Executive Editor
Victoria Hickey
Adviser
Sonny Rhodes
Operations Manager/ Art Director
Byron Buslig
News Editor
Alexandria Barnes !
Campus Life Editor
Lauren Humphrey
Arts & Leisure Editor
Caitlyn Sample
Entertainment Editor
Tanner Newton
Sports Editor
Brian Gregory
Copy Editor
Abigail Marshall
Business Manager
John Arnold
Graphic Designer
Brady Jackson
Lauren Humphrey
Distribution Manager
Dakota Thompson
Photo Editor/ Web Designer
Brady Jackson
TSydney Bradshaw
Christina Turner
Elton Tevebaugh
Whitney Bryson
Christopher Gardner
Eva Legg
Zoe Harris
Lela-Tamara Fluker
Tanya Triplett
Renea Goddard
Abdul Mohammed
Victoria Mugambi
Shaun Williams
Jeff Ridgle
Analee Jones
Scott Foster
he Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee; members of the UALR community are allowed one copy per edition. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. Advertising inquiries should be referred to The Forum’s advertising office and can be reached by calling 501-569-3319. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at 501-569-3265. All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.
‘This is the new year’
By Victoria Hickey Executive Editor editor@UALR.edu
We have almost finished a full month of 2016 and for me, it’s been a busy month. School has started back and with that comes hours of homework, studying and extracurricular activities. Those who know me could tell you, I’m involved in a wide variety of student organizations and I love it! However, with those extracurriculars come numerous responsibilities and someone who always needs you to complete another task.
I love being involved but I’ve realized that sometimes it just becomes too much and that’s what caused me to make my New Year’s Resolution for this year. My resolution is to be more selfish with my time. This may sound like a negative thing, but let me explain.
I have always been a people pleaser. I do what I can to make other’s lives as easy as possible. Whether that’s taking on extra tasks when working on something
with a committee or picking up the slack at work where others have fallen short. Since I’m involved in so many organizations this leads to the tasks piling up pretty quickly and things getting crazy. Completing all these extra tasks has left me with very little free time to spend with friends and family or to just do something relaxing. Last semester I found myself so exhausted on the weekends I didn’t even want to do anything with the hour or two I had of free time. I love seeing other people happy and that’s one thing that I try to make happen a lot. But after last year I realized that I need to start doing more things to make myself happy.
So, my goal this year is to enjoy life a little bit more. I have big plans and I want this to be my year. What are your resolutions? We still have 11 months ahead of us to follow through with our resolutions. Good luck!
The Forum welcomes letters to the editor on any subject as well as comments on our news coverage and editorial position.
•Letters must include the author’s name, classification, major or position and a contact telephone number for confirmation.
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Letters should be emailed to editor@ualr.edu or sent to:
The Forum University of Arkansas at Little Rock 201J Donaghey Student Center 2801 S. University Ave. Little Rock, Ark. 72204
Scott Foster Staff Writer snfoster1@ualr.edu
After long last, the primaries and caucuses determining the Democratic and Republican nominees for president are upon us. Beginning Feb. 1, brave souls inhabiting the great state of Iowa will don their warmest winter gear and officially kick off the 2016 nomination contest. New Hampshire will join them about a week later on Feb. 9, providing the country with its first hints of which candidates may have the political moxie and grassroots support to emerge victorious in the party conventions.
Looking at the latest polls from Real Clear Politics, the race for the Democratic nomination has turned out to be much more competitive in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire than
some experts predicted at the onset of campaigning. Underdog Senator Bernie Sanders (D) has mounted a solid challenge to the clear front-runner for the White House, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D), by running on issues near and dear to the heart of many students. Some of the most important of these resonating issues include student loan forgiveness, free tuition waivers and a higher national minimum wage of $15 per hour. Mr. Sanders, who is running an unusual campaign in which he describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist”, has closed to within ten points in Iowa and is maintaining a lead in the state of New Hampshire.
While some have dismissed the competitive nature of these early contests by pointing out the domination of Ms. Clinton in nationwide polls, Assistant Professor Gregory Shufeldt of the UALR political science department sees things much differently. Shufeldt, who is teach-
ing a timely class on the power of political party influence this semester, stated in a recent interview concerning the Democratic race that “who is leading in the national polls actually matters very little.” He points out this is due directly to the state-by-state nature of the election, where the results of one state can have a significant impact on the state's voting later in the nomination process. Shufeldt also points out that the media often over-emphasizes the national polling results, which sometimes misleads average citizens into thinking races are essentially over.
Until next time when we analyze the Republican nomination, remember that your ballot does matter, races are still competitive, and students can always make their voices heard by voting for the leaders of our country. The presidential primary for the state of Arkansas will be held on March 1.
Christina Turner Staff Writer cmturner2@ualr.edu
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Office of Campus Life hosted one of the largest events in the community at the Jack Stephens Center on Jan. 18. The event drew hundreds of people from the metro area to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and also raised awareness about the community involvement of the Martin Luther King Commission. This event was free and open to the public. Many special guests were in attendance and local leaders came out to support as well.
The celebration kicked off with an interfaith prayer breakfast at 7 a.m. with keynote speaker Presiding Elder Jimmy Lee Thompson from Lakeland, Florida. Other speakers also included Governor Asa Hutchinson and actor Eric Braeden
with a musical selection by Zatoria Curry of St. Mark Baptist Church.
After the breakfast followed the MLK Birthday Bash. This honored organizations and individuals for their commitment to community service. The Nonviolence Youth Summit presented young speakers who are actively involved in the community doing good works and learning about business and leadership with the help of the Arkansas MLK Commission.
Another special guest celebrity was comedian Marlon Wayans. Well-known local leaders, including Broadway Joe from Power 92 Jams and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas MLK Commission, Dushun Scarbrough were also a part of the event. They gave out prizes that included gift cards, cash and bicycles.
The event also sponsored free breakfast and lunch, haircuts, beauty styling and health screenings.
Vendors included P.O.T.S (Part Of The Solution), which educates
smokers and non-smokers about the benefits and consequences of the bad habit and educates about Act 11 ban on being able to smoke inside vehicles and Kosmic Kidz, which a volunteer rep stated is “an outreach that helps children 18 and under in underprivileged communities with nutritional services.”
Other activities included a bounce house and bounce slide for children as well as activity stations set up for them. Greek organizations were also in attendance with various information about voting registration, banking, etc.
Courtesy of facebook.com/arkingdream.org
Celebrities and local community leaders were in attendance at the MLK Mega Kingfest.
Alexandria Barnes News Editor ambarnes@ualr.edu
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs hosted its first presentation in its 2016 Research Colloquium Series on Jan. 14. The presentation reported on find-
ings by Lenita Davis, professor and chair of the UALR Marketing and Advertising Department and UALR Sales Program Executive Director, and her colleague, David Crockett of the University of South Carolina of the Holy Land theme park in Orlando. They attended the park in 2011 and again in 2013.
Davis’ research focused on marketing, sales, retailing and services. This project idea was sparked by
her interest in televangelism and the marketing done in that area.
She defines myth-making as, “any story that perpetuates a moral” and concentrated on marketing strategies in relation to this for the project.
Ideology is how we make sense of our lives. Brands use ideology in their advertisements and promotions. Products perpetuate ideology. She concluded that Holy
Land theme park is a “brand-builder,” not a profit center. The park “competes in the marketplace with counter-myths found in mainline presentation and secularism” and is not required to report its revenue.
Davis stated that religion is a huge market in the business world and is very different from the secular commercial markets. The Holy Land park provides attendees with religious experiences in a theme park setting. There is communion, baptisms, Jesus look-alikes walk
around and passion plays are performed. It provides Christians with an “escape from the secular world.”
“It’s like a church,” says Davis. Some of the tactics Holy Land uses to back up this idea is “redemption through violence” using passion plays to tell the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and “authentic connection to a sacred place” where your prayer requests can be taken to the Wailing Wall in Israel. Sacred rituals are also performed and Middle Eastern products are sold in the gift shop.
In her future work, Davis plans to research international Christian retailers.
Sydney Bradshaw Staff Writer slbradshaw@ualr.edu
On Dec 14, 2015, a homeless woman was found on the second floor of the Student Services Center Registrar’s area on a university computer. When asked to log off the computer, the suspect refused. She became verbally abusive and threatening. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstructing government operation. She had already been warned by other officers not to return to the campus which led to her being charged with criminal trespassing.
On Jan 7, the same woman was found in the same place as her previous arrest, the second floor of the Student Services Center Registrar’s area. She was on a university computer, asked to log off, and then handcuffed and escorted out of the area. While being transported to Pulaski County Detention Center, the suspect verbally abused the transporting officer, which resulted in her being charged with 2nd Degree Terroristic Threatening along with Criminal Trespassing.
On Dec 11, 2015, an officer reported to the Fine Arts Building about a vending machine being broken into. The glass on the machine had been pushed in from the lower corner. It could not be proven that anything was missing. The officer unplugged the machine and turned it around so that it could not be accessed until the vending machine company could be contacted.
On Dec 15, 2015, an officer was securing the Fine Arts Building when the officer noticed an office door was unlocked. Upon opening the door a young man was found sleeping on the floor. With him he had two backpacks and an inflatable mattress. In the two backpacks were several changes of clothes, food and personal hygiene items. When asked why he was sleeping in the building, the suspect told the officer that his professor had given him permission, but contact with the professor could not be made. The man was not arrested, but was told that he cannot sleep in any building on campus and if he was caught doing it again, he would be arrested.
On Dec 12, 2015, an officer heard loud music coming from one of the apartments in the University Village. Upon investigating the noise the officer also heard someone say, “It’s the police.” The suspect was told that the music was too loud and that his guests needed to leave for the night. The officer counted 15 people leave the apartment.
On Dec 28, 2015, an officer responded to a call about a loud party in the Village. The music could be heard from the parking lot in front of the building. There was a live D.J. and approximately 40 people in the apartment. The suspect was told that the party needed to be shut down. He was compliant and cleared everyone out of the apartment.
Elton Tevebaugh Staff Writer
ewtevebaugh@ualr.edu
As the New Year sets in and people are making changes to their daily routines and behaviors, a change was also made to the meal plans at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. If dining dollars within meal plans aren't used in the course of a semester, they now roll over into the next. What once was considered an annoying problem for those using school plans is now a thing of the past.
According to General Manager of Sodexo at UALR, Curtis Williams,
“The recent changes were implemented to better serve the students.”
This saves students money in the long run, since, as Williams said, “Students will not lose their dining dollars at the end of the semester.”
“We are constantly looking to implement changes to improve the dining services here on campus,” said Williams.
Not only do these changes benefit UALR, but also Sodexo. The benefit to UALR is student retention and student satisfaction with the food services on campus. The benefit to Sodexo is client and customer satisfaction.
Regarding student satisfaction, sophomore Dustin King, who has been on the meal plan for two
years, weighs in. “I'm quite happy with the changes, and I'm optimistic,” King said.
In reference to the meal plan before this change, King said, “It was a waste of money”.
Sophomore and student athlete, Quin Wilkes, has been on the meal plan for a year and a half. He also added some perspective on the dining dollars now rolling over. “You're not in a rush to waste money at the end of a semester, since it rolls over now,” Wilkes said.
While sometimes people can be hesitant to change, this recent revision to the meal plan seems to be embraced universally and is mutually beneficial for Sodexo, UALR, and arguably most importantly, students, faculty and staff with meal plans.
Whitney Bryson Staff Writer
wxbryson@ualr.edu
love my research and I’m excited to be able to do it!”
Susanah Romney recently received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct research on the Dutch Empire.
Romney, who has been a history professor here at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock since fall 2011, learned she was awarded the maximum grant when she received a phone call from the assistant administrator from the office of Senator Tom Cotton. After sending an email to NEH to confirm what she heard, Romney was thrilled. She said, “I was really excited. I
With the money she was awarded, Romney plans to travel overseas to learn more about the Dutch Empire and archives. She hopes to start full time by May and be finished with her research by next March to start writing her new book; in which she was inspired to write because of the first book she wrote and her interest in the Dutch Empire.
“The first book inspired me to start thinking about looking at history a little more globally and trying to see all the connections that existed even back then in the different parts of the world,” Romney said.
While Romney is still at the stage of doing research for her new book, such as going to different libraries and archives, she plans to take many notes and do a lot of reading.
She adds, “In some ways, it’s just like a student writing a paper. You have to do your homework before you have anything to write.”
Above all, once Romney has concluded her research, she hopes to bring a unique learning experience for her prospective students. She stated, “I would like for my students to understand the way that different people acted when cultures that were very different from one another came into contact for the first time.”
Victoria Hickey Executive Editor editor@ualr.edu
some regular exercise and having some control over their diet.”
offered. Classes are offered all day to fit into everyone’s schedule.
Registration is under way for UALR’s Boot Camp Program, which aims to help participants not only lose weight but maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Open to students, staff and faculty, the program began Monday, Jan. 25, but those interested may sign up through Monday, Feb. 1. Registration fee is $25. The program ends March 21. For more information, contact Naomi Fletcher at nffletcher@ualr.edu or call 501-569-3228.
Fletcher, program coordinator, said the “goal behind the program is not just to help the people lose weight ... [but] to help them achieve more of a balance by doing
The program consists of both a contest and a challenge. The contest is open to those classified as overweight or obese, according to their body mass index (BMI).
“The contest is both about weight and body fat percentage, so we are doing measurements in addition to weight,” Fletcher said.
“If you’re not that heavy but you want to join the boot camp you can still do it, you just do the challenge portion instead. The only difference between the two is that if you’re doing just the challenge, you are not competing for prizes.”
To complete the program, participants must attend at least three classes a week, two boot camp classes and a third class of your choice out of the cardio classes
Lauren Humphrey Campus Life Editor lehumphrey@ualr.edu
Starting off the semester, the Office of Campus Life organized the Student Organizations Fair on Jan. 13 in the Donaghey Student Center. Over 20 organizations set up tables to recruit new members and make connections with students who wanted to get involved. Students could visit the fair between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to make connections with organizations around campus.
Each organization that signed up to be involved in the fair prior to the event set up their own table and decorated it with memorabilia and pictures from events they had done in the past. Many clubs also had freebies to give away that attracted students to their table.
"This event always brings in a lot of organizations to recruit students who are looking to get involved. Students are always looking to get involved and this is a great opportunity for them to get connected," student organizations program coordinator, Leah Vaughan said.
Greek organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) got involved with the fair to grow and get better campus presence. AKA promoted working with students to get involved around campus.
"We wanted to connect with girls in hopes of recruitment. We talked about how we can partner with them to achieve our goals," chapter president sophomore Faith Thomas said.
Near the end of the fair, the Latin dance club tried to attract members with a dance presentation. Senior Rachel Chatwood and senior Kendle Carter performed a traditional Latin dance called a Cumbia.
"It is a circular dance that has a distinct sound different from salsa. It's a little tricky at first, but fun and easy once you get the hang of it," Chatwood said.
Students who want to get involved with campus organizations should visit the Office of Campus Life. Their office is actively working with organizations to get more students involved.
“We always have a goal for them to lose up to 24 pounds because ½-2 pounds a week is considered healthy,” Fletcher said.
The winner in the female division of the contest for the Fall 2015 semester was Crenisha Wright, a research assistant in the Center for Applied Studies in Education. Wright lost 7.4 pounds during the six week contest.
Wright said she had been running marathons for three years but had lost no weight, so she decided she needed to try something different. She liked the variety of classes the camp offers.
“I’m the type of person that when it’s a variety, it keeps my attention,” Wright said. “I told her [Naomi] I would try Boot Camp,
Step Aerobics and Pound! and I liked them, I enjoyed the class so it kind of kept me motivated through the program.”
Wright said she would recommend the camp both for its variety and because each week Fletcher would send participants information about how to eat or meet with them for 30 minutes and give them a food plan.
Wright's reward for winning included a medicine ball, floor mat and “some other things so it will keep me motivated on the days when I’m not here. ...So that was really nice.”
The winner in the male division of the contest was Gregory Shufeldt, assistant professor of political science. Shufeldt lost 14.4 pounds during the six week contest and has lost over 10 pounds since
the program ended, by continuing the healthy habits he learned from the program.
“I think most faculty would agree that they don’t live the healthiest lifestyles,” Shufeldt said. “Except for the time that we are in front of the classroom, we are sitting at a computer, in our office or at a coffee shop, so we live pretty sedentary lifestyles which can lead to bad habits -- eating throughout the day or constantly having coffee -- so it’s pretty easy to not live a healthy lifestyle.”
Shufeldt said he would recommend the program. “I think it definitely helps kind of set the pace. I was able to lose a decent amount of weight during the six weeks of the program but a lot of the skills and training and stuff that I learned there, I’m still keeping up with.”
Eva Legg Staff Writer emlegg@ualr.edu
On Friday, Jan 15, the University Program Council (UPC) hosted their semester Meet and Greet in the upper concourse of the Donaghey Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students had the opportunity to socialize around food, music, games and gifts. The event allowed students to reconnect with others from last semester and also have
the chance to make new connections.
At the event, tables were set up with various handouts. One table was decorated with UPC gifts such as UPC T-Shirts, headphones and UPC cloth bags; campus life bags filled with information such as health services pamphlets, highlighters, a campus map and tutoring services information. UPC games such as giant Jenga blocks were set up on the second table, and the third table had food.
Blaise Hale, who has volunteered for UPC for two and a half years, said “The event takes your
mind off of class and helps you relax. This event always seems to attract the attention of students and many of them attend multiple times to this event.”
UPC will have meetings every week at 5 p.m. in the Leadership Lounge to discuss future events. All students are welcome to attend.
The next UPC event is “Movie Night” Jan 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Ledbetter Hall. Food and drinks will be served. Students will also get a chance to put their name in a drawing for chances to win a prize. More information about future UPC events can be found at http:// ualr.edu/campuslife/upcomingevents/.
Chris Gardner Staff Writer cagardner@ualr.edu
The active president of the PreLaw Society at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, senior English and French major, Alexis Williams, started as a charter member in the spring semester of 2013, becoming the communication director shortly after.
The Pre-Law Society is an organization that allows the members to get more prepared for law school and to help the members figure out how to become law students. Anyone, including those who are not majoring in Pre-Law, who pays the $5 membership fee can join this organization. Meetings last semester were twice a month.
When the president position became available, Williams quickly applied because she had ideas to make Pre-Law Society more suc-
cessful and more involved on campus. Williams said, “you can’t complain about things if you aren’t willing to step into a position and fix them.” Williams felt that by stepping into the president's position, she could help the organization go in a more successful direction.
Some daily duties as president are sending out information to people in the Pre-Law Society Listserv to over 100 recipients. In addition, Williams organizes events not only for the members of the Pre-Law Society, but to help promote the organization as well. She organized a booth for the PreLaw Society at the UALR organization fair on Jan. 13.
Williams stated that the PreLaw Society is planning to go to Houston for a Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) conference to help members become more involved and receive more information about the test. For the spring semester, Williams is also hoping to get guest speakers at meeting to inspire members.
Pre-Law Society
“you can’t complain about things if you aren’t willing to step into a position and fix them.”
Lela-Tamara Fluker Staff Writer
ldfluker@ualr.edu
Starting the spring semester, the Student Government Association discussed new plans for the semester in their first meeting. Led by Vice President Connor Donovan and President Jacob Lann, the senate gathered to discuss new plans for the semester and get down to business.
SGA meetings are open to the campus community. There are hopes to be able to move the meetings from the original meeting room in the Student Organizations Office and to fill up a room in Ledbetter Hall with attendees.
Those interested in SGA for the perks of having it on their resume would also benefit from participating. The group has the ability to put those interested in contact with committees that better fit their passions.
At the meeting, three newly elected senators were sworn in as a part of the SGA senate. Sophomore Kaden Harris, freshman Makell Swinney, and sophomore Neden Yacine swore an oath of duty at Wednesday's meeting. Harris is an undeclared student but is taking business courses to find his interests. Swinney is a political science major and member of Delta Chi fraternity. Yacine is a chemistry major and member of Chi Omega sorority.
Nominated by President Lann, freshman and senator for the College of Engineering and Information Technology, Larry Dicus, was named Leader of the Week for his work in getting the opening of a rear gates around South Hall opened for safer entry.
The meeting also resulted in the passing of Bill S001-2016. As a part of their efforts to improve the lives of UALR students and help to combat hunger across the campus, the senate approved a bill that allowed them to appropriate funds towards purchasing shelves to be added to the Campus Food Pantry. The Center for Community Outreach will be opening the campus food pantry next month. This will allow students, faculty, and staff members of the UALR community to go in and receive food items.
New President Pro Tempore, Seth Cook, was not able to attend the meeting due to illness. His newly acquired positions places him in charge of recruiting and introducing new senators to the senate. SGA has several vacant Senate seats for the separate colleges. Potential senators should be recommended to Cook.
"You [senators] have more of an impact of the university that arguably any other position you might hold across the university," says President Lann. "I feel that we have an obligation to be a part of shaping and informing the decisions that directly affect our lives... we should have a voice."
“I am going to study everything I can about computers and find a job in IT services.”
- Chukka Bhanu Girish, International Graduate Student
“Cleaning up my attic is the one thing this year that I really want to do.”
- Devon Holimon, Administrative Assistant, Department of Information Science
“I will be working to improve the Information Science program and make it the best program in the region.”
- Elizabeth Pierce Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Information Science
“This year I want to work on my personal development and family.”
-Ian Calder IT Services Employee
“Graduating in Dec 2016 is what I am going to concentrate on this year.”
- Flora Loo, Senior
“I am going to be career-oriented and study hard. Not just for the academics, but also for MCAT to get into medical school.”
- Kaitlyn Pitman, Junior
“This year I am going to follow my heart and write a screen-play because that’s where my passion lies.”
-Kyle Graves Post-Graduate Studies
“I am determined to graduate with an Honours degree this year.”
-Mark Gray, Graduate Senior
“It’s been a while since I have been social. This year I am going to get out of the box and look for some adventure.”
- Shawn Manis, Operations Manager – UALR Ottenheimer Library
“My goal for the year is to eat well, sleep well, workout well, stay fit and stay alive.”
- Tiera Woods, Sophomore
by Lauren Humphrey
Victoria Mugambi Staff Writer vnmugambi@ualr.edu
We’ve all heard the myth that we as humans only use 10% of our brain’s mental abilities. This misbelief is still a prevalent lie used in movies, magazines, books and other media outlets.
A recent example of this is seen in the movie “Lucy,” in which a woman gets a drug leaked into her system and becomes so smart she turns into a black glob. Throughout the movie it is suggested that, as she accesses more of her brain, she gains incredible capabilities such as telekinesis, mind-reading and accelerated learning competences. And although Morgan Freeman’s silky, smooth voice sounded very convincing, he is ultimately wrong. We do use more than just 10% of our brains.
Like most myths, it is hard to place its origin. It has been suggested that it started with Albert Einstein, who claimed that humans
don’t use their full brain power. There are some who believe it was first started by well-known psychologist, William James. But the truth of the matter is that we use practically every part of our brains on a daily basis.
For example, neuroimaging techniques, such as MRI scans, show that almost every portion of our brain is active when completing simple tasks such as viewing an image or having a conversation. Not all areas are active at the same time, but that’s to be expected. Just like every muscle in our body isn’t active at the same time, we have areas in our brain that can go inactivated for periods of time depending on the activity one is engaged in.
Another reason why this myth is false lies behind the actual implication of only needing 10% of your brain. If this were true, that would mean that we have 90% of the brain going unused and taking up space and body mass. Though it would be nice to shed the extra 2.7 pounds that “unnecessary” 90% takes up, that would be extremely detrimental to our body.
Plus, if it were true that only
TTanya Triplett Staff Writer tmtriplett@ualr.edu
She likes everything about the Interpreting Program. She explained, “There are definitely some stressful times but in the end it’s worth it.”
raci Grizzle is a senior in the American Sign Language Interpreting Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She transferred from Pulaski Technical College, where she graduated with an Associate of Science degree. She started at UALR in 2012 and is expected to graduate in May of 2016. She chose UALR because it is close to where she lives and works.
Grizzle said that upon starting at UALR that her advisor encouraged her to take a foreign language class. This is how she got exposed to sign language and gained experience. . After taking a few classes, Grizzle said, “I started falling in love with the language and found out it was my calling.”
“The instructors have helped me come a long way, in many different ways than you can imagine.”
When asked if she would recommend the program to others Grizzle said, “Absolutely! I feel it’s important.” She continued, “you may never know when you run into a deaf person. I can see the joy and excitement in their face when someone can communicate with them [Deaf people] or make the communication easier.” “
Grizzle is also president of Sigma Lambda Kappa, the sign language club at UALR. Grizzle’s hobbies are hanging out with friends, playing with her dog, and sometimes relaxing at home watching TV. Her favorite quote is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13.
10% of our brain is used, we would rarely have to worry about tumors. Although it would be nice to hear: “Good news! Your tumor is in the area of the brain you don’t use!” damaging or removing any portion of the brain will lead to at least some changes in mood, thinking, functioning, and behavior in a person. I’m sure a neurosurgeon’s job would be much easier if it was as easy as slicing out a section like a piece of cake; however, that is not the case. They have to carefully plan out a method for removing the affected areas so as to leave the patient as healthy and mentally unscathed as possible.
It’s time that we as a society say goodbye to this outrageous myth and allow it to rest in peace with other myths, such as the myth about chocolate milk coming from brown cows or the body needing seven years to digest chewing gum. Although the idea of being able to send a pen flying towards your least favorite professor’s noggin by will sounds like a great capability. We are, unfortunately, already using our brain’s full potential on a daily basis.
Renea Goddard Staff Writer rbgoddard@ualr.edu
still more trees. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many trees in my life.
Growing up overseas as a military brat means lots of acronyms: AAFES, AFN, BX, BDU, DODEA... and so on and so forth. For me, the most gut-wrenching of these acronyms would have to be “PCS”--permanent change of station. It’s a term you always hear; thrown around casually to the point that it becomes a verb itself: “When are you PCSing?” You hear it from your friends, every year when they move away. You hear it from all the new kids, every other month or so when they come in. People become transient memories, flowing in and out like water.
Compared to most other military brats, I’ve been pretty stationary. Before I moved to Arkansas in the summer of 2014, I had lived in South Korea for six years straight, much longer than many of my peers. It was the place that my mom is from and the place I considered home, in both familiarity and in culture.
As far as struggles have gone for me, leaving my home in the middle of my high school years and starting anew in Arkansas felt like the equivalent of an unseen hand suddenly picking me up out of my life and dropping me on a vaguely familiar alien planet. My subways and bustling cityscape had been replaced with trucks, camouflage, sweet tea, trees, more trees...and
Obviously I knew that I would be facing a multitude of cultural differences, but I still found myself surprised and frustrated by many things. These things range from minor discoveries like the fact that American McDonald’s doesn’t deliver (in Korea, they deliver AND are open 24 hours) and the existence of sales tax (I had never, in my life, had to pay sales tax before) to more serious things like some of my first encounters with xenophobia and racism.
But most of all, I struggled with the sudden feeling of alienation. Every interaction and every new experience felt like a test I didn’t study for. I suddenly got a sense of how bizarre I am, an American who didn’t grow up in America, and I felt like I gave it away every time I opened my mouth.
A year and eight months later, I’ve grown used to the trees. I remember to add sales tax when I check prices. I appreciate the good air and beautiful sky that I didn’t have in Korea. I’ve become wholly unapologetic about who I am and where I come from. It can be a long and challenging process to get to this point. And every military brat knows it. But the rewards that come out of it are well worth the struggle.
(I’m still upset that McDonald’s doesn’t deliver, but I guess I’ll get over it.)
Tanner Newton
Entertainment Editor tgnewton@ualr.edu
Leonardo DiCaprio fights a bear, Native Americans and Tom Hardy in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant. The film is good as long as you are not bothered by all the historical inaccuracies.
The Revenant tells the story of fur trapper Hugh Glass. After getting attacked by a bear, Glass was left for dead by his companions. Before leaving, one of the men murders his son. The horribly injured man refuses to die and starts tracking down the murderer that left him.
It is a very slow chase. DiCaprio will get his revenge no matter how long it takes.
This brings to mind the John Ford classic, The Searchers. In
that movie John Wayne tracks the Native Americans that kidnapped his niece. Wayne’s famous quote about refusing to give up repeated through my mind several times while watching The Revenant.
“An Indian will chase a thing till he thinks he’s chased it enough. Then, he quits. Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there’s such a thing as a critter who’ll just keep coming on. So we’ll find ‘em in the end I promise you.”
This quote not only works with Glass’s relentless pursuit of Tom Hardy’s John Fitzgerald, but it is also an inverse of a subplot about a tribe looking for a kidnapped Native woman.
Across the three hour long film there are two slow, violent chases. That’s about it on plot. It is also very short on dialogue. DiCaprio spends most of the run time by himself so most of that is spent silent.
The best thing about the movie
is Emmanuel Lubezki’s amazing cinematography. Lubezki filmed using only natural lighting and he has made one of the best looking movies of all time. He won Oscars in 2014 for Birdman and in 2013 for Gravity. I expect he will make it three in a row.
The worst thing about the movie is all its inaccuracies.
I hate when Hollywood changes history. Hugh Glass, John Fitzgerald and the bear attack were real. Not much else in The Revenant is.
Here is the truth, Glass had no son and he tracked Fitzgerald down because he wanted his belongings back. In real life he did not get revenge, he got his possessions. One of my favorite quotes about movies is from Rotten Tomatoes Super Reviewer flixsterman. When writing about the highly fictionalized Birdman of Alcatraz he said, “Taken as fiction, Birdman of Alcatraz is good cinema.” I will say the same of The Revenant.
Shaun Williams Staff Writer sgwilliams@ualr.edu
Segwayhas released a new model, the mini Segway.
The mini Segway operates in many ways just like a regular Segway — both can turn 360 degrees and the operator can accelerate or brake smoothly. The mini Segway’s controls are a bit different, however. It is controlled by the operator balancing on both pads of the Segway and then applying pressure on the front or back of his or her feet. A crucial difference is that there are two motors inside each wheel and both can be controlled independently. Also, the mini Segway allows the user to maneuver through more narrow spaces.
The mini Segway has made it where its owners no longer have to walk anywhere but instead just jump on and balance their way
anywhere they want to go, as long as it is in a 10- to 13-mile radius. The mini Segway can only hold a charge long enough for the user to travel up to 13 miles at most, so anyone who needs to travel farther should plan to carry a 25-pound Segway the rest of the way.
The mini Segway though does come in handy for people who live within ten miles away from their workplace. These people would have to make sure they charge it before the trip and while they are at work. The mini Segway is also perfect for college campuses, ideal for students going to and from class.
It is also a great way to stay outdoors. One of the toughest problems parents in the 21st century have is their kids are glued to either their phones, a television screen or a computer screen. This is the generation of technology, so why not use the technology in a way to get outdoors and have some fun?
Feb 6 - SoMa Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball Coming to the Villa Marre in downtown Little Rock, SoMa throws its first annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. From 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., dancing, mystery and festivity will ensue in this historic 19th-century style venue. Participants are encouraged to dress the part and prizes will be given for the most elaborate, aristocratic hairdos. Enjoy drinks and hors d’ouervres through the night and enter to win Mardi Gras King and Queen at the end of the night. Winners receive a place in next year’s Mardi Gras parade. Tickets are $50 each. For more information message SoMa: Little Rock’s Southside Main Street Project on Facebook.
rbgoddard@ualr.edu
Feb 14 - ASO Pops Live! Broadway Rocks! Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is bringing hit songs from Broadway classics like Rent, Mamma Mia!, The Wiz, Phantom of the Opera and many more to the Connor Performing Arts Center on Valentine’s Day. ASO and guest vocalists from Broadway will be working together to perform these favorites in a high-energy show. Like other Pops Live! concerts, the show is intended to be an engaging visual experience as well as a musical one. Tickets range from $19 to $58 for adults and kids enter free. For more on ticket prices, including discounts, check out www. arkansassymphony.org/concerts.
courtesy of stereogum.com
Victoria Mugambi Staff Writer vnmugambi@ualr.edu
sign of a good French fry).
DElton Tevebaugn Staff
Writer
ewtevebaugh@ualr.edu
the synthesizers and the saxophone adds to the quality of the song
David Bowie has been renowned for decades. His final album, Blackstar, was released on Jan 8, 2016. Two days later, Bowie, 69, died of liver cancer.
Blackstar is filled with songs which engulf the listener with a sense of morose beauty that shines through the bleak lyrics. The overall style of the record is a jazz/rock/ electronic fusion, and the work is a great addition to Bowie’s already extensive body of work.
While every track is noteworthy, some songs stand out more than others.
The title track is perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful song on the album. Bowie chants at times and the instrumentation between
Bowie’s lyrics throughout the album are somewhat dark, but the title track has some of the more cryptic lines, including “Something happened on the day he died / Spirit rose a meter then stepped aside / Somebody else took his place, then proudly cried / I’m a blackstar.” Another line that jumps out is when Bowie asks, “How many times does an angel fall?”
Girl Loves Me references Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, using the fictional language of the novel for many of the lyrics. This song is mostly nonsensical, but it echoes common thoughts that people have. Specifically, “Where the f--- did Monday go?” It’s a nice break from some of the tracks which deal with heavier issues, but it still has the same haunting and sad feeling that
is heard throughout the album. No track better frames Blackstar as a fitting farewell album than the final track, I Can’t Give Everything Away. The song begins with the words: “I know something’s very wrong.” The chorus is simply the title repeated (“I can’t give everything/ Away”) and, set to the music, serves as a very sad and very beautiful sentiment.
Another relevant song is Lazarus. This song opens with the words: “Look up here / I’m in heaven.” Bowie continues, “Look up here man / I’m in danger / I’ve got nothing left to lose.” This track, and this album, reflects how Bowie was coming to terms with his mortality. If the music alone was not indicative enough of this, Bowie’s rapid decline in health was. The way the two facets of Bowie’s life coalesce is uncanny. Bowie poured so much of himself into his work until the end.
owntown Little Rock, particularly South Main Street, is the soul of the city, with its historic buildings, beautiful views, and numerous attractions to enjoy. Among brightly painted murals and independently-owned businesses, one of these is The Root Cafe, a quaint little restaurant that focuses on serving fresh, locally-sourced meals. Although everything on the menu looked mouthwatering, I wasn’t able to try everything, so I ordered two entrees, a side and a drink.
The first entree I tried was the cheeseburger with yellow cheddar. It came with regular fries and a small spring salad topped with a homemade dressing. I had high expectations for this all-organic cheeseburger. Not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded.
The burger was juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection. The cheddar gave it a slightly sharp taste that was complemented beautifully by the sweetness in the caramelized onions and Dijon mustard. The fresh greens and dill pickle gave it a delicious crunch.
The fries came out hot and fresh.They were seasoned wonderfully and tasted just as mouthwateringly delicious after they had cooled down (the true
My second entree was the State Fair Bratwurst made with local, pasture-raised pork, a fresh bun made by the Arkansas Fresh Bakery, and topped with mustard, grilled onions and peppers. The bratwurst was just as delicious as the burger.
The grilled veggies mixed with the spicy tartness from the mustard and the seasoned brat came together beautifully. The bread was soft and chewy without tasting tough or moist.
To finish off my meal, I ordered one of their specialty lemonades, honey ginger. Unsurprisingly, I loved the lemonade as well. It was at that perfect balance between tart and sweet, and left me feeling so refreshed it almost felt like summer.
The only downside to The Root was its minimal parking and crowded seating area. I managed to find a table that wasn’t completely surrounded by other patrons, but I was still forced to move my chair around several times as waiters and customers moved about. Overall, I give The Root Cafe a 4.5 out of 5.
The cafe is at 1500 S. Main St. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Almost all of the Root Cafe’s regular menu items come in vegetarian and vegan forms. Plus there’s a promising breakfast menu along with soups, salads, and pastries that all feature fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers.
Just Cause 3 is a chaotic action romp tragically let down by its constant repetition and padding. There is fun to be had, but too little variety in its vast open world.
Just Cause 3 takes you on a ride through the life of Rico Rodriguez, former CIA operative and current leader of a rebellion group on his home island, Medici. He is back again to liberate his home island from a psychopathic dictator named Di Ravello.
Just Cause 3 starts with Rico flying back to his home island but instead of a friendly welcome home, he is met by several missiles trying to blow him out of the sky. Most would expect the protagonist to jump out and parachute safely to the ground, but it wouldn’t be a Just Cause game if that happened. Instead, you find Rico climbing on top of the plane with a rocket launcher to blast any anti-air defenses.
Just as in the game’s predecessor, the player is thrown into a world where one must cause as much mayhem as possible to progress through the story line, but Just Cause 3 puts a spin on how mayhem is used in its story. As the player progresses through the story you find yourself having to liberate 400 square miles of provinces that
Shaun Williams Staff Writer sgwilliams@ualr.edu
contain several cities and military bases that have to be liberated for the storyline to progress. Though at first this it is found as a great way to blow off steam and have fun, it soon turns into more of a chore to be completed. The player no longer sees the explosions but instead a mental tick next to the giant checklist.
Most would see this and instead of liberating the provinces, they would just enjoy the open sandbox world. This comes at the cost of all the entertaining toys that come along with freeing another city or military base in a province.
Besides this there are many other ways to enjoy Just Cause 3 — like calling in a military helicopter along with a gun drop or finding a tank and blowing your way through a military base. Unfortunately for the player, Di Ravello’s army is a little bit too effective. The game seems like it’s punishing you for experimenting. With worrying about anti-air missiles and the never ending forces of the DRM, the fight becomes very tedious.
In the end, there is plenty of fun to be had but in the 400 square miles that it offers there isn’t enough variety to keep things interesting.
The Trojans are now 15-2 in conference after a rare Thursday-Monday split with a home win against Appalachian Mountaineers and a road loss against their archrival Arkansas State Red Wolves. The team shot 43% in both games, and has tried to maintain offensive consistency all season. Little Rock had fans dress up in all white for this game, and the crowd did not disappoint.
Coach Chris Beard said, “I am very appreciative of the support of the community and students. Players have been playing here for 3 or 4 years and they are complementing our community and students.”
Roger Woods made 6 of 9 from the floor for 16 points. Jackson added 16 and 7 rebounds. Lis Shoshi chipped in with 12 points including a massive dunk, which fired up a raucous crowd. Soshi
said, later on in the press conference, “Tonight was kind of my night.”
Little Rock trailed early but cruised to 81-55 win over the Mountaineers, their third largest of the season. The Trojans traveled to Jonesboro for an MLK Day showdown. The Red Wolves had an eighteen-point lead thanks to some hot shooting and great defense. It was a very off game for Little Rock on the offensive end and defensive end.
However, in the second half the Trojans outscored the Red Wolves 43-28. It wasn’t enough however, as the Red Wolves pulled away at the end to beat the Trojans 76-73 at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro. Little Rock was led by Senior Josh Hagins who scored 16 points, and redshirt junior Kemy Osse poured in 13 points to spur the comeback effort. Anthony Livingston and Devin Carter scored 20 points each that helped the Red Wolves close out and push them to over .500 for the season.
Analee Jones Staff Writer aejones4@ualr.edu
The Little Rock Lady Trojans split a rare ThursdayMonday split with a win at home against the Appalachian State Mountaineers and a loss on the road against their rival the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
The Lady Trojans faced off against the Mountaineers on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Jack Stephens Center. Little Rock was led by Junior Kaitlyn Pratt with 16 points, Sophomore Monique Townson with 12 points and Senior Shanity James with 10 points.
The Lady Trojans used a strong second quarter to give them the edge in the game, after a fairly even first quarter, that had Little Rock leading by four. The Lady Mountaineers were outscored 23-8 which lead to a 21 point lead for the Trojans going into the second half.
In the second half, the Lady Trojans let off the gas pedal. The Lady Trojans pulled off a win of 67-50, this was their largest win of the season. The team then went on the road for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day game against Arkansas State in Jonesboro on Monday, Jan 19. Shanity James powered the Trojans with 13 points and Pratt added 10 points.
The Lady Trojans stayed close with Arkansas State. Arkansas State’s offense fed more into the post and that led to easy buckets for the Red Wolves. The first half ended with the score 26-25 Little Rock. In the third quarter, the Trojans tried to answer back but the Red Wolves played strong and ended it 43-41 in their favor. It was shaping up to be a very close game in the end but seven fourth quarter turnovers doomed the Trojans as the Arkansas State Red Wolves ended up winning 66-53.
The Trojans will be back for a four home game run starting with a game against Georgia Southern.
Jeff Ridgle Staff Writer jlridgle@ualr.edu
On Jan. 16 the Little Rock Trojans swim team had a meet against Ouachita Baptist, Southern Illinois and North Texas. The fans came out in full support of their Trojans, as it was their last chance to see the Trojans for this 2015-2016 season. These three teams were very strong opponents that they had to face, in the thirty-two events that took place in the Donaghey Aquatic Center.
Little Rock finished 1-2 at the meet, with their only win coming against Ouachita Baptist. Two-time Missouri Valley Diver of the Week Sophomore Samantha Gray took home two second-place finishes in the one and three meter diving events. Freshman Laura Ruiz Astorga won second place in the 100 yard backstroke and also finished second in the 200 yard backstroke.
Tori Fryar placed third in the 1,000 freestyle and recorded her fastest time in this event and second fastest time of her career. Later in the meet Fryar placed fifth in the 500 freestyle.The Little Rock Trojans also placed second in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Emma Doll, Courtney Coe, Fryar and Ruiz Astorga.
The Trojans will have a couple of weeks off before their final regular season meet of the 2015-2016 season at Henderson State. In three weeks the Trojans will look to cap their season at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Feb. 17-20.