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Worth Watching the revenant ARTS & ENT| pg. 12
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Inside the
October| 3 January
Nest POLICE BEAT Editorial Department:
Editor in chief................................Sarah Knott editorinchief@ccga.edu DESIGN EDITOR .............................. Alvin Fernando designeditor@ccga.edu CREATIVE MEDIA DIRECTOR.................Drew C. Miller WEB EDITOR .....................................Jenna Caldwell webeditor@ccga.edu Copy EDItor ............................... Erin Broomell copyeditor@ccga.edu Ad Manager ........................................Kara Neisen admanager@ccga.edu ADVISOR ........................................... Andrew Smith asmith@ccga.edu
Staff Writers & Contributors:
Erin Broomell Jenna Caldwell Savannah Barrow Jamila Mayfield Colt Brockington
Drew C. Miller Sarah Knott Hannah Veazey Jay Landow Devin Banach
Statement of Operations: The Crow’s Nest is the official student newspaper of the College of Coastal Georgia, owned and operated by CCGA students using facilities provided by the College. MISSION: Our mission is to provide the Coastal Georgia community with truthful and ethical content of interest. Any questions regarding content or anyone wishing to report corrections and errors please call 912.279.5898 or email crowsnest@ccga. edu. Publication Information: The newspaper is published approximately every three weeks during the academic year and is printed by The Brunswick News Publishing Co. in Brunswick, Ga. Advertising: The Crow’s Nest allots advertising space each issue for both on-campus and off-campus entities. For more information about rates, payment methods, formatting and deadlines, please call 912.279.5898 or email admanager@ccga.edu. Notice: Unauthorized removal of multiple copies from a distribution site constitutes theft under Georgia law, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time. The advertiser is responsible for all information in a given ad. Students should beware of disclaimers presented in the ads, which are previously screened by our staff before placement in our publication.
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December 3, 6:30 p.m.: Officers received a call from a resident of Lakeside Village complaining of her roommates use of marijuana in the suite. Officers were able to confirm the complaint and seized a small amount of unburnt marijuana from the room. Charges are pending. December 3, 11:42 p.m.: A student filed a report with Campus Police after his cell phone was stolen from Coastal Place Apartments. December 6, 1:00 p.m.: Officers received a call from a Resident Assistant at Coastal Place Apartments to report a problem with person. The non-student was issued a criminal trespass warning and left campus. December 7, 7:45 a.m.: Student reported to officers that several items were taken from his unlocked vehicle while parked in the Coffin grass lot. December 8, 10:20 a.m.: Officers responded to an accident in the Coffin Parking lot. December 10, 9:36 p.m.: Officers responded to the Correll after being notified that two students were lingering in the building after the building had been locked and finals were over. One student was located and escorted from the building. December 16, 9:15 p.m.: After a student reportedly lost his Mac Card, he called officers to gain access into Lakeside Village. The student smelled of marijuana and was found to be in possession of same. He surrendered the marijuana at the request of officers. December 17, 5:56 p.m.: The
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previously criminally trespassed subject from 12/6 returned to Coastal Place Apartments and was arrested on site. December 19, 4:15 p.m.: Officers assisted Brunswick Police Department with an armed robbery that had occurred across the street at Popeye’s. December 24, 11:34 p.m.: The Glynn County Fire Department and Campus Police responded to a fire alarm at Coastal Place Apartments. The incident was unfounded. December 25, 4:45 p.m.: Glynn County Fire Department and Campus Police responded once again to a fire alarm at Coastal Place Apartments. This time a student was found to be residing in the lobby of CPA and the smoke from his cooking set off the alarm. December 26, 5:23 p.m.: Officers were notified of damage to a vending machine in Lakeside Village. The vending machine was heavily damaged and the contents stolen. Officers identified and arrested the subject responsible. January 1, 7:00 p.m.: Officers discovered that both volleyball and basketball court light outlets had been damaged over the holiday break. January 2, 7:00 p.m.: Following a routine lock of the Coffin building, officers discovered a shirt stuffed into one of the exterior doors. It was later found to have been placed there by student so he could access the building when it was locked. January 12, 2015: Officers stopped a
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vehicle driven by an elderly man after he was seen driving on the sidewalk down the center of campus toward Campus Center. January 14, 12:10 a.m.: Officers arrested a student for possession of marijuana in the Lakeside parking lot. January 15, 10:20 a.m.: Officers respond to an accident in the Main Parking lot of campus. January 15, 11:07 p.m.: A Lakeside Village Resident reported to officers that she and her boyfriend had a physical altercation. Both students reported injuries to their mouths. After a follow up the next day, neither party wanted to press charges against the other. January 16, 9:30 a.m.: Officers and the Glynn County Fire Department respond to Coastal Place Apartments in reference to a fire alarm. The alarm was found to have been set off by a student who had been smoking marijuana inside his room. Investigation is ongoing.
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Campus NEws
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WE are mariners
Meet our new Editorin-Chief! Year / Major: Freshman / Biology Hometown: Snellville, GA
Sarah Knott
Sarah moved here from Snellville to get her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and (hopefully) continue on to work in the Wildlife Veterinary field. When she’s back home, her hobbies include fine art, reading, and working at a local vet’s office near her house. At Coastal, she likes to watch movies and go hiking with her roommate, Devin. Her vision for the newspaper is to carry on the upstanding tradition of providing a modern news source for students at Coastal to get involved in, as well as an open table to which students can bring their ideas and perspectives on current events.
Our new Ad Manager! Year / Major: Senior / Health Informatics Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Kara Neisen
By Erin Broomell
Kara has returned to The Crow’s Nest as the Ad Manager for her final semester at CCGA. She previously worked as the Web Editor from January 2014 to May 2015. Being a part of the newspaper has given her the opportunity to give back to CCGA, which has meant so much to her. Though she is ecstatic to be back in The Nest, she is even more excited about moving to Atlanta for a job upon graduation in May.
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
There’s a different atmosphere on the College of Coastal Georgia campus than the surrounding local area. To be on the campus is to be somewhere diverse with a greater sense of community among people in general, interfused with those who originate from various communities. This is true for most college campuses but it isn’t incidental; it’s something cultivated. Something college students, faculty and staff everywhere are all working toward is unifying for the purpose of education. The day after Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday was celebrated, CCGA Department of Diversity and Inclusion unveiled a work of photographic art: 100 photographs of CCGA students, faculty and staff unified into a single image of the diverse college community. The work is a collaborative effort among Coordinator for Student Engagement in Intercultural Programs Brittany Garcia, Director of International Initiatives Adam Johnson, and the students and staff who were photographed. According to Garcia, the project’s goal is to, “highlight and capture our vibrant and diverse image.” Johnson defined that image. “Diversity is not just about different skin color
or name or hair color,” Johnson said. “Diversity is about where you’re from and your walk of life that you have participated in and where you are in life; whether you’re young or old, despite what ethnic background you’re from, regardless of what country you’re from.” Vice President of Student Affairs ,Dr. Jason Umfress, said the project was intended to spur conversation. In addition to the photography the project introduced #WeAreMariners. “After a long standing tradition with the college, we continue to acknowledge our past and celebrate the knowledge progress we made and look forward to the progress we have yet to make when it comes to diversity on our campus,” Umfress said. “We hope you will join us as we take part in a campus wide conversation about diversity. What it means and why it’s important. We hope you will join us as we acknowledge what makes us different and celebrate what makes us the same.” Join the conversation on Twitter using #WeAreMariners or visit the Campus Center and check out the posted event calendars for the cultural experiences Coastal has to offer.
MLK JR. DAYof SERVICE
Hannah Veazey On Monday, Jan. 18, a group of College of Coastal Georgia volunteers toiled in the chilly temperatures to improve the community and the environment. With assistance from Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, CCGA Serves coordinated a MLK Day of Service marsh cleanup off of Homer Wilson Way in Brunswick. The relatively remote location just west of the Brunswick Marina is a common spot for illegal dumping and tidal trash. When the crew of 14 arrived in the morning, they did not really know what to expect. After a quick survey, it was clear there was an outrageous amount of trash of all types. “There was an enormous amount of trash along the road and the edge of the marsh,” admitted volunteer Jessica Palmer. “I didn’t expect there to be that much and I was really surprised with the type of trash we found.” The trash the group uncovered ranged from tires to televisions, and diapers to lighters. The haul also included a lot of material discarded from home renovations including a sections of fence, bathroom tiles and shingles. Other smaller items found included needles and beer cans and bottles as well as a wide range of Styrofoam. At the end of the 3-hour service project, the volunteers compiled out with 46 bags of trash and debris totaling an estimated 1,500 pounds. The material was collected on a quarter-mile stretch of the mile-long road and extended about 30 yards into the brush on either side. “As a group, we were excited about how much we did clean the area up in a relatively short amount of time how much better it looked when we were done,” Palmer said. Questions still remain about how the city and community organizations can fight illegal dumping in fragile ecosystems nearby densely populated urban areas. “Some of the trash we collected was already in bags,” said volunteer Jonathan Erickson. “Why don’t residence have a convenient and well known place to dump their trash? Or, if they already do, why would they choose not to use it?”
Campus NEws
January | 5
CAMPUS NEws
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THROUGH THE DECADES A Homecoming Primer
Sarah Knott
Homecoming has been an annual celebration in high f and universities all across the nation schools, colleges, since the 19th century. While straying from the classic September or October dates, College of Coastal Georgia isn’t letting any other traditions or trends be forgotten. This year’s homecoming theme is a countdown through the decades of fashion and festivities, from the flaring style of the early 2000’s all the way down to the funloving simplicity of the 1950’s. Each day of that week has a specific decade as its theme. It kicks off with the 2000’s on Monday, February 8th, starting with a homecoming kickoff at noon and ending with millennial trivia at 8 p.m. in the Anchor. The 90’s ring in a lip syncing competition on the Campus Center patio, and the 80’s follow up with ‘Coastal’s Got Talent’ at the Ritz theatre downtown. The musical trend is certain to bring both traditional and non-traditional students back to the atmosphere of decades past. The 70’s bring homecoming court elections and a Tie Dye party, trailed by the 60’s screening of “Grease” in the Stembler Theater. The 50’s take up the entirety of that Saturday, starting with a tailgate from 11AM to 2PM, followed by a basketball game where CCGA’s King & Queen will be announced. The dance begins at 9 p.m. in the Campus Center.
Jamila Mayfield | Contributor
While throwbacks are a common theme for dances and school events, Coastal has a refreshing approach with its countdown through the week. This refreshing twist will provide interest for the students to get involved in the events going on, and will help them build excitement along the course of the week for the homecoming dance.
through the
HOVERBOARDERS RESORT TO WALKING AGAIN In the early 2000's when the Segway PT was introduced to the market, it seemed as if we had finally made it to the future. Generations before could only imagine the technology that would enable us to walk less and be closer to floating. The pricey ticket of the Segway PT left many people only dreaming of becoming part of future transportation. In 2015, the infamous Back To The Future year, America welcomed a new piece of technology that would roll us right into these future-dreams: the hoverboard. We saw people floating around on a two-wheeled device, making us finally feel as though maybe Marty and Doc was on to something special. The price on these fancy boards were cheaper than some iPhones; something that made the dream of ultimate laziness more accessible. People of all ages were excited to see their new hoverboards arrive just in time for Christmas. This hot-ticket item floated to the top of 2015's most wanted list, but suddenly gained a notorious repuatation. College campuses around the nation have banned these boards due to their uncontrollable danger. News channels and social media have repeatedly shown these boards catching fire without warning. It is rumored that the lithium ion battery in these devices are overheating and sparking internal fires.
The nearly nation wide ban is not an attempt to rain on Millennial’s two wheeled parade; it’s simply a safety measure. These boards pose a serious threat to the safety to students, classrooms and facilities alike. Despite safety precautions being taken, college and universities are catching flack due to students feeling as though schools are imposing on their rights. With so many boards rolling off the shelves this past Christmas season, students may be upset that their new set of wheels won’t be put to much use around campus. Students who are caught with these banned objects on campus face the same criminal charges as a student found smoking in the dorms. This isn’t to say that such restrictions have put an end to students whaffing in the pungent odor of marijuana that clouds the airways of sealed dorm hallways every semester. Students will continue to use hoverboards off property and run the risk of catching fire. With the serious threat that these boards present, it is wise for students to respect the ban and leave boards at home. While 2016 could have been the year that we stopped using our legs, we will have to wait until the product sees safety improvements.
POLITICS
S T A T E O F
T H E
U N I O N JENNA CALDWELL Alright college students, if you can sit through all 10 episodes of Making a Murderer, you could have watched President Barack Obama give his hourlong message regarding the state of our union on Tuesday, January 13. Even if you aren’t totally invested in politics or could give a flying hoot about the dang deficit, politics affect our everyday lives. Plus, our Commander in Chief touched on some important topics that could impact you personally. In case you missed the speech, I did the dirty work for you and have rounded up three important takeaways from Obama’s 7th and final State of the Union address. 1 The Job Market: What Obama said: “Let us start with the economy, and a basic fact: currently The United States of America, has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. We’re in the middle of the longest streak of private sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs, the strongest two years of job growth since the ‘90s, an unemployment rate cut in half.” Why it applies to you: As a college student with the natural fear of being able to land employment post-graduation, this statement should make you feel more at ease. It assures us that things are looking up for young adults in the labor market. Whether you agree with Obama or not, unemployment rates are now at prerecession levels of 5 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics concluded that in 2015, the number of employed youth (ages 16-24) increased by 2.1 million to 20.3 million. 2 College Tuition Costs: What Obama said: “We have to make college affordable for every American. No
hardworking student should be stuck in the red. We’ve already reduced student loan payments to 10 percent of a borrower’s income. And that's good, but now, we’ve actually got to cut the cost of college. Providing two years of community college at no cost for every responsible student is one of the best ways to do that, and I’m going to keep fighting to get that started this year. It's the right thing to do.” Why it applies to you: Student debt is an issue that not only us, but future generations are subject to struggle with as the cost of college tuition rises. According to the Wall Street Journal, our country has accumulated $1.2 trillion in student debt. As a nation (and as students who sign student loan agreements), we should begin focusing on what can be done to decrease this debt, as well as how to reduce the cost of education in general. 3 Our future: What Obama said: “That's the America I know. That's the country we love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That's what makes me so hopeful about our future. I believe in change because of you. I believe in you. That's why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong." Why it applies to you: We are all pursuing a degree in different fields. As we get ready to enter the job market, we need to focus on how we can better use our knowledge and skills to help change the world. We are the present and the future. Regardless of if the past 8 years under Obama’s lead have been good or bad, the next 4 years and beyond are up to us.
January | 7
open mic nights
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318 Mallory Street, Saint Simons Island, 31522
A group of local Saint Simons Island residents banded together just over 7 and half years ago and began hosting open mic night at Palm Coast Coffee, located in Saint Simon’s Pier Village. Through the course of the years, Open Mic at Palm Coast has proven to be a magnetic force above all other events in the surrounding sleepy beach town. The happening attracts the best of vibes and equally the most interested and interesting people from all walks of life. Most importantly, the event offers refuge from your bad case of the Mondays. The event has served as a community center of sorts for those seeking out something worthwhile to do, and good people to converse with. From about 8:30 p.m. until around midnight each Monday evening, singers, songwriters, poets, DJs, spoken word artists, instrumentalists, comedians, musicians and other forms of artists and their artistry permeate the stage, which is located either inside or outside according to the weather. Art covers the walls inside the coffee shop and hangs from the trees outside in the courtyard. The coffee shop boasts an array of baked goods and top-notch offerings of a number of different specialty teas and coffees. For those of us who imbibe, the indoor bar features a selection of great draft beer choices pertaining to the season at hand, as well as liquor and wine. Host, emcee, and performer Anthony Stubelek says “the event is fun and gets me out of the house. Above all, I like providing a good place for people to enjoy and meet musicians, and make new friends.� Go out to Palm Coast Monday night and support your local scene, and meet some fresh faces. - Drew C. Miller
January | 9
JEKYLL ISLAND TREASURES Although skating season is over on Jekyll Island, those of us lucky enough to slide around at the Skating Village, found some winter-weather fun typically barren in Golden Isles. The Jekyll Island Skating Village offered the unique experience of outdoor ice skating with an ocean view and was made possible by a synthetic ice rink. A $5 ticket included skate rentals and a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean during your 30-minute skating session. The Skating Village, which closed after successful first season and will reopen next winter, had viewing areas for spectators, as well as a chalet
where guests can purchase special merchandise, snacks, drinks and, of course, hot cocoa. For those of you wonder just what synthetic ice is, it’s a high-tech plastic that you can skate on. The skating surface is made of a special blend of plastic that allows a skate blade to glide as smoothly as on real ice. Synthetic rinks are gaining in popularity across the world and professional ice skaters and hockey teams have even begun using them. Next season, bring your GoPro so you can remain hands-free and record your experience.
If you visit Jekyll Island during the months of January or February, it might seem like something is missing. The peaceful beaches, the chill in the wind, the tourists, and the locals- they’re all present, but take a second look at the folks around and you’ll notice they’re all searching for something. They’re looking in bushes, behind benches, and peering into low hanging oak branches. They’re turning over fallen tuffs of moss and walking trail after trail with eyes probing the surrounding foliage. However, they aren’t looking for something that’s lost, but for something waiting to be found: They are on a hunt for treasure. Jekyll Island Guest Information Center manager Jerod Myers says the annual Island Treasures glass float hunt revives a would-be forgotten tradition. “In the early 1900s, fishermen used glass floats on their nets as markers,” Myers says “Occasionally, the floats would break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep. Collecting these rare, highly sought after glass floats became a hobby in the 1950s.” Today, Jekyll Island hand-picks artists from across the country to create one-of-a-kind glass floats for its annual Island Treasures event. Each day during the event volunteers deemed “Beach Buddies” hide
two to five glass floats around the island for lucky treasure-seekers to find and keep. Each float is marked with special tag and instructions for treasure finders to register their Island Treasures at the Jekyll Island Guest information Center where they will receive a certificate of authenticity and artist biography for their one-of-a-kind float. New for the 2016 treasure hunt, the Beach Buddies have doubled the number of floats hidden on the weekends. While Crow’s Nest Team members were out treasure seeking, we caught up with freshmen Kellie McCaughtry and Sydney Lott, who were out treasure hunting and asked them about their strategy. “We saw the clues online, so we’re looking anywhere something can be hidden,” said McCaughtry. “I’m trying to draw from my geocaching experience and look for something out of place.” It’s also important for treasure seekers to know that Island Treasures are never hidden in dunes, off beaten paths, in locations that are dangerous to reach, or private citizens’ property. A map highlighting the best hunting areas on Jekyll has been created to help first-time treasure hunters can be found at http://www.jekyllisland. com/project/island-treasures/.com - Erin Broomell
photo courtesy of www.goldenisles.com
Lifestyle
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New Year, New Approach. By Jenna Caldwell | Web Editor
The focus on self-improvement is at an all time high come January 1st. Some want to better manage stress, get control of their debt, exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, or get a better job/education -- I’m aiming to improve at least three of these areas in my life. Will I succeed? Probably not, seeing as it's day 21/365 and I still haven't exercised yet (does wearing work-out clothes count?) Fortunately, I'm not alone in setting the bar too high. According to University of Scranton research, the hard truth is that 92% of Americans fail at achieving their New Year's resolutions. It's simply because they are approaching the situation allwrong from day one. Not only are bad habits hard to break, they are nearly impossible to break when tried all at once. The brain region known as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) assists humans in decision-making, handles shortterm memory, regulates behavior, and helps produce thoughts and actions in agreement with internal goals. Basically, this is your mental sketch pad, and is necessary not only to plan, but to achieve your goals. So by asking the PFC to help you lose
weight is asking it to do one thing couple of days a week can provide too many. more energy to the brain. By taking care of your PFC, you are already After a long day at the office, a tired making headway on your goals by brain is going to have a hard time eating healthier, exercising, and resisting the urge to eat that leftover getting more rest which, in turn, slice of pizza. It's also going to have a reduces stress. hard time helping you get your butt off the couch and into the gym. Much 3) Know your limitations. If you like a muscle, if we give our PFC's normally feel lethargic around 2 p.m., too much to handle, it will eventually don't try and accomplish something give out. You have to know your difficult. Take a short break by brain and body's limitations and set meditating, relaxing, or napping. practical, attainable goals in order to You will be able to come back to the be successful. task at hand feeling refreshed, and possibly more creative. START HERE 4) Start by setting one resolution at 1) Begin by nurturing your PFC. a time. By the time you have a handle Feed it lots of healthy foods, drink on it, (maybe three months down the more water, and get plenty of rest. road) try adding on another goal. If This will give it the energy it needs to all goes according to plan, by the end operate efficiently. of the year, you could have majorly improved four areas of your life. It's 2) Another way to cater to your all about baby steps, my friends. brain, which is often overlooked and hard to accomplish, is exercising 5) Try using the SMART acronym regularly. This seems daunting to clearly define what it is you're because we naturally associate trying to accomplish. Start by figuring burning calories with strenuous, out where your willpower and selftiring workouts. Something so control is lacking. Then set Specific, simple as walking around your Measurable, Attainable, Relative, and neighborhood for thirty minutes a Time-Sensitive goals.
.6) Don't be so hard on yourself. Sure, February is right around the corner and you're still maintaining your "New Year, same me" lifestyle, and there is nothing wrong with that. Maybe you're satisfied with yourself just the way you are. And if you're not satisfied, then I'm going to tell you something you don't already know: that tomorrow is a brand new day. Begin the process whenever you're ready. Good luck to all in becoming the best versions of themselves this year. And even if you didn’t set a resolution just remember: there’s nothing wrong with change if it's in the right direction.
Lifestyle
This year:
January | 11
Was My New Year’s Resolution to be Healthier? Colt Brockington
A bad habit I’m going to break: A new skill I’d like to learn: A person I hope to be more like: A good deed I’m going to do: A place I’d like to visit: A book I’d like to read: A letter I’m going to write: A new food I’d like to try:
1. Schedule Ahead All of our schedules can get very busy. We can get lost in the craziness of our everyday lives and forget all about our fitness and wellbeing. It is very beneficial to plan all of your gym and workout times on Sunday. This will allow you to set specific times for your exercise throughout the week.
2. take the extra step There are instances in our everyday lives where we can incorporate healthy practices. We have the chance park in the back of the parking lot instead of trying to be up front. We have the option to take the stairs rather than an elevator. Whatever it may be, find a way to take the extra step! Your Fitbit will be pleased!
3. group fitness classes Do you struggle to motivate yourself to get in the gym or even workout when you get there? Well CCGA’s variety of group fitness classes along with our excellent instructors are a perfect fit for you. Our group fitness classes will help guide your exercise routines in an enjoyable but challenging manner.
I’m going to do better at:
2016
4. stay persistent There is a good chance that you didn’t finish 2015 eating and exercising the way you wanted. It is going to be a challenging and rather difficult change in your life for 2016. You will most likely have a few slip ups, but the important thing is you have to stay determined! Don’t let one set back stop you from reaching your goal! It will ultimately pay off in the end.
5. set goals It is imperative that you set goals for yourself to reach. Set short-term and long-term goals. You will get frustrated and lose interest if you don’t have anything to aim for. Set realistic goals that to achieve in two week, one month, and three month time periods. Track your progress. Reaching your goals will give you a great sense of satisfaction!
Colt Brockington is a personal trainer for Mariner Recreation and can be reached at fitness@ccga. edu. Take advantage of the Resolution Special: one consultation and one training session for just $20. For a limited time only.
arts & Entertainment
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Cry our eyes out at at the scene in fresh prince of bel-air where will’s dad leaves him and he wonders “how come he don’t want me, man?” and chill?
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Shoutout to ccga’s bookstore for making me wait 40 minutes to get a granola bar
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I die a little inside every time i see a professor open internet explorer
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if anyone is secretly in love with me just go ahead and step forward. 20 years is long enough
BITTER COLD FROST BITE OF THE SOUL
The Revenant injects frost directly into the marrow and evokes phantom hunger-pangs. Set in the blizzard singed peaks and valleys of 1823 Montana and South Dakota, the film recounts the mostly-true story of quasi-military fur trapper Hugh Glass and his fight for survival in a savage terrain. The films serves as an exercise in examining the plight of the human condition in that the story pins the protagonist against the most heinous of all situations to ever present themselves; whether it be the dangers of Mother Nature or Human Nature. The arch of the film is equally gruesome as it is oddly inspiring. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu is no stranger to showing the equally dire and abysmal aspects of genuine human suffering, which are displayed in his previous films Amores Perros, Babel, and Biutiful. Despite how harrowing and gut wrenching these films may be, The Revenant ups the ante astronomically. Without giving away any spoilers, the movie is a revenge flick laden with the good ol’ American theme of blood, guts, and glory; literally. However this does not mean the film panders to the lowest common denominator. The film peaks as a masterpiece on the highest echelon of technical artistry. The cinematography stands far and above any other modern film while retaining the collected lessons taught from master-directors and principal photographers of yesteryear. The constant motion of the camera work may keep the attention of a newer generation of viewers conditioned to hyperactive film editing, yet the seemingly motionless pauses in the film are reminiscent of an Akira Kurosawa film: each frame of celluloid is composed with perfect artistic composition. One could blow up a still-frame and send it as a postcard. The art direction and flow of the film is fluid and does not leave any room for any moment to become superfluous. One interesting facet of this process was the fact that Iñárritu relied soley on natural light to achieve such dramatic compositions; shots that were confined to the lack of daylight hours
in the northern hemisphere which compacted the allotted filming time. The soundtrack is not of typical sonic-Hollywood fare. The score is haunting and ethereal. Syncopated and spectral strings cry like the disembodied wailing of a tortured soul, deep in an abysmal chasm. The little percussion that does present itself sounds like the beat of a warrior heart in an Earthly limbo; near death but persevering. The diegetic soundscapes allows the audience to experience every break in sinew, the vocal cadence of the elements; ranging from the whisper of a breeze to the howling rage of the wind, all while managing to capture the sound of what it means to be chilled to the bone. It is of little shock that actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy are nominated for various accolades and awards pertaining to their performances. DiCaprio’s performance of Hugh paints a brutal portrait of a character in survival mode: Hugh’s rotten body attempts to heal itself while his reanimated corpse searches for revenge in a landscape of elements perpetually pinned against him; bitter cold, bitter foes, bitter circumstances. Hardy effectively plays the non-blinking, emotionally devoid brute we all love to hate, and hate to love. Aside from solid their acting chops, they (as well as the film crew) had to endure the inhospitable terrain and subzero temperatures of a frigid Canadian landscape, virtually untouched by human hands. Ultimately, this frozen tale of revenge cuts deep into the psyche and begs to question: to what end of the world would you travel, naked, broken, and dying, in order to find a glimmer of hope? The Revenant on all scales is the embodiment of Pure Cinema.
Drew Cullen Miller Creative Media Editor
arts & Entertainment
Following the end of the year release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the bar is set high for 2016 cinema. The Force Awakens has already generated a return nine times its original budget of $200 million. The upcoming 2016 movies on this list have a budget of half that; right around $100 million and we’ve picked them out to be fly-or-fail gambles. 1) Ghostbusters: Dan Akroyd has been trying for years to get a third film made of this beloved franchise. Due to a stubborn Bill Murray, Akroyd was unsuccessful. Columbia Pictures stepped-in and decided to reboot it altogether with a star-studded female cast which includes Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. Chris Hemsworth is also cast. Three leading ladies hailing from Saturday Night Live is sure to attract movie-goers seeking hilarity. However, the original Ghostbusters is beloved by its fans. For generations it has managed to surpass barriers and appeal to viewers of all ages. Wiig and McCarthy have proven themselves capable of carrying a movie on their backs, but will their performance be enough for die-hard fans of the original? Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray have spots on the cast list alongside original costar Sigourney Weaver, so we may be able to expect a cameo from them in the film. Barrow’s Bet: Kristen Wiig is hilarious and I will battle the rancor over it. This
2 0 1 6 2016
movie has the funniest female cast since Bridesmaids. If fans of the original can’t let themselves love the remake, the collective fan base of the leading ladies will. This one is a hit. 2) Assassin’s Creed: The popular video game is getting its own movie. The film appears to have a few good things going for it. New Regency, the production company which is responsible for the Oscar-winning films Birdman and 12 Years a Slave, is producing the movie. Michael Fassbender, who played Magneto in X-Men First Class, will play the lead role. Marion Cotillard will co-star. However, Assassin’s Creed has a few apparent weak spots. Its director is Justin Kurzel, director of the latest Macbeth film. Macbeth and Assassin’s Creed are two of five of Kurzel’s directing credits. Also, if the Kurzel/Fassbender/ Cotillard collaboration pans out as it did in Macbeth, the quality of the acting may be questionable. Barrow’s Bet: Roll the dice on this one. Let’s hope for some classic Mad Max style action sequences with quality special effects. If our eyes aren’t amazed,something tells me are hearts won’t be either. 3) Zoolander 2: The original fun, deliberately dim-witted comedy is either one you love or can’t stand. However, even those who are big fans of the first film may be skeptical. What can we expect? Familiar antics of the original cast? Throw back
jokes from the first film? Barrow’s Bet: I think the fate of this movie will ultimately play out similarly to that of Anchorman 2, drawing a lot of excited viewers in the beginning and dwindle in the weeks following. Not a lot of hype surrounding Ben Stiller these days and this movie might make him a has-Ben. 4) Warcraft: A second movie based from a video game, this movie draws its plot from the massive multiplayer online roleplaying game, World of Warcraft. Having grossed over 10 billion dollars as of July 2012, it is also the highest grossing video game of all time. In January 2014, it was announced that more than 100 million accounts had been created over the game's lifetime. It’s being directed by Duncan Jones, who directed Source Code back in 2011 and scored with the critics. Barrow’s Bet: The movie was announced back in 2009 so it’s been anticipated by fans of the video game since they were still actually playing it. Although Warcraft at one time could draw a good audience, interest had dwindled since its peak. I’m not sure Warcrafters will be joining back up with their guilds to raid the theaters for this one, but I believe in Duncan’s talent. Its appeal to gamers combined with its potential for action and crazy special affects is bound to draw crowds. Go see it. If you’re a long-time fan of the game and hope competition doesn’t water down the
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movie’s potential for its success: Allegiant Part 1 comes out the following weekend. 5) The Huntsman: Winter’s War: This is a sequel to the film Snow White and the Huntsman that came out in 2012, an original that was only slightly entertaining and didn’t warrant a sequel. However, Universal cleverly chose to drop Snow White from the story and focus in on Eric the Huntsman, a role that will be reprised by Chris Hemsworth. The story follows the Huntsman and his forbidden love interest as they take on a mission to stop two evil sisters, Ravenna and Freya, from taking over the land. Here is where the gamble gets even riskier: It’s directed by Cedric Nicolas- Troyan, the second unit director for the original. Although Nicolas- Troyan was the second unit director on Snow White and the Huntsman, this is the first movie he has been in charge of himself. Also, if this film is anything like its predecessor, the script will likely be confusing and shifty. The only thing this movie really has going for it right now is Chris Hemsworth as the lead. Barrow’s Bet: Are you a Hemsworth fan? The name alone won’t be enough to draw crowds, though it might draw a few. Very rarely have sequels out-performed there originals. The verdict is don’t expect much and you might be impressed.
Savannah Barrow Contributor
Lifestyle
Dorm Room Dining 14
Avocado Toast Reason: “Because we can’t have toasters, it’s more like Bread with Avocado Butter.”
Ingredients: 1 small avocado 2 pieces of bread olive oil lemon juice salt red pepper flakes Directions: There are two different ways to prepare: 1. Slice the avocado and lay it artistically on the bread. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil and lemon juice on top and then sprinkle on some salt and red pepper flakes. 2. Combine the avocado, a bit of olive oil, and lemon juice in a bowl and mix. This creates an avocado butter that you can spread on any flat surface you desire. If you want, add the salt and red pepper flakes on top, and enjoy!
DEVIN BANACH
“Because I’m a college student,” isn’t an excuse for a crappy diet. If you're anything like me, you will use any excuse to go home and chow down on mom’s super-amazing, life-giving, home-cooked meals. Also, over break your mom force fed you über healthy food, vitamins and all, to counteract the absolute garbage that you’ve been putting into your body over the course of the fall semester. Armed with plenty of veggies and vitamins, I’ve decided that this semester I won’t give in to, “I’m too tired and I’m too lazy and I’ll die if I exert any effort” mindset and actually make myself healthy, edible food. So, here is a sneak peek into some of my favorite recipes. For the remaining four recipes, head on over to the blog at www.ccga-crowsnest.com.
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Sports
16 jay landow sports columnist
Super bowl
The NFL playoffs are underway, and America is anxiously awaiting what is about to arrive: the coveted Super Bowl. The game will be played on Feb. 7, and while all Super Bowls are special, this year’s is a little more special than the rest. This year will mark the 50th Super Bowl game. Many aspects of the occasion will be the same. The game is expected to draw hundreds of millions of television viewers, as usual. An unimaginable amount of beer, pizza and wings will be sold. Commercials will be bought at a record high of $5 million per 30 seconds. Huge names will headline the halftime show. Coldplay is set to play the main stage, and appearances are expected by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, both of whom have played the Super Bowl halftime show in recent years. As always is with athletic championships, the spirits of some fans will be lifted, others will be crushed. Given the importance of the anniversary event, some small things will be different to signify the occasion. The same way a married couple calls their 50th anniversary the gold anniversary, the NFL has chosen gold as the theme for
Super Bowl 50. If you watched any games this season, you may have noticed the big 50’s used to mark the 50 yard line were filled in gold instead of white. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Is the site of the big game and was chosen in part because the facility is the newest in the NFL and the state t was the site of one of the largest gold rushes in American history in 1849, thus the San Francisco ‘49ers. In addition to the traditional Lombardi Trophy, the winners of this year’s Super Bowl will be awarded a 33-pound, 18-karat golden statue of the number 50. Another interesting change made especially for Super Bowl 50 is the switch from Roman numerals to the Arabic numerals we use today. That means the official logos will say “Super Bowl 50” as opposed to “Super Bowl L.” The tradition of using roman numerals will resume next year for Super Bowl LI. As of this article’s release date, which teams will play in the Super Bowl remains unknown. We only know who will play in the conference championships. Either the Denver Broncos or the New England Patriots will play for the AFC, and either the Carolina
Panthers or the Arizona Cardinals will play for the NFC. The Panthers had the best record in the NFL this season, going 14-0 before losing to the Atlanta Falcons in week 15 (#riseup). The Panthers won their next and last game to finish the season 15-1. The Cardinals finished the season 13-3, and the Broncos and Patriots both finished up the season at 12-4. The only game that featured two of the four teams left during the regular season was when the Patriots played against the Broncos on Nov. 29. The Broncos won in overtime 30-24. While none of the other teams met during the regular season, all of them played at least one of the other three teams during the pre-season. The year’s Super Bowl is shaping up to be a good one. The past few years, the Super Bowl has been a slight disappointment. The games have either been strikingly lopsided, or have been shrouded in off-field controversy. The teams left in contention seem to have us heading towards a highly competitive and entertaining championship game that will live up to the occasion and make the 50th Super Bowl one to remember.