These are our confessions

Carl J. Bachus | culture editor If the Harlem Shake and Gangnam Style are any indication, Pittsburg State is no stranger to the occasional Internet phenomenon. However, one has been raising eyebrows of late: the Pitt State Confessions page on Facebook. Founded in March, Pitt State Confessions is just one of the various “confession pages” popping up on the Internet that are associated with universities and high schools around the country. The account is full of anonymous, candid posts that range from sad or empowering, to graphic and offensive. “It’s funny,” said Emily Flores, freshman in communication, “I do know that a lot of people are taking it seriously.” Flores said that she believes the…

A near perfect pop album

Carl J. Bachus | culture editor 2013 seems to be the year of the comeback. From Justin Timberlake to Tim McGraw to Destiny’s Child, once loved acts are coming out of the woodwork to deliver new material to legions of fans who have been waiting for years. It’s safe to say that of all of the comeback efforts this year, Fall Out Boy’s new album, “Save Rock and Roll,” has to be the least disappointing. “Roll,” the follow-up to 2008’s less than impressive “Folie à Deux,” is much more fun than any Fall Out Boy’s previous efforts. It’s all over the place without feeling forced. The LP finds the band catching up with current music…

Spring Fever

April showers campus with array of events Carl J. Bachus | culture editor Though the weather may not agree, spring is finally upon Pittsburg State. With midterms done, PSU’s campus will be buzzing with exciting events for the month of April. Kicking off the month is the Student Activities Council’s (SAC) Burg Film Festival at the Colonial Fox Theatre on Friday, April 5. The festival, which offers a $100 first prize, will feature student-created short films in the newly renovated theater in downtown Pittsburg. “[PSU] used to do the festival a long time ago,” said Ashley Cross, sophomore in justice studies and SAC visual arts chair. “I want to bring back something to get the…

Harlem Shake

PSU joins 2013′s first internet phenomenon Carl J. Bachus | culture editor Since when do songs make it to the top of the Billboard charts without even playing on the radio? When a funny video featuring the song gets 36 million views on YouTube, that’s when. A single video created by five teenagers in Australia spawned the first massive Internet phenomenon of 2013 and Pittsburg State’s joining in on the fun. Jacob Anselmi was involved in the production of PSU’s “Shake” video that went live on Valentine’s Day. “Honestly, after watching it, I kind of sat back and said, ‘What the hell was that?’” said Anselmi, videographer for university marketing and communication. “I thought that…

Shakespeare makes Pitt stop

Carl J. Bachus PSU’s Campus Activities Center (CAC) is gearing up for a night of mistaken identity and unrequited love with The American Shakespeare Center’s (ASC) performance of “Twelfth Night” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14. Directed by John Basil, the program is part of the Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS). Shakespeare’s “Night” tells the story of Viola, a shipwrecked socialite who poses as a man and falls in love with her employer. All the while, the employer is courting another woman who has fallen in love with Viola’s male alter ego. “Is this William Shakespeare’s real take on love? Or does he believe that love is foolery?” Basil asks in his director’s notes….

Playing with its customers

Sony throws down gaming gauntlet with the PS4 Anthony Piecs Marcano | guest writer PlayStation. The name harkens to the days when consumers were first introduced to after-school sessions with “Crash Bandicoot,” late nights with “Resident Evil” and long, coffee-fueled weekends with “Final Fantasy.” As time passed, we destroyed our friends’ cars in “Twisted Metal,” fought pirates and thieves with Nathan Drake in “Uncharted” and even slayed the Greek gods with Kratos in “God of War.” With the current gaming generation quickly coming to a close, gamers around the world have been eagerly waiting to know what the big three console manufacturers have in store for them. Were the big console makers really working on…

Dizzying display of music

J. Fred Fox | reporter There was a dizzying display of music at Memorial Auditorium on Friday, March 1, featuring the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Pitt State’s own Jazz I band opened the concert for hundreds of PSU students as well as hundreds more middle- and high-school students as well as many performers from the Pittsburg community. As part of PSU’s Jazz Festival, dozens of high-school and middle-school jazz groups from around the area performed throughout the day on PSU’s campus and at the auditorium. The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band, one of the most recognized jazz groups in the world, consists of some astounding performers. That includes Frank Greene, the lead trumpet player for…

Trashy situation

City may require residents to hire trash pick up service Carl J. Bachus | culture editor In November 2012, Pittsburg organized a Solid Waste Task Force to combat what the city considers a major garbage issue. The task force is to discuss ways to improve the way trash services operate in the city and how to get the community to comply. The task force came to an agreement to work with the city’s regular trash hauling firms to make a list of residents without trash service and require them to get one. “This is an issue because it touches many aspects of building a quality community,” said Daron Hall, city manager. “In this case, having…

Gorilla gamers anticipate ‘Bioshock’ among other hot titles

Nevin Jones | reporter The spring gaming season is on the horizon and with it comes a batch of new releases that should excite all gamers worth their achievement points. Throughout the rest of the semester, there are several noticeable contenders that gamers should keep their eyes on. With big releases coming so soon, some PSU students sounded off on what they look for in a good game. “I’m very interested in games as a storytelling device,” said Jeff Linville, senior in international business. “A video game should always tell a good story. Almost like a book, but better.” Similar feelings were shared by junior in psychology Chandra Morris, who said, “I look for a…

Famous ‘Big Band’ headlines student festival

Carl J. Bachus | culture editor Pitt State’s gearing up for a swingin’ time at the 39th Annual PSU Jazz Festival held in the Overman Student Center, McCray Hall and Memorial Auditorium on Friday, March 1. The festival, a Pitt State mainstay since 1974, features a competition of bands from the junior high, high school, and community college levels, alongside two concerts and a performance by the critically acclaimed Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. “They’re really the who’s who in New York,” said Bob Kehle, university professor of music and festival coordinator. “A few of them have actually been here before. We’re talking really hot performers.” The festival lasts all day and will feature performances…