Voices

Why “The Interview” is almost justification for digital piracy

chathamcommunique

Cyber crime is one of the fastest growing (and most lucrative) illegal activities in the United States. Figures from the FBI put overall damages as a result of cyber crime activities at around 0.2 to 0.8 of the US GDP (somewhere between 24 and 120 billion dollars annually).

Due to these factors, cybercrimes like digital piracy are among the most heavily prosecuted in the country (although there is a concurrent low rate of arrests due to the nature of the crime and the sheer volume of people involved even as accessories).

Given that cybercrime and digital piracy are theft, I will allege that I don’t approve. This is, after all, related to peoples’ livelihoods. However, there are circumstances where not only do I approve of it, I would argue that it’s a civic duty to pirate the heck out of something. Case in point: Seth Rogen’s latest travesty, “The Interview.”

One of the first life lessons the average person learns, either via firsthand experience or watching some other poor idiot try, is that poking a hornet’s nest with anything is a very bad idea. Smashing an individual hornet is fine; there are very rarely repercussions for it. It’s when you get bolder after smacking the first hornet and decide to go after the nest that it becomes a problem. Usually, you’ll get stung so many times that you regret being alive–if the stings don’t kill you as an example to everyone else.

In this scenario, the hornet’s nest is North Korea, and Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Randall Park are the collective moron with a stick. And, carrying through with the hornet analogy, the stings are the capability for nuclear warfare. If you can imagine that, you’ll realize just how bad of a very bad idea “The Interview” was.

The Sony hack that almost ended the release of the aforementioned movie was a case of civic responsibility in an attempt to prevent World War III, rather than an attack on the freedom of speech. Here’s a tip: There’s freedom of speech, and there’s being an idiot. And then there’s Seth Rogen and James Franco.

“The Interview” makes fun of a man who is painted by the media as a silly buffoon and who is great for being the butt of a joke, while simultaneously forgetting that he has nuclear capability and is suspected of more military attacks than most neighboring countries (with the caveat that no one can prove it because he’s supposed to be a silly little comedic figure who threatens nuclear war but doesn’t do it because he’s after something).

Kim Jong-un looks and acts like a buffoon. He is a great source of comedic news for the rest of the world to laugh at. His leadership and how he acts allows the rest of the world to point and laugh while forgetting that North Korea is a perpetrator of one of the longest on-going series of human rights abuses in the modern world.

Instead of going to see “The Interview” in theaters and supporting two morons who make fun of a country where people are literally tortured, imprisoned, and subsequently worked to death in labor camps alongside three generations of their family for doing things like listening to even a few notes of the wrong music, spend the money you’ve saved on Liberty in North Korea (LINK), a group that helps North Korean refugees, instead.

“The Interview” is not freedom of speech. It is not a comedy. It is a travesty.

Don’t make an effort to see it, and spend the money you saved on something worthwhile.

Foodie on the Half Shell: New Years resolutions for a foodie

chathamcommunique

My New Years resolution for 2015 was all about food–as is everything else in my life. I wanted to get healthier, maybe lose the 20 pounds I gained in the last two years, and limit my eating habits to a more vegan-friendly diet. I knew I had to write down concrete resolutions, though, if I ever wanted to see them put into action.

  1. Vegan before six. (Which pretty much means at dinner I eat cheese, because cheese is everything.)

  2. Work out two to three days a week. This may not sound like a lot but I have realized if I put my expectations too high, I get really sad when I don’t work out a lot and end up not going.

  3. No drinking during the week. It’s just healthy to drink less in general!

  4. Cook seasonally.

For the first two weeks, I am happy to say I have been successful in my endeavors. I have felt amazing eating so much produce rather than cheese and carbs. I hope to fill up the column this semester with all types of vegan and seasonal ideas. The seasonal inspiration is mainly from a cookbook I picked up in New York City over winter break. The book is called “In Season,” by Sarah Raven. Each chapter is devoted to different types of produce that are in season in certain months. It comes with some amazing recipes to get you really excited about what is sustainably growing during the different seasons.

My recipe I would like to share with you today is not entirely in season, but it’s not completely out of season either. I made a butternut squash with goat cheese and thyme, baked with breadcrumbs and parmesan on top. It is best served with a simple pasta or large green salad.

What you will need for a main dish for one person, or a smaller dish for two people:

1 butternut squash

1 Tbs of thyme

2 Tbs of goat cheese

¼ cups of parmesan

¼ cups of breadcrumbs

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Start with setting your oven to 400 degrees. Cut the butternut squash in half, lengthwise. Scrape the seeds and guts out. Rub olive oil and salt and pepper on the two fleshy halves of the squash and place them both face down on a cookie sheet. Put in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the flesh is soft. When finished baking, take the squash out and let it cool until you are able to handle it.

Scrape the meat out of one half of the squash, leaving a layer of flesh remaining. Scrape the other half out completely. Put the scraped out contents into a bowl with the goat cheese and thyme. Check seasonings and add more salt and pepper if needed. Stuff the shell with the layer of flesh remaining with the goat cheese and squash mix. Sprinkle with parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle it with a little bit of olive oil to finish it off. Pop in the oven with the setting on low broil. Take out when the top is browned.

Little Red Riding Vogue: Marsala chosen as Pantone’s Color of the Year

chathamcommunique

Whether you realize it or not, at the beginning of every year, an important decision is made in the fashion world. It affects clothes, makeup, home goods—you name it. This monumental moment is when Pantone chooses the Color of the Year.

Last year was Radiant Orchid. The year before was Emerald. This year, is the year of Marsala, which Pantone describes as, “a naturally robust and earthy red wine.”

So what exactly is Marsala? It’s not a color you use in your everyday vocabulary, but no doubt you’ve seen it before. Marsala is a passionate red with calming natural tones. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, said, “Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth.” Still, how many products can you think of that are exactly Marsala? To make this a bit easier to follow—understand that this decision leaves a broad spectrum.

When Pantone announces the Color of the Year, stores scramble to find what they carry in that shade. Usually, it’s not much. They can easily make products to fit that description, but that would take too long, and by the time they have the product out, someone else has already drawn their customer’s attention. The secret is to stretch the color.

When Emerald was announced, suddenly, any shade of green would do. When Radiant Orchid was chosen, people started stocking products in shades of purple. By choosing Marsala, Pantone has given us a year of red.

The color is chosen carefully based on trends seen throughout different markets. Eiseman said of Marsala, “This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings, and interiors.”

However, The Color of the Year, isn’t the only prediction Pantone makes. They also make specific predictions for incoming fashion. Their Fashion Color Report for Spring 2015 was based on the New York Fashion Week from September 4-11, 2014.

Their predictions for colors are soft, cool hues with natural neutrals. For women’s fashion, they expect an eclectic, ethereal mix. For men’s fashion, they call for uncontrived, natural, deep tones.

Knowing this, Marsala is a smart choice for Color of the Year. It’s deep and warm, but soft and natural enough to come across as an almost neutral shade of red. As Eiseman said, it translates well to different products without appearing gaudy or overwhelming.

All hail Marsala until they choose something else for 2016.

 

Foodie on the Half Shell: Finals Week power tacos

chathamcommunique

With finals coming up, we all have to make sure we are eating energizing foods that are good for our bodies and souls. Around this time we are known to eat foods that are quick and pleasurable… since we deserve it, right? Well no, our bodies don’t deserve those burgers, fries, and fried chicken tenders.

For the next couple of weeks, it is even more important that you are aware of what you are putting into your body. The greasy foods will leave you feeling heavy and low on energy. What you need is super foods!

Think foods that are dense in nutrients and full of healthy fats to give you energy. Beans, yogurt, berries, avocado, and even dark chocolate can help you in those last couple of hours late at night when you are finishing your paper.

This recipe is fun and will be perfect to start your finals week off, or just perfect anytime you want some tasty tacos. These tacos are shallow fried to create a great crisp shell. Stuff spicy potatoes and protein dense vegetarian chili into the shell, top with some cheddar cheese and a great coleslaw recipe I have for you guys.

This recipe is perfect for the cold nights coming up, and it will heat you right up. Get a group of friends together to have a kick off to finals taco party, and make this recipe together.

What you’ll need for 10 tacos:

Crunchy tacos:

10 corn taco shells

¼ cup of canola oil (more if needed)

Heat a large skillet with canola oil. A note to keep while you are frying the taco shells–make sure to add in little bits of the oil throughout the process so nothing burns. Also, don’t dump too much in, because that will cause the shell to become soggy. Fry each side of the taco shells for about ten seconds. On the second side, fold the shell in half. Hold each side away from the other, though, so they still have an opening. Do this on each side. Transfer to a paper towel and sprinkle with a little bit of salt.

Spicy potatoes:

½ white onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

6 red skin potatoes, diced

1 jalapeno, diced finely

1 teaspoon of chipotle powder

1/3 cup of veggie stock

Sauté the onion, jalapeno, and garlic until the onions are translucent. Add the diced potatoes and stock. Cover the pan and let it sit. Keep an eye on the potatoes, though, and make sure to stir every five to ten minutes so they don’t burn. After the potatoes are nice and soft, add the chipotle powder. Smash the potatoes roughly. Don’t smash until they are smooth, you want them to be a little chunky.

Vegetarian chili:

Other half of the onion, diced

1/2 cup of diced peppers (any color)

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 cup of diced mini portabella mushrooms.

1 can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 tablespoon of chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onions, mushrooms, and garlic until the onions are translucent. Add the peppers until they are tender but not mushy. Add the cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Next, put in the diced tomatoes. Let the mixture sit for about ten minutes. Add the beans before serving.

Coleslaw:

2 cups of cabbage, grated or thinly sliced into their natural ribbons

1 tablespoon of Mayo

1 tablespoon of greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of smoky hot sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together.

Assemble the tacos by putting the potatoes into the taco first, then the chili, and top with cheese and the slaw.

Foodie on the Half Shell: Review of Industry Public House

chathamcommunique

I have noticed that I have been very focused on reviewing restaurants lately. That is telling of my kitchen life…with the end of the semester creeping up on me, I don’t have a lot of time to make dinner every night. I preach about making time for homemade healthy food on a college schedule, but even I can get worn down.

Last night I was able to unwind a little bit by going out to eat and listen to some live music. For dinner, Ben and I went out to the Industry Public House on Butler Street.

Lawrenceville is such a weird and wonderful place. While I was sipping on my tequila I looked out the window to see a female mannequin riding on a jumbo sized bowling pin in a window above a bowling alley. It must be some bowling alley…

Industry is a large space full of friendly faces drinking impossibly potent drinks. The restaurant has large windows out front to create an open feel to it, and even has two bars.

I was drawn to this restaurant because I heard about their “Smokestack” cocktails ($3 plus whatever liquor you pick). The smokestack is a simple two-step process where you pick out whatever bourbon, whiskey, or scotch you want, and then you pick a flavor to smoke it with.

The flavors include mesquite, maple, pecan, apple, and cherry. I had The Gilded Age ($10) cocktail which was tons of tequila with citrus, ginger, and fall spice bitters. Their cocktails are strong and not watered down with a lot of ice–only with a large ice cube. The tastes are strong and unique.

As for their food, the descriptions on the menu are enticing, but the food itself does not keep up with their cocktail’s sophistication. I had their Lucy Furnace ($10) which was a portabella cap with grilled onions, ricotta salata, tempura zucchini, and watercress.

The elements were great, and it was a decent sandwich, but quite dry and a little bland. What I really wanted was some garlic aioli to smear all over it.

With it, I ordered some french fries with cheddar cheese melted on top. The fries were pretty flimsy, and I wanted way more cheese. When I want refined pub food, I want lots of cheese, seasoning, and the right amount of grease.

Ben had their smokestack sandwich ($12) that had ribeye, cheddar, arugula, and horseradish. It was was not big and luxurious, as most meaty sandwiches are. It was pretty simple. His side dish was probably the star of the night. It was brussels sprouts, with bacon and gorgonzola. The seasoning was nice and strong.

The pub is a pub and has above average pub food. Do not miss out on their drinks for any longer. Go and enjoy a game on one of their dozen televisions and sip on one of their many beers on tap or whiskeys.

Keep calm and cast a recall

chathamcommunique

What? What’s that you say? A bunch of rich white jerks have been elected to Congress again? Hah. Don’t scare me like that. I thought you meant something catastrophic had happened!

Yes, another election day has come and gone. The world is still turning, the American government has not collapsed into all-out anarchy, and the Congress still has a white male majority. The only difference is that most of them are Republican now instead of closer to an even split.

It. Is. Not. The. End.

Stop panicking. A Republican-controlled Senate is not the end of the world. The American government has failsafes built in to make sure the government doesn’t collapse from the little things like Republicans being in charge. And, yes, that applies to the Democrats as well. They are not saints either.

If there is one thing to be learned from sitting through mind-numbingly dull lectures on how the American government works, it is that you eventually take away one shining little fact: the recall election is a glorious invention and exists for a reason.

The recall election is a wonderful part of the American election process, and is the only one that is not used as much as it should be. In essence, the recall allows voters who are dissatisfied with elected officials–for example, officials who aren’t doing their job or are not in line with the will of the people in the case of the Republican Senate, as seems to be the case–to remove them from office before their term is ended.

The recall begins when a sufficient number of voters have signed a petition calling for the official they elected to be removed from office. A sufficient number of voters is defined by the American government as at least 10 percent of voters from the previous election, although the actual figures vary from state to state.

While a Republican-controlled Senate may prove to be a disaster, there is no reason to believe that it will be any worse than a Democrat-controlled Senate or even a bipartisan Senate.

For those who are convinced that a Republican-controlled Senate will always be the worst thing ever, American history has proved that a single party controlling the Senate and/or the House will not make the government collapse. Over the past 100 years, the Republicans have had a majority in the Senate for roughly 34 years total.

The Democrats have had a majority for a rough total of 66 years. In the greater scheme of things, the Republicans have had majority control of the US House and Senate for far less total time than the Democrats have had–26 years in rough total compared to the Democrats’ rough total control of a cumulative 60 years, with an even 14 of bipartisan control.

The US government has survived for over 150 years. Two years of a conservative-controlled government will not make much of a difference. Yes, the Republicans are obstructionist and irritating and make a lot of really poor choices–the majority of which make people hate them, although usually for a good reason–but they have not managed to destroy the country yet.

Elections come and go. Politicians get elected. Life goes on.

And if the politicians are terrible, there is always the recall.

Little Red Riding Vogue: The new alternative to shopping at outlet malls

chathamcommunique

This week, H&M launched a collection from couture designer Alexander Wang. Most of the items sold out almost immediately. Wang and H&M announced the collaboration at Coachella back in April, and just a few days ago, it was finally made available for purchase online.

The line consisted of a sporty style in a very basic color palette—very Wang indeed. It was a huge collection which included tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, footwear, hosiery, and plenty of accessories ranging from swimming goggles to boxing gloves. The collection was for men and women, but many of the pieces can translate well to either sex—Wang has always had a talent for edgy unisex looks.

The tops ranged from crop tops to sweaters, each boasting a big price tag for H&M clothing. The cheapest tops are roughly $35 and the most expensive borders on $130. The collection also includes a cardigan for about $350. Bottoms fall anywhere on a range of $60 to $350 and dresses range from about $60 to $150. If that makes your head spin, don’t even look at outerwear. Jackets in the collection stretch from prices of $70 to $350. A sports bra will cost you $40 and a bathing suit will cost you $60. Shoes are anywhere from $80 to $300. If you’re really looking for something more affordable, you can get a whistle or a water bottle for $13.

Now, looking at these prices, a majority of people would probably shake their heads in disappointment. H&M has always been a champion of stylish clothes for cheap prices. Though, this isn’t the first time they’ve partnered with a designer and raised their prices. And they’re also not the only store pulling this stunt.

Recently, Target had a big collaboration with Altuzarra. For many Target shoppers, some of the prices seemed ridiculous. The price tags of the line stretched from a reasonable $20 to a whopping $90. Target also received a lot of flack for not carrying the line in any plus sizes. This wasn’t the Target everyone was used to, and as a general note, people normally don’t like change.

However, once again, many pieces from Target’s Altuzarra collection sold out almost instantly as soon as they were released on Target’s online store. And the online reviews for the few remaining pieces of the collection are fairly positive.

So what is it that draws people in? If so many people are finding problems with the high prices at these usually affordable stores, who’s buying out the collections before they’ve even had time to breathe? Here comes the guilty confession portion of the column.

It’s people like me. It’s the people with fashion fetishes who will do anything to get their hands on a little couture. Normal prices for Alexander Wang fashion are astronomical. The only people that can afford Wang right off the runway are celebrities. The same can be said for Altuzarra. So when you see something from Wang or Altuzarra for under a thousand dollars, you pounce. If you’re as bad as me, you actually mark the release date in your calendar so you can be ready as soon as the collection goes live.

Personally, I ended up not buying anything from either collection. I had a list in my mind for both—as far as what pieces I thought were worth the price. In the end though, for most of the pieces I really wanted, some other runway junkies had beat me to it and the pieces were already sold out.

The next big collaboration I’ve got my eye on is between the grunge-chic webstore Nasty Gal and the makeup company MAC Cosmetics. No doubt it will be the kind of makeup Wednesday Addams or Chloe Sevigny would keep in their carry-on. But make sure you hit it up right away. MAC’s last big collection—based off of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — sold out immediately and never restocked, which meant broke college girls like me didn’t get a chance to snag some of that red lipstick modeled after the famous “Rocky Horror Picture Show” lips. The collection will be available online and in stores on December 4.

I’m not flattered: The problem with catcalling

chathamcommunique

Every once in a while when I scroll down my Facebook newsfeed, I see troubling things. However this past week I stumbled across a friend’s status that troubled me more than your run of the mill annoying selfie would. I saw the status of a friend–let’s just call him Joe. Now Joe, like a lot of people, watched the video that the anti-street harassment organization produced that went viral last week, and his response was essentially that the behavior displayed in the video was in some way complimentary.

When I made the rookie mistake of reading the comments on the video I realized that what my friend, along with a lot of people with a Y-chromosome, seemed to be missing is that what women are objecting to is not a simple “hello” or “you look very nice today”.

Like Joe, the consensus seems to be that “catcalling” is a form of flattery or as a commenter on the video put it, “the burden of being a beautiful woman.” Over half of women have reported experiencing street harassment or being followed in their lifetime. One in six women will be the victims of sexual violence. From whistles to the outrage over being “friendzoned,” we live in a culture where some men think that they are entitled to women’s bodies and time, and they react horrendously if they don’t get either.

Why is it considered overly sensitive to want to walk through the world without dealing with unwarranted comments about one’s body from total strangers? Why is having a total stranger follow you and tell you they’d like to see you naked supposed to be considered romantic as opposed to what it really is: uncomfortable and sometimes downright scary?

For the record, I don’t know a single couple that started with catcalling. This kind of behavior is a symptom of a larger problem, but that probably should not be all that surprising. We grow up in a world where an entire genre of movies revolve around love stories where women who say no just need to be won over with behavior that borders on stalking.

We live in a world where women’s safety is threatened for saying no. If you think I’m exaggerating, I could tell you the story of the night a group of young men followed me for two blocks because I wouldn’t give one of them my number. Although it definitely didn’t feel that way at the time, I was lucky in comparison to 27-year-old Mary Spears who was shot and killed for doing the same thing, or the 26-year-old woman whose throat was slashed for refusing to talk to a guy, and sadly so many others.

Comedienne Amanda Seales debated Steve Santagati on CNN and said, “Catcalling is not complementary. Guys think that by letting you know that they would be interested in sleeping with you, that it’s compliment, and actually it’s really just objectifying me when I’m trying to walk in my daily life.”

Instead of telling women how to dress, saying, “boys will be boys,” or encouraging young women to fluff the egos of men who are pursuing them for the sake of their safety, why not try to create a culture where men have respect for others’ humanity and can take no for an answer?

Foodie on the Half Shell: 21 and over brunch delights

chathamcommunique

Turning 21 really lends itself to you when it comes to brunch. Honestly, boozing and brunching are a match made in heaven. I love Bloody Marys so much that I used to drink them virgin style. Also, you can’t forget the Mimosas and Bellinis.

My first brunch as a 21-year-old consisted of both of those classical brunch libations. Bagels and lox go so much better with a spicy Bloody Mary, and the same goes for a sweet and savory french toast with a Bellini.

Last Sunday, my partner Ben and I journeyed to Tamari in Lawrenceville for some brunch. Tamari is a cool pan Asian restaurant that offers my favorite sushi in the city. Their brunch keeps some of their Asian inspired dishes, but you can also get brunch favorites like a make-your-own-omelette.

Tamari is usually very busy, and you have to make a reservation unless you want to sit at the bar–which isn’t so bad either. For their brunch on Sundays, however, they seemed to be pretty slow. This is not a sign of a bad brunch, though. The prices shouldn’t be deterring anyone, either. You can order a “prix fixe” brunch for $23, which consists of a cocktail, a small plate, an entree, and a delicious cinnamon roll. We did not do the prix fixe lunch, but I think it is a great option if you are hungry.

To start, we ordered their small plate of Hamachi Crudo ($11). To drink I had their guava-mango Bellini ($8). The Hamachi Crudo consisted of half-inch thick slices of yellow fin tuna. It was served raw, and it tasted sweet and fresh. It was served with tangy house-made pickles, Tobiko (flying fish roe), and Crème Fraîche. The dish was delicious and had a surprising amount of sweet notes. It all worked together nicely.

I didn’t want a full on sushi dish, but I wanted something along those lines, and this dish was a perfect compromise that fit into our brunch nicely.

As Ben’s entree, he had the Hanger steak and eggs ($12). I was kind of expecting something heartier to look at, but it ended up being an artfully composed plate of small portions. That’s great if that’s the type of brunch you are going for. I am pretty much always in need of big portions of cheesy, starchy, and spicy foods.

The dish was still tasty and innovative. Hanger steak is lean piece of meat that is best served Pittsburgh-style. The roasted corn succotash was probably the best thing on the plate other than the steak. It also came with a gorgonzola cream and a fried egg. It was keenly done, but I was left unsatisfied–and it wasn’t even my entree.

I had the made-to-order omelette ($10). The cool thing about an omelette is that you can judge a chef by their technique. It is known that sometimes, instead of an interview, a chef will be asked to make an omelette to assess their skills. This omelette was cooked nicely, and I chose to stuff it with aged cheddar, asparagus, kale, and shrimp. It was pretty bland, and was crying out for a little spice or just a pinch of salt. The omelette comes with some toast and some potatoes.

I had their Bloody Mary with my entree, spicy style. You can choose from three different types of Bloody Marys: Traditional, Rye Mary, and Spicy Mary. Mine was good, and the spice level was on point.

This review sounds like I really didn’t enjoy my brunch at Tamari, but a brunch has to be pretty bad for me not to. I have a feeling that it was a pretty slow day, and maybe their A-Game chef was home awaiting their dinnertime rush the next day.

Their dinner is always amazing, and I truly think that their brunch has the potential to be the same. The food was good, but if they are going to be expensive and classy then they need to pump it up to the next level. I think Tamari is great for birthday brunch if you want to splurge a little bit, or go out with your friends for a get together. I will try back again soon–I refuse to give up on you, Tamari!

Costume commentary from Chatham’s Halloween Dinner and Mocktails

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Costume 1: Dani Marcano dressed as the Reaper from “Children of the Corn” (or something like that).

Whatever she is, it’s frightening and shows her usual dedication to slightly unnerving characters from horror movies. Last year, she was dressed as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and the year before that, she dressed as Samara from “The Ring.” This year’s costume involves reaping for a harvest that should probably never be mentioned unless in the light of day.

Not pictured:  Her general irritation with “Sexy Freddy Kreuger” costumes.

Photo Courtesy of Student Affairs

Photo Courtesy of Student Affairs

Costume 2: As far as costumes go, dressing as a spider’s web with a butterfly caught in it deserves credit. It’s clever, cute, and mildly creepy when you think too hard about the theme.

Creepy cute is in this year, though, and the costume is fantastic.  Found materials are also awesome, and this one definitely deserves the “Most Creative Costume” award.

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Costume 3: Dragons are amazing. Everything is better with dragons (yes, everything). Costume contests are no exception to this rule. That is why a homemade dragon costume won Shannon Ward the prize for “Best Overall” costume, as per usual (although nothing will beat the awesomeness of her blue-ringed octopus hat from last year).

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Costume 4: Amber Neszpaul helped Banquo’s ghost make an appearance at the Halloween dinner, although there was no MacBeth to torment.

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Photo Credit: Dasha Jolly

Costume 5: The Sharknado (the funniest costume and possibly the most epic one of the night).

Photo Courtesy of Student Affairs

Photo Courtesy of Student Affairs