I’m waiting for a Pence presidency

Sarah Swindell   Staff Writer   It feels like I am swearing when I say, “President of the United States Donald Trump”. It hurts my heart to think about it, but it’s a reality I cannot deny any longer.  It has not even been long since the inauguration of President Trump, and already the presidency is in hot water. From the blatant lies about trivial … Continue reading I’m waiting for a Pence presidency

The Blessing of Bacon

Sarah Swindell   Opinions Editor Bacon. It is a beautiful thing. It is crispy, crunchy, greasy, and goes great with everything. I do mean everything. Check the internet for bacon cocktails and bacon wreaths (they are very much real). A work of art, bacon has been a staple in the American diet since the conception of this nation. George Washington kept his own free-range pigs … Continue reading The Blessing of Bacon

These towns they are a’changin: The realities of gentrification

Sarah Swindell    Staff Writer Gentrification has its perks. We cannot lie about that. The aspects of hipster culture like cupcake shops and coffee spots with free wifi emerge on the street corner. Everything gets a bit cleaner, for a time. Housing is modernized and old buildings left for dead can find new life. This image is glossy and sugar coated, like those gluten-free vegan … Continue reading These towns they are a’changin: The realities of gentrification

The Seasonal Surge of Service and What It Really Means

Sarah Swindell   Staff Writer Soon, when shopping, the faint sound of bells will be heard throughout shopping malls. Food drive signs will be more and more prevalent. Toy drop-offs will be sitting inside super stores passively drawing customers to drop off a toy. Even the news will be promoting local service work with major organizations. It is a sign of the inevitable push to … Continue reading The Seasonal Surge of Service and What It Really Means

The True American Horror Story in NC

  Sarah Swindell   Staff Writer Growing up, North Carolina coastal myths and folktales were a large part of my life. I remember for my seventh birthday my family took me to see the famous Lost Colony play in Manteo, North Carolina’s national park area run by the Roanoke Island Historical Association. Much to my surprise, the story I saw acted out as a child … Continue reading The True American Horror Story in NC

The Fairytale of Romantic Relationships in 2016

Sarah Swindell   Opinions Editor Once upon a time, when I was a little girl in braided pigtails, I dreamed of a prince coming to me in some cinematic moment and the world would fall into place. I was intoxicated with childhood princess films, filling my imagination with dreams of happily ever after. As an older girl in braided pigtails verging on actual full-fledged adulthood, … Continue reading The Fairytale of Romantic Relationships in 2016

The NFL and breast cancer: is it really to be applauded?

Sarah Swindell   Opinions Editor The month of October is always a time of change. It is the first official month of fall, bringing crunching leaves and changing colors. It is when the National Football League moves into full swing, moving out of divisional games into more conference match ups. When a home team takes on another in this iconic American sport, sports organizations do … Continue reading The NFL and breast cancer: is it really to be applauded?

The Kardashian Plague: the pop culture delusion that never ends

Sarah Swindell  Staff Writer   The Kardashian branding is addictive like Oreo cookies, crack, and pumpkin spice lattes. It seems that we, as an American culture, just cannot get enough of the family. Personally, I have been beyond satiated. They are everywhere I look: my Snapchat, my everyday conversations, even the grocery store checkout. Everywhere I look they seem to pop up, and this writer … Continue reading The Kardashian Plague: the pop culture delusion that never ends

All Hail the Breast

  Sarah Swindell   Staff Writer The changing of the calendar marked more than a change into October. It is officially breast cancer awareness month. Pink ribbons and non-profit campaigns will be just about as prevalent as Halloween candy and decorations. However, in a month dedicated to preserving the female body from this unique and ravaging disease, we seem to remain ignorant to the measures taken … Continue reading All Hail the Breast

America’s firearm fixation from the outside looking inward

Sarah Swindell   Staff Writer   Living in the state of North Carolina, it is hard to throw a rock and not hit someone who owns a gun. It seems a southern tradition to keep several in the home. I know my family owns multiple guns, three of which were passed down after my farming grandfather passed away. Hunting on the weekends, gun shows in … Continue reading America’s firearm fixation from the outside looking inward