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Examining RIT’s Seasonal Path Accessibility
On Feb. 19, 2025, Harper Van Lare, a Psychology student at RIT, uploaded a petition titled “Clear paths OR cancel Classes” onto the PawPrints website.
The petition opened, “Campus accessibility is horrid right now. Paths are covered in snow, ice, and slush, walking safely takes twice as long, and indoor floors are soaked.” Garnering 560 signatures, those words hit close to home for many RIT students.
Aiko Levick
Feb 187 min read


Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Movie Review
*This article was originally published on Jan. 2, 2026 in Reporter Magazine “It’s for the fans and not for the critics,” was the phrase heard repeatedly before watching the new “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” movie. While I agree that it could be an enjoyable movie for fans of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) games, I question what the phrase “not for the critics” really means. If it means “clunky dialogue and awkward delivery from Josh Hutcherson,” then I would agree that it
Aiko Levick
Jan 22 min read
Students Weigh in on Mental Health at RIT
*This article was originally published on Dec. 22, 2025 in Reporter Magazine Since arriving at RIT in August, most people I’ve met have taken a “mental health day” of some type. These have ranged from missing class to focus on restorative sleep to being unable to leave bed due to depression. No matter the severity of the situation, mental health is something on the collective radar of college students. According to a 2024 survey conducted by U.S. News, 70 percent of college s
Aiko Levick
Dec 22, 20253 min read


A review of "Stitched to Skin like Family Is"
* This article was originally published in the November issue of Reporter Magazine. This year’s Hugo Award for the Best Short Story went to “Stitched to Skin like Family Is” by 2021 Hugo winner Nghi Vo. The story follows an unnamed Chinese seamstress with the magical ability to sense the memories of clothing as she travels 1931 America in search of her brother, Yongjun. In the beginning, the protagonist arrives at the inn where Yongjun had been staying, and she quickly realiz
Aiko Levick
Nov 1, 20252 min read
In the age of TikTok, embrace body neutrality
*This article was originally published on April 25, 2025 on Shorewood Ripples . My grandmother, Kimiko, was so beautiful. I have a specific photo of her in mind—she is in her ‘50s nurse uniform which accentuates her slender features. She leans against the bathroom sink and her hand slopes over it elegantly. Her black hair is piled into a bun, with one strand youthfully swooping over her forehead. Her almond eyes gently gaze someplace out of frame and her lips form a delicate
Aiko Levick
Apr 25, 20254 min read


Chappell Roan TikTok hints at larger issue
*This article was originally published on Sept. 20, 2024, on Shorewood Ripples. Things knocked over are bound to fall, chimpanzee owners are bound to be mauled, and pop-stars are bound to be harassed a little. Isn’t that right? It feels so normal to want attention from celebrities. It’s considered a treat when they are seen in normal places, and selfies with celebrities can easily become prized photos. Chappell Roan captured at 2025 Met Gala, courtesy Dia Dipasupil/Getty Ima
Aiko Levick
Sep 20, 20246 min read
“Big Back,” the history behind the overused word
*This article was originally published on June 8, 2024 on Shorewood Ripples . Writing can be exhausting sometimes, which is why I like to eat a “back-multiplying,” or, in other words, fattening meal before I start a new project or article. The meal in question? A sandwich, with maybe a pickle on the side. I know that this is a lot, but I know that other people on the internet eat just as much as me. A few months back, a trend emerged where TikTok users would post pictures of
Aiko Levick
Jul 8, 20243 min read
Squid Game reality spinoff misses the point
Not every television show warrants a quirky adaptation. In fact, my general quality of life would probably be better if most shows stopped getting quirky adaptations.
Squid Game is a South Korean drama series released on Netflix on September 17, 2021. The thriller show follows a financially destitute gambler who competes against hundreds of people in similar financial situations, in a twisted game-show-type setting involving childhood games and activities with the incentive
Aiko Levick
Feb 11, 20244 min read
Spotify’s commodification of your music
The illusion of musical authenticity in the season of Wrapped * This article was originally published on Dec. 23, 2023, on Shorewood Ripples . Anybody who is invested in a music based subculture would be very quick to call me a poser. They’d be right. Yes, it’s true. I’ve been caught on more than one occasion saying that I “don’t listen to mainstream music,” and I’ll be the first one to brag about how underground my favorite artists are. What is a poser, though? Of course, we
Aiko Levick
Dec 23, 20234 min read
Mitski’s storytelling shines in her new album
The singer-songwriter highlights themes of love, hope, and introspection * This article was originally published on Oct. 27, 2023, on Shorewood Ripples . It would be strange and hyperbolic of me to open this review with “Everybody loves Mitski!” but the numbers do not lie. With over 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify and countless videos featuring her music on platforms like TikTok, Mitski is a global sensation. Despite this, she did not originally dream of creating musi
Aiko Levick
Oct 27, 20233 min read
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