The Meaning Behind the Rings

Alex and Heather Smith’s Wedding rings may not seem very traditional, but they hold a very simple meaning to the couple. Instead of just getting bands they decided to incorporate the things they love in their rings. His has a four-leaf clover because that’s what he loves and hers has a butterfly because that’s what she loves.

The Meaning Behind the Art on the Body

I decided to do the series on tattoos because I felt it fit my skill level and tattoos often have deep meanings to the people who have them and I wanted to explore that. I did the pictures in three different sessions, one for each person. it was a good experience and I feel like I learned a lot about both my style and what it takes to prepare before actually taking the pictures and what goes into editing after we take them. Overall, I am proud of the series I’ve created.

 Leigh O’Brien has the goddess Hecate, on her arm, “That represents the crossroads, I got it during a time when I was changing.”
Jessica Hardesty has molecular formula of serotonin on her wrist, “I got my first tattoo on my 17th birthday. It was meant to symbolize happiness and emotional balance.”
Leigh O’Brien has one on her arm that reads “Hard to Swallow”, “The hard to swallow was drawn by a friend of mine and I got it on impulse.”
Rain Hubbell has two on her feet both with a deeper meaning. “The anchor reminds me to ground myself, Its based off the Teen Wolf quote, ‘be your own anchor’ and the 14 is my favorite characters lacrosse number on the show. The continue reminds me to keep moving forward and the ‘i’ is actually a semi-colon for mental health awareness.”
Leigh O’Brien has one on the back of her arm, that reads “How lucky we are to be alive right now”. “This one is a line from Hamilton in my mom’s handwriting, its my first and favorite tattoo.”

The Before and the After of the Election

The 2020 presidential election marks the first election where most college students can vote for president. The students of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI are eager to make their voices heard the first chance they get, by voting themselves and encouraging their peers to do the same. Walking to the Bovee University Center on Election Day many students would pass Ckret Stokes, John Caufiled, and Grace Ray as they gave out information on voting and the polls, made sure their fellow students voted, and campaigned for Joe Biden.

Campaigning openly for one of the presidential candidates didn’t go over well with everyone, Grace Ray talked about how some members of the Republican organization on campus, “They came by and told us that we were going to get shut down, but we were here all day yesterday and they haven’t yet.”

Of course, the aftermath of the election is just as important some students like Jacklyn Kempisty, Chloe Flatlety, and Leigh O’Brien gather together to watch the votes come in live. while doing homework they always have a tab open in the background showing the Electoral College so far.

Central Michigan University students, in order from left to right, Ckret Stokes, John Caufiled, and Grace Ray across from the Fabiano Botanical Gardens and encouraging passers by to vote on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020.
Vowles Elementary School became the polling place for many people in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020.
Roommates, Chloe Flatley, in the black hat, Jacklyn Kempisty, and their friend Leigh O’Brien anxiously watch as the votes are counted in their state of Michigan, the day after the election, Wednesday, November 4th, 2020.
Leigh O’Brien, 20, takes a break from homework to check in on the votes being counted for the presidential election, on November 4th, 2020. She watches in concern as her home state of Michigan wavers in between red and blue.

Article and Photos by, Rain Hubbell