When I was about to leave for college, I heard from almost every adult in my life: “Those four years will be gone in a blink of an eye.” To 18-year-old me, that seemed impossible. I didn’t realize how true it really was until that cap and gown were sitting on my bed, staring me down. I mean, just yesterday, I was moving into my freshman dorm and going to every Welcome Week event that was offered. I was learning the ropes of campus and getting used to a college class schedule.

Well, here I am. The end of the road. I came to Troy as a junior in the fall of 2024, transferring from the University of North Alabama. Stepping onto campus, I only knew two people, and neither were students in the Hall School of Journalism and Communication. I knew starting a new school where I hardly knew anyone was going to be a challenge. The main reason I decided to transfer to Troy was to pursue TrojanVision. I originally had no intention of writing for the Trop

A lot can change in four years. When I stepped on campus in August 2022, I couldn’t have envisioned what my life and time at college would look like today. As a nervous, socially anxious freshman, I never would’ve imagined I could be the slightly less nervous, socially anxious senior I am today. In all seriousness, my entire worldview and perspective on life have changed at college, and I’m so grateful to this period of my life for helping me figure out who I am. My first spo

When I came to Troy as a freshman, I declared my major as English and was intent on becoming an English professor someday. I had never once planned to become a journalist –but oh how plans love to change. I remember taking a job assessment quiz in eighth grade and one of the recommended jobs was journalist. I thought, “Yeah right, all journalists do is talk about politics and murders. That’s way too grim for me.” It wasn’t until I came to Troy and met Dr. Stefanie Hicks East

How can one simply jot down two years? My time at Troy University is coming to a rapid close, and I just have so much to say. When I arrived here as a transfer student from Wallace Community College, I never expected what this place and the people in it would mean to me. As a student in the English department, I have had the unique honor of coming to know some of the hardest working, supportive, encouraging faculty in all of our school. Thanks to these professors who believed

If Barbie truly can be anything, I guess I am living it. I started my college career at Troy as soccer Barbie, complete with cleats, gloves and my emotional-support water bottle. Then, I became nursing student Barbie, pink stethoscope and caffeine in hand. When I entered the Tropolitan Dreamhouse, I wasn’t sure where I fit in. My roommate encouraged me to join the Trop, but I still couldn’t picture myself writing news. Could I really be journalist Barbie? I remember my first

Growing up, all I have ever known is sports. It’s all I’ve talked about my entire life. From obsessing over stats and scores, to attending as many events as possible, it is an obsession. What better way to use that obsession than to write about it? Being able to cover Troy Sthletics has given me remarkable experiences. I covered multiple Sun Belt championships for men’s basketball and have traveled to several states to cover the “school we love.” My favorite thing about being

I never thought I could write for a newspaper. Coming into college, I thought my opinions and beliefs were unimportant, small and not worth articulating. After all, who cares what a teenage girl from rural Appalachia has to say? Emily Mosier, a previous editor-in-chief for the Trop who I had the honor of competing alongside on the debate team, encouraged me to start submitting opinions, and eventually to apply for a scholarship with the paper. Nervously, in January of 2025, I

As my time at Troy comes to an end, I have begun to reflect on all of the amazing memories I have made here. Cheering at the collegiate level for the first time, finding my people in a new place, winning the Sun Belt in football, cheering to a bowl game, competing on a national level and so many other moments have made my time here unforgettable. There are a few moments that are truly more memorable than any of those things. My journey to journalism was not conventional. When

As my Troy career ends, I’ve reflected on all my achievements, and working on The Tropolitan is one of my biggest. The journalism department has been nothing but supportive all four years, but this past semester working as copy editor has brought me closer to my peers, given me insight into the industry and prepared me for future opportunities. If I had to give advice to a freshman me, I’d tell myself to get involved with The Tropolitan sooner— it’s an experience on campus un

The Beach Boys are a band I have been listening to my entire life. There was a time in high school where I was listening to them religiously, and I can easily point to a few albums in their career I thought they were at their best. I still have the same opinion today. One of those albums is “Sunflower,” released in 1970, after Brian Wilson’s perfectionism and mental decline during the making of “Smile” but before their descent into baiting nostalgia in the late 1970s. “Sunfl

With everything going on in the news nowadays, it is seemingly difficult to keep track of what is going on in the Middle East. According to www.bbcnews.com, America and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Why did they do this, and is it a good thing? According to state.gov, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio explained the whole point of attacking Iran was to make sure they could not build a nuclear weapon. As soon as the attack happened though, Americans felt the effects. Accord

High speed races, fun circuits, cars-- is there really a difference is Formula One and NASCAR? The answer easy answer is yes-- here are many differences between the two racing worlds. To start off, the two cars are completely distinctive styles. NASCAR races with what is called a “stock car,” which is designed for high contact, bumper to bumper racing. F1 races with open wheel/open cockpit cars, which are made for more high-speed, curvy tracks.The tires of the F1 car are

President Trump posted a Truth Social post last Sunday where he lashed out at the first American Pope, Leo XIV, for criticizing the Trump Administration’s foreign policy and recent actions in Iran. In his Truth Social post, Trump stated the pope should not criticize war, but that instead, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more imp

Exploring the basics of Formula One High-speed races, dangerous crashes and an exhilarating battle for the championship title — this is the world of Formula One. Allow me to break down the world of F1 in a way most beginners will understand. Twenty-two drivers are racing for their spot as the 2026 World Driver Champion (WDC), all while the 11 teams are fighting for their spot as the constructor champion. Drivers receive points for each race they win, with positions one

Country music is an odd conversation topic with many music fans online and in person. I have heard the phrase: “I like all types of music except for country,” many times. Honestly, it makes sense. Most people base country music off only the stuff they’ve heard on the radio or though TikTok. I am here to prove that country music should be given a chance anyways. The first thing that I point to when defending country music is that like most genres, country music has a deeper

As graduation looms ever closer, I have reflected on my college experience. Specifically, I’ve considered what I’m glad I did, and what I wish I had done differently throughout my time at Troy. One of the things in college that I am most proud of is being heavily involved on campus. I urge you to get involved on campus. Talk to the people next to you in class and join different clubs and discover your passions. Do not fall into the routine of just going to class and then

Among many others, I woke up to a post Friday morning announcing a surprise album by Sooj, a collaboration between artists Duster and Dirty Art Club. The album is called “Crusher,” and it sounds different than any other Duster side project I've heard before. Usually, Duster side projects don’t align with their main projects as one might expect. To name a few, “Birds in the Ground” by Eiafuawn is faster and has considerably less spacey textures, and Mohinder’s self-titled EP

According to a Feb. 18, 2026, news release from the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor statistics entitled “Union Members-2025” , a mere 11.2% of employed Americans were represented by labor unions in 2025. The power of collective bargaining that is made possible by union membership leads to higher compensation for labor, and in 2025, the average union member was making $1,404 a week, compared to the average non-union wage of $1,174. According to a 2016

After a long weekend of racing, the youngest World Driver Championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, still has the lead with 72 points. Antonelli and teammate George Russell began Sunday’s race in first and second, respectively, followed by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Piastri overtook both Mercedes drivers around the first corner, giving him the lead.  This is Piastri’s first race start of the season after a crash in the formation lap in Australia and an electrical fault in

“Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices of all goods.” “Prices will come down. You just watch: They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast, not only with insurance, with everything.” “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will make America affordable again. We’re going to make it affordable again.” “Energy is going to bring us back. That means we’re going

Last week, I recommended a couple of albums that were laid-back and dreamy for the spring season, but today I will be taking a turn and looking at an album that screams spring. It’s an album that is so pleasant and perfectly tempered that it might be more spring than Alabama’s definition. That album is “The Colour of Spring” by Talk Talk. “The Colour of Spring” is nestled between two better-known parts of Talk Talk’s discography. Most people know them from their albums “The

Sora AI is dead. Good riddance. If you've been living under a rock for the last year, Sora is an artificial video-making platform made by OpenAI, the same creator behind ChatGPT, and was arguably the largest generative AI video platform. The platform was very popular upon launch, quickly breaking a number of app store records. Last week, OpenAI announced the shutdown of the platform, shocking many and leaving those who used the site without their service. Some may ask, “I

During the trial in which he was sentenced to death, Socrates defended himself orally against his attackers, proclaiming that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, as it is very easy to proceed through life while being complacent, never examining one’s own beliefs and morality, and never questioning how you can improve yourself. Engaging in the study of philosophy is one way to avoid this. The study of philosophy, especially

In honor of spring finally being here to stay, I have some albums to discuss that bring in that cozy and colorful feeling that the season is known for. I’venoticed most of my listening habits during the spring lean towards a slow, gentle sound that feels pleasantly warm. These albums embody this sound perfectly, and you may enjoy these as well if you’re into that sort of sound. The album “On Fire” by Galaxie 500 is my go-to album for a nice spring day. It’s perfect for when

The Academy Awards, otherwise known as The Oscars, began in 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize and celebrate artists’ outstanding work in the film industry. The award itself – a knight standing on a film reel with five spokes – represents the original five branches the ceremony officially recognized: actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers. The Oscars now has 19 officially recognized branches ranging from makeup and cost

My middle school experience was ruled by vaporwave music. Vaporwave is a music genre that started completely online in the early 2010s and as online communities tend to do, the genre has widely different subgenres and styles. I love a lot of different subgenres of vaporwave and future funk happens to be one of them. “Hit Vibes” by Saint Pepsi was pretty much THE example of what future funk was when it started to get popular in the mid 2010s. The album is chock full of 80s no

According to a Feb 12, 2026, AP News article entitled,” “What to know about EPA decision to revoke a scientific finding that helped fight climate change,” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked its own 2009 “endangerment finding,” which is “a scientific conclusion that for 16 years has been the central basis for regulating planet-warming emissions from power plants, vehicles and other sources.” At the core of the finding is a basic scientific truth: carbon dio

This Week’s Advice: Strength in Redirection. So many of us are afraid of failure or rejection. We hide what we actually want because we are worried about one simple thing. The word “no." We think being told no, or failing, makes us weak and not worthy of trying again. This is wrong. Real strength comes from trying. There have been so many instances at Troy where I have been so scared of failing, to the point where I didn’t try at all. I restricted myself because I couldn’t

Formula 1 kicked off its first race of the season in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday with some expected changes from last season's car and some unexpected driver issues. Since last season, we have seen two new teams added to the grid, Cadillac and Audi, with Audi replacing the former team Sauber. This increased the number of teams to 11 and the number of racers to 22. Not only that, but there are new engine adjustments taking place. One of those engine adjustments is

How far will you go for fame? Would you corrupt your morals, give into pressure, destroy yourself? MAN BITES DOG is the first full-length album from digital hardcore band femtanyl, a band I’ve been following for quite some time now. After two EPs — 2023’s CHASER and 2024’s REACTOR — along with collaborations with the likes of Danny Brown, ISSBROKIE, and takihasdied, the trio have taken their talents to the next level. The group consists of Noelle Mansbridge and Juno Callend

“Think horses, not zebras.” That’s what they tell you. When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras. Sometimes, and evidently so, it’s zebras. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. As defined by the World Health Organization, this is a complex disease that affects many women globally. It’s characterized by endometrium-like tissue, usually found only in the lining of the uterus, growing outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scar tissue formation. It’s lifelo

Most sports logos nowadays suck. Key word: most. Recently, a new logo for the Tennessee Titans was leaked, and fans are divided on it. A simplified circle. The sword T lost its edges. Even the flames of the famous logo are gone. However, others point out that the logo returns to the popular colors of the Houston Oilers, the former name of the Titans. Personally, I despise this logo. As a Titans fan, the logo is generic and bland, and the personality and detail from the curr

“Gantz Graf” as an EP is sort of an anomaly. The EP was released after their album “Confield,” one of their more intricate works in terms of drum programming and came out before albums like “Draft 7.30” and “Untilted.” The main thing that sets it apart from other EPs by the duo, though, is the fact that it’s mostly extremely abrasive. If you get used to it, it’s an amazing listen, but in general, it’s very abrasive. The EP opens up with “Gantz Graf,” which slaps you in the

According to a CNN article entitled “DOJ releases millions of pages of documents in Epstein investigation,” over three million pages of documents related to the known sexual predator Jeffery Epstein were released Jan. 30. https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/epstein-files-release-doj-01-30-26 What is most disturbing about the newest release of the Epstein files is not the fact there is one evil man, Jeffery Epstein, who trafficked, raped, and assaulted in other ways

If you couldn’t tell, I am a big fan of electronic music. This was partially due to my discovery of Autechre while in high school. To me, Autechre is singular and unique while also being a great break into electronic music. Without Autechre, I don’t know if I would be as interested in electronic music as I am today. If Autechre’s albums are giant, satisfying meals, their EPs are appetizers. Some of their best works are in these bite-sized EP packages I can’t help but snack o

This Week’s Advice: Stay Unapologetically You. I, like so many others, care so much about what others think about me. Every night before bed, I wonder if I did good enough during the day I had. I wince at the mistakes I made and beat myself up over what I could have done better. Embarrassment and shame are my worst fears, ever. Even in class, I am hesitant to drink my coffee a certain way or check the time another. This isn’t healthy, but it’s not abnormal. We, as people

Should you assume that someone is your valentine? Let me go ahead and answer that for you: NO! This is for the couples out there. Regardless of whether you've been together for two months or five years, you should still ask your partner to be your valentine. Why? Well, let's get right into it. Just like when you are married, you should still make designated time to go out on dates. There’s a difference between intentional quality time (dates) and random meet ups (hangouts)

Within the last few months, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been the subject of major national attention. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the cause for most of the national attention going on in the city. Two people have been killed in Minnesota during the ICE riots: Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Regardless of whose fault it was, it is still tragic. Tragedy struck on Jan. 8th, 2026, when Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a prote

This Week’s Advice: Healthy habits. Since being in college, so much has happened both mentally and socially. Coming to college can be such a culture shock. From moving away, to meeting new people and doing new things. It can be rough adjusting and taking in these new experiences. So far, I have fallen and gotten back up about a million times. Every week brings something new to brush off but, that’s all you have to do. Brush off the bad, and bathe in the good. Recen

One of the many factors that makes America uniquely beautiful is its high percentage of immigrants. A Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data found that, as of June 2025, 51.9 million immigrants lived in the U.S, and 15.4% of all U.S. residents were immigrants. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/21/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/ According to a 2024 report issued by the National Institute of Justice, An NIJ-funded study examining data from the

Usually, I’m not the biggest metal listener, especially not the type of metal Whitechapel is, but a friend of mine recommended this album to me, and I was interested enough to give it a spin. The album has a tendency of bathing my ears in gravelly guitar sound throughout, which is great. That’s not to say that it doesn’thave melodic parts, though. The melodic parts of the album shine through in the breakdowns of certain songs and meld with the gravelly sounding guitar reall

After five months of an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire agreement, the death toll of Gaza civilians climbs. Prior to the ceasefire, over 67,000 Palestinians died and more than 169,000 injured. Since the ceasefire, over 600 Palestinians have died and at least 1,600 injured; with Israel violating said ceasefire agreement at least 1,620 times since Oct. 10, 2025. https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Human-Toll-in-Gaza_Costs-of-War_Crawford_7-October-202

Emma's Enlightenments As people, we have the ability to control the way we go about life. We have our own mindsets, which we can then act on. We have our own way of thinking, moving and being. Whether or not we carry ourselves positively or negatively is up to us. We control the way we carry ourselves, as I have said before, and see life. Why live through hate when you can live through love? I felt this was a good topic for this week because it can relate to so man

I genuinely believe that Sufjan Stevens is one of the best artists of our time. I know I usually have lots of positive opinions while writing, but Stevens has affected my life in a way that few artists have. His music is not only saturated with emotion, but with amazing lyrics as well. First, his music is so emotionally saturated that I can put it on based on almost any vibe or mood that I’m in. The first album I listened to by him that immediately clicked with me was “The A

We must stand firmly against the construction of data centers, and concerned citizens should petition their local leaders for the cessation of their construction. The public must also demand full transparency- the construction of data centers should be negotiated publicly, not behind closed doors. According to a 2025 MediaJustice report entitled “The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South,” there are $200 billion worth of potential data center projects across Geo

Amongst the debates over the format for the College Football Playoff, I believe there is a perfect option for expansion that already exists. The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is the only NCAA division that does not have an NCAA-sanctioned championship. Tradition has prevented college football from moving on from the ancient idea of bowl games, and frankly, that’s hurting the sport. Below the FBS is the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), which has a tournament that,

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum has been around forever and put together a storied career spanning several decades. He’s a living legend. But in recent years, Finebaum has left any semblance of reason or logic behind to become a full-time SEC fanboy. The past few months, Finebaum has continually disrespected and trashed every non-SEC conference in the country on First Take and other ESPN shows. The Memphis, Tennessee, native continually upholds double standards and false narr

Emma's Enlightenments This Week’s Advice: Difference is Power. All of us are different. No two are the same- yet we criticize this all the time. This raises the question, what differences are okay, and which are not? Who decided this? Differences, to me, mean power. There should be no decision on who is right and who is wrong. This is just an excuse. There is no wrong. Just because you aren’t the same as the person next to you doesn’t mean they are better or lesser th

Oftentimes, those of us concerned about environmental welfare and seeking to lessen our impact on our earth overlook a relatively simple and straightforward way to do less harm to our planet. We should eat less meat, and when we do consume it, it’s important to focus on low-impact meats such as chicken. According to researchers from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the University of Michigan, the highest carbon impact item in Americans’