Emily Allgair, Editor

Warning: If you are morally opposed to supporting Taylor Swift, this article is not for you. If you are not, however, morally opposed to supporting women who empower other women, speak out against inequity and injustice and take great pride in their artistry, then you may want to keep reading. 

Taylor Swift has been making bangers since the release of “Tim McGraw,” her first ever single that makes you think of her in that little black dress and her old faded blue jeans, in 2006. So, for almost two whole decades, Ms. Swift has created 168 US Billboard Hot 100 chart entries, consisting of eight number ones and 30 top ten songs. 

These songs, while incredibly catchy, may not be her best work. Maybe it is, but I don’t want to discuss these songs. Instead, I am going to tell you the Taylor Swift songs that I personally believe to be underrated. For the sake of my own sanity, I will not be including vault tracks.

Now, in no particular order, here is my list.

Invisible – Taylor Swift

The Best Day – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Dress – Reputation

cowboy like me – Evermore

The Story of Us – Speak Now

Daylight – Lover

Holy Ground – Red (Taylor’s Version)

August – Folklore

Clean – 1989

Haunted – Speak Now

I Almost Do – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Sweet Nothing – Midnights

Paper Rings – Lover

Thank you for your consideration. See you when blondie finally releases Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Emily Allgair, Editor

Noun. A person who expresses or promotes socially progressive views.

Now, I’m not saying that people who believe in progressive views are bad, in fact, I, too, believe in progressive views. But the people who are surface-level educated and make it part of their personality suck. 

I’m not ashamed to say it. In fact, I’d shout it from the rooftop. People who push views that they believe in but don’t know nearly enough about suck. And I’m not talking about the people that know they aren’t educated and bite their tongues when it comes to political conversation. Those people aren’t part of the problem; the problem lies in those who do some of the following.

Men who are performative about not liking men in front of their female friends, but as soon as there are men they enjoy being around, are performative about being a guys’ guy. Key word: performative.

People who, when you are talking about sexism in the college setting, bring up the fact that they have a female professor. Because that automatically adds to the sexism talk, right?

Meeting someone who uses they/them pronouns and everytime you speak about them, making sure you are emphasizing the pronouns to a point where it is no longer casual. “No but didn’t you hear what THEY said?” or “THEY are really cool, you’d definitely love THEM.” Like, chill dude. 

Wanting to participate in conversations about injustices in which you have no personal anecdotes rather than just being an active listener, so you contribute experiences that don’t really fit in with the conversation. Not like it diminishes the experiences of those who are speaking just so that you can feel included (in something that no one wants to experience). 

And I know what you’re thinking, is this really the behavior of an SJW? I thought they were people who talk politics but not in an educated fashion. You’re right – in one aspect. But SJWs exist beyond the world of politics, and that’s something that we need to keep in mind. 

Stay vigilant, check your privilege and if you aren’t sure if what you’re contributing to conversation applies, maybe just sit back and listen. 

Emily Allgair, Editor

Hello Collegian readers. I have some unfortunate news for you today, and that it is that I am not made for music festivals. At least not music festivals in the cold and wet. Granted, I don’t think anyone particularly looks forward to being out in the cold rain for 12 hours, but as someone who has never experienced a music festival in the dry warmth of the sun, this wasn’t a great first experience.

It didn’t help that I didn’t have any caffeine before going, but I was sleepy to begin with. So going into a cold environment where all you want to do is curl up with a cozy blanket and watch a movie with hot chocolate, being outside with nothing but a ripped up plastic poncho to protect you isn’t exactly paradise. It also didn’t help that there was a four and a half hour gap between the sets we wanted to see.

And that’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy the sets we watched in between, but the energy wasn’t there for anyone until Bleachers, who went on at 8 pm. Then things got good. But as someone who spent a fair amount of money to see bands in the rain, I wish they would’ve done more to distract us from the weather, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers I suppose. 

And again, if the weather was even 10 degrees warmer, I think I would have had a totally different experience. Maybe not totally different, but I wouldn’t have bought a $60 sweatshirt that I didn’t really want because I was that cold. And maybe, if I was old enough to do so, drinking to keep myself warm would have been a viable option, but then again draft beers were $15 (and that was the cheapest alcoholic option). 

This also was the second year in a row that this music festival almost got rained out. So if any event planners of All Things Go are reading this, here’s your sign to maybe change the weekend. Hurricane season is kind of a risky choice when planning an event with thousands of people and a stage in the mud and woods. 

The saddest part of all of this isn’t the ungodly amount of money I spent while at a concert venue for 12 hours, it’s the fact that I don’t think I’m made for music festivals. No Firefly, no Coachella, no Austin City Limits, no Lollapalooza, etc. None of that for me. I love live music, and yet, I am just not built to risk bad weather for 12 hours, let alone the thought of camping in the cold and wet. Maybe someday that will change, but for now, I am a single-concert-per-night-goer. And it pains me to say so.

Emily Allgair, Editor

Let’s face it. Some people are not made for ankle socks, and that’s fine! It becomes an issue, however, when the people that aren’t made for ankle socks wear ankle socks. 

People with an actual sense of style: you aren’t really my target audience, but you shouldn’t wear ankle socks with Birkenstocks and shorts, unless you’re getting your laundry and just needed to slip on some shoes. But if you’re going out in public, ankle socks probably shouldn’t be paired with sandals. (With that being said, I am pro socks and sandals. Possibly a hot take…)

Men: you are my main focus here. Sorry, but also not sorry. I think seeing where your leg hair stops is weird, and wearing ankle socks only draws attention to that area of your leg. Some of you can pull it off, but if you aren’t sure if you fall into that category, then just play it safe and skip the ankle socks. And being totally honest, those that ‘pull it off’ aren’t actually making it work, you’re just barely passing by.

Even if you’re wearing jeans and you think we can’t see your ankles, we absolutely can. In fact, this exact situation is what inspired this article. So yeah, you definitely aren’t as subtle and slick and you think. 

Moral of the story, just wear longer socks. Maybe not knee-highs, but honestly that’d be better than ankle socks. By a significant margin.

Emily Allgair, Editor

Fair warning: this article is not an explicit call out. And by stating that, I hope you pick up on the fact that this absolutely is an explicit call out. 

If you are a plus one to a house party, as in someone who does not know the host(s), do not, under any circumstance, participate in the following:

1. Put your frat shoes on the kitchen counters where the hosts prepare their food.

Especially when coming from a frat, like those germs are fresh. These people are nice enough to let you into their home, just keep your shoes on the floor. 

2. Stay longer than the person that brought you when everyone else has left. 

If you’re vibing with everyone, that’s totally fine. But if you and your friends are hiding in the kitchen when literally everyone (I mean everyone) has left because it’s almost three in the morning and the hosts still don’t know your name, maybe you should have left with the person that brought you…

3. Take down house decor and physically pull it apart. 

This isn’t really cool in any circumstance, but especially not when you don’t know the people hosting and you aren’t in a frat house. 

4. Not introduce yourself.

At least ask someone that you didn’t come with what their names are. But if you’re not in the right mindset to do that, a nice attempt at a conversation could work instead. 

5. Ask for drinks that aren’t yours.

Again. These people don’t know your names, who are you to ask for a White Claw? Not even a cheaper drink, like a beer. Also, no one (not even the hosts) are drinking anymore. 

Moral of the story, stick with who brought you and read the room. If you can’t do that, maybe, and hear me out here, don’t come along? Just a thought. 

Oh, and thank the hosts for having you when you eventually do leave. It’s just polite.

Emily Allgair, Editor

Here’s the thing: I love British accents, royal weddings and fish and chips just as much as the next bloke, but sometimes when I watch a British movie, I get distracted by how British people look. Not all of them, in fact, some of my personal favorite actors and actresses are British – Andrew Garfield, Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Kaluuya, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson… the list goes on and on. 

Great Britain has some very talented actors, but some of their performances are hindered based on looks. And I know how that sounds, but I’m not calling any of them ugly, at all. Just British. Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Radcliffe (adult version), Tom Hiddleston, David Tennant, Rowan Atkinson. All hella British-looking. 

Recently, I watched a movie for an ethics class called Sorry We Missed You and all of the actors and actresses looked so bloody British. Like, to the point where it was distracting. And I don’t really know why I couldn’t process the movie beyond the physicality of the actors, but I missed almost the entire introduction of the movie because I was too busy dealing with how British these people were. Same thing with the 2010 movie Submarine.

This could just be a personal issue, but it’s happened to me enough times to distract from a movie’s plot to the point that I definitely missed something important, but not anything detrimental to the storyline. The moral of the story is that British people can have me absolutely knackered depending on how British they look. Cheers.

Emily Allgair, Editor

1. Blowing your nose in class

You gotta do what you gotta do and everyone in your classroom has blown their nose before, like they know the feeling and will not judge for it.

2. Tying your shoes

Your shoes coming untied literally has nothing to do with you and if anything it’s more embarrassing to be walking with your shoes untied.

3. Carrying an umbrella in the rain

People without umbrellas who are caught in a rain storm are more likely to be jealous of you for thinking ahead than judge you for choosing to stay dry for the rest of the day.

4. Having a crush

Sometimes crushes lead to exciting things and if they don’t, no one has to know that you have one, especially not the person to whom your affection lies. Just keep your own secret and there is nothing embarrassing about having feelings of attraction. 

5. Getting in an Uber (sober)

Literally there is no reason for this one other than the fact that you have to check the license plate number and get in all awkwardly. The ride itself isn’t even embarrassing, it’s just getting into the car and ‘introducing’ yourself to the driver.

6. Having COVID in 2022 

COVID is so 2020, like come on girl it’s been two years. Get over yourself soon.

7. Putting change away in front of the cashier

You just stand there struggling to put the ones into your wallet as they fold in on themselves and there’s a line of people behind you waiting to check out. Like the pressure is on to move quickly and you can’t keep up. 

8. Walking back to your seat after bowling

Everyone is looking at you and sometimes you turn before the ball hits the pins so you have to turn back and look over your shoulder but everyone is still watching you. And the shoes are kind of slippery so you have to change your normal walking pace, it’s just a lot. 

9. Having people sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to you

Again, everyone is looking at you. Not even just looking, but serenading you. Like come on, that’s so overwhelming, especially when you don’t really know everyone singing to you or there’s a lot of people. Like what do you do? Do you smile? For the whole time? Do you sing along? I don’t know!

10. Having the hiccups

Going back to the first one, everyone has had the hiccups before and everyone knows that they are uncontrollable. It just feels like everyone is paying attention to you when in reality, again, no one is going to judge you for your diaphragm contracting, like it’s totally normal.     

Emily Allgair, Editor

Emily Allgair, Editor

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of going to the greatest city in the world: the one and only, New York City. I had good food, saw my first concert at Madison Square Garden, and got to hang out with great people while visiting, but something overtook my memories of the trip. Instead of remembering all of the crazy sparkly, feathery outfits, I now have the forever-mental image of way too many strangers’ toes. 

Yes, you read that correctly, strangers’ toes. Something that A.) I should never see as often as I had, and B.) I should have never seen in New York City. Like, Times Square, New York City. As beautiful and exciting as that city is, it’s also absolutely disgusting. And an unreasonable amount of people felt comfortable enough to have their dawgs out, barking up and down 8th Avenue. 

The amount of flip flops, Birkenstocks, and (probably fake) Gucci slides that I witnessed was absolutely abhorrent. And something else worth mentioning is that their fancy New York outfits probably would have stylistically looked better with some Pumas or even, dare I say, white Vans. 

Maybe I’m just not used to going to New York City while it’s still hot outside, although it was only in the mid-70’s, but having your dawgs out in any context is a bold choice, let alone in one of the busiest, grimiest cities in the world. I guess what I’m trying to get at is that you should really think through your footwear, and please, for the love of all things, make sure your dawgs are covered if you ever find yourself in New York City. Not just for your own safety and dignity, but also for my personal sanity.