Women Student Union">

Florida State University

Her Voice Magazine

I Am Creative

On behalf of Women Student Union and the HerVoice Magazine Committee, we would like to show our gratitude to those in our campus community who submitted their works of art for the magazine. Although they were not published in this year's publication we thank you for your efforts and encourage you to get involved next year.

Name: Nicoya Callahan
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Class Standing: Sophomore
Website/Social Media: IG: @misscoya
Submission(s): Poem & Painting

heliophilia

heliophilia
a noun

it is defined as an attraction or adaptation to sunlight an emotional photosynthesis brewing under my skin but enveloped in a fear that caresses my spine and reclines on my shoulder a pebble from afar, but truly a boulder it creeps in late at night when I’d like to believe I am alone it is both a partner and an enemy it is a self-fulfilling prophecy it’s power is in its presence, keeping me company as it whispers sweet nothings it tells me I am unlovable that while I am unique, yes, there is a “too” placed in front of that word too unique too different too many times have I clung to this fear when I was unsatisfied with my reality a life vest in the bermuda triangle of my motions no sense of rationality because this gave me my answer, it gave me a foe the world is whom I go toe to toe because baby when you believe you are unlovable you ensure from that point on that you are un- love- Able but in that word it declares that I am Able I am capable of finding the Sun within myself I am too unique and too different not to be blessed without finding my twin light
being blind to this was just a form of flight you see I have spent too long being scared of the sting because if anything I am everything for I am loveable for I am able
For I am.

Name: EJ Chang
Submission: Oil and Acrylic Paint
"I Eat Flowers, Because You Are What You Eat and I Want to be Beautiful"

GOKILA DORAI, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Role models can be an important influence in a person’s life and career. My primary area of research is Computer Science and Digital Forensics. And I am truly excited to bring out this portrait of Dr. Anita Borg (1949–2003) who has been my role model. This art work was done using acrylic medium on a linen canvas. Dr. Anita is a true legendry in the field of Computer Science. Dr. Anita Borg combined technical expertise and fearless vision to inspire, motivate, and move women to embrace technology. Her dedication to creating change helped women see themselves as active participants in the realm technology. She is also the founder of Grace Hoppers Conference, which offers women the chance to improve their technical skills and connect with each other. Not only I myself, but, several thousand women were able to grow better as a woman in computer science with the help of initiatives taken by this legendary women Dr. Anita Borg. She also received many honors for her important work in technology and advancing women in the field. There is a clear disconnect between the computer science industry and the message girls receive about their ability to succeed in tech organizations. By the mid-nineties, the percentage of women studying computer science at the postsecondary level had fallen to 28%. Furthermore, the percentage of women working in computer science-related professions has steadily declined since the 1990s, dropping from 35% to 25% in the last 15 years. Anita Borg, who had been noticing that women were under-represented in computer science, founded a support group called “Systers” in 1987. In the 21st century, several attempts have been made to reduce the gender disparity in IT and get more women involved in computing again with through her initiatives. I have made this art work in order to emphasize the importance of women in the field of computer science. For professionals already in the field, women can offer to be role models and mentors. I would like to acknowledge and thank my PhD advisor and professor Dr. Sudhir Aggarwal, who has been motivating me in all my endeavors in the field of computer science and encouraging me to this art work.

GOKILA DORAI, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Music served as a gateway to computing for me. I strongly believe that musicians and artists can be wonderful computer scientists: since they can visualize something magical! As a link between musicians, artists and computer science researchers, I feel a strong, positive correlation between the frameworks of coding and artistic composition. In my artwork, I have tried to reflect and explore positive qualities of music and the magical sounds produced by various musical instruments. Inspiration varies: travel, studies of Asian art, news clippings on contemporary issues, all compel me to search for emotional essence. While most of my paintings deal with the beauty of musical aspiration, the metaphorical elements seek to involve the viewer. In order to explain the connection to my field of study (computer science) and broader connections that one can see in my art work, I would like to state the complexity involved in producing a working software prototype and the complexity involved in musical composition. The complexity of the overall structure consists of a large number of relatively simple aspects, interwoven in deliberate patterns to create a complex result. To work on specific aspects of a composition requires the composer to hold the remainder of the musical structure in their imagination. Similarly, until there is a working model, there is no ‘software’ aside from the vision and intention of the designer. Particularly, this painting mirrors the magical feelings flowing through an inner-self while immersed in melodious tunes. It has been painted to music, and the brushstrokes have their own tempo. Stasis and motion co-exist as the viewer moves before the canvas. From wind chimes to a grand piano, melody exists in various forms giving new life to senses of our body! I passionately believe that my painting evokes viewer participation, just as music engages listeners in an artistry that they both feel and seek to understand.

Name: Ariel Ynovy
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Class Standing: 2nd Year Senior
Submission: Poem

An “Emotional” Woman

I was U S E D He used me like I was nothing more than an object used to fulfill his sexual desires and threw me away in the trash without caring about the fact I am a being. My temple, my body, my innocence taken for a joke. I am not someone who is worthy of love or to be loved, but yet just some young girl that can easily be taken advantage of. A young girl who does not deserve to be recognized as a woman, but worthy to be seen as a whore. All of these things do not define me. I AM a woman. I AM an entity. I am a divine goddess who deserves to be respected as much as the next Queen. My opening(vagina) is a holy space that only has room for respect. All I wanted to be was loved, but instead found myself in disbelief in how I was treated. The idea of me finding love seems unattainable and troubling as I perceive life through a new lens. An elegant and prestigious opportunity it be to sit in such a presence of excellence, but yet.... he is blind to the disrespect and pain he has cast upon me. My body should not be used for your entertainment. I wondered, why even be alive anymore when you have been violated, ashamed, and embarrassed so so so so soooo much ? He does not care, youʼre just an object to be used and thrown away when theyʼre finished. You stay up during late hours of the night and cry yourself to sleep at night, but he wonʼt care. You tell yourself and people around you that itʼs okay and youʼve moved on, but the disrespect and memories still haunt you at night. Used.... just like trash.

WOMEN STUDENT UNION

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I Am Creative