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Exploring banned books
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Caesar is the New Black
photo by ELI T. BERKE
Theatre’s ‘Julius Caesar’ production set for Oct. 13-18 by SAMANTHA MAHLER contributing writer
T
he famous Shakespearian play “Julius Caesar” will take new life under the direction of Assistant Professor of Theatre Alison Frost on Oct. 13. Many students will be no stranger to the traditional play originally written by William Shakespeare. However, Frost has reimagined the drama from a modern day point of view, one that perhaps even more students will be familiar with. Frost takes many cues from the popular Netflix show “Orange is the New Black” in her orchestration of “Julius Caesar.” For example a notable difference in the direction of the play is that all characters—including Brutus, Caesar, and Marc
Antony—are all played by women instead of men. “They’re not trying to say Caesar was a woman,” said director Alison Frost. “If you have all women in a women’s prison and they want to do the play ‘Julius Caesar’, everybody gets a part.” Junior Rose Gutierrez, who plays Julius Caesar, said, “It’s not going to be one of those stories that [the audience] goes in and they’re like, ‘Man! It’s Shakespeare.’ I think they’ll really understand the concept of what it is and how to interpret it because it’s a play within a play.” By cutting lines and several characters as well as changing the design of both the set and costumes, Frost takes audiences to a contemporary land that evokes such feelings and ideas even Shakespeare himself
could not dream up. “It’s hard to communicate Shakespearean text in a contemporary setting to an audience that’s probably never heard Shakespeare before,” said actress Mariah Claiborne, who plays Mark Antony. “It’s a wonderful challenge to make such a historic text relevant to our everyday lives.” In keeping with the original story line, Caesar is still betrayed by Brutus. However the manner in which he does so will be slightly altered in order to match the surrounding environment. “Caesar is still assassinated. He’s still stabbed—we don’t change that,” Frost said. “It’s just he’s not stabbed with swords. He’s stabbed with weapons that you might make and secretly hide and converge…that
you might have access to in a women’s prison.” Instead of performing the play in a traditional auditorium, Frost opted to perform the play in the Wilson Theatre found in the Center for the Arts. Most audiences will be used to sitting directly in front of the action performed by the actors. However in the Wilson Theatre the stage sits in the middle of the room with chairs found on all four sides. The design of the stage allows for more intimacy between the audience and cast. “They’ve added these platforms that make you look even more confined and it [feels like] you’re claustrophobic,” said Gutierrez, who is see CAESAR on page 8
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opinion
ISLAND WAVES
a student publication of
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
island waves staff JAMIE FINK
editor-in-chief
ALEICHIA WILLIAMS web editor
KELSEY FLORES copy editor
GERI LEMMONS
features reporter
ISAAC PAGE
sports reporter
SAMANTHA MAHLER features reporter
MYELEENA GONZALEZ entertainment reporter
ELI T. BERKE
photographer
IZZY SNEED
photographer/cartoonist
KARA HERRERA layout assistant
LUIS GOMEZ
advertising assistant
WENDY MOORE faculty adviser
contact us 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862 write us a letter Island Waves accepts letters no longer than 250 words. Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to the editor via email at editor@tamucc.edu. about island waves The Island Waves is a student-produced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions. Island Waves is supported by student fees and advertising sales. Any student or University employee may submit material for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor.
Tips, tricks on how to avoid Island tickets
10.08.2015
EDITORIAL CARTOON
by GERI LEMMONS staff writer
A
s the year has started, there have been many issues with traffic and students trying to get to class on time. Here are a few tips for students who want to make sure their trip to school or to other places goes smoothly. One tip is to make sure the car that is being driven is in good shape. This includes the tire pressure or the amount of gas that is present in one’s tank. This is important because someone should make sure whatever they are riding in will get them there and back safely. Irene Florez, sophomore nursing major, said she makes sure she always has enough gas when she is going to school. “One of the things that I make sure of is that I stay calm and be patient throughout that whole drive,” Florez said. “I also feel like people should pay attention to what they are doing like not texting and driving because that is how people get into accidents. Also don’t speed it can really cause some issues.” Making sure that the driver does not feel rushed or feel they need to speed in order to get there is also important. One of the ways to avoid pressuring the driver into speeding would be to leave early enough to make sure no speeding is required to get to the destination on time. Speeding can cause accidents and can harm innocent people. It is important for students to be careful of the people driving around them. This will ensure a safe environment. Lisa Salazar, sophomore health science major, said she thinks students should come at least 45 minutes early if they want to get a good parking spot at the school. “It is good to find backstreets in order to avoid traffic and getting caught in it,” Salazar said. “They can also help cut traffic if someone is running late.” Another important tip for safe driving is to pay attention at all times when driving. Traffic can change from one minute to the next while driving. Many things are going on at one time and it is important for the driver to know when the environment is changing around them. From changing traffic lights to oncoming traffic, the driver needs to be alert. This means their passengers, their cell phone or any other unnecessary things that can cause them to not pay attention at the task at hand, which is driving, must not distract the driver. Something that is also important for students to remember is to have patience and be calm while driving. This is important because if someone is not patient than they will start to get frustrated and driving while one is frustrated can cause a driver to act erratically. It can also lead to accidents and frustration before going to class. At the end of the day the driver and his or her passengers will get to where they need to get to eventually. If the driver just stays calm and goes with the flow the process will not seem so bad.
Illustration by IZZY SNEED
Camden v. Momentum: living conditions differ like night and day
by ELI T. BERKE photographer
I
n late June of 2014, I attended freshman orientation. It wasn’t bad, despite being grossly hot and more humid than my Austin acclimated body was used to. I met new friends, talked with some of my professors and created my first college class schedule. My mother and I had missed all the other preplanned Camden group tours, but on behalf of a very kind Resident Assistant we were given a quick tour of one of the rooms. We trekked to the farthest possible housing unit (I found this odd considering we were passing so many closer buildings, full of empty rooms) where we were let into a very nice room with clean carpet, great lighting and beautiful view of the ocean. The perfect dorm room. Two months later, I moved into a roach infested apartment that I consider a waste of $700 per month. I’ll just briefly list the experiences my roommates and I had experienced last year: at least three power outages, two water outages, lots Internet outages, three days of a faulty smoke detector shrilly beeping every minute on the dot, four days without a toilet due to faulty pipes, a maintenance service with no respect for boundaries, a gas leak that cleared two buildings and an
army of cockroaches. Oh and my car, one of many, was flooded when the drainage system failed and flooded Camden parking lots mid-May. All this and more happened for $700-plus a month. I believe this was due to extremely run-down facilities, and the other half was poorly run management. It seems like three work orders and a verbal complaint to the office was the only way to get anything fixed. All of my friends and I had moved into a dorm that looked absolutely nothing like what we intially toured, and by the end of the year we were ready to leave. This fall I am living at the newly open momentum buildings, and let me say, it’s tremendously better. Sure it has its issues as well...bugs that were here before the building was, it’s a mile away from campus and a few faulty appliances. If bugs and having to take the short bus ride are all I ever have to deal with, I’m okay with that. Let’s not forget that it’s cheaper. This year I pay almost $100 less for the exact same kind of apartment (four bedroom, one kitchen/living room), but with my own bathroom and a bigger room. Plus with a washer and dryer in the apartment, along with a pool and gym, this place puts Camden to shame.
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news
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
Dining services upgrade without meal swipe by KACI ALVAREZ
contributing writer
W
ith the record-breaking student population, as well as the expansion at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, upgrades were essential. One of the most prominent upgrades on campus so far is the dining system that is offered for all current students, faculty and staff. After the successful grand opening of the Dining Hall in 2013, the newly renovated University Center opened up seven new dining options including three nationally recognized brands like Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut and Panda Express. This has positively impacted the university’s income, and the traffic in and out of the dining hall has actually increased. “Our participation rate in the dining hall has gone up, which is a good sign,” Corey Fischer, the senior director of dining services said. “Our commuter students use the University Center facilities more. It really has a positive impact on the campus with more places to eat and like I said it has driven the participation rate of the dining hall up.” Fischer said the mandatory
Illustration by ELI T. BERKE
meal plan is standard among all universities and depending on how long the facilities have been available. They also come into affect with helping to pay for the dining facilities and to ensure that the students are in fact eating. Although the dining services on campus are convenient, there is still one question that lingers in the air. Why can’t students use their meal exchange swipes in the University Center? “The space is limited in there, even though we tripled our space, but we wanted to make sure that we
have to ability to serve everybody on campus,” Fischer said. “However, we are in weekly talks with the University on the meal exchange in order to improve it.” According to Fischer, the meal exchange plan was originally brought on due to the University Center renovations and not wanting to overwhelm the Dining Hall. Now that they are done they are in talks about possibly introducing rotating meal exchange swipes between the University Center restaurants by allowing students, faculty or
staff to use a meal swipe for one restaurant one week then another the next. Fischer said the feedback of the dining hall has become more positive once the University Center was renovated with the new dining options. However, some students still have some requests that they would like to be realized. Brianna Berry, a freshman business major, has celiac disease and can only eat gluten-free foods. She said the new options with the dining system at the Island University are good, but having gluten-free foods available would be ideal. “I rarely go to the Dining Hall and I go to the UC often, however, I would go more if they had more options for people who are allergic to wheat, like I am,” Berry said. “I do think they have tried really hard to expand their options, but it’s still limited.” Although Berry would not buy another meal plan due to having celiac disease, she said she would recommend it to anyone living on campus that is not allergic to wheat. “The dining hall is so clean, the staff is great, and the food is awesome,” Berry said.
Island University police protect community by SAMANTHA MAHLER contributing writer
I
f one was to step into Lieutenant Jesse Peña’s office in the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Police Department, they might find large, heavy black objects scattered throughout the room. At a glance, they might seem like a product of a bored welder. However if one was to ask Peña what the devices are used for they might be surprised. “There’s a battering ram used to break down doors. This is what you call a rake,” Peña said, proudly displaying his collection. “Say we have an active shooter in one of the buildings and we need to get into a window. We’re going to break the glass open, rake it away, and get in there. We’re going to get in there no matter what.” These articles are a consequence of the devastating 1999 massacre at Columbine High School where police did not have the tools needed to break into a school captured by an armed gunman. Had the police not
waited around until SWAT teams arrived, many lives would have been saved. The shooting is a terrible reminder that police knowledge is sometimes trial-and-error. The pride shown in Lieutenant Peña’s array of tools comes from experience. Having worked for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for 23 years it goes without saying that Peña seen his fair share of laws broken on campus. Crime on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus does not know one specific category. It can be found in the form of burglaries, assaults, underage drinking and the use of narcotics. It can happen just as quickly in the parking lot as it does in the dorms or in the learning facility, he said. However, it is the way in which one responds that can mean the difference between a potentially harmful situation and getting home safely. Many crimes can be prevented if students know the steps to take. Many may not realize the Islan
University’s police are real life, sworn-in police officers trained to serve 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The officers are able to arrest and submit reports of crimes that take place on and around the campus to the district attorney. “If Little Johnny beats up his girlfriend at the dorms, and she calls us, we respond,” Lieutenant Peña said. “If we find him there, and it’s obvious she was assaulted, we take him into custody.” In addition, the police officers offer services to aid students. For example a student afraid of walking to his or her car after dark can call the University Police Department and ask that an officer escort him or her. This is a service highly unused by students of Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi. Another ongoing issue is the high amount of traffic accidents coming onto campus, most of which occur between the first stoplight on campus and Stripes,
located at the intersection of Ennis Joslin Road and Ocean Drive. The main reason for these accidents is that commuting students do not allow time for travel and tend to leave their homes or apartments later than they should. Students will then speed down Ocean Drive. Careless driving like this leads to excess in both speeding tickets and wrecks especially in rainy weather. The best way to prevent crime “Be alert,” Peña said. “Make sure you lock your doors. Do not leave anything inside your vehicles that people can see. Things of value can be put in the trunk.” College can be a time of fun for students, or it can be a time of loss, whether it is due to theft or students breaking the law themselves. If students remember to make good choices, they can reduce their chances of encountering Lieutenant Peña for anything but good terms.
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news
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
I-TEAM makes a difference on campus
T
here are many different organizations on campus that strive to make a difference including one called I-TEAM, which stands for Islanders Teaching, Engaging and Motivating. I-TEAM is an organization of 11 members who strive to spread awareness and educate students on drug and alcohol abuse. The twoyear-old student run organization is a branch off of the organization run by faculty called I-ADAPT.
“During my freshmen year of college at my old school, I was a peer educator and really enjoyed what we did,” Kimberly Smoots, senior psychology major and president of I-TEAM said. “I really want to help break down stereotypes of people who drink alcohol and use drugs. We really just want people to be successful.” According to Smoots, research has showed that students are more likely to listen to peers when talked to about the risks of alcohol and drugs, which is one of the main reasons as to why I-ADAPT formed I-TEAM. They strive for the best
photo courtesy of ITEAM
Miranda Garcia (top right) and Kimberly Smoots (bottom left) pose with fellow I-TEAM members.
results. I-TEAM partners with the faculty members of I-ADAPT to host many different events to educate students on the effects of alcohol. They research and visit other universities across Texas, such as Texas State to see what is effective to the student body there and try it here. One of the most effective events that many freshmen attend is “Party House”, which is a big house party simulator that allows people to see some of the dangerous situations that can happen at a party. Another big event held by I-TEAM is the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Weeks, which is approaching very soon. I-TEAM members have many events planned around campus to keep the student body informed. From Oct. 19 to Oct. 23 I-TEAM will be hosting activities that focus on problems including binge drinking, domestic violence because of drug and alcohol abuse, and the legal consequences that illegal substances can cause. One of the most popular events that I-TEAM has done for the past couple of years the drunk driving simulator, will be in affect during the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. Miranda Garcia, junior biology major with a concentration in life sciences and a member of I-TEAM, is extremely excited for their upcoming events and cannot wait to be able to educate the student population on something she cares so deeply about.
“I joined because I felt like it’s very important to educate my peers about staying safe whenever they’re binge drinking since that kind of alcohol abuse is affected in my life and my family,” Garcia said. I-TEAM is an organization in which one has to apply to become a member. The application process is extremely easy. Just go on Org Sync and click to join their page. The next step is to fill out the application and wait for an interview. Reasons as to why I-TEAM does an interview process is because they want people to really be engaged in the work they are doing. “Although this organization is a résumé builder, we don’t want someone who is only joining for that,” Garcia said. “We want someone who truly wants to help and educate our fellow peers.” If any one interested in applying as an I-TEAM member, visit their website at http://studentaffairs. tamucc.edu/ei/I-TEAM.html for more information. photo courtesy of ITEAM
by KACI ALVAREZ contributing writer
Medical fair introduces healthcare jobs, opportunities by GERI LEMMONS staff writer
O
n Sept. 29, Career Services held the Medical Healthcare Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Center Anchor Ballroom for students who are interested in working in the medical field and wanted to meet people who share the same interest. Sara Goede, a career counselor in Career Services, said the fair was all about giving students a chance to connect and for recruiters to share opportunities and positions for students. “It really was an opportunity for students to share with those recruiters their resume and their interests in the medical field,” Goede said. “There were a lot of recruiters and a lot of employers and we had over 200 students attend, so it was a great turn out.”
According to Career-Services. tamucc.edu, the fair had 16 total recruiters present to talk to the perspective students, including All About Kids home health, Bay Area Quick Care, Sava Senor care, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy. All of these recruiters came to let students who are interested in the medical field know about what it was like to work for that particular field and see if they were interested. Britney Beatrick, a volunteer at the Career Services event, said she thought the event went really well for the students who attended. “I thought it was very productive, there were lots of students, and everyone seemed really excited to be a part of it,” Beatrick said. “I believe that the students that attended got some good opportunities and more
to focus on in the future.” Goede said the fair was put on for students in the nursing and health sciences fields who were looking for different opportunities that could come up for them in the near future. It was an opportunity for students to network and have some of their questions answered because the people who could answer them were right at their fingertips. Goede, who is a part of career services, said the students could ask the recruiters all about their facilities and give the students a chance to hand over their resumes and get their names and faces out there. “This is beneficial for students because it allows them to get familiar with or get more information about the place they hope to work at one day,” Goede said. “This Medical Health care
fair was put in place for students to build and start a career path and get that process going after graduation.” According to the Career Services website, it does not matter what classification someone is, or what major they are, anyone can come and be a part of the fair. It is a way for students to see what a fair like this is all about, and know how to conduct one’s self during an event like this. It is a way for them to start the networking process before graduation. According to the Career-services website this is not the only Career Services fair that will be taking place this year. There will be plenty more for students to attend to get some experience. For more information students can go to Career-Services.tamucc. edu to find out about other events.
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news
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
TAMUCC theatre department to perform in Scotland by ALEICHIA WILLIAMS contributing writer
T
he Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the one of the most well known theater and arts festival in the world. The Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi’s Theater Department has been invited to perform at International Collegiate Theatre Festival which takes place during the Fringe. According to the official Fringe website, “In 2015 there were 50,459 performances of 3,314 shows in 313 venues, making it the largest ever arts festival in the world.” Every year in the month of August, thousands of performers ranging from actors to illusionists flood the streets of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, in order to put on a show. Beyond the fact that the relatively quiet city becomes a metropolitan bustling with millions of artists and onlookers, the city also very literally transforms. A Ferris wheel is set up in the center and tents are pitched for merchants to sell goods. Flyers for shows are everywhere, they are in the bathrooms, restaurants and all along the street walls. Later in the day everything is turned into a stage. This includes, but is not limited to, churches, street
corners and even restaurant basements. Theater professor and chairman of the Theater Department, Don Luna, said being invited to the International Collegiate Theatre Festival is such exciting news. “Last year there were only four schools in the United States that were invited,” Luna said. “It’s not a competition. It’s a festival.” Luna also described what TAMUCC’s theater department will be bringing to the stage. “We’re taking one play,” Luna said. “It’s called The Christians. We’ll actually be mounting it either January or this summer. Kelly Russell and Alison Frost are directing and Kevin Loeffler is doing the scenery.” Don Luna said the funding for the trip will be provided to the students who will go. “We are raising the money,” Luna said. “Corpus Christi Idol is one way that we raise money. The summer camp is another way that we raise money. Also another way we raise money is through our academic meet that we do in the Spring.” The trip will be open to all theatre students who are casted during auditions. The auditions are expected to be held in December. The show will run from Aug. 7 to 17, and
many of the theater students are very excited about the experience. Rose Gutierrez, junior theater major, said she already knows how she would react if she were to be casted. “I most definitely, without a second thought, at the drop of a hat, in a heartbeat would go,” Gutierrez said. “The opportunity to learn even more about art in all asphoto by ALEICHIA WILLIAMS pects of the word Some performers handing out fliers during this year’s Fringe in some of the most Festival. spectacular places as this may sound, life is short; if is truly something I strive to attain everyday and it there was ever a moment to follow your passion and see others do is what keeps me going.” Gutierrez said she thinks it just the same the moment is now.” For more information on the would amazing to attend an event Fringe Festival visit the official such as this. “To be able to see so much tal- Fringe website at www.edfringe. ent and variety of the arts in ven- com. ues so grand with people who are just as passionate about the arts as I am, is truly something wonderful to be able to be apart of. I’m sure,” Gutierrez said. “As cliché
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campus
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
BANNED BOOK WEEK PHOTOS BY ELI T. BERKE & IZZY SNEED
BEHIND THE SCENES: 1. A theatre student works independently to transform herself into character during the Banned Book Week costume event. 2. Kane Davis awaits further makeup to complete his transformation into Sandman. 3. Maci Sampson helps apply base to Kane Davis’ face as he transforms into Sandman.
LIBRARY CONTEST: 4. A group of theatre students who participated in the Banned Book Week costume contest pose for a quick photo with their makeup artists and ongoers. 5. Students were given the opportunity to take a break from homework and dress up as their favorite banned books characters. 6. Stephen King’s famous banned book character, Carrie, wandered through the library during the costume contest haunting studying students.
“I hate it that Americans are taught to fear some books and some ideas as though they were diseases...” — Kurt Vonnegut
7 THE BId reveal campus
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
Interfraternity Council concludes with annual Bid Day by JONATHAN FORNEY contributing writer
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) held their annual Bid Day ceremony. Delta Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi offered students a chance to join their fraternities throughout the week that all lead up to the announcement of their new pledges and celebrate their camaraderie. According to IFC President, Karson Bare, this years bid week had the largest recruitment in the history of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Sigma Phi Epsilon doubled its chapter with its new student additions. The event was held in the Lonestar Ballroom of the University Center and featured each of the four fraternities in their own corner of the room. One by one a member of each fraternity came up to the stage and introduced each new member.
Once their names were called new pledges went back to their respective corners and were embraced by their new brothers. Phi Delta Theta, for example, had their new members run from the stage back to their corner to receive their official Phi Delt tropical shirts. Shirts were a prominent theme of Bid Day. Each fraternity featured their own sort of clothing to help identify their members: Beta Theta Pi had tank tops (or more accurately, bro tanks), Delta Chi featured long sleeve T-Shirts, shirts for Sig Ep, and the tropical shirts for the Phi Delts. After the new members were announced the fraternities regrouped to embrace their new members, take group photos and make postceremony celebration plans. Delta Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and Beta Theta Pi all took their new members out to dinner to celebrate. Sigma Phi Epsilon members went to initiate their new pledges immediately fol-
lowing the festivities. The next day new pledges are required to spend 24 hours separated from the other members as per IFC regulations. Once that time period is over, members are free to interact with their fellow pledges as they see fit. All fraternity members, both old and new, were excited throughout the Bid Day process. Colton Goetz, freshman construction science major and new Delta Chi member, called his recruitment process “the most rewarding experience of his life.” Current members also got to experience Bid Day but from a more nostalgic point of view. Sophomore marketing major and Phi Delt, PJ Brennan, remembers his own Bid Day as a time of “excitement to finally see what fraternity I got into and get to know the guys better.” Brennan said the ceremony itself, is fun, and everyone’s amped up. “Inside [the ceremony] it’s more formal, but once they get outside,
people really enjoy it,” Brennan said. Fraternities at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are involved in intramurals, Homecoming, the Big Event, various community service projects, social events, and many other activities that go on throughout the year. Members within the fraternities can also move up quickly through the ranks into positions that offer both leadership and collaborative opportunities. For example, sophomore and Sig Ep member, Trevor Wulff had his name announced at last year’s Bid Day, now he’s VP of Recruitment for Sigma Phi Epsilon and helps to bring in new members to experience their own Bid Days. The IFC’s annual Bid Day ceremony marked the initiation of new members into their respective fraternities. For more information about Greek life at the Island University, visit greeklife. tamucc.edu.
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entertainment
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
Snapchat through new lenses by JONATHAN FORNEY contributing writer
S
napchat is a messaging app for sending photos and videos that disappear after a set amount of time and they have recently updated their iOS and Android apps. The update brought two main features to the app a new dynamic photo and video overlays called “Lenses” and the ability to pay for additional replays every day. Lenses are the byproduct of Snapchat acquiring a startup named “Looksery.” The main draw of lenses is they allow users to make special effects that overlay their videos and photos. These effects include, but are not limited to, vomiting rainbows, crying big animated tears, and turning people into monsters. Most of the lenses’ primary actions are triggered by specific facial movements like opening mouths and raising eyebrows. The lenses are rotated periodically to keep their effects from getting played out. On any given day any number of distinct lenses are available for users that have updated the app. Some are open to taking the selection of lenses even further. “I think it makes stories more interesting, I could see people paying for exclusive lenses,” senior business major Brandon Reeves said. The feature does not work flawlessly though. Many users have posted stories of glitches
CASEAR continued from page 1
a theatre major working toward a dance certification. “You’re in a prison and you can’t leave.” Frost and her actors hope to bring the beloved play to life in the hearts of their audiences. By bringing together different historical and modern day elements, students can watch the story unfold in front of their eyes in a whole new way. “Seeing a breathing human embody the story they know so well gives it life you can’t always understand through reading alone,” said Claiborne, a senior theatre major. “You see these characters in front of you and you feel for them, because now
they have discovered or primary actions that simply do not trigger. Some users cannot use them at all. Snapchat updated their iOS app for devices running iOS 7.0 and up but as for their Android app they simply said the update was for “newer Android devices.” This kind of vague language has confused many Android users and many are unsure if they actually can use lenses due to software issues or they do not understand the gestures required for primary actions. The other feature that was released more quietly in the update could have significantly more impact: an in-app purchase. Typically users are allowed to replay one snap per day every day. In the latest update Snapchat allows users to pay $0.99 for three extra replays, $2.99 for 10 replays, and $4.99 for 20 replays. In the last few days users have reported seeing strange stars on their friends’ threads without a clear explanation of what they are for. People speculated they were for a new type of best friend dynamic but a tweet from the official Snapchat Support page explains the stars are to show users that have recently replayed a snap. Paying for replays probably is not a feature that will become widely used. For those that choose to pay however, they will be helping Snapchat make a more consistent profit. According to TechCrunch, most of Snapchat’s revenue comes from advertisements inside the “Discover” stories of events
they’re human and right in front of you.” The “Julius Caesar” production is scheduled to run from Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Oct.18. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with a Sunday matinee scheduled for 2 p.m. Tickets may be bought either online, at the door or at the box office located in the Performing Arts Center. Pricing is as follows: $10 for adults, $7 for students outside of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and $5 for Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi students with a valid SandDollar$ ID.
happening around the world curated by Snapchat. However these Discover stories are not enough to cover a business growing as rapidly as Snapchat and that is where paid replays come into play. Some users are not excited about the prospect of having their snaps replayed more than once. Sophomore biology major Lupita Sanchez said “paying for replays takes away from the point of Snapchat, which is that it goes away.” Snapchat’s edge over other services such as Facebook Messenger and iMessage is that snaps go away forever after a set amount of time meaning that they are ephemeral. If more and more users can replay snaps as many times as they are willing to pay for, what is left to differentiate Snapchat from its competitors? Overall, the update adds a new layer of novelty to the users’ Snapchat experience as well as an additional source of revenue for the app. For those that are eligible for the update, it can be found in the Apple App Store
photo by JONATHAN FORNEY
Sophomore Josiah Anderson rediscovers the rainbow lense.
(iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android). Now go out and puke some rainbows.
9
entertainment
10.08.2015
Escape by the seat of your pants
ISLAND WAVES
photo by ELI T. BERKE
Islander Improv members rehearse on-the-spot ques for their upcoming performance.
photo by ELI T. BERKE
by ABBEY WEAVER contributing writer
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hether one needs a place to escape from stress and anxiety, a way to face stage fright, a way to make new friends or just a reason to laugh, Islander Improv is making all that happen. Placing last semester in an improv competition in Houston, these talented Islanders continue to grow and reach out to other schools across the state. Andrew Golhson, Islander Improv president, said the members have already had the chance to perform with a professional improvisation patron and have been asked by the University of Incarnate Word to host workshops for their students and also host workshops at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for traveling improv groups. “We are growing immaculately right now,” Golhson said. “We are doing a better job at helping improv grow and the sky’s the limit.” He also said that being a part of the recent growth of Islander Improv is more of an achievement to him than being elected president. “Being elected president is a very great feeling, but my biggest achievement is having the opportunity to keep improv growing for all the kids who have a passion for it and want it to be a big thing,” Golhson said. This organization has done a lot for this group of talented Islanders, including vice president Katia Mendizabal.
“It means family,” Mendizabal said. “It means a collective group of people that can have fun and be together and not feel judged. We try to create a friendly atmosphere.” For most of these students, improv is an escape from the stress of school and life in general. “To me its safety,” Golhson said. “It’s a safe house to escape the bullshit of whatever is bringing you down in your day because everyone is welcome, creating these stories and scenarios.” As well as being a place to come where students can be themselves, to these students, improv has even helped them with personal struggles.
“I’ve really used improv as a way of diminishing anxiety,” Gohlson said. “Its taught me to communicate in public a lot better. Improv helps you with quick decision making, helps you with accepting everything as a gift, and if you have any type of fear of speaking or being on stage in front of a crowd it makes it disappear because everyone here is welcoming. You have nothing to lose, it’s a carefree environment.” Improv is not just a comedic thing, it helps with interviews and on-the-spot thinking. “It’s helped me accept things and not say no,” Mendizabal said. “It allows you to find out more about yourself because the whole thing about improv is just being honest and just opening up that part of yourself that feels somewhat insecure.” Improv is also a great way for theatre students to expand their
Islander Improve meets Monday and Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.
talents. “Improv opened my eyes to a completely different form of acting and art, I joined it because it helped expand my knowledge of not only comedy, but also how to better myself on stage,” Mendizabal said. Islander Improv welcomes anyone into their organization, not just theatre majors. They said anyone can join as long as they show up with an open mind, as well as the people who just come to watch them perform. Islander improv meets Monday and Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. This group of people keeps the door open for anyone interested in their growing organization. Make sure to support these talented islanders on Halloween at the Dia De Los Muertos festival as they host crafts and games.
photo by ELI T. BERKE
10
sports
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
ISLANDER STUDENT ATHLETE PROFILE
HEART OF A LION Islanders guard, Emmanuel Toney built from humble beginnings by ISAAC PAGE staff writer
S
tanding at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 185 pounds, Toney is a junior and he plays the guard position for the Islanders men’s basketball team at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Although he was born in Abilene, TX, he was raised in Bowie, MD, a small city situated between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. “I was born in Abilene, but I’ve lived in Bowie since fifth grade and that’s where I consider home,” Toney said. “I love it. The way of life is different from here, but it’s good. There are good people there. It’s a beautiful place.” Football was the sport that captivated Emmanuel Toney at first, but an elbow injury he sustained while playing caught the attention of his mother and she forbade him from continuing the sport unless he switched positions. “I’m not going to lie, I used to hate basketball. Football was my first love, but I broke my elbow playing and my mom was like, ‘you can’t play anymore unless you play quarterback’ and I wasn’t trying to play quarterback,” Toney said. “My dad pushed me towards basketball.” Toney started as a walk-on and has since earned himself a scholarship. “When I came here I was a walk-on. I was not very good. I thought I was better than I was to be honest,” Toney said. “It was a really humbling experience.” He is not known for putting up superlative numbers or for explosive offense, but he is touted for his athleticism, his tenacious defense and his resolute preparation. “I love playing defense. Not very many people like playing defense, but I enjoy playing defense. It’s fun to me,” Toney said. Toney describes his game as “gritty.” He takes pride in making
the plays that do not normally show up in the box score: diving after loose balls, shutting down his opponents and making multiple efforts. His penchant for making winning plays earns him playing time as his minutes have dramatically increased since his freshman year. Toney’s steadfast and unwavering commitment to improvement has won him the respect of his coaches and his teammates. “His performance here in the weight room is always consistent and always in a way that he feels like he has to earn something,” strength and conditioning coach Richard Burnett said. It is common for athletes to decline in performance after the summer season due to inactivity but Toney utilizes the summer to improve on his weaknesses in order to have an edge. “He actually progressed over the summer,” Burnett said. “His 20-yard-dash time, 10-yard-dash time, as well as his pro-agility have all increased dramatically. He’s now one of our most athletic guys on the team and it’s incredible. It keeps getting better for him.” Toney attributes his intense offseason regimen and his voracious appetite for improvement to principles his father instilled into him when he was younger. “It’s how I work when the season’s not here that allows me to do that,” Toney said. “I know my dad used to make me do defensive slides up hills in the middle of summer in 100 degree weather.” Aside from basketball, Emmanuel Toney is a psychology major with a communication minor. Toney has big dreams and his ultimate goal he would like to achieve is playing in the National Basketball Association. “My dream is to play professionally. That’s what I believe I’m going to do” Toney said.
Photo by GOISLANDERS.COM
11
sports
10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
ISLANDER STUDENT ATHLETE PROFILE
Islanders lean on Delaney for primary protection by ABBEY WEAVER contributing writer
I
slander soccer continues their fight for conference with redshirt sophomore and goalkeeper, Megan Delaney, concurring the field. Her 10 saves against Abilene Christian University won her Goalkeeper of the Week and also earned a spot on the first all tournament team in Las Vegas. Seventeenth in the nation for saves per game and 19 in the nation for total saves, Delaney is making a statement that cannot be ignored. Her early achievements this season are very promising for the Islanders, but her success did not come easy. Her 16 years of playing soccer took an unexpected turn when she tore her ACL her senior year of high school. Delaney always had a dream of playing professionally, so taking her
freshman year off to recover was a set back in her athletic career. However, not even an injury as bad as this one could keep her off the field. “Blowing out my knee motivated me,” Delany said. “It opened up my eyes to the bigger picture and made me realize, even though soccer is a huge aspect of my life, that’s not what it’s all about. I just got right back on the field and learned to not take for granted what I’ve been blessed with. Knowing I’m capable and that I got a second chance keeps me going.” She admitted that her coach and teammates played a big part in her recovery by not giving up on her. “Coach Shannon allowed me to come in injured and still gave me what she gave everyone else,” Delaney said. “My teammates continue to push me. I’m the only goal keeper on the team so it’s hard
at times. I’m pretty hard on myself so they’re always uplifting me and continuing to push me to work harder.” Delaney said the pressure of living up to her expectations was hard on her. “The goals are the hardest part,” Delaney said. “I have to learn to start fresh right there and not let it affect the way I play.” She finds ways to cope with the high bar set for her in her athletics, as well as academic life. She found guidance from her tutor and kept her time management organized to help her stay relaxed. Delaney said she also gets motivation from her mom to keep doing her best. “My mom definitely inspires me. She’s a hard worker,” Delaney said. “She taught me to continue pushing myself. She told me there is no limit when I don’t put limits on myself.”
With her eye on taking her team to conference, Delaney persists with her hard work and dedication to soccer in the hopes of coming out victorious. “I hope we win; we definitely have the team to do it,” Delaney said. Delaney and her teammates continue to push through their season leaving their hearts on the field at every game. “As goalie I think I have a big impact on people and that’s my favorite part,” Delaney said. With her powerful story keeping her determined and humble in her game, she advises other young athletes to have the same will power. “Keep pushing and never take it for granted,” Delaney said. “Everything can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. Everything happens for a reason and it will all fall into place.”
“As a goalie, I think I have a big impact on people and that’s my favorite part.” — Megan Delaney, Islander goalkeeper Megan Delaney fights against Abilene Christian, winning Goalkeeper of the Week with 10 saves.
photo by SOUTHLAND.ORG
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10.08.2015
ISLAND WAVES
EQUAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE VIOLENCE FREE
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do you do it? Harsh criticism, hurtful gossip, name-calling, being bossy and
controlling, jealous accusations, angry shouting and dishonesty are kinds of abusive speech. We’ve all done it. We’ve all had
it done to us. But if unchecked, abusive speech will break trust, undermine respect and create conflict. Speech which
is caring and supportive will create better, stronger relationships. Be mindful of how you speak. Respect yourself. Respect others. Office of Judicial Affairs: judicialaffairs.tamucc.edu Title IX Coordinator: edcs.tamucc.edu University Police Department: upd.tamucc.edu University Counseling Center: counseling.tamucc.edu