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A laughable love

When will teen films writers learn that love does not happen overnight? Well maybe “love” does happen overnight to those involved while everyone on the outside sits and laughs at their stupidity. “Beautiful Creatures” tell of an instantaneous love between a witch and a mortal and proves to be just that: laughable and stupid. Lena (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl moves to town and begins a 72-day struggle of good over evil. Soon after entering the town, she runs into Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), who only dreams of some day being able to escape the prison of a small town in which they live. Within a week, they’re dating, in love, being stupid and showing off their annoying personalities. After an hour into the film, the true plot is revealed. On the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

Grammer matter to

As an Arts and Sciences student, it is mandatory to take three semesters of a foreign language, but how much knowledge is actually acquired in these classes? According to a New York Times article published in January 2012, Lawrence Summers, former president of Harvard University and former secretary of the Treasury, suggests that universities reduce the investment in foreign language programs. He believes English is “perfectly sufficient for utopian purposes” and other languages are unnecessary. While Summers has a valid point, this argument needs to go a bit farther. English is not sufficient for universal business or trade, but mastering any language seems to be necessary to all societies. There are proven benefits to taking a foreign language, but why should colleges require students to take three semesters of a foreign language before the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

Valentine’s Day date guide 101

Valentine’s Day doubles as one of the most loved and hated days of the year. Some despise the cheesy romance mixed with an array of every possible shade of pink, while others love the opportunity to show their affection without being told to ‘get a room.’ Both sides have valid points, but the sad truth is Valentine’s Day will always exist. If some choose to be cynical prudes, they might as well learn a few ways to make the day slightly less miserable. Whether you’re happily in a relationship, unhappily in a relationship, have no desire for a relationship or hate the idea of a relationship, hopefully there’s some way to spend your time that won’t involve feeling the need to gag at the cuteness floating in the air. For couples with … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

Valentine’s Day does not mean relationship day

Valentine’s Day may be the most scrutinized “holiday” known to man and over the years it has garnered a bad reputation. Although many have good reasons to dislike this day, it doesn’t make much sense. Since when is the day of love meant to be negative? Let’s begin with a history lesson. Valentine’s Day began when a saint named Valentinus was imprisoned for performing weddings on those who were forbidden from marrying. The day was first associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages when love began to flourish. In the 1500’s, lovers began presenting each other with flowers and cards, which began being mass-produced in the 19th century. It’s understandable why many people dislike this so called “single’s awareness day,” but the true message of the day is often overlooked. Valentine’s … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

film: ‘Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters’

“Hansel and Gretel” may seem to be an ordinary fairy tale told year after year, but Director Tommy Wirkola transforms this story into a mystical adventure full of beautiful characters and stunning visual effects. In this spinoff fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel become bounty hunters after being trapped in a house made of candy when they were young. In order to escape, they burned the witch holding them hostage. They discovered the highly lucrative career of a bounty hunter and now track and kill witches all over the world. Once in a generation, the Blood Moon approaches, and if a witch casts the correct spell, she can become immune to fire. In order to complete this spell, a witch needs 12 children and the heart of a high-powered white witch. Hansel and … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

film review: ‘The Last Stand’

“The Last Stand” marks Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to the film industry after not having a lead role since 2003, with the exception of “The Expendables.” This Schwarzenegger film is hilarious, but unfortunately it is not a comedy. This sad attempt at an action movie only makes one statement to the world: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a badass. Complete with melodramatic dialogue, cheesy combat sequences and a horribly constructed plot, “The Last Stand” is only worth seeing due to the extreme cheesiness turned into laugh out loud hilarity. Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) recently left the LAPD narcotics post and moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere California. The high crime life involves checking up on farmers and catching speeders. However, this boredom suddenly turns exciting when one farmer turns up dead. In … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

film 2012 And the nominees are…

This past year has been a year unlike many others. The Academy Award contenders began rolling out as early as June, very much unlike the past years. Audiences laughed and cried and succumbed to the wonderful power of film. The same joy and tears were shed when the Academy Award nominees were released just a few weeks ago. There were few surprises as always, but overall the nominees were given to the most deserving films.  Although not all of the following films were nominated for best picture, they all were nominated for at least one award and therefore are part of the best films of 2012. Django Unchained Quentin Tarantino shows off his directorial talent once more in this brilliant film intentionally made for Oscar season. Jamie Foxx stars as a slave turned … Read entire article »

Filed under: Feature

Gun control means the wrong people will have arms

With several deadly mass shootings, gun control has been a subject of much debate and controversy within recent years. Personally, I hate the idea of guns and am a billion percent for gun control, or the idea of guns never being invented. Think about it. If guns were not invented then there would be no mass shootings and fewer violent crimes. It would be nearly impossible to kill so many innocent people with a bow and arrow before someone would realize the need to get help. Anyway, that is beside the point since it is impossible to reverse the invention of guns, and gun control as a whole is a very unrealistic idea. It would be nice if we lived in a perfect world where there were no guns and everyone got … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

film review: Hunt for Bin Laden much more than a zero, but much less than a 10

Out of all Oscar nominated films, “Zero Dark Thirty” is one of the worst on the list. It’s a good film by all definitions of the word, but it lacks several key parts to make it enjoyable. Complete with an intriguing plot, powerful acting and an outstanding directorial style, “Zero Dark Thirty” proves to be well done but has an absence of everything that makes a film worthwhile. Set in post 9/11 Pakistan, “Zero Dark Thirty” is the story of CIA operative, Maya (Jessica Chastain), who believes she found the location of Osama Bin Laden after a decade of searching. She experiences ups and downs while occasionally overseeing torture and being faced with the constant threat of death. Her superiors and co-workers doubt her competence but she never loses sight of … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

Counseling Center reaches out to prevent violence,self-injury: Variables often go beyond mental illness

Is mental illness the real culprit? The string of recent mass shootings has led to questions about how violent behavior can be prevented through better counseling and mental health services. According to UMKC Counseling Center research, out of 716 clients last year, approximately three percent indicated that they had intentionally caused serious injury to another person in their life. Eight percent has made a suicide attempt. “Violent behavior, harming someone else may be ‘related’ to mental illness but not ‘predicted’ by mental illness,” said Marita Barkis, Director of Counseling. “In risk assessment or ‘threat assessment’, one needs to focus on a variety of variables.  I would never bet on mental illness alone.  There is a difference.” For students who may be dealing with mental illnesses, the Counseling Center has many services available such as … Read entire article »

Filed under: News