The Pacer

14/12/2025

Since the end of the golden era of indie bands in the early oughts, there haven’t been many groups able to stand the test of time.

However, there have been a few groups that have been able to avoid this dire fate. One of them is the ever-unique group, ‘Rainbow Kitten Surprise’ (RKS).

RKS formed as an alt-rock indie band in an Appalachian State University dorm in 2013 when guitarist Darrick Keller and lead vocalist Ela Melo had the idea to start a musical duo.

RKS began making waves over the next few years while performing at large music venues like Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

The sound of ‘Rainbow Kitten Surprise’ can best be described as poetical. From humble beginnings in Appalachia to playing sold out stadiums nationwide, RKS is undeniable proof that having faith in and honing your talents can take you farther than you ever dreamed of going.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/underrated-gems-rainbow-kitten-surprise/

(Pacer Story by Bryant Steele / Pacer Graphic by Darby Self)

Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self) Since the end of the golden era of indie bands in the early oughts, there haven’t been many groups able to stand the test of time. Whether they split du…

13/12/2025

Congratulations on a great semester Skyhawks!
Enjoy your Winter Break starting now until January 8, 2026!

Congratulations to all December 2025 graduates. We wish you success in everything you do in the bright big world!

(Pacer Graphic by Chloe Kent)

13/12/2025

Since the release of the first game in its franchise, ‘Metal Gear’ (1987), this iconic series has defined the action-adventure stealth genre of gaming.

‘Metal Gear Solid,’ also known as MGS1, was the first time the Metal Gear franchise entered the 3D realm.

The player takes control of the legendary Solid Snake (David Hayter), a decorated soldier who is brought out of retirement to infiltrate a nuclear weapons facility on an island nicknamed “Shadow Moses” in the Alaskan Fox Archipelago in 2005.

The controls of ‘Metal Gear Solid’ can be easily understood after the first few minutes of gameplay.

With the ‘Metal Gear’ franchise, Kojima aimed to create a cinematic experience in gaming like none other.

With timeless gameplay and carefully written themes, this is an essential experience for any and all gamers.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/video-game-recommendations-metal-gear-solid/

(Pacer Story by Bryant Steele / Pacer Graphic by Darby Self)

Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self) “Kept you waiting, huh?” – Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) Metal Gear Solid is a franchise that is close to the hearts of …

13/12/2025

In Week 15, things have heated up, and every matchup has some sort of implication, whether that be for the playoff picture or the draft. The games covered this week follow a former Los Angeles Ram makes his return against the team in Los Angeles, California and a 44-year-old quarterback coming out of retirement.

The Detroit Lions have battled several key injuries this season and now take on the powerhouse Los Angeles Rams. Can the Lions keep their season alive?

After Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones went down with an injury, the Colts now had a question mark at quarterback. In step a quarterback at the age of 44, former Los Angeles Chargers and Colts Philip Rivers. Does he have any left in the tank to give the Colts the push they need?

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/nfl-2025-26-week-15-preview-former-chargers-and-colts-quarterback-is-unretiring-at-44-years-old/

(Pacer Story by Connor Butts / Photo by Adrian Kraus of AP Photos)

Featured Image: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) reacts after play against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC Wild Card matchup at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 9, 2021. | (AP Photo/Adrian Kra…

11/12/2025

Finals Week Reminder: Sleep is your secret weapon, no matter how long your to-do list looks.

Getting good sleep during finals week is one of the best ways to boost performance and reduce stress.

Close your laptop, calm yourself and let your brain reboot. You deserve a moment to pause.

Go chase your dreams and wake up ready to ace tomorrow’s finals!

You will thank yourself later.

(Pacer Graphic by Adrianna’ Carter)

10/12/2025

UT Martin freshman Kimsear Lor has become one of the institution’s most accomplished students after only one year of enrollment.

He originally lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, before moving to Tennessee to live with his aunt and uncle, the owners of U.S. Donuts.

He studies computer engineering and has recently displayed his mathematical knowledge through his peer-reviewed article he presented in the AMS conference in St. Louis, MO.

As part of the University Scholars Organization, Lor has become a well-liked student because of his intelligence, diligence and positive attitude.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/ut-martin-student-celebrates-his-first-full-year-of-academic-success/

(Pacer Story by Ethan Tanner/Photo Credit by Shalmali Bandyopadhyay)

Featured Photo: Kimsear Lor presents his published work at St. Louis University on Saturday, Oct. 18, in St. Louis, MO. | (Photo Credit / Shalmali Bandyopadhyay) University of Tennessee at Martin s…

10/12/2025

UT Martin’s League of Striving Artists (LSA) hosted its holiday art bazaar in the Fine Arts Gallery from Thursday, Dec. 4 to Saturday, Dec. 6.

Students acted as vendors and sold their various works of art to the public.

Senior studio art majors and LSA officers Amanda Smith and Callie Hollowell sold many of their own works during the event.

The bazaar gave students a good chance to experience the business side of the art industry, preparing them for their future endeavors.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/lsas-holiday-art-bazaar-brings-success/

(Pacer Story and Pacer Photo by Ethan Tanner)

Featured Photo: Vendors display their art to sell to the public in the Fine Arts Gallery on Friday, Dec. 5 in Martin, Tennessee. | (Pacer Photo / Ethan Tanner) The University of Tennessee at Martin…

10/12/2025

Welcome to Episode 25 of Beyond the Roster.

In this episode, join host Connor Butts for the last time alongside other hosts William Stevens, Nate Szarzynski and Chyler Lee as they discuss how the 2025 College Football Playoff bracket worked out, the Green Bay Packers win big over the Chicago Bears, the fun that remains with the AFC South and whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers come out on top of the NFC South.

Join William, Nate, Chyler and sports writer Isaiah Murphy in January 2026 for the next episodes.

Click here to listen to the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/13WA8itEuTrxpdC5TMvkIx?si=gVcH1HJZS4mZZts9fj7nuA

(Podcast by Connor Butts, William Stevens, Nate Szarzynski and Chyler Lee / Pacer Graphic by William Stevens)

Beyond the Roster · Episode

10/12/2025

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference with a dominative 23-1 record. If they keep playing the way they are playing, there is a chance they break history with the best NBA record since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.

Thunder point guard, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, looks to win consecutive MVP awards. SGA is a large reason for the OKC Thunder’s dominance.

Pacer Staff Writer Isaiah Murphy explains why the Thunder are so good, how they got to this point, the implications of their dominance, and the potential longevity of this superteam.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/the-okc-thunder-is-dominating-the-nba-and-it-will-not-stop-anytime-soon/

(Pacer Story by Isaiah Murphy / Photo by Jerome Miron with Imagn Images)

Featured Image: Oklahoma City Thunder Center, Chet Holmgren (7), Dallas Mavericks forward, Cooper Flagg (32) and Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) contest with each other during a Mavericks home gam…

08/12/2025

Jujitsu Kaisen is an anime world that it reflects the reality of ours. Anxiety, depression, fear of failure and the common struggles of the human condition are featured in this series.

Pacer Staff Writer Catie Whitson talks about the anime that is Jujitsu Kaisen and how college students might relate to it. Its well-written characters deal with everyday curses like students do.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/everyday-curses-how-jujitsu-kaisen-reflection-everyday-world/

(Pacer Story by Catie Whitson / Pacer Graphic by Bethany Collins)

“Jujutsu Kaisen” is a different kind of anime; it reflects what we deal with in real life. This show is not about silly problems or almost stupid issues. It is about a high schooler named Yuji Itad…

08/12/2025

On Nov. 26, 2025, Netflix began to release the fifth and final blockbuster season of ‘Stranger Things’ in volumes.

‘Stranger Things’ is set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. It focuses on a young group of friends, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), who are thrown into a sinister plot once one of them goes missing and finds a girl, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), in the woods in the middle of a rainstorm.

The amount of production that has gone into this season has been the show’s best.

Whereas the first two seasons were equivalent to that of a thrilling, coming-of-age adventure, the later seasons have taken on a much more graphic tone.

Friends do not lie and neither did the Duffer Brothers when they promised a worthy finale for ‘Stranger Things.’

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/netflix-prepares-for-the-last-session-of-stranger-things-with-final-season/

(Pacer Story by Bryant Steele / Pacer Graphic by Darby Self)

Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self) *SPOILER FREE REVIEW* Since 2016, the streaming service, Netflix has produced one of the greatest shows to ever appear on television. Wha…

08/12/2025

We like to freeze our celebrities in amber: the golden boy, the heartthrob, the ingénue.

With ‘Chess,’ Aaron Tveit steps into something messier, uglier and braver. He lets us watch him come apart. In doing so, he proves that “golden” was never about being flawless—it was about surviving the tarnish.

I have spent a lot of my life afraid of getting stuck in amber, too. Not on a Broadway stage, obviously, but behind a laptop.

As a student journalist, it is absurdly easy to become “the opinions kid,” or “the one who always writes about X.” People love tidy labels. They make us predictable, digestible and easy to file away, so that people can look to us for a certain type of content. And once you realize people see you that way, it is tempting to stay there. If you never break the mold, you never risk failure outside it.

Read more here:
https://www.thepacer.net/with-chess-aaron-tveit-proves-he-is-more-than-broadways-golden-boy/

(Pacer Story by Bethany Collins / Pacer Graphic by Darby Self)

Featured image: (Pacer graphic / Darby Self) We like to freeze our celebrities in amber: the golden boy, the heartthrob, the ingénue. With Chess, Aaron Tveit steps into something messier, uglier an…