Lauren Davis, Campus Carrier asst. arts and living editor
Amidst the bustling academic landscape on campus, a vibrant tapestry of ink unfolds, etched onto the skin of its students. Tattoos have become increasingly common on campus, serving as a unique medium for self-expression and identity exploration.
From intricate full-arm sleeves to dainty symbols of personal significance, these inkings serve as a testament to the individuality and creativity that permeate the campus atmosphere. Many students’ tattoos hold deep personal meaning, commemorating significant life events, paying tribute to loved ones or symbolizing their passions and beliefs.
Freshman Ava Burton has six tattoos, including a half sleeve on her right arm. Burton has a passion for art and has designed her tattoos herself. According to Burton, she got her first tattoo because her dad had gotten one, and she liked the idea of having something important to her on her body as he did. The first tattoo she got is a Shakespeare quote saying, “What’s past is prologue.” She said this tattoo was inspired by her high school English teacher, who had the same quote tattooed on her. Burton said she related to her teacher in a lot of ways. The tattoo is meaningful to her because it reminds her that what’s in the past doesn’t define you and that every day is a new and fresh start.
One personal aspect several of Burton’s tattoos portray is her love of bugs and other animals. As a kid, Burton said that she had bugs and animals instead of having imaginary friends. One of her multiple tattoos is of a snail among a patch of flowers. According to Burton, the hard shell and soft inside remind her of what the world wants her to be in contrast to who she is. All of her tattoos hold some kind of significance, ranging from tattoos of her, to 3 symbols that represent Loki, Thor and the sun because she loves their brotherhood. Within just a year, Burton has gotten all of her tattoos and has fallen in love with wearing art on her body. Her tattoos have also created deeper connections with others.
“When you get a tattoo, you care less about what other people think,” Burton said. “Tattoos are a prerequisite introduction for people who haven’t met you.”
Junior Charlie McCloy has an entire tattoo sleeve and several other smaller tattoos. According to McCloy, he got tattooed because he wanted a lot of ink on his body. His first-ever tattoo is the full sleeve on his right arm, which depicts a dragon representing freedom in Japanese culture. McCloy liked the idea of this symbol because he strives to live his life free.
McCloy is creating a second sleeve that will be themed under the horror genre he has a passion for. He has Scream, Freddie krueger, Pennywise and the word “redrum” from The Shining. He plans to add more over time, but doing them all at once is too expensive. His idea to begin the process of the horror sleeve got many adverse reactions from family members. Although there was some opposition in his family, he said he doesn’t think of tattoos as marking his body but as a form of journaling.
McCloy also has several more personal tattoos, like the birthdates of his family members and a log of mushrooms on his side that he got while on his study abroad trip to Europe over the summer of 2023. This specific tattoo represents growth and staying open-minded to change. McCloy said that being in Europe was a significant period in his life and that this tattoo will remind him of that. Overall, McCloy views his tattoos as a form of expression, giving him further confidence.
“It’s like wearing my heart on my sleeve,” McCloy said. “I feel like I wear my experiences on my body.”
Junior Hannah Suggs has four tattoos, some for aesthetic purposes and others with deeper meanings. Suggs said seeing other people’s tattoos and certain styles made her happy. She said it was like going to a museum and seeing a piece of art you like, which inspired her motivation to get a tattoo.
“Tattoos are a form of art,” Suggs said. “Art is subjective so who are you to say that a tattoo is not.”
Suggs said that she wanted her first tattoo to have meaning, so she based it on a picture book that had sentimental value. The book depicted fairies, so she got a fairy tattooed on her right leg. Looking back on this tattoo, Suggs says that she regrets it because it is not her favorite tattoo, but she understands why she did it then.
Sugg’s favorite tattoo is one she got locally in Rome at Artistic Edge. She said her tattoo artist was the best she ever had and intentionally hand-drew and placed the tattoo. The tattoo depicts Venus de Milo, a famous sculpture of the goddess of love. Suggs got to see this piece of art in person, which inspired her desire to have it put on her body.