RAMPAGE 1.25.2017
ENTERTAINMENT
Carrie Fisher: A Force for Empowerment BY TERADA PHENGPHONG
REPORTER tphengphong@therampageonline.com
Christmas Eve 2016, Carrie Fisher was on her way home to Los Angeles from London when she started having a massive heart attack. She was administered CPR and was rushed to the in intensive care unit of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical center where the humorist, actress and renowned author died four days later. Best known as the iconic Princess Leia from “Star Wars”, Carrie Fisher was destined for stardom. Her mother was actress, singer and humanitarian, Debbie Reynolds, and her father was the notorious singer and actor Eddie Fisher. She was 21 years old when the 1977’s film “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope”, originally titled “Star Wars” was released, thrusting her into the spotlight of fame. As Princess Leia, Fisher became a beacon of girl power Photo/Google Images by showing that the
damsel-in-distress can also be the heroine of her own story. She was a woman on a set surrounded by testosterone and could hold her own with her execution of Princess Leia, whose wit, bravery, and strength helped make the movie popular in pop culture. Fisher created a generation of young women who were not afraid to be powerful and confident. Before Katniss Everdeen, Hermione Granger or even Rey from “The Force Awakens”, there was Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, the original pop culture queen of adventure and heroism. Girls around the world sported the famous cinnamon-bun rolled hair and imagined battle “in a galaxy far, far away.” Fisher displayed her tenacity off and on screen when questioned on her other iconic “Star Wars” look, a metal bikini forced upon the Princess when enslaved by a grotesque, sluglike alien called Jabba the Hutt. After much uproar from parents about whether the outfit should be featured on film merchandise, Fisher told the disgruntled parents in a Wall Street Journal article to “tell them [the children] that a giant slug captured me and forced me to wear that stupid outfit, and then I killed him because I didn’t like it. And then I took it off. Backstage.” She defended her character who
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was more than a two-dimensional sexual icon, she was a warrior that didn’t allow her injustices to go unpunished. Even after the original trilogy was over, the battle was not. Princess Leia had in fact continued to fight the good fight, becoming General Leia Organa in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, again, showing the world that a strong woman does not have to sit in the corner for her male counterparts. She exhibited that women must stand up for what is right, and need to remember that they have the strength to fight for their beliefs. With the resurgence of the franchise, new generations and audience will be able to once again identify with the character and be able to once again believe in their own courage. Even after four decades, Fisher is influencing those who have felt silenced and unable to fight injustices. The recent Women’s March is evidence that Fisher’s legacy lives on. As a woman who led a rebellion against oppression, Princess Leia was a symbol for marchers, some of whom dressed up like the character; others used her face on their signs or even posed her as Rosie the Riveter. Princess Leia is a landmark for empowerment and strength. Carrie Fisher was able to embody all of her intelligence, humor and power into this character. She created a new hope.
Students Find Escape in Game Room
Joshua Alvarado making his shot into the corner pocket in the Game Room at Fresno City College on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2017. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
BY ETHAN MCNEELY
Reporter emcneely@therampageonline.com
If you are on campus and are looking for a fun way to pass the time with some friends, there is a hidden gem just waiting for you to discover for yourself. The game room is a mini-arcade located in the same building as the Cafeteria and Student Lounge, just behind the Old Administration
Building. The game room is run by student activities and is here for you to enjoy with three pool tables for those who like a friendly game of billiards, a Super Bikes 3 arcade game for the racers, an Aliens Armageddon shooter arcade based on the Aliens film franchise, and two Prize Palace claw machines for those who prefer to test their luck and skill by grabbing prizes with a remote claw.
A cheap way to have some fun with your fellow students, the game room only charges per game that you play. A game of pool only costs 75 cents and they ask that you have a current student ID to check out a pool stick. As for the arcade games, it is $1 for the Super Bikes and Aliens Armageddon and only 50 cents for the Prize Palace Machines. Unfortunately, the change machine inside the room is out of
service so they ask that you bring your own change to pay for the games. They also provide rewards stamp cards to reward their frequent visitors. For every ten games of pool that you play, they will give you a free game. One student, Wesley Uy, said that he comes in the game room, “every day when I have free time.” This is his second semester at Fresno City College and he has taken part in several pool tournaments that the game room holds. “(The tournaments) may start out slow,” he said, “but as people get out of class, it really starts to pick up.” This room isn’t just fun and games though, there are some rules to follow while visiting the game room. They ask that you have a current student ID, do not bring any food, drinks, or gum into the room, do not stand around the front counter, do not play pool without a pool stick or share pool sticks. They do not allow any gambling, public displays of affection, profanity, or bringing children into the room. If you are looking to give the game room a visit, you will have to stop by during the following hours: Monday thru Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Friday from 8:00am until 3:00pm. And if you want to make the most out of your time there, why not stop by during their Gamer’s Hours; for an hour every day they give out an extra stamp on their player rewards card. They do this at 9am on Mondays, 10am on Tuesdays, 11am on Wednesdays, 12pm on Thursdays, and 1pm on Fridays.