#METOO Inside the movement and how Northeastern students are responding to it
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE BOSTON BUS A guide to using Boston’s most underrated public transit system
WEEKEND TRIPS ON A BUDGET Places in and around Boston to explore that won’t break your budget
COMPARING FOOD DELIVERY APPS We tried and ranked the most popular delivery apps
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PRESIDENT
Adriana Yozzi
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Leila Habib & Cayley Ross
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Xochitl Lozano
MARKETING DIRECTOR Cheyenne Tang
ONLINE EDITOR Julia Horneck
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Jasmine Chan
SECTION EDITORS
Kaline Langley, Lucy Murrey, Alex Pickering, Candace Reyes
WRITERS
14
04
Sophia Ciprian, Soule Coram, Sophia Harris, Haley Holbrow, Fernanda Hurtado, Joey Kramer, Delfina Mcnaught-Davis, Wanja Njama, David Spinrad, Emma Wyatt
CONTENTS
DESIGNERS
Kate Coiro, Gabbi Dosramos, Rachel Eng, Cynthia Mei, Samantha Rose, Diana Steelman, Emily Tan, Christina Wysocki, Nate Young
FRONT
PHOTOGRAPHERS
04 #MeToo Movement 06 Spotify Your Soundtrack 07 Women’s March & Northeastern
Shrreya Aagarwal, Dominique Catanzaro, Clare Cooper, Haley Holbrow, Yuening Jiang, Maeve Kelley-Portillo, Justine Newman, Afam Nwokolo, Ryan Putranto, Emma Wyatt
LIFESTYLE
08 A Beginner’s Guide to the Bus
COVER STORY
10 Weekend Getaways on a Budget
09 Bullet Journaling
Cover Photography by Ryan Putranto
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WE’RE NORTHEASTERN’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE. LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? EMAIL US • NUWOOF@GMAIL.COM VISIT OUR SITE • WOOF-MAG.COM
MEDIA & CULTURE 12 Reviews of Top Netflix Originals 13 The Government Shutdown 14 Comparing Food Delivery Apps
FOCUS
16 Humans of Northeastern 18 Money Talks: Underfunded CAMD
4 • Front
Front • 5
director of Just Be Inc. who created the “me too” phrase in 2006, but originally began contemplating the movement in 1996. However harsh the reality is, it seems pop culture wasn’t willing to listen to the problem then, or even acknowledge its presence. James Tobak, a former Hollywood writer and director, sexually harassed over 238 women. The Weinstein brothers have both been accused of sexual assault, totaling more than 80 accusations. Larry Nassar, USA Gymnastics doctor has recently been sentenced to 60 years imprisonment for child pornography, and an additional 40-175 years for sexual misconduct.
Hearing #MeToo Should Not Tune You Out Written by Soule Coram // Photos by Afam Nwokolo
WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains material which may be upsetting or harmful to survivors of sexual violence and sexual harassment. Why have the abounding accusations of sexual assault taken people by surprise? It is time to realize our cultural norms have created space for sexual abuse to take place daily; our justice system has failed us, perpetrators have not been held accountable, and the power held by these perpetrators has been kept silent for too many years. Well, not anymore. Yes, I’m talking about #MeToo, and you should be too. It is difficult to put a date on when the #MeToo movement began. Some say it was when the audio of Donald Trump saying, “grab ‘em by the pussy” emerged, or when he became the 45th president; some say it was when Harvey Weinstein’s scandal was uncovered, and others say it has been slowly emerging since women fought for equality and voting rights in 1920. However, I think credit needs to be given to Tarana Burke, founder and
But, it is not only these numbers of accusations that constitute sexual assault, and this is where the discussion of what is considered sexual assault, or “wrong” behavior becomes muddled. It has become ingrained in our culture of catcalling and innuendos; it is nonconsensual behavior in whatever capacity that takes place between people. Sexual assault is both the actions of Aziz Ansari and Roy Moore, it is the decisions both Dustin Hoffman and Mario Batali chose to make, and it is the fear and shame anyone instills in another person to keep them silent. The #MeToo movement has created space for survivors to take back their power in vocalizing their stories and standing in solidarity. Activists, survivors, celebrities, and supporters have begun using their bodies as a medium to show support, as seen by wearing black at the Golden Globes and the Times Up pins, and with white roses at the Grammy’s. It is a visual cue that members of society are wanting to see a cultural change. However, these cues of support and discussion of change is cheap until active improvements are made. Accountability among perpetrators, as well as the organizations, businesses, and
“I hope we agree that sexual assault is not ok under any circumstances.” groups that employed these perpetrators, needs to take place. Shaming and blaming the victim as being too “inviting,” or even “asking for it” is a coward excuse. First-year political science and business major Patrick Estrella states, “It isn’t an excuse for a perpetrator to say I can’t control myself.” It is shifting the responsibility of people’s actions: own what you did as inexcusable and be an advocate for reshaping our norms to acceptable behavior. The first step in doing this is for people to acknowledge that they were wrong, and this seems difficult for celebrities to take ownership of. As students of Northeastern University, we cannot be naive to think sexual abuse is absent from our campus. According to the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for 2016 published by NU, a total of 16 forcible sexual offenses were recorded, 12 of which were rape and four categorized as fondling. An additional category of Violence Against Women Acts totaled 16 offenses: four offenses of stalking, seven of domestic violence, and five of dating violence. However, given that sexual assault is vastly underreported and the culture to silence victims has taken priority, it is not surprising that this recorded number may be low and inaccurate.
Second-year linguistics major and psychology and communications minor Rylie Ellam helped create the #NEUToo campaign in her Persuasion and Rhetoric class in the Fall of 2017. The purpose of the campaign is to provide “a platform for survivors/victims, however they’re coping at the time, to tell their stories, and to reinforce the policies in place.” #NEUToo is in place to open up the conversation of sexual assault on campus, as well as hold perpetrators and administrative staff accountable. At first, #MeToo was met with shock and disturbance among the popular culture and made a wave in our discussions as a society. However, as the movement has continued, airs of complacency and annoyance have become present from society by having to spend their time hearing about these horrors, as if people are worn down and unable to take in the truth. If, as allegations continue to come forward, you find yourself getting tired of the topic, I would ask you to resist the urge to tune out. Resist changing the conversation. Challenge and question yourself as to why you’re having this reaction. I write to you without having a personal relationship with you, without knowing what you’re like, and without knowing your own personal experiences, but I hope we agree that sexual assault is not okay under any circumstances. Every story is different. Every assault is painful. And every time someone finds enough strength or courage to tell their truth, I hope it helps heal in some amount.
spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
6 • Front
Front • 7
spotify your SOUNDTRACK Written by David Spinrad // Photos by Yuening Jiang
Music helps galvanize different emotions. For example, in movies, the fast-paced music in a montage plays up the mood of the sequences. College students may not have their own personal montages, but they definitely live lives that can be elevated by music. Complementary music emits a gust of comfort in confusing times, rounds those last rough edges in happy times, and provides a silhouette of company in solemn times. Music shadows the positives and the negatives every semester. Surely, there will be ups and downs, so there might as well be a diverse, jammy soundtrack. Like a movie’s rollercoaster of emotions, the following semester is going to be a thrill ride. The lever is coming down on you, and your soundtrack in the front row of the Semester Rollercoaster. First, we ascend.
Heaven Only Knows – Towkio ft. Chance the Rapper
The beginning of the semester has begun after trekking back to school from a quality break. Campus air is locked with vibrancy and enthusiasm of new students and new life. Chance the Rapper and Towkio bubble through soulful spirits in, “Heaven Only Knows” with the same eagerness. Colorful and lively, its positivity is contagious.
No Sign of Life – Okay Go
The middle of the week can be the peak of productivity. People are looking to get stuff done, and fast, to make way for the weekend. A song based around a blunt and pounding rhythm will match the mid-week grind. The consistent, steady intensity of Okay Go’s jabbing guitar riffs fuel the rocking convulsions this song instills.
Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked – Cage the Elephant
Midterm season creeps up on us sooner than we’d like. Anxiety for some, cramming for most. The weary college student shall march on and combat spontaneous critical points in their classes. Just like the protagonist in “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” people have to push on with tough skin and wait for better days.
Dig Down – Muse
Being passionate about something is a gift. It gives purpose and it’s backed by a warmth of interest. The moments at school where your passions shine produce balance and clarity. They help provide a solid identity. Frontman Matt Belamy’s centered, vibrato vocals are the focal point in “Dig Down” and they transmit the rich sense of passion and completion.
Declare Guerre Nucleaire – The Hives
There will be some awful mornings where everything goes wrong. It’s going to happen. When it does, and the anger and frustration set in, the best thing to weather the storm is to listen to something that is just as pissed off as you are. May I present: The Hives.
Miss Primetime – Big Gigantic ft. Pell
Boredom may set in during the semester. Try not to absentmindedly fall into a six-foot, circular rut. Instead of grabbing the computer and heading to Netflix to alleviate that boredom, consider exploring something new. Something to shake the ground you live on. “Miss Primetime” can offer that new, ear-popping sound.
WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
Medicated – Whiz Khalifa ft. Cherry Woods & Juicy J
The equation of college is a push and pull of stress and stress relief. Yin and yang, this party anthem combats the stresses for anyone with an ounce of school work. Yes, “Medicated” and its ironic title foreshadows the song’s contents, but in no way can it prepare you for the commanding, yet non-overpowering fluidity of the song’s beat and flow of lyrics. Mellow out or party on with this song.
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) – Arcade Fire Many people look at school as a learning experience, but equal emphasis needs to be placed on self-growth. Each day down is an opportunity to flourish against the personal adversity that Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” depicts. It relates to the breaking convention and finding a path away from the all encompassing societal norms . With “Sprawl II,” its listener is reminded of the bigger picture of his or her own journey.
The Man – The Killers
The end is nigh. Finals. *Panic ensues.* Whatever knowledge is implanted in your brain by the end of the semester is what you have to work with. Move through the tests with confidence, remind yourself that you are, “The Man” regardless of sex. You have to get that confidence up in those final moments. It might be all you have.
We Don’t Care – Kanye West
Life is messy. It’s in fact one huge mess. Flip flops with socks are the norm. Wearing that pair of jeans again when you really know you shouldn’t is a daily occurrence at this point. When people drown in school, drudge through work, and still make time for the ones they love, it’s okay to say “eh” to the little things. Bless Kanye. That man certainly does not care about anything small. You’ve been through the ride. Ups and down have presented themselves and you have handled the roller coaster track with ease. Having a soundtrack of music makes the ride a little smoother. It’s not selfish to have a personal soundtrack. It’s smart. It means you understand yourself and the journey you are on. Embrace the thunderous noise of the rollercoaster and make it music.
WHY WE MARCH and why northeastern should too
Written by Delfina McNaught-Davis // Photos by Haley Holbrow On January 21, 2017, millions of women paved the streets worldwide, protesting against President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Due to statements which he had made and positions that he had taken which were regarded by many as anti-women, as well as outright offensive. The protest’s aim was to emphasize legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues including, but not limited to: women’s rights, immigration reform, healthcare reform, reproductive rights, the natural environment, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, freedom of religion, and workers rights. Between 3,267,134 and 5,246,670 people, men included, participated in the Women’s March in the United States. In total a worldwide participation of over five million people took place in the marches. Last year floods of people filled up Boston Common and Charles Street; wearing pink hats, fierclesley holding up homemade signs from the crowd, making a stance for women and democracy. The heartfelt passion from the crowd of activists was embodied in the politicians who came to speak on Boston Common such as Senator Elizabeth Warren. The march was not solely focused on women’s issues, but also human rights, climate change and healthcare, these issues now being torn apart by the President of the United States in his tweets or monologues on TV. A deluge of revelations about powerful men abusing women lead to the #MeToo movement, which has pushed activists to demand deeper social and political change, leading to another impactful women’s march just across the river in Cambridge. Men and women, boys and girls stood up for the many issues we had come across in 2017 and sadly we are still going through now. Sexual harassment being one of the big and current issues. The fire started when the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations started piling up, opening the Pandora’s Box of sexism. These allegations created a broader public knowledge of the incidents as well as mass media involvement, therefore encouraging. This has led to an outbreak of
confidence, switching on that much needed light bulb for society. Many progressive women are now eager to build on the movement and translate their enthusiasm into electoral victories in this year’s midterm elections. Not only this, but (some) men are enthusiastically supporting the women’s movement that is becoming more and more of a talked about topic. President Trump kindly decided to share that “he is not a feminist”… thank God because if he was then we would have the wrong definition of feminism. Feminism means the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of equality of the sexes. This does not mean women need to discourage men, but instead that women should have a voice just as loud as men since we represent half of the population. Sexism occurs in every community, in every town and every country, Northeastern included. After a semester of quizzes, all-nighters and never ending research papers, college students have only one card to play: the course evaluation and “RateMyProfesor”. It turns out that most students are harder on their female instructors, stepping over that fine line of sexism. One of the most noticeable disparities occurring is when male professors are called “geniuses”, “brilliant” or “funny”; while their female counterparts are subjected to negative adjectives like “bossy”, “mean” and “pushy”. Northeastern has a ratio of 49:51 for male to female students, meaning that it is also the girls who have become benign to this stereotype. NEU girls, female professors and other female staff need to stand up for their gender, their small community, as well as female equality as a whole. We need to stand up for everything it means to be a feminist, an activist and a leader, especially since Boston is one of the most liberal cities in the US. The past year has shown the world how united and courageous the female population is. Northeastern has to be part of this courageous cultivation of people. We need to shed a light on the population at our campus and include ourselves in the Boston race for feminism, equality and humanity.
spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
8 • Lifestyle
Lifestyle • 9
Trading in the T:
BULLET JOURNALING
A Beginner’s Guide to the Bus Written by Fernanda Ortiz // Photos by Dominique Catanzaro
the ultimate organizing companion Written by Sophia Harris // Photos by Justine Newman
There is no doubt that public transportation in Boston is not the best — let’s not get started on the Green Line’s delays or winter weather issues. Boston’s transportation isn’t cheap either, especially after the increase of fares in 2016 which raised the CharlieTicket price from $2.10 to $2.75, a steep price for our tight student budgets. However, what you may not know is, although slightly harder to navigate, the MBTA bus is cheaper, and operates routes with more precise stops, fewer line switches, and fewer delays than the T. With 177 lines, the bus accommodates more precise stops and efficient routes than the T. For example, in order to get to Kendall Square on the T, you must take the Orange Line from Ruggles, get off at Downtown Crossing, and then take the Red Line to the Kendall/MIT stop, which takes about 30 minutes total. Yet, for the same amount of time, one bus line from Massachusetts Ave takes you directly to MIT stop. For those of WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
you who live near Parker Street on the Hill, the 66 bus line can take you directly to Harvard Square rather than having to take the dreadful Green Line, only to then switch to the Red Line. When the weather is really horrible or the walk back from a Target run is too exhausting, the 47 bus line from Ruggles stop is only an 11-minute ride, with a stop directly on Boylston Street in Fenway. I don’t presume to know all 177 lines the bus operates and have yet to understand the map fully myself, even after living in Boston for the past four years. So, my go-to transportation app is City Mapper. Using City Mapper, I can log my destination and it will give me the bus schedule and route, with live estimations of arrivals and departures, as well as notifications of when to get off. Even with the help of City Mapper, although you may not need to worry about the specific line you need to take, make sure you know how to pay your bus fare. You can pay with an
already loaded CharlieTicket or CharlieCard, or you can pay for a trip using cash when aboard the bus. Fares can be paid at fare boxes located in the front of buses next to the driver. After that, it should be smooth sailing (that is, of course, if you can find a comfortable seat without having people crowding around you during rush hour). According to mbta.com, part of MBTA’s objective is to provide transit service within walking distance for all residents living in areas with population densities greater than 5,000 inhabitants per square mile, with the majority of service provided by the bus. Essentially, this means that the bus is more likely to offer a stop closer to your final destination, without extra walking distance, than the T. Though the bus can be more tedious to figure out, in the end, it is a more comfortable and inexpensive option! When showing yourself around the city, save those extra bucks and try to take the bus every so often.
Most people will find themselves saying, at one point or another, that they need to organize their lives. Staying efficient can certainly be stressful, and keeping track of all that’s going on from school work, to social activities, to everyday jumbled thoughts can be pretty challenging ― especially if you do not have a clear method to organize yourself. That is why the recent phenomenon of “bullet journaling” has received so much attention recently, as it is an innovative way to stay up to speed with your own demanding life.
The future comes into play when you set goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term. The bullet journal is an effective way of accomplishing your goals and constantly reminding yourself of what you want to achieve. Moreover, always being reminded of your big-picture goals can help influence your smaller decisions. For example, a highpriority goal in February might be to get better grades, and seeing that written goal in your journal may spark you to then put “head to the library” on your daily to-do list a little more often.
At this point, you may be wondering, what is bullet journaling exactly? In short, bullet journaling is a way of looking at and organizing your own past, present, and future. It is a diary, a to-do list, and planner all in one, meaning it is a prime way to stay productive. The bullet journal is laid out in a simple and comprehensible way so you can easily access your different lists. It consists mainly of “rapid logging”― and rapid is the key word here ― meaning that it it is not a chore, but rather a quick way to get down your most important thoughts and tasks. The journal includes a notation called “bullets,” where all bulleted items are entered under three categories: tasks, events, and notes. Within these categories, you are able to plan out errands, jobs, and anything else going on in your day. Thus, the bullet journal helps one realize that, instead of frantically getting a little bit of everything done, having your days all laid out will help ensure you’ll stay on task. Consequently, having everything organized in this manner highlights the key difference between busy and productive.
Simply sitting down and taking the time to reflect on your own life, thoughts, and aspirations is a great way to ensure you are spending time on bettering yourself and practicing mindfulness. Also, by creating a log of events, to-dos, and goals, think about all of the memories you’ll be able to look back on. For, haven’t you ever asked yourself, “I wonder what I was doing this time last year?” So, if you find yourself stressed out by the continuous twists and turns that take place in your life, instead of having sticky notes scattered around your desk and a thousand half-used notebooks, go take a try at bullet journaling!
spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
10 • Cover
Cover • 11
Weekend Getaways Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston Commons
(on a budget)
Washington Square Park, New York City
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Times Square, New York City
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Written by Sofia Ciprian // Photos by Ryan Putranto School can be exhausting. Between homework, clubs, fitness, and a social life, it often may feel like you can never catch a break. We all want a vacation, but that is pretty hard to attain when you’re a broke college student. Here are some tips and tricks for how to enjoy a weekend getaway from all the stress without breaking the bank. The main way to ensure any weekend trip is a good time is to bring friends along with you. Besides the fact that being with your friends will make everything more fun, including friends in your plans also makes everything more cost-effective. One easy way to see your friends while also getting away is to go visit a friend at a different school ─ not only do you get to travel to a new area and see your friend, but you also will get a free bed to sleep in for a few nights. Having a big group of friends for trips is also super helpful because you can take advantage of things like Groupon and Airbnb, which will cost less if you are splitting the price between a larger group. Now the question is, where do you go? Here are some nearby places to explore. 1. New York City. You may think this would be a wildly expensive trip, but it doesn’t have to be. First, take the Greyhound bus; the bus is only around $30 round trip if you buy tickets in advance. When you’re in NYC, try to stay with a friend at one of the many schools nearby or find a cheap Airbnb. Also, museums give discounts for students, so take advantage of those low prices!
WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
2. Cape Cod. Once it gets warmer out, this is the best trip to take with friends. Get an inexpensive Airbnb and just hang out at the beach for a great source of all-day entertainment. 3. Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a great place to go on a day trip. Plus, if you read “The Crucible” in high school, why not travel to the city that inspired it all? Take the T there (it only takes an hour) and spend the day in town, or go to the Salem Witch Museum for only $10. 4. Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham. If you enjoy hiking, this day trip is for you. If you have a friend with a car, take the two-hour drive up to New Hampshire and spend the day outside. If you need a car, you can reserve a Zipcar for a few hours or for a day. Or, if you don’t want to travel that far, The Charles River Reservation is a nearby scenic spot to spend the morning walking. If you can’t get away for that long, you can still enjoy a mini-getaway right here in Boston. Give your weekends a theme to make it feel as though you’re getting away without leaving home. 1. Historical Weekend. Boston is the perfect place to appreciate American history. Visit the Freedom Trail, Paul Revere House, Boston Common, and the Boston Tea Party Ships. Most of these sites are either free or offer discounted student prices! 2. Museum/Attractions Weekend. Living in a city has lots of perks, one being that there are tons of tourist attractions to take
advantage of. Visit the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Public Garden, and the Mapparium. The aquarium can be expensive, but if you get a membership at the Boston Public Library you can receive free tickets to go visit! 3. Games Weekend. If you’re feeling energetic and competitive, get a group of friends, form teams, and spend the weekend go-karting, bowling, and mini golfing. There are spots in Boston to do all of these ─ some are even walking distance from campus! 4. Music Weekend. Thankfully, Boston is home to some great music events, including Boston Calling. If you’re here for the Summer I term, you will already have a place to stay and won’t have to pay for a hotel. Even though Boston Calling is a bit pricey, if you go for two or three days of the festival, you can use a layaway plan so that you don’t have to pay the full cost all at once. After a week of exams, essays, and club meetings, a chance to get away and relax seems like an ultra-idealistic, yet impossible goal. But, as I’ve learned by doing some research on all the great things to do nearby, getting away for the weekend can actually be pretty simple. The biggest step is just creating the game plan; get all your friends together, figure out what you really want to do, and plan what you need to do to make it happen. Making plans in advance may seem like a hassle, but once it’s done you can relax and start counting down the days until your getaway. Take advantage of all the amazing locations around us and plan the (affordable) getaway of your dreams. spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
12 • Media & Culture
Media & Culture • 13
Review of Top Netflix Originals Written by Haley Holbrow // Photos by Clare Cooper
As a college student trying to balance schoolwork, a social life, and mental sanity, you probably don’t have time to invest in a new show only to find out it was a waste of time. Instead, I watched them for you! Here are the top five Netflix originals definitely worth procrastinating for.
“Grace and Frankie”
Genre: Sitcom Watch if you’re looking for a: Laugh Main actors: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin Rotten Tomato rating: 81% Plot: When seventy-year-old frenemies find out their husbands are leaving them for each other, the women unite to figure out their new lives as single, elderly roommates. “Grace and Frankie” is guaranteed to have you laughing at your computer screen. Filled with traditional family dynamics and the unusual occurrence of husbands leaving their newly befriended wives for each other, “Grace and Frankie” will never bore you.
“Black Mirror”
Genre: Science fiction, Psychological thriller Watch if you’re looking for a: Thriller Main actors: Varies episode to episode Rotten Tomato rating: 96% Plot: “Black Mirror” is a collection of unrelated stories with an overall theme of technology and the ultimate demise of humanity. It’s often compared to “The Twilight Zone” but instead of tapping into the trends of the atomic age, writers focus on the possible consequences of living in the smartphone era, making viewers fear tomorrow. Although some episodes are a miss, others are a big hit. The good thing about “Black Mirror” is that it’s free of a binging desire because it’s an anthology series. Each plot in each episode stands alone so you can happily watch one episode and stop. A good series to watch during a quick study break.
“The End of the F***cking World”
Genre: Comedy, Drama Watch if you’re looking for: Fear with a laugh Main actors: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden, Gemma Whelan Rotten Tomato rating: 97% Plot: “The End of the F***cking World” follows the heartwarming and quirky love affair between a budding psychopath and a sulky teenager. Guaranteed to binge in less than a week, you won’t be able to stop after finishing the first of this eight episode series. Along with its romantic storyline, this series will leave you on the edge of your seat with suspense.
WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
“The Crown”
Genre: Drama Watch if you’re looking for: An insight into royal life Main actors: Claire Foy, Matt Smith Rotten Tomato rating: 91% Plot: “The Crown” depicts the personal and professional relationships of Queen Elizabeth II and her struggle to maintain and expand the popularity of the British Monarchy against significant odds. If you want to learn about the history of the British monarch for a class or just for fun, this show is perfect for you. Detailing every aspect of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, “The Crown” is both informative and bingeworthy as the tension in each dynamic relationship builds. You won’t want to stop watching.
“Stranger Things”
Genre: Horror, Science fiction Watch if you’re looking for a: Nail-biter Main actors: Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin Rotten Tomato rating: 94% Plot: Set in the 1980s, “Stranger Things” shows a small, close-knit community rocked by supernatural events, the disappearance of a schoolboy, and the arrival of a mysterious, young girl. This widely popular series is guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. Filled with thrills, laughs, and many twists, there’s a reason why everyone talks about “Stranger Things.” But beware the possibility of binging it all in one go.
the
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
&
what we can do next
Written by Joey Kramer // Photos by Justine Newman You might remember hearing that the United States Government shut down in January, and briefly again in February, because officials couldn’t pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. You may not have thought these shutdowns were a serious issue, but there are many reasons why we should care. Many believe that the new budget couldn’t get passed because Republicans and Democrats wouldn’t agree on where to allocate tax dollars. However, the real reason there was a shutdown was because many in Congress decided that there are millions of Americans in this country who don’t belong here. These Americans are known as Dreamers. Dreamers are individuals who came to the United States as children without official documents and are not currently legal citizens. They had no say in their arrival to the United States and most have known no other place as home. Though there are members of both parties who have fought tirelessly to defend these Americans, there isn’t enough support to protect them from those who want them to be deported.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, is a protection that allows Dreamers to live and work in the United States without the fear of being deported or prosecuted. Last September, President Trump called on Congress to end the protections offered by DACA which put millions of Dreamers at risk of deportation. It is set to expire on March 6. As busy college students, this topic likely doesn’t cross our minds. But it should. “How could you not care when it’s this many people we are talking about?” asked secondyear politics, philosophy, and economics major Beca Muñoz who is a passionate ally in the fight for expanding and extending DACA protections. Having grown up in South Florida, Muñoz said she knows families and communities that would be devastated if protections were eliminated. So, what can we do about it? Dreamers don’t come from a single background and they don’t live in a single community. They live seamlessly amongst
the masses in fear of being discovered. The more we talk about the issue and inspire others to do the same, the more those relying on DACA will know they are supported. “We all need to work together to talk about serious issues and to others,” Muñoz said. “As students we can only do so much, but we can really make a difference just talking about issues that matter.” It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking to a few friends or to a room full of your classmates — the most important thing is to bring attention to the issue and how many innocent people it affects. Another way to support Dreamers is by joining a student cultural or advocacy group on campus such as Sanctuary Campus or the Latin American Student Organization who do everything they can to advocate for important issues and can always use more support from students who want to make a sincere change in our communities.
spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
14 • Media & Culture
Media & Culture • 15
UberEats is by far the easiest of the five apps to navigate. It divides restaurants into three different categories: delivery time, style, and location. Plus, if you already have the Uber app, you can skip the tedious task of typing in your card information. Despite the fairly high delivery fee of $4.99, UberEats delivered the food to the exact address I entered and came inside the lobby of my building so I didn’t even have to step outside.
Price: $12.48 Speed: 34 minutes No. of restaurants: 76
“
I’d say I use UberEats because it’s the most publicised and since it works well, I’ve never had the need to try a different app. First-year bioengineering major Laura Bilal
”
Despite it being one of the more expensive apps, GrubHub has a few unique features that make it stand out above the others. You can pre-order meals which is great when you’re in class and want your food to be ready as soon as you get out.There’s also the option to use Apple pay if you’re an iPhone user. There is a $15 minimum spending on top of the $4.99 delivery fee so I had to order two portions of dumplings, even though the price of one is displayed below, to complete the order.
Price: $11.99 Speed: 37 minutes No. of restaurants: 82
Postmates is the most expensive app with a delivery fee of $5.99 but is one of the quickest and easiest to navigate. They delivered the food to the exact address and also offer delivery of anything from any store, like laundry detergent from Target. Unlike the other apps, there is no delivery fee if you spend over $20.
Price: $15.63 Speed: 33 minutes No. of restaurants: 200+
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GrubHub has never failed to deliver my food on time and is super easy and convenient to use. First-year psychology major Katie Ryan
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Battle of the Apps who does food delivery best? Written by Emma Wyatt // Photos by Emma Wyatt In the midst of a New England winter, going out to eat can seem like a chore when you have to brave subzero temperatures. However, the rise of food delivery services has made indulging in treats other than instant ramen or dining hall meals easier than ever. So, how do you choose which app to use? I tried five different apps and rated them on speed, price, restaurant option, and ease of use to make your choosing process easier. The five apps I chose to compare were UberEats, GrubHub, Postmates, DoorDash, and Caviar. To make the ratings fair, I ordered the same dish from the same restaurant at exactly the same time — $7 dumplings from Wagamama located in the Prudential Center.
While it may have been on the cheaper side with a delivery fee of only $1.25, Caviar failed to deliver to the correct address and went over the estimated delivery time by two minutes. The app sorts the restaurants by alphabetical order which is only useful if you know what you want but can be annoying if you’re just browsing. It also doesn’t show photos on the list so you have to click on each place if you want a better idea of the cuisine.
Winner winner, chicken dinner! DoorDash is the cheapest and fastest food delivery app. It also has one of the largest number of restaurants to choose from. It delivered to the correct spot 15 minutes before the estimated delivery time and didn’t charge a delivery fee. Like GrubHub, you can pre-order food, an extremely handy feature. As well as the accepting Apple Pay, tips can be added online for an even quicker and hassle-free pick-up.
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I use Postmates all the time and have never had a bad experience with it. First-year physical therapy major Glen Enneper
Price: $8.85 Speed: 42 minutes No. of restaurants: 62
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It helps me get high quality, sit down restaurant food, but there have been instances where I’ve had to wait longer than expected for delivery. Fourth-year business administration major Jeyashri Sridhar
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Price: $8.12 Speed: 30 minutes No. of restaurants: 122
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I like how there is a reward for referrals and how intuitive the interface is. Second-year marketing & management major Ashwin Misra
Final ranking: DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, Postmates, Caviar WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
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16 • Focus
Focus • 17
Humans of NORTHEASTERN
Left Page: Nickolas Faynshteyn, sociology graduate student and co-director of the SJRC Right Page, Top Row (L-R): John Nishanov, Alayna Jordan, Andrew Oriz Bottom Row (L-R): Pranav Ahluwalia, Maia Feruzi
Written by Wanja Njama // Photos by Shrreya Aagarwal & Kaline Langley You may have heard of Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, a series of photographic blogs and interviews. You might have even heard of it’s spin-off series, Humans of Northeastern University. However, you may not have heard of the Social Justice Resource Center’s program of the same title beginning in late January led by sociology graduate student and co-director of the SJRC, Nickolas Faynshteyn. He too, inspired by Stanton’s photo series, decided he would play his part in bringing the storytelling platform to Northeastern. He decided to take the idea in a completely different direction and use the catchy concept to “provide a space where people can share their narratives and experiences of oppression in order to think about how we can create solutions and pathways for collective liberation.” A multi-part program created in partnership with the Center for Intercultural Engagement, a space on campus “that strives to create a community that is inclusive of all populations at Northeastern,” Humans of Northeastern is meant to be a safe space where relationship and community building can take place, and participants can engage with others of intersectional identities who are people of colour, part of the LGBTQA+ community, or disable – thus creating an open dialogue regarding how their identities are connected to the larger structures of systemic oppression – and the roles and responsibilities they have to play in overcoming these issues that continue to impact our societies. The event was publicized through various flyers and emails sent out to all the cultural and academic resource centers on campus, enabling Nickolas to begin the program with the desired number of participants (not more than ten people) from different academic stages in their Northeastern career. The program ran for four weeks from January 24th till February 14th, and ran between 90 - 120 minutes long. Nickolas
WOOF MAGAZINE • spring 2018
encourages more people who are interested to reach out and attend future events, as Humans of Northeastern is a flexible program that in heart desires for students to take hold of it, and make it their own. To continue in his path, we created our own series of questions and conducted some interviews to ask people on campus how they felt their ethnicity was represented in the community, and how safe they felt in this academic, but also social community. First year Business Major with a concentration in Finance John Nishanov believes that Northeastern has an overall “very positive atmosphere” because people could be “open about anything [they] want.” He continues, believing “your background, your culture” and “your diversity” are respected. He feels “everybody has a voice no matter what race [they] are” and Northeastern allows a space that makes everyone “feel like every single opinion is accepted and valued.” First year Business Major with a japanese minor Maia Feruzi agreed that “the people are nice” and it is reflected in “all the clubs” that “people are really dedicated to” like the mixed student union club Maia participates in. However, John believes that there should be “an expanded cultural center for Islams with much more money invested,” but he recognizes that “there’s not enough muslims in this school” so funding there would of course be limited as well. Although that could be another “goal” for our school. First year Biological Neuroscience Major Alayna Jordan and First Year computer science major Yassin Kebeeh agrees that the ethnic diversity in the school is lacking. Alayna does not think it affects her opinions here as much as the social divisions of the community. “Everyone is very ambitious” she explains, “I feel like people are very open to hearing everyone’s side here and just because I’m the minority doesn’t mean I’m
the minority in my voice.” But of course, she’ll realizes that she is the “only black person in class” and wonders “why aren’t there more of us?” Yassin sometimes feels “a little lonely.” Compared to her “hometown (New Jersey: basically all white people), there’s more diversity” with “africans and people from all over the world… and a lot of different people with a lot of different views on life,” but she thinks Northeastern could “admit more people of color.” This raises some interesting questions. Though Northeastern “make themselves off to be this diverse school that everyone should come to because they’re different from everyone else,” first year biochemical major Andrew Ortiz realized that “LASO (Latin American Student Organization)” is “the only place [he’s] able to communicate with people from [his] culture.” Thus, different minority students recognize that there are some efforts to preserve and celebrate cultural differences, but not enough efforts are put into “encouraging” and “targeting African
American groups” to go outside of “mainstream” clubs and activities. Alayna is in taekwondo, so being the only black female there she recognizes that the social divide goes as deep as limiting what different interests certain ethnic groups believe they should entertain or pursue without being “judged for going towards ‘abnormal’ clubs.” Nevertheless, first year Computer Science Major Pranav Ahluwalia is completely optimistic about Northeastern’s community. He believes there should be “more school spirit” and “northeastern should help facilitate that enthusiasm” these “hard working kids.” He thinks the school is “very very diverse” with “every kind of person” who can feel “safe in being able to express [controversial] opinions.” All of the students believed that the community was safe and felt happy in this environment where they could freely be themselves. Although there were different opinions on how diversity was exemplified in this institution, the humans of northeastern continue to thrive and keep an open mind to change the world.
spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
Focus • 19
18 • Focus
Money Talks Written by Grace Bettinson // Photos by Maeve Kelley-Portillo
Northeastern University is climbing college rankings with its advanced academics and 29 percent acceptance rate. It is also known for having a fairly unique experiential learning opportunity, allowing students to get full-time work experience while still pursuing an undergraduate degree. People from all over the world come to study here with the expectation to receive equal treatment in academic opportunities. However, there has recently been a decline in the budget for the arts programs at Northeastern. Students in the College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD), feel neglected by the lack of funds and resources compared to students in the D’Amore Mckim Business School, Bouve College of Health Sciences, and the College of Engineering. In any large university, there will always be ongoing projects, renovations, and new buildings constructed to meet the innovative needs of the university and student body. Due to the increase in applicants, there has been a shortage of housing, so building more dorms and renovating old ones has become an understandable priority.
In 2017, Northeastern opened the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) building. The grand total to build this 234,000-square-foot building was $225 million, quantitatively defining Northeastern’s commitment to advancements in scientific research in Massachusetts. In contrast, there has been little advancement for CAMD departments to expand opportunities for students, leaving CAMD students concerned. Getting in contact with the head of the CAMD department, particularly the budget director, proves difficult, and the topic deserves investigation: Is CAMD really that underfunded compared to other schools at Northeastern? CAMD students such as Casey Martin, a first-year dual communications and media and screen studies major, feel underrepresented. She describes her frustrations in having a lack of resources in her courses. Questions would arise during her 1000-level intro class for media and screen studies such as, “Do we have those cameras, or those lenses?” The constant reply was, “We only have this one type of small Sony camera, and the university didn’t give us the budget for other types of cameras.”
“It is well known that CAMD students feel sometimes a little separated from the general community at Northeastern.” spring 2018 • WOOF MAGAZINE
She continues, “CAMD kids kind of accept it. I’m currently taking intro to film production, and we have to make videos. However, there are twelve people in our class, and we only have access to 6 cameras [and] they’re like Sony mini cameras.” CAMD students feel their resources are more limited than their peers in science or math with labs and calculations. As second-year transfer communications student Molly Gilligan
Above: Anthar Nieto and Casey Martin believes, “people look at Communications majors differently,” as if the field is “lesser than other majors.” Majors outside of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field shouldn’t be valued differently. The misconception is that an hourly wage of Co-ops translates to having a “good” major. The starting salary for engineering or health science Co-ops begin at $15, whereas CAMD positions are more likely to be paid minimum wage, or not paid at all. The experiential learning aspect that makes this school so unique is now being used as a crutch, leaving students alienated in the community at Northeastern. Fourth-year communications and media studies major Anthar Nieto states, “It is well known that CAMD students sometimes feel a little separated from the general community at Northeastern.” To continue this thought, I also believe that the CAMD community is separated. All of my good friends are engineering and biology majors and constantly remind me how I am “a rare species.” It is disheartening
to hear that, especially because I feel as if I study just as much as they do, and work just as hard. As Nieto states, “I feel like it is not something that should happen because as a community, we need to become a whole.” The need for change is more relevant than ever. Although engineering is a strong part of Northeastern, change is needed. Students do not control the budget and therefore cannot do it alone. As the art industry continues to get more competitive, the students of Northeastern need to have the resources to stay relevant in the field. College is a time when students should feel free to express themselves, and continue to grow as individuals. When the university doesn’t allow this expansion by alienation and lack of funds, it causes second thoughts for students. Updating technology is key for all majors in the CAMD department. More and more Co-op employers are requiring simple camera and Photoshop skills. The student body community is one of the most important factors that makes up a university. With such an imbalance, it creates a negative impact on the students.
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