WOOF ISSUE 9

Name Here // 1

kim v. food One brave woman up against ten dangerously hot wings

portrait of respect Art that talks back to street harassment

whole foods on a budget Tips and tricks for shopping smartly

take the plunge with waylz A new financial app created

by Northeastern graduates

WOOF | fall 2014

PRESIDENTs Kristen McCleary & Liam Synan

EDITORs-IN-CHIEF

Jamie Ducharme, Shelby Sih & Kelsey Zimmerer

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Cara McGrath & Erinn Scammon

MARKETING DIRECTOR Sofia Rojo del Busto

treasurer

Chris Benevento

webmaster

Hannah DeYoung

Social media director Jordan Mandell

18

WEb Photo Director Katie Williams

Section EDITORS

Chris Benevento, Lautaro Grinspan, Scott Oldano & Monica Vallejo

Copy editor Alexandra Forzato

WRITERS

Mariam AlMarzouq, Allison Hanley, Delaney Lanker, Kim Mecca, Rachel Petri, Andie Scibetta, Corlyn Voorhees, Rowan Walrath & Natalie Warther

DESIGNERS

Michelle Balaban, Sami Bartlett, Leah Corbett, McKenna Curtis, Lautaro Grinspan, Michele Lee & Courtney Springer

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alli Anastas, Leah Corbett, Zoe Gregoric, Jackie Keffas & Joanna Odorisio Cover Photography by Joanna Odorisio

WOOF | fall 2014

04

06

09

17

CONTENTS front

Culture

COver Story

Bon Appetit

Focus

04 Whole Foods on a Budget 05 Bye Boston 06 New Clubs on Campus

09 Portrait of Respect 10 Take the Plunge with Waylz

11 Kim v. Food

14 More NU Students Go Gluten Free

17 Columbus 2.0 18 Women & STEM Careers

interested in joining our staff?

EMAIL US |

nuwoof@gmail.com

Visit our site | woof-mag.com WOOF | fall 2014

4 // Front

WHOLE FOODS on a Budget

Written by Natalie Warther // Photos by Zoe Gregoris

f you’re like most students, you’ve broken into fall after a long summer of collecting healthy Pinterest recipes and making promises to yourself about cooking more Instagram-worthy meals.

Using a simple veggie stir-fry as your guiding light, you make your list and eagerly head to Whole Foods to gather a week’s worth of healthy groceries.

Things change quickly upon arrival, however, starting with the obscurely shaped fruits named after star signs in the produce aisle. By the time you make it to the snack aisle, things get really ugly. Everything smells like almond butter and sunshine. There’s no hope. What’s that? Spirulina algae makes your skin softer? How have you lived without it for so long? This goes on so long you almost black out by the soy yogurts, and by the time you’re halfway through checkout you’re a sweaty hopeless mess drowning in Aztec super-food powders and redbor kale. You venture home, defeated, as a trail of goji berries falls from one of your $10 recyclable shopping bags. I am here to tell you your days of panic attacks in the organic chips aisle are over. You can get through the checkout with a full week of groceries for no more than $40 and yes, that even includes the occasional bottle of kombucha. As a healthy-living and cooking enthusiast, I have developed a few insider tricks to keep myself in line, without sacrificing the quality of my food.

WOOF | fall 2014

Front // 5

01 07

MAKE YOUR LIST & STICK TO IT Write down a list of the absolute necessities first, then allow yourself a few extras. It helps to have the same start to your list every week, consisting of 10 or so staples. Purchasing the same core ingredients every week makes it much easier to avoid humiliating breakdowns in the checkout aisle.

02 COOK THINGS IN BULK FOR THE WEEK Making one large batch of something that can be converted into different meals throughout the week is cost effective. For example, a big quinoa or rice salad can easily be eaten hot, cold, in a salad, in a wrap or then made into a soup. Remember, any leftovers can always be frozen.

03 GO FOR THE BASKET, NOT THE CART The spatial and weight restrictions of a basket can help keep you on track. As soon as your basket is full and your arm starts to hurt, you know it’s time to flee.

FROZEN VEGGIES

04

Another way to save a few bucks is by going for frozen veggies over fresh ones. Don’t worry about losing nutritional content — frozen veggies are proven to have just as many health benefits as their fresh counterparts.

PAY ATTENTION TO SALES Whole Foods often advertises what sales it is running on a large chalkboard outside the store. Take a minute to read it.

05 COUPONS The stay-at-home moms on TLC’s hit reality show “Extreme Couponing” might just be onto something. Whole Foods has stacks of coupon books at the end of each register with great weekly deals. These can be especially helpful when buying meat and higher-priced specialty foods.

06 NUT BUTTERS There’s a secret section in the back of the store with large, medieval wheel contraptions. Surprise! These devices are actually for crushing nuts into homemade nut butter, not for breaking fingers. Because nut butter costs per pound, it can be a cheaper option if you only need a small amount, rather than paying for a larger, pre-packaged and processed container.

08 KNOW WHEN TO GO ORGANIC AND WHEN TO SKIP IT Many fruits and vegetables with skin that is typically eaten are exposed to a dangerous amount of pesticides. These foods are worth buying organic, because they are exposed to fewer chemicals. Fruits and vegetables with skins that are typically removed, however, do not necessarily have to be organic.

SUPER SECRET INSIDER INFORMATION If you’re sly enough about it, you can make a sufficient mini-meal out of doing laps through the aisles of samples during high-traffic shopping times. The prime times for samples are the afternoon hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday around 6 p.m. If you play it right, you can leave with a decently full stomach full of cheese, popcorn and avocado ice cream.

WOOF | fall 2014

6 // Front

BYE, BOSTON: FOUR EASY NEW ENGLAND GETAWAYS Written by Rachel Petri // Photos by Katie Williams

No matter how much you love Boston, your routine can quickly become stale if you spend every weekend doing the same things and seeing the same sights. To keep Boston fresh, change your perspective and get away. Here are four cheap, easy and quick weekend getaways to take this year—all only a bus, train or boat trip away.

BURLINGTON, V.T.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

Find out why people love New England.

Sink your teeth into the bustling life of The Big Apple.

Miles from home: 216

Miles from home: 215

Transportation: Ride Megabus for about $40 round trip. Hop on the bus at South Station and buckle up for a four-and-a-half-hour ride.

Transportation: Once again, Megabus will take you there in just about four hours for $40.

Accommodations: Use Hotwire before you leave ($100 per night).

A cheaper option, The Burlington Hostel ($40 per night), is centrally located, easy and cheap. Or, if you are lucky enough to know someone at UVM, their floor is always a nice option (free).

Accommodations: You can be sure to find something cheap on hostelworld.com. Keep an eye out for The Bowery House ($70 per night), noted for its stylish vibe.

What to do: Start your day at Skinny Pancake for breakfast. Then, take a leisurely stroll down Church Street. Maybe hike around Lake Champlain or ski at Stowe. Head down to the water and find a Lake Champlain cruise.

Check out the Magic Hat Brewery. Devour some American Flatbread Pizza. Stay true to your Irish roots at Ri Ra the Irish Pub. Or maybe crash a University of Vermont party by night, if you aren’t too tired yet.

What to do: Enjoy a sangria brunch at Calle Ocho. See the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and the Empire State Building. Go sample sale shopping. Practice your swing at Chelsea Pier’s driving range. Lounge in Central Park. Walk on the High Line. Find lunch in Chelsea Market.

Be a part of the live audience for the Colbert Report. Go to Mad 46 for happy hour with a view. Go back in time to the burlesque-inspired Slipper Room.

PROVINCETOWN, M.A.

DAY TRIP TO SALEM, M.A.

Go back to summer for a weekend in “Ptown.”

Home to the Salem Witch Trials, it is the perfect place to spend a day in the fall.

Miles from home: 115 Transportation: Take a scenic 90-minute Bay State Cruise boat from 200 Seaport Blvd. for $88 round trip.

Accommodations: With a phenomenal location, the Provincetown Inn is the best you will get for about $70. (Tip: It gets cheaper the further you are from summer).

What to do: For breakfast try Cafe Heaven. Stroll down Commercial Street with its many restaurants, boutiques and inns. Rent a bike and ride the Province Lands Trail to the beach. Lounge or walk down the sandy strips and dunes. Be sure to check out the eclectic nightlife, from casual drinks to packed bars like Atlantic House.

WOOF | fall 2014

Miles from home: 25 Transportation: Use the commuter rail Newburyport/Rockport line from North Station to arrive in half an hour, for just $10.

What to do: Explore the Salem Open Market. Go to a psychic reading.

Get scared at a haunted house. Try the cider at Far From the Tree. Get some magic at Artemisia Botanicals. Dance in the streets at the concerts on stages set up around town on Oct. 31. It’s the perfect place to get in the Halloween spirit, no matter the date.

Front // 7

New Clubs on Campus Written by Corlyn Voorhees For many students, going back to school in the fall means more than just returning to classes. With over 340 students clubs and organizations active on campus, there is an array of options available to cater to everyone’s hobbies and interests. While many of these organizations have been rooted in the Northeastern community for decades, there are a few new to campus this fall, including FeelGood, the Northeastern University Billiards Club and the Northeastern University Cubing Association.

Started by fourth-year students Kayla Friedlander, Kimberly Izar and Cecily Brady, Northeastern’s FeelGood is one of 24 chapters across the United States, all of which aim to end world hunger by 2030.

“What we do is we make grilled cheese in exchange for donations,” Friedlander says.

“100 percent of our proceeds go to our partner organizations, all revolving around inspiring people in poverty to rise out of their situation. Instead of just giving them food, we’re giving them opportunities to get out of this. We’re educators and the grilled cheese is our tool to start a conversation about world hunger and what we can do to change that.”

For Northeastern pool players, the Northeastern Billiards Club, started by second-year students Utkarsh Goyal and Brian Jacobus, aims to create a competitive atmosphere for players to improve and play against each other and other schools. “Our vision is just to get everyone more engaged and to foster the passion,” says freshman member Ryan Ng. Goyal says the club hopes to hold practices at Jillian’s and Lucky Strike Lanes.

“We’d just like to create a fun new club where people can come to relieve stress, make new friends and generally have a good time,” he says.

FEELGOOD

“I think the focus will be competing against yourself, but what interests me is having a more regular competition-style environment,” Haber says.

Haller and Haber, who can both solve a Rubik’s cube in about 16 to 17 seconds, hope to put on some public events to raise awareness for their club, including a competition in Curry Student Center and a “learn the Rubik’s cube” event.

“It’s a fun hobby and I don’t want it to get lost,” Haller says. “I know we enjoy cubing and we know there are probably others who do too.”

FeelGood also plans to launch a delivery service where students can donate money to receive a grilled cheese anywhere on campus.

“100 percent of our proceeds go to our partner organizations, all revolving around inspiring people in poverty to rise out of their situation.”

Fourth-year students and roommates Scott Haller and Lucas Haber founded the Northeastern University Cubing Association with the goal of both holding competitions on campus and travelling,

“Our vision is just to get everyone more engaged and to foster the passion.”

NORTHEASTERN BILLARDS CLUB

“I think the focus will be competing against yourself, but what interests me is having a more regular competition-style environment.”

UNIVERSITY CUBING ASSOCIATION WOOF | fall 2014

po r tr ile sm smile

sm ile

ile sm ile ile

sm

smile sm

ile sm

ile sm

ile

sm sm smsmilile ile ile e

le smile ile sm

e

sm sm il ilee

smile

ile sm

ile sm

ile sm smile

smile smile

smile

smile

ile ile

sm ile

smile

b

sm ile

ile

sm

en

itt Wr

n

iso

ll yA

ley

n Ha

ile

smile

ile

ile sm

smil ile

ile sm

sm

ile sm

ile sm

sm

sm ile smile

ile sm

smile

sm

ile

ile sm

ile sm

smsmile ileile

sm

smile

ile sm

ile sm

ile sm

ile

smile smile

sm ile

smile ssmmii smile sm sm le

sm ile

sm ile

sm smile

smile

sm ile

s

smile

sm ile

sm i smle ile

sm ile

sm ile

i smilesmlilee ile sm

ile sm

sm

sm

ile sm

ile

ile

sm

ile sm

ile sm

sm smsmile ile ile

smileile

smile

ile smsmile

sm

ile sm

ile

smile e il

sm

sm ile

ile sm

ile

ilesm

sm

ile

ile sm ile sm ile sm

sm

ile sm

sm

ilemile se il sm sm

ile

ile sm

ililee smsm

ile

smile

sm ile

smmile isle m

smil sm e ile

sm

smile smile

sm sm

ile sm

ile sm

ile sm smile

sm

smileile

ile sm

s

oto

smile

sm ile

smsm smileil ile e

sm smileile ilesmile

ile sm

smile smile

smile

smile

sm ile

smile sm

ile sm

ile

sm ile

ile sm

ile

ile sm

ile sm

smile

sm

smile

e mil ile sm ile sm

s

smile

e

sm ile

ile sm

WOOF | fall 2014

ile

ile

ile sm

sm

sm

smile smile

smile

ile sm

smil sm ile

ile sm

smile

ile

sm

ile sm

smile

ile

smil e

smile

ile sm

ile sm

ile sm

ile sm ile sm ile sm

smile

smile

le mi

smile

ile

sm ile

sm

smile

sm

ile

ile

ile sm

smsm ile

le ile sm

ile sm

f t o

i sm ile sm

ile sm

ile sm

E R sm

s ssmsmile

s ile sm

ai

le mmi ile ile sm

ile

sm

ile sm ile sm

h // P

E P

T C

ett

h

ea

L by

rb Co

“Hey, baby.”

Those two small words can almost immediately provoke an unsettling feeling— heart races, cheeks flush and a sense of panic fills the air. This is one passage into womanhood that no little girl dreams of: the first time she gets harassed on the street.

“Street harassment cuts across race, age and socioeconomic class,” says Greg Goodale, associate dean of Northeastern’s communication studies department. “[Street harassment] makes women feel threatened and physically unsafe. That drains brainpower.

Men do not have to occupy that part of the brain that worries about walking home.”

One woman spending quite a bit of brainpower on the issue of street harassment is Brooklyn-based artist Tatyana Falalizadeh, who recently came to Northeastern to speak about her street art series “Stop Telling Women to Smile.” Her project speaks out against gender-based street harassment in hopes of making the simple act of walking in public free of intimidation.

“It was my way of speaking back to my harassers—guys who say things to me on the street that are unwelcome, unwanted, aggressive, assertive and really make you feel uncomfortable,” Falalizadeh says of her campaign.

Falalizadeh’s work hinges on creating portraits of victims and captioning them with a quote or saying speaking out to harassers as a way to give women a platform to speak out against harassment. Captions include things such as, “Harassing women does not prove your masculinity”; “My name is not baby”; and “Women are not seeking your validation.”

Her work can now be seen on the face of

the Latino Student Cultural Center and lining surrounding academic buildings on campus.

Falalizadeh also took part in a block party on Centennial Common on Oct. 7, which was also attended by various outreach programs such as the Social Justice Resource Center, Girls’ LEAP and campus safety.

Hollaback!, an international movement to end street harassment, 67 percent of students surveyed reported being harassed on their campuses. The data also shows that victims of campus harassment reported difficulty concentrating in class, lower GPAs and reluctance to participate in social functions.

A particularly poignant moment from the block party came when President Aoun showed his support for the cause by holding up a sign with the phrases, “#it’sonus” and “NURespect,” a term coined as the theme for the event. That day, Twitter and Instagram were ablaze with the hashtag as students shared Falalizadeh’s message with their friends and followers.

Britni de la Cretaz, a co-founder of Hollaback! Boston, says that bystanders can intervene in many different ways to curtail street harassment.

Assistant professor of communication studies Sarah Jackson, whose research focuses on how social and political identities are constructed in the public sphere, helped bring Falalizadeh to campus. “We thought our students would be very interested in the role art can play in issues surrounding social change,” she says.

She was right. Julia Edgar, a sophomore who was able to meet Falalizadeh, voiced her support for the cause. “I love how Tatyana is increasing awareness about street harassment, because it’s an issue not a lot of people take seriously,” Edgar says. “Tatyana told us stories of women she’s interviewed who had either experienced sexual assault or physical fights because of street harassment.”

It’s not just the women Falalizadeh has interviewed that have experienced street harassment. According to data collected by

“It can be as simple as saying, ‘Hey, don’t talk to them like that,’ or creating a distraction to allow the target of the harassment to disengage,” de la Cretaz suggests.

“Asking someone if they’re okay after an incident of harassment can also be effective, and is great for people who don’t feel safe jumping into an incident.”

In a world where girls are told they can do anything they want, it seems like a particularly backward phenomenon that street harassment is still such a prevalent issue. “It is worse now than it was 40 years ago…people used to be more polite,” communications professor Goodale says.

Goodale says he hopes that Falalizadeh’s visit to campus will help combat the issue of street harassment on Northeastern’s campus.

“Her posters,” he says, “will line both sides of Forsyth Avenue, reminding bystanders to speak up.”

WOOF | fall 2014

10 // Culture

TAKE THE PLUNGE WITH

Waylz Written by Mariam AlMarzouq

For many people, the financial world is daunting. Enter Waylz, an app that allows you to get involved in the market without risking any money.

Waylz was created by 2014 Northeastern graduates Fawaz AlObaid, Balazs Sarkany and Ahmad AlKhaled, with the goal of correcting common misconceptions about financial markets. Often considered risky, boring or difficult to understand, financial markets tend to have a tainted reputation among individuals who are not familiar with the business world.

The three business graduates wanted to change that perception.

Waylz, which will soon be available on the app store, brings a real-life financial market to users’ hands and allows them to experiment with investments without losing a penny. Set up for players to compete with their friends and other individuals around the world, Waylz enhances users’ knowledge about the business world. “Users have the benefits of learning about the industry that governs our world and economy in a fun way by competing against their friends and people at the same knowledge level,” AlKhaled says.

Players gain the satisfaction of challenging their friends and eventually making more money in the game, allowing individuals to learn skills that they can apply to the real world. Aside from the valuable learning experience gained from Waylz, users are also able to exchange their virtual points for t-shirts and other applications.

WOOF | fall 2014

Once logged in, users can challenge their Facebook friends and top performers on the U.S. Equity and Forex markets to an investment “game.” Then, he selects either the Equity or Forex market, makes an investment with the game’s coin currency, picks a timeline and selects the company or currency he would like to put a price estimate to. Once selected, a simple tap of a finger allows the user to submit his price estimate, and make his first investment. “It takes one click to sign in and 30 seconds to know how to use the app,” AlObaid explains.

The name Waylz, the founders explain, comes from the term “Whale of the Industry.” In the finance industry, the highest-achieving players are referred to as whales. For their app, the three entrepreneurs simplified and altered the name to Waylz.

The founders stress that Waylz is meant for both individuals who lack knowledge of the investment world and professionals alike.

Through Waylz, those with little experience can familiarize themselves with the markets, learn about them, challenge others and become better investors. Professionals who know about the industry, on the other hand, can use this application to prove that they are the best. “Waylz is created for people who want to measure their knowledge against their friends and others to improve themselves and prove their knowledge,” Sarkany says.

Name Here // 11

Written [and eaten] by Kim Mecca // Photos by Joanna Odorisio

KIM V. FOOD

WOOF | fall 2014

12 // Cover Story

“I embarked on a quest to defeat one of mankind’s greatest yet deadliest creations” There’s something special about watching Adam Richman, star of Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food,” completely devour everything from a five-pound burger loaded with bacon and cheese to 10 pieces of dangerously spicy sushi. His battles with food have inspired me to take on a challenge of my own, one that the great Adam Richman has never attempted. I embarked on a quest to defeat one of mankind’s greatest yet deadliest creations: Atomic Chicken Wings. I decided I would attempt to eat 10 wings smothered in a sauce created from the world’s hottest chili peppers from Vito’s Tavern. I had never tried Vito’s wings so I turned to the trusty Internet to dig up some information.

Unfortunately for me, I found only two souls who had attempted the

challenge and documented their experience online. One admitted that he completely failed after only chowing down on one wing. The other competitor, however, achieved victory in what he claimed to be a pretty easy challenge.

With a pretty uneventful research phase behind me, all that was left was to take on the Atomic Wing Challenge. On Oct. 1, I ventured to Salem Street in search of these wicked wings.

I entered the tavern to find a relatively small and quaint space—well, quaint for 3 p.m. on a Wednesday. Upon entry, I met a very friendly hostess who was eager to answer any and all questions I had about the Atomic Wing Challenge. She said that five to 10 people attempt the challenge each week and, in total, 80 to 90 percent of all attempters succeed. Pretty impressive, I must admit.

After discussing some history, the hostess told me some secrets of the wings. The wings are doused in sauce that contains jalapenos, scorpion peppers, dry roasted Mexican chile and mandarin juice. Yes, orange juice. She must have known from my quizzical look that this ingredient sounded completely wrong in a hot wing sauce recipe, but she said that the juice adds some sweetness to the wings. And with that, it was time to take on the challenge.

First, the rules: 10 atomic wings in 10 minutes, no dips, no other food and the only drink allowed is water. As I sat in my booth awaiting the wings, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I had volunteered myself for a painful and unpleasant experience. But all of those thoughts fell into oblivion when the waitress brought out the plate of wings.

WOOF | fall 2014

Cover Story // 13

Upon first glance, these wings, arranged delicately on the plate, didn’t look menacing with their golden, crisp skin and sauce of a color reminiscent of pumpkins. Once she put the plate in front of me, I could smell the pungent scent of the wings, an interesting cross between curry and red pepper flakes.

I stared down my foe with napkin in my lap and water to my right. After a quick photo shoot of the wings and me and a countdown, I began to tear into these atomic wings.

Wing 1: Okay. This isn’t that bad. They really aren’t that spicy. They are quite chewy though.

Wing 2: You got this, Kim. You got this. First wing was a little chewy, but you got it. Maybe if you rip the meat off the bone, you will rub some sauce off onto your hands and therefore have to eat less of it. Good strategy. Good strategy.

Wing 3: Oh. My. God. My mouth is on fire. My lips are burning, my mouth is burning. This is really starting to suck. Oh, what’s this? Tears have begun. I repeat, tears have begun. Tears stream…down your face…

Wing 4: Holy crap. Holy crap. This is so bad. My mouth is going numb. I cannot feel my lips. My mouth is burning so bad. And I still can’t chew these wings.

Where is this mandarin juice she told me about?

Wing 5: Four minutes left. This isn’t going to happen.

I might have to accept defeat. I can’t feel my mouth.

I cannot feel my mouth. And I’m crying. In public.

also blazing hot. In order to take down this challenge, one must have a very high spice tolerance and a lot of willpower.

If wing challenges aren’t for you, Boston has plenty of other opportunities for competitive eaters or for people simply looking for a challenge. Some include the Eagle’s Deli Challenge, a burger and fries challenge featured on Man v. Food; Sal’s Pizza Challenge, a threepound timed pizza challenge; and Mass Ave Tavern’s six-pound pancake challenge. If any of these challenges are completed, the winner gets the meal for free.

How about that, college students? Start working up those appetites and take on some local eating challenges. Your success could mean never having to pay for food again. As for me, I’m going to take a break from food challenges—but I have to admit, that pancake challenge sounds pretty tempting.

Vito’s Atomic Wing Challenge is $15 at Vito’s Tavern, 54 Salem St., Boston; vitostavern.com.

Defeat. My challenge ended there. I still had three minutes on the clock, so I just sat and tried to deal with the overwhelming spice and pain overtaking my mouth. I think I drank at least 40 ounces of water trying to deal with the burning.

Even though I failed the Atomic Wing Challenge, it was a very entertaining experience and I now have a funny story to share. To anyone looking to attempt this challenge, I recommend pulling the meat off the bones before eating it. By doing this, you’re rubbing some sauce off the meat and also cooling the meat down temperature-wise. Did I ever mention that? The wings were not only incredibly spicy, but they were WOOF | fall 2014

14 // Bon Appetit

MORE NU STUDENTS GO

GLUTEN FREE Written by Delaney Lanker // Photos by Jackie Keffas

Just because pop singer Miley Cyrus went gluten-free doesn’t mean you should too.

It is not just people with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance that are driving the glutenfree market, but also people who choose to eliminate gluten from their diets for no medical reason. This includes many celebrities like Cyrus and Victoria Beckham, who said they have lost weight and feel healthier without gluten in their diets, according to ABC News.

WOOF | fall 2014

However, this may not be a better diet for many people according to many professionals.

“Since going gluten-free, I’ve been forced to eat a lot more fruits, vegetables and proteins, and I feel amazing,” says Northeastern sophomore Kristen Carlstrom. “I have a lot more energy, which makes my workouts better and my overall attitude better.”

Carlstrom’s sister and mother eat glutenfree, so she decided to try the diet out.

Despite the positive results people feel when cutting gluten from their diet, it may not be the healthiest option for them says

Northeastern diving coach Lauren Colby, who is in the process of becoming a certified dietary nutritionist.

“All diets have risks and a lot of people who think gluten-free is healthier don’t realize that by cutting out gluten they are missing out on a lot of vitamins and minerals that a lot of wheat products provide, such as B vitamins and fiber,” Colby says. “Gluten is just a protein found in wheat products; it is not bad for you.”

Bon Appetit // 15

Because going gluten-free has become a trend, the gluten-free market has grown 44 percent from 2011 to 2013 and is predicted to reach sales of $15.6 billion in 2016, according to the market research company Mintel.

Natalie Evans, a Northeastern sophomore, also went gluten-free at the end of the summer in search of a change from the bread, meat and cheese that her diet consisted of.

“I really enjoy learning to cook gluten-free and the challenges that come with trying to cook in a healthier way,” Evans says.

According to Mintel, 22 percent of people believe gluten is unhealthy, which is one of the main factors contributing to the trend.

One quarter of respondents ages 18 to 24 are eating gluten-free, and despite the views of some experts, many young consumers still believe gluten-free foods are healthier.

“I’ve done a lot of research on the harmful effects of gluten, especially in the book “Grain Brain,” which talks about how gluten harms your brain and capabilities,” Evans says.

“Grain Brain,” written by neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, says that carbs are destroying your brain and can cause dementia, ADHD, anxiety and depression.

“People assume that since you can’t eat bagels and pasta on a gluten-free diet, it is a low-carb diet and it must be healthier, but in reality you can eat a very healthy diet while eating wheat products,” Colby says.

Megan Foran, a fourth-year student, shares a similar view.

“If you decide to go gluten-free to be healthier, lose weight or cut carbs, it might not be the best option for you,” Foran says. “While gluten-free bread and pretzels may not have gluten, they may have other things in them to make them look and taste better but may raise the levels of fat or sugar.”

Foran also follows a gluten-free diet, though not by choice. Foran has a history of stomach issues and high thyroid levels; eating gluten only raised these levels, with the potential of causing more issues in the future. Her doctor recommended that she cut gluten out of her diet.

The rise in popularity of the gluten-free community has benefited those who need to eat gluten-free for medical reasons.

“There are benefits of going gluten-free being a fad because now there are whole aisles in grocery stores dedicated to glutenfree foods,” Foran said. “If something is certifiably gluten-free it will say so on the front or back of the package, so it is easier for me to find those foods. Even some restaurants have a gluten-free menu or gluten-free kitchen.”

“I’m enjoying life without it,” Evans said.

“It feels great in your body and great in your mind.”

“Since going gluten-free, I’ve been forced to eat a lot more fruits, vegetables and proteins, and I feel amazing.”

WOOF | fall 2014

16 // Focus

COLUMBUS 2.0 How Northeastern is Changing One of Boston’s Oldest Streets Written by Andie Scibetta and Lautaro Grinspan // Photos by Alli Anastas

A

noteworthy cast of characters descended upon the Ruggles Station on the morning of Sept. 15. Attendees included Northeastern President Joseph Aoun, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Sec­re­tary of Trans­porta­tion Anthony Foxx and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, among others. They were there to announce and celebrate the reception of a federal grant that will provide a much-need renovation to the bustling station.

Thanks in part to the efforts of Northeastern and President Aoun, the link between the university’s main campus and its affiliated buildings on Columbus Avenue is now set to receive a facelift, to the tune of approximately $20 million.

Although Northeastern will contribute some funding toward the renovation project, a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (or TIGER) grant will be footing the majority of the bill. Projected improvements include new elevators, a new 800-foot commuter rail platform and updates to lighting and signage, along with increased capacity and better access to the station.

At the announcement ceremony, the public officials in attendance stood united in their conviction that a new-and-improved Ruggles will benefit the neighboring community, bringing more job opportunities and improving transit capacity. “If this community is vibrant, we are vibrant. We are here to make a commitment on behalf of Northeastern:

WOOF | fall 2014

More jobs will be dedicated to Roxbury,” President Aoun said at the ceremony.

As many Northeastern students know, this isn’t the university’s first foray into the Columbus Avenue Corridor. The area is, after all, peppered with various buildings belonging to the school. In addition to the massive, $175 million International Village complex, which was completed in 2009, Columbus Avenue boasts Northeastern property ranging from a parking garage and the Renaissance Park office building to numerous residence halls, such as Davenport A and B, as well as the aptly named Columbus Place building. Northeastern’s connection to the Columbus Avenue neighborhood is also set to continue with the construction of a $225 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, set to open in 2016.

The 220,000-square-foot research facility will be Roxbury’s first private research development center and is expected to create 700 jobs once inaugurated.

Administration officials are quick to note that the university actively seeks to improve the Roxbury community through projects like those on Columbus Avenue.

“Northeastern has an over 100-year tradition of working in partnership with the Boston community, especially the local community around campus,” says

Vice President for Government Relations Tim Leshan. “The university views its role as a partner with the community. As the university continues to expand its presence on the Roxbury side of campus, we are confident it is and will continue to have a very positive impact on the local community. That is one reason why we partnered with the local community and the MBTA in supporting the TIGER grant for Ruggles.”

Leshan says other higher learning institutions can learn from Northeastern’s propensity to work with the local community, noting that the neighborhood’s reaction to Northeastern’s expansion has traditionally been warm. “The local community has viewed Northeastern’s expansion into Roxbury as positive. That is in part because we have viewed it as important to work in partnership with the local community, including obtaining their input on projects like our new Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex,” he says. “At the same time, Northeastern has invested a great deal into local community activities through our community affairs.”

Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) officer John Farrell, who has been with the department since 2000, has watched Columbus Avenue drastically change during his tenure. When Farrell joined the NUPD, Columbus Avenue was home to a couple parking garages, Squashbusters and the

NUPD headquarters. Other than that, it had no other university-affiliated buildings and was mostly used for parking by Northeastern students. “In 2000 there wasn’t a heck of a lot over that way… It was still kind of frontier territory at that time,” Farrell remembers.

“Most of the activity that went on in campus was in what we now call academic center and Huntington Avenue. There weren’t many occasions to come over to the Columbus side unless you wanted to file a police report or check mail.”

Now, Farell says, the area is drastically different. “From my perspective, it’s improved in so many ways. I think the residence halls are a beautiful addition to the landscape.

They’re beautiful buildings that certainly do a lot architecturally for the area,” he says. “It has a real Northeastern feel to it. Now I see it as a very active place on campus as opposed to when I first arrived.” Farell also expressed enthusiasm about the grant to Ruggles. “I can only imagine that it’s going to be a positive for Northeastern and for the Roxbury community.”

Local business owners have also seen the area change over the past decade. Giovanni’s Market owner John Nehme, a West Roxbury resident, has been in the neighborhood since 2002. Over the past 12 years, Nehme says he has seen drastic changes. “The real estate kind of tells you the story. After the real estate bust, all of the prices went down all over the

country and all over Boston—except for [this] part,” he says. “All of the positive changes kept the prices up here. Now students, they want to live here.”

Nehme is particularly zealous about the improvement in safety. “They put a couple officers on the street and that changed from day and night,” Nehme says of the NUPD. “When you see officers driving by going somewhere or just hanging out, that makes that whole few blocks a lot safer just by having an officer. Safety-wise, I feel as safe here as on Huntington Ave., the heart of campus.”

Nehme’s sentiment is one also held by the many students who live on Columbus Avenue.

“I really enjoy living on Columbus. It’s a little bit far off campus so you still get kind of a city vibe from it but its still pretty close to campus.

It actually feels really safe over here,” says Alex Jo, a sophomore Davenport A resident.

Udani Sandanayaka, another sophomore Davenport resident, says that the increasing abundance of students in the Columbus Avenue Corridor has created a sense of community in the area. “I’m a sophomore and I feel like most of the buildings, like the Davs and Douglass Park, [house] sophomores,” Sandanayaka says. “And a lot of my friends live over here so it’s nice having people over this way.”

WOOF | fall 2014

18 // Focus

Women & STEM Careers: Gender Inequality at Northeastern

Written by Rowan Walrath // Photos by Katie Williams

As a woman majoring in chemical engineering, fifth-year student Lexi Hamsmith is in the minority. Gender bias, she says, has become a part of her everyday life both in class and in the professional world.

“Just by being in that minority, you feel like you have to prove yourself more,” Hamsmith says.

“People think that you’re a girl and you’re not as capable as guys. It’s definitely taken a few years to get past that stereotype.”

Hamsmith is only one example of the women who encounter the glass ceiling, a term for the WOOF | fall 2014

barrier to advancement in a profession due to one’s social status. In this case, it is her gender that has the potential to inhibit her. According to the U.S. Department of Education, women represent more than 50 percent of enrollment in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as well as nearly half of all U.S. jobs. They constitute, however, less than 25 percent of positions in what have become known as STEM careers—that is, careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Focus // 19 At Northeastern, the statistics are more favorable toward women, though there is still a clear gender divide. For example, according to Robert Tillman, an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, the university’s civil engineering program has more women than the national standard but not enough to indicate full gender equality.

“Nationally, only about 18 percent of the civil engineering workforce [are] women,” Tillman says. “At Northeastern, it’s about 30 percent.” While these statistics may be above average, the distribution is still far from equal.

Additionally, the width of the gender gap tends to vary across disciplines. While women are widely known to be underrepresented in engineering, they have greater numbers in other STEM branches. “For example, biology has a higher percentage [of women] than physics,” explains Mary Ondrechen, a professor in the College of Science.

Northeastern has also made significant advances in regards to female representation among its faculty members. Where women were once a small minority, efforts are now being made to level the field. “It’s better today,” Ondrechen says. “We’ve retired away all the jerks. Our [department] chair is open-minded and is specifically attuned to hiring women.”

An increase in the number of women hired over the past few years signifies progress.

Nonetheless, its effects are not yet farreaching: There is still a disparity in the number of women teaching in STEM departments.

“My engineering design professor was female, and my professor for my first chemical engineering class was also female,” remembers Quincy Cundiff-Kopplin, a second-year chemical engineering major at Northeastern. “All my other STEM professors so far have been male.”

“Nationally, only about 18 percent of civil engineering workforce [are] women. At Northeastern it’s about 30 percent.”

- Robert Tillman, Associate Professor Altogether, that’s four men to two women.

While Northeastern has shown improvement, there is still more progress to be made. “It is sort of interesting that people ask, ‘Do women in science differ?’” Cundiff-Kopplin says.

“Personally, I think, no, not at all. We’re pretty much all the same.”

If women are just as capable as anyone else, why do they continue to be so underrepresented in STEM education and careers?

At the heart of the issue is a lingering, perhaps subconscious, bias. According to Paige Smith, president of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network, a national organization based in Colorado, STEM professions tend to be unfriendly to those who do not fall into the majority. Schools and workplaces, she says, have what is known as a “chilly climate.”

“The environment in which you are working is not friendly to you,” Smith explains. “When those things add up, it causes people to leave.

If women feel they are valued and can deliver, they will stay, but if they feel they are not valued…that’s part of why they leave.”

This chilly climate doesn’t only hurt women or minority groups, though. By failing to allow for diversity, it actually hurts the industry as a whole.

“When you have a problem and you solve a problem, the more diversity you have, the better your outcome is going to be,” Smith says. A team composed of people of different

backgrounds, she notes, is more likely to consider a problem from an entirely new perspective. By contrast, a team that lacks in diversity will consider a problem from one perspective—that of the majority—and will come up with a less creative or diverse solution.

Traditional gender roles also play a part in keeping women from engaging in STEM careers. Hamsmith, who is also the president of Northeastern’s chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, commented on recent efforts to fight girls’ tendency to gravitate toward conventionally femaledominated careers before given the chance to consider careers in STEM. “Personally, I think we’re still trying to get away from the stay-at-home-mom, women are better at the maternal-type careers,” Hamsmith says. “Now, there’s science club for girls, there’s K-12 outreach programs for girls to try to get away from that.”

Youth outreach is playing an increasingly large role in involving girls in STEM. According to Smith, the gender bias in the workplace trickles down into elementary education.

Outreach programs attempt to combat this phenomenon. “When you are talking about younger students, your messages are really critical,” Smith says. “They want to make an impact.”

Also central to involving girls in STEM is the idea of female empowerment. Women in STEM careers, Smith says, should serve as role models for their younger counterparts—an idea that applies not only to K-12 outreach programs, but also to Northeastern.

“I had a female professor my freshman year who really went out of her way to get to the girls to make sure they understood everything,” Hamsmith says. “I feel like I got that a lot more from my female teachers than my male teachers. It’s definitely an empowerment thing. It’s showing that we can do it and we don’t have to stick to stereotypical gender roles.”

The idea behind outreach at all levels of education is to allow women opportunities in a diverse array of careers. Bridging the gender gap in STEM careers is one critical step to creating equality across the board, in education and the workplace. “Knowledge is power,” Smith says. “Understanding how you can make a difference is very critical.”

WOOF | fall 2014

it doesn’t end here. www.woof-mag.com