“Out of the Vault” is a new series where we will show you glimpses of Transy history in comparison to present-day Transy campus. This week we’ll be looking back at women’s fashion from 50 and 100 years ago in comparison to current campus fashion. If you have any topic suggestions that you would like to see from Transy history, please email us at rambler@transy.edu.

Throughout history, women have always used fashion as a form of self-expression. Though as many college women have experienced, as the curriculum gets harder and the semester progresses, your individual fashion style may not always stay the same on a day-to-day basis. And as fashion trends change, so does college campus attire.

Without surprise, the women’s fashion of the 1920s and 70s reflect their fashion trends beautifully, but modern trends have taken inspiration from so many places. As can be seen in the photos, a revival of 90s fashion has been loved in young adult fashion along with the more sophisticated and minimalist attire of business wear. Though college campuses across the nation would not be what they are without athleisure (a coined term to describe comfortable, casual clothing that can be worn both for exercise and everyday wear). Leggings, trendy running shoes, and cozy sweatshirts have taken campuses by storm! Click on the slideshow below for a look at how women’s fashion has evolved at Transy! To check out more photos of Transy history, stop by the library to look at past Transy yearbooks and stay tuned for the rest of the series!

The topic for this week’s “Staff Picks” is our staff’s individual goals for the new year. If you have any topic suggestions that you would like to hear from us about, please email us at rambler@transy.edu.

Taylor Mahlinger, Editor-in-Chief:

“One of my big goals for 2020 is to be more mindful about my use of plastics and single-use packaging. I would also like to work on my personal health and wellness this year because I get easily stressed out and let it completely take over my life!”

Abby Stone, Managing Editor:

“For 2020, I plan to prioritize some ‘me time’ in my schedule from working out on a more daily basis to also just sitting back and reading a good book now and then. I also want to travel some more this year. It could be in the states or across the seas! Either way, I just love the experience!”

Shawna Morton, Back-end Editor:

“A goal of mine is to eat a more balanced and intentional diet where I am paying more attention to my fruit and vegetable intake. Another goal of mine is to set more time aside to do the things I love like painting, drawing, or playing music.”

Allison Spivey, News Editor:

“My goals for this year are the same goals I set for myself every year: I want to eat fewer chicken nuggets and read more books in my free time. Those are my overarching goals. In reality, I hope to save up enough money to get a new car. My current car is only miles from collapse. I’m sure of it. Another goal I have is to get outside of the box, not just think outside of it, but truly step outside of the box and become a better version of myself. I’ll check back in around Halloween to see what I have accomplished.”

Gabrielle Crooks, Staff Photographer:

“My first goal for the new year is to practice listening more and grow to be a better listener. My second goal is to try to look for the positives more instead of the negatives in life.”

Will Hickey, Staff Contributor:

“Goals I have for 2020 would be for me to figure out what I want to do in my life. Basically, I want to find an internship or job that I’m interested in and could have a career in. My second would be for me to become an intramural basketball non-competitive champion! I’m on an underdog team and we have a lot to prove (close to the Rudy movie but basketball).”

Taylore Latham, Staff Contributor:

“My goals are to practice more positive self-talk and to finish my senior year with knowledge of what I’m doing in the near future.”

Ashleigh King, Staff Contributor:

“My goal of the year is to be more intentional when I speak to myself! So instead of admonishing myself with negative thoughts, I want to actively correct that thinking and channel it into a more positive direction. So far it’s been a bit of a struggle, but it gets easier every day!”

There are lots of events planned for Transy’s campus this week in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The events, hosted by Transy’s Black Student Alliance, kicked off this morning with the MLK Day Freedom March where Transy students along with members from the community gathered to walk the streets of Lexington to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Tuesday, Jan. 21
During lunch (12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.), there will be a table located in the Caf where local people who impacted not just Transy but the Lexington community will be represented! Stop by the table to learn about some local heroes.

Thursday, Jan. 23
Open Mic Night in the Writing Center is your chance to speak out and share your thoughts. This event is hosted by TU SPEAKOut and BSA and will begin at 7 p.m. Come out and show your support for your fellow students and listen to their thoughts.

Friday, Jan. 24
There will be a movie showing of “The Boycott” followed by a discussion in Cowgill 101. This event is a collaboration with both the Transy and University of Kentucky Black Student Alliances.

Saturday, Jan. 25
The week of events ends will a volunteer workday at the Ronald McDonald house! Volunteers will gather supplies in the morning and start baking at 4 p.m. Contact BSA@transy.edu for more information on how to get involved with this event.

Do you love pancakes? Watch the video below for a healthier version of blueberry pancakes and follow along using the directions below!

Ingredients

1. Bisquick Heart Smart Batter (or Kodiak Cakes or whole wheat batter)
2. Vanilla extract
3. Blueberries
4. Coconut oil

Step 1: Wash the blueberries.
Step 2: Pour the desired amount of batter into a bowl. Half a box of batter makes about 8
pancakes.
Step 3: Add water to the batter. Stir until the batter has no lumps. I am not one to measure, if the batter is too thick or doesn’t get to a liquid state, I simply add more water. If the batter is too thin then add some more batter.
Step 4: Add vanilla extract to taste. I add about 2-4 teaspoons.
Step 5: Stir in vanilla.
Step 6: Turn on the stove to about medium heat.
Step 7: Add coconut oil until it is melted completely in the pan.
Step 8: Pour about half a cup of batter into the pan.
Step 9: Sprinkle Blueberries on the batter. (If done this way, every pancake gets the desired amount of blueberries as opposed to stirring them in the batter and the blueberries sinking to the bottom of the bowl.)
Step 10: When there are heat bubbles all over the pancake, flip it. (In the video this is not the case, I flip it early because my sister likes pancakes that are barely fully cooked)
Step 11: Leave pancake for about 30 seconds.
Step 12: Place on a plate. I use a little whipped cream in the video as opposed to syrup because it has less sugar and calories. However, another alternative is sugar-free syrup to keep the dish lighter.

Crimson Christmas embodies everything that the holiday season is about: family, friends, traditions of all kinds, and giving back to the community. The 28th annual Crimson Christmas was held on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Living Arts and Science Center. Through the help of so many dedicated volunteers, the young members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lexington branch were given a taste of holiday cheer. In the past, the event has been held in Transy’s now demolished campus center gym, but construction this year allowed for a new and exciting space for the festivities. The Living Arts and Science Center, located on North Martin Luther King Boulevard, proved to be the perfect amount of interaction for the energetic audience. Besides exploring the varieties of living creatures and educational exhibits within the space, there were also craft stations and snacks galore. The children made ginger bread houses and ornaments among other holiday memorabilia. Later in the afternoon, Santa Claus and Mrs. Pots arrived all the way from the North Pole to read holiday stories, sing a jolly tune, and, of course, surprise the children with some presents. I myself was lucky enough to be the buddy for three curious children.

The Living Arts and Science Center’s environment kept even the most energetic of the children entertained and the educational aspects allowed for them to explore their interests. Of my three buddies, one wanted to explore all the animal related content, one wanted to get crafty, and one was just along for the ride. There was something for everyone! While seeing the joy on the children’s faces always makes this event worth everything in my eyes, I love seeing the faces of the guardians when they see all the work put into this event. When a child sees Santa and their face lights up, when they are proud of a craft they made, or (in the case of one of my buddies) when they take a cool picture they want to share, the guardians of the child share in that joy. Crimson Christmas is a wonderful way for us from Transy to show the community how much we value them and though we are in the height of finals season, this event helps us to remember to look beyond ourselves and to remember the true meaning of the holiday season.

The topic for this week’s “Staff Picks” is our staff’s holiday traditions. As our staff at The Rambler soon leaves for Christmas Break, we all would like to thank our readers and wish everyone Happy Holidays! If you have any topic suggestions that you would like to hear from us about, please email us at rambler@transy.edu.

Jennifer Palumbo, Rambler Advisor: Homemade pasta dinner

“Every Christmas we have a house full of people (usually around 20) and have my husband’s Nana’s homemade Palumbo pasta dinner. It takes two days to cook the sauce. His grandma, Nancyetta Palumbo, made it every Christmas, and when she died, he took over the family tradition.”

Taylor Mahlinger, Editor-in-Chief: Hanukkah and Christmas

“Since I am both Jewish and Christian, my family celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas together! One of our Hanukkah traditions is making potato latkes on the first night and opening one small gift, which is usually gelt (chocolate coins) ahead of the eight nights of celebration. Every Christmas Eve, we make breakfast for dinner and watch whatever old Christmas movies are playing on TV!”

Abby Stone, Managing Editor: Comarata Party

“On my mother’s side, I come from a large Italian family that held the maiden name Comarata. For decades now since before I was born, the entire side of the family comes together each year around Christmas time. This reunion is titled the “Comarata Party,” where there around 100 people (somehow I’m related to all of them), and all the food is homemade. We have three different traditions that take place at each party. First, someone from the family dresses up as Santa Claus and passes out presents to the younger kids after they sing Christmas songs. Second, there are pinatas filled with candy for the younger kids to smash open. Third, the entire family sings The Twelve Days of Christmas where each immediate family is responsible for one day of the song. The memories I have formed at each of these parties are ones that will last a lifetime.”

Makayla Dublin, Copy Editor: Matching pajamas

“One of my favorite holiday traditions is wearing matching Christmas pajamas with my family on Christmas morning. My dog is even involved in the tradition!”

Allison Spivey, News Editor: Visit to Schimpff’s

“My favorite Christmas tradition is going to a very small candy shop in Indiana called Schimpff’s. My grandpa and I indulge in red hots, peppermints, gummies, and hot chocolate that are each handmade in front of our eyes. The whole experience is always so magical, like being in Santa’s workshop.”

Gabrielle Crooks, Staff Photographer: New ornament

“One tradition my family has is every year we find a new ornament for our holiday tree which symbolizes something that happened in our year. We have some for the family we lost, the trips we took, or the memories we made.”

Will Hickey, Staff Contributor: Christmas themed Lego set

“So over at the Hickey house we have a tradition of buying a lego Christmas themed set every year, and we now have a massive collection that we set up to decorate the house with every year.”

Nyah Mattison, Staff Contributor: Watching the NORAD Santa Tracker and reading the Christmas Story and the Ten Commandments

“The Aerospace Defense Command hosts a real-time Santa tracker on their website every year that shows live where Santa is delivering gifts and how far away he is from you. Even though no one in my house still believes in Santa Claus, we still have the tracker playing for almost the whole day of Christmas Eve.”

“Every year before exchanging gifts, my family takes turns sitting by the tree and reading the original Christmas story and the Ten Commandments from the Bible. It’s a great way of getting back to the roots of why we celebrate and a reminder of the spirit of the holiday.”

Taylore Latham, Staff Contributor: Disney movies

“My favorite holiday tradition is cozying up by the fire and watching my favorite Disney holiday movies—Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas and Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas—while sipping on homemade hot chocolate and eating warm cookies.”

Ashleigh King, Staff Contributor: Charlie Brown Christmas special

“So my family watches the Charlie Brown Christmas special every year! The music is beautiful and we love to just reminisce throughout the entire show. It’s become one of my favorite parts of the holidays. My family also competes in a spades tournament with our extended family. It’s a battle royale-style, so the competition lasts for hours! We love to compare card playing styles and finally decide who is the best card player in the family. Eventually, I will claim the title!”

See you all in the new year!