Tattoos and piercings can be very personal; each can hold a meaning and memory.
Most body piercings and tattoos happen in studios, however, some also are self-inflicted and done outside of a licensed establishment.
Addison Wessbecker, first-year psychology major, has seven piercings along both of her ears; two of those she did herself.
“I also have six tattoos,” Wessbecker said. “They are the four ghosts from Pacman: Inky, Blinky, Clyde and Pinky. I also have the Pacman game board which includes Mr. and Mrs. Pacman inside, and a vision crystal from my favorite artist Alex Grey,” Wessbecker said.
However, the tattoos also hold memories.
“The reason I had the Pacman theme tattooed on my back was because it was what made me happy during the bad times I went through as a child,” Wessbecker said.
Although many students have tattoos and piercings, it isn’t just a current fad. Some students tend to get the body art as an outlet or memory of something or someone.
Freshman Lexy Lauzon decided to get her first and only tattoo as a dedication to both her late grandmother and cousin.
“My tattoo is dedicated to my grandma and cousin who have recently passed. It is a self-portrait of my face on a fairies body. This sits on my right shoulder blade,” Lauzon stated.
Body art such as tattooing and body piercing have been practiced in almost every culture around the world for thousands of years.
“I have two piercings both nose and tongue, and three tattoos,” Sammy Sala, first-year from Grove, Okla. said. “They are a butterfly, a flower with flames, and the word faith. I plan on getting at least five move tattoos including an adawe feather.”
Whatever the reason may be for students to get tattoos and piercings, students agree that doing it in rememberance of a loved one is the best way to ink up.