The Cameron Collegian - September 17, 2018

Collegian T he Cameron University

www.aggiecentral.com

Monday, September 17, 2018

Volume 99 Issue 2

Achieving Future Success The implementation of

Plan 2023

By Drue Watkins

transparency of planning process; opportunities for feedback through the Co-Managing Editor planning, listening and information Beginning in the 2018 fall semester, gathering process; and a multi-modal Cameron University enacted its five-year communication approach with future strategic planning process titled Plan 2023. technology in mind.

Plan 2023—the immediate successor Technology tends to rapidly change to Plan 2018—focuses on a long-term every year, and McArthur said he and the pattern that emphasizes growth, campus rest of the committee understand that development and the allocation of resources changing landscape with Plan 2023. for the next five years.

“It’s easy to see just how impactful This plan is the fourth by which technology can be for the future,” he Cameron University has guided students said. “Ten years ago, we never would’ve and faculty, consistently innovating the really considered online enrollment, or university’s foundation for current and the importance of online classes—now, future generations. upwards to 37% of enrollment goes through Plan 2023 markets six major objectives: the online sector. transform student lives through “This is definitely an immediate and participation; provide quality education for pressing factor—it’s something we needed the diverse community of students; recruit, to address for the next five years.” develop and retain highly qualified faculty Since technology is a focal point for and staff; strengthen the economic, cultural Plan 2023, Cameron is allocating more and civic life of the University’s service area; resources toward the introduction of more renovate existing facilities and technologies; internet-oriented projects such as increased and establish a strong brand and identity for online courses and the enhancement of Cameron moving forward. the university’s web process; for example, The strategic planning cycle for Plan a more user-friendly website that helps 2023 started in September 2016; a variety streamline interactiveness. of input came from Cameron students, Most of the major pushes for campus faculty, staff, alumni and local community evolution come from the students, and investors in the form of a committee.

McArthur said the student body is the Cameron University President John primary focus for each document; their McArthur said gathering insight from voices are of the utmost importance. multiple sources connected to Cameron “We know that college can be difficult is crucial toward creating a better, more for all students,” he said, “and we want to involved university. make Cameron as approachable and guided “The future of Cameron is bright as possible. thanks to so many individuals willing to “A large portion of what Plan 2023 make a difference,” he said. “We know involves is making sure each and every that it’s just as important to have opinions student at Cameron has what they need, from our alumni and the community as it when they need it.” is to have feedback from our faculty and students—everyone has some idea of how See PLAN 2023 to continuously improve what we currently Page 2 have.”

The committee started creating a plan that embraced multiple criteria: an authentic and stakeholder-valued process; maximum stakeholder participation;

Photos and graphics by Drue Watkins

What’s inside Greek Lawn Day Page 3

Opinion on the #MeToo Movement Page 5

Mac Miller Reflection Page 6

News

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September 17, 2018 www.aggiecentral.com

PLAN 2023 continued from page 1 The University’s guidlines and for each previous plan have revolved around a commitment to a diversity of viewpoints, experiences and participants—and for Plan 2023, this is no different.

McArthur said the thought of making a more unified campus stems from the basin of diversity that Cameron employs, and nothing makes him happier than seeing so many unique people.

“Diversity of thought is paramount to any sort of progress here on campus,” he said. “Five years is a

long-term investment at a university, since it is also a generational gap between waves of students. We try to plan ahead for what and who may come in the future, and to achieve that, we need to hear the voices of everyone.”

McArthur also said he hopes that Plan 2023 bolsters the Cameron brand, broadening the horizons of its students in particular.

“Cameron deserves to be known outside of the southwestern Oklahoma sphere and to have people

recognize the great things that are going on here.,” he said.

“This is a special university with so much to offer to the community and potential students.

“Cameron graduates are taught so well and do so well in the work force—all we want to do is bring that marketability up even higher.”

For more information on Plan 2023 and the future of Cameron University, visit http://www.cameron.edu/ plan2023.

OSTCA fall conference Photo by Stacie Larsen

Representing Success: On Sept. 8, in the McCasland Ballroom, Prairie View A&M Instructor Christopher Medina served as Keynote speaker for OSTCA’s 89th annual fall conference. The conference included research presentations, a public relations competition, and an awards banquet.

Stacie Larsen

Managing Editor From 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m., on Sept.8, in the MCC, Cameron hosted the Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association’s (OSTCA) 89th annual fall conference called “Advancing Arguments across the Curriculum.”

Associate Professor of communication studies Dr. Justin D. Walton said this was the first year the Department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages hosted the event.

As a 19-year member and former president of the OSTCA, Walton said he

was happy to have had ten universities from across the state attend and compete in the event, which consisted of research presentations from both students and faculty, a public relations competition, various workshops, an awards banquet and a key note speaker.

“We had some workshops that dealt with pedagogy as it relates to student learning,” he said. “We had a panel that looked at teaching ideas [and] teaching tips for teaching communication subjects.

“We also had some theater workshops that were designed to give information about preparation for different theater roles and theater productions.”

He said it’s important for

universities to have conferences like this because they provide opportunities for academic and applied work, including research and theater projects, to be shared among professionals.

“You [event participants] have an opportunity to present in front of other students, in front of other professors, and get the chance for a professor from a different university to respond to your work and to give you constructive feedback and criticism ... which can be a really nice learning opportunity,” Walton said.

“If your work gets accepted, it means that it has been peerreviewed and given a stamp of approval by other professors in the state.”

After presentations, workshops and distribution of awards, Prairie View A&M University Communications Instructor and Executive Director of the National HBCU speech and debate league Christopher Medina spoke about his previous experiences and successes as Director of Forensics at Wiley College.

“During my tenure, my students won over 3,500 awards [and] fifty national championships,” Medina said.

“They’re the only HBCU to win a national champion tournament. We did that five times.”

He said students had a 97% graduation rate and 91% of them received scholarship offers

to graduate school.

“They are doing so many incredible things,” he said, “because they found their voice, they found their passion, and they were able to work hard enough that others saw their light.”

Cameron Senior art major Alexandra Patterson presented at the conference.

“When you make a research project, it’s for that class, and you’re stressing about what points to hit for grades,” she said.

“To present it at a conference knowing that everyone in that room came because they were interested in what you had to say was a whole different ball game. I liked it a lot.”

The earth of a new organization

CU Earth Club kicks off first year Jackson Miller Staff Writer

This semester, there is a new organization on campus: The CU Earth Club.

Club president and biology major Kaylee Craig said she felt like Cameron needed an Earth Club.

“I just felt like it was a good opportunity,” Craig said.

Craig established the club in Fall 2017 with a group of friends, and since then, membership has risen to sixteen students.

Club member and senior communication major Kristopher Mayfield is pursuing a minor in environmental science due to his awareness for environmental issues.

“I cared more about where things ended up than the rest of my family,” Mayfield said, “so that is something that has developed as I have grown as a person over time.”

Mayfield’s goal is to gain a prolonged sense of awareness for the environment, not just for himself, but for others as well.

“There is so much about environmentalism that is seen as opinion

when it is actually fact,” Mayfield said, “I just want to make it clear that it’s okay to have subjective feelings, but the fact is we need to do something.”

To encourage community support and fundraising, Kaylee Craig has reached out to other organizations to assist with club activities.

“Right now we do not have any sponsors,” Craig said, “but we are in contact with the Sierra Club, a chapter in Oklahoma, so hopefully we can get them to come down and talk to us.”

The Earth Club kicked things off at their

Sept. 7 meeting with a discussion over their first event, Recycling Month.

Craig said the event will take place in November, but in the mean time, the club will focus on recruitment and event awareness.

“Usually the flyers get put up for about a week and then they get thrown away, so we like to use social media,” Craig said.

Earth Club is open to people of all backgrounds and majors.

For more information, visit the Cameron University Earth Club Facebook page.

September 17, 2018

www.aggiecentral.com

Student Life

Aggie strength & for students of all physical strengths and weaknesses.

Student Life Editor Gentry hopes that the new @maddilinee classes will give students a place to put their goals in action by taking the initiative to succeed.

On a mission to motivate “It benefits them by boosting students to be more conscious their self-esteem, motivation about their health and wellbeing, the Aggie Rec Center has and helps create a goal setting mindset,” Gentry said. “We’re increased class availability and here to help the students and opportunity. mentor them in any way that The Aggie Rec Center provides students opportunities we can. We want to see them to participate in many activities succeed just as much as they do.” and workout classes.

This new change grants In past semesters, the students the opportunity Aggie Rec Center provided to participate in classes at classes such as water aerobics, times that weren’t previously yoga, zumba and spin but the manageable with their students requested more. schedules.

With the request in mind, “The purpose of the Aggie Aggie Rec Center facility Rec Center is to service students manager Otis Gentry set out and give them a safe place to increase student wellness to enact a healthy lifestyle,” opportunities.

Gentry said. “It’s our job to “The one thing about make sure they feel safe and able fitness is that you have to have to reach their goals at any time, a variety because the more variety that you have, the better not certain times.”

Senior Health and Exercise your body will react,” Gentry science major Katie Pollard said. “We want the students is an active participant in the to engage more and feel that their goals are coming to action Aggie Rec Center classes.

Pollard shares her thoughts on in a successful, healthy and the Aggie Rec Center classes comfortable way.” make her feel.

The Aggie Rec Center now “I really love the classes,” offers students over ten strength Pollard said. “They care about and wellness, high intensity us here. They’re not just here to workout classes ranging from teach a class. They want to help spin, yoga, Zumba, cardio, toning, flexibility, Tabata, water students, and they want to get to know us. I come to spin to aerobics, dance fitness, balance ease my anxiety, they come to and core strength and fitness see us succeed.” fusion.

Pollards advice to students Classes are designed

Madison Lyda

3

wellness

who don’t want to work out in a group setting or don’t have the motivation and drive to start a new goal is to take the risk and just come hang out.

“If you don’t want to work out, just come hang out. There’s so much to do, and no matter what you’re doing here, you’re always being active and that’s so important,” Pollard said.

For students who aren’t interested in the workout classes at Aggie Rec Center, the center also offers different activities for students to enjoy.

Students have the opportunity to enjoy a game of badminton, basketball, personal workouts at the upstairs gym, indoor track and a pool.

The Aggie Rec Center also runs an intramural program.

Students can participate in competitions in badminton, dodgeball, basketball, volleyball, softball and flag football. Students can sign up to compete with a randomized team or can enter their own team in competitions.

Membership for the Aggie Rec Center comes included in mandatory student fees.

More information about workout classes, pool

Graphic by Madison Lyda

schedules, equipment the Aggie Access webpage rentals and intramural or at the front desk of the signups, it can be found on Aggie Rec Center.

CU Greek Life

Calling all the Greeks to the yard Celeste Powell

students know Greek a great experience for Life on Cameron.edu understands that joining recruitment process at life isn’t just one niche of students to learn outside states that members a Greek organization may Cameron University.

Staff Writer people,” Bonano-Cruz of the classroom. are expected to be be intimidating, but said A Bid is a formal said.

“It’s a melting pot of “They are able to connected to Cameron, that students should take invitation to join a Starting at 7 p.m., men and women who have really grow themselves show commitment to a chance. sorority or fraternity.

Sept. 4, in the Aggie Rec unity under brotherhood and learn leadership service and develop a “Try it,” Bonano-Cruz Students may receive this Center, Cameron Greek and sisterhood and success skills that are necessary commitment to social said.

“If it’s not for you, after attending individual organizations hosted a in their minds.” for potential jobs in the excellence. at least you made some chapter events and getting Greek Lawn Day with Coordinator of Campus future,” McFadden said.

CU lists social friendly new faces on to know organizations and basketball, Frisbee, giant Life Daniel McFadden “It’s a way to become wellexperience, scholarship, campus … but, if you like their members. tic-tac-toe and lawn darts. oversees Greek life at rounded and experience community service, it, it’ll be an experience For more information The event initiated Cameron and serves as the the different atmospheres leadership and career you only get now and will contact Daniel McFadden fall Greek recruitment advisor for Greek council. of what a student development as reasons cherish forever.” in the Office of Campus and provided a way for McFadden believes organization can bring to join a sorority or Greek Bid Day is on Life at 580-581-2217 or students seeking a sorority being a member of a you.” fraternity.

Sept.

15 and marks the by email at dmcfadden@ or fraternity at Cameron Greek organization is The Office of Campus Bonano-Cruz end of the two-week cameron.edu. to interact with the organizations in a fun environment.

Photo by Celeste Powell The CU Greek Council organizes all Greek events.

Greek Council is the overseeing body of all Greek organizations and is comprised of a representative from each organization. The council is tasked with setting all organizational guidelines.

Greek organizations held collective Greek events before individual chapter events to allow students opportunities to find the organizations in a central location.

Greek council president Alex Bonano-Cruz wanted to provide diverse events to reach out to multiple types Lawn and Order: Sophomore Allied Health Sciences majors Katherine Hellickson (left) and Megan Carl (right) join in on a of students at game of Lawn Darts. At 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Aggie Rec Center, CU Greek Life competed against one another in various lawn Cameron.

“It’s important games including bag toss, frisbee, lawn darts, and bonding exercises.

Sports

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September 17, 2018

www.aggiecentral.com

S T R I K I N G

BAL ANCE

Katie Livingston Sports Editor

Women’s tennis player Rebeka Velasova knows that when she’s having difficulty striking balance in her hectic schedule it’s important to take a moment to herself and have another slice of peanut butter toast.

“I just love love peanut butter,” Velasova said. “Peanut butter forever.”

It’s a small thing that she does for herself, but Velasova feels indulging in things she loves makes her highperformance life style sustainable.

“Once you do something with passion and you love it, it’s not work anymore,” Velasova said.

From the time she was eight years old Velasova loved tennis. Even at a young age she maintained a busy schedule between school, horse riding, dancing and tennis. But no matter how busy Velasova got, she always found time for tennis.

Later, in high school, Velasova realized that she’d have to streamline her schedule. She could only retain one of her sports. For Velasova, the choice was easy.

“I decided to stick with tennis because tennis is a passion,” Velasova said. “It helped me to get to know myself, to grow and develop.”

As Velasova’s high school schedule became more hectic, tennis became more cathartic. She would walk onto the court weighed down by her studies and responsibilities and walk off completely rejuvenated.

“When I got out of my practice, I felt so much better,” Velasova said, “really ready to face challenges and to do things again. So this is the first time I really realized I will never give up my tennis. Because this is what makes me successful.”

Though Velasova experienced success on the court, it was her success in the classroom that lead her to come from her home country of Switzerland to the United States. It was while studying at Northern Arizona University that she first thought about playing tennis collegiately.

“This was the first time I realized that college tennis exists,” Valasova said. “That it’s possible at the same time to study and to be competitive.”

Valasova knew that college tennis was something she had to do, so she began the grueling process of applying to universities.

“That was difficult because I didn’t have any results,” Velasova said. “Why should a coach take me when he doesn’t see any results in America? So I tried to impress with my personality and to show I’m a hard worker and I’m ambitious and I’m motivated.”

Velasova’s hard work served her well, and now she’s a pivotal player on Cameron University’s women’s tennis team, living her dream of staying active on the court and in the

classroom. time to come and meet with me.”

During practices, Velasova puts everything else out of her Velasova also tries to foster positive, mutually beneficial mind to focus on herself and on her performance. relationships with her classmates.

“My studies are all behind me,” Velasova said. “I don’t “I need good feedback to keep me going because that think about my studies. I think about myself, and I’m keeps me motivated,” Velasova said. “So if you want good focusing on the ball. That’s how I get the most out of it.” feedback, you have to give good feedback. I’m trying to give For Velasova, it’s intense focus on the court that makes that energy.” her a solid player. However, she also realizes that she doesn’t Velasova said that it’s these positive interactions with exist in isolation. She works hard to build strong bonds with players, coaches, classmates and professors that keeps her her teammates and coaches. going strong, working hard and trying her best. But she “You are responsible knows she also has to rely on for yourself, but you herself. are also responsible “You need to organize for your teammates,” yourself and be very disciplined,” Velasova said. “If you Velasova said, “and you need to come out here and you do what you love.” have bad energy that’s Though doing what she loves going to affect them. keeps Velasova motivated, it You want to be this doesn’t mean that every day is positive energy.” perfect. Her ambitious lifestyle Velasova carries and drive to become the best over the same intense version of herself can lead her focus she has on the to overstretch herself. She often court into her studies. gets inside of her own head in In the same way that a way that she describes as selfshe blocks everything destructive. out during practice, “Sometimes I think ‘Am I she attempts to achieve good enough for this? Will I Women’s tennis player make it?,’” Velasova said. “I start mental clarity during her study sessions. comparing with others.”

“When I’m When Velasova notices studying, I’m not herself overthinking, her thinking of anything else other than studies,” Velasova said. response is to try and take a step back, organize her thoughts “When I’m writing an essay, I can only have quiet around and focus on the things that she can control. me.”

“Can I influence the weather? No,” Velasova said. “Can Velasova prefers to study in either the library or her room I can influence how others will interact with me? No. But where she can be surrounded by silence, her books and a cup I can focus on what I can control. So when I’m feeling of coffee. overwhelmed I try to focus on one thing and then move to “I’m focusing on myself and the text and creating this another.” relationship with the text,” Velasova said. “That’s when I’m Velasova also noted the importance of self-love and selfdoing my best work.” acceptance.

Though she prefers isolation for studying, Velasova also “Once you’re doing good at something […] learn how to realizes that building a sense of community makes her a say good job,” Velasova said, “Once I learned this, everything better student. became easier for me.”

“I’m trying to have a really good relationship with my If all else fails, Velasova turns to peanut butter toast to professors,” Velasova said, “because they know more than make things better. me. So I ask them. I ask them questions.”

“When I’m down I just love pennut butter toast,” Assistant Professor in the Department of Velasova said, “So I eat one more of that.”

Communications, English and Foreign Languages, Dr. Even on the hard days, Velasova knows as long as she Carie Schneider, admires the effort that Velasova put into loves what she does she can make it through. her class work.

“If you want something and if you’re passionate about “One of the things that stood out about Becky in something you can do whatever you want in life.” Becky said. preparing for her reading assignment is that she took several “That’s how I keep the balance.” That, and peanut butter weeks to prepare for it,” Schneider said. “She took the extra toast.

“If you want something and if you’re passionate about something, you can do whatever you want in life.”

—Rebekah Velasova

Photos by Stacy Larson

Voices

5

September 17, 2018 www.aggiecentral.com

The #MeToo Movement:

A performer’s perspective

Payton Williams Voices Editor

@YoureSoVanya

The #MeToo movement has changed the way the public views the entertainment industry in fundamental ways.

One of the biggest things it’s changed is the way we see performers.

This point should be fairly obvious.

When an accusation comes out, it makes us look much harder at the work done by the perpetrators, by the performers and even, in some cases, by our heroes.

But while this reevaluation brings many necessary changes to the entertainment industry, and to the ways in which we consume media, it falls short in one key way for me.

It has not really spawned much conversation around the mentality the entertainment industry is built on, and how that very mentality has bred a status quo in which sexual predators are able to thrive.

I’ve been a Theatre Performance major at Cameron University for what will soon be 5 years, and I’ve been acting in general for longer than that.

All of my work has been local, but even at this small scale level, a person can begin to see the problem as something built into the system.

It’s something that’s taught to a performer, directly and indirectly, intentionally and unintentionally, from the very beginning.

It is the desperation for work as a measure of self-worth.

From the very beginning, most actors are reminded, at some point or another, of the unlikelihood of their ability to get a career and the selfishness of their goal in the first place.

This idea is driven into the actor’s head over and over again.

For me, it’s gotten to the point I laugh right along with the ridicule. To some degree, I believe people who say my goal is stupid and hopeless.

And yet, I persist in chasing it.

I suspect most performers feel the same way, and I don’t think it’s necessary to point out the many ways this kind of desperation destroys a person’s selfesteem.

People in many career paths, I’m sure, feel very similar, but with acting, the feeling is intensified by the nature of the job itself.

An actor’s chief job is to sell themselves. To sell their look, their tone of voice, their attitude, even their personality.

Even more, the job of an actor is to be vulnerable and to be open with aspects of their emotional life that they may not be comfortable selling.

This puts an actor in a very fragile place.

When an actor goes into an audition, it’s not so much a job interview as it is a sales pitch, and the commodity on sale is the person themselves.

So when an actor is passed over for a role, it very often feels more like a rejection of them as a person and not just a rejection of the work they produce.

So, a career as an actor is a dream that needs a nightmare to actualize.

There are those who will constantly

point out that people coming forward a weapon. with sexual assault allegations as a result How can this not be sexual of the #MeToo movement have, by and exploitation at best, and rape or sexual large, had pretty lucrative careers. assault at worst?

These people take a very transactional How can we say that any conventional view of the entire scenario, seeing it more idea of consent can exist in a situation as an exchange of sexual favors for career where a person is aware of their power advancement. over another person, and use it to get They might even suggest that the what they want? people who come forward to tell these Sometimes, consent is not a simple painful stories had actually planned it question of yes or no, but rather, a somehow or had wanted to be sexually question of who can say yes or no in the exploited to further their careers. first place.

In other words, they say that the These performers are put in a mindset victims were “asking for it.” where they don’t feel as if they have a I’m sure I don’t have to point out how choice between yes or no, and for anyone this argument is a disgusting defense to suggest that they asked for this to of an unspeakable act, but more to my happen to them is callous and disgusting. point, it fundamentally misunderstands The #MeToo movement has been a the nature of the hierarchy of the wonderful force for shining light into entertainment industry. the darker corners of the entertainment The trouble is that these producers, industry, and onto the darker these directors, these influential implications of what our obsession with performers and artists, know the entertainment makes possible. mentality of being a performer.

But I think it’s also time for part They know the low self-worth, the of the movement to be a serious terror, the shame, the dreams and the reevaluation of the way performers think hopes that come with being an actor. of their business — and themselves.

They know these things, and they use No job is worth giving up your sense this information to get what they want. of self-worth.

Actors and performers are desperate And no one should be morally gross for a career. enough to suggest that someone wants to They are desperate for proof that they give their self-worth for a job. weren’t irresponsible and selfish for following their dreams. That In Volume 99, Issue 1, on the News page, The they’re lives have value.

Cameron Collegian incorrectly attributed the That they’re going to dominant photo to Audrey Shifflet. The correct be ok. photographer was AnneMarie Altman. The Collegian And people with deeply regrets this error. power know this, and weild that knowledge as

Correction:

Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

A performer and a victim: Rose McGowan speaks at The Women’s Convention in Detroit last year. McGowan was one of the major figures to come out with sexual assault allegations against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, claiming he raped her in a hotel room during a planned business meeting. She was one of 90 women who came forward with allegations against Weinstein.

About Us

THE CAMERON UNIVERSITY

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.

COLLEGIAN

Our Views

Managing Editor - Stacie Larsen Managing Editor - Drue Watkins A&E Editor - Sarae Ticeahkie Sports Editor - Katie Livingston Student Life Editor - Maddie Lyda Voices Editor - Payton Williams Copy Editor - Destiny Garcia Aggie Central Editor - Jeff Larson Social Media Editor - Abby Gonzalez

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.

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.

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Editorial Staff

Newsroom Staff

Financial Officer - Susan Hill Staff Writers - Celeste Powell, Jackson Miller, Mason Orso Samuel Brewer, Justin Rose, David Perkins, Lea Killian, Bryan Arauje Photographers - Dontaye Abram, Lauren Johnson Advertising Manager - Hannah Spoon Faculty Adviser - Mr. David Bublitz

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.

September 17, 2018 www.aggiecentral.com

A&E

6

Graphic by Victoria Orndoff

Sarae Ticeahkie

Miller writes: “When life around you changes try to keep your sameness / Try A&E Editor to keep your brain maintainin’ through the @sylviaseeks lameness.”

The summer after my senior year of high school is when I truly started to Sophomore year of high school seems wonder if who I was as a person is who I like yesterday.

Riding around with friends during the wanted to project onto the world.

I began exploring the possibility that I day or heading to house parties at night, could change for the better. That I could I blast Mac Miller’s “Blue Slide Park” album, and his music has become nostalgia be better.

I became more open minded than ever, for me. and that opened me up to Miller’s music, He made a mark on my life. too.

At the age of 14, Miller would spend “Watching Movies with the Sound Off” late nights writing with lyrical realness and spittin’ at freestyle battles; he used his released June 2013, and it couldn’t have music as an outlet to for his feelings – and been better timing.

Every song is filled with raw lyrical fans could relate. flow and hypnotic instrumentals, showing At 16 years old, I had my ups and downs with my mother. I would constantly Miller’s evolving artistry.

Miller writes: “Forever life been never nice, we expedite the process / And every night I get advice, cause life is way too complex… / Your life, it all depends on money spent and knowledge gained / Darkness on the brain, lost inside forgotten days / Life, in works Tribune News Service in search mysterious ways.”

At that time in my life, I decided to go to college, and I had stay at my best friend’s house. I kept my personal struggles behind closed doors and this image of myself – which didn’t last portrayed someone completely different to long.

After an overwhelming year, I dropped my friends. out and decided college wasn’t for me.

But the experience made me realize it Music had always been my safe haven, didn’t matter where I was, I could¬ make and again, Miller’s music spoke to me. it better.

“Just come take my hand closer / We And life got better.

could go to the moon / Look at my eyes as we’re here (living) in euphoria.”

A semester passed, and I decided that I couldn’t waste my life when I knew I had so much to give to the above water, even with everything trying to world. pull him under.

After months of searching and We all can relate. thinking, I took the plunge into “In my own way, just feel like living writing for living; I enrolled back / Some alternate reality / And I was into college, as a journalism major. just drowning, but now I’m swimming.”

It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever There will always be something or made.

I’ve always turned to writing when I just someone who tries to pull us down, but we must persevere. needed to let my feelings out, even if it’s Losing Mac Miller is like losing a best just on paper.

Miller and I both have that in common. friend that I’ve never met, but I felt like he knew me better than I Miller’s music knew myself. continued to grow “No matter where life The world lost a as I did, so it was beautiful human being. no surprise to me takes me, find me I lost a beautiful when he released with a smile / Pursuit human being.

“My Divine I never thought I Feminine” in 2016. to be happy, only would be listening to This album laughing like a child his music for not only didn’t have a direct impact on my life, / I never thought like reassurance, but for too. but he was still would be this sweet remembrance No matter the right there with / It got me cheesin’ situation, I can listen me through my any one of songs journey. from cheek to cheek.” to and remember how his When you music connected with grow up listening — Mac Miller me on an emotional and to someone like “Best Day Ever” personal level.

Miller and feel the I feel like everyone connection, it is related to his music; almost inevitable to when we evolved, he evolved. find something to relate to in his music.

When I think about carrying Miller’s But Miller fifth and final album is still music forward, I will always remember hard to accept. how he found the sunshine in the dark.

His death is hard to accept.

That it’s okay to be vulnerable and be Released earlier this year, “Swimming” open with your struggles. is the most impactful album of his entire Miller wrote the soundtrack to my teen career. years and I will continue to write the rest.

Miller talks about keeping his head

‘The Nun’ should ask for forgiveness Sarae Ticeahkie

backstory and connection to the other movies, then began A&E Editor unclear narrative for the rest of @sylviaseeks the movie.

Using the traditional creepy On Sept. 6, the highly low-lit lighting throughout the anticipated prequel to James movie did nothing but make it Wan’s “The Conjuring” hit incredibly hard to see what was theatres worldwide. going on.

The supernatural horror The movie is set in 1952 mystery “The Nun” brought Romania, where the Carta in highly 54 million opening Monastery is haunted by an weekend, but had a highly unholy presence that killed disappointing premiere. two nuns who beloning to the In 2016, Warner Bros.

Pictures and New Line Cinema convent.

The Vatican heard about the announced the spin off to death of the nuns and sought 2013’s “The Conjuring” and a problem-solving priest and 2016’s “The Conjuring 2”. young novitiate nun.

In 2017, film director and Experienced in demonic screenwriter Director Corin exorcisms, Father Burke Hardy, who made his debut (Demian Bichir), and foreseeing co-writing the 2015 horror Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), film “The Hallow”, announced younger sister of “The that he signed on to direct Conjuring” star (Vera Farmiga), the prequel, and completely travel to the abbey of St. Carta rewrote the screenplay for the to uncover the mysterious evil movie. that caused death to a nun and The horror of a movie did not meet the standards that the suicide for the other.

During their travels, they Conjuring Universe has set. meet up with the farmer It started off with a Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), a promising scene for the prequel, peasant from a nearby village but it later lacked the twisted who found the hanging nun. horror the previous movies are Frenchie guides them to the known for.

“The Nun” begins with some Abbey.

This is where the jump scares and chills are supposed to happen but don’t.

The movie just gets stagnant.

Hardy includes the basic decaying hands grabbing people, the turning of upside-down crosses and nuns flying all over the place.

The director overly uses these basic scare tactics to make up for the lack of maintining the creepy and tense atmosphere Wan did so well in “The Conjuring” movies.

All the scare tactics must have been possessed too.

The movie had so much potential to tell an interesting back story, but instead Hardy decided to create new stories to potray the one everyone has been waiting to see; Valaks’ (Bonnie Aarons) story.

The demonic nun is the iconic villian linking the movies together.

Father Burke gets haunted by a young boy, who he had performed an exorcism on in the past, but never gave closure of that story or how it is related to the events in the movie.

Then, we are told the Abbey got bombed during World War II, which released the demon

from an opening in the ground that lead to the depths of hell.

This causing the unholy activity.

It really just caused an unholy mess for the movie.

Sister Irene’s backstory has a better connection with finding out what is haunting the Abbey. It’s her visions that directed them to the origin of evil.

The demonic nun Valak.

The demonic nun is ironically the one savor to this prequel.

In the ending scene, Valak manages to possess and enter the farmer Frenchie, which then alluded to a scene in “The Conjuring” Ironically, the beginning and ending of the movie, which are short scenes from the previous movies, are the only scenes that shed light on the storyline.

Graphic by Sarae Ticeahkie