Volume 2. Issue 13 of The Falcon

Volume 2.

Issue 13.

The Falcon

A Keen Eye For News

IN THIS

ISSUE CROSS

CAMPUS

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Monday, April 22nd, 2013

The Road to Record Store Day

News What is CISPA? How does it effect you? page 2

Arts & Culture The MHO presents The Return of Chi Tea page 4

Boston suspects stopped

National Blueberry Pie Day Sunday, Apr 28, 2013 UPC Midnight Breakfast April 28, 10pm-12am Anna Irvn/Cafeteria Finals Stress Buster Hands and Paw April 30, 11am – 12pm

Montevallo Chorale April 30, 7:30pm–8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall

Trumpet Studio Recital May 1, 7:30pm – 8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall

CSM Honors Recital Thu, May 2, 7pm – 8pm LeBaron Recital Hall

Submit announcements facebook.com/ thefalconmontevallo

REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength

The murder of an MIT police officer Thursday night caused a manhunt in the small Massachusetts towns of Cambridge and Watertown that ended in the death of Tamerlan Tsarnaev and the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing last Monday.

Around 10:30 pm on Thursday night, the two brothers robbed a 7/11 at gunpoint. Later, a night time MIT officer was checking on a disturbance report around the Strata Center of the campus. The officer, 26 year old Sean Collier, was shot and killed by the two suspects.

The brothers then carjacked a Mercedes SUV. Police intercepted the vehicle and began to follow it.

The brothers reportedly crashed the

car. Once exposed, a firefight broke out with the police. The brothers used homemade grenades in addition to guns. An officer was shot and is still in serious condition. Tamerlan was shot and killed after attempting to throw a pressure cooker bomb at the attacking authorities. His brother jumped back into the Mercedes and reportedly ran over his dead sibling’s body in the heat of escaping.

Tsnarnaev ended up crashing the car again, escaping authorities on foot as he entered Watertown. A massive manhunt started in the

area, with police shutting down 20 blocks of a neighborhood. SWAT teams went door to door in search of the suspect. Residents were put on high alert, and were told to remain inside until he was found.

The manhunt was called off when police were unable to locate Tsnarev by 6 p.m. Friday night. However, the 19 year old was still in Watertown, hidden just a block outside the lockdown perimeter.

When Watertown resident David Henneberry went into his backyard to check on his boat, he noticed

something amiss. Inspecting further, he noticed blood on the tarp covering of his boat. The shaken resident ran back to his house and called 9-11.

Once officers began to descend on the scene, a brief spout of gunfire was exchanged.

After negotiations with Tsnarnaev leaving the boat himself failed, a mechanised device with a retractable arm was used to tear away at the tarp covering the suspect.

Police then entered the boat and dragged a bloodied and wounded Tsnarev out. Officer Richard Donahue, who

had been wounded by the Tsnarev brothers in the first gunfight, was given the honor of arresting the perpetrator.

The suspect is currently in serious condition at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. Due to the events leading to his capture, the public safety exception to the Miranda Rights Law has been implemented.

Investigators have slowly begun to question the suspect without his Miranda Rights read to him, but his wounds prevent him from speaking. Instead, he has begun to answer questions through writing.

What’s even more shocking, at least in the eyes of the public, is the supposed silence of the mainstream media. Gosnell has been working in the business for around 30 years, and a raid occurred in 2010 in his Philadelphia office. But with the exception of a few stories here and there, the case remained unknown until it went to trial recently.

Kirsten Powers of USA Today, along with Conor Friedersdorf of The Atlantic, helped shed light on the media

blackout.

Their stories shamed the media and provided the public with details about the case. Since the news broke, Twitter has exploded with people calling for CNN, Fox News, NBC and other major outlets to cover the case. So far, only the Washington Post has had regular updates.

What are your thoughts on the Gosnell trial? What do you still want to know about it? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter @TheUMFalcon.

Philadelphia abortion doctor on trial for murder

“He (Gosnell) regularly and illegally delivered live, viable, babies in the third trimester of pregnancy—and then murdered these newborns by severing their spinal NEAL EMBRY cords with scissors.”

Staff Writer| But it wasn’t Wa r n i n g : just abortion. The clinic This story contains was described as being graphic language similar to a third-world

The case of Kercountry, with stray mit Gosnell, a Philacats wandering around delphia abortion doctor and cat feces on the suspected of killing at floor. There was blood least eight people, ineverywhere, accordcluding seven babies, ing to reports. There has gripped the counwere organs and body try, leaving citizens on parts from the victims both sides of the aborstored in jars. The retion debate horrified. port calls the clinic a The details “baby charnel house.” listed in the grand jury Numerous vioreport are incredibly lations were allegedly gruesome, and again, committed, accorda warning to reading to basic health and ers that the following safety rules. Medical is extremely graphic.

equipment was unsterilized, the emergency exit was padlocked and staffers as young as 15 worked there. Gosnell was the only doctor on staff. Two employees, according to the grand jury report, had been to medical school, but neither of them were licensed physicians.

Gosnell reportedly made millions of dollars from his practice, right under the nose of Philadelphia health officials.

The grand jury, and most Americans that have voiced their opinion, agree that this isn’t abortion…this is murder. And that the Philadelphia authorities neglected that, choosing to not enforce laws that require abortion clinics to provide the same lev-

el of care as other providers, such as hospitals.

In Philadelphia, the cutoff for legal abortions is 24 weeks.

Gosnell is accused of providing abortions for cash to poor expectant mothers that were past that date. This wasn’t news to Gosnell, either, as Conor Friedersdorf, one of the first writers to talk about the situation, quotes in his story in The Atlantic.

"Gosnell admitted to Detective Wood that at least 10 to 20 percent of the fetuses were probably older than 24 weeks in gestation - even though Pennsylvania law prohibits abortions after 24 weeks. In some instances, surgical incisions had been made at the base of the fetal skulls."

The Falcon

news

A week of first

ANDREW MECHUM

Associate Editor | @amechum

We here in America love lists.

Proof of this is the continued career of David Letterman. More than lists we love number ones. And more than number ones we love firsts. Last week brought us many firsts.

Some firsts were joyous and some appalling.

Last week began with the Boston Marathon bombing which marked the first successful terrorist attack on the United States since 9/11. The first successful, but certainly not the first attempted attack. Law enforcement has successfully thwarted the attempts of several individuals since 2001 including the shoe bomber Richard Reid, underwear bomber Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad

and a host of others.

With all the success agencies like the FBI have had in the last decade preventing terrorism on American soil, it came as a shock to many that they had contact with one of the Boston bombers in the past.

FBI officials questioned Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the now dead suspect in the Boston bombings, in 2011 at the behest of the Russian government. This marks what may be considered the first major mistake made by the agency since 2001.

But as the week wore on we encountered a few heartwarming, if unexpected firsts. At the Red Sox pregame ceremony on Saturday David Ortiz gave Boston a new slogan when he said, “This is our f----- city. And no one is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”

This certainly isn’t the first time an athlete has cussed on the field. Nor is it the first time anyone has had to be bleeped from live TV for using foul language.

What is a first is that the sometimes puritanical

Page Two

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Federal Communications Commission, better known as the FCC, approved via Twitter by saying, “There’s a right time, and there’s a wrong time to be too emotional. Today was definitely the right time...”

Another first happened later during the eighth inning of the same game. Neil Diamond made a surprise appearance to sing his hit “Sweet Caroline”.

The song has been an unofficial anthem of the Boston team since 2002.

In what would be considered blasphemous under any other circumstances, the New York Yankees (for the first time) also sang “Sweet Caroline” during one of their home games last Tuesday.

In a show of solidarity Yankee’s fans belted out the tune during the eighth inning showing that even archrivals could stand together in times of pain.

As the Boston Marathon bombing case continues to unfold we will no doubt encounter many more firsts.

Here’s to hoping that they are happy ones.

“In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

-George Orwell

House passes CISPA bill

ANDREW MECHUM

Associate Editor | @amechum

Chances are you aren’t even reading this on its intended date. As we publish on Mondays and hacktivist group Anonymous has called for an Internet blackout on Monday April 22 to raise awareness of a bill moving through Congress.

On April 18 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 624: Cyber Intellignece Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). The votes were 288 yeas and 127 nays with 17 not voting.

CISPA is considered dangerous because it overrides the Wiretap Act and Electronic Communications Privacy Act. In effect, any private business such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, Instagram and even your cell phone provider that collects

user data must give the government your personal information upon request, without a warrant. Moreover, they can give your information to the government of their own free will.

The best part of this all is that you never need know about it. Under the law you have no right to know when your information was shared, for what reason it was shared and who is looking at it.

Any government agency, including the IRS, can request your information from private technology firms.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy and civil liberties group, called CISPA, “dangerously vague” in its wording and purpose.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) went as far as to label the Bill “extreme.”

Repeated cyber attacks by China are considered to be an impetus for passing this legislation despite the fact that the Bill would potentially do more harm to American’s constitutional rights than protect from foreign governments.

The bill now makes its way through the Senate, but may face a veto if it ever reaches the president’s desk. Obama has said in the past that he would veto the bill in its current form. This could mean that a change of language, for or against the people’s rights, may make Obama change his mind.

For more information on CISPA you can visit Gizmodo, ZDNet and, of course, Anonymous.

If you wish to contact your senators about CISPA you can find them here.

Fertilizer Plant Explodes in Texas

JAKE SMITH Staff Writer|

Established 2012 An Independant Student Newspaper EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kyle Jones ASSOCIATE EDITOR Andrew Mechum ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Reed Strength STAFF WRITERS Neal Embry Mandy Steadman Jake Smith Teddie Taylor Matthew Lord Clarke Stackhouse Connor Bucy CONTACT US AT: thefalconeditor@gmail.com

A fertilizer plant violently exploded north of Waco, TX at approximately 7:50 P.M. local time on April 17th.

The explosion, reportedly heard from dozens of miles away, killed15 people and left at least 160 seriously injured.

Following the explosion, the nearby community of 2,600 was quickly evacuated as impending dangers of the aftermath were evaluated. At least one hundred people were rushed into Waco’s Hillcrest Hospital as well.

State troopers

donned gas masks and began searching the area for evidence of what happened in addition to searching the grounds for other survivors. Six helicopters also flew over the area with orders to search and rescue those affected by the blast. Since the initial evacuation, the community has been reopened, and residents have been allowed to return to their homes.

However, the primary concern after the blast was the fact that an intact fertilizer tank remained in the facility. Many feared it would detonate as well, but as of yet it has not.

Firefighters also noted concern over the airborne spread of anhydrous ammonia, a potentially fatal chemical that the fertilizer

might have released into the atmosphere in the blast. Fortunately, after five days of observation, no significant amount of anhydrous ammonia has been detected in the local air.

The plant is also suspected of containing 270 tons of ammonium nitrate, the primary ingredient used in the Oklahoma City bombs.

The plant did not report this number to local health and safety bureaus which is illegal. However, it is not currently clear whether or not the chemical caused the blast.

As of yet, there has been no official statistics released, and local rescue personnel have been relatively silent on the matter. Stay with The Falcon for updates as they are released.

J

The Falcon

Page Three

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

“Cous’n Effect”

ANDREW MECHUM

Associate Editor | @amechum

Alabama, along with much of the southeast, is often the punching bag for the rest of the country.

Even Georgia’s own Jeff Foxworthy made a career of lambasting southerners with his line of “You might be a Redneck” jokes.

We are called backwards, ignorant and racist. Worst of all we are considered incestuous and inbred.

Foxworthy’s joke, “You might be a Redneck if you go to the

family reunion to pick up women,” nicely sums up this sentiment.

But the days of “accidentally” hooking up with your cousin may be over if we can get our hands on a new app developed in Iceland.

Affirming the adage, there’s an app for that, two University of Iceland engineering students developed the cellphone app, IslendigaApp, that will alert you to any nearby relatives.

By bumping your phone with someone else’s you can

compare your family tree with other users.

Should you prove to be too closely related to embark on a one-night stand an “incest-prevention alarm” will sound according Arnar Freyr Adalsteinsson, one of the students behind the app.

So why was this app developed in Iceland and not the Heart of Dixie? Iceland has a population of just over 315,000, most of whom can trace their lineage back centuries. By contrast Alabama has 4.8

million residents according to the United States Census Bureau.

With few immigrants and a rather homogeneous gene pool to draw from the chances for the girl/ guy of your dreams to be a relative skyrock-

et if you’re Icelandic.

One hurdle to bringing the app Dixie-side is that the app utilizes the Icelandic genealogical database Islendingabok (Iceland Book). This database tracks the genetic lineage of Iceland’s citi-

zens going as far back as the ninth century.

So until we develop a similar database you will have to rely on your guts and pray you don’t wake up next to someone only to find the same family members in their picture frames.

A night in church with the Main Street Players

MANDY STEADMAN Staff Writer |

The Montevallo Main Street Players brought a unique experience to their audiences on April 18-21st at the Parnell Memorial Library. Their most recent play, “Smoke on the Mountain,” enveloped it’s audiences with the sensation of being in a weekend service of singing the word of God during the late 1930s.

This musical was unlike any other musical performed on the stage. This was not a

musical with Jazz-hands or tap dancing. The music, itself, was all Bible songs with no real plot line or major plot twists.

However, it was interesting to watch because its purpose was to make the audience feel like it was a part of the show.

The plot of the play took place at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in North Carolina. The time frame was June 1938 on a Saturday night.

The citizens of Mount Pleasant welcome the Sanders Family Singers to their church to lead them in singing hymns. Drama ensues, though, as minor family secrets are revealed and the girls of the family start dancing, which

was very controversial in this time period.

The actors were very interactive with the audience in many ways. The Pastor, Mervin Oglethorpe, played by Len Ward, shook hands with audience members and even gave some of them their own character names.

The atmosphere of the show was very old-fashioned and gave you a sense of being in the 1930s. This was a decade of conservativeness and preserving the purity of all church-going children.

Every actor on stage brought life and realism to the play.

One actress that stood out the most was Mary Kate McLaurine, a

Thanks Montevallo!

University of Montevallo student. She played Denise Sanders, the female twin sister of the Sanders family.

McLaurine had a genuine smile on her face that lit up the entire theatre. Her voice, as well, was absolutely flawless in her solos and her emotions onstage felt very genuine in nature.

However, one actress was trying too hard to seem real in her performance. Karin Godman, who played the sister June Sanders, really seemed to force her dialogue. The delivery of her lines felt like the audience was watching a high school actress. She seemed to come more alive, however, when she sang

and played miscellaneous instruments.

The chorus, or congregation, really helped to magnify the music of this play. Before the second act began, the congregation members sang duets and showed off their talents in music. Two members that really shined on stage during their duet was Diana Douglas and Kelby Roth.

Their voices were both very different: Douglas with a soft, yet high-pitched voice; Roth with a booming, lower range. They fit really well together and it gave their duet a memorable melody.

The only real concern about this play was it’s not very relat-

able for those who never went to church and for those who had bad experiences with church.

This also goes for the younger generation, who are more into contemporary harmonies.

This was a great show for the older crowd, but it would be almost boring for the younger generation who have not had that old-fashioned country church experience.

Overall, “Smoke on the Mountain” was a very interesting play and gave audiences the feeling of being in church watching a family of singers lead everyone in songs of God. The Falcon gives this performance a 7/10.

Mississippi man charged with threatening President Obama

NEAL EMBRY Staff Writer|

Ahh, Montevallo. Home to brick streets, small classes and a diverse student population. And apparently ridiculously annoying UPC events.

With all due respect to my UPC/ SGA/party friends, these events are poorly timed and sometimes annoying. It's not you...it's the system.

This past Tuesday, two weeks before finals, I walk into my dorm to do work. All of a sudden, rap music starts blasting and shaking my dorm from a foam party being held outside.

It's not even good rap. I'm a rap fan, but playing songs that repeat lyrics like, "You a big fine woman go on back that 'thang' up'" don't enhance the rap game at all. And let's be real..don't cen-

sor the words. It actually makes it trashier, because it makes it seem like you’re hiding something. We all know what Juvenile’s talking about...we’re in college. I can’t stand the song or the lyrics, but my ears won’t burn if I hear foul language.

Also, there were less than 30 people there.

The reward doesn't outweigh the cost here.

We're almost at the end of the semester. Two weeks stand between students and finals. And we're having a foam party that's incredibly and unnecessarily loud. I'm all for having fun, and it's important to relax in these stressful times, but there's a way to do it without annoying those of us who need to work.

My dorm should not shake, un-

less there's an earthquake. Ever. This is unacceptable, and I feel like I, the rest of Lund, and those affected in New Res and Brooke deserve an apology.

Set it up on the quad next time, away from dorms. Apologize to your students. Play better music (shoot, I'll help you with the playlist) and make sure that as you're offering students a chance to break away from the stress of studying, you're not infringing on my right to peace and quiet as I work.

Thanks Montevallo. I do love you, and I want you to know that.

What did you think of the UPC event on Tuesday? Think I'm a hater or an old man that doesn't appreciate fun? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter @TheUMFalcon.

NEAL EMBRY Staff Writer|

In an incident that mirrors the anthrax attacks of 2001, a Mississippi man has been charged with sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama and Senator Roger Wicker, R-MS. Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, of Corinth, Mississippi is charged with using the mail to threaten public officials. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

The Elvis impersonator, who was

ironically hired by Sen. Wicker for a party, allegedly wrote letters that contained the deadly substance and included a message that read: “No one wanted to listen to me before.

There are still ‘Missing Pieces’ Maybe I have your attention now, even if that means someone must die. I am KC and I approve this message.”

Curtis was easy to find, as he had written letters to Wicker’s office before, signed “Kevin Curtis.”

He also had a September 2010 blog post titled

“Missing Pieces.”

Curtis’ wife reported him to Bonneville Police in 2007, stating that her husband was “delusional, antigovernment, and felt the government was spying on him with drones.”

His Facebook page and other social media outlets included talks of conspiracy theories and how the government was out to get him.

He felt that the government ruined his life.

Curtis was surprised when he was arrested and claims that he is innocent.

Page Four

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

The Falcon

The road to Record Store Day REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength

Grimey’s, a record store in the heart of downtown Nashville, had a camp of overnight guests behind its four story main building Thursday night. These campers were not sleeping in the paved parking lot to experience the nocturnal sights of a metropolitan southern city. Instead, they were poised to have first pick at the year’s biggest holiday on wax, Record Store Day.

For background, Record Store Day started four years ago in an attempt to save the independent record store.

The day is celebrated directly with the purchase of unique and limited edition singles and albums curated to be released only on that day.

Ranging from grand reissues to unreleased b-sides, these songs often come packaged on uniquely designed vinyl.

Grimey’s, perhaps the biggest record store Nashville has to offer, expanded on the normal patronage of purchasing by featuring live music and food behind its main building.

Alt-rock band Paramore headlined, and met fans early in the day to sign copies of their just released new album.

That line, however, was miniscule compared to the enormous, curving snake of eager vinyl enthusiasts that wound from the back of the establishment up a hill to its front. Those expecting the long wait brought camping chairs and Kindles to pass the time. Others talked

amongst themselves, random tidbits of music nerdom floating around and occasionally reaching far enough to catch a new friend.

The line moved steadily with pockets of 20 to 30 minute moving times reaffirming hope to actually get to the exclusive material. Where the morning began chilly, a quick coin flip of the weather caused patrons to remove their trendy jackets and coats. Eventually, one could see the line end at the cafe doorway to Grimey’s Too, the record shop’s newly opened bookstore and coffee bar.

Smartly and strangely, an ice cream vendor and shoe maker setup tables near the middle of the line to attract potential customers. Grimey’s capitalized on the stationary customers as well, placing tables of used records and CDs between pocket burning collectors and the mysterious and far away door in an equal attempt to gain extra money and clean house of dusty old vinyl.

Up a flight of stairs with the door in sight, an employee shooed away “cheaters” who weren’t aware of the large line and ignorant of the plight of the dedicated that were.

He confessed that the uncomforting wait was not because of the sheer amount of people, as much as the slow progress of the checkout line.

Only two people were apparently manning the bloating cash registers, their swiftness completely reliant on their customers’ attitudes and requests.

Frank Turner Tape Deck Heart Folk Rock Interscope Phoenix Bankrupt!

Alternative Rock Glassnote Laura Stevenson Wheel Indie Rock Don Giovanni Records Gama Bomb The Terror Tapes Thrash Metal AFM Records Snoop Lion Reincarnated Reggae Mad Decent

He promised a still stockpiled amount of exclusive material inside, and he was not stretching the truth in a veiled attempt to make the wait worth it. While the air conditioning was pleasant, the treasure trove inside was even more refreshing.

The records were ordered alphabetically in record bins.

Rows of similar packaging confirmed that after only two hours of the place being open, there were still plenty of copies for everyone. Crates of 7”s lined a back table.

Once purchases were picked, relieved buyers were ushered into the winding and multi roomed checkout line. There, purchases were complemented and accessed.

Some may have had to

stare painfully at their most prized and pined after find, clutched in the arms of another.

A blogger came to ask about the purchases, while employees zipped in and out of the rooms. Some even took swapping requests to satisfy last minute decisions concerning just what was more important to the collection.

A popular record tucked under the arm and slipped into the stacks of many enthusiasts was The White Stripes’ classic “Elephant” album reissued for its 10th anniversary. The record was housed in an on tip jacket, a double album with one record split half black and red. The other was pure white, all combined were an ode to the band’s fa-

Album Review: “Ghost on Ghost” by Iron & Wine JAKE SMITH

Staff Writer|

Iron & Wine are one of the most exciting acts in music. Yes, I mean that. Hear me out.

Sam Beam and company might not be the most visceral musicians out there, and they certainly won’t ever be called fierce or energetic. In fact, their laid back, acoustic vibes have more in common with early Elton John than any 21st century act, but that’s just the thing. When Iron & Wine released “Our Endless Numbered Days” in 2004, Beam sounded nothing

like Sir Elton. Now, in just nine years, he and his band have managed to create a modern day “Honky Chateau”.

This is because Iron & Wine is constantly evolving, and this is the source of the excitement. Their sound has moved from laid back, solo acoustic demos and covers of The Postal Service to a full, vibrant, jazzy sound with brilliant, clean production and well-crafted melodies and lyrics.

In fact, each new Iron & Wine album has been a huge step in a whole new direction.

New this week

2007 saw Beam embrace the full band and beef up his folk on “The Shepherd’s Dog” while 2011’s underrated “Kiss Each Other Clean” saw the band loving on arena-ready U2 stylings. Now in 2013, “Ghost On Ghost” has embraced Beam’s inner pop songsmith.

The album starts with the fiercely addictive “Caught In the Briars” which worms its way into your head and refuses to dislodge itself.

The addition of jazzstyle drumming gives the song a unique flavor, and Beam’s unique

lyrical wit keeps you interested with clever lines like “As holy as she can be / The trick’s in the timing.”

Elsewhere, Beam and his crew continue to utilize these driving beats and sharp lyrics on tracks like “Grace For Saints and Ramblers” and the New Orleans flavored “Lovers’ Revolution”.

However, Beam’s true strengths, much like Elton John’s, lie in the slower moments. When Beam softly sings the hypnotizing “Grass Windows”, the entire world melts away as he

mous color scheme.

That White Stripes’ leader and mastermind Jack White was this year’s official Record Store Day ambassador was no surprise to the reissues heavy purchase.

The line wound into a book and used records room before finally stretching across a hallway to the goal of the checkout counter.

At this point in the day, possibly around lunch time, hungry and well worked Grimey’s employees began to funnel in and out of the doors with small baskets of barbecued chicken.

The smell of the fresh food carried far back into the store by the breeze whenever someone reached goal’s end and opened the front door of Grimey’s Too.

Record clerks punched the keys of the register with a quickened pace in an attempt to establish a small window of chow down time before the next overtly happy music nerd smacked their stack on the counter with triumphant pride.

With records purchased, the air outside carried a particular sort of buzz.

The dull sounds of a rock group with a soulful female singer emanated from behind the store. While many either rushed down to the barbecue stations, others emptied their loot in the car and headed back to peruse the main store.

With all regular releases 10% off, and the excitement of wax well purchased still fresh, many could not wait to dive back into the bins.

sings “We found each other blown between the trees / Waning moons wanting to be swallowed by the sea.” The song also features a steadily growing arrangement which perfectly incorporates horns, jazz drums and light piano to great effect. “ W i n t e r Prayers” takes things even farther as Beam is found in full-on ballad mode. The song is one of his finest moments and is the epitome of everything Iron & Wine did so well in their early days. Lightly strummed acoustic guitar and small piano are all that back

Beam’s vocal which shines brightly against the warm backdrop.

“Ghost On Ghost” ultimately leaves its listener with very little to actually complain about until the nitpicking begins. Certainly the outro of “Baby Center Stage” could have been cut down, but when all is said and done, none of this really matters.

Iron & Wine have delivered what is one of 2013’s most entertaining and entrancing musical experiences, and for that they should be commended. The Falcon gives “Ghost on Ghost” a 9 out of 10.

The Falcon

Our two cents

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

THE FALCON STAFF “Music Journalist”

THE THERMALS Desperate Ground

No more than three chords used throughout:Check. Whiny yet endearing vocals: Check. Does every song sound like the one before it: Check. No autotune or synth used:Check.

Simply put: If you like middle of the road, not too angsty, not too political, not overproduced garage/ punk rock you may be in search of Desperate Ground.

FOXYGEN We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic

If Bob Dylan had a child with all four of The Beatles and then told them to make a record, this would be it. I’ll let you be the judge of whether or not that sounds appealing, but, spoiler alert, it is.

WILCO Being There

THE HAXEN CLOAK Excavation

Who needs Daft Punk when you can sit and brood over this little gem?! There’s nothing quite like propping your feet up on a sunny Saturday afternoon while you sip a lemonade and listen to a concept album about a journey through a chasm of darkness after physical death.

Staff Writer |

The Theatre Student Organization (TSO) has, once again, brought the spirit of collaboration and support to students of the University of Montevallo. TSO hosted their second installment of Chi Tea Thursday, April 18th and opened it to all students who wanted to share their hidden talents.

Chi Tea is a type of talent show/ fundraiser that is very free-spirited and a great way for students to have fun being who they really are and sharing their hobbies or passions with friends.

This Chi Tea was similar to the first Chi Tea back in Fall 2012, including the 75 cent bake sale and the fingerpainted canvas. It has become a Chi Tea tradition for students who come to paint something of their own on a square piece of canvas.

Both this painting and the one from last semester is hanging in Reynolds Student Lounge.

Before the festivities began, students played popular music to dance and sing to. This included oldies like The

Backstreet Boys and early Britney Spears songs.

The hosts of Chi Tea, Amber Chapman and Nick Stokes, walked onstage in their “Sunday best” and opened the night with announcements about upcoming events and wanted students to know to be themselves and to have fun. Chapman described this show as “low-key” and said this was a night of “collaboration” amongst friends and peers.

The first few acts included a poetry reading and a slam by Leilani Hayes and Lydia Clements. Hayes read two original pieces, one of them she dedicated to the late Ray Bradbury. Clements performed a piece called, “Birds and Bees.”

One act that was truly original was performed by Liz-Anne Terry and Jonathan Evans. Their act was an original skit where they both attempt to perform an interpretive dance to a song by Enya. The skit ended with Evans shirtless and Terry making a dramatic exit offstage.

The TSO president and founder, Tavi Juarez, also performed for the last time on

New music is added every week.

Come listen to what we’re talking about...

DAFT PUNK Get Lucky

“This is only a single! The album isn’t even out yet!” Shut up, alright! I know. The reason we have this is due to the intrepid young individuals who constructed full songs out of samples in an attempt to satisfy their thrist for new Daft Punk. What other musician do you know with that type of fanatical fanbase? Then it got leaked and our robotic friends had no choice but to give us the real thing.

The Return of Chi Tea

MANDY STEADMAN

The Falcon Playlist

This album came out in 1996, and I’m still sitting here and making a point to tell you to listen to it. Honestly, you can’t call yourself a music fan until you’ve experienced “Misunderstood” and “Kingpin”. Just... Go. Drop The Falcon for one moment and pull up Spotify. You owe it to yourself.

THE KNIFE Shaking the Habitual

If listening to a 100-minute long double album about gender and queer theory as composed by a Swedish brother/sister duo in the style of experimental techno doesn’t sound appealing to you, then there is something seriously wrong with you.

With titles like “Fracking Fluid Injection”, how can you resist?

Page Five

Reynold’s Stage. She performed a monologue she used in her auditions for graduate school.

The last two acts of the night were two hula-hooping dancers, who practice hulahooping for fun. The first hula-hooper had a friend accompanying her with a large horn, giving her rhythm and pace for her dance.

The last hulahooper, Luna Shedrick, was a returning performer from last semester’s first Chi Tea. She did a fast-paced dance in the dark with her glowing hula-hoop.

The audience filled the theatre with cheers and laughter as Shedrick did spins and flips with her flashing hula-hoop.

When the final act was finished, the hosts came out in t-shirts and jeans and invited the audience to stay and have a dance party. Line dances were learned and everyone who stayed left with big smiles on their faces.

There was not a huge crowd because of preparation for upcoming exams, but the enthusiasm of those who came was large enough to fill the theatre, tenfold.

Liz Ann Terry and Jonathan Evans

The Falcon

presents a

featured essay Page Six

Rock, rock, Indie Rock High School...part II REED STRENGTH & JAKE SMITH

Arts & Culture Editor| Staff Writer

When you last visited indie rock high school, your new friend Conor Oberst introduced you to a few of the most notable cliques around the high school cafeteria including The Decemberists, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire. Now you’ve been sent off to class as Oberst has left you to your own devices. Welcome back to Indie Rock High School.

You enter a cold classroom. The shades are down, and a projector has been set up in the center of the room. Behind it sits a pale, skinny man dressed in black. Atop his head is an old-fashioned cap, straight out of an old blues club. He notices you as you walk in the room.

“You must be the new student! Glad to meet you. My name’s Jack White, and I’m to serve as your history teacher,” he says.

You say a timid hello and make a nervous joke to break the ice. He laughs at it and ends up snorting which immediately has you feeling disarmed and welcome. You take your seat and listen closely to Mr. White’s words.

“So the history of our music is a long one. It’s full of twists and turns, rises and falls, stars and nobodies. So I figure the best thing we can do is start from the top. Alternative music was born of the rebels. The guys who fought those who said that music could only be one way. Essentially, then, the roots of our alternative and indie scene was born around the same time as rock and roll.”

White lights up a cigarette and continues. You don’t even think to question him.

“Let’s take a look at some early rebels.” The slide changes to a picture of an African-American man with a crazy smile on his face. He is hunched over a guitar like its an awkward extra appendage to his body.

“This is Chuck Berry. The man pretty much invented rock guitar. Every single crazy solo you’ll ever hear owes a great debt to this man and his wild antics. Learn him. Love him. Aspire to be him.” The slide changes to a photo of four men with mustaches in brightly colored marching band uniforms.

“And these guys are The Beatles. No band has been this commercially successful with this level of artistic freedom.

Ever. You will not surpass them, but you must always be trying to do just that if you ever want to get anywhere in this world.”

You make a note as yet another photo pops up on screen.

“Meet the Ramones,” he says. “These men challenged what was the bloated and ultra-prestigous aspirations of the prog-movement in rock. They donned leather jackets and played simple, fast songs that only concerned women and horror movies. Without knowing it, these knuckle heads invented punk, a genre that still can’t quite seem to figure itself out.”

You glance around to realize that there are no other students in the room. Sensing your confusion, White puts a clammy hand on your shoulder. “Don’t shake it. Everyone’s already taken this class. Well, taken it or skipped it completely. It’s alright to be late in learning the lessons of the past. But ignoring them completely is a fool’s move. How can you be taken seriously as a rock n’ roll band if you don’t know the history behind what you’re playing? It’s the only way to take old techniques and reform and configure them into something totally new,” White muses. You aren’t sure if he’s really addressing you at this point, but you drink in his words either way.

White walks over to his desk and pulls out a thin, squared shape made of paper. As he comes closer, you realize that there’s a black disc inside the square. He tenderly pinches the end of the disc, pulling it out of the paper sleeve. With care, he lays the disc on a rectangular device, and drops a small arm with an even smaller needle at the end of it onto the dusty object.

A drum hit breaks the silence, as a trebly electric guitar followed by a nasally and strange voice invades your ears.

“How does it feeel??” begs the accusing voice, now a veritable presence in the room.

“When you can, visit your local record shop and pick up something. Talk to people. The history of music is detectable through its physical manifestations. Think about how many ears this particular record has converted to the genius of Bob Dylan. You ain’t gettin’ that kind of passed down lineage with a damn mp3 file.”

As the song ends, White leans back into a cracked leather chair behind his desk. “I would say class dismissed, but that implies that you won’t learn anything more today. If you do it right, you’ll never stop learning.”

You think you like Jack White. At least, you think you should. As you leave, you notice the unfriendly denim clad duo you met outside of the school. They’re leaning against the wall, next to the door of the classroom. “That man speaks the highest of truths”, the shorter and scrappier one says to both you and his partner.

You wait around awkwardly for more of a conversational opening, but the two aren’t interested in giving you one. You quickly attempt to walk away as one of them trips you. They cackle as you limp away when a lanky fellow with a big nose crashes into you. “Never seen someone attempt to plow through a janitor to get to class. You must be new. I’m Stephen Malkmus.” He extends his hand and you shake it. You look back at the bullying pair as they walk the opposite direction of the hall.

Malkmus laughs to himself. “You’d think the way those two talk and carry themselves that they’d get kicked outta here.

But in truth they’re ace students, especially of Jack’s class. They’re just tired of the rules of this school and feel like its putting them down. I hear they’re getting scholarships from all kinds of ace labels.

“They don’t seem to wanna break out of that established blues mold though. Sometimes, ya gotta get a little weird to establish yourself from the rest. Hey, lemme show you something.” You follow him to his supply closet. Inside is a mess.

Stacks of old, moldy records take up most of the space. A photo of Malkmus with five other dudes hangs framed on the door.

Before you can ask him about it, he hands you a record. You stare at the cover in silent bewilderment. It’s not an epic battle scene, or even a suave band photo. A can of green okra sits in stark black space. The cylinder is even labeled “Can”, as if the artist’s intent was to make the record’s owner feel stupid.

“These guys are a German band from the ‘70’s. You’ll never guess what the band name is. Now, small warning, this record will freak you out. But! If you keep an open mind and pay attention, you’ll realize how great these guys were. I used to listen to this album every night before I went to bed, and the music I made as a result of it...well.” He sighs and stares at the photo on the door. “Those days are behind me. But I found success kid, and so can you.”

You walk out of the closet with the Can record in your hands, dazed and confused. You then realize that this small misadventure has made you late for your last class of the day. Running with the record tucked under your arm, you dash through the halls. “Stop,” a voice suggests more than commands.

The door to the principal’s office swings open. A bald man with a scraggly grey beard steps out, and silently motions you to come in. As you shamefully walk towards the office, you read the name on the door: Michael Stipe, Principal, R.E.M. You guess that the last bit must be some sort of distinguishing degree. Pondering its meaning, you close the door behind you and sit down.

The Falcon

Page Seven

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Established 2012 An Independant Student Newspaper

next week’s issue

Things on my Reed

-Suarez’ vicious teeth -Assassins review -Study Habits -Laotian Economy -Birds of a Feather -CISPA -Internet Sales -Music -Tech -News -Our goodbyes

NEAL EMBRY

Staff Writer |

“Things on my bunny” has taken Twitter by storm. Things like honey mustard, an order from Chipotle, and other miscellaneous items sit atop a user’s bunny and people retweet it.

Pretty simple, right?

Here at The Falcon, we’re starting our own “Things on my bunny.”

Except we don’t have

a bunny. We do, however, have a freshman named Reed. Since he’s a freshman, he joyfully does all the grunt work.

That grunt work now includes letting us take pictures of him with random items, chosen by yours truly, on top of his head. Way to take one for the team, Reed!

This week, we’ve put a rub-

and more...

April 29th, 2013 Web www.facebook.com/thefalconmontevallo @theumfalcon www.thefalconat.tumblr.com

is accepting articles and applications for staff positions contact us at thefalconeditor@gmail.com

ber ducky on Reed’s head.

Everyone enjoys a rubber duck, even college students.

Looking great, Reed!

Keep reading The Falcon each week to see what’s on Reed’s head. Let us know your opinions or suggestions through Facebook or Twitter, @TheUMFalcon.