As undergraduates, we all need to take some time out of our busy schedules in the next few weeks to spend as much time as possible sending off the seniors. This does not mean treat them as if they are the most precious beings on the planet, but to just simply hang out with them, as you normally would. Go to a movie, indulge in some adult beverages (as long as you are an adult,) whatever you would do on a regular basis. Do not make them feel ostracized by their upcoming graduation. Create some new memories with these new graduates before they leave; give them something to remember about you and their college experience. When you are a senior, you will want the same treatment.

While saying your goodbyes to the seniors in these final days, absorb everything you can from them. Regardless of your age and class, there is a lot of valuable information that is stored in the minds of the seniors. Probe them for anything that will help you get through college and graduate, just as they are about to do. They will be able to offer incredible advice, and maybe teach you a few things that will assist you in succeeding in your own college career. Seniors, just like anyone, enjoy being looked up to and asked questions, so lend your ears and listen to some of their experiences.

The seniors are all graduating for a reason, because they worked hard and were dedicated to their studies. They should be looked up to as role models, as people that we all aspire to be; college graduates. Note their work habits, and everything that has helped them to succeed, and take it to heart. Do your best to mimic their actions, learning one thing from them can go a long way.

For the seniors, congratulations on your amazing achievement. In graduating from a higher education institution, you have accomplished something that the majority of people in America have not. Take some time to celebrate the diploma that you have earned. Yet, do not become complacent, everyone invested in his or her education for a reason, to attain a job in their field of study. Do not settle for a minimum wage job, or a job that is in a completely different area than you would like to work in. Search diligently and find a job worthy of your hard work and the degree you have earned. You have put forth so much time and effort at AC; now it is time to get paid back, both monetarily and with a job that you enjoy.

Both graduating seniors and undergraduates, do all in your power to make these last days of school at AC memorable for those not coming back next year. Spend the final days with each other, and relive all of the memories that you have all had with one another.

Seniors, never forget your time at AC and we will make sure to never forget the legacy that each and every one of you has left after graduation.

And it’s commencement. A time of goodbyes, tears, and new beginnings.

You can listen to someone say four years goes by quick, but that doesn’t ring truer until you’re signing your application for graduation. It seems like just last week I was learning my first marching routines and taking placement exams. Those days have passed. It’s now time to put on my big boy pants.

I could sit here and praise Adrian College for all it’s done for me over the past eight semesters, but you’d get bored after the first paragraph. Instead, I can think of no better way to say farewell than to offer a few bits of advice.

AC was founded on tradition; for that tradition to continue, it’s important to keep instilling the same knowledge in future generations. So, without further ado, here are Skyler’s seven stupendous suggestions:

1. Do everything you might regret later. College is about learning from your mistakes. In these four years, you should be growing as an adult, making your own decisions, and moving forward. A word of caution: don’t make this an umbrella phrase to justify what you did last night.

2. Don’t look back. You choose who you hang out with, the grades you make, and what you’re doing this weekend. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. If you’re having trouble getting that ex off of your mind, don’t turn around. Focus on the path ahead.

3. Live on campus. This is mostly directed at commuters. You don’t really get the full “college experience” being away from campus. Not only do you have more self-responsibilities here, you also develop lifelong friendships.

4. Step outside your normal boundaries. This campus has a lot to offer. Over 80 student organizations. Over 25 sports teams. Every time you check your email, it’s flooded with messages about upcoming events. Check them out. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Become a culturist now before you graduate and become best friends with your couch.

5. Be who you are. This is a liberal arts institution, founded on personal freedoms. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Let others know what you think and how you feel. Chances are you’ll feel 100 times better if you let it out, rather than keep it in.

6. Stick to your commitments. We’re all here to get a sound education. Or to play a collegiate sport. Or simply because we want to get a good job. In any case, you know your priorities. Keep them and you’ll get the most out of your time here.

7. Have fun. If you’ve ignored everything else I’ve said, pay attention to this. We’re in college. It’s the best four years of your life. But it’s up to you to make it that way. Join a fraternity or sorority. Win a conference championship. Try out for a play. And go out on the weekends. You’ll only have as much fun here as you want to, so give yourself some flexibility.

Look, I’m not here to tell you what to do and what not to do. This is your college experience. Make it count because once these four years are over, it’s the beginning of your true adult life.

So sit back and have a few cold brews if you want. Ace all of your classes if you want. Change your major once or twice if you feel up to it. But always make sure you have fun doing it.

As the movie “Blow” states, “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.”

Goodbye, AC. Goodbye, College World. I’ll always remember my time here.

Granted, I’ve made some mistakes…there are definitely things I wish I had done or said and things I wish I wouldn’t have done. But, now that I’m really thinking about it, I wouldn’t change a single thing. I have to give myself some credit; I’ve had the most amazing experiences of my life while at AC, and I think I need to take a moment to share all the sweet stuff I’ve done.

My first good decision was deciding to go Greek. This may seem like a relentless plug for Greek life, but honestly I can’t imagine a day without my sisters. It’s a great feeling when you find your Greek home. It has created a place of love, belonging, and friendship for me, and I can’t describe how amazing the last four years of Alpha Phi have been.

Secondly, I made an awesome choice when I studied abroad. My weeks in Nicaragua taught me to appreciate all the wonderful things I have in my life, and my time in Buenos Aires, Argentina really opened my eyes to everything this big world has to offer. Spending my days living like a true porteño not only gave me the cultural experience of a lifetime, but it also put my whole life into perspective.

I also have to rate my choice to take a class in which I had to travel to a conference as one of my top experiences. For two years I’ve been participating in Model Arab League and it has been such a fun and unique experience. Yeah, 12 hours in a van isn’t exactly ideal, but the people I met are people I probably would have never gotten to known if I hadn’t gotten involved; they turned out to be a lot cooler than I ever thought. Plus, I have some hilarious stories out of the whole experience.

My fourth favorite decision was to become roommates with my best friend, Ali. There is no greater joy in life than staying up all night having heart-to-hearts and goofing off with the one person in the world who actually gets you. It was hard at times, but I wouldn’t trade a single second of our crazy, wonderful life in Stevens 236 together for anything.

And last but not least, my final great decision was to start working for the College World, especially joining the editorial staff. I never really pictured being involved with the paper, but now, I find myself looking forward to hanging out with some of my favorite friends on our hectic production nights.

Moral of the story? All of these amazing things that I’ve experienced during my college years are because I stepped outside of my box. If you don’t take a risk every once in a while you might never get to do your own cool things. Hopefully me sharing my favorite stories will encourage some of you to cross a few boundaries and create your own amazing experiences. You too can look back and say that you wouldn’t change a thing.

The set up here should be excruciatingly familiar. A group of five friends are invited to spend their vacation at a spooky old cabin out in the remote woods. Along the way they meet an ominous toothless yokel who taunts them about their inevitable fate.

Every action is being monitored by an underground team of technicians. From the safety of their research lab they control the variables of the environment, playing out the standard beats of a cheesy slasher film, luring the lead characters towards their cliched doom. But for what reason remains a mystery that slowly unravels over the course of the story.

The acting elevates the film beyond its metafictional appeal. The vaguely twenty-something college students are portrayed with a bit more depth and intelligence than most horror fodder. For example, the character Curt (Chris Hemsworth) is the jock of the group, but also one of the smartest. None of them fit neatly into their stereotypical roles, and it gives the audience something to cling to and root for.

Meanwhile, the lead technicians are played by veteran character actors Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. The film often cuts back to these characters as they plan out the deaths of strangers in an eerily white-collar fashion. In lesser hands these roles would have felt awkward. These two have an impeccable chemistry that straddles the fine line between hilarious and sinister.

The film is directed by “Cloverfield” screenwriter Drew Goddard from a script by Joss Whedon, creator of the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the short-lived “Firefly.” The writing, particularly the snappy dialogue and irreverent humor, absolutely reeks of Whedon’s signature style. It’s harder to judge Goddard’s exact influence, since this is his directorial debut. But the film has strong visuals, with many key shots that will drive the audience wild.

Both of the creators have obviously done their homework. “The Cabin in the Woods” displays an uncanny understanding of the mechanics of horror narratives, and it takes a perverse joy in dissecting them in front of you. Even if the subversion goes over your head, the story also manages work by itself. It’s structured in layers, with multiple payoffs and satisfying reveals.

What Whedon and Goddard have created here goes far beyond a simple spoof or critique. It simultaneously deconstructs and reconstructs the horror genre, subverts its tropes, rearranges its core structure into what Whedon calls a “loving hate letter,” before finally leveling the playing-field like a heat-seeking missile. It’s a delirious and razor-sharp thrill ride that smashes off the rails and dares to go where few have dared to venture.

Sibs and kids weekend is the perfect time for AC students to create some memories with youths that are important to them. To the children, AC is a humongous playground with endless possibilities of fun. It is the staff and students responsibility to make it an amazing experience for these young kids, by showing them around the campus and getting them involved in as many activities as possible.

Being their constant companion and friend will make the experience invaluable for them. Letting them see into the lives of an older role model and live a few days in their shoes is a magical time. Even when activities are not going on, just watching movies, or hanging out with other people can prove to be a magnificent experience for the children. Although going through the everyday routine of students at Adrian College (eating at Richie, going to the Merillat Sports and Fitness Center), can seem boring to someone who is accustomed to it, it is a brand new, exciting experience for a young person. Spending a weekend, or even one full day with a young relative or friend can make their entire month.

Not only is this weekend a great time for the sibs and kids, but for the AC students and staff who are hosting them as well. It is a time to reconnect with those who we may neglect due to a busy with college schedule. The weekend helps build camaraderie and makes relationships stronger than before with sibling and kids. Seeing family and friends outside of the typical environment at home offers a refreshing experience that should be taken advantage of. This weekend is the perfect opportunity to break from the traditional cycle of going out and partying every night, and doing something new and simple, spending time with a special young person. Just being around these young people can restore the inner kid in a college student, and can be an exhilarating experience.
Sibs and Kids Weekend is not only useful for those who are attending, it is also beneficial to AC for public relations. Sibs and Kids Weekend highlights everything that AC has to offer by bringing all of the students and their families together to enjoy the superior facilities that the college offers. Share with your parents all of the many different facets of your life while you are here at school.

This Kids and Sibs Weekend, do your part to actively participate.  Whether or not you have a kid or sibling with you, go out and enjoy some of the amazing activities that AC offers. Go with a group of friends, make friends with someone else’s siblings, anything you can to get involved in the weekend; restore the inner kid in yourself and have some fun.

It simply is not rational to go see one of these movies in 3D for the average moviegoer. Unless you are in love with the movie, and are dying to see it in a three dimensional format, it does not make sense to go to the showing. At the theatre, a person can end up paying up to $13 per ticket (once the extra money for 3D is added), another possible $10 per person in food, and money for gas when driving however many miles to the movie theatre. Instead, one could rent the regular movie (made as it was intended) for a few bucks, stay in the comfort of their own home, and even order pizza for the entire family for the same or lesser price. It does not make sense to spend extra money to see a replica of the same movie in 3D.

What is the big fascination with 3D anyway? Everyday life is in 3D, so what is so special if a movie can be viewed the same way? Personally, I am tired of seeing everything in 3D, it is nice to sit in front of a screen and enjoy some 2D for awhile.

Remaking a movie in 3D is taking away from the original work of the director.  Changing the hand drawn animation of the Lion King into a 3D adaptation is quite different than the original.  I am sure the animators who slaved while drawing the scene by scene images were quite aghast when they discovered that a 3D adaptation was being made.  Experiencing ‘The Lion King’ in 3D is almost like experiencing ‘Avatar’ as a claymation film, it does not make any sense.

I must admit that not all of these 3D adaptations are pointless. It does make sense why movies such as ‘Titanic’ are redone in 3D.  This movie has a lot to gain by being in a 3D format. The viewers of the movie can feel like they are actually a part of the action and on the ship (even though that might be a frightening thing.) In instances such as the ‘Titanic,’ a lot can be gained from 3D, but running a classic cartoon such as ‘The Lion King’ is unacceptable.

The confusing thing to me is how any of these movies make money. It seems like the target audience for these reconstructed 3D movies would be fans who love the movies, which is quite a select group. These remakes are not going to pull in the average fan wanting to see a new concept, or even someone who may have simply liked (but not loved) the original film. The only people that are going to pay the money to see these films in 3D are the people who were obsessed fans of the original film. Even they might be upset at their favorite movie being remade, and decide not to go.

By supporting remakes, we are just fueling a system that will find anyway to make a quick buck, in this instance, copying a movie into a 3D format. The movie industry already remakes films enough as it is, with new versions of horror movies made almost every single year. By making old movies into 3D films, they are being even lazier than before.  At least when a film is remade, it has plot alterations, new characters, and just simply borrows the plot. It is almost as if the movie industry has gotten to the point where all ideas are exhausted, and they have to remake the same movie into a different visual format to make money. It is quite a sad thing for movie enthusiasts.

If you are going to go to the theatre in the near future, go see a new movie with an original concept. Or even better, save your hard earned money, stay in with some friends, and rent a movie. Do not fuel the movie industries plot to make a quick buck; it is only perpetuating them to make more of these 3D replicas. If we all boycott this laziness, maybe one day movies will go back to having original concepts that are fresh to moviegoers.

Guys, what about those beautiful girls when they dress up. Their hair, makeup, and clothes make them look like they belong on the cover of Vogue. As if you’ve never seen a more beautiful girl in your life, right?

What is it about a person that makes them so attractive to people? Is it the way they smell? Because, let me tell you, when guys smell good, they’re going to get “the look.” You know the one I’m talking about. A girl sits next to a guy that smells like the inside of Hollister, and they put their head on the palm of their hand, flare their nostrils, and pounce.

Guys, when a girl walks into the room, dressed in jeans and a tank top, you’re going to look. It’s a natural instinct. Just be careful to make it seem as if you’re taking notes to avoid getting the same “look” from your girlfriend, otherwise the word “pounce” will be used in a completely different context.

Sure, makeup, cologne, hair, and clothes can help when deciding if you want to pursue somebody, but that’s not all that matters. Beauty may capture the eyes, but it’s the personality that captures the heart.

Do you want that hair, that makeup look, that specific body type? Just pick up a magazine and I guarantee you there is something in there about creating a better you.

Stop right there kiddies. Here’s the thing. If you were born the way you were, if you act and dress and talk the way you do, doesn’t that already make you unique? Who else can be a better you than you yourself?

A lot of people have insecurities. Why do we do this? Why do we feel the need to change ourselves to make somebody else like us.

I say enough is enough. I truly have always believed that the person that I will end up with, will love me for everything that I am and am not. What I mean by that is this; someone will look at you, and then look at other girls or guys, but they’ll already know that they do not compare to you. They’ll know that everything you have, the way you look, is everything that they want, and they’ll never try to change that.

So often we hear about the negative issues and problems and as one of the “older generation” it does my heart good to say that there are some really great kids, doing really great things for all the right reasons.

Just to name a few, there’s Elida with her “Red Cross Blood Drives” and Ashley with the Business Club Etiquette Dinner. From the guys at TKE with their Formal to Cameron with the Circle K “March of Dimes” event. From the entire Admissions group to the students and faculty working on Disability Awareness Week.

I saw great projects on display at the Ribbons of Excellence and can’t thank my Softball Girls enough for always being there to help. I shed a few tears with Alex and the girls from Chi Omega at the “Make a Wish” event which enables one sick little boy and his family to travel to Disney.

We have some amazing young people here at Adrian College, and I want to say that I am very proud of all of your efforts to make this campus a better place.

Thank you!

Pat DuMont

Catering Manager, Sodexo

Greek Week is cool because all nine Greek organizations on campus spend days playing all of these games and hanging out and competing against each other; it’s basically just like ‘The Hunger Games’ but without all of the death, and the arena is a small, private, liberal arts campus.

Anyway, I’ve been going to the public events that they’ve had in order to make friends, and I’ve met some really cool people. I watched a movie with them in Caine on Tuesday, helped judged their cheers on Sunday night, and I’ve been sniffing around campus to look for the flags they’ve been hiding and dropping random hints to my friends.

Also, I’ve heard some gossip that there is a possibility that the all-greek toga party on Friday night might be opened up to the whole campus. How awesome would that be? They’re getting a professional DJ and potentially a cash bar, but I’m not 21, not even in dog years, so I won’t be enjoying that, but some of you might.

If you’re Greek, enjoy this week by going to as much as you can, because you are very lucky to have it. If you’re not, keep yours eyes open and think about if it might be something for you. See you around!

These five sections include: caring for humanity and the world, learning throughout a lifetime, thinking critically, crossing boundaries and disciplines, and developing creativity.  All five of these categories are centered around Adrian College’s mission statement, and represent the areas of what Ribbons of Excellence embodies.

The Ribbons of Excellence are what inspired the Ribbons of Excellence Day which is an annual celebration where students present research based projects in their areas of study. It is held during the school week, and all classes are cancelled for that day, so that people can attend the presentations.

It is crucial for students who are not presenting to attend Ribbons of Excellence presentations.  One of the main purposes of this day is to honor the saying “no victory without work.” For those who have worked hard to prepare speeches, the ultimate victory is a well-attended, informational presentation.  If people do not show up for the presentations, then a lot of hard work may be put to waste.

Presenters need support from not only faculty, but from their peers as well. Having support makes the presenter feel important, and it shows interest in their area of study. If students’ sessions are not being attended from the student body, it could prevent them to submit works in future Ribbons of Excellence Days.

Not only are the presentations important for presenters, they are valuable learning experiences for the attendees as well. When people attend the presentations, they learn something that they probably did not know before, or learn something they had brief experiences with much more depth.  Ribbons of Excellence is not only beneficial for the presenters, it is also a chance to attain some new knowledge.

However, these presentations should not be seen as boring lectures.  With so many diverse topics, there is something that should be interesting to every single student on campus.  This year, there were presentations ranging from hexagon structures to health literacy. There is something for everyone at Ribbons of Excellence.

Whether you go to a single presentation or jam pack ten into your Ribbons of Excellence day, your attendance is of the utmost importance to everyone involved. They are a great way to expand your knowledge on many topics, and to show support for friends, or peers that you may not even know.  As a student body, we must never forget the rich history behind Ribbons of Excellence, and do our part to perpetuate the ideals behind it, and the best way to do that is to be involved in Ribbons of Excellence Day any way possible.