10 20 14

October 20th, 2014

Volume 41

Issue No. 15

Oakton’s Founding Chairman Dies at 96

By Manaporn Phaosricharoen Ray Hartstein, the founding chairman of Oakton Community College, passed away from natural causes on Sept 7th. He was 96 years old. Faculty members mourned the loss, citing his many contributions and long history with Oakton.

“He was the leader of a small group of concerned citizens who wanted to bring community college education to the northern suburbs of Cook County in the late 1960s,” Oakton President Margaret B. Lee recalled in a statement.

“Ray was the shaping spirit of the group and if it were not for his vision and commitment, Oakton would not be the institution that it has become today.”

That sentiment was echoed by other faculty members, such as Linda Korbel, the Dean of Languages, Humanities, and the Arts.

Hartstein and other community leaders “worked for more than a year to find a location, to establish all legal documents that were necessary to open a college. He served as chairman for many years before he retired,” she said.

Although his background was mostly in management, including work with the United States State Department in Israel, General Mo-

Ray Hartstein served as chairman for many years.

tors and the Brunswick Corporation, he was really a teacher the whole time. Hartstein’s passion led him to be “very focused on making sure that the college functioned in the best interest of students,” said Ann Marie Barry, the Director of Student Life.

Carole Shapiro, one of Oakton’s math professors, also noted Hartstein’s attentiveness

towards the school’s employees. She said, “He was a tireless supporter of the faculty and I believe he made it a point to know every one of us. He attended most functions and took note of faculty accomplishments.”

In fact, he literally wrote complimentary notes by hand, which were - and still are - appreciated by all the grateful recipients, according to President Lee. As a result of that dedication, Hartstein received the first Trustee Achievement Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA). That award is now named after him.

At Oakton, there are at least three awards bearing his name: the Ray Hartstein Award for Outstanding Professional Excellence in Teaching, the Ray Hartstein Brunswick Excellence Scholarship, and the Ray Hartstein Academic Merit Scholarship.

The Skokie campus, built in 1980, was given Hartstein’s name in 1995 in recognition of his long connection with Oakton.

In the end, he loved life. He loved his family.

He loved Oakton. And he left the world a better place, said those who knew him for many years, with his passion, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

New SGA Senators Elected Voter Turnout Low for Second Election of the Year

By Matthew Dahlman Oakton’s Student Government Association (SGA) marked the official end of its voting season for this year’s batch of senators on Sept.

30. Five new senators were elected: Jajji Bako, Yookyung Chang, Mary Cremin, Badamkhand Oidov, and Melissa Zbroszczyk.

Zbroszczyk garnered an astonishing 70.9% of the vote, with 241 students voting in her favor. When the new senators were asked how it felt to be elected as part of the student government, their answers ranged from “Dope” to “Very excited.”

That excitement was apparent in the group’s first official meeting, which took place

Oct. 1. The SGA meets weekly, and one of the issues that members intend to address this year is voter turnout among Oakton students.

Finding enough students willing to serve in the student government has also been a persistent issue; the SGA’s main leadership roles such as president were filled during the spring election, but that contest left multiple senator positions vacant, which prompted the just-completed fall election.

The SGA is one of the most powerful organizations at Oakton. It oversees about half a million dollars in student fees, allocating funds to Oakton’s many student clubs and organizations. And it weighs in on many policy decisee ‘SGA election’ ... page 2

Photo by Yookyung Chang

Mary Cremin and Yookyung Chang

Melissa Zbroszczyk

Photos by Constance White

Jajji Bako

2

News

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines Campus 1600 East Golf Road Des Plaines, IL 60016

Ray Hartstein Campus 7701 North Lincoln Ave. Skokie, IL 60077

Ray Hartstein.................................... page 1 SGA election..................................... page 1 Game of Throws............................... page 2 Police blotter..................................... page 2 Motorcyclist accident........................ page 3 “Gone Girl” reviews........................... page 4 Koehnline exhibit.............................. page 7 “Ninja Turtles” movie review............. page 8 Comic con......................................... page 8 “Annabelle” movie review................. page 9 Video game review........................... page 9 Horoscopes...................................... page 10

The OCCurrence is now online! http://issuu.com/oaktonoccurrence/

OCCurrence Office

Des Plaines Campus, Room 1222 Tel (847) 635–1678 Fax (847) 635–2610 occurrence@oakton.edu

Contributing Writers

Production Andrew Brenycz

Matthew Dahlman Jim Hasani Faculty Advisor Kyle Jerominski Sue Fox Cuyler Jenkins Manaporn Phaosricharoen Business Manager Barrett Sonn and Ad Sales Constance White Petar Zumbulev Grace Fagiano

Photo editor

fagiano_grace@hotmail.com

847-635-1678

Constance White

October 20th, 2014

“Game of Throws” a Thrilling Night

By Matthew Dahlman

The players stood ready in their jerseys as their names were shouted over the cheers of the crowds. As the cheers grew louder the teams squared off, and the games began.

“Game of Throws” is the second annual basketball event put together by the Student Government Association.

The teams show off their skills with a three-point contest, dunk contest, skill challenges, Photo courtesy of the SGA and at the end of the night a skirmish match.

Players showed off their skills through a series of challenges.

During the dunk contest, each contestant had 30 secathletic chaos. The match was between Home onds not only to earn the most and Guest. dunks, but the most challenging ones. Tt ended Right out of the gate Guest claimed the adin a dunking duel between two players, who vantage, but Home soon caught up. It took time earned scores of 9 and 10. Then SGA memand a lot of three-pointers, but Guest managed bers took the stage to talk about their meetings, to pull ahead. They might have even won if not scholarships, and future events. for the slam dunks of number 34, the winner The skills game came next – and it was of the dunk contest. He brought the ball down strange, to put it mildly. The players had to on the rim with the wrath of a vengeful god. dribble between cones, shoot the ball over the When the dust settled, Home managed to win outstretched arms of a mesh sheet representthe game, 126 to 116. ing a player, and even crawl through part of a In between quarters, the SGA urged audichildren’s playpen. Some players slipped right ence members to try their hand at basketball. If through, some got a foot stuck, and one had to someone made a layup, he or she earned a $10 be helped out. When they finally escaped the gift card, with $20 for a free throw and $50 for child-friendly trap, they had to complete the a half-court shot. Popcorn and punch added to challenge by making a shot. The entire course the festive atmosphere. had to be finished in 25 seconds.

It was a thrilling experience, even if the By then the crowd had swelled, and these turnout for the event seemed small. While antics earned plenty of laughs. But the skirmish the crowd certainly filled the gymnasium with was definitely the highlight of the night. The cheers, and jeers, the bleachers were never full. players burst onto the court as the gymnasium Overall it was a fun event, capped off with a thundered with the sound of beats and basketgreat skirmish. Here’s hoping for another sucballs. Dunks, shots, and the rare miss were put cessful “Game of Throws” next year. on display as the teams got ready. It was sheer

Police Blotter

By Kyle Jerominski

The following incidents were listed among the reports compiled by Oakton’s Department of Public Safety.

Aug. 25 -– A suspect was charged with disorderly conduct at the Des Plaines campus near classroom 2822. This case has been referred to Student Affairs.

Sept. 15 – A suspect, who had no affiliation with Oakton, was arrested for criminal damage to a state vehicle on the Des Plaines campus in Parking Lot B.

Sept. 12 – Two separate acts of criminal damage to property occurred at Oakton’s Des Plaines campus, in the hallways near the 1420 and 2840 classrooms, respectively.

These cases are pending investigation.

Sept. 20 – Someone filed a claim of a theft at Des Plaines campus Gym Storage, room 1325. The loss was estimated under $500.

Photographers Yookyung Chang Constance White

This publication is funded in part by the student activity fee paid at the time of registration. Editorials in the OCCurrence express the opinion of the editorial board, and/or the author, but do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the advisor, faculty, staff or administration of Oakton Community College We reserve the right to edit all submitted material for content and to fit available space.

Content © 2014 The OCCurrence.

All rights reserved.

‘SGA election’ ... from page 1 sions as well, serving as the voice of Oakton’s thousands of students.

In the September election, only 340 out of 9900 Oakton students voted, according to college officials. That’s a measly 3.4% turnout rate, which means you were squarely in the minority if you voted. The turnout also marked a decrease from the spring election, which decided the most important positions in the SGA. Also, there were fewer votes because the voting window was limited to two days.

At a two-year institution like Oakton, organizations often struggle with continuity due

to high turnover rates as students graduate, transfer, or simply run out of time for extracurricular activities. How the SGA plans to handle that struggle is still up in the air. In an ideal scenario, candidates for senator would run against competition rather than running uncontested (as was the case for each senator this year), and more students would actually decide to invest time in the voting process.

In the meantime, the SGA and its new senators will work hard to improve student life at Oakton.

OCCurrence

News

Motorcyclist Killed in Oakton Crash

Photo by Yookyung Chang

A memorial was created at the site of the tragic crash.

3

By Kyle Jerominski In one of the worst accidents at Oakton in years, a 23-year-old student crashed head-on into a car while riding his motorcycle along a campus road. The collision, which occurred about 1 p.m. on Sept. 22, critically injured the motorcyclist, who was identified as Arkadiudz Krzemien. He later died at a hospital.

According to Oakton Public Safety officers, Krzemien was riding his motorcycle on College Drive, the winding road that connects Golf Road to Oakton, headed to the campus. He lost control of his vehicle and crashed head-on into a car driving in the opposite lane. He was wearing a helmet, but that was not enough to save his life.

Officer Gerald Modory of Public Safety, who is in charge of the case, said that what caused Krzemien to lose control of his vehicle is unknown. Paramedics arrived at the scene minutes after being called at 1:03 p.m. and took Krzemien to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was later pronounced dead. The person driving the car, a former Oakton student, was not injured.

With a campus of curvy roads that are sometimes slick with rain or coated in ice, Oakton’s Des Plaines campus is no stranger to car crashes. Drivers occasionally skid off the road – particularly in the winter months – and wind up in a ditch or collide with a tree.

But on the day Krzemien crashed, the weather was mild.

A few years ago, another motorcyclist was critically injured in a crash at Oakton, but it is very rare for vehicle accidents here to be fatal.

Within days of Krzemien’s death, a memorial of flowers and other tokens sprang up at the site of the crash.

After Oakton, I chose Lake Forest College

”

There is a real sense of community on campus.

Everyone wants to see you succeed and have a positive experience.

I’ve really gotten to know my professors and my peers due to the small class sizes.

”

Kyle Diep ’15 Major: Math Minors: Computer Science and Economics Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Patterson Academic Scholarship

• Students from 43 states and 73 countries • Abundant internship and research opportunities

• Competitive scholarships and financial aid packages • Apply free online at www.lakeforest.edu/apply

To learn more visit www.lakeforest.edu/transfer or call Melissa Naughton at 847-735-5009

4

Arts & Entertainment

October 20th, 2014

“Gone Girl” is a Novel Read

By Constance White It seems safe to say that Gillian Flynn has created a cultural phenomenon in her “Gone Girl” franchise. Originally a bestselling novel, the film version of “Gone Girl” recently opened in theaters. If the movie comes anywhere close to being as captivating as the book, it is definitely worth watching.

Photo courtesy of amazon.com

Flynn’s thrilling murder mystery was her audience makes this book very easy published in June of 2012. As a writer, to read. As a reader, however, be warned Flynn is a master of her craft. Her intricate that one may find it hard to not empathize imagery wraps around the minds of her with each character individually by the end readers. A former reporter, Flynn uses her of the novel. words to successfully create detailed mental Flynn uses her obvious talent to take pictures, a mark of her experience. She de- her audience on an emotional roller coaster scribes a character moving like “a cat being brushed” or having cheeks that are “a merry holi“When I think of my wife, I day-sledding pink.” She creates a world around the reader. This always think of her head,” said unique style nearly distracts Nick, the husband who may or the reader from the grim subject matter of the story, which is may not have killed her. indicative of the author’s talent.

This story revolves around the sudden disappearance of Amy Elliot Dunne. The narration of the tale switches between characters, and in which they find themselves seated right opens with narration from Amy’s husband next to her characters. With such narration Nick, who begins with a vivid description of as, “I felt a giant bubble of joy – I couldn’t his wife’s head. “When I think of my wife, help it – and then the joy was encased in I always think of her head,” Nick says, de- a metallic terror,” Flynn illustrates the rise scribing it as a “skinny, hard corn kernel” and fall of extreme emotions in a single senand “what the Victorians would call a fine- tence. This technique can be quite thrilling ly shaped head.” Already, within the first to readers who are particularly sensitive to paragraph of the book, Flynn has created this unique style of writing. Anyone who an ominous atmosphere. has ever felt disappointment, and fear, can Without writing anything overtly dis- feel the hard twang of disappointed fear that concerting, at least at first, Flynn makes Flynn describes here. the reader aware of the fact that there is “Gone Girl” is a literary masterpiece, something very wrong in the lives of these and definitely worth the read. Upon complecharacters. Her novel could have been dif- tion, readers are unlikely to feel anything ficult to get through, because of the dark close to “metallic terror.” Rather, a reader subject matter, but it is not. The flowing is more likely to complete the book quite imagery that Flynn uses to connect with satisfied with the story.

OCCurrence

Arts & Entertainment

5

“Gone Girl” Film Keeps You Guessing

By Cuyler Jenkins M. Night Shyamalan wishes he could write plot twists half this good.

“Gone Girl” tells the story of Nick (Ben Affleck) and Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), a married couple who are no longer satisfied with their relationship. One day, Amy vanishes, and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance make Nick a person of interest in the investigation, as well as drawing the ire of national daytime TV pundits, who immediately declare him guilty.

There is a lot going on in this movie, and the writing is superb, most likely due to the fact the director was able to get the author of the book it is based on, Gillian Flynn, to work on the adaptation. The finished product is a labor of love that doesn’t get hung up on a lot of unnecessary details.

The acting in this film, like the writing, is amazing. Ben Affleck nails the performance as Nick Dunne – a shady enough person to arouse suspicion but still leave doubt in the audience’s mind about his role in his wife’s disappearance. All of the supporting actors

are great, too, especially Carrie Coon, who plays Nick’s twin sister, Margo.

The pacing is good, although some will say that it can be a little slow. Although it takes its time, revealing facts and turns at its own pace, instead of rushing through at

me to decide how I feel about this film. But “Gone Girl” is so much more than the twists and shifts; it also serves as a social commentary about how we see people, and how they are presented to us. One message of the movie is that media talking heads can influence millions just because they’re the loudest voices in the room.

They call for Nick’s arrest as the police barely start their investigation, let alone press charges, and they get worse from there.

There is some controversy about Photo courtesy of moviepilot.com Gillian Flynn’s blinding speed, it lets things culminate and portrayal of women. With- out giving away build up until it finally explodes. anything, only two women are shown in a Although the film has multiple plot truly positive light, Nick’s sister and Detectwists, they aren’t really twists, so to speak. tive Boney, and they have more masculine They’re more like paradigm shifts, changing traits so they avoid being “true women.” how you thought and felt about characters While there is some basis for these claims, – one moment, you knew that up was up, “Gone Girl” also shows men in a less than and white was white; then you realize that flattering light. I believe it shows people at up was down, and what you thought was their best and their worst, and doesn’t try white was actually black. It changes the to shame them for being some idolized vergame, and challenges your thinking and sion of themselves. perception of the characters.

Overall, “Gone Girl” is a great movie, Unfortunately, that makes it hard for and one you should really see.

North CeNtral College Naperville, il

JoiN uS For our

transfer visit day saturday, November 15, 2014

Here’s wHat we Have plaNNed fOr yOu: Presentations include » Transfer Admission » Financial Aid » Student Life

To reg

iSTer,

630-63

CA LL

7-5 8 0 0

or ViS

You will also have the opportunity to meet our faculty and student life staff and take a walking tour of our beautiful 65-acre campus in Naperville’s Historic District.

northc iT entralc ollege .edu / transf er

To learn more about North Central College’s Visit Day program and to register, visit northcentralcollege.edu/transfer or call 630-637-5800.

9.75x7 Oakton community college_refuel.indd 1

8/21/2014 10:42:22 AM

North Central College/9.75”x7”/Oakton Community College

October 20th, 2014

6

TENACITY LOVES COMPANY.

THIS WAY UP. More than 70 bachelor’s and 40 master’s degrees in Chicago, Schaumburg and online. Learn more at roosevelt.edu. om_FY14_dorm_oaktonOCC_975x7.indd 1

10/6/14 2:19 PM

OCCurrence

Arts & Entertainment

7

“Gendering Desire” Filled with Artistic Inspiration

By Cuyler Jenkins The Koehnline Museum of Art pulled out all the stops for the Oct.2 opening of its newest exhibit, “Gendering Desire: Liberation, Power and Pleasure.” Waiters flitted to and fro, carrying treys of hors d’oeuvres and sparkling grape juice. A guitar duo played classical music, and the museum was filled with people to the bursting point.

“Gendering Desire” came about as a result of student reactions to last year’s Oakton production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

According to Judy A. Langston, the curator, and Kathleen Carot, the coordinator of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Oakton, students suffered from misperceptions about the nature of sex, gender and relationships. Together they decided to create an exhibit that stressed these very ideas and notions, and attempted to challenge what people think of and assume about human sexuality.

“From food to the erotic, desire takes many different forms, and gender is implicated in the process. How does gender and sexuality affect our experiences of passion and pleasure?” asked the text promoting the exhibit. “Do patriarchal and heteronormative power structures suppress human desire? Can rigid binaries of male/female, gay/ straight, be transformed into a more fluid, flexible, liberated experience of desire? How do we experience passion and pleasure beyond the sexual? And do women really love chocolate more than men?”

Photo by Constance White

The exhibit dealt with the complexities of sex, gender, and relationships.

Many of the pieces on display were intensely personal to the artists who created them, and some were willing to talk openly about their experiences and inspiration.

“Everything I make is autobiographical,” said artist Jiena Laine Nesbitt. “It means that I have a voice, and that no one can take that away from me. But at the same time, I don’t feel like it’s done. It comes to a point where you just have to stop.”

This feeling of incompletion was echoed

by other artists, like Kristin Haas. “There’s always something,” said Haas. “Looking at my work, there’s always some uncertainty.”

However, some artists offered a different perspective on the idea of work being incomplete. “This is the first piece in a series,” said artist Michele Thrane. “There is more. As I progress, the pieces will get bigger. So in that sense, it is not finished.”

The work will remain on display at the Koehnline until Oct. 24.

now open

in Glenview Photo by Yookyung Chang

Judy A. Langston, Kathleen Carot, and Nathan Harpaz made this event a success.

Find quality used clothing, jewelry, housewares, furniture, books, toys and more at amazing low prices!

GLENVIEW 9840 Milwaukee Ave - Unit A North of the Golf Mill Shopping Center (847) 635-6288 Mon. - Sat. 9am - 9pm, Sun. 10am - 7pm

In our community, your donations benefit:

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago’s mission is to lead the fight against seizures, find a cure and overcome challenges created by epilepsy.

JOIN THE CLUB See store for details!

Photo by Constance White

Many pieces on display were intensely personal to the artists.

8

October 20th, 2014

Arts & Entertainment

Ninja Turtles Return, Along with Nostalgia Fall is upon us, and the summer movie season is over. Before it came to a close, the last big summer blockbuster to arrive was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” For many of us, we grew up watching TMNT as kids. It was an iconic cartoon, with previous highly successful theatrical film versions. Leave it to “Transformers” director Michael Bay to bring back the nostalgia.

The modern live-action “Ninja Turtles” film is very different from the original versions. To those of you too young to remember the original, this reincarnation of the TMNT will introduce you to a whole new origin story. Not only did Bay tinker with the story, he completely changed the appearance of the main characters.

The characters’ names and likenesses remain. Mikey, Donnie, Ralph, and Leo are all back, although with shortened names. The turtles are joined by their best friend and reporter, April O’Neil.

Splinter is there, as well as the turtles’ fiercest enemy, the Shredder. That’s about as far as it goes with the main characters staying true to form.

As far as the synopsis for the film goes,

New York City is under a bad crime spell.

The dangerous Foot Clan is taking over the city and the civilians are in danger. The Ninja Turtles have been hiding in the sewers all their life. One faithful night, they decide to make a change and stop the Foot Clan.

portrayed as giants. Judging from the interaction they have with humans, they seem to be about 8 feet tall! They resemble some green aliens much more than turtles. They have prominant nostrils and lips. You heard me right, lips. They are covered with accessories: necklaces, shorts, vests, even a vacuum on top of Donnie’s shell. Not to mention they gave one of the turtles glasses.

Another one, a red Bret Michael-like bandana. Enough said.

The Shredder resembles a Transformer. It’s a person in a metal costume. The only shining light as far as the characters is Megan Fox as April O’Neil. She might not be the most talented performer on the planPhoto courtesy of comingsoon.net et, but for some reason she seems ideal to They are caught on camera by none other play April. It doesn’t hurt that she’s easy on than April. The turtles’ secret is about to be the eyes, either. exposed, but lingering issues with the Foot Overall, if you are a long time fan of Can and the mastermind Shredder leaves TMNT hoping for a modern rendition, you the city in dire need of some heroes. The might be greatly disappointed. The movie turtles are ready to save the day. isn’t terrible. It’s entertaining and fun on For all the die-hard fans out there, the some levels. If you take it for what it is and thing that will probably bother you the most leave the comparisons of the original beis the appearance of the turtles. They are hind, you will enjoy it.

Comic Con: Geek Heaven on Earth

By Jim Hasani When it’s time to go back to school, in Chicago that usually means The Wizard World Comic Con is in town. As always, the Comic Con took place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention in Rosemont, running from Aug. 21 to 24 this year.

Comic Con is geek heaven. Comics, games, superhero apparel, and much more. For first time visitors, it may look like Halloween. Half the people there are dressed in elaborate costumes portraying their favorite superheroes. It’s called Cosplay.

The event offered many different interactive events. The convention has a packed daily schedule of events.

From various Q and A panels that run throughout the day to something called Sci-Fi Speed Dating, which is actual speed dating with a Sci-Fi theme. The participants are encouraged to attend in their costumes.

The main attraction of Comic Con is the opportunity for the attendees to get up and close to their favorite stars. The weekend is built around name guests.

This year the featured guest list included Michael Rooker, Stan Lee, John Cena, Evan Peters, Anthony Mackie, and many more. The lines were immense for most of these people, who were available for photo ops and autographs.

The fans aren’t the only ones who enjoy the festivities; the celebrities partake in the fun, too. Lou Ferrigno, the actor who played the original Hulk, said, “The

fan’s excitement is what makes me want to come back every year for this show. Chicago is a huge fan base of the Hulk and comic book heroes.”

The convention was separated into three different areas. One area had all the comics, merchandise, toy, movie, and game vendors. The other area was for autograph signings. The third area was devoted to various panels. The major panel attraction was the X-Men one, featuring three of the films stars.

If you are planning to attend Wizard World next year, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure you plan on attending the event with some extra cash to spare. The tickets to the event run around $50 per day. It’s definitely pricey. To get autographs or pictures with your favorite stars will cost you an additional $35-80 per celebrity. Considering it’s a comic book convention, after all, if you plan on buying comics the prices for that solely depends on the comic and it’s individual value. The cheapest ones they sell cost a dollar.

Overall, this is a fun event to attend whether you are a comic book geek or just someone that likes movies. While it’s not cheap, attending the event for one day will give you a good sense of the overall experience. You will be amazed by the masses there. A word of advice would be to get a hold of the event schedule ahead and plan your day accordingly. Countdown to Wizard World 2015 is under way, so will you be there for the madness?

ARE

YOU

READY? If you’re ready to transfer into a bachelor degree program, consider the benefits of continuing your education at Saint Xavier University.

WE OFFER

By Jim Hasani

43 programs leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Diverse student body and a supportive, welcoming community.

Generous transfer scholarships including Phi Theta Kappa.

Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program participation.

40+ student clubs, intramural sports and NAIA accredited sports.

Campus tours daily. Register online. eXpress Admission Program.

Learn more about transferring to Saint Xavier today! Contact the Office of Admission at (800) 462-9288 or visit www.sxu.edu, Keyword: transfer

Insta

OCCurrence

Arts & Entertainment

9

“Annabelle:” A Realistic Setting, but Hardly Scary

By Petar Zumbulev John R. Leonetti’s film “Annabelle” is the prequel to last year’s film “The Conjuring” and it stars Annabelle Wallis (Mia), Ward Horton (John), and Alfre Woodward (Evelyn).

Set in the late 1960s, the film centers on Mia and John, a couple expecting a baby.

But things turn south for the family when they are attacked by a satanic cult and the mother’s cherished doll becomes haunted. As the family moves from their house, the doll continues to haunt them and demons come to claim the newborn baby’s soul.

A strong element in this movie is the theme of sacrifice. In the beginning of the movie, the pregnant Mia tells her husband that if at any time during the birth the baby is at risk, John should save the baby over Mia. The sacrifice of a mother reappears at the end, when Mia is ready to give her soul to a demon so that her child’s soul will be saved. And finally, Evelyn makes the ultimate sacrifice by offering her soul to save that of Mia’s daughter, and the scene ends with a quote from the bible about the sacrifice of Jesus. The fact that sacrifice was intertwined within the story makes it more complex, not just another horror movie with typical scares.

As the prequel to “The Conjuring,” “An-

nabelle” effectively pays homage to this film.

Not only did “Annabelle” begin with a short scene from “The Conjuring” that made the story of the doll Annabelle clearer, it also recycled other plot elements. The doll Annabelle rocking in a chair is taken from “The Conjuring,” as are the crayons used in the children’s drawings to depict murder.

Although these elements effectively connected both movies, they were simple, overused horror movie tropes which failed to make the movies scary. However, a good reflection of “The Conjuring” was the music throughout the movie. A huge part of what makes this movie frightening and suspenseful at the right moments is the background music. Whether Mia is running away from a demon or just cooking dinner alone in her home, the music was set right.

One of the best parts of this movie is the developed and complex setting. Set in 1960s urban America, many aspects ranging from the family’s TV to their baby carriage and the interior decorating of their home made the time period in this movie realistic. That realism, of course, made it scarier. The allusion of Charles Manson and satanic cults during the 60s, which came when Mia was watching a news report on Manson being arrested, added to the fear.

Clearly, “Annabelle” has strong elements of a horror story, but the use of cliché sym-

Photo courtesy of comingsoon.net

bols and typical scary movie moments ruin the suspense that was building. Overall, this movie is nothing special. It’s just another scary flick. It is probably worth watching at home, skip the trip to the movie theater.

“Destiny” Still Gripping, Despite Lack of Story

By Matthew Dahlman I leaped through the air as a hail of lasers and bullets chased after me. A horde of alien monsters pursued me as I raced across the alien landscape of Venus. Somehow I was still bored. Even stranger was how I couldn’t stop playing.

“Destiny” is the newest shooter game from industry veteran Bungie. It is a strange lovechild of “Halo,” “World of Warcraft,” and “Borderlands.” While it certainly fails as an MMO, Bungie’s experience with shooters is evident in how addictive the gameplay is.

While the shooting stands tall, however, the story falls short.

The game begins at character creation.

Compared to modern MMO games such as “Elder Scrolls Online” and “EVE Online.” the character creator is rather bare bones. The first thing you do is choose one of the three classes: Titan, Hunter, and Warlock. Titan is your regular tank class, while Hunter acts as the class with the most utility. Finally, Warlock acts as the flashy magic class of the game. Credit has to be given to each of the three classes. Each one feels like separate methods of gameplay, but the small selection nonetheless leaves the player wanting more, especially when compared to other MMOs that tend to offer at least 6 or 7 options.

From there, you get the first taste of the game’s main problem when you chose your race. You have to choose between a regular human, the albino Awoken, and the robotic Exo. All of this is rather pointless as the majority of the game takes place in the first person. It also raises questions that the game refuses to answer. Who are the Awoken, are the robotic Exos sentient, and what is going on? These are just a few of the questions that will race through your mind as you play

Photo courtesy of destinythegame.com

through “Destiny.”

Once you’ve finished fixing your hair, or in the Exo’s case your circuits, you enter the game. You are quickly greeted by the intro, which amounts to the greatest amount of story that “Destiny” feels you deserve to know. In the future, humans visit Mars and meet a massive orb-like entity called the Traveler. Thanks to our new buddy, humanity expands throughout the solar system only to be pushed back by the generically-named Darkness. You are awakened by your Ghost, a floating A.I. voiced by “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage. The Ghost comments on your death as it apparently rises from the grave. Immediately, the threat of death is removed from the narrative. The game puts any attempts at a story on hold as it gets to what is best at: making shooting strange aliens satisfying.

Bungie’s expertise with shooters shines in this gameplay. The combat is quick and

exciting. The melee feels tough, the weapons sound great, and the soundtrack ensures no moment will feel dull. Hours will vanish as you run across Russia, the moon, Mars, and other planets firing lasers, dodging bullets, and slogging through missions. I do mean slogging. Each mission involves shooting through enemies, and the Ghost will have to hack something while you fight off waves of enemies and finish with a boss fight.

This might work if it had any context. It’s here that the story could ensure the missions pull you in with a rich sci-fi lore – and it could, if a story existed. But instead, you will face enemies with no explanation of who they are. Terms such as goblins and wizards are thrown out without any background. Despite the lack of story, a mess of an MMO tacked on, and the horror that is the loot system, you will waste hours on this game and its mechanics. “Destiny” may not be the best game, but it’s a good game.

10

October 20th, 2014

Arts & Entertainment

Horoscopes

By Barrett Sonn

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) A few years ago, you correctly answered a “Jeopardy” question. Ever since then, you’ve been walking around with your chest puffed out, being a condescending jerk.

This is the month you get punched in the face for your arrogance, so watch your back.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) For the first time in your life, you lost a bet when you incorrectly answered a “Jeopardy” question a few years ago.

Your reward for patiently dealing with the humiliating pain will be getting to punch someone in the face.

Note: they may be ready.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) Just as you’re about to kiss your boss’s butt (again), a scuffle will occur nearby. Take the initiative for once and do something about it, instead of desperately groveling for a promotion.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) One of the things you despise the most is sucking up to superiors instead of working hard, and this is the month you LITERALLY see a person kiss their boss’s butt.

Even worse, a fight breaks out, giving you the goose bumps (if you know what I’m saying). Enthusiastically break the fight up while being passive-aggressive to the butt kisser.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Enter an agonizing state of existential angst when you suddenly encounter the following: a violent “Jeopardy”-related fight, unhygienic behavior involving lips and a butt, and an ethical fork in the road that gets your stomach churning like the bottom of Niagara Falls.

You will be on a boat, reminiscing about the meaning of love, when a bunch of people crash onto the deck. Stand with purpose and watch as you seduce everybody.

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

You are so strong and confident, you run straight into an mass of fighting idiots and carry them over the edge of a cliff with the sweeping momentum of your approach.

Note: an NFL team desperately in need of defense (perhaps the Falcons) will look to give you a tryout.

Basically, you’ll be like Sharon Stone in “Basic Instinct” without the you-know-what scene.

Give a hobo a croissant. Then crack a mean joke about France and have a good laugh. But then, you’ll see somebody more attractive than you, and your pride will rear its very ugly head.

Before you can stop yourself, you’ll throw a javelin (out of nowhere) and skewer the person like a gooey s’more by the campfire (delicious).

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Stand over the edge of a cliff as a group of whirling limbs and torsos goes hurtling towards the dark and gloomy water.

You’re probably slightly slouched over with a nonchalant expression on your face. Maybe your hands are in your pockets. You could have stopped this whole debacle, but chose not to.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) As chief of police, it’s your job to be tough and put criminals away for good. Yet, you’re so nice and optimistic, you decided to give Leo the Impaler another chance.

Because you’re cool. And edgy. So edgy.

Immediately regret your decision when you yourself get impaled. I’m sitting here shaking my head. I warned you.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Libra (September 23 - October 22)

You’re cooler than that Taurus knucklehead. Not only will you be nowhere near a cliff, but the following events will definitely happen: award from Barack Obama, emotional speech shout out from Kevin Durant, and a hug from Jennifer Lawrence.

Although you may be a janitor at the police station, you’ve always wanted to be an EMT. Heck, that’s why you’re going to school.

The hug will last... forever. *crosses fingers*

When the chief of police gets stuck with a javelin, you will jump to action, even with no medical training at all.

RIP Virgo the Overly Optimistic.

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

NOW TAKE IT TO A NATIONALLY RANKED

RESEARCH UNIVERSITY.

You’ve worked hard. And Southern Illinois University Carbondale has all the resources, faculty and support you need to take your initiative further. Our admissions counselors will help make the transfer process as easy as possible. You can even visit our transfer page to see exactly which of your classes transfer, so there’s no confusion about where you stand—or our support. Start here: siu.edu/transfer.

siu.edu/transfer

THIS IS SIU.

OCCurrence

11

Learn how you can transfer to Loyola and transform your life.

MEET WITH US AT OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Table visit • Sept. 16, Oct. 29, Dec. 3 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Skokie Campus Table visit • Oct. 1 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Main Campus PICU Fair • Nov. 5 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Learn more at LUC.edu/transfer.

VISIT US FOR A TRANSFER INFORMATION SESSION Sept. 23, Oct. 21 • 11 a.m.

Lake Shore Campus

October 20th, 2014

12

Your Elmhurst

Experience A warm welcome. As a transfer student at Elmhurst, you’ll get to know plenty of people with experiences like yours. About one in three of our students comes to us from another college, and we welcome more than 300 transfer students to campus each fall. We understand your needs and concerns, and we’re deeply committed to your success.

Scholarship support. Elmhurst offers special transfer scholarships to qualified students. Depending on your GPA and number of credits, you could qualify for up to $19,000 a year in scholarship funding.

A smooth transition. Our admission counselors will make sure your transfer experience goes smoothly. We offer generous transfer credit, and we’ll even evaluate your credits before you apply.

Contact us (630) 617-3400 admit@elmhurst.edu www.elmhurst.edu/admission 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, Illinois

Ashley Dingle I’m a different person now than I was when I got here.

I believe every person you meet in life affects you, and I’ve met a lot of great people here who have helped build me as a person.

LEADING WITH VALUES

Cody Boals I felt very comfortable transferring to Elmhurst because the teachers and other students were so welcoming. Then when I joined the baseball team, I found an instant group of friends.

Elmhurst is coming to Oakton!

Monday, November 17, and Thursday, December 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Des Plaines campus cafeteria.

See you there!

INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

STEWARDSHIP

FAITH, MEANING AND VALUES