Claire Kunzier, Editor 

During the early to mid 2010’s, fantasy teen books controlled the underbelly of popular culture among the late elementary, middle school and early high school years. With people obsessing over various fantasy book series and their film adaptations, film studios were riding the success of the “Harry Potter” series and “Twilight Saga” wave. A book series that is amazing, but has major flops for movies is sadly the beloved “Percy Jackson” series. 

*and so we enter the section where I expose all of the knowledge I have about this book series as well as how much I still care that this remake is good*

Fitting into the “Harry Potter” “I’m so cool look at my powers” and chosen boy route, the books detail the life of Halfblood (half human and half Greek god), children neglected by half of their parents, hitting puberty, and fighting monsters all at once *gasp.* The main character, Percy Jackson, is the son of Poseidon and is the child of the prophecy who will either save or end the Olympians and their rule over humanity. Homie has a bestfriend who is half goat as well as the classic enemies to lovers story line that a middle aged white guy wrote about twelve to eighteen year olds. The books, like I mentioned, are great, a 10/10 read — the movies: not so much. 

The first film came out in 2010 and scored a solid 49 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but overall wasn’t the worst. Like most book-to-screen adaptations, there were parts missing and added to make the film seem more appealing overall. The worst changes were that the characters were sixteen instead of twelve, which made everything less impressive and much more moody. They didn’t fit some of the most important details in, and idk I just feel like it could’ve been better. 

There is no saving the second film that came out in 2013. All of the semi-redeeming qualities of the first one cannot be found within the second one and I think the 42 percent Rotten Tomatoes score was generous. 

Now, ten years later they’re trying again and actually making the characters the correct ages. They just casted Percy and people don’t hate him, even though Logan Lerman was a great cast the first time, he was old. Idk I just hope it’s good. But, let’s not get our hopes up so the let down isn’t as severe.

Claire Kunzier, Editor

The children’s cartoon show “Peppa Pig ” is in itself nightmare fuel. The simply drawn animals shouldn’t be as scary as they are, especially because first of all, it’s a children’s show and secondly, it’s a story about Peppa who is anfour-year-old English pig child living life with her pig family and other animal friends. But, truly it is something that could be turned terrifying due to simple adjustments of one’s knowledge of the cartoon. 

The scariest part about Peppa is that, according to Google, she is 7’1”, the same height as several of the NBA’s tallest players. Now, it is also discussed on the internet that Peppa is about 3’9”, but why does it come up that she is 7’1” and why do I believe that it is more likely that she is not 3’9” and is in fact 7’1”?

The thought of a giant Peppa Pig running around in some universe is terrifying, but I can’t imagine her in any other way. She is tall enough to literally step on and kill people, especially short people like Snooki, Danny Devito and half of TLC’s payroll. Over a foot taller than me and most other people: giant Peppa would be a menace to society and could easily kill most people if she wanted to, even if she can’t always squish them like bugs. She is a pig, pigs do eat literally anything, so giant Peppa could eat you as well, in addition to being able to kill you if she wanted to. Her sizing also means that her four-year-old self will just get bigger considering her parents are both respectively 12 feet and 15 feet. Literally terrifying. 

As someone who has had to watch Peppa as an adult due to babysitting, the things she says and the timing of her pauses are also pretty wild, but that’s a story for another day. Just think about how large Peppa Pig actually is next time you watch her show and realize that you are never going to beat Peppa. 

Claire Kunzier, Editor 

Former One Direction member Harry Styles releases bops regularly, but his most recent single actually fits the vibe of society. If you haven’t heard, the 28-year-old just announced his third album is set to come out May 20 and released his first single from “Harry’s House,” “As It Was” on April 1. The song slaps, with a whimsical instrumental, the energy of the songs seems to be carefree and fun, much like the feeling of spring. That feeling that makes you want to drive with the windows down, take a walk, burn some herbs and day drink. Currently, it’s spring, meaning that the weather is warming up, seasonal depression is slowly going away and the pandemic seems to finally be releasing the chokehold it’s had on the world since March of 2020.

When you actually listen to what homie is saying, sh*t’s sad. 

“In this world, it’s just us. You know it’s not the same as it was. As it was, as it was. You know it’s not the same,” goes the song.

Like yeah we’re getting old, nothing ever stays the same, Harry. Please stop bringing it up because I was just a sophomore and now I’m about to graduate. 

“Answer the phone. ‘Harry, you’re no good alone. Why are you sitting at home on the floor? What kind of pills are you on?’ Ringin’ the bell and nobody’s coming to help,” it continues. 

This one is just sad. Currently, when you look beyond spring and how nice it is to feel as if we’re finally moving out of the pandemic, nothing is really okay. Russia is waging a horrific war, many cities are facing rising crime rates and generally life is moving way too fast and changing in all aspects without any consideration of who is actually emotionally available to move into new periods of life. Harry really said nothing is the same and everyone is ignoring how utterly sad life is, just a wild time. 

Claire Kunzier, Editor

The other day at work, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie played from a TikTok via my co-workers phone. My other co-worker had no idea who sang the aforementioned song, but he knew the LaDaDaDaaaaaaaa part which was enough to lead us to the identity of the song and the realization that people don’t know Fergie quite as well as I do. So, today we are here to clarify some things about Ms. Fergalicious herself, based on the things my co-workers said as they tried to identify her.

Yes. Fergie, as in Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, and she does sing in addition to rap. No, not Beyonce. Beyonce probably would kill it singing “Big Girls Don’t Cry” but she has never publicly sang the song, just Fergie. Why are you remembering the song now? Because it is trending on TikTok for multiple different trends. 

The first trend uses this verse: “Yes you can hold my hand if you want to, cause I want to hold yours too.” 

The second trend uses this verse: “We’ve got some straightening out to do”

The third trend uses this verse: “I hope you know, that this has nothing to do with you.”

All are iconic lines delivered by Fergie in her song, although some of the trends are not as popular as the other depending on what your FBI agent has chosen for you. In addition to the trending verses, Jack Harlow sampled another Fergie song, “Glamorous,” which is also now trending because of how influential the original is and how the sample will be almost as iconic when it comes out. 

Now that why you are remembering Fergie is out of the way, you should know and or remember these Fergie songs and iconic moments:

1. She was in the Black Eyed Peas and was on all of their most iconic songs such as “I Gotta Feeling,” “Meet Me Halfway,” “Pump It” and “Where is the Love.” 
2. Her 2000s solo music: all bops. Highly suggest you go and listen to her 2006 album “The Duchess” and feel the childhood. 
3. Her comeback music also isn’t the worst and has some bops such as “LA Love.”
4. She has been involved in some of the most iconic pop culture moments such as:

• Her singing the national anthem 

• Her cartwheels 

• Her marriage to Josh Duhamel 
• Her eyebrow piercing 

5. She is the only reason I know how to spell GLAMOROUS 

“G-L, A-M, O-R, O-U-S.” — “Glamorous” By Fergie

She literally shaped your childhood from the years 2003 to 2012 and middle schools continue to play “I Gotta Feeling” at every function. This pop culture icon deserves better and that’s on that. 

Emily Allgair, Staff 

The chokehold that Bethany Mota had on the teens and tweens of the early 2010s was one like no other. She had us buying out all of the Dream Bouncy pink blush, BB creams and, of course, her Aeropostale line #Motivators. I’m not going to lie: I think about Mota on the regular. Her videos, her channel, her influence. I often find myself daydreaming, looking out the window wondering where the wind has taken Bethany Mota and what she is up to now. 

Somewhat recently, Bethany was on “Dancing with the Stars,” although she did not win. Currently, she is trying her hand at sustainable jewelry and was even the subject of a New York Times profile called “Can a YouTube Queen Like Bethany Mota Create a Jewelry Realm?” “Atom&Matter,” her brand, has teamed up with an ex-Tiffany & Co. designer. Definitely not what I would have expected, but still exciting nonetheless. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even drop some dough on a pair of earrings or necklace or something to prove my loyalties still lie with Macbarbie07. All I can say is that I hope that Bethany Mota is just as successful in her future endeavors as she was in the spotlight of YouTube in 2014, if not more. 

https://youtu.be/c1B0KO_0Qtk

Claire Kunzier, Editor 

Babysitting and dog sitting are  the easiest ways to make a lump sum of money, but that means that you have to watch other people’s children and dogs. Both are raised/trained by other adults and reflect how good those adults are at raising and teaching. Parenting is hard, but if you have a shitty kid or a shitty dog, then that’s on you. As well, once you age and become old and easily pissed off, you hate things more and more. 

As someone with both dogs and young children in their life, I love them, but I respect that other people might not. Currently, I am dog-sitting and learning the hard way that I am now old and over these dogs. I appreciate my dogs so much more that I have had to deal with other people’s dogs’ poor behavior. So, I am now becoming Squidward and I am okay with that.

Emily Allgair, Staff 

Look, I’m just as in love with Fezco as the next person, but “Euphoria” viewers have to admit that this show is wilding out with Nick Cannon – and not necessarily in a good way. “Euphoria” isn’t any different than “Riverdale,” “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”, or any other show about teens for teens except that it takes itself way too seriously. Although “Euphoria” contains a much more mature baseline plot, including abuse in multiple forms, it is still targeted at high school kids, which makes it all the more dangerous.

The character of Rue Bennett, for example, is one who barely faces any consequences for her actions until the second season of the show, and even then what happens to her is only implied. This tiptoes on glamorizing drug use and abuse, especially considering that her overdose was performed through a musical number at the end of the first season. If that doesn’t make you think, maybe it should… As for season two, the least problematic character is Maddy, which says something in itself. And yes, of course she deserves better, but for 15 year olds to be idolizing someone who lies as a means of protecting her abuser is not something to be proud of. But you’re right, you’re right, I’m forgetting about the pretty makeup that everyone has. From the glitter and the nails and the personalized color scheme for each character to the insanely graphic sex scenes between adults who are supposed to look like actual children, what’s the harm?

Overall, my biggest issue with “Euphoria” is how the creators try to portray the show as a way to “dig deeper into the struggles of today’s teens” when in reality this show is a money grab. It’s okay that that’s all it is as long as you’re up front about it, and they aren’t. If they really wanted to help out those who are struggling, they wouldn’t include graphic displays of such struggles which likely end up triggering those who actually are struggling. You can get your point across without having a “Thirteen Reasons Why” moment (and you know exactly what I’m talking about). Again, don’t get me wrong, this has nothing to do with the actors – especially those who have recently stated that they asked for less nudity in some of their scenes because it was uncomfortable and unnecessary – this is on the creators.

Now, I am still counting down until season three is released in 2024 and I don’t know if I’m more excited for that release or my own graduation, but I do know that it likely won’t get any better.

Claire Kunzier, Editor 

The week after spring break signifies the halfway point of the semester and is also the start of the slide. The senior slide is the downward spiral those graduating in May take once the end is in sight. All the work you have to do is not as important as having fun during your last few months of college. All the effort you don’t have, but know you need is really draining all the energy you barely have. Now this could’ve been happening since the beginning of the school year for some people, but now everyone is feeling it. 

Claire Kunzier, Editor 

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that the newest edition in the multitude of Batman movies is doing well with both critics and audiences. But, Robert Pattinson made a statement, a promise, to pursue another career path if his take on the cape crusader failed. In the modern era of the amazing Christian Bale “Batman Begins” trilogy and the interesting Ben Affleck “Justice League” Batman, Pattison had a 50/50 chance of being a bop or a flop. It’s a bop, with a 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, high ratings from the Collegian and an 8.5/10 rating on IMDB as well as an overall positive audience review. I cannot personally back the reviews, since I have yet to watch the film, but you can check out A&E for their take. 

Like I said prior, I am happy for those involved in the film for its success, BUTMr. Robert Pattinson, in his normal outta pocket manor, has me wishing for the failure of “The Batman.” Pattinson told The Guardian in a recent interview that if the superhero movie flops, “Porn,” he will do “art house porn.” WHY WOULDN’T WE WANT HIM TO FAIL? While he is notorious for giving the press outlandish interviews with far-fetched answers, I don’t think he was lying about doing porn. Art house porn is, I’m guessing, just like the A24 of porn and Pattinson is an A24 actor. He is everyone’s celeb crush, well at least he’s mine and my moms, so I would assume his take on the adult film industry would be well received. His one commercial is already lowkey porn, he’s done sex scenes in Twilight (2008) and other movies, homie’s halfway there. 

Sadly though, the film is a success, we will not be seeing Pattinson in any form of porn, art house or not, to our knowledge. A bummer, but also I am excited to see the movie and experience emo Batman and his edgy Gotham. If you’re really that hung up about the loss of the possibility, idk go read some fanfiction or take a cold shower. Like it’s not that deep, he was probably joking, no need to write a whole article about it or anything, damn. 

Claire Kunzier, Editor 

As we all know, La Salle University has altered their mask mandate. Honestly, in my opinion the university should’ve just waited until March 28, two weeks after spring break, rather than taking them off this week and then putting them back on after spring break just to take them off once again a week later. Oh well, I am not in charge of this decision making, as much as I might have great ideas. 

I personally will be sticking to wearing my mask 90 percent of the time on campus. That other 10 percent of the time is when I am around friends and trustworthy people, with that being said, feel offended if you don’t see my face. Wearing a mask will prevent a lot of possible spread of COVID-19, but at the current moment, society is in the variant lull, so wearing masks is now optional. 

When you are with a friend who, like me, is wearing a mask most of the time, but not all of the time and that friend is wearing a mask with just you…feel the offense. We don’t trust your ass, not one bit. We don’t want your germs and think that you 100 percent could get COVID-19 from your personal activities, or maybe we just don’t like you <3.