Why I Transferred Universities

Transferring to Northwestern
I spent my freshman year of college at Fordham University at Lincoln Center and then transferred to Northwestern University for my sophomore year. People constantly ask me why I transferred schools and the answer is not one that can easily fit into a surface level conversation. The most general reason I usually give is that I transferred because I ...
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The Timeless Band

From www.grammy.com
Over the past summer, many movies have come out. One, in particular, piqued my interest: Yesterday, the movie recalling the classic band, The Beatles. When I heard about a movie in which everybody on the planet, besides one man, has forgotten about The Beatles, I knew I had to see it. Although this movie was not great, it made me remember my l...
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In Retrospect, These Movies Ruined my Childhood

I can still recall my first cinematic experience: the overwhelming enthusiasm of seeing the big screen, the smell of hot buttery popcorn, and the explosive intensity of hearing surround sound for the first time.  Yet, despite all this nostalgia, it’s what was actually behind the big screen that years later I’ve realized left me with a haunting...
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Love, Simon: Reclaiming Romantic Comedies

I’ve never been one for romantic comedies.  I always thought they were too cheesy, highly predictable, and downright unrealistic.  The typical story of ‘girl meets boy’ did little to hold my attention, and it was a rarity that I actually finished watching a Nicholas Sparks inspired film (I haven’t even seen The Notebook).  It’s not t...
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Human Trafficking: It's Right on Our Doorstep

For many, the illegal sale, trading, and exploitation of children, women, and slaves seems like a ‘foreign’ problem.  The harsh reality, however, is that the United States is one of the most popular destinations and sources of human trafficking on the global scale.  According to the Organization for Human Rights, around 28% reported traff...
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Jukebox Musicals: The Tunes We Hear Again

ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ never fails to get people moving, whether it’s at a college party or a Fourth of July celebration.  But the hit song strikes a different chord when played during ‘Mamma Mia!’ and its sequel ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.’  As I sat in the movie theater to see the latter’s premiere, I, like the many other 20-something...
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An Open Letter to POC on a Predominantly-White Campus

Vermont is a state with one of the highest population of whites in America.  This ratio is reflected in the university population as well, which is over 80% white.  Recently, the University of Vermont has made efforts to be more accepting towards people of color by opening POC groups, running diversity education programs, and emphasizing ...
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'The Feminine Mystique' and Modern Feminism

My grandmother once told me that if The Feminine Mystique had come out five years earlier, my father wouldn’t have been born.  Her comment surprised me because, like many women today, I realize that The Feminine Mystique was important to second wave feminism, but also know that is incredibly exclusive and problematic.  I’ll admit that whe...
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How To Become (Or At Least Sound Like) An Impressive Film Scholar During Movie Night

To many, watching a movie means microwaving a bag of popcorn, breaking out a fuzzy blanket, and snuggling up on the couch.  The movie begins and you immediately get lost in the eyes of Ryan Reynolds in a sappy romantic comedy or fight back tears when Viola Davis says pretty much anything.  You choose which movie to watch based on a recomm...
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Review: Courtney Barnett’s ‘Tell Me How You Really Feel’

In the chorus of Courtney Barnett’s best known song, ‘Pedestrian at Best,’ she sings 'put me on a pedestal, and I’ll only disappoint you.'  Barnett has built quite a name for herself since the release of her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Other Times I Just Sit, and even earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2016. &nbs...
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Mindy Kaling’s Empowering Commencement Speech

Last month, star of The Mindy Project and author of multiple bestselling books Mindy Kaling spoke to the class of 2018 at her alma mater, Dartmouth College.  In Kaling’s trademark style, the speech was full of self-deprecating humor and one-liners, but also contained poignant and contemporary advice for the recent grads.Image viaKaling’s incre...
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Ocean’s 8: Empowering Women on the Big Screen

There are very few movies I’ve thought were worthy of being seen in theaters twice, and they all have one thing in common: they’re led by strong female characters.  This past weekend marks the second time I’ve seen Ocean’s 8 on the big screen, and I couldn’t have thought of a better way to use my AMC gift card.See the Ocean's 8 trailer here!Th...
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The Broadway Musical Bright Star and Its Message of Hope for All Women

According to folklore, one dark night in 1902 Irondale, Missouri, a mysterious person got onto a train holding a suitcase.  Inside the suitcase was a baby.Learn more about Bright Star the musical here!As the train chugged along, the person was on a nefarious mission.  Out of sight of the other passengers, they hurled the suitcase out of t...
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Groupies, Rockers, and Sexism in the DIY Music Scene

So, you’re not like other girls.  You listen to alternative music.  Your favorite pastime is hanging out in dirty basements, listening to white guys yell about their love lives and shred their Fender guitars.  Don’t worry, you’re not alone! The DIY (‘do-it-yourself’) music scene has gained considerable traction in the past five to te...
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Maggie Stiefvater: The Story of a Real-Life Heroine

A strong woman who continues to inspire me is young adult author Maggie Stiefvater.  She has written many popular books, including The Wolves of Mercy Falls, The Scorpio Races, The Raven Cycle, and, most recently, All The Crooked Saints.  Before becoming a novelist, she was a portrait artist and played the bagpipes competitively.  Al...
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Protest or Patriotism: The NFL Ban on Kneeling During the Anthem

After nearly two years of controversy, the NFL released a new rule on May 23rd, 2018 banning players from kneeling during the national anthem.  Team members who wish not to stand during the anthem may remain in the locker room or in similar places off the field; those who do kneel on the field will be subject to team fines.Shop American Flag F...
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6 Inspiring Female Artists You Need To Follow On Instagram

Many artists post their work on Instagram, utilizing its visual nature by making their accounts into miniature, online galleries while opening themselves to new audiences.  This allows these artists to gain notoriety and display their work, and makes visual art more easily accessible than ever before.  There are so many amazing female art...
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‘The Break’ with Michelle Wolf Casts Feminist Eye on Current Events

Like many Americans, I had never heard of Michelle Wolf before the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.  Her speech sent shockwaves over the Internet, but as with many online cries of outrage, it was difficult to find the cause amidst the chaos.  I had never heard the joke that many had chastised Wolf for telling, one purportedly aime...
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Janelle Monáe Bytes Back with 'Dirty Computer'

Janelle Monáe’s 'Dirty Computer,' a visual album and self-described ‘Emotion Picture’ released this past April, plays out a dystopian future where nonconformist individuals are labeled dirty, and must be cleaned.  Jane, played by Janelle, has her memories erased en masse on a gleaming spaceship that resembles a cross between 'Westworld' and 'O...
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Portia de Rossi, Bringing Contemporary Art to the ‘General Public’

While her Arrested Development castmates have been in the news for sexism in the workplace, which culminated in an incredibly emotional New York Times Interview, Portia de Rossi has left acting behind and has launched a new company.  "Returning to her earlier passion for art and of making art accessible to the masses, she worked with Fujifilm ...
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