Alice Vol. 1 No. 1

PREMIERE 

ISSUE 

SHOW ME 

THE MONEY 

How to break the glass ceiling 

and navigate the professional world 

SWIPE LEFT 

Tinder drastically alters the 

college dating game 

BINGE 

DIARIES 

Get the scoop on the most 

addictive shows on Netflix 

Fashion tips, tricks, and inspiration 

that will blow everyone away this season 

$3.00 Vol. 1, No. 1

Downtown Tuscaloosa 

theshirtshop.biz | (205) 752-6931 

Warm. Cozy. Stylish.

Letter from the Editors 

On the web: 

Twitter: @alicethemag 

Instagram: @alicethemag 

alice.ua.edu 

Editorial and Advertising offices for Alice Magazine are located at 

414 Campus Drive East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

The mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

Phone: (205) 348-7257. 

Alice is published by the Office of Student Media 

at The University of Alabama. 

All content and design are produced by students 

in consultation with professional staff advisers. 

All material contained herein, except advertising or where 

indicated otherwise, is copyrighted © 2015 by Alice Magazine. 

Material herein may not be reprinted without the 

expressed, written permission of Alice Magazine. 

It started with one question: Would you be interested in 

developing a women’s magazine? The question, posed to 

a room of more than 100 college women last spring, was 

a simple yes or no. The women, each from a different part 

of campus, from a different background, from a different 

state of mind, all said yes. 

After months of brainstorming, conceptualizing, and 

answering a million what ifs, we’re excited to be debuting 

the first issue of Alice — your new source for everything 

fashion, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and more. To us, 

Alice represents everything we love and hate about our 

college years. She’s into following the next big fashion 

trends, but just as concerned about the big issues —what’s 

going on in the world and how can she stay engaged. In 

other words, Alice is just like us. 

Think of Alice as your co-pilot as you navigate your way 

through college. The transition out of your teens and into 

your early twenties is an important one, and she wants you 

to make it count. She’ll be there when your friends convince 

you to go on your first awkward Tinder date (p. 53), when 

you finish your rewatch of Grey’s and need a new Netflix 

obsession (we’ve all been there) (p. 72), and when you finally 

decide it’s time you learned to cook (p. 27). 

And when your time is up and graduation looms, Alice 

will help you prepare for the world. For everything from 

how to get a perfectly polished one-minute face (p. 6) to 

what to wear to an interview for every job or internship 

(p 19) — she’s got you covered. And that includes the big 

issues. For example, the upsetting wage gap that exists 

between men and women coming out of college (p. 44). 

Many of the subjects you've wanted to talk about 

during your years in college (and maybe some you haven't 

considered) are spelled out in the next 80 pages. So we 

wanted to take a moment to thank you, the readers, for 

going on this journey with us. We saw a need, and Alice is 

our way of filling it in a way uncharted by any other college 

media. We’re thrilled (and just a dash nervous), that the 

day has finally come, but we can’t wait for you to dive in! 

Tara Massouleh and Allison Ingram

Editorial 

Editors in Chief ALLISON INGRAM AND TARA MASSOULEH 

Creative Director MARIA OSWALT 

Photo Editor EMILY HEATH 

Market Editor SAMANTHA CUPERO 

Beauty Editor ARAMIS HARMON 

Lifestyle Editor ALLISON COHEN 

Fashion Editor DEVEN FELDSTEIN 

Food and Health Editor KIMBERLY SUITS 

Entertainment Editor MARY-BRADLEY FLYNN 

Contributing Writers LAURA TESTINO, BECCA MURDOCH, LAURA MARTINEZ, EMILY HEATH, 

DELILAH MARSHALL, BRITTANY RAY, EMILEE BENOS, CLAIRE TURNER, EMILY WILLIAMS, 

PAIGE BURLESON, ELLEN JOHNSON, JADA CULVER, ALEXIS DANZO, BRIANA BETTISON, LEAH TOBAK, 

MCKENNA WELMAN, LILY SHAWER, MADISON SULLIVAN, AUDREY WATFORD, LAUREN LANE, 

ELIZABETH ELKIN, JILL HOLLOWAY, KATIE HUFF, IMANI MANLEY, ALLIE LOWERY, KATHERINE STRAUGHAN 

Contributing Photographers RAMSEY GRIFFIN, TRENT MCDANIEL 

Marketing Team MARY-BRADLEY FLYNN, ALEX WENDRYCHOWICZ, ARAMIS HARMON, 

BRIANA BETTISON, BRITTANY RAY, JADA CULVER, SAMANTHA CUPERO 

Advertising 

Advertising Manager EMANUEL ADELSON (cwadmanager@gmail.com) 

Assistant Advertising Manager DEE GRIFFIN (territorymanager1@gmail.com) 

Digital Sales Manager MICHAEL LOLLAR (osmspecialprojects@gmail.com) 

Advertising Creative Director MILLE EIBORG OLAUSSEN (cwcreativemanager@gmail.com) 

Assistant Creative Director MADISON HOOPER (cwcreativeservices@gmail.com) 

Sales Representatives (205) 348-7845 

MARISSA GANCYCO (cwzone7@gmail.com) 

AMANDA HYDRICK (cwzone8@gmail.com) 

GRANT EDGEWORTH (cwzone5@gmail.com) 

PATRICK RAINEY (cwzone6@gmail.com) 

GARRET HENKE (cwzone4@gmail.com) 

LEAH MARSHALL (cwzoneB@gmail.com 

JOSH DAVIS (cwzoneA@gmail.com) 

Advisers 

[2] Alice November 2015 

Editorial MARK MAYFIELD (msmayfield1@sa.ua.edu) 

Advertising BRIAN GILES (bhgiles@sa.ua.edu) 

Published by UA Office of Student Media 

Director PAUL WRIGHT

Table of 

Contents 

Beauty 

5 MAKEUP FOR THOSE WHO 

HATE MAKEUP 

6 ONE-MINUTE FACE 

7 PRODUCTS TO SAVE/ 

SPLURGE ON 

9 COLD WEATHER SKINCARE 

11 GREASED LIGHTNING 

12 BEAUTY GURUS TO 

SUBSCRIBE TO 

Fashion 

14 HOLIDAY STYLE GUIDE 

17 DAY TO NIGHT 

19 CAREER COUTURE 

22 IT GIRL: GIGI HADID 

ABOUT THE COVER: It’s the golden hour: the lingering 

moments captured between the day’s blistering rays and 

the night’s bitter skyfall. In our inaugural issue of Alice, 

we celebrated the warmth and authenticity of November, 

translating the imagery into wardrobes that embody 

the season. 

Photographer: EMILY HEATH 

See story: PAGE 36 

Health 

& Food 

23 NO-EXCUSE WORKOUT 

26 TASTE OF TIN TOP 

27 EASY EATS ON THE GO 

28 FRESH MARKET 

30 COLD WEATHER MEALS 

Alice November 2015 [3]

Features 

36 GOLDEN HOUR 

42 HOLIDAY MAKEUP AND HAIR 

44 WAGE GAP 

50 VEGAN EATING 

53 SWIPE LEFT 

Lifestyle 

56 48 HOURS IN NOLA 

62 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS 

64 FIRST DATE TIPS 

Entertainment 

65 UPCOMING MOVIES 

67 UPCOMING MUSIC 

68 WHAT'S ON OUR NIGHTSTAND 

70 NEW SHOWS YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING 

72 BINGE DIARIES 

74 WHO TO FOLLOW 

75 LOCAL MUSICIANS

BEAUTY 

MAKEUP 

FOR 

THOSE 

WHO 

hate 

MAKEUP 

We get it: you’re one of the girls who 

dashes from the beauty aisle, scoffs 

at the thought of lip liner, and has 

perfected the roll-out-of-bed, readyin-three 

routine. And we see where 

you’re coming from; it’s easy to avoid 

the pricey, messy and overwhelming 

selection of beauty supplies and opt 

for an au natural look rather than a 

caked-on mess. But if you still want 

the enhancement of makeup without 

the labor or the done-up look, read on. 

We broke it down to the basics for a 

new routine you might actually use 

and (gasp!) enjoy. 

If you’re hesitant about a cumbersome foundation, go for 

a tinted moisturizer or BB cream for the perfect marriage 

of coverage, hydration, and a healthy glow. 

Our pick: CoverGirl Smoothers BB cream 

Ladies, meet brow tint, your new partner in the fight 

against wimpy or “slayed” brows. The spoolie brush tames 

and holds hair together for full, defined brows to frame 

your face. Just one swipe is all you need to get the job done 

— just don’t get it confused for mascara. 

Our pick: Ulta Brow Tint 

When all else fails, mascara, mascara, mascara. Why? 

Well, mascara not only makes your eye color pop, but it 

gives the illusion of eyeliner if applied correctly. 

Our pick: Ulta Amped Lashes Mascara 

Feeling confident about these picks? Head to page 6 for the perfect one-minute 

face to complete your makeup relationship transformation. 


BEAUTY 

For mornings like this, a 

powder foundation gives quick 

and easy coverage. For daily wear, 

try Ulta's HELLO FLAWLESS 

with SPF 15 powder that will give 

you sheer to full coverage with an 

all-natural glow. 

It’s no secret that mascara is 

the key to instantly playing up your 

eyes and bringing the face together. 

ULTA AMPED LASHES MASCARA 

builds lush, dramatic volume with 

definition, and one or two quick swipes 

is all it takes to take your everyday 

look to the next level. 

Next, grab ULTA BROW 

TINT for a quick brow fix. 

The multi-purpose Brow Tint 

gel not only fills in brows 

but conditions as well. Just 

go over each brow with one 

swipe of this double doozy, 

and you’re set, sister! 

Lastly, blush is perfect 

for a quick highlight; no one 

will know you were up until 3 

a.m. cramming for a final. 

An E.L.F blush will give you a 

soft, sheer texture that easily 

blends into skin for the 

perfect finish. 

1 

-Minute Face 

Despite your best intentions — set alarms, calculated 

morning routines, and laid-out clothes — one glance at 

the clock confirms the horrible truth: you’re running late. 

Do you swipe here, gloss there? Throw on a hat and hope 

no one notices your broken-out forehead? Meet the fiveminute 

face’s college-aged cousin, the one-minute 

routine you’ll actually use before that 8 a.m. 

Model: Sylvia Craig 

[6] Alice November 2015

BEAUTY 

PRODUCTS TO 

SAVE/SPLURGE ON 

By Brittany Ray 

When is it worth it? As a college student, there’s 

a running list of items to be purchased, but when 

budgeting is an issue, beauty products tend to take 

a hit. For makeup-lovers on a budget, sometimes 

it’s best to hit up the drugstore for products 

normally bought at Sephora or Ulta. 

Too Faced “Better Than Sex” Mascara ($23) vs. 

Covergirl Professional All-in-One Mascara ($5.24) 

“Better Than Sex” by Two-Faced provides both volume 

and length, and as an added bonus it can be reapplied during 

the day without worry of lashes hardening. It’s smooth and 

perfect for making eyes seem more open after endless allnighters. 

It’s a great mascara, but at $23, “Better Than 

Sex” is a little steep for everyday use. So when the funds 

are running a little low, instead try Covergirl’s Professional 

All-in-One Mascara for comparable alternative to Better 

Than Sex’s at a much more digestible price of $5.24 . The 

only distinguishable factor is that Covergirl’s mascara 

hardens over time, but the price difference makes the slight 

variation worthwhile. 


MAC Lipstick ($17) vs. 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick ($5.99) 

Milani’s matte lipstick has a velvet finish that doesn’t 

dry lips out or require constant reapplication. Plus, it smells 

like a candy store and features multiple color options, for 

every occasion. The plum and berry pigments are some of 

the best out there. On the splurge side, MAC Lipstick comes 

in several fun colors that indulge your need to experiment. 

While they are high quality and go on smooth, they are 

prone to clumping, especially after long wear. Both lipsticks 

rank high in quality and color variation, but for the best 

pick without clump-worry, try Milani. 

Naked Smoky Palette ($54) vs. 

Maybelline The Nudes Palette ($9.99) 

When it comes to eyeshadow, it’s hard not to splurge on 

the newest Naked Smoky Palette. Not only is the palette 

great for a smoky eye night look, but it also contains all 

the right colors for a flawless natural day look. Don’t want 

the $54 price tag? Maybelline The Nudes Palette contains 

similar colors to the Naked’s with a comparable, longlasting 

quality. Plus, there is no need for an eye primer 

because neither product clumps after a long day. 


BEAUTY 

Cold Weather 

SKINCARE 

By Emily Heath 

As cool breezes and sunshine turn to bone-chilling winds 

and frost, don’t let your skin fall victim to the transitional 

slump. While it’s easy to blame our dry skin woes on the 

frigid temperatures, it’s not just the weather that’s got 

our skin all out of whack. Low humidity levels inside and 

outside draw moisture from our skin, leaving it flaky, dry 

and sensitive. Hot showers, the only saving grace during 

icy winter mornings, can also cause major problems — the 

extended exposure to water actually washes away skin’s 

natural protective oils. Pro tip: If your skin feels tight 

after a hot shower, you’ve been in too long. Then finally, 

some of our favorite warm-weather products can be totally 

damaging come wintertime. What were once our go-to 

soaps and light moisturizers become our skin’s worst enemy 

once the temperature drops. 

Not to worry, though; we’ve got plenty of tips and tricks 

to help you keep your skin healthy and glowing once winter 

rolls around. 

Model: Katie Ortiz 

DRINK WATER: Stay hydrated. It 

will keep your skin elastic and healthy 

and serves as your first defense against 

cold weather. 

CLEANSE: Cleanse your skin with 

a simple, non-irritating face wash 

such as Cetaphil, Cerave or First Aid 

Beauty’s Face Cleanser. Use lukewarm 

water and don’t wash your skin more 

than twice a day to avoid stripping its 

natural protective oils. 


MOISTURIZE: It’s most effective to 

apply moisturizer while your skin is 

still a little damp from a shower or 

face wash. You’ll want to gently pat 

your face dry before application. If 

you also suffer from cracked lips or 

sensitive, flaky skin around your nose, 

an ointment such as Aquaphor is a 

perfect way to soothe irritation. Apply 

it at night before bed and as needed 

throughout the day. 

TREAT YOURSELF: Spa days 

are a haven in the winter months. 

Treat yourself at home with moisturizing 

face masks once or twice a 

week. We recommend the Caudalie 

Moisturizing Mask. It will leave your 

skin feeling velvety smooth after just 

one application. 

OIL UP: Interested in beauty oils, 

but horrified about what they do to 

your skin? There is really nothing to 

fear when it comes to the right type 

of beauty oil for your type of skin. 

Go to your nearest beauty retailer 

and ask a specialist for their advice. 

They apply similarly to moisturizers, 

so be sure to use them only when 

your skin is damp. At night, rub 2-3 

drops of the oil between your hands to 

warm, then gently press into the skin 

on your cheeks, chin, forehead and 

nose. Wait a few minutes, then apply 

your moisturizer. 

SOUTH POLE: We’ve covered the 

North Pole (your face), now we’ll go 

over the South Pole (your feet). Often 

feet fall victim to the cold weather 

months by giving way to crackly, dry 

soles. Warm and smooth your pups 

by applying Aquaphor nightly, then 

seal the deal by putting socks on while 

you’re asleep. 


BEAUTY 

GREASED 

LIGHTNING 

Four dry shampoos that will change your life 

By Laura Martinez 

It’s the daily limbo: do we sacrifice our last minutes 

of sleep for freshly showered hair before our 8 a.m. or bite 

the bullet and rock the top knot? Avoid the compromise 

and allow us to introduce you to your new best friend, dry 

shampoo, or as we call it, the best thing since sliced bread, 

the bees’ knees, and the solution to all your problems.* 

Not Your Mother’s 

Clean Freak Dry Shampoo 

The name of this shampoo says it 

all: an insanely clean scent that does 

the job. A quick application absorbs 

the oils in your scalp to leave a matte 

finish without making your hair 

look dull and clumpy. 

Big Sexy Hair 

Volumizing Dry Shampoo 

This dry shampoo is talc free, 

which means no white residue 

left on your hair after it works its 

magic. Flat, unwashed hair becomes 

instantly revitalized with covetable 

volume and a clean shine. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo 

We know it as the holy grail 

of dry shampoo — an inexpensive 

and effective option that adds texture 

and body to your hair. Just spray it 

in and comb it out. This dry shampoo 

comes in seven different scents and 

three hint of color options (light & 

blonde, medium & brunette, and 

dark & deep brown), so no fear of 

pesky white remnants! 

Dove Refresh + Care 

Invigorating Dry Shampoo 

We could rave for days about the 

scent of this dry shampoo and its 

lightweight quality that does the job 

without weighing your hair down. It’s 

perfect for days when washed hair 

turns greasy after four hours. 

*Okay, maybe not all of your problems, but you get it. It’s good stuff! 


BEAUTY 

Beauty 

Gurus 

to subscribe to 

With so many YouTube beauty gurus 

sharing tutorials and hacks online these 

days, nailing the perfect everyday face is 

easier than ever. Through shopping hauls 

and lessons on the latest trends, these 

gals have taught us what vlogging is all 

about, and we are forever grateful. 

1. Michelle Phan 

One of the most well-known beauty gurus on YouTube, 

Phan has collaborated with Loreal Cosmetics, launched 

her own makeup line called EM, and she’s even started a 

makeup subscription company called Ipsy. Since 2007, her 

channel has grown exponentially and now houses hundreds 

of videos. From special occasion makeup looks to DIY ideas 

and motivational videos, her channel is perfect for any 

college girl looking to get creative with her look. 

Videos to watch: Barbie Transformation Tutorial, Make 

Your Own Pore Strips, and Stretch Your Shoes with Ice 

2. Vicky Logan 

If you love wigs, makeup and girl talk, then you already 

love Vicky Logan. From hair style experimentation to 

makeup for problematic skin, Logan’s videos are as detailed 

and diverse as her many looks. Logan’s videos make you feel 

like you’re talking to your best friend — if your best friend 

was a super stylish makeup goddess. She offers advice on 

friendship, love and personal issues, all while teaching you 

a thing or two about how to care for your skin and look hot 

on the daily. 

Videos to watch: Full Face Routine: Long Lasting 

Makeup + Acne Coverage, Wash, Blowout and Flat Iron 

Routine for Natural Hair, Make up for Beginners 101: 

Intro and Essentials 


3. Carli Bybel 

Creator of “The Beauty Bybel," Carli Bybel and her 

beautiful lashes have become a YouTube star with over three 

million subscribers. On her channel you can find anything 

from fitness videos to beauty hauls and motivational videos. 

She’s even collaborated with BH cosmetics to create her 

own makeup pallete. 

Videos to watch: How To Grow Your Eyelashes and 

Eyebrows DIY, Makeup MISTAKES to AVOID! +13 Tips 

for a Flawless Face, Megan Fox Makeup Tutorial 

4. ItsMyRayeRaye 

ItsMyRayeRaye is the definition of the phrase “Eyebrows 

on fleek.” With her big curly hair, thick eyebrows, and 

fierce personality, she has her thousands of subscribers 

hanging on her every word. From lip swatches to guides 

on how to recreate celebrity looks, her channel brings it all 

in. The best thing about ItsMyRayeRaye’s channel? Most 

of the makeup she uses to achieve her high-end looks are 

budget-friendly and can be found at your local drug store. 

Videos to watch: Everyday Glam Nude Makeup with Under 

Eye Dots (High End), How-To: Master Applying False 

Eyelashes, How to Get Rid of Acne Scars, How To Get 

Baby Soft Lips 

5. Patricia Bright 

This witty and stylish Nigerian blogger from the UK 

shares some of the best look books, skin care routines, and 

girl problem chit chat videos we’ver ever seen. Her style is 

chic, sophisticated and casual. Her style and makeup are 

ultra natural, but she’s not afraid to dress up in bright 

colors and funky accessories either. 

Videos to watch: DIY Tutorial: How to Honey Dip Hair 

(Ombre Inpsired), How I Cleared My Skin & Got Rid of 

Large Pores, My Lazy Morning Routine + Morning 

Workout 

6. Zoella 

For those who revel in the glory of a scoring great deals, 

then sharing with friends, Zoella’s channel full of haul 

videos is the perfect beauty fix. The UK YouTuber turned 

author (Girl Online), gained over a million subscribers with 

her haul videos, how-to hair looks, look books and v-logs. We 

love her for her charm and bubbly personality that make all 

her tips seem easy and totally doable. 

Videos to watch: How To: My Quick and Easy Hairstyles, 

Autumn/Fall Makeup, Gold Eyes & Berry Lips, What’s 

In My Bag? 


FASHION 

Holiday 

Style Guide 

Somewhere between football season and the 

first Christmas get together, did you forget to 

breathe? That’s what we thought. While there 

are certainly no complaints about a full social 

agenda, nothing dampens the holiday spirit quite 

like “but what am I going to wear?” 

So we did the planning for you: a fool-proof 

guide to any fete on your calendar, from the 

first office party to the final cocktail. Let the 

celebrations begin! 


Night Out: Leather & Lace 

Going out with friends from home calls for a 

killer look versatile enough to last the whole 

night. Start with a detailed tunic top, then add 

faux-leather pants to contrast. Give ultrafeminine 

details like delicate lace and sheer 

panels an edge by adding hard complements like 

leather pants and heeled booties. Grab a 

(fun)ctional fur vest and you’re ready to go! 

Outfit: Altar'd State 

(Vest $90; Top $70; 

Boots $80; Cuff $15) 

Models: Tanner Fant, Kryssalyn Bayne

Holiday Party: Winter Whites 

Keep your look clean and polished by pairing 

crisp cropped pants with playful dressed-up 

versions of a classic tank. Look for ways to spice 

up basic pieces like the fringe and mockneck 

details in this student-designed top. The monochromatic 

color scheme is the perfect backdrop 

to highlight bold, colorful jewelry like this ruby 

red drop necklace. 

Outfit: Liza Rogers, student designer 

Bracelet: Francesca's, $18 



Family Dinner: Classy Casual 

Family get togethers are always chaotic without the 

added stress of what to wear. Shoot for a look that’s 

comfortable enough to sit around in, but fashionable 

enough to impress your ultra-stylish cousin. Remember 

to keep your look family-friendly: skirts should 

reach mid-thigh, and necklines should be tasteful. For 

this look, we dressed up cozy basics like this caramel 

slouchy sweater and stretchy knit skirt with a plaid 

scarf and rugged statement boots.

FASHION 

Day to 

Night 

Another day, another afternoon of errands turned into a 

nighttime get together, and you’re stuck trying to transform 

your casual everyday wear into an ensemble hot enough to 

carry you into the evening. With our guide, it’s easier than 

ever to go from day to night without the hassle of changing 

your whole outfit. The key? Simple staples you already own, 

just tweaked and accessorized to up the ante. 

Night 

Day 

Throw on a black knit dress as 

an outfit anchor, then add a comfy 

cardigan and your favorite boots to 

take on the day. For night, switch 

the cardigan for a glam fur vest, add 

a statement pendant necklace, and 

you’re good to go. 

Dress: Az Well, $37 

Cardigan: Az Well, $60 

Vest: Az Well, $33 

Necklace: Ellie Crimson, $18 

Alice November 2015 [17] 

Makeup by Laura Martinez

Day 

Night 

Take a basic tunic sweater from day 

to night by switching out colored denim 

for a leather mini. Daytime accessories 

like suede fedoras and fringe boots 

make way for nighttime pairings like 

our favorite leather and lace combo. 

Outfit: Altar'd State 

(Sweater $70; Leggings $50; 

Necklace $20; Hat $25; 

Bracelet $13; Boots $80; 

Skirt $60) 


FASHION 

CAREER 

COUTURE 

How to achieve 

the perfect balance of 

style and professionalism 

Aside from getting your resume together and editing 

your LinkedIn account, figuring out what to wear for the 

interview can be the most stressful part of applying for 

jobs and internships. First impressions last a lifetime, so 

don’t be stuck leaving a bad one based off your appearance, 

not to mention we’re our most confident when we look our 

best. Prepare an interview outfit far in advance to avoid 

unnecessary anxiety on the day of your interview. 

Model: Anna Leigh Sharp 

Trench coat: Az well, $49.99 

Necklace: Francesca's, $26 


Suit Up 

If the dress code isn’t specified for 

an interview, the business professional 

look is a safe home base, and for many 

business settings, it’s expected. Think 

suits and classic separates for a polished, 

pulled-together look – whether 

that’s a fail-proof power suit or streamlined 

pencil skirt. Stick with closed-toe 

shoes, and make sure you can walk in 

them! 

Jacket and shirt: The Cotton Gin Boutique 


Keep it Casual 

In many settings — mostly in the 

creative industry — starched business 

clothes don’t necessarily mesh with 

their laid back environments. But 

before donning your jeans and sandals, 

make sure you completely understand 

the company’s corporate culture. 

And even at that, stick with a more 

conservative look for your interview: 

cotton pants, relaxed blouses, and 

statement jewelry to show your 

personal style. Break out your trendy 

frocks after you land the job! 

Bag: Francesca's, $34 


FASHION 

Gigi Hadid 

By Leah Tobak 

Celeb model Gigi Hadid has 

heads turning and cameras 

flashing with her high-fashion 

look and recent rise to 

fame. At only 20, she is this issue’s It 

Girl. We want to look like her, dress 

like her, or just hang with her. What 

can we say? We’re smitten with this 

California charmer. 

In the past two years, Hadid was 

named a Sports Illustrated Rookie, 

walked in New York Fashion Week, 

and modeled for brands like Guess, 

Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria’s 

Secret PINK. To add to her resume, 

Maybelline recently named her 

their 2015 Brand Ambassador. 

Her Instagram alone has us swooning 

over (and maybe a little jealous of) 

her flawless selfies, photos with the 

ever fierce #GirlSquad, and glimpses 

of her super hot boyfriend, Joe Jonas. 

There’s no “Bad Blood” when it comes 

to Slay-Z! 

Not to mention, she exudes a chic, 

yet easy-going style. A true master 

of an effortless street look, Gigi 

is regularly spotted in her staple 

boyfriend jeans and tank, and even 

on the red carpet, she sticks to her 

neutrals to let her natural beauty 

shine while still looking ridiculously 

glamorous. With cut outs and high 

slits, our girl knows how to show off 

her supermodel body and still keep 

it classy. 

Another of the many lessons we’ve 

learned from this It Girl is that your 

style doesn’t have to remain stationary. 

Gigi has said her at-home style in 

California is very different from that 

when she travels to big cities. On the 

West Coast, Gigi’s street style gives off 

a boho, Cali girl vibe. But when she’s 

in New York, Gigi kicks up the glam 

factor by dressing ultra modern and 

sleek. She’s bringing a new name to a 

bicoastal ease — one Instagram, cat 

walk and Starbucks run at a time. 

Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi, under Flickr Creative Commons (attribution and sharealike license). No changes were made to the photo. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

The 

No-Excuse 

Workout 

Small space? No equipment? No problem. 

With all the demands of college, from social events to 

study sessions, staying healthy and avoiding the infamous 

“Freshman 15” can be tough, especially for girls coming in 

without a solid workout routine. Luckily we’ve formulated a 

workout you can do at any fitness level, any time you want, 

and in virtually any space — even a shoebox dorm. 

1. Jumping Jacks (25) 

How It Works 

Cardio, abs, arms and legs are all included in this highintensity 

workout. Complete the circuit two times through, 

taking a one-minute break following the Dive Bombers. As 

your fitness level builds, you may want to add onto the number 

of times you complete the circuit and increase the pace. 

Once you’ve finished the circuits, complete the stretches 

and rehydrate. 

2. Burpees (10) 

Start by standing upright, then 

squat and jump up. Immediately drop 

into a pushup position, do a full pushup, 

then jump back into the upright 

position and start again. 

Model: Brianna Milner 


3. Planks (1 min) 

For the first part of the minute, 

hold a traditional plank for 15 seconds. 

Place your forearms on the floor. Keep 

a tight core with your legs straight out 

behind you. Make a straight line with 

your body making sure not to arch 

your back or stick your butt up. 

Next complete 15 seconds of commandos. 

Start in a traditional plank, 

use your right arm to push up onto 

your hand, in the process. Follow with 

straightening your left arm. Bend 

your left arm, and lower back into a 

traditional plank. Alternating arms 

complete as many of these as possible. 

Complete 15 seconds of a rocking 

plank. Start in the traditional plank 

position. Begin rocking your body 

back and forth onto your heels. Keep 

your back as flat as possible and your 

core tight. 

Complete 15 seconds of a side-toside 

plank. Start in a traditional plank 

position and rotate your core rocking 

your hips from right to left. Go as low 

to the floor as possible. 

4. Reverse 

Lunges (20) 

Start by stepping forward into a full 

lunge. Swing your back leg up in front 

of you and straighten your other leg. 

Jump up and then back into the lunge 

position. Complete 10 on each side. 

5. Dive 

Bombers (10) 

Start in the downward dog position. 

Bend your arms and lower yourself 

into pushup position. Complete a full 

pushup. As you do so, arch your back 

and move into upward dog position. 

Fall back into downward dog position 

to start the next rep. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

6. Stretch 

Once you've repeated workouts as 

many times as possible, cool down with 

a 5-10 minute stretching session. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

Taste of 

Tin Top 

By Audrey Watford 

Located in the heart of the downtown 

Tuscaloosa entertainment district, 

Tin Top Sports Bar & Grill marries 

bar food’s ease and approachability 

with a Cajun-style quality. Owner Bob 

Hallmark says although sports bars 

are usually not associated with good 

food, he and his wife, Patty, created 

Tin Top with the finest casual dining 

in mind. Diners can stop in to shake 

off the day over a plate of oysters just 

as easily as they can kick off the night 

with drinks and appetizers. 

The versatile menu fits most appetites 

and occasions, be it sharing 

sashimi with a date or indulging in 

smoked wings with friends. Hallmark’s 

personal favorite meal is the 

shrimp and gouda grits with crawfish 

sauce followed by warm strawberry 

bread pudding topped with a white 

chocolate drizzle. 

Tin Top also has a noteworthy beverage 

selection, featuring local craft 

beers from Druid City Brewing in 

Tuscaloosa, as well as Cahaba and 

Avondale Brewing in Birmingham. 

Tin Top Manager Daniel Lowery noted 

these beers’ rising customer popularity 

and daily pairs selections with 

single dishes. And if you are not in 

the mood for brews, Tin Top offers an 

ample selection of wine and cocktails 

to sip over dinner. Stop by on Thursday, 

Friday and Saturday nights for 

live music to accompany your dinner 

and drinks. 

Tin Top’s most popular drink is none 

other than the classic Bushwhacker, 

an Alabama year-round staple whether 

you’re lounging along the Gulf or 

hitting the Tuscaloosa streets after a 

game. Our favorite adult milkshake 

features 151 rum, Kahlua, white and 

dark cream de cocoa, and vanilla ice 

cream blended together — then topped 

with even more rum. Think of it as 

the perfect meal-to-social hour transition 

or the middle ground between 

cocktails and dessert. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

Easy Eats 

on the go 

By Lily Shawver 

Chocolate Chip 

Mug Cake 

Late night sweets cravings have 

been ruining our healthful eating one 

pint of Ben and Jerry’s at a time. But 

this butter and oil-less chocolate mug 

cake can satisfy your sweet tooth without 

busting your diet. 

Ingredients 

2 tbsp of coconut flour 

2 tbsp of quick oats 

¼ tsp of baking powder 

1 tbsp of Stevia or other sweetener 

¼ cup of almond milk 

1 large egg white 

1 tbsp of chocolate chips 

Directions 

1. Combine coconut flour, quick oats and 

baking powder in a bowl or mug and mix. 

2. Add milk and sweetener, continue 

stirring until smooth. 

3. Use a fork or whisk to beat the egg 

white into the batter, making sure it is 

fully incorporated. 

4. Fold in chocolate chips. 

5. Microwave on high for 2½ to 3 minutes 

Protein-Packed 

Overnight Oats 

Are you a breakfast person, but 

lacking the morning time to make 

it happen? Overnight oats could be 

your schedule’s new go-to. This protein-filled 

recipe takes zero effort and 

will keep you full until lunchtime. 

Ingredients 

½ cup of quick cook oats 

¼ cup of nonfat Greek yogurt 

1-2 tbsp of Stevia or other sweetener 

½ cup of almond milk (or milk of choice) 

½ a scoop of whey protein 

1 tbsp of peanut butter 

Directions 

1. Mix all of your ingredients (except the 

peanut butter) in a sealable container. 

2. Leave the container of oats in the 

fridge overnight. 

3. Top with peanut butter and any other 

toppings of your choice. 

Grab a spoon and enjoy! 

Turkey 

Avocado Roll-ups 

Roll-ups are a great lunch option 

for anyone on the go; they’re portable, 

healthy, and not to mention, delicious. 

Paired with a juicy red apple or baked 

chips, this dish creates a perfect quick 

and easy meal. No silverware required. 

Ingredients 

2 oz. deli turkey 

1 tortilla wrap 

1 wedge of Laughing Cow cheese 

A hand full of romaine lettuce 

¼ of a sliced avocado 

¼ cup of diced bell peppers 

Directions 

1. Spread Laughing Cow cheese on half 

of the tortilla wrap. 

2. Layer romaine, turkey, sliced avocado 

and diced bell peppers onto the tortilla 

wrap. 

3. Roll up the wrap as tightly as possible. 

4. Cut each end off of the wrap. 

5. Proceed to cut the rest of the wrap into 

½-1 inch pieces. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

Fresh Market 

Smart Buys 

Must-Tries 

With the opening of the Shoppes at 

Legacy Park on McFarland Boulevard, 

Tuscaloosa is adding to a growing list 

of restaurants and retailers. Bed Bath 

& Beyond, World Market, Chuy’s and 

Dick’s are all here to stay, as is our 

new favorite grocery store, The Fresh 

Market. Focusing on high-quality produce, 

specialty products, and an ample 

organic selection, The Fresh Market is 

the perfect place to get all your grocery 

shopping done, and with some tips, you 

might even save a little money. 

Money Saving Tips 

Take advantage of $3.99 Tuesdays 

— On Tuesdays boneless, skinless 

chicken breast and ground chuck 

are both $3.99 a pound. Both versatile 

proteins are perfect for freezing 

to cook later. If you’re nervous about 

handling raw chicken, the meat counter 

will cut and package your selections 

however you like. 

$ We also highly recommend trying 

their pre-made choices like their chicken 

roll ups, which are an easy and delicious 

option for a busy college student. 

Make nice with the bakery. Ever 

make just a couple burgers then have 

six extra buns leftover that end up getting 

tossed? The Fresh Market bakery 

handles this wasteful dilemma by 

selling buns and other bread in small 

batches. 

$ Go online or pick up an in-store 

print of the weekly specials. They offer 

ideas of what you can make for the 

week and what will also be on sale. 

$ Get the gang together for a 

Thursday Little Big Meal. For $20 

you select one of two types of meat, 

then add a produce, dairy, rice or pasta, 

and a bakery selection. By splitting 

the $20 among the group, dinner is a 

great deal. 

$ Fresh Market is all about sampling. 

So if you are not sure if splurging 

on the organic, gluten-free, sugar-free, 

antioxidant-rich fungi cookies 

is worth it, just ask an employee to try 

them! They will be happy to open up a 

bag for you with no charge. Or if you’re 

in the salad line and not sure which olives 

you like, just try one. They would 

much rather you not go home disappointed. 


Must-Tries 

›› The fresh nut butters, by the 

produce, have a station where customers 

can freshly grind their own peanut 

butter, almond butter or honey roasted 

peanut butter. With no added preservatives, 

it makes a great option for 

your nut-butter needs. 

›› The smoothie, juice, gelato and 

specialty coffee bar. All of their juices 

are freshly made in store with the 

same produce that’s on display for 

shoppers and with no added sugar. 

They have all kinds of juices such as 

apple, carrot, orange, beet and ginger. 

You can even get the wheat grass shots 

added. The most popular juice is the 

apple, kale and ginger. Or if you would 

rather someone else make a smoothie 

for you, go for their most popular: the 

green smoothie, which has a healthy 

amount of kale. And don’t forget to 

grab a scoop of gelato or latte for a 

sweet treat as you peruse. 

›› Have you tried their chocolate 

chunk cookies? Go right now. No joke. 

›› The pre-made meals and caprese 

pizza. All of the salads, sandwiches, 

sushi and pizza are made fresh 

daily. Take a break from campus by 

grabbing lunch to go or stay for your 

lunch break. 

›› Make your own chocolate bars. 

Fresh Market has sugar free chocolate 

ideal for sweet tooths. Melt the chocolate 

and create your own chocolate covered 

delights or cool completely after 

melting to make perfect bites. 


HEALTH & FOOD 

Cold Weather 

MEALS 


When cool 

weather moves 

in, we flock to 

sweatpants and all 

things warmingly 

decadent — 

the latter often 

reinforcing the 

former. We’ve got 

a week’s worth 

of affordable, 

wholesome meals 

that are just as 

delicious as they 

are easy to make. 

The plus? Many 

of the grocery 

list items are 

interchangeable, 

and meals are 

next-day friendly. 

Fiesta Night is Chicken 

Tortilla Soup Night 

Ingredients 

1 ½ lbs of chicken 

4-5 cups of chicken broth 

1 can (10 oz) of diced tomatoes 

1 small onion 

4 cloves of garlic 

2 ½ tsp of chili powder 

1 can (14 oz) of corn 

1 can (14 oz) of black beans 

¼ cup of cilantro 

1 tsp each of salt & pepper 

1 bag of white corn tortillas 

1 cup of shredded mexican mix cheese 

Directions 

Pour chicken broth and diced tomatoes 

into a crock pot, add onion, garlic, 

chili powder, corn, drained beans and 

rinsed, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Cut 

chicken breast in 4 pieces and add to 

pot. Let cook on low for 6 hours, or until 

chicken is cooked through. Chicken 

should start to fall apart; let it shred or 

use a fork to shred. Serve warm with 

your choice of tortilla strips, chips, 

cheese or all three. 

To give the soup an extra kick, add 

a 4 oz can of green chiles. 

Mama Mia, Let’s 

Have Some Baked Ziti 

Ingredients 

1 lb of ground beef 

1 cup of onions 

1 tsp of garlic powder 

2 cloves of garlic 

1 tsp of oregano, dried leaves 


1 cup of chicken broth 

1 lb of Ziti pasta, cooked and drained 

1 jar (24 oz) of meatless sauce 

1 tbsp of olive oil 

2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 

1 cup of grated parmesan cheese 

Portobello mushrooms (optional) 

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350. In a large 

skillet, heat oil and cook onions for 8 

minutes, then add garlic and cook for 

1 minute. Add the meat and cook till 

there is no more pink. Drain the meat, 

and add sauce, chicken broth, onion 

powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt 

and pepper. Heat the sauce through. 

Place half of the cooked ziti in an oven-safe 

13x9 baking dish. Then pour 

1 to 1 ½ cups of sauce over the ziti. 

Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese 

and Parmesan cheese over the pasta 

and sauce. Repeat the next layer with 

remaining ingredients, topping it with 

the remainder of cheese. Cover with 

aluminum foil and place in the oven to 

bake for 20 minutes. Cook till golden 

brown and cheese is melted. 

If you like mushrooms, add 

sliced portobello mushrooms to the 

sauces just after adding them in 

the skillet. 


Chickening Out? 

Try Baked Chicken 

Ingredients 

2 or 4 chicken breasts 


1 tsp oregano 

1 tsp of parsley 

½ tsp of onion powder 

½ tsp of thyme 

½ tsp of garlic powder 


1 lemon 

Directions 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and 

pound chicken breast lightly. Pour olive 

oil in a 13x9 baking dish and lightly 

coat the chicken breasts. In a small 

bowl, whisk together oregano, parsley, 

onion powder, thyme, salt and pepper. 

Spread mixture on chicken breasts 

and bake in the oven for 15-20 mins 

(until thermometer reads 160-170 degrees). 

Cover with foil and let sit for 5 

minutes before slicing. 

For a touch of citrus flavor, cut a 

lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice 

on the chicken just before serving. 

Chill, It’s Just Chili 

Ingredients 

1 lb of ground beef 


1 can (14 oz) of black beans 

1 can (14 oz) of kidney beans 

1 can (14 oz) of pinto beans 

1 can (14 oz) of chili beans 

1 can (14 oz) of diced tomatoes 

1 tsp of oregano 

1 onion, chopped 

1 green bell pepper 


1 tsp of minced garlic 

1 can (14 oz) of corn 

Shredded cheese (optional) 

Sour cream (optional) 

Directions 

In a large skillet, cook the ground 

beef on medium, medium-high until no 

longer pink. Drain the meat, and put 

meat in oiled crock pot. Add remaining 

ingredients and let cook for 6 hours. 

Serve warm and add toppings like 

cheese and sour cream. 


Let’s Have a Toast 

for Pot Roast 

Ingredients 

2 lbs of chuck roast 

1 small bag of baby carrots 

1 tsp of garlic powder 

2 tsp of onion powder 

6-8 chopped potatoes (any variety) 

1 ½ cup of chicken or beef Broth 


Directions 

Add all ingredients to a crockpot 

and allow to cook for 7 hours, 

or until potatoes and meat are 

fully cooked. 


Features 

Golden Hour 

Holiday Makeup 

Show Me the Money 

Clean and Green 

Swipe Right 

38 

44 

48 

54 

57 

Blue top: Peirson Rogers, student designer 


GOL 

DEN 

HOUR 

Photos by: Emily Heath, Ramsey Griffin 

Styled by: Samantha Cupero, 

Deven Feldstein 

Makeup by: Aramis Harmon 

Models: Brianna Milner, 

Berta Amelinaite, Hannah Jones 

With the sun setting and evening cooling off, 

the thrill of possibility is endless — anything can 

happen. In Alabama and across the American 

South, November is that golden hour — at least 

for fashion anyway. It’s the perfect time to mix 

and match; summer and winter harmonize, 

and your wardrobe should follow. To layer 

your look with the best of both seasons, pair 

tank tops and earthy jewelry with all the best 

textures and tones of fall — fringe, leather, 

and suede, rich burgundy, olive, charcoal. Who 

says you can’t have both? Work hard, play hard. 

After all, we’re in college - it’s time to embrace 

the golden hour. 


Romper: Ellie Crimson, $54 

Necklace: Ellie Crimson, $16 

Vest: Az Well, $50 


Bangles on far right: Francesca’s; $24 

Hat: Az Well; $30 

Fringe top: Az Well, $40 


Outfit: Ellie Crimson 

(Jewelry $16; Dress $35; Vest $38) 

Outfit: Az Well 

(Vest $45; Skirt $27) 


Jacket: Francesca's, $58 

Necklace: Francesca's, $18 

Dress: Az Well 



HOT LOOKS, CO 

Coming home for the holiday break 

doesn’t mean a hold on your social 

life. Between holiday parties, family 

gatherings, and New Years soirees, 

you’re not slowing down anytime soon. 

Impress friends and family with these 

two sure-fire looks to celebrate the 

holiday season. 

Night Out with Friends 

After a long week of holiday socializing, 

turn to the Maybelline Instant 

Age Rewind Concealer for a freshfaced 

look after applying moisturizer. 

Use the Urban Decay Naked Flushed 

Palette to bring out your cheekbones, 

and the blush to pull it all together. 

Use gold and black tones to draw 

your eyes in with the Urban Decay 

Cosmetics Naked 2 Palette. 

Finish off your look with a generous 

coat of Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes 

4-in-1 Mascara. 

For a pop of color that’s sure to stun 

your friends use Mac’s Flat Out Fabulous 

lipstick. 

For an extra chic look flat iron your 

hair for silkiness and shine. 

Models: Tanner Fant, Kryssalyn Bayne 


LD WEATHER 

New Years Eve Look 

Start this look with a high coverage 

foundation and use the Anastasia 

Beverly Hills Contour Kit to set your 

under eyes and contour your face. Use 

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette 

to highlight your cheekbones and apply 

blush on the apples of your cheeks. 

It’s crucial to prime your eyes before 

applying this defined look. For this, we 

recommend Urban Decay Cosmetics 

Eye Shadow Primer Potion, then use 

the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked 

Smoky Palette and the Urban Decay 

Cosmetics Naked 2 Palette to create a 

dramatic smokey eye with gold tones. 

Top it off with dark, winged eyeliner 

with the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof 

Liquid Eye Liner and several coats of 

Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes 4- 

in-1 Mascara. 

Give your lips a nice pop of color 

with Mac Red. Finish off the look 

with a couple of spritz of Urban Decay 

All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup 

Setting Spray. 

To pull the look all together, use a 

2-inch curling iron to give yourself big 

loose curls. 


By Becca Murdoch & Laura Testino 

Georgia Floyd wants to 

work to live, not live to 

work. The family and 

goal-oriented University 

of Alabama senior is 

currently studying chemical engineering 

and has started on her MBA. To 

her, the field is appealing because of its 

stability and salary — one that may be 

high, but statistically, not equal for all 

employees. 

Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics does not have wage gap 

statistics for chemical engineers in 

particular, it does report that women 

working full time are earning about 

81.5 percent of the wages of their male 

counterpart for architecture and engineering 

occupations. 

Over a 40-year career, Floyd would 

make 18.5 percent less than her male 

counterpart; to make the same amount 

of money as a male in those 40 years, 

she would have to work an extra 

nine years. 

And Floyd does not want to to live 

to work. 

“I don’t think that I’m the type of 

person who’s just like, ‘Work, work, 

work, work, work,’ for the rest of my 

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

life,” Floyd said. “You know, not giving 

time for anything else.” 

According to the 2013 study by the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, women 

working full time in the 20-24 year old 

age range earned 89.8 percent of men’s 

salaries. This wage gap, though recently 

shrinking, still poses concerns 

to women who are graduating college 

with the same degrees as men, yet not 

reaping the same benefits. 

This gap widens as women age and 

continue careers in their respective 

fields. When women working full time 

enter the 35-44 year old age range, 

they earn roughly 80 percent to every 

dollar their male counterparts earn. 

With each passing decade, their earning 

potential diminishes. 

Preparation for College Women 

Travis Railsback, executive director 

of the University of Alabama’s Career 

Center, serves students by helping 

them to explore, prepare and connect 

for future careers. When advising students, 

especially women, Railsback 



gives attention to the lack of equity for 

women in the workplace. 

“We do talk about the mid-career 

gap when we’re talking with women in 

these classes,” he says. “We’re talking 

about the reality of what this wage gap 

is and put them in the best position in 

order to make them aware of [the wage 

gap] and how it could come into play, 

but also make sure we’ve given them 

the tools that they’re able to effectively 

speak for themselves when they’re going 

into that salary negotiation.” 

Railsback and fellow staff at the 

UA Career Center noticed the demand 

for women-focused career preparation 

and responded with a program known 

as Start Smart, an initiative aimed at 

educating women on expected salaries 

and responsibilities, and preparing 

them to enter the job market. 

“We’ve partnered for years with the 

Women and Gender Resource Center, 

and we actually do offer workshops 

that target women,” Railsback says. 

“We specifically talk on the front end 

about the wage gap as it is out there, 

and we talk about strategies that women 

can employ.” 

As the program coordinator for the 

WGRC, Paige Miller helps coordinate 

the Start Smart program. The American 

Association of University Women 

— a nonprofit of more than 130 years 

— created the program and provides 

its audiences with strategies backed 

by statistics, including how the gender 

wage gap changes over time. 

“There would be a smaller [wage] 

discrepancy when you first start out, 

but what happens is that it grows over 

time, depending on what kind of job 

you have — your trajectory level,” 

Miller says. 

A discrepancy of what may be 

$2,000 at an entry-level job eventually 

expands when that salary becomes 

the base for percentage-based raises 

or bonuses. This can potentially affect 

candidacy for a promotion within the 

company. 

“So if you start out with less, you’re 

going to end up with a bigger gap as 

you go along,” Miller says. 

The Balancing Act 

Many women, like Floyd, hope to 

balance a family life and a career. The 

Bureau of Labor Statistics’ findings 

on women’s earnings reveal a sharp 

disparity between the earnings of married 

versus unmarried women. Women 

who never marry earn 95.2 percent of 

what men earn, while women who marry 

and have a spouse present earn 78 

percent of a male’s earnings. 

While these statistics do not prove 

that marriage is the only factor for an 

increased wage gap, they reveal that 

having a family in addition to a career 

inversely correlate with women’s salaries. 

A lower salary could stem from a 

smaller offer for the same responsibilities 

as their male counterpart or from 

a lack of promotion offers. 

As part of Start Smart, women are 

encouraged to take note of this statistic 

and remember that employers cannot 

legally gather information about 

an employee’s family life in order to 

make hiring decisions. 

“I would encourage people, if they 

felt like that was the case — that 

they’ve been passed over... and you 

have evidence where you suspect that 

it’s because you have a family or the 

perception of your reliability based on 

that — certainly it would be within 

that person’s right to report that discrimination,” 

Miller says. 

With the increased awareness of a 

gender wage gap, companies have shifted 

their focus to create family-friendly 

work environments in contrast to the 

traditional work-centric atmosphere. 

But changes in the workplace can 

only move so far without reflecting 

cultural repercussions. 

Tradition speaks to women tending 

family needs more often than men. 

Lisa Dorr, an associate professor and 

associate dean of the UA College of 

Arts and Sciences, says this can put 

women who value both their family and 

career in a tough position. To Dorr, the 

larger battle is the emphasis Americans 

place on succeeding in the professional 

realm. She said Americans see 

working extra hours as noble and admirable, 

something which is difficult 

to do for women trying to care for their

families and bolster a thriving career. 

“We talk about being family friendly 

and caring about families but we 

really don’t care about families,” she 

says. “If you want to succeed in a public 

world, I think many women feel like 

you essentially have to be a man.” 

Dorr says she has been fortunate 

to have bosses who respect the multiple 

roles of each employee, an attitude 

she thinks is valuable in the workplace. 

She advises women to speak up, and 

not hesitate in making demands, both 

in salary, scheduling and negotiations. 

For example, simple requests like 

agreeing to ignore emails on Saturday 

mornings, are relevant and necessary. 

“So when you walk into your first 

interview, and someone offers you 

a job, no matter what they say in 

terms of salary, wait 10 seconds and 

ask for more,” Dorr says. “Because 

they expect it of men and will respect 

you for it.” 

Understanding Equal Pay for 

Equal Responsibility 

Whether a woman has a family life 

or not, negotiating in an interview 

provides the benefit of demanding 

an equal pay for equal responsibility, 

which can make a large difference over 

the lifetime of a career. 

“As long as women aren’t making 

as much as men, for the same jobs, the 

same responsibilities, it means that 

it’s much harder for women to be independent,” 

says Utz McKnight, chair of 

UA’s Department of Gender and Race 

Studies and political science professor. 


Equal responsibility requires looking 

beyond a job title. It means recognizing 

specific tasks associated with a 

job that then may differ between employees 

depending on gender. Women 

should not be expected to work twice 

as hard for the same pay as men, McKnight 

says. 

Finding wage equality for equal responsibility 

requires companies to go 

beyond hiring women just to satisfy 

the law and equal representation politics. 

This can be difficult to do, McKnight 

says, because many Americans 

believe equal representation is already 

established fully in the law. He says it 

will be difficult to make more progress 

without a social movement on behalf 

of women. 

“I think that’s the way to approach 

wage gap, is to say, ‘In America, in a 

democracy, if you can get away with 

paying somebody less because they’re 

a woman or black, should you?’” McKnight 

says. “And the answer should be, 

‘No.’ Not, ‘oops.’” 

McKnight says the information on 

women’s pay collected from the current 

generation of college students might 

raise awareness, but more should 

be done. 

“And there are barriers to collecting 

the information, and we need to push 

past them,” McKnight says. “There 

are the politics of that, and then also 

we need to re-envision the way we 

think of gender in the workplace.” 

While women in the current generation 

do not have to fight gender discrimination 

to enroll in higher level 

education — they currently account 

for more than half of the UA student 

population — there are still considerable 

challenges to be faced in the 

realm of equality. Only time will reveal 

if women today will experience 

the same phenomenon of those before 

them: an increasing wage gap over 

time. Working women in their 30s are 

still feeling the legacy effects of gender 

discrimination from past generations, 

and those in their 40s are deep in 

those repercussions. 

Moving Forward 

Despite their historical underrepresentation 

in certain fields, Railsback 

says women are now being 

sought out by more and more companies 

— and not just as a part of a 

diversity initiative. 


“It won’t surprise you to know, 

traditionally, women have had higher 

graduation rates [than men], women 

have had higher GPAs,” he says. 

“Clearly that’s a huge percentage, and 

a large percentage of companies would 

be foolish to ignore that talent pool.” 

Floyd chose to apply for a co-op 

position, and was selected to work at 

Eastman Chemical Company for three 

semesters. When Floyd began applying 

for co-ops, she said UA advisers 

pointed her toward Eastman because 

the company is known to be respectful 

of women in the workplace. 

“[Eastman] made it very hard [to 

know what kind of company I’d like 

to be at], because I know that there’s 

probably not going to be many companies 

like them, and I think they kind 

of spoiled me,” Floyd says. “I definitely 

think that I thrive in that type of 

environment, so now I know what to 

look for.” 

While some companies boast a family-friendly 

work environment, others 

expect a career-centric lifestyle, at 

least for the first few years of employment. 

Either way, Railsback says companies 

are usually upfront about their 

expectations when hiring. 

In addition, women appear to be 

utilizing career preparation resources 

more than men at the University of Alabama, 

Railsback says. Out-attending 

men at almost every career fair and 

event, except for the Technical Career 

Fair, women seem to be more keen on 

taking advantage of opportunities afforded 

by the University. With a power 

system in place that has historically 

favored men in the job market, women 

see that they have to work even harder 

to prepare for future careers. 

“I can say that other students might 

be too confident and not think that 

they need to take advantage of those 

[resources], and that doesn’t necessarily 

happen along gender lines,” 

Railsback says. “But other students, 

women included, may realize, ‘Hey, I 

should put in the work here and really 

do everything I need to do [to start 

my career].’” 

$40.0/1.00 = 40 years 

$40.0/.815 = 49 years 



Vegan 

Smart & Safe 

By Lauren Lane 

According to the Vegetarian Resource 

Group, the number of Americans 

who eat a vegan diet has doubled 

in the past five years—and for good 

reason. A diet that removes animal 

products, like meat, eggs and dairy, 

has been proven to provide both immediate 

and long-lasting benefits. Even 

iconic celebrities like Beyonce, Ellen 

Degeneres, Carrie Underwood, Ellie 

Goulding and Ariana Grande swear by 

the lifestyle; so why not give it a try? 

While going vegan in college can 

seem overwhelming, expensive and 

even dangerous, the lifestyle is actually 

very adoptable. Check out our tips 

for how to live a safe and satisfying 

vegan lifestyle, and you’ll be on well on 

your way to having more energy, glowing 

skin and a leaner body. 

1. Get to the grocery store 

How you look is a reflection of what 

you’ve been putting in your body, so if 

you want to glow from the inside out, 

it’s time to start eating more fresh and 

nutrient-dense foods. Energy-dense 

foods such as hamburgers and ice 

cream will fill you up with loads of 

calories and saturated fat, but nutrient-dense 

foods such as spinach and 

whole grains will fill you up with the 

vitamins you need to fight off sickness 

and lose unwanted fat. Fill up your 

grocery basket with both fresh and 

frozen fruits and vegetables, beans, 

whole-grain bread, rice, pasta, hummus, 

oatmeal, and nut butters. 

2. Don’t be afraid to experiment 

Explore your local grocery store or 

farmer’s market for healthy meat and 

dairy substitutes you may not have considered 

before. Coconut-based yogurt, 

black bean burgers, cashew milk ice 

cream and tofu are all delicious examples 

of vegan options that can replace 

some of your favorite non-vegan foods. 

Just be mindful that vegan ice cream 

is still a dessert. If you’re still intimidated, 

Pinterest can help you out with 

hundreds of pins on how to seamlessly 

incorporate these foods into your diet. 


3. Start with supplements 

The eventual goal of a vegan diet 

is eliminating the need for a multivitamin, 

except for B12, which can be 

taken weekly. But when you’re just 

starting out, find a multivitamin that 

covers all bases, especially Iron, Vitamin 

C, Calcium and Vitamin B. You 

may want to make a food journal for 

the first few weeks, checking each day 

to see if you are getting enough macro 

and micronutrients. 

4. Clean your plate 

Founder of the successful McDougall 

Diet program, Dr. John McDougall, 

suggests listening to your hunger 

and satiety cues throughout the day to 

determine when to eat. Whether that 

means eating five times a day or three 

square meals, vegans are encouraged 

to eat as much as they want, as long as 

they are abiding by a plant-based diet. 

This means eating mostly whole grains 

and starches, fruits, vegetables, beans, 

and nuts and seeds. 

5. Be exotic 

Stray away from strictly American 

and fast food restaurants that may 

have a hard time accommodating your 

vegan diet and instead opt for cuisine 

from around the world. Chinese, 

Italian, Indian and Japanese restaurants 

all offer plenty of menu items 

or options suitable for a plant-based 

diet. Even pizza joints, such as Mellow 

Mushroom and Domino’s, offer 

vegan and cheese-free pizzas loaded 

with veggies. 


LIFESTYLE 

By Becca Murdoch 

Model: Donna Pate 

Nope. 

No thank you. 

Not a chance in hell. 

These were just a few — and some 

of my milder thoughts — on using 

millennial dating app/hook-up platform, 

Tinder. We’ve all heard horror 

stories about online dating, most of 

them the warnings of our tech-wary 

mothers, and we’ve all made our fair 

share of snarky comments about apps 

like Tinder. 

I am not excluding myself from the 

mix. I too resisted Tinder from the getgo, 

but out of curiosity found myself 

downloading the app and consequently 

spending hours swiping away through 

hundreds of Tuscaloosa’s most eligible 

bachelors. Despite matching with 

quite a few guys, I refused to pull the 

trigger and let anything happen. 

Call it what you will — my mother’s 

warnings subconsciously warding 

me off, fear of being kidnapped 


Taken style, or sheer apathy on my 

part toward any of these suitors. For 

some reason, Tinder just wasn’t going 

to happen for me. 

That was true until I was assigned 

this story and bit the metaphorical 

bullet for the sake of journalistic integrity. 

Sorry, mom, your daughter is 

going on a Tinder date. 

The Reflection 

A year ago, the idea of a pseudo-date 

with a complete and total stranger was 

completely out of the realm of possibility. 

I thought there were only a few 

options for how that encounter would 

transpire: a) I am immediately kidnapped 

and murdered, proving every 

parent’s paranoid neuroses to be true, 

b) I am paralyzed with anxiety and 

have absolutely nothing interesting 

to say at all, or c) they are the most 

boring person to ever grace the planet, 

and I will have to listen to them tell me 


about their super-rad intramural team 

and how much they dominate on the 

field/court/whatever. 

Present-day Becca has found life 

to be so weird, wonderful and terrible 

that these fears do not affect her much. 

The worst thing that could happen is I 

lose half an hour of my day to no benefit. 

I mean, murder is of course always 

the worst-case scenario, but the probability 

of that happening is so slim, I’m 

not going to lose any sleep over it. 

The Prep 

First comes the profile, then comes 

marriage, then comes an embarrassing 

story to tell your future grandchildren. 

Thankfully, Tinder is linked to 

Facebook, which removes the hurdle of 

coming up with the perfect username 

to encompass the entirety of your totally 

desirable personality. 

Now for the pictures; it’s time to 

cultivate the most alluring version of 

yourself without borderline catfishing 

the person on the receiving end. 

For people like me who rarely upload 

any photos, this is where Tinder 

gets tricky. 

Do you use the picture from two 

years ago where you look like you almost 

have abs? What about that picture 

of you and your dog? Does that 

make you look like a sensitive animal 

lover? Does that even matter? 

Maybe it’s safer to go with a few 

recent tagged pictures, the ones that 

show that you have friends and like 

to have a good time, but are also very 

down-to-earth and low maintenance. 

With pictures carefully, but not too 

carefully selected, we’re on to the bio. 

How do you show that you’re witty 

and cool without seeming like you’re 

trying too hard to appear witty and 

cool? In my case, a Drake lyric is the 

obvious choice. 

Now that my profile is set, I’m feeling 

pretty confident. I change the dis-

covery settings to a more limited and 

far less creepy age range than 18-50 

years old and adjust the location settings 

to show only people within a 15- 

mile radius. I am not taking a road 

trip for a Tinder date. 

The Swipes 

The hunt is on. I start swiping right 

for the cuties with potential and left 

for the hard passes – there is a significantly 

higher rate of left swipes. 

The Tuscaloosa Tinder population is 

slightly disappointing and led me to 

developing a list of red flags that issued 

immediate left swipes. 

Becca’s List of For Sure No-Go's 

• Group Pictures – Which one are 

you? There is no way anyone would 

hide themselves in a picture with 50 

other dudes if they have a reasonably 

human-looking face. I am not going to 

play I Spy in your pledge class photo. 

There is no way not to be disappointed 

in this situation. 

• Sunglasses – Or really any other 

instance of intentional face concealment. 

I don’t know if you just don’t 

have any good face pics or if you’re trying 

to hide a Sloth-from-the-Gooniesesque 

disfiguration, but either way, 

I’m wary. 

• Blatant Display of Alcoholism – 

Why do you have to be double-fisting 

two Natty Lights in your very first 

picture? I get it, you are clearly killing 

it at college, but this is just tasteless, 

and not just because it’s Natty Light. 

By the way, ew. 

• Confederate Flags – Does this really 

need an explanation? Please don’t 

be this person or ever swipe right for 

this person. 

As for the bios, I found most to be 

fairly bland and vague. Hoping to find 

one potential soulmate that also used 

a Drake lyric to sum themselves up, I 

was unfortunately disappointed. 

The Chat 

After swiping for what felt like an 

infinity of basic boys, I accumulated 

a handful of possible date mates. In a 

bit of a time crunch due to the article’s 

deadline, I sent the first shout into the 

romantic void, a shining example of a 

modern, independent feminist woman’s 

power in the dating world. My 

first message, you ask? 

Hi 

And so the small talk begins. Where 

are you from? What are you studying? 

Insert light-hearted attempts at banter 

here. 

With such a short window of time to 

charm my matches, it was up to me to 

suggest a meet-up with one of the more 

promising (and clearly interested) candidates. 

The ball was in my court and I 

decided to play it safe, and what’s safer 

than Sunday lunch at Chipotle? 

The Date 

I arrived at Chipotle precisely at 

our agreed meeting time, and then 

proceeded to wait 10 minutes for my 

match to make an appearance. Okay, 

so he didn’t look exactly like his profile 

picture and could have done without 

the faded Bama baseball cap, but 

I didn’t feel completely hoodwinked by 

his profile. 

Our next half hour was spent 

playing the traditional dating get-toknow-you 

game. We talked about our 

hometowns and majors, devoting a 

surprising amount of time to discussing 

autumnal weather and wardrobe. 

He talked more; I was fine listening 

and eating my burrito bowl. Conversation 

flowed with some bumps that were 

few and far between. 

It was a fine way to spend my Sunday 

afternoon. I didn’t feel a world-shaking 

spark or irresistible chemistry but 

also didn’t find myself sold into the 

sex-slave trade the next morning, so I 

would chalk this date up to a win. 

Tinder might not be my preferred 

way to find love, but I can’t deny that 

it removes some of the coy complications 

of dating. People on Tinder are 

typically clear with their intentions, 

virtuous or otherwise. Or at least they 

are when they’re not using the app as 

a façade for an attempt at investigative 

journalism. 

To all you Tinder enthusiasts out 

there, keep on swiping. 


LIFESTYLE 

Bourbon Street 

By Katie Huff 

Away game weekends transform a normally bustling 

Tuscaloosa into a ghost town, and if it’s not time for a trip 

home or to couch surf at your friends’ schools, you’re bound 

for a Netflix and Crimson To Go weekend. But why settle 

for the routine when you’re only a five-hour drive to the 

Bayou paradise of New Orleans, Louisiana? We took the 

liberty to break down your Big Easy itinerary for you, so 

there’s no excuse not to hit the road. 

Photos submitted by Ellen Johnson 


Day 1 

9 a.m. If you go to New Orleans 

and don’t make the pilgrimage to 

Café du Monde, did you really go? 

At first glance the line may deter 

your intentions, but trust 

us, it moves quick thanks to a 

well-versed wait staff. Order a 

heaping mound of powdered sugar-covered 

beignets to dunk in 

a signature cafe au lait — or a 

hot chocolate for non-coffee lovers. 

Think of it as New Orleans’ 

power breakfast. 

10 a.m. After you clean the 

powdered sugar off your face, 

walk across the street to Jackson 

Square, a park in the heart 

of the French Quarter with the 

stunning St. Louis Cathedral 

framing the backdrop. Peruse 

the various street artists and 

performers surrounding Jackson 

Square for just a taste of 

the art and culture rampant in 

New Orleans. 

12 p.m. Time to refuel after 

your French Quarter excursions, 

and our pick is none other 

than a New Orleans’ classic: 

the po’boy. While almost every 

menu boasts its own version of 

these bad boys, Johnny’s is the 

best. It’s a hole-in-the-wall, but 

once you catch a whiff of the 

Beignets at Cafe du Monde 

Jackson Square, with St. Louis Cathedral in background 


delicious eats inside, you’ll understand 

the hype. Shrimp, crawfish 

and roast beef po’boys are 

highly recommended. 

1 p.m. Next, venture to Magazine 

Street for shopping and 

enjoy winding in and out of the 

unique boutiques and art galleries. 

Track down thrift stores for 

one-of-a-kind items, and head to 

Peaches Records for everything 

from the Clueless soundtrack 

to Outkast. 

3 p.m. Take a streetcar from 

the French Quarter to the Garden 

District. Not only will you 

give your tired feet a rest, but 

venturing into the Garden District 

is a great way to see more 

of the city and get the true New 

Orleans experience. 

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shops on Frenchmen Street 

7 p.m. Ready for some authentic 

Cajun delicacies? Head to the 

Gumbo Shop and try the namesake 

— either chicken or seafood 

gumbo. 

9 p.m. After eating dinner, it’s 

finally time to explore Bourbon 

Street. Most bars are open 24/7, 

but the festivities don’t begin until 

later in the night. Don’t forget 

to get your fill of daiquiris and 

hand grenades — it wouldn’t be 

the New Orleans nightlife without 

them. 


House of Blues 

Local tip: College-aged crowds can be found at Bourbon 

Heat, Beach on Bourbon, Cats Meow, Snake & Jake’s 

Christmas Club and Bourbon Cowboy.

Day 2 

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. After a late 

night, you should sleep in because 

as Tom Haverford says, 

“Treat yo self.” When you’re 

ready to take on another day in 

the “Big Easy,” head to District 

Donuts to start the day off right. 

12 p.m. Make your way over to 

Frenchmen Street for music and 

shopping. Frenchmen Street is 

known for having local musicians 

singing in the streets and 

inside restaurants and bars. 

1 p.m. As you wander further 

down Frenchmen Street, you will 

eventually run into the French 

Market. Here you will find many 

local vendors selling a variety of 

goods and food. Eat lunch at one 

of the delicious pop-up restaurants 

that line the market. Also, 

make sure to try the world-famous 

pralines; the free samples 

will be coming at you from 

all directions. 

2 p.m. Make sure you stop in 

Jazz Funeral. The store houses 

large horse carriages full of 

beads used in the Mardi Gras 

parade. Also, check out Rocket 

Fizz, a candy shop with enough 

sugar and soda to make your 

head spin. 

Chartres Street 

Jazz Funeral on Frenchmen Street. The Carriage is used to throw 

beads during the Mardi Gras parade. 


3 p.m. If you’re interested in 

New Orleans's history, head to 

one of the many cemeteries that 

surround the city. The cemeteries 

have above-ground tombs 

due to the city’s below-sea level 

stature. Some of the graves associated 

with Voodoo may have 

rituals performed on them, and 

gifts will be left at the graves. 

Fun Fact: Our boy, Nic Cage, 

has already purchased his tomb 

at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the 

oldest cemetery in New Orleans. 

5 p.m. For your last meal in 

NOLA, head to Drago’s Seafood 

Restaurant for an unforgettable 

dining experience. Drago’s 

is known to have some of the 

best oysters, and their parmesan 

cheesy goodness definitely does 

not disappoint. 

St. Louis Cathedral 

7 p.m. Take one last stroll down 

Bourbon Street, and promise 

that you’ll be back soon. 

Chartres Street, St. Louis Cathedral in the background 


St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square 


LIFESTYLE 


Organize 

Like a Pro 

with a Ban.do planner 

By Imani Manley 

Convenience Tabs 

Since this is a seventeen-month 

planner, there’s lot to flip through. 

Tabs navigate between each section 

while staying tucked in the planner’s 

cover to prevent tearing or bending. 

Relatable Sayings: 

These pick-me-ups are a final detail 

that Ban.do includes throughout the 

planner. With funny, inspirational sayings 

like “You are the stars. You are 

the galaxy,” they’re just what the doctor 

ordered to take your mind of the 

stress of a hectic school day. 

The Notes Section 

This is a convenient, multi-purpose 

section tracking everything from grocery 

lists to last minute reminders. 

Whip it out mid-meeting should you be 

stranded without a separate notepad. 

Day-to-Day Entries 

Ban.do prides itself on providing 

ample white space for each of the daily 

entries. The layout gets major bonus 

points for preventing cramped and 

hard-to-read handwriting we’ve all become 

accustomed to in daily planners! 

Monthly Introduction Pages 

Each month in the planner has 

a creative and colorful theme; the 

expressive pictures make it easy to 

identify which month you are using or 

are trying to find. 


LIFESTYLE 

First Date Tips & Tricks 

By Jill Holloway 

In the words of everyone’s favorite 

relationship icon, Carrie Bradshaw, 

“One reason people still risk the 

possible horror of a first date is the 

possible magic of the first kiss.” But 

before you get to Point B, you have to 

navigate Point A: the first date, which 

we all know can be awkward and confusing. 

Here are some tips to make 

sure your next one is truly memorable, 

in a good way. 

First and foremost, be yourself 

It’s often intimidating, especially on 

a first date, to just be yourself. We’re 

constantly worried he might be looking 

for something else, or maybe we think 

we can’t compare to his exes. Instead 

of worrying about the “what ifs,” use 

your charm, wit and humor to create 

an easy-going environment. Whatever 

you do, don’t clam up. If you usually 

break the ice by telling a joke, then do 

that with him too. Plus, he’s probably 

equally as nervous, so there’s nothing 

to be afraid of. 

Dress appropriately 

for the occasion 

No matter what you’re doing, you 

want to dress to impress. The key, 


though, is to not overdress. For dinner, 

a tunic top with jeans and booties 

would be appropriate, or a sweater 

dress with a fur vest is always a safe, 

sweet choice depending on the weather 

and type of restaurant. However, 

if your date wants to do something 

more active like bowling or hiking, 

wear a pair of leggings with an oversized 

sweater; accessorize with a scarf 

for a look that will be both cute and 

functional for the activity. 

Let’s talk table manners 

Do not text or use your phone at the 

table. I know your girlfriends are dying 

to know the details, but that’s for after 

the final “good night.” Your date deserves 

your full attention. If your date 

is paying for your dinner, that does not 

mean you have to order a salad or the 

smallest item on the menu. It’s okay to 

order the burger or the fish, but on the 

same note, keep it within reason. The 

same goes for drinks. If your date is 

ordering a beer and encourages you 

to get something too, then you should 

by all means order that glass of Pinot! 

However, if he is sticking with water or 

tea, do not jump straight to the wine 

list. You need to play it casual as well. 

Keep the conversation basic 

The first date is not the time to find 

out his deepest secrets or how many 

kids he wants in the future. Keep the 

conversation light and keep it fun. 

This isn’t to say that you can only talk 

about new movie releases or what parties 

are coming up; the best dates are 

ones where you connect on a deeper 

level to the person you’re with. We’ve 

all heard people say not to talk about 

religion or politics, but if those topics 

naturally arise, and you can discuss 

them in a respectful manner, then by 

all means do! He’ll respect you more 

for keeping the conversation flowing 

about something that doesn’t just relate 

to college life. 

Be confident 

With these new tips in mind, go 

out and be your best self on your first 

date this weekend. Don’t second guess 

yourself and don’t make excuses. First 

dates are only fun when you relax and 

believe that they will be.

ENTERTAINMENT 

Upcoming 

Movies j 

The Hunger Games: 

Mockingjay — Part 2 (November 20) 

The fourth and final installment of the Hunger Games series picks 

up right where we left off: Panem is now in a full-blown revolution, the 

Capitol is desperately trying to regain control, and Peeta still wants 

Katniss dead. It seems our favorite heroine can’t catch a break. Fans of 

the books and movies alike have eagerly awaited the arrival of this final 

film. Don’t forget to bring the tissues. 

The Danish Girl (November 27) 

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne proves himself once again in The 

Danish Girl, a film documenting one of the first known gender reassignment 

surgeries. The film, based on a book of the same name by 

David Ebershoff, is set in 1920s Copenhagen with Redmayne in the 

starring role as Lili Elbe, alongside Alicia Vikander and Matthias 

Schoenarts. Elbe’s wife, Gerda Wegener (Vikander), initially supports 

her decision to undergo the surgery, but things get complicated when 

Hans Axgil (Schoenaerts) shows up and creates a complicated love triangle. 

This one’s sure to snag an Oscar nom, so make sure you’re in the 

know come award season. 

OTHER NOVEMBER/ 

DECEMBER RELEASES 

11/25: Victor Frankenstein (Daniel 

Radcliffe, James McAvoy) 

12/25: The Hateful Eight (Samuel L. 

Jackson, Kurt Russell) 

12/23: Alvin and the Chipmunks: 

The Road Chip 

12/25: Point Break (Teresa Palmer, 

Luke Bracey) 

12/25: Concussion (Will Smith, 

Gugu Mbatha: Raw, Alec Baldwin) 

12/25: Daddy’s Home (Will Ferrell, 

Mark Wahlberg, Vince Vaughn, Linda 

Cardellini) 

Snowden (December 25) 

This political drama recounts the true story of former CIA employee 

Edward Snowden, who leaked classified government information to the 

media. This film features Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the title role, as 

well as Shailene Woodley, Scott Eastwood, Nicholas Cage, and Zachary 

Quinto in supporting roles. With big names like Gordon-Levitt, and 


not to mention Clint Eastwood’s son, plus a compelling story we’re all 

familiar with, Snowden is at the top of our must-watch list. 

Joy (December 25) 

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunite on the big screen to 

tell the story of a family over four generations. The film focuses on a 

woman, portrayed by Lawrence, who creates her own powerful empire. 

The film also stars Robert De Niro. Yes, the same trio who stole the 

show in 2011’s Silver Linings Playbook. This one is a can’t miss. 

Star Wars Episode 7: 

The Force Awakens (December 18) 

Fans young and old will flock to the theaters to see the newest film 

in the Star Wars franchise. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison 

Ford return to reprise their original roles as Luke and Leia Skywalker 

and Han Solo, respectively. Our favorite trio of space heroes return to 

the big screen after a 32-year hiatus (Episode 6 was released in 1983). 

The veteran cast, including Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, is joined by 

Star Wars newcomers Lupita Nyong’o, John Boyega, Adam Driver, 

Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Gwendoline Christie, to name a 

few. Whether you’re new to the franchise, or have been a fan for years, 

you won’t want to miss this holiday release. 

Star Wars Cheat Sheet 

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far 

away…George Lucas came up with the 

idea of the Star Wars franchise. Lucas decided 

to start the franchise with Episodes 

4, 5, and 6, which makes understanding 

the chronology of events in the films a 

little difficult. Since many people will be 

taking their families (willingly or not) 

to the highly anticipated Episode 7 movie 

this Christmas, we figured we’d make 

your life a little easier by breaking down 

the release dates and events of the Star 

Wars films thus far. So don’t stress, we’re 

here to help you out. 

THE ORIGINAL SERIES 

Mark Hamil as Luke Skywalker 

Carrie Fisher as Leia Skywalker 

Harrison Ford as Han Solo 

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) 

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back 

(1980) 

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) 

THE PREQUEL SERIES 

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker 

Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala 

Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi 

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) 

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) 

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) 

THE SEQUEL SERIES 

Released this Christmas, the sequel series 

will pick up where Episode 4 left off, 

with the characters of Han Solo, Luke and 

Leia, in addition to new characters that 

will be introduced. 

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 

(in Star Wars time, that is) 

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) 

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) 

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) 

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) 

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back 

(1980) 

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) 

Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Upcoming 

Music j 

Justin Bieber 

After an unforgettable performance 

at the VMAs in August, his first in 

nearly five years, Justin Bieber has his 

sights set on the charts again. Set to 

be released November 13, Bieber’s LP, 

titled Purpose, will include EDM-influenced 

tracks if his new songs 

“What Do You Mean?” and his collaboration 

with Jack Ü on “Where Are 

Ü Now?” are any indication of what’s 

to come. This marks a new start for 

Bieber, who has endured a torrent of 

bad media in the past few years. So, 

Beliebers, get ready to beliebe again. 

Adele 

Despite the great reception following 

her Grammy Award-winning contribution 

to 2012’s James Bond with 

“Skyfall,” Adele has stayed relatively 

quiet since the release of her second 

studio album back in 2011. Although 

the details of her upcoming album are 

under lock and key, rumour has it (get 

it?) that she’s been in the studio with 

Pharrell Williams, Blur’s Damon Albarn, 

and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, 

to name a few. Cue the excitement. 

Kanye West 

For those still waiting for Kanye’s 

new album, which was supposed to 

drop this past summer, the time of 

deliverance may be nearer than we 

think. The delay, according to West, 

is due in part to his busy schedule 

(see: announcement of his presidential 

bid, 2015 VMAs). According to 

Rolling Stone, North’s daddy says 

he’s been working “slowly, to make it 

an art project.” Tracks West previously 

collaborated on with big names 

like Paul McCartney and Rihanna 

might not even be included in the 

final track list. West’s seventh studio 

album should be released sometime in 

the upcoming months. Praise Yeezus. 

Coldplay 

Described by frontman Chris Martin 

as “something colorful and uplifting,” 

Coldplay’s seventh studio LP, A 

Head Full of Dreams, will come in 

contrast to the band’s meditative last 

album, Ghost Stories. If you need another 

reason to pay attention, Martin 

has also hinted to BBC Radio 1 that 

this release could be the band’s last. 

OTHER 

UPCOMING 

RELEASES 

Ellie Goulding 

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 

Chris Brown 

Haim 

Frank Ocean 

Gwen Stefani 

Radiohead 

Foxxes 

Kings of Leon 

My Morning Jacket 

Panic! At the Disco 

Rhianna 

Santigold 

Sky Ferraira 

T-Pain 

All information was taken from 

Rollingstone.com or Billboard, 

unless otherwise noted. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

What’s on our 

nightstand? 

By Ellen Johnson 

A trip to Barnes & Noble can be a panic-inducing adventure 

even for the most devoted bibliophiles. Rows of 

tables advertise the season’s hottest reads, and we’re left 

wondering how we’ll ever find a good book in a sea of 

choices. As college students, it isn’t always easy to find 

new books, or even find time to read at all. Instead of 

a Netflix break, try reading some of our favorites this 

season. Here’s what’s on our nightstand this month: 


The Art of Racing in the 

Rain by Garth Stein 

Not all great stories are told from 

the human perspective. Calling all animal 

lovers, this book is told by family 

dog Enzo. Enzo loves his master, Denny, 

and Denny loves Enzo. They help 

each other through life, and sometimes 

it’s hard to tell which is the human. If 

you enjoyed Marley and Me by John 

Grogan, or you just have a special 

place in your heart for a four-legged 

friend, chances are you’ll get a kick out 

of this sweet story. 

A Thousand 

Splendid Suns by 

Khaled Hosseini 

After The Kite Runner became a 

classic novel beloved by millions, Hosseini 

released A Thousand Splendid 

Suns in 2008. The story chronicles 

thirty years of Afghan history through 

the eyes of two women, Mariam and 

Laila. Throughout the story, readers 

catch glimpses of what it’s like to be 

a woman in the Middle East. Despite 

abusive treatment, both women grow 

to be strong and powerful. The female 

soul is empowered in this tale of love 

and friendship. 

The Opposite 

of Loneliness: 

Essays and Stories 

by Marina Keegan 

This collection of both fiction and 

nonfiction essays and stories personifies 

the heart and soul of a college 

girl figuring out her place in this 

world. Author Marina Keegan graduated 

from Yale University in 2012 

and had a bright future ahead of her. 

Five days after graduation, she died in 

a car crash, after which her essay for 

the Yale Daily News, The Opposite of 

Loneliness became a global sensation. 

Keegan’s pareents then set about collecting 

her works for this book, which 

was published posthumously. 

The Glass Castle: 

A Memoir by 

Jeannette Walls 

In this moving memoir, Jeannette 

Walls tells the true story of unconditional 

love and growing up in an offbeat 

family. Walls mixes both imagination 

and reality as she recounts her 

memories. She spent the first part of 

her childhood moving from place to 

place with her free-spirited parents, 

who raised their children while yielding 

to their wanderlust. But when the 

family runs out of money, Walls and 

her siblings are often left to fend for 

themselves in a life of poverty. 

Where’d You 

Go, Bernadette 

by Maria Semple 

This charming novel is an easy 

read that’s sure to please. Published 

in 2012, the story centers on Bee 

Branch, a 15-year-old girl who wants 

nothing more than to go to Antarctica. 

When Bee’s eccentric mother, Bernadette, 

goes missing right in the middle 

of her intervention, Bee and her 

father, Elgin, must band together to 

reunite their family. Through a series 

of emails, documents and letters, 

Bee begins to solve the mystery of the 

missing Bernadette. If you’re looking 

for a whimsical and upbeat story, this 

unforgettable book might be just what 

you’re looking for. 

Why Not Me? 

by Mindy Kaling 

After the popularity of her first 

book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without 

Me? (And Other Concerns), actress 

and comedian Mindy Kaling released 

her second book, Why Not Me? in September 

of this year. In this entertaining 

collection of essays, Kaling writes 

of her trials and tribulations in finding 

her place in Hollywood. With openness 

and wit, Kaling shares her story in 

a manner that is as poignant as it is 

laugh-out-loud hilarious. Check out 

this book if you’re a fan of other snappy 

stories like Bossypants by Tina Fey 

and Yes Please by Amy Poehler. 

Books provided courtesy of Barnes & Noble 


ENTERTAINMENT 

New Shows 

That You Should Be Watching 

By Claire Turner 

Scream Queens 

From the creators of American 

Horror Story and Glee comes their 

new anthology lovechild. FOX’s 

newest show follows the Kappa Kappa 

Tau sorority sisters as they face a 

mysterious homicidal stalker, known 

as the Red Devil, whose 20-year-old 

unsolved crime has left him vengeful 

and vicious. The show focuses on the 

Kappas struggle against the Red 

Devil’s brutal murders that leave girls 

in pieces. This new series stars Emma 

Roberts as Kappa’s president, Ariana 

Grande and Abigail Breslin (Little 

Miss Sunshine) as her minions, Nick 


Jonas as a fraternity brother with 

a dark side, Lea Michele (Glee) and 

Keke Palmer as new sorority pledges, 

and Jamie Lee Curtis as the dean. 

Catch Scream Queens Tuesdays at 7 

p.m. on FOX. 

Quantico 

With romance, the FBI, and the 

biggest United States terrorist attack 

since 9/11, Quantico’s got all the 

makings of our new favorite drama. 

Alex Parrish is undergoing training 

to work in the bureau in Quantico, 

Virginia, where she falls for fellow 

trainee Ryan Booth. Through a series 

of flashbacks and flash-forwards, it is 

revealed that one of the FBI trainees 

will be the mastermind behind the 

attack, and Alex will be the one blamed 

for the crime. Starring Mary Kom’s 

Priyanka Chopra and Believe’s Jake 

McLaughlin, Quantico airs Sundays 

at 9 p.m. on ABC. 

Supergirl 

Superman’s tale just isn’t complete 

without the inclusion of his cousin, 

Kara Zol-El, better known as 

Supergirl. CBS’s new series Supergirl 

chronicles Kara’s escape from her 

home planet and her ensuing struggle 

to suppress her powers and remain in 

good graces with her foster family the 

Danvers. The show explores the dayto-day 

life of 24-year-old Kara as she 

tries to balance time with her foster 

sister, feelings for her close friend, her

Melissa Benoist as Supergirl|CBS 

job as an assistant and crime fighting. 

Melissa Benoist (Marley Rose on Glee) 

emerges as Supergirl Mondays at 7:30 

p.m. on CBS. 

The Last Kingdom 

History meets fiction in The Last 

Kingdom, a series telling the tale of 

King Alfred the Great and his quest 

to unite multiple kingdoms under 

the banner of England. Vikings have 

overtaken all of the other kingdoms 

and only King Alfred and his Kingdom 

of Wessex remain free. Meanwhile, 

Uhtred, an orphan of noble descent 

raised by Vikings must choose where 

his loyalties lie – with his birth 

country or his upbringing? This epic 

new series includes adventure, thrills, 

romance, politics and history as a 

new home is born. A cast from eleven 

different countries forms this show, 

including Peaky Blinder’s Davis 

Dawson as King Alfred and Pride 

and Prejudice’s Matthew Macfayden 

as Lord Uhtred. The Last Kingdom 

premieres on BBC America on 

Saturdays at 9 p.m. 

Jessica Jones 

Private investigator Jessica Jones 

tries to rebuild her life following a 

short-lived super hero career that 

met a catastrophic end. Marvel’s 

Jessica Jones is coming to Netflix 

this fall, part of a series of shows 

that will cross over into a Defenders 

miniseries. Jessica Jones does not 

wear a mask or a costume, nor does 

her life have any real structure. She 

attempts to curb her post-traumatic 

stress disorder with a drinking 

problem while also trying to pay for 

her apartment. Jessica’s nine-tofive 

routine is shaken up with the 

return of Zebediah Kilgrave, a.k.a 

the Purple Man, a character from 

Jessica’s past who uses mind control to 

psychologically torture people. Dexter 

showrunner Melissa Rosenburg heads 

the new series, with Krysten Ritter 

and David Tennant starring. The show 

premieres in full series on Friday, 

November 20. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

BINGE DIARIES 

Enter the land of mind mush, 

wasted sleep hours, and endless 

tears shed over fictional 

characters; the guilty obsession 

we all have and don’t plan on confronting 

anytime soon: Netflix binge 

watching. The subject: Friday Night 

Lights season one. The tester: our 

writer, a first-time viewer but self-processed 

Netflix junkie. Warning: this 

article contains spoilers. 

This is a firsthand account of binge 

watching the first season of Friday 

Night Lights for the first time. Yes, 

I watched the full 22-episode season, 

but condensed them all into the top 

four, so here we go: 

I pull on my coziest sweater and hop 

into bed. My Anthropologie candles 

are lit, filling the room with a warm 

glow and an enticing aroma. I have my 

Boom Chicka Pop lightly sweet popcorn 

to the side and my green tea in 

my London Starbucks mug in hand. 


Here’s where math comes in. There 

are 22 episodes, each 45 minutes long. 

It’s 3 p.m. So how long will it take me 

to watch the season from start to finish? 

Well, put it this way, by the time 

I’m done watching it will be 7:30 a.m. 

There’s really no better way to spend 

my Friday night. 

Episode 1: Pilot 

Wow, the southern accents are 

on point. 

Who are all these people? There are 

so many characters. How will I keep 

up with all their names and stories? 

This Matt Saracen guy seems like 

such a sweetheart. 

Is Tim Riggins supposed to be in 

high school? He is very attractive, 

but looks 25. I am a sucker for long 

hair though. 

So many side plots. So many 

relationships. 

I love Tami and Eric Taylor. They 

actually seem like a real life relationship, 

not just some TV show couple. 

This is definitely bringing me back 

to the good ole high school cheerleading 

days. 

“Texas forever.” What a sweet 

bond between Jason Street and 

Tim Riggins. 

“Clear, eyes full hearts, can’t lose.” 

The football game is finally on. I’m 

getting very excited about it, almost a 

little too invested in a TV show football 

game. 

Nobody warned me I would cry the 

first episode. No one told me Jason 

Street gets injured. 

The Dillon Panthers win! Matt Saracen 

pulls through for the Panthers. 

I am cheering in my bed and popcorn 

flies out of the bag. 

That was so intensely emotional 

that I had to make a quick Krispy 

Kreme run with my friend. Human 

interaction and food are good when

you decide to shut yourself away for 16 

hours of pure-unadulterated Netflix. 

Episode 10: It’s 

Different for Girls 

As the title suggests, no one cares if 

Tim sleeps around, but Lyla (Jason’s 

girlfriend) is slut-shamed by her own 

cheer teammates for one mistake that 

may or may not involve hooking up 

with one Tim Riggins. 

This is not right, but this show 

should win awards for bringing up real 

issues. *Looks up on IMDB* 14 wins 

and 66 nominations. 

Oh my God. Janice from Friends is 

one of the teachers at Dillon. 

The Streets are suing Coach Taylor 

for not teaching Jason to tackle. No. 

I will not stand/ lay here with my almost 

empty popcorn bag for this. 

Matt goes over to Julie’s and they 

watch The Office. This might just 

have to be the subject for my next 

binge watching session. To backtrack, 

a sweet little plot line between Mr. Nice 

Guy Matt and Coach Taylor’s innocent 

daughter Julie has been brewing for 

the past few episodes. 

At the pep rally the football players 

dress as cheerleaders. I almost choke 

on a popcorn kernel at the sight of Tim 

in a cheer uniform. 

Coach Taylor is trying to get Matt 

to not date his daughter. Why can’t 

one plot line just be happy? 

Dillon wins; I guess that’s the happy 

plot line. 

Smash goes to mini golf with Waverly. 

His nose bleeds. Please stop doing 

steroids. By the way somewhere between 

Episode 1 and 10 Smash started 

doing sterioids. 

Tim convinces Lyla to cheer at the 

classic and Jason shows up. This can’t 

be good. 

Episode 20: Mud Bowl 

A train accident leaves the football 

field unusable. This sounds like the 

beginning of Grey’s Anatomy episode. 

Coach Taylor wants to play on some 

10-acre cow pasture. He seems super 

passionate about it, which gives me the 

feels. 

Thank you Lyla for standing up to 

Jason for not appreciating you, even 

though you cheated on him, but it’s 

OK, you apologized. 

The lawsuit is finally settled and everyone 

is happy. Why does it feel like a 

weight has been lifted of my chest? 

The state semifinal is officially going 

to be on this makeshift field that 

the team helped create. 

Where did the cows go? 

It is pouring rain and the game 

turns into a mud bowl. I would love to 

be at this game in real life. 

Tyra, Tim’s former girlfriend and 

resident bad girl, is almost raped. 

Tears are already falling. 

Dillon is going to State and Julie 

runs onto the field to and hug Matt. 

The slip in the mud, then start rolling 

around a la Ten Things I Hate About 

You. Oh, young love. 

Landry, Matt’s dweeby best friend, 

holds and cries with Tyra in the diner. 

I can’t remember how many times I’ve 

cried during this show. 

Episode 22: State 

They are playing Voodoo’s team in 

the Dallas Cowboys stadium. Refresher: 

Voodoo almost stole Matt’s spot as 

QB1 way back when before transferring 

schools. Yes, FNL. 

Tami tells Coach Taylor that she 

is pregnant and his eyes light up. My 

eyes are filled with tears. 

The game starts. Panthers aren’t 

playing well and are down at halftime. 

Coach Taylor’s speech makes me 

want to suit up and hit some people. 

Panthers win! I am actually cheering 

out loud. 

Coach Taylor is trying to decide if 

he’ll stay with his family and team in 

Dillon or take his dream job as a coach 

at TMU. 

Coach walks into the Dillon locker 

room and the team starts a slow clap 

for him. The camera pans to all the 

characters. Coach Taylor’s face is the 

last one on the screen before it goes 

black. Like clockwork, with every ending 

of a binge watch session, I bawl like 

a baby. 

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Who to 

FOLLOW 

By Jada Culver 

Instagram 

Hannah Bronfman: (@hannahbronfman) 

Hannah Bronfman is that 

fit and fabulous best friend we all 

wish to have! With a successful beauty 

app and business under her belt, this 

gorgeous DJ makes her Instagram 

presence heavily known with plenty of 

photos featuring yoga poses, healthy 

meals, on-fleek fashion, and adorable 

shots of her fiancé, Brendan. 

Joe Jonas: (@joejonas) As the second-oldest 

brother of the former Jonas 

Brothers, Joe Jonas is a force to be 

reckoned with on his Instagram page 

that’s filled with hilarious memes, 

TBTs, and other laughable posts. 

Twitter 

Benjamin Higgins: (@benhiggi) 

The world just hasn’t been the same 

since Ben H. stepped onto the scene 

on season eleven of The Bachelorette. 

Now as season twelve’s bachelor, Ben 

makes sure to show that he’s still down 

to earth by constantly interacting with 

fans on Twitter. 

Ellie Hall: (@ellievhall) With great 

humor, wit and true adoration of pop 

culture, Ellie Hall makes Twitter her 

stomping grounds with sassy comments 

and just-what-you-were-thinking 

remarks. This BuzzFeed reporter 

give us plenty of reasons to hit “follow.” 

Vine 

Arielle Vandenberg: After her rise 

to fame for hitting the sickest “whip” 

in a six-second slow-mo, the insanely 

fashionable Arielle and her boyfriend 

Matt Cushall keep it real on Vine by 

constantly posting hilarious real-life 

situations we can all identify with. 

Chrish: Whenever you need a pick 

me up, Chrish is the one you should be 

following for his unbelievable sass and 

insane comebacks. This man keeps you 

rolling till you cramp. 

Snapchat 

1. Shawn Booth: (@shawn_booth) 

It’s been over three months since Bachelorette 

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Shawn 

Booth got engaged. You can watch 

their crazy adventures, like wedding 

crashing and spontaneous late night 

dance sessions all through Shawn’s 

Snapchat. 

2. Kylie Jenner: (@kylizzlemynizzl) 

Keep up with the youngest daughter of 

the Kardashian/Jenner empire as she 

goes on dates with Tyga and throws 

insane sleepovers with her ever-growing 

group of besties. 

Periscope 

Mashable: (@mashable) Mashable 

is a digital media website headquartered 

in New York City that brings 

interviews from today’s top artists, innovators 

and leaders straight to your 

phone screen. 

Rich Wilkerson Jr.: (@richwilkersonjr) 

With his new TV show Rich in 

Faith, premiering December 2 on Bravo, 

Rich Wilkerson Jr. is everyone’s 

favorite pastor with great humor and 

style. And don’t forget, he’s the one 

who married Kanye West and Kim K. 


TUSCA- 

LOOSA’S 

MUSIC 

SCENE: 

MORE 

THAN 

JUST 

COVER 

BANDS 

By Emily Williams 

The South has always been a hotbed 

for music. Nashville is Music City, 

USA, Austin is known as “the live 

music capital of the world,” and college 

towns everywhere embrace the culture 

with their active art communities. So 

where does Tuscaloosa, home to all 

things football, fit into the regional 

music scene? 

“I think, much like anything, it’s 

really hard to get synergy going where 

you’re turning over artists and residents 

so quickly,” says Bo Hicks, owner 

of Druid City Brewing Company. 

“Cities like Athens and Austin manage 

to retain artists a lot more than Tuscaloosa 

does. That’s one of the challenges 

we’re facing.” 

Hicks said supporting local artists 

is vital to the quality of life in town. 

Druid City Brewing Company, he says, 

along with Green Bar and Egan’s, are 

some of the few venues that hire groups 

to play original songs rather covers. 

“People used to complain that there 

wasn’t a good scene in town,” he says. 

“But any bar that’s willing to take a 

chance to support local music, that’s 

what will bring more people here. We 

don’t want people to feel like they have 

to drive to Birmingham to see good 

live music.” 

Ask local musicians Ferguson and 

the Copper Dogs, and they will tell you 

the scene has room for improvement. 

The band says a lack support from 

the community often hinders the success 

of bands trying to break out in 

the business. 

“The Tuscaloosa music scene has 

potential,” says lead singer Sarah Ferguson, 

who also bartends at Druid 

City. “It’s definitely growing, but it’s 

disheartening because there aren’t a 

Sarah Ferguson 

lot of venues where original artists can 

play and make money off of it. Very few 

places support local music.” 

A group of four Alabama natives, 

Ferguson and the Copper Dogs 

have been working their way up the 

ranks since they first started performing 

at open mic nights. The 

group is composed of guitarist Daniel 

Walker, drummer Michael Ray, 

bassist Matt Young, and lead singer 

Sarah Ferguson. 

Ferguson, who is every bit the front 

woman with electric blue hair and the 

vocal power of Joss Stone, is a standout 

among the almost exclusively allmale 

groups in town. 

Alice spoke to the group about 

their sound, their favorite places to 

play, and what it’s like to be a femalefronted 

band in a male-dominated 

music scene. 


FERGUSON AND THE 

COPPER DOGS Q&A 

Where did the name Ferguson and 

the Copper Dogs originate? 

Sarah: I’m from Walker County, Alabama, 

and it’s known that we have a 

lot of (laughs) “high brow” behavior, 

a lot of meth, a lot of drugs in general. 

You hold close guard over your air 

conditioning units because people will 

steal the copper. And there are also a 

lot of stray dogs that run around. So I 

wanted to do something to pay tribute 

to that, make it endearing. 

How long have all of you been 

playing together? 

Sarah: Dan and I have been playing 

music together since 2011. We wrangled 

in Michael, and Matt was a mutual 

friend. Last December (2014) was 

our first show together. 


How would you describe your sound? 

Michael: I would say it’s alt-rock 

with blues vocals and a singer-songwriter 

guitar style. 

Sarah: We’re still defining our 

sound, but we’re influenced by everything 

from country, to jazz, to blues. 

Personally, I’m inspired by Bonnie 

Raitt, Led Zeppelin and more modern 

groups like Alabama Shakes and 

Shovels and Rope. 

Most of the bands in town have male 

singers, what’s it like being a female 

lead singer in this town? 

Sarah: Initially it made it terrifying 

to try anything. I wasn’t taken seriously. 

It was hard to get support. If I 

hadn’t had the support of these guys, I 

wouldn’t make it. Green Bar open mic 

night is where I really got my confidence. 

There are a lot of girls who sing 

there. I will always try to encourage 

more girls to get up there sing. 

Daniel: She really has this thing 

that no other band has. It’s a totally 

different energy. She’s bringing something 

with her voice that nobody else is 

bringing. 

Michael: We have a more active reception 

with her as our front person. 

It’s all about her personality, her 

“stage-fidence.” 

How do you write songs? 

Matt: Sarah writes the lyrics, Dan 

writes the music, and it’s just a big jam 

session until we figure it all out. 

Sarah: It’s really a team effort. We 

get along stupid-well. 

Who are you listening to right now? 

Sarah: Dr. Dogg, the Annuals. A lot 

of Alabama music: Alabama Shakes, 

Lee Baines, Banditos. Taylor Hollingsworth 

– anywhere he plays I feel like I 

have to be there. 

Dan: I’m listening to The Amazing; 

it’s this Swiss band with the really 

pretty, slightly atmospheric sound. 

What’s your favorite venue to play 

in Tuscaloosa? 

Sarah: Egan’s. The sound isn’t 

great, you can’t hear yourself, but it’s 

so nitty gritty. 

Michael: You have to walk past the 

band to get to the bathroom. No one 

has any morals, it’s great. 

Matt: Green Bar is good, and of 

course we love Druid City Brewing. 

Ferguson and the Copper Dog’s 

self-titled EP was released in September. 

Find them on Facebook, Youtube 

or Twitter: @FCDMusic. 

Other local bands to check out: 

Looksy 

CBDB 

The Doctors and The Lawyers 

Steels 

Manchino

Ask about 

Sealy’s 

Gameday 

Apartments! 

GAMEDAY 

Tuscaloosa’s Apartment Headquarters Since 1955 

BENT TREE 

CANTERBURY 

FOUNTAIN SQUARE 

RIVERMONT 

STONE CREEK 

NORTHBROOK 

FOREST TRAIL 

REGAL POINTE 

MOUNTAIN VIEW 

2700 CAPITOL PARK 

205.391.6000 www.sealyrealty.com

Alice Vol. 1 No. 1

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