OPINIONS
Page 4 | SEPT. 10, 2014
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Opinions Nedflix
Social Media
Follow these Drake friendly accounts Summer movies offer variety Believe it or not, Yik Yak is not a comprehensive guide to life at Drake. However, students don’t need to look beyond their phones and computers to find out everything they need to know on campus. There’s a social media account for just about everything at Drake, from residence halls to Relays — and frankly, there are too
Best blockbusters of summer 2014
many to keep track of. Limit your following to the best of the best. Here are my top three Drake accounts, university-approved and otherwise, to follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Kristin Doherty
Doherty is a senior magazines major and can be reached at kristin. doherty@drake.edu
Columnist
TWITTER @DUBulldogs Like a typical Drake student, it’s a rare occasion that I make it to an athletic event. Instead, I support the fighting Bulldogs from afar in the easiest, laziest way possible — by following the official Drake Athletics account to get live updates of all sporting events. Consider clicking the “follow” button to be the equivalent of shouting a cheer at the next football game.
@IsItRelaysYet
Put wishful thinking to rest: The “Is It Relays Yet?” Twitter account will continually remind followers that no, it is not the most wonderful time of the year yet. From May through March, you won’t see much more than a “No.” But those dismal, one-word reminders build suspense all year long, making the “YES.” tweet during Relays even sweeter.
@DrakeUniversity
An obvious addition, the official university account is a must-follow for any Drake student. Tweets keep followers updated on Drake and Des Moines-related news, campus happenings and a daily dose of Bulldog pride.
FACEBOOK Drake Compliments Simply put, Drake Compliments is the online cheerleader for Drake. It functions the same as Drake Con, but nicer: Anonymously send a compliment to friends and classmates to instantaneously put a smile on their face. Whether you’re giving or receiving a compliment — or just reading nice things about your classmates —add this acount as a friend on Facebook and it is sure to warm your heart.
Drake University Student Senate: Student Services
Run by student senators, this group is sometimes actually productive. It’s the most effective way to make your voice heard on campus and quickly get in touch with people who make the decisions around here. Post a question or concern, and the senators will get you an answer or work toward a solution. But be warned: Drake will always have single-ply toilet paper, so don’t even bother complaining about it.
Drake Confessions
Submit your most embarrassing campus confessions through an anonymous Google doc, then let the entire Drake community read your deepest, darkest secrets. Got a crush on your professor? Saw someone do something embarrassing at Dublin? Time to tell the world (or at least the student body). Even if you’re not into spilling your secrets, you’ll find plenty to laugh at (or roll your eyes at) in other’s confessions.
From the Fishbowl
If you’re new here, or you never read my column last year (shame on you), I like to talk about movies. That’s almost all I do. They make me happy. That hasn’t changed much since I last wrote in the paper. In fact, this summer I may have been happier than any other year in existence. There was something for everyone: animation, action, comedy and drama, most of which were pretty darn good. That’s right. This most recent, three month long vacation had a pretty good track record. So picking five of my favorites was tough. I know tomorrow, when I have already sent my article to my boss, Tom, I’ll be regretting not mentioning something. But a list is a list and this article is already a day late, so there’s no turning back now. Without further ado, here are my top five favorite blockbusters of summer 2014.
5
“Neighbors”
“Neighbors” surprised me. Yes, I knew it had Seth Rogan, who no one can say they don’t like, but it looked like another comedy with jokes for people with shallow senses of humor. It looked like your typical “bro” comedy and I wasn’t really expecting much. But upon seeing Zack Efron hamming it up as a frat boy with no future and Rose Byrne being goofy as a parent trying to recapture her youth, I was won over. It was hilarious, raunchy and surprisingly poignant and touching. It’s making me look forward to Seth Rogan’s next movie, “The Interview,” which is already making headlines for its plot about the attempted assassination of Kim Jong Un by James Franco. That story is as funny as this movie.
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes “
4
I don’t think I’ve ever been more emotionally yanked around in a movie than “Dawn of the Planet of
the Apes.” I thought it was going in one direction, then another, then another, until its devastating ending. The plot is memorable, but the real star of the show is Andy
Ned Leebrick-Stryker Columnist
Circus, who plays the ape leader, Caeser, via motion capture. Circus has the movements of an ape down to a science and it’s hard not to be drawn into the screen. I read an article that called it “a thinking man’s sci-fi film.” I’d say that’s an apt description. The action was exciting and easy to follow. No world-ending final battle in New York in this one, though the last fight was pretty cool. It was slow and restrained, but paced well. For a film primarily about primates, it was very human.
3
“Edge of Tomorrow”
Another surprise. Maybe I should stop watching trailers before I go to a movie. My expectations get either too high or too low. This was entertaining from start to finish. Practically “Groundhog Day” with guns, aliens and explosions, “Edge of Tomorrow” had the most interesting way of developing its characters that I’ve ever seen in a movie. Tom Cruise gives a surprising performance as something other than his usual beefcake roles, playing a scummy wuss. Everything felt refreshing: a perfect “popcorn” movie.
2
“X–Men: Days of Future Past”
Maybe I should have said this earlier, but I’m a sucker for the comic book movie. Lucky for me, there have
been a slew of fantastic ones in the past few years. “X– Men: Days of Future Past” was incredible. Its ensemble was fantastic, with Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen and so many more actors all delivering solid performances. It was well written and flowed smoothly. It took time to stop for humor but did not overstay its welcome. The villainous “sentinels” were scary and the action was interesting and utilized its cast of “mutants” and their powers very well. It was almost perfect. But there was one movie that it couldn’t quite beat. “Guardians of the Galaxy”
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It all started when Chris Pratt entered an ancient cave and turned on his Walkman. The song “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone began playing, Pratt started to dance and a giant, goofy grin enveloped my face and it never left. I knew what I was in for. “Guardians of the Galaxy” was the most fun I’ve had at the movies, ever. Let that soak in. I went back and saw it two more times later that week and I’d gladly go back to the theater and pay $8 again right now if I had the opportunity. This generation has its new “Star Wars.” Pratt’s Peter Quill will no doubt become a pop culture icon in the coming years, as well as Vin Diesel’s Groot, Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon, and professional wrestler Dave Batista’s Drax the Destroyer. It was well written and full of winning performances. It oozed originality and creativity, despite being based off of a comic book series. I can keep going and going, but just go see it already if you haven’t. You won’t regret it. Until next week readers. Leebrick-Stryker is a sophomore broadcast news major and can be reached at ned.leebrick-stryker@ drake.edu
Changes around campus help university battle complacency As we settle in to the college life for either the first time, or once again, we begin to slip into the habits of everyday life. I want to begin by saying this is not a bad thing, rather I want to recognize President Gale’s column from last week as a challenge to all the students — a challenge to improve and make this campus we love better. I am a firm believer that there is always room for improvement, and that belief will lead to many challenges and opportunities this
Josh Duden Columnist
THE TIMES-DELPHIC The student newspaper for Drake University since 1884 COURTNEY FISHMAN Editor-in-Chief
AUSTIN CANNON, Managing Editor austin.cannon@drake.edu
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JOEL VENZKE, Photo Editor joel.venzke@drake.edu THOMAS SCEARCE, Features/Op-Ed Editor thomas.scearce@drake.edu EMILY VANSCHMUS, Copy Editor emily.vanschmus@drake.edu
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year. We truly are a University in transition, but let’s view that as an opportunity to bring up big issues, make movements and waves and leave a legacy. The Student Senate has a goal this year (and hopefully for years to come) to carry on a legacy where we address tough issues and combat the complacency that can so easily overtake us, just like those habits. This can begin with the Senate, but it has to end with you. This year will be a year where
diversity will come to the forefront of the discussion, where campus improvements to buildings or the Drake experience will be endorsed and hopefully reach fruition, and where we can rally together to make such changes happen. This is a broad challenge, but I promise that it isn’t impossible. So, wherever I challenge others, I want to also make a few promises to you as a leader on campus and as a fellow student. The Senate will always be here to listen to your problems and concerns, and I will
always be available to help you with anything you need. I promise that I won’t give up on making positive changes for everyone here. We are a team with a project at hand as President Gale explained last week, and we can do this. Nothing is impossible, and it is our turn to prove that. Bulldogs, brace yourselves, it is going to be an amazing year.
Duden is a junior law, politics and society, rhetoric, international relations and politics quad major. He can be reached at joshua.duden@drake.edu
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