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

Students left words of encouragement for each other at SGA's "Write One, Take One" table. Avery Lewis photo Students walking through campus had the opportunity to leave a few words of encouragement for a stranger and take a message for themselves as part of a suicide awareness initiative hosted by the Student Government Association. The “Write One, Take One” table encouraged students to write positive or supportive messages on cards for other students to read. Students coul

Students read excerpts of queer literature at Sigma Tau Delta read-in. Charles Nelson photo On Sept. 17, the Pi Lambda chapter of English Honors Society Sigma Tau Delta invited students to participate in a celebratory read-in for works of queer literature. The event, held in room 267 of Smith Hall, aimed to explore students’ favorite novels, poems, authors and themes relating to the LGBTQ+ experience. The event gathered at 3:30 p.m., and, in the perennial tradition of late

Madie's Margins 4.5 stars If you’re confused as to why I’m reviewing “Peter Pan and Wendy” by J.M. Barrie, you have not met me. I love classic children’s literature, and I could rant until the sun goes down about how the genre is extremely relevant and interesting beyond “Hey, did you know this children's story you loved is actually really dark?” There is something special about this book, something that makes me wish it was the first thing I ever read, while also knowing

Spoiler Alert with Jimmy Nichols Growing up, I was a big Disney and Pixar kid. Either with my mom or with my siblings, I would always go to see the newest animated film from either studio. However, my favorite memories are not from the theater but from the couch. We owned a lot of DVDs, and this let me watch some movies that came out either before I was born or when I was too young to understand what was happening. The 2008 Pixar movie “WALL-E” is a good example of one I w

Economics Society learns about business operation at GoodTimes. Contributed photo Troy University students traded graphs and classrooms for bowling lanes Monday as the Economics Society visited GoodTimes Bowling to learn how economic concepts apply to starting and operating a business. The event gave students an opportunity to hear about the development of Good Times while also connecting with other students interested in economics and business. Dr. Noah Trudeau, assistant

Troy Abroad helps students explore study abroad opportunities. Austin Horne photo Students were able to learn about study abroad and explore other countries at the Study Abroad Fair last Monday. The fair consisted of tables from Troy Study Abroad to third-party groups that guide study abroad experiences around the globe. Students were excited to learn about experiences available to them and gain knowledge on how study abroad works. “I've been interested in study abroad

Students gather for Crafts and Conservation presentation. Ty Davidson photo Troy’s Campus Learning Center played host for an event to teach students about environmental conservation, with a creative twist. As an option for an Atlas Event for freshman Troy 1101, Crafts and Conservation allowed students to paint custom designs on oyster shells while learning about ocean conservation practices. “If I ever have kids, I want them to experience the world that I have gotten to ex

"I Must Be Dreaming" album cover I must preface this by saying, I like the Alabama Shakes. Now, the new album. It’s called “I Must Be Dreaming,” and I truly must, because this album is low-key just... lame. The album has 11 tracks and comes in at 48 minutes, and I was tempted to skip several of the songs. The first song I wanted to skip was “Tea Time,” which is, in fact, the first song of the album, which did not bode well for the rest of it. “Tea Time,” to me, is vagu