February 23, 2017

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Newspaper of Lamar University

Vol. 93, No. 17 February 23, 2017

LU ‘Big Red Mania’ to start Thursday Cade Smith UP contributor

Lamar Alive! will sponsor Big Red Mania, starting Saturday and running through March 2. Activities include music, free food, games and more.

“Big Red Mania is basically just like our homecoming for football, only it is the homecoming for our basketball team,” Brian Stafford, student director of Lamar Alive!, said. “We take a week out of the spring semester to get more people to go to

Boomtown Brings Film, Music to Beaumont Tara Hoch UP contributor

The 10th-annual Boomtown Film & Music Festival, which showcases local musical acts and independent and international films in venues across Beaumont, will begin today and continue through Sunday.

Weekend passes are $30, with VIP tickets for $50, and single-day tickets are available. Weekend passes for students are $18 and may be purchased on the Boomtown Festival website.

“This year’s festival is not just bigger, better and longer, but it is also more accessible with activities taking place at fewer venues,” festival director Chase Kiker said. “Surviv-

the games and support our school.”

The week begins with the “Red Out” basketball doubleheader against Houston Baptist University, Saturday, with the men playing at 2 p.m. and the women playing at 4:30 p.m. in the Montagne Center. The crowd is encouraged to wear red shirts for the games.

“The ‘Red Out’ games are the biggest games of the season for our basketball teams, and the students will get free Tshirts for showing up,” Stafford said.

An arts and crafts event will be held

Monday on the Student Annex Lawn from 1:30-3:30 p.m., followed by the Student vs.

Faculty basketball game, set for 5:30 p.m. in McDonald Gym. “We usually get a large crowd for the Student vs. Faculty game, because usually students have a favorite professor or faculty member that they know in the game, or they want to come support members of their organization,” Stafford said.

See BIG RED page 2

Cardinals in Concert

ing an entire decade is a massive accomplishment for the festival’s volunteers, and stands as proof that Southeast Texas can and does support an active community of both filmmakers and musicians.”

Kiker said that sponsor donations made it possible for Boomtown Festival to hire bigger touring acts this year, add a screenplay category to the contest, and offer panel discussions that aspiring filmmakers of all skill levels “would be wise to attend.”

The festival will also hold a panel for musicians, and local vendors, like Dat Mac food truck, will be on-site.

See BOOMTOWN page 2

UP photos by Noah Dawlearn

LU musicians to perform Feb. 27

Past Events, Future Historians Caitlin McAlister UP staff writer

Lamar University hosted its annual History Day, a regional competition for middle and high school students to submit historical research projects, Thursday.

UP photo by Caitlin McAlister

Students peruse a History Day exhibit, Thursday.

“History Day is an opportunity for students to learn research skills, and other things that will be useful for them when they come to college, through a competitive format,” Ken Poston, instructor of history, said.

This is the eighth year that the event has been held at Lamar.

“It started with Dr. (Mary) Scheer and is part of the National History Day Competition,” Poston said. “It’s also tied in with the Texas State Historical Association. We’ll qualify students from this region to compete at the state level in Austin, then the winners in Austin will go on to nationals this summer in Maryland.”

Candace LeMasters, a history teacher at West Brook High School, said she spon-

Karisa Norfleet UP contributor

Lamar University’s Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform their Spring Band Concert, at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27 at the Nederland ISD Performing Arts Center.

One of the ensembles will debut Thomas Dempster’s “Among the Woodlands,” featuring four-hand piano soloists Jacob Clark and Sujung Cho. “It will be the world premiere performance,” Scott Deppe, LU director of bands, said. “The two pianists play

one piano, that’s why it’s called four-hand piano, because it’s all four of them.”

The four fraternities and sororities of the music department commissioned the work.

Dempster wrote the piece for the Wind Ensemble and for his former University of Texas classmates Clark and Cho. Deppe said that Dempster took the pianists’ names, Clark and Cho, “Austin,” and “Lamar,” and applied a musical note for each letter, “The melodies are not always the most melodic lines but he creates these melodies out of these notes,” Deppe

said.

The concert band’s main piece will be the “English Folk Song Suite” by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. They will also perform the “El Cid March,” composed by Miklos Rosza for the movie starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. The band will also perform “Ecstatic Fanfare,” by Steven Bryant, and “I Am,” by Andrew Boysen Jr. “I really feel this concert hit (the band’s) sweet spot, and I will be honest and say not all See CONCERT page 2

Nicholas Brabham plays tuba during the spring concert rehearsal, top, and students rehearse for the concert, right, Feb. 21.

See HISTORY page 6

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

www.twitter.com/UPLamar

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

INSIDE

Thursday, February 23, 2017 University Press

BIG RED

Page 2

“The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.”

— George Mason

NOTICE

The University Press can be read online at www.lamaruniversitypress.com.

Advertising rates can be found on the site, along with practically all information that a person might be looking for.

CALENDAR

from page 1

Tuesday’s events include a Mardi Gras Party with king cake and mask decorating on the Student Annex Lawn, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and a Throwback Time Machine Dance Party, a new addition to this year’s Big Red Mania, starting at 6 p.m. in McDonald Gym. “The Time Machine Dance Party is basically a dance party with lights and a big screen that plays music,” Stafford said.

BOOMTOWN

Fest scheduled from noon to 2 p.m.

“This year’s Food Fest has over 30 student organizations selling baked goods, drinks and grilled food,” Stafford said. “Students can come out, buy some food, and then come by and play laser tag.”

Angela Blanchard, CEO of Neighborhood Centers, Inc., will host a leadership lecture, 2:20 p.m. to 3:40 p.m., in Landes Auditorium.

The week’s activities conclude with a men’s basketball game against Nicholls State at 7 p.m. in the Montagne Center.

“I feel like this entire week as a whole will have a larger turnout,” Stafford said. “We are a more involved campus this year than we were in previous years.”

For more information, visit the Lamar Alive! office in the Student Annex Building, or call 880-8723.

ple,” which revolves around race riots-era Beaumont, as well as more lighthearted pieces like “‘Mad for Madonna,” documenting the “fandom” surrounding Madonna.

Rodriguez said the festival will also feature “The Letter Carriers,” the directorial debut of Jesse L. Martin, who starred in “Rent” on Broadway as well as “Law & Order” and “The Flash.” The horror film “Dawn of the Deaf,” fresh off the Sundance circuit, will also be shown.

“We work to be inclusive of every community that makes

up our great city,” Rodriguez said. “Everyone can come out and have a good time with us.”

Christopher Dombrosky, festival founding board member, said over the past decade the festival has engaged the local film community, citing the success of the festival’s 48Hour Film Race and partnership with the Jefferson Theatre, as well as drawing international film entries.

“It’s truly an international film festival,” he said.

The underlying purpose of the Boomtown Film and Music Festival, Kiker said, is to cultivate a greater appreciation for

the art forms of film and music in Southeast Texas, to educate aspiring artists, to provide exposure for emerging artists and to give Southeast Texans an opportunity to celebrate the area’s rich culture.

“Our mission results in one of the most unique opportunities to experience the product of hours upon hours of hard work, put in by truly talented artists that get their drive from the most intense emotion known to humanity — passion,” he said.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit boomtownfestival.com.

from page 1

the concerts do sometimes,” Eric Shannon, director of athletic bands and assistant director of bands, said. “I think every conductor, everywhere, tries to be as accurate as possible in the right repertoire in the right ensemble.

“The most famous piece is the ‘English Folk Song Suite.’ That is what we would call the cornerstone work for band and we’ve enjoyed working on that piece.

That’s the piece every band musician would know.”

Shannon said the highlight will be the

February 23-26

Boomtown Film Festival

Dishman Art Museum,

Logon Cafe and SpindeltopGladys Museum

February 27

Spring Band Concert

Nederland ISD Performing Arts Center

from page 1

“Attendees can expect music and films sitting on the cusp of greatness,” Julia Rodriguez, film committee chair, said. “Houston natives, ‘Deep Cuts’, are expected to play at Free Press Summer Festival in Houston, which marks a huge advancement in a band’s career. Our music theme this year can best be described as eclectic, with a mix of locals and out-of-town bands. On the film side, we have an outstanding mix of serious and thoughtprovoking films as well.”

Films include “Dixie,” a documentary about a song of the same name, “The Exam-

CONCERT

Participants will dance to tracks from the 1970s up to the present day.

“When the music gets to the current decade, someone hits a big red button and the music will throwback to the ’70s and will continue in a loop from there,” Stafford said.

Wednesday’s events include Laser Tag and a Food Fest on opposite sides of the Dining Hall Lawn. laser tag will begin at 11 a.m., with Food

match from “El Cid.” “I think that everyone will really enjoy that piece,” he said. “One of our undergraduates did an arranging project and revised the percussion. We added a few voices, a few percussion instruments into it, and it has helped us sort of control the contour of the piece a little bit. We have a little bit of exciting moments and more calm moments, which kind of makes the piece more enjoyable.

“It tells a little bit of a story and that is going to sound more like the 1960s. It’s

very much in vein of ‘Ben-Hur.’ You’re going to feel sand in your sandals, metaphorically speaking.”

Deppe said the highlight of the evening will be the world premiere, but seeing the students’ progression is the real highlight.

“Hearing the progress from the very first one in September until now, with the groups you hear a great more maturity of sound — that’s exciting,” he said. for more information, log on to fineartscomm.lamar. edu.

7:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

March 2

Lecture: ‘Figure It Out

Leadership, An Evolutionary Approach,’ by Angela Blanchard

Landes Auditorium

9:35 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.

March 2

REDtalks: Let It Go!

Gray Library, 6th floor 1:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.

March 2

Lecture: ‘You Can’t Build

on Broken: A New Framework for Community

Change,’ by Angela Blanchard

Landes Auditorium

2:20 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

EDITORIAL

3 UNIVERSITY PRESS February 23, 2017

Career ending joke, or media overreaction

YouTubers are, at their very core, entertainers. In an era where the audience for cable television is dwindling and more companies work toward streaming services, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that, much like one who plays a lovable character from a television show or movie, celebrities are created

Commentary

Trevier Gonzalez UP multimedia editor

within this new format, too. And with celebrities, comes drama.

If one hopes to make a legitimate living in the video-sharing industry, one typically has to come into the field with consistent creativity, and produce engaging content on a daily basis. It’s not easy.

And when someone makes it big, their audience has expectations that have to be met.

One of the most important qualities for a YouTube star is likeability — you have to have personality. Enter YouTube personalities. In short, these are YouTubers who also exaggerate themselves. It’s almost like acting. When one is able to receive so much feedback

from the Internet, one tends to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t.

Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, is a 27-year-old Swedish YouTube personality who got his start playing video games in 2010. Before he rose to fame and had more than 53 million subscribers, he faced a lot of rejection, and wasn’t supported. He’s easily a walking success story. Being just six years older than me, he has an incredible amount of influence and, much like celebrities do, he raises money for charities he believes in.

As a comedian, PewDiePie delivers content that is humorous, but also pushes the boundaries between what is and

isn’t appropriate. In order to appreciate it, you have to understand his occasional crude sense of humor.

Earlier this month, one joke got out of hand. To the point where the star was accused of anti-semitism, despite immediately apologizing after the joke had unfolded.

Shortly after, his ties with Disney were cut, and the second season of his YouTube Red series was canceled.

I’m not here to defend an offensive joke, but rather come at this from another perspective. Remember how I said YouTubers are often more exaggerated versions of themselves?

That’s PewDiePie.

News sources, many of which I respect, don’t understand the YouTube personality. Whenever controversy like this happens, there’s an incredible sweep of headlines and misconceptions that all seem to forget that this was just a bad joke.

It gets worse when mainstream news organizations fumble through past videos intended for his viewers, and short clips or sound bites are taken to support ridiculous claims made in an article.

As a member of the media, you have to genuinely know what you’re talking about, and spend some time actually researching in order to understand the facts.

Peoples’ lives and reputations are on the line.

I’m bothered by the effect this is having on the life of Felix, the actual man, not the character PewDiePie. I’ve seen both of them. They have thick skin and a good sense of humor, but to put a comedian under 30 with a crude sense of humor in the international spotlight — a comparable stage to that of politics — concerns me.

When it pushes someone to point of tears and damages their reputation, especially someone who’s job is making people laugh, I don’t see justice. I see the media taking a story too far. After all, he is an entertainer, not a Nazi.

UP photo cartoon by Alyssa Stevens with Eddie Jones, Mathew Lara and Elisabeth Tatum

UPeditorial Engaging in discussion broadens communal knowledge

All too often we shy away from difficult topics when having discussions with each other — be it religion, sex or politics.

The idea is that these topics are too controversial to talk about and will inevitably lead to confrontations or hurt feelings, but discourse doesn’t necessarily have to be adversarial. The reason these topics are touchy is because they’re important to us, but we need to realize that discourse itself — talking about issues and learning different perspectives from one another — is also important.

Too often we treat a debate like a battle. Lines are drawn, trenches are dug and we decide getting a jab in at our opponent is more important than treating each side fairly.

This can lead to ad hominem attacks (“Yeah, but you grind

your teeth!”) or what is termed “Whataboutism,” in which we jab at the other side by bringing up an unrelated topic in an attempt to point out hypocrisy. “You think apples are better than oranges because they sometimes contain worms? Well, what about oranges? I found a worm in an orange once, and oranges are hard to peel…”

We need to be more understanding and civil when having discourse, so that we can learn from one another and reach the common ground that we all share.

Otherwise we may find out we’re all living in bubbles and slowly drift apart, one day realizing that there is far more that divides us than brings us together — all because we avoided talking about issues that are important to us.

Editor....................................................Haley Bruyn Managing Editor..................................Tim Collins Multimedia Editor......................Trevier Gonzalez Staff ......................Noah Dawlearn, Caitlin McAlister ........................Stephanie DeMeyer, Cade Smith .........Cassie Jenkins, Rachael Acosta, Matt Beadle ..........Erika Leggett, Baylee Billiot, Karisa Norfleet ............................Hannah LeTulle, Andre Woodard .......................................................Shelby Strickland Advertising Assistant ....................Taylor Phillips Advisors Andy Coughlan and Stephan Malick Member of Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Letter to the editor: Editor: A visit to 1984 I realize that whenever a male interjects a pro-life argument into the discussion of abortion rights, he is immediately suspect by a significant percentage of the listening audience, and that based solely on his gender.

But guided by the firm conviction that the validity of an argument is based on the arguer’s fidelity to both truth and unbending laws of logic and not on his or her gender.

I will continue.

I was dumbfounded by the UP editorial entitled, “Planned Parenthood Saves Lives.”

(Editor’s Note: “Planned Parenthood Saves Lives” was a column by UP contributor Stephanie DeMeyer, published Feb. 16). I felt like Winston Smith on any page of “1984,” watching darkness portrayed as light because the tenor of the culture demanded it.

Consider parents A and B who rush to surgery for the premature arrival of little C,

Letters Policy

only X weeks along in the gestation period. After hours of valiant effort, the doctor emerges with a smile and declares, “The surgery was a success; both patients are alive and well!”

Consider parents A and B waiting at the abortion clinic for the termination of little C, also X weeks along in the gestation period. After hours of work, the doctor emerges and declares, “The surgery was a success; the baby is dead.”

Now while no abortionist would actually say those words that is precisely the definition of success for every abortive procedure: a dead baby.

And we all know that by simply calling an unborn baby a “fetus” or a “tissue mass” doesn’t in any way change the fact that it is an unborn human child we’re speaking of. Even a prochoice champion, Hillary Clinton, in a rare unguarded encounter with common sense, spoke on “Meet the

Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 202 Carl Parker Building. The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the UP student management. Letters by the same writer on the same subject will not be published. Poetry and religious debates will not be published.

Press” about the degree of Constitutional rights deserved by an unborn child.

Yikes! The Ministry of Truth came down hard on her for that bit of Oldspeak.

We have come to a shameful place in our society, when, as Matt Walsh wrote, “The value of human life is an entirely fluid and subjective matter. The worth of a child’s life is relative to how desirable his life is to those around him.”

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s number one provider of abortions (in the hundreds of thousands each year), is empowered to be just that by your tax dollars and mine.

And abortion, if successful, always leaves one patient dead and another one scarred for life. If that can somehow be interpreted as “saving lives,” then 2+2=5 and “doublespeak” has become the nation’s official language.

Gary Brice Instructor, LU math department

The opinions that appear in editorials are the official views of the University Press student management as determined by the UP Student Editorial Board. Opinions expressed elsewhere on this page are the views of the writers only and are not necessarily those of the University Press student management. Student opinions are not necessarily those of the university administration. ©University Press 2017

Page 4

Thursday, February 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

Mardi Gras celebrates ‘25 years of enchantment’

History: Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rituals. Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world by Roman Catholics on the day before Lent.

When Christianity arrived in Rome, instead of calling off the pagan celebrations, religious leaders incorporated the local traditions into the new faith. Mardi Gras spread to Spain, France, Germany and England.

In the days leading up to Lent, participants would binge on eggs, milk, cheese and meat to prepare for Lenten fasting where these things were prohibited.

In France, Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” became the day before Ash Wednesday. The Medieval Latin word “Carnelevarium” means to take away or remove meat — out of that came “Carnival.”

It is believed that the first American Mardi Gras took place in Louisiana on March 3, 1699.

French explorers Iberville and Bienville had a small celebration and named the spot Point du Mardi Gras. New Orleans celebrated the holiday with masked balls, street parties and fancy dinners. The Spanish abolished the New Orleans rituals until 1812 when Louisiana became part of the United States.

The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1837, 10 years after a group of students dressed in colorful costumes dancing through the streets emulating Paris traditions. In 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus received a call from a secret society of New Orleans businessmen to organize a parade with marching bands and floats celebrating the holiday. The New Orleans Carnival Krewe, Rex, founded in 1872, established the iconic Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and green.

To this day, Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a public holiday.

Karisa Norfleet UP contributor

Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas will celebrate “25 years of Enchantment” in Port Arthur with parades and activities beginning Thursday and ending Sunday.

Events will include the Elite Redfish Series, The Budweiser Clydesdales, a free laser show, and a parade with several big, colorful floats.

“We have a new float this year,” Laura Childress, President of the Majestic Krewe of Aurora, said.

“We’ll be unveiling the Sunshine float. It’s completely new from the ground up. It’s very pretty, 30-feet long and it has LED lighting on it. We’re excited about that.”

Mardi Gras of Southeast

Texas was first held in February 1993, in downtown Port Arthur. Texas approved the Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas non-profit charter in February 1992.

The old J.C. Penney building on Procter Street became the carnival event headquarters, where volunteers undertook a restoration campaign.

The landmark was renamed the Aurora Building, commemorating the first settlement in Port Arthur in 1837.

“Aurora was the first settlement of Port Arthur and she is the goddess of dawn,” Childress said. “Before Port Arthur was named, it was named Aurora because of the Sabine Lake and the sun rising.”

Majestic Krewe of Aurora is the founding krewe of Southeast Texas.

Choldress said the ulti-

mate goal is to produce a safe and family friendly event that has something to offer for all ages.

“Whether it’s children, seniors or in-betweens, we try to have a broad mix of music, activities and food, and arts and crafts,” she said. “We have the Clydesdales coming, which is a huge attraction. They’ve traveled all over the world and we were lucky enough to get them for Port Arthur.

That’s a big deal.”

Aurora was the first to organize and have a parade in Southeast Texas. After that, participants branched out to form their own krewes.

Smaller krewes get to have a parade of their own.

“That is what the Friday parade is,” Childress said.

“It is all other krewes that are not large enough or have that many floats to produce

a parade. They all band together.”

One of the new attractions this year is the Kids Zone, Childress said.

There’s no charge to participate in the kid activities, which include games, face painting, mascots, petting zoos and bounce houses. A free laser show will be presented each night.

“We wanted it to be well rounded and support the Mardi Gras season, but yet offer more attractions,” Childress said. “Mardi Gras is a rain or shine event.

While we’re hoping for good weather, we hope that everyone will come out and see the new activities and attractions, and enjoy the fun.”

For more information, visit www.mardigrasportarthur.com, or call 721-8717.

UP file photo

5

OSCARS

UNIVERSITY PRESS February 23, 2016

In my unqualified opinion...

Once again, editor Haley Bruyn has failed to watch any of the 10 this year’s Academy Award best picture nominees. That won’t stop her from giving the world her opinion, just like your drunk aunt giving unsolicited dating advice at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Arrival —

Best Picture

I love Amy Adams and I had every intention of watching this film. Aliens? Linguistics? Complicated discussions with words that are more than likely fake? I’m in. Sadly, I missed it while it was in theaters, and I’m not about to pay $4.99 for on-demand, so I’ll wait three years until the SyFy channel airs it five days in a row, just because they can.

Hacksaw Ridge

—

Andrew Garfield as a war medic? I’m interested. The title is a little scary, what with the thoughts of battlefield amputations and what-not. I might still give it a shot, even if I have to watch the bloodier scenes through my fingers.

(Yes I am an adult, but gross is still gross).

Fences —

Is it wrong that I equate Denzel Washington with a quality film? I’d be totally fine watching this, I think, if it was just on or someone else chose it, but I’m not a huge fan of sports movies.

Wait, it’s not about sports?

Isn’t he a retired baseball player or something. So maybe there’s more to it than just the sports stuff, and I’ll probably like it when I inevitably watch it with my dad and I know I will be in tears.

Hell or High Water —

I freaking love Jeff Bridges. He feels like my uncle or something — like I know him somehow.

Make Uncle Jeff a Texas Ranger and I’m going to be into it. Usually I steer clear of Westerns, but HBO’s ‘Westworld’ has recently changed my mind. I like the ‘criminal for a cause’ thing they have going, and I’m curious who I’ll root for, Uncle Jeff or the Brother Bandits.

Hidden Figures —

I am all about this movie. I will actually spend my own money to see it in the very near future. History, girl power, science and the civil rights movement mean this movie is 100 percent guaranteed to make me cry. And can we take a moment to appreciate the ’60s costuming?

These ladies are rocking that polyester. I want plaid outfits to come back, now.

Layout and story

by Haley Bruyn UP editor

Best Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck,

Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences Haley’s Hope

Ryan Gosling should get this, I think, because of all the dancing I heard he does.

La La Land —

I don’t know if I can handle this movie. It seems too cute and also, somehow, too sad. I don’t know that it actually is sad, but I have this new problem where if something is amazingly popular and highly praised, I assume someone important dies (a la “Game of Thrones”) or the love doesn’t last. Call me a cynic, I know, but I don’t know if the singing and dancing can make up for the impending heartache I somehow know will accompany this movie.

Lion —

If I had any free time at all, I would have seen this in theaters with my mom and a giant bucket of popcorn between us. We would have cried and stress eaten the entire tub while he searched for his biological family, even though his adoptive family is loving and kind and devoted and — editor’s note: the author of this review had to take a moment to compose herself. She resumed once her eyes were no longer watering. Anyway, this movie looks heart wrenching in the best way — the way that makes you want to hug your parents and everyone who raised you, and thank them for just existing.

Manchester by the Sea —

Who knew Ben Affleck had a brother?

Apparently he can act, too. I don’t like movies that start with a death, which basically counts out every Pixar movie ever, even though I love all Pixar movies except for “Cars,” but I digress. This movie is emotional. You can tell that ust looking at the poster.

Everyone looks sad, even the seagull.

I don’t know what type of emotional rollercoaster this movie is, though, and therein lies my hesitation. I usually like to know what I’m getting into.

Moonlight —

I didn’t hear much about this film, if I’m being perfectly honest, but it looks pretty good. It’s a coming-of-age story about a black gay man in Miami who has troubled relationships with his family and friends. I saw André Holland in the trailer, and I got even more excited. I love him — he’s an amazing actor. I also like the fact that the movie follows the main character from childhood to adulthood. I feel like, when I do watch this (and I totally will, eventually) I’m going to get really attached to the characters.

Haley’s Hope

I want “Hidden Figures” to win.

I mean, what’s not to love?

Best Actress in a Leading Role Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga,

Loving Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins Haley’s Hope

Meryl Streep is a goddess, and I actually saw this film. But, I don’t know, maybe she’s “overrated.”

Page 6

Thursday, February 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

REDtalks provide free seminars to students Trevier Gonzalez UP multimedia editor

With the active lives of college students at Lamar in mind, the Student Tutoring and Retention Services, or STARS, created REDtalks, 30minute-long seminars that allow listeners to learn from a different perspective.

Kelly Williams, LU Success and REDtalks coordinator, said the program is different from the hour-long academic workshops offered previously.

“We decided to rebrand the program,” she said. “Our touring coordinator came up with the name for ‘REDtalks’ for a play on ‘TED Talks.’

“We started that last spring, and we cut down how many presentations there were going to be each semester from the 30 this semester — we have six.”

By putting more focus into each individual REDtalk and reducing the length of the seminar to 30 minutes, Williams said she believes the talks will reach a greater audience.

“We just wanted to help

HISTORY

with attendance by offering less and focusing more on the few that we were having,” she said. “Instead of 30 that might kind of all cover similar topics throughout this semester, (we’re) having six other very distinct from each other.”

The seminars focus on elements currently offered by Lamar. These resources include help with time management, applying for graduate school and career networking.

“We have one presented by the Student Health Center and one from the McNair Scholar's program,” Williams said. “It's definitely a pretty diverse group presenting. (It’s) a lot of different topics that, hopefully, will help students — I want them to feel inspired, maybe to change something about what they're doing.”

In addition to having a diverse selection of faculty and staff, REDtalks will also take place at different Lamar locations.

“I know there's the wall and construction,” Williams said.

“We're trying to make it to where students can have ac-

UP photo by Trevier Gonzalez

Jeffrey Palis, Lamar director of study abroad, speaks to undergraduates in Gray Library, Feb. 21, part of the “REDtalks “ series.

cess to go on whichever side of campus it's going to be on.”

REDtalks aim to provide undergraduates with presentations from faculty, staff and peers, who will share their expertise and advice to help students become engaged and succeed.

“Our focus is on academic

success, professional success, personal success for students — anything that's going to help them here as a student at Lamar, and in their future career,” Williams said.

The next REDtalk, “Let It Go!,” by graduate college editor and recruiter Niki Contreras, will explain the

from page 1

sored a history day team “to have kids actually embrace history and make it living and real.”

“Not every kid who comes through the classroom is a mathematician or journalist, but they’re still citizens,” she said. “Some of the kids came to me and said, ‘Will you do National History Day?’ and I said, ‘Sure.’”

Eric Lin, one of LeMasters’ students, said he and his teammates were motivated to compete in History Day by the positive experiences they had in previous years.

“We enjoyed it and we wanted to continue this annual competition and, hopefully, go to state and to nationals,” he said.

Lin’s team did a performance based on Taiwan’s sepa-

ration from China.

“I’m Taiwanese, so the topic strikes a chord with me,” he said. “I managed to convince (my teammates) of this topic’s value in society.”

Categories of competition included historical performances, exhibits, papers and websites. Poston said that the judging was based on a number of factors.

“They’re looking for scholarship, extensive research and documentation, originality and adherence to the theme,” he said. “This year’s theme is ‘Taking a Stand in History.’”

Poston said that the importance of History Day lies in the skills that it helps students to develop.

“It promotes the study of history, and the techniques and research skills needed to

accurately portray the past,” he said.

It also provides faculty and students who may be considering a future at Lamar a chance to interact.

“History Day provides faculty and staff a unique opportunity to interact with the very

people who will shortly be in our classrooms,” Poston said.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for these young students to come out and observe what we have to offer at Lamar University — not just in history, but in all the other academic disciplines.”

UP photos by Caitlin McAlister

Participants, above, view a project at History Day Thursday Feb.16. Students re-enact a historical scene, right.

difference between the "victim" and "creator" mindsets.

The talk is scheduled for 1 p.m., March 2, on the sixth floor of Gray Library. Students who attend will be entered for a prize drawing. Light snacks will be provided.

For more information, call 880-7201.

7

SPORTS Spring 2017 Intramural Sports All Scores and Standings as of Feb 12.

5 on 5 BaSketBall league StandIngS TEAM

W-L-T

Men’s division 1 409 Team Flight We here Deep Stroke ??

Mitm Alpha Tau Omega

3-1-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 2-2-0 2-2-0 0-4-0

Men’s division 2 Globetrotters Bang Bros NSBE 5Deep Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Nu

3-0-0 2-1-0 1-1-1 1-1-1 0-4-0

dodgeBall league SCoReS CoRec division ZTA and ATO 3 NSBE 5Deep 0 Champions - ZTA and ATO Men’s division Alpha Tau Omega 2 Balls of Duty 0 Champions - Alpha Tau Omega

outdooR SoCCeR league SCoReS TEAM

W-L-T

Men’s division 1 Lo$ Motatone$ Veni Vidi Vici Terminators

2-0-0 1-1-0 0-2-0

Men’s division 2 CVEN SPORT TEAM 2-0-0 The Boot 0-1-0 Swagdragons FC 0-1-0 Men’s greek Alpha Tau Omega Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Delta

1-0-0 1-1-0 0-1-0

CoRec division RIPCHASE NSBE 5Deep AXO and ATO ADPi and KA

1-0-1 1-1-0 0-0-1 0-1-0

February 23, 2017

Cardinal Classic opens softball home schedule Bill Warrington UP contributor

CoRec division NSBE 5Deep 3-0-0 MEEN Street Ballers 1-2-0 AXO and ATO 0-2-0

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Lamar University softball team will welcome Kansas, Tulsa, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and Alabama A&M to Beaumont, February, today through Sunday, as the Lady Cardinals host the second-annual Cardinal Classic tournament at the Lamar Softball Complex.

The 15-game event serves as the team’s home opener, and features one game today, followed by five on Friday, five on Saturday, and four on Sunday. The Lady Cardinals play a total of five games, including the opener at 4 p.m. against Alabama A&M. Head coach Holly Bruder said the tournament started not only to get the team some early home games, but also to attract northern schools.

“I got some northern teams trying to get down to Texas,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why not?’ I have a beautiful batting cage, I have a beautiful facility.

Why don’t I play at home?”

Leading the Cardinals this season are senior catcher Brynn Baca (.321 batting average), junior infielder Sable Hankins (.287, six home runs), junior outfielder Brittany Rodriguez (.393, 14 stolen bases), and sophomore infielder Kelly Meeuwsen (.324, 22 doubles).

“The power and the athletic ability Sable has is ridiculous — you need to come out and watch,” Bruder said. “Kelly is a first team all-conference player, this kid hits for power.

“Brittany, as the fastest in our conference, her ability to get on base is going to be essential against the big teams.

The kid gets on base, she’s gonna score.

“I think (Baca) is a catcher

behind the plate who knows the game like nobody else. The knowledge she has stems into the other players.”

The pitching staff will be anchored by preseason allSouthland Conference selection Ciara Luna (17-8, 2.61 ERA, 112 strikeouts in 2016), and Laura Napoli (9-8, 3.00 ERA, five saves — a school record).

“Ciara Luna was newcomer of the year last year, probably our biggest accolade at Lamar University,” Bruder said. “In Laura’s freshman year, she one-hit the University of Texas, on national television — we beat them 9-1 in five innings. So with those two, I have the best one-two in the conference.”

Lamar led the Southland Conference with five 2017 preseason all-conference selections. Baca, Hankins, Luna and Rodriguez were named to the first team, while Meeuwsen was named to the second team.

“Being an all-conference player is an honor,” Rodriguez said. “It’s also tough. Everyone knows me, knows how I play. So it will be tougher for me this season, but I am always up for a challenge.”

Hankins said the recognition is a huge honor.

“I’ve worked very hard at my game and it’s good to be recognized,” she said.

The Cardinal Classic will be the third of four non-conference tournaments the Lady Cardinals play. Their nonconference schedule includes high-profile opponents such as Baylor (ranked 14th nationally), Texas A&M (17), Nebraska (34), Ohio State (40), Tulsa (41), Texas State (42), Kansas (48) and Arkansas (71).

“I think when you’re play-

UP file photo by Gabbie Smith

Caitlin Terrazas pitches during a fall game at the LU softball complex, Nov. 6, against the Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks. ing the consistent RPI of 50, 40 or higher, I think your team gets accustomed, too,” Bruder said. “We gotta step on the gas a hundred percent. If we dial that gas back to 90 percent, we’re gonna lose.”

Rodriguez said the tough schedule will set the team up for conference play.

“Facing such highly-ranked teams will get us ready for the season, and, more importantly, it will give us so many opportunities to upset some

teams,” she said.

Game time today is 4 p.m. as Lamar faces Alabama A&M. Lamar goes up against South Dakota State, Friday, at 4:45 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Cardinals meet Kansas at 4:45 p.m., and will face Northern Illinois, Sunday at 11:15 a.m., before closing out the tournament against Tulsa at 3:45 p.m., Sunday.

For ticket information, call 880-1715, or visit lamarcardi nals.com.

SpoRt CluBS All Scores and Standings as of Sunday, Feb 19.

CluB BaSketBall Women Lamar Club Houston Community College

43 32

Lamar Club LSC Tomball

32 34

Men Lamar Club Houston Community College

60 39

Lamar Club LSC Tombal

58 52

CluB BaSeBall Gm 1 Lamar Club Nicholls State

20 2

Gm 2 Lamar Club Nicholls State

11 1

Gm 3 Lamar Club Nicholls State

11 0

Cards win pair to sweep Classic

The Lamar University baseball team defeated both Illinois and Milwaukee by a 2-1 score, Sunday, to sweep the seasonopening Cardinal Classic at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Both games went to extra in-

nings tied at 1-1, and both times Lamar (4-0) came up big in the bottom of the 10th.

In the first game against Illinois (1-3), Trey Silvers hit a double to left field, followed by an intentional walk to Reid

Russell and single that kicked off a leaping Trent Hammond’s glove at third that loaded the bases. Brendan Satran scored on a wild pitch to seal the win.

In the night cap, Grant DeVore lead off the inning with a

CluB tennIS Sectional tournament at austin Team 1 “Shank City” beat TAMU and UT in pool play to reach the gold bracket but fell to the Team 2 “Big Red” beat Lonestar Kingwood and made it to the Bronze Bracket Both teams were 2-5 overall in the tournament.

UP photos by Noah Dawlearn

Trey Silvers (44), top, and Robin Adames celebrate the first score of the game against the University of WisconsinMilwaukee at Vincent-Beck Stadium, Sunday. LU won the game 2-1 in the 10th. 7. Drew Van Wrinkle, above, pitches against UW-M during Sunday’s doubleheader, part of the season-opening Cardinal Classic.

single and was bunted over

by Vincent Dellocono. Phil Ingram hit a single through the left side that put men on the corners with one out. Cutter McDowell chopped one into the turf towards MiIlwaukee shortstop Mike Ferri, who was late on the throw home.

“It was just a job well done by all of our guys. We had such dramatic wins that we weren’t really able enjoy until right now because we had to turn the page so fast to the next opponent.

There’s enough lows in the business that you really want to enjoy the highs,” head coach Will Davis, who became the first Cardinal skipper to win his first four games at the helm., said.

Bad weather on Friday meant LU played a doubleheader on Saturday as well, defeating Milwakee 6-0 and Illinois 15-9.

The Cardinals host Fairfield in four-game set that starts Friday at 6 p.m.

Page 8

Thursday, February 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

‘Fifty Shades’ duller Second installment of trilogy painful — but in a good, shameful way REVIEW Shelby Strickland UP contributor

There were no whips and fewer chains in “Fifty Shades Darker.” In fact, if referring to the sexuality of the film, it should be “Fifty Shades Lighter.” The film that came to theaters Feb. 9 stars Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, 27year-old Seattle billionaire with a sculpted body and an intense desire for dominance, and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, a young and previously innocent woman who owns her feelings and her body.

The sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey” continues the story of Anastasia and Christian’s “romance” as their relationship deepens and roles begin to switch.

Christian lets Anastasia into his dark past and he’s willing to do what it takes to keep Anastasia around — even if that means committing through marriage.

Anastasia’s desire for dark intimacy and submission in the bedroom grows as a result of Christian’s openness.

The relationship is a battle for dominance, not necessarily in the bedroom, though. As Anastasia begins to get what she wants from Christian, she receives more than she bargained for.

Christian just can’t stop himself from going to extremes to show her what kind of man he can be.

He attempts to give her $24,000 to replace her old car but she just is not having it. The battle over the money turns into a game of chess. He slips the money into her account by, of course, using his wealthy CEO powers to access her banking information. But Anastasia surprisingly one-ups him by donating every cent of the unwanted money at a charity event, where she, unfortunately, meets the darkest shade of her new love’s past — Elena Lincoln, a Mrs. Robinson type — she’s older and clearly has a pull on Christian. Elena ties herself up in his life any way she can, whether it’s through sex or business, but she is soon to be cut loose if

Anastasia has any control over the matter.

The drama becomes completely over the top as Anastasia’s new boss, Jack Hyde of Seattle Independent Publishing, tries to rape her. Christian has Jack fired and Anastasia steps in to fill his role — unaware that this is just another example of Christian’s manipulation and control of her life.

Christian takes an ill-fated helicopter trip that goes south, which, of course, only brings Christian and Anastasia closer when she realizes she could have potentially lost the love of her life.

The plot takes a shady (and predictable) turn of events, as Leila, Christian’s last submissive before Anastasia turned him soft, shows up and acts like she’s going to kill everyone — because what love story doesn’t include an ex attempting to ruin everything for their own selfish desires?

Everything comes tumbling down in the best possible way, with a slap in the face for Elena, and the crazy ex in a mental institution.

If you’ve read the books, you know what’s to come in the last installment of the trilogy. The “Fifty Shades” series could be compared to that sexy exboyfriend who ruins you every time you think about all the crap he put you through, but you just don’t care. You keep going back because he’s just so hot (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything).

Aside from manipulation and abuse, the plot line for “Fifty Shades Darker” is highly predictable, the quotes are laughable, and Dakota Johnson is the only thing that upholds the acting as she delivers embarrassingly cheesy lines with grace.

Yet somehow I just couldn’t get enough. Maybe that’s where the darkness comes in. It’s a trap that gets you hooked, holds you captive and leaves you remorsefully invested in the lives of Christian and Anastasia.

“Fifty Shades Darker” is its own

form of punishment. It’s worth the price of a ticket but not much more.

And yet, here I am, waiting for “Fifty

Shades Freed” to disappoint and scar me all in one swift whipping. Until then, “Laters baby.”