Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, April 3, 2017
Volume 96 Issue 7
OBEA
Production students earn awards Cheyenne Cole A&E Editor
@cheyenneccole
Photos by Stacie Larsen Graphics by Stacie Larsen and Joel Frambes
On March 30 at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association (OBEA) awarded nine Cameron broadcast students for their work on CUTV programs at the 27th annual Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Student Day. Throughout the day, students participated in various events, including the OAB Student Day Career Fair, a student appreciation luncheon and award ceremony, panel discussions, presentations and seminars with professional broadcasters. In order to recognize student excellence in broadcast radio and television productions, media professionals judged over 200 entries from students across Oklahoma in various categories. Assistant Professor of Communication Stephen Adams accompanied awardwinners to the event. He provides Cameron students with broadcast writing opportunities, video guidance and advice. According to Adams, Oklahoma employers are interested in students who win OBEA awards because it’s an indication of the student’s talent. “Most every radio and television station in this state know about these awards,” Adams said, “so when they
see that on student’s resumes, they know what that is. […] Within the state of Oklahoma, it’s well-recognized among the professionals.” Junior journalism and media production major Zayna Haliburton is the producer of the weekly student newscast, “CU News,” which won third place in the competition’s TV Newscast category. Haliburton said the newscast won second place last year, so she felt pressure for it to win again. “I was really nervous, especially taking over from Morgan [Thompson],” Haliburton said, “who was the previous producer and placed second in last year’s competition. I was just so excited for the newscast to win in my first year as producer.” As the producer, Haliburton decides each week what role the students will fill in the newscast, including reporters, anchors, camera operators, the director and sound technician. Haliburton said she chose senior journalism and media production majors Mary Davis and Savanna Sanders to anchor in the newscast she planned to submit to the competition because of their experience and clear speaking voices. Davis also won second place in the Radio Newscast category, while Sanders placed second in the Radio Commercial category and third in the Radio Promotional Spot. Haliburton said the newscasts get better as the semester goes on and students learn more. “A successful newscast is when they [students] get to the point that they know what they’re doing,” Haliburton said, “and they’re not scared or timid of any position I put them in, and the newscast f lows, as a whole.”
Haliburton also received one of six OAB Education Foundation Scholarships at the Student Day. Adams attributes the newscast’s success to the student’s hard work and Cameron’s professional TV production studio. “We have talented people,” Adams said, “and they produce a good product. I think a lot of it has to do with the facilities and the instruction the students are getting. I think when students walk in that studio, they realize they’re there to work.” On the weekly CUTV program “Film Geek,” senior journalism and media production major Alexis Page reviews a new film and invites a guest to discuss the film with her. As Page’s first year hosting “Film Geek,” she chose to submit an exciting episode, in which she reviewed “The Magnificent Seven” with her father as her guest, which took second place in the TV Entertainment category. “I picked that episode because my dad’s a good conversation holder, like me,” Page said, “so I knew it was going to be entertaining to watch. Plus, there was interesting movie news that week with the ‘Lion King’ live-action remake announced and controversy with the ‘Birth of a Nation’ film.” “Game Time,” CUTV’s sports show, hosted by senior journalism and media production majors Haley Berry and Jonathon Good, won second place in the TV Sports Magazine category. In addition, journalism and media production student Jay Escobar claimed first place in the Music Video category, and music major Mason Stuart won first place in Radio Commercial. To view the award-winning CUTV programs, go to aggiecentral.com. Like Aggie Central on Facebook for updates on the shows.
What’s inside CU campus certified healthy Page 2
“Rogue One” released on Blu Ray
Aggies spear Javelinas
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News
April 3, 2017
www.aggiecentral.com
CU certified as healthy campus Robert King Staff Writer
Cameron to their communities and homes.” She added that Cameron has been creating and fostering a healthy environment, in turn making the state of Oklahoma healthier. In 2015 Oklahoma ranked forty-five in America’s Health Rankings. Oklahoma’s poor health has affected families, future and finances. Current causes of death and disability in Oklahoma include heart disease, stroke, cancer, and type-two diabetes. However, individuals can take
precautions to help prevent these health conditions. Cameron policies have helped the Lawton and Duncan communities do just that, providing a healthy environment for students, employees and visitors. Vanderslice said that Cameron promotes wellness not only through policy but also with physical activities and health education on campus. “We provide information sessions and the Aggie Mile trail around campus,” she said. “These
are not policies. We invested some effort into creating the Aggie Mile so people will have a safe place to walk.” The Aggie Rec Center encourages the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle with providing group exercise classes and exercise challenges on a daily basis. Physical activities offered include Zumba, yoga, walking and jogging, among others. Vanderslice said that Cameron’s hope is to make a real difference in students’ lives, not only when they are on campus but also when they
go off the campus. “When students come here, they have the opportunity to learn about health and wellness,” she said. “They have a place to exercise that’s safe. They have healthy food options, and they have a tobaccofree campus. “We hope students will start establishing some good health patterns in life.” To learn more about physical exercise offered at Cameron, visit the Aggie Rec Center in person or at http://www.cameron.edu/ aggiereccenter.
Cameron University recently received recognition as a Certified Healthy Campus. The Certified Healthy Oklahoma program recognizes post-secondary public and private schools and career technology centers that create safe and healthy environments that have positive impacts on the health of students and faculty. Program members examined eighty-two criteria organized into categories such as alignment with missions of higher education, socioecological-based and collaborative practices, theory and evidence-based practices, cultural competency, and professional development and services. This year’s placement marked the sixth consecutive year the Lawton campus earned the honor. CU Duncan campus also made the list for the third consecutive year. Cameron earned the Excellence Level of Certified Healthy Oklahoma, which is the highest level in the program. The award was a collaborative effort from Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, the Oklahoma Turning Point Council and the Oklahoma State Chamber. These organizations use the award to recognize institutions that are leaders in prioritizing community health and wellness. Vice President of Academic Affairs Ronna Vanderslice said that Cameron values the wellness of students, faculty and staff. “We are hopeful that creating a healthy environment for students, faculty and visitors to our campus will ultimately impact Oklahoma as a whole, not just our campus,” Photo by Joel Frambes she said. “We hope that as students Walking, naturally: The Certified Healthy Oklahoma program awarded both CU campuses their highest level of commendation for go out and work, they take the a healthy campus. Students and staff can safely walk around campus to exercise, get from class to class, or enjoy the natural landscaping. things that they learn here at
Love in Action: Global voluntourism Vicky Smith
agritourism, volutourism and cultural and faith-based Staff Writer trips, along with Fathom For some people, Travel cruises. traveling is not only an Tammie Ferguson opportunity to explore founded Love in Action other geographies and Travel in 2015, and cultures, but it is also an she strives to educate opportunity to make a the Lawton-Fort Sill positive impact. community about the Students who are mission of Love in Action interested in both traveling Travel, as well as the and helping others can join upcoming trips. Love in Action Travel, LLC, “I know there are people a social business that offers out there like me who enjoy
travel,” she said. “They like visiting different communities and different countries, but they also want to make a positive difference.” Ferguson, a certified travel industry specialist, organizes the trips and accompanies the group. “They have the confident ease of knowing that they have someone with them who’s done it before, who’s knowledgeable and who’s
coordinated,” she said. Ferguson said Love in Action Travel combines the luxuries of vacationing with the service of helping others. “[It is for] people who are concerned about our environment,” she said, “and people who are concerned about those who are disenfranchised and living in poverty.” Each trip has a specific function, she said, whether it be agritourism, cultural, faith-based or voluntourism. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, travel to a different place and support small businesses,” she said. “We try to patronize family-owned, local restaurants and shops.” According to Ferguson, on agritourism trips, the Love in Action Travel group visits farms, ranches, wineries or vineyards. “We give our participants fresh, handson experiences,” she said. “For example, when we do a winery tour, we’ll tour the vineyard. Sometimes, we’ll even get to help harvest the grapes. Sometimes, we’ll get to help stomp the grapes.” For faith-based tours, Ferguson said, the group may go to Branson’s Sight & Sound Theatres to watch “Moses” or “Judah,” and for cultural trips, they may walk through Black Wall Street in Tulsa or ride to Tahlequah to learn about the Native Americans. Photo courtesy of Tammie Ferguson The Love in Action Setting love in action: Love in Action Travel founder Tammie Ferguson created Travel tours also go beyond her company with the intention of exposing travelers to the duality of vaction the boundaries of the destinations where poverty dominates the local communities and luxury only exists United States. for tourist. She hopes these experiences inspire people to volunteer to help others. With the company
Fathom Travel, Ferguson said, the group members of Love in Action Travel enjoy the splendor of a cruise, while undergoing orientation for the upcoming service project at their destination, whether it be Cuba or the Dominican Republic. “The port in the Dominican Republic is called Amber Cove,” she said. “While you’re there, you have the beach, […] but then during the week, we go into the community.” The group, Ferguson said, plants trees and seeds to aid reforestation, helps the businesses owners of small cow farms, teaches English classes and builds water filters. An additional mission overseas, Ferguson said, is Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village trip. “We’ll go and build a house,” she said. “In June, we’re going to go back to Guatemala, and we’re going to build another house. We’re also going to build what we call a ‘healthy home kit,’ which includes smokeless stoves and water filters and sometimes concrete f looring.” Ferguson has built houses and conducted service projects in different places across the world, and she said there are still many places she has yet to go. “I’ve built habitat houses in nine states,” she said. “I’ve built two houses in the Dominican Republic, three in Guatemala and one in Bolivia. “When I go to Haiti, we’ll serve in an orphanage.
In Puerto Rico, we’ll do minor repairs on some homes and on a vulnerable women’s maternity ward.” According to Ferguson, traveling is important because individuals who expose themselves to other cultures adopt different perspectives and learn more about themselves. “I’m so blessed,” she said. “We take a lot of things for granted here in America, like being able to turn on the water faucet instead of walking four miles to get dirty water that’s probably going to make you sick.” Having observed the lifestyles of other cultures, Ferguson has also taken on a global perspective. “We forget that the United States population is only five percent of the world,” she said, “Ninetyfive percent of humanity is in other countries, so we’re just a drop in the bucket. … There’s so much more to see and do.” Ferguson hopes her children learn from her example and develop their own passion for travel. “My husband and I have three boys. They’re 13 [years], 10 [years] and 10 months,” she said. “I hope that they will carry the torch when they become of age, and they can start traveling with purpose.” For more information about the organization, visit the Love in Action Travel, LLC, Facebook page. To join the organization, students can call Ferguson at 678-653-2170, or email info@loveinactiontravel. com.
April 3, 2017
www.aggiecentral.com
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Student Life
Interfaith Dialogue: Discussing religion & non-religion Mary Davis Staff Writer
Interfaith Dialogue is a new course offered on campus. The content covers a variety of religions and non-religions around the world. Understanding the connection and differences between the Abrahamic faiths Judaism, Christianity and Islam are part of the curriculum. The course also covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Scientology, Atheism and much more. Interfaith Dialogue is not about proving one religion or belief system as superior but instead being able to step out of comfort zones in order to listen, learn and engage in effective conversation with those of different faiths.
The course syllabus mentions the United States as a melting pot of cultures, making it unique. Yet the same diversity often drives many people apart. The course is bringing people together through broad knowledge and communication. Interfaith Dialogue Professor Dr. Brandon Dollarhite attended former President Obama’s Interfaith College Community Challenge last year in Washington, D.C. While there, they discussed how colleges and universities around the country are starting to offer an interfaith degree program. Drew University conducted a study on the importance of interfaith in a hospital setting. Dollarhite explained that their findings suggest that patients benefit the most when their physician understands their
religious background in order to help with preparation for surgery and the healing process. Dollarhite said Interfaith Dialogue is preparing students to become leaders in effective communication within diverse groups. “How can we be the moderators or be the people to bring peace in a situation – to use our communication skills to enhance conversation rather than allowing people to attack each other with their words?” he said. Sophomore Cody Hervey said faith is a big part of his life and described how the course has contributed to his ability to be more open minded on issues pertaining to religion after just a few short weeks. “Understanding where some of these beliefs culturally came from has helped
me to become more accepting of other people and other faiths,” Hervey said, “even understanding basic elements of my own faith.” Hervey also said he would recommend this course to other students on campus. He believes it contains valuable knowledge that can be applied to everyday life. The course objective aside from learning about the different belief systems is, “to be able to recognize barriers to effective listening and strategies in order to increase listening skill of verbal and nonverbal messages within Interfaith Dialogue.” While taking the course, students will be challenged to listen to differing perspectives, stretch their own belief system and engage in positive non- threatening discussion with people of other faiths and backgrounds.
“Interstellar” explained
Photos By Christopher Reif
“Interstellar” Explained: On 8:30 p.m. March 20, the Physics and Astronomy club screened “Interstellar.” Before the movie, Dr. Mark Paulson explained the theories and mechanics that have earned the movie critical acclaim from film buffs and astrophysicists alike.
Cadets find their future in the Army Jonathan Vann
endure rigorous and stressful evaluations throughout their tenure in the ROTC program, but also they must Staff Writer maintain a high GPA, which accounts for 40 percent of After various performance assessments, participation total accession points. If a cadet is able to keep his or her GPA above the in multiple extracurricular activities, and numerous national average of 3.5, more points will be granted. evaluations that assessed their overall physical fitness, the United States Army awarded 13 MS IV senior cadets from the Cameron University ROTC program with active duty jobs. A branch is a career field within the military while a duty status illustrates whether a cadet will work full or part time, and it is a very competitive process. Currently, active duty status in the Infantry and Medical are the most competitive branches. Active duty status allows an officer to work full time as a soldier. If active duty is not awarded, National Guard or Reserve Components are presented which allow a cadet to be attached to a particular state within the country and serve as an officer on a part-time basis. Robery McCoy, a MS IV cadet who was awarded active duty, received his first choice of Medical Services said he was extremely excited about his new job. “I knew how competitive medical services was,” McCoy said, “so it definitely made it all worth it – all the hard work I put in for the past four years. To finally get what I wanted and the result of that hard Cadets are also awarded points based on the Army work was a dream come true.” Physical Fitness Test (APFT) score, which has the In order to achieve active duty status and receive national average of 275 out of a total 300 points on the branch of choice, a cadet must accumulate a myriad of test being scored. accession points that will allow them to rank high on Leadership assessments and various extracurricular the National Order Merit List (OML), which is a report activities such as participation in the annual Ranger that ranks cadets in chronological order nationwide. Challenge, Color Guard including involvement in various If you are ranked in the top 20 percent in the nation as cadet, active duty status and granting of a competitive community and intramural athletics also account for accession points. branch is a high probability. Finally, all cadets need to successfully complete In order to accumulate points, a cadet must not only
Advance Camp, which is a 30 day capstone event located in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. The purpose of this course is to evaluate cadets on various leadership skills and overall office potential. McCoy credits his personal hard work and due diligence for allowing him to receive the active duty status and medical services branch. “There were many late nights of studying trying to get my GPA up,” McCoy said. “Wanting to go out with friends but having to study, there were many times I had to run an extra mile to maintain physical fitness when I’d much rather been playing video games.” Now that he’s about to be a medical officer, McCoy said he will focus on achieving personal goals. “My goals are to better individuals around me [and] make an impact on other lives,” he said. “I want to better myself, grow in the military and expande my skill set.” There are 17 different active duty branches that a cadet can choose from in the United States Army. These branches can range from combat arms positions (Infantry, Field Artillery, Armor) to more support based jobs (Transportation, Human Resources, or Supply). Within these branches, each cadet has the potential to hold a certain job depending on their current rank. Jacob Clark, a MS IV cadet who received active duty but received one of his alternate branch choices of Ordinance (Maintenance Officer), believes that officers are still expected to lead by example and perform at high levels regardless of their branch and duty status. Clark said even though he did not receive his first branch choice, which was infantry, he is content with Ordinance and still plans to excel in that branch while adequately managing his troops. All of the seniors start training for jobs this summer after the commissioning ceremony on May 5.
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Trivialization and minimization: Examining the toxic nuances of rape culture
Voices
April 3, 2017
www.aggiecentral.com
Tribune News Service
Walk the line: Sarah Gifford makes posters for a 2015 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes march at the University of Missouri Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo. Demonstrations like these shed light on the human elements of sexual assault, elements that seem to disappear during some assault cases or conversations about assault and rape. This disregard for the human element is a hallmark of rape culture, which tends to normalize assault while trivializing or minimizing the victims of the crime. Campaigns like “It’s On Us” look to bring awareness and activism to combat this toxic culture.
Jacob Jardel
Managing Editor
@JJardel_Writing
Content warning: The following piece addresses topics of rape, sexual assault and related forms of sexual violence. “We should not create a culture that suggests we learn that rape is wrong through trial and error.” These words were part of a statement from Emily Doe, the victim in “People v. Turner,” the court case where a jury found Brock Turner guilty of assaulting Doe. The main landmark from this decision was the relative brevity of the sentence – six months, of which Turner only served three. Such is the case with rape culture. That phrase arises in almost any discussion of sexual assault, though some just as easily dismiss it. In her opinion piece for Time, Caroline Kitchens did just that. She said rape culture was nothing more than a theory that spread from hysterical feminism into the mainstream. “Tolerance for rape,” she asked rhetorically, as if the assertion were a surprise. “Rape is a horrific crime, and rapists are despised.” While there is congruence in the statement that rape is horrific, the derision toward rapists appears to only be in statement, if court proceedings like Turner’s are any indication. He penetrated Doe with his fingers without consent but only got three months of jail time. But “Accountability
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The official student newspaper of Cameron University, The Cameron Collegian is available each Monday during the year. It is printed by the Lawton Constitution. The first issue is provided for free. Each subsequent issue is $1.50.
Our Views
Sexual Assault Awareness Series
and Entitlement” from the Sept. 12, 2016 issue of the Collegian already covered Turner’s specific case and other similar cases. This piece is going to cover the underpinnings of that case. This piece is about rape culture as a whole. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is a month about shedding light on the near epidemic that is rape and other forms of assault, providing support and understanding to victims everywhere. There will probably be a conversation citing Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) statistics, like how just over 11 percent of college students experience assault or rape. Statistics such as these are important to keep in mind as we figure out ways to support victims. But just as important are the people behind the Tribune News Service
numbers, victims like Doe and others who either suffer silently or receive a barrage of flak for mentioning they were assaulted. It is through these individuals that we can see the true nature of rape culture. The Marshall University Women’s Center defines rape culture as an environment in which rape is prevalent, where media and popular culture excuse and normalize sexual assault, particularly against women. One of the most prevalent examples is victim blaming. Take Doe, for instance. “I was pummeled with narrowed, pointed questions that dissected my personal life, love life, past life, family life,” she said, “inane questions, accumulating trivial details to try and find an excuse for this guy who had me half naked before even bothering to ask for my name.” Time’s Zerlina Maxwell experienced a similar situation after revealing she had been a victim of rape. “Instead of support, many well-meaning people close to me asked me questions about what I was wearing, if I had done something to cause the assault or if I had been drinking,” she said. “These questions about my choices the night of my assault — as opposed to the choices made by my rapist — were in some ways as painful as the violent
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Editorial Staff
The opinions expressed in The Collegian pages or personal columns are those of the signed author. The unsigned editorial under the heading “Voices” represents the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. The opinions expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily represent those of Cameron University or the state of Oklahoma.
Managing Editors - Joel Frambes and Jacob Jardel A&E Editor - Cheyenne Cole Student Life Editor - Christopher Reif Copy Editors - Stacie Larsen and Joel Frambes Assistant Editors - Stacie Larsen and Payton Williams Aggie Central Editor- Jeff Larson
Our student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content. Because content and funding are unrelated, and because the role of adviser does not include advance review of content, student media are free to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only for themselves. Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media’s content when making decisions regarding the media’s funding or faculty adviser.
Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Robert King, Justin Reff, Vicky Smith Markel Turrell, Jonathan Vann, Payton Williams Photographer - Christopher Reif Advertising Manager - Jacob Jardel Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz
Newsroom Staff
act itself.” But where do these questions come from? One origin could be from media. Songs like “Blurred Lines” top the pop charts while mirroring the words of actual rapists. Local news and sports shows mourn the loss of a promising athlete’s career after a guilty verdict for rape cases (see also, Steubenville). Another could be the attitudes of some college campuses who work more toward lawsuit avoidance than survivor support (looking at you, Baylor). But the real culprit at play is that the systematic downloading of an attitude culminates in teaching people how to avoid getting raped without prominently teaching people about how to not rape someone. It’s not uncommon, people alluding to alcohol consumption, sexy clothing or the catch-all of “asking for it” as the reasons someone just could not help themselves. Meanwhile, reports of rape just receive comments about how boys will be boys, statements inflating the rate of false reports or other forms of trivialization or minimization. And this attitude is not always vocally active. Rape jokes, tolerance for sexual harassment and general misunderstanding about “legitimate” rapes lend
credence to a culture that rape is an unavoidable norm the victim has to try and prevent. In actuality, it’s on everyone to diffuse the toxic rape culture. Cameron is taking part in the It’s On Us campaign against sexual assault throughout April. There will be a multitude of events that bring awareness to rape and assault, culminating in a march later in the month. But there are other things people can do every day. Speak up against sexual violence. Call someone out for making a rape joke. Read up on the components of rape culture and do whatever is possible to eradicate those actions from common discourse. Most importantly, support victims of rape and sexual assault. The attack leaves them in a traumatic situation. Interrogation and doubt will do nothing but pour salt in the wound. So be receptive, be helpful and be kind as they experience something nobody should have to. Establish a different kind of culture around rape, since the current one clearly isn’t working. If you or anyone you know is or has been the victim of rape or sexual assault, call (800) 656-4673 or visit hotline.rainn.org. All calls are free and confidential.
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor will be printed in the order in which they are received and on a space available basis. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters for content and length. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Letters from individual authors will be published only once every four weeks. All letters from students should include first and last names, classification and major. No nicknames will be used. Letters from people outside the Cameron community should include name, address and phone number for verification. Letters can be sent by regular mail, by e-mail to aggiecentral@cameron. edu or they may be dropped off at our office - Academic Commons 101 or at www.aggiecentral.com.
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A&E
April 3, 2017
www.aggiecentral.com
‘Rogue One’ soars to Blu-ray
Tribune News Service
Building ‘A New Hope’: Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) go on a mission across the galaxy to thwart Imperial plans that set the first “Star Wars” film in motion. Fans can purchase the film on DVD and Blu-ray on April 4.
Jacob Jardel
Managing Editor @JJardel_Writing
When a film franchise lasts for several iterations over four decades, some critics could argue that retelling and revamping a story gets old. But when studios release good films in a lasting series, they have the potential to add even more timeless stories to already renowned intellectual properties (IPs). Such was the case with the newest addition to the “Star Wars” Universe. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” hits store shelves on April 4 after receiving a digital release on March 24. Though it was not an official continuation of the George Lucas-created canon seen in Episodes I-VII, it acted as part of the newly conceived Anthology Series (AS). The AS will include two more films,
including the Han Solo origin story tentatively set to release in 2018 and a third unconfirmed film two years later. They take place in the same universe as the original, prequel and sequel trilogies but do not alter the already-established story. For “Rogue One,” director Gareth Edwards and writers John Knoll and Gary Whitta picked the story up somewhere between the events of “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope.” Instead of focusing on a member of the Skywalker family, the story introduces audiences to a brand new set of protagonists who help tell interstitial parts of the story between Episodes III and IV. “Rogue One” starts off with scientist Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelson) hiding from Imperial authority with his family. Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) finds Erso and tries to convince him to join the Empire once more to complete
their super weapon: the Death Star. After a confrontation, Krennic all but forces Erso to leave for the Empire, but not before daughter Jyn escapes the house and the situation. Eventually, Rebel extremist Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) rescues and cares for her. Fifteen years later, Rebel intelligence leader Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) frees Jyn (Felicity Jones) from an Imperial labor camp to recruit her for a mission to extract her father from work on the Death Star. But leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) has other ideas for Andor. Throughout the rest of the story, Jyn and Andor encounter a variety of new allies, such as the droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), defected Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) and Rebel warriors Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen) and Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen). Long story short, this movie is fantastic. Many reviewers refer to it as the best “Star
Wars” movie since “The Empire Strikes Back,” and their reviews are by no means an exaggeration. From composition to pacing, from casting to score, this movie has it all as far as the series goes. With that said, it may not be a film for viewers who are not fans of traditional space fantasy. There is nothing wrong with it, but it may not hold their attention. Furthermore, the slow parts in the story, including the lack of traditional “Star Wars” elements, could easily turn off even the most loyal fans. But one part of the movie that viewers cannot deny is the strength and diversity of some of the main characters. Malbus and Imwe steal the screen in their scenes. Their chemistry with each other and the rest of the cast make their characters some of the most compelling in the movie. For comic relief, there is Tudyk’s K-2SO, whose sarcasm and quick wit give audiences big laughs and enough emotional connection to care about his fate. Rook also gives an amazing comedic performance with enough drama toward the end to leave audiences invested. However, the two characters who propel the movie are Jyn and Andor. Their relationship goes through the ups and downs of a close friendship, and Jones and Luna play every part of it beautifully. They show a great range of emotions while still keeping true to the overall persona of their characters. Nonetheless, this adherence is necessary for a multi-layered story of extraction and, eventually, in finding the plans to the Death Star. It gives the movie a heist-style feel amid a space fantasy of galactic proportion. It may not be appeal to everyone, but those who enjoy it do so to a great degree. The most endearing part of the movie, though, are the references to the main canon of films. While some movies of this sort can overplay cameos and nods to the parent movies, “Rogue One” did well to avoid doing so while still mentioning pertinent parts of the story to propel its own narrative. As a whole, “Rogue One” is a fantastic addition to the “Star Wars” Universe. The characters, the writing, the score and the nuances that intertwine them make for an unforgettable experience. It also proves that the Force is still strong in the series. -- 9 out of 10 kyber crystals
‘Buffy’ celebrates 20 years of slaying Cheyenne Cole A&E Editor
@cheyenneccole
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” a series that was a critical part of “The Golden Age of Television” that took place in the late 1990s and early to mid 2000s. The show particularly transformed the role of teenage girls in television. Since its end in 2003, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has attained cult classic status. To this day, it remains relevant in modern television with a lasting and recognizable influence. The show premiered on March 10, 1997, on The WB, now The CW, a network known for shows like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Jane the Virgin” and “Gossip Girl,” all of which star teenage girls or young women. Affordable streaming services have made “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” readily available to younger viewers, which has given the series a new relevance. But what many streamers don’t understand is that, without “Buffy,” none of the beloved aforementioned shows would have come into existence. By taking the blonde teenage girl who typically would die at the hands of the monster or killer and giving the girl the power to kill the monster, the series turned the horror genre on its head. But Buffy’s future didn’t
always seem so promising. The show was based on a critically-panned and largely unseen 1992 movie from writer Joss Whedon (“Firefly,” “The Avengers”). The screenwriter doubted whether people would take the show seriously because of its title, but he was determined to bring a meaningful story to life. The series opens with Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a seemingly average teenage girl, struggling with her recent move to Sunnydale, California. Amid other brands of teenage angst, Buffy is also dealing with the fact that she’s The Chosen One – the one girl given the power to defend the world against demonic creatures of the underworld. Under the guidance of her Watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy makes friends in schoolmates Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon), who help the Slayer in her mission. By night, Buffy begrudgingly fights demons, who really serve as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of being a young adult. By day, she is a normal teenage girl who struggles with acne and boy troubles. What made this duality so revolutionary was that the writers did not make fun of or belittle Buffy for her femininity. Prior to this time, many television writers used teenage girls as a punchline. This series used Buffy to
convey the idea that femininity does not equate to weakness or stupidity. Other elements of the show had a hand in shaping its stellar reputation. The series innovated drama shows structurally, particularly with its use of micro and macro storylines. While Buffy battled a smaller monster in every episode, she and the gang struggled with a new “Big Bad” villain every season. Ironically, Buffy finds herself drawn to the creatures she must slay: vampires. Angel, Buffy’s first love in the series, scorns her and, shortly after, moves to his own eponymous spin-off show. She later falls in love with Spike, the fan-favorite bleached-haired “villain.” He eventually develops into a lovable, sardonic and compassionate character. Fans remain divided over whether Buffy belonged with Angel or Spike. By the finale, Buffy ends up with neither suitor. With this choice, the writers made a powerful statement about how young women’s strength is found within themselves rather than romantically with a man. In the fourth season, the series successfully transitioned the characters from high school to college – a difficult task given that many high school friends typically separate when entering college. Although the friends branch out and are not as
tightly-knit as they once were, they remain Buffy’s faithful confidants. Willow’s college experimentation with her sexuality and eventual coming out as a lesbian provided television with the first representation of a major lesbian character in a fullydeveloped lesbian relationship. Critics even cite specific episodes when discussing the show’s impact. After a strong, poignant season five finale that many fans thought the show should’ve ended with, the writers proved the show was stronger than ever with “Once More With Feeling,” the classic season six musical episode. In “The Body,” Buffy comes home to find her mother dead and spends the remainder of the episode accepting the tragedy. The culprit behind her mother’s death was not a demon or monster from which Buffy could have protected her, but a brain aneurysm. For the first time, she faces forces out of her control. A numb Buffy fights no monsters, and the episode uses no music to further the feeling of emptiness, making the viewer feel Buffy’s emotions. The highly realistic portrayal of the shock and grief death brings marked a turning point in the series and developed a new standard for the television portrayal of this very universal but equally unpleasant occurrence. When fairy tale monsters steal voices from all Sunnydale
residents in “Hush,” viewers watch an episode with almost no talking – an incredible feat considering most shows propel the storyline primarily through dialogue. However, the series is not without flaws. Critics and viewers alike universally acknowledge that weak, campy storylines made the first season difficult to watch, citing its numerous “Scooby-Doo,” “monster-of-the-week”-type villains. But with only twelve episodes, the first season is
worth drudging through because it introduces the characters and establishes the series’ larger storyline. This background rewards viewers in later great episodes with a greater understanding of the series. Whether a viewer is revisiting the series or watching it for the first time, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will provide television fans with a new perspective. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime. Tribune News Service
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Sports
April 3, 2017
www.aggiecentral.com
Column: The state of Raider Nation Jacob Jardel
Managing Editor
@JJardel_Writing Accounting for inevitable traffic, Royal Oaks, California is about two hours away from OaklandAlameda County Coliseum. While catching glimpses of San Jose, the home of the National Hockey League’s Sharks, travelers pass Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World. Since 1995, though, for a young kid just moving to Royal Oaks, the biggest attraction is the Coliseum. It all has to do with one thing: the Raiders. The team has had a sordid history with city management since late owner Al Davis gained part ownership in the team in 1966, the year the Raiders settled into the Coliseum. Davis threatened to leave the city on various occasions, doing so during a 1982-1984 stint in Los Angeles. But the Raiders spent most of their time in Oakland. They may not have been as successful as their Bay Area compatriots the San Francisco 49ers, but they had a swagger and an identity all their own. It was a swagger that was purely
Oakland (with a tinge of L.A.). That changed on March 27, when NFL owners voted in favor of the Raiders’ proposed relocation to Las Vegas. New owner Mark Davis, son of Al, put in the paper work to move in January after a stalemate with city officials on getting a new stadium separate from the one they share with Major League Baseball’s Oakland A’s. The vote was nearly unanimous, with 31 of the league’s 32 owners voting for the move. The only dissenting voice was from Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. “My position today was that we as owners and as a league owe it to the fans to do everything we can to stay in the communities that have supported us until all options have been exhausted,” Ross said in a statement. The Silver and Black will remain in Oakland for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, hoping to start off fresh in Nevada by the 2020 season. It is a good sign for Las Vegas, though. The desert city dubbed the “Entertainment Capital of the World” recently received the okay for an expansion NHL
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team, the Golden Knights. Now, they will receive one of the NFL’s old guard powerhouses in the Raiders. After not having a sports team, receiving two in under five years just adds to the excitement. Mark quoted Al regarding the decision to move. “My father always said, ‘The greatness of the Raiders is in its future,’” Mark said during a press conference, “and the opportunity to
build a world-class stadium in the entertainment capital of the world is a significant step toward achieving that greatness.” He added that the Raiders’ roots were in Oakland, a city that will always be part of the team’s DNA. But for people like mayor Libby Schaaf, this fact made the move more disappointing. “As a lifelong Oaklander, my heart aches today for the Raider Nation,” she said in a statement. “These are the most committed and passionate fans any city or team could hope to have. They deserved better.” As one of those lifelong fans, the kid who just moved to Royal Oaks in the mid-90s, I share the mixed emotions seen in players like Khalil Mack and David Carr and in head coach Jack Del Rio. I love the city, flaws and all. I love the team, flaws and all. And there were so many flaws, seeing as the team failed to have a winning season since 2002. We have seen stars burn out or get injured, only to play great with another team. Our
coaching carousel spun nearly out of control for over a decade. But what made this move – particularly its timing – so maddening was that it happened the year after we made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. We finally had a core worth talking about. Our quarterback had an MVP season until his injury. Our coach was more than competent. We brought back that “Commitment to Excellence” and meant it. That said, if it could have been anywhere, Las Vegas would not have been my top choice, but it certainly beats relocating to San Antonio. I enjoy the city, but it does not have the feel of the Raiders – that swagger and grit. Las Vegas, depending on where you go, has that in droves. But it still is not Oakland. I only ever went to one game at the Coliseum, what with tickets being so expensive for a family who was not well-off. But my mom had a connection to get us free tickets against Washington. So we went, and
I experienced something for the first time. I experienced a fandom beyond measure, the true essence that made Raider Nation special. The Mad Max-style grunge that was the Black Hole. The swagger that was wearing the Silver and Black. The feeling that, no matter the outside appearance or circumstance, we could all “Just Win Baby,” as Al would say. And it was something uniquely Oakland, a city known for its tough streets as much as its diversity. A city where grit and determination could catapult you into something greater than yourself. A city, though down on its luck, could rise again in any given Autumn Wind. Whether the Raiders infused this attitude into the city or the city infused it into them, I do not and manot ever know. But one thing is for sure: it was a match made in football heaven that slowly made its way to divorce. And now, the children of the Raider Nation sit in the middle.
Aggie women throw Javelinas in 7-2 victory CU Sports Information The No. 24 ranked Cameron women’s tennis team won a key conference and regional match on Thursday, as they took down Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7-2. The Aggies won two out of the three doubles matches, with all three matches ending with 8-6 scores. Zhenia Shviadok and Mathilde
Thibaudat won in the oneseed doubles match, and Paula Gutierrez and Samantha Wood got a win in the two seed. The three-seed match went to the Javelinas. In singles, CU got wins in the one- through five-seed matches, as Gutierrez, Thibaudat and Wood all won in two sets and Shviadok and Magdalena Kovinic went to three sets in their wins.
The Javelinas one win in singles came in the six seed as Viola Lugmayr retired in the second set due to an injury. Cameron will be right back on the court on Friday, as they host Auburn Montgomery starting at 1 p.m. The Aggie women’s tennis team improved their record to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
Photo by Joel Frambes
Hard return: CU singles two-seed Mathilde Thibaudat returns a serve from opponent Victorisa Romanovskaia in the Aggies 7-2 home victory over the Javelinas.
BOX SCORES Singles
1. P. Gutierrez def. L. Carvajal 6-2, 6-4 2. Z. Shviadok def. V. Romanovskaia 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 3. M. Thibaudat def. V. Ruiz 6-3, 7-6 4. S. Wood def. J. Rauer 7-6, 6-0 5. M. Kovinic def. S. Baerman 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 6. Erika Larrea def. V. Lugmayr 6-1, 1-2 (retired)
Doubles 1. Z. Shviadok/M. Thibaudat def. V. Ruiz/V. Romanovskaia 8-6 2. P. Gutierrez/S. Wood def. T. Lua/L. Carvajal 8-6 3. E. Larrea/V. Ortiz def. M. Kovinic/V. Lugmayr 8-6