Executive Editor
Victoria Hickey
Adviser
Sonny Rhodes
Operations Manager/
Art Director
Byron Buslig
News/Campus Life Editor
Lela-Tamara Fluker
Features Editor
Morgan Drish
Entertainment Editor
Grant Fox/Ruth Houston
Sports Editor
Brian Gregory
Business Manager
John Arnold
Graphic Designer
Caitlyn Sample
Distribution Manager
Dakota Thompson
Photo Editor/
Web Designer
Brady Jackson
Shelby Shelton
Kendra Montgomery
Nathan Davis
Alexandria Barnes
Kyle ReneaAdkinsGoddard
Sara McFadden
Joni Everett
Tanner Newton
Lauren Lockhart
Jasmine Blunt
Jarvis Jones
Gabrielle Phifer
Brittany Wright
Carly NatalieMachen Doris
Elton Tevebaugh
Marty McNally
Cole Chambless
Danielle Rains
Griffin AmandaBuckleyWilkinson
Chris Graham
Zachary Tallent
Florency Onay
Kennedy Loraine
he Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee; members of the UALR community are allowed one copy per edition. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. Advertising inquiries should be referred to The Forum’s advertising office and can be reached by calling 501-569-3319. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at 501-569-3265. All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.
“Count on me”
By Victoria Hickey Executive Editor editor@ualr.edu
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today,” President Abraham
Lincoln said. In my book, one of the most important qualities a person can have is being responsible. These days it is often difficult to find someone who will be there when you need them and do what they say.
To me being a responsible person means that you follow through, you don’t blame others when things don’t go as planned, and you don’t constantly make excuses.
One day last year I heard students complaining to a professor that it was the professor’s fault they had failed a test. WHAT?!?! I understand that there are difficult professors and sometimes you really don’t understand what is happening in class, but there are multiple textbooks, tutors and websites that could
easily help you prepare for a test. Not to mention, study groups! It is NEVER anyone’s fault except yours that you are failing.
Each day it amazes me how many students I see who are being irresponsible about their education, whether it is not studying, not turning in assignments or turning in low-quality assignments. I have never been able to understand how people are constantly skipping class or not doing their work.
I wish that more people would realize that the things you do today will affect what happens tomorrow. Not taking the time to turn in assignments or constantly giving off a bad impression by showing up late, will result in negative outcomes.
I am constantly striving to be someone who others can count on and I think that others should be working toward this as well. How about you?
•Letters must include the author’s name, classification, major or position and a contact telephone number for confirmation.
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•Please limit letter to 500 words or less.
•The staff will not alter the meaning of the letter, but will correct spelling and punctuation and edit to conform to Associated Press and news style.
•All letters are subject to publication. The editor has the right to reject any letter especially those letters that are libelous, obscene or incoherent.
Ruth Houston Entertainment Editor rxhouston@ualr.edu
As someone who doesn’t have a cable, I am usually late on the bandwagon when it comes to drama that happens in the news. I kept noticing my friends who are nurses or are in nursing school right now sharing these videos on Facebook and it caught my eye.
Everyone by now has heard about the Miss America pageant and about Miss Colorado’s monologue about nursing. For those who don’t know Miss Colorado made a beautiful monologue about an inspiring patient she had with dementia. After the show aired, the popular morning talk show “The View” made some comments about the monologue.
I am a pre-medicine student so I understand how much nurses are a vital portion of any medical team. To the women of “The View” there is a few points I would like to make to you. A stethoscope is not just a doctor’s instrument, in fact you will see a nurse use a stethoscope more than a normal doctor will.
Another point that really angered me was how they said her monologue about a real person, who has a serious illness, and was the reason she stayed being a nurse, was dismissed as her “emails.” Okay seriously? Anyone in any field of the medical profession has that one moment that reminded them why they chose the career path they did. It is so ridiculous that you would take someone’s heart felt story and call it an email. Really? I am so sorry that you haven’t had health problems and a nurse was the only person who could help you in your weakest moments.
I guess my little rant here can come to and end by saying this to Miss Colorado and all of my friends and family in nursing and still in school, I appreciate how you have spent many sleepless nights studying so that you can take care of my family and I. I also appreciate how you have to sometimes give up the things you love the most, because nursing school takes all your time. I am so proud of you wonderful individuals who have sacrificed so much in your life just so you can take care of my life. Nurses build the most connections with patients, I can say I see my nurse way more than I see my doctors.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 201J Donaghey Student Center
2801 S. University Ave. Little Rock, Ark. 72204
Lastly, I would like to thank every single nurse that has made an impact on my life. You guys really kept me strong and gave me proof that angels exist on this Earth. You guys have made me want to go to Med school and be able to work with you guys side by side. This earth could not ask for a greater gift than nurses.
Rachel Wright Staff Writer rswright@ualr.edu
The university asks students and faculty to plan accordingly and exercise patience when using the Trojan Transit units. The Transit receives over 200 phone calls between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., said Sharon Houlette, University Police Department Criminal Investigator and Crime Prevention Officer. According to Houlette, the Trojan Trolleys that use to run on set routes were not being utilized, and the transit system has proven to be more efficient. However, the transit is caus-
ing slight confusion for students and staff.
“It’s a great service. It just needs some perfecting,” Houlette said. “There is not just one person calling in (to the Department of Public Safety), there are hundreds of people calling in. And when a dispatcher is calling out radio traffic to an officer on a traffic stop that kind of takes priority.”
There are four transits that are used around campus. Two transits are driven by security officers and two by facilities management personnel. The transits driven by the security officers are the ones that are called by the students. The transits driven by facilities management personnel do not have a set route.
“Whenever you’re picking up
students, they should somehow signal where they are,” Jeffrey Crenshaw, a security officer and transit driver, said. “There are some people who will just stand in one spot and look at you, and expect that to suffice [as signaling that] they needed to be picked up because they were looking at you.”
Crenshaw said once on the transit it is like any other public situation. “You don’t want to be [very] loud, you don’t want to be yelling at other people. Definitely don’t want to yell at people to get out of the way. You’re a rider on the transit.” Crenshaw states that following proper procedure for being picked up is part of transit etiquette, along with the pick-up location and where the student or faculty member wants to go to.
Kyle Adkins Staff Writer kaxdkins1@ualr.edu
Each year, Americans celebrate the history and culture of Hispanic-Americans between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The month represents a significant period of time in history, a month during which many LatinAmerican countries (including Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala) gained their independence.
According to the Hispanic Heritage Month website, the now month-long observation originally started as a single week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. That week was finally expanded and made law in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. Since then, schools, college campuses and other organizations throughout the United States have used Hispanic Heritage Month to promote awareness of the contributions made by Hispanic-Americans and spread appreciation of Hispanic culture. For those reasons, Campus Life at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has planned several
events for the student body to get involved and learn more about the history and traditions of HispanicAmerican citizens over the course of the month.
If you missed the mariachi band in the Donaghey Student Center and the lecture on the Mexican border crisis given by Chelsea Halstead in the Stella Boyle auditorium, don’t worry. You still have the opportunity to watch the film ‘Who Is Dayani Cristal?’ on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Student Services Center auditorium here on the UALR campus. The documentary film was the winner of the 2013 Sundance Cinematography Award and was nominated in the World Documentary Competition.
After that, UALR will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos (or “Day of the Dead”), which is cosponsored by the Hispanic/Latino Initiative and the Department of International and Second Language Studies, on Monday, November 1. So, please take the time to attend either or both of these events. After all, the Hispanic population in the United States is roughly 54 million, 1.2 million of whom are veterans of the United States armed forces and 2.3 million of whom own businesses that contribute to the country’s economy.
The transit seats about three adults per bench seat. If students decide they do not need the transit, drivers said they can call and let them know. The transits use the sidewalk and drivers ask that students and faculty be aware of that.
The largest pick-up areas for the transit are the University Village and the Jack Stephens Center followed by Trojan Lane. Although students call for a transit, the transits are making other pick-ups and drop-offs along the way.
Some students agree the transit is a good mode of transportation around campus.
“The transit has never taken more than 10 minutes to pick me up,” Zachary Tallent, a University Village resident, said.
University Village resident
Shenique Harris said drivers are nice and easy to talk to, but sometimes drive by and will not stop if you are walking to class. She said students and faculty should stick their hand out so drivers know to stop. Harris and Tallent agree that the transit has given them an increased feeling of safety as they make their way across campus. They say students should consider the distance they have to travel on campus. Some students have greater distances than others.
“The transit has a varying time degree depending on how many people and how many stops,” Crenshaw said.
The number to call a transit cart is the same as the Department of Public Safety number: 501.569.3400.
band performed throughout the DSC on September 16.
Use this time to learn more about the history of Hispanic-Americans and to appreciate the rich culture
they bring to the United States. If you have any questions about the events or Hispanic Heritage
Month, please email the Hispanic/ Latino Initiative at UALR at sssi@ ualr.edu.
Shelby Shelton
On Sept. 18 at 11:50 P.M., a student reported their $1,000 Bear Mauler compound bow stolen the previous day from the bed of their truck when parked in the University Plaza. The bed cover had been unsecured, but nothing else was removed. The victim had an officer from the Benton Police Department take finger prints and brought them to UALR DPS to file with the report. He was advised to contact local pawn shops in attempt to locate the stolen bow.
A complaint of a vehicle break-in was reported on Sept. 20 in Lot 4. The victim stated that he found his vehicle unlocked with the center console open and his gold watch missing. No signs of forced entry were found and he was provided with an incident number.
Multiple items were reported missing from a student’s vehicle in Lot 4 on Sept. 20. Three victims were present during the report. Victim 1 was missing a polo shirt and Iphone 6 charger and victim 2 was missing an Iphone 6, a small amount of cash, a debit card, credit card, and driver’s license. Victim 3 was missing her wallet containing her driver’s license, credit card, and debit card and also stated that her card had been used at the Kum & Go gas station just off University Avenue. A dispatch call was made to LRPD to investigate the use of the card at the gas station. All victims were provided with the report number.
While parked in Lot 10, a student’s wallet was stolen from her vehicle on Sept. 19. Her Jeep had been left uncovered when she parked in the lot that evening. Her debit card showed multiple charges throughout Little Rock that she had not made. Charges were filed using her bank statements and the report number was given to her for insurance purposes.
Thefts inside a university department have been made since June 2015 until September 22 when officers, through the use of security camera footage, could finally identify the perpetrator. The theft of an Apple Macbook as well as multiple food and drink items from the refrigerator has been reported missing. Officers were unable to tell if the same suspect, a UALR cleaning staff member, who stole the food and drink items also stole the Macbook, therefore, no charges will be filed at this time.
Tyler Maxwell Staff Writer tlmaxwell@ualr.edu
Fostering a safe environment for students and faculty is of utmost importance at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. To that end, the countrywide Green Dot initiative seeks to prevent violence and promote safety on college campuses. A green dot refers to any gesture that advocates safety and makes the community a friendlier place for everyone. The goal of the initiative is essentially to counteract and eliminate red dots, which are actions that compromise the safe community atmosphere (e.g hazing, intimidation, sexual assault).
Each year, UALR’s Green Dot
chapter puts on the Amazing Race, where groups of students turn out to compete for prizes in an obstacle course. To win, however, members of a group must not only complete the obstacle course, but they must also answer questions related to campus safety. Correct answers determine number of points, as does attendance at the “Rules of the Race” meeting, team spirit, and number of donations to Women and Children First. This year’s race took place on Sept. 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex. Thirty-nine groups of students participated in this year’s race, which had eight obstacles including water slides, tires, planks, and water balloons, among other things. At the end of the race, the participants had a pizza party and awards were given.
Senior Kalan Horton, Volunteer
Coordinator for the Green Dot Initiative, communicated what he thought made the race successful, “The reason the event is effective is that it combines physical activity and requires you to regurgitate the Green Dot information.”
Sophomore Amber Massey, team captain of the “Hot Dots,” offered her overall impression of the experience, “It is a very impressive way to ensure that the students of UALR know their Title IX information and campus safety resources.”
When asked about something he learned from the race, sophomore Hector Rodriguez responded, “Before, I didn’t know the phone number of the DPS, but now I have it memorized.” Evidently the Green Dot Amazing race is a fun way to excite students to learn about campus safety and to rally students to the Green Dot cause.
Susie Edwards is finishingstrong by earning her M.Ed. in Learning Systems Technology online while working as an IT Coordinator at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and interning for eLearning at UALR.
Brittany Wright Staff Writer bwright@ualr.edu
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock kicked off its third annual Suicide Prevention Week with the Chancellor’s Proclamation on Monday, Sept. 21. As students bustled about the Diamond Café, Counselor Aresh Assadi’s voice filled the crowded room as he began with the welcome.
“September is National Suicide Awareness Month,” Assadi said. “With the right resources and support, we believe that suicide is preventable, especially if we work together.” As he continued, students began to gather and tune in.
“If you or someone you see is struggling, please say something,” Assadi said. “Remember, you matter and you are not alone.”
As Assadi took his seat, the students welcomed Chancellor Joel Anderson.
“UALR is committed to doing all we can to empower those facing challenges and hardships,” Anderson said. “We are dedicated to combating bullying, harassment and discrimination on our campus.”
He challenged students to encourage a supportive community and spread awareness of the importance of suicide prevention.
“All campus members can take part in promoting mental wellbeing and preventing suicide,” the chancellor said. “Everyone can contribute to a culture of compassion where individuals are accepted for who they are.”
Anderson concluded the proclamation with a personal message: “If you are hurting, know that you are not forgotten. We are here for you and help is available.”
Amanda Wilkinson Staff Writer arwilkinson@ualr.edu
Organizations from around the city and campus participated in Thursday’s Suicide Prevention Week event.
Students were able to meet with representatives from UALR Safe Zone, Employee Assistance Program, Arkansas National Guard, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Representatives welcomed questions about how they can help and what services they provide, handed out information, and brought awareness to the campus.
Volunteers also ran different tables that had stress reducing
activities which strengthen overall mental health. Students and staff were able to color, build with Legos, pet /play with dogs and practice yoga.
Everyone who joined or walked passed the Donghey Student Center could pick up Suicide Prevention T-shirts, magnets with prevention call hotlines, and handouts.
The balloon release ended the event as students and staff had the opportunity to write encouraging notes on balloons and set them free into the sky. This symbolic time unified individuals for a couple minutes with strangers bringing life to the quote “together we can stop suicide.”
The event was an informative success and we look forward to seeing it again next year during Suicide Prevention Week.
Brittany Dean Staff Writer bdean@ualr.edu
Paintings, sculptures and written pieces surrounded the stage and the seating area.
Everyone was welcome to submit their art or perform a piece.
On Wednesday Sept. 23 the Gallery of Hope Artistic Expression Contest was held in honor of Suicide Prevention Week.
The four hour event, full of talent and hope, was in the Donaghey Student Center’s upper concourse.
Submissions came from alumni and current students — there was even an art submission from a ninth-grade student at Hall High School.
Some of the artwork was for sale while others were just for show.
As people viewed the contest submissions, music played and refreshments were served. Artwork
included woodwork, acrylic paint, photo transfers and a various other art forms. People submitted poetry and stories about their experience with suicide. Performances included singing, guitar playing and spoken word as well. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock concert choir sang between performances. There will be different categories that contestants can win in. There is best in show, best in performance art, best in visual art and best in written. Winners will be announced Friday, Sept. 25.
Tanya Triplett Staff Writer tmtriplett@ualr.edu
On Tuesday Sept. 22, 2015 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. in the Diamond Cafe of the Donaghey Student Center, counseling services hosted Brain Play Give-Away and Creative Day event going on. The person in charge was Amy Muse and according to her "Mind Games help with destigmatizing mental health and we are looking to play with our brains."
The different mind games were: ‘Competitive Relaxation’; ‘Perception is Realty’; ‘How Empathic Are You?’; and ‘Are You Creative or Analytical?’ These games can help people be more aware of themselves.
"The more you know about
yourself the more hope you feel in beating your thoughts," says Michelle Cates who was one of the volunteers helping out with this event.
There was also a donation table, a creative table, the Veterans Crisis Line table, Employee Assistance Program table, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention table. At the donation table people made donations to help fund the suicide prevention week activities and at the creative table people who experienced losing a loved one due to death by suicide made memory quilts and balloon ties. The Veterans Crisis Line helps veterans because according to Jennifer Bullock it "offers support in times of crisis." The Employee Assistance Program and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention which people can find on afsp.org also helped raise awareness for suicide. This event and its activities was helping people become more aware of suicide.
Brittany Wright Staff Writer bwright@ualr.edu
Prevention Week concluded with the Gallery of Hope Awards Ceremony, Friday, Sept. 25.
Students crowded into Meeting Room D in the Donaghey Student Center as Amy Muse from Counseling Services and Alveno Smith from Information Technology Services served as the event’s emcees.
As students filled up on finger foods and ice cream, Smith presented a video reflecting the essence of Suicide Prevention Week.
After the video, the presentation of awards for the Gallery of Hope began.
“The Gallery of Hope was beautiful and powerful,” Muse said. “Each year it gets better and better.”
Each contest participant was awarded a gift bag of goodies.
“All of the prizes were donations,” said Aresh Assadi of Counseling Services. “Discount Trophies donated the trophies for the winners, American Gold and
Silver Exchange donated a pair of earrings for the grand prize, and other companies donated gift cards for the participants.”
Gallery of Hope winners were Kimberly Snow for Best in Visual, Ivy Arnold for Best in Written, Shekinah Gordon for Best in Performance, and Sara Massey for Best in Show.
“Depression and mental illness can affect anybody,” Massey said. “There’s always hope and there’s always a choice.”
Counseling Services worked with volunteers and other departments to help make this year’s Suicide Prevention Week the best attended since its start, Muse said.
“This was definitely a campus wide collaborative event,” she said, “but we could always use more help.”
Suicide Prevention Week resonated with many of the students and faculty who attended events.
“I learned that it’s OK to talk about suicide,” said volunteer Kabriya Baldwin. “If you don’t want to talk to your friends about it, Counseling Services is there and everything’s confidential.”
Talking about suicide prevention and using the resources available could save lives.
“Secrets keep us sick,” said Muse. “We want to make UALR a safety net where everyone is looking out for each other.”
Nathan Davis Staff Writer ndavis@ualr.edu
Kendra Montgomery Staff Writer knmontgomery@ualr.edu
lea Hupp, PhD, is a professor in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s History Department. Among the courses that Professor Hupp teaches are Modern Middle-East History, Pre-Modern Middle East History and U.S.-Middle East Relations. In addition to teaching students about Middle Eastern history, Professor Hupp has written extensively on the subject, having visited numerous countries in the region including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
One of Hupp’s favorite subjects to teach is U.S.-Middle East Relations, a course in which students get an opportunity to review official government documents. U.S. - Middle East relations are of particular importance in contemporary America. “[Learning about the Middle East is] important in terms of being a knowledgeable citizen,” says Hupp
Professor Hupp has been a member of the UALR faculty for the past nine years. Prior to coming to UALR, she worked as an adjunct at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Honors College. Professor Hupp attained her Bachelor’s and PhD in History from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Both of Professor Hupp’s parents were astronomy professors, so academia is something she has long been familiar with.
Professor Hupp appreciates the great diversity of students represented in UALR’s student population, as well as the knowledge and expertise of her colleagues. “We have a wonderful faculty here at the History Department,” she states.
In addition to teaching courses, Professor Hupp is currently writing a book about the MiddleEastern nation of Lebanon. If you are interested in the Middle East it would be beneficial to take a course with Professor Hupp. One would be hard-pressed to find an instructor more knowledgeable on the subject.
The ability to market yourself is important not only to business majors but to every major.
"Every day we have to market ourselves whether it is to the school, our fellow students, our professors, or our future employers," says Pi Sigma Epsilon member Monika Sandlin.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is home to the newest chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a group dedicated to marketing, sales and management. Pi Sigma Epsilon is open to all students. As a member students will be able to cultivate their marketing skills.
"What people want to know is what can you do for me. You have to have a message that attracts people to you," says Professor Lenita Davis. By joining Pi Sigma Epsilon you will gain the experience you need to make you stand out in the crowd.
The typical meeting for this organization is full of action. There is an activity for the members to work on which the meeting will focus on. At some of the meetings there will be guest from the
corporate world to share their experiences and give helpful advice. Joining Pi Sigma Epsilon has many benefits. These benefits include perpetration for life after graduation, corporate mentorship, and job fairs strictly for Pi Sigma Epsilon members. These job fairs only invite actively hiring companies to participate.
For more information on Pi Sigma Epsilon contact Professor Davis at lmdavis@ualr.edu, or checkout UALR Marketing on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
A seperate account for Pi Sigma Epsilon will be coming to social media soon.
Alexandria Barnes Staff Writer ambarnes@ualr.edu
At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Art majors have the option to pursue a degree track that best fits their interest. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) track allows them to focus on a specific discipline of art. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is broken
down into three tracks – studio art, art history, or art education – that they can choose from to major in.
The B.A. has fewer art requirements and also allows the student to take a minor.
“I’m getting a B.A. because it goes along with my education minor,” says senior art student, Mikalah Booher. Booher has always loved art and creating things and wants to teach at the secondary level with aspirations to coach volleyball. The flexibility of the B.A. program permits her to have more career options.
Bethany Hoover, a freshman art
major, is pursuing a BFA in graphic design. “I’ve always had an interest in the arts and [after] working with the software in [EAST lab] . . . I liked it and [wanted] to make a career out of it, says Hoover. Her favorite part about being an art major is being able to express her thoughts and feelings through her art. The
BFA program lets her focus more on art she is passionate about.
Courses for both the B.A. and the BFA include art foundation courses, drawing, intro studio courses, art history, and other courses depending on your emphasis.
“As long as you have a passion for [art], you’ll be successful,” states
professor and art department chair Tom Clifton, “You have to want to be an artist.”
IJoni Everett Staff Writer jeeverett@ualr.edu
t was red versus blue in this jam packed University Program Council event. On Sept. 23 UPC held laser tag in the fitness center. Tactical Laser Tag came in and set up a laser tag arena full of inflatable obstacles just for the students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“It was great having fun with all the people although I got shot a lot,” says freshman Davion Green. The teams were merciless but everyone was having fun!
“It brings students closer together,” said Suzan Martinez when asked about what she enjoyed most about the event, Heffington adds “And lets them shoot people in laser tag.”
UPC has great events like this all the time! Their next event will be Oct. 5 where they will be showing the Pixar film "Inside Out" in the Ledbetter Hall at 6 p.m. for Family Movie Night. There will be dinner and popcorn provided. This would be a great time to relax with
friends after a stressful day. On Oct. 8, there will be a game show called Blizzard Bucks in the Student Services Center Auditorium. There will be prizes!
Lela-Tamara Fluker
News/Campus Life Editor ldfluker@ualr.edu
and Advertising major and Chi Omega recruit Sydney Holland.
During the week of Sept. 13, College Panhellenic Council hosted recruitment week. The events included recruitment orientation, a sisterhood round, philanthropy round, preference round and Bid Day, on which recruits discovered which sorority there were selected to be a member. Ladies who served as counselors during the week also revealed the sorority to which they belonged.
"I liked the preference round and bid day. Preference was my favorite because I could really see what each sorority was truly about. Bid Day was also a favorite because we got to meet all our new sisters and spend quality time with them," says freshman, Marketing
"[Recruitment week] is a great experience. I have already told people that they should consider [participating]. I plan on learning what I need to know about my sorority and volunteering," says Chi Omega recruit Leanna Terry
On Bid Day the ladies and their counselors met in Ledbetter of the Donaghey Student Center for final workshops and speeches before they raced to the Cooper Fountain to join their new sisters as the beginning of their journey with these sororities and CPC.
"I think one of my best memories from this year was on Bid Day the girls running home to us. Having my best friend and roommate from last year run into my arms and become my sister, was one of the greatest feelings," says sophomore Pre-Med biology major and member of Kappa Delta, Ruth Houston.
SGA approves bill for rally towels, implements #SGAWorksForYou: Senate Meeting Sept. 23, 2015
Lela-Tamara Fluker
News/Campus Life Editor ldfluker@ualr.edu
member of the Kappa Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
In the senate meeting of Student Government Association on Sept. 23, President Laan and Vice President Donovan led the group once again in senator appointment, formation of a judicial oversight committee and the approval of a new baill.
Sophomore transfer student from Arkansas Tech University Cameron Thomas was elected as a senator for the Student Government Association. Thomas majors in Computer Science and minors in Business. He also a member of the National Panhellenic Council and
"I consider myself a leader. I feel like I would be great for the position [as a senator] because I work hard and I'm dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get [any] job done," says Thomas.
The meeting also resulted in the approval of Bill S006-2015: Fight Song Rally Towels. The bill stated that the Student Government Association would use funds to order rally towels with the university fight song printed on them. There will be 500 towels purchased to be passed out at the homecoming game in November. There will also be towels for sale afterward.
There was also a judicial over-
sight committee formed to monitor constitutional changes and election proclamation. The committee came to be composed of senators Seth Cook, Max Lester, and Mira Diervernich with Chief Justice Rick Dierenfeldt. Among other things the group is also working on student surveys to introduce to students at voting for homecoming queen. The application deadline for homecoming queen is Oct. 9. As a part of a Public Relations campaign the Student Government association senators and Public Relations Liaison Brian Gregory will be out on campus throughout the semester to figure out the needs of the campus' students within each of the colleges. The group would like to promote the social media movement #SGAWorksForYou to showcase the changes that they make for the campus. If you see any of our senators out questioning don't hesitate to express your concerns so they can work towards improving the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.
Photo by Carly Machen
“I have pursued music for the aspect of teaching and helping the youth,” said Bomberger.
Joni Everett Staff Writer jeeverett@ualr.edu
Youth Orchestra (ASYO).
This program had a huge impact on her life. The younger students at ASYO influenced her decision on what she wants to do as a future career path.
“I have pursued music for the aspect of teaching and helping the youth,” said Bomberger.
Kristen Bomberger has been heavily involved with music ever since she was 5-yearsold. When she was young, she joined the Arkansas Symphony
During her last year, she had the honor of being the concertmaster. The concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section who usually plays the solos for the music piece.
She now teaches a violin class to elementary students and is going to further her education to be able to teach students more about music. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Music in Instrumental Studies for both Piano and Violin.
Not only does Bomberger keep herself busy with teaching but she also performs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She plays for chamber music groups along with doing her own solo performances.
She chose UALR because they had an “outstanding” and “friendly faculty” program. She also knew some of the instructors in the music program.
Bomberger is also a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps scholar. This scholarship requires students to do fifteen volunteer hours per semester and to be involved with the community around UALR. She is also very active in the community around Hot Springs through her church.
Her biggest inspirations have been her piano teacher—Prof. Hakutani, her violin instructor— Prof. Hicks, and Prof. Groesbeck who teaches her music theory class. Their enthusiasm and passion for music has pushed her to go further.
“They always go out of their way to help me,” Bomberger says.
Her favorite piece to play with the violin is the Barber Violin Concerto. She likes playing it because it is “easy to understand” and people who don’t have a music background can enjoy it.
Her most recent piano favorite is Brahm’s Rhapsody.
Bomberger is very dedicated to music and spreading that passion by teaching to the younger generations.
Tanner Newton Staff Writer tgnewton@ualr.edu
Nestled between classrooms and stores sits one of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's biggest gems. The Sequoyah National Research Center collects and archives Native American newspapers.
The center officially opened in 2005, but has been around in one form or another since 1983.
Dr. Daniel F. Littlefield and Dr. James W. Parins unintentionally started the archive when they discovered that a museum in Arizona was planning to throw away a large collection of Native American newspapers. Unable to let those historical documents be destroyed, the duo brought the papers to Arkansas.
The center has since become the world’s largest Native American newspaper collection.
This organization seeks to save the newspapers of the indigenous peoples of North America. These newspapers are not just from Arkansas, there are even a few newspapers in the collection from Hawaii.
While the writings come from all over the place, the name of the facility has its roots in Arkansas.
“Who better to name something after than Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee syllabary. He’s the only known individual to create a form of writing for a language and he was in Arkansas when he perfected that.” Littlefield explained.
While there are some papers in the archive that are written in Sequoyah’s Cherokee language, the vast majority of the documents housed in the center are in English.
The archive is free for UALR students to use and Littlefield hopes that journalism students will use the center. There are many issues that affect Native American newspapers that also affect students. One example is that Native newspapers are heavily censored by their tribes. These papers are on
the same level as high school newspapers, Littlefield said.
The center is continually growing its collection of documents, adding about 150 publications a month.
One fascinating recent addition is the entire run of an Alaskan woman Jeanie Greene’s TV show Heartbeat Alaska. Unhappy with how natives were either ignored or portrayed in a negative light, Greene created this documentary series to show the real life of Alaskan natives. Greene sent 25 boxes of beta tapes. These tapes have not been digitized so they are not available for public use yet.
This is a problem that the Sequoyah Center faces often. While it started collecting in 1983, it did not start cataloging until 2011. The attempt to catch up is done by volunteers and the school supplies the center with interns. It gets two graduate interns from the public history program and two undergrad interns from the English department. Each summer they also get three Native American students.
Littlefield also hopes that they will get more attention now that Native American tribes are starting to return to Arkansas. The Quapaw bought land in Little Rock last year. Another thing that can bring the curious to the center is that the Trail of Tears went through the land where UALR now sits. Several thousand Choctaws and Chickasaws passed through this area.
So if you are interested in learning more about Native Americans, stop by the Sequoyah National Research Center. Located near Big Lots, it has documents as old as 1849 and it also features art exhibits and a painting collection.
Renea Goddard Staff Writer rbgoddard@ualr.edu
Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s showing of Macbeth falls short when it comes to its cheesy use of projectors and mediocre costume design, but the stunning performances of its cast and clever stage direction creates a chilling, suspenseful atmosphere that leaves audiences captivated.
With the very beginning of the play, the ambience in the theatre immediately changes. In all the fog and dimness, the three witches rise from the ground to tell Macbeth’s first prophecy. But wait---their words are projected on the background behind them.
In fact, every time the witches begin a prophecy, we see their dialogue appear to be etched into the annals of history...by the light of an anachronistic movie projector. In their defense, it is pretty creative. Not only is it a unique way to clarify to the audience some of the most important dialogue in the story--after all, it’s the prophecies that spark Macbeth’s ambition and further the events of the tale---but it also gives off the feeling of permanence.
When we see “All hail Macbeth that shall be King hereafter!” written in the shadows behind the witches, the story’s theme of fate and predetermination seems that much more true to us. However, trying to (and failing to) pretend that what we’re seeing is “supernatural” instead of such an obvious attempt at special effects only takes
us away from the story.
Even the ghost of Banquo is shown as a film projection: large, bug-eyed, and comically disembodied. The idea is fantastic but its actual execution is just cheesy. The play stays faithful not only to the drama and suspense of the original work, but also the time period.
Artistic Director Robert Hupp clearly took a traditional approach, with scenery reminiscent of the Scottish highlands and old medieval castles. It was likely not Hupp’s intention to turn Macbeth into a period piece, but perhaps he made the right decision: in a time when Shakespeare spin-offs and modern re-telling’s are abundant, it’s strangely refreshing to see one that stays so firmly true to the tragic, bloody story that we all remember from high school.
However, none of this explains why if you squint your eyes a little bit, Macbeth, Banquo and Macduff all seem to look basically identical with their similar capes and medieval armor that lack any significant identifiers or details. But failure in creative costume design is only a minor fault, and something that stayed in the shadow of the actors’ great stage presence.
Michael Stewart Allen’s performance as Macbeth is moving and multidimensional. From his tearjerking anguish after killing Banquo to his placid, cold-blooded plot to murder Lady Macduff and her children, Allen highlights Macbeth’s character development from rise to downfall.
However, his stellar performance only seemed to supplement the real star of the show: Jacqueline Correa as Lady Macbeth. Beginning with
her very first monologue, she steals the show, depicting Lady Macbeth’s ambition, anger, and guilt with a collected control that hides fiery passion and devotion.
Even in scenes with Macbeth, it’s her lines that seem to transcend Shakespearean English
(which we know can sometimes sound like a script recital instead of a performance) and bursts with life and emotion that we can empathize with.
The cast’s performance was not the only thing that was nuanced, however. Everyone’s stage presence seemed excellently directed and contributes to the mood of every scene. Even the Porter enhances the sinister atmosphere of one scene, when he cleans Banquo’s blood off the courtyard floor by spitting onto a rag in the same way he had just spat minutes earlier for comic relief.
The killing of Macduff’s daughter behind a curtain, shadows of blood spurting on it, incites even more terror and repulsion than if it was shown to us plainly. These minor but clever choices significantly improves the production and says a
lot about the plays’ overall attention to detail.
Perhaps to someone in the Little Rock area who’s new to Shakespearean theatre and wants to try it, the Rep’s production of Macbeth would not be a bad place to start. Though it certainly has its flaws, its historical and literary accuracy and riveting performances more than make up for the play’s minor weaknesses.
Even if the veteran thespian or the grizzled old theatre critic may walk out with harsh things to say,
newbie Shakespearean play-goers such as myself should give it a chance---it might spark something in you.
Sarah McFadden Staff Writer smcfadden@ualr.edu
Many non-traditional students are going to college and nearly half of all the University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are non-traditional.
I sat down with a few non-traditional students and this is what they had to say.
Amanda Doyle, age 36, is a freshman at UALR and a first generation student with 3 children.
She’s a biology major and wants to go into oncology. Her favorite service offered for NTS is the family dinner and movie night, once in Oct. and once in Mar.
“It’s a fun, non-work, nonschool event she can do with her entire family and meet other families struggling with the same issues as hers,” says Doyle.
She also appreciates the week long national NTS celebrations and the opportunity to enjoy Greek life with Alpha Sigma Lambda.
Amanda says “I feel guilty.
There’s only so much time in the day to work, go to class, and spend time with my kids. If I’m doing well in one area, I feel like I’m neglecting the other areas. [However,] College is definitely worth it because of where a degree takes you.”
Amanda says NTS programs should be more personal and more readily available. She also says if she could change anything about college she would suggest admissions gifting students with laptops due to the amount of online work required and the fact that not all students, especially NTS, have all of the same resources available.
Stephen Forrest, age 29, a junior of UALR, says he was unprepared for college life due to his small town upbringing, but he won’t give up because he’s bettering his life and says perseverance is key.
Stephen says another big struggle he has, and feels other NTS can relate to is the difference of maturity levels between non-traditional and traditional students. He also feels there isn’t enough NTS recognition.
Despite their doubts and struggles these students are in college for the long run.
Carly Machen Staff Writer cxmachen@ualr.edu
Main Street is in the works of being revitalized by the Little Rock Main Street Creative Corridor. A fourstep plan has been devised in transforming Main Street’s retailbased environment to a cultural arts center. The project created by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center and Marlon Blackwell Architects combines ecological enhancements, urban landscaping, public art, and community connectivity. Prominent art groups scattered around the city are brought together within the Creative Corridor. These partners include the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Ballet Arkansas.
Phase one of the plan aims to promote shared street strategies in order to boost pedestrian activity. A North and South Gateway Plaza will mark the segment the Creative Corridor is refurbishing. The plazas will include rain and street light gardens, public art pads, proposed transit systems, plaza seating, back-in parking, an atrium, and a green wall. “Complete Streets” will be suitable for all types of transportation and will provide affordable housing within the Main Street district near transit facilities. Low Impact Development Streetscapes are an economically driven layout to improve water quality, purifying water on sight rather than pumping pollutants back into the Arkansas River.
Phase two strives to create a center for the Creative Corridor with the Capitol Avenue Plaza. Located at the intersection of Main Street and Capitol Avenue, the plaza will include an amphitheater, pavilion, public art, movie screen, cafe, plaza club, and rooftop garden. The third phase builds off phases one and two in order to thicken the pedes-
trian promenade with a garden room, arcade, gallery, and symphony rehearsal space.
The final phase will install rail transit infrastructures and facilities. Louisiana and Scott Street will be tree-lined bicycle boulevards, while the current streetcar sys-
tem will extend along Main Street. This will connect downtown to the first ring suburbs. Main Street is currently under construction in developing the Low Impact Development Streetscapes, and various artists have completed, or are in the works of completing,
vibrant murals to add to the bustling mixed-use Creative Corridor.
The plan to construct a 24/7 lively environment for residential, work, and tourism use has received awards from the American Institute of Architects and The American Society of Landscape Architects.
By Abigail Marshall Staff Writer almarshall@ualr.edu
Now that I am all settled in, and beginning the daily routine of school, beginning to learn about the area I am studying abroad in has, for me, been one of the most interesting parts of this experience so far. The time and placement of your study abroad can turn out so many ways and I feel very lucky to have found myself in Barcelona at this time. The month of September is very special for the people of Catalonia, the region in Spain where Barcelona is located, and from Sept. 18 until Sept. 24 a huge festival called “Festes de la Mercé” is held.
This five-day festival is held in honor of the Patron Saint of Barcelona, Mare de Deu de la Mercé. Held since 1902 this festival is a celebration of the changing of the seasons, and as I am learning just another great excuse for a big street party in Barcelona!
The days are filled with unique to Barcelona festivities including daring acrobatics by people called Castellers, who represent their different neighborhoods by engaging in “castells” which are a form of human tower. The ones at the top are usually elementary school age! Also notable during the festivities are the “Giants,” where people dress up as gigantic versions of various saints, nobles, kings and queens and parade through the streets of the city.
My personal favorite of the week was the finale. At the gorgeous Plaça de Espanya a wonderful pyromusical display of fountain works, fireworks, and music was the most moving experience I have had here so far. An ode to Catalonia and the city of Barcelona, this display was by far the best fireworks showing I have ever seen. At one point the national anthem of Catalonia was played and the entire crowd lit sparklers in pride, it was so beautiful that I was in awe.
To sum it all up, each study abroad experience is unique in and of itself— and this festival has provided me with such an appreciation of Barcelona as an outsider. The history and uniqueness of the area has given me a whole new perspective on this part of Spain, and I cannot wait to continue learning about my new home. Until next time, Adios!
Amanda Doyle Staff Writer amdoyle@ualr.edu
Navigating a university education is a challenging and exciting task for all students. For students like myself, it can sometimes be more of a challenge than I expected. After dreaming of getting my education for many years, I have jumped in with both feet. As a mother of a child with special needs, I knew it would be tricky and sometimes difficult. It was and is something you can’t anticipate or predict completely and you navigate it as best you can.
Five real struggles faced by a full-time parent and student:
1. Activities. Theirs or mine.
Being a first time college student, there is so much to do on campus! So many events, games and clubs, the lists of organizations are endless, as are the many fun activities scheduled by the student body. Having full-time children as well, you can imagine there are close to just as many events and they feel just as passionate
about. Throw in work and time becomes a vapor. Weighing everyone’s needs and wants is frustrating. There are times where no one is truly satisfied. There is no way to do it all and this can leave you the parent-student feeling like somehow you always fail a little, always let someone down, even yourself.
2. Social Life. What’s that?
Between school, work and kids, there is little time left for much but studying. Friends call and say you seem distant. You put off regular gatherings in favor for another hour to help your child on a project or finish your paper. Some days it feels as though you barely have time to think. Automatic pilot takes over and you become an observer not a participant in your daily life.
3. Sleep. Maybe after graduation.
As a full time parent, sleep is always an elusive creature. Even when the kids are sleeping well, you may be worried about their futures, friends, school and an entire host of things. Now after class all day and working at night, you are up studying and worrying all at the same time. You wake up with a start. Did I save that paper? Did I give him his lunch money? What else was I going to do today? Sleep is so important to all of our well-being. I am trying diligently
to make sure I get some as often as I can.
4. Attendance. Excusable?
While being present for class is incredibly important, we all know that people get sick, cars break down and there are many other things that keep us from being where we need and want to be. In many of my classes the pace is quick. It is somewhat of a struggle to keep up when I am present every day. With all parents, and even more so with the case of children with special needs, there are numerous appointments. Not just illness, but school conferences, therapy and medicine checks. Balancing these appointments and maintaining satisfactory attendance can be challenging and overwhelming. Fear and frustration can sometimes cause the parent to give up. Clear communication helps me with my professors, but I still worry that I won’t be able to balance the two.
5. Self-Care
While parenting and studying it is easy to forget to take care of basic and even more complex needs. A parent who is a student can find themselves skipping their doctor appointments to avoid missing another class since they have missed it for their child’s appointment already. The focus on just making it through can cause a drive to over achieve. Now down time is unhealthy as well. If you are always working either at school, home or work, you break down. You lose sight of the person who had the goal to return to school to
begin with. Taking an afternoon to yourself feels grandiose and selfish. Even though you know it is not a
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Rose Rains Staff Writer drrains@ualr.edu
come to a different culture with the extremely friendly Boov alien, Oh voiced by Jim Parsons from the Big Bang Theory, and a very spunky teenager tamed Tip who is voiced by Rihanna.
Home, the DreamWorks motion picture, recently came out on DVD and Blu-ray. Directed by Tim Johnson, this movie shows what it’s like to
16-year-old Tip has been separated from her mom because of the Boov invasion and Oh gets in trouble with his own kind because he was trying to make friends. The unlikely duo of outcasts come
together and set out on an adventure to clear Oh’s name and bring Tip back to her mom.
This unlikely team helps Oh understand that communication is much more than the actual meaning of the word and helps Tip learn that she can make friends that are outside of her comfort zone. This movie has gotten many bad reviews, but others believe that it is a must see.
This movie is for all ages and a lesson can be taken from it no matter what the age. Home was well developed with a budget of $135,000,000. This movie isn’t like DreamWorks action animations such as How to Train your Dragon or Kung-Fu Panda; it is a cute comedy with tear-jerking moments and wonderful songs. Home is out on DVD and Blu-ray now and can also be rented at your local Red Box.
Caitlyn Sample Staff Writer casample@ualr.edu
If you are ever at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Benton Center and need a place to have lunch, I recommend the Burger Shack. The Burger Shack is at 107 S. Main St., just a four-minute walk from the center.
The Burger Shack has a small-town diner atmosphere. Patrons include local business people as well as students on their lunch break. Black and white checkered tiles cover the floor. Christian music plays from a radio in the corner. A toy train suspended on tracks in the air whizzes by, as you choose a seat. A variety of seating options include a stool at the bar, a table or a booth.
The menu offers a large variety of options. Appetizers, for $5.99 each, include jalapeño poppers and fried pickles. You can get a regular cheeseburger for $4.39 or a hubcap cheeseburger for $10.99. You can also add bacon to your burger for $1.09. The Burger Shack has more than burgers to choose from.
You can also choose from hot dogs, sandwiches or salads. All sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers are served with chips; however, you can substitute that for fries for $2 more. There is also a daily lunch plate for $7.99. The Burger Shack has ice cream to choose from for dessert. Floats, sundaes and shakes are all $2.99 each.
I usually get the turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich served hot for $5.29 and substitute the chips for Cajun fries for $2.29. This is enough to fill me up. However, the caramel shakes look delicious!
The Burger Shack has a Facebook page where you can keep up with the daily specials and updates to the menu or you could call 501-778-2266.
Grant Fox
Entertainment Editor tgfox@ualr.edu
The IPA (Indian Pale Ale) is a beer who’s origins reach back to the British Empire and were actually developed for long shipments. The signature ingredient of the IPA are the hops. The more hops, the more pop it has when you drink it.
Hops stopped the beer from going bad on the long shipment journeys from the Brewhouses down to India. When the soldiers and sailors returned to Great Britain from India, they wanted the some flavor of beer, often citrus filled, that they had been given in India. Thus the IPA was created to give the hoppy citrus flavor that so many beer enthusiasts enjoy today.
Some of the hoppiest beers that can be found locally are the Wolfdirt, from the Victory brand, the Single-Wide IPA, from the Boulevard Brewing Company, and the Presidential IPA, from the Diamond Bear Brewing Company located right here in Arkansas.
An IPA goes best with spicy foods or strongly flavored, mildly spicy foods. The IPA’s light pop is an excellent compliment to a more strong flavor and refreshes the pallet with every drink.
courtesy of www.altpress.com
BRuth Houston
Entertainment Editor rxhouston@ualr.edu
ring me the Horizon recently redefined their name as a band by switching to a completely new genre. From Metalcore to Alternative rock the newly defined band gives us an album called “That’s the Spirit.” If you think this album sounds like the screams from the underworld, think again.
had left their previous record label Epitaph and signed with Columbia records. During the recording process instead of spending money on a music producer, the band used their own keyboardist, Jordan Fish, and spent the money on a personal fitness trainer during the course of recording their new album in Greece. After what seemed like decades Oliver Sykes, lead singer and front man for BMTH, released the songs “Throne” and “True Friends.”
had been battling an addiction of Ketamine.
“…You had no idea that I was in rehab but you were sending me letters, you were sending me texts, you were sending me f****ing emails and when I got out of rehab I didn’t want to f****ing scream any more, I wanted to sing it from the fucking rooftops. It’s all thanks to you, so thank you very much,” Oliver Sykes, Bring me the Horizon front-man stated.
depression. The singer has known depression issues and is very passionate of suicide prevention. In the song “Throne” he talks about how no matter what is going on things can get better, also the song sounds very similar to the sounds off their album “Sempiternal.”
Illustration by Brady Jackson
The band started hinting a new album in late June, by giving fans an image of a white basic umbrella on a plain black background on social media. Then on July 13, 2015 the band announced they
Why did Bring me the Horizon all of a sudden make a huge sound change you ask? Well the answer to that would be in Oliver Sykes’ speech at the Alternative Press music awards, where the singer and front man announced he
In a NME interview, Sykes stated that the album was a loose concept album about life’s darker moods, like depression, and a way to make light of the situation. With songs like “Happy” you can hear the emotion of trying to find ways of making happiness from your
When bands change their sound it’s usually a hit or miss when it comes to their original fan base, like the whole Green Day going from Punk Rock to Rock Opera debate, or when Taylor Swift changed her sound from Country to Pop. BMTH’s fans seemed to really take well to the change, and BMTH now has even more of a fan base.
Chris Gillette Staff Writer cagillette@ualr.edu
Seashine is a free iOS application game that continually generates levels of beautiful underwater caves that are navigated with a bioluminescent jellyfish. The overall concept is hampered by slightly clunky controls that center on finding pockets of air contained within stars and seaweed patches that are necessary for survival. If our hero jellyfish runs out of air, it dies. In addition, an array of dangerous creatures in the form of sharks, eels, and fish will pop out of the darkness and attempt to eat our jellyfish. The suspense makes the game interesting and keeps the
player on their toes. Players must continually keep moving in order to find air, light, and safety from predators.
Players can earn stars through gameplay, which is very difficult, or purchase them from the app store at an expensive price. These stars, which give air to the jellyfish, can also be obtained by watching advertisements in-game.
As the brave jellyfish navigates this dark, labyrinth world the beautiful monochromatic blacks, whites, and blues delight the eye. The simplicity of the color scheme in no way detracts from the aesthetic beauty of the game. However, herein lies the problem….
The visuals could be enjoyed more if the game designers had built-in levels that featured more exploratory themes. Games like
Raymond Legends, Ecco the Dolphin, and the award-winning Journey were noted for their gorgeous visuals as players could explore these worlds to their hearts content. The designers of Seashine could have incorporated lessons from these games to design an app with fast-paced action punctuated with slower levels of exploration. It is difficult to enjoy the beautiful world and excellent music of Seashine, the game’s strongest suit, when one is constantly using clunky controls to dodge being eaten by predators. I would still heartily recommend that a player download the game, as it is free, and give it a try. You may find yourself shooting through caves and dodging sharks for hours before you realize that the game has any aspects to it that aren’t a blast.
Brady Jackson Staff Writer bajackson4@ualr.edu
Haveyou ever thought about a lock that you could share with your friends without having a key? Well there is a smart-lock that is pretty neat that is being released in October.
The lock is called the Noke and it is made by FŪZ Designs, for the price of 69.99 this lock could be yours. The Noke eliminates the need for keys and combinations forever. The Noke uses and connects to your Bluetooth enabled smartphone so you do have to reach or find your keys, just walk up, press the Noke and click your lock is unlocked. With the Noke App you can manage as many locks as you want. So you don’t get confused with which lock you have in the app you can name your locks and create custom settings for
each of your Noke locks.
A cool feature is that you can share and revoke access to your Noke. You can get really specific with it by assigning access for the day, time, location and duration of access then afterwards they can’t open it. The app has a history tab that can tell you where, when and who opened your locks. You can also track your Noke with the app which is a really neat feature.
The Noke is made of boronhardened steel and also has a long-lasting batteries that gives you a year of use before you need to replace or recharge the battery. If your phone is for some reason died or is not working the Noke as a Quick-Click technology allows you to create a custom access. If you don’t have a smartphone you can buy a Bluetooth key fob, to open your Noke exactly the same way you open your car doors.
These locks are available to be pre-purchased on noke.com.
TheArkansas Literary Festival presents Banned Book Week featuring an interview re-enactment, a film and a writing contest based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning novel, The Color Purple, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at The Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m., featuring actresses Verda Davenport Booher and Vivian Norman in the interview re-enactment. Banned Book Week is an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association celebrating the freedom to read. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit arkansasliteraryfestival.org.
Jasmine Blunt
Staff Writer
jmblunt@ualr.edu
The 2015 Light the Night Walk on Friday, Oct. 3, in downtown Little Rock at the Rivermarket Pavilions, starting at 7:30 p.m. Light the Night Walk is a fundraising event hosted in more than 200 communities each fall by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. During the walk, participants will carry illuminated lanterns in support of survivors and in memory of loved ones lost to a blood cancer. The event is free to the public and also will feature many kids activities and a band that is to be announced. To register and find out more information, visit lightthenight.org.
Shaun Williams Staff Writer swilliams@ualr.edu
One of IGN’s game reviewers, Lucy O’Brien, stated that Until Dawn is a “cheesy homage to horror movies,” and that couldn’t be truer.
The game was clearly developed by someone who adores the horror and all of its clichés. Although its thrills are molded by a lack of story consistency, Until Dawn’s butterfly effect system allows for a new horror experience through every gameplay, where you are promised a new experience every time you play.
Until Dawn uses a cast of eight teenagers with eight classic stereotypes, who go back to a remote cabin, which can only be accessed by an unreliable cable car, to “party like porn stars.” You may ask why they are there. So they can celebrate the one- year anniversary of the disappearance of their friends in the surrounding woods. It is assumed that there was no foul play concerning their disappearance but as the player you are able to draw your own assumptions on what was the real cause of these two characters’ demise.
In the beginning scenes of the game the player is introduced to all of the characters that the player will either grow to love, hate, or all together not care at all about. The player is first introduced to Sam, the nature lover of the group, and Chris, the common nerd and hopeless romantic of the group. Chris and Sam take the cable car up to the cabin where we are presented to Jessica, the sexy blond of the group and Mike’s new girlfriend, and if you are wondering she is just like every classic blonde girl in a horror movie. After switching scenes we are introduced to Mike, the stud of the group who is fearless in times of peril and also has a sick sense of humor. We are also introduced to Emily, Mike’s ex and drama queen of the group, along with her new boyfriend, Matt. Once everyone starts arriving at the cabin the player is shown the last of the eight characters, Josh, the brother of the two lost friends, and Ashley, the shy one of the group.
The environments of Until Dawn were made as hostile as possible and you start to experience the hostility when you enter the cabin for the first time with Chris. The cabin was beautifully detailed, huge, had a cold atmosphere, and filled with secrets. The player soon discovers that the cabin isn’t the only area with an unnerving atmosphere. Upon the gamers play through they would find themselves exploring a Sanatorium with a large morgue, an abandoned mine shaft, and a range of dangerous wildlife. Until Dawn allows the player to feel as if they are being watched at every moment and it also does pretty well on making the player feel a sense of isolation.
Many times throughout the game, you are left questioning where the scares are. The game wound up having a split story line making it seem like it was a half survival and half action thriller, which removed some of the scares. The split story line was made up for by involving the “butterfly effect,” where the players’ choice affected which players live and which players die.
The butterfly effect being a part of the game was crucial because it made the player think through every choice and sometimes made it where they had to make decisions a flash instant. Such as the way you spoke to another character, if you were rude don’t expect their trust later on and vice versa if you were polite. Even placing an object in a certain place would determine if you could use it later on when the player would need it.
One last flawed effect was a between scenes theatre where you would converse with Doctor Hill, a psychiatrist, who shows you your fears and teases out your thoughts of each character, which has an early effect on the gameplay. His role later on turns into strictly a thematic one, which becomes redundant as the story takes a turn for the worse.
Until Dawn is definitely an imperfect game but a fun experience to be able to put yourself in the shoes of a distressed teen in a horror film. Though the story is inconsistent it still brings out the classic horror film characteristics which makes the gameplay pleasurable and allows for the players in game decisions to have shocking consequences.
by Zachary Tallent
Gabrielle Phifer Staff Writer gcphifer@ualr.edu
courtsey of the Athletic Department
A6 foot-11-inch forward with no basketball experience before college signed with the Little Rock Trojans men’s basketball team in May with hopes to continue his rise at the institution.
Lis Shoshi, tallest member of the men’s basketball team, is from Peje, Kosovo. Shoshi didn’t get as much exposure to basketball in Kosovo, but that is where his exposure to the game began.
“It started when I was a kid, like when I was 5. I had a basket in my backyard. It was like the hangout place back home. Random people would walk by and just come and play. That’s where it started.”
In Kosovo, there really aren’t any organized teams when it came to playing for youth teams, according to Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Patrick Newton. There weren’t any middle school, junior high or high school opportunities to play, just club teams. However, he didn’t play that much. All of his skill came from practices put on by local coaches.
When he did take the opportunity to play with a local team when was 17, he only played in three games. He went through knee surgery from a growth spurt and played three more games before going to Howard College.
Only six organized basketball games before going to Howard and a highlight video of those games is what got him there. His only challenge from playing unorganized basketball in Europe and coming to America to play was conditioning.
“It was a different style of game. I was nowhere near the shape and it was hard. My first two to three months were pretty tough, but after that I just started adjusting,” he said.
He quickly got adjusted, start-
ing 21 of the final 23 games of the season.
In his two seasons at Howard he was named the Western Junior College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All WJCAC in 2015. He was ranked 16th nationally in defensive boards, 20th in total rebounds and 27th in rebounds per game, according to Little Rock Trojans Athletics website.
When he left Howard College, he visited Washington State and Texas Tech, but instead chose UALR. “It was just the style of the game here and the opportunity to play right away. I heard there were going to be some changes, and I liked that.”
Shoshi thinks being at UALR is a good fit for him. “I’m excited and looking forward to see what’s going to happen to us this year,” he said. He added: “It’s going to be tough, but I think if I do what I’m supposed to do, I’ll be fine. I’m really excited about playing D-1 [Division 1] basketball.”
If you want to catch Shoshi, you could find him at his favorite hangout spot, Chipotle, which is on the corner of University and Markham St. Otherwise, catch him at their season opener on Nov. 14.
Lauren Lockhart-Lindsey Staff Writer lalockhartl@ualr.edu
Chris Beard announced that Max Levefre would be the new Director of Basketball Operations for the Little Rock men’s basketball program. Lefevre worked with Beard for two seasons at Angelo State as a grad assistant, helping the Rams to a 47-15 record over that span.
Levefre is not new to the game of basketball by any means as he previously came to the United
States from France on a scholarship to play college basketball at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. There he earned his Bachelor of Science in International Business in 2012 before earning his Master of Education in Sports Administration from Angelo State in 2015 .
Levefre has been here in Little Rock for about 4 months now as he officially arrived here on June 1st.
“I was actually surprised when my wife and I first arrived in Little Rock because I didn’t necessarily look at Arkansas as the south, the humidity hit me right away, said Levefre, overall it seems like a great fit for
us. We are really excited to be here.”
As the Director of Basketball Operations, Levefre will be in charge of many of the logistics that come with any basketball program: assisting coaches and players, organizing film and reports, as well as checking in with academics.
“I’m here to make sure that as a program everything runs smoothly, we are here to brand a new basketball team just as we did when Coach Beard got to Angelo State. We were looking to win right away there, and we are looking to win right away here,” says Levefre It is common for anyone to feel
a sense of pressure when stepping up to fulfill a large role in any Division 1 basketball program, especially when that program is in the process of rebuilding. Levefre felt that this pressure was nothing new for him or his fellow coach staff.
“There is a sense of pressure but that’s why we do this job. We like that pressure, it almost makes the job more fun. A job with no goal to reach can get boring! We are really looking forward to the season. We feel that we have some good pieces coming in and we are working hard every day to make this program
better.”
Levefre says that he plans to further his coaching career as he looks to continue to build his resume and learn what he can from coaches like Beard.
“We have a great staff for me to learn from, of course I have learned from Coach Beard, but the other assistant coaches are all very experienced with winning backgrounds and I look forward to learning a lot from them as well,” says Levefre, who does plan to continue coaching with future hopes of moving up the ladder and one day becoming a head coach.
Brian Gregory Sports Editor bjgregory@ualr.edu
Two unique events for Trojan fans everywhere to look out for are the Trojan Tailgate, which will be on Friday Oct. 2, 2015 at the soccer game against Georgia Southern, and Meet the Trojans, which will be on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015.
The purpose of these events is to help build up attendance and team spirit. According to Assistant Athletic Director Travis Whipple, “We want a family-friendly atmosphere, but at the same time we still want it to be for everyone that comes to Trojan games.”
The Trojan Tailgate is an event that was started last year that was meant to get more students to soccer games and basketball games. It was highly successful last year in getting students that wouldn’t normally come to games and members outside of the UALR campus to come.
The tailgate will include free food and a chance to meet the other members of Trojan athletics. Members of all athletic teams will be represented at the event. The tailgate will start at 6 p.m. and the game will start at 7 p.m.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out the soccer team recently this would also be a great event to go to. The soccer team has a record of 5-4-1 and while they may not be a juggernaut record consid-
The Little Rock Trojans
department is looking to inspire an inclusive family-friendly atmosphere.
ering the competition. They have played against Texas who they tied, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. In each of those games, the Trojans have impressed.
Also this year, there was record crowd at the first home game against Murray State with 781 people attending. The athletic department would like to encourage all to come out so that they can break that record again.
The Meet the Trojans event on Oct. 15 will again give the chance to for students, faculty and members of the community to come out and meet all members of Trojan sports. The event will last from 6-8 p.m. There will be carnival games sponsored by each athletic team. There will also be a campaign to include more students in the Maroon Mob.
After the carnival games everything will converge on the inside to kick off the new basketball season.
There will be a three-point contest that will be done by both men and women’s team and a dunk contest.
In addition to these events, there are some other events to look forward to during the basketball season. At each of the basketball games there will be different promotions that look to draw in more fans to the games.
Some these events are the Hometown Heroes Day in early November and Pack the Jack events, where the athletic department is looking to break the Jack Stephens Center attendance record. For students there will be a series of theme nights: International Night, White Out, Pink Out, Maroon Night and an 80’s night.
This new athletic department is looking to involve all members of the on-campus and off-campus community so that they can support the Trojans.
Lauren Lockhart-Lindsey Staff Writer
lalockhartl@ualr.edu
Little Rock Trojan Volleyball currently lays down the fourth-best overall hitting percentage and kills per set in the Sun Belt at .230 and 12.45, respectively. Little Rock’s defense ranks in the top five with the third-most blocks per set at 2.29 and fifthmost digs per set at 14.74.
Little Rock won its home opener on the night of Sept. 25 with a 3-0 shutout over Troy. This is the fifth consecutive year that Little Rock has won its home opener. The last time Little Rock lost its home opener was against former conference-foe Middle Tennessee State in 2010.
With tonight’s win, Little Rock extended its conference winning streak to 25 matches, the secondlongest in Division I. The Trojans open up with a score from Carolee Dillard leading to 5 immediate scores from Priscila Almeida off Troy errors. 5-0 Trojans.
The Trojans took a 7-4 led off a kill by Edina Selimovic from Megan Mathis. The match quickly moves to a 18-12 lead by the Trojans. They ended the first set 25-15.
Little Rock cruised to an early lead in the second set and the lead got up to seven before eventually claiming the set 25-20
After the break between the second and third set, the teams battled a tit for tat opening third set tying the game 4-4. Troy gives the Trojans a 8-6 lead after two back to back errors. Taylor Lindberg with multiple spikes this set leading the Trojans 25-17 shutting Troy out.
Little Rock swept visiting Troy 3-0 with 11 kills from Edina Selimovic and 25 assists from Megan Mathis. Priscila Almeida led Little Rock with nine digs, and Kelsey Leech was second with seven. Freshman Taylor Lindberg had one kill and two total blocks. Carolee Dillard finished the match with six kills on 12 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage and she added six block assists on defense.
Lauren Humphrey Staff Writer lehumphrey@ualr.edu
Holding an undefeated record of 5-0 in Pool A, Team 6 ended the flag football season in first place on Sept. 24. Tied for first in Pool B, the Silent Assassins, Pike and Warriors ended with records of 4-1. For the women’s team, the Lady Go Getters finished the season with a record of 3-0.
“This season has been awesome. Team 6 was essentially a group of guys that knew nothing about each other aside from the fact that we all love football and we wanted to win,” senior Camron James said.
Starting the season off with small victories in Pool A, Team 6 worked together throughout the season and eventually ended games on the mercy rule. Pike HasBeens ended the season in second place with a record of 4-1 and Dirty Dan & the Pinheads placed third with a record of 3-2.
The Silent Assassins, Warriors and Pike battled all season to stay in first place in Pool B. Playoffs will determine a definite winner. In fourth place with a record of 2-3 were The Punishers.
“It was tough at first because we were unorganized; however once we got the flow of things and played together as a team, we excelled,” freshman Don Accor said. (Warriors)
Playoffs will begin on Sept. 29 at 6 PM at the Coleman Recreational Complex. Semi finals and finals for both men and women teams will be on Sept. 30 starting at 6 PM.To view additional scores or sign up to play, visit IMLeagues.com. Soccer and Table Tennis begin on Oct. 5.
“This is my first year to play and I enjoyed getting to know other Donaghey Scholars teammates. It’s exciting that the Scholars are starting to field their own intramural teams, and hopefully we’ll be a force to be reckoned with,” sophomore Adam Ness said.
Brian Gregory Sports Editor bjgregory@ualr.edu
Since football season has started I have been extremely busy. Not with watching games or watching football analysis shows, which is something I love to do. Not with watching First Take, my favorite TV show. Not with watching SportsCenter.
I have been busy with trying to make my fantasy teams the best I can. I have played fantasy football since I was 12-years-old; on SIKids. com. My first draft pick ever was Tom Brady. Ever since then I have been hooked on this virtual reality that is fantasy football. I have played fantasy basketball and fantasy baseball but neither of those gives me the joy and the satisfaction that I get from playing fantasy football.
There are three reasons why I love fantasy football. The first reason is that unlike fantasy basketball and baseball, it is a seasonal, weekly event. For me I like that in fantasy football I can prepare all week at creating the best team possible. I don’t have to worry about if someone is sitting out a particular day, like in baseball or in basketball. No if someone is out,
I can prepare all week for a player being out. I also am not a fan of this daily fantasy or just weekly fantasy movement. I like playing in a season.
The second reason I love fantasy football is because football creates an atmosphere of competitiveness. You never hear a majority of people playing fantasy baseball or fantasy basketball. Why you might ask? It’s because it’s simply not enjoyable. When people play fantasy football, people put things all on the line. Whether its money or pride, people will always take fantasy football seriously. You hear so many stories about people being in last place in a league having to get tattoos in awkward places or having to do embarrassing public displays, but that is all par for the course my friends.
The third reason I love fantasy football is because the feeling I get from playing fantasy football. There is always a wish by the casual fan of what they would do if they were a general manager or in charge of player personnel. Fantasy football gives us a chance to do that. It’s very realistic in 8, 10, 12, and 14 person leagues. You may be able to get one or two elite players, and then you will get your good not great players, and then players that require that subjective touch. This is why I love fantasy football.
ACROSS
1 Blooming tooth robber! You have the legal right to fine him (12)
9 Dostoyevsky’s Prince Myshkin gives one girl books (5)
10 Bursting in and bursting out, we hear (9)
11 Completed dub on soundtrack extraordinarily quickly (9)
12 Recent time lost makes one tardier (5)
13 Some metal boxes get returned, flattened at the edges (6)
15 Radioactive metal found in protein by one university microbiologist originally (8)
18 Composer who brought Spanish language to Italy? (8)
19 It helps produce groovy music (6)
22 Required by one sitting president at meeting (5)
24 Topless sex on Prague television initially bothered censor (9)
26 One who makes good money for his employers wouldn’t be welcome at Lord’s, perhaps (9)
27 Brad returns with a climber (5)
28 Repeatedly speak with East European corrupt dialect (6-6)
DOWN
1 Bespectacled Corin somehow finds a S. American flower (7)
2 Brief moment for a lyricist? (5)
3 Give advance payment to South African province before delivery (9)
4 Non-Spanish speaker in America has to travel around to make a call (6)
5 Version of Christe eleison primarily for those with unorthodox creed (8)
6 Banish former huntsman out East (5)
7 Defective hearing result of putting one in the wind (8)
8 Worker is on the edge in Northern Ireland (6)
14 Reluctant Marion undressed for seducer (8)
16 Raised capital to support one theatre with production of Lear, among others (5,4)
17 Eskimo shaman finds English king in capital city, decapitated (8)
18 Commander in chief to the Queen has love for orator (6)
20 Leak incomplete cross-reference (7)
21 A mineral source extremely thin on the ground (6)
23 Dance graduate leaves cake (5)
25 A shortage? What a shame (5)
