Your Magazine Volume 7 Issue 2: April 2017

TAMIA'S TIME KATJA VUJIĆ INTERVIEWS EMERSON'S NEW DIRECTOR OF INTERCULTURAL STUDENT AFFAIRS

YOUR MAG VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 2 | APRIL 2017

YOUR MAG VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 2 | APRIL 2017

MIA ZARRELLA

EMILY DRAKE

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ

Editor in Chief

HANA ANTRIM

Photo Editor

M A RYA M FAS S I H I

Junior Designer

ESTHER BLANCO

Living Editor

Managing Editor

Editorial Director

EMME HARRIS

DAY S I A TO L E N T I N O

Photo Editor

Senior Designer

TA Y L O R R O B E R T S

SHOSHANA

Art Director

BARASHI-EHRLICH

Head Stylist

M E G A N C AT H E Y

Style Editor

LINDSEY PARADIS

A&E Editor JESSICA KASPARIAN

Romance Editor

ARIELA RUDY ZALTZMAN

Head Copyeditor and Head Proofreader

HANNAH MCKENNETT

Asst. Head Proofreader

ANNIE HUANG

Talent Manager

SARA BARBER

K AT J A V U J I Ć

Asst. A&E Editor

Web Director

GINA BRAZÃO

YMTV Director

IRIS PEÑA

Asst. Head Copyeditor

LAURA GREEN

YMTV Assistant Director

RRAINE HANSON

Asst. Talent Manager

KALA SLADE

Marketing Director KARIN YEHOUDIAN

Social Media Director

MARKETING: KARIN YEHOUDIAN, EVAN MCCRORY, ALYSSA LYLES, MARNI ZIPPER, CHRISTINE HACHEM, TAYLOR CARLINGTON, ANNIE HUANG, EMILY PARK, ANNIE MASHBERG, SAMANTHA GOODMAN COPY EDITORS: REBEKAH SCARBOROUGH, NICOLE COOPER, EMMA GRANT, THERESA MIELE, NATALIE FRANTZ, OLIVIA TONSEND, JEFFREY KRIZMAN, MALCOM ZELAYA, ALICIA TOPOLNYCKY, LINDSAY HOWARD PROOFREADERS: JULIE MOSKOWITZ, LAURA RODGERS, SHADIN AL-DOSSARI EMILY SIERRA, BELLA CARTULARO DESIGN TEAM: BOBBY NICHOLAS III, HELEN REN, JULIANNA SY WEB TEAM: LAURA SABATER, CAITLIN MUCHOW

YMEMERSON.COM | INSTAGRAM: YOUR.MAG | TWITTER: @YOURMAGEMERSON

CONTENTS ROMANCE

06 NO KINKSHAMING! 08 A GUIDE TO ONLINE SEX 10 DEMISEXUALITY

EDITORIAL

20 STREET FOOD 36 STUCTURAL EDITORIAL

STYLE 12

HOW TO LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER (WHEN YOU REALLY DON'T)

14 ESSENTIALLY 16 A GUIDE TO POPULAR JAPANESE FASHION 18 PERSONALIZED WORK UNIFORMS

LIVING 24 TAMIA'S TIME 28 YOUR THINGS 30 HONESTLY, LITERALLY,

SERIOUSLY, THIS IS HOW I FEEL

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 44 THEATER OFFENSIVE 46 ADVICE FOR THE MODERN CLASSIC 48 ARTIST STATEMENT

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31 THE VALUE OF A HUG 32 SPACE FOR SPIRITUALITY 34 PHONE HOME

EDITOR’S LETTER O

n Thursdays at 1:45 p.m. the individuals on the Your Magazine executive board walk into room L151 in Piano Row for our weekly meetings. Sitting in a circle behind sticker-covered laptops, we discuss our goals and ideas for the magazine. But this is only one of the many rooms where the YM magic happens.

The content on these pages comes from our news sources and class lessons, our relationships with our families and our conversations with friends, our internal struggles and our external influences.

This magazine is where each of us very different individuals, who come from different towns, different states, and different countries, join together to produce a single issue.

If I wasn’t part of this student-run organization, I might have never met the bold and intelligent people who pour themselves into these pages. I also might not have learned about the bold and intelligent people we feature.

Our cover model, tamia Jordan, was the ideal person to feature for our in-depth profile. As Emerson College’s new Director of Intercultural Communications, Jordan is trying to create a more active and involved community between students. She wants these students to see her as an educated resource and an advocate who will listen and help them. Your Mag shares her values and supports her mission.

Our staff embraces diversity in religion, race, gender, sexuality, and thought. Inside this issue, you will uncover ways to exercise your spirituality on campus, you’ll be enlightened about the complexi-

ties of a hug, you’ll read about discovering demisexuality, and you will learn how families in different cultures have different ways of communicating.

We’ve started a dialogue here where writers can communicate their ideas and interests to our readers, who we encourage to respond to us and to join us. With a staff of nearly 50 people, YM works with a variety of writers, editors, photographers, and talents who contribute their individual expertise. This publication offers a platform to teach and to learn.

As Jordan says in her interview with Your Mag’s Katja Vujic, “I am a pupil, I am a student constantly, as I think we all are.”

We can learn through the experiences and stories of people unlike ourselves and I think that is the power of diversity and the power of publishing.

Sincerely,

Mia Zarrella

YOURMAG | 5

MY FASCINATION WITH THE WORLD OF SEXUAL KINKS STARTED WHEN I FOUND A PAIR OF FUZZY PINK HANDCUFFS IN MY OLDER BROTHER’S BEDROOM WHEN I WAS 13.

I didn’t dare ask why he owned these as I would be caught red-handed for snooping in his room, so I immediately went to the internet, wielding Urban Dictionary and Reddit as a sword in my conquest to learn about different kinks.

Now that I’m older, I often find myself in conversations revolving around the topic of kinks: friends talking about a threesome they had or describing their latex fetish in astonishing detail.

Using definitions from Rekink.com, I’ve created a starter guide for anyone unfamiliar with kink terminology: Aftercare - The period after sex where partners check in and re-establish peace and connection. This can be in the form of cuddling, eating or drinking, smoking, or even having a discussion on the previous sexual experience. It’s considered to be an essential part of kinky play.

BDSM - Bondage, Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadomasochism - This is a catch-all phrase that covers a wide variety of kinks, most of which revolve around bondage, dom/sub relationships, and deriving pleasure from either giving or receiving pain. Spanking, electric play, blindfolding, orgasm control and denial, and rope restraints all fall under the umbrella of BDSM. There’s an entire world of BDSM that you can look into, but remember that consent is the most important part in any of these activities.

Bondage - Provides restriction and restraint. This can include rope bondange, suspension bondance, leather bondage, or latex bondage.

CBT - Acronym for ‘Cock and Ball Torture’. Pretty much the sexual torture of anyone with a penis.

Choking - The act of causing someone to pass out or lose consciousness by restricting blood flow to the brain via choking. This can be a dangerous kink and is actually debated in the kink community.

Golden Showers - The kink practice of peeing on someone and/or being peed on.

Hard Limit - An element or action that a person isn’t comfortable with or couldn’t see themselves being comfortable with. Common limits include blood, unsafe sex, humiliation, physical harm, and certain triggers. These are to always be respected. There are also soft limits, which a person isn’t really comfortable with but could be sometime in the future.

Masochism - Someone who enjoys pain, or derives pleasure from pain.

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Pet Play - Involves acting like, or being the owner of, a human puppy/kitty. Costumes and props may be used, like leashes, collars, and food bowls, and it usually involves some kind of power exchange.

Rape Fantasy - I feel like this is the kink that is often debated about as there are definitely some consent boundaries.

Many individuals fantasize about wanting to be raped, and this is often referred to as ‘consensual nonconsent’. Consent is at the heart of this fantasy, and is at the heart of every kink.

Vanilla - Conventional sex. This is sex that doesn’t involve any elements of BDSM, kink, or festishism. While some may call this unadventurous, I firmly believe you shouldn’t shame anyone’s sexual behaviors, regardless of where they fall on the kink spectrum.

Now that you’re familiar with a few of the mainstream kinks, here are a few sex shops around Boston to check out if you want to dip your foot into the fetish pool: Good Vibrations - Brookline, MA - This store has a great selection of products and the staff is very knowledgeable not only about these products, but also the practices.

The sex positive environment makes any customer feel comfortable and included. Plus, they have a loyalty card that rewards you with every $100 you spend.

Condom World - Newbury St, Back Bay - Practically in Emerson’s backyard, Condom World has realistic prices and a wide range of products, from condoms (duh) to Kama Sutra products to fetish supplies and novelty items.

Hubba Hubba - Cambridge, MA - What’s cool about Hubba Hubba is that in addition to sex toys and accessories, they also sell vintage clothing! They’re home to the largest selection of corsets in the Boston area and have always been at the forefront of both fashion and kinks trends.

AMAZING Intimate Essentials - Medford, MA Though this shop is a bit of a commute to get to, it definitely lives up to its name. It has a section for smoking accessories, too, so if you’re into getting blazed and having kinky sex, it’s like killing two birds with one stone. Definitely worth checking out.

Before engaging in any kind of sex, remember that consent is always the sexiest and most important component in the bedroom. YM

NO KINK SHAMING! WRITTEN BY ASHLEY DUNN PHOTO BY HANA ANTRIM

ROMANCE | 7

GUIDE

TO

ONLINE ONLINE SEX SEX WRITTEN BY MAY BLAKE ILLUSTRATION BY HAYLEY JOSEPH

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Over the summer, I found myself in a four month long-distance relationship. In the midst of our sexual frustration, we decided to foray into foreign territory: online sex. Unlike sexting, online sex is a purely visible and exposed act. Without the excitement of real sex, it can feel planned, unnatural, and even clinical. Online sex can seem intimidating and awkward—without the natural, organic flow of having the other person in the room, you have to create your own chemistry.

However, after a little preparation, you can make it feel less synthetic and more like an adventure in itself. Remember that while this isn’t the same as real-life sex, it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, too.

Talk about it first: It can be easy to feel uneasy and insecure in front of a camera, even in the most comfortable relationships. Start talking to break the tension and create a comfortable atmosphere. By discussing what you’re comfortable with, you can get rid of pre-existing anxieties, making the experience more relaxing and enjoyable.

Set rules: Online sex, and sex in general, is a privilege granted by another person. Stripping on camera does not grant the person permission to take screenshots. Make sure you establish boundaries with your partner.

Insecurities: Without the guise of darkness or lust as a distraction, it can be easy to feel exposed and revealed in front of a camera. No one is as hyper-critical of our bodies as ourselves.

Your partner wants to see you, so don’t overstress finding that flattering angle, instead, enjoy showing off your body. More so, don’t be scared of not knowing what to do. None of us go into online sex knowing what we’re doing, so go into it with an open mind, and be eager learn about it as you go along.

Communicate throughout: It’s easy to feel uncomfortable during online sex. Chances are, your partner is feeling the same way. The biggest struggle I encountered with online sex was the lack of comfort. The excitement of online sex was initially followed by a feeling of depression upon realizing that the intimacy of real sex wasn’t there.

However, over time, I learned that not being there in person didn’t mean we couldn’t have intimacy.

Afterwards, make sure to keep the conversation up to keep up the closeness.

Have fun: Online sex is a healthy alternative and can be its own exciting milestone to experience in a relationship. Don’t see it as something you’re subjected to, but learn to relax and enjoy it! YM ROMANCE | 9

DEMI SEXUALITY WRITTEN BY ASHLEY DUNN

ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR ROBERTS

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WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE FAST ROMANCE IS MADE EASY WITH DATING APPS LIKE TINDER, GRINDR, AND BUMBLE. BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT MORE THAN JUST A HOOK UP?

What if you don’t even feel sexually attracted to someone until that emotional connection has been established?

Well, you may be demisexual.

Demisexuality is often forgotten when discussing the queer spectrum. With no letter designation in the LGBTQIA+ acronym and rare discourse surrounding its meaning, many individuals aren’t exposed to the concept of demisexuality until they frantically search Google for answers to their feelings.

Hell, even the Word document I’m currently typing into doesn’t recognize demisexuality—an aggressive red squiggle appears each time I type it out.

My first encounter with demisexuality was via Tumblr. A post was circulating around my dashboard about the spectrum of sexualities, and my eyes paused on the word “demi." According to the Demisexuality Research Center, demisexuality is a sexual orientation in which someone feels sexual attraction only to people with whom they have an emotional bond.

When considering demisexuality, it’s important to distinguish sexual attraction from sexual behavior, as you can’t control the former but can choose whether or not to participate in the latter. Many people denounce demisexuality as they think it’s normal to only want to get into bed with someone after getting to know them. Feeling sexually attracted to your barista or Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, doesn’t come naturally to those who are demisexual though. While the chance to do the horizontal tango with any of these individuals is not always plausible or may be halted due to a variety of reasons, the fact of the matter is that these sexual feelings are not present at all for demisexual people until the emotional bond has been formed.

Demisexual individuals are actually considered to be on the asexual spectrum for this reason. While some demisexuals are uninterested in sex and don’t feel sexual attraction for the most part, the key difference is that they are capable of feeling sexual attraction.

Sexuality is incredibly complex, so it’s crucial to remember that even people who identify as demisexual will have a lot of variation within that term.

Anna Drummond, a recently graduated Emerson alumna, says she thought she was straight until certain college experiences prompted her to search for a way to describe what she was feeling.

“I wasn’t emotionally or mentally feeling anything, until I started talking to this guy. We started out very much as a friendship, and I really came to trust him, emotionally, intellectually, mentally,” says Drummond. “It was all there, and then sexual and romantic attraction happened. It wasn’t like some corny movie where the protagonist realizes their best friend has been hot this entire time, but for me it’s that I don’t experience a sexual attraction for someone from the get-go.”

Drummond added that even if a deeply emotional connection has been formed, it doesn’t mean she’s going to suddenly want to fuck them. “It’s just that if I do fuck, I need/want to have that beforehand.”

My relationship with demisexuality is one that is fairly new. I came to college having never experienced sex before, as it wasn’t something I wanted to engage in while I was in high school. Anyone I would have had sex with in high school likely voted for Trump five months ago, so I dodged a bullet.

The sexual climate of college was aggressive. For two years I participated in hookup culture, inviting stranger after stranger into the most private parts of myself, feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled with every kiss, touch, and gasp. I even turned it into a game, but nothing seemed to make me feel, well, anything.

Only now am I discovering that demisexuality explains what I’ve been feeling. The one time I felt anything during sex was when it was with someone I felt so completely connected to, emotionally and mentally. I loved that person, and that love transcended into the bedroom, leaving me satisfied for the first and only time.

It is so important to have conversations about these feelings and ideas that are often hidden. Expression provides visibility, and with visibility comes awareness and understanding of self.

As Drummond so perfectly put it, “All sexualities, whether hidden or not, are valid and have a need to be visible.” YM

ROMANCE | 11

HOW TO LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER (WHEN YOU REALLY DON’T) WRITTEN BY: MEGAN CATHEY PHOTO BY: CAMERON RADENBERG

Once during my junior year of high school, my friend Kaddie told me something along the lines of, “You look so elegant and put together. But then you open your mouth.” To be fair, Kaddie had a point: I can be crude, my grasp of speaking the English language is questionable despite it being my native (and only) tongue, and overall my life was then, as it is now, a mess. But as Kaddie acknowledged, you couldn’t tell that by looking at me. Because over the years I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks to looking like I have my shit together.

And although I may be many things, I like to think I’m not selfish, so I’m here to pass what I’ve learned onto you.

Say you cry yourself to sleep one night (or two or three). Perhaps worse than the emotional distress that caused your tears in the first place is waking up with a face puffier than an eclair. If splashing your face with cold water doesn’t do the trick, give yourself a little facial massage (Into the Gloss has a great tutorial on Youtube). If you’re still feeling a little teary the following day, stick to waterproof mascara if you wear makeup. Although Lauren Conrad’s black tear streak on The Hills was iconic, in real life mascara tears are just messy and annoying. My favorite (easy) makeup trick though to look put together is to wear a bold red lipstick. I prefer matte formulas because they’re long lasting and I don’t have to worry about getting it all over my face.

“Uniform dressing” is a phrase du jour that honestly I’m kind of sick of hearing. But! Here this concept of a go-to outfit with minimal variations comes in handy when you’re on the hot mess express.

If you have a million options of what to wear, your already frazzled mind will probably implode. I’m not a neuroscientist, but I’m sure that’s the gist of it. Having a streamlined wardrobe with items that you know you’ll wear and feel good in will give you one less thing to worry about in the morning.

What to include in your uniform: comfortable items that you know you look good in. Nothing is worse than going throughout your

12 | YOURMAG

day and finally getting a good look of your ensemble in a Walker bathroom and realizing you look like a clown. For me, my uniform is pair of dark skinny jeans, a long sleeved top in either black, grey, or striped, black boots or sneakers, and depending on the weather a leather jacket or a heavier winter coat. Yes, it’s boring. But it’s fail-proof.

Even if you manage to put together a decent outfit, sometimes your hygiene is less than stellar--when shit hits the fan in your life, you tend to smell like said shit. Fortunately other people don’t have to know that you haven’t showered in three days. Or they don’t have to know your “I’m just going to have one vodka soda” at the Tam on a Tuesday night translated into pounding five shots of Jameson until last call, and you didn’t have time to shower before your 10 a.m. the following morning. Most likely you’re going to smell like a mix of cigarette smoke, sweat, and shame. To avoid dirty looks from your classmates, there are a couple steps to take.

Deodorant is obviously a given. Now normally I’m an advocate of using all-natural deodorant, but in this case you need the strongest shit in your arsenal. You need all the aluminum in the world to block the odor coming from your rank pits. I’m not saying this is the healthiest option, but neither is pounding hard liquor on a weekday--no judgment y’all, remember this is all from personal experience. If you haven’t done laundry in a while, you can always febreze your clothes in a pinch. Just make sure there are no stains on your clothes. Nothing says, “I’ve given up” like ambiguous stains on the front of your shirt.

Also, my hair is naturally oily. It’s gotten better now that I only wash it two-three times a week, but I still rely on dry shampoo. I have dark hair so sometimes if I get a little too heavy-handed with it I’ll have a greyish cast at my roots, but honestly my hair is already turning grey at the ripe age of twenty-two (From stress? Genetics? Who knows!). But if all else fails, throw a baseball cap on and hide those greasy roots, just like you hide your emotional anguish. YM

STYLE | 13

My skin care routine was changed forever about a year and a half ago, when I started using this one product. It’s customized to my skin, provides everything from acne prevention to moisturization to makeup removal, and I’m the only person who has a bottle. That’s because it’s homemade by my mom. It’s a face oil, a concoction of essential oils blended with a base oil that makes my skin look and smell amazing.

My mom became really interested in essential oils back in 2012, when I was a junior in high school. She started using them for aromatherapy purposes, offering a cotton ball doused with a few drops of peppermint essential oil instead of the usual Vicks chest rub for clogged sinuses.

Today, she has a drawer full with dozens of essential oils, and she makes everything from hand salve to lip balm.

The popularity of essential oils has surged in recent years. According to a 2016 report by Grand View Research, the trend will continue: the global essential oil market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6 percent from 2015 to 2022.

Emily Kanter, 31, is the co-owner of Cambridge Naturals, one of Boston’s primary spots to shop for essential oils.

Though the store, which opened in 1974, has been selling essential oils for decades, they haven’t always sold so well. “It was a small percentage of the population that knew what they were and how to use them,” says Kanter, “and we’re seeing much more interest now.”

Margaret Clark is the founder and president of Nature’s Gift, a company that has been selling essential oils online since 1995, and an expert who has been formally studying the uses of essential oils for years.

Clark’s highest-selling oil is the Bulgarian Lavender, while Kanter’s is the Cambridge Naturals brand French Lavender. “It’s extremely versatile,” says Kanter. “It’s excellent especially for stress and for relaxation, for sleep.

It has benefits for skin and hair. So it’s a very frequently used essential oil.” In addition to smelling amazing, lavender oil can even help with migraines and menstrual cramps.

Other top sellers are tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, and rosemary oil. For ever y ailment, there are essential oils that can be beneficial, according to Clark and Kanter.

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Here’s a quick starter’s guide: Skin balancing: Rose, Frankincense, Chamomile, Lavender, and Helichrysum.

Acne: Tea Tree, Lavender, Chamomile Stress relief: Lavender, Citrus, Petitgrain, Peppermint Injuries: Kunzea ambigua, Tea Tree Antimicrobial: Thyme, Eucalyptus, Peppermint These oils overlap, with multiple benefits, so it’s also important to consider what works for you. “I think a lot of people get really hung up on what the specific medicinal or studied purpose of an essential oil is,” says Kanter, “and I think there’s some value in choosing essential oils based on what smells really good to you.”

Depending on the purpose you’re using an essential oil for, you will likely have to smell it all day, so it’s a good idea to use one which makes that a pleasant experience.

The other important way to ensure a pleasant experience with essential oils is to make sure you dilute them. Although some companies capitalizing off the current trend claim that their oils don’t need to be diluted, it’s unlikely that that’s true. “We have learned that any oil used undiluted can cause lifelong sensitization, a type of allergy,” says Clark. Although some are lucky and have used undiluted oils directly without problems, “You do not know which time you use it will trigger a sensitization reaction. Once that happens, you will never be able to use that oil, or oils with similar constituents again.”

According to Clark, it was common teaching that tea tree and lavender oil were fine to use undiluted, but today’s research suggests otherwise. Generally, essential oils should be diluted with a base carrier oil - a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant. That sounds a little gross, but carrier oils can be beneficial to skin as well.

For example, Clark suggests hazelnut oil as a base for oily skin.

“Jojoba oil is a really nice, neutral, and relatively cost-effective oil to dilute them in,” says Kanter. “And it’s actually excellent for skin as well, so it makes a nice body oil, massage oil, et cetera.” Jojoba is one of the most popular carrier oils, but if you are creating a blend it’s a good idea to look into the carrier oil that would

work best for what you’re making.

And as Kanter suggests, it’s important to do research when shopping for essential oils, as well. Before buying, look into the company and their practices. But don’t believe everything you read on the internet - some companies are spreading misinformation. “A lot of brands say that you can take essential oils internally,” says Kanter, “but to the best of our research, that’s actually not true by and large, and I caution people in doing that. That’s something we never recommend to our customers.”

Both Kanter and Clark caution against multi-level marketing companies, many of which have made quite a name for themselves in the industry. “There are companies who have jumped into ‘the essential oil craze’ looking for a quick profit,” says Clark, “and there are suppliers who have been doing this for years because it is their passion. I try to find out how long the company has been in business, the background and training. If they are not willing to share that information, I move on.”

When shopping, Clark says there are basics which should always be on the label: common name, Latin name, country of origin, part of plant used, and how it was grown (organic, wild harvested, conventional). She says oils should be packaged in colored glass with safety caps and orifice reducers. “And beware of prices that are too good to be true,” says Clark.

“Rose Oil and Sandalwood can not sell for the same price as Tea Tree or Orange.

That said, there are cost-effective companies which sell good quality products.

Kanter recommends Aura Cacia and Vitruvi when shopping with cost and quality in mind, as well as the Cambridge Naturals brand, which partners with a company called Vitality Works to produce its own essential oils. “We’ve been to some of the farms that they work with, the biodynamic and organic farms in New Mexico. We trust them implicitly for their quality and the creativity and expertise they put into making their products in general,” says Kanter. “It makes it affordable for our customers, and it’s nice because it has our label on it.”

As for higher end labels, Cambridge Naturals also carries products from Snow Lotus and Simpler’s Botanicals. These companies, like Nature’s Gift, offer more unique and less-known oils like holy basil, bergamot, and blue tansy. “If you’re really excited about essential oils, it might be worth it and you might find some great uses for them,” says Kanter. YM

ESSENTIALLY WRITTEN BY KATJA VUJIC

PHOTO BY SOLEIL HYLAND

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID Skin care can be daunting; we put masks and creams on our faces to protect our skin or heal it, and sometimes those very products can actually damage our skin.

Makeup, too, is meant to make us prettier but too often has unintended consequences. When shopping for products for use on our skin, it’s always a good idea to scan the ingredients list. Emily Kanter, co-owner of Cambridge Naturals, is experienced in the search for safe skin care. “When I’m looking for skin care,” says Kanter, “we always look at the ingredients and if there’s something we don’t recognize, we look it up.”

Kanter names some common ingredients to avoid: pthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and harsh preservatives, which can be carcinogenic and irritating to the skin. “Avoiding synthetic fragrance is a really big one,” says Kanter, “and it’s hard to do in conventional products.

Most of them have some form of synthetic fragrance, if not to add a scent profile to the product, it’s actually even just to mask the various chemicals that are in there already and make it scent-less.”

Scanning ingredients lists can be tedious work, but luckily these days there are services that can do it for you. Kanter recommends the Environmental Working Group’s program, Skin Deep, which is a cosmetics database that scores products based on safety. There are also many apps for that - Kanter suggests Think Dirty, available on the App Store and Google Play, which lets you scan the product’s barcode to learn whether it’s safe for skin in simplified terms.

STYLE | 15

A Guide to Popular Japanese Fashion Written by Zilin Zhong

Illustration by Morgan Wright

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Shoichi Aoki, the founder of STREET magazine, FRUiTS magazine, and TUNE magazine, and the father of Japanese street fashion, was inspired by a trip to Europe. After introducing the European style to Japan, his artistic style was recognized domestically, and his progressive combinations of Eastern and Western styles on the street earned the nickname “Aoki’s ambush.” Whatever he captured with his camera would be the frontline of Japanese fashion. Since then, multiple styles have come from the interaction between acute revolutionists like Aoki and eagerly innovative teenagers. Now, the gates of modern Japanese street fashion have been pushed open for fashion explorers across the globe.

Harajuku Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is one of the Harajuku fashion idols that is admired and adored in Japan. Her style excessively adopts pink, fluorescent blue, bows, ribbons, laces, gilt, and warm and bright colors that seem to clash for attention. She is a dramatized version of the Harajuku teenagers, who use fusion of the West and East, and colors waywardly selected from the spectrum. But Harajuku fashion is only one branch of the Japanese street fashion tree.

Lolita, Gyaru, Ganguro, Kogal, and More Another branch is the Lolita style, which adopts Rococo dressing codes from France and turns them into a sweet, luxurious, but sexually distant style that sets the Lolita girls distinctively apart on the street. Gyaru (Japanese for ‘girl’) refers to rebellious Japanese hippie girls who campaign about their boldness with the sheer contrast of skin darkened with BB cream and blond hair, with scandalously short skirts and wide open collars. Ganguro (‘all black’) also rebels against the prevalent beauty standard with extremely tanned skin and blends in exaggerated eye-liners that hint at Kabuki masks.

Kogal dictates the classic attires of popular high school girls, with hair dyed blonde or brown, loose socks, heavy makeup, and loose uniforms. Apart from those, there are Bōsōzoku (‘gangster’), Decora (‘cute accessories’), Visual Kei (similar to glam rock), Oshare Kei (‘fashionable’), Angura Kei (dark and punk), Cult Party Kei (religious elements), Dolly Kei (doll-like), Fairy Kei (children’s items), and Kimono style (only seen in actresses, singers and idols).

Mori However, currently the most popular style is Mori, which sets the tone with soft, loosely fitting layers of garments such as flowy dresses and cardigans. Mori transcends the plastic, hard, cold, conventional beauty with perfectly measured proportions into one of vaguely nostalgic coziness. It places an emphasis on natural fabrics (cotton, linen, wool) and handmade or vintage accessories that suggest nature: forests, rivers, moss, squirrels, and flowers. The color scheme tends to be light and neutral, but patterns such as gingham and florals may also be used. Mori is currently dominating Japanese magazines and, most of all, the street.

Mori fashion can be intimidating due to the multiple layers and intricate details, which seem beyond the reach of girls who only have five minutes to get ready in the morning. However, there are still ways to try out the Mori style without breaking the bank. First of all, you can quickly accomplish this comfortable look by picking brown or beige boots from places like Zara, Pazzo, or Liful. Take care to select something youthful and casual, and stay away from sexier styles like stilettos. Second of all, you can always use a white T-shirt and a fringe bag in an earthy color. Aim for shirts that are loose and maybe semi-transparent—shirts that delineate the softness and smoothness of your curves, and emit a certain innocence. Or go for sweaters in shades of pearl, alabaster, and cream that are quintessentially Mori.

Floral dresses also capture the naiveté of Mori fashion.

Avoid cool colors like navy blue, azure, cobalt blue, all shades of purple except warm ones like lavender, or anything fluorescent. If you are looking for a quick guideline for Mori, pick items in earthy greens, creams, browns, burgundy, sky blue, light grey, and dusty pink, and there will be no obvious obtrusion.

Makeup-wise, Mori’s makeup palette ranges from orange to red to pink. Anything outside of this spectrum is not to appear on the face of a Mori girl. I recommend Canmake, which is popular with office ladies and teenagers and has outstanding eyeshadows and blushes; Shiseido, which is famous for skin care; and Anna Sui, which is famous for its perfumes and lipsticks. There is also Cezanne, Coffret D’or, and Hada Labo, which are easily accessible online or on Newbury and can deliver the casualness, comfort, and coziness of the Mori style. YM

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PERSONALIZED WORK UNIFORMS WRITTEN BY ALESSANDRA SETTINERI ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN WRIGHT

Eartha Kitt

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One of the more forgettable aspects of a job is having to adhere to the dress policy. Whether you have a uniform or minimal wiggle room in what you can wear, chances are that how you dress on the job is different from how you dress off the clock. You get the sinking feeling that a dress code strips away your individuality; a uniform turns you into a copy of every other employee. But, if you find the loopholes in your company’s dress code, you’ll find those limits can help you open up to the most liberating expressions of your style.

Here are a few college students who found their way around the workplace by packing a little personalized in flair their look: Jake DiTore, Starbucks barista Dress Code: Employees must wear pants, shorts, skirts, or dresses in black, gray, navy, brown, and khaki (no white). Jeans may be worn in darker washes and hues only (no light tones). Starbucks® promotional T-shirts may be worn.

What’s your usual style?

“My style changes quicker than New England weather. I love anything tight fitting; skinny jeans are a big part of my wardrobe. I also love 90s apparel, so you can find me in baggy sweaters, oversized jackets, sweatpants, and lots of denim.”

What aspects of your style do you sacrifice or compromise for the sake of meeting the dress code?

“It’s very hard to appeal to my love for the '90s when I am at work.”

How do you make your work uniform personal?

“I hardly ever wear anything but jeans. I love them, and they make my butt look great […] For shirts, I usually try and wear a patterned collared shirt that allows me to express myself but also stays within the company’s regulations. These patterns usually involve polka dots and flowers. I also wear my ‘work Vans’ that I have owned since getting the position over two years ago. They started as all black Vans, but through all of my shifts they are now completely destroyed, but I like how they tell my story as a Starbucks barista.”

Kayla Carcone, ice cream scooper at J.P. Licks Dress Code: Company apron, no yoga pants or bottoms of a similar fabric, closed-toe shoes, and a hair covering. Wearing company shirts and hats is encouraged, but not required.

Usual style?

“I don’t know— I don’t think I’ve ever had a very distinct style […] I think I dress pretty casually, but I do own pieces that I think are very loud on their own. But I wouldn’t necessarily call my entire style loud.”

What do you sacrifice or compromise?

“Hair, for sure. Constantly having my hair in a ponytail bothers me […]

It’s kind of messy usually, but it sort of adds [to my style]. I really hate my work sneakers; they’re just about the ugliest pair of shoes on the face of the earth. Like neon green and pink and black Asics I got as hand-medowns. I will give it to them though -- they were the first pair of shoes that didn’t make my feet feel like they were going to fall off.”

How do you make your work uniform personal?

“Making my work uniform personal has really been a shoulders-up kind of operation. I rely on accessorizing, so a lot of the time I’ll wear earrings. I’ll get a lot of compliments from customers and my co-workers as well about these pom-pom drop earrings that I have. And then I only ever wear my ‘Emerson College Dad’ hat […] Sometimes it lends itself to connecting with customers that will end up starting a conversation.”

Khadijah Holland, eyewear consultant at LensCrafters Dress Code: Professional-looking clothing, modest attire. Clothes must be white, grey, or black. Must wear black shoes that are either flats, dress shoes, or smart boots. Every week employees can wear a pop of color in an accent piece.

Usual style?

“My style on an everyday basis is generally casual and comfortable— I wear a lot of basics. I’m generally not adventurous with patterns or bright colors; I usually wear a lot of dark colors and a lot of burgundy.

I’m usually wearing jeans or leggings and then a sweater. I also generally wear Vans or boots […] I would describe my style as simple, casual, and slightly edgy... or at least I’m trying to inject a little edge into it [laughs].”

What do you sacrifice or compromise?

“The thing I compromise on is absolutely my shoes— I really just wish I could wear my nice comfy everyday Vans instead of having to wear flats or heeled boots because they’re really not that comfy and a few hours on the job I really start to feel it.”

How do you make your work uniform personal?

“I make my work uniform personal with my makeup. I often will wear a statement lipstick or wear some cool highlighter to give my whole look some life [...] If your outfit is basic but your makeup is slaying, I feel like it almost makes up for it. I also try on a lot of glasses at work and generally wear the more outrageous ones because it’s fun. The last shift I worked, we got a bunch of new glasses and I wore a pair of gold Ray-Ban’s which were sort of outrageous but helped me add a little fun to my outfit.” YM

STYLE | 19

STREET FOOD PHOTO BY MADELINE WEINSTEIN-AVERY CREATIVE DIRECTION BY EMILY DRAKE

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MARIA'S TAQUERIA

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NEW YORK PIZZA

BON ME

YOURMAG | 23

TAMIA'S TIME WRITTEN BY KATJA VUJIĆ PHOTO BY MICHAEL ZAHAR

Tamia jordan is seated at an elevated table in the middle of Blu in the Ritz, a roomy café with natural light provided by a wall of windows. She looks perfectly at home with two books stacked on the table and her laptop out. The straw she sips from is nestled in a white can with a fruit on the front. She greets me with an easy smile and explains that she’s spent much of her day at the café, joking that she’s turning it into her own personal office.

The quiet buzzing atmosphere contains a primary clientele of Equinox gym members. Jordan herself is not a member—as the new Director of Intercultural Student Affairs at Emerson, she’s had a busy six months. She’s also had a busy week: she’s recovering from the flu, just got a new cat, and is preparing for her 39th birthday.

Despite it all, she radiates warmth.

Jordan’s new position at Emerson follows a history of work in student affairs and higher education. Most recently, she was the Director of Student Affairs at Berklee College of Music, where, in addition to directing student affairs, she worked with Berklee’s intercultural groups and to create programs like MLK week and a prison education one connected to the one at BU. Through those years, she found that she was most passionate in her work around diversity and inclusion. “I knew I wanted to do it full-time,” she says. “I knew I didn't want it to be sort of a fractured existence.”

So when the position opened up at Emerson, it felt fated. “I love working with creative students. I love working in an arts institution ... the hardest thing for me leaving there was that I'd be leaving that

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world,” says Jordan. At Emerson, though, she hasn’t had to. “Here's a gift from the universe to do diversity work, social justice work, and at an institution where there are creative students,” she says.

Jordan has been interested in social justice issues, it seems, since birth. Raised in Hackensack, New Jersey by parents who grew up in the South and were actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, she recalls an early introduction to the systemic problems facing this country. “I just have these stories,” says Jordan. She laughs, a contagious giggle that punctuates many of her sentences. “I don’t think it’s every day that a three-year-old is walking around with a T-shirt that says Black By Nature, Proud By Choice. I think by the time I was seven years old I had watched the whole Eyes on the Prize [PBS civil rights documentary] series, for better or for worse.” She recalls a memory from her childhood, when her older brother would require her to recite Public Enemy lyrics like “9-1-1 is a joke,” in order to be let into his room for video games.

Jordan’s mother grew up in small-town Georgia as a sharecropper picking cotton. “That was always something interesting to me when we went to visit her family down South,” she says, adjusting her cat-eye, clear-framed glasses. “It never escaped me as mesmerizing that cotton grows on trees.” Jordan grew up listening to stories from her mother and uncles about their experiences, and says her mother placed a lot of importance on education since she was unable to attend college herself.

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“My father was born in Mississippi, but he grew up in Alabama,” says Jordan. “He was born at a time where it happened fairly often that little black babies didn’t have their birth certificates filed with the State.” To this day, her father has no birth certificate. It caused distress in his life, and in her own. “Growing up, for some reason my name was spelled wrong on my birth certificate,” she recalls. “It was spelled J-o-r-d-o-n, not J-o-r-d-a-n.” Her mother spent years trying to rectify the mistake, but was unable to for a long time because, without her father’s certificate, they were unable to prove the spelling.

Eventually, when Jordan was nine years old, her birth certificate was amended. But the experience taught her a lesson that stays with her even today. “I grew up believing that the State may allocate privilege, may determine who lives and dies, but at the end of the day, we’re legitimate because we are,” she says. “The state doesn’t get to determine our legitimacy. Certainly a piece of paper doesn’t determine a person’s legitimacy. That was a pretty significant lesson from my childhood.”

Later, in middle school, she went through what she now defines as an immersion phase in the cycle of racial identity development.

It started in seventh grade, when she read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. “A lightbulb went off in my brain. So I started reading essentially everything I could that was about black history,” says Jordan. “Pretty much everything that I wore was red, black, or green.

And I had my Malcolm X medallions and hats. It was also the 90s, and so Cross Colours was a thing. And really, that whole thing was a thing, but it made it really easy for me to be in that phase. I wanted to spend as much time as I could in Harlem, at the Harlem markets.”

Her time in high school was peppered with financial difficulties, but stabilized by a tight-knit group of friends, many of whom she is still close with. “Interestingly, I've always had a pretty diverse group of friends, even in the circumstances where that wasn't so easy,” says Jordan. “When we were in high school, my high school crew was very diverse. We called ourselves the Rainbow Coalition, because we seemingly had everybody represented in our immediate crew.”

The belief that college was on the other side, she says, also helped her through high school-era difficulties. Her sister who was ten years older had been through college and solidified the expectation. Visits with the same sister, who moved to Maryland after graduating, introduced her to her favorite author. “In order to get me to shut up, to be perfectly honest, she'd give me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a book, and she gave me my first Octavia E. Butler book and I was hooked.”

College did turn out to be on the other side—a whole lot of college. Jordan got her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, where she double majored in American Politics and African-American Studies. After a few years working, she went to grad school at the University of Vermont, this time studying Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs Administration. She later worked at Duke University, then Berklee.

Jordan started at Emerson at the cusp of the 2016 election cycle, just one month before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or, as she refers to him, “Jackass POTUS 45,” was elected. “It's interesting, because everything is different but everything's the same,” she says.

“Because the work existed, it pre-dated any one person who's in the highest office of our nation. All the –isms, they're shapeshifters, as I like to say, and their shape has been shifting for some time now.

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Instead of these things being eradicated completely, they've morphed and they've changed into other ways of oppressing vulnerable populations.”

The primary change, for Jordan, was the psychological impact of the election and the executive orders that eventually followed.

Most difficult for her is watching younger people who are newer to the work experience those psychological blows. But, she says, the universe is providing. “I'll have a low moment,” she says, “and then something will happen and I'll be ready to fight, and then the person who helped me through my low moments will be having theirs.

There's just this sort of weird symbiosis that's going on right now, so that we're all keeping our heads in the game.”

She recognizes, though, that marginalized groups are already feeling the direct effects of the new administration. “I think what's most disheartening is seeing people get hurt, and seeing people impacted, and seeing people afraid, and feeling like on some level, it's going to get worse before it gets better,” says Jordan. For that reason, she says that self-care is more important than ever for activists.

“Not just saying it but actually checking in with folks,” she explains, “checking in with myself, and making sure that we're healthy and drinking our water, so to speak – getting our sustenance.”

Jordan’s preferred self-care activities are reading and beach time. In the summer, she spends up to 13 hours at the beach. “I wish it could be summer 24/7,” she says. “I love sitting by water, being in water, sleeping by water, eating by water. Just do it all.”

Summer is a time to recharge for her, but this summer she will also be getting to work. Jordan has big plans for Emerson and her department, some of which she’s already begun to implement. The next eight months, for her, will be all about redefining the mission and vision of Intercultural Student Affairs, formerly known as Multicultural Student Affairs. The name change was one of the first steps leading to the larger changes that she hopes to make, and it says a lot about her goals.

“When I think of ‘multicultural,’” she says, “I think of a state of being. And when I think of ‘intercultural,’ I think of ‘inter’ as being more of an action, being more of a doing. And I think that there's something to be said about the interaction, and the interrelationship, and the way of being together in a place and not just telling our stories, but also to some degree owning each other's stories, and supporting each other in that interrelationship along our journeys, particularly as we're developing in our variety of identities.”

Jordan is working hard to make connections with other departments who share many of the goals that Intercultural Student Affairs has. Redefining a department is no simple task, and to help the process along and make sure all voices are heard, she is putting together an advisory board to meet through the summer and working with faculty, staff, and students. Currently, they are working on reviewing data to gain a sense of where they are, and soon they’ll be looking at the work done at other institutions to see what can be applied to Emerson. Over the summer, they will be be coming up with language, guiding principles, and goals for the department.

“The way that I'm thinking about Intercultural Student Affairs is a little bit different, too,” she says. "I see my work and the work of International Student Affairs as being intertwined and inextricably linked, and so I see the folks who are doing International Student Affairs as being my team, and me being a part of their team, and so organizations that previously were advised through their area, that

weren't always pulled into the multicultural umbrella, now they are.

Now we're working as one.”

She is also working to improve Emerson’s Cultural Center–in addition to decorative improvements like new chairs, she is thinking about the space in new ways, making it a hub of interaction and utilizing it in ways that promote new ideas. Ultimately, Jordan hopes to bring Intercultural Student Affairs out of the basement, both literally and figuratively. She wants to make sure students are aware that the Cultural Center exists and that her department is available as a resource. And a larger space, she says, would be nice too.

She wants students to think of her as a resource and an advocate, who has done a lot of work to educate herself and understand the challenges of various populations. “I think about students who are looking around Emerson for folks who can identify in a variety of ways with them. I'm here to listen. I'm here to help facilitate new ideas. I'm here to help make the community a better community for [students].”

Jordan is eager to support students from vulnerable communities, and to work with all students and community members who have great ideas and need help developing them. “I am a pupil, I am a student constantly, as I think we all are,” she says. “No one is an expert in this work and we're all learning and growing and taking chances. We're gonna get some stuff right, we're gonna muck some stuff up. And that's just it. That's just the work. But as long as we're kind of putting one foot in front of the other, and trying, and approaching things with good intentions and a good motive, then I think that we're doing well.”

Though the work she does is difficult and often disheartening, Jordan seems to approach life the way she approaches fashion: with comfort, color, and individuality in mind. Her favorite color, as it happens, is orange, and her favorite number is three. She is bubbly and joyful, especially when talking about her cat. “Her name is Nala Ethiopa Ama Bu—I cannot say her fourth name—Jordan. Nala Ethiopa Ama Buthe Jordan,” she says, explaining that she wanted to incorporate a name from her roommate’s native language, Xhosa.

She also includes “Ama,” a day name, in keeping with a West African tradition.

She pulls out her phone and slides through a few photos. “Her favorite show is Blackish. I have her crated now because she's very skittish, and we have to socialize her but she's already gotten so much better, even in just two days. This is her watching Blackish. She's a sweet girl. Oh, my pretty girl.”

Above all, Jordan is driven by gratitude. “To my ancestors, I'm science fiction. I was a hope, a distant hope at best,” she says.

“The amount of sacrifice and the amount of pain and endurance... it's unfathomable,” she pauses, considering. “It's real. It's real in the sense that I had ancestors that came over here on slave ships.

They came here. They worked in fields. And they didn't just work in fields through slavery, they were then sharecroppers in the South.

My mother herself was a sharecropper on land that our family was more than likely owned on, you know? How can I not put one foot in front of the other, under my circumstances which are nothing in comparison?” she pushes her sleeve up, revealing a small tattoo.

“I have Maya Angelou's quote on my arm from Still I Rise: ‘I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise.’ And that's what it is. It's gratefulness. That is the force.” YM

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YOUR THINGS ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR ROBERTS

YOUR MAG ART DIRECTOR TAYLOR ROBERT’S FAVORITE THINGS What are six objects you can’t live without and why?

3 x 3 Annual Edition No, 12. This is crucial to me. I could say that, as an illustrator, this is my bible, but it isn’t, it’s better. I don’t think the bible is as colorful and curated as this is. 3 x 3 is a collective of bold illustrations by boundary breaking illustrators and each year the collective publishes a fat book of the year's best in illustration. It’s an entire opera, hand picked for me. It has the informative well of knowledge that Pinterest has but adds a tangible intimacy. I ripped out about forty of my favorite illustrations one afternoon and created a kind of wallpaper in my room.

African Black Soap. Any light internet search for amazing skin products will turn up black soap pretty quickly. It smells good and is all natural and took my skin from about a 4 to a high 7. I still have some battles to fight with my face but this soap is a worthy weapon.

All Red Shades. I’m obsessed with my red sunglasses because they are equally the most fun and the most ridiculous things I’ve ever had be a part of my wardrobe. They’re entirely this deep red shade that makes everything look like the aftermath of an apocalyptic nuclear fallout. They take some adjusting to get used to but now I see through them easily, even in my dreams. I don’t hold on to sunglasses for long so I’ll enjoy these while I have them.

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Decorative Ceramic Hippos. Hippos are just my favorite animals. I wish to one day possess their duality of adorable and absolutely lethal. The blue one is from the MFA and the black one is a gift. They both have names, too, but they are far too embarrassing to print.

Perfume. This is a small miniature perfume in a glass bottle that has no name, or at least a name I can’t remember. I think it’s by NEST. It smells like nighttime in a deep flower bed, but not in the disgusting sickeningly sweet way. It’s tolerable and even a little romantic.

Ello Grey Glass Water Bottle. First it needs to be stated that everyone should own a water bottle. That’s a fact, they’re better for the environment, and encourage people to drink water. It also achieves a mock athletic look. Now, it is personally my opinion that everyone should own this water bottle. It’s glass which helps keep water tasting fresh and also makes me feel important. It has a rubber case so it’s more durable and easier to hold, so when I’m walking down the street being better than every Poland Spring basic bitch I won’t drop it. Which is crucial to maintaining the look. Y M

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HONESTLY...

LITERALLY...

SERIOUSLY...

THIS IS HOW I FEEL...

WITH BRADEN BOCHNER

“ Dear Braden, Ever since second semester started, I’m finding it harder and harder to be social. I have zero impulse to go out. My friends try to drag me to parties every weekend, but I just want to stay in bed and watch Netflix and sleep. Any suggestions for fighting off the winter blues?

Sincerely, Seasonally Affected

”

Dear Seasonally Affected, Have you ever seen the Lars Von Trier film Melancholia? It’s a three-hour saga about the end of the world. Sounds fun, right?

Kirsten Dunst plays this woman who is majorly depressed… she literally spends half of the film in a wedding dress crying on a golf course and eating meatloaf that—and I quote —“tastes like ashes.”

Why am I telling you about this bizarre-o art-house film, Seasonally Affected? Because every year when winter rolls around and rears its ugly head like a zit on my chin, besides muttering “Winter is coming!” in my best Jon Snow voice, I become Kirsten Dunst a la Melancholia—minus the wedding dress and the meatloaf, of course.

I too, Seasonally Affected, am seasonally affected. My mood directly correlates with the weather. I hate winter. HATE. I thrive in the summer! Winter, not so much. It’s cold, wet, and miserable. It gets dark outside at 4 p.m., and it gets dark inside of me, too. Despite what anyone says, those “happy lights” don’t work. You literally do your best just to get by.

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I spent the winter of 2014 (yes, THAT winter… over 100 inches of snow in Boston!), my freshman year, in my single room in the Colonial building. It was a dark time—quite literally, as I kept my blackout curtains down for three months. I watched all five seasons of “Six Feet Under” and barely showered. I drank NyQuil with a bendy straw. I’d stay up all night and make collages on the carpet, listening to the same Fleetwood Mac song on repeat. I let strangers into my bed and by strangers I mean various flavors of Doritos (have you ever tried the spicy and sweet purple ones? SO GOOD…). I think I ended up gaining like twenty pounds! Anyways, you get the picture. Having been to that certain kind of hell and back, let me tell you—no matter how cozy it may be, staying in bed is not the answer.

It’s easy to dig yourself into a hole and want to stay there. Trust me–I get it. And while it’s important to accept what you’re going through, you can’t let it ruin you! Feel your feelings. Don’t try to numb them. Don’t drown them in wine, weed, and TV (even if it’s an Emmy award-winning series).

Self care is the name of the game. Take a shower! Do a facemask! Get yourself into a bootcamp class, or try spinning, yoga, or Pilates! I swear, nothing is better than working out when you’re depressed. Bootcamp is my favorite. It saved my life. You’re running on a treadmill in a dimly lit room while Lil Wayne is blasting and you feel like you’re in a music video. The endorphins are insane!

Get yourself out there, Seasonally Affected. Bundle up. Beat the cold. You’re braver than the snow and the slush and the sleet. In order to grow, you have to ask more of yourself. Challenge yourself and put yourself out there. Even if you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.

Oh, and try those purple Doritos.

Braden

THE VALUE OF A HUG Hug. Just saying the word sounds like a happy sigh, brings about a ticklish feeling deep inside your chest, and lifts a smile on your face.

The gesture itself—one person encircling their arms around another and squeezing— is that feeling amplified. It suggests warmth, comfort, protection, and love. It’s a shot of oxytocin straight to your system. It’s reassurance that everything will be alright, even when you’re at your lowest point or wit’s end.

It’s not that way for everyone, however.

Let’s start with the huggers.

Good news! Hugging for college students is now more accessible than ever.

“Those who are accustomed to hugs and enjoy them are likely to hug their new friends at college,” says Miami-based psychologist Dr. Sherrie Lewis-Thomas. She adds that this is because college campuses tend to have more sexual freedom, which inevitably leads to positive physical contact as a whole to be welcomed amongst peers.

Take “Free Hug” events, for example.

Although Lewis-Thomas says that hugging a stranger can often create feelings of anxiety over anything else, imagine the person in your life who started hugging you the day after meeting them. It can be a roommate or friend you’ve developed a strong bond with.

For those of you who love to hug, it brings comfort and boosts your mood. However, it is important to be aware of those who would not be as appreciative.

Not everyone is into hugs.

Lewis-Thomas says that hugs won’t always be welcomed, but on the contrary, could be “anxiety-provoking and unbearable” for some. “A traumatized individual or autistic individual may struggle with physical contact,” she says. Therefore, it is crucial to be mindful that the person you want to hug consents to it beforehand. Not everyone reacts to touch in the same way, and it is important to place the other person into consideration since they are just as involved in the interaction.

If you are an individual who does not enjoy hugs, a pet or comfort animal can be a more relaxing and rewarding alternative.

“The petting of the animal is calming for

many people,” says Lewis-Thomas, “Most pets also have a tendency to provide unconditional love, obedience, and loyalty.” These traits could be much more beneficial to individuals who want to engage in physical contact that is less confrontational but who still need security and a form of assurance.

Finally, there are also those who could use a hug, but may be afraid to reach out.

Harry Harlow’s “Monkey Love” experiments showed motherless baby rhesus monkeys who valued physical comfort over food.

The baby monkey would come into contact with either a “mother” made of wire with a bottle of milk attached, or a terry cloth-covered “mother” that provided no food. Most of the time, the baby monkey would spend time cuddling the mother covered in cloth over the wire mother with food, especially when they underwent moments of distress.

Perhaps the experiment in itself wasn’t the most ethical and should have taken into account the feelings of all sentient creatures.

However, the results are still relevant, showing that individuals will value comfort even over things that contribute to basic survival.

The same applies to people; when one undergoes moments of stress or is depressed, physical contact can do wonders to improve one’s emotional state. “There are even some studies that have shown that hugs have calmed aggression, expansiveness, and other emotional difficulties,” says Lewis-Thomas.

Once again, it may be better to receive a hug from someone you feel close to than from a stranger. If you are a friend to someone who is going through a rough time, ask them if they need a hug. Even if they say no, it is better to have asked than to leave them without that form of emotional support.

If you’re not into physical contact from others or no one else is around, and you need some comfort, don’t hesitate to give yourself a hug. In the end, caring about your own emotional well-being should be your utmost priority. Regardless, the same feelings of stress relief and contentment arise and make you feel better, especially when they come from the person who will always be there for you… you. YM

WRITTEN BY ALESSANDRA SETTINERI ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR ROBERTS

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The news is enough to make you believe there is no God. Pundits spin poison, snow falls in March, and facts are “alternative”. The air of hope seems to have been let out of America’s balloon with this great divide: those who still support Trump and those who don’t (or possibly never did). Post-election anxiety and depression is warranted. But the real question is: how do we cope?

Spirituality may seem taboo for today’s youth, reminiscent of the exodus from big band music to rock n’ roll in the 1950s and 1960s.

The younger generations especially are agitated by traditionalism and antiquities (like those stricter religions that have no place for LGBTQA+ youth).

But whatever you believe in, finding a peaceful center can help reawaken hope, relaxation, and a clear mind. Harrison Blum, Emerson’s new Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Campus Chaplain, is ready to revamp his department with a “both and approach,” meaning a less formal decision-making process. In this way, his department is entirely receptive to what students want and are looking for. Generally, Blum wants to work on “deepening, reconnecting, re-inspiring students to their own faith-based traditions.”

But this isn’t forced attendance to CCD or its equivalents. Blum is not trying to convert anyone, but, rather, has an honest intention of “making spirituality feel relevant to those that seek it, including fostering and supporting the spirituality of those that don’t identify within a specific religious tradition.”

Blum’s holistic lifestyle derives from humble beginnings. Growing up Jewish, Blum found interest in Buddhism from a World Religion course at his high school. From there, a “seed was planted,” as he puts it, leading to the study of religions in college and achieving a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity school. Previously, Blum was a preschool and kindergarten teacher, worked at Franciscan Children’s Hospital and Northeastern, and led “contemplative” and “ecstatic” dance experiences.

“I love people and I love engaging with people . . . chaplaincy is a beautiful way to do that,” Blum says. Chaplaincy specifically is a non-denominational cleric that aids a secular institution, such as

Emerson College. His forthcoming goals include completing a community art project from student email responses to a survey. So far, there have been four hundred responses to Blum’s spirituality survey, which will transformed into a word cloud and brief video.

Based on the responses as a whole, Blum will evaluate other projects that will benefit the Emerson community. Some ideas floating around are an interfaith retreat (most likely next Fall), an interfaith Spring hike, and an Earth Day meditation.

“Nature is nurturing,” Blum reflects. “Something that transcends labels.” If an interfaith retreat occurs this coming fall, it would involve the renting of a house with a big common space to share stories and faith. The objective would be “interfaith connection . . . not just ‘oh that’s interesting,’ but learning about your faith experience actually deepens my reflection on my own.”

Recently, Blum was commissioned to speak at Harvard divinity panel called, “What is the moral responsibility of college chaplains in the age of a Trump presidency?”

It’s a heavy question, with a not-so-easy answer. Blum starts off by mentioning context, something we’re still struggling with even after the election results. Being from New England or living in a progressive city stunts perspective. Coal miners in the midwest have a different context than Emersonians do, and that’s survival. Jobs, unemployment, growth, and finances. Not to say one’s right and the other’s wrong. Context changes, but compassion remains. Politicians, Blum insists, should focus on going from “soundbites and slogans to stories and hopes and fears.”

So however you feel about spirituality, Blum’s office can be your place to find an inner serenity. It’s located in L155, right next to the Cultural Center, with mindful meditations every Friday from 1111:30 am. There’s also one-on-one spiritual counseling (by appointment) and a Reflection Room, with prayer rugs, ablution materials, and a Qibla sign for Muslim students (need to reserve on SpaceBook). This may not be everyone’s answer to coping. Bitterness and anger are easy reactions, but finding a sense of compassion and self will save us in the long run. YM

WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN, FINDING A PEACEFUL CENTER CAN HELP REAWAKEN HOPE, RELAXATION, AND A CLEAR MIND. 32 | YOURMAG

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WRITTEN BY LAURA CAFASSO PHOTO BY BENJAMIN FROHMAN

LIVING | 33

PHONE HOME The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was an allegory for students going into college. An alien left behind in a new place, still adjusting and homesick, tries to “phone home.” I see you, Spielberg.

I know the feeling. When I first got to college, I was that kid who paced up and down the hallway in the dorms and filled my parents in on my day, sometimes several times a day. Meanwhile, my new friends, while respectful, were quizzical.

Often, they’d point out how cute it was that I was so close to my family, which is true.

But, I’d also been trained from a young age by my divorced, immigrant parents to call them daily, whether it was to say good morning to my traditional Italian dad or let my concerned Cuban mom know I’d gotten home from school. Old habits stick, I guess. My friends’ comments made me wonder though: Did they not communicate with their families that often? Was it my peers’ way of gaining independence? Was it a result of culture or differing parenting styles? I set off to find out.

And in fact, many of these factors do play a role in communication between families, according to Miami-based psychologist Dr. Sherrie Lewis-Thomas. On a family member’s part, “I think cultural issues play a large role in the frequency of communication, as does gender and family dynamics,” she says. In my case, my Hispanic mother, who is usually occupied with work, still prioritizes her children above everything else and always goes out of her way to check in on me and make sure I didn’t procrastinate again (“Sorry to disappoint you, Mami, but…” “Don’t you know stress kills!”). Students with similar backgrounds probably feel this strongly. There is also the factor of how close a family is, or what sort of precedent they have established in how frequently communication will occur.

Unlike the year E.T . was released—1982—when college students still had to use a landline in order to get in touch with their families and email didn’t even exist, let alone all the social media and other technologies we use to communicate nowadays, we have all that and more.

“Digital media is also playing a key role in 34 | YOURMAG

WRITTEN BY ALESSANDRA SETTINERI PHOTO BY EMME HARRIS ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR ROBERTS

more frequent communication as it is now so easy to communicate and can take less than ten seconds,” says Lewis-Thomas.

After conducting a survey answered by college students, I found that nearly half of those who participated responded that they communicated with their families daily. The rest of the responders said they either got in touch multiples times a day, weekly, or two to three times a month. The most common means of communication was text messaging, followed by phone calls and then video calls.

Fellow students’ comments were also enlightening. Those who called daily said they did so because their parent was their best friend or that a close-knit family was important to their culture, very similar to what Lewis-Thomas asserted. Meanwhile, others favored calling their siblings or cousins who they were closer in age with every day, and getting in touch with their parents once a week “for logistics.” This is actually quite common according to Lewis-Thomas who says, “Many students reach out to their parents for money or help.” Other students said they did not communicate as often because they did not get along with their parents. Some said their parents were their best friends.

Lewis-Thomas emphasizes that calling is a way for students who are still adjusting to receive support from their families and feel connected.

Gender also seems to influence the frequency of communication between students and their families. “Culturally speaking, one can often hear a parent say they have a daughter so they get calls all the time, but their sons—they feel lucky if they talk to them once a week,” says Lewis-Thomas.

I’m nearly done with my second year of college, and I admit that I still like to call my parents everyday. Make of that what you will, but I just want to make sure that they’re okay just as much as I’m sure they want to make sure I’m not waking up at noon every day (I don’t—I wake up at 11:30. Ha!) Now, my dad wants me to FaceTime him once a day though and I really don’t know how to feel about that. I think I’ll just stick to “phoning home.” YM

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STRUCTURED

CREATIVE DIRECTION BY EMILY DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDRI RAINE

MODELS NAKO NARTER AND KAI GRAYSON

STYLING BY JULIA GODINHO AND VLAD KIM MAKEUP BY GABY CHIONGBIAN

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THEATER OFFENSIVE WRITTEN BY ASHLEY DUNN ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR ROBERTS

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THE THEATER OFFENSIVE IS HERE, QUEER, AND CREATING ACTIVISM THROUGH AN ART FRONTIER. Just beyond Copley, on the 3rd floor of 565 Boylston Street, you’ll find the headquarters for this queer art collective, acronymed as TTO. Their website proudly boasts their mission: to transform lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lives into art that breaks personal isolation, challenges the status quo, and cultivates flourishing communities.

Founded in 1989, the TTO’s first purpose was to create edgy art and provide a space for queer theater artists to perform in Boston, a celebration of bold and daring theater that went on for twenty years.

In 2010, Executive Artistic Director Abe Rybeck and a team of staff, board, and community members created a new approach that would reflect the voices of those in their neighborhood and allow their art to expand to areas outside their homebase.

Dubbed the OUT in Your Neighborhood (OUT’hood) approach, TTO now works to bring shows and events to local organizations, schools, and the streets. With a population as diverse as Boston’s, they also work to bring LGBTQIA+ artists of color to their space, emphasizing the importance of feeling at home and safe in their neighborhood.

At a school that prides itself on our LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, you wouldn’t be surprised to find an Emerson student or two interning at this art collective.

Nicole Cutinella, a junior Visual & Media Arts major, currently interns for the company, finding comfort in the all-queer space.

“I’ve had a lot of great moments, but truly I have just really enjoyed getting to know my coworkers. We have important conversations around gender and sexuality and race, but we also like dancing in the office and talking about Orphan Black and venting about politics and swapping stories. What I’ve enjoyed most is the spirit and kindness of my coworkers.”

Cutinella works directly under Rybeck, assisting with a variety of administrative tasks and working at events that TTO puts on. She’s also working on a long-term project revolved around the intersection of queerness and disability, which involves both a historical review of past performances in this lens as well as work to be done going forward.

“It also includes a contact list of queer artists in Boston with a disability who we could possibly work with in the future,” Cutinella

added, “a plan of small changes we can make to our office to make it more wheelchair accessible, and other suggestions for TTO.”

The effects and power of queer representation is highly relevant, and the power to create this representation and embody it is even more important and special.

Queer youth from Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, the South End, and the Greater Boston area come together to participate in another program sponsored by the collective, called True Colors.

True Colors, established in 1994, focuses on training these individuals to be leaders in their community. There are different sections, from the True Colors Troupe that puts on plays written by the youth, to the True Colors Leadership and Inclusion Council, who meet monthly to create opportunities for queer youth to impact and empower fellow LGBTQIA+ youth through advocacy and engagement.

True Colors doesn’t end there. They also have a touring ensemble called the True Colors Creative Action Crew, and a school year program called True Colors Studio that brings in teaching artists who cover topics like theater, visual art, dance, and activism.

Even Michelle Obama praised the TTO for their work with queer youth, awarding them the highest honor for a youth development program in the country in 2016.

The impact on these young artists is clear, too. One participant expressed that they “got a lot out of being in True Colors—a sense of belonging, a purpose, the chance to be myself. I came into my own as an actor, performer, woman and found a family that I will have forever.”

Art is such a valid outlet for human expression and emotion, and the art of theater has been home to queer individuals for decades.

Think of who joins the theater world to begin with, of the individuals who make up casts and crews and production teams. We feel safe in theater because it is essentially a community of societal outcasts, and the collective home theater allows room for engagement, growth, and connection.

The Theater Offensive provides a queer-inclusive space for growth and change through art and theater. Support your local artists, support your local queers, and support this collective that is changing the Boston community and the world. YM

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE THEATER OFFENSIVE, CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.THETHEATEROFFENSIVE.ORG/.

For more information on upcoming events at the Theater Offensive,check out their website at http://www.thetheateroffensive.org/.

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ADVICE FOR THE

MODERN CLASSIC WRITTEN BY ALESSANDRA SETTINERI ILLUSTRATION BY JULIANNA SY

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The purest feeling that exists is reading something for the first time.

However, re-reading some classics (and attending a lit seminar or two) may have you wondering just how romantic these stories are to audiences in this day and age. So, what happens when you’re a complete sucker for romance, but don’t have a relationship of your own to distract you from getting involved in everyone else’s? You imagine what conversations you’d have with the more interesting literary romantic leads if they were living in 2017. Disclaimer: No spoiler alerts because all these works have been out for nearly a century or more.

Juliet Capulet: Is it sad to admit how much I identified with you in middle school? Sigh. While I obviously still believe women should have freedom of choice in all aspects of their lives, I know I’d be rolling my eyes and/or majorly concerned if my high school-aged sisters pulled any of that crap. I get that you have strict parents and that sucks, but look on the bright side: You can always hang with Romeo during lunch break and the weekend. Figure out what you want out of your relationship. Is it love—great. Lust? That’s cool too (just use protection, I beg you). What you should prioritize: your education. Whether or not your relationship will last should not determine what your goals beyond Romeo are, because you seem like a pretty cool kid and you’ve got a lot of potential. Keep on shining, you star-crossed gal.

Lancelot du Lac: Dude. I know you can’t help who you fall for.

And I’m not saying this because you’re breaking some kind of guy code—because Guinevere is not a prize to be won, is just as responsible for cheating, and is probably more stressed about this whole thing than you are—but don’t be a dick. Either break it off right now before anyone gets seriously hurt, or you and Guin need to sit your boy Arthur down and come clean. It definitely won’t be easy; it will certainly be tense and awkward. But if you have any hopes of either salvaging your friendship or being with your lady love, you need to do some serious soul-searching. Good luck to you, good sir.

Fitzwilliam Darcy: Darcy … darn it! You’re so gosh darn adorable! But I still need to fault you for all those douchey things you said about Lizzy and her family. That was plain classist; you shouldn’t assume that just because someone is of a different socio-economic standing that they’re a certain way or that people who don’t meet your stereotypes are some special exception. But I also get that you were trying to be a good friend to Bingley. That aside, you messed up, became aware that you messed up and owned up to it, and then you tried to make things right without expecting Elizabeth to fall for you. My only bit of advice for you, mister, is that just because you’re proud of who you are, you shouldn’t view others as inferior just because they don’t share the same background as you. You know what they say about assuming, right? … Wait, did I just assume?

Edward Fairfax Rochester: I think we both know you messed up big-time, two-timer. I don’t really have anything against bigamy

if all parties involved are in agreement, but that entails you telling your fianceé that you’re actually already married. Communication in relationships is important. That’s probably why your first marriage didn’t work out, I guess. I understand you weren’t prepared to be in relationship with someone with mental health struggles, but you don’t just lock someone away because you don’t want to deal with them. Bertha deserved better and so did Jane. Thank your lucky stars she took your sneaky ass back.

Nick Carraway: Nick, my lovely little people watcher. People may argue with me that Gatsby is the true romantic lead of your story, but you also got caught up in the middle of all drama. Not to mention playing a big role in a huge love pyramid. Fess up, Nick—we all know it wasn’t just Jordan you had the hots for. Your infatuation with one Jay Gatsby was quite clear; while he was trying to get your cousin back, you were observing and admiring from afar. You stood by him right until the end when no one else did. If that’s not love, I really don’t know what is. But remember to take care of your heart, too. YM ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | 47

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