By Tate M. Slaven
Staff Writer
Accomplishing the look of a rebel in today’s society can be especially difficult. Even polite businessmen wear earrings and ponytails, and it’s not surprising to find that there are many college students who are tattooed.
Josh Martin, a freshman sports studies major, has three tattoos. With all his tattoos in visible places, Martin takes great pride in these permanent brands and uses them as personal reminders of different aspects of his life.
“My first tattoo is located on the outside of my right forearm,” Martin said. “It says ‘limitless’ and it stands for the fact that my passion and desire have no limits.”
Many tattoos can be attributed to losing someone who made an impact in one’s life. Martin made the decision to get two tattoos as a tribute to important people in, and who were in, his life.
“I also have a tattoo on my left wrist that says ‘livestrong’ with a cancer symbol. This tattoo is a tribute to family and friends that have cancer. My last tattoo is script on the inside of my right arm. My best friend’s mom died, she meant a lot to me, so in memory of her I got the verse from John 14:57 and ‘R.I.P. Marcie’ tattooed on me so she’s with me forever.”
Abigail Rocque, a junior physical education major, decided to get inked when she lost someone very near to her heart, too. Rocque decided she would get a tattoo of the word “believe” in memory of her swim coach who passed away in 2010.
“My coach always told us, you have to believe in yourself before anyone else can believe in you,” Rocque said. “It was sort of the motto of my swimming career. When she passed, I couldn’t think of a better way to remember her.”
Students aren’t the only ones on campus with tattoos. Some faculty have also jumped on board the tat train. Chris Mackowski, professor of journalism and mass communication, has two tattoos. Both are armbands.
One of his ‘pieces of art,’ as he refers to it, is a Shakespeare quote from “Hamlet” — “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy” — with two thin black bands around it. His second is an inch-wide black band that encompasses his left forearm.
“I’ve never seen a work of art I loved so much that I wanted it permanently emblazoned on my flesh,” Mackowski said. “But the Shakespeare quote articulates something I deeply believe in. The world is full of wonders most people can’t even begin to imagine.”
One tattoo wasn’t enough for Mackowski. The band around his left forearm is in memory of someone he recently lost, but also is about the power of hope — “at least what hope means to me,” Mackowski explained.
Other reasoning behind tattoos comes in many forms. Tommy Tyler, a junior sports studies major, explained how the rugby team has a tattoo tradition that dates back about 35 years.
“The tradition dates back to when Bonaventure was referred to as the Indians,” Tyler said. “Players started getting this tattoo when the club started. The ‘B’ is for Bona’s, and the headdress is the original symbol of Bona’s. It has really become popular within the team over the past couple years.”
Christina Sarokon, a freshman sports studies major, has two tattoos. One she got because she was of age, and the other she got with her mother.
“My first tattoo is on my left wrist and it’s a purple cross along with ‘faith’ written in cursive above it,” Sarokon said. “My second tattoo is a sun with the words ‘you are my sunshine’ underneath it. My mom and I got these tattoos done together; she used to sing ‘you are my sunshine’ to me every night and calls me her sunshine. It’s just our thing — she’s my best friend.”
No matter the reason, people who have taken the plunge find great pride in the artwork they’ve chose to display on their bodies permanently.
“It isn’t something that’s a passing flavor of the moment,” Mackowski concluded.
