Fashion, Beauty, Hair

a revolutionary, aspiring stylist: an Interview with queen hall

Queen Hall is a revolutionary, aspiring stylist. She describes herself as a Black Queer Woman and an intellectual.

How would you describe your style?
I have a hard time describing my style because I hop from high femme glam, to androgynous streetwear and anything in between. But, I am usually drawn to what I call “high fashion functioning gothic.” I don’t find myself wearing extreme pieces that scream “goth,” so I consider it “high fashion functioning” because I aim to look poised, put together and expensive.

How long did it take for you to discover and feel comfortable in your style? (describe your journey)
I grew up with a parent who was dynamic in every sense. I idolized the way she put herself together and in a lot of ways my mother gave me the formula to dress the way I want to present myself. She was supportive of whatever I chose, but there was also another aspect to her. My mother was physically and emotionally abusive. Growing up in such an abusive environment I developed a self-consciousness that hindered me from dressing the way I wanted to. I developed facial and body dysmorphia, which took a harsh toll on my well-being during high school. But I still tried to experiment; I took up a popularized Japanese style of dress called Visual Kei for a while. Eventually I realized that my appropriative consumption of Japanese culture was unhealthy, so I decided to cultivate my own fashion sense. This took time, but it was pretty easy! I simply followed models, stylists and people whose fashion sense I liked on social media. I watched them cultivate their wardrobes and realized I could do the same thing, but to the umpteenth degree. By the time I started at Ithaca College I had a couple of years of understanding how to organize my closet and had a healthy balance of basics and statement pieces. I was also finally away from my abusive home and was now being loved and cared for by friends who helped me build the courage and self confidence to be myself. So it was a long journey, but I’m glad I finally got here!

What parts of your identity do you feel are most-represented in your style? Are some identities of yours easier to represent than others?
That’s hard for me to answer because it’s difficult for me to label my identities. However, I feel like what is represented most in my style is my love for alternatively. I wear a lot dark colors and metal accessories, chains and elaborate rings. I sometimes have a hard time representing my more feminine side, only because I am too well aware of the dangers of being a black woman, or femme. I hate confrontation, so that last thing I want to deal with is being harassed out in the streets. I love wearing femme, revealing clothing I just know that it comes with an unwanted gaze.

What do you think some people struggle with in finding their own style?
Sometimes it’s not having the clothes you want! We live in a society plagued by late-stage capitalism and that comes with rampant poverty. Most people don’t have the means to take care of themselves the way they’d like. That poverty and feeling of helplessness can lead to a lack of confidence. I know many people who just aren’t confident in themselves, but they still try to experiment -- and that’s great! I wasn’t confident in myself either, until recently. Another obstacle for people finding their style is that when finding what fits you best you’re forced to try all sorts of shit that you might regret later. I was walking around with purple, silver all kinds of colored wigs in high school and it wasn’t until much later that I realized the look wasn’t for me. So I was left with a few years worth of very embarrassing memories and photos.

Do you think popular fashion is boring in today's culture?
I think that popular fashion is a part of our culture -- American culture, that is. However, I think that social media has made popular fashion boring. This new idea of “social media influencers” pushing an idea of what clothes we should be spending our money on through social media is what makes fashion boring.

What advice do you have for people struggling with finding their style?
Take your time. When you’re comfortable enough to find your own style and you will!

an Interview with Olivia carpenter

By Brianna Mottey
Olivia Carpenter is a first-year student at Ithaca College who is designing her own clothing line from her dorm room. I interviewed her on her inspirations, process, impact and how she balances that along with school, work and her social life.

When did you begin designing your own clothes and what inspired you?

At age 10, I would always sew things with my grandma and make clothes for my stuffed animals. Before I left Ohio to attend Ithaca College, I would always draw on things and paint and tear shirts to make them more stylish. When I got to IC, things shifted into a fashion perspective and I took what I’ve  learned to the next level. I would sew different pieces of clothing together and instead of drawing, I started working with paint as a medium and things took off from there.

What inspires your designs?

I am inspired by everything. Nature and people and their outfits influence my ideas and approaches. Aside from what looks cool, the words and images I have painted onto my clothing symbolize communities in society, both black and white.

With working at the Marriott as a part time waitress, your internship at a radio station, being a model for distinct and high fashion magazine as well as being an MLK Scholar, how do you make time for your clothing line?

Time is difficult. School work always comes first. I makes goals for myself by setting aside a portion of time to work on homework, an essay or study for a test. Once I finish that, my reward is to work on my clothing. Because I’m an artist, I have fun expressing myself through my designs. I will try to get all of my school work done on the days that I do work before I leave so that the days I have off are reserved for my designing.

On November 18, 2018 you coordinated a fashion show in New York. What were the steps you took to be able to put the event together?

I’ve hosted parties in the past, but a fashion show is nothing like a party! There is so much that needs to go into it. First thing is the venue. Nothing is going to happen without the venue. I’ve been working really hard at the Marriott so that I’d be able to pay for an event like this. Once you have the venue, all you need are the people. People will step forward to be models, to be a dj or designers to promote their work and attract more people. Luckily, I have two close friends who live in New York City that have helped with coordinating the event. We’ve made and sent out invitations that were dropped off at offices and corporations such as Cosmopolitan, so interns could attend.  

What are you most looking forward to with your clothing line?

Whether I’m designing in bigger industries or designing for companies, I’m looking forward to impacting society because you don’t see clothing like this. You can kind of call it street wear but it’s not exactly that. As I grow, I just want people to find a deeper meaning in it. My goal is to change the way people think about this and once I’ve gained the traction I want to further give back to communities and make a difference in the faults of society that my clothing symbolically approaches.

What is your advice for students who are also aspiring fashion designers?

Definitely set aside time to design and think. Look at everything and gain inspiration from all that you see. And you really have to enjoy your work because it takes time and effort to craft your best work.

Mz. Vic the MzFit: Confident and Colorful

Instagram: mzvicthemzfit

Twitter: mzvicthemzfit

Youtube: MzVic

Embracing my identity has always been a struggle, especially as a woman of color. It is moments like these that makes me so happy to see how far I’ve come. I went from self-hatred, to self-sacred. In the beginning, I did not realize how experimenting with fashion was going to impact my life, but it has. It has become a step toward embracing who I am.

For a long time, I did not feel like my whole self was represented. I definitely was not represented in my closet. I remember walking into stores and thrift shops and staring at exactly what I wanted to wear. I used to pick up the clothes off the rack and pose in the mirror. For a moment, I saw how I wanted to be in the world. For a moment, I saw my truest self... Shortly after, I hung the clothes back up and walked away from them. I turned away because I thought I couldn’t pull it off–not in the “real world.” Now looking back, I realize the only thing that really stopped me from expressing myself through fashion, or anything creative, was fear. In turn, fear stopped me from embracing who I am on the inside and out. On the inside, I’m full of life and color. Life is color.  

I came to the conclusion that I did not want the value of my clothes to be based on the approval of others. I wanted to wear my clothes because I think they’re bomb. I learned to stop caring so much about what people think of me. What matters in my life is how I grow, think and value myself. Wearing my clothes is like wearing my spirit. Fashion is one of the ways I feel at peace with myself as a Mzfit. If I learned anything from my journey so far, it is to love who you are and to believe that we can create the life we want for ourselves. I recently started this creator’s journey, and I am having the time of my life. I really hope those who felt like caged birds like me can experience what this type of freedom feels like. Stay fly and fabulous.

Politics

The migrant caravan did affect the midterm elections

By Tomas Garcia

According to a New York Times article by Kirk Semple titled what is the migrant caravan and why does Trump care, a caravan of migrants mostly from Honduras are making their way through Central America to eventually reach the United States-Mexico border. They are risking being trafficked, raped and violence as they make the dangerous journey. They are seeking asylum in the U.S. for better economic opportunities, fleeing gang violence and a better life. Some estimates are calculating that the number quickly increased from 200 to 4,000 migrants as the journey to the states continues.

Out of all the topics Donald Trump can talk about such as the success of the economy, appointing two Supreme Court justices, etc. he decides to talk about the caravan. You may be asking why does Trump care about the migrant caravan? Or why is he using this humanitarian crisis as a platform for the midterms?

Donald Trump does not want to help the migrants that are apart of the caravan. If he did he would know that the solution is not just building a wall. Yes, we do need immigration reform in this country but this goes beyond just immigration.

Foreign policy plays just an important role as immigration but is heavily neglected because of the isolationist role that the United States is in now. You have a president who is kissing up to Russia but is telling EL Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras if they don't “control” the caravan he is going to pull foreign aid. Why are we not discussing the possibilities of setting up asylum centers in Central America? Why are we sending 5,900 troops to the border when up to this point has cost $72 million dollars to fight off an “invasion” when the money can be used in helping the asylum-seekers.

The US also plays a major role in the instability of Central America by supporting brutal, military dictators and far-right candidates. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “In the 20th century when countries like El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were in their formative modern periods … the United States opted in every case … to support military dictators and far-right candidates who kept Central America locked in the hopeless despair that still drives tens of thousands of them to El Norte.” We need to acknowledge that the cause of the migrant crisis is part of the United States past actions in their attempts to increase their influence and power within the region.

The President’s rhetoric on the migrant caravan is becoming tiring and that is why I believe it backfired and helped the Democrats. When you actually look at the results of the midterms, the Democrats won 40 seats in the house; the Democrats have the biggest margin of victory in a midterm election for either party since Watergate. That should be a wake-up call for the President. If the president does not start taking note that the rhetoric on immigration is not as effective as during the 2016 election, then 2020 is going to start becoming a challenge for him.

justicia

By Akshan Shah

A 2012 video, taken at the U.S. border in Nogales, Ariz., shows the brutal murder of José Antonio Elena Rodriguez, a 16-year-old child that was killed by U.S. Border Patrol agent Lonnie Schwartz. The case, despite its occurrence seven years ago, is the cause for massive protests at the border today, in 2019. The jury decided recently, in Nov. 2018, that Schwartz was not guilty, despite shooting Rodriguez 1t0 times in the back.

Deborah Gonzalez, an organizer of the School of the Americas Watch, asks “What did we all do when we were 16? Sixteen is a baby. And Lonnie Schwartz, who already had a history of violence, who was an expert marksman, shot José Antonio because he was allegedly throwing rocks.” Schwartz’s attorneys argue that Rodriguez was throwing rocks over the border wall, and that the border patrol agent was fearing for his life. Therefore, the actions of Agent Schwartz were justified and acceptable.

However, examining the scene of the murder, it is clear that such is not the case. José Antonio would have had to throw a rock over an 18 ft wall, between a slim opening separating wall posts, and would have then had to have the power and accuracy to hit someone in the United States. Even an expert MLB pitcher would have had difficulty making this throw, let alone a child, states Gonzalez.

Furthermore, the trial was conducted in an inhumane manner in order to suppress public outcry. When images of José Antonio’s body were shown, his mother and grandmother were not warned. When the jury selection process was taking place, the court did not allow community members to witness the voir dire. Only after protests and petitioning did the courthouse allow five members of the community to be present.

Responses to the case have been earth shaking in the regions of Nogales as well as across the United States. The School of the Americas watch, an organization that aims to end oppressive, imperialistic American policies of militarization at the border, has been consistently protesting this case since 2012. The annual Border Encuentro in Nogales, Ariz., discussed José Antonio as well as protested at the border wall itself.

Ultimately, SOAW and other activist agencies are calling for structural changes to the system that is oppressive and violent towards minority groups of the region. They are calling for “Respect, dignity, justice and the right to self-determination of communities,” an alien concept to those that oppress. Protestors and organizers at the marches shout “¡Presente!” as show of solidarity for José Antonio and for the countless other lives that have been lost.

commentary by elijah nishiura

The midterm elections have come and gone and they were truly historic for the country. There has been discussion after discussion on whether the election was a “Blue Wave,” but no matter how you slice it it was a historic wave of minority and women candidates. The biggest thing that stood out to many were that women and minority candidates were not only running in traditional safe democratic districts, but were entering competitive territory. These candidates were not only running in these competitive districts, but were winning these elections. Candidates like Sharice Davids, Antonio Delgado, Xochitl Torres-Small, Andy Kim, Colin Allred, and Lauren Underwood broke barriers in districts that are majority-white running on bread and butter issues that appealed to a wide range of constituents. These candidates beat out crowded primaries and will become the first minority representatives from these districts. The Democratic party also showed more representation within their safe democrat districts. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the first muslim-American women elected to congress, Deb Haaland became one of the first Native women elected to congress and Jared Polis was elected the first openly gay governor in the United States as well as showing an increase in representation in state legislatures.

Not only were minorities elected to congress, but in the upcoming congress several committees will have people of color be powerful chairs. Maxine Waters will chair the financial services committee which could be especially consequential with the issues with the Trump tax plan and Elijah Cummings will chair the House Oversight committee which in the Trump era is also extremely important. Nydia Velazquez, Bennie Thompson, Bobby Scott, Raul Grijalva and Eddie Bernice Johnson will also be chairing powerful committees that will serve as a check on legislation and the Trump Administration.

Looking into 2019, it looks pretty likely that Nancy Pelosi will return to the speakership which is an important dynamic when dealing with the Trump Administration. These past eight

years have had four men in negotiations between congress and the executive branch and it is clear Leader Pelosi brings a perspective desperately needed especially after this administration. She famously asked last year in a negotiation with the Trump Administration “Do the women get to speak around here?” She brings an important dynamic that is essential to fighting the harmful policies of Donald Trump. Many have spoken out against her but she has shown her effectiveness passing the Affordable care Act with President Obama and whipping enough votes to pass legislative efforts throughout her tenure.

There was also historic voter suppression this midterm election. Stacey Abrams ran to be the first black female governor in the state of Georgia, but her opponent Brian Kemp avoided a run-off by a slim couple of percentage points. Brian Kemp had an extreme conflict of Interest serving as Secretary of State (the person in charge of elections) as well as being the candidate. This caused him to be able to take voters off the voter roll in the election he was running in. 78% of those taken off voter rolls because of un-matching signatures were people of color. This is not a coincidence in such a close race. These policies that disenfranchise minority voters are alive and well not only in Georgia but across the country. Another example was in North Dakota where in 2012 Democrat Heidi Heitkamp won by half a percentage point thanks in part to a large Native American turnout. After that election, a Republican state legislature took action and made a policy that made it so that a residential address was required instead of a P.O. box address. Most native Americans living on reservations do not have residential addresses and this was a clear suppression of Native American votes. We see time and time again states making laws to disenfranchise minority voters and it is clearly an important issue that must be taken on.

The election brought amazing victories for candidates fighting for a fairer and more just country. While there were some disappointments, the fight continues. The pressure is on and Embrace will be fighting every step of the way.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Contribution by Nick Muscara

From the time we were born, we have been unconsciously socialized by our surroundings to learn things like gender roles, cultural stereotypes, and even food preferences. The effects of socialization may be evident in possibly all aspects of our lives, including beliefs in religions and spirituality practices, and we’re most likely not aware of it. Before we dive further into a topic known as religious socialization, we need to define the concept of ‘socialization’ itself.

According to Émile Durkheim, a prominent French sociologist, socialization is “a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.” It is a constructive process that contributes to our understanding of the world and the “expected” behaviors in our particular society (Rookstool, 2018). These understandings are organized into schemas, which are cognitive structures that hold knowledge about specific topics and concepts, comprised as exemplars of societal expectations. Schemas influence how people think and act by driving their perceptions and interactions with their environment (Cooper, May, Fincham, & Kamble, 2018). Thus, socialization seems to have a profound effect on our lives. The process occurs via social groups (e.g., neighborhood friends) and social institutions (e.g., schools and churches) as well as the interactions between these groups and institutions (Rookstool, 2018). The family, evidently, has a major role in socialization. The context of a “home” can also influence the children’s socialization in a family. An American psychologist named Urie Bronfenbrenner proposed his ecological systems theory that allows for the application of socialization theories when examining an individual’s relationships within specific groups and the wider society. This model emphasizes that environments such as neighborhoods or schools can greatly influence familial behavior (Jones, Forehand, Brody, & Armistead, 2003). It is important to note that socialization can occur within almost any social group (e.g., religious communities), as well as throughout life.

An unfortunate downside to socialization is that it can propagate stigmas, unfair labels, and prejudices within society. Socialization concerning religious beliefs and practices, or religious socialization, may contribute to this downside in some ways. For example, it is often argued that several religions hold perceived patriarchal notions in their belief systems that may assert gender roles that promote gender inequality. As progressive times increase support for egalitarianism, some people may feel discouraged from their religion if patriarchal notions seem to be present within its structure; yet, there are many people who continue to practice their religion while rejecting its dominant patriarchal interpretations. This is likely to happen if one’s religion is considered of high importance in their life. That person would not want to reject their entire religion due to their disagreement with a few common interpretations of it. They would decide that those notions do not fit into the religion that they want to practice, allowing for the continuance of their religious practices while still supporting a concept that others may see as contradictory to the specific religion (Glas, Spierings, & Scheepers, 2018). On the other hand, religious socialization can also be influenced by gender roles determined by the wider society. The common gender role assigned to women as nurturers may explain an interesting finding about religious socialization within a family. In a study involving American Christian families and Indian Hindu families a potentially universal conclusion was drawn. It was found that, regardless of a preconceived notion within these religions that the father figure serves as the religious leader in a family, mothers and children shared more religious beliefs compared to father-child relationships. This suggests that mothers have a stronger role in religious socialization. Perhaps their socialized gender role as a nurturing figure contributes to them having more conversations about God-related topics with their son or daughter than fathers have with their child (Cooper et al., 2018).

If the family is so important for religious socialization, why is it that so many people end up practicing beliefs that differ from those of their families? The ‘religious life-cycle theory’ claims that teenagers and young adults tend to distance themselves from religious practices, often straying from the religion, if any, they grew up with. It also proposes that during the transition into adulthood, people choose to either re-enter into religion, convert or abandon it altogether. Research demonstrates that religiosity largely decreases during these times of development and that adulthood is when religiosity, or lack thereof, becomes stable. The ‘impressionable years hypothesis’ suggests that adolescents and young adults are more susceptible to external influences and events in the shaping of their attitudes in life, possibly explaining this change of religiosity (Margolis, 2017). A study by Greenwald and colleagues also supports that apostasy, or the abandonment of religion, usually occurs during adolescence and early adulthood. Factors such as high parental emphasis on religion and poor relationship quality with parents were suggested to predict apostasy (Greenwald, Mikulincer, Granqvist, & Shaver, 2018).

Higher education programs are usually taken during these ‘impressionable years.’ Could it be that higher education has a role in this change of religious practice common during these development stages?  Higher education teaches required skills for a certain career or goal, while also teaching what it means to be human, making students more involved with humanitarian concerns. It encourages a desire for a new arrangement of the social order through the examination and critique of human society, resulting in students becoming social change agents within society. The social liberation associated with higher education fosters a space in which spirituality—a state of being consisting of individually-held beliefs that contribute to finding meaning to life—can easily develop through a variety of ways. Spirituality can be contrasted with religion which emphasizes communal values through a structured organization. The two of them are independent social constructions that influence each other and can be influenced by different things in society. Through higher education’s exposure to new philosophies, students’ belief systems are challenged, possibly leading to questioning of one’s own faith and a reinterpretation of spiritual values. This may explain a perceived decrease in religiosity and increase in spirituality development during this time. A study by Rookstool (2018) revealed that religion is strongly influenced by socialization, while spirituality has a negative relationship with socialization (Rookstool, 2018). This means that spirituality would decrease the more socialized a person is. Higher education fosters the ability of the individual to think for themselves, which drives spirituality, while challenging commonly socialized models of society.

It seems that spirituality and religion are affected differently by the process of socialization. While external religious socialization shapes many of our beliefs and practices, spirituality arises out of an internal examination of our lives and core values. Religious socialization influences and is influenced by an innumerable amount of factors in society. Research has shown the family to be one of the major agents of this process. Is our family so influential to us because we interact with them the most throughout our lives? Could our maternal figure really be the most impactful in our religious socialization? What if we have a closer relationship with a different member of our family? Is socialization really one of the major processes in our learning about the social world and establishing our identity? Maybe it’s not if our existential search for our meaning in life—spirituality—is such an internal process. Does college grant us the freedom to explore new religious and spiritual avenues and reflect on our own beliefs? How can we take advantage of that?

Let my people flow or el corrido de Rosa Maria Lagunas Cruz y Eloy Javier Mondragon Carbajal

By Joe Cruz

Yo soy Chicano, Mexican-American that is. They sometimes call me Tejano, Mexicano, Tex-Mex, Mojado, Beaner, Frijolero. But I call myself a descendant of that union between Mayan, Aztec, Spanish, and African. I am trilingual in Espanol, English, and Barrio Slang - Que onda vato, pues dale ese, andale carnal, Que pasa cabron, no te agouties mijo.

My life began at the end of my parents’ lives. I made sense of this split between my parents the way I did my citizenship, I was Mexico’s son and the United States’ illegitimate gay bastard child. My existence is resistance, but it is a blue one. One of melancholy, darkness, blindness, and fear. Not being from here nor there, I had always looked for love, in a sort of perpetual blue state, feeling left unwanted. Little did I know I was floating in an ocean of blue healing and loving waters. Unlike the waters of the river my mother crossed to get here. While it wasn’t the river Jordan, el rio grande could be taken as a metaphor. Her back wet, skin brown, head high, and spirit strong, she continued to flow.

Rosa y Javier got here through a type of “overground railroad” we call it la bestia; the beast. This train is only a small part of the bigoted, racist, militarized apparatus my people face to make it to the promised land.

Language also exists in that apparatus of white supremacy. It exists in the memories of when I would tell my abuelo, “pa speak English”. It’s our language of survival. But in rejecting my nation, I fed into this larger hallucination that told me with great sound and fury that this nose was too broad, these lips were too fat, these ears were too round and this skin was too brown.

Now my elders see me as el guero, the blanquito, el Malinche, Arnold Benedict the infamous traitor as I call it, because I have left their embrace for the false hope of success. You see, I didn’t luckily make it out the Barrio to be with you all tonight, i made it here tonight and i stand here proudly with y’all because of the Barrio. I am my grandmothers tortilla recipes, my mother’s labor pains, my father’s alcoholism, my grandpas bipolar disorder, and my people’s intro-woven generational exodus but most of all,

I am home.

a saturday spell

By Aliyah Brathwaite

Saturday evenings are times for chilling.

Three self identified brujas joined their auras to create an atmosphere of love, healing, and sisterhood. “Sisterhood is medicine” the three of them often said to sanctify these moments.

“Who wants greens?”

“Well, you rolled it... so you do the honors.”

As Solange sings “Cranes in the Sky”, the audible clicking of a bright orange lighter met the end of a mediocre rolled blunt.

One of the brujas began the story of her first memory with her spirituality...

Saturday mornings are times for cleansing.

I remember my mom stripping me butt naked and putting me in the shower. The sunlight made its way through the bathroom window in a diagonal, deliberate streak across the drawn white shower curtain. The cold tile floors always demanded my attention in the mornings. I’d climb out of the heap of heavy blankets and plush pillows to a pang of coldness on the soles of my feet. I stood there expectedly in the tub counting grayish-blue tiles on the wall by two’s, waiting for mi madre to return with her pot of potions.

In the smoke filled room, selenite, amethyst, rose quartz, and clear quartz form a crystal grid. A deck of tarot cards, a bottle of white rum, and an introduction to Buddhism also furnished the table. Solange continued. And the bruja continued...

Finally, my mom nudged the door open with the pot of potions and rested it on the toilet. I peered into the pot containing water mixed with so many herbs, each holding divine properties. In my youth I could not understand the magick behind these plants nor behind my mom’s words when she said “Say a prayer and release good intentions into the world.” With those words she raised the pot and let the potion pour over the crown of my head. It was like being ordained...except in the arms of your mother... It was special.

“Go find something white to put on. Make sure you’re wearing all white,” she would instruct me.

“But mom, I don’t think I have white underwear...” I would fret. With two waves of the hand, shooing me away, “Just find something white.”

When I came back downstairs my mom was clearing the table. With the flick of her hands the white tablecloth cascaded across the table top. She placed candles on the table. I remember being captivated by her deliberate gentle motions as she put each offering into place. She built each altar with overflowing love and great pride. She never spoke while she did so, but I knew that I was supposed to observe. I was to pick it up the way she picked it up. My mom walked over to switch off the lights. Still in silence, we watched the flames dance. There were no words, but you felt everything you needed to hear.

“Mmmmmm, wow that’s powerful,” one of the brujas intently listening with eyes closed, responded softly. The three of them sat in silence for a while with the story ringing in the air like a Tibetan singing bowl.

“I hate to interrupt, but the food!” the brujas filled the room with laughter and light.

Soon after they were each sitting around the coffee table sharing chicken tikka masala with rice and naan. “Thanks for sharing this with me, this is the type of meal that tastes better shared.”

“You got the light, count it all joy...” Solange proceeded. The next bruja transported us to her night stand, as sage and palo santo burned and smoke tendrils danced to the rhythm of the music...

Who creaked open the door at night?

To slip a cursive handwritten note on her night stand

And take a few nibbles of the sweets.

A merengue at the corner

For the tiny nimble figure to feast.

All the while the child slept,

Dreaming dreams of trolls and sprites.

When Mr. Sun arrives the next morning,

In the sticky residue of the devoured merengue  

Fairy dust glitters in the glimmer of daylight.

Saturday evenings are times for chilling.

Saturday mornings are times for cleansing.

Saturdays are times for sisterhood.

“The Tea”

2018: A Pop-Culture Recap

By: Noah Lindsay and Angel Sohu

Gossip

1. Ari’s year

Ariana Grande’s year was by far one of the most eventful of her life.  She entered this year still recovering from the terrorist attack on her concert in Manchester, England last year.  Alongside this, fans were still ravenous for new music. Ari’s year is kickstarted by the success of her latest album Sweetener, and the media could not get enough of her personal life. Between her whirlwind engagement with SNL star Pete Davidson and the untimely death of ex-boyfriend/rapper Mac Miller, Ariana most definitely had her hands full.  To you Ari, we say Thank U, we hope you have a spectacular Next year.

2. ROYAL WEDDING

There are certain events that you can only hope to see once a lifetime, and a royal wedding isn’t one too miss.  This year’s marriage between Prince Harry, the Duke of Essex, and Meghan Markle was a spectacle for all to see. Controversy naturally spawned from this engagement, seeing as Meghan Markle was an American television actress.  Seeing as Markle is mixed race, the royal wedding also sparked open conversation about how there is now a black woman in the royal family. From the appearance of celebrities such as Oprah and Priyanka Chopra, to the countless gifs you’ve seen on Twitter of the wedding, it is a staple in this year in pop culture.

3. KANYE

Needless to say, Kanye West had an eventful year this 2018.  Music wise, Kanye ended his year producing seven separate albums for both himself and other artists (i;e Pusha T,Kid Cudi, Teyana Taylor, Nas).  However, his music alone doesn’t begin to describe the magnitude of his year. Kanye’s outspoken support for President Donald Trump made him the subject of pop culture controversy.  His tirades and rant resulted in infamous statements such as, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... For 400 years? That sounds like a choice."  Many celebrities came forth to criticize his controversial statements, such as Lana Del Rey, Chris Evans, and even his wife Kim Kardashian West.  While public support for Kanye seemed to turn against him, it didn’t stop his latest solo album Ye from reaching #1 on the Billboard charts.  In the end, no one really knows what Kanye’s thinking, but he’s receiving the attention he wants.

4. CELEB BABIES (ADONIS, STORMI, KULTURE)

2018 was a year filled with celebrity babies! The funny thing about these celebrity babies are that they all seemed to be a huge surprise. Between Cardi B, Kylie Jenner, and Drake all having children it was a whirlwind of celebrity baby gossip. With Drake, his son Adonis actually wasn’t supposed to be public news. Fellow rapper Pusha T actually released a diss track on which he exposed Drake for having a son who he has been shielding from the world. Drake has claimed to have shielded his son from the world for reasons of protecting him. Moving on, hot and upcoming rapper Cardi B is also among the celebs who had a baby this year. She had her daughter Kulture with rapper Offset from the rap group Migos. But the most surprising of all baby news of this year was most definitely the news that Kylie Jenner, member of the Kardashian/Jenner family, was pregnant! Not only was Kylie Jenner a young mother, but this news was so unexpected. And on top of that, her baby daddy Travis Scott had a highly anticipated album about to drop. I think it’s safe to say we’ve had enough baby gossip for the year.

5. AZEALIA VS GRIMES & ELON MUSK

While it was one of the messier moments of 2018, this feud between rapper Azealia Banks and indie music artist Grimes is certainly news-worthy.The fight begins when Banks visits Grimes in the mansion she shares with Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.  Allegedly, Grimes promised Banks they would work on a track together, but those plans fell through because Grimes was preoccupied with taking care of her boyfriend. Why did billionaire Elon Musk need to be taken care of you ask? According to Banks, the entrepreneur was tripping on acid.  This whole altercation is equal parts hilarious as it is questionable, and for that it deserves a spot on our top five.

Fashion

1. Met Gala

The Met Gala is hands down the most important event in the fashion industry, and it is a known fact that the Met Gala is the most exclusive party in all of America. So it’s no surprise the 2018 Met Gala makes the top of our list. The theme of the night was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and The Catholic Imagination" and with the event being co-chaired by none other than the iconic music superstar Rihanna, fashion legend Donatella Versace, and Amal Clooney it was bound to be the event of the year. Many iconic looks were served that night by of course, Rihanna and among the others: Cardi B, Zendaya, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian West, Sza etc. The gala is always a hot topic year after year, and only time will tell what 2019’s Met Gala will bring us.

2. MICHAEL KORS BUYING VERSACE

Social media was ignited with thoughts and opinions upon hearing the news that international fashion brand Michael Kors was going to be buying luxury goods brand Versace for $2.1 billion. While some were unbothered by this deal, many took to Twitter to express their distrust, and even disgust with this decision. Michael Kors is known for being a brand that can be found in anywhere from their boutiques to your local Marshalls. Designer goods lovers were worried Michael Kors would do to Versace what they do with their own company, ie: branch out products sales to mass retail stores. But in the end Michael Kors released a statement reassuring fans that Versace will in fact remain a luxury focused brand.

3. vs. transphobia

While this moment is more on the infamous side, it still deserves to be acknowledged in this pop culture recap.  Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer for L Brands, made some controversial statements in an interview for Vogue magazine this November. When asked if transgender individuals should be allowed in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. He responded with “No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is." Alongside this, Razek mentioned how Victoria’s Secret had no interest in casting plus-size models for their show, stating that, “no one had any interest in it, still don’t." The brand received a plethora of backlash through social media, so a statement was released via Twitter apologizing.  While this may be an odd pick for our list, it definitely opened up conversation about representation in the fashion world today.

4. Winnie harlow

2018 has been a big year for supermodel Winnie Harlow. A big moment in particular, and arguably her biggest accomplishment thus far, was landing the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion show is the most notable fashion show in the world, so landing a gig walking the runway for the show is no small feat. This is her first VS runway show and the first time a supermodel with vitiligo has been featured in the show.  Her presence alone redefines beauty standards as seen on the runway, so for that, we thank her.

5. virgil abloh’s louis vuitton

If you already love Virgil Abloh for his work with his fashion brand Off-White, you’ll love this: In 2018 iconic fashion house Louis Vuitton named Abloh as their newest menswear designer. This is such big news considering French fashion houses in general already lack diversity, so naming a black man as a the head of a branch of a world famous fashion house like Louis Vuitton is big. Not only did they give him the position, but it was very well received and celebrated all throughout the fashion world.

MOVIES/TELEVISION/MUSIC

1. BLACK PANTHER

Black Panther is the most influential movie of 2018 for countless reasons.  The film was born out of an apparent lack of representation in the realm of superhero-films, and it shines even brighter because of it.  The (almost) exclusively black cast gave us spectacular performances by Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Angela Bassett. Black Panther holds the record for the highest grossing solo-superfilm domestically, the highest rated superhero movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is statistically the most tweeted about movie of all time.  Wakanda is a cultural phenomenon, and it truly will be around forever.

2. QUEER EYE

This year, Queer Eye was adapted into a Netflix original series, based on the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. So how did the reboot of the show that had been of the air for a decade make such a strong comeback? Well between the amazing cast of individuals within the gay community who all have their own diverse personalities and the touching storylines that` many can relate to, it’s a key to success! The show can be found on Netflix and is currently one of their most popular shows. It currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes so I think it’s safe to say Queer Eye isn’t going anywhere for a very long time.

3. “This is america”

In 2018, it was impossible to not acknowledge the “This is America” music video. Iconic rapper Childish Gambino dropped his song This Is America during the summer of 2018 and while the song itself did spark conversation, it was the music video that really got everyone talking. In the video, the rapper takes on topics such as as the oppression of black people and gun violence from a U.S. centric point of view.  The video touches on a lot of important issues in our country right now and is a commentary on American society. Throughout the entire video, Gambino uses a lot of symbolic motifs to display and get across his message. It has definitely left a cultural impact on our society and opened up nationwide conversation. As of December, the video has 440+ million views and counting. This video alone has made Gambino one of the most important voices of our generation, and rightfully so.

4. misery pop/rap: the new norm

Pop music, as we know it, is currently a dying music form. We just aren’t getting pop hits like we used to in 2008, in the days of Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. So what then, is the new norm? Well, 2018 has launched pop music into a new era. A new genre of pop music fused with rap, known as misery pop.  Misery pop typically has a pop-sounding interface with depressing undertones through the lyrics and sound. Two of the biggest misery pop stars to come out of the year 2018 include Billie Eilish and the late XXXTentacion. While misery pop is the new norm and has been for awhile, some have raised concerns on what misery pop is saying to young people and how it is affecting them. Many are worried listening to music with such sad undertones are going to make things worse for many young people and in a sense “trigger” their sadness. On the other hand, many fans have stated that music where their idols show that they can relate to what they are going through helps them immensely. While everyone has their own opinion on misery pop, you can’t deny that it is the new norm and will probably be around for the next few years.

5. beyonce’s “everything is love” era

Beyoncé has had such a big year, but then again, when does she not? Between her Vogue cover, which she had full autonomy and creative control of, and her and Jay Z’s critically received music video for their song “APESHIT”, she has had a lot going for her. Beyoncé’s Vogue cover was historic because Anna Wintour gave her full control over virtually everything in the shoot.  Beyoncé, being the creative director, requested a black photographer for her shoot. The photographer, Tyler Mitchell, became the first black photographer to shoot a cover of Vogue. The cover came out beautifully and launched the career of 23 year old Tyler Mitchell to new heights. Her music video for “APESHIT” was an iconic moment moment in music as well. The video was filmed at The Louvre in Paris. That one simple fact in and within itself showcases Beyonce’s immense power, additionally the video featured beautiful cinematography and visuals of many different pieces of art in the museum.

LGBTQ+

Queer voices. queer stories.

a love letter to my mexican father from your gay, brown, son

By Joe Cruz

I was a junior in college when I decided to fully love my messy self. Before I embraced

all the magic that was within me, I lived in the comfort of the closet. I’d say it was an

easy living, but lying about a part of myself to make you comfortable was never easy.

Luckily, being the nerd of my family provided a safety-net answer to the dreaded “y la

novia?” question I would hear from literally everyone and their mother at gatherings. But

behind that painfully awkward smile was a longing to let you and everyone else know

that I was harboring a secret. This secret would ruin the honor I worked so hard to

achieve. It would shake the title I inherited as the first grandson born into a family of

granddaughters who was expected to keep the family name alive. I can assure you that

the name will be passed down to my children as well as to my husband. To the man I

choose to love unconditionally and unapologetically. What I have learned

from the endless stories you have told me about failed girlfriend after failed girlfriend and what guides my short-lived gay love-life: trouble comes when you don’t fully accept someone

for who they are and where they’re at in life. Even though the burden of being brown

and gay weighs heavily on my shoulders, I’ll stand up tall against the other side

because that is how you taught me to be. You travelled from the motherland with little

belongings, but brought with you that deep seeded machismo and love for women,

which you worked so hard to pass down to me. It was out of love for me, but I never

knew how to vocalize this rejection of straightness in a way that wouldn’t expose my

secret. You’ve hear me say it before, but I’ll say it again for the people in that back; Dad,

I like guys. And that phase is here to stay.

trans at ic

By Luis Jaime Valderrama

One of the things that attracted me—and many other trans people—to Ithaca College was its reputation as a safe haven for trans students. I have found many factors that make life easier for me as a trans person in comparison to the wilderness of the outside world. The name-change form, for example, allows me to use my chosen name in almost every aspect of campus life, even if I haven’t changed it legally. In contrast, I had to contact each individual teacher at my high school to explain why I wanted them to use a new name. The fairly widespread gender-neutral bathrooms are another good factor, although there could always be more: my main form of exercise is climbing four flights of stairs to reach the gender-neutral bathroom on the top floor of the library.

Still, there are forms of transphobia that all the gender-neutral bathrooms in the world could never remedy. The struggles I face as a trans person on campus don’t have as much to do with institutional policies as with individuals who bring their own prejudices to the table. I think of myself as a pretty openly trans person—I’m involved in a lot of LGBT-related initiatives on campus and I don’t shy away from talking about my gender identity. Still, there are times when I find it difficult to speak up for myself, and small things left unaddressed build up over time. I fear I’ll fit the stereotype of trans people as oversensitive and angry, waiting for others to make a mistake, so we can attack them for daring to misuse our pronouns. The problem isn’t just with those who don’t “believe” in trans people or who are brazenly transphobic; more liberal people can also be challenging to deal with because they see themselves as the ultimate allies, so they can be unwilling to listen when they’re told they’ve made a mistake.

But what has made me feel most at home is the community. I have been lucky enough to make many trans friends, which is undoubtedly the most valuable way that my life as a trans person has improved since arriving here. To think that just a few years ago there wasn’t a single trans person I even knew of, and now I need more than two hands to count all my trans friends. They’ve helped me navigate campus with newfound confidence.

Campus Life

Student organization spotlight: melanin in medicine

Melanin in Medicine is an organization curated to support students of color at IC who are pursuing a career in the health sciences. As the school of Health Sciences and Human Performance (HSHP) is predominantly white, it is essential that students of color have support and resources they need to be successful in the highly competitive health field. Organization initiatives include identifying and developing useful study habits for the natural sciences, assisting career planning and identifying healthcare that is suitable for their personal goals, connect students with professional mentors and upperclassmen mentors, encouraging students to be mentors to Ithaca youth interested in healthcare, and assisting with internship applications.

Organization e-Board: Christine King & Gabby Urbaez-Mendez (Co-Presidents), Josh Lam (Secretary), Olu Aliweri (Treasurer), Tyrese White (Social Media Coordinator & Event Planner

The Legacy: Being a Woman of Color in Strength and Conditioning - Interview with Au’Vonnie Dorsett

By Aisha Mae Mughal

Au’Vonnie Dorsett, a senior Exercise Science Major, discusses what it’s like being a woman of color in her field and her accomplishments throughout her 4 years at Ithaca College. Dorsett has experience as an instructor at the Fitness Center, an Intern at Cressey Sports Performance Field Work, the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the men and women’s varsity basketball teams, and a peer mentor in her department. In the spring 2019 semester, she will be interning with Duke University’s varsity athletics program.

Why did you choose Strength and Conditioning as your field?

Coming in, I didn’t even know that exercise science was a degree. I didn’t know it existed. I’m from Boston. I’m from Dorchester. Low-income area, the schools are low-income. So, when you talk about exposure to higher education, I never had that. I had it compared it to my other peers, but compared to the world, I didn’t have that. So, graduating high school, we had these big obituary goals. I wanted to be a doctor. We mainly wanted to be doctors, lawyers, engineers. We didn’t know what it was like to do what you loved. Everything was just about being better. They were these goals that we had that weren’t for ourselves but it was like “okay, this is something I have to do.” So, coming in, I wanted to be a doctor. I was Pre-Med. I was doing okay. I remember my first class, I think I got a D. My first science class, I think it was biology. Mind you, in high school, I was in AP Biology, AP Literature, I was getting all As. But, we just weren’t exposed to that level. So, when I took that class, I was like, “alright, I wanna drop out.” I was like, “I don’t wanna do this anymore. This is too much for me.”

I got to my second year and that is when I realized I really didn’t wanna be Pre-Med. I took chemistry and was like “hell no.” I withdrew from that class so fast. I was not going to get a D again. It wasn’t for me. It wasn’t even about me being incapable. It was about me liking the work and feeling motivated to do it. I had no interest in it. My advisor advised me to explore other majors. And at that time, I was also on the track team. I did track in high school and in middle school. So I guess this is where the exercise science part comes in.

I’m the type of person that with whatever I do, I like to give me 100% effort in. And, I was always struggling between giving 100% in sports and 100% in school equally. At a certain point, school became more important than what I really loved to do. The commitment just wasn’t working. I also suffered from a stress fracture. Again, where I’m from, we didn’t have a real track coach. We didn’t have our own weight room. We didn’t even have our own gym at my high school. We worked out at the YMCA. We just didn’t have that kind of training. So, between the stress fracture and just not being able to give my all, I dropped out of track. And, that’s when I realized I loved working out, I loved the team dynamic, I loved lifting. At the same time I was having that epiphany, I was also looking for a new major. So, I found Exercise Science. In my sophomore spring, I declared Exercise Science. Everything after that just fell into place for me. And I haven’t had any second thoughts ever since.

What is it like being a woman of color in your department?

Personally, I feel alone a lot of the time. Not because I don’t have the support, it’s just that there is no one who can really relate to me without trying. I have female professors but I do not have any professors that are women of color. No one is from where I’m from. When people think of Boston, they just think “oh, Boston is so nice.” We’re known for our sports, our medical field, our sports. But no one knows the trenches of Boston. So I guess, having people that relate to me, I don’t have that. They can relate to me as far as my profession and where I wanna go and who I wanna be. But, as far as my struggles, no. No one really understands that besides my friends who are people of color.

But within my department, it’s mostly like being the underdog. Because honestly, there’s like 1% of people who look like me. It’s kind of like being the rut of the litter. It’s like I’m foreign. It’s like, “what are you here for, what can you do?” Because you’ve never seen people who look like me do this. So I feel like I always have to prove myself. I feel like it took me 4 years to gain my respect. People know what I’m capable of now. But I feel like I have worked harder than my peers just to prove that I’m here and I’m capable.

How do you think you are opening the door for women of color at Ithaca College?

Aside from being the only one like me in my department, I’m also the only one like me on campus. Even when I leave my department doors, I’m the only one like me that represents my department and the only one like me on campus doing what I do. I think what I have done so far is create a platform to show women, you can be you. Whatever you want to do, you set your own expectations. You’re special and you don’t have to do what the next person in your department is doing. I think I really stand out and that is what really inspires people. People always say, “I’m so proud of you, you motivate me, you inspire me.” And that’s rare. It’s really rare. But I think people also don’t realize, just to be identified in that way takes a lot of work behind the scenes that people don’t know about. I really stand for women empowerment. It’s not a competition. It’s not a competition for me at all. I like to work with women, I like to empower women. Second, I represent black females within my department.

What have you been involved with on campus throughout your four years?

Freshman year, I started Queens Strength. That is when I quit track because of my injuries. I went through depression because when you’re an athlete and you have an injury, there is a whole onset of things that you go through. I was really depressed because I lost a team. Being injured, you can go to practices and lifts but you’re just sitting there. You can’t participate or anything. I lost a team. I lost a regiment. When I joined the track team, that was my first real sense of training, so I didn’t really know how to train myself. So when I went to the gym, I was just doing my track workouts. That wasn’t working because I was injured and I had to do physical therapy. It was just an onset of not having the sisterhood I used to have to work out with me. In my mind, I needed to create what I want. That’s how I thought of Queens Strength. I was like, in this moment I really need the sisterhood and I’m really into fitness and working out. That was the backdrop on that.

But, Queens Strength was really established over the fact that there is just no sisterhood to workout. Based on stereotypes and how society is right now, there are women who lift but there is really just no sense of community for women to lift. You’re always by yourself if you go. You’re always the only female in the weight room. It’s just really tiring mentally and this was just the perfect way to just bring women on campus together. So, there are women who you’ll find who have a lot of education on exercise and fitness. And there’s a large population who doesn’t. I was like, I wanna bring that together and I want women to feel good going to the gym together and working out. I was also a TA for anatomy for a year. I was the only black female TA and left an impact on a lot of black women that came in that year.

What is the legacy you hope to leave Ithaca College?

The legacy I am leaving behind is: giving back and being your best self. To be a woman of color, you’re always gonna stand out, so stand out the right way. Make it positive. Make it impactful. Be the person that you needed because every person’s career is different and everyone is good at different things. What I’m good at is not going to be your specialty, but you can have an impact on your specialty.

What’s next for you?

Duke is next on the list. Where I come from, we have these big dreams. It’s high, it’s far-fetched. So to make it there after 4 years, I feel like I came to Ithaca College for a reason. The league that I wanted to get into 4 years ago, I wasn’t ready for and I didn’t understand that. It took these experiences and these accomplishments to prep me to be there.

I want to say thank you to Ithaca College. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey. I always say it’s not over for me because I have goals. I’m never really truly satisfied and I’m working on that. But seriously, Ithaca College has been the height of my life so far. I couldn’t have done anything I have done without Ithaca College.

The Importance of Independent Media: An Interview with Raza Rumi

By Aisha Mae Mughal

Raza Rumi is a Pakistani journalist, author, and policy analyst. He serves as the Director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College. He also a faculty member at the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs. Rumi discusses the importance of independent media, his vision for the Park Center for Independent Media, and gives a call to action for students of color interested in independent media.

What is your background in journalism? What made you decide to pursue the field?

I’ve had many careers and in 2005, I started to write. There was this urge to write, engage with the world, and express myself. I used to an employee for the Asia Development Bank, which is an international development organization. So I started writing and chose my pen name, Raza Rumi. So for the next three years, I was writing regularly and set up my blog. I realized I had an audience and needed to do it more. I was affiliated with a magazine called the Friday Times in Pakistan. That’s where I was writing mainly but I also wrote in many other South Asian publications. Then in 2008, I took a sabbatical from my job and I said, “I’m going to just try this out.” So, I went back to my home country and became a features editor at the Friday Times. I also started writing news columns for newspapers in Pakistan and India, and sometimes even abroad. That’s what brought me to journalism and ever since then, I never looked back.

I still continue to write. I am associated with a national newspaper called The Daily Times in Pakistan and I am also a frequent guest in various television programs in Pakistan, in South Asia, and in the U.S.

What brought you to Ithaca College? What do you think is unique about this institution?

It is all accidental. There is a local community group here called Ithaca City of Asylum. They contacted me in 2015 and they wanted me to be a writer in residence for the community. They have an arrangement with Ithaca College where they suggest writers to come get a job. So I came in as a Scholar in Residence in the Honors Program, where I was meant to teach courses every semester. I started with a Honors course and with a course in the Journalism department. I taught Investigative Journalism and South Asia Studies. Then, I started regularly offering courses in the Journalism department.  I taught for another semester as an Assistant Professor in the Journalism Department. In Spring 2017, I ended my affiliation with Ithaca College. I taught for another semester in the Journalism department as an Assistant Professor. I’ve been teaching at Cornell since 2016 also, the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs. So, in January, I started teaching at Cornell full-time with a full load. Then, this job came up and I applied for it. I got it and now I’m back at Ithaca College.

What is unique about Ithaca College? It’s that Ithaca College is not so small, unlike other liberal arts colleges. It’s a pretty big and diverse campus. It offers many interesting programs. It has some of the best faculty, from all across the nation. It’s what I think makes it unique and with a strong liberal arts focus. I would say it still needs to reduce the whiteness that you see here. Both in terms of the structures, in terms of the faculty, in terms of the students, and in terms of the Board. With the new President, some efforts have been made and I think it’s in the right direction. But certainly, if it’s a liberal arts place, it needs to be more diverse and it needs to be more inclusive and representative of the nation.

Why is independent media important? Why is it crucial for IC students to learn about independent media?

Independent media is absolutely important for three reasons. First, the mainstream media in the United States is funded and owned by corporations which have very strong and powerful corporate interests. They may not always reflect it in the editorial choices, but they certainly guide and lead the framing of the news and views. So, that is why generations in the United States since the 20th century and the Cold War have been indoctrinated by the mainstream media where the idea is not to fully inform the citizens but to shape and mold their opinion which ends up supporting the nationals security imperatives of the United States government. Whether it be wars, whether it be domestic policies, whether it be issues like poverty, health, education. “It manufactures consent,” to use Noam Chomsky’s phrase. It does not really inform. So, independent media challenges that and tries to change that.

The second reason why independent media is important is that independent media is far more diverse and has a clear-cut agenda to make sure that people of color, marginalized voices, and marginalized communities get an equal if not more air time. Many of the important national policies that the United States government have funneled for decades are challenged and confronted. That may include things like immigration, religious freedom, and even things like housing, and gentrification. You don’t get to hear that. You don’t know what happens to communities which are thrown out of an urban neighborhood to further poverty, while rich builders come and build high-rises and gentrify in certain areas. So, that’s the second reason.

The third important reason is the global dimension. The U.S. mainstream media, or the corporate media structures I would call them, they treat the globe from the lens of U.S. exceptionalism, which tries to tell the world that the United States is the best country in the world, the most powerful, their people are the most democratic and benign, and they have somehow a genuine right to tell others to do things. Independent media movements challenge that notion. They tell the U.S. government, “you are being exceptionalist. You are being hegemonic, the new empire, and do not treat other countries in that manner. Do not go in and start bombing places.” Because if you can remember in recent history, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Yemen have been directly or indirectly been bombed by the United States funds, arms, and its defense industry. And, the New York Times does not really explore that. The Washington Post does not really challenge that. CNN does not really justify that.

So, we live in a globalized world. How can we have a globalist perspective when other countries are treated as less important and other human lives across the globe are treated as less than an American life? So that’s why when you have one American attacked abroad, there is a storm in the U.S. media. But, in the Iraq War, more than a million people have died. In Syria, half a million people have died. How many times do you read these stories here as if these people don’t matter?

Independent media tells the United States public that we are a part of a global community. Let’s engage in a fair, respectful, and equal manner with the rest of the world. Do not think of yourself as superior or exceptional. And this is very important with the younger generation, particularly the students. We have liberal arts focus here to prepare better citizens who are not only citizens of the United States. There is a lot of rhetoric about creating “global citizens.” What does that mean? How can you create a global citizen when the the so-called “global citizen under construction” does not even know about the globe other than the U.S. hegemonic discourses?

What is the legacy or change you want to leave at Ithaca College?

To be honest, I do not have these delusions of grandeur that as an immigrant, a person of color, a newbie at Ithaca College can actually shake up things or leave a legacy. But definitely, the U.S. has been good to me and has helped me in rebuilding and reshaping my life so I want to give it back. My legacy would be if every semester I am influencing or helping young and bright students to think differently, I would have achieved my goal. During my stay at Ithaca College, even if 10 students turn out to be change-makers, alternative thinkers, or critical thinkers, I would be a very pleased person.

With respect to the Park Center for Independent Media, I do want to leave a legacy where I feel like this Center is more integrated across disciplines and departments. It should not just be an offshoot of the journalism department. It should be a campus-wide effort, engaging different students, faculty, the community, and the outer world at large. That is what I am now trying to do, to open up the Center to the outside world and open up the students to the outside world.

Do you have any advice for students, particularly students of color, that want to pursue journalism and/or independent media?

Independent media allows for incorporation of activism into the journalistic frames. It does not shy away from saying, “hey, we are advocacy journalists. Hey, we think police brutality is wrong.” And when there is a racist man attacking a weaker person of color, there is no other side. It is pure violence and it must be confronted and condemned at once. And for that reason, the young persons of color need to be more engaged and consider independent media options. For that, we offer internships here at the Park Center for Independent Media, where a competitive program leads to placement of students in these outlets for a short period of time like a summer. They can also explore the courses we offer. And of course, there are many other ways that we can engage with them.

Ithaca College Border Encuentro Team 2018

By Diana Castillo
In November 2018, seven students from Ithaca College traveled to Nogales, Arizona/Sonora, México where they participated in the School of the Americas Watch 2018 Border Encuentro. During this time, they lead a roundtable discussion and workshop called “Youth Organizing Against Border Imperialism and For Liberation.” Throughout the week, they also participated in organized protests on both sides of the United States/México surrounding border imperialism and the long historical violence along the borderlands.

Upon returning to campus, the student team presented their findings and shared the experiences to the Ithaca College community at their event, “IC Student Report Back from Border Encuentro 2018” on December 4, 2018.

Participants included: Daniela Rivero, a sophomore Social Movements, Indigenous Philosophy, and Latin American Liberation major, Laura Waxman, a senior Environmental Studies major and International Politics minor, Diana Castillo, a junior Journalism major and Latino Studies minor, Kat Walsh, a senior Film, Photo, and Visual Arts major and International Politics minor, Julissa Martinez, a senior Sociology major and Latino Studies minor, Joe Cruz, a senior Communication Management & Design Major and Latin American Studies and International Business minors, and Akshan Shah, a sophomore Politics and Sociology major.   
Watch this video and follow them on their journey at the border (Created by Joe Cruz): icborderencuentro.wordpress.com

Reflection from Eloy Detention Center

By Diana Castillo

At the end of day 1, we drove to the deadliest detention center in the United States, Eloy. The Eloy Detention Center is isolated, hidden in the deep deserts of Arizona. It sits bordered by large fences with barbed wire, constantly patrolled by I.C.E. As the sun set, the only thing left to illuminate the dessert were the piercing fluorescent lights that crept into the darkness of the Arizona desert.

We began to sing "no estan solos" (you're not alone) as we marched toward the detention center. My heart ached. For the sole reason that I was born in the United States, I have the privilege to be here. I have the privilege to stand outside these fences. I have a piece of paper that states that I am “allowed” to be here, allowed to be on stolen land. That night in Eloy will stay with me forever. I wept in silence for my undocumented family members, friends, classmates, and strangers. I witnessed the tears of my fellow peers and strangers who suddenly felt like family. The emotional connection that was evoked from standing in solidarity was incredible and unexplainable.

The rest of that evening felt surreal. The band began playing iconic Mexican songs such as “Cariñito” and “Cielito Lindo” which immediately resurrected my hope. The sweet sound of trumpets and the upbeat Latin rhythm transported me into mi cocina at home with mi Abuelita y Mami. I closed my eyes and I felt at peace. I felt at home. Everyone began to dance and sing along to our favorite Latin hits as if we knew each other for years. Someone said that evening, “this is how Latinos protest” and I couldn’t agree more. There is a lack of words for how impactful that night was. At one point, someone realized the people inside the detention center were signaling back at us. Some were opening and closing their windows, others playing with their binds or waving their blanket. They could hear us. They could see us. They knew we were here in solitary. And a stupid piece of paper is keeping them apart from us, from their families.

My heart aches for those who are fighting for a better life. People seem to think immigrants want to leave their country behind, their families, their friends. They are forced to leave because of the conditions the United States have created in our countries. The United States has exploited Central and Latin America, leaving countries in extreme poverty and corruption. This is reality. People are fleeing their countries and seeking asylum, hoping for a better life. Instead, they are incarcerated and harassed, beat, and sexually assaulted by authority figures who are suppose to protect us. This is happening daily and Eloy is just one of the MANY detention centers in the United States.

Since Eloy, there is not one day I do not think about the amount of privilege I possess as a citizen of the United States. I am free to travel almost anywhere in the world. I do not live in fear of being deported from the only country I know. I will not struggle to obtain job opportunities because I have the documents necessary to proof my citizenship. I hold onto hope and continue to advocate for those who have been silenced. No estan solos.

Personal Narratives

By Amisha Kohli

As we’ve grown, we’ve lived in an ocean of “me too.” “I was assaulted, “me too.” “I believe in climate change,” “me too.” “I believe black lives matter,” “me too.” We repeat “me too” so often we’re convinced our voices are heard. And yet our tsunami of “me too” is ignored. The “me toos” are followed by waves of ignorance, disbelief. We’re told we don’t know what we’re talking about. “You weren’t assaulted, you’re a liar.” “Climate change isn’t real.” “Stop making everything about race.” And then the flowing me toos” wash ashore, too scared to speak their truths. We’re assured our silence is okay, in fact it’s preferred. But we know better. We mustn't silence our lives. So our tides remain high, young voices flooding society, resisting the silence that attempts to persist.

Music & My Life

By Devin Balloqui-Smith

My dad once played bass and sang in a rock band. He and his friends would play music in the garage until all hours of the night. One night, I was allowed to be in the garage when they  played. I believe emotions allow certain memories to stick in your mind, more so than other memories. The joy I felt that day was enough to stick that memory to my brain like gum to the bottom of a desk. At one point, my dad handed me the microphone and I began to sing away. I was obsessed at this point in my life. I would watch videos of my dad’s concerts in New York City every week. I was always amazed at how vibrant and joyful he was when he played. At that time I had a CD player and only one CD. That CD was the band’s one and only album. I knew every song by heart and I can still remember the lyrics to this day. I wanted to be just like my dad. After singing a few songs I gave the microphone back and began playing the tambourine. Every second in that atmosphere felt like swimming in gold. I knew that I would spend the rest of my life using music to bring me to my happy place.

I started playing music seriously in the 4th-grade band at my school. I rushed into the house with excitement when I was first given my trombone. My dad and I looked up easy songs to play and came across “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. Once I learned it, I couldn’t stop. My teacher would always tease me for playing “Smoke on the Water.” Since I had learned to play it before he taught us how to play certain notes, I struggled playing high notes. The song consisted mostly of low notes and because I had played it so many times, I basically trained myself to only play low notes. I could always get a good laugh out of my band friends when I tried to play high notes in a lesson. Luckily, the high notes I struggled with were a very rare occurrence in songs we would play for concerts. After my lessons were over I’d walk to my

grandma’s house with my trombone in hand. It’s weight always hurt my weak arms, but it was worth the joy that my lessons brought me each day. My grandma is the other person that inspires me to be a musician. Since I was a baby she would play music and sing to me. She has a beautiful voice and loves to sing for people. I didn’t know it yet, but I too would crave performing for others.

My first concert was quite the experience. The first song we performed was called Slip and Slide. This song emphasized the sound the trombone makes when moving the slide all the way down and back. For this song, my instructor decided to put all four of the trombone players in front of the entire band. I was shaking like a leaf, standing in front of so many people. Once the song started, my jitters faded away and I reached a level of joy I’d never felt before.

After two years, I quit the trombone. Although I loved it a lot at first, I slowly learned the feeling I once got from playing it had left. I started learning guitar and became obsessed. Getting my first guitar in the mail was a very special moment for me. The guitar is a butterscotch blonde fender telecaster that I named Blondie. She hangs on my wall to this day. I like to think of Blondie as the compass that guided me through this new musical path I’d chosen. My other guide was Josh. He is my best friend’s dad and a music instructor. When I was thirteen, Josh decided to start a camp where he teaches people how to play together in a band. I joined as a guitar player, but on the first day, there was a problem. There were two other guitar players who both had more experience than me. I instantly felt useless because, in my opinion, a band only needs two guitar players. After we all learned the song, we started playing it. When we finished, Josh suggested the song would sound better if someone got on the microphone and sang. I hesitated to volunteer at first, but when I saw no one was interested, I decided to take the opportunity. I wanted to have a role in the band that had a greater contribution to the overall sound, even though I never thought of myself as a good singer. That was my first time I’d ever tried singing with a band, and I found myself enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. From that point on I was the singer.

After a week of practicing, we had a concert. I was even more nervous this time. Although it was a smaller crowd than my last concert, singing felt more personal. I was putting my own unique style to each song I sang, which opened me up to more chances of criticism and rejection. Once on stage, the negative energy went away. I felt a heightened version of the same joy I had felt during my school band concerts. Although I could feel it was heightened, deep down I knew it wasn’t enough.

After the camp, the group continued meeting every Saturday. Two years passed, and I eventually had to quit because I got a weekend job. Now that I wasn’t singing anymore, I went through music withdrawal. I started playing guitar again, which helped, but it didn’t quite fill the void that formed once I stopped singing. I needed to sing in a band again, and soon. I began brainstorming the people I knew who played music. My best friend Jared played bass so that was a good place to start. When I brought the idea to him he told me he knew a guy named Schuyler, who played guitar and was in one of his classes. His response reminded me that I knew a guy named Tyler, who also played guitar and was in my film class. Luckily, both of them said yes. Lastly, we needed a drummer. I’d formed a strong bond with the drummer from my last band, Angus. It’d been some time since we last talked. I was nervous about sending the text asking him to join. He was the last piece of the puzzle, and I was so afraid of my dreams being crushed. Minutes later he replied saying he couldn’t wait for the first practice.

It seemed fitting to play in the garage. When everyone got to my house we started naming songs we knew until we landed on “Tighten Up” by the Black Keys. Once we started playing, it felt like magic. Singing again felt amazing, but it wasn’t perfect. When we were done playing I was already talking about our first concert. We came to the conclusion that before we played for anyone, we’d have to perfect six songs. The setlist had to consist of four covers and two original songs. This put me in charge of writing lyrics. I’d written songs on my guitar before, but nothing I felt good enough to perform for anyone. The first time I tried to sit down and write a song was a disaster. I sat there trying to think of something for fifteen minutes. The result was a blank page with a few doodles. I was completely stuck; I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. A few days later I was driving and a melody came into my head. Instantly words started flowing through my mind. Once I figured out a full verse I sang it on repeat until I got home. I bursted through the door and jotted it down onto a piece of paper. This was the start of the band's first original song. With a melody and a verse, I was able to finish the song before the next practice. On the day of the practice, I began singing the song to my bandmates. They began coming up with parts on their instruments. We walked away from that practice with a completed song. Two months later we had four covers and two original songs perfected. We were ready for a concert.

We called ourselves the Dirty Looks. Schuyler was the one who brought that name to the table. He said his dad always wanted to be in a band with that name, but never got the chance. It was the best name we could come up with, so it stuck. At this point, we’d told almost all our friends about it. Most of them thought it was cool, but didn’t have much of an interest. A small group of our friends were very excited about it though. They insisted on hearing us play. We decided that our first concert would be for our friends. I opened the garage doors and set up chairs in the driveway. Once our friends were all settled in, we started the show. We opened with the first original song we ever made. Half-way through the song, I knew this was the feeling. The moment I’ve been trying to capture ever since I was five, watching the videos of my dad having the time of his life. I finally had all the ingredients to the recipe for euphoria. My band consisted of my close friends that I cared about, we were playing a song that we created, and we had people to share it with. I was in love with the pure bliss the moment brought me. It broke my heart when I had to let it go.

That was our first and last concert. I kept pushing for the band to play in a public place, like my dad did, but no one liked that idea. I think it was the fear that we weren’t good enough that got the best of them. We lost our momentum after that. Weekly practices turned into monthly practices. By senior year, I was lucky if I could get everyone together once or twice the whole year. During the first semester of freshman year of college I went through another music withdrawal. I started planning a practice over winter break. I started talking to Schuyler again, and he told me he was moving to Virginia at the start of the spring semester. This motivated me even more because I wanted a good way to say goodbye. Although the band was on the downfall, I wasn’t ready to let go yet. I had to have a practice knowing it was the last one, so I could remember it forever. Playing the songs we wrote hit the hardest. I was brought back to when the band first started and my friendship with Schuyler was still blossoming. Saying goodbye to the band was hard, but saying goodbye to Schuyler was harder. The band had brought us so close together. Before he was a stranger, now he was a brother.

I hope I’ll get the opportunity to play in a band again. Hopefully, when I’m older I’ll have friends that I can play music with, just like my dad. Whether that happens or not, I will never cut music out of my life. Music is always there to help me solve my problems. If I’m upset, angry, or overwhelmed, music will calm me down. I owe a lot to music for making me the person I am today. Music brought me friendships, and it taught me many lessons. I learned at a young age that nothing comes easy. To reach your goals takes hard work and patience. Lastly, I learned how rewarding it feels to achieve your goals. When I finally got to perform a song I wrote with a band of my friends, I experienced one of the happiest moments of my life. I will continue chasing that feeling until the day I die.

Precious Things

By Sharifa Abukari

we can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and talk about precious things.
like dew drops on the petals of newly sprung tiger lilies

and why your button down fits me so perfectly imperfectly.

we can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and allow the atmosphere to absorb our beings,

watching the falling sun pull up the night sky and the tops of buildings hovering over the live moon and I'd like to think that in the moment we are deities
you a god to my goddess

and in a way we rule our own little universes

although the unconditional love we consistently string and mend keeps the blurred lines between our universes blurred

we can pretend the universes revolve around us and lace our fingers together on the moist Tuesday night as the chill sets

our shared warmth under the blanket grows a smile across my face

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and talk about precious things,

like the smell of your saliva on my lips after you kiss me

and the way I vibrate when you are pressed against my cheek

to the glisten of the sun against barely green leaves

and fresh pink pearls glinting on bottomless sea floors

delicate but strong fingers running over them causing underwater quakes and roaring tsunamis

As if our fabricated dystopias welded together mimic the all too real life we exist in now

As if my nose pressed against your soft cheek is parallel to the gulf of Alaska

Freshwater meeting salt

As if the reality we plant our feet in knows of our tendency to take long dry silent walks