Madie's Margins 4.5 stars Happy spooky season, everyone! The scariest thing of all is unexpected spoilers, and this review will be full of them, so this is your warning! One of my strongest opinions is that children have higher emotional intelligence than we credit them for, and also, that they’re very disturbed individuals. I think “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman perfectly encapsulates this phenomenon. Coraline is an imaginative girl, a bit small for her age, who is never taken

The Troy community gathered on Tailgate Terrace and surrounding areas to prepare for the Troy Football game against Southern Miss Tuesday night. Brady Fitch photos

The Troy University Symphonic Band kicked off its fall 2026 performance series last Wednesday, featuring works by Hagen, Grainger, Bennett, Rimski-Korsakov and Marquez. This concert cycle took 15 rehearsals, some up to two hours long, and an abundance of individual work. The music was daunting, the sounds melodious, yet for the musicians, it was all worth it. "It's really fun, the students are fun to work with," said Dr. Jerianne Larson, the conductor for the concert and as

"Radical Frame" album cover Modern Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) is extremely splintered in comparison to the more techno and drill and bass-focused 1990s. A lot of modern-day greats are in specific niches within the genre, and there’s almost no trace of one or two main “sounds” like previous years. Actress started making music during this modern period, and he’s an artist I haven’t delved into as much as other modern IDM greats. His newest album, “Radical Frame,” originall

Art club members sale baked goods in TC to raise money for future events and opportunities. The Troy University Art Club is making their way to students’ wallets through their stomachs to raise funds. Members of the club sold homemade treats in the Trojan Center, giving students a chance to support the organization while getting something in return. Helix Kisner, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Prattville, Alabama, and the club’s secretary, said the fundrais

A new student organization at Troy University is giving students a place to read, discuss books and meet other students who share their interests. Booked and Busy was created over the summer by students Bess Dunn and Nixon Cartee after the two realized they were struggling to find time to read while balancing college. “When me and Nixon were texting over the summer, the whole club started with the foundation that we never get to read because we’re so busy all the time,” sai

The Department of Art and Design opened applications for the Spring 2027 Artist Residency, which aims to bring professional artists to educate Troy students and the local community. Funded with the aid of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, selected artists will be invited to interact with students in concert with their own research and projects. Applications are split into two opportunities, one for an artist-in-resi

Crowe's will soon open their new storefront. Quang Le photos An old Troy favorite chicken spot is returning under new ownership after seven years of absence. Crowe's Chicken opened in Troy 50 years ago, in 1976. Ever since then, it’s been a Pike County staple and, until 2018, part of the identity of Troy. A second location opened in Brundidge in 1999 and another one in Ozark last year. “When I originally came to Troy (State) University in 2000, the old Crowe’s was fire, li

Okay, everyone, say it with me now, “What the actual heck Gregory Maguire?” I think enough time has passed since the release of the movies based on a musical based on a book pretending to be based on a book but is actually based on a movie based on a musical based on a book for me to talk about “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” or just “Wicked,” by the aforementioned Gregory Maguire. In good faith, I cannot recommend this book to lovers of the Wi

Spoiler Alert with Jimmy Nichols It is officially October, which means it is time to welcome the start of spooky season. With the start of spooky season, it is also time to start looking at some of the best horror movies of all time. One movie I have heard several people talking about this year is an independent horror movie, “Obsession,” which was released in US theaters back in May. Before watching this movie, I learned that the director is comedian Curry Barker. After w

Troy's Chinese Student Cultural Organization and Troy's international programs held a Mid-Autumn Festival at the Baptist Campus Ministries building last Thursday. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration for the beginning of the Autumn season. The event consisted of planned performances of singing, dancing and music. After the performances, all guests in attendance were welcome to dinner, made up of Chinese dishes traditionally eaten during the holiday.

The Anthropology Club is turning movie night into a way for students to explore the study of humanity outside the classroom. The club recently gathered for one of its anthropology movie nights, an event designed to bring members together while introducing students to topics connected to the study of humans, cultures and societies. About 25 students are members of the club, and movie options are chosen by its officers before members vote on what they want to watch. The movie

Is it really plagiarism if you're stealing from yourself? "Ride Lonesome" album cover. After the longest time in between studio albums in his career, Beck released “Ride Lonesome.” While it does have interesting ideas, these ideas are re-hashed from previous moody folk releases by Beck in completely milquetoast ways. To some, Beck has been a cultural institution for over 30 years. Ever since he earned a top 10 hit with his song “Loser” in 1994, Beck has been experimenting w

Students test their line dancing skills at Footwork and Fizz. Sydnee Pennington photos Students gathered for line dancing, music and customized dirty sodas during Footwork & Fizz, a Campus Life event designed to help students meet new people and get involved on campus. The event gave students a chance to step outside their comfort zones while participating in a social activity with other members of the Troy University community. Olivia Schwarte, a freshman accounting major

Local children and families gathered at the IAC on Saturday for ArtSPARK with artist Rebekah Alexander. This month's program, inspired by the works of artist and photographer Pinky Bass, allowed attendees to get creative and craft a personalized camera. Emma Wasden photos

Attendees participate in Dolly Parton themed activities in honor of her legacy. Austin Horne photos Last Friday, on Sept. 25, now known as Dolly Parton Day, art and music came together at the Johnson Center for the Arts when a simple event became so much more: A gathering for Troy community members to celebrate the life and influence of the country music icon. The Johnson Center partnered with Troy University’s POPulus ensemble for a Dolly Parton-themed event featuring arts

The Department of Theatre and Dance put on their first production of the year in a show written by a Troy professor. “Trains,” written by theatre Professor Quinton Cockrell, is a play about a Black family – the Hamptons – who were victims of the 1919 Corbin Kentucky race riot. The riot was a real-world event in which a group of white people in Corbin forced all the Black residents of the city on train cars at gunpoint and sent them off to Knoxville, Tennessee. The play take

Dear reader, today is going to be a good day, and here’s why: today we’re talking about the “Dear Evan Hansen” novelization by Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. If you’ve heard of this story before, it’s probably through the musical by the same name. It’s a wonderful musical with a compelling story and a phenomenal album. The novelization was meant to expand the story of the musical, providing more context to the cast of characters, including the

"Angel" Album Cover Hello, Lizzy. 14 new songs, including the two previously released singles, “The light in the painting” and “Ugly things,” graced listeners last Friday, Sept. 18. I have a lot to say, so let’s get into it. I won’t go over the singles, as I did already review those separately. The second track of the album, “Anybody’s fool,” is easily recognizable as a song that plays on the emotions of losing someone who was your everything. The piano backed vocals

Hispanic Heritage Month is underway, giving Troy University students an opportunity to learn more about Hispanic and Latino cultures and the contributions of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 each year. The month begins on Sept. 15, a date that marks the independence celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16, while Chile celebrates on Sept. 18. For o

Students gather for yoga at Sips and Self-Care. Emma Wasden photo Troy University Panhellenic women took time to slow down, connect with others and focus on their well-being during a Sips and Self-Care event designed to give students a break from the stress of college life. The event gave students an opportunity to participate in yoga, practice breathing exercises and spend time with other women while also supporting a community service project. Dr. Korrie Lynn Williamson,

The Department of Theatre and Dance is starting their productions of the semester with a play written by a Troy professor. Quinton Cockrell is a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Last year, his play “Trains” was showcased at Virginia’s Barter Theatre as a part of their series “SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories.” Now, the department is adapting it for their first show of the semester. “It is gratifying to have work I normally do for outside theatres performed

Students gather for Engineering Club meeting. Quang Le photo Troy University engineering students are stepping outside the classroom to build new skills, professional connections and a stronger community within the university’s growing engineering program. The Engineering Club held a meeting Tuesday night to introduce students to the organization and discuss future activities, including a long-term project to construct a working replica of BB-8, the spherical droid from the

No, the bugs weren’t in the burgers, but they were all around the Arboretum. The Naturalist Club ethically trapped and observed many types of creepy crawlies at their annual Bugs N Burgers event on Sept. 17, giving students a chance to get up close and personal with the insects. “We hang up moth sheets, and the moth sheets let out different wavelengths of light, and they attract a lot of moths and other insects for us to observe and identify,” said Fisher Parrish, a Naturali