TW: Mentions of suicide

Nobody likes getting sick. Picture this: you go to a grocery store to pick up a salad for lunch, and the next day, you are faced with a nasty stomach bug. Now you have to call out sick from work, using your precious sick days, you have to cancel the plans that you had with your friends for the weekend, and you have to figure out how you are going to take care of yourself while facing the worst gastrointestinal problems you’ve ever felt.

t is no secret that nothing is quite as important as being thin in today's society. I have had a difficult time claiming exactly which groups of people uphold this notion of thinness and its association with public approval. For all intents and purposes, this ideology is now global, affecting— almost —every place and possibly every person and every gender.

Most of us, at some point in our lives, have likely identified something about our bodies that we wish to change. It is difficult not to view our looks with a critical eye, particularly when we face constant messaging about what we are supposed to look like. Furthermore, we live in a world that makes physically changing those aspects of ourselves entirely possible— whether with impermanent fixes, like makeup or hair, or more long-lasting solutions, like fillers or plastic surgery. 

Trend culture has been a part of popular culture across the globe, existing in the zeitgeist for pretty much the entirety of the modern world. From the pull of flared jeans and crochet tops in the ‘70s to the leggings and Ugg boots look of the 2010s, the prevalence of trend culture, especially in the world of fashion, has an undeniable impact on our societies. 

The benefits of living with plants are undisputable. Connecting with nature and green spaces, even indoors, is proven to reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve air quality. Houseplants are more than inspiring decor; they positively affect emotional and mental well-being. Yet keeping them alive can be its own challenge. As busy college students, being a plant parent may be the least of our issues as busy college students. 

At the beginning of the semester, getting involved in clubs feels natural and appropriate, but as the semester marches on and the workload piles up, staying involved, or joining a club halfway through the semester can feel a little awkward.

Dear Aiden,

I encountered you during an April shower. We were all heading to our monthly grocery run, and I had just gotten my cast taken off. It was quite itchy, really; I’d wake up several times a night in hives, digging and scraping the thinnest layer of skin over and over again until it was slightly red.

Most of the discourse surrounding eating disorder development (in casual conversation and online) is focused on the impact of media on teenage girls. This has some merit— the body images that the media promotes are harmful and can create or exacerbate disordered eating issues in young people. Still, though, what the conversation often neglects is the clear impact of familial habits and comments that influence a child to develop an eating disorder. 

Things I absolutely hate

A one-day event could drain your savings or even send you into debt. How is that the norm for wedding purchases? In what world is that reasonable or affordable?

When we go to college, we are expected to cross the bridge from teenager to adult. In the literal sense, we enter our 20s, but in doing so, we gain new skills to use in our adult lives. Whether these are the skills required by your major to get you a career or social skills learned through relationships with other people, now is the time to learn and grow. 

The Scooby-Doo franchise is one for the ages. The children’s show, first airing in 1969, has entertained generations of viewers with lovable characters, inventive villains, and an endless variety of crazy stories.

I love my phone. I love to watch silly videos, keep in touch with my friends and family, and see what nonsense is happening in the world.

Megan Thee Stallion's music and public persona embody the spirit of Black feminism, challenging oppressive systems while celebrating Black womanhood. Through her lyrics, she takes back control over her body and sexuality, a core part of Black feminist thought. Her rise to fame has been marked by her ability to navigate and push back against misogynoir— the intersectionality of racism and sexism that Black women face.

Most of us have been there. Whether you must regularly endure it at your household, only experience it when your uncle visits at Thanksgiving, or exclusively see it online— you have encountered the dreaded Republican comedian. 

Two Christmases ago, my sister’s best friend sewed for me and some of our other friends microwavable heating pads, or what is more affectionately referred to as a ‘warmie,’ in various personalized fabrics. Though I had some experience with them from my family, who owned similar ones throughout the years, I think it is safe to say that owning one of my very own has been pretty life-changing.

*Spoilers Ahead* 

Throughout history, DC and Marvel have been the dominant forms of superhero entertainment. Recently, newer and more realistic superhero stories have taken the world by storm. This includes Invincible (2021- ), an Amazon Prime Video series that is an adaptation of the Invincible comic book series (2003-2018) published by Image Comics.

Libraries are one of the multiple federally funded institutions that Donald J. Trump and his cabinet are targeting. Libraries all over the nation are facing very real, serious threats that could come at the price of libraries becoming obsolete.

In a market that relies on the competition between companies, like the market in the United States, various marketing strategies need to be employed for companies to try and come out as the ‘top dog.’ Though differing products, audiences, and ways of advertising certainly influence the kinds of campaigns that different companies may run, it often feels like the underlying thread of all of these is to tell people, “Your life is bad and our product will make it good.”