Macy Pugh



Projects by Macy Pugh

Journalism Story

Connecting communities: Opal the Band members unite from every corner of campus

By Macy Pugh, Jennifer Liu, and Dian Zhong

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Apr. 3, 2025) — Opal the Band members practice for two upcoming gigs at the Bluebird.

Opal the Band members Claire, Fran, Ahnay, Philip, Kenneth and Emmet prepare to take the stage at the Bluebird, one of Bloomington’s biggest music venues. Some of the band members have had time to practice before their gig, while others are going straight from campus to the stage. Either way, the musicians are excited to take the stage with their fellow band members.

Opal members perform at Riley Dance Marathon to get the event started. Their performance took place on November 15, 2024. Courtesy of Macy Pugh.

 

Opal the Band formed about a year ago and has become immensely successful on Indiana University’s campus. With consistent weekly gigs at the Bluebird, the band members are kept busy. They have to work hard to manage their time. These musicians have to balance the band with their academic and social lives, as well as other activities that they are involved in on campus.

The band meets for weekly practices, usually lasting about two hours, and the timing of each session depends on each of their schedules for the week. Each band member is also involved with other organizations on campus, so it can be a bit challenging to manage all of their schedules. Fran, Opal’s bass player, is also in a sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Claire, their singer, is heavily involved with the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center. Philip, their drummer, is also involved in a business fraternity and the Filipino American Association. These are just a few of the many activities each member is involved in. Practicing with their busy lives was a challenge at first, but now it is starting to get easier as the band performs more. 

Fran and Ahnay discuss the components of a new song they are working on. The band has multiple original songs in the works currently.

Opal members have all had to accept that sometimes there will be bumps in the road. At one specific practice, there were some obstacles. Claire had been sick for over a week, so she had to miss this Saturday’s practice. At the same time, three members of Opal who are in another band, Horizon, had to get ready for their gig later that night. The band members still managed to get together, though, and they sounded great while they rehearsed their songs. 

Philip, the newest member of the band, was nervous to join Opal at first. He said that the band had already been together for about seven months when he joined. They had to look for a new drummer, and after playing with Philip a couple of times, they asked him to join. The other members include the guitarists, Ahnay and Kenneth, and Emmet on piano. Throughout the band’s time playing together, they have begun to work on creating some original songs. They started with covers in the beginning, as many bands on campus do. Philip mentioned that they have been playing the same songs for a while, so they do not need to practice those as much anymore. “I probably should practice more,” Philip said. Other members also agree that they could practice more, but are often too busy.

Philip plays the drums at the band’s Saturday rehearsal. He had to prepare for a performance for his other band, Horizon, the same night.

Being in a band can be both mentally and physically taxing, especially for busy college students. “When we have Bluebird shows back to back, even sometimes multiple times a week,” Claire said, “my voice was so tired and it was very stressful for me to keep up with that.” Claire also mentioned that the band has started to practice less over time because the band is more experienced and comfortable playing together. “Since we’ve been getting more Bluebird gigs,” Claire said, “we either don’t rehearse at all or we do once a weekend.” Claire also mentioned being tired the day after gigs, which can often make it hard to focus on schoolwork. While being in a band has its struggles, Claire also mentioned that their band members get along very well. 

Opal Members Claire and Philip speak about the challenges of time management with being in a band. They also talk about their experience as a band member and some of their favorite parts of Opal.

Philip says that managing his time with the band has begun to get easier. “I’m a senior now,” he said, “there’s a lot more time in the day now so I can put it toward things I really enjoy.” He said academics have become easier to balance because he was very focused on grades and internships throughout his first few years of college. When asked about having a social life while also focusing on the band, he said that his social life and the band have started to combine. “All of my friends are in my band or come to see me at my shows,” he said. He and Claire both mentioned how their social lives have combined with their band, which has had a positive impact on both of them. “You’re surrounded by people who are all thinking the same things,” Philip said, “it gets really draining, but it’s great to have a third space.” He also mentioned that he enjoys spending time with his fellow band members, and they are now some of his close friends. He also mentioned that coming together and being able to create music for others to enjoy is the most rewarding part. “I love these people, these are my best friends,” Claire said, “I think it’s that and seeing people enjoy it.”

 

Public Relations Story

Apple CEO Tim Cook Debuts Groundbreaking New Product: The Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Macy Pugh
Raeghan Miller
Dash Glasberg

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) — Apple CEO, Tim Cook, reveals Apple’s latest product that is going to redefine the watch industry; the Apple Watch. This groundbreaking technology was announced at a convention in September 2014.

“We have one more thing,” Tim Cook said, before introducing the Apple Watch. He debuted Apple’s entry into the world of wearable technology. Apple’s first smartwatch blends the innovative technology that Apple is known for, with more customizability than any other watch on the market. 

Apple is known for creating revolutionary products, including the iPod, Macintosh, and iPhone, and they have continued this tradition by introducing their new line of smartwatches. The Apple Watch has a combination of features that no other smartwatch can offer. The product is meant to embrace individuality, as “it’s as much about personal technology as it is style and taste,” Cook said. It has a level of customizability that outshines all its competitors, by offering three different models, multiple watch straps, and a sapphire crystal screen. With personability being an important characteristic, Apple offers distinct models of the Watch. Each is designed with unique features and materials that cater to the different preferences of Apple’s users. Whether you choose the stainless steel case of the Apple Watch, the lightweight aluminum of the Apple Watch Sport, or the luxurious 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition, they are all designed to fit seamlessly into users’ lives. In addition to the customizability that’s already offered, you can choose from a variety of watch faces and small widgets to further personalize your watch. The widgets are meant to display information that is important to the user, so you can choose from things like weather, the calendar, activity, and more.

A woman uses the Apple Watch touch screen to navigate GPS.
A woman uses the Apple Watch to find a location on GPS. The touch screen allows users to scroll across the map with ease.

 

The personability of the Apple Watch isn’t the only thing that sets it apart from its competitors. The product is designed with an emphasis on health. The Apple Watch “has four sapphire lenses that contain infrared invisible LED lights along with photo sensors that detect your pulse rate,” said John Ive, senior VP of design, “using its gyroscope and accelerometer, and its GPS and wifi from your iPhone, the watch provides a comprehensive picture of your daily activity. This allows the watch to establish and suggest goals.” The design keeps users motivated and on track with their fitness goals. Never before has fitness been this easy to track.

A student swim team manager is wearing an Apple Watch and navigating its home screen.
A swim team student uses the Apple Watch to track his activity in the pool. The Apple Watch is capable of all normal functions in the waterproof setting.

Another aspect that makes the Apple Watch unique is the included features that users are already comfortable with and use every day. The product can receive calls, text messages, and notifications. It also offers the ultimate convenience for users who don’t always have the time to use their phones, as all the information they need is just a glance away on their wrist. A key feature that offers convenience is the watch’s ability to connect with Apple Pay, which allows users to make a payment directly from their wrist. 

Overall, this new smartwatch presented by Apple is a bold and innovative product that will enrich users’ lives and infatuate the market. Users will love how personable and tailored the product is to their lifestyle. Daily tasks and fitness are made easier by tracking users’ activities straight from their wrists. This watch has successfully redefined the world of wearable technology. The Apple Watch will be available in stores worldwide on April 24th, 2015. It will come in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm. Customers can expect to pay $349 for the 38 mm size and $399 for the 42 mm. However this will not mark the end of Apple’s innovative history, as it’s “the next chapter in Apple’s story,” Cook said. 

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, shows various wearable styles of the new Apple Watch. He also displays a video with some of its unique touch features.

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