Photo credit - Nataliya Vaitkevich SATIRE There are only a few characters who have graced American literature with their chaotic charm, balanced with a curation of flair, more than Daisy Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” While some readers praise Gatsby’s powerful ambition or Nick’s reserved perceptiveness, those who are more intellectual would applaud Daisy’s grand becoming of the quiet, powerful and competent driving force of this novel. She is a marvelo

Photo by Anaylee Hough SATIRE When I was in middle school, I got the chance to meet celebrities. I got to see one of my favorite artists, the global pop star, Rihanna! She was wearing a silky red two-piece with even more dazzling jewelry. She even decided to pose for us to take her picture. Her posture was so still, I’m surprised she stayed in that position for so long. We all crowded around her, waiting for a chance to speak with her. Some of my favorite songs by her are Coc

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels SATIRE After the overflowing sound of praise for Justin Baldoni’s “It Ends With Us” 2024 and Josh Boone’s “Regretting You” 2025, I should have known I would yet again be blown away by another Colleen Hoover book turning into a movie. Like the world renowned “Don’t Worry Darling” actor Harry Styles once said, "My favorite thing about the movie is, like, it feels like a movie. It feels like a real, like, you know, go-to-the-theater-film m

Photo by Azam Hostetler SATIRE Young adults truly have made the most of knowledge being at their fingertips in the current digital age, and now that I’ve well established myself in university life, it really does show. American standards of education are strong, given that we spend so much money on it in this country; in fact, a lot more than many other countries do. Connecticut is even ranked near the top in public education spending in comparison to other states, despite

Photo via Washington Post - “ Members of the Army, Marines and National Guard in the District remained on patrol in the capital until April 16. (UPI)” Revolution seems ever more daunting as I learn the language of politics. My head feels heavy on my shoulders, with migraines spurred on by the latest newscycle. I think about my place in this world and feel small. I feel scared. So many of us are. Some of us are immediately threatened by state violence, and many of us feel pow

(Photo by Anaylee Hough) Reminiscing is a bittersweet feeling. With all the snow and gloom that we are getting here in the north recently, I can’t stop thinking about the sunny South. I went to South Carolina with my family to visit my great aunt, whom I’d never met before, in a small town called Summerton. My grandmother was born and raised there, and I had never been to the South before, so I was excited for a change in scenery as a girl from the city that never sleeps. Wi

Photo Credit to Garret Morrow on Pexels Throughout your life, there are going to be certain objects that weave themselves into your individuality until they become something more. They become a part of your everyday routine, your ideals of comfort and a part of your identity. For me, that object is a pair of Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones. I've had them for years. They aren’t anything too flashy… the cushions have lost some of their fluff, the bass doesn’t boom as loud an

Photo Credit: Djemima Duvernat Contributing Writer Juliet Legassa The shift happens almost instantly when a breaking headline drops, and within minutes, social media stops being just social media. Suddenly, selfies and the highlight reels of people's lives get buried under bold-font infographics, urgent captions and the same posts copied and pasted across everyone’s story. It’s like you can see the moment your timeline turns political. Suddenly, it feels like if you’re not r

Welcome to Azam’s literary scrapbook. While most photo albums consist of pictures, this scrapbook will be full of words. It’s not quite a diary, although in appearance it may read like one. Here remain calculated entries of memories, adolescent lessons and human experiences translated into literary meaning. There is no other place to begin such a series than with someone I know who has been there for it all. For me, she ties many loose threads together. In life friends often

My mother always told me I was beautiful. I was her perfect gift, and nothing would change that, but I never fully believed her. As long as I can remember, I have been the “bigger” one in a family of gorgeous, slim women. I was the odd one out. I remember always being aware of my size, but it finally got to me in middle school. “Jade, you would be so pretty if you were skinny.” I was told this so casually by a boy in my class, no older than 13. That was the moment I real

I get to take advantage of Horseshoe’s publication schedule for this piece. This is going to be a special one because today is my mother’s birthday. I thought due to the fate of a new edition falling on March 6, I should choose to take the time to write about the woman who is the reason why I have a passion for writing today. For holidays in the past, whether it was Mother’s Day or her birthday, I had taken it upon myself to write my mother sentimental poems to go along with

Photo Credit - University of New Haven International student enrollment has plummeted at the University of New Haven. The university experienced a 17% loss in revenue between 2024 and 2025. After a year of contentious financial restructuring, the university is going ‘all in’ on Artificial Intelligence, looking to regain student enrollment. Admission data at the university show a dramatic enrollment decline from 9,000 to 6,000. International students were often attracted by th