Sweet Ink Tatto Parlor

 

 

By. Tavares Dozier

 

 

Sweet Ink has been in Montevallo for about four years now. The tattoo shop is the only tattoo shop located in Montevallo. The shop is looking to make an impact outside of just beautiful art. One of the owners and tattoo artist gave some insight on how they would like to make that happen.

TJ Roberson tattoo artist at Sweet Ink

TJ Roberson is a owner and tattoo at Sweet Ink parlor located on Middle Street. He has been tattooing since the age of 15. He not unfamiliar with the journey of finding who you are in life. when things became rocky in his life he turned to tattooing and it stuck. He had someone gives him a chance, and that's what he hopes to possibly give to students at the university.

He tries to  hire on college students at his front desk, to give them a chance to get experience with working. He is also hoping to apprentice some students in the art of tattooing. With Montevallo being a fine arts college he could have not pick a better area. Many students are art majors at the university, and could possibly have a career in tattooing.


 

 If you ever thought to yourself what am I going to do once I graduate or how am I  going to get a job?  Then tattooing could be a career choice for you. It a career where you can apply your talent in the arts to a career field. If you're interested you can contact at there Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-INK-Tattoo or by phone (205) 476-8098. TJ would love to hear from you.













UM Korean Culture Club

by Abbey McNeely

The Korean Culture Club is one of Montevallo’s newest clubs, and one of the fastest growing. It was founded in Spring 2012 with ten regular members, and this year has added more than twice that. Members Serena Manning and Sammy Morse explained why Korean culture is so interesting to them. 

Serena said, “It’s important to see, you know, different cultures, different lifestyles. Not the same Western viewpoint always.” Sammy added, “Usually when people think of Asia they tend to think towards China, Japan... and not necessarily the other countries. Asia is a really diverse place and you can’t just stereotype an entire continent based on two countries.”

The Korean Culture Club meets in Reynolds 226 every Thursday night from 7-10 PM. During these meetings, they’ll watch dramas, play games, and even eat some delicious Korean food.

KCC Members play the "Saranghae (I Love You)" Game

Three hours may seem like a long meeting, but KCC members don’t get bored easily. At an average meeting, they will watch an episode of a drama or a movie, then play fun Korean children’s games. 

Popular games include the “I Love You” game, Beep-Bo, and the intense hand game Muk-Ji-Pa. 

These long hours together build close relationships. Member Rebecca White explained why she continues to be a regular member despite her busy schedule. “KCC is a lot of fun. It’s a bunch of people getting together to watch a TV show, learn a game, learn some piece of Korean history... we’ve all created a close group of friends throughout the years.”

Korean Culture Club is currently still growing, and they hope to hold more public events in the future to help increase awareness about Korea and how interesting it is. To find out more information about KCC, visit their facebook page!

Meet Tristan

by Abbey McNeely

Meet Tristan. He’s a 21 year old guy, a Mass Comms major, a member of the Sherlock Holmes society, and a hopeful future writer. He’s a perfectly normal guy- except he wasn’t raised that way.

Tristan is trans*gender. He was born with a female body, and realized later in life that how he felt on the inside didn’t match his outer body. 

Tristan, a junior at UM

Tristan, as well as other students at Montevallo and across the country, faces several difficulties with living on a two-gendered campus. Difficulties with “passing”- or getting others to believe you are the sex you want to be on the outside- as well as housing issues are prevalent. UM’s Spectrum Education Chair, Frank Curtis, explained a little more of this situation.

Frank Curtis, Spectrum's Education Chair

“Young people that are trans*gender in college have to face the problem of housing because they’re usually going to be put in dorms based on their birth certificate or driver’s license. They have the problem of getting all their official documentation changed, and you usually have to go through a long process of seeing a psychiatrist and an endocrinologist for hormones, and the process of transition is usually prohibitorially expensive.”

Tristan explained his experience when he realized he was trans*gender. “It was really uncomfortable- nothing felt right. I didn’t like the way I looked, and I felt really self conscious about pictures-or looking at myself in the mirror even- because I didn’t look the way I wanted to and it hurt."

Transgender individuals experience a phenomenon called “dysphoria”. Basically, that means that their inside doesn’t match their outside. In order to combat feelings of anxiety as a result of dysphoria, many trans* people use clothing items such as binders and pads in order to make their physical bodies feel more comfortable. 

Many of these problems that transgender individuals face can be combatted with awareness and support by their peers. To make others more comfortable, always try to be considerate and ask what pronouns they prefer. 

For more information on trans*gender youth and other LGBT issues, contact the Spectrum UM Chapter. 

Hands in Paws at Montevallo

By Lucas Burns

On Tuesday the tenth, the University of Montevallo
 teamed up with Hands n' Paws to put on their
 semi-annual relaxation event. The event in question
 was of course the introduction of two adorable dogs.
 These puppies, Sadie and Cody, were led to the bottom
 floor of the student life center and spent the next
 two hours helping University students relax
during their stressful finals week.




   Hands n' Paws is a wonderful organization    
  works to bring lovable animals to people in need          These puppies along with a slew of other furry         animals will visit children, the elderly, and the             disabled in order to bring them relaxation and           bliss.

The program has grown throughout the years but it is always looking for new animals to come and share their love. However, due to the helpless nature of some of their patients, these animals must live up to a high standard. They must have a full set of shots, proof of training, and apply through the program. if you would like check out more information on the program check out their website, and to find more university events check out student life.

Dealing with finals week

By: Tavares Dozier


Final week can be a very stressful time for many college students. Many students tend to freak out, and actually hinder themselves more doing finals week. It's that time of the year were students try to make sure all there ducks are in a row, to finish out a strong semester. Their are many ways students can help themselves make it through finals week.

Carmichael library

Make sure you have all your study material, and assigments that you can use to help you study for your finals. Be sure you get enough sleep during finals week. Having a good amount of sleep going into your exams, can help your mind be more focused on the test. Try to squeeze in study breaks. Trying to focus on to much material at one time can cause you to actually freak out.




Students working on assigments in Carmichael library

Be sure to cut down on the partying during finals week. Partying to much can make you lose focus on the task at hand for the week. With the weather being bad as well, you also run the risk of getting sick. One final way to help you with finals is to exercise. Many students are stressed out so having an outlet can actually clear your mind. If you are still needing some assistance with finals you can contact aspire the student support services on campus. There website is  www.legacy.montevallo.edu/sss. Good luck on your final exams everyone!







Community Chorale Brings Holiday Cheer

by Lucas Burns

Tuesday, December the fifth, the Montevallo Community

 Chorale opened the doors of LeBaron Hall to the entire

 town and to sing songs of joy and cheer. The performance

 itself was a bit short but what it lacked in length, it more

 then made up for in beauty and variety. There was

 everything from carols, to hymns and bouncier tunes

 than that, all presented by an amazing group of artists.

                                                                             The Community Chorale was originally created more                                                                                     then a century ago to serve as a communal                                                                                                   performance group and bringer of cheer. Attendance                                                                                     to the group had fallen when it was re-established                                                                                         almost ten years ago. Today's Chorale has over twenty                                                                                 active members who reach out and bring music to their                                                                                  community.

Although The University of Montevallo represents

 a sizable portion of the town's population, there 

are not many students active in the group. This may

 be due to the prior distance its leaders had from the

 school, but that will soon change. Next year, 

Montevallo graduate Zach Banks will be taking over

the choir in hopes of boosting attendance and bringing

 more cheer to the town.If you would like to learn

 more about the choral you can check out their

Facebook, or just check out the entire Montevallo

 Arts Council Here.

Doodles Bookstore

Story By: Kearson Roberts

Doodles has been apart of the university of Montevallo community for the past fourteen years. According to manager Jillian Scheinert, the business started as a way for students to buy back books and they progressed from there. With them being in direct competition with UM's campus bookstore doodles have done many things to stay ahead of the competition.

doodles website header

According to current Montevallo student Patrick Harlan, doodles has cheaper prices on their books. And with most students paying for college out of pocket it comes as a blessing to many. Harlan says that, "I have to pay for school, every dollar is worth it. honestly I need that money school, it helps me out personally."  But not only do they have cheaper prices on books they also have a more cost effective school merchandise. They have brands like comfort 

some of the merchandise

colors and rainbow shirts, which are more inexpensive that brands like Nike and Underarmor.

As for the feature, Scheinert says that they are working with the school to allow students who have finical aide and scholarships to use their money at doodles to purchase books. They are starting to do post-dated checks so that you can purchase you book ahead of time and not pay till your refund check get to you account. 

So if you want to learn more information about Doodles book store you can visit their Facebook Page or you can go directly to their website 

 

Midnight Breakfast at UM

by Pamela Faddis

Every year the University Program Council holds an event called Midnight Breakfast to kick off the start of finals week. Although it is called Midnight Breakfast, the event actually starts at 10 pm and goes until midnight.

One of many street signs made during Midnight Breakfast

The purpose of the event is aimed to help relieve the stress of students by having music, dancing, food, and other side activities. Activities this year include wax hands, making street signs, and an oxygen bar. Food included eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes and biscuits.

Some students lined up 45 minutes early in the pouring rain just so they could get good seats and be first in line. As soon as the doors opened, they all rushed in.

One of the most favorite parts of Midnight Breakfast for students is the dancing aspect. There is a DJ who knows exactly what songs to get the students going. This year, songs included "The Wobble", "Swerve", and "The Bunny Hop".

The stress of finals week can be a lot of pressure on a student. The UPC is dedicated to helping those students relax and enjoy themselves. 

If you missed Midnight Breakfast this year, you'll have a chance to go again at the end of the next semester.

University of Montevallo Strategic Plan

Story by: Marcus Sanders

Strategic Plan Hand Book

The University of Montevallo has released its 2009-2014 Strategic Plan Summary this year. The  planned was adopted by the board of trustees on November 7,2008. The plan was adopted with the help of the students, faculty, alumni and trustees. The strategic plan included the goals the university has reached also the goals the university still needs to improve upon.

Strategic Plan Outline

The 2009-2014 Strategic Plan entered its final stages this year. Recently the university held town hall meeting to discuss the likes and dislikes of the results of the school five year plan. The students and faculty address their main concerns and ideas for the next five year plan the schools adopts.

NBS Raises Money for Trip With Chili Sale

Story By: Tyler North

This past week the National Broadcasting Society hosted their very own chili sale. Mass Comm students had the chili homemade and served it to hungry students and teachers.

Student about to enjoy bowl of chili.

Chili went for 3.00 and offered both a meat and vegetarian option.  The meat chili went fast and the vegetarian option soon followed.

The NBS members were happy with this outcome as all proceeds go to helping them fund their trip to Los Angeles.  Where they will attend a convention devoted to helping them improve their craft.

The NBS says that they will be back next semester with even more fundraising opportunities so be sure to keep an eye on the campus broadcast.  If you would like to know more about the group itself check out their home page here.

Wind Ensemble Says Goodbye to Students

Posted By: Tyler North,

December 10, 2013

December 5th was the last time any of us will be able to see the current iteration of Montevallo's wind ensemble.  With graduation rapidly approaching us the wind ensemble is going to be losing four of its current players.

Jessica Light plays with her colleagues one last time.

So this was the concert to allow those four to really show what all they have learned here in Montevallo.  Those four were Jessica Light on clarinet, Ethan Cowart on trumpet, Kourtney Tigner on soprano saxophone, and Kevin Kierspe also  on trumpet.

Each of them played their own selection of music as their way of saying farewell to Montevallo.  After the four played it was time to get into the spirit of the season, a short intermission later and the group was back to play some Christmas music.

If you would like to check out the some of UM's department of music sponsored events, be sure to keep an eye on this page right here.

NBS Hosts Chili Sale at UMOM

By Nick Raymond

This month, the National Broadcasting Society hosted a chili sale inside the UMOM building. Mass Communication students within the organization provided the food and served it to students and teachers.

Amelia Bennett and Dr. Clark Hultquist

The chili event served as a fundraiser so that students in the NBS could take a trip to Los Angeles. To achieve this goal, students have also hosted bake sales, sold coupon cards, and filmed events for the community.

History major James Grammar said the chili sale provided a good alternative to other foods available on campus and on Main Street. "It has a good flavor, a good tomatoey flavor," Grammar said.  

President of the NBS, Amelia Bennett said the chili sale had a great turnout due in part to the UMOM being such a "trafficked area."

Coffee & Carols: A Yuletide Celebration

Story by: Rebecca Peeples

   
     In the spirit of Christmas, The University of Montevallo's
Department of Music hosted Coffee and Carols. Even thoughit was a cold and rainy Friday night, the Lebaron Recital Hall was packed. Under the direction of Melinda Doyle and accompanist, Adam Bowles, the UM concert choir and the university chorus sung classic Christmas carols.    
                                                                               

UM Concert Choir and University Choir

   Songs like Do You Hear What I Hear and Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing among many other classic filled the recital hall with the spirit of Christmas. The recital hall was so packed every seat was filled and even some were standing.
     According to choir member, Daniel Yates, a lot of hard work and dedication went into this concert."We've been practicing for two months," said Yates.

 
   

      Immediately following the concert, desserts, furnished by Publix, coffee and other beverages were served. Not only did people leave filled with coffee and deserts but also with the Christmas spirit.
     For dates on the next event hosted by the Department of Music, go to www.montevallo.edu/fine-arts/college-of-fine-arts/
                                                                             

Senior Day not a big draw for seniors

Story by Andrew Mechum

     The University Advancement and Alumni Affairs office hosted a get together for graduating seniors in Reynolds hall complete with free T-shirts and food.  While they were prepared for as much as 80 percent of the fall graduates, they weren't prepared for the combination of bad weather and fickle seniors.

UM staff wait to hand out Zaxby's to seniors.

    Despite a low turnout everyone in attendance enjoyed the food provided by Zaxbys and walked away with a new T-shirt and tote bag courtesy of Alumni Affairs.  While students scarfed down their food in between classes, representatives from Alumni Affairs petitioned seniors to stay involved with UM after they move on.

    As seniors enjoyed their final week of classes Senior day afforded them an opportunity to reflect on their time at Montevallo.

    When asked what he won't miss after graduating from UM Omar Newsome said, "The food, the cafeteria."  Newsome added that this year's remolding of the cafeteria greatly increased the quality.

A senior finds the right size for her Alumni T-shirt.

    Senior Jamie Beam had nothing but high praise for UM and its campus saying, "I really liked the small campus feel.  It has an atmosphere that no other college has in Alabama."

    All 190 seniors may not have shown their faces at Senior Day but it can be certain all will be present to get their degrees come graduation day.
   For further information on how to stay involved with the university after graduation visit the Alumni Affairs website.

Should You Choose to Accept It...

By Tyler North

This past Tuesday, University of Montevallo students were treated to the comedy of  improv group Mission Improvable.  A group of students gathered in the auditorium at Palmer Hall for a free showing of the act.

Mission Improvable is a comedy group known for getting their audience in on the act, with no two shows being the same.  The group is in it's tenth iteration now and has been going on for 14 years.

The group has described themselves as a combination of MTV's "Wild ‘N Out” and “Who’s Line is it Anyway", but with the added twist of Mission Impossible.

Students used this time as an opportunity to unwind and relax from the stress of upcoming finals.  The UPC is hoping to put on more shows like this in the future.

If you'd like to contact the group or just find out more about them check out their website here.

2013 History Day at Montevallo

By Nick Raymond

 

On Tuesday, the University of Montevallo's History Department hosted an event called History Day at Carmichael Library. History Day serves as an opportunity for students to present their research for their senior thesis to the rest of the campus.


There was a wide variety of subjects that were covered by the students, ranging from both World Wars to King Richard the Lionheart.

"I think its definitely a way of PR for the History Department," said senior Madeline Mechum.

History Day was relevant to more than just history majors. Students and teachers from other departments attended the event to check out the exhibits.

Falcon Weekly Gets A Behind-The-Scenes Look at "Into the Woods"

by Abbey McNeely

Over the last two weekends, Reynolds Hall has been brimming with spectators eager to see UM Theatre's newest production, Into the Woods. Into the Woods is a classic Broadway musical by Steven Sondheim that focuses on fairytale characters' stories and how they all coincide with a journey through the woods.

With the short time frame of two months and limited space in Reynolds Hall, the Theatre department had to get especially creative with their set and costume designs. Costume student Leilani Hayes explained that all of the costumes were made from scratch. They used shiny fabrics and painting techniques to make it seem as if characters like the Prince(s) were well-endowed with finery.

Taylor Lamm and Nick Stokes played the two Princes

The set design also involved some creative work with several types of foam in order to create a dirt and stone effect, as well as specific painting on the walls and set pieces. Also, creative building made the inside of Reynolds Theater seem much bigger on the inside.

The set of Into the Woods

This amazing production is clearly just the beginning of the creative developments that UM Theatre will be making in the future.

Veterans to establish their own group at UM

Story by Andrew Mechum

According to the website militaryfriendlyschools.com The University of Montevallo has been recognized as being receptive of veterans, but if you took a tour around campus you would be hard pressed to find evidence of it.

Matt Stephens and Daniel Emery speak to veterans about SVA

               
          Student veterans Matt Stephens, a former Marine Infantryman, and Daniel Emery, an Army MP currently in the Reserves, hope to change that.  On Thursday night they held an interest meeting   in Comer Auditorium with the goal of bringing a Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter to UM. 

           Despite a small turnout those that attended showed interest in developing a veteran focused program at the university that would aid in the transition to civilian life for those recently exiting the service.

UM is home to 60 veteran students and nearly 100 military dependents but there isn't a place where veterans can go to “get away” from the stresses of student life and relax with like minded individuals. Stephens and Emery would like to see a room or other suitable space on campus either developed or re-purposed for use by veterans.     

Student Veterans of America's website

During the meeting Stephens expressed frustration that the university didn't observe Veteran's Day and the city didn't have a Veteran's Day parade.

Invitations for the meeting went out to students and staff and according to Amanda Fox, the university's Veterans Affairs Representative, several faculty members expressed "interest in being involved," but, "couldn't be here" due to prior engagements.  Fox added that many of those that responded were either veterans themselves or directly related to one.

Thursday's meeting was only the first step in developing a lasting program and potential facility for veteran's at Montevallo but all involved are positive about moving forward. For further information about the program contact Fox in the Registrar's Office or visit the SVA website.

Eclipse

Story By: Kearson Roberts

Since their opening in 2001, Eclipse has been a great place for locals and students to relax from a long day. The owner of Eclipse says that in the feature she wants to continues to be innovative and to be a pivotal part of the community. Eclipse offers many things for people, they have coffee that is imported from many other countries. If you like wine, they have many wine tastings through out the year. On yesterday they have an official wine release party for a local winery. And for all you folks who like new bands, at least once a week they have local and sounding bands perform either in the inside or on the patio.

Panorama of Eclipse

Montevallo Student Courtney Johnston says that she like Eclipse because "it is eclectic and different." she says that it is a comfortable place to come and just chill and study or just hang out with friends. So if you want a chill time to just hang with friends, meet new people or just study, come on out to Eclipse.

Upcoming events 

If you want to know more about Elpise you can visit their Facebook or go to their website.

Gold side comes together

By: Tavares Dozier

Stop and look and listen to our chant!, That's exactly what the gold side was hoping for Thursday night at the student retreat. The Gold Side held its mixer to help build enthusiasm for there side heading into college night. College night being of the oldest homecoming in college traditions makes this a very important night.  This is a night where old Golds and new ones can come together for one reason. Build there bonds stronger to help ensure another win for the Golds.

Gold Side leaders and other golds link up to sing Golds song

One of the biggest thing you could tell from the  mixer there was plenty of love flowing in the room. The old Golds did a great job of making the new members fell welcome. They explain exactly what college night is, and what it means to be a Gold. They also had a portion where the did all there Gold Side songs. You could feel the energy bursting out of each individual there. One of the most excited people who I notice was the male purple leader Michael Tylen.

I had the pleasure to get a quick interview from him and he had nothing but positive to things to say about his side. He really appreciated nights like Thursday, where Golds can come together and become united. He was quoted as saying "I don't want any drama, and I want everyone to have fun, and have good time". I think his wish may have came true at least for that night. There was no drama and everyone looked like they were having an amazing time.

Gold Side supporter smiling for the camera

The mixer was a huge success. Many new and old Golds left the student retreat excited for the road ahead. That is exactly what the Gold Side was hoping for . So is it going to be a GV 4? The Gold side are sure hoping it will.

http://www.montevallo.edu/campus-life/um-life/college-night/

Color Me Chi O' Run

Story By: Marcus Sanders

Early Saturday morning on November 16th the Chi Omega sorority held the first ever Color Me Run in Montevallo. The event was a charity toward helping the Make-A-Wish foundation. The participant in the race included UM students and citizen's of Montevallo from Children to older adults ,who took the time to support the charity.

Runner Participant in Color Me Chi O

The runners were treated to a free Zumba work out and healthy breakfast. The runners involeved were covered with colorful chalk from head to toe thrown on them by Chi Omega members. people had the option to either run or walk the 5K ,but the most important part was they finished with a smile and a sense of self accomplishment that day. Overall the event was a major success raising over $6500 before the race even began.

2013 Color Me Run

The Color Run was founded in January of 2012 as an event to promote healthiness and happiness by bringing the community together to participate in the “Happiest 5k on the Planet”. The Color Run has made people has been tremendously rewarding for us. It is an event for all fitness levels, ages and backgrounds.

UM Grad Students Help Homeless Vets

Story By: Rebecca Peeples

      According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on any given night an estimate 
of 62,619 veterans are homeless. In 2009, The VA office in Birmingham did a survey and issued a report which stated there were about 500 homeless veterans in the Birmingham area at the time. The number of homeless vets is on the rise.

UM grad student, Shelley Seritt

      Instead of just writing a paper for their advocacy project, UM grad student,Shelley Seritt, and two other grad students decided to have a toiletry drive for homeless veterans. They chose to do this drive because each member has a personal connection to people that has served in the different branches of the military. "I just want to raise awareness that there are soldiers and veterans out there that gave almost everything to help us. This is the least we can do," said Seritt. 

      Toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant, paper towels, toilet tissue are needed as well as cleaning supplies. Items collected will be donated to Three Hots and a Cots' in Birmingham and Friendship Mission in Montgomery. 
        The drive is going on now and ends November 22. Items can be dropped off on the first floor of Wills Hall next to room 110.  

Artists Turn the Heat Up

By Lucas Burns

On Tuesday, the fifth of November, Artists from across North America, and the globe joined Dr. Scott Meyers and visiting artist Richard Hirsh in the 6th semi-annual firing of Montevallo's Anagama Kiln. This high-fire tradition dates back to when Meyers and his dedicated students built the giant  kiln in 2002.

The Kiln itself is the largest of its kind in North America, boating a total length of Over 40 feet. This allows a greater amount of ceramics to be fired at once and also more wood to be loaded. 

The firing process takes a total of a hundred straight hours. Students are given four hour shifts monitoring and feeding the kiln pre-split wood. The work payed off in a massive flame that reached a total of 2700 degrees. At this point pieces were systematically removed and doused in a variety

 of different chemicals and glazes. Each piece will hopefully come out looking immensely  different, and its this spirit of experimentation that drives Meyers and his students on. Be sure to learn more about the history of anagama kilns and check into everything artistic in Montevallo.

Montevallo's Wind Ensemble takes a band tour

by Pamela Faddis

The University of Montevallo's Wind Ensemble took a band tour to perform as well as find perspective new members. They take a tour every year for 3 days to play in different schools in Alabama. This year they went to six schools, some including, Dothan, Enterprise, and Northview.

They meet early in the morning, drive on a bus, and play at two schools every day. After they are done playing for the day they are free to hang out at the hotel, or sight see in the city.

Cody Halley, saxophone, playing a solo

Senior flute player Natalie Marrero, says " I enjoy playing for high schoolers and for new people coming into the school, so we can have-- play difficult music"

The Wind Ensemble has about 60 people in it, 58 of which are students. This is the largest group they have taken on the tour in a couple of years.



The Wind Ensemble is not only made up of Music Performance and Education majors like you might think. It also has several non music majors that play in the ensemble.

The band tour is not only to perform and find perspective new players, it is also a great way for existing members to get closer and make new friendships.

To find out more visit the Department of Music's web page.