Alice Volume 8 Issue 2

Spring 2023
Indigenous Brands
Native-owned brands on the rise.
Swimsuit is Not a Size
Every body is a swimsuit body.
Women in Racing
A sit down with the women of
UA’s Formula SAE team.
Flourish

Letter from
the Editor
Models Emilia Obilites & Nadia Hollis
Photo Sarah Hartsell
When I think of the modern college woman, I think of someone
who is strong yet vulnerable, determined yet hesitant and trendsetting yet
still traditional. I know those adjectives contradict each other, but that’s the
point. Women cannot be described with one word or one particular set of
adjectives.
Since its conception, Alice has aimed to feature every college
woman, on all sides of our campus. This year we’ve introduced “Woman of
the Month” web story features, we have been able to give all college women
a platform and show off how women are flourishing in their majors, clubs
and lives. Our social media platforms have highlighted women on our
staff that have gone above and beyond when contributing to our magazine.
But most importantly, Alice has reached more people than ever before.
From an insanely successful Volume 8, Issue 1 launch, to record-breaking
Instagram engagement to more tabling events than ever before, we’ve
taken Alice to the next level.
When I first became Editor-in-Chief, I had one goal: to help Alice flourish in
any capacity I could. And as I look at our staff, web and social media content, I can
proudly check off that box. We’ve increased our web postings to almost eight new
stories a month, garnered record followings on Instagram and featured more photo
stories than ever before. Starting at this magazine four years ago, gave me a platform I
never thought I would have and I am so thankful.
I’m thankful that our editorial staff felt comfortable enough to give others a
platform, that our advisors trusted us enough to try new ideas and that our readers
kept coming back for more.
Once again, this could not have happened without our staff. I’m thankful
that Evy Gallagher answers my 10 p.m. web content phone calls, that Emma Coons
promptly answers all my Slack messages (about anything and everything) and I’m
thankful that Sarah Hartsell always sees the bigger creative vision when I’m lost in
nitpicking things. I’m thankful our writing editors worked their tails off to bring 21
in-print stories to life, our creative editors worked under quick deadlines and rain
restrictions and our digital editors continue to go above and beyond to improve
our socials. Our staff is flourishing. All of our staff from the editorial team to our
contributors always give their all to Alice and you can see that in the pages of Volume
8, Issue 2. We’ve given our best advice yet from the ins and outs of the Tuscaloosa
Farmers Market to why you shouldn’t be shamed for female pleasure, we’ve given you
the keys to flourish as a woman in college. Plus, we’ve sprinkled some our favorite pop
culture moments too, such as a quiz to see which Taylor Swift Era you are.
The last thing I’ll say is thank you for trusting me with your magazine. It has
been my honor to serve in this role. You have made Alice all that it is and everything
we do is for you, our readers.
To everyone who sees themselves in Alice,
Jennafer Bowman, Editor-in-Chief
FOLLOW US!
JOIN US!
Alice Spring 2023 1

writing
the people behind the pages
Jennafer Bowman
Editor-in-Chief
writing
CONT RIBUTORS
Elena Giorgi, Emily Benito, Faedra
Charlton-Perrin, Julie Linehan,
Perrin Larkin, Catherine Lackey,
Madison Miller, Laura Brooks. Shane
O’Shaughnessy, Grace Owens, Ashley
Clemente, Lila Gallagher, Ellie Lopez.
Alena Robinson, Chloe Mackey
Evy Gallagher
Managing Editor
Leslie Klein
Beauty Editor
Peyton Oden
Fashion Editor
Elisabeth Bernard
Food & Health Editor
digital
creative
CONT RIBUTORS
Katie Harmon, Sarah Mitchell, Jennifer
Kreppel, Jennifer Stroud, Mckenna
Myrick, Emma Mae Burtnett
digital
Emie Garrett
Entertainment Editor
Caroline Karrh
Features Editor
Perri Larkin
Web Editor
Sarah Hartsell
Creative Director
Emma Coons
Digital Director
Beth Wheeler
Marketing Editor
CONT RIBUTORS
Rachel Nguyen, Jordan Copenhaver,
Megan Davis, Holly Koudelka, Jennifer
Kreppel, Paige Keene, Hailey Morton
Emma Kate Standard
Photo Editor
Rebecca Martin
Asst. Photo Editor
Sarah Smith
Design Editor
Meagan Riordan
Asst. Design Editor
Addie McCrary
Social Media Editor
Annie Jicka
Videography Editor
2 alice.ua.edu
creative
Alice Spring 2023 3

Table
of
Beauty
8 Need to Know: Indigenous Beauty Brands
10 Timely Trends
12 A Hot Girl’s Guide to Summer Hairstyles
14 The Natural Scent to Neutral Beauty
18 An Empowering Woman’s Beauty Routine
20 Beauty Gone Viral
Fashion
24 Spring Trend Forecast
26 Which It-Girl Are You?
28 Fashionably Accessible
Entertainment
44 Your Next Chapter
46 Which Taylor Swift Era are You?
Food & Health
50 Swimsuit is Not a Size
52 A Hop, Skip and Hot Girl Walk Away:
Bettering Mental Health Through Exercise
54 T-Town Coffee Guide
56 Turning Dreams into Dishes
58 Saturday Morning Adventures
60 What Your Chipotle Order Says About You
Contents
Lifestyle
32 The New Age of Politics
36 Women in Racing
20 Who Taught You That?
40 A Local’s Guide to the South
Features
66 Roll Pride: Gender Non-Conforming
Experiences at UA
70 Aim for the Stars: Women in Astrobotics
72 When the Party’s Over: The Realities of
Addiction in College

Beauty
8 Need to Know: Indigenous Beauty Brands
10 Timely Trends
12 A Hot Girl’ s Guide to Summer Hairstyles
14 The Natural Secret to Natural Beauty
18 An Empowering Woman’s Beauty Routine
20 Beauty Gone Viral
Models TaylorLech & Sa’Niah Dawson
Photo Rebecca Martin

Need to Know:
Indigenous
Beauty Brands
By Leslie Klein
Globally, beauty exists everywhere, but
in our modern society, it exists only to
please the eye. Many well-known beauty
brands tend to forget that the world
exists in different colors. Therefore,
they do not include a variety of darker shades in items
such as foundation and concealer. This causes issues
across cultures and races due to the exclusion of darker
tones. Although some brands may not realize their
mistakes, the people who are not being represented feel
them. The answer that hits closest to home for these
excluded individuals and those who understand their
pain is inclusive brands, and who better to turn to than
indigenous companies? These businesses are highly
relatable and are prepared to help anyone feel like their
unique and authentic self.
BISON STAR NATURALS –bisonstarnaturals.com
Bison Star Naturals is a native-owned body care
company founded by husband and wife Angelo and
Jacqueline McHorse. The idea of their company emerged
in 2013 but was truly put into play in 2018. As a family
brand, they create and sell only natural and organic
products. Their items range from lotion to breath mints.
The goal of this company originated from a product
that they originally created for themselves. The creation
of their lotion came after their firstborn. Jacqueline
was noticing a difference in her hair, and her skin was
8 alice.ua.edu
constantly dry, so she created an all-natural lotion to
help her body heal, and it worked wonders.
“We decided to create our own company not
only to provide clean products to ourselves and our
community, but also to create an economic opportunity
where we couldn’t find one for ourselves,” McHorse, cofounder
of Bison Star Naturals says.
They gear their marketing toward a similar
demographic as themselves, such as people who are
intrigued by tourism, travel, health, food and national
parks. Their love of travel truly shows through the fact
that in 2022, their product began selling in Yellowstone
National Park at the Old Faithful Inn gift shop. This
brand is openly inclusive to all customers, which is
shown through the actions they take and the words that
they speak. Their items do not contain any harmful
products, animal testing or chemicals. Finding the
perfect body care can be a difficult task, but with Bison
Star Naturals, it doesn’t have to be.
A message from the owners; “You’re never
going to know unless you try, so you have to just jump
off that cliff and take a leap of faith. Well calculated of
course.”
SATYA ORGANICS – satyaorganics.com
A beautiful company started for a beautiful
reason, Satya Organics. Patrice Mousseau, founder of
this company began her journey on a budget, and in a
crockpot. Her skin relief products are almost too good
to be true. The goal was to create a formula that was
fragrance free and non-toxic, and that is exactly what
she accomplished.
With the help of her journalism experience,
she began researching traditional medicine. After her
endless nights of research, Satya was born.
Satya contains five simple ingredients: organic
calendula petals, organic cold pressed sweet almond
oil, organic beeswax, organic cold pressed jojoba and
organic colloidal oatmeal. Her products are safe to use
anywhere on the skin and are FDA and dermatologist
approved as well as compostable and refillable.
Although it seems like this formula is something that
Mousseau spent her whole life creating, she created it
based on her baby’s needs.
“I originally made it for my baby’s eczema, and
it cleared up her rash in two days,” Mousseau says.
While she had no plan to become a business
owner, the reviews from others made it seem unfair
to not have this on the market. About a year later, the
business was officially born. This brand expanded
within the blink of an eye. Whole Foods even offered
to sell her skin products in stores, and within two
months, these products went from selling in 70 stores
to 400. Soon, these numbers will double, and her
products will be anywhere from 800 to 900 stores.
Instead of being sold in a formula with chemicals and
toxins, try out this natural, pro-active and organic
brand.
A message from the owner; “Don’t wait. It
evolves. Build your own community and don’t listen
to the system.
AH-SHI BEAUTY – ahshibeauty.com
Ah-Shi Beauty. Ah-Shi in Navajo stands
for “This is me” or “This is mine.”
Design by Meagan Riordan
Therefore, Ah-Shi Beauty is founded on being
beautiful in whatever way feels good. This company
sells all-inclusive makeup for anyone. They carry
blush, foundation, mascara and more. Founder, Ahsaki
Chacher had the goal of representing those who have
had minimal representation in the beauty world and
has succeeded.
“Growing up in mass media, we just never had
representation,” Chacher says. “You know, it’s time.
It’s time we have a brand that truly represents the
people respectfully, correctly and most importantly,
authentically.”
She has grown her brand to be the perfect mix
between modern and traditional makeup so that all are
welcome.
“[The foundation of the brand] is so open to
where everyone feels included, and that’s what I really
love about the brand,” Chacher says.
Supporting this company builds community
and respect for all of those who have been left out of
the system for far too long. Ah-Shi translates to “the
five finger beads of all skin shades.” The name of the
company roots from self-love and targets an audience
that consists of anyone willing to understand deeper
meaning. The wide variety of face makeup shades
show the truth behind her words of being inclusive
to all. Chacher stresses the fact that blemishes and
pimples are normal, and her brand is not for covering
up imperfections, but only to enhance natural beauty.
Whether someone is looking to only wear lip balm
or a full face, Chacher and her brand have the perfect
products for all.
A message from the owner; “The only person
that can truly stop you is yourself. Don’t let those
limitations, don’t let those barriers, don’t let lack of
resources or fear stop you from being your true self;
your authentic self.”
Alice Spring 2023 9

Timely Trends
The most popular trends through the decades.
By Lila Gallagher
T
Trends are ever-changing, each year bringing about
a new “hot” style and “must-have pieces.” In the
last 15 years, beauty and fashion have evolved
immensely; from fierce cat-eyes in 2010, to the
“no-makeup makeup” look of 2023. As far back as
the roaring 20s, trends have swept the nation, keeping entire
countries in a chokehold for years at a time–some even
making a comeback decades later. Take a look into the most
popular trends of the century and maybe even of the future.
1920s - Finger Waves
Welcome to the roaring 20s, where flappers and
young women alike set their eyes on this revolutionary hairstyle.
Created using a wet comb and, of course, your fingers,
the hot new look was quick and easy. These waves were
the talk of the town or speakeasies more like. Popularized
mainly by flappers in jazz clubs, this hairstyle added spice to
the common bob haircut worn by many women at the time;
an exciting, somewhat risqué new do. Though this look is
quintessential 1920s, listen to Jay Gatsby himself when he
says “Can’t repeat the past Why, of course you can!”
1950s - Red Lip
While Taylor Swift made the iconic red lip
her brand, the trend originally made its big break in
the 1950s; just look at Olivia Newton-John
in “Grease.”
Again, even though Sandy Olsson rocked the
red lip and tight leather outfit, this bright lipstick was
initially worn by none other than Marilyn Monroe.
The red lip became a classic staple in every makeup
bag, all thanks to old Hollywood and film. To this
day, this statement look is sure to make heads turn.
1980s - Perms
The bigger, the better. The 1980s were all
about the hair: curly, teased, poofy – you name it. In
a possible rebellion against the straight-haired 1970s,
perms were the only answer. Around 1982, perms
began to take the U.S. by storm. Paired with bright,
dramatic makeup looks, the ladies of the 1980s
were not afraid to draw a little attention. Unlike the
timeless red lip, perms seem to have fallen out of
trend since their peak in the mid-1980s and maybe
for good reason.
“I never hopped on the perm trend because
they just weren’t my style,” Claudia
Brust, 81 from Williamsport,
Pennsylvania, says. “I did, however,
use light eyeshadow that was always
blue or green, and I paired it with
blush and different
colored lipstick.”
2000s - Thin Brows
Diamonds are a girl’s best
friend? Not in the early 2000s at
least. In this age, tweezers were
definitely a girl’s best friend. Thin
brows were all the rage. Much like
the bushy brows of today, paper-thin
eyebrows completed the early 2000s
look. This trend commandeered the
beauty world one pluck at a time.
“Thin brows were it,” Madison Messer, fashion
blogger (@sweetteawithmadi), says. “I luckily had
darker brows and my mom stopped me from waxing too
heavily, but I got them as skinny as I could. Once thicker
brows came back in style it was so hard for me to get my
brows to grow back. I also regret changing my natural
shape so heavily.”
2010s - Heavy Contour
Thanks to Kim Kardashian, contour became the
next big thing when the 2010s came around. Unlike thin
brows, or perms, contouring has become a crucial part
of many makeup routines to this day. Kim Kardashian
shared her very own technique on Instagram, and once
again she became the founder of yet another hot trend.
Whether it’s cream or powder, the right contour routine
will have your face looking as snatched as ever.
2020s - Slick-Back Hairstyles
With only three years under its belt,
the new decade has already brought some
showstopping trends to the table.
Honorable mentions: slugging,
copper colored hair and “cold
girl” makeup. The one to
beat them all though, is
“Can’ t repeat
the past? Why,
of course you
can!
“
the slicked hairstyles. Achieved using gel, a brush and a
near impossible amount of patience, these hairstyles are
guaranteed to elevate any look on any hair.
“Right now, I feel like the popular trends are
kind of picked from the last 10 years or so,” Donnamy
Steele, cosmetologist @donnamyrose, says. “We have the
clean girl glowy foundation look from 2022, the feather
brows from 2017, the overlined lips of 2016 which are a
homage to the 1990s, and more. I love the clean girl look
and I’ve personally kept to that lately – especially if I
want to rock a bold lip color. It’s a beautiful combo.”
Although not everyone can be a trend-setter,
who knows what beauty hack or look will blow up
overnight, making its way into the hands and minds of
beauty lovers everywhere. A little piece of advice – don’t
throw out your old and out-of-style products when the
next trend surfaces. After all, what goes around comes
around…even when it
shouldn’t.
Design by Sarah Smith
Photos by EK Standard
Models Emilia Oblites & Elizabeth Rice
Alice Spring 2023 11

By Alyson Scherer
With summer just around the corner, many have
already begun thinking about what kinds of
activities there are going to get into: spending
every day by the pool, going to the beach, spending time
with family, working or even summer classes. No matter
what the plans are, one thing is for certain – one of the
first things people may notice is someone’s hair.
Hair is a very delicate and beautiful part of any
person, and requires a lot of care. No matter the type, style,
texture or color, hair care is self-care; to feel good, the
whole body and all aspects of it must be well taken care
of—including hair.
If there is a worry about what to do with different types of
hair, or even just need some inspiration, look no further.
Here are what this summer’s hottest hairstyles will include,
and how to care for all hair to up the confidence this
season.
Goddess Knotless Braids
Noa Williams, a sophomore chemical engineering
major at The University of Alabama, says that goddess
knotless braids are a very popular hairstyle for women
during the summer. These braids are a cute and chic
twist on classic knotless braids. Braids in general are
very versatile, but when it comes to colors; pops such as
red, pink, blonde and purple can be added to show off
personality. Whether worn put up or left down, goddess
knotless braids are perfect for the summertime.
To take care of braids, Jocelyn Dean, a Tuscaloosa
hair braider and stylist with more than 10 years of
experience, recommends “keeping your scalp oiled with
plant-based hair oil, keeping your hair covered with a
bonnet at night and covering your hair while you shower”
in order to keep braids looking fresh and new.
For Women with Alopecia
Dean recommends that “a professional should
look at the scalp to determine exactly what’s
going on,” and for those with severe hair loss,
wigs are a great way to personalize hair to
whatever looks best. It is important to
know what exactly is causing
alopecia; for example, with traction
alopecia, it is best to keep hair out of
tight styles, and instead wear looser
ponytails, braids or hairstyles with
thicker braids or locs.
For Women Looking to
Grow their Hair
“Hair growth
starts within you,”
Dean says. “Try
first changing
foods that are high in protein and biotin. She also
suggests “keeping your scalp stimulated,” and to, use
“lemon, avocado, oils and cucumber” as organic hair
masks in order to encourage hair growth. Since these are
all-natural ingredients, the worry about damage from
chemicals typically found in haircare products, such as
sulfates, parabens, alcohols and heavy fragrances, will be
diminished.
Locs
Another great style for summer is locs, however,
lots of patience is required as locs can be seen as a
journey of growth and development. To keep locs
healthy and nourished, Dean says “natural rose water
and plant-based oils” are wonderful, and that people
with locs should “leave any [hair] covering off while you
shower, and then place it back on your head as soon as
possible afterwards to retain moisture.”
Try not to damage hair with harsh dyes or
chemicals, such as those found in chlorinated pools,
though if you can’t resist a pool day, shower immediately
after getting out of the pool.
Blonde Waves
Marlee Eisenhardt, a freshman psychology and
law major at The University of Alabama, loves bright,
blonde wavy hair, held up with a claw clip if needed.
“Blonde is a definite yes for the summertime — it’s one
of the hair colors envisioned in a cute summer look, and
beach waves are always a classic,” Eisenhardt says.
Of course, if coloring hair or swimming
is a frequent summer activity, a deeply nourishing
conditioner is a must-have. One recommended way
to take care of dyed hair is a sulfate-free shampoo
and conditioner set from L’Oréal, Ever Pure Moisture
Shampoo and Ever Pure Moisture Conditioner,
especially in the rosemary scent. Both come in a purple
bottle with a pink cap, and together cost around $14.
The bottom line is, haircare and style preferences
are personalized and vary widely, so take advantage of
every opportunity provided to switch it up and go with
whatever works your specific hair. Even better, there are
natural haircare products, color or bleach-safe products,
organic products, dyes made for sensitive scalps, natural
wigs and extensions, synthetic wigs and extensions and
really anything else imaginable—do some experimenting
and see what works and looks best.
While some styles can be
expensive to upkeep, hair
care is generally not too
pricy. Drugstores, beauty
supply stores, online
sites and bulk stores
sell haircare products
for sometimes even a
fraction of the price,
making haircare
accessible to just
about anyone.
Design by Sarah Mitchell
Photos by Emma Mae Burtnett
Models Brooke Pyburn & Jerusha Kinyanjui
Alice Spring 2023 13

The Natural Secret to Natural Beauty:
A Guide to Holistic Skincare
14 alice.ua.edu
By Ashley Clemente
With ever-changing beauty trends, it
can be extremely difficult to find
routines and products that suit
each individual skin type. One
consistent remedy throughout
the history of skin care is the holistic route. Holistic
skin care focuses on healing the skin by caring for
the entire body. The skin is the last organ to be
affected by what goes into the body, so by the time
dehydration and poor diet affect the skin, the body
is already at a disadvantage. When investment in
overall health from the inside out occurs, those tenstep
routines become far
less necessary.
The basics of holistic skin care are just
that: basic. Individuals who have struggled with
acne know the pain of being told, “just drink more
water,” “eat better,” and “get more sleep.” This can be
extremely frustrating, especially when dealing with
cystic or hormonal acne. However, holistic skincare
and natural remedies place emphasis on embracing
the natural self. Equal importance should be placed
on health and protection of the body as well as the
mind. With that being said, there are certain benefits
associated with taking the time and care to hydrate
and rest.
Molly Robert, a senior at The University of
Alabama majoring in kinesiology, explains, “I find
that I feel more energized and stronger when I am
hydrated and well-rested. I notice a huge difference
from when I would neglect my gut health to when
I made the conscious decision to take care of my
body, and now I cannot imagine not getting enough
sleep or water.”
Giving the body enough water to function
assists with repairing and fortifying the moisture
barrier on both face and body. This, paired with that
ever-important eight hours of sleep, allows the body
to heal and regenerate healthy skin cells. Similarly,
eating a balanced diet is crucial to a holistic skin
care routine. According to an article by certified
dermatologist Dr. Michelle Jeffries, the focus of the
holistic mindset is to care for the entire body equally.
Making sure to include fruits, healthy fats and high
fiber foods, such as chia seeds and lentils, will boost
skin strength, elasticity and gut health.
The final focus is to work on managing stress
and anxiety. Whether by meditating in the morning
before the day begins or removing toxic people
from daily life, taking care of mental health is just
as important as physical health for a well-rounded,
holistic care routine.
As for the skin itself, products and routines
can be a hassle to test out. When brands release new
products, they can easily become viral trends on
social media. But which products are useful, and
which are unnecessary or even harmful?
Start with the ingredient list. While
sometimes overwhelming, it is just as crucial to
be aware of what is going on the skin as what is
Alice Spring 2023 15

eing ingested. Many products contain harsh chemicals
that cause more harm than good. According to Healthline,
parabens, phthalates and benzoyl peroxide are all
commonly used ingredients that everyone should try to
avoid. that cause more harm than good. According to
Healthline, parabens, phthalates and benzoyl peroxide
are all commonly used ingredients that everyone should
try to avoid.
According to Natasha Grigorian, an esthetician
based in Atlanta, Georgia, “products to avoid also include
essential oils, coconut oil applied directly to the
skin and harsh scrubs. These products are too dry and
cause congestion in the pores.”
Grigorian goes on to explain that Vitamin C,
moisturizer and sunscreen are the perfect basics for any
skincare routine. Vitamin C is an anti-aging product
that protects against and prevents wrinkles. Similarly,
sunscreen with zinc oxide as the primary ingredient
protects the skin from harmful UV rays and keeps the
skin looking healthy and youthful.
In holistic care, other ingredients
such as aloe, glycolic acid,
niacinamide and
hyaluronic acid
are what to look
for. Aloe is a
natural antiinflammatory
that also
reduces
redness
and
kills
bacteria on the skin. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
restore the skin barrier and add further moisture. Plus,
glycolic acid is a gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin
cells and other bacteria in the pores.
“Skincare brands can make promises based on
little to no real proof,” Maddo Adams, a senior majoring
in advertising at The University of Alabama says. “It is
exceedingly important to really research products before
using them, because finding the right ones with the best
ingredients can be the key to skin health.”
Products that are labeled as organic, cruelty free
and vegan are also usually the best for all skin types.
Above all else, moisture is key. Whether an
individual has dry, patchy or oily skin, find a repairing,
fortifying, long-lasting moisturizer with ingredients such
as colloidal oatmeal to really bring out the natural glow.
Keep in mind: less is more. According to an article by
The Good Trade, having an extensive skincare routine
can be redundant, as layering on too many products will
not allow them all to do their job properly. It is more
beneficial in the long run to have a simple but perfected
routine, rather than a long list of products in which the
ingredients may interact poorly on the skin.
Consistency with trying new products is equally
as vital, as well as ensuring when making switches to
new products to try them one at a time with the current
routine, rather than altering the whole routine at once.
Taking the time to switch one at a time, and to allow
enough time for the product to take effect is crucial when
seeing what products work for each skin type. This allows
the skin to adjust to new products without the effects of a
purging breakout.
Why make the switch to holistic care? Whereas
popular trends push paid advertisements for products,
and many celebrities and influencers have the skin of an
angel without any effort, holistic care places emphasis on
the natural. This includes natural beauty, in all aspects,
and care. The holistic mindset focuses on self-care, in
both physical and mental health. Take care of body and
mind the same way Mother Earth would and watch the
benefits unfold.
16 alice.ua.edu
Design by Sarah Smith
Photos by Jennifer Stroud
Models Elizabeth Rice & Kyla Knickrehm
Alice Spring 2023 17

An Empowering
Woman ‘ s Beauty Routine
Powerful women on UA’s campus share their beauty routines.
By Marlee Eisenhardt
Trinity Hunter, Chair of Blackburn Institute,
Senior, Public Relations and Political Science
“I feel more confident in [makeup], but I wish
I didn’t,” Hunter says. “…I think part of it comes from
being Black at a predominately white institution too. I
have always felt less naturally beautiful than my majority
white counterparts, and that is an insecurity I am just now
starting to work through…I’m hopeful that I will be able
to have more of a healthy relationship with makeup in the
future. It really is such a beautiful outlet for many people
to express themselves.”
Hunter’s go-to beauty look is the Fenty Face Tint,
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer and a
ponytail, though she tends to focus on her eyes since it’s
her favorite part of her look. Hunter goes for a smokey
eye with gold shimmer because of the compliment it gives
to her skin. Hunter always finishes off a look with vanilla
scented perfume. “I think it’s simple and sweet,” she says.
The wonderful women stated in this article have
each shown different perspectives on their idea of this
societal stereotype of women in power wearing makeup.
In general, all women’s standpoint on this is different.
While some feel more confident with makeup others do
not feel the need for it. An anonymous source spoke and
says, “Wearing makeup does not affect my work but I
can see that it affects others. Some women are not taken
as seriously as others if they do not adhere to the beauty
standards, but it is all about perspective and varies by
person.”
Modern beauty is defined as “the quality of being
pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or
something that gives great pleasure, especially
when you look at it.” For example, models that you
see in ads on TV or TikTok “get ready with me” stars.
Empowering women have qualities that are deeper
than what meets the eye. These women are confident,
intelligent, resourceful and plenty of other qualities
attributing to themselves aside from makeup and the
standard “beauty.”
Maya Fletcher, Epic Mentor, Sophomore,
Mechanical Engineering
“I do not use my looks or makeup to gain respect,
I use my intelligence,” Fletcher says. Serving as a mentor,
representative and regularly attending engineering
events., Fletcher is involved in a lot across campus. Being
in the engineering field, there is an automatic judgement
from people as a woman walks through the door, but
she’s experienced a difference in respect and treatment
received just from her hair and makeup.
Fletcher’s makeup routine is clean and simple;
concealer, eyebrow pencil, finishing powder, lipstick,
blush, and mascara. One trick she shares is to use lipstick
as blush, specifically the Nyx lingerie lipstick.
Cline Smith, Vice President of Outreach for
Beat Auburn Beat Hunger, Junior, Public
Relations
“There is a societal stereotype for wearing
makeup nowadays,” Smith says, in which she does
not agree with. In today’s time, makeup is such an
important thing and is almost expected of women to
wear, especially women in power who have duties and
responsibilities to fulfill.
Smith goes by the saying, ‘you look good, you feel
good.’ Doing her job and feeling good while looking good
is a confidence booster as she tables and works with the
media. As much as she loves to dress down, some days go
by smoother and have a better aura when she has a fresh
shower and makeup.
On a casual day, Smith’s makeup routine is sleek
and simple; she uses foundation and concealer, tinted
moisturizer, bronzer (sometimes even as eyeshadow), the
new eyeshadow-eyeliner smudged look, a voluminous
mascara, blush, and her favorite part, Vaseline.
Ashlee Woods, Editor-in-Chief of 1956
Magazine, Junior, News Media
“I’m fairly confident in myself, so whether or not
I’m wearing makeup, I feel confident in my own skin,”
Woods says. “I look good with it on, and I look good
when I’m barefaced.”
While Woods doesn’t wear makeup everyday,
when she does wear it, she makes sure her skin is
properly taken care of beforehand with products such as
Equate exfoilating scrub and a fragrance-free lotion.
Woods’ makeup routine is fun yet professional
with Maybelline FitMe foundation, concealer and power,
plus a gold eyeshadow look. She also recommends elf lip
liners due to their “pigmentation” and ability to “elevate
the most basic lip look”.
18 alice.ua.edu
Design by Sarah Smith
Alice Spring 2023 19

Beauty Gone Viral
Are the avatars we use on social media reflective of real life?
In a world where finding one’s identity is hard enough,
the internet realm has made it harder. With recent
advances in technology, virtual realities are more and
more prevalent. On an even smaller scale, everyday mobile
applications are introducing the idea of a virtual persona.
With the adaptation of a virtual realm comes virtual
characters that are subject to “virtual beauty”.
Viral beauty is the customization and glamorization
of online avatars. Platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook
and Instagram, users can completely customize a virtual
avatar to resemble (or not resemble) their human features.
This avatar can go to virtual meetings, be sent in texts as
an emoji, have action in a gif and many more options.
With these avatars, customization occurs from
setting a skin tone to applying
makeup to selecting an outfit.
Online beautification of
these avatars can be
both a means of
self-expression
and furthering
of the already
prevalent societal
expectations.
The viral beauty being
referred to is strictly
virtual, however has
rippling effects to the
physical world as well.
Perhaps the
most
popular
virtual
avatar
on the
market is
the Bitmoji.
While Bitmoji
has its own app,
it is most used
on Snapchat. The
20 alice.ua.edu
By Beth Wheeler
Bitmoji is not only a way to create a cartoon of oneself,
but it also allows users to use it as an “emoji” in texts,
gifs, etc. Bitmojis can have moods, expressions and poses.
In addition to the Bitmoji, there are Facebook avatars,
Instagram avatars and for the technologically advanced, the
Metaverse avatar.
So, do these cartoons push further societal
standards? Are they diverse enough for every user?
Khaiah Burroughs, a senior at The University
of Alabama majoring in elementary education, gave her
insight into using online avatars.
“I believe that it is very diverse,” Burroughs says.
“As a black woman, they have black hairstyles, which is very
important for representation within the black community. I
feel as though I can appropriately customize my avatar how
I look in real life.”
When asked if Burroughs felt that creating her
avatar still made her feel like she should subject to what
would be deemed attractive—even for an emoji—she says,
“whenever I am creating my avatar, I try to make it cute and
attractive”.
But, what about the idea that the emoji looks
perfect compared to the in real life user? Mentalhealth.
org reported that one in five adults felt shame in their body
image. The addition of digital avatars that do not have the
capability to show flaws, might skew body image further.
“I don’t think I feel self-conscious when creating
one, but I definitely did subconsciously make her perfect
and obviously not add my imperfections,” Courtney Baker,
a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in criminal
justice, says. I don’t think they have pushed any unrealistic
norms at all — they included so many options that you can
make it super accurate.”
It becomes clear that while Bitmojis and other
avatars are diverse in skin tone, hair style, makeup and
clothes, there is still an underlying need to satisfy those who
will perceive it. While this may not be the applications fault
and rather a product of a toxic society, it should be taken
into consideration that these characters could further those
unrealistic standards, based on the options available and
how they’re delivered.
An opposing view to Burroughs and Baker, Lesly
Valdez, a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in
social work, gives her insight.
“I don’t think it’s diverse enough for the Latina
community, and I do try to make my Bitmoji more
attractive, but the outfits and makeup are ugly,” Valdez says.
“I wish they would keep up with trends. Also, they don’t
seem to cater to those of us with bigger chests.”
Bitmoji has just released Bitmoji Deluxe, featuring
allegedly 1.999 septillion combinations to choose from.
Facebook and Meta have expanded their avatar diversity to
even include those with disabilities as
of 2022, according to accessibility.com.
On a positive note, the platforms with avatars are
becoming more and more diverse by the
day. Skin tones, hairstyles and outfits are constantly being
added and improved based on trend cycles, with 190+
styles added to Bitmoji recently. The access to creating these
avatars does, indeed, allow people to have another form of
self-expression online. They can create their dream outfits,
hair styles and much more at the click of a button. It allows
Design by Sarah Smith
people to preview these manifestations of themselves to the
outside world without explicitly showing themselves.
Within the next few years, creating a cartoon of
oneself online will create a mirror to see oneself in. This
could create privacy concerns with the willingness to
put pieces of oneself online, but nonetheless,
the virtual world is here to stay.
Ultimately, it is up to users to
keep companies accountable
of catering to all and promise
to keep their data as safe as
possible. Before long, everyone
will have a place in the world
of viral beauty.
Alice Spring 2023 21

Fashion
24 Spring Wardrobe
26 Which It-Girl Are You?
28 Fashion & Accessibility
Model Rebekah Clay
Phots Emma Kate Standard

Design by Sarah Smith
Photo by Jennifer Stroud
Model Alexa Mayfield
24 alice.ua.edu
Spring
spring
trend forecast
By Peyton Oden
As the weather begins to warm and flowers begin
to bloom, the fashion world enters one of its
peak times. Just like in fall 2022, trends that were
once dead have come to rock the fashion world
by storm and with this spring trend forecast, rock your
closet as well.
Supersized Bags
Even though mini bags were the craze in past
fashion seasons, its polar opposite to debuted on the runway
- supersized bags. Bottega Venetta’s “Jodie” bag and Saint
Laurent’s Icare tote have both gone viral being worn by
celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber. The supersized
trend this upcoming spring is a more practical option
for carrying essential and miscellaneous items on days spent
outside or away from home. This trend has been prominent
before, but with its return comes new shapes and styles.
Oversized totes and shoulder bags have all been seen
Cargo Pockets
Workwear can often become a trend in the fashion
world, with brands like Dickies and Carhartt gaining popularity
in streetwear styles. At the Chanel Spring-Summer
2023 show, Chanel’s signature tweed sets were paired with
multiple cargo pockets. These catch-all cargo pockets also
made an appearance on Miu Miu’s miniskirt which went
viral in 2022, as well as Fendi’s viral “Baguette” bag. This
trend is easy to follow for most, as cargo workwear can still
be found in local thrift stores
Knee Length Skirts
The miniskirt is slowly fading away from the
runway as designers and brands start to experiment with
other lengths. Knee length skirts were debuted during Paris
fashion week and were seen as more practical and versatile
than the miniskirt that dominated the runway. Mid-length
skirts can be dressed up or down, and they can be worn
with blazers, sweaters, tank tops, high boots, high heels, etc.
These skirts can serve as a long-lasting staple in a wardrobe
and serve many purposes.
Fringe
Fringe is not a trend that has been gone for long. It
was prevalent in the mid-2010s and mostly associated with
the indie sleaze aesthetic. On the runway, fringe was seen
on cocktail wear-like dresses and suit jackets, a different
approach to how it was worn a few years ago. Fringe is a
way to add movement and more detail to an outfit, but in
a casual setting, accessories like fringe bags or shoes can
make the look stand out.
Pinstripe Tailoring
Pinstripes have been in the office space for years as
a new way to add to minimalistic styles, but in spring 2023,
pinstripes are back and not just on business casual styles.
During Fashion Week, pinstripes were worn on the runway
and by the attendees of shows, and they were seen on styles
like corsets, jeans and cargo wear. Pinstripes making their
way outside the office is a way to mix casual and formal
styles to make one cohesive look.
Sports Team Jersey/Polo
Streetwear tends to inspire luxury brands, so much
so that many popular streetwear brands such as Adidas
and high-end brands like Gucci have collaborated. Someone
wearing their favorite sports team’s merch is an act of
self-expression, expression being considered as one of the
core values of the fashion industry. Celebrities such as Bella
Hadid can be seen in an oversized soccer shirt in a Balenciaga
and Adidas collaboration campaign. After the 2022
World Cup, loyal fans will incorporate their favorite teams
and players into streetwear styles in the warmer
months of 2023.
Metallics
This past fall, metallics were seen on the runway
in mostly in silver and gold, but on the Spring-Summer
2023 runways, colors like green and purple were seen in
shiny metallics. Metallic dresses, tops, bags, shoes and even
blazers debuted during fashion week with brands like Versace
having many different colors and styles. Metallics are
versatile and can be festive and formal as well as a standout
casual look. They are an homage to the huge Y2K trend as
well as a nod to the future of “cyber” aesthetic.
Alice Spring 2023 25

Mostly A’s Zendaya
Mostly C’s – Emma Chamberlain
Which
It-Girl
1. Which “Sex and the City”
character best describes you?
A. Carrie Bradshaw
B. Samantha Jones
C. Charlotte York
D. Miranda Hobbes
2. How would you describe your
style?
A. Cozy, but cute.
B. Sporty
C. Chic, but edgy.
D. Glamorous
are you?
By Morinsola Kukoyi
6. Which 2000s trend is your
favorite?
A. Dresses over jeans
B. Low rise jeans
C. Juicy Couture tracksuits
D. Trucker hats
7. Choose a fashionable character.
A. Rachel Green
B. Hilary Banks
C. Serena Van Der Woodsen
D. Monet De Haan
If you mainly chose the letter “A,” you resemble
Zendaya. You are loved by everyone because of your
personality and how you carry yourself. You know when
to dress up to the nines, but also when to keep an outfit
casual but still cute. Like Zendaya, you far beyond talented
and are going to do great things
in future.
Mostly B’s – Hailey Bieber
If you mainly chose the letter “B,” you resemble
Hailey Bieber. You are up to date on the latest fashion
trends and are very into your skin care. Your street style is
immaculate and you are always turning heads when you
grace the streets with your presence. Big sunglasses and
gold hoops are your go-to accessories to spice up your
outfits.
If you mainly chose the letter “C,” you resemble
Emma Chamberlain. You are an outgoing and bubbly
Gen Z-er who is not afraid to explore your style. Like
Chamberlain, you are a free spirit who loves to wear
current and past trends. You have an eye for creating
outfits (and decorating houses) that represent your bright
personality. You represent the youth of this current
generation and curiosity that inspires them to express
themselves in new ways.
Mostly D’s – Lori Harvey
If you mainly chose the letter “D,” you resemble
Lori Harvey. You are glamorous and are turning heads
wherever you go. The aura around you radiates royal
energy. You are a queen who lets your hard efforts be
known to those in your circle. The vibes that you give off
are immaculate because everyone is in awe of what you
accomplish.
3. You are having a girls night out,
what kind of shoes do you wear?
A. Sneakers
B. Stilettos
C. Knee-high boots
D. Sandals
8. Choose a supermodel.
A. Gigi Hadid
B. Bella Hadid
C. Kendall Jenner
D. Naomi Campbell
26 alice.ua.edu
4. You are looking for a new handbag,
which brand do you buy?
A. Gucci
B. Yves Saint Laurent
C. Chanel
D. Birkin
5. Which 1990s trend is your
favorite?
A. Slip dresses
B. Jelly sandals
C. Mom jeans
D. Claw clips
9. Which fashion-based movie is your
favorite?
A. “Clueless”
B. “13 Going On 30”
C. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
D. “The Devil Wears Prada”
Design by Sarah Smith
Design by Sarah Smith
Alice Spring 2023 27

Design by Meagan Riordan
Photo by Jennifer Stroud
Model Joy Haizelden
28 alice.ua.edu
Fashionably Accessible
How fashion & accessibility intersect.
By Peyton Oden
Actions like putting on pants and
shoes are regular, easy tasks for most,
but for some there is a different
reality. The daily task of dressing oneself can
look different when living with disabilities
and different body types, but with brands
working to create adaptive clothing and
designs for disabled people, the market is
getting bigger. However, criticism lies within
some brand strategies used to promote
adaptive fashions.
Adaptive clothing is specifically
designed for people with disabilities or
physical limitations. Some popular styles
include magnetic and Velcro closures,
which makes it easy to fasten shirts that
allow access for medical devices such as
pacemakers. Adaptive footwear includes
shoes that are easy to slip on and off, and
they usually can be taken off without
using hands. Another key part of the
adaptive clothing market is for amputees
and prosthetic users, who need adaptions
for dressing and undressing, as well as
changing the size of limbs.
The market of adaptive clothing
is expected to be valued at nearly $400
billion by 2026 according to Vogue.
Diversity and inclusivity are a major part
in the future of fashion though there are
challenges to obtain full inclusivity.
Much of the adaptive clothing on
the market is basic styles like athleisure
and casual clothing, but there is a lack
of workwear and trending fashion.
Mainstream brands have begun to cater
to disabled people by making their
adaptive clothing easy to find, whether it
be for wheelchair comfortability or low
functioning motor skills.
Target’s popular brand Cat & Jack created an
adaptive clothing collection for their children’s section,
that include fits for prosthetics.
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the first major designers
to create an adaptive clothing line, with its “Tommy
Hilfiger Adaptive.” The brand’s goal for the line is “to
deliver classic, American cool style with innovative
design twists that make getting dressed easier for all.”
Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive caters to men, women and
children with many different styles, from workwear to
athleisure, but it sits at a high price range.
A cheaper, more accessible alternative to Tommy
Hilfiger’s clothing line for adaptability is JCPenney
Adaptive, which offers the same styles seen at Tommy
Hilfiger but at a lower price point.
In 2021, Nike created the Go FlyEase sneaker,
a hands-free shoe created to put on without having to
bend over at all. This was a step in the right direction
for adaptive fashion in a mainstream market, but Nike
was met with criticism on the release of the Go FlyEase
sneaker.
The initial advertisements showcased able bodied
models in active environments, causing high demand for
leading shoe resellers to buy and resell them at a much
higher price, which left customers who truly needed new
adaptive styles scrambling.
Joy Haizelden, a graduate student on The
University of Alabama’s women’s wheelchair basketball
team, has ideas on how the adaptive apparel industry can
evolve.
“The industry could create more stylish, but
adaptive clothes,” Haizelden says. “Previous jeans have
always been too long on me whereas Hollister, you can
choose the length of them.”
As a wheelchair user, Haizelden looks for tops or
jackets that won’t touch her wheels and finds it difficult
to find one that stays within the side guards. “I think
adaptive clothing should be fitted for ready to wear,”
Haizelden says. “That means without alterations having
to be made.”
While Nike does promote the Go FlyEase as a
shoe for everyone, including athletes, the promotions
now include the sneaker modeled in prosthetics
and use models with mobility devices such as
walkers.
Brands like Skims, Kim Kardashian’s shape and
loungewear brand, have recently been working to make
adaptive fashion mainstream. In 2022, Skims launched
“The Adaptive Collection” which featured four items: an
adaptive bra, thong, brief and boy short, all ranging in
Skims inclusive size range, XXS to 4X. It includes skintone
colors, as well as trendy colors like silver and pink.
The campaign featured disabled models in wheelchairs
and prosthetics, and the brand plans to continue
producing inclusive designs.
The future of the adaptive fashion market seems
clear, but brands will have to continue to work and listen
to the community to make improvements. There are
many next steps the industry can take, whether it’s using
disabled models on the runway or designers bringing
new and up-to-date styles to the adaptive fashion brands.
In the fashion industry it is not rare to hear “fashion is for
everyone” and the industry needs to work on including
everyone, born disabled and able-bodied.
Alice Spring 2023 29

Lifestyle
32 The New Age of Politics
36 Women in Racing
38 Who Taught You That?
40 A Local’ s Guide to the South
Models Emilia Obilites & Nadia Hollis
Photo Sarah Hartsell

THE NEW AGE OF
POLITICS
32 alice.ua.edu
Gen Z turns to social media to voice opinions
on current social and political issues.
By Emily Crousore
T
he influence of young people in government
is becoming the new norm with the use
of social media. Whether it be through
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.,
social media has become a prominent outlet
for Gen Z, those born between 1997-2012, to voice their
opinions on current events.
Social media activism is a form of activism
that uses media and communication outlets to spread
awareness on current social and political issues,
becoming frequently used in today’s political field.
As more of Gen Z reaches the legal voting
age, society has gravitated more towards social media
activism. Well-known criminal justice professor
Douglas Klutz teaches his students about the
importance of using their voice and knowing their
rights in order to make a difference, while also being
aware of false narratives.
“We talk a lot in Intro to Criminal Justice about
your legal rights,” Klutz says. “I think the more students
can get involved and show that they’re concerned
about certain issues, the more politicians and elected
representatives will take note and that voice will be
loud.”
With one post, it is easier now more than ever
for one’s opinion on public issues to be heard. This is
especially important for younger voices because social
media gives them a platform that they did not have
before. Social media can also be an excellent platform
for advocacy. A way that social media activism can be
used in a positive way is shown through young voices
like Hannah Adams.
Adams is a sophomore at The University of
Alabama studying political science and public relations.
Along with being involved in numerous on-campus
organizations such as Blackburn Institute, Student
Government Association (SGA), Alpha Gamma Delta
sorority and Lambda Sigma Honors Society, Adams
also holds the title of Miss Birmingham for the Miss
America Organization.
“What is so special about the Miss America
Organization is that they really do have that service,
leadership and advocacy component to it,” Adams says.
“So, using this title I’m able to go into these schools and
communities and share about my advocacy stories and
say, ‘Hey if I can do it, you can do it too.’”
At the age of five, Adams fought and beat
childhood cancer. Since then, she has been an active
advocate for children battling cancer. Her organization,
“Hannah’s Hope”, is a culmination of all her
involvements in helping to give back. Although she has
accomplished so much, Adams still struggles with being
a young voice in the political world.
“I still get in my head about being the youngest
person at the table, and even fighting for a seat at the
table because people don’t want to give that voice to
the youth,” Adams says. “But the people that do, and
the people that take a chance, recognize that the youth
is our future, and we need to give them the seat at the
table and amplify their ideas and what they are doing.”
One way Adams has been able to let her voice
be heard is through social media. As Miss Birmingham,
Adams is a public figure, so she understands what it is
like to run a social media page from this standpoint.
Adams explains how she has in turn become a social
media expert.
“I currently serve as Miss Birmingham, so
utilizing social media is a really big role in that job,”
Adams says. “I really had to become an expert in
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, all the different facets
of it and I think it helps me be able to connect with the
childhood cancer community.
Alice Spring 2023 33

Gen Z has created a
completely new age of politics.
I think becoming an expert on that, and being your own personal brand manager, is such an important
component.”
Not only is Adams a public figure, but an advocate who turns to social media to reach other public figures.
Just last year, Adams was using social media to promote the federal passing of the Give Kids a Chance Act in the
end of year 2022 bill packet.
“I was meeting with legislators while we were also blasting legislators on Twitter, on Instagram and
Facebook saying ‘Hey, you need to vote for this, you need to support this,’” Adams says. “So, I think just
catching the attention of them is really helpful.”
With advocators such as Adams, social media activism will only continue to grow with it. So, how will
social media continue to act as liaison between young voices and political figures? Current SGA president,
Madeline Martin, hopes to work in the political field as a political consultant. Martin believes social media in
the government will continue to prosper as newer generations, such as herself, enter the political field.
“I think we are just going to keep seeing a lot of digital platforms being used because that is the way you
reach everyone,” Martin says. “There are some people that don’t have social media, but even they will get sent
posts and they can see it. So, I think that being the main line of communication is something we’re going to see
from here on out.”
As social media only continues to grow, it is becoming more critical for politicians to keep a positive
social media presence. Social media makes it easier for politicians to reach younger audiences in a relatable way.
“I think overall all politicians using social media to be accessible and relatable is something that has
been really refreshing,” Martin says. “Seeing the glimpse into lives of politicians and seeing they’re just like us.
Just being relatable, I think that makes voters want to vote.”
Social media in the hands of Gen Z has created a completely new age of politics. Whether it be an easier
way to voice opinions on public issues, a platform for advocacy or simply a more accessible way to relate to
politicians, the political world as we know it will never be the same. Young voices in the government will only
continue to grow in volume, post after post, comment after comment, and this new way will only continue
through future generations.
Design by Meagan Riordan & Sarah Smith
Photos by EK Standard
Model Madeline Martin
34 alice.ua.edu
Alice Spring 2023 35

Women in
A closer look at the women in
UA’s Formula SAE Team.
T
he University of Alabama ranks high
in multiple outlets: sports, academics and
enrollment. But what some people don’t know
is that UA also shines in the spotlight for
student run design teams. Crimson Racing,
UA’s Formula SAE team (FSAE), is one of them.
The design team finished fifth overall out of
120 teams at the 2022 International Formula SAE
competition at Michigan International Speedway. FSAE
is a series of international competitions where university
teams design and manufacture performance race cars.
Alice had the privilege of sitting down with some
of their members to understand what it’s like to work in a
male dominated sport as a woman and what the future of
FSAE will look like.
What is something you wish people knew about
the Crimson Racing team?
Lauren Woods is a senior mechanical
engineering major and the team manager for UA’s FSAE.
She says “That only a small percentage of what we do is
actual racing. When we have people try to join the team,
the first questions that get asked are, ‘How fast does the
By Jennafer Bowman
Design by Meagan Riordan
Photo Courtesy of Formula SAE
car go? Can I drive?’ Our team is so much more than
that. There are so many cool things that we get to do that
just racing teams don’t, because not only are we figuring
out how to get the most performance out of our vehicles
and our drivers, but we’re the ones actually building and
designing our car, and then figuring out how to test it.
We’re figuring out how to take it to the next level.”
Kara Alexander, a senior mechanical engineering
major on the STEM path to MBA adds, “We race
for maybe 10 days a year and half of those are in the
Northeast Commuter parking lot.”
What is your favorite part of being on the
team?
Carmen Tizapa-Zamora, a junior marketing
major and communications lead for the team, says, ‘I
love the people. I remember my freshman year, I was
super intimidated, because I was like, ‘Oh, these are all
engineers. They’re super smart and I’m a humble little
business student, I don’t know anything.’ But after you
talk to people, you realize that they’re super welcoming.”
“My favorite part of being on the team is building
a community around our team. I see DM requests from
people who are not living in the country that want to
be a part of the team or a DM from a virtual student
that wanted to be a part of the team. It’s amazing that
we can do this, how we can have this impact and that
I can get people excited by the content I’m posting for
this team.”
What’s it like being a woman on the
team?
“I think it’s an interesting reflection of reality
in some respects. College is this little oasis of things
that aren’t like they are in the real world, but I think
this is one of those cases where as much as we want
to do something about it, it also happens in real
companies. We’re against the harsh reality of being
women on this engineering male dominant team. It’s
a learning experience. You’re going to have at least one
person wherever you work in the future that’s going
to be like that horrendous, stereotypical example of
the man who doesn’t know how to work with women.
I think it’s a good learning experience and teaches us
how to deal with conflict,” Alexander says.
“It makes it hard but we’re better than we used
to be. Coming from my freshman year, we only had
one girl in leadership, and there was only one other
girl on the team besides me, that wasn’t in leadership.
This is the first year at least one woman has been on
each engineering sub team. It’s not where we need to
be, but we’re making so much progress and I think
having women in leadership has been a big part of
that, because we get to set the tone,” Woods says.
The team has recently expanded from 15-20 members
to around 65 members, a significant increase from
previous years. While the growth of new members is
a great advantage, it means senior female members on
the team like Alexander, Woods and Tizapa-Zamora
experience more hurdles. But, with those hurdles
comes progress.
“I’ve had this thought so many times this year,
even when looking at new members I think ‘wow, I
wish this was a team I had when I was a freshman.’
The fact that we’ve been able to do that, as a team, we
still have a long ways to go. But getting us from where
we were to where we are, I think says a lot about all
the people on the team and what we’ve done. I’m
really proud to be a part of the creativity, the vision
and the problem solving that we’ve gotten to do to get
the team to where we want it to be, even if we’re not
all the way there yet,” Woods says.
What will be your legacy on the team?
“One thing I’m going to take to heart when I
leave the team is that I was able to make a difference
in our team culture and our team’s willingness to
accept women, both as engineers and in leadership,”
Woods says.
36 alice.ua.edu
Alice Spring 2023 37

38 alice.ua.edu
The role female pleasure
plays in today ’s society.
By Elena Giorgi
F
rom a young age, many women are taught that
their private parts are just that – private, and
that it isn’t ladylike to talk about them with
anyone besides a doctor. Society shields their
daughters from the realities of the world for as
long as they can, to protect their innocence.
Women in general remain more reserved about
“big girl” stuff, like their first period, hitting puberty and
their classroom crushes. Boys are often more vocal about
changes to their body and don’t have any shame sharing
it with the world.
The problem is these same daughters grow into
women who find themselves on WebMD when they are
confused about what is happening to their body. Pleasure
generally falls into the category of topics society misses
the mark on teaching our youth. Some receive “the
talk” or endure the tragedy that is sexual education in
America, but few young girls truly understand the full
anatomy and function of their sex organs.
Because of this inadequacy, some women keep
their voices down and their bedside tables locked out of
fear of what the world will think of them.
Lucy Phillips, a recent graduate of The University
of Alabama who received degrees in economics and
english, says the culture behind masculinity and
femininity is seen like a yin-yang. One embodies
passiveness, peacefulness and a sense of calm. The other
demonstrates power, activity and aggression.
“I think it comes from a place of women
originally not having a lot of agency in their lives and
being expected to be homemakers, all growing up to
want the same thing,” Phillips says.
Expectations like these remind women that it
has never been their place to participate in any sort of
“locker room” talk. For generations, young girls and
women struggled and still struggle to voice their desires
and pleasures, whether to themselves or to a partner.
Design by Sarah Mitchell
Phillips recalls on conversations she had with
her friends in college where everyone was more willing
to share feelings about their sexual experiences when
there was a partner involved. When it came to sex toys
and solo sex, she found her friends less willing to tell
their secrets.
Women must work to a point where they
are comfortable with what makes them feel good
through exploring their own body. When we get to this
comfortability, the conversation surrounding female
pleasure can only grow.
Men are seemingly programmed with a sense of
understanding and purpose surrounding their pleasure,
allowing them to be transparent regarding their bodies
from a young age.
Dr. Shaheen Kanthawala is an associate
professor of journalism and creative media at The
University of Alabama with research specialties in
health technology, media effects and social media. She
explains how there isn’t “one specific way for sexual
exploration and experiences to occur,” but our culture
enables men to discuss it more than women. With more
accessible media, people have more opportunity to
share and relate their experiences with others.
The influence the media has on our culture, and
the influence our culture has on our media, shapes the
way in which women feel they can have open, honest
conversations. The more accepted these stories become,
the more other woman will join the discussion. Media
has extreme influence over the stigmatization of taboo
subjects like these through the shows, movies, accounts
and content they produce and advertise.
For decades, media outlets have created content
that oversexualizes women and teaches young viewers
that it is normal for a woman to be seen as a sexual
object for men.
“At the end of the day, we must all think about
what we are learning and repeating, but this is why
representation is so important,” Kanthawala says.
“There is a kind of empowerment that occurs when
people share their own stories – sharing and then
finding others with similar experiences can lead to
feelings of acceptance and normalcy.”
Influencers and celebrities are opening the
conversation positively. The hit podcast “Call Her
Daddy” hosted by Alexandra Cooper gives advice on
boys, relationships, sex, life and everything in between
with full honesty. Miley Cyrus remains an active voice
in uplifting and inspiring women to be comfortable in
their body and doing what they want with their body.
But, women’s sex lives — solo or with a partner
— are still put on the chopping block. Whether it’s
masturbation, abstinence or sex with multiple partners,
women seem to be placed under scrutiny.
On the same token, women are expected to
perform admirably in bed for the benefit of their
partner, and if they aren’t successful in ensuring the
other person’s pleasure, they face backlash for it.
However, if a woman is confident in bed because of past
experiences, then she’s “for everyone” and not of value
anymore.
Women at The University of Alabama fall on
both sides of the spectrum when thinking about the
idea of female pleasure. Some are queasy on the topic,
whether talking about a woman or man’s pleasure,
believing that it is a personal choice that should remain
that way. Others find comfort in relating to another
person and don’t mind sharing their experiences with
close friends. Women turn to masturbation when
they aren’t receiving the pleasure they desire from a
partner. This can allow women to feel sexy on their
own, without needing a partner
to tell them.
Tanya Blake, an employee of Kalli’s Love Stuff,
a store for adult products in Alabama, recognizes that
many people are intimidated to walk into the store.
She explains how people behave differently if they’re by
themselves, in a group or with
a partner.
“[Management] tell us to be open to walk up
and talk to customers, because there will be people just
walking around that don’t know what they’re looking
at or looking for because it’s their first time coming in,”
Blake says.
Blake points out that the majority of women
who enter the store come in with friends as a group,
relying on power in numbers giving them the
confidence to shop casually.
The best thing
that society can do is teach girls from a young age that
it isn’t gross or unladylike to explore their bodies and
explore what feels good when they are comfortable
doing so. Strides in the culture of destigmatizing
female pleasure are being made at a promising pace.
As the conversation around female pleasure
becomes more candid, women can educate themselves
and generations to come about the beauty of female
pleasure.
Alice Spring 2023 39

40 alice.ua.edu
A Local’s Guide to The
SOUTH
Exploring Nashville, Atlanta and Charlotte through the eyes of locals.
Atlanta, Charlotte, North
Carolina and Nashville are
just a few places that the
South holds near and dear.
These cities are known and
loved by people around the country.
So, what is it about these cities that make
them special? Why are they usually the
first places people go post-grad? Why are
they a few of the fastest growing cities in
the South?
Lucky for us, The University of
Alabama is a second home to out-ofstate
students who make up 57.9% of the
student body. Students who are local to
these popular cities in the Southeast were
able to answer a few questions and share
their “must-dos and don’ts” of their city.
Atlanta
By Laura Brooks
Laura Azzi is a native to the
Atlanta area. Born and raised just a
short 25-minute drive away, she calls the
town Roswell home. She received her
master’s in finance from The University of
Alabama last May and now resides back
in Roswell working remotely.
“Honestly the city can be too
much,” Azzi says. “I think the outskirts
should be appreciated more.”
Though, she does have some tips
for those who want to go to the “New
York City” of the South.
Where is a place that lives up to its
reputation?
Azzi recommends Ponce City
Market. Made up of restaurants and
shops, including a green lawn that has
space to hang out and eat. The market is
family-friendly, so expect kids and dogs
running around the area. The market also
hosts events throughout the week and
there are apartments available to rent.
Newly restored roof access is included
with an admission ticket, allowing a oneof-a-kind
view of downtown Atlanta.
Restaurant, Coffee Shops, Shopping
Recs
Westside Provisions District is
a shopping mall with food options for
everything. This includes a coffee shop
called Brash Coffee, a funky, indoor put-put course
called Put-Shack, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, (a fan
favorite) Five Daughters Bakery and Pure Barre for the
fitness girls out there.
The BeltLine is another place Azzi says is not
appreciated enough. It’s a walkable path around Atlanta
that is fun for all ages. There are places to eat along the
path, as well as local art.
There is an east-side trail and westside trail, both
offering a variety of things to do and see. It is a great way
to get active but also great for a leisurely stroll. There are
bike tours available as well as fitness classes.
Nashville
The Music City is growing faster and faster
as more college students plan to start their new life.
According to the Oxford Economic Forecast, Nashville
had a job growth of 3.9% in 2022, making it a popular
city for young professionals. However, the city has more
to offer than just good job opportunities.
Sami Kate Kickert, a junior at The University
of Alabama studying advertising, is from a town called
Franklin, just 18 miles outside of the city. She gave some
insight into Nashville and why she wouldn’t mind living
there again, “if only it wasn’t getting so expensive.”
What is over-hyped in Nashville?
Kickert says Broadway Street is extremely
overrated. Instead, she suggests Fifth + Broad. The street
has great dining options as well as shopping. There is a
vintage store called Garage Sale Vintage that is also a bar,
so customers can drink and shop simultaneously. Along
with shopping, there are a variety of dining options
including Cava, a Mediterranean option, Boqueria -
Spanish tapas, Blue Sushi Saki Grill and so much more.
Restaurant, Coffee Shops, Shopping Recs
The Pfunky Griddle is located inside a house
downtown. Guests can make their own pancakes with
different batters. A man across the table from Barnes
chimes in and asks if we’re talking about Nashville. He
agrees that The Pfunky Griddle is somewhere everyone
should go to when visiting the city.
The Buffalo Exchange is a thrift store in the
city and Kickert says it is definitely worth a visit. A blog
on their website includes articles on fashion, style and
trends, giving their customers a guide to their store and
what is trending for the upcoming season.
For coffee, Kickert moves a little bit out of
Nashville and into the outskirts to Franklin. The coffee
shop is called The Good Cup and she says it is home
to best frozen chai lattes. They feature art, pastries and
other goods from local philanthropic organizations.
Charlotte
Jamey Duffy is a travel agent in Tuscaloosa
who works with a company headquartered outside of
Charlotte. Duffy says Charlotte is unique because it is
versatile. The food scene is great, and it has many fine
dining options, but there are also a lot of spots just
outside Charlotte that are great for outdoor activities.
“It is a great place to unwind and unplug,”
Duffy says.
She recommends taking a long weekend trip
there because two days would just be too short, and it’s
perfect because the Birmingham International Airport
offers direct flights into Charlotte, saving yourself from a
7-hour drive. Duffy says Charlotte acts as a great gateway
to other places if a more extended trip is in the books.
Where is the best place to stay?
Duffy recommends more of a lavish option,
“The Ballantyne is phenomenal,” she says. “Definitely
more on the luxurious side, though.”
While visitors can stay at Airbnbs or other chain
hotels, boutique hotels such as The Ballantyne.
Restaurant, Coffee Shops, Shopping Recs
La Dolcezza Bakery Café serves everything from
a cup of joe to shrimp and grits. Founder Karina Cooper
grew up in the Dominican Republic. The name of the
Cafe reflects their menu which offers a diverse selection
that is inclusive to all tastes.
Madison Perk Coffee Bar has a day and night
menu. Described as a “Mom and Pop shop” by the coowner,
it is evident this Coffee Bar is well-loved. They
pride themselves on being locally owned by hosting live
music by upcoming, local artists. The owners are a young
family, making it a family-friendly environment, with
ice cream guaranteed for kiddos. This is a must when
searching for a truly local spot in Charlotte.
These three cities have reason to be iconic
not only to the Southeast, but around the country.
Tuscaloosa is situated fairly close to Nashville and
Atlanta, and Charlotte is only a quick flight from
Birmingham. So, the question is, why not visit them? Try
out the places that make each of these cities unique and
recommended by the people who know these places best.
Design by Sarah Smith & Jennifer Kreppel
Alice Spring 2023 41

Entertainment
44 Your Next Chapter: New Books You’ll Love
46 Which Taylor Swift Era Are You?
Models Taylor Lech & Chloe Clemmons
Photo Rebecca Martin

44 alice.ua.edu
Your Next Chapter:
New Books You’ll Love
By Amelia McKee
Elementary, middle school and even high school
was filled with scholastic book fairs, summer
reading assignments and the sometimesdreaded
English anthology for literature class.
Reading was something that was forced on us for as
long as we were in school, but once adult-life hits, for
the most part, people are no longer forced to read.
This is a time in people’s lives where reading may be
rediscovered. Whichever genre you fancy, here are some
recommendations for you, because everyone knows you
never look at that BookTok video you once saved.
Fantasy
Some people look to fantasy novels to expand
their imagination and take them out of the monotony
of daily life. While fantasy is not everyone’s forte, the
“Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling is one that will
completely rock your world. The seven book series is the
most intricate fantasy world filled with goblins, trolls,
witches and of course, wizards.
For a bit of magic, consider checking out
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab. This
book follows a young woman through time after she
makes a Faustian bargain. While she gains the ability to
live forever, Addie LaRue is destined to be forgotten by
everyone she meets; that is, until a handsome stranger
remembers her name.
“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig is another
interesting book with hints of fantasy and wonder. This
book follows Nora Seed as she explores a library in
which every book is a possible life she could’ve lived.
If you find yourself constantly wondering what your
life would be like if you had made that one decision
differently, this piece of magical realism is for you.
Romance
If you enjoy reading at all, you’ve definitely
heard of Colleen Hoover’s novels of complicated
romances. If you’ve picked up a couple of her love stories
and want to venture outside your comfort zone, you’ll
surely love one of these recommendations.
“Alone with You in the Ether” by Olivie Blake
is a contemporary romance that is just sweet enough
without being too cheesy. This story follows two
imperfect and very different people throughout their
journey of falling in love. More a work of art than a
happily-ever-after love story, Blake’s writing will have
you captivated.
Similarly, “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry follows
Nora, a seemingly tough, workaholic literary agent, and
Charlie, a similarly fierce editor. This book is the perfect
warm-weather, vacation read, so consider picking it up
for your next vacay.
Nonfiction
Did you love the tea spilled in Prince Harry’s
new memoir, “Spare?” Nonfiction can be exciting, too.
“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama is a
recent favorite of many. This autobiography details
the behind-the-scenes of Obama’s first term in office.
Obama writes about his wife, Michelle, and his
daughters, Malia and Sasha, and how they were all
affected by the presidency.
Very different from Obama’s memoir, yet
almost equally compelling, is Dolly Alderton’s
“Everything I Know About Love.” This is the perfect
book for anyone and everyone in their college years.
Reading Alderton’s memoir makes you feel like you
have an older sister to help you through the craziness
of life. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, it is highly
recommended.
Mystery
If you liked “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn,
you might also enjoy “Apples Never Fall,” a thriller
by Liane Moriarty. This story walks us through the
disappearance of Joy Delaney, a retired tennis coach
and active member of her community. Joy’s character
is fascinating, as it allows the reader to understand a
new perspective: that of an elderly woman who deals
with marriage troubles. Joy’s four children set out to
solve her disappearance and become divided based on
the conclusions they draw.
Non-Romantic Love
“Little Women” is a cult classic because of the
way Louisa May Alcott portrays sisterly love.
For more feel-good, friendship-centric novels,
“Friends and Strangers” by Courtney J. Sullivan is
one of the best. Sullivan’s writing is top-tier, and her
character development of the two female leads who are
at very different points in their lives is fantastic.
“In Five Years” by Rebecca Serle is also a
beautiful testament to the deep love we can have in our
close friendships with those who love us because and
despite everything we are.
Whether you prefer browsing the clean,
brightly lit aisles of Barnes & Noble, supporting a cozy
local bookstore like Ernest & Hadley or swiping your
library card at the Tuscaloosa Public Library, hopefully
you can make some time this semester to dive into a
new book. Whether you read to learn something new,
feel comforted or broaden your imagination, there are
no downsides to curling up with a good book.
Design by Katie Harmon
Alice Spring 2023 45

Which Taylor Swift Era Are You?
By Liv Tate
With Swift heading out this spring on her biggest tour yet, find out which era from her musical past and
present that best represents you.
1. What is your favorite rom-com?
A. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”
B. “13 Going on 30”
C. “10 Things I Hate About You”
D. “When Harry Met Sally”
2. Pick the best Book Tok read.
A. “Beach Read” by Emily Henry
B. “The Flatshare” by Beth O’Leary
C. “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
D. “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
3. Who is your favorite friend of Taylor Swift’s?
A. Abigail Anderson
B. Ed Sheeran
C. Selena Gomez
D. Blake Lively
4. Who is the most iconic foe of Taylor Swift’s?
A. Scooter Braun
B. Katy Perry
C. Kim Kardashian
D. Ticketmaster
5. What is your go-to comfort show?
A. “Schitt’s Creek”
B. “Jane the Virgin”
C. “Selling Sunset”
D. “Normal People”
6. What is your dream tour stop?
A. Atlanta
B. Los Angeles
C. Las Vegas
D. Seattle
7. Where are you buying your concert outfit from?
A. Forever 21
B. Urban Outfitters
C. ZARA
D. Free People
8. Which Eras Tour guest are you most looking forward
to seeing?
A. Gracie Abrams
B. MUNA
C. Paramore
D. Phoebe Bridgers
Answers
Mostly A’s: Fearless
You’re truly a hopeless romantic. When Taylor
drops a new album, you’re dancing around your room in
sparkly dresses and dreaming of the day your true love will
come to rescue you from your small town. You’re true to
your roots with a good head on your shoulders, and you’re
not afraid to dream big.
“Alexa, play: You Belong With Me, Forever &
Always, The Way I Loved You”
Mostly B’s: Red
You’re the best of both worlds. You’re considered a
great addition to any party and the friend everyone needs
to hype them up, but you’re also at a real turning point in
your growth. You’re not one to shy away from a challenge.
You’re willing to dive deep into all your vulnerabilities to
find the best version of yourself.
“Alexa, play…”: State of Grace, We Are Never
Getting Back Together, Sad Beautiful Tragic
Mostly C ’s: Reputation
The most iconic of all the eras. You don’t allow
anyone to get in the way of what you want. You’re tough
and everyone knows not to mess with you. No one would
be surprised if you wiped your socials and went off the
grid. Though you keep your circle small, you’re fiercely
loyal to the ones you love. Some may consider this a villain
era, but you just call it an awakening.
“Alexa, play…”: Look What You Made Me Do,
Getaway Car, New Year’s Day
Mostly D’s: Folklore & Evermore
Though you may be a tough nut to crack, you’re a
welcomed surprise to all. You live for cottage-core and cozy
fall evenings. You’re well-spoken, artistic, and a creative
soul. You’re okay with living in the melancholy moments of
life and can appreciate the beauty of the world around you.
Your capacity for love is your greatest power.
“Alexa, play…”: august, invisible string, right
where you left me
Design by Sarah Smith
46 alice.ua.edu
Alice Spring 2023 47

Food & Health
50 Swimsuit Is Not A Size
53 A Hop, Skip, and a Hot Girl Walk Away: Bettering Mental
Health Through Exercise
55 T - Town Coffee Guide
57 Turning Dreams into Dishes: The Stories We Eat
59 The Ins and Outs of the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market
61 What Your Chipotle Order Says About You
Model Rebekah Clay
Phots Emma Kate Standard

SWIMSUIT
IS NOT
A SIZE
By: Emily Crousore
Rebut the societal standard of what makes a body “swimsuit ready .”
As the temperature starts to rise and the sun
creeps back out from behind the clouds, panic
sets in around women as they know what is
approaching: swimsuit season. Today, there is a
preconceived notion that a “winter body” is not the same as
a “summer body.” As the spring and summer seasons begin,
women decide that they must change everything about their
lifestyle to fit into society’s standard of what body qualifies
as a “bikini body”.
Social media plays a big role in creating this
fantasy body that so many women work to achieve. “Why
don’t I look like that?” is a common question many ask
when scrolling through their feed, especially during a time
where more of the body is seen. However, genetically, a
body cannot shape-shift into another. Human Nutrition
Instructor Professor Maria Azrad touches on this concept.
“Trying to achieve a particular figure or shape that
someone maybe just isn’t genetically fit for could really be
detrimental to their health,” Azrad says. “I mean I would
love to be six foot tall, but I am not. We do have to learn to
love our bodies and what we have.”
Many individuals change their eating habits each
year to conform their body to societal standards. Many
begin diets, that in turn do more harm than good.
“It’s important to eat healthy in order to nourish
your body, but not necessarily because you’re trying to
achieve a particular look,” Azrad says. “Eating healthy is
meant to nourish your body and to maintain health so you
can fight off colds and flus, and if you break a bone, it will
50 alice.ua.edu
heal quickly. This is what we eat healthy for, and I think
sometimes people lose that perspective.”
Another thing women will do in order to achieve
this “swimsuit body” is to begin rigorous workout routines.
We all know the gym rush that occurs when the new year
hits and people realize they are only 3 months out from
their spring break beach trip. However, working out to
achieve a certain body type is where it can turn unhealthy.
Three 15 Studio combines the three fitness
components of cycling, barre, and strength training all in
one class. When done in a healthy way, Three 15 can be a
great outlet to relieve stress, build endorphins or get your
body moving after a long day.
Bella Kimbrell is a junior at The University of
Alabama and an instructor at Three 15. Kimbrell sees this
unhealthy mindset occur each year around this time.
“I think around this time of year girls just start
craving working out unhealthy for that swimsuit mindset
and just looking at it as a punishment,” Kimbrell says. “I
think until you find something that you enjoy, you’re just
going to hate doing it.”
It is not uncommon for working out to develop
a negative connotation. However, according to Kimbrell,
working out is so much more than getting fit.
“I think it’s being thankful for what you have and
remembering what your body is meant to do and what you
are meant to do, and it is more than what you look like,”
Kimbrell says. “As long as you feel good, you look good.”
Due to social media, it is hard for women not to
see a body on their feed and want to completely change
their work out routine to match what they see. But when it
comes to a certain body trait, it is a myth that working out can
completely transform the way a body looks.
“I’m a fitness instructor I work out almost every day
because I have to and I know my body type is not to have that
six pack with a line down my stomach, and I’m totally okay
with that because that’s just how my body is,” Kimbrell says.
“I think its unhealthy to look at it in that way because I think
every girl has this image in their mind of what they want their
body to look like, and until you realize that just maybe is not
your body type, you’ll never be happy with what you see.”
It is not uncommon for Kimbrell to overhear women
taking her class talking about unhealthy mindsets. To her, she
can already tell that instead of the workout being uplifting, it
will only seem like a punishment to eating that last cookie left
in the box.
“Every time I hear it I kind of wince because I know
they’re going to hate the next 45 minutes of their life if they
are coming here just to burn off what they ate instead of
coming in with the mindset of ‘I wonder what I can do today,’”
Kimbrell says.
After changing the diets and the workout routines,
women are left with the final destination: putting the swimsuit
on. But after all this anticipation, is it possible to truly be
satisfied? As humans, it is our nature to pick apart everything
that seems wrong, especially when it comes to how we think
society will view us.
The fashion industry is one of the most known for
controversy in inclusivity. Because at the end of the day,
what size is the right size for fashion?
Morgan Igou, a senior at University of Alabama,
spent the past 8 months in New York pursuing buying
and selling on an industrial level. This entails buying
clothes from manufacturers and selling the items
to stores. Throughout her time there she saw the
issues within fashion when it came to size.
“We would loan clothes from brands that
were only sample size, which are usually only
from 4-6, and if the clients were bigger than that
then they would have to lose weight,” Igou says.
“We never supported this, but it
would often happen.”
Igou believes that without intention,
the fashion industry cannot help diminish
this harmful and destructive mindset that
is so common today.
“A lot of these brands see
inclusivity as a trend and not
as an actual thing they should
care about,” Igou says. “I feel that if
companies were to really dive into a good
reason why they should do this and not
because it’s a trend then I think it could really help fix the
problem and the stigma that’s around
it today.”
Although some brands have done well at upgrading
their inclusivity, it is ultimately up to the people themselves to
put an end to “swimsuit body” culture. How is this possible?
When you hear someone using this damaging language,
do not play into it. In this instance, a person is looking for
validation, and by not giving it to them, you are helping
eliminate this harmful standard. Explain the nutritional harm
they are putting on their body and the time they are wasting
at the gym with an incomplete mindset. By doing so, you
individually are taking a stand against society. A change will
not come quickly, however the sooner it is put in motion, the
less likely it is generations after us will also be filled with fear
when the sun comes out.
Design by Sarah Smith
Photo by Sarah Hartsell
Models Marcus Johnson, Emilia
Obilites & Gaby Aldridge
Alice Spring 2023 51

A Hop, Skip and a Hot Girl
Walk Away: Bettering Mental
Health Through Exercise
By Emily Benito
Lace up your sneakers, pop in your earbuds
and call your best friend, we’re taking a hot
girl walk. The craze originally popular during
the pandemic, has proven to stick around as it
becomes popular among college students.
“I like to listen to my music and get my model walk
on,” Emma Watson, a sophomore criminal justice
major, says.
Hot girl walks are not only a fun TikTok trend and
a way to spend time with friends or reflect on your day, but
they can also improve your physical health.
According to the Washington Post, “among other
benefits, regular walking has been linked to a lower risk of
cardiovascular disease, improved memory and cognition,
lower stress, improved mood and a lower risk of
premature death.”
Aside from the physical health aspect, your mental
wellbeing is also affected by exercise.
“Exercise has an incredible impact on our mental
health,” Charles Burroughs, personal trainer and fitness
coordinator at The University of Alabama Student
Recreation Center, says. “A key side effect of exercise is
that during a workout our brains release serotonin and
dopamine, those feel-good chemicals put us in a better
mindset and help us handle all the tough stuff we have
going on in our lives. Research has also shown us that
committing to regular exercise builds self-confidence and
develops perseverance to handle adversity in other parts of
our life.”
“The euphoric feeling after you work out is worth
it,” Watson says. “I always feel less grumpy [after working
out]. It’s the best feeling ever.”
Taking a hot girl walk allows you to dedicate time
to yourself and to practice mindfulness while remaining
active. People often reflect on their life and have a better
sense of gratitude after taking some time outside.
According to the lifestyle blog Authentically Del,
the hot girl walk also encourages “getting fresh air, being
active for at least 30 minutes a day, having screen-free time,
soaking up much needed vitamin D and increasing the
time for self-reflection.”
“I feel awake and productive and afterwards –
whatever I was dreading to do before my walk, I feel more
motivated to do,” Ava Dorn, a sophomore double major in
marketing and management at The University of Alabama,
says.
Dorn reminds us that the duration of the walk is
not as important as getting outside, enjoying the fresh air
and finding a comfortable place inside yourself to relax and
decompress from the day. “Just try it, even if it’s just for
fifteen minutes,” Dorn says.
Living in a world with almost any information at
our fingertips, hot girl walks are a time to unplug, listen to
the sounds of nature and the inner thoughts we
sometimes avoid.
Whether it is something that was already a part
of your daily routine or not, adding a hot girl walk has
numerous health benefits, plus, it’s an excuse to wear cute
workout-fits and get to listening to those
life-improving podcasts.
Podcasts to take with you on your next hot girl walk:
Ask Alice from Alice Magazine
Note to Self from Dear Media
Doing the Real Work to Free Yourself with Michael Singer
My Energy Shifts My Reality from Habits of a Goddess
52 alice.ua.edu Alice Spring 2023 53
Design by Meagan Riordan & Sarah Smith
Photos by Emma Mae Burntnett
Models Bea Carswell & Sydney Estroff

Alice’s guide to the best cup of
joe in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
By Bella Carpino
Within the lively college town of
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, students and
locals crave an atmosphere that triggers
creativity and focus, but also one that
forms a sense of community and a second home for
many young adults who moved far from their families to
pursue an education.
Many of Title Town’s residents lean on the
town’s large variety of coffee shops to satisfy their need
for the perfect atmosphere, whether one must get work
done or they’re searching for a study break. Located in
the surrounding areas of The University of Alabama’s
beautiful campus, there lies an assortment of coffee
shops including four popular stops that are crowd
favorites: Heritage House Coffee and Tea, Monarch
Espresso Bar, Turbo Coffee and Strange
Brew Coffeehouse.
Each of these coffee shops have unique
characteristics and benefits to offer in addition to their
food and beverage choices. The distinctive atmosphere
of each shop calls customers in through the doors. This
T-Town Coffee Guide aims to define the specific elements
that give each coffee shop its individuality.
Heritage House Coffee and Tea
Heritage House Coffee and Tea is a Tuscaloosa
favorite and has built three locations in the area
throughout the past 30 years. Being the very first coffee
house in Tuscaloosa, customers can sense the historic
sense of home this shop offers as they enter one of the
locations. When visiting Heritage House, it immediately
54 alice.ua.edu
Design by Meagan Riordan
Photos by Emma Mae Burntnett
becomes clear that the business has aimed to keep its
home-like atmosphere that represents how far they
have grown and the ground on which their growth all
began.
“As an out-of-state student, I love that
Heritage House is filled with people of all ages,” Betsy
Chambers, a junior nursing student at The University
of Alabama, says. “It is my go-to place if I am studying
all day because of the amazing selection of breakfast
and lunch foods.”
Heritage house not only offers coffee drinks
and homemade pastries that serve as the perfect sweet
treat, but they also now offer 40 diverse coffees from
around the world. The prayer wall, the antique chairs
by the fireplace and the wall of coffee mugs customers
can choose from, all contribute to creating its cozy,
homey feel that Tuscaloosa’s residents truly appreciate.
“I recommend going to Heritage House if you
are homesick because it feels like you are stepping right
back home when you walk in,” Kendall Moore, a junior
advertising major at The University of Alabama, says.
Even the coffee shop’s name shines a light on
the family-like heritage, it warmly invites customers to
be a part of.
Monarch Espresso Bar
In contrast with the traditional, southern feel of
Heritage House, Monarch Espresso Bar highlights its goal
to embrace and appreciate a diverse group of people within
the town of Tuscaloosa, home to both students and locals.
Monarch barista of a year and a half, Max
Brown, highlights that the coffee itself is what builds the
uniqueness of the coffee shop in his eyes.
“We get all of our coffee from a roastery called
Onyx Coffee, whose coffee comes from some of the most
renown coffee farmers from all around the world,”
vBrown says.
He adds that Onyx Coffee values being completely
transparent with what they pay the farmers. Monarch
stands out for its craft coffee and universal foundation,
and its atmosphere compares to no other coffee shop in
town. Commenting on the shop’s motto “Nobody is a
stranger,” Brown describes the ambiance as simple and
inviting. He says, “all of us at Monarch want to create an
environment that allows people from all walks of life to
build community and foster relationships.”
Turbo Coffee
At Turbo Coffee in Tuscaloosa, employees go
above and beyond baking the traditional sandwiches and
pastries common to most cafes. Turbo aims to express the
importance of caring for your body and leading a healthy
lifestyle by offering foods such as homemade cold-pressed
juices, smoothies, fruit bowls and more.
“I love going to Turbo to be surrounded by people
as I get work done that motivates me to continue,” says
Betsy Chambers, a loyal costumer and neighbor of Turbo
Coffee. “Not to mention, Turbo has amazing food; the açai
bowls and avocado toast live rent-free in my dreams.”
Turbo’s individuality, displayed through its wide
variety of healthy options offered, sets it far apart from
other local coffee shops. Plus, its retro interior and exterior
makes it extremely unique, and they are even open on
Sundays unlike most other shops, serving as the perfect
weekend pick-me-up spot.
Strange Brew Coffeehouse
The brand new coffeeshop to Tuscaloosa is located
on The Strip and is called Strange Brew Coffeehouse,
originating from Starkville, Mississippi. Since The Brew
has only called Tuscaloosa its home for a short period of
time, students have been racing through its doors to try
some sweet coffee drinks such as, The Capt’n Crunch Latte,
The Albino Squirrel and The Sea Turtle Frappe. If you are
searching for a place to stop for coffee once the Alabama
heat sets in, Strange Brew’s classic frozen coffees serve as
the perfect drink.
“As soon as I heard about a new coffee shop
opening on the strip, I was immediately thrilled,” Kendall
Moore, a junior advertising student at The University of
Alabama says. “It has the cutest seating area outside and a
walk-up window where you can order outside.”
Strange Brew also offers the largest menu out of almost all
the local coffee shops, which even includes gelato options
for dessert.
Over the years, Tuscaloosa has become a hub
for coffee shops, new and old. In this fast-paced world
that is fixated on productivity and success, people need
a refuge of community, peace and a home away from
home. Between these four coffee shops and all of their
distinctive atmospheres, residents of Tuscaloosa can find
that sanctuary, no matter what kind of day they are having
or what stage of life they are in.
Alice Spring 2023 55

TURNING DREAMS INTO DISHES:
The Stories We Eat
By Morgan Byerley
The culinary industry is a vibrant scene.
From creating new dishes to considering the
overall atmosphere and ambiance, owning
a café or restaurant is no small feat. It takes a
creative individual passionate about food and their
community to share their creations with the world.
From vegan pizzas to Greek-inspired pasta, two
women in Alabama have turned their passion for
food into their own thriving businesses.
The Veganish Market - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Walking into The Veganish Market is like
walking into a tropical paradise. From colorful
wallpaper to large leafy plants, it is a space
bursting with creativity and color. It is an inviting
atmosphere where customers can stay and sit a
while, listening to music and trying one of the
many meals on the menu.
“I put my heart and soul into this place…
It’s like me in restaurant form,” owner
Yazmyn Rozier says. The Veganish
Market opened in August
2022 and has flourished in
the downtown district of
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The café addresses
a specific niche in
Tuscaloosa where
dietary options
such as vegan and
plant-based meals
are limited. The
Veganish Market caters
to everyone, from a
vegan pepperoni pizza
to pescetarian options like
the salmon burger. Rozier
emphasizes the importance of
having something for everyone.
“You shouldn’t feel judged for your dietary
preferences,” Rozier says. “It shouldn’t matter to
anyone but you what you eat”.
Before opening The Veganish Market,
Rozier had worked in the hospitality industry for
56 alice.ua.edu
several years. Working at different restaurants and
in catering allowed her to gain practical culinary
experience that she now uses at The Veganish
Market. She may have continued working at
different restaurants if not for a sudden stroke that
put everything on hold and made her decide that it
was time to go after her dreams.
“One of the things on my bucket list was
to have my own ‘something.’ I didn’t want to work
under anyone else,” Rozier says.
And so, the journey to create The Veganish
Market began. Rozier and her boyfriend Gary
Mcgee, a professional cook, worked together
to create dishes that would fit her vision for the
Veganish Market. Rozier grew up regularly visiting
the beach and wanted to serve beachy, street-style
food that reminds people of long summer days.
“I went for a Miami retro style vibe with
all the bright colors and palm trees,” Rozier says,
whose dad is from Miami. “I love the water, it’s the
best place to just think and be.”
Owning a business, especially within the
culinary field, comes with its challenges. Rozier
does all her marketing and social media, making
sure to stay true to her brand and the business she
has created. From creating content to researching
new dishes, she finds satisfaction in building her
restaurant while supporting other women in the
community.
“To my knowledge, there aren’t many
women who own restaurants in downtown,” Rozier
says. Her café also acts as an online marketplace
where other women can showcase their talent and
creativity.
“I want to support other females and what they’re
doing,” she says. “Supporting and empowering
women is what I do.”
Looking to the future, she is passionate about
what comes next for The Veganish Market. Rozier
has dreams to share The Veganish Market with
more people and potentially even becoming mobile
with a food truck. It’s a constant process of growing
her business and continuing to expand the menu
with new and exciting dishes.
“Research and development all the time,”
McGee says, “We’re going to different places and
seeing how they do it differently.”
Rozier and her boyfriend frequently travel
throughout the South to gain new ideas to implement
at the market. They hope to continue to grow The
Veganish Market and showcase their creativity to their
community.
Reflecting on how far she’s come, Rozier says,
“I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish
here and the space that I’ve created.”
Teenie’s Take-Home Market - Birmingham,
Alabama
Many don’t think of a 500-square-foot room
when they imagine a restaurant. But for business
owner Tina Liollio, food is about community, no
matter how big or small. From Greek chicken and rice
to vegetable lasagna, Liollio possesses a deep passion
for food that started in her childhood. Her Greek and
Sicilian Heritage continues to influence her cooking
today.
“I just have always naturally gravitated towards
cooking and have been in the restaurant business,”
Liollio says. “My family worked in the restaurant
business so it’s just been a natural go-to for me to
cook.”
“On Saturdays and Sundays, my greatgrandmother
used to cook,” she says. “She lived down
the street from us and used to have me over to cook
with her. She would start making her meatballs on
Saturdays and get out a skillet. Then I would help on
Sundays by frying them.”
Teenie’s Market was created in the middle
of the pandemic as a way to cook meals for friends
and family. Liollio would cook homemade meals
that could then be purchased by friends and family.
The business took off and eventually moved into its
current building where customers can buy homemade
meals to go. Today, Teenie’s Take-Home Market serves
a variety of options from single meals that workers can
grab during the day to large family-style meals.
Before Teenie’s Take-Home Market was created,
Liollio was already working in the food and hospitality
Design by Sarah Hartsell
Photos by McKenna Myrick
industry. Her other business, Local Link, was founded
in 2019 and has flourished by focusing on community
and bringing people together.
“Local Link was founded with the intent to
help connect local businesses and nonprofits in this
area with vendors that I loved,” Liollio says. “To help
people and make their events more seamless.”
Liollo’s experience with connecting
businesses to vendors allowed her to become the
food coordinator during the 2022 World Games
in Birmingham. Throughout the games, Liollio
coordinated all the food from food trucks, vendors
and VIP meals. The planning for the games took over
a year and a half in preparation.
“I think that the most important part of the
World Games was that it fit into everything that I
have done,” Liollio says. “I was able to meet all these
different vendors and all of the people that I met.”
Through Teenie’s Take Home market, Liollio
has showcased various products from vendors around
the Birmingham area. From break-apart cookies to
specialized sauces, she’s committed to showcasing the
work of other professionals.
“Every quarter, we’ll rotate in new businesses
so that people can try different local things that they
might haven’t tried,” she says.
From connecting local businesses and vendors
to creating homemade meals for families, Liollio is
dedicated to her community. With every plate and
every meal, she brings people closer together through
food. She says, “the focus has always been to be a
source for the community.”
Owning a restaurant is more than producing
food for people to eat. It’s about making connections
in the community, supporting other businesses and
pushing the limits of creativity.
Through Teenie’s Take Home Market and The
Veganish Market, two women have created thriving
businesses centered around food. With every dish
and every meal produced, they are moving beyond
themselves to inspire others and make an impact in
the community.
Alice Spring 2023 57

Saturday Morning
Adventures
The ins and outs of the Tuscaloosa
Farmers Market.
By Elisabeth Bernard
Farmers markets are a great way to support local businesses and
one of the most accessible sources of homegrown produce and
unique products, making them easy to be fond of for both vendors
and customers.
Farmers markets date back thousands of years before the era of
online shopping and mass-produced goods, and they continue to thrive
because of their charm and customers’ appreciation for homemade
products. The Tuscaloosa Farmers Market, located just minutes away from
The University of Alabama’s main campus is held every Saturday morning
starting at 7 a.m. and ending at noon. Located at the Tuscaloosa River
Market next to the Black Warrior River, the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market
makes for a perfect start to anyone’s Saturday.
Named Alabama’s No. 1 farmers market in 2022 by the America’s
Farmers Market Celebration Awards, the market works with 70 different
local vendors to bring local goods to customers every Saturday, year
round. Adrienne Williams, owner of Blessed Bites, has been selling her
fruit arrangements, lemonades and desserts at farmers markets since 2016.
What started as a Facebook-run business has continued to grow and has
become a must-try at the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market.
“I have always wanted my own small business,” Williams says.
“In 2014 I was working as a Detention Officer for the Tuscaloosa Sheriff ’s
Department at the Tuscaloosa County Jail. While working there I became
pregnant with my son. I was already making dishes and desserts for
friends and family.”
While on maternity leave with her son, she began selling her
“bites” and eventually bought a business license which allowed her to
become a vendor at the Northport Farmers Market for five years. Williams
then applied to become a vendor at the Tuscaloosa River Market after
visiting one of their pop-up events, and she has now had a Saturday spot at
the market for two years.
“The vendors benefit from the traffic and tourists that come
to visit and shop at the River Market, Williams says. “The more people
we meet, the more customers we can accumulate —more exposure.
Customers benefit by having access to rare commodities such as fresh
homemade goods, farm fresh produce, farm fresh meat and events and
entertainment at the market. The markets have surely been a blessing to
my children and me. We are very grateful.”
For Pamela Dobbins, owner and chief baking officer of Delightful
Cookies & Treats, LLC, the journey of her baking business began in high
school with a challenge to use a cake recipe with mayonnaise listed as
58 alice.ua.edu
an ingredient. From there, her curiosity evolved into
experimentation and a passion for creating recipes and
sharing her delicious creations with others.
“I set out to blaze the trail of opening up a
bakery in 2006,” Dobbins says. “Let’s just say it got off to
a very rocky start, and after six months I had to close the
doors. I was not happy during that time, but I did learn
a lot and vowed that this would not be the end of my
journey for my bakery.”
After 11 years, the urge to bake became
irresistible and she started perfecting the four beloved
flavors she sells today: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin,
peanut butter and tea cakes. From her home, Dobbins
moved onto the flea market in Moundville, then to the
Tuscaloosa River Market in January 2018. With hard
work and the success of Delightful Cookies & Treats,
she was able to open a bakery where she now makes her
tasty treats every day.
“After retiring from my teaching career of 25
years, I decided to open a bakery and work full-time
on building my business,” Dobbins says. “This was my
second chance, and I knew I needed to go for it. During
the pandemic I applied for a grant, was notified that I
received it and officially opened the doors to Delightful
Treats in January 2021. I started out securing wholesale
accounts with some local merchants such as County
Line Grocery & Deli in Moundville and Piggly Wiggly.
They received my products with open arms and so did
the community.”
The farmer’s market has allowed vendors like
Williams and Dobbins to pursue their passions and
share them with others, establish a sense of community
amongst both vendors and visitors.
Dobbins says, “I truly believe that farmers
markets reach all sectors of the community. Farmers
Design by Sarah Hartsell
Photos by Emma Kate Standard
markets allow farmers and local business owners to
develop strong bonds with people in the community.
I love the fact that customers come from all walks of life
weekly to seek out fruits, vegetables and any artisanmade
products—from baked breads to sweets and
treats. It is a match made in heaven for all involved. I
love the Tuscaloosa River Market because all the staff
and vendors love what they do, and we look forward to
serving our customers on a weekly basis.”
The farmers market provides a space that allows
vendors to display the products and businesses they have
spent years perfecting, but there are also many benefits
for visitors and customers. Kayla Bell, a junior studying
psychology and dance at The University of Alabama,
first visited the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market in 2021 after
hearing positive reviews from other students. While Bell
enjoys purchasing homemade soaps and fresh honey,
the environment of the market itself is why she keeps
coming back.
“When I walk into the River Market, it’s always
full of friendly faces, the amazing smell of soaps and
baked goods,” Bell says. “I love that it is a place where
dogs are welcome, I get to meet new people and be close
to the water.”
There truly is something for everyone at the
farmers market, and most importantly, customers get
to meet the hardworking people behind the products
they love and support local small business owners by
buying straight from the source. The farmers, bakers
and artisans who bring their products to the Tuscaloosa
Farmers Market allow residents and visitors of
Tuscaloosa to purchase local produce, taste homemade
recipes and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces of art, all
while fostering a welcoming environment and sense of
community within the Saturday mornings crowds.
Alice Spring 2023 59

What your
Chipotle order says
about you
Mostly A’s: Spontaneous and Adventurous
You are someone who lives life to the fullest. You know what you like
and stick to it. Every once in a while, you choose to mix it up to keep things
fresh. Chipotle is one of your go-to places to eat and you can rely on them to
have a good meal. You look forward to when you get a chance to eat at Chipotle
and normally eat it while you’re on the way to your next adventure. You
take every chance that you get and live life to the fullest.
By Angie Hartsfield
Have you ever wondered what your Chipotle order says about your personality or been shocked to
see how your friends’ orders vary? Believe it or not, choosing types of salsas and rice is a form of
expressing individuality. This quiz reveals what your Chipotle order says about your unique traits.
Mostly B’s: Planner and Calculated
You love to have your work and everyday life organized. You are
someone who sets tasks and works hard to complete them. A to-do list
is second nature and helps you keep track of your busy days. A Chipotle
meal is a serotonin boost for you and gives you the chance to spice
things up in your day. You are also a very determined and hard-working
person who can enjoy the simple things in life.
1. Which base do you order?
A. Bowl
B. Burrito
C. Quesadilla
2. Which type of rice do you prefer?
A. White
B. Brown
C. Both
3. Which type of beans do you choose?
A. Pinto beans
B. Black beans
C. None
4. Which meat is your favorite?
A. Chicken
B. Steak
C. No meat - fajita veggies
5. Which salsa goes on top?
A. Mild
B. Spicy
C. Extra Spicy
6. Which is your favorite topping of choice?
A. Corn
B. Sour Cream
C. Lettuce
7. What do you add on to your order?
A. Queso
B. Chips
C. Guacamole
8. Where do you eat your chipotle?
A. Take-out
B. Dine-in
C. Delivery
Mostly C’s: Free-Spirited and Energetic
To you, Chipotle is a place where you can find a
well-balanced meal to energize your life and mind. You
have busy days ahead of you but always give your all into
what you do. You try your hardest and are devoted to
your passions in life. Nature enthralls you, which in turn
motivates you to make very conscious decisions. In your
free time, you do choose to live life in a way that is exciting
and motivating. Caring for those around you also brings
you joy.
Design by Meagan Riordan
60 alice.ua.edu
Alice Spring 2023 61

Features
66 Roll Pride: Gender Non-conforming Experiences at UA
70 Aim for the Stars: Women in Astrobotics
72 When the Party’s Over
Models Taylor Lech, Chloe Clemmon, Sa’Niah Dawson
Photo Rebecca Martin

Models Taylor Lech, Chloe Clemmon, Sa’Niah Dawson
Photo Rebecca Martin
Design by Sarh Smith

Gender Non-conforming
Experiences at UA
On Sept. 29, 2022, The University of Alabama
(UA) Student Government Association
(SGA) approved over $7,000 for the Young
Americans for Freedom student organization to host
Matt Walsh on his “What is a Woman?” tour. While
students engaged in discourse over the validity
of free speech, those who opposed his presence
took the greatest issue with the providing of funds
to a person who makes money off invalidating
the identities of a portion of UA students and the
population of genderqueer people at large.
In response, The Leftist Collective, the
Queer Student Association and UA Democrats organized
and carried out the “Stand Against Transphobia”
protest. Pride flags acted as capes, signs were
hoisted over shoulders and chants of “Big Al is a big
ally, Matt Walsh is a bigot” rang over the Quad.
While the demonstration certainly contained
gender non-conforming people, as well as
other members of the LGBTQ+ community, many
heterosexual and cisgender protestors added their
voices in support.
“Last semester [when] transphobia raged
on campus, the people around me came together to
support me,” Sabrina Richard (they/them), a freshman
majoring in creative media and culinary science
at The University of Alabama, says. “Additionally,
people I didn’t know worked tirelessly to ensure the
hate being spread was stopped in its tracks.”
66 alice.ua.edu
By Perri Larkin
Also in the crowd were representatives of
Young Americans for Freedom, who argued with
protestors in support of Matt Walsh’s ideology. So
though there was student support from cisgender
and/or heterosexual individuals for the LGBTQ+
community, there was also undeniable opposition
and prejudice, and this sentiment creeps through
campus and touches the lives of every gender
non-conforming student.
“When I was looking for a roommate, I got
blocked by several people after coming out to them
as nonbinary,” Richard says.
For gender non-conforming students, the
decision to come out is not a one-time decision, but
a process, as one encounters more and more people
who must be informed of one’s identity. Some people
choose to only be out to close friends, while others
announce their pronouns with every introduction,
no matter the audience.
“I never expected to be fully out on campus,”
Link Hernandez (they/them), a freshman majoring
in music composition at The University of Alabama,
says. “There are times where I allow my identity to
remain obscured for my own safety and I never correct
people.”
But what was most disheartening to gender
non-conforming students was not the presence of
student opposition to their identities, but the silence
of the University on the subject. Following the talk
and the protest, no official statement was issued by the
University, despite the affirmation of the University’s desire
to “promote equity and inclusion” in the Capstone Creed.
For gender non-conforming students, this silence
speaks volumes — if the University does not address bigotry
when its sources are on an individual level, what does it do,
or choose to not do, on a systemic level? What can it do to
affirm the identities of and promote the ability of gender
non-conforming students to live, learn and work on campus
without struggle?
For some, the experiences have been largely
positive.
“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was
pleasantly surprised at how not just UA, but Tuscaloosa as a
whole handles gender identity and presentation,” Phoenyx
Mendoza (any/all), a freshman majoring in anthropology at
The University of Alabama, says. “The biggest thing is the
ability to use one’s preferred name within the system.”
Names can be stark reminders of a self
with which a gender non-conforming person no
longer identifies, thus it is important that one’s
preferred name is used to avoid drawing attention
to sex assigned at birth or forcing a gender nonconforming
person to correct and/or explain
themselves to professors. A student may use their
preferred name on their mobile Action Card,
within the UA Outlook Common Directory, and
on Blackboard, but some believe, that for the
extent to which our names make up our identities,
these measures are not enough.
Design by Sarah Mitchell
“The University allows us to indicate a preferred
name, but if we haven’t changed our names legally,
most official correspondence will still include that legal
name,” James, a history student at The University of
Alabama and transgender man (he/him), says. “This
includes announcements like Dean’s / President’s list and
any accolades we receive. Legal names also appear on
housing applications, and anything to do with campus
employment.”
With respect to housing, there are just as many
critiques.
In James’s first year at UA, he indicated on his
housing application that he is transgender and would
benefit greatly from being placed in a coed dorm. Despite
this, James was placed in Burke Hall, which has communal
bathrooms, on the girl’s floor. He got in contact with UA’s
Housing Department, and was given the option of Bryce
Lawn, with all men, or Ridgecrest South, with all girls.
Alice Spring 2023 67

He got in contact with UA’s Housing Department,
and was given the option of Bryce Lawn, with all men, or
Ridgecrest South, with all girls. This year, James lives on
campus with men, even though his legal sex is female, and
his legal name has not been changed, but he states, “there
is no way to make this work without knowing that you can
email housing and get them to sort it out for you.”
James’s fear of the reaction of the cisgender men
living at Bryce Lawn is not an uncommon occurrence.
“I do foresee [roommates and suitemates] being
a really dangerous problem for some trans people,” James
says. “Most other trans people I know here prefer to live
off-campus, even though they have scholarships, because of
this.”
While UA cannot control the opinions of
individuals attending the institution, it can take measures
to mitigate the extent to which harmful words and actions
cause harm to gender non-conforming students. In the
case of the Matt Walsh controversy, this manifests itself
in denying the request for funding harmful speech. And
in the case of housing, it manifests itself in creating
non-traditional housing options that allow gender nonconforming
students to exist in peace and safety.
“I wish the University would listen to suggestions
about implementing a pride or LGBTQ+ specific floor or
housing area or being more open to coed options to make
housing for trans people safer,” James says.
In the writings and promises of the University, the
principles of diversity, equity and inclusion can be found in
a myriad of places, like in UA’s strategic plan, the Capstone
Creed or Student Life policies, yet these promises do not
always reach gender non-conforming individuals on the
personal level.
“I think there should be more widely implemented
DEI training,” Richard says. “I think when asking a
student’s name and major, professors could also easily ask
for pronouns.”
Outside of the formal University proceedings, there is also
desire for change.
“I wish there were UA traditions that felt less
gendered,” Hernandez says.
But, because it is near impossible for the hateful
opinions of the few to be changed, and it is frustrating to
see the University shy away from controversy, this is what
makes the support offered by allies of the gender nonconforming
community so imperative.
To their allies,
the students
interviewed for this
piece say:
“I extend my
thanks [to those]
helping people feel
safe and accepted.”
“Thank you for
listening.”
“We appreciate
those who stand at
our side and give us
the respect we as
human beings
deserve.”
68 alice.ua.edu
Photo by Sarah Hartsell
Model Link Hernandez Alice Spring 2023 69

70 alice.ua.edu
Aim for
the Stars:
Women in Astrobotics
By Jennafer Bowman
The University of Alabama (UA) is home to
over 600+ student organization and clubs,
meaning there’s something for all of their
30,000+ student population. With a female
student population of 57% in 2021 according
to U.S. News & World Report, one would
think that most clubs would have heavy female membership
numbers, but for extracurriculars in male-dominated
industries, that’s not the case.
UA’s College of Engineering is comprised of 5,389
students, a much lower number than UA’s total population.
When compared to the national statistic by the Society
of Women Engineers reporting that 24% of women are
enrolled in a four-year engineering degree, one might
think that engineering clubs also see a high number of
female membership. When subtracting women only clubs,
membership in unisex engineering clubs is low, just like the
percentage of women engineers (15.9% according to Zippia).
But, while statistically numbers are low,
morale is high.
Sydney Sachs is a junior mechanical engineering
major at The University of Alabama. Originally from
Atlanta. She currently serves as a member of the mechanical
team for Alabama Astrobotics.
“I wanted to get more involved, and I wanted to get
my hands dirty because classes are full of equations and like
theoretical stuff,” Sachs says.
While this is Sachs second year on the team, her
impact on the team can be seen through current members.
“In all honesty I joined the team because she [Sachs]
took me to a meeting,” Autumn Minyard, a junior aerospace
engineering major at The University of Alabama and the
social media lead for the team says. “I thought it would be a
really fun place to make friends and meet people that might
have a common interest. I stayed with it because of Madison
and Kat and how they treated me.”
Madison Chambliss is a senior aerospace
engineering and mechanics major at The University of
Alabama. Originally from Prattville, Alabama, Chambliss
serves as the overall team lead and the systems engineering
lead. Chambliss acknowledges the low percentages of
women in engineering but says that the Astrobotics team is
improving on inclusivity and keeping locker room
talk to a minimum.
“When I first joined the team, I sat in our advisor’s
office and he looked me in the eyes and he said, ‘If you ever
have a problem, you tell me and we will sort it out.’ And the
one time I had a problem, I went to him and we’ve never had
another problem.”
With around 100 members, it’s important that
Chambliss and her administrative team set the standard for
equality on the team. It also helps when general members
can see themselves represented in admin positions.
“It’s also helpful that we usually have at least one
woman on the admin team,” Katherine Stamey, a master’s
student in mechanical engineering at UA says. “Which is
helpful that I have someone to go to before going
to our advisor.”
Stamey has been on the Astrobotics team for five
years now and serves as Team Manager. Within their
current administration, three out of nine admin members
are women and 33 out of 118 overall members are women.
The Alabama Astrobotics team has won seven
Design by Meagan Riordan
out of the last eight national championships at the NASA
LUNABOTICS Competition. The student design team works
to develop an autonomous lunar excavation robot in support
of NASA’s initiative to establish a long-term status on the
moon. The goal of the robot is to collect ice from under
the surface of the moon to be refined into drinking water,
oxygen and rocket fuel.
While the team is moving forward with
representation, their classes fall flat. Aubrey Dettman, a
junior studying mechanical engineering at UA is on the
mechanical team. One of the first things she notices when
walking into her classes for the first time is how many other
women are in her classes.
“I’ll walk into class and I start scanning the room
and I think ‘There are no ponytails,’” Dettman says. “I do a
head count and it’s usually always less than 10.”
While it can get hard, it’s important for rising
women in STEM to “stick with it” and not give up, especially
with extracurriculars that appear to be male-dominated.
“If you can lean against each other, you’ll still be
standing,” Chambliss says. “You might not be perfect, but
you’ll get through it.”
With strong female role models such as
Chambliss, Dettman, Sachs, Stamey and Minyard,
paving the way for women in STEM, the future is bright.
If you can lean against each other,
you’ll still be
standing.
Alice Spring 2023 71

When the
Party’s Over
The Realities of Addiction in College.
By Alden Wiygul
W
hen one is prompted to picture a night
out involving alcohol and drugs, they will
most likely come up with one scene: flashing
lights, loud music intermingled with
friends laughing, bright colors and blurry
faces. This is what is shown in popular media, regardless
of if they themselves spent the night sitting on a cold sidewalk
or puking into a bush. Thousands of college students
across America go out in search of the best night of their
life. It is often too late for them to realize that occasional
fun times have led to a craving that cannot be filled by
just one night.
Everyone knows the dangers of consuming
alcohol or drugs. It has been depicted on TV and in
movies thousands of times. Yet, there is something
mystical about college, something that draws a line in
people’s minds claiming that as long as they are young,
addiction is not real.
“Prior to college, I knew very little about drug
use,” Katy Uptain, a junior marine science/biology student
at The University of Alabama says. “My stepbrother
had gone to rehab, but that was all I knew and even that
shocked me because he was so functional in his addiction
that you would have never guessed. College showed me
that drugs are not just for one type of person, everyone
can do drugs if they so choose, and it is a big part of
several cultures.”
In media, substance abuse is commonly shown
in older adults with their lives falling apart, creating a
negative stereotype about those suffering with drugs or
alcohol. This discourages students to admit any kind
of problem because they are unwilling to associate
themselves with the stereotypical substance abuser. Even
newer media such as HBO’s hit show “Euphoria”, attempts
to tackle youth addiction but instead of college students, it
examines high schoolers. Drinking or drug use in college,
is never shown to be a real problem, in fact in season one
of “Euphoria”, one of the main characters, Cassie Howard
is depicted going to a college Halloween party where
drugs and alcohol are being consumed in a montage.
“I think the stigma is still a problem, people
assume everyone that does drugs is a certain way, so no
one wants to get help,” Kelly Miller, Assistant Director of
Clinical Services at The University of Alabama’s Collegiate
Recovery and Intervention Services, says.
“There are some harmful shows that only show addiction
in a bad light when we really see every day, normal people
like physicians, businessmen and students.”
Stress in college exacerbates the issue, with many
people finding escape from reality by looking through
the bottom of an alcohol or pill bottle. Access to these
substances is plentiful and can be worse in Greek life
where the enhanced college culture and community has
caused higher rates of binge drinking and substance abuse
according to the National Institue of Drug Abuse.
Over twenty million Americans are suffering
from a substance abuse disorder. Observing statistics
shows that alcohol and drug use peaks during college
age. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health has
recorded that 33% of college students engage in binge
drinking each month.
While it may seem like fun and games when
inside a bar bathroom, substance abuse leads to academic,
physical, mental and social problems. One in four
college students have reported academic issues caused
by drinking. The most common drugs abused by college
students are marijuana, MDMA (ecstasy), LSD, stimulant
medications (Adderall), cocaine and opioids
(prescription painkillers).
“The toughest part is substance abuse is so
normative in this age group, so it is harder for them to see
they have a problem,” Miller says. “Their friends may be
drinking just as much so they think it is okay when the
reality is, alcohol affects everyone differently.”
The University of Alabama is particularly
affected by this phenomenon. There are 44 bars and
restaurants that serve alcohol in Tuscaloosa. Almost 3%
of people over the age of 17 in Alabama are suffering
from substance abuse, and each year 225,000 people in
Alabama over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol. At the
fourth top party school in the nation, UA students walk a
fine line between bingo Mondays and regrets they
cannot undo.
According to the U.S. Department of Education,
proven ways that universities can help prevent substance
abuse are substance abuse counseling sessions, keeping
their facilities open later, scheduling classes on Fridays,
monitoring fraternities and sororities and having support
meetings for students.
72 alice.ua.edu
Alice Spring 2023 73

There are college-based recovery programs like the
Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) and Collegiate
Recovery Communities (CRCs). CRP programs have an
87.5% success rate in preventing college students from
relapsing after graduation.
Most insurances will cover rehab for college
students and if the person is under the age of 25, they are
eligible to be treated under their parent’s insurance policy.
Under inpatient care, treatment on average lasts three weeks
to 90 days and outpatient care will often have the option of
going to daytime classes while getting evening treatment.
While rehab can be frightening for young students, having
to temporarily take a medical leave or transition to an
accommodated study plan is more beneficial in the long
run to a person’s academic career than untreated addiction.
The rehab care facilities in Tuscaloosa are Phoenix House,
The Bridge Inc. and A Reprieve for Women. All of these
offer different specialized services that can be found listed at
addicted.org.
All the UA substance abuse programs are under the
Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services (CRIS). Their
goal is to create an engaging environment for any students
currently recovering from addiction or those considering
recovery. They have more staff and therapists than most
other college recovery programs and offer unique services
like drug testing so that students can do any court mandated
testing in a place where they feel safe.
In their largest service, they provide a 24/7 safe
space for recovering students within their Collegiate
Recovery Community (CRC). This community offers
tailored tailgates, family dinners, group meetings,
counseling and scholarships. There is also FORGE
(Focusing on Recovery through Guided Exploration) which
helps students develop the skills they need for long-term
recovery commitment.
UA Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a club
on campus focused on changing drug policies to enhance
the health and well-being of the students. They neither
condemn nor condone drug use, instead using their voices
to speak up against the dangers of misusing drugs and the
failures of the system built on the “War on Drugs” policy.
Recently they brought a resolution to the SGA to create a
new medical emergency assistance policy since the current
medical amnesty policy does not encourage students to
come forward about peers who are overdosing.”
A policy centered around abstinence is not effective,
we need to change it to something that helps people rather
than hurts them,” Gabby Abashian, a sophomore marine
science/biology student at The University of Alabama and
SSDP Community Outreach Coordinator, says. “Which
includes less disciplinary action, bringing more Narcan to
campus and certifying
more people.”
While there are a lot of things being done to offer
support to all the students suffering from substance abuse,
the main issue is getting students to recognize signs of
addiction and to admit they need assistance. Media and
college culture have glamorized the idea of substances, and
culture has shamed the idea of young people reaching out
for help, especially with what is considered a problem for
“older adults.”
This is only made worse at UA, where many
students are drawn to the University because of the
idealization of parties. Youth does not make anyone
immune to the effects of alcohol, and as students, there is
a lot to lose in the aftereffects. The biggest thing that can
be done in today’s culture is to normalize the discussion
of substance abuse. Students need to know it is not
something to be ashamed of and that they have
supportive places to turn to.
To improve your eating and lifestyle habits, take advantage of the
nutrition services offered by the registered dietitian at the
UA Student Health Center and Pharmacy:
• Individual nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy in the
areas of healthy eating, weight loss/gain, GI conditions, food
allergies/intolerances, diabetes or hypoglycemia, heart health and
disordered eating.
• Measurement of metabolism and body fat.
• Nutrition presentations for student groups.
74 alice.ua.edu
Access your patient portal to make an appointment today!
{Your patient portal login is located on the Student Tab of your MyBama account}
Design by Meagan Riordan & Sarah Smith
Cherie Simpson, MS, RD, LD
Dietitian Nutritionist
nutrition@ua.edu
205-348-0205
Alice Spring 2023 75

Model Rebekah Clay
Design by Sarah Hartsell
Photos Emma Kate Standard

78 alice.ua.edu
Jennafer Bowman Editor-in-Chief
Writing
Evy Gallagher Managing Editor
Elisabeth Bernard Food & Health Editor
Caroline Karrh Features Editor
Emie Garrett Entertainment Editor
Leslie Klien Beauty Editor
Peyton Oden Fashion Editor
Creative
Sarah Hartsell Creative Director
Sarah Smith Design Editor
Meagan Riordan Assistant Design Editor
Emma Kate Standard Photo Editor
Rebecca Martin Assistant Photo Editor
Digital
Emma Coons Digital Director
Beth Wheeler Marketing Editor
Addie McCrary Social Media Editor
Annie Jicka Videography Editor
Perri Larkin Web Editor
In Spring 2023, our staff worked over
100 hours to create this magazine.
Thank you to our
editors, contributors & advisors
for their hard work.
Flourish
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 © 2023 by Alice
Magazine. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of Alice Magazine.
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