The Liberator Magazine
The Official Publication of the College of Liberal Arts
Written by Catherina Chowdhury. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. I haven’t met anyone who picked “dare” in years. Over time, my friends and I started calling the game “truth or truth” just because it was more to the point. Then it became “hot seat,” because it wasn’t like anyone wasn’t going to answer the questions. As young people, all we could give each […]
Written by Kayla Hays. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. “We bought this for you,” said my mom, handing over a hot pink blanket which burned brightly in both the soft fabric and the forced femininity for my five-year-old self. Of course, I didn’t know to care at the time; I didn’t know to care that my blanket was hot pink and my brother’s […]
Written by Kate Diller. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – I never was much for wearing jewelry every day. I wear a watch on my left wrist, over the spot I plan to remember one of you with a tattoo. Some days, I’ll wear a necklace, one from Ryan, or Turkey, or you. There’s a ring I love, made from a […]
Written by Jadyn Simental. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Not many people know about the brown, wooden box. The box is small, but the wooden figures that live in the brown, wooden box aren’t fragile to the large territories surrounding. I imagine the little people in the box as pieces of treasure, untouchable. The figures belong to me, as I […]
Written by Sophie Schott. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – “God smites people who smuggle snakes into Mass.” As we crouch in the dapple of discolored fall leaves and plunge our chubby fingers into the writhing nest of baby garden snakes on a misty Sunday morning, my oldest cousin, Charlie, hailing from the wise, ripe age of eight, whistles this sincere […]
Written by Patrick Lee.Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – My perception of academia coming into college was that of an exuberant idea factory, pumping out world-changing publications and smart people capable of ethically advancing the human base of knowledge. But, as in many cases, the appearance of things has the effect of masking its truer form. To this day I still […]
Written by Terrane Ansley.Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – I sat in the grass that I was allergic to and waited. The sound of the head coach’s whistle was rarely heard; he opted for yelling instead. In rare moments, he would blow the whistle before letting it drop to his chest. Then he would yell. The veins on his shaved head […]
Written by Ryan Hurt. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – True, authentic love is a mystery. It can be right in front of our faces without our realization, while at the same time being remote when we think it’s right next to us. From a sincere “How are you?” all the way to “What the hell are you thinking?” (tough love) […]
Written by Lorece Harris. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – I used to think love was loud. I grew up in a Latino household, where everyone had an opinion and we wanted you to know about it. That meant when we fought, it was earth shattering, and when we celebrated, it was the feeling of unconditional support and belonging. And it […]
Written by Eleni Theodoropoulos. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – The worst person at a party is the one who never asks any questions. I don’t mean the quiet person—their inner voice is sometimes too loud and distracting to allow for it. I mean the person so content with their own story that they do not ask to hear a stranger’s. […]
Written by Kevin Chen. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. – “Kevin, zhù rén wéi lè.” Delight in helping others. “Kevin, you should always quán lì yǐ fù.” Always be fully committed. “Kevin, tòng gǎi qián fēi.” Seek to improve your character. My family taught me Chinese idioms at an early age. These phrases were conventional wisdoms passed on through Chinese history […]
Written by Tarek Zaher. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. In 2007, six years after the horrific 9/11 attacks and the resultant cultural backlash against Muslims in America, just about the worst thing possible that can happen to a nine-year-old Muslim boy trying to survive socially in rural East Texas happens. Jeff Dunham, a famous ventriloquist and comedian, introduces his viral new […]
Written by Ariane Stier. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. We have all met her, in some form or fashion: the media’s mythical Latina. She has a bombshell hourglass figure, light tan skin, long dark hair, and a thick accent from an unspecified foreign country. She might be a maid, and most likely she is an immigrant. Whether she is portrayed […]
