Brent Faiyaz, whose real name is Christopher Brent Wood, is making waves again with   his latest album, "Icon," released on Feb. 13. Known for his emotionally honest style,   Faiyaz continues to explore love, heartbreak, self-growth and vulnerability while prioritizing  artistic integrity over chart-topping hits.    Many fans and critics consider "Icon" among his most meaningful projects to date.   Instead of following trends or relying heavily on featured artists, Faiyaz foc

Troy’s Department of Dance is set to hold Art in Motion: An Exhibit of Soul, in the Trojan Center Theatre Feb. 26-28 at 7 p.m. and March 1 at 2 p.m.  The production is a completely student-led dance production put on every year by the junior class. It begins in the class “Writing for Dance.”  “I cannot stress how much of an amazing opportunity this is for students,” said Mikiya Smith, a junior dance major from North Little Rock, Arkansas. “You get placed in a position where y

The Pike County Art Guild met up to hold a still life session at BSweet Bakery in Downtown Troy last Thursday. The group gathered to sketch the décor and sweets that fill the shop.  The art guild was founded in 2025 by former president of the guild Kitty Smothers, who is now an adjunct professor of psychology.   “After graduating from Troy, I sort of lost connection with the art community,” Smothers said. “I missed that.   “Then, I started talking to Jerry Johnson, and we put

The Pre-Vet Club at Troy is bringing back a fan-favorite event with a new twist.   “Smooches for Pooches” will take place on March 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the John Robert Lewis Quad and will raise money for She Saves Animal Rescue of Alabama, a Montgomery, Alabama, -based rescue organization dedicated to saving and rehoming dogs in need.  Madison Corkran, president of the Pre-Vet Club and a junior biomedical sciences major from Montgomery, Alabama, said the event is espec

Music filled HAL and Smith Halls last Friday during Troy’s annual guitar festival, the only one of its kind in Alabama. While it’s an art that often goes unrecognized throughout the state and the university, classical guitar had its chance to shine at the annual guitar festival. The festival serves as a day of appreciation for education about guitars and guitar music.  The festival began in the morning last Friday with a series of concerts in HAL Hall, featuring performers li

Troy’s Concert Band holds memorial for student that passed away  One of Troy’s ensembles played a song in memorial for their member who passed away at their most recent concert.  Troy’s Concert Band held a concert on Tuesday that included a song performed for Katelyn Hawkins, a clarinet player and member of the ensemble who recently passed away. The piece played was “Sheltering Sky” by John Mackey and was conducted by a guest   co-conductor, who is also a clarinetist.  Studen

The sounds of song and dance and the smell of traditional food drifted from the Trojan Center Ballrooms last Thursday as many students and faculty enjoyed a Lunar New Year Celebration. Students and faculty alike gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which took place on Feb. 17.   The Lunar New Year is a special time marking new beginnings, filled with tradition, festivals, food and time well spent with family and friends. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, bringing an end to

Fuse Coffee invited community members for a Valentine’s Sip and Paint night last Friday. The event was $25 and included a drink, supplies and a canvas. The painting was self-guided and participants had a choice of Snoopy or Woodstock.  The Fuse Coffee manager, Emily Robbins, is a senior graphic design major from Andalusia, Alabama, and wanted to do something fun and artistic for the Fuse regulars.   The Troy community was also invited for a night of painting and sipping. (Qua

Sharing their love for history,  Troy’s History Club members held their annual Valentine’s Day party last Wednesday, offering students a chance to make connections, compete for prizes and unwind through friendly competition.   The event opened with a lively social gathering followed by a battle of members' historical knowledge through a Valentine’s Day–themed Kahoot.  “We just started doing this a couple of years ago,” said History Club President Matilda Ziegler, a senior Ame

Coffee and Conversations continued to provide students at Troy with a space   to engage in open dialogue and learn from one another through respectful discussions.   Sadie Noris, a freshman marketing major from Mobile, Alabama, said she first attended after hearing about the program from a friend.  “She was telling me how it opens your eyes to more issues,” Noris said. “You always   get to talk to people you don’t really talk to normally, so you get to open your mind and crea

Troy’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) came together and made valentine’s cards last Thursday. Students were encouraged to come in and grab supplies to make homemade cards for residents of a local nursing home.  “We wanted to do something for the community,” said Shania Brunson, a junior exercise science major from Tuskegee, Alabama. “It feels so much more heartfelt giving handmade cards than just cards from the store.  “It’s so important to learn about loving your commu

KPop Demon Hunters A Golden Movie The Oscars are less than a month away, and the nominations are locked in. While movies like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” will be competing for Best Film, other movies like “Zootopia 2” and “Elio” will be fighting for Best Animated Feature.  The movie with the best odds to win the title of Best Animated Feature is the Netflix original film “KPop Demon Hunters.” With catchy songs, thrilling action sequences and an interesting plot,

Aries: After years of waiting, you officially have a valentine who gets you! For some of you, it’s just another year of being without one.  Taurus: While you would rather talk about anything other than this holiday, you still tolerate your friends sharing their Valentine’s Day plans.  Gemini: It doesn’t bother you if you have a valentine or not this year. At the end of the day, you still have your pets to keep you company.   Cancer: You’re not too fond of this holiday. You th

Don Toliver is what some may call an acquired taste but consider me convinced. I’ve been a pseudo-fan of Toliver since the Covid era, when he first started getting popular with the release of “No Idea” and various other songs from the “Heaven or Hell” album.   Toliver has been slowly growing in fame since his  TikTok blastoff, releasing several albums since 2020. Some of his biggest hits include “NEW DROP,” “No Pole” and “After Party.” His most recent album, however, “OCTANE,

During the recent January snow day, many people were concerned the road conditions would cause car accidents-- kind of like the one that sets off the events of Stephen King’s “Misery” (1987).   When considering the possibility of road issues with the weather, most folks probably were not worried about being abducted from their vehicle and held hostage until they were forced to write an entire book.   That is exactly the predicament that King’s main character, Paul Sheldon, fi

Troy’s University Activities Council (UAC) held a dating game event last Wednesday focused on the personality of students rather than their looks in preparation for Valentine's Day.  The Blind Dating Game sat three or more contestants on one side of a curtain and one single contestant – called the bachelor or bachelorette – on the other side. The bachelor/bachelorette’s job was to ask questions for all contestants on the other side to answer, then pick which one was their fav

Members of Troy’s Psychology Club sold sweet treats for a sweet purpose in their recent bake sale, with profits going to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC).   Students were able to choose from a variety of tasty options, including donuts, cupcakes, cookies and brownies.  Young Cutter graphic “I think it's good to just get out and do something,” said Justin Hendrickson, a junior psychology major from Enterprise, Alabama. “We don't help them directly, but we give the money to the

The John M. Long School of Music welcomed middle and high school students onto campus for a three-day honor band clinic over the weekend.  The Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic (SEUS) lasted from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7 and allowed middle and high school band students the opportunity to show off their skills under the command of guest conductors. The event also featured performances by Troy University’s Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Band and contemporary music group POPulus. Th

Troy’s International Arts Center (IAC) held an artist reception for an exhibit by Mike Howard along with the exhibits of previous resident artists last Thursday. Howard’s exhibit, titled “Gravity and Gesture,” was a part of a large donation to the university.   The exhibit had all-consuming canvases that held imagery, such as corporate logos on top of landscapes that hold everyday people as well as paintings of dogs that employ layers of gloss. The paintings were held at Troy

Intramural sports go through a cycle of various games throughout the year. However, the next one coming up is a classic college party staple: water pong.  Water pong is a game where 10 cups, filled with water, are set up on either side of a table. A line is drawn, and the object of the game is to shoot a ping pong ball across the table into the cups on the other side to relieve them. Whichever team is the first to relieve all the cups on the other team’s side is the winner. 

Ingredients:   2 blocks cream cheese softened   1 package dry ranch flavoring  8 oz sour cream   1 pack real bacon bits  1 large can shredded chicken, drained  1 cup sharp shredded cheese for mixing  1 cup sharp shredded cheese for topping   1/3 cup hot sauce   Instructions:  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.   Mix all of the ingredients, except for one cup of cheese, together very well.   When all ingredients are combined, spread the mixture evenly in a casserole dish. Take t

MOVIE REVIEW Contrary to popular belief, Jordan Peele is not to thank for “Him ,” a 2025 horror starring Tyriq Withers.   Directed by Justin Tipping, the film follows Cam, a hungry athlete who gets the chance to be mentored by his idol, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). As he falls deeper into a week of intense training, increasingly strange and violent things happen, revealing an underground satanic cult behind it all.   The messages in the movie are great— sure. It’s a classic

Troy’s History Club held a Black History Month roundtable that encouraged students to reflect on Black history, military service and the importance of learning from the past.  The discussion created space for students to connect historical events to modern   society, emphasizing how understanding history can help prevent past injustices from   being repeated.  “I felt like the conversations reinforced the importance of remembering history as a tool for growth,” said Ashton Ch

Students are invited to attend Coffee and Conversations, an event put on by the Office of Civic Engagement, to enjoy coffee and have meaningful discussions aimed at practicing awareness and empathy.  The sixth annual Coffee and Conversations event is being held Feb. 12, 19 and 26 from I p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Trojan Center Ballrooms. Students are encouraged to go have conversations that will helpconnect them with others despite their differences.  “At the heart of Coffee and C