But this food policy mainly impacts multicultural organizations on campus, who want to provide authentic cultural food for events or as a method of fundraising. The food policy creates a tedious process in attempting to outsource food production to a business other than BUDS.

With few exceptions, all food must be provided by BUDS, and all cuisine-related requests are required, at the very least, to be presented to BUDS. As described by the food policy, “All food and beverages served on campus must be provided through BUDS, with limited exceptions, such as an event where food and beverage cost totals under $200, or in the case where specialty food or support of local establishments is in the best interest of the University.”

If an organization wants to cater food on campus that costs more than $200, they must pass the service request through BUDS, and BUDS can deny the request for the organization to be able to use an alternative provider. Even after BUDS rejects the contract, the organization and their chosen caterers must adhere to a strict protocol to make sure the food is securely prepped and delivered. A stated criterion is posted on the University food policy website, outlining that businesses must show proof of insurance and a business license. Additionally, there is a delivery requirement for businesses within a 75-mile radius of campus.

Organizations who want to use food as a method of fundraising also must comply with the rules, which state groups are only allowed to sell prepackaged foods and low-risk food items. This again sets a barrier for multicultural organizations who use the sale of cultural cuisines, such as pastelitos or mangu, as a source of revenue. When complying with the new policy, organizations are left selling items that may not make them a profit, or even allow them to cover the costs of the fundraiser. BU students on campus deserve to have access to something that is a profound part of their culture. Food is a method in which students of cultural communities reconnect with their distant communities.

Failure to follow these strict guidelines can have serious repercussions. As described in the policy, the highest penalty could be expulsion from the University. Organizations that violate the rules could see sanctions imposed on them. The policy states, “For students, this may include charges under the Code of Student Conduct and sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion from the University.” There is clearly a desire by both BUDS and the University that students adhere to the guidelines presented by the food policy.

If we look at the food in the dining hall, there’s a vast array of cuisines from a multitude of cultures. However, all of this food is a westernized take on authentic ethnic cuisine, which is an integral pillar of many cultures. If a multicultural organization wants food that realistically represents food that comes from their culture, they can’t easily access it because of BU’s restrictive policies on food.

While there is a “simple” way around this process, it would be at the cost of a great inconvenience. An organization that is throwing an event could host the event off-campus, therefore out of BUDS’ jurisdiction. But this would remove the convenience that hosting an event on campus comes with, particularly for younger students, who live on campus and might have difficulty accessing an off-campus event. Unintentionally, the food policy has created a burden on all students who want to eat genuine ethnic food and on multicultural organizations that use food as a source of income.

I am alluding to a condition called imposter syndrome. As defined by Psychology Today, imposter syndrome is “a psychological term referring to a pattern of behavior where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.” Although it may seem extreme that somebody could see themselves as a fraud, the emotions associated with this syndrome are valid and can disturb your mental state.

There have been studies that suggest “minority status” is a predictor of imposter syndrome. Periods of transition, such as coming to college, can influence the development of imposter syndrome, particularly for students of color or financially disadvantaged students who are unconsciously comparing themselves to their peers. This condition is not merely feeling bad about yourself; there are real repercussions to living with imposter syndrome. Psychology Today states, “it can be debilitating, causing stress, anxiety, low self-confidence, shame and in some cases, even depression.” This, tied into the stigma that continues to surround mental health, can make it feel like there is no exit — you are trapped in your own mind.

Moreover, imposter syndrome is more common than expected, with about 70 percent of all people experiencing at least one episode throughout their lives. Therefore, it’s likely you may know someone who is also dealing with imposter syndrome, or that you may experience it yourself.

From personal experience, I know what it’s like to fall into the trap of constant doubt while questioning your place at Binghamton University. For me, freshman year was a year filled with personal growth. As someone who knew what imposter syndrome was and was aware of the possibility of developing it, I still fell into it. If I were someone who hadn’t heard of the term prior to developing it, it would have been difficult to get out of that mentality. Prior to coming to college, I received tips on how to deal with anxiety as I was entering a predominantly white institution, as I was not accustomed to my peers being mostly white. I consistently was the only person of color in a classroom, and for me, this was an intimidating experience. Additionally, contrary to what I was accustomed to, I was no longer the smartest person in class.

Through my experiences, I’ve compiled ways to help prevent and overcome imposter syndrome. Understanding that something is not right is a good way to start. Pay attention to how you feel and pay attention to your actions. Some seem small at first, but may increase in magnitude as time passes. Understand that these negative thoughts are not okay. If you realize that you are having negative thoughts, you should attempt to talk to someone about how you feel. This person doesn’t have to be someone you met in college, but should be someone you trust. Comprehend that it’s not your fault. Realize that you are not the only person going through this and that someone can give you advice. At the end of the day, be kind to yourself and recognize that it’s not your fault. Don’t punish yourself. You should do the opposite and have self-care days where you rest and introspect about where you are in life. Lastly, if you are ready to seek professional help, there is nothing wrong with doing so. You deserve to feel better and a professional can help you. BU provides multiple resources to help you improve your mental state, including the University Counseling Center, helplines and connections to external counseling. Additionally, BU has a vast network of programs to improve health and wellness.

There are also many communities that you can join to diminish the effects of feeling marginalized. Personally, I wasn’t active on campus. I’ve learned from that mistake and now am a part of multiple organizations. Currently, I attend Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Society meetings, where I surround myself with fellow pre-law students of color. Additionally, PRISM gives me a platform to discuss topics that affect the minority community at BU. I also participate in other organizations that allow me to meet new people and immerse myself in new experiences.

The suggestions I have given don’t only apply to imposter syndrome, but all mental health issues. You are 100 percent responsible for your achievements and luck has nothing to do with where you are now. You earned your place at BU, so go treat yourself in Marketplace, and fight on!

Let’s start with H&M and its advertisement of an African American boy in a sweatshirt with the words “Coolest monkey in the jungle.” This ad was cast as racist because of the history of the frequent racist comparisons of African Americans to monkeys. While it may not be intentionally racist, it should be regarded, in the very least, as insensitive. After an apology to the public, H&M followed up with a sale promotion that some people linked as a way to boost sales after the backlash.

Do corporations intend to create controversy, or is it simply human error? We don’t know for sure; as controversy comes and goes, so does backlash. Like in politics, consumers have short memories. Odds are, if you shopped at H&M before the racist advertisement, you still do now. Companies may fall out of the grace of the consumer, but the companies don’t worry too much as they know their mistakes will eventually be forgotten.

Most recently, a corporation that has created controversy is Gucci with the sale of a blackface-imitating sweater. This created an arguably still-standing boycott by a lot of entertainment figures and artists alike, which ultimately translated to a boycott by everyday consumers. Soulja Boy, who was notoriously known to wear a Gucci headband often, boycotted the brand after the incident and appears to still be continuing the boycott. However, since the start, there have been entertainers who have refused to take part in the boycott such as prominent figures Floyd Mayweather and Young Thug, who even posted on social media a video of him sporting what appears to be the racist sweater.

On the flip side, there have been figures who have stayed true to the boycott. For example, rapper T.I. was recently seen interrogating another African American male on why he was wearing Gucci. T.I. went on to say, “It’s what’s in ya, not what’s on ya. We make that shit fly.” T.I. effectively points out the purpose of consumer activism that results in boycotts. The purpose of the boycott is to tell corporations that that their actions must not degrade any groups. In this event particularly, the boycott was an attempt to demonstrate to Gucci that its racist action toward African Americans is demeaning and will not be accepted. Those that still wear Gucci, as pointed out by T.I, are illustrating subconsciously that they do not value Africans Americans and their portrayal in media enough to stop wearing Gucci. Boycotting Gucci is a call to respect African American people and culture. This is noteworthy because it’s undeniable that African American artists have contributed to the clout Gucci maintains, and hip-hop and R&B are predominantly filled with African American artists who set trends young people follow.

There may be one main reason why boycotts with good intentions don’t have the effect desired: People tend to forget why there’s a boycott and don’t acknowledge the real reasoning behind the boycott. Likewise, there is the feeling that consumers’ voices do not matter. Let me remind you that it is the consumer’s grace that pushes a company to grow.

As a consumer, remember to participate in consumer activism.

The side effects of gentrification are similar to the effects of imperialism. Imperialism within this argument will has a loose definition: the act of exploiting a group found in a location for not only monetary but also cultural gains. Gentrification has some good components, but also bad components that are undeniable. For instance, once more shall we talk about Amazon. It’s commonly known that Amazon, a multibillion-dollar company, planned to establish one of its headquarters in Long Island City, Queens. Fifty-five percent of LIC is composed of a minority demographic and about 46 percent of the population has less than the educational equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. Amazon’s introduction to the neighborhood would have negatively affected the community by creating an economic strain in the area by raising rent prices and ultimately pushing the natives of the community out.

Some might argue that Amazon’s location in LIC would have created blue collar jobs for those who don’t have a college degree, which demonstrates positive reasoning for Amazon moving in and gentrifying the neighborhood. However, because Amazon is a tech company, most of its jobs would consist of white collar computer science jobs, which would make it difficult for those living in the area without the specific skills needed to apply for positions. Fortunately, because of the news that Amazon had plans to create a headquarters in LIC, there was a controversy that prompted people to protest, causing people to discuss the fear of being displaced. Ultimately, these protests were successful, as Amazon announced that it will no longer be locating its headquarters in LIC.

Gentrification still persists throughout the United States. It has pushed families out of communities that they have lived in all of their life due to rent and everyday expenses increasing. This trend is similar to imperialism where people were removed from their land due to exploitation for the resources in their land. Because of gentrification, businesses that were tailored to the previous residents are shutting down, while new businesses catered to the new residents are opening and thriving. Simply put by Sharon Zukin, a professor of sociology at Brooklyn College, “[Gentrifiers] reject dominant local modes of consumption and display, and impose their own preferred places and practices.” I make the comparison of imperialism to gentrification because the ultimate result of gentrification is the removal and change of the culture found previously. Gentrification is a new way that imperialism subtly manifests itself.