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Donald Trump is Apparently Scared of Sharks & Won't Donate To Shark-Loving Charities

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In a world where it’s just not that surprising that the President has been accused of an affair, a main point of interest in regards to the announcement of his potential affair is that President Donald Trump may have an obsessive fear of sharks.

The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday that President Trump paid adult film star Stephanie Clifford (AKA Stormy Daniels) $130,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement in regards to their alleged relationship. However, five years before the agreement, Clifford conducted an interview with In Touch magazine in which she describes the President’s fear of the finned creatures.

Clifford eloquently declared they were watching a show “about U.S.S. something” when Trump made clear not only his dislike of sharks, but also that he would love the species to die out all together. She then claimed Trump to have said “I donate to all these charities and I would never donate to any charity that helps sharks.” 



Something about Trump talking about how great he is even while discussing an irrational fear just makes these allegations seem true. But if you don’t want to take the word of a porn-star who may have let a presidential candidate pay her off, look no further than President Trump’s tweets where he has, as usual, expressed his unfiltered thoughts. Probably the most surprising part of this tweet is that Trump apologized for his views. Meanwhile, making random claims about the lifespan of the species seems just his style. But even though he thinks sharks will live a long time, he still has no interest in them being around.



The President’s tweets from 2013 also make it pretty clear that the allegation that he doesn’t like sharks is absolutely true. As for his views on “losers and haters”, they were already pretty clear. And honestly, his fear isn’t even that surprising after allegations of his fear of stairs and dinosaurs. Maybe soon he will develop a fear to something useful (like angering world leaders or starting wars.)


This College Student Makes Pro-Black Apparel & She's Our Literal 2018 Hero

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A Montclair University student has been making bold headlines for weeks with her courageous pro-black sweatshirts. 19-year-old Olatiwa Karade first let her creative (and outraged) juices flow when she produced an an anti-Columbus Day sweatshirt in response to the glorification of Christopher Columbus. The final masterpiece: A burnt orange fabric with the words "Columbus Was A Murderer" in bold white letters, breaking the internet and of course, our closets.

"I was in the midst of a racially tense personal situation with a love interest, as well as dealing with the political climate surrounding the presidential election," Karade tells Her Campus. "I got fed up with celebrating genocidal, destructive, racist men as heroes and decided to put some truth into the world. I made the 'Columbus Was A Murderer' sweatshirt and wore it to campus on Indigenous Peoples Day. The rest was history—written the right way."

The success of the original Columbus sweatshirt led Karade to open her ownEtsy store called Splendid Rain Co, and since then she's continued to make pro-black apparel with statements like "Your Founding Fathers Owned Slaves" and "Don't Touch Me, Don’t Touch My Hair, Don't Touch My Culture" as the main design.

"The sweatshirts are extremely personal to my own experiences," Karade explains. "Every quote on a T-shirt came from a thought I had on the spot when someone said something bigoted to me, or when I witnessed something that made me and my ancestors cringe. I think this is why so many people relate to my sweaters because we have these thoughts, but are socialized to silence ourselves to keep people who harass and hurt us comfortable. We all agree that it's time to make racists uncomfortable!"

In a nation where bigotry and racism are still present on college campuses, Karade is the breath of fresh air and the inspiration we need. For her, college activism is important––specifically pro-Black activism. "We come to school to gain education and experience that can be applied to the real world! How can we do that if our curriculum is built around the celebration and normalization of white supremacy and misogyny?" she asks. "College activism fights for young people to have their autonomy recognized as they come into adulthood. We can no longer be told to shut up and sit down." And you can bet that she will be anything but silent. 

"The sweaters speak for themselves so you don’t have to. I wanted to make a product that would seamlessly continue demonstrating the activism many of us do and offer support on social media after we close our laptops and put our phones away." 

 

‼️Black is the new black ‼️

A post shared by Splendid Rain Co (@splendidrainco) on

So what’s next for Karade? Well, the budding English student is planning on taking over 2018 with new collections, pop-up shops and last but not least, "embracing [her] blackness, and continuing to empower others to do the same." Bow. Down. 

You can shop all Splendid Rain Co apparel on Etsy and follow Karade on Instagram here. In the meantime, we can't wait to watch her take over the world. 

How You Can Get Involved With The 2018 Women's Marches Around The Country

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Last year’s Women’s March was a successful protest that allowed women from all over the world regain their power and take to the streets in protest of various intersectional issues that affect women and femme-identified people. And this year’s Women’s March Anniversary: Power to the Polls is rapidly approaching on January 21 — however, you don’t need to travel to the event’s official location in Las Vegas to get involved in your own way.

While the Women’s March would give you are your activist friends the perfect reason to finally travel to Vegas, you can still show your support for this movement by attending a march in your local area. Thankfully, the Women’s March has an interactive map that will allow you to find a nearby event.


If you can’t find a Women’s March in your city or town, Sister Marches are worldwide solidarity events that help support the Women’s March mission. Bustle reports that there are approximately 700 Sister Marches across the globe, so you don’t have a valid reason for not attending one of these productive events.

As Lifehacker notes, this year’s participants include Cecile Richards the president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Representative John Lewis and Alicia Garza, who is one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter.

Whether you are just becoming an active advocate for women’s rights or you’ve been a seasoned feminist for the last decade, this year’s Women’s March anniversary will give you some vital inspiration to continue to fight for change. However, we completely understand if you can’t attend one of this year’s events—after all, life does happen and nobody can blame you for needing a paycheck or getting the flu.

If you still want to help the Women’s March fight for intersectional women’s rights (i.e. human rights), you can always donate to the cause or donate your time, energy and talents to different groups that do work that matters to you. If money is tight, you can volunteer for similar organizations, like Get Her Elected, that advocate for positive change by helping women politicians run for office.

Header image source: Women's March / Twitter 

3 Feminist-Approved Brands to Wear During the 2018 Women's March

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So the 2018 Women’s March is tomorrow, and like most fashion-forward activists you're trying to make a powerful statement while still being cute AF. The right answer? Wear whatever the hell you want! Last year I saw women march in grungy old sweatshirts, chic feminist tees, and some even dared to go topless. Your outfit for the day doesn't matter––it only matters that you're supporting women, fighting for your rights, giving Power to the Polls. That being said, I've picked a few pieces of clothing as a recommendation, because these brands are feminist-approved and doing what they can to aid in the fight.  Here are my top three picks: 

1. Wildfang Wild Feminist Floral Tee, $40

This feminist tee is designed and sold by a company called Wildfang, who's mission statement is to break the barriers of stereotypical women’s clothing, creating an arrangement of clothes that are cute, unisex, and sold with the intention to spread equality. The best part? 10 percent of profits from this shirt above goes directly to the organization She Should Run, an organization whose focus is to get “250,000 women running for elected office by 2030.” Wear a cute top, push power to the polls. It's a double win, honestly. 

2. Feminist Apparel If It Isn't Intersectional It Isn't Feminism T-Shirt, $30

This shirt is amazing because it shows what feminism really is: equality for all. Feminist Apparel goes above and beyond to give back to their community. Not only are their clothes produced in ethical and humane ways, but you can also shop by cause. This means that you can choose from a variety of organizations to which Feminist Apparel will give 40 percent of the profits from your purchase.

3. The Outrage Power to the Polls Tee, $25

The Outrage sells politically charged clothing and accessories that are for an amazing cause. They are based around the ~outrage~ of inequality, stereotypes, and the prevalence of sexual assault. With every single purchase made, their site they will donate to one of the following organizations: Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, ACLU, 350.org, She Should Run, and the Malala Fund. Their goal is to raise $1 million for organizations that fight inequality, and being the official retailer of the Women’s March, The Outrage donates 100 percent of the profits from Women’s March items to the Women’s March. So, like, buy this right now please. 

With political activism at the forefront of many conversations, big name brands have tried to profit off of the fight for equality. We've seen some corporations advertise feminist clothing just to capitalize on the trend instead of incorporating feminist values into their brand standards. But feminism isn’t just a fad and equality isn’t a style. That’s why these amazing brands above have dedicated themselves to actually giving back to their community, and you can trust them to carry you through your 2018 Women's March day look. 

Header Image: Wildfang / Instagram

6 Things You Need to Know Before Dyeing Your Hair an Unusual Color

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Your hair can reflect a lot about your personality, and if you take notes from celebrities like Katy Perry and Bella Thorne, sometimes that means looking to the rainbow for inspiration. If you’re thinking about straying away from ‘natural’ colors like blonde, black, ginger and brown, you have to be ready to commit. So before you pick up the magenta hair dye or call your local hair salon, make sure you know all of the facts before taking the rainbow hair plunge.  

1. Make sure your new hair color is acceptable for the workplace

You may think getting hot pink highlights is cool and trendy, but your conservative workplace may not agree. Check your employee or intern manual to see if your company has any policies about unnatural hair colors before you get to working on your new color. You may think the new social media startup you just landed an internship with will be cool with a rainbow ‘do, but they might think it’s unprofessional. Even if you find yourself at straight-laced company, get creative with how you can slip some funky tones into your hair!

Sophia Walker, a senior at Bowdoin College, was able to have a little fun without coming off unprofessional. “What I did was to put in some well-placed highlights (I have very dark hair) and then dye my entire head purple with a dye that I could reapply by myself as the need to re-dye arose,” she says.

Slipping in a few colorful pieces of hair may be okay with your boss, but it’s always better to double or triple check when your career and paycheck are at stake. If you don’t see it written down anywhere, ask your manager or someone in the human resources department just to be sure.

2. Getting your dream color may take a while

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your hair isn’t going to go from jet black to pastel purple in one session! Depending on the color of your hair and your hair’s previous exposure to dyes and bleaches, achieving the color you want doesn’t happen right away.

“For example, if you have blonde hair whether it be virgin or highlighted, most crazy colors will take on it,” says Macaria Pabon, a hairstylist at Charise’s Salon in Pittsburgh. “But if you have black hair it would require several lightening processes before you could apply any crazy color. This can all be determined in a consultation between you and your stylist.”

If you’re trying to stay within a price range when converting your hair to a crazy color, visit your hairstylist and see how many sessions and the possible cost of getting your rainbow ‘do.

3. Bleach may be involved, and it’s not always a good thing

If you have dark hair or even dirty blonde hair, your hair will probably have to get bleached in order to get a vibrant, rich color like bright orange or cobalt blue. But bleach can be harmful to your hair by breaking it or drying it out, so make sure your hair can handle the coloring and bleaching process.

Kristen Tajili, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, says, “If you do a poor enough job bleaching your hair it can fall out, which happened to me in certain parts of my head after I had to re-bleach some of my dark spots. The second time I bleached it I wanted to go silver but got kind of freaked out from bits of my hair falling out so I was left with orange hair.”

Save yourself the embarrassment and stress and shell out the money for a salon visit. Not only are hairstylists trained in making you look good, but they also are trained in keeping your hair healthy and determining what your hair can take in terms of chemicals.

Pabon says, “Lightening your hair should always be left to a professional. A professional should look over your hair and know your hair color history to determine if your hair is healthy enough to lighten.”

Just remember that your hair is not a science experiment and head to the professionals and get the advice you need so that you don’t have to spend time dodging Snapchat stories because you hate your hair.

Related: 5 Ways to Style Dirty Hair

4. Pick a color that looks good on you

Dyeing your hair any color is hard to reverse, so make sure the color you pick works well with your skin tone and wardrobe. For example, you may want pastel pink hair, but it could wash you out if you’re on the paler side. Likewise, girls with dark brown skin can make their skin tone pop with colors like bright yellow and red, while those with olive toned skin may not find orange and yellow as a good complements to their skin tone, but could totally rock pinks and purples.

“Please think long and hard about it and make sure it fits you,” says Pabon.

A unique hair color can bring change in your life or make you feel more confident. The last thing you want is to do the opposite. If you’re shy and don’t like the spotlight on you, dyeing your hair all of the colors of the rainbow may bring unwanted attention. On the contrary, if you’re someone who loves the attention, choosing which color will get you the most Instagram likes may end up being the ultimate struggle.

5. Find out color maintenance practices that work for you

If you’re spending major bucks on making your hair a rainbow hue, make sure it lasts too!

“Any shampoo I've ever tried causes the color to bleed or run. Conditioner does not. If you can, only wash your hair with shampoo once or twice a week,” says Samantha Burke, a senior at Siena College.

Keeping your hair away from water and shampoos doesn’t mean avoiding a shower altogether. Instead, use a shower cap.

Pabon says, “There are plenty things you can do to at home to get the most out of your color. You can even ask your stylist about a colored conditioner to deposit color on your hair at home with every wash.” Don’t waste your money or your stylist’s hard work by letting your color fade, make sure you can keep your color vibrant!

6. You’ll be a regular at the salon

Deciding that you want to have bright red hair forever is a bold decision, but keeping that color for long periods of time is no joke. Only washing your hair a few times a week and using color-depositing shampoo will keep your color from fading, but when your roots start growing in, you’ll need to make a hair appointment. The same goes for when you’re tired of your rainbow hair and want to go back to au naturale. Avoid the awkward growing out process and call your stylist.

“Expect fading, and expect a line of demarcation,” says Pabon. “Most of all expect a trip to the salon to get your hair back to its natural color if you are just tired of seeing the crazy color.”

Skip the bad hair days and see what your stylist has to say. You don’t have to be stuck with roots or a color you don’t want anymore when there are trained professionals there to give you their expertise. Depending on your color history, you could be visiting the salon every 4-6 weeks. Make sure you talk to your stylist about this before you commit to your new color so you’re not surprised if it starts fading.

If you want to dye your hair all of the colors of the rainbow, make sure your hair can handle it and pick a color (or colors) that will make you feel bold and confident! A bold hair color can turn a new leaf and mark the start of a big change in your life. Take the dive and seek inspiration from your childhood crayons.

Lupita Nyong'o Wrote a Children's Book About Embracing Natural Beauty

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Award-winning actress Lupita N'yongo recently revealed that she will be publishing a children's book that's set to release in January 2019. She confirmed this new project in an Instagram post, excitedly sharing the details about her new story to her followers. 

The book is titled Sulwe, which follows a young, dark-skinned girl who learns the importance of her natural beauty through a "starry-eyed adventure" she embarks on. 

If anyone could tackle content like this effectively, it would certainly be N'yongo. The 34-year-old actress is an outspoken advocate for defying society's conventional beauty standards and called out a magazine just last year for photoshopping out her natural hair on the cover. 

She explained her reasoning for writing the book in a post, stating "...to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are."

Hoping to inspire children and adults alike with her book, N'yongo wants people to embrace who they really are without thinking they need to change themselves to fit in. It's exciting to see such a powerful, influential woman of color writing an inclusive story that all ages can enjoy and I'm certainly looking forward to reading it when it hits shelves next year.

7 Galentine's Celebration Ideas that Would Make Leslie Knope Proud

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What’s Galentine’s Day, you may ask? Well, only the best day of the year! Grab your favorite girlfriends and celebrate February 13 without significant others. As Leslie Knope would put it, "ladies celebrating ladies." Let's make her proud by using these tips below.

1. Galentine's Day brunch

Who doesn’t love a great brunch? Gather your friends and invite them to bottomless mimosas either at a serving restaurant or at a designated house. While going out to a restaurant is what Leslie Knope does, hosting the brunch yourself allows you to design it however you see fit. So, get creative!

2. Dress the part

You and your girlfriends can all meet up wearing shades of pink and red inspired by the love for this holiday. Other options include keeping it comfy casual or totally dressing to the nines. The point is that you are dressing for yourselves—not a man. That’s what Galentine’s Day is all about: gals.

3. Take Polaroids of your friends

Hang up a tapestry or create a photo booth centerpiece that you and your friends can use for the ‘gram. Good picture spots usually include a little bit of color, some plants, and/or some hanging lights. Bring along Polaroid cameras for instant memories, or just use your phone to capture the celebration.

4. Decorate

Galentine’s Day is not necessarily an anti-Valentine’s party. The point isn’t to be bitter, such as posting “I hate love” decorations may suggest, but to celebrate the strong and supportive women in your life. Reflect that gratitude by hanging up your favorite pictures of your girlfriends with string lights and other themed accessories. Use Pinterest for more creative ideas. In fact, one feature of your Galentine’s Day celebration could be to make DIY decorations for the party itself.

Related: 24 Things Couples Do That Are Annoying AF

5. Craft for your friends

Speaking of DIY, crafting friendship bracelets or wine painting can create something physical your friends will use to remember this momentous day. Buy some trendy beads and charms and channel your inner tween to make this occasion memorable. If you’re old enough to participate in wine painting, there are usually studios that allow you to make an appointment for you and your girlfriends. Once again, this is an activity you can totally make your own. Buy some cheap canvases and paint from the craft store, and some boxed wine—you should be ready to go.

6. Food, food, food!

This is probably one of the most important components to plan. The food situation depends on what kind of Galentine’s celebration you intend to have. If you’re going out to a specific restaurant, you know what to expect. However, if you’re planning an event in your own home, you have a few different options. You can make a meal yourself, cater food, or have a Galentine’s Day potluck! Again, this is up to how comfortable you and your friends are with cooking. Some meal ideas include heart-shaped mini pizzas or mozzarella sticks. Even making heart-shaped finger sandwiches is a cute and simple idea. Just buy heart shaped cookie cutters as the basic prep. Look to Pinterest for even more inspiration depending on the type of party you’re trying to have.

7. Include customized interactive games

Every girl-powered friend group is unique. Create a bingo board using inside-jokes or pin the tail on the “girl most likely to.” If you and your friends are down for a more competitive night, crack open the board and card games.

We hope these tips and tricks give you some inspiration for the perfect Galentine’s Day: a day to celebrate your most loved girlfriends. Whether you’re keeping it casual or creating a fancy event, staying true to the principle of celebrating your friendships willmake it stand out from other holidays. The point is to customize your Galentine's Day to you and your friend's interests. Good luck from Leslie Knope and us at Her Campus (in spirit).

Nancy Pelosi Will Be a Judge on 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars'& I'm Both Confused & Excited

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi hilariously revealed that she's set to be a guest judge on an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars this season.

Pelosi's communication director, Ashley Etienne, claims that she is a huge fan of the show and the larger message of acceptance that it promotes to audiences. Etienne stated to NBC News, "She decided to go on the show because she's a fan, but is also a fan of the larger message of pride in who you are."

Social media reactions over the news have ranged from supportive excitement to baffled confusion (which, same), but most people seem curious and interested to watch her appearance on the beloved and incredibly popular reality show.

The California representative is slotted to appear in a season with other notable celebrity names including Vanessa Hudgens, Marc Jacobs and Shay Mitchell.

It's safe to say this particular judge choice has caused quite the stir, and it will be interesting to see what the politician brings to the table for her episode.

The third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars will air January 25th on VH1.


The Best & Worst Valentine's Day Dates College Girls Have Had

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Depending on the circumstances, Valentine’s Day can have mixed results. Sometimes, it means a day devoted to romance between you and your sweetheart. Other times, a collegiette can be left wondering if Cupid’s arrow hit the wrong mark. Regardless, we all have our ups and downs when it comes to February 14, and our experiences make for great stories! Here are some V-Day dates that have had a lasting effect, for better or for worse.

V-Day Victories

“My boyfriend and I have now been together for 4 1/2 years. Last year we decided that for Valentine's Day we were going to take our first road trip somewhere. We decided to spend the weekend in Washington, D.C. We went to a very nice sushi dinner, then went to see the Wizards play the Spurs (Go Spurs Go!) and then took the long way back to the hotel so we could see some of the city. The next day we went sightseeing and went to museums. Maybe it seems nerdy, but it was so fun to be away and be by ourselves. I can definitely say that weekend made us fall even more in love.” - Mel, James Madison University

“For Valentine’s Day about two years ago, my boyfriend and I took this ancient massage class at a local yoga place. We had started seeing each other about a month ago and hadn't officially decided to be exclusive, but it sounded fun and I've always liked yoga. I thought it sounded unique and interesting if nothing else. The class was mostly pairs of married couples or girlfriends enjoying a man-free Valentine’s Day. We were the youngest people there by far. Seeing a guy try to be flexible is hilarious to say the least. The fact that the class was all about celebrating and appreciating each other without the commercialism was so cool. Not to mention the massage skills you get out of it!” - Allison, University of Utah

“My favorite Valentine’s Day date happened a few years ago. My boyfriend at the time picked me up and wouldn’t tell me where we were going, which was fun because I love surprises. We ended up at an ice skating rink! Neither of us was expecting the other to know how to ice-skate already, so it was a nice surprise when we were able to focus on our conversation instead of trying not to fall. We held hands while we skated and talked for a long time. Afterwards, we got hot cocoa and pizza to warm up. It was simple and sweet!” - Briana, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Love Letdowns

“Last year on Valentine's Day, my boyfriend and I were both off at college. I wanted to spend it together, so I decided to make the five-hour drive and surprise him at school! We had a great weekend together and I left feeling proud of myself for doing something so nice. The next day (it was the actual day of Valentine's Day), I was on my way to class when I received a phone call from him. Instead of a Happy Valentine's Day, I was shocked to hear that he was breaking up with me! He said he'd met another girl and had planned to wait until after Valentine's Day to tell me. In the end I was the one who ended up with the surprise!”- Courtney, Indiana University

“I was asked out to see a movie, but when we got there it was sold out. Instead of looking for another movie, he ended the date and decided to get something to eat. He didn’t ask me to join him and then he got on the phone with his mom in front of me, telling her he wasn’t doing anything important. He then dropped me off at my dorm and told me he had a fraternity party to go to later and to have a good night. What a loser!”- Ali, Baker University

“My boyfriend of a few months and I had planned a really simple but cute Valentine’s date. We were going to go to a new sushi restaurant, and then we were going to catch a movie and get some drinks afterwards. Our meal was really good, and we had a great time at dinner, but about 20 minutes after we left I knew something was wrong. I felt so nauseous! I did some deep breathing and tried to divert my attention, but it only got worse as we went into the movie. Still, I was too embarrassed to say anything to my boyfriend. Halfway through the movie, it hit me and I got sick in the theater! It was mortifying, and my Valentine’s Day date came to a very sudden stop. Thankfully, my boyfriend was nice and we still laugh about it today.” - Claire, Ohio State University

In Between

“It was my first date with my high school boyfriend. Sinatra was playing, he had an apron on and he put roses on the table. It appeared that he had made me this gorgeous dinner! It was all so adorable! He even bought me a box of chocolates. A few months later when we were getting more serious, I told him that I would never lie to him. He said, ‘I've lied to you before...’ I was like, ‘Geez how many other girls is he dating?’ He then proceeded to inform me that his mom had made the whole Valentine’s dinner and snuck out right before I got there... and to think I had the guts to ruin macaroni and cheese the first time I cooked for him!”- Veronica, Indiana University

“I was excited for Valentine’s Day last year because I had a guy that I was beginning a relationship with. He told me to plan on going out, so I bought a new dress and tried to make myself look super cute. When he came to pick me up, I asked him what we were going to do. We ended up going to his apartment and watching a boxing match with his friends. It was not romantic to say the least, and I felt so out of place since I had dressed for a date. He paid way more attention to the TV than to me. After about an hour, I texted my best guy friend to see if he’d come get me. Long story short, he took me out to a diner after he picked me up, and now we’ve been together for almost a year.” -Emily, University of Illinois

Even if your date is heading for disaster, you could be looking back on it and laughing in the years ahead. And remember, V-Day is just one day of the year! Don’t let it be the only one with some romance involved. It is always possible to bounce back from bad dates and look forward to better ones in the future - whether they happen on Valentine’s Day or not!

8 Things Juniors Should Be Doing Right Now to Get into Their Dream College

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As an aspiring collegiette, getting admitted into the college of your dreams is probably one of the highest priorities (if not the highest) in your life right now. To ensure your best chances at getting into your dream school, you should start early to make your application really stand out.

We’ve reached out to experts and students on college campuses that experienced and conquered the stressful college app season to give you eight easy tips to get you thinking about your dream college. In junior year you don’t have to start applying yet, but you definitely need to be preparing your academic and extracurricular portfolio.

1. Learn about the college

Figure out why your dream school is your dream school. Even if you think you already know, write it down and validate it with your words. Is it because it’s got an amazing program that’s exactly what you want to do? Or maybe you’re obsessed with the football team? If you understand why you want to go there, you can pinpoint whether it’s really the school for you. Don’t focus on just your dream college, though –– broaden your interests so you have a wide variety of schools to choose from. That way, you can understand whether your dream school is really unique for you or not.

Judi Robinovitz, certified educational planner and founder of Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools, encourages pre-collegiettes to start thinking early. “Whatever her dream college is, whether it’s Ivy League or highly selective or moderately competitive, she will need to have already started her academic path and be willing to challenge herself at the appropriate level for that college," Robinovitz says. "If, at junior year, she says she wants to go to Dartmouth, or Duke, or Georgetown, or Vanderbilt, and hasn’t already laid the foundation academically and extracurricularly, then she needs to dream elsewhere. Junior year is too late. Ninth and tenth grade matter significantly.”

If you’ve only just now decided to try for an Ivy League school as a junior and haven’t been pursuing the rigorous coursework required, it might be wise to look at other options. If you’ve been aiming for your dream college throughout your high school career, you have a much better shot at acceptance. Keep that in mind as you learn about your college.

2. Visit the campus

The best way to experience the atmosphere of a campus is to go there. If it’s far, bug your parents for a summer trip, and if it’s close, visit often to get a feel of what it’s really like. College visits give you a glimpse of both academic and student life, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see if your dream college is for you.

Robinovitz notes that colleges take visits into consideration during the admissions process. “You really need to visit to show demonstrated interest," she says. "Many colleges say how visits play a positive role in admissions.”

Perry, a sophomore at the University of Florida, agrees. “Visiting the campus is definitely a good way to show desire to go to that college, and later in interviews, you can cite your experience when they ask why you want to go there,” Perry says. See? It’s a win-win.

3. Connect with current students

It’s hard to know what living on a college campus is like if you’ve never done it before. Contact people who attend your dream school and ask them some questions. If you don’t know anyone who attends, ask around your family and friends if they know anyone you can get in touch with. Even lurking around on Facebook can get you results ––message a friend of a friend of a friend who goes to your college and see if they’ll respond. Most people won’t mind if you express that you genuinely want their advice.

If still no luck, search around on your college’s home page and you’re sure to find some email addresses to contact. Most students would be more than happy to give you advice.

4. Find out the school’s specific admissions requirements

As you’re liking the college more, it’s time to start thinking about applying. While as a junior, you don’t have to start writing your applications just yet, it’s important to understand what GPA and standardized test scores will increase your chances of admission to your dream school. Look online and you can find the score range that makes up the majority of the students your school admits. Here’s a helpful site with SAT score ranges for 360 different colleges

Start studying for the SAT and ACT and continue to do well in your classes, so you can be comfortably in the score range for your school.

5. Build your resume

Apart from academics, extracurricular activities and work experiences can really beef up your resume ––especially if you’re a little shy of the score range that your school prefers. While you don’t have to join every club at your high school, choose a few extracurricular activities that you can shine in and definitely pick up some leadership positions along the way.

Robinovitz emphasizes that pre-collegiettes really need to hone in on a few extracurricular activities. “She needs to be seeking leadership roles in one or two extracurricular activities, and she needs to be consistent with her commitment in those activities ––not be all over the place and suddenly join sixteen clubs," Robinovitz says. "She needs to be focused on just a few extracurriculars where she feels she can have an impact on either the organization or the people affected by the organization. She also needs to be able to take initiative so that she can show that she is a collaborator.”

Look for work or internship experiences that you can snag as well. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your teachers.

6. Look for high school programs that your dream school offers

Many colleges offer programs for high school students that allow them to obtain college credit by taking a few classes on their campus, whether over the school year or the summer. It’s a great opportunity to get a feel of what studying on your dream school’s campus is like. If you’re interested, look online to see if your dream college offers a program like that. However, these programs can often be costly, and it’s up to you to decide if it’s really worth it. 

Robinovitz notes that it can be beneficial, but not for the reason most people think. “Going to Duke for the summer is not going to help you get into Duke, and going to Stanford’s pre-college program is not going to help you get into Stanford," she says. "What I will say is that students need to have very productive summers, where they can demonstrate learning from that experience. It’s the idea of keeping your brain engaged, perhaps by checking out a potential major. It doesn’t help you get into either of those universities, but definitely helps you decide that you want or don’t want to major in something. It improves your chances at college admission, but not necessarily at that particular college.”

Don’t expect to have a better chance at admission to your dream school because you paid thousands of dollars to attend their summer program. However, it will beef up your resume in terms of productivity over the summer. Choose whatever you think will help your application the most.

7. Consider early decision

It’s a huge decision to completely commit to one school. However, if it’s really the school of your dreams, then follow it, girl! In case you didn’t know, early decision is different from regular decision in two ways: you need to apply earlier, and if you get in, you are required to attend the college.

The applicant pool is significantly smaller and the college knows that only the most dedicated of students are applying, so you definitely have a higher chance of admission when going for early decision. It’s a difficult choice, so weigh all your options before jumping the gun.

Robinovitz agrees that it provides a huge advantage to students committed to the school. “If I looked at the statistics this year from early decision at the highly selective schools, many of them admitted close to or more than half of their class already from early action and early decision," she says. "If you don’t apply early, you definitely lessen your chances.” Think it through and decide what's right for you.

Related: How to Deal with Early Decision News, Good or Bad

8. But remember: It’s okay if you don’t get in

Just a friendly warning ––don’t go overboard with all this “dream college” stuff. If you don’t get in, no sweat. No matter where you go to college, you can still get a great education and have tons of opportunities to stand out. In fact, attending a less competitive school can even make you stand out more in your classes in the long run. Big fish in a little pond, right?

Iesha, a sophomore at the University of Florida, agrees. “I had the University of Florida as my dream school, but I didn’t think I’d get in,” Iesha says. “In the end, your college fate is in your own hands and it’s important not to measure your self-worth by which colleges accept you or not. If you worked hard, you are already exceptional. Make the most of wherever you go because in the end it’s you who will contribute to your future and college can only facilitate that success.” Great advice! Don’t let yourself get down over what a college thinks of you.

Keep your head high and do your best, future collegiette – anywhere you go you can find fulfilling college experiences. Best of luck!

3 More Reasons to Believe That Paul Stadler is Behind the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital Hacking on 'Grey's Anatomy'

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In case you somehow forgot during these dark, Grey’s Anatomy-less weeks, when the series wrapped for the winter break, we were left with the worst cliffhanger since Kate Beckett’s apartment blew up in the mid-season 2 finale of Castle. Jo’s abusive husband, Dr. Paul Stadler, interrupted her mad dash out of an elevator to save Alex’s tiny patient, all while the hospital was in an involuntary lockdown due to hackers controlling the cardiac monitors, the blood banks and more.

It seemed like too good of a coincidence for Stadler to show up while all hell was breaking loose, and I came to suspect that perhaps he was behind the hacking in an effort to come in and find Jo while her friends and colleagues were dealing with the chaos around them. After this week’s spring premiere, titled "1-800-799-7233," I’m not quite as sure as I was, but I still feel like he could be behind it. 

He easily integrated himself into the chaos (the perfect cover?), taking opportunities to impress the crew at Grey Sloane and trying to convince Meredith that Jo was the problem. All in all, the timing could be a massive coincidence, but… does Shonda ever really deal in coincidence? He may truly just be an opportunist; there were some potential indications in the newest ep that Stadler might not be behind it at all, but there are also three new compelling pieces of evidence that Stadler could be the one behind the hack.

1) The same thing happened at another hospital while he was there

While Dr. Webber was explaining the situation, Stadler told him, “I was at Alexandria when they got hacked. It was a nightmare.”

Soon after, he asked to lend an extra hand.

“I know how bad this can be, so if I can lend an extra hand I’d be happy to.” Hmm, is that because you did it?

2) He sure was in a hurry to bounce after he signed the papers

When all seemed said and done between Stadler and Jo, he sure was in a rush to leave the building.

He told his fiancé when she asked what had happened, “Let’s just get the hell out of here.”

Was it because he got what he came for and wasn’t interested in continuing his charade of the jilted husband? Or could it be that he needed to get as far away as he could before they uncovered his involvement?

3) The hacker got in using the WiFi

While Bailey was interrogating the FBI about their progress, she asked if they had searched for unwanted guest WiFi traffic, and the agent told her that that’s how they found the hacker's IP address. I don’t know much about this, so I could be way off base, but do you not need to be in the immediate area to access the WiFi? So the hacker must be very near, if not in, the hospital.

Well, there you have it. I'm still waiting on that confession, Dr. Stadler, but since next week’s preview suggests we’re leaving the hacking plotline in the dust, we may never know the truth. Therefore,

Ed Sheeran Revaels Secret Engagement to Girlfriend Cherry Seaborn

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Ed Sheeran is engaged!

Well, he ~technically~ has been engaged for a little under a month now. The singer made the announcement in an Instagram post on Saturday, stating that Cherry Seaborn went from being his girlfriend to his fiance just before the new year.

Sheeran and Seaborn, a hockey player from the UK, met in high school and had been dating for three years.

I selfishly cannot contain my excitement for Sheeran's next album, because you know it's going to be romantic AF.

Everything You Need to Know About Recruiters

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Recruiters — you’ve probably heard of them, but who are they? Where do they come from? What do they do? How can they help you as a college woman? Her Campus is here to help. We talked to two former recruiters — Andrea Baker, principal and founder of Talent Investment LLC, and Danielle Melendy, director of culture and people at Clique Media Group (CMG) — to answer all your questions. Get ready to take on the world of career fairs.

Who are recruiters?

Recruiters are people who come to a college or job fair to tell people about their company and what opportunities they have. “Recruiters come from all different parts of an organization,” Baker says. They may work in their company's HR office or simply recruit on top of their role. “I actually had a marketing background,” she says. “With recruiters, you are a brand ambassador for your organization.” Melendy describes recruiters as representatives of a company who search for and recruit new talent to join their organization. “These people are usually cultural ambassadors and have a great eye for finding people who will do well at company based on their skills and abilities,” she says. Recruiters will be able to tell you what their company is about and the different positions they’re hiring for.

What do they do?

Recruiters do a few different things for their respective companies. “As a recruiter, you’re responsible for providing information about your organization, the culture," Baker says. "You’re a cheerleader for your organization." Although recruiters will give you information, it’s ultimately up to you to have an idea of what industry or company you want to work for. “Students have to gauge: What are the areas and what things interest me? And what type of an organization do I want to work for?” she says.

Melendy describes what recruiters do in two parts: external and internal. Externally, they “build a recruiting brand, identify the best places to advertise the company and open positions, network and build relationships with potential hires, usher candidates through the interview process and ensure a great candidate experience, act as a reference for any questions about the company, give employment offers and send follow up paperwork, [and] help transition candidates during the onboarding process,” she says. Internally, they “meet with hiring managers to understand their current needs, create job descriptions to accurately portray the position, manage the interview process with multiple internal stakeholders throughout various stages, [and] represent the needs and expectations of both the employer and the candidate.” If you can figure work with a recruiter to help them help you, you’re much more likely to find one who can help you.

Related: 5 Things to Have on Your Resume by Senior Year

How can they help you?

In addition to giving you information about the company, recruiters will look at your resume, talk to you and find out what your interests are. Baker says the main things they’re looking for are “why you’re interested in that organization and what sort of roles are appropriate for you?”

Melendy says, “Recruiters may be the first people that college women interact with when trying to find a career.” She suggests building a good relationship with recruiters so you can ask them questions. And just like with any type of networking, keep in touch!

Alaina Leary, a second year grad student at Emerson College, has had both positive and negative experiences with recruiters. She says the field she’s in, book publishing, doesn’t have many recruiters for entry-level jobs. She has, however, gotten contacted by recruiters for marketing, publicity and social media positions. “I think recruiters can be extremely useful in getting your foot in the door, especially if you're flexible and don't need a permanent placement yet,” she says. “A lot of recruiters deal with full time employment, but the employment is temporary or an open-ended contract.”

Baker stresses really looking at an organization and what they do and believe in. It’s “like looking at college,” she says.

What can’t they help you with?

Although a recruiter will be able to help you with a lot, there are definitely some things that are off limits. “They can’t be your individual advocate,” Baker says. “They can steer you in some direction, but at the end of the day, they’re representing the organization so they can’t be your personal career counselor.” It’s up to you to learn as much as you can about different opportunities and roles and do your best to get yourself where you want to be.

Melendy has similar advice. “To be successful, you need to invest in yourself and career but also take advantage of the resources that are out there for you,” she says. If you build a relationship with a recruiter, they’ll be able to help you — but they won’t be able to give you an unfair advantage.

Now that you know who recruiters are, you’ll be more prepared to meet them and know what to expect. Be sure to do your research beforehand in order to be as ready as you can be. If you have an idea of what type of company you want to work for, you’ll be more likely to find a recruiter who can help you. Good luck, collegiettes!

Here's Everything You Need to Know About the Government Shutdown

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As Senators scrambled on the chamber floor on Friday night to pass a temporary government spending extension and meet the midnight deadline, they were unable to get the 60 votes they needed to pass the bill, resulting in a government shutdown.

The shutdown marks the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration. According to ABC News, this is the first government shutdown in recent history where Congress and the White House were controlled by one party.

Here’s everything you need to know about the government shutdown.

The Vote on the Senate Floor: What Happened?

After much discussion, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled to vote on the temporary government spending extension to a vote around 10 pm ET.

However, despite the fact that five Democratic senators voted in support of the spending bill, four Republican senators voted against, meaning there was not enough vote to pass the temporary spending bill.

There were last minute negotiations on a bill that would fund the government through February 8, which was one week shorter than the bill that the House of Representatives voted on, but it still wasn’t enough, as Democrats decided to vote against it since they were unable to secure a commitment from the House that it would include a measure for DACA in the funding bill next month, The Huffington Post reports.  

Democrats wanted to ensure that there was a guarantee that Congress would vote on DACA before it expires in March. While Republicans have said that there is no rush on the immigration issue, Democrats have stood their ground to make sure that there is a solution for Dreamers, and believed that attaching a measure onto a funding bill was their best chance at getting something passed, HuffPost reports.

However, according to HuffPost, DACA wasn’t the only reason that some senators voted against the temporary spending bill. Some senators said that they could not support a one-month spending bill, calling it irresponsible, and that Congress should only be working to vote for full-year bills to fund the government.

When the deadline hit, and no agreement was reached, McConnell took to the Senate floor and criticized the Democrats for “shoehorning of illegal immigration into this debate.”

McConnell ended his time on the floor by asking to bring another temporary spending bill that would have a shorter timeline to a vote at a later time. McConnell added that senators would be back to work on Saturday to try to reach an agreement before federal employees returned to work on Monday.  

Pre-Talks Between Sen. Schumer and Trump

During Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s speech, he discussed how in the hours leading up to the vote, he met with Trump at the White House to negotiate on a deal that would please both parties, ABC News reports. But the deal that they reached during their meetings, quickly fell apart.

Schumer offered Trump funding for the border wall, which is something that Democrats have been consistently saying no to, as well as increased funding for the military, all in hopes of being able to reach an agreement that both sides could vote for, The Huffington Post reports. According to ABC News, Schumer said he would consider giving Trump the full amount that the White House had requested for border security, and more than what the White House had requested for military spending.

“During the meeting, in exchange for strong [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] protections, I reluctantly put the border wall on the table for the discussion,” Schumer said from the Senate floor after the vote failed. “Even that was not enough to entice the president to finish the deal.”

According to HuffPost, a source said that Trump and Schumer left without having a “firm deal,” but added that the president thought that the short-term spending bill proposed by Schumer was a “good idea.”

After their meeting, Trump took to Twitter address how the meeting went well.

“Excellent preliminary meeting in Oval with @SenSchumer - working on solutions for Security and our great Military together with @SenateMajLdr McConnell and @SpeakerRyan. Making progress - four week extension would be best!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

Later, it was reported that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly called Schumer to tell him that the proposal he had discussed with Trump was too liberal.

Afterwards, Trump took to Twitter again, but this time he was singing a different tune.

“Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy,” Trump wrote.

According to HuffPost, Schumer accused Trump of turning against the deal that he thought they had reached, saying it appeared that Trump was almost “rooting for a shutdown.” Furthermore, Kelly added that giving full funding for Trump’s border security plan would not be enough to create a deal that would provide legal status for Dreamers, ABC News reports.

“And now we’ll have one, and the blame should crash entirely on President Trump’s shoulders,” Schumer said.

Where Does Congress Go From Here?

On Saturday morning, both parties were quick to point the finger at the other for who was responsible for the shutdown.

Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning, placing the blame on the Democrats.

“Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown” Trump added.

According to The New York Times, Schumer called Trump early Saturday morning asking for the president to sit down with Congressional leaders from both parties to work out a deal before Monday.

“When President Trump decides he is finally ready to lead his party to a deal, Democrats will be ready, willing and eager to clinch it,” Schumer said.

McConnell, according to The Times, is now proposing a temporary spending bill that would end on February 8, a week shorter than the original temporary spending bill that was set to end on February 16.

However, it appeared that Senate Democrats weren’t entirely on board with the idea, and it is unknown when a vote on such a bill would take place.

But it is uncertain what will happen next since Senate leaders haven’t seemed to settle on a Plan B yet. It is also uncertain whether the White House will be working with Congress on a new deal since White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders released a statement Friday night on Twitter, saying that the White House would “not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands,” The Times reports.

Meredith, Arizona and Jo Were the Ultimate #SquadGoals in This Week's Episode of Grey's Anatomy

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Another episode of Grey’s Anatomy, another hour filled with badass ladies. It’s casual.

In this week’s mid-season premiere, so appropriately titled "1-800-799-7233" after The National Domestic Violence Hotline, we got to see SO MANY girls supporting and protecting their fellow ladies while Jo struggled with the appearance of her estranged husband. Get you a squad like:

Helm

After Alex came face to face with Stadler, he immediately sent his intern, Helm, to find Jo. Despite having no idea what the situation was, and even though she was confused and reluctant to leave her surgery behind, she expended every effort to track down Jo. Even after she had returned Jo safely to her friends, Helm didn’t leave her side until Meredith told her and the other intern they could go.

Meredith

When Stadler first entered Meredith’s OR, she didn’t know who he was behind his surgical mask. She was grateful for his assistance at first, but as soon as he introduced himself, her entire manner changed. She became dismissive of his suggestions, and when she grew tired of him talking about his studies, she cut him off.

“I know who you are. I’m friends with Jo Wilson,” Meredith said.

Stadler tried to suavely place blame for anything Meredith had heard about him on Jo and her past, claiming she was mentally unstable, but Meredith wasn’t having any of it.

For just a second when she spoke with Alex later, it sounded like she could have fallen for his lies, but when Jo ran across the two of them, fighting tears as she moved to defend herself against whatever Stadler had had to say, Meredith grabbed her tightly, tears in her own eyes, and told her, “You are Jo Wilson. I know exactly who you are.”

She then followed Jo's lead in handling Stadler's presence, keeping Alex as far away from the situation as she could to prevent him from hitting him or worse. 

She accompanied Jo to sign the divorce papers, keeping the conversation on track and shutting Stadler down when he tried to get Jo alone. When they were finished, Meredith snatched the signed papers, making sure to keep them out of Stadler’s reach, and opened the door to show him out.

Jo

As he left, Stadler fed a line about how he hoped the divorce would bring Jo peace, saying that they both deserved it. Jo stood up for herself and got the last word, telling him that he was a monster who didn’t deserve anything good.

Arizona

Arizona, who was a fangirling mess when she first ran into Stadler, immediately jumped into action to distract Stadler after Jo told her the truth, putting herself in a room alone with him despite knowing his violent history.

Jo took the opportunity to speak with Stadler’s new fiancé, Jenny, rushing in their limited alone time to offer support and help in getting out of the relationship before it could get too far. Even when Jenny pushed back, calling Jo crazy, she still fought to help the woman falling into the same position she was once in, revealing some of her biggest vulnerabilities in an effort to get her out of a terrible situation. Even when Jenny continued to fight, Jo stayed, leaving her cell phone number and promising to get her out when she was ready, and Meredith and Arizona surrounded Jo as they watched the pair walk away. 

Chills. I had chills the whole time. It just goes to show you that no matter how many disagreements arise, work or otherwise, your girls will always have your back. This season really is for the girls.


On the Anniversary of Trump's Inauguration, Women Take to the Streets for the Women's March

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From coast to coast, thousands of women took to the streets on Saturday to participate in the 2018 Women’s March, ABC News reports. This year the march was titled “Power to the Polls,” and women across the nation marched to promise that they would turn out to the polls this midterm election to vote and to continue to fight against President Trump’s policies.

According to ABC News, the main event of the 2018 Women’s March will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, where the march’s organizers have organized a voter registration initiative. Organizers chose Las Vegas since it “was rocked by the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, recent sexual assault allegations against elected officials and has become a battleground state that will shape the Senate in 2018,” according to the Women’s March website.

“In 2018, we must turn our work into action ahead of the midterms. This new initiative will address voter registration and voter suppression head on. We marched for justice in D.C., we created our plan in Detroit and now we’re bringing the power of the polls to Nevada,” Tamika Mallory, co-president of the Women’s March said in a statement.

In New York City, Ann Dee Allen, a participant of the march, said that “[felt] differently about it this year.”

“Last year, I just felt kind of angry and impassioned. This year, I feel like I’m in it for the long haul,” she added, The New York Times reports.

In Los Angeles, Women’s March participant Amanda Kowalski said, “I’m done with men feeling like they have some sort of power over women, and I’m definitely done with having a president who believes that he has the power to take things from them, to take things that are provided — like Planned Parenthood — from women, when they deserve the same sort of health care as anybody else.”

Claudia Grubbs, who participated in the Women’s March last year as well, told The Times, “Over the last year, every day when I read the news or watch the news, I’m horrified at the things that Trump and his administration are doing, and I feel like going to the march will help re-center me, refocus me and not make me feel like I don’t know what is happening to our country.”

“I feel like it’ll help me gain a sense of balance and a sense of purpose, and help me pursue things that I want to pursue,” Grubbs added.

In Washington D.C., where Congressmembers are staying put to continue working on the temporary spending bill, some lawmakers took to the stage to speak to the crowd. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, one of the Democratic lawmakers present at the march, told the crowd that they had “transformed the world,” The Washington Post reports.  

“They marched, and now they have run for office, and some of them have already won their office,” she said. “We want women to know their power in so many respects — by showing up not only on the day of the march, but in airports, in town halls,” Pelosi said.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told the crowds, “It’s women who are holding our democracy together in these dangerous times. To change the system, we need to change the players and have women at the table,” The Times reports.

The recent government shutdown also became a rallying cry for participants of the Women’s March.

Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. also addressed the crowd, according to The Post, and told them that “if Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and the president were women, we would not be in the middle of a government shutdown right now.” The crowd erupted in cheers as Breyer urged the crowd, “Please run! Run smart! Run hard!”

Trump also weighed in on the Women’s March on Saturday afternoon, according to The Post.

“Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March,” he wrote. “Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!”

6 Ways To Get a Valentine's Day Date

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Is there anything more frustrating than knowing who you’d like your Valentine to be but not knowing how to snag the date? No matter how many hints you drop, some people can remain totally clueless. This year, instead of imagining what it would be like if you were out celebrating with your crush, take matters into your hands. Here are six ways to do it.

1. Get a group together

Let’s face it — unless you’re in a relationship, Valentine’s Day probably isn’t your favorite holiday. Organize a casual party the weekend before the big day (the holiday falls on a Sunday this year). Invite some of your single friends over for chocolate, champagne and pink drinks and candy hearts — you know, the things about Valentine’s Day that everyone enjoys. This is a great option if you don’t know your crush that well since it feels so casual.

Once you’re at the party, use Lauren from University of Florida’s tip and see what his plans are for the big day. “I always find it easier to talk in a party environment,” says Lauren, who met her current boyfriend after chatting him up at a V-Day party three years ago. “You’re more comfortable around your friends. Ask him what his plans are and if he’d like to hang out on Valentine’s Day. If he says he can’t, you’re around enough people that it’s not awkward.” And around enough chocolate that you won’t even be a bit bummed.

2. Double up

Is your crush’s fraternity brother one of your good friends? Or maybe his sister is dating your roommate? A double date is always fun, especially if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day option that doesn’t feel super serious. Ask your friend if she can suggest a double date to her partner.

3. Give them an offer they can’t refuse

This option is perfect if the object of your affection is someone you know really well, like a cutie you’ve been seeing casually or your best friend who you’ve been crushing on. Purchase tickets to see a band they like or get a Groupon for a restaurant you know they've been dying to try (make sure it’s valid on V-Day, though, as some Groupons exclude this day!). It’s a thoughtful approach, but still way more casual than suggesting a candlelit dinner at a five-star restaurant. Kelsey, a senior at Skidmore, purchased two tickets to see Regina Spektor and invited her then-crush to go with her. “Honestly, he was probably more excited for the concert than hanging out with me when I first asked,” Kelsey says. “But we had such an amazing time together and a concert is a pretty romantic environment. It’s a fun first date.”

4. Currently seeking: One cute crush

Okay, so you know that you want a date on Valentine’s Day, but you don’t know exactly who. How do you go about meeting a cute bae before February 14? A lot of date parties or couples-only parties take place the weekend of Valentine’s Day, so ask your friends if they know someone in need of a date. Sure, it’s a risk to go on a blind date, but even if you don’t hit it off romantically with the person, you can have fun getting dressed up and celebrating the holiday. Diane, a sophomore at University of San Diego, met her current boyfriend when, at the last minute, her friend’s frat brother was out of a date. “I thought it would just be a fun group thing, but we wound up hitting it off,” says Diane. “If I hadn’t offered to be his date, he wouldn’t have been able to go to the party and we would have never met. Guys are looking for dates too!”

5. Um, JUST ASK

Former Her Campus Real Live College Guy Ryan admitted that there’s no super secret trick to snagging a date by Valentine’s Day. “To be honest, if a girl asks me out in any way, shape or form for V-day, I'll be inclined to say ‘no doubt’ and accept,” said Ryan. However, this doesn’t mean you can go up to that hot guy who you have literally never spoken to before and ask him out on a date. Ryan clarified by saying, “This is also assuming that a) we've been flirting and b) we're attracted to each other. With that perfect scenario in mind, I'd really just say that we don't need to be asked out creatively. Last time I checked it's not senior prom.” If you’ve been talking to a guy, don’t be afraid to say, "Would you want to get dinner on Tuesday?"

6. Ask the girl who knows you best

When it comes to playing matchmaker, there’s no one who can do it better than your BFF. If both you and your best friend are single this year, make a pact to set each other up. Try to go into the situation with an open mind. You might not see yourself hitting it off the person who lived down the hall from your BFF freshman year, but she knows that you two share the same goofy sense of humor. Trust that your friend knows you best and will set you up with a person who you are truly compatible with (or can at least have a fun night with).

Maybe in a perfect world, the person you’ve been eyeing would send two white doves to your dorm room with a letter inviting you to a homemade dinner, but that’s not very likely (or convenient — can you imagine trying to get those doves out of your room? Total disaster.). Instead of waiting for Cupid, grab those arrows yourself and use these tried and true tips to fill up February 14 in your planner!

6 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas You Haven’t Tried

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Whether you and your campus cutie have been going steady since freshman year or you hooked up at a house party last month and have been inseparable ever since, by the time February rolls around, you start feeling the pressure to come up with a fun date idea for you and your crush on Valentine's Day. Don’t fret! Here are six date ideas for Valentine’s Day that are fun and collegiette budget-approved!

Take a dance class together

Ballroom dancing? Yes! Tango for two? Sultry – definitely yes! Irish step? Er… sure, why not? So why not skip the sweaty dance floor in a frat’s basement for once and take a dance class together? You can often find a class to try out together at the gym or on campus with a student group. The workout will get your blood pumping, and even if your crush doesn’t exactly have Justin Timberlake or Taylor Swift's dance moves and you’re tripping over each other's feet – that’s okay! You’ll be having too much fun laughing with each other to care.

Host a picnic… indoors!

It’s absolutely freezing outside, so having a picnic out on the grassy campus lawns is out of the question. So why not bring your blankets indoors? Spread a blanket out on the floor, light some candles (battery-operated ones if you live in a dorm hall that doesn’t allow them) and cook up some food to share. It doesn't have to be fancy, but your SO will appreciate something a little more romantic than your Ramen noodles special. It’s way less cheesy (not to mention, cheaper) than the dinner-and-a-movie combo and it’s a good way to enjoy a homemade meal together. Bon appetit!

Stargaze at the planetarium

Ok, we’ll admit that we got a little inspiration for this idea from Friends. And while the rocky relationship between Ross and Rachel isn’t exactly what we’re approving, we think that their first date at a planetarium was still a cool idea. It beats having to get bundled up to sit out in the freezing winter night, but see if you can sneak in a Thermos of hot cocoa to simulate the experience of stargazing outdoors anyway! Many museums, art galleries, and other cultural institutions have reduced (if not free) admission for college students to take advantage of! Some colleges are lucky enough to have a museum on campus, so check one out.

Attend a poetry slam

If you’re dating the angsty artist type, then this is a date that he or she will most definitely appreciate! And even if you two aren't exactly Shakespeare’s biggest fans, these modern-day poets who take the stage often take urban themes and translate them into exaggerated, fun and heartfelt performances – so it’s definitely not the snoozefest that your Intro to Poetry class might be! Most likely, one of your favorite local cafes or bookstores will be hosting a poetry slam.

Get a massage together

Stressing over that upcoming midterm? Chances are, your S.O. is stressing about something too (welcome to college!). So why not propose that the two of you unwind with a good massage? Check out health services on your campus to see if they offer massages – some offer them to students and faculty at a much cheaper price than you would find at a spa. If not, look for Groupons and other deals on massages in the neighborhood.

Spend a snow day

Just because we’re responsible, grown-up collegiettes doesn’t mean that we can’t act like little kids every once in a while and what better way to do that than to drag your Valentine’s Day date outdoors for some wintry fun? Did someone say, “Classes are canceled?" Well no, not exactly. But you can still spend the day sledding, building snowmen and making snow angels. And if a snowball fight should happen to ensue and you “just happen” to fall on top of each other… well, you can thank us later.

I'm Stressed AF Thinking About the Ending of Last Week's 'Grey's Anatomy'

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In the last moments of this week’s Grey’s Anatomy, dubbed "1-800-799-7233," Jo told Meredith and Alex that she just wished that her husband, Dr. Paul Stadler, was dead. Alex looked thoughtful, which was rather scary after he nearly murdered DeLuca and fantasized about murdering Stadler. But he quickly shook himself out of it and took Jo home.

The episode then closed on a shot of Meredith walking into the ER on what appeared to be the next morning, where she found Jo and Alex looking somberly into the trauma bay where Stadler was being treated by April.

“What did you do?” she asked in a panic, before the screen went black and my heart dropped into my butt.

The trailer for next week’s episode, titled "Personal Jesus," reveals that Stadler was injured in a hit and run incident. Meredith is seen asking April if there are any suspects, and Jo swears that they had nothing to do with it. Meredith believes her, but isn’t sure that the police will.

The trailer cuts off with Jo spotting Stadler’s fiancé watching them, and she tells Jo, “You don’t have to worry, I didn’t tell them it was you.”

I'm sorry, what?!
 


What the hell is going on? Did Alex run Paul Stadler over? (Please oh please don’t send my bb back to jail.) Did Jo do it? Did the fiancé finally take Jo’s advice to heart and make an attempt to get away? Did she panic and try to turn it on Jo? Is this entirely coincidental? DID JO DO IT?

I am losing my shit, you guys. I can't handle this stress all week. Somebody please tell me it's going to be okay. 

5 Ways to Handle Workplace Conflict

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Work is a social environment like any other, and any office is going to bring together a diverse collection of personalities and people. Even if you’re on your best behavior, chances are you’re going to conflict with someone along the way. But we’re all adults here, so it’s important to be mindful of a few things when trying to work out your differences.

1. Be the bigger person

It can be hard to back down from a fight (especially when you’re sure you’re in the right!) but sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and ask yourself if stirring up conflict is really worth it. This isn’t always easy; after all, sometimes a co-worker is just spoiling for an argument. Alex Cameron, a graduate student at Emerson College with several retail jobs under her belt, says she once had a co-worker who constantly complained that she was being forced to do more work than everyone else, even though that was far from true. The only way to keep things civil was to avoid rising to the bait. “If you said anything,” Alex says, “it only prolonged her anger.” Usually, once the co-worker had exhausted her complaints, “she realized she was being ridiculous and apologized.”

It’s always best to try to keep the peace. You never know what’s going on in a co-worker’s life that is making them unhappy and it’s never a good idea to get into an argument just to work out your own frustrations, either. You’ll probably end up doing more damage than either of you ever intended.

Related: 4 Tips for Handling Disagreements at Work the Professional Way

2. Politely tackle the issue head-on

Avoiding conflict can be appealing, but sometimes walking away from the problem only makes things worse. If these issues don’t seem to be solving themselves, it’s probably time to talk things out. It’s important, though, not to go in with a fight in mind. Approach your co-worker in a neutral or private place-somewhere where you won’t draw the attention of the whole office-and ask if she’s got time to try and resolve things. Even invite her out for coffee, if you feel like that would be appropriate. Make sure to demonstrate that you’re ready and willing to talk things through.

Then comes the hard part: actually talking things through. Jamie Broder, an attorney and mediator with a background in resolving workplace conflicts, advises that, right at the start, “Each co-worker should identify the points of contention between them.” Even if you disagree with the points that the other person is making, it’s important to listen to her grievances. Otherwise, how will you ever take steps to work things out?

3. Don’t talk about your co-worker behind her back

Workplace conflict is stressful and it’s normal to want to vent your feelings. But keep that venting out of the workplace. Things only get worse when you share your frustrations with other co-workers, regardless of whether or not they agree with your point of view. Any office needs to run smoothly and it can’t really do that when everyone is talking trash behind someone’s back. And it will only make things worse when you finally try to resolve the issue with the co-worker in question—you don’t want to add malicious gossip to her list of grievances!

If you do need to talk things through with someone else, stick with family members or friends who don’t work in the same office. Moderation is key, though. You don’t want to complain so much about your workplace drama that the people who care about you can’t stand to listen anymore.

4. When in doubt, appeal to a neutral party

Okay, so maybe you’ve tried sitting down for coffee or just a conversation with the person you’re butting heads with and the two of you just can’t manage to see eye to eye. It’s never a good feeling to take your problems to another person, but if you and your co-worker can’t talk out your issues on your own, you might want another person’s input. The two people involved in the dispute “should choose a trusted and neutral mutual friend or co-worker to facilitate their discussion if necessary,” Broder says. “In a larger company that has a Human Resources department or group, there might be someone who could help.”

Stay away from turning to your boss, though. They’re less interested in your personal problems and more concerned with how employees are working together. Or, as Broder puts it, “In most cases, a supervisor would not be ideal because supervisors evaluate employees on a whole host of factors which likely include their ability to get along with others in the organization.” So even if you are completely blameless in the whole thing, you probably won’t come out looking great if you drag your supervisor into the conflict with you.

Related: 7 Things College Grads Wish They Knew Before Entering the Workforce

5. Make sure the conflict is actually resolved

All this work is going to be for nothing if everyone walks away without having actually gotten to the root of the issue. In order to avoid this, Broder suggests that “co-workers should discuss each point of contention seriously and respectfully and try to reach compromises to resolve each of them.” Treating every one of your co-worker’s issues as a valid concern is central to solving the problem. Is she saying that you didn’t pull your weight during a joint project? Or complaining that you fail to respond to emails in a timely manner? It helps no one if you just try to deny the accusations without giving them a second thought. So even if you disagree, take some time to think about whether or not you can work a little harder in the future. If you’re willing to listen to your co-worker’s issues, she will probably be willing to do the same for you.

Of course, it’s important not to just roll over in the hopes of getting things resolved quickly. But it’s equally necessary to compromise when the situation calls for it. Putting in the hard work now will save you—and your co-worker—a lot of headaches down the road.

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