The theme for this issue emerged from a conversation among the editors about Lorde’s fourth studio album, “Virgin,” and its underlying connotations. Socially, we have constructed the word to hold significance, but only through our own persistence does it hold meaning at all. Likewise, purity is simultaneously censored and peddled in our social circles, influencing how we categorize experiences through power, morality and judgment — both inside and outside ourselves. This issue is meant to redefine the otherwise divisive noun, one that causes us to see the world through “perfect” and “imperfect” lenses. Where does your purity lie? Some writers chose to define purity more clearly, reporting on topics like the value of sex education, the sexualization of clothes and the current culture surrounding intimacy. Others looked inward, exploring racial “purity,” physical beauty and relationships with religion. One reporter delved into on-campus morality, while two others touched on gender discrimination and intersectio
