Issue 7
Boredom is Not Your Enemy
Jennifer Li, Opinion
November 24, 2024
The MVP of Inside Out 2 was neither Anxiety, Joy, nor Riley. When I left the theater, the character that occupied my mind was Ennui: the posh, purple, French addition to the prequel’s five emotions. As her namesake suggests, Ennui embodies all things boredom, spending most of the film lounging listlessly on her phone and occasionally chiming in with an irritated comment. She was comedic, insufferable, and—despite her hyperbolic portrayal—painfully realistic.
Social media “rot” has risen to the zenith of modern concerns. Whenever unoccupied, I default to opening Instagram or Snapchat on my phone to “cure the boredom.” Yet, the stimulation seems to incur further listlessness rather than resolve it. It forces me to wonder: why am I unable to sit with myself? When did I grow so scared of something so benign as boredom?
My childhood summers were spent gazing out the window, swinging on a playground, or scribbling gibberish with gaudy Crayola markers. I associate these activities with an overwhelming simplicity, and, dare I say, monotony. Yet, I hardly remember them as “boring.” My memory coats those days in a golden haze and their appeal seems to lie in none other than their simple nature. While I performed these mindless activities, my mind wandered, daydreaming about dinner and narrating princess stories. I was perfectly content.
That feeling, however, has become as intangible as those summer afternoons. I can’t remember the last time I sat in silence with unbusied hands. As this school year churns ceaselessly along, my already-impaired relationship with time has intensified. Ticks populate my to-do list, while the hours slip silently away behind my “White Noise 10 Hours” playlist. I feel like Sisyphus, mounting a burden of tasks each day only for dawn to renew them. In this fight against the swing of the clock and the click of its gears, I have become a maestro of commodifying my time, to the point where even mealtimes are portioned. Afterall, “time is money,” right?
My screen time, though, humbly disrupts the illusion that I “have no time” for so-called unproductive matters. Indeed, shreds of free time exist between tasks and events. However, during these empty minutes, I, like many others, simply default to picking up my phone. Instagram has a ready tunnel of reels and stories. Gmail screams with unopened messages. Chrome sucks me back into forgotten tabs. One minute turns to five minutes, and what was supposed to be a quick glance at the clock evolves into a gradual confusion of loud colors and sounds that swarm my brain. These simulations create a sort of staticity, chaos that becomes white noise, leaving me even more bored than before.
Here I beg that we redefine boredom. Personally, I separate the boredom I feel into two categories: passive and active boredom. Active boredom involves a clear goal in mind. For example, when we sit through a dull task, we focus on completing it. Ennui’s character epitomizes the pitfalls of passive boredom, as we seek to drown its dreariness with technological filler. Passive boredom, however, poses no intent, thus allowing our minds to wander. To achieve this state, I have recently intentionally folded laundry without turning on a TV show, ran without music, and taken study breaks without social media. Though challenging at first, I have found a degree of beauty in the peace; these morsels of time have allowed me to reflect upon my day, reminiscent of meditation. Science, too, supports passive boredom, as studies show how mind-wandering links to improvement in creativity, imagination, and focus.
As a generation we too often shun discomfort. We cannot bear those awkward, empty minutes between tasks, monotonous lectures, or the humdrum of waiting in line. So, we mute these moments with stimulation. There is an art, however, in embracing the ennui. I do not suggest that all boredom is good; studies have linked long-term boredom with depression and an overall lack of fulfillment. Plus, the world would do with less indifferent characters like Ennui. However, we should learn to distinguish active boredom from passive boredom and try to convert the former into the latter. Once you reframe boredom as a mental exercise – a rare opportunity for your mind to wander – you’ll realize that it is bearable, and perhaps even enjoyable.
A Look Into President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet Appointees
Molly O'Brien, News
November 24, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has announced many of his appointees for his cabinet and various federal agencies. Most members of the cabinet, aside from the Vice President and White House Chief of Staff, will require Senate approval. In modern times, a president-elect nominates his picks for top officials in his coming administration quickly after his election, however, this is not required. As of Nov. 18, Trump has nominated eight out of 15 cabinet-level positions. Confirmation hearings of the nominees can happen before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, however, they frequently take longer.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Senator of Florida Marco Rubio will head the Trump administration's foreign policy as Secretary of State. Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and was raised in Miami. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School, respectively. Rubio’s political career began with his election to the West Miami City Commission in 1998. He was elected into the Florida House of Representatives the following year, serving as speaker from 2006–2008. In 2009, Rubio was elected to the US Senate and currently serves on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump announced on Tuesday, Nov. 12, that he would nominate Fox News host Pete Hegseth, for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth graduated from Princeton University in 2003 and was soon after commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard. He served overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. After his service, Hegseth was the head of the Concerned Veterans for America and also unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012. Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and was named the co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” in early 2017. Hegseth was reportedly considered to run the Department of Veteran Affairs in Trump’s first cabinet.
*Attorney General: Matt Gaetz
Representative Matt Gaetz is Trump’s controversial pick for Attorney General. Gaetz graduated from William and Mary Law School in 2007 and was admitted to the Florida Bar the following year. From 2010–2016, he served in the Florida House of Representatives. In 2016, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he has represented Florida District 1 ever since. Gaetz had charges dropped against him last year by the Department of Justice over sex-trafficking allegations.
*As of Nov. 23, Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration for Attorney General and Trump has nominated Pam Bondi for the role instead.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after much speculation, has been appointed the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is the son of former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy and has followed in his father’s footsteps. After graduating from Harvard, Kennedy got a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1981. He began working as an Assistant district attorney in Manhattan in 1982. His career was tarnished the following year when he failed the bar exam and was arrested for heroin possession, a problem he had dealt with since his father’s death as a teenager. During his probation, Kennedy worked on environmental and human rights abuses around the world. In April of 2023, Kennedy announced his bid for President of the United States, running as an Independent. Kennedy suspended his campaign in August of 2024 and endorsed Trump under the pretense of receiving a Cabinet position.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, 52, has been tapped as Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security. Trump said in an official statement that Noem has been very strong on border security and will work with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homman to create plans to further secure the Southern border. In 2010, after serving in the South Dakota legislature for several years, Noem was elected South Dakota’s lone member of the US House of Representatives. In 2018, she was elected South Dakota’s first-ever female governor.
Secretary of Interior: Doug Burgum
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota is Trump’s appointee for Secretary of the Interior. Burgum grew up in North Dakota and earned Bachelor’s and MBA degrees from North Dakota State University and Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He served as CEO for the Great Plains Software Company from 1997, until the acquisition by Microsoft Corp in 2001. Burgum remained at Microsoft as a senior vice president through 2007. In 2008, Burgum co-founded Arthur Ventures, a venture capitalist firm that invests in software companies. In 2016, Mr. Burgum was elected governor of North Dakota in his first run for political office.
Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright
Trump named Chris Wright as his appointee for Secretary of Energy. Wright grew up in Colorado before earning his electrical engineering degrees at the University of California Berkeley, and MIT. In 1992, Wright founded Pinnacle Technologies, a company involved in shale gas production through fracking. He served as the CEO until 2006. In 2011, he founded Liberty Energy, a Denver-based fracking company, where he serves as CEO. The company is currently valued at $2.8 billion. Wright will also serve as a member of the newly formed Council of National Energy, chaired by Doug Burgum.
Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Doug Collins
Doug Collins has been tapped as Secretary of Veteran Affairs. Collins served two years as a Navy chaplain before joining the Air Force as a chaplain after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2008, with the 94th Airlift Wing. His most recent duty station was Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where he served as an individual mobile augmentee to the chaplain. Collins served in the George House of Representatives from 2007–2013. From 2013–2021, Collins was the United States Representative from Georgia’s 9th congressional district. He last ran for public office when he vied for a US Senate seat.
As of Nov. 18, Trump has not announced his picks for Secretary of Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, or Education. These picks are likely to come out in the coming days.
Girls Cry Lemons and Boys Make Lemonade
Chloe Yeo, Opinion
November 24, 2024
People often return to comfort fiction, media, or music so they don’t have to confront their lives. But Gen Z girls who find comfort in a masquerade can be found scouring Pinterest, reminiscing about the Tumblr pages they never set their mouse in. Perhaps they’re choosing whether to watch The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola or listen to Lana Del Rey’s mournful ballads that trap you in second-hand heartbreak and a little second-hand smoke. If you search for “sad girl” on Pinterest – the lowercase is essential – you’ll probably find gorgeous girls with tear-stained faces drowning in Marlboro cigarette smoke and a cool-toned filter. If you look closer, you’ll probably recognize some of the pins from movies most likely directed by Coppola. And if you truly care to immerse yourself in the “Sad Girl” sphere, you may stumble across the coiner, Audrey Wollen, of the “Sad Girl Theory.”
“The proposal that the sadness of girls should be witnessed and re-historicized as an act of resistance, of political protest,” Wollen said during an interview in 2015. “ Basically, girls being sad has been categorized as this act of passivity, and therefore, discounted from the history of activism… Girls’ sadness isn’t quiet, weak, shameful, or dumb: It is active, autonomous, and articulate. It’s a way of fighting back.”
“Sad Girl-ism” has always been the beauty within the chaos, but how do we define the scope of romantic victimhood? The culture of the “Sad Girl” resides more in current pop music, right person-wrong time tropes, and nostalgic “girlhood” movies. Gracie Abrams recently released her album The Secret of Us, with the song “Let it Happen” which takes sad girl pop to another romantic victimhood level.
The heart of this song lies in its chorus: “Lose to you and hand you my life/Here's to hoping you're worth all my time/I might barely know you, but still/Don't love you yet, but probably will/Turn me into something tragic/Just for you, I let it happen”
Not only does Gracie bet on the fact that this emerging relationship will live a short life, but also prematurely embraces the loss because the person is important enough to her that she wants to bide in the heartbreak.
There is something comforting in letting heartbreak happen to yourself. Turning oneself into “something tragic” evokes that “Sad Girl persona.” To be heartbroken means that you indeed had something to break because the consensus when you’re a teenager is that breakups are meant to be “tragic.” Moreover, the girl must give wistful glances and dread waking up and seeing the person. The end of a teenage relationship is hard, but since when did smudged mascara become the new funeral dress code?
Gracie’s seemingly submissive lyrics do feed into the romantic victimhood narrative, but since the music is directed at teenage girls, the narrative feels treasured and protected from men who will inevitably leave their predictable “men can also be sad” comments.
While the “Sad Girl” persona may seem self-pitying, listening to “Let it Happen” while keeping the movement in mind, reveals Gracie’s own victimhood persona being fueled by a desire to want more than what her relationship and what she might be capable of.
Why is it easier to shame ourselves than confront the source of our sadness, pain, and suffering? I believe sadness is synonymous with emptiness. We can disassociate from our feelings and leave ourselves to be judged by some external moral conscience; perhaps, one that belongs to someone who pays us just the right amount of attention so we can fill our film canisters with rolls of boys wiping away our tears and running to catch us when we collapse. These feelings of temporary affection satiate a lack of attention we pay to ourselves. Being a “Sad Girl” means coddling your desire so that while you bask in your emptiness and fill yourself up with that film roll, you can always return to your eternal flame. After all, sadness, like desire, is reserved for the “Sad Girls” and the “Sad Girls” only because in every woman, is a little bit of a “Sad Girl.”
COP16: Action or Empty Promises?
Juliana Madriñán, Opinion
November 24, 2024
In a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, global summits like COP16 are often praised as a chance to make active progress. Yet, as this specific conference in Cali, Colombia, concluded, the question of whether these high-profile declarations translate into meaningful change remained. Behind the optimistic speeches and handshakes lies a sobering reality: governments continue to fall short of their promises, powerful nations remain hesitant to lead the charge, and those advocating for the environment face growing threats.
Held from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, COP16 focused on the overlapping climate change and biodiversity loss crises. The protection of ecosystems is now understood to be inextricably linked to the fight against climate change as the loss of biodiversity exacerbates the environmental crisis. COP summits have long been seen as the world’s opportunity to take decisive action against climate change. Nations convene, sign agreements, and commit to reducing emissions, protecting ecosystems, and promoting sustainable development. However, despite years of negotiation, representatives’ progress has often been underwhelming.
The gap between rhetoric and action is now painfully clear. Governments often sign pledges but fail to follow through on them. Delays in putting agreements in action call into question the credibility of international climate efforts, eroding public trust. This inherent gap between expectation and reality has become a defining feature of climate diplomacy. Until governments make good on their promises, the crisis will continue to intensify.
It was notable that some of the world's most influential countries did not lead at COP16. The United States – a nation often seen as a key player in global climate negotiations – attended the summit as an observer rather than a direct participant. While the U.S. was not the only passive country, its refusal to take an active role in COP16 sent a troubling message of inaction to the rest of the world. If the U.S. and other major powers refuse to lead, the momentum necessary to drive global climate action will be stymied. Climate change is a collective challenge that requires unified leadership, but without the full participation of major players, it becomes increasingly difficult for smaller nations, especially those with fewer resources, to enact the changes necessary to combat the crisis. Leadership is not just about attending summits – countries must act on the agreements they make, or risk leaving vulnerable nations behind.
Meanwhile, environmental advocates, concerned about biodiversity loss and climate change, remain under threat. In Latin America, these individuals are threatened, violently attacked, and killed as they work to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable practices. Colombia, where COP16 was held, has one of the highest mortality rates for environmental activists. These defenders are critical to maintaining the health of the planet, yet they are tragically under-protected and undervalued. Their safety and security should be a top priority in international climate agreements, as without them, the global fight against climate change will be severely compromised.
Unlike many previous COP conferences, which have often been closed to the general public, COP16 included public forums to foster active participation. The conference made significant strides in engaging the public, providing a platform for those most affected by climate change to voice their concerns and propose solutions.
Despite the state of the world, there is still hope—and this was perhaps the most important message of COP16. Renowned anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis delivered a message of resilience. Having spent decades studying Indigenous cultures and ecosystems, underscored the urgency of action, particularly for young people who will bear the brunt of climate change. His words struck a chord in Cali, reminding young attendees that while the climate crisis is daunting, they have the power to shape the future.
“As a young person, you need to decide between the good and the bad, and we know what the good is. So we can decide to fight for what’s good and follow its path, because we can’t destroy what’s bad, but we can fight for what’s good.”
Davis challenges the narrative of despair that often accompanies discussions of climate change, urging young people to remain hopeful and to take bold action in defense of the planet.
As COP16 comes to a close, the real test of its success will not be measured in promises, but in actions. Governments must now follow through on their promises, implement policies that align with the urgency of the situation, and protect those who are working to make meaningful change.
The stakes have never been higher. If the world is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, leaders must act decisively, and young people must pave the way.
Musk and Trump: The Bromance That’s Led to Catastrophe
Eliot Bicknell, Opinion
November 24, 2024
Over the past week, President-elect Donald Trump has announced a slew of his future appointments to his cabinet. The list is all-around perplexing, listing Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Congressman Pam Bondi as Attorney General, both of whom are woefully inexperienced and involved in their own respective sex scandals. Even more surprisingly though, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, was announced as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency along with Vivek Ramaswamy.
Despite an extensive history of being politically unaffiliated, Musk has been heavily involved in the Trump campaign over the last year. In July, he pledged to donate around 45 million dollars to the campaign every month and has followed through on that promise. He has also appeared on stage at several rallies, serving as a socially inept hype man for the soon-to-be president. This cabinet appointment is his reward.
Despite the fact that Musk has clearly bought it, his friendship with Trump seems to have developed over the past month. Musk spent election night with Trump and his family, and the two have embarked on various excursions together, including a trip to Texas for a SpaceX launch. Their companionship makes sense to some extent: the two are both wealthy and seemingly insecure. However, this friendship, and now political affiliation, is likely one with a short fuse. Musk and Trump both have large personalities and have been known to sever relationships without warning. Similar to Trump firing many cabinet members in his last term, Musk has a history of firing employees over minor disagreements. It is uncertain whether this relationship will stand the test of time or blow up in a battle of egos.
But what is the Department of Government Efficiency? Will Musk have any real power? The answer to these questions remains unclear thus far. Trump put out a vague statement last week saying that the new department would “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies” and “provide advice and guidance from outside of government.” The department’s description aligns with the Republican agenda to cut federal agencies such as the education and transportation departments, but it will act outside the government. This aspect of the department exists to protect Musk from conflict-of-interest law as his companies interact with the government regularly, meaning if he was an official government employee he would likely be prosecuted. We don't know yet what Musk’s role will entail.
Donald Trump has a way of doing appallingly unprecedented things that jeopardize democracy, and he has done so yet again with this appointment. He seems to have obvious designs for a dictatorship and a general distaste for morality. Although this rhetoric is a tired one in 2024, we cannot allow these horrific actions to fade into the status quo more than they already have. Our president may be beginning to reinstate an oligarchy in front of our very eyes, we cannot sit idle. The frequency of these inept decisions does not detract from the ramifications of every single one. Incompetence has become the expectation, and rightfully so, but we cannot let a dictatorship become our reality. Atrocities need to keep being treated as atrocities, no matter how acclimated to them we may be.