WOOF ISSUE 27

WOOF ISSUE 27 // SUMMER 2019

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SECTION TITLE

WOOF MAGAZINE PRESIDENT

Adrianna Yozzi

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Fernanda Hurtado & Alexander Pickering

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Meredith Fisher & Xochitl Lozano

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS Jasmine Chan & Cheyenne Tang

ONLINE EDITORS

Julia Horneck & Orla Levens

SECTION EDITORS

Sofia Ciprian, Soule Coram, Kaline Langley, Lucy Murrey

HEAD COPY EDITOR Kate Coiro

COPY EDITORS

Sydne Garcia, Christina Philippides

WRITERS

Darcy Bond, Rose Flanagan, Sydne Garcia, Kristen Kilgallen, Tori Markin, Julia Pfluger, Christina Philippides, Cheyenne Tang, Sharon Yan

DESIGNERS

Emily Cullitan, Gigi Gleghorn, Diana Steelman

PHOTOGRAPHERS Nadia Naeem

Cover Photography by Meredith Fisher

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Hey Reader, It’s finally spring and we at Woof could not be happier! It has been a long, hard semester but it’s almost time to take that sigh of relief post-finals. We wanted this issue to be your opportunity to take a break from finals, to take a much deserved moment for yourself to catch up on essential reading. Woof Magazine, of course.

We decided that this issue would only be available online. This was a very conscious decision from us to cut back on Woof’s ecological footprint. It also makes the most sense in this day and age. You’re always on the go, and who has the energy to carry around a print issue anyway!? Now, here we are on your phone/laptop/ereader/tablet/whatever. This decision also makes sharing Woof with your friends and family that much easier on social media. So go ahead. Hit that share button!

As always, thanks for reading!

Your Editors-in-Chief, Fernanda Hurtado & Alexander Pickering

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CONTENTS FRONT

MEDIA & CULTURE

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Preparing for the Boston Marathon

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Quitting Social Media

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Leading up to the ICCA

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The New Hype Around Docuseries and Documentaries

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Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour”

LIFESTYLE

FOCUS

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Boston Summer Spots

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Unity in Polarizing Times: Do We Need It?

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Boston Museums You Haven’t Been To

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Greenwashing and How To Avoid It

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New in the Kitchen

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Brexit: What, Why & How it Will Affect Us

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PREPARING FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON

FRONT

The Boston Marathon is an annual 26.2 mile race held on Patriot’s Day in Boston, Massachusetts. The course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston. Organized by the Boston Athletic Association since 1897, the Boston Marathon welcomes amateur and professional runners from around the globe, and over 500,000 spectators each year. The marathon is also known as one of the six World Marathon Majors, a title given to the largest and most renowned marathons in the world; the five other featured marathons take place in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.

Extensive preparation is required to ensure success and health throughout such a rigorous race. Many adopt specific workout routines to better prepare themselves for the winding and hilly routes of the city streets of Boston.

WRITTEN BY SHARON YAN

“They say that Boston’s marathon is one of the toughest ones because of the hills, and so every Wednesday we do a hill work out in the boston commons with other members of the team,” Kyle Bianchi, fifth-year graphic design major, said. “Because [the marathon is] in the Spring, the training is tough since you have to begin around New Years, and it’s freezing!

But I knew that if I could make it through the freezing runs, then I’d be ready for whatever came at me the day of the marathon.”

One example of a Boston-specific workout is the “2-4-2”, which is a routine that incorporates uphill and downhill tempo runs on a treadmill to simulate the terrain of the actual marathon. The “2x5 miles” workout simulates the third quarter of the race, which is known to be the hardest part of the marathon. By this time in the course, your body starts slowing down, so it is crucial to train beforehand in order to overcome this unavoidable challenge.

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Another tactic to prepare for the race is to practice pacing so that you do not overexert your muscles in the beginning of the race, or end up burning out too early in the event. Starting the marathon too fast will only leave you tired by the mid-way point and leave you unable to finish the race.

Practicing long distance running through participating in other marathons is also an effective way of gauging personal ability and endurance, highlighting your weakest and strongest points during the 26.2 miles.

As such, starting with shorter races and slowly building up to participate in the Boston Marathon is a thoughtful approach to training yourself to find success in athletic endeavors. In the days leading up to the marathon, runners will begin to curate their diets to ensure that they are in optimal condition. The Boston Marathon begins at 10 a.m., which is relatively later compared to other marathons, so runners have to prepare an effective fueling strategy by eating a more substantial breakfast and leaving enough time to digest the meal before the marathon begins. Some examples of appropriate breakfast items include oatmeal, bagels and peanut butter, and yogurt and granola.

The Boston Marathon has been an annual event for over a century, and it will continue to be an anticipated marathon for years to come.

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FRONT

Leading up to the

ICCA WRITTEN BY CHEYENNE TANG

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FRONT

If you were a fan of “Pitch Perfect”, you’ll know what the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) is. The ICCA is the competition featured in the “Pitch Perfect” films and it’s a real thing! I had the pleasure of attending the ICCA 2018 finals and I can tell you first hand that it is exactly like “Pitch Perfect” (of course without the projectile vomiting and John and Gail’s commentary). Each group has choreography, costumes, dance numbers, and the list goes on.

advancing to the semifinals at Symphony Hall Boston!

Our teams won four out of the five special awards given at the Quarterfinal #1: Ryo Tsuda (The Downbeats), Outstanding Solo for “Your Guardian Angel”; Maryrose Hahn (Treble on Huntington), Outstanding Solo for “Taste”; Nate Harms (The Downbeats), Outstanding Vocal Percussion for the entire set; Natalie Jones (Treble on Huntington), Outstanding Choreography for the entire set.

The ICCA competitors come from nine regions: Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Great Lakes, Central, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, South, and the United Kingdom. There are three to five quarterfinals in each region. The first and second place groups of each quarterfinal round advance to their region’s semifinals. The highest scoring group at semifinals then advances to the final round in New York City. Additionally, there is a wild card round in which the second and third place groups from each semifinal can submit a video that will be evaluated by the ICCA judges. The winning group of this round is named Wild Card Champion and advances to the ICCA finals.

Two more teams competed in the Northeast Quarterfinals #2 on February 16, also at The Berklee College of Music. Pitch, Please! and Distilled Harmony competed against seven other teams from Berklee College of Music, Bentley University, Emmanuel College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Olin College. Pitch, Please was named Quarterfinal Champions and Distilled Harmony came in third; Northeastern had a total of three teams advancing to semifinals!

Mackenzie Hunt (Pitch, Please!) won Outstanding Soloist for “Once Upon Another Time”.

Symphony Hall Boston hosted the ICCA semifinals on March 31. The regality of the hall set the tone for the performance and the audience’s anticipation could be felt in the air. This performance was like no other.

The teams put their best foot forward and surprised us with some spoken word, dance numbers, and front flips! Two of the three Northeastern teams that made it to semifinals placed in the top three teams. Treble on Huntington came in third and Pitch, Please! were named Semifinal Runner-Up. Charles Zheng (The Downbeats) won Outstanding Arrangement for “Your Guardian Angel”. Our teams performed well alongside teams from Berklee College of Music, New York University, Pace University, Bryant University, University of Connecticut, and Hofstra University. While all the teams were outstanding, The NYU N’Harmonics will be advancing to the ICCA Finals in New York City at the PlayStation Theater.

During each round, each group has 12 minutes to show their talent. The judges follow a strict rubric to evaluate each group. The panel is made up of three to five judges at quarterfinals and five judges at semifinals and finals. Vocal Performance, Visual Performance, and Subjective Rank are the three main things that the judges must critique. In addition, there are four special awards that can be given at any of the ICCA rounds: for Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, or Outstanding Choreography.

Northeastern has built quite the reputation at the ICCA’s. The Nor’easters are Northeastern’s first co-ed and oldest a cappella group on campus, founded in 1997. They were named ICCA Champions in 2013 and 2017 and the Wild Card Champions in 2015. They also performed for the President and First Lady of the United States at the White House Christmas Gala in 2013.

This year’s ICCA tournament proved that Northeastern is moving up in the a cappella world. Our teams received numerous special awards and placed in each of their respective quarterfinal and semifinals.

Regardless of how well our teams have placed, they’ve shown us that their hearts are in the art they produce and we’re so lucky that they are willing to share it with us. Julia Kempner from The Downbeats said “Right before we go on [stage], we tell each other backstage to give it back to the audience.”

This year, the First Northeast Quarterfinals took place on February 9 at Berklee College of Music. Two Northeastern teams—The Downbeats and Treble on Huntington—competed against six other teams: Boston University, Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, and the University of Maine. Both groups performed extremely well and were well supported by members of our community. The Downbeats were named Quarterfinal Champions and Treble on Huntington was Quarterfinal Runner-Up; both teams would

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LIFESTYLE

BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN

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LIFESTYLE

Summer Spots WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY WOOF’S E-BOARD

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LIFESTYLE

PORT PARK IN CHELSEA

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LIFESTYLE

Fernanda: The Esplanade Docks

Orla: Boston Common + Public Garden

Past the traffic of runners and bikers, within the speckles of colorful hammocks propped up on trees along the Charles River, lie four wooden docks along the stretch of the park. With a towel/thin blanket and book in my bag, I usually make my way to the dock closest to the Harvard Bridge to take in the breeze, the colorful sailing boats, and the sunshine. Any of the docks make for a perfect location for an afternoon to yourself or for a picnic with your friends, with the sunset as your background. If the heat ever gets to be too much, the Charles is there to dip your feet in and you might even be lucky to snag an Adirondack chair.

The best way to spend a summer afternoon is by wandering around the historic Boston Common and Public Garden. Pack a picnic and bring some friends to soak in the sun and people watch in a spot that is quintessential Boston. There are often food trucks around the park, and the shopping haven of Downtown Crossing is also just a block away if you find yourself needing something. The Garden looks absolutely stunning when it is in full bloom, full of decadent flowers and plants. You can spend the day watching birds and swans roam around the park and admiring the grandiose statues that are scattered around. For a small fee, you can get paddled around the pond in a Swan Boat with your friends. There’s a reason why it’s a top tourist attraction - it’s beautiful, super cheap, and classic Boston.

Kate: The Colonnade Located just down Huntington Avenue from Northeastern, the Colonnade hotel has a rooftop pool, perfect for cooling down once the weather turns warm in summer. In addition to good views of the city, there’s a full-service bar, including a heavy snack menu. You can even rent a private cabana or daybed. It’s the perfect place to bring a group of friends, or, for some alone time, bring a book! The Colonnade also hosts special events from time to time. For example, last summer, guests could attend a yoga class at the pool every Wednesday morning. Check the hotel’s website for this summer’s schedule.

Soule: Harvard Bridge AKA “Mass Ave” Bridge One of my favorite summer spots in Boston is walking the Harvard Bridge, also known as the “Mass Ave” bridge over the Charles River and along the water by MIT. If you feel up to a bit of a walk and want to feel the breeze in your hair, the bridge isn’t too far from campus. Start at Symphony (at Massachusetts Avenue and Huntington) and walk Massachusetts Avenueyou’ll pass Berklee, Boylston Street, Newbury Street, and Beacon Street, it truly is a straight shot! The bridge has gorgeous views to take in, especially when the sun is setting! You’ll see sailing and crew teams practicing, as well as people kayaking! I love to go to the bridge to take in some fresh air and see a different side of Boston. Pack a snack or grab yourself a coffee on the way, and enjoy seeing Downtown, Government Center, and Back Bay from a different vantage point!

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Adriana: Charles Street, Beacon Hill Lined by cobblestone streets, antique shops, and local boutiques, Charles Street is certainly a destination to experience this summer. In close proximity to the Boston Common, Beacon Hill is a more residential area of the city. Charles Street attracts those looking to leisurely stroll or to fulfill their shopping or dining needs; in addition to the local shops full of merchandise spanning from trinkets, antiques, jewelry, and clothing, Charles Street offers numerous cafes and dining accommodations. My personal favorite is an Italian restaurant named “Figs”. The eatery has some of the best homemade pizza Boston has to offer. Whether you are looking to spend time alone doing work in a cafe and perusing the shops, or you are looking for a spot to share a meal with friends, Charles Street has so much to offer.

Cheyenne: Underground at Inc Block: 90 Traveler Street There are a few spots in Boston that few people know about. This underground spot is one of them. This project transformed an 8 acre area under the highway between the city’s South End and South Boston neighborhoods. It features 11 local artists’ murals surrounding recreational spaces for people to enjoy.

LIFESTYLE

There are lawn chairs set up and a dog park for our four-legged friends. Gym equipment lockers line the perimeter of pedestrian boardwalks and bicycle paths for the fitness oriented and there are often food trucks parked nearby. The space is a great venue for outdoor events and acts as a central hub for the neighborhood.

Christina: MIT’s Ray and Maria Stata Center If you happen to be in Cambridge on a summer afternoon, the Ray and Maria Stata Center is a spot I recommend visiting. Located on MIT’s campus near the Kendall T stop, Stata is a prime spot where MIT students flock to complete their homework between classes or to simply catch some fresh air. Modeled after the Dancing House in Prague, the facade of Stata is known for its unconventional architecture, completed with zigzagging metal canopies, shiny metal, and red brick. Its crinkled sculptural form attracts architecture fanatics everywhere. Stata also features an amphitheater, perfect for completing homework or sitting outside. Although the main purpose of Stata is to hold classes and labs for computer science and electrical engineering majors, the outside area of Stata is open to the general public.

Julia: Rose Kennedy Greenway, North End Like a ribbon that stretches from Boston’s Waterfront to Downtown, the Rose Kennedy Greenway often draws locals and tourists alike with its greenery, attractions, and events on sunny summer days.

Whether you’re looking for a spot to toss a frisbee with friends or some fountains to cool off from the summer heat, the Greenway offers a variety of means to relax and soak up some sunshine. Along the Greenway’s series of linked parks you may also stumble across unique art installations, plenty of food trucks, and the colorful Greenway Carousel (for the inner child in you). If you happen to find yourself in the North End, I’d recommend stopping at one of the many counterstyle eateries on Hanover Street and stretching out on the grassy lawns of the Greenway to enjoy your food. For added tranquility, situate yourself near the falling waters of the park’s fountains and feel yourself transported to a peaceful oasis.

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Jasmine: Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park, Mission Hill Right in your neighborhood if you live on the Hill, or just a short T ride away from campus, you’ll find the perfect setting for summertime picnics: the Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park. Grab takeout from one of the nearby Brigham Circle restaurants, or make your own food using ingredients from the neighboring Stop & Shop.

Green patches are hard to come-by in the city, and this park is yet to be overrun by tourists, so you will have no problem finding a private spot for relaxing by yourself or hanging out in a large group without disturbing other park goers. If you’re lucky, you may even find a local furry friend to play with!

Sofia: Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park I promise you, this park is way better than the person it is named after. The Christopher Columbus Park is one of my favorite spots in Boston, especially in the summer. To start it’s in a great location, right by the North End, the Aquarium and you have a waterfront view as you relax on the greenery. This park also has the iconic trellis, covered in vines and branches all summer long (also great for an Insta pic), with benches underneath to get some shade and read a book. There are also “Summer Sunday” movie showings for most of the summer, which I think is the perfect way to spend a Sunday evening. Whether you want to relax and get some sun or eat amazing food or watch a movie, the Christopher Columbus Park has it all.

Meredith: SoWa Short for ‘South of Washington’, SoWa Market provides the perfect opportunity to soak up the sun, enjoy local food, artisan goods, music, and of course, an ample supply of dogs. Enjoy the South End charm as you peruse the tents, chat up local farmers, sip an iced coffee, or eat a Blackbird donut. If air conditioning is more your style, check out the indoor vintage market where you can pick up a new pair of Levis or a silk scarf you didn’t know you needed. For a classier, night-time activity, head to one of SoWa’s First Fridays to explore over 200 of Boston’s best art galleries. Dip in and out of the galleries, meet the artists, and enjoy a nosh of cheese and wine.

LIFESTYLE

BEACON HILL

Alex: Ramler Park, Fenway

Xochitl: PORT Park, Chelsea

Boxed in by old brick apartment buildings, positioned at the corner of Peterborough Street and Private Alley 930, is Ramler Park, an unknown gem in its quiet Fenway neighborhood. A practical Eden away from the anxieties of the city, here birds chirp, the sun shines, roses bloom, and the large fountain at its center burbles. A trellis supported by grecian columns at the head of the park sports withered vines, and bright blue benches dot the park’s small pathways.

I sit on its grass as I wrote this and the only word I could find to encapsulate this space was “serenity,” a feeling usually so foreign for me, along with other urban dwellers.

Little known but with a lot to offer, PORT Park is a landscape architect’s dream. The park is an awardwinning landscape design that incorporates reused marine elements like a tugboat wheelhouse and water canons as play pieces for visitors to interact with. An old loading dock is now being reused as a stage and observation tower that you can climb up on and look out at the waterfront that the park sits on. A grassy hill was also transformed into an amphitheater where local performances are held. It’s just enough out of the city to make you feel like you’re in another world - one of summer’s dreams.

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LIFESTYLE

Boston Museums You Haven’t Been To WRITTEN BY DARCY BOND / PHOTOS BY NADIA NAEEM Boston exists as one of the most historically rich cities in America, and its dozens of museums are a perfect showcase of this past. The best museums present an opportunity to learn not through a textbook or boring lecture, but in ways which spark curiosity and leave each visitor in a state of wonder. Boston has a plethora of captivating museums, but has anybody been to one other than the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? From some of the world’s first hot rods to ancient Mayan skulls to an 18th-century ship where actors dump bins of tea, Boston’s lesser-known museums have something to offer for everyone. It’s time to take advantage of the city’s intellectual aptitude and historical value. Here is a list of eight Boston museums you probably haven’t been to: Located just outside of Boston in the Brookline neighborhood, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum features America’s oldest collection of cars. The roots of the museum begin with Larz and Isabella Anderson, two socialites with a passion for automobiles.

They purchased cars from 1899 to 1948, procuring a total of thirty-two vehicles. These motorcars, along with many of their original horse-drawn carriages, make up the museum’s permanent exhibit.

The foundation also offers a temporary exhibition, the current one called Lookin’ East: Art and Imagination of the New England Hot Rod. This display focuses on the emergence of hot rodding as a national hobby in the post-war era and its existence today as a symbol of quintessential American culture.

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Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Cambridge offers some of the world’s oldest archeological collections from across the world. The museum showcases relics from Native American dwellings in the Midwest, as well as parts of Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Featuring the only surviving objects from the Lewis and Clark expedition and one of the best collections of Mayan antiques in the world, its ongoing exhibitions showcase a variety of themes: the European impact on North American Indians, Latin America around the time of Christopher Columbus, and the legacy of canoes in the Native American lifestyle, among others. The museum has been used as a resource for some of the most successful ethnographic films, including Robert Gardner’s “Dead Birds” and John Marshall’s “N!ai, the Story of a !Kung Woman.”

The Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill puts a unique spin on the education of water systems, architectural engineering, and public health. The museum tells the story of the innovation that brought about one of the country’s first cosmopolitan water systems. It highlights the craftsmanship of immigrants who created the building’s beauty during the Gilded Age, and how the foundation earned the name “Tabernacle of Steam.” The museum spotlights two exhibits: the Great Engines Hall, which is a three-story tall collection of engines and water pumps, and Workers of Wachusett, a gallery telling the vivid tale of 19th and 20th-century public works laborers.

LIFESTYLE

The Boston Tea Party Ships Museum on the harbor exists as an interactive experience that allows visitors to witness the historic event that catalyzed the American Revolution. The adventure takes place on a restored 18th-century ship with actors dressed in colonial attire. The staff takes visitors to a town meeting with Samuel Adams, then to explore the ship’s captain’s quarters before the renowned dumping of the tea! Finally, guests are swept away to a lively debate between the loyalists and the revolutionaries. The tour offers stories of life during the birth of the modern nation, the opportunity to taste typical food from this era, and the chance to see films centered on the radicalism that characterized colonial America.

Gore Place, a grand estate located in the outskirts of Boston, awes visitors with its vast, natural beauty, and enriching history. Christopher and Rebecca Gore lived during the time of the American Revolution as one of Boston’s most prominent families. Christopher served as governor of Massachusetts and a United States senator. In 1806, the Gores constructed their mansion, adorning it with fine art, elegant furniture, marble floors, and French wallpaper. They hosted many distinguished parties with notable political leaders, including James Monroe. After Christopher’s retirement, the two began using the grounds to grow fruits, vegetables, and other crops. Today, it serves as a functioning farm and emblem of colonial architecture.

The Gibson House Museum provides the ideal opportunity for anyone looking to get a glimpse into the lives of late 19th and early 20th century Bostonians.

In the mid-1800s, Back Bay was emerging as Boston’s newest and most chic neighborhood, and Catherine Hammond Gibson wanted to be a part of the trend. She purchased an expensive home and decorated it with lavish furniture of the Victorian era.

The residence housed three generations of the Gibson family from 1859 to 1954. The museum provides detailed accounts of each member of the Gibson family who resided there as well as stories of the house staff.

Today, the residence allows visitors to step back in time and consider the different experiences of life in Boston of both wealthy elites and working-class immigrants.

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The Boston Sports Museum has dedicated itself to showcasing the history of Boston sports teams. Located on the 5th and 6th floors of TD Garden, the museum displays a half mile of photographs, trophies, jerseys, and championship banners. The tour also gives visitors a closer look at the arena floor, locker rooms, and marshaling area. The museum doubles as a non-profit with emphasis on the prevention of bullying. Staff members also host many programs designed to teach kids the importance of respect, leadership, and collaboration.

History enthusiasts will delight in the exhibits present at Boston’s West End Museum. This gallery showcases the West End neighborhood through the ages, beginning in the mid-1840s with the influx of Irishmen to the urban renewal of the 1950s. The museum highlights prominent people who grew up in the West End, the innovation that brought about the modern public transportation system in Boston, the difficulties regarding healthcare in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Saturday Evening Girls — a local, historic club devoted to women’s empowerment. The museum focuses on combating gentrification and preserving the character of this culturally-rich Boston neighborhood.

LIFESTYLE

New in the Kitchen WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA PHILIPPIDES

Moving into your first apartment is a huge milestone— not only does it mark a new step toward adulthood but it also instills a critical sense of responsibility.

Though exciting, the off-campus lifestyle is not so glamorous once the list of unfamiliar obligations starts piling up, like contacting your building’s management for plumbing issues or paying your WiFi bill on time.

Perhaps one of the most daunting obligations is cooking, and the transition from relying on a meal plan to cooking solo can be a hard one.

When I signed the lease to my first apartment about a year ago, I found out that I would no longer have a meal plan. Instead, I would have to learn how to budget for groceries (a.k.a. find the cheapest supermarket) and somehow transform those groceries into meals.

After depending on the IV dining hall for two years, I didn’t think that these obligations would be practical.

Besides the slim knowledge I had acquired from watching BuzzFeed’s Tasty videos on Facebook, I knew nothing about cooking. How was I supposed to feed myself? As a result, I took it upon myself to learn some recipes that I could make easily and cheaply.

I’ve been living without a meal plan for about six months now, and I can confidently say it’s not as intimidating as I thought it would be. If you are currently experiencing that initial fear I had, don’t fret: keep reading to learn five recipes that are anything but challenging for a beginner in the kitchen.

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Taco Seasoning Chicken Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: depends on number of chicken breasts For this recipe, you will need chicken breasts, taco seasoning (I recommend Bearitos), marinara sauce, and parmesan cheese. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, take a sheet pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil on both sides of the chicken breast(s). If you want to serve your chicken with vegetables, drizzle olive oil on vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, asparagus, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper, and coat both sides of the chicken breast with a good amount of taco seasoning. Spread marinara sauce on the top of the chicken breast. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and place in the oven for between 15 and 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Lasts 3-4 days in the fridge.

LIFESTYLE

Ground Beef (or veggie) Chili Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: ~6 people For this recipe, you will need 1 pound of ground beef (or carrots and zucchini for vegetarian chili), 1 chopped onion, 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of tomato sauce, 1 can of black beans, 1 can of cannellini beans, and Mexican seasoning (I recommend Frontier Co-op). In a large saucepan over medium heat, add a little bit of olive oil. Combine the beef and chopped onion until the meat is browned (or vegetables are sautéed) and the onion is tender. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, black beans, cannellini beans, and 1 cup of water. With a wooden spoon, break up the ground beef and mix everything together. Season with chili powder, salt, and pepper to your preferred taste. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with rice. Lasts up to 1 week in the fridge; you may freeze any extra chili.

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Servings: ~2 people For this recipe, you will need 2 chicken breasts, 1 chopped onion, seashell or penne pasta, broccoli crowns, shredded cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, and your preferred spices (I use dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder). First, prepare the chicken. In a skillet over medium heat, coat bottom with olive oil.

Cut up the chicken breasts and combine with the chopped onion until the meat is browned and the onion is tender. Season with preferred spices, salt, and pepper. When the chicken is cooked, turn off heat and set aside. Then, prepare the pasta. I find that using a little less than half of a box of Barilla penne pasta is the perfect amount for 2 people, but you may always make more or less depending on how many people you want to serve. Fill a medium-sized pot with boiling water, salt the water, and pour pasta into the pot. Let the pasta cook for around 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is al dente (or cook until pasta is not hard anymore, but ensuring that it’s not too soggy either). When the pasta is cooked, drain the water from the pot and immediately add in shredded cheese and cooked chicken/onion from skillet. Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. Cover for 5 minutes.

Lasts 3-4 days in the fridge.

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Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: ~5 people For this recipe, you will need ½ cup of honey, ¼ cup of soy sauce, 3 minced garlic cloves, juice of one small lemon, 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined), and 2 tablespoons of butter. In a small bowl, whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic, and lemon together. Add half of the sauce to the shrimp and let marinate for 30 minutes. In a medium-sized skillet over medium heat coated with olive oil, add the butter and shrimp.

Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp turns pink, typically about 2 minutes on each side.

Add the reserved marinade and pour over the shrimp.

Cook until the sauce starts to thicken and coats the shrimp. Garnish with green onions. Even though this meal tastes amazing once it’s done, it doesn’t really taste good as leftovers, so I recommend eating right when you’re done cooking it on the skillet.

I never thought I would be one to cook for myself. I always regarded cooking as difficult, complicated, a chore. However, shopping for the right ingredients and learning the basics of cooking isn’t as challenging as I thought it would be. In fact, I prefer cooking for myself because it’s easier to practice portion control (making just enough for yourself and not overeating) and mealprepping (storing leftovers in containers for future meals). Even the most competent and experienced chefs were once beginners, so don’t be afraid to oil that pan, pick up the spatula, and get cooking!

MEDIA & CULTURE

Quitting Social Media WRITTEN BY KRISTEN KILGALLEN For years I have heard every adult I know talk about how bad they feel for our generation due to our intense dependency on technology. I always nodded along, knowing it was a fight I wouldn’t win, seeing as there is no way my mom would understand the necessity of Uber Eats. But as the years have gone by and I have endured one too many collisions with a pedestrian whose eyes were glued to their phone, I have found myself shaking my head along with the adults in indignation at how the world’s attention has been robbed by our devices and the apps we find on them.

Tired of my own lack of focus and seemingly never-ending list of things I needed to check, refresh, and read- I finally decided I would no longer allow social media apps to dictate the use of my time, and so I deleted the apps on my phone. After two weeks without them, here are some of my takeaways

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MEDIA & CULTURE

Mindfulness of My Surroundings I can say that becoming more mindful was the number one thing that improved after I deleted my social media apps. I didn’t feel preoccupied trying to stay in the loop and had the mental and physical energy to notice my surroundings in the present moment, and not worry about the future, the past, or places I couldn’t be in all at once. I was talking more to the strangers around me, feeling less rushed throughout my day, and observing the world around me, not only the one that existed in my Instagram feed.

Learning to Tolerate Boredom & Better Focus In hindsight, it’s crazy to me to think about the amount of stimulation and messaging our brains receive every day from our social media outlets. There is barely a moment in our days that we aren’t engaging with some sort of media. By taking away just one of those outlets, my brain actually had to adapt to this lower level of stimulation. When I had nothing to do, I didn’t reach for my phone and start looking for something to interest me or just prevent the discomfort of boredom.

I just sat with the feeling, noticed it and began to find other sources of pleasure and mental stimulation that I had forgotten all about- reading, exercising, doing random acts of kindness, or writing in a journal. While I was working on a project and was feeling quite tired, instead of grabbing my phone during a break to recharge and stimulate my creative side, I went for a walk around the block, and when I came back, not only was I more energized, but a thought from my own intuition arose and led to a breakthrough in my work. These moments of boredom are so rare, that people don’t ever give their mind a break to just think, to breathe, to have a chance to wander in whatever direction it would like, without being guided by external stimuli.

Less Comparison & More Happiness Our social media pages are highlight reels. You don’t see the boring, typical salad someone had for lunch, but of course, the luxurious croissant and cappuccino from Tatte make the cut. After seeing other people’s highlights, it can make your entire day feel like a low light− despite whatever feelings you had about it beforehand. What we see on social media and compare ourselves to is not reality, it’s a constructed image that

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people want to present of themselves to the world.

Without constant daily updates on the lives of others, every day was instead centered around my goals and self-improvement and allowed me to feel more confident in the decisions and actions I was taking in my own life.

More Intentional with My Time & Breaking the Addiction Not spending my free time on social media gave me a much better sense of how much free time I actually have− to get work done, to be intentional with who and how I socialize, and most importantly, how I prioritize my own needs and interests. You don’t realize how addicted we are to social media until you don’t have it. That hour break between classes was enough time where I could easily eat lunch and fit some studying in, whereas before I would have gotten distracted during lunch and ended up spending my entire hour in the dining hall, scrolling through app after app. I now know that if I plan or want to carve out time for self-care, it would be feasible because I wouldn’t get distracted throughout my day. Each moment we have a second to ourselves, to reflect on our intentions, our feelings, and intuition, we fill with a quick update and check of our phones, but this further disconnects us from the world and robs us of our time and our ability to make decisions about how we want to spend it.

Based on my own results, I don’t see myself re-downloading social media apps any time soon. My screen time decreased by 86%, totalling a daily average of just 38 minutes. I am not bashing on social media and saying that we shouldn’t have it. It’s a great tool that can be helpful when we need inspiration or want to connect with others, but I think our society and many of us need to reflect on our relationships with social media and how it is serving us in our daily lives. I love to login at the end of the week and check out all of the amazing things going on in the lives of those around me, but it is no longer a focal point of my day or a homebase that I immediately turn to when I’m feeling bored or am lacking trust or confidence in myself. Deleting your social media apps may seem like too big of a step, but maybe try deleting them for a week or just a day and see how your life can change without constantly checking social media.

MEDIA & CULTURE

Documentaries & Docuseries WRITTEN BY JULIA PFLUGER

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MEDIA & CULTURE

Netflix, one of the world’s largest video streaming services, has produced over 75 original documentaries in the last few years alone. “Making a Murderer”, “Blackfish”, and “Icarus” are just some of the names of the documentaries and docuseries which have piqued the interest of millions globally. The infamous Fyre Festival has now been turned into two documentaries done by Netflix and Hulu. Netflix’s “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” caught the eyes of many, becoming a controversial hit in days. But what has sparked this viewer surge in documentaries?

One could argue that documentary filmmakers are simply just getting better at their craft. The artwork itself has become too good for society to ignore. Or perhaps there is this now urgent need to tell real-world stories, choosing to broadcast the truth rather than to showcase the impossible. Or maybe watching documentaries falls in with the natural course of society’s movie watching tendencies. As society’s values are constantly changing, so do our movie preferences.

More and more blockbuster hits are based on real-life events; movie hits such as “Hidden Figures”, “The King’s Speech”, and “The Imitation Game”, were all based on true stories. Perhaps there’s a drive for realism in film, a desire to connect with the characters more readily.

As all of these are certainly valid, I, however, believe that the new hype around documentaries has to do with the constant societal pressure to be “smart.”

In our current day and age, there is this pressure to never waste time and to be continually learning something. To always be “switched on” and engaged with the world. But it doesn’t stop there. Not only do we

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need to be smart, but we need to be smarter than everyone else too. There is this sense that we are perpetually competing with each other to prove to others that we are better, cooler, and more educated. Today, where the media industry is such an integral part of the way we live our lives, documentaries and docuseries have become the perfect stepping stone for many to gain that academic edge.

With documentaries, viewers feel they are diving into the world of fact. As documentaries are based on facts and real-life events, viewers don’t feel as though they are simply wasting their time on another mindless TV series. For many, documentaries are easy and effective to keep up with the world. One may watch an hour and a half special on WWII and feel accomplished. They may feel as though they have learned something and applied themselves to the world. Beyond that, documentaries can spark controversy and by watching them, you too get to be a part of that larger conversation.

Let’s take the “Ted Bundy Tapes” for example. Released only a month ago, the show has already caught the media by storm. Days after its release, newspapers such as the Washington Post and the Independent began commenting on the issues they saw regarding how the serial killer was represented in the series. Fox News even claimed that the tapes “glorified” Bundy.

By watching documentaries such as these, you get to follow along and understand the news from around the world. Perhaps you’ll even participate with your own comments and opinions, again, adding on to that desire to be perceived as “smart.”

MEDIA & CULTURE

Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour” WRITTEN BY ALEX PICKERING / ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GLEGHORN 2018 and the release of her latest studio album, “Golden Hour,” brought Kacey Musgraves a mainstream recognition that independent female country artists couldn’t dream of. She began her rise to fame with her appearance on the reality singing competition show “Nashville Star” in 2007 where she placed seventh. After signing with Mercury Nashville in 2012 she would go on to release “Same Trailer Different Park” and “Pageant Material,” two albums that would garner acclaim and respect in the Country genre for Musgraves. With a talent for creating sonically cohesive bodies of work— albums written with uniform lyrics and production— Musgraves’ first two albums focused on commentary into the social norms of the small town, southern lifestyle. Though both of her first two albums have the traditional Country sound, they defy Country radio with her divergent themes and production— because of this she isn’t typically played on Country stations.

On Mar. 30 of 2018 “Golden Hour” would drop— now was Musgraves’ chance to revel in the beauty this world and her life had to offer. Written on the high of her love and marriage to spouse Ruston Kelly, “Golden Hour” would be about finding this love and growing into herself.

As part of the album artwork, Musgraves commented on the creation of her newest work and the many identities she took on to write it. “They are all characters on this record. None of them alone are me and yet they all are.

The golden hour is when all the masks come together as one and you can see, in perfect light, the whole picture of me.”

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Kacey Musgraves looks at life through a kaleidoscope.

“Golden Hour” is soft but razor sharp. Much as the title hints the album is best listened to when the sun is setting, in the glow of a trip, when you want to cry because life can really be that beautiful— it is soft pink transitioning into blue, glitter, light passing through a prism and broken into a thousand shards.

Every song on the album is significant on its own, but Musgraves delivers a collection that is tight. “Slow Burn,” the introduction to her compilation, launches the listener into Musgraves’ universe— a song about taking things one step at a time and enjoying the ride leaves a listener salivating for what is to come. “Lonely Weekend” is surprisingly one of the most joyful moments on the album and begins Musgraves’ graceful balance between complete bliss and sorrow that she sustains throughout the album. Themes of love and heartbreak are strongly represented in songs like “Butterflies,” “Space Cowboy,” and “Wonder Woman” with Musgraves’ uncanny ability to take a single theme and stretch it into a song, without seeming contrived. “Oh, What a World” and “Happy & Sad” allow Musgraves to marvel at the beauties of life. Standout songs “Velvet Elvis” and “High Horse” provide listeners a break from Musgraves’ moody sound with synth and electric guitars and a shimmer of disco reminiscent of Dolly Parton’s take on Country music.

“Golden Hour” climaxes with its titular song where Musgraves rips out her listener’s heart with her dreamy vocals and genuine songwriting. And, just for a moment, the listener believes Musgraves— “everything’s gonna

MEDIA & CULTURE

be alright.” “Golden Hour” provides a sense of comfort, as if while this triumph of an album is playing, nothing could phase you. Musgraves is a cowgirl, a lover, a poet, a superhero, a sorceress.

Kacey Musgraves has found success outside of the Country-sphere with “Golden Hour” because of her un-Country approach to music. Her emphasis on songwriting and emotion is a far cry from the stadium, truck-loving sound that Country non-believers like myself have come to revile. Musgraves’ technicolor outlook, disco influences, and Priscilla Presley hair have won her an audience from the queer community as well.

She appeared as a guest judge on the past season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and would even go on to crown the winners of the season on the Los Angeles stop of her Oh, What a World Tour. In the past year, she has

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performed on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and opened for Harry Styles on the North American leg of his world tour.

Musgraves’ big year was topped off at the Grammys where she took home that gold gramophone for Best Country Album, Country Song, Country Solo Performance, and most shockingly, Album of the Year.

Pitted against powerhouses the likes of Drake, Cardi B, and Post Malone, Musgraves was visibly taken aback by her win— her reaction would soon be turned into a meme. She would go on to present at the Oscars a few weeks later in a striking pink tulle gown, a reminder that she is a force that demands to be recognized. She has continued her Oh, What a World Tour to allow fans to bask in her Golden Hour. She will be coming to Boston on Sept. 12.

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Unity in Polarizing Times Do we really need it?

WRITTEN BY SYDNE GARCIA

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FOCUS

This politically polarized nation craves an affair with unity. Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address (SOTU) emphasized unity to give Americans a sense that this country is headed in the right direction. Regardless of this carefully constructed speech, it is hard to buy the illusion of a united America, especially in a time when the longest government shutdown in history was mainly about funding a divisive wall on the Mexican border.

Needless to say, America does not stand together and it is not looking to head in this direction anytime soon.

This split became especially evident when analyzing the political sentiments of the 2016 election – or rather, taking a closer look at the polarization of tribal sentiments.

Simply taking a dive into the political sentiments that the Rust Belt feels in comparison to the famously known coastal elites one must begin to wonder why and how the U.S. got to this point. Realistically, there are way too many factors to consider like socio-economic class and racial tensions – topics that deserve an entire article of their own. As explained by Amy Chua, author of “Political Tribes”, U.S. (domestic) political tensions are due, in part, to the power struggle felt amongst ethnoracial groups.

Given there has been a rising interest in the power struggle felt among predominantly white groups, this divide is discernible.

The U.S.’s obsession with unity is not going away any time soon but there’s one thing that is often forgotten when conversations of political divides arise. Is unity really needed? Where did this desire to be “united” come from? And what will unity – if possible – accomplish?

Dating back to colonial times there have been disagreements of all sorts: federalists vs. the anti-federalists, Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr, and Martin Luther King vs. oppression, to name a few. This is not news or groundbreaking. Heck, there isn’t a need to delve deep into U.S. history – divisiveness will always exist.

Instead of masking American chasms, it’s time America agrees to disagree. The question shouldn’t be: How can we be more united? The question should be: Who’s going to foster a national dialogue of agreeing to disagree? Demanding unity is impractical, unrealistic, and likely impossible.

The U.S. should be working towards embracing differences and looking at divisiveness for what it is. It’s not focusing efforts on impeaching Trump, but rather under-

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standing why people want him to maintain his presidency. It’s also not focusing on the fact that media outlets falsely represent the president, but rather why has it gotten to this point? Where do these sentiments come from?

The answer is pretty simple and it’s one many have to accept to see the progress we yearn for. With the upcoming 2020 presidential election fresh faces are setting themselves at the forefront of both parties. Whether it’s Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, or Amy Klobuchar, or any other candidate in the running, one of them will have to lead citizens into the direction of understanding the cracks rather than basing their platform on invoking hatred towards those on the other side.

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, IN, is one of the running candidates who may bring something new to our current political sphere. An openly gay midwestern politician finally gives millennials something to believe in. Being a millennial himself, his stance on religion, policy, and leaving the “politics of the past” behind is something young Dems are receptive to.

But will it be enough to get him nominated? It’s unclear but I will say his platform is different than many of the Dems running because he’s not selling unity nor is he trying to gain his votes by trivializing the other side. His seemingly conservative morale and an open mind to progressive politics may be what the U.S. needs.

On the other hand, there’s Kamala Harris. Formerly California’s Attorney General, she is a fierce candidate in the making. Her broad platform resonates with many mainstream Democrats – especially her take on competing views about policy. Harris truly understands that voters aren’t streamlined in their beliefs and what may seem like contradicting views on policy is actually expected by her. She acknowledges the fact that U.S. voters are split and are not necessarily crying out for unity – rather for someone who’s willing to boldly change policy in a way that makes sense.

As for Republicans, there’s still Donald Trump. And that’s enough to be said.

Overall, it’s clear it may behoove candidates to abandon this fantastical notion of unity and rather, be realistic for a change. Politics aren’t what they used to be and for once, let’s not have empty cliches be the answer to all of our problems but rather participate in practical dialogue.

GREENWASHING GREENWASHING GREENWASHING GREENWASHING GREENWASHING GREENWASHING GREENWASHING A N D H O W TO AV O I D I T WRITTEN BY TORI MARKIN

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FOCUS

With the new Starbucks strawless cups and reusable K-cups gaining popularity, is the new wave of corporate environmentalism on the rise?

Over the past few years, the awareness of the need for environmentally conscious living has grown and heavily impacted consumer wants and needs. According to Nielsen, a globally recognized data analytics company, sustainable product sales have grown by 20 percent since 2014 and 66 percent of consumers are more willing to spend more money for more sustainable products.

With this growing market for “green” products, many companies have reworked their business strategies to reflect these new ideals. Sustainable products have become increasingly more accessible from grocery aisles to ethical fashion to everyday commodities. So what’s not to love?

Although some companies have truly adapted more sustainable and ethical practices, greenwashing has become a common marketing practice swaying conscious consumers. Greenwashing, as defined by CorpWatch, is “the phenomenon of socially and environmentally destructive corporations attempting to preserve and expand their markets by posing as friends of the environment and leaders in the struggle to eradicate poverty.”

One of the most infamous cases of greenwashing came to light after the increase of towel and linen reuse policies at hotels. While there are obvious benefits to reusing towel and linens, these initiatives generally provide more for the businesses’ profit margins than they do for the environment. Using this one initiative to claim to be environmentally friendly seems impractical when reuse of linens makes an underwhelming dent in hotel’s overall water and electricity use. Hotels that encourage reuse policies, but fail to implement other environmentally friendly initiatives that don’t directly help increase profits, raise considerable ethical questions. Is it fair to benefit from the increased prices environmentally conscious consumers are willing to pay, while significantly overstating sustainability efforts?

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Beyond hospitality, greenwashing has whiddled its way into many industries. H&M, one of the leading fast fashion producers, has gone to great lengths to rebrand themselves as the trendy trailblazers of sustainable fashion. H&M, despite their recent sustainability efforts, faced significant backlash during their World Recycle Week. This initiative aimed to recycle thousands of tons of clothes. While recycling clothes sounds like a great way to reduce waste, this initiative was fairly misleading.

According to H&M’s 2016 sustainability report, only five to ten percent of clothing can actually be recycled into new clothing.

The technology to completely recycle clothing just simply isn’t developed enough, but that did not stop H&M from advertising this new sustainability campaign as “closing the loop” by developing a wasteless fashion society. When customers bring in bags of clothes to be “recycled” they can get a boost of self-importance and an H&M coupon. The coupon itself speaks volumes about the goal of these initiatives, which still serves primarily as a marketing tool and not for sustainability.

So should we be shaming companies for their attempts to go green? Absolutely not, but we should not fall victim to praising companies for making meaningless and overstated sustainability efforts.

When looking to identify greenwashed brands, look for vague language and goals. “Eco-friendly”, “Natural”, or “Organic” carry no meaning without the science to back up these claims. Greenwashed items often come in overly nature-esque packaging. Just because Dawn dish soap bottles star ducklings and a promise to save wildlife, this does not detract from the ingredients in the soap that are toxic to aquatic life as investigated by CBC News. When in doubt, look for legitimate certification labels, do a quick Google search on the company, or take a moment to think about whether you really need the product at all.

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What, Why & How it Will Affect Us WRITTEN BY ROSE FLANAGAN

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British Exit, or “Brexit”, from the European Union (EU) was voted on three years ago this June in a referendum that surprised many when it passed, with a slim majority of 51.9 percent (Kenton, 2019). There are a multitude of debates attempting to answer the reason why Brexit was conceived and passed. One major theory is sovereignty, which is the authority of a state to self-govern. With the EU related to the United

Kingdom (UK), the EU allows for sovereign states, but with other issues circulating the international arena - the refugee crisis, financial crises, and terrorism states fear what can be imposed on them from these larger governing bodies. Again, there are a number of reasons as to the why behind Brexit, but it comes down to self determination of the state.

WHAT NEXT? On March 29, 2017 the UK took official steps towards renegotiating its relationship with the EU and was given two years to come up with a final decision. With March 29 come and gone and the UK’s ultimatum of leaving the EU, Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, is working to renegotiate her withdrawal agreement.

Issues such as citizenship, the Northern Irish border, and the UK’s future economy have been discussed at length without any final decisions. The lack of clarity surrounding the freedom of movement, and the difficulty that will arise with customs and borders, affects a number of UK and EU citizens who live and work abroad. This is made even more complex with

the border of Northern Ireland, which is the UK’s only border with the EU. With the lack of a consensus in mind, “the possibility [of no deal] is very clearly there” stated Chancellor Philip Hammond (BBC, 2019). It’s unknown whether a decision will be made, but ultimately this new territory in international relations could lead to a number of economic and human repercussions in the UK and around the world, also possibly inspiring other states to make similar moves in withdrawing from such international agreements (Kenton, 2019).

WHAT’S THE TRADE-OFF? Essentially, Brexit would grant Britain slightly more sovereignty and more control over immigration, but is it worth the poor economic trade-off? This decision would close Britain’s borders in favor of a poorer country so

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they would effectively shut out their largest import and export market. It’s hard to say what will happen in the next few months, but the only true consensus is that Brexit is unpredictable and we can only sit and wait.

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