juice One student spills all on the juice fast trend
inortheastern Will Northeastern embrace the online trend?
GUY'S GUIDE TO STYLE Fashion-forward places for guys to shop
It's not coffee, it's a lifestyle: How one Greek coffee drink changes lives
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Ducharme
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/WEB EDITOR: Hannah DeYoung PRESIDENT
Sean McGahan
MARKETING DIRECTOR Marcellina Teixeira
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amelia Rossi
EDITORS
Fernanda Aspe, Hannah Holbrook, Brianna Hollis, Kristen McCleary, Kelsey Zimmerer
WRITERS
Emily Huizenga, Jordan Mandell, Taylor Maxfield, Tricia Reiger, Sofia Rojo del Busto, Emma Shuck, Bianca Gracie, Shelby Sih, and Monica Vallejo
DESIGNERS
Priscilla Dunn, Cara McGrath, Kathleen Mullins, Erinn Scammon, Molly Aitken Sheridan
PHOTOGRAPHERS
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Alisha Keshavjee, Vivian Ma, Lena Smart
MARKETING
Tricia Rieger, Katie Markey, Liz Ehinger
Interested in joining our staff? EMAIL US
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VISIT OUR SITE
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CONTENTS front
bon appetit
centerfold
focus
campus crawl
04 Guy’s Guide to Style 06 Spicing Up Winter Workouts 07 Unique Classes
08 Late Night Eateries 10 Boston’s Best Easter Brunch
11 Liquid Courage: Behind the Blueprint Juice Cleanse
14 Footnotes 15 #fitfam 16 It’s Not Just Coffee
17 Taking it to the N-Zone 18 iNortheastern 19 Q&A with Professor Gregory Goodale
4 // Front
Guy’s Guide to Style Written by Bianca Gracie / Photos by Alisha Keshavjee
Even with menswear designers gaining more recognition in the fashion world, guys still have a hard time finding shopping choices in such a female-centric industry. Fortunately, Boston has a range of stores that can work for any guy’s style and budget.
RESCUE Thrift shopping has become more popular in recent years, and this consignment store has become a mainstay for people who like to hunt for original clothes. Originally founded in Allston five years ago, Rescue came to Newbury Street in 2011. Entering the store is like stepping into a time machine transporting you into the late-‘80s and early-‘90s, with vintage posters of artists like Blondie plastered on the walls and ‘80s pop playing in the background. With endless racks of corduroy pants, plaid thermals and color-blocked windbreakers, Rescue is perfect for the guy who longs for the heydays of Atari, boom boxes and Chicago Bulls-era Michael Jordan. This store provides one-of-a-kind vintage pieces at affordable prices. 297 Newbury St., 857-350-4410, rescuebuyselltrade.com URBAN OUTFITTERS Though it’s certainly no secret gem, Urban Outfitters is the go-to place for hipster-y clothing at reasonable prices. The décor of wood paneling and metal staircases gives the store a laid-back feel, allowing you to shop at your own pace while jamming to the latest indie rock tunes. The store has a wide selection for men, including chunky cardigans, pieces in trendy camouflage print, 5-panel Aztec-print hats, jeans of all styles and tongue-in-cheek T-shirts. Urban Outfitters also carries well-known clothing labels like BDG, Levi’s, Obey, Salt Valley, Toms and Converse. One benefit of the store is its frequent sales and the clearance racks that are always stocked with unique items.
From the front, the store looks like an actual bodega with household products in the window. Step inside and it looks like a broken-down shop, but once the soda machine entrance opens, you’re transferred into an open space filled with designer street-wear. 6 Clearway St., bdgastore.com CONCEPTS Boston may have a broad range of shopping, but its neighbor Cambridge is also making strides when it comes to menswear. Concepts is one of the main standouts in Harvard Square, stocking mostly sneakers but also clothing and cool accessories like vintage sunglasses and canvas backpacks. Concepts is geared toward a guy who cares about quality labels and putting together a great outfit. Concepts carries high-end designers like A.P.C., Play by Comme des Garçons, Co and Stussy. If you are a working student who doesn’t mind saving up for a classic pair of Vans or a leather varsity jacket, Concepts is the place for you. 37 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-868-2001, cncpts.com UNIFORM For guys who like to sport a more classic look, Uniform has all the essential pieces. Located in the South End, the store puts a modern twist on an old-school look. The South End’s historical setting is reflected in both the store’s interior and clothing, with its traditional oak furniture and prep-inspired brands. What sets the store apart is its take on a mix between American and British style.
Multiple locations, urbanoutfitters.com BODEGA The urban street look of bomber jackets, leather pants, gold chains and high-top sneakers re-emerged in full-force last year, and it’s still going strong. Bodega was the first store in Boston to embrace that culture, and it has been internationally recognized for its innovative store concept and the variety of labels it carries.
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Uniform carries brands like Ben Sherman, RVCA, Brixton, New Balance, Diesel and Swiss Army, with styles ranging from casual day looks to dressier night pieces. The most prevalent items are plaid button-down shirts, colorful ties, pageboy hats, tweed blazers, graphic dress socks and polo shirts, and the store is constantly stocking up on new items. 511 Tremont St., 617-247-2360, uniformboston.com
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6 // Front
Spicing Up Winter Workouts Ways to rejuvenate your workout routine in the cold winter months Written by Kelsey Zimmerer / Photos by Alisha Keshavjee
With Boston’s harsh weather limiting you mainly to indoor activities, it can be hard to stay fit in the winter and early spring. But for those who believe that sweater season shouldn’t be used as an excuse to let yourself go, continuing to exercise is a must. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to spice up winter workouts even when the treadmill gets old and the elliptical isn’t putting that pep in your step.
Beyond Marino’s machines:
Bikram Yoga:
The November Project:
For only $50 a semester, Northeastern offers over 30 types of fitness classes, including cycling, Pilates, Zumba, yoga, full-body boot camp and many more. Classes are led by other students and are a great way to commit to a workout since you have to register ahead of time. With so many options and class times, you can create a workout schedule that will surely keep you entertained throughout the winter.
In addition to the benefits of yoga such as balance, coordination, toning and destressing, the heat of Bikram Yoga is said to flush toxins out of the body and facilitate more calorie burning. Try out a class at Bikram Yoga Back Bay for $16 to see if this type of exercise is for you. Classes are 90 minutes long and open to all skill levels. Just make sure to keep a water bottle on hand before, during and after this form of yoga since the heat can increase the risk of dehydration. 561 Boylston St., 617-585-6565, bikramyogaboston.com
Totally free and totally worth it, the November Project began when two former Northeastern rowers found it increasingly difficult to work out when the weather got colder and gym prices grew higher. What started as two teammates’ morning workout is now a citywide event that draws hundreds of Bostonians to motivate each other and get in shape. Monday’s workout is a wildcard, Wednesday is for stadium runs and Friday is hills on Summit Avenue in Brookline. The catch? You have to get there by 6:30 a.m. November-project.com
Additionally, personal training at Marino is ideal for anyone who is new to the gym scene, is looking for specific results or needs that extra push. Having someone who knows fitness leading your gym time will help you focus your workouts and meet your goals faster. The personal training program also offers options like cost-effective group training, a spring training program and a weight loss program.
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Gypsy Rose pole dancing lessons: Nothing says the antithesis of Marino more than a fun, sexy and intense cardio workout. No longer just for club entertainment, pole dancing has entered the mainstream as a great way to work out, gain confidence and have a good time. Why count calories on a standard machine at the gym when you can learn a new skill and tone your muscles all while swinging to Beyonce? Prices vary, 364 Boylston St., 617-421-0000, gypsyrosedancing.com
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Unique Classes Written by Jordan Mandell
Let’s face it: No matter how much you love your major, classes that revolve around the same themes and subjects can become redundant after a while. But what you may not know is that Notheastern offers many classes with a bit more pizzazz than biology lectures and history seminars. If your schedule is begging for some variety come fall, check out these unique classes.
Screen Icons and Popular Culture CINE 1250, 4 credits Fulfills NU Core: Arts Level 1 Pop culture and celebrities seem to permeate nearly every aspect of our lives. Why is that, and what role do they really play in society? Through analyzing various films and texts, this course seeks to answer those questions while exploring how celebrities influence our beliefs and values.
History of Violence HIST 1213, 4 credits Beginning in the late Middle Ages, History of Violence takes you through the evolution of global violence, broaching topics like the Inquisition, pornography, the pop culture of violence, torture and more.
Beginning Scuba BIOL 1105, 1 credit
Sociology of Hip-Hop: Politics, Identity, and Youth Culture in the Late Twentieth Century SOCL 1298, 4 credits This class explores hip-hop influences beyond music, such as fashion, visual art and language. It investigates hip-hop as a social and political force and how it has transformed into the billion-dollar industry it is today.
The Evolution of Fashion and Costume THTR 1230, 4 credits Fulfills NU Core: Arts Level 1 Beginning with the fashion of Ancient Greece, this course follows the progression of fashion and its significance today. The Evolution of Fashion and Costume examines how style for both men and women has changed through historical, economic and cultural lenses.
For those with an adventurous streak, Northeastern offers Beginning Scuba, a course that teaches the basics of skin diving and scuba diving. A $50 scuba fee is required for this course.
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8 // 8 Bon « Appetit
Late Night Eateries in Boston Written by Taylor Maxfield / Photos by Vivian Ma & Lena Smart
As nice as Boston is, frankly, she might as well be a middleaged woman. In the summer Boston seems unbearable thanks to humid 90-degree days; late-night hot flashes. In the winter the city can be bitterly cold and—dare I say it—the surroundings look barren. But what personally annoys me most about Boston are the hours under which she operates. On your average weekday, the city will begin to close down by 8 p.m., and by 10 or 11 p.m. the city might as well be asleep. The only thing I can think of is a mother who is in the house by 8 p.m. and invariably in bed by 10 p.m., leaving her kids to sneak to the kitchen in search of food. Continuing with this drawn-out metaphor, unless we college students know where to find late night food, it might as well
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perpetually be the day before your mother goes to the grocery store: There is no food to be had. Thankfully, there are a few places in Boston that have not fallen prey to the middle-aged syndrome that plagues the majority of the city. Whether you are out partying on the weekends and have the munchies at 2 a.m. or are like me and have neighbors who keep you up until 4 a.m. every morning, there are places you can sneak off to in the wee hours of the night to stuff your face. So even though Boston may sometimes be reminiscent of the typical suburban mother who pops an Ambien at 8 p.m. and proceeds to pass out on the chaise with her favorite throw pillows, there are some options for us stay-up-all-nighters. It is in fact possible to find food in Boston late at night when the munchies strike.
Bon Appetit » 9 // 9
South Street Diner:
The Hen House Chicken and Waffles:
Making our way a little further from campus, we have the South Street Diner, located at 178 Kneeland St. This diner is open all night and by reservation for parties of three or more from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. The diner offers breakfast and dinner all day long, so it doesn’t matter if you are in the mood for an egg white, feta, spinach and sausage omelet or just want a turkey club.
Hen House, as one could imagine, specializes in all things chicken. The Hen House, at 1033 Massachusetts Ave., serves warm Southern comfort and really knows how to do chicken and waffles, with three different kinds of waffles, butter, syrup and chicken, and 13 different sauces. Imagine all the different possibilities, but please, don’t get crazy with it.
Little Steve’s Pizzeria:
El Triunfo:
Open until 3 a.m. every day, this pizzeria does more than just your basic cheese pizza and calzones. Steve’s offers a wide variety of foods that can satisfy any late night cravings. They have everything from pasta to burgers and fries to sandwiches and even fruit smoothies. Located at 1114 Boylston St., Steve’s is a short walk from campus, situated not far from the Hynes Convention Center T stop.
Located at 147 East Berkeley St., this Mexican restaurant is open until 2:45 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 4:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, for those of us who would like to watch the sun start to rise as we slowly make our way back to our beds. With reasonable prices (the most expensive thing on the menu is $13 and the average entrée is about $9.50), El Triunfo will make a great substitute for Boloco and Qdoba, which close far too early.
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10 //10 Bon « Appetit
BOSTON’S BEST EASTER BRUNCH SPOTS Written by Taylor Maxfield Photos by Lena Smart
B
runch is a magical time between breakfast and lunch when children cry for no apparent reason, we eat far more than we should and your grandmother downs her second mimosa before the
first course even arrives. And we all know there’s no better time to jump on the brunch bandwagon
than Easter Sunday, so whether you plan on going with your family, a significant other or a group of friends, there are plenty of options to choose from.
THE POUR HOUSE
LANGHAM HOTEL
With most menu items falling between $4 and $8, brunch here will be cheap and put you close to shopping destinations such as the Prudential Center and Newbury Street for some post-meal calorie burning.
The Langham Hotel’s Café Fleuri has some of the best chocolate confections in Boston. It is the perfect location for those who would rather go out Saturday morning and spend Easter Sunday at home. Offering a chocolate buffet the Saturday before Easter and a brunch the day of, the Langham is a sweet treat at under $40 a person.
907 Boylston St., 617-236-1767, pourhouseboston.com
BROWNSTONE
250 Franklin St., 617-451-1900, boston.langhamhotels.com
Brownstone’s $5 breakfast special gives you two eggs, home fries, toast and your choice of meat. For those who’d like more than the typical breakfast food, there are choices such as duck and sweet potatoes hash and asparagus and brie omelets.
FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSE AND WINE BAR
111 Dartmouth St., 617-867-4142, brownstoneboston.com
AQUITAINE Aquitaine, located in the South End, serves its own versions of traditional French fare and offers most of its main courses at prices hovering around $10. The croque maigret filled with duck confit and gruyère and stoneground mustard on the side is fantastic beyond compare. 569 Tremont St., 617-424-8577, aquitaineboston.com
For those of us looking for a high quality but less expensive option, Fleming’s Steak House and Wine Bar offers a three-course prix fixé meal for $34.95 with a variety of comfort foods to choose from. 217 Stuart St., 617-292-0808, flemingssteakhouse.com
UPSTAIRS ON THE SQUARE This two-level eatery located in Cambridge’s Harvard Square will provide you with a gourmet culinary experience, and the gorgeously decorated UpStairs has a welcoming atmosphere perfect for Easter brunch. But at $50 a person, you may want to make this a family destination rather than venturing there on your own. 91 Winthrow St., Cambridge, 617-864-1933, upstairsonthesquare.com
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Centerfold // 11
liquid
COURAGE WOOF | winter 2013
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Centerfold // 13
liquid COURAGE: BEHIND THE BLUEPRINT JUICE CLEANSE Written by Emma Shuck
I’ve always been somewhat of a foodie. I love going out to nice restaurants, and I have a huge weakness for dessert—if it’s chocolate, I never turn it down. So as I came up on the holiday season last year, I decided I would try an actual form of dieting to offset the massive amounts of indulging I knew were to come. Instead of doing it to lose weight, I wanted to do something to feel a little better about myself all-around. So after doing some research about cleanses and hearing about the increasing popularity of the BluePrint Juice Cleanse—a diet in which you drink the company’s organic produce-based juices in place of meals—I decided it would be the one. Consuming juice and juice only didn’t exactly seem like a walk in the park. I knew it would take a little bit of perseverance, which is something I felt would entitle me to a few extra indulgence points after the cleanse was over. Plus, the BluePrint program promised amazing health benefits. According to the BluePrint website, “Eating whole, unadulterated food that’s packed with enzymes will allow your body to cleanse itself.” Some may argue that your liver is meant to do just that, but a cleanse like this one is meant to give your digestive system a breather. The one and only side effect, according to the oh-soclever website description, is that you might finally be able to fit into your skinniest of skinny jeans. The cleanse can be done for one, two or three days, or for as long as a week; any duration longer than that is not recommended. I decided that three days would be a good number—not too easy, but not as difficult and agonizing as a full week without eating solids. And so I made my way to the Whole Foods on Westland Avenue, eager to grab a basket and pile in some bottles of BluePrint juice. After I wandered around the supermarket aimlessly
looking for the section they would be in (and no, they aren’t stocked in the back with the rest of the drinks like one would expect), I finally laid eyes on a row of neatly arranged BluePrint bottles. After quickly scanning the options, it didn’t seem like it would be so bad. Flavors like “Cashew Vanilla Cinnamon Agave” and “Pineapple Apple Mint” made it seem like this was going to be a breeze. My mind made up, I placed three bottles of each of the five flavors in my basket and didn’t look back. I started the cleanse on a Monday, with the idea that getting it over with at the start of the week was better than putting it off until the weekend. “There’s nothing like drinking kale juice to cure a hangover,” said no one, ever, and I wasn’t about to make that mistake. By the end of the first day, I wasn’t hungry, just annoyed with the fact that all I had consumed for the day was juice. I went to bed that night thinking about how I was dreading the next two days, but told myself I wouldn’t give up. On day two, I woke up incredibly hungry. Still, by that point I had given in to my all-juice diet and couldn’t wait to open up the fridge and stuff my bag with enough juice for the day. Day two was by far the hardest day to get through, and my co-worker—who I managed to
but then again, I am a drama queen. Needless to say, I made it to the third day despite my doubts, and by that point I felt okay again. Day three was definitely the easiest. I felt a lingering boost of energy knowing that it was the last day of the cleanse, and I had finally gotten used to drinking juice all day. Later that night, I finally found a sense of satisfaction from doing the cleanse—even though my roommate made a delicious looking dinner, I was perfectly content drinking my “Cashew Vanilla Cinnamon Agave” juice. I encourage anyone looking to feel refreshed and rejuvenated to try this cleanse. Giving your digestive system a break allows your body to dispose of old toxins that naturally accumulate from pollutants in the air and chemicals in the food we digest each day. It’s not that difficult to get through, and doing it with a friend makes it much easier. Three days of drinking solely juice may seem like a challenge—and I won’t deny that it is—but in the end you’ll feel a lot better about yourself and your well-being.
The BluePrint juices range in price from $7 to $12 and can be found at Whole Foods Market. For more information about the BluePrint cleanse or to order online, visit blueprintjuice.com.
Eating whole, unadulterated food that’s packed with enzymes will allow your body to cleanse itself. convince to do the cleanse with me—agreed. Come 4 p.m. when it was time to leave work for the day, neither of us had energy and felt completely drained. All I remember is getting on the train to go home and thinking that I was about to pass out and/or die of starvation—
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14 // Focus
FOOTNOTES Written by Tricia Rieger / Photos by Alisha Keshavjee fter growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan studying theater, Vince Camuto—the highly acclaimed designer behind Nine West and his eponymous Vince Camuto line—decided the life of a struggling actor wasn’t for him. His solution was to jump into retail, where he quickly learned to love the fashion industry. “If you don’t love what you do,” Camuto said, “Get out.”
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Beyond passion, though, Camuto has real business savvy. In 2001 he founded the Camuto Group, a fashion conglomerate that owns highprofile brands like Tory Burch, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Jessica Simpson and Lucky and is now based in Greenwich, Conn. Everything from design to sourcing occurs at Camuto Group headquarters, and it services over 5,400 department stores and independent retailers. As the founder of Nine West and Vince Camuto, Camuto said excitement comes with commercial success. “Once you win, you want to win more,” he said. Camuto’s work has also paid off thanks to business decisions like licensing Jessica Simpson’s billion-dollar company. “She is the girl next door and has a great product,” Camuto said of Simpson. “People like her.” All this success, Camuto explains, comes with projecting trends and knowing good execution from bad.
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Camuto’s team follows fashion very closely, and the designer has traveled the world observing trends and visiting the sites where the brand’s products are made. The trips serve Camuto, he explained, more by providing inspiration than anything else. “If you can’t get inspired in Florence, I don’t know what to say,” he noted. Other inspiration in Camuto’s life comes from his mother, his wife and Steve Jobs. Camuto said he admires Jobs’ vision because “he knew what he wanted and got it done.” Touching upon his wife and mother, Camuto stressed that as big as you become, “you need someone to make you feel good about it.” After all his success as a designer, Camuto is an authority on style. So what does the shoe guru think the newest trends will be? For spring, he said, shoes will be “all about flats,” jeweled sandals specifically. (In regards to the fashion industry pushing sky-high stilettos, Camuto said, “Regardless of what you see advertised, she’s not buying it.”) And don’t worry, ladies: Booties aren’t going anywhere for pre-spring. Camuto says he loves seeing booties matched with jeans or black tights and dresses. But more than any one trend, Camuto just loves fashion, the industry that has gotten him where he is today. “I love the whole aspect of clothing a woman,” he said.
Focus // 15
#fitfam
#fit · #fittie · #fitblr · #fitness · #fitspo Written By Emily Huizenga 15-year-old Ashley created her first Twitter account last June. Two months later, she deleted it. Her parents didn’t make her, and she didn’t get kicked off, but there was a problem. “I wasn’t following my own rules,” Ashley said. “I felt like a hypocrite for having an account.” But she couldn’t stay away. Ashley is a “fittie,” one of the thousands of health and fitness enthusiasts who use social media to tweet, blog, journal, post photos and otherwise document their pursuit of—and in some cases, extreme devotion to—a healthy lifestyle. Fitties as a group compose the “fitfam,” an online community of health devotees that’s growing larger by the minute. “It’s for everybody who’s struggling to gain a healthier lifestyle,” Ashley, who preferred to use a fake name, said in a phone interview from Toronto.
“Everybody is really supportive and motivational.” Unlike pro-eating disorder accounts that use “thinspiration” to promote extreme and unhealthy weight loss—and have been criticized for their disturbing content—fitfam accounts disperse “fitspiration,” quotes, pictures and tips based on four central components: eating clean, working out, drinking water and getting sleep. On Ashley’s newest account, @StruggleForFit, her profile header reads, “Getting fit the healthy way.” “I think those [pro-ED accounts] are disgusting,” she said, explaining that she herself formerly struggled with an eating disorder and selfharm. “It’s a disease—not anything anybody should wish or encourage.” Like most fitfam accounts, Ashley’s profile does include her SW (starting weight) and UGW (ultimate goal weight), but Ashley said she’s more concerned with “looks rather than measurements.” Her UGW reads, “When I’m happy.” And like most, if not all, fitfam accounts, Ashley runs StruggleForFit anonymously, a precaution she first adopted to avoid being judged for tweeting fitness content on her personal
account, which she was sure her friends and family would do. “It’s a place where you can be yourself,” she said, adding that she’s made at least two close friends in the fitfam. “And it makes trying to be healthy incredibly easy because you have all these people behind you.” Since starting @StruggleForFit in November, Ashley has attracted 1,697 followers. She said she doesn’t plan on deleting her account anytime soon and thinks it’s good for her; both the community atmosphere and personal responsibility keep her accountable in her own fitness pursuits. She’s cut junk food out of her diet completely, boxes four times a week and stops herself from eating something “crappy” by asking,
“What would my followers on Twitter say?” Like Ashely, 20-year-old Ella, a sophomore business major at the University of Michigan, pumped the breaks on her fitfam account, @TheSecretFittie, soon after she made it, but later came back to the community. “I was doing good for that week, eating well and working out a lot, and then I just kind of stopped,” she said in a phone interview. “I yo-yo back and forth all the time. And I don’t want to be hypocritical when I can’t do it myself.” Ella is a nickname– the Secret Fittie’s name is, fittingly, secret, but it seems little else is. She joins other fitfam accounts in regularly tweeting about her life—job problems, relationship woes, family disputes, mood swings, even bloating—but not revealing her identity. It’s at once immensely personal, and fundamentally private. “It’s people trying to change their lives, but also trying to be anonymous,” Ella explained. “People who want to improve their life for the better and keep it a secret. I feel like I was— no, I know I was judged, and I didn’t feel proud of the way I was. So I wanted to work on it, but keep it to myself.”
interview, Ella said she planned to reveal a before and after shot, a common feature in the fitfam, to her followers “hopefully” by Feb. 11. Fitfam users also advertise and divulge “picslips,” pictures of the faces behind anonymous accounts. Traditionally, picslips are taken down almost as quickly as they’re put up, so as to maintain the mystery. “I used to picslip a lot when I was a baby anon, maybe five times a week,” Ella laughed. “I just liked doing it randomly whenever I felt good. Now that I’m bigger I kind of don’t want to put myself out there too much.” Weight loss aside, like Ashley, Ella said as long as she loses inches and gains muscle, she is “totally fine” with whatever the scale shall show. But unlike Ashley, Ella admitted she allows a few pro-ED accounts to freckle her newsfeed. “In a way, I like them. They give me a different perspective. They make me realize I’m lucky not to think that way,” she said. “But even more so, they keep me in check; help me make sure I don’t go too far with my goals and my methods.” Ella said she’s conscious of the impression she makes on her followers—all 6,994 of them. “At first I just thought if I had my own account, if I motivated other people, then it would motivate me. Which is definitely has,” she explained. “But now, knowing that I can help people and that a lot of fitties consider me their motivation to create an account… I feel blessed.” Ella even has a couple of fitfam phone numbers, which she occasionally texts to offer encouragement. As she told it, “Getting other people’s advice and seeing what they’re going through helps a lot too.” Ashley agreed.
“It’s cool to know that everybody is on their own journey, as well as helping me with mine.”
Since founding @TheSecretFittie in October, Ella has lost 30 pounds. At the time of her
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16 // Focus
It’s Not Just Coffee, It’s a Lifestyle
Written by Sofia Rojo del Busto
The moment the cloud-like foam touched my lips was the moment I fell in love. It was not simply the silky milk or sweet sugar, but the emotional attachment I formed. My love for the Greek frappé surpassed any remote feelings of love I had had before that moment. That small fragment of time seemed to drag out each second following. This marked the beginning of my enlightenment. What makes a frappé so irresistible is that it goes beyond the coffee, beyond the signature layer of foam that gives it such an aesthetic appeal. I have come to crave its flavor, crave its fresh and bold presence taking hold of every nerve in my body, crave the sensation of drinking it. This caffeinated dream—made, surprisingly, from instant coffee—is not the average beverage. Rumor has it that in 1957, a Greek man working for Nestlé at the Thessaloniki International Fair was thirsty for a cold beverage, but had no hot water to make coffee to then put on ice. So he took instant coffee and a shaker used to shake chocolate milk, shook the instant coffee and water together and poured it on ice, giving birth to the first frappé. This past semester, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Greece through the NUin program, where I was introduced to this magical drink. The memory of my first frappé continues to be a highlight of my experience. I can still remember the first time I stood behind the wooden counter covered with chocolates, their purple and red wrappers strategically placed right by the register to make people think twice about giving in to their sweet tooth. I waited as I watched the barista, who I came to know as Vaggelis, masterfully twirl a plastic cup under the froth machine, magically bringing the instant coffee to life. He began by pouring the water in, lifting the foam from the depths of the cup, and finished by adding a few ice cubes and a pink straw. When he was finished, sitting in front of me was a drink like none I had ever seen before. I had no idea what to expect. But the moment the coffee touched my mouth, I knew the frappé was nothing to be scared of. When I finally had the nerve to taste the three-inch layer of foam on top, I had to put the cup down I was so overwhelmed. I had been introduced to the Greek frappé and I would never be the same. After that, I ordered the same thing each day, twice a day. I had become addicted to my foam-filled sanity. WOOF | winter 2013
As I sat at one of the tables in the school café one day, I watched the Greek students outside laughing, smiling or simply sitting and lounging in the sun. Some were standing, others sitting, but each had a frappé in hand. At first glance, this was the typical social scene for lunchtime: students drinking coffee, lounging and eating together. But after attending two and three classes, I continued to see the same students outside as if time had not passed. They were still drinking their coffees, lounging and eating. Day after day I would see the Greek students outside, drinking their frappés. This observation continued to intrigue me. How long does it take to drink a frappé? Why take so long to drink coffee? The longer I thought about these questions, the more the drink’s true appeal became clear to me. The frappé is not simply a coffee. With the frappé comes enhanced appreciation of life, because it’s necessary to take time out of your day to simply relax and enjoy life with the people you love. Despite the fact that the Greek economy is in a major crisis, the Greeks don’t hesitate to sit down in a café with their closest friends to have a frappé. The most admirable attribute of the Greeks, I think, is that they know how to live. The frappé is not only the drink of choice in Greece; it also represents the idea that to thoroughly enjoy something, one must absorb it with every nerve of one’s body and bask in it, appreciate it. With everything they do, the Greeks always make sure they thoroughly enjoy themselves. Doing so does not necessarily mean constantly having fun, but rather being happy with life. With my memories of the frappé come memories of all the great relationships I built while in Greece. When I think about drinking frappés, I do not think I can recall a time when I drank one alone. Although I do crave the frappé, I know that if I had one every day in my room, by myself, it would lose its significance. The purpose of a frappé is to bring people together, to enjoy each other’s company and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Despite my feelings of loss, there are some things to gain as well. Even though I won’t be able to drink the frappé every day anymore, the fact that I’m thinking about it means it has left its mark on me. The Greek frappé changed my life, and I will never forget that.
Campus Crawl » 17// 17
TAKING IT TO THE N-ZONE Written by Hannah Holbrook
Northeastern fans watched anxiously Feb. 2 as hopes of the men’s basketball team maintaining its first place CAA ranking were all but lost. But in an outstanding final five minutes, the team managed to break away from Drexel University with solid offense, securing a ninth win of the CAA season. Since that game against Drexel, Northeastern is ranked first in the CAA with the highest winning percentage in the league, and the powerhouse basketball team has become a phenomenon on campus. What’s the reason for this improvement over previous lackluster seasons? That lies in the team dynamic, head coach Bill Coen said. The team’s two seniors, Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith, are heavily outnumbered by its eight freshmen and sophomores. But the coaching staff sees this lopsided age breakdown as an advantage. Older, more veteran groups tend to be set in their ways and habits, Coen explained, but a young team can be molded. “The good part of having new and fresh faces is having the opportunity to create a new team culture,” Coen said.
“The powerhouse basketball team has become a phenomenon on campus.”
And one of the most important aspects of Northeastern’s culture is teamwork. “We have a very unselfish team,” said Smith, a starting guard on the team.
Attend just one game and you will see that value in the team’s game strategy. While other teams ball-hog or try to outshine one another, the Northeastern men employ a more generous approach. Every player is committed to the betterment of the team, even if that means passing the ball. This mentality is reflected in the team’s statistics. At press time, the average CAA team had made a total of 338 assists, while the Northeastern team led with a far-higher 372.. So how did this close-knit group of men come to be that way? The coaching staff and players say their summer basketball tour in Canada was the starting point. “The young guys really gained a lot of valuable experience that is now showing in crucial moments of games,” Smith said.
The dynamic between Smith and Lee is another driving factor in the team’s success, according to the coaching staff. The two seniors set an example of camaraderie for the other players to follow. In Northeastern’s game against Drexel University, for example, Lee joined a select group of 32 Northeastern players to score 1,000 career points. In a press conference after that game, Lee commented that, “It’s tremendous to join my best friend and co-captain,” referring to Smith, who reached the 1,000 point landmark earlier this season. And news of all this success is spreading across campus fast. During NCAA selection, a committee reviews each team’s season and picks the most deserving teams to compete in March Madness. For most Northeastern students, this is the first time in recent memory that the basketball team has had a good shot at an NCAA bid. This season is the best, record-wise, since 2009-2010. Posters, emails, T-shirts and viral videos are everywhere as more students are joining the basketball fan base, and games are becoming increasingly packed as the season goes on. “I don’t know that there’s another college basketball court in America that has the students lined up like we do,” Coen said. The program has even created its own version of Northeastern’s infamous hockey Dog House, dubbed the N-Zone. In this student-only section, fans cheer on their team in the closest sections to the court. And, Coen said, the N-Zone is an integral part of his team’s game. “I think our student body makes a huge difference,” he said, adding that the N-Zone contributes to the game by rattling opponents and energizing his players. So what should Northeastern expect for the rest of the season? Coach Coen said he doesn’t focus specifically on wins or championships. Instead, he remains true to his emphasis on team dynamic. “If we can get closer and have deeper relationships on the team, winning championships is a byproduct of that,” Coen said. Still, the team and its fans cannot resist eyeing an NCAA bid in early March. And as first in the league, Northeastern has a better shot than ever.
WOOF | winter 2013
18 // Campus Crawl
iNortheastern Written by Shelby Sih
Imagine being able to take a course online, for free, from one of the leading colleges in the world. It seems too good to be true, but it’s not. In the past few years, there has been a major movement toward Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. “Within the last 6 months to a year, many colleges have jumped at these MOOCs,” confirmed Sean Gallagher, Northeastern’s senior strategist and marketing development director. MOOCs are free courses on a variety of topics taught by professors from some of the top universities in the world, including Harvard, Princeton and MIT. All that’s needed to enroll is an Internet connection, which means any given MOOC could reach thousands of students. While they do not offer accreditation—meaning they cannot be used as academic or transfer credit—the courses do provide a certification of completion. So with the rising popularity of MOOCs and bringing education online, where does Northeastern stand, and what costs, if any, do online courses have on learning? Northeastern currently offers 64 online programs and degrees aimed at working professionals who want to continue their education. The school has been expanding its online programs to offer more undergraduate classes online, especially to make it easier for co-op and study abroad students to take classes. Gallagher said online education is one of the key directions the university has been studying and considering implementing. “We are researching the best practices, especially related to experiential learning,” he said. Part of this research is studying the MOOCs, Gallagher explained. While many colleges have jumped on the MOOCs bandwagon, Northeastern has held back and is waiting to see how this new phenomena plays out, Gallagher noted, because Northeastern already has an established
WOOF | winter 2013
online infrastructure, whereas many of these other colleges do not. Gallagher also said he is skeptical of the quality of education that MOOCs provide. They are designed specifically for a large, open audience where one professor is trying to reach thousands of students. Gallagher calls them an “interactive textbook, video lecture experience.” On the other hand, Gallagher said that a credited online course is systematically designed by professors to mirror that of a classroom experience as much as possible. Professors utilize many of the same resources and curriculum they use in the classroom setting. Many people—both students and professors—find the online system to be beneficial. Online professor and Northeastern alum Don Langenhorst said he still requires his students to be online at certain times when he is. “There can still be real-time interaction through the use of Facetime, collaborative learning spaces or many other different tools.” Langenhorst grades all of his students’ discussions and acknowledges that a key advantage is the “reflective nature of typing in responses.” “It takes more time and effort and there’s an interactive component that doesn’t always happen face-to-face,” he said. Troy Harris, a freshmen political science major and business minor, had no choice but to go online when a required business course filled up. “I was nervous at first, but now it’s not too bad,” Harris said. Harris’ course is similar to those that Lagenhorst teaches. There is a weekly discussion board post in which students must comment on each other’s work and get feedback from the professor. In addition, there is an optional weekly Skype session for students and teaching assistants.
While Harris appreciates having a more flexible schedule, she commented that online courses may not be for everyone. “It depends on the person,” she said. “You have to be really organized. There’s no attendance and nothing is forced.” Langenhorst agreed. “Online versus face-to-face, students have to take more responsibility,” he noted. “Everything is documented so instructors can hold people accountable.” Both Langenhorst and Harris recognize that, despite the many benefits of online courses, there needs to be a balance. In many cases, face-to-face is still preferable. To accommodate that balance, Northeastern is rapidly moving toward a hybrid model of learning: part online and part in class. According to Gallagher, this is one of the best modes of learning for students. Lectures can be watched online, leaving classroom time to discussions and hands-on learning. “We optimize which learning is best delivered face-to-face and what’s best for online,” Gallagher said. “It’s the best of both worlds.” While Northeastern is not making any moves to join the MOOC movement yet, it has not discounted any of its options and will continue to research and implement the best programs possible for the students, Gallagher said. Students like Harris believe there need not be any rush to dive into MOOCs. “I still prefer classes in person,” Harris said. “Getting to talk to people helps me learn and interacting with the professor is good, but [online courses] are easier than I thought so I’d consider taking another.” Luckily for Harris and all the other students, working professionals or citizens who just want to learn, there is now an array of options for any type of educational pursuit.
Q&A Professor Goodale, from the communication studies department, is a graduate of George Mason University (B.A. and M.A.), the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D.) and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). Professor Goodale teaches Argumentation and Debate, Persuasion and Rhetoric, Advocacy Workshop and Public Speaking, among other courses. MV: In the past you’ve worked in Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist. What kind of issues did you deal with? GG: My first job in Washington was working with a congresswoman, where I worked on some legislative issues, constitutional stuff and constituent stuff. It was a really fun job. It didn’t pay much, so I shifted over and became a lobbyist for a variety of different groups, but mostly for people with disabilities. I worked all kinds of services to help people with disabilities to succeed. A great part about working with people with disabilities was getting to do all these different things. I wasn’t confined in a small box and dealing with the same issue every day. MV: When you go back to Washington, D.C. this year, are you going to be working with similar issues?
Campus Crawl // 19
with Professor GrEgory Goodale written by Monica Vallejo
GG: I trust my students. I believe that if I give them extraordinary things to do, they will want to do them, and they will work hard and make them happen. The other thing that I think helps is that I worked in the real world for a while, and I know what the expectations are; I know how hard the jobs are, and so I can take that experience into the classroom and say, “Hey, you might want this to be easy, but it ain’t, and it’s gonna get harder in the real world. I’m training you so you have the skills you need when you get out of here to be successful.” I think that makes a difference too, the students can see that, and sense that, “Yeah, I’m gonna get something that’s gonna help me in my career.” MV: You teach a number of service-learning classes at NU. In your experience, how do service-learning classes compare to regular classes? GG: They are way harder and more meaningful; it’s real world experience. You get to apply what you learn into the real world in a way that makes a difference. In one of my classes, for example, a student is writing a report on human trafficking for me every week, which goes to Demand Abolition, an organization that advocates on behalf of human trafficking victims. It’s not like you’re writing something that is going to be forgotten in a couple of months when the semester is over. What you learn isn’t something that you can ignore once you’re done with the class. I love teaching service-learning courses because there is a real world application and students want that.
Every time I step into a classroom, anything can happen, and almost always really good things happen.
GG: I’m going to be working for a national organization called Demand Abolition. They’re based here in Cambridge, but they don’t have presence and voice in D.C. I’m going to go there to create an office, and have a voice for them in Washington, D.C. So I will be meeting with senators, representatives, and administration officials to try to get them to work in any way they can to get rid of human trafficking, whatever we can do to get girls out of slavery. MV: What inspired you to become a professor? GG: I used to work in Washington, D.C. Part of the job was to go around the country to tell people with disabilities about their role as citizens and their power to make things happen. I was shocked that they would listen to what I said and actually go out and make the world at least a little bit better for themselves. So I decided I wanted to do that empowerment stuff full-time. And now I’m a professor and I’m doing it. I have an awesome job. MV: In 2011, you were the winner of NU’s Excellence-in-Teaching Award. What would you say is the key to being a good professor?
MV: What do you like most about your job? GG: The students. They inspire me. Every time I step into a classroom, anything can happen, and almost always really good things happen. And I have a class that, right now it’s the fourth year, so the three previous classes have had three different bills passed that help foster kids. The class has been creating new legislations that just got introduced two weeks ago, so this new class is now lobbying for new bills that previous classes wrote. How cool is that? If I give them hard things to do, if I challenge them, if I ask the impossible they say, “Yeah I can do that.” That’s what I love about my job.
*Go online to www.woof-mag.com to read the extended version of this interview.
WOOF | winter 2013