Ciera Britton, Lion’s Eye Editor, clb434@psu.edu

Brandywine was introduced to Green Dots, a part of the university wide program called Stand for State.

“Be more positive, Green Dot,” Danielle Smith, a student at the presentation, said.

Stand for State was created to give students information on how to respond and remain calm and confident in order to avoid intensifying a bad situation. Two hundred Penn State employees have been trained to date on the program created by Penn State President Eric Barron’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

The goal of Stand for State is to infuse constructive and encouraging ways of handling problematic issue that occur on and off campus.

The main concept is based off of two color dots: Red Dots and Green Dots. Red Dots are acts of violence such as interpersonal violence, stalking, hitting, rape, and other accounts of assault or unwanted touching. Green Dots are influential and positive choices that protect individuals.

Individuals involved in interpersonal violence can involve others in an already dangerous situation and understand how to approach and diffuse the situation. The Green Dots help students understand what to do when a Red Dot situation occurs and how to remain safe themselves.

Throughout the presentation tactics were explained such as how to defuse situations and how to be proactive. The crowd was taught how to distract, as well as given everyday examples of being a Green Dot. Some examples of being a Green Dot are to serve as the designated driver, call for help when one sees something suspicious, or call a friend over if a situation seems uncomfortable.

Students were also shown how to assertively approach a suspicious person to determine safety. If an individual is nervous about approaching a situation directly, leaders explained there is nothing wrong with drawing attention away from it in order to turn a Red Dot situation into a Green Dot situation.

Stand for State’s program explains that bystanders also have an obligation in a Red Dot situation to save themselves, while trying to prevent harm. With a Green Dot involved, no one has to get hurt.

Students were encouraged to spread awareness of the campaign in several ways like wearing a Stand for State pin as representation in order to draw attention and encourage questions and involvement about the program.

Many people do not speak out in fear of being harmed themselves. A presentation on diversions and continuing the spread of Green Dots was made more crucial by this program. The message: we must all stand together in order to speak up for and protect those who are unable to protect themselves.

To continue with the university’s cause of avoiding and preventing Red Dot situations, a Stand for State Leadership Institute training session will be held on Saturday, April 16.

For more information, contact Ronika Money-Adams at rmm29@psu.edu or Stephanie Jones at snf120@psu.edu.

Story updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff

By: Michael McCarrick, Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu

There are times when the Oscars do not determine the best movie of the year. “Citizen Kane” is widely regarded as the greatest American movie ever made, but did it win Best Picture at the Oscars. It lost to some movie called, “How Green was My Valley,” which has since faded into obscurity. It’s not about what audiences look back as the most memorable and entertaining movie, but rather the most well-made and mature film that pleases critics. In fact, the only Best Picture winner that a majority of students reading this can say they saw is, “The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King.” Advice for students who want to become filmmakers: if you want to win an Oscar, make a movie about making movies, as three of the last four best picture champions have had some relation to the entertainment industry in “The Artist,” “Argo,” and “Birdman.”

There is also the issue of black Hollywood stars and filmmakers boycotting the Oscars because most of the nominations feature white actors. An example of their racial prejudice case is the fact that “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan did not get nominated for Best Actor while his white co-star Sylvester Stallone was nominated for Best Supporting Actor supposedly because the studio made a bigger push for his nomination.  Some will argue that the Academy and the studio have a prejudice about nominating for black actors. Maybe the most likely explanation is that Hollywood has failed to create roles and films for black actors and actresses that are worthy of Oscar consideration.

The times of Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington are beginning totransition to a new generation of black actors such as Michael B. Jordan and John Boyega from “Star Wars.” Soon those actors will be given roles that are Oscar worthy—and the need for this outcry will fade away. Nevertheless, for film fanatics it’s still fun to watch some of the best actors and filmmakers in the world come together and celebrate the year in movies. Whether it’s the performances of the best song nominees, the in memoriam segment, the memorable speeches or the fashion, The Oscars always have something memorable. In preparation for the big show, here are the films that will be celebrated this year at the 88th Academy Awards on February 28 at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. Expect host Chris Rock to make some hilarious remarks about the social situations the Oscars are experiencing.

“The Revenant”
Winner of Best Drama, Director, and Actor at the Golden Globes, “The Revenant” is primed to clean up at the Academy Awards with 12 nominations this year. And it might finally end the drought every film fanatic has been waiting for: Leonardo DiCaprio winning an Oscar. The film is a tale of survival and revenge in the 19th century with remarkable cinematography and incredible snowy landscapes.

“Spotlight”
Based on a true story, this is a dark and intriguing look at a group of reporters investigating Boston priests of child-molestation allegations. With a star-studded cast featuring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Ruffalo, this drama gripped viewers with the shocking information these reporters uncovered.

“Creed”
In Philadelphia sports, there are no dynasties, except for Rocky. The much beloved “Rocky Balboa” franchise that started in 1976 has been passed down to a new generation with “Creed,” which tells the story of Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) moving to Philadelphia to become a professional boxer like his father before him, having the old man himself (Sylvester Stallone) train him. Stallone’s performance has already won him a Golden Globe and might give him his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, the first he won for writing the original Rocky.

“Mad Max: Fury Road”
The unlikeliest of Oscar contenders, “Fury Road” is a reboot of the violent “Mad Max” series made popular in the 1980s with Mel Gibson. Tom Hardy takes the reigns as Max, but it’s Charlize Theron’s performance as Furiosa that steals the show. What makes this film a cinematic masterpiece is the incredible shot action and spectacular practical effects from director George Miller, who filmed the original “Mad Max” films. Nicholas Hoult also has a great performance as the deformed Nux. Expect this to be the movie to take home all the technical awards such as visual effects, cinematography and sound.

“Bridge of Spies”
What’s more Americana than a Cold War era movie starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg? It’s like Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr working their magic together in the first Super Bowl. This time Hanks plays a lawyer who has to defend American soldiers accused of becoming spies for Communist Russia. The trial takes place in one of the most dangerous parts of the world at that time–East Berlin.

“Brooklyn”
Best Actress nominee Sairose Ronan, who is just old enough to be a senior in college, has already been nominated for an Oscar when she was a mere 13-year-old for “Atonement.”  In this film, she plays a 1950s Irish immigrant who comes to America to live on her own; she is quickly torn between staying in her homeland and making a new life for herself in Brooklyn.

“Carol”
Cate Blanchett is becoming as royal to the Academy as Meryl Streep, as she and her co-star Rooney Mara are both nominated as lesbian lovers during the early 20th century. Blanchett plays Carol Aird, a housewife who is threatened with losing custody of her daughter because of her relationship with another woman (Mara). Kyle Chandler and Sarah Paulson are also featured.

“Straight Outta Compton”
One of the most popular movies of the year, “Straight Outta Compton” tells the true story of the rise and fall of one of the most famous and influential rap groups of all time: N.W.A. This rags-to-riches story follows members such as Dr. Dre, Ice Cube (played uncannily by his son) and Eazy-E. Themes of police brutality and minority suppression ring true with audiences today, making it the perfect time to tell the story of N.W.A.

“Room”
This gripping drama is about a young woman (Brie Larson) who was kidnapped and incarcerated for years while giving birth and raising her son. When the two finally find a way to escape, they now have adapt to the world outside, especially the boy, whose whole world thus far was confined to one room. The talented Larson is a favorite to win Best Actress.

“The Big Short”
Any movie featuring the team of Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell is bound to attract attention at the Oscars. The film takes a look at the beginning of the 2008 housing market crisis and the uncovering of the Wall Street brokers corruption that led to its collapse, all foreseen by Bale’s genius character. The film is fast-paced with snappy dialogue and brutally honest humor.

“The Martian”
The winner for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globes, “Alien and Blade Runner” director Ridley Scott returns to science fiction. Scott adapts the best-selling novel about an astronaut (Matt Damon) being left behind on Mars and forced to survive relying solely on his wits as he awaits rescue, which takes a couple years. Both humorous and dramatic, “The Martian” is a rare sci-fi movie, not based on a film-franchise, that has become a classic.

“Joy”
Fans of “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle” will probably be a fan of “Joy” as the stars and director of said movies have reunited to make another run at the Oscars. Jennifer Lawrence plays the titular character who goes through some rough patches to find success as the inventor of the Miracle Mop in spite of her overbearing family, including her father (Robert De Niro). Bradley Cooper also co-stars with Lawrence again, though not as her romantic partner, but as her boss.

“The Danish Girl”
Last year, Eddie Redmayne won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance as Steven Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.” This year, he’s campaigning for a repeat, as he portrays an artist in the early 20th century who decides to become a woman. His wife, played by Alicia Vikander, is also nominated for Best Actress for the film and Best Supporting Actress for “Ex Machina.”

“Inside Out”
The slam-dunk for Best Animated Feature seems to be this film. “Inside Out” dives into the mind of a young girl’s brain, showing her emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, fear and disgust personified. It’s up to them to give her the right balance of emotions in order for her to be a functional human being. Pixar’s latest classic does what it does best —humor and entertain both children and adults… and make them cry.

“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”
The only movie on this list that a majority of students saw last year, “The Force Awakens” rejuvenated the biggest pop culture phenomenon in the world by being visually stunning, emotional and genuinely fun. Nominated for five Oscars, it won’t win a lot of awards, but it’ll be remembered as the movie everyone went to see and loved in 2015. The other nominated films were well-made, but “Star Wars” was a movie that had the “Wow!” factor.

By: Michael McCarrick, Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu

One of Brandywine’s unique opportunities for students is the study abroad program.

It’s a one-week trip to a country in Europe which provides students with a taste of culture from another continent. Last year, Brandywine students had a fantastic voyage in Greece, where they experienced its scenic views and ancient history.  Before that, trips to London and Italy gave students a refreshing taste of culture and inspired their imagination.

This Spring Break, Penn State Brandywine will have three trips going on simultaneously: Ireland, Paris and Cuba. The trip to Paris was originally going to be held over Thanksgiving break last semester; because of the terrorist attacks, it was changed to March 6-13 for the safety of the students.

There are various classes for students to take, depending on the trip.  Each class appeals to students of almost any major or minor.  Students going on the trip to Paris are enrolled in either Introduction to the Arts in Paris led by Professor Dr. Paul Green, Black American Writers taught by Dr. Kimberly Blockett or Cross Cultural Psychology by Dr. Pauline Guerin.  Each course is worth three credits and the work for each class is online.

For Ireland’s Spring Break trip on March 4 to 12 there are several different courses including: Family Disorganization, Wellness Theory, Irish Art and Philosophy and the Foundations of Linguistics. Linguistics professor Evan Bradley is excited for the Ireland trip and speaks about the trip’s purpose.

“In a general sense, the whole concept is giving exposure to the world and other cultures,” Bradley said.  “In an academic sense for linguistics, we can do research for the difference in the pronunciation of words in another culture, and get a wider view on things worldwide.”

The Cuba trip on March 5 to 12 is for students taking courses in Civic and Community Engagement or Ethics and the Design of Technology. Art History Professor Dr. Paul Green describes that experience.

“You could take multiple courses for one trip and have the opportunity to graduate with a minor in International Studies,” Green said.  “It would look great on any student’s resume.”

Students who were unable to travel this semester can look forward to future trips. Those who want to keep in touch with the program and find more information about it can go to the website brandywine.psu.edu/global-programs. Each trip costs less than $2500, which is affordable.

No matter what trip each student is participating in, it will be an experience he or she will not regret.

Updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff

Meghan Burton, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, mcb@psu.edu

The 2016 Penn State Brandywine women’s softball team might be young but they are hungry.

The team is led by head coach Mark Caserta and assistant coaches Christine Mattis and Clarissa Harris.

Caserta’s coaching style focuses on positive energy and encouragement. Captain Julia Allman (Broomall, Pa./ Marple Newtown) explains how his style works.

“He has so much confidence in every single player, from the beginning to the end of the season,” Allman said.

This positive coaching style and a young team filled with talented players led the team to finish the 2015 season on a high note, as the team claimed the PSUAC softball title.

Some key players that played a part in that victory and are returning this spring could be called the fabulous five. These women are all sophomores looking to defeat their biggest rival Penn State Hazelton again. They include: Katie DeStefano (Kennett Square, Pa. / Kennett), Julie Foeldes (Kendall Park, N.J. / South Brunswick), Robynn Gannon (Lansdowne, Pa. / Archbishop Prendergast), Jen Patterson (Springfield, Pa. / Springfield) and 2015 All-American Katy Steffen (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West).

“Our team as a whole is an awesome unit, because we click on the field and are all such good friends,” Foeldes said.

Following up on this upcoming season, the team is looking forward to numerous things.

“I am looking forward to seeing how well all of the new freshmen do on our team,” Allman said. “They all seem really aggressive and have love for the game.”

By: Joel Koshy, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, jxk5149@psu.edu

Senior Meaghan Paige is hoping to put together a fashion show at Penn State Brandywine by April of this year.

The Brandywine senior majoring in Communications Arts and Sciences is motivated to act.  And that motivation to work in fashion is deeply rooted. Paige’s passion for fashion began as a young girl; she always had a passion to sketch clothes during her free time and travel which has also had a huge impact on her career plans.

Paige believes that hard work and dedication is key, and has helped her to pursue a career in the fashion industry. It wasn’t always easy for Paige. Her first job was at a local Quizznos, putting together subs for hungry customers. The money she saved up she would buy supplies for her clothing line.

In the fall of 2015, her hard work truly paid off. She had the opportunity to display her clothing line during the New York Fashion week.

“It was a great experience to see the variety of artists who were at the show, and it definitely helped me get a better understanding of the fashion industry,” Paige said.

Since then she’s been wanting to put together a show for her fellow peers at Brandywine. Right now, she’s talking with clubs on campus to help her put together this event. She would like to make this a free event for all students and faculty on campus to help her brand.

The clothes that she plans to put on display would be the same as the ones she displayed during the New York Fashion week. The goal is to put together this show by April, before she graduates in May. Paige said it would be a huge personal achievement for her and her business.

By: Deja Footes, Lion’s Eye Editor, dmf5475@psu.edu

Students can design a newspaper, can attend on-campus events and can interview faculty, staff and students.

These activities describe what happens in 205 Main on Mondays and Wednesdays during common hour. Students are learning journalism in a hands-on environment and are earning credits too. If you are looking for some extra credits and have a passion for writing and journalism, COMM 001/002 Newspaper Practicum and Editing is the class for you!

For those who aren’t familiar with COMM 001/002, it is a newspaper class/club. Students can take this as a class for either 1 or 3 credits, or as a club just for fun. Your grade is based on writing, photography, editing and other contributions to creating the student newspaper, The Lion’s Eye. The bonus is it’s hands-on learning for how to become a journalist. This is a perfect way to get involved in student life.

A student is required to attend campus events of his/her choice, interview participants and report on it. There is also the chance to write about exciting TV shows, politics, sports or any other topic that could be potentially interesting, all with a PSU Brandywine audience in mind.

The class meets in 205 Main on Mondays and Wednesdays during common hour. Stop by to see what is going on and to meet the staff.

Updated by Lion’s Eye Web Staff