Month: December 2014

‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’ SIUE Student brings his world of photography to campus

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From the time Keenan Adams was 7, he had already developed a passion for photography. Even at this young age, he loved capturing moments in people’s lives.

Adams, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior political science major of Decatur, has been a professional photographer for five years, but has been interested in the art form since childhood.

“When I was that age, I had a little digital camera that could only hold 25 photos; I would always have that around. I would take it to school and would take pictures at lunchtime,” Adams said. “If it was a nice day, I would go to the park and just shoot. As I got older, I always had a digital camera. I’ve always been interested in just capturing photos.”

Adams has developed many projects during his time as a photographer. Recently, he has begun a project titled “Humans of SIUE,” inspired by the award-winning photoblog “Humans of New York.”

Adams said the man who photographs and curates “Humans of New York” goes around New York City photographing and interviewing people who stand out to him. While Adams’ project is similar, there are a few distinctions between the two.

“I’m intercepting people on their way to class; they don’t have three to five minutes to talk to me, so I just get their name, where they’re from and their major,” Adams said. “I wanted to show the diversity and culture of the campus; the different styles. I’ve had maybe 130 interactions up to today and only two people have rejected, and it was because they didn’t feel presentable that day. I didn’t expect it to turn into what it is now; I was going to get 15 or 20 people, but then I became more comfortable with people and I just kept shooting.”

Adams said “Humans of SIUE” illustrates not to judge a book by its cover. He captures not only students, but also professors and anyone else on campus.

“Not only are you showing a general representation of the school, but also what people from different majors look like,” Adams said. “For instance, if you hear physics major, you’re going to think nerdy; but, I have shot a couple of girls who were physics majors, and you would have never known. I’ve shot a guy who was covered in tattoos, and you would think art [major] or something like that, but he was a nursing major.”

Page Design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

Page Design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

English graduate student Ahlam Jaber, of Granite City, said she was standing outside of Peck Hall when Adams approached her, told her he liked her outfit and asked her to be a part of his “Humans of SIUE” project.

“I’m a pretty social human being, so these types of encounters don’t throw me off whatsoever; it was flattering,” Jaber said. “I think it’s a fantastic idea; people shouldn’t be as apprehensive when people approach them. I was thinking as I was walking away, ‘Why would I refuse this?’ We have this strange thing in our society where we want to be limited, shut off and alone to a certain degree. I like that he’s willing to break those boundaries.”

Adams has many projects outside of SIUE as well. In fact, Adams said “Humans of SIUE” is his only project focused within the campus.

Adams said one of his favorite projects is titled “Chicago Street Photography.” Adams said he would travel to Chicago and spend hours doing nothing but walking through the streets taking photographs.

“Sometimes I’d take a same-day round trip, so I would arrive at [Chicago] Union Station at 10 a.m. and get the last train leaving Chicago at 7 p.m. I would just spend that whole time walking through the streets and shooting,” Adams said.  “Sometimes I would spend a few days and stay in a hostel downtown so I could really zone in and focus, not rush.”

Adams said when he’s on the streets of Chicago, he focuses on people who stand out to him.

“I look for someone with an interesting hat, or item of clothing or accessory; just someone who looks like someone you would want to talk to, and I take their photo,” Adams said. “I’ll have certain focus days; I’ll focus on people with glasses, hats, curly hair, people who are really tall or short. That way your mind weeds out the chaos of the streets of Chicago. The reason I shoot in Chicago is it’s really busy, really diverse. I can blend in and look like a tourist; I’m comfortable.”

Adams said most of his photos for this project are candid, however sometimes he will find one person who stands out enough for a posed photo.

“Most people are flattered and I don’t get rejected that much,” Adams said. “Especially when you explain what attracted you to that person, even on campus. I don’t just shoot random people, there’s always something that stands out; maybe their smile, their hair or they way they are dressed.”

While Adams loves finding photography subjects on the busy streets of Chicago, there is another project titled “Project Glasses” that Adams said is his favorite.

“I’ve never worn glasses, so maybe that’s why I’m attracted to them,” Adams said. “I like how glasses now aren’t shameful to wear. I know back in the late ’90s all you saw on TV were commercials for contacts. But now, glasses have evolved into a style and it’s not the standard one style. I’m really attracted to glasses that are really big, non-traditional glasses. A few shots that I’ve got are the ‘Harry Potter’ circular glasses; I love those.”

Adams said his project “Friends and Strangers” aims to show the essence of life and gives him the opportunity to remember some of the people he has met.

“If we have an event that we all go to, I’ll bring my camera,” Adams said. “If we’re just hanging out at a bar, I love just capturing the happiness and the time we are having because it’s nice to have that to look back at and say, ‘Man, that was a good night.’”

Adams said for the future, his plans do not include photography, but he will always have it in his back pocket.

“Currently, I do shoot professionally, meaning that I do get paid part time; mostly just engagement photos, senior photos or family photos,” Adams said.  “I don’t plan on doing photography full time because it’s kind of a gamble—you never know when the economy is going to tank, and people won’t pay $300 for senior photos. And there could be a time where I’m just not getting work.”

Adams said one of the main reasons he has these unpaid photography projects is so he can keep his mind and photography skills sharp.

“The more you shoot, the better you get at it,” Adams said. “If I only shot whenever I got paid, I wouldn’t do it as much and I wouldn’t be learning and improving my skill. I like to shoot a lot so that I make mistakes; so I don’t make those same mistakes when I’m on a paid session. That motivates me to do a lot of self-projects.”

Adams said one of his favorite things is to see how others react to his photographs and how it impacts them.

“One guy said he got a feeling of happiness just from seeing the expressions of all the people in the photos,” Adams said. “I never say smile because when I say smile, you’re giving a forced smile. I’m normally good at opening people up; if I talk to you for a minute, it only takes another minute for me to make you laugh. That’s why you see a little giggle in all the photos. I would consider myself a good sense of humor; that makes me more comfortable getting people to open up and show their personality.”

Junior psychology major Kyle Shive, of Holiday Shores, said he was out in the Stratton Quadrangle chalking for Psychology Club when Adams approached him for “Humans of SIUE”.

“I really enjoyed it; it’s a great idea to hear from all walks of life around the campus. I like that he’s giving people the opportunity to stick out,” Shive said. “This is the Midwest, and I think there’s a tendency to fall into the bracket of thinking there isn’t a lot of culture or variation of ideas around here. It’s cool for him to be walking around and actually finding these people. The way he approached me felt very professional and artistic.”

Adams said when it comes to his photography, having memories to look back on is important to him.

“I notice a lot of things, just from my artistic point of view, and I like to show other people those kinds of things,” Adams said. “You’ve heard the saying, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words;’ I can explain something to you, but you actually seeing what I saw instead of me just telling you why I thought it was interesting—it kind of puts you in my shoes.”

Article/ Layout design by Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

eSports Association at SIUE pwnz societal stigma of gaming

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Gaming has developed many stereotypes throughout recent years, most of which shed a negative light. However, the eSports Association of SIUE is working to change this image.

The eSports Association of SIUE President Ben Henley said he enjoys being a part of this association because it helps to give gaming a better public face.

“[Gaming] has a lot of negative aspects attached to it,” Henley said. “I want to take that and say, ‘This is something everyone can do and can be used as a force for good, a force for change.’ A lot of the people in the club may not find their outlet in other places, so it becomes a great thing.”

Originally founded in April 2013 as the League of Legends Club of SIUE, the organization began with fewer than 10 people interested. Now, a year and a half later, it has gone to over 230 members on their Facebook page.

The name change came along when the national organization, the eSports Association, contacted the members and suggested it become a chapter of their organization.

Henley said the group had always considered incorporating other games besides “League of Legends,” and when the national organization suggested the organization consider that very thing, it was excited to jump on board.

“We all liked a bunch of different games; [League of Legends] just happened to be what we were into at the time,” Henley said. “After a while we thought, ‘Why don’t we branch out so we can include other things as well?’ That way we can reach an even bigger audience while still maintaining what we’re all about.”

Vice President Tyler Agnew said this organization has become important to him because he enjoys being involved in something that is making a difference.

“Being a part of this is a good way to not only bring people together, but to give people a good place to hang out, no matter what their background is,” Agnew said. “Since video games are for everyone, we are really devoted to having a diverse range of students.”

Henley said in order to get members, the organization originally took to student organization fairs. However, it never saw much success.

“We generally do bad in those because no one really comes up to us. We discovered it’s because people who would be interested tend to stay away and aren’t as socially oriented as other people,” Henley said. “So we have shifted; we’ve done word of mouth and social media and that seems to be what works [to get members]. We aren’t opposed to advertising, it just doesn’t work as well.”

Events Coordinator Jacob Baird said this organization helps bring people with a similar interest together, in a competitive manner.

“Playing friendly is fun, but when you add the competitive aspect, it adds a whole new level I enjoy,” Baird said. “We help people get competitive and better, not only at the games but at all other aspects of life. When you are on a team, you have to be able to take constructive criticism and learn how to work with a team—things that’ll help you all throughout life.”

Henley said the association is also dedicated to giving back to the community.

“Video games have a tendency to have the social idea that they are not very healthy, that you spend a lot of time in them and there’s no reward,” Henley said. “We try to make a reward at the end by participating in different charity events.”

The association partakes in various tournaments where proceeds go toward an array of charities. The association, in partner with Alpha Phi Omega, hosted a “Super Smash Bros.” tournament this past weekend in the Morris University Center to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This event is the organization’s first full-fledged, tournament-oriented event. It also hosts stress relief events each semester to encourage students to play video games rather than get bogged down with studying.

Henley said because of the nature of its events, the organization wants to pull in both students and non-students. Therefore, it holds fundraisers and events similar to these in an effort to raise money. The organization also requires its members to pay $5 in dues, which along with contributing to this fund, provides members with a club T-shirt and access to special events.

The organization holds weekly meetings at 4 p.m. on Fridays in the Student Success Center. Henley said any business that needs attending to is taken care of at the beginning of meetings. Once this is out of the way, members are welcome to bring a TV and game system and stay as long as they want playing games.

“It’s a good way to bring community to an area where people don’t generally socialize,” Henley said. “People usually sit in their dorm room online, so now they can play in an environment where they are forced to interact with other people.”

To learn more about the eSports Association, stop by one of the organization’s meetings or visit its Facebook page at SIUe eSports.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Organization unites area cyclists

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An SIUE student started a group called SIUE Cyclists through her Facebook page that has taken to the streets of Edwardsville and the Metro East area.

Senior English major Abbey Rideout, of Pittsburg, Pa., created a Facebook page in an effort to connect people with a similar interest in cycling.

“I made the page because my boyfriend at the time and I wanted other people to ride bikes with,” Rideout said. “It was really as simple as that; he and I were like, ‘We don’t know enough other people who want to ride recreationally, or want to ride fast paced and be a little more organized about it.’”

Rideout said this group is a resource for many cyclists in town.

“There are so many students who ride bikes for transportation or recreation, you have no way of getting in contact with someone else who does. That was our goal, to have a way for people to get in contact with other people who are riding,” Rideout said. “If you have a problem, you can ask people in the group instead of having to go to a bike shop.”

Group member Andrew Dolinky, of Edwardsville, said he has been riding bikes since he was a little kid and his roommate, who is friends with Rideout, encouraged him to join the group.

“I was involved in sports growing up, but unfortunately, being out of college and living the adult life, there’s not a ton of time to stay active,” Dolinky said. “Being able to get out on my bike at least once a week is a great way to release pent-up steam and stay as active as I can. It’s a great way to meet new people and go out, rather than staying on your couch and watching Netflix.”

Rideout said the page is also a good place to organize events in the area in a relaxed and informal manner.

“If there is a big cycling event going on in St. Louis, somebody will make a post about it and that sets up people knowing about the event and wanting to go,” Rideout said. “People will also post things like, ‘I’m going to go do a 20-mile ride today to this place’ and then other people who are interested can go.”

Rideout said she grew up in a cycling family and has a personal family history with the sport.

“My mom did the bike ride across Maryland while she was pregnant with me; my grandmother was buried in her jersey; it was a whole family thing,” Rideout said. “I have two bikes, one of them was my dad’s high school graduation present, which at the time he chose over a car. But I’m also a women’s study minor and Susan B. Anthony wrote essay after essay about how important bicycles are for female liberation, so I come at it from that angle, too.”

Rideout said college students get easily stressed out and cycling is an easy way to get physical activity and relieve that stress.

“I know it’s hard to get motivated; I know that it’s difficult and especially here in town,” Rideout said. “As nice as our trails are, they don’t always get you to the places you need to go and that requires sometimes riding on the roads, which is very scary if you don’t know how to do that. So I know why students see it as a need and not a want. But it would be nice to see a little bit more involvement and a little bit more relaxed attitude regarding cycling.”

Senior social work major Tracy Hutton, of Quincy, said his freshman year he received a hand-me-down bike from his cousin and his love for cycling grew from there.

“I think it’s a really great thing to promote cycling as a recreational hobby on campus,” Hutton said. “A lot of people bike to class, but to actually do it as a hobby is something you don’t see a lot of. It’s good for you; it’s healthy and it’s exercise. It’s also a lot of fun, if anyone gives it a chance and goes on rides with us they always have fun. Especially with all the trails available on campus and in town.”

Rideout said this group is a way for people to get in contact with other people who know things about cycling and are interested in bikes as well.

“One of the places we are really lacking in is mountain bike people,” Rideout said. “We have a lot of people who are joining who ride [mountain bikes] but I know nothing about it or where those trails are. I ride fixed gear and brakeless and I know a handful of people who do also, but that’s a whole other world from mountain biking. So in that department, if someone else were willing to join the group and be a resource for that, it would be a great help.”

Rideout said while the group is still very small, they are hoping to continue growing.

“I would like to, in the future, make this more of an area thing instead of precisely a student thing,” Rideout said. “We call it the SIUE cyclists group, more having to do with age group and the location and not necessarily students.”

SIUE Cyclers have a Sunday Fun-Day ride, meeting every Sunday at Sacred Grounds Cafe. For more information on the organization, visit its Facebook page at SIUE Cyclists.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

“The Maze Runner” keeps audiences on its toes

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Imagine one day, awakening to find yourself trapped in an enormous maze, unable to escape or recall any details from your past.

In the film “The Maze Runner,” Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, along with a handful of other boys, find themselves trapped in a field that is entirely surrounded by large walls. What lies on the other side of these towering walls is somewhat of a mystery. The maze dwellers are slightly certain there is an outlet somewhere inside, however every time someone ventures into the maze, he has not survived the night.

Prior to Thomas’ arrival, these boys had become fairly content with their living conditions. The boys decided they had a better chance of survival if they remained in the field as opposed to testing The Maze. However, once Thomas arrives, he quickly makes it clear he is having none of this and soon makes many efforts to escape the trap.

This movie shows audiences the meaning of bravery. These boys have grown to accept they will be trapped in this maze forever, but Thomas thinks realistically—they will either die inside this maze or die trying to escape.

This movie was well done, the acting was superb, the sets were realistic and the special effects were thrilling. While there were times during action-filled scenes where the special effects made it difficult to distinguish between the actor and the creature they were fighting; overall, the effects were impressive.

Casting for this movie was amazing. Emerging star O’Brien excites in his first lead in an action movie, portraying the role of the heroic and fearless Thomas.

While O’Brien’s character clearly took the lead, he had many supporting actors who impressed as well. “We’re The Millers” star, Will Poulter, took on the role of Gally the ringleader in the effort to remain within the maze. It was fascinating seeing Poulter in such a serious role, considering he usually is quite the opposite. However, he was notable playing this intimidating part.

Newcomer Blake Cooper melted the audience’s hearts as Chuck, the youngest member of the maze crew, who never failed to bring a touch of humor to every situation.

The vast majority of this cast was young; there were a few adults toward the end, but mostly the movie was filled with rising stars. Another distinctive aspect was how there were only two girls in the entire film, one of which, Kaya Scodelario, became trapped in the maze with the boys. With such a young cast, the acting performances threatened to disappoint, however that was far from the case.

“The Maze Runner” introduced audiences to the first film in the trilogy, based off the best-selling novels by James Dashner. This movie thrills fans with a brilliant portrayal of fear, excitement and the burning desire to break free.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Raunchy family comedy leaves audiences feeling grateful for family ties

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Every family has their own interesting set of dynamics and in the film, “This is Where I Leave You” the Altman family is no exception.

Judd Altman (Jason Bateman) has everything going for him—a great job, a perfect wife and a dream apartment. Then, in the blink of an eye, it all disappears as Judd walks in on his wife with his boss. Not long after, news of his father’s death reunites him with his three siblings: the responsible sister Wendy (Tina Fey), the eldest brother Paul (Corey Stoll) and the youngest sibling and wild child Phillip (Adam Driver).

Following the funeral, their fabulous mother (Jane Fonda) informs her children their father’s dying wish was to “Sit Shiva,” a Jewish ritual that requires the whole family to remain in one house for seven days. As the rest of the movie unravels there is never a dull moment, from nearly causing a fire in a temple to brotherly fistfights.

This movie was filled with a mixture of crude comedy and serious relationship mending. It began as a funny film and quickly turned into a heartfelt heartbreaker. While it is not the most thrilling movie to hit theaters this fall, there was never a moment where I checked the time or found myself wishing it was over because it was nonstop drama-filled fun.

The casting in “This Is Where I Leave You” is phenomenal. Bateman shines with his usual dry humor and him and Fey bounce humor off each other nonstop. Fonda does a wonderful portrayal of a mother who is struggling to remind her children how important family is.

While the main cast was exceptional, the supporting characters did not disappoint either. “We’re the Millers” Kathryn Hahn brings her endless comedy per usual as the role of eldest brother Paul’s wife. “Neighbors” Rose Byrne provides laughs as well as Judd’s long lost love interest.

This is a film that will make you appreciate your family. It shows no matter how far you may drift from your loved ones and how beyond repair you think your relationships are, those bonds will always remain and if you are willing to dig a little deeper, you may be surprised where it will leave you.

4/5

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Wildey paints the town red; ‘Rogue Allure’ showcases best of Metro East fashion

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From jogging attire to a vintage wedding dress, audiences were far from disappointed at the Rogue Allure Fashion and Trunk Show at The Wildey Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The moment guests stepped through the doors at The Wildey, they were instantly immersed in the world of fashion. Mannequins with old-fashioned dresses lined the foyer and a red carpet-style backdrop allowed for a genuine fashion show experience.

Once through the lobby, guests were given the opportunity to venture to the third floor Chandelier Room for the trunk show portion of the night. Here, 14 shops and boutiques set up booths where people could shop their items and see all they have to offer. These shops included everything from White Birch, which offers interiors and home accent pieces, to Miss Mary’s Cupcakes.

One of the shops participating was CS Gems, a local online boutique that repurposes vintage jewelry and sells it at reasonable prices. Site owner Stacy Hayden said she was excited to take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of the trunk show.

“We have only been in business one year, and since we have no storefront, we want to get as much publicity as we can,” Hayden said. “The fashion aspect drew us to this particular event. It gives us a great chance to get in front of as many people as we can who would be interested in our product.”

Once guests were finished browsing the trunk show, they were welcomed into the theater hall of the Wildey. This location, previously an opera house and movie theater, gives visitors a quaint theater experience.

The show began by Friends of the Wildey President Rich Walker welcoming everyone to the event. He then introduced the celebrity emcee for the night, St. Louis stylist and fashion blogger Kate Allen.

As soon as Allen introduced the first shop in the show, Run Well, the lights in the theater dimmed. Music began to play when suddenly, models came jogging through the audience in head-to-toe athletic wear, complete with headgear lights to brighten the theater.

The next shop was Glik’s, which modeled trendy fashions. Following was Leopard Boutique, a shop out of Webster Groves, offering bags, accessories and clothing for women of all ages.

Next was a new shop hazel2blue, from Alton, which showcased urban, edgy and vintage styles for young modern women. The following boutique featured was What to Wear, which offered unique and contemporary clothes and accessories.

Doncaster was the next boutique featured. This shop offered many styles for women from elegant plaids to classic Amsterdam-style apparel.

Mr. Anthony’s Fashions, a women’s boutique and men’s haberdashery, was the final shop to walk the runway, featuring Kentucky Derby-themed designs. The men escorted the women to the runway, then stepped back and let the women run the show.

All of the shops stomped down the runway to a song of their choice, adding a level of excitement to the show. Each boutique had various amounts of models, either chosen by the Friends of the Wildey or by the shops.

The grand finale of the night was a segment called “My Mother’s Dress.”

Walker had been looking through his mother-in-law Donna Jean Green’s storage, and found many dresses she had worn when she was young. These dresses were restored by Holiday Cleaners in Edwardsville, and presented at the event.

Items presented included a few little black dresses, a red and white-checkered dress originally made for actress Ava Gardner, and dresses Green described best used for parties. However, the most stunning gown appeared when a model approached the runway in head-to-toe wedding attire, wearing Green’s original dress and veil.

Audience member Jen Bulmann Summers, of Edwardsville, said she attended this event as a girls’ night out with her friends and as a way to support the community.

“It exceeded my expectations with how fun it was; I was smiling the entire time,” Bulmann Summers said. “I loved the vintage dresses the most; it reminded me of my mother and grandmother’s. That era had so much class.”

Friends of the Wildey Treasurer Chris Head, who is a Rouge Allure coordinator, said the Wildey Theatre staff did a terrific job of taking a vision and making it a reality.

“I thought the fashion show went very well,” Head said. “Each boutique did an excellent job of showcasing its signature look. The vintage segment exceeded my expectations on several levels; not only were the gowns and dresses worn well by the models, but each also told a tender story about a life well-lived.”

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Social media challenge raises bucket loads of money

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Social media crazes constantly take the Internet by storm—from selfies to twerking, these fads tend to leave nothing but annoyance in their wake. However, the newest one may end up having a different effect.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is the latest fad to flood the internet. People are challenged by friends and family to dump a bucket of ice water on their head in order to raise money and awareness for Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. At first, this may seem like the most ridiculous craze to hit social media yet, but when taking a closer look, it may actually be helping quite a bit.

It all began when former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, of Boston, Mass., promoted this challenge and helped spread it throughout social media. Frates has been suffering from ALS since 2012.

According to the ALS Association, from July 29 to Aug. 21, the association has received a total of  $41.8 million in donations. During the same period in 2013, the association only received $2.1 million. These new donations have come from existing donors, as well as more than 739,000 new donors.

Maureen Barber Hill, president and CEO of the St. Louis chapter of the ALS Association, said this movement is quite phenomenal.

“People with ALS and the ALS community nationwide are benefiting from this outpour of generosity,” Barber Hill said. “We look forward to using these donations and making more concrete plans for the future.”

Barber Hill said while the ALS Association provides many programs and services to patients at no cost, living with a diagnosis is an expensive journey and could cost a patient up to $250,000 per year. This money will help many unfunded programs, counseling, clinical and in-home care programs as well as research efforts.

“It can take up to 15 years and $1 billion to develop one new drug [for ALS],” Barber Hill said. “These donations provide an enormous lift in that area.”

However, not everyone feels this challenge is doing more good than not. Junior mass communications major Joseph Vollbracht, of Clayton, Ill., said the Ice Bucket Challenge is getting out of hand.

“It started off as a cute, innocent way to raise money for a good cause and have fun nominating friends and family,” Vollbracht said. “But once the media started picking it up, people were blogging about it and reposting videos constantly. It began to sort of take over the social media platform, and that is the point where many people, myself included, got annoyed with the challenge.”

Vollbracht said he was challenged and decided not to participate or donate to the cause.

“I felt as though this challenge had become less about the charitable organization that is mentioned in the title and more about people just hopping on the bandwagon and posting a video of them dumping water on themselves,” Vollbracht said. “The whole point of the challenge is to donate to charity, yet person after person chose to avoid donating by soaking themselves in ice water. I see no point whatsoever in doing that.”

Senior math major Kaitlin McElroy, of Bunker Hill, said the challenge is great because it has raised so much awareness.

“I participated in the challenge to continue spreading this message,” McElroy said. “There is currently no cure for this awful disease, so this is a great opportunity for people to help out in a way that’s accessible to almost everyone.”

Whether to raise awareness of this cause or to merely gain attention, this challenge is sweeping the nation and making a change in the ALS community.

Barber Hill said the association is grateful for the donations and support; however, there is still more to be done in terms of finding treatment and a cure.

“After the ice melts, we hope these new donors will continue to be engaged and that this will begin a new relationship,” Barber Hill said.

To find out more about donating to the ALS Association, visit alsa.org.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

‘If I Stay’ haunts audiences with its depiction of best-selling young adult novel

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When people endure near-death experiences, they tend to say their lives flash before their eyes, and they see the good, the bad and the ugly in the process. This is exactly what happens in the film “If I Stay.”

“If I Stay” is a film about love, heartbreak and everything in between. Mia Hall (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a quiet high school student who has everything going for her — a potential acceptance to Juilliard, a fun, lively family and a loyal best friend. Until one day, while driving down an icy road, an oncoming truck strikes her family’s car, and Mia’s world is changed forever.

The remainder of the film is spent with Mia having an out-of-body experience, watching herself in the hospital, and flashing back to memories from her past. She looks back at the good and the bad, in an effort to decide whether to keep fighting and wake up from her coma or to let go.

This film did a wonderful job of making the movement between the flashbacks and the hospital scenes easy to follow. At first, it is a little difficult to catch on to the fact that they are flashing back and forth, but once that is established it becomes easy to understand.

Mia reminisces about many things during her looks back in time, but the most prevalent memories are concerning a boy named Adam (Jamie Blackley).

Adam is a local rock musician who fell in love with Mia the moment he saw her playing her cello. He is the type of boy every high school girl dreams of; he waltzes into your life, unannounced, and changes everything. He adores her love of classical music, takes her to the symphony and even dresses up as Beethoven for Halloween in an effort to express his feelings.

I do not normally like love-at-first-sight stories because I feel they are unrealistic and predictable, but the story of Mia and Adam’s love is one I enjoyed very much. It seemed so real; they had real struggles in their relationship. For example, they had completely opposite music choices and they got into fights about stupid things just like every other couple in the world. It is the classic story of falling too hard too fast and I appreciate that they did not try to sugarcoat it like many Hollywood movies do.

Apart from the love aspect of the film, the film did a fabulous job of incorporating the world of classical music through Mia’s love for it. I have personally never been exposed to music of the sort, but hearing how beautiful the cello sounded changed my views on this particular music style. Mia is passionate about her music and unapologetic about how much it means to her. The way they show her following her dreams and embracing her talents is inspiring.

The casting in this film was brilliant. Moretz was phenomenal; she was able to portray the many different emotions that went along with this role and did it in a way that illustrated all the trials and tribulations that go along with teenage life and a traumatic event such as this, in a way that is relatable and realistic.

Blackley did a wonderful job as well, embodying exactly what it means to be a love-struck musician. Stacy Keach played the role of Mia’s grandfather and had a few heartbreakingly wonderful scenes.

I will admit, I cried more than I wanted to at this film; there are so many scenes that, if you put yourself in Mia’s shoes, will cause you to tear up. There was a point during the film where the actors were silent, and all you could hear was the sniffles and crying of everyone in the theater. I was prepared for it to be an emotional film; I just was not sure if it would be overly emotional to the point where it is depressing, but it was not. It was the perfect amount of happy and sad that will make you walk away thinking how beautiful of a film it was.

“If I Stay” is based on the best-selling novel by Gayle Forman. I have not read the book myself, but from the chatter I heard from moviegoers after the screening, the film matched the book nicely. So if you are a fan of the novel, you should not be disappointed either.

This is a film that will make you laugh, cry and appreciate every person you have in your life. It makes you realize that everything you have done and everyone you have met up until today has made you exactly who you are and if you choose, can give you reason enough to stay.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

‘The Giver’ hands audiences authentic interpretation of its novel

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Imagine a world where everything is black and white — no one lied, love was forbidden and emotions were not felt by anyone. Anyone, that is, except for The Giver.

“The Giver” is a film based on the beloved, best-selling novel by Lois Lowry about a colorless and impassive futuristic world. As bizarre as it sounds, this film depicts what the world would be like if past memories were stored only by one person in the society.

Members of this community do not see themselves as trapped or miserable because they do not know the extent to which they are missing out — they are simply accustomed to the strict way things are. That is, until one boy is given the opportunity to feel things he never knew were possible.

In this society, on an individual’s 18th birthday, The Elders of the community assign them to their futures. They are placed in jobs such as nurturer, groundskeeper or drone pilot, among many others. However, a young boy named Jonas is assigned the unique position of the Receiver of Memory.

What occurs between The Giver and The Receiver is straightforward — The Giver passes along stored memories of those who lived before the society existed to The Receiver.

Some memories are good, others are bad and painful, but all the memories cause Jonas to realize the emotions and experiences the society is missing. He then sets out on a rebellious journey to release these memories to the community.

Growing up, this was one of my favorite novels. When any book is made into a movie, I am hesitant to see the film for fear of disappointment. But I can confidently say this film exceeded my expectations and anyone who has read the novel will enjoy it. “The Giver” remains close to the novel and it even provides viewers with a more in-depth look into the world this society lives in.

It may benefit moviegoers to have background information about the story before they waltz into the theater. The film does not do a superb job at explaining why the society is the way it is and what certain terms they use mean, so having an idea of how the society works could help to better understand the film.

“The Giver” has a stellar cast, including newcomer Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, the film’s lead character. Thwaites is accompanied by Jeff Bridges as The Giver, Meryl Streep as The Chief Elder and Katie Holmes as Jonas’s mother. Casting actors who would be able to properly embody the characters from the novel is a huge task, and I feel as though each contributed to the successful representation of these notable individuals.

The Giver is an excellent film about truth, love, fear and self-discovery. Those who have experienced this classic story through the novel will be pleased by the way in which the story is brought to life right before their eyes.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Sports: Years of hard work pay off for SIUE volleyball’s Colclasure

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From the time Chelsea Colclasure turned eight, her parents had involved her in many different activities—softball, soccer, dance and, most importantly, volleyball.

“It’s probably the most exciting of all the sports I was playing,” Colclasure said. “You’re constantly scoring, your team’s always cheering. It became my main attraction.”

Thirteen years later, Colclasure now holds the record for most digs in SIUE history.

Colclasure, now a senior nursing major, has been a starting libero since her freshman year, an achievement volleyball Head Coach Leah Johnson said is no easy feat.

“It’s one thing to start as a freshman, it’s another to maintain that position all four years,” Johnson said. “For her to have earned it and kept it says a lot about her growth as an individual on the court and her leadership.”

Colclasure said when she was younger, she played a variety of positions before finally deciding on libero.

“I’d set and even hit, but that was when the nets were a lot lower. Then when everyone else kept growing and I stopped, I got moved to the back row,” Colclasure said. “I love libero; I like that I keep people from scoring and how that makes them mad. I’ll pick a player out and go after them—I pick their best hitter to make sure they don’t score.”

Colclasure had never expected to play volleyball in college; she assumed no school would work with her to balance both a sport and the nursing program.

“It took me a while to decide to try to find a school that would work with me, because I just figured no one would,” Colclasure said. “I picked this school because the campus is really pretty, they have my major and my coach was willing to work with me to be a nurse and let me play sports. Not many schools were open to do that.”

Johnson said Colclasure was one of her first recruits as coach at SIUE. At the time, the volleyball team  was in need of someone who could fill the role of libero and start as a freshman.

“I liked the fact that she had been in a program that had been tough,” Johnson said. “They worked very hard and emphasized ball control defense, so I knew at the very least I was going to get someone who understood that was a priority. I got more than I ever bargained for.”

Colclasure said she is glad she decided to juggle both athletics and nursing.

“It involves a lot of responsibility, organization and putting your priorities straight,” Colclasure said. “It’s made me grow as a person and as a leader; it’s helped me learn to work with authority and just being able to get everything organized.”

Colclasure said after graduation, she plans on going to nurse practitioner school in order to advance her degree.

“I liked the health field and I knew there were endless opportunities for it, so many things I could do with it,” Colclasure said. “I want to do oncology with kids; I really like kids and I think oncology is awesome, crazy and a really interesting field.”

Colclasure said this year has been the most difficult year balancing her two passions. However, she is fortunate to have parents who help keep her grounded.

“They’ve supported me though everything, even when I wanted to quit they pushed me to do better and keep at it,” Colclasure said. “My dad helps me a lot to get through things; he makes me realize that I am a strong person and I can do both. He’s a good mentor.”

Colclasure’s parents are not her only supporters. Her teammate, roommate and best friend of three years Haley Norris is also one of Colclasure’s biggest cheerleaders.

“She affects our team in a really positive way,” Norris said. “She is a big stabilizer for us and a lot of people, especially our underclassmen, look to her for guidance and confidence on the court.”

Johnson said Colclasure’s leadership is one of the many qualities that have distinguished her throughout her career.

“The past couple years she has been a stabilizing force for us. She has a great read on the ball and she knows how to put herself in the right place. She has easily been our most steady ball control player, so that in and of itself in the game of volleyball is irreplaceable,” Johnson said. “She can also communicate with me very well; I feel like she and I understand one another, having played the same position. She has a good head about her, not only by taking responsibility and being accountable for the things that she can and can’t control, but also working with me to be challenged, improve and grow.”

Norris said since she and Colclasure have the same sense of humor, they got along from day one. The two have also bonded over sharing the same position.

“She pushes me to try to be better,” Norris said. “You would think it would be like, ‘You don’t like each other because you are competing, but since the beginning we just clicked. We are open about how we’re competing, we’ve both been able to push each other and I think that has been a maturing factor in our relationship. We’ve been able to be best friends, even though she is my competition.”

Johnson said when Colclasure was recruited, she was an average student, and Johnson explained to her in this program at this level, average is not acceptable.

“She said, ‘I know it’ll be different when I get there,’ and I just had to trust her. That is the relationship we had from day one, there was a great level of trust,” Johnson said.  “She came here as an exceptional student and got accepted into nursing. She’s doing something that is hard for your typical nursing student and she’s doing it with a full-time athletic job and doing well and excelling. I think that’s another testament to the person she is and why accomplishing such a record and so many accolades throughout her career should not surprise anyone, because that’s just the nature of her.”

Colclasure said when the digs record was broken, she wasn’t even aware of what she had accomplished.

“I didn’t even know I broke it. My coach was like, ‘Congratulations, you broke the record the other day.’ I remember last year they said I was five digs away and then I forgot about it,” Colclasure said. “It is really cool to have my name somewhere on the university because of this. All the hours that you put in, working hard every day at practice and dedicating yourself to—it really does pay off.”

Johnson said having herself been a libero, she can attest to the fact that this accomplishment is outstanding.

“It’s very difficult to do; you almost have to be a starter from your freshman year to be able to break that kind of record. But just being on the court isn’t enough, you have to be a skilled, smart player and Chelsea is all of those things,” Johnson said. “I think it speaks volumes to the people around her, too. She’ll tell you that she couldn’t care less about a record, as long as her team’s winning. Those around her help make her good, too. They trust her, they see her potential and they want her to be great.”

Norris said Colclasure has the ability to keep things light and fun on the court.

“If someone makes a mistake, instead of letting them get down on themselves, she would just be like, ‘Dude it’s fine, just laugh it off,’” Norris said. “But she is also super driven. She has a lot of pride and always wants to be the best in what she does.”

Johnson said one of the most distinctive things she will remember about Colclasure is her desire to improve the team in any way possible.

“I remember her first couple years we played 10 five-set matches and we were so competitive, but we were coming up 50/50 on those. She’d come to the front of the bus and say, ‘Coach, what do I need to do to help us win; what else can I do?’ and I just kept saying, ‘Chelsea, you’re going to have to be patient; not everyone’s where you are yet. But you’re going to get them there,’” Johnson said. “It’s funny because this year she’s asking the same thing, but she’s talking about a whole different level. We are 6-5 and she’s asking that same question because it’s not good enough still. That’s a great place to be in and that drive is always something I’ll remember about her.”

Colclasure said her motivation comes from realizing this is her last year in the program.

“This year I know I don’t have anymore chances to win the [Ohio Valley Conference] tournament or go to [National Collegiate Athletic Association] tournament and that’s always been a dream to go to the NCAA’s,” Colclasure said. “Also working hard for my teammates; I love every single one of them. They are like my family so I think they keep me going every day.”

Colclasure said being a part of this program for the past four years has meant a lot to her and helped her grow.

“It meant that I worked really hard to get where I wanted to be,” Colclasure said. “I went into practice everyday. I tried to get better everyday and I’d say, looking back, it was a great experience. I loved being around all my teammates, my coaches and I wouldn’t change it.”

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com