by Olivia Waldorf | Apr 13, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. And clothing can be too. And what’s better than clothing that makes a statement? Let me introduce everyone to a fashion movement close to my heart: The Feminist Fashion. There are two ends of the reaction spectrum to this growing and ever-important trend: those who are wary, and those who are spiritually and emotionally awakened to the beauty of a period power T-shirt. At this point, maybe you’re wondering what I’m even talking about, and that’s cool. I’m here to show you the wonderful world of empowering clothing. When I say, “feminist fashion,” I mean outfits ranging from the classic “The Future is Female” shirt all the way to the remarkably witty pins, hats and other articles of clothing. But why is this so important? It’s because these articles of clothing are pushing the boundaries of what everyone believes “feminism” to be (I promise it’s not a scary word). Instead of making picket signs and spending hours of our precious time marching, screaming and arguing, we now have a platform to shout louder than we ever could: fashion. And through this universal platform, feminists (and everyone who believes in equality) are finally able to proudly wear and show what they believe, without having to say a word. Don’t get me wrong, I am the first one to march and argue and make “punny” equality signs, but it’s also nice to use my body as a walking equality sign! Like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says, “Culture does not make people. People make culture.” And we are the ones making the...
by Olivia Waldorf | Apr 1, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
“One Size Fits All” — a phrase that makes me, along with most women, shudder. Maybe it’s because I usually don’t shop (and when I do it’s at Goodwill), but I really thought this “One Size” tag had gone away. Sadly, I was wrong. At my new job in retail I have discovered multiple articles of clothing claiming to fit everyone and every body type. So I decided to give it a shot with a pair of dark green leggings. I could barely make it past my knees. At first, I felt embarrassed, chubby and angry, but then I realized that I’m not 12 years old anymore, and I actually have curves now. As women, our weight fluctuates all the time. This is normal, ladies. Whether we’re going through stress or a hard time, or even a really good/exciting phase of life, our bodies react differently to each season. Many thin women can feel threatened by the fact that the majority of people attack stores like Brandy Melville for catering to smaller sizes. But that’s not why these stores are attacked. They are attacked for the limited sizing, scarce variety in model types and even “cookie-cutter” retail associates who work in the front of the store. Even during the interview process for stores like Brandy, a lot of applicants report that the store managers will take multiple pictures of them and what they’re wearing, not saying what the images are for. Ruby Seid, a sales associate for Brandy Melville, said she has noticed this bias as well. “I think, to be honest, the real reason why they hired me is...
by Olivia Waldorf | Feb 16, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
The “grown-up” world is scary. It’s unknown, uncharted territory, but hopefully with the help of this article, moving on to the next phase of your life will be a little bit easier. With graduation rapidly approaching, the thought of moving on is haunting me. Even amid all my nightly homework, presentations and the all-around stress of my classes, all I can think about is my impending move to New York–and unemployment. I know, I hate that word too. It makes my “perfectionist self” cringe and stirs up all those old feelings of failure. The thing is, you don’t have to be a senior to understand these feelings. In 5th grade, the 6th grade terrified me more than anything. Now, what terrifies me is what comes after walking across stage in Allen Arena in my cap and gown. For other students, it might be the unease of knowing Lipscomb isn’t the place for you and finding the right school that is. Sometimes that terrifying thing could be taking Intro to Communications, pledging a club, or studying abroad. There are so many things that are completely unknown, but the good news is, the brave people before you have survived these new phases. You’re probably wondering how. I was too until I came across two beautiful words: letting go. This doesn’t mean that you should let your grades slip, but it does mean that we all deserve some space from ourselves. With all the pressure we put on ourselves, it’s no wonder that we end up shaving 5 years off of our lives after each year comes to a close. We all...
by Olivia Waldorf | Feb 2, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
It’s cold, and for those of you from places that get even colder than Nashville (and like to remind everyone when the rest of us are bundled up on a 45-degree day), admit it: this weather is still uncomfortable. If you truly are one-of-a-kind and enjoy hanging outside in below 30 degree weather, go for it. For the rest of us warm-weather- seekers, here are five places that always keep me cozy during these icy months. I’ll start out with an obvious solution to the drab grey skies and harsh wind chill: coffee shops. I know this sounds cliché and more like universal knowledge than a hidden gem of an idea, so I’m only going to share one café specifically that quickly has become my second home: JJ’s Market. From the red, velvet couches to the dim lighting and brick walls covered in art, this inexpensive coffee shop and mini-market is one of the only coffee shops worth spending hours in, no matter the weather). Curling up with a book and sipping on an Einstein or any other specialty drink will change your life. Well, maybe not your entire life but it will definitely make your day a lot warmer. Next, we have something for the art lovers: Museums, and lots of them, like the Frist. Not only is the “Nick Cave: Feat.” exhibition going on, but you can wander around to look at the other pieces.Moving on past the infamous Frist, these cold Nashville days can also push you into some of music city’s best exhibits for influential musicians. This also works out because if you are in...
by Olivia Waldorf | Jan 21, 2018 | News Slider
Both women and men rallied together in Nashville in the 2018 Women’s March on Saturday. Marchers were in almost every major city, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Nashville, filling the cities with homemade signs and chants. Anti-protesters also showed up at the march with signs that encouraged protesters to “repent or pay for the price of their sins.” Among the crowd in Nashville was Megan Roberts, a Lipscomb senior and founder of the “Lipscomb Feminist Club.” “It is so much more than a political stance,” Roberts said. “It’s about a human stance; we will not tolerate sexual harassment, assault or any form of oppression anymore. We shouldn’t even have to be fighting for this.” Last year was the first Women’s March in Nashville. By 2 p.m. yesterday, downtown Nashville was colored with signs that read such declarations as: “Today we march, tomorrow we run for office,” and “Grab them by the ballot box.” Pink balloons with the phrase “Nevertheless I persisted” printed on them also covered the skyline. With the focus now on the importance of voting and using the power of choice, many protesters registered to vote by the end of the march. Susanne Burger, a protester from New York, reaffirmed her belief of the importance of this factor in making a change. “Marching builds a sense of empowerment, and hopefully that will carry over to voter registration and a persistent effort to turn this around because this is not acceptable,” Burger said. Her sign gave the same message — “How to survive Trumpism: stay informed, be vigilant, take action, VOTE.” Chants of the marchers echoed through...
