Free Thoughts & Dropped Calls

Ben Underwood ‘13 is one of the 25 young individuals featured on China Hands Magazine’s third edition of “25 Under 25: Rising Stars in US-China Relations.” 

The magazine received more than 80 nominations, which were initially screened by their editorial board and then forwarded to a judging panel for a final review. Candidates were assessed on “their academic achievements, extracurricular and professional experiences, and demonstrated leadership (a strong indicator of potential capacity to make an impactful contribution to the US-China relationship).” 

As described by China Hands, their goal is to “promote mutual understanding and exchange hoping the narratives of these 25 students and young working professionals will inspire our readers not only to endeavor to strengthen the US-China relationship through their own work but also to think critically about all US-China related issues in today’s world.” 

Underwood’s undergraduate studies at Bennington took place within the Public Action Program, which showed him that “addressing climate change is imperative, but also fun.” In 2012, a Nepali social entrepreneur introduced him to biogas infrastructure–a process by which organic waste is converted into clean energy and fertilizer. This led Underwood to win a Davis Projects for Peace Grant to develop five urban biogas projects in Kathmandu. Later on, he won a Fulbright scholarship which took him to China, and also founded a development company with the name of “Ripe”. Moving forward, his vision is “to use biogas projects as a platform to introduce US firms’ abundance of financing and procurement expertise to Chinese firms’ appetite for mass deployment.” 

They’re more comfortable, still form fitting, and best of all: THE POCKETS. THEY HAVE ACTUAL POCKETS.

don’t believe me? look:

these are boys pants, and they look just as good on me as any other skinny jeans I own

See that phone? I’m going to put it in the pocket. Must be so small right??

Ah yes, girl pants length. Probably can’t fit any further than that-

what? what’s this?

Good god. Oh good lord in heaven. This is blasphemous.

Look at how much room is still there. There’s chaos in the streets. Babies are crying. Fashion designers are screaming out of fear of the unknown.

My principal decided to join him in a photo.

The new photograph will go in the yearbook as a way to raise awareness for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and rescue animals like Mr. Bugglesworth and Vivienne.

His name was Draven Rodriguez, he went to Schenectady High School in New York and he was very pleased with his school yearbook photo. Unfortunately, Draven committed suicide only a few months ago.

Please please read about his life, and pay your respects