College dorms are the social hub for many freshmen on campus. From hosting dance parties to getting work done at your new desk, your dorm needs to be a space that’s ready for anything. But how do you start to plan your new room? It’s overwhelming to pick up your whole life and move it to a different place. Even when you’ve made it through a year (or a few) of college, adjusting to a new space and location is difficult. We’re breaking down the essential aspects of a dorm so you can transform your room into the fun, comfortable, Instagram-ready place of your dreams.

Related: 50 Cutest Items to Decorate Your Dorm Room

Bedding

Who doesn’t love their bed? At college, your bed is more than a place to get some much-needed sleep – it also serves as a comfortable couch or homework spot. It’s important to think about what goes under and around the comforter before getting too excited by all the fun styles. Do you need or want a mattress pad? Is your bed a classic college twin XL? How many pillows do you sleep with?

Once you’ve figured the technical aspects out, it’s time to decide on one of the most important stylistic aspects of your new room. Because your bed is the key feature of your dorm, the comforter has the ability to set the style for the rest of the room. Gabriela Vascimini, an ambassador and model for Dormify, says it’s all about texture when it comes to bedding styles. If you want something upbeat, try brighter colors and fiery designs with some faux fur pillows. For a softer vibe, try a lighter wash or simplistic pattern highlighted with velvet throw pillows.

Most websites that offer dorm supplies will have great options for bedding. Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Roomify all have a wide array of reasonably priced bedding essentials. If you’re looking for something a little more style-oriented, try Deny Designs or PB Teen.

Storage

While most dorms come with a basic closet, dresser and desk, we often bring more than we can fit into tiny drawers. Optimizing storage is key, especially if you’re at a school that experiences all types of weather – or you’re just a girl with a lot of clothes!

But storage doesn’t have to be boring. Dormify has cute trunks and ottomans for fashion-forward safekeeping and Dormco has fun options for all your shoe storage. While The Container Store will have all you need for food, closet, and desk organization, don’t be afraid to get creative! DIY hacks like a hanger turned jewelry holder or cereal box drawer dividers will show your artistic side while keeping your things in place.

Lighting

One of the classic features of beautiful Instagram dorms is the lighting. There are so many string lights, lamps, and fairy lights available, so it’s important to think about what kind of look you’ll want in your room.

Lights usually work best when they work off something else in your room. Do you have built-in shelves? Try looping a delicate set of string lights around them for shape and a bit of extra light.

What about bare wall space with no furniture in front? Hang a few columns of lights for a cute photo backdrop. Do you like to show off your photos? Use clothespins to attach printed photos or Polaroids to a string. From multicolored strings to Pineapple lampshades, the options are endless if you’re willing to try a new decorative art project.

Wall art

Transform your walls from their basic, faded white to fun and decorative! Walls are for more than just movie posters – think outside the box and purchase posters with your favorite TV shows, quotes, pictures, and landscapes. Redbubble is a great site for finding these eclectic types of wall art (and has a wide array of stickers for all your notebook and laptop decorating needs).

If you want to cover your walls, think big with beautiful tapestries like ones at Urban Outfitters. Your walls are the place to show your personality, so string your favorite pictures from home across your new tapestry or arrange your Polaroids in an original design. If you’re a theater or music buff, organize playbills or album cover art around your room. If you’re crafty and creative, hanging your homemade art is a great way to impress all your new friends.

Your dorm is destined to hold the memories of some of the best years of your life. While it’s easy to get caught up in the thousands of products online, stick to what makes you happy and excited to show off your style (especially on Instagram!). This is your new home – embrace it!

Washington lawmakers have joined the call to either abolish or change the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more commonly referred to as ICE. But now the White House’s Twitter account is singling and calling out senators who have called to abolish or change ICE on Twitter.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Senate candidate who beat incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, ran on a platform to abolish the immigration enforcement agency, and other lawmakers have joined her call, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), CNN reports.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Warren wrote, “The President's deeply immoral actions have made it obvious that we need to rebuild our immigration system from top to bottom, starting by replacing ICE with something that reflects our values.”

Sen. Kamala Harris of California has called to bring about changes to ICE.

“I think there's no question that we've got to critically re-examine ICE and its role and the way that it is being administered and the work it is doing,” Harris told MSNBC. “And we need to probably think about starting from scratch.”

But on Monday, the White House Twitter account called out Warren and Harris for their stance on ICE, and accused them of supporting unlawful activities and the MS-13 gang.

“.@SenWarren, why are you supporting criminals moving weapons, drugs, and victims across our nation’s borders? You must not know what ICE really does,” the White House Twitter account posted, including a link to ICE’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST).

The White House Twitter account also singled out Harris, writing, “.@SenKamalaHarris, why are you supporting the animals of MS-13? You must not know what ICE really does.” The post also included a link to a press release to ICE deporting a Salvadoran MS-13 affiliate, as well as an Irish national.

The use of the White House's official Twitter account to call out senators raised some eyebrows. 

“Taxpayer resources are being used to completely and 100% lie about a sitting senator,” tweeted Lily Adams, Harris’ communications director.

Harris fired back at the White House on Twitter, writing, “As a career prosecutor, I actually went after gangs and transnational criminal organizations. That’s being a leader on public safety. What is not, is ripping babies from their mothers.” 

Senators have called for ICE to be abolished or changed after the Trump administration put the zero tolerance policy into effect, separating immigrant children from their families, as the parents faced criminal prosecution and immigration proceedings.

Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep the families together.  

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who recently won a major primary against incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, has been riding on the wave of success. But when conservative host of Newsmax’s America Talks Live, John Cardillo, posted a picture of Ocasio-Cortez’s childhood home in an attempt to undermine her credibility, she clapped back with a simple message for her critic: try Google.

Ocasio-Cortez, who spent the early years of her life in the Bronx, ran her campaign on the message that she knows what those that live in the Bronx or Queens have to deal with. Her parents worked hard to ensure that Ocasio-Cortez and her brother had better educational opportunities, and moved their family from the Bronx to Yorktown, a middle-income neighborhood outside of New York City, The New York Times reports. But while growing up, Ocasio-Cortez witnessed her parents struggle with rent hikes, stagnant income and minimal healthcare.

But even though all of this information about Ocasio-Cortez’s life is featured on her campaign website, Cardillo tweeted a photo of her childhood home and implied that Ocasio-Cortez had been misrepresenting her background.

“This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University. A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling,” Cardillo tweeted.

But Ocasio-Cortez clapped back and told her critic that she, in fact, did not attend Brown University, but Boston University in Massachusetts, where she earned degrees in economics and international relations.

Ocasio-Cortez suggested that Cardillo “try Google.”

The congressional candidate added that her mother “scrubbed toilets” so her family could afford to live in Yorktown.

She clapped back once more, writing, “Your attempt to strip me of my family, my story, my home, and my identity is exemplary of how scared you are of the power of all four of those things.”

According to Hello Giggles, Cardillo later admitted he was wrong about Ocasio-Cortez attending Brown University, but still said she’s not a “girl from the Bronx.”

This isn’t the first time that Ocasio-Cortez has called out her critics. According to CNN, the congressional candidate tweeted a picture of her first pair of campaign shoes on Friday, showing the holes on the bottoms, arguing she had won the primary because she worked hard, not because of “demographic reasons.”

“Respect the hustle,” she wrote.

After a hectic day, there’s nothing as rejuvenating and refreshing as a good face mask. They leave you feeling fresh and radiant. But in addition to making you feel great, face masks also have different purposes depending on their ingredients. By pairing the right mask to your skin type, you’re not only going to be relaxing but also actively and effectively treating your skin.

Oily skin

The absolute best thing for oily skin is a clay mask of some sort. Esthetician Jordana Mattioli says, "Clays are generally great for oily skin, but with the right addition of other ingredients."

In Origins’ Active Charcoal Mask ($27), the active ingredient is a type of clay called kaolin clay which gets rid of toxins. Mattioli tells us, "Kaolin clay mildly exfoliates, [and] is gentle and great for sensitive skin." Plus the addition of charcoal in the mask will draw out whatever is clogging the pores while the clay cleanses it away.

Dull skin

Sometimes, especially as we get older, skin can feel like it’s lacking natural radiance or it can start to feel rough. This is caused by low oil production and exfoliation of skin cells which in turn causes a dull look. A brightening mask is great for dull skin. It brings color and brightness to the surface to go from dull to glowy. Lexi Hill, a senior at the University of South Carolina, says, “My other favorite is [a brightening mask] by Karuna ($8). [It’s] really good to smooth lines and for a more refreshed/glow after or exfoliating.”

Dry skin

With summertime comes dry skin, and the ultimate way to combat it is with plenty of hydration, for yourself and your skin. A hydrating mask with essential oils, purifying waters or some sort of ingredient that will nourish the skin will be best. Rachna Shah, a freshman at Dartmouth University, says, “My skin’s generally dry—a little bit oily on occasion, especially if it’s humid—and I use a British Rose plumping mask ($28) from The Body Shop.” This Dr. Jart+ ($6) mask is also great for hydrating and repairing your skin; it uses algae extract to leave your skin feeling replenished.

Tired skin

Sometimes skin gets worn out or looser (especially as we get older); whether it’s from the sun or pollution, our skin takes the blow. A smoothing or refining mask will perk and tighten it up, bringing back some definition to the face.

Lexi says, “My other favorite is … Peter Thomas Roth Gold Mask ($42). [It’s] great for smoothing and refining.”

Mattioli says, "In a face mask, since it's left on a short amount of time, you are most likely getting a calming anti-inflammatory effect. Gold is a mineral which can have anti-aging, and skin brightening properties when found as an ingredient in a well-formulated product."

Related: I Went Without Makeup for a Year & This is What Happened

Irritated skin

When skin gets irritated, whether sunburnt, broken out or just experiencing redness, it needs to be calmed down with a soothing mask. A perfect soothing mask will have tea tree oil or cucumber. Mattioli explains that "cucumbers contain vitamin c and silica, so it functions as an antioxidant, but its soothing anti-inflammatory properties come from the polysaccharides which attracts and keeps moisture in. ... Tea tree oil is a soothing antioxidant with antibacterial and astringent properties which makes it feel cooling. It's a great ingredient for acne, but also can be helpful for nail fungal conditions and even athlete's foot." These are definitely key ingredients. The Body Shop slays the face mask game with their Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask ($11.90), which helps to calm your skin and eliminate redness.

All skin types

There are some masks that don’t necessarily target something specific but are just overall good for your skin! If you’re not sure what your skin type is, start with one of these to see what it brings out in your skin.

A good ingredient to look for is honey. Mattioli says, "Honey has so many beneficial properties as a potent antioxidant and antibacterial ingredient which is why it's found in products meant to soothe or heal wounds. It is rich with enzymes, amino acids, proteins and vitamins—which makes it great for all skin types and beneficial in any type of face or product." She recommends this Honey Potion mask from Farmacy ($38). For something extremely hydrating and fun to use, try out a bubble mask ($14)!

Of course, everyone’s skin is different and one mask may not agree with you, so always be careful when trying new face masks. Go ahead and reveal that gorgeous skin!

Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Indian-American Woman to Head DNC, Seema Nanda, to Head DNC

Seema Nanda has become the first Indian-American woman to be appointed as CEO of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in recent history.

“This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled,” Nanda said in a press release on Friday.

Nanda will replace Jess O’Connell, who resigned as the DNC’s CEO in January; Interim CEO Mary Beth Cahill will hand over duties to Nanda this month, The Huffington Post reports.

“People are hurting all across our country. And I believe that Democrats are offering the positive solutions so desperately needed right now ― solutions forged by the strength of our diversity, the rigor of our ideas and the decency of our values,” Nanda said. “I am grateful to Chairman [Tom] Perez and Mary Beth for selecting me, and I look forward to joining my new DNC colleagues in the fight for our nation’s values and future.”

“I’m beyond excited that Seema is bringing her talent and brilliance to the DNC,” Perez said in a press release. “I’ve seen firsthand Seema’s exceptional ability to lead. She is a seasoned manager who has a proven track record of success and a well-documented history of fighting for our Democratic values, whether it’s on immigration, civil rights or leveling the playing field for our workers.”

Perez added that he is “one hundred percent certain” that Nanda’s leadership will be the key to regaining power in Congress after the midterm elections.

Prior to be appointed to CEO of the DNC, Nanda the Executive Vice President and COO at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, HuffPost reports. Nanda also served as Perez’s Chief of Staff when he was the Department of Labor Secretary.

Trump Met With Potential SCOTUS Nominees

President Donald Trump has met with four potential Supreme Court nominees, and is expected to meet with a second potential female nominee as early as Tuesday, a source told ABC News on Monday.

The four potential nominees who could fill retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat are: Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Raymond Kethledge and Amul Thapar.

Trump is expected to meet with Justice Joan Larsen of the 6th Circuit as early as Tuesday, according to the source.

Trump Family Photos Only Allowed in “Positive” Stories

An NBC News report released on Monday found that news organization indirectly paid as much as $1 million to First Lady Melania Trump for family photos that were only allowed in positive stories.

According to President Donald Trump’s recent financial disclosure, Mrs. Trump earned between $100,000 and $1 million last year in royalties when someone licensed the nearly 200 family photos, The Huffington Post reports.

The photos include Mrs. Trump playing tennis in a ball gown, wearing Chanel while floating on a swan and posing on the couch while her son, Barron Trump, takes a photo of her.

Each of the photos, which are featured on Getty Images through its paid Getty Contour platform, includes the stipulation that the photos must be used for “positive stories only,” HuffPost reports.

The collection of photos also features images of the president adjusting Barron’s tie, taking a picture of himself and playing chess. Each of these pictures also includes the “positive stories” stipulation.

While this “positive stories” stipulation might rare, it’s not unusual for the photographer and subject to wield more power over the use of the photos.

NBC News did find nearly a dozen news outlets that had paid to use some of these photos last year, Yahoo News, Marie Claire, The Daily Mail, Houston Chronicle, SF Gate and NBC News itself.

According to an NBC News spokesperson, it “did not agree or sign a statement that the image would be used for positive coverage, and was never informed that a portion of the royalties would go to the Trump family.”

What to look out for...

The new Incredibles rollercoaster, known as the Incredicoaster, is open at the Disneyland Resort! Disney trip anyone?

“Two words: Donut. Fries. You’re welcome, America.” So begins the statement that Dunkin’ Donuts released on Friday, announcing their newest donutty dessert item: donut fries.

Beginning Monday, July 2, consumers will be able to try donut fries out for themselves. According to Dunkin’ Donuts, donut fries are “individual pieces of delicious, buttery croissant style donut dough that are tossed in cinnamon sugar and served warm.”

The product was first tested at select Dunkin’ Donuts stores in Boston, and due to its success, the company touts, they will be available on the national Dunkin’ Donuts menu for a limited time. Since announcing their latest dessert conquest, the internet has noticed that they look a lot like another popular dessert: churros.

This isn’t the first time a fast-food company has attempted to spice up their menu in order to generate profit.  In 2010, KFC created the Double Down sandwich, a twist on the burger which has bacon, cheese and sauce between two pieces of fried chicken instead of bread, reported CNN Money. Taco Bell created Doritos Locos Tacos, a corn shell seasoned with powdered orange cheese to look and taste like Doritos, and gave them away for free as a part of their ‘Steal a Game, Steal a Taco’ campaign. Most recently, IHOP, a franchise known for its pancakes, changed its name to IHOb in honor of their new line of burgers.

Releasing buzzworthy, new food items allows companies to go viral while also experimenting with what works and doesn’t work with consumers. It is a move that has shown itself to pay off financially, and the name change gimmick is no different. Since its name change, IHOb’s stock rose by 2.6% on announcement day alone and has continued to rise. CNBC reported recently that Dunkin’ Donuts may soon decide to go through with a name change of its own, stating that a store in Pasadena changed its name to just Dunkin as a test.

Responding to questions about their new menu and a possible name change down the road, Dunkin’ Donuts said, “The customer is at the center as we develop new menu items, and this is true regardless of what decisions we make later this year regarding our branding.”

All of this hasn’t quelled consumers who denounce new viral products, such as the donut fries, as examples of “food gentrification.”

In 2014, Mikki Kendall wrote in The Grio about corporate efforts to make money off of food that has largely been consumed by people of color by rebranding it. Kendall wrote, “The gentrification of food is a global problem, with global consequences. As each gentrified food moves out of the financial range of those at the lowest income level, the question of what will be left for the poor to eat becomes more pressing.

Donut fries may be changing the course of Dunkin’ Donuts’ future, and are available in select stores for around $2.00, but it is important also to acknowledge the larger social impact.

We’re down to six guys, and Becca means business. She hasn’t been shy about cutting guys before the rose ceremony, and canceling cocktail parties when she already knows who to send home. So, let’s cut to the chase: Who’s going to win this whole thing? 

I really can’t see Leo or Colton making it to the top three. Leo has major untapped potential, but it seems his relationship with Becca just started––he’s in the same place with her as other guys were during the second week. Maybe if Becca had picked him for a one-on-one earlier and taken him on a date to the hair salon, he would be rock-solid top three material.  

Colton, on the other hand, is prime Bachelor franchise material: former pro-football player with a ton of time on his hands, generically good-looking, sort of problematic—I mean, are we going to totally forget the fact that he was hooking up with Tia (Becca’s friend and former Bachelor contestant) literally up until he started filming the show with Becca? After what happened with Arie, I don’t think Becca wants to take a chance with him getting back with Tia if she ends up choosing him. Yikes. Imagine the tweets. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to see Colton as next season’s Bachelor.  

That leaves us with Garrett, Blake, Jason, and Wills. As much as Becca and Wills bonded over their mutual Harry Potter obsessions, I’m getting really strong friend zone vibes between them. Like, I’m sure Becca will be totally down to go see the inevitable 2035 Harry Potter remake with Wills, as long as she can take her husband and kids with her, too. What a fun outing!

So, it looks like Garrett, Jason, and Blake are all contenders. Let’s take a closer look at their time on the show up until this point and see who will be listening to Becca lament about Arie for the next 40 years.  

Jason 

Full disclosure: I have no idea why this guy is in the top three. It’s just process of elimination, you know? He seems like the sort of guy who would try to use LinkedIn as a dating app, and then totally deny it. Oh, and there’s the whole entire lack of personality thing, not that Becca’s fake-quirky “I’m not like other girls” thing is much better. 

Blake

Becca chose Blake for the very first one-on-one date: the one that was all about Arie. Still, he stuck around, and wasn’t freaked out by her eagerness to take a sledgehammer to a couch just because her ex had sat on it. Blake just seems, like, super chill. He’s managed to stay out of the other guys’ childish drama all season, and even though he can sometimes seem sort of nonchalant about Becca, it’s actually really refreshing. I would pick a guy like Blake over someone desperate and obsessive like Lincoln or Chris any day. Also, he’s the cutest—in case you forgot. 

Garrett 

TBH, I haven’t been Garrett's biggest fan ever since he drove up in that minivan stocked with all the parenting essentials, but Becca seemed to love it, since she gave him the first impression rose that night. And remember those problematic Instagram likes? It’s likely he was so quick to apologize since having the winner of The Bachelorette be problematic is more of a PR disaster than having just another contestant on the show do the same thing. The last three bachelorettes—Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jojo Fletcher, and Rachel Lindsay—all ended up with the guys they gave that telling first impression rose to, and it doesn’t seem like Becca has plans to break tradition.

Jersey Shore's Deena Cortese is going to be a momma! The 31-year-old reality star took to Instagram on Monday to announce that she's expecting.

"Chris and I Decided to wait until we were ready to spill the beans! Now that we are safely into our second trimester.. us and our little monkey are ready to tell the world our little family is growing," she captioned the adorable announcement. "We have a sweet little boy on the way! We Are truly blessed and our hearts are filled with so much joy and happiness."

The photos feature an all-American theme, with a red, white and blue sign declaring the couple has a "firecracker" on the way. Many photos also include the couple showing off their baby’s sonogram, with one especially original idea where Deena's husband, Chris Buckner, is seen with the sonogram sticking out of his back pocket, while staring lovingly at his wife.

While all the couple’s pics are adorable, my personal favorites are definitely the ones featuring their puppy. The couple included their dog with a paw-printed sign explaining they’ll get a new best friend, as well as becoming a guard dog for the baby in December 2018. If that isn’t the sweetest and most clever way to announce your due date, I don’t know what is.

In addition to their pregnancy announcement shoot, the pair also shared footage from their gender reveal.

This will be the first child for Deena and her husband, who tied the knot in October 2017, where they were joined by Deena's Jersey Shore family. 

Congratulations to this happy couple and their growing family! Here’s hoping we get some baby arrival shoot is as extra as this announcement.

In this segment of not-a-Black Mirror-episode-apparently, Samsung phones are gaining some sort of sentience as a report indicts that select Samsung phones send random photos to people in your contact list. Now, we’re deleting our extensive collection of cockroach taxidermy thirst trap pictures.

Albeit, this report could just be written by that inconspicuous frat dude who claims he totally didn’t send you those 15 dick pics last Saturday at 3:00 am. But, a plethora of Samsung phone owners are reporting this weird, but shocking, glitch.

Digital Trends reports that certain Samsung phones, including the latest Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, are capable of texting photos from your image gallery to your contacts. While this might seem like a nifty bonus feature, apparently these Samsung phones are sending unauthorized pics on their own—and this isn’t exactly how we remember the Skynet revolution starting. (Clearly, using our sensitive photos are virtual blackmail seems like a more productive method of world domination and subsequent human enslavement though.)

According to Gizmodo, hundreds of disgruntled Samsung costumers noted the issue on Samsung’s official forums and Reddit—because Reddit is basically a news source at this point.

One Redditer writes, “Huh, something similar happened to me - my phone's battery was super low overnight so maximum power saving had kicked in from a routine I set with Good Lock, and two or three people had been sent photos (just one each, and they were photos I had sent them in the past). This is on AT&T, and there was record of it in Pushbullet, but terrifying to say the least until I confirmed exactly who had been sent what.”

Whereas another adds, “Give me a spontaneously exploding phone any day of the week, Samsung, instead of this nightmare scenario.” Harsh, but definitely relatable. After all, spontaneous combustion could be considered a ~feature~ in contrast to having your phone hijack the autonomy to your media.

Regardless, this is a troubling issue, seeing as many people rely on their phones for a one-stop shop to connect with their professional network, friends and take photos. If a Samsung device unintentionally sends a lewd photo to your boss or your significant other’s friend, it can obviously have devastating outcomes (like job losses, breakups and quarrels)—especially since this Samsung issue seems to happen unbeknownst to the device owner.

We’re still uncertain what’s causing these rogue Samsung phones to send unwarranted photos (other than the fake that these specific Samsung models are clearly wannabe photographers who are just trying to self-promote their art). However, there is a promising theory as to why these phones are slowly evolving into a subsidy of Cyberdyne Systems.

One commenter on the Samsung forums notes that the issue might come from the default setting in the Samsung Messages coupled with the Rich Communication Services (RCS) profile updates that certain phone carrier issued recently. CNET adds that the RCS update is meant to streamline SMS communication; however, several Samsung owners have noticed that this issue has afflicted multiple carriers—from AT&T to T-Mobile—and the unsolicited photos aren’t distributed solely through SMS. Seeing as, several Redditers have indicated that their photos were sent via MMS messages rather than an SMS link.

Thankfully, there is a way to prevent this issue from occurring. According to another Redditer, if you go into your app settings and disable storage under the permissions tab, you can omit your Samsung device for sending unauthorized pics to your friends and family.

While this option might make it virtually impossible to use your standard Samsung SMS app, depending on your phone model (because it disables your permission to use it), you can download a non-default messaging app to bypass this issue as Samsung works on a permanent solution. "We are aware of the reports regarding this matter and our technical teams are looking into it. Concerned customers are encouraged to contact us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG," Samsung tells Gizmodo. 

Although we’re now motivated to clean-up our image gallery, we hope that Samsung can fix this issue soon. 

President Trump has decided to lower all flags to half-staff in honor of the 5 victims killed last week in the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Maryland. The order came just one day after the president initially declined Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley request to lower flags nationwide in honor of the 5 employees at Capital Gazette, according to The Baltimore Sun.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed, you know? ...Is there a cutoff for tragedy?” Mayor Gavin Buckley said Monday afternoon to The Baltimore Sun. “This was an attack on the press. It was an attack on freedom of speech. It’s just as important as any other tragedy.” 

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed to NBC Washington that the White House made the decision after Trump heard of Buckley’s request. Trump “asked us to reach out and verify that they mayor had made the request. And when we did, the president asked that the flags be lowered immediately,” Sanders said. 

On Friday, the president said that the killings at Capital Gazette“shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief.” 

“Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job,” he mentioned. 

Since taking office, Trump has previously been has been repeatedly hostile towards the press, often referring to journalists as the “enemy of the people”. 

The national flag can be ordered only by the president or the state governor to be lowered, according to the US Flag Code. The governor is only able to so, though, if the commemorated deaths directly affected the state. NPR report that Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan already lowered the state flag to half-staff on Friday through Monday. 

Trump’s proclamation will have the flags at the White House, public buildings, military posts, and diplomatic buildings abroad until sunset Tuesday. 

If you’re a fan of Riverdale it’s probably safe to assume that you ship Bughead as much as we do, and it’s probably even safer to assume that you’re obsessed with the fact that Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse are dating in real life. You’re probably just as disappointed as we are that the couple is super secretive and doesn’t share a lot of their relationship online.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Reinhart shared the reasoning behind that decision.

While she's become pretty much a household name with the success of Riverdale, being recognized no matter where she goes in the world everywhere she goes, Reinhart revealed that she’s not entirely comfortable with her newfound fame. “People knew who I was in Hawaii, and people knew who I was in Paris... It’s on a global scale,” she said. “I'm a blonde white girl. I have sunglasses on and a hat. How do people look at me, and in an instant, they know? People are seeing my face that much… It's something I can't wrap my head around. I don't know how you ever can.”

She doesn’t want to share too much of her personal life with the world, if any at all, and especially not her romantic relationship with Sprouse. “I'm not okay talking about my relationship," she said. "I'm not going to tell you my love story. That's just not appropriate right now."

Part of the reason she likes to keep her private life private is the amount of hate and backlash she's received on social media. “Am I pregnant? Am I dating someone? Am I gay? Am I gaining weight? Am I homophobic?” These are all things she’s heard written about herself. “People will always have something to say. I’ve accepted that. It doesn't mean it's not frustrating when people say those things. It's not like it just rolls off my back,” Reinhart said.

Since almost everything she says and does is scrutinized, we can’t blame her for putting less of her personal life out there. Although if it were up to us, we would love to see more pictures of the real-life Bughead.

Summer internships are a great way to get work experience, boost your resume and make those oh-so-important connections. That means you need to make a good impression, starting with the way you dress in the office. Whether you’re sitting at a desk or running errands all day, finding comfortable shoes is a crucial first step. But how do you find the balance between wearing your favorite sneakers and four-inch stilettos to your internship? Shoe experts and college students weigh in on how to find the best shoes for your workplace.

It depends on what you’ll be doing

Your daily activities on the job will determine the type of footwear that’s most appropriate. You don’t want to be grabbing coffee in platform heels, but that also doesn’t excuse wearing Converse if it’s a company with a strict dress code.

“Always take into consideration the type of internship—are you going to be in an office? A loft? Outdoors? Indoors?” says shoe expert Meghan Cleary, the author of The Perfect Fit: What your Shoes Say About You and Shoe Are You? If you’re on your feet all day, Cleary recommends going for flats that have support built in or putting running insoles into your flats, which you can buy at a sports store.

Look to your coworkers for inspiration

Mimic what your coworkers wear. It’s not a bad idea to be as formal, if not more formal, than your supervisor (after all, you want to impress him or her).

Tiffany Yannetta, shopping director for Racked at Vox, agrees that a good rule of thumb is to be a little more professionally dressed than the full-time employees, especially in your first few weeks. “Sure, the editor who's been there for a few years might be able to get away with flip flops or very casual sandals or sneakers, but as an intern, you want to look like you're always putting in the right amount of effort," she says. Dressing nicely will also make you feel confident.

Cleary says it’s important to take note of what employees in the office wore during your interview. This could also apply to the first day on the job if you had a phone interview. “Take your cues from what your hiring manager was wearing and go a bit more conservative from there,” she says. Look to your coworkers and match their taste.

Consider how casual your workplace is

Not every job or internship cares about professional attire. Mackie, a student at UCLA, works in social media and says her job is really casual. “I wear light blue suede Pumas and my boss legit compliments them every time I wear them.” She suggests going with your gut or the vibe of your office, but don't be afraid to show personality if your supervisors are okay with more casual attire.

This means you may even be able to pull of sneakers or sandals. For the former, aim for trendy Adidas or sleek Nikes, opposed to your old hiking shoes or beat up tennis shoes. For sandals, salt-water style or beaded leather can add a sweet summer touch—but ditch the flip-flops and Birkenstocks.

“It's completely acceptable for my [fashion] interns to wear sandals in the summer, so long as they're not flip flops or anything that looks too beachy,” Yannetta says.

Creative environments usually have more flexibility, and an unusual pair of shoes can even be a good way to get noticed by your boss, Cleary says. “But don't go overboard. For more office/corporate environments you don't want to stand out.”

Yannetta recommends skipping the high heels, unless you're in an environment where that's the norm. “It's easy for those to look a little too much like ‘going out’ shoes,” she says.

Finding formal shoes that don’t kill your feet

If you're sitting down all day, you can pull off heels without the pain. Cleary suggests heels between 1.5 and 2.5 inches, because they have the best support for working all day.

You can also look into specialty lines of heels that are made for more active use. For example, Rockport offers a Total Motion collection, whose heeled shoes bend as you walk to provide more flexibility and comfort. They keep the heels short, but the patterns still add a level of trendiness with a metallic snakeskin or leopard print. Everlane also makes a comfy 2-inch block heel called The Day Heel in a variety of colors made from 100 percent Italian leather.

Yannetta also recommends wearing comfy shoes on your commute if you walk to work, and then changing in the bathroom when you get there, especially if you're breaking in a new pair of shoes. Her other tips? Carry Band-Aids with you just in case, wear no-show socks if you're likely to get blisters and try a blister prevention stick to minimize friction between your feet and shoes.

Make comfy shoes look formal

Christy, a recent grad of UCLA, recommends closed-toed shoes and suggests classic Mary Jane shoes to wear for a more formal event. But you can also make everyday flats or boots, like Oxfords or even small-heeled booties, look formal enough to wear to work without hurting your feet. Sara, an intern at a television studio, says her boss complimented her heeled booties at work. Her beige suede booties—Vince Camuto from Nordstrom—have embellishments and slits that add cute details to her ensemble. It shows you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style.

According to Cleary, ballet flats or loafers are always a win in almost any environment, because they are comfortable, casual, practical and polished.

What colors, patterns and prints are best?

You may be tempted to go for a statement shoe, like white platforms or a more holographic design, which could be acceptable if you work in fashion, at a boutique store or at another creative space. But if you’re not sure what’s professional, try prints that are classic, like a black and white print or a floral that is not too outlandish, Cleary says. This also depends on the environment, but sticking to simple is a good way to blend in—and when it comes to office footwear, that might just be the safest way to go.

You might want to show off your fashion taste, but when it comes to your internship, you’re here to learn and impress. Take cues from those around you about what’s most fitting, and if you’re not sure, then ask! “I would have no problem with an intern coming to me and asking what is and isn't OK to wear,” Yannetta says. “Do this in the beginning of your internship to get it out of the way, in the same way that you'll probably ask where the employee lunchroom is or what's an okay time for you to head out at the end of the day.” It’s always best to be upfront, honest and professional. 

The Women’s Media Center reported that the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charity of media network Thomson Reuters, released results of a survey of experts last week on the most dangerous countries for women. Of those countries, India was found to be the most dangerous, and the United States made the top 10 —the only Western nation to do so.

This is the second time the Thomson Reuters Foundation has conducted the survey, the first being in 2011. The U.S. did not make the top 10 in the 2011 results.

The survey was conducted in October 2017, aka post-#MeToo, so it’s unsurprising that views of women’s safety in America have shifted. Of the six survey questions, which focused on health, culture and religion, non-sexual violence, discrimination, sexual violence and human trafficking, the United States made the top 10 for two: they ranked third-worst alongside Syria for sexual violence, and sixth-worst for non-sexual violence.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s definition of sexual violence includes “rape as a weapon of war; domestic rape; rape by a stranger; the lack of access to justice in rape cases; sexual harassment and coercion into sex as a form of corruption,” according to their website. This aligns with much of the #MeToo and #TIMESUP movements, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation attributes those movements to perhaps affecting the answers of the 548 experts contacted for the survey.

Their definition of non-sexual violence includes “conflict-related violence and forms of domestic physical and mental abuse.” The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that in the United States, a third of women have been victims of physical violence by a partner, and that domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the U.S.

This is not the only recent report that puts the United States in a bad light, either—last month, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley made headlines for disagreeing with a UN report that shed light on poverty in the United States, according to Fortune. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, referred to the United States as “the most unequal country in the developed world” after it was found that 40 million Americans are in poverty, with another 18.5 million in extreme poverty and 5 million more in absolute poverty.

No U.S. government officials have made a comment on the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s survey or the U.S. ranking as of yet, but I imagine this will spark even more conversation about women’s rights and safety in the United States.

It’s Independence Day 2018, but given the current ever-scary political dialogue, the Fourth of July can take on a different connotation this year, especially for some people. As migrant children are still allegedly being separated from their legal guardians, it can seem humorlessly ironic to celebrate the United States’ independence when some people still aren’t granted freedom. To find out how college-aged women are celebrating their 4th of July festivities amid the on-going vexing news cycle, we asked college women and recent graduations their opinion of Independence Day this year—and it got intense.

Prior to the Fourth of July celebrations, Gallup published a study to see how Americans would rank their patriotism. The study notes that American pride has been on a steady decline since 2014, with 2018 being a record low for prideful Americans (or lack thereof, tbh).

The poll adds that only 47 percent of U.S. residents said that they were “extremely proud” to be American. As the study notes, Democrats were less likely to say they were proud to be American. Gallup also reports that American pride in college graduates has drastically decreased (by 12 percent) since last year.

Since Independence Day is not only meant to commemorate the United States’ freedom and it’s also used to celebrate American patriotism (typically through elaborate displays of fireworks), we asked some college-aged women what they thought of Independence Day. American pride and Independence Day are often interconnected, and it could lead to a connection between why so many Americans are statistically less proud to be Americans.

After all, some college students and recent graduates are reexamining their outlook on the traditional Independence Day celebration.

You know: the traditional fireworks, barbeques, parades and general festivities that you typically use to celebrate the States’ independence but also your freedom to spend quality time with your family.  Since migrant units are actively being disembodied at the U.S.-Mexico border, some students believe the current political climate might disenfranchise the overall unity of the holiday, which typically brings families together.

Her Campus Intern and sophomore at Barnard College Erica Kam says that she hasn’t really been a devout Independence Day celebrator. However, she notes that—despite the current political BS—that the U.S. has historically always infringed on other peoples’ rights and human beings (especially people of color).

“I definitely understand why people would think this year’s 4th of July celebrations should be different to reflect the current political climate (i.e. we shouldn’t be celebrating America when America is ‘like this’), but I think it’s important to recognize that America has kind of always been ‘like this,’ even before Trump or the recent headlines—considering our country has a history of slavery, colonialism, internment camps for Japanese-Americans, etc., is it ‘correct’ to ever have celebrated our country and the so-called commitment to ‘freedom?’ I’ve never been super into 4th of July celebrations, and that isn’t going to change this year,” Erica continues.

Seeing as the U.S. has a lengthy history of oppressing, imprisoning and enslaving people of culture, it’s easy to see why a lot of people have disconnected from the proposed significance behind Independence Day well before the current political environment. After all, the U.S. (and many other colonized countries) have historically always been “like this," regardless of what American Exceptionalist teachings might say.

Though it’s important to remember that the U.S. has a history of subjecting marginalized individuals to abuse, some students are using the current political atmosphere (coupled with the polluted atmosphere that has been brewing for centuries) to disassociate from the Fourth of July’s significance, which can be critical for your personal mental health.

And some students aren't looking at the holiday any different than years past. 

Makena Gera, a Her Campus Intern and a sophomore at Marist College, says, “The Fourth of July for me and my family has always been about going to the beach, having a cookout and watching fireworks. I've never really thought of it on a level any deeper than that. I've never spent the Fourth really reflecting on the history of our country, so even though right now the current state of our country upsets me, I'm not seeing the holiday any differently than I used to.”

It’s perfectly acceptable to treat any holiday at the surface level, in this case: a way to spend quality time with your family. (After all, gatekeeping is a gross habit, and we can’t really gate-keep how anyone celebrates a holiday.) Even if a holiday is teeming with problematic timeline blunders, spending time with your family and getting the heck out of work can be beneficial to your mental health and it especially crucial given the current legislature and newsworthy happens (that shouldn’t be happening to begin with).

“Maybe I should spend more time thinking about everything that the holiday stands for, but since I never have in the past, I'm not really thinking about it in a political way now. Maybe it's privileged of me to not really appreciate the freedom that the holiday stands for because there are so many people that are right now dying for the freedom that I have. I know I should think about it differently, but because I was never really encouraged to think about it in that way, I just see it as a day for a barbeque,” Makena says.  

Conversely, for some college-aged women, it’s impossible to escape the severity of the news surrounding the separated migrant children. Recent graduate of Iowa State University Alex McGuire says, “For me, I’m using it as a day to be grateful for the family I get to have in contrast to what the government is going to families daily. As a non-white person, I’ve found myself having nightmares that the police will just suddenly become suspicious of my siblings and separate us for no defined amount of time.”

For people of color, the traumas that currently impact migrant children, parents and families can cause vicarious mental health issues and Post-traumatic stress and anxiety for many people of color. People of color are already more susceptible to PTSD from racist attacks, and the current racist attack on Mexican migrants can create an unhealthy amount of emotional and mental distress for people of color—even if they are citizens of the United States.  

But maybe you can reclaim Fourth of July for the America you want to believe in.

Utilizing the Fourth of July as a way to tend to your mental health can be a way to internally redefine the holiday, and its potentially problematic traditions, for yourself and your family. If the current news cycle is causing you or your family and an unhealthy amount of mental fatigue, it's totally fair for you to celebrate (or not celebrate) Independence Day in less exhausting ways — whatever that means for you, personally.

It’s important to recognize that one of the most critical forms of activism is genuine self-care. (Because without your mental health, you can't advocate for the movements that impassion you.)

And, of course, what could be more patriotic than using Fourth of July holiday to protesting, engaging with Democracy and giving back to the community?

Though the current political climate could contribute to students’ apathy (or increased apathy for the holiday) or general distress, some students believe that Fourth of July can be used a vehicle to unite U.S. residents.

“I think 4th of July is a great time to highlight how Americans can come together as a nation. We all have one thing in common, we live in America and that’s what I’ll be celebrating. I’m also a sucker for hot dogs and fireworks,” Sierra Clair, a student at Loyola Marymount University says.

Although the Fourth of July has the potential to unite Americans, or at least unite families that still have the luxury to actually be with their kin during this holiday, sometimes divergence can lead to unity.

Especially as the debate over immigration and what it means for United States to grant individuals citizenship or asylum, U.S. citizens are redirecting their frustration about this harmful decree by protesting. There are a lot of ways to use your voice and freedom to combat the separation of children from their parents. In particular, protests can yield productive and unifying results. Historically, protests have changed U.S. history (Don't ever let anyone disparage the power of student protests, just FYI.)

Whether you have plans for Independence Day or not, you can use your activism this Fourth of July weekend by contributing to one of the dozens of unifying movements to reunite migrant families.

Channeling your lack of pride this Independence Day to ensure that everyone in the U.S. has access to freedom can be an indirect method to amplify your own potentially wavering pride.

We’re down to six guys, and Becca means business. She hasn’t been shy about cutting guys before the rose ceremony, and canceling cocktail parties when she already knows who to send home. So, let’s cut to the chase: Who’s going to win this whole thing? 

I really can’t see Leo or Colton making it to the top three. Leo has major untapped potential, but it seems his relationship with Becca just started––he’s in the same place with her as other guys were during the second week. Maybe if Becca had picked him for a one-on-one earlier and taken him on a date to the hair salon, he would be rock-solid top three material.  

Colton, on the other hand, is prime Bachelor franchise material: former pro-football player with a ton of time on his hands, generically good-looking, sort of problematic—I mean, are we going to totally forget the fact that he was hooking up with Tia (Becca’s friend and former Bachelor contestant) literally up until he started filming the show with Becca? After what happened with Arie, I don’t think Becca wants to take a chance with him getting back with Tia if she ends up choosing him. Yikes. Imagine the tweets. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to see Colton as next season’s Bachelor.  

That leaves us with Garrett, Blake, Jason, and Wills. As much as Becca and Wills bonded over their mutual Harry Potter obsessions, I’m getting really strong friend zone vibes between them. Like, I’m sure Becca will be totally down to go see the inevitable 2035 Harry Potter remake with Wills, as long as she can take her husband and kids with her, too. What a fun outing!

So, it looks like Garrett, Jason, and Blake are all contenders. Let’s take a closer look at their time on the show up until this point and see who will be listening to Becca lament about Arie for the next 40 years.  

Jason 

Full disclosure: I have no idea why this guy is in the top three. It’s just process of elimination, you know? He seems like the sort of guy who would try to use LinkedIn as a dating app, and then totally deny it. Oh, and there’s the whole entire lack of personality thing, not that Becca’s fake-quirky “I’m not like other girls” thing is much better. 

Blake

Becca chose Blake for the very first one-on-one date: the one that was all about Arie. Still, he stuck around, and wasn’t freaked out by her eagerness to take a sledgehammer to a couch just because her ex had sat on it. Blake just seems, like, super chill. He’s managed to stay out of the other guys’ childish drama all season, and even though he can sometimes seem sort of nonchalant about Becca, it’s actually really refreshing. I would pick a guy like Blake over someone desperate and obsessive like Lincoln or Chris any day. Also, he’s the cutest—in case you forgot. 

Garrett 

TBH, I haven’t been Garrett's biggest fan ever since he drove up in that minivan stocked with all the parenting essentials, but Becca seemed to love it, since she gave him the first impression rose that night. And remember those problematic Instagram likes? It’s likely he was so quick to apologize since having the winner of The Bachelorette be problematic is more of a PR disaster than having just another contestant on the show do the same thing. The last three bachelorettes—Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jojo Fletcher, and Rachel Lindsay—all ended up with the guys they gave that telling first impression rose to, and it doesn’t seem like Becca has plans to break tradition.

Liam Payne and former UK X Factor judge Cheryl Cole recently announced their split via social media, with tweets that essentially delivered the same message to fans: they're regrettably ending their relationship, and requesting that the media and fans don’t make a fuss for the sake of their child, Bear.

Their baby was born in March of 2017, meaning he is still not even a toddler. While he may not notice any media attention now, this post-split drama is understandably not something you want your child to have to deal with in the future. 

Unfortunately, certain people didn't grant Liam and Cheyl’s wish, as Cosmopolitan notes that a horrible rumor about Bear’s grandmother started to circulate. BBC reports that the rumor stated that Cheryl’s mom had caused the breakup, which seems like a pretty horrible thing to insinuate about anyone's family member, but especially someone's own mother. 

Cheryl once again took to Twitter to dispel the rumors, expressing her anger that her mother had been dragged into the situation in the first place. "I hate responding to stuff especially at such difficult times, but I cannot sit here and listen to such nasty, false articles regarding my mam. I don’t know why they involve her in stories about me. I can assure you she has absolutely nothing to do with any of it. I am a grown woman who is capable of dealing with my own life. She is a soft and kind woman who doesn’t deserve to be dragged into something that has nothing whatsoever to do with her."

Hopefully, for Bear and his family's’ sake, the rumor will die down quickly and the world can respect the wishes of the former couple.

There are still 25 prospective Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) candidates who could take soon-to-be retired Justice Anthony Kennedy’s place. While some of the top contenders have some controversial pasts, there’s one candidate we hope the Trump administration votes off the metaphorical island—seeing as they’re a part of a religious cult that’s basically synonymous with the Handmaid's Tale.

Politico reports that Amy Coney Barrett, an experienced lawmaker, is one of the few Supreme Court Justice candidates to be shortlisted. Aside for her extensive background in law and politics, a New York Times article from Sept. 2017 notes that Barrett is allegedly affiliated with a religious cult that has some ideology that would make any dystopian novelist cringe.

According to the Times, the Appellate Court Judge Barrett is tied to a religious sect called People of Praise. On the surface, it seems like the organization is a Christian church; however, the Times notes that members of the group pledge a lifelong oath to the community as a whole and to one another. In other words, it’s a cult.

People of Praise notes that “many People of Praise members choose to make a lifelong commitment called a covenant. The covenant of the People of Praise is a promise of love and service to fellow community members and to God. This covenant is not an oath or a vow.”

By definition and religious definition, the term covenant often implies some form of formal binding oath, agreement or bond. Though People of Praise subtly suggests that not every member takes an oath to the covenant, and the vow itself is voluntary, covenant typically denotes some form of long-term agreement or agreement. But, that’s not the most bizarre pillars of the religious organization. Apparently, women members of People of Praise are called “handmaids.” Whereas, men in the organization are dubbed “head.” Beyond taking a hackneyed, authoritarian approach to family norms, these labels seem to exacerbate masochistic gender norms—seeing as the group basically reduces women to actual female servants.  

Given the People of Praise’s sexist opinion of women members, some people might be leery that Barrett could have some internalized sexist ideologies of her own. However, that shouldn’t deter her from being a solid SCOTUS prospective.

After Democratic senator decried Barrett’s involvement with the People of Praise, Barrett defended her religion and her professional qualifications, The Daily Beast reports. “It’s never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they arise from faith or anywhere else, on the law,” Barrett said.

Granted, Barrett surely can serve as the hypothesized newest SCOTUS member regardless of her religious background—even if it is a cult. But, this definitely could sway the Trump administration’s opinion as they get ready to give out their final rose as the admin searches for the most compatible Justice.

At the end of June, the Supreme Court ruled that they would support President Donald Trump's travel ban — the policy introduced just a week after his administration took office that would restrict individuals from seven countries (including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela) from entering the United States.

At the time, Trump said in a statement that the decision was a “moment of profound vindication following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country.” As the ban affects a number of majority-Muslim nations, it has been called colloquially a "Muslim ban" and has inspired a pretty heavy amount of anxiety from immigration and religious freedom advocates since it was first introduced. 

Because of the very real political, emotional and mental impact this ruling has had on the Muslim community, Her Campus spoke with our network of college women to ask Muslim students how they were feeling right now. Not just about the latest development, but to also look deeper at how all of it (the ban, the rhetoric and discourse surrounding it, all the ignorant and emboldened anti-Muslim sentiments) overall affects their mental health as they try to live, worship, study and just exist during this difficult time. 

Of course, HC women are always strong and kind and sharp in the face of difficult conversations, so they weren't afraid to get real about what this issue (and the cultural climate it contributes to) really means for their brains. Here's just some of their thoughts:

First-off, they very much feel the effects of the ban, the constant coverage of the ban & how it plays into their identities as American Muslims.

"[The constant coverage has] made feel like I'm not welcomed in a country founded and created by immigrants because of my religion. My religion plays a major role in my identity, I'm Muslim and no one can take that away from me. However, I'm beginning to feel like I can't fully express who I am anymore because of the strong bias against Muslims...People who know my name can easily assume my religion since the names are so distinct. These policy changes make me feel like those who are not Muslim feel a sort of pity for me. I constantly wonder if others think I pose some sort of threat to them and whether they will fully accept me or not. The travel ban certainly feels as if I'm not welcomed anywhere in this country, all because of the religion I identify with."- Nishat Tarin, Hofstra University

“[The developing news of the ban] has simply made me more aware of the anti-Muslim sentiments that have been growing in America since 9/11. I view the Muslim Ban as a culmination of those anti-Muslim sentiments —fear, negativity, hatred, hostility, and acrimoniousness towards Muslims — that started on 9/11. It's not made me feel unsafe; it's simply made me more aware and more attentive. I'm more wary about my religious identity now, and I'm more careful to steer clear of anything that relates to Muslim talk, or Islam. It's not concealment or avoidance per se, it's an attempt to avoid talk that causes divergence and opposition among an already divided public.”  - Aliza Siddiqui, UC Berkeley

They notice an emboldened group of people spreading ignorance and Islamophobic sentiments but also know it's part of a deep-seeded, older problem in the U.S.  

"The introduction of Trump administrations travel ban did not necessarily increased anti-Muslim sentiment rather [implied] that the biases against Muslims are true. The ban basically showed that Muslims from the Muslim majority countries on the travel ban list pose a significant threat and that they should not be tolerated. People are not afraid to say racial slurs anymore, recently this random guy on the street called women who wear hijabs, 'Towel heads.' I'm beginning to see the hatred more openly now." - Nishat Tarin, Hofstra University 

"The amount of Islamophobia that’s being spread is insanity. I deal with it by showing people what Islam truly preaches, which is peace. It’s a sad time when a religion is judged on a few [individuals] rather than the religion itself. What’s worse is the billions of Muslims that have to deal with the constant media bias surrounding us." - Rue, Georgia State University

"It made me realize that the people around me weren't who they seemed, after years of knowing them. Classmates I went to school with, that were my acquaintances and even friends, were showing support for this ban and ignoring the fact that it was a hateful attack directed on me and my people. People who I thought cared for and supported me were for this ban that targeted one of my identities and that saddens me deeply, knowing I have to go to school everyday and face them..."- Amasil Fahim, Saint Louis University

And it definitely weighs on these young women, affecting their mental health and day-to-day lives.

"I try to avoid the news altogether and pretend nothing's truly happening. It's easy for me to do so because I have no one from those specific travel ban countries, but I cannot imagine how it must be like for other Muslim students. It makes me feel stressed and anxious about what would happen if it were extended to Pakistan or Oman or Bahrain, all of which are countries I have grown up in, was raised in, and spent my childhood in. Those are Muslim majority countries too, and if they are included in the travel ban, it would hit my heart close. I would be very extra worried then —not because I have any family who needs to come to the US from there, but because I know that there are millions of families who do." - Aliza Siddiqui, UC Berkeley 

"...It’s as if you can’t practice your religion in peace anymore or be anything other than what’s acceptable. Where is the love? The beauty of America is that it’s a land full of immigrants none of us, none, actually are native to this land." - Rue, Georgia State University

"It certainly affects my mental health because today it was these specific countries, more countries can be added. I'm Bangladeshi-American and Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country and I wouldn't be surprised if Bangladesh was added to the list. Most of my blood relatives live in Bangladesh and the thought of me not allowed to see them because of false accusations portrayed on the media devastates me. I'm anxious, worried and stressed because none of us did anything wrong to feel those emotions constantly." - Nishat Tarin, Hofstra University

"...I worry everyday I go out that someone is going to say or do something to me because of my religion and how I visibly represent it. It makes me feel incredibly anxious because, while my home country is not currently on the ban list, I know the Trump administration is just itching to find a reason to put it there and it scares me because I have so much family there and that means I might never be able to see them again. I have my mother, who is going to visit in a few months. What if while she is visiting the ban is put on that country? What would happen to her how would she get back?These worries constantly plague me." - Amasil Fahim, Saint Louis University

They have ideas for how campus communities can better support their Muslim students.

"Campus communities should create safe spots where Muslim students can actively speak about the negative experiences they face. Also, if any of us are faced with an unjust experience, we should get our justice. Schools, universities and workplaces should have a zero tolerance for any racial slurs and bias."- Nishat Tarin, Hofstra University 

"Show love and support and give information that show [the truth]... Let people know why my religion is nicknamed 'the religion of kindness.' Be there to call out the Islamophobia that is prevalent on our college campuses and not ignore it." - Amasil Fahim, Saint Louis University

But, no matter what, they are resilient and determined to offer words of comfort to one another where they can.

"My advice is to stay strong, continue reaching your goals and your success will define who you are. Don't let false accusations and slurs get to you because you are not the negative things that are being said you are. Don't be afraid to practice your faith and express yourself because that's what makes our religion and our identity so unique and beautiful." - Nishat Tarin, Hofstra University

"Stand up for your beliefs, but also know it is okay to be anxious and scared, know that we are a network of people that spread love, support, and kindness. Never forget you are not alone and know that we are all in this struggle together." - Amasil Fahim, Saint Louis University

For more insight into the travel ban's effects, check out our friends at Brown Girl Mag who talked to South Asian Americans about their reactions to SCOTUS' ruling. 

While Hot New Hip Hop reports that Drake’s latest album, Scorpion, went platinum the same day it was released (which is huge, obviously), we’ve been preoccupied with fan theorying about Drake’s son’s name. After all, fan theories run our lives, and we’re only slightly ashamed. Since Drake confirmed on his album that he does have a son, the Twitterverse has been feeding us some necessary theories about what his son’s name might be.

Amid the on-going drama between Pusha T and Drake, Pusha alleged that Drake has a child, according to People. When Drake finally confirmed these allegations, after clarifying other weirdly invasion claims that Pusha included in his songs, we’ve basically be listening to Drake’s album on repeat just to try to guess what his son’s name might be. Granted, we were going to listen to Scorpion non-stop this entire week, month and probably year anyway—but our name hypotheses have been getting in the way of ~truly~ enjoying his music.

Thankfully, one Twitter user did some extensive song sleuthing for us. “I only love ‘My Bed’ and my momma I’m sorry... Drake’s son’s name is Mahbed = Romanian for “chosen one” He been telling the truth,” the Twitter user wrote.

If you didn’t catch that reference, this Twitter user’s theory originated from Drake’s “God’s Plan” lyrics, where the artist said, “I only love my bed and my momma.” But, there’s a very real possibility that he might have coded that particular line to mean “Mahbed and my momma.”

E! News adds that Sophie Brussaux, who’s allegedly the mother of Drake’s son, called her son Adonis. While the Instagram post was recently deleted, Pusha T hinted that Adonis might be Drake son’s first name in his song entitled, “The Story of Adidon.”

In the now-reconned Insta post, Brussaux captioned a photo with her son with, "Mother of Adonis People reports. 

While Adonis might be Drake’s son’s all but confirmed first name, Mahbed could be his middle name. TBH, we totally support this powerful name.

Given the uplifting and inspirational nature of Drake’s “God’s Plan” lyrics, music video, and the associated altruistic acts, the song could also serve as a subtle ode to his son, Adonis Mahbed.

Some of the most important characters are often the ones that go unnoticed, and in this week’s episode of Dietland, "Monster High," this proved to be true.

Although we’ve become acquainted with the women of Calliope House in passing, the only one we’ve really gotten to know is Verena. Calliope House has been covered in a shroud of secrecy and vagueness for both Plum and viewers, and it has remained a mystery all season. But in "Monster High" we got to catch a glimpse of both the house itself and the women inside of it, and it’s left us wanting more.

In this episode, we were told that the house is a collective for abused women, but not in the traditional sense. It’s clearly not your typical women’s shelter (there’s the questionable New Baptist Plan, the porn installation in the basement, and the cult-like cream-colored outfits the women wear), but the women definitely have stories that deserve to be shared. When one woman in particular shared her story with Plum, she revealed a lot about the nature of Calliope House, and it became obvious that the other women must have the same powerful stories to tell.

We had already met Sana earlier in the season (the one with the burn marks down her face), but we never learned anything about her. The extent of her interactions with Plum, and with the audience, were about the same as any of the other women—short and quiet. But this time, we learned Sana’s heart-wrenching story.

She told Plum that her mother wanted to leave her father so to punish her mother, Sana’s father threw acid on her. She says that Verena “helped [her] find the gift in what happened” to her, and along with the other women in the house, helped her to find the strength to overcome her trauma. Sana no longer sees what happened to her as a tragedy, but rather as a blessing. Now her scars allow her to see the true characters of other people in their reactions to her. When it comes to the ones that turn away, she says “they have to live with their ugliness. I don’t.”

But one serious question has been raised: what happened to the other women that gave them the desire and the ability to help someone like Sana?

What are their stories, and why aren’t they being shared?

Hopefully in the coming episodes, now that we know the truth about Calliope House (and it’s hope to change the world), we can begin to hear more about the other women.

Plum has been able to find her voice after completing the Baptist Plan, and hearing Sana’s story has motivated her to use her voice for change. Maybe we can meet more of the other inspiring women of Calliope House as they band together to fight the patriarchy (most likely along with Jennifer).