Courtesy photo of Colin Jones

When you throw dance rock, funk and jazz influences together, you get the recently-formed local band The Slack Theory.

Officially formed last spring, the genre blending live group consists of Emporia State University students P.J. Stephenson, sophomore music major, on saxophone and vocals; percussion performance graduate John Gilmore on drums; graduate music student Jason Brooks on keyboards and vocals; sophomore music major Colin Jones on bass guitar and senior music major Riley Day and local musician Wade Krump on guitar.

Regarding their influences, Day said their biggest ones include Parliament, Bad Rabbits, Cannonball Adderley and Gnarls Barkley. Day said that he would describe the band’s sound as “party funk rock.”

Jones said there is also a definite influence of free jazz and bebop on their live performances.

The Slack Theory only plays shows locally and intermittently right now, performing about once a month on average at bars and house parties in Emporia. The most recent show they played was on New Years Eve at Beer: 30. But the dance-funk sextet is planning to play more shows this spring.

“We would like to play at some bigger venues,” Day said, “because with at least six people in the band, you need the space.”

Day and Jones said The Slack Theory plays originals as well as covers at their shows, though they are not sure what the band’s set list could consist of in shows to come. Day said the group plans on playing shows outside of Emporia later this year.

The band would like to release an album in the future, but there are no plans to do so right now.

Day and Jones said The Slack Theory’s main focus as of now is to just play more shows in the spring and work on new music.

“Recording is a definite possibility, and we are working on some new material,” Jones said, “but there are no plans to record any material as of yet. We just started doing this nine months ago, and we would like to play more shows before we work on recording anything.”

The Slack Theory will have formed one year ago this May, and although they have only performed a handful of shows so far, it’s a challenge to work around each member’s individual schedule.

“We all have school or work, so finding time to record would be hard.” Day said, “Our saxophone player P.J. has to travel for work pretty often.”

Stephenson said he works for Flint Hills Music.

The Slack Theory is planning on playing shows at Natasha’s and Beer: 30 in March.

Steven Edwards

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George Lucas returns to the big screen with the retelling of the tale of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots during WWII who, despite the heavy racism present in the armed forces at the time, gained fame and glory through their exceptional flying abilities against German pilots.

The film “Red Tails” focuses on four pilots in particular – Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker), Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo), Samuel “Joker” George (Elijah Kelly) and Ray “Junior” Gannon (Tristan Wilds). Aside from Easy and Lightning, just about every other character in the movie is completely one-dimensional. Most of the dialogue between characters is in quick one-liners spoken into flight masks or incredibly clichéd conversations on the ground.

Where “Red Tails” fails with dialogue, it makes up for with action. Every plane is rendered beautifully on the screen and every dogfight puts you on the edge of your seat. These aren’t clean or simple dogfights either. Each time the pilots hit the skies it’s a fast and dirty fight for survival against the enemy pilots, and we see time and time again how brave and skilled they are.

One thing that detracts from the film is the lack of impact. Major events in the story seem to hold little to no impact for the characters dealing with them. When Junior is forced to bail behind enemy lines and is captured, nobody seems to care. There’s a moment of grief from Easy, but after that it’s as if nothing had happened at all. We see the other pilots walking around in high spirits as though their comrade wasn’t being held captive by the enemy.

Despite a brief conversation with a new pilot about the idea of death, there’s very little in this movie that suggests that these pilots are actually in a war.

One of the more difficult to believe characters was Major Emanuel Stance, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. It’s not to say that he doesn’t do a good job, but he oversells the part like crazy. Rather than placing his ever-present pipe in his mouth, he seems to chomp down on it like he’s taking a big bite out of an apple. He also does this in nearly every single scene that he’s present in. We seem to constantly be catching the Major at the start or at the end of a good smoke.

“Red Tails” is Anthony Hemingway’s first big screen directing credit. For his first time out, Hemingway has done a decent job creating an entertaining, if rather shallow, action flick.

This is a movie definitely worth seeing in theaters, if only to appreciate the stunning visuals and the action-packed story while they’re still larger than life.

Luke Bohannon

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Stranded in the movie wasteland that is January, ‘Contraband’ manages to be at least slightly entertaining and engaging, if not exactly groundbreaking. Directed by Baltasar Kormakur, star of the Icelandic thriller which ‘Contraband’ is based on, this movie is a relatively thrill-free thriller.

Mark Wahlberg plays Chris Farraday, a former big time smuggler who’s left the lifestyle and settled down with a wife and kids. But when his brother-in-law Andy botches a cocaine delivery, Chris is forced to step back into the game to settle things with Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Andy’s greasy boss. Farraday sets up a smuggling run to bring back a massive shipment of counterfeit bills from Panama while his friend Sebastian (Ben Foster) protects his family from Briggs.

Farraday and a group of other smugglers sign on to a cargo ship making runs between New Orleans and Panama. The captain of this ship is none other than J.K. Simmons, the dad from ‘Juno’ and J. Jonah Jameson from the ‘Spiderman’ films. He’s possibly the most entertaining performance of the movie, causing trouble for Farraday by trying to catch him in the act. Even though the captain makes a lot of trouble for Farraday and his group, one can’t help but like him.

It’s somewhat difficult to take Briggs seriously as a villain considering that the voice he uses for the role is laughable at best. Luckily, David O’Hara (‘Wanted’) provides at least some menace as a shadowy crime boss. His role in the story isn’t all that well established, but he occasionally shows up, makes threats or offers, and then disappears, taking, at times, an overly thick Scottish accent with him.

Overall the entire movie is slightly ridiculous, stretching the bounds of believability and even its own timetable. Upon arriving in Panama, Wahlberg and his merry band of smugglers only have a short time to get the counterfeit bills and return to the ship before it leaves.

In this “short time” they find the bills, realize they aren’t good, manage to find another supplier – even though nobody knows how to get to his warehouse – and get mixed up in an armored car robbery. Where did they find all the time for this? Probably the same place Briggs found his ridiculous accent.

While there are a number of light-hearted scenes in ‘Contraband,’ it doesn’t hesitate to travel into dark areas as well. Briggs’ attacks Farraday’s wife played by Kate Beckinsale who takes her fair share of physical brutality over the course of the movie.

In the end, the film does the best it can with the tired heist storyline, but it’s nothing all that special.

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Freshman history major Ace Finch keeps track of stats during ESU’s home game Saturday evening in White Auditorium. Finch was excited as men’s basketball team was victorious against the Central Missouri Mules, winning 74-72. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

Never missing a KU basketball game, Ace Finch, freshman history major, parks his wheel chair in the lobby, the only place that has cable TV in his dorm.

From the small town of Council Grove, Finch dreams of following in the footsteps of his father, Daryl Finch, who teaches science and coaches football and basketball at Council Grove High School.

“He is the type of kid that doesn’t like being told he can’t do something,” Daryl said. “I remember how angry he was at me when I wouldn’t let him play football. Like any parent, you only want the best for your child and going off to college has always been his goal, and unlike football, college was in his physical ability.”

Finch said that coaching basketball and teaching history at the high school or college level would be his dream job, “since playing is out of the question.”

Born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination, Finch is limited to a wheel chair, which he uses to get around campus, and a walker he uses when he is in the dorms.

Finch could never play sports, but he said he has always done his best to stay active. Since sports were such a large part of his life during high school, taking stats for the football and basketball teams and running the 100 meter dash and throwing discus, Finch said that getting involved in ESU athletics was a major priority for him. This inspired him to contact head basketball coach Shaun Vandiver.

“I enjoy stat taking and that is what I do for the basketball team here,” Finch said. “It is what I have always done, besides running my mouth to officials during the games. I do what I can help out.”

Not being able to travel with the team upsets him, but Vandiver said that by next year arrangements will be made for him to attend away games.

“I enjoy it because it’s a challenge for me to keep up,” Finch said. “I had never been to an Emporia State basketball game before, and then here I am taking stats.”

Finch said that the teams both in high school and in college have made him feel like such a part of the team that not being able to play has never bothered him too much.

“There have always been times that I wish I could play, but the times when we are down by 30 points, I feel bad for the guys that are stuck on the field,” Finch said. “I have always known my role on the team – keep kids positive and take my stats.”

With only the help of his stepsister, Taylor Morgan, who is also a freshman at ESU, Ace now lives independently in the Towers Residence Hall. Morgan helps him put his shoes on in the morning and does his laundry for him, a job that Finch pays her $50 a month to do.

“Not adapting well was what I worried about most,” Finch said. “It wasn’t really the school work or not making friends because I knew I was going to do that – it was all the physical challenges. The first night I got here, it was hard. It took me like two hours to take a shower because the seat in the shower was higher than anything I have ever used before.”

Finch said he wanted to have the real college experience, and this motivated him to join the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. Finch’s residential assistant, Jordan Yulich, junior elementary education major, is also a member and encouraged him to join.

“I think Ace is the reason the floor is so close,” Yulich said. “During the first few days they seemed to bond around him, doing the little things like pushing him to lunch. I wasn’t told I was going to have a resident with a disability, but the only thing that worried me was coming up with programs he could participate in.”

Being in a wheel chair did not stop residential life from putting him on the fifth floor of the Towers. Finch said the only thing that he worries about is both elevators malfunctioning. In the case of a fire, Finch is supposed to wait in the stairwell for firemen to come get him.

“For the most part, the campus is handicap accessible,” Finch said. “I know if I do need anything, all I have to do is ask. No one is going to turn me down because they would feel like a jerk. I want to try to maintain my independence, but for some reason my wheel chair battery always dies whenever a cute girl walks by.”

Rocky Robinson/The Bulletin

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Luke Bohannon

The last few years have seen so many different revival projects for old franchises that it gets easy to just brush them aside and ignore them, but that would be a mistake when it comes to “The Muppets.” Proving that the old crew can be fresh and entertaining even today, the film manages to bring in a healthy dose of nostalgia for older fans and an even bigger dose of comedy for everyone.

The Muppets have been forgotten, and it seems the only people who miss them are Gary (Jason Segel) and his brother Walter (A Muppet). When Gary takes his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for their anniversary, he brings Walter along to see the Muppet Studios.

During the tour, Walter manages to overhear a dastardly plot by Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to bulldoze the studio to drill for oil unless the Muppets can raise $10 million to buy it back. Walter and Gary set out to reunite the scattered Muppets to put on one last show to save the studio.

One of the great things about the Muppets formula is that while it may not be the most original, it’s still entertaining. Really, saving the old theater by raising money with a last minute show? It’s been done to death, but with the classic Muppets formula incorporating huge numbers of guest stars, witty laughs and heart-warming moments, it’s easy to forget the unoriginality. Plus it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Muppets themselves are remarkably self-aware and poke fun at their own slightly tired storyline.

While there are plenty of jabs at old school humor, “The Muppets” takes aim at modern entertainment too. The number one show in the universe is called “Punch Teacher” and is hosted by Ken Jeong (The Hangover). The show consists of, well, punching teachers. Even Tex Richman provides a tongue in cheek joke when he brings in his own team of Muppets called the Moopets, who he calls a “hard cynical act for a hard cynical world.”

The film is also chock-full of cameos. From old timers like Mickey Rooney to newer stars like Selena Gomez, “The Muppets” brings in more celebrities than you can shake a stick at. My personal favorite cameo was from Jim Parsons.

All in all, “The Muppets” is a heart-warming movie that’s great for viewers of all ages and perfect for the holiday season, even if it’s not a Christmas movie.

Luke Bohannon

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Elise Blann, senior theater major and Andrew Walker, junior theatre major, perform during dress rehearsal for “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl Tuesday evening in Bruder Theater. The play opened last night and will run through Saturday. Photo courtesy of the theater department.

Take a vast journey from pens, pencils, papers, tests, libraries and offices and into Emporia State’s production of “Eurydice,” Sarah Ruhl’s play that takes place in the underworld.

The show opened last night in Bruder Theater and will run through Saturday. Each performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

“The production of ‘Eurydice’ is not an average night of theater,” said John Henningsen, director, communications major and photographer for The Bulletin. “It is a dark, fantastical journey through life, death, love and innocence.”

Henningsen said the play is set in the 1950s and is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

“We meet Eurydice as she finds love and moments later loses it,” Henningsen said. “It follows her journey in the underworld and the struggles she goes through to find her way back to the land of the living. The rest of the evening is her journey to discover the meaning of love, love of life, love of family, love of self and love of knowledge.”

At first glance the play is a dark comedy, but the drama is philosophically provoking, allowing audience members to reflect on personal relationships, Henningsen said.

“The play asks questions such as what is love, what is important in life, do you love something enough to let it die, do you love something enough to let it live and what are you willing to sacrifice to allow that love to flourish,” Henningsen said.

The play, set in the mythological underworld, emphasizes its message with unique lighting, and stage setup.

“The lighting in the performance includes a lot of blues to go along with the mood of the play and browns because we took a very earthy approach to our design,” said Sertrice Grice, freshman psychology major and prop master for the show. “The backdrop is a tree and the floor is brown. All of this feeds into the setting – the underworld.”

Henningsen said the setting also assists in tackling the ideas of death, life and discovering what is important for survival under the human condition.

“The staff’s idea of the underworld is a dark drippy place that bursts to life when it is met with Eurydice’s love for her father, for her husband, for books and for life,” Henningsen said.
Andrew VonSeggern, junior secondary education theater and speech major and curtain director, said he recommends attending the play.

“The play is better than a movie,” VonSeggern said. “During each performance, the actors feed off of the crowd and the audience gets a feel of the theater culture.”

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission.

Simone Cosper

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Luke Bohannon

“J. Edgar,” much like the man it’s based upon, is shadowy, enigmatic and infinitely fascinating. The collaboration of Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio led to the creation of a film that is truly a masterpiece in almost every way. Shifting between the personal and public lives of J. Edgar Hoover, Eastwood has created a unique portrait of an individual who was once regarded as one of the most powerful men in America.

Hoover was the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years, during which he transformed the woefully underpowered agency into an efficient crime-fighting organization.

But the film shows us much more than just Hoover’s public life and career. We are given a view into a fairly sensationalized version of Hoover’s personal life, focusing primarily on his relationships with his long-time secretary and confidant Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts) and his closest companion Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). One other relationship highlighted in the film is that between Hoover and his domineering mother, Annie Hoover (Judi Dench).

Hoover’s relationship with each of these people is defined very quickly through subtle cues, brilliant acting and perfect direction. Eastwood must be applauded for balancing Hoover’s very well documented public life and his somewhat murky private life, including the prevalent rumors of Hoover’s homosexuality. All of these aspects are explored through incredibly powerful scenes that showcase the true acting abilities of the cast.

While DiCaprio is the main character and does a truly masterful job, Armie Hammer’s portrayal of Tolson is a somewhat downplayed but undeniably powerful one.

Hammer is possibly best remembered for his dual role of the Vinkelvoss twins in “The Social Network,” and he surpassed himself in every way in this film.

From a young agent in the FBI to an old man suffering from the aftereffects of a stroke, Tolson’s character presents a plethora of challenges for an actor, and Hammer not only overcomes these challenges, but thrives, out-shining DiCaprio in many scenes.

Any great film needs an outstanding cast, a visionary director and an inspired writer. “J. Edgar” definitely has all three, with Dustin Lance Black as the author behind the script. Black’s most prevalent work before this was “Milk” in 2008.

Black, rather than trying to guess at what these people may have been like, has presented the film in a manner which allows for the accepted public image of these individuals to be presented. The majority of the film is told through the ingenious device of Hoover dictating his memoir to several young agents as they write it over the course of several years. While this does lead to a somewhat distorted timeline, jumping between past and present, it never becomes tedious and actually allows for added drama.

There’s a lot that can be said about this film. “J. Edgar” is one of the best, if not the best film of 2011.

Luke Bohannon

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William Clamurro, professor of Spanish and coordinator of the honors program at ESU, plays the oboe in his last concert with the Mid-America Woodwind Quintet. This farewell concert was hosted by the woodwind quintet Thursday night at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Sounds of harmony echoed between the stained glass windows of St. Andrews Episcopal Church last Thursday. Members of Emporia State’s Mid-American Woodwind Quintet played a final performance with William Clamurro, professor of Spanish, coordinator of the honors college and oboist.

“The music is good,” said Andrew Spencer, ESU alumnus. “The pieces seem to be quite adventurous – they are not commonly practiced.”

The quintet consists of ESU faculty members Catherine Bergman, clinical instructor, on flute; Dawn McConkie, instructor of clarinet choir, on clarinet; Allan Comstock, music department chair, on bassoon; Terrisa Ziek, clinical instructor, on French horn; and William Clamurro on the oboe. The concert last Thursday was Clamurro’s last with the quintet, as the lifelong oboist has retired from the group.

“The group has been in existence since the 1940s, but one of the reasons we have been able to do this is because of Clamurro,” Comstock said.

Clammuro’s instrument of expertise, the oboe, is the soprano member of the woodwind’s double reed family, Comstock said.

“The Mid-American Woodwind Quintet meets for two hours every week and that is a big commitment,” Comstock said. “Clamurro has decided that it is getting to be a lot for him.”

Clamurro said he enjoyed performing and engaging in community service with the group.

“They perform a lot of daring music, a lot of traditional music and modern music,” Clamurro said. “They go out to local schools, the community and local community colleges, so I think it is very fun and rewarding.”

Comstock said that Clamurro joined the Quintet in 1997, despite his employment in the English department rather than the music department.

“He is a wonderful oboe player,” Comstock said. “He has done as much playing as if he is on the music faculty, so we have adopted him.”

Clamurro said he began playing the oboe in junior high. He then studied the instrument under a former member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York and in other locations including New England, Seattle and Washington.

“I have also played in a lot of the places I taught at,” Clamurro said.

After retirement, Clamurro said he plans to continue playing with the Emporia Orchestra and mentoring young musicians.

The music department will host the Fall Flute Festival all day this Saturday in Beach Hall. The concert costs $4 for students and senior citizens and $5 for general admission.

Simone Cosper

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Emporia students and residents alike are invited to join together for a night of entertainment and fundraising. United Way will host a benefit concert at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Granada Theatre, 807 Commercial St.

“I chose the United Way because of the services they provide to our region,” said Rob Gilligan of Emporia Marketplace. “A lot of times with fundraising campaigns, for younger people and college students, it’s not something you can just write a check for … but maybe buying a concert ticket is a way they can give to United Way and still be able to have some fun.”

Gilligan said that he is also trying to develop other ways for people to donate to United Way, which is a funding agency that supports several non-profit organizations in an eight country region.

“Each year they do a big campaign to raise funds to help with operational expense and cost for a bunch of different things,” Gilligan said. “(This concert) will give us an opportunity to raise some awareness about United Way, and it’s a good way for people to come together and enjoy the entertainment.”

Gilligan said that around 200 people attended the concert last year and they seemed to enjoy the entertainment. He said he hopes for 400 attendees this year.

The White Ghost Shivers of Austin, Texas will provide the entertainment. Gilligan said the group is hard to place into one specific genre.

“Hot jazz, early soul, a lot of vaudeville,” Gilligan said of the group. “It’s really hard to call them a band … really, they are a show. They are an entire performance piece. They’re an experience.”

Erin Mullane, senior theater major, said she has seen the group perform several times and that they are a nice change from mainstream music.

“I think it’s bold that they are a band that plays in the 20s and 30s ragtime jazz style,” Mullane said. “I like that they expose the audience to a different kind of sound.”

Adam Helmer, junior theater major said he is looking forward to the experience.

“I hope to get to see an amazing concert and to learn how much money is raised from this event to benefit United Way,” Helmer said.

Emporia will be the White Ghost Shivers’ first stop for the Kansas tour. They will also perform with The Skirts, a folk band from Chase County.

Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the Granada Box office, Sweet Granada, Granada Coffee Company, United Way, the Emporia Gazette and on campus, and 100 percent of the profits will go to United Way.

Khaili Scarbrough

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Luke Bohannon

Just when I was beginning to wonder where Matthew Broderick went, he shows back up with Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller to pull off a heist. Honestly, I didn’t see that coming.

But make no mistake – “Tower Heist” is way more of a heist movie than it is a comedy, despite what the trailers might lead you to believe. Although, there are definitely a few solid laughs throughout the film.

The Tower is a luxurious apartment building where only the very wealthy can afford the rent, and they certainly get their money’s worth. The staff, headed by Josh Kovacs (Stiller), are courteous and competent, attending to the tenants from the moment they enter the Tower, where they’re greeted by kindly Lester, the doorman (Stephen Henderson).

One of the most notable tenants is financial powerhouse Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) who owns the penthouse of the Tower as well as a bright red 1953 Ferrari, once owned by Steve McQueen. However, the Tower is turned upside down when Shaw is arrested by FBI agents, lead by Claire Denham (Tea Leoni) and accused of running a Ponzi scheme, which includes the pension plans and investments of the Tower’s employees, even old Lester the doorman.

Outraged, Kovacs rounds up a group of employees, plus a crook named Slide (Murphy), and sets out to rob Shaw’s penthouse in order to steal back their money. Of course things don’t go quite according to plan, but it’s a heist movie.

“Tower Heist” is all about the ensemble, and this one is pretty good. The core team is Kovacs, Slide, Mr. Fitzhugh (Broderick), who’s jobless and has lost his family following his eviction from the Tower, Charlie the concierge (Casey Affleck), the bellhop Enrique Dev’reaux (Michael Pena), and Odessa the maid (Gabourey Sibide). This odd mix of traditionally serious actors like Affleck and Sibide and comedians creates a cool dynamic that allows the movie to switch between serious and funny at the drop of a hat.

Aside from the cast, “Tower Heist” also had an all-star production crew, including Brett Ratner, best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise. Ratner managed to create a movie that defies traditional genres, not just being a comedy or a drama, but rather a subtle blend of the two, all the while giving every actor their moment to shine.

Of course, Ratner doesn’t get all the credit. Writers Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven) and Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can) created a screenplay that plays perfectly with the tone of the times, touching on the battle between Wall Street and the working guy.

While it wasn’t quite as funny as I expected, “Tower Heist” was a thoroughly enjoyable movie, offering both laughs and genuine quality drama. Definitely check this one out.

Luke Bohannon

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Deborah Gerish, associate professor of social science, discusses food issues with students during the Food Film Festival on Monday in Science Hall room 72. “Super Size Me” was the first film shown. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

What gives you the fuel you need to carry out bodily functions? Unless you have learned how to photosynthesize, it’s food.

In honor of food, The General Education Council and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is hosting the first ever Food Film Festival.

“The reason we are doing the Food Film Festival is to try to get students to look at the different aspects of reality from the food perspective,” said Jon Leach, graduate teaching assistant. “It helps students understand that even though we have these separations of academic disciplines, it is all the same base of human knowledge that is interconnected.”

The festival started Monday with a showing of the documentary “Super Size Me,” which follows filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s attempt to eat a diet consisting only of McDonalds for one month. At the end of his 30-day experiment, Spurlock had packed on almost 25 pounds and had a cholesterol level of 230.

“I thought (the film) was interesting,” said Lesha Bacon, sophomore communications major. “It wasn’t as gross as everybody made it out to be. I don’t really eat out to begin with, so I don’t see this changing my eating habits, but it is something I would tell people about.”

Several other films on food, each sponsored by a different student organization, will be shown throughout the month of November. “Super Size Me” was sponsored by the Quidditch League and the Gamers’ Guild. They provided “Harry Potter” themed snacks like Mrs. Weasley’s rock cake and warm butterbeer.

The Environmental club, The Department of International Education and The Black Student Union will also sponsor films.

“The general education curriculum as a whole has been trying to find way to show students that classes such as history, biology and physics, everything in the general education, curriculum is connected,” said sponsor Deborah Gerish, associate professor of social sciences. “There have been several of us putting together this pilot program this semester to modify what is needed next semester.”

Leach, who is co-founder of the Quidditch League, said they not only provided warm butterbeer to fight off the cold but also explained how food is common among populations.

“Students can take what they have learned in their various general education classes under that food theme,” Leach said. “We are trying to recreate what the goals of the general education program are through films showing how food is common to all people.”

Photo illustration by Yiqing Fu

After the movie, Gerish held a discussion with the group over what they had seen in the film.

“Food is such a crucial part of our lives that we often pay no attention to it,” Gerish said. “Thinking about what goes into food before the fork ever goes into your mouth can raise all kinds of wonderful possibilities. The films we have chosen range from films that gross people out to educational films like ‘Food, Inc.,’ and even feature films.”

“Food, Inc.” was the last film shown this week.

“We chose ‘Food, Inc.’ and ‘Super Size Me’ because they are more health conscious,” Leach said. “We like the gonzo journalism perspective in ‘Super Size Me,’ and ‘Food, Inc.’ is more about the geopolitical ramifications of food.”

The Food Film Festival will continue through next week with “The God of Cookery” showing at 7 p.m. on Monday in Science Hall room 72. The film is a Hong Kong comedy, sponsored by the Department of International Education to go along with International Education Week.

The festival will wrap up Wednesday with What’s Cooking sponsored by the Black Student Union. The film will also be held in the Science Hall room 72 at 7:00 p.m.

Rocky Robinson

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