Styx Nappier

Over a hundred footsteps echoed across the Sverdrup halls, unusual for the typically quiet Friday evenings. A hearty crew of students flew around, flagging down one another as they ensured everybody was on the same page about an event over eight months in the making — the world’s largest audio student summit. CRASS, the Central Regional Audio Student Summit, is an annual, weekend-long event that aims to further the interests and education of young audio engineers.

The bonfire crackled in the background as roughly 35 students gathered around Madison Cox, a member of Campus Activities. “The headliner will be…,” Cox began, pausing for dramatic effect. “Daniel Franzese, from the original ‘Mean Girls.’ He plays Damian.” And the audience was… quiet? A few claps and cheers began to crescendo out of respect, students turning towards their friends trying to remember who exactly that was.

As simple as a folded piece of paper, yet enough to cause a stir on campus: zines. Typically made from a singular piece of paper, zines appear as a small booklet that shares information and art. The first ever zine, “The Comet,” was created in 1930 and primarily discussed science and science fiction. For the next four decades, science fiction “fanzines” skyrocketed in popularity, influencing cultural and media trends.