Author / Sienna Ruiz
-
![]()
Mourning a Common Space
When I first moved into the Co-op, Wash U’s intentional community dedicated to cultivating a safe and non-hierarchical space on campus, what struck me most was the living memory of the space. Walls were painted lime green and canary yellow and deep blue, filled with names and quotes written in sharpie. We could never get…
-
![]()
I Love Women’s Soccer, But Not The USWNT
On July 7th, the U.S. Women’s National Team, also known as the USWNT by their adoring fans, won the Women’s World Cup. They came home to a parade in New York City, appearances on late night shows, and endless sponsorship deals Thousands welcomed them and flooded social media with calls for equal pay for the…
-
![]()
Growing In New Direction
The only plants my family can keep alive are succulents and vines. They require little water and nurturing and lots of light, making them perfect for a busy family in drought-prone California. I have always felt a simultaneous love and resentment towards these vines that spilled over the fence in the backyard—they looked beautiful, but…
-
![]()
A Transportation Revolution Built To Last?
In early July, I rediscovered the wonders of riding a bike. For the first time in years, I felt the awe of my physical ability, the smooth weightlessness, and the mystical balance that a childhood in the hilly Bay Area discouraged. As I did not own a bike, my ride through Forest Park was possible…
-
![]()
Beyond Beauty
On the surface, the notion that “everyone is beautiful” seems like a harmless, all-inclusive phrase that can do nothing but empower women who must contend daily with all-too-restrictive beauty standards. However, this idea serves to further trap women in an obsession with their physicality and simply widens the net for personal care companies to manipulate…
-
![]()
Dear Colleges: Pause the Construction
Last spring, I sat outside of Mallinckrodt during Alumni Weekend, and a woman passed by with her children. Her sons ran ahead, and I heard her say to her husband, “I don’t know what this building is. Campus looks so different now.” As they wandered away, I marveled at the thought of how our small…
