22, 2024
Book Review on page 8
Pro-life demonstration on campus
GEROGE SVABODA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The pro-life organization Students for Life of America held a demonstration on Monday, Nov. 11. The organization calls for the abolishment of abortion and the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
The demonstration consisted of the organization's central campus formation coordinator Megan Roos standing near Sunwatcher Plaza with an informational poster board as well as crosses and posters scattered across the lawn. Roos is not an
for life
America holds a demenstration calling for abolishment of abortion and defunding of Planned Parenthood, Nov 11.
Vol. 89 | No. 5
Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201
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MSU student but said Students for Life is working on starting a student organization on campus.
The posters depicted unborn fetuses with inflammatory rhetoric. One poster said Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization, "puts profits over people," another said "Planned Parenthood kills."
"The signs, unfortunately, they capture people's attention... and what my hope is that they start conversations," Roos said.
The signs successfully caught student attention, bringing a crowd around Roos shortly after she arrived.
Roos, however, aligned with the signs behind her when talking to students.
"Again, putting profits over people, they [Planned Parenthood] have abortion quotas that they have to meet," Roos said.
Planned Parenthood does not have abortion quotas.
Planned Parenthood is funded through federally funded grants and Medicaid reimbursements, as well as donations. In 2023, Planned Parenthood reported it received 34% of its funding from government health services reimbursements and grants, totaling about $700 million.
and computer science freshman Austin Williams debate abortion rights with Students for Life of America representative Megan Roos, Nov. 11.
"$700 million of our taxpayer funding are going to Planned Parenthood, and that's against the consciousness of a lot of Americans. And that's concerning, and I would really just love to see that funding moved away from Planned Parenthood and toward federally qualified healthcare centers," Roos said.
The Hyde Amendment passed in 1977 and banned the use of federal funding for abortion, except to save a mother. The Amendment has to be renewed every year.
"Technically, our taxpayer dollars, when they go to Planned Parenthood, are going to abortion... if we give money to an institution, Planned Parenthood can put it toward marketing, they can put it toward hiring staff for the front desk. But what that's really doing is helping them get more abortions. Abortion is at least 90% of what Planned Parenthood does," Roos said.
By using non-federally provided funding, Planned Parenthood avoids violating the Hyde Amendment. It is audited annually to ensure compliance.
Between 2015 and 2019, 7.5% of Planned Parenthood patients accessed abortion care, according to a fact sheet by the organization. A 2013 breakdown of services reported that 3% of all services offered relate to abortion.
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Multiple students spoke to Roos at the demonstration, hearing her points and either arguing their own or showing support.
One such student was computer science freshman Austin Williams, who spoke with Roos soon after she set up her demonstration.
"Seeing an event like this, I, even though my opinions on it might personally differ, I can definitely see how somebody would come to the conclusion of Planned Parenthood being a terrible, terrible thing," Williams said."But it also does provoke the thought of 'What about all of the situations where these things could have happened and what sort of resources could have been put towards preventing a situation like this, to begin with.'"
"Let me tell you, the reactions, as they have been, have not been what I expected. I have seen so many pro-choice people being so open and willing to have these conversations. And that, I think, is the best reaction I've ever seen, and I'm really grateful for that," Roos said. "You can see these people here being willing to engage in these hard conversations even though they really disagree with each other."
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PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Pre-Pharmacy freshnman Mui Ochik, education freshman Adelenn Tolley
PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Pro-life organization Students
of
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN
MANZY
EURECA students present research
MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER
The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the 23rd Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum on Thursday, Nov. 21st. The conference showcased 63 presentations over the course of the day.
There were three different types of presentations the conference hosted this year: emerging research, poster presentations and oral presentations.
Emerging research projects are longer projects that may not be fully finished by the end of the fall semester.
Poster projects provide a different presentation format. Researchers create a poster that they stand and speak in front of.
Students who do oral presentations stand in front of an audience and present with slides.
With various types of presentations available, the conference allows all disciplines to show what they are researching.
“We encourage all different disciplines because we want to show what they do in their discipline. And I think that’s very important because it shows what is actually happening on our campus, what are our students interested in, what are they passionate about, and all those kinds of things,” Director of Undergraduate Research Stacia Miller said.
Undergraduate research allows students to research what they’re passionate about, and teaches students valuable workplace skills.
“There’s so many skills. Like communication skills, you’re seeing that today. But just research skills in general. Critical thinking, problem solving, some of those key things that college students really need to be able to go into the work world in their future careers. I think it really provides a platform for really honing on those skills. I also think the relationship with mentors. Getting to know your faculty in another way than just in class is great. That also builds that professional networking,” Miller said.
The conference offers undergraduate MSU students the opportunity to present to any on campus.
“Anyone who puts in an abstract, as long as they meet the criteria of being faculty mentored and a MSU undergraduate and they’re currently enrolled as a student, then they can present. So we don’t really have any criteria for the presenters because we want people to come. We want people to present,” Milled said.
Senior early childhood through sixth grade major Brylie Green researches why out-of-state students don’t come to MSU.
“When I told my professor about the question I had, she told me I needed to do a research project. So then I roped in my partner Lauren Connor and two different professors and we decided we were gonna do a research project and why not it
be EURECA because that’s an opportunity we have at MSU,” Green said.
Green believes that if given the opportunity to research, you should take it. “I think if you have a question that’s a very interesting question, it might not even be interesting to the person next to you, but if you have a question you think is really interesting, find a professor and they will be three out of four times likely to decide to do the EURECA project. I think it’s a really great opportunity and every student should look into it,” Green said.
Miller shared a similar belief about research questions.
“I think if there’s a driving question that someone wants to answer, and I think that’s how you start research. And build on that and try to answer that question,” Miller stated.
MSU battles national blood shortage
MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER
Blood drives have become a common sight at MSU. Our Blood Institute, a local organization, sets up a mobile blood drive on campus about three times a month.
“If we weren’t able to collect enough blood for three days in a row, that’s when we’d be in a blood shortage. That’s all it takes is three days of no blood and we’re basically at a non recoverable point. So that’s why it’s important to keep these blood drives up and to keep them going every single day to keep that blood supply up. As long as we keep on doing what we’re doing, we’ll be good,” the mobile supervisor Reid-Gibson said. Hospitals across the nation are experiencing a blood shortage.
“It’s the only part of the human body right now that can not currently be synthetically reproduced. So you can only get it from people. It’s good for the person giving the
blood. It’s kind of like an oil change for the body. And it’s good, obviously for the donors as well, getting the blood. It’s a really important thing to do. You can’t create it. We can only get it from people,” Reid-Gibson said. Reid-Gibson also broke down the process to donate blood.
“You go through a little 20 minute health screening. They get your blood pressure, temperature, hemoglobin, pulse. We check your arms, make sure you have good veins, no rashes or bruises or anything like that,” ReidGibson said. “And then over there, usually it takes about five to seven minutes. They stick a needle in your arm, get some testing samples and then you collect about one pint. That’s about two measuring cups worth of blood, and then you’re done. It’s not as intimidating as it seems.”
Our Blood Institute offers a range of various promotional incentives for people to donate, from t-shirts and snacks to a $100 gift card. Every donation saves three lives.
PHOTO BY MADISYN BUTLER | THE WICHITAN Students show out to the undergaduate research program presented by various MSU students, Nov 21.
PHOTO BY MADISYN BUTLER | THE WICHITAN Andrea Granados Millan chemistry and spanish junior gives a presentation over early on set of Alzheimer's disease, Nov 21.
PHOTO BY MADISYN BUTLER | THE WICHITAN Kathy Luna radiology senior donates blood, "I love donating and helping others", Luna said, Nov 18
Sheppard beats MSU in volleyball clash
JESSICA BINZARI REPORTER
Sheppard Air Force Base came out victorious against MSU Texas’ recreational sports team after an exciting clash on the volleyball court Friday, Nov. 8.
The competition between MSU and SAFB represents the friendly spirit between the two communities. The teams compete in four different events which are: flag football and volleyball in the fall and basketball and softball
in the spring.
Assistant director of the recreational sports and wellness center Cody Ford explained that winning this competition is important for both teams.
“Not only is it pride, but we do have a traveling trophy. So we have a trophy that goes between MSU and Shepperd, depending on who wins and the trophy has little plaques for each sport that is played for the winners that we have,” Ford said.
Earlier this semester, MSU won the flag football event which put them in possession of the trophy. However, MSU’s triumph was short-lived as Sheppard came back stronger in volleyball. They defeated MSU 3-1 to take the trophy back. The overall score now is 5-4 for SAFB, concluding this year’s tournament.
“I think every time we run a sport event, the next year we gain fans and supporters so, for the first time we actually have vendors here for this event. I think for basketball we’ll do something similar and in general we’ll try to generate more people to come,” Ford said.
Fefe’s Funnel Cakes founder Felicia Canales was invited to represent her local business at this year’s volleyball game.
“I was honored that they asked me of all vendors in Wichita Falls to come at the game and then my daughter goes here so that makes it much better,” Canales said.
Canales started her business a few years ago when she decided to share her love for funnel cakes, selling locally in Wichita Falls as well as across nearby towns such as Holiday or Henrietta.
“I got tired of driving to Dallas or just waiting for the fair to have funnel cakes so I
was just why not start making them myself and it kind of just took off from there,” Canales said.
Fefe’s Funnel Cakes accepts orders online on their Facebook page, but customers can also reach out to her at: (940) 217-8914.
If you would like to take part in the next MSU vs. SAFB game, you can sign up for intramural sports and join a specific sport. Students can choose between cricket, flag football and volleyball in the fall or basketball, soccer and softball in the spring.
Players who show interest in competing in the joint sports operation against Shepperd will undergo a small tryout two weeks in advance of the game.
“We do a small tryout, a meet and greet to kind of see who is actually capable of coming in and playing because Shepperd is going to bring good teams, and we need good teams to
PHOTO BY SAM DIFIORE | THE WICHITAN
A Sheppard Air Force player jumps to hit the ball in the MSU vs. Sheppard joint operation volleyball game, Nov. 8.
PHOTO BY SAM DIFIORE | THE WICHITAN
The Sheppard Air Force team packs the stands to cheer on their fellow airmen as they compete against the MSU rec volleyball team, Nov. 8.
Men's soccer wins fourth consecutive title
ABBY TURNER MANAGING EDITOR
For the past four years the MSU men's soccer team has dominated on the field, earning the honor of being the LSC champions. Head coach Michael Meachum has led the team for the past seven seasons leading them to five total conference titles.
The Mustangs are known for being included in the LSC tournament. This season marked the Mustangs ninth straight appearance in the tournament. Coach Meachum says that when a trophy is involved the team is going to compete and make sure they win. The past few seasons have proven that statement.
"Anytime there is a trophy on the line, we always try to win it," Coach Meachum said.
The competitiveness of the team has proven to be the key to maintaining the success from the teams in previous years. Coach Meachum says having players who all have one common goal is a key component in the success the team has seen so far.
"The biggest thing is probably just having competitive, likeminded people. I think you come to school here, especially for men's soccer to win trophies and to compete for national championships," Coach Meachum said.
Business senior Juan Galindo said one of the biggest strengths is the culture that the players bring to the team.
"Having a cultured program, ever since I was a freshman, the culture is to win. You noticed the first practice that everyone wanted to win, and that just translates onto the games and eventually the trophies," Galindo said.
While the team has a one-track mindset of competing for the titles that come with winning trophies, the success on the field translates from the chemistry the players have off the field as well.
“For them to be as competitive as they are when their backs are against the wall, I think that's what has helped them the most,” Coach Meachum said.
Galindo said that the bond most of the team created over the years of playing summer ball has helped with the team chemistry.
“I mean a lot of us know each other from playing summer ball, or we’ve been here a couple of years together, so we hang out all the time, and adding new faces that are easy to get along just makes it better both on and off the field,” Galindo
Most coaches would make the players train everyday in preparation for an upcoming game, but not Coach Meachum.
“I’d rather give them days off then us not be able to compete at training,” Meachum said.
The Mustangs have seen great success over the past few years, but each year the team builds off of the previous years.
Coach Meachum has a team that is balanced with veteran players and younger players who bring a mixture of experience and new ideas to the team, making the players not as scared to play when the competition gets tough.
“Having a good balance of returning and veteran-type players that have been doing this for a long time. It’s been a good balance and they have gelled really well together,”
Coach Meachum said. “I would say it’s probably having a lot of experience, but like having some youth and being a little bit naive at times, not knowing what to be scared of has been really beneficial.”
With the younger players Coach Meachum mentioned, The Mustangs were able to set other milestones for this season.
“Getting to play five freshmen is really cool. We haven’t done that in five years, since this group of seniors were freshmen," he said.
Coach Meachum has also reached 100 wins faster than any of the previous coaches.
The season has been full of many memorable moments, but for Coach Meachum, it is getting to see his players mature and grow.
“Seeing them grow up as like kids to now being responsible and graduating… These guys have been around for so long and they've put so much into the program and they've been in so many national tournaments… to be able to come back and continue to do that every year, and grow as young men through it. I think that's been the most rewarding,” Coach Meachum said.
Galindo had similar sentiments, being a senior himself, and being able to look back on the success he has been a part of through the years.
“I've been with spectacular teams, like last year where we only lost one game the whole season, and like 22’ [2022 season] where we ended 6th in the conference. So being around the highs and lows means a lot, but now as a senior and winning this trophy means even more because you always want to end in a high note,” Galindo said.
The Mustangs are coming off a high of winning the LSC championship, but the job is not done yet. The Mustangs will play the winner of the Cal Poly Pomona vs. Westmont game on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Stang Park starting at 3 p.m. for the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
Coach Meachum's plan for the post-season is to take it day by day.
“Just prepare every day for the next day and be better that day after that.”
PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN Gabriel Gacovicaj (9) tries for a goal against the St. Mary Rattlers, Nov. 6.
PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN Jecsi Orellana-Espinal (8) jumps to head the ball away from the Rattler player, Nov. 6.
'Stangs dedicated to winning
ABBY TURNER MANAGING EDITOR
Once again, the men’s basketball team finds itself battling in another thrilling double overtime game.
Spoiler alert: they won 119-114, besting the Adams State Grizzlies on Nov. 16.
Going into the game business junior Mason Gibson said the game plan was the same as it is for every game, and that is to just be themselves.
“The plan was to just be us, we have worked hard all off season and knew everything we had to do to win the game. So we just had to trust the process,” Gibson said.
The Grizzlies were the first to put numbers on the board with a layup from Cameron Kimble. The Mustangs answered back when Pierre Sanders, fifth year senior, grabbed a rebound and put it back up for two. The Grizzlies extended their lead with an eight-point run putting the score at 16-4. The Mustangs battled back, shortening the Grizzlies’ lead to 16-7.
The Grizzlies led through most of the first half until the Mustangs were able to tie the game 23-23 with 10 minutes left in the half.
The first period was a battle for which team was going to come out on top as it ended. The Mustangs were victorious in that battle ending the first 20 minutes on top with a score of 42-39.
Going into the second half, Gibson said the game plan was the same as the start of the game; to just be themselves and play the way they know how.
The second half of the game was similar to the first half, going back and forth with who was going to pull ahead and add another win to their record.
With 15 seconds left in the game, the Grizzlies were up 89-86. Jonathan Jackson, exercise physiology senior, knocked down a three to tie the game and send it into overtime.
When Jackson hit the three’ the Mustang fans went crazy, and Gibson said the team took that energy and used it to fuel their determination to win.
“When J.J. [Jonathon Jackson] hit the game-tying shot, I think it gave everyone more energy and everyone wanted to win the game even more after that,” Gibson said.
Overtime in college basketball consists of a five minute playing window.
The first overtime period was similar to the two halves of regulation, surprising no one. Both teams battled back and forth, with the period ending with a tie of 98-98.
In the second overtime period, the Grizzlies were the first to score on a free throw. The Mustangs were able to extend the lead after several three-pointers and jumpers to 113-106.
The final points to seal the win were two free throws by Sanders.
The Mustangs had a shooting percentage of 50% from the field goal and 55.6% from the three-point line, setting a school record for most threes made in a game including overtime. Free throws were where the Mustangs dominated, shooting 70.8% from the line.
While there were many moments in the game that set the tone, and could be considered the turning point, Gibson said that it was the three Jackson hits to tie the game.
“I think there were a lot of game changing moments, but I think the biggest one is definitely J.J. hitting the tying three pointer in the last couple of seconds,” Gibson said.
The team's dedication to its mission of winning and playing how they know is shown in this game. Battling back and tying the game not only sending it to one overtime, but two, shows how bad the team wants to compete.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Pierre Sanders (23) looks to pass to a teammate against the Adams State Grizzlies, Nov. 16.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Mason Gibson (3) goes up for two while opposing team tries to block his shot, Nov. 16.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Antwan Taylor (4) goes up for a shot against a defender from Adams State, Nov. 16.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Mason Gibson (3) looks for an open teammate to
"ThanksKilling," the worst Thanksgiving movie?
SABRINA HARRISON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Every family has their Thanksgiving traditions. Some families watch the Superbowl, my family watches terrible movies we find for free on Tubi. “ThanksKilling” will not be one of those movies.
Jordan Downey’s “ThanksKilling” is a Thanksgiving themed comedy slasher flick released in 2008. The story follows five college students as they are hunted down and murdered by a cursed turkey.
This movie toes the line between being so bad it’s good and just being bad.
On the one hand, the gratuitous nudity, sex and gore are a lot. Too much, in fact.
I can forgive the gore because it’s a slasher, however opening the movie with a close up of a pilgrim woman’s naked chest was unnecessary.
The “ass, gas or grass,” scene in the film is also, unbelievably unnecessary. In this scene, the turkey has to hitchhike into town. When a vehicle pulls up to give the turkey a ride, the driver says to the turkey, “ass, gas or grass,” to which the turkey replies, “Well, I’m out of gas, guess I’ll take ass,” and then turns around for the driver.
Why did the turkey need to hitch hike? Why was the driver willing and eager to have sexual relations with a turkey? This movie creates more questions than it answers.
They do not end up having sex, the turkey ends up murdering the man.
As for the other characters, they are flat and stupid. All of them are basic archetypes:
the bimbo, the fat guy, the nerd, the jock and the final girl. They’re so flat, I don’t remember any of their names.
The final girl is boring, and I wish she would have been killed off too. She just stands by and watches all of her friends get murdered, and then she finally kills off the slasher when she could have finished the job ten minutes before hand.
However, there are
In one scene, the final girl’s father is getting ready to go to a Thanksgiving policeman’s ball and dresses in a turkey costume. He’s interrupted by the doorbell ringing and opens it to find the turkey dressed as a man. Thinking it’s one of his daughter’s friends, he lets the turkey in willingly.
Please imagine this scene. A man dressed as a turkey is sitting across from a turkey dressed like a man and neither one is acknowledging that
SABRINA
It was as ridiculous as you are imagining.
The movie also had the occasional good joke or one liner. For example, there is a fakeout where the movie tries to make you believe they killed the turkey for good. It’s not a very good fake-out, and I can’t tell if it’s on purpose or not.
When the turkey comes back, the final girl says something along the cliché line of, “I thought you were dead!”
And in response, the turkey says, “I always come back for seconds.”
That’s a good line, a great line even. Probably the best line in the film. But that’s not saying much.
I can’t tell if this film is bad on purpose.
Some of the scenes and lines are so ridiculous that I have to come to the conclusion that this film was a massive joke.
However, other scenes are taken so seriously that I have to believe this movie was made with the intention of being a genuinely good film.
Despite having one or two good bits, the movie shows its age. What really ages the movie is the slurs that the characters casually drop throughout the film.
Because of this fact, amongst other things, I cannot in good faith rate this movie highly. Whether or not it’s intentionally bad doesn’t matter. If you like gore and nudity for gore and nudity’s sake, then give this film a try.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREAMBOX "ThanksKilling" premiered on December 8, 2008.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MORBIDLY BEAUTIFUL
The sheriff, dressed as a turkey, sitting across table across from the killer turkey.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MORBIDLY BEAUTIFUL "ThanksKilling" director Jordan Downey plays the slasher turkey, Dec 8, 2008.
"Holy Cow" poorly tackles race, religion and culture
SABRINA HARRISON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
If I was not reading “Holy Cow” by Sarah Macdonald for a project, I wouldn’t have gotten past the preface.
“Holy Cow” is a travel memoir recounting Macdonald’s time in India. In her two years there, she learned to love the culture and came to understand aspects of the different spiritualities that exist in India.
However, before she learns anything about the culture she is absolutely miserable.
I hated reading the first half of this book. It was like pulling teeth every chapter I read.
The preface set Macdonald up for failure. In it, she recounts the time she was traveling in India as a young adult and how a homeless man read her palm. She takes it as a very mystical and magical thing, when in reality it was just a homeless man reading her palm.
After the homeless man reads her palm, she gets on a plane home to Sydney. As she flies off, she flips off the country vowing to never return.
In her thirties, she breaks that vow when she and her longdistance boyfriend, Jonathan, decide they can no longer be away from each other.
Macdonald spends the first half of the book being helpless, homophobic, sexist, racist and orientalist. She was completely joyless and there was not a single thing she found joy, whimsy or comfort in. It was soul-sucking to read.
One moment in the first chapter that really stood out to me was when she decided to be homophobic. But she was not outwardly homophobic to the people she was talking to. Instead, she writes it in the book as if it is some joke between the reader and her.
Her taxi driver had disappeared and was late to pick them up, so she decided to investigate and found him lying in a hammock with another man. Instead of reacting like a normal person, she decided to point out the fact she thought he was gay.
“…I walk over to the end of the bed with my hands on my hips and say in my best hey-I-don’t-mind-if-you’re-gay-butyou’ve-got-a-job-to-do voice…” Macdonald wrote.
What does that even mean? What does that voice sound like?
What I don’t understand about this book is why she wrote it the way she did. If these had been diary entries extrapolated and put together to form her memoir, I’d understand it a lot more, but she wrote this with hindsight.
The way she ordered the events of the book is a sure-fire way of making the reader hate her. And I did. It was a lot easier to hate her than to be sympathetic to her, which is not what you want when you’re writing any book, let alone a travel memoir. If she started her book literally anywhere other than at the very beginning of her travels to India, it would have been better. Start your story in the middle of the action, don’t force the reader to read 70+ pages of you complaining and whining.
Another thing about her writing is the way she writes the accents of people. Personally, I hate reading stories from people who phonetically write out people’s accents. It feels tacky.
However, it’s really telling about Macdonald’s character in the story because almost every Indian person’s accent is written out, but almost none of the white people’s accents are written out.
In the preface, she talks to a beggar man, his dialogue is written like this: “Madaaamz, sweet ladies, any spare rupees, please give, please, no wife, many cheeldren, you reesh, me poor, pleeeaze.”
However, when she talks to an Israeli hippy later in the story, the hippy’s dialogue is written like this: “We have to grow up young in Israel. We’re in the army before we turn eighteen, there’s no time to rebel. This is the place we can rebel. We feel like we’re in Wonderland here.”
She does the same thing when both she and Jonathan speak as well.
That’s not to say the book is completely unreadable. After she gets married and goes through her spiritual journey, it's actually quite nice to read. In these chapters, I could see some of those journalistic skills come out.
Most of the early chapters are first-hand accounts from Macdonald, but later on, she talks to and interviews more people, which makes this story far more colorful.
Macdonald does not just interview one religious leader, instead she meets a large variety of people of many different classes and religions. These people have such unique and colorful ways of seeing the world, it feels like the reader is now going on the spiritual adventure with Macdonald instead of watching her passively.
One of my favorite quotes in this book is on page 144 when Macdonald is talking to a Hindu woman named
Gayatri about religion.
“I like your Jesus and such, and there is no doubt that he was a great sadhu, most likely trained in India, but you know, he was wrong about God. God is not a judgemental giant sitting up in heaven, it’s a force within us all — we are light bulbs in the electrical system of the universe,” Gayartri said.
This quote paints such a beautiful picture that I am so happy Macdonald decided to include it in the book. However, Macdonald’s journalistic instincts are also a negative in her writing.
She opens chapter six with the lead, “India has a hair fetish.”
Though it’s a very interesting lead, it’s also extremely disrespectful and culturally biased. Hair plays a role in almost any culture.
Women of many different nationalities and in many religions will cover their hair for one reason or another. In American culture wearing your hair a certain way can be seen as an act of protest or rebellion.
To say “India has a hair fetish” just because Indians wear their hair in many different ways is ridiculous and Macdonald is oblivious to that fact.
Overall, this book is not worth reading. Though Macdonald’s spiritual journey and the people she meets are so interesting, that does not make up for her racism and bad decision-making.
SABRINA
HARRISON RATING: 1.5/5
PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN HARLEY
Sarah MacDonald moved to India to persue her long term relationship with Jonathan Harley, Nov 21.
The Wichitan’s Song of the Week: 'DOOMSDAY'
JOSEPH ARTHUR REPORTER
Welcome back to this week’s edition of the Wichitan’s Song of the Week. The pick for this week is “Doomsday” by American indiefolk singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine.
Released on April 8, 2022, as a single from her sophomore album “Five Seconds Flat,” “Doomsday” stands out as one of Lizzy McAlpine’s most evocative and heart-wrenching songs. It’s a powerful ballad that reflects on the end of a toxic relationship, using vivid apocalyptic imagery to convey the emotional devastation that comes with a breakup.
The song follows the thematic style of McAlpine’s album, which focuses on exploring complex emotions such as heartbreak, longing, and the bittersweet process of healing. In “Doomsday,” McAlpine captures the raw vulnerability of facing the inevitable end of a relationship, likening it to a personal end-of-the-world scenario, hence the title.
Lizzy McAlpine, born
a prominent figure in the indie music scene. Known for her distinctive voice and lyrical prowess, she often draws from her own life experiences to craft songs that resonate on a deeply personal level. McAlpine’s style blends elements of indie-folk, pop, and acoustic music, influenced by artists like Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Bridgers, and John Mayer. Her ability to convey complex emotions through poetic lyrics has earned her a devoted fan base and critical acclaim.
I first came across Lizzy McAlpine’s music earlier this year, and her introspective songwriting immediately caught my attention. “Doomsday” stood out as a Song of the Week choice not only because of its compelling narrative but also due to its intricate musical arrangement and the raw emotion that Lizzy brings to the track.
Musically, the song is performed in the key of C major, with a tempo of around 122 BPM. However, it’s not the technical aspects that make it special. The beauty of “Doomsday” lies in the delicate balance between McAlpine’s intimate vocal delivery and the song’s haunting, orchestral instrumentation.
JOEY ARTHUR
RATING: 5/5
a sense of resignation and sorrow as she sings about the end of the relationship. The use of reverb and layered harmonies adds depth to the song, giving it an almost ethereal quality that draws the listener in.
In the context of the broader album, “Doomsday” fits seamlessly into Lizzy McAlpine’s narrative in “Five Seconds Flat.” The album as a whole tells a story of love, heartbreak, and the process of moving on, with each song representing a different stage of this emotional journey. “Doomsday” is placed first in the tracklist, setting the tone for the rest of the album and preparing the listener for the emotional rollercoaster that follows.
into the toxic dynamics of the relationship. McAlpine reflects on how she tried to make things work despite knowing that it was doomed from the start. She sings about feeling manipulated and used, comparing her partner’s actions to the role of an anti-hero in a tragic story. The bitterness in her voice is palpable, yet there’s also a sense of sadness and regret as she acknowledges her complicity in staying in the relationship for as long as she did.
emotions, making her songs feel like storytelling rather than just music. In “Doomsday,” her lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and clever wordplay, capturing the feeling of heartbreak in a way that is both relatable and unique.
“Doomsday” has resonated deeply with listeners since its release, becoming a fan favorite and earning praise from critics for its emotional depth and lyrical complexity. It’s a standout track in McAlpine’s discography, showcasing her growth as an artist and her ability to tackle difficult themes with grace and honesty.
The arrangement features a mix of acoustic guitar, strings, and subtle percussion, creating a somber yet beautiful soundscape that perfectly complements the melancholic theme of the lyrics.
The production team opted for a minimalistic approach, allowing McAlpine’s vocals to take center stage. Her voice is filled with a quiet intensity, conveying
The song begins with a poignant opening verse in which McAlpine reflects on the inevitability of the breakup. She sings about knowing that the end is coming, likening it to “her funeral” that she has to prepare for. This sets up a powerful metaphor for the relationship’s demise, presenting it as a personal apocalypse that she could not escape. The imagery she uses is vivid and cinematic, painting a picture of a world crumbling around her as she grapples with the loss.
In the chorus, Lizzy sings about the moment of realization when the relationship is truly over. She uses apocalyptic language, mentioning “Doomsday is close at hand” and “It's only the death of me,” to emphasize the intensity of her emotions. The contrast between the dramatic imagery and her soft, almost whispered vocal delivery adds to the song’s emotional impact, making it feel both grand and intimate at the same time.
The second verse dives deeper
In the bridge, the song’s intensity builds as Lizzy’s vocals become more urgent. She sings about the future moments after the breakup, using metaphorical language to describe the emotional devastation she felt. It’s a powerful moment in the song, marked by swelling strings and a crescendo that mirrors the rising tension in the lyrics. The bridge serves as a turning point, where McAlpine fully confronts the reality of the breakup and how it changed her and she uses her “funeral” as a way to show the impact and scope of the change.
The song concludes with a haunting outro in which Lizzy repeats the phrase “Why would I? It's only the death of me.” The repetition of this line, combined with the fading instrumental, creates a sense of finality as if the song itself is fading into the aftermath of the emotional apocalypse she’s described. It’s a chilling yet beautiful ending that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
One of the reasons why “Doomsday” stands out is because of McAlpine’s exceptional lyricism. She has a gift for using poetic and metaphorical language to convey complex
At its core, “Doomsday” is a song about heartbreak, but it’s also about resilience. It’s about facing the end of something you once cherished and finding the strength to move forward, even when it feels like the world is crumbling around you. Lizzy McAlpine’s heartfelt performance and poetic lyrics make “Doomsday” a powerful and unforgettable track that captures the raw, messy reality of love and loss.
If you haven’t listened to it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try—you might just find yourself as captivated by it as I was.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HARBOUR ARTISTS & MUSIC
Five seconds Flat known as her second album is also a short film that covers her songs in the album, Nov 21.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HARBOUR ARTISTS & MUSIC "Doomsday" was debuted in her second album "Five Seonds Flat" in 2022, Nov 21.
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