woof issue 12

SWITCH UP YOUR SUMMER WORKOUT

Alternative ways to get active this summer

GLASS KNUCKLE GAMES PACKS A PUNCH

Two Northeastern studentsstart a successful gaming company

CITIES IN TECHNICOLORStreet art, graffiti and urban life in Beantown

COAST TO COAST: FEVER CHARM

The story of a well-toured four-piece indie rock band

WOOF MAGAZINE • summer 2015

05

PRESIDENTLiam Synan

EDITORS-IN-CHIEFShelby Sih & Kelsey Zimmerer

CREATIVE DIRECTORSCara McGrath & Erinn Scammon

MARKETING DIRECTORSDesign: Sami BartlettFundraising: Sofia Rojo del BustoOutreach: Ashley Thon

WEBMASTERHannah DeYoung

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORZoe Gregoric

ONLINE PHOTO DIRECTORKatie Williams

SECTION EDITORSZoe Kenealy, Libby Leyden-Sussler, Christie Macomber & Scott Oldano

WRITERSMolly Dunn, Katherine Friend, Jessica Grill, Alex Kaneshiro, Emily Mitchell, Gabriella Nuovo, Bakari Olivetti, Monil Shah & Liam Synan

DESIGNERSBrian Ambadjes, Michelle Balaban, Chris Bubnov, Jennifer Heintz, Erica Hinck, Devanshi Patel, Marissa Rodakis, Carolina Rodriguez, Kelley Schneider, Noa Shneorson, Courtney Springer, Julie Tennett & Laura Zuk

PHOTOGRAPHERSKyle Bianchi, Casey Brown, Leah Corbett, Chloe Francois, Jena Goldman, Zoe Gregoric, Suma Hussien, Alex Kaneshiro, Joanna Odorisio, Sophia Schonwetter & Wyatt Warell

Cover Photography by Kyle Bianchi & Erica Hinck 14

08

summer 2015 • WOOF MAGAZINE

WE’RE NORTHEASTERN’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE. LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?

CONTENTS

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16

FRONT04 Summer Concerts 05 Campus Cup of Joe06 The Year in Review06 Not Your Average 9–5

LIFESTYLE 07 Fit NU08 Freshly Picked

COVER STORY10 Switch Up Your Summer Workout

ENTERTAINMENT12 Cities in Technicolor 14 Take Your Style from Snow to Sun 15 Coast to Coast: Fever Charm Band Profile

FOCUS16 To Declare or Not to Declare18 Glass Knuckle Games Packs a Punch

EMAIL US • [email protected] VISIT OUR SITE • WOOF-MAG.COM

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4 • Front

“I’m so excited becausethe venue [Xfinity Center] is

outdoors,which is so much more fun during the summertime.”

Nico & VinzBoston CallingLady Antebellum

2122-24

30

Imagine DragonsShania Twain and Gavin DeGrawU2Modest MouseTaylor Swift

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10-1123

24-25

Rascal FlattsJ.Cole, Big Sean, JeremihZac Brown Band

26

7-8

Dave Matthews BandThe Boys of Zummer TourBilly Joel

131416

LINEUP AT A GLANCE

Written by Emily Mitchell // Photos by Wyatt Warrell Ann-Marie Bilig (‘17), Health Science major

If you find yourself living in Boston this summer, get pumped for the dozens of great music acts coming to town. The city has a lineup of stars covering almost every genre.

If pop and alternative is your thing, you have plenty to look forward to. Nico & Vinz is coming to Paradise Rock Club May 21st. In July, Imagine Dragons will be at the Garden the 1st, Modest Mouse will be at the Blue Hills Bank Pavillion the 23rd and Taylor Swift will be at Gillete Stadium with Vance Joy the 24th and 25th.

If you’re a country fan, several big names will be performing this summer. Lady Antebellum is coming to the Xfinity Center May 30th with Hunter Hayes and Sam Hunt. Shania Twain and Gavin DeGraw will be at the Garden

July 8th. Rascal Flatts will perform with Scotty McCreery at the Xfinity Center August 2nd, and of course, Zac Brown Band will return for their annual Fenway concert August 7th and 8th.

There are also a few rap concerts coming to town. The Boys of Zummer tour will be at the Xfinity Center June 14th, with Wiz Khalifa, Hoodie Allen, and Fall Out Boy headlining. J. Cole, Big Sean, and Jeremih will also be at the Xfinity Center August 6th.

If you’re into some more classic rock acts, Dave Matthews Band will be at the Xfinity Center June 13th. U2 will be at the Garden July 10th and 11th, and Billy Joel will be at Fenway July 16th.

In the summer, it’s all about the venue, and clearly lots of bands have chosen the Xfinity Center in Mansfield as their destination. Ann-Marie Billig (’17), Health Science major,

said, “I’m so excited because the venue is outdoors, which is so much more fun during the summertime.”

Boston Calling will be back again, with one of the best venues in the city. Twice a year a stage is built in the center of City Hall Plaza. This year, several well-known bands will headline the festival, going on from May 22nd to 24th. “I’ve gone several times, and it’s so much fun,” says Billig. “The sets are always awesome.” Get excited for Beck, Ben Harper, Marina and the Diamonds, Vance Joy, Tove Lo, and several others.

Or if you’re looking to save a few bucks, check the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. They usually host free concerts like the 100.7 WZLX Free Summer Concert, which takes place in July.

Go ahead and start hunting for tickets now!

June

August

May

July


Front • 5

It’s that time of year again: the end of the semester. Assignments multiply, every night turns into a late night and the library becomes more of a home than your apartment—which means that morning cup of coffee can make or break the entire course of the day. To help you decide whether to wake up your roommate with the Keurig or run and grab a coffee to go, here is a list of the main coffee shop on campus and what they really have to offer, according to Woof Magazine.

Next time you wake up earlier than expected and find yourself with twenty minutes to spare (unlikely, I know), give a different place a go. Maybe it’ll be your new favorite.

Campus Cup of Joe

The Best Places to Fuel Up at NUWritten by Emily Mitchell // Photos by Alex Kaneshiro

STARBUCKS: The universal constant. No matter which Starbucks you go to, be it in Curry or in another country, you can order your signature drink and it will taste the same every time. Its location is convenient and central, making it the best option for “espresso” drinks and quality-brewed coffee. “Starbucks is my favorite since I like coffee that doesn’t actually taste like coffee,” says International Affairs major Karina Masri ('18). I’ll get a café mocha which is really good and still has caffeine.” But of course, beware the line snaking to the back of AfterHOURS.

SUBWAY: The unsung hero. If you have five minutes between classes and you’re stuck in Ryder all day, Subway is your best bet. They’ve got cups ready to hand out and you dispense and mix your own coffee. Turns out, the coffee itself isn’t half bad. A cheap, fast, easy option.

AU BON PAIN: Like Starbucks, another great place for drinks on the go. Located right next to Marino, you have the added bonus of also being able to grab lunch with your coffee as well.

PAVEMENT: Not to be written off as hipster or too expensive. If you consider yourself a coffee fanatic, give Pavement a try. “The atmosphere is homey and the coffee tastes the most homemade,” says Economics major Liz Platanova ('18). Granted, your cup will be small and your bill may be a bit steep, but this is the best place for the most flavorful coffee on campus.

THE DINING HALL:The most convenient but least exciting option. Stetson, IV and Outtakes all offer Green Mountain Coffee for the price of a meal swipe. The taste, however, is satisfactory at best and it’s close to the same selection every time. “Getting coffee at the dining hall is cool because I don’t really pay for it and I can grab a cup after dinner to bring back home with me while I do my homework,” says Olivia Reyes ('18). If you like flavored coffee, they swap out a different flavor or two each day.

REBECCA’S:The unexpectedly promising underdog. This is the only place on campus you can get takeout breakfast and an iced coffee with a meal swipe. The hot coffee has normal, decaf and bold roasts, and the iced coffee always has chocolate syrup nearby for flavoring. Becca’s is perfect for when you’re in the heart of campus and in between classes.

DUNKIN DONUTS:A Boston staple. Make sure not to go between classes unless you have plenty of time to spare because the line in Hayden and Shillman tends to be impressively long at peak times. At Dunkin you can make the perfect iced coffee with all the flavorings and turbo shots your heart desires. With a large coffee averaging no more than $3.50, it’s the best place to get the most bang for your buck.


6 • Front

Written by Monil Shah // Photos by Cara McGrath & Erinn Scammon

As we head off to summer adventures and say goodbye (and congrats!) to the class of 2015, let’s take a look back at some of the moments that defined this year at NU and in Boston.

OCTOBER 2014• Tatyana Fazlalizadeh makes her mark on campus,

launching an anti-harassment public art campaign called “Stop Telling Women To Smile.”

NOVEMBER 2014• Homecoming 2014: Celebrating Curry Student

Center’s 50th anniversary and holding reunions for classes of 2004 and 2006.

• President Aoun shocks NU by hiring not one, but two Global Officers to be his first co-op students that get to travel the world.

JANUARY 2015• East Village: the newest residence hall on campus

opens its doors. • Start of the never-ending Netflix Snowdays: time

to catch up on Friends, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones and say goodbye to Monday classes.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

“I was working in a lab and I was responsible for making samples using a high temperature furnace around a tube with high flow gases going through. Messing up meant blowing up part of the research center. I didn’t blow it up, but I could’ve.”Mechanical EngineeringMajed Alnaji, ’16

“I was hired by Cubist Pharmaceuticals in October in a lab position in the toxicology area. In December, Merck, this huge biotechnology company, acquired Cubist. Halfway through February, I was told I might lose my job, so what do I do then?…I started at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals the first week in March. It’s really different, because I was working in a lab, but now I’m working in business planning and program management and it’s a lot of finance and budgeting. This co-op has changed what I want to do…It started off as the worst thing but it turned into the best possible thing.” BiochemistryJulia Kirslis, ’17

Not Your Average 9–5 Written by Bakari Olivetti

Students share the good, the bad and the weird from their co-op experiences

FEBRUARY 2015• New England Patriots win the Super Bowl,

beating the Seattle Sea Hawks 28-24. Boston celebrates with a parade and Gronk’s meme-worthy twerking. MARCH 2015

• Boston breaks the snowfall record last set in 1996 with 108.6 inches recorded at Logan Airport. At least we’ll go down in the history books…

• Northeastern’s Men’s Basketball Team wins the CAA Championship title and heads to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991

APRIL 2015• The Northeastern Dance Team, including Woof’s

own Co-Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Zimmerer, competes at NDA Nationals in Daytona, Florida.

“What’s so great about co-oping at Grand Slam Baseball—besides getting to live in a city like Delhi, is that every single day is different here. One day, we’ll be formally dressed and in a meeting for hours and the next day we’re showing kids how to field a ground ball…I can tell you from my time here that there could definitely be a bright future for baseball in India.”Communications & Screen StudiesDaniel Meyers, ’17

“I just was in Los Angeles working with Republic Records. That was a great experience. I got to work at all of our artist meet and greets, so I got to meet Jessie J, James Bay. The year before I worked directly at the CEO’s office in New York. I had the opportunity to have dinner at the actual CEO of Universal Music Group’s house for a fundraising event Northeastern was doing which was very very cool.” Music Industry Chris Tecca, ’15

“I did my co-op in the City Hall of Boston in the Mayor’s Hotline. People call about everything city related. Anything from traffic lights, to potholes, streets lights, trash pickup. If it’s not fixed right away, some people call constantly. If you call about a tree, they may not get to it for a year…There was even a lady who would ask the mayor to send her money.” International Affairs & Human ServicesLilliam Rivera, ’14

“I spent six and a half months in Antarctica. It was about twenty-six hours of flying and then four days on a ship to cross the Drake Passage. I went on one fishing expedition that was twenty-four hours of fishing total. We were basically just fishing and processing any dead fish and tissue samples from them for the Ocean Genome Legacy Project. We started producing embryos of these fish to see how the warming waters were going to affect their development.” BiochemistryEileen Sheehan, ’15



Keeping off the extra pounds can be challenging in college. Between hectic schedules that leave minimal gym time and the fact that BHOP is open late again, sometimes a Husky can get a little husky. But Northeastern’s Sarah Gaines, a senior communication studies major, has found a way to simplify the workout regimes and diet choices that stump many students. With her new, innovative program called Fit University, she aims to make the fantasy of fun workouts and ease of healthy eating a reality.

Fit NU is a foundation that Gaines began as an online blog. She expanded the foundation and included Fit NU, the pilot campus chapter of Fit University.

“The goal is to be the largest community of fit and healthy students. We function on the online space as a go-to source for all things college health and fitness,” explained Gaines. “Offline we have these campus chapters where students can come and can always count on getting a free workout that is fun and challenging but suitable for all fitness levels once a week. It’s to give students a fit and healthy community where they can have people be supportive of their lifestyle.”

Gaines started Fit NU because she felt a gap in campus fitness. “One thing that I saw on campus was that there are all of these sports clubs, and you can join in intramurals, or you could be a college athlete, but there was nothing really for general fitness besides just going to the gym.” She noticed, “There was no club that was about everything and bringing it all together.”

This inclusiveness is what sets Fit NU apart from other clubs or sports teams.

“Absolutely everybody can participate. We are open to all fitness levels, from somebody who has never set foot in a gym to the varsity athlete here on campus. All of our workouts can be adjusted for any fitness level. We are open to both guys and girls, we are not

Written by Katherine FriendPhotos by Suma Hussein

exclusive by any means, and it is absolutely free to join,” said Gaines.

“We encourage people to come to the things they want to. We would love for everybody to come to everything, but we understand that things come up and you’re going to miss things or you’re not going to want to participate one day and that’s totally fine. It’s just a kind of come as you go sort of club. Come as you please.”

When asked what Gaines hopes Fit NU accomplishes on the Northeastern campus, she responded: “The goal is to be the largest community of fit and healthy students at Northeastern. I want people to be able to

Fit NU

“It’s to give students a fit and healthy community where they can have people be supportive of their lifestyle”

come to Fit NU and to make a friend they might not have otherwise. Outside Fit NU, I want people to do healthy things with that friend and to really just build a support system that they can count on… I want Fit NU to help students realize that being fit doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym and eating plain [and] boring foods. You can have fun and still get in a good workout.”

Gaines wants to continue to grow Fit NU after she graduates and will remain in contact with the executive board on campus. Additionally, Gaines is in the works of talking to other people about creating other chapters on other campuses around the country. She hopes Fit University will spread nationwide, made up of chapter campuses throughout the country, promoting a healthy lifestyle that is fun to achieve.

Interested in joining? Fit NU meets every Thursday at 6:00 pm in 110 Kariotis Hall. Also, look out for workouts being held outside once the weather gets nicer. In addition, Fit NU teams up with local studios in Boston to hold free classes. Want to learn more? To follow Fit NU on Twitter and Instagram, follow the handle: @fitnortheastern. To follow Fit NU on Facebook, go to: facebook.com/fitnortheastern. For more information on the foundation Fit University, go to: www.gofitu.com.


8 • Lifestyle

For the first few months of the semester, all anyone talked about was snow – when, how much and what kind of damage it would bring. It seemed ceaseless and overpowering, but finally it is over. We’ve lived to tell the tale (and we’ve even seen the record broken!). What better reward for surviving such a winter than to feast on fresh fruit, baked goods and vegetables from Boston’s warm weather farmer’s markets? Beside the well-known health benefits of eating fresh, organic produce, meat and dairy, eating local means less energy wasted on transportation from non-local farms, which is economic and more earth-friendly. And we should be friendly to our earth, even if it did bury us in snow for most of the winter.

With sunnier weather ahead, support New England farms by buying local at Boston’s finest outdoor markets. Treat yourself to fresh spring fruits and veggies after a season of canned soup and packaged noodles. You deserve it! Woof scoured the best markets to explore in the Boston area, so be sure to mark your calendars and your city maps.

Freshly PickedWritten by Molly Dunn // Photos by Casey Brown & Jena Goldman

Central SquareIf you’re on the Cambridge side of the Charles, check out the Central Square Farmer’s Market starting in May. With products from C&C Lobsters and Fish, Hutchins Farm, Keown Orchards and Taza Chocolate, it’s a tribute to the diversity of fresh products available all around Massachusetts. It’s open on Mondays at Norfolk Street and Bishop Allen Drive.


Lifestyle • 9

Freshly Picked

HaymarketThough the Haymarket Open Air Market is open all year round on Fridays and Saturdays, the coming spring will make it a livelier and more colorful place for some weekend produce shopping. Haymarket has been open since the 1830s, making it one of the more historic markets on this list. Its proximity to Faneuil Hall makes it a perfect stop for a North End adventure day, and the Ruggles to Haymarket Orange Line trip makes it convenient.

Copley SquareStarting in May, the Copley Square Farmer’s Market will be setting up shop along St. James Avenue to sell fresh fruits and veggies, like spring corn, asparagus, honeydew melon and apricots. This market is very convenient for hungry Huskies – just a twenty-minute walk down Huntington Avenue past the Prudential Center. Open on Tuesdays and Fridays, it shares goods from local vendors such as Hamilton Orchards, Silverbrook Farm and Narragansett Creamery, all in New England.

The Boston Public Market at Dewey Square

The Dewey Square Farmer’s Market is less than a ten-minute walk from Park Street station on the Green Line. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can find baked goods, vegetables, herbs, fresh eggs, gourmet doughnuts and more at this little downtown haven.

SoWa Open MarketSoWa Open Market has absolutely everything. Every Sunday from May through October, Harrison Avenue in the South End is taken over by prepared food, fruits, vegetables, flowers and artisan booths. Since Sunday mornings in spring are best spent outdoors with food and music, you’ll have trouble finding a better place to be.


10 • Cover Story

At Northeastern, many students make a trip to Marino part of their daily routine. It’s a great way to stay fit, and it’s hard to beat the convenience the gym offers for a quick workout when you’re pressed for time.

Boston consistently ranks in the top ten fittest cities in the country, so there must be a few other ways to keep in shape outside Marino. Whether it is cross training with an intense lifting regimen, trying to stay in shape without the gym or just looking for some fun recreation, this city has plenty to offer.

RunningAlthough you don’t have to be a marathoner to enjoy a run, we chatted with one anyways to get the inside perspective about the best routes around. When we spoke with Lauren Benoit, a sophomore business major, she was preparing to run the 2015 Boston Marathon to support the charity Children’s Room. She uses her runs to explore the city. “I like getting lost and finding my way back.”

“I’d repeat a lot of the same loops, trying to hit my goal for the day,” she says of her longer runs. During the winter before the race, she trained inside on the treadmill most days. But she managed to get outside every now and then too. “I’d start at my apartment, and head into Cambridge and Brighton, sometimes using the same loops a couple of times.” When you’re trying to tally over 20 miles, there might not be enough trail in the city, particularly during the snowiest winter on record.

But for those with slightly less ambitious goals, Benoit advises the trails along Jamaica Pond, a beautiful route that makes up part of the seven park conservancy called the Emerald Necklace. Walkers and runners can also check out the Southwest Corridor Park, which runs from the Back Bay station along the orange line down to Forest Hills, passing by the Northeastern dorms on Columbus Avenue.

Written by Liam SynanPhotos by Kyle Bianchi & Erica Hinck

UPYOURSWITCH

WORKOUTSUMMER


Cover Story • 11

HikingFor those who like to exercise a little close to nature, there are plenty of hiking options around the city too. According to Aronstein, “for hiking, Blue Hills is awesome.” It is accessible by bus, so it is easy for car-less students to get there.

Franklin Park, a stone’s throw from the Forest Hills stop on the orange line, is another great hike that anyone at NU can get to easily. As an added bonus, you can unwind after your hike with a visit to the Franklin Park Zoo, one of New England’s largest.

Aronstein also recommends The Middlesex Fells off the orange line. The 220 acre reservation features hiking trails of varying difficulty and is a short walk from the Oak Grove stop at the northern tip of the orange line.

Whether you are looking for a thrilling climb or just a relaxing walk, Boston has plenty to offer outside the walls of Marino. For those just getting started, the walking paths are a great way to make exercise a little more fun. And the technicality of rock climbing can challenge even the most accomplished lifter. Students at every level of fitness can benefit from the change of routine that a new kind of workout offers.

Rock Climbing: MetroRock For those who like to combine a puzzle with their workout, rock climbing is a great option. “Climbing uses your body the way it’s meant to be used,” says Jon Haggerty, one of MetroRock’s managers. “If you hit your tenth rep, then that just means you can count to ten,” agrees Matt Yosca, MetroRock’s other manager. He acknowledges that some folks “legitimately enjoy using the gym to sculpt their bodies,” but also points out that climbing is a “more spiritual endeavor.”

Haggerty appreciates that climbing is a “great equalizer. It’s one of the only sports you can see a guy with tattered clothing and bloody knuckles, and it turns out he’s a PhD.” Yosca says climbing attracts lots of engineers and scientists because of the mental aspect of the sport.

Spencer Aronstein, a freshman computer science and business major at Northeastern, is a great example of the intelligent climber that Yosca and Haggerty describe. He’s a regular MetroRock climber and a member of NUHOC (the NU Huski-ers & Outings Club).

Like the MetroRock managers, Aronstein says that scaling a new route “is not just about being strong enough to do it, but actually being able to figure it out and solve the problem.” For Aronstein, the workout is great, but the puzzle of each climb is “what motivates you to keep trying harder.”

Just a short walk from Wellington station on the orange line, MetroRock is easily accessible from campus. It is affordable too, starting at $20 for a day pass. On Fridays, there is an $8 dollar discount and gear rentals are half price. Check it out at www.metrorock.com.



Last January, infamous graffiti artist Ciga (known also by his legal name Marc Meadowcroft) was arrested for vandalising a vintage MBTA trolley. The incident invited scorn from many, especially T workers tasked with restoring the train car and the Boston Police, but it also generated admiration and buzz for the 19-year-old artist.

Graffiti has long been viewed as controversial and unwanted; however, in recent years, it has begun to be viewed as trendy, admirable and even inspiring. Urban artists who use the streets as their canvases not only argue that their work should be as respected as any other form of art, but that street art is an entirely different concept than graffiti.

Only recently have people begun to make a distinction between street art and graffiti. Graffiti is largely regarded as the product of destructive, criminal acts. Street art, in comparison, is viewed as an ingenious and witty way to breathe new life into public spaces. Both forms can be found across major cities worldwide, but the latter is usually given greater appreciation and mainstream recognition.

Written by Jessica GrillPhotos by Katie Williams & Leah Corbett

Boston art blogger Elana Willinsky wrote, “Street art is a medium with a different kind of freedom than any other type of art. Its interaction with environment is celebratory yet provocative, bold yet transient.” Often times, as demonstrated by the work of popular artist Banksy, street art is used to confront and address social issues.

Here at Northeastern, a series of art pieces were featured on campus last semester to combat the harassment of women. The exhibition, called “Stop Telling Women to Smile,” received positive feedback from those who had the chance to see it, including sophomore graphic design major Katie Kerr. “I loved seeing the series on Forsyth Street amid all the current issues regarding rape and

Cities INTechnicolor

sexual assault on college campuses,” Kerr said. “I think it’s important to have starting points to open conversations about important topics.”

Even traditional graffiti is becoming more widely accepted in artistic communities. Kerr states, “graffiti encompasses both street art and tagging, and tagging historically has relations to gangs whereas street art is usually more positive and varied and has a larger purpose.” Graffiti is not just a form of creative expression, but can also be used to showcase a city’s rich history. Until its recent demolition, a Queens NY factory building known as 5Pointz was considered a graffiti mecca, and both artists and appreciators could view years of NYC’s most colorful creations or even contribute their own work.

Stree t Ar t , Graf f i t i and Urban L i fe

“Public art is a tricky business— in the open air, unlike a museum or gallery show, art is usually something we see by happenstance rather than choice.”


Entertainment • 13

“Street art is a medium with a different kind of

freedom than any other type of art. Its interaction with environment is celebratory yet provocative, bold yet transient.”

In addition, street art often pushes the limits of what content is considered acceptable. When two artists known as Os Gemeos painted a mural of a boy who appeared to be clad in a Muslim headscarf in Kenmore Square, many observers responded with racist and derogatory comments. As Boston Globe writer Jon Garelick commented, “Public art is a tricky business—in the open air, unlike a museum or gallery show, art is usually something we see by happenstance rather than choice.” When artwork is left behind closed doors, people can make the individual choice as to what they want to look at, but on the streets, hot-button messages and profanity are unavoidable. Although those who support and oppose street art are constantly at odds, efforts are being made to reconcile the views of city

officials and the artists themselves. Many cities are designating public spaces where graffiti and street art are legal. One of those spaces is located in nearby Cambridge. Richard B. “Rico” Modica Way in Central Square provides artists with a space to share their work without invoking legal consequences or damaging private property.

Yet even outside of these sanctioned locations, street art remains a vibrant part of many Boston neighborhoods, from Allston to the South End. The street art scene is constantly changing and evolving in ways that mirror the transformation of Boston and other cities—and if you’re looking to get a glimpse of it, all that’s required is a simple walk around your neighborhood.


14 • Entertainment

The key to transitioning your wardrobe from season to season is rebalancing. Peeling away at heavy layers while mixing in lighter springtime pieces to your outfits is a great way to repurpose winter-wear for the spring. In the springtime, the 75-25 method should be your guiding light for what to wear. The 75-25 method is being 75% covered on your top half and 25% on your bottom (or vice-versa!) Here are some ideas that you can try out this spring season!

In terms of your essential winter pieces such as jackets, thick jeans and sweaters, the 75-25 method will be your best friend for the spring.

Heavy wool sweaters can be worn over shorter, tighter skirts and dresses, or even

over shorts and tights. With this particular look, you’re making use of one of your

favorite winter pieces without looking completely bundled up. If you have

any thicker jackets such as a denim or varsity jackets that you typically wear under your puffy coat, you can also wear them over a shorter,

fitted dress or romper. If it’s a chillier spring day, try pairing one of these

jackets with leg-hugging jeans or leggings for a casual, well-balanced look.

For your thickest pair of boyfriend jeans, add a lighter or cropped shirt, going heavier on the bottom rather than the top. “Dark colors always seem to be the way to go for me when it comes to the winter. Grays, black, and navy are my go-to colors for the most part, but for the spring, lighter fabrics are always

T A K E Y O U R S T Y L E F R O M

Snow to Sun

a good option. I will keep a dark base but wear a lighter top, and my footwear usually shifts to lighter shoes rather than heavier boots,” said Sawyer Hammond, a freshman communications major.

Once you’ve figured out how to wear all of your sweaters and jackets in the new season, you’re still left with miscellaneous hats, scarves and socks that still need a purpose. Wool beanies, although seen as an absolute necessity for the snow, can be used as your statement piece for an otherwise plain outfit. If you’re wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, throw on a beanie to make it a laid-back springtime look. The same goes for scarves; if your outfit is looking a little dull, try adding a winter scarf to your simple monochromatic dress. The transition is all about taking the pieces that you wear for warmth in the winter and turning them into an accessory for the spring. “I love my wintertime fuzzy high socks. In spring, I love to wear a cute dress with my cozy socks and boots,” said sophomore graphic design major Alex Morris.

Springtime brings flowers, warmer days and the opportunity to get resourceful with your wardrobe. Post-winter style is all about getting creative and having fun with the pieces that you already own. This spring is the time to experiment within your closet and get in touch with the season’s newest trends while still showing some love to your cable knit sweater.

As winter transitions to spring, daily outfits move from protection from the elements to light and fun. Come springtime in Boston, many find themselves shoving their wool scarves and knit sweaters to the back of their closets, only to reemerge next winter. This spring season, instead of nixing all of your cold-weather pieces, incorporate them into your daily outfits with these tips and tricks.

Written by Alex Kaneshiro // Photos by Chloe Francois


Written by Libby Leyden-Sussler Photos courtesy of Fever Charm

This isn’t a story about rock ‘n’ roll, late night jam sessions, tour busses, or backstage passes. It’s about the four members of a band that have their roots in Oakland, California and made the transition to Boston to pursue a passion of music, all while working toward a college degrees at Northeastern University and Berklee School of Music. Meet: Ari Berl, Theo Quayle, Yianni Anastos-Prastacos and JT Gagarin.

Lead vocalist and guitarist, Berl, is a junior majoring in music industry with a dual minor in music recording and entrepreneurship. He met Quayle and Anastos-Prastacos, who both attend Berklee, in middle school and the group started playing together in a fun, light-hearted band, but it never quite took off. Fever Charm took shape when they were just finishing high school and gained momentum when the three Bay Area locales moved to the east coast, where they met Gagarin who would become the band’s drummer.

This up and coming indie-rock band can be best described as mix between The Artic Monkeys, Young the Giant and Tame Impala. Musically influenced by artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Clash, The Ramones, Prince, as well as the newest music to hit the scene, Fever Charm is constantly being inspired and continuing to grow.

But while the talented musicians spend countless hours and days in the studio recording or working on song lyrics, they are also working toward getting a degree from two prestigious Boston schools. According to Anastos-Prastacos, who studies music production engineering, “having a [college] degree legitimizes you as an artist. It makes

the music more valuable.” For Berl, being at Northeastern allowed him to experience things he might not have had the opportunity to do such as completing his first co-op with Columbia Records in New York City.

Managing the life of a student is difficult already—but add in all-nighters spent in the recording studio, traveling for shows and intensive song writing sessions—and life can get stressful. “Yeah, we don’t sleep much,” chuckles Berl. “But in the end we are grinding away because we know that being a part of Fever Charm is awesome and if it wasn’t awesome we wouldn’t do it.”

As for where the band is headed with the remainder of 2015, Quayle said they are working towards their next recording. “It’s about honing our craft and songwriting. When we first started our songs were more pop, and now we are shifting to some more intellectually challenging lyrics and furthering our artistic finesse.”

The band released it’s first EP on iTunes last year titled “Sounds of Summer” which was written while the four were in California, and let the west coast inspire them toward a more upbeat and relaxed vibe. The process of completing the EP took the span of an entire summer where they

wrote every day for an entire month. They then all drove to Texas, lived in an empty apartment, died their hair, and hammered out the 4-song release.

So is the life of a rock star, right? The pinnacle of the summer came when Fever Charm opened for the BFD Festival last summer, an event the band has grown up attending in Northern California since they were little. There is no doubt that big things are happening behind the scenes for Fever Charm as they prepare for new song releases and eventually, after all four graduate, head back toward the west coast.

Follow the band on Facebook twitter @fevercharm and listen to their latest tracks on Soundcloud, iTunes, and Spotify.

“Having a college degree legitimizes you as an artist. It makes the music more valuable.”

f ever charm

coast to coast:

band profile

16 • Focus


On average, a college student will change his or her major two to three times. Coming into college declared means that a list of classes is already required, so spending the time taking classes toward an engineering major is most likely wasted if the student then decides to become a business major instead. Many times being undeclared is a state of being, but here at Northeastern, a whole program is dedicated to helping those students who are undeclared find their passions and choose a major that is the best fit for them. Freshman Olivia Tedesco applied to Northeastern without declaring a major. “There were plenty of majors I didn’t even know existed and I didn’t want to choose one without learning more about them all,” Tedesco said. She had nothing but positive things to say about the program, sharing that it, “really lets students explore before choosing a major,” and going on to state that, “there is no pressure to choose before we’re ready and I’ve really appreciated that.” Tedesco also likes the community that the undeclared program has created. “It’s nice to know that there’s a lot of curious students here

like me that are having the same problem trying to figure out where we belong. If I came in declared, there is no doubt I would have changed my major by now, so I’m glad I came in undeclared and had the opportunity to take lots of random interesting classes to narrow my choices down.” Andy Xu, also a freshman, was formerly in the undeclared program and is now a business major with a concentration in entrepreneurship. Like Tedesco, he applied to Northeastern undeclared. “I was interested in multiple fields of study and my heart could not decide on one course of education that would eventually decide my entire future,” Xu said. He felt the program offered “multiple opportunities to help me discover what I wanted to major in,” and appreciated being in housing with fellow undeclared peers, which “made me not feel alone on my adventure through the undeclared program.” Will McAneny, a fourth year student at Northeastern, was also formerly undeclared and is now has an international affairs major and history and social entrepreneurship minors. When asked why he applied to Northeastern undeclared, McAneny said, “When I was going through

To Declare or Not To DeclareWritten by Katherine FriendPhotos by Sophia Schonwetter


Focus • 17

the application process for Northeastern, I had a wide range of subjects I was interested in and imagined that I would be exposed to even more in my first few semesters of college, and therefore didn’t want to limit myself to a single major before I had an accurate idea of what I wanted to focus on in my studies.”

McAneny also explained what the undeclared program does to guide its students. “One thing I love about the Program for Undeclared Students is how intentional of a program it is. Far from being simply something cobbled together for ‘leftover’ students who have yet to declare, the Program for Undeclared Students is a very thoughtfully put together and dedicated program comprised of skilled advisors, professionals, and formerly undeclared students who know how to guide students onto an academic path best suited for their needs.” Despite being declared and an upperclassman, McAneny has stayed involved in the program. “I definitely continue to feel a part of the program. I have continued to work for the program for the past three years, first as a teaching assistant and peer mentor and most recently as a student coordinator, meeting weekly with five other students and program staff to plan events and strategy for the program going forward.” Freshman Tristan Eid was never in the undeclared program, and applied to Northeastern as an economics major. From Eid’s point of view, “undeclared people are smart because they don’t rush into things. However, most of them have yet to realize that everyone is undeclared at heart, and eventually you have to declare something.” To help students figure out where there interests lie, the Program for Undeclared Students sets up events such as Meet the Majors and Majors Fairs that expose undeclared students to various majors, as well as professors and students in those studies. Events such as these and other resources allow undeclared students to acquire an abundant amount of information on all of Northeastern’s majors and explore a wide variety of classes to ultimately declare a major they love and are passionate about.

Pictured Above: Olivia TedescoPictured Left: Andy Xu

“If I came in declared, there is no doubt I would have changed my major by now”


18 • Focus

While Dave Gedarovich may still be in college, he is already the cofounder of a company that generates thousands of dollars in revenue. The Northeastern University senior cofounded the game company Glass Knuckle Games in 2012 with fellow Northeastern student Brett Davis while the two were on co-op.

“We had a ton of free time at the job, so we started working on games and people were like, this game is really fun, we should continue with it,” Gedarovich said.

The two eventually completed the game company’s first title, “Noir Syndrome”, and it quickly made the rounds on the indie game circuit. According to Gedarovich, Noir Syndrome is a “procedurally generated detective murder mystery” where players are given new cases, clues, and suspects each time they play. “You’re free to play the game however you want. Shoot people, rob places, get money,” he said. There’s even a dinner party mode where players are trapped in a mansion Clue-style, and have to figure out who’s murdering everyone inside the house before it’s too late.

The game’s quirky 8-bit graphics and unique play style have made it stand out among the thousands of other independently developed games, and “Noir Syndrome” was greenlit to be sold on Steam, an online videogame hub, earlier this year. “As far as I know, we’re the only college-based group that has games on Steam. I know of plenty of other college developers, and a couple studios among them, but I couldn’t name any of their projects that would be widely known,” Gedarovich

said. Since, Noir Syndrome has sold over 20,000 copies on Steam alone, with around 40,000 copies in total distributed.

Glass Knuckle Games’ second big title is “Thief Town,” another 8-bit style game with a Wild West flair. Around the time of the inception of “Thief Town,” James Johnston came onboard as the company’s marketing and PR manager. The Emerson College senior has become the voice of Glass Knuckle, devising new strategies to promote its titles while also trying to set the company apart from the hundreds of other game developers in the Boston and Cambridge areas.

“I wanna help these guys out and push them forward. It’s so necessary. No one knows who you are so you need to get up in [people’s] faces. I work with their identity and help push them forward,” Johnston said. Johnston’s greatest advertising achievement so far has been getting “Thief Town” featured on the popular “let’s play” Youtube channel of gamer PewDiePie (real name Felix Kjellberg), where his gameplay video has amassed more than 4 million views so far.

“Thief Town” was also recently greenlit to be sold on Steam, and Gedarovich revealed he is in the process of working on Glass Knuckle Game’s third title, “Defragmented”, which he describes as a “cyberpunk action-[roleplaying game].”

Gedarovich, Johnston, and their colleagues have thought about their potential futures working in the game industry. “It’s really great knowing that there’s an audience out there for my work and there’s definitely enough money to continue for a good while,” Gedarovich said.


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Profits from Steam have totaled over $60,000, and an additional $15,000 have been made through Android and other sites such as Desura, the Humble Store, and Glass Knuckle Games’ own website. “In the eight hours it was up, the game made about $40,000. Steam sales are definitely a large source of revenue for most indie developers,” Gedarovich said.

While Gedarovich is thinking about expanding his company after graduation, Johnston expressed interest in working for Microsoft or Sony’s public relations team, but also acknowledged that the indie games industry has become a force to be reckoned with.

“That’s the trend nowadays. It’s the small teams of two or three people coming together to just throw out these really interesting ideas, and doing these things that nobody’s ever seen before,” he said. Gedarovich also explained the power of the indie in the entertainment industry as a whole. “Like indie music and indie films, it’s just become a lot more accessible lately. Putting the development and distribution tools in the hands of the every-day game developer has opened countless doors for the industry,” he said.

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