Meeting Chris Killian for the first time is an experience that will likely be unforgettable.

Killian, an English graduate student, has traveled the continental United States in order to spread laughter and cheer. However, this is something that does not just happen when he is on stage.

As I talked to Killian, I felt a sense of light-heartedness and calmness that only comes from hanging out with a truly laid-back soul.

Killian has already made a name for himself in his short career. In the past, he has shared the stage with comedians like Michael Myes, Tom Green, John Caparulo, Jarrod Harris, Jon Reep, John Heffron and Greg Giraldo.

Currently Killian is getting ready to go on the road again to W. Va. and Fla. while also preparing for an upcoming spot on the Bob and Tom show this summer.

Comedian Killer Beaz claimed Killian to be “very funny and a class act,” while Dave Amerman, VH1 reality TV star, said that “Chris is sharp. The funniest stand-up comedian routine I’ve ever seen.”

As a graduate student, Killian manages a very busy schedule, including spending time with his son, attending classes and touring America. Fortunately for The All State, he was able to take a few minutes to share some of the memories related to both his life at APSU and his life on the road.

Tangelia Cannon: Why did you choose to come to APSU?

Chris Killian: My little brother was coming to APSU about the same time I was finishing with massage therapy. That’s right, I said “massage therapy,” ladies. He said I was too smart to rub naked people for a living (not to offend any would-be masseuses out there), so I should apply to school with him. So on a whim, I did, and then I got accepted. That’s the whole boring story.

TC: How long have you been at APSU?

CK: About six years now, but I really stopped counting after four, so who knows. I kind of feel like the Van Wilder of APSU, except I’m not as cool, and my abs aren’t as hot, and I don’t throw awesome parties. In a way, I guess I’m nothing like the Van Wilder of APSU, except I’m old and won’t leave.

TC: When did you first begin experimenting with comedy?

CK: Maybe around two years ago was when I started bombing at open mics in Nashville.

TC: What made you decide to make a career as a comedian?

CK: When I realized it paid more than being a teacher. God bless teachers.

TC: How has APSU affected your career in comedy?

CK: Location, location. That means it hasn’t.

TC: What did your family and friends think when you told them that you wanted to do comedy professionally?

CK: Considering what I used to do, which was sell smack to kids in orphanages, I think they’re all okay with me doing comedy.

TC: What was the best piece of advice you ever got about the entertainment industry?

CK: Listen to your gut. Don’t listen to anyone’s advice. Except for that advice.

TC: Whom, in the entertainment world, do you look up to? Why?

CK: There are tons of comics I look up to. Everyone I have met and hung out with has been super cool, even the famous ones. Way too many to name.
TC: What is your earliest memory of being a comedian, or telling a joke as a comedian as a child?

CK: The first time I attempted stand-up comedy, I just remember talking into a microphone to a room full of maybe 15 people and eliciting no response. No uproarious laughter, no booing — just a blank set of faces in the darkness looking at me with pity. Now that I think about it, it was eerily similar to the first time I had sex, too.

TC: What came first, the comedy or the music?

CK: The music definitely came first. I started writing joke songs just to make some friends laugh and I never, ever imagined it would turn into this.

TC: Why did you decide to combine the two?

CK: Mainly because I’m lazy.

TC: Which do you like better, singing or comedy?

CK: I like both. I seriously have the best job in the world. I travel, can drink on the job, and help people forget about their problems by laughing at my problems. It’s a dream job.

TC: Did anyone ever put you down or tell you that you were not good? If so, how did this affect you? What did you do?

CK: Oh yeah. The first night I showed up to an open mic I had my guitar with me to play a joke-song and afterwards, this dickhole comic came up to me and said, “This is stand-up comedy. We tell jokes. Don’t bring that crap here again.” I was a newcomer so I abandoned my guitar for a little while, but his whole comment really peeved me for a long time. Comedy, to me, is anything that makes someone laugh, so I eventually picked the guitar back up and then I punched that guy in the face (in my mind) and decided to do my thang (sic). You’ll be happy to know that the bad-advice comic has since gained a lot of weight and found no success whatsoever. Maybe it won’t make you happy to know that. Maybe it just makes me happy, but it does. Is that catty of me?

TC: When/how did you realize that you were good?

CK: By good, do you mean awesome? If so, then I guess I’d have to say I’ve always had a feeling.
TC: Where was the first place you performed?

CK: My first paid gig was at the South Street Comedy Club in Jackson, Tenn.

TC: What was the first joke you told to a crowd?

CK: I don’t remember, but I’m sure it was racist.

TC: What is your favorite joke to tell?

CK: Any joke that doesn’t bomb.

TC: What inspires you to create your material?

CK: My material is basically a series of FML moments that I think other people can relate to, and if not relate to, then at least laugh at.

TC: Have you ever used things about APSU to create material for your comedy?

CK: Not APSU directly, but crazy people, like ex-girlfriends, that I met at Austin Peay … ? Maybe.

TC: Do you ever get nervous before you’re perform/tell a joke?

CK: I used to, but then I realized a hundred years from now everyone will be dead and nothing I say will matter, and that tends to take off a lot of pressure.

TC: Have you ever had a bad experience or audience?
CK: Early on I did. But I find that was more of a problem of me not being funny rather than the audience being bad. If someone knows what they’re doing, they can get any audience to listen, especially if the audience is drunk.

TC: Where all have you traveled to perform?

CK: A lot of places.

TC: Where is your favorite place to perform? Why?

CK: I really have a lot of clubs that are just a hoot to perform in.

TC: If someone wanted to get into the field of entertainment, what advice would you give them?

CK: Listen to your gut. Don’t listen to anyone’s advice. Except for that advice. Seriously, after that advice right there, cease all advice listening.

To find more out about Chris Killian and his comedy, visit www.ckcomedy.com and www.facebook.com/ckcomedy. F

By TANGELIA CANNON
Features Editor

As the campus continues to become larger with increasing numbers, programs and housing, many feel it is appropriate that APSU offer more opportunities for students. One of these opportunities that will be offered in the upcoming school year is the Service and Learning Community (SLC).

“Service and Learning Communities are a popular living and learning communities on campuses across America,” said Assistant Director of Service and Student Engagement Alexandra Howard.

“Engaging students in their communities is something that Austin Peay finds very important and therefore the support for new initiatives towards service learning has been fantastic.”

Last spring, the assistant director of Student Life and Leadership submitted a proposal to the Office of Housing/Residence Life for a living and learning community to come to campus.

This spring, the learning community was able to begin taking applications for the fall.

The SLC will enhance student opportunities to serve both the APSU and the Clarksville community, while learning in a community setting. Students will have to complete bi-weekly service projects and attend weekly meetings.

In the fall, students who get accepted into the service and learning community program will be required to move into campus several days early to attend a three-day service project and participate in the APSU welcome band wagon to help students move in.

“This will give the students an opportunity to develop relationships and plan their service projects,” Howard said.

The student life staff will plan the bi-weekly service projects with the interest of students in mind.

However all students living in the SLC will be responsible for planning, promoting, and executing a campus-wise service project.

In order for students to learn together in the best possible setting, the coordinators of the program have chosen Cross Hall to house the SLC program because it allows students to all live on the same hall, have access to a common meeting space and attain affordable living.

However, Cross Hall will not continue to be the housing location.

When the new resident hall on Marion Street is completed, the SLC will be moved.

The SLC program is open to students who are in good standing with the university and maintain a GPA of 2.5.

In addition, in order to participate in the SLC program students must not have had judicial violation within the last semester.

In order to find out more about the SLC program, students are advised to visit the SLC Web site at www.apsu.edu/SLL/SLC.aspx.

“The plan is that the SLC will become a fixture of APSU Housing and service programs,” Howard said.

By TANGELIA CANNON
Features Editor
At a time when most students are stressing about upcoming mid-terms and getting ready for spring break, some students still make sure to make time for themselves.

Kevin Reynolds, a sophomore biology major is one of the many students that tries to make time for themselves in a busy schedule.

“I play the XBox an average of two hours a day,” said Reynolds. “It’s not as much as I would like to, but with me being in school and working, it’s all the time I have . . . depending on what is going on during the week and what is happening at school.”

Reynolds began gaming at an early age, due to growing up with four brothers.

“I remember having two PS1 consoles in our house, but all we had were awful games,” said Reynolds. “So instead of playing the PS1, me and my brothers stuck to the Super Nintendo. I remember playing games like “Rock and Roll Racing,” “Super Mario Bros.,” “Zelda” and “Mortal Kombat.”

Growing up with a house full of boys, influenced Reynolds’ game-play greatly. “I enjoyed playing two player games that were either co-op or versus,” he said.

“I really liked playing “Mortal Kombat” because I was really good at it. It gave me the chance to beat up on my bigger brothers.”

Having a busy schedule does not deter Reynolds from keeping in touch with his family. Playing the XBox gives Kevin a way to keep in touch, while having fun.

“I remember having little tournaments with my brothers in games like “Mortal Kombat” on the Super Nintendo,” said Reynolds.

It was in 2004, when Reynolds first took his passion for gaming and began competing in a local tournament.

“My high school hosted a “Madden” tournament on the PS2,” said Reynolds. “I didn’t do too hot, but there were a lot of people there that were much better than me.”

Since 2004, Reynolds has only been to a few competitions. However, he plans to begin entering more tournaments.

“I am beginning to enter one every couple of months with my friend, Greg Hunt,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds and Hunt recently entered a tournament in Waverly, Tenn., which featured competitions in XBox and PC games.

“We competed in both the “Madden” and the “Call of Duty 4” competitions,” said Reynolds. “We won the tournament and received a free entry into the next tournament, free pizza and an XBox 360 skin/face plate.”

“My favorite part of tournaments is the competitiveness. It is completely different than just playing on XBox Live,” said Reynolds.

If you are interested in going to tournaments, Reynolds said the best way to find out about upcoming games is the Internet or friends that are gamers as well.

One piece of advice Reynolds offers any future competitor is to communicate with team members.
“If you do not communicate, then you will just be picked apart by a team that does,” said Reynolds.

As the theater darkened and adults munched on popcorn and snacks from the movie theater’s concession stands, the movie audience had been waiting to see began rolling. The screen filled with a scripture, Psalm 34:11, from the Holy Bible. Though the scripture was simple, it spoke words that would speak true to the movie. “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the feat of the Lord.”

The movie begins as actor Paul Bettany’s character, archangel Michael, drops into a darkened alley during the night simply to cut off his wings and steal artillery from a nearby building that looks to be abandoned, after refusing the mission to help destroy mankind.

The plot of the story is God is angry and has lost all hope at mankind due to the way they are living life. However, Michael states he has always loved mankind as much as God has Jeep, played by Lucas Black, who still cares about others and lives their life the best way they can and cannot give up on mankind.

The plot takes a toll as the scene changes to an out-of-the-way stretch of road diner, Paradise Falls. Though the diner is practically empty, guests who have been lost or stuck at the diner due to car problems, take stage as a few of the main characters.

However, the action does not begin until a local elderly woman comes into the diner and orders a raw steak, curses the unborn baby of Charlie, played by Adrianne Palicki, and bites into neck of another guest at the diner.

As shock-stricken customer, Kyle (Tyrese Gibson), owner Bob (Dennis Quaid) and employee Percy (Charles Dutton) go outside to dump the body, Michael shows up ready to save the day with a trunk full of artillery. Though skeptical at first, the group decides Michael is legitimate and begins to trust him.

Though the plot thickens a little, with more gunfire and blood, there is little discussion of what is truly taking place. All viewers know is God is mad and wants to exterminate mankind. It is not until later in the movie they find out that the reason the diner is under attack is due to Charlie’s unborn baby being the hope of all mankind.

Since the movie’s release, “Legion” has been a topic of controversy, as it fringes on religious sensitivity. Though it is agreed the movie is full of action and few minutes of comedic release, the movie has been rated from “disappointing” to “kick-ass” according to viewers.
The movie, which runs 100 minutes, was directed by Scott Stewart and produced by David Lancaster and Michel Litvac.

“Inspiration is everywhere. Learning to draw is basically learning how to see, and once you know how to see, the world is never boring,” Kell Black said when describing where his inspirations come from when designing paper.

Black began to work with paper at the age of 5 when his father came home from the New York World’s Fair with a paper model of a Dutch village.

“After watching him build it, I went out to the driveway and drew our VW bus from all sides on a big sheet of cardboard, cut it out, folded it then glued it together,” Black said. “I’ve been making things ever since.”

Throughout his education, Black excelled in subjects such as geometry and drafting and used classes such as sculpture, drawing and mechanical drawing to refine his skills in paper engineering. Black has created everything from realistic paper structures to, recently, a chess set.

Last spring, Black received an e-mail from Kate Shanahan, an editor at Ivy Press in England, who was looking for a paper engineer to work with Ivy in creating a paper chess set.

Black just happened to be on the top of Shanahan’s list of paper engineers Ivy would like to work with. Black accepted the job and began working on models of chess pieces which would be featured in his first book.

“I had made literally hundreds of things [from] paper, but never a complete chess set. I had made one piece, though — a knight — over 25 years ago. It seemed like a great challenge,” Black said.

After months of designing, building, redesigning and building again, Black finished the project. “We had dozens (of pieces) around the house,” Black said.

Black said the hardest part was “creating elegant designs that can be built by a beginner.”

With the release of “Paper Chess,” Black is once again in the beginning stages of creating a book. This time around, however, he will be creating “Paper New York,” which will be followed by “Paper Cut.”

“‘Paper Cut’ [will] examine the work of ten international artists, designers and illustrators who work in the medium of cut paper,” Black said.

“I’ve been interviewing the artists and then creating tutorials that examine a technical or conceptual aspect of their work.”

Black also devotes his time to large-scale charcoal drawings and blackandjones, which is a new media in sound and video collaboration.

“I have upcoming exhibitions in all the areas I work in — paper, drawing and new media,” Black said.

“I’m exhibiting new paperworks in a group show next month at the Cumberland Gallery in Nashville; I’ve an upcoming solo drawing exhibition at Belmont University; and my colleague Barry Jones, and I have a new media show this spring at the Renaissance Center in Dickson.”