‘My Hero Academia’ Season 5, Episode 1: “All Hands on Deck! Class 1-A”
Warning: This review may contain spoilers for this episode and previous episodes of ‘My Hero Academia’
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Warning: This review may contain spoilers for this episode and previous episodes of ‘My Hero Academia’
By Kellyn Harrison Warning: This review may contain spoilers for this episode and previous episodes of 'My Hero Academia' My Hero Academia was recommended to me in December by a friend because they knew my appreciation for action anime series. As someone new to the anime world, I dived into the series, unaware of how much it would impact my standards for future viewing experiences. The series plays with your heart by presenting us with lovable characters, while giving us an extremely well-developed twist on what is sometimes an overused hero cliche. Instead of just a group of people holding superpowers, 80 percent of the population is born with a quirk (Note: a quirk is a hero’s superpower), and a “quirkless” fanboy named Izuku Midoriya (Hero name: Deku) meets his role model hero, only to take over the infamous role of his predecessor, the No. 1 hero All Might. All Might, being the “symbol of peace” or someone people could rely on to keep evil away. Or specifically to Deku and many of his classmates in Class 1-A, someone who would influence and encourage the next generation of heroes to not only keep civilians safe, but restore society’s crumbling trust in heroes.
Welcome back to another episode of Byte's news podcast, "Wrapped Up"! In this episode, Kellyn Harrison reports on HuffPost layoffs, Directors Guild of America nominations, the PowerPuff Girl's live-action show, and Netflix implementing a new verification system for user log-ins.Host: Kellyn HarrisonEdited by: Kellyn HarrisonGraphic by: Emily Hanes.
Ball State Daily · Wrapped Up S1E6-Journalists leave their Huff-Post
Welcome back to this weekend's episode of Wrapped Up! This time, Kellyn Harrison is reporting on the latest news regarding Daft Punk's split, the expansion of Avatar and Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, PlayStation's new VR project, and Tom Holland's releasing of the third Spiderman title.
Welcome back to this weekend's episode of Wrapped Up! This time, Kellyn Harrison is reporting on the latest news regarding Daft Punk's split, the expansion of Avatar and Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, PlayStation's new VR project, and Tom Holland's releasing of the third Spiderman title. Host: Kellyn Harrison Edited by: Kellyn Harrison Thumbnail by: Emily Hanes
The walls of the dimly lit hallway leading to MU 123 are chipped with avocado green paint. The flooring has decades of hope, laughter, love, sweat, tears, and dirt from the bottoms of Ball State alumni’s shoes caked into the tiles’ seams. Despite the age, the second you enter the quaint mirrored room in the Hargreaves Music Building, you are instantly transported into an environment full of dedication, goodwill, and support. Sounds of laughter, singing, chanting, and clapping all filter into the hallway. Even while social distancing, the Ball State University Singers bring students of all majors together to fill the charming room with passion and warmth.
by Kellyn HarrisonThe walls of the dimly lit hallway leading to MU 123 are chipped with avocado green paint. The flooring has decades of hope, laughter, love, sweat, tears, and dirt from the bottoms of Ball State alumni's shoes caked into the tiles’ seams. Despite the age, the second you enter the quaint mirrored room in the Hargreaves Music Building, you are instantly transported into an environment full of dedication, goodwill, and support. Sounds of laughter, singing, chanting, and clapping all filter into the hallway. Even while social distancing, the Ball State University Singers bring students of all majors together to fill the charming room with passion and warmth.“You just get this giant family that consists of the current cast, alumni, and the director,” junior assistant company manager Kamryn Yenser said. “We are a very heavily student-run group. I mean our director does a lot of logistical things, but our organization holds its traditions to a high standard and that is what keeps us connected.” Alumna Samantha Ragusin pins freshman vocal music education major Zoe McNulty. Photo by Kellyn HarrisonTraditions include the biannual pinning ceremony. This is where new members receive their name tag and pin from alumni as an official initiation to the group. Tags and pins are to be placed over their hearts at every off-campus function. On Feb. 16, three members—Zoe McNulty, Joe Lowry, and Dana Rodriguez—were pinned by alumna Samantha Ragusin. Ragusin graduated last year after four years of being a University Singer. She led as the group’s dance captain for three years.“Everyone in the group has been overly kind and friendly. That moment [getting pinned] meant the world to me because it showed how much I was truly wanted in the group,” freshman vocal music education major Zoe McNulty said.The pinning ceremony was quickly held before everyone left the room in order to let the air in the room circulate. Despite this, you could still feel and hear the excitement filter in from the hallway.Allowing time for air circulation is just one of the many regulations the singers are required to follow as part of the COVID-19 safety precautions advised by the School of Music. This specific regulation was established following a summer 2020 study meant to test how germs spread while playing instruments and singing. The study suggests performances and rehearsals be held outside, but due to freezing temperatures, the singers are forced to cut rehearsal time by practicing in an enclosed space and following air circulation policies.Rehearsal time isn’t the only aspect cut from the singers’ schedules. According to University Singers' director, Alan Alder, the choir has cut most of their performances within the past year due to COVID-19. The group’s 56th Spectacular was canceled last year, and many out-of-state performances were rescheduled.Ball State University Singers sing "Happy Birthday" to freshman Communications and Spanish major Katy Shaffer and sophomore Digital Video Production major Rudy Ahlersmeyer. Photo by Kellyn HarrisonA large project that has been rescheduled for May 2022 included the singers performing in Carnegie Hall. This was originally scheduled for Memorial Day of this year.“Michael Davis is a former Ball State University Singer and director and is currently the assistant artistic director of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. He’s been invited to do a choral performance in Carnegie Hall,” Alder said. “He wanted the University Singers to come and be part of the core of the chorus. Learning the music was going to be one of the projects we were going to work on this semester.”However, this hasn’t stopped the group from forging ahead and entertaining local audiences. The group was able to perform once on Nov. 1, 2020, in Emens Auditorium. The venue was different from Sursa Hall’s modest atmosphere, but the singers needed a larger space in order to abide by COVID regulations and safely hold their large fanbase.“It just keeps us motivated. It provides a sense of normalcy for the group and the community. They can come and see a live performance all while being safe,” senior company manager Justin McMiller said. “The only challenge is taking an extra intermission at shows, so air can be filtered. So taking extra precautions like that is important, that way everyone is safe.”In doing so, the singers’ title as “Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors” continues to ring loud throughout the community.The Ball State University Singers plan to perform their 57th Spectacular in Emens Auditorium on April 9 and 10. Tickets will sell through the Emens Auditorium box office, and it is advised to purchase tickets in advance due to limited seating as required by Ball State COVID-19 policies and CDC guidelines.
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
by Kellyn Harrison The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. Ball State’s 41st annual Unity Week Celebration was held the week of Feb. 1. Unity Week only comes around once a year, but it aims to encourage a long-lasting understanding of diversity and solidarity amongst Ball State students through a series of entertainment-based and informational events. On Feb. 4, “Dare to Speak” invited students to a zoom call with speakers Carlos Andrés Gómez and Katie Kramer. There, attendees found themselves in a diverse community and a conversation of equity. Students and speakers alike shared their stories and provided strength to those who reached out. “Words speak just as loud as actions when it comes to social justice,”- Dare to Speak. Strength can come in many different colors, ages, sizes, genders, social-economic statuses, sexualities, etc., and the “work is never done” when it comes to expressing this. Nor is the work ever done when it comes to expressing how each person, no matter social identity, should be granted the same level of respect and safety. “Dare to Speak” expressed all this through the art of poetry. Providing a voice to many who may be speechless regarding the topic of their own social identity. The Art of Justice “Dare to Speak” was created through the partnership of Gómez and Kramer. When asked how “Dare to Speak” came to be, Gómez said they were continuously booked at the same venues and after a while, started collaborating. They found their writing adhered to the same idea of social justice. Now, together, they read poetry to communities in order to bring attention to many societal discrepancies. Topics include gender and sexuality, race and allyship, and mental health and grief. All of which, at least one speaker can provide a personal experience with. Placing empathy and vulnerability within each community they speak to. Paving the way for promoting allyship to those who also identify within each of these topics and making discussion with those who feel the same easier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcIGTfhANVM&feature=youtu.be During the zoom call, Gómez and Kramer talked about how strange it is to be reading poetry over the internet or to be communicating only with our eyes because of masks. Kramer said it has forced us to become empathetic and patient because of the challenge masks and technology now play in interacting with people. We are forced to use these characteristics when we can’t hear people very well or vice versa because of masks. Another instance would be the tendency for web calls to continuously have a network connection, something we faced in the meeting. Kramer tied this idea into how society should focus these characteristics on social justice and allyship. Vulnerability is not a weakness; it is a strength Independently, each provided their own stories and applied a poem to the topic presented in their experiences. Gómez is a Colombian American poet and author. He is known for his poems “Where are you really from?” and “What Latino Looks Like.” Both of which talk about his experiences living as a Latinx in the United States, where justification of nationality is evident. Where people doubting your answer to “Where are you from” let alone asking the question, is apparent. Where stereotyping social identities and making assumptions is the norm. A definition Gómez used to describe “playing Wheel of Fortune'' with someone’s nationality or race. This was what Gómez talked heavily about in the call, especially after opening up about concerns he had about his biracial children growing up in the United States. After showing this vulnerability, there were several students who also shared their experiences with people questioning their nationality and race. Many of which pointed out a trend of people asking for proof of their race or nationality. Gómez explored the idea of questioning the validity of someone’s social identity when he stated, “What does someone’s race or identity have to do with anything?” This is related to society’s need to establish one’s social identity in a conversation for the sake of separating the identity of those involved. Isolation and objectification both being huge underlying themes within the discussion. “No matter the environment, identities matter,”- Dare to Speak Kramer identifies with the LGBTQ+ community and talks heavily about what it means to be human. Her poems discuss what it means to grow up as a queer woman and reach a point of healing while grieving. Through her poems, she advocates for trans rights, mental health awareness, and feminism. All of which push for more awareness of the diversity of gender and mental health of those around us. Pushing for more respect for those within society. Kramer touched on all of these ideas during the meeting. She pointed out not only the importance of understanding each community/social identity, but understanding that sexual identity, gender, and race should not be treated separately. That they should all be treated with equal respect, especially when they intersect. Kramer stated, “Just because you identify as queer does not mean you have overcome gender. Gender and sexuality are two different things and they shouldn’t be.” The poet referencing the major divide between transgender and gay people within the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, Kramer stressed that gender and sexuality are only your business. They are your business to share with people and shouldn't be forced if uncomfortable. The call for safety and the end of violence was a large topic within the discussion. Kramer provided examples of her family having to think about possible threats just because of her and her husband’s social identity. All of which opened the discussion of promoting the overall safety for all social identities facing a fear of oppression and violence. When asked how the poets keep from freezing when talking about emotional topics, they concluded vulnerability is not a weakness, instead, it is a strength. Instead of viewing your vulnerability as a flaw, view it as a stepping stone to personal growth and cultivating stronger interpersonal relationships. Kramer said people look for vulnerability because it makes people feel more connected to each other especially during a time of isolation and fear. This is why Kramer and Gómez share their stories with others in hopes of encouraging strength, unity, and diverse communities. Something Ball State’s Unity Week strives for each year it is held. Implementing the hope that such values will be upheld well into the future. Sources: Ball State University, Bass/Schuler Entertainment, Carlos Live, Dare to Speak, Facebook, The American Prospect, YouTube Images: Kellyn Harrison, UPB Featured Image: Bass/Schuler Entertainment
On Feb. 3, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, announced that his twice rescheduled After Hours world tour will officially kick off in January of 2022. The tour celebrates his album, After Hours. Even though the album released in March of 2020, the tour was continuously rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, instead of pushing it back yet another year, Tesfaye plans to add on only another six months to the wait.
by Kellyn HarrisonOn Feb. 3, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, announced that his twice rescheduled After Hours world tour will officially kick off in January of 2022. The tour celebrates his album, After Hours. Even though the album released in March of 2020, the tour was continuously rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, instead of pushing it back yet another year, Tesfaye plans to add on only another six months to the wait.The announcement came after Tesfaye expressed he wasn't sure whether his next tour would celebrate this most recent album or a completely new one.
As we end this COVID-stricken year, many of us are still quarantining in our homes or are following social-distancing regulations and having to find safe alternatives to celebrate the holiday season. It has been especially difficult getting in the holiday spirit with the unusually warm weather, but listed below are some ways you can still feel festive while following CDC COVID-19 Guidelines. If you are quarantining by yourself, these activities work all the same. However, if you would like to partake in these activities with friends and family, they work just as well over web communication platforms, like Zoom.
Whether it is the unique animation-style music videos, canned lemonade, organic environment flourishing within a warehouse in Chicago, or Summer Smash music festival; Cole Bennett, 24, has quickly become a prominent figure in the music industry and he is nowhere near slowing down. What originally formed as an idea for a blog, quickly became more after Bennett swiftly established himself as a prominent figure amongst the hip-hop/rap community. Bennett released his first music video in high school, at the age of 17. Thus, his brand, Lyrical Lemonade, has spearheaded itself to be a symbol of attaining any dream, no matter the depth.
by Kellyn Harrison Whether it is the unique animation-style music videos, canned lemonade, organic environment flourishing within a warehouse in Chicago, or Summer Smash music festival; Cole Bennett, 24, has quickly become a prominent figure in the music industry and he is nowhere near slowing down. What originally formed as an idea for a blog, quickly became more after Bennett swiftly established himself as a prominent figure amongst the hip-hop/rap community. Bennett released his first music video in high school, at the age of 17. Thus, his brand, Lyrical Lemonade, has spearheaded itself to be a symbol of attaining any dream, no matter the depth. Big City Mindset Bennett was born in Plano, Illinois about an hour from the bright lights of Chicago. The opportunity the “windy city” screams called to the young entrepreneur at a young age. Bennett made trips to Chicago every weekend after getting his driver’s license. There, he explored the depths of the city and documented everything he experienced. Most of which included attending events for rising artists: Vic Mensa, Mick Jenkins, Chance the Rapper, etc. The footage was edited together and uploaded onto his YouTube Channel. There, viewers watched show recaps, documentaries, and local cyphers. Bennett studied digital cinema at DePaul University but stopped attending because of business goals taking his mind elsewhere. Thereafter, Lyrical Lemonade was born, no longer just a high school dream scribbled in a notebook. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxSvQGhn_h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link “You'd see Vic Mensa just walking down the street. Everything was right in front of you. It was all happening right in front of your eyes, and it was the craziest thing.” - Cole Bennett, COMPLEX Interview In 2017, Bennett began working with artists like Lil Pump, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Famous Dex. This made him one of the most in-demand video directors in the market, for a quickly developing punk subgenre formed from the work of the SoundCloud youth. At the age of 22, he had already created more than 300 music videos. What made him stick out was his specific editing style. All of his videos add animation to enhance the classic editing done. You can watch Bennett’s work develop in his Music Video Reels located on the Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel. After working with other big-name artists like Juice Wrld, Kanye West, Trippie Redd, etc., Bennett found his work reaching outside of Chicago. But, no matter what offer came his way, the “windy city” continued to drag him in. Although Bennett admitted moving his business to larger cities, like New York or Los Angeles, would make his business grow even faster, he wanted to stay where the roots of his goals lie. “I am in a position where I can help possibly make Chicago that next city, the next L.A., in terms of resources and hubs,” he says, “and really just make people more aware of the music culture here. For some people, it’s beneficial to move out of Chicago once you’re in a position to do so, but I think that there is also something to say about trying to give back to the city.” - Cole Bennett, COMPLEX Interview [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="374"] Image from Facebook[/caption] Bennett recognizes the harsh environment that surrounds the small communities of Chicago, which makes venues nervous to book hip-hop events in the city. But, Bennett has worked to break this stigma down by hosting Lyrical Lemonade’s first summer music festival, Summer Smash, 2018. Many artists who worked closely with Bennett supported the event and what it stood for the community. These artists included Trippie Redd, Lil Skies, Lil Mosey, Gunna, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Famous Dex. All of which, and more, performed that year. On the first day, the event brought in over 11,000 people, and the next year 20,000 people. Sadly the festival was canceled this year due to COVID-19, but Bennett is planning on making the festival a three-day event for summer 2021. “We want Chicago to be the place everyone wants to be. As much violence as there is going on in the summer, there are just as many amazing things happening. Festival season is always such a highlight in all these kids’ lives in Chicago. It’s just a fun time to be around, so it was important for me to bring something like this to Chicago. It inspires people and gives them a fun, safe place to go and have a good time for a weekend. It’s something to look forward to. Something to take pride in, really.” - Cole Bennett, COMPLEX Interview Supporting the Dreaming Youth [caption id="" align="alignright" width="321"] Image from XXL Magazine[/caption] In May 2019, Bennett mentioned in a TED talk how important it is for not only society but his work environment to be full of “glass-half-full” thinkers. He hints most of the business’s success has come from the small space full of people who like to share what seems like crazy ideas. Then, they find ways to make their ideas work and end up making it happen. Bennett shared the importance for people to have a safe space where they can have conversations about hip-hop, where it currently is, and where they would like to take it. Due to this close space, everything Lyrical Lemonade produces originates from the office building and the collaboration of the people within it. The team has forged a lot of trust within the hip-hop/rap and youth community because of their focus on quality over quantity. It shows the amount of time they are willing to put into their projects to make them attuned to their audience and staying aware of what they want to see next. But, this means they must be selective in their work and partnerships with artists. However, being selective has its perks for many young artists. As seen with artists like Lil Tecca and Lil Mosey, Cole Bennett directing a music video is a major step into the music industry. Juice Wrld signed a $3 million record deal with Interscope not long after his first music video, "All Girls Are the Same," with Bennett released. Therefore, Lyrical Lemonade has become a major platform for rising rappers to take that step from SoundCloud status to record label status. In turn, portraying Lyrical Lemonade’s focus on the future of hip-hop/rap. When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade [caption id="" align="alignright" width="238"] Image from Lyrical Lemonade[/caption] It is apparent Bennett craves crazy ideas, and that is evident in the new projects being produced rapidly. Although many predicted a line of lemonade from the company, I don’t think we expected it so soon. In a 2018 interview with Gary Vaynerchuk, Bennett first entertained the idea, which warranted many phone calls from beverage companies looking to partner with the influencer. Bennett launched his cans of lemonade in 2019 at large entertainment events like Summer Smash and ComplexCon. Now, he sells them on the Lyrical Lemonade website in 4-packs. As part of Lyrical Lemonade’s seven-year anniversary, limited edition collectors cans were available for not only fans of Lyrical Lemonade, but fans of artists working closely with Bennett. Artists with special cans include Lil Tecca, Blueface, Polo G, and The Kid Laroi. Bennett hopes to make the lemonade available in stores across the country soon. Another project Bennett recently dropped in April 2020 was, “The Life of Lenny.” This project includes a series of short animated clips portraying the different adventures of wooden-like friend, Lenny. Lenny was created to portray positive vibes, especially during a time of COVID-19 fear and mourning for those in the Juice Wrld community. “The Life of Lenny” is found on Lyrical Lemonade 2’s YouTube channel and Lenny sometimes makes a cameo in Bennett’s music videos. Other projects Bennett hopes to pursue in the future are other mediums of entertainment including cartoons, feature films, TV shows, and books. But one thing that will always stay constant is Bennett’s love for Chicago, work in music videos, roots in hip-hop/rap, and faith in the dreams of the youth. Sources: COMPLEX, Lyrical Lemonade Shop, Medium, Studybreaks, YouTube Images: Facebook, Instagram, Lyrical Lemonade Shop, XXL Magazine Featured Image: Thred
by Kellyn Harrison
by Kellyn Harrison I am a 19-year-old political science minor, and I voted for the first time last week. As a junkie for political science research, I have always been aware of my place in the election process. However, this year was different. It felt like I was standing in a room surrounded by people screaming at me; those people being older politicians, celebrities, advertisers, etc. Everyone demanding me to vote, but never looking at who I am. Politicians seeing me as a percentage, just a mindless number in their popular vote. "It's difficult to mobilize people in a system that's continuously telling them their political goals, and movements they want to see happening, are not viable." - Grace Wells, 22, home state of Texas, currently studying in Chicago, Democratic. Don’t get me wrong, I felt privileged to vote and I strongly advocate for people to do so in order to fight for the change we continuously demand. However, it is the execution of these campaigns that can make me numb towards the process. It is the same advertisements we had in 2016; only with heightened frequency, demand, and fear. Fear for how much power a little bubble on a scantron sheet can have. Especially in a time where we are demanding reforms in the health, economic, and human rights sector. My only question regarding this outreach is: Where is the voice of the youth? We stress how important educating and relying on the future of the youth is, but how is this being translated into our political campaigns? We can’t give up on the people who only just started to take that first step into the political world. “Many young people can feel disengaged from politics. A Harvard survey found that only 16% of those aged 18 to 29 agreed with the statement that ‘elected officials who are part of the Baby Boomer generation care about people like me.’” - Helier Cheung of BBC News Generally, politicians have used television to further their campaigns. By paying for advertisements on local television or partaking in interviews on shows like Face the Nation. Such platforms appeal to the older population who make time to watch television each night and wake up early on Sundays to watch shows like Sunday Morning. (Note: this point is made despite how much SNL still informs young voters on the election/campaign process. Even though I argue how SNL’s influence pales in comparison to social media.) Something out of style for young voters and professionals with busy schedules who would rather pay for streaming packages. Thus, showing a general decrease in cable news consumption. News platforms like ABC News shifting their attention to streaming recaps of their shows on social media, like Snapchat and Twitter, are the only references people have to low profile interviews analyzing the campaigns/election itself. Only recently have we seen politicians reaching out to voters on streaming platforms. However, the question is whether these advertisements are as transparent as they claim to be with a few federal laws regulating them. https://twitter.com/barackobama/status/992176676?lang=en But, other than President Obama using Twitter in 2008 to reach out to young voters, this shows how slow politicians have been to reach out to their younger audience. Plus, this points out how unaware politicians are of what Gen Zers want from them or the small communities that are created on social media. Although, many argue how politicians are aware but refuse to reach out because of the uncertainty of how this demographic will perceive their political ideals. Nonetheless, when politicians do try to reach out, they do it in a cringing manner that doesn’t entirely hit home. The only example I am going to provide is of Hillary Clinton using Pokemon Go to encourage her supporters to vote in the 2016 election. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt6riM2aDLk&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=CNN There are so many things I could say about how uncomfortable watching this is, but I am just going to state how important it is for older politicians to understand how off-center making references to pop culture phenomenon like this is. Especially for politicians who may not be as immersed in the phenomenon as young voters are. How are we supposed to feel connected to politicians when they make unrelated references to platforms they only know of because of Twitter trends and their younger peers. Especially when they already have the majority of young voters supporting them. Cringey references like this are not needed when they are a half-hearted attempt to further a campaign. It just falls flat and pushes young voters to feel even more disassociated from the voting process, politicians, and the political process itself. Reaching out to young voters based on pop culture trends is something Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is used to and does correctly. Ocasio-Cortez uses her knowledge in technology and relative association with Gen Zers to connect with them online by joining in their gaming communities. Thus, encouraging a growth in the demographic’s political activism. On May 7, it was announced Ocasio-Cortez had purchased a Nintendo Switch and the game Animal Crossings: New Horizons. That same day, Ocasio-Cortez opened her direct messages on Twitter and asked supporters to send their Dodo codes, so she could leave a note on their bulletin board. https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1258516156408713216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1258517774499889154%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fvideo-games%2F2020%2F05%2F07%2Falexandria-ocasio-cortez-is-now-playing-animal-crossing-shes-visiting-her-followers%2F Other than the connection it created/strengthened between young voters and politicians, it also let people know someone in Congress was thinking of them during a scary time. At the peak of the pandemic, while everybody was home, it was nice to connect with someone who could make a difference when politicians tend to be seen as disassociated from the general public. https://twitter.com/jmirsky87/status/1258548085719830528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1258548085719830528%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fvideo-games%2F2020%2F05%2F07%2Falexandria-ocasio-cortez-is-now-playing-animal-crossing-shes-visiting-her-followers%2F Now, Ocasio-Cortez has teamed up with fellow Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to expand upon their connection to Gen Zers, by getting them involved in the election process through Twitch. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Ocasio-Cortez and Omar played the recently revived game, Among Us, with a group of high profile streamers including JackSepticeye, Pokimane, HasanAbi, Disguised Toast, and DrLupo. The stream not only garnered a peak of 439,000 views, becoming the third most-watched stream for an individual gamer, but it successfully made a seemingly forgotten generation feel connected to at least two politicians representing our country. Setting an example of how our government should appeal to young voters despite how difficult replicating the same event will be for older politicians because of their different ages and interests. Ocasio-Cortez and Omar not only represent Gen Z because of their ages and policies (compared to their coworkers) but because of their representation of the minorities in our country. Diversity is a demanding value amongst Gen Z voters. Clinton only made a small reference to a video game many doubted her involvement in. Ocasio-Cortez and Omar physically played with/for young voters and have been for a while now. Thus, making the focus on relating to the streamers instead of solely on the politicians’ or their party’s platforms. It truly felt they wanted to get involved in Gen Z culture instead of pretending to understand. It didn’t feel like another fruitless ad screaming at me amongst the countless others. I just hope other politicians take note of this event and make an effort to think of ways they too, can properly reach out to young voters in an effort to urge more of us to vote for matters that will impact our lives for years to come. Here you can watch the Among Us Twitch stream with Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, along with many other high profile streamers. Sources: BBVA, BBC News, FiveThirtyEight, Fordham Political Review, Jeremiah Owyang, Mozilla, Pew Research Center, The Philadelphia Citizen, The Wall Street Journal, Twitter, U.S. Department of State Images: Twitter, YouTube Featured Image: Blake Chapman
To many Esports fanatics, Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere is someone many people—especially women—look up to. Whether it be her large presence and voice within the gaming industry or what she signifies for their professional ambition, Sjokz has paved the way for many young voices in the gaming industry who wish to fill her big shoes over the past 20 years.