APRIL 18, 2012 | VOL. 89, NO. 27
EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT
A lil’ love stirs a lot of controversy
CONTENTS
SIDELINES LENS
NEWS
Cycling music lovers crowded the streets of Murfreesboro for Tour de Fun last weekend. The daylong event began at 11 a.m. and went on into the wee hours of the next morning. Local bands like Tetsuo, Special Events and Creature Comfort rocked house shows as hundreds flocked from location to location to see the acts, partying along the way. Non-profit startup CVR// CHRG kicked off their coverage with Tour de Fun, documenting the event with a colorful photo booth. Tour de Fun is an annual bike tour that begins when the weather gets warmer and the jams start happening. Photo by Kesley Klingenmeyer.
03 ‘Modern Family’ executive producer brings laughs to campus 04 SGA election turnout has members working to reach more students 05 WMTS to host benefit
RANTS AND RAVES 06 Check out local happenings
COVER STORY BY EMILY WEST 08 Short film creates controversy over themes and funding
FEATURES 10 Pizza bus services the ‘Boro
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 11 Nicki Minaj achieves new highs and experiences new lows 12 Bars and venues of Murfreesboro 13 Muddy Roots Festival offers more for less
OPINIONS 14 A cautionary tale
Visit us at www.mtsusidelines.com
SPORTS 15 Annual spring football game shows promise
John Bragg Mass Communication Building Center for Innovation in Media 1301 East Main Street P.O. Box 8, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Editor-in-Chief Amanda Haggard
Managing Editor Becca Andrews slmanage@mtsu.edu
Associate News Editor Emily West slassociate@mtsu.edu
Opinions Editor Brandon Thomas slopinio@mtsu.edu
Sports Editor Alex Hubbard slsports@mtsu.edu
Editorial: 615-904-8357 Fax: 615-494-7648
Online Editor Todd Barnes slcampus@mtsu.edu
A&E Editor Daniel Kreipe slflash@mtsu.edu
Design Manager Virginia Erinozova slproduction@mtsu.edu
Multimedia Manager Asher Hudson slonline@mtsu.edu
News Editor Richel Albright slnews@mtsu.edu
Associate A&E Editor Jane Horne slflash@mtsu.edu
Photo Editor Kelsey Klingenmeyer slphoto@mtsu.edu
Features Editor Emily Kubis slfeatur@mtsu.edu
sleditor@mtsu.edu
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Adviser Leon Alligood Leon.Alligood@mtsu.edu Advertising Director Justin Threlkeld sladmgr@mtsu.edu
news
‘Modern Family’ executive producer brings laughs to campus
Executive producer of “Modern Family” Dan O’Shannon talks with a group of media students about his career. Photo by Kelsey Klingenmeyer.
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by Richel Albright News Editor
an O’Shannon spent April 11 and 12 on campus talking to students and speaking at the College of Mass Communication’s Tom T. Hall Writer Series. O’Shannon is one of the executive producers of ABC’s hit sitcom “Modern Family,” but his credentials don’t start there. He has been in show business for more than 25 years, and his career boasts beloved shows such as “Cheers,” “Fraiser” and “Newhart.” He’s won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two for “Modern Family” and his first for “Cheers.” He joked “Modern Family” would never win an Emmy again, saying they’ve been “jinxed” after a student mentioned the show won both years it was nominated for
Outstanding Comedy Series. O’Shannon said he felt part of the success of “Modern Family” is due to the timing of the show. “I think we have a show that sort of celebrates what we all have in common and not our differences, and so rather than exploiting our differences why not celebrate the similarities?” O’Shannon said. “I think that, unconsciously, America might have been thirsty for something like that, that just sort of reminded us that we’re all connected and I think that might be part of it.” His lecture looked at the success and stories of his long-standing career. “Money– alimony,” O’Shannon joked as his reason for spending his off time speaking at universities. “No, you see, I went to Cleveland
State University back in 1980, and it was before the Internet– that was very significant, we forget how absolutely different the world was before the Internet. I lived in Ohio, and no one knew how Hollywood worked. So, I went to college, and I thought, ‘I’m going to learn how to write for TV,’ and I went to English professors and writing professors and said, ‘I want to write for TV,’ and they said, ‘Yeah, wouldn’t that be great?’” He has lectured at UCLA, University of Southern California and holds an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Cleveland State University where he taught a writing course. “I kinda wish when I had gone to college we had those resources that we could’ve talked to people on the inside,” O’Shannon said. “I think it’s fantastic to actually give back to that
and tell the students, and in a way, when I’m talking to students, I’m in a way talking to me at the age of 18.” After dropping out of college six months into his degree, O’Shannon tried his hand at stand-up comedy. “I learned a lot about writing beyond just writing jokes, and it was stuff that helped me in script writing.” O’Shannon said. O’Shannon discussed how mass technology such as Google and YouTube has affected script and comedy writing. “You can figure out things that it took me two years to figure out,” O’Shannon said. “You can find out the format of a script much easier than I had…You can get a computer program and…it just automatically formats the entire thing. It’s a very different world.” But O’Shannon mentioned that because of the ever-changing technology and readilyavailable knowledge, it is harder to get a break in Hollywood than it was 20 or 30 years ago. “We all, on the [Modern Family] staff, have friends who are very good writers who are out of work right now,” O’Shannon said. “So if we have a freelance script, we’re probably more likely to give it to somebody who’s experienced, rather than somebody for the first time” However, he mentioned that today there are programs for young, emerging writers that different studios offer. There are fellowships and diversity programs, one of which O’Shannon has worked with that is run by ABC. “Modern Family” airs on ABC each week on Wednesday at 9 p.m. Some students complained they had to miss the show in order to attend the lecture on Wednesday night. O’Shannon joked that the pressure from working on successful shows has caused him to become friends with the prescription anxiety-disorder pill, Xanax. But ultimately, O’Shannon said he learned a long time ago that the success or unsuccessfulness of a show does not define his self-worth. “You can’t let the admiration or love of viewers substitute any actual love in your life because it goes away, and it’s great for now, and it’s lovely, but you just have to be very aware that it stops,” O’Shannon said. “Cause you know it’s only temporary, America will always love something else tomorrow.”n www. mtsusidelines.com x April 18, 2012 x Sidelines No. 27
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news
Election turnout has SGA working to increase votes by Alex Hubbard Sports Editor
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Rachel Lee, SGA vice president
Coby Sherlock, SGA president
tudents had the chance to cast votes for student government senators and executive leaders in elections held Feb. 27 through March 1, but only about 5 percent participated. University officials announced a record enrollment of 26,442 students in fall 2011. The election attracted 1,414 voters, according to numbers released by Election Commissioner John Thomas. While the 2012 turnout marks a slight increase from the election of 2011, when 813 students voted– about 3 percent of the student population– it is a marked drop from 2010, when 2,325 students cast ballots– about 9 percent of the student population. These numbers come before a referendum scheduled for April 16 through 19, when constituents will have a chance to vote on a Student Government Association constitutional amendment. “I’m not a PR major, and I didn’t have anyone as a PR major on my election commission,” Thomas said. “I just kind of took the routes that I saw worked in the past, and
I just tried to go with that, but it’s just tough trying to hit all 27,000 students when we have such a diverse campus.” The past two elections featured a number of uncontested executive races. There were two such contests in 2012 and three in 2011, Thomas said. Thomas said uncontested races may contribute to less exposure to the campaign for potential voters. “If you are running uncontested, you are not going to campaign,” Thomas said. “When you don’t campaign, you don’t hit that many people, and you don’t get that many touch points on students. Once you get two or three candidates running against each other, you are going to have more competition, and competition always drives excellence.” Rachel Lee, who ran unopposed for executive vice president, encouraged students to vote in order to make their voices heard to SGA officials. “As an unopposed candidate I still took it very seriously,” Lee said. “Whether I am opposed
or unopposed, it’s still my job to represent the entire student body, and I want to know their concerns, and I want them to know who is representing them.” Regardless of participation, elections cost the election commission about $6500 a year to facilitate, according to Dan Kelley, assistant vice president for student affairs and SGA adviser. The software used to conduct elections costs about $5,000 a year, while the election commissioner is allowed $1,500 a year to promote elections, Kelley said. But two new opportunities that may be on tap for next year could help to both lower the cost of elections and increase turnout. New software that student organizations and clubs use contains a component to conduct elections and may be an alternative to the current software. “We are going to trial the election piece of the software over the next couple of months to determine if it will be suitable for SGA elections,” Kelley said. “If that is the case, we will begin using this software in the
fall, which will reduce that $5,000 per year cost quite significantly.” In January, SGA amended the electoral act to allow for placement of voting machines in accessible public places. Confusion over how to implement such a system delayed the amendment’s impact for this year, but the system is under consideration for next year and beyond. “That is something I would like to implement,” said Anit Patel, who was elected to succeed Thomas as election commissioner. “That would be a great idea to get more people aware of the voting.” Patel, who named increasing election turnout as his top goal, said increased use of social media also will be a key strategy. “A lot of students spend most of their time on Facebook and Twitter,” Patel said. “Definitely using social media a lot more than we have in the past to get more people to vote. That’s my biggest deal right now is to get more people to vote and more people to run.” n
Campus & Community Crime Briefs Arrest Middle Tennessee Boulevard April 10, 10:25 a.m. Murfreesboro Police arrested Larry Willis, 46, for the charge of public intoxication.
April 10, 12:52 p.m. A complainant reported that an employee had stolen a tool from the building. The tool was returned and the employee terminated. No criminal charges are filed at this time.
Weapon Schardt Hall April 10, 6:34 p.m. Authorities arrested Brandon Saunders, 19, for possession of a weapon on school property.
Arrest East Main Street April 10, 10:30 a.m. Murfreesboro Police arrested Amy McGuire, 25, for driving under the influence.
Traffic Greek Row April 10, 3:58 p.m. A complainant reported that her vehicle had been struck while parked on Greek Row.
Arrest East Main Street April 10, 10:33 a.m. Murfreesboro Police arrested Kiel Wilson, 29, for driving under the influence and violation of implied consent.
Disorderly Conduct Corlew Hall April 10, 5:09 p.m. A complainant reporting a verbal altercation flagged authorities down. Authorities spoke to the parties involved and determined that nothing criminal had occurred. The matter was referred to Residential Life.
Arrest Middle Tennessee Boulevard April 11, 9:54 a.m. Murfreesboro Police arrested Terry Garland, 33, and charged him with his second offense of driving under the influence and violation of implied consent. Authorities also arrested Nyoka Robinson, 48, for the charges of DUI by allowing and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
Theft Learning Resources Center 4
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Theft Business Aerospace Building April 11, 11:24 a.m. A complainant reported that material had been
taken and not returned by a former member of the Unmanned Aircraft team. The team has been unsuccessful in contacting the former member to have the property returned. Arrest Ewing Boulevard April 12, 9:28 a.m. Murfreesboro Police arrested Heather Clinard, 23, for driving under the influence, violation of implied consent, possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license. Alcohol Faulkinberry Drive April 13, 1:44 a.m. Authorities arrested Matthew Johnson, 28, and charged him with his second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license.
WMTS to host benefit M
by Richel Albright News Editor
TSU’s student-run radio station, 88.3-WMTS, will host its spring benefit April 21 at Gilligan’s. “We have local bands play the benefit and it really brings more of a local spotlight on the programming within the station,” said Sarah Raulerson, WMTS promotions director. “We have events leading up to the benefit and many interviews with the bands playing it as well.” Raulerson said she was responsible for getting the bands, venue and donors involved for the benefit. Proceeds from the event will go toward the station to help pay for equipment and fees, among various other station expenses. The event begins at 8 p.m. and is an 18-andup show that will feature seven local bands on two stages.
“I believe WMTS has put on this benefit ever since at least 2002,” Raulerson said. Bands performing include: Call It Dope!, Langoliers, TN Scum, Warmachine, Tetsuo, The Screemin’ Boweevils, and Laser Flames on the Great Big News. Raulerson said WMTS planned the event to be held at Bluesboro, and the team had to work quickly after learning the venue would be closing a month prior to the benefit. The emcee is WMTS DJ The Time Master who will help give away prizes donated by local businesses. Cover is $5 and Gilligan’s is located at 527 W. Main St. For more information visit www.wmts. org. n
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rants&raves Thursday, April 19 “The Woman in Black” KUC Theatre, 7 p.m. Admission: $2 Period films can be creepy, especially if those films have a character walking through a dark room with a candle. “The Woman in Black” is no exception. Daniel Radcliffe stars in the film as Arthur Kipps, a young widower, who finds… well, let’s just say he finds the opposite of Casper the Friendly Ghost. As the film progresses, so will your heart rate. As Kipps tries to solve the mystery of why the town ghost won’t leave, some spooky scenes take you by surprise. It definitely relies on the good ol’ scare tactic of putting a character in a dark hallway, knowing something is about to jump out at any second. When the film was released in theatres, I recommended you go see it. Maybe you decided to skip out because you didn’t want to waste your money on a pretty boy, like Radcliffe, getting scared. Maybe you couldn’t stand to see him in anything but the wizarding world of Harry Potter. I understand. I will say that this is one of those films that wouldn’t be done justice in any other setting other than a dark, quiet theatre. So please take my advice this time and go check out this film—I promise you won’t be disappointed. (Nataly Morales) MTSU After Dark Go USA Fun Park, 10 p.m. 2270 Armory Dr., Murfreesboro Admission: Free with MTSU Student ID Do you like slamming into other cars so you can feel the jolt of impact? Well, first of all, I’d recommend you seek some counseling, and secondly, I’d suggest you go enjoy the next best thing—go-karts. Go USA Fun Park will host MTSU After Dark Thursday with lots of games, and all are welcome to play. There will be mini-golf, batting cages, go-karts and some good memories to be made. Grab a couple of friends and head down to the Fun Park. This is the perfect opportunity to take a breather from studying for finals and go back in time when things weren’t so stressful—the most stressful thing is having to choose how to best spend your arcade coins. Go out and have some fun! Don’t miss out on the chance to be a kid again, even for just one night—finals week will surely put you back in an adult state of mind, I can promise you that. (Nataly Morales) “A League of Their Own” The Franklin Theatre, 4 p.m. 419 Main St., Franklin Admission: $5 What do you get when you put Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and baseball together? A movie about the first professional women’s baseball craze in the 1940s, that’s what. Sisters Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) say goodbye to their farming days when they’re given the opportunity to try out for the first women’s professional baseball league. Desperate to take away the sting of being an army wife during WWII, Dottie and her sister join the Rockford Peaches, where they meet “All the Way” Mae (Madonna) and a down-and-out Jimmy Dugan (Hanks). Set in a time when women typically stayed at home to take care of the kids and had dinner on the table by 5 p.m., the film gives a refreshing look at how some women decided to break the mold and join a movement many never thought would never go past the mockery stage. The film also gives 6
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an interesting perspective on how men (who generally owned the women’s baseball leagues) were slowly but surely becoming less of a priority in women’s lives back then. Instead of women m obsessing over getting a husband, they were obsessing over becoming the next Babe Ruth and w showing off their battle wounds from the baseball field. However, the film also features how, in the beginning, the women were expected to put on a show with proper etiquette. I know that sounds odd, but you’ll have to watch the movie to see what I’m talking about. I absolutely love this film—it’s without a doubt, a must-see. It’s funny, inspiring and gives new meaning to the phrase, “anything you can do I can do better.” (Nataly Morales) B E 2 A D Dayglow y 12th Avenue Block Party Pavillion 114 Twelfth Ave. North, Nashville g Admission: $43.70 (general admission), $76.48 (VIP) s Known as the “World’s Largest Paint Party,” Dayglow y is hitting Nashville Friday evening for what’s sure to g be a night full of color and excitement. “ Dayglow began on a Florida college campus in 2006, and since then, the Dayglow bug has spread t around the entire world. This isn’t your typical “paint” a party. Actually, I don’t know what a typical paint H party would be like, but after some research, I found out that it isn’t the type of paint I was thinking of. Call me naïve, but I seriously thought it would be paint that you used to paint kitchens and bathrooms. Well, unfortunately, it’s not. I know, what a bummer. Instead, you’ll get soaked by the kind of paint that looks pretty neat under a black light, while you listen to house and techno music. If this is your scene, I can’t imagine going to anything better. Sure, the event is a bit pricey, but based on the pictures and videos I’ve seen, the price seems more like a bargain than an extravagance. (Nataly Morales)
Friday, April 20
Aziz Ansari TPAC – Andrew Jackson Hall, 7:30 p.m. 505 Deaderick Street, Nashville Admission: $29 – $39 How can you not love this guy? He’s hilarious in everything he’s ever been in, and he’s the kind of guy that can make you laugh without uttering a word. Aziz Ansari will be making Nashville chuckle with his quirky take on social issues and everyday life— A and yes, Harris (one of his characters) R will be a part of his new material. 1 Anyone familiar with this talented A comedian knows that he broke A into the mainstream entertainment a business with the popular NBC show h “Parks and Recreation.” Before that, b he was part of an MTV show “Humana Giant” that didn’t really take off. Well, he’s definitely making up for that flop s now with his success. He’s rumored o to be working on some films with t the always-likeable Judd Apatow and r “Parks and Rec” has been picked up for yet another season. c
rants&raves Don’t miss out on the chance to see this hilarious guy in person. Trust me, you won’t want to miss hearing what Harris has to say about the newest TNT drama shows, since he’s the only person who watches them. (Nataly Morales)
Saturday, April 21 Bear in Heaven Exit/In, 8 p.m. 2208 Elliston Place, Nashville Admission: $10 Do you remember what you felt like the first time you snuck out of your parent’s house or when you got your first kiss? Hearing Bear in Heaven live for the first time could be equivalent to that. Bear hails from Brooklyn and released their first EP in 2003. Since then, they’ve managed to give audiences from all walks of life a musical experience that very few are able to pull off. Now, back to the feelings I mentioned above. Seeing Bear live takes you through a process and series of emotion. First, you get this adrenaline rush as they open their show—much like when you tiptoed down the stairs and slowly opened the door or window and took your first step on the ground knowing you had made it. Then, you hit this peak, where you turn to your friends and yell, “This is the best band ever,” and you finally feel this sense of satisfaction and complete euphoria. I don’t know what it is about the band that makes the experience of live music so amazing, but they just have that quality and ability. They are unlike any other band I’ve seen live. I adore them and their talent. So, in case you haven’t noticed, I wholeheartedly recommend you go see Bear in Heaven live—it will surely put your mainstream concert days to shame. (Nataly Morales)
like it out there anymore, its far from the norm in the entertainment world—“Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Jersey Shore” and “The Real Housewives” may be the most popular shows right now, but “A Prairie Home Companion” is like the OG of entertainment. I mean, Snooki can’t even touch Keillor. (Nataly Morales)
Sunday, April 22
Water Liars The Basement, 8 p.m. 1604 Eighth Ave. South, Nashville Admission: $5 NPR’s Steven Thompson says Water Liars’ music is “a low-key triumph of inspiration over ambition,” and that’s exactly what it is. They don’t try to impress with larger-than-life ambitions as a band, even though they definitely have the talent to do so. Instead, Water Liars remains a cool and collected duo that produces some pretty great music results. After listening to their newest album, Phantom Limb, all I wanted to do was go for a drive down a deserted highway with the smell of someone burning through a cigarette in the backseat and windows rolled down. After finding out that they’d be playing at The Basement, I knew it was going to be a show I would not miss. It’s the perfect location for their sound, and the crowds there are always responsive, especially after a few stiff drinks. With songs like “Dog Eaten” and “Low and Long,” Liars will make for a perfect soundtrack to a chill Sunday evening in Nashville. So, I definitely recommend you check them out—again, you can thank me later. (Nataly Morales)
A Prairie Home Companion Ryman Auditorium, 4:45 p.m. 116 Fifth Ave. North, Nashville Admission: $35 – $85 Anyone who listens to NPR, young and old, knows that “A Prairie Home Companion” is an absolute staple among all the radio station’s regular broadcasts. For years, host Garrison Keillor has been invited into many homes and vehicles as the ultimate storyteller, and now, he’ll be broadcasting live from the Ryman Auditorium, in honor of Nashville Public Radio’s 50-year anniversary. I can only imagine that actually seeing Keillor’s expressions and enthusiasm as he tells the stories that captivate all audiences would be even more exciting than hearing them on a radio or an iPod. If you haven’t had the chance to catch one of the “Companion” broadcasts, I’d say this would be a perfect introduction. Although, I also recommend you listen to the show over a radio—there’s nothing quite like it. From its first broadcast in 1974 to now, “A Prairie Home Companion” has remained and will continue to be one of the best pieces of entertainment across all media platforms. There’s nothing www. mtsusidelines.com x April 18, 2012 x Sidelines No. 27
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COVER STORY
Short film creates controversy over themes and funding tolerance love tolerance love tolerance love tolerance love tolerance love acceptance tolerance acceptance tolerance acceptance tolerance acceptance tolerance acceptance
N the state.
by Emily West Associate News Editor
ot only miracles can be found on Honey Bee Hill– one MTSU professor’s short film has created controversial buzz on campus, in the Tennessee legislature and throughout
Electronic media production professor Bob Pondillo unveiled his movie, “The Miracles on Honey Bee Hill,” March 29 as part of Scholars Week and the MT Lambda’s “Spring Out” week, which celebrates members of the LGBTQI 8
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community. Pondillo was also selected as MTSU’s LGBTQI Advocate of the Year. Since the showing, controversy over the film’s themes, production and funding have been questioned. THE FILM “The Miracles of Honey Bee Hill” revolve around love, tolerance, forgiveness and kindness. Pondillo used two children of the same sex to fall in love with each other to illustrate these themes. “I chose kids because I wanted to tell a fairy tale or a fable,” Pondillo said. “I don’t have
the constraints of reality on me, and kids are innocent. They are the light and show us the way throughout the movie.” Millie, the main character, had no idea that falling in love with her best friend, “Ed” or Edna, is wrong. She searched for someone who understood her, and she discovered those qualities in another girl. Problems for the main character arose when she introduced her fiancé to her friends and church congregation, and they began to shun her for the choices she made. The mean, hateful response generated from her friends brought God down from heaven to show the children how to love despite differences. The movie ends with the two main characters getting married.
Pondillo said the purpose of the film was to make people open their eyes to opposing opinions. “What I wanted to do was drain the idea of sex from the story,” Pondillo said. “I just wanted to make it a story of love, tolerance, forgiveness and kindness. There is a plot pivot about gay marriage. If I have any agenda, it’s a social justice. I want people to stop breaking each other’s hearts.” PRODUCTION FOR “THE MIRACLES ON HONEY BEE HILL” The film began production in 2009 and partnered with MTSU Film Guild. Pondillo wrote and edited the script, and
tolerance
students and other faculty within the John Bragg College of Mass Communication worked on the film. A casting call with different talent agencies in the Nashville and Murfreesboro area were listed to find children to fill the parts. A parental caution was placed on all of the notices given to the agencies in order for parents to be fully aware of what the script entailed. “I actually thought we would have to come up with puppets,” Pondillo said. “I went to various theaters and most people were After Ed proposes to Millie, Millie runs back home to her church family and friends to introduce Ed. turned away by it, and said ‘no, thank you.’ When I said this to producer Diana Rice, she really did it. She and a girl by the name of Lauren Plum were the movers on the film.” Diana Rice, a 2011 MTSU alumna, produced the movie, and she jump started the search to find children to act. The main role of Millie was given to Lucy Turner, who is now 11 years old. At the time the film was produced, Lucy was 9. “I thought that the script was beautiful and fun,” Lucy said. “I am glad he used children to make the topic innocent. My other acting friends loved the topic, and Once the children and the pastor shun Millie for her wanting to marry a girl, God is forced to come down from heaven to they are glad that I did this film. I marry the two children. some people and why they find it am glad I got be a part of it.” controversial.” Lucy’s mother, Lori Turner, said that she was proud that In addition to Millie, dozens of Lucy was casted to the role, and the personal exposure of being other children around all types of people in her life helped her play Millie in were required to fill all of the the film. roles of needed for the film. “I know she understood “The largest part of the film it because of people she had is the church scene and 12 pages in her life,” Turner said. “We of the script are children sitting have very close friends that in the church,” Rice said. “In the she loves and scheduling process, we decided to adores that are shoot the scene for two days with a gay couple. It all the children casted.” was harder for From then on, cameras her to realize continued to roll and the shape what it means to
of the film began to develop. More than 30 undergraduate students helped complete the film along with help of graduate students. Recording industry management professor Bob Wood managed and directed the sound portion of the movie. However, the 23-minute film encountered its fair share of problems along the way, and took three years to reach completion. As electronic media professor Kevin McNulty created the city and cartoon effects to the movie, consistent technical problems caused multiple setbacks. “It was a lot of rendering,” Pondillo said. “This is why Pixar and other big cartoon companies have buildings full of computers rendering 24/7. It takes 55 minutes to render one frame, and there are about 4,000 in this piece. So that was our biggest problem.” Along with schedules and different breaks, the movie faced delays, especially due to the lack of funds. “I couldn’t afford to pay people to help with the film,” Pondillo said. “However, the MTSU Film Guild helped with $6800 for the movie to even become possible.” With the film in the final stages, the university granted Pondillo $5,500 for the post-production of the film. “On March 22, I set up an account for professor Pondillo and for his short film,” said Brad Bartel, university provost. “The money is for the post-production of the movie and continued on page 16
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FEATURES
PIZZA BUS SERVICES THE ’BORO: Shorty’s slices up pizza for MTSU’s late-night scene by Kelsey Griffith Staff Writer
Shorty’s Pizza Bus is Murfreesboro’s first mobile pizza service. Courtesy of Facebook.
“We’ll be around!” is the slogan on the illuminated sign on the front of Shorty’s Pizza Bus, Murfreesboro’s first mobile pizza service. Shorty’s aims to please pizza lovers who are hungry at the peak hours of junk food binging in a college town– dusk to dawn. The short, yellow school bus caters to anyone from Greek Row to the square and anywhere they can manage in between. Inside the bus is a kitchen, complete with a linoleum floor, a pizza oven, refrigerated preparation 10
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station, dome lights and a triple sink. “One bus with one oven,” said owner Daniel Rodenburg, a 26-year-old MTSU alumnus. This is how it works: a customer calls Shorty’s with an order, and Rodenburg writes it down on a magnet and sticks it to the ceiling of the bus. While in the bus, he prepares the pizza and puts it in the oven. Shorty’s cooks the pizza en route so it is literally fresh out of the oven at arrival. Shorty’s uses a spicy, New York-style thin
crust, served one size—14 inches. A bakery in Nashville makes the crust from scratch. The price of a pie is always the same $10 flat, $11 after tax ($1 more for anchovies). Toppings are included, like cheese, mushrooms, three kinds of peppers, pineapple, olives, onions, pepperoni, chicken, sausage, bacon and ham. “It’s a little crispier than most New York pizza, but that’s just our style… very crunchy, there’s a good little spice on there,” Rodenburg said as he sprinkled crushed red pepper, garlic,
parsley and Parmesan cheese on an order. The idea of a mobile pizza service was born when Rodenburg met Michigan man Derick Robertson, 50, at a music festival called Rothbury. Robertson, a retired army veteran, sold busses and made custom concession carts. When Rodenburg mentioned the idea of a mobile food concept in Murfreesboro, Robertson geared the idea toward a pizza bus delivery service. They kept in touch. In May 2010, the entrepreneurs kept up communication from Murfreesboro to Knoxville, where Robertson currently lives, and started planning the marketing scheme for Shorty’s and building the bus. The name grew out of Rodenburg’s affectionate tendency to call Robertson “shorty,” an ironic play on Robertson’s height– 6’4”. The logo, an Aerosmith-esque winged circle surrounding groovy ‘60s-style letters, was designed by a Murfreesboro man who won a logo contest sponsored by Rodenburg and Robertson. “We’ve got a positive response from everyone. People seem to love the pizza,” Rodenburg said as he paced around the bus kitchen, moving a box of tie-dyed Shorty’s Pizza bus t-shirts into a cabinet. Possible expansions for Shorty’s Pizza Bus include a taxi service that delivers pizza and people, or a drive-in movie theater/driving range that serves pizza. Since Robertson is still staying in Knoxville, Rodenburg is doing the labor of the business solo with some help from family and friends. “We’re just looking forward to continuing to do it and at least get more efficient and more delicious as we go,” Rodenburg said. n
ARTS & entertainment Nicki Minaj achieves new highs and experiences new lows byTyannNelson Contributing Writer
Hip-hop’s Barbie doll has done it again. Nicki Minaj’s newly- released album Pink Friday...Roman Reloaded is full of energy, creativity, wit, passion, confidence and drama. The album is a blend of rap, R&B and pop. Her desire to show off versatility and “do it all” overinflates the track list. Nineteen songs on any album is over the top, especially when some of the songs are mediocre. The best track on the album, “Marilyn Monroe,” confirms Minaj’s vocal talent. However, her pipes fall short at times– for example, see “Come on a Cone.” On the bright side, Nicki Minaj’s music is reaching out to different cultures, races and age groups. The two pop songs “Starships” and “Turn Me On” are already hits, and tracks like “Pound the Alarm,” “Beautiful Sinner” and “Marilyn Monroe” have the potential to join the others on the charts. The album starts off with “Roman Holiday,” which is a great attentiongrabber. The track re-introduces listeners
to Minaj’s alter ego Roman Zolanski and his mother. She uses an English accent for both characters. She’s dramatic, and it shows through her music. On a hip-hop track “I Am Your Leader,” featuring Rick Ross and Cam’ron, she shows her violent side with lyrics such as “I bought a couple 9’s plus the k’s with me.” Minaj continues with a track that is different from any other song she’s ever created, “Beez in the Trap.” It has a pingpong, hip-hop beat. The song is cute and has catchy lyrics. The album starts dragging with tracks five through nine. Chris Brown sounds amazing on “Right by My Side,” and his vocals saved the track. However, “Starships” and “Pound the Alarm” brings listeners back to life. These songs have poppy, fun-in-the-sun beats. They are perfect for summertime. The party slows down with a nice collaboration with R&B singer Tierra Marie on “Automatic,” after which the album picks right back up with “Beautiful
Sinner.” This song may have been influenced by Madonna; she has a song called, “I’m A Sinner.” On this track, Minaj relies heavily on auto-tune. The track has a funky, pop beat with lyrics like, “… you’re a cheater and a liar, but tonight you’re everything I desire/ You beautiful sinner, I love your wicked heart.” Next, “Marilyn Monroe” is a track that every woman can relate to. Lyrics include, “If you can’t handle my worst, you ain’t gettin my best/ Is this how Marilyn Monroe felt?” Minaj shows listeners and fans a personal, softer side of her. The album goes downhill from there. “Fire Burns,” “Gun Shot feat. Beanie Man” and the last track “Stupid Hoe” shouldn’t have made the cut. Nicki Minaj’s new album isn’t as good as her first album, “Pink Friday.” Minaj should rearrange and condense the album by selecting the best songs and eliminating the weak. Other than that, Minaj is having fun with music. Go out and buy the album, you won’t be disappointed. n
www. mtsusidelines.com x April 18, 2012 x Sidelines No. 27
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ARTS & entertainment
I’ll Have Two Shots of the ‘Boro and a Music Chaser: Bars and Venues of Murfreesboro by Jarrod Boone Contributing Writer
Last weekend, Sidelines set out to create a guide to the bar scene in our little college town. Jarrod Boone, contributing writer, reports. lll “Club Bangers” They are simple. They’re your typical college bar. There’s a young crowd (frat boys and sorority girls), cheap drinks, usually a fight or two and tons of half-lit kids running around (be prepared for amateur hour). As for the music scene, you can usually expect to find a DJ blaring Top 40 music or what the kids are calling “dubstep” until 2:30 a.m. Expect to repeat yourself a lot if you intend on having any conversation while you are there. Most of them are 18 and up, and they don’t allow you to smoke inside. Therefore, these are pretty easy to spot from the piles of people hanging around outside. More likely than not, there will be a line out the door, and a few cops hanging around to keep the place under control. Depending on the day, you might be lucky enough to catch a band playing cover songs for an hour or two. Most of the bands are decent, so check them out if you do run across one. Oh yeah, if you are looking for a cheap pregame spot, these bars usually have some kind of free beer or specials until 11 p.m. or midnight. So, if this sounds like the makings of perfect night for you, grab your shoulder pads, helmet and hearing aids and these picks! Check out: Whiskey Dix, Riverstone, Gilligan’s or Social lll “The Dives” As for “The Dives,” they are just what you would expect. They are small, dingy and you should probably leave your white gloves at home if you are headed to one of these bars. We all know this type of bar, 12
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but you can show up by yourself or with 15 friends and no one will care either way. I think it goes without saying that you probably want to stay away from the food around here (unless you’ve had one too many, then who cares, right?). Aside from that, these bars aren’t all that bad. Most of them mix a heavy drink, offer a cheap beer, have a couple pool tables or dart boards and are a good spot to hide away from the chaos of the “Club Bangers.” There’s plenty of good times flowing around these spots, so don’t be shy. For music, well… there is a jukebox at most, and some have karaoke throughout the week (which can be fun or annoying, depending on the BAC of the one singing). These places have a pretty diverse age range, but are still predominately a college crowd. Warning: The crowds vary drastically between the bars mentioned below, and you’ll see what I mean if you check them out, but they’re dive bars regardless. The Boro (beer only) which has live bands, but I haven’t seen any lately. They have always done well at bringing in some decent talent in the past though. (Read their sign, it will tell you.) Check out: Marc’s Campus Pub (The Pub) or Gentlemen Jim’s (Clean Jim’s or Dirty Jim’s), The Boro lll “Game Days” The “Game Days” are where it’s at if you’re a sports fan. Take a seat, order an import and watch your favorite teams battle it out on the 100 flat screens on every wall. These work well as weekend lunch spots, and most of them have awesome food at a decent price. These bars also serve as ideal pregame hubs if you want to grab a bite and a beer before you head out to find trouble, or cause it, whatever you prefer. It’s hard to go wrong with these, and don’t be surprised if you
get caught up in the atmosphere and burn a couple hours enjoying yourself. The crowds range from young to old and anyone who is anyone can hang around and have a good time. Keep your eyes out for live music because you can stumble across some talented bands every now and then. Check out: The Boulevard, Sam’s Sports Bar, Duggers, or Buffalo Wild Wings. lll “Chill Spots” The “Chill Spots” are where you go if you just want to kick back for the night and see how tough your liver really is. These are bars you hit with some friends to drink away the night and, on most occasions, take in some live jams (also a good “after-dinner” bar to take a date, FYI). You’ll find anything from singersongwriters picking on an acoustic, to full bands turning it up to 11 and leaving their hearts on stage. You’ll know one of these bars when you find it. There is an easygoing atmosphere in the air and no one will really bother you here. A couple of them have an upstairs and downstairs, so make sure you check out both levels before you settle into a corner for the night. But remember, stairs can be tricky obstacles while intoxicated. So, buy a communal pack of smokes, or a hookah if available, call up a couple friends, forget to charge your phone and go kick it for a night at one of these bars and benefit from the time you will have. If you get the chance, drift into a couple of these bars to see. Check out: Aura Lounge, Wall Street, 3 Brothers or Liquid Smoke n
Muddy Roots Music Festival offers more sound for less cash by Jacob Roberts Contributing Writer
oncertgoers will flock in hoards this summer to the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., but few know that they can get even more bang from their buck just right up the road in Cookeville on Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 at The Muddy Roots Music Festival. The over-corporatization of Bonnaroo is becoming a bigger problem every year, and takes away from the event as a whole. The Muddy Roots Music Festival is the exact opposite. It is a homegrown music festival run by locals that focuses on the bands. This event is not about making as much money as possible by booking the trendiest bands available to boost ticket sales. This event is about Muddy Roots music– whether it be bluegrass, rockabilly, country, punk, or gospel– and the fans that love and live it. This year’s lineup includes over 50 bands playing over the course of three days. Bands like Reverend Horton Heat, Joe Buck, Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies, Wayne Hancock, AntiSeen, Cutthroat Shamrock, Slim Chance and the Can’t Hardly Playboys, Hillbilly
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Casino, and The Legendary Shack Shakers will rock the stage in a much cooler fall climate than blistering heat that plagues Tennessee in June. Bringing in a camper and showering are also free at Muddy Roots, unlike the major fees charged for either at Bonnaroo, so staying clean and having a bed for the night won’t break your bank. There is a totally different vibe present at Muddy Roots. The artists walk around the crowds intermingling with fans and watching the performances of other artists. This kind of accessibility at Bonnaroo is unheard of. Concertgoers are allowed to camp very close to the main stages and can forego the mile trek to the stages that Bonnaroo offers. There are no long lines to stand in at Muddy Roots. No one will be subject to pat-downs or random searches aimed to prevent forbidden contraband like water crossing into the festival. Best of all, not only does The Muddy Roots Music Festival offer better bands, free camping and showers, cooler temperatures, better accessibility to the bands and stages, and caters the concertgoer better– admission is also less than half the price of Bonnaroo. n
www. mtsusidelines.com x April 18, 2012 x Sidelines No. 27
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pinions
A Cautionary Tale
THE FINER THINGS by Jeremy Ball
by Becca Andrews Managing Editor “Be careful.” We say it all the time to the people we care about, and sometimes without thinking to the people we don’t. I always shrugged it off with a grin when it was said to me, and laughed at the possibility anything could happen to me or my friends. I was 20. Young. Invincible. Of course, I was wrong. Foolish, even. A phone call changed everything. Thanks to technology, I know that 2:47 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, became a demarcation point, a line in the sand that will never be erased. Peter Quick, my “best friend boy,” had been killed in a car accident in Colorado, where he was attending the Air Force Academy. Over the course of our friendship, Pete taught me many things. He taught me that not all boys will break my heart, that music and laughter can heal, and that my dreams are worth something. He taught me that distance doesn’t have to change anything, terrible movies are best shared, that I will never understand math, and that’s OK. I think he has taught me the most over the past weekand-a-half through losing him. His death has taught me that memories are precious. When it’s all you have left of someone, you cling to every detail your mind can recover. I don’t regret a single second 14
spent with him, not even the rare occasions we fought. I’ve been desperately sifting through all our old letters, pictures, emails, Facebook messages and texts, hoping to uncover some dusty corner of my mind hiding a memory. Friends, don’t be afraid to make memories. Spend that extra hour out of bed with the people you love, go to parks at midnight and stay until you get caught, go on long road trips ending in an IHOP feast. Because sometimes being young and loving someone is all you have. Family is not defined by blood. Peter may not have technically been my family, but he was the older brother I wished for growing up. He was strong and smart and godly, and he would have done anything to protect me. I loved him as much as it’s possible to love someone, perhaps more. I can’t do this on my own. Peter loved and followed God with everything he had. Trusting God is not easy through this, and I have moments I want to give up. But the only way I’m going to get through this is by following Him. Whatever you do, don’t waste anything. Every second, every breath, every heartbeat, every spoken and unspoken word has immeasurable worth. It sounds cliché, and perhaps it won’t mean anything to you until you know what it is to lose a piece of yourself suddenly and without warning. My
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grief is not quiet. My grief has moments of intensity that threaten to rip me apart, moments that won’t allow me concentrate on anything except making it to the next minute. Don’t wait until it’s too late. The last time I spoke to Peter, three days before he was killed, I didn’t tell him I loved him. It’s one of the few times I haven’t said it, and it’s all I can think about. Tell the people who have shaped you of their importance. At a vigil held in his memory at our old high school, his mother gripped my arms and looked into my eyes. “Be careful.” I told her I would, and for the first time, I meant it. My advice to everyone is: be careful, love fiercely and never leave things unsaid. Because that’s how Peter Thomas Quick lived. n
Monkey Business Few people knew of Capt. Ahabys previous obsession with multi-colored whales
Becca Andrews is a junior majoring in journalism. She can be reached at kra2v@mtmail.mtsu.edu.
Sidelines is the editorially independent, student-run newspaper affiliated with Middle Tennessee State University and the College of Mass Communication. The opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers and not necessarily Sidelines or the university.
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Annual spring football game displays promise
The defensive team tackles junior receiver Jeremiah Bryson after running the ball up the field for several yards. Photo by Emily West.
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by Justin Beasley Contributing Writer
fter a dismal 2011 season in which the Blue Raiders only tallied two wins, Middle Tennessee tested its new product during the annual spring football game on Saturday in front of 4,214 fans inside Floyd Stadium. In an offense versus offense matchup, the White defense emerged the victor on the scoreboard over the blue offense, 40-17. “Who won was not the objective,” Coach Rick Stockstill said. “I wanted to see us come out and play hard and improve in some areas we need to improve on.” Blue started off with the opening possession, in which junior running back Benjamin Cunningham touched the ball half of the snaps, marching down the field for a
touchdown pass from Logan Kilgore to Kyle Griswould from eight yards out. Kilgore, a redshirt junior, completed 15 of 26 throws along with a touchdown and looked confident and more patient in the pocket under a newly-orchestrated offense. “It’s a completely different offense,” Kilgore said. “I got full control, and I couldn’t ask for anymore. I’m extremely excited.” Kilgore’s efforts to protect his job have not gone unnoticed. “Logan has had a good spring,” Stockstill said. “I think he has protected the ball good.” Anthony Amos displayed the potential to be this upcoming seasons deep threat. Targeted six times and tied at five with the most receptions, Amos covered 81 yards,
with one spectacular catch in between two cornerbacks, stretching the defense for 40 yards. MT’s ground game had its ups and downs. Cunningham and Drayton Calhoun, sharing the rock with eight and six carries respectively, hope to form a two-headed monster come September. Calhoun rushed for 39 yards, one from a designed draw play that went 14 yards converting on a third down for the blue squad, but was also forced into a goal-line fumble by redshirt junior linebacker Roderic Blunt. With quarterback Jeff Murphy injured from an ACL tear, freshman second-stringer Shawn White stepped in and was an impressive behind center.
White completed 14-of-28 for 140 yards and directed a touchdown drive featuring a 27-yard completion to Harold Turner Jr. and a Kennedy McGruder endzone run from one yard out. White and Kilgore each threw one interception. The 17 points from the blue offense resulted from 484 total yards, 373 stemming from the air. On the other side of the ball, the defense displayed tremendous improvement under newly-acquired co-defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, who has implemented his philosophy into a suspect defense that gave up nearly 37 points per contest in the previous campaign. Under nontraditional scoring rules, the White team was granted seven points at the start of every quarter, and four points for each forced turnover. Forcing a fumble inside the goal line and creating two interceptions, the defense cashed in on 12 points outside of the automatic 28 awarded throughout the contest. After allowing 10 points via a touchdown and a field goal, the white defense stepped up, only allowing one more touchdown early in the second half. “The whole defense went out there with enthusiasm today,” cornerback Khari Burke said. “The offense came out with a bang, but we recovered. Leadership from Dearco [Nolan], Omar [McClendon] and the veterans on the team boosted us up and we came out and competed after that.” Freshman Leighton Gasque and Blunt, each with seven tackles to their names, led the young linebacking core. Nolan led the defense with two sacks. Jerrold Frazier, Shubert Bastien, and Gasque also contributed with a sack each. “There’s a chip on our shoulder from last season,” Nolan said. “We’re not going to be the same team from last season. This taste is still in our mouth, and we got a new bigger chip on our shoulder and we’re going to come out and dominate every chance we get.” In the secondary, Burke took one of Kilgore’s throws the other way for 33 yards during the third quarter. John Kelly also picked off a pass, however he was immediately tackled after White’s interception. The white defense tallied 8 pass deflections, coming from 8 different players. “I like our mindset,” Stockstill said. “We got a long way to go. We are not close yet. If they’ll continue with this attitude and the effort they’ve given, then they have a chance to accomplish our goals.” n www. mtsusidelines.com x April 18, 2012 x Sidelines No. 27
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continued McPhee issues statement of support for professors: continued from page 9 will be used for postage, film festivals and other needs for him getting the movie out.” Pondillo intends on the film to be put on DVD where people can buy it in order to share the message. His intent is to help the Tennessee Equality Project through a donation process. The DVDs are slated for completion within the next two weeks. THE CONTROVERSY In a matter of days after the film was shown at the MT Lambda event, one student expressed her concern to Sen. Bill Ketron. Ketron is a Republican representative of District 13, which includes Marshall County, Maury, Lincoln and parts of Rutherford County. He is an MTSU alumnus, and has been associated with the
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“Don’t Say Gay” bill. Ketron observed that though the film was the property of Pondillo, the film used university resources, professors and students. “After my initial review of the response, I would also like to view the film as thus far I have received reports regarding it but have not seen it firsthand,” Ketron said. “Depending upon what the film reveals after viewing it, the following step would be to review the policies cited by the university in authorizing their role in the film. “ Once the complaint was filed, it went on to the Tennessee Board of Regents, which is over MTSU and other schools in the state. At this point, Pondillo has met with the dean of the College of Mass Communication, Roy Moore, and Provost Bartel to address the matter
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at hand. “When I got the email to meet with them, it was like, ‘come to principal’s office immediately,’” Pondillo said. “I was in an agitated state, and I misheard and misunderstood. Provost Bartel made it clear that I always had, always been supported and would keep my funding. I think my fear was on display at that moment.” The TBR then requested that MTSU make a response to the complaint. President Sidney McPhee wrote a letter to Sen. Ketron supporting Pondillo, and stating the university did not censor anything its professors created. The letter addressed the concerns of child exploitation, tuition money, and Pondillo’s agenda, which were all reported as the student’s primary concerns.
“We have received that response from MTSU,” said Monica GreppinWatts, TBR communications director. “We sent that back to Senator Ketron. We thought the response was adequate and we think no further action is required.” However, several students said they found the complaint unnecessary, and that it should not have been made in the first place. “Everyone has the right to voice their opinion,” said Brandon Farrar, presidential adviser of MT Lambda and master’s education student. “What you don’t get to do is shut it down. What troubles me is that just because anyone is in a position of power, they can make a call for an investigation. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. I think that is troubling, especially for someone like me who loves the First Amendment,
to be threatened by a state senator.” Other students who saw the film and attended the showing shared the same thoughts and feelings as Farrar. “What people need to take away from this short film is the concept, not how it was filmed, where it was filmed, or who was in it,” said Sydney Guinn, a junior majoring in mass communication. “None of those things really matter. The most important thing is the story. People will watch this and some will not understand how big of a deal it is. LGBTI people go through the story that is portrayed– it is real life” n