By Zoe Seppi It takes your whole cotton-filled head to prove to yourself that you don’t have to be alone with sunken-in teeth and atmospheric eyelids, you steel yourself for the hunter’s final blow, not for lack of trying, but you’re so bent over with your own frustration you can’t see the swing of the boot kicking you down and the lick of the steel-capped shoe still reads as good-natured attention. Drown yourself in someone else’s skin, placate your stutter between the lini

How the definition of masculinity sets men up to fail in relationships. By Mia Puleo Graphic by Catarina Koehler Growing up in the 21st century, most impressionable young boys are taught how to be masculine in an interesting way: to not be feminine. Masculinity is constructed in opposition to femininity because it is most persuasive when understood in a dynamic of negation instead of identity, creating two distinct gender roles. However, when one of the gender roles is built

Not every spontaneous trip amongst friends ends in tragedy, but there are tell-tale signs it may. By Isabella Licwinko Photograph by Hannah Sender Travel can solidify life-long friendships and create memories you never forget, yet it can also be a friendship’s doom. Although we would like to imagine that all of our friendships can survive the highs and lows of an excursion abroad, or even just the next state over, that isn’t always the case. As someone who has traveled and c

For when lo-fi study beats aren’t cutting it By Kylie Grebinar Graphic by Katie King The benefits of listening to music while working on school assignments have been studied for years, and results have shown that putting a playlist on can help reduce stress, encourage better flow of thinking and improve concentration . Researchers believe that the genre of music that is beneficial varies from student to student. For example, Phyllis Medina, PhD, program director of psycholo

A Taste Test of Students’ Favorite Caffeinated Beverages By Yoni Andorsky Photograph by Carina McCallum The buzz that comes from an energy drink is undoubtedly different from the caffeinated boost from coffee or tea. But why do some people, especially college students, swear by energy drinks—like Celsius and Monster—over coffee? It seems to me as though, as Gen Z has begun to grow into adulthood, that they largely are not big coffee drinkers. Sure, coffee (especially unsweet

By Marianna Gavurmadzhyan Photograph by Emma Almaraz Boston is one of America’s most beautiful cities. From public parks to historic buildings, it’s got it all. Almost. For those under 21, the city seems to lack a rich late-night food scene. But once the sun sets and the streets quiet down, a whole new side of Boston wakes up. Sizzling grills, glowing neon signs and the smell of salty, crispy goodness drifting through the air. Whether you’re studying late, heading home from a

By Richa Jindal Graphic by Ian Nugent Let’s be honest: somewhere between color-coded Notion pages, 8 a.m. lectures and pretending to have a “balanced routine,” most of us forgot what fun even feels like. We treat it like that friend we’ll “totally text back later.” Spoiler: we never do. But what if fun wasn’t something you earned after grinding through your to-do list? What if it was the secret to actually getting things done (and not crying while doing them)? 1. Fun = flow

Keeping BU Safe, Clean, and Vibrant by William White Graphic by Rhiannon Li As you walk down Commonwealth Ave, stroll through BU Beach, or even relax on COM lawn, do you ever wonder how campus stays so clean? Thanks to BU’s Campus Planning & Operations team, the look and feel of campus is always a priority, one of the many things that makes BU such a great place to be. With over 900 employees, CPO’s team spans from carpenters, custodians, architects, painters, plumbers and mo

By McKenna Laird Graphic by Melissa Lemieux Jaywalker, I stood too close to the curb one too many times, I am no local. Vehicle wheels splashed me, my ankles thick with rubber, I don’t like wet, I prefer to stay dry, hold your jellyfish, hold your umbrella over your knees, my sweater is drenched the worms stick slick to my limbs I hate it when it rains. Rain, seawater, I don’t like wet either, the drops collect on my console, droopy tears migrating south the salt on my teeth,

The Thin Line Between Accountability and the “Hive Mind.” By Sofia Galarneau Graphic by Melissa Lemieux How many times in the past five years have we heard “he/she was cancelled?” No one stays untouchable forever. The same public that builds someone up can decide almost overnight that they’re no longer worth a second glance. Although the phrase “cancel culture” is fairly new—first used in this context around 2016—it already has the power to make someone feel worthless and st