WOOF ISSUE 11

nu entrepreneur spins to success A Q&A with the owner of The Handle Bar

profile: dinoczar An introduction to one of Northeastern’s student punk rock bands

going global Meet President Aoun’s first Global Officers

pitch please High notes continue for this student a capella group

05 PRESIDENT Liam Synan

EDITORs-IN-CHIEF

Shelby Sih & Kelsey Zimmerer

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Cara McGrath & Erinn Scammon

MARKETING DIRECTORs

Design: Sami Bartlett Fundraising: Sofia Rojo del Busto Outreach: Ashley Thon

webmaster

Hannah DeYoung

Social media director Zoe Gregoric

ONLINE Photo Director Katie Williams

Section EDITORS

Zoe Kenealy, Libby Leyden-Sussler, Christie Macomber & Scott Oldano

14

WRITERS

Hannah DeYoung, Katherine Friend, Jessica Grill, Zoe Kenealy, Elif Kocdag, Alec MacLean, Christie Macomber, Andrea Scibetta & Monil Shah

DESIGNERS

Brian Ambadjes, Michelle Balaban, Sami Bartlett, Jennifer Heintz, Devanshi Patel, Marissa Rodakis, Carolina Rodriguez, Kelley Schneider, Noa Shneorson, Courtney Springer, Julie Tennett, Laura Zuk & Monica Zunick

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kyle Bianchi, Casey Brown, Chris Bubnov, Chloe Francois, Jena Goldman, Zoe Gregoric, Willy Hlaing, Suma Hussien, Nicole Lacasse, Waiyan Min, Joanna Odorisio, Sophia Schonwetter & Wyatt Warell Cover Photography by Suma Hussien

WOOF | spring 2015

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16

04

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CONTENTS front

Lifestyle

Cover story

ENTERTAINMENT focus

04 Spring Break Destinations 05 High Rise 06 Fit or Fad 07 Pitch Please

10 Protein Bars: the Good vs. the Bad

08 NU Entrepreneur Spins to Success

12 The Rise of the YouTube Star 14 Escaping the Cold One Museum at a Time

16 Going Global with Matt Bilotti and Caitlin Morelli 18 Profile: Dinoczar

interested in joining our staff?

EMAIL US |

nuwoof@gmail.com

Visit our site | woof-mag.com WOOF | spring 2015

03 ski bunny

spring break destinations

The stereotypical beach spring break isn’t everyone’s ideal week: many envision the slopes instead of the shores in their ideal vision of spring break. Popular resorts call to skiers, boarders and hot-cocoa enthusiasts around the country. Ski destinations see increased traffic during the Spring Break season as the snow piles up and the moguls get cut.

Popular locations are as close and accessible as Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire or Waterville in Vermont, though students travel to find snow all over the country, from Lake Tahoe to Vail.

04 jet-setter

Written by Alec Mclean // Photos by Kyle Bianchi

For many students, a week presents the perfect opportunity to be reunited with family. International students traveling home can pick up some airline miles as they maximize break to return home (or to see family) off of this continent.

With snow still piling up in Boston and warm weather feeling like a far-off dream, the Spring Break mentality emerges as ideas (and airfare) become available.

However, Spring Break holds different meanings for every campus member. The break from March 6th to the 16th can mean a trip around the world or simply a trip to Back Bay without the impending doom of academic mishap.

Other students can find themselves working for good over their break with NU’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program. This option is a “weeklong immersive living and volunteering experience,” that around two hundred students can embark upon to seventeen different locations around the globe. The trips give nearly eight thousand hours of volunteer service in total to their respective locations. These ASB programs operate as close to NU as an animal shelter in Vermont and as far away as Ecuador. The program has volunteer opportunities in a number of states across the country and a handful of global options. This year’s international spring break destinations are in Belize, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.

01 Stay local The chance to stay home and sleep (and finally re-rewatch that season finale you missed) can be as intriguing as a trip to Egypt. This weeklong opportunity to return home and visit old friends is an alluring option for many students. For those who live close enough that no airfare is required, the surfeit of time that Spring Break offers opens up more opportunities for time at home than usual. Freshman Noah Gilbert looks forward to returning home to Medford, CT for a chance to catch up with his friends from high school who have dispersed all around the country for college. The week off gives them a chance to reconvene on known territory and to visit old haunts, specifically the local hockey rink.

02 coasting The Boston blues leave many wanting a change of scene; they leave the skyline for the shoreline and venture forth to warmer waters. Students travel to work on their tans in exotic locations for the week before returning to Boston’s winter weather. Students looking for popular party-minded vacation spots flock to the beach. Using unique criteria, expert opinion and traveler sentiment, U.S. News ranked the best destinations for spring break getaways, all of which were on the water, from South Padre, Texas to Playa del Carmen.

Nate Brown, a freshman, is traveling to Kauai, Hawaii for the first time over break. His trip presents an opportunity to explore domestically with his family. He is most looking forward to relaxing on the beach.

“I’ve never been to Hawaii before and I love going to new places. It’ll be nice to get away from the snow and cold. Away from the stresses and pressures of school,” Brown remarked.

WOOF | spring 2015

Front // 5

THE LOW DOWN ON THE NEWEST HIGH RISE Written by Kelsey Zimmerer // Photos by Jena Goldman

The latest addition to the Northeastern skyline is finally complete. Towering over the east side of campus at 17 stories is the aptly named residence hall, East Village.

The dorm opened its doors to its first occupants this January, and can house just over 700 students. It is a mix of freshman dorms and upper-classmen apartments with clear views of the surrounding Boston neighborhoods—not bad for a college crib.

But don’t take our word for it. See and hear for yourself, from the eyes and mouths of the residents themselves:

“There’s a few differences that set East

Village apart from the other residence halls.

Most of the rooms have really breathtaking views of the campus and skyline, and a lot of the little touches that they have added in have made the spaces really special…What I think really sets East Village apart from many other residence halls is how quickly the community formed.”

“The best part about the building in my opinion is first the great facilities, vending machines, laundry rooms and meeting rooms. Second, the community. I know what to do if I want to meet someone new, just knock on their door or go chill in the common room, watch TV and figure out where the remote is—built on wall, talk about latest tech.”

– Monil Shah, Freshman, Marketing

“As an upperclassmen, the views of the city

are unparalleled. I have a corner apartment on the 13th floor and I can see both Fenway Park as well as the Prudential Center… I’m not a huge fan of sharing a building with freshmen.

It’s kind of a social hindrance that you don’t encounter in the West Village apartments.”

– Jeffrey Douyon, Junior, Media and Screen Studies and Digital Art

“It’s amazing! The building is incredibly high

tech and clean. Clusters of floors have different spaces in their common room areas, like laundry rooms, study rooms and TV rooms. This layout helps to break up the concentration of students, since there are a lot of us. Our RA’s are always planning activities for us, so it’s never boring here!”

– Olivia Rojas, Freshman, Psychology

“I really enjoy the layout of the rooms (I live

in an upperclassmen suite on the 14th floor) and the view is unbelievable. I enjoy how modern and green everything seems, from the temperature control in each room—so you don’t have to heat the whole place just to warm up—to the garbage disposal and recycling bins downstairs.”

– Eric Hudson, Senior, Business Administration

– Christina Alch, Residence Director

WOOF | spring 2015

6 // Front

FIT OR FAD? Reviewing 2014 Diets Written by Zoe Kenealy // Photos by Katie Williams

With spring just around the corner, the thought of dieting and shedding those winter pounds is at the forefront of many people’s minds. With so many diets out there notorious for their flakiness in arrival, their two-week lifespans and perhaps most of all, their ability to disguise their ugly self in pretty little “risk-free,” “miracle” or “scientificbreakthrough” packages, it can be difficult to decipher the good from the bad. To make things a little bit easier, we’ve taken a look back at what worked and what didn’t in 2014.

It is important to note that for a number of reasons, not all diets are created equal. They will not all fill you with empty promises, make everyone hate you for your latest attitude and/or leave you better off without them.

Some diets do have the potential to transform you into the livelier, healthier you that, ultimately, all diets claim to do; it’s just a matter of finding which ones those are.

On the bright side, 2014 saw a number of diets that did in fact offer healthful, yet creative approaches to shedding the unwanted pounds. According to the U.S. News ranking of last year’s best diets, the DASH Diet came in at number one for its “nutritional completeness, safety, ability to prevent or control diabetes and role in supporting heart health.”

2014 faced no shortage of these selfproclaimed miracle diets, but more notably so, it was the year for the “cleansing” juice diet—a fad that could never be a lifestyle.

While a lot of folks in sunny Los Angeles may have considered the juicing fad to be the answer for all that is bad in the world (i.e. pizza, margaritas and/or late-night Ben and Jerry’s), others have deemed it as nothing more than liquid starvation. Maya Steinberg, a freshman at Boston University, is one of many to have witnessed the effects of the juice cleanse first hand.

Though originally created as a health plan designed for individuals with high blood pressure, the DASH Diet’s meal plan calls for a great deal of whole grains, vegetables and an optional, healthy calorie deficit that works to slim the waists of the DASH dieters.

“One of my friends had tried [juicing] three days before prom, but on the third day, right before the dance, she was so hungry and cranky to where she broke and ate everything sweet and fattening she had in her house. It was basically starvation with liquid kale so she couldn’t handle it,” Steinberg said. “She was miserable for the rest of the week about it, but went back on the cleanse about a month later. It’s a mindset some people have of not wanting to wait for results that makes these types of cleanses gain more popularity than they deserve.”

WOOF | spring 2015

With all the fad diets out there­—and seemingly limited success in accomplishing what they promise—it becomes clear that there’s not a one-diet-fits-all answer to leading a healthy life. Perhaps it should be the diets themselves that we should be cleansing from our systems.

PITCH PLEASE: High Notes Continue for Student A Cappella Group Written by Christie Macomber // Photos by Casey Brown It had been a long night. There had been a cramped commute and a tiring half hour set of singing; Northeastern Sophomore Casey Matsumoto was exhausted. As she descended the steps of the stage and made her way out of the Natick Center for the Arts auditorium with the other 10 members of her a cappella group, she felt a pair of small arms wrap tightly around her waist.

“You sang really good,” a young pigtailed fan whispered to Matsumoto as she hugged her. “You’re my favorite thing,” she whispered again before the young girl’s father called her back to her seat.

This, Matsumoto said, is why they sing.

Pitch Please, an all-women student a cappella group, was founded in the fall of 2012 by Northeastern senior Briana DeFillipis.

The group, that described itself as “powerful, strong, and fierce,” quickly gained traction among the campus a cappella circuit through its fiery renditions of pop songs like Jason Derulo’s “Other Side” and Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven.”

As one of two female a cappella groups at Northeastern, sophomore Music Director Emma Carleton discussed the challenges of competing against their co-ed counterparts.

“We just kind of try to be more fierce and represent powerful women, and not represent the ‘sit and be cute’ stereotype of an all-girls group,” said Carleton.

“We don’t get discriminated against within the university. But in a competition setting, people definitely have lower expectations for an all-women group,” said senior Leah Campbell, the group’s business manager.

“We’re proud of our femininity. We’re not ashamed to be an all-women group,” she said.

The group’s sparkly gold stilettos, a trademark of Pitch Please’s stage costume, are a reflection of the “fierce” attitude that the group strives to portray.

“We try to take things that we might be discriminated against for and we work with it and own it. That’s what the shoes really represent,” said Matsumoto, president of the group.

The Pitch Please’s success both onstage and off does not come without hard work.

“We do a ton of work, but when we go onstage and feel like we did really well, you feel really good about yourself. And the fact that you can experience that with your friends is a really good added element,” Carleton said.

While many students join extracurricular activities as a casual pastime, Pitch Please is a self-described “performance-driven group.”

However, dedication to their art is inherent in many of the group members, who said that joining Pitch Please gave them the opportunity to continue singing in a competitive setting, even though they chose not to study it at the college level.

“All of us sang in high school, and this group is a second chance for those who didn’t pursue music,” said Campbell.

“I spent a lot of time going back and forth about whether to go to school for music. This gives me a good outlet to still do what I had wanted to do,” said Carleton.

The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella is a highlight of the a cappella competition scene, the group said. In 2013 the group won the quarterfinal competition in the Northeast district and was the only all female group to place in the top 10 of all groups in the United States. Last year, the group placed fourth in the 2014 semifinal round of the competition.

Pitch Please has applied to compete at this year’s ICCA. The first round of the competition, quarterfinals, will be held at MIT. However, when it comes to competition within the university’s other a cappella groups, particularly the Nor’easters, Pitch Please members said there is only rivalry in jest. “We support each other, but there is playful competition,” said Vice President and Treasurer Anna Rose Schenerman. “We’re like siblings,” she added.

Matsumoto agreed, “At the end of the day, we are all part of Northeastern and we support each other,” she said.

PROTEIN BARS:

THE GOOD VS. THE BAD Written by Elif Kocdag // Photos by Willy Hlaing, Waiyan Min

The nutrition aisle of any grocery store is stocked with a plethora of protein bars, energy supplements and the latest health snacks all claiming to do what other foods cannot: give you wholesome nutrition, packed into a little convenient, on-the-go, easy to consume bar. Many, however, are essentially nothing more than glorified candy bars. To demystify the process of choosing the right bar, Woof Magazine is here to help‌ WOOF | spring 2015

Lifestyle // 9

“

Get your nutrients and energy from

real food ingredients and natural fiber, not the added stuff

“

—Dr. Rachele Pojednic

To start off, what precisely is a “protein bar”? Basically they are supplemental snacklike foods whose primary purpose is to provide a quick burst of energy and nutrition and to replace resources that are depleted through physical activity. They contain both simple and complex carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals.

degree in exercise physiology from Northeastern University.

“Consequently, sugar should be toward the bottom of the ingredient list. Whole grains and fruits add good sources of carbohydrates to the bar, and almonds, peanuts, cashews, flax, and chia seeds will give an all natural dose of protein with an added punch of fiber,” Pojednic added.

Early protein bars came into being about 20 years ago and had a high carbohydrate, low-fat makeup. These bars were marketed toward endurance athletes such as runners and bicyclists. Research has shown that carbohydrates may help athletes perform better, but it does not matter whether that source comes from a protein bar or a bowl of pasta.

It is best to avoid most cereal or high fiber bars. “Nutrigrain, FiberOne, and Powerbars aren’t really going to give the best nutritionbecause they are so highly processed,” Pojednic said.

Some better nutritious bars are Lärabars and Kind bars. The best bars,” Pojednic explained, “are the ones with ingredients you can actually see and recognize.” All Lärabars have less than nine whole food ingredients that can range from dates to unsweetened coconut. Kind bars are also made from real and recognizable ingredients. Both Lärabar and Kind bars are relatively inexpensive, retailing in the $2 range per bar. Most importantly, Pojednic emphasized, “Get your nutrients and energy from real food ingredients and natural fiber, not the added stuff!”

These bars are convenient—they satiate hunger on the go— and can be healthy—if the right one is chosen. Although the convenience factor of a bar that replaces actual food is tempting, most bars on the market resemble candy bars more than they do nutrition bars. Most are highly processed and contain added sugar, fat, and chemicals not conducive to a healthy lifestyle such as artificial colors and partially hydrogenated oils.

The main ingredient to avoid is added sugar,” said Dr. Rachele Pojednic, who holdsa PhD from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science as well as a Bachelor’s

WOOF | spring 2015

NEU

ENTREPRENEUR

SPINS TO SUCCESS Written by Monil Shah and Libby Leyden-Sussler // Photos by Suma Hussien

WOOF | spring 2015

At Northeastern there is

a strong value on entrepreneurial endeavors.

It begins with an entrepreneur’s passion, an idea from the heart, and the energy to pursue something he or she knows can become something amazing.

Luckily for those attending Northeastern, there is a program specifically intended to foster the growth of these projects— IDEA, “Northeastern’s Student-Run Venture Accelerator.” The program is divided into three steps. The first one is called the ready stage where ideas are given considerations, what makes this “idea” unique from the others that

came before. Then comes the set stage where coaches are assigned to each entrepreneur and guides them along the way. Finally, there is the GO stage where ideas are proposed to potential investors.

Using this program, a young entrepreneur and Northeastern University alum, Jessica Bashelor, kickstarted The Handle Bar, a boutique spin studio where the value is placed on community, music and having fun. In a Woof exclusive, we sat down with Bashelor to hear about her experience and discuss all things Handle Bar.

Cover Story // 11

Woof: Why did you decide to open up The Handle Bar? How is the “Handle Bar” experience different from other spin studios around Boston?

Jessica Bashelor: I opened The Handle Bar because I wanted to create a workout that I looked forward to going to. I love group fitness but I rarely was able to find a workout I loved that had good music. I opened The Handle Bar because I wanted to bring both aspects together. When I first opened last June there was a need for a good cycling studio in Boston. Since I opened there are about seven more cycling studios that opened so I really was on the cusp of what has now become a large trend in Boston fitness. What makes The Handle Bar unique is the sense of community.

I was able to give personality to our brand and built a community around working out for your body, mind and spirit while at the same time having fun and letting loose. I think The Handle Bar is place you will get to enjoy the music, community of people, have a quality ride, and at the same time let loose and have fun.

W: You attended Northeastern University.

What did you study and how did your experience as a Husky prepare you for owning your own business?

JB: I attended Northeastern in 2006 and graduated in 2010. I started with a major in communications but then switched and completed my degree in biology. While

at Northeastern I really got sparked with this entrepreneurial mindset. I utilized Northeastern’s IDEA program, a student incubator venture, to start the launch of The Handle Bar. I had a NEU student coach who gave me the resources to start my business plan going, a way to pitch to investors, how to understand finances and lawyers, etc. It was an invaluable resource as an alumn of NEU and I am thankful for the help it provided me.

W: What is your typical fitness and nutrition regime? What would you say are the biggest changes you can make in 2015 if you are looking to kickstart a healthy new year?

JB: Currently my regime is about 95 percent spin classes from The Handle Bar, but I will try and squeeze in a bootcamp, yoga or barre class to mix up my workouts. Since my job is in the health industry I don’t think too much about food or fitness since it is what I do for a profession. I think a studio fitness class is a perfect way to keep on track for a healthy new year because you sign up ahead of time and lock yourself into a schedule. Also working out with a friend makes it easy to stick to because you can flake on yourself but you are not going to flake on a friend. I think with “new years resolutions” etc. you need to start small rather than big; that way it is a realistic goal and you can stick to it.

W: Running your own business cannot be easy, how do you manage your personal and professional time and still manage to keep healthy?

JB: For myself, personal and professional constantly blend. Some of my closest friends are my The Handle Bar instructors and riders.

I am careful though that when I get home for the day to not check my email past a certain time.

W: What are three things that make a spin class such a good indoor workout?

JB: Music. At The Handle Bar, music drives the workout. The class is built around the rhythm and the beat. The ability to detach from the outside world. There is a lightshow when you workout, you get to let go, don’t have screens or monitors to look at, it is really just about enjoying yourself. It’s fun. Time flies, it’s a dance party on a bike and you are getting one of the most intense workouts.

WOOF | spring 2015

12 // Name Herre

The Rise of the YouTube Star

Fame in a Digital World Written by Jess Grill // Photos by Sophia Schonwetter

Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has allowed anyone with a video camera to share a piece of their life with the Internet—be it a video of their cat, their favorite recipe, or candid footage of hilarious accidents and pranks. Yet while most clips posted on YouTube go unnoticed, for many others YouTube is a gateway to fame, if only for a short period of time. For much of the Web 2.0. era, YouTube fame has appeared fairly innocuous. Early YouTube celebrities and “vloggers” largely got their start filming in their own homes; many of these would-be celebs went on to work normal 9 to 5 jobs like the rest of us. Nowadays, that isn’t the case. Take Grace Helbig, for example. Her fame is no longer confined to iPhones and laptops. In addition to producing the film Camp Takota, Grace will soon be appearing on her own E! TV show. Thanks to the explosion of social media and digital marketing, as well as our ever-merging virtual and physical worlds, YouTube is quickly paving the way for a new kind of celebrity to take over the entertainment industry.

Viral videos as we now know them came into play in the mid-to-late 2000s after Google’s acquisition of YouTube. The roster of early YouTube celebrities includes Chris Crocker, who gained notoriety after recording a video pleading for the world to “leave Britney alone!” You may also remember Fred, a hyperactive prepubescent boy portrayed by Lucas Cruikshank, and the Evolution of Dance, which packed years of cultural development into a six-minute clip. Today, nearly everybody has heard of YouTube. Over 6 billion people view YouTube videos each month and the limitless nature of the Internet means there’s something for everyone, from Roosterteeth’s gaming videos to Jenna Marbles’ hilarious commentary on everything, including but certainly not limited to rap music and annoying girls at the club.

WOOF | spring 2015

Not only is YouTube giving the entertainment field a boost, but YouTubers are playing a major role in helping social causes as well. Author John Green and his brother Hank (known on YouTube as the Vlogbrothers) are cofounders of a two-day charity event called Project for Awesome, which raised over $800,000 in 2013. This past summer, the concept of the viral video was used to raise awareness for ALS by encouraging both celebrities and everyday people to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge and donate money.

Despite the positive effect that YouTube and online celebrities have had on the world, the changing face of entertainment is not without its drawbacks. Possibly the greatest drawback is just how fleeting online fame can be. In an article for New York Magazine, Joe Coscarelli insists that “nothing about this new system is stable or permanent.” Just look at the short lived success of many of the Web’s earliest stars: plenty of them have once again faded into obscurity, with few exceptions. What Andy Warhol dubbed the ubiquitous “fifteen minutes of fame” has now shrunk even more: the average length of a YouTube video is just four minutes and twelve seconds. As we continue to gravitate towards content that is shorter and more fast-paced, everyone from YouTube video creators to professional advertisers has less and less time to make their mark on viewers before losing their audience’s attention.

Additionally, while the Internet once represented a distinct, independent subculture, today’s World Wide Web is widely commercialized. For businesses and marketers, this is great news: harnessing the power of online celebrities has enabled them to reach a new niche of customers and build celebrities as brands themselves. YouTube’s partnership program provides popular video creators with featured spots and extra customization options in exchange for ad space and revenue. LA-based startup DigiTour Media is bringing digital stars into the real world by sponsoring events featuring talented YouTubers. However, this type of commercialization is making it increasingly difficult for new talent to break into the mainstream. Rather than providing an outlet for lesserknown individuals to jumpstart their fame, the Internet’s entertainment landscape is rapidly becoming as competitive as the rest of Hollywood.

What’s next for the world of YouTube? For one, the popularity of mobile devices means that digital content is easier to access than ever. And as time goes on, the gap between traditional and new media will surely continue to shrink, giving YouTube stars such as Grace Helbig the chance to grow their fanbase across multiple platforms. “Congratulations to E! for giving an Internet-obsessed introvert a talk show,” Grace said in a recent interview discussing her upcoming show. “I’m looking forward to working with humans.”

WOOF | spring 2015

Best Museums in Boston:

Escaping the Cold One Museum at a Time Written by Katherine Friend Photos by Christopher Bubnov, Zoe Gregoric & Nicole Lacasse

Gone are the days when you can stroll by the reflecting pool, walk around Boston Harbor, or wander around Boston Commons. The frigid temperatures make even the best of us want to go into hibernation, waiting for spring to come. If you are one of those people, don’t worry: Boston is a city full of rich history.

While a lot of this history seems to be outside in the cold, with blustery winds and no heat, there are plenty of museums for students to go to and catch up on their culture.

WOOF | spring 2015

Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation:

Harvard Museum of Natural History:

If you are into the body and medicine, you can go to the Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation for free! Take a moment to take in the first place that identified appendicitis in 1886, first performed the reattachment of a severed limb in 1962 and many more medical firsts. There are many exhibits throughout, featuring the evolution of healthcare, a portrait gallery and more.

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is another worthy option to escape the cold. For the reduced price of $10 with your student ID, visitors can travel to another continent and experience foreign wildlife in the Africa exhibit.

Missing the beautiful colors and flower blossoms of spring? Visit the Glass Flowers exhibit and explore the 830 plant species on display. If exploring the creatures under the sea is your passion, visit the Sea Creatures in Glass exhibit and take in the 60 models of breathtakingly detailed sea creatures.

Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Address: 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 Travel Time: 20 minute T ride + 0.5 mile walk from the T stop Website: www.massgeneral.org/museum

Hours: Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Address: 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Travel Time: 35 minute T ride + 0.6 mile walk from the T stop Website: www.hmnh.harvard.edu

Entertainment // 15

Museum of Fine Arts:

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum:

Institute of Contemporary Art:

Located only blocks from the Northeastern campus, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is a great option for any cold day! Free for Northeastern students with their student ID, the MFA has a variety of exhibitions to experience. Go back in time and experience the glamour of old Hollywood in the Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry from the Silver Screen exhibit. According to undeclared freshman Rebecca Lafair, “The jewelry and dresses were breathtaking. It was fun to imagine wearing one of the dresses to a formal.” Get to know the famous stars from old Hollywood by visiting the Karsh Goes Hollywood exhibit. If landscape art is more up your alley, go to the Landscape Abstracted exhibit. Or if you’re intrigued by World War I and the propaganda surrounding it, visit the Over There! Posters from WWI exhibit. The MFA is an abundant resource of intriguing exhibitions to keep your mind sharp and your noses warm.

For just $5 with your student ID, get transported back to the Renaissance in the Donatello, Michelangelo, and Cellini: Sculptors’ Drawings from Renaissance Italy exhibit to experience the creation process of some of the greats. If contemporary art spikes your interest instead, spend time in the Nari Ward: Divination X exhibit. You will also be able to explore the different rooms of the house. Freshman engineering student Carter Newman shared, “I like being able to get to a new room and see all the artifacts and art in there, but then be able to see the garden through the windows.” If you are looking for a nice, quiet atmosphere, Carter said it is “a quiet place to read and the garden is great.”

If you prefer to observe more modern art, the Institute of Contemporary Art is the museum for you. Show your student ID to get the reduced price of $10 for your ticket or get in for free on Thursdays. Go to the Fotene Demoulas Gallery + Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser Gallery to experience art influenced by the art history of Brazil, especially its rich architectural history. Also visit the Kim and Jim Pallotta Gallery for art that explores social and political issues through several mediums of art. At the Sandra and Gerald Fineberg Art Wall, experience art in new dimensions and through the use of sight and sound.

Hours: Monday & Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Wednesday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 9:45 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Address: 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 Travel Time: 7-10 minute walk from campus Website: www.mfa.org

Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday until 9 p.m., Closed Tuesday Address: 25 Evans Way, Boston MA, 02115 Travel Time: 15 minute walk from campus Website: www.gardnermuseum.org

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Address: 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210 Travel Time: 30 minute T ride + 0.5 mile walk from the T stop Website: www.icaboston.org

This winter, catch up on your culture while escaping the cold. Impress your friends with your newfound knowledge while you thaw from the icy winter and transition into the beginnings of spring.

WOOF | spring 2015

16 // Focus

GOING GLOBAL with Matt Bilotti & Caitlin Morelli

Written by Hannah DeYoung // Photos by Joanna Odorisio

My computer screen comes to life and the image of your typical college student appears—decked out in a Northeastern quarter-zip, working in his dorm—except this is Matt Bilotti, ‘15, Skyping from London in between meeting with local entrepreneurs, co-ops and creating blog content as one of Northeastern President, Joseph Aoun’s, first Global Officers. As of January 21st, it’s only his fifth day outside America, but the reality of his new undertaking is already setting in.

“It’s been amazing. It feels like it has been two months, but it’s only been five days because I’ve done so much,” Bilotti said. “It’s just a big whirlwind of change and being thrown for a total loop in terms of what I’m used to.”

So far, Bilotti’s work has consisted of many meetings with interesting startup organizations in the area, accelerators, incubators, students, parents and alumni in order to better understand what their relationships are with Northeastern and how he can help improve them.

“It’s a lot of reporting back to Northeastern about the conversations [on how they could benefit from hiring coops and how the

WOOF | spring 2015

community feels] and what I learned from them, trying to pass on how we can improve our global community through that, and a lot of following up with people in general,” Bilotti said. “Booking my own flights, looking for housing, writing content, editing videos— it’s just a lot.”

Meanwhile, Caitlin Morelli, ‘16, sits in her temporary dorm across the world in Mumbai, between meeting with local social enterprises, co-ops, parents, alumni and of course, getting ready to jet off to Delhi in the morning.

“It has been what I expected and even better,” Morelli said, “From the second that I’ve gotten here people have just been really warm and super friendly.”

With alumni and Northeastern families greeting her each step of the way, Morelli says her transition into global life has been a relatively smooth one. The sheer number of projects she is now managing keeps her constantly moving, but Morelli speaks highly of how valuable her first few days have been. She is already developing social media strategies to better personally communicate what the sites she visits are really like, as well as engage the Northeastern community along the way.

Focus // 17

From Amsterdam to Dublin and India to Thailand, the next three months of travel that Bilotti and Morelli have planned are sure to set the tone for the rest of their time as Global Officers. With a 407 percent increase in global coops since 2006– 2007, it’s clear the university has made increasing global opportunities for students a huge priority in recent years. As Global Officers, Morelli and Bilotti appear to be the manifestation of that effort.

Additionally, when you hear what each of them have already accomplished while at Northeastern, it becomes clear why they were chosen out of the entire student body.

Bilotti was the president of the Entrepreneur’s Club and has helped bring a number of startups and projects to life, including Sidekick

by HubSpot, along with setting up his own international co-op long before being chosen as a GO.

Morelli went on a dialogue in Bali her freshman year. She then went on to work for the Canadian Consulate in both Boston and Cape Town, working on social development programs for nine months. It’s evident Bilotti and Morelli not only know what they are talking about, but also are extremely passionate about their respective fields.

To keep in touch with her on-campus supervisor, Morelli makes a point of Skyping once a week, and communicates as needed with various department contacts along the way. She responds to 150 emails every day.

Aoun as a boss? According to Morelli, Aoun is great at giving high-level strategy direction.

“The Administration has been such superstars,” Morelli said. “I think I’ve met everyone at Northeastern.”

Bilotti and Morelli also speak highly of having one another to go through the experience with, though their paths will only overlap at the Empower Dubai event in March. By texting and emailing as frequently as the time difference allows, they swap stories and tips while facing the realities of being abroad on their own.

Both Morelli and Bilotti’s greatest hope is to be able to see the impacts of the work they’re doing down the line. Seeing students

“I decided that I was going to co-op in Berlin so I created my own co-op with a start-up there,” Bilotti said. “It’s not like you necessarily need to feel constrained by the options that Northeastern offers. The university has so many options, but you can create your own which is such a wonderful thing to do. It really can teach you a lot about what the real world is like.”

There’s a new mindset & new perspective that comes with leaving the United States and being in a different environment in the positions they have created, finding their dream careers and making enough connections and memories to last a lifetime will make it all worth it.

Still on the fence about studying or co-oping abroad?

“100 percent do it,” Bilotti said. “There’s a new mindset and new perspective that comes with leaving the United States and being in a different environment where people see the world differently. They have grown up with an entirely different set of circumstances than you have and it really makes you understand that there’s a lot out there and a lot of different [types of] people. While Boston and Northeastern are extremely diverse places, actually living in those cultures with your peers is something entirely different than having your peers living in your culture.”

The best part? Bilotti and Morelli completely control what they post on the blog and their social media outlets, so you can be sure what they are saying about their experiences is true.

If you want to see them explore the next city they’re going to, or answer your questions about living abroad, they say all you have to do is ask.

Get involved and follow all of their international adventures at www.northeastern.edu/go and @globalofficers on Instagram.

WOOF | spring 2015

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Written by Andie Scibetta // Photos by Wyatt Warrell

At the second annual Northeastern Battle of the Bands, staged in November, punk-rock band Dinoczar took home the winning title.

Held in AfterHOURS, Battle of the Bands is a yearly event organized by the on campus music industry club Live Music Association.

Dinoczar put on a great performance at the campus venue as the members competed for the title of best band on campus against other Northeastern student groups. The lineup of the event included performances from five other bands including Gerald Field, Blindspot, Tipling Rock, Manni Festo and Anjimile.

WOOF | spring 2015

“We try to keep it not too dark,” said Dunne, while describing Dinoczar’s style as “fuzzy garage” and “loud punk rock.”

Jake Cardinal

Dinoczar consists of guitarist and vocalist Paul Dunne, drummer and back-up vocalist Aaron Swartz and bassist Jake Cardinal. Dunne and Swartz are both in their fourth year at Northeastern, while Cardinal is a sophomore. Dunne and Swartz, originally from Laguna Beach, Calif.

Cardinal is from Leominster, Mass.

All of the band members were involved with music in high school. Dunne and Swartz often spent time playing music together. Cardinal was in his school’s jazz band, and also spent some time playing with a Blink-182 and Green Day cover band. Before he began playing bass for Dinoczar, Cardinal played guitar.

“Jake was in one of my classes and he looked like a cool guy so I approached him,” said Swartz.

Cardinal joined them and the band was officially formed in late October of 2013. Dinoczar played their first show together in AfterHOURS shortly after. One of the challenges the band faced last spring, just a few months after they first started, was being away from each other as Swartz took a co-op position outside of Boston. The band is excited to now have a full year to be together and believe this is a big year for them.

As for their musical influence the members cite the garage music scene in Southern California as well as 60’s pop music and Twin Peaks, a television show from the early 90s.

Aaron Swartz

“We try to keep it not too dark,” said Dunne, while describing Dinoczar’s style as “fuzzy garage” and “loud punk rock.”

Most of Dinoczar’s sets generally consist of a series of original songs followed by a cover, usually of a Black Sabbath song. The band enjoys having quirky pictures on stage while they perform and mentioned that one of their favorites is a picture of Jesus in a windbreaker.

Dinoczar has played and performed in many Boston venues, but the members say that basement shows put on by other bands are their favorite. So far, Dinoczar has released two EPs in the form of cassettes.

The band has recently played in many shows but plans to sit down and record more in the upcoming months.

Dinoczar recorded their most recent EP using Converse Rubber Tracks, a program that allows bands to send in demos and get approved to record at the Converse Rubber Tracks studio for free for a couple days.

Paul Dunne WOOF | spring 2015

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