Issuu

Volume 8 Issue 2 October 2019

N ATA L I E , 1 9

The â€œmy love life is epic enough so I need a method with no dramaâ€? birth control. The Implant. Now FREE or low-cost. Stop by Student Health Services or visit whoopsproofsc.org.

Fees for extra services requested or required are not covered by WhoopsProofSC. Valid only for students at participating colleges & universities in South Carolina thru 12/31/2019. Schedule an appointment to review your eligibility.

meet the staff

Cheyenne Abrams - Editor in Chief Zoe Murrie - Managing Editor Elizabeth Quarles - Creative Director Denzel Wright - Head of Photography Katie Hopewell - Campus and City News Editor Shannon Murray - Opinions Editor Liz Hipes - Features Editor Bryce Warner - Campus Reporter CisternYard Media (CYM) is staffed with students who are free to select and create the materials to be published. The College of Charleston provides editorial freedom to the student members of CYM. The views expressed in work created by CYM may not reflect the views of The College.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Holy Sticks

A Cut Above

Friday Night Futbol

Who's Hsu on Campus

Stay Woke and Vote

Charleston Thinks Green

32 School of Rock

06 07 14 26 28 29 30 38

Editor's Note Give Me a Break Auditory Sunlight New Sweets in CHS George Street Hoops Halloween PSA Local Coffee Shops Office Quiz

34 Brews Cruise

Editor’s

note

Summertime during your college years is usually time taken to reflect on yourself, make change, and binge watch a lot of TV before the next semester begins. I, like most people, spent a lot of time on the latter this year. For the fourth time in my life, I rewatched One Tree Hill. The iconic, some deemed problematic, CW show starring Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush, among others. Hopefully you all remember this show, but for those who haven’t watched — it’s on Hulu right now. Over the span of nine seasons you watch a group of high school students transform into business owners, authors, musicians and parents. Some have character transitions that make you feel guilty for hating them, while some are so forgettable you restart the first

season like “Oh yeah! They are here!” It’s a great show, is what I’m trying to say. One of OTH’s most popular quotes always hits me. “It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re 17 planning for someday and then quietly, without you ever noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday, and this is your life.” In the coming months I’ll be ending my time at the College, going on to new careers, travelling to new places and meeting new people; and while I reflect on that, I can’t help but wonder “how am I already here?” We spend so much of our high school & college careers looking forward to “someday.” The day we run our own business, or own our houses and have the lives that we’ve always dreamed of, but are we

having fun while we get there? That’s what this issue is about. The mixture of business and pleasure. We can’t make you not worry about the future, but maybe we can help you have fun along the way. Learn about Holy Sticks, the “coolest” new place on King St., while also checking out some tips on the 2020 election. Want to grab a beer on the weekend? We’re keeping you in the know on which breweries to visit. Also don’t forget to read about President Hsu and his plans for The College! There’s only one College of Charleston, Cougars, and it’s your home.

s m a r b A e nn e y e h C Enjoy this issue!

Photo by Hannah Broder 6

THE YARD

a e m e iv

By: Liz Hipes The term “blow off steam” can mean different things for different people, and the methods with which people use to blow off steam can be totally different as well. Unfortunately, some common methods used to blow off steam can be detrimental or harmful to themselves and others. College of Charleston 2016 alum Cole Wadsten understands that frustration, anxiety and everyday-stresses are a part of life. So he created and opened The Break Room in Charleston; as a way for people to rid themselves of any negative feelings through complete destruction and pure fun. Here is how it works: you go in, suit up, and then you’re put into a room with various “weapons of destruction” like baseball bats, crowbars and golf clubs alongside objects to smash in basically whichever way you choose. Sports teams, co-workers, friends, greek organizations and families are all .. The Break Room is intended for any group that wants to do some team building, let out frustration or just have a great time. “I was a Comm major so my whole college career was spent around learning about people and how they interact and the lack thereof today; you don’t see the human touch as much as you used to because of social media and technology being what it is. But this [The Break Room] gets people to get some good facetime with us and we like to create an experience that is super personalized and specific to the individual,” Wadsten said. For Wadsten, creating something like this was right up his alley, but it also held some internal meaning and motivation as well. 7

Break “The idea for it came from...a place for people who need to process this kind of shit without alcohol or drugs or hurting themselves or other people or going to jail... It came from my personal need for it... I don’t want to say it’s guaranteed because every interaction and experience is different but we haven’t had a person come out yet that hasn’t felt the same way,” he said This is a very fun and unique attraction, giving Charleston something different than just food and drinks. It can also feel uncomfortable at first; but as the frustrations of life are brought to the surface, Wadsten notices a significant change in demeanor and attitude— one that turns into rage and a feeling of animosity. “Even the sensation is almost ‘otherworldly”. It’s hard to stop. It feels so unnatural when you start and almost immediately you get into this primal groove...it starts off soft and then you just immediately get into it,” he said. Beyond the fact that smashing things is just a good time,the idea that people can retreat to primitive ways without the social condamnation and legal consequences, Wadsten also found that it’s proven very therapeutic. “This woman came in after her therapist recommended she find an outlet to physically expel whatever she was dealing with, and she brought in a picture of her when she was a little girl and put it on the window so she could look at it from the outside. She broke two bats in five minutes but she came out and she was like ‘I can’t even tell you how much better I feel this has been like a cleansing.’”

Making people feel better is exactly what The Break Room is about and what Wadsten wants communicated to the area. It might not have a permanent affect or one that solves all of that person’s problems, but it can at least have an effect on someone. “We don’t want people to come in, do their thing and walk out the door and be like ‘that was fun but I’m still miserable,’ And we don’t know how everybody feels, but we have to imagine that what we’re doing...has a prolonged immediate effect. I mean, the alternatives are breaking your own stuff or...all the other dangerous alternatives.” he said. Wadsten wants to serve the community. At their grand opening, he is planning on using the event to raise money for My Sister’s House, a local organization that helps battered women and their children. “The most rewarding element of this has definitely been able to see positive reactions.it’s not just a money maker either...I just like to see people being serviced and our personal touch on it and our true concern for their experience,” he said. “As people learn more about us and hear about us I hope they are able to metabolize and digest our true intentions for doing this by serving the community,” Wadsten said To sum it up? “It’s ridiculous but it’s effective.” For more information about The Break Room, go to tbrcharleston.com

THE YARD

HOLY STICKS! by Cheyenne Abrams

THE YARD

Waffles, bananas, and ice cream bars have have flooded the sidewalks of lower King Street as Jessica Tenberge sets out on her mission to share delicious, nutritious and affordable food with the community. Tenberge and her family vacationed to California six years ago and stumbled across an ice cream shop that allowed you to pick and choose toppings for your own specialty made treat. “I’m not really a fan of ice cream, but it was so good I went back five nights in a row,” Tenberge said. Her and her family resided in Maine at the time, and upon returning home began craving the popsicles again. “We couldn’t find anything like it, so I just started making them at home,” she continued. Tenberge and her husband are the parents of twins, and it didn’t take long for the family to want different toppings each night. “We just set up different toppings and let the boys dip into different things.” 9

Tenberge has continued these traditions into her storefront, Holy Sticks, located at 351 King St., bringing all ages in to create the popsicle (or waffle) of their dreams. She continues to make all ice cream bars in house, and searches to buy her products from local farmers and organizations. “I traveled to four states, spent six months trying to perfect the chocolate coating,” Tenberge said, “now I’m constantly in the kitchen cooking up something different.” Tenberge hopes to start adding flavors of the month to her menu, including an oat and cranberry or caramel pumpkin spice for the holidays. Currently some of their most popular flavors are cookies and cream, vanilla and salted caramel. Holy Sticks offers vegan options as well, including the frozen banana, vanilla almond, and coconut blueberry.

Be careful though, she rotates flavors out frequently since they are made fresh every day! Other items like warm waffles on popsicle sticks and fun fruit filled sodas are also on the menu. She explained that they are very conscious of allergies, so if you have any concerns speak up about it and they will work something out for you. While ice cream is fun, it isn’t Tenberge’s end goal. “I’d love to shut down the store once a month and invite people in to educate them about eating healthy on a budget,” Tenberge shared. She has a nutrition degree, and is already looking at ways to give back to the community. The store front is open from 12-11 Monday through Friday, and 11-11 on Saturdays. They remain closed on Sundays. “We have free wifi! Come in and get comfortable,” Tenberge said.

THE YARD

A Cut Above: How Does The College Hold up During National Enrollment Slumps? By: Zoe Murrie Over the past 3-5 years, colleges and universities have seen a decline in student enrollment. High School graduates between the ages of 16-24 make up a smaller portion of the population than in previous decades, with 66.7% of that population enrolling in college in 2017. Yet at the same time, there are more colleges to choose from than ever before, meaning that more colleges have fewer students to choose from. Unfortunately for us cougars, College of Charleston is no different. According to Christine Workman, director of student life in the Stern Center and advisor to CisternYard Media, the population decline is attributed to certain trends in society. She says that one of the biggest reasons why there aren’t as many 16-24 year olds coming into college is because they were born around 2000-2004. During this time, events like 9/11 and the growing war on terror prevented people from having as many children. Workman also says that personal choices, like having less children and waiting until later in life to have children, have contributed to this population shrink. Workman mentions, however, that we can

expect an increase in this population around 2025. While most of the colleges being affected by this population decline are small, private colleges in the Northeast, public colleges like CofC, are still being challenged by it. South Carolina has 33 public institutions, according to the Commission on Higher Education. As of fall of 2017, 200,621 students were enrolled in these institutions, which was a .2% decrease overall from the previous year (2016). From 2016-2017, it seemed that many South Carolina Institutions had a stagnant enrollment year. Clemson’s enrollment fell by 1.7%, Coastal Carolina’s grew by 2%, UofSC’s grew by 3.7%, while College of Charleston had the largest dip in enrollment of any SC 4-year public institution at a loss of 4.3%. With numbers from the Commission on Higher Education comparing enrollment since 2008, College of Charleston still did not match up. UofSC grew by 34.3% between 2008 and 2017, Clemson by 32.9%, CCU by 31.9% and in 9 years, CofC experienced a 2% growth. College of Charleston’s best enrollment year, as it was for many schools, was 2013, when the college had 10,044 students. When compared to the other college’s headcount enrollment (a figure based off of students enrolled after the add/drop period) Charleston again fell behind. While Clemson experienced a 33% increase in 9 years, CofC experienced a loss of 4.4%. So, why does this matter? How

4 3 2

CCU UofSC

1 0

Clem

-1 -2

CofC

-3 -4 -5

does it affect the students and The College? With less students comes less money, and with less money comes the inability to continue to grow as an institution. Another important part of the higher education pie is state funding. The state only appropriates 7.4% to public colleges and universities each year, which makes up about 8% of CofC’s funding—a number that Christine Workman says was closer to 20% a decade ago. Because legislative bodies have cut way back on funding when enrollment doesn’t increase, tuition has to. College of Charleston had the highest tuition spike since 2008 when compared to UofSC, Clemson and CCU. CofC’s tuition has raised by 42.8% since 2008, with 5.4% of that increase taking place between 2017 and 2018 alone. The Commission on Higher Education states that CofC also has the highest room and board THE YARD

UofSC

CCU

Clemson Enrollment increase 20082017

CofC

fees in the state, a fact backed up by Workman. Workman said that in April or May of last semester, The College realized they were about 200 students short of the projection they had been working with. She went on to say that the reasons for this could be financial aid packages, general education requirements as well as the cost of living in Charleston. In an article from The State, Cody Dulaney looked at Harris Pastides’ financial decisions as president of UofSC. Most of Dulaney’s article focuses on Pastides’ choice to favor out-of-state students, instead of students from South Carolina. While UofSC is one of the most expensive public colleges for SC residents, Pastides made sure it was one of the cheapest options out-of-state students could find. College of Charleston has its own reputation for serving many out-of-state students. The split of CofC’s student population is 60% in-state, 40% out-of-state. Starting in 2007, SC colleges started to see an influx of out-of-state students which grew until 2016, when it started to decline. For every 11

year I have been at The College, the debate has existed about who we should be loyal to, as a public state institution. Should we follow Pastides’ model and make CofC an affordable hub for out-of-towners, or draw in as many South Carolinians as possible? Coming from South Carolina, College of Charleston has a fraught legacy. Most students from South Carolina are drawn to big sports, research institutions like UofSC and Clemson. Others find themselves at technical colleges, looking to get a much less expensive degree, which often directly translates to getting a job. For students of color, Charleston and the school’s past racism makes College of Charleston seem like an unsafe bet. For this reason, CofC has the lowest percentage of black students at any public institution in the state. In an increasingly tough job market, college-age students are looking for an education that will give them job stability. While a liberal arts education offers a well-rounded and interdisciplinary perspective, many South Carolinians and Americans, struggle to see its connection to the job market. This is why institutions like Goucher College, a private liberal arts school in Maryland, are implementing classes that offer concrete job skills, like computer programming. Despite all of these factors seemingly working against us, there is hope. Despite current issues with its new president, UofSC and Pastides have been a model to institutions all over the state of South Carolina. Pastides is beloved by the students of UofSC and is often applauded for his commitment to students and presence at UofSC events. With the inauguration of our

new president, Hsu, it seems good things are on the horizon. Hsu can often be seen on campus giving out free pizza and riding on the bus to friday night futbol. He seems to really care about the student voices and accurately representing them as our president. SGA President George Hicks said about him “he is being very intentional with bringing the current student voices we have now into the process with his plans to get enrollment up.” In a college with 250 years of largely sticking to the status quo, I, and many other students are hopeful for the new energy Hsu is bringing to campus. However, maybe this time history is on CofC’s side. When I asked George Hicks his thoughts on low enrollment at the college he had this to say, “I have full faith that [low enrollment] is something the college can overcome. We’ve been here for 250 years and we plan to be here for another 250 more.”

Clemson

UofSC

CCU

CofC

Tuition increases from 2008-2017

THE YARD

Friday Night Futbol

by Bryce Warner photos by Malik Gist 12

THE YARD

The College of Charleston Men’s Soccer team kicked off their season against Stetson in their annual Friday Night Futbol game. College of Charleston provided a shuttle for students so they could attend the game. Student attendees received free T-shirts and free hotdogs. The game was also the first featured sporting event on the fall punch cards. “There’s room for improvement. I thought the defense was compact and stayed solid. Did the majority of the job we intended to do. But obviously we had time after the game to reflect on what we can do better.” said Sophomore center back, Peter Dearle. Despite the loss at the beginning of the season, the Cougars had a positive outlook after the game. “The morale of the team was high. Due to a lot of new players, there was a bit of chemistry that we can work on. Always on the first game of the season, that’s the best time to determine where your strengths and weaknesses are and start to exploit those now,” said Senior striker, Tucker Heffron,“there was many positives that we took away from the game. Obviously the score didn’t reflect that. But the lads stuck together. Having a good crowd there really helped the atmosphere and really helped us get out for the game. So it’s a shame about the result but the matter of fact that the lads are good so we knew that we could bounce back for the next game.” said Heffron. The team received 13

support from students and fans, which didn’t go unnoticed. “It was great. I mean every time we get a good attendance, it really boosts the morale before the game and during the game.” said Peter Dearle, “Hearing reactions and stuff is great cause a lot of lads want to go to the next level professionally and obviously we’re going to have to get used to playing in front of crowds so it really does help.” On September 28, long-time head coach, Ralph Lundy, was honored with a field dedication. This season has been his 33rd season serving as head coach for the Cougars men’s soccer team. Lundy is planning to retire at the end of this season. “I’m honored. I’ve been very fortunate to be here and be able to coach for the cougars.” said Lundy. Lundy is currently the fourthwinningest coach within active Division I men’s soccer. Something Lundy instills in his team is the will to continue to fight. “I teach them, you’re going to get punched, you’re going to get knocked

down but you gotta get up, keep on fighting. Just like Muhammad Ali,” he said. Despite the rough first game, the team still has their eyes set on accomplishing big things this season. “The goal for the rest of the season is to make it to the NCAA Tournament and fight that adversity the way that the Cougars know how to —and that’s just going to get the next win and then always looking one game ahead from there.” said Heffron. The Cougar’s look at it as a great way to send off head coach Ralph Lundy. Friday Night Futbol has been one of the more sought-after sporting events at The College. Whether the students are fans of the game, or fans of the free items they’ll receive, the students look forward to this game every year. “We have great promotions people at the College of Charleston,” said Lundy, “Our people work so hard — they work so hard, so I appreciate all the promotions they put forward.”

THE YARD

Auditory Sunlight by Iriana Rucker

THE YARD

magine the sun hitting your skin in the middle of spring, this moment is exactly what it is like listening to Hozier’s sophomore album. Wasteland, Baby! An auditory representation of how sun rays feel encapsulates Wasteland, Baby!. The “Take Me to Church” singer kept the same folky theme as his debut self-titled album but with a more carefree tone. There are various musical influences evident in the singers newest album. Speckled with inspiration from genres like gospel, blues, country and soul combined with the “eagerness to write with a new voice” as Hozier said in an interview at the official album release party. This album simply creates an empowering sense of warmth and bliss. In songs like “Nina Cried Power”, “Almost (Sweet Music)”, “Nobody”, “Dinner Diatribes”and “To Noise Making” Hozier provides a sense of happiness that is a bit more evident in this album than his past works. When these songs are played it is almost impossible not to dance to or at the very least crack a smile. Watching the twenty nine year old singer shift to a lighter tone has been seen by those who had not previously listened to his music as a positive thing, because this album has a timbre that is more digestible for everyday listening.

For those of us who have been listening to the Irish singer since the beginning of the career it was also refreshing to see the artist not stray too far away from the sound in which we first fell in love. Tracks like “Shrike”, “Be”, “Movement”, “Wasteland, Baby!” and “Sunlight” are reminiscent of those first tunes his fans became familiar with. The true test of the greatness of an album is experiencing it live. Wasteland, Baby! Live was even better than in stereo, which is no small feat. This album is definitely setting up for the perfect junior album. It is safe to say the Hozier has a lot of reputation to uphold with the success of his first two albums. A cypher brought to you in the form of an album Revenge of the Dreamers III is pure art set to varying beats. The eighteen track album released in the summer of 2019, composed by various artists, takes listeners into the world of Dreamville. Beyond the cadence and magic of each track, one of the most amazing things about this piece of art is the fact that this album was written, produced and ready for listening in just 10 days. Dreamville Records, and J.Cole brought artists from all over the country together to create this amazing record.

The album features different genres within black culture varying from R&B, tunes inspired by hip-hop from the 1980’s and 90’s, one of today’s most popular genres: trap, with sprinklings of samples from gospel. The opening song “Under the Sun” has a very reminiscent vibe with a sampling or remix. On the ninth track of the album entitled “Self Love” the listener gets a softer more soulful sound with talents of those like Ari Lennox, Bas, Baby Rose all whom provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. Being the third of its kind Revenge of the Dreamers III is blast from the past while keeping up with current music trends. The album is not where the magic stops. The listener can also get a perception of the true enchantment of the album when watching the twenty-nine minute twenty-two second documentary that truly caught the essence of what was being created; seeing behind the scenes and getting to experience the community and comradery created by J. Cole and Dreamville Records. The Revenge of the Dreamers Album series is truly one of a kind listening experience.

THE YARD

WHOâ€™S

Hsu

on campus?

by Tyler McCormack photo by Donovan Bailey

THE YARD

The College of Charleston’s 23rd President, Andrew T. Hsu, is a multi-faceted man, much like the College he now presides over. An immigrant from Beijing, Hsu grew up in a political climate of change, not unlike the one our society is in today. After graduating from Tsinghua University in Beijing, Hsu immigrated to the U.S.A and lived in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Georgia Tech. “The first thing that surprised me was the way people in the South talked,” Hsu recalled. “Growing up learning English, I mostly learned the British English pronunciation, and when I came to Atlanta, I could hardly understand anything that people were saying.” However, the drawls and dialects did not stop him. Hsu graduated from Georgia Tech with a PhD in aerospace engineering. Although he is a man of STEM, he has found a home in the liberal arts at the College of Charleston. “Even though my own professional background is in engineering and technology, I’ve always believed that a good liberal arts education is extremely important not only to the individual development of the students, but also to the democracy of our great country. So I’ve always endeavored to study on my own,” Hsu said, “even after I received my PhD and worked as an engineer, and then professor, I’ve been trying to study liberal arts. I’ve learned languages, I’ve learned music, I’ve learned literature and so forth. So, the College of Charleston is such a great liberal arts institution that it

has just this natural attraction to me.” As we find ourselves in a time of turmoil and change in our country, and in the world of higher education, Hsu’s belief in the liberal arts is one that is reflected in his actions. Not only has he stepped up to recognize nearly every department on campus- his office is covered in artifacts from the different schools, ranging from fossilized shark teeth to the theater department’s stage models- but his belief in democracy and in the power of the people shows as he tries to affect change across campus. Hsu has been holding strategic planning workshops throughout the semester to get input from alumni, students, and faculty about how best to approach issues that the College is facing. When asked about these workshops, Hsu commented: “I’m very excited about the participation and enthusiasm from faculty, staff, students and alumni- I went around campus and gave at least 8 or 9 presentations about strategic planning, and we are now in the middle of organizing town hall meetings and focus groups and discussions aimed at developing a good strategic plan and for that, we need participation. So far, our participation is really high, so I’m really pleased,” Hsu said. Being the 23rd president is no

easy job, but between juggling meetings, interviews, and strategic planning sessions, Hsu still finds time to relax. “Music is one way that I relax- I sometimes still play a little bit of violin, and I enjoy listening to opera,” Hsu said. “I play tennis, and I go swimming too.” Even with all his duties, Hsu makes time for his students. He hosts office hours each month to have meetings one-on-one with his students. So, next time you see an email in your inbox about Hsu’s office hours, stop by and see knick knacks from every department on campusbut be prepared to talk strategic planning, maroon bow ties, and your favorite opera music.

THE YARD

“This series is one that explores the conjunction between old Charleston and fun Charleston. The famous Rainbow Row is known for the brightly colored Georgian homes along East Bay street, which made this the perfect location for displaying a monochromatic scene with a pop of “Charleston culture.” The city is widely known as Foodie Heaven, so while these photos are fun to look at, get out there, check out these businesses, and snag a bite of that cookie!” - Denzel Wright

THE YARD

Stay Woke

Generations of Underrepresentation By Katie Hopewell

Vote

into the most efficient method of

recently compiled a list of the four

effecting change in government:

most common reasons why young

problem — I’ll be dead soon,” declares

breaking the generations-long trend of

people do not vote; citing a lack of

an elderly woman on Acronym’s

youth voting apathy.

encouragement from candidates,

“Climate change? That’s a you

September 2018 video: “They’re

The United States Census Bureau’s

family and peers to vote, the youth’s

doing fine, are you?.” Made for their

report of the voting registration

limited knowledge on how voting

ad campaign, “Knock the Vote,” the

demographics of 2016’s presidential

works, having their schedules conflict

satirical video features several elderly

election reveals a total of 137,537,000

with voting and worst of all: they

white individuals gloating about their

Americans voted. Out of that count,

feel as if their votes are valueless.

consistency in appearing at the polls to

only 11,560,000 of them were

In a democracy characterized by its

vote, while taunting America’s young

18 to 24-year-olds—making the

particular focus on the exercise of civil

voters and their periodic failure to

youngest, but most important voting

liberties, it is discouraging to know

do so. The senior actors in the video

demographic responsible for only a

how many people feel they have no

suggest that instead of going to vote,

little over eight percent of the counted

say in its government. Unfortunately,

the youth might “share this video on

ballots.

American politics are not becoming

Facebook” or “go to one of those little

While initially shocking to see such

any less polarized, and consequently,

marches,” “but you won’t vote,” one

scarce youth voter participation, it is

are not becoming any less stifling of

old-aged man finally asserts.

inaccurate to assume that their lack

individual voices; for that reason we

of votes equates to complete political

must push now—harder than ever

American adults to be majorly

inaction. High school students, some

before.

underrepresented at the polls—this

of which are still not of the age to

video proves it, but the ad’s true intent

vote, were responsible for organizing

cycle approaching, I say to all youth

was not to insult this demographic

one of the largest movements against

voters: if you are unhappy with

and undermine their efforts at

gun violence in the United States last

something, change it. Voting is not

political action. Rather, it was made to

year. These kids are not politically

about having the loudest voice, it is

acknowledge the immense capacity for

idle; they already know the strength of

about having your own voice. Do your

provoking social change that today’s

their voices as a collective. It is only a

research, select the candidate you, and

youth especially demonstrates. Behind

matter of showing them how they can

only you, hope to see in office and go

the elderly actors’ insulting humor was

best employ it.

vote.

Today, it is expected for young

abrasive encouragement for young voters to channel their unique strength 22

With the 2020 presidential election

Youth Service America (YSA), a youth-oriented resource center, THE YARD

Education Over Evasion By Andrew Lazar In around a year’s time, we will

easily accessible information is. The

now that you have hopefully been

be electing the next President of the

2020 election also brings diversity

influenced to become a more educated

United States. That’s a big deal, and

to our candidates. In the democratic

voter— how do I learn more? It’s clear

in these tumultuous times, it’s clear

party, you have an open-minded

that 2020 is important, but how do

that we need to be more educated on

group of individuals. Candidates like

I pick a candidate? Which party do

the subject at hand. There is a lot of

Yang, who believe that citizens should

I side with? The best way to learn

information to go through, a lot of

receive money from the government,

about these topics is to start doing

subjects to learn about and countless

and on the other side you have people

some reading. Find the web pages

effects that these ideas could have

like former Vice President Biden

for the candidates and see what their

on your life. The goal is to give an

who believe in moving this country

policies are. If you don’t know a word

overview of what’s going on, give you

at a much slower pace. You also have

or phrase used, look that term up.

a reason why you should a and then

President Trump, whose policies

It starts with education. Becoming

more specifically go into the impact

are harsh, but his confidence brings

informed before voting is the best

that our generation can have on this

something new to Washington. 2020

way we, as citizens, can affect this

election.

is the year to decide the direction of

country. If you do your research and

this country. The next president has

find that you may, for example, hate

content to comb through, and there

many issues to deal with but it’s our

big government and believe we must

are many opinions to hear. People are

job to voice how they can be dealt

be stern at our borders, voting for a

becoming increasingly opinionated

with.

republican may be the right choice for

2020 has a substantial amount of

now more than before due to how 23

So you may be asking yourself,

you. If you find that you like a bigger THE YARD

government, but you think there

But in the end, it’s important to

should be a slower movement towards

vote and have your voice heard —it’s

that end goal, Buttigieg or Biden may

making sure that the larging voice in

be who you want to vote for. And if

the country goes out there and makes

you are someone who realizes, through

a change.

their research, that we need to change this country at its very core, that the current capitalist system is failing us, Bernie may be your guy. Opinion articles such as The Times, Britebart, and Huffington Post are all sources that have topics you care about. These articles will help you formulate your opinions on issues.

THE YARD

Charleston Thinks Green by Zoe Murrie

All the rage right now in holistic medicine, Charlestonians can now experience CBD [Cannabidiol] its benefits. The Charleston Hemp Collective, located at 473 King Street, is a new, high end CBD boutique on the peninsula that is passionate about providing the Carolinas with the highest quality CBD products. Charleston Hemp Collective’s CBD is grown on a farm in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Matt and Libiss Skinner, the owners of the hemp collective, are passionate about local and clean farming. “We want to help people discover the remarkable powers of the cannabis plant through our products, while exploring the roots of the South,” they said. “We encourage you to rediscover what has made the South one of the strongest agricultural centers of the United States.” Because the Skinners have

contracted their farm, they are a part of the process from beginning to end. By doing this, they have a hands on experience with their product from farm to store. Making sure they know what is in their product, and that they can guarantee quality to their customers, is important. Libiss came to CBD because of her own journey with ulcerative colitis. She says that because of CBD, she was able to live without pain and discomfort for the first time. Her own journey made the Skinners want to spread the word of clean CBD to people with auto-immune disorders and chronic illnesses. When a customer walks into the hemp collective, they make sure they walk out with knowledge above all. The Skinners make sure that all of their employees are wellversed in the benefits of CBD. All employees visit the farm as well to ensure that they are intimately

aware of the manufacturing process and can accurately represent it. The Charleston Hemp Collective works with beekeepers, bakeries, skin care companies and other local artisans to make sure they are distributing the highest quality products possible. The Charleston Hemp Collective offers tinctures, salves, skincare, edibles, drinks, bath care and books on a daily basis. They also sell flower every day in store, with happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:20 to 6:20 where pre-rolled flower costs $10 for one or $25 for three. Be sure to check out The Charleston Hemp Collective for your aches and pains or just to be a little more educated about CBD and ethical farming practices. The hemp collective is open 10am-10pm Thursday-Saturday and 10am-9pm Sunday-Wednesday.

THE YARD

New Sweets in the Streets of Charleston by Zoe Murrie

Charlestonians take ice cream very seriously. Thanks to the stifling Lowcountry heat and humidity, it’s not rare to see someone on the street with ice cream in hand year round. As seasoned ice cream professionals, it is easy to be skeptical about new ice cream joints in town. That’s why when you hear that the newest ice cream place on the peninsula, Off Track, is good, that means it’s really good.

Tucked away off of King street on Beaufain, Off Track is hard to miss. With its historic exposed beams, bright white interior and pink neon ice cream light, the experience at Off Track is joyful before you even walk in. Once you’re actually inside the store, the mood continues. Employees wearing glitter eyeshadow, waffle cones being made in house and bright rainbow sprinkles all hit you in an ice cream medley.

The store is rarely empty and throngs of people sit at each table, happily chatting and enjoying their confections. Off Track is one of the most unique ice cream shops I’ve ever been to. The employees easily chat with you and the store is full of conversations so that it feels like you’re just hanging out with friends. According to their website, founders Marc and Alissa Zera started Off Track at home as a passion project to create ice cream

THE YARD

that is made with natural, essential ingredients. Their ice cream base starts simply with cream, locallyraised milk, eggs and sugar. For vegans, they have seven flavors everyday made from a base of raw cashews, organic coconut cream, sunflower oil and cane sugar. “Our philosophy on ice cream is different from other ice cream makers: we believe that ice cream should only be made from, and tastes best when it’s made from natural ingredients and stripped back of any and all inessential ingredients,” said Marc. Marc is right when he says that ice cream tastes best with fewer 27

ingredients. As an ice cream aficionado myself, I could not wait to try Off Track. My friend Aidan and I found ourselves there one Sunday night and quickly decided to split an ice cream flight as we wanted to try as many flavors as possible. Being young people, we do try to avoid dairy so we got half vegan and half original. Truly we could not tell a difference and were shocked by the creaminess of both. My personal favorite was the PB2 cup, as it has that perfect peanut butter-y taste and blend of sweet and salty. Treat yourself to a scoop after class, or file in with your friends to split an ice cream flight: four mini scoops that

are plenty for three people to split. With flavors like vegan deconstructed samoa, brown butter bourbon cake and vegan PB&J, the hardest part of going to Off Track is picking a flavor. Not feeling ice cream today? They also offer Springbok coffee, and delicious pastries from Macaroon Boutique on John St. Off Track is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 p.m. on weekends. Be sure to step in for a cone and check out their instagram (@offtrackicecream) for the scoop on their unique and local flavors.

THE YARD

George Street Hoops by Bryce Warner

The opening tip for the 201920 basketball season is right around the corner. On October 20, the College of Charleston Men’s and Women’s basketball teams will be having their annual block party on George Street. The basketball block party serves as a pep rally for the upcoming basketball season. Students can receive free food, free T-Shirts, free team gear and much more. There will be music and games for students and fans to play as well. It is a great time for students and fans to socialize and get familiar with the men’s and women’s basketball teams before the season starts. Towards the end of the block party the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams do player

introductions. Coaches from both teams give speeches to get the crowd pumped for the new season. The women’s basketball team will be introducing their new head coach, Robin Harmony. Before landing the head coach job at the College of Charleston, she served as head coach for Lamar University for six seasons. In her six seasons with Lamar University, she had a 115-66 record, led Lamar University to three conference championships and four national postseason tournaments. Coach Harmony is looking to continue her winning ways here at The College. The block party also marks the beginning of the end of Senior guard, Grant Riller’s career here at the College of

Charleston. Last season he averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 assists and shot 53.8% from the field. This offseason, Riller attended the CP3 Elite Guard Camp that took place in Winston-Salem, NC. The camp is for the top 30 highschool point guards and the top 15 college point guards in the nation. The Cougars will be debuting their new home floor design this season. Some notable opponents on their home schedule include Oklahoma State on November 13 and VCU on December 18. The Cougars are looking to bounce back from last season and make it back to the NCAA Tournament.

THE YARD

ATTENTION STUDENTS! THIS IS YOUR HALLOWEEN PSA!

DON’T BE RACIST DON’T BE INSENSITIVE DON’T BE OFFENSIVE DON’T BE STUPID BE SAFE HAPPY HALLOWEEN. 29

THE YARD

Fallin’ in Love with Charleston’s Coffee Shops by Grace Stringer While Charleston may never dip below 80 degrees, that is not gonna stop us from enjoying fall. It’s that wonderful time of year where every coffee house rolls out the pumpkin spiced everything. Of course, the most important part of fall is the ‘fall flavored’ coffees and if there’s anything Charleston is good at, besides beaches, it’s coffee shops. Look no further, we’ve made it easier for you. Here are our top four coffee shops in Charleston and their must-try fall drinks. Bitty and Beau’s Bitty and Beau’s was founded in 2016 and is on 159 Church St. with a modern 50’s classic feel, complete with 50’s jazz music. It has a black and white theme and is decked out with comfy seating and bar stools at the counter and windows facing the street. The two drinks that we tried were the toasted marshmallow and brown sugar cinnamon hot coffees. Hot drinks are offered in 12 ounces or 16 ounces while iced drinks only come in 16 ounces. They accept credit cards only, to make it easier for their staff members to connect with customers rather than count out change, but their prices are reasonable, around three to four dollars, and the coffee is great! A cute idea they employ for orders is, instead of giving you a number or taking down your name, they give you a playing card which matches the card given to the barista. Whether you like strong or sweet coffee, the toasted marshmallow coffee is a perfect fall drink. It comes already slightly sweetened, but if you don’t like your coffee black, you can always add creamer.

We recommend the brown sugar and cinnamon for black coffee drinkers. It is similar to a pumpkin spice flavoring, so if you like the cinnamon taste without the pumpkin, this flavor is going to be your best friend. Bitty and Beau’s is a great hangout spot for friends or just a quick stop for coffee on your way to work. It’s a bit of a walk from CofC’s campus, but definitely worth it. Kudu Kudu is a campus favorite. Located at 4 Vanderhorst St., it doubles as a bar, making it quite larger than the other coffee shops around town. Kudu offers a rustic hipster vibe, with an open and warm feel to it. It has plenty of high-top, bar and regular seating as well as a spacious outdoor seating area. It’s a great place to study, hang out with friends or have a semi-professional out-of-office meeting. The pumpkin spice latte we tried was quite subtle, but benefited from a bit of creamer. The pricing of drinks was affordable, totaling around $3 to $5 depending on size. If you aren’t a fan of pumpkin spice, there are plenty of other flavors. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, the grilled cheese is a top pick!

City Lights Coffee City Lights Coffee, located at 141 Market Street, has a New York City vibe with art, postcards and photos covering the walls. As it is one of the smaller shops around town, there is minimal bar and table seating. The staff is very friendly and the shop has many apparent regulars coming in and out of the shop. This is also a good study spot off campus, offering a quiet spot on a street with minimal traffic. Eclectic collections of mugs and glasses cover the back wall, and double for serving drinks to customers. Prices are reasonable, as the base price starts at $2 to $3 with flavors charged at 81 cents each. Drinks come in multiple sizes, 8 ounces, 12 ounces and 16 ounces.

THE YARD

Here, we tried the gingerbread iced coffee, and while the flavor reminds us of Christmas, it’s a sweet treat to enjoy as the seasons change. We recommend the gingerbread, especially iced. The flavor is not overpowering, but tastes like a fresh baked gingerbread cookie. Some other good fall flavors include, caramel, frosted mint and white chocolate. La Pátisserie La Pátisserie is a modern french bakery and coffee shop located at 404 King Street, attached to The Hotel Bennet. It is aesthetically white with a bright and clean vibe. The staff was very nice and this spot would be great for a special occasion or a Sunday brunch date with friends.

We tried the caramel iced latte, the only ‘fall’ flavor available. This drink is definitely on the stronger side, for those with a sweet tooth, this one may not be for you. The bakery doesn’t offer tradition drip coffees, so we recommend ordering an americano for a similar style. The caramel iced latte, was really good with just the right amount of caramel. If you looking for fancy fall breakfast spot, this is the place for you. Prices were a bit more expensive, so that is something to take into consideration. No matter your coffee or coffee house preferences, you are sure to find the perfect spot in our beautiful Charleston. If you are anything like us, and live off of the fall season, we hope you enjoy our top-4 and find a new fall favorite.

THE YARD

School Of Rock by Liz Hipes photo by Sophia Barham

As a newborn baby she wouldn’t eat – she couldn’t eat. The doctors tried everything but nothing was working. Her parents thought she might not make it. The parents turned to a woman who they believed could help; she turned on a metronome and started playing music. It was at that very moment they figured out this little girl would only eat or drink something when music was playing. It was music that saved Savannah Godoliphin’s life. Throughout her childhood she grew up in a musical family. After moving to Mount Pleasant during high school, she started turning to music to escape from the pressures and anxieties that come with being a teenager. “I faced a lot of self-esteem issues. I had anorexia and bulimia and that

was challenging and [I faced] a lot of relationship issues and mainly, I think I caused all the issues,” College of Charleston Freshman Savannah Godolphin said. “High school was tough for me; being the new girl always comes with a lot of controversy, because these people have grown up with each other since kindergarten and with that attention comes a lot of negative attention as well,” Godoliphin said.“I started restricting what I was eating to a sense where I would work out constantly. Maybe eat a rice cake or a couple pieces of fruit for the entire day...It was a tough time and I think high school is such a critical point in finding out who you are and you’re becoming an adult,” For Godolphin, music helped save her life in more ways than one. Struggling with an eating disorder and a negative body image, Godolphin started to write her own music at 14 with her guitar or piano, finding herself and her voice. “I think it was just a good outlet for me for a lot of the changes that I was going through...so it started out as a great outlet in that sense but now I do it for just about everything,” she said. Godolphin uses just about everything to inspire her, but one of her biggest influences in her music is her faith. “But whenever I’m going through something, that’s the one thing I can always go back to and I feel like I wouldn’t be here without God,” Not only did her faith give her strength and perseverance in her music, but also in life. Godolphin says that her faith in God helped her conquer her eating disorder and low self-esteem. “I prayed about it and I

just looked in the mirror and said ‘I don’t want to be like this anymore’ and I still deal with it today, there’s still those thoughts in the back of my mind, but I’ve learned to control that through counseling and certain medications but mainly just through faith,” she said. Godolphin plays local shows in the Charleston area frequently and has been featured on TV multiple times. Right now, she is working on releasing her first album. Godolphin’s life has been full of hard times, however she looks for positivity too. Some of her positive influences come from her dad and the music she likes to listen to. “I would say the majority of my music is folk and some indie-pop...When I first started writing I was listening to a lot of The Beatles, I listened to a lot of Rolling Stones and I just loved the tone they had and how they were able to create such meaning without actually saying something. I took a lot of inspiration from them,” she said. Now that she has been doing this for almost six years, Godolphin says that if she could give advice to her struggling teenage self, she would say something that she previously would not have thought of. “I would say be confident and don’t give a fuck about what anyone thinks. Because back then I cared way too much,” Godolphin said “I would tell her to be confident and do your best because nobody’s perfect, you will mess up but you’ll get through it.” For more information at Savannah and her music, go to savannah-grace. com.

THE YARD

By Liz Hipes The only thing Kayshawn had been doing that night was praying — praying for something great to happen. More specifically, he wanted something great to happen to his music. He went for a walk, thinking about his new music and hoping that God would fulfill his dream of being a successful musician. He went to sleep that night with 600 monthly followers on Spotify. The following morning, he woke up with 9,000 followers. College of Charleston Sophomore Kayshawn McCoy’s single Save Your Love was featured on the Spotify Discover Weekly playlist and listeners were mesmerized by the track. “Honestly I wasn’t serious about [music] until I came to college and I met 33

someone. He was like a producer here and he was like ‘Hey I have a home studio would you like to come over? I heard you have a great voice’ And as soon as I went to his home studio we decided to start writing, and from there I made an EP and put out a new single that’s been doing really well,” Kayshawn said. Soon after that, Kayshawn became an overnight sensation. Save Your Love turned into something that people could relate to. “I always draw from personal experience so I had to find a way to do that. I never talk about my feelings so to put it into song was something new and then putting it out for people to hear was vulnerable but I allowed myself to do it,” he said. Being his first single, Kayshawn decided to write and produce a song that

had a lot of personal meaning to him. “Save Your Love is about me liking this girl who lives far away and at the time I was so sad and distraught just about life and so stressed out and being like I wanna be there with her and not here at the moment,” McCooy said.“So I’m like ‘I know you’re probably going to get so many different options that are gonna come to you and that are probably much better than me but I’m asking you to please save your love for me I think you’re amazing’” Since releasing the Save Your Love almost a year ago, Kayshawn hasn’t produced anything new for his fans yet. He intends on releasing his new single Heartbreak Hotel by the end of next month. “The fans of my music are insanely cool and sweet people, they always support me no matter what...even though it’s been almost a year since I put something out and for them to still be behind Save Your Love and listening to it everyday like it just came out yesterday is just insane,” he said. Throughout his music career so far, Kayshawn talks about how Jesus and his faith have been his foundation for everything that he’s doing. “I think Jesus for me is always about love and kindness...Jesus has just helped me stay calm when it comes to those times of not knowing when I’m going to make the next song. And just trusting Him to make it happen and here I am a year later making new music and just as excited about it,” he said. To follow Kayshawn and his music, find him on Instagram @kayshawnmccoy or on Spotify and Apple Music

THE YARD

THE BREWS CRUISE 34

THE YARD

by Cheyenne Abrams photos by Cheyenne Abrams Charleston has been known for

college student wants is a good

on the hunt to find the best one,

its food and beverage industry

beer. That’s where the best of

and we’re taking you along for

for years, and while delicious

the best breweries come into

the ride.

steaks from Halls Chophouse

play. With an ever growing

or decadent desserts from

list of local brews, Charleston

Kaminsky’s definitely settle

certainly does not lack in the

out cravings, sometimes all a

booze department. We’re just

Edmund’s Oast Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company remains a favorite

THE YARD

among locals. With two

nontraditional food pairings

cherry and ghost pepper flavors,

locations in the Lowcountry,

including sushi burritos, which

making it a fun drink all the way

Edmund’s Oast’s rotating taps

I recommend sharing a Spinal

through.

include unique house brews such

Evisceration black IPA with!

as Peanut Butter and Jelly and

It’s Gullah cream brew is an

Check out their rotating vendors, including Mansuetas

Jaguar in the Jungle that is sure

award winning choice, where

and Geeks Who Drink, both

to knock you off your feet.

most proceeds go to the Gullah

offering unique atmospheres

Geechee Cultural Heritage

each night, or sign up for a tour

Corridor Commission.

of the brewery for only $15!

Located on Morrison Drive, Edmund’s Oast Restaurant offers a great selection of food

Revelry’s hours are Monday

Palmetto Brewing Co.’s weekly

and a wine cellar attached to it’s

through Thursday: 4pm –

hours are Monday – Thursday

separate bar room. It’s definitely

10pm, Friday: 12pm – 12am,

4p.m. - 10 p.m., Friday –

a great brunch spot with friends

Saturday: 12pm – 12am and

Saturday 12 p.m.-11 p.m. and

on the weekend! The Brewing

Sunday: 12pm – 10pm.

Sunday 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

Company, located on Upper King in the Pacific Box and Crate district, features outdoor seating, wood fired pizzas and weekly trivia. Stop in to the Morrison Drive location and ask for Brian, who will set you up with the best option of brews for you. Edmund’s Oast restaurant’s bar is open Monday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and it opens at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s operating hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m

Revelry This adventurous, dog-friendly, brewery offers exciting views of the upper peninsula, while serving award winning pours to its patrons. Located at the corner of Conroy and Hanover St., this brewery is offering 36

Palmetto Brewing Co. After opening in 1993, Palmetto Brewing Co. became the oldest

Charles Towne Fermentory Located in West Ashley on Hwy

brewery in South Carolina.

17, only a 15 minute car ride

Paving way for breweries to

from campus, Charles Towne

make their way into Charleston,

Fermentory offers a selection of

PBC offers a wide selection

taps with a traditional sense of

of taps including their hoppy

flavor and method.

Huger Street IPA.

This small brewery offers

The brewery recently joined

affordable pricing and rotating

forces with Catawba, located

food vendors including Jewish

in North Carolina. Located on

Deli Sundays and craft vendors

Huger St., it’s an easy stop for

that offer unique dog treats or

tourists to stop in for a sample,

build-your-own flower shops.

pint or growler before visiting local, nearby sites.

The hours for Charles Towne Fermentory are Monday -

Fun flavors like an Espresso

Thursday: 4p.m. - 11p.m.,

Porter that gives a Starbucks

Friday: 2p.m. - Midnight,

Nitro vibe, is noted as

Saturday: Noon - Midnight, and

the “Breakfast Beer of

Sunday: 11a.m. - 10p.m.

the Lowcountry.” Feeling adventurous? Their Ghost Rider is an IPA that combines

THE YARD

Commonhouse Aleworks This Park Circle favorite started with two friends who “just wanted to brew some beer,” and headed over to the Local Home Brew Shop to gather

Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 9

IPA, which is brewed with milk

p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.,

and sugar, and their Pineapple

Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. - 10

Sshhhhh, a sour that’s brewed

p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

with over 500 pounds of

They remain closed on Mondays.

pineapple puree. If you’re lucky enough to make

Charleston has plenty of breweries to suit your needs.

supplies. Hank Hanna and

it in for brunch, their chicken

Do you know of any others you

Pearce Fleming, co owners, have

and biscuits or tot-chos should

think need featured? Email

established a common ground

be at the top of your list! After

cisternyardnews@cofc.edu and

for people to meet, enjoy a nice

recently expanding their outdoor

tell us about it!

drink, and unwind whether it’s

seating area, Commonhouse now

after work or on the weekend.

hosts a variety of events, that

The brewery’s draft list changes throughout the week, but some

fan favorites are The Other Side

As always, drink responsibly.

can be found on their calendar. Their hours are Tuesday and

THE YARD

5) Favorite food a) Pizza b) Fruits & veggies c) Yogurt d) Anything e) Cheeseburger f) Ice cream

2) Favorite type of dog a) Lab b) Mutt c) Chihuahua d) Pug e) Bulldog f) German Shepherd

6) Favorite holiday a) April fools b) Fourth of July c) Christmas d) Thanksgiving e) Labor Day f) Your birthday

3) How would your friends describe you? a) Leader b) Jokester c) Mom/friend d) The serious one e) The sassy one f) The immature one

7) Who is your favorite Office character? a) Pam b) Michael c) Jim d) Dwight e) Stanley f) Ryan

4) Pick a type of paper 8) What is your dream job a) Wrapping paper a) Business owner b) Cardstock b) Absolute ruler c) Construction paper c) Artist d) Printer paper d) Teacher e) Newspaper e) Doctor f) Toilet paper f) Movie star

If If If If If If 38

you you you you you you

got got got got got got

Mostly A’s - Jim A’s and B’s - Dwight Mostly C’s - Pam C’s and D’s - Angela Mostly E’s - Stanley Mostly F’s - Michael

Which Office character are you?

1) Favorite activity a) Playing sports b) Volunteering c) Planning events d) Shopping e) Eating f) Winning

THE YARD

Join Our Team! Interested in working in media? Have a creative side you are itching to get out? Weâ€™re looking for students to volunteer fo the following:

News Writers Radio DJs Sales Assiatants Ad Designers Content Creators Videographers

Find CisternYard on Cougar Connect at cougarconnect.cofc.edu/ organization/cisternyardmedia

Charleston Hemp Collective A High-End CBD Boutique

Charleston Hemp offers tinctures, salves, skincare, edibles, drinks, books, bath products and flowers, $10 for 1, 3 for $25 prerolls with happy hour from 4:20-6:20 473 King Street (843)-305-4367 Sunday-Wednesday 10am-9pm Thursday-Saturday 10am-10pm