Volume 29, issue 6

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

IslandWavesNews.com

STEP AFRIKA! VISITS THE ISLAND Performers combine stepping and African traditional dance

by AMBER CASTILLO • page 6

March 1, 2018 Volume 29, Issue 6

Campus

SGA advocates for free textbooks Page 5

Also

News Page 3 Entertainment Page 8 Sports Page 11

2 Opinion STUDENT PUBLICATION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYCORPUS CHRISTI

03.01.2018

Prep Guide to Spring Break 2018 America Segura @americabatel

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s the middle of the semester approaches, Islanders anxiously await Spring ISLAND WAVES RISTI | ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM | VOLUME ISSUEare 20 some | 08.27.15 Break. 26 Here tips and IslandWavesNews.com tricks towards prepping yourself for a fun, stress-free and Interim Editor-in-Chief adventurous break.

ILLI-ANNA MARTINEZ 1.) Get it Done Although it may seem like a long Copy Editor way until we're off for Spring NICOLE SHAIR Break, I can't emphasize enough how getting your school work Reporters done prior to the break is inAMBER CASTILLO deed essential if you want to be AMERICA SEGURA able to fully enjoy your vacation SAMUEL TRUJILLO time. Some may want to use the break as a means to catch up, Special Contributor but I guarantee that not being at RUTH HANNAH school and seeing those around Photographer you off swimming and catching AURTHUR LUNG some sun might just trigger you to ditch everything. As opposed Layout Assistant to using the break to work on SIERRA LUTZ late assignments, readings and pre-labs, do your best to have Distribution Manager things done before you're off for CALEB ALVA the break.

2.) Stay Hydrated Advertising The Texas heat is no joke and, ANH TRAN, assistant although it has been quite chilly ALYSSIA CRAWFORD, lately, Spring Break on the coast assistant is anything but cold. Prior to Graduate Assistant TAIWO AGBAJE, advertising manager

Faculty Adviser JENNIFER BRAY

ABOUT ISLAND WAVES Island Waves is a studentproduced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions.

Any student or University employee may submit material and opinions for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor.

CONTACT US 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862 editor@tamucc.edu ads@tamucc.edu

Artwork design by Ruth Hannah/TAMUCC STUDENT

heading off on your getaway, it is highly suggested that you stay hydrated by beginning to drink water regularly if you don’t already do so.

3.) Protect Your Skin Protecting your skin from the excruciating heat and harsh sunlight is one of the biggest priorities to follow while on vacation. You don’t want to be stuck with a nasty sunburn on your first day out at the beach. When it comes to sunscreen, you want to be able to find the one that is best for you. If you have sensitive skin, perhaps you want to

try something like Neutrogena.

One way of protecting your face and head is by wearing a hat or cap as much as you can while you're outside. It might not always be the most comfortable, but it can certainly be very beneficial if you have sensitive skin to sun exposure, regardless of how much sunscreen you wear.

4.) Healthy State of Mind It’s no secret that most people tend to do their best to get that "beach bod" for Spring Break.

But it's not only about looking good; it’s also about feeling good and being healthy. Sure, we all

want to look amazing in that bikini over the break, but we also need to make sure that we are eating right, drinking water and working out without exceeding our bodies’ limits.

5.) Prepare For Anything Part of being a college student off for Spring Break is to prepare for anything. One of the smartest investments you will ever make would be a protective, water-resistant phone case. This is crucial unless you want your phone to end up a total wreck. Also, do your best to make a list of necessities if you're taking a trip; it will be much easier to remember to pack if you can check things off a list as you put them in your suitcase. Little things like this can make a huge difference and, if you're not well prepared for your get away, you might just end up regretting your Spring Break adventures as opposed to reminiscing on them.

Speaking of Spring Break, be sure to check out our Spring Break Spotify Playlist contest we’re having for Islanders. More information can be found on page 8 and on our social media outlets.

The Advising Corner: Liberal Arts Edition

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ey there, Islanders! Thanks for checking out the College of Liberal Arts edition of The Advising Corner. We hope your semester is off to a great start and you’re enjoying your classes!

Now, let’s talk advising and important dates to keep in mind.

If you didn’t know already, our office is located in Driftwood 203 directly above the University Counseling Center.

Fun fact: from the early 1970s to the new millennium, our office spaces were actually some of the original dorms on campus.

You can swing by sometime to see what it was like to live like an Islander thirty years ago!

Our advising team is currently in transition while we search to hire two new, incredible advisors. However, with registration right around the corner, we

want you to know who you can contact in the meantime if you have questions.

Rachelle Stanley: COMS, MEDA, MEDS, CRIJ and all graduate students.

Jennifer Arnold: THEA, MUSI, ARTS, GRDS and CRIJ. Jennie Syamken: ENGL, HIST, SPAN, PHIL and POLS. Kathleen de la Garza: PSYC and SOCI. As always, you can call our office at (361) 825-3466 to schedule an appointment with an advisor. Anyone who answers the phone will be able to assist you with scheduling.

Did you know students register for Summer and Fall classes at the same time? Yes, it’s true – Summer/Fall 2018 registration is coming up! The schedule for summer and fall

classes will go live on SAIL for you to view on Monday, March 19. Registration will begin two weeks later with priority registration starting on Monday, April 2.

April 3 – Senior registration begins (90+ hours) April 4 – Junior registration begins (60-89 hours) April 5 – Sophomore registration begins (30-59 hours) April 6 – Freshman registration begins (1-29 hours) Here’s a friendly tip: to make the registration process easier for everyone, begin checking your personal SAIL account in advance and take care of any holds ahead of time. If you have any questions about specific holds on your account, you can contact your advisor or speak with someone from

the Registrar’s Office in the round building.

Last but not least, if you are planning on graduating this May, don’t forget to apply for graduation on SAIL! The University’s priority deadline for applications is Feb. 27 with a reduced application fee. The absolute last day to apply is April 12.

Remember, you need to apply for graduation whether or not you plan on walking the stage at The American Bank Center.

If you have any doubts about your eligibility for graduation, make sure to check with your academic advisor.

If you have any other questions, give us a call, shoot us an email or check out our advising webpage for FAQs. We want our CLA students to be successful, and we’re here to help!

News 3

03.01.2018

Social media revolutionizes Olympic viewing habits NICOLE SHAIR Copy Editor

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or decades the main source of entertainment for events, like the Olympics and the Super Bowl, has come from cable news networks and sports broadcasting.

While these media giants are still very much in the ring, a new contender has come to challenge their reign: social media networks. Now, with the variety of social media networks at the touch of a finger, it’s faster and more efficient than ever to just watch events like the Olympics on one’s phone or laptop, rather than on the traditional cable box. However, according to professor of Media Arts, Ethan Thompson, the advent of social media hasn’t so much changed how we watch the Olympics but provided a larger, more condensed platform on which to present such a huge event.

“They are putting together a package every night of highlights of what had happened whereas before, the real emphasis was always on showing things live and as quickly as possible,” Thompson said.

As for how traditional news outlets stand on this more modernized way of keeping up to date with award and medals, Thompson said cable outlets and multimedia sites are both benefiting from this shared audience.

“They (cable outlets) have found this interesting balance where you can watch all kinds of stuff on your devices and,

on traditional TV, watch highlights in the most traditional way as it’s always been, which is just Olympics Primetime,” Thompson said.

When inquired about how this subtle shift to social media platforms has affected the profit of traditional cable networks, like NBC, Thompson said these more on-the-go sources of entertainment were putting the pressure on cable networks to keep their broadcasts their own.

“It’s hard for companies to monetize events like this across other multimedia platforms rather than through traditional cable channels,” Thompson said. “For example, NBC is going to try to keep any footage of the Olympics off of YouTube, except for their own, and they are going to put ads on all their videos (to make a profit).”

Islanders have also noticed how social media has impacted the way we experience major events. Freshman computer science major Megan Ramirez said social media has changed the way most of the people in our generation get information and news..

“Social media sites, like Snapchat, are revolutionizing the way we get the highlights of sporting events like the Olympics,” Ramirez said. “We can get interviews, live reactions and play-by-plays in mere seconds.”

With this change in media, consumers seem to have adapted without any issues.

Find more Olympic coverage on page 11.

Image courtesy of Snapchat/SNAPCHAT

Don’t forget to Like or Follow us on Social Media! @IslandWavesToGo

Editor’s Column

With Spring Break quickly approaching and students getting restless, Island Waves is excited to share some plans we’ve made of our own. Aside from our Spring Break issue coming out next week to look forward to, we are holding a Spring Break Spotify Playlist contest that ends March 2. Islanders can submit their playlists to us via social media and potentially have the chance to win dinner for two at Brewster Street. The winner will also be interviewed by myself to talk about their music playlist and why it is meaningful to them. More information can be found on our social media pages and on page 8 of this week’s issue.

Aside from our contest, Island Waves will also have a change in our usual coffee and a paper. To prepare for Spring Break, we will be holding a spring break photo booth during our coffee and a paper tabling from 9 am to 11 am on March 1 and March 8. Islanders can learn more information about the playlist contest and also have their photo taken to get hyped up for Spring Break 2018. These photos will be uploaded onto our Instagram where you can share with friends and loved ones. If you haven’t already, please follow us on our social media pages at @IslandWavesToGo to keep tabs on upcoming events and teasers we have for Islanders.

As we get prepared for midterms and other upcoming assignments, let’s take these last two weeks in stride.

As always, have a great week this week, Islanders.

ON THE COVER:

PHOTO BY ARUTHUR LUNG

4 Campus

03.01.2018

Alternative Spring Break-surprise 2018!

AMERICA SEGURA @americabatel

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any Islanders are opting to spend their time off not only having fun, but helping out others.

The Student Volunteer Services (SVC), along with Recreational Sports, will be hosting two different volunteer trips this year. Students will have the opportunity to spend their Spring Break helping out the community from Mar. 11 to Mar.16. A group of students will have the opportunity to fulfill a service to another community who’s in need of aid and, although this is not the typical idea of a “wild” Spring Break, the experience has been noted to be incredibly outstanding and rewarding.

“It was a very fun-filled trip and once-in-a-lifetime experience when I attended last year,” senior communication major Geri Lemmons said. “I not only enjoyed helping the environment, but also the connections I made throughout the trip.”

Every year, SVC takes on the task of making volunteer trips during both the Winter Break and the Spring Break. Additionally, they also choose

Image courtesy of Student Volunteer Connection/TAMUCC

a specific area or place to help every year and, with the previous year being filled with so many natural disasters, it only seemed appropriate to make that this year’s theme.

The group of chosen students will venture across state borders in order to make an impact and rebuild, clean up and restore places that have been affected by natural disasters. While doing so, they engage with their peers and make memories that last a lifetime while par-

ticipating in an event that is bigger than themselves.

“I would definitely recommend anybody to try it out,” Lemmons said.

“Apply and attend; you might be surprised as to what new things you will learn about yourself and about your surroundings and the world in general.”

SVC said this year, as opposed to the years before, made it their mission to keep the destinations of both trips under wraps; at least, until now.

“For this year’s Alternative Spring Break trip, the SVC is taking 20 students to New Orleans, LA,” SVC Alternative Breaks coordinator Megan Greige said.

The application process usually begins about two to three weeks prior to Spring Break and includes a series of open-ended questions to select students who are truly passionate and qualified to provide an excellent volunteer service.

“We look for people who are servanthearted, open to everything the experience has to offer and who are team players,” Greige said.

The application is available on Org Sync and, after the application is processed, candidates are called in for interviews. Once the students have been selected, there are a couple of meetings where a deposit fee and the trip fees are paid. The trip is very affordable.

The ultimate goal of the Alternative Spring Break project is to provide students with the possibility of volunteering hands-on in another place that is not familiar. Furthermore, Recreational Sports has also jumped on the idea and has chosen to do a second trip this year.

For more information please visit studentactivities.tamucc.edu/SVC/.

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Campus 5

03.01.2018

SGA prompts change in course materials for the Island ILLI-ANNA MARTINEZ Interim Editor-in-Chief

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slanders were educated on how they could save hundreds on their course materials at Student Government Association’s Open Education Resource Presentation.

The presentation ran from Feb. 21 to Feb. 22 and took place in the Legacy Lounge where SGA President Justin Bustos explained the benefits of open resource materials for students. With the rising prices in textbooks, Bustos explained the importance of this change and student success.

“If we push for the adaptation and creation of these resources, this will be the new trend for students to use,” Bustos said. “It will be the low-cost option and students won’t be burdened by the price of high priced textbooks.”

According to Busto’s presentation, the average student spends approximately 1,200 dollars a year on textbooks and supplies and this rise in prices negatively impacts students in several ways. 65 percent

of students do not purchase textbooks for their classes due to the high prices. This in turn results in students dropping the course or having a negative impact on their grades. This is where he introduces the solution: open education resources.

Busto went into the topic of OpenStax, an organization founded by Rice University in 2011. Partially funded by Bill and Melinda Gates, this non-profit organization strives to increase students access to high quality learning materials that have little to no cost. Online and pdf versions are free, while physical copies cost very little, depending on the textbook.

Aside from this, students have access to it and can download the materials onto any device. They are core curriculum based, including subjects like history, biology and algebra and are scholarly and peer reviewed for the credibility of the students.

Bustos said utilizing these materials would result in higher retention and graduation rates for the university. Aside from this, it would make the university look more attractive for incoming students.

Busto said there are a wide range of options for students to utilize open source materials, including the university library

where students can access scholarly articles and writings in the public domain.

“Right now, the library pays for those subscriptions and everything that it takes to get those resources for us,” Bustos said.

“These are free and these are open and they are included in tuition.”

While there are benefits to open education resources, Bustos said there are a few negative aspects as well. If the university decides to go through with this change, professors will have to transfer their old content to new content, meaning they may have to change their methods of teaching.

Aside from this, Barnes & Noble College has a partnership with the school for funds and scholarships. If students stop purchasing books through them, the bookstore may not make enough profit.

It was shown in other universities the Barnes & Noble franchise would pull away because they weren’t making the profit they did before.

Olivia Santos, store manager at the Barnes & Noble at the Island, said she fully supported this change because Barnes & Noble themselves offer their services to help alleviate the prices of textbooks.

“We’re not just textbooks,” Santos said.

“We don’t want to be just textbooks. It’s kind of hard to get people to realize that we are more than that. We’re here to serve and how ever the university needs us to serve, that’s how we’re here.”

As far as the negative aspects on professors, Bustos explained the open sourced resources are customizable. If a professor wants to only use specific chapters that cover material in the syllabus, they are able to do so. OpenStax also offers presentations, study guides, quizzes and exams.

“The only thing we need to do is convince professors to use these resources and show them they are credible and we can use these resources for the classroom,” Bustos said.

SGA is currently in the preliminary stage of this project and while there was a low turnout to the presentations, Bustos said he is confident SGA can make this change for the Island.

“If we get the students to advocate for it, it will happen,” Bustos said. “If we can improve the student outcome, the whole university will get better.”

SGA will continue hosting sessions and tabling for students and different organizations. For more information about this organization, visit sga.tamucc.edu.

passion for equality and his dedication to his country.

“I admire his love of country and his sense of patriotic duty,” Canales said.

“How much he loved fighting for this country and its ideals.”

Canales is running un-opposed in the Democratic Primary for Nueces County Judge. She will face Republican Mike Pusley, who is also un-opposed, in the November general election.

It was not just those who knew Dr. Garcia during his lifetime who felt such appreciation and admiration for all he had accomplished. For freshman atmospheric science major Gavin Medel, this event was about getting to know better a man he had first heard about in his high school US History class.

“I didn’t know much about Dr. Garcia, other than what I learned in high school, so I looked into it and was fascinated by what I found,” Medel said.

Coming from a Hispanic-American family himself, Medel found Dr. Garcia’s perseverance and bravery in fighting for what he believed was right to be the most inspiring.

“I admire his resilience and ability to overcome the racial obstacles and prejudices he faced at the time,” Medel said.

Quintanilla said this event was important, not just because it brought light to a huge accomplishment and an almost-lost piece of civil rights history, but because it also brought inspiration to the Island.

“The life of Dr. Hector P. Garcia is one that can be celebrated on many levels,” Quintanilla said. “But for our students to see the kind of leadership he provided in an area that wasn’t his specialization is so inspiring to our students.”

According to Quintanilla, the multiyear task of transcribing and digitizing so much history from Dr. Garcia’s life and getting to work with the Garcia family to help preserve such a huge part of both Texas and civil rights history was one of the greatest things she had the privilege of working on so far in her career.

“One of the greatest highlights of my career is and, I’m certain will always be, working with Cecilia and Jim (Cecilia’s husband) on this and other projects around Dr. Hector,” Quintanilla said.

For those interested in checking out the digitized records and historical documents from Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s life, visit omeka.tamucc.edu.

Texas hero’s legacy is accessible to everyone NICOLE SHAIR Copy Editor

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pplause burst from the small crowd of people gathered at the Hector P. Garcia Digitalization Ceremony on Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. as Dr. Garcia’s daughter, Cecilia Garcia Akers, hugged Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s president, Kelly M. Quintanilla, and took the podium at the front of the room.

With a bright smile, Akers began to detail the work of her father, Hector P. Garcia, and the accomplishment of digitizing over 5,000 photos and digital correspondences which shaped the legacy her father left behind. According to Akers, the process of writing her book, “The Inspiring Life of Texas Hector P. Garcia,” was what truly spurred her on to recover more of his secretive, lesser known aspects of his life.

“We just didn’t know what he was doing and so I had to do my own research on my own father with my book and I learned so much about him,” Akers said. “And I’m just so glad that we will have the opportunity for the public to research him, to come here and look at the papers and go online and look at the photographs; it’s a good start.”

Photo by Nicole Shair/ISLAND WAVES

Cecilia Garcia Akers speaks with digitalization ceremony attendees.

Among the various officials who attended and the students who milled about looking at Dr. Garcia’s letters and awards, there was Dr. Garcia’s niece, Barbara Canales, shaking hands and thanking people for coming to celebrate such a special achievement.

“I think this is a very historic day because we’ve done something to preserve history for years to come,” Canales said. “Digitalization was very important to our family and getting them into a format where everyone can access them is a momentous occasion.”

Canales said what truly inspired admiration about her great uncle was his

6 Campus

03.01.2018

Step Afrika brings cultural traditions to Island University AMBER CASTILLO @AmberCastillo27

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n the spirit of Black History Month, Islander Cultural Alliance brought Step Afrika! to the Island University.

The world’s first professional dance company founded in 1994 dedicated to stepping, visited the University on Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the University Center’s Anchor Ballroom. The dancers use their bodies as instruments, integrating stepping with African traditional dance. The event was open to students as well as the Corpus Christi community. The African American dance company now ranks as one of the top ten dance companies in the United States.

“When planning this event it was very important that where it was held was taken into serious consideration because we needed to make sure we had the right kind of stage for this event,” program coordinator Christian Garza said. “The performance that this dance company puts

on is really unique and we thought that the university would truly impact from this.”

Performances are much more than just dancing and stepping. The members integrate songs, storytelling as well as audience participation in each show. Dance member Brittny Smith who has been with the company since 2013 said she has been blessed to have this opportunity to do what she loves and travel the world.

“Everyone in this company is from all over the country and we go on tour for 11 months out of the year,” Smith said. “Not only do we promote stepping as an educational tool for young people but it also allows us to work as a team, and have that cultural understanding of what we are truly about.”

Dance member Manny Chacon who has been with the company since 2016, said he was glad to be a part of the show for the Island University.

“This was a really great audience and great experience, we always love it when the audience is feeling our performance because as performers it gives us more energy and more allows us to make it more fun,” Chacon said.

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Photo by Aurthur Lung/ISLAND WAVES

Step Afrika! performs a dance with combined stepping and African traditional dance styles.

“It was great to come to campus that maybe wasn’t really as familiar with the traditions of stepping and what it entails, so to see the joy of the community was really amazing.”

The dance members announced at the end of the show that any undergraduate student who attended the performance could go to StepAfrika.org and apply for a scholarship.

Feature 7

03.01.2018

New PAC Director comes to Island with impressive background AMBER CASTILLO @AmberCastillo27

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iving in New York and making it big time as a professional ballet dancer are just a few things to know about the new College of Liberal Arts Performing Arts Center Director at the Island.

James Moore, also known as Jim, has had some very impressive jobs in prior to moving to the Island University.

Although Moore came from a family of musicians, with himself playing the saxophone in high school, he said being around the music scene was not what he had in mind when he set off for college at the University of Iowa.

It wasn’t until being dared to take a dance class that the new director found his true calling.

“I actually was in my junior year in college majoring in political science when my roommate dared me to take a dance class,” Moore said. “As it turned

out that I actually really had some talent and the instructors encouraged me to continue and at that moment I knew that this was truly what I wanted to do.”

Moore said the experience was very eye opening and it definitely helped that he had a very inspirational professor and mentor to guide him throughout that time period.

“Francoise Martinet, my professor, started the ballet program for the dance department at the University of Iowa,” Moore said. “With her expertise I ended up getting a scholarship to dance at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.”

After leaving college, Moore then started dancing professionally for around 10 years as a ballet dancer, where he made a lot of connections in the dancing world and experienced opportunities many dancers could only dream about.

Although Moore left his dancing career behind, he did not slow down with his career in the arts. Prior to the big move to Texas, Moore worked at Westminster Choir college which was

part of Rider University in New Jersey, where he was the director of the music department.

“There was a lot of planning with this job because we dealt with a choir that sang with orchestras from around the world,” Moore said. “We regularly performed, so we would have to figure out academic planning, contracts with orchestras, as well as travel.”

Although Moore had a very impressive background, he said he decided it was time for a change in not only scenery and climate, but also changes with different opportunities.

“What attracted me to this job in particular that I had sensed from the initiation advertisement for the position was that there were a lot of different opportunities here,” Moore said.

“It seemed that there was a alignment of growth with student population, institutional focus of the arts with not only the students but the Corpus Christi community as well.”

Moore said he is most excited about being able to build something that is going to be really fresh and he looks forward to making the Performing

Arts Center something that will be more appealing to the area whether it be collaborating with different genres, or also building something that is different from what he has done in the past.

Sophomore atmospheric science major Anthony Romero, who is also in pep band at the Island University, said he is really looking forward to what the new director will bring to the campus.

“Bringing the community closer together is always a plus and the fact that is one of his main goals is what this campus needs,” Romero said. “Not only will it benefit the community, but also the students because of the background that he has as well.”

Director Moore said he looks forward to engaging with students and getting to know the campus.

“This is indeed a bigger institution than where I came from, so I have a lot of things that I want to do to get a better feel of the University and the students as well,” Moore said. “I look forward to the new opportunities that this position will bring me.”

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Photo by Mitchell Jackson/ISLAND WAVES

New PAC Director, James Moore, gives a Shaka in Islander spirit.

8 Entertainment

03.01.2018

Islanders welcome big talent to small town T

SAMUEL TRUJILLO @SamTrujillo14

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi continued their 13th Annual Furgason Bravo! Series with a performance from two prominent American musicians: trumpet player Craig Morris and pianist Rebecca Wilt.

The concert took place at the university’s Performing Arts center on Feb. 23 in front of a large crowd of music lovers from all across the Costal Bend.

Craig Morris is a world-renowned trumpet player who currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Trumpet at the Frost School of Music in Miami, Florida. Prior to his position in Miami, Morris has held some of the most prestigious titles in the industry, including Associate Principal Trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony and the distinguished position of Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Mr. Morris preform with several ensembles over the years and figured I had to make it out here when I heard he was going to be in concert down here in Corpus,” Portland resident John Sinton said. “This is some of the finest trumpet playing you will ever hear and I’m glad I got to catch him in concert so close to home.”

Morris now devotes himself to his work as both a soloist and a professor whilst composing new music and programming with other world-renowned musicians. In 2017, Morris premiered two new major pieces and is slated to record his upcoming album with Grammy winning sound engineer John Newton.

Rebecca Wilt is a nationally and internationally recognized virtuoso collaborative pianist who has worked with many top woodwind performers and vocalists around the world. Some of her more notable collaborations include those with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony and many more world class orchestras.

Image courtesy of TAMUCC Performing Arts Center/ TAMUCC

Craig Morris performs for a large crowd in the PAC.

In addition to her work as a pianist, Wilt also holds multiple degrees in vocal coaching and performance

and has worked with opera singers across the globe. She and Morris will continue their tour across Texas through mid-March.

The Gloria and Robert R. Furgason Bravo! Series is in it’s thirteenth year of bringing diverse programs and performances to the university’s Performing Arts Center. The series aims at bringing a wide variety of musicians that appeal to a large demographic through featuring different styles of music including jazz, classical, country and more.

“This is a great opportunity for students to enjoy a beautiful concert in the stunning setting and acoustics of the Performing Arts Center right here on their campus for a reasonable price,” PAC Director Lari Young said.

While no future dates for the series have been announced as of now, there are still plenty of concerts scheduled to make their way through the PAC throughout the spring semester. For more information on these events, The Furgason Bravo! Series, or the PAC, visit cla.tamucc.edu/events/music.html.

10 Entertainment

03.01.2018

50 Shades [not so] Freed?

AMERICA SEGURA @americabatel

T

he movie franchise that is “50 Shades of Grey” released its latest installment, “50 Shades Freed” on Feb. 9, spinning a modern twist on a love story centered on Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. We already know that this story is no typical love story, but it’s also no typical sex-driven film. The combination of both of these aspects and the feelings that arose from something more intimate made it one of the most controversial films of the series to date.

In “50 Shades Freed,” the audience is hopeful and expecting the big moment: Christian and Anastasia tying the knot.

And, although the moment did finally arrive, there was a big plot twist where it appears that Anastasia is having a harder time with the transition than the audience expected.

After they escape from their extravagant wedding party, they are raced to

the private tarmac, where they board Christian’s private stream—or, rather, as he quickly reminds her, their private jet. He constantly has to remind her that what’s his is hers and yet, when they return home and Anastasia returns to her office at the book distributer, Seattle Independent Press, to find that she has been elevated to the editor position. She quickly does her best to stop people from referring to her as “Mrs. Grey.” As any husband would be bothered and confused, Christian often finds this quite questionable.

Not surprisingly, a common woman, such as Anastasia, marrying into money where she is capable of having anything and everything has an even higher price to pay than any jewels she might desire. She soon becomes aware that the restrictions she faces are indeed more expensive as her freedom is put at risk. Thus, the irony becomes obvious in the movie’s title being “50 Shades Freed.”

However, the story doesn’t stop there. SPOILERS AHEAD: A surprise pregnancy threatens their marriage and, even more shockingly, the solution appears in the series main antagonist, Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson), who also happens to be Ana’s previous supervisor, a man who exudes viciousness and whom Anastasia, transforming from editorial manager to vigilante, goes up against alone. Furthermore, she shocks the public with her wild sense of protection towards what is rightfully hers.

As dramatic and action-packed as this story appears to be thus far, the sex-driven content is still very much relevant. Anastasia and Christian still have that “spark,” which they keep

up in the Playroom, a chamber in the loft where their diversions of control and accommodation occur. As of now, these recreations are more subdued; there’s “tempting delight however little torment.” When it arrives, it’s just Christian’s unfeeling and juvenile discipline of Ana for her “insubordination” upon resisting his requests.

Overall, I would rate the movie = four out of five stars for the overall plot and unexpected twists. The movie had excellent actors and, as always, a steamy plot. However, there was something there that just didn’t convince me that it should be a five out of five star movie. Regardless, it’s highly recommended and is definitely an Rrated, “date night” film.

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Sports 11

03.01.2018

2018 Peyongchang Winter Olympic Games recap SAMUEL TRUJILLO @SamTrujillo14

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lot has happened through two weeks in Peyongchang, South Korea during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. From the usual competitive drama we’re accustomed to seeing to some surprising unifications, these winter games have struck a perfect note with many across the world.

The hallmark of any Olympic games is unquestionably the Opening Ceremony. No matter the year or location, the world’s eyes fall upon the ceremony’s vivid display of diversity, unity and national pride.

This year, the world was watching closely to see how North Korea’s Olympic Team would be received at bitter rival and host nation, South Korea’s games. The two countries shocked the world during the traditional Parade of Nations by marching out under a unified Korean flag despite the constant standoff the two warring nations find themselves in.

Team USA was led by flag bearer, Erin Hamlin and boasted a crowd of 242 athletes that would represent

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Team USA at the Peyongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony.

theUnited States in 15 different sports.

17-year-old snowboarder Red Gerard was the first American to take home gold at these Olympic games, winning the men’s slopestyle on his final run in stunning fashion. Red’s win

Chloe Kim, 17-year-old Olympic snowboarding gold medalist.

now makes him the youngest American to medal in a snowboarding event at the Olympics.

The United States, which typically dominates in snowboarding, has had a few other shining moments in

the sport over the course of the 2018 Winter Games. Chloe Kim, another 17-year-old snowboarder, became the youngest woman in Olympics history to medal in a snowboarding event behind a high flying performance on the half pipe that earned her the gold medal.

Aside from these rising stars, US Snowboarding has enjoyed several other outstanding performances, including that of Shaun White, who took home his 3rd Olympic gold medal on the back of an unforgettable halfpipe run.

Through 15 days of competition, the United States finds itself struggling to win as many medals as it would have hoped. As of Feb. 24th, Team USA sits in fourth place, behind Norway, germany and Canada respectively. Currently sitting on 23 medals, 9 of which are gold, the United States was looking to finish up the final few days of competition with a purpose and to send more athletes to the podium.

As these Olympic Games came to an end, the world once again turned to the ceremonies once more. The Closing Ceremonies, which were held on Feb. 25th, was a celebration of the world class athletic performances we just saw, as well as a celebration of the host nation, South Korea.

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Matt Hamilton, curler.

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Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim, figure skating team.