ink magazine 3.1
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Our first issue of the year for VCU's student-run magazineTRANSCRIPT
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Undergrad and BrokeStudents forced into the real world to afford college
Featured ArtistAndy Kotsch
Fashion BloggingTechnology and fashion hit the streets
Vol. 3 No. 1September 2010
Ink Vol 3 No 1 1 9/10/10 10:32:16 AM
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T
Editor’s Letter Staff
Executive Editor
hird time’s a charm? For the
benefit of all the readers and every-
one involved in producing Ink Magazine,
I certainly hope so.
Over the past two years, former edi-
tors Rich Griset and Sara D’Eugenio had
the same overall mission: creating a maga-
zine that portrays the true diversity within
Virginia Commonwealth University. It is
my personal ambition to continue to pave
the way. With all our success in previous
production, I hope to keep the magazine
similar to those running it before me. We
do have a few tricks up our sleeve though,
but for now we’ll keep you guessing.
This magazine’s whole purpose is to
celebrate our unique campus that ampli-
fies color well beyond the black and gold.
Obviously, that cannot be accomplished
without your existence, so this is my thanks
to all of you! Whether it’s through artistic
talent, athletic skill, outstanding academic,
or purely human experience, thank you for
proving VCU cannot be easily defined.
Our first issue is filled with stories
written for you and by you. We are discov-
ering who we are, how we’re getting there,
and the obstacles we must overcome along
the way. Regardless of your year, we are
all still figuring it out. Whether it’s your
first big move from home, or learning to
financially support yourself, or maybe just
discovering who you are and what you love,
I hope that there is something in here that
you can connect with.
We’ll be gone ‘til November, but don’t
worry we’ve only just begun.
Sincerely,
Christine EricksonExecutive Editor
Dominic Butchello Art Director
Meredith RigsbyManaging Editor
Dena Spruill Fashion Director
Gene StromanFilm & Literature Editor
Ink Vol 3 No 1 2 9/10/10 10:34:43 AM
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Mason Brown Staff Writer
Mary NewtonVisual Staff
Jaime Barnett Arts & Culture Editor
Hannah Swann Graphic Designer
Marleigh CulverGraphic Designer
Elizabeth Remick Staff Writer
Joseph Genest Staff Writer
Erynn SweeneyVisual Staff
Rachel Maves Visual Staff
Samantha Newton Photographer
Christine Stoddard Staff Writer
Not Pictured
Sarah RodriguezAd Sales and Public Relations Chelsea DoddStaff WriterElaine WilliamsStaff WriterAddison Sully-Heron WheelerStaff WriterTeddy GregsonStaff Writer
Guest Contributors:
Andy KotschKerry McDonnell
Go Green! Ink is printed on recycled paper.
Sarah RodriguezAd Sales and Public [email protected]
Christine EricksonExecutive [email protected]
Contact:
Ink Vol 3 No 1 3 9/15/10 2:39:49 PM
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Table of Contents
campus life contemporary issues arts & culture
5 Scotland to VA The transition from a summer in an exciting new country back home can be tough.
7 Running and Running The men’s team trains for the upcoming season in the scorching summer weather.
8 Roommate Talk It’s you versus them. Learn how to act appropriately when handling issues with those that share your living space.
9 Iraq Comes To Richmond Taking a class during the summer is not uncommon for students however, sharing a summer class with students from Iraq is! Read about this once in a lifetime experience.
10 History of VCU VCU is an awesome school, but how did it all begin? Find out about VCU’s roots as we take a dive into its history.
18 Map of Richmond Get to know the ins and outs of our unique city.
11 Bankrupt Blues Sometimes our parents are providing us with more than we realize. VCU students describe the hardships of being financially independent.
12 Bonnaroo An examination of the hundreds of thousands of people at the music festival, Bonnaroo, with his uncertainty towards the future leaves this incoming freshman with hope through various artists.
14 Family Dynamics An only child’s perspective on family: role models, meeting parent’s expectations, college and the future.
16 Internet Piracy Downloading is illegal- you know it, and you do it anyway. But the legalities might be different than you think!
22 Five is the New Four Four years in college is becoming more and more of an impossible reality. Read how we prove VCU students are still smarter than you think.
23 Kicking the Can Find out the good, the bad and what you didn’t already know.
24 Andy Kotsch: Feature Artist Painting and Printmaking major Andy Kotsch’s style may differentiate from drawing to painting, but neither medium leaves us disappointed.
26 Number Nin6: Featured Music The artist balances the dubstep scene with the medical scene.
28 Film/Literature Review VCU’s newest club, Cinema Talk, and book club, The Bookworms of VCU, give students their picks for fall.
30 DIY: Paint Chip Banner Spruce up your bland walls with an inexpensive way to add some color!
32 Fashion Blogging Blogging hits the streets, revealing this fall’s picks for fashion.
32
INK MAGAzINEContact us!
VCU Student Media Center817 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220804.828.1058 (Receptionist)
lIKE THE INTERNET?So do we!
[email protected]/inkmagazineissuu.com/ink_magazineFind us on Facebook!
Ink Vol 3 No 1 4 9/15/10 2:41:37 PM
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campus life
Scotland to VA
Christine StoddardFeeling at Home After Studying Abroad
he airplane zapped me back in time.
I could feel the past seeping into my
hair follicles, creeping over my pores and
gripping every bone from my wrists to my
ankles. This time travel phenomenon had
nothing to do with the 60s-esque flight
attendants sashaying down the aisles and
everything to do with skipping over time
zones. Through some miracle of the sun,
I was about to gain back five hours of
my life.
In fewer than one-hundred hours,
I made it from Central Scotland to
Central Virginia, jetlag be darned. That
amounted to nearly eight hours on the
plane, cramped between my sister and a
stranger, with a couple additional hours
accounted for in my parents’ car as we
drove from the Philadelphia airport to our
home in Arlington, Virginia. Then I spent
about half a week at my parents’ home
T before heading to Richmond. I wish I could
describe my state there as ‘relaxing,’ but
‘frantically preparing for my return to
Richmond’ would be far more accurate.
As much as I knew this, I didn’t
want to admit to myself on the plane
just how hard the transition would be.
(Introspective thinking during plane
rides often nudges your mind into scary
hypothetical situations concerning the
fate of your aircraft.) Feeling at home after
studying abroad is an issue many students
don’t even consider. Most of us are too
excited about the journey to worry about
how we’ll fall back in love with our own
culture when we return.
But it was time to begin worrying.
Soon, I thought to myself as I cut into my
freeze-dried chicken, I would experience
the jolt of going from the Glasgow School
of Art to VCU Arts.
After that, everything but the
feelings inside of me progressed at
cheetah speed. I got off the plane and
boom! I was standing on American
ground. Stores that closed past 6 p.m.
and weather that consistently turned the
sky something other than gray became a
reality again.
My feelings had to catch up to my
body’s pace. So, I started slowly, which is
the best way to heal most pain: softly and
32
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Ink Vol 3 No 1 5 9/15/10 2:41:41 PM
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campus life
“Soon, I thought to myself as I cut into my freeze-dried chicken, I would experience the jolt of going from the Glasgow School of Art to VCU Arts.”
subtly. I refused to sit in my room and pine
for Scotland all day. I could have easily
made the mistake of editing photos from
my trip for hours on end, or constantly
IMed my Scottish acquaintances for
a taste of the Old World. I also could
have gone on a Scottish cooking spree,
insisting that I was suddenly too good
for grits. Most of us have that friend
who’s studied for a semester or even
just the summer and come back a total
xenophile. You know, the one who goes
to India and comes back wearing only
saris, always complaining that American
food’s never spicy enough. I didn’t want
to morph into one of them. I wanted to
represent one of the glad-to-be-home-
but-still-appreciative-of-the-culture-I-
just-encountered VCU Education Abroad
alumni. How to get there? 1) Rationalizing,
and 2) Admiring what home offers. I
figured that my Scottish romance had
only lasted five weeks. At best, it was a
mere infatuation. Virginia was forever (or
at least until I graduated). I needed to
unpack right away because if I didn’t, the
sight of my suitcases would only make
my heart ache. I needed to get out, spend
time with friends and family, visit all my
favorite haunts, and eat like a Southerner!
I had to work, be productive. I had to get
back into the mode of school and muster
up the enthusiasm I always feel at the start
of a new academic year. Simply put, I got
back to my pre-Scotland life I suggest
allowing a healthy bit of nostalgia every
now and then, but no more.
I wasn’t going to forget Scotland,
of course. Who could forget Haggis and
Robert Burns and Mackintosh houses,
after all? But, equally important, is the
fact that I’m not going to forget
Virginia, either.
Ink Vol 3 No 1 6 9/10/10 10:37:40 AM
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campus lifecampus life
Meredith Rigsby
photos by Christine Erickson
While some are enjoying their summer by
the pool, these students are running in the
exhausting heat upwards of 10 miles a day.
The VCU men’s Cross-Country team sweat
all summer for their school.
A large portion of the men on the
cross country team also participate in
winter and spring track, allotting them a
mere two to three days break for the
entire year.
During the cross-country season,
the team competes in invitationals up and
down the East Coast. Invitationals are
large meets where as many as 20 teams
compete in one long distance, 8k or 5 mile
race. After talking with a few of the guys
on the team, they agreed that the Lee High
Invitational in Pennsylvania is their favorite
race. On race day, the team usually warms
up by jogging the course to get a feel
for the terrain, which helps come race time.
“Everyone has a different strategy,”
VCU senior and teammate from Poland,
Piotr Dybas said. “Like some person likes to
be in the front straight from the start, some
other people run at the end then he goes
forward and basically wins.”
Unfortunately, VCU does not have
a home cross-country course, something
the team would like to see change. “You’re
used to the terrain and it also bring[s]
attention to the school and to Richmond
itself,” team member and VCU junior, Tyler
Simmons said.
In a sport like cross-country, team
unity is an essential factor for success. On
the VCU team, unity is something they
definitely do not lack, with the majority of
the students being juniors and a quarter
of the team living together. “When you’re
out there doing 15 miles with someone, you
gotta like them a little bit,” teammate and
VCU sophomore, Justin Kendall said.
Training during the summer varies
from an “easy run,” an hour and a half
group run, to a “hard run,” a minimum 35
minute run at tempo or race pace. Because
the team trains so intensely without coach
guidance until the season begins, it takes
a certain mind set to stick to their workout
schedule. “Running at VCU, it’s kind of
established between the team we run
because we love to run,” Simmons said. “It’s
not a big name sport so you really have to
love the sport.”
As the fall season begins, the team
is looking for nothing less than success
this year. Due to injuries, stress fractures
in the shins being a major cause, the team
placed fifth in the NCAA conference last
year. Although the team expects to finish
in the top three this year, Simmons said
they are definitely preparing for a much
more competitive conference in the coming
season.
“I think we will all be on the same
page this year,” VCU senior, John Vial said.
“That’s another thing about cross country;
training is different so there’s more chances
for injuries, so it’s a little more stressful
than track.”
Along with placing among the top
three in their conference this year, the
team also hopes to avoid injury as much as
possible. The team will also receive a new
coaching staff this fall.
Visit the VCU sports website to keep
track of meet dates and locations.
Running and Running and Running
The VCU men’s cross-country team trains for the upcoming season in the scorching summer weather.
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campus life
Roommate
TalkWhen asking students what best describes
Virginia Commonwealth University,
the most common response almost always
includes the word “diversity.” Walking
through campus, there are an array of
different cultures and lifestyles that make
VCU what it is. While this may be our
school’s best trait, it can make a freshman’s
life in the dorms like a battle for survival.
First year freshman who choose to
live in the dorms may have no control over
their lottery roommate choice, but they
do have power over creating successful
relationships- or at the very least, liveable.
Here are some tips to establish an easy,
positive relationship:
1. No expectations. Do not expect your
roommate to instantly be your best friend.
Allow time for the relationship to build to
that point. Hovering over your roommate
and their plans will only remind them of
their mother.
2. Be honest. Instead of storing up petty
grievances, settle any potential arguments
right away. All that built up anger will just
add stress that, as a full time student, you
do not need. Avoid awkward situations and
unneeded drama by realizing how to pick
and choose your fights.
3. Respect one another. There should be
a mutual respect between roommates.
Boundaries should be set from the
beginning so no one is confused over what
the limits are.
4. Ask before borrowing. Girls especially,
have an issue with borrowing clothes.
If that is the case, whenever borrowing
something you should always ask first. Try
to wash it before returning. It can be easy
to forget, but your roommate can never be
upset with practicing common courtesy.
5. Understand each other’s schedules. If
one roommate has an 8 a.m. class, it’s clearly
understood that you shouldn’t be coming
home late to wake them up. It’s nice to take
into consideration your roommate’s schedule
before planning to
do something.
A casual, respectable rooming situation is
always the goal. If you want to establish a
friendship, try to leave for class around the
same time and enjoy the walk getting
to know each other. Understand they are
here to get an education, just like you, and
that turning down your offer to hang out
does not necessarily mean they do not enjoy
your company, they might just be busy. The
key to establishing a good, strong bond
with your roommate is to be natural and be
yourself. Do not force anything or let others
force you to do anything. College is all about
establishing and finding yourself and it’s
easy to get lost in the mix. Remember to
stand up for yourself, because everything is
only what you make it.
Chelsea DoddIllustration by Mary Newton
It’s you versus them. learn how to act appropriately when handling issues with those that share your living space.
ink 9
campus life
Meredith Rigsby
Photos by Miguel Angel Souza
In mid-May, school was out for the summer
but for some students it was only out
until July. Upholding its reputation of
diversity, VCU’s mass communications
department worked in conjunction with
the Iraq Youth Leaders Education Program
to offer students a unique experience
by integrating 25 VCU students and 24
Iraq students together into one social
networking class.
One of the participants in the
program, Bulend Redha, had an enjoyable
experience. “I was thrilled when they
informed me that I was finalist candidate
for the program,” Redha said. It was his first
visit to the states.
The Iraq students arrived in
Washington D.C. a week before the class
commenced and once in Richmond, they
stayed in the Gladding Residence Center
dorms. The students wasted no time during
their stay in the city. Carytown, Shortpump
and Chesterfield Town Center were among
some of the places the Iraq students
explored.
Professors Jeff South and Marcus
Messner created and taught the curriculum
for the class, which was offered to both
undergraduate and graduate students.
There is an application for acceptance into
either MASC 491, for undergrads or MASC
913, for graduates.
Individuals involved in social media
were asked to speak to the class with one
to two speakers for each class.
The students were privileged to listen to
social media experts like Jeff Nugent,
VCU Center for Teaching Excellence, Jonah
Holland, Mox-eMedia, Ryan Smartt and
Lianan Kleeman, ConnectRichmond and
Ryan Nobles, NBC 12, among many others.
For the students’ social media
project, the professors split all students
into groups of five and the groups chose
a nonprofit organization off of a prepared
list. The organization chosen by the group
was the focus of their social media project.
The aim of the project was to improve
and enhance the organization’s social
media efforts and help provide guidance
in maintaining the social media tools put
in place by the students. “It enriched my
knowledge regarding social media and
about the American culture,” Redha said.
The creation of Twitter accounts,
blogs, Facebook accounts and video were
among some of the tools the students
implemented to expand the non-profits’
social networks.
The class was considered a huge
success by students and Richmonders alike.
The Iraq students maintained a collective
blog on Richmond.com where they posted
once or twice a week. The blog received
much attention locally but also caught the
eye of the White House, eventually being
featured on the White House’s website!
Style Weekly also covered the class in one
of their summer issues.
Redha’s advice to other students in
the program? “Enjoy it to the max, and
have fun.”
Iraq comes to RichmondTaking a class during the summer is not uncommon for students however, sharing a summer class with students from Iraq is!
History of Virginia Commonwealth University
1838: Hampton-Sydney Colleges opens a medical school in central Virginia. 1844: The Egyptian Building opens with three lecture halls. 1853: The medical department dissolves its connections with Hampton-Sydney. 1854: The Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College receives an independent charter from the Virginia General Assembly and becomes the Medical College of Virginia (MCV).
1860: In return for a $30,000 appropriation MCV conveys all its property to the Commonwealth of Virginia and becomes a state institution.
1913: The University College of Medicine and MCV merge.
1917: Henry Hibbs and J. J. Scherer open the Richmond School of Social Economy. 1917: Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health is established. 1925: Richmond School of Social Economy becomes affiliated with the College of William and Mary and moves into Founder’s Hall on Franklin St. 1939: The Richmond School of Social Economy is renamed Richmond Professional Institute. 1947: MCV Foundation is incorporated.1962: RPI becomes independent from William and Mary. RPI’s school colors are changed to blue and gray.1963: RPI mascot changes from the green Devil to the Ram. 1968: The first heart transplant at the Medical College of Virginia is performed Dr. Richard R. Lower. This was only the 9th such operation performed in the United States, and the 16th in the world.
1968: MCV and RPI merge to form Virginia Commonwealth University.
1969: VCU’s colors become black and gold.
1995: Virginia Commonwealth University campus in Qatar is founded by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar 2001: Spring- Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Science opened. In the summer the Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Center for Life Science was opened. 2004: The name VCU Medical Center is adopted to refer to MCV Hospitals and VCU’s medical schools. The VCU Academic Campus is renamed the VCU Monroe Park Campus.
2006: VCU grew to become the most populated university in Virginia and the state’s first to have 30,000 students. 2007: The new Business Building pushes the Monroe Park Campus to the other side of Belvidere 2008: VCU celebrated 40th anniversary. Many VCU buildings are named after influential people in the school’s history or in Richmond history.
The Pollak Building: Named after Theresa Pollak, a Virginian artist who is credited with introducing modern art to the city of Richmond and founder of the School of the Arts at VCU.
The Ginter Building: Named after Major Lewis Ginter, a cigarette mogul and one of the wealthiest men behind the creation of the Richmond Ginter Park neighborhood and the commissioning of the Jefferson Hotel. The “Scott House”: Built for Frederic and Elisabeth Scott by the Richmond architectural firm of Noland and Baskerville.
Meredith Rigsby
Photos by Samantha Newton
Graphics by Marleigh Culver
ink 11
campus life
Teddy Gregson
illustration by Rachel Maves
Imagine you’re having the equivalent
of a productive day to your standards.
Class, lunch, study, then home to watch
television and off to bed to repeat in the
morning.
Then imagine that, plus carrying the
burden of debt (rent, utilities, student
loans, other loans), school, family, and
then, maybe, some social interaction, if
you’re lucky. One person dealing with the
responsibilities of two or more average
college students is typical for many
undergraduates today. The pool is getting
smaller and the fish, larger. Unfortunately,
for some, what used to be plenty is now
scarcity. With the national median income
ranging from $45,000 to $50,000 and
one-year tuition for an in-state freshman
housed in Gladding Residence Center
running up to $25,378 with a 100 block
meal swipes and 75 in dining dollars just
getting a single degree is taxing to the
average family with one student in a
public university.
I sparked up conversation on
the topic with a few different VCU
students. Seems like most are supporting
themselves through grants, jobs and the
additional gifts from parents or guardians.
Addison, an English major, receives only
financial support from her parents with
her cell phone bill. International relations
major, Emily Eason, after applying to
Roanoke College, decided on VCU
because they were willing to work with
her finances and they catered to her low
income because she is pursuing a college
education. “What I want to do directly
involves college. There are certain classes
that I need to take to do what I want.
In this day and age you need to go to
college.”
Students like Addison and Eason
often run into roadblocks along the way.
Addison realizes that studying abroad
would never be an option because she
claims that she would be fired from her
part time job washing dishes at Sticky
Rice. Emily takes the same study abroad
situation as a challenge, “I have a lot of
confidence.”
Students are rewarded in a number
of different ways. For students with
parents of low-income, rewards mostly
resemble grants, subsidized loans and
other scholarships. To calculate the sum
that you owe VCU after financial aid
you can go to eservices and look under
the financial aid. Subtract your tuition
from the entire award you receive for the
entire year.
Students with low-incomes often
come from single-parent homes. Often
this is an important factor in deciding
whether or not they will be proactive in
efforts to fill out the dreaded FAFSA. As
much of a pain in the ass most students
claim the FAFSA to be, it is the sole
determinant of need based grants and
loans that are disbursed. According to the
College Board the average financial award
Bankrupt Blues
package is $8,381. On average about 58
percent of need is met. This resembles the
percentage of needs met of similar size
institutions such as Ohio State.
Students, like Addison and Eason,
can see the good and the bad in growing
up in a low-income family and having
more responsibility going through their
college career. Resisting temptation
becomes key. Indulging in material goods
the minute you receive your financial
aid refund is not the most sustainable
option. Addison admits to spending
more than she should’ve after receiving
her first refund, then later regretting
her choice and suffered the immediate
consequences, not being able to buy
necessities.
Addison admits, “ It’s definitely an
exercise in self-control.”
Emily admits that growing up, she
lived in a “poor setting” and had to get
a job at age 15 to help support her mom.
She adds, “I have learned to find ways to
get money. There’s always a way.”
Though financial aid issues continue
to plague ambitious youth, the debate
still lingers on whether a lack of funds is
a hindrance or a blessing. Talking with
Eason and Addison lead me more towards
the blessing. Both continuing students
seemed considerably well-adjusted and
polite, positing the good of having to
work a little harder to just finish their
undergraduate education. Though I may
have attributed the depositional factors of
these students to behavior, there seems
quite a correlation between successful
students and family income, amount of
financial aid received, as well as balancing
a part-time/full-time job.
“Though financial aid issues continue to plague ambitious youth, the debate still lingers on whether a lack of funds is a hindrance or a blessing.”
contemporary issues
ink12
contemporary issues
Joseph Genest
illustration by Erynn Sweeney
Photograph by Jason Anfinsen
I feel like a little kid. Never have I waited so
tediously for a car to arrive in my driveway.
I walk to my kitchen and look at my two
tickets out of here: one, a purple, over-sized
concert ticket with the words “Bonnaroo”
written in shiny letters across, the other,
an acceptance letter from Virginia
Commonwealth University. I grab the ticket
and my bags, eager to awaken tomorrow,
step out the door and strike out on my
pilgrimage to this musical Mecca. This is
more than a trip out of town or another
concert, this is a community, a family if
you will, of over 100,000 people coming
from all over the country to one of the
largest gatherings on the East Coast with
the common goal of having a great time.
It’s more than just music, it’s an exodus.
With the headlights gleaming into my front
porch, I say goodbye to my parents, throw
my bags in the car, and begin the journey.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Guide to Following your Dreams
“That’ll be 1.87,” said the woman at the
Exxon counter somewhere in southwest
Virginia. I am traveling with one of my
best friends from high school on Interstate
81 on a dreary Thursday. Perhaps, out
of boredom, I’ve picked up the habit of
concocting fantasy lifestyles of those I
meet every day. I think about what life
must be like for the lady behind the cash
register. I transcribe my thoughts into
my journal: 40-something, overweight
cashier at a remote gas station leading
what some may consider an “average” and
from my perspective, a mediocre life. I can
confidently depict nearly every aspect of
her existence in my mind. Now some may
consider me to be ignorant and simply
stereotyping, and perhaps I am. After
working several retail jobs in high school,
I see nearly the same people in the exact
same position hearing the exact same story
repeatedly. These are not individuals you
write stories about. These people are…meh.
In truth, I am afraid of them. I am afraid I
will enter a routine of consumption and
consumerism, a slave to the 9 to 5 work
week. I am afraid I will become much like
this highway on this cloudy, dreary day:
monotonous and boring.
Perhaps I’m being an ass. Perhaps I
am projecting my own irrational fear. I ask
myself: What is it that drives people to
settle into such a life, to be content with
being average and mediocre? Is it the fear
of branching out and experiencing that
which is unknown to them? It is said in
philosophy that modern science is nothing
more than tomorrow’s mythology. So,
even that which we consider “known” in
the present could quite possibly be trivial
garbage of the future. That knowledge
and information that we find comfort in
ink 13
contemporary issues
could be nothing more than a mirage and
the only way to see the truth is to venture
out into the unknown and find it. And for
me, Bonnaroo represents that unknown,
a place so different from the safe, central
Virginia community I was raised. My plan
is two-fold: attend the festival to hear
some amazing music and enjoy time
with a good friend before we turn our
separate ways, and use the opportunity
to away from my comfort zone to explore
all the possibilities of who I really am, the
person that exists beyond the confines
of home. This is a chance to discover and
become the real me. To be honest, this
transformation is something I have been
considering for months, picking apart each
individual aspect of myself for scrutiny. It
was thoughts like these that replayed in my
mind as we arrived at the festival grounds.
Every droplet in the moist, night air
was sparked with energy. You could feel the
intensity of anticipation and excitement.
My chest was pounding as I marched with
hundreds of thousands of others onto
the main road, approaching the festival
gates. The overbearing arc, decorated with
lightning bolts, hundreds of light bulbs
illuminating the word “Bonnaroo” overhead.
Electrifying cannot even come close
to describing this moment. It was like I was
four-years-old again and couldn’t express
or contain my excitement. My gleaming
eyes were shooting bits of energy into
the starry sky. After hearing the first note
drop from The Temper Trap, my body
felt complete freedom. The eight hour
traffic jam, the car ride, the anticipation
for months on end, the constant reminder
of typical high school B.S. I put up with
everyday all became trivial. This feeling
came as a high to me. It was the same
invincibility I felt speeding 100 miles per
hour down the highway for the first time, or
after my first kiss. I think you get the idea.
And so my journey of self-discovery
begins. I’ve come to uncover who I am
away from my comfort zone and meet the
person I am amongst 100,000 strangers.
I will use the music as my guide on this
journey, taking what I can from each artist
because there is a lesson to be learned
from all of them. Some of the lessons are
uplifting. For example, Nas and Damian
Marley’s Distant Relatives album is based
entirely on the concept of all living
creatures originating from one central
organism. Music like that speaks to me.
It explains to me why, as people we all
hold the same central principles for living
amongst each other and we all hold dear
the most basic desire: to be loved.
However, not everyone is a Nas and
Damian Marley fan. Some people feel the
comfort of Kid Cudi’s words that define
teenage angst. Some are exploding
frustrations and anger at GWAR. Some are
even “escaping reality with the music” at
Deadmau5 (although I personally believe
it’s just an excuse to do ecstasy and dance).
Regardless, the people you meet at the
first show you go to will probably be at the
second or third. This is because our music
defines us. Our music paints a picture of
our own personal world. The music some
people listen to is a true representation
of the inner thoughts and feelings of
that person, while others live vicariously
through the words and sounds of artists. I
stand somewhere in the middle. Music for
me is an expression of myself and also a
journey away from myself. Because of
this, I dug deeper into the scene at every
show, tapping into my own connection with
every artist.
Jay Electronica taught me skepticism
and a weary eye to “the man.” Nas and
Damian Marley taught the me appreciation
of the natural world I’ve been birthed into.
The Flaming Lips showed me it’s cool to
be weird. I stopped by Kid Cudi, only to
say goodbye to being a 16-year-old. Jimmy
Cliff was happy. Stevie Wonder too. Dave
Matthews tells tales of love and good time
and Jay-Z...well Jay-Z is just Jay-Z.
Jay-Z as a headliner, brought in a
crowd estimated close to 100,000. How
can this many people relate to a former-
drug-pusher-turned-rapper? Jay is an
artist, I’ll admit, I live vicariously through
to a certain extent. You see, as a middle
class kid who grew up in a town once
ranked no.1 for quality of life, some believe
it’s hard for me to relate a drug pusher
turned millionaire. However, Jay portrays
messages much deeper than that. The
overall concepts at hand are portrayals
more of moral obligations one obtains
through trial and tribulation, such as trust,
honesty, providing for one’s family, etc.
Keep in mind, my iTunes is around 68
GBs. I went halfway across the southeast
to go to one of the world’s largest music
festivals. However, quite simply, my theory
is somewhat true. The beautiful thing
about art is no matter who looks at it, it
is their own definition the significance
and relevance of the piece. Just because I
hear Kid Cudi as a voice of teenage angst
doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with
a 50 year old being a fan because he can
relate to Cudi’s marijuana consumption and
vivid dreams. He just listens in a different
way than I do. In a way, it’s all about
honesty.
I guess my fear has been rationalized.
I guess having my identity stolen
somewhere between who society wants me
to be and who I want to be is why I went to
‘Roo in the first place. Music is more than
just notes and rhythmic pattern to me, it
defines me. The way I interpret music in
the most honest manner possible portrays
who I am and who I want to become. You
see, there’s nothing wrong with being the
cashier at an Exxon in southwest Virginia
and leading what others may consider an
“average life.” I, however, have different
plans in mind. This is just the beginning
of a vast life ahead of me and as long
as I, or anyone, can put the same pair of
headphones on in between class or work
and still hear myself, who I am and want to
be, that greater escape, then I’ll be good or
in the words of Kid Cudi “On My Pursuit
of Happiness.”
“And so my journey of self-discovery begins. I’ve come to uncover who I am away from my comfort zone and meet the person I am amongst 100,000 strangers.”
ink14
contemporary issues
Written and illustrated by liz Remick
As an only child, the idea of siblings has
always been foreign to me. How can
you expect to live with someone you’re
forced to love, yet despise so very often?
I can’t imagine having to share, much
less compete, for my parents’ attention.
It seems to me as the ultimate, never-
ending love/hate relationship, and I
don’t think I could handle it. Now let me
get this straight: I would never begin to
describe myself as spoiled. I don’t ask or
expect anything from my parents. The
support me when I cannot, but I also have
a job, and work extremely hard to pay
for as much of my own means of living
as possible. However, when it comes to
attention, I am showered down from every
angle; I am the limelight of their lives.
But it’s not always a piece of cake.
Being the singular, most important aspect
of my parents’ lives can be challenging
at times. Yes, I am the only apple of their
eyes, but I also have no one to accuse for
my wrongdoings. If I kick in the windshield
of their 1987 Suzuki Samurai, or steal all
of my mom’s clean socks, the only option
I have to escape the blame is my cat, and
surprisingly my parents are pretty smart.
As far as school goes, my dad’s
expectations are so high up that I can
never begin to imagine a day where I will
exceed them. In fact, it’s hard to me to
be motivated by either of my parents
because no matter how well I do, my mom
will always love and forgive me, and my
dad will still expect more.
This last semester, I was working
forty hours a week and living alone. The
only real contact I had with my peers was
in my classes, and it scared me. Needless
to say, I did horribly. I even missed an
exam and thought about running away
forever, or disconnecting my phone so as
to never face my parents again. The good
news is that none of my plans fell through,
and my parents have yet to disown me. I
found out through this situation, however,
that I am my only means of motivation.
The fact that I failed my own expectations,
and put myself in bad light with my
parents, has motivated me to work harder
than ever. I only have myself to count
on for my actions and decisions, and my
closest friend to inspire me to be a better
student, and a better person.
Luckily for them, the idea of another
me wasting their money on classes
I’ll never finish, and drinking all of my
dad’s secret root-beer stash was never
a tangible reality. As for me, I never had
to deal with some other kid stealing my
parents’ attention. It doesn’t matter how
many arguments we get into, or how
many tears we cry, our family situation is
optimal; it works for us in the right ways.
I continue to independently impress and
disappoint them on a regular basis, and
they still love me…more than anything on
earth.
I often try, and find it difficult, to
relate to the dynamics of my friends’
families, but I am eager to understand
what it feels like to have siblings. I find it
difficult to even come up with who else
I hang out with that is also an only child.
In fact, my closest friends have all been
middle children. To me, being a middle
child must be the hardest role to play in
the family. Stuck between the baby and
the first-born, the middle child often plays
the part of role model for the younger,
on top of seeking their own direction
and expectations from their older
siblings. Sometimes the results are found
unsuccessful, or so I’ve witnessed through
childhood and recent friends’ situations. I
know, though, that every family had their
hardships, and that each person plays an
integral role.
As an only child, I often find myself
befriending those who will accept me as
a close part of their family; I have always
been really close to my friends’ families.
However, my lack of siblings deludes me to
the roles my friends play in their families.
I chalk their actions and decisions to their
birth order, because it’s something I am
continually intrigued by. In my mind, the
oldest is either a rebel or a role model,
the youngest is the spoiled brat, and
anyone in between has identity problems.
However, these delusions are not always
true. Everyone plays a different part in
their families, and I will never be able to
fully grasp the relationship between a
person, their siblings, and their parents.
I’ve interviewed three students from VCU
about their experiences with their siblings
and the various ways they are motivated,
or de-motivated by them.
Whether competitive or supportive,
having a sibling has a large effect on one’s
motivation, whether they admit it or not.
Having a brother or sister can inspire in
ways that I will never know or understand.
In other ways, it can be detrimental to
have an older sibling who you don’t quite
live up to. It can also force a person to
strive towards a higher goal in their own
life. “My sister Karah is completely debt-
free, and that’s something I look up to,”
says Chelsea Dodd, a sophomore at VCU.
Chelsea comes from a family of four girls;
two older sisters who she says inspire
her on a daily basis, and a younger sister.
Chelsea plays the dual role of baby sister
while trying to maintain herself as a role
model for her younger sister, Kelly.
“She’s only 16 and she needs advice more
than ever.”
To me, being a role model for
someone else is especially scary. To have
all of your actions absorbed by someone
Family Dynamics
An only child’s perspective on family: role models, meeting parent’s expectations, college and the future.
ink 15
contemporary issues
else, and taken into consideration by
someone who may follow in your footstep
can be exhausting, especially if you aren’t
where you want to be in your own life.
On the other hand, being a role model
might helps you become a better person,
because you know there is someone out
there to inspire.
On the other hand, maybe it’s not
important at all. Matt Hammond, a
student at VCU with a younger brother,
feels like he is nowhere near being a role
model for his brother. He claims that
his brother does much better in school
and he says his favorite thing about him
is that “he’s really motivated…he’s just
sort of a type of person. I think that’s a
good quality. At least, the sort of vibe he
has is good, anyway.” In a typical family
situation, it makes sense to me that the
older brother would be the role model, but
in Matt’s case, it’s the opposite.
Gender roles play a big part in family
situations as well. Brian, a senior at VCU,
has an older sister who he has always felt
protective towards. “I feel like she’s led a
really sheltered life and she always looks
to me for advice.” He claims that his sister,
who graduated with a 4.0 and is currently
in medical school, has always played by
the rules. “I think she wanted to make my
parents happy and I never really cared
about that.” Brian also claims, however,
that he is closer to his parents than he is
to his sister.
Role models exist beyond family,
though. Not everyone has someone they
can look up to or inspire in their family. I
love my parents, but I wouldn’t say that
either of them have inspired me the way
I would have wanted them to. As a child,
parents are invincible; they can do no
wrong. As you become an adult, however,
it becomes clear that they have flaws and
faults. Not ever decision they make is
the right one, and it’s a realization that
hits hard. Outside of family, some people
look towards their god, public figures,
or celebrities, for inspiration. I find the
strongest motivation comes from my
friends. Watching the people closest to
me succeed can inspire me like nothing
else ever could. My favorite people are
the ones that can do right, do well, and
have faith in me to do the same.
There is almost always a positive
and negative with every situation. As a
child, I was lonely enough to grow into
a very anxious person, but at the same
time, I love how close I have become with
my parents. Whether or not they would
consider me to be their sole importance is
open to interpretation, and maybe I’m just
daydreaming when I say that I am, but I
couldn’t picture my life in any other way.
I asked one of my closest friends if
they were glad to have siblings, and she
said the same thing; she couldn’t imagine
a life without them.
ink16
contemporary issues
Mason Brown
illustration by Hannah Swann
According to United States law there
is a price on my head of upwards of
$300,000. I have broken both domestic
and international laws in the comfort of my
living room. I have never robbed a bank,
illegally distributed narcotics, or held dog
fights in my home. My crime is far worse in
the eyes of many businesses.
My crime is illegally downloading
copies of Mona Lisa Smile.
Now, I know you all cringed upon
reading that line. The crime is brutal and
clearly unacceptable but I’m not alone here.
Millions of people all over the world pirate
movies, music, games and software for the
low cost of... free. Piracy is cheap, easy and
intuitive to even the most basic of users.
The laws surrounding piracy, however, are
not as clear. Due to an old copyright policy
crafted before the age of the Internet and
business’s ability to strong arm policy
via lobbying, the laws and protections
surrounding piracy are foggy at best.
Piracy is illegal in 9 out of 10 cases.
Like it or not, when you down load that
copy of season six of Sex in the City, you
are taking content that you do not own
and defending yourself by attributing the
copy to friend in Hong Kong. That will not
hold up in court. While sharing of media is
technically legal, doing so over the Internet
is considered illegal by many companies,
thus making it a shaky operation. While it
would be easier to lend your friend a CD
through a torrent site, the US government
is currently run by people who do not quite
understand the workings of the Internet
and see this transaction as trouble.
Although most people have pirated
simply because it’s free and unlikely
you will get caught, there are greater
implications at hand. Besides the ridiculous
fines one can face for such pirating, the
ripple effect of widespread piracy can be
harmful. As a school with such a strong
art student population, it should be easy
to understand why an artist would not
want their works taken without proper
compensation. Many people think that
pirating a song is fairly innocent crime
since it is only “a song” but the widespread
nature of piracy has not only hurt the
entire music production process but also
forced companies (such as Apple) to force
crippling technology known as DRM.
Digital Rights Management, or DRM,
is a technology placed into files such
as songs and movies that make the file
protected from piracy by preventing things
like sharing. While at the surface this may
make sense as an approach to fight back
against the pirates, this technology actually
hampers the ease of use of the product.
Ever tried moving itunes music out of
itunes? It’s almost impossible without
3rd party means. Ever tried to get your
itunes library on another computer? You
can’t without transferring songs and their
respective licenses.
What is a license you say? Well,
welcome to the future of digital
marketplaces. Due to the company
Internet Piracy
ink 17
contemporary issuesbacklash against piracy, a widespread
economic model has been put into place to
counteract piracy. Instead of purchasing a
copy of the product you, now buy (in most
cases, some providers do offer DRM free
music) a license to view, play with or listen
to your product under the terms of use you
agree to with the store. Many do not read
the terms of use because of their obscene
legal jargon, but they usually work for all
intensive purposes. The problem lies in that
the idea of ownership is slowly escaping,
allowing large companies to monopolize on
your library of media rather than just selling
a product. On a business side, this is an
awesome deal for companies because as an
individual you are locked into their service
and have no way out. Once you start
spending money with a specific company,
you won’t want to change.
In many cases, you are screwed if
you purchase a new device to view music
and movies. While you originally thought
you were buying a song, you were actually
just buying the right to hear a song on a
respective media player. It is a terrible and
inefficient process. It is companies taking
advantage of government lax in the area
of the Internet and making the most of the
market while they can. So, as of now, the
best way to get the attention of companies
is to pirate software.
This is not a good idea. Let me make
that clear... again. The legal implications are
harsh. But, if you can not head my warning
and do pirate, you hurt the companies that
are hurting their consumers. In most cases,
companies will institute an even harsher
DRM, which can be ultimately worsen the
situation. But piraters tend to be crafty
individuals and will more often than not
take the time to hack the model. However,
in some cases, such as with Apple or
Electronic Arts, they will move to a “DRM
free” model that, while isn’t perfect, is a
step in the right direction for the consumer.
“People aren’t just looking for a free
ride. They’re living in the modern world and
expecting business models to keep up with
them,” said David Crafti, president of the
Pirate Party of Australia (it is as awesome
as it sounds). What Crafti points out is the
consumer will get what it wants in the end,
and that is freedom to do what they want
with their media. So, next time you think
about pirating, just realize that the entire
political and economic balance of the world
is in your hands.
inkLove it or hate it, we want your feedback! Comments or questions?mail or stop by: 817 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220email: [email protected]
ink18
campus life
Cultural MapOf Richmond
OREGON HILL
HOLLYWOODCEMETERY
PINE ST.BARBERVINYL
CONFLICT
FLYING BRICK LIBRARY
THELOOKOUT
HOLLY ST. PARK
VINYL CONFLICT - PINE AND ALBEMARLE
New and used records ranging from punk, hardcore,
metal, pop and other genres. CD’s, DVD’s, and other
merchandise are also available.
PINE STREET BARBER SHOP - PINE AND ALBEMARLE
Full service salon. Student haircuts are $19.
FLYING BRICK LIBRARY - PINE AND SPRING
Radical lending library and community space. Books,
zines, periodicals, and other media varying in social and
cultural topics.
HOLLY STREET PARK - HOLLY AND CHERRY
A local park that has become a favorite for many bike events
including polo, races, and club meetings.
THE LOOKOUT - OREGON HILL PARKWAY
A great spot to overlook the river or just read a book
and relax.
HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY - CHERRY AND ALBEMARLE
Over 60,000 buried, including local and national celebrities.
Sprawled across acres of hills and paths, overlooking the
James River.
ink 19
campus life
THE FAN
STRAWBERRY ST. MARKET
GARNETT’SCAFE
HALCYONVINTAGE
BLACK SWAN BOOKS
BLACK SWAN BOOKS - MAIN AND ROBINSON
Buy or sell used, rare, or out-of-print books.
HALCYON - ROBINSON AND FLOYD
Vintage clothing and accessories for men and women
STRAWBERRY STREET MARKET - STRAWBERRY AND
PARK
Local neighborhood supermarket for groceries, beer and
wine, health and school supplies.
GARNETT’S CAFÉ - PARK AND MEADOW
Retro sandwich and coffee shop
BYRD PARK - LAKEVIEW AND ROBINSON
Public park with lakes for paddleboats, picnics and fishing.
BYRD PARK
BO
ULE
VA
RD
ink 20
campus life
CARYTOWN
JACKSON WARD
CARY
ELLWOOD
BYRD THEATER - CARY AND COLONIAL
State and National Historic landmark offering second-run
movies for $1.99.
CARYTOWN CUPCAKES - COLONIAL AND CARY
Gourmet cupcake shop. Flavors range from traditional Choco-
late and Vanilla, to more eclectic, such as Mojito or Zuchinni.
BASILIS - CARY AND BELMONT
Authentic Greek food in a diner atmosphere.
ELLWOOD THOMPSON’S - THOMPSON AND ELLWOOD
Local independent grocery store and coffee shop, offering
minimally processed and organic options.
THE BELVIDERE - BROAD AND HENRY
Low Key, stylish bistro with an eclectic range of dishes, beers,
and drinks.
QUIRK GALLERY - BROAD AND MADISON
Art gallery and shop for unique, practical and decorative
items.
KINDRED SPIRITS - BROAD AND ADAMS
Boutique with natural cosmetics, body products, jewelry, and
incense. Herbal tea tastings are held every Saturday.
GALLERY 5 - MARSHALL AND BROOK
Community-oriented, socially motivated art gallery and
performing art center.
BASILIS
BYRD THEATER CARYTOWN
CUPCAKES
ELLWOOD THOMPSON’S
THE BELVIDERE
QUIRK GALLERY
KINDREDSPIRITS
GALLERY 5
Special Offer for University Students
$10 U-TIXANY SHOW ANY TIME!
804.282.2620WWW.BARKSDALERICHMOND.ORGWWW.THEATREIVRICHMOND.ORG
since 1982
Sat. Sept. 25 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMSun. Sept. 26 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Free admission!
Enjoy authentic Indian Food, Dance and MusicThe best place to shop for Indian jewelry & clothing
Greater Richmond Convention Center403 N 3rd St. 804.346.9955
www.thefestivalofindia.org
ink22
contemporary issues
Cla s s o f 2 0 11
Christine Erickson
Illustration by Hannah Swann
June 2006, I sat among five hundred
students in my cap and gown, wishing I
had a paper bag, either to breathe in, or
just throw up. I was eighteen years old and
I had no idea where my life was taking me.
Four years seemed like an eternity. The
unknown gave me a panic attack, and as I
crossed the stage, I began the long stretch
to my future as a young, professional
college graduate.
It is now 2010, and the only diploma
I’ve held this year was my baby sister’s as
she took high school graduation pictures
with her friends. My current anxiety comes
from my constant lack of enough time.
I am among the hundreds of students
taking the five year route to a bachelors
degree.
It has become common for students
to spread their undergraduate study over
four or more years. This is not because we
are dumb or lazy. It is a combination of
poor educational funding, instability in the
economy and insecurity towards our future.
According to the State Council of
Higher Education for Virginia, the rate of
VCU students graduating in five or more
years has been almost double the average
four year track.
One of the reasons is the
misconception that, as advisers will tell you,
12 credits per semester is considered full
time. Sure, but when you do the math, four
years will leave you 14 credits short, and
not even one extra semester of “full time”
will result in your degree.
VCU has grown from about 24,000
to 32,500 students in the past ten years.
Registration for classes has become a
stressful rendition of musical chairs, racing
to fill the last slot in the course. More often
than not, this course usually happens to be
some crucial prerequisite that will severely
damage a student’s academic track to
graduating on time.
Regardless of the number of credits,
in a world where one part-time job will
permit you to barely scrape by, we are now
juggling school on top of one, two, even
three jobs, just to be able to afford to go
to college. It is impossible to receive the
education that you are paying so heavily
for when you are exhausting yourself just to
finance it.
It’s a vicious cycle:
You want to do well in school.
In order to do that, you need the
proper amount of time to study.
In order to have that, you must
not have a job.
But you need to afford tuition, and
books, and bills, so you get a job (or
more).
It is no wonder our generation is so
cynical, we’re all so damn tired. We don’t
have time to graduate in four years, we are
all too busy trying to get by.
Financial aid, in theory, would
be helpful to this dilemma, if it wasn’t
impossible for students, like myself,
who are unable to qualify for grants,
scholarships, or even work-study. For those
of us, we are blessed with the gift of private
student loans, the gift that keeps on giving
more interest. Yet another reason why
students push back graduating--- it is just
one more year without beginning to chisel
away debt.
The job market is scarier than ever,
leaving friends I swore would be famous
by now unemployed and unsure what to
do with themselves. By giving yourself one
more year or two to finish undergraduate
studies, you are capable of devoting
more energy into gaining experience, and
polishing your resume. Employers are much
easier to network with when they know you
are a student in the planning process, not a
fresh graduate who is desperate for a job.
Financially handicapped, or not, there
is also the extremely common notion that
YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND. My 18
and 22 year-old self would hate each other,
and although I have always wanted to be a
writer, there has been plenty of alterations
and set backs along the way. You go to
college and figure out your strengths and
your weaknesses. The rest will eventually
fall into place.
You might even find your happiness
is more important than your income.
You’ll never win an Oscar, but you make
a documentary that shows the world a
perspective no one has ever seen before.
So what do you do? Opt out of Biology and
become a film student. It might seem like
a setback right now, but in the long run,
the decision will be much more valid when
you’re 40, pursuing a career that hasn’t
bored you for the past 15 years, one that
truly makes you happy.
Family and friends are prone to ask
the dreaded question, “So when do you
graduate?” or my least favorite, “What’s
next?” You didn’t come here to become a
fortuneteller, but you did come here to get
an education, so you will have to answer
the first question. But there is nothing to be
embarrassed about. It’s just not time yet,
but you are almost, almost there.
Spring 2010, I did not sit with
my colleagues in my cap and gown at
Commencement. Instead, I spent the day
sitting in the cars of roller coasters beside
my best friend, who has spent almost all
five years of college bearing with me as
I figured my life out. I may still have one
more year to go, but the past four years
have provided me with just enough time to
know who I want to be, and an idea of how
to get there.
FIVE IS THE NEW FOUR
ink 23
contemporary issues
Elaine Williams
The truth is, energy drinks are dangerous
and unhealthy. However, energy drinks
have become quite a fad with everyone,
everywhere. Our youth seems to be
hooked on these cans of chemicals used
for stimulating the brain. Today, our world
moves at an extremely high pace. For most,
it’s hard to keep up with the rest of the
world’s constant acceleration. So, we turn
to chemicals, unnatural additives that our
used to defuse our brains and pollute our
bodies. Sure, they wake us up, but what
else can they do?
Energy drinks are similar to drugs
such as amphetamines, cocaine and
heroin because of the way they stimulate
the brain. In fact, the typical 12-ounce
energy drink contains twice as much
caffeine as a can of soda. Many students
use these drinks in order to keep up with
the sometimes treacherous demands of
binge drinking. Walk down a city street
and it’s likely you’ll see energy drink
advertisements, or someone walking to
work with one in their hand. However, these
beverages are extremely unhealthy and
even dangerous, especially when mixed
with alcohol.
“Energy drinks are good for when you
want to party,” Ally Shropshire, a 22-year-
old, said. This seems to be the attitude
amongst most young college students. It’s
fun, but it’s not at all safe.
CaΩeine, the main ingredient in
energy drinks, works by blocking the
chemicals in your brain that make you
lethargic. It also causes the blood vessels
to constrict. Energy drinks also cause an
increase in heart rate, high blood pressure
and cause the muscles to tighten. Yes, the
short term effects might feel good, but the
long term effects are scary. Not only does
the temporary brain stimulation eventually
wear off, but your brain’s blood vessels
continue to constrict causing your brain
to go into a constant state of drowsiness.
Long-term use of caffeine can also lead to
osteoporosis. This dangerous product seen
in every gas station, corner store, and super
market all over the world has us all fooled.
The world is in for a rude awakening.
Most all energy drinks are high in
sugar. In fact, one energy drink contains
the amount of sugar one should consume
in a day. Sugar is shown to give you a small
burst of energy before crashing and losing
all energy and endurance.
Now, for all those who drink
energy drinks while consuming alcohol:
beware. This includes drinks such as Four
Loco or Joose. The mixture of the two
can be life-threatening. In fact, mixing
the two dehydrates the consumer almost
twice as much as alcohol alone, and
the results could be serious, even fatal.
Energy drinks also contain stimulants and
mixing stimulants with alcohol, which is a
depressant, can cause cardiac problems.
Unfortunately, mixing the two is extremely
popular among our youth.
This constant obsession our society
has with always moving and always being
on the go has caused the creation of this
popular yet extremely unhealthy fad. We
need to take a step back and take a look
at the harm we are causing to our bodies
just to keep up with the fast pace that lies
outside our front door. Forget energy. Sit
back and relax.
Kicking the CanThe hidden hazards of canned energy
“The typical 12-ounce energy drink contains twice as much caffeine as a can of soda.”
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arts & culture
Andy KotschSenior in Painting & Printmaking
Advice to aspiring artists:
There will always be someone that is not
as good as you, just as there will always
be someone that is better than you. My
favorite; “You must empty your cup before
you can fill it again.”
Interview by Christine Erickson
How does your style differentiate between
your paintings and drawings?
When I paint, there is a plan to create
a specific aesthetic, a specific emotion
or effect. My paintings tend to have a lot
more visual coherency than my drawings.
I prefer my drawings to be in a stream of
consciousness; raw thoughts with
no pre-planning.
How did you start and discover
that you wanted to study Painting
and Printmaking?
I have been drawing and painting from a
young age, and by the time college came
around, the decision to make it my career
seemed like the natural choice. (Also, it
having to do the least with calculus and
the like.)
Three Creative Influences:
- Painters like Norman Rockwell and
Alphonse Mucha
- Science, Fiction, Concept Art
- Biology (Mycology, Entomology)
Favorite medium to work with:
Acrylic / Pen and ink
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully painting and illustrating, although
I would be fine with just traveling. That,
or I will be homeless and counting small
numbers compulsively.
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arts & culture
Addison Sully-Heron Wheeler
Photo provided by musician
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arts & culture
Think of the Richmond electronic and
dubstep music scenes and you might
imagine partying, heavy bass and local
events, like RVAlution. What does not
necessarily come to mind is an unassuming
medical student, struggling to balance
mixing and producing dubstep music,
training to practice clinical medicine and
spending time with friends and family,
but that’s exactly what Nishant Parikh
does. Known in the dubstep world as
NumberNin6, Parikh is Richmond’s premier
dubstep DJ.
Although he has blown up in the
underground electronic scene with tracks
like “Breathe” and “What You Gonna Do,”
after speaking with the artist you might
find he is a really down to earth guy.
Parikh shared that he prefers
producing over mixing, “Playing a packed
house is definitely a thrill, but I think to
create is more rewarding for me.” But, he
is no stranger to the world of producing.
Parikh and some friends began messing
around with the beginners program, Fruity
Loops about eight or nine years ago
producing trance and house musicand
at the same time began learning to play
guitar. The musician’s big break came
in 2008 during his last semester as an
undergraduate at VCU, which he spent
abroad at Oxford University. Parikh took
the bus into Brixton, London one night
to see an underground dubstep show.
Immediately, he was struck by the raw
energy of the music-- he described that
it was so much more about the sound
quality and energy than the lights, MC’s, or
female dancers. “The very next day I was
producing dubstep,” he exclaimed.
This combination of inspiration and
know-how proved to be just the ticket to
gain world-wide recognition as a producer.
Although Parikh’s rigorous school schedule
has kept him from playing handfuls of
local shows or being deeply involved in
the Richmond music scene, he has played
numerous big electronic music festivals
across the country, and speaks most
highly of playing in Baltimore. It seems
nearly impossible that he balances such a
successful musical career with his life as
a medical student, and he admits that he
struggles with it. “It’s actually a very tough
balance,” Parikh said. “It means being
content with the fact that I have to say no
to a lot of gigs. There’s no graceful way to
do it.”
All this aside, NumberNin6 still
manages to make great music and be a
successful VCU student. Look out for his
new two-song vinyl release, out soon from
Subhuman records!
TONIGHT ONLY!
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arts & culture
Gene Stroman
The Bookworms of VCU
In September of 2008, I started The
Bookworms of VCU, a monthly book
discussion group in order to encourage
reading and the discussion of literature
among people my age. Two years and
seventeen books later, the club is fully
established as a registered, funded VCU
organization with over one hundred
followers on Facebook. Although the club
is technically a university organization,
membership is also open to non-students.
In an effort to reach as many readers as
possible, membership is fairly relaxed.
There is no penalization for missing a
meeting, while attendance is still strongly
encouraged. Those who do attend a
meeting have the privilege to suggest
and vote on the next month’s book. We
understand that reading for pleasure
may be difficult for busy students
but nonetheless we want to provide a
supportive, fun environment for any and all
bookworms. Meetings are usually held at
the first or last Sunday of the month. Hope
to see some new faces out there!
Cinema Talk My love for film is equal to (if
not greater than) my love for literature.
Having taken several film courses at
VCU, Cinema Talk is an idea that I’ve had
since freshman year, after being unable to
find any established film clubs at the
school. The idea for the club is similar
to the book club in that it will meet one
(or two) times a month to view a movie
and discuss it thereafter. We’ll mainly
be watching art house, foreign, and
independent films. Membership will again
be relaxed, rewarding those who attend
the screenings with the opportunity to
recommend a movie for the next meeting.
Keep your eyes peeled for a date for an
interest meeting in the Fall!
For more information on the clubs, find us
on Facebook!
Here’s a portion of the movies and
books I enjoyed this summer. I feel these
choices give a good idea of the types
of books and movies members can look
forward to in either of the clubs.
Films
“Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Julian Schnabel, France (2007)
A touching, true story about the world
of Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor
of Elle magazine who suffers a stroke and is
left in a state of complete paralysis with the
exception of his left eye. His nurses devise
a method of communication in which they
read off the alphabet and Jean-Do blinks
when the correct letter is chosen. Based on
the memoir, which was written using this
same method and published shortly before
his death. This picture is aesthetically
beautiful in every which way, it includes
a great soundtrack and the always great
French actor, Matthieu Amalric.
“Lucía y el Sexo (Sex & Lucía)”
Julio Medem, Spain (2001)
Probably the most sexual movie I’ve
ever seen, Lucía y el Sexo is the story of
Lucía (played by the beautiful Paz Vega)
who falls in love with a work-obsessed
writer. The movie is visually striking
and, through its original narrative style,
takes several twists, each connecting
the lives of Medem’s intriguing and
passionate characters to an island in the
Mediterranean.
“Buffalo ‘66”
Vincent Gallo, USA (1998)
Billy Brown (played by the director himself)
has just been released from prison and
needs a girlfriend to bring home to his
Buffalo Bills-obsessed parents. On a
mission to kill the man who put him in jail,
Brown’s relationship with kidnapped teen
Layla (Christina Ricci) goes from captor-
captive to sincerely romantic. This movie
really took me by surprise. I had never even
heard of Vincent Gallo and I’m not normally
a fan of tough-guy crime movies- but
Gallo totally pulls off the badass-with-a-
heart role. Ricci is beautiful and extremely
talented, yet humble in her early years,
and despite the rough surface, the film is
surprisingly comedic and even tender at
times.
“Last Tango in Paris”
Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy/France (1972)
As a huge fan of Italian director Bertolucci’s
classics The Conformist and The Last
Emperor, I was expecting nothing short
of spectacular for what some claim to be
an art-house masterpiece. Living alone in
Paris, Marlon Brando plays the role of an
American man on the verge of insanity
whose wife has just committed suicide.
He strikes up a disturbing, yet strangely
Film/Literature Review
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arts & culturebeautiful affair with a young Parisian girl.
Containing one of the most unsettling sex
scenes in the history of cinema (“Go, get
the butter.”), Last Tango in Paris is a daring
film by a colossal director whose visual
style and feel for human relationships is
unmatched.
“Breathless”
Jean-Luc Godard, France (1960)
Already having seen this masterpiece
several times, I had the opportunity to
see a 35 mm print, newly remastered for
the film’s 50th anniversary. Co-written
by two French New Wave masterminds
Godard and Truffaut, the film follows
Michel Poiccard (played by a young and
Bogart-idolizing Belmondo), a car thief
who meets up with Patricia Franchini (Jean
Seberg, i.e. the gorgeous idol of every girl
in Richmond) and wishes to run away with
her to Rome. The film is to the French what
Cassablanca is to Americans. It’s cool, it’s
romantic, and if you haven’t seen this or
anything by Godard, please get on it.
Books
“Old Man and the Sea”
Ernest Hemingway (1952)
This book seems to be a staple among high
school English course reading. Surprisingly,
neither I, nor many members of The
Bookworms, had ever read it. I decided
to start my Summer off with this and A
Farewell to Arms, the former being my
favorite of the two. This classic short story
(read it in one sitting) is the triumphant tale
of a Cuban fisherman who struggles for
several days and nights to capture a giant
marlin. In my opinion, there’s no better time
than the summer time to read Hemingway,
especially a tale about the open sea.
“The Saga of Arturo Bandini” (4 Books)
John Fante (1933, ’38, ’39, ’82)
Heralded by Charles Bukowski (one of
my favorite writers) as a god, John Fante
is probably one of the most underrated
American authors of the past Century.
This semi-autobiographical quartet follows
Fante’s alter ego Arturo Bandini from his
years as a child, through his pretentious
teenage years, and into his grown up years
as a struggling writer. Covering a range
of topics including art, love, family and
American society in general, Fante’s writing
is humorous, witty, moving, and most of all,
beautiful.
“Invisible Cities”
Italo Calvino (1972)
From its interesting narrative structure to
its mesmerizing content and language,
I can genuinely say this book is unlike
anything I have ever read. Invisible Cities is
filled with dream-like prose of cities in far
away places, narrated by the great explorer
Marco Polo as told to the aging emperor
Kublai Khan. As an Urban Planning
major, the vibrant descriptions of exotic
landscapes constructed by a masterful,
imaginative writer really made this one
especially captivating.
“Memories of My Melancholy Whores”
Gabriel Garcia Marquez (2004)
“In my ninetieth year, I decided to give
myself the gift of a night of love with a
young virgin” is the first sentence in Gabriel
Garcia Marquez’s most recent novella and
it pretty much sums up the disturbing and
provocative plot. After reading his One
Hundred Years of Solitude last summer
for the club, I fell in love with the flowery,
magical realism Marquez is known for.
Although this book is a departure from
this style, the directness of the character’s
thoughts (written in first person) is
beautiful in itself. The story follows the
thoughts and actions of a man on his
ninetieth Birthday, a man who “finds love at
the end of his life, when he only waits for
death.”
“Rabbit Run”
John Updike (1960)
Having enjoyed it last year with the club
shortly after the author passed, I decided
to re-read Rabbit Run for the book’s
50th Anniversary. John Updike is still one of
the most prolific and celebrated modern
American authors, having written a handful
of novels, volumes of poetry and short
stories, and pieces for several magazines,
most prominently the New Yorker (where I
discovered him). Rabbit Run is the first of
four books about Harry ‘Rabbit’ Angstrom,
a middle class family man who is discontent
with his stagnant suburban life and runs
away in hopes of a life comparable to his
days as a former high school basketball
star. In the fall, the John Updike Society is
holding a conference in celebration of his
work, in particular Rabbit Run. Plans are
being made for the club to take a trip to
Reading, Penn. (Updike’s hometown as a
child) for the conference in October.
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arts & culture
Supplies:
Paint Swatches
Scissors
String
Glue or adhesive, double sided tape
works great!
What white wall doesn’t need a little bit of color? Most likely, if you’re living in the dorms or even renting your own apartment painting the walls is not allowed. This quick tutorial will show you how to add a little (or a lot!) of color to any wall, refrigerator or doorway. Anywhere you can hang two small pieces of string is where you can incorporate some color into your living space.
Paint swatches can be found at any
hardware store in a variety of shapes, sizes
and well, colors! Grab as many as you
would like to create a banner that boasts
many shades of one color or mix and
match for a fun, colorful banner.
For this project I chose to use paint
swatches that have three samples of color
so when they are cut there are actually
two colors per flag. However, don’t forget
that solid color samples work just as
well! In this case, begin by cutting off the
bottom of each swatch and then follow
along the dotted lines to create two flags
out of one paint sample. Once you have
created a stack of flags, begin attaching
them by running a line of glue along the
string and pressing each flag onto it for
approximately 10 seconds. Make sure the
glue is dry before picking it up. If the flags
fall off on one side, try using double sided
tape to attach them back to the string.
Attach either side of the banner to the wall,
doorway, window or where ever you please
with wall safe tape or adhesive. Another no
fuss alternative is to hang your banner on
the refrigerator with magnets.
Tip:Write a message on the flags before
attaching them to the string.
Hang multiple banners of varying sizes to
create a really colorful look!
Jaime Barnett
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FASHIONBLOGGING
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arts & culture
FASHIONBLOGGING
he digital age has launched all
sorts of new breeds, from online
gamers to online daters. But one
force that is making a huge impact
on the industry is the fashion blogger.
The fashion blogger is everywhere,
snapping photos of street fashion
and tweeting the latest fashion news
to everyone in their circle. Armed
with digital SLR cameras and smart
phones alike, these fashionistas
and streetwise gents are building
immense followings. Thanks to sites
like chictopia.com and lookbook.nu,
collective fashion consciousness is
but a click away. Join Ink as we catch
the illustrious blogger in action!
T
Original Rolling Stones tour tee shirt $50, B Sides Boutique
Mink Pink slasher flick shorts $77, Need Supply Co.
Chain link mini cowboy boots, stylist’s own
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arts & culture
Monteau corset top dress $48
Need Supply Co.
Black motorcycle jacket $50
H&M
Vintage T-bar shoes
BCBG Maxazria sheer top $12
Rumors Boutique
Tripp studded denim skinny leg jeans $29
Hot Topic
Vintage high heel boots.
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arts & culture
Alternative v-neck tee $22
Need Supply Co.
Heritage1981 vest $7
B-Sides Boutique
Dockers shorts $8
Rumors Boutique
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arts & culture
Poison idea tank $12, Rumors Boutique,
MonaMode genuine leather vest $10, Rumors Boutique
Social Collision Rude Skinny Jean $34, Hot Topic
Black ankle boots $16, Rumors Boutique
Studded corset top, stylist’s own
Locally designed animal print pencil skirt $32, Rumors Boutique
Bow magnifying glass necklace $10, Hot Topic
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arts & culture
Alternative Hamburg Henley $68, Need Supply Co.
Social Collision Rude Skinny Leg Jean $34, Hot Topic
Converse All Stars $13, Rumors Boutique
Black Beanie $12, Hot Topic
Brass Knuklebelt Necklace $12, Hot Topic
Express ruched lingere top $6, B Sides Boutique
Boyfriend blazer, stylist’s own
Elephant pin necklace $16, Rumors Boutique
Lani lace shorts $34, Need Supply Co.
Vintage t-bar shoes
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