by CARLY BUZZARD
Staff writer

Entertainment for college students is guaranteed at Chisholm Auditorium Wednesday night as the psychology department hosts the movie “The Experimenter”.

Everyone was invited as psychology students laid out popcorn and pizza for those in attendance at Professor Appel’s movie night in Franks Hall.

Appel chose to use the movie night as a “teaching tool” to his psychology students.
Professor Appel is a professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, within the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences at Tiffin University.
Appel said the movie chosen, “The Experimenter: The Stanley Milgram Story”, was a “fairly accurate Hollywood depiction of psychology.”

“It’s very rare,” Appel said about the accurate depiction of psychology Hollywood made. He said Hollywood usually butchers the idea of psychology.

William Myers, a junior at Tiffin University, wishes to make psychology club an active club on Tiffin’s campus like it used to be.
Myers attended Appel’s movie night in curiosity of the movie along with his interest in psychology and desire to make the club active again.

“It should be intriguing,” Myers said.

Appel said he tries to put a movie night together each year based on Hollywood psychology-based films. He said Kyle Alvarez’s “The Stanford Prison Experiment” was shown as last year’s movie.
Madeline Olson, a Tiffin University psychology major, wants to see how the movie will relate to her interest in psychology.

I’m familiar with the experiment,” Olsen says, “I’m just curious to see how Hollywood portrays it.”

The movie night hosted by Appel serves as not only a teaching tool, but also a homework break for students.

“It’s nice to watch a movie based on your major,” said junior psychology student Allie Schirmer.

Schirmer intends to become the president of the psychology club if it becomes active again. Schirmer says the night should be good for the club.

This is a great opportunity for students to get together, spend some time out of the classroom, while becoming more educated about it from a different perspective.

“Psychology is more important than we think,” Appel said.

Hopefully the movie night plays part in making the psychology club great again.

by AMANDA TRAXLER
Staff writer

Tiffin University’s Theatre Arts program, also known as the Dragons Den Players, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The Player’s recently staged Neil Simon’s Rumors, which was the first show the theatre program staged here at the university.

When asked where the name Dragons Den Players came from, Dr. Mary Grennen, director of theatre arts, stated “The Dragon’s Den Players’ name was conceived by Joe Knipe, who has designed the sets for all of our productions, since 2007.”

In over one decade, the theatre department has staged 23 productions and has given hundreds of thespians and thousands of audience members the opportunity to enjoy theatre on the TU campus. “Though it is always sad to see our veterans graduate, I assure them that they are always welcome in the Den and hope that they continue to be active in theatre wherever they live,” Dr. Grennen said.

When it comes to selecting a show to stage, the process involves a series of decisions involving staging requirements, casting, technical demands, space, and a fair amount of conjecture with regard to audience response, she said.

“I have been fortunate so far to have selected 23 plays that have all been extremely well-received,” she said.

The set that was used for this semester’s performance of Rumors is only slightly different from the set that was used in 2007. When the show was originally staged, a higher platform was used that required twice the number of stairs. “The first set didn’t even have a rug on the set, and, quite frankly, I’d like to see our present stage rug be replaced with a new one, as it has ‘seen better plays’” Dr. Grennen said.

Though she enjoys every play that she directs, she has always considered Rumors to be one of her favorite modern comedies.  She also said that the enjoyment of educational theater truly lies in seeing these young actors bring their own flavor to the parts and reap the rewards of acting before a live audience after the long hours they have rehearsed on early weekend mornings throughout the semester. 

“I also believe that many of our actors, set builders, painters, and production crew have no idea how talented they are, and how much they bring to our campus. We are a family, and every single person named in our play programs contributes significantly to the final product,” Dr. Grennen also said.

She chose to revive the first play done by the theatre department was chosen two years ago when she knew that she could cast it with the actors she had.

“It has a fast-paced script, side-splitting humor and vibrant characters.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see an already performed play with a new cast and new crews,” she said.

by ALEX BEGLEY
staff writer
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Netflix released the second season of its show A Series of Unfortunate Events. The show is based on Lemony Snicket’s book series of the same name and is further evidence of the success Netflix has adapting source material.
   
The second season followed up a well-received first series with more critical acclaim. Much of its success can be attributed to its great casting. Neil Patrick Harris, best known for his role as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother, brings a fantastic performance as the antagonist Count Olaf. His presence on-screen is dominating and he manages to bring to life the zany and cartoonish villainy of Count Olaf. This is thanks in part to his Broadway background, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
   
The young Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes also put forth amazing performances, representing the siblings Violet and Klaus Baudelaire. Along with their baby sister, Sunny, they are the protagonists of the show. It is easy to immediately empathize and feel sympathetic for them which keeps you interested in watching them as they go on a long and tortuous journey. Joining them are a variety of interesting supporting characters, many of which are played by major guest starring actors, such as Will Arnett, Cobie Smulders and Nathan Fillion among others.
   
The stories’ unique combination of dark yet quirky humor is masterfully brought to screen. It provides a great show for kids while also having deeper life lessons behind its admittedly cheesy jokes. Snicket’s whacky characters and settings are mixed with real life struggles. Twisted motives, ignorance to wickedness, and even death are no strangers to the show. Yet it still remains comedic by almost making fun of its own depressing nature. The genius comes in that it is a story full of tragedy that keeps you searching for the hope that, despite everything, things will get better.
  
If you are searching for another show to binge watch on Netflix, A Series of Unfortunate Events is a good candidate. Let your inner child out, get a good laugh, and be grateful that its series of events have not befallen you.