Spring 2022 Issue 4
The Avion Tabling with a Special Guest! Photos courtesy The Avion’s photographers: Erin Dillman, Dylan Kowlessar, and Malik Turner
Jovon Thomas / The Avion
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
Jovon Thomas / The Avion
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
Noah Cooperman / The Avion
Dylan Kowlessar / The Avion
Photo Courtesy / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Jovon Thomas / The Avion
Photo Courtesy / Sergio Carli
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Photo Courtesy / Rodrigo Ehnis
Jovon Thomas / The Avion
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
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Photo Courtesy / ERAU Athletics
Johan Restrepo / The Avion
Photo Courtesy / Josh Asiaten
Dylan Kowlessar Managing Editor
Find Your Cultures
"It's a Great Day to Be an Eagle!" is a phrase I'm sure most students associate with Embry-Riddle. For the approximately 8,000 students who call the Daytona Beach campus of ERAU their home, most can relate to the joys of hanging out with friends, taking that last final exam, attending awesome events, and so much more. We are a community of students united by our differences, and on most days, it's great to be an Eagle! Embry-Riddle is proud to have programming to suit the needs and interests of all our students. From weekly Skyline Socials, to more seasonal events such as Comedy Shows, Escape Rooms, and the like, it seems students can never get tired of what's going on around campus. Every Spring, Student Engagement and Student Union (SESU) coordinates Blue & Gold Week - a time to promote school spirit and to remind yourselves of how great it is to be a student here. This year, from March 26 to April 1, Blue & Gold Week was back at it again with familiar favorites such as Pull-A-Plane, Sidewalk Chalk Art, and EagleFest, to some new events such as the International Festival of Colors and WIKD's Studio 93. To most students' delight, the Blue & Gold Carnival returned to Embry-Riddle after last being here in Spring 2019. The International Festival of Colors, kicked off the week's festivities, followed by the Blue & Gold Comedy Show, hosted by Touch-N-Go Productions.As the week progressed, there seemed to always be something going on, which most students took advantage of.
The week ended with EagleFest - an outdoor event with inflatables, free food, balloon animals, and was just a good time to spend with friends after a long week. The final event of this semester's spirit week was Studio 93 - a modern nightclub-type event hosted by The WIKD 102.5 FM, which was definitely a favorite among many. was fortunate to have captured photos from many of these events, which are spread across pages 3-8 of this Issue. I strongly encourage you to remember these events, the memories made while at ERAU, and the people you'd connected with along the way. Find your cultures. Have a great rest of the semester. It's a Great Day to Be an Eagle!
Dylan Kowlessar / The Avion
Popular events included the Carnival, featuring a hall of mirrors, rides, fair food, and more, the Bench & Deadlift Contest, the Apollo 13 Astronaut Chat, Pull-A-Plane, and the Star Wars themed Skyline Social, just to name a few. The fun wasn't only in person as SESU held online giveaways on Instagram which fueled the fun for all. Page 4
Mikyla Berish / The Avion
Live from Embry-riddle It’s Saturday Night!
Danielle Van Pelt Senior Reporter
In honor of Embry-Riddle’s Blue and Gold Week, Touch-N-Go Productions hosted the B&G Comedy Show. The show featured stars from Saturday Night Live, who specialize in standup and sketch comedy. These comedians work around the clock in New York to perform satirical sketches that highlight globally trending topics. Some of the stars that performed were Chloe Fineman, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Jake Nordwind. Jake hosted the show and performed his own stand-up as an introduction to the show. Jake is a writer for SNL and helps write the sketches you may have seen on the show. I was glad I sat a few rows back from the stage because Jake loved to joke around with the front rows of the audience. I have respect for the individuals that were a part of the comedian’s stand-up act. Watching the audience have fun was a great experience; the students helped fuel the comedian’s jokes.
comedian focused more on impressions connected to southern stereotypes and presidents, such as former President Donald Trump. When not doing impressions, he had a great way of storytelling while making the audience laugh in the process.
The last act of the night was Sarah, a very engaging and charismatic comedian. She liked to keep the audience very involved with her standup act by incorporating adult-like humor. Nevertheless, she mostly received compliments on her mullet.
Chloe was next in line. She performed spot-on impressions of celebrities while also engaging in adult humor. Chloe showcased her talent by letting audience members pick a celebrity for her to impersonate on the spot. She was able to perform Drew Barrymore, Britney Spears, Meryl Streep, etc., as soon as it was requested. Let’s just say Chloe impersonated celebrities in a “college-adult humor” type of way.
Overall, it was a cool experience to see real SNL stars in person, taking the time to make us, audience members, laugh. It’s definitely going to be handy to flex to my friends that I was able to see these guys live, right from our university.
Jake’s stand-up performance highlighted the personalities of typical Riddle students —pilots and engineers —living in Daytona. James–who is known to play President Joe Biden on SNL–hit the stage next. The
All photos by: Jovon Thomas / The Avion
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Noah Cooperman / The Avion
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
EagleFest
Blue & Gold Carnival Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
Photo Courtesy / Sergio Carli
Blue & Gold Comedy Show
Noah Cooperman / The Avion
Blue & Gold Carnival
EagleFest
Mikyla Berish / The Avion
EagleFest
International Festival of Colors
Photo Courtesy / Sergio Carli
Pull-A-Plane
EagleFest
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
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Jovon Thomas / The Avion
Dylan Kowlessar / The Avion
Student Organization Showcase
Mikyla Berish / The Avion
Photo Courtesy / Sergio Carli
EagleFest
Mikyla Berish / The Avion
Chalk Art & Field Day Photo Courtesy / Sergio Carli
Pull-A-Plane
Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
WIKD’s Studio 93
Pull-A-Plane Noah Cooperman / The Avion
Blue & Gold Carnival
Jovon Thomas / The Avion
International Festival of Colors
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WIKD’s Studio 93
Salim Roig | Editor-In-Chief Mikyla Berish | News Editor
Watch out Razzles and Coyote Ugly! There’s a brand new night club in town! Studio 93, hosted by none other than the great folks at The WIKD 102.5 FM, was a night to remember for the Embry-Riddle community. Hosted on Blue and Gold Week’s Friday night, the music heard in the Student Union attracted curious and eager students towards the event center buzzing with activity. Upon entering the event, you were hit by dazzling lights and booming music. Ping-pong tables and cornhole boards were lighting up the room alongside the lasers and spotlights that filled the room. Walking on the dance floor was one the most curious attractions - a stilt walker who was as brightly lit up as the room. WIKD’s very own DJs were keeping the atmosphere alive with performances by DJ Hot Fiya, Mini Matt, and AJ. But don’t just take our word for it! Below is a statement from the Chief Engineer at WIKD, Cameron Allard: “This is the first time ever for WIKD’s Studio 93, and we’re so excited to have this many people join us. The free food and games were a hit, and stilt walker gained a lot of attention. Our DJs worked very hard to prepare sets to make people dance, and were glad that they [the DJs] did that. Thanks for everyone for coming out to celebrate Studio 93, and here’s to many more years!”
Page 8 Photos courtesy The Avion’s photographers: Jessie Abinsay and Noah Cooperman
Jason Gong Staff Reporter
Dance Marathon at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a movement of students committed to enhancing the lives of kids and families affected by childhood injury and illness. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Dance Marathon raised $10,196 on Mar. 5, under a “Candyland” theme, to support both kids and families affected by childhood injury and illness at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. This is a remarkable feat in this year marked heavily by the pandemic. Yet, when so much in their own lives has been affected, the Dance Marathon team and ERAU students still prioritize the needs of others above their own.
Dance Marathon is a year-round philanthropic movement, uniting students at over 400 colleges, universities, and high schools across the United States and Canada. As a fundraising program, each campus’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon organization works throughout the year to raise funds and awareness to change kids’ health and change the future for their Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Students and organizations join their campus-wide movements by registering and creating fundraising pages, participating in events on campus, and asking friends and family members for donations.
Before the reveal of the final amount raised, Elian Polanco, Dance Marathon Executive Director, said to take a moment to appreciate the work Dance Marathon accomplished. “Take a moment to look at all the people around you. Reflect on the miracles you have made possible with these people around you,” said Polanco. He closed the event by thanking the hard work put into fundraising for the final amount. Polanco had a positive reaction to the final amount that Dance Marathon raised and pledged Dance Marathon to continue to work for the families.
The year culminates at their annual Dance Marathon event. They connect with and honor patient families, play games, enjoy entertainment, fundraise, and reveal their annual fundraising total - all in support of kids at the local children’s hospital. Donations go to local hospitals to fund critical lifesaving treatments and healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services.
All photos by: Johan Restrepo / The Avion
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SGA Field Day
Field Day was hosted by the Student Government Association Student Senate, in collaboration with the Faculty Senate and International Student and Scholar Services on Sunday, February 20 at the Lacrosse Field. In addition to being an opportunity to connect with the Student Senate, students enjoyed the games, races, a special Student vs Faculty soccer match, and the food that made up the day’s activities.
Photos courtesy The Avion’s photographers: Erin Dillman, Natalie Mai, and Jovon Thomas
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Saudi Founding Day Ammar Fadlalla Staff Reporter
On February 23, the Saudi Student Association hosted the Saudi Founding Day event to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, celebrating its rich history, and showcase its past, present, and future. The event, held in the Henderson Welcome Center, included historic and traditional portrayals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people.
History
Surrounded by a traditional Arabic seating area, there were three stands filled with educational posters about the history of Saudi Arabia. This was where the guests were given a history briefing. Each time period had its own poster stand: the Emirate of Diriyah, established in 1727; the Emirate of Najd, established in 1824; and the modernday Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was established in 1932. The historical displays also included graphical descriptions of the evolution of the country’s flag as well as a brief description of Saudi Arabian kings.
wore the traditional long white garment called “Thob”, while women wore the “Abaya”. The “Thobs” were worn with a red head covering, also known as “Shemagh”, which was held in place by a round black headpiece called “Agal”. Some students wore a light brown cloth called “Bisht” and a decorated silver belt with a dagger pouch. In fact, some Saudi Arabian men can be seen wearing similar clothing items in regions such as Yemen and Oman. The “Abayas” came in different colors but were mainly black with decorated sleeves.
Arabic Language
All photos by: Jessie Abinsay / The Avion
Environment
For many thousands of years, the Arabic language has been a valuable tool for understanding the history of the land. The importance of the language is shown on the Saudi Arabian flag, with the Islamic oath of faith written in Arabic in the center of the flag. To further showcase the importance of Arabic, a volunteer recited a thunderous poem about Saudi pride. Visitors had an opportunity to take a souvenir from the event–the event organizers wrote the guests’ names in traditional Arabic handwriting. Another souvenir was a pamphlet, which included the Arabic alphabet and some pronunciation tips.
Saudi Arabia has various, rich environments from warm and dry to cool and moist regions. The guests experienced the magnificent scenery of the land through a Virtual Reality corner, which included centuries-old villages, oases with pure water streams, and tall date palms, surrounded by a breathtaking mountainous terrain. Guests also saw traditional dances, magnificent wildlife, and a fascinating night sky view of the Red Sea.
Clothes
Saudi students proudly donned their national costumes during the event– showing off the diversity and pride of the Saudi people. The men mostly
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More Than Just Music The Embry-Riddle Bands
Jason Nemeroff Embry-Riddle Bands The Embry-Riddle Bands (formerly just the Pep Band) is a Registered Student Organization that provides a community and creative outlet for musicians on campus. They perform at a wide variety of events at ERAU including sports games, Student Engagement events, and events hosted by other clubs. In addition to these, the group also performs at a myriad of events around our community including 5k’s, galas, and even sports games hosted by local schools or professional teams. The Embry-Riddle Bands is comprised of the Pep Band and the Jazz Band. Originally formed in the Fall of 1998, the Embry-Riddle Pep Band has been supporting our student athletes and community for more than 20 years. It contains a full wind section and drumline, and primarily plays marching band style music. The group loves to bring energy and noise wherever it is needed. The ERAU Athletics events they play at the most frequently are basketball, soccer, and volleyball. The Jazz Band was officially formed in late 2019 to serve a different niche on campus and to provide an additional musical outlet for students. They play a variety of music from combo-style pieces with only a few solo players, to funk and big-band swing played by a much larger ensemble. The group loves to adapt its style and energy level to meet the needs of a wide variety of events. Page 12
The Embry-Riddle Bands also occasionally forms unique ensembles to perform at other events as needed. This has been done recently to perform concert pieces at Astronomy Night and the ERAU Worldwide graduation ceremony. Anyone interested in having live music at their event can reach out to the President (as found on CampusGroups) who can help determine what ensemble and music best suits the event. Both groups are student run and directed, and they welcome all ERAU musicians interested in participating in any of the music they perform. Auditions are never required for membership. The best way to get involved is to join on CampusGroups to get weekly emails about rehearsals and performances. The Pep Band practices Mondays and Thursdays from 6:45 to 8 pm. Most rehearsals are held outside of the Tomcat Annex, but practices are also sometimes held in the ICI Center. The Jazz Band practices Saturdays from 11:30 am to 2 pm, either in the Tomcat Annex or the Willie Miller Instructional Center. If you have a passion for music and are looking to get involved in the community, come check them out!
................................................... Photos courtesy Josh Asiaten, David Massey, and the ERAU Bands ...................................................
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[R U X] Corner
................................................................................ We are graduate and undergraduate students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students. ................................................................................
Kilter Boards: A Rocky Experience? Matthew Bivens, Jessyca Derby, Carmen Van Ommen Graduate Researchers The Kilter Board is a modern take on a system board, a tool used by many rock climbers to make and climb routes (a predesignated pattern of holds, or “rocks”, that climbers use to climb the wall). System boards have standardized holds that climbers can use to create routes and share with their friends, who would also have a board with the same hold layout. The Kilter Board is connected to a digital app that gives climbers access to a bank of routes created by people all over the world at almost every grade. Since Embry-Riddle is adding rock climbing to their new fitness center, our group wanted to look into that experience. We evaluated the experiences of climbers new to the Kilter Board and depicted their experiences using a journey map. A journey map is a visual representation of the emotions a participant has during the experience, and lists the positives and negatives of those experiences. We asked about these climbers’ first impressions of the board, their experience of choosing and climbing a route, and their overall experience with the board.
experienced climbers, however, were excited rather than intimidated and felt this board could give flexibility to climbers at all levels without taking up a lot of space. Choosing a Route to Climb Routes are chosen through either a downloadable app or interactive iPad next to the Kilter Board. Our climbers chose to use the iPad, either because they did not want to download another app onto a personal device or because they did not know an app existed. The app confused even the most experienced of climbers. Settings are not “reset” after each climb, so filters a previous climber used would remain the same. If the last climber set filters for a “V7 or V8”, a more experienced climb, the next climber had to search to find the settings to change to an easier route.
First Impressions For those who had never used a system board before, it seemed to be intimidating. Novice climbers were unsure of where to begin and felt it was geared towards more experienced climbers. The number of holds on the wall also caused concern. Climbers thought they may have difficulties seeing which holds were included in the route because there were so many close together. Lights around the hold indicated which holds were incorporated in a route. When climbing a traditional route, all holds for that route are the same color or marked with tape. The Kilter Board hold lights were green, blue, yellow, and purple. Climbers thought it was pretty, but were unsure what each color meant. More Page 14
Interactive iPad station Photo Courtesy / Jessyca Derby
As one climber said, “it is not intuitive at all.” Instructions were included on a chalkboard behind the iPad but the information was only relevant to downloading the app, rather than navigating the app. After some exploration, everyone eventually chose a route they felt comfortable climbing.
For novice climbers, climbing even low-level routes was more difficult than they thought. They thought the holds were smaller than expected and the starting holds were difficult to grab. Climbers also thought that the holds were too crowded together to comfortably move on the board. They felt they had climbed other routes at the same difficulty rating and they were not as difficult as the Kilter Board’s routes.
and the lights could sometimes be hidden by other holds. After climbing, all climbers felt that they had a better idea of what the green and purple (starting and ending holds) meant since they were at the top and bottom, but were still confused by yellow or blue (foot and hand holds). On average, novice climbers rated their experience 2.5 out of 5 stars. They thought the idea was cool, but that their experience was confusing and they were unsure if they were using the board and the app correctly. More experienced climbers had a better Screenshot of a chosen route using the Kilter Board app experience, “4 out of Image Courtesy / Jessyca Derby 5 stars! I get bored with normal climbing walls. You climb the same route 3 or 4 times, but with this one you have infinite replayability!”
Climber climbing the chosen route on the Kilter Board Photo Courtesy / Jessyca Derby
However, the more experienced climber disagreed with these points and thought that the rating system was accurate. Most participants said that it was easy to follow the route’s path, however one thought the yellow color was hard to distinguish
While a Kilter Board may provide a unique experience to climbers, the current experience is not ideal for novices. While the difficulty of the routes or size of the holds may not be able to be changed, there are other aspects that can be improved. Climbers can be provided with more instructions for using the app and board, either through encouraging them to get guidance from gym staff or adding more written instructions. Recommended routes for beginners could also help. Issues with the app can be addressed by indicating when filters are set. The app can also inform climbers of what the route colors mean when a route is selected. One of the perks of participating in rock climbing is that the community is very encouraging and inclusive. Making the Kilter Board experience more friendly to novice climbers can help foster that feeling of inclusiveness within the community.
Journey Map of Climbers’ Experiences Image Courtesy / Jessyca Derby
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animal collective Atlanta - March 26, 2022 Jordan Garrett Correspondent
When you go to a concert, what do you expect to hear? The classics, the hits, or perhaps tracks from the band’s latest album. Maybe that applies to any normal band, but Animal Collective is anything but normal. For their final show of the first leg of their current Time Skiffs Tour, the band decided to play plenty of yet-to-be-released material. A casual fan might be a bit confused as Animal Collective weaves and wanders through vast new seas of sounds, but they would surely be left with a feeling of delight upon hearing these new songs come to life.
Running,” and “Applesauce,” the band has their act together tighter than ever. These older tracks sound fantastic with the Time Skiffs reworking that closely matches the current sound palate of their most recent release. For fans of the newest release, “Dragon Slayer,” “Car Keys,” and “Strung With Everything” were the only three tracks played from the band’s most recent studio outing.
Whether it’s the floaty, mysterious ocean-like sound of “Genie’s Open,” guiding you through its sea of light with its bouncy bass, jingly synths and bells, and call and report vocals, or the grandiose 20-minute epic, “Defeat (A Not Suite),” fans of Animal Collective were surely pleased. But with six brand new songs being performed all on the same night, who could not!
Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Joshua Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) improvise and work their way in and out of songs with masterful artistry, making even the most solemn musical moments sound like heaven. After a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Geologist, the band hurled themselves into a three-song closer, finishing out the night with the all-time classic, “The Purple Bottle.” Fans of Avey Tare’s screams were surely ecstatic.
The band did not, however, eschew playing some fans’ favorites. Featuring past hits such as “Chores,” “No More
Final Note: Come for the band, stay for Abigail Portner’s projections. Check out Animal Collective - you won’t regret it.
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All photos by: Jordan Garrett / The Avion
A Look at Corporate Flying Hunter Lyons Correspondent
For flight students, it’s common to have a specific career goal. The majority of individuals in flight training have their eyes set on Delta, United, or American. What hurdle students might not know about is that it’s basically impossible to get hired right out of Embry-Riddle for any of the majors. Hiring minimums and lack of experience create a need for a middle job to bridge the gap between university and a major airline. Most students will end up signing on with a regional. Each of the major U.S. airlines mentioned above have numerous regional airlines underneath them. However, corporate flying can provide the same jump-start to a career and shouldn’t be overlooked. A close friend of mine has had plenty of experience flying both corporate and for a US major. I decided to ask him a few questions and figure out why he prefers corporate. Nicholas Mokover is a corporate pilot living in Highland Park, a town 15 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles. He enjoys the lifestyle and frequents KWHP where he flies his 2006 Vans RV-4. Nick has worked hard to get where he is. He began his career flying for a well-known cargo charter out of KYIP near Detroit flying the King Air 200, Learjet 25/35/36, and the Classic Falcon 20. After gaining a substantial amount of hours and experience, he was hired by a corporate jet charter company to fly the G4, and the Global Express. It was at
this point that he began to eye the airline industry. He was hired by a major U.S. Airline and got type rated on the Airbus A319/20/21. However, within the first year, he began doubting if this job was the right fit for him. He ultimately left and is currently helping to manage a fleet of aircraft for a wealthy individual and is piloting a Gulfstream G550. When I asked him about some of the pros of flying corporate, he didn’t hesitate. “With my current job, we have four pilots who handle the flying so you get really close with them. Our schedule is set for the whole year so there are rarely any pop-ups. These two aspects alone make for a really enjoyable experience.” He spoke a bit about the lavish hotels, the beautiful destinations, and how his quality of life as a corporate pilot is simply better. I then asked him how different the actual job is when comparing corporate and flying with the majors. “I find corporate flying more rewarding and a better use for my skills. While airline flying can be challenging sometimes, it’s all just one big routine and you honestly don’t have to use your brain much. You could say corporate is similar, but the big difference is that you get to manage the airplane, and you run the show. I like knowing that what I do impacts someone’s life directly and I can see it first hand as it’s happening. Frankly, I felt bored and lazy at the airline. I found that
Photo provided by Nicholas Mokover
I got more of a reward from corporate flying because it suits my lifestyle better.” It was clear that Nick preferred the lifestyle of a corporate pilot, but I wanted to know how hard that decision was. I asked if he could talk specifically about the decision to leave his airline and if he found any positives during the time spent there. “The training an airline offers is so invaluable. With corporate flying, you get stuck flying a certain way if you’re with the same people. You fly the same plane with the same people. At the airlines, you fly with thousands of people with different ways of doing things. However, while there were some pros, I felt my love and passion for aviation dwindle at the airline, which is one of the main reasons I decided to step away. I’m still glad I tried it though.” I feel that everyone in this industry has a unique experience and most people are willing
to give advice based on that experience. However, for young pilots, it can be a bit too much to handle when everyone is telling you to go a different route. To finish, I asked Nick how he felt about giving/taking advice and if he had any for students at Embry-Riddle. “I think it’s important to seek advice, but it’s important to take everything with a grain of salt. Use various intersecting views to inform your decision about a career. Going to Riddle and having an opportunity to go to a regional doesn’t mean that’s what you have to do. There’s a unique aviation job out there for everyone and just because one person likes something doesn’t mean you will. I’ve asked for plenty of advice while I was in flight training and I’ve now realized that everyone is different. Do what will make you happy and you won’t have to work a day in your life.” Page 17
Cole McNall Correspondent
Matt Reeves’s 2022 “The Batman” has been a highly anticipated film for many superhero film lovers and DC fanatics, ever since Reeves was hired for the project in February 2017. Five years later here we are.
broken Bruce Wayne, still grieving over the loss of his parents. Pattinson is accompanied by Catwoman, played by Zoe Kravits, who delivers a performance incomparable to Michelle Pfeiffer’s 1992 portrayal. As the Riddler targets Batman with each victim slain, more of the truth about the corruption of Gotham City’s Police Department, Mobsters, and the Wayne family name is unveiled in an unsettling way that entices the viewer.
“When the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement” (IMDb). This film takes place in an unhinged Gotham, two years after Batman, played by Robert Additionally, the Penguin, played Pattinson, made himself known to by Colin Farrell, and the Riddler, the troubled city. Image Courtesy / imdb.com played by Paul Dano, deliver Arguably, Dano’s villainous exAt nearly three hours, Pattinson remarkable performances. These stunningly pulls off not only the characters showcase the intricate ecution is comparable to Chrisdarkest Batman movie, but a process of bending the minds topher Nolan’s 2008 portrayal of the Joker done by the late stellar performance depicting a of Gotham’s citizens. Heath Ledger; however, I would argue that Dano’s discomforting character brought his own unique and disturbing twist of terror to the screen, offering a new villain mentality.
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Image Courtesy / forbes.com
With The Batman’s 8.4/10 review on IMDb and 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film is intended to provide a mix of thrill and suspense, a pinch of drama, and a dash of romance. The crowd is left questioning what the future of Robert Pattinson’s Batman holds.
Anime Review: My Dress-Up Darling: Best Girl of All Time? Wow! Finally, reviewing a seasonal anime, I know. Ever since I started writing anime reviews for , there hasn’t been one seasonal that blows away expectations until now. “My Dress-Up Darling,” animated by Cloverwork and aired this past season, is based on Shinichi Fukuda’s (福田晋一) manga. When the first episode first aired in January 2022, it’s an understatement to say that it left a tsunami of fanarts, spin-offs, and discussion in the anime community. Image Courtesy / My Dress-Up Darling Episode 11
When researching the voice actors who acted in this series, it is surprising that both the female and male leads were complete newcomers with no previous titles. However, they still brought Gojou and Marin into such likable characters with their unique voice and emotions. Nothing to complain about here. The soundtrack just adheres to the overall story nicely all the way through. Image Courtesy / My Dress-Up Darling Episode 12
The story follows Wakana Gojou, who has been out-ed due to his unconventional hobby: making Hina dolls (traditional Japanese art of doll making). But, one day, after a random encounter with Marin Kitagawa, a trendy and beautiful girl from his class, he discovers he isn’t the only one with the bizarre hobby. Marin, our main character, loves to cosplay her favorite 2D characters but doesn’t know how to make costumes. But, with the help of Gojou, the quality of their work begins to get better and better, and needless to say, they also grow closer and closer to each other.
What happens when traditional Hina doll making meets modern otaku culture and cosplay? What happens when an introverted, average-looking, but hard-working guy meets a popular, extroverted, and gorgeous girl?
Wholesome. If I could swear here to explain this feeling of wholesomeness, I would. Although this isn’t like a mystery show that leaves cliff-hangers, “My Dress-Up Darling” gives you this warmness in the heart that keeps making you want to come back to it. If you decide to watch the show, I will bet 9/10 chances you will fall in love with Marin’s character. The two main characters’ archetypes and dynamics are rare in rom-com anime -- helping each other grow in their personal ambitions and into a perfect romantic relationship that is satisfying to the viewer. Cloverwork absolutely crushed this season with two stunning shows -- My Dress-Up Darling and Akebi-san’s Sailor Uniform. This season’s fantastic animation quality is a complete “comeback” despite past controversies.
Image Courtesy / My Dress-Up Darling Episode 11
The answer to these questions from “My Dress-Up Darling” is beautiful: one perfectly complements the other. Everything considered, “My Dress-Up Darling” is the one of the best seasonal shows of Winter 2022 and has high potential to be the best romance show of this year. (*Totally unbiased opinion here, Marin is the best girl of all time*).
By: 2Dimentional-J
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Alison Smalling Director of Sports Information
Photo Courtesy / ERAU Athletics
The Embry-Riddle men’s tennis team earned two upsets to move up to the No. 4 spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s NCAA II rankings. The Eagles knocked off No. 3 Saint Leo 4-3 on Feb. 10 and followed with 4-3 upset of No. 2 Valdosta State to earn the program’s highest ranking in the Eagles’ NCAA Division II era. Now 13-3 on the year, the Eagles are 4-1 in the Sunshine State Conference and are led by Juan Ortiz Couder and Alexis Guedy who are ranked third and 15th, respectively, in the national singles poll.
...................................................................................................... The men’s basketball team enjoyed the most successful season in its NCAA II era. Seeing action of the first time in a national tournament (the 2020 national tournament was canceled due to COVID), the Eagles (24-10) ended their season in the NCAA II Sweet Sixteen. Head Coach Steve Ridder’s team reached the 20-win plateau for the 23rd time in program history, finished second in the Sunshine State Conference, and spent the majority of the
Photo Courtesy / Christopher Elwell
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season ranked in the D2SIDA and NABC national polls, including reaching its highest-ever ranking of sixth (Nov. 23). Romeo Crouch became the first ERAU men’s basketball player to earn NCAA II national recognition. The senior was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) and was selected to participate in the 2022 NABC Reese’s Division II College All-Star Game. In addition, Ridder was named the 2022 Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award winner by Small College Basketball. In addition to building one of the most successful college basketball programs in the country with the Student-PersonPlayer mantra as the foundation, Ridder was the driving force behind building one of the most successful college athletic departments in the nation, based on the same philosophy. The annual winner of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award must have coached at the small college level for a majority of his career and must have a high degree of personal character and integrity. The Coach may be a current or former Coach, and Small College Basketball will honor a living Coach with this award annually. Ridder is the third recipient of the award.
Women’s Lacrosse
Photo Courtesy / Maggie Allen
The ERAU women’s lacrosse team is having a breakout season in 2022. The Eagles started the season 11-0 with victories over four ranked opponents, which earned them a spot in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Top 25 poll at No. 12. The Eagle offense is led by first-year players Murphy McDonough (50g, 28a) and Sallie Squire (48g). McDonough and Anna Maurer set an ERAU single-season assist record and are tied with 28 assists each on the year. For her effort, McDonough has been selected as the Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.
...................................................................................................... Women’s Rowing Photo Courtesy / Christina Hardman
The Embry-Riddle women’s rowing team repeated as Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Champions on April 2. The Eagles won four of the seven races they participated in to earn a total of 80 points, 23 ahead of second-place Florida (57). The Varsity 4 boat consisting of Lauren Enders (coxswain), Alexandria Fife-Winslow, Gwendolyn Powell, Kristen Vigna, and Alexandra Weilert has four wins so far this season and has earned SSC Boat of the Week honors twice.
...................................................................................................... Women’s Track & Field Photo Courtesy / Ralph Epifanio
Ukeyvia Beckwith wrapped up the Eagles’ indoor season with an All-America finish. The senior entered the national meet as the No. 12 seed in the 800m and ran a personal best in the preliminary round. Running in a very fast race that saw the winner set a meet record (2:04.04) in the finals, Beckwtih bettered her prelim time by more than a second, crossing the line in 2:07.73 to take fourth place. That time is the fifth-fastest in ERAU history.
Softball Photo Courtesy / Tavana Mercado
Embry-Riddle softball entered the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll for the first time since 2018. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 23 nationally and have a 21-9 overall record and a 13-5 mark in Sunshine State Conference play. Mahaliyah Sandridge is pacing the Eagle offense, batting .382 with 34 hits, nine doubles, five triples, five home runs and five RBI. Kelsi Collins leads the Eagles in the circle. She has a 14-4 record with a 2.29 ERAU and 103 strikeouts in 19 starts. Page 21
Flight Certifications SPRING 2022
__________________________ Congratulations to those who received their certification!
PRIVATE PILOT (121) _____________________________ Andrew Lee Dyer Austin James Ondas Benjamin Mark Sivik Benjamin Scott Taddei Boden David Gould Christian Robert Nowak Jr Colin John Caraher Devontae Jeremiah Roman Elizabeth Natalia Garcia Emma Christine Kirschenheiter Evan Matthew Ray Ho Yong Lee Jadon Ulysses Wilson Jaime Francisco Arizaga Mackliff Jinsil Choi John Maure Saba V Jorge Saul Carmona Santos Kevin Patrick Reilly Koa Junior Matton Matthew Noah Copes Michael Anthony Kelso Nicholas Alexander Ausburn Parker Swain Maull Raffaele Angelo Henry Walmsley Raphael Kienge Meleji Rick Henk Kaandorp Roni Tov Pechyony Soohyoung Kim Troy Vincent Gleason Tyler James Ranagan William Jacob Watkins
INSTRUMENT RATING (221) _____________________________ Abigail Elizabeth Weaver Adam James Wilkinson Ahmed Marwan H Alzahrani Aidan Hirsig Korey Alexander Dmitri Mannanov
Alexandra Nicole Daley Ander Turueno Garcia Andrew James Schmitz Andrew Jon Ward Arthur James Clarke Bill Deng Pan Brendan Francis Power Caroline Bea Gaillet Christian Chase Muller Clementine Justena Craft Daniel Martin Bowen Drake Douglas Stutesman Elliott James Ewen Ethan Robert Dovico Fangyu Cheng Gabriel Joseph Tironi Garrett Sayre Koch Grace Elizabeth Morris Greta Louise Macmillan Hae Joon Lee Hayley Addison Kudey Hyun Soo Chae Jack Patrick Wiley Jackson Michael Sprecher Jacob Anthony Resendes Jacob Mitchell Horne Jacob Thurman Roser Jaden Christopher Elias Jaebeom Park James Francis Getz III Jameson Connor Persechino Brooks Jared Alexander Bazor Jeongju Park Jesse Enrique Yong Joseph Raymond Gonzalez Joshua Grant Oletsky Julian Phillip Thomas Julianna Noel Jones Jun Yong Lee Junseok Jeong Justin Paul Krentz Leonidas George Tsirtsis Liam Robert Flood Lorenzo Antonio Echeverria Louis Joseph Gangemi Lylith Palmer Turner Madison Ruth Seymour Masa Mhd Ammar Alkodsi Matthew Moore Nanney Max Luis Lyles Minsung Kang Nella Filipkova Nicolas Anthony Napoleoni Nicolas Jett Wehrenberg Noah Robert Kellermann Parker Swain Maull Patrick Thomas Conroy Raffaele Angelo Henry Walmsley Robert James Munro Robert Nicholas Sabow Rolf Alexander Ruediger
Se Min Hong Sean Patrick Canada Seth Gideon Tiedeman Shunsuke Hyodo Simon Samuel St Martin-Shook Skylar Isabella Hernandez Massey Sung Hyun Park Sung Jun Cho Timothy Richard Falt Vivek Haresh Ganglani Wai Yan Moe William Elijah Linder
COMMERCIAL PILOT (321, 322, 324) _____________________________ Allison Rose Tiano Benjamin Dale Sowers Brendan Joseph Sise Caden Foster James Carter Leon Bowman Christopher Richard Gundrey Daniel Peyton Martin Derek Thomas Matusch Donghyun Yoo Dylan Thomas Tolley Emily Grace Micallef Hayden Chase Williams Hoang-Long Jonathan Nguyen Inhee Kwon Jacob Martin Ostrowski Jason Andrew Speth Jinhwan Kim John Charles Ciganovich John Jeffrey Arteaga Jonathan David Spangler Joshua Daniel Teotico Asiaten Katelyn Rose Ebdon Matthew John Weiss
Photo Courtesy / Rodrigo Ehnis
Issue 4, Spring 2022
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