University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper Fall 2024
Issue 2
October 10, 2024 Inside
Letter from the Managing Editor Chicago Fire Anniversary Sports and Food
Features A2 A3 A4
Activities
‘This Week’ Cumberlands Crossword
Intramural Sports
PAGE A3
Easy Fall Recipes PAGE A4
Rocky Horror Picture Show Lane Theater Hosts Renovation Fundraiser
PHOTO BY MARINAH AKRIDGE
BY: HANNAH PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
After 37 years of silence, the historic Lane Theater is experiencing a thrilling revival. At the front end of Main Street in downtown, the theater is transforming into a chilling experience for Williamsburg residents during Halloween. It is orgially well-known for its old-fashioned marquee, first opened in 1948 and operated for 39 years before closing its doors in 1987. The theater is undergoing significant renovations under the vision of its new owner, Rocky Joe Moses Jr., who also owns the barbershop next door. To fund these ambitious restoration efforts, he decided to ingeniously transform the beloved old venue into a haunted house attraction, hoping to draw crowds and breathe new life into this valuable local landmark. “I want people to walk around and realize that this building is as it was left almost forty years ago. We don’t need to cover anything up; it’s spooky enough,” Moses said. The haunted house event will bring to life an original ghost story written by himself. Guests will explore the theater’s dimly lit lobby, haunting projection room, and the once-lively auditorium. The naturally eerie feeling of the building gave Moses an advantage in creating the stories. “I want people to see every bit of this
BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE
place. We’ll go into every room. They’ll see it all,” Moses said. After the Williamsburg Action Team dissolved, Rocky Moses seized the opportunity to purchase the Lane Theater. Following the ac quisition, he felt both elated and overwhelmed by the costly repairs ahead, as the building required extensive renovations.” My first visit here—it was a mess,” Moses said. “There were boxes everywhere, stuff piled up. I didn’t know what to expect. But it’s original—like a time machine.” Moses added, “Everyone wants it ready now, and I feel the same way, but I need to make sure the theater is functional first.” With pressure to modernize the Lane Theater, especially as newer venues offer modern technology and amenities, Rocky recognized the need to preserve the building’s vintage 1940s charm. Moses added, “After I could get it cleaned up, I held an open house. So many people, like myself, had never done more than drive by the building. Meeting all the people who have never been inside was really neat. Even more neat was meeting all the couples- people who could pick out the seats of their first date or first kiss, and even some people who held their first jobs here. People build memories here. I can’t change too much of the building; it’s important to the community that I preserve that history.”
The building may go through changes, but the tender memories people create remain. “When I held my open house, Doll Foster, whose father opened the original Lane Theater, came to check it out. She asked if I’d be changing much of the theater, and I told her I wanted to keep it just like it was. I’ll fix what’s broken, but I don’t want to change much of anything,” Moses declared. Looking beyond the haunted house, Rocky envisions the Lane Theater as more than a nostalgic monument to the past- it’s a potential hub for modern community events. Once renovations are complete, the theater expects to host various events. “I’ve had an outpour of messages from people who want to book the building,” Moses said. “A couple who had their first date in the theater want to renew their vows here. We’ve got a wedding booked. I’ve had several bands reach out to me and ask if they can perform here. We’ve even got an acting group who want to come and perform on the stage.” These diverse events reflected Rocky’s broader visions for the Lane Theater as a place where memories of the past meet the hope of the future. “I want to show some movie re-runs occasionally, but I don’t think this will be a full-time theater. I see it as more of an event venue.” The Haunted Theater will officially open on Friday, October 4, from 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Admission is $15 for adults, with all proceeds directly supporting the first phase of renovations, including crucial upgrades to the heating and air system. Chloe Evans, a Cumberlands student, said, “I think that the Lane Theater re-opening and using the money from the haunted house for the restorations is a very profitable way to attract consumers while also raising money for such a good cause to better the community of Williamsburg.” With community support, the Lane Theater is one step closer to reopening and becoming a cornerstone of Williamsburg once again.
Student Involvement
STAFF WRITER
Dr. Christopher Leskiw has been Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty since 2018. He started at UC in 2004 as a political science professor. Leskiw stated that over the last 20 years, “there has certainly been a shift” in the way students view their political involvement. He referred to the way that students today are “more likely to express their political beliefs and get involved.” He said that in the ‘60s people on college campuses were very involved in rallies and campaign signing, but “in the ‘80s and ‘90s, that really kind of went away.” Leskiw attributes the recent mobilization of the student body to COVID, the Black Lives Matter movement, environmental concern, conflict over reproductive rights, and wars
2024 Election
around the world (particularly in Israel-Palestine and Ukraine). Freshman accounting major, Jeremiah Koenig, comments on his age group’s attitude towards politics, “Our generation cares, but I don’t think that they necessarily know how to be involved.” He says he “feels like the younger generation is just really upset about what’s going on, especially with the presidency right now. I feel like within the younger generation... nobody thinks that either candidate is good.” The turnout of voters under 30 is typically between 10 and 15%, contrasting with senior adults who have the highest number of voters. Leskiw commented on the previous election stating that “something unusual happened [in
PHOTO BY BRITTANY SMITH
2020] and has been persistent with the midterm elections.” He said “18 to 25 [year olds] have been much more likely to vote” even though it is generational that most people under the age of 25 don’t vote. SEE ELECTION. PAGE A2
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