Arts & Culture | The Reporter

Hippie braids interwoven with daisies, black-armband protests for peace. “Galaga” sounds emanating from glowing arcades, Walkman wires and Coca Cola still being drunk from glass bottles. In the decades of the 1970s and ‘80s, the era when most of our ‘latchkey kid’ parents were wearing starchy denim and talking to each other via curly phone cords, the world saw much innovation and change. Vietnam sparked an entire subculture in itself, and frizzy, teased hair was the move. Wit

In the heart of historic downtown DeLand stands the Athens Theatre, designed in 1921 by Orlando architect Murray S. King. Over a century later, the Athens still stands as a landmark of creative art and performance. As time moves forward, the stories told on the stage of the Athens have become more necessary than ever.

It’s the eve of your final exam and, so far, you’ve played your part well. You studied until you and the stars set the scene for the perfect night’s sleep – pillows propped, curtains closed, textbook on your nightstand, prepared for when you wake from your slumber and realize you forgot to review page 67. What could possibly go wrong? Somehow, you still ended up doom-scrolling on Instagram reels until 3 a.m. and woke up to the sun shining like a spotlight on the tragi-comedy

Remember "Stranger Things"? The Netflix original show has become a cornerstone of contemporary culture ever since it premiered in 2016. Capturing the attention of 14 million adults during its first month, "Stranger Things" has brought with it a sweeping wave of nostalgia for the 1980s. Fashion, music and movies associated with the era experienced a significant resurgence in popularity. However, contemporary culture has become heavily influenced, if not entirely defined, by no

The world is a rapidly changing place, and one way or another we move along with it. What is something of the past that has made you who you are and how do you hold onto and celebrate those aged parts of you as time passes?

Just as the cup-bearer Hebe proffered divine nectar to immortalize the Olympian gods, beauty and skincare companies of the modern age are seducing us with the same siren song of youth. If you walk into any given Ulta or Sephora nowadays, you’ll find yourself bumping elbows with a ten-year-old carrying armfuls of fuchsia-capped Drunk Elephant bottles. She will most likely have a mother trailing behind her, debit card ready to be wiped clean. In our current hyperfeminine era of

The legend of Zeus is one of the world’s most well-known stories. The all-powerful god who sits at the head of the table on Mt. Olympus; his name is synonymous with leadership, power and justice. On Stetson’s campus, we have Zeuses of our own – not ones that reign from a cloud, but from the executive boards of organizations with leaders who oversee aspects of student life.

Back when the world was dark and the cold was suffocating, a legendary figure brought fire down from the gods, ensuring the comfort and continued survival of the human species. A titan of great empathy towards mortals, Prometheus paid the ultimate sacrifice for his selflessness. Those familiar with the myth may aptly assume that the aforementioned sacrifice for bringing fire was the eternal torture he faced as punishment. While the physical toll of a liver-eating eagle is cer

Stepping onto a college campus is stepping into modern-day mythology, and Stetson University makes this quite clear. Its columned buildings tower like the temples of Corinth, pantheons of professors lecture on the ancient gods of academia and Stetson’s very  presence earned DeLand fame as the “Athens of Florida.” What leads today’s students through the labyrinth of education, however, are not muses – they are just “majors” and “minors.” Yet, recent statistics from the U.S. De

I always felt intimidated as a woman to train for self-defense. I had accepted a life where I would walk down dark streets on trepid alert, mace and a safety alarm equipped in my bag. I always wanted to learn to fight but I grew up in an early 2000s world where the representation of strong female fighters was mostly fictional and overly sexualized. The girls I knew who trained in self-defense sports, like wrestling or karate, were such a rarity that I worshipped them as akin

Myths are powerful. They shape institutions, movements, and even our own identities. In this issue, we delve into the mythos that surrounds student life, from the narratives we inherit to the ones we invent. Consider this an invitation to question the stories that claim to define you. Which myths are you ready to build up or break down? 

Whether it’s cancel culture, the block button or a point to the door, we all fear that moment in a conversation where you can tell the person across from you is absolutely over it.  While I cannot make any promises that your friend will hear you out the next time you hate their favorite food or that the family dinner table will be a great place to be when politics comes up at Thanksgiving dinner, I can offer a few tricks to help you with the art of debate. 

Netflix released the lifestyle television series “With Love, Meghan” March 4. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, continues to defy royal family norms as we see the former actress on Netflix, tying on an apron and returning to her television roots. Thanks to the binge-watching of viewers like me, the eight-episode series made the streaming giant’s “Top 10” list in the United States within a mere day of being available. People love to hate on the series, but I will shamelessly say

College Media Association Reflection Projects 2025 New York, Feb. 2025 This past February, four small-town college kids braved the ‘Big Apple’ in all its bedazzling glory. Each year, Stetson’s Hatter Network sends a select group of student journalists to represent The Reporter Magazine and WHAT Radio Station for the College Media Association convention (or ProCon), hosted in New York City. This year, Natalie McCoy, Nico Alonso, Colin Rhoads and I were among those lucky few to

Honoring the past, uniting the present and building for the future... I know, I know what you’re thinking — $6.7 million for a tower? Seriously?

Nowadays, journalists are continuously being told to play it safe. Time and time again, I have been told to “color inside the lines,” especially in the face of controversial topics and political issues. I understand why journalists and outlets have these conventions in place: personal safety, legal protection, or to maintain a neutral image. I guess some things are just not meant to make it to press.

Stetson students who enjoy getting tattoos might be looking for an after-hours fix. Whether their packed schedule prevents them from getting a tattoo during the day, they’re simply looking for a late-night thrill, or are somewhere in-between, these three DeLand tattoo shops can hook you up:

Like the flowers that indicate spring, the yearly edition of Touchstone Literary Arts Magazine is nearly in bloom. The campus organization is gearing up for its 45th issue, which will be released April 26. The magazine showcases students’ talents through multiple artistic mediums: poetry, prose, visual art and photography. The theme of this year’s magazine highlights all things whimsical, with a focus on the soft, tranquil and floral. This year’s theme is a stark contrast to

Before trends hit the mainstream, fashion gets co-opted, concerts sell out, and thrifty trinkets get resold online, there’s the underground. The ones who liked it before it was cool — at Stetson, this network of students can seem infinitely large and small, but all exist independently of each other while still being networked through shared interests and hobbies. From jam sessions to thrifted fits, Stetson’s underground scene doesn’t wait for permission to express itself and

“I love music more than anything. It is a wonderful way to relieve stress and inspire others to create and express themselves in a way that words cannot. It is one of my greatest joys to see other people experience that and, as a teacher in general, you get to see someone’s love for a subject inspired first-hand. As a music educator, you get to witness how people get their love for music. I feel like that’s more rewarding than performing,” said Colin J. Rhoads ’27, an aspirin