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Ivanka Trump Is Closing Her Namesake Fashion Brand

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Ivanka Trump's role as a senior adviser to her father, President Trump, has seemingly convinced her to abandon the fashion world for a career in public policy. She announced on Tuesday that she'll be shutting down her namesake clothing and accessory business. 

"When we first started this brand, no one could have predicted the success that we would achieve," Ivanka said in a statement. "After 17 months in Washington, I do not know when or if I will ever return to the business, but I do know that my focus for the foreseeable future will be the work I am doing here in Washington, so making this decision now is the only fair outcome for my team and partners."

She added that she's "beyond grateful for the work" of the Ivanka Trump collection team, who's "inspired so many women."

"While we will not continue our mission together, I know that each of them will thrive in their next chapter," Ivanka said at the end of her statement. 

 

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. ❤️ ITHQ

A post shared by Ivanka Trump HQ (@ivankatrumphq) on

Ivanka separated herself from the business more than a year ago to avoid potential violations of ethics laws, and so it would not appear that she was profiteering off her White House role. According to The Wall Street Journal, sales at Ivanka Trump collections "soared" in the year of the 2016 presidential election. However, the success appeared to be short-lived as big retailers like Nordstrom dropped the brand from its stores in 2017 due to poor sales. Anti-Trump activists also targeted Ivanka's lines for boycotts.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a government watchdog group, said the shuttering of Ivanka's business is "a notable step in the right direction," but one that "comes much too late." 

"The ethics issues that arise from her ownership of the Ivanka Trump Brand also arise from her ownership stake in the Trump Organization, and still more issues arise from her father's ownership of that business," said Noah Bookbinder, the group's executive director. "If the Trump family truly cared about ethics, they would fully divest themselves of these assets -- something they should have done before they entered the White House."

The move will reportedly affect 18 employees


When Treating Yourself Is Actually Bad for Your Health

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We all have those rough days when we’re exhausted, grumpy and maybe even cramping. All you want to do after class or work is go home, crash on the couch and finish off a carton of ice cream. After all, you deserve to treat yourself—right?

Unfortunately, doing so can be counter-intuitive. You’d think that it would be the same as taking care of yourself, and while it is good to give your mind a break and relax, it’s important to consider the impacts on your physical health if you’re always ordering takeout or binging Netflix for five hours after every long day.

Similar to YOLO, the treat yo’self mindset is a way of justifying a behavior that typically would not be considered as healthy or self-improving, says Tatum Murray, a lifestyle blogger at ThePace.co. As a millennial herself, she’s noticed the treat yo'self attitude all over social media, like when a friend posts the phrase alongside an Instagram photo of an ice cream cone. It's often attributed to unhealthy food choices, and it's dangerous when it becomes an excuse for us to eat whatever we want.

For Michelle Marie, a holistic health and wellness coach, "treat yo'self" has a great message and meaning behind it—when interpreted the right way. But the general attitude has become a trendy sensation and an overused phrase that many people use out of context and too often. We all have habits that we think are treating ourselves, but should actually be avoided.

"Some bad habits to deal with stress may include emotional eating, a night out involving binge drinking, smoking, as well as poor sleep. As a primary care provider in a detox clinic, I find recreational drug use as a means to deal with stress to be an epidemic of growing concern," says Aisha K. Khan, PA-C, MS, MHS, Academic Director of the Physician Assistant Institute. Indulgences can take many forms, but it's important to treat yo'self in moderation. 

Finding comfort in comfort food

Who doesn’t want some creamy, chocolatey goodness to fight the pain of cramps? Ice cream on your period is the classic stereotype. “I see a lot of it on Instagram. Posts with a whole gallon of ice cream saying ‘I'm on my period so I deserve it’ treat yourself kind of thing. I'm not a big fan. First of all, dairy and sugar is the last thing you want to be eating on your period,” says women's holistic health practitioner Jenna Longoria. Ice cream contains arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, which can actually cause cramping or increase inflammation. Have a chocolate chip ice cream cone once in a while, but try to avoid dairy when on your period if you've found that it actually makes things worse instead of better. 

Now let's say you hear some great news and want to go to the closest bar or burger joint to celebrate. After all, Chick-fil-A is right across the street! Instead, focus on eating real, whole foods. “By doing this, treating yourself will look a lot different then eating fast food fries and a milkshake,” Longoria said. “Instead, ‘treat yo'self’ will look like spending a little extra for those hand cut fries cooked in quality oils from the farm to table restaurant or grandma's homemade pie. Food made with love.”

Murray likes to use the many easy, healthy recipes available on Pinterest and other sites online to cook her own meals. “Look for a recipe that looks enjoyable to you and give it a try!” she said. “Cooking for yourself means you know every single thing that goes into your meals, so you can understand the nutritious value of what you're eating.” Don't worry, though—you can still occasionally treat yourself to those delicious fried potato wedges or slice of chocolate cake. Just don't make a habit of it!

Wine not?

So what about those celebratory drinks? No one’s saying you can’t have champagne on your birthday; however, you shouldn’t be binge drinking to celebrate your accomplishments, even though you might want to let loose after a promotion or grad school acceptance letter. “If it’s a once a week, kind of ‘treat yourself to a nice glass of wine or a margarita with friends,’ that's fine,” Longoria says. “But if it's a ‘I'm going to go binge drink because I got an A on my final’ then that's pretty pernicious and can lead to unhealthy habits.”

So for girls night out, relax with your gal pals, but don’t finish off a whole bottle of wine. Longoria likes to live by the 80/20 rule. She eats super healthy 80 percent of the time, and on the weekends she might have a gluten-free pizza and some wine. “It is important to indulge in a little of what we fancy and to approach food with a balanced attitude,” Longoria said. “Diets install the feeling of deprivation and guilt. This type of attitude reinforces negative patterns and behaviors, and paves the way for binge eating.” 

Non-stop Netflix

Ah, our love of Netflix runs deep. But eye strain, sleeping difficulties and slower metabolism can result from parking ourselves in front of the TV to watch a full season of House of Cards or The Office. Though of course one episode here and there is fine, avoid binge watching for long periods of time. 

Having too much sedentariness is obviously bad, Frank says. She tries to get active by riding her exercise bike for an hour while she answers emails, reads the New York Times online or has conference calls. She loves to walk with her partner outside in the Pacific Northwest. But she also makes time for TV. "Friday mornings are usually delayed with any long-term projects because much Shondaland becomes available on iTunes, and what's a compassionate, intelligent woman to do—not check in on what her girlfriends are doing? So also be concerned about too little Shondaland," she says. Find the balance between your favorite Netflix show and talking a walk outdoors. 

A late night out

Whether you stayed up late for homework or decided to hit the town with your friends, it's easy to fall into that exhausted college student cliché. It's exciting to stay up until 2 a.m. at a bar, but celebrations don't need to result in sleep deprivation.

Instead of treating yourself to a night at the club, try treating yourself to a day in bed. According to Frank, napping is good for you. There is a circadian rhythm that troughs mid-afternoon, and it's a natural time to nap, especially if you're sleep deprived. "My classmates in med school would often doze through a post-lunch lecture. I'd get up from my seat, go find a call room or empty library room and sleep for 15 minutes, spontaneously awakening, and ready to go for many more hours of lectures, study and patient care," she says. 

It may take you awhile to be able to fall asleep quickly, but practice makes perfect. "It's worth getting good at: there's abundant data showing that good sleep improves essentially all other health outcomes, it's available to most of us as a health promotion technique, and is pretty cheap," Frank says. 

It's all about moderation 

Moderation seems to be a nutritionist's favorite word. Khan agrees, "All things in moderation." We hear it all the time, but it absolutely applies to treating yourself after a long day. 

For example, you don't really need to be getting Venti Starbucks drinks on the daily. I know, I know, we all love Starbucks. But that doesn’t mean we need it in excess. Marie said two prime examples of the treat yo'self attitude are purchasing material items that you can’t afford or don’t need, and eating foods that do not serve your body or align with your health goals. We can apply this logic to our Starbucks drinks, because no one really needs to drop $6 on a Venti drink. Skip the Venti Frappuccino and opt for a tall if you really want to indulge after a long day. 

And no matter what your guilty pleasure is, just make sure you're not making it a daily habit.

So please, enjoy a glass of rosé or a slice of pizza on special occasions, but remember that a treat means something out of the ordinary. Don’t treat yo’self on the daily. You’ll be treating yourself in the long-term.

HC Wake-Up Call: Trump Readying $12B For Farmers Affected By His Trade War, Maxine Waters' Receives Suspicious Package, & Secret Michael Cohen Tape

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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.)

President Trump Plans $12 billion In Emergency Aid To Farmers Affected By His Trade War

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced that it will make up to $12 billion in emergency government assistance available to farmers. The money is intended to help farmers — especially those that grow soybeans — who have recently begun facing tariffs placed on agriculture by China, Mexico and other countries in retaliation to President Trump's decision to place tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. According to The Washington Post, the move "is the latest sign that growing trade tensions between the United States and other countries are unlikely to end soon."

White House officials said farmers should expect to see payments by September, which, hopefully for them, will end ongoing protests. The Washington Post reported that many of these protests involve farm groups and lawmakers who are actually Republicans, but those that are so fed up with the intense trade policy, the 2018 midterm elections could be affected. According to Trump, his tariffs are going according to plan — farmers just need to "be a little patient" because they're going to "be the biggest beneficiary."

A Suspicious Package Was Sent To Maxine Waters' Office

After a package addressed to "Anne Thrax" appeared in U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters' district office in Los Angeles on Tuesday, authorities evacuated the building. According to an incident report from the L.A. Fire Department, only one person came in contact with the package, and they had no medical complaints. A hazmat crew eventually determined that the package posed no threat. 

Just last week, Waters discussed the potential of "armed protests" against her outside her office. An extremist group had allegedly called for the demonstrations — the latest in a series of harassment and threats Waters has faced since calling for the public confrontation of Trump administration officials in response to family separations at the border. "As the President has continued to lie and falsely claim that I encouraged people to assault his supporters, while also offering a veiled threat that I should 'be careful,' even more individuals are leaving (threatening) messages and sending hostile mail to my office," Waters said last month. "There was one very serious death threat made against me on Monday from an individual in Texas which is why my planned speaking engagements in Texas and Alabama were cancelled this weekend," the statement continued. "This is just one in several very serious threats the United States Capitol Police are investigating in which individuals threatened to shoot, lynch, or cause me serious bodily harm."

CNN Released The Audio From Michael Cohen's Secret Trump Tape

On Tuesday's "Cuomo Prime Time," CNN's Chris Cuomo aired a secret recording obtained from Michael Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis. In the tape — which was recorded before the 2016 election — Trump and Cohen, his former lawyer, can be heard discussing their plans to buy the rights to a Playboy model's (Karen McDougal) story about an alleged affair she had with Trump years earlier. Trump's aides have previously denied an affair between the two.

At one point, Cohen mentions needing to set up a company to finance their purchase of the rights to McDougal's Trump story, which she sold to American Media Inc. — which owns the National Enquirer — for $150,000. He specifically mentions a "David," which is likely a reference to AMI's chairman and CEO, David Pecker. "We'll have to pay," Cohen says, and though the audio is muddled, Trump responds with, "pay with cash."

According to Rudy Giuliani, Trump's attorney, the president never made any such payment. "There's no indication of any crime being committed on this tape," Giuliani said on Fox News Tuesday night. Davis reportedly released the tape because Giuliani previously said that it was Cohen who used the word "cash." Davis said the audio proves it was Trump who said it. 

What to look for...

It's National Wine and Cheese Day (not to be confused with National Wine Day, which was in May). 

Women Who Are As Stressed As You Are Talk Self Care

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In this house (meaning the Her Campus HQ) we’re really all about self-care, self-love and self-awareness. In honor of International Self-Care Day, a few members of our team circled up to talk about how we practice self-care and why it’s so friggin' important for college-aged people (especially college women) to get in touch with that part of themselves and make time for self-care routines and rituals of their own.

Read on to hear members of Her Campus’ team — Katherine Speller (@kathriller), Rachel Lewis (@rachelcharlenel), Gina Escandon (@ginaescandon), Liz Posner (@Lizhpos), Sammi Burke (@samanthakari), Maggie Scenna (@maggiescenna) and Giana Grimaldi (@_gianamaria) — get real as heck about everything from self-care under capitalism, how face masks, sex toys and witchcraft can be self-care tools and the real and awesome power of looking out and advocating yourself.

Katie (@kathriller): When I think self-care, I think about doing all the physical and mental things I need to get back to baseline and the things to gas me up again in order to feel like a human — even if it's just unplugging for a few hours, pulling a few tarot cards for myself, sitting with my bulldog on top of my chest or going out to kayak where no one can talk to me. I think someone once used the “fill your bucket so you can pour it out for others” metaphor when explaining it to me and it was really my favorite thing ever. But LMK, what does self-care mean to you?

Rachel (@rachelcharlenel): Self-care means, in equal parts, challenging myself to be better, more thoughtful, and more authentic, and challenging myself to love myself as I am, right now, in this moment.

Maggie (@maggiescenna): It means taking time to reflect on yourself and how you're feeling, and doing whatever you can to help yourself to feel more healthy! Some days might require more effort than others, so it's important to check in with yourself and plan your self-care accordingly. Basically, it's about helping yourself to be your best self.

Liz (@lizhpos): Taking time to do only the things I love that make me feel good.

Gina (@ginaescandon): Self-care is something I do to take care of my mental and emotional health, and to help with my anxiety. It's about building a relationship with myself, and finding ways to refuel myself in a healthy way when I'm feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

Sammi (@samanthakari): Honestly, the term "self-care" always sounds kind of hokey to me but it's really right in line with “treating yo’ self” which I am a firm supporter of. It's whatever is what you need to feel more like yourself in the moment — whether it's a nap or an early night or a shot or a bubble bath like... what is going to make you feel better in this moment? 

Katie: It’s such an important check-in process for anyone out there trying to be a person today, tbh. Especially if you’re expected to zip up your human suit consistently and combat all the noise going on inside and outside your brain space. And I love that it’s not just about being better to yourself (though that’s super important) but helping you be a better version of you. Like, yes. What’s something a lot of people just don’t get about practicing self-care?

Rachel: Self-care isn't an excuse to like, be a shitty person. Self-care doesn't mean not evaluating yourself. Self-care does not mean going around harming people and being a shitty friend because it's too exhausting to check yourself.

Maggie: Also it doesn't require a million dollars and material items — sure, it can if you are blessed to be in that situation, but it can be as simple as incorporating meditation and setting an intention every morning. It's about taking time for yourself, and whether that's alone in your room or at the spa getting your favorite facial, it's about whatever makes YOU feel happy and healthy.

Gina: I think people think self-care is trending and sellable right now — and while that's true, for people (aka everyone) that need self care, it's something that runs deeper than capitalism or buying a $45 face mask. Yeah it sucks that people are making self-care a purchasable product BUT thing like meditation and spending time with loved ones and such are acts of self-care, completely free, and totally healing. 

Katie: Def agree. Self-care as a #Branding sort of thing can be great for getting the word out about it (and some really cool tools you can use to take care for yourself) but it’s so important to keep your filters on and recognize that it’s so much more personal and more about the space you make for yourself than about all the crap you use. But, like, speaking of — what are a few of the things that are in your self-care tool-belts?

Giana: Definitely face masks, a good tv show to binge-watch, comfy clothes, music, alone time and sleep.

Rachel: I have a few versions of ideal self-care. Version one: a face mask, a super chill show (Steven Universe makes me feel so fucking calm), an expensive bubbling beverage. Version two: silky, overpriced pjs, my giant vibrator, chill jams.

Maggie: Snake plant in your bedroom for air purity, ice roller, facial massager, gua sha tools, dry brush, That's So Retrograde podcast, tarot cards, candles galore, vibrator, and at night, Natural Calm and my eye mask and my cooling pillow to help me sleep better

Gina: Face masks and vibrators. Bless them.  

Katie: Honestly, I am so here for vibrators getting the love today. Giving your sex life and sexual health your attention is so underrated in terms of what we talk about when we talk about self-care. Like every single one of my friends are like “me, my vibe and Magic Mike XXL are hanging tonight because I deserve it. Don’t @ me” at least once or twice a month and those moments have got to be celebrated.
  Like I mentioned before: Tarot reading is also a huge part of my self-care routine too! I started to do daily readings a while back (documenting it on insta of all places, to keep me motivated) and it became such a special part of my me-time — and now I can’t imagine not lighting some incense and pulling a few cards when I’m having a moment (even though my whole life is low-key a moment).

Katie: Now, even folks like us who are really loud about trying to do the self-care thing have had times not being so great about it. Be honest, tell us about a time you weren’t doing so well or struggling with self-care?

Rachel: Lmao, always? I'm pretty good at the face mask part of self care, but I tend to forget to like, eat and drink water and think and create. I thrive the most when I'm creative and reading and loving the people I love and who love me, and I'm working a lot more on paying attention to that. Because when I don't I am DEPRESSED and dark and gloomy and bad to myself and the people I most want to uplift and support.

Sammi:  Um, my face is DISGUSTING and if I skip removing my makeup or moisturizing I always, always, always regret it every single time. Also, if I don't completely SLATHER my body in coconut oil before I dye my hair my whole chest/shoulders/neck/back are teal for like three days. Like, those two things are so quick and simple? So take the time to take care of yourself — ‘cause nobody else is gonna do it for you.

Liz: While I was starting my career in Teach for America, I was so obsessed with doing well in my job that I let my health really slide and took on some very unhealthy habits. I got pretty sick as a result (and, surprise! wasn't doing well at my job at all). The self-care movement was just getting started then, around 2013-2014, so seeing women's media begin a major push for self-care was eye-opening. I made more time for my mental and physical health, and life got much better after that.

Maggie: After the holidays last year, I literally let myself go on a permanent vacation from self-care for about three months. It was like I looked up and realized it was spring! I had gone months without taking care of myself, being active or eating well and I felt absolutely terrible. I was then so anxious about getting back on the wellness bandwagon that I kept putting it off and putting it off and feeling worse and worse and I felt terrible. I never want to be in that place again! I travel a lot and I know now that traveling can throw me off, so whenever I know I have a trip coming up, I always make sure I set myself up for success by doing a ton of self-care right before I leave and a ton right when I get back. I haven't had an extended vacay since!

Giana: Whenever I'm working too much and come home late, or just stay up late in general, I definitely neglect self-care. I don't sleep enough, and I'll be a zombie for most of the next day. It feels terrible! You never want to feel like you're not being the best version of yourself. I always feel best with a full night sleep, so that's what I try to achieve every night.

Katie: I know my self-care goes to utter shit when I get bogged down by work or end up in depressive episodes. It happened a few times after I got laid off from my first-ever job and later when I realized I had to make a mental-health related move away from another job — I realized I wasn’t taking the time to shower or sleep or see the people who matter to me or do the things that make me happy (like I basically just lived off of sad breakfast food Seamlessed to my bed.) But during that time I was really grateful to have friends who let me know that 1) it was totally okay not to be okay or to be on and charming and able to deal and 2) that they were willing to say to me “I’m worried about you and I want to help you get to a place where you can take better care of yourself again.”
  Now, what about your friends? How do you encourage them to take care of themselves?

Rachel: Love on each other, all the time. Be the weirdo friend who's like "bitch I love you" randomly on a Monday and who says "are you hydrated" via IG DMs and "have you read that poem you've been meaning to read?" It can be so simple, and it's so important and non-negotiable.

Maggie: Schedule a wellness date with your friend! Book a massage or a fitness class together, or just plan to stay in, do a sheet mask + talk about life. If you make it a solid plan, it's so much easier to get it done + hold your bff (and yourself!) accountable. Any time I hear about a new, strange wellness-related place opening up, I drag my friends and they always have fun! The hardest part is getting them there, but once they see how enjoyable it is to take time to care for themselves, you'll have them hooked.

Sami: It was my BFF that made me do a face mask for the first time (I tried to find the pic because it is hysterical. I didn't know what I was doing and the mask was on my eyelids on my lips and in my nose.)

 

🐋

A post shared by rachel charlene (@rachelcharlenel) on

Katie: I so agree that doing some goofy, fun and relaxing self-care stuff (paired with a metric f-ckton of aggressive gal-idation) with your friends is a great way to keep everyone accountable for being kinder to themselves. My friends and I all try to do some gentle nudges if one of us has gone dark for a week or so to make sure that we’re ready to crowd around and support when one of us is in trouble. That’s been such a powerful support system for me since the election.
  Speaking of — we’re all super busy and crying and reading news that makes us mad all the time. But how can we make sure that self-care makes it into our busy routines?

Rachel: Let yourself cry. If I've learned anything since 2016 *cough cough* it's that crying is so, so good for you. I've started crying in public just like, freely. On planes. In grocery stores. Sometimes it's just gotta happen. Suffocating your feelings is not the answer. To hold yourself accountable for self care, get a freaking app, or ask a friend to help you. I really like Aloe Bud because the creators are good and thoughtful and brilliant and queer, and supporting marginalized communities is important to me. It also reminds me to drink water, which sounds silly to rude people but is actually the most helpful thing. I'm much more stressed when I'm dehydrated.

Sammi: Honestly, self-care WHILE you're crying. Sometimes crying is the self-care — you can't live your life with everything all bottled up (try as I might). It's going to explode out of you eventually and a good cry is so damn cathartic. Anyway, Facemask and cry. Netflix and cry. Live and cry.

Liz: Make it a routine (take time every Saturday morning or Sunday night just for yourself) and/or put it on your calendar so you can hold yourself accountable.

Giana: If you're REALLY struggling to make time for self-care, literally set aside time in your schedule, just as you would a meeting for work/an internship or a class for school! Set aside a good hour, or half hour if you're pressed for time, and just do something that makes YOU happy and chill.

Katie: I’m also on Team Live Free, Cry Hard. 100 percent. I think a huge learning curve for me was learning that prioritizing myself didn’t mean not prioritizing other people and the causes that made me scared or sad or existentially horrified. It’s that goddamn bucket metaphor again, but it helped so much to realize that developing a sense of duty toward making an hour for myself (to cry or read or breathe or make it back to baseline) was part of the equation of being better equipped to handle all those other post-2016 stressors.

Katie: Now, I’m going to leave you all alone and let you get back to work. But, for your final word: Why is it so important for college women in 2018 to get in on self-care?

Rachel: 2018 sucks. This has been one of the worst years of my life, and that + college would be so, so draining. College is so hard and messy, and it's such a time of introspection and learning and re-thinking yourself and the world and your place in it. You don't need an excuse to take care of yourself. You deserve it, period. If you're waiting for someone to give you permission, you have it.

Maggie: There is so much craziness and negativity in the world right now and it's a really scary place. We all need to take care of ourselves so that we can be our own personal bests and therefore go into the world to help others! It's like on an airplane - always put your mask on first before helping others. If we're not taking care of ourselves, we can't be there for our friends, family and the world!

Liz: Women need to be their own advocates, especially in these dire political times. Despite mental health awareness being at an all-time peak, we are all getting buried by more stressors than ever before. Support your own health, and support your fellow women's self-care routines by keeping the SC movement going strong!

Katie: Agreed across the f-cking board. If you’re putting all your time and energy into educating yourself and bettering yourself and planning for a bad-ass future that’ll launch you toward your professional and personal goals, it’s a no-brainer that taking care of yourself emotionally/physically/all of it should be part of the equation. ✨

Let us know how you take care of yourself and do you on Twitter and Instagram @HerCampus and look out for more regular wisdom from the HC staff in our weekly advice column I DID A THING.

‘Dietland:’ Plum’s Not Empowered Anymore, She’s Just Angry

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In the past couple of episodes, Plum has come into her own. She’s decided that she has the right to accept and love herself for the way she is. She’s refusing to conform to society’s standards of beauty, and it’s a beautiful thing. But in this week's episode, "Woman Down," she spirals from feeling empowered and ready to fight back, to feeling just plain angry.

After last week’s episode when she was abandoned by the women of Calliope House and assaulted by a man who she thought genuinely respected her, her empowered attitude has completely transformed and, unfortunately, not for the better.

Two episodes ago, Plum’s perspective had changed from feeling unhappy with her appearance and her life, to feeling confident and loved. Now, she has lost that confidence entirely. When talking to Sana, Plum reveals that she no longer wants to change who she is—and not because she’s happy with herself, but because she feels like it would be useless.

“I would still be me. Me, who ruins everything I touch,” she says.

Because Plum now feels empty and worthless, she has to find a way to fill the void that Calliope has left in her. Plum is fed up with sitting on the sidelines watching women get hurt by men and hurt themselves because of society’s standards, so she decides to do something more drastic.

She finds a way to take her anger and turn it into something productive (or what she thinks is productive) by joining Jennifer, a group she once berated for their violent tactics but she joining the group because of those very tactics.

The truth doesn't have to be dark. #Dietlandpic.twitter.com/1yTVagqky3

After Plum joins Jennifer, we see a side of her that we hadn’t before. Plum is willing to learn to fire a gun, and she seems willing to kill, too. This time, when she has a nightmare about her sexual assault, dream-Plum turns around and shoots her attacker. Ominously, Plum wakes up from the dream smiling and content with the fictional murder she had just committed. Although you can’t blame Plum for feeling such anger towards the man who hurt her in such an unforgivable way, it’s disheartening to see the Plum that was (for a second) so happy with herself turn into someone so unrecognizable.

The one glimmer of hope we see at the end of the episode shows that no matter how angry Plum is, no matter how willing she seems to commit violence to enact change in society, she can’t seem to go through with it. When given the chance to kill a man who raped young women, she can’t do it. Deep down, no matter how badly she wants to get revenge on those who hurt her and men who repeatedly take advantage of women, she knows that violence is not the answer.

Stay Stylish & Hydrated with the Ultimate Back-to-School Giveaway from S'well

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Back-to-school season is just around the corner, which means it’s time to upgrade your essentials in the classroom and in your dorm. Every student knows that staying hydrated is the secret key to success, and what better way to do that than with a cute reusable water bottle that also helps the planet?

We’ve teamed up with S’well to give one lucky winner $500to spend atS’well, so you can stock up on bottles for your entire crew. Whether that’s your sorority, intramural sports team, or your dorm besties – S’well is perfect for everyone!

The bottles are made of vacuum-insulated, food-grade 18/8 stainless steel, and their triple-walled Therma-S’well technology keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours while maintaining a condensation-free exterior. (Basically, that means each bottle is totally next level!) You can use them for everything from your morning coffee to your post-workout water. The biggest plus? They’re eco-friendly, BPA-free, reusable, AND not to mention beautiful—they have so many designs (and the bottles can be personalized!), so your S’well can match any ~aesthetic~ you choose.

The goal for this school year is to feel good and do good, and having a S’well bottle is your ticket to doing both.

Stay Stylish & Hydrated with the Ultimate Back-to-School Giveaway from S'well

What to Do When You’re Feeling Confused About Your Sexual Orientation

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Growing up means experiencing a lot of new things and learning more about yourself, which often entails discovering your sexual orientation. Sometimes that can be confusing to figure out, but with all the resources we can access (thank you, Internet and technology), it should be an exciting time, not one to stress about. You’re already a badass college student taking on the world, so discovering your sexual orientation should be more fun than worrisome. Here are a few ways and resources to help guide the process.

1. Understand the different sexual orientations

There are many kinds of sexual orientations. The most commonly known ones are heterosexual (people who are attracted to the opposite sex), homosexual (people who are attracted to the same sex) and bisexual (people who are attracted to both men and women). Although these are all typically the most known on a widespread level, there are actually many different sexual orientations. Don’t let that overwhelm you, though. Sex therapist and counselor Christina Spaccavento says, “We are all unique individuals and no one person is the same, so I recommend that each person be free to define them self in a way that fits with them and their unique set of personal experiences and emotions.”

When it comes to sexual orientation expressions, she explains, “There are various terms for people’s sexual orientation such as straight, gay, lesbian, bi, queer or asexual and any of these terms may fit well for some people. But for others, these terms can be limiting. If this is the case, it can be helpful to use terminology that allows more space for exploration such 'open' or 'fluid.'”

2. Take your time

This discovery process is personal to you and can take as long—or as short—as you feel comfortable with. Spaccavento encourages, “Firstly, it is important to know that it is normal to have feelings of attraction to the same gender or sex. Doing some reading and research about alternative sexual orientations can be really helpful (only use trusted and reputable sources such as local community group and government sources).” This is extremely important when discovering sexual orientation because the more time and research put into the discovery, the less confusing and more confidence-boosting it will be!

Another way to make this process easier is to acknowledge your feelings and accept the way you’re feeling. Autumn Dube, a recent graduate of Emmanuel College, says, “It can be both scary and frustrating when you start to question your sexuality. One of the best things you can do is to not fight what you're feeling. It may seem easier to try to deny your emotions or tell yourself it's just a phase, but in the long run this denial does more damage than good.”

She adds, “It's natural to question what you're feeling, but it's not healthy to stuff down your emotions. You will learn to accept yourself as time passes, and you will find incredible support along your journey, but just remember it's okay to be confused from time to time. Your feelings and sexuality are valid, whatever they may be.”

3. Talk to someone

One of the best things to do when you’re confused is talk to someone! Spaccavento recommends, “Making contact with local community groups that offer support and discussion groups and events can be a great way to start to meet like-minded people as well as explore any feelings of confusion that may arise. And of course, if you become distressed or confused, reaching out to an experienced and trained therapist can be a safe way to begin to explore your feelings. …Talking to trusted and safe friends that have alternative sexual orientations can also be really helpful and of course, getting out there either in-person or online to meet others can also be a great way to explore.” Getting to know other people in the LGBTQ+ community can be so beneficial. Some might be going through the same thing as you while some might be past that point and could pass along advice or stories of their own experiences.

Throughout this time, the most important thing to remember is that this is completely normal. Almost everybody questions their sexuality at some point in their life and understanding those feelings is only going to make you feel even better about yourself. Self-acceptance and having patience with yourself is going to be a key part in your journey. Go forward with pride, collegiettes!

This Guy Took Planet Fitness' Promise Of A 'Judgement Free Zone' Too Literally & Got Naked At The Gym

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Sometimes, the Internet makes you think that you've seen and read it all. But then sometimes, it provides you with a story that is so wild, you can't help but laugh. This is one of those.

USA Today reports that Eric M. Stagno, a Massachusets resident, was charged with "indecent exposure, lewdness and disorderly conduct" when he took the "judgment free zone" mantra of his local Planet Fitness a little too far. Upon entering the gym, Stagno stripped down and proceeded to exercise in the buff. 

According to Plaistow police Capt. Brett Morgan, "The story we got from witnesses was that the guy walked in, stripped down right there in front, left the clothes and belongings at the front desk, walked back and forth across the gym a couple of times and then settled in over at the yoga mats."

The Boston Globe reported Capt. Morgan as saying, "Some of the comments some witnesses gave were that they felt uncomfortable, disgusted, sick, and unsafe. There were more witnesses coming forward than we could take names.”

The publication also reported that while he was found with drug paraphernalia, it was not clear whether or not he was under the influence during the time of his indecent exposure.

The police Captain stated that all Stagno had to say in his defense was, per their slogan, he "thought this was a judgment-free zone."


Something In Cat Poo Might Actually Make You Kinda Fearless?

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If you’re feeling a little scared, a professor at the University of Colorado suggests you might want to get your hands on some cat feces.

Stefanie Johnson, an associate professor of management at the University of Colorado conducted a study with her colleagues that uncovered the Toxoplasma gondii parasite that is typically found in rodents, “causes them to lose their innate fear of the smell of cat urine.”  The parasite allows the rodents to be more risk-taking and ultimately more likely to be eaten by cats, because of their, “increase in risk-taking behavior,” NBC News reports.

The parasite is linked to rodents but the new study uncovered that humans are able to contract it from touching cat feces and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports you can incur it from consuming poorly cooked meat. Once contracted, the chemicals released in the brain can be known to make people more fearless and more likely to reduce anxiety. 

via GIPHY

The study also revealed that those infected with the parasite were more likely to major in business or have started their own company, as opposed to those who were not infected. 

Johnson, whose husband is a biology professor at the University of Colorado collaborated on this study simply because it combined both of their fields, and, “because how often do biologists and business professors get a chance to work together?” Johnson told NBC News

The study surveyed 1,500 students and 200 people who attended entrepreneurship seminars at the University of Colorado, by administering a saliva test. Of those surveyed, 22 percent had tested positive, which meant at some point in their lifetime they had come in contact with the parasite. Those who tested positive were 1.4 times more likely to be business majors and 1.7 times more likely to have an emphasis in management and entrepreneurship, the study shows. 

Johnson and her team plan to continue this study and see if successful entrepreneurs are more or less likely to be infected. She says, "So what if all the businesses started by toxoplasma-positive people fail? What if that fear was a good thing? We want to know.”

In A Major Win For Gun Control Activists, Lucy McBath Wins Georgia Democratic House Primary

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Gun control activist Lucy McBath won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday in Georgia’s House primary for the 6th congressional district against businessman Kevin Abel, according to CNN.

In a four-way Democratic race, McBath more than 36 percent of the vote, according to CNN. She thanked her supporters early Wednesday on Twitter, writing, “We deserve better representation in DC, and I intend to show the good people of #GA06 what a tough, determined mother can do.” 

Gun control has been a key part of her campaign platform, after her child was shot to death in 2012. Her 17 year old son, Jordan Davis, was killed at a Florida gas station by a white man who complained about his loud music. She went into activism and became a national spokeswoman for the gun control group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. According to her campaign biography, she also became a leader in the Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor Network.  McBath initially planned to catch a seat in the state House, but after the school shooting at Parkland, she decided to run for Congress. 

“I knew that I could no longer sit on the sidelines while the politicians in the pocket of the gun manufacturing lobby decide the future of our gun laws,” McBath wrote on her campaign site. “While I support the 2nd Amendment rights of Georgians, we can still advocate for common sense gun violence prevention to make our communities safer.”

According to the Huffington Post, she supports “common sense gun violence prevention laws,” such as background checks, raiding the age of gun purchases to 21, and pushing to end “conceal carry” measures. McBath is also pushing for affordable health care and better access to women’s health services. 

McBath will now take on Republican Karen Handel in Novembers midterm election. 

Your Favorite Goldfish Snack Were Recalled Because Of A Serious Salmonella Scare

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You might want to check your pantry because Pepperidge Farms announced on Monday that four flavors of the fish sized snack are being recalled over possible salmonella, CBS News reports.

A supplier notified the company on Monday that one of the ingredients used to make Goldfish Crackers possibly contained salmonella. The whey powder is used in seasoning many of the snack flavors, but is now under recall. 

Here are the four Goldfish Cracker flavors exposed to the potentially tarnished whey powder:

  • Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar
  • Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion
  • Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar
  • Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel

There’s been no report of any sickness currently, but the company is still advising consumers not to eat the recalled Goldfish. The flavors under recall were sold in a variety of different packaging, which includes single serve snack packs, fold over, and resealable bags all ranging in sizes. The sell by dates do vary depending on the packaging and flavor, but most of the dates start in November 2018 to April 2019. 

Fortunately, the company is offering refunds to anyone who purchased these items.  You can return the recalled items to where you bought them for a full refund or contact Pepperidge Farms. 

Goldfish aren’t the only snack being recalled for possible salmonella. Ritz Crackers also announced this week a recall on numerous products for salmonella, including Ritz bits, Ritz cheese cracker sandwiches, Ritz bacon cracker sandwiches with cheese, Ritz whole wheat cracker sandwiches with white cheddar cheese, Ritz everything cracker sandwiches, and two multipack mixed cookie cracker variety assortments. 

I’d probably listen to their warning and throw out these items, ASAP! 

Mattress Firm Is Hiring A “Snoozetern” To Catch Some Z’s At Work

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Naps are probably one of the best things in the world. If it wasn’t for literally having to be a girl boss every single day, we would probably take more naps. In all honesty, I find myself wishing that professional sleeping was a degree. Well it is time to grab your pajamas and hit the hay because Mattress Firm is hiring a nap intern

Mattress Firm is looking for a“snoozetern” to test out their mattresses at the company’s  headquarters in Houston, Texas. It is also a paid internship, so you’ll actually be getting paid to take a nap! The company is looking for an intern who is  “passionate about sleep and comfort” and “proficient in napping, regardless of time of day.”  According to Mattress Firm, you don’t have to be in college to apply as the 20 hour a week job is open to anyone 18 years and older.

If you are hired, you will be taking naps on a cozy Mattress Firm bed at different times and in different lounge positions like for when we are binging Netflix or reading. This sounds like an actual dream. The company wants its intern to test out the beds and report back about the comfort level. Other requirements include being comfortable in front of the camera and using social media. Part of the interns responsibility is to create written and video content for the company’s social media accounts and website. According to Mattress Firm, you’ll also be required to host Facebook Live events and interview company employees. 

How do you apply? Well, you will have to make a 60 second video explaining why you would be the perfect napping queen. The company suggests a few sample questions to hit in the video, “Why would you be the perfect Snoozetern,” “Do you like to nap,” and “What sort of tips, information or education would you give to sleep-deprived Americans?” The deadline to apply is Friday, July 27 so you might want to get a move on the application. This is definitely a rare opportunity. 

(H/T Bustle) 

7 Mid-Length Hairstyles for When You Don't Want to Go Too Short or Too Long

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Nothing says summer like a fresh new look––but we don’t blame you for not wanting to take the pixie-cut plunge (and go through that unavoidable growing out process) or start layering on the extensions in 100 degree weather. A mid-length chop is enough of a change for your friends (or your crush!) to take notice, but not so out there that they won’t recognize you. Of course, how you style your new ‘do depends on what sort of look you’re going for. Need some options? Check out these seven totally different looks for ideas on styling a mid-length haircut.  

If you want something low-maintenance… 

Are you going shorter because you hate the time it takes to manage your long hair? Try something really low-maintenance with minimal layers. A bit of face-framing strands are really flattering, of course, but keep most of the cut pretty simple. This will reduce hours-long styling sessions after every shower, especially if your hair can get a bit unruly. Side note: Bangs are, like, the most high-maintenance hair style to ever exist, so steer clear of them if you don’t want to deal with all the extra work, especially if you have wavy or curly hair! Your morning routine will thank you.

If you have straight hair…

On the other hand, if you have naturally straight hair and want to add some interest to any medium-length hairstyle, bangs are a great option! You won’t have to worry about straightening them or blowing them out every morning. Remember to push them back with a headband while you’re working out, though, and clip them away from your forehead when you sleep! Both will help prevent breakouts. 

If you want to add a little bit of edge… 

This one’s for the girls with curls! Or, if you’re more wavy than curly, grab some sea salt spray and a diffuser to really activate your natural texture. For something a little more head-turning than a classic blunt cut, embrace your texture by amping up those curls and styling them with a deep side part. Collegiette Samantha Kari says her favorite way to style her medium length hair is to “curl it and ruffle it around for that styled, messy look.” What products did she use? “Volumizing gel in first,” she says, “then a texture spray, then a sea salt spray.” The finished look is super cute and different. Just make sure to have some really good anti-frizz products on hand!

If you’re trying to the next big fashion influencer…

Take style cues from The Blonde Salad blogger and designer Chiara Ferragni! She recently snipped her trademark long locks into a choppy shoulder length bob.  Her mix of light blonde highlights and deeper tones add depth that––yes, we’ll say it––look amazing on Instagram. Hello, boomerangs! This look is a little more mature than the flowy hair she had before, but it’s still fun and fashion-forward enough to take you from the classroom to brunch. 

Related: 5 Looks All Girls With Medium Length Hair Should Try

If you’re headed to a festival… 

Forget flower crowns––make your mid-length hair it’s own statement piece with half-up space buns. Not only do they look super cute, they help keep you cool when you’re waiting for your favorite band to come onstage or waiting in line for trendy festival eats. Hair Hack: Add glitter at the roots for extra sparkle and festival magic! From Lolapalooza to Panorama, space buns are always in when it comes to festival style. Don’t forget a festival-ready makeup look to match!

If you’re in a rush… 

Are there a few days a week when you have absolutely no time to do your hair in the morning? Whether you’re rushing off to that 8a.m. class or have to catch a train, twist half your hair into a super cute, super easy half bun. This style works best with mid-length hair; the bun has to be the right size to not fall down, but you also have to have long enough hair to wrap into the bun in the first place. Secure it with a clear elastic, or a colorful scrunchie if you’re feeling it! It looks casual but also polished enough for your internship or job. 

If you want to get really creative…

Coloring super long hair an unconventional color like pastel pink or neon blue can seem really daunting, especially if you have dark hair. Having mid-length hair makes it so much easier, and the color won’t overwhelm you outfit like super-long colored hair tends to do. (But props to you if you can rock mermaid-hued hair down to your waist!) Always remember to take care of your colored hair with a nourishing hair mask

 

Mid-length hair is super versatile and perfect for summer, plus you’ll look super chic when school starts in the September. The hardest part about having mid-length hair is deciding on a way to style it!

11 House GOP Members Move to Impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein

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On Wednesday, a group of 11 House Republicans filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is currently overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation on Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced the impeachment articles, along with nine of their colleagues. According to ABC News, the lawmakers have accused the Justice Department (DOJ) of “intentionally withholding embarrassing documents and information,” and allege that the DOJ hid investigative information from Congress, abused the Federal Surveillance Intelligence Act and failed “to comply with congressional subpoenas.”

“The DOJ is keeping information from Congress,” Jordan said in a statement. Enough is enough. It’s time to hold Mr. Rosenstein accountable for blocking Congress’s constitutional oversight role.”

“It’s time to find a new Deputy Attorney General who is serious about accountability and transparency,” Meadows said in a statement. 

This is the latest of the ongoing feud between conservative members of Congress who are allies to President Donald Trump and the DOJ over the Russia investigation. Trump and certain conservative members of Congress have long criticized and questioned Rosenstein since Attorney General Jeff Session recuse himself from the Russia investigation last year.

According to The Huffington Post, GOP House members, lead by Meadows, filed impeachment papers against Rosenstein in April, saying it was “a last-resort option if the Department of Justice fails to respond” to congressional requests for information on the Russia investigation and on an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

A DOJ official insisted that the agency has for the most part complied with Congress’ requests, and are working on finding accomodations for the information that still needs to be turned over to lawmakers, ABC News reports.

The impeachment filing comes nearly two weeks after Rosenstein announced that 12 Russian officials had been indicted in connection with the hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s server during the 2016 presidential election.

Attorney for Brock Turner Appeals Rape Convinction, Argues Turner Only Wanted 'Outercourse'

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Attorney for convicted rapist Brock Turner has appealed the former Stanford swimmer’s assault conviction, arguing that his client was fully clothed and only wanted “outercourse,” not intercourse, with the victim.

During an appellate court hearing on Tuesday in San Jose, California, Attorney Eric Multhaup argued that his client only wanted “outercourse,” or sexual contact while fully dressed, The Mercury News reported. Multhaup argued that Turner never intended to the woman, who was identified as “Jane Doe” throughout the trial.

In his 15-minute argument before the three-judge panel, Multhaup explained that Turner had his clothes on when he was caught on top of the victim by the two Swedish grad students outside of a fraternity party at Stanford on January 10, 2015. According to ABC News, the attorney argued that since Turner was fully clothed when he was confronted by the grad students, the prosecution’s case fell short of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the former Stanford student intended to rape the woman.

Courtesy Ohio Attorney Generals Office/Handout via Reuters

“They filled in the blanks in the prosecution's case,” Multhaup contended. “That's imagination. That's speculation.”

Mercury News reported that the panel of justices “appeared skeptical of [Multhaup’s] argument.”

“I absolutely don’t understand what you are talking about. ... We are not in a position to say [of the jury], you should have gone a different way,” Justice Franklin D. Elia said.

Assistant Attorney General Alisha Carlile said that Multhaup presented a “far-fetched version of events.”

Turner’s case made national news in 2016, with a high-profile sexual assault case and a powerful victim impact statement from Jane Doe.

Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail in June 2016, but was released after only serving three months, The Huffington Post reports. Following his release, Turner returned to his hometown of Oakwood, Ohio, where he registered as a sex offender.

Trial Judge Aaron Persky’s sentence of only six months, after prosecutors had asked for a six-month prison sentence, drew outrage and lead to a recall campaign. Persky was recalled by Santa Clara County voters in the June California primary election and was removed from the bench, ABC News reports.

The appellate court is expected to make its decision on Turner’s appeal within 90 days.


6 Reasons to Give the Shy Guy a Chance

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The star of some team, the person always making everyone laugh, the dancer at the party—the guy everyone loves. Our favorite movie star characters have convinced us this is someone who would make the ideal boyfriend—they always do seem to fall in love at the end! Maybe you’re someone who scored a shot with one of these stereotypically perfect guys, or maybe you haven't experienced this kind of guy because you’re just straight up intimidated by their loud, confident nature.

Guys like this aren’t your only chance to have a movie-like, Insta-worthy, but, most importantly, real relationship. The guy minding his business in the corner of the party could rock your world. He may come off as uninterested or maybe even pretentious, but he's just not as assertive and straightforward as the clichéd movie star “dream guy.” Here are some reasons you should give the shy guy a chance. 

Related: 7 Ways to Stop Falling for the Same Type of Guy

1. You will know him best

There is nothing more annoying than feeling like someone else knows your significant other better than you, or has a closer relationship with them. This will most likely be the least of your worries if you’re with a shy guy, since they don’t open up to just anyone. 

Adam LoDolce, founder of sexyconfidence.com, aims to help the 21st century woman create a love life she, well, loves. “Usually introverts are deeper thinkers,” he says, “and can connect on a much more emotional level once you get to know them.” The most exciting part about a relationship is getting to know the person more intimately; if he’s the outspoken, open-book type, there may not be much to learn. A relationship with a shy guy is more exclusive.

2. He’s a listener

You know those viral social media posts where girls upload a screenshot of a text that reads “this reminded me of you,” with an attached picture? The ones we all gush over and say is #relationshipgoals? Yup—expect this from your shy boo. Since he is a quiet guy, he will be especially attentive to what you’re saying. This leads to him remembering the little things, and sending you a text saying a certain thing reminded him of you, something you so subtly mentioned and are shocked and heart-eyed over the fact that he remembered.

3. He will be all about you

Now, an under-confident guy isn't necessarily desirable, but neither is an overly confident one, given that you may not be the primary receiver of their attention. 

Jessica Morley, who attends USW in the UK, recalls dating one of those "bad boy, confident, look-at-me" guys, and looks back on it thinking, "They are hard work and make you feel like you're competing against each other. I love a chilled out shy guy. That’s my type.”

After being with her “chilled out, shy guy” boyfriend for five years now, she can’t imagine going back to dating the former and this could be the case for you. Dr. Carole Lieberman, M.D., Beverly Hills psychiatrist and author, reaffirms that “a shy guy is less likely to be a ‘bad boy’ who will break your heart, compared to guys who are loud, flirtatious and think they are the coolest thing to walk the planet.”

Finding some new SO probably isn’t a worry of the overly confident fella, so he might not be as focused on building your relationship. For a guy who is naturally shy or hesitant, though, it probably is a hardship of his to successfully communicate interest and start a relationship—so if he likes you enough to do so, you can most likely count on him treating you right.

Related: 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Gossip About Your Ex

4. You probably won’t be listening to the Lemonade album

Of course, being all about you is synonymous with not cheating. “Not once when he was out did I worry he was being flirtatious with another girl," Kristin Trevi, a sophomore at Lynn University who has a shy boyfriend, says. "He was barely flirtatious with me in the beginning!”

We’ve all known that kind of girl who purposely takes things out of context, who will turn a friendly encounter into a “her boyfriend was totally flirting with me.” Well, your introverted boyfriend won’t even give your frenemies this opportunity. You may think refraining from talking to girls demonstrates insecurity, but it could actually be precisely the opposite.

“Shy does not equal immature [and] extroverted does not equal confident,” says Justin Stenstrom, life coach and author of the book Giving Shy Guys Game. If a guy is secure in himself, he will be selective, exactly the way the shy, introverted guys are.

5. You feel comfortable

You know you’re close with someone when you’re able to sit in silence without it being awkward. Don’t get us wrong, though—it could definitely be awkward at first. Dr. Lieberman advises, “It’s best if the first dates with a shy guy are situations where you both don’t have to talk a lot—such as going to a movie or a concert, or going out in a group. Gradually, he will feel more comfortable and more talkative.”

You will soon become accustomed to the shy nature of your SO though, and learn to appreciate the times where you just sit there and get to soak each other in without feeling obligated to start the conversation.

6. He’s just so cute

C’mon, you can’t deny how cute it is when a guy is nervous. Awkward and tongue-tied—simply irresistible! Shy guys express themselves more through actions than words, so they will always be making efforts to do cute, thoughtful gestures for you. “I had a shy boyfriend in high school who was a grade above me,” says Amelia Alexander, a sophomore at Penn State University. “When he was on his senior trip, he wasn’t telling me he missed me in between all the fun he was having. I was kinda upset. Next thing I knew, flowers appeared at my door that he arranged from all the way across the country.” After all, actions speak louder than words.

So what now?

Now that you’re convinced you should give the shy guy a chance, there’s only one problem: he probably won’t initiate anything. LoDolce suggests “breaking the touch barrier,” since the guy will most likely be hesitant to do so, and is also respectful.

Don’t get us wrong—all shy guys aren’t angels. Dr. Lieberman reminds us “You should still be a little cautious, because some shy guys can turn into bad boys once you have dated them for a while, and given them the confidence to think they are too cool for you.”

It’s never good to be too optimistic or pessimistic about any relationship or even a type of guy – everyone’s different. Treat the shy guy like any other, keeping these certain things in mind, and he could definitely rock your world.

HC Wake-Up Call: Trump-Putin Summit 2.0 Delayed, Trump Responds to Cohen Tapes & Trump's Hollywood Star Was Vandalized — Again

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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.)

Trump’s Next Summit With Russian Vladimir Putin Has Been Postponed

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton announced on Wednesday that the next summit between Trump and the Russian president won’t take place until 2019, when the “Russia witch hunt is over,” ABC News reports.

“The President believes that the next bilateral meeting with President Putin should take place after the Russia witch hunt is over, so we’ve agreed that it will be after the first of the year,” Bolton said in a statement.

After his meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Trump instructed Bolton to invite the Russian president to Washington D.C. for a second bilateral meeting.

Trump had tweeted at the time that he looked forward to a second meeting so the two leaders could discuss and implement solutions for issues, such as nuclear weapons, counterterrorism and Israel's security.

Trump, however, drew sharp criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his performance in Helsinki and his failure to confront Russia for their interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Putin has described the two leaders’ first meeting as “successful,” but said there were “forces” in the U.S. that were preventing improvement in U.S.-Russia relations. In regards to whether or not relations between the two countries would develop further, Putin alluded to the existence of a “path to positive change” but ultimately said, “We will see how things develop further.”

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday that Trump and Putin may meet on the sidelines of the G20 in Argentina in November, ABC News reports.

Trump Responds to Release of Michael Cohen Tapes

President Donald Trump responded on Wednesday to the newly released audio tapes that appear to feature Trump and his personal attorney Michael Cohen discussing payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, The Huffington Post reports.

“What kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! Is this a first, never heard of it before?” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Why was the tape so abruptly terminated (cut) while I was presumably saying positive things? I hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped - can this be so? Too bad!”

Trump’s response comes after CNN broadcast the audio tape secretly recorded by Cohen in September 2016. The tape was one of several confiscated during an FBI raid of Cohen’s home and office.

In the recording, then-presidential candidate Trump can be heard discussing setting up a company to finance a $150,000 payment to silence McDougal after she claimed that she and Trump had a months-long affair, HuffPost reports.

In a tweet on Saturday, Trump expressed surprise that an attorney would secretly record a client, calling it “inconceivable” and “totally unheard of and perhaps illegal.”

It was reported over the weekend that Trump’s legal team lifted all claims relating to attorney-client privilege. Giuliani told CNN it showed that there was no wrongdoing by Trump.

Trump's Hollywood Star Was Vandalized — Again

President Donald Trump has faced a lot of dissent since entering office. And in the most recent protest against the president, Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame has been vandalized — again.

Los Angeles Police Officer Ray Brown told CNN that a man took a pickaxe to the star early Wednesday morning. Officers got the call for the vandalism at 3:30 am local time. According to Los Angeles CBS affiliate KCBS, only a hole in the shape of a star remained, and graffiti was later added.

Patricia Cox, who reportedly witnessed the incident, told KCBS that she saw the man “going to town on” the star.

The Los Angeles Times reported that 24-year-old Austin Clay turned himself in to Beverly Hills police at 4:30 a.m., claiming responsibility for the vandalism. Clay was arrested for suspected felony vandalism.

Leron Gubler, president and executive of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which is responsible for maintaining the Walk of Fame, said in a statement to USA Today that the “Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees.”

“When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark,” Gubler told USA Today.

This was the second time that Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame had been vandalized.

What to look out for…

You can write to immigrants in detention centers, and offer words of hope, with these pen-pal programs.

We Asked College Women About Abortion & Reproductive Rights—Here's What They Had to Say

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Here's the thing: even though we already basically decided as a country that we have the right to abortions, that right continues to be in flux. It's terrifying and dangerous and, naturally, college women have a lot of Thoughts

So we took to Instagram to ask real college women how they feel about abortion and reproductive justice. Here's what they had to say: 

"My body, my business." - Allie

"We deserve them. No ovaries, no opinion!!!" - Logan

"It's not a matter of reproductive rights, but of human rights. All lives matter." - Erin

"GUNS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN MY UTERUS." - Shannon

"My body, my life, MY CHOICE." - Kelsie

"It's too important to ignore. My body, my choice." - Kayla

 

A post shared by Her Campus (@hercampus) on

"Women should be able to do to their body as they please. No terms/regulations should apply. - Margie

"A woman should have a choice." - Josie

"It's killing a child, but I get why people do it. You should be allowed up to 8 weeks to abort." - Carol

"We shouldn't even have to fight for this. My body, my choice. As simple as that." - Tameka

"White men SHOULDN'T be in charge of this." - Michaela

"Making abortion illegal won't stop abortions. It will stop safe ones, and potentially end lives." - Mikki

"Abortion is murder. No questions asked." - Amanda

"Hell yes! Women deserve the right to respect." - Lauren

Have some thoughts? We want to hear from you. Join us on the @HerCampus Instagram, where college women are everything.

Why Gabi & Sofia Were My Favorite Dynamic on 'Young & Hungry'

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After five seasons of will-they-won’t-they and shenanigans from every member of the cast, Young &Hungry has come to a close. I, despite my criticism of the show’s inability to handle sensitive issues, am going to miss it. It was a fun dose of lighthearted romantic comedy in the middle of my week, and I got such Disney Channel nostalgia from watching Emily Osment do her thing on screen.

I’m going to miss a lot about the show, from the fun surprise cameos to the show’s sex-positive approach, but the main thing I’ll take with me now that the show is over is the friendship between Gabi (Osment) and Sofia (Aimee Carrero). These two have been roommates since the very beginning, when Gabi started working for Josh—and they’ve seen each other through breakups and makeups and nasty fights, and still remained best friends for the past five seasons. As I’ve kept up with Young & Hungry this season, here were some of my favorite things about Gabi and Sofia’s friendship.

1. They’re good together, and apart

It could’ve been very easy for the show to turn Sofia into simply a supporting character who lets Gabi lean on her for help, but does nothing else. Thankfully, the writers know that Aimee Carrero is a gift, so Sofia gets to be her own vibrant, complex character with her own storylines. While Gabi deals with Josh and the ups and downs of working as a chef, Sofia is getting her own side hustle as a driver and navigating love and life for herself. A friendship is only as good as the two individuals in it, and Gabi and Sofia are great people in their own right, making their friendship that much stronger.

2. They (make an effort to) get along with the people in each other’s lives

Of course, Elliot and Yolanda always have some wild plan that goes awry, and they no doubt make Sofia and Gabi’s lives a little more difficult (albeit much more interesting), so it’s fun to see Sofia form her own friendships with them beyond Gabi, too. And Gabi was always by her side through Sofia’s ups and downs with Juan Carlo and Nick, and even though I suspect she doesn’t like Nick all that much (which, honestly, same), she still makes an effort to take everyone out on a double date so she can get to know him. They see each other as some of the most important people in their lives, which means everyone else has to pass the friend approval test. Now that’s an unbreakable bond.

3. They’re willing to make fools of themselves for each other

Many friends say they’ll look out for each other, but how many of them are actually willing to sacrifice their own dignity for you? When Sofia wanted to postpone sleeping with Nick, all it took was a look and a little nudge from her to make Gabi throw herself on the couch in a crying fit and pretend she was even more broken up about Josh than she really was, just so Nick would leave. If you’re not on that level with your BFF, is the friendship even real?

4. They give each other honest opinions and sound advice

Well, okay, maybe this is more Sofia than Gabi (I wouldn’t trust Gabi’s advice about anything other than cooking), but it’s clear that Lil So So always keeps it real. The two of them don’t sugarcoat things, but they also want the best for each other. When Gabi and Josh have communication problems, Sofia is the one to tell Gabi what to do. And in this week’s series finale, Sofia tells Gabi to take a leap of faith when she’s considering a complete career change, which is probably the wisest and best thing a friend can say in that situation.

Watching Emily Osment and Aimee Carrero portray these characters has been so much fun, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Now, I guess I’ll have to wait until the Young & Hungry movie premieres, so I can get one last glimpse of these two together!

Bulletproof School Supplies Are A Seriously Terrifying Reality For Back To School 2018

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School shootings have been an unfortunate pre-occurring theme in the news cycle and a very real danger for current students in the United States. This year alone, we’ve had just under two dozen shooting incidents in American high schools. Though the Parkland school shooting and the Sante Fe High School shooting, which resulted in the death of a Pakistani exchange student, might seem like sudden spikes in school shooting history (that we wish weren't a part of history at all, tbh), school shootings have been afflicting the U.S. well before 2016. Lawmakers and activists alike have tried to come to some sort of preventative measures for school shootings, but now bulletproof school supplies could be an uncomfy mandatory purchase for students.

As back-to-school sales start to pop-up and retailers start to erect their school supply displays, parents are noticing some alarming additions to this year’s back-to-school aisles. According to CBS 12, some parents are adding bulletproof school supplies to their back-to-school necessities. These scary now-essential items range from bulletproof inserts, bulletproof shield and bulletproof backpacks.

Consumers have been sharing these new bulletproof school supplies with the rest of Twitterverse. One user tweeted a photo of a bulletproof backpack, which appears to be marketed in the back-to-school section of a department store.

Whereas another user notes some equally shocking options for the bulletproof supplies: a bulletproof backpack insert.

Although these bulletproof supplies are optional additions to family back-to-school lists, bulletproof supplies seem to be on the rise for school systems throughout the country. NBC Washington adds that some schools are adding bulletproof shelters to their classrooms. Granted, these shelters can also dual as protection against natural disasters.

NBC Washington continues that one of the options, Shelter-in-Place, can also act as a protective measure against tornados, hurricanes and high-speed winds. However, this specific option can be even more fiscally costly, even in comparison to the expensive generic bulletproof shelter options.

The Shelter-in-Place bulletproof shelters can cost up to $20,000 per shelter, Business Insider reports. Though these multi-faceted shelters can protect students from unpredictable physical danger, they might not be a financial reality for a lot of public schools—especially since school campuses would need to place a shelter in every working classroom for these preventative shelters to be effective.

According to ABC 13 Eyewitness News, some companies have started to sell and distribute bulletproof doors for classroom usage. These bulletproof doors are a more affordable option for schools, as they typically range from $2,500 to $4,000, depending on the company and model. Yet, the bulletproof and bullet-resistant doors can still acquire a costly expenditure for public schools that already have limit budgets.

Regardless, this isn’t the first time that back-to-school kiosks have included bulletproof school supplies. Bulletproof school supplies, particularly bulletproof binders and backpacks, initially started to gain traction back in 2014, Teen Vogue reports.

While lawmakers have attempted various safety measures to prevent school shootings, from arming school administrators to adding school security guards to the payroll, it seems like bulletproof school supplies could be a frightening reality for back-to-school shoppers (and students).

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