October is a month of comings and goings. Warm days slip into cool evenings, the scent of fresh cut grass gives way to crisp fall leaves, and nature’s colors shift from bright summer hues to rich reds and golden yellows.
As fall foliage takes the stage, so do cozy sweaters and spiced drinks. For many, it’s a time of family and community celebrations. When one of our student employees, Girnar Anand, shared his family’s traditions with me, I was reminded how hard it can be to be far from home during meaningful times of year.
In this month’s Student Worker Chronicles, you’ll find hometown ghost stories and spooky reads, favorite cozy campus spots, fall fashion, noir literature, and one very special reflection on celebrating Diwali away from home.
From Their Perspective
Diwali’s Enduring Light by Girnar Anand, Senior, Double BA in Biology and Theatre
As the four walls of my dorm room stare at me as I swipe through stories and videos on social media, the feeling of homesickness couldn’t be any stronger than it is this time of year.
The third Sunday of October marks the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. For many Hindus on campus, it’s also a poignant reminder of home–where the air is suffused with festivity, color, and celebration.
Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and hope over despair. In Hindu tradition, it commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. As the story goes, his entire path home was lit with joy and lamps to celebrate his return.
Around the world, Hindus celebrate Diwali by gathering for prayer, lighting up their homes, sharing sweets, and lighting fireworks. For those of us far from home–where family laughter is replaced by quiet rooms, and distance adds a tinge of melancholy to the air–the spirit of Diwali still endures. It lives in late-night video calls across time zones, in homemade sweets that taste like home, and in moments of community, like when Hindu Deacs gathered in Davis Chapel this past Sunday for prayer.
Fall Fashion by Cora Phillips, Freshman, Poli-Sci & Chinese Language/Culture
Since I was a kid, fashion, and more importantly fashion as a creative outlet, has been extremely important to me. Reading fashion publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar over the years has fostered a great appreciation for how fashion is presented and how clothing can be utilized in more than just a practical sense. Take a look at the styled looks below for inspiration.
Graphic 1: Internships, office work, presentations, interviews… the list of events which require more formal attire for students are endless, especially during Fall when things begin to pick up. Fortunately, there are almost as many ways to make your business casual or formal wear stylish! Incorporate personal style to give a unique charm and spice up boring office wear. Some of my favorite tricks are to play around with color, patterns, and texture corduroy and jewel tones are lovely this time of year! My two cents are to try to be yourself, even if you don’t typically do so in a formal setting.
Graphic 2: As the weather cools, everyone’s wardrobe will need a major update – No one wants to be caught shivering! Focus cozy, warm, and inviting when selecting pieces this Fall to ensure style and comfort.
For the feminine dresser:
\Pair some (fleece-lined!) colored tights with a pair of buckled Mary Janes, a button-down dress, a ribbon choker, and a jean jacket for a girlish, cute look that still incorporates some masculine elements and edge (ex. buckles, buttons, military jacket styling).
For the masculine dresser:
A cable-knit sweater, striped slacks, Converse, and a matching beanie is the quintessential masculine outfit to beat the Fall weather while still staying fashionable. Try to find these authentic vintage pieces second hand!
Finally, if I had to give my two cents, I think that everyone should explore their own personal styles and get to know themselves better through artistic experimentation with clothing.
Defining Nordic Noir by Girnar Anand
As someone who grew up captivated by the mysteries of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Sherlock Holmes, it felt almost inevitable that my summers researching in Copenhagen would bring me face-to-face with their Nordic counterpart: Nordic Noir.
The French word for black, Noir (pronounced nuh-wahr), is a cinematic style defined by shadowy lighting and a dark, nihilistic mood. Nordic Noir interprets this “blackness” as an inherent part of an individual’s psyche and actions. Its protagonists often follow self-destructive paths, set against bleak backdrops and plots filled with despair and cynicism.
Over the last decade, scholars have recognized that Nordic Noir is more than just a genre of fiction. Its distinct tone, imbued with disconsolate settings, stems from Nordic Noir’s deep connections to the region’s landscape and socially critical populace. Its stories fuse crime, realism, and social criticism to reflect Scandinavian identity, culture, and socio-politics.
My research interest centers on the very nature of Nordic Noir as a cultural phenomenon, asking what makes it truly “Nordic.” Is it geography? Climate? History? Or maybe a shared cultural sensibility? Understanding which elements are essential–and which are not–can help move beyond commercial labels toward a deeper appreciation of the form of Nordic Noir itself.
If you’d like to explore Nordic Noir yourself, I recommend:
Hometown Ghost Stories
Aaliyah Muriithi, Sophomore, English Major
In Kenya there is a fictional monster that looks like a cross between a bear and hyena called a Nandi bear. The Nandi bear lurks in Western Kenya and eats human brains.
Safa, Junior, Physics Major
My hometown of Durham [North Carolina] has the story of the Devil’s Tramping Grounds where there is this area in the forest where the devil roams and the grass is burnt and smashed.
Sophia Hoover, Freshman, Undeclared
This story dates back to Andreas Kremser’s death in Salem, 1786. The shoemaker lived in the Single Brother’s House and was tasked with digging a cellar. The ground gave out beneath them, burying Kremser and another man. They were pulled out alive but Kremser, who had worn a red hat and coat, died hours later. People later reported strange noises in the home and seeing flashes of red. Years later, a young girl was visiting her grandmother in that same house (now at this point a home for widows) and said that a little man with a red cap called to her from the hallway.
Cora Phillips, Freshman, Poli-Sci & Chinese Language/Culture
In my hometown, there is a restaurant called “The Brentwood” which has been around for over a hundred years now. It’s said to be eerily haunted, with the original owner’s spirits being known to walk the Brentwood’s halls. Tons of ghost hunters have visited it. One time, I met a ghost hunting duo after their hunt while working the chick-fil-e drive thru.) I’ve been to the restaurant once, and it didn’t feel very haunted, but the food was fantastic (I got duck confit). If you’re ever in the mood to have fancy French food and be told some ghost stories, you should definitely check the Brentwood out!
Cozy Campus Favs
Walker Newman, Senior, Biology, B.S.
Smith’s Cafe has a hot apple cider-like drink in the fall, and I like to sit in the top floor leather chairs.
Erin Ryan, Senior, Politics and Economics Major
My favorite thing to do on rainy days is to get a chai latte from Peet’s with a book.
Anonymous
-Being in Smith’s Cafe on a rainy day!
Kailani Carbon, Sophomore, Politics and International Affairs
My favorite campus cozy spots are the firepits on lower quad and the swings behind Magnolia Residence Hall.
Final thoughts: Gratitude is also a warm and inviting style to wear and it is a fashion that fits every season. As we move into the month of thankfulness, I want to take (another) moment to say thank you to our student employees. Thank you to those of you who humor me with this blog that I so enjoy putting together for you. I am always looking for ideas that may interest you. What would you like to read about in a student employee professional blog/newsletter. I would love to incorporate your ideas. Email me, or come talk to me. I also want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you for your hard work in our department.
1 Comment on ‘Public Services Student Workers Chronicles: October 2025’
This is wonderful. I love reading about our student workers. They are such a great contribution to out team!