The soundtrack to the hit film Where the Wild Things Are combines childlike innocence with mysterious undertones to create a captivating sound.

The soundtrack features artists Karen O and the Kids and composer Carter Burwell, who also wrote the score for Twilight.

It does not fall into a particular genre, but is a unique combination of indie rock and a child’s book-on-tape.

The songs bring Spike Jonzes’ film back to life as they follow young Max on his adventure to find acceptance in life.

“All is Love” begins the magical journey with an enchanting and captivating rhythm. It was such a big hit that it is featured again as “Building All is Love” near the end of the soundtrack.

Although half of the songs on the CD are instrumental, such as “Igloo,” “Rumpus Reprise,” “Cliffs,” “Lost Fur,” “Food is Still Hot,” “Sailing Home” and “Animals,” they play a key role in setting the tone and vibe of the soundtrack. At the end of the song “Animals,” there are a series of howls that add extra excitement for the listener.

Other songs found on the soundtrack are “Capsize,” “Worried Shoes,” “Hideaway,” and “Heads Up.”

Karen O and Carter Burwell have also done a great job of capturing emotions within the music. In the song “Capsize,” it is easy to feel Max’s anger as he runs from his home.

The soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderful accompaniment to the movie by creating a magical atmosphere suitable for all ages.

There is something really magical in watching two people find happiness together. And the minor fact that those two people are on a scripted TV show does not make it any less real. Fans of The Office were overjoyed to learn that their favorite two people in the workplace, Pam Beesly and Jim Halpert, were getting married.

“I really feel that I’m attending the wedding of two of my very dear friends,” Lauren Hardy, junior, said.

While the two characters started out as just friends, Pam and Jim—played by Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski—definitely had feelings for each other throughout the show. So when they finally headed to the altar in “Niagara,” aired on Oct. 8 on NBC, viewers had understandably high expectations.

This build up is exactly why the actual episode fell short. Yes, it was amusing at moments—Michael’s car with “going to a wedding” inscribed on the back, anyone?—but overall, it was disappointing.

A negative element to The Office at present is how low the comedy is sinking. Cringe-worthy and rude moments of so-called humor have replaced truly funny ones. Did the audience really need to hear Michael’s graphic explanation—to a grandmother, nonetheless—of why Pam is expecting? When looking from a Christian perspective, The Office is a sad example of the way quality TV turns to negative elements like tacky humor and overtly sexual situations in the name of entertainment.

Audience’s reactions to this episode were mixed, but the overall feedback, specifically from NGU students, was that “Niagara” was lacking.

“I would have to say that it was good, but it felt like it was overdone,” Ryan Atkins said.

Some enjoyed it nonetheless. Lawrence Fowler called it “surprising and highly entertaining.”

“It’s a secular show . . . we cannot be upset that the writers don’t keep to our moral standards,” Fowler said.
When asked about the episode, others mentioned the writer’s choices that marred it.

“I thought it was very vulgar,” Michael Gibbons said.

The Office has had some truly great moments over the years. And the “Niagara” episode, train wreck that it was at times, still had something of what makes the show worthy. Jim truly cares about Pam, and illustrates it in every way. When poor Pam has a moment of panic because her veil has ripped, Jim gallantly cuts off most of his tie, so that they can “match.” But sweeter moments like these were lost in the shuffle.

For the fit, unfit, misfit and out of shape, the North Greenville Intramural Sports department is a great way for students to get active.

Donald Lilly, director of intramurals, has been working with the department for three years, shaping it into a program that is capable of involving all students.

“In 2007, I heard there was an opening for the job and really felt called to work at NGU. I contacted Mr. Billy Watson and was offered the job. I enjoy working at NGU and would like to be here for many more years,” Lilly said.

The sports that just ended are flag football and sand volleyball. Both seasons were very eventful and included a wide range of students. Flag football had an intense season leading to the championship game between the Got ‘Ems and N/As. Both teams had gone 4-0 for the regular season, but the Got ‘ems pulled through, winning 20-6, keeping a perfect season of 5-0.

“It felt awesome winning with a bunch of my friends, especially since we never practiced,” Got ‘Em quarterback Robb Johnson, junior health promotion and wellness, said.

As for sand volleyball, the competition was relentless. The Fresh team won the championship and received their shirts for an amazing season and incredible win.

“I decided to play because I love playing sports, and sand volleyball was next on the schedule for intramurals, so I signed on,” Taylor Vanderlip, sophomore undecided, said.

“We had a very good team with potential to win the sand volleyball championship, but team Fresh destroyed our hopes of a championship in the semi-final round by beating us 2-0. Overall we had a tremendous season and had lots of fun just getting to know one another and playing volleyball together,” Vanderlip said.

The next sports to be played in intramurals are ultimate Frisbee and dodge ball. Ultimate will be played on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons starting at 4:30. Dodge ball will be played in the gym Tuesday and Thursday nights starting at 9 p.m.

There have been many teams to sign up and play in both games. For ultimate Frisbee there are eight participating teams: Macedones, Scrubs, Marietta Whippoorwills, Got ’Em, Kiss Kiss, Mudd Dawgs, Bruce Spiders and Killa Chinchillas. And for dodge ball there are ten teams: Flying Squirrels, Shake & Bake, Lazy Dragon Pirates, Lost Boys, Raging Ballers, Wright, Troop 517, Spartans, Hawkins and Kiss Kiss. It will be a great season and many will be looking forward to seeing who wins the championship shirts.

“This year I am playing ultimate Frisbee for the Scrubs. I like to participate, because its a great way to get away from studies and have fun with friends,” Jeff Williams said.

“I also supervise two Resident Assistants who work exclusively in the intramural department—Adam Ellison, a sophomore Christian studies major, and Nicholas Everett who is a senior English major. The individuals that work for me are not generally sports management majors they are just individuals who love sports and want to work around sports,” Lilly said.

Technically the teams are not “official” when it comes to North Greenville Athletics, but North Greenville does have many traveling intramural teams. For example both flag football and ultimate Frisbee have traveling teams and all players do take seriously the games they participate in.

When students were asked if there could be any improvements made in the intramural department, many replied with honest responses.

“I don’t think there is any need for improvement. Donald takes care of things pretty well. I play intramural basketball because I love everything about the sport. It’s a great way to come together as a team. The neat thing is discovering each of our strengths on the court and bring them together to play the best game we can. It’s a really cool thing to see and be a part of,” Valerie Miller, senior psychology, said.

The intramural department is a great way for students not involved in NGU’s athletic department to participate in athletics. Lilly strongly encourages students to be active and participate in the wide range of sports offered by the department.

The North Greenville golf team returned to action on Oct. 19 to play in the last tournament of the fall at the Lincoln Memorial Fall Invitational in New Tazewell, Tenn. The Crusaders were hoping to build on a fifth place finish at the NCCAA national golf tournament.

The Crusaders played consistently through the entire tournament. North Greenville finished day one in second place and continued its strong play on the second day to come away with a tie for first place with tournament host Lincoln Memorial.

“It was definitely our best tournament to date,” head coach Jeff Pittillo said. “The guys were really consistent both days and it showed in the scores.”

On the first day of the tournament North Greenville shot a team total of 288 to finish the day in second place, just one stroke off of the lead. Brad Caldwell, senior sport management, and Brandon Coggins, senior elementary education, continued their strong individual play as they each posted a first round 71 to finish the day in fourth place in the individual standings. Andrew Beck, junior business administration, and Richard Smith, senior marketing, both finished the day tied for 14th after shooting 73 on the first day.

The Crusaders once again shot 288 in the second round and caught up with Lincoln Memorial to finish tied for first place in the overall team standings. Caldwell had another strong day, shooting a 71 and finishing fourth overall. He was named to the all-tournament team as a result of his strong showing throughout the tournament. Smith also shot a second round 71 while Beck and Coggins shot 72 and 74 respectively. The two-day total of 586 was one of the best scores the Crusader golf team has shot in several years.

The North Greenville golf team is set to take a break before returning to the links in the spring.

Juan Carlos Aguilera netted two goals and Jonathan Restrepo added another as the men’s soccer team defeated Brevard 3-0 on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium. North Greenville (6-6-1) rebounded from a sloppy first half and outshot the Tornados 18-9 overall.

“I was a little disappointed with the way we played in the first half, but we came out in the second half and played with more intensity,” Crusader coach Chad Gfeller said.

“For a lot of the guys, it was a game where their touch wasn’t great and they were behind the speed of play, but overall we did a good job of executing and doing what we needed to win.”

Aguilera, senior economics, put the Crusaders on the board nine minutes into the match on an assist from Seth Snyder, senior business. North Greenville gave the ball away often and was unable to establish a rhythm in the remaining 35 minutes of the half.

Two minutes into the second period, Jonathan Restrepo, junior international business, scored on a corner by Chandler Patterson, sophomore media ministry. The Crusaders controlled the ball much better in the second half and continued to create opportunities until Aguilera scored his second goal of the match in the final minute.

“When we switched the point of attack and moved the ball laterally, things started to turn around,” Gfeller said. “Matt Sekuras came in and had a good effect on the game and got everyone a little more relaxed.”

North Greenville recovered from a 2-1 overtime loss at Erskine last Wednesday and has two games left in the season. The Crusaders will host Virginia Intermont Saturday at 4 p.m.

Eight different players scored for the women’s team as the Lady Crusaders topped Toccoa Falls 8-0 last Thursday night. The win was the second-largest margin of victory and their sixth shutout of the season.

“It was good to have a team effort and to have a lot of different players involved in the attack,” North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick said.

“We were able to move the ball around the field, and they got a little tired trying to chase the game, so our possession helped us a lot.”

Kaleigh Meara, senior sport management; Leah Ward, junior sport management; and Danielle Duff, senior sport management, each netted goals for North Greenville (9-4), which led 3-0 at halftime.

“I was really happy with the hard work of Leah Ward and Kaleigh Meara in particular,” McCormick said. “They were helping out and creating opportunities for us around the goal.”

Lauren Norris, sophomore early childhood education, Hayley Williams, junior linguistics and early childhood education, Catherine Neely, freshman health promotion and wellness, Jade Salle, freshman undecided, and Sarah McCorkle,
sophomore undecided, also scored for North Greenville.

The Lady Crusaders will play three of their final four matches at home and will face Montreat at 7 p.m. on Saturday. McCormick added a matchup with King College to the schedule. King competes in the Mid-East region of NCCAA and will be a quality opponent leading up to the regional tournament Nov. 20-21 at Emmanuel College in Boston.

The North Greenville volleyball team traveled to Erskine to compete in the Aramark Classic Volleyball Tournament Saturday. The Lady Crusaders fell to Brenau in three straight sets 25-19, 25-19, 25-18, but bounced back to defeat Piedmont 25-15, 25-13, 25-17. North Greenville fell to Erskine in three sets before defeating Converse.

Kaitlyn Harris, sophomore English, was selected to the all-tournament team. Harris had 65 digs and two aces throughout the tournament. Harris was the only North Greenville player selected to the team.

“Harris definitely stepped up in leadership today.” Lady Crusaders coach Lauren Axson said. “She did a phenomenal job of firing the team up and keeping us going. We also want to congratulate Kaitlyn on being selected to the all-tournament team.”

The Lady Crusaders did not give up and stayed in the game with their defensive presence. North Greenville did show some weaknesses in miscommunication against Erskine and Brenau.

The Lady Crusaders’ strengths were definitely their powerful hits. The Crusaders played intensely in the Invitational tournament.

Sara Beth White, freshman mathematics education, Anjelica Wilcox, freshman biology, and Kayla O’ Kelley, sophomore health promotion and wellness, had solid games in the tournament. O’Kelley seemed to be in the right position both defensively and offensively. North Greenville used cross-court passes to set up Kaitlyn Pierce, sophomore undecided, for the slam.

There were some good short sets to O’ Kelley. Axson was laid back and calm at the tournament, but still gave the ladies some good words of wisdom to go out and play hard.

The Crusaders took advantage of the nice conditions that Converse and Piedmont gave them. But yet, the Lady Crusaders’ defense could not keep up with Erskine and Breneau, giving both opponents chances to get the victory. Axson did have some positive things to say about the performance.

“We showed a tremendous amount of effort and that’s something to build on,” Axson said.

The Crusaders also had their highest point of the weekend against Converse and Piedmont, defeating both teams at the Invitational tournament. The ladies’ next game will be on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. against Montreat in Black Mountain, N.C.

This October Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s story Where the Wild Things Are was brought to the big screen by screenwriter and director Spike Jonze.

Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of Max, an imaginative but out-of-control boy who runs away from home to the land “where the wild things are.”

In the beginning of the film, Max is found battling for the attention on his overworked mother and older sister Claire. Max’s loneliness and need for attention cause him to lash out, howling, biting and smashing anything in sight when he becomes angry.

After a particularly upsetting confrontation with his mother, Max runs away from home and sails to a far away land inhabited by a clan of huge, wild creatures.

To keep them from eating him, Max tells the creatures that he was once a king and that he has magical powers that can shield them from all sadness. The creatures then make Max their king instead of their dinner, believing that Max can protect them from all of their troubles.

Max makes special friends with Carol, a creature who is as out of control as Max is. In Carol, Max is able to see from the outside just how destructive and hurtful his anger can be.

Through being a part of the wild family, Max learns the importance of family and sticking together no matter what.

The movie also makes a good point about dealing with problems and sadness.

When Max is made king by the wild things, Carol believes that Max can shield him and his family from all sadness. Later on, Max decides that the wild things should build a perfect fort that will keep out everything they don’t want, giving them a place to be happy and problem free together.

Carol and the wild things eventually realize that there is no fort that can keep out everything that they don’t want in their lives and no shield that can protect them from all sadness. Instead of trying to avoid sadness and create a problem free world, the wild things must learn to face problems together and make the best of the flawed world they have.

While it has several positive messages about family and problem solving, Where the Wild Things Are becomes a little dark and even bizarre in parts. The story moved a little slowly in places as well.

The filming of the movie was excellent and the detail of the camera shots added a lot to the movie and to the characters.

The special effects, however, were less than stellar. In some shots, the wild things resemble giant stuffed animals or high school mascots.

The vocal talents of the cast, including James Gandolfini from The Sopranos as Carol, help redeem the wild things from the poor special effects.

Max Records, who debuted as Max, also performed well, capturing Max’s loneliness and need for attention and making the character relatable to the audience.

Where the Wild Things Are is rated PG.

Right before fall break began, the school of Theater building had its groundbreaking ceremony to introduce the new building.

This structure actually used to be the Tigerville Elementary School building. The building was donated to North Greenville University about four years ago. It ended up having to be moved and it was then decided to make it the new Theater facility.

Ted Thomas, theatre technical director at NGU, was hired four years ago and has been working on this project ever since. He will manage and maintain the Theater facility.

When asked what has been done to the building so far, Thomas had much to say.

“Andrew Turner, Christy Burer and some of my practicum classes helped gut the building of five rooms, all the fixtures (such as sinks and tiles), the carpet and the walls,” Thomas said. “We had restored the windows, made three rooms, set up theater walls, arches in the lobby, installed bathrooms, more doors, closet doors for an entrance to the new design lab and a kitchen.”

NGU President Jimmy Epting has also approved all of the designs and décor.

Three of the newest things people can expect out of this new building are a modular facility, a bigger shop, and fly space. First, the facility will be completely changeable. This consists of moving everything around, including the stage and the seats for different aspects of theatre. Students will start with a blank palate every time they start a new project. The second is the difference in the shop.

“This shop will be 3,000 square feet, as opposed to the 12-by-12 scene shop that we have now,” Thomas said. “This shop will be as good as most professional theatre’s shops and other than Bob Jones University, the shop will be the biggest in town.”

The third newest device will be the fly space. This will be a place for students to move ceiling pieces and for rigging space.

“There will also be a wire tension grid for safety,” Thomas said.

The building is set to open for next semester. It needs to be finished on the inside and “Larry Barnwell and matinence are really working hard to get it finished,” Thomas said.

This facility will not only be used by the Theatre but it will also be used to house a couple of general education classes.

“I’ve been excited about working on this project since I started working here,” Thomas said. “This will give our students the best experience and technology for them to use.”

If you have been to a North Greenville football game, chances are good you’ve noticed number 93 Andre Bernardi.

That’s because he’s a nightmare for offenses all over the Southeast and has been nothing short of sensational in his senior season as a Crusader.

“Everyone knows how great of a player Andre is,” head football coach Jamey Chadwell said. “But he is a great person, and he has an extraordinary love for his teammates and the game.”

Bernardi is currently the Crusaders’ third-leading tackler with 38.5 on the season and has also accumulated a staggering 10.5 sacks throughout the season. Bernardi has also forced three fumbles, which currently leads the Crusaders.

“I didn’t think that I would be this successful at North Greenville,” Bernardi said. “It took hard work to get where I am.”

Bernardi said that training is something that is very important to him and that he has to work hard to see results. During the summer, Bernardi trained for three to four hours each day and only took one or two days off a week.

“I love to train,” Bernardi said. “Preparation in the off-season was very important for me.”

All of the hard work has paid off for Bernardi, and as a result, the awards are piling up for him.

The three-time all-American was named NCAA Division II Independent Colleges’ pre-season defensive player of the year and was added to the pre-season NCAA Division II All-American Second Team. Throughout the season, Bernardi acquired two NCAA Division II National Independent Player of the Week honors.

“These awards mean a lot to me, but I can’t be satisfied because I always want to get the next level,” Bernardi said.

Bernardi’s dedication has given him a chance to break the NCAA Division II all-time sack record with just three more sacks—a record that he says he is really striving for.

“I’m not the best pass rusher,” Bernardi said. “But I feel like I get in good position to make a play and breaking the sack record is something I want to do.”

In his last year at North Greenville, Bernardi has become one of the primary leaders on the Crusader defense. Bernardi believes that in order to be a good leader, you have to show it on the field.

“You have to become a leader with your play,” Bernardi said. “Someone has to look up to you, and you have to set a good example.

Leadership is something Chadwell encourages, and he believes that Bernardi has an important influence on this Crusader defense.

“Players look up to Andre because he gives 100 percent all the time, no matter what the score may be,” Chadwell said.

The All-American is hoping that his future holds something bigger and better and is planning on continuing his football career.

“Obviously I would like to play football and I am definitely going to give it a try,” Bernardi said. “But if that doesn’t work out, I have a plan to get my masters’ and become a strength trainer.”

Bernardi can be seen in his last home game as a Crusader when North Greenville takes on UNC Pembroke on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.

For NBA fans, the wait is finally over. The 2009-10 season started last night and gets into full swing with an array of games today. With so much talent coming from the draft and many teams making crucial trades and free agent signings, a multitude of questions surround this season.

Will The Lakers repeat as champions? Can the Nuggets carry over their playoff momentum? How will Shaquille O’Neal perform in Cleveland? What will the Celtics do with the return of Kevin Garnett and the addition of Rasheed Wallace?

These questions and many more will be answered as the season goes on. This edition of Roaming the Sidelines will give you a sneak peek into which teams I believe will finish the year atop each conference.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers
-The reigning champion Lakers have done nothing to disprove why they should not be favored to repeat. By keeping Lamar Odom and signing Ron Artest via free agency, Los Angeles has given Kobe Bryant more help and improved on what many thought was the best team in the league. If Andrew Bynum continues to make progress as a low-post threat, the Lakers may be on their way to winning back-to-back championships.

Denver Nuggets
-Carmelo Anthony was finally able to lead his team deep into the playoffs with help from midseason addition Chauncey Billups. If J. R. Smith can get his offseason issues settled and the bench plays up to its potential, this team has enough talent to compete at the top of the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs
-Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are still the core of this team. The Spurs have a helathy Manu Ginobili for the first time in two seasons. The team worked hard this offseason getting Richard Jefferson through a trade and Anontio McDyess through free agency, and through the draft, DeJuan Blair fell into their lap. If this team stays healthy, they will be a tough matchup for anyone.

New Orleans Hornets
-The Hornets were another busy team this offseason, trading Tyson Chandler to the Bobcats for Emeka Okafor. Okafor provides more offense down low while providing the defensive stopper that coach Byron Scott looks for. Chris Paul will carry this team once again, along with forward David West, but now the Hornets have the role players they need to challenge for a spot among the Western Conference elite.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers
-We all know that Lebron James is the best all-around player in the league, but this season he will find that less is more with Shaquille O’Neal handling the work inside and newcomer Anthony Parker able to make shots from the outside. The Cavaliers will roll through the regular season but must prove that they have all the pieces in place to win a championship and “Win a ring for the king.”

Boston Celtics
-Kevin Garnett is back from knee surgery, and Rasheed Wallace has been added to an already veteran team. Rajon Rondo proved doubters wrong in last season’s playoff and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce continue to play lke All-Stars. Boston will most certainly be the biggest contenders to challenge for the East’s top spot. If the injury bug does not bite this aging team, the Celtics could be on their way to their second championship in four seasons.

Orlando Magic
-The Magic have their point guard back in action as Jameer Nelson returns from injury, which helps franchise player Dwight Howard even more. Offseason addition Vince Carter feels like he has something to prove so look for the Magic to be a contender for another season in the Eastern Conference and try to make it to the NBA Finals for a second year in a row.

Atlanta Hawks
-All-Star guard Joe Johnson will find a way to turn this young team into a contender in 2009. Josh Smith and Al Horford play well on the inside, and Jamal Crawford can score points any time he wants. Mike Bibby is a veteran point guard who knows when to shoot and does not make many mistakes. If Atlanta finds a way to work together and mature, they will be a legitimate playoff threat in the NBA.

Left to Right: Joe Hayes, executive director for development; Larry Mathis, assistant director of university properties; Andy Ward, Angie Carr, and Robert Buchanan from Hanson Aggregates; Tony Spang, maintenance/construction; Billy Watson, director of student services; Vlad Sabou, retention officer/assistant male coordinator. (NGU Photo / The Skyliner)

Rachel Ham
Staff Writer

With this year’s record enrollment of students at North Greenville University, the need for additional housing for resident students has also grown.

Recently NGU celebrated the opening of two new buildings that are a part of men’s housing.

In the summer of 2008, Joe Hayes Jr., executive director of development, received a phone call from Fred Najim with National House Movers. Najim had been contacted by Andy Ward, the plant manager at Hanson Aggregates Southeast Inc., to let him know that the company was willing to donate two buildings to NGU. Hanson Aggregates had decided to expand their Sandy Flat quarry, and Ward offered to donate two houses that were standing in the way of the expansion.

Since Hanson Aggregates donated the buildings, NGU only had to pay for the cost of moving the houses from Taylors.

Before moving one of the houses, Hayes had to go through the process of getting Greenville County to allow it to be placed in the desired location. NGU had given the county a road easement during the 1970s, and the road had to be given back before anything could be put there. After all the legalities were taken care of, the houses were moved to West Crain.

Since the buildings had previously been used as office spaces by Hanson Aggregates, a few changes had to be made before students could move in.

The houses were in good shape structurally, but renovations were necessary to transform them into suitable living spaces. Walls were added to form additional bedrooms and hallways. The houses needed rewiring and vinyl siding. Tile floors and extra bathrooms were also added to each house.

Most of the needed renovations were done by the NGU maintenance staff. They worked primarily on landscaping, replacing windows and installing siding.

Baptist Builders, a volunteer organization that assists churches with construction needs, provided resources for the larger renovations. Word got out about the need for volunteers, and about 35 workers came as a part of the Baptist Builders and participated in the renovations for two Saturdays. They completed all of the plumbing for one house and tore both of the roofs off, all on the first Saturday.

The team from Baptist Builders was assembled by Andy Ellis of Little River Baptist Church in Honea Path, S.C., and Dale Whiten of Brookwood Church located in Simpsonville, S.C.

Later, NGU brought in a roofing crew to finish putting new roofs on the houses.

The houses, named appropriately Hanson 1 and 2, now provide housing for 16 male resident students.

NGU is grateful for companies like Hanson Aggregates who, even during these tough economic times, still find ways to give back.

How does a brand new 17 inch Apple MacBook Pro sound? What if that MacBook also had Final Cut Studio pre-installed on it? What if it was free? Contestants in the College Access Challenge have the chance of winning one with the submission of a video shorter than three minutes. It sounds too good to be true, but there is not a catch. All students have to do is make a video that is three minutes long or less that convinces people to “get off the couch” and go to college. The contest has already begun and lasts until February 27, 2010.

The rules are pretty basic: after making the video, just upload it to collegeaccesschallenge.org and wait for it to be approved. They accept all video formats as long as the videos don’t include any inappropriate content. In addition to the first place MacBook Pro, second place wins a 15 inch MacBook Pro with Final Cut Express preinstalled, while third place earns the same computer with a 13 inch screen. Two honorable mentions will each receive an iPod Touch.

This contest is sponsored by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and South Carolina Education Television. This comes on the heels of the unemployment rate being so high nationally, at 9.8 percent. In the state of South Carolina alone, 11.6 percent of people are unemployed. On a more local level, in the Greenville/Mauldin/Easley area, the unemployment rate is 10.4 percent. The jobs that are facing the most losses are those in labor that does not require a degree: construction, manufacturing and retail trade.

“Not many people in the U.S. are qualified enough to apply for jobs that require higher [education] and that is because not many Americans take it seriously [enough] to qualify themselves by going to colleges and universities,” Shurajit Gopal, broadcast media instructor, said.

The College Access Challenge is a great opportunity not only for students to influence their peers, but also to influence the world around them. So what do you have to lose? “Get off the couch,” or in this case, out of your dorm, and make a video.