Features

Hyde Park, London, is alive tonight. The stars are out and a breeze rustles through the trees. Couples sit on benches holding hands, friends stroll around in groups chatting about the latest gossip, strangers meet underneath gas lamps to flirt, and a fox and a young Victorian woman clad in black lipstick play a friendly game of chess. Wait — a furry fox and a 19th century woman playing chess?

In a state that has been divided over a heated debate of gay marriage, an 18-year-old boy has changed the face of both sides. Openly gay since freshman year, Sergio Garcia of Fairfax High School in Southern California won the title of prom queen. What some might classify as trying to draw attention or attempt to blur gender lines, Sergio felt an empowering chance.

I felt 6 inches tall before I could stand 5 feet 2 inches. I used to think I was a coward more than I ever thought of myself as a victim. In my mind, being a victim meant I couldn’t handle my problems. I didn’t want to accept that I wasn’t capable of fixing them. I wanted to be tough. I wanted to be solid.

Zimbabowie, my rainbow Gnorbu, is very special to me. After a long day of class, work and social engagements, Zimbabowie is my patient and kind companion. He watches me with that bright grin of his while I lay an extensive pipe system to deliver juice to thirsty Meepits.

Alexis Kim is obsessed with food. Real food, that is. As the current co-chair of Students for Sustainability, she hopes to see more of it on the UCI campus. It’s a part of the group’s mission: a sustainable future.

The crowd hummed with anticipation as a remix of La Roux’s “Bulletproof” blasted from the speakers. The familiar music both calmed my fidgeting and made me want to dance in my seat. It was Oct. 14, 2009, and for many of the audience members, this event was yet another stop to make during LA Fashion Week.

If you’re anything like us, a lot of time, you’re hungry on campus. If you’re even more like us, you have a tendency to stick with tried and true choices rather than branching out and exploring the plethora of dining options at UCI.

My 6-year -old heart skipped a beat during the moment Leonardo DiCaprio appeared on the massive, outdoor screen. I grabbed a handful of Cheetos from the bag on my lap and stared at him in awe from the passenger’s seat of my parents’ 1986 Toyota Corolla. I was frozen with suspense the moment the glorious RMS Titanic began to sink, but there was no doubt in my mind that my beloved Leo would make it out alive.

One of the biggest challenges to overcome while studying abroad is the language barrier. Whether you’re in Barcelona, Tokyo, Rome or Paris, there is always a wall that blocks communication between you and everyone else.

Dear Sandy, How do I make a sex with woman??? Thank you please. -Chef

Hip-hop music and loud screams resonated through the third floor of the Mesa parking structure as UCI dance team Common Ground held auditions on Oct. 11, 2009.

Besides ghosts, goblins and evil witches, Halloween is the time for kids to rot their teeth out and satisfy their ultimate sugar rush. When I was a child, my parents would always triple-check the candy that I had collected in my trick-or-treat bag to make sure that some creepy person didn’t poison me.