KUWTQ: I’m Low On Content And You Need An Article

With the Reed student body clearly crashing out, we’re back with the KUWTQ column. Please enjoy.

What are you doing for fall break?

I’m going to stay on campus and work on my research group’s conference presentation, but I’ll try to spend whatever free time that leaves me wandering around Portland and trying out quirky little cafés, as usual. (LC)

Well, returning to the great state of Arizona for a tan, for one. I know there is lots of reading in my future, time by the pool, and hanging out with my family. I’m very excited to use my sound system and subject my parents to whichever song I have on repeat next week. (PM)

The words every senior dreads, I will be working on my thesis. But also I have about 25 horror movies to get through so we have wins and losses. But, most importantly I’ll be going to the SWEAT tour on Tuesday. If y’all are in the pit, hit me up. (AK)

I am going to visit my boyfriend in Connecticut!!! I am so excited to leave this godforsaken campus (sorry, so much love to you, Reed) and go back to the best coast. I will also be going to NYC to see friends and hit up some clubs, so I am hoping I make it back in one piece. (MV)

I’ve been wanting to see the Squishing of the Squash since my freshman year so I’m finally going! Break will be a lot of sleeping and also a lot of work for me, but I’m hoping to find time to visit the Oregon coast. (CH)

What have you learned this semester so far?

No thoughts, head empty. (LC)

Academically, a whole lot of Descartes. I’m writing an essay on simulation theology, or, the idea of a simulator-as-God (a.k.a. I get to talk about the demiurge). In my personal life, I’ve contemplated what I most want out of my life, and some of the conclusions were not what I was expecting. (PM)

I have learned literally so many muscles, bones, and joints. Sometimes I truly wonder how all of that fits in my brain. Socially I’m learning to say no. I am a tired gal and hermitting is always the move. Not to say I don’t party when I can, but, during the week, I am in fact home on my couch. Have learned that all I really need are my besties, my boyfriend, and my roommate— love y’all bad. (AK)

Probably how much less in control of my thesis I am than I thought I was. I just need to roll with the punches and let my thesis become what it is meant to be without much frustration. (MV)

As a last-minute economics minor, I have lots of econ on the mind. (CH)

Which songs do you have on repeat right now?

“Use Once & Destroy” by Hole (thanks Piper), “Children of God” by AJJ, “Hunted Down” by Soundgarden, and ”Black Me Out” by Against Me!

“Love Songs” by Clairo, “40 Days” by Slowdive, “I Follow You” by Melody’s Echo Chamber, and “Just Dumb Enough to Try” by Father John Misty have been big on the repeat circuit. Very “fork found in kitchen.” Lots of random blues tracks to supplement, as expected. (PM)

“Dead Girl in the Pool by Girl” in Red, “People Watching” by Conan Gray, and “Marlboro Nights” by Lonely God. 

“Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush, “The River” by Fivel Is Glauque, and “The Wind” by PJ Harvey, which is surprising because I am usually a misogynist when it comes to music, but I am loving my angsty female music right now. (MV)

“Time of Our Life” by Day6, and “For Cryin’ Out Loud” by FINNEAS. (CH)

Have you been crashing out or locking in?

I’ve definitely been crashing out. (LC)

I think a very random mix. I crash out one day, lock in the next. Sometimes I crash out when I should be locking in, and lock in when I could use some crashing out. Today I’m crashing out and I need to be locking in. This is my public apology to Jeremy Coate for what is about to happen on my gene expression test. (PM)

I wanna say I’m doing both, but, last week I think I  said crashing out about 28 times. I’m locked into my thesis and crashing out when it comes to literally anything else I think. (AK)

The first five weeks of the semester, I was locked in asf, but once it hit week six, it was over for me. I have been crashing out ever since. (MV)

This year has been going concerningly well for me so far so I’d have to say locking in, for fear of the inevitable crashing out in store for me next semester. (CH)

What’s the last thing you texted someone (not in the quoupchat)?

I texted my high school best friend, Sarah, following up on her weird dream last night: “So the monkfruit had a cult with other followers and Dennis [Reynolds] was in it? How did this happen? I guess it doesn’t have to make logical sense but I’m not really following.” (PM)

The last thing I texted someone was my bestie, Alister. Basically, I was attempting to convince them to go to Panda Express. Public service announcement: there are Panda Expresses out there that have the Beyond Orange chicken! If we all eat it, they can’t take it away! (AK)

I was asking my roommates where they dropped off their election ballots. They haven’t responded yet so someone please let me know. I have never voted in a presidential election before and feel uninformed about mail-in voting. (MV)

My sister texted me photos of the autumn leaves and beautiful weather going on in Boston rn. (CH) 

What’s your favorite playlist right now? 

The Quest Contributors’ Playlist, which you can all contribute to if you join the Quest Discord and get the link! (LC)

I’ve been a believer in the monthly playlist for the past five years, so I’m listening to my October one consistently. It’s 14 hours and 20 minutes long which is more music than I can listen to in a day, but, if I could, I certainly would. (PM)

My favorite playlist right now is probably my thesis playlist. Currently 4 hours long and growing every day. It ranges from my middle school favorites to the favorites I have now. It’s definitely a whiplash kind of playlist. (AK)

I just made a playlist called The Velocity of Time which consists of all my (talked about above) angsty female music. (MV)

I love my “reality isn’t real” playlist. (CH)

What are you most excited for after the break?

Seeing everyone again. I usually go AWOL during breaks because although I’m pretty gregarious on campus, I value my days of locking myself in my room when I’m home (much to the disappointment of my family). After I get back, I’ll be back and itching to party! (PM)

Low key Halloween weekend. I’m so excited for my costumes (even though I don’t have them yet). It’s a hermit kind of break but excited to party when we get back. (AK)

Locking back in!! Break will heal me and I am manifesting coming back to campus with a rejuvenated sense of motivation that will get me through the second half of the semester. (MV)

I’m excited for November! It’s my birthday month :). (CH)

Favorite part of quediting night?

I love hearing the quotes at the end of the night and remembering all the random stuff we talked about. How we come up with half of it is beyond me. I don’t notice how insane some of the crap I say is until then, but so far it always makes top right, so I’m glad I’m good for that. (PM)

My favorite part is when we all start crashing out. It’s so funny when we all start saying the same word over and over again. Also love Louis on the aux they’re slaying every week. (AK)

I loveeee when our quopies come join us and bring some more liveliness to the quoffice. Love you our quopies <3. (MV)

It’s satisfying seeing the Quest come together from a bunch of different articles into a finished newspaper. (CH)

Sensitive young man autumn or romantic goth woman fall?

I’ve been rewatching the Emma Stone SNL sketch “Wells for Boys,” if that answers your question. (LC)

I’m on that sensitive young man autumn wave. Catch me reading poetry, practicing gallantry, pondering, and listening to “Only A Fool” by Father John Misty. It’s not just a season, it’s a lifestyle. (PM)

The way I want to be sensitive young man autumn but I’m definitely in romantic goth woman fall. (AK)

I cannot deny that I will forever give sensitive young man, especially in autumn when it is all chilly and dark and a little bit sad :(. (MV)

I’ve been feeling more like an out-of-touch old fogie recently and will need to have a fellow editor explain this newfangled internet slang to me. I would guess romantic goth woman fall tho. (CH)