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That Girl: Li Evans

by Ilsa Shaw
  
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Nick Brandreth
Name, Major, Year?
Li Evans, first year Computer Science major.

What brought you to RIT?
Aside from the good CS program, my mother lives in Philly. I wanted to be close enough to her that in case of an emergency, I could go to her, but far enough that she couldn’t just show up whenever she wanted to.

Do you visit Philly a lot?
Not as much as I did when I lived in New Orleans. I lived there during the Katrina year, so I’m pretty done with it.

What was your experience like during that time?
I’d experienced so many storms before, so naturally I thought Katrina would get me out of a week of school, and everything would be back to normal. Kind of like the North’s snow days. But once it hit and I had to evacuate, I couldn’t wrap my mind around what had happened. I spent my junior year of high school in a blur. I don’t remember much. The occasional joke comes to mind though. “Hey, Katrina girl, you wanna try out for the swim team? Hey, Katrina girl, did you have to boat to school? Hey, Katrina girl, how’s life under the sea?” Kids these days, right?

You don’t get offended?
Oh, most definitely. But I’m not a confrontational person. I just continued on my merry way, counting down the days until I got to go back home. The thing that bothers me the most though (and this isn’t just pertaining to Katrina) is when people say “New Orleans,” like it rhymes with jeans or beans. Southerners wince at the sound of it. And people try to correct me like that’s not where I’m from. It’s “Orlinns,” kids. If I don’t say “Orleens,” neither should you.

How have you adjusted to living up north?
Lots and lots of layers. Coming from 80 degrees on a chilly day, this is a culture shock. I miss the sun so much. I can’t wait for summer.

Are you heading back to New Orleans then?
Not until sometime in the fall. I’m going to save up money this summer and try to get a car.

Have you got a type of car in mind already?
A black ‘60s or ‘70s Cadillac El Dorado Fleetwood, or something like it.

How would you describe yourself?
I like making people smile, even for a minute. So if seeing me strutting down the Quarter Mile with purple hair wrapped in a lime-green shoestring screaming the words to a Coheed and Cambria song off-key brightens someone’s day or gives someone a chuckle, so be it.

I must say, you have a very cool style. From where do you draw your inspiration?
Thanks. I don’t really know where it comes from. It just kind of happens. I love color, but then again, I love black and white. I get bored pretty easily. It all depends on how I feel that day.

Ever get bored with RIT? You gotta admit, it’s pretty colorless.
That’s exactly what I said when I visited the first time. It was a rainy, gloomy day, and the bricks made everything so sepia. I’m used to bright pink and green and yellow houses, Mardi Gras beads everywhere, rainbow flags flapping in the air. But after a while, it sort of grew on me. I like it here. The excessive graffiti helps.


In This Issue
News
Ritz Goes Green
RIT Finds A New Provost
SG Weekly Update
RIT Forecast
Leisure
But Is It Smashing?
The Gallery r Benefit
The Wall-Mountable Gumball Machine
Bob Mould & Giraffes? Giraffes!
At Your Leisure
Features
The Renaming Of Bell Hall
That Girl: Li Evans
Sports
RIT’s Hockey Season Ends
Regaining The Momentum
Sports Desk: Men's Lacrosse
Views
Illogical Consumption
RIT Rings
Editorial
Editor's Note

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