Man, this girl is hard to pin down. After many exchanged texts and phone calls trying to get her to stay in one place for more than ten minutes, I finally got to sit down with the famous SJW and get some insight into her fabulously busy life.
Full name: Sydney Jill Watnick
Class 2014
Major: Studio Art and American Studies double major
Hometown: New York City
Her Campus: I’ve heard from a source that you were actually born on Long Island…do you feel this compromises your claim to fame as a NYC girl?
SJW: That’s a lie. I did live on Long Island for three years from 4th-6th grade but I was born at Lenox Hill Hospital on the east side of NYC. So that is a lie. There is a rumor going around and I must shut it down because it’s compromising my identity.
(As I’m preparing the next question)
SJW (talking to self): Oh crap, tomorrow I have to call the MTV woman.
Her Campus: For what?
SJW: For my internship this summer.
Her Campus: Oh, cool! What are you going to be doing?
SJW: I don’t know. Hopefully working at MTV? As an intern.
Her Campus: Right, of course. Along those lines, what do you see as your life calling?
I really don’t know…I’ll figure it out, but I don’t plan on knowing anytime soon. Who knows? I want to do something fun and creative. I want to end up working with a lot of different kinds of people because that’s what makes jobs worthwhile.
Her Campus: You’ve been quoted saying that 7th grade was your best year…that’s really weird. I mean whose best year is 7th grade?
SJW: Oh my god it was definitely not my best year, I was being sarcastic when I said that. It was my most awkward year for sure; it’s everyone’s most awkward year. But I was invited to more bar/bat mitzvahs than most people. Definitely more than you were invited to.
Her Campus: I was invited to two.
SJW: Yeah, like I said. Way more. I think I’ve been to thirty-eight. But I was the new girl in town because, you know, I moved from Long Island…sore subject.
Her Campus: Let’s move on to happier topics. What’s your favorite quality about yourself?
SJW: My great sense of style. Wait should I have said something funnier? My modesty…hahahaaaa no but seriously I have great style.
Her Campus: And what’s with that pink phone you always carry around and are spotted talking on in Peirce and Olin?
SJW: Okay the “pink phone” episode has been blown completely out of proportion. I invested in the Pop Phone (that’s what it’s called) because I lost my headset for my phone and it is recognized as having good sound quality and pink is my favorite.
Her Campus: Why even have a headset in the first place? I feel like I’m setting you up in this question because I already know the answer but know how much you want to tell everyone.
Okay this is going to seem like shameless promotion for Pop Phones, but everyone at Kenyon should know that when you talk on your cell phone for long periods of time you’re getting very harmful radiation exposure. So using any headset with your phone is good for your bodies, and it helps if that headset is stylish and cute like a pink Pop Phone.
Her Campus: So that’s why you bring it with you to parties? For the health benefits?
SJW: Yes! I promise. I’m not trying to be an actress….most times.
Her Campus: What’s the one song you could listen to for the rest of your life on repeat and not get sick of?
Either 212 by Azealia Banks, Countdown by B or… what other music do I like? Oh Figure 8 by Outta Sight …maybe I’d get sick of that though. OR It’s A Small World…
Her Campus: Like “it’s a small world after all”? That one?
SJW: Yeah.
Her Campus: I just listened to 25 seconds of it on YouTube. You would definitely get sick of that song.
SJW: No no I promise I wouldn’t. I went through a really big phase of listening to that song, I have some good memories with it.
Her Campus: Favorite accessory?
SJW: Oh my god that’s such a hard question. Either bows or my Pop Phone. Or big rings.
Her Campus: You have to pick one
SJW: Fine, then the big pink bow. My mom gave it to me. (To herself, as an afterthought): Or a crown…
Her Campus: Heated debate: blackberry or iPhone? I know you’ve had experiences with both.
SJW: This is very controversial and I don’t want to offend anyone but I have to go with the iPhone. I was originally in the BB camp but the iPhone really steps it up in terms of it being easier to tweet (shameless promotion # 2: @SJW_sjw) and check Facebook for HOURS. Also for music purposes. Sorry, but iPhone.
Her Campus: Who’s your biggest inspiration?
SJW: Ke$ha.
Her Campus: Why?
SJW: She just seems like she’s having so much fun. Who else inspires me? Ke$ha….my mom…ummm…that’s probably it. I feel like I’m a combination of the two of them. Ke$ha was born at a party, did you know that? And her birthday is coming up, March 1st! Oh, she’s so fun.
Her Campus: Speaking of fame and glamour, you’re a weekly installation on Kenyon’s The Thrill and you were the star of an episode of This American Life with Ira Glass…any other claims to fame that we should know about?
SJW: I used to be a child model!
Her Campus: For what?
SJW: My grandma works at FIT and I used to be in all of their BFA fashion shows. And I was an extra in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and my building was featured in the movie as Oskar Schell’s apartment building. Basically I’m a big deal.
Her Campus: Best creation you’ve ever made at Peirce?
SJW: Apple sauce and granola.
Her Campus: Anything you’re dying to be asked?
SJW: Not really…oh yes! Should I have talked about Kappa Kappa Gamma?
Her Campus: Sure.
SJW: Okay well Kappa Kappa Gamma is my not so serious but kind of serious attempt to make a national sorority at Kenyon.
Her Campus: how’s that working for you? And why?
SJW: Well we kind of have gender discrimination going on here! We have national frats on campus but we don’t have any sororities with national links so they don’t reap the same benefits as the frats do. If you want to “pledge” just Facebook message me. Or tweet at me. I’m totally down with technology.
Her Campus: Ok one last thing, I feel like it’s kind of important to discuss. You did an entire installation project for art on the color pink last semester. What are your thoughts on pink and why do you love it so much?
SJW: Oh my god its totally my favorite color and it’s making a comeback. It’s being revived everywhere: in fashion, in the arts…pink isn’t just for Barbies anymore! It’s real! It’s grown up! It’s so me.
Her Campus: What do you mean its real?
SJW: It shouldn’t get as much crap as it’s been getting, as it’s always gotten. I think people just need to know that pink is a color that you have to OWN. You have to own it.
And she certainly does.