ALEXIS PRICE | OPINION EDITOR | adprice1@butler.edu
Four years ago, I was about to embark on my third year of high school. I was watching the premier of young adult novel-based movies I knew nothing about with a boy I was trying to learn more about. I was getting my driving permit and starting to worry about gas prices.
But Butler’s class of 2016 had something a little different on their minds: the first year of college.
And now that many of them are graduating–sorry people in the five-year program–it’s prime time to do some reflecting on what has altered throughout their college experience.
So, what has changed?
How much have prices changed? On average…
A movie ticket costed $8.20.
A gallon of gas costed $3.91.
A brand new vehicle was a little over $30,000.
And now we are lucky if we can even catch a matinee for less than $8. But at least we’re putting less money in our tanks to get to the theater.
What made the cut in pop culture?
The Bourne Legacy was the top grossing movie in the box office in August. But Marvel’s The Avengers released in April, and became one of the highest-grossing films of the entire year.
What’s better than Jeremy Renner with a gun, you ask? Jeremey Renner with a bow and a very small number of arrows.
“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen held the number one spot three consecutive times in the Billboard Top 100, until Flo Rida’s “Whistle” swept in right at the end of August.
Let’s just all agree that 2012 was just a sad reflection–and premonition–of our nation’s unfathomable music choices.
The Hunger Games made its film debut. And it was a riot. Apparently, 2012 was the year for skilled archers; the trend really caught fire.
What were some of the top news stories in 2012?
1. The shooting in Aurora, Colorado
A gunman–later identified as fiery-haired James Holmes–opened fire at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. He killed twelve and injured 58 people.
2. The shooting of Trayvon Martin.
The impact of this young boy’s death reverberates still four years later through our communities. Since then, the Black Lives Matter movement has certainly carried its weight on college campuses.
3. Summer Olympics
Usain Bolt aimed for the finish line and surpassed his 2008 Olympic victories, becoming the first sprinter to win the 100 and 200 meter races in back-to-back Olympics.
Michael Phelps topped his already excessive medal record. Ryan Lochte looked good winning some medals as well.
U.S. women’s gymnastics took matters to new heights. Gabby Douglas became the first African-American woman in Olympic history to earn the title of Individual All-Around Champion.
The year may have been an embarrassing representation for our music taste, but our top athletes sure know how to redeem us.
4. Barack Obama was re-elected against Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Remember that time we all thought Mitt Romney was the worst possible thing to happen to politics? I think someone forgot to knock on wood.
5. The Mayan calendar ended and so did the world, presumably.
Yet we are still here. I guess if you consider some of the presidential candidates for 2016, maybe the Mayans were off by a couple years?
6. #Kony2012 was everywhere.
But did an of us really know what was actually going on with this character who reminded us of a subpar cookout food?
I have been in college since 2014, so I can only imagine how much things have changed for our four-year troopers.
But I think one of the greatest heroes of 2012, Avengers member Clint Barton, could sum up the journey pretty well: “The city is flying and we’re fighting an army of robots. And I have a bow and arrow. Nothing makes sense.”
