Name: Olivia Latimer
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Madison, WI
College: College of Liberal Arts
Major: Interdepartmental Independent Major: Art, Anthropology, English & History
Campus Involvement: WAM Collective, Feminist Ambassador Brigade, Women for Political Change & Bohemian Press
Whats your favorite class you've taken at the U?
That's a hard question because I take so many great classes. Magic and Medicine with Professor Gerbner and Cultural Anthropology with Professor Langford come to mind- I love to learn about the anthropological meanings behind imaginative fictional stories.
How do you practice mindfulness?
I'm currently struggling with a lot of stress and anxiety in my daily life, and I find that one of the most important things to do to practice mindfulness is to realize how insecure thoughts are not reality. It sounds simple, but it's surprisingly hard to admit that anxieties are self-generated. You honestly have limitless capacity when you realize those pressures are not tangible obstacles, that you can overcome them by actively thinking more positively.
If you could have dinner with any artist living or dead, who would they be?
I think it would be Illana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, the creators and stars of Broad City. Their work is one of the few shows on TV where women are open about their imperfections and still accept themselves and have fun. There's a truth to that show that I think is empowering to women in their early twenties who are still figuring things out.
What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability means not overworking myself and instead being thoughtful about what I can commit to without compromising my physical and emotional well-being. I have a tendency to throw myself into single-minded projects because I am afraid to fail, and this has proved to ultimately destructive. Instead, I am working toward choosing well-rounded imperfection and accepting myself as a growing being.
If you’re stranded in the library studying for finals week, what are your three must-have items?
Hard Times quesadilla half-order. It's only $4.00. I need a borderline dangerous dosage of caffeine, too. And any album by Blockhead will keep me groovin' yet focused.
What’s your favorite holiday?
I have uncontrollable energy for all holidays. I love the folklore behind Halloween, the traditions I cherish around Christmas, and the friendship to be shared on Valentine's Day.
Where's the best place to get coffee around here?
Hard Times, obviously. It's where I go when I feel like my life's falling apart. I'm in Hard Times right now, writing this.
