Vol. 90, No. 8 February 13, 2013
New art exhibits open in Cowan by Nikki Gatlin
Recently, I made the rewarding decision to attend the opening of “The Devil’s in the Details,” an art exhibit currently housed in the Anne Rudd Galyon Gallery lobby of Cowan building. Ross Holt and Becky VanderVeen displayed a handful of their newest works. Holt’s images are very unique. When you look at them, it’s almost impossible to know what you’re seeing; in fact, you may not know that you’re seeing anything at all. Looking at the photographs, you might think his medium to be paint and blotchy application, paint and single brush strokes, undoctored reels of film, scenes seen through some sort of screen. None of these are the case, however. Holt’s photographs are simply
“Mother and Child” by Janet Gaddy
a snap of the camera lens. The only way the images have been altered is that they have been cropped and enlarged. Every other aspect of the photographs represents how they would appear if the viewer were to go to that exact place and moment in time and look at the sight the image captured. In his artist’s statement, Holt says he hopes each viewer will be impacted in their own way by his images and that each individual interpretation of his photographs will “murmur to a place inside us that we all share, before they are understood.” Using digital photo/metallic print as her medium, VanderVeen created an array of images which give the observer the opportunity to draw their own conclusions as to what they are seeing. Some of the pieces are fairly straightforward: the focus of the shot in “Pumpkin” allows for the attention to be drawn to the specific grains of the pulp of the pumpkin in view; “Tetris” shows a conglomeration of different colored gems attempting to fit together. Others require a more in-depth study to understand their subject and even then may not be completely clear. That’s part of their beauty, though: their ability to provide an individual experience for each viewer. You can visit the exhibit in the Anne Rudd Galyon Gallery now through February 25. Another exhibit opened the same night in the Irene Cullis Gallery, also in Cowan building. This exhibit, entitled “Comings and Goings: Gestures, Gestations and Stations of the Crossed,” includes work from art department faculty
“Prayers for Healing” by Becky VanderVeen
members. Janet Gaddy contributed beautiful glazed porcelain sculptures, including “Mother and Child,” where we see a faceless mother cradling her infant. The sculpture is powerful in its subtleties; the lack of facial features on the mother draws attention to the posture of her body, the grip of her hands, and the flow of her clothing while also bringing focus to the infant, who does have typical facial features and appears to be crying out in woe. Ted Efremoff’s work occupies a provocative corner of the exhibit, focusing on the impact of war. He includes pieces crafted with blood, an image representing the physical and territorial strife left behind from combat, and a video project. “Running Soldier,” Efremoff’s short video, is a simple recording of a soldier running, placed ghostly atop different
Funny First Friday with Adam Ace by Jonathan Hunter
Student Activities continued their “Funny First Fridays” series in February with comedian Adam Ace. Ace, a native of Washington D.C. and a graduate of Lynchburg College, brought his wacky, slapstick style of humor to Greensboro College. College was where he found his passion for performing and he hasn’t stopped since. Prior to his stop at GC, he recently performed in Mt Olive, N.C., Long Adam Ace performing
Photo courtesy Jonathan Hunter
Island N.Y., New Jersey, Iowa and Nebraska. His successful career has taken him to 49 out of the 50 states and to 27 countries. He has headlined clubs in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and was featured on the reality series “America’s Got Talent”. Ace also has the honor of being three-time College Comedian of the Year. Given his accomplishments, it is probably safe to say GC students knew they were in for a treat. Once Ace came to the stage he controlled the show and had the audience laughing all night. He catered his act toward college kids so that those in attendance could relate
Photos courtesy Nikki Gatlin
moving scenes of a city. Throughout the short the sound of military forces chanting is projected. The audience feels as if they are in a trance, unable to look away from the running soldier. In one scene, the soldier pulls his gun up and points it behind him as if aware, suddenly, of an impending threat. Even when back in the mundane everyday of this American city, the soldier is constantly in mind of duty and peril. There are many other excellent works displayed for your perusal, including photomontages from Ginger Jackson Williamson and a particularly interesting piece by Jim Langer titled “Son-o-Gram” using baby sonograms as inspiration. “Comings and Goings: Gestures, Gestations and Stations of the Crossed” runs in the Cullis Gallery through February 28. chelsea.gatlin@greensboro.edu
to his humor. He integrated music and sound effects with his jokes to give the audience a top-notch quality product. The highlight of the night was the question and answer portion of the show. Ace did not shy away from asking personal questions or using audience participation. Senior Meredith Kelly said, “He was hilarious and I loved how he involved the audience.” It’s clear that the students at GC enjoyed the comedic styles of Adam Ace. Be on the lookout for more Student Activity events at Greensboro College. jonathan.hunter@greensboro.edu
Editorial
Page 2
The Collegian
February 13, 2013
Exactly why is America so great? The obvious answer is ‘just because we are.’ I get that and, to a certain point, I agree with it. We live in the land of the free and home of the brave. Bald eagle free. Firefighter brave. America is great – except when it comes to our ideologies revolving around sports. It’s not that our athletes aren’t great. As partial as this is, it’s asinine to think that – in terms of quality and depth – the United States is not the world leader in athletics. This, however, doesn’t automatically make our domestic league winners ‘World Champions.’ The crowing of the Baltimore Ravens as ‘World Champions’ earlier this month took a social media shellacking – albeit a very fair argument – from non-Americans. One of Greensboro College’s own, British soccer player Liam Buckley, was quick to poke fun
Woody Wilder Editor at our ideology on his Twitter account: “Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on becoming world champions. World champions. World. #awkward.” Awkward indeed. It’s funny
how the National Football League (NFL) can claim world dominance vicariously through the Super Bowl winner. National Football League. World Champion. Awkward. According to Wikipedia – hey, this ain’t no English paper – there are four other countries with professional or at least semi-professional football leagues. Most notorious is, of course, the CFL run by our lovely neighbors to the north. Japan and Germany also have leagues with talent that probably rivals Pop Warner. Okay, I’m kidding. Just to play devil’s advocate, Baltimore would pummel any team from these leagues. Good gosh almighty, Jacksonville and Kansas City would even have a nice leisurely stroll through Blowout City Municipal Park with these teams. Still, based solely on the opinion of a college newspaper editor, you can’t
claim to be world champions. Oh, the world – or any rational football fanatic – shares my opinion too? Awkward. Nevertheless, you get my point. Same goes for the World Series winner in baseball. Last time I checked, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows didn’t have a chance to compete for that illustrious title. But this has nothing to do with the amount of leagues around the world in whatever sport you chose – football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. It all lies in our attitude toward sport. United States men’s national soccer team manager, Germanborn Jurgen Klinsmann,, spoke toward this idea by saying, “Americans are, by their nature, a very ambitious people. They don’t want to be number two. They want to be the best at whatever they do.” Bingo. No honest, emotionon-their-sleeve wearing, hungry
for success American athlete is going to be satisfied with second best. This leaks into the brains of the American sports media and the average sports nerd. Joe from Anywheresville, Texas in his Uncle Sam undies, American flag T-shirt, darkly tinted red, white and blue glasses, sipping on a tall glass of Budweiser watches from his recliner as Jim Nantz declares the Baltimore Ravens ‘World Champions’ and doesn’t question it. How could he? America is great. Our attitude towards sport, however ‘true’ it may be, is laughable and insulting to the rest of the world. Perhaps that attitude extends beyond sports? Nah. Couldn’t be.
tough to see the Ravens struggle. Things looked bleak entering into the postseason. But there was a sign of hope at the end of the tunnel. Lewis was healthy to return to play along with some other key players. The Ravens were getting healthy at just the right time. But, I knew as well as everybody else that the road to the Super Bowl was going to be a major challenge. Entering the playoffs the Ravens had a 25-1 chance at winning the Super Bowl. The Ravens according to many would beat the Colts at home, but lose to the Denver Broncos in the second round. There were plenty of doubters. This was also, unlike any other playoff run because Lewis announced prior to the playoffs that this would be his last season. He wanted to retire so he could be there for his children. Lewis announcing his retirement, in my opinion, was that emotional lift the Ravens needed to conquer the goal and be world champions. The Ravens beat the Indianapolis Colts at home as many expected 24-9 in an emotional win as the city came to see Lewis play his last game in Baltimore. The next game the Ravens would have to travel to the mile high city to defeat the Denver Broncos in brutally cold temperatures. The Broncos were a 9.5point favorite to win the game
and pretty much every major journalist/analyst gave Baltimore no chance. I remember watching “ESPN First Take” and everyone thought the game would be close, but the Broncos would ultimately have their way. The Broncos had a 13-3 season and quarterback Peyton Manning was having one of his best years ever. But, the Ravens were solid winning the turnover differential and had late game heroics from Flacco who aired a 70-yard bomb to Jacoby Jones, which sent the game into overtime. In double overtime Ravens corner Corey Graham intercepted a pass, which set up a 47-yard field goal by Justin Tucker, which won the game. The whole sports world witnessed one of the longest, most thrilling football games to date. After the thrilling win in Denver the Ravens had a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game where they were so close at winning, but fell short because of a dropped end zone catch. The Ravens once again were underdogs, but that did not bother them. Flacco threw for 240 yards and led them to a 28-13 victory. The Ravens would have their chance at capturing that elusive Super Bowl ring against the San Francisco 49ers – game that saw two brothers who were head coaches face-off for the title, a first in NFL History.
As a Ravens fan it was calming to watch the team go into the locker room up 21 to 6. Then, to start the second half I was ecstatic to see Jacoby Jones break away for a 108-yard touchdown run, giving the Ravens a 28-6 lead. Then during the next 49ers possession the lights in the Superdome went out. Play was not resumed for 34 minutes, which worked in San Francisco’s favor. The Ravens had lost their momentum and the 49ers had 17 unanswered points. The Ravens blow out was ruined and it made for a thrilling 34-31 victory. One play a lot of people are talking about is the fourth down play where there was no holding call on the Ravens. I personally thought it was the right call, but there are those who feel the 49ers were robbed. Nonetheless, the Ravens are Super Bowl XXXXVII champs. They showed how emotion can carry a team to victory. The Ravens also showed that a team can catch momentum in the playoffs no matter how their season finished. I am a proud Ravens fan!
patrick.wilder @greensboro.edu
Ravens prevail to win Super Bowl The Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl run was nothing short of a storybook ending that saw middle linebacker and team captain, Ray Lewis, go out on top. With the victory, Lewis earned his second ring and will walk away from the game as a champion. I don’t think there is any better way to walk away, than on your own terms hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. Prior to the Super Bowl run, the Baltimore Ravens were at the bottom of the list of teams projected to win. Early season injuries to Lewis and linebacker Terrell Suggs had a tremendous impact on the Ravens defense. The Ravens were no longer a top-10 defense and had to rely heavily on the offense. Meaning, quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice would have to carry the burden. Despite the obstacles placed in front of the team they were still able to win games and control the AFC North Division. After eleven games the Ravens had a nice 9-2 record, but things quickly turned. The Ravens lost three in a row to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos. They were able to find a win against the New York Giants, but lost their season finale to the Cincinnati Bengals. So, quickly a 9-2 team fin-
Jonathan Hunter Managing Editor ished 10-6, losing four out of their last five games. However, their record was strong enough to win their division and make the playoffs. Many football analysts said the Ravens backed their way into the playoffs. I couldn’t argue with that because the inconsistent play and poor execution are two factors that plagued the Ravens towards the end of the season. In that span where they lost four games in a row they had given up at least 23 points. In the losses against the Redskins and the Steelers they were not able to hold onto leads and lost by field goals. Being a Ravens fan it was
jonathan.hunter @greensboro.edu
The Collegian Staff Woody Wilder, Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor – Jonathan Hunter Assistant Editors – Briana Thomas and Jessica Quah Copy Editor – Nikki Gatlin
Contributors
Kady Evans Jonathan LaFlure Molly Miller Jessica Quah
Dylan Wimberley Hillary Savoy Jeremy Rains Amanda Meinhardt
Lacey Hunt Justin McKinney Melissa Rodriguez
Tyrell Bartell Addison Poole Chase Silvers
Wayne Johns, Faculty Advisor Graphic Design by Carol Brooks
February 13, 2013
News/Opinion The Collegian
Page 3
Pride Productions Why is homosexuality such an issue? in the spotlight By Tyrell Bartell
by Molly Miller
Ever wonder who organizes the fun events around campus, things like Funny First Fridays, movies in Huggins or Bingo? Under the fearless leadership of student activities director Kim Caudle and her team of tireless student volunteers, events like these are hosted (free for our student body) by Pride Productions. Pride Productions meets once a week and members choose to be event coordinators of specific activities they show an interest in bringing to campus. They then submit a budget proposal and it is approved by Kim. Functions already hosted by Pride Productions this year include: The Welcome Back Bash, comedians Jonny Loquasto and Adam Ace, the movie screening of Pitch Perfect, open mic coffee night, and the ever popular Bingo night. Pride Productions has averaged one event a week this semester. Some upcoming events for Pride Productions will consist of Winter Rose (February 16), Relaxation Night (February 19), a Zoo trip (March 2), Spring Fling (March 20), and another screening of a popular movie (March 26). If you have an event you would be interested in bringing to campus, or if you just want to join in the fun, feel free to contact Kim at kimberly.caudle@ greensboro.edu to find out when the next meeting will be held. Hope to see you all at Winter Rose. mollymiller@greensboro.edu
People are quick to judge someone without knowing the full facts. If you don’t know a person, you have no right to judge them or say disrespectful things just because you don’t like something about them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but having different beliefs is no reason to put someone down. I asked one of my bisexual friends about how she felt about this. Her response was “I don’t like it because I am open-minded. Close-minded people fail to realize that homosexuals are humans too.” I could tell by her eyes how disgusted she was by this type of behavior. Just this past year, there was an incident where Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum equated homosexuality to having sex with animals. This in my eyes is unacceptable. He also refers to homosexuality as “not healthy” for the society, and that gay marriage would make the country “fail”. A gay
soldier serving in Afghanistan sent a video to Santorum asking “What would you do with gay soldiers now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell?” Santorum’s response wasn’t the worst, but the audience started booing the soldier. It makes no sense to me that some people could be so heartless as to boo someone who fights for our country, just because he is gay. This was someone who risks his life every day to make our country safer and people had the nerve to boo him. This behavior needs to stop. It is out of line and terribly wrong. I have gay family members and friends, so this ignorance does not sit well with me. With gay marriage legal in nine states as well as the District of Columbia, the recent repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the Supreme Court set to hear, in late March, arguments in two cases that challenge current marriage laws. Hopefully it’s just a matter of time until it’s no longer an issue. tyrell.bartell@greensboro.edu
Spotlight: United African American Society by Briana Thomas
As President Obama begins his second term in office, it is not difficult to recognize the importance of Black History Month. For February’s celebration, I challenge everyone to set aside personal political views and acknowledge that we are living in an era of great history. Powerful black leaders of the past have paved the way for the leaders of today, such as President Obama. The rich African American history inspires ethnic organizations to step up and be leaders in the community. On this campus, Greensboro College’s very
own United African American Society has been a school role model for several years. With open minds and a focused vision, U.A.A.S. strives to unite the student body through various campus activities and community outreach. During the Fall 2012 semester, U.A.A.S. sponsored several events such as: Haunted Main, Monster Mash, Welcome Back Social, and a Talent Show. All of these events welcomed participants of different ethnicities and ages. The events were free and usually featured contests in which prizes were given out. While the members of U.A.A.S. strive to keep all
events light-hearted and fun, the next event will be educational. On February 22, U.A.A.S. is hosting a Black History Expo Night. There will be a performance by the African dance company, Suah, who will sing, dance, and lecture. The lecture is what Suah likes to call “edutainment”, and they will explain the meaning and history of each dance motion they perform. In the spirit of remembering the past we must be aware of the future. This is why, last semester, U.A.A.S. sponsored HIV testing at the Student Health Center here at Greensboro College; the group recogniz-
es the importance of staying healthy. U.A.A.S. advisor Brandi Phillips keeps the organization on track with its goal of uplifting the community, and Andy Jean, former president of U.A.A.S., led the organization to winning several awards. Andy Jean passed the torch to Leondra Richardson and she is doing a phenomenal job at running the club, drawing inspiration from the influence of her role model, Maya Angelou. With the help of Richardson’s vice president, Bria Stephens, U.A.A.S. is on the way to another successful school year. “Being a part of U.A.A.S.
is a great opportunity to learn about the African American History that was established here at Greensboro College,” says Stephens. Richardson extends an invitation to the student body: “Anyone who is interested in joining us in our efforts to support the African American community please contact me!” February is commonly known for the holiday of love, but let’s honor this month also with the celebration of Black history. briana.thomas @greensboro.edu
traveled at a maximum speed of 35 mph, which is not beneficial for long distances, nor a rushed commute to work or school. This vehicle would be more suitable for running short errands. Besides the pros and cons of the P45, the vehicle’s appearance is an unusual sight. The car is blue and white, and Slate Magazine refers to the P45 as a “cozy coupe crossed with a LEGO spaceman.” The passenger must wear a helmet that has attached shoulder pads. The mini car resembles a go kart, with no doors, so the passenger’s legs and arms are not enclosed - similar to a motorcycle. The P45 does come with small side mirrors and headlights. Jeremy Clarkson might have shared the spotlight with
the P45, but the brains behind the car are a group of students from Coventry University. The thirteen undergraduate students in the automotive and design course were assigned a hefty task: one week to create a design for BBC’s car show. Thomas Lumley and Mike Antoniazzi were chosen out of the group for having the top designs, making the 21-year-olds responsible for the construction of the P45. The P45 may not be the safest motorized car on the road, but it is without a doubt the smallest. It is possible that within the next few months, the P45 could be on the market in other countries. So be on the lookout for the next ‘tiny’ thing!
World’s smallest car holds 2 liters of gas by Briana Thomas
Streets of the United Kingdom have been graced by the latest car invention. The BBC show Top Gear premiered its 19th season with the debut of the P45. Host of the show, Jeremy Clarkson, test drove the mini car on highways and through shopping centers to reveal the abilities of the P45. The gas-powered P45 can be fueled without stepping out of the vehicle, which Clarkson demonstrated during the episode. The micro car may lack size and space, but is extremely fuel efficient: Clarkson was able to fill up the P45 with only 1.7 liters of gas and the tank only holds up to 2 liters. Also, the P45 has hybrid capabilities and can draw power off of an electric motor and batteries.
Jeremy Clarkson in the P45 car.
There are, however, some downfalls to this latest contraption. The tiny car can only contain one passenger at a time, somewhat like a scooter with a windshield and side mirrors.
Photo courtesy the BBC
Furthermore, the four-wheeled invention does not function well on main highways. Clarkson had a rough time keeping up with the busy traffic of the crowded A3 road, as on Top Gear the P45
briana.thomas @greensboro.edu
Read The Collegian online at www.greensboro.edu
Page 4
The Collegian
Happy Valentine’s
February 13, 2013
Love: A four-letter word by Jessica Quah
Maybe you can’t wait for Valentine’s Day, or maybe you can’t wait for it to be over, but there is no denying the power of the love song. Since the first madrigal blossomed upon the lutestrings of some forgotten balladeer, love songs have become a permanent fixture in music. In fact, probably 70-80 percent of all songs written in the 20th and 21st centuries have something to do with love (or the thought of it). It may well be possible to feed small countries with the amount of income generated by the love songs flooding today’s media channels, which leads to some questions: what is a love song, what’s the big deal about love songs, and are there any good ones out there? ‘What’s in a name?’ Shakespeare famously asked through Juliet, and in doing so thus addressed many of life’s questions, not least of them one regarding the description of what might be called a ‘typical’ love song. The idea of a love song depends on the individual listener and what evokes their memory or sensation of affection. It could be a song that reminds you of someone special or a song that seems particularly personally suited for you. But if this February finds you unsure of what to listen to, consider this: a love song can
be found in just about any genre you want to find it in. One does not have to look far to find love songs: any song suitable to be played at a wedding will do. Re-recordings of older songs are still around for a good reason – there is something true and nostalgic about them, and romantics of every age continue to identify with them. For those seeking a good alternative version of the golden oldies, Maroon 5 does a sweet “The Way You Look Tonight,” and nobody does “To Make You Feel My Love” quite like Adele. Non-traditionalists might prefer less commercial love songs combined with some grittier emotion, like Damien Rice’s aching, vaguely obsessive “Blower’s Daughter.” For an immensely popular genre, love songs have a history of being written more originally and more interestingly than one might expect. Take, for instance, little-known band Crash Kings’ wistful “Raincoat,” with its fresh pianorock sound and sense of longing, Vienna Teng’s gentle “City Hall” snapshot, or Death Cab For Cutie’s morbid alt-indie staple “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” and you will have a good sampling of the creativity driving adult alternative love songs. It can probably be said honestly that
love doesn’t come with a volume control option, so if feelings are to be shouted from the rooftops, that can be taken care of with songs like “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (keep it original, because nothing compares to Freddie Mercury), or “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” from Jet. This also works if you simply want Valentine’s Day to be like any other day, and don’t appreciate the commercialism of love; there is a massive collection of rockin’ anti-love songs that, like Halestorm’s “I Miss The Misery,” make some excellent points. Love isn’t all butterflies and sunshine, and there is a dark, real side of it that has to be dealt with too. Often, though, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone (from “Big Yellow Taxi”), and some of the finest songs about love deal with its loss. There isn’t anything wrong with celebrating heartbreak on Valentine’s, if it means looking at past relationships and remembering the feeling of being in love. Depressing though it may sound, there is something almost more genuine about sad songs, probably because getting things right all the time isn’t humanly possible. Songs like Jay Brannan’s “Beautifully” hold true for the hurt and purity of unrequited love, and Citizen Cope’s “Sideways” is a prime example of how emotion lingers long after
the end of a relationship. Something about love has captured human imagination consistently through the centuries, and is still the subject of numerous stories, fantasies and songs. While the pop industry is making its fortune off puppy love, infatuation and physical attraction more than anything else, there is still plenty of quality music dealing with just about every facet of the real emotional tangle that is love and its side effects, speaking both to listeners who identify with it and those who are waiting to experience it.
February: You can’t sit with us by Hillary Savoy
For most college students, February is just another month to get through until warmer weather and Spring Break. For others, it’s the month of the Valentine. Before January even closed its doors, the “He went to Jared” commercials began and the aisles in every store turned pink and red. Not cynical but a little bit bothered, I choose to avoid Valentine’s Day with the same attitude I use on the creepy guy at the bar – You’re coming on too strong and I’m not buying what you’re selling. I mean, what’s more annoying than the couple sitting on the same side of the table? Those who complain about being single on Valentine’s
Day. Making jokes about being forever alone or having an “I Hate Valentine’s Day” party. Well that’s why you’re single. This “holiday” is sweet if you have someone to share it with, but for everyone else who doesn’t, it’s also nice to stuff your face with heart shaped Reese’s, ‘cause let’s be honest, they’re just better than the original. I can’t really complain though because what goes on in February besides Valentine’s Day? Groundhog Day is already over. Oh wow, the rodent came out of a hole and ran back inside. Now Spring comes early this year meaning we all have to go to the gym. Have you ever heard of a President’s Day party? No.
Somebody cares by Melissa Rodriguez
Everybody knows January starts with New Year’s resolutions for a brighter and healthier year. Some even list volunteering as a resolution to add meaning to time otherwise spent frivolously. These resolutions are great, but what about an act of kindness that can fit into everyday life? Random acts of kindness come in all shapes and sizes but can make a lasting difference to the receiver. Kindness can be found in a simple ‘good morning’, wave or smile. For someone having a rough morning, a warm smile and friendly ‘good morning’ can change the momentum of their day. An act of kindness that has made a lasting impression on me was a Reddit picture posted on Jan. 14. This revealed the kind-hearted words of one person to several women experiencing agony. This act of kindness came in the form of an anonymous letter taped to the stall door in the girl’s restroom. The letter was a response to the painful con-
fessions written on these walls. These confessions included but were not limited to rape, eating disorders, alcoholism, and the death of loved ones. The letter is relaying the acknowledgment of pain, strength, love and beauty: the pain of experiencing these events; the strength to endure, expose and continue onward; the love to have for others because we are all people and the beauty of caring and wanting to help. The letter closed with “To all of you (including those I did not mention, and those who have not yet written) - You are worthy. - You are strong. - You are brave. - You are loved. - Somebody cares.” Many times, kind words pass with no acknowledgement but that was not the case here; I echo the message written at the bottom of this letter “To the person that wrote this, thank you.” melissa.rodriguez @greensboro.edu
The Super Bowl came and went, and now we’re all getting over the hangover that was Beyonce’s halftime show. There’s nothing else exciting about February. It’s the black sheep of months. The tag along friend who can’t take a hint, and the kid in class who reminds the teacher we had homework due. Unless it’s your birthday, which would make it somewhat exciting, the only gift Feb is going to give you is the flu. Honestly, the only good thing about February is the deal on candy after it’s over. So what are we supposed to
jessica.quah@greensboro.edu
do? Rush through the month until is finally over? Yeah, probably. hillary.savoy @greensboro. edu
Molly’s Crafting Corner:
Record water fountain by Molly Miller
If you are anything like me, you dread when Valentine’s Day rolls around and you have to figure out what to give the special person in your life. I wish it was as easy as it was when we were five and you could give your mom the construction paper heart card you made at school. Unfortunately, gift giving isn’t that simple anymore. Once adding in the factor of being broke college students, our lives get much more difficult. So here is a fun, cost effective project from my favorite creative outlet Pintrest. Get Those Records Off the Shelf Water Fountain Materials: • 2 LPs (records) • Oven • Pie Plate • Gloves, cotton • Fountain pump (smallest available) • Water • Glue, waterproof • 2 flat items about 2” in diameter (plastic, metal or glass to cover the holes in the record) • Tube to fit on pump • Hot pads • Knife • Filler, marbles, waterproof game pieces Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. 2. Turn pie plate upside down. Place record on
top. Place in oven for 3-5 minutes. Ovens vary so keep an eye on it. 3. Wearing gloves and using hot pads, place record inside pie plate to form. Let set until hard. It won’t take very long. 4. Repeat with record over the glass except when removed from oven, leave record on glass to cool. 5. Glue flat objects over holes in record. Let dry. 6. Place tall record piece in pie-shaped record. If pump is adjustable, use at lowest setting. Place pump in tall piece, using suction cups, if provided with pump. Cut tube to slightly lower then rim of record. Cover pump with water. Test pump. Fill pump area with desired filler objects. mollymiller@greensboro.edu
February 13, 2013
Around Campus The Collegian
Page 5
Red Clay: Sax appeal by Jessica Quah
The saxophone was first invented by its namesake, Adolphe Sax, in 1846 – late compared to the ‘standard’ instruments from earlier. But the saxophone made up for its youth and relative inexperience by being one of the most flexible and virtuosic instruments today. In the hands of an expert, the saxophone has a wide variety of tone colors, an effective dynamic scale and a formidable pitch range. Little wonder, then, that the Red Clay saxophone quartet made beautiful music even more awe-inspiring on February 8 at Huggins Auditorium. Brought to Greensboro College’s campus by Music for a Great Space (founded by ex-GC piano professor Henry Ingram), Red Clay is Susan Fancher on soprano sax, Robert Faub on alto, Steven Sussek on tenor and Mark Engebretson on bari sax. Each member of Red Clay is not only a professional musician with years of international experience, but also an active instructor or clinician in North Carolina. Besides performing for local school students on the morning of February 7, Red Clay also held a master class
for GC and private students on February 7 at noon before performing a full-length concert the next night. The master class was an exemplary display of student effort and performances as well as eye-opening technical and musical advice from the Red Clay musicians. Pointers about projection, tone quality and musical understanding are applicable to most instruments, and this masterclass presented learning opportunities for any musician. The performance of Kabalevsky’s “Sonatina in C” by GC’s student saxophone quartet was especially interesting, as the Red Clay professionals offered ideas about balance and musical integration to improve the group as a whole instead of the individual approach taken with soloists. Of course, the highlight of the week was the concert itself, and Red Clay delivered a spectacular performance. Their choice of repertoire was wideranging in mood and style, and demonstrated the well-established status of the saxophone quartet. Opening with a lively and colorful Chick Corea number, “Spain” (arranged for sax quartet by Michael Burns), Red
Clay went on to perform a more intense, gritty piece by Perry Goldstein, “Motherless Child Variations,” before turning to the transcendental harmonies of “Summa” by Arvo Pärt. The first half closed with local composer Russell Peck’s flavourful and humorous “Drastic Measures.” Red Clay took the stage again after the intermission, with the North Carolina premier of David Rakowski’s specially commissioned piece “Compass.” This intricate and complex four-movement work showcased Red Clay’s incredible dexterity, coordination and clarity while incorporating a spectrum of musical nuances. The evening wrapped up with Thierry Escaich’s “Tango Virtuoso” and an encore of a folk tune theme and variations (“O Waly Waly”) from renowned composer Ben Johnston. Greensboro College has seen some amazing musicians and guest performances, and Red Clay is definitely another to be added to that list. Red Clay illustrates the heights that students aspire to achieve, and continues to be an example of dedicated individuals coming together to create masterpieces.
full of a variety of fascinating, complex, fun characters. This makes it a great choice for the actors who are currently in the theatre department. Plus it is one of my own personal favorites. Working on it here at Greensboro College has only increased my fondness for it.” Twelfth Night features an array of actors from the theatre department and even includes
an alumni and a music major. “It has been great to see so much crossdepartmental involvement,” said senior acting major Madeline Wi l l i a m s . “We have a music major in Twelfth Night and theatre majors in the upcoming Opera workshop.” When asked what she enjoyed about Twelfth Night, Junior actress Samantha Hight
Red Clay saxaphone quartet
Red Clay members taught a master class for GC students during their stay on campus. jessica.quah@greensboro.edu
Twelfth Night is about communication By Molly Miller
“I believe Shakespeare’s language opens people’s hearts and minds to what human beings are capable of in terms of communication,” said Jo Hall, Twelfth Night director and acting professor. “We live in an age where technology is relegating verbal communication to a minimalist form. Shakespeare shows us just what human beings are capable of both in terms of language and emotion. “Twelfth Night is a particularly good fit for our department because it gives so many actors the opportunity to shine. The plot does not focus primarily on just one character, such as Hamlet or Macbeth; this play is
Do your part in Relay for Life by Molly Miller
A birthday is a special day on the calendar for just about anybody – but it’s a particularly meaningful milestone to cancer survivors and their families and caregivers. The American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” of Greensboro College offers survivors and their loved ones a chance to celebrate all the additional candles on their cakes since diagnosis. The annual event, held at Greensboro College on April 19, is also a way for the campus community to honor and celebrate the lives of local cancer survivors; and it reminds us that cancer doesn’t sleep, and neither will we until we find the cure. Since the first “Relay For
Life,” held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., the event has raised more than $4 billion at more than 5,200 events throughout the country. Last year our Relay event raised $10,000. Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors of all ages walk or run around the track for the first lap. This emotional time sets the stage for the importance of each
participant’s contribution. Highlighting the evening is the luminaria service, a vigil held at nightfall to honor survivors and to remember those lost to cancer. Luminaria line the track and remain lit throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay For Life event. Anyone is welcome to form a Relay team. Some current relay teams include the men’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, GC Reslife and the Alpha Xi Deltas. To register your team go to http://main.acsevents.org/site/ TR?pg=entry&fr_id=53897. So break out your purple and let’s all help Greensboro College Kiss Cancer Goodbye! mollymiller@greensboro.edu
responded, “It’s is my favorite of the comedies of Shakespeare. It is actually a really well known story, Both the film She’s the Man and the musical All Shock Up are loosely based on it. The piece includes fighting, singing, dancing, and bear-baiting. It is also one of the easiest Shakespearean comedies to follow.” “Twelfth Night, especially when compared to other Shakespearean pieces, is so much more about the action then the exposition,” said junior acting major Nikki Gatlin. “Because of that, you don’t really find yourself sitting through dull moments in this show. There is always something to
witness and a new gem to find every time you see it.” Twelfth Night will be performed in Gail Brower Huggins Performance Center, Odell Building February 20-24. Show times include WednesdaySaturday, February 20-23 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. The show features not only the amazing talents of the current theatre students but also will include performances from an alumni and a music major. There is nothing that beats a classic Shakespearean piece and you are not going to want to miss this one for the world. mollymiller@greensboro.edu
From the SGA: by Molly Miller
The Student Government Association has been battling some hot topics this past month. There is a general sense of student apathy cascading across our campus and it has begun to greatly affect our student organizations. There is an abundant lack of professionalism, communication, and leadership that lies not only within the student government association but has engulfed our campus and generation in general. We seem to have groups of students who don’t want to branch out from their dorm rooms and do basically anything. In short, we are not using our student voice to its full potential. So what do we do? We within the Student
Government Association want to make sure students can see the changes we are making. We will begin working towards smaller, more specific goals. We will put our stamp on things so you know whose hard work has been accomplished. Including writing letters to the president’s council to let them know what we want. Things such as new furniture and better function in Hill lobby, washers and dryers that always work, and mail room hours when someone is always there. Have something you want to see fixed on campus? Tell us about it. You can email your concerns to sga@greensboro.edu or message us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/GreensboroCollegeSGA. Let your voice be heard. mollymiller@greensboro.edu
Page 6
Campus/Community The Collegian
The ‘A’ Paper by Chase Silvers
According to Dr. Hebert, professor of English at Greensboro College, “an A paper should be original, creative and interesting, but it does not have to be publishable.” So, that is one perspective from one professor, but in general, how should an ‘A’ paper look? Firstly, you must complete the assignment using the professor’s explicit instructions and on time. It is usually impossible to achieve an ‘A’ without these important steps. In regards to actual content, when you are writing the ‘A’ essay, you must first decide on a topic for your paper. Generally, there is a prompt – hint, following the professor’s instructions – but if not, you can try brainstorming different ideas to write about with your ‘carte blanche.’ After you have decided on your topic, the next step is to develop a thesis statement. A well formulated thesis statement should be able to tell the reader what the paper is about, establish the main points you are presenting in the paper and should define the purpose of your essay. In order to write a good thesis statement the writer
must do the following: provide a hook sentence that grabs the reader’s attention, create your thesis and add about two to three sentences that explain the main points of your analysis. After your thesis statement has been completed and you are comfortable with it, then you prepare an outline or a diagram. When you prepare an outline, you are able to structure your ideas and see them more concretely. This also allows you to give some examples, elaborate on your examples and flesh things out. You must also be able to use quotations correctly in your essay. To do this you must know how to analyze a quotation. Analyzing a quotation closely helps you move away from filling your paper with ‘fluff’ and toward filling your paper with solid details. Finally, you must proofread your work and edit it. A good way to proof your essay is to read it out loud and often many mistakes can be found. Oh, and don’t plagiarize – that is a surefire way to flunk. chase.silvers @greensboro.edu
February 13, 2013
A short story:
Then I Became Afraid By Nikki Gatlin
I am afraid of the dark, of the deep, of the things that could be surrounding me. I didn’t choose to be here. I chose to be at home, fully clothed, eating three meals a day and seeing faces from more than memory. They took that from me. They made me their sacrificial artistic prodigy and I fear most that there is no escape. The nails on my fingers have become tough as my heart in their attempt to claw away the binding walls, and exact their revenge upon the monstrous vermin above. Their only success, however, has been in etching a reminder of the passing days which can only be counted by touch. I begin to tally the marks, following them as they encircle me in my sepulcher, but I became dizzy before I reach an end. Why do I deserve this? I have been nothing but compliant my whole life, I have followed their rules, but somehow that has not been enough. Somehow it is that complacen-
cy that has brought me here, to this deep hole in the ground beneath our city. I see the light only once a day and only long enough for them to lower the pail full of water down to me. I am not allowed food, only the water; what good is a hunger artist who doesn’t starve? On what I have calculated to be Tuesday of each week, they remove the cover from the top of the well for what I assume to be near an hour. The town is required to gather around for this period of time and observe their spectacle. The children are encouraged to write papers for their classes, describing the helpless, starving, nude girl at the bottom of the well and are then given lessons on the importance of the process. I learned about it too. It was one of those rituals you read about in history and religion class, something that seemed so far removed from the place you lived now that it branded itself into your mind as nothing more than a myth told to warn you of the repercussions of bad behavior. I can only pray that this is all
a game, a warning, and not the offering they teach. I run my fingers through my ever-tangling hair and, as they catch on a clump, a handful of hair falls to the ground and coils. My hair is weak, same as my body, and I am afraid. A tear streams down my right cheek, a shudder races through my body and suddenly I am aware. The people of this town prepared me for this exhibition. The women would brush my hair ten times a day and the men would teach me to be weak and submissive. I was never allowed to exert myself, to eat hearty meals, to sleep with the lights out. A subject is most apt for observation when it is at its most heightened vulnerability. This is no accident and I was so naïve. My chest tightens as the thought grows in my mind, and I realize the unavoidable truth of my fate. This will end exactly as I fear it will. chelsea.gatlin @greensboro.edu
Son of Greensboro College Tutoring could mean better grade alumni dies at age 3 by Lacey Hunt
Need help on that paper due next week? Are you “bad at commas”? The writing tutors at Greensboro College can help. Beginning February 5, students can sign up for one 30-minute tutoring appointment per day. Tutoring sessions are held in Cowan 202. The professional tutors offer help for any type of writing assignment. They help with revisions, citations, grammar/punctuation, organization, research, resumes/cover letters, and even graduate work. Tutors will not “fix” papers, anticipate grades, or comment on the content of a paper. Students should come to the session with up to 5-6 pages of work already completed and should have 2-3 problem areas for the tutor to address. The tutoring is conducted by Erica-Brittany Horhn and Colleen Colby. Horhn, an Ohio native, received a BA from Baldwin University. She moved to North Carolina and received an MA from North Carolina A&T State University. Colby received her BA from SUNY Geneso, her JD from SUNY Buffalo, and her MFA in Fiction Writing from UNCG. In addition to face-toface tutoring, online tutoring is available, too. Colby conducts these sessions to better facilitate the needs of students with busy schedules and for Master’s program students who may live out of state or even international students, such as some MA in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Tutoring Hours: Monday: 10:45-11:45 a.m. Tuesday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday: 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Thursday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday: Online appointment only
Languages) students. Online tutoring is available Tuesday and Sunday evenings. On these nights, Colby will send an intake form to each participant. The student should email the completed form and 5 pages of work to Colby by 6:00 pm. She will respond with suggestions between 7:30-9:00 p.m.and will be available for further feedback by email/phone/Google chat until 10:00 pm. Colby says, “Online tutoring has been very popular and we have added an additional hour this school year, after seeing how popular it was last spring ….” Before turning in a paper you aren’t certain about, consider going to the writing lab. As Hohrn put it, “Tutoring is helpful for everyone, even those who feel they don’t need it … When writing an assignment, it may make perfect sense to you; however, when working with a tutor, you may realize that perhaps your message is not clear to others.” For more information, visit www.greensboro.edu/academics/departments/english/watc/ writing-tutor.cfm or email the tutors at colleen.colby@greensboro.edu or erica.horhn@ greensboro.edu. lacey.hunt @greensboro.edu
Jack “Team Jack” Purssord, the son of former Greensboro College student-athletes John Paul Purssord and Bev Wilson Purssord, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the age of 3. Jack had been found at age 4 months to have a brain tumor. The Greensboro College family united to form “Team Jack” to help him and his family battle the disease. John Paul and Bev graduated from Greensboro College in 1999. John Paul was a member of the men’s lacrosse team, while Bev played soccer for The Pride. Jack was born on June 17, 2009. After receiving word of Jack’s tumor, the Greensboro College men’s lacrosse program organized in support of Team Jack. The team and school came together to assist in raising funds to help Jack’s fight. To further show their support and remind them of the big picture in life, The Pride incorporated the Team Jack light-blue color into their uniforms. Despite living in Maryland, the Purssord family has been highly involved in the Greensboro College men’s lacrosse program. In 2011, Jack and his family attended a Pride home game against Whittier. With Jack in the crowd, Greensboro pulled out a thrilling 12-11 victory in the final seconds. During the 2012 season, the family joined The Pride for their team dinner in Maryland prior to a match with Wesley. “Jack Preston A few of
JACK PURSSORD Purssord has been a role model every day of his life,” said head Greensboro College men’s lacrosse coach Dan Cetrone. “The journal entries that his mom and dad posted (on Facebook) were inspiring, whether the news was good or bad. No matter what the outcome was, it seemed like Jack was going with it. He would have his straw in his mouth, chewing on it, and he was going with it. He is now an angel looking down on us, with his smile and his calm way about him.
“I will never forget the times that I had to see and hang out with Jack. JP, Bev and the rest of Team Jack, thank you for allowing us to be so involved in the life of your son. We will always appreciate the life lessons that we learned.” A reception to honor Jack was held Feb. 7, at Kalas Funeral Home in Edgewater, Maryland and the memorial service was Feb. 8, at Woods Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Hospice of the Chesepeake (please put “Jack Purssord/Chesapeake Kids” on the memo line), 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis MD, 21401; or Children’s National Medical Center Brain Tumor Institute (please write “in memory of Jack Purssord” on the memo line), Children’s Hospital Foundation, ATTN: Meredith Chipman, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 300, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Memorial gifts also are welcome via CNMC’s website with Jack Purssord’s name as the tribute.
the many members of Team Jack.
Sports
February 13, 2013
The Collegian
Page 7
Pride runs deep for Lojko by Dylan Wimberley
Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens stayed with the same team for 17 years and is now retiring having never worn another uniform. Here at Greensboro College, we have a streak more impressive than that – Coach Jean Lojko, our Hall of Fame volleyball coach, will be retiring from coaching after 32 years on the sidelines. Coach Lojko’s illustrious career has consisted of a lone year as assistant volleyball coach, 31 years as head women’s volleyball coach, six years as women’s basketball coach, and nine years as the tennis coach. Away from the
sidelines, she was the Associate Athletic Director as well as Athletic Director, and taught for 30 years. There are very few people who could handle this career for 32 years, but Coach Lojko has done it with many highlights on the way. As the women’s basketball coach, Coach Lojko was able to take down neighbor UNCG-one highlight of her illustrious career. During her 32 year tenure there are many highlights such as trips to our country’s great cities like Boston, Los Angeles, and Dallas. In 2005, Coach Lojko had the most talent she has ever had and was able to win the regular season but fell just short in the conference
COACH JEAN LOJKO finals. In 1990, Coach Lojko did something that no Greensboro College women’s team had ever done – an undefeated confer-
ence record, No. 1 seed in the region, and an NCAA appearance. However, the number one highlight was the first graduating class as a head coach. Recruiting is a huge part of college athletics. It gives coaches a chance to build bonds with players as well as families. The first recruiting class that a coach has is special, especially when that group of seniors can go 12-0 in the conference and leave in style. I asked Coach Lojko what she will miss most and her response shows what really meant the most to her as a coach: “I will miss the interaction with the student-athletes
on our trips and watching them graduate from College.” Greensboro College is a part of Coach Lojko, and Coach Lojko is a part of Greensboro College. A career that spanned 32 years with many wins and memories along the way has come to an end on Coach’s terms. Greensboro College has been lucky to have Coach Lojko, and even more lucky that she is staying on board at the school, and we will miss seeing her on the sidelines of our teams. Thank you, Coach Lojko, for 32 years of greatness. We are … One Pride! dylan.wimberley @greensboro.edu
Mayo C. Harlow Court dedicated between games by Jonathan LaFlure
Saturday, January 26, brought a new day to the Greensboro College athletics department. Between the men’s and women’s basketball games there was a court dedication ceremony in honor of the newly renovated Mayo C. Harlow Court. Members of the Harlow family and friends were in attendance including Mrs. Catherine Harlow – the one who made the facelift possible. She funded the project in honor of her late husband and 1966 graduate of Greensboro College, Mayo C. Harlow. President Lawrence Czarda and Athletic Director Dan Cetrone both gave speeches dedicating the court and even Mrs. Harlow shared a few words. All of the coaches and some of the players that play in Hanes Gym gave their thanks in a special dedication video that was played during the reception for the family. If you have not yet been to Hanes Gym then you are missing a lot. The gym has been repainted and all of the banners have been updated into a new more modern look – while also reflecting the upcoming changes to the USA South Conference. Also, there are now new court decals on the floor at center court, with the Lion’s head logo, and down the baselines with the words “Greensboro College” written across them. Perhaps the most important upgrade the gym has added is a permanent sound system. The new system allows for more features including a wireless microphone, so the games can become more interactive to the fans. Before the court ceremony, the Greensboro College men’s basketball team took
to the new floor against Highway 29 rival Averett. The Pride started off very strong, as they began the game on a 17-8 run. The Cougars would rally back to pull within one, but after that moment it was all Pride as they went into the half leading 48-34. The second half was the same story as the first with the Pride pulling even farther away from Averett and took at one point a 25-point lead. Greensboro would go into cruise control and end the game with a 95-73 victory. Following the dedication and during the reception for the Harlow family, the women were on the floor playing Piedmont. Due to the inclement weather the game was pushed back to a 4 p.m. starting time. Greensboro slowly built their lead in the first half taking a 15-9 lead in the first ten minutes. Piedmont closed the gap by halftime at 28-23 in favor of Greensboro College. The Pride came out of the locker room and began to pull away from the Lions. The Pride would go on to win the game by a score of 59-45. Bianca Richburg led the Pride with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Other notable players during the game include Jena Cabe, Alicia Burr and Chevena Pickard. All in all the day was a huge success, Mayo C. Harlow court was dedicated and the ceremony was very successful. Also, both of the Pride basketball teams came away with victories. I would just like to thank the entire Harlow family for their contribution to Greensboro College. Hanes Gym now has a great college feel and is a more modern facility. Thank you. Roll Pride! jonathan.laflure @greensboro.edu
Senior Matt Moscatello brings experience to a younger Photos courtesy Altasky men’s tennis team.
Senior Meredith Kelly looks to cap off a brilliant athletic career on the tennis court.
Tennis season begins by Jeremy Rains
The Pride men’s and women’s tennis teams will take the court soon looking to improve upon last year’s marks of 5-10 and 6-10, respectively. The men return sophomore Matt Miller, juniors Matthew Troy and Chris Espinoza, and lone senior Matt Moscatello. They have added freshmen Keanau Fletcher and Kyle Gatti, as well as transfer sophomore Ian Weiner. The Pride’s ladies will be returning two top talents in Elizabeth Adair and Meredith Kelly. Kelly won seven singles matches and three doubles matches last year. Both teams will be under direction of first year coach Andy Smith. Coach Smith brings experience from NC A&T University as well as
Division 1 schools Georgia State and GardnerWebb. During his time at Gardner-Webb, Coach Smith led his teams to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) championship with the men taking home the title in 2001. Coach Smith and both Pride tennis teams will be on the prowl looking to bring a championship of their own back to Greensboro this season. The ladies will take the court for the first time this season on February 23 at Lynchburg. The men, meanwhile, dropped the first match of the season against Chowan on Sunday afternoon and next host Huntingdon on Friday at 3 p.m. Good luck to both teams and Roll Pride! jeremy.rains@greensboro.edu
Women’s golf has new faces by Jeremy Rains
Freshman Alexix Gregory sinks a putt last fall. Photo courtesy Altasky
The Pride’s women golf team will be filled with new faces this year as four out of the five members are freshmen. Alexis Gregory, Courtney Holt, Tara Smith, and Taylor Watkins will combine with senior Sara Hopkins to start a new legacy for women’s golf program. To date, the ladies have played in three invitationals in the fall season: The Piedmont College Fall Invitational, Hollins Fall Invitational and the Generals Invitational. Alexis Gregory has progressively lowered
her score each time posting scores of 205, 200, and 195 while Courtney Holt has shot 205, 197, and 197 in the respected tournaments. The team’s lowest score has come from Tara Smith, shooting 199, 180, and 190 averaging 192.4 per tournament. Taylor Watkins and Sara Hopkins have yet to compete this year. The ladies open their spring slate at Berry College March 4-5. Roll Pride! jeremy.rains @greensboro.edu
Entertainment
Page 8
The Collegian
February 13, 2013
2012: Not just another year of films by Addison Poole
There was no shortage of excellent films for the year 2012. David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook led the way for independent films this year along with Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. Silver Linings Playbook cast Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro all delivered emotionally inspiring performances that earned them Oscar nominations. Moonrise Kingdom, director/
writer Anderson’s seventh film, was instant cult classic; his style of storytelling is unlike any other. These movies showed the versatility of its cast members and reminded us of why we still go the movies. Comic book action movies, such as The Avengers and Dark Knight Rises, were both box-office hits and deservedly so. They were meant for big screens and incredibly loud sound; it just isn’t right watching either one of these films on a small television.
Also let’s not forget the 24th James Bond film, proving that the franchise, which as been around for 50 years, is truly timeless. Catherine Bigalow’s Zero Dark Thirty was a high-octane thriller about the elimination of Bin Laden. The film spans over a decade and takes us through all the events that led up to that victorious day in May 2011. Jessica Chastain gave a great performance as the mastermind behind the hunt. End of Watch starring Jake
Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena was a gripping crime drama about two L.A. police officers caught in the middle of a gangland war between cops and the gangs. The movie was shot like a documentary for realism purposes and it delivered. Another movie that stood out among all others was the epic tale that was Life of Pi. The movie was nothing short over a visionary Tour De France. It takes you on a journey where a young man is caught in the midst of disaster
The Lyre seeks submissions by Jonathan Hunter
Attention faculty, staff and students: if you like to write poetry, short stories or are artistically talented please consider contributing to The Lyre. Many at Greensboro College are probably not aware that our school has a literary magazine, but, in fact The Lyre is an award-winning magazine that features work from students and faculty. Students across many majors with a
wide variety of skill sets contribute. Art students can submit any drawing or photograph they deem publishable. Our goal is to showcase the creative talents of the Greensboro College community to the Triad area. As a campus we can make an effort to submit our work to The Lyre in hopes of continuing to be a positive influx of creative work and award winning magazine. Once the issue is published, the editorial staff of The Lyre will sponsor an evening write-athon from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be differ-
ent stations that are geared towards helping students write. There will be refreshments and music to keep you entertained while you write. Any are welcome to come and take part in our evening of fun. If you want to submit to The Lyre make sure to email your work to thelyre11@gmail.com. jonathan.hunter@greensboro.edu
Games corner: Psychonauts by Justin McKinney
Tim Schafer’s “Psychonauts” may be a strange choice for a video game review, given it was released for the original Xbox in April of 2005, but the game has aged well and its Steam version is cheap enough to be worth it. “Psychonauts” doesn’t really fit into any particular genre, though I’ve heard it termed “action-adventure platformer” more than once. It’s a blast of fun, and an excellent investment for anyone who wants a fun, unique romp through the minds of a top-notch creative team. But I’ve waxed eloquent about it for long enough. On to the categories. “Psychonauts” stands up surprisingly well in the story department given how abnormal the setting is (a psychic summer camp.) The multiple layers of meaning, and interpretation able to be gleaned from the narrative give the game high replay value, though the ending does get a bit overly-artistic compared to the rest of the game. Not great, but better than most pretentious indie
games that try to reach the same level. I’ll likely never say this about another game again, but I can’t think of a single thing wrong with the characterization presented in “Psychonauts.” There are over thirty characters in the game, many of them the main character’s fellow campers, and each has a slew of unique dialogue and genuinely funny and thought-provoking lines; making the choice to hunt them all down and talk to them after every major story event very tempting. All of the characters with ‘playable’ minds (pick the game up, you’ll see what I mean in the first few minutes) also have their own unique mental worlds, and the design of the stages is the cherry on top of the banana split; that is the most unique group of individuals I’ve ever found in a game.
Pride Poetry
– Kady Evans kady.evans@greensboro.edu
The scent of someone new Maybe it’s the unknown Humans I love all along But the ones I’ve taken time to Learn Acknowledge Know The one’s I’ve created something with Not a bond Maybe a life That is what people Have done to me
Graphic courtesy Double Fine Productions
Absolutely incredible. Each stage of the game, including the ‘real’ world, has its own unique visual style. Most are very well designed, with well-
Their leaving
Given Me a reason Maybe it’s the ugliest humans that are the most repulsive Yet interesting Interesting enough To stick around Stick through the excitement Knowing the hurt That will come that will Bring you To the realization Of what Hatred is
when he and his family are traveling from India to America, and along the way builds a friendship with a very unlikely character – a Bengal tiger. 2012 was a year that gave us great blockbuster action films, dramatic tales that will stick with us for many years to come, and the performances that will be remembered as the defining roles for so many great actors. addison.poole @greensboro.edu
done atmospheric lighting and some truly eerie moments that are really sold by the environment. Unfortunately, “Psychonauts’” resolutions are low, even for a game published seven years ago and glitches are, while uncommon, rather glaring when they pop up. In particular, some areas of the game aren’t rendered with lighting effects, but instead with any reflective surfaces, making them seem like simple geometries when they’re revealed. Dark areas in the final ‘real world’ stage of the game are a particularly glaring example of this. Well-designed, in other words, especially when compared to the linear corridors that so dominate gaming today, but in the end it still shows its age (and rather badly in places.) “Psychonauts” has an original, thought-provoking story and characters that pull you in like a vacuum cleaner, but like the texture resolutions the gameplay shows its age. The fastest way to get around, “levitation” via
balancing on a thought bubble, has the “floatiest” controls I’m willing to put up with and is hard to stop with any precision, leading to more than a few ledgerelated deaths. The pointless lives system can ruin the immersion if you reach a key point and can’t quite manage to get past it. Finally, the auto lock/strafe system is rather buggy. It seems at points to consider a harmless background character (a rabbit wearing a combat helmet) to be a priority target over one of the thirty tiny men in tuxedos rapidly censoring your health bar away. It’s definitely good. Despite its flaws, which stand out like a sore thumb, if you know where to look. “Psychonauts” is a tightlywritten, well-designed, and genuinely thought-provoking game. Anyone who enjoys games with a heavy focus on storytelling with a few gripping platforming/combat scenes should pick it up if they have ten dollars to spare. justin.mckinney @greensboro.edu
Yodaddy Dessert Bar by Amanda Meinhardt
Looking for something different than the typical chocolate or candy hearts on Valentine’s Day? Yodaddy Dessert Bar, located on Westover Terrace near Shane’s Rib Shack, is not your average frozen yogurt joint. Yodaddy offers several frozen yogurts flavors that include a dairy free, tart and no sugar option. If plain yogurt isn’t for you and you’re feeling adventurous, there are a variety of toppings including: chocolates, cereal, candies and fruit. But wait …
shakes are also available that are created by using the frozen yogurt flavor of your choice--the options don’t end there. Coffee, wine, and beer are also available, as well as an assortment of homemade cupcakes that are freshly baked every morning. So grab your valentine or group of friends and head to Yodaddy Dessert Bar open on Westover. Yodaddy is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Amanda.meinhardt @greensboro.edu