) I went jogging in Paris, and learned the invaluable skill of differentiating the catcalls of the creepy, foreign men trying to hit on me, and those of the creepy, foreign men who just wanted to sell me things. I mastered the art of getting free drinks in clubs (just remember—it’s always somebody’s birthday). I made friends with people from all over the world. I got to see some of the most beautiful and famous works of art the world has, for free. I spent more money than I made on clothing and plane tickets, but I got to travel Europe and gained a plethora of life skills. I discovered who I am, and became the girl I am today. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to go back to France. There are so many places in the world that I want to see first, but I know that no matter what happens next in my life, Paris will always be a home to me.
Focus // 19
Stylitics: Your Style. Smarter.
MEET
Maggie Bullock,
Editor of Elle Magazine
written By Tricia Rieger // Photos by Alisha Keshavjee
Tricia Rieger, a Woof Staff Member, is a Campus Ambassador for Stylitics, an up and coming social media site that allows you to build a virtual closet and discuss trends and fashion. Each month, Tricia has the chance to speak with and interview a celebrity that has great personal style and is a model for Stylitics users. This month, Tricia chatted with Maggie Bullock, editor of Elle Magazine. She talked about her childhood, her line of work, and tips for both interviewing and being interviewed. Maggie Bullock grew up split between New York and North Carolina. After realizing that her undergrad art school didn’t give her the guidelines she needed, she headed to London to pursue a degree in fashion journalism. She loved the freedom of expression art offered, but realized she needed structure. She found the perfect balance in fashion journalism. It took her a few internships and bad jobs to realize what she loved, and what she excelled at. Bullock worked for Vogue, Elle Magazine UK, Harpers & Queen, Wallpaper and the Times of London, and holds her current position as Editor of Elle Magazine in New York City. Bullock, drawing on her many experiences, said that whether you’re in school for fashion, business, or the business of fashion, “if you’re always out in the world gathering ideas for your work, it makes you a curious person, which builds an interesting world around you.” Bullock also has strong views about the evident decline in print journalism popularity, and the switch to electronic views. She quoted one of her interns as saying,
But even after having Megan Fox ducked down in the passenger seat of her rental car, she still gets sweaty palms and butterflies when approaching a celebrity interview. But her best piece of advice: “Go Deep.” Be informed and know everything about your interviewee, from personal to professional life. That way, anything they say, as far out as it may be, won’t surprise you, and you’ll be able to just go with it. The same goes for when you go in to be interviewed. “You have to be on it, informed, and on top of your game the whole time you’re there,” she said. When going into your interview, know about your employer, be professional, and always treat an internship or co-op as your dream job. Your reputation amongst employers is key. Keep these tips from Bullock in mind on your co-op interviews, and it may just bring you professional success like hers. Check out #SASS12 on twitter to join the Stylitics Ambassador Calls every month, and “like” Stylitics at Northeastern University on Facebook to get updates on when and who she’ll be interviewing next!
“Why would you want to intern at a magazine when you can intern at a website?”
Bullock, still being a huge fan of print, said the industry standard has not changed, although it is impossible to ignore the major shift of the industry from print to electronic. The decline of print isn’t the only change in the industry Bullock mentioned, however; retail and editorial are slowly merging together, with many magazine companies creating products and vice versa. Bullock acknowledged all of this change, yet in her opinion, nothing in the interview process has drastically changed. She still must go into an interview with enthusiasm, whether it be with Marc Jacobs, Justin Timberlake, Matt Damon or Megan Fox, in order to create the best story she can. In a candid moment, Bullock told us about her mission as “the getaway car” for Megan Fox when the paparazzi found out about their interview over mani-pedis, and revealed her girl crush: Cate Blanchett. fall 2012 | Woof Magazine