Feb. 10 Edition

Where Winning Basketball Happens LITTLE ROCK:

STAFF

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

Sydney Bradshaw

Elton ChristinaTevebaugh Turner

Aja Rolfe

Christopher Gardner

Eva Legg

Zoe Harris

Lela-Tamara Fluker

Abdul Mohammed

Victoria Mugambi

Jeff AnaleeRidgleJones

Scott Foster

Jack A. Webb

Kendra Montgomery

Alex Vandiver

Jacy JohnAndrews Kirk

The 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.

TORI TALKS

‘Thank you for loving me’

By Victoria Hickey Executive Editor editor@ualr.edu

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I’ve been thinking a lot about those I love. There are so many people that I have to support me and they all deserve a huge round of applause for the amazing things they do for me.

My family is one of the biggest support groups I have and I am so thankful for them. My mom and dad are there for me 24/7, always just a phone call away. They are the first people I call when I have exciting news or a problem I can’t solve. I’m so grateful for them because they have always encouraged me to do my best and to never give up. Even though we don’t always see eye to eye, I know that they will always be there for me.

Another member of my support team is my younger brother. Not only is he super smart and just overall awesome, he also cares about others. I love when

GUEST COLUMN

he texts me after class and tells me about his day. In the fall, one of his class assignments was to write a personal narrative and he wrote his on how awesome having a sister was. I have it hanging on my bulletin board and I read it on those days where everything is going wrong and it always brings a smile to my face. I’m so proud to have such an awesome brother. My grandparents also play a huge role on my support team. I’m lucky enough to have four amazing grandparents who still look out for me from a thousand miles away. Each of my grandparents has played a huge role in making me who I am today. I have so many great memories with them from my childhood. Sleepovers, Sunday breakfasts at Panera, shopping trips and so many other adventures made me one happy child. Even though I don’t get to see them as often now, they are all a phone call away and

always check in to make sure I’m okay. My boyfriend is another person who is always there to support me. He’s the shoulder I lean on when I’ve had a bad day and the one who can always make me smile. I know I drive him crazy with my busy schedule and lack of free time, but he always supports me. I’m so thankful for having someone who loves me unconditionally.

There are so many others who support me and that I love deeply--my co-workers, my bosses, my friends and extended family. All of these people play an important role in my life and they all mean so much to me.

Valentine’s Day might be mostly a “Hallmark holiday” but it is still important to take a moment and recognize your loved ones.

Who are you thinking about this Valentine’s Day?

Why Black History Month?

John

A. Kirk Guest Writer jakirk@ualr.edu

The origins of Black History Month (or National African-American History Month, as it is now officially known) are over one hundred years old. The first steps came in 1915 when Harvard-trained African-American historian Carter G. Woodson and prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The association, now the Association for the Study of AfricanAmerican Life and History, celebrated its centenary last year. In 1926, the association began to sponsor a National Negro History week, encouraging schools and communities nationwide to recognize and celebrate black achievements at a time when they were largely ignored. The second week of February was selected since it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States during the civil war and whose 1863 Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for the abolition of slavery, and the renowned black abolitionist Frederick

Douglass. The idea soon caught on. Mayors in cities across the United States began to recognize Negro History Week. In the 1960s, due to increased awareness of racial issues because of the civil rights movement, Negro History Week became Black History Month on many college campuses. In 1976, President Gerald Ford first officially recognized Black History Month to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every endeavor throughout our history.” Every other president since has followed suit. Nevertheless, Black History Month continues to stir controversy. Recently, Stacey Dash, an African-American actress and conservative commentator, said, “There shouldn’t be a Black History Month. You know? We’re Americans. Period. That’s it.” Her comment went viral on social media. Dash noted that there is no “White History Month.” A few years ago, from a liberal perspective, the documentary "More Than A Month" complained that black history should not be relegated to just one month, but that it should be celebrated the whole year round. Black History Month was founded since, by default, every month was White History Month. U.S. history,

as taught in schools and as popularly understood, was exclusively white and, for that matter, exclusively male and elitist too. Much of it still is, which is why Women’s History Month is now observed in March, National Hispanic Heritage Month from mid-September to midOctober and Native American Heritage Month in November. These months allow us to recognize the history of people too often marginalized or ignored in existing historical narratives. Without such points of focus, many would simply continue to overlook those histories altogether. Recent controversies in several states over school textbook content indicate that the struggle to have historically marginalized voices heard is still far from over. Although it would be nice to have a fully integrated history of the United States that did away with the need for separate recognition, that day has not yet arrived. Until then, Black History Month will continue to play a vital role in moves toward a more fully inclusive past as well as a more fully inclusive present.

John A. Kirk is the George W. Donaghey Professor of History and director of UALR’s Institute on Race and Ethnicity.

Get out and vote!

Brian Gregory Sports Editor bjgregory@ualr.edu

Primary season is my favorite time of the year. I get to hear all the political pundits on Fox, CNN and MSNBC talk about the parties and the election non-stop. I am a political junkie that gets excited when I see the American political system in work. This 2016 election will be the first presidential election I have ever voted in. Two years ago I voted in the midterm elections and I was very happy to exercise my civic duty of going out and voting for the candidates I felt were the best ones. I even took a picture with my parents, as I wanted it to be a moment in time that I always remembered.

Since then, the youth of this country have banded together on college campuses to protest different issues. These includes racial and ethnic discrimination, gender roles and identity, Planned Parenthood, for and against Donald Trump, etc. While some people might find their actions out of touch, and a bit immature. I feel they are exercising their First Amendment right to speak and to assemble. Social media has allowed our generation to achieve, and come together for, things we believe in.

However, the one thing our generation does not do is vote. 18-29-year-olds only made up 19% of those who went to vote in the 2012 election. Yet today Millennials outnumber Baby Boomers. Too many times, we as young people are willing to go protest what for what we believe in, but aren’t willing to go vote for who we believe in. If we went out and voted then the things we want, like reductions on student loans, easier access to jobs, etc. would become available to us. Please exercise your constitutional right and go vote in this election season.

Iowa Republican Caucuses Deliver Major Upset

Scott Foster Staff Writer snfoster1@ualr.edu

The good people of Iowa rendered the first verdicts of the 2016 presidential campaign Feb. 1, presenting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) and Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) with hard fought primary victories.

Sec. Clinton’s opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (D), lost by a razor thin 0.3% of the caucuses some of which were so close they were decided by a coin flip. On

the Republican side, Ted Cruz garnered 27.6% of the votes, narrowly defeating businessman and television personality Donald Trump (R) and Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), who earned 24.3% and 23.1% of the vote count, respectively. In this issue, we are focusing on the Republican primary race, analyzing what could turn out be a tumultuous campaign for the G.O.P. nomination. One of our own resident experts on voting behavior and political opinion at UALR, Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department Dr. Joseph Giammo, believes that Iowa’s tight results may portend an unusually competitive campaign to become the Republican nominee.

In a recent interview, Dr. Giammo commented that the chances of a brokered G.O.P. convention were “much higher than they have been in a long time.”

A brokered Republican National Convention (RNC) would mean that no one candidate had secured the majority of voting delegates prior to the convention. Dr. Giammo explained that after the delegates come together and complete their first round of voting for the nomination, if no candidate claims a majority of the votes, “delegates become much more like free agents”, able to negotiate and change their votes in favor of a different candidate than they initially came to represent. The convention

would then transform from the predictable partisan pep rally and coronation that it usually is into a high stakes negotiating free-for-all with no foreseeable conclusion. If such a turn of events were to come to pass, it would make for a rare and exciting contest at the RNC, which will be held in Cleveland, OH this year.

Until next time when we analyze the results of the New Hampshire primary on Feb.9, keep learning more about candidate positions on the issues you care about, because the races are close and your vote counts. The opportunity for Arkansans to weigh in on the presidential race is coming soon on March 1.

Police Beat Leaping into language: new year, new time

Sydney Bradshaw Staff Writer slbradshaw@ualr.edu

DWI on 28th Street

On Jan. 16, an officer attempted to stop a car that was driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The driver continued to drive even after being signaled with emergency lights, a siren, an air horn and the public address system. Eventually, the car came to a stop on 28th Street. When investigating the car, the officer smelled alcohol. The driver was described as having bloodshot, watery eyes and not wearing shoes. When asked to turn off the car and step out, the driver had a delayed reaction and seemed confused about taking off his seatbelt. The driver struggled during his field sobriety tests, and the officer concluded the driver was so impaired that he posed a significant danger to himself and others. The driver was handcuffed and transported to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility, where it was determined that his blood alcohol content was .15%, past the legal BAC of .08%. He was charged with having Drove the Wrong Way on a One Way, Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle, and Driving While Intoxicated.

Resident refuses to leave

On Jan. 19, an officer responded to a fire alarm in North Hall. Upon arrival, the RA on duty notified the officer that a resident had gone back in the building after being told not to. The officer entered the stairwell and found a set of keys that belonged to said resident. The officer went to the second floor, and the resident came out of her room and told the officer that those were her keys. The officer asked her if she was the one who disregarded the RA’s instructions to leave the building. The resident replied that she did not know what the officer was talking about. The officer escorted her out of the building and told her that when a fire alarm is going off, residents must leave the building. The resident responded by shrugging her shoulders and rolling her eyes. The RA on duty later said that he had told the resident five times not to go back into the building.

Thefts in gym

On Jan. 15, an officer reported to the Donaghey Student Center gym about a stolen phone. The victim said that he had left his phone on the bleachers near the ping-pong tables where he and his roommate were playing a game. He was able to get his phone’s serial number to the Department of Public Safety, who added it to the report.

On Jan. 18, an officer was dispatched to the DSC gym about a report of a stolen black Swiss Gear laptop backpack from the men’s locker room. In the backpack was a 17 inch laptop with an orange and white cover, a textbook, a novel and a three-ring binder with homework. The total value of the items in the backpack came to around $660. A report was filed, but the victim did not know the serial number of any of the stolen items.

A’Ja Rolfe Staff Writer anrolfe@ualr.edu

The Language Resource Center, or Language Lab, located in room 201 of Stabler Hall has new hours this semester. It is open to students of all majors and minors daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“I wanted to see when students visited the center most, so that the hours it was open were most beneficial,” says Dr. Theresa Warner, professor of Spanish and director

of the Language Lab. “But overall, there is always someone here to help – be it a tutor or professor.”

Some of the resources offered are an extensive DVD collection, books and manuals. Laptops are available to students. Free tutoring, among other tools, for help with learning and strengthening language skills in French, Spanish and Chinese. The Language Lab is also used as a gathering space for many students in between or after classes. Learning about other cultures and making new friends is all too common here. Last semester, a “Chinese Corner” with Tai Chi lessons was hosted by the Chinese

Club, as well as other events by foreign language clubs on campus. Tutors are a vital part of the Language Lab, as they help to create an open, innovative learning environment. Hunter Spence, a Spanish tutor in the lab, says, “I think it takes the fear out of learning a language to have help and to know that it is ok to make mistakes.”

Tutoring is available on a walkin basis, but you can also set up a session or learn more information about the Language Lab by calling 501-569-3272 or stopping by the lab.

Arkansas STEM Festival makes second appearance

Alexandria Barnes News Editor ambarnes@ualr.edu

and Math careers.

The first annual Arkansas STEM Festival got underway last April with 700 students in attendance and over 150 science presentations. It is the only chance for students to display their talents on a statewide level, versus doing a school-wide or regional science fair. It also gives students a chance to visit the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s campus and provides them with networking opportunities with UALR professors and other professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering

The goal of the festival is to encourage youth to participate in science fairs and increase community interaction within STEM fields. However, the STEM festival differs from the average science fair in the fact that students of all skill levels compete, and choose project topics they are passionate about. Topics that “address misconceptions” and teach others what the students know through engaging presentations. The students showcase their projects to the public, rather than just the person judging it. This year, as many as 2,000 students are expected to be present.

“I hope to see [the festival] get

bigger each year. I would like to see 10,000 students [here],” said Mesut Yurukcu, Graduate Assistant and Ph.D. candidate.

Yurukcu was a founding member of the Education Pioneers Club at UALR, which was started to help UALR undergraduate and graduate students learn to teach and motivate high school students effectively in science fields. Through this club, he had the idea to create an opportunity for students that sparks their interest in STEM and engages them as presenters and listeners. Thus, starting the Arkansas STEM Festival, which has partnered with LISA Academy in an effort to increase STEM education and community engagement

in Arkansas.

“Our main idea is to interact with the community and with students, and that’s why the projects are fun!” Serkan Demirel adds. Demirel is a LISA Academy Cluster STEM Coach and physics teacher and is also the Arkansas STEM Festival coordinator.

The festival is open to the public and will be on Feb. 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Donaghey Student Center. Local leaders, such as Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and many others are expected be present. Tying into the festival’s “Space” theme, NASA astronaut Duane G. “Digger” Carey will be the event’s guest speaker.

Carey was part of the crew of STS-109 in March 2002 and assisted with the successful upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope. Presentation judges (must have a college degree) and volunteers (students in any major or discipline) are greatly needed for this event. Those interested can contact Mesut Yurukcu atmxyurukcu@ ualr.edu. To learn more about the Arkansas STEM Festival, their website is www.arstem.org. The coordinators of the Arkansas STEM Festival would also like to thank the UALR staff for making this event possible.

Campus preps for winter weather: tips to keep you ready

Elton Tevebaugh Staff Writer ewtevebaugh@ualr.edu

Almost every year inclement weather occurs, often making travel unsafe for those trying to get to work or school. Just last month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock experienced a closing due to snow and the hazardous travel conditions produced. Several measures are taken in these circumstances to make things easier for students, faculty and staff.

Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing Judy Williams said, “I know for a fact that Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management David Millay has a crew that is out all the time; anytime there is snow, ice. On the snow days when we’re off, they’re out there working.”

Not only do they salt the walkways, but they also shovel them to clear them off. “We have a student population with disabilities, so you could imagine if you were in a wheelchair or were blind and using a cane, any object can impair you,” Williams added.

Williams said to commuter students, “If you live in a place where it’s very icy or otherwise dangerous, nobody wants you to come in and risk your safety.” She continued to say that “while some professors are more lenient, sometimes you aren’t allotted a lot of absences per semester per class. It’s on you, then, to determine what you suffer from if you miss class. We hope

that our faculty and students will make mature decisions whichever way that is.”

Something else for commuter students to consider is travel time.

Williams said, “You can’t assume that you can leave home at the regular time during inclement weather. Give yourself time for slowdowns and to drive slower than usual.”

The choice to close the school due to inclement weather does not only fall upon the Chancellor.

Actually, he confers with several department heads, Millay and the Provost. Millay contacts the Department of Public Safety at UALR, state police and consults weather reports. All these sources lead to a decision of whether to close campus due to inclement weather.

According to Williams, there are several ways students can be notified about conditions during wintry weather. One way is by simply checking the UALR homepage. Another way is to sign up for the Nova alert system through your BOSS account under the Personal Information tab. Students, by default, are sent UALR email notifications not only about inclement weather, but also about potential crimes or domestic disputes on campus which are of concern. These messages are extremely effective in reaching students to notify them.

While the winter weather may get rough for students, faculty and staff at UALR, there are people working and systems in place to keep everyone posted on closings and conditions.

Winter weather myths and commentary

Caitlyn Sample Arts and Leisure Editor casample@ualr.edu

Even though it is February, there is still a chance for the Little Rock area to receive more winter weather before the season is over. Last year, Arkansas had winter weather as late in the season as March.

According to the persimmon seed, Arkansas should have large amounts of heavy, wet snow this season. The old myth is that the shape of the kernel of a locally grown persimmon seed can predict the type of winter the area will have. A knife shape means extremely cold, icy winds. A fork shape means a mild winter with light, powdery snow. And a spoon shape means large amounts of heavy, wet snow. People around the state have shared photos of their spoon shaped kernels in the centers of their persimmon seeds. These photos were shared on social media sites and with local weather forecasters.

However, this winter is also an El Niño winter, which means warmer temperatures and thunderstorms are a possibility. This was the case for Arkansas in December.

Little Rock reached record highs and parts of Arkansas had strong storms. Areas of Arkansas were flooded during these storms and even a few tornadoes occurred. Since then things have calmed down and cooled off, which makes the probability of more winter weather likely to occur.

I would like to remain optimistic. I want a good snow day. I love the kind of snow days where I can curl up with hot cocoa and binge watch on Netflix.

Freshman and computer science major Simeon Ridgell also prefers taking the day off during a snow day. One of his favorite snow days happened last year. He and his sister watched their favorite TV shows all day together.

Jonathan Henderson,a junior and construction engineer major, likes spending the snow day with his family too. He enjoys building a snowman and having snowball fights with his daughters.

However, not all snow days are perfect. One snow day, I was stuck at work until the roads were blanketed with snow. I then had to push my dad’s work van up a snow covered hill without gloves, a scarf, a hat or a coat. I was pushing his van while trying to dodge wet ice chunks flying from his spinning tires. We eventually made it back home after three hours and many failed attempts to make it past blocked roads and icy hills.

Sophomore and Spanish major Daniel Ramirez has experienced a crazy snow day as well. When he was 14 years old, he and his friend attempted to slide down the roof of his home. Through this Ramirez conquered his fear of falling.

“It was fun,” explained Ramirez. “We started getting better at it, so we did it some more.”

During one of the slides down, Ramirez’s friend ended up hurting his wrist. “It was crazy,” Ramirez said with a laugh. “It was probably one of my favorite snow days.” If the Little Rock area has another winter weather event, stay safe, be prepared and don’t forget the bread and milk!

Campus legislation ‘hovers’ around idea of potential ban

Elton Tevebaugh Staff Writer ewtevebaugh@ualr.edu

Hoverboards are a fun, enjoyable way to get around, but can also be very dangerous. These dangers have led to the banning of hoverboards at several universities and other public places, nationwide. This trend of banning hoverboards may be embraced by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before too long.

Lt. Johnny Smith, an officer at the Department of Public Safety at UALR, weighed in on the threat to safety, both personal and public. “You’ve probably heard about the [hoverboards] catching on fire while they’re [being ridden] and catching on fire when they’re charging.” Smith continued, “They’re dangerous; too many accidents. About 90% of the accidents I’ve heard of have been adults; not kids.”

“If we allowed hoverboards to be on campus, we’re talking about traffic – how they’re going to maneuver through traffic. We have trolleys running, people riding bikes, and people riding skateboards. It would be a big safety issue,” Smith said. “There would be accidents.”

In regard to hoverboard injuries, Smith said, “Once you get on the hoverboard, there is nothing that can hold you up. I do know about a lot of documented incidents of people taking curves, coming to a high speed and stopping. Most people have fallen and broken bones.”

Smith advises anyone who gets on a hoverboard to wear a helmet and pads. He added, “There have

been a few incidents of people hitting their heads without helmets. People just get on them and ride them. I saw on the news a few weeks ago where a girl who didn’t live too far from her job thought that she would ride her hoverboard there, and didn’t quite stop at a crosswalk. She fell and cracked her skull.”

While there is not currently legislation at UALR concerning a ban, Smith said, “I know a lot of the university department heads, along with the Chancellor [and] board members, have made decisions that it’s an unsafe tool to be on campus with.” He continued, “We haven’t heard any official word from the legislative powers that hoverboards are banned. Right now, universities are banning them because it’s a safety issue for faculty and students on campus.”

Despite there not being an official ban on hoverboards, Smith said, “As far as law enforcement, we have banned them due to

safety issues.” When students are seen operating hoverboards on campus, Department of Public Safety officers react by telling them to put them away.

While this seems like a fairly one-sided issue, some students disagree with the potential hoverboard ban at UALR.

Junior John Pearson said, “I don’t see any reason for a ban on hoverboards at school.”

Freshman Danny Mitchell agreed with Pearson, saying, “I disagree with the potential ban.” Mitchell sees hoverboards as, “an easier, quicker way of getting around and getting to class.”

However, There is a middle ground in this matter. In regard to hoverboards, Mitchell said, “Use them at your own risk.”

While there are definitely two sides to this situation, due to the safety concerns and precedents set by other universities, a hoverboard ban could very well be in UALR’s future.

UPC kicks off the new semester

To end the karaoke night, freshman Kiahjea Ward sang ‘Take a Bow.’

Lauren Humphrey Campus Life Editor lehumphrey@ualr.edu

Starting off the spring semester, the University Programs Council hosted the first movie night, "The Intern" on Jan. 27. Candy, popcorn and drinks were served to the students who attended. As prizes, a sweat shirt, pajama pants and a Dunkin' Donuts gift card were given out.

Karaoke night on Feb. 3, started off slow but the DJ played music so the crowd would dance. Three girls involved with UPC volunteered to go first after 20 minutes of waiting for someone to start singing. Slowly, duets and trios formed and more of the crowd started to volunteer. Each participant filled out a card with what song they wanted to sing and the DJ rotated them into the line-up.

"I'm so excited that UALR offers events to let me take a break from studying," freshman April Thompson said.

Dance breaks to the "Cupid Shuffle," Soulja Boy and the "Cha-Cha Slide" broke up intermissions between songs. The crowd gathered in the front to dance along. The first solo to "I need you" was sung by freshman Jay Hubbard.

Throughout the night, refreshments such as salsa, guacamole and egg rolls were served. At the end of the event, three gift cards and a shirt were given to four winners who were chosen by the crowd's cheers.

RZoë Harris Staff Writer zcharris@ualr.edu

ichard Harper II is the current Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Harper earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Arkansas, his Master’s degree at UALR, and is currently working towards his doctorate here as well.

Before taking on the position as Assistant Dean of Students, Harper worked as a graduate assistant in the Division of Educational, Student Services and Student Life here at UALR. Remaining close to

the students, Harper’s daily tasks now include serving as a student advocate, coordinating the student conduct process, presiding as chairperson of the University Behavioral Intervention Team (UBIT), and serving on university committees as requested.

Harper stated that he used his personal college experience to assist students. “I skipped class, crammed for tests, got reprimanded by the dean a few times,” Harper said, “but I use my experience to help better relate to the students who enter my office.”

Harper believes that his job is more about helping individuals instead of looking at the student body as a whole. “If I could put my job into perspective, I would say

S G A

Student Government Association

Jan. 27 Student Government Senate Meeting With little new business, Student Government Association gathered to discuss their role in the development of a new video for the UALR Foundation Fund Board. The video will show the life of students at UALR, along with all of the things that the campus provides in order to gain scholarship contributions from UALR alumni and more supporters.

about 25 percent is holding students accountable, and the other 75 percent is advocating for the students,” said Harper.

In his free time, Harper enjoys binge watching his favorite shows, such as Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder and House of Cards. Harper also enjoys spending time

sonal stories of students to appeal to the interests of donors on a 30-member board.

with his family, eating his favorite dessert red velvet cake with cheesecake frosting. Harper’s primary goal and greatest accomplishment as dean is “seeing students achieve their personal and professional goals by graduating with their college degree.”

Lela-Tamara Fluker Staff Writer ldfluker@ualr.edu

Feb. 3 Student Government Senate Meeting: “You can help the next you in the classroom.”

-Andrea Angel.

Continuing with the agenda of their previous meeting, SGA invited the senior director of development, Andrea Angel. Angel is leading a campaign to engage students more in the university’s development activities. By collaborating with SGA, the Office of Alumni and Development hopes to use the per-

“In alumni [we] seek out gifts, coordinate events, run campaigns and do all of the stewardship, accounting and business that’s associated with raising money at the university level,” Angel said. If anyone is familiar with someone who would be a great contributor to UALR, that person can refer them to Andrea Angel via email at alangel@ualr.edu,which would also be a great way to contact her with any other inquiries about the Office of Alumni and Development.

At this meeting, the senate also voted in Monika Sandlin as a senator representing the College of Business. Sandlin is a non-traditional, transfer student majoring in accounting. She is also active in many clubs and organizations at the College of Business including: Beta Alpha Psi, Accounting Society, Phi Beta Lambda and Marketing Society.

“She’s a part of a lot of things and she doesn’t spread herself very

thin. [Sandlin] somehow has time to do everything and she does have a very good work ethic,” say Sen. Kristopher Garret when speaking as a reference for Sen. Sandlin.

Senators Nadine Yacine, Makell Swinney and Kristopher Garret volunteered to serve on the Judicial Oversight Committee in order to fill three newly vacant positions. Alongside Chief Justice Rick Dierenfeldt, the senators will serve in order to review election codes and the constitution of the university.

President Jacob Lann was nominated as Leader of the Week for his work with the Campus Food Pantry and helping to play a representative role in making sure that the Campus Food Pantry happened.

“In discussions of the student pantry, it’s important that we not take too much credit for what’s happened over there because they have some students that have done a lot more than we have even thought about doing to make that a reality. It’s important that we give credit where it’s due,” Lann said.

Major Spotlight Mathematics

Christopher Gardner Staff Writer cagardner@ualr.edu

The mathematics major is offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. This major prepares students for careers in industry, public service, and education. Majoring in mathematics also prepares students in the degree program for master's and Doctorate programs.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers four baccalaureate programs. They offer a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Secondary Education Option, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a Secondary Education Option.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics also offers two higher levels of degrees; a Master of Sciences in Mathematical Sciences and through the Applied Science Department you can obtain a Ph.D. in Applied Science.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics also offers a minor in mathematics. “A

student may also think about a minor in mathematics which would include Calculus 1-3, Introduction to Proof, and two more upper level math courses,” said Denise LeGrand,Senior Instructor and the MAC Coordinator.

A special service for not only mathematics majors, but also anyone needing help with math, is the Mathematics Assistance Center. Tutoring through the MAC lab is free to students.

“I hope to assist our math majors in the understanding of mathematics and show them its real-life applications. Since my office is right inside the MAC, I can visit with students daily and encourage and motivate them in learning math. I sit down with them and help if they have a math problem, or I can talk about where a math degree can take them in the future and anything in between,” LeGrand said.

The Mathematics and Statistics Department offer a multitude of scholarships for mathematics majors and minors. Many scholarships are based on performance in math classes as well as financial aid needs. Scholarships information can be found at ualr.edu.

Taking the lead: spotlight on the Latin Dance Association

while promoting an active lifestyle.

The love of all things Latin dance is a family affair for the two co-founders of the LDA. Founded in the Fall of 2015 by cousins Kendle Carter and Rachel Chatwood, the LDA has quickly become an exciting place for students to become familiar with a new style of dance while staying active at UALR. Carter, a senior fine arts major, said, “the main purpose of our organization is to promote physical activity and a love for Latin dance and culture.”

the potential of what you can do.”

"A typical meeting for the organization would be practicing one of our three main dances: salsa, merengue and bachata,” Carter said. She added, “Everyone is very helpful in practicing the techniques of the dance.”

Jack A. Webb Staff Writer jawebb@ualr.edu

One of the newest student organizations on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus, the Latin Dance Association, aspires to inspire a passion for Latin culture

Alpha Kappa Alpha week

Zoë Harris Staff Writer zcharris@ualr.edu

Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a celebration week for their sorority at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. At UALR, all Greeks are given a week of celebration. The AKA sorority celebrated their week with gracious smiles and one pinky up.

Many of the AKA members proudly wear salmon pink and apple green to represent their sorority. Members of AKA chose to

Since its formation, the LDA has gained a steady following of active members interested in Latin dance. Growing from only three members at the first meeting last semester to the eight who showed up during the spring semester, this group has more than doubled its membership.

Peruvian-American Miguel Valderrama, a sophomore construction management major, says that LDA for him is significantly personal. “The LDA has given me a chance to explore my culture through a new medium. It’s an art and it’s wonderful to see

Looking toward the future, the group hopes to raise enough membership and money to attend national conferences and sponsor events on campus in which they can bring in guest instructors from the Little Rock association to help teach the class new dances and techniques.

The group meets every two weeks from 3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays in the UALR gym. The next LDA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17. No prior dance experience is required to attend, but the members stress a willingness to appreciate the beauty of the dances they perform-whether taking part in the action or just observing.

To learn more about the LDA, join them on Facebook by going to their page: UALR Latin Dance Association.

“Greek life is fun, but there’s a lot of work that comes along with it as well,” said Faith Thomas.

hold themselves to a higher standard by the way they serve others.

“Greek life is fun, but there’s a lot of work that comes along with it as well,” said chapter president, Faith Thomas.

Throughout the week, members hosted events every night to celebrate. Sunday started off with a church service that morning and ended at the skating rink that night. Monday they played Family Feud and AKA’s Believe it or not.

Tuesday was Girl Code featuring Alexis Rogers. Wednesday they did Yoga. Thursday was the Trojans basketball game. Friday they had

a bake sale, and Saturday they finished taking donations for Our House.

AKA was founded in 1908 by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Part of Lyle’s mission was for the AKA’s to be a “service to all mankind.” In making the effort to carry out that mission, the chapter at UALR serves both on and off campus. One of those things involves the Change for Change project. During their week, the AKAs held a table in the DSC to collect proceeds for Our House. Coming together for projects to help the community is what being an AKA stands for.

Student spotlight: Meghan Everett

Abdul Mohammed Staff Writer ggmohammed@ualr.edu

Being both a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps ambassador and president of the Maroon Mob is not an easy task for University of Arkansas at Little Rock sophomore Meghan Everett, because she is also a professional swimmer.

Originally from East Texas, She began swimming 12 years ago and has practically lived in the water since then. Everett moved to Little Rock last fall.

Everett is a sophomore pursuing her major in health and physical education and is expecting to graduate in Dec 2017. She was

introduced to UALR by her friend and had visited the campus herself a couple of times before choosing to attend. She lives on campus with her friends, however, she does miss her family. She tries to visit them whenever she gets time.

Everett is a very busy athlete. Not only does she swim 20 hours a week, but she also helps in organizing athletic events and other things like giving out T-shirts at the games. She enjoys every single minute of it.

A strict routine and a diet are very important as a part of an athlete’s lifestyle. She loves to cook. She eats a healthy diet and follows a strict timetable that balances between study and workout sessions.

She gets only two weeks in a year when she can go home and

relax. Even during that time, she likes to take swimming classes for summer league.

During her spare time she likes to relax in her dorm and watch movies on Netflix. Occasionally she also cooks and invites her other friends over. She is also involved in social work and is a strong believer in the fact that “service to mankind is service to God.” She does volunteer work with CLC, which collect cans and gives them to the food pantry, who donate those cans to the poor. She also takes parts in campaigns like the recent campaign for Suicide Prevention, which took place downtown.

When Everett first came to the university she wasn’t afraid of swimming, but was scared of making friends and settling down. Everyone has to face that fear at

one point of time.

When asked what she misses the most about Texas she said, “Speed limits.” In the next 10 years, she hopes to be a swim coach in Texas, which would give her the chance to teach what she learned all these years.

She is very proud to be a Trojan and represents the university wherever she goes.

New school, new country, new culture...new problems

Abdul Mohammed Staff Writer ggmohammed@ualr.edu

my master’s at the UALR. I loved the response I got from the university to help me out with the admission process.

Being an international student here at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and moving to America from different parts of the world, can be a struggle. I have spent most of my life moving from one place to another and now it has become a hobby. I prefer travelling and meeting new people but this leads to one of the toughest things, keeping up with friends.

During a vacation I realized that I needed something more in my life. I made up my mind to pursue

I have always wanted to visit the USA. I wanted to have a taste of the American lifestyle and live the American Dream. Little did I know that I would be facing challenges with: communication, academics, cooking food, work, projects, internships, house work and cultural changes. But, there is one thing that my father said, “Challenges make you tough.” It keeps me going.

Initially, I had problems with taking care of the house. I didn’t even know how to cook. So I decided to learn. I even decided to embrace the cultural change and felt it was high time to stop feeling lonely and decided to make lots of friends at the university. I felt the biggest challenge for an international student is to get a job on campus. It consumes you a

lot, even breaks you at times. But I believe that “nothing is impossible.”

There are instances when I miss home, but I keep reminding myself that I am here to make use of all my resources and learn from the best minds. It’s a great opportunity. I have decided to face all my challenges one by one.

Every morning I wake up and ask myself, “Why am I here?” I weigh the reasons for being here and the challenges I am facing and I say, “Reasons for being here are more.” So I started looking at my life optimistically. Life is full of surprises, so I embrace it as it comes my way.

Next stop: Station 801

Christina Turner Staff Writer cmturner2@ualr.edu

Little Rock is home of some of the greatest foods that you can taste as well as friendly staff that love everything…well food at least. The next best thing has come to Little Rock, Station 801.

Station 801 is located at the corner of 8th and Chester in the downtown Little Rock area. What is Station 801 exactly? It is an area where food trucks gather Monday through Friday for lunch hour from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. They also offer indoor dining so you can sit, enjoy your lunch and connect to their free Wi-Fi or watch television on their flat screen TVs.

There are various choices of food ranging from Mexican to BBQ. It all just depends on your taste for the day. Each day there are different food trucks, so you can really have a variety of food. The prices are reasonable, everything ranges from $6 to $10.

One food station is Southern Salt Food Company, owned by Lauren McCants, which offered these food items:

•Thai Chili Shrimp Tacos with Ginger Rice $9

•Cuban Reuben $8

•American Cheeseburger $7

•Curry Vegetable Rice Bowl with Naan $8

•Jerk Chicken Sandwich with Pineapple Slaw $8

Southern Salt Food Company has a Facebook. It shows their menu daily, as they do post what they will serve each day.

A second food truck located in the station is Red River owned by

Illustration by Brady Jackson

Mick and Linda McKeown. They offer all items Southern, such as fish and BBQ. The jumbo BBQ pork is $7. There is also a catfish basket that includes two or three fillets, fries and hush puppies for only $8.

Another food truck is The Southern Gourmasian with Chef Justin. They offered items like the spicy chicken dumplings bowl; which is a bowl of rice cake dumplings, grilled chicken, shiitake mushrooms and grilled onions in black bean chili sauce. The spicy chicken dumplings bowl cost $8.50. They can be found on Facebook at SGOURMASIAN.

Brown Sugar Bakeshop, formerly located on 3rd Street in the downtown area, has now moved to the indoor dining area of Station 801. They offer various cupcakes as well as brownies, pies and cookies. Brown Sugar Bakeshop is on Facebook, which stays up to date on what they will be having for the day.

Trojan's Trending Topics

by Caitlyn Sample

Arts and Leisure Editor casample@ualr.edu

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Myra Cloud Undeclared Sophomore

“Oh, I celebrate it! This year I will probably go out to eat with my boyfriend.”

Ibrahim Onayemi Electronics and Computer Engineering Technologies Freshman

“No, I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. I don’t think you need a specific day to celebrate; it sounds too restrictive. You should show affection to the people you love every day.”

Erica Jolliff Education

Sophomore

“I celebrate it with my family. We trade little gifts or chocolates with each other.”

Surreal art hangs in the galleries

Tanner Newton

Entertainment Editor tgnewton@ualr.edu

In the Fine Arts Building, professional wrestling fights spill out into the city and dreams come to life.

The work of Robert McCann hangs in Gallery I. His series of paintings is titled “Jobbers, Heels, and Faces.” The paintings show wrestlers fighting in unusual places. Brad Cushman, one of the curators, said, “They had a unique twist to them. You see wrestlers brawling in the Dollar Tree parking lot.”

“I like the way he mixed the wrestling characters with the places of mundane life,” Cushman added.

McCann started working on this series two years ago. One of the things that is immediately noticeable about this series is that it

has weird little glitches. To get the images he wanted to capture, he would freeze old videos of wrestling. Pausing a video causes distortion and degeneration. The paintings depict this.

Across from Gallery I is a smaller gallery called The Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery. In this room hangs the work of Douglas Bourgeois. This series is called “Awakened by these Dreams.”

“Obsessive attention to detail and the meticulous brushwork and vibrant use of color – that’s what caught my eye,” Cushman said when explaining why this series was brought to UALR.

“You see James Brown with a flock of blue birds around him, singing on an iceberg while these shooting stars are going,” Cushman said while describing a painting called “James Brown and Annie Mae Sola.” “These are equally surreal as the wrestling paintings.”

Cushman said these paintings

are almost microscopic in their attention to detail. This is the exact opposite of the wresting paintings, which worked in broader strokes. There is also a large size difference between the works in the two galleries. McCann worked on very large canvases, and Bourgeois worked on small canvases.

The two galleries complement each other and building off those themes is the work in Gallery III. This gallery is located on the second floor and is curated by Missy Brever. This gallery shows off art that belongs to the school in the UALR Permanent Collection.

“Jobbers, Heels, and Faces” will be on campus until March 3. The following day the artist will give a guest lecture about his work. The lecture starts 5:30 p.m. in room 161 of the Fine Arts Building.

“Awakened by these Dreams” and the works from the UALR Permanent Collection in Gallery III will both close on Feb. 26.

Fitness Tips: You can't outrun your fork

Lela-Tamara Fluker Staff Writer ldfluker@ualr.edu

"It's almost impossible to exercise away all of the extra calories we are capable of taking in," says Coordinator of Fit/Well Programs Naomi Fletcher.

If you were to exercise away 200 calories on the treadmill and then turn around and eat a slice of cake as a "reward," you are only adding those calories back into your system. Not only is this definite to give you negative results in regards to weight loss, but it is also an unhealthy form of caloric intake.

When trying to stay in shape, it is important that you make smarter choices in regards to what you eat and do. Consider starting slow by replacing an unhealthy meal for one that is healthier, then opting for more healthy alternatives as your journey goes on. It is also vital that you keep track of these things with food and exercise diaries.

Our campus also provides a variety of group fitness classes. The schedule can be found here: http://ualr.edu/ campuslife/recreation/fitwell program/group-fitness-schedule/.

AVictoria Mugambi Staff Writer vnmugambi@ualr.edu

fter hearing hundreds of love songs, poems and cliché phrases about how “my heart beats only for you, baby,” we can officially say that there is some scientific validity behind those romantic words! A new study from researchers at the University of California in Davis has found that lovers’ hearts actually beat at the same rate.

Psychology professor, Emilio Ferrer, conducted the study by having romantically-involved couples sit facing each other a few feet away without neither touching nor speaking to one another. Amazingly, after a few minutes, the couples breathing and heart rates synced together.

The study was conducted with a total of 32 heterosexual couples and involved several trials to see how much heartbeat and breathing would coincide with the partners. The trials included having the couples sit across from one another and silently mimic their partner’s movements. Then the researcher would switch up the pairings, so that the couples would sit across from a stranger.

When the individuals were mimicking their partner, the researchers found the same phenomenon of heart and breathing rate harmonization. However, when positioned across from someone other than their significant other, their heart and breathing rates never matched up.

But if you’re like me and unlucky in love, don’t be disheartened. Heartbeats can synchronize between you and your loved ones as well. In a study reported by National Geographic, when a person’s loved one was put into the stressful situation of fire-walking, their heart rates increased at the same time and also synchronized. I guess you could say they both got a “syncing” feeling.

So how does this happen? There are actually two theories in play here. The first has to do with physics. According to the natural law of coupled oscillation, when two rhythms meet, they become coordinated. This law is reinforced by the fact that the couples’ heartbeats synced up based solely on visual and auditory information.

But if this is the case, why don’t the heartbeats of strangers match up with one another? This actually has to do with us girls. In the studies, it was revealed that, though both parties heart rates would change slightly to match the other’s, the women tended to adapt more than the men did. Since women tend to be more empathetic than men, we also tend to have stronger emotional and physiological links to our partners.

So the next time your lover tells you that their heart beats only for you, you can look longingly into their eyes and say it’s because of the natural phenomenon of rhythm coordination between two masses whose lives that are passionately intertwined. Or you could say something slightly more romantic; whatever floats your boat.

The UALR Forum presents

Valentine’s Day SHOUT OUTS

To: Dr. Dobbins From: Anon

Thank you for being a wonderful professor and I am happy that you are still around campus so that I can get advice from you. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s day.

Mikayla, you are my world

Love you so much! Truly yours, Kyra.

I wanna love you...and treat you right. You demand it...I wonder. Is this love, is this love, is this love that I’m feeling? Yes I said, yes I will, yes. Your creature, the soul, my word.

I love you guys! Y’all are the best friends ever.

We hope our friends feel loved and known on

I’m yours. Forever and always.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Roses are red, violets are blue, you guys are okay I guess.

Will you ever truly be mine?

To: Derrick From: Azita Hakkak

Thank you so much for being a great friend to me and all throughout high school. I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day!

To: Coach Adams From: Coach Beard

Coach, This is for you. on this special day. You open my heart, showed me the way, make me gay. Happy V-day!

To: Victoria and Caty From: Brad Great job!

To: Kooper Whitmore From: Kyler Whitmore

Hey Koop! Dad loves you!

To: Morgan Drish From: Keaton Duersch

Morgan, every day you make me want to be a better man. I love you.

To: Akshaya Garirnalla From: Anonymous

Hey spy mom, I love you to the moon & back. You are my sunshine.

I wish you much luck and love

Camille, I love you! -Dr.

“Hey”-Byron 2016

Thank you for being a great friend and very good partner. I hope you have a great Valentine’s day.

We LOVE you, baby.

What’s happenin’ in MoonRay, a new 3D printer

Eva Legg Staff Writer emlegg@ualr.edu

Anew 3D printer has hit the market, the MoonRay. This printer essentially prints an object while pulling it out of a puddle of resin. It looks like something from a science fiction movie.

3D printers have been around since 1986. These original printers were used mainly in industrial settings to create prototypes for businesses. A few years ago brands such as Makerbot, Tiko and Palette started to make smaller, more affordable 3D printers. These printers were available for anyone to purchase.

These things sound complicated, right? Well, they are about as complicated as using the printer you already have. They require a filament, which is like a plastic cording, that will be heated and extruded to become an object.

Before you can start printing, you first have to create, or download, a blueprint to export into

your 3D printer. You can find downloadable blueprints through the brand‘s website. The printing process could take around two hours depending on the size of the object being printed.

One problem with 3D printers is that the more affordable printers can have a low resolution. This is not a problem with the MoonRay. The resolution is much more advanced than a desktop 3D printer like the Makerbot.

Marshall Jackson, a mechanical engineering major, has had the opportunity to use a 3D printer on the third floor of the engineering building. They used it to print gears for an electric long board that his team made for their senior project. Jackson said he would like to own a 3D printer for “artistic purpose mainly.”

3D printers are being used in fields of medicine and engineering. The printers could eventually be used for mass producing food. Students could benefit from owning a 3D printer for educational purposes such as inventing models for class projects.

Dorothea Lange’s America: Feb. 26-May 8

Dorothea Lange’s America displays the photographer’s images from her travels around the United States during the 1930s. Lange recorded the lives of people coping with the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the losses of their jobs and homes. Her work involving displaced farmers has influenced documentary photography in modern day America. She took these photographs as part of a program connected to the Farm Security Administration, a government agency formed under the new federal deal to help farmers with loans and other programs. These images helped government agencies to understand the need of helping Americans who had no other options to resort to. Several celebrated photographs of that era—Migrant Mother, and Migratory Farm Worker, are featured in the exhibition as well as 27 other images of Depression-era life in America.

This show has been organized by art2art circulating exhibitions and will take place at the Arkansas Arts Center.

Alexandra Vandriver Staff Writer aevandriver@ualr.edu

Lanterns light up Wildwood Park: Feb. 19 - 21

Inspired by the Lunar New Year and Chinese traditions, Lanterns! is an outdoor festival event at Wildwood Park. With lantern displays ranging from Hawaii to China, Wildwood Park for the Arts wows the Little Rock community with the luminaries for an eighth year in a row.

Lit vistas that are meant to represent cultures from around the globe will be on display to visitors as they explore the park. There will also be a lantern release at the end of the evening.

Performances, games for the kids and culinary tastings take place in the park’s performing arts center and around park grounds. Wildwood provides opportunities for learning at any age, and celebrating diversity of cultures all across the globe, through encounters with nature and the arts.

Wildwood is located off Chenal Parkway at 2099 Denny Rd. Parking is limited and shuttles will run from Kroger on Chenal Parkway beginning at 6 p.m. nightly.

Can you survive ‘The Room’?

Kendra Montgomery Staff Writer knmontgomery@ualr.edu

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be locked in a room facing a painful and terrifying death if you didn’t escape in one hour or less?

At the Central Arkansas Escape Rooms you and 7 of your friends test your wit to see if you have what it takes to survive.

The current theme is a paranormal investigation gone terribly wrong. You have received a call from Agent Wolf Moldoon asking you to rush to his office to confirm some findings on his current investigation. Upon your arrival at the office, you discover that he is missing. You try to leave only to

discover that the door is locked. You have no phone to call for help. The only way to escape is to find the five-digit code that unlocks the door. That code is hidden in the room, but everything is locked away. There are puzzles and codes that must be cracked to open the locks to get the other clues that lead to the escape code.

Once you enter the room, there is no turning back until you find the correct code or “die” at the end of the hour.

If paranormal investigations aren’t really your thing, no need to worry. The theme is always changing. The Alchemist is set to visit in March.

The Central Arkansas Escape Rooms teach you to work as part of a team, while having fun. You learn to combine your strengths and weaknesses to get the job done.

There is something for everybody to do.

Escape rooms have become famous all over the world and have finally reached Central Arkansas. For more information on how you can join the game, visit their website at http://www.centralarescapes.com/index.html or like them on Facebook.

‘Death of a Bachelor’ redefines Panic! At The Disco

Sydney Bradshaw Staff Writer slbradshaw@ualr.edu

Panic! At The Disco have released their fifth studio album, “Death of a Bachelor.” It earned the band their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 Chart. The voice and mastermind behind the songs is lead singer Brendon Urie, giving each song its own personality. From the way he sings, to the story behind the songs, they all have their unique qualities. He uses some of his favorite singers and bands as inspiration for the songs, which keep you hooked from “Victorious” to “Death of a Bachelor.”

This album is a nice change in style for the band. Previously, the band’s songs were mainly rock with heavy emphasis on drums and electric guitars. This album challenges the whole rock concept

behind PATD. While they’re still an alternative rock band, this album includes different elements like pop, smooth jazz, synthesizers and more. Every track embodies a different element than the last one, keeping you guessing as to what is coming next.

Urie did an excellent job when he chose “Victorious” as the opening song. Its upbeat rhythm and catchy lyrics instantly grab you and make you want to listen. The transition between songs is perfect. The first few have fairly quick rhythms and a heavier sound to them.

After that, you get a nice change with “Hallelujah,” which has a more laid-back sound. The song has a very deep and meaningful story behind it. Essentially it’s about Urie coming to terms with his past and making amends with himself. It tells the story of a sinner working through the things he’s done in the past that he knows he can’t change. With the song, he tries to reassure other sinners that

everything’s alright.

The song “Emperor’s New Clothes” was written to continue the music video for “This is Gospel” on the band’s previous album, “Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die.” Urie said this song took the longest to write because he got hung up trying to write the bridge. Eventually he turned to Queen for inspiration and finished the bridge which gives the song the eerie edge it needed to tie it together.

It has a dark haunting feel behind it with just as equally haunting lyrics. The song is about gaining power and uses the phrase “heroes always get remembered/ but you know legends never die” challenging the concept that good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. It seems as if Urie is saying that you can’t always get what you want by playing by the rules; you may have to step on a few people to “see what’s [yours] and take it.”

The title track, “Death of a Bachelor,” is about Urie’s two years of marriage to his wife, Sarah Orzechowski. It has a distinct Frank Sinatra sound to it which was intentional. When asked, he said that Sinatra had always been a huge inspiration to him and he couldn’t think of a better way to pay tribute to the late singer. The song talks about how Urie may miss how things were before he married, but “a lifetime of laughter at the expense of the death of a bachelor” is definitely worth it.

Overall this is an amazing album; from the way the songs transition to the different elements that are used. What makes the album so catchy is the way it rhymes. Not all songs have to rhyme but it definitely helps. The rhyming gets the song stuck in your head in a good way. You can’t get it out of your head so you want to listen to it.

Eat beat: What’s in ‘The Pantry?’

Victoria Mugambi Staff Writer vnmugambi@ualr.edu

Considering somewhere new and different to take your date this Valentine’s Day?

One option is The Pantry. Hidden off of Rodney Parham Road, The Pantry is a warm, tasteful eatery with European style cuisine.

The outside seating is decorated with wood furniture, string lights and a terra cotta wall that gives it a rustic Italian feel, but the place doesn’t automatically catch one’s attention. Once I got inside; however, the full elegance of the restaurant was shown. The rustic Italian aesthetic was demonstrated beautifully by the dark wood tables, aged chandeliers and patchy terra cotta walls that made the place look decades old.

The menu offered European meals from Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. On my visit, I ordered an entrée, two sides and a dessert. My first dish was The Big Cheese Panini with a side of pommes frites. I had no idea what pommes frites were, so I was slightly relieved and very excited that pommes frites is just French for French fries. When my food came, the waiter offered a suggestion for a wine to compliment my meal but I turned down the offer.

The Panini was basically a grown-up grilled cheese. The three cheeses all had distinct flavors which combines deliciously with the caramelized onions that also came on the sandwich. The pommes frites, despite their fancy name, were pretty basic. Seasoned simply with salt and a little pepper, the fries were good but not great.

I also ordered a side of asparagus once I finished my meal. They were very appetizing and an excellent supplement to the Panini and pommes frites. The spears were slightly crunchy but still a little tender and they had been seasoned with sea salt, which enhanced their natural flavor.

After eating healthy, I decided to reward myself with dessert. I asked the waiter what he recommended off the dessert menu, and he suggested the Nutella Brûlée. Anything with Nutella sounds excellent, so I was eager to try this dessert. I was slightly disappointed. The brûlée tasted like chocolate pudding with just a hint of Nutella. It had a crunchy, caramelized chocolate top layer. That was a delicious contrast to the cool pudding underneath, but unfortunately, it was best part of the dessert. Overall, I give The Pantry a 4 out of 5. The food was pretty good for the most part, but the homey atmosphere and friendly servers made the restaurant memorable. The Pantry offers a lunch menu that features salads, sandwiches and a soup of the day. There is also a dinner menu that offers more of their specialty, European dishes. And with a nice selection of wines and knowledgeable waiters to help you choose the best pairing for your meal, The Pantry is a great spot to take someone special for Valentine’s Day.

The Pantry is located at 11401 N. Rodney Parham Road. Their hours of operation are from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Mondays through Fridays and 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. on Saturdays.

‘Zarafa’ deserves American audience

Tanner Newton Entertainment Editor tgnewton@ualr.edu

There is a new animated movie out on DVD and Bluray about a giraffe flying in a hot air balloon from Africa to France. The film, “Zarafa”, shows a humorous story that goes to some very dark places.

The film opens with two halfnaked, preteen Sudanese kids chained to the ground. They have been kidnapped by slave traders. The year is 1827. The boy, Maki, is hopeful that his father will save them. The girl, Soula, is certain that both of their parents have been murdered.

Maki manages to escape his chains and makes a run for it, starting a terrifying chase scene involving a vicious dog. At the same time, there is a war going on between the Turks and Egypt. The leader of Egypt has sent a man named Hassan to capture a young giraffe to offer to the king of France in an attempt to get French soldiers on his side.

Hassan saves Maki while tracking a giraffe, and the two go on a wonderful adventure. Needing a way to get past the war going on both land and sea, they fly via hot air balloon.

The movie does not forget Soula. She becomes a slave. The slavers are also headed to France, and they spend the length of the movie trying to get Maki back.

This is not Disney. But, the movie, directed by Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie, looks very similar to the films of the Disney Renaissance (1989-1999). This is a hand-drawn, traditionally animated movie, and it looks amazing.

While the film is obscure in America, it was popular in France. It was nominated for the César Award for Best Animated Film and was nominated for the Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production.

The film is great, and I hope that it does manage to find an audience in America, but the ending almost ruins the movie. A fantasy element is added in the closing minutes of the movie. I intensely hated this part of the movie.

Zarafa was a real giraffe that was

given to King Charles X to try to get his help with the Greek War of Independence. I usually hate when history is messed with in movies. This film is largely fictional.

Sadly, the real Zarafa never flew in a hot air balloon. As far as I can tell, neither of the children in the movie where real, and the men who brought the animal to France did not have to deal with mean slavers. While I normally would hate all this fictional stuff, the movie won me over with its beautiful animation and tight script. But I hate that one scene near the end.

That said, I still highly recommend “Zarafa”. It is being released by GKIDS. This is the distribution company that brought America the French masterpieces “A Cat in Paris” and “Ernest & Celestine.”

Despite a rocky ending, the film lives up to the GKIDS name.

Ghibli’s hidden masterpiece is uncovered

Tanner Newton Entertainment Editor tgnewton@ualr.edu

Twenty-five years after its release in Japan, Ghibli’s “Only Yesterday” is finally coming to America this year. The movie comes from Academy Award nominee Isao Takahata, and it lives up to his name.

In 1996, Disney bought the North American release rights to Studio Ghibli’s entire filmography. Included was this 1991 film about a young woman who dreams of leaving the big city behind and working on a farm.

Disney never released the film. Many assume that is because of a long scene where a girl gets her first period. It could also be because of the scene where her father strikes her in the face.

No, this is not a kid’s movie. Takahata made this film after realizing that no animated movie had previously been made and marketed towards adult women.

“Only Yesterday” is set in Japan in the 1980s. The main character is a miserable woman named Taeko. Tired of life in the big city, she uses her vacation days to go work on a relative’s farm in the country.

During her trip, she has frequent flashbacks to when she was a kid. These are where the notorious scenes depicting child abuse and menstruation occur. Most of her memories are not happy. For example, her two older siblings are honor students and she fails math. There is, however, a beautiful scene of her family eating a pineapple that disappoints them.

One very refreshing aspect of the movie is its positive depiction of farmers. Movies often show farmers to be simpletons who don’t wear shoes or shirts and wear overalls. Hollywood loves the stereotype of the stupid farmer, and it is weird to see them portrayed in such a positive light.

The movie says a life of agricul-

ture is better than a life in Tokyo. This is a theme that Takahata has used several times, most notably in the film that got him his Oscar nomination, “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.”

In a previous issue of The Forum, I wrote about the similarities between Taeko and Kaguya. “Both are young women who have learned how to passionately hate life in the city and yearn for a simple life of agriculture and nature.”

The two films complement each other perfectly.

For a lot of people, Ghibli means fantasy. They remember the Catbus from “My Neighbor Totoro” or they think of the river spirit in “Spirited Away.” There is no fantasy element here. It doesn’t need one.

Last year, Disney sold the rights to GKIDS. GKIDS is the distribution company that released “Kaguya.”

Since the company was founded in 2008, it has garnered eight Oscar nominations, including two this year: Ghibli’s “When Marnie Was There” and the Brazilian movie “The Boy and the World.”

In GKIDS’s new English dub, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” star Daisy Ridley voices Taeko and “Slumdog Millionaire’s” Dev Patel as the farmer she works with.

GKIDS opened the movie in New York on Jan. 1, and the movie will start expanding nationwide on Feb. 26. It will be released on DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

YOUR NEWS YOUR WAY

Hot shooting keeps Little Rock in the win column

Analee Jones Staff Writer aejones4@ualr.edu

On Jan. 28, the Little Rock Lady Trojans hosted the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Lady Trojans defeated the Eagles 69-36. The Lady Trojans shot a scintillating 53% from the field and plus-20 rebounding advantage while Georgia Southern maintained about a 38%. Defensively, Little Rock used home court advantage to force the Eagles into 38% shooting from the field and 23 turnovers, including ten steals.

Little Rock controlled the game from the opening tap, they pounded the defensive boards

and swarmed on the perimeter.

The Eagles were confused by all the pressure. Early in the second quarter, Senior guard Monique Townson stole the ball and scored a layup for the Trojans. This typified the defensive effort. The leaders of the first half were Senior forward Shanity James with 8 points, Junior forward Keanna Keys with 8 points and Junior Sharde Collins with 5 points. At the half, the Lady Trojans were leading by 16 points.

The second half produced more of the same for the Trojans. Senior Alexius Dawn hit two quick threes which stretched the lead. The Eagles then tried to push the tempo; however, the Trojans limited them to only one shot. The fourth quarter continued to show the edge of the Lady Trojans with Collins scoring a three-pointer after a missed field goal shot from the Eagles.

When asked about how the

game went, Coach Foley said, “Tonight they were playing for each other instead of themselves.” The Coach spoke very highly of Collins saying, “Collins did well at finding a shot.”

He continued to talk about how the game was mainly about the post players because he wanted to give the guards a break and let them wait until they had position on the inside before kicking it out for three. Little Rock did a superior job and is now 7-4 in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Trojan men had a full house when they played at the Jack Stephens Center on Jan. 28. The Trojans stretched out a win over the Georgia Southern Eagles of 80-67. The Trojans shot 55% from the field and forced the Eagles into 10 turnovers. The Trojans were out rebounded by 2, but the bench outscored the Eagles bench by 9.

The first half burst with excite-

ment as Junior guard Kemy Osse hit a three-pointer within the first three minutes of play. Georgia Southern tried to move the ball quickly, but the Trojans used the great defensive technique to turn the ball over. Offensively, the Trojans pulled out all the stops with momentous passing and trying to get the ball out to the guards to shoot. With 18 mins left, Senior Josh Hagins scored his first three-pointer of the night to get the crowd roaring. Continuing in the first half, the Eagles tried to pass the ball frequently, but Junior Mariek Isom stole the ball and dribbled it down the court for a dunk. The student section was wild and continued cheering for the Trojans. Coach Beard commended the student section and the community as “something special.” Little Rock ended the first half leading by 13 points.

The Trojans had possession after

halftime and continued their hot shooting. However, after a pep talk, the Georgia Southern Eagles came back out with force. Offensively, the Trojans pushed the envelope showing how they can move the ball into the post and score with no problem. Junior Marcus Johnson, Jr., hit a rhythm three-pointer to stymie the comeback effort. The Eagles were catching up in the second half but, the Trojans held off the pressure. With only seven minutes remaining, they couldn't let the Eagles pull out a win. Johnson hit another three-pointer to ensure the Eagles couldn't get closer.

Junior Jalen Jackson said later, “We got more aggressive when they got scoring.” Jackson also said that they were there just to “Play Little Rock basketball.” Coach Beard, spoke very highly of Johnson saying, “He is the best guard in the conference and he was a great shot-maker.

Freshman Noora Wallenius sets multiple records for Little Rock cross-country

Photo by Lauren Humphrey

“I feel that I have a lot of room for improvement and that motivates me to move forward in my running journey and pursue my running goals,” Noora Wallenius said.

Lauren Humphrey

Campus Life Editor lehumphrey@ualr.edu

Finnish cross-country and track runner, Noora Wallenius, a freshman, was named the 2015 Sun Belt CrossCountry Champion on Nov. 1 as an individual with a time of 17:49 in the 5K. The women's team placed fifth overall. She was the first to win the title since 2006. After receiving the title, Wallenius was named 2015 Cross-Country All-Sun Belt First Team, 2015 Sun Belt CrossCountry Outstanding Performer, and 2015 Sun Belt Cross-Country Freshman of the Year. She also

holds the school record for the cross-country 5K.

At the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 3, Wallenius broke the school record in the 5K and was named the Sun Belt Runner of the Week for her performance. At the Little Rock Invitational, Wallenius broke the school record again in the 5K with a time of 17:05.0. She also claimed a victory at the Lois Davis Invitational.

On Nov. 13, she represented the Trojans at the NCAA South Central Regional and placed 36th with a time of 20:59.1. She was the second all-time in Little Rock history in the 6K.

"I'm pretty happy how my first Cross-Country season turned out,

Hot Corner

but I always want to improve and do better," Wallenius said Starting off the track season, Wallenius claimed another victory. At the Arkansas State Invitational, she won the 3K with a time of 9:45.56. When the time is adjusted for track size, it becomes 9:40.59 making her the fastest in the Sun Belt Conference all season by more than 13 seconds. She was also named Sun Belt Female Track Athlete of the Week. This award has not been won for Little Rock since 2012.

"I feel that I have a lot of room for improvement and that motivates me to move forward in my running journey and pursue my running goals," Wallenius said.

Wallenius is originally from Hyvinkää, Finland, and graduated high school from Hyvinkään Yhteiskoulun Lukio. She came to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock because of its athletics and business program, where she studies finance.

"I love the fact that at UALR you are not just a number," Wallenius said, "Class sizes are small so you get to know your professor. The same goes with my running team. We have a really close team and everybody knows each other."

In her home country, crosscountry was not offered; however, she has run track for five years and won several Finnish Junior Championship medals. She also represented Finland in the European Junior Championships, the biggest meet in Europe.

At UALR, Wallenius is mainly involved with schoolwork and running for cross-country and track; however, she spends free time exploring the area.

"Whenever I have free time, I like to just be with my friends and explore Little Rock because everything is so new to me," Wallenius said.

After college, Wallenius plans to get a job where she can combine her two passions; running and business. She plans to continue and get her master’s degree so that more job opportunities are available to her.

"I still have many years to think about my future plans," Wallenius said, "However, one thing I'm sure of is that I am going to keep running after college."

Defense proves itself again

Brian Gregory Sports Editor bjgregory@ualr.edu

Super Bowl 50, a game in which the public had built up into a grand spectacle. It is the pinnacle of sport that has long dominated the scenes of America, and a game that the whole world stops for. We had two great defenses, and two polarizing quarterbacks. Peyton Manning, at age 39, had seen it all. People were wondering if he could lead a team to the Super Bowl on the strength of his arm. For the Panthers, the public was looking to see if they could build off their hot end to last season.

This game and this season showed that after all was said and done, that defense still wins championships. If you looked at the defensive statistics of this season, the Denver Broncos were at the top or near the top of every category. They had the number one defense in the world. Denver was no longer about Manning and the offense; rather it was about could this defense stop the teams. This idea that NFL offenses were running roughshod over defenses, and that it was all about offense is overrated and idiotic.

Von Miller had the game of his life, with six tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. This culminated with him winning the MVP. The defense had

seven sacks on Cam Newton and forced him and his fellow Panthers four turnovers. Miller just proved to the whole world that he is the best player out of the phenomenal 2011 draft class. That class includes Newton, three-time defensive player of the year JJ Watt, AJ Green, Aldon Smith, Julio Jones, among others. Those are some phenomenal players.

In the end Peyton Manning got his final ring, and this will lead some to say that he is best quarterback of his generation, and maybe best of all-time. Do not be a prisoner of the moment. Peyton Manning played a terrible game and it nearly cost his team. If the Panthers played like they usually did all season, then this game would have been a blowout that would’ve ended up with the same result as in 2013 with Denver losing. Give credit to the defense of the Broncos who saved Manning and that offense from what would’ve been an anemic performance in what is likely Manning’s last game.

As for Carolina, they will be back and should be the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl along with Seattle on the NFC side. Cam Newton and the Panthers had a fantastic season and that was without top receiving threat Kelvin Benjamin. If they invest more into the offensive side of the ball then you will find the Panthers back in this same spot next year, only they might win it all instead of being on the bitter losing end.

Finals Picks

Jeffery Ridgle Staff Writer jlridgle@ualr.edu

It’s that time of the year again, All-Star weekend is right around the corner. The playoffs should not be too far behind. Now we all know that there are many of us who would love to see LeBron James finally get to the top of the throne with a championship run after losing last year's finals matchup against the Golden State Warriors. It's a new year and the Warriors seem to be running roughshod over the league, having the best record at 45-4. The Eastern Conference isn't strong to topple King James and the rest of the Cavs crew. There seems to be plenty of ideas of who can take down the Warriors in a seven game series, the big question is will it be a second or third seed between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Or will it be a rematch between the two remaining East and West conference champions of the NBA. Things got a little interesting.... April Cooper- SophomoreFine Arts

Who do you think is going to win the NBA finals this year and why?

“Well I'm thinking Golden State cause they shoot the ball pretty good and this year it seems like they are playing better defense.”

-Jarodrick Mixon -Sophomore -Health and Human Performance

Who is your favorite team and who do you think will win the NBA finals this year and why?

“Well my favorite team is the Boston Celtics. If I had to pick one team to win the NBA finals it would have to be the Cleveland Cavilers, Lebron is just a talented player and I have to respect him.”

Jasmine Carter-JuniorHealth and Human Performance with a minor in Secondary Education

Who do you think is going to win the NBA playoffs and why?

“The Warriors of without a doubt. They are young and healthy and have a lot of weapons. I don’t think anyone can beat them in a seven game series.”s you can see there are many opinions and many teams to choose from when it comes to championship runs. With the Warriors on fire right now and no signs of slowing down, some or most believe that the all-star break is in their favor. Though many have tried to break the Chicago Bulls single season record of “72-10”, I think we can honestly say that this team’s only intention is to finish strong and hopefully go down in the history books.

“Only time will tell and everyone is watching”

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Defense and rebounding are the keys to sweep over Georgia State Panthers

Brian Gregory Sports Editor

bjgregory@ualr.edu

The Little Rock Trojans scored a sweep over the Georgia State Panthers in both the men and women’s games on Saturday, Jan, 30, 2016. The women’s game led off the evening in dominating fashion, as they defeated the Georgia State 59-32. They had a historic night on the defense holding the Panthers to the secondfewest points in a game in program history. Little Rock (8-11,6-4) is now on the first three-game winning streak of the season and is third in the conference standings entering into February.

The Trojans came out early and established that this game would be a struggle for the Panthers to score on the defensive end. For the first eight minutes of the game, Georgia State was held scoreless. The swarming defense of the Trojans forced seven first-quarter turnovers by the Panthers, which turned into six points of turnovers.

Neither team shot the ball well in the first quarter, as both teams were under 20%. However, Little Rock was able to get to the free throw line eight times, making six of them which led to the 13-4 lead at the beginning of the second quarter. The second quarter produced more of the same results, as the Trojans held them to just 1-9 shooting in the quarter. Junior guard Sharde Collins lead the effort playing all 20 minutes and scoring 12 points as the Trojans went into the half leading 27-9.

The defensive intensity of Little Rock waned a bit at the beginning of the second half. The Panthers scored 13 points in the third quarter. However the Trojans still maintained their lead by outrebounding the Panthers. Both senior forward Shanity James and junior forward Kaitlyn Pratt began to assert their dominance, as they gobbled up rebounds on the offensive and defensive end.

“We do a rebounding drill everyday at the beginning of practice,” James said when asked about her and Pratt’s rebounding performance. Senior guard Alexius Dawn tied her career high

in assists with nine, as the Trojans finished the game with 18 points of off 18 Georgia State turnovers. After the game, Coach Foley said “Offensively we weren’t flowing from where we started, but our defense is getting better and that helped us out a lot.

In the nightcap, the men held up the their end of the bargain by beating the Georgia State Panthers 63-53. Little Rock (19-2,9-1) continued their undefeated streak at home in the Jack Stephens Center. The defense of the Trojans was spectacular holding them under

40% shooting, and 24% from the three-point line.

In the first half, however the Trojans left a lot to be desired. Georgia State came out shooting 71% from the field. However, the Trojans kept up shooting 50% from the three-point line. After that first spurt by the Panthers, Little Rock took control over the game. Both teams committed turnovers in the first half but it was only Little Rock that was able to take control over the game and translate that into 14 points. Going into the second half the Trojans led 37-28.

At the beginning of the second half, Georgia State began to find a rhythm again as they opened the second half with a 14-6 run to start the first eight minutes of the half. They held the Trojans to little over 27% to start the half. However, a four-minute stretch towards the end of the second half pushed them ahead. Josh Hagin,s with a three at the shot clock buzzer, energized the crowd and led to a 14-0 run. Which gave them a 55-46 lead.

The crowd of over 4600, including Gov. Asa Hutchinson, cheered

the Trojans on. The team was also lead by senior forward Roger Woods, who scored 16 points and had six rebounds. Junior forward Lis Soshi didn’t score, but he had 11 huge second-half rebounds that lead to the Trojans outscoring the Panthers 12-0 in second chance points. Senior guard Josh Hagins scored 18 points and five assists to lead on the offensive end. Coach Beard was very pleased with the crowd and the effort in the second half. Both teams will be headed out on the road for a four game road trip.

Sun Belt basketball standings

Men’s

1. Little Rock Trojans 21-2(11-1)

2. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 13-8(9-3)

3. Arkansas State Red Wolves 11-12(7-5)

4. LouisianaMonroe Warhawks 11-12(7-5)

5.MavericksUT-Arlington 15-7(6-5)

6. Georgia State Panthers 13-8(6-6)

7. Georgia Southern Eagles 10-12(6-6)

8. South Alabama Jaguars 9-14(4-8)

9. Appalachian State Mountaineers 6-17(4-8)

10. Texas State Bobcats 9-11(3-8)

11. Troy Trojans 7-16(2-10)

SPORTS COMMENTARY

Forum basketball power rankings NCAA

1. Villanova Wildcats 20-3(10-1)

2. Maryland Terrapins 21-3(10-2)

3. Iowa Hawkeyes 18-4(9-1)

4. Oklahoma Sooners 19-3(7-3)

5. Xavier Musketeers 21-2(9-2)

6. North Carolina Tar Heels 19-4(8-2)

7. Kansas Jayhawks 19-4(7-3)

8. Virginia Cavaliers 19-4(8-3)

9. Michigan State Spartans 20-4(7-4)

10. West Virginia Mountaineers 19-4(8-2)

11. Oregon Ducks 19-4(8-2)

12. Miami Hurricanes 17-4(6-3)

13. SMU Mustangs 19-2(8-2)

14. Iowa State Cyclones 17-6(6-4)

15. Louisville Cardinals 19-4(8-2)

16. Arizona Wildcats 19-5(7-4)

17. Providence Friars 18-6(6-5)

19. Baylor Bears 17-6(6-4)

20. Dayton Friars 19-3(9-1)

21. Purdue Boilermakers 19-5(7-4)

22. Wichita State Shockers 17-6(11-1)

24. South Carolina Gamecocks 20-3(7-3)

25. Indiana Hoosiers 19-5(7-4)

NBA

1. Golden State Warriors 46-4

2. San Antonio Spurs 43-8

3. Toronto Raptors 34-16

4. Cleveland Cavaliers 36-14

5. Oklahoma City Thunder 38-14

6. Boston Celtics 31-22

7. Los Angeles Clippers 33-17

8. Memphis Grizzlies 30-21

9. Miami Heat 29-22

10. Atlanta Hawks 30-23

11. Indiana Pacers 27-24

12. Dallas Mavericks 27-26

13. Chicago Bulls 27-23

14. Detroit Pistons 27-25

15. Utah Jazz 25-25

16. Houston Rockets 27-26

17. Portland Trailblazers 25-27

18. Charlotte Hornets 25-26

19. Washington Wizards 22-27

20. Orlando Magic 22-28

21. Denver Nuggets 21-31

22. New York Knicks 23-31

24. Sacramento Kings 21-30

25. Milwaukee Bucks 20-32

26. New Orleans Pelicans 18-32

27. Philadelphia 76ers 8-43

28. Brooklyn Nets 13-39

29. Phoenix Suns 14-38

30. Los Angeles Lakers 11-42

*

ACROSS

1 See 25

5 Tree snake from the east, one shown in books (6)

10 Lead pencil’s first to go back (7)

11 Theatre’s to mount play again (7)

12 Unfit, elected to join a gym (5)

13 Service following sales is a farce, unfortunately, consuming endless time (9)

14 Bad hair day, Lucy? That’s effected by water (9)

16 Subject of tenor ignored by opera company (5)

17 Charlie’s impressed by leading revolutionary TV sound system (5)

19 Thrills given by loose woman? Get moving! (4-5)

22 Last month this writer’s accepted corporation’s final demand (9)

23 Beaver is an animal associated with dams primarily (5)

24 Could be second exam interrupted by racket (7)

25,1 across,8,12 down,9 Can’t do it, uh? Beef at others’ oeuvres in inane career

– possibly beginning to convey what 28 said (1,6,3,5,4,7,2,6,2,1,6)

27 Figure from Greek myth taking Troy finally (2,4)

28 One composer or another exchanging daughter for sister? (8)

DOWN

1 Hot sauce with one stuffing (3)

2 Attendant pulls up outside empty theatre (7)

3 It’s to throw out, first off (5)

4 Look at everyone following European governor around (7)

6 Soldier wears appropriate American equipment (9)

7 Group in prison needing help, we’re told (7)

8 See 25

9 See 25

12 See 25

15 The last word in smart, fancy weapons (9)

18 Keep most of delicate fragments (7)

19 Pay with krona for small boiler? (6)

20 I knock computer over, having some booze (7)

21 Plants in herbaria can thicken, to some extent (7)

23 Dip in articles supporting Britain (5)

26 Seeress regularly picked vetch (3)