Alice Vol. 2 No. 2

WILD 

FLOWER 

Flourish this spring season in fantastic styles that 

will make you the life of the tea party 

STUCK IN THE 

FRIEND ZONE 

Six students weigh in on 

the relationship phenomenon 

GIRLS JUST 

WANNA HAVE FUN- 

DAMENTAL RIGHTS 

Defining the modern feminist 

$3.99 Vol. 2, No. 2 

BACKFLIPS 

FOR BAMA 

A day in the life of a 

great college gymnast 

The University of Alabama | Spring 2017

TIMELY 

The clock is ticking on the final days of 

winter, and what better way to celebrate 

the start of a new season than a trip to 

Tuscaloosa’s legendary (and some say 

haunted) Drish House? Join Alice in this 

issue’s adventures, each one more curious 

than the last. Cheers!

Letter from the Editor 

On the web: 

Twitter: @alicethemag 

Instagram: @alicethemag 

facebook.com/alicethemag 

alice.ua.edu 

Alice on Pinterest: 

pinterest.com/alicemagazine 

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 © 2017 by Alice Magazine. 

Material herein may not be reprinted without the 

expressed, written permission of Alice Magazine. 

In the months leading up to the release of this issue, the staff 

and I have been working hard to make our best and most edgy 

issue yet. As always, we want to put our absolute greatest product 

out there for you. We have loved every second of creating this 

season’s magazine. From staying deliriously late at the Office of 

Student Media to trying to get Wi-Fi in Chengdu, China to make 

sure that I haven’t missed any messages about Alice, it has been 

one heck of a job so far. 

For this issue of Alice, one of my favorite books came to 

life. Through fashion and photography, we were able to create 

our version of Alice in Wonderland at a charming and inviting 

antebellum home, the Drish House. As we adventure into her 

world, I came to find our Alice is much like Lewis Carroll’s 

Alice. She is loving, headstrong, carefree, curious, intelligent 

and imaginative. I hope you are able to see that young, witty girl 

through the stories in our magazine. 

We have better fashion, bigger articles and beautiful photos. If 

you want to know the best cruelty-free makeup products to use, 

go to page 7. For fashion trends and a magical carnival scene, 

turn to page 14. Thumb through the magazine to land on our 

story about being stuck in the friend zone (page 24). To learn 

more about the modern feminist or the LGBTQ community on 

campus, flip to page 54 and 58. If you are still hanging on to 

those New Year’s resolutions (unfortunately, I am not) go to page 

67 to read about kickboxing. Our Q&A with Dillon Hodges a.k.a. 

firekid is definitely one not to miss (page 88). 

I think everyone knows how proud I am of Alice. It’s not just a 

bunch of pages to me. It’s the frantic calls to me (sick and asleep) 

as my editors pull together an entire fashion shoot at the last 

minute. It’s the running up and down the stairs of the Drish 

House, which after a few times felt very similar to the steps 

of The Great Wall of China. It’s all the experiences and funny 

memories from creating Alice. 

With this spring season, the rain will pour, the flowers will 

grow and I can hardly wait for everyone to have this issue of 

Alice in their hands. My team and I wish you the loveliest time 

reading these 92 carefully crafted pages. This issue will probably 

pair nicely with a hot cup of tea. As I wrap this letter up, I would 

just like to ask, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Because I 

haven’t the slightest idea. 

Paige Burleson

Editorial 

Editor in Chief PAIGE BURLESON 

Creative Director MARIA OSWALT 

Director of Photography EMILY HEATH 

Managing Editor CLAIRE TURNER 

Market Editors ALLIE BINFORD AND ALEXIS DANZO 

Online Editor LAURA TESTINO 

Beauty Editor KAILA WASHINGTON 

Lifestyle Editor ALLISON COHEN 

Assisstant Lifestyle Editor RACHEL WILBURN 

Fashion Editor DEVEN FELDSTEIN 

Food and Health Editor MADISON SULLIVAN 

Entertainment Editor ELLEN JOHNSON 

Social Media Coordinator DONICA BURTON 

Contributing Writers MADDY ARD, SERENA BAILEY, KATIE BELL, EMILEE BENOS, MIA BLACKMAN, 

SARA BETH BOLIN, ALLISON COHEN, JADA CULVER, ELIZABETH ELKIN, ALEXIS FAIRE, 

ANALIESE GERALD, KYARRA HARRIS, JILL HOLLOWAY, KATIE HUFF, NICOLE JEFFERY, ELLEN JOHNSON, 

ANNA KLEMENT, MARY CLAY KLINE, LAUREN LANE, LAWSON MOHL, CLAIRE TURNER, 

CAROLINE WELLS, SAM WEST, RACHEL WILBURN, KELSEY ZAROFF 

Contributing Photographers PRESTLEY BRAMLETT, ERIN COHEN, RAMSEY GRIFFIN, 

NICOLE RODRIGUEZ, TEAH SHAW, SARAH WESTMORELAND 

Models HALEIGH AMEND, MADI BEDSOLE, KATALINA BLAIR, ABIGAIL COLEMAN, 

RYLEY FLATHMAN, MALAYSIA FORD, KRISTEN GRAVES,TIERANI JACKSON, XAVIA JACKSON, 

NIKKI MCCOOL, DYLAN WALKER, LAUREN WILLIAMS, XI ZHANG 

Hair and Makeup HALEIGH AMEND, ALLIE LOWERY, KAILA WASHINGTON 

Marketing Team AIMEE INTAGLIATA , BRIANA BETTISON, SHELLEY BUCKLEY, CAROLINE DISIMONI, 

KATIE HUFF, MADISON MAYFIELD, COURTNEY SCARBORO, ALEJANDRA TENORIO, JULIA TRAVAGLINE 

Advertising 

Advertising Manager RUFUS ALDRIDGE (cwadmanager@gmail.com) 

Advertising Creative Director GRANT SNOW (cwcreativemanager@gmail.com) 

Sales Representatives (205) 348-7845 

JADE LEDET, LIZZIE MIZENKO 

Advisers 

Editorial MARK MAYFIELD (msmayfield1@ua.edu) 

Published by UA Office of Student Media 

Director PAUL WRIGHT 

[2] Alice Spring 2017

Table of 

Contents 

Beauty 

5 LEARNING FROM THE FRENCH 

7 CRITTER CONSCIOUS 

9 EYELASH EXTENSIONS 

10 PERFECT PERFUME 

Fashion 

12 LEATHER & LACE 

14 ELECTRIC LOVE 

ABOUT THE COVER: Down the rabbit hole we fell, as the 

historic Drish House in Tuscaloosa, Alabama transformed 

into our personal Wonderland. Lose your head over all 

the antique teacups, dreamy surroundings and our reminiscent 

styling. Join Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of 

Hearts and the Cheshire Cat for a very important date. 

Don’t be late. 

Photographer: EMILY HEATH 

See story: PAGE 28 

Lifestyle 

19 LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX 

21 48 HOURS IN ATLANTA 

24 STUCK IN THE FRIEND ZONE 

26 JUNK IN THE TRUNK 

Alice Spring 2017 [3]

Features 

28 WONDERLAND 

40 VICTIM TURNED VICTORIOUS 

43 LOTS OF FUR AND A LITTLE FAITH 

48 CELEBRATING COLOR 

52 GHOST STORIES 

54 GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE 

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS 

58 BEYOND THE BARRIER 

Health 

& Food 

62 VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS, OH MY! 

64 BACKFLIPS FOR BAMA 

67 A TREND WITH A PUNCH 

69 SNACK HACKS 

70 FRUIT PIZZA 

Entertainment 

72 RIDE THE MOON TAXI 

74 SPRING BREAK READS 

76 HOLLYWOOD’S HELPING HANDS 

77 SECRETS OF SPOTIFY 

79 FUNNY FACE 

82 TALE AS OLD AS TIME 

87 UPCOMING CONCERTS 

88 FIREKID Q&A 

Alice would like to thank 

the following stores for 

providing outfits and 

accessories for photo shoots: 

LULUS.COM 

FRANCESCA’S 

AZ WELL 

LAVISH 

PANTS STORE 

TWICE AS NICE 

BURCH AND HATFIELD TUXEDO 

URBAN OUTFITTERS 


BEAUTY 

Learning from 

the French 

By Anna Klement 

It’s no secret the French are enviable 

when it comes to many things. They 

are natural leaders of style, dating back 

to the French Revolution in the time of 

powdered wigs and outlandish beauty 

treatments — trés chic. 

I don’t think anyone actually knows 

what makes the French so good at 

everything when it comes to beauty, 

fashion and their 

general je ne sais 

quoi. Maybe it’s 

their low-maintenance 

regimens or their ability to 

make a crisp white t-shirt and jeans 

look glamorous. Or maybe it’s their 

innocence when bombarded with questions 

about their skin care regimen, 

when the answers are quite simple. 

In the world of 

beauty, you could 

find an array of articles, 

digital and 

print, of American 

women trying 

to pinpoint what it 

is that makes the 

French so damn 

effortless and cool. 

From the extensive 

research done 

by a beauty junkie, 

like myself, I have 

found the French take a holistic, medical 

approach to skin care. The saying 

“less is better” is certainly true. 

Rarely will you see a French woman 

with a full face of makeup (unless it’s 

Marie Antoinette) and I believe this is 


something the French admire about 

American women — we can pull off a 

face of makeup and look put-together. 

However, we Americans tend to have 

the “if there’s a flaw, fix it” attitude on 

our face and body. If we have wrinkles, 

we get Botox. If we get a pimple, we do 

a Google search and buy the best-selling 

“blemish diminish” product Sephora 

offers. It’s amazing that it’s considered 

hygienic to go to the dentist twice 

a year to clean our teeth, but facials 

are considered a luxury instead of a 

necessary deep cleaning. This is all 

overwhelming to the French, who take 

to simple, medical or natural remedies 

– which doesn’t mean their products 

can’t be luxurious. 

It’s amazing that it’s considered hygienic to 

go to the dentist twice a year to clean our 

teeth, but facials are considered a luxury 

instead of a necessary deep cleaning. 

They rock their freckles or tooth gaps. 

As far as makeup goes, they are crazy 

unique. No one does a signature 

smoky eye with nude lips, messy hair 

and bushy eyebrows like Françoise 

Hardy or Jane Birkin. And there’s 

nothing more feminine than minimal 

makeup with pale skin and a 

bold red lip. 

When it comes to products, you 

can find a mirage of beauty products 

with French heritages. NARS makeup 

makes one of the best blush tones 

that makeup artists use on all types 

of women. Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir 

is a life-changing product I’ve been 

using for a few years that refreshes, 

tones and cools my skin mid-afternoon. 

La Roche Posay 

makes wonderful 

sunscreens, which is 

a priority to French 

women. Sun care 

is essential to preserve longevity and 

protect your skin. Loccitane Sweet 

Almond Oil is a hydrating, nourishing 

formula, which is naturally great 

for your skin. Of course, Chanel and 

Lancôme are beauty giant brands that 

will always be timeless in the world 

of beauty — but isn’t that what the 

French are so great at? 

In an interview with Elle, actress 

Clémence Poésy gives us the secret to 

French style: “Uhh… being born in 

France?” she said innocently. Perhaps 

one of the greatest things about this 

romance with French beauty is that 

they are completely oblivious to what 

makes them so beautiful. * 

But don’t mistake low-maintenance 

for negligence. The French definitely 

invest in their skin creams and 

formulas. French pharmacies are a 

beauty lover’s dream. They are filled 

with aisles of skin care and topical 

medicines. French women are not gym 

junkies. In fact, they rarely work out. 

Instead, they believe in nature 

walks or taking the stairs. 

The only thing they’re lazy 

at is their makeup routine. 

They eat cleaner, not necessarily 

vegan or healthy, 

but definitely minimize the 

processed food. This is huge 

in skin care, and any dermatologist 

will recommend you 

change your diet before you 

walk into the office freaking 

out about that weird and rare 

phenomenon on your chin called 

“acne.” French women embrace 

their weight and impurities and 

tend to enjoy au natural lifestyles. 


BEAUTY 

CRITTER 

CONSCIOUS 

By Lawson Mohl 

With an increasing awareness about what goes 

into the products we know and love, it’s no surprise 

that we’re caring more about how ethical the 

things we put on our skin really are. As much 

as we love our glittering eyeshadows and matte 

lipsticks, if our pets had to wear them, would we 

consider buying? 

“Cruelty-free” is a label popping up everywhere, 

sometimes proudly displayed on both indie and 

name brands alike and sometimes discovered 

through an online search. Regardless, if you’re 

looking for brands that are both quality and treat 

our furry friends well, Alice has got your guide. 

CRUELTY-FREE GUIDELINES 

You may be asking yourself, what even defines 

a makeup brand as cruelty-free? According 

to logicalharmony.net (a fantastic source for all 

your ethical makeup needs), cruelty-free products 

have no form of animal testing at any stage of 

the product development. Cruelty-free makeup 

doesn’t automatically mean a product is vegan: 

In order to claim that label, companies can’t use 

any ingredient that comes from animals in their 

production. 

The Edgy Friend: Urban Decay 

The adoration of Urban Decay 

eyeshadows is no secret to makeup 

artists and lovers everywhere. While 

also being cruelty-free, Urban Decay’s 

Naked palettes have been wildly successful 

throughout all of their iterations. 

They’ve collaborated with Gwen 

Stefani and featured Ruby Rose in 

their Vice lipstick campaign (if you’re 

looking for a bold lip, check the collection 

out). And don’t forget about their 

Primer Potion eye primer, which is 

well-loved as one of the greats. 


The Sleeper Hit: ColourPop 

Boasting low prices and a range of 

product, ColourPop has made waves 

in the beauty scene over the past few 

years as being both affordable and 

good quality. Along with being cruelty-free, 

the brand has a variety of lip 

products spanning an assortment of 

colors, textures and finishes. Their 

pigmented shadows and creamy eyeliners 

(they don’t budge in the waterline 

– seriously) are nothing to laugh 

at either. 

The Colorful Confectioner: Sugarpill 

Sugarpill has gained recognition for 

their Pro Palette, a way for makeup 

addicts to customize exactly what pans 

of Sugarpill shadow go into their purchase. 

While also being cruelty-free, 

they have a selection of vegan products 

from lipsticks to lashes that they make 

a special note of on their website. The 

pigment of Sugarpill’s eyeshadows 

is raved about: Many attribute their 

Love+ pressed eyeshadow as being 

the best true red on the market, and 

they carry a diverse spread of other 

bright colors. * 

The Ultimate Glow: 

Anastasia Beverly Hills 

Alice has already covered Anastasia’s 

Glow Kits, but it bears repeating: 

They’re the perfect highlighters for 

achieving your dream celestial glow, 

and they have a range of kits for every 

skin tone. On top of being cruelty-free, 

Anastasia Beverly Hills released their 

Modern Renaissance palette a while 

back, the ultimate collection of every 

warm-tone shadow we could ever 

dream of. Their brow products are also 

perfect for sculpting your way to an effortless 

eyebrow. 

So whether you’re an eyeliner 

person, a foundation person or just 

love it all, there’s a brand out there 

that’s perfect for you and your furry 

friend. Next time you’re exploring 

your local Sephora, be sure to support 

the companies that support the 

environment, too. 


BEAUTY 

By Nicole Jeffery 

If you are a woman who enjoys applying a fresh face of 

makeup to look and feel your best, then you know that the most 

unenjoyable part is applying your mascara while making that 

scary Grudge face, trying not to gouge your eyeballs out for 

about five minutes every day. And if you are really trying to 

step up your game, then you know that tampering with false 

lashes isn’t such a quick task either. But to what lengths, 

and to what costs, are you willing to achieve that whispy, 

butterfly effect? 

As the eyelash extension trend grows, we hear more and 

more mixed reviews about the tolerance and money that goes 

into maintaining them. We also hear horror stories of permanent 

eyelash loss due to extensions, and we couldn’t help but 

dig deeper into finding out the backstory of these tragedies. 

If you’re worried about ruining your real lashes, fear not. 

Just like every other hair follicle on your body, eyelashes 

fall out and regrow as a part of a natural cycle, which is a 

full six to eight weeks. However, if done incorrectly, eyelash 

extensions can cause minor temporary damage. As long as 

they are applied with quality and skill, the outcome is truly 

envious yet effortless lashes. 

Lash extension applications can take as long as two hours. 

Because everyone’s lash growth varies, eyelash technicians 

suggest a refill every three to four weeks to maintain the full 

look. That being said, if you are someone who gets anxious 

being confined in a nail salon for long periods of time, then 

it is likely that repeating the lash extension process once a 

month is not ideal. However, if you dread the facial cramps 

that come from everyday mascara application like I do, then 

laying down on a salon bed every once in a while to replace the 

mascara routine would not be something to complain about. 

One thing everyone should know about lash extensions 

is that they are a second job. After your first fill, you will 

usually receive a list of rules explaining the habits you must 

form in order to keep them looking full and neatly feathered. 

If you are interested in getting lash extensions then 

you have to be okay with daily combing, sleeping on your 

back and applying baby oil daily to keep them from drying 

out. Despite all of these requirements, lash extensions can 

completely enhance your entire look and you will find yourself 

drowning in compliments. 

So the remaining question is: are lash extensions really 

worth the money? The answer is yes – and no. Everyone is 

different and is entitled to their own preferences. The saying 

“there is no right way to apply makeup” relates to the 

fact that not all women are going to experience the same 

reaction to certain makeup products and techniques. So the 

answer is no, because it is possible that you pay up to $180 

for a thick set of lashes and come to find out that they just 

aren’t for you. In contrast, many lash extension businesses 

have been very successful and have converted countless 

women from the hassle of using mascara and false lashes. 

Just like as you would with a hair stylist, research your 

local lash extension technicians, read reviews and find before-and-after 

pictures to guarantee quality service. So 

ditch your mascara or don’t, but either way embrace your 

unique beauty through every makeup trend! * 

Crisis Pregnancy? 

We want to help you. 

Free Counseling, 

Adoption, and 

Multi-Level 

Support Services 

Available 

205-324-6561 

info@cfsbhm.org 

www.cfsbhm.org 


BEAUTY 

We all know perfume is the last step to complete your 

daily routine. We know the drill: You spray some Victoria’s 

Secret body spray in the air and shimmy through it before 

leaving for class. However, two hours into your day, that 

fragrance is gone and you find yourself smelling like sweat 

rather than “pure seduction.” 

If you’ve tried everything from Dove to Juicy Couture 

and still feel defeated, try out these three steps and find the 

key to solving all your perfume problems. 

#1: THE HIGHER THE PRICE, 

THE HIGHER THE CONCENTRATION 

This means the longer the scent will linger on your 

clothes or skin. So remember, consider the concentration before 

splurging. Perfume (parfum) is composed of 20 to 40 

percent pure perfume essence. This is the most concentrated 

and most expensive of all fragrances. That being said, a 

single application can last up to 24 hours. 

This is followed by Eau de Parfum (EDP), a more common 

concentrate, which contains 15 to 20 percent pure perfume 

essence and lasts five to eight hours. 

After Eau de Parfum, is Eau de Toilette (EDT). This 

lighter spray is composed of 7 to 15 percent concentration 

and lasts usually three hours. 

Eau de Cologne is next, a masculine scent which is composed 

of three to seven percent perfume oils in alcohol and 

water, making the scent prominent for only two hours. 

Lastly, the most diluted of all is Eau Fraiche with only 

one to three percent perfume oil. With the smallest amount 

of concentration, it usually lasts for less than one hour. 

PERFECT 

PERFUME: 

Your 

[10] Alice Spring 2017 

guide to 

fab fragrances 

By Kelsey Zaroff

#2: APPLY FRAGRANCES IN PLACES 

WHERE THE BODY TEMPERATURE IS HIGH 

Your natural body heat releases the perfume ingredients. 

For males, this includes the jaw, neck and shoulders. If 

that is not strong enough, go for the chest and wrist, as they 

have the next highest temperatures. 

For females, try spraying perfume behind your ears, and 

on your neck and chest. If you want to ensure the perfume 

lasts, follow by applying to your shoulders, wrist and behind 

your knees. These three areas create the next highest 

temperatures on the body. 

However, remember that less is more. Start with one 

spray and apply directly to dry skin after showering. As fun 

as it is to spray a cloud of perfume, the scent lasts longer 

when applied directly to the skin, not to your clothes. 

#3: HAVE DIFFERENT FRAGRANCES 

FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND SEASONS 

Our typical “night out” fragrance might not 

be something we want to wear to class everyday. 

There is something exciting about saving that 

special perfume for a night out on the town. Opt 

for lighter fragrances during the day and more 

powerful concentrates in the evening. 

Just like changing your lipstick depending 

on the seasons, you can do the same with perfume. 

In winter, remember that the air is dry 

and cold, so try wearing a stronger and more 

powerful fragrance. In the summer, go for those 

citrus and floral notes that energize and capture 

the warmth of the season. 

MY TOP PICKS 

Bobbi Brown Beach 

Chloe: Roses de Chloe 

Gucci Guilty 

Chanel Coco 

Mademoiselle 

Eau de Parfum 

Elizabeth and James 

Find Your Nirvana 

Rollerball Set 

UNDERSTANDING 

THE BASICS 

* 

TOP NOTES 

What you smell immediately 

after applying the perfume. Top 

notes create your initial impression 

of the perfume. Common top 

notes include citrus and ginger. 

MIDDLE NOTES 

Middle notes can also be called 

heart notes. The scents from this note 

usually appear anywhere from two minutes 

to one hour after applying the perfume. 

They create the main body between 

the initial smells and the base smells. Common 

middle notes include lavender and rose. 

BASE NOTES 

These notes are usually richer, bringing 

the depth to the perfume. These scents are 

not noticed until hours after application. 

A strong base note, like musk, can still 

be detectable 24 hours after applying 

the fragrance. 


FASHION 

Photos by Ramsey Griffin 

Jacket: Twice As Nice 

White dress: Free People 

Green jacket: Francesca’s 

White top: Pants Store 

Brown shorts: Az Well 

Black hat: Lulu’s 

Solid black shirt: Pants Store 

Leather & Lace 

Embroidered elements can reinvigorate your spring wardobe with fresh femininity 



FASHION 

ELECTRIC LOVE 

Step right up to see this spring’s magnificent metallics and striking slip dresses. Cotton candy not included. 


Photos by Emily Heath 

LEFT 

Dress: Lavish 

RIGHT 

Dress: Lulu’s 

Jacket: Lulu’s 


LEFT 

Dress: Lulu’s 

Shirt: Brandy Melville 

RIGHT 

Grey bodysuit: Lulu’s 

Leather skirt: Az Well 

Gold skirt: Francesca’s 

Purple top: Lavish 

Striped top: Az Well 

Wrap-around skirt: Az Well 



Don’t miss our next issue! 

Award-winning Alice returns 

for a big Summer Preview 

issue in May. Only $3.99 

for a single copy, or $9.99 

for a three-issue subscription 

at store.osm.ua.edu

LIFESTYLE 

Let’s Talk About Sex 

By Jill Holloway 

Editor’s note: Last names have been 

changed for privacy. 

Growing up in the Bible Belt, sex 

was rarely talked about. My sex education 

class was held in a church and 

the only thing I remember learning 

was “Abstinence. Is. Key.” Our teacher 

was a 60-year-old, white-haired, model 

churchgoer and her lesson was simple: 

Two people only engage in sex once 

they are married. Eleven years later, 

I still hold that lesson close to me. 

Talking to other college students, I realized 

my view on sex was not a common 

view today, as it has become much 

more casual. 

There is no longer a set time that 

a couple should wait to take their romance 

to the next level. In fact, many 

believe there is no need to be in a 

relationship at all. 

“I think girls and guys are allowed 

to have one night stands,” said Rebecca 

Cannon, 20. “I think if they both want 

that then perfect, but a guy always 

needs to be respectful of a woman.” 

Nick Carringer, 22, said he thinks 

the proper amount of time to wait before 

having sex is just one week, depending 

on what those two people are 

trying to do. 

“If a girl puts out too quick it says 

a lot about her, but sometimes you just 

want a random drunk hookup,” Carringer 

said. 

Cannon said she does not think 

there is a specific marker, but instead 

two people should engage in sex 

whenever they are ready. 

“For me personally it’s when the 


time is right in the moment,” Cannon 

said. “I just think it is a feeling.” 

Casey James, 20, agreed. She said 

she thinks it is important to be emotionally 

ready and self-assured, but 

communication is key and both people 

need to be in the right mindset. Sex is 

not just another physical aspect of a 

relationship, although it 

can create an emotional 

connection between 

two people that was not 

previously present. 

“It can be both physical 

and emotional,” 

Nick Carringer said. 

“It depends on the person 

and situation. Good 

sex is an emotional 

connection.” 

While “good” sex differs 

for everyone, the 

physical aspect remains 

the same. Cannon points 

out that whether you 

want to or not, “you look 

at that person differently 

after you have been physical with 

them.” She said she does think it creates 

an emotional connection because 

it’s extremely intimate. 

James agreed with Cannon’s remark, 

mentioning, “I think it creates 

an emotional connection because 

it’s you exposed; it’s the rawest form 

of yourself.” 


With a flood of emotions running 

through your head and trying to make 

sure the hookup goes perfectly, sexually 

transmitted diseases and testing 

often go unmentioned. Cannon said 

she probably would not ask them to 

be tested or say, “You have to go get 

one,” but she may ask if they have ever 

“I think it creates 

an emotional connection 

because 

it’s you exposed; 

it’s the rawest 

form of yourself.” 

previously had an STD. James agreed 

she wouldn’t ask if it was a hookup, 

but made an exception when it comes 

to her boyfriend. 

“I would ask how many girls he 

has slept with; try to make it casual,” 

she said. 

Although girls and guys often view 

sex differently, they did agree on exclusivity. 

If two people are consistently 

hooking up exclusively, but have yet to 

put a label on what they have, it often 

leaves room for confusion. It goes 

back to James’ earlier statement — 

“communication is key.” 

“I would expect to be dating in the 

near future, or at least commitment,” 

she said. “If you’re hooking 

up without feelings, 

you would be hooking up 

with other people.” 

Cannon held those 

same thoughts. “I’m 

probably thinking it will 

turn into an actual relationship, 

if we are both 

just hooking up with 

each other there’s obviously 

a reason for that.” 

Carringer was not 

sure where he thought it 

may go after that, but he 

does believe, “you can’t 

be mad if you haven’t 

talked about it yet.” 

Whether if it is in the 

moment, or a special night that was 

planned out by two people engaging in 

sex for the first time, there is no right 

or wrong way to go about it. Just make 

your intentions clear about what you 

expect and do not feel pressured to feel 

a certain way. Every person sees sex 

for something different and values it in 

their own way. *

LIFESTYLE 

48 

hours in 

Atlanta 

By Allison Cohen 

If you’re looking for a travel destination with comfort food, 

plenty of room for adventure and sweet tea that flows like water, all 

wrapped up in an urban, big-city environment, the Southern charm 

of Atlanta is sure to win you over. 

Day 1 

9 a.m. Start your day one pancake at 

a time with Buttermilk Kitchen. From 

breakfast to brunch, you won’t be 

disappointed with this classic, Southern-styled 

hot spot. Don’t hesitate to 

ask the background behind each dish 

because their ingredients come from 

local vendors all across the state of 

Georgia. You’ll want to pace yourself 

through your meal because this crowd 

favorite gives generous portion sizes. 

10 a.m. Catch some fresh air, cool 

finds and good food at Ponce City Market. 

Established in a newly renovated 

warehouse, the market is not only 

a great location to check out trendy 

shops, but also doubles as a rooftop 

attraction dubbed Skyline Park. Here 

you’ll find carnival games, mini golf 

and sweet treats with a killer view of 

the city. Feel free to grab a bite for 

lunch at Skyline or at one of the many 

restaurants below the park. 

1 p.m. Directly connected to Ponce 


City Market is the BeltLine, a 22-mile 

continuous trail that circles the perimeter 

of downtown Atlanta. There are 

also 11 more miles to discover that 

branch off to local parks, restaurants 

and neighborhoods. Take the Eastside 

Trail from the market and venture to 

one of the largest green spaces in the 

city, Piedmont Park. Be sure to snap 

pictures of local artwork and murals 

along the way! 

3 p.m. If walking around worked up 

your appetite for a quick snack, stop by 

Henri’s Bakery and Café for internationally 

recognized baked goods. Henri’s 

has been an Atlanta staple since 

1929 after French immigrant Henri 

Fiscus traveled to the States as a 

pastry chef, and the location has been 

in the family ever since. The cheese 

straws and shortbread cookies are a 

must-try. 

6 p.m. In the heart of Buckhead there 

is Café Agora, a Mediterranean restaurant 

that’s as authentic as they come. 

The restaurant is tucked away and not 

very flashy; however, it’s a diamond in 

the rough. Café Agora’s combination of 

Turkish and Greek cuisines will give 

you a taste and experience that’s incredibly 

unique. Pro tip – make sure to 

leave room for the homemade baklava. 

10:30 p.m. Get your first taste of 

Atlanta nightlife at the Ivy. This upscale, 

laid back lounge has four bars 

scattered throughout its venue. If the 

weather is nice, hang out by the gazebo 

on the outdoor patio or relax upstairs 

on the rooftop. Inside on the main floor, 

a wraparound bar takes center stage 

and a fourth, secluded bar is not far 

beyond the dance floor. As far as attire 

goes, plan to dress snappy casual. 

Photos by Erin Cohen 


Day 2 

10 a.m. Recover from last night’s 

shenanigans by sleeping in and waking 

up with the Westside’s Taqueria 

del Sol. Unlike your typical Mexican 

restaurant, Taqueria’s food is far from 

greasy and will leave you feeling the 

right level of satisfied. This is a popular 

go-to spot for Atlanta locals, so 

make sure to get there early. When 

you’re done, swing by Jeni’s Splendid 

Ice Creams right next door and choose 

from 28 funky flavors. 

2 p.m. If you’re feeling artsy, check 

out The High Museum of Art (pictured 

left). Get a heads up on what to expect 

by going online to preview the current 

exhibits. You’ll also have the option to 

view upcoming exhibits online if you’d 

like to plan your trip in advance. 

www.high.org // Tickets: $14.50 

4 p.m. Don’t leave Atlanta empty 

handed! Walk around Virginia Highlands 

in Midtown and pop in and out 

of the local boutiques that line the 

area. There are lots of great restaurants 

in this area too, so take the 

opportunity to scout for potential 

dinner contenders. 

6 p.m. If your dinner plans are still 

up in the air, Ormsby’s is a must-try. 

The two-floor tavern offers not only 

fantastic pub fare, but also an entertaining 

atmosphere for large groups. 

Down below you’ll find games such 

as indoor bocce ball, darts, pool and 

more. Ormsby’s is open to the general 

public all day; however, entry becomes 

21+ after 6 p.m. 

11 p.m. Every city has a prime bar 

location and Atlanta’s would be the 

Buckhead bar district off of Roswell 

Road. Post up at Lost Dog for live 

music on the back porch or dance your 

heart out at Big Sky down the road. 

The area holds over 10 bars that are 

directly next to each other, making 

this an ideal location to bar hop on 

a budget. * 


LIFESTYLE 

Stuck in the 

By Rachel Wilburn 

We’ve all been there: you meet someone 

new. They’re cute, sweet, funny 

— the real deal. A few group hangouts 

later, you guys are really hitting 

it off. And then it happens: they ask if 

your ~adorable~ best friend is single. 

You’re getting friend zoned. It happens 

to the best of us, and it can be 

confusing. 

But thanks to a few great guys, we 

have compiled The Ultimate Guide to 

Avoiding the Friend Zone 101. Let’s 

get down to the nitty gritty. What even 

is the “friend zone,” how can you tell 

when you’re being friend zoned, and 

better yet, what can you do about it? 

So, let’s start with the basics. For 

those who don’t know, the “friend zone” 

happens when one friend develops romantic 

feelings for another and wants 

to be “more than friends.” Often, the 

friend’s feelings are unknown to their 

counterpart or they are quite happy 

with a friendship-only basis – and voila, 

you’ve entered the friend zone. 

Next thing you know, you’re standing 

there looking him in the eyes, trying 

to figure out the best answer to his 

question. Do you give him her number? 

Do you confess your feelings? But honestly, 

how did you end up there in the 

first place? 

Sometimes, it’s something as simple 

as physical attraction. Studies show 

that most people can tell if they’re at- 


tracted to someone within the first 90 

seconds of meeting. 

“As shallow as it is, I would say part of 

it is appearance. If you’re not attracted 

to someone, you may just never think 

of her as more than a friend. But sometimes 

when you get to know them and 

their personality is amazing then the 

way you see them can change and 

you have no idea why you didn’t see 

it before.” 

–Johnny, 21 

Other times, it’s a little deeper. Typically, 

the friend zone grows out of an established 

friendship. When you’re that 

close with someone, there’s a chance 

that they A.) know a lot about you and 

B.) care deeply about you. They probably 

have seen the good and the bad, 

and more than likely, have heard you 

talk about other guys from the past. 

This can be ground for insecurity or 

fear of hurting you again. All of these 

things can become potential contributing 

factors. 

“One thing is being too open about 

their sex life. I don’t think someone’s 

number should ever be discussed. If 

she’s dated friends, that’s definitely a 

cause for a friend zone.” 

– Zach, 20 

“Usually it’s because I value her 

and have some apprehension about 

losing the friendship if things don’t 

work out. I’d say that’s probably the 

big one.” 

– Clayton, 26 

But don’t forget that guys are also 

just that – guys. He might just think of 

you as one of the bros or he might have 

eyes for someone else. If he spends a lot 

of time talking about Jess from biology, 

it’s likely that he’s so wrapped up in 

finding out if she likes him back that 

he doesn’t even see that you’re falling 

head over heels. 

“I friend zone girls when I have eyes 

for someone else and am blind to the 

prospect of someone being inter- 

Attraction is unpredictable, but it 

doesn’t come out of nowhere ... you 

want a guy to want you for you. 

–Colton, 22

Friend Zone 

ested in me like that. The thought is 

some variation of ‘if the girl I’m interested 

in doesn’t see me that way, then 

how can anyone else?’ Obviously, it’s 

a stupid thought process, but guys 

seem to be wired one of two ways: 

pursue everything that has a pulse 

or pursue only one girl and be completely 

oblivious to anyone else.” 

– Tyler, 19 

The friend zone can be complicated, 

annoying, and, honestly, a little 

heart-wrenching. But don’t give up! 

Because according to our friend zone 

experts, it’s not chocolate-in-bed-andchick-flick 

worthy quite yet. There are 

plenty of things to do (and not do) to 

make him take a second glance. 

First off, flirting actually works. 

In fact, according to news website 

The Week, it may be more effective 

than just being physically attractive 

for getting his attention. Start 

with something as simple as a light 

touch on the arm, leaning in closer 

when he’s talking or even just smiling 

when you catch each other’s eyes. 

Show him that you value him and his 

time by being present and engaged in 

your conversations. 

“Personally my strongest love languages 

are physical touch and spending 

quality time together. Getting flirty 

with touch and spending one-on-one 

time with me is the best way to make 

me question how I feel about someone. 

When someone starts throwing 

touches into conversation, I start trying 

to figure out if they’re being flirty 

or not.” 

– Caleb, 23 

“One of the biggest things for me is 

a girl constantly being on their phone. 

It’s a huge turn off. Also, I think texting 

someone 24/7 is bad because you 

never get a break. It’s like the conversation 

just never ends. I think some 

space is healthy.” 

– Johnny, 21 

Second, let’s talk about the fact 

that it is 2017, and you don’t have to 

wait for him to make the first move. 

Rejection and embarrassment can be 

overwhelming. However, a woman who 

approaches a man stands out. Your 

bold, no-holds-barred approach says 

you are confident, spontaneous, brave, 

outgoing and direct. Don’t hinder your 

chances and opportunities by thinking 

you are not good enough (or too good) 

to approach him first. 

“I wish girls were more up front 

about their feelings. Make that first 

move! Guys can be pretty oblivious 

to subtle hints, so straightforward is 

definitely the way to go.” 

– Tyler, 19 

Finally, and most importantly, own 

who you are. He’s your friend for a reason; 

likely, he thinks you’re cool, funny, 

sweet — all the things that make 

you, you! The worst thing you can do is 

try to be someone you’re not to impress 

him. Celebrate the fact that you love 

tacos or drink pink wine, cry in way 

too many movies or claim your fuzzy 

socks as your most prized possession. 

“Be okay with you. If you’ve been 

friend zoned by a guy you like, you’re 

not out of luck. Attraction is unpredictable, 

but it doesn’t come out of 

nowhere. Think about the qualities 

you embody. Just like you probably 

have certain qualities you’re looking 

for in a guy, so do your masculine 

counterparts. You want a guy to want 

you for you. So as long as you’re being 

the best version of yourself you can 

be, you’re in the right place.” 

– Colton, 22 

“Odds are if he friend zoned you, it’s 

a good bet he did it for a reason. Don’t 

waste your time with that guy anymore. 

Stay friends. Hang out. Do your 

thing, but don’t pine over him. If he’s 

not giving you his full attention, he’s 

not worth it. Also, if some guy is friend 

zoning you and you find yourself complaining 

to another guy about it, you 

might be the one friend zoning someone 

else.” 

– Clayton, 26 


LIFESTYLE 

JUNK 

IN THE 

TRUNK 

By Katie Bell 

Have you ever sat at a red light and 

thought, “I wonder what that person 

has in the back of their trunk?” Just 

like life and a box of chocolates, 

you never know what you might 

get when you pop open the back 

of someone’s car. Alice took a peek 

at some of the junk in the trunk of 

five strangers. 

THE TRAVELING STORE 

THE OUTDOORSMAN 

“Basically, I am ready anytime, any 

day to go camping. I have a tent, foldout 

chairs, a mini grill, fishing equipment, 

sleeping bags and blankets all 

ready to go camping whenever I want. 

This weather has been great for camping 

– why waste time packing?” 

– Andrew, 22 

THE NURSE 

“I work as a nurse in Birmingham 

and Tuscaloosa, so I always have 

scrubs, a stethoscope, gauze, Band- 

Aids and a bunch of random first aid 

items in my trunk. It works out well 

because I am always that person that 

has hydrogen peroxide or aspirin when 

someone needs it.” 

– Ashlyn, 23 


“I have no room for storage in my 

apartment, but I buy everything in 

bulk from Sam’s. I have toilet paper, 

breakfast bars, paper plates, dryer 

sheets, soda... you name it, I probably 

have it. It really comes in handy when 

you’re at a party and someone runs out 

of paper towels or garbage bags.” 

– Alex, 25 

“This is going to sound bad, but 

I have a cooler with a 12 pack ready 

when I need it. I work until 6 every 

weekday, and I hate wasting time going 

to buy beer or mixers before going 

out. It’s really about convenience, and 

it’s there when I need it.” 

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY 

– Sarah, 21 

THE #1 FAN 

“I basically carry the tailgate around 

with me all week. I have pom-poms, a 

cooler, a table, lawn chairs and cornhole 

all in my trunk. You would never 

guess that could all fit in there, but 

it can. Every Saturday and Sunday 

we break out the goods for the weekend 

and have a blast. I just don’t have 

enough room in my apartment to take 

it inside.” 

– Lauren, 21

30 

40 

43 

48 

52 

54 

60 

Features 

Wonderland 

Victim Turned Victorious 

Lots of Fur and a Little Faith 

Celebrating Color 

Ghost Stories 

Girls Just Wanna Have 

Fundamental Rights 

Beyond the Barrier 

Photo by Emily Heath


WONDERLAND 

“Do you suppose 

she’s a wildflower?” 

from Lewis Carroll’s 

Alice in Wonderland 

Alice Spring 2017 [29] 

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

“Yes, that’s it!” 

said the Hatter with a sigh. 

“It’s always tea time.” 

Photo by Emily Heath Photo by Emily Heath 

Photo by Prestley Bramlett 


Mad Hatter outfit: Urban Outfitters 

Cheshire Cat two-piece: Az Well 

Queen of Hearts dress: Lavish 

Alice dresses: Twice as Nice 

Location: Historic Drish House 



“Curiouser 

and curiouser...” 

Photo by Emily Heath 


Black choker: Lulu’s 

Photo by Emily Heath Photo by Sarah Westmoreland 




“Have I gone mad?” 

“I’m afraid so. 

You’re entirely bonkers. 

But I’ll tell you a secret: 

All the best people are.” 



Photo by Sarah Westmoreland



Spotted dress: Twice as Nice 

Black and gold dress: Az Well 

Long blue dress: Twice as Nice 


Photo by Sarah Westmoreland

“Imagination is the only weapon 

in the war against reality.” 





Photo by Prestley Bramlett

VICTIM 

TURNED 

VICTORIOUS 

One woman’s story of sex trafficking 

and the redemption that followed 


By Claire Turner

Swaying trees in the springtime, 

sun flickered past the window 

as 19-year-old Kathy Jackson 

sat in the back seat of her friends’ car, 

on her way to the 1981 Chicago Jazz 

Festival. Her friends sat in the front, 

asking her questions like they always 

did: What are your goals in life? What 

is your family like? What’s your pet 

peeve? Would you ever like to travel the 

world? What are you good at? 

Of course, she always answered happily, 

just wanting to fit in for her second 

year of school at Tufts University 

in Medford, Massachusetts, where she 

had a full scholarship for an undecided 

major. Though she was a good student, 

she still loved to have fun with 

her friends, and the music festival was 

a perfect opportunity. 

When they arrived at the hotel, 

Kathy put her bag in a bedroom and 

started to unpack her schoolwork. She 

had a paper with a due date that was 

rapidly approaching, and was intending 

to work on it a bit until her friend 

walked in and invited her to lunch at a 

buddy’s house nearby. 

“I think I’ll work on my report instead,” 

Kathy told him. “The festival 

starts tomorrow. I probably won’t 

get much done then and it’s due 

next week.” 

“It’ll only be a couple of hours,” he 

said. “It’ll be fun.” 

Trusting, she went. Within five minutes 

of walking through the front door, 

she was beaten, berated and her clothes 

were ripped from her body. She was 

taken to a back room where she was 

tied down and then repeatedly raped. 

That was the beginning of Kathy’s 

32 years as a victim of sex trafficking. 

According to the International Labour 

Organization, Kathy is one of 

over 20 million women worldwide who 

are sold into sex slavery. There are 

only five U.S. states she has never had 

an extended stay in, and only two continents 

she has never been on. 

Kathy believes she was held captive 

in a room in Chicago for three weeks, 

but there was no way for her to be sure. 

While she was there, she was forcibly 

given drugs and was left to deal with 

a subsequent heroin addiction and a 

dependence on her ever-changing and 

temperamental handlers. Some managers 

were better than others, but none 

of them would let her go. 

“You’re always on edge,” Kathy said. 

“Even if you get to a ‘good’ house, 

where they’re not beating you every 

day, they’re not yelling at you or putting 

you with a John [client] who can 

do pretty much anything to you with 

some serious damage.” 

Men and women alike would pay high 

prices for the smallest of sexual tasks. 

According to Kathy, a typical workday 

would bring in around $10,000, with 

up to $23,000 on holidays, sometimes 

from just one person. 

To achieve this exceeding level of income, 

Kathy was pretty well-treated, 

as far as sex trafficking victims go. 

She was smart, up-to-date with the 

goings-on of the world and a beautiful 

young woman with youthful dark 

skin and sleek black hair. Each morning, 

she had a team of people styling 

her clothes, hair and makeup from the 

bedroom of whichever luxury hotel she 

was forced into. 

For her handlers, money was their 

only focus and the well-being of the 

girls was nowhere on their mind. At 

first, Kathy tried to bond with the other 

victims around her, but they were 

never there long. She learned that she 

couldn’t trust anyone, which is partially 

why victims of human trafficking 

never ask for help. 

Over time, Kathy realized those who 

controlled her were controlled, too. 

“The bad part of it, looking back, is 

these people that pay for this are sicker 

than the handlers,” she said. “Because 

they go back to their lives, and they act 

like it never happened. But then, they 

want it again, and again, and they’re 

never persecuted. So when you see on 

the news they’re showing the mugshots, 

they think they’ve caught them 

For her 

handlers, 

money was 

their only 

focus and the 

well-being of 

the girls was 

nowhere on 

their mind. 


… they’re not the bad guys, they’re the 

victims. I want to see more of the people 

that are actually paying for this, 

because if they’re prosecuted, I bet you 

the people that have wives and children 

– and most of them do – would 

second-guess about this.” 

Kathy’s road to freedom began amid 

the astronomical domes and golden 

sculptures of Caesar’s Palace in Las 

Vegas, Nevada, following sudden heart 

failure. Soon she was in the hospital, 

and her doctor noticed something 

unusual about her interactions with 

her handler. After he left, the doctor 

asked Kathy a few questions and 

next thing she knew she was telling 

him everything. 

That doctor’s care changed Kathy’s 

whole life. He erased her identity from 

the hospital and transferred her to Orlando, 

Florida, where she met a chaplain 

and told her story. The Well House 

in Birmingham, Ala., was found, a safe 

place for women who are victims of sex 

trafficking and prostitution. 

When Kathy arrived by bus 

to the Well House she had nothing: 

no possessions, no identification, 

no idea of what she was 

walking into. However, after a 

warm welcome from a mentor 

and an anxious night in a bunk 

bed above a stranger, Kathy began 

to feel safe and appreciated 

by the people surrounding her 

at the Well House. 

Now, Kathy is 54, living independently, 

going back to 

school for communications and 

working as a lead designer in 

a flower shop. The Well House 

supported her in all financial 

needs, any necessary therapy 

and the word of God. The Well 


House is always accepting volunteers 

as well as taking monetary and material 

donations, from soap to over-thecounter 

medication and bed sheets to 

light bulbs, to help women like Kathy 

get back on their feet. 

Kathy isn’t afraid of anyone from her 

past finding her, because she knows 

they are intelligent but incredibly lazy. 

Instead, she wants to be the one who 

goes back and looks for them, wanting 

to try and save the other victims from 

their handlers and their clients. 

“Human trafficking is the one 

drug that never gives out until you 

die,” she said. “I’ve seen it time and 

time again … It never surprises me, 

what people will go to for their own 

selfish gain.” 

Though Kathy is more familiar with 

the characteristics of sex trafficking 

victims, there are warning signs that 

everyone can spot. According to the 

Nita Belles, author of human trafficking 

book In Our Backyard, victims 

have a nomadic attitude where they 

cannot identify their current location 

or travel plans, owns little to no personal 

belongings, shows physical or behavioral 

signs of abuse or malnourishment, 

or quickly responds to the call 

of another. 

Handlers typically target vulnerable 

or suffering people, enticing them with 

promises of love or success. The Well 

House website states traffickers “understand 

the economic motivations and 

psychological exploitation that will entice 

a person to leave her family.” 

Safe homes like the Well House offer 

rescue and shelter programs for 

victims of human trafficking, like 

Kathy. Throughout her 32 years of 

abuse, Kathy closed her eyes and 

saw only her past. Now, she said that 

with the grace of God and through 

the Well House graduation program, 

she sees only peace, safety and people 

around her that she can continuously 

count on. *

LOTS OF 

FUR AND 

A LITTLE 

FAITH 

A [tail] of animals helping people 

and people helping animals 

By Maddy Ard 


People need animals, plain 

and simple. Anyone who has 

ever had a family pet knows 

this. Cat, dog or canary, 

pets are a source of comfort 

and comic relief when the world gets a 

bit too big and bad. 

A 2011 study conducted by psychologists 

at The University of Miami and 

St. Louis University found the benefits 

of having a non-human companion go 

beyond a laugh or a cuddle here and 

there. This study, which was backed by 

the American Psychological Association, 

concluded that spending regular 

time with a fuzzy counterpart or two 

boosts self-esteem, encourages physical 

fitness, reduces feelings of loneliness 

and even increases focus. 

But maybe you, like me, simply can’t 

own a cat or dog right now. As much as 

I would love to welcome a kitten into 

my home this very afternoon, my home, 

like many student residences, happens 

to have a very, very strict no-pet policy. 

Past that, many college students are 

not financially able to take on a pet. 

Pet food and vet trips get pretty expensive 

pretty fast. Couple this with the 

instability that comes with constantly 

shifting class and social schedules, 

and you could have what we see far 

more often than any of us like: posts on 

the Alabama Student Ticket Exchange 

Facebook page begging anyone to take 

a pet adopted on a whim. 

Now, that’s not to say no college student 

should own a pet. For some all the 

stars align, and they find themselves 

in the perfect situation to provide an 

animal with all the love and care it 

requires. But for those, like me, who 

cannot, there is a solution. 

Just like people need animals, animal 

shelters need people. Unfortunately, 

there is no shortage of stray cats 

and dogs being found and dropped off 

at shelters across the country. According 

to the ASPCA, 7.6 million companion 

animals – mostly cats and dogs 

– enter American animal shelters each 

year. Only about 2.7 million of these 

animals are adopted each year. You see 

the issue. 

With more animals coming in than 

being adopted from shelters each year, 

shelters like the Humane Society of 


Photos by Ramsey Griffin

West Alabama here in Tuscaloosa are 

in dire need of volunteers to ensure 

their growing populations receive optimal 

care. 

The Humane Society of West Alabama, 

founded in 1971, is the longest 

standing animal rescue in Tuscaloosa. 

This no-kill, all-volunteer 

organization is focused on providing 

shelter to homeless animals in the 

Tuscaloosa-area and helping them find 

forever homes. 

The organization’s president, Anita 

Smelley, runs the organization’s Cat 

House in Northport, Alabama. You 

read right, Cat House. It’s exactly what 

it sounds like: a literal house owned by 

the Humane Society that currently 

houses 32 cats of all ages. Smelley said 

on average five or six of these cats are 

adopted each month, but numbers are 

never down for long. 

Each room of the house is designated 

to a different feline age group: the 

kitten room, the young adult room and 

the quiet room for older, more reserved 

residents. The young adult cats, ranging 

in age from 6 months to 5 years 

old, are known as the Wal-Mart Greeters, 

as they occupy the front room of 

the house and are generally more social. 

The house also features a screened 

in porch so the kitties can enjoy some 

fresh air. 

Smelley said she needs volunteers at 

the Cat House for two reasons: to clean 

the house and love the cats. 

Smelley said many volunteers call 

the shelter their 

“happy place,” a 

place where they 

can get their mind 

off of the world. 

One volunteer, an 

elderly man fighting 

prostate cancer, 

volunteers at 

the Cat House the 

day after his chemotherapy 

treatment 

each week. 

“Not only are 

the volunteers helping, they’re getting 

a lot of feel-good out of it, too,” Smelley 

said. “If I’m ever missing a volunteer, 

I can usually find them sitting on the 

floor somewhere with kittens all over 

them, just smiling.” 

Smelley said volunteering is immensely 

beneficial to the cats at the 

shelter. Through the efforts of volunteers, 

the cats are groomed and kept in 

a safe, clean environment. Having different 

people around all the time helps 

socialize the cats, which Smelley said 

helps them get adopted quickly. 

“A cat that goes and hides when a 

stranger comes to pet them is not likely 

to get adopted,” Smelley said. “But it’s 

so rewarding to watch a shy cat come 

out of his shell with the volunteers.” 

The best things in life are free, and 

the happiness that comes from giving 

little fuzzies some TLC is no exception. 

Smelley joked that volunteering is kind 

of like owning a ton of pets and never 

having to pay for them. Students who 

can’t adopt right now, we’re looking 

at you. 

Catie Lee Bruni, a junior majoring 

in biology and art at The University of 

Alabama, said she began volunteering 

at the Cat House because she loves cats 

and could not have one of her own at 

the time. Bruni said she still looks forward 

every week to her time at the Cat 

House one year after starting there. 

“On a typical day, I get there and 

am immediately surrounded by meows,” 

Bruni said. “So I have to give 

The best things in life 

are free, and the 

happiness that 

comes from giving 

little fuzzies some 

TLC is no exception. 


them their oh-hello-yes-pet-me time 

right away.” 

Bruni said her duties include cleaning 

the different rooms of the shelter. 

This entails sweeping, mopping, scoop- 


ing litter boxes, de-furring climbing 

toys and beds, washing and refilling 

dishes and cleaning surfaces. However, 

Bruni said the kitties never leave 

her side, and a while she cleans she is 

still constantly showing these cats love. 

“It doesn’t actually feel like work,” 

Bruni said. “It’s a win-win situation 

because it’s relaxing for me when life 

gets crazy, and the cats get a clean 

room and some love.” 

I know we aren’t all cat people. Fear 

not, dog-lovers everywhere. You have 

options, too. The Humane Society, 

as well as many other rescue organizations 

in the area, is brimming with 

dogs of all strides of life needing some 

love and care. 

One such organization is the Tuscaloosa 

Metro Animal Shelter. Made 

popular among college students for its 

“Happy Hour” weekly volunteering 

opportunities, anyone who has been 

to this shelter knows that they need 

as many hands as possible to ensure 

the health and happiness of their large 

canine population. 

Mary Calhoun is volunteer coordinator 

for the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal 

Shelter. She, like Smelley, said volunteers 

are vital to amping up the dogs’ 

adoptability. 

“People look at these animals, and 

they think one of two things,” Calhoun 

said. “They think, ‘Oh, how cute’ or 

they think, ‘Oh, how sad.’ ” 

She said the point of her volunteers 

is to make sure no one looks at these 

animals as creatures to be pitied. By 

making sure potential adopters see a 

happy, healthy, friendly pup, volunteers 

are saving these animals’ lives. 

Calhoun said volunteering isn’t always 

pretty. It isn’t always holding 

wiggly puppies or a literal walk in the 

dog park. Most of the time it’s scrubbing 

and washing and scrubbing 

again, but it’s that elbow grease that 

ensures the animals are shown in their 

best light and adopted. 

“When we keep those dogs and their 

cages clean, people don’t walk by and 

see a dirty thing,” Calhoun said. “They 

see the animal. It’s an enormously big 

deal.” 

Calhoun said volunteering once in a 

while is nice, but what these organi-

People look at 

these animals, and 

they think one 

of two things: 

“Oh, how cute” or 

“Oh, how sad.” 

zations need are committed, regular 

partners who are willing to take time 

out of each week to lend a hand. Taking 

one dog out on one walk one time 

helps that dog that day, but neither you 

nor that dog feel the lasting benefits 

that stem from a sustained relationship 

with an animal shelter. 

Being near these animals, canine or 

feline, and forming trusted relationships 

with them is good for you just 

like it’s good for them. In a report 

published by Frontiers in Psychology, 

psychologists concluded that spending 

regular time in contact with a cat 

or dog increased trustworthiness, reduced 

aggression, promoted positive 

mood and reduced stress, along with 

blood pressure and heart rate. 

Not to mention, volunteering at animal 

shelter by default puts you in contact 

with a group of people who share 

at least one common interest – animals. 

So while you’re in this stress-relieving, 

positivity-inducing atmosphere, you’re 

also making connection with others 

who care about the same things you 

do. And the animals get used to people 

and potentially find forever homes. 

That’s a win-win if I’ve ever seen one. 

Animal shelters need people. People 

need animals. Plain and simple. * 



CELE- 

BRAT- 

ING 

COLOR 

Recognizing the importance and 

embracement of Black History Month 

By Jada Culver 


Black History Month, or 

National African-American 

History Month, annually 

celebrates the excellence and 

achievements by black Americans 

in U.S. history. The celebration’s 

inception began in 1969 when leaders 

of the Black United Students at 

Kent State University proposed the 

celebration of black history transcend 

from Negro History Week into a full 

month’s celebration. After President 

Gerald Ford advocated that the 

American people “seize the opportunity 

to honor the too-often neglected 

accomplishments of black Americans,” 

Black History Month became an 

officially recognized celebration in 

1976. Today, in 2017, I join the nation 

in proudly celebrating the 41st Black 


History Month, welcomed with great 

respect and gratitude for every endeavor 

and grand accomplishment achieved 

by an African-American. 

Now, it would be unfair to mention 

the cheerful enjoyment of Black History 

Month and completely ignore the 

recent frustrations myself and many 

African-Americans feel due to numerous 

tragic and unjust occurrences 

upsetting the black community. When 

I turn on the television and scroll 

through Facebook, I see the present 

neglect and worry people of color feel 

in today’s society. Yet, by talking with 

an African-American friend or even 

wisely immersing one’s self into the 

black community today, you would find 

that, despite the discouragement projected 

through media, there exists a 

wave of hope and peace; remembrance 

and celebration; courage and resilience; 

love and unity. Black History 

Month is a special time to reflect and 

remember those in our country who’ve 

overcome adversity and remained 

steadfast to achieve what was once 

withheld from them and often challenged 

today: freedom to be who 

they were created to be. Hear these 

voices from people alike in humanity 

but diverse in skin color as they 

reflect on their thoughts about Black 

History Month. 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY? 

“I think to celebrate black history is 

to acknowledge, especially in America, 

the inequality and how so many people 

have done so many great things to 

overcome that inequality,” said Garrison 

Pugh, 21. “Even though today 

[racial equality] is not where it needs 

to be, there’s still great people who are 

working to overcome that.” 

“Celebrating black history is something 

that I do every day. It is not 

something that I only recognize in the 

month of February,” said Imani Manley, 

21. “I think it is important to cel-

ebrate my history and my culture in a 

world that does not always value it. It 

is something that has been instilled in 

me since birth, something that I believe 

will always be worth fighting for. If we 

don’t celebrate ourselves, who will?” 

Terrence Curry, 22, said, “[To me 

it] means celebrating my heritage, celebrating 

growth as an African American, 

remembering those that have 

paved a way for me to be where I am.” 

As a woman of mixed race, both 

Caucasian and African-American, it’s 

important for me to remember 

where a part of me 

comes from. To me, black 

history is a beautiful story 

of courage, integrity, faith 

and triumph. There is so 

much that is unwritten, 

and I can’t wait to see what 

is further accomplished in 

my lifetime. 

NOTABLE AFRICAN- 

AMERICAN FIGURES 

Black History Month is a time to reflect 

on those who have bravely challenged 

the wrongful perspective and 

unfair treatment of African-Americans 

in the U.S. For each individual 

there’s a notable African-American 

figure: Martin Luther King, Barack 

and Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, 

Harriet Tubman. Each broke 

barriers, created opportunities and 

ultimately inspired millions of people 

from how they’ve made a difference for 

African-Americans. 

From basketball stars to fashion 

designers, there is a figure who 

inspires everyone. 

“For me, it’s currently LeBron 

James,” said Patrick Stanford, 21. 

“Mostly because of what his message 

is. He’s a kid that grew up in the projects 

and he understands the system 

and how the system doesn’t promote 

success for those kids. Yet, he broke 

that mold. He sets a precedent and a 

standard that other African-American 

males can look up to.” 

“Overall I would definitely have to 

say Michelle Obama,” Manley said. 

“Growing up, and playing with all my 

dolls I never would have thought that 

my First Lady would look like me. She 

has so much wisdom, education and 

class. She is a woman that will always 

be respected in my book. 

“Professionally, Tracy Reese is an 

African-American figure that I admire. 

I plan to enter the fashion industry 

one day, and it warms my heart to 

know that there is a designer out there 

To me, black history 

is a beautiful story 

of courage, integrity, 

faith and triumph. 

with the same motive that I have: to 

make women feel beautiful. The fashion 

industry can be so white- washed 

and it’s nice to know that a woman like 

that has opened so many doors for me.” 

Curry said Martin Luther King inspired 

him, “because of his ability to 

assist a major involvement in the Civil 

Rights movement. This is a major piece 

of history that connects to many events 

that allows for me to attend the University, 

to be able to sit in classes with a 

diverse set of folks, for everyone to have 

equal opportunities and to learn at the 

same capacity.” 

HEAR US: 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

“I don’t want people to over-analyze 

having a black friend and having conversation 

about topics concerning the 

black community,” said Kennedy Studdard, 

22. “And I don’t want people to 

always assume I’m bitter and angry. 

Not everyone is comfortable with having 

those raw conversations, but you 

need to be comfortable with meeting 

[and talking with] other people who 

look like you and don’t look like you.” 

“As an African-American woman, 

I would love for people to realize how 

unappreciated and driven we are,” said 

Manley. “It is hard to be a black person, 

but it can be argued that it is even 

harder to be a black woman.” 

In the history of black women within 

the U.S., we’ve seen this issue occur 

quite often — especially in areas of 

politics, entertainment and positions 

of authority. 

“We are constantly cast aside and 

prejudged by everyone, including 

black men from 

time to time,” Manley 

continued. “From our 

great-grandmothers to 

us, we constantly have the 

weight of the world on our 

backs, alongside this natural 

drive to succeed. We 

do all we can as students, 

daughters, mothers and 

professionals, and sometimes it seems 

that only a few of us are recognized. 

With all that is going on in this country, 

it is important for our voices to be 

heard as well.” 

“As an African-American man, I 

want everyone to know that people of 

color are more than just their skin tone 

— they are human, they are educated 

and are well deserving of opportunities,” 

said Curry. “We just want to 

grow and develop like the next person. 

Impressions of African-Americans 

that are portrayed in the media and 

public eye are simply not true on the 

entire race.” 

This Black History Month, take the 

time to research the powerful and inspiring 

movement that has compelled 

our nation to set a full month aside to 

celebrate. Hear the voices of the proud 

and spirited, remember our past and 

the triumphs that have occurred for 

the African-American community, and 

strive to continue and advance the celebration 

of our likeness and difference 

as Americans of the United States. * 


GHOST 

STORIES 

By Sam West 

You’ve swiped right and a 

match has been made. But 

something is … off. Perhaps 

he’s too forward. Perhaps he’s too 

shy. Perhaps he’s an unironic fan of 

Smashmouth with an abiding love for 

erotic puppetry. Whatever the reason, 

though you might have been virtually 

connected, there’s no spark. So what 

do you do? 

In most cases, the answer seems to 

be: ignore him. It used to be that to 

end a potential romantic link, you’d 

have to have a meaningful conversation 

with someone, or at least say you 

weren’t interested in dating. But in 

the age of Tinder, Bumble and other 

dating apps, it’s much more expedient 

to just disappear. Hence, “ghosting,” a 

neologism for abandoning a potential 

partner and ignoring their texts, calls 

and notifications. 

This might seem cruel, or crazy, or 

deeply symbolic of the shallowness of 

the millennial generation. (Cue the 

thinkpieces.) However, in the world of 

online and app-based dating—which 

is incredibly young—no one is really 

sure about what’s right and wrong. It’s 

like Wild West out there. 

“Since it’s so new, there’s not a lot of 

rules of kind of what people expect,” 

said Mo Quinn, a senior majoring in 

marketing at The University of Alabama. 

“The rules of engagement aren’t 

super defined ... one person might 

think it’s totally appropriate to send 

you this message on Tinder, and you 

might find that really creepy and forward. 

I think there’s some hurdles 

that people are still getting past with 

online dating.” 


ghost·ing 

the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by 

suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. 

Regular, face-to-face dating has 

all sorts of little, informal guidelines 

that have developed over many years. 

Not everyone follows them, but they’ve 

probably heard them. Three dates 

is the threshold for sex. When you’re 

getting over a guy (or girl), you can 

be miserable one day for every month 

you’ve been together. These social cues 

don’t exist for dating apps — at least 

not until now. 

I talked to a few women about their 

experiences with apps, with the goal 

in mind of creating an official rule of 

when it was and was not okay to jettison 

a potential romantic partner. 

But first, I had to figure out what it 

was like to be on the receiving end of a 

swift breakup. 

LA REGLE D’JEU 

I’ve used Tinder before, and the main 

thing I remember is that it’s basically 

a numbers game: you throw out a lot 

of “hey” messages, you hear back from 

a few of people, and you have a decent 

conversation with a very small group. 

Once you start going on dates, things 

can get dicey. 

Here’s a story that’s similar to what 

probably thousands of Millennial men 

and women have experienced. Susanna 

Kaletski met a guy on an app, they 

decided to go out on a date, and it was 

… meh. Not bad, not great. He later 

didn’t return her texts or calls. And 

apparently, she didn’t mind. 

“I guess if I had really liked him, it 

probably would have made me feel really 

bad, but because I wasn’t super into 

him, I was fine,” said Kaletski, a UA 

senior majoring in English. 

Getting to know someone on a good 

date is one of the most enjoyable experiences 

there is; a disastrous date is 

at least a fun story to tell. But no one 

wants a mediocre experience. So for 

Kalteski, ghosting is an expected part 

of using Tinder, and a “no harm, no 

foul” experience. 

“I think for the most part, it’s becoming 

a normal thing,” she said. “I 

feel like more often than not it’s not 

completely mutual, but people understand 

why it happens.” 

Going into the writing process of this 

article, I couldn’t recall whether I had 

ever been ghosted. But then I remembered 

a few times in my Tinder experience 

when women abruptly ceased 

communication with me for whatever 

reason. It didn’t feel good, but apparently 

it wasn’t scarring enough for me 

to recall months later. It’s just part of 

the game. 

WHEN GHOSTING IS GOOD 

Maybe getting ghosted isn’t so bad, 

but what’s the benefit of it? Why just 

ditch someone when you could have a 

conversation with them? 

Quinn said she often ghosted guys 

she just wasn’t into, but she recounted 

one case in which she broke off contact 

with a particularly aggressive pursuer. 

When talking to people for this arti-

cle, I heard a few stories that made me 

suspect that ghosting can actually be 

a useful tool for women when they use 

apps like Tinder. 

Avery Birch, senior, had a story that 

turned me, a ghosting victim, into a 

ghosting apologist. While interning at 

a courthouse, she went on a date with a 

guy who attended her rival high school. 

It went okay, but the next day at her job, 

she found his name in the worst possible 

place: on that day’s court docket, 

accused of a litany of misdeeds. 

“I looked at all of his charges and I 

was just like ‘oh, my God,’” she said. 

“I had no idea that guy was like that 

at all. Totally different front that he 

put on.” 

Luckily, her possibly-felonious date 

didn’t show up. But she took a picture 

of that day’s court agenda, and sent it 

to him with the caption “nice.” Then 

she ghosted. 

Clearly this was the right thing to do. 

As a guy, I never got harassed using 

Tinder. But it’s a common experience 

for women, as is meeting less-than-reputable 

men. Because of this, I suspect 

that sometimes it’s not only necessary 

but good for girls to ditch dudes who 

are being rude or pushy. 

Birch said she got a few more texts 

from her possibly-criminal acquaintance. 

She thinks refusing to talk to 

him was the right thing to do, however. 

“Associating with him would not 

benefit me ... it would be more of a negative 

approach than a positive one,” 

she said. “I think that’s a good reason 

to ghost someone.” 

...as long as people can connect 

with the touch of an app, ditching 

weirdos will be a necessary evil. 

A REAL BREAKUP 

We’ve established that ghosting can 

be good in certain cases. But at what 

point does it become wrong? How serious 

does the relationship have to be 

before it’s no longer okay to just stop 

talking to someone? The women I 

spoke to were mixed. 

“I feel like if you guys have met up, 

or maybe if you’ve gone on a couple of 

dates or something, and then you realize 

it’s not really working, you should 

actually let that person know. ‘Okay, 

I just don’t see this going anywhere.’ 

Something like that,” Quinn said. 

“But if you’ve really just been texting 

or messaging on Tinder, I don’t think 

it’s like—if you haven’t met face to 

face I don’t think it’s a big deal.” 

On the other hand, Kaletski said 

she felt that a formal breakup was 

only necessary in situations of a close 

friendship or a committed relationship. 

“I think in those kinds of situations, 

you do need to have a conversation 

with the person,” she said. “Which can 

be hard, because those are I guess the 

hardest kinds of conversations to have, 

but I think they’re also the most necessary 

to have so the other person will 

understand why you’re doing this.” 

So here’s my conclusion: after hearing 

the stories of women who experienced 

some of the worst of modern 

dating, I can say without a doubt an 

official ethical limit on ghosting: it’s 

wrong to ghost someone after two solo 

dates. If you have one bad face-toface 

experience, it’s okay to just drop 

the other person, but beyond that, you 

probably owe them at least an explanation, 

unless they’re really particularly 

nasty. And if you’ve been dating 

a while, a formal breakup is due. This 

is the new rule: you might call it “The 

Iron Law of Ghosting.” 

THOSE DAMN MILLENIALS 

This policy might seem shallow. A 

dating world in which people are allowed 

to drop each other like they 

never interacted could appear cruel to 

some. And perhaps the conveniences of 

modern dating do have setbacks. 

“I think it’s a real shame,” Birch 

said. “I want to live in our parent’s 

generation, when there wasn’t Instagram 

DMs or Facebook Direct Message, 

asking for your number and 

kind of just texting. It was more of a 

personal, you get to know them, they 

ask you to go out to dinner and you 

get to know them through dinner and 

being with them, not texting them asking 

them what they’re doing during 

the day.” 

Nostalgia is fun, but like it or not, 

the Internet is here to stay. And as long 

as people can connect with the touch 

of an app, ditching weirdos will be a 

necessary evil. Though the old might 

shake their fist at the hedonist practices 

of the young, I actually don’t think 

ghosting is a new invention. After all, 

what is a “Dear John” letter but the 

most depressing form of interpersonal 

abandonment? And if Friends is any 

indication of historical fact, women in 

the 1990s spent a good bit of their time 

waiting by the phone for guys to return 

their call. 

If Millennial women are going to 

dive into the meat market that is virtual 

dating, they need the defense of 

ghosting. And after all, that guy with 

a bass fish in his profile picture probably 

wasn’t your soulmate, anyway. * 


GIRLS 

JUST 

WANNA 

HAVE 

FUNDAMENTAL 

RIGHTS 

Defining the modern feminist 

By Alexis Faire 


Growing up, I always admired 

Oprah Winfrey. In fact, I wanted 

to be just like her. My friends in high 

school would call me “Oprah” as a 

nickname — not because I wanted to 

be a billionaire, not because I wanted 

to be famous and definitely not because 

I wanted to shout, “You get a car! You 

get a car! Everybody gets a car!” In my 

eyes, Oprah Winfrey was an example 

of the courageous and hard-working 

woman that I strived to become. 

She spent the first few years of 

her life in rural Mississippi with her 

grandmother while her single mother 

searched for work, according to The 

Academy of Achievement. After her 

mother found work, she soon moved 

out-of-state and because of this, her 

mother was absent most of the time. 

Due to her mother’s absence, Oprah 

was often left home alone and faced 

abuse from her male relatives from age 

nine to 13. She eventually left home 

and lived with her father in Tennessee. 

Although she faced living in poverty 

and mistreatment in the early years 

of her life, she continued to work hard, 

launched her career in journalism and 

eventually became the first and only 

multi-million-dollar black woman. 

“Women can do just as much, if 

not more, than men can – as proven 

throughout history with strong women,” 

said EJ Harrell, a junior majoring 

in interdisciplinary studies at The 

University of Alabama. “I mean, we 

see people like Michelle Obama today. 

We see Hillary Clinton. We see people 

that have progressed so far, and people 

still feel as though they are lesser. And 

that’s weird to me. I know my mom is 

a strong woman, so when I look at her 

like, ‘She does everything.’ How are 

you going to say that she can’t?” 

Oprah Winfrey has been one of 

many to fight for women’s rights and 

has maintained a strong persona as a 

woman in power. The idea of a strong 

woman who empowers other women 

and girls to fight for equal opportunities 

has always been a major factor 

in history. From women, such as Harriet 

Tubman, Gloria Steinem and the 

fictional character Rosie the Riveter, 

to today’s Michelle Obama, Malala 

Yousafzai and the fictional character 

Olivia Pope from Scandal, gender 

equality has been a hot-button topic 

within society. 

The Other F-word 

“Some people think negatively of 

feminists since they think of feminism 

as being anti-man, mean, ugly and so 

on, or they don’t think feminism is 

relevant anymore because women are 

already ‘equal,’” said Elise Wander, a 

law student at Yale University interested 

in public law. “Those people are 

misinformed, or they don’t reason how 

deeply invested they are in societal values 

and stereotypes.” 

When people hear the word “feminism,” 

they tend to either groan with 

frustration or attempt to avoid the conversation 

completely. Or maybe they’ll 

say something along the lines of, “I 

believe that women deserve equal opportunities, 

but I don’t identify as a 

feminist.” And that’s where the miscommunication 

begins. 

According to Merriam-Webster, feminism 

is defined as the theory of the 

political, economic and social equality 

of the sexes. The main idea of feminism 

is that everyone deserves equal 

opportunities despite a person’s gender. 

“That’s what feminism is,” said Nora 

Niedzielski-Eichner, a second-year law 

student at Yale University. “I don’t 

know what people think feminism is, 

like it’s some big secret cult or you 

know, ‘I haven’t made the secret handshake, 

so I’m not a feminist.’ If you 

think that women should get to be 

equal, if you think that we should have 

the same opportunities, regardless of 

what gender you’re born, then you’re 

a feminist.” 

Many seem to believe that the feminist 

movement strives to help women 

overpower men and to make it seem as 

though women deserve more than their 


male counterparts. A common myth, 

according to a study done by Villanova 

University, is that feminism only liberates 

women at the expense of men. 

This statement couldn’t be further 

from the truth, yet it is still something 

people choose to believe. 

“It [feminism] wasn’t built on the 

backbone of breaking down another 

gender or saying that someone is lesser 

than,” Harrell said. “Because that’s 

what they’re fighting against. That 

defeats the purpose, which is usually 

their argument.” 

“Waiting on the 

world to change…” 

Campaigns like the UN Women’s 

HeForShe encourages people of all 

identities to support gender equality 

and to unify the sexes. According to 

the HeForShe website, over 1.2 million 

people in the U.S. have committed to 

taking action to create a gender-equal 

world, and the U.S. is currently ranked 

second in HeForShe activity. The 

campaign gained popularity when actress 

and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, 

Emma Watson, presented 

a speech about her journey into feminism 

and becoming an advocate for 

women’s rights. 

“I decided I was a feminist and this 

seemed uncomplicated to me,” Watson 

said in her 2014 speech. “But my recent 

research has shown me that feminism 

has become an unpopular word. 

Apparently, I am among the ranks of 

women whose expressions are seen as 

too strong, too aggressive, isolating, 

anti-men and unattractive. Why is the 

word such an uncomfortable one?” 

The HeForShe campaign is currently 

present with two institutions in the 

U.S. – Georgetown University and 

Stony Brook University – and has either 

a chancellor or president whom 

are participants for the initiative. 

Kendyl Clausen, a recent graduate 

from Georgetown University and a law 

student at Yale University, is a supporter 

of the movement. 


“From what I understand, the movement 

is committed to encouraging men 

to support feminist causes as well,” she 

said. “One of the downfalls of feminist 

movements has been the ‘other-ing’ of 

men. The framing of the movement has 

often banded women together against 

men. This has led to things like the 

#notallmen movement in response to 

advocacy against sexual assault, etc.” 

She said the HeForShe movement 

seems like a good way to counter the 

negativity and to help the movement 

move forward. 

“All the women, 

who are independent…” 

The idea of a powerful woman 

comes with a long list of stereotypes. 

In Forbes’ The 10 Worst Stereotypes 

About Powerful Women, the number 

one cliché is possibly the most common: 

Ice Queen. Think along the lines of 

Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, 

as the article mentioned, or maybe 

Sandra Bullock in The Proposal. 

Powerful women that are stereotyped 

as an ice queen are depicted as unapproachable, 

mean and show no emotion 

in the workplace. 

“Women in power in entertainment 

are often portrayed as cold and unemotional,” 

said Lisa McKinney, professor 

of accounting at The University 

of Alabama. “There is a partial truth 

in this portrayal in that women must 

be less emotional and must be more 

aggressive to succeed in the workplace. 

The workplace is a competitive 

environment; women have to be able to 

compete with the men. The workplace 

requires a clear head, an attention 

to facts, and an ability to steer away 

from drama.” 

Lindsay Macher, a UA senior majoring 

in chemical engineering and 

president of the Feminist Caucus, said 

she believes commenting on a woman’s 

emotions is a way to try to bring down 

a woman in power. 

“As far as emotions, I think that’s 

just an easy way to dismiss women,” 

she said. “… I think as a woman, if 

you’re in a position of power, you do 

kind of have to take an approach of 

either ‘I’m gonna be kind of cold and 

hard, so that I’m taken kinda seriously 

from the get go,’ or ‘I’m gonna try and 

be nice and be really pleasant.’” 

Despite the entertainment industry 

representing feminist ideals, the idea 

of strong and powerful women is often 

characterized in a negative light. 

The topic of powerful women can’t 

be discussed without bringing up the 

b-word. Over time, the connotation has 

changed, and depending on how it’s 

used, can either be a compliment or 

an insult. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the 

first definition of the word “bitch” 

means “the female of the dog or some 

other carnivorous mammals.” The second 

definition of the word comes with 

two parts and is listed as, “a lewd or 

immoral woman” followed by “a malicious, 

spiteful or overbearing woman – 

sometimes used as a generalized term 

of abuse.” 

When a powerful woman knows what 

she wants, works hard to get it and 

doesn’t need help from a man, that’s 

when people want to categorize her as 

a bitch. In a 2008 Saturday Night Live 

skit, Tina Fey discussed Hillary Clinton’s 

first campaign run for president. 

Tina stated that it bothered her when 

people called Hillary a bitch, which 

led Tina to coin the phrase, “Bitches 

get stuff done.” To be honest, this is 

a phrase I live by every day. Women 

have embraced phrases like this and 

the word as a compliment to show that 

they’re making a positive impact. 

While the word may be making a 

transformation as time continues, it 

still tends to carry a negative connotation 

when depicting women in the entertainment 

industry — both fictional 

and real. 

“… I also have an issue [on how they 

tend] to make the bitchiness more appealing,” 

Macher said. “… They’ll kinda 

label them as sexy, and they’ll just

sexualize them. I don’t think that you 

have to be beautiful, smart, skinny, 

etc. to be a strong woman in power.” 

Women in entertainment, despite 

their accomplishments or their journey, 

are always centered around appearance. 

Whether it’s about her 

outfit, her sex life (or lack thereof) or 

even how she landed the position she 

currently has, a woman’s looks always 

seem to be the topic of conversation. 

“It bothers me that women in power 

necessarily need to be super attractive 

and fit a certain body image mold – 

often that’s thin, white, very dressed 

up,” said Marissa Medine, a thirdyear 

law student at Yale University 

interested in family law. “One of the 

more ridiculous [examples] I think of 

is the high-powered surgeon, doctor 

who’s worked an 18-hour shift and still 

has impeccable makeup and is wearing 

stiletto pumps in the middle of 

the hospital.” 

“Work, work, work, 

work, work, work…” 

According to the American Association 

of University Women (AAUW), 

working women in 2015 received 80 

percent of what working men earned, 

which means there’s a gap of 20 percent. 

That’s not even including race, 

ethnicity and age. AAUW stated that 

although pay for women has drastically 

increased since 1960, women are 

expected to reach pay equity with men 

by 2059. 

“One aspect of the wage gap that I 

think doesn’t get enough attention is 

that historically female-dominated 

fields are paid way less, and are considered 

way less prestigious, than their 

male counterparts,” Wander said. 

“Public school teachers are paid less 

than professors, nurses are paid less 

than doctors, etc.” 

Despite the current challenges, Clausen 

said there are more ways to help 

women succeed today than there have 

been before. 

“Women still face significant challenges, 

especially in male-dominated 

fields, but America is way more aware 

of these challenges than ever before,” 

she said. “There are women’s groups 

dedicated to pairing women up to help 

them network and succeed. There are 

books about how women can help each 

other succeed. There are men who are 

actively helping women get ahead.” 

The year 2016 brought another presidential 

election. Hillary Clinton ran 

a campaign yet again and earned the 

presidential nominee for the Democratic 

Party. She ran on a platform 

that supported ideas such as gender 

equality, climate change, racial justice, 

LGBT rights, etc. For months, 

polls slated her to be the first female 

president of the United States. Ultimately, 

she lost to her opponent, now 

President-elect Donald Trump. 

“I was very saddened by the fact 

that we would not have a first female 

president,” Medine said. “I still remember 

the day of the election. I was 

home, looking at this book [from] when 

I was little called First Ladies: Women 

Who Called the White House Home, 

and I loved it since I was little. And 

I remember thinking that morning, 

‘Wow, we could really have a woman to 

call the White House home and who’s 

not a First Lady.’ And how incredible 

that would be to talk to my children 

about that and see this historical moment 

and see this book as a historical 

artifact and realize the progress we 

have made.” 

Although Hillary Clinton did not win 

the 2016 election and with the progress 

the country has made so far, Niedzielski-Eichner 

said she believes the U.S. 

will have a female president one day. 

“Absolutely, without a question,” she 

said. “I can’t believe it’s taken us as 

long as it has, but we absolutely will. 

We’ll get there.” * 



BEYOND 

THE 

BARRIER 

Pushing against heteronormativity: 

living in the LGBTQ community 

By Elizabeth Elkin 

Editor’s note: Finn is a pseudonym 

for a University of Alabama student 

who requested anonymity. 

Finn has been transgender forever. 

He didn’t have a word for it until the 

beginning of middle school. In sixth 

or seventh grade, he thought to himself, 

“Oh, that might be it. I might 

be trans.” 

Freshman year of high school, he became 

more certain. 

“There was kind of a progressive level 

of ‘I know, that might be a thing,’ 

and then, ‘Oh, there’s a word that actually 

describes me,’ ” he said. 

Sometime around his junior year of 

high school, Finn spoke with his mother 

about it. At the time, his friends and 

family knew him as a female. He did 

not come out to the rest of his family 

until sophomore year of college. 

Finn grew up in Alabama. In high 

school, everyone chose to attend the 

state university, who gave him scholarship 

money. Going there just felt like 

the thing to do. If he could remake that 

decision, Finn would be somewhere 

else right now. 

“It doesn’t feel safe,” he said. “I’m 

always on edge. Always. Even if I feel 

comfortable, I’m always like, ‘Okay, 

but make sure you’re watching out 

for yourself.’ Especially because all it 

takes is one drunk frat daddy and his 

friends to not like me. A lot of us feel 

like they could kill you and not have 

that much of a fuss.” 

The transgender community is often 

the recipient of violence, and after 

this election season, people like Finn 

worry about their personal safety. 

Finn goes through college in fear, trying 

not to stand out, trying to avoid 

being outed in front of people who may 

hurt him for becoming the person he 

feels he was meant to be. 


Finn’s freshman year, he lived in the 

girls’ dorms. He wasn’t out yet, so he 

had no choice. It was okay, though, because 

he always ended up by himself. 

His roommates were never there. His 

biggest problem was that he lived really 

close to fraternity houses, and some 

of the guys who lived there seemed to 

have a serious problem with him. 

One day, he was trying to park his 

car while several men were trying to 

park a boat. One of them saw him. 

“What is it?” he said, staring at Finn. 

“Get out of the car and come talk to 

us,” another said. 

They continued to harass him, 

frightening him. Finn spoke to some 

people in Safe Zone, an ally network at 

The University of Alabama which aims 

to educate people on LGBT topics, according 

to its website. He filed a police 

report and spoke to Housing and Residential 

Communities. 

Finn said the people in Housing were 

very accommodating, and they ended 

up moving him. He told them he didn’t 

feel comfortable living with either gender, 

and they moved him to a single. 

Mostly, Finn said, some people just 

give him mean looks, or act awkwardly 

around him. It’s awful, but better than 

harassment or violence. 

Finn has had his name picked out 

since high school. He spent hours 

Googling baby name sites. His first 

name was always in his head, knowing 

that Finn was what he would be called. 

He did not pick out his middle name, 

however, until the day he went to officially 

change his name. 

Calling him by his chosen name is 

a matter of courtesy, Finn said. Even 

some of his friends still call him “she,” 

which becomes awkward and scary in 

situations where he is around people 

who don’t know he’s transgender. 

“It really feels like you don’t respect 

me if you do that,” he said. “They’re 

like, ‘oh, when I met you I thought you 

were a girl, so.’ I’ve met people who 

have transitioned, and I don’t mess 

that up.” 

Kirk Walter, assistant director of 

student involvement at Safe Zone, and 

Lizzie Emerson, Safe Zone graduate 

assistant, said that while it depends 

on your health care provider, generally 

speaking, procedures or treatments 

are not covered for gender dysphoria. 

“We kind of exist in a medical desert 

in Tuscaloosa, in that we do not have 

medical practitioners in town that will 

really work or work well with the trans 

community,” Walter said. “So for example, 

if an individual wants to begin 

the hormone treatment, there are no 

doctors in Tuscaloosa or in the immediately 

surrounding area that will 

work with anybody to do that.” 

There are two doctors Safe Zone refer 

to students for treatment. Both are 

in Birmingham, but Walter said the 

wait time to see those doctors can be 

six to nine months. 

Both doctors turned Finn down, 

and he had to go to a doctor in Georgia. 

In addition, many doctors, including 

Finn’s, want patients to go 

through a year of therapy before 

beginning treatment. 

“It took me three years of actively 

trying to get on hormones,” he said. 

Finn’s health care pays for some of 

his hormonal treatments, but only because 

his doctor has it listed as something 

else. He says health care should 

pay for hormonal treatments for the 

transgender community because it’s 

absolutely necessary in many cases, 

including his. 

“I felt least safe when I was trying 

my best not to be masculine, but it 

didn’t work,” he said. “You still have 

all these female features. Not only do 

you have to wait an extra year, it took 

me another year, year and a half to get 

someone that would actually help me. 

It was torture.” 

Eventually, Finn thinks he may want 

a hysterectomy, an expensive surgery 

to remove the uterus that almost no 

health care provider will cover for the 

transgender community. 

“You have to go to all kinds of crazy 

places [to get it done],” he said. “It’s 

a lot of debating on, ‘Do I want to try 

to spend all of my time saving up this 

money, or do I want to just deal with 

the days where I feel like shit.’ ” 

For individuals in the process of 

transitioning, Emerson said, health 

insurance and access to preventative 

medicine can be a huge issue. 

“A person may need gynecological 

preventative care but not have access 

to that because their birth certificate 

doesn’t say the right thing anymore,” 

she said. 

There are four bathrooms on campus 

Finn feels comfortable using. Up 

until he began using hormones, he has 

always felt awkward trying to figure 

out whether to use the male or female 

bathroom. His decision usually came 

down to how he was dressed. 

“A lot of the times I would make a 

point not to talk,” he said. “If I went 

into the male bathroom and I looked 

male, if I talked, it would give it away. 

I’ve basically got a running list of all 

the gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. 

There’s definitely not enough.” 


Depending on where a 

transgender person is in 

transitioning, choosing 

which bathroom to use 

can be a matter of 

personal safety. 

Finn said depending on where a 

transgender person is in transitioning, 

choosing which bathroom to use can 

be a matter of personal safety. Gender-neutral 

bathrooms, often labeled 

as family bathrooms, can alleviate the 

stress and safety concerns of choosing 

which bathroom to use. However, 

the state of Alabama currently has no 

positive gender-neutral bathroom laws, 

among other ways the state suppresses 

the transgender community. 

Finn said he honestly couldn’t think 

of anything the state does to protect 

the transgender community, wishing 

officials would make it easier to change 

gender registration. 

According to the National Center for 

Transgender Equality, to change your 

name in Alabama, you have to submit 

a petition to the probate court for a 

name change order. To update your 

name and gender on state identification, 

you have to change your name 

with the Social Security Administration 

and then submit a court order for 

a name change and documentation 

signed by a surgeon verifying that 

you’ve had gender reassignment surgery. 

To update your birth certificate, 

you need proof that you’ve had gender 

reassignment surgery as well. 

Since surgery is so expensive, many 

transgender people will never change 

their gender on their birth certificate 

or Alabama identification, he said. 

In addition, according to The University 

of Alabama Registrar, in order 

to change your gender with the university, 

you also need a letter from a 

doctor certifying that they performed 

sexual reassignment surgery on you. 

This can pose problems for students in 

situations where their genders appear 

in the University system. 

Chris Bryant, interim director of 

Media Relations at the university, said 

on a class roster a pronoun and a preferred 

first and last name is listed. 

“So, on the class roster a student can 

indicate their pronoun and the name 

by which they wish to be identified,” 

Bryant said. 

Bryant also said a student’s photo 

is available in the student information 

system, for instructors and advisers to 

look at. 

However, Finn said he had a different 

experience with photo and name 

changes. Because he was not out his 

freshman year of college, his original 

university identification photo showed 

him as a female and the system had 

his birth name. It eventually became a 

problem when school offices would not 

accept his identification. 

“They didn’t believe it,” he said. “I 

had to show like five different cards 

from my wallet, and each one had both 

names. I was like, ‘I promise I’m me.’ ” 

Lizzie Emerson of Safe Zone said one 

of the major things universities can do 

is to allow students to self identify on 

all forms, giving the example of how 

the student health center’s basic forms 

are not gender inclusive. 

“The first step is to know who they 

are,” she said, adding that the university 

can project an institutional show 

of solidarity to make students feel 

safer on campus. 

“I think that’s been missing so far,” 

she said. 

At Safe Zone, they talk about allyship 

as a verb instead of a noun. This 

requires people to go beyond just 

“Facebook activism” and help people 

in their day-to-day lives. 

“You act as an ally,” Walter said. 

“You act in solidarity with. If you are 

not a member of the community, it requires 

deliberate action.” 

Walter said if all the different advocacy 

organizations came together and 

recognized the intersectionality of all 

these communities, that would make a 

huge difference. 

“If I’m an advocate for the LGBTQ 

community, because there are LGBTQ 

members of color, I also need to be an 

advocate for Black Lives Matter,” he 

said. “And because there are those who 

identify as women within the LGBTQ 

community, I also need to be a feminist. 

Because there are LGBTQ folks 

who use mobility devices, I also need 

to be an advocate for Americans with 

disabilities. If everyone recognized 

that intersection, that you cannot have 

social justice of whatever group you’re 

interested in supporting without also 

having social justice for those folks 

who have the intersection of the identity 

that you care about, if everyone 

would recognize that, we’d win.” * 


HEALTH & FOOD 

VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS, 

OH MY! 

By Caroline Wells 

Comfortably sitting on my couch one Friday night, 

sipping tea and catching up on the latest episode 

of The Bachelor, I had an overwhelming sense of 

needing to be healthier. All the contestants on The Bachelor 

seemed to lounge around and sip wine while staying in 

perfect shape. “How do they do that? They must take a pill 

or something,” I wondered. I unlocked my phone, pulled up 

Instagram and went to my favorite health nut feed looking 

for a quick solution to what seemed like a never-ending 

problem of mine – wanting to be “healthy.” 

One Instagram account claimed taking Vitamin B12 pills 

would provide more energy for better workouts so I could 

burn more fat. Another account claimed taking a pre-workout 

and biotin was the secret to a lean, toned body. With 

these claims in mind, I headed to the local Target to find 

my magic vitamin elixir. As I was walking down the vitamin 

supplement aisle, I felt like I was standing at the 

foot of a tsunami wave. How do I know which vitamins to 

take? And which brand is the best deal? Should I get the 

ones in the cute, colorful bottle or stick to the tried and 

true Flintstones vitamins? 

Supplement marketing can mislead consumers into thinking 

that taking a supplement is as good as intake of nutrients 

through food. Currently, a popular trend is to take 

large doses of Vitamin C to prevent or cure a cold. Food 

chemist and Registered Dietitian Dr. Kristi Crowe-White, 

RD stated, “Megadoses of Vitamin C aren’t beneficial, as 

the body can only absorb so much Vitamin C at once. The 

excess amount is excreted, not stored for later. However, 

the amount of Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables is present 

in a dosage within our body’s ability to absorb it fully.” 

Dr. Crowe-White added Vitamin C is an extremely useful 

antioxidant in the body, but it is not necessary to gulp down 

large vitamin C supplementation daily. 

So if taking every vitamin off the shelf won’t help, what 

will? I’m so glad you asked! A healthy, balanced diet. 


“Healthy,” meaning a diet full of vegetables, fruits and 

whole grains. Vegetables are incredible because they supply 

tremendous amounts of vitamins and minerals. Spinach 

and other dark, leafy greens are a source of almost every 

vitamin and mineral. Whole Grains contain B vitamins (energy), 

plus they are a great source of fiber to control hunger. 

Dr. Crowe-White said, “Your first step before supplementing 

should be looking at your diet. Write down what you eat 

(she recommends 2 weekdays and 2 weekend days) so you’ll 

have a better idea of what nutrients are missing and what 

you are getting from your diet.” 

One of the main supplements everyone should be taking 

is probiotics. Probiotics supply the intestines and gut 

with beneficial microorganisms, which impact our immune 

system and ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. Dr. 

Crowe-White stated, “In order for the vitamins and minerals 

we get from our diet to be better absorbed and utilized 

… we need to do everything we can for our gut bacteria. 

Probiotics can only enhance our health.” 

Taking probiotics can only be helpful in our quest to be 

healthier, so if you only buy one thing from Target, let 

it be a probiotic. If our gut is not ready to absorb nutrients, 

then taking more and more vitamins will never solve 

the problem. 

Resisting the urge to eat badly and take vitamins later 

is difficult in this quick-fix culture. Vitamin brands would 

like you to think that taking a “fat-blocker” or “carb inhibitor” 

is the answer to losing weight while still eating a high 

sugar and low nutrient dense diet. When asked about how 

proficient these fat-blocking supplements really were, Crow- 

White replied, “Show me the science. I think that there 

are a lot of claims out there that are unfounded. Unfortunately, 

supplements are unregulated by any government 

agency and it’s on the manufacturer to be truthful. These 

supplements can bear claims without being approved by the 

FDA.” To sell products, manufacturers can print any claim 

they would like and paste it to the outside of a bottle. As 

a general rule of thumb, if the claim sounds magical, it is 

probably false. 

After scouring the internet, research sites, and reflecting 

on my own personal testing over the past year, I have compiled 

a list of vitamins I think are worth the money and are 

supplementing holes in my college diet. These are the supplements 

that have helped me, however; each person’s need 

for supplementation varies based on their diet. *

PROBIOTIC 

Brand: Nutrition Now 

Name: PB 8 

Where to Buy: Amazon, $13 

Why should I take it? Probiotics are the food for the bacteria 

in the gut. The bacteria in the gut are needed to help 

the intestines absorb nutrients from the diet and help the 

body excrete waste. My college diet unfortunately contains 

a lot of sugars, which kill off the good bacteria in the 

gut. This probiotic is an affordable way to get those good 

bacteria back! 

OMEGA 3 

Brand: Nature’s Bounty 

Name: Fish Oil 

Where to buy: Amazon, $10 

Why should I take it? Fish oils, specifically EPA/DHA, 

support healthy levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the 

body, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and help fatsoluble 

vitamins absorb. On a college budget, I cannot afford 

to include fish in my weekly diet, so these fill in where 

my diet lacks. 

VITAMIN A + BIOTIN 

Brand: Navan Skin Care 

Name: True Clear Skin Clarifying Supplement 

Where to Buy: NavanSkinCare.com, $35 

Why should I take it? I have had acne and skin care problems 

since puberty and have found that my diet lacks the 

recommended amount of Vitamin A, which supports healthy 

skin. Since taking these vitamins regularly, my skin has 

been consistently clear. The secret to these pills is taking 

them with adequate healthy fat in the diet, because Vitamin 

A will not absorb without fat. 

MAGNESIUM 

Brand: Blue Bonnet 

Name: Calcium Citrate, Magnesium, Vitamin D3 

Where to buy: Amazon, $20 

Why should I take it? Regular headaches and sleepless 

nights plagued me when I first got to college. Add tons of 

stress and anxiety and you’ve got a recipe for a magnesium 

deficiency. Once I started taking magnesium, the stress levels 

in my body significantly decreased, and I had an easier 

time falling asleep and staying asleep. 

Remember, supplements are great, but only in the correct 

context. To figure out what supplements are best for you, 

try recording your diet and then seeing a Registered Dietitian 

for advice. 

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1111 GREENSBORO AVE 

TUSCALOOSA, AL 35401 

205.752.5535 

HUDSONPOOLE.COM 


HEALTH & FOOD 

Photos by Teah Shaw 


Backflips for Bama 

By Claire Turner 

Kiana Winston straightens her 

crimson and houndstooth bow in the 

locker room mirror, laughing with 

her teammates as she adjusts her 

bedazzled leotard one last time. She 

lines up to walk through the hallway, 

the roar of thousands of people in the 

crowd growing louder and louder with 

each step. Sparklers shoot out golden 

fireworks through four illuminated, 

larger than life letters: B-A-M-A. 

Winston runs out with the rest of 

The University of Alabama gymnastics 

team, taking in the coliseum with 

15,000 seats, four center-hung Jumbo 

Trons, two scoreboards and the 

feeling of experiencing it all with her 

best friends beside her. She feels her 

heart swell with pride as she steps 

onto the crimson script A on the court, 

knowing she’s achieving all her goals 

at the college she always dreamed 

of attending. 

Winston is not thinking about 

her homework in her classes for her 

psychology major, nor that project she 

has due for her human development 

minor. Though it is her junior year, 

she’s nine hours from her home in Fort 

Worth, Texas, and she’s had three 

surgeries due to gymnastics injuries, 

Winston was focusing on landing 

her killer double layout in her floor 

routine and nailing her release on the 

uneven bars. 

“What I love most about competing 

is the butterflies that you get,” 

Winston said. “And just being one 

with yourself, having an audience and 

performing for yourself so it’s like, ‘let 

me show you what I can do.’ God gave 

me these gifts, so I’m definitely going 

to use them.” 

Winston’s favorite part of being 

a gymnast is her ability to do what 

others can’t. 

“I love setting a goal and pushing 

myself to make it. I love that 

determination factor of it.” 

Her determination paid off at 

the 2016 Southeastern Conference 

Championships in Little Rock, 

Arkansas, when she scored a 9.95 

out of a perfect 10 on her bar routine, 

achieving an exhilarating tie with 


teammate and roommate Katie Bailey. 

Despite being part of team that has 

won nine SEC Championships and 

six NCAA National Championships, 

Winston stays pretty levelheaded 

in school, saying she doesn’t feel a 

difference between being a student 

athlete and a normal student. 

“I don’t really know that many 

people, so I’m not really treated very 

differently,” she said. “I would say 

that the perks here with the academic 

center and of course [the gymnastics] 

training facility really help me reach 

my goals.” 

Winston maintains a healthy gradepoint 

average in Alabama’s Center 

for Athletic Student Services, where 

student athletes are required to attend 

study hall sessions every night their 

first year on campus. Her body is 

kept in shape in the extraordinarily 

efficient and safe gymnastics practice 

center that features five balance 

beams, two foam pits, six pairs of 

uneven bars, several vaults and a large, 

springy practice floor for perfecting 

floor routines. 

In addition to this, Winston and 

the gymnastics team have a private 

training room and personal trainers 

who assist with conditioning and 

treatments, like icing or heating the 

body or a deep-tissue massage, as 

well as helping the girls maintain a 

healthy diet. 

“I like pizza a lot, but I don’t eat it 

all the time,” she said, adding a love 

for ice cream. “I don’t necessarily have 

to watch what I eat, but I am aware of 

what I eat.” 

Though practicing and competing 

take up a lot of time, Winston and her 

teammates are accustomed to busy 

schedules. When heading to a meet 

at a different school, they set aside a 

specific time for studying. 

“I have class Monday through 

Friday,” Winston said. “If we’re 

traveling then we have excused 

absences, but we still have to get all of 

our work done. So it’s a little bit busier 

with travel meets, but we know how to 

manage our time.” 

Though Winston has done 

gymnastics since she was a child, she 

doesn’t plan on furthering her career 

in the sport past college, choosing 

instead to focus her future on children. 

“I’m not necessarily done with the 

sport,” she said. “Of course I’m going 

to come back for all the alumni meets, 

and I’m going to visit. But I want to see 

what’s out there besides gymnastics. 

It’s all I’ve known my whole life.” 

Winston wants to get her Master’s 

degree in psychology and give back to 

children, whether that’s counseling, 

owning a day care or even coaching a 

children’s gymnastics team. But there 

are definitely things she’s going to 

miss when she leaves the Crimson Tide 

gymnastics team. 

“What I’m going to miss about 

competing at UA is the crowd and, of 

course, my teammates and the bond 

that we have,” she said. 

Winston and the rest of her team 

look forward to more sparkly costumes, 

locker room fun and excellent scores at 

competitions in the upcoming season. * 


HEALTH & FOOD 

By Lauren Lane 

Once Gigi Hadid let the world know 

the secret to getting her svelte figure 

required kickboxing and a weekly 

cheeseburger, the exercise became a 

huge phenomenon for women. However, 

kickboxing has proven itself to be more 

than a fad. It is an incredible way to 

relieve stress, learn self-defense and 

get a high calorie burn in just one 

session. All it takes is a few minutes in 

the ring to make you feel like the girl 

boss you truly are. 

I took my first-ever kickboxing class 

at my university’s student recreation 

center. I figured since I was not taking 

it at a real kickboxing facility, it 

would not be intense, so I ran a mile 

beforehand for a warm-up. Boy, was I 

wrong. 

Caleigh Everingham, my instructor, 

got down to business in the first minute 

of class. We spent the entire 50-minute 

period doing cardio and worked every 

big muscle group. No one had on 

boxing gloves, but Caleigh kept up the 

intensity and worked us out through 

repetitions of kickboxing moves, 

squats, kicks and intense cardio. 

“I incorporate different classes 

and my own lifting workouts into my 

own exercise routine, but kickboxing 

is my favorite right now since I can 

incorporate high-intensity cardio 

bursts with agility exercises and 

strength and conditioning work,” 

Everingham said. “Some people first 

come to my class thinking it’s going 

to be just punching and kicking for 50 

minutes, but my goal is to give a fullbody 

workout in a much more varied 

and intense way than that.” 

I left class that evening feeling 

accomplished and proud of myself for 

pushing through. I loved the challenge 

of keeping up my heart rate and 

making every move just as intense 

and sharp as if I was in a real boxing 

match. I could feel the soreness hitting 

me as soon as class was over, and I 

made sure to stretch that night, even 

though I was painfully sore for the 

next three days. 


“Not only is kickboxing 

a physical workout, 

but it also has a mental 

aspect to it that 

is just as important. 

Many members who 

suffer with anxiety and 

depression see drastic 

improvements, which 

I think is something 

really overlooked.” 

I went in to 9Round, a local facility, 

for a free nine rounds of kickboxing 

and circuit training that made full use 

of my 30 minutes. Each round lasted 

for three minutes and consisted of a 

variety of boxing, strength and cardio 

moves. There were short circuits in 

between each round, making it exciting 

to see what the next challenge was even 

when I was exhausted. 

“In our 30 minute kickboxing 

workout, you’ll burn massive amounts 

of calories, continue to burn calories for 

hours after your workout is complete, 

release toxins, strengthen and tighten 

every muscle, boost your stamina, 

relieve stress, strengthen your heart, 

release endorphins and improve your 

sleep,” said Halle Wallace, coach and 

owner of 9Round, Tuscaloosa. “Not 

only is kickboxing a physical workout, 

but it also has a mental aspect to it that 

is just as important. Many members 

who suffer with anxiety and depression 

see drastic improvements, which I 

think is something really overlooked.” 

Both coaches mentioned kickboxing 

helping themselves and their clients 

battle depression and anxiety, along 

with building confidence in who they 

are. More than 90 percent of 9Round 

clients are women. Wallace finds 

satisfaction seeing females finding 

their strength and becoming more 

comfortable in their own skin. 

I felt empowered after leaving both 

workouts, and each one became so much 

more than just burning calories and 

rather helped me focus on becoming a 

better version of myself. 

“The world tries to tell women 

what they should look like and who 

they should be, but I believe that 

kickboxing is an avenue for women to 

mold themselves into who they want to 

be,” Everingham said. “I want women 

to have kickboxing as an outlet to take 

the good and bad things life throws at 

us and channel them into becoming 

stronger, healthier, and happier. My 

hope is that the women who come to my 

classes leave feeling better than when 

they walked in and empowered to turn 

their goals into plans.” * 

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HEALTH & FOOD 

SNACK 

HACKS 

By Analiese Gerald 

Hectic schedules and long days of classes make it easy to fall into 

the trap of eating fast food meals and snacks. While that Starbucks 

brownie tastes great in the moment, the result of this habit is a 

shrinking wallet and an unhealthy diet. Instead, try filling your 

backpack with these easy snacks to stay healthy on and off campus. 

Roasted Chickpeas 

If you’re looking for a nutritious snack that 

will keep you full, roasted chickpeas are a perfect 

fit. Chickpeas are a great source of protein and 

fiber and with this recipe they can make a tasty 

snack too. 

Ingredients 

1 can chickpeas 

1 tsp garlic salt 

1 tsp Italian seasoning 

1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

2. Drain chickpeas and blot with a paper towel to 

dry them 

3. Spread chickpeas on a baking sheet and cover 

with the spices 

4. Bake for 20 minutes, turning chickpeas over with 

a spatula halfway through 

Chocolate 

Nut Clusters 

Satisfy your sweet tooth and growling stomach 

with this yummy combination of sweet and savory. 

The nuts provide protein and the chocolate, a 

monounsaturated fat, will keep you full until your 

next meal. 

Ingredients 

6 oz dark chocolate 

½ cup almonds 

½ cup shelled pistachios 

½ cup cashews 

Directions 

1. Melt chocolate in saucepan at medium low heat 

and mix in nuts 

2. Place spoonfuls of mixture ½ inch apart on 

parchment paper 

3. Refrigerate clusters until firm; store in the fridge 

Cinnamon and Sugar 

Pumpkin Seeds 

Another mix of sweet and salty, cinnamon and 

sugar pumpkin seeds are a classic holiday treat 

that you can easily make at home all year around. 

Pumpkin seeds are nutritious and filling, while the 

cinnamon and sugar add a tasty twist. 

Ingredients 

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds 

1 tbsp coconut oil 

1 tbsp cinnamon 

1 tbsp sugar 

Directions 

1. Heat coconut oil in saucepan on medium heat 

2. Cook pumpkin seeds, stirring in cinnamon and 

sugar, until seeds start browning 

Oatmeal Balls 

This power snack is a delicious treat that is also 

packed with nutrients, protein and fiber. It’s perfect 

for an on-the-go breakfast or snack between classes. 

Ingredients 

1 cup oats 

½ cup peanut butter 

1/3 cup honey 

1/3 cup goji berries 

½ cup toasted shredded coconut 

1 tbsp chia seeds 

Directions 

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl 

2. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on parchment 

paper 

3. Refrigerate until firm; store in fridge 


HEALTH & FOOD 


FRUIT PIZZA 

If your afternoon protein bar has 

gotten boring, we have the solution... 

make a fruit pizza instead! Fruit 

pizzas are delicious, filling and healthy 

pick-me-ups that will brighten up 

your snacking. 

MIX AND MATCH TO CREATE YOUR PIZZA 

CRUSTS: 

Bagel Half, Rice Cake, English Muffin Half, Waffle 

SAUCES: 

Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter, Nutella, Vanilla Yogurt, Jam 

FRUITS: 

Strawberries, Blueberries, Kiwi, Banana, Apple, Raspberries 

TOPPINGS: 

Nuts, Dried Fruit, Coconut, Chocolate Chips 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Ride the 

Moon Taxi 

By Ellen Johnson and Katie Huff 

In the basement green rooms 

of the Alabama Theatre in 

Birmingham, members of the band 

Moon Taxi are busy making music 

for their next record. They’re on 

the road, enjoying down time here 

and there, but still – in a basement 

surrounded by boxes of pizza and 

a bustling crew, just hours before 

their Nov. 25 show – they’re 

making music. The stage is being 

set, sound check is in an hour and 

eager fans with VIP meet-and-greet 

passes will soon arrive. 

In the midst of it all, lead singer 

Trevor Terndrup offered us a slice of 

pizza and sat down to tell the band’s 

story, and the story behind Moon 

Taxi’s name. Don’t think too hard 

about it – there is no mystique behind 

this group’s handle. 

“What really happened was the bass 

player mooned a taxi,” Terndrup said. 

No complicated formula or 

philosophical musings in this band 

name – just the story of a guy 

unsuccessfully trying to hail a cab. 

Though the origin of Moon Taxi’s 

name is fully exposed, the story of 

their music needed some uncovering. 

The Alabama Theatre concert was 

a homecoming of sorts for the band. 

Three of its members – Terndrup, 

bassist Tommy Putnam, and drummer 

Tyler Ritter – hail from Vestavia 

Hills, Ala. Joined by guitarist Spencer 

Thomson and keyboardist Wes Bailey, 

they all came together in Nashville and 

have been making music ever since. 

Following their successful first album 

Melodica in 2007, Moon Taxi released 

three more records, and (as seen in 

their nomadic recording methods) 

they’re definitely not stopping there. 

When we met the band at the 

Alabama Theatre, the sounds of Bailey 

and Thomson cranking out new tunes 

could be heard echoing from the room 

next door. 

“You walked in on it,” Terndrup 

said to us of the new music. “You’re 

part of history.” 

Moon Taxi has played all over 

the country in every kind of venue 

imaginable. From fraternity houses 

and hole-in-the-wall bars to festivals 

and amphitheaters, they have done 

it all. They sell out theaters and 

they’re regulars at the Hangout Fest, 

Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, but you 


can also catch them at venues like 

Druid City Music Hall, or even a 

fraternity house at Mississippi State 

University. With each stop, it seems 

like more and more fans are hopping 

on board. 

At the show we attended, the 

audience was a hodge-podge of old and 

young. High school students and adults 

alike filled the seats of the Alabama 

Theatre, and many friends and family 

members of the band were also there 

to excitedly welcome Moon Taxi home. 

“I think it’s definitely necessary to 

go through those steps to play those 

small dive bars, because you really 

appreciate it when you get to play in a 

beautiful room like the theater we’re in 

right now,” Terndrup said. “I’ve loved 

every step of the journey.” 

Their most recent album, 

Daybreaker, released in 

2015, has been some of their 

most popular music yet, but 

they still have stuck to their 

original style. They have 

mastered the art of creating 

new and fresh music that 

is still undeniably true to 

their own sound. 

“It’s been a long 

journey,” Terndrup said. 

“We’ve grown as people and 

gotten closer as friends and 

as a band. It’s a group of 

brothers at this point and 

I think that’s reflected in the lyrical 

content. But I think the songwriting 

itself has gotten better too.” 

One of the hit songs from 

Daybreaker is “All Day All Night,” 

which was featured in a McDonald’s 

all-day breakfast commercial. 

Fans new and old were pleased to 

hear the jam accompany the fast 

food advertisement. 

“I think a lot of people heard it 

which was also good,” Terndrup said 

of the song. “Our fans, if they really 

like us, they’re like, ‘Alright, that’s 

cool.’ If they kind of like us, they’re 

like, ‘I don’t know, I like McDonalds.’” 

“All Day All Night” is fun and 

upbeat and the perfect background 

noise for eating a McMuffin, but it’s 

not the only song sticking around 

in the minds of Moon Taxi’s fans. 

Songwriting is a collaborative effort 

for the band, and their system works. 

With songs referencing nature, love, 

adventure and even death, their 

music covers all the bases and gives 

listeners the power to derive their 

own meanings. 

“People can read into them if they 

want but they’re still about concrete 

ideas,” Terndrup said. “That’s the cool 

thing. Sometimes you want to write 

lyrics that are a little more abstract 

so people can read their own meaning 

into them, but also sometimes a song 

is just about something specific like a 

“I think it’s definitely 

necessary to go through 

those steps to play those 

small dive bars, because 

you really appreciate it 

when you get to play in a 

beautiful room...” 

cup of tea or something like that.” 

One clear string in much of Moon 

Taxi’s music is a reference to nature 

and experiences. So, what’s up with all 

the talk of rivers, oceans, beaches and 

sunsets? Terndrup had a theory. 

“We look out the window a lot on the 

tour bus,” Terndrup said. “It’s nicer 

outside than inside.” 

One of Terndrup’s favorites is 

“Juniper” off of the 2013 record 

Mountains Beaches Cities. While 

listeners may derive their own 

meanings, this one is special to him for 

his own reasons. 

“It’s about the sun dying, the light 

source going,” Terndrup said. “It was 

also about my grandmother passing. 

And it was the last song on the record, 

so it has this finale at the end.” 

In addition to their own songs, Moon 

Taxi can rock out a cover. They’ve 

covered “Everybody Wants to Rule 

the World,“ “Stressed Out,” and Bob 

Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” 

with flying colors (They were even 

invited to Dylan Fest, a tribute event 

complete with superstars like Kings of 

Leon and Ke$ha). 

“Covers are always fun just to 

break up the set,” Terndrup said. “We 

pride ourselves on doing good versions 

of covers.” 

Moon Taxi isn’t afraid to cater to 

their audience, and their strategically 

designed setlists pay off. 

“Tonight is a theatre 

so we might cater the set 

a little different for the 

environment,” Terndrup 

said. “Sometimes we like to 

play new songs in the live 

environment and see how 

people react to them, and 

that informs the writing 

process.” 

As Moon Taxi performs 

around the country and 

releases new music, the 

band leaves a trail of happy 

audiences and loyal fans. 

Their newly-recorded music is aimed 

to be released sometime early this year. 

Their concert was two hours of pure 

fun. From treating the audience to 

acoustic versions of songs like “River 

Water” and “The New Black” to 

getting everyone on their feet for the 

crowd-favorite “Morocco,” these guys 

just know how to entertain. Their 

strong songwriting yields an everchanging 

combination of escapist 

jams, and Terndrup sees their music 

just as such. 

“We’re kind of escapism,” Terndrup 

said. “We like to escape and have fun.” * 


ENTERTAINMENT 

SPRING 

BREAK 

READS 

By Kyarra Harris 

The only thing missing from your spring break 

beach bag is a good read. We know how it goes: 

You want something fresh and new, but also 

entertaining. We’ve compiled a list of the best 

new books to read this spring that are sure to 

keep you from snoozing on your flight or dozing off in the 

sand (and getting sunburnt). So apply that sunscreen and 

grab one of these novels before you take off on your spring 

break adventures. 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber 

“Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember 

that it’s all a game...” 

Two sisters escape their abusive father who has set up an 

arranged marriage for his daughter Scarlett, and upsets her 

dream of seeing the “legendary once-a-year” performance, 

Caraval. But when sister Tella enlists the help of a sailor to get 

them to the show and is kidnapped by the show’s ringleader, 

Scarlett must learn the rules of the mysterious game, and 

find her sister before the five nights of the game are over and 

her sister is lost forever. 

Caraval is Garber’s Young Adult (YA) debut. She’s a 

professor for a private college in Northern California, and 

though this book is her first YA novel, she has already 

received praise from other best-selling YA authors such as 

Sabaa Tahir and Kiersten White. 

The Mothers by Brit Bennett 

When 17-year-old Nadia Turner entered her senior year 

of high school, she was still grief-stricken by her mother’s 

suicide. She began a light relationship with the local pastor’s 

son, Luke. But the teen pregnancy that results, and its coverup, 

will haunt the individuals for years to come. The years 

pass as Nadia hides her secret, even from her best friend 

Aubrey. Soon Nadia, Luke and Aubrey are looking back on 

the decisions they all made that summer, and wonder what life 

would be like if they had done things differently. 

Bennett was born and raised in Southern California, 

and she uses her experience living in a contemporary black 

community in California to give excellent details to her book. 

The Mothers is Bennett’s first novel. 


The Best Kind of People 

by Zoe Whittall 

“What if someone you trusted was accused of 

the unthinkable?” 

George Woodbury, a teacher working for a prestigious prep 

school, is arrested for sexual impropriety. The Best Kind of 

People follows his wife, Joan, who’s angry and in denial, his 

daughter Sadie, who goes from a popular high school senior 

to an outcast, and his son Andrew, who assists in his father’s 

defense, but remembers the unhappiness of his teenage years. 

The family must relearn how to live their lives while 

questioning George’s guilt. 

sister of a brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people, uses her 

power to exploit and torture his enemies. Akos, coming from 

a peaceful nation called Thuyhe, and his brother are captured 

by the Shotet. He will stop at nothing to get him out alive. 

Both Cyra and Akos must decide to help each other, or follow 

their in family’s footsteps and destroy one another. 

Why We Came to the City 

Kristopher Jansma 

Jansma tells a story about young friends who are 

just five years out of college starting their lives in New 

York. The characters are finding their way through the 

big city: editor Sara Sherman; her boyfriend astronomer 

George Murphy, who’s dealing with addiction; 

“loudmouth poet” Jacob Blaumann, who is no longer the 

poet he used to be; William Cho, an investment banker; 

and Irene Richmond, an “enchanting artist.” When one 

friend falls incredibly ill, the characters are forced to step 

back and look at their lives and relationships as well as the 

one they have with the city they all chose. 

In Why We Came To The City, Jansma is living up to the 

high expectations set by his first book The Unchangeable 

Spots of Leopards as he describes his hometown through the 

eyes of young adults. 

Carve the Mark 

by Veronica Roth 

Roth, who is known for writing thrilling scenes that keep 

readers invested throughout all of her work, is the best-selling 

author of the Divergent series. Carve the Mark is a sci-fi novel 

that tells the story of Cyra and Akos, who have developed 

a unique power called currentgifts. Both characters’ gifts 

have made them vulnerable to the control of others. Cyra, the 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Hollywood’s 

Helping Hands 

By Emilee Benos 

We know our favorite celebrities 

from the movies they star in, from the 

albums they release and the runways 

they walk on, but they’re not always 

confined to their Hollywood bubble. 

Many use their fame as a platform to 

bring attention to important issues 

they are passionate about. 

While these celebs may have more 

money than we’ll ever see in our 

lifetimes, a lot of them put it to good 

use. Alice took a look at some of the 

most charitable celebrities and the 

causes they support. 

Emma Watson: HeForShe 

Watson serves as a U.N. Women’s 

Goodwill ambassador and has been 

actively involved in HeForShe, a U.N. 

women’s solidarity movement for 

gender equality, since the organization 

was formed in 2014. She hosted the 

HeForShe campaign launch event at 

the U.N. Headquarters in New York, 

where her speech on gender equality 

went viral. The campaign’s aim is 

to encourage men “to take action 

against inequalities faced by women,” 

according to the HeForShe website. 

HeForShe is based on the idea that 

“gender equality is a issue that affects 

all people.” 


Ian Somerhaulder: 

Ian Somerhaulder Foundation 

Another U.N. Goodwill ambassador, 

Somerhalder is vocal about his passion 

and dedication to environmental 

problems plaguing the world today. 

Known for his work in The Vampire 

Diaries and Lost, Somerhalder is 

also an avid environmentalist and 

humanitarian. Inspired by the oil 

spill in the Gulf Coast, he founded 

the Ian Somerhalder Foundation — 

an organization to advance science, 

promote conservation and provide relief 

to the distressed and underprivileged. 

According to the ISF website, the goal 

is to support and empower youths to 

action through programs that promote 

education and innovation, and build 

leadership and empathy skills. 

Miley Cyrus: Happy Hippie 

Cyrus’s organization garnered a lot 

of attention when she famously brought 

a homeless man to the 2014 VMAs 

as her date. In her own words, the 

Happy Hippie foundation’s mission is 

to “make sure those who question the 

value of themselves and their lives feel 

protected and loved.” The organization 

is dedicated to helping homeless youth, 

LGBT youth and other vulnerable 

populations by encouraging young 

people to fight injustices. 

Leonardo DiCaprio: 

Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation 

Ian Somerhalder isn’t the only 

leading man passionate about the 

environment. Leo founded the 

Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 

1998 at age 24. The LDF works to put 

an end to various environmental and 

humanitarian issues through grantmaking, 

initiating media projects and 

campaigning, according to the website. 

The LDF focuses on protecting the 

last of the world’s “wild places” and 

creating a balance between humans 

and nature. 

Jennifer Hudson: 

Julian D. King Gift Foundation 

Hudson founded the Julian D. King 

Gift Foundation in October 2008 in 

honor of her nephew Julian, who was 

killed by her sister’s ex-husband — 

the same man who killed Hudson’s 

mother and brother. According to 

the website, the Foundation offers 

“support and stability to children of 

all backgrounds.” Their goal is to help 

these children become “happy, healthy 

and confident adults.” Some of the 

foundation’s efforts include collecting 

and distributing Christmas presents 

and school supplies.

ENTERTAINMENT 

SECRETS 

OF SPOTIFY 

By Sarah Beth Bolin 

So you caved and finally subscribed to the studentdiscounted 

Spotify premium, the crowning glory of music 

streaming services. But you still don’t know how to do 

anything other than stream music from your computer. 

What’s the point of paying an extra $5 a month if you’re 

just going to use Spotify like any other streaming service? 

If you’re only using your Spotify account to listen to albums 

and user-generated playlists, you’re missing out on a ton of 

other features. Here’s a few tips and tricks to maximize your 

Spotify usage. 

Discover Weekly 

Discover Weekly is a weekly playlist engineered by Spotify 

to fit your tastes. Every Monday, Spotify analyzes what 

you’ve been listening to over the past week and selects new 

songs for you to try based on your playlists. Discover Weekly 

is one of the best ways to find new music, especially if you 

don’t know where to look or if the radio is a bore. 

Create Similar Playlists 

Have you ever really enjoyed a playlist but then grew tired 

of hearing the same songs over and over again? Spotify can 

help you out! Click the circle with the three dots in the header 

of your playlist, and select “Create Similar Playlist.” From 

there, Spotify will generate an inspired playlist very similar 

to your previous one and with the same number of songs. 

Audiobooks 

Sometimes when driving, it’s nice to listen to something 

other than music. Audiobooks can be the perfect background 

noise for a long road trip. From Pride and Prejudice to The 

Hobbit, Spotify offers books from every genre. The playlist 


“Audiobooks” and artist “DBS Audiobooks” carry hundreds 

of hours worth of classic novels and new releases, so you’ll 

always have something new to listen to. 

Offline Listening 

It can be frustrating when your jam session is interrupted 

by a poor Wi-Fi signal. With Spotify premium, however, 

you can save certain songs so they are downloaded on your 

device and will play while you’re offline. This feature can be 

very useful if you have bad service in certain areas, or if you 

run out of data for the month. 

Import Songs from iTunes 

Tired of having to switch back and forth between iTunes 

and Spotify? Make Spotify your primary venue for musiclistening 

by importing your songs from iTunes into Spotify. 

You can even import songs that aren’t available on Spotify, 

like Beyoncé’s Lemonade or all of Taylor Swift’s music. 

Select preferences on the desktop app, and scroll down to 

Local Files. There, you should be able to import any music 

that is saved on your computer’s hard drive. 

Mood Playlists 

Even Spotify knows that sometimes you need a playlist to 

compliment your mood. And in the pattern of Spotify’s everincreasing 

benefits, the service has accommodated those of 

us who like to dance it out whenever we have any sort of 

feelings. From “Confidence Boost” and “Happy Hits” to 

“Brain Food” and “Life Sucks,” there’s bound to be some 

sort of playlist that makes you think, “Wait, that’s exactly 

how I feel right now.” 

Artists Playlists 

Have you ever wondered what your favorite artists are 

listening to? Many artists who use Spotify as one of their 

main streaming services will let you know on their artist 

page. You can see their inspirations, all time favorites, or 

even their current go-to music. Now you finally have the 

chance to hear the music that inspires those who inspire you. 

Go to Song Radio 

Sometimes there’s that one song that dominates your mind 

and you can’t stop listening to over and over. When you 

finally get tired of it, you can visit a Spotify radio for that 

song, which includes similar music and other songs by the 

same artist. Click the three dots next to the song title and 

then “Go to Song Radio.” You’ll find yourself using all your 

old favorite songs to discover new favorites. * 

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ENTERTAINMENT 

The ladies changing the face of comedy 


By Mia Blackman 

While a stereotype may exist that 

men dominate comedy, there are many 

hilarious heroines out there who are 

squashing it once and for all. These 

ladies are killing the comedy game and 

making it known to all that women are 

just as funny as men. Here’s Alice’s 

list for the best female comedians to 

watch right now. 

ALI WONG 

Born in San Francisco, Cali., 

this UCLA graduate didn’t actually 

start doing stand-up until she was 

23. From there, Wong moved to New 

York to pursue her comedy dreams, 

and she began performing up to nine 

times a night. Wong has appeared 

on The Tonight Show, John Oliver’s 

New York Stand-Up Show and Dave 

Atell’s Comedy Underground Show. 

She has also appeared on Chelsea 

Lately numerous times and performed 

opposite Salma Hayek and Benicio 


Del Toro in the 2012 crime thriller 

Savages. Wong provocatively jokes 

about how racism can actually make a 

marriage stronger and how she thinks 

housewives have it better than working 

wives. Her current comedy special, 

Baby Cobra, is available on Netflix. 

KATHLEEN MADIGAN 

One of seven children in an Irish- 

Catholic family, Madigan attended the 

University of Missouri-St. Louis (and 

accumulated $7,000 in parking tickets) 

before later graduating from Southern 

Illinois University Edwardsville with a 

degree in journalism. She worked for 

the St. Louis-area Suburban Journals 

newspaper while also performing 

stand-up in local comedy clubs. Her 

father gave her the courage to follow 

her comedic calling, and she later left 

her life in Missouri to fully enter the 

comedy world. Madigan has appeared 

on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 

Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and 

Late Show with David Letterman. 

Madigan’s relatable comedy acts 

include rhetorics on the common 

struggle of going to the gym and what 

it was like growing up with her large 

family. She currently has two specials 

available on Netflix. 

JEN KIRKMAN 

This Massachusetts native has 

quite the impressive résumé when 

it comes to comedy and performing. 

Kirkman majored in acting at 

Emerson College in Boston and then 

went on to perform at several comedy 

clubs, including Hollywood Improv, 

The Laugh Factory, Largo and The 

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. She 

is a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately 

but has also appeared on Conan, 

released three comedy albums and 

written two episodes for the Disney 

Channel animated show Phineas and 

Ferb. Kirkman’s observational comedy 

takes us through the highs and lows 

of her love life, giving the audience 

insight into why she apologizes for

her honeymoon to single people and 

how after her divorce she refused to 

date anyone younger than her. Her 

newest special, I’m Gonna Die Alone 

(And I Feel Fine), is currently available 

on Netflix. 

TAMMY PESCATELLI 

From winning a comedic 

competition to writing and starring in 

her own reality show, this Ohio mother 

and wife has done it all. Pescatelli’s 

career promptly took off in 2004 

when she became a finalist on Last 

Comic Standing. Since then, she is 

constantly bringing smiles to people’s 

faces – appearing on numerous shows 

like The View, on several comedy radio 

stations on Sirius XM Radio and in 

The New York Post four times last year 

for funniest jokes. Pescatelli brings 

laughter as she tackles topics like body 

image and reminds everyone how we 

all have that one crazy friend. Her 

current special, Finding the Funny, is 

now available on Netflix. 

ANJELAH JOHNSON 

Best known for her hit MADtv 

character Bon Qui Qui, this former 

NFL cheerleader has been acting 

since she was a senior in high school. 

Johnson was fascinated with imitating 

different accents, and she studied 

speech communications at De Anza 

College. After a friend recommended 

she join a comedic writing class, 

Johnson moved to Los Angeles to take 

improv classes and pursue a career 

in comedy. She began to headline her 

own shows and was soon asked to join 

the cast of the sketch comedy show 

MADtv. Johnson has also appeared in 

a variety of movies like Marmaduke, 

Enough Said, and The Book of Life. 

Johnson keeps it down to earth by 

never forgetting her roots, and also by 

sharing her many hilarious encounters 

with strangers, most famously at 

the nail salon. She has currently has 

two specials available for streaming 

on Netflix. 

KITTY FLANAGAN 

This Australian comedian gives 

credit to her first production, Alice in 

Wonderland, for inciting her comedy 

cravings. Flanagan played a rabbit 

in the classic tale and the audience 

loved her performance so much that 

she knew comedy was her calling. 

She is a self proclaimed “attention 

seeker” and as a child would always 

put on shows with her two younger 

siblings. Flanagan is known as one of 

Australia’s funniest women, having 

appeared on Full Frontal, The Project, 

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, and 

Utopia. Including her observations on 

Australian politics and her peculiar 

confusion with burlesque shows, 

Flanagan uses a broad spectrum of 

topics to reach her audience. One of 

her specials, Hello Kitty Flanagan, is 

currently streaming on Netflix. * 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Tale as Old 

Your Comprehensive Guide to the New Beauty and 

the Beast, and its Auxiliary Pop Culture Magic 

By Mia Blackman 

A mind map is a visual illustration of information that includes 

a central idea surrounded by connected branches of connected 

topics. Disney’s live-action version of the classic Beauty and the 

Beast will be released this March, and there is a lot of pop culture 

goodness out there to get you #HYPE. Whether it be the actors 

who bring the characters to life, or related books, movies and 

musicals, we are sure you’ll find something in this list to get you 

immersed in “a tale as old as time.” 


as Time: 

The Cast 

Emma Watson 

Widely known for her portrayal as 

Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter 

series, Watson takes on the role of the 

brave Belle in the live-action rendition 

of Beauty and the Beast. After ending 

the Harry Potter series, she went on to 

act in several movies such as The Perks 

of being a Wallflower and The Bling 

Ring. Watson is also a big activist for 

women’s education and even completed 

her own, graduating from Brown with 

a degree in English literature. Along 

with Beauty and the Beast, Watson has 

another movie, which is a science-fiction 

drama called The Circle, set to release 

in April of this year. 

Dan Stevens 

A huge shift from his role as Matthew 

Crawley in the British drama 

television series Downton Abbey, Stevens 

has the distinct honor of bringing 

the Beast to life on the big screen. He 

began his career in theater with the 

role of Orlando in the Shakespearean 

play As You Like It, and has since performed 

in various plays, movies, and 

television series. Stevens has appeared 

in movies like Night at the Museum: Secret 

of the Tomb and A Walk Among the 

Tombstones plus has two more movies, 

Permission and Marshall, also set to be 

released in 2017. 

Luke Evans 

The Welsh actor and singer, who got 

his breakthrough role playing Apollo in 

Clash of the Titans, is bringing to life 

the character we all love to hate – the 

arrogant and athletic Gaston. Evans 

essentially began his career on stage 

and has appeared in many different 

productions including London’s West 

End shows Taboo, Rent, and Avenue Q. 

After starring in Clash of the Titans, 

he has been featured in a number of 

films including Dracula Untold, Furious 

7, and The Girl on the Train. He 

is currently filming Professor Marston 

& The Wonder Women, set to premiere 

later this year. 

Above: Emma Watson and Dan Stevens star in Beauty and the Beast / photo courtesy of Disney 


Romance Fantasy Books 

Poison Study 

A woman who is about to be executed 

for murder is given a choice: she 

can stay in lavish rooms and eat expensive 

food, but only if she becomes a 

food tester – a food tester for the commander 

of her country who happens to 

be wanted dead by several people. In a 

world where death is the consequence 

of a failed job, this novel written by 

Maria V. Snyder lets it be known that 

making choices may not always have 

such a clear outcome. 

The Curse of Chalion 

A damaged man has returned to the 

house he once served only to be named 

as the secretary-tutor to the sister of 

the boy who is next in line to rule the 

throne. Not only does he have to protect 

his student from enemies outside 

of the kingdom, but also face a dreaded 

curse that hangs over the heads of 

the royal family. The man must prove 

himself once again and enlist the help 

of the dark arts to prove his worth in 

this novel by Lois McMaster Bujold. 

Musicals 

The Lion King 

It’s the story of a brother betrayed. 

It’s the story of a king realizing his 

destiny. It’s a story that has been on 

Broadway for 14 years. The Lion King 

is a world-renowned Disney classic. 

The film first came to the stage in 

1997 and since then has had over 5,900 

performances and sold over 10 million 

tickets. Whether it be on the stage, on 

the screen or in a book the story that 

makes people sing their hearts out, 

this story will forever remain a classic. 

Wicked 

A story of two unlikely friends, the 

book-turned-musical is an alternate 

telling of The Wizard of Oz. It follows 

Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the 

West, and Galinda, the Good Witch, 

before and after Dorothy’s arrival to 

Oz. Through the musical, we see the 

characters struggle with their conflicting 

personalities and clash over a 

shared love interest. Wicked has shown 

over 5,120 shows, making it the 10th 

longest-running Broadway show. 

The Phantom of the Opera 

This is a tragic tale of love stunted 

by a man’s outward appearance. 

It is not Beauty and the Beast, but in 

fact a completely different tale. The 

Phantom of the Opera was first published 

in 1909 as a novel and has 

since been on both the screen and the 

stage. With its 7,486th show making 

the show the longest running show on 

Broadway, The Phantom continues to 

captivate audiences. 


Emma Watson and Kevin Kline in Beauty and the Beast / photo courtesy of Disney 


More Disney 

Live-Action 

Cinderella 

Originally released in 1950 and 

based on the Brothers Grimm fairy 

tale, this romantic tale about a fashion 

mishap was taken to the big screen 

in 2015. Lily James plays Cinderella 

while Richard Madden plays Prince 

Charming in the beautifully crafted 

live-action film. The classic tale is 

brought into the 21st century while 

still keeping its romantic story and 

magical whim. 

Maleficent 

Based on the vindictive villain from 

Sleeping Beauty, the live-action film 

starring Angelina Jolie gives a very 

different twist on the classic tale. It’s 

a story of romance, betrayal and vengeance 

all wrapped in a visually stunning 

feature. It turns out the original 

story of Sleeping Beauty may not have 

been that simple all along. 


By Serena Bailey 

Hearing your favorite artist or band 

through your headphones is nice and 

blasting the music through your car 

speakers is great. But jamming in 

your bedroom could never compare 

to listening to your favorite musician 

live surrounded by hundreds of others 

who are just as hyped as you are. Here 

are our picks for the best upcoming 

concerts that are sure to excite your 

musical passions all over again. 

Bon Jovi at 

BJCC Legacy Arena 

Feb. 16: Iconic rock band Bon Jovi 

will be rocking the BJCC Legacy 

Arena at 8 p.m. on Feb. 16. This 

1983 American rock band is known 

for classics like “You Give Love a Bad 

Name” and “It’s My Life,” and this 

concert is sure to be a hit. Don’t be 

“Livin’ On a Prayer” for these tickets 

– the price begins at $35.25 and can be 

bought at ticketmaster.com. 

Eric Church at 


Feb. 17: After more than a decade 

of creating country hits, Eric Church 

is known for hits like “Record 

Year,” “Drink in My Hand” and 

“Springsteen.” In February, Church 

will perform at 8 p.m. in the BJCC’s 

Legacy Arena, with tickets starting at 

$16 available at ticketmaster.com. 

Twenty One Pilots at 


Feb. 24: The American musical 

duo Twenty One Pilots will be at the 

Legacy Area at the BJCC at 7 p.m. 

Founded in 2009, the group gained 

large success in 2015 with their track 

“Blurryface” and their appearance on 

the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack 

with the hit song “Heathens.” Don’t 

get too “stressed out” looking for 

tickets, because they are available on 

ticketmaster.com. 

The Lumineers at 

Infinite Energy Center 

March 8: After releasing their 

self-titled debut album in 2012, the 

Lumineers found large success that 

year with one of their best-known 

songs, “Ho Hey.” Now boasting hits 

like “Ophelia,” they perform this 

spring in Duluth, Georgia, at the 

Infinite Energy Center at 7 p.m. 

Tickets for the show start at $39.50 

and can be bought at tickets.axs.com. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

firekid 

Q&A 

By Ellen Johnson 

Combining urban sounds with 

traditional bluegrass music is no easy 

feat, but one Alabama native is out 

there doing it, and doing it well. 

Dillon Hodges—or firekid as he is 

known in the music world—originally 

hails from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. 

Hodges’ firekid achieves the marriage of 

contemporary and bluegrass, synth and 

urban, pop and acoustic. Hodges first 

discovered music as a young boy as he 

competed in guitar competitions around 

the country. Now, he and his guitar are 

all grown up and making music for 

the masses. He’s played Bonnaroo, the 

Hangout Fest and toured with Passion 

Pit, and along the way firekid is picking 

up speed and winning over audiences. 

We chatted with Hodges about life, 

music, guitar and, of course, Alabama. 

Alice: When did you first become 

interested in music and how did 

you first begin making music? 

Hodges: My first real experience with 

music was listening to my parents’ 

southern gospel music in church and 

whatnot. I fell in love with guitar, and 

my next door neighbor offered to teach 

me. He was a bluegrass musician. I 

didn’t know anything about bluegrass 

music but it was my only option to learn 


guitar. I would go over to his house 

once a week and stay for four or five 

hours and sort of obsess over guitar. 

He started taking me to bluegrass 

festivals around the state of Alabama. I 

also felt like I was kind of nobody at my 

elementary school and I felt like playing 

guitar made me cooler, and I think it 

did in some ways. 

What genre would you describe 

yourself as? 

Hodges: We’ve gotten play on Alt Nation, 

so that’s alt rock. I don’t know if I really 

easily, cleanly fall into one category or 

genre. I grew up making rural music, 

but the production of the firekid music 

is a lot more modern and urban … I feel 

like it’s an evolving thing. I don’t think 

I’ve cracked the code on the sounds yet. 

I think really more than anything, it’s 

my life goal to break the gap between 

urban and rural music. 

Where did “firekid” come from? 

Hodges: I was going to these things 

[bluegrass festivals] at 11 and 12 years 

old. I was by far the youngest person 

hanging out with these old codgers. 

They all called me “kid.” That was 

my nickname. Firekid was kind of a 

nickname that I carried around for a 

while. When I went out to [Los Angeles] 

to start working on what became the 

firekid project my producer called me 

“kid” and it just sort of stuck as a 

nickname. It didn’t feel necessarily 

right to just say Dillon Hodges, but 

firekid felt right. 

Who are your biggest musical 

inspirations? 

Hodges: The thing I’m shooting for 

hasn’t been done convincingly too many 

times. But I listen to a lot of the bluegrass 

traditional music. Ralph Stanley, Doc 

Watson, Tony Rice – those are kind of 

my favorite bluegrass musicians. Then 

on the other end of the spectrum I love 

like Broken Bells and Gorillaz and some 

of these sorts of bands who mix acoustic 

and electronic elements. So I try to pull 

from both sides, from the urban side 

of things and the more traditional side 

of things. 

Who inspired you growing up to 

pursue your dreams in music? 

Hodges: It’s kind of amazing. When I 

was going to these festivals some of them 

happened to be instrumental contests. 

So you compete on guitar against other 

guitarists of all ages. My parents really 

took to it to take me all over the country 

to these things. My parents were the 

ones that really enabled me to take it as 

far as it would go. I had mentors who

helped me as well, but my parents were 

the ones who gave me the ability and all 

the tools I needed to take it all the way. 

How has being from the South, 

specifically Alabama, influenced 

your music? 

Hodges: I saw a lot of the state growing 

up, not just Florence, Alabama, and 

Muscle Shoals where I grew up. When 

I was a sophomore in high school I just 

looked up for the first time and realized, 

“Hey, I live in Florence, where there is an 

amazing history of recorded music and 

artists.” I started listening and diving 

into the Muscle Shoals music catalogue. 

That’s when I really learned to love 

to sing. 

Where do you draw inspiration 

for songwriting? 

Hodges: My songs mostly come from 

conversations that I have with friends. 

It’s almost like a sickness that comes 

over me when I’m writing. When I’m 

in writing mode, I’ll just be having 

a conversation with someone and I’ll 

turn and write it down. Then I visit it 

later and turn it into a song. A lot of 

it comes from real life experiences and 

just casual conversations with friends. 

What is one of your favorite songs 

to perform and why? 

Hodges: Obviously people love when we 

do “Magic Mountain” or “Lay by Me.” 

I get a rise when I play “Americana 

Dream.” It’s a nice moment to have a 

conversation with a crowd. I always 

change the lyrics a little bit to fit the 

room I’m in, to fit the mood of the 

crowd. And it’s always fun because I 

never know what’s going to happen or 

how people will react. 

As a whole, how do you think 

bluegrass influences American 

music today? 

Hodges: I couldn’t believe it when I 

heard Mumford and Sons on the radio 

for the first time. I had this moment 

of thinking “Wait, bluegrass music 

could be cool?” I was going to school 

and trying to impress people with my 

playing bluegrass music. It felt like 

overnight, bands were successful. People 

were buying banjos. I certainly saw it 

firsthand. People are more acceptive to 

music like this now. It’s been made more 

approachable to them. 

What do you hope your fans get out 

of your music? 

Hodges: I hope it takes them to a 

place. I don’t want to dictate what 

their experience is, but I just hope it 

takes and removes them from whatever 

they’re living in. I hope it’s an escape 

for them. Really all I want is to create 

an atmosphere, an experience, with my 

music. I want to transport people, make 

them live in my world for a minute. 

- 

Throughout the winter of 2016, 

Hodges has been taking a break from 

touring and instead preparing to work 

on his second album. In the meantime, 

his self-titled album firekid is available 

on iTunes and to stream on Spotify. 

Artist 

Fun Fact 

As a native of northwest Alabama, Hodges has performed 

at many local restaurants, festivals and more in the Shoals 

area. The sketch on the left was drawn by an audience member 

during Hodge’s 2012 lunchtime performance at the Trojan 

House, a sandwich shop located in Muscle Shoals. That 

audience member’s name is Maria Oswalt — who now serves 

as the creative director for Alice. Oswalt fondly remembers 

attending many of Hodge’s performances growing up in the 

Shoals. It’s a small world!

Alice Vol. 2 No. 2

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