March 2024

Your one-stop shop for all your printing & design needs in Boonville, IN!

2024 STAFF

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR

Tommy Housman

Creative Directors

Madison Adams

Abbey Kyle

Mari Mueller

Designers

Valorie Marx

Allison Borchard

Nina Wilson

Ale Espana

Editor

Dani Parisi

Collin Wilson

Andrea Lenser

Writers

Devon Langley

Andrea Lenser

Chloe Campbell

Grace Burnell

Madchen Fox

MJ Deghhan

Morgan Bassett

Taylor Howe

Bev Rowley

Joan Clevenger

Parker Andreson

Hayden Chrapek

Paris Himes

Troy Schroeder

William Walker Allen

Tommy J Housman

Photography & Video

Madison Adams

Samantha Pelfree

Andrea Lenser

Dalila Rodriguez

Tommy J Housman

Illustrators

Joan Clevenger

Mikayla Duffy

Tommy J Housman

CRESCENT MAGAZINE

is the University of Evansville’s student magazine. It is written, edited and designed by and for UE students and published six times during the academic year. Circulation is 1,500 distributed to 18 campus locations and housed online at www.cresceent.evansville.edu

The Crescent is funded through advertising sales and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the Student Government Association.

LETTER SUBMISSIONS:

Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, class standing or title and email address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited as needed.

Don’t Talk About It - 1

When good People Do Nothing - 2

Weekend Trip To London - 3 A Love Letter to Public Transportation – 4

Shocks after Shocks – 5

The Sports Write Up – 9

Diversity Equity & Inclusion – 9

EDITORIAL POLICY:

Commentary expressed in unsigned editorials represents a consensus opinion of the magazine’s Editorial Board. Other columns, reviews, articles and advertising are not necessarily the opinion of the CMEB or other members of staff.

RuPual & Gay Culture – 13

What It Means To Be Intersex – 17

Evansville Promise Neighborhood – 19 UE

Big Change Coming to The Llyoyd – 21

The Power of Seeing – 22

The Dark Side Of The Moon - 25

Local News is Dying - 29

Book Review - 31

HOW TO CONTACT US

SOBA, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47722 Editorial e-mail: th208@evansville.edu

www.crescent.evansville.edu

facebook.com/UECrescentMagazine

twitter.com/crescentmagazi1

instagram.com/UEstudentmedia

DON’T TALK ABOUT IT

By: Hayden Chrapek - A Reponse to SkyDxddy’s Original Lyrics

“don’t ask me how i’m doing, i’m gonna lie to you i feel the need to please my people, it’s just what i do” you hear the first verse for the first time, but it doesn’t connect yet. that’s okay— you’ll get there. you continue but listen this time—

“what do you mean you can’t talk right now? i know i was a burden” tears stream down your face. why are you crying? why did this hurt? what changed?

“no-one wants to talk to me when i’m really hurtin’ and this is why i lie, why i smile and fake it all” are you just lying to your family? they can’t know— smile, just smile.

“so turn it off, pretend again, that everything’s okay save the mental breakdown, save the tears, ignore the pain cause the more you open up, the more it fuckin’ hurts” wait until you’re in your room, then you can break. don’t break in front of your family. they won’t understand. they will think you should be locked up. they will cry. they don’t deserve to cry, especially over you. you don’t deserve their care. take deep breaths. don’t panic yet.

“every time i open up i know what you say, don’t talk about it it’s like you’re so far gone you think i’m insane, don’t talk you said be honest and you just walked away, don’t talk about it no matter what i do it’s always the same, don’t talk” retreat. retreat. retreat. you can feel the tears building up. you need to get out. you get to your room and close the door. knock. knock. the door opens. it’s your mom, ‘are you okay?’ you try to lie, but she won’t believe you. you know that she doesn’t actually want to know because it paints them in a bad light. ‘i’m not the villain,’ she tells you as if you’re a small child.

“i don’t need you to be fake, i needed someone to talk to” she leaves. you are alone. alone. no one will ever be there for you. sob.

When Good People Do Nothing

by: Tommy J Housman

I Always Wanted To Be A Storyteller

And Weave Fleeting Fancies Of Fantasy Together

From Grandiose Gestures To Subtle Subtitles And Convenient Conjecture

A Moment A Pause A Break

A Tale With No Expectations Just An Escape

But Life Had Other Intentions

Far Too Many To Mention

And Now That I Stare At The Ceiling Trying Not To Blink

My Mind Unravels All The Things I Thought I Might Think

I Can No Longer Abide The Notion Of Subdued Neutralization

In Lieu Of Waking Moments That Elude Realization

The Complex Quandary Of Communication

To Be Understood And Fully Understand Absent Exacerbation

I Cannot Simply Converse To Convey The Connections

Of Willful Blindness To Disparity And Oppression

Racism And Bigotry In Times Of Election

Accountability And Culpability Subjected To Deferred Deflection And Dereliction

But I Can Try

While Hordes Of Hate And Villainy Disguise Themselves In Pity

To The Good People Silence Is The Harbinger Of Their Victory So, I Shall Be Loud And Unencumbered

Even When The Voices Of Reason Are Outnumbered

The Strafe Of Ignorance Stains Our Mediocrity

The Only Solution Is Joining The Rhetoric In Synchronicity

Blow For Blow

Hit For Hit

I Cannot Just Stand By I Have To Try

Weekend Trip to London

By: Paris Himes

Adjusting to the United Kingdom has been a rollercoaster. Between settling in with classes and meeting new friends, my time in Harlaxton has been fun – despite being sick the second week I arrived and having to navigate to the nearest clinic. During my time, I’ve traveled to Edinburgh, Wales, Nottingham, London, and many more fantastic places with friends. Before traveling for Spring Break, my friend Kacey and I decided to take a quick weekend trip to London.

Our three-day adventure began on Thursday, February 15th, after lunch. After we ate, we had to take a street car (another term for taxi) to the Grantham train station. We boarded our train and went on our way to London. The train ride lasted about two hours, which gave us some time to finish any assignments we had and prepare for midterms.

After arriving in London, Kacey and I took the tube to the neighborhood of our Airbnb so we could get a taste of the authentic Londoner experience. It was exciting to quickly adapt to a different culture and experience the everyday lives of the people around

us. Even though I have ridden subways before in many cities, the London tubes were different. I noticed that the commuters were usually very quiet. Despite that, boarding and departing the tubes is always hectic – there’s a rush of a crowd stepping off or coming on at every station.

We arrived at our Airbnb and, after dropping our bags off, decided to return to the city by Uber. We found our favorite stores on the streets of London, Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville, and spent time shopping at them. While navigating to the stores, we stopped to take pictures at The Butterfly Trail, a museum based on virtual reality. After spending our day shopping, we stopped for Italian food at a restaurant called Isolabella.

We walked around London a bit more after our meal, and ended up meeting a group of girls our age.

We exchanged social media accounts, and they invited us to go out with them to a club called Rumba. Excited to experience clubbing in London, Kacey and I again took the tube back to our Airbnb and readied ourselves for a night out with new friends.

A Love Letter to Public Transportation

By: Morgan Bassett

“ Of all the places I’ve been in Europe, a public bus is the least glamourous. Yet, I might dare to say that it’s one of my favorite places that I’ve been. ”

In Europe, almost everyone gets around using public transportation. In America, there is a little bit of a stigma around using public transportation. If you ride the bus to work, it’s assumed that you’re poor and can’t afford a car. Across the pond, however, people from all walks of life take the bus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When I get on a bus or tram, I like to play a little game in my head. I look around, pick out one person, and try to guess where they’re going. For example, on my way to the Paris airport, I sat next to an old couple. It was a cool Sunday morning and they sat close to each other but didn’t speak. At first, I wondered if maybe they were angry with each other, but their faces didn’t match that assumption.

After about

10 minutes, without words, the older gentlemen took the woman’s hand and they continued to sit in silence. Their eyes bounced around the tram,

and I wondered if maybe they were playing the same game as me. At their stop, the man stood up, offered her his hand, and they exited the tram. I liked to imagine they roamed the streets of Paris in silence, just taking it all in. In Scotland, the trains are quite busy, so I had to stand on most rides. On one of my last rides there a man boarded the train with his dog. The dog was an older Cocker Spaniel with hair frighteningly similar to my own. He sat down in the seat next to where I was standing, and I tried my hardest not to touch the stranger’s dog. Eventually my self-control ran out and I asked, “Is it okay if I pet him?” “Sure,” the man said in a very thick Scottish accent. “His name is Brodie.” As I scratched Brodie’s ear I wondered where in the world this little guy was going on the train. Would his owner take him for a walk, or had he already been on one? Did he get lots of attention from strangers that day or was I the only one? I petted Brodie’s head until his owner stood up and left the train with a smile. For the rest of the night, I thought about that silly little dog and thanked his owner mentally for letting me enjoy that short 10 minutes with him.

The London Tube costs about £2 to ride. Because of the low price, virtually anyone can afford to ride the train. One night after leaving a show in the West End, I boarded the very quiet Tube. Directly across from me sat a man wearing a very expensive looking suit with an unmistakable Rolex on his wrist. Two seats down sat a man wearing clothes I could only assume had been worn for multiple days. I sat shocked and grateful: Shocked that these two men used the same form of transportation to get home and grateful that I was sharing the Tube with them. The men didn’t get off on the same stop, but they rode together for a while. The longer I looked --I was probably staring-I realized how much these men really had in common. They were probably both just getting off work, both were tired, and both needed a way to make it to the place they called home.

Although the men seemed like opposites on the outside, they really weren’t that different after all.

That’s what I love about public transportation. It’s one place where people from all walks of life have the same goal. There is no rich or poor, native or foreigner on a train. Everyone has somewhere they need to be for reasons most of us will never know. But we’re all on a bus and that makes us the same in a way. I never thought I would be writing a love letter to a smelly bus or sticky train, but here I am, and I cannot wait for my next ride.

Shocks

after

Shocks

There is no aspect of human life that is not impacted by money. The cost of living is rising, and there is nothing the general population can do about it. Paying monthly bills is a significant stressor, and it does not help that utility companies are constantly raising prices. One of these companies is CenterPoint Energy. They are the only provider of electric services in southern Indiana, and they have requested a significant electric rate increase. This proposal would impact many families, which is why so many people have spoken out about it.

Many variables impact electric bills. One of the most well-known reasons is the change in seasons. When the weather changes, homeowners are forced to change their energy usage, switching back and forth from heating to cooling. Current world events also shape a bill. If a plant closes or their supply is affected, they will likely raise rates. It is also important to not leave the lights on, devices running, or things plugged in if one wants to attempt to lower energy consumption. But what consumers cannot control is when utilities raise rates to cover the cost of the coal and gas needed to run their power plants. They are also likely to make customers pay more when their plants shut down, and they must repay companies for the energy they bought. CenterPoint Energy has claimed that their proposed rate increase has to do with making

Grace Burnell

changes to the company, even though they are a billion-dollar company.

CenterPoint Energy is a utility company that provides natural gas and electricity. They serve approximately 4 million homes and businesses within six US states: Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas. They also serve 2.8 million customers by maintaining their poles, wires, and electric infrastructure. The company was formerly known as Vectren and was purchased by CenterPoint Energy Inc for $6 billion in 2019. They currently hold a monopoly over electricity in Southern Indiana; there are no other electric companies the people can turn to. Their submitted request would raise the electricity rates for these customers under IURC Cause No. 45990.

Their request has caused an upset with their customers. Electricity companies raise rates all the time, so why is this time so controversial? CenterPoint’s request asked to raise their rates by $118.8 million (a 16.02% increase) in three phases; the third phase would take effect in March of 2026. They would also increase their fixed monthly charge, which is the amount paid before a customer uses any energy. They would increase the price from $10.84 to $23.20 monthly, a 114% increase. The average customer’s monthly rate would be increased by at least $47;

some would go as high as raising $63.33. Unfortunately for CenterPoint customers, they have already paid the highest electricity bills in Indiana since all the way back in 2008. This rate increase has caused concern for many customers. Because this is such a drastic increase, many people are concerned that they will not be able to pay their bills.

One of CenterPoint’s representatives claimed that this drastic increase in cost is due to the utility company attempting to improve its systems and begin to shift to clean energy. Previously, in 2022, CenterPoint proposed a shift to wind and solar power in which the company would open two new plants for around $1 billion. These plants would only be open 10% of the time during peak energy usage. This proposal would require significantly less money than they are currently requesting in their current proposal. CenterPoint also claims on its website that it wants to have net zero carbon emissions by 2035 and offer affordable programs for its customers. The representative’s claim was also a cause for confusion because renewable energy is often considered significantly cheaper than fossil fuels; some go as far as to say it would make the companies that use it money. Fossil fuels are in high demand and have a low supply, which increases the cost.

Renewable energies are abundant and can range from $0.04 to $0.10

per kWh, while nonrenewable energy can cost up to $0.22 per kWh. The representative’s short explanation does now fully explain the extreme rate increase requested. The rate increase process goes through many stages and many different people. The utility company sends the request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). After they send it in, they must inform their customers of the pending case within 45 days of the filing date. The case is then assigned to an Administrative Law Judge who presides over the case. Then, it is the public’s turn to comment during hearings in the largest town in the area of the increase. During the parts of the trial where the public is not present, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) represents them. The OUCC testifies on their behalf, followed by a rebuttal testimony from the utility company. The OUCC, utilities, and investors cross-examine each other during the IURC evidentiary hearing. All parties wait until the IURC issues their final decision. Typically, rate cases take 10 to 12 months from the initial filing date to the finalization of the commission’s decision. It is projected that the final decision for CenterPoint’s case will be available in the fall of 2024.

CenterPoint Energy is raising rates for their customers, so it is crucial that those people speak up and make their feelings of displeasure known to the company and commission.

On February 29th, a Public Field Hearing was held at the Old National Events Plaza. At this hearing, the public could swear in and testify under oath. They gave speeches on why the rate hike is not a good idea and how it will affect their lives and families. The proposal will harmfully impact the average customer but will have detrimental effects on poor people and people who are sick. With over 100,000 people in Evansville affected by this proposed change, many of those people will likely face unfortunate consequences. Hundreds of these customers showed up to a hearing, and dozens of them spoke. Unsurprisingly, none of them were in favor of CenterPoint Energy’s request. Many customers questioned why it was their responsibility to fund this company’s investments when they are so wealthy. Some went as far as saying they would leave the Evansville area entirely if the request went through. The new Mayor of Evansville, Stephanie Terry, addressed this issue on her Instagram, writing: “In short, I am concerned that approving this rate case will have a negative impact on our residents, and that it will have

a negative impact on our city. This is what residents are telling us every day. And as their mayor and elected leader, it is my responsibility to share their concerns—our concerns.”

For people unable to attend these meetings, the Citizen Action Coalition has created a premade email form where people can send messages to their representatives to express disproval of CenterPoint’s requested rate change. Using https://act.citact. org/clekqnn leads to a form that will be sent to Indiana’s Utility Consumer Counselor Bill Fine. Using https:// act.citact.org/t8v2mke leads to a form that will be sent to the local representatives in Evansville.

The Sports Write Up

The Sports Write Up T

he Aces men’s basketball team has continued their season strong as they have now made their conference play record 6-11 and their overall record 15-13. They remain close in games on both ends of wins and loses getting big wins against Valpo, Illinois State, UIC, and Bradley. They have taken close losses to Murray State, Drake, Illinois State, and UIC. They have split a lot of conference series showing resilience and fight in the team that is promising for them as they approach post-season play. One of the most noticeable differences this season for the Ace’s is their home record becoming 10-3 which is a complete flip and improvement from their 3-10 home record last season. The Aces will compete in “2024 Arch Madness” in their opening round on March 7, in St. Louis, Missouri at the Enterprise Center. The Aces are hopeful for a first round win and to continue their strong season.

The Aces women’s basketball team has also continued their season as they have continued to fight for conference wins. The Aces have not come out on top of most of their contests, but have battled against good teams and continue

to show fight even when things get tough. The Aces are currently 2-12 in conference play but have seen some light in the last couple weeks. The Aces were able to get two big conference wins against Valpo and Southern Illinois which happened to be back-to-back wins for the team. This was the first time the Aces have gotten back-to-back MVC wins since 2017 so it has left the team hopeful for the rest of the season. Regular season play is winding down and the Aces will continue to gear up for the postseason that begins on March 7th and work for a run in the tournament.

The Aces Track and Field team has continued to work and compete at meets over the past month. They competed in the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee and the team scores were not available. But the teams also competed in the DePauw Indoor Invitational in Greencastle, Indiana where both the men’s and women’s teams placed 7th of 7 teams. The teams’ last regular-season meet was the Indiana State Open where the men’s team placed 6th of 7 teams, and the women’s team placed 4th of 7 teams. The Aces track and field team competed

in the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) Championships on February 25th and 26th and the men’s team placed 9th out of 10 teams on the first day and on the second day they placed 10th out of 10 teams. The women’s team competed as well and placed 9th out of 11 teams on the first day and on the second day they placed 10th out of 11 teams. The track and field teams will head into their offseason workouts to begin preparation for the next season as this one comes to a close.

The women’s swim and dive team competed at the MVC swim and dive Championships here in Evansville, Indiana at Deaconess Aquatic Center February 21st-24th. The Aces competed in the 50 Yard Freestyle, the 100 Yard Butterfly, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Freestyle, IM, the 200 Yard Backstroke, Breastroke, Butterfly, IM, Medley Relay, the 400 Yard Freestyle and Medley Relay, 500 Yard Freestyle, 1650 Yard Freestyle, and the 1 meter and 3 meter diving. The Aces took 8th out of 9 teams in the MVC Championships. The men’s swim and dive team are working towards a postseason run

as they finished up regular season play in January and wait for the MAC Championships which will take place in Carbondale, Illinois March 6th-9th.

The Aces softball team had their home opening tournament February 16th18th hosting Miami-Ohio and Austin Peay where they took tough losses throughout the weekend but stayed driven. The Aces then traveled south to Monroe, Louisiana where they played at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. They played Sam Houston, Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe, and Syracuse but the Aces fell short once again. The Aces used their Spring Break to travel to Charleston, South Carolina and play College of Charleston, Wofford University, and University of Buffalo. The Aces have faced adversity early in the season, but are hopeful to turn it around once conference play begins in the middle of March where they will host Indiana State for a mid-week game to kick off MVC play.

Meanwhile, the Aces baseball team had their opening weekend February 16th18th in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Oral Roberts

University and they were able to win the series. The Aces then had their home opener where they hosted Bellarmine and took a win of 16-6. The Aces then hit the road again and headed to New Orleans, Louisiana to New Orleans University where they played another preseason series. The Aces did not bring home the win for the series, but were able to take home one win from that series. The Aces then headed to Nashville, Tennessee where they played the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Aces fought hard but unfortunately lost 7-3. The Aces then had their first home series March 1st-4th against Purdue Fort Wayne and split the series 2-2. The Aces will head south to Mississippi State for a series against the Bulldogs before opening MVC play on March 22nd against Murray State. The player spotlight has been focused on junior transfer Cal McGinnis (pictured below) as he has had a great impact on the Aces in the early start of the season. McGinnis was named the MVC player for the opening week and remains in the top three on the team with a .404 batting average.

By: Taylor Howe

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? The Fight Against DEI

By: Parker Andresen

Thank you to Madison King for helping with this article! You’re amazing, and you’re going to do incredible things!

In 2023 alone, at least 65 bills were introduced that fought against the implementation and continuation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in schools, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. These bills targeted DEI at all levels of education, including higher education. These bills come at the same time as the June 2023 decision made by the Supreme Court that resulted in the death of affirmative action, a policy that has helped millions of students of color get into college by fighting against systemic discrimination in the admissions process. Decisions such as these, which use the law to target and attack marginalized groups, come as a shock for some and a relief for others. But why is DEI such a problem, what even is it, and how will its end affect universities and individuals nationwide?

To begin, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives work to target three main areas within a university: training, organizational policies and practices, and organizational culture. Their goal is to improve and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, according to ABC News. It is through these three areas where students of all races, genders, sexualities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds can feel welcomed and included on campus. These initiatives are also meant to address and correct past inequities, such as groups being left out of the college process or being met with discrimination and hatred without support or policy to address the issues.

Not only does DEI provide policies, training, and practices, but it allows for a safe environment for students of color to thrive in a space that historically hasn’t been welcoming. In order to accomplish this, organizations such as Black Student Unions help to use DEI to directly support and foster a safe environment for students of color.

“Students of color need and deserve to have a safe space on campus, which is why myself and the other execs/ members in Black Student Union want to continue to grow our organization and provide that source of comfort and safety for Black students on campus,” says Madison King, a senior at UE and the president of the Black Student Union.

Not only does DEI benefit students of color and other minority students, but also those who do not belong to those groups.

“DEI is not just important for supporting underrepresented groups, but it is also a necessity for educating those who are not directly impacted by the issues that Affirmative Action was put in place to help reduce,” King says.

So, if it is so beneficial, then why is there such an uproar about it? Why are policies such as DEI and affirmative action being struck down at every level? This is a question many people, especially students in minority groups, have been wrestling with. For some, DEI and affirmative action seem like nothing

more than an attack against white people, straight people, cisgender people, men, and others in majority groups. This cannot be farther from the truth.

“I think the attack on DEI will have a huge negative impact on the sense of belonging for students of color across the nation,” King adds. In commenting on her experience further, she says, “I could not imagine what my experience would have been like coming to a predominantly white institution (PWI) without having made the prior connection to my advisors and peers within the Fellows Scholars Program.”

The Fellows Scholars Program was “a scholarship program for Black and LatinX students,” as King says. A program that used DEI to address inequality that has fostered a supportive and welcoming community for many students of color. A program that many people saw as a “threat.” A program that no longer exists with the death of affirmative action. What would higher education look like without diversity? What would lower education look like without diversity?

“ Since coming to college, I have heard so many people say that they come from a small town and did not experience diversity, or issues related to it, until they got to college. ”

King expresses a sentiment that I, too, have heard among UE’s halls. There are so many students who have never experienced diversity before coming to college and can see and befriend students of all races, genders, sexualities, religions, abilities, etc. Without DEI and policies like affirmative action, this process becomes incredibly hard, if not impossible.

“Without this, students who are still being impacted by these issues will not have the same opportunity to attend a private liberal arts university as someone who has benefited from generational wealth,” King says.

It is clear that the removal of DEI leads to detrimental consequences for minority students, as well as everyone else. It removes the purposefully established safe spaces, resources, policies, and practices for students of color. It strips the connections between students of different backgrounds. It hides a history of hurt, trauma, and inequality that the U.S. has fostered to this day. The removal of DEI is not fair, and it does not help white students. It only harms everyone involved.

While the fight for DEI and affirmative action may seem impossible, there is hope. This becomes especially important in our generation, a generation that has had to push and fight through barriers like none other before us.

“Overall, allies and the broader university should continue to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. It is so important for the university to encourage dialogue around DEI even though those conversations can be uncomfortable,” King emphasizes.

As she says, allies and the universities, including UE, have an important role in maintaining relationships and preserving safe spaces for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, female students, disabled students, and many others.

“The university should address the diversity gap by having support programs, increasing financial aid opportunities and pushing for more diversity within faculty and staff.”

King continued with “I hope that the university as a whole is just as passionate and supportive in the coming years when students need it most.”

Under the midst of a brutal attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the most we can do is fight. Fight for those who are different from us. Fight for equality and for safe, inclusive spaces. Equity is not a threat. It is the least we, as a country, can do.

by: Joan Clevenger

RuPaul and Gay Culture: They’re

Not The Problem

By: Madchen Fox

In the past few years, drag has had an increasingly large influence on pop culture. Since the creation of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which debuted in February of 2009, it has helped spread the message of drag as an artform. Especially considering that drag was, and still is, heavily tied to the gay nightlife scene, it was able to reach a rather broad audience. Not only did this help the perception of drag, but it also helped the perception of gay people. However, as anti-drag, homophobic, and transphobic legislation continues to get passed in one state after another, it’s hard to not feel worried about the future of gay culture. It’s not the first time that gay people are being portrayed as evil, vile, or sexually deviant creatures, but it’s frustrating that once again, the same logic is able to convince people to judge and hate others. It is important in these moments to look back on people like RuPaul, who has been – and remains – an active fighter in the gay rights movement and gay community for years. Her fame both before and after her show helped change people’s minds about gay people.

RuPaul Andre Charles, better known as RuPaul, has been influencing gay culture since as early as 1982. RuPaul was born in 1960 in San Deigo, but moved in with his oldest sister in Atlanta during his high school years. While in performing arts school, RuPaul began to dabble in cross-dressing. This was a very bold and brave decision for RuPaul, especially considering that his senior year of high school would’ve been just 9 years removed from Stonewall, one of the most impactful gay protests.

After a few debuts on TV and a handful of jobs in nightclubs, RuPaul eventually decided to move to New York City. At the time (late 1980’s-early 1990’s), the gay nightlife scene was taking off. In 1993, RuPaul released one of his most famous songs, “Supermodel (You Better Work)”. This song dominated the genre of house music for a while, and house music continues to be a huge part of gay culture. Unfortunately, the

AIDS epidemic was steadily taking the lives of many gay individuals, and RuPaul lost many of his friends due to this crisis. However, this never slowed down his progression to fame, and in 1995, RuPaul became the face of MAC cosmetics and raised millions of dollars to help the MAC aids fund. RuPaul continues to be a huge influence on the gay community, and despite his struggle with addiction, he got clean and has been completely sober since 1999. He continued to make music, and in February of 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race had its first debut. The show was a huge success, and showed off some more behind the scenes of gay culture that many straight people may not have been aware of.

RuPaul’s Drag Race is still ongoing and has only gained more popularity in the 15 years it has been debuting. However, many are getting worried about the future of Drag Race. Continuous threats of legislation banning and/ or restricting drag as an artform have begun to shake the community. Many states are implementing more rules, and in places like Tennesse and Montana, drag has been restricted. Unfortunately, It is projected that more states will follow suit, and in Texas and Florida for example, more efforts are being made to restrict drag. I can’t imagine the frustration people like RuPaul, who have been fighting for equality for decades, must feel.

As a young gay person, I feel both worried and annoyed that progress is only going backwards, yet so many people focus on “wokeness” becoming the new norm. I understand that people are always going to disagree, but I’m so exhausted of constantly having to be on the defense for my community when those who “disagree” with it are never told to do the same. Change is necessary for progress; you cannot do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. People are stuck so far in the past that they are willing to actively protest

progress because of irrational fears that things will be dangerous. All the while, nothing is being done to protect people against genuine threats. Passing legislation to stop the expression of the gay community is wasting time, and it’s only allowing more hate to fester. We need to start addressing the issues that actually hurt Americans – Drag queens are not hurting people.

Drag Queens aren’t harming anyone, and yet they are the ones that lawmakers are trying to “protect” people from. It is a lame excuse, and it’s time to hold politicians accountable. Why should we waste our time blaming drag queens when more than 100 people are dying a day in the US from gun violence? Why should we waste our time with petty, hateful legislation when millions of Americans are going into long-term medical debt? Why should the American people be okay with legislators passing harmful and hurtful laws concerning the LGBTQ+ community when hundreds of people are dying each day due to fentanyl overdoses? There are more pressing and urgent concerns for policymakers, legislators, and politicians to focus on, and we are wasting our time. I hope that young people, specifically young left-leaning people, will start to take these issues more seriously and use the power they have, however small, to vote. This upcoming election has the power to permanently set America back, and I hope that young voters understand what is on the line here.

COLORING PAGE

by: Mikayla Duffy

Dealing with anxiety in a healthy manner is paramount for maintaining mental well-being. One effective method is engaging in activities that promote relaxation and mindfulness. Coloring has been recognized as a powerful tool in combating anxiety. As individuals immerse themselves in the creative process, focusing on intricate patterns and vibrant colors, their minds are gently redirected away from worrisome thoughts. This meditative practice not only provides a welcome distraction but also encourages mindfulness, allowing individuals to stay present in the moment. Coloring has been associated with reducing stress levels and promoting a sense of calmness. By confronting anxiety through the act of coloring, individuals can gain a sense of empowerment over their emotions. I encourage you to pick up your coloring tools and brave the page by coloring the anxiety monster. Transform it into something vibrant and approachable, symbolizing your ability to conquer your fears and regain control of your mind. Through this simple yet powerful act, may you find solace and peace in the face of anxiety.

What It Means to Be Intersex

By: Andrea Lenser

What Does “Intersex” Mean?

According to InterACT, which is an organization that advocates for intersex youth, the term “intersex” is an umbrella term that refers to people born with one or more of a range of variations in sex characteristics that fall outside of traditional concepts of male or female bodies. Intersex people may have variations in their chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs like testes or ovaries. For example, a person with traditionally female genitalia could have XY chromosomes, which were previously assumed to only exist in men. Another example is a person having traditionally male genitalia but having traditionally female internal organs like ovaries. The main takeaway is that being intersex is a spectrum and that being intersex looks different for every intersex person.

How Common is it to Be Intersex?

According to Planned Parenthood, it is estimated that 1-2 people out of 100 people born in the U.S. are intersex. This means that being born intersex is even more likely than being born as an identical twin.

Intersex Terminology

Like any other human characteristic, there are terms that are favored in the intersex community and ones that are considered outdated or offensive. It’s important to learn which ones are acceptable and which ones are not in order to be a good ally for intersex people.

According to Intersex Human Rights Australia, the terms intersex, intersex people, intersex variation, and intersex traits are all favored as they recognize that being intersex is something that occurs naturally. Terms that should be avoided include intersex condition, hermaphrodite, intersexual, and intersexuality. Referring to an intersex person as having an intersex condition leads to the false assumption that being intersex is something someone is afflicted by rather than something that they are biologically. A hermaphrodite refers to animals with both male and female sex organs but should not be used for intersex people as it dehumanizes them. Intersexual and intersexuality are generally not used because it may lead to intersex may be confused as a sexual orientation rather than a sex characteristic.

Are Intersex People Part of the LGBTQ+ Community?

There is a lot of controversy about whether or not intersex people should be considered part of the LGBTQ+ community. Sometimes the acronym LGBTQ+ is expanded to be LGBTQIA+, where the I is for intersex. However, many intersex people do not consider themselves to be part of the LGBTQ+ community because being intersex is not a gender identity or a sexual orientation, but rather a physical characteristic.

In order for a person to have a specific gender identity and sexual orientation, they must be old enough to have the agency to express their personal identity. This applies to cisgender and heterosexual people as well as those that fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. However, the term intersex can be used to describe infants and very young children as it is a term used for the physical or biological sex characteristics of an individual. Thus, categorizing them with the LGBTQ+ community is seen as inappropriate as they do not yet have the agency to express their identity.

On the other hand, being intersex is a minority as most people are endosex, or born with sex characteristics that match the male or female sex. Because the LGBTQ+ community is meant to empower and uplift the voices of minorities, intersex people are welcome in the community if they choose to align themselves with it. Also, many intersex people also have non-cisgender or non-heterosexual identities, so they already have a place in the LGBTQ+ community aside from the fact that they are also intersex.

Medical Interventions on Intersex People

One of the biggest problems within the intersex community is involuntary and non-consensual genital surgery and mutilation of infants and young children. People of these ages cannot consent to changes being made to their sexual organs and thus it is seen as inhumane to perform these surgeries. While some may argue that the child’s parents should have the authority to decide, the intersex community as a whole is united against these surgeries as they are not necessary for the child’s survival. Rather, the surgeries are performed to fit children into the binary categories of male and female and leave no room for people who do not fit neatly into these categories. Gender, sexuality, and sexual characteristics are not binary and attempting to change a child to fit into a box they do not belong in is wrong.

Important Takeaways

Being intersex is a naturally occurring phenomenon and is not something that needs to be fixed. It is an umbrella term to describe a variety of sexual characteristics that deviate from the binary categories of male and female, so there is no one way to be intersex. Using the right terms for intersex people is just like using the correct terms or pronouns for people in the LGBTQ+ community, meaning it is all about the respect and acceptance of others. More people are intersex and or LGBTQ+ than what may be realized, so remember to always treat people with kindness.

For the past year, there has been talk of the “Evansville Promise Neighborhood” on campus. As the University of Evansville promotes this initiative, natural questions may be raised about what a Promise Neighborhood is and why UE and the Evansville community are involved.

Promise Neighborhoods were established during the Obama Administration and were inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone. They replicate a system of support that brings equitable opportunities to everyone in the neighborhood. This initiative is supported by a $30 million grant that is distributed over 5 years from the United States Department of Education. A group of individuals in the Evansville community came together to apply for this competitive grant. Despite three unsuccessful attempts in the past, the team continued to pursue this opportunity. Each time, they gathered valuable insights from each application.

In the final two attempts, UE’s Center for Innovation & Change (CIC) was coordinating the efforts of the Evansville Promise Neighborhood Core Team. In March 2023, CIC Executive Director Erin Lewis found out that UE’s application had been chosen as one of the three recipients nationwide for a Promise Neighborhood Grant for 2023. The one year anniversary of the grant being awarded is approaching in just a few weeks.

The overarching goal of the Evansville Promise Neighborhood (EPN) is to provide children and youth with high-quality programs and services and a strong community support system. This is to

ensure this community is set up for a successful future. EPN’s programming will impact all residents within the census tracts, ensuring care and support for the whole household, not just individuals. 23 community partners make up the EPN network, and they are providing more than 65 programs and services that will provide targeted, evidence-based solutions to advance the pipeline goals:

1. Early childhood home visiting

2. High-quality early childhood education

3. Free early literacy resources for families

- led by teams at the schools - will address the unique needs of the EPN through a co-design process with EPN children, families, and educators. Guided by UE student and faculty ChangeLabs, students in EPN schools will learn design thinking skills and collaborate with community members to put these ideas into action.

According to the Center for Innovation and Change, this may include school vegetable gardens, sidewalks, art, dance wellness programs, fitness trails, debate programs, and more. Unsure about what a ChangeLab course entails? A ChangeLab is an opportunity for students to gain class credit by working on projects that make a real difference in the real world. These projects often complement classroom experiences and provide hands-on learning opportunities.

ChangeLabs always tie back to what students are truly passionate about. ChangeLabs are open to all students. If

4. Free adult learning programs for parents and caregivers

5. Prenatal and early childhood medical care

6. Chronic absenteeism and dropout prevention programs

7. High-quality, in-school academic support programs

8. High-quality, outside-of-school-time programs

9. School social work services

10.High School Equivalency and Job Skill Support

11.Post-secondary preparation, coaching, and exploration programs

12.Workforce readiness preparation, coaching, and exploration programs

13.Neighborhood-based employment and job skills assistance

14.Access to and distribution of health resources, nutrition education, and healthy food

15.Family stability programs

16.Neighborhood revitalization

17.Community safety and violence prevention

EPN builds upon UE’s commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the local community. Through the EPN initiative, the entire UE community can realize a cross-disciplinary civic mission. Students and other UE community members have the unique opportunity to get involved with EPN through ChangeLab courses. These projects

the Evansville Promise Neighborhood mission speaks to you, or you think you have a project that could connect or support, reach out to

EPN@evansville.edu or stop by the Center for Innovation & Change, located upstairs in Ridgway University Center.

UE

B A s K T

9-23.v 9-16. 6-24. 5-27.

Those are the records of the UE Men’s Basketball team from the last four years; clearly, these numbers leave something to be desired. Entering this season, few students had any high expectations for the team, myself included. A narrow victory against Division III Wabash in our exhibition game did little to dispel the doubters. But then, the team roared out to a 10-2 start. The squad dominated in nonconference play, but unfortunately, they hit a bump in the road at the start of conference play. Those losses are marked by asterisks since the team played those games without leading scorer Ben Humrichous and star freshman Chuck Bailey. It certainly did not help that their earliest games were against Missouri Valley teams, who would finish near the top of the conference.

Conference play came and went, and UE finished with a 15-16 record overall. The final seven games of regular season all resulted in losses, but most were close, with the ball only just bouncing out of UE’s favor. The first two games of that seven-game streak, UE lost on buzzer beaters from the opponents. Amazingly, they would have suffered through three straight games of the same but for the preceding game: Bradley scored a final three-point shot to send the game to overtime waved off, ultimately securing the win for Evansville before their losing streak.

Coming into Arch Madness at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Evansville did not exactly have winning momentum in their corner, having failed to capture a game in the conference tournament since 2017. That changed as the Purple Aces captured a win in the opening round of the tournament against Illinois State. The following night, UE fell from the tournament at the hands of the Drake Bulldogs – but beating Drake was something no team managed to pull off, as they won the tournament and clinched the Missouri Valley’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loss to Drake may have ended the conference tournament run for UE, but the Purple Aces still have more basketball to play. The team accepted a bid to the College Basketball Invitational, a 16-team postseason basketball tournament held in Daytona

Beach, Florida, that begins on March 23. This appearance will mark the first postseason play for UE Basketball since 2015.

Despite the regular season’s late collapse, it must be seen as a positive for the University of Evansville. Last season, the Purple Aces ranked 352nd out of 362 teams in the KenPom rankings, but during this campaign they reached as high as place 161. Head Coach David Ragland was awarded the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award; Ben Humrichous was named to the MVC All-Newcomer team; Chuck Bailey was named to the MVC AllFreshman and MVC All-Bench team; and Tanner Cuff slotted in alongside Bailey on the All-Bench team. These players have the opportunity to return to the team next season, along with several other rotational pieces. The only players currently on the squad who do not have the option to play next year are Gage Bobe, Kenny Strawbridge, and Antonio Thomas. With UE returning so much production, it is not crazy to say they could compete for an MVC title next season – many of the teams near the top of the conference have a large amount of roster turnover, and some teams will likely enter next year with a new head coach. A few teams have decided to move on from their current coaches –like Southern Illinois and Missouri State have – but Drake and Indiana State will likely also need to search for new coaches. Both schools’ coaches are hot commodities in searches currently being done by bigger schools. UE, however, is in a uniquely positive position that it has not found itself in for several years. Coach Ragland and the team have built something special this year and are in a prime position to keep going.

Troy Schroeder

Big Change Coming to The Lloyd

By: Bev Rowley

In an attempt to increase the safety and efficiency of the Lloyd Expressway, the Indiana Department of Transportation has invested $150 million dollars in a four-year construction plan to change and improve the Lloyd. The Lloyd4U official website detailing the construction plan and timeline states,

“This project is about Making the Lloyd Work for You.”

The construction will be done in phases, to keep as much of the expressway open at one time as possible. Phase One is expected to begin in the spring of this year, spanning from Rosenberger Avenue to Cross Pointe Boulevard. After this phase is complete, Phase Two will begin, starting at the Posey County Line and finishing at Rosenberger Avenue.

Phase One focuses on the east side of the Lloyd and includes many different projects from west to east. Rosenberger Avenue will undergo minor intersection improvements. Four bridges will be replaced over Carpenter Creek, CSK Railroad, Tekoppel Avenue, as well as a pedestrian bridge near Tekoppel Avenue. They are modifying the interchange at Barker Avenue. St.Joseph Avenue, Wabash Avenue, and Vann Avenue will also have minor intersection improvement. The final projects listed in Phase One are Major Intersection Improvements on Stockwell Road, Burkhardt Road, and Cross Pointe Blvd.

Phase Two goes west of Rosenberger Avenue, and will start by replacing the pavement from the Posey County line to Wabash Avenue. Major intersection improvement will take place at Schutte Road, McDowell Road, and Red Bank Road. There will be minor interchange improvements at University Parkway and Boehne Camp Road.

It’s clear that these changes will be inconvenient for those traveling via the Lloyd. To help ease the flow of traffic, Lloyd4U shared a list of ways to navigate the construction easily.

• Signing up for text and/or email updated on the construction

• Planning travel around peak congestion times (such as the 5:00pm rush) and using backroads and other routes to avoid using the Lloyd completely

• Learning how to zipper merge and using the technique efficiently when passing construction

• Stay polite and patient

Additional details as well as construction maps can be found at thelloyd4u.com.

The Power of Seeing

There exists a certain barrier in art, in which most people upon attending a gallery expect to see something of exception within the artwork, something otherworldly captured within the artist’s subject and transformed onto the canvas. University of Evansville alumn Shannon Bourn’s artwork breaks out of that expectation by drawing inspiration from candid photography of people she sees in her life, inviting the mundane onto the walls of fine art. She creates a refreshing perspective of idle, everyday life with striking colors and kinetic lines stretched out and preserved on canvas. In her show I See You, of which the University had the pleasure of hosting in the Melvin-Peterson Gallery, Bourn captured passing moments of life in photos taken on her phone and recreated them on her canvas. Every piece has an underpainting that bleeds through to the foreground, and every foreground has pieces missing and blank spaces to allow the splashes of color and form in the underpainting to take the place of a face or hand. The use of white space is exemplary, which is further contrasted by drips of paint running down the composition and her use of bright, vivid colors. Every painting is full of energy, with a sketch- like quality present in Bourn’s unique style. The

A Look at Shannon

Bourn’s Artwork

use of the underpainting showing through isn’t out of haste or an unfinished quality -- on the contrary. Every underpainting relates to the subject. In Fisherman, the figure holds up his fresh catch, his arm sweeping behind him to maintain balance. Nets, hooks, and buoys float behind him in the underpainting, creating the atmosphere of a busy dock crowded with boats and vendors without any detail. As the show is cleared out to make room for the upcoming Student Art Show, a common theme can be found among Bourn’s works. As we pass by countless people in our busy days, walking by without a second thought, so too are intricate lives with unique personalities passed by and ignored, layers upon layers of experience and thoughts swept along and pushed aside. Bourn peels those layers back, allowing a glimpse at what might be, creating a moment of introspection where the audience is made to be curious about the world around them. They are made to question who exactly the barista making their coffee might be, why two girls are taking a night out at this moment and not another one, and on and on ad infinitum.

— Joan Clevenger

Barista by Shannon Bourn

Girl’s Night by Shannon Bourn

THE OSCARS WINNERS 2024

OPPENHEIMER POOR THINGS THE HOLDOVERS

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL

THE BOY AND THE HERON

THE LAST REPAIR SHOP

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

GODZILLA MINUS ONE

THE WORNDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR

BARBIE WAR IS OVER!

INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF JOHN & YOKO

BEST DRESSED

America Ferrera in custom Atelier Versace and Pomellato Jewelry

Florence Pugh in Del Core

Billie Eilish in Chanel

Anya Taylor -Joy in Dior Haute Couture and Tiffany & Co.

Margot Robbie in Versace, and Fred Leighton Jewelry

Ryan Gosling in Gucci and TAG Heuer Watch

Matthew and Camila Alves McConaughey in custom Atelier Versace

Emma Stone in custom Louis Vuitton and High Jewelry

Ariana Grande in custom Giambattista Valli

Liza Koshy in Marchesa

Bradley Cooper in custom Louis Vuitton and Tambour watch

Gabrielle Union in Carolina Herrera and Dwyane Wade in custom Atelier Versace

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Cauture and Swarovski Jewelry

Hailee Steinfeld in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Vanessa Hudgens in custom Vera Wang Haute and Chopard Jewelry

Zendaya in Giorgio Armani Prive

“Exploring the Timeless Legacy and Musical Innovation of Pink Floyd: Masters of Success with a Short Rewire on The Dark Side of The Moon”

Mohammad Javad Dehghan

The first time I heard the name Pink Floyd was back in 6th Grade. At the time, I didn’t have much interest in music, and my involvement with it was fleeting. A concert CD of the “Dark Side of the Moon” album ended up gathering dust in the corner of my closet before I eventually returned it to its owner without even giving it a listen. The owner had emphasized that my life and musical tastes would be forever changed if I listened to that album. However, it wasn’t until a few years later, when my favorite podcast released an episode about the same album and the band itself, that I recalled what that person had said. It was then that I realized they might have been onto something, and

that Pink Floyd’s music was indeed worthy of fascination.

Listening to the album The Dark Side of the Moon, one can review life in about forty-three minutes, with “all the tears and smiles” and all that we give to this world, and all that we borrow from it. One can write thousands more words for this album and not get to the end!

Pink Floyd is one of history’s biggest, most famous, influential, and enduring rock bands. By combining progressive and psychedelic rock music with deep philosophical, social, and political themes, Pink Floyd immortalized its name in history as a group emerging

from the identity crisis and alienation of the 60s and 70s. This group resulted from the emergence and expansion of a new era of media realities. These facts affect the media world, and music is not separated from this category. The spread of electronic music allowed this group to display the sociological concept of alienation and its resulting atonal nature in music. The deep themes of the songs, in addition to affecting the world of music, have also influenced societies and nations; among the most famous of these songs, we can mention “Another Brick in the Wall.” Pink Floyd has undeniably impacted the creation and formation of progressive rock and ambient styles. Reputable

sources of music have placed this group among the top groups in the history of rock music, including Rolling Stone magazine. The group was placed in the 51st list of the top 100 artists. Over 250 million copies of this group’s works are available worldwide, but only about 75 million copies have been sold in America. This group’s name has been among the best-selling music groups in history. The Dark Side of the Moon album is one of the most unique albums in music history, which has maintained its position on the best-selling albums chart for more than 900 weeks.

The history of this group dates to 1965 in London, England. Pink Floyd has collaborated with many musicians over the years. The primary and essential members of the band are as follows:

1 (Syd Barrett) - guitar and vocals.

2. (Richard Wright) - keyboard and vocals

3. (Nick Mason) - drums and percussion

4 .(Roger Waters) - bass and vocals

5. (David Gilmour) - guitar and vocals

In addition to these five prominent members, in some of Pink Floyd’s albums and tours, other musicians also participated as temporary members or collaborators, for example, saxophonist Dick Parry, who played on tracks such as “Money” and “Us and Them” has participated as collaborators. Pink Floyd also has a member, Pea, who is mentioned as one of the group’s founders in some sources. Bob Klose was one of the original members of Pink Floyd. He started working as a guitarist and was one of the group’s founders in 1965, along with Syd Burt, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters. However, after collaborating on recording two songs, Bob Close left the band to pursue a degree in physics before the band changed its name. Bob Close continued his work in this field and had successful activities. Although Bob Close was only a member of Pink Floyd for a short time, he is remembered as one of the group’s founders. The core members of Pink Floyd, who studied at various universities in London, including the Polytechnic of North

London and Regent Street Polytechnic, worked together on multiple bands in the early 1960s, and finally, in 1965, formed the group “ The Pink Floyd Sound,” started as an independent band. The name “Pink Floyd” is derived from two nicknames used by two blues musicians at the time, “Pink Anderson” and “Floyd Council.” The band members chose these two names as the band name and used the name “The Pink Floyd Sound” to distinguish themselves from other bands.

Syd Barrett, the band’s poet, guitarist, and lead singer, left in 1968 due to mental health issues. David Gilmour joined the band, and Roger Waters played the band’s lead singer. He took on the task of writing lyrics and leading the whole group. At this time, “The Sound” was removed from the group’s name, and the group continued to operate under “Pink Floyd.” At the beginning of their activity, the group appeared as a pop and rock band, but over the following years, due to the more experiences and efforts of the members, they turned to releasing artistic and conceptual works.

The history of Pink Floyd is divided into four decades.

Pink Floyd in the 60s

Pink Floyd was active in the 60s and released many albums and concerts this decade. In 1967, Pink Floyd’s first album, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”, was released. This album is one of the most essential works in the psychedelic rock style. In 1968, Pink Floyd’s second album, “A Saucerful of Secrets”, was released. This album contains tracks that are still considered to be the group’s masterpieces. In 1969, Pink Floyd starred in the movie “More” as well as writing the soundtrack for the movie.

Pink Floyd in the 70s

In the 70s, Pink Floyd was known as one of the world’s most prominent and successful music groups. At the end of this decade, in 1979, Richard Wright left the group due to personal problems with Roger Waters. In 1970, the album “Atom Heart Mother” was released, which includes a track of the same

name and is considered one of the group’s highlights. In 1972, the album “Obscured by Clouds” was released, the soundtrack to the film “La Vallée”. In 1972, Pink Floyd released a unique and successful album called “The Dark Side of the Moon.” This album is recognized as one of the most outstanding works in the history of music, and Pink Floyd it is considered one of their most important developments in the style of psychedelic rock. In 1975, the album “Wish You Were Here” was released, which is known as one of the outstanding works of Pink Floyd due to tracks such as “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” and “Wish You Were Here”. In 1977, the album “Animals” was released, which included tracks such as “Dogs” and “Sheep”. In 1979, the album “The Wall” was released, known as one of the most prominent and best-selling albums of Pink Floyd.

Pink Floyd in the 80s

In the 80s, Pink Floyd was affected by changes in the music industry and within the band. In this decade, the relationship between the group members was very strained, and finally, in 1985, Roger Waters (Roger Waters) left the group, and David Gilmour (David Gilmour) took over the group’s leadership. In 1983, the album “The Final Cut” was released, considered the last album with Roger Waters, an influential member of Pink Floyd. In 1987, Pink Floyd released the album “A Momentary Lapse of Reason,” considered one of the group’s outstanding works of the 80s. In 1989, the album “Delicate Sound of Thunder” was released, which included live recordings of Pink Floyd’s “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” world tour. Pink Floyd also took part in several tours in the 80s, including the concert “The Wall - Live in Berlin” in 1990, which received significant attention from the world media. Pink Floyd organized the concert, and its purpose was to support dismantling the Berlin Wall and facilitate aid to countries that were damaged during the Cold War. In this concert, Pink Floyd joined artists such as Van

Morrison, Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Joni Mitchell, and the Scorpions on stage and performed music from the album “The Wall.” Also, in this concert, artists such as Thomas Dolby, Tim Curry, Marianne Faithfull, and Albert Finney were used to sing parts of the lyrics of this album. The three principal members of Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters took the stage in this concert. But Richard Wright, another member of Pink Floyd, did not participate in this concert and appeared only as a guest artist. The concert was held in West Berlin on September 21, 1990, and was attended by over 300,000 people to celebrate the Berlin Wall’s fall and support each other and the countries affected by the Cold War. In the 80s, Pink Floyd faced changes in the music industry and changes within the band. The lack of cooperation between the band members, the smaller number of released albums, and the change in the band’s music style were among these developments.

Pink Floyd in the 90s

Pink Floyd was less active in the 90s than in previous decades. However, the group members still had activities in the field of music. In 1994, the album “The Division Bell” was released, known as the last album with David Gilmour, another member of Pink Floyd. The album includes “High Hopes” and “Coming Back to Life” tracks. In 1995, Pink Floyd went on the world tour “The Division Bell Tour,” which included some tracks like “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” and “Comfortably Numb”.

Dissolution of Pink Floyd

After the 90s, the members of Pink Floyd did not officially work under the group’s name, and each continued their activities separately.

David Gilmour After the dissolution of Pink Floyd, David Gilmour continued his activities independently and released several albums. The albums “On an Island” in 2006 and “Rattle That Lock” in 2015 are among Gilmour’s successful works. He also went on tours in Europe and America in the following years. Roger Waters After leaving Pink Floyd, Roger Waters continued his activities independently and released several

albums. In the following years, he covered political and social issues, such as the war in Iraq and Palestine. Richard Wright After Pink Floyd stopped, Richard Wright continued his activities independently. In 2008, he released the album “The Breakthrough” and was a keyboardist on the “David Gilmour Live at Gdańsk” tour. Sadly, Richard Wright passed away in 2008. Syd Barrett He, who was very limited in his artistic activity due to mental and health problems and left after a while, died in 2006 and became one of the founders of Pink Floyd and one of the prominent music artists. Rock remembered.

In 2005, the four original members of Pink Floyd, including David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Roger Waters, together with other artists, with a concert titled “ Live 8,” went on stage. The concert was a historic comeback for the band members, who reunited for a charity act after their splits. This concert was held to draw attention to more issues, such as poverty and related diseases. But this return was not considered a revision of the group’s dissolution.

Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd made the background, events, and consequences of Syd Burt’s story the album’s focus without directly referring to him. By examining the album, The “Dark Side of the Moon”, we realize that the main themes of the lyrics are greed, the passage of time, death, and madness. After making the album, Pink Floyd chose the term “The Dark Side of the Moon” as the name. “The Dark Side of the Moon” refers to something that exists, but we cannot see. That “thing,” according to Pink Floyd, is the “madness” that exists in all of us but is hidden; That is, we hide it in ourselves and do not show it to anyone, and from a psychological point of view.

Album cover design of Dark Side of The Moon

The design on the cover of the album “The Dark Side of the Moon” shows a prism that shines white light on one Side, and the color spectrum comes out on the other Side. In this design,

due to the mistake of the cover design group, the indigo color is not in the light spectrum. The extension of the color spectrum of light, which was on top of the heartbeat design, was also chosen as the middle design of the album. For the back of the cover, they used another glass prism design, which extends the spectrum of the light emitted from the prism on the cover, shines into it, combines, and comes out as white light. Light, which was one of the most critical components of their concerts.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” was released on March 1st, 1973, in the US and two weeks later in the UK. The album remained on the US Billboard chart for fifteen years. “Dark side of the Moon” is the best-selling progressive rock album ever and the fourth best in music history. One of the exciting ideas used in “The Dark Side of the Moon” is using different people’s voices in the songs. To record these voices, people were seated and given flash cards with various questions written on them, and people were asked to answer those questions. Among the questions, some reflected the concepts inside the album: “When was the last time you used violence?” Were you right or not?”

Structure of the Dark Half of the Moon album

The first five songs are one piece, and the other five songs are another piece, and each one reviews life and human nature in some way. The duration of the whole album “The Dark Side of the Moon” is 42 minutes and 50 seconds, and Roger Waters writes the lyrics. In an overview, “The Dark Side of the Moon” album begins with a heartbeat, the beginning of life. The second song tells us about the futility and mundaneness of the things we do in life that are accompanied by madness. This song also mentions that each person has their own life and experiences. The third song takes us to the airport, which has a stressful atmosphere and shows how life in the modern world can lead to discomfort. The fourth song is a flip to those busy with worldly issues and who have given control of their lives to these issues. The fifth song is about death. The second piece starts with the sound of small

change and is a reminder of greed and consumerism. The seventh song is about the isolation of depressed people due to their withdrawal from others and their conflict with their psychological world and the relationships around them. The eighth song refers to the fact that people in human society don’t have much choice and must make themselves the same color as the congregation. In the ninth song, we hear how a person may have a psychological disorder due to sudden success and fame. The tenth song talks about incompatibility and unity, two opposite concepts, and points to the common characteristics of all human beings. Finally, with the sound of a heartbeat that stops, “The Dark Side of the Moon” album ends.

Speak to Me

The song begins with a heartbeat and is an introduction to the album. It’s as if he tells you, “This is the story’s beginning!” In this song, we hear snippets from the rest of the songs on the album; in fact, we are reviewing the whole of life! We hear the voices of those interviewed for the first time. Freddie says he has always been crazy, or someone else says, “In these few years, I’ve been crazy, and my life has reached my limit.” The song “Talk to Me” is named because of these interviews. the end of this song is the beginning of the next song. In many cases, this song is not considered independent and is played together with the next song.

Breathe

The lyrics of “breath” are addressed to a baby whose life has just begun in this world. This illustration examines life, humans, the right to choose, and freedom. In the modern world, if we are not riding the highest wave, that is, if we are not the same as the majority, we will not be accepted, and we will witness the death of our social life.

On the Run

The voice of the airport operator, hurried steps and sharp breaths, three and a half minutes, along with the sound of the synthesizer, which is pure anxiety! this song shows us modern-style travel and the stress, rush, tension, and fear

that comes with it. It is as if this journey we left behind is life itself: Staying in the past and not understanding the present or staying in the present and not understanding the future, each of which is destructive in some way. If you listen to this song with headphones, you can notice the sound stretching from the left ear to the right ear.

Time

The song begins with a variety of sounds from the clock. The intro of this song is one of the most famous intros in the history of music, which lasts about two and a half minutes, and the sound of various instruments is added to it to reach the text of the song. We realize that this song is about the passage of time. In the modern world, we constantly feel that we are running out of time and suffering from “time poverty.” Life is not about continually preparing for the following events but taking control of them and creating our destiny. The end of this song has the structure of the second song, “Breathe.” part of the song, the concept of “home” is raised, where a person takes refuge from all the evils, darkness, and fatigue outside. Also, in the review of the album “Dark Half of the Moon”, it can be said that this song indicates that the magic of time can bring us all to our knees.

The Great Gig in the Sky

Only interviews are used in this song. At the song’s beginning, we hear: “I am not afraid of dying; I don’t care when it happens. Why should I be afraid? No reason! Whatever we do, it will eventually happen to all of us.” The following sentence is heard at the song’s end: “I never said that I was afraid of dying.” and then ends.

Money

The second piece has the beginning of such a masterpiece! The song “Money” begins with the sound of change, the counting machine, the tearing of bills, and the pounding of calculator buttons. We see that this song critically examines the capitalist system and the importance of money and material things in modern life.

Us and Them

The longest song is critical of the war and talks about soldiers who face each other without knowing the reason for the war and having the right to choose, and from the superiors who can destroy the life of a nation with a gesture. We find out that this song is not about the nature of war but, from a psychological perspective, about man’s violent nature. Host! Humans attack each other with words, which are their most dangerous weapons.

Brain Damage

We see that this song, directly and indirectly, refers to the psychological state of the friend and former bandmate of the pink Floyd group, Syd Burt. For example, the phrase “And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes” (And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes) refers to the times when Syd has repeatedly played something other than their songs in concerts. Many psychological currents can be found in this song. The song considers surgeons (and perhaps psychiatrists) as those who try to make people with disorders sane and healthy by making changes in the brain and a kind of “rearrangement.”; It is as if there is a crazy person inside the head of people with psychological disorders who does not belong there and should be cut from there! this song is a kind of empathy for people with psychological disorders. In one part of the song, we hear: “There’s someone in my head that’s not me!” (There’s someone in my head, but it’s not me) and reminds us of the concept of alienation. From a psychological point of view, people may be torn between different attitudes and values, especially when a person’s value system, which is rooted in the teenage years and the period of identity formation, is faced with rapidly changing social conditions and demands. In trying to adapt to these things, man becomes alienated from traditions, which causes guilt, doubt, confusion, and considerable inner suffering. People’s sense of self-worth can also be lost.

Local News is Dying

By Chloe Campbell

Twenty years ago, Courier & Press had a beautiful building in downtown Evansville with a newsroom full of reporters and copy editors. Today, only five news reporters remain in a single room rented in that original building. 14 News was known for its precision in letting news out to the public for years, but today? Barely any of the articles they publish are free of errors. Local news in Evansville is dying.

The lack of reporting in Evansville has caused a major gap in the local news landscape. What used to be a booming metropolitan of journalism is now a suffering city that can barely receive adequate coverage of major events. This problem is not unique to Evansville, though; cities across the country hurt for lack of local news cov-

erage. However, one University of Evansville ChangeLab aims to fill the gaps in local news: Evansville NewsLab.

The NewsLab team consists of community members and students who are passionate about improving the future of journalism. Andrew Carter, the assistant director of the Center for Innovation & Change, coaches the project alongside community members Guy Sides, Erin Hempfling, and Steve Burger. The two students on the team include junior literature major Emily Palmissano and junior communications and English double major Chloe Campbell. Each team member provides their individual experiences and expertise to form a well-rounded group.

Evansville NewsLab is working closely with partner organizations to increase the impact of the project. The team has partnered locally with Our Times, the only Black-owned newspaper in town. Rasheeda Ajibade, owner of Our Times, is committed to creating a more inclusive news landscape in Evansville; she expressed interest in the NewsLab early on and has led an integral role in its development.

The NewsLab has also partnered with Listening Post Collective, a national nonprofit non-partisan civic journalism organization with the aim of boosting local journalism across the U.S. In the Fall 2023 semester, Evansville NewsLab received a $10,000 grant to fund their research from Listening Post Collective. The grant helped the NewsLab to disseminate a survey, conduct focus groups, and hire a market research and data analysis team.

So far, the team has conducted three focus groups and has appeared at community events, including the Mayor’s Traveling Town Hall, in February. Emily and Chloe have made several connections in the community, such as with the United Neighborhoods of Evansville, where they were able to speak at both the board and general assembly meetings (also in February).

Among the results the team has gathered to share in May 2024, a few key gaps have already been identified. According to the League of Woman’s Voters, not nearly enough political affairs are covered in Evansville, which makes advocating for voting rights even harder. Informing the public is the prime responsibility of the news media, but when the community lacks proper information on where the political standings fall, it cannot make informed voting decisions. In a focus group with friends of Our Times newspaper, a major gap identified was the lack of proper coverage of the Black community from the city’s mainstream media sources.

In addition to those results that Evansville NewsLab has gathered, there exists so much more to unveil. In order to help the project, the Newslab asks of the community to please respond to their survey (using the QR code or the link below) and distribute it also to friends, family, and anyone else interested in revitalizing the local news landscape in Evansville. For more information on NewsLab, our partners, and the project’s projection, reach out on Facebook to “Evansville NewsLab.”

O O

The Way of Kings

by Brandon Sanderson

Written by William Walker Allen

The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson, is the first book in The Stormlight Archive, arguably one of the most ambitious fantasy series being actively written. With its fifth book, Wind and Truth, coming out late this year and marking the end of the story’s first phase, now is the perfect time to try and get into the series. Having just finished my reread of the first four books in the series, I decided now was the time to write this review and share my thoughts on the story’s first entry.

Perhaps the largest draw to The Stormlight Archive is its magnificent worldbuilding. The world of Roshar is shaped by the passing of massive storms, referred to as Highstorms, which provide a key feature upon which much of Sanderson worldbuilding is based. Everything from the currency to the biology of the planet relates back to the presence of Highstorms. This allows the worldbuilding to feel more real, forming a cohesive world that is both fascinating and distinctive. Although the world exists within the larger Cosmere, an expansive universe in which multiple of Brandon Sanderson’s series takes place, the Stormlight archive works well as a standalone series, with no other Cosmere works required to engage with and enjoy its story.

Another key aspect of The Way of Kings are the characters and the character conflicts. The book makes use of both external and internal conflicts to create realistic and relatable characters that readers will fall in love with. There are arguably three main characters in The Way of Kings, Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar who exist alongside a host of interesting and distinctive side characters. Kaladin is the main focus of this book, as his struggles and flashbacks make up the majority of the work. The depiction of his struggles with chronic depression and his resilience in the face of adversity is both inspiring and humbling. Dalinar’s story is more about internal conflict, as he struggles to understand strange visions, unsure as to whether he can trust his own judgment and desperate to prepare his people for the coming danger. Shallan’s story feels the weakest to me as she is more geographically separate from the other two and receives a lot

more attention and focus in the second volume. She fears for the safety of her family after the sudden death of her father, and has a bold and dangerous plan to secure their future.

Now I feel it is the appropriate time to address the largest deterrent from starting the Way of Kings, its length. With a word count of around 400,000 the book is just over double the size of The Fellowship of the Ring, making it a very intensive read. Its conflicts slowly build up into a crescendo of a finale that in my opinion is well worth the wait, though its at times slow pacing makes it difficult for some to reach that point. While its sheer magnitude can make The Way of Kings rather daunting to begin, in many ways it is essential to its success, allowing it to fully flesh out its greatest strengths, characters and worldbuilding.

While The Way of Kings is an incredible work, I don’t think I can recommend it to just anyone. It is far from a light read, and I do not believe it would be as enjoyable to someone who is not already experienced with reading long, epic fantasy novels. Brandon Sanderson himself doesn’t recommend it as a way to start the Cosmere, considering Mistborn to be a much better introduction to his work. Despite this, many (myself included) start with The Way of Kings, and I think those confident in their familiarity with the fantasy genre will find it a wonderful experience diving into this grand and majestic story.