This is the life of Liam Parke: chaotic, busy and sometimes painful, but also very rewarding and filled with immense joy. As a double major in musical theatre and history, Parke is devoted to storytelling. 

In light of the new school year, there are a lot of new faces, both students and staff. One of these new faces is new Community Director Tina Webster.

Set in a 1990s Starbucks, this farce follows playwright Ben Eisenberg, tasked with writing a play adaptation for the popular novel, "Don Quixote." Ben only has one problem– he can't write anything, and the script is due the following day.

On Sept. 12, Florida Southern English, Spanish and Honors students participated in the Transcribathon. The event took place in McKay Archives Center and has been an annual event on campus since 2018.

Few genres spark as much debate as “Hallmark” movies. Some viewers eagerly await the time for movies with small-town charm and holiday cheer, while others can’t stomach another minute of predictable romances. To explore the great “Hallmark” divide, two perspectives are put in place: the individual who adores these films and the other who dreads them.

Released on Oct. 31, Oasis is an AI-generated game from Decart credited as being “the first real-time AI world model.” Based on user input, the game generates its environment as users play it, similar to Minecraft but powered entirely by AI. While it’s an impressive technological feat, some users' experiences have been less than spectacular, revealing potential limitations and significant challenges.

Amidst controversial times, the banning of over 700 books in Florida is one of the most important topics when it comes to the future of education in the state. While it is important for there to be some limits as to what kind of content children should have access to, it is a very questionable decision made by the Florida Department of Education to outright ban pieces of literature that have been a stepping stone in the progression of writing in our country.

There are two types of people in the world: the ones who put their Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, and the ones who put it up after. Of course, there is also a third type who is way too excited about the holiday and has their tree up and Mariah Carey playing by the middle of October. Is there a happy medium?

Obsessive: the key word that separates a typical fan from a “stan.” Originating from an Eminem song of the same name, stan culture is characterized by the extreme dedication and devotion some people have towards their favorite creators. 

“Coach Matt is the reason I am as good as I am today,” Giller said. “I think if you told me in high school that I’d be running the times I am right now, I think I would’ve just laughed. He’s a solid coach, he’s definitely a hard coach who will challenge you and work you very hard and I think that’s the reason we’ve been so successful is because of him.”

On Nov. 23 the Mocs celebrated seven seniors with a 3-2 win against RV Nova Southeastern. Back-and-forth wins between the Sharks ended with a three point lead in the fifth set with help from senior transfer student Sandra Sasaski.

On November 15, a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul shattered national streaming records, becoming the most streamed sporting event ever, according to CNBC. 

As the Mocs near the midway point in the season, the push for playoffs is going to begin after the summation of winter break. The way playoffs are set up, however, is complicated. A big part in this is the fact that our Mocs hockey team isn’t a school sport. It's a club sport.

Junior forward Alex Steen paved the way with an explosive performance that played a key role in FSC’s impressive victory.

Seniors Johnny Horwood, Chris Horwood and Hannah Noll have taken their original music to the stage at local Lakeland venues. The Horwood twins first started working with Noll when J. Horwood was asked by his producer’s brother to find an opener for his band. She was the first person that came to mind.

Despite the hurdles of performing in a play that tackles such controversial topics, Campbell’s representation of Wendla showcased her talents and abilities to display the complexities of a deeply emotional character. As she continues her journey in theater, Campbell’s passion and dedication to her roles influences her to leave a lasting impact on her audience. 

Southern Takeover returned this year on a new stage, with new musicians, and an exclusive new backstage experience. The premiere of the improved takeover by ACE left students and fans excited for years to come.

The newest exhibit, Dutch Impressionism: The Hague School 1860-1930, opened in the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art. While Impressionism is strongly associated with the French and American movements, it extends much further.  Dutch Impressionism is far less recognized. The museum’s goal through this exhibit is to “broaden our understanding of Impressionism.”

From the moment the lights dimmed and the curtain fell open, the audience was captivated by an amazing show. This year’s fall dance recital, Fall into Dance, was an absolute hit. Directed by Erin LaSala Philips, the show captivated Lakeland audiences all weekend.