The Driftwood #18: April 30, 2021
News, Events, and Happenings on the Marinette Campus
The Driftwood is our student-centered e-newsletter for the Marinette campus. We’ll bring you tips for navigating life as a masked-and-distanced or online student, as well as suggestions for entertaining yourself while you’re social distancing.
The Driftwood is published by the UWGB Practicum in Literary Publishing class.
Books Editor: Olivia Meyer
Cooking and Movies Editor: Mallory Allen
Haunted WI Editor: Aleida Toebe
Health & Fitness Editor: Bruce Kong
Music and Puzzles Editor: Sydney Sebert
News Editor: Kira Doman
School Tips, Gaming, and Anime Editor: Jasmine Hanson
Self-Care Editor: Angel Wolske
Interested in being on the Driftwood staff? Enroll in ENG 224: Practicum in Literary Publishing for the spring 2022 term.
Questions or News Items? Contact The Driftwood‘s advisor, Tracy Fernandez Rysavy.
In honor of the recent release of his latest single (“Imagine,” which I highly recommend), I have rediscovered my love for Ben Platt. Best known for his Broadway career, starring in musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, as well as his turn as Anna Kendrick’s love interest in Pitch Perfect, Platt released his debut album Sing to Me Instead in 2019. The album pays tribute to the Broadway part of his life and features a lot of dramatic runs and is very piano-heavy. It’s easy to listen to and invokes a lot of emotions from listeners. “Grow as We Go” is a particularly emotional track and has even gained some popularity on TikTok recently—and for a good reason. The song shows off Platt’s range as an artist, proving that he can not only belt those Broadway-esque high notes, but is also comfortable in his lower register, singing softly about a partner he wants to grow old with.
Looking for an album with those chill summer vibes and that ’70s psychedelic rock guitar? Maybe not, but you should still give Wish You Were Here a listen. As with most of Pink Floyd’s albums, the songs are placed in an order that serves a purpose, as each song has a smooth and effortless transition into the next one. The instrumentals alone are enough to make you appreciate the work the band puts into the quality of their songs. The album was written primarily by Roger Waters after founding band member Syd Barrett left the band due to rapidly declining mental health. Waters missed his friend and came up with the premise for the album and the title song, “Wish You Were Here,” because he was inspired by those feelings of loss, as well as the anxiety and depression that emerged within each of the band members due to their new rise to fame.
Women’s Volleyball: Coach Dan Porath, porathd@uwgb.edu.
Men’s Basketball: Coach Bryan Wickstrom, wickstrb@uwgb.edu
This weekend (April 29 – May 2), set aside some time to view The Laramie Project, the latest from the UWGB Theatre department. This is a full production, staged and filmed, then streamed via Zoom. While tickets are free, you will need to reserve one to receive the streaming link. Each ticket is good for one viewing only.
Join us on Wednesday, May 12th to celebrate the launch of the 2021 
The UWGB main campus will be launching the spring 2021 issue of Sheepshead Review on Monday, May 3 at 1 p.m. This virtual launch party event will also honor English department Professor Sarah Schuetze, who passed away unexpected last January.
The Twilight Series: Even if you’ve never read the books or seen the movies, chances are high that you still have a pretty good idea as to what the infamous Twilight saga is all about. Based on the novels written by Stephenie Meyer back in the mid-to-late 2000s, this five-film series follows human high-schooler Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) who, after moving in with her father in a small Washington town called Forks, falls for her enigmatic and enchanting classmate, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But he has a big secret, one that Bella quickly unravels: he’s actually a vampire. Both know a relationship would be dangerous and forbidden, but they just can’t help the magnetic connection drawing them together. Then there’s Jacob (Taylor Lautner), Bella’s handsome friend and confidante, who’s actually a werewolf and also in love with her. That’s only the most basic of plot points, but I don’t want to give too much away! Just trust me when I say that Twilight is jam-packed with all the best elements of a guilty-pleasure movie series: forbidden relationships, wicked adversaries, epic battles, contentious love-triangles, and loads of suspense and angsty teenage drama. So, whether you’re an eternal Twilight saga stan, totally new to the franchise, or just haven’t seen the films in a while, my advice is the same: it’s time for you to carve out a day or two in your busy schedule to marathon-binge one of Gen Z’s biggest cult-classics! Available on Hulu and to rent on other streaming services. 
The Indiana Jones Series: Binge-watching may be a guilty pleasure, but honestly, the Indiana Jones series is zero guilt, all fun for me. The first movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, takes place on the eve of WWII and introduces us to Dr. Indiana Jones, a mild-mannered college archaeology professor who occasionally dons a fedora, a whip, and a shirt that won’t button all the way up to swashbuckle his way around the world in search of treasure.
Raiders is the best of the quadrilogy, with the third movie in the series, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, taking a close second. The next film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, is marred by a cliched portrayal of a cannibalistic cult in India, as well as the incessant screaming of love interest Willie Scott, a far cry from tough-as-nails Marion. The fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, suffers from a terrible script, a lack of Nazis, and Shia LaBoeuf, though the return of Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood makes it worth at least one watch. Binge it all now, as rumor has it Harrison Ford is about to don the famous fedora for a fifth outing as one of my two favorite action heroes from the 1980s. (The other? Han Solo, of course!) Available on Paramount+ and to rent on various streaming services. 
Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama: Kim Possible and her best friend, Ron Stoppable, are an unstoppable pair when it comes to their crime-fighting and life-saving missions, working in comedic and entertaining sync; however, when it comes to their social lives in school, Kim becomes embarrassed with Ron’s goofy nature and her lack of a boyfriend. Ron is her best friend, but she can’t help but be humiliated any time someone implies they date. Finally, Kim meets the new kid at school, Erik, and is head over heels instantly. The two quickly develop a relationship, and Ron becomes jealous as he is edged out of Kim’s life.
Voltron: Defender of the Universe: In 1984, World Events Productions released the first episode of an anime-ish cartoon—a mashup of two series by Japan’s Toei Entertainment—that would take America’s permed mullets by storm. The premise of Voltron: Defender of the Universe was fresh and fun: Five space explorers are sent from Earth to the planet Arus to bring back Voltron, a mighty robot that, as the legend went, had once brought peace to the galaxy. With a new threat looming from a villain named King Zarkon, the Earth explorers know that Voltron may be the galaxy’s last hope.
Phineas and Ferb: Step-brothers Phineas and Ferb will stop at nothing to ensure that every day of their summer vacation is a blast. In each episode, the duo and their friends cook up a new, elaborate scheme involving some sort of insanely outlandish or ostensibly dangerous project, like assembling the world’s tallest building, crafting a giant roller coaster in their backyard, inventing a time machine, fighting evil zombies, becoming rock stars, or befriending aliens during a trip to outer space. The boys’ older sister, Candace, tries desperately to “bust” them by exposing their crazy antics to their mother, but much to Candace’s chagrin, she always seems to fail. Meanwhile, the family’s pet platypus, Perry, who doubles as a secret agent, must inevitably sneak off to battle with the show’s evil but somewhat endearing villain, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and foil his nefarious plans. Although it’s best known as a popular Disney Channel sitcom, Phineas and Ferb’s comedic style and head-shakingly humorous storylines make it an enjoyable watch for both children and adults alike! Yes, the show is totally stupid, wildly unrealistic, and utterly ridiculous… but it’s one of those where you just can’t help but smile, laugh, and keep clicking “Next episode.” Available on Disney+. 
What’s better than one game? Multiple games! Plato offers just that and more, with over 40 games to choose from (my favorites are Sea Battle, Literati, and Pool), the ability to play against people from all over the world, and group chats you can join to talk to new people. With so many different games on offer, most of which are both solo and group playable, you are sure to find a game that you enjoy, including familiar ones like Checkers, Chess, and Skeeball. This versatile app is easy to use, great for those distanced game nights, and awesome to have to play games with friends across the globe, not to mention it’s free! All of that earns it the “Groovy Mobile” verdict this week. Available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
The concept of this game is simple: find your quarry and assassinate them. But watch out for the person who is hunting you in turn. Gather your friends up to play The Ship: Murder Party, but don’t trust anyone as you explore the map, taking care of both your character’s needs and looking for weapons. And watch out, because you may get caught by the cameras, workers, or each other, and you just might just end up in jail. There are many weapons for you to choose from, and fun times to be had for those who play with their friends or solo. With a fun premise, good graphics, and an easy-to-use interface, this game earns the “Honorable Mention” verdict this week. Available from Outerlight Ltd. on Steam, as well as other platforms.
Picture this: in a futuristic world, China conquered the U.S.after the Fourth World War. A country called Illéa, made up of 35 provinces and governed by a monarchy, now exists in its place. Citizens are divided into caste numbers that strictly determine what occupations people may pursue. At the top are the Ones—the royal family—along with the more rich and privileged Twos through Fours, while the Fives through Eights struggle just to keep food on the table and shelter over their heads. 17-year-old America Singer is a Five, and she cares about only two things: helping her family survive and someday marrying her secret, forbidden boyfriend Aspen, a Six. Then, America is one of 35 eligible young women chosen to compete in the Selection for not only the affections of the gorgeous Prince Maxon, but also the titles of his wife and princess. At first, America has absolutely no interest in the Selection process or in falling in love with Maxon … but the more she gets to know him, the more her feelings become conflicted, and America has to make a very difficult decision. Does her heart lie with the poor boy-next-door, or the future King of Illéa? While this slowly burning love triangle is a big focus of the three books that make up the main story, things like tyrannical government, dangerous rebel attacks, and serious systemic issues in dystopian society make the series as a whole a more powerful, hard-hitting read. The Selection by Kiera Cass is one of my all-time favorites to re-visit over and over again, and I can’t wait to watch Netflix’s film adaptation, hopefully coming later this year!
In the age of Charlemagne, the Moors fashioned a gem-encrusted chess set that held powerful, mystical secrets, gifting it to the Frankish and Roman Emperor. Terrified by the set’s potent magic after playing one game, Charlemagne had the chess service broken up and hidden in the walls of the Montglane Abbey. And there it stayed, until 1790. In the midst of the French Revolution, dangerous forces are seeking the set, and the abbess of Montglane knows she needs to act fast. She has her nuns unearth the chess set and scatters them two-by-two across Europe, each carrying a few of the pieces. Mireille and her cousin Valentine end in up in Reign of Terror Paris. And when Valentine is brutally murdered on the orders of Terror mastermind Maximilien Robespierre, Mireille needs to put everything on the line to protect Montglane’s secrets from the likes of French diplomat Charles de Talleyrand, up-and-coming soldier Napoleon Bonaparte, and Robespierre himself.
Nakajima Atsushi is on the run after being tossed out of his old orphanage. What he’s running from? A great tiger that appears to be pursuing him. In steps Dazai and the Armed Detective Agency, a group of gifted investigators all with special, supernatural powers. Atsushi, after learning a bit about what, or rather who, the tiger is, joins this group. But that is just the beginning of his new worries. With the Mafia sending people after him, he has to watch his back now more than ever, while also getting through many crazy shenanigans and mysteries. Watch how this loveable, protective protagonist gains friends and learns about his past. A charming art style, lovable characters, and interweaving plot lines lead Bungou Stray Dogs to be this week’s “All-Time Star.” Produced by Bones, found on Funimation,Crunchyroll, and other streaming platforms.
When hungry demons that crave human flesh can disguise themselves as humans, they can be almost impossible to find. The Claymore, who are half-human, half-demon, are the only ones that can sniff out a Yoma (full demon) in their human form. The humans despise the Claymore and call them witches and monsters. But the Claymore may be the humans’ only hope of survival. Follow the journey of one Claymore, Clare, and a young boy, Raki, as they travel fighting the Yoma. Produced by VAP and available on Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and other streaming platforms.