Story by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell, reporter
Photo by Joseph Lee, photographer
Campus Viewpoint: What is Your Reaction to the Umpqua Community College Shooting in Oregon?
Category: Opinion
On the Record: Gigi Edwards Bryant
Story by Shaina Kambo, reporter
Photo Courtesy of Deborah Cannon, Austin American-Statesman
ACC District Trustee and businesswoman Gigi Edwards Bryant, who grew up in the Texas foster care system, began her post-secondary education at ACC in 1977. Bryant recently discussed her journey to success with Accent.
ACCENT: What was your childhood like?
BRYANT: My childhood before I was six was very good, but when I was six, I entered the foster care system. There was abuse and mistreatment. It was an old system, and the checks and balances that they have today were not there for children. I aged out at age eighteen with my daughter. My experiences taught me to be more caring about people, that it’s the little things that make a difference, and that one individual can change the world.
ACCENT: Who encouraged you on your journey to achievement?
BRYANT: My Big Mama (great-grandmother) told me that I could do anything and that God would protect me.
ACCENT: Has your definition of success changed throughout your life?
BRYANT: Success has to be defined by the individual, and everyone has to realize their own potential. Some days in my life, success was just getting out of bed. Some days, success was helping somebody to do the things that they wanted to do. Some days, success was knowing that I had done a good job and that I could take a nap.
ACCENT: What was it like being a student at ACC in 1977?
BRYANT: It was fabulous: small classrooms, professors and individuals who looked for you when you weren’t there. When I was going to ACC there were so many [moments when] I thought I was going to drop out. I just didn’t think that I could do it all: take care of my kids, pay my bills, go to work. It started out tough, but I stuck to it until it improved; I didn’t want to opt out.
ACCENT: How did your ACC education help you to achieve your goals?
BRYANT: It gave me an opportunity to realize that I could achieve an education at a pace that was successful to me.
ACCENT: What improvements at ACC would help students reach their full potential?
BRYANT: I want to see our graduation rate go up. I want to see our involvement in high schools be more concerted. I want us to put ACC in the minds of those students and [help them to realize] that we are a very good option. On the other side, I want to hear our students talk about the experiences they’ve had at ACC — the positives and the negatives — and then come back and help us do a better job.
ACCENT: What are some of the goals that you have for the future?
BRYANT: I want to leave a legacy behind about education and I want it to be empowering for the next generation. I want to make sure that I do something every day that leads the next generation to know that they can do it.
ACCENT: Is there any advice that you can give regarding perseverance?
BRYANT: Perseverance is a step-by-step journey. [Within] anybody that you encounter, there is a story. I want to encourage people to tell their own story. Tell [it] the way it happened to you. If it’s validation that you need, you may not get it, but keep telling your story because that’s where your strength is going to come from.
At the Movies: A Review of Recent Box Office Films
Reviews by Avery Callaway and Gaius Straka,
Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg’s latest film, “Bridge of Spies,” is pleasant, but not very memorable. There are no standout moments that can really push it over the edge from being good to great. Even with the Coen brothers writing and Tom Hanks’ star power elevating the film, it never tries to go any farther than it has to with it’s story and characters. The story focuses on James Donovan (Hanks), an insurance lawyer who has been given the difficult task of representing a captured Soviet spy in 1950s America. His ethics as an attorney are tested when his own country seems to turn against him. There are no glaring issues to be seen within “Bridge of Spies.” It achieves everything it wants to accomplish with gusto. Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks, he never gives a performance that isn’t superb. The plot can switch seamlessly from tense to lighthearted on a dime and not be jarring in the slightest. Unfortunately, it never tries to go farther than it has to, and that holds “Bridge of Spies” back.
Accent Rating B+ Avery Callaway
Goosebumps
“Goosebumps” gains some points immediately for being one of the more inspired young adult novel adaptations to come out recently. Instead of just adapting one of the novels, “Goosebumps” tells an original story by throwing many of the series’ monsters into the same setting. That, and some sharp performances early on earn the film some merit. However, “Goosebumps” quickly loses it due to a lack of consequences and a bad script.
The plot is a mess. There are so many unnecessary characters and subplots that nothing is ever accomplished scene-by-scene. Every time the audience might feel some progress has been made, the film finds a way to waste time, usually with some awful computer generated effect. Even at a run time of just over 100 minutes, it still seems like it’s an half hour too long.
It’s a shame, because sometimes a glimmer of creativity can be seen in this mess of a film. However, these moments are not frequent. The greatest sin “Goosebumps” commits is that it decided to be a feature-length film.
Accent Rating D Avery Callaway
Sicario
“Sicario” is a great example of mechanical film-making at it’s finest. Every scene and music beat work toward creating a feeling of dread and tension that immediately engrosses the audience in the events that play out.
The cinematographer, Roger Deakens, deserves recognition for his work because every frame is purposeful and precise.
The story is focused on Kate Macer (Emily Blunt), an idealistic FBI officer who is recruited onto a task force, headed by Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), designed to bring a major cartel located in Juarez to justice. However, the longer Kate works with her new team, the more her ideals conflict with the shady actions of her higher ups.
If there were a complaint about “Sicario,” it would be that some of the dialogue in the film was stilted at times. Some of the dialogue was too light-hearted for events taking place. However, this should not keep you from seeing the film.
Accent Rating: A- Avery Callaway
The Martian
“The Martian,” is an exciting action/adventure film about a man surviving in a vast unforgiving world millions of miles from home.
Mark Watney, brilliantly acted by Matt Damon, is an astronaut stationed on Mars and presumed dead after an intense storm strikes his base during a rushed departure off the planet.
Watney shows how much of an elite specialist he is by surviving for years on the desolate Red Planet with few resources. He even manages to make his own garden.
The movie brings out the good of humanity in many ways including the portrayal of how far the astronauts are willing to go to bring one of their own back home.
Despite the dire situation, Matt Damon’s character doesn’t fall into a gloomy depressed frame of mind. Rather, he turns to making fun of himself through his failures while remaining confident and driven to survive, and eventually, leave Mars.
Director Ridley Scott has even more to offer in “The Martian” than he did in “Exodus.” The cinematography and special effects are stunning, creating gripping scenes and a feeling of realism.
Accent Rating: A- Gaius Straka
Riverbat Cafe: You Get Served
Story by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell, reporter
A quick bite to eat and then off to classes is how many ACC students operate on a daily basis. The Eastview Campus has an option for hungry students —The Riverbat Cafe, located in the campus courtyard.
The cafe offers two different menus, the regular menu which changes each week and the chef ’s special that changes every day. Both menus offer tasty food combinations that appeal to a variety of palates. If you are uncertain what to order, a friendly server will give you their opinion. Student’s can try the chef ’s special menu featuring items such as Albondigas En Salsa Chipotle, an appetizer of meatballs drenched in chipotle sauce. Entrées like the Chile-Seared Salmon with a sweet pear based sauce. To finish everything off — a delicious, spicy, chocolate chile cake with raspberry sauce. The food can come out within 10 minutes with the appeal of a fine dining restaurant. The flavors are so rich and unique that patrons will go back again and again.
During the day the cafe is open from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for dine-in customers and until 1:00 p.m. for to-go orders. The wait for both seating and service is about 10 minutes, while the wait time for togo orders is about 15 to 20 minutes. Many customers get their orders to go due to a busy lunch rush.
The Riverbat Cafe is a working classroom, that incorporates International Cuisine and a Dining Room Service class that meets Thursdays and Wednesdays. The cooks and wait staff are students of ACC’s Culinary Arts Department. While the department is located on the Eastview Campus, a state of the art culinary classroom is scheduled to be built at the Highland campus.
Go to the Riverbat Cafe for lunch as the cafe offers some of the best service and food that Austin has to offer.
Campus Viewpoint: What Does Perseverance Mean to You?
Story and photos by Anthony DeVera, Reporter
Amber Galloway – Something along the lines of not giving up, continuing to keep going, keep trying. I would say school is persevering. Continuing to go through school regardless of hardships in your life, how hard your classes may be, or sometimes you just want to give up and do something else, but we continue to go to school and move forward.
Student “S.” – As a recovering alcoholic, [perseverance] is kind of everyday, just overcoming fear and daily obstacles. I’m quite a bit older than most of the people on campus. It was quite difficult to get back into, ya know, wanting to go back to school. I’ve been divorced, my kids are grown. Regarding my identity as mom or wife, I’ve had to figure out who I was as me, myself. With my struggles with addiction, it seemed appropriate to go get my license for counseling. It’s who I am now. I’m a recovering alcoholic that wants to help other alcoholics. Spirituality played a huge role in getting me where I am today. I believe in a higher power. I also believe you can’t do anything, any big huge struggle, on your own. You need a support group, people you can trust, talk to, not judge you, and help guide you through whatever your dilemmas are.
Alanah Patterson – You never give up, no matter what you do, at least attempt to do something. I went to a leadership academy for seven years. A big part of our mission statement was perseverance. Everyday, when I complete my homework, because it takes a lot for me to sit down and actually work. I always make myself do it, and I think that’s perseverance for myself.
Campus Viewpoint
Interviews by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell and photos by Joseph Lee
Featured image courtesy of The Seattletimes newspaper
What are your thoughts on the 2016 presidential race?
Shyamalan Returns with Horror- Comedy “The Visit”
Story by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell, reporter
In a surprising twist, M. Night Shyamalan’s new horror-comedy “The Visit,” ends with — a plot twist.
Most people recognize the name M. Night Shyamalan as the director of the movies “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs.” After those two outstanding films, Shyamalan’s track record went down from there having made one poorly reviewed film after another. However, “The Visit” is a step toward his former glory.
The background is set as two siblings go to their grandparents’ house for a week while their mom and her boyfriend go on a cruise. The grandchildren are excited to finally meet and spend time with their grandparents. However, within a couple of days, the siblings realize that their grandparents are acting out of the norm, starting with a strict 9:00 p.m. curfew where the kids were told to not leave their bedrooms. Before the week comes to a close, everything around the house unravels with the grandparents acting more bizarre and the kids lives at stake. The kids uncover a secret that will throw the audience for a loop.
Will the children make it out of the house safely? What is this secret that their grandparents are hiding, and will the little ones be rescued? Well … you will just have to watch the movie and find out.
A Shyamalan film wouldn’t be right if it didn’t have intense, graphic scenes to make people jump out of their seats, and that’s exactly what’s packed into this movie. However, the film is filled with comedy that helps release some tension.
The grandchildren, played by Ed Oxenbould and Olivia Dejonge, performed their roles with excellence. The thrill, horror, suspense and comedy are all there.
I score this movie 6.5 out of 10. Still, with it receiving a 58 percent from Internet review site Rotten Tomatoes, I recommend at least seeing it at the dollar theater or waiting until it comes out on DVD.
Film: “Unfriended” Illuminates the Lonely Side of Social Media
Story by Kyle August, Reporter
“Unfriended” turns ordinary social media interactions into terrifying en- counters. In the horror/thriller, teenager Blaire Lily receives a Skype message from her classmate Laura Barns. Blaire dismisses the message as a cruel prank because Laura commit- ted suicide a year ago after someone anonymously posted a mortifying video of her.
However, it soon becomes clear that the message is no prank and that whoever is responsible wants revenge. The rules are simple: cooperate or die.
The entire film is seen from Blaire’s perspective, or rather her laptop screen. The audience watches as she instant messages her boyfriend, checks Facebook, and Skype chats with her classmates, all while frantically reacting to the mysterious force.
The film, directed by Levan Gabriadze, has the same grainy, real-time approach as the 1999 horror thriller “The Blair Witch Project.”
The chatroom frame approach may seem weak, or even anticlimactic, but Gabriadze’s use of this technique takes these relatable, routine actions and effectively turns them into panic and terror.
As Blaire and her friends are haunted by the vengeful stalker, their own dark secrets begin to surface, pitting them against each other.
The funny, stereotypical characters take the edge off Unfriended, but the kill scenes are not for the faint of heart. This jolting film will make you think twice about cyberbullying, and you may never use a blender again.
In our increasingly connected world, it’s downright effortless for bullies to harass their targets via email, instant messaging, texting and social media. Posting hurtful messages online, or circulating embarrassing photos or videos have led many teens to suicide.
Courtesy picture of Bazeleus company and Blumhouse productions
Music: Poetic Lyrics Elevate “To Pimp a Butterfly”
Story by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell, Reporter
West Coast rapper and Compton native Kendrick Lamar unveiled his new album “To Pimp A Butterfly” on March 15. Lamar’s poetic lyrics bring America’s issues to life with upbeat tracks, a heavy jazz influence and strong vocals.
Lamar shows growth from his previous album “good kid m.A.A.d city” by pushing listeners to think deeply about how they can bring about social change in America.
West Coast rapper and Compton native Kendrick Lamar unveiled his new album “To Pimp A Butterfly” on March 15. Lamar’s poetic lyrics bring America’s issues to life with upbeat tracks, a heavy jazz influence and strong vocals.
Lamar shows growth from his previous album “good kid m.A.A.d city” by pushing listeners to think deeply about how they can bring about social change in America.
The order in which Lamar lays out his tracks allows listeners to journey through his mind, experience thoughts and emotions. The album challenges popular views on politics and racism. It also addresses the depression and suicidal thoughts Lamar has faced.
In the song “Mortal Man,” Lamar includes audio from a 1994 interview with the last great king of Hip-Hop, Tupac Shakur.
In the interview, taken from Swedish radio show P3 Soul, Lamar realized the best way to reach out to teens and help them change the world is through music.
“In my opinion, only hope that we kinda have left is music and vibrations. A lot of people don’t understand how important that is,” Lamar said.
“To Pimp A Butterfly” should be listened to closely in order to discover its full meaning. Online music magazine Pitchfork has ranked the album No. 2 on its highest rated album of 2015 list. Parental advisory is on the album for use of profane language.
Courtesy picture by Hypebeast.com, Interscope Records,Top Dawg Entertainment
The Wiz
Story by Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell, Reporter
Cody Blount delighted the audience with strong vocals, lively dancing and over-the-top lines. in his performance of the Tin Man in the ACC drama department’s adaptation of the Wiz on March 1 at the Rio Grande Theater. — Ryan Fontenette-Mitchell