by Bex Pendrak I sat nervously on my porch, staring out across the backyard at the line of trees shielding my house from the rest of Ithaca. What if I had made a mistake, if my impulsive decision would lead to months of regret? My legs began to bounce in a futile attempt to release … Continue reading
On Drinking Black Coffee
by Mariana Meriles I start my day with coffee. Black. And if anyone has ever told you that they genuinely enjoy the taste of black coffee, let me be the first to say: they’re lying. Or the coffee has burned off their taste buds. Still, I don’t think I’ve put any milk or sugar in … Continue reading
Mask Up: Wearing a mask for confrontation
by Shahad Salman The human practice of adornment and accessorizing clearly showcases itself in the range of different masks people choose to wear. On a daily basis, I encounter a plethora of unique art and expressions in the masks of strangers. Picking out a mask to match with my outfit has become a new routine … Continue reading
Looking At You, Looking At Me
by Emma Eisler In high school, my flirtations are riddled with small lies: Of course I’m from San Francisco, not the suburbs; fake names and alter egos when my best friend and I sneak onto the college campus at night. A friend reveals to me that an acquaintance in our English class has developed a … Continue reading
“Kau-dher”
by Faima Quadir Qadr(قَادِر) – power; one of the 100 names of God in Islam, meaning “Almighty.” I went to preschool in the basement of a church in suburban New Jersey. I did not realize it at the time, but in hindsight the room with stained glass windows and columns of benches was definitely a … Continue reading
Imposter Syndrome
by Grace Lee I’m friends with a lot of brilliant people. Not to brag, but it’s true – they’re intelligent, mature, empathetic, and passionate. They’re the kind of people who excel in life, who win flashy awards, write brilliant papers, and get accepted to prestigious programs. However, very few of them, if any, feel like … Continue reading
Things That a Mask is Not
by Jean Cambareriart by Belle McDonald The coronavirus pandemic, however terrible it has been, has given many a chance to slow down, learn new skills, dive deeper into hobbies – you know, get creative. They do say that Shakespeare or one of those other old white geezers was the most productive and creative under quarantine. … Continue reading
On Latency
by Emma Bernstein Latent. /ˈlātnt/. Adjective. In biology: “(of a bud, resting stage, etc.) – lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.” In medicine: “(of a disease) in which the usual symptoms are not yet manifest.” In speech: “(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; … Continue reading
An Ode to The Six Most Absurd—and Unique—Team Mascots
by Emma Bernstein From the ghosts that supposedly haunt Ithaca’s centuries-old buildings, to the various pumpkins that have been tossed, flaming, into gorges or been found perched atop the clocktower, to the legend of certain campus statues’ vested interest in the social construct of virginity, our school is no stranger to the unique or the … Continue reading