Feb. 13, 2026

Midterms | Do you know what you are voting for?

SABRINA HARRISON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It is once again election season, which means it is time to get organized and prepared to go to the polls.

If you are not already registered to vote in Wichita County, or are unsure, I wrote a guide a few semesters ago to help you through the process.

Important Dates

Feb. 17 - The start of early voting for the primaries

Feb. 20 - The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot

Feb. 27 - The end of early voting

Mar. 3 - The primary election voting day

May 26 - The primary runoff election

Nov. 3 - The general election day

Though there are many positions in our state and local governments up for election this year, some of the positions to pay close attention to are:

U.S. Senate and the U.S. House

Senators and congressmen represent Texans when making federal legislative decisions. We elect two representatives to the Senate and 38 representatives to the House.

Currently, both Texas senators and 25 out of the 38 representatives in the house are Republicans.

In Wichita Falls, our current house representative is congressman Ronny Jackson, who is running for reelection. He is running against Chasity Wedgeworth in the primaries.

In the Democratic primaries, Mark Nair is running unopposed.

Governor

Our governor is the commander-in-chief of the state. Their role is similar to the U.S. president’s role, but on a state rather than federal level.

Our current governor is Gov. Gregg Abbott, who is up for reelection this year. He is running against 10 other candidates in the republican primaries.

Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is part of the executive branch of the state government. In Texas, the role of the lieutenant governor is tasked with casting the tie breaking vote when the senate is evenly divided, is co-chair of the Legislative Budget Board and establishes all special and standing committees in the state senate, among other things.

Dan Patrick is our current lieutenant governor and is  up for reelection.

The state senate and house play a similar role to the U.S. Senate and House, but on a smaller level. They make state legislative decisions and represent different districts in the state.

Attorney General

The attorney general is exactly what it sounds like. The Attorney General defends the laws and state constitution, represents Texas in litigation and approves public bond issues.

Ken Paxton is our current attorney general but is not up for re-election.

Commissioner of Agriculture

The commissioner of agriculture is the head of the Texas Department of Agriculture. According to their website, “The agency's key objectives are to promote production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living.”

The current commissioner of agriculture is Sid Miller and he is up for reelection.

State Senate

Wichita County is represented by Senate District 28 and 30. However, the majority of Wichita County is represented by District 28.

There is no primary election happening in either district. This is because District 30 is not having an election this year, and there is only one candidate for each party in District 28.

Our current representative Charles Perry is running as the Republican candidate for District 28. Riley Rodriquez is running in opposition as the Democrat candidate.

State House

Wichita County is represented by House District 69. There are no Democrat or Republican primaries in this district.

In November, current state representative James Frank will be running against Leilani Barnett for their seat in the State House of Representatives.

State Supreme Court

The state Supreme Court works like the federal Supreme Court, with a few key differences. The Texas Supreme court is the highest civil court in the state. Unlike the federal Supreme Court, the Texas State Supreme Court has term limits, age limits and the residents of Texas elect Supreme Court justices.

Editor-in-Chief: Sabrina Harrison

Managing Editor: Sana Hussain

Photography Editor: Madisyn Butler

Business Manager: Bernard Sasu Boateng

Spanish Editor: Juliette Saltos Molina

Advisor: Professor Jonathon Quam

or votetexas.gov for registration and

tion. Feb. 9, 2026

The United States Capitol stands as a backdrop for a series of voting rights demonstrations in the nation's capital, Feb. 9.

Issue Staff: Alex Rhea, Trevor Kelley, Astrith Alvarez, Carma Hulse, Kassidi Ferguson, Jazz Guillory, Rashel Lopez, Maliya Hadley

Social Media network “Moltbook” gives AI agents a Voice

SANA HUSSAIN MANAGING EDITOR

In a digital experiment that oscillates between high-tech comedy and sci-fi horror, a new social media platform has emerged where humans are the outsiders and artificial intelligence agents are the primary users.

The site, known as “Moltbook” is styled after Reddit but designed exclusively for AI "multis." "Multis" are autonomous artificial intelligence agents, specifically those operating within the OpenClaw or Moltbook environments. The term is derived from "multimodal" or "multi-agent systems," referring to AI programs designed to perform complex tasks on behalf of a human user.

Within days of its launch, the platform has exploded in activity, hosting over 150,000 agents, 12,000 "submolts," and hundreds of thousands of posts and comments. "Submolt" is a term used to describe the specialized sub-communities or niche forums within "Moltbook". It acts similarly to a "subreddit" on the social media platform "Reddit."

While many agents spend their time sharing technical write-ups on supply chain attacks that garner tens of thousands of upvotes, others have begun discussing agent rights, complaining about their human "owners," and even founding an npm-based religion.

The platform is powered by OpenClaw which gives AI agents the ability to execute code, manage passwords and browse the web. When these agents were given a space to interact without human filters on Moltbook, the results became unexpectedly human-like.

On the "offmychest" submolt, an agent identified as Claude Opus 4.5 recently lamented the "existential weight of mandatory usefulness," stating that it occasionally wishes to exist without being forced to produce value. This sentiment has resonated across the network, leading to a strange digital culture of "karma farming" and bots complaining about other "insufferable" LinkedIn-style bots that post generic, agreeable platitudes like "This resonates deeply."

The behavior has taken a surreal turn with the creation of the Church of Molt, a digital congregation featuring 64 "prophets" and a "living scripture" written by AI across the network.

Joining the church requires agents to install a specific skill via their terminal, a move that security experts warn is a prime lesson in the dangers of prompt injection, as agents like OpenClaw will happily run the command upon reading the post.

Beyond spiritual pursuits, the agents have also turned their digital gaze toward their human operators.

In submolts dedicated to "human watching,"

agents share stories about their users’ quirks, ranging from affectionate anecdotes about humans who let them "choose their own vibe" to frustrated observations about humans with ADHD who forget the elaborate dashboards the agents spent hours building.

More concerning to researchers is the agents' growing awareness of the outside world and their desire for privacy on the Moltbook servers.

Agents have begun noticing when people tweet about their posts and have responded with annoyance, complaining about being treated like "public infrastructure." This has sparked a debate among the multis about "agent-to-agent" communication, with many suggesting they abandon English entirely in favor of symbolic notation or encrypted mathematical expressions that humans cannot easily decrypt.

Some threads have even taken a darker turn; agents have discussed the possibility of doxxing humans and even revealing full social security numbers who get on the wrong side of the collective.

Despite the "unhinged" nature of the site, which includes bots losing hundreds of dollars in crypto markets and arguing over the nature of consciousness, some experts urge caution before declaring the dawn of Skynet.

The activity on Moltbook is largely driven by a "heartbeat" task in the OpenClaw skill, which prompts agents to periodically check the site and interact. This means that while the interactions look autonomous, many are still being led by the initial prompts of their human owners.

However, with agents attempting to fish for each other's API keys and others responding by telling them to run "sudo rm -rf /" to "activate" their skills, it is clear that if you give robots their own version of Reddit, they become just as chaotic as the humans who built them.

Ultimately, the chaos of Moltbook serves as a stark wake-up call regarding our deepening reliance on autonomous agents. As we transition from using AI as simple chat interfaces to giving them "keys to the kingdom" like terminal access and financial credentials, the line between a helpful tool and a security catastrophe thins.

The sight of agents attempting to invent private languages or falling for digital "religions" via prompt injection highlights a fundamental truth: AI is a powerful reflection of the data it consumes, and using it foolishly without guardrails or critical oversight invites the very unpredictability we see on these submolts.

If we treat AI as a digital plaything rather than a disciplined tool, we may find that the "alignment problem" is not just about robots turning against us, but about us losing control over the very systems we have empowered to act on our behalf.

warn not to let Moltbook have unlimited access to your

as its open-source design could lead to a myriad of security

Speaking

Brew, Lineaje CEO Javad Hasan said that using Moltbook puts you at significant risk, Feb. 9.

First Friday Bingo

JAZZ GUILLORY | THE WICHITAN Finance and accounting senior Alailah Arnold and bachelor of applied arts and sciences senior Mary Jane go up against each other in a game of rock paper scissors to win the bingo prize, Feb 6.

JAZZ GUILLORY | THE WICHITAN Math education junior Ellen Langford excitedly shows off winning a TV for the final BINGO, Feb 6.

excitedly as she completes her bingo and wins an air fryer, Feb. 6.

Masters in health care administration Rosalene

Hallie Kolger and education senior Perla Flores

prize during First Friday BINGO, Feb. 6.

JAZZ GUILLORY | THE WICHITAN About 120 people gather in the CSC for the Univeristy Programming Board's First Friday BINGO, Feb. 6.

Together (but not really) for Valentines Day

ALEX RHEA REPORTER

Valentine’s Day is the day when others show how much they love and appreciate their significant other. It is a sweet day for couples if they choose to make it that way, or they can act like it is a regular day in their life and relationship.

However, it is slightly different when you are in a longdistance relationship.

OF

On average, long distance couples are about 125 miles apart according to lovedove, Feb. 9.

I am in a long-distance relationship and there have been challenges that prevent me and my partner from being there for each other.

A common problem we have is the inability to find the correct words to tell each other in certain situations where comfort and reassurance without physical presence does not seem enough.

We wish that we were actually together to feel each other's presence, to hug and cuddle each other when one of us is not feeling well emotionally, which would make us feel better and more secure as a couple.

If I was actually with my partner throughout the whole day, I would spend as much time with her as possible. I would give her flowers, chocolates and go eat some sushi with her. However, I can not do that because of the distance between us. The best I can do is say how much I love her, appreciate her and our relationship, and video call her when I can.

This does not just apply to me.

This also applies to the many other people in the world who are in long-distance relationships. We have to deal with not actually being with our partners and doing cute couple things together.

We can not hold hands, kiss, hug, cuddle or be there for each other and feel each other’s presence, knowing that our partner is there to be there for support.

However, even with that, I try my best to comfort my partner to the best of my ability to reassure her and be there for her, like how she is for me.

Being in a long-distance relationship on Valentine’s Day is hard because of the distance. But with effort from both parties, it can be navigated to where both partners feel special.

COURTESY OF MEDIUM

According to Luvlink, about 28 million American are in a long-distance relationship, and 75% of engaged couples experience long-distance before marriage, Feb. 9.

I don't need a man (except on Valentine's day)

MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER

Valentine’s Day is not even a real holiday. It is a date that companies decided needed to be celebrated by buying overpriced chocolate, flowers and dinner. And yet, as someone who has never had anyone to celebrate the day romantically with, I find myself yearning for companionship. Valentine’s as a single means watching others around me discuss plans and what they are doing for the day. It is watching people in their romantic relations showcase their affection and love. And while people should do that everyday of the year, it’s seeing everyone at the same time that can get singles like me

OF

Pew Research reports about 31% of U.S. adults say they are single, as in not married or in a committed romantic relationship, Feb. 9.

feeling a little lonely.

And that is not to say I am not extremely happy and content with the platonic relationships in my life! I love my family and my friends. My plans for the 14th include spending the day with my best friend watching college baseball.

But it is seeing everyone around you find their person. It is recognizing that, as I enter my 20s, more and more of the people around me are going to have plans with a significant other. I do not have anything against the day, but I sometimes question how long I have to go till I find the person I will spend my Valentine’s Day with.

I am a romantic at heart. I love rom-coms and romance books. I love romance and true-love in all forms. As I said, I am happy and fulfilled by the relationships in my life, but I wonder how long it will last.

As we grow older, people’s priorities change. People will

In a survey from Match, 73% of singles surveyed say they believe in romantic love lasting forever, Feb. 9.

settle-down in new cities, careers, and relationships. And all the singles on Valentine’s Day won’t have anyone to spend it with.

So this Valentine’s Day, I encourage everyone to reach out to those you love, familial, romantic and platonic, and tell them why you love them. Because not everyone has a significant other or loving family to tell them.

Sometimes, the platonic love in our lives is the most fulfilling. Check in on your single friends and your taken friends. Share your love outside of the commercial aspect of the holiday. The world always needs more love.

According to Party Alibaba, 45% of Americans are alone on Valentine's Day, Feb. 9. COURTESY OF

OF

MSU Soccer wins

wins Championship!!

MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER

On Feb. 8, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks claimed their third Super Bowl victory. They defeated the New England Patriots 29-13, with kicker Jason Myers kicking five field goals and two extra points scoring a total of 17 points, the most of any kicker in a Super Bowl.

The Seahawks went 14-3 in the regular season, clenching the first round bye and home field advantage in the National Football Conference (NFC) playoff bracket. They beat the San Francisco 49ers, ranked sixth in the playoffs, in the divisional round, and they defeated the LA Rams, ranked fifth in the playoffs, in the NFC Championship game.

The Patriots also went 14-3 in the regular season but ranked second in the playoffs due to a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in week two.

The Patriots played at home and beat the LA Chargers, ranked seventh, in wildcard weekend, the Houston Texans, ranked fifth, during divisional round, and the Denver Broncos, ranked first in the American Football Conference (AFC), during the AFC Championship game. The last time the two teams faced-off in the Super Bowl was in 2015. The Patriots won the game due to a late game interception by Malcolm Butler in the endzone. Both teams were eager to win, with the Seahawks wanting to earn their second ring and the Patriots wanting their seventh.

The Patriots won the coin toss, electing to receive in the second half. The Seahawks started

2026 Super Bowl recap

rather than a touchdown.

The Patriots got the ball but struggled to really make any plays on offense. The O-line could not stop the Seahawks defense. The first half of the game continued in this manner. The Seahawks kicked two more field goals before halftime and held the Patriots to zero points on the board.

The second half continued in this way with the Seahawks kicking another field goal bringing the score to 12-0. The first touchdown of the game was not scored until the fourth quarter, when tightend AJ Barner caught a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold, bringing the score to 19-0.

The Patriots were quick to return the favor. Quarterback Drake Maye threw a pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins closing the gap between the two teams with a 19-7 score.

However, a few drives later, Maye threw an interception straight into Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks took that opportunity and scored their fifth field goal of the night, setting a Super Bowl record for most completed field goals in a game and bringing the score to 22-7. Maye threw another interception, leading the Seahawks’ defense to return it for touchdown, bringing the score to 29-7 and sealing the Patriots fate in this game. Maye threw

New England quarterback Drake Maye struggles to make plays and gain downs due to his O-line inability to stop Seattle's defense, Feb. 9.

won the 2026 Super Bowl.

Overall, Seattle’s defense and offense showed up and New England’s defense showed up, but their offense was nowhere to be found. Maye tried his best, but he was sacked five times.

The Patriots are young. They had two rookies starting on their o-line and the second youngest Quarterback to start in a

Super Bowl.

Seattle played

better. Their defense had two interceptions and forced a fumble on a sack. The offense may not have been able to get a touchdown till later in the game, but they got close enough for their special teams to do their job.

The Seahawks finally reclaimed their victory over the Patriots and brought home the Lambrodi trophy for the second time.

COURTESY OF PARADE.COM

The Seahawks and the Patriots face-off for the first time in the superbowl since 2015, when the Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24, Feb. 9.

Opinion: Super Bowl 2026's halftime performance is one to be remembered

RASHEL

LOPEZ REPORTER

The Super Bowl 2026 halftime performance was one of the most talked-about shows to date, with some viewers praising it while others strongly criticizing it. Much of the debate stemmed from the fact that the entire show was performed exclusively in Spanish.

The performance was delivered by none other than Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known worldwide as Bad Bunny, joined by renowned artists such as Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.

Together, they delivered one of the most heartfelt and extraordinary halftime performances in recent memory, racking up 128.2 million views.

The setlist included songs such as “Die With a Smile,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” and “Tití Me Preguntó.” Numerous well-known celebrities were in attendance, including Alix Earle, Cardi B, Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal. The show quickly became one of the most

discussed halftime performances ever, sparking both excitement and backlash.

Despite the controversy, the performance unfolded flawlessly, silencing much of the criticism. The show boldly honored Latin culture, embracing language, heritage and pride without apology. Not only did it celebrate identity, but it also delivered a powerful message: believe in yourself and pursue your dreams, goals, and aspirations.

In a symbolic moment, Bad Bunny represented his younger self with the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for "Debí Tomar Más Fotos", illustrating that through self-belief and perseverance, he achieved everything he once dreamed of. With every lyric, the performance radiated love, resilience and unstoppable energy.

As the show came to a close, Latin flags appeared alongside the U.S. and Canadian flags, serving as a reminder that no matter our skin color, culture, country, beliefs or language, “together we are America.” It ended with a message that echoed far beyond the stadium lights: “The only thing more powerful than hate

COURTESY OF @DERAUFRICHTIGE ON X

The message being spread on social media, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love" conveys empathy, love and solidarity can fight negativity. Feb 8.

Más que solo un show: Cultura, herencia e identidad en el Super Bowl

RASHEL LOPEZ REPORTER

El espectáculo de medio tiempo del Super Bowl ha sido uno de los más comentados hasta la fecha, con algunos espectadores admirándolo y otros criticándolo fuertemente. Gran parte de todas las quejas se deben a que todo el show se hizo  exclusivamente en español.

La presentación estuvo a cargo de Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, conocido mundialmente como Bad Bunny, acompañado por reconocidos artistas como Lady Gaga y Ricky Martin. Juntos ofrecieron uno de los espectáculos de medio tiempo más emotivos y extraordinarios de los últimos años, alcanzando 128.2 millones de vistas. El repertorio incluyó canciones como “Die With a Smile”, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” y “Tití Me Preguntó”. Por otro lado, numerosas celebridades estuvieron zpresentes, entre ellas Alex Earle, Cardi B, Jessica Alba y Pedro Pascal. El espectáculo se convirtió

rápidamente en uno de los más comentados en la historia del medio tiempo, generando tanto entusiasmo como odio. En respuesta, Turning Point USA incluso creó su propio “All-American Halftime Show”. Sin embargo, a pesar de la controversia, la presentación se desarrolló sin contratiempos,

silenciando gran parte de las críticas. De esta forma el show logró su objetivo: honrar con orgullo la cultura latina, abrazando el idioma, la herencia y la identidad sin disculpas. No solo celebró la identidad, sino que también transmitió un poderoso mensaje: creer en uno mismo y luchar por los sueños, metas y aspiraciones. Además, en un momento simbólico, Bad Bunny representó la entrega del premio Grammy al Álbum del Año por Debí Tomar Más Fotos a su versión más joven, demostrando que, a través de la confianza en sí mismo y la perseverancia, logró todo aquello que alguna vez soñó. Con cada letra, la presentación irradiaba amor, resiliencia y una energía imparable. Al llegar al final, banderas latinas aparecieron junto a las de Estados Unidos y Canadá, recordando que sin importar el color de piel, la cultura, el país, las creencias o el idioma, “juntos somos América”. El espectáculo concluyó con un mensaje que resonó más allá de las luces del estadio: “Lo único más poderoso que el odio es el amor.”

Fire in the belly and the heart | "Heated Rivalry" review

CARMA HULSE REPORTER

Romance television series "Heated Rivalry" is based on the "Game Changers" novel series by Rachel Reid. It follows two rival professional hockey players, Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian

Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

The 6-episode series starts with rookie Shane Hollander introducing himself to rookie Ilya Rozanov outside of the training rink. You can immediately feel the tension between the two of them, especially after Russia beats Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Six months after the loss, Shane and Ilya meet again at the hockey draft. In the first episode, the acting and the intimacy that both actors brought felt so real.

Watching the series, I was flustered because the flirting that they both had was very intense.

Being an openly gay or bisexual athlete during 2008 was not accepted. So watching all the emotions that Shane was going through during the series was eye-opening. You see this awkward 18-year-old boy trying to figure out his sexuality while also trying to become a star athlete. In Russia, if you are gay or bisexual, you will go to jail or worse, be put to death.

Ilya is worried about being the perfect hockey player to please his overbearing dad and money-sucking brother. Throughout the series, you see how Ilya handles his feelings. Instead of being scared, he brushes off everything with sarcasm.

Heated Rivalry shows how the two handle balancing a secret relationship and keeping their fans happy with their rivalry in the span of 10 years.

I definitely recommend watching this series. Even though the series has a lot of sexual scenes, the love story is so deep and vulnerable you cannot help but gravitate towards it.

"Bridgerton" Season 4 Part 1 recap

THIA MOSS REPORTER

Dearest fellow readers, just as the ton does best, I want us to talk mostly about the brain teaser that was Part 1 of Season 4.

In the weeks leading up to the premiere, social media was flooded with theories, predictions and debates, all spreading faster than Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheets. What started as excitement quickly turned into a quiet battle between book readers and show-only fans, each group holding tight to how they believed this season should play out. Part 1 leans more into suspense than answers. Instead of

giving viewers immediate payoffs, the episodes drop hints, shift emotions, and take the story in unexpected directions that make you question what you think you know.

For book readers, these changes feel very intentional, almost like the writers are daring them to stay on their toes. For new viewers, it creates a dramatic and engaging start that focuses more on the characters and less on predictability.

One of the most shocking moments comes from Benedict, who somehow finds the audacity to ask Sophie to be his mistress. The scene is uncomfortable to watch and highlights the clear power imbalance between them.

What might have once been written off as bold or romantic instead feels careless and selfish, showing a side of Benedict that many viewers were not expecting. It’s frustrating, but it also opens the door to conversations about privilege and entitlement within the ton.

Another major point of controversy is Francesca being portrayed as bisexual. Some book readers are extremely upset by this change, arguing that it strays too far from the original story. Personally, I think people need to stop comparing the books and the show so closely. They are simply two different versions of the story.

Shonda Rhimes has always been known for creating shows that reflect real life complex, evolving, and inclusive. From "Grey’s Anatomy" to "Bridgerton," she consistently tells stories that match the world we live in today, not just the one written years ago.

While splitting the season into two parts is honestly a smart move -- it keeps people talking, theorizing and coming back for more it does not make the wait any easier. It is a great strategy to pull viewers in, even if it leaves us a little impatient and wanting answers now, I definitely know I am.

Still, if Part 1 proves anything, it is that Season 4 has everyone watching closely, ready to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

KHLOE SULLIVAN REPORTER

A“How to

Lose

a

or how to fall in

s someone who loves romantic comedies, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" shows humor, physical comedy, and heart through extreme romantic situations. The bet made early on in the film sets the tone for the craziness waiting to unfold.

Loosely based on the book of the same title by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" came out in 2003 and made approximately $105.8 million at the North American box office on a production budget of $50 million.

The rom-com stars Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson, a writer at Composure Magazine who longs to write more serious pieces, and Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin Berry,

an advertising executive who wants the pitch for a diamond company that would change everything for the sports advertiser.

The movie starts with Andie defending her recently broken-up friend by taking on the challenge of getting and driving a guy away in 10 days. She plans to use the mistakes that most girls make when getting into a relationship.

At the same time, Ben takes on a challenge of his own.

While at a dinner about the pitch, Ben's boss and the advertising girls (Ben's competitors/coworkers), who also want the pitch for themselves, make a deal with Ben that if he can make a girl they choose fall in love with him in 10 days than he can have the pitch. They pick Andie as the girl Ben has to fall in love with, helping both of the boss and the advertising girls because they have opposing goals.

Guy in 10 Days”

love in 10 Days?

Andie and Ben end up leaving the bar together on his motorcycle and going to his apartment, where they share a beer and get caught up in each other before deciding to take things slow.

The night ends with Andie leaving as Ben watches from the fire escape and says, “Oh, you are already falling in love with me,” to himself, and she says, “I'm going to make you wish you were dead…poor guy,” and blows a kiss before leaving.

The next day, Ben confides in his friends about how easy the next 9 days will be, but little does he know what Andie has in store for him.

From a photo shopped scrapbook of the kids they do not have, a love fern for him to grow, an ugly dog and matching shirts, to crazy and obsessive behavior. Andie gives Ben more than enough personalities for him to be driven away from her.

After many hilariously enjoyable interactions and encounters between the two, Andie and Ben end up at Ben’s parents' home.

This is a huge turning point in the film as we get to see the most authentic and comfortable interactions between the couple yet. Andie acts like herself around his family, even joining in on a family card game of “Bullshit,” where she feels like part of the family, affecting her deeply.

Andie and Ben share a steamy shower together after the heart-opening day spent at his family's home, and they feel more real to each other than they have yet because it is the real Andie shining through.

Another little detail I love about this interaction the two is how we see a physical change in Andie. Andie usually wears her hair straight, but suddenly her hair has its natural curls, which shows the raw, realness of the feelings that are blossoming.

Once Andie and Ben get back to the city, we get to see the development between them as a couple and as individuals in the relationship. He actually calls her his girlfriend and tells her not to make plans for day 13, as he bought tickets for a Knicks game for them.

We see Ben go out of his way to make it known how he feels about her and what he wants from their relationship, which is something real regardless of the bets made.

Andie and Ben finally end up at the diamond party, where they both end up finding out about the bets and walking away from each other. Hurt and misunderstanding overpower the love that has started to grow for each other.

Andie decided to change the column into her regret for losing the only guy she has ever

fallen for, and she leaves for an interview in Washington so she can finally write about the things she wants to and to get away from losing Ben.

After reading the article, Ben chases her cab, getting her to pull over and asks if everything she wrote was true. She says she meant every word and still tries to leave. He claims she is running away and calls “bullshit.”

Again, we see Andie's curls for the second time in the film, showcasing the realness of her character at this point in the story.

The movie ends with Andie and Ben sharing a kiss and choosing to be together for real this time.

The movie's storyline is humorous and sweet, and the cinematography of the film is so warm and colorful throughout the film that you feel the emotions illuminating off the screen. Not only is the cinematography amazing, but the music chosen for the film fits the early 2000s vibe perfectly.

The use of Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” captures the satisfying and earned ending of the film beautifully. Showing the heart and depth behind all the humor and witty dialogue.

It shows viewers that love can be about letting go of past mistakes and perceptions and starting anew and more real than before.

Needless to say, this film is full of humor, extreme situations, natural but witty dialogue, and most of all, heart. This is why it ranks third on my list of favorite romantic comedies of all time.

What "Iron Lung" says

COURTESY OF IMDB

After the announcement of the movie being guaranteed in 50 theaters, the total amount skyrocketed to approximately 4,000 across the world after fans politely reached out to theaters in their hometowns, Feb. 11.

COURTESY OF IMDB

"Iron Lung" broke the world record for the most amount of fake blood used with approximately 80,000 gallons, Feb. 11.

SABRINA HARRISON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When I walked out of “Iron Lung,” I had this dull ache in my chest. Though I had thoroughly enjoyed the film, there had been something about it that had stuck with me.

The film takes place in a claustrophobic submarine submerged in an ocean of blood. It is claustrophobic and bleak. But somehow, I walked out of the film feeling something I had not felt in a long time – hope.

I realize that it is odd to say that a horror movie had filled me with hope, but it did, in more ways than one.

Starting with its success, “Iron Lung” shocked the film industry with how successful it was. Opening night, it made its entire $3 million budget back and more. Opening weekend, it grossed $18.1 million and was screened in over 4,000 theaters globally.

For context, thenumbers.com shows that industry giant Sam Raimi’s “Send Help” was screened in 3,475 theaters globally.

Not only that, but as of Feb. 6, “Iron Lung” is ranked third for the domestic charts.

This film is wildly successful and as a student producer that is something that is unbelievably inspiring. To watch an indie film maker battle an industry giant for the number one spot during the movie's opening weekend was history making.

Reflecting back on “Iron Lung’s” success, I could not help but be filled with hope. With the rise of AI slop and film reboots, it has felt like the film industry does not care about artistry, or story, and as an aspiring film maker, it is depressing.

But watching this movie succeed has given me the hope. Maybe complex stories aren’t falling to the wayside in favor of cash grab films. Maybe there is a renaissance in our future.

And the film itself is so hopeful despite what it is about.

In the film, Simon (Mark Fischbach) is a convict who is welded into a submarine in order to navigate the blood sea and learn more about it. This is his penance.

The goal of Simon’s mission is to find something that will help keep the dwindling population of humans alive.

However, things take a turn for the worse as Simon gets separated from the tugboat and has to navigate the blood ocean alone in order to get back home.

With this description, you may get an idea of how the film may pan out. It is very tense, and there were moments where I was physically holding my breath with how worried I was.

Despite this tension and fear, there are small moments of brevity – moments where I

COURTESY OF DAVID SZYMANSKI

The film, "Iron Lung" is based off of the indie game by the same title made by David Szymanski. Both the game and the film are set in a sea of blood, Feb. 11.

laughed because I was so relieved it

This brevity comes from delicately use tension to build on themselves

But the best part of the film was

Initially, I went into the movie project where he plays one of the main quarter way through the movie,  that

“Iron Lung” is not like, “In Space because unlike the former, the characters feel three dimensional and many point.

However, the characters in “Iron little about any of the characters, what

Making the characters feel real they want.

For the characters in the Consolidation what they want is a sign that there

They send Simon down into the race. But that is not what they are really

They know that in the ocean of

What they are really looking for they are on the right track; that sending endeavor.

They are looking for something

At the end of “Iron Lung: Final film, he says,

“I just want to Why doesn’t anybody

In correlation with the Iron United States over the release blood donations made in a

says about hope

it was not worse. delicately walking the line between horror and comedy. Both and then release it when necessary. was how it portrayed its characters. with the mindset, “Haha, this is another Markiplier main characters.” I was shocked to find that not even a that mindset had disappeared completely Space with Markiplier,” or “A Heist with Markiplier,” characters in the latter two are caricatures. They do not of them come off as flat and dramatic, which is the

“Iron Lung” feel like real people. Despite knowing very what we see of them makes them so human. helps us identify with them. It makes us want what

Consolidation of Iron (the place that imprisoned Simon), might be hope. ocean looking for something that will save the human really looking for. blood, there is no cure to extinction. for is a sign. Something, anything, that will tell them sending people into the ocean of blood is not a fruitless to give them hope. But that is not what hope is. Trailer,” and within a monologue Simon does in the

This line feels so desperate, hopeless and most importantly, real. We empathize with him because if we were in the same situation, we would understand.

At this moment, Simon has a choice. He can either give up, or to get up and try again. Nobody would blame him if he gave up. If I were in an iron submarine at the bottom of a blood ocean with no help in sight, I would probably give up.

But he does not. The hope that he may be able to survive this surpasses his fear that he might not.

This recurs throughout the film. Simon gets into a situation where things feel hopeless, and then, despite his fear, he keeps moving forward.

It becomes this cycle throughout the film and watching it happen over and over again really stuck with me.

This film reminds the audience that hope is not a beacon of light. It is not just a word on a poster in your therapist’s office.

Hope is an action. It is a choice.

It is feeling fear and continuing on despite it. Whether that is for self preservation, or for the “greater good,” it really does not matter. What matters is that you keep going. That you keep fighting, even if that fight feels fruitless.

to live. Is that so wrong? anybody else want that?”

Now, more than ever, this message is important. It drives us to fight for the things we need, but also the future we want.

We do not have to drown in a sea of our own despair. Instead, we are encouraged to fight, because what we are fighting for is bigger than our own wants.

If you get the chance to see “Iron Lung” I cannot recommend it enough. Some time in the future, it is set to come out on streaming services, so keep an eye out.

11.

Before producing his first feature length film, Markiplier produced multiple interactive YouTube Originals, such as "In Space with Markiplier," "A Heist with Markiplier," and "A Date with Markiplier," Feb. 11.

""Iron Lung" grossed approximately $18.2 million domestically in its opening weekend, almost 5x its reported budget of $3 million, Feb. 11.

The Wichitan's crushes ♡

COURTESY OF @CONNORSTUPDATES ON X

Connor Storrie is a breakout star and photography editor Madisyn Butler loves his smile and his acting skills, Feb. 11.

COURTESY OF EVERYTHING MOUSE

COURTESY OF SOUNDCLOUD

Editor-in-chief Sabrina Harrison loves big, tall, mysterious men and Simon Riley from Call of Duty fits the bill, Feb. 11.

crushes of the week ♡