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October 2010
arts Mac
VS.
PC
By Leah Corbett ljcorbett@seuniversity.edu
Terra Rises to New Fame By Adrian Garza aagarza@seuniversity.edu
From humble beginnings as a hometown worship band, the 3-year-old group Terra Terra Terra has now become a nationally known act. The band consists of five members: frontman/rhythm guitarist Loren Russell, lead guitarist Ethan Brewington, bassist Tim Anderson, drummer Orion Torres, and synth player Jon Dye. Russell is the only remaining member of the original band, but all of the others are more than capable of picking up where the previous members have left off. The guys all met through school and playing in church worship bands together. “We just decided on doing something semi-secular, and a little bit more rock-y, and not just worship,” said Russell. “Then we got out of high school, and came out of our church, and just kept touring and kept playing shows until it just elevated to the level it got to.” Of the five Lakeland natives, Brewington is currently a Southeastern student. “I’m a freshman and I commute,” he said. “I’m in the music business program, emphasizing in performance.” As to the meaning behind their name, Russell said that Terra means something to the five of them, but he doesn’t want to impose a meaning on the listeners. “I really would like to see what it means to the other people,” he said. “We’re kind of like Lovedrug in the way that I don’t think Lovedrug has ever gone out and said what their name actually meant. “Having been inspired by various things, Terra doesn’t forget their main influence: their fans. “Our number one influence is our fans,” said Dye. “We really love our fans. We follow them and we do our best to keep them going with us strong.” “We know we’re blessed and we know people out there are what make it happen,” said Russell. As for what influences the sound, Russell cites a pretty wide variety, including Lovedrug, Muse, Killers, Lydia, Brand New, Copeland and the
indie scene as a whole. “I think everything we listen to plays a part in what we do,” said Russell. “I have to be careful of what’s in my CD player, what’s in my iPod. Just because everything I listen to, even Garth Brooks, somehow gets in my head and I think ‘Oh! We can do that!’” If somebody had to pigeon-hole their sound to a genre, however, the most accurate response would be ambient indie pop. “I think ambience has got to be the first thing that I always put in there,” said Russell. “I love the fact that we’ve always kind of stuck true to our ambience.” Their roots as a Christian worship band also play a part in their style. “It definitely affects everything we do,” said Russell. “It shapes everything we do as far as lyrical content.” Since their beginning and first album three years ago, Terra has truly come into their own, bursting onto the mainstream scene with MTV circulation and even a song on Rock Band. “It’s really cool, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near the level that we could be. I don’t think we’ve reached potential at all,” said Russell. “I think we’re only running at half speed right now.” One of the things that will hopefully propel them to that potential is the release of their new album and upcoming tour. “For this next tour, we’re focusing primarily on churches and churches only,” said Russell. Their upcoming album is more trendy and Russell is excited for people to get familiar with that sound. Life isn’t all music and sunshine however. The guys are all are working day jobs in addition to school and Terra, which they all agree is rough. “Everybody’s got bills and everybody’s got responsibilities. But it makes it that much more rewarding when you have people commenting on your Facebook saying, ‘Man, I can’t wait until your new album’s out’ or ‘I can’t wait to see you guys in a show,’” said Russell. “The payoff is a lot bigger because we’re taking and sacrificing time out of our lives to make Terra happen. Between the pre-production of a new album, and gearing up for a winter tour, the guys of Terra Terra Terra sure are busy, but with the help of their fans, there’s no plan to stop their rise to the top.
If you wander around the campus of Southeastern, you will probably see many students busily typing away on a laptop computer, and that computer is either a Mac or a PC. And the reasons why a student chooses one or the other vary. “I have a PC, and I prefer it mostly because of cost, and because they’re what I grew up with, so I’m used to them,” said Brandi Hall. Most students who own a PC agree with Hall’s sentiment. The lower cost of PCs is one of the most common reasons that students buy them. Another popular reason is that they are normally considered more user-friendly. “I really like my PC,” said junior Kelly Wood. “It is simple and easy to use and the battery lasts.” Other students who have PCs do not necessarily prefer them. Sophomore Carly Marconi currently owns a PC but is saving up
to buy a MAC. “I like MACs better even though they are complicated to understand at first,” said Marconi. “They seem to be able to do more and have simpler commands and shortcuts.” Not all students think that PCs are simpler to use than MACs. Junior Christina Sara finds Macs to be much easier to use and said that they usually work better. “I don’t feel like it’s controlling or limiting me,” said Sara. “I feel like it’s actually a tool instead of the other way around.” Many students agree with Sara that MACs are a great tool. Senior Jon DeMeo loves to do graphic design, so his MAC fits his lifestyle perfectly. The most common reason given why students prefer MACs is that they are considered to be bettermade computers. Senior Chad Ainsworth thinks that MACs are made with better material than PCs. He also believes that MAC freeze or crash less
frequently. “MACs are made from top to bottom with only the highest quality materials and aesthetic design as well as powerful function,” said Ainsworth. “PCs are made with cheap plastic materials that are highly susceptible to breakage within the first six months of use.” Lately, there has been speculation on whether or not Apple, the company that makes MACs, will overtake Microsoft, the company that makes PCs, with the new iPad. Most students do not believe that this will happen and think that Microsoft will just find something to compete with Apple’s iPad. However, Ainsworth believes that, within the next 10 years, Apple will surpass Microsoft with some of its other technology that is not yet released, such as the multitouch iMac. DeMeo does not believe that iPad will be much of a problem for Microsoft: “The iPad is just a gadget, not a computer yet.”
SHOWS FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Benefit Concert Held to Help Those with Cystic Fibrosis By Michelle Paulino mpaulino@seuniversity.edu
Every year students on campus are told to “be salt” in our community. We are challenged to find new and inventive ways to give back to those in need. Recently we have gone without shoes and held buckets of water on our heads to raise money and awareness for organizations. A new way to reach out to those in need is came to Southeastern on October 19. Southeastern senior Karim Belle rose to the challenge by organizing a benefit concert to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Belle, 24, said, “I wanted to have a benefit concert specifi-
cally on the Southeastern campus because I felt that our generation needs to be aware of challenges that people face inside as well as outside of our community.” CF (Cystic Fibrosis) affects the lives of children and adults worldwide. It’s an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system with thick sticky mucus. In 2005, the life expectancy of a person with CF increased to their mid-30s. “I believe that on college campuses like Southeastern a passion will be put into our generation to come up with solutions to many of the problems that earlier generations have faced,” said Belle. On October 19th, a benefit
concert was held in Bush Chapel at 8 p.m., and doors opened at 7:30 p.m. The line-up included La Familia, CPR, Karim Belle, and other featured artists. “I really wanted the concert to have a broad genre of music because I wanted there to be something for everyone,” explained Belle. If the music doesn’t draw you in, the raffle prizes did. There were two Disney Park Hopper tickets given away, among several other prizes. Tickets were on sale for $2 or $3 dollars depending on when you bought them. With great music, prizes and a cause that can help change lives, this was a helpful event for people in need.