Dear Readers,

Dive into this week’s issue with Misha’s exploration of the 1917 Russian Revolution (1). Next, Guananí gives us a peek into her summer of science (2), followed by visual art from Isabel Hoenk (4) and a poem by Tania Jaramillo (5). On the next page, get a little taste of Puerto Rico as Claire give us the scoop on how to make tostones (6). Closing our issue, read a short story by Ben (8); take a peek at campus fashion with DeSastre (9); and catch up with our resident love guru Miss Lonely Hearts (14). 

P.S. If you’re interested in writing for us, we meet every Monday at 9pm in the PAB Atrium.

Love,

Claire P., Claire S., Guananí, and Kelsey

News & Features

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Lab Days
Volume 8 Issue 5
Lab Days
Volume 8 Issue 5

In the summer of 2017, Guananí participated in an undergraduate research program at the University of Iowa’s Microbiology Department, where she was introduced to the ways of the research lab. This was accomplished by learning about the swarming of bacteria, how time works in a workaholic field, and why toothpicks are the most important tool in a bacterial genetics lab. But when all the experiments were said and done, she came to understand that beyond all the technicalities, science is about failing profusely and systematically, and the people you work with are as or more important than the subject being studied.

Volume 8 Issue 5

Fiction & Poetry

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Volume 8 Issue 5
The Pigeon
Volume 8 Issue 5

There were pigeons outside his window, again. He could see the soft green and pink beneath the sheen of their feathers.

The toaster oven spit out two browned slices of whole grain bread. He opened the fridge and pulled out the jar of strawberry jam. He grabbed a knife from the drawer, the one to the left of the sink, and proceeded to spread the thick fruit onto each piece of toast. He placed the toast onto a small plate and turned on the stove, shifting the kettle to the proper burner.

Volume 8 Issue 5
Volume 8 Issue 5
Volume 8 Issue 5

                                  spilled milk
( it’s  just that  now there’s none  left and it doesn’t seem
that important until it piles up broken plates dig into your
heels and  you can barely  see the floor anymore  because
When’s  the last time you had the energy to do something
about it  and it piles up again and  you put it off until later
until it piles up until the water level’s at your  windowsill
and now there’s no use and now there’s ) no use crying .

Volume 8 Issue 5

Cultural Corner

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Not Your Abuela's Tostones Recipe
Not Your Abuela's Tostones Recipe

Fried plantains, a.k.a. “tostones” in Puerto Rico and Cuba, are eaten in many Latin American countries, especially in the Caribbean. I’ve decided to share my abuela’s version of the popular dish, adding a little Puerto Rican flair to the Grail in the process. Although tostones are generally served as a side dish, I’ve added a recipe for a dip so that, if you so choose, you can serve the tostones as a snack.

Plátanos fritos se comen en muchísimas partes de Latinoamérica, especialmente en el Caribe. He decidido compartir la receta de mi abuela de este platillo popular, dándole un toque puertorriqueño a the Grail en el proceso. Aunque los tostones generalmente se sirven como acompañamiento para otro plato, he incluido un mojo por si quieres servirlos como un tentempié.

Lessons for the Left 100 Years After

Only around three-hundred men stormed the Winter Palace in 1917. The process was slow, with red guards climbing onto ledges and struggling to break windows to gain entrance to the seat of the Provisional Government. But it was with this occupation that the world was forever changed.

DeSastre

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Steal Her Look
Steal Her Look

Do you watch 2000's reality TV, drink Dunkin’ Donuts on your balcony, or pine for the life of a goose? Because if you do, you might be Marnie. A junior classics major, Marnie spends most of her time in the company of Plautus and Terence. Her favorite color is RED (with a caps-lock level of intensity). When asked about her style, she described it as “a high power lesbian lawyer, but on the weekend.” Wanna steal her look? Catch Marnie on the second floor of the ETC.

Miss Lonely Hearts

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Quiet Tinder Crush

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

I matched with this guy on Tinder about a month ago, a little after we first met. I don't use Tinder seriously, so I didn't think much of it. I thought of it as a mutual "ah, I know them! Right swipe!" kind of fun that didn't mean anything. During the past month I've been hanging out some with him and his friend group. We've never acknowledged the fact that we matched on Tinder (we haven't even had a Tinder conversation). As I've started to get to know him, I think I've developed a liking for him...And now my mind keeps jumping back to our Tinder matching—does it mean anything that he right swiped me? I always assumed it didn't, but now I want it to have meaning!! If it did mean something, I don't want to waste time being silent but...I also don't want to be weird if it was only a casual right-swipe...I don't want to mess with a friendship that is developing but I think it's developing painfully SLOWLY!

Sincerely,
Quiet Tinder User