If You Didn't Get The Message, Did You Really Watch The Movie?

There's a method to everyone's madness ! Just like people only hear things and not actually listen, people watch movies but don't get the message behind it. Granted movies are meant to entertain, but what better way to get your message out, other than putting it in movies where it can be seen worldwide.

Below I have listed the Top Ten Movies of the 90's. I chose this specific era because this is the era where movies exposed the truth about the world around us. This era premiered movies that were so authentic and realistic.

The movies I selected were movies that had morals involved. I watched them as a kid but didn't understand the messages behind them until I got older. Th presentation below will allow you to see the message behind these Top Ten 90's Movies as well.

Your On Campus Walmart

Have you ran out of toothpaste lately and you have no car to drive to the nearest store? Do you have a car but still don't feel like taking the drive to go get soap in the middle of the night? Is your nearest Walmart all out of your favorite shampoo/conditioner and you don't know where else you can find it?

Search no further, South Carolina State University's Bookstore located in Crawford Zimmerman building, may be the answers to your prayers.

Most people have no clue that the bookstore is more than just a store that sells books, it provides health essentials, dorm room appliances, school pride gear, etc. On the other hand most people never took the time to figure out. Either way once you take a look inside you may find everything you'll need without taking an unnecessary trips off campus.

Here's a list (not in any particular order) of the top 5 Health Essentials that you may easily find in the bookstore:

1. ARM DEODARANT

Dove Powder Arm Deodorant

Whether you're an athlete who needs to freshen up before or after a game or a resident who ran out of supplies, the bookstore has what you need. 

At the bookstore you can find a top brand arm deodorant that can keep your hygiene in check at your most vulnerable moments. This travel size item is in stock at the bookstore and ready for pick-up.

                                                                               2. TOOTHPASTE                  

Colgate Toothpaste

 If you're like me, you may find yourself as a procrastinator who knows you need to restock, but will always wait to the last minute to do so. If that's the case all you have to do is head over to the bookstore and stock up to make sure your breathe will stay minty fresh.

If you happen to be a person who isn't a procrastinator and is trying to get a another tube of toothpaste because the one you have is getting low, now you know a simple place to go and get some more.









3.  BODY WASH

Dove Body Wash

Self care has been made so simple. Students take showers frequently (I hope), and it's a hassle to have to refill so often. Well it's nothing but a skip and a hop to get some more at the bookstore.

Not only do they have body wash, they have a top brand body wash. At the bookstore, you'll be able to pick up a product that will deeply moisturize your skin.

4.  CONDITIONER AND SHAMPOO

Everyone has a bad hair day and it only gets worst when you can't wash it because you ran out of all your products. Rather than take an unnecessary trip to the store off campus, you can head to the bookstore.














5. Facial Cleansers

On the Go facial cleansers is a must ! Whether you need it to pre-wash your face or clean it off after sweating, the bookstore has what you need!

They don't just have a regular facial cleanser wipe they have the Burt's Bees wipes! This brand usually runs out in your average store but it is fully in stocked at the store that sells books in Crawford Zimmerman.











Now you that you know about you on campus health a=essential applies store, your stress can be relieved. Go and see for yourself that the bookstore sells more than just books.

Popeye's Chicken Sandwich: Good Taste or Total Waste

The highly anticipated Popeye's chicken sandwich, which has been the talk of the town during its first release has popped eyes, but does it pop taste? Recently as a class, we took a trip to the Orangeburg Popeyes establishment, to see what most people on social media have been raving about.

Upon entering the establishment the line was long but not quite as long as expected. The employees were in the back preparing the food and looking distressed. When we asked one of the cashiers how the flow of customers were during that day she said, "It was a mess!"

When it was time for us to order our sandwiches, we were told by one of the employees that there were 50 orders of sandwiches ahead of us. For a moment we were all worried that we'd have to return another time, but we got our meals a few minutes later. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, we were quickly able to discover after taking a bite. 

Once I sat down to eat my sandwich, I immediately noticed that it was larger than usual sandwiches you'd find elsewhere. The bun was toasted and the top was flaky, which was probably a warning of how the sandwich would actually taste.

The first bite was actually very good. It had a homestyle flavor of chicken that your mother or grandmother would make at home. It was crunchy and quite juicy but it was missing something very important.

When I initially ordered the sandwich it was supposed to be spicy, but it was not spicy at all! After eating most of the sandwich you could tell that it was rushed. This explains why we got our sandwich so quickly after being told that it would be a waiting time.

Unlike the dependable Chic-Fil-A  spicy chicken sandwich, Popeye's chicken itself isn't spicy on its own. It comes with a spicy mayonnaise that is supposed to make it spicy. The sandwich that we tried though barely had mayonnaise on it and was the exact opposite of spicy.

When my peers got the opportunity to taste it, some for the first time and others for the second, they all had mixed feelings.

One of the major fans of the Popeye's chicken sandwich, JacQuez, had this to say about the sandwich:

"I definitely think it was better the first time. I feel like it was rushed due to high volume of customers." Jacquez rated the sandwich a 6.57, when asked how well he thought it tasted. He concluded his thoughts saying, "It tasted rushed!"

Another previous taste tester of the sandwich , Kameron, said "I had it the first time when it first came out, usually the first time is always better!" He went on to say that he ordered the spicy flavor but it wasn't spicy at all. Despite this he still thought it was good. He also rated the sandwich a 7 based on the experience he had that day, while commenting that he'd return just to see if they have spices next time.

One of the first time test tasters, Reggie said , "It was aight! It wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be but it was bigger than I thought it would be." Despite this he also thought it was good. Reggie rated the sandwich a 7. When asked if he'd return he said, " I'd probably come back but not for the sandwich!"

Alexis, who was also new to the sandwich thought it tasted okay. She went on to say, " It was pretty big, that's all I could say it was pretty big. That's the only thing I like about it. " Alexis rated the sandwich a six. She also commented, "I'd probably only come back if I'm hungry and have no where else to go."

Though the sandwich itself comes at a good bargain for $3.99, I do not intend on returning for another nor do I believe it is worth all the hype.

Green Screen or Virtual Reality Dream ?

 Who would've known that with just a little editing and a green screen, you could go to places that you thought could never step outside your imagination! In class we were assigned to take a background image and a green screen image of us posing and put it together. With this technique we were allowed to place ourselves in areas or situations we would have probably never been able to otherwise. I specifically chose this picture below because as best said in the classic film, The wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home."

Background Image

To go in depth, the most important and safest place to me is being at home with my loved ones. No matter how far I travel, I'll always yearn to be with family. Even though this image isn't my actual home, I'd like to think of my self as a queen so that is why this beautiful castle fits my appeal.

In order to place myself in front of this background image, I had to stand in front of the green screen as you see below. I could not stand directly in front of the green screen behind me because it would not have worked for the editing process. So, as you can see below I stood a distance as the green screen was way above my head.

Green Screen Image

In order to complete the process, we had to put both images on adobe premiere to edit. Using the Ultra key feature by keying the tab and using the dropper in order to match the shade of green allowed me to blend my picture with the background.

As you see below, this is the complete blended picture of a dream come true. Where the Queen Arabia is in front of her castle that she can finally call home.

Blended Image

I was able to complete this look without the click of red heels. With a green screen and adobe premiere, I can say, "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!"

From Head of the Class to Head of the Department

The Communication program has went through several changes over the summer. One of the major changes being, Dr. Joshua Mims' promotion from being a journalism professor to also being the head of the Communications Department.

Q: How was the transition from being a professor to now being the head of the department?

A: It actually has been a crazy journey for me personally because , you may or may not know I actually worked in the production coordinator job full time from 2011-2014. So I've been apart of this programs growth and development and this has always hold a special place in my heart. So, when I came back in 2018, it was basically with the understanding that as soon as I got my PHD I would take over as program coordinator.

Q: How do you feel about the different task? Are the task more complex now than before ?

A: Very much so. In full disclosure, in addition to being program coordinator , I've been tasked with being the QEP director. That is a part of our accreditation package for SACs.The volume and intensity of pressure has been greatly increased far more than just being program coordinator, but I would say the task of program coordinator thankfully have not gotten more complex than things I had to do in the past.

Q: With this position were you able to reach students in a more effective way, now versus before?

A: To an extent , we actually have far more students enrolled now than we did before, and it was a lot easier to be able to do one-on-one. I really am a one one-on-person and I really try hard to establish relationships with the students, but there's just so many now with so many interest, talents and ideas.  At times it can be really overwhelming to try to make sure you stay connected with the students. Along with keeping an eye on what they need and where their going to make sure you support them.

Q:With these changes have you learned anything? Have you gained more knowledge about certain things that you wouldn't have expected to? 

A: Every damn day ! If you want to learn , teach. I come to the class room to impart my knowledge, but I also want it to be a open dialogue and understand the student's perspective. I try really hard to keep an open mind and keep my ears open because the students that are coming in are going to be the best way to develop the communication issues that we have sometimes with being able to speak the language of the students.

Q:Are there any future changes you're going to make to benefit the students?

A: As much as possible. Theres three thing I want to do in the immediate future. First is we're trying to streamline our curriculum. second is trying to get out of this building and move to Nance  Hall. Third is to push our journalism and broadcast  program more into the 21st century.We're still using the same ideas and concepts that everybody is using. So, if we're going to give our students an edge it has to be innovation and out of the box thinking.