Gimmicky gadgets are rampant. You’ll see them on TV, on YouTube, or when that meme page you follow on Instagram sells space to an advertiser. However, I’ve made a few investments during my time as a college student that made my life easier, as opposed to spending 15 bucks on items that barely outlast their Amazon delivery time. Here’s a list of a few things that might make your time as a college student a little less hectic. 

A Bedside Caddy – Price Range: $10 – $20

A nightstand isn’t always within arms reach. Even when you do have one, it can quickly become a magnet for unnecessary clutter when you have your phone, lamp, wallet, keys, two unfinished water bottles, and a book sitting on top of it. If you’re tired of going on an Easter egg hunt when you’re 5 minutes away from being late to class, a bedside caddy is perfect for you and is easy to install. Depending on the model you get, it can provide enough pockets for all your daily carry items right at your bedside. Some models have a designated water bottle slot and a place to put tissues in. Of course, this item requires forming a habit of placing things there to work, but once that habit is set, it pays itself off with convenience. 

A Laundry Backpack – Price Range: $15 – $30

Yes, a laundry backpack. After a little while, that hamper starts to get closer and closer to the rim. Awkwardly carrying it from your dorm to the laundry area can be a massive hassle. It’s easier to simply put on a bulky backpack. Also, the bags tend to be more discreet since you can close them up completely. It’s a very simple buy, but it should last you a while as long as you don’t put any excessive weight on it.

Emergency Power bank or 3-Day Charge Power bank – Price Range: $30 – $80

Considering how easily the power can go out in the Hampton Roads area, this one’s a no-brainer. A strong power bank can be a lifesaver when it comes to power outages, or when you’re on the go with no time to stop and charge your phone. Emergency power banks can be powered a number of ways: charged at an outlet, solar powered, and hand-cranked. Some also feature a flashlight and an emergency AM/FM radio in case you’re caught in a serious natural disaster. If you’re not the Doomsday prepper type then a normal power bank that can last a long time should do just the trick. Some models can even jumpstart your car if it’s charged up enough! Remember that lower end models won’t last as long and retain less charge over a shorter period of time. These should be more of an investment than an impulse buy.

A Whiteboard Calendar – Price Range: $10 – $20

This one might raise an eyebrow, but bear with me. Yes, your phone has a calendar, but opening your phone to use that calendar can lead to time-wasting rather than time-management. Your scheduling attempts can be thwarted by the 10 social media notifications waiting for you. Then, next thing you know, you’re in a conspiracy theory rabbit hole video on YouTube. The convenience of having a whiteboard calendar is that you can place it anywhere and be able to write out, erase, and re-write your schedule. Getting a magnetized one and placing it on the fridge is the most effective way to remind yourself of your deadlines.

These are some of the most practical and widely useful gadgets that could be convenient for any struggling student. Hopefully you’ll be able to benefit from these items.

While June is well known for Pride Month with big celebrations and parades, October offers the opportunity to learn even more about the LGBTQ+ community through its history.

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, which means learning as much as we can about activities and important events.

The Pride Resource Center avidly brings awareness to the month.

“We try to feature voices from our community — particularly folks who are also racially minoritized in our community — to talk about their role history,” said Maggie Hendrickson, interim director at the Pride Resource Center.

They highlighted the event held for Indigenous Peoples’ Day Oct. 10 and the event held from Oct. 17-18 called Salsa Nights! The Black/African American Cultural Center, RamEvents, the Pride Resource Center and El Centro encouraged people to come to join them for salsa dance instruction from the In Lak’ech Dance Academy.

The Pride Resource Center continues to put on events for other notable days in October such as National Coming Out Day, International Pronouns Day and Intersex Awareness Day.

“The fact that we’ve been around for 25 years here on campus is also a really big deal,” Hendrickson said.

The Pride Resource Center was opened in 1998, the same year Matthew Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming, was murdered in a hate crime Oct. 12 of that year.

“I think a lot of people learned about it, but the fact that it was a local example in our community I think is important to highlight,” Hendrickson said.

According to National Today, Shepard’s death led to the 2009 creation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

“It’s a scary thing but I think an important part of our history because I think that event also encouraged the Pride Center to be open and understand its importance,” Hendrickson said.

While the Pride Resource Center continues to put on events for October, there are other projects in Fort Collins looking deeper into the history.

Fort Collins Historic Preservation has been working on a rather large project, Civil Rights History in Fort Collins, for the last year and a half. An important branch of the project is about LGBTQ+ history.

The project and tour itself aren’t finished, but it creates the perfect opportunity to get more conversations started about Fort Collins’ history with the LGBTQ+ community.

“The idea is that places are powerful,” said Jim Bertolini, senior historic preservation planner for Fort Collins Historic Preservation.

“This history is all around us and that’s true for any aspect of history but that we have such a diverse history all around us,” Bertolini said.

A lot of stops on the tour are specific to where civic action was taken. For instance, the Freedom to Marry rally in 2004 happened at Old Town Square.

“In terms of kind of community building and kind of modern civic action, that’s kind of a critical year,” Bertolini said. “That’s where we get the marriage equality demonstration in Old Town Square; that’s where we start pride in the park.”

Other stops recognize more social gatherings such as Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, where the LGBTQ+ community began holding dances in the 1980s, or Choice City Shots, a popular LGBTQ+ bar that closed in 2013.

The Queer Memory Project of Northern Colorado aims to uncover more of LGBTQ+ past. The site itself has a timeline highlighting people, events and dates that go back into the mid-1800s. It is through this project that others are able to follow the history that has shaped Fort Collins today.

“We’re also making history currently,” Hendrickson said. “It’s like trying to connect history, current and future.” 

Reach Emmalee Krieg at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian.

The Daily Trojan features Classified advertising in each day’s edition.  Here you can read, search, and even print out each day’s edition of the Classifieds.

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The post Classifieds – October 26, 2022 appeared first on Daily Trojan.

America’s Diner and three TikTok influencers teamed up on meals that can only be described as Fire

SPARTANBURG, S.C., October 26, 2022 – On the heels of the All Day Diner Deals value menu launch, today Denny’s announces the release of three tasty new eats developed in partnership with popular TikTok creators who have a passion for food, flavor and fresh experiences. The distinct and dynamic new menu items – available at locations nationwide for a limited time – are part of the brand’s newest Social Stars Influenced Menu, bursting with bold flavors and creative twists on sweet and savory pairings to excite the palate.

With a finger on the pulse of influencers who represent today’s diverse America, Denny’s continues to drive awareness and cultural relevance among a younger audience. The craveable new meals represent the fourth drop in Denny’s Social Stars Influenced Menu campaign which first launched in February 2022 and has featured menu items inspired by TikTok stars who each put their own personal spin on iconic menu items. Since its initial launch, 2.4 million meals have been sold from the curated menu.

Guests are encouraged to go bananas with delicious new pancakes that Denny’s developed along with Cy Nguyen (@cylovesfrogs) and Achieng Agutu (@noordinarynoire). The It’s Bananas Salted Caramel Pancakes feature two fluffy buttermilk pancakes with layers of shortbread cookie pieces and is topped with vanilla cream, fresh bananas, more shortbread crumbles and a salted caramel drizzle. Served with eggs, hash browns and a choice of bacon or sausage, it’s a meal of your flippin’ dreams.

Denny’s is bringing something new to the table that’s a cut above the rest when it comes to steak and bourbon. In partnership with Eric Sedeño (@ricotaquito) and Tway Nguyen (@twaydabae), the all-new Straight Up Bourbon Steak includes a tender 8 oz., USDA choice cut sirloin steak topped with velvety Bourbon sauce, caramelized onions, chopped bacon and sauteed mushrooms. This imaginative take on a classic American dish is served with two sides and dinner bread to entice steak lovers of all ages.

For a sweet dream of a dessert, the Yes, We Pecan! Salted Caramel Milkshake by Ahmad Alzahabi (@thegoldenbalance) and Yasmine Sahid (@ladyyasmina1) blends hand-dipped premium ice cream with salted caramel and glazed pecans for a festive bite with everything nice.

“Celebrating food, creativity and the uniqueness of each and every guest is in our DNA,” said John Dillon, Denny’s President. “Collaborating with these creators has been an exciting journey and has given us the opportunity to not only give guests the quality meals that they want, when they want them, but continue to cement ourselves as America’s value destination that consumers count on us for.”

The newest Social Stars Influenced Menu drop can be ordered in-restaurant, online or through the new Denny’s iOS and Android apps. For more information please visit dennys.com.

About Denny’s Corp
Denny’s Corporation is the franchisor and operator of the Denny’s brand, of one of America’s largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, based on the number of restaurants. As of June 29, 2022, Denny’s had 1,631 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants around the world including 154 restaurants in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand, Honduras, the United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Guam, Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. For further information on Denny’s, including news releases, please visit the Denny’s website at www.dennys.com or the brand’s social channel via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube.

Media Contact
Sara Soto
Brand Communications Specialist
ssoto@dennys.com

• Students are changing the way they live due to concerns about the climate crisis – research reveals top four behavior changes students are making
• 61% of students report climate change is having a significant impact on their lives today
• More than 72% of students believe the promises made at COP won’t be kept

DENVER, October 26, 2022: With COP27 on the horizon, recent research has revealed the need for continuing education on key issues regarding sustainability, and a deep skepticism from students about government and businesses commitment to addressing climate issues.

The study found 61% of students reported climate change is having a significant or very significant impact on their life today. Additionally, two thirds (66%) of US students surveyed recognized the importance of Carbon Literacy, and many are changing the way they live their lives to help address the climate crisis.

But despite students and younger professionals being a driving, vocal force in addressing climate change, the study finds there is still a need for continuing climate change education.  Specifically:

• Better definition of terms – While we use terms like carbon sink and carbon footprint, there is lack of agreement on the definition. For example, 40% of students don’t know what carbon footprint is.
• The debate over nuclear energy as a clean energy source continues, with 25% of students identifying nuclear as a clean energy source. Men are almost twice as likely to identify nuclear power as clean than women.
• Social media is enormous power in climate information and misinformation. The study found the three most popular channels for students to get news on the environment and sustainability are YouTube (53%), TikTok (49%), and Instagram (41%). This reinforces the importance of fighting climate misinformation on these platforms.

The research was commissioned by Yugo – the first global student housing operator created to enhance students’ experiences throughout and beyond university life – as part of a global research project studying over 6,000 students across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Australia and the US. More than 1,000 students were polled in the US.

The study has shown just how important long term education programs are for creating further awareness of the sustainability challenges we face and how behavior change can tackle them – something that Yugo’s pillar – YugoEco has been developed to support.

Encouragingly, students are playing their part in helping to combat the world’s environmental challenges. The top four behavior changes cited due to concerns about the environment were:

1. Buying fewer disposable products (38%)
2. Actively trying to reduce energy use (35%) although women are 10% more likely to turn off lights than men.
3. Travelling using more environmentally friendly means (30%), with 12% more men than women saying they travel green
4. Deliberately purchasing from sustainable companies (25%)

Students are expressing their concerns in a number of ways, with 10% of students signing petitions and more than 890,000 US students taking part in a demonstration. Women are twice as likely as men to express their concerns via petition.

Students are skeptical and demand action

With COP27 just weeks away, students are very skeptical about government and business driving progress against climate change. More than 72% of students believe the promises made at the recent COP26 won’t be kept. The two most popular reasons why were because politicians lie (34%), and companies put profit over the environment (31%). Interestingly, women are 8% more likely to be skeptical of companies which means they will need to do more to convince them that efforts are not greenwashing.

Students say companies have a duty to address climate crisis. Encouragingly, management students are slightly more likely than their peers to believe this (66% vs 63%).

When it comes to making a difference, Apple wins again, with 22% of students indicating it is most active in fighting the climate crisis. But students maintain their skepticism, with 28% of students believing no company is doing enough.

Helen Strachan, Sustainability Specialist at Yugo, said: “There is often a misunderstood assumption that students have a homogeneous view on the environment and sustainability, but this research presents a far more complex picture. There are huge differences of opinion and knowledge when it comes to some of the biggest challenges the planet is facing, which is understandable given the vast amount of information out there on what is one of the most multifaceted issues of our time.  This study shows the need for further understanding of these critical issues.

“It’s uplifting to know that students are changing their behavior. As companies operating in the field of higher education, we have a duty to support students to live the most sustainable lives they can, which is why sustainability plays a key role in our holistic living program.”

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Yugo has partnered with The Carbon Literacy Project and is officially a Bronze Level Carbon Literate Organization.   The next objective is to reach Silver Level Carbon Literate Organization status to ensure more employees have the knowledge needed to reduce their own and Yugo’s carbon emissions.

Emma Richards, Head of Project Development, The Carbon Literacy Project said: “Carbon Literacy is an essential skill, vital to every workplace, community, and place of study. This research only demonstrates this further. Carbon Literacy is the foundational knowledge – it gives everyone the base level of understanding on climate change needed to drive positive action. However, Carbon Literacy is only the first step. The actions taken and pledged by learners as part of their Carbon Literacy have an immediate impact within their organization, however it is the maintenance of these and further actions, supported by Carbon Literate organizational culture, that reaps the greatest rewards for both participants and their organizations.  By becoming a Bronze accredited Carbon Literate Organization, Yugo has demonstrated its commitment to driving genuine low carbon action in their own organization and among the students they serve.”

Yugo’s unique approach

Yugo also empowers its students to grow personally through collaborative events and projects under the Live Your Best Life program – a holistic living experience developed from the Yugo research of thousands of students worldwide. This program supports students through three pillars based on sustainability – YugoEco, education – YuPro, personal and professional development – YuGrow, to deliver on their needs and expectations.

• YugoEco sees Yugo coming together with students to create better living spaces and a better planet through several initiatives. These include low energy usage programs on the importance of living more sustainable lives for students, and global partnerships with like-minded businesses for events, education and student experiences.
• YuPro is all about empowering young people beyond higher education and to help prepare them for their careers and their professional development. Yugo is also offering training sessions in areas such as career advice, real life experience, coaching and empowerment.
• YuGrow encourages Yugo students to shine by supporting their personal journey through events and activities in Yugo spaces, including student podcasts, diversity events and global student networking opportunities. Yugo has pledged to provide students with the most sustainably sourced chair and mattress – these were key findings from Yugo research as critical to their life to support both their physical environment and their emotional needs.

-ENDS-

About Yugo
Yugo is the first global student housing brand and operator created to enhance students’ overall experiences throughout and beyond college life. Yugo offers a truly differentiated living experience that is environmentally and socially conscious, emotionally supportive, and safe. Yugo is the operator of over 110 student living spaces located in nine countries with over 40,000 student beds in over 70 of the top cities in the world for higher education.

For further information please visit: www.Yugo.com

Contact:
Mark McClennan or McKayla Norris
C+C for Yugo
yugo@cplusc.com

The 2022 Major League Baseball season has been one of the most historic to date. Whether it was St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols becoming the fourth member to join the 700 home run club, or the New York Mets achieving a record of 106 hit batters this year, the regular season was one for the record books. Perhaps the most applaudable feat of the season was New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge’s 62 home runs (HR), in which he smashed a 61-year-old record, previously held by New York Yankees legend Roger Maris. 

Although this is a spectacular milestone for the 30-year-old Yankees outfielder, Judge’s season continued into the postseason, as the Yankees’ postseason run began Oct. 11 against the Cleveland Guardians. This postseason was very important because it may have been his last with the Yankees as he considers his future with the team. 

Judge has been in the league since 2013 when the Yankees drafted him 32nd overall. After spending around three years in the minor leagues, Judge was finally called up to make his mark in right field against the Tampa Bay Rays in Aug. 2016. 

Fittingly, Judge hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. Immediately after, rookie Tyler Austin also hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, marking the first time in MLB history that two rookie teammates hit a home run in their first at-bat in the same game. As if this wasn’t enough, the next game Judge homered again, making it the second time in Yankees history that a player homered in their first two games. Ever since, Judge has been a star for the Yankees and has helped them into the playoffs every year since 2017, in which he won the American League Rookie of the Year.

Leading into the spring of 2022, the Yankees decided it was time to lock down Judge for good, offering him a seven-year extension for $213.5 million. After receiving his $1.8 million signing bonus in 2013, it was finally time for Judge to get the long-term extension he deserved. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected – Judge rejected the extension. Until then, most fans had never questioned Judge’s loyalty to the Yankees.

​​Before Opening Day, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters, “we’re all disappointed right now that we can’t be talking about a contract extension today, but that doesn’t preclude us from talking about it hopefully in the future.” 

Following these comments, Judge filed for a $22 million salary, while the Yankees counter-offered $17 million. Right before opening day, Judge and the Yankees agreed on a 1 year, $19 million contract.

In the end, Judge’s gamble on himself might pay off. He went on to have his best regular season yet, with a .311 BA, 62 HR and a 1.111 OPS. This stellar season gives the Yankees, or another team, no choice but to give Judge what he wants. 

As Yankee fans cheered him on for helping the squad reach the American League Championship Series, fans may need to worry about Judge’s status as a Yankee after this season. Judge was born in Sacramento, California, where he grew up a huge fan of the San Francisco Giants, which is subsequently a team that can afford to throw some money at a player like him. The New York Mets are also potentially in the mix, as they have some big decisions to make when their contract with four-time All-Star pitcher Jacob DeGrom ends this season. If DeGrom chooses to go elsewhere, the Mets free up a ton of cash, which they may choose to offer to Judge.

Judge has stated that “very few people get this opportunity to talk extension. Me getting this opportunity is something special and I appreciate the Yankees wanting to do that.” 

The part that has Yankees fans uneasy is what Judge thinks of free agency. 

“I don’t mind going into free agency… At the end of this year, I’ll talk to 30 teams,” Judge said. “The Yankees will be one of those teams.”

With Judge having a groundbreaking season, other teams will likely be gunning for him if they have the payroll to support it. Personally, bearing the results of this postseason, I hope Judge will stay loyal to the Yankees and accept a massive extension in the offseason. Judge has built a strong relationship with not only the team but with the fans as well. However, teams like the Giants and Mets may have very compelling offers, and it will be interesting to see where Aaron Judge takes the field in the spring of 2023. Nonetheless, Judge will definitely have an immediate impact on whichever team is lucky enough to land him.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sept. 2016. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Arturo Pardavila)

The post Reflecting on Aaron Judge’s career and looking toward his future appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

A food delivery became a near phone robbery for a USC student earlier this month. A Department of Public Safety alert sent Oct. 2 notified the University community that a delivery driver took a student’s phone by force during a takeout drop-off. A physical altercation began between the two where the student managed to retrieve his phone, but had been punched by the suspect several times.

As of publication, there have been 16 cell phone robberies reported to DPS since the beginning of 2022. Seven of these occurred since move-in day on Aug. 8. The number of cell phone thefts saw a 23% increase from 2021, when 13 robberies were reported, and a 45% increase from 2020, when 11 robberies were reported. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the University saw a higher rate of cell phone thefts, with 35 reported in 2019. 

DPS Sergeant Ralph Roseli wrote in a statement to the Daily Trojan that the number of cell phone robberies saw a decrease due to inactivity on campus during 2020 and 2021. Now that students are back on campus and have been for the greater part of 2022, robberies are rising, but have not risen to pre-2020 levels. 

“The increase is driven by the fact that we have more people present here on campus than we had in the last couple of years,” said Roseli, who also works as a training coordinator and assistant public information officer, in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “As we come out of our isolation during the pandemic, people are relearning how to interact with one another.”

Roseli said certain situations, such as simply having a cell phone, especially on the sidewalks or by the street, often leave students more vulnerable to these kinds of robberies. 

“Those who perpetrate this crime are looking for what they might perceive to be easy opportunities,” Roseli said. “Even if one were paying perfect attention to all of their surroundings and had their cell phone out, they might be perceived to be distracted and thus targeted.”

Dani Mendez, a senior majoring in communications, was the victim of an attempted cell phone theft at a gym on campus. Mendez left her phone on the treadmill to save her place and left for the restroom. By the time she came back, it was gone.

“Fortunately, I had my friends who work there. They were able to trace it,” Mendez said. 

Mendez also recalled the times she has seen phones left unattended and said how this can invite potential robbers to take their devices. 

“I’ve seen so many phones left on tables, especially at [Tutor Campus Center],” Mendez said. “If you see someone leave something, give them a heads up because you don’t want that for yourself. It could happen to anybody.”

Despite the danger that exists in having a cell phone visible to potential robbers, Mendez said it’s difficult to keep devices away all the time because of the numerous functions they have for users. 

“We have schedules and we’re trying to create a future, and our schedules are on our phones,” Mendez said. “If you lose that, you are kind of discombobulated.”

Roseli said he understands that cell phones are an essential accessory for many, but said this constant use could pose a danger to oneself, especially with robberies occurring at all times of the day. 

“Especially with midterms coming, we’re all dependent on our devices. We are constantly communicating,” Roseli said. “It’s just a matter of balancing and having awareness when we’re out in public.”

Roseli said there are units patrolling both on and off campus to respond to crimes, as well as a plethora of closed circuit televisions and monitors watching 24 hours a day, and “yellow jackets” posted at key positions throughout the community. 

“The key is, we want to encourage people to trust their gut, trust their instinct,” Roseli said about people dismissing unease during uncomfortable situations or encounters. “Oftentimes, when people know or sense something’s wrong, they talk themselves out of it because they don’t want to be rude or perceived as being biased, but, typically, there’s something behavior-wise that’s there that we really want to encourage people to listen to.”

Shania Jafri, a senior majoring in neuroscience, has also had her belongings stolen on campus. She expressed sympathy for the students who have become victims of the rising number of robberies, but said she isn’t surprised at the thefts’ frequency. 

“It’s unfortunate that students are getting their phones stolen, but this is the area we live in,” Jafri said. “I’m not really fazed by it. This is how USC is, it’s in a very gentrified area.”

Jafri suggested small ways students can make themselves less vulnerable to thefts in general, including keeping valuables such as headphones and sunglasses away when out in public. 

“Be conscious and understanding of USC and L.A.,” Jafri said. “Don’t walk with your phone in your hand as you get further away from campus.”

If a person finds themself in a dangerous confrontation, Roseli emphasized that they should refrain from engaging. 

“It’s important that we recognize it’s just property that can be replaced,” Roseli said. “It’s not worth our safety and it’s not worth our well-being. As we look at our statistics, we find that our sole injuries come from when people fight back for their property.”

The post Cell phone thefts around campus rise from 2021 appeared first on Daily Trojan.

UH Dining in partnership with Center for Diversity and Inclusion held its first Diwali celebration. | Atirikta Kumar/The Cougar

For the first time, UH Dining in partnership with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Diwali celebration at Cougar Woods on Monday. With Bollywood beats, dazzling lights and a colorful rangoli, UH students showed up in traditional Indian clothes to celebrate the Festival of Lights. 

One of the biggest festivals in India, Diwali symbolizes good prevailing over evil. 

“We wanted to make an impact, do more events that meant more to the University and to the student body,” said UH dining marketing manager, Alexcis Mendoza. “And so we thought that with such a diverse student body, that we could do events that were important to you all and so what we wanted to do the main thing is talk with the subject matter experts.” 

To celebrate the event as authentically as possible student organizations such as Graduate Indian Student Organization, Youth for Unity Virtues and Action and the Indian Student Association helped put the event together. The goal was to make students feel celebrated and make it feel like home. 

“I’m grateful to the University for giving us this opportunity,” said industrial engineering graduate student, Gauri Khanna. “So that we can just come together and celebrate our cultural festival with our friends and family once you’re away from home.” 

The dining hall was filled with students dressed in authentic Indian clothes and students enjoyed Indian food and desserts. Additionally, students were able to get Mehandi from a local artist and enjoy dance performances from a  group. 

While the event was meant for Indian students to feel at home, it also served as a good experience for someone who wasn’t aware of Diwali celebrations before. 

Although psychology junior Julia Bennett had experienced Indian culture before, she had never been a part of a Diwali celebration, and for her, taking a part in the event was a pleasant experience. 

“It’s really good to see that we’re just engaging in more cultures outside of Western culture because I know this event wasn’t here last year,” Bennett said.

UH dining plans to continue its cultural expression series, celebrating Native American heritage month in November.   

“This idea for a larger focus on our cultural series came from really us thinking about what is important to the students, and how can we make an impact,” Mendoza said. 

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Diwali celebration showcases vibrant culture, dances” was originally posted on The Cougar

Democrat Maura Healey and Republican Geoff Diehl, candidates for Massachusetts governor, debated Oct. 20 on WCVB in partnership with The Boston Globe, WBUR and Univision with moderator Ed Harding. 

There’s a case to be made that The 1975 created the sound of 2014. For a certain age the debut self-titled album of the British group was a defining piece of work, a flashpoint to a specific point in time. Now, it has been almost 10 years since hits “Chocolate,” “Sex” and “Robbers,” and The 1975 has gone on to fill arenas and release sprawling albums, including one that begins with a speech from Greta Thunberg over ambient electronic sounds.

The 1975’s latest album “Being Funny In A Foreign Language” allows for a comparison point to chart the group’s growth, letting us see what has changed and what has stayed the same. It is a work of maturity, where there is nothing that the group has to prove. Clocking in at forty-four minutes, “Being Funny In a Foreign Language” is focused, confident and cohesive. 

Trims Away the Excess

Working with Jack Antonoff, producer of Lorde, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen and mastermind behind Bleachers, The 1975 is able to trim away the maximalist, self-serious flourishes that defined their previous work such as “Notes on a Conditional Form” and bring their music back down to earth.

“Being Funny In a Foreign Language” is as stripped back as The 1975 will ever be able to get. It’s a return to the form of their early works and the singles of 2014, aided by the skill and loose confidence that comes when a band has been performing together for decades. With thumping 80s synth, jittery saxophones and irresistible, soaring hooks, the group returns to their iconic and beloved sound. The lyrics from Matthew Healy are sharp, flippant and sly, such as when he rhymes “vitriol” with “Adderall.”

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80s Influence

The eponymous opening track is present and accounted for, made out of a chiming waterfall of piano chords rather similar to LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends.” Healy laments the travails of youth and experiencing life through a digital screen, singing lines such as “I’m feeling apathetic after scrolling through hell, I think I have a boner but I can’t really tell.” “Part of the Band” is a clear-eyed, string-laden self-reflection in which Healy confronts his past drug addiction and wonders whether he’s “fake-woke,” while still being pretentious enough to reference Arthur Rimbaud. The buoyant, jangly pop tunes, “Looking For Somebody (To Love),” “Oh Caroline” and “I’m In Love With You” show the Bleachers influence from Antonoff by way of 80s Bruce Springsteen and the Traveling Wilburys.

The influence of 80s music is evident throughout the album, from the glossy saxophone runs and infectious pop hooks. The jubilant earworm “Happiness” could have been recorded by Steve Winwood. In comparison to previous albums by The 1975, Healy keeps the social commentary down, but not entirely. For example, “Oh Caroline” and “Looking For Somebody (To Love)” are both about incels, and the opening track references QAnon. The album is concluded with two lovely ballads, including “About You,” a shimmering, shoegaze song about seeing an ex once again that Healy duets with Carly Holt, wife of the groups’ guitarist Adam Hann. 

Streamlined and tight as a drum, the songs of “Being Funny In a Foreign Language” form a cohesive unit. Healy does continue his habit of reminding you of his celebrity, but “Being Funny In a Foreign Language” doesn’t feel like gazing at a navel. Perhaps it was due to the presence of Antonoff in the studio, but this is The 1975’s first album in a long time that is first and foremost concerned with giving people good beats to bop around to. 

m.fisher@dailyutahchronicle.com

@abovemegan