By George Brown In Memory of Jill Brown Grandma tells me it's an unusual time. She is bruises and bone, upper lip catching on her teeth. She tells me much has become clear: She is grateful. The Lord doesn’t decide when the spirit must leave, He can only mourn, surrounded by his children. She still laughs like a penny, still remembers driving Mom barely nine months pregnant with a Goldfish on her lap to the new house, me in a car seat. She tells mom: you taught

What in the Ohio skibidi sigma rizz is going on? By Nikki Lipner Scroll through your TikTok feed for long enough, and you're sure to stumble across clips of memes, microtrends, and catchphrases, all while your attention span is slowly shifting away. This phenomenon is known as "brainrot," a term coined to describe wasting time engaging with seemingly meaningless content for long enough for it to infiltrate your mind. This harmless scrolling has rewired our brains to the extr

Traveling Doesn’t Have to Mean Flying—It Can Be as Simple as a Short Train Ride Away By Tiffany Wong It's Saturday morning, you're calling your friend and debating what tomorrow's plan is. Newbury? No, you've been there practically every weekend at this point. You're tired of busy crowds, slow walkers, and the same 10 shops; any more, and the staff will start calling you by name. Besides, in the city, when you get back you’re more tired than when you left. Shopping feels mo

All the Reasons We Make Outrageous Prices Our New “Budget” By Marianna Gavurmadzhyan Graphic by Yeyoung Jang When my friend told me there were apartments with spiral staircases, I was sold. I was fully prepared, alongside my three friends, to spend senior year in a beautiful apartment with a spiral staircase to live out my princess dreams. Flash forward two weeks, we were sitting in a realtor’s office filling out our budget. We thought $5,400 was decent for four girls, after

Exploring the way music shapes, connects, and affects BU students as more than just songs. by Zahra Kazmi Photo by Quinn Bryant At Boston University, music is more than mere background noise. For many students, it is the driving force of their day. From West to East, students move through their daily lives with headphones on. What flows through their headphones, however, transcends ambient sound. Music is often something many students rely on. It is an escape from reality,

As thrift culture and vintage stores merge, it’s becoming harder to tell whether you’re finding a true gem. By Stephanie Ahn Graphic by Zoe Lyko For all the fashion girlies, “curated vintage” is a term that immediately conjures images of unique Y2K blouses, Coach bags, and cowboy boots that, fingers crossed, are The Frye Company. But in reality, curated vintage stores are far from that ideal picture. In fact, I’d go as far as to say they’re practically a scam. The rise of thr

By Rajika Bajgain I know there is no truth in the draw of the wine-dark river. I know each light on the trees is a star breathed alive by a blessing. I know your absence sweetens your memory, and that it's not your fault, nor is it mine. I know, I know, but like crystal dew on the lips of dawn the tears just fall so freely.

(specifically about avoiding difficult conversations) Sophia Ong Photograph by Carina McCallum My least favorite trope in books is the “miscommunication trope.” You know–the one where an event or verbal exchange is taken one way by one character, another way by the other, and they sulk in secrecy for 70% of the story before finally having the Conversation That Fixes Everything. I’m left shaking at my Kindle, thinking: “Just talk to each other!” Frustratingly, the miscommunic

Gen Z and Digital Culture Are Redefining Prestige By Catherine Ursitti Graphic by Catarina Koehler Traditional luxury was once appreciated in terms of exclusivity and heritage, generating billions in revenue from high-margin couture and flagship retail experiences. However, in recent years its presence at the cultural center has been swiftly overturned. Although many luxury brands retain economic significance, their influence among Gen Z has rapidly declined. These cracks i

A look into the principles and perspectives of the iconic chef. By Natalie Shin Graphic by Creative Team My first memory of Anthony Bourdain involved CNN and my mother. CNN reported the premature loss of the chef-turned-author-turned-television-host on our TV screen, while my mother—a woman who turned to his shows for a taste of worlds she never quite got to experience—shook her head and muttered about how young he was. I don’t remember thinking much about this headline at th