Bloomington Normal is almost laughably cliché for a midwestern city. Vast swathes of corn envelop winding roads and the heady smell of BBQ smoke pervades the countryside every summer. Yet, underlying the trite norms of Normal is the prescriptive force of tradition—the expectation to fulfill my role as a female Filipino by playing Debussy in the yearly piano festival and enrolling in multivariable calculus instead of political philosophy. So when I discovered the technical demand of bebop, the triplet...

Many debate whether Plato’s Republic is more important to political philosophy or ethics. To think of the book as political philosophy is understandable; after all, it’s called Republic. Yet, these political ideas are stated with the understanding that the Republic Plato speaks of serves as a parallel to the human soul. Although everyone always expected me to study math, philosophy offered an entirely different world. A freshman year reading of The Stranger left me confused, and then intrigued,...

A lot of people can vividly describe the first time they listened to their favorite album. There’s some moment of cathartic release when everything clicks and the music feels so closely like home. My infatuation with Channel Orange, though, was a gradual development. At first I simply liked how it sounded. The album is a work of sonic decadence—Frank Ocean’s mellow croon overlays a swirl of glittering analogue synths where every nuance of warm mids and crisp...

Characterized by constant academic and cultural exploration, where students discover groundbreaking ideas and culture by attending a guest speaker lecture or a Sofar Sounds Concert in an unfamiliar borough. Collaborative, featuring a dedicated core of musicians and jazz ensembles on campus who gather for jam sessions or gigs at nearby venues, constituting a supportive, close-knit community. Engaged, offering opportunities to write for insightful publications that examine both issues on campus and in the city with a critical eye. Challenging, nurturing...

Recently when I visited the Museum of Failure, one product stood out to me: Colgate brand Lasagna. Delicious. I laughed at the oxymoronic nature of the product, but I realized the only difference between me and poor Colgate Lasagna man is that I have a pressure valve to let off my weirder ideas: my naps. Sometimes I actually sleep, but other times I lie with my eyes closed and my mind drifting aimlessly. It’s cathartic to let my brain...

A lot of people can vividly describe the first time they listened to their favorite album. There is some moment of cathartic release when everything clicks and the music feels so closely like home. My infatuation with Channel Orange, though, was a gradual development. At first I simply liked how it sounded. Frank Ocean’s mellow croon overlays a swirl of glittering analogue synths where every nuance of warm mids and crisp highs meld together to produce a beautifully hazy...