March 30, 2016
Volume CXXXVI Issue 8
Student Government Association elections are under way
Presidential debate held between Altman and Boddy during SGA assembly By BAILEE BOGGESS Staff Writer The time of the year has come for students to campaign for and elect the Student Government Association. As always, students have the opportunity to run for several different offices. Upcoming Senior Turner Altman and Upcoming Sophomore Kolt Boddy are running for President. The other offices are as follows: Shannon Eckelkamp, Ben Martin and Remington Williams are running for Vice President; Aaron Benge, Peyton Griffee and Raygan Kilby are running for Vice President of Academic Affairs; Emily Altman and Kendall Harrison are running for Vice President of Campus and Community Affairs; Brook Billings and Jordan Meade are running for Parliamentarian. On Thurs., March 24, the SGA General Assembly was held. Students in attendance were able to get a better view of who the candidates are. During the general assem-
Inside
this issue
bly, all the candidates were introduced. Also, the annual presidential debate was held between the two candidates running for the office.
Source: Instagram.com
Presidential candidate Turner Altman focuses on progressing Georgetown by changing current precedents. The current president, William Thomas, asked three questions to Altman and Boddy about the ideas and principles they would implement if elected as President. The first question dealt with why they wanted to be
This week at the State Capitol page 2
elected as president. Altman’s answer touched on the fact that he was running for the second time and how running for SGA is a “great opportunity for the college to grow. [Georgetown is] a very special place close to my heart.” He also said that he is not content and wants to make things around campus better. Boddy said that he wants “to carry on the legacy of the current administration, be a voice to all students and bring legitimacy to the school.” Then, the candidates were asked what one initiative they would like to take on in office is. Boddy said he would like to see more diversity and create a place for students to come and participate in equality. Altman also mentioned diversity, as well as wanting to create a voice for the students. He wants SGA to make a difference by doing things like the Christmas Light Competition to “bring the campus together” and utilizing the budget given to SGA more.
The third question was what made each candidate different from his opponent. Altman said that he had experience with the position
ISIS attacks Brussels following arrest of Paris attack suspect page 3
NCAA tournament moves to the Final Four page 4
Submitted by Kolt Boddy
Presidential candidate Kolt Boddy focuses on continuing and improving on the current administration. and personal relationships with the president of the college, the dean and the board of the school. Boddy said that even though he has not been on campus long, he is willing to work with everyone and is a hands–on leader. He also said
he will be sure to stay informed on what is going on with all other positions on Executive Council. Candidates were then asked about how they would work with Executive Council. After the current president asked his questions, the floor was opened to students who wanted to ask questions about issues about which they were concerned. One of the questions was, “How are you going to get other organizations to pull for diversitiy?” Altman said that there is not one answer, but he plans on doing everything that he can to change the culture, because that is where diversity starts. Boddy said that the best way to start diversity is to search into other diversity programs and expand what they already have. Voting began on March 28 and can be accessed on the Portal through the GC Life tab. Student Life sent an email out to all students with an attached link to the online voting poll.
Islam is misunderstood; let us learn before judging page 10
News
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Global
Headlines Compiled by Noah Krieger
A California U.S. Coast Guard
crew arrested four drug smugglers and seized more than six tons of cocaine worth over $200 million from a semi–submersible vessel off the coast of Panama.
In Jacksonville, Fla., a Jimmy
John’s delivery man was filmed slinging his bicycle over his back and climbing over a moving train rather than waiting for it to pass. He safely crossed over and made the delivery.
In Sydney, Australia, at Bondi
Beach, several swimmers caught up in a riptide were rescued by none other than Hugh Jackman who retrieved the victims, including his son, Oscar.
In Granite Shoals, Texas, police
made a Facebook post, meant as a joke, about bringing in heroin and meth for screening before use due to Ebola contamination. One lady actually brought in a bag of meth and was promptly arrested.
In Concord, N.C., James Meyers
Jr. was pulled over for a burned out brake light, then arrested when the officer discovered an outstanding warrant for his arrest for a 14 year overdue VHS rental. He doesn’t recall renting the movie and the case will likely be dismissed.
In Norwalk, Iowa, police were
called out after a runaway kangaroo was spotted outside of city hall. He was safely captured and returned to his owner.
The Georgetonian
Press Release: Kentucky State Capitol Submitted by ROBERT WEBER Kentucky State Capitol
FRANKFORT—With only four legislative days remaining in the session, lawmakers made progress in getting Kentucky’s budgets passed this week. This past Tuesday, the House tipped off its budget week with a proposed Road Plan that includes proposed road, bridge and other transportation projects totaling $4.58 billion. The House also passed legislation that would require new steps to fund the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System on a sound basis starting in 2017. The Senate is now reviewing the bills. A day later, on Wednesday, the Senate responded to the House’s executive branch budget proposal with an amended version of House Bill 303. Working from the House’s bill passed last week, the Senate reinstated many of the initiatives unveiled by the governor in January including a 9 percent reduction in spending on Kentucky’s colleges and universities. The Senate plan increased proposed funding for anti-heroin efforts, in comparison to the plan approved by the House, and also called for setting aside $250 million in a “permanent fund” for future pension fund payments. Other legislation made its way through both chambers with sponsors hoping for their “One Magic Moment.” Among topics considered were: On Monday, the Senate passed a bill that could give some felons a clearer path to regaining voting rights. Senate Bill 299 would let voters decide on a proposed constitutional amendment giving the General Assembly authority to establish a process for non–violent felons who have served their sentences to
Source: En.wikipedia.com
Legislators at the Kentucky State Capitol continue to propose and pass bills. recover their voting rights. The House passed an amended version of Senate Bill 56 on Wednesday, sending it back to the Senate for approval. The bill would strengthen penalties for driving under the influence by making a fourth offense within 10 years a felony charge. Currently, a felony charge comes after a fourth offense in five years. The amended version passed by a 98–0 vote. The bill would take effect immediately with the governor’s signature. The Senate originally passed SB 56 in January, 35–1. Senate Bill 245, which would bring Kentucky drivers’ licenses and other identity cards into compliance with the federal REAL ID initiative, was passed by a 26–12 Senate vote on Tuesday. Without compliant IDs, Kentuckians may have future trouble flying on commercial airlines or may face other restrictions after a federally mandated deadline passes. The bill, which received a favorable vote from a House committee soon after the bill was delivered from the Senate, is now awaiting consideration of the full House. House Bill 80, passed by the Senate Committee on State and Local Government on Tuesday, seeks to narrow
open records exemptions for private companies providing goods or services normally provided by government agencies. Under HB80, firms who derive at least 25 of their total revenue from governmental sources would have open records apply to it just as if it were a public agency. The bill awaits a vote by the full Senate. Senate Bill 195, which would allow firefighters with certain types of lung or other cancer presumed to be tied to their employment to be eligible for lump-sum state death benefits, passed in the House on Monday. The bill, along with a similar bill providing benefits for emergency medical personnel killed in the line of duty, is awaiting the governor’s signature. House Bill 129 would expand legal grounds for stripping parental rights in cases of abuse or murder— or the attempted abuse or murder— of a child. Those rights could also be terminated in cases of complicity in the death or injury of a child’s parent, step-parent guardian or custodian. The bill passed a House vote on Monday, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
Issue 8
News
March 30, 2016 Page 3
Egyptian hijacker arrested on Tuesday By MEGAN NORRIS Staff Writer
Early Tuesday morning, an EgyptAir flight from Alexandria to Cairo seemed to be taking a long time to reach its destination. What was supposed to be a 45–minute flight turned into over a two–hour journey. Geographically, a flight for this direction would not pass over the Mediterranean Sea, but that’s exactly what EgyptAir Flight 181 was doing. “When you fly to Cairo, you don’t cross the sea,” said flight passenger Farrah El Dibany (Cnn.com). Cry and panic overwhelmed the plane as members of the cabin crew told passengers, “We are hijacked.
We’re being hijacked.” Members of the crew did not inform the passengers of the plane of what the hijacker wanted, where they were headed or any other information. “We were just kidnapped,” said El Dibany. A man who was described as “unstable” from officials was the one responsible for hijacking the flight. After he held the passengers and crew hostage with a fake explosive belt, he forced the plane to divert to Cyprus. From multiple members of the Foreign Affairs Crisis Management Center, the hijacker kept changing his mind and asking for different things. One of the hijacker’s demands was that the plane be refueled so that he could travel to
Istanbul, which was rejected. However, authorities did arrange for him to speak to his ex–wife. This man, identified as Egyptian Seif El Din Mustafa, has had previous affairs with the law. This 58–year–old has a criminal record that includes fraud, fake identity, theft and drug charges. Mustafa told the pilot and crew of the aircraft carrier that he was carrying an explosives belt, and air traffic control had no choice but to take the threat seriously. This aircraft was carrying 70 people: 50 passengers (including the hijacker), seven crew members and eight additional crew members because it was a connecting flight. Many of the passengers were released during the early stages of the ordeal. First, Mustafa said the
women and children on board the plane could leave. About 20 minutes later, he said “all the Egyptians can leave” (Cnn.com). Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said the plane’s foreign passengers included eight Americans, four Dutch, two Belgians, four Britons, one Syrian, one French and one Italian. Additionally, there were two Greek nationals on board, one of them being the orthodox archbishop of Johannesburg. All domestic and international flights at Egyptian airports proceeded according to schedule, with minor delays because of heightened security (Cnn.com).
ISIS attacks in Brussels, Belgium By LINDSEY PHILLIPS Staff Writer
The terrorist attack in Brussels, Belgium, happened on March 22 at the Zaventem International Airport. There were 2 explosions. Together, they destroyed the check–in area almost instantaneously at 7:58 a.m. local time. Around an hour later, there was another explosion at Maalbeek Metro Station, which is close to the city of Brussel’s center. According to CNN, the death toll is now at 35 people, and 300 people are injured. The Metro system and international airport were both closed down immediately after the attacks. The Metro system was opened back up hours after but with restrictions. The Zaventem International airport is a different story, and a date has not
been released for when it will be up and running again. There are testings for security screenings scheduled for Tuesday, March 29. That day will also include the making of a plan for a temporary place to check in luggage. The incidents in Brussels happened just days after investigators closed in on Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect of the Paris bombing attacks. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks but officials say it is too early to be sure whether or not they are responsible. Kentucky was directly affected by these terrorist attacks. Stephanie Shults of Lexington, Ky., who went to Transylvania University and was a member of Phi Mu fraternity, and her husband Justin Shults were killed in the bombings at the Zaventem International Airport.
They moved to Brussels in 2014. They were taking her mother to the airport on tuesday when the bombs detonated. Carolyn Shults, her mother, made it safely away from the explosions. The couple was recorded missing until being identified as dead on March 26. Leaders around the world are banding together to combat against this horror that is terrorism. President Barack Obama chose not to return early from his trip to Latin America. He responded to the backlash he’s received for this decision by saying, “That is how we are going to defeat these terrorist groups. A lot of it is going to be to say ‘You do not have power over us. We are strong. Our values are right. You offer nothing except death’“ (Ap.org).
Other leaders are refusing to stand for this terror as well. Vladimir Putin said, “The fight against this evil demands the highest level of international cooperation.” The fact that leaders who have such ideological differences can come together to work against such acts is encouraging for the fate of the world. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and other leaders of France are calling for action saying, “We are at war.”
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Sports & Recreation
The Georgetonian
NCAA Elite Eight sees the defeat of three No. 1 teams By KAITLIN FAHEY Features Editor
As March Madness draws to a close, only four teams remain: Villanova University, Oklahoma University, University of North Carolina (UNC) and Syracuse University. The Elite Eight saw the fall of three out of the four No. 1 seed teams (Kansas, Oregon and Virginia), with UNC being the only No. 1 team still remaining in the tournament. The No. 2 seed in the South region, Villanova, defeated No. 1 seed Kansas last Saturday, March 26, in the Elite Eight round. Interestingly, the Kansas Jayhawks outscored the Villanova Wildcats in number of both field goals (23–21) and three–point shots (6–4). The deciding factor in Villanova’s victory was, ultimately, free throws. The Wildcats made 18 free throws out of 19 attempts (94.7 percent), while the Jay-
hawks made seven out of 11 attempts (63.6 percent) (Ncaa.com). The final score was 64–59 with the Wildcats advancing to the next round. Previous wins for Villanova include 92–69 over University of Miami in the Sweet Sixteen, 87–68 over Iowa in the Round of 32 and 86–56 over UNC Asheville in the Round of 64. In the West region, the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the No. 1 Oregon Ducks 80–68 in the Elite Eight round on Saturday. Though the Ducks outscored the Sooners in the second half by six points, Oregon could not make up the deficit created in the first half. Oklahoma is advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 2002. Previous victories during this year’s tournament include 77–63 over Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen, 85–81 over Virginia Commonwealth University in the Round of 32 and 82–68
Source: Post-gazette.com
Syracuse players celebrate after upsetting Virginia on Sunday. Syracuse will join. North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Villanova to compete in the Final Four. over California State Univessity, Bakersfield in the Round of 64. In the East region, No. 1 UNC triumphed over Notre Dame with a final score of 88–74. The score remained
Twitter Poll Results
close throughout the first half, with a tied score of 29–29 with 6:43 left before halftime. By the end of the half, the North Carolina Tar Heels had pulled ahead 43–38. Once the second half began, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were unable to catch up. In the last minute of the game, the Tar Heels secured their victory even further with a combined five points from free throws by Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson. Johnson, who scored a total of 24 points, was named player of the game (Ncaa.com). Previous wins for North Carolina this year include 61–56 over Wisconsin in the Sweet Sixteen, 85–66 over Providence in the Round of 32 and 83–67 over Florida Gulf Coast University in the Round of 64. In what could be called a major underdog victory, the No. 10 Syracuse Orange defeated the No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers in the Elite Eight with a final score of 68–62.
Virginia led Syracuse by 14 points at halftime, but the second half saw a comeback as the Orange outscored their opponents 47–27. Syracuse freshman guard Malachi Richardson led the game in points, with 23 total points scored. The next highest scorer was London Perrantes of Virginia with 18 points. Previous victories for Syracuse in this year’s tournament include 63–60 over Gonzaga in the Sweet Sixteen, 75–50 over Middle Tennessee State University in the Round of 32 and 70–51 over Dayton in the Round of 64. The Final Four round of the tournament will begin this Saturday, April 2. Villanova and Oklahoma will face each other at 6:09 p.m. EST, and UNC and Syracuse will tip off at 8:49 p.m. EST. The winners of these two games will play each other in the championship game on Monday, April 4.
The Georgetonian is in the process of hiring editors for next school year. If interested, contact Evan Moore:
ecmoore@georgetowncollege.edu Participate in next week’s poll by following The Georgetonian (@georgetonian) on Twitter. The next poll will be live on Sunday by 5 p.m.
Issue 8
Sports & Recreation
March 30, 2016 Page 5
Athlete of the Week: Anna Joy Thompson By MEGAN NORRIS Staff Writer
After seven games, the Georgetown College Lacrosse Team has had a remarkable start to the 2016 season. The team has achieved a record of 6–1 on he year, and is currently undefeated at home at 4–0. As a part of the program, Senior Anna Joy Thompson has made many contributions to the team, one of them being the fact that she was an original member of the very first Lacrosse team at Georgetown College. A Bagdad, Ky., native, Thompson had no experience
with lacross prior to attending Georgetown. Although lacrosse was a somewhat unfamiliar sport to her, she was able to learn the game quickly and began playing at the collegiate level immediately. “I love being part of the team, and I’m happy that I came along just at the right time to be part of Georgetown’s very first lacrosse team and first championship,” said Thompson. Previously, Thompson was awarded the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaching Association (IWLCA) academic honors, which helps her earn this week’s title as Athlete of the Week.
Thompson is a double major in environmental science and sociology with a focus in sustainable community development. After graduating in May, Thompson plans to work in sustainable community development. She plans on traveling to either Paraguay or India in the fall. Outside of academics and lacrosse, Thompson actively participates in Campus Outreach. She is an honors student, an equine scholar, a maskrafter and a writing center tutor. Thompson also Photo submitted by Megan Norris. spent a semester studying Anna Joy is a senior from sociology at Oxford UniBagdad, Ky. versity during the spring of
her junior year through the Georgetown Oxford Honors Program. “It can be very hard to stay on top of things,” said Thompson. “Often times, sleep is sacrificed in the name of various assignments. That being so, being disciplined with time management, including nap time, and arranging your class schedule wisely is very important.” The Tiger Lacrosse Team will play next on April 1st at Toyota Stadium against University of the Cumberlands at 6:00 pm.
GC Voices: Who will win the NCAA tournament?
The Georgetonian/ KAITLIN FAHEY
Sophomore Logan Smartpicked the no. 2 Villanova Wildcats to win it all this year. Villanova will play Oklahoma in Houston on Saturday. Villanova last won the championship in 1985.
The Georgetonian/ KAITLIN FAHEY
The Georgetonian/ KAITLIN FAHEY
The Georgetonian/ KAITLIN FAHEY
The Georgetonian/ KAITLIN FAHEY
Freshman Ross Smith selected the University of North Carolina to win the 2016 tournament. UNC defeated Notre Dame on Sunday to advance to the Final Four.
Freshman Emily Crowe said she expects the Oklahoma Sooners to take home the 2016 NCAA championship. The Sooners upset the no. 1 Oregon Ducks in the Elite Eight.
Senior Damian Rutherford picked the UNC Tarheels. The Tarheels ended the regular season ranked third in the nation, with a record of 28-6.
Sophomore Harry Smith picked UNC to win the tournament this year. UNC is the only remaining no. 1 seed in the tournament. They will play Syracuse in the Final Four in Houston on Saturday.
Features
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The Georgetonian
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ERIC BALMER By RACHEL CHEATHAM Staff Writer Eric Balmer is finishing up his final year at Georgetown College. In addition to being a communication and media studies major, Eric will also be receiving a minor in business administration. After getting his undergraduate degree, Eric will be attending Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas to pursue a Master in Divinity (MDiv) degree. Once he has a master’s degree under his belt, he plans on going into church ministry.
Eric’s advice to current students and future seniors of Georgetown is to not limit themselves to one particular social circle. Eric said, “Don’t let the walls of this campus, whether it be in Greek life or the implicit Caf seating arrangement, limit who your friends are or who you talk to. Be a genuinely nice person to everyone.” Eric has seen his personal transformation during his college years. Helping with Common Ground and getting to know campus minister Bryan Langlands helped clarify his own calling towards ministry.
He also discussed his involvement in the President’s House Association: “Being a member of PHA has given me opportunities to lead and has been an enormous factor of my growth while at Georgetown.” When asked about his aspirations for his life, Eric said, “I hope to inspire people to use what they are passionate about to make a positive difference in the communities they’re a part of.” “Because there is so much negativity in today’s society, I want to encourage others to live with a hope that the world can change and that they can help make it happen,” he said.
Source: Facebook.com
Eric, right, is a communication and media studies major who will be attending Truett Theological Seminary after graduation.
In the know with Sodexo: Commit to the Sustainability Challenge By MEGAN NORRIS Sodexo Marketing Intern As Earth Day approaches in the month of April, Sodexo at Georgetown College is asking students to commit to the Sustainability Challenge 2016. This month, Sodexo is promoting sustainability efforts on campus, as well as encouraging students to take part in this commitment. Did you know that 70 billion pounds of food are wasted each year in the United States? Throughout April, Sodexo plans to promote awareness about environmental needs in Kentucky and the world. This month, Sodexo at Georgetown College challenges you to commit to being aware of how much food you
out the next month. For this upcoming week, you can look forward to having pie at lunch in the Caf on Tues., April 5. At the late night grille on Wed., April 6, you can enjoy the ice cream sundae bar. Have your choice of flaSource: En.wikipedia.org vored ice cream In April, Sodexo is encouraging students to with toppings be aware of food waste. galore. Last, but put on your plate and how certainly not least, visit the much of it you’ll be throwing Mulberry Café for the seaaway after you’re full. sonal smoothies that have Sodexo also has other excit- appeared on the menu again. ing things occurring through- The smoothie of the month is
a bananaberry freeze smoothie that is mixed with strawberry, banana and ice cream flavors. The full selection of flavors (that can be blended together, if you choose) includes: peach, mango, strawberry and banana. Stop by and grab a smoothie for your next Mulberry date! Did you know that you can glance at what will be served in the Caf in advance? Check out georgtowncollege.sodexomyway.com. Want to stay updated with events and promotions associated with Sodexo? As the new marketing intern, I am helping to implement a new program called “mydtxt.” This is essentially a mass text system that will provide students promotional texts, coupons, and information
about upcoming events and meals in the Caf. For special offers and discounts, text “GeorgetownEats” to 82257. For more information about dining events and meals at the late night grille, text “GeorgetownEvents” to 82257. To give feedback to Sodexo, text “GeorgetownFeedback” plus your feedback to 82257. Don’t want to commit to text messages? That’s okay, too. You can keep up with Georgetown College Sodexo on social media. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook, look for Georgetown College Dining, and on twitter, follow us @CafDiningatGT. Next week, be on the look out for Sodexo on Snapchat and Instagram.
Features SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: DANNIE O’CONNELL
Issue 8
By FIONA McELRATH Staff Writer Senior Dannie O’Connell was born in Port Jeff, N.Y., and lived on Long Island until early 2003. Her family then moved to Walton, Ky., where they reside still, though Dannie has more ambitious goals. Dannie is a sociology major with an English minor and will be graduating in May. Her interest in sociology stems from her love of people watching. “I could watch people for hours and be completely content with life,” she declared. Her decision to be an English minor emerged from a couple of things: one, the practical reason of it helping with writing papers and two, as she stated, “I read too much not to [be an English minor].” During her time at Georgetown, Dannie has been involved in an array of activities. Start-
March 30, 2016 Page 7
Arts and Entertainment section of the Georgetonian. She also works at campus safety. Although she has held a plethora of working positions both on and off campus, Dannie is most excited about her current internship at the District Attorney’s The Georgetonian/KAITLIN FAHEY office in LexingDannie is a sociology major currently ton, in the victim interning at the District Attorney’s office advocacy section in Lexington, Ky. of violent crimes unit. ing her sophomore year, she She works with the victims worked for the theatre depart- of violent crimes as an advoment and was involved with cate who walks them through nearly all of the shows for two the court process. Her position years. She was also Vice Presi- is there solely for the victim’s dent of the club Gamers Guild, benefit, and she herself has and is currently editor of the very little to do with the court-
room proceedings, which are left to the prosecutor. After graduating, Dannie plans to get a “real job.” Her more long term plan involves applying to work for the Federal Government; however, they do not take applications until October, when the fiscal year ends. Among Dannie’s non–academic interests are Dragon Age, Tumblr and shoe collecting. She has played all three games of Dragon Age, and her favorite character is Isabella, the shipwrecked pirate
captain. On her Tumblr blog, Dannie role–plays as Isabella. Dannie’s cat, Anders, is also named after a character from Dragon Age II. Dannie’s advice to current and future students of Georgetown College is, “Don’t be afraid to put yourself first, and don’t worry about what looks good on a resumé if it doesn’t make you happy.”
Quote My Georgetown Professor “We can name our alleles anything we want: Fred, Sally, Donald Trump.” - Dr. Griffith Posted on the “Quote My Georgetown Professor” Facebook group
Georgetown Tree Huggers
Upcoming NEXUS Events: - Wed., 3/30 at 5 p.m.: A Guide to Student Loan Repayment (John L. Hill Chapel) - Thurs., 3/31 at 4 p.m.: Redding Lecture - Restorative Justice and the New Jim Crow (LRC Ward Room) - Thurs., 3/31 at 5 p.m.: Spring Into Wellness Fair (Jones Hall Nelson Suite) - Fri., 4/1 at 4 p.m.: Bluegrass Printmakers Exhibit (Wilson Art Gallery) - Mon., 4/4 through Thurs., 4/7 at 7 p.m.: Bishop College Revival (Georgetown Baptist Church) - Tuesday, 4/5 at 11 a.m.: Chapel Service (John L. Hill Chapel)
The Georgetonian/WHITNEY BRYAN
This week’s Tree Hugger is Sophomore Jessica Rounce.
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ArtsEntertainment
The Georgetonian
Starbomb bringing new ideas to game music By KATE DOCTOR Web Editor We live in a time when many stars and bands are discovered through Youtube. I’m not particularly that surprised either. Youtube is a great venue for displaying many different types of talent, ranging from slap–stick comedy to indie music bands. One such band I wanted to look at a bit today is the band Starbomb. Composed of Daniel “Danny Sexbang” Avidan, Arin “Egoraptor” Hanson and Brian “Ninja Brian” Wecht (also all well known for being on the famous Youtube channel “The Game Grumps”), this band combines sexual undertones with game–based humor. One of their most well–known songs is “Minecraft is for Everyone” which takes the point of view of a crude
talking Creeper (known for blowing up happy, fun point of view that one in the game Minecraft) trying to make would expect. This particular song friends and stop cursing so much. also features popular Youtuber MarkiO n e plier, as the interesting announcer thing about in the some of the video. music videos Many of they make Starbomb’s is that they v i d e o s are typically feature animated, popular which adds Youtubers, a unique elecultivating ment to the a sort of Source: Youtube.com geeky stylcommunity New takes on games and their soundtracks. ings of their and bond music. between Another video and one of their well–known songs is music, especially music that does not “SMASH!” which is about the game come from a big, mainstream studio. Super Smash Bros., but not from the One of my favorite things about
Starbomb is its unique sound and lyrics. They can vary from song to song, switching between electronica and rock to even rap at some points. The lyrics and style of the song is always consistently geeky and fun to sing along to. This is a band I listen to when I’ve had a bad day and need something to laugh at or sing along to. Starbomb is fun, catchy and a unique band among all of the other ones on Youtube. It is growing bigger every day, and I hope to see it continue garnering success. If you like video games and unique, fun music, you will definitely love Starbomb.
Leo’s Oscar win and the end of an era By HARLEY DUBLOW Staff Writer Leonardo DiCaprio has been a huge player in the acting world for a long time and, in the process, has been nominated for and won many awards. In fact, he had been nominated for 161 different awards in total, won 44, and been the runner–up for 4. However, the Academy Awards this past month presented Leo with another award, bringing that number up to 45. DiCaprio has been nominated 6 times in total for an Oscar, 3 times under the category of Best Actor, but it was not until his fourth nomination that he was able to win for his most recent film, “The Revenant.” For those who do not know, the film is the story of legendary huntsman Hugh Glass, who was severely injured
in a bear attack. Glass, played by DiCaprio, must use his survival skills to save himself and track down the hunting team that left him for dead. It has received r a v e reviews, and rightfully so. Leonardo DiCaprio is Source: Youtube.com an amazing He finally did it! actor, and “The Revenant” showcases his acting skills in a way which we have not seen before. Though this Oscar win marks a milestone for DiCaprio, it also marks the end of an era. Throughout the years, Leo’s failure to win an Oscar brought
forth countless memes. Internet users have screencapped his unenthused face as he claps during the Academy Award presentations in the past, and it quickly spread to a global inside joke. O n e of the more wellk n o w n memes is credited to Tumblr user thekatie–bird, who made a text post on the site that reads, “wouldn’t it be funny if in like fifty years someone made a movie about Leonardo Dicaprio and the actor that played him won an Oscar,” followed by the previously mentioned screencap
of the actor. People have also made collages of DiCaprio by cutting and pasting together his crying face from previous films he acted in with a picture of an Oscar Photoshopped into the center. The meme brought people together and upped Leo’s popularity among internet culture. It was all due to the fact that he always came so close to winning an Academy Award, but never actually did—until now, that is. Luckily for all of us internet addicts, the end of the memes were marked by, well, new ones. Most are photos of gravestones with the caption “RIP Leo’s memes, 2011-2016,” but all of them still make you chuckle, whether you want to admit it or not. In all seriousness, though, congrats to Leo. You finally made it, buddy.
Issue 8
ArtsEntertainment
A review in “60 Seconds!” By KATE DOCTOR Web Editor Currently, the apocolyptic genre is showing up a lot in pop culture. From television shows to novels, we see heroes and heroines living in a world actively working against them and having to improvise and survive in what could be considered hopeless conditions. This genre has manifested itself in many video games too, ranging from of zombies (like in “The Last of Us”) to a nuclear fallout (like in the aptly named game “Fallout”). One such game that uniquely plays with this genre is a recently released game called “60 Seconds!” This takes place in the Cold War, when there was a resentment against Russia and the Soviets and a general suspicion of everyone being a communist.
In the game, you play as Ted, a of the 60 seconds, Ted jumps into the family man in a typical nuclear (heh) shelter and the game style completely family with a wife and two children. changes. A siren goes It suddenly off, indicatbecomes a point ing that the and click, and Reds (as the your goal is to communists stay alive for as are called in long as possible the game) are until you either about to drop get rescued by a nuclear the military or bomb. it becomes safe Once the enough outside siren goes to relocate. You Source: Youtube.com off, Ted has have to ration out Sounds like a great game to play. 60 seconds to food and water, run around and use items the house and pick up his family and as strategically in order to last as long as many items (such as food and water) as possible in the nuclear fallout. possible and throw them into the bomb What makes this game unique in shelter built into the house. At the end terms of the apocalyptic genre is that it
March 30, 2016 Page 9
is not an FPS (first–person shooter). It is a simple little game, where an average (at the time) American family is just trying to survive and get by in dire circumstances. The writing in the point and click section of the game is fantastic, as you get to see what the family goes through crammed in a bomb shelter day by day and their hopes and dreams when they get out of there, as well as some pretty hilarious situations that I will not spoil in this article. It’s fun, it’s strategic, and even though it can be difficult, this game really does make you think about what it would be like to be in similar circumstances. So if you are looking for a new, relatively inexpensive game to play (currently $9.99), look up “60 Seconds!” on the Steam store.
Game of the week: “Fire Emblem Fates”
By JOHN WAITE Staff Writer
After months of waiting, the highly anticipated “Fire Emblem Fates” released in February of this year. This time the game designers decided to do something new with the series: two separated editions. Two editions of games are nothing new, but “Fire Emblem Fates” decided to shake some things up. Depending on which version you get, “Birthright” or “Conquest,” you get a different story after Chapter 6, and different experiences. Now, without further ado, on to the gameplay! The general gameplay is the same as “Fire Emblem Awakening,” the previous game in the series. You take your army to defeat the enemy with different weapons and classes of characters. “Fates” did bring in some new stuff, too. First off, they added new weapons
into the weapon triangle. For those who challenge, go for “Conquest.” don’t remember, the weapon triangle Speaking of different versions, let’s shows which weapons are strong. For talk about the story. The story centers example, sword beats ax, ax beats lance around you, a prince of the evil counand lance beats sword. try of Noir. You go out on your first N o w mission only magic beats to be kidbows, bows napped by beat hidden the nation weapons you are at and hidden war with, the weapons Hoshidans. beat magic. You then find The marout that you riage system are actually r e t u r n e d Source: Flickr.com the prince with these Oh, the next installment in the series! of Hoshida new editions. and that you In the game, people can marry and were kidnaped by Noir when you were have children. Also, depending on the a child. version you get, the level of difficulty After the Noirians kill your birth changes. If you want an easy ride, go mother, a battle ensues in which you with “Birthright,” but if you want a have to pick your side, the only home
you’ve known (Conquest) or the home that you were born into (Birthright). There is a third choice called “Revelations,” which is downloadable content for the game that is best played after you beat both games. Overall, I love this game. It was well worth the wait. It took what “Awakening” did and improved upon it. The game is gorgeous and well made. The two stories are both interesting and are an improvement on “Awakening.” My only complaint about the game is that Birthright is a bit too easy, and Conquest is a bit too hard. Other than that, I find this to be a key game for anyone’s Nintendo 3DS collection. If you want all three games, when you buy one, you can get the other for half off, and the DLC storyline is $20. Overall, it’s a fantastic deal and worth every penny.
Opinion
Page 10
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By WILLIAM THOMAS Opinion Columnist In a world of bigotry and hatred fueled by ignorance, whether it be intentional or not, I always find myself searching for some glimmer of acceptance, love and willingness to learn. Rampant Islamophobia rages throughout the country, and it affects everyone. Multiple peaceful Sikhs have been attacked out of ignorance, and all “Middle– Eastern–looking” people are subject to oppression unimaginable to those of us who have never experienced it. All of this stems, of course, from a lack of knowledge of the Islamic religion and culture. Driven by horrific imagery, perversions of Islamic practices like jihad, and threatening but erroneous language, the Western 24–hour news cycle has propelled Americans into a constant state of panic and fear concerning Islam. Unfortunately, this means that not many people are seeking to understand Islam, the Qur’an and the surrounding culture. In a world in which Islam and other religions are rapidly spreading, it is vital that Americans seek to abolish their ignorance. Perhaps one of the greatest champions of such interfaith dialogue and learning is the
late Thomas Merton. Merton was a Trappist monk and renowned writer who resided at the Abbey of Gethsemane in Bardstown. He should be quite familiar—his essay “Rain and the Rhinoceros” is featured in the Georgetown College Foundations 111 reader. Merton was well known for his extensive work in interfaith dialogue, especially with Asian religions. He regularly engaged with the Dalai Lama, as well as other influential Buddhist thinkers. Various books on Buddhism and Taoism resulted from his work. Merton was not focused so much with these different faiths were with Christianity; he was not actively seeking to convert or be converted. Rather, Merton sought to connect and find similarities between these Asian religions and Christianity, show how each affected the human experience and make parallels between Christian mysticism and the Zen of Asian religion. Merton discovered how different faiths could still provide truth on how people live, how people think and how people understand themselves. This sort of open and welcoming attitude is one that Americans, and especially Christians, need to take on when dealing with the rising
faith that is Islam. We should not seek to hate or fear those who are different than us merely because they are different than us. Instead, we must seek to learn, find truths in Islam and communicate effectively with Islam so that Islam can continue to thrive in the Western world. This is certainly not to say that we should ignore the expansive threat that is radical Islamic terrorism. We definitely must be aware of it, and it would be ignorant not to have some fear of that movement. However, it is imperative that we not fall into the seemingly never–ending cycle that is fear and hatred spewed by modern media outlets. I do not believe that exploring another faith intently provides harm to the parties involved. Stepping out of our comfort zones helps us grow both intellectually and spiritually. Even if you conclude that there is nothing to learn from Islam, at least you can be sure that your faith is what you believe to be true. I urge you, though, to reach out and discover what truths may be hidden behind the frightening language that is often presented to us. Maybe you will discover something about faith, people and the world in which we live.
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Opinion
Issue 8
March 30, 2016 Page 11
GPA shouldn’t define who you are By BAILEE BOGGESS Staff Writer It’s getting to that time of year when professors begin to assign more papers and projects. Planners are being filled with more homework assignments than social gatherings and study rooms in the library are occupied from early in the morning to late in the evening. Tests and quizzes dominate the classroom instead of lectures and activities. More importantly, finals are looming ahead like a dark cloud. Now is the time to evaluate your grades and think: to drop the class, or not to drop the class? However, when contemplating this question, it is
important to keep in mind that the GPA you have in this present moment does not define your existence. Your entrance into graduate school, Oxford or any other sort of program is not solely based on your academic ability. Many times students get wrapped up in the frenzy of achieving the perfect GPA according to goals set at the beginning of the semester. This is because there are unnatural and unattainable standards that have become a cultural and academic norm within the minds of young college students today. It is believed that in order to amount to anything within the collegiate world, you have to have a 3.5 or higher. Now,
we all know that is absolutely not true. There are brilliant students who spend hours slaving over a paper for a psychology class, a lab report for biology or making flash cards for a communication test. There are also failing students who have made great accomplishments in places outside of the classroom, such as in internships, jobs or volunteer work. The idea that a cumulative assessment of your knowledge is not an accurate representation of your character, your work ethic or yourself as a person is completely true. Sadly, students have been dealt with being labeled by a number since the beginning of their academic careers. If
you went to any public school in the state of Kentucky, you had to deal with the CATS test. Other states had similar forms of standardized testing, but I personally remember the CATS test being a special form of torture at the end of each passing year in elementary school. The ACT and/or SAT are also standardized tests I am sure that haunted every student in some way at some point of their high school career. However, each one of us got into college and is successfully making our way on the track towards graduation. But why do these standardized test scores and grade point averages seem to have so much pull within our lives?
Why has this idea accumulated? Simply put, it is just a way to keep everyone on the same playing ground and to make things easier on schools, employers and other sorts of programs. While this sounds good in theory, it sets other students back and makes them think that they have a smaller amount of potential than their peers with a higher GPA or test score. So, when times get tough as the semester draws to a close, take a deep breath and find comfort in the fact that it does not really matter if you get below a certain GPA or grade in the class.
gender and gender noncon- deny someone the right to use the agency behind fighting the forming people are routinely a facility because of their per- discrimination throughout the denied access from bath- ceived or actual gender iden- city of New York. They can rooms and other “single–sex” tity. issue fines of up to $250,000 facilities only for violations (Cnn. because of how com). others perceive Listen, everyone them. deserves the right to In New pee in peace. New York City, this York City Mayor is completely Bill de Blasio issued shameful and an executive order also completely requiring all city illegal. agencies to make Accordclear that employees ing to the and members of the New York Source: Wikipedia.org public are able to use City Human It’s illegal in New York City to not allow someone to city single–sex facilRights Law for use a bathroom facility because of their gender. ities consistent with employers, it their gender identity, is illegal for housing providers The New York City Com- setting an example for other and public accomodations to mission on Human Rights is cities to protect the rights of
these individuals. Sadly, not every city, or state for that matter, protects the same as New York City. Many transgender individuals have reported adverse health effects from trying to avoid using public restrooms, such as dehydration, kidney infections and urinary tract infections. We don’t get to pick our gender markers at birth, but we do get to choose city policies that either support these transgender rights and freedoms or deny them the same respect and dignity that we grant everyone else.
Everyone has the right to pee in peace
By MEGAN NORRIS Staff Writer Have you ever stood in a long line for a public restroom? Sure, we all have. We all know what it’s like to have to wait. But imagine that at the end of your long wait someone stopped you from using that bathroom, but not on the event that it was broken, or that someone else was using it, but ultimately just because of who you are. Unfortunately, this is the cruel reality for many transgender and gender nonconforming people living and working in the U.S. Along with many other forms of discrimination, trans-
T H E B A C K PA G E Tolkien, Rafiki, stress and the past
By Raleigh Dixon BackPage Editor “Where now are the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? Where is the harp on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing? Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow; the days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. Who shall gather the smoke of the deadwood burning, or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?” This poem has always been one near to my heart. It comes from the brilliant mind of J.R.R. Tolkien and his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. King Theoden is preparing to defend his people in a fight where he is outnumbered over 10 to 1, and as he is putting on his armor, he recites this poem, asking himself in the end how in the world it has come to this. It seems to me that this sentiment is felt among many students on Georgetown’s campus at this point in the semester. Spring Break 2016 is over and done with. Time spent on the beach under the sun with friends has ceased being a daily activity and assumed its role as a fond memory in the back of our minds. The semester, and school year for that matter, are coming to an end that seems to be approaching at an ever–increasing speed. As we come into the home stretch, ahead of us we see looming all of the responsibilities and obstacles that lay before us. These responsibilities and obstacles come in various forms: quizzes, tests, essays, research papers, finals and even graduation for those who are finishing the bittersweet journey as seniors. Balancing all of these alongside other key aspects of life such as rest, relaxation, hobbies and personal relationships can
prove to be a difficult challenge for anyone. I see this more each day on the faces of my classmates and friends. I hear it when the friendly greeting of “Hi, how are you?” is answered by “tired,” “exhausted” or “stressed” more times than not. Coffee is no longer a casual drink to share with a friend as much as it is an artificial source of energy to be used when all other sources have been emptied. It is difficult to spend time doing anything that is not productive due to the overhanging sense of dread and guilt that comes with engaging in any activity not related to studying or school work. I am not immune to these tendencies and feelings either. As we reach the beginning of April, I too feel the tidal wave looming in the background of my mind. It is difficult to not think back to easier times. I find myself thinking back to before I had the responsibilities and trials that I do now (and I am only a sophomore). If I am not careful, I can also find myself yearning to return to those times as well, and, were it not for a voice of reason, I would fall down that slippery slope of reckless and hopeless wanting. However, it is crucial that we, myself included, should not find ourselves living in the past. This is neither helpful for any situation that one might find themselves in, nor is it a healthy way to go about life. It does no good to wish that things in life such as classes, frienships or even the culture and atmosphere on Georgetown’s campus be exactly like they were in the past.
It is impossible to repeat the past, and living like we can leaves us as a husk of our former selves. This also includes any of the things in the past that makes us uncomfortable, angry or upset. Not that I am one to routinely get philosophical advice from a Disney Movie, but when someone is right, they are right regardless of who (or what) they are. This is why I take Rafiki’s advice to Simba from The Lion King to heart: “Yes, the past can hurt; you can either run from it, or learn from it.” So what does this mean for us in our daily lives? I think that we can look to our protagonists from The Lord of The Rings and The Lion King for guidance (SPOILER ALERT, except not really because the film adaptations for each of these have been out for a minimum of thirteen years). In The Two Towers, the second part of The Lord of the Rings, King Theoden goes out to face his enemies with the unforseen help of Haldir and the elves of Lothlorien, as well as the long–awaited help of Gandalf and the Rohirrim, and emerges from battle with heavy damage to his castle, Helm’s Deep, yet victorious nevertheless. Hope is found when it is needed most, and the people of Rohan live to fight another day. In The Lion King, Simba goes to Pride Rock in order to take his rightful place on his throne in place of his treacherous uncle Scar. Facing his fears, and with the help of his friend Nala and the remaining lionesses, Simba topples Scar and lives on for The Lion King 2. Lessons from The Lord of the Rings:
“Yes, the past can hurt; you can either run from it, or learn from it.” -Rafiki
remembering the past does not change the fact that there are still trials at hand. We must go out and face our fates with our heads up. The worst thing that can happen is that you may fail. But if you do nothing, there is a guarantee that you may fail. Fighting on at least gives you the opportunity to be succesful. Help can come from unexpected places ,and it a crucial part of moving forward against the tides of life. Lessons from The Lion King: the past is scarier in the background of your mind than it is when you tackle it head on. The saying goes that there is no time like the present. I think that it is important to truly appreciate the weight of this statement. Both dwelling on the past as well as stressing about the future are unhealthy ways to go about life. As someone who has vast experience dealing with both, I understand that it is no easy matter to merely brush fears and anxieties aside. No matter how much these may be weighing on your heart and mind, always take time to make sure that you are doing okay. Exercise, meditation, companionship and sheer fun are excellent remedies that I encourage you to use. There is also no rule written anywhere that you cannot lean on other people for help. For me at least, I have found that a solid support network of friends and family is crucial for me to go about my life. These people can help quell fears as well as quiet anxieties. Another thought that I’ve found that helps is the reminder that nobody is in this alone. While there may be a number of things that divide us on this campus, whether that be race, gender or even something as trivial as fraternity/sorority membership, we are all students that are going to class, making friends and trying to figure out this thing called life.