Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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Mark and Roger express defiance toward paying rent. Tine production kept audience attention with loud music and participation, pnoio by Mike Dye Characters Mark and Roger are shocked to hear their landlord is shutting down their building unless they come up with past due rent. The roommates supported a protest their friend Maureen demonstrated, photo by Mike Dye After being mugged. Collins retreats to Mark and Roger ' s apartment. The struggles each character encountered were what brought them closer as friends, photo by Mike Dye Features 27

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costly .life struggles Racy performance causes conflicting audience views. by Megan Heuer Students and community members packed Mary Linn and watched two hours of song and sometimes suggestive motion as actors told the story of friends encountering poverty, satire, death and love. Encore Performances presented Broadway ' s touring musical Rent Oct. 20 at Mary Linn Performing Arts Center to audience members anxious to see such a big act close to home. I absolutely love it, Jaennie Schaffer said. It ' s better than I expected it to be. Schaffer said the bigger, the better when it came to bringing entertainment to campus. Schaffer said even though the show upset some of the older viewers because of the content, but it was an unbelievable show. I think it ' s going really well, Ashley Cunningham said. I ' m kind of worried about reactions because it ' s such a small conservative town. But, I think it ' s something they need to see, and so, in that way, it ' s a good thing. The story began in New York City where characters Roger and Mark were struggling to make rent payments to former roommate and current landlord Benny. Benny was attemptingto turn their building into a high-tech cyber-arts studio. As other friends pushed their way into the action, love unfolded between numerous characters through melodic passion and an occasional outburst of rock style expression. There were several scenes with sex as the obvious topic. Some audience members were caught off guard by the racey content and open sexuality of the show. I was really surprised, I felt like one of those 4-year-old kids that has some one whisper ' sex ' and I ' m like ' Oh my God, ' Nathan Smith said. After Mark and Roger ' s friend Maureen attempted a protest to rescue the building. Throughout, humor and audience participation never failed to keep everyone on the edge of their seats and lighten the seriousness of the situation. After intermission, Seasons of Love, the most notable song from Rent, brought audience members back to their seats for Act Two. Following was a moment no satire could lighten when Angel, Collins ' partner and friend to all, was lost to AIDS making the rest of the group realize the importance of love. The friends came together, after a year of trying to stay apart, to mend broken hearts, and the ending earned a standing ovation. Although most returned to their seats for the second act, some audience members left at intermission. To me it is not Broadway perfection at all. I ' m from the New York area, and 1 have seen a lot of shows, and I ' ve never walked out on one before, Missouri resident Ruth Gladstone said. Gladstone said the music and dance were not what she expected. Student Sarah Smith disagreed with those who left and said she believed it was time something like this made its way to campus. I ' m really glad it ' s here at Northwest. I ' m finally glad something came that has culture in it, Smith said. I think it ' s appropriate because it ' s on a college campus. I love it, I think it fits our age group and it fits what we do and how we act, and I love it. 26 rent DESIGNED BY I ASHLEE MeiA

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A stretch tor good health Traditional diets supersede fad diets and exercise remains key in weight loss. by Jessica Hartley Throwing out the Food Guide Pyramid, the basic nutritional guideline taught for years, students opted for low-carb fad diets of thick, juicy hamburgers wrapped in leafy lettuce and body bending stretches to stay healthy. Atkins and the South Beach low-carb diets became an American phenomenon in fad diets. Others looking for a change opted for Weight Watchers or the Zone Diet. But some, such as Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Science Jenell Ciak, were skeptical whether the diets were even effective. Most professionals discouraged fad diets as quick fixes and encouraged the use of the Food Guide Pyramid. The Pyramid was designed to show a healthy diet that could be obtained from a variety of foods, Ciak said. The most important diet is one that supplies all the nutrients you need to support or maximize ones quality of life, Ciak said. Most popular diets have a magic food, drug or activity that appeals to people. There is no magic involved. Ciak said the general public did not have the knowledge to makewise food choices, especially with the availability of low-nutrient-dense foods. Remember the Union is a commercial establishment. They only sell what the consumer will buy. It is like the healthy snack items in vending machines. They are not there because people don ' t buy them, Ciak said. Campus nutritionist, Molly Driftmier, said there were plenty of food choices available in the Student Union to keep students healthy, however. She said students came to college and were unfamiliar with making their own health decisi(ms and did not realize how to use what ' s available. Eating healthy is important, especially for college students, to keep your energy level up, Driftmier said. If you start now it ' s gonna be easier for the rest of your life. Students and community members focused on staying healthy not only through diet, but through exercise. Director of Athletics. Matt Johnson said students had a lot of resources available on campus to stay healthy, including intramural sports, the recreation center and the fitness center. The Maryville Community Center was another venue students opted for when looking for a unique way to workout. One type of workout was yoga, an ancient art used to harmonize the body, mind and spirit. It involved deep breathing and slowly stretching into various positions. The practice of yoga makes the body strong and flexible. It also improves the function of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and hormonal systems, Maryville Community Center ' s recreations supervisor Jenny Wagoner said. Yoga brings about emotional stability and clarity of mind. Pilate ' s, another popular exercise, was a series of controlled movements that focused on improving flexibiUty and strength without adding bulk. I beheve that both yoga and Pilate ' s has become an evolution in health. Both methods have grown in interest and effectiveness over the years, Wagoner said. They both offer something unique and effective, which is whypeople have grown to like it. Wagoner said there were many benefits of exercise, like burning fat, exercising your heart, reducing stress, improving mood, boosting self- esteem, improving flexibility and improving overall body function. Nicole Cervantes, who attended Pilate ' s classes at the commiuiity center, agreed that exercising had its benefits, as well as eating right. The benefit of exercising is that I have more energy throughout the day and it keeps my body in shape. Cervantes said. I try to exercise and eat right every week because it makes me feel better overall about myself. 28 exercise DESIGNED BV | ASHLEE MeJIA