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4 Things You Need to Know About the Link Between Birth Control and Depression

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If you're sexually active, birth control can be your best friend. Having this system of protection can take a lot of stress and worry out of your daily life—but could taking birth control also mean experiencing a whole mess of other, not-so-welcome feelings? A new study by the journal JAMA Psychiatry suggests that hormonal birth control might be linked to more of a chance of depression, CNN reports.

It's definitely alarming to hear news like this, but here's what you need to know before freaking out and tossing away your BC.

1. The link is caused by hormones.

We all know how our moods change when our period arrives for its monthly visit, and while past studies suggest that there's no way to prove that changes in mood could tie back to taking birth control, this new breakthrough says something else.

Dr. Øjvind Lidegaard, the study's lead author told CNN, "We have known for decades that women's sex hormones estrogen and progesterone have an influence on many women's moood...it is not surprising that also external articifical hormones acting in the same way and on the same centers as the natural horomones might...be responsible for depression development."

Basically, there are so many synthetic hormones in BC that they can cause a turn for the worse in our moods.

2. The type of birth control could affect the likelihood of depression.

The research shows notable differences in risk rates between those who took oral birth control and those who used non-oral forms. According to the research, women taking oral birth control pills were between 1.2 and 1.3 times more likely to end up taking antidepressants when compared with women not on birth control. Meanwhile, women using the transdermal patch were two times more likely, and women with the vaginal ring were 1.5 times more likely.  Doctors believe these varying figures are just because of dosage differences, so no matter what your type of protection, you could still be at risk. 

3. There are reasons to take this study with a grain of salt.

Healthline points out that even if women feel depressed while on birth control, this could be because of an "inconsistent use of the word depression." People could form a connection between the two simply because of how many women coincidentally have depression. About 12 million women in the United States have clinical depression each year, and about one in every eight females are expected to develop it at some point in their lives. There have even been studies saying that taking birth control might improve your mood.

STAT also talked to several doctors who explained why this study doesn't provide a complete picture of what's going on with birth control and depression.

4. If your birth control is causing side effects, there are other options.

You don't have to stick with your current birth control if it's making you miserable! Depression is serious illness, and you shouldn't have to keep taking anything that's making it worse. The copper IUD is one long-lasting, set-it-and-forget-it method of birth control, and of course there's also your trusty box of condoms. You also might get better effects just by switching to a different type of birth control pills.

If anything, this new study is just a reminder to take care of your physical and mental health and to go to a doctor if you feel that something's wrong. 


Donald Trump Claims All the Sexist Stuff He's Said Was For “Entertainment” Purposes

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In a sad attempt to make up for his unequivocal bigotry, Donald Trump told a Las Vegas radio station on Wednesday that his sexist comments about women were “done for the purpose of entertainment.”

This response came when the interviewer asked Trump whether or not he could “understand the concern from parents of younger girls [that his comments] could be hurtful to girls struggling with body image and the pressure to be model-perfect.” Trump went on to say that “there’s nobody that has more respect for women than I do.”

Um, yeah. That’s not what your history of hate speech with regard to women (and so many other groups of people) would indicate. From fat-shaming Kim Kardashian to insulting and slut-shaming Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado—not to mention accusations that his presidential campaign in its entirety is sexist—Donald Trump is pretty firmly on the wrong side of gender equality and “respect for women.”

And the claim that his role as an entertainer justifies this behavior makes it even worse. This argument suggests that the  women and other minority groups can be used as fodder for the amusement or pleasure of others. This kind of conduct cannot be tolerated from anyone, let alone someone we're considering electing to the most powerful public office in the world.

Cosmopolitan points out that Trump has tried this line of defense before—in March he said of his many derogatory remarks, “I’m no different than anybody else, and people joke, and I joke.” Comedy has its place, sure, but Donald Trump is not a comedian. When he denigrates women and other people who are different from him to advance political arguments or put those people down, it is most definitely not funny—it’s unacceptable.

It can be hard to hear the inane comments of Trump over and over and not want to give up entirely, but continuing to talk about the messed up things he says (and what he thinks gives him the right to say them) is important. What do you think of Donald Trump’s attitudes towards women and other minority groups?

The 8 Best Scholarships for Creative College Students

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College is expensive. Tuition, books, housing and food expenses—it all adds up faster than you think! Sure, you can apply for a finite amount of financial aid or you can take out student loans, but for many, the burden of post-college debt is almost too much to bear. Recent reports reveal that the total student debt in the U.S. is approximately $1.3 trillion, owed by more than 40 million Americans. 

Of course, another way to relieve some of the financial anxiety that college can incite is by securing scholarships, whether for academic merit, athletic excellence or some other well-deserved accolade. With an estimated 2.7 million scholarships available to students, you can rest easy knowing that there’s a scholarship (or two or three) out there for you! Ashley Hill, CEO of www.collegeprepready.com, explains, "It is important for creative college students to focus on specific scholarships based on their talents, future career interests, and achievements so that they can save time and minimize the frustrations with searching for scholarships that fit them." That's why, together with Hill and Kevin Ladd, COO of www.scholarships.com, we’ve put together a list of scholarship opportunities for the creative college student who might be feeling left out. 

1. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship

Purpose: To support Asian American students studying performing arts, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications

Who should apply: High school seniors or full-time college students who are at least 50% Asian or Pacific Islander

Scholarship amount: $1,000

Approximately 10 ATG scholarships are awarded each year. Scholarship winners are selected based on their cumulative performance in five categories: content submission, academic performance, experience in leadership and community service, letters of recommendation and a committee interview. Among the 10 recipients in 2015, nine were female students majoring in unique fields of study like dance, literary studies and sustainable fashion. 

Related: The Most Artistic Schools

2. Arts For Life Award

Purpose: To encourage incoming freshmen to pursue careers in dance, drama, creative writing, music and/or visual arts

Who should apply: Florida high school seniors who have excelled in any of the aforementioned subject areas

Scholarship amount: $1,000

Twenty-five scholarships are awarded annually to students who excel in each of the five listed disciplines. To be considered, applicants must submit an essay explaining how the arts have positively affected their lives, as well as a portfolio of their work. This year, 19 of the 25 recipients were female. Watch Nushrat Nur, awarded for creative writing, perform her work at the National YoungArts Week 2016 in the video below. 

 

3. BMI Student Composer Awards

Purpose: To recognize and support outstanding student composers of classical music

Who should apply: Music students who are citizens of any country in the western hemisphere and are under the age of 28

Scholarship amount: Varies

Founded by Broadcast Music Inc. executives in 1985, the BMI Foundation is dedicated to promoting music education and performance. The BMI Student Composer Awards are just a few of the many awards, scholarships, grants and commissions that the foundation offers. Applicants will be lucky enough to have their work reviewed by a panel of highly accomplished, well renowned classical musicians and composers, including Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, the first female composer ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. 

4. Chopin Foundation Scholarship

Purpose: To support young pianists through up to four years of preparation for the National Chopin Piano Competition

Who should apply: Piano students between the ages of 14 and 17

Scholarship amount: $500 – $1,000 per year

Fourteen-year-old Avery Gagliano and Taylor Wang were this year's youngest female recipients of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship. The highly competitive program asks applicants to submit an unedited video of themselves performing Chopin's work, along with a statement of professional goals and two letters of recommendation from professional pianists. 

5. Doodle 4 Google Art Competition

Purpose: To encourage students to express themselves in creative ways

Who should apply: High school students in grades nine through 12 (but all students in grades K-12 are eligible) with an interest in graphic design, painting, drawing and illustration

Scholarship amount: Up to $30,000

Google is currently accepting applications for this competition, which asks students to design a Google doodle with a specific message or purpose. Although several outstanding artists will be awarded, one national winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 Google for Education Technology Award for a school or non-profit organization of their choice and a trip to the Google Headquarters in California! 

6. VSA (Very Special Arts) International Young Soloists Award Program

Purpose: To encourage outstanding young musicians with disabilities and reward them with professional development opportunities, including the chance to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Who should apply: Musicians of any instrument and genre between the ages of 14 and 25

Scholarship amount: $2,500

This unique opportunity is designed to create an all-inclusive atmosphere for young musicians, welcoming soloists and ensembles of almost any genre of music, including classical, jazz, hip-hop, rap, rock, pop, indie, bluegrass, folk, country, R&B, Latin and World music. 

7. Women in Film Scholarship 

Purpose: To help women develop successful careers in film, television, communications and new media

Who should apply: College women studying at major film schools across the country

Scholarship amount: Varies 

Shoshana Sachi, one of this year's WIF scholarship winners, is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dreams of becoming "a voice for women in a field that favors so few." She explains, "I want to tell human stories, women’s stories... I want to be a face among the force that will showcase women as the resilient and complex human beings that we are. And I want those stories to reach everyone, in every place." WIF strives to empower Sachi and other female film scholars to join the fight for diversity in the media. 

8. Worldstudio Daring Young Artists to Dream Scholarship 

Purpose: To promote diversity in creative circles and to encourage young artists and designers to be more socially and environmentally aware

Who should apply: Undergraduate or graduate students with minority status majoring in fine art, graphic design, illustration, interactive design and/or photography

Scholarship amount: $2,000 – $3,000 

The Worldstudio shcolarship is awarded annually to 10 to 20 students who are of minority status or from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to help pay for college tuition and other educational expenses. The scholarship money is submitted directly to each student's respective institution. Applicants are assessed based on artistic ability, financial need and service to their communities. 

Related: 12 Gifts For Artistic College Grads

With the right combination of keen organizational skills and strategic preparation, you can definitely apply for and land multiple scholarships that will help you through your college years. Hill’s and Ladd’s online databases are just two of the many scholarship-matching options available to you. Christine Burney, a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, also recommends mobile apps like Scholly for the collegiette or soon-to-be collegiette who’s always on the go.

It’s important to look for scholarships that not only apply to your area of study but also to your ethnic background and financial status. And, when you’ve exhausted your scholarship options, try identifying a list of competitions and exhibits that offer monetary prizes. Remember: your artistic abilities are a gift! Use them wisely. 

16 Things Only Girls Who Don't Know Why They're Single Understand

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We've all been here at one point or another. How do you go about dating when you don't even know why you're single in the first place? Get ready for a lot of overthinking, confusion and the best, THIRD WHEELING! It'll be quite a journey, but someday you'll master the science of relationships. Here are 16 things only people who don't know why they're single understand. 

1. Constantly wondering if you're single because you're too picky

2. Or because guys actually don't like you

3. Telling people you're too busy to be in a relationship even though everybody knows that's not true

4. You've had steady Valentine's Day plans for years now

5. You haven't mastered the art of talking to guys yet 

6. You wonder why you don't get asked out on actual dates more because you make an amazing third wheel

7. You don't even consider yourself single because you live vicariously through your friends' relationships

8. You've run out of things to watch on Netflix because all you do is sit alone in your room and watch it

9. Constantly wondering if you're just looking in all the wrong places

10. Anticipating all of the pity you'll receive from your relatives at the next family gathering

11. Constantly questioning whether you even have enough energy to deal with a relationship

12. Growing to accept the concept that you might actually be forever alone

13. You've become a pro at being a sad, depressing soul 

14. Stuck somewhere between being a try-hard and just being emotionless towards relationships

15. You learn to appreciate the people (and food) that will stick by your side no matter what

16. But you're still always curious about what guys think of you

17 Things Only Girls Who Are Always Overprepared Understand

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It's the only life you've ever known: you're always prepared. In fact, you're always overprepared. You're ready for anything, always two steps ahead of everyone else and on top of everything in your life. Anytime someone asks you who your spirit animal, soulmate or favorite character is, you obviously answer Leslie Knope. Here are 17 signs you're an overpreparer, as demonstrated by Leslie Knope. 

1. You set multiple alarms even though you’ve never snoozed in your life.

2. You choose your outfit the night before.

3. And you pack your lunch the night before.

4. And your backpack.

5. Your calendar is full, color-coded and filled with cross-outs of things that you penciled in months ago but didn’t end up happening.

6. Your backpack has two pencil pouches: one for pens and pencils and one for pads, tampons, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen and band-aids.

7. You’re always at least 10 minutes early to everything.

8. Your Notes app on your phone is full of lists: shopping lists, to-do lists and any other type of list you might possibly need.

9. You try to make plans with your friends months, weeks and days in advance, even if your friends don’t like to make plans until the last minute.

10. Your to-do list never ends.

11. You usually finish assignments more than a day in advance.

12. You double and triple check that you turned your assignments in online.

13. If a hard copy is required, you print at least two copies.

14. Group projects are your worst nightmare. How are you supposed to trust other people to pull their weight?

15. You don’t know what it’s like not to be stressed out.

16. Between classes you can be found working on other work.

17. You know you’ll never not be prepared.

Which 'Harry Potter' Character Should You Dress Up As This Halloween?

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So you've decided to dress up as one of the leading ladies from Harry Potter this Halloween. But how do you choose which one? We've broken it down for you, based on your personality.

1. If you want to go classic...

Channel your inner Hermione Granger!

You can go for the well-known Hogwarts look, but don't be afraid to add your own spin. Accessories such as a time-turner or a DIY copy of Hogwarts: A History will complete your outfit.

2. If you're feeling a bit bolder...

Dress up as Ginny Weasley!

If you're looking for a Harry Potter costume idea that consists of something other than Hogwarts robes, dress up as Ginny in her quidditch gear! Add a red-haired wig if you aren't a natural, and you're all set.

3. If you're the creative type...

Do your best Luna Lovegood!

Because Luna is such a quirky character, you can have a lot of fun with this costume. Mix and match patterns, wear radish earrings and don't forget an upside-down copy of The Quibbler!

4. If you aim to scare...

You'll make the perfect Bellatrix Lestrange!

Dark makeup, dark hair and dark clothes are all you need to become Bellatrix Lestrange for the night. Draw a dark mark on your arm... if you wish.

5. If you want to get a laugh...

Moaning Myrtle is your girl!

Invest in a (clean!) toilet seat cover, and Sharpie on a clever caption. Add round glasses and pigtails, and everyone will know who you're supposed to be.

Have a magical night, collegiettes!

Kylie Just Announced SO Many New Kylie Cosmetics Products

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Kylie Jenner just announced, like, a gazillion new products coming our way. We're overwhelmed, and so are our bank accounts. Recently, she posted a photo on Instagram of her newest line of Lip Kits that are so perfect for fall. Can we have one of each?

 

 

A photo posted by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on

Not only that, but she's extending Kylie Cosmetics to include phone cases and other accessories. And we might actually need.

 

happy almost birthday @jordynwoods

A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on

And next week, she's releasing four new Lip Kit shades, another Kyshadow palette, and "more surprises" soon after. 

But our favorite part has to be one of her latest releases, Smile. Kylie partnered with Smile Train, a charity organization that provides surgery to children with cleft lips and palates; proceeds from the sales of this color went right to the charity. Originally, this shade was given a limited run. But, Kylie, out of the goodness of her heart, has given Smile a permanent place in the Lip Kit line. 

There are so many things to look forward to from Kylie Cosmetics. If anything gets us through midterms, it'll be anticipation for brand new makeup.

8 'Grey's Anatomy' Characters We Wish Shonda Would Bring Back from the Dead

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All right, Grey's Anatomy fans—after last night's episode, we think it's pretty safe to say that Shonda Rhimes can make anything happen…like bringing a random patient back to life?! (What?)

Over the last 12 seasons, we fans have been heartbroken, torn apart, and we have had the lives sucked out of us. Non-Grey's fans have no idea what we've been through, and every single day we wish that our favorite characters were back in our lives. From Derek's car accident to George being hit by a bus to Denny's heart transplant, we are truly still mourning the loss of these prominent characters in Grey's history.

Season 13 has already given us some ups and downs with Alex, but we're not sure who is going to be killed off this season and we're pretty much scared for our lives. Will it be Riggs? Amelia? Maggie? Oh god, please don't let it be Meredith.

In last night's episode, Twitter pretty much lost it when a random patient died and came back to life. (What is this, American Horror Story?!) But after that incident, it got us thinking: what if every single gone-but-not-forgotten character that we love came back to life? What would our lives be like if our loved ones decided to randomly show up and make everything better again? Here are the ones we want to come back to life, and we want them back ASAP, Shonda.

1. Derek Shepherd

What we would give to hear "it's a beautiful day to save lives" again… 

2. Mark Sloan

One can never have too much McSteamy ;)

3. Lexie Grey

She was the cutest and funniest sister ever! RIP sweetie.

4. Denny Duquette

This death was just cruel. It made us lose all hope in true love.

5. George O'Malley

007, we miss you every day. We wish you were still performing emergency elevator open-heart surgeries. 

6. Ellis Grey

We do miss Ellis. It'd be nice to see her come back to life so she can see all of the wonderful things Meredith has done and who she has become. Every woman needs her mom in her life.

7. Heather Brooks

Ah, mini Derek Shepherd. Why did she have to die? She was so innocent and smart. Ugh, Shonda.

8. Doc

Probably one of the saddest deaths on the entire show :'( RIP buddy.


Fox News Aired a Super Racist Segment, But They Aren't Sorry

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If you’ve been on social media at all in the past couple of days, you may have seen some reactions to the latest segment released by Fox News. This came in the form of a “Watter’s World” segment, a series of street interviews by Fox correspondent Jesse Watters with people in NYC's Chinatown.

The purported goal of the interviews was to get the take of Chinese people on Donald Trump’s campaign (note: there is no documented evidence of Watters asking any of these people if they are even Chinese).

Watters uses some questionable techniques and makes several offensive comments during the interviews. In addition to splicing scenes from “The Karate Kid” and “Chinatown” movies, Watters asks participants questions like, “Am I supposed to bow to say hello?” upon encountering two women, and asks one man, “Is it the year of the dragon?” Some people in the segment appear not to speak English, but Watters continues to ask them questions and hold out his microphone, making them appear stupid or uninformed.

At the end of the segment, Watters talked to Bill O’Reilly (on whose show the segment appeared) about his experience during the interview, where he continued his othering of pretty much all Chinese people. O’Reilly stated that Chinatown is a very “insulated” area that doesn’t have any interaction with or awareness of American politics, while Watters added that “They’re such a polite people—they won’t walk away or tell me to get out of here.”

The segment overall makes use of a whole host of harmful, racist stereotypes—That Asian people are polite and submissive "model minority," that Asians are foreigners who don't really want to be American, that somehow all Asians know something about karate (which is Japanese, by the way).

While Fox itself has released no official statement on the segment or the reactions it has prompted, Watters stated on Twitter that his intention in the segment was to be “light” and “tongue-in-cheek,” and that he regretted anyone taking offense to the video. Doesn’t quite sound like an apology or an acknowledgement of the seriousness of his actions, does it?

There’s a difference between tongue-in-cheek and patently offensive that Watters seems to need an education on. According to The New York Times, “Asian-American groups denounced [the video] as flat-out racist,” and there was a small protest outside the Fox headquarters Thursday.

'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' Production Has Been Shut Down

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In light of Kim Kardashian’s traumatic robbery in Paris, filming for the Kardashian clan’s realty show Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been temporarily shut down.

A spokesperson for E! told Variety, “Kim’s well-being is our core focus right now. No decision has been made as to when production will resume.” The rep would not say whether the cameras were present in Paris during the incident. 

In case you don’t keep up the Kardashians, while in Paris for fashion week, Kim was robbed at gunpoint in her hotel room by men dressed as police officers. Kim has since returned to the U.S. and is staying with Kanye, but has understandably been silent since the incident occurred.

Despite some of the incredibly disrespectful responses to the robbery, we completely understand why Kim has chosen to take some time to recuperate without cameras. The second half of KUWTK's 12th season was set to premiere October 23. So far nothing has been announced otherwise, so don’t panic just yet.

Kanye West's Original 'Famous' Lyrics Were Leaked & They're Even Worse

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So you thought we were done talking about Kanye West’s song “Famous”? Of course not. It just wouldn’t be a Kanye West song if we were.

Recently a SoundCloud user uploaded the alleged OG version of “Famous,” which, believe it or not, was even more demeaning to Taylor Swift and also name-dropped Amber Rose. Turns out, on this demo, the lyric was not “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” Instead, it was “I feel like Taylor Swift still owe me sex.” In the next verse, West replaces Taylor’s name with Amber Rose's.

Some other changes include rap verses by Young Thug and Nina Simone singing the hook that Rihanna sings in the released version.

Even though only a few words were changed, the released demo has given Swifties reason to believe that Kanye and Kim were exaggerating the approval they received from Tay regarding the lyrics. Logically, if this demo was recorded with those lyrics, which were definitely not included in the infamous three-minute phone conversation leaked by Kim, then he might have recorded the song before asking Taylor for permission.

Granted, there are plenty of other ways the timeline of creating this song could’ve played out, especially given the way Kanye seems to meticulously go about crafting an album. But ambiguity did not stop some of Tay’s fans from taking to Twitter to put Kanye on blast with the hashtag #kanyewestexposedparty, mimicking the #taylorswiftexposedparty that trended when Kim ratted out Taylor.  

Regardless, the leaked version has since been taken down. But if you’re keeping score, Kanye’s apparently still winning.

10 Homemade Halloween Costumes You Can Make From Things You Already Have

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Halloween is just around the corner, and it seems like every other Facebook notification is an event invitation for a costume party. You might love dressing up, but if you’re running seriously low on cash and can’t drop the big bucks on an expensive costume, each invite can be a huge bummer. That’s why Her Campus found 10 fabulous DIY Halloween costumes for collegiettes on a budget made from items you already have in your closet!

1. '80s Workout Girl

You can’t go wrong with a flashy workout costume from the '80s. Halloween costumes can be so itchy and all around uncomfortable, but in colorful gym clothes, you'll definitely be comfortable! If you have any bright-colored spandex items, this is your chance to wear them. If you don’t own anything like that, have no fear! Just slip on some leggings, throw on an off-the-shoulder top, cozy up in some leg warmers or long socks and tie your hair up in a high ponytail, and you’re good to go!

2. Hippie

Want a Halloween costume that will make you feel groovy? Look no further! This costume can be as simple as a tie-dyed tee and a pair of jeans. If you don’t have a tie-dyed shirt, you can make one without even buying a kit. Follow these instructions to turn an old white T-shirt into a tie-dyed tee using food coloring and vinegar. Straighten your hair and wear it down with a headband or headscarf. Complete your look with a handmade protest sign with a peaceful saying like, “Make Love, Not War.”

3. Waldo

This cute and classic costume is great to wear in a large crowd or at a big party!  All you need to pull it off is a red-and-white striped shirt and hat, circular glasses and a cane (or just a long stick). You can put a girly twist on this look with a short blue skirt, or keep it comfortable in the chilly fall weather with jeans.

4. Marilyn Monroe

If you’re someone who likes it hot, you can channel the glamour of this classic Hollywood icon with just a simple, sexy white dress, red lipstick, large stud earrings and curled hair. Though this isn't the warmest attire, a little extra wind will only add to the costume’s effect!

5. Rosie the Riveter

With the gender-equality movement's continued popularity, it's a great time to represent feminism through Rosie the Riveter. This costume can be so powerful, yet it requires very little effort to create! Just pair a chambray or denim button-down with a red bandana. For an added touch, apply some red lipstick!

6. Grumpy Cat

If Halloween isn’t really your holiday and you practically have to be dragged out by your friends, channel your lack of spirit by dressing up as Grumpy Cat! As far as clothing, all you really need is a white or tan T-shirt and pants. For your makeup, start by powdering your entire face (white eye shadow works). Next, apply the darkest brown makeup you own, whether it’s eye shadow or bronzer, around your eyes and down your cheeks. For your nose, apply pink blush. Then, use eyeliner or lip pencil for whiskers. Lastly, don’t forget to frown!

7. Old-School Britney

Pay homage to the princess of pop by dressing up like Britney from the “...Baby One More Time” days. All you’ll need is a plaid skirt, a white button-down shirt (knotted in the front to show off your waist) and a grey sweater to complete this look. Put your hair in braided pigtails with ribbons at the ends. Extra credit if you wear knee-high socks. A great group costume would be Britney through the ages– each girl dresses in an iconic Britney outfit!

8. Wednesday Addams

All you need to be Wednesday for Halloween is a white button-down, a black dress or a sweater and pants. Braid your hair in pigtails and finish the look off with heavy, black eye makeup and a dark lip color.

9. Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande's incident with a certain doughnut made her one of the most talked-about celebrities again this year, so we have a feeling there might be a bunch of Ariana-Grande-inspired costumes this Halloween. The best part about dressing up as her is that there’s no one look you need to embrace. Just choose an outfit that is sparkly, sexy, girly and chic! A circle skirt would work great, as would a fitted peplum top or a dress with a sweetheart neckline. Just be sure to rock her signature sky-high ponytail, your pair of highest heels and thick, winged eyeliner. Bonus points if you never let anyone see the right side of your face.

10. Minnie Mouse

Dressing like Mickey’s main squeeze for Halloween couldn’t be simpler. All you’ll need is a red dress and black tights. Cut out circles of white felt or paper for polka dots and glue them to your clothes. Make a pair of mouse ears out of cardboard or paper and glue them to a headband. Draw on a mouse nose using black eyeliner, and top off the look with a red bow in your hair.

Which homemade Halloween costume is your favorite?

Fox News Personality Randomly Lashes Out at Megyn Kelly on Twitter

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As election day approaches, Fox News has become one more workplace where political tensions are causing major rifts between friends and coworkers.

On Wednesday night, Fox News anchor Sean Hannity lashed out at his network colleague, Megyn Kelly, on social media. His accusations claimed that Kelly showed bias in the presidential election and is a HRC supporter.

Hannity tweeted, "u should be mad at @HillaryClinton. Clearly you support her. And @realDonaldTrump did talk to u."

This social media attack was in response to a quote from Kelly during her show, saying that Trump has stuck to friendly interviews with Republican TV personalities rather than with more hard-hitting journalists like herself.

“With all due respect to my friend at 10 o’clock, he will go on Hannity and pretty much only Hannity and will not venture out to the unsafe spaces these days,” she said.

This catfight between the anchors isn't that surprising. According to The New York Times, the exchange sheds a light on the ‘generational tensions’ within Fox News. Kelly's show attracts a younger audience, and she's also shaken things up at Fox with what some would call feminist behavior—She nearly pushed Donald Trump to a meltdown by pointing out his history of sexism during the first Republican primary debate, and supported the women who accused former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, causing his ouster.

What was strange about the attack was that Hannity was accusing someone of bias when he himself is clearly extremely biased. According to the Associated Press, Hannity has openly expressed his support for Trump and even appeared in one of his campaign videos.

As of right now, the clash has only appeared on social media. Neither Hannity nor Kelly mentioned the spat on either or their shows. So...guess that was just one more weird thing that's happened during this election.

Watching “Amanda Knox” While Studying Abroad in Italy

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Heading abroad is supposed to be one of the best experiences of your college career; I know that it has been so far for me. Yet, for Amanda Knox, her year in Italy was cut short when she was charged with murdering her then roommate, Meredith Kercher, in their shared apartment.

The 20-year-old college student from the University of Washington was doing an exchange program in Perugia, the capital of the Umbria region in Italy, when Meredith was brutally murdered. Knox was accused and then charged for the murder with her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. After being acquitted and then tried again, they were finally exonerated by the Italian Supreme Court last year. Throughout all of this, the media went nuts, blowing many of the facts out of proportion, as seen in the new Netflix documentary, Amanda Knox.

Amanda’s name was not only in the news at the time, but I remember having in-depth conversations with my mom about whether or not she was innocent. We were both convinced that she was; the evidence just didn’t add up and we had hoped she would eventually be released and allowed back home to Seattle. I couldn’t shake a scary thought, that anyone could be in her shoes with a shoddy investigation like that.

Now here I am, a little less than 10 years later, and I find myself in Italy. Europe had been on my bucket list for a long time, and once I found the Florence program I’m currently on, I knew that it was the one for me. I could just imagine myself in this town, surrounded by ancient artifacts and more history than I could ever hope to remember. I chose Italy for all of that, the beautiful language and the experience I knew I was sure to have.

While driving to Assisi with my school group, we passed through Perugia. It was like all the other cities that had been built into the side of the side of a hill (a defense mechanism when the towns were established); houses with brown tiled roofs looking like they were stacked on top of each other and the streets made with cobblestones that could have predated the Roman Empire like the entire town does. The name sounded familiar, but I didn’t think anything of it until this case came up again a few short weeks later.

RELATED: "The New Amanda Knox Documentary Will Totally Change the Way You Look at Her"

A very striking line in the film is: "There are those who believe my innocence and there are those who believe in my guilt. There's no in between; either I'm a psychopath in sheep's clothing or I am you." And she very well could be. Florence is just a two-hour drive from Perugia. I’m in my early twenties, and I too am a college student with ambitions and a family whom I love dearly. Like almost all students abroad, I have a roommate and I am currently having the time of my life. Watching the documentary, it really hit home how close my story could be to hers and hers to mine.

From the lack of “objective evidence,” as Amanda calls it, at the scene of the crime, she was just a regular, innocent girl coerced into an untrue confession and then thrown in jail for nearly four years. She was told she had HIV while in jail, her personal diary was leaked to the vulture-like press at the time and her name was dragged through the mud. All the media and prosecutors could focus on was her “sexual deviancy” and her “drug-filled sex games” (which they mentioned often). Why was it okay to focus on her sexuality, her kinks (if she had any), and how many men she had been with? Would a man be questioned about this on television? Would he be asked picked apart by the world and called “Foxy Knoxy” in a derogatory fashion? Considering there were two other males involved in the case, the answer is nope. That would not happen to a man in the same situation. Even when one of the men, Rudy Guede, had numerous fingerprints that placed him at the crime scene without a shadow of a doubt, he wasn't subject to the same level of scrutiny. Amanda’s DNA wasn’t found anywhere in the room.

I love Italy and I know I will remember my experiences here forever. But unfortunately, Amanda was not so lucky all due to preconceived notions and an investigation that didn’t do her justice. At the end of the film, Knox reflects on what caused her to go to jail for a crime she did not commit. She says that people like to project; when they are afraid, they see monsters where they can. It gives them a form of comfort to know who the bad people are. "We're all afraid. And fear makes people crazy."“Crazy” put her in jail. “Crazy” killed her roommate. And “crazy” created a massive witch hunt that we should be ashamed of today.

Philosophy Professor May Be Getting Framed For Mailing Feces To His Colleagues

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Apparently, feminist philosophy professors are being targeted in an entirely new way—poop mail.

According to BuzzFeed News, Sally Haslanger, a feminist philosophy professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, rummaged through her mail upon returning from a summer abroad. In the pile laid a padded envelope, with no return address. Haslanger opened the envelope, stuck her hand inside and felt something that was not quite right.

“Oh shit,” Haslanger recalled herself thinking to BuzzFeed. “This is shit. I’m one of the other people who got the shit.”

Indeed, Haslanger had been mailed poop.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t the only philosophy professor who opened an unwelcome package of feces that summer.

Carrie Ichikawa Jenkins, a University of British Columbia philosophy professor and a friend of Haslanger’s, reported receiving a pile of poop in her mailbox in July. That same month, philosophy professor J. David Velleman of New York University also unsuspectedly reached into an envelope of shit. Carolyn Jennings later emailed BuzzFeed with a picture of the package of poop she, too, was delivered in July.

What do all of these people have in common? They are critics of Brian Leiter.

Brian Leiter is a University of Chicago philosopher and law professor. He may be best known for founding the Philosophical Gourmet Report in 1989, which ranks philosophy PhD programs. However, his rankings and views in general have drawn controversy since. Leiter has been known to call others “morons,” “zombies” or “demonstrably incompetent” when he finds them intellectually lacking. Critics often accuse his Gourmet Report of demeaning philosophy in general by definitively ranking programs in an allegedly biased manner.

Jenkings’ envelope of poop had some tracking information that could be traced back to Chicago—the address was only one digit off from Leiter’s office. As if that weren’t coincidence enough, Jenkins wrote a blog post in 2014 that Leiter felt was a personal insult. In the post, Jenkins called for philosophers to treat colleagues with more respect, rather than belittle each other. Leiter then emailed Jenkins and took to social media to say her blog post was “threatening.”

This led to the pledge, later signed by hundreds of philosophers, to vow not to volunteer for Leiter’s Philosophical Gourmet Report. Studies have shown philosophy is a very male, very white profession that is often stacked against the success of women and minorities. In recent years, petitions and pledges like this have tried to change the atmosphere. This was followed, crappily, by threatening and belittling emails stemming from Leiter aimed at those who took up criticizing him.

As the theory goes, Leiter, or rather a condemnation of Leiter, was the only connecting factor between these philosophy professors. With tracking information tracing one of the poop parcels back so close to Leiter’s office, some believe he could have been the perpetrator.

“I have no insight into why crazy people would do crazy things like mail shit to people,” Leiter said via email to BuzzFeed. “This is about trying to embarrass me.”

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, David Velleman emailed Leiter about the shitty mailings in August. “I assume it can’t be you,” wrote Velleman. “Which means that someone is trying to embarrass you.”

With websites like iPoopYou.Com, Poop Senders, and Shit Express, mailing poop is considerably easier than ever—as is setting up a colleague via packages of shit. If this is the case, we hope the great crap criminal of the American philosophy world is found before any of these professors are caught in another shitty day.


University of Memphis Students Protest After Athlete Receives Racist Note

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The University of Memphis’ Black Student Association staged a protest Wednesday in response to a racist note that was left on a student athlete’s car two weeks ago, the Daily Helmsman reports.

Members of the BSA silently gathered in front of the university center wearing all black, holding signs that push back against common African-American stereotypes. The sings said things like, "I am not fatherless,""I am not here because of affirmative action," and "I am black and proud."

The protests were in response to an incident on Sept. 23, when Nicole Lawson, a sophomore track-and-field athlete at University of Memphis, woke up to find her car keyed and a racist note on her windshield. The note said, “You dumb n*****s,” and the words, “F**k North Carolina,” she told the Daily Helmsman.

Lawson is from Charlotte, N.C., where citizens have been protesting since the Sept. 20 killing of Keith Lamont Scott by Charlotte police. “Just because my license plate says Charlotte don’t mean anything,” Lawson said on Instagram. “Whoever wrote it knows about the things that are happening in my home city, so it makes their actions seem corrupt,” she told the Daily Helmsman.

According to WMC, Lawson received an outpouring of support after she shared her story, with strangers offering her money to fix the damage on her car. Due to restrictions that come with her position as a student-athlete, she couldn’t accept the money. Instead, she told WMC that she plans on donating the money to charities in her hometown.

Lawson isn’t planning on letting the person who did this get to her, she told WMC, saying, "I want them to see me walking with a smile on my face.”

Some People are Mad that Columbia is Having a Retreat for Students of Color

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Columbia University is hosting a retreat for students of color—and while some people get that, other people still think it's discriminatory, according to USA Today College. The Students of Color Leadership Retreat is an event put on in November by the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Columbia, and it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

“The SOCLR weekend is designed to fortify participants in their leadership at Columbia, Barnard and beyond, to focus on shared experiences, and to critically examine various issues and ‘isms’ that relate to living in a multicultural and diverse community,” according to the program’s website. 

Students at both Columbia and Barnard College can apply for the expenses-paid retreat, and according to the application, students must identify as African/African-American/Black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Arab and Middle-Eastern, Native & Indigenous, or Multiethnic/Multiracial in order to participate. However, the racial identification question on the application takes the form of a text box rather than multiple choice, so students can write in any identity—and according to Columbia's website, the "program is open to all undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard" consistent with the school's non-discrimination policy. So if you're white, and you really, really want to go to this, you can still apply.

This retreat sounds like an awesome way to for minority students, who are often underrepresented on their campuses, to build community and discuss their experiences. But, of course, some people don’t see it that way.

The College Fix, a right-wing online magazine by college students, considers the premise of the retreat to be anti-white. “Columbia University to host no-whites-allowed student leadership retreat,” is the title of their article about the retreat.

This is kind of like when Cal State University decided to open up a few rooms in one of their dorms just for black students. People are taking this perfectly reasonable weekend retreat and turning it into an example of a (false) attack on white people. Luckily, it doesn't seem like Columbia cares at all about this backlash, and the retreat will still happen as planned.

Pretty Little Liars' Charlotte Might Not Be Dead After All

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With the series finale of Pretty Little Liars only six months away, fan theories have been flooding the internet. But the most recent theory may have just been confirmed by a star on the show.

Vanessa Ray, who plays Charlotte, the villain you loved to hate on PLL, just let a ~major~ spoiler slip. In an interview with Us Weekly, Ray reveals, “I have been keeping up with the show, and you might see my face soon.”

Since Charlotte has supposedly been dead for some time now, fans have come up with three possible reasons she could reappear. Maybe we’ll get new details about what really happened to her in a flashback scene, maybe she was never really dead or maybe the ghost of Charlotte will emerge to terrorize the already-haunted town of Rosewood. Honestly, none of these would surprise us.

Ray, who credits much of her TV success to her role as Charlotte, has her own theories about how the beloved series should end. “I hope they burn Rosewood down. I hope they just take a match. I really hope there is a slo-mo montage of them walking away with sunglasses on or something,” she says. Another scenario we wouldn’t be totally opposed to.

As much as we would love to skip ahead to the ending though, it’s hard to say goodbye to a show that’s captured our hearts for seven years—regardless of how bizarre it’s gotten at times.

 

Wow. 8 years ago we had our first table read in this very room. I didn't post anything from the table read yesterday because I was too emotional and I wanted to find the right words. So much love, blood, sweat and tears have gone into this show and I couldn't be more proud and honored to go through this journey with each and every one of our cast and crew. Weddings, funerals, birthdays, housewarmings, we've shared it all. The last 7 years have consisted of graduating high school, learning to drive, doing what I love every day, finding true friends, and getting engaged to my best friend. It's an end of a chapter and it's been some of the best times of my life. To the fans: thank you for taking this journey with us. For loving the show the way we do. For having faith in us, they way we have faith in you. You're apart of this just as much as we are. Thank you for being our #PLL family. I will cherish you all forever. love, Sasha #15daysleft #prettylittleliars

A photo posted by Sasha Pieterse (@sashapieterse27) on

This Theory About Taylor Swift's Next Album Release Date Is Very Convincing

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Emily Yahr of The Washington Post has cracked the Taylor code in a compelling five-step theory that explains why Taylor Swift’s new album will be released on October 23. The devoted Swiftie has considered Swift’s social media posts, her superstitious nature, upcoming concert dates and even album release history. She even predicted a back-up date—November 13—for crying out loud!

With a more-than-tumultuous summer behind her, Swift is likely to release a surprise album, Yahr says, avoiding any pre-release interviews. And, yes, Swift is definitely famous enough to pull off this Beyoncé-esque move. Yahr didn’t forget that Swift’s 10-year music anniversary is October 24—just two days after her first concert date in almost a year.

Throw in Swift’s obsession with the number 13 and the fact that Sunday releases are statistically more successful, and Yahr has cleverly narrowed it down to 10/23/16 (1 + 0 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 6 = 13) or 11/13/16 (1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 6 = 13). We couldn’t be more impressed.

We just hope she’s right because it’s been too long without a signature Swift single—a catchy pop song that expresses every single emotion we have ever felt.

6 Awesome Things You Didn't Know About Voting

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As one of the most controversial elections in U.S. history appraches, it is more important than ever to throw your two cents into the mix. Women only got the right to vote in the last 100 years, and it's an incredible privilege to live in a country where you can take part in electing your own leaders. We don't want you to miss out on that chance, and neither does VotePlz, a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative that wants to help YOU get registered to vote in time for the election. Read on for some fun facts you may not have known about your fundamental right to vote!

1. You can win money just by getting your friends to check their registration status.

Yes, this really is true—VotePlz is giving away over $1 million in prizes in their sweepstakes! When you check if you’re registered to vote on VotePlz, you’ll get a referral link that you can pass on to friends, so they can check their status too. Once at least one person uses that link to check their registration, you’ll be entered into the sweepstakes, and you’ll get additional entries (one per referral) up to 25. The prizes are incredible—20 grand prize winners will each receive up to $50,000 in student loan forgiveness, up to $50,000 in college scholarships or $25,000 in cash. And 2,000 second prize winners will get a $20 prepaid gift card.

2. If all eligible millennials voted, they would make up one third of the voting population. 

The millennial vote is one of the most important voting blocs in this election, because we're the generation that will be primarily affected by the decision. We need to keep in mind that we're going to have this new president for the next four to eight years—and the repurcussions of this presidency, in the form of policy, could affect us for many years after that. As the youngest voters, we need to consider issues such as what health care systems we want in place for us and our children, how we want our government to handle the growing environmental crisis, how new leadership can make the economy work better for us, and what we want education to look like in the future. Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest living generation in the United States, but in 2012, millennials made up only 19 percent of the electorate—a mere half of the Baby Boomer voter turnout (38 percent), according to a study by the Pew Research Center. That's pretty pathetic. Millennials need to take advantage of their rank as the largest voting demographic, proving wrong those who say we're the least likely generation to vote. It's our future, we should have a say in it! 

3. You can get paid time off to vote. 

Did you know that in over 20 states, some employees scheduled to work on November 8 are guaranteed to receive paid time off to vote? Yes, voting is so important that in some cases your employer has to let you leave work early to do it. This is especially great because it means you can potentially visit the polls at a time when there won't be a massive line—such as at the very end of the day, when you risk not making it before the polls close. Check out the VotePlz website to see if your state provides paid time off or unpaid time off to vote.

4. You can vote from your bed. 

In these modern days, you really can't use laziness as an excuse not to vote. With the use of an absentee ballot, you can vote early by mail. This means you don't have to go outside, wait on lines, or feel the pressure of pressing the button in the poll booth. In 2012, more than 35 percent of votes were cast early either by mail or in person. An absentee ballot is a common option for college students who will not be near their polling location on the first Tuesday in November. If you are eligible to vote but don't think you can make it to the polls in person, you can request an absentee ballot from your state in some cases. They mail you a paper ballot, you take your time filling it out from the comfort of your own home (without having to put pants on), and you put the completed ballot back in the mail before election day. Make sure you check your state's rules—some have deadlines for when the ballot is postmarked or received. TBH, no pants voting is the best voting. 

5. Voting for president is important, but voting local is where the magic really happens.

Interestingly enough, Trump vs. Hillary isn't the only decision you can make on Nov. 8. In fact, many of the issues you have an opinion about are probably decided by state and local officials, not just federal leaders. For example, making a change in education near you can be impacted by electing certain people to the state senate or the local school board. On the other hand, major economic and foreign policy issues operate on a federal level, so your presidential vote would make more of a difference there. Get informed about what exactly you could be deciding in November and cast your vote up and down the ballot!

6. You have rights as a voter.

It is important to know what you're getting yourself into when you enter the poll booth. Like many collegiettes, this may be your first election. VotePlz wants to make sure you know exactly what to expect when you head off to cast your vote. For example, if you get in line before the polls close, you cannot be turned away—you will still be able to cast your vote (this is good to know if you're in a state that doesn't require paid time off for voting!). Also, if you're registered but your name is not on the list, you can still vote—you will simply vote using a provisional ballot. You can also be super sneaky by casting a secret ballot so no one bothers you while you're voting. Know your rights, voters! 

Remember, millennials like us can change the conversation and control our future, and we have the right and responsibility to do so. VotePlz wants to help you register and vote in whatever way is most convenient for you. So check out their website for more information and take those polls by storm in November! 

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