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

Student members of Troy’s Student Support Services (TRIO) came together to make cards for the nursing home for Valentine’s Day last Wednesday. With the intention to spread kindness, the event provided craft supplies for cards and cookies for those decorating them. “The goal of this event is to get other people to come out, network with each other and have a good time,” said TRIO Ambassador Trey Brown, a sophomore physical education major from Eufaula, Alabama. “In nursing

As commercials leading up to the Super Bowl rolled on the big screen projector, students gathered at Troy’s Campus Recreation Center to watch the action Sunday night. The Rec held a watch party for the big game on one of its basketball courts. All students were invited and free food was provided. Alex Ford photo Students grab their portions of free food before taking their seats to watch the Super Bowl Sunday night. “This is one of our engagement retention events that we tr

One Battle After Another When you look at the movies from 2025, the one with the most Oscar nominations is “Sinners” with 16. However, following closely behind Ryan Coogler’s masterpiece is Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus, “One Battle After Another.” Receiving some of the Oscar nominations are Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor, Thomas Anderson for Best Director, Teyana Taylor for Best Supporting Actress and Sean Penn for Best Supporting Actor. Each of these nominations is

Anais' Annotations In the last 20 years, spinoffs and even fanfiction have gained a prestigious foothold in popular fiction. Books that play on existing pieces of literature are now as well-known– and sometimes better known– than the material that inspired them. Generally speaking, I have not been a fan of this recent development. While I cannot lie,it has a place among genre fiction, I tend to lean more into original storytelling or experimental structures. My most recent en

Many musicians will say branching out is one of the best things you can do. Troy University’s John M. Long School of Music had the opportunity to play host to guest artist Dr. Logan Place last Wednesday. Dr. Place is the interim department chair as well as a trumpet instructor for the Department of Music and Performing Arts at Southeastern Louisiana University. Throughout his time, Dr. Place didn't just study music; he actively performs for audience, sharing a notable messa

Capricorn – You’ll order the pizza for everyone. You really want to hang out with everyone, but you always know what the score is for those who are not paying attention. Aquarius – You are just rooting for who everyone else thinks is losing. You are bringing the spinach and artichoke dip as everyone cheers for a team they didn’t even know was in the Super Bowl. Pisces – You are just here for the commercials. You’ll get on your phone when the game starts back up, but you al

Troy University’s Activities Council (UAC) invited students to come out and see “Wicked For Good” on the big screen in Patterson Hall Wednesday Night. UAC provided snacks, drinks and the chance for students to come out and connect on campus. “The energy at the movie night was really fun and welcoming,” said Jamie Parker, a junior nursing major student from Millbrook, Alabama, who is UAC’s president. “It felt more like a big group hangout than a formal event, especially wi

Picture a bustling neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea, filled with artisanal shops, eccentric and diverse nightlife as well as young adults filled with aspirations and meaningful goals. That neighborhood is called Itaewon. The main character of “Itaewon Class,” Park Sae-ro-yi, became one of those young adults after a very tumultuous and traumatic childhood following the death of his father. After a stint in prison for trying to kill the man who killed his father, he dec

Safety is something many students might overlook in their daily lives. The National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) held a safety class with a guest from Troy University Police Department (TUPD), Patrolman Tatyana Lee, last Wednesday. The importance of safety on campus for students was the main discussion. “Safety is so important for students because this is a very vulnerable time in our lives,” said Shania Brunson, an exercise science major from Tuskegee, Alabama. “We’re tryin

Troy’s Sorrell 360 Finance put together a Bingo Kickoff Event last Wednesday afternoon in John Robert Lewis Hall for students to learn more information about the program and what it has in store for the semester. All students were invited. Sorrell 360 Center for Professional Life Director Preston Pritchett served as the host for this event, presenting information about the program through a slideshow presentation before everyone got into the fun of the competitive bingo gam

Members of Troy’s History Club gathered in Patterson Hall last Wednesday for a night of fun, prizes, friendly competition and history themed jeopardy. History club is a club open to both history and non-history majors that invites students to fun events and academic events surrounding history. One of the club’s more popular and laid-back meetings, Trivia Night,saw history club members flex their knowledge and buzz in on trivia questions for a shot at winning prizes. Acco

An Alabama poetry society held a writers’ workshop and open mic at the Johnson Center for the Arts on Saturday. The Alabama State Poetry Society’s (ASPS) workshop focused on unleashing creativity and breaking down the natural, conforming habits common among less-experienced writers. The event was led by Florence, Alabama Poet Laureate, Shannon Milliman. “This isn’t your typical poetry workshop,” Milliman said. “We shook up the habits that served us well but maybe kept us sa

Students danced the night away at the first event of the semester for the University Activities Council (UAC): a silent disco. The event was held last Wednesday in the Trojan Center Ballrooms. With a valid student ID, students were able to grab a pair of special headphones and tune into their DJ of choice. “Tonight is one of our first major events,” said Jamie Parker, a junior nursing major from Millbrook, Alabama, who serves as president of UAC. “Students can come and hav