As fall leans upon American University, with its lower, shorter and smaller fashions, large numbers of lower backs, ankles and upper arms will be exposed. This season, learn to appreciate the ink on your classmates' bare skin. This collection of AU and Washington Semester students show us their tats and offer insight into their permanent body art.
Ashley Schofield, a senior from Western New England College and Washington Semester student, is the proud owner of two tattoos. "They're addictive," she said. Schofield has a medium-sized butterfly tattoo on her left shoulder in addition to the three ants - one of them red - on her ankle. Schofield, although without tattoo regret, has given thought to how the tats could affect her future. "I want to go into the professional world, but I feel like by the time I get there, everyone will already have tattoos."
Mark Holcomb, a senior in the School of International Service, paid $250 for his two tattoos. Holcomb said that the first one, the large design, was something he chose off the wall of the Los Angeles tattoo parlor, altered slightly with the help of the tattoo artist. The second is a Chinese character, added to the design of the first tattoo, which represents the word "truth." Although he's happy with them, his ink-free girlfriend, Vanessa, shook her head and scrunched her nose at the Chinese addition.
Jessamyn Fuller, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, said "Stay gold" is a reference to the book "The Outsiders." Fuller also said that her mid-upper back tattoo, which two of her best friends from home also have in different places, represents the need to "stay who you are despite the muck of the world." Her parents, according to Fuller, would stop paying her tuition if they knew about it.
Charlie Weiss, a senior in the School of Communication, got his tattoo featuring Kokopelli - a character drawn from Native American mythology - about a year and a half ago in Sydney, Australia. For Weiss, Kokopelli, a sign of fertility and bountiful agriculture for any village he visits, represents "leaving where you go a little bit better." According to Weiss, Kokopelli also represents "knocking up all the chicks."
Jeff Parras, a senior from Gettysburg College and Washington Semester student, is pretty sure his dad likes his 2-year-old tattoo. His father designed the careful crest resting on the inside of Parras' left arm using his old army symbol and a modified family crest.
Heather Page, a Master's candidate in SIS, spent 15 minutes three years ago getting a gecko tattooed on her ankle. Although she hasn't named the little fellow, she has taught it to do tricks. By flexing and relaxing her ankle, she can make the tat stretch out thin and long, or scrunch up like a tubby little freshman after the obligatory 15.
