The Gargoyle was on hand in late November for one of the CU Ballet's final rehearsals of "The Nutcracker." Four Uni dancers — junior Karolina Kalbarczyk, sophomore Sophie Shenk, and freshmen Simone Ballard and Claire Liu — are in the Tchaikovsky classic this year. Check out this slideshow for a look at the hard work that went into the production. The 2007 run of this enchanting fantasy will end Saturday, Dec. 8, with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Krannert Center's Tryon Festival Theatre.

In 1839 a group of Africans who had been kidnapped from their native land rebelled against their captors on the Spanish ship La Amistad. Taken to the United States, they faced trial for their actions. Steven Spielberg's 1997 film "Amistad" recreates this true case. But to Rachel Harmon, the movie fails to do justice to the Africans who were the true heroes of the story.

Well, what if I am? That's what Anna Gooler asks in her defense of weirdness. "Why do I like being considered weird? I think it’s related to society’s emphasis on being an individual yet fitting into a community." Besides, it's fun being different. But just remember: Don't call her strange.