A photo of someone cleaning their kitchen. | Photo from @chazfremont on Instagram
March 11, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor
With the temperature outside slowly getting warmer and the need to go outside wearing layers of clothing dwindling, it’s that time of the year when we shake off the cobwebs of our dorm rooms to begin spring cleaning. As someone with a tight schedule, it has been a bit exhausting to think about how much of a mess my living space is. I still have a Christmas tree up. Still, the warmth of the weather and the sunlight poking through the clouds are good motivators to help at least think about spring cleaning.
One of the earliest references to cleaning during springtime is the Jewish tradition of Passover, which is still observed every year in March or April. During this event, all pieces of chametz (leavened bread) would be disposed of in the time leading up to the holiday. This is symbolic of an event known as the Exodus, which was when Moses helped the Israelites escape Egyptian slavery with God’s help. The removal of the bread symbolizes them being in such a haste that they weren’t able to wait for their bread to come before they had to make their journey.
In the Catholic faith, there is a similar tradition where, on Maundy Thursday, people will clean up the altars in churches. Maundy Thursday is a day that celebrates the last supper Jesus had with his disciples. Similar to Passover, this day happens in the months of March or April.
Nowruz, which is the Iranian or Persian New Year’s Day, has a tradition known as khāne-takānī or “shaking down the house.” This involves washing blankets, clothes and textiles in preparation for the new year.
Similarly, cleaning is very important for the Lunar New Year. In Chinese culture, it is known as “sweeping the dust.” They deep-clean their homes in order to rid them of bad luck and misfortune. Tidying the place up is said to bring good luck for the new year.
Spring is seen throughout the world as a time of renewal and growth, where life begins anew after the coldness of the winter months. As the leaves begin to form on the trees and flowers start to pop out of the grass, people tend to feel the need to replicate the “shiny” environment within their living space. It’s a common experience to feel somewhat tired during the cold months, as the “dead” appearance of the world makes it hard to get motivated.
Before modern technology, i.e., heating and insulation, homes that were in colder places were sealed up to prevent cold air from coming inside. This generated dust and soot that would build up. Once it began to get warmer, it was time to air out the home and clean up the mess that people literally could not clean during winter.
However, even in modern times, it is still wise to spring clean. Despite insulation, dust and allergens can still build up in the home over time, especially when it’s dark. It would be wise to try to clean out those hidden spots behind tables and shelves. Cleaning can also boost mental health. As someone who enjoys collecting things and is also a bit lazy, living in a cluttered area can be stressful. Coming home to a messy room is never enjoyable. Making the environment welcoming, fresh and comfortable will not only be more enjoyable, but also helpful to the mind at a time when finals are coming up.
A photo of a bowl of gourmet chocolates. | Photo from @chocolatelover_rz on Instagram
March 11, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor
I believe there is no sweeter taste than that of chocolate. With a sweet, creamy and enjoyable taste as well as a lovely appearance, it is a candy that is normally a person’s best friend or guilty pleasure. Not only does chocolate have a rich taste, but it also has an even richer history.
Cacao trees, which are native to Central and South America, are the trees that produce the fruit from which chocolate is made. They produce pods with each having around 40 cacao beans that are dried out and roasted to become cocoa beans.
The Olmec people are believed to be the first group to be curious to know what these beans tasted like. According to Hayes Lavis, a cultural arts curator for the National Museum of the American Indian, there are ancient Olmec pots that were found with traces of a stimulant known as theobromine, which is found in chocolate and tea. It is believed that the Olmecs used cacao beans to create a drink, which was likely savory rather than sweet.
The Olmecs then passed their cacao expertise to the Mayans, who mixed the beans with maize and water. It could then be adjusted with allspice, vanilla and ear flower. The latter is described to have a spicy flavor similar to black pepper. This mixture was then poured from a height to create a foaming effect on the drink.
The Aztecs would not only make a similar beverage, but also add chili powder and achiote to make the drink have a reddish hue. They would also boil it occasionally to create a rough draft of hot chocolate. The Aztecs called their chocolate xocolatl (shoh-koh-LA’-tul) and it was typically an upper-class privilege to be able to have it, though those of lower classes would enjoy it on special occasions.
The drink was not only a treat to the Mayans and the Aztecs, but also held a lot of significance to them. They believed the beans to be a gift from the gods and would drink xocolatl often for religious ceremonies.
Although there is a debate about when Europeans got their hands on this delicacy, it is widely believed that it arrived in Spain first, which, when considering how much of the world they colonized, makes sense. By the late 1500s, the Spanish court was completely captivated by chocolate and began importing it to other European countries in the area. With such high demand for these cocoa beans, chocolate plantations were created with slaves made to work on them. Europeans also experimented with the ingredients, using cane sugar and cinnamon to add a more sugary taste instead of the savory ones the Aztecs made.
Chocolate would eventually come to the American colonies, arriving from a Spanish ship in 1641 to Florida, with the first chocolate house opening in Boston. Fun fact: During the Revolutionary War, chocolate was given to soldiers as a form of payment instead of money. Nowadays, chocolate is mass-manufactured and sold around the world. However, there are still some shops that handmake chocolate to ensure their products are much richer than the typical Hershey’s bar bought at the store.
Admittedly, I’ve probably eaten way too much of it throughout my life, but I always thought that the history of this delicacy was fascinating in the way that it really transformed throughout the centuries to become what it is today. As a fun little fact about myself, I actually tried xocolatl in the 7th grade as part of a unit about the history of chocolate. I have to say … I did not enjoy it. However, it’s still a pretty cool fact knowing that I’ve tried ancient chocolate.
A partial collection of the author’s preferred products to manage dry skin. | Photo by Jaylin Emond-Hardin
March 4, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
In the winter, dry skin affects approximately 70% of the population. This is due to a plethora of reasons — skin conditions or the low humidity that comes with the season being two of the main ones — and can be cracked, red, flaky and just plain irritating.
As someone with chronically dry skin — having both eczema and psoriasis — it always gets worse in the winter months. When temperatures drop, the air simply cannot hold as much water vapor, which lowers humidity levels and pulls moisture from the skin. For example, air at 77 F can hold nearly three times more moisture than air at 32 F. That sharp decrease in the air’s moisture-holding capacity is one of the main reasons skin feels tighter, drier and more irritated in colder weather.
Of course, when skin dries out like this, solutions become essential — and after 22 years of managing it myself, I’ve learned what truly works. Below are the most effective, winter-tested strategies I rely on to keep dryness under control.
Skin — The epidermis layer of the skin is the most obvious when it comes to dryness. We feel its dryness in the form of cracked, flaky layers. To help repair this layer, it needs moisture put back into it — more than just a shower can give.
Lotion is usually the best when it comes to returning this component, although body oil is another great way to moisturize. I swear by Aveeno lotion for the whole body, although any of Bath and Body Works’ lotions with shea or cocoa butter keep skin both moisturized and smelling absolutely divine. For the face, anything with hyaluronic acid, sunscreen or goat’s milk is ideal, especially when there’s a combination of any of the three. Having protection from ultraviolet rays and the additional moisture helps prevent scaling and flaking.
While in the shower, gentler soaps and body scrubs can remove the dry scales without damaging the layer underneath. Rice-based formulas are the gentlest and are one of the best options, and don’t clog the pores when adding that moisture back into the skin.
The lips are another part that usually becomes especially dry and chapped due to their constant exposure to the cold air. Most traditional chapsticks continuously dry the lips out because of the menthol in them — part of their design to keep consumers using them — and have artificial fragrances and dyes. Because of these factors, I typically prefer to use lip oil or Vaseline. They trap moisture in and guard against the winter elements.
Applying lotion or oil immediately after a shower is one of the best ways to lock moisture into the skin, as well, especially when it comes to replacing oils lost in the shower.
Hair — Just like skin in the winter, hair dries out as well, typically losing shine, volume and strength. When moisture is stripped, hair follicles lose important oils that not only protect it, but also keep it looking healthy. The scalp also dries out, which leads to dry, flaky buildup.
To combat this, I use coconut oil on my scalp and rosemary oil on my actual hair follicles. I’ve found I’ve preferred the brand Venrock’s rosemary oil the best, due to its subtle mint undertones and the fact that it doesn’t drip down my face when I put it in my hair. It’s also specifically formulated for curly hair, which means it helps reduce frizz.
When it comes to coconut oil, organic and food-grade is the best. Typically, cosmetic-grade oil isn’t as refined as food-grade oil and contains other chemicals and scents, which means it isn’t as pure or natural, and can strip the hair further of those much-needed oils. I tend to leave coconut oil in all day when I’m home with nothing to do, and keep my hair tied up in a t-shirt so I don’t get the oil all over my clothes and furniture.
Leave-in conditioner immediately after rinsing regular conditioner is also a great strategy, as it offers long-term hydration and damage protection. I know my hair is always softest when I use leave-in conditioner, and it reduces breakage and split ends that are synonymous with winter-dry hair.
Diet — Diet is one of the biggest factors when it comes to dry skin. Proper hydration can mean the difference between dry and healthy skin and hair and lips; meanwhile, eating water-rich foods can assist the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Cucumbers, watermelon and strawberries are some of the best sources of water that come with essential nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin A.
Drinking plenty of water keeps the skin’s barrier firm and hydrated, which works to prevent scaling and flaking. Electrolytes are important for moving fluids through the body’s cells, so making sure plenty are consumed daily will help with the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Salt helps add electrolytes back into the body, though plain salt water may not be the first choice for many people. In those cases, electrolyte drink mixes such as Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier offer a more palatable alternative, combining sodium, glucose and essential vitamins to support hydration in a more flavorful form. The rocket pop flavor is top-tier; with the right amount of ice, it tastes like drinking a melted rocket pop.
Sufferers of dry skin, have heart. Winter will soon be over and humidity will improve, which means dry, scaly and flaky skin will soon be swapped for peeling sunburns. Making sure the moisturizer has sunscreen will help reduce the chances of sunburns, as will keeping the skin hydrated and happy.
March 4, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor
I remember sitting in the backseat of my parents’ car with my older sister. We had this circular metal thing that, when a CD was placed inside, we could plug in some headphones and listen to the songs that were on that disc. We shared headphones and listened to whatever we had available to us, my favorite being the soundtrack to a telenovela called “Rebelde.” Aside from my musical taste at the time, we also had a lot of DVD movies around the house. Every year, the collection would slowly get bigger. I got cartoons, my mom got comedy movies, my sister got the annual trendy flicks and my dad got those old cowboy films.
Then, throughout my adolescence, media slowly transitioned from physical discs to streaming services and subscriptions that wanted credit card information. It was kind of nice in the sense that we no longer had to make space for all the movies and music we wanted to collect and available on our televisions, laptops and phones. However, convenience isn’t always a good thing — especially when things can be taken away from the consumer at any time.
Generation Z, which I am a part of, has been part of a movement where many of us are gravitating towards physical media instead of digital. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, physical media sales dropped 9% in 2025, which is much less than the reported over 20% drops that happened in 2023 and 2024. DVDs and Blu-rays have been a big purchasing point with many Gen Z consumers, which drives business for video rental stores. This trend has been a curious rabbit hole to discover and understand the reason for this remembrance of a want for physical media.
Cognitive Overload —Streaming services can be really nice to have, yet they don’t come without their negatives. Subscription-based platforms can vary in price, with the most expensive having more options. However, the infinite choice of all the available entertainment can be enticing. There are so many options and only a one-time monthly payment that could be the same price as buying one movie. So what could be a possible disadvantage?
With being able to have access to a large collection of movies and television shows online, it can lead to choice paralysis. Think of it as overloading the brain — there are so many options that it makes it impossible to choose something to watch. The YouTube channel Fuzz Culture said it best: “You open an app for a dopamine hit, and you end up doing mental admin work. You pick up your phone, scroll for 20 minutes, pick nothing and still end up drained.”
In comparison, when people would go to stores and pick out a movie to buy, it was a much smoother process. Someone looked through the giant shelves of movies, handpicking them and making the process much more personal since it was a physical decision to grab it out of all the others. The choice to watch it came when it was purchased, and it was much more likely to be watched after going home.
The emotional side — There is a sort of personal attachment one feels when purchasing and owning the physical copy of a form of media, whether it be art, music, books or movies. My mom always used to say that she could learn a lot about a person by their collection of cassette tapes and CDs.
There is also a nostalgia element in place here. There’s a sort of indie feel to a lot of stores that sell older forms of media such as vinyls, cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs. Many stores have this feeling to them, a cozy environment that brings a casual hangout vibe to the place. These types of places are a sought-after location for many post-pandemic people who need new communities. Bookstores, for example, are a good place to go because they are not only low-cost most of the time, but they also tend to have places to sit and gather.
However, it is much more than a simple trend Generation Z is following. We as humans bond with what we can touch. It’s intimate and tells a story about the person who owns these forms of media. Personally, there’s no greater smell than that of a freshly bought book or a video game disc. Being able to physically turn the pages of my copy of “Jane Eyre” or insert my copy of “Sour” by Oliva Rodrigo into my car provides me a sense of independence that I don’t have to rely on some subscription based platform to have access.
Unreliability of digital media —Many users of subscription services know the pain of realizing that the show or movie they enjoyed watching was removed from the platform without anything they can do. The streaming service can, at any time, remove something from the platform for many reasons. Usually, there is a license they have to get from producers or distributors of the movie or show. There’s some sort of money that both parties get from it, and should the content not perform well enough on the service, or even if they just don’t feel like having it there anymore, the movie or show gets removed.
The Los Angeles Times interviewed a woman named Lauren about her decision to buy physical copies of movies. She responded by saying, “If something gets deleted off an online platform, I will still be able to watch it because I have a physical copy. … It feels really precious to be able to own things physically and not be at the mercy of studios’ financial decisions.’”
It isn’t just streaming services that cause issues with digital media, though; the gaming industry has been having a big issue with digital games. In March of 2024, the servers for a popular racing game, “The Crew,” went dark and made all copies of the game, both physical and digital, completely unplayable. Two owners of the game sued Ubisoft, the publisher of that game, because they purchased the product believing that it gave them unlimited access to it. However, Ubisoft has gone on record saying that purchasing a game doesn’t give the buyer ownership rights to it. It is only a “limited licence to access the game.”
This situation then started a whole movement known as “Stop Killing Games.” This movement, launched by YouTuber Ross Scott, aims to “challenge the legality of publishers destroying video games they have sold to customers.”
When video games are sold, they aren’t given a clear label or “expiration date.” They are sold the same way that physical game copies have always been sold, without a clear notice about the potential for the game to eventually stop working. This movement was based in Europe and ended up getting over 1.3 million signatures on their petition, which forced the issue to be considered by the European Union.
The current state of Stop Killing Games is that it is establishing two official non-governmental organizations, with one based in the European Union and another in the United States. While Scott has decided to mostly let Mortiz Katzner, a political strategist, take the lead of the initiative going forward, he will still be involved. Scott also acknowledges that he isn’t sure how much change the groups that are being created will bring, especially in the U.S. market, but he is optimistic about at least raising awareness of this issue.
Gen Z is a very nostalgia-driven community. All of us enjoy reminiscing about our childhoods and are often very anti-capitalist. Collecting physical media can be seen as much more than us simply following a trend — it is us as a generation reclaiming our individuality. Considering that we are in an area where digital media is not only unstable and inconsistent across platforms, there is also so much generative AI and brain-rot sort of entertainment that can really be mentally exhausting. So, I will be saving up for a DVD player and will be going home to collect all of the old Barbie movies sitting in the garage of my mom’s house.
French fries are one of the most beloved sides to many fast food dishes. Most burgers come with a full side of them, chicken baskets come stacked with them and even fish have “chips” to adorn the main dish. Fries come in all sorts of shapes and sizes: some curly, some salty, some spicy or just plain.
Growing up, both of my parents worked at a potato factory and would often bring bags of fries home whenever they would have extras. I watched my mom dip them in a pot of boiling oil, and I was so hungry that I would usually burn my fingers while trying to grab them. As an adult with an air fryer and somewhat more patience, I recently made them while my husband was making some chicken tenders to go with them and started wondering where they came from.
There seems to be a bit of a custody battle between two countries that claim to be the creator of fries. The name “French fries” implies that they originated in France. According to cookbooks from the country, they mention that potatoes have been fried as early as the 1700s, but probably didn’t look anything like the fries we imagine today. Some say that the side dish was originally a snack sold by street vendors as a sort of street food. If anyone has seen those videos of street food on TikTok, it is believed to be made similarly.
However, fries were recently believed to be tied to Belgium as their “birthplace.” According to some historians, fries were invented in the winter of 1680 when the citizens of Namur, who had a knack for loving fish, needed to find something else to eat during the time when the lake froze over. Since they no longer had fish to cut up, they decided to use potatoes instead. They cut them into long skinny pieces, fried them up and created French fries as a sort of struggle food. While others argue about the legitimacy of this “fry lore,” Belgium has been firm in its belief that it is the parents of this famous side dish that we Americans can’t get enough of.
Yet, there could be another reason why these two countries specifically claim to have created fries. A Belgian researcher named Pierre Lecercq did extensive research trying to figure out where fries came from. He discovered that a cook named Herr Krieger, who was trained in Paris, was traveling town to town in Belgium in the early 1800s. He sold fried potatoes that were sliced, which he described as Paris-style fried potatoes. Supposedly, he cut them into slices because it made it easier to cook them.
French fries have been stuck in a custody battle for a few years now, and in the end, where they came from doesn’t really matter. After all, I couldn’t care less whether they come from Belgium or France. I personally enjoy the thought of them being made by a trained French cook, but sold around towns in Belgium. Yet, as long as the fries are crunchy with some ketchup or fry sauce, I will enthusiastically eat them no matter where they’re from. Except In-N-Out.
Feb. 18, 2026 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle EditorThose in relationships are often trying to find ways to make their partners feel appreciated. Ranging from pricey gifts to dates to even traveling together, everyone tries to find a way to make their significant other feel special. However, due to everything constantly changing and getting more expensive, I thought it would be a good idea to list some romantic gestures that any partner would enjoy receiving.
Cleaning/Organizing — Something I think is highly appreciated in a relationship, especially when the couple lives together, is keeping the home a bit more organized. Tidying up the living space is nice and makes one less thing for a partner to worry about. If wanting to be more specific, try to do something that has been actively avoided for a while. Maybe there’s a junk drawer that needs to be cleaned out. The closet might need to be reorganized, or the car could use some vacuuming.
Meaningful — If wanting to up the romance and exercise the brain a bit more, writing something meaningful for a partner is always a good idea. Whether it be a poem, a love letter or a small note, something handwritten can mean much more than a cheap card bought at the store. If more of a visual kind of person, creating a painting or a sketch for a partner would be incredibly sweet. A kind gesture to do for someone would be to create a photo album for them. Go down memory lane and fill it with photos, tickets to concerts, movie posters, handwritten notes or anything that has meaning. Similarly, a person can create a memory box and fill it with all the same items.
Audio-related — If both are music lovers, making a custom playlist for each other would be a thoughtful gift, especially if it’s songs that remind the person of their partner. It can also be a bunch of songs that they would like to play in the car. If wanting to be more playful, recording voice memos for a significant other can be both more meaningful and potentially funny, whether it be telling them how much they mean to the other or saying that they saw a weirdly shaped tree.
Activities —There are several things couples can do. Cooking dinner together or as a surprise for a partner when they come home from work is always fun and appreciated. Something my husband and I love doing together are couple’s quizzes. They are popular on Instagram and TikTok, but don’t necessarily have to be couple-related. There are some quizzes that can be done on YouTube about various subjects, whether it be Disney movies or who knows the most Bad Bunny songs. There are also many two-player games that couples like to play. Some that come to mind are It Takes Two, Overcooked!, A Way Out and Split Fiction.
Expensive gifts don’t need to be the only way to show affection. It doesn’t always have to be about the hundred-dollar clothes or the sparkliest jewelry. I would be happy with a swept-up floor or a vacuumed room. So when my husband recently gave me a handwritten note expressing how proud he is of what I have accomplished, it has been all I have been thinking about lately. Not the expensive shoes that he bought me, not the hoodie collection that’s slowly growing in my closet and not even the insane amount of plushies in the apartment. A simple note on my desk made me happy. So — make a significant other happy, too. Or go home.
Though being a dancer certainly has its ups and downs, just like anything else, I highly recommend that everyone take a dance class at least once in their life. Dance, even just dancing freely alone, can have tremendous benefits for physical and mental health. There’s even a correlation between dance and improving the condition of those with Parkinson’s disease, because it improves motor skills and releases chemicals in the brain. It is also proven to be the best sport to reduce the risk of dementia because it involves both brain effort and social interaction.
Firstly, there’s no doubt that dance has many physical benefits to the body. It’s a fun way for someone to stay active, and helps improve things like strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. I mean, anyone who has taken a dance class will point out how much of a workout it is. I often find that, depending on the type of class, dance can be a workout for the legs, core and arms. For example, ballet is such a good core workout because it requires such stability, and engaging one’s core helps them keep their balance. Ballet and yoga are good ways to increase balance, which helps the body stay agile and healthy. Dance is also a really good outlet to increase flexibility, because dancers are often stretching and doing moves that push them to increase the range of motion of their bodies. It’s proven that improving flexibility has long-term benefits like a better range of motion, ease in everyday activities and movements and a reduced risk of injury. For real, though, if anyone ever needs a good workout — take a ballet class.
Dancing can also increase memory and strengthen neural connections, which overall helps the brain function faster and more efficiently. Technique classes often require dancers to retain information on different moves or vocabulary, and learning different routines also pushes one to pick up choreography faster and retain a better memory. I’ve personally noticed that, after dancing for a while, my ability to pick up and remember choreography has significantly improved.
Better visual recognition and decision-making are some other benefits of dancing. Because dancing strengthens the brain’s neural pathways, dancers’ visual recognition with things like spatial awareness is increased. Decision-making also comes into play a lot during dance, especially when doing improvisation, even if the decisions are unconscious. Along with this, I think dance really challenges creativity barriers because dancers learn to move in different ways or even make up moves. I believe dance is such a good imaginative outlet for those looking to express themselves.
It’s proven that dance can reduce stress and even help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. In general, dancing makes people happy, both because the music stimulates the brain’s dopamine system and because the actual dance activates sensory and motor circuits. The combination of these things increases serotonin levels, and having high serotonin means reducing anxiety and boosting happiness. I know I’ve noticed that taking a break and dancing for fun or even working on a routine can improve my mood. Dancing can also help someone escape negative thoughts and worries due to shifting focus to something else that is fun and stimulating.
Depending on the environment, I believe that dancing can also improve self-esteem. With dancing freely, one starts to worry less about what they look like and instead focuses on how they feel. If anyone wants to try improvisation, I recommend finding an open space and just dancing to music with closed eyes because it forces the focus away from what it looks like. Additionally, doing things like learning a new dance move, mastering a dance skill or even executing a routine well can show dancers that they’re capable, and can help them feel proud of an accomplishment while having fun.
Social interaction is also a big part of dance. Taking a dance class with others can be such a good environment as everyone learns and has fun together. I know that I’ve made some of my best friends through dance and have even established what feels like a community through dance classes.
There are different types of dance classes someone could take, depending on what they are looking to get out of it. I would recommend a ballet class if the goal is to gain strength, flexibility and balance. If the goal is to get moving with more free, fast-paced dancing to modern music, I would recommend a hip-hop class. For those who want to dance to both exercise and become more social, a partnering dance class, such as ballroom dance, could be a good option. There are also various yoga or stretching classes for a chill, relaxing vibe.
Overall, I think dancing can be such a good way to improve one’s physical strength and mental well-being. If anyone wants to try it out, I recommend taking a dance class or a yoga class — Western often offers free classes in the Health and Wellness Center, and the dance department occasionally hosts Friday dance labs that are open to any student — learning a dance online for fun or even just turning on some music and dancing by oneself.
Writing is a skill that many reading this have been lucky enough to have been taught early on in our childhoods. It is one of the strongest tools we as people have at our disposal. Many people were made famous throughout history for their talent in creating compelling works. Individuals like Suzanne Collins and Rick Riordan were able to make book series that became so popular and loved that they were adapted for the screen. There’s also Martin Luther King Jr., who became famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech. Even memoir works, such as Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” have caused so many to discuss and buy copies. I thought it would be interesting to not only see what different types of writing there are, but also what kinds of benefits could come from them.
Creative writing —This is a type of writing that breaks the rules and expectations of academic papers or articles about caffeine. It’s one of the most expressive forms of writing that anyone can use. It is what has formed stories that have captivated readers for decades. However, it does involve a lot of trial and error. Being good at creative writing means that when others read the work by the author, the ideas that the author intended can be interpreted by the readers. This, like most forms of writing, forces the writer to come up with and form an idea into words. It leads to growth for the writer by helping them make better judgment calls and putting things into perspective. Creative writing also makes the writer more aware of their own ideas and the emotions associated with them. Creative writing can also be a way of self-care in that it allows the writer to become more expressive. By becoming conscious of our ideas, writing them out allows for a sort of release that some of us might find freeing. It can become an outlet for emotions that someone doesn’t realize they carry until they write it out, whether it be through a character in a story or the symbolism of an object. Writing creatively can also improve one’s attention span, as it involves multitasking. When creating a story, we not only write. We craft a concept, write it out, read it and edit it. This forces the writer’s attention to be only on what they are creating.
Note-taking — Taking notes is something that all college students are encouraged to do and can often be required by some teachers. For some, this can be a boring chore. However, there are benefits to writing things down. When taking notes, the mind is focused on the content being said or read. It forces the person to engage with the material, and writing it down encourages retention. It has been proven by multiple studies that the more we write down to repeat an idea, the more likely it is that a person will be able to remember that information. It can also help someone become better at organizing information, whether through highlighting the most important ideas of the readings or being able to identify the supporting points around the main topic. This also helps someone be able to condense a large amount of information into something smaller and easier to remember, which is helpful for when we have to fit a lot of information into a notecard for a test. Well, that, and writing incredibly small.
Journaling — Journaling is a form of writing in which someone can basically write anything they want. They can write goals they have, thoughts they think, track events that happen throughout the day and a lot more. Benefits to journaling involve a lot of personal growth, especially about events that happen in someone’s life. Writing out what happened can help one process the event as well as figure out how they feel about it. It not only improves writing and communication skills, but it also provides a sort of release of built-up emotions, just like creative writing does. It can also increase self-awareness of someone’s actions. Writing about setbacks experienced in life could help someone figure out how not to repeat what they went through. Similar to note-taking, journaling helps boost the memory of what happened in the mind. Repetition often helps us recall memories about various things, whether it be the party we went to where we met our partner or remembering that time Travis got his head stuck in the gutter.
Reporting —Reporting is described as giving information that one has seen or observed in a formal written form. A lot of businesses have a reporting system to inform employees and other people in the organization. Reports can vary from reporting sales to explaining events that occurred throughout the day. It’s a form of writing that teaches those who use it to organize events clearly and to use simple language to describe events. This type of writing can enhance credibility between customers and the company, strengthen relationships and improve operations. Writing good reports also means that those writing them need to be good at observing things and remembering them. Therefore, it makes employees more accountable for observing what goes around them and including them in the report. Clarifying purposes can also be a benefit for those who write reports. After all, reporting is done specifically to inform others about something.
Writing has been the outlet that I use to express myself. I primarily do creative writing, but will also occasionally journal in order to collect the thoughts wandering through my brain. The characters that come from the drafts I write have a piece of me in them. That alone is the greatest benefit that I personally get from writing. Whatever benefit that someone else gets from writing, I hope that it’s as important to them as it is to me.
Writing is a skill that many reading this have been lucky enough to have been taught early on in our childhoods. It is one of the strongest tools we as people have at our disposal. Many people were made famous throughout history for their talent in creating compelling works. Individuals like Suzanne Collins and Rick Riordan were able to make book series that became so popular and loved that they were adapted for the screen. There’s also Martin Luther King Jr., who became famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech. Even memoir works, such as Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” have caused so many to discuss and buy copies. I thought it would be interesting to not only see what different types of writing there are, but also what kinds of benefits could come from them.
Creative writing —This is a type of writing that breaks the rules and expectations of academic papers or articles about caffeine. It’s one of the most expressive forms of writing that anyone can use. It is what has formed stories that have captivated readers for decades. However, it does involve a lot of trial and error. Being good at creative writing means that when others read the work by the author, the ideas that the author intended can be interpreted by the readers. This, like most forms of writing, forces the writer to come up with and form an idea into words. It leads to growth for the writer by helping them make better judgment calls and putting things into perspective. Creative writing also makes the writer more aware of their own ideas and the emotions associated with them. Creative writing can also be a way of self-care in that it allows the writer to become more expressive. By becoming conscious of our ideas, writing them out allows for a sort of release that some of us might find freeing. It can become an outlet for emotions that someone doesn’t realize they carry until they write it out, whether it be through a character in a story or the symbolism of an object. Writing creatively can also improve one’s attention span, as it involves multitasking. When creating a story, we not only write. We craft a concept, write it out, read it and edit it. This forces the writer’s attention to be only on what they are creating.
Note-taking — Taking notes is something that all college students are encouraged to do and can often be required by some teachers. For some, this can be a boring chore. However, there are benefits to writing things down. When taking notes, the mind is focused on the content being said or read. It forces the person to engage with the material, and writing it down encourages retention. It has been proven by multiple studies that the more we write down to repeat an idea, the more likely it is that a person will be able to remember that information. It can also help someone become better at organizing information, whether through highlighting the most important ideas of the readings or being able to identify the supporting points around the main topic. This also helps someone be able to condense a large amount of information into something smaller and easier to remember, which is helpful for when we have to fit a lot of information into a notecard for a test. Well, that, and writing incredibly small.
Journaling — Journaling is a form of writing in which someone can basically write anything they want. They can write goals they have, thoughts they think, track events that happen throughout the day and a lot more. Benefits to journaling involve a lot of personal growth, especially about events that happen in someone’s life. Writing out what happened can help one process the event as well as figure out how they feel about it. It not only improves writing and communication skills, but it also provides a sort of release of built-up emotions, just like creative writing does. It can also increase self-awareness of someone’s actions. Writing about setbacks experienced in life could help someone figure out how not to repeat what they went through. Similar to note-taking, journaling helps boost the memory of what happened in the mind. Repetition often helps us recall memories about various things, whether it be the party we went to where we met our partner or remembering that time Travis got his head stuck in the gutter.
Reporting —Reporting is described as giving information that one has seen or observed in a formal written form. A lot of businesses have a reporting system to inform employees and other people in the organization. Reports can vary from reporting sales to explaining events that occurred throughout the day. It’s a form of writing that teaches those who use it to organize events clearly and to use simple language to describe events. This type of writing can enhance credibility between customers and the company, strengthen relationships and improve operations. Writing good reports also means that those writing them need to be good at observing things and remembering them. Therefore, it makes employees more accountable for observing what goes around them and including them in the report. Clarifying purposes can also be a benefit for those who write reports. After all, reporting is done specifically to inform others about something.
Writing has been the outlet that I use to express myself. I primarily do creative writing, but will also occasionally journal in order to collect the thoughts wandering through my brain. The characters that come from the drafts I write have a piece of me in them. That alone is the greatest benefit that I personally get from writing. Whatever benefit that someone else gets from writing, I hope that it’s as important to them as it is to me.
Promotional poster for season two, featuring Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris. | Photo from @landmanpplus on Instagram
March 11, 2025 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: this article contains spoilers for “Landman”
I never thought I’d care about the West Texas oil drills until two weeks ago. Now I know more than the average person should about what it means to run an oil company.
I’d seen a lot of clips for the show “Landman” on Instagram before I even started watching it, but I didn’t anticipate how addictive it would be. I’ll admit, I spent too many nights staying up until 1 a.m. glued to my television.
The first season opens with the main character, Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, tied up by members of the cartel while he tries to secure oil leases on their land for the company MTex Oil. He eventually succeeds in getting the leases signed, though not without injury.
The scene that follows immediately after? More chaos. Six months after Norris secures the oil leases, a stolen MTex plane lands on a company-owned road, where it is struck by a tanker from a rival oil company, triggering a massive explosion. I was immediately hooked.
As the show progresses, we’re introduced to Norris’ son and daughter, Cooper and Ainsley, as well as his ex-wife, Angela. Each member of the Norris clan is unique and has their own equally chaotic storyline. For example, the first crew that Cooper Norris works for is blown up in a gas accident, and he slowly starts spending time and falling in love with Ariana Medina, the widow of one of his crewmates. His plotlines are explosive — both literally and figuratively — and mean to hit home about how dangerous it is being a roughneck on an oil rig. They’re also the most frustrating, because Medina keeps going back and forth between being in love with him and insisting they can’t be together, creating a constant push-and-pull that makes their relationship feel uncertain and emotionally exhausting.
While Cooper Norris fights for life and limb to survive his career choice, Angela and Ainsley Norris’ plot lines tend to explore more of the familial and social sides of Texas. No Norris family dinner ends without Angela Norris absolutely crashing out on Tommy Norris for no apparent reason.
My favorite character, however, is Rebecca Falcone — played by Kayla Wallace, who is best known for the Hallmark series “When Calls the Heart” — the liability attorney for MTex. Initially brought in to help the company handle the situation involving the company plane and the oil tanker, Falcone quickly becomes the go-to for nearly every legal issue — even over Nathan, MTex’s attorney and administrator, played by Colm Feore of “Chicago” and “The Umbrella Academy.”
Falcone is cutthroat in litigation and knows how to stand her ground against other attorneys, as well as the powerful executives and oilmen who try to intimidate or outmaneuver her. Confident and sharp-tongued, she navigates high-stakes legal battles with a mix of strategic thinking and unapologetic toughness, quickly establishing herself as someone the company relies on when situations become complicated or volatile. Honestly, I was excited when she returned for Season 2, especially when the stakes were raised. While I love Angela and Ainsley Norris, they tend to err on the side of insufferable and out of touch, which I know is the point of their characters, but there is only so much I can handle of them.
As I said earlier, Season 2 really ups the show’s stakes. At the end of the first season, MTex’s CEO, Monty Miller, passes after he suffers a heart attack. His wife, Cami Miller, then becomes CEO and appoints Tommy Norris as president. This is when things amp up.
MTex is in a financial crisis. Monty Miller knew how to play longball, but when he passed, it meant that Cami Miller could not access the accounts he had the company’s finances in. So, she started turning to Gallino, a cartel boss who runs drugs on MTex’s roads.
It’s messy, but oh so riveting.
Cooper Norris and Medina’s relationship also steadies out in this season. The pair decides that, yes, they in fact can make this relationship work, though Medina wants Cooper Norris to drive to Corpus Christi to ask her father’s permission before he marries her. When she asked him to do that, I was so ecstatic. They were finally settling into being with each other and not pushing away.
Season 2 didn’t come without controversy, however. It seems that no work by Taylor Sheridan — the show’s creator, who is also known for the “Yellowstone” universe — is without its dispute.
“Landman’s” controversy comes in Episode 9 of Season 2, when Ainsley Cooper goes to TCU for cheer camp. There, she meets Paigyn Meester, her pre-assigned roommate, who will also be her roommate in the fall. It’s clear that the pair doesn’t mesh well from the start. Meester is nonbinary, vegan and has a ferret. Ainsley Cooper, being an upper-middle-class suburban girl, has not interacted with people who do not share her own identity. It’s an interesting commentary on identity, culture clash and the discomfort that can arise when people with vastly different worldviews are suddenly forced to share space. What begins as awkward tension quickly turns into a broader reflection of generational attitudes, privilege and the assumptions people carry with them into unfamiliar environments.
However, this is where the controversy has arisen. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community feel that Meester is a stereotype, an inaccurate representation and mean-spirited.
Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Meester’s actor, admitted they were barely familiar with Sheridan and his works when they signed on for the show.
“I’d seen posters, I’d seen flyers, but I actually hadn’t seen the show before. So, I didn’t even totally comprehend how big of a deal it was until all those CCed agents on the chain that I don’t even usually talk to are suddenly texting me, ‘Congratulations!’” they said in an interview.
But once they realized the scale of the audience and the inevitable reactions to Meester’s identity, they prepared themselves.
“Knowing the impact of this show, I just knew there would be a lot of different responses from all sides of the spectrum,” Menuez said. “If you look at American politics, obviously this is a hot button topic.”
Honestly, I loved the two episodes that Menuez starred in. They explored prejudice and the treatment of others, no matter what someone feels about someone’s identity, beliefs or lifestyle. The storyline forced the characters to confront their own biases and discomfort, showing how quickly people can be to judge what they don’t understand. By putting those tensions front and center, the episodes highlight how empathy and basic respect should exist even when people fundamentally disagree.
“Landman” has been renewed for a third season, which will likely be released in November 2026, following the schedule of the previous two seasons. It is currently streaming on Paramount+, which is where the third season will be released in the fall.
“Ca$ino” album cover. | photo from @babykeem on instagram
March 4, 2026 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
After releasing his sophomore album, “The Melodic Blue,” in 2021 and a subsequent deluxe edition of the album in 2022 following the record-breaking “The Big Steppers Tour,” where he opened for his cousin Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem essentially disappeared from the public eye. While that long of a break might be a commercial death sentence for artists as early in their career as Baby Keem, his output has already cultivated a strong fan base, and his album “Ca$ino,” released on Feb. 20, consistently delivers from front to back and is the strongest he’s ever been lyrically.
The album opens with “No Security,” where Keem gets personal about family struggles and guilt with lines like, “Uncle Andre just passed, I can’t help but bear blame / Wish I got him help when the resources came.” On the title track, “Ca$ino,” the beat sounds like something from a video game, and Keem slides over it flawlessly with a flow that somehow sounds desperate and effortless at the same time. The beat switches halfway through to a slower, but still hard-hitting beat, where Keem maintains an aggressive energy. “Birds & the Bees” has easily one of the catchiest hooks I’ve heard recently, and I’ve had so much fun listening to it since the album came out. After a run that includes the relaxed “Good Flirts (feat. Kendrick Lamar and Momo Boyd)” and the abrasive “House Money,” Keem comes back down to earth with “I am not a Lyricist,” which ironically is one of the best lyrical performances of his career, diving deeper into some of the personal issues he rapped about on the album’s opener. “Highway 95 pt. 2” is an incredible sequel to one of my favorite Keem songs. On this song, he tells the story of his traumatic childhood, growing up around drug abuse and legal troubles. His performance is both powerful and depressing, and it’s difficult to find a single line that truly encapsulates the emotional nature of the song.
“Dramatic Girl (feat. Che Ecru)” is the most different from the rest of the album and contains a more alternative sound, and is easily my favorite of Keem’s attempts at making music in that kind of genre. Even for people who aren’t typically fans of Keem or of hip hop in general, I highly recommend giving this song a listen.
The album concludes with “No Blame,” a song dedicated to his mother, who he’s mentioned struggling with addiction among other things multiple times in his music. Again, every line is heart-wrenching as Keem talks about the problems they went through as a family. I don’t think any words outside of the song fully encapsulate quite how strong the lyrics are. In one line, he says, “I was seven years old, waiting on you in pajamas / You said you would come home, should’ve never made that promise.” Ultimately, he explains that he understands the trauma his mother was dealing with herself and that he doesn’t blame her, ending the album on an extremely emotional note.
This album is, to me, without a doubt, the best Keem has made so far. It has high-quality production, catchy hooks and sharp verses with a combination of both fun and emotional tracks. There are a couple of moments I could do without, but I’ll still listen to them when I go through the album for the millionth time. It’s been a stacked year for music, and while it’s still early, this is the album of the year for me so far, with Brent Faiyaz’s album “Icon” being a close second.
A still of the main cast of the 2014 show “The Librarians.” | Photo from @librarianstnt on Instagram
Feb. 25, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
“The fate of the world is in my hands? That’s so sad.”
Before Noah Wyle stepped into the role of Dr. Michael Robinavitch on the HBO drama “The Pitt,” he was best known to many fans as the adventurous Flynn Carsen in a direct-to-DVD trilogy called “The Librarian”.
One might not expect there to be a magical library existing in its own pocket dimension beneath the New York Metropolitan Public Library, but that’s exactly what the three films — “The Quest for the Spear,” “Return to King Solomon’s Mines” and “The Curse of the Judas Chalice” — explore. Carsen, as the Librarian, travels the globe to find magic artifacts and stop evil organizations from using them to cause chaos.
It’s like if “Indiana Jones” had a baby with “National Treasure” and it’s amazing.
The trilogy eventually spanned into two spin-off series: “The Librarians” and “The Librarians: The Next Chapter.”
“The Librarians” is probably one of my favorite shows ever. It’s corny, and the CGI is bad — I mean, the show debuted on TNT in 2014 — but when I first watched it as a kid who wanted to be an archaeologist, it was everything to me. Magical artifact retrieval? Check. A library that has the sum of human knowledge? Check. Hot coworkers with accents? Check.
But now, as an adult, I can appreciate the show on a deeper level than just magic and adventures. After all, the first two episodes are about Flynn Carsen accepting the help from his recently appointed Guardian, Eve Baird, who is played by Rebecca Romijn. Baird is asked by another character if she would save Carsen if he were drowning, and when she says “yes,” is told that he is drowning and needs her to reach her hand out and save him. It’s a turning point that truly kickstarts the first season.
The show is full of moments like this, and each character is allowed to be a central focus of an episode — sometimes multiple — across the show’s four seasons. The second season is probably the best in terms of character development, especially for characters Jacob Stone and Ezekiel Jones. “And What Lies Beneath the Stones” and “And the Point of Salvation” stand out as two of the season’s highest-rated episodes, peeling back the layers of characters who had long kept audiences at arm’s length. The former reveals why Jacob Stone conceals his extraordinary gift from his father, while the latter shows that Ezekiel Jones is far more than the cold, self-serving thief viewers once took him to be.
Of course, there are humorous moments in the show, too — because it needs that balance between the serious and the comical — and it’s in that contrast where the magic really lives. The jokes never undercut the stakes; instead, they make the danger feel human, and the characters feel real. It’s that careful blend of heart, humor and high-stakes adventure that keeps the story grounded — and keeps audiences coming back for more.
“The Librarian” trilogy is streaming on Peacock, “The Librarians” is streaming on Kanopy and “The Librarians: The Next Chapter” is streaming on Prime Video.
A meme about Jetpack Cat begging not to be banned. | Photo from @playoverwatch on Instagram
Feb. 18, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
My brother and I said back in 2020 that Overwatch needed to add Brigitte’s pet cat, Fika, as a playable character. Six years later, we finally have Jetpack Cat, exactly as we imagined her.
Jetpack Cat was released with the Feb. 10 update that saw Overwatch developers add her alongside four other heroes.
The game initially released with 21 heroes in either a tank, damage or support role, but this has now blossomed into 50 heroes, with the addition of the five newcomers.
I haven’t really clicked with a hero release since Junker Queen and Ramattra came out in 2022. Most of the newer heroes don’t fit my playstyle — I like fast, scrappy fights and heroes who can push tempo and survive in close quarters. Typically, I gravitate toward heroes like Reaper and Soldier: 76 on damage and Brigitte on support — all of whom reward aggressive, forward play. When Junker Queen and Ramattra were added to the tank role, they were the first tanks that truly matched how I like to play. Now that Jetpack Cat is out, I have another support character who I feel is compatible with this.
And, I know, I’m focusing a lot on Jetpack Cat. I’ve said her name five times already, but she has been an idea for six years, forming in my head. I was scared I wouldn’t like her design or loadout, but Overwatch developers proved me wrong for the first time since 2023.
I’m realizing that I’m slowly starting to sound like a stereotypical Overwatch player who lives on Discord and has 2,000-plus hours on the game, but I promise I’m not. I’m a casual player who, unfortunately, was hyperfixated on the game during the coronavirus pandemic and decided to build her own original characters, complete with lore, abilities and loadouts. So, I know ball.
The pandemic era of Overwatch was the absolute trenches. Echo was released as a damage character in 2020, just five months after the announcement of Overwatch 2, which was two years off. With everyone home, the lobbies and servers were filled with casuals and pros. Playing a queued match — where players select which role they want and wait for an available spot in a lobby — was quick, especially if one wanted to play as a support. This was when I got good at Brigitte because no one wanted to play the support role, and if they did, they always chose Mercy.
Now, this batch of character updates is the largest since the game’s initial release in 2016. And I know, five isn’t a lot, but when compared to the continuous rollout of characters and content that Overwatch’s competitor, Marvel Rivals, has been churning out, this is great news.
With the five new characters, one could run a whole team with each role filled — one tank, two damage and two support. I can still remember when it was two of each role, but we’re not going to talk about how hard I grieved losing the second tank slot. It’s something I still haven’t gotten over.
Each of the five new characters is unique in their abilities and loadouts, but I figured out each of their playstyles by comparing them to what I already knew about other characters in similar roles or similar abilities and loadouts.
Domina is the only tank released in this update. Domina feels closest to Symmetra in the way her value comes from preparation and space manipulation rather than raw mechanical duels. She’s strongest when she’s dictating the terms of engagement — setting up pressure points and forcing enemies to move where she wants them. Like Sym, she rewards players who think two steps ahead instead of just reacting in the moment.
Anran, the first damage character, plays like a classic dive opportunist. I would say she is closest to Genji in how players should approach her. This comparison isn’t just about mobility — it’s about timing windows. Both heroes are ineffective if they go in first and devastating if they go in at the right second. Their value hinges on reading the fight, identifying vulnerability and committing with precision.
Emre, the other damage character released, feels like a midpoint between Cassidy’s grounded dueling presence and Widowmaker’s lethal pick potential. He has the ability to hold space and threaten angles without fully committing to long-range isolation. That hybrid identity makes him dangerous — he can stabilize a frontline fight but also swing momentum instantly with a single well-placed shot.
Jetpack Cat, our first support, whom I am utterly obsessed with, operates in the same vertical, tempo-controlling lane as Wrecking Ball, but with Mercy’s ally-centric utility and a hint of Brigitte’s close-range presence layered in. The strength isn’t raw damage output — it’s mobility, fight shaping and protective pressure. She influences engagements through repositioning, disruption and selective peel, forcing the enemy to constantly adjust rather than anchoring in one predictable space, while subtly reinforcing her team’s ability to hold ground when it matters. Ironically, my comparison of Jetpack Cat to Wrecking Ball is also similar in their design aspects: both are animals that end up with some sort of mecha that helps them engage in battles.
Mizuki, the last hero and second support, feels like dive aggression tempered with brawl survivability. I would honestly compare his playstyle best to a combination of Genji and Brigitte. The Genji comparison shows up in mobility and burst windows, but the Brigitte parallel comes from his ability to stay in the fight longer than most dive heroes. He isn’t a glass cannon — he’s built to commit, trade and remain present in the chaos rather than disengaging immediately.
The introduction of these characters also brought in sub-roles, expanding on the three main roles that all characters already fit into. Tanks and supports each have three sub-roles: tank characters fall into bruiser, initiator or stalwart, while support characters fall into medic, survivor or tactician.
Damage has four sub-roles, which makes sense given it has 22 characters, while tank and support each have 14. These damage sub-roles are flanker, recon, sharpshooter and specialist. I still haven’t 100% figured out the costs versus benefits of each sub-role, but they’re only a few days old as of the time I’ve written this article.
Overwatch is free to play on Steam, Battle.net, Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store.
The cover for Noah Kahan’s 2026 album “The Great Divide.” | Photo from @noahkahanmusic on Instagram
Feb. 18, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Move over, Eras Tour — there’s a new competitor for the hardest artist to get tickets to: Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide Tour.
In a post to his Instagram Feb. 2, Kahan announced that he would be embarking on a stadium tour following the announcement of his fourth studio album, “The Great Divide.” The tour will feature 22 stops across the country, with the final night at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.
Alongside the announcement of his tour, Kahan also announced that tickets would be available for presale, allowing fans to sign up through his website.
This is where it became a war for tickets. Thousands of fans signed up for the presale and received their links when the sale date arrived. I was one of nearly 11,000 fans waiting in the Ticketmaster queue to be able to purchase tickets for the Aug. 30 night at T-Mobile Park. I got lucky and got tickets. Other fans, however, weren’t as lucky.
TikTok user @theyankeeyearner shared a screenshot of their Ticketmaster queue with the caption “So who’s lending their ticket to me?” They were in the presale line for the Jul. 18 and 19 shows at Citi Field in Queens, New York — a line that had 186,775 buyers ahead of them. Other shows, including the two nights at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Aug. 21 show at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, faced similar line numbers.
Kahan’s team worked to add more shows as fast as they could to help fans get the seats they wanted. The day of the presale, a second show was added at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, and two Fenway and one T-Mobile Park shows were added on Feb. 12.
Fans, however, were less than pleased with the competitiveness of the ticket sales. On Instagram, under the post announcing additional tour dates, user @madyaalexander commented, “I’m super disappointed with this round of ticket prices and lack of ability to get tickets, @noahkahanmusic. I’ve been a fan since Busyhead and waited for hours on the MLB site just to find out they were sold out. Love your music, but please, for your fans, we’re getting bought out.”
Kahan’s team worked to avoid ticket resellers raising prices, so fans could experience his show at an affordable price.
“To make sure fans have the best opportunity at original ticket prices, the tour will be using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange. Tickets will be non-transferable and can only be resold at face value on Ticketmaster,” @kahanhq captioned on Instagram. “Nothing is perfect, but we’re doing what we can to help protect against scalpers and keep tickets in fans’ hands.”
Currently, all shows on the Great Divide Tour are sold out, with Kahan being the first artist to ever sell out four consecutive nights at Fenway Park.
I dedicate this article to my cousins Oscar, Armando and Cristian.
When I was younger, I spent a lot of time sitting on the floor of my older cousins’ room while they played Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Music has always been an important part of my family’s background and they all ended up learning how to play the guitar. So, it was no surprise that my uncle bought this game for them. My favorite song from the game was “Barracuda” by Heart. It ended up being the song that they played the most because of their younger cousin constantly asking for it.
The Guitar Hero game franchise is a series of games that revolve around using a guitar-shaped controller to replicate playing guitar to various rock songs. The controllers would have colored buttons in place of frets on the neck of the guitar to simulate the player strumming the notes. The games mimic things that real guitars have, such as a whammy bar that is meant to be able to alter the pitch of notes. Similar to real life bands, the player can decide whether they want to play the lead guitar or the bass, with both having separate rhythms and parts. The game was extremely popular in the mid to late 2000s, with over 25 million copies being sold and an astounding $2 billion in sales.
The gameplay is simple, but extremely fun. When going into the game, a set list appears which is where the player can see what songs are unlocked and pick which one they want to play. When a song is selected, a scrolling fret board appears with various colored notes appearing on the screen. The color of each note matches the ones on the guitar controller. As the song plays, notes appear and the player needs to hit them in time with the song. The higher the difficulty is set, the more notes appear and the faster the player needs to hit them. On the side of the screen is a meter known as the “star meter.” The player can make the bar fill up whenever they hit all the star-shaped notes that will occasionally appear throughout the song. When it’s full enough, lifting the guitar controller will make star power activate, which doubles the game’s scoring multiplier. If the player misses notes, it makes the guitar create a screeching sound. Missing too many will make the meter drain, with flashing red coming from it meaning the game is about to end.
There are two different modes that the game offers: career mode and free-play. Career mode follows the player’s journey to becoming a rock star.Free-play mode is simply what the title says: the player is able to play any of the songs they have unlocked at any time. Depending on the game, the story of the game can change. However, the gist is the same. The player joins a band and every gig that the band books is on a different level. In each level, the band plays popular rock songs with at least three needed to be completed before unlocking the next one. After completing the last song, there will be an encore performance with a new song that wasn’t shown in the main set list. Performing the encore unlocks another song with the cool detail of the stage being influenced in a unique way. For example, in one of the stages in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, playing the encore in the first stage will summon the cops, who instead of arresting people, will jam out to the song played and helicopters fly around to give some cool lighting for the band.
There are several playable rock stars that the player can choose from. Each has their own personality and a brief description of their backstory. They all have different outfits that can be bought at the store from the money the player makes from getting through songs successfully. Some characters can also be unlocked from doing a guitar battle with them and winning, though at least in the games that I’ve played, I still had to buy them at the store.
My personal favorite is a playable character in the first six main games known as “Judy Nails.” Her backstory is as follows: Born Judith Ann Taylor, she started going by Judy Nails after a nail gun incident when she was 7. Despite her parents trying to get her to do anything else, it was clear that she only had one love and that was rock n’ roll. She has a particular love of alternative rock and formed a band called the “Nail Gunners” after taking cash from her mother’s purse. Fun fact about her: she went to court due to some charges against a reporter who claimed she struck him. Her only comment was, “He had asked about my hair and clothes, and not once about my music.” The charges were thankfully dropped. Honestly, good for her.
Each of the playable characters have detailed backgrounds like this, making them feel like the stereotypical rock stars many think of.
The history of how the game came to be is quite fascinating. It begins with the company called RedOctane. They noticed that there was a very popular game in Japan called “Guitar Freaks,” which when looking at the gameplay of it, looks quite similar to what “Guitar Hero” is known for. The players would use guitar shaped controllers to simulate playing the instrument to popular songs. RedOctane then noticed that while the game was popular over there, there wasn’t any game in the Western market at the time that offered that gaming experience with a guitar-shaped controller. RedOctane already owned a company known as Harmonix, which had made music centered games before, like Karaoke Revolution. So, they had them create a game with similar gameplay and a controller that would simulate the player actually playing the instrument. The first Guitar Hero came out in 2005, becoming an immediate success.
A few months ago, I began reminiscing about that game and how I never had the opportunity to play it. My husband and I then began a manhunt to try to find not only a copy of the game, but also game guitars that were compatible with it. Through determination and sheer luck, we managed to find two working guitars at Goodwill and two of the Guitar Hero games at a thrift shop. We found Guitar Hero World and thankfully, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. I’ve been playing the game a lot more than I probably should and if anyone can, I strongly recommend playing it. Not only is it any game collector’s dream to own the game and a guitar, it’s also such a fun game to play with amazing songs.
The author’s Red Dead Online character explores Rockstar’s take on the American frontier. | Photo by Jaylin Emond-Hardin
Feb. 11, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: This game contains minor spoilers for the Red Dead Redemption franchise
Everyone knows Rockstar Games’ most popular franchise, Grand Theft Auto. With five games in the main series and a sixth coming out in November, the game series has cemented its place in popular culture — after all, who could forget the “we got … before GTA 6” meme?
While the Grand Theft Auto franchise is widely recognized, Rockstar’s other major series — the Red Dead Redemption games — is far less known by comparison.
Consisting of three games — Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption II and Red Dead Redemption: Online — the franchise is set in the late 1800s and early 1910s, focusing on themes of violence, loss and, of course, redemption. For context, I will refer to each game as Red Dead, Red Dead II and Red Dead Online, as these are the names typically used in fan communities.
Red Dead follows protagonist John Marston as he navigates the last days of the American West in 1911. The game follows Marston as he attempts to free his family from Dutch Van der Linde, the notorious leader of the Van der Linde gang, and has near-exactly identical game mechanics to the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Red Dead II is a prequel to Red Dead and follows Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang in 1899. It follows the gang’s descent into notoriety and ends with Morgan’s death, either due to tuberculosis or at the hands of fellow gang member Micah Bell.
Red Dead Online is a prequel to both games and follows a player-customized character, and players have the option to follow the accompanying storyline or to do whatever they wish within the free roam map.
While I haven’t played Red Dead, I have played Red Dead II and Red Dead Online, and I can honestly say I prefer the online game mode. I enjoy being a character I created myself — I have been playing the same character for almost six years now — and the stranger missions are unlimited, even after the main storyline has been completed. I also really love Arthur Morgan as a character, and because Red Dead Online is set before the events of Red Dead II, he never dies.
Red Dead Online is low stakes when compared to its main story counterparts. While players accumulate low or high honor — the system of how decisions are made which may affect dialogue and certain missions — these choices carry far fewer lasting consequences, allowing players to experiment freely without significantly altering the game world or narrative.
Like the Grand Theft Auto franchise, Red Dead Redemption allows players to free roam, and there are no consequences for not completing story missions, which allows players to make the game as low-stakes as they wish.
All three Red Dead Redemption games are available on Steam, the Microsoft Store and the PlayStation Store, though the first installment is not compatible with Xbox Series S. Red Dead II and Red Dead Online can be bought as a bundle or individually, though I recommend the bundle so a one-time purchase can be made.
A graphic posted by Film Zone following the announcement of O’Hara’s death. | Photo from @thefilmzone on Instagram
Feb. 4, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
It was announced Friday, Jan. 30, that actor Catherine O’Hara passed away at age 71, “following a brief illness.” Currently, there is no other information surrounding the actor’s death.
Best known for her roles as Kevin McCallister’s mother in two “Home Alone” films and as Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek” — a role for which she won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and two SAG Awards — O’Hara was known as one of the greats of comedy.
O’Hara’s first appearance was in the 1970s on “SCTV” — short for “Second City Television” — and saw her working with the likes of Martin Short, Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy. Levy and O’Hara would later collaborate on multiple projects, including “Schitt’s Creek.”
In her early days in Hollywood, casting directors didn’t always know what to do with O’Hara’s “scattershot style,” with the actor often playing eccentric side-characters. In 1984, she played Gail in Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours” and in 1988 played Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice,” which she reprised in the 2024 sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Roles were rare following the success of the “Home Alone” films, though O’Hara collaborated with Levy on a series of mockumentaries directed by Christopher Guest — best known for “The Princess Bride” and “Night at the Museum.”
“I am devastated,” Guest said in a statement to the AP. “We have lost one of the comic giants of our age.”
Macaulay Culkin also paid tribute to O’Hara’s passing in an Instagram post shared Friday morning.
“Mama, I thought we had time,” he said, sharing a still from “Home Alone,” alongside a recent recreation of the still. “I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you.”
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, sons Matthew and Luke, and siblings Michael O’Hara, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O‘Hara, Tom O’Hara and Patricia Wallice.
On Jan. 30, a movie called “Iron Lung” was released in theaters. “Iron Lung” is based on a video game released by David Szymanski of the same name. It was written, directed, edited and exclusively produced by Mark Fischbach, known more commonly online as Markiplier. Fischbach is well known for being a very popular gaming YouTuber, with some of his most popular videos being him playing horror games such as “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Until Dawn” and “Amnesia: The Dark Descent.”
The synopsis of the movie is that it is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a cosmic event called “the quiet rapture” caused all known stars and habitable planets in the universe to vanish. Humankind is going extinct, but the few who are still around are searching the universe for any signs of life. A convict is sent to search an ocean of blood that was discovered on a desolate moon, using a small submarine nicknamed the “Iron Lung.” Along with producing the movie, Fischbach stars in it and is the main protagonist. The movie is very much a science fiction, eldritch horror type of film.
The video game by Szymanski is similar in story to where the player is a convict who was sent down in a submarine to explore a blood ocean. They are drilled into the submarine, unable to see what’s in front of them. The player has to use coordinates and a map given to them in order to know where they are. The camera on the submarine is the only thing that allows the player to see what is in the ocean with them, both dead and alive. “Iron Lung” is available on Steam, gog.com, Google Play, Playstation and the Nintendo Switch. The usual price for the game is $7.99.
“Iron Lung” is not the only creative work that Fischbach has made. He has also created something that he has titled “Adventures with Markiplier,” which involves going on a date, a heist and in space. These series are multiple choice, linking to other videos in order to lead to various endings. He has also created a thriller series called “The Edge of Sleep.” It was released on Amazon Prime with the premise being that after a night watchman, played by Fischbach, finishes his shift at work, he discovers that everyone who went to sleep the previous night has passed away.
The movie “Iron Lung” has a blood drive associated with it. To celebrate the release of this movie, they have partnered with blood centers to allow donation trucks to be available for participating theaters across the country. Donors must be 16 or older, with participants who are 16 needing a signed parental consent form. It’s free for everyone with no fees for those who want to give blood. Those who donate must be feeling healthy, be hydrated and provide an ID that has their first and last name, date of birth and a photo. The goal is to break the world record of people who donated blood in one day. The current record is 37,018 donations.
I am a huge Markiplier fan and someone who grew up watching his YouTube videos. So when I heard he was going to make this film, it was a must-watch. I was fortunate enough to be able to view it Jan. 29 and am glad to report that I enjoyed it. Definitely a 10/10. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of the game, Markiplier or sci-fi.
For more information on the movie, buying tickets at a nearby theater, the blood drive or simply wanting to see more from the source, I recommend checking out the official “Iron Lung” website, which is https://ironlung.com/.
A still of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee as they set out on their journey in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” | Photo from @lordoftherings on Instagram
Feb, 4, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Two weekends in January saw the legendary “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy return to theaters across the country. This year marks the 25th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first film in the trilogy, and New Line Cinema partnered with Fathom Events — which are typically shown at Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres — for exclusive showings.
The last time the trilogy was in theaters was September of 2019, showing the extended editions in Flashback Cinema partnered theaters. With the films’ popularity, they typically return to theaters in five-year cycles for the anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Seeing these films in theaters is an experience that is indescribable. While I was unable to attend the showings this year, I did attend the 2019 showings when I was a sophomore in high school. “The Lord of the Rings” is perhaps my all-time favorite trilogy, with “The Two Towers” — the series’ second film — being my preferred of the three.
One major change, however, for this exclusive event from previous showings, came with the availability of D-Box motion seats and 4DX screening options, as well as all films being shown in Dolby Vision — an advanced HDR color option meant to enhance the theater experience.
With the two weekend showings, “The Lord of the Rings” also hit another major milestone: “The Return of the King” has now officially surpassed a rival blockbuster franchise-ender at the box office. With the $1.6 million of revenue generated, “Return of the King” has now beaten “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.” That’s right. “The Lord of the Rings” has finally dethroned “Harry Potter.” While it is a small win for Peter Jackson’s trilogy, it is still a win. It is important to note, however, that neither movie is close to earning half the total of the highest-grossing domestic box office movie. That belongs to “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.”
Another interesting note is that “The Hobbit” trilogy, the prequel to “The Lord of the Rings,” will not be returning to theaters for its 15th anniversary next year. It is highly unlikely that it will return to cinemas due to its lack of popularity among fans. I, however, would like to see them in theaters at least once, as I was nine when the first one released, and — hot take — they’re actually good.
The next movie set in Middle-earth to hit theaters will be “The Hunt for Gollum,” which is slated for a December 2027 release. The film will follow Aragorn as he hunts for the titular character, and Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are supposed to reprise their roles as Gollum, Gandalf and Frodo Baggins, respectively.
For now, fans can stream all movies set in Middle-earth — “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” trilogy and “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” as well as a slew of throwback animated movies — on HBO Max.
From left to right: Morgan Pemberton, Emily Phoun, Makayla Wright, Lukas Dyer, Joey Guerra. | Photo from @aswou on Instagram
March 11, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
The Associated Students of Western Oregon University has opened their application forms for the general election, described as “the annual election called to fill all of the positions created by the ASWOU Constitution, as well as three Incidental Fee Committee members, and to vote on various ballot measures,” per the ASWOU governing documents.
Crucial roles are potentially up for grabs as the transition from Spring to Fall terms kicks off.
ASWOU is the official student body government, student-run and student-funded, tasked with important roles such as advocating for the student population, overseeing and governing clubs, as well as collaborating with Western’s administration to facilitate a healthy relationship between students and staff, faculty and admin.
Certain roles, such as director roles and the chief of staff, are selected following interviews held during the summer by the ASWOU president and vice president. However, the president, vice president, senate president, judicial administrator, IFC member and senator roles are open for election applications. Students will be able to vote in these elections during Spring term to determine the next batch of student leaders for the following academic year.
Split into three branches — executive, legislative and judicial — ASWOU maintains specific roles that serve in meaningful, but different, ways.
The head of the executive branch is the president, currently Morgan Pemberton. In that position, the student acts as a bridge between the administration and student body, as well as being the student representative to the administration, as well as state and federal governments. They also attend senate and judicial meetings, contribute to committees, meet with students and, again, faculty and admin, as well as Western President Jesse Peters, plan events and maintain a list of other varied duties, spanning 20 hours of paid work weekly from June to June.
“I feel like the job is very rewarding because you get to do a lot of community organizing,” said Pemberton. “You get to really focus on the projects on campus that you’re passionate about, and get to interact with higher admin and kind of see the behind-the-scenes of a lot of things.”
It would be Pemberton’s replacement’s job to select Executive Cabinet members, including director positions and the chief of staff. Director positions at ASWOU include public relations, business & finance, equity & advocacy, state & federal affairs and student organizations.
Pemberton also spoke directly to the impact of the president’s role. “I know for me, it was super important to focus on internal structure, kind of a rebuilding ASWOU year and connections to the community, more (connections) with admin, that was really important for me.”
Previous ASWOU presidents have focused on other issues, such as safety and sustainability. “It really depends on the administration for what direction you want to go, because you have so many resources and options for what you think is important on campus,” said Pemberton.
The vice president position is also being re-elected, with Emily Phoun graduating in the summer. In her words, the vice president is a support system for the team with the freedom to begin their own initiatives.
“Honestly, I would say it is something that I never have any regrets on. I love every second of it,” said Phoun. “Just getting to be able to not only be a voice and representative for students, but really just getting to be out there and getting to be on different committees, doing different projects. I just honestly love it.”
Phoun is also on the University Budget Advisory Committee, often called UBAC. The group consists of faculty, staff, students and administrators, intended to discuss Western’s budget. They review budget proposals, submit recommendations and consider important factors that influence the cost of tuition, bringing a variety of perspectives from different positions across campus. ASWOU recommends two students as members, opening more opportunities for new workers.
“One of the projects that I actually did was hosting a town hall, which they’ve never had a student-run town hall, before I came along and did that initiative,” said Phoun. “But there was lots of encouragement as well as praise from both the student body and the committee.” Another project that Phoun took on was a collaboration with The Western Howl, created to spread ASWOU news and insight through the student paper.
Phoun recommended that students give it their all: “Advice that I would give is don’t be afraid to take initiative on something, even if it might seem scary.”
The director of state & federal affairs is a relatively new position, but one that ASWOU takes pride in having. “I think that is so important in the kind of political time we’re in. (It’s for) students who are super interested in getting involved in politics, or who are interested in making sure other students know about what’s happening politically, that kind of thing,” Pemberton said.
The role pays close attention to state and federal changes that might impact students or the university so that those changes may be relayed to the student body. They are also part of organizing Lobby Day, an annual event when students travel to the Oregon Capitol to advocate for their beliefs.
Under the judicial branch, the five or fewer student justices attend all judicial meetings, interpret policy and administer the judicial process. With a heavy focus on club activity, the judicial branch meets on a less-regular basis, mainly to discuss clubs in the case of potential violation of ASWOU statutes, since ASWOU has governing documents that all clubs must abide by. Two of the justices are appointed by ASWOU, but the three remaining slots are elected by the student body. One of the five is also appointed as the judicial board vice-chair by the judicial administrator.
The judicial administrator facilitates judicial meetings and makes sure ASWOU adheres to its governing documents and policies for 20 hours paid a week.
The senate serves as the policymaking authority within ASWOU. Likewise to the expectations for justices, elected senators must meet with the senate president multiple times a term, sponsor legislation such as bills and resolutions and partake in IFC meetings, which determine incidental fees and their distribution to student activities and resources. Some examples of IFC-funded organizations are Athletics, Abby’s House and Student Engagement. According to ASWOU governing documents, no more than 15 senators are allowed at a time, with 11 elected positions currently open for applications.
The senate president is required to remain impartial, contribute weekly to the position and must pick a senate president pro tempore during Fall term to serve beside them. Compensated for 20 hours of work a week, the senate president oversees the senate.
Senators and justices, alongside their weekly participation, must meet with their branch presidents, attend at least one training session on parliamentary procedure, expectations and responsibilities and adhere to proper etiquette. The hours are volunteer and vary between 2-5 hours a week.
It is within the legislative body that senate bills can be passed and debated, requiring Western’s president’s signature to pass or be vetoed.
“The senate or legislative branch is focused on changing things. So, if we think that there is something wrong, we can make recommendations and resolutions to those departments,” said Pemberton. “I would say (the executive branch) is for doing and planning, legislative is for making change and judicial is for ensuring fairness and making sure that everyone has the right support.”
All ASWOU members have sworn an oath of office in front of a witness: “I, [student name], do solemnly swear to faithfully execute the duties of the office of [position title] to the best of my abilities and, in the best interest of the Associated Students of Western Oregon University, to uphold the Governing Documents and the Student Code of Conduct.”
Similarly, they must sign a document acknowledging their oath, which is then signed by the witness and designee who swore them in.
The annual general election is run by the Elections Committee, a subcommittee of the Judicial Board, comprised of six members from various positions on campus, such as one appointed by the Residence Hall Association president, another by the judicial administrator and four co-appointed by the ASWOU president, senate president and judicial administrator. Additionally, all three branch heads serve as advisors to the Elections Committee.
Candidates must meet the current GPA standard, be enrolled in at least six credits while in office and meet requirements outlined in the ASWOU bylaws, constitution or other governing documents, as well as have submitted the appropriate application and/or documents. And, more clearly, they must follow Western’s student code of conduct as well as the Elections Code of Conduct.
And, according to governing documents, “The purpose and scope of these election policies is to allow all students an equal opportunity to present their views and qualifications to the ASWOU during an election period … All students of WOU shall have an equal opportunity to vote.”
With applications already open, students can look to join ASWOU for the 2026-27 school year by checking Involve.
“For elections, I think that if you’re not looking to get elected, there are a lot of appointed positions. I would say one of the really impactful ones is the Director of Equity and Advocacy, making sure that we’re being equitable as a campus and that advocacy is happening, especially in a time like this one, that community bringing together communities,” said Pemberton.
As for the head positions — president, vice president, senate president, judicial administrator — “They have a lot of responsibilities … You have to have really strong leadership skills or be really willing to learn along the way, because you’re directing a whole group of other students,” said Pemberton.
Pemberton’s advice for students looking to join ASWOU? “Don’t doubt your abilities. The positions can be hard, but you could really make them your own, and all it really takes is the want to do something different and the want to make campus life better. So if you’re worried you don’t have the skills, you can really develop the skills and it’s a perfect opportunity to do that — so it’s more about your willingness and your go-get-it kind of attitude.”
Phoun added: “It’s a great way to not only build up your resume, but also gain leadership skills and experience. But you also get to interact with the campus community as well as interact with admin.”
The Incidental Fee Committee has three elected roles and six appointed positions to discuss and deliberate over budget distribution and fee costs within student incidental fees. Positions require no experience, as training is provided, and the positions are volunteer, between 5-10 hours a week through both Fall and Winter terms.
For students who are uninterested in working with ASWOU, there are still reasons to pay attention, as important discussions come and go regarding funding, tuition, on-campus events, new resources, club operations and more.
