THE FINAL FRONTIER OF ART: VIDEO GAMES Presented by Logan Buck, is the headline of the presentation given on November 9th 2023. Buck guides the audience through a breakdown of his love of video games. This presentation is brought to life by the different images, games, and sounds presented. He covers his background, the deeper meanings inside video games, and defends Video Games as an art form.

Logan Buck is a Senior Honors Biology major. When asked about his motivation behind the topic he says, ”Ever since I was 5 years old, there’s a picture of me, my dad played a video game with me in his lap with a controller playing. It’s always been a part of my life and I’ve heard from others to brush off video games as a form of art, and I’ve wanted to analyze why do we brush it off and what makes a game art.”

Buck explored various regions of video games to thoroughly discuss the art within video games. A couple points he covered are Art of video games, History, pop culture, and seeking deeper meanings.  He also interacted with the audience while he brought into question the morality and quality of art in video games, and when too realistic. The hyperrealism in games allows gamers to make decisions and feel remorse for the true meaning behind the game and story. 

Video games have constantly moved forward since the creation of Pong(1972). Pong itself might not be the most beautiful piece of art, however it is a pioneer for the endless potential of video games.Buck says “I think it’s important to see how games are evolving because I think one day they’ll be a prime form of art.”

Video games can be held in the actual world or worlds created by pure imagination. Buck questions the debate of whether video games are art and discusses the elements that bring the art to life. Video games today can be seen in different environments such as 3d worlds, fake worlds, and real locations. This allows video games to bring a connection from the gamer to the World. Dark souls is one of the more talked about games involving immersive experiences, symbolism, perseverance, and different meanings for the players to be involved further.
When asked ,how has this changed your viewpoint on not only these games but video games and storytelling as a whole? Buck says, “I just realize how much effort is put into a video game, and how it can be more difficult than other forms of art, because there’s so much more that goes into it if everything is beautiful, everything works perfectly, but the gameplay is terrible, then no one is going to play it.”

Disney’s Pixar explores the endeavors of adolescence with the sequel debut to its acclaimed animated film Inside Out. 

Disney’s press release confirms featuring Anxiety as a new internal character. 

“Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, might be new to the crew, but she’s not really the type to take a back seat,” says director Kelsey Mann. “That makes a lot of sense if you think about it in terms of what goes on inside all our minds.”

The trailer for Inside Out 2 teases the return of newly-minted teenager Riley and the sudden demolition of the brain’s control center, making way for new and unexpected emotions. 

Maya Hawke is joined by Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. 

Bill Hader, the original voice of Fear, and Mindy Kaling, the original voice of Disgust, were recast due to contractual issues. 

Nearly nine years after the debut of its original film, Inside Out 2 is set to release in June of 2024 with expectations of breaking box office records. 

For any athlete transitioning from one sport to another can be a very difficult task. But for Francis Ngannou’s first professional boxing match-up against the world heavyweight Tyson Fury he certainly had an amazing first showing. The match was held in on October 28, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Before Francis Ngannou became a star in the world of Mixed Martial Arts he had originally wanted to be a boxer. You could see his boxing influence in his style because instead of his renowned punching power. And after 20 MMA matches and becoming the UFC Heavyweight Champion, he believed it was his time to return to what he originally loved. Due to Ngannou’s already established pay-per-view drawing power it wasn’t too difficult to have his first match be against the WBC heavyweight champion himself Tyson Fury. The match had much anticipation behind it similar to the Conor Mcgregor vs Floyd Mayweather bout of 2017 and stars from all over the world from Eminem to The Undertaker came out to show their support live for the event.

            The match began at 2:00 P.M EST and 10:00 PM in Saudi Arabia. Fury weighed in at 277 lb while Ngannou came in at 272 lb, a match truly worthy of the name heavyweight. It was a non-title match set to run 10 rounds. Round 1 began with both fighters setting the pace for the fight. Both take southpaw stances but Fury has the superior reach, yet Ngannou’s power is still a force to be reckoned with, and both get solid hits in. Round 2 and Fury starts going more towards the right side, he knows that Ngannou is naturally right-handed and that is where most of his power lies. But Ngannou shows that he can switch his stance to orthodox attesting to his fighting expertise. He manages to draw blood with a left to close out near the end of the round. Round 3, Ngannou scores a knockdown large left hook at the 43-second mark of the round. The crowd erupts in cheers as Fury takes the standing 8 count, the momentum shifts towards his favor. Round 4 Fury is able to reset the pace with his 6 foot 9 inch frame. As per usual in his matches Fury always has the height and reach advantage, he’s able to regain control. Round 5 Ngannou throws out a vicious combination that has the entire stadium OOO in unison, but Fury manages to dodge the almost certain knockout blows. Fury wears his opponent down with clinches and his long-range punches scoring solid one-two blows and jabs.

  Round 6 Fury’s jabs become more and more accurate and his clinches are more aggressive. He slows the pace exactly to where he wants it. He’s already been downed and that can get the opponent excited and act sloppy and leave them open. But with Ngannou’s fighting instincts he doesn’t let it get to him even after taking an elbow. Round 7 Fury slips but it doesn’t slow him down, the round goes by quickly. Round 8 Ngannou applies more heat, he lets loose several of his explosive blows leaving Fury weary. Both manage to draw blood from each other but still push on towards the last rounds. Round 9 Fury manages to out-box Ngannou, both men are tired but they can’t slow down yet. Final round Ngannou throws a Superman punch (a punch where you kick off the canvas towards the opponent) but misses the mark, the commentary even made a reference to Roman Reigns. He wanted to leave an impression just for fun but I believe the impression has already been made. He scores two more left jabs and the match comes to a close.

            The match came down to a judge’s decision. When it comes to scoring in boxing, each match is scored 10 points per round and since this went for 10 rounds it was out of 100.  Alan Krebs scored it 95-94 in favor of Fury. Juan Carlos Peylao scored 96-93 in favor of Fury as well. And Ed Garner however scored it 95-94 in favor of Ngannou, thus Tyson Fury was declared the winner. In the weeks following the match there has been a bit of controversy about who should have won. In Ali and Frazier there was only one down and that decided the match, so how did Fury who did get downed still win? It’s unknown but as an observer and fan, I would say if anything, it should have been a draw or at most Ngannou should have gotten the win. Both fighters did exceptionally well in perhaps one of the best matches of the year.  Francis Ngannou plans to continue boxing and is already excited to face more top contenders in the division. As for the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury his next match will be on February 17, 2024. This match was an excellent example of a fighter from MMA transitioning to boxing.  

At the drop of a hat, anyone can name their go-to Halloween and Christmas movies. Yet, when it comes to Thanksgiving, many find themselves at a loss to name more than one film dedicated to this wholesome holiday. To get you acquainted, here’s a list of five films that capture the essence of Thanksgiving.

First on the list is the 1987 road trip comedy, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Directed by John Hughes, this masterpiece captures the mayhem and warmth of Thanksgiving, painting a picture of frantic holiday travel that’s as hilarious as it is touching. Steve Martin and John Candy’s performances are a delightful pairing, much like turkey and stuffing.

Next is a nostalgic nod to our childhoods with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. This animated classic not only entertains but imparts the timeless lesson of gratitude and the importance of community during the holidays. Charlie Brown’s makeshift feast is a tender reminder that the spirit of Thanksgiving isn’t found in the grandeur of the meal, but in the company we share it with.

Third is Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters, a film that stretches beyond the Thanksgiving holiday to explore the intertwined lives of its characters. Thanksgiving serves as the pivotal junction for the film’s beginning, middle, and end, framing the narrative with a sense of continuity and reflection that’s as rich and complex as a Thanksgiving feast itself.

In fourth place is Pieces of April. This indie film offers a unique perspective on Thanksgiving, focusing on the efforts of the protagonist, April, to host a dinner for her estranged family. It reflects the complexities of modern family relationships.

Finally, Home for the Holidays rounds out the list. This film dives deep into the dysfunction that often accompanies family gatherings, wrapped in a humorous and poignant package. Directed by Jodie Foster, the film delves into the humorous and touching aspects of family gatherings, highlighting both the comedic and tender moments of the holiday experience.

As Thanksgiving Day unfolds, with many eyes set on football games, there’s always room to squeeze in a Thanksgiving film or two. Between the games and the halftime shows, these movies offer a perfect reprieve, enriching the holiday with laughter and heartfelt stories. So, consider diversifying your holiday entertainment with one of these classic films, each offering a unique perspective on the essence of the holiday.

The T-Line bus now stops on Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s campus, opening up transportation options for students around town. The route this bus follows gives students access to Richmond Road as well as the transfer station to take other buses around town to the students’ desired destination.

In the past, the T-Line made a stop at TAMUT when it was connected to Texarkana College, but when TAMUT first moved to its current location on University Avenue, fewer students needed the bus stop. However, now there are approximately 300 students that live on campus and many others that commute to classes every week making the need for transportation options a lot higher. In August, the T-Line was on campus full time again.

Dr. Alytrice Brown, Assistant Vice President of Student Life, was on the committee that worked to bring the T-Line back to campus and states that she would like to see a second bus stop added to campus in the future. “I’d like to see a bus stop in front of the Science and Technology Building in the big parking area for route six and I’d like to see the bus that stops in front of BLV for route seven,” she said. Dr. Brown has heard firsthand of how the bus has helped several students in times of need of transportation. “I really think the students are using it and it’s been a huge help,” she said. Dr. Brown also added, “I’ve heard from a few students who’ve said that it’s been a real important piece of what they needed and what was missing because they can go grocery shopping,” she said.

When seeking out students on campus to speak about their perspective on the T-Line, a limited number of students who were interviewed had mixed feelings about their experience. One student said that a downside to their bus ride experience was that they were asked to quiet down multiple times. “We got told to lower our volume…We can’t even whisper?,” said John Droke. A student also expressed some confusion about where all of the stops were along the route. “They didn’t tell us where we were going,” said Andrea Loredo. Dr. Brown and some faculty members plan to look into the situation to ensure that student experiences with the bus are the best that they can be.

The affordable price of the bus ride was one thing that students appreciated. “For $1 for it to drive you all around Texarkana, it’s not bad,” said John Droke. Another student stated that “Overall, it is a great choice for students. While the ride may be a bit bumpy, the price is great and it doesn’t take very long to get from one place to the other,” said Andrea Loredo.

The T-Line bus that stops on campus is on route six that runs along Richmond Road. The buses start their routes at 5:30 a.m. and the last bus of the day comes around 6:20 p.m.. The bus comes to TAMUT Monday-Friday every hour at 46 minutes after and waits for three minutes before continuing on the route. The cost to ride the bus is $1 one way or $20 for a monthly pass that includes unlimited rides.

Rain or shine, our Eagles make it right! The Eagles took on Jarvis Christian this past Thursday for their 17th game in their 2023-24 season. They played at their home turf of Judy Kelley Morgan Field, where they have been evenly matched with a 4-4 win-loss record. This game is important because if lost, they would not have qualified to compete in the upcoming Conference Tournament.

The match starts with Jarvis Christian kicking off and keeping control but soon the Eagles take possession when JC tries to push down field. Fouls begin happening with JC fouling Damilare Origunloye and the Eagles getting a free kick. This would start the cascade of fouls that begin to unfold from both teams in this tough game. The foul that was the most important in this first half was one that was unfortunately done by our own Coastes Heckman which looked like maybe a grab towards the other player that caused the call. This free kick would allow JC to put themselves on the board with a shot that was more than half the length of the field, putting the score at 1-0 Jarvis Christian leading.

For the remainder of the first half, it was very back and forth between both teams. There was a yellow card given to Dante Zavala for what looked like too high of a kick hitting the opposing team member. Not too long after, Jaret Rojas received a  yellow card for an unintentional headbutt given to the other team’s player. With no more scores, the first half came to an end.

The second half begins with an Eagles kick off, trailing still with Jarvis Christian leading with a 1-0 score. There was back and forth at the beginning but then fouls started stirring up again with JC fouling our own Patrick Cowley just about 25 feet from the opposing goal. With a strong kick, it sadly does not make it, barely missing the top crossbar. The tension continues with shortly after another foul being called that was done to Emmanuel Mubanga allowing a free kick right on the center line with a nice kick that ends up being a goal kick for the JC Bulldogs. The ball is juggled between both teams for possession and with the Eagles still down by 1 they need to quickly score to keep their ranking of 8th to be able to qualify.

With nothing happening and the time clock steadily counting down, with just five minutes remaining the Eagles get fouled inside the goal box resulting in a 1-on-1 penalty kick. This is exactly what our Eagles need to secure a possible tie and even the playing field. Oluwafisayo Oduwole goes up for the kick and shoots a beautiful top left shot making the score 1-1! For the rest of the match it was back and forth with a few fouls and another yellow card given to JC’s goalie because of unsportsmanlike conduct by kicking the ball over the fence during a pause.

Overall, a very stressful game for the Eagles but in the end they were able to pull through and score a goal to tie it up leaving their home games scores at 4-4-1 and overall record being 9-8-1, allowing them to go and compete in the Red River Athletic Conference. Go Eagles !

Artificial intelligence (AI), a transformative technological force that has continued evolving over the past seven decades, has manifested in remarkable innovations, ranging from automated vacuum cleaners to compact virtual assistants. Since its inception in the 1950s, AI has left an indelible mark on our lives, revolutionizing how we work, interact, and solve complex problems. In this exploration, the Program for Learning and Community Engagement: Ethics of AI Series seminar delved into the evolution and impact of artificial intelligence by guest speaker tracing its journey from its budding stages to the cutting-edge applications that have become integral to our daily existence.

The Program for Learning and Community Engagement is co-sponsored by the Office for Teaching and Faculty Advancement and the Technology Innovations and Digital Education. The departments brought in a guest speaker, Jerry Sheehan, current Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at San Diego State University (SDSU). In the information technology division, he oversees deploying infrastructure and services and supporting the university’s learning and outreach.

Jerry Sheehan opened up the seminar into basic terminology and concepts about the brief history of generative artificial intelligence from its inception to the breakthrough in 2023 with the notable company OpenAi, the creators of ChatGPT. The core concept of artificial intelligence is based on the components of language models and computer sciences with a principle that human intelligence can be defined in a way that a machine can imitate and engage in tasks known as the ‘Imitation Game’ coined by Alan Turig, one of the founding fathers behind machine learning and intelligence. There are three concepts from the presentations shown to attendees, ‘The Jagged Frontier,’ the adoption of generative artificial intelligence among users, and autopilot.

The ‘Jagged Frontier’ is an experiment that reported evidence of the effects of AI and the knowledge of workers, productivity, and quality, published by the Harvard Business School, Technology and Operations Management. The study was of two groups. One used ChatGPT AI and the other as the control, and they reported that the capabilities of ChatGPT AI created a “jagged technological frontier” where AI can quickly do some tasks. Some things are outside of the capabilities of the current AI. It was reported that the AI group had a 40% higher quality than the control group and consultants. During the significant year of generative AI, ChatGPT reached one million users in five days in comparison to other media companies, which has the highest adoption rate among people globally training the AI by machine learning, and the up-and-down arrow when information presented by AI as factual, which may be incorrect or incomprehensible to humans.

Mr. Sheehan surveyed SDSU student population, which studied approximately 32,700 students and received an estimated 25% of students providing feedback on what tools they used to identify students’ attitudes and needs with generative AI, not excluding ChatGPT. While keeping students’ identities anonymous, there were categories that they could place themselves under, like their disciplines and age demographics. Among the qualitative research, SDSU students were concerned about being flagged for academic dishonesty while their peers were actively committing academic dishonesty, how that affects the trust and power dynamic there with faculty. Some students were also concerned that it would give others an advantage and put them at a disadvantage because of the accessibility of these tools, or that having access to these tools would make the individual’s performance decrease which leads to autopilot. The autopilot feeling said by Mr. Sheehan is like “ falling asleep at the wheel… the machine can only imitate it is not actually thinking”.

“Don’t ask and don’t, AI’’ said Mr. Sheehan. “The conscious feeling among faculty and administration of knowing that students are utilizing AI, but not saying anything could lead to a dangerous situation by not acknowledging it, and [we] can start with an open conversation about generative AI” said Mr. Sheehan. AI is a nuanced complex subject with no one-fit policy or corrective action to accommodate the vast amount of variables because among all the disciplines they have different attitudes and ways they can utilize AI. At the end of the talk, the one-word strategy is to engage with the unknowing parts of generative AI.

TEXARKANA, TX — The A&M – Texarkana Eagles took flight during their Wednesday night non-conference matchup against Dallas Christian College. This performance recorded their 21st win of the season, granting The Eagles a spot for success during Saturday’s double-header matchup against Texas College. 

With a 21-8 season lead, the Eagles held a superior set score of 25-23, 25-17, 25-22, but that was hardly a match against the Crusader’s fallen season total of 5-15. The Eagles started strong with Zulecia Cruz, Sasha Bajek, Ja’Kerra Holt, Katherine Toftemark, Mia Mata, and Alanna Deering taking the court. 

TAMUT had an average hit score of .133 to the  Crusader average of .061, with the home advantage of 16 hitting errors, 8 receiving errors, and 4 serving errors bolstering the final score. The Eagles fly high with 18 outstanding members,10 of which conducted at least one kill. 

Alanna Deering posted the score with a .353 hitting percentage, following an attack with 9. Zulecia Cruz and Kimberlee Joyce led with assists while Syklar Stanley and Katherine Toftenmark had a pair of blocks. 

When speaking with setter, Zulecia Cruz, on the team’s season performance, she says, “The main goals we wanted to accomplish this season were having effortless communication, getting 2% better each day, having a better overall record, and making sure we are having fun.” This has become apparent through the team’s hard work and dedication reflecting the scoreboard. 

The Eagles face their double-header season finale against Texas College this Saturday at noon. The team will also recognize members of its graduating class. 

Texas A&M University-Texarkana is hosting a ‘No Fear Career Fair’ on Friday, October 27th, the event will be held in Eagle Hall from 12pm-2pm. Boasting a variety of vendors, the event isn’t limited to a specific handful of majors, instead, it encompasses the wide range of talent that A&M offers. “We encourage all students to attend.” Says Tommy Tye, TAMUT’s College Experience Coach and lead coordinator of the event. “The event is open to all students and majors…You never know what the employers are looking for.” 

The goal of the event is to connect students with potential future employers in fields that align with course offerings at TAMUT. This can be a daunting challenge for students worried about making good first impressions. Tommy offers advice to students, “Face your fear and do it. Getting a job isn’t easy, but if you don’t face the discomfort you’ll never grow.” He continued, “The worst they can do is say no, and even if they do, you’ll have bettered your networking skills.” 

Tommy also recommends visiting booths from smaller companies, “Small local companies sometimes are even better than the big wigs when it comes to career opportunities. You just have to know where to look.” Some of the local businesses expected to be present are Christus Saint Michael’s, Texarkana Texas Police Department, and Ledwell Machinery.

Months of preparation allowed TAMUT to gather 19 vendors from outside of campus and 4 internal vendors for a total of 23 unique booths available for students to interact with. This year’s career fair differs from previous ones that had a smaller focus on just a few majors. After new research showed the ineffectiveness of focused events on smaller campuses, the Advising and Career Experience (ACE) team expanded the event to a campus-wide career fair. 

The team at ACE invites you to visit the No Scare Career Fair and network with potential future employers. Any questions or inquiries can be made by contacting Tommy at ttye@tamut.edu or by calling the ACE Center at (903)-334-6690. The ACE Center is located on the first floor of the UC building.