Students and staff members were invited to join online sessions with recent authors of the newest edition of the Alabama Literary Review (ALR).  The sessions lasted three days, from March 30 to April 1, where authors could discuss their writing techniques, publication processes and answer any questions students had. The guest authors were also able to give advice to students.  “Don’t be afraid to write crap,” said Terence Culleton, a retired teacher and ALR author from Langho

Some of the best films of the year won some of the biggest awards, offering food for thought after people left the theater.  “One Battle After Another” won best picture at the Oscars, while teaching serious themes about activism and immigration. “Sinners” won Outstanding Performance by a Cast at the Actor Awards and taught audiences about the black experience in the South  “Bugonia,” however, was a movie that received its flowers- but also felt like it did not. It received fo

Students were invited out to the Trojan Center patio last Wednesday to take part in a fundraiser for an organization that wants to make a splashing impact.  Troy’s M.I.S.S. Elite Society’s “Splash A Sweet” event allowed students to dump different amounts of water on a member based on how much was paid. Small buckets were $3, mediums were $5 and the large ones were $7.   “We are just preparing for the upcoming semester so we can build our organization and also build more membe

Released in 2021, “Call Me If You Get Lost” by Tyler the Creator is an album that highlights both the artist’s creativity and his growth over the years. Tyler the Creator has always been known for experimenting with different sounds and ideas, and this album continued that trend. By blending classic hip-hop elements with modern production and personal storytelling, Tyler the Creator created a project that felt both nostalgic and fresh.  One of the most interesting parts of th

Colorful Easter eggs were strewn across the main quad on campus last Thursday for the egg hunt put together by Troy’s University Activities Council (UAC). Inside these eggs sat candy, stickers and the opportunity for students to win prizes.  After a countdown, students raced to grab as many eggs as they could, hoping for a big prize. The different prizes ranged from water bottles to headphones to a Polaroid camera. If a student found an egg with a number in it, they could bri

On a warm summer day, nothing is better than a cold chicken salad. It’s light, refreshing and perfect for enjoying outside in the sun, whether you’re having a picnic relaxing on the   porch or just looking for something easy and satisfying to beat the heat.     Ingredients:  1 lb. chicken tenders or breast (finely shredded)  ¾ cup mayonnaise   1 ½ tsp mustard   1 celery stalk minced into 1/8-inch pieces   ¾ tsp onion powder   ¾ garlic powder  ¼ salt   ¼ black pepper   ¼ papri

The  Troy University Student Government Association recently welcomed faculty, staff, and their families to the Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park for its annual Faculty and Staff Easter Egg Hunt, bringing springtime fun and community spirit to campus.   Student leaders shared that feedback from last year inspired the event’s growth.  “Last year the idea of making it bigger came up,” said Zaria Abston, a senior criminal justice major from Pike Road, Alabama. “I came and saw th

Troy’s TRIO program held a workshop focused on mental health in Hawkins Hall last week. The workshop began with a presentation by Title IX Coordinator Grace Wagstaff regarding stress management and its potential impact on a student’s mental health. She walked students through different methods of reducing stress as well as the least harmful ways to handle large amounts of stress. The second half of the workshop consisted of an activity called “Let it Go and Let it Grow.” Each

Anyone can tell you I love Harper Lee. Author of the seminal Southern text “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1960), Lee is one of my greatest literary icons. Just a couple of months back, I presented research on “Mockingbird” at AUM and in preparation for that event, one of my fabulous professors loaned me a book on Lee. The book was “Mockingbird Songs: My Friendship with Harper Lee” (2017) by Wayne Flynt. A truly fabulous piece of nonfiction, I thoroughly enjoyed much of the book’s c

Whenever a small town is the center of a plot, you can bet on corruption also being a central theme. The supernatural, on the other hand, is much more unexpected. “The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek” (2019) manages to incorporate both. Written by stars of the YouTube series “Good Mythical Morning,” Link Neal and Rhett McLaughlin, the book is best described as a little spooky, a little funny and a lot of a slow-burning mystery.  From the jump, you can tell where the heart of this

After watching “Hercules” last week, I wanted to keep watching Disney movies I loved from my childhood. After thinking it over, I landed on another one of my favorites from my childhood, “Aladdin.”  From the characters, to the jokes and the songs, it is one of the best Disney animated films. However, is it still as good as when we were kids, or am I remembering it through rose-tinted glasses?  Starting with the positives of this childhood classic, the movie's humor is top tie

Beneath the tin roof of Troy’s ILIUM Fitness and Barbell gym, locals are getting the chance to learn how to grapple, roll and throw down with guided jiu-jitsu group lessons. Over the course of hour-long sessions, participants ranging from beginner to experienced sweep legs, grab gis and look for holds, all under the guidance of head coach Nick Nevins, a purple belt with a burning love for martial arts.  Through teaching martial arts, Nevins isn’t just teaching people how to g

Hues of blue have always been tied to melancholy and deep anguish for me, and Jamie by Montell Fish perfectly encapsulates and affirms those feelings.   I discovered Montell right after the pandemic, when Jamie was first released, and it became an album I frequently revisit at different stages in my life.   The entire album is about heartbreak, grief and the different avenues we choose to take to heal- some healthy, some destructive.   If you are looking for an album that ass

As “Hannah Montana” marks its 20th anniversary, students and fans alike are reflecting on the show’s lasting impact and the role it played in shaping their childhoods.  For many, the Disney Channel hit was more than just entertainment; it taught life lessons about friendship, identity and most importantly, music.   “I grew up watching ‘Hannah Montana,’ and it was my introduction to pop and honestly where I think a lot of my fashion comes from,” said Liliana Heaton, a sophomor

One Troy alumna is working to grow her business using skills she learned from attending Troy.   Gabrielle Jent, a spring 2025 graduate from Jasper, Alabama, earned her degree in interdisciplinary studies. She now runs her own small business, Gabby J Photography. Her classes focused on marketing, entrepreneurship and her favorite: photography. She has loved photography since high school, whenshe first started her future career.  “In high school, I was part of the yearbook, and

Troy’s English department welcomed a Fulbright Scholar and an author with a well-known name to Troy’s campus last week.  Dr. Nicole Camastra and Dennis McCarthy spent last week speaking to and sharing their experiences with Troy’s English students across five class visits, two panel-style discussions and a more personal reception at the end of the week. The events were set up by Assistant Professor of English Dr. Patrick Bonds and the Chair of the English Department Dr. Kirk

Troy’s Student Government Association (SGA) and International Programs held a spring picnic last Thursday. The event was set up at the amphitheater in Janice Hawkins Park.   Free food was offered, as well as a station for decorating eggs in celebration of Easter.  “This is a collaboration with SGA and International Student Services to try to show the international students what Easter is about,” said Dean of International Student Services Maria Frigge. “We went for plastic Ea

The rooms of John M. Long Hall were filled with the steady repetition of scales and overlapping melodies as clarinetists moved between classrooms last Saturday during Troy’s annual Clarinet Day. From smaller clarinets to larger bass clarinets, high school students were able to learn from seasoned musicians whose individual paths all started with the clarinet.  For Dr. Timothy Phillips, professor of clarinet at Troy and coordinator of the event, Clarinet Day serves a larger pu

When talking about some of the greatest Disney movies, it is easiest to break them down into different eras.   There was the “Golden Age” with movies like “Snow White” and “Bambi.”  Then, after World War 2, the company entered its “Silver Age,” featuring movies like “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book.” After what some refer to as the “Dark Age,” Disney in the 90s entered the “Renaissance Era” with movies like “Mulan” and “Pocohontas.”  However, one of the best movies from this

If you are a native Southerner or a fan of the South’s cuisine, you may be familiar with iconic dishes like cheese grits, fish fries, low country boils,– and of course, fried green tomatoes. Coincidentally, this famous food features heavily in Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe” (1987). Do not let the date fool you– this novel is an oldie but a goodie, and it is far from a classic take on the South.  Flagg’s works, and “Tomatoes” in particular, dist

Dancers are known to tell stories through the motions of their bodies, displaying a performance that is known to grab a viewer’s attention. For one Troy student, an unfortunate accident sparked a new story. One story in particular was in the works for this student after an unfortunate incident.  Kelsie Williams, a senior dance major from Montgomery, Alabama, tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in August, right before school started. She hadsurgery shortly after, but rat

Not every great artist is the loudest or most talked about. While many musicians chase   radio hits and trends, Frank Ocean has built his career by doing the opposite. His music focuses on emotion, honesty and personal storytelling, which is exactly why his 2016 album “Blonde” continues to stand out years after its release.  Ocean built his reputation through emotional storytelling and a unique sound that   separates him from mainstream R&B. While many artists focus on catchy

On Saturday, March 28, Troy will hold its 19th annual Clarinet Day. This is a day for music students to come together to learn more about the instrument in John M. Long Hall.   The day will include recitals, clinics and classes taught by clarinet experts from all over the country.   “It’s an opportunity for our students to hear world-class concerts, play in masterclasses and perform with other clarinetists from our region and beyond,” said professor of clarinet for the John

Students, faculty and staff were invited to eat chili and meet the people who protect and serve Troy at the third annual Battle of the Badges Chili Cookoff held by the Troy University Police Department (TUPD) and other local first responders.  This year's cook-off saw the highest turnout of chili bringers since it began in 2024, with 12 different chilis to choose from. It was also a way for students to meet those who protect and serve the community.  "We've got someone from a