Mar
29
The Union Programming Board Executive Committee has officially selected freshman, Nicholle Niblett as our member of the month for March.
Nicholle Niblett
Hometown: Norman, OK
Major: Multidisciplinary Studies
Class: Freshman
Nicholle has been involved with The Union Programming Board since the beginning of her freshman year. She decided to try UPB out because there was no application and she was interested in meeting new people. She has since become an irreplaceable member of our team. In fact, she was the creative mind behind our sooner idol promotional video, which has received rave reviews. It is members like Nicholle that make UPB what it is and we are exceedingly grateful for all she does!
We asked Nicholle some questions about herself so that we could get to know a little more about her. Here are her answers:
Tell me something everyone should know about you…
I am super devoted to volunteering, especially with under privileged children.
What’s your favorite thing about UPB?
It’s easy to get involved and there are so many opportunities.
What’s your favorite food?
Chicken Alfredo
What is your biggest fear?
‘Villainous’ Clowns
What’s one embarrassing/weird hobby that you have?
I’ve been crocheting the same blanket for 2 years
Mar
11
Each year students roll out to audition for the Union Programming Board’s annual Sooner Idol competition. Ten of those students are chosen to compete. One wins. Last year, that winner was Vocal Performance major Keegan Josephson, a freshman at the time. Channeling the one and only Adam Levine for his first round song, Keegan worked the mic stand, danced, and sang his way to the top 4. His second round song took everyone back to his or her childhood. Choosing “Go the Distance” from the popular Disney movie Hercules, Keegan showcased his range and tackled notes that would make any vocal instructor proud. And he may have earned himself an admirer or twenty in the process.
Keegan has since been seen singing around campus in several different venues. From Sooner Scandals to the BYX A Capella group to performing his own song at the Mr. OU pageant last year, he has become a familiar face and friend to many of us. However, there’s one genre of music that Keegan excels at that we don’t get to hear year round. This weekend, just short of a year after winning Sooner Idol 2012, Keegan made his OU Theatre debut as Bardolfo in the comedic opera Falstaff.
I will be honest. The opera was long. Like, a solid two and a half hours long, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself laughing the whole way through. The plot revolves around Sir. John Falstaff, an old, overweight knight who has eaten himself into poverty (with the help of his two followers/thieves Pistola and Bardolfo). In an effort to alleviate his monetary burdens, Falstaff writes two identical letters to two wealthy married women. Of course, the women discover his treachery and the rest of the play concerns their plans to take the overweight knight down a few notches (In measures of pride that is. Falstaff’s belt notches stay exactly where they are).
Bardolfo, played by Keegan, serves as a source of comic relief throughout the show, and the part wonderfully showcased his strong tenor voice and great acting ability. How he managed to keep singing after falling off a bed, getting thrown across a floor, being smacked with brooms, and jumping/climbing onto most of the props, I might never know. All I know is that I was rolling with laughter any time Keegan was onstage, especially during the last scene when he is disguised as the maiden Nannetta and appeared to feel a little too comfortable wearing a replica of her dress. I can’t put my finger on why I thought that, but it might have been the twirling. That’s right. He twirled. And his hair for the performance looked scarily like that of Edward Cullen in the first twilight movie, which he actually pointed out himself after the show. Fortunately for him, I let it slide and not taint my opinion of his overall performance, which was truly fantastic. The kid’s what we call a triple threat- a master of singing, dancing, and acting.
And it all started with him winning UPB’s Sooner Idol a year ago.
At least, that’s what we’re telling people.
Auditions for Sooner Idol 2013 are March 27th and 28th. We’ll have more info on our website, facebook page, and twitter soon!
-Dehra McGuire
UPB Secretary and Sooner Idol Chair
Mar
1
The Union Programming Board Executive Committee has officially selected freshman, Alex Grant as our member of the month for February.
Alex Grant
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Major: Visual Communications
Class: Freshman
Alex has been involved with The Union Programming Board since the beginning of her freshman year when she came with her boyfriend for moral support. She signed up for foam party and ended up falling in love with UPB. She is such wonderful addition to our team. She is never above any job and she puts 100 percent into everything she does. We are so lucky to have Alex as a part of our UPB family. She constantly goes above and beyond what we ask of her and we appreciate her so much!!
We asked Alex some questions about herself so that we could get to know a little more about her. Here are her answers:
Tell me something interesting about yourself…
I love Disney movies, not being serious, and coloring. I’m definitely a kid at heart.
What’s your favorite thing about UPB?
The inclusiveness
What else are you involved in on campus?
Campus Activities Council, Scandals, and I am a designer for the yearbook staff
What’s your favorite food?
Chocolate chip ice cream!!
What is your biggest fear?
Bugs. Ew.
What’s one embarrassing/weird hobby that you have?
When I eat Lucky Charms, I have to eat the marshmallows in a certain order…
Feb
26
Free food, foam party, Sasquatch petitions, and potatotini bars. Any OU student can readily associate these things with the Union Programming Board, but not many students know that our purpose goes much deeper than entertainment and giveaways.
For every event and aesthetically pleasing poster we plan, UPB has a specific audience and outcome in mind that we are trying to reach. Most obviously, our executive committee aspires for there to be “always something” for the general student body and campus guests to do with their time at our Union. This is the side of UPB that most students encounter on a daily basis.
However, the presence of a second, and possibly more important, audience influences our planning as well: our general members. A general member is defined as any student who has attended a UPB meeting or assisted with an event, even if only on one occasion. These members, although many of them may only pass through, are the heart of UPB. Only by their time and dedication are we able to serve the student body, and as a result, their development is one of our top priorities.
We’re not in the business of using our members as manpower at our events; rather, we aim to empower these students to take ownership of these events and the positive impact they make on campus. Sometimes it only takes giving someone the permission to be a leader for them to step forward and fulfill the role.
We operate by the Three E’s: Engage students, encourage leaders, and enrich lives. We engage students by giving them quality ways to spend their down time. We encourage leaders by providing an environment where students can grow at their own pace. Finally, we enrich lives by letting these two groups interact together to create the magic of Union programming that results in great things like free food and foam parties. Interested? http://www.ou.edu/content/upb/Join.html
Feb
22
Top 5 James Bond Themes Songs. The theme song of each film is comparable to the film itself as far as hype goes. It sets the tone for each film and let’s us, as the audience, know what we are in for. Not to mention, with a couple of exceptions, each song fits the title of the film in the lyrics. Overall, there are 22 “title” tracks from each film. I chose 5 of my favorites
1. A View to a Kill performed by Duran Duran (1985)
Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp4CR2HcHLQ
The only James Bond song to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts, “A View to a Kill” is one of Duran Duran’s finest. The other Bond songs of this time were riddled with bad melodies and lyrics, yet this song soared to become one of the series’ best. “Dance into the fire, that fatal kiss is all we need!” It doesn’t get much more Bond than that.
2. Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon (1977)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy-c8aAntWA
It is definitely likely that Adele was influenced by this song when she wrote “Skyfall”. The title track to the Spy Who Loved Me reflects the internal dialogue of a Bond girl and honestly professes “baby you’re the best”.
3. Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2hKzZss5Y
You’ve probably heard this song if you listen to any “Classic Rock” radio station and may have not even realized that it was a Bond song. Let’s just forget the Guns N’ Roses cover..
4. Thunderball by Tom Jones (1965)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYW2UgSJq8
This song is a more traditional Bond song, whereas the others on my list evoke a more “pop” feeling, this song has the sweeping orchestration, horns, and Tom Jones’ rich voice.
5. Diamonds Are Forever by Shirley Bassey (1971)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80A6MtPwj-Q
Shirley Bassey has three Bond songs to her name, so I really felt obligated to put her on the list. Also, Kanye sampled this track in his 2005 song “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, so that’s something. But really, the end of this song when the beat comes in is great.
Bonus. Skyfall by Adele (2012)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gLRp5bSpw
I have to include this song. Adele killed it. I’m not a presentist, but this song is just way too good and I have to recognize it.
-P. Vaughn
Feb
22
The Bond movies have been around for a while. Here is our Film Series Chair, Seth Hafer’s list of the top five Bond movies of all time. Don’t forget to see the newest installment, Skyfall for free at Meacham tonight or tomorrow.
1. Goldfinger – This is undeniably the best Bond. Critics and Bond fans everywhere agree that Goldfinger is what really got the ball rolling for the beloved series by establishing a successful formula – gadgets (like a scuba suit with a seagull on it), gorgeous girls, a diabolical villain, and impeccable style.
2. From Russia With Love – From Russia With Love is the second Bond film ever made. After the success of Dr. No, Bond’s budget doubled. He went from using a strand of hair as a burglary identifier to using a functional jetpack. From Russia With Love earns its place on this list through the sheer awesomeness of its toys.
3. Casino Royale – Daniel Craig as James Bond really turned the series around. It was a new, dark, and gritty James Bond in a time when everything had to be new, dark, and gritty. It worked, though! …which is why you should totally come see the latest installment in the series, Skyfall, tonight at 8 or 11!
4. Goldeneye – I don’t mean much offense to Pierce Brosnan for mostly excluding his Bond outings from this list. His first turn as Bond gave us Goldeneye, and while the film was pretty good, its N64 video game reincarnation catapulted it into cult status. What I’m saying is this spot actually belongs to my nostalgia for the game, and has almost absolutely nothing to do with the movie.
5. Skyfall – Remember when Daniel Craig’s James Bond really turned the series around in Casino Royale? He (and, you know, everyone that worked on the movie) did it again with Skyfall! This installment fully realizes the return to the beginning of the Bond series that Casino Royale tried to be. Then it was a fresh Bond in a plot loosely based on the first book of Ian Fleming’s series. Skyfall, on the other hand, takes us back to the Bond days we all love and remember, mostly by trying to recapture the spirit of Goldfinger through using the props of Goldfinger. Come check it out for free either tonight or tomorrow in Meacham!
Feb
21
UPB Film series chair priovides a counter argument to Jacob.
1. The CGI Baby
You know the one. It’s on everyone’s mind as they talk about Breaking Dawn pt. 2. As much as I wish I could put a positive spin on this one, I’m at a loss for words. That baby is truly, truly outrageous. AND… it must be seen to be believed! There we go. I knew the positive draw was in there somewhere. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with such a hard one…
2.Everyone Dies
So, without giving too much away, Twilight is about to go Hamlet on your butt. Watching as everyone dies is my favorite part of Hamlet, and it’s my favorite part of Twilight too. Getting to see all of the characters you know get their heads ripped off in a way-less-heart-crushing-than-anything-from-J.K-Rowling way is well worth a watch. MIND BLOWN.
3. Indie Soundtrack
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve actually always been a fan of the Twilight soundtracks, or at the very least the majority of the bands on them. As an avid listener to indie music, it’s (sometimes) nice to finally see my favorite bands getting the attention they deserve. I won’t go into how maybe I’m not listening to them as much as I once was, but I will say that the Twilight execs in charge of the soundtracks know what they’re doing. Passion Pit, Feist, and St. Vincent? Yes, please.
4. Kristen Stewart
K-Stew and Co. are back! It’s easy to get distracted by her most recent tabloid exploits, but at least when you go see a Twilight movie, you know Kristen and Rob are meant to be together forever. Come see the happy couple while they were happy together! You know, for two hours.
5.The End
This is it, guys. It’s not quite the end of an era send-off that Harry Potter had, but I bet there’ll be crying anyway. The good kind, too. It’s the last of the Twilight movies, and if you’ve seen the previous four, then I’m pretty sure you owe it to yourself to come see the very last one. Heck, even if you’ve only seen the first fourth one, that was just half of a story. Come catch at Twilight Breaking Dawn pt. 2 for FREE this Friday night (2/15) at 6, 9, and/or midnight in Meacham auditorium!
P.S.
How’s this for a shameless plug? Don’t forget about Blood, Love and Chocolate (the chocolate factory) the same night from 7-9 in the Will Rogers food court. You should have expected it. This is our blog, after all.
Feb
14
Even if you aren’t a Twi-hard, here are 5 reasons to laugh at and watch Twilight this weekend:
1. CGI Baby
That’s right; nobody’s mother wanted their innocent child subjected to the travesty that is Twilight, so they had to make one with special effects. And even though 2001: A Space Odyssey managed to convince people that they shot a movie in space in 1968, the special effects people decided to construct a monstrous, half-blooded, bobble-headed freak that one must truly see to believe.
2. Everyone Dies
Guess how it ends guys? Everyone bites it. Not in the hilariously relevant vampire sense either. In the try-hard-to-be-epic final battle sense. I already saw Braveheart, thanks.
3. Indie Soundtrack
Remember when you liked bands like Passion Pit and Ellie Goulding? Well, prepare to have them ruined in what would seem to be the saddest attempt at a mash-up YouTube video of all time. Hearing legitimately good bands play over the abysmal screen content is like listening to the Space Jam theme song as the Godfather opens.
4. Kristen Stewart
The ubiquitous Internet picture of Kristen displaying her range of emotions notwithstanding, the main actress has cheated on her co-star, curled her lip like an 8th grade punk girl, and stared blankly into the camera enough that she could only go up from here. And maybe that’s the point. Lindsey Lohan, take note.
5. The End
It’s the last one. If you have dignity (which I’m assuming is iffy at this point because you have to be convinced NOT to see Twilight), you haven’t seen the first ones. Why start now? Do you want to be the person who starts to eat the ice cream cone from the bottom? Because that’s stupid. But if you want to be a trendsetter – like the guy who first came up with breakfast for dinner – I’d bet that the Twilight series makes a whole lot more or as much sense when watched backwards.
-Jacob Oller, UPB Comedy Series
Jan
23
The Union Programming Board Executive Committee has officially selected freshman, Quan Phan as our member of the month for January.
Quan Phan
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Major: Biochemistry
Class: Freshman
Quan Phan has been involved in Union Programming Board since the beginning of his freshman year; he is such an asset to our team. He is creative and has helped with almost every artistic project that UPB has had. Quan is very enthusiastic about UPB as a whole and he always makes time to help with any event we are having. We are so lucky to have Quan as a part of our UPB family and we are so grateful for everything that he does for us!
We asked Quan some questions about himself so that we could get to know a little more about him. Here are his answers:
Tell me something interesting about yourself…
My name rhymes.
What’s your favorite thing about UPB?
It is so inclusive and everyone is so friendly.
What else are you involved in on campus?
CAC Crew, Scandals, OU cousins, AMA and RSA
What’s your favorite food?
Cheesecake and anything Vietnamese
What is your biggest fear?
Snakes and airplane crashes- So… basically, snakes on a plane is my worst nightmare.
What’s one embarrassing/weird hobby that you have?
I eat ketchup with everything.
Jan
16
For decades the idea of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, is something that has greatly fascinated scientists, explorers, and people who think the Moon landing was fake. This fascination is understandable, as Sasquatch is perhaps the greatest mystery our society faces.
For those not aware of Sasquatch, he is commonly referred to as the hide-and-seek world champion. Since The University of Oklahoma is a school of champions he has become the mascot for OU’s Union Programming Board.
UPB is greatly concerned with recent attempts to mess with Sasquatch. We are afraid the Jack Link’s commercials are promoting actions that are going to put Sasquatch in jeopardy. UPB thinks Sasquatch is too important and action needs to be taken to ensure its protection. We want to see the government take action to save the last wonder of North America.
Luckily for us we are not alone in our support of Sasquatch. Someone has started a petition to the Obama Administration in an attempt to solve this problem. The petition asks the government to “officially recognize the Sasquatch as an indigenous species and have them lawfully protected by laws banning any hunting.” We at UPB think this is a great and noble idea and hope the entire student body at OU can get behind it to help save Sasquatch.
There is a long way for this petition to go to reach the required number of signatures, but we think we can make it. Go to the site, create an account and sign the petition. Sasquatch is a champion and a national treasure and he needs your support.
The site for the petition is https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/officially-recognize-sasquatch-indigenous-species-and-have-them-lawfully-protected-laws-banning-any/FlSBT2vj. Please take the time to help us. We all know what happened when King Kong was captured, we cannot afford to have that happen to Sasquatch.
