Caroline Kenney

By Caroline Kenney

Isabella Malkani and her community have been fighting for proper vegan options since 2020- three years later and nothing has changed. As Malkani graduates from Northeastern University, her vegan and gluten-free peers are left to face the consequences of limited nutritional sources. 

Northeastern University prides itself on sustainability and inclusivity, but plant-based and gluten-free students say otherwise. From having repetitive food options to incorrect labeling, students grow wary of relying on on-campus dining halls for a safe, healthy meal, which can take a significant toll on their health. 

Since 2008, the institution has been creating a Green Plan to map its sustainability efforts- while becoming more transparent with its food options through signage. This includes sustainable-themed wall art and symbols in front of food lines to show “balanced”, “vegetarian”, “vegan”, and “avoiding gluten” foods. 

Michael Neal, the executive chef at Stetson East and Outtakes, discussed their efforts to accommodate student feedback, “We do work hard to meet with students, talk with students, and encourage students to ask questions so that we know what they’re either looking for or what they’re not finding”. 

According to Neal, regional chefs create menus given to individual universities that alter them according to student feedback. He states that there are no financial restrictions in the options they offer nor are other meal options on campus a factor, such as meal exchanges at Churchill Creations or dining dollars used at B.Good. 

Malkani, the resident of Cruelty-Free Northeastern, a campus club promoting plant-based and animal-safe food alternatives, and her club peers communicated directly with the dining hall in 2020 through a feedback form. The form detailed when foods in the halls were mislabeled, with details of the day it happened, what the food was labeled as, and what the food was. The group continued sending the form for several months, but when they didn’t notice any change, the students lost hope. 

We don’t feel like we have that influence over the dining hall…we don’t feel empowered. We don’t feel like we have the ability to overcome this big of an issue”.

~Isabella Malkani, vegan Northeastern University student

As Neal expressed the priority being students, it’s critical to analyze how dining options are impacting student health. Since dining halls are the primary source of food for most first and second-year students, not having appropriate alternatives for those following a plant-based and gluten-free diet can leave them in a health decline. They are left without the energy to meet their daily needs or the ability to focus in class, according to Northeastern dietician Christine Clark. 

At such a hectic moment in a young adult’s life, these points are crucial to a student succeeding academically, socially, and personally. Malkani shared how Northeastern’s limited vegan options impacted her mental and physical health,

“There’s a lot of girls in our community whose eating disorders have worsened because of the lack of options on campus. And me being one of them developed in 2021…Veganism has been so separate from our eating disorders. It’s just the lack of options on our campus has made it worse”.

With stressful classes, social pressures, and daily life challenges, students rely on dining halls to be a consistent source of nutrition despite chaos occurring in their lives. According to the Child Mind Institute, 10 to 20% of women and 4 to 10% of men between ages 18 to 21 develop eating disorders in college. Northeastern is no exception. 

Northeastern students emphasize two primary problems that come with having a plant-based or gluten-free diet in the dining halls: mislabeling and a lack of diverse options.

Incorrect labeling in dining halls is a major problem Neal is aware of and trying to improve with screens as opposed to paper lists. The labels inform students whether the food options are safe for their diet, such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free foods. This isn’t a new problem. Malkani and the Cruelty-Free Northeastern club have actively tried to combat the labeling issue with minimal change seen. 

Shannon Snape, a second-year Northeastern student that suffers from a severe gluten allergy, broke down a number of close calls she faced in the dining halls. Snape mentioned a seemingly-safe corn and cheese dish in which she narrowly avoided a night of illness and how ineffective signage has been. 

Similarly, Malkani mentioned several occasions where her peers were accidentally given meat despite symbols in front of the options stating it was a vegan-safe food.

Over the years, International Village adopted a screen signage system held above food trays to be easily seen by students and updated with ease. While Neal says halls like Stetson East are working on following in their footsteps, students are growing increasingly wary of dining services. 

“I feel like every time I eat in the dining hall I am gambling the next 24 hours of my life”.

~ Shannon Snape, 2nd year gluten-free Northeastern University student

Not only does this impact students’ mental and physical health if they don’t trust their nutrition providers, but it grows the gap between the student body and Northeastern administration. Students begin to feel more like a number than a valued member of the community. 

Food options for plant-based and gluten-free students have been historically limited, yet students say not only are they dwindling, but they are overused. From paow to tofu to the occasional plant-based burger, the options aren’t as diverse as students would have hoped for the high standard the institution is held at. According to Malkani, vegan options are decreasing each year, starting with the lack of vegan desserts Stetson East once made. She emphasizes that while the options are of good quality, there simply is not enough. 

In terms of gluten-free options, Neal and Clark said that alternatives are there, but students miss them when they go straight to the designated plant-based and allergen room. On the other hand, Snape says these gluten-free choices are bread, cereals, and vegetables which caused her to move to off-campus living in her second semester. 

Snape describes her experience moving for dietary reasons, “Why are they so prepared for people to be moving off campus for food and dietary problems like that? They’re aware that they should change, but especially with the amount of money that students spend for the dining services”. 

Yeemay Miller, MS, LD, RDN, a nutrition professor at Northeastern University, emphasized the importance of variety in healthy eating. She says that one can’t be a healthy eater if they are eating the same foods every day since they’re missing out on an assortment of nutrients. 

As Northeastern welcomes the incoming class of 2027, it is critical to re-evaluate how their dining options are impacting student health and the toll it can take on plant-based and gluten-free students. When students are not getting a diverse array of foods and properly labeled options, not only does their health decline but so does their trust in their university. 

Malkani said, “We don’t feel like we have that influence over our own school that we’re paying so much for. We pay for those meal plans and then don’t get as much out of it as those students do”. 

By Caroline Kenney

When C brought their roommate to their first American Sign Language drag show, the two left in tears. Gender expression, transgender joy, and freedom were bedazzled in extravagant wigs and passionate ballads.

As drag show bans sweep the nation, queer students are fighting for their health. 

On March 30, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the nation’s first drag ban prohibiting “adult cabaret” performances in public spaces where minors can see. Several states, including S.C., Ky., and Okla., followed in Tennessee’s footsteps by adding to the myriad of anti-drag legislations being written into existence. All of which is taking a significant toll on the mental health of queer students in the United States. 

Ledford, a third-year student at Northeastern University studying ASL at Gallaudet University, struggles to balance the strife of being a college student with having their gender expression and health as a transgender person being signed away by legislators.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ teens. With new anti-LGBTQ+ bills set into motion, the number is rising. 

The Trevor Project reported 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, more than half of which being transgender and non-binary youth, in 2021. In 2022, it became 45% of the community. 

Ledford says, “They’re basically banning expression; how we choose to express our gender and our gender identity. Just being able to express ourselves with clothing is really important”.

Drag has historically been this outlet of expression. 

K.J. Rawson, associate professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Northeastern University and director of the Digital Transgender Archive said, “Drag is an important feature in queer and trans communities as an art form, as a mechanism for community building, and as a way of challenging normative expressions of gender and sexuality”. 

With drag being an integral part of queer history and identity, why are so many legislators targeting it?

Conservative legislators claim that drag performances expose minors to “obscenities” and “indoctrinate” children with sexual conduct. In Arizona, artists in violation of performing in front of children 15 years or younger must register as sex offenders and serve at least ten years of jail time. 

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are 41 bills targeting Free Speech and Expression, primarily in Texas, Fla., Mont., and Tenn.

Texas Sen. Bryan Hughes, an outspoken proponent of drag bans, said in a statement., “Senate Bill 12 is about protecting children. Surely we can all agree that children should not be exposed to sexually explicit performances. This common-sense legislation protects a child’s innocence and aligns Texas law with Texas values”. 

C says Hughes’s mindset is much more harmful to youths than drag shows. They responded, “If we’re talking about things that should be banned, let’s talk about guns. Let’s talk about making school a safe place for children to learn and discover themselves and not focus on drag, which is just a beautiful form of self-expression”. 

While both sides of the issue work to get their voices heard, queer college students are bearing the consequences. 

The Trevor Project reports that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, including drag bans, negatively impacted 65% of queer youth. 

These legislations isolate the LGBTQ+ community, leaving already struggling teens with an overwhelming feeling of loneliness and a lack of acceptance. College is a developmental time where young adults are meant to discover their identity and interests, but state senate bills are obstructing this experience. 

“Anti-trans legislation needs to be addressed on many fronts–through counter-legislation, through education, in the courts, in the streets, and through interpersonal education”. 

Prof. Rawson, Northeastern University

As C continues their journey navigating American legislation as a queer, transgender college student, they intend to continue fighting by being a marshall at Trans Rights Marches and advocating accessibility for deaf/hard-of-heard members of the community.

C said, “Even if it’s [drag performances] publicly banned, people will never stop doing it. It’s never going to go away. It will just be harder to find. But the queer community is so resilient and there’s no way that it’s ever going to fully diminish”. 

By Caroline Kenney

Peggy Hoogestraat lost her land to eminent domain during the Dakota Access Pipeline project in 2014- nine years later she’s still fighting. Since Summit Carbon Solutions announced its carbon capture pipeline proposal in 2022, Hoogestraat is determined not to let history repeat itself. 

SCS, a company striving to use sustainable technology to reduce carbon emissions, announced Project Footprint– a carbon capture emissions pipeline spanning Iowa, N.D., S. D., Minn., and Neb. The proposal received pushback from farmers and legislators wary of the new technology and unwilling to risk generational farmland. Those in support of Project Footprint express the significant impact carbon capture will have on reducing carbon emissions to resolve climate change. 

Carbon capture is the process of taking atmospheric carbon and sequestering it into the earth to solidify, ultimately decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Environmental Law Institute, carbon capture has been used in natural gas reservoirs since the 1920s to separate CO2 from safe methane gas and is continually developed.

Pipeline supporters convey the gravity of the climate crisis, including the over 60% of landowners living along the 2000-mile pipeline plan that have given the company their land. 

Matthew Eckelman, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Northeastern University said, “Most of the models about how we solve the global warming problem in the future rely on carbon capture. There’s no way technologically to avoid global warming if we don’t do carbon capture and sequestration”. 

SCS is partnering with 33 ethanol and sustainable aviation plants contributing to Project Footprint. The partnership is said to widen access to ethanol-driven markets, a form of renewable energy. Pro-pipeline advocates are also vocal about the project providing over 11,000 jobs.

Project advocates respond to resistance by stating that landowners will be fairly compensated for their property. The affected states each have policies addressing equitable payment for the land. Iowa’s state code chapter 6b requires a committee in each county to determine the fair market value of land in cases of eminent domain. 

In opposition, lie farmers and legislators saying they should have the final decision over their generational farmland, claiming it as a property rights violation. The issue stems from SCS calling landowners to inquire to survey their land, and the company suing landowners when they refused. 

Craig Schaunaman, South Dakota landowner involved in the hearing, said to Dakota News Now, “Where I come from, this is a landowner’s rights issue to me…At the point they [SCS] came in and requested the survey, they hadn’t even applied for a permit”.

Pipeline protesters express safety concerns, citing the Mississippi carbon dioxide pipeline rupture in 2020 resulting in 45 people being hospitalized and over 200 others in the area evacuated. 

Karl Rakow, a resident of Bismarck, N.D. who spoke at the hearings with SCS on March 14, built off the Mississippi pipe burst saying his family discussed buying scuba gear in the case of a pipeline rupture that would greatly drain their oxygen availability.

Most adversaries of the proposal feel the same fear, particularly from a lack of information.

Michelle Laboy, a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University, said, “We should stop and we should think about it and we should put the pressure on the companies and the researchers to show the data. And if they show it, then we can move ahead”.

Opposing landowners convey the same skepticism. In the North Dakota hearings, Jimmy Powell, chief operating officer at SCS, stated that they have not shared the results of their rupture simulations with the North Dakota Public Service Commission or impacted landowners. 

The N.D. hearing resulted in a safety ordinance requiring a permit when constructing pipelines carrying dangerous materials and updating restrictions in case of a leak.

The county will conduct two further hearings in April and May. Iowa will have public hearings from October 2023 to January 2024, Minnesota is still examining the route’s implications, and Nebraska is not filing a suit against SCS. 
Throughout the conflict, Hoogestraat continues fighting by telling the South Dakota News Watch, “Maybe I can’t stop it, but at least I hope I can help the other landowners in some way, shape, or form”.

By Caroline Kenney

On March 18, 2023, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum closed after learning about a planned non-violent protest hosted by a climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion Boston. To bring attention to increasing biodiversity loss due to climate change, the group held the rally on the 33rd anniversary of the Gardner Museum Theft where 13 works of art were stolen. I looked into both parties’ statements and heard the Northeastern University community’s thoughts on the situation.

By Caroline Kenney

Born of a 3000-year-old pair of pants, Susan Alvey’s weaving technology finds a home at 450 Harrison Ave.

Every Sunday for years, the South of Washington Artists Guild, a non-profit association of professional studio artists, has housed local creators to give them an exhibition space in a bustling city. One that has seen a significant spike in rent prices, leaving these same artists vulnerable to falling victim to the cost. I attended a SoWa Sundays event on Feb. 26 to experience one of Boston’s artistic hubs for myself.

With a hand-woven “open” sign hanging and warm lights wrapping around her door, Alvey drew me in. Hand-beaded jewelry, kitchen towels, and even wine bottle holders filled one half of the room and five looms crowded the other half. The large, wooden machinery caught every guest’s eye and I could hear Alvey tell her story again and again throughout the afternoon starting each with the words “google 3000-year-old pair of pants” and then gesturing to her looms with a smile.

Unlike a typical gallery, SoWa Sundays bring an interactive element that keeps people coming back.

Stewart Silvermen, a first-time SoWa Sunday attendee, says his fiancé has been coming to the organization’s events for years and he sees a long-term home for artists in events like these.

Silvermen and his fiancé are two of about 40 people I saw pursuing rooms and chatting with creators. Most would greet guests walking in the doors like old friends- with a wide smile and loud “hello”.

Wandering through halls of open doors, one can hear artists telling the story about the inspiration behind a specific piece and couples discussing what work would look best in their living rooms. The studio walls are full of vibrant artwork and charming lights attracting guests of all ages.

Artistically-devoted spaces in Boston are rare. According to the City of Boston there are about 52 spaces in and around the Boston area. Data from Zillow states that the average rent increase in the city from 2017 to 2022 is about 4.6% per year. For artists fighting major manufacturers, the surge can be business-ending.

Alvey, a building resident of three years, says “If I make rent, I’m happy. But it’s hard like anything else. Yarn is getting very expensive. Rent goes up. I can do this because I’m retired from my other profession. I couldn’t live on what I make here.”

Brian Murphy, owner of Totally Wired Sculpture and building resident of 23 years, said his 1100-square-foot studio has increased by $1 in rent every three years. His rent has risen to $2500 a month. He stresses the impact of prices by saying that artists who have a regular clientele can maintain their business but without it, staying afloat is a battle.

SoWa’s spaces that double as a studio and gallery have become critical in sustaining local artists. Their events bring in a large portion of their buyers, particularly in the summer when SoWa’s outdoor markets open.

Sharon Schindler, a photographer in the building for six years, says people have come everywhere from Israel to Russia to bring her work back.

SoWa’s extensive marketing is a major contributor to this worldwide clientele. Every year, their events bring in more people, from July tourists to Boston natives, boosting the artists’ business year-round.

From ultra-realistic paintings of birds to neon mixed media creations, each space is lit by the diversity in artwork and personality radiating from every corner. Murphy, a former child therapist, transforms his use of artwork to help children process trauma into humorous, moving wire pieces that bring a smile to people’s faces.

Although the SoWa Artists Guild was not available for comment, SoWa Sundays seem to be heading in a bright direction. It not only serves as a creative core of the city involving people of all ages, but it is providing a living and working space for a diverse array of Boston artists to grow and share their work. Ancient weaving technology and wired sculpture therapy methods are only the tips of what SoWa Sundays offers to the community despite rising financial difficulties.

By Caroline Kenney

As a civil engineer at the White House military office under President Trump, Gerard Ramoutar worked through a whirlwind of political experiences.

From President Obama to Biden, the Trinbagonian military officer managed construction projects on White House grounds and the president’s official residences. Despite his disciplined position, Ramoutar balances his responsibilities with his love of videogames, fitness, and the Orlando Magic basketball team. He exudes realism when discussing his experiences and his laid-back demeanor is contagious. Glenn Surpris, Ramoutar’s friend of seven years, reminisces on their friendship’s genesis rooted in Playstation basketball:

“Having Gerard be that consistent third teammate that we’ve been looking for for a while, it was kind of like a breath of fresh air. Someone who just intuitively was on the same wavelength as us, so much so that it translated over into real-life basketball.”

Surpris’s voice lit up with pride describing Ramoutar’s wins from sports to his military career. Their friendship reflects his ability to seamlessly adapt and build relationships based on authenticity.

After years of touring the states, Ramoutar landed in Washington D.C. When asked to explain the shifts in presidential terms during his time at the White House, he struggled:

“Like any leader, they set the culture and tone of that organization that they’re in charge of. That’s what a leader does and that’s what a boss does. While my orders weren’t something immoral or against my values, you definitely see things in the transition between Obama and Trump, and then to President Biden. I definitely saw culture shifts, tone shifts, and just personal policies that you don’t always agree with.”

The primary word to describe his time in the White House was indoctrinated. Ramoutar describes the contrasting measures taken by President Trump and Biden during the Covid-19 pandemic, but his focus remained clear on maintaining a safe and stable workplace.

Despite the gravity of his job, Lieutenant Commander Nick Thompson, a friend and colleague of Ramoutar during his White House tour, described their days felt like episodes of “The Office”. The dynamic duo would come up with lighthearted hashtags and rants that prevented intensity from damaging morale- qualities they were known for around the workplace. Thompson describes Ramoutar’s impact on the organization by developing and laying the groundwork for tools he saw were needed- his legacy.

“The people that really benefit are the people after him. It’s a pretty non-self-serving effort. He left something in place that will outlive his tenure there and he never really gets the benefit because that was never really in place for the majority of the time that he was there,” Thompson said.

Looking back at his time working in the White House, Ramoutar took qualities he admired from presidents, such as President Obama’s willingness to hear both sides and bridge the gap in between, while also learning where he would draw boundaries.

Overseeing a detachment of 130 people and training 600 more, Ramoutar brings these lessons of leadership to his unit in Guam. His first time in charge of other officers grants him an opportunity to develop a new generation, inspiring them to surpass the bare minimum, a quality Ramoutar greatly admires. As he describes his takeaways from the tour in Guam, his face lights up with pride at not only his experience in inspiring younger officers but developing himself, his standards, and his teaching skills. At this point in his long career, Ramoutar says he is ready to give back to others and he is grateful to pass down his knowledge.

While he cherishes his career and the lessons drawn from each tour, he smiles at the thought of being reunited with his family very soon. Ramoutar expresses the unmeasurable support of his wife, Delonna Ramoutar, in establishing his successful career.

“The honest truth is if your family doesn’t back you and what you’re doing, you won’t succeed in this job. It is a full family commitment because regardless, they may not have signed the dotted line, but you signed it for them,” Ramoutar conveys.

Rounding out his tour in Guam, Ramoutar will travel to the military base in Mississippi to bring his knowledge to the next generation of naval officers.

Listen to my interview with Gerard Ramoutar:

On January 22, 2023, Marlee Matlin surpassed yet again another milestone. Her directorial debut in the series Accused on Fox makes her the first Deaf woman to ever direct a TV show, adding to her list of firsts: she was the first and deaf performer to win an Academy Award and the youngest recipient for Best Actress, as well as starring in CODA, the first majority-deaf cast to win best picture at the Oscars. To honor Matlin’s newest accomplishment, Northeastern University’s Signing Huskies, the American Sign Language Club on campus, hosted a watch party for Fox’s pilot episode. From fearful tears to heart-racing court decisions, we felt it all!

The episode left me with an overwhelming feeling of progress for equality. The progress that was recently solidified in the Boston Common’s latest structure- ‘The Embrace’ in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. His courageous words and acts of protest are embodied in bronze in the hopes of people like Matlin would break down barriers outside the status quo. And they are. Similarly represented in the Common is the ‘Soldiers and Sailors Monument’ in memory of the Massachusetts residents that fought in the Civil War. Both monuments honor historical figures who gave their lives for justice and freedom. Matlin’s impact perpetuates their aspirations for the world- one where people were not denied opportunities because they are different but instead are celebrated for who they are.