The Forum Feb. 27, 2013

A coffee bar reception is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 28 in the Donaghey Student Center’s Ledbetter Hall to welcome two newly appointed UALR administrators: Dean Kahler, named vice chancellor for enrollment management last October, and Zulma Toro-Ramos, appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in January.

Angela Sewall, College of Education dean and educational administration professor, has been named a recipient of the 2013 Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, which she will receive Thursday, Feb. 28 at an annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is scheduled to host Lab2Launch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12 at UALR’s Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development. The commercialization training event for university researchers and entrepreneurs will cover funding opportunities, networking, legal information and the technology transfer process.

The Clinton School of Public Service is scheduled to host a panel discussion at noon Thursday, March 7 in Sturgis Hall on the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s musical rendition of “Treasure Island,” a production adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic book by the same name.

UALRTeach Assistant Director Michelle Buchanan and Master Teacher Kelly Chaney have each been chosen from a nationwide pool of professionals to serve three-year terms on advisory boards for the National Science Teacher’s Association.

Student government hosts Paint the Town Maroon, election

Jennifer Ellis Executive Editor

The Student Government Association announced that along with the help of a variety of student organizations they will carry out a plan to paint Trojan-spirited designs on the windows of businesses surrounding the university Homecoming morning Saturday, March 2. Paint the Town Maroon, which has been in the works for months and postponed a number of times, takes place just days before the annual spring elections. The campaign aims to fulfill one of President Rizan Mohsin’s goals: “to facilitate community development at UALR by promoting student led projects, which involve collaborations amongst student organizations,” according to the Office of Campus Life’s website. Voting is set to take place in the DSC Diamond area from 8:30 a.m.

to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 4-5.

Incumbent President Mohsin and challenger Lauren McNeaill, a junior Spanish and psychology major, will participate in a debate at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 in the Donaghey Student Center Upper Concourse. Executive and senatorial candidates will have booths set up in the area beginning at noon.

McNeaill, whose running mate is Trey Gibeault, a junior economics and finance major, said she is committed to “Bringing Your Campus Experience to Life.”

“We want to create an environment where students can thrive,” McNeaill said, “where they have opportunities to flourish. So through the building of relationships, hosting of events and collaboration with student organizations in new initiatives, we hope to form a more unified student body and, ultimately, a more enjoyable campus experience.”

University names new director for public safety

Cameron Moix News Editor

UALR has recently appointed a longtime Oklahoma police officer as the Department of Public Safety’s new director/chief, ending a nationwide search that began last fall, according to university officials.

The university announced Feb. 12 in a news release that Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Bob Adams had recently hired Edward L. Smith of Shawnee, Okla., as the university’s director of public safety

and campus chief. Smith is slated to assume the position March 18, relieving Regina Wade-Carter. Carter has served as interim director/chief since the Aug. 31, 2012 resignation of former Chief Brad King, who worked for the university for more than 12 years. “We are especially pleased to

have attracted a new Director of Public Safety with the background and credentials of Mr. Smith,” Adams said. “He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our campus police department.”

At his new job, Smith will earn an annual salary of $78,000, he said.

Smith currently works as a human resources instructor and director of the Collegiate Officer Program at East Central University in Ada, Okla., according to the school’s website. Smith has more

Homecoming events propose students show their pride

KenDrell

Collins Assistant Editor

This year’s homecoming week filled with aquatic races, school spirit competitions and queen selection will culminate Saturday, March 2 when the Trojans play the Arkansas State Red Wolves in the Jack Stephens Center at 7 p.m.

An assemblage of school organizations will compete on the water against each other in one of the week’s most anticipated events, the third-annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. The race will take place Friday, March 1 in the pool in the Donaghey Student Center from noon to 3 p.m.

Each organization is required to construct an original boat using only corrugated cardboard, duct tape, Elmer’s wood glue, liquid nails and water-based paint.

Awards go to the team with the best-dressed crew, most unique boat design, most spirit and the most remarkable sinking. The event is sponsored by Campus Recreation.

There will also be a competition for the student organization that demonstrates exceptional school spirit; the UALR fan who shows the most team pride will be recognized as well.

Winners of the group and individual spirit awards will receive $300. In order to get the award, competing students and organizations must attend the regatta and both games on Saturday. The Trojan women’s basketball game will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Workers need wage raise to cope with cost of living

The Forum

During President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union Address, he outlined a proposal to gradually increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 per hour by 2015. Beyond 2015, the president said he would like to see the minimum wage become indexed based on inflation rates. This means wages would fluctuate based on the rising cost of living.

The increased minimum wage is expected to help nearly 15 million workers in America, which is why Congress should pass the president’s proposal through.

According to a White House fact sheet released after the president’s proposal, for a family that earns $20,000$30,000 per year, the extra $3,500 will help pay for things

such as groceries, utilities, gasoline and clothing for a year or six months of housing.

The fact sheet also says that of all the workers benefiting from the increased minimum wage, 60 percent will be women and slightly less than 20 percent will be teenagers. According to a 2012 study conducted by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, minimum wage should be around $21.72 per hour based on worker productivity - a far cry from the current national standard of $7.25. However, many pundits question whether or not small businesses - the mom and pop stores sprinkled across America that this country prides itself on - can survive a federally-mandated minimum wage increase. Most of these already struggling stores are

having a difficult time paying their bills, paying salaries and keeping up with big-box store competitors. So, would the risk be worth the reward for these mom and pop stores? By 2015, when employees will be making $9 per hour for entry level positions, more experienced employees will need to receive a wage increase as well, to be competitive and fair. So, someone making $9 per hour in 2013 might make $11.25 per hour in 2015. These small businesses will have to find some way to allocate more money to pay their employees. It’s not all bad news, however. Potential customers will have more money in their pockets to spend and hopefully boost a staggering economy.

According to the Small Busi-

My plea to students: Park like a sir

Parking at the university is a subject I have touched on before. Before moving on campus, I always parked at Big Lots!, and then walked through the gate behind it to campus. I found the walk tedious, of course, but parking passes are expensive and no guarantee of a space, so I figured that was the most economic choice. Now I live on campus in North Hall, and the most desirable parking area is the gravel lot directly adjacent to us. It’s not really a parking lot per se, because there is no asphalt. The lot is not gated, is not patrolled by campus parking enforcement (so it’s a good place to have overnight guests park their cars for free without fear of ticketing) and is a significantly closer walk to the door at the rear of the building. Which remains to open

only sporadically with my ID card.

Because the lot is not official, there are no actual spaces marked out. It’s been left to us, the students, to park in an orderly fashion so we don’t waste the space and no one gets stuck. This should be pretty manageable; the lot is large and, if cars are parked intelligently, most of the square footage could be utilized while leaving a clear and easy path in and out. It would be an understatement to say that the student body has failed parlously. I don’t know what it is, maybe a “because I can” mentality, but the parking jobs are beginning to border on ridiculous. As I look out my window now, I can see a silvery SUV parked horizontally on what could easily be two, possibly three spaces. Often, the entrance is reduced to just one car’s width when greedy students refuse to accept the fact that there aren’t any more spaces and just park their cars at any old alarming angle that suits them at the moment.

Some students have been protesting. I heard stories

of offensive, angry notes scrawled and left jammed under windshield wipers. I myself left two identically worded notes, though the verbiage I used was as polite as it was assertive.

On two cars, I saw red car window paint that said “not a parking space” and “do not park here.”Students stopped by the cars and snapped photos, laughing. The owners of the cars found the paint scenario to be less entertaining, although frankly I don’t see why. The paint washes off, and they did, in fact, park horrendously and got what they deserved.

I’ve heard from campus police that the lot is at some point scheduled to be paved properly, fenced in and added to the many official lots on and immediately surrounding campus. I can’t help but wonder if the recent animosity between the students had something to do with that decision.

I’ll be sad to see the lot go, but it bothers me far more that the residents find it impossible to work together and, honestly, to just not park like jerks.

ness Administration, there are 23 million small businesses in America and they account for about 54 percent of all sales in the United States. In addition, small business have provided 55 percent of all jobs in the U.S. since the 1970s. For Uncle Sam, this delicate situation creates many questions. Do you help nearly 15 million Americans by giving them at least $3,500 in wage boosts per year? Will the minimum wage increase be worth risking 23 million small business? Because more than half of all sales in the U.S. come from small businesses, it’s important that the government gets this right. The U.S. can not afford to fall into another recession. Whether or not 15 million Americans receive a wage boost may very well decide the future of this country.

This letter is in response to Geoffrey Bara’s Feb. 13 column “Good riddance to bad Ratzinger”.

I appreciate your interest and concern for the well-being of the Catholic Church, but your criticism is unnecessary. I am not one to pass judgment; I will leave that up to the Father. Choosing not to follow Christ is completely your decision. Saying this, I do not understand why you feel the need to put down my faith by saying the Catholic community “desperately needs progress”. If you are indeed an atheist, and not a Catholic, what purpose or reasoning do you have for questioning the legitimacy of the papacy? You are wrong in saying that His Holiness instructed American citizens not to follow the President. He simply states that the followers of the Catholic Church should follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, and not the opinions of the President. Last time I checked, as a citizen of this country I have that right. I welcome and look forward to further discussions on religion and the Catholic Church; I just ask that you save the judgment and criticism for yourself.

Nick Nolan Freshman English major

The beat of roaring feminism

A declaration: I am a feminist. I believe in equal rights for women. I believe that women are people, not sex objects. These beliefs are not objectionable, yet, in my society, I am challenged.

One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, the Domestic Violence Resource Center said. One in three girls will be sexually abused during her childhood, Stop it Now said.

These statistics disturb me. The number of women who have told me about how they were sexually abused disturbs me. Their stories remind me that I am lucky to have reached the age of 22 without the scars of perversion and violence.

These women must carry on their lives with the memory of their degradation. It is a question of survival. Will they rise, like Maya Angelou, and become phenomenal women? Or will their pain show itself in the gun that they point, not toward their attackers, but at their own heads?

Damage is done with every holler from across the parking lot. The whole feminist community feels every attack. Every catcall or jeer stings us. Every derogatory joke pulls us back in time. Every snide remark about feminism strengthens my resolve.

From across the world, I hear about gang rape and honor killings. I hear about women living under the blade of their husbands and fathers. I remind myself that I am lucky to live in America.

That is, until I hear journalists ask successful businesswomen how they satisfy their husbands. I hear the media comment on the aging of Hillary Clinton’s face. I read about sexual trafficking in our country.

I see the youth worshiping airbrushed beauties in magazines that tell their readers that beauty comes from within. Covertly, however, their advertisements say that beauty comes from robot-like perfection. These false images of femininity weaken our resolve from within and crush our self-hood.

Sometimes, I hear encouraging news. I hear about free childcare, longer maternity leave and wider access to birth control. Each stride forward reminds me of the distance yet to be covered. So much remains to be accomplished.

And it will be. Feminists today have more resources than ever before. We have the experience of our predecessors for guidance. We have female representatives in politics and business who can shatter our society’s patriarchal structure.

We have male allies, who will transport our message across the gender line. By supporting women, they can put a stop to sexism. They can explain feminism to people who will not listen to women.

Most importantly, we have role models. Anyone can be one; all you have to do is openly support feminism.

Feminism is not a dirty world. It is not outdated. Feminism is sexy, and it is here to stay. The struggle is unending, but women will conquer their oppressors and mold society into one that works for them, one that promotes freedom, equality and peace.

Minor projects accent Campus Master Plan

Liz Fox Entertainment Editor

A number of campus construction projects are on the verge of completion while others are being proposed for the future, according to Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management David Millay.

Millay has overseen the bulk of recent construction and renovation projects. He played a large role in creating the Campus Master Plan, a 10-year project originally conceived by Chancellor Joel Anderson in 2005. Millay also serves as chair of the Coleman Creek Committee, a group of handpicked city, university and nonprofit associates hired to oversee clean-up and development of the Coleman Creek Greenway.

The Greenway is a scenic route providing space for recreation and non-motor transportation. Upon completion, it will connect UALR with War Memorial Park and the Fourche Wetlands, which are both located in the Little Rock metropolitan area. The second phase of the project was completed earlier this year and

Dance troupe raises funds for New York tour

De Clerk Features Editor

TeeBoDans, a troupe of 10 dancers, most of whom are students or graduates of UALR, is working to raise $6,000 to add a New York leg to its June tour.

The troupe will perform “State of Being,” a concert of works directed and choreographed by Stephanie Thibeault, associate professor in the department of theatre and dance.

The concert explores what it means to be through contemporary dance, she said. Thibeault said that the group’s name is the phonetic spelling of her name and the word “dance.”

Students will have an opportunity to watch one of the pieces from the concert at the “Body Works” dance concert in April, Thibeault said.

Thibeault’s hand-picked dancers include students Ali Herring,

Elizabeth Hartzell, Jessica Hyde, Danny Jimenez, Emily Karnes, Olivia Perry and Rachel Powell; graduate Sean Porter; and Kris Waltermire, another Arkansas dancer. Thibeault has yet to select the tenth dancer.

The troupe had already planned to go to Baltimore, and decided also to visit New York City, the mecca of contemporary dance, she said. While on tour, the dancers will perform, attend classes and network, she said.

“I think it’s important for the dancers to see other things and be seen by other people,” she said. “Several dancers will be graduating soon, and will want to look for new places to go after college.”

She added that even if the student dancers begin their careers elsewhere, they may bring their talents and experience back to Arkansas.

“I’d like to raise enough [mon-

Police Beat

ey] to give a small per diem to the dancers,” Thibeault said. The money would pay for the dancers’ food and living expenses while on tour.

The troupe has already raised some funds. In January, they conducted an aerial dance workshop, Thibeault said. With help from the Theatre and Dance Guild, they organized a bake sale for Valentine’s Day, she said.

The project also received some funds through USA Projects, a nonprofit organization that helps artists raise funds for their projects, she said.

Thibeault began the project with a $3,000 grant from the college of arts, humanities and social sciences. The grant gave her time to research and put the works together, she said.

The project currently relies on private donations, information about which can be found on the troupe’s website, teebodans.org.

Burnt bacon sends buzzers blaring

Officers from the Department of Public Safety responded to a fire alarm triggered in a room at South Hall about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 9, which was due a resident burning bacon, according to police reports.

The Little Rock Fire Department was called to the scene to clear the room and reset the fire alarm.

Smoky venison raises alarm

A fire alarm in North Hall was triggered after Catherine Myers noticed the deer meat she was cooking was sticking to the pan at about 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7, according to a DPS report.

Myers told officers she was cutting onions when she noticed the meat was sticking to the pan, creating smoke.

The Little Rock Fire Department was called to the scene to check the area, ventilate the dorm and reset the panel. There was no sign of fire or damage to the kitchen, according to the report.

Fiery fiasco claims student’s vehicle

The Little Rock Fire Department extinguished a vehicle that was on fire in Lot 2 just after 6 p.m. Feb. 6.

The vehicle, a 2000 Nissan Maxima owned by Essence London, 21, was ignited due to a fire that started in the engine bay, according to the report.

Officers asked the LRFD if chemicals used to extinguish the fire would have an environmental impact. LRFD said there would be no impact to the nearby Coleman Creek, according to the report. The police report notes there was no damage to any other vehicles or damage to any UALR property.

Officers respond to lost cash inquiry

Kourtney Deshawn Cole, 18, was reported to the Department of Public Safety after entering the UALR Purchasing Office about 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11 inquiring about $20.

An employee told Cole they had not seen or picked up any money and he was asked to leave. Officers were called to intervene and Cole was advised to handle the situation in a different manner, according to the report.

Stop for broken brake-light ends in drug discovery

Brandon Lavel Ajoku, 29, and Tina Marie Butler, 44, were arrested about 1 p.m. Feb. 10, after DPS officers discovered drugs during a routine traffic stop due to a brake light being out on Butler’s 2000 Chevrolet Malibu, according to a police report.

During the arrest, officers discovered Ajoku has a warrant at Lonoke County sheriff’s office for a failure to appear in court, Pulaski County sheriff’s office for probation revocation and three other charge, and by the Sherwood Police Department for a failure to appear in court, according to the report.

During a search of Ajoku, officers discovered suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana in his pants pocket. Officers searched Butler and found suspected Xanax behind her driver’s seat and in her purse, suspected cocaine in the passengerside door and two pieces of paper housing suspected marijuana in the driver’s-side door, according to police. Butler said she did not have a prescription for the Xanax and that they belonged to her, according to the police report.

construction will soon take place on the third portion of the trail, which stretches from 28th St. to West 20th St. Once finished, this will bring progress to the halfway mark.

“The Greenway Committee continues to meet every other Tuesday,” Millay said. “We have also had several recent discussions with various potential donors about construction of the Alumni Park Amphitheater.”

In addition to ongoing Greenway construction, other areas of campus have experienced forms of renovation. The Facilities Management building, located south of the tennis courts beside the Donaghey Student Center, has also undergone essential improvements for protection from weather damage.

“[It] is wrapping up as the weather allows,” Millay said.

“The work involved a minimal amount of weather proofing to seal roof and wall leaks that had grown critical and to repair a section of the second story wall where the brickwork was beginning to fail.”

Another endeavor concerns restoring campus signage, most of

than 35 years of experience in law enforcement and has worked as police chief in eight different Oklahoma cities: Seminole, Clinton, Blackwell, Owasso, Bethany, Chickasha and two others.

“As division commander for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Police Department in 2000 to 2001, Smith was responsible for the implementation of the Incident Command System during major events and in the development of security and traffic control procedures for all special and athletic events held on campus,” according to the news release. “He worked with the Secret Service, the FBI, and international law enforcement officials when dignitaries were on campus. He also managed, organized, and directed all departmental training and development, recruitment and selection of agency personnel, and crime prevention.”

Smith is an inductee of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for City

which has become outdated or inaccurate due to age and continual expansion. While these changes have yet to take place, there are plans for finding both temporary and permanent solutions.

“A campus signage committee has recently completed an audit of the campus way-finding system and has begun a ‘triage’ process,” Millay said. “In the longer term, a way-finding consultant will likely be engaged to make recommendations for more permanent changes.”

These projects deviate from other facets of the campus master plan, an expansion process initiated by Anderson in 2005. Recently completed projects include the Student Services Center, Trojan Grill eatery, West Hall dormitories and University Village apartments. The process also calls for six new parking decks, which will create 5500 new spaces for students, visitors and faculty by 2015.

“All [buildings] have met or are on schedule except the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex, which was delayed due to construction problems,” Millay said.

and Town Officials, according to the ECU website. He has earned three law-related college degrees: his associate’s degree in political science from Seminole State College in Seminole, Okla.; his bachelor’s degree in professional law enforcement from Oklahoma City University; and a masters degree in criminal justice administration, also from Oklahoma City University. Smith is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. “[Smith] assuming the UALR police chief position is further evidence of the commitment the university has for ensuring that campus safety remains an extremely high priority and that we are able to attract law enforcement leaders of the highest caliber,” Adams said. Smith’s honors also include two appointments by former Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry to the Board of the Office of Juvenile Affairs

Bowen professor breaks into top 10 for academic paper on other Manson

Liz Fox Entertainment Editor

A UALR William H. Bowen School of Law professor has made the top-tenmost-downloaded list on the Social Science Research Network, according to a university news release.

Nicholas Kahn-Fogel, an assistant professor at Bowen, wrote a paper titled “Manson and its Progeny: An Empirical Analysis of Eyewitness Law,” a thesis detailing misidentification flaws in eyewitness court cases. Though it was published in 2011, it recently climbed to the top of the SSRN’s number of downloads in the Empirical Studies and Criminal Procedure eJournal categories.

“I'm really pleased to see that people have been reading the article,” Kahn-Fogel said. “Reform of eyewitness identification law would lessen the likelihood of conviction of innocent people.”

The paper centers on Manson v. Brathwaite, a 1977 court case that set the standard for admissibility of eyewitness evidence. But while the central thesis remarks on eyewitness law disputes, it also offers plausible solutions based on errors in landmark cases. These, which mostly concern DNA and other concrete or scientific matters, may help reform current eyewitness law and exonerate those wrongfully convicted due to a lack of evidence.

“Every year, more exonerations demonstrate that eyewitness misidentification remains the most common cause of wrongful conviction,” KahnFogel said. “We cannot forgive courts that willfully turn blind eyes to scientific discoveries capable of reducing wrongful convictions and freeing those facing wrongful imprisonment by the state, a nightmare beyond comprehension for those of us lucky enough not to have endured it.”

He first became interested in eyewitness law as a student at Standford Law School, but his passion was truly enhanced by his work with the Innocence Project, which describes itself as a “national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people.”

Kahn-Fogel, who hails from Baton Rouge, La., joined the Bowen faculty in 2008 as a visiting professor. Prior to teaching full-time, he taught at the University of Zambia School of Law in Africa and returned to Bowen as a researcher in 2010. He’s served on the editorial board for the Zambia Law Journal and currently offers courses in business associations, contracts, torts and sales. In addition to “Manson,” he has also authored additional papers on the subject of eyewitness law.

“I love teaching, and I love researching and writing about the topics I find interesting and important,” Kahn-Fogel said. “For me, this is the perfect job.”

Alumni association to give benefactors a Taste of LR

Alexis Williams Assistant Editor

The tenth-annual installment of UALR’s “Taste of” series, which is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 14 at the UALR Alumni and Friends Center, will celebrate the finest local restaurants with its “Taste of Little Rock” theme.

Along with samples of cuisine from Little Rock bistros, Glazer’s will provide wine, and local bands will perform at the event.

“The core mission of the Alumni Association is to support students through scholarships,” said Rebecca Ward, president of the UALR Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Alumni Association members have been very generous in supporting efforts to grow our Forever Fund.”

Since 2003, the annual “Taste of” event has raised more than $200,000 for student scholarships, according to a university news release. Since 2010, 100 percent of the recipients of Alumni Association scholarships have graduated and received their degrees.

This year’s event is in celebration of Janet Jones, who has devoted much effort to promoting the UALR Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

“Janet is a tireless supporter of the nanotechnology center,” said CINS associate professor Alex Biris. Jones was also the first woman to chair the Board of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, and also chaired the Federal Reserve Board of the Little Rock Branch.

For more information, or to purchase a ticket for Taste of Little Rock, visit ualr. edu/alumni or call (501) 569-3142.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2013-2014

Civil-rights scholar applies old themes to relevant horizons

father was obsessed with education.”

Applications may be picked up at the reception desk in Stabler 705, and should be returned no later than noon March 15.

An applicant for editor must:

• Have at least a 2.5 overall GPA.

• Have completed the MCOM 2350 and MCOM 3320.

• Be enrolled in at least nine hours of coursework during each semester as editor for an undergraduate or six hours for a graduate student.

During an afternoon lecture Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the Student Services Center auditorium, a nationally renowned scholar and expert on urban issues presented his discussion, “How Teacher Expectations can Increase Student Involvement,” applying the themes he has lived and learned to practice at UALR.

Robert L. Green faced many perils working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the height of the civil-rights movement; so there was no way a few technical difficulties could dilute his message. Once microphone issues were resolved, Green spoke to a rapt audience of several administrators and students, who all braved icy weather to attend.

The speaking event was co-hosted by the UALR Office of Campus Life and the Psychology Department with a reception sponsored by the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity, and was presented by Psychology Department Chair Robert Morgan. Morgan, Green’s colleague and longtime friend, presented him with a lifetime achievement award.

During the presentation, Green spoke of the importance of education and high expectations. A former dean and professor at Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, he told the audience about when Morgan worked with him as a graduate student. He also revealed another Arkansas connection when he said that Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine, was once a student of his at MSU.

One of nine children born to parents Thomas and Alberta, Green said “my

All of his brothers and sisters have at least a bachelor degree, and there are several master and doctorate degrees among them — including nieces and nephews, the family has 109 degrees. Green said that this all stemmed from the expectations of his mother and father. “Hold high expectations for yourself and for others,” Green said.

As he recalled some of the more memorable times in his life, Green spoke of meeting with some of the most notable activists of the time: Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and of course Dr. Martin Luther King. Green left his post at Michigan State in order to join King in the South as he worked to fight for rights, such as education for minorities.

“Dr. King understood the power of education and knew it could be harnessed to empower a population against racism,” he said.

Green told of substandard schools and books of a segregated South. He spoke of his frustration that no U.S. president took a strong stand against segregation and the acts of racism prevalent during the time period. According to Green, King said that “activism must be combined with education.”

“Although we’ve made great strides, King would be most upset about things like the crime in Chicago and the school dropout rate,” Green said about King’s vision. “He would want the president to strengthen the country’s education and keep our kids in school.” Green focused on high expectations in education. He said that when expectations begin early in school careers, it has a positive effect and that “teachers that hold a high level of expectations for their students have success on every level.”

DAvi D E LL i S That damned

The death of the DustBuster

Like most teens of my generation, I experimented with alcohol. My first experience with the “hair of the dog” was a slapstick event that led to the ruin of a perfectly good G.I. Joe thermos as well as a host of other objects, including my mother’s DustBuster.

Due to my inability to function in a “normal” school environment, it was eventually decided that I would attend a boarding school. When my parents observed marked improvement in my behavior and academic performance, they sent my brothers, Joe and Adam, there as well. The school was a short, hour-long drive from home, so my parents let us come home some weekends.

Our first encounter with hard liquor took place on one of those weekends.

It was Saturday night and we were up late, as usual, watching “Mr. Ed” on Nick at Nite. We got bored, which usually meant we would soon do something that was dangerous, stupid or a combination of the two.

I don’t exactly know how the subject came up, but we started talking about booze and a few of our relatives’ drunken antics we had observed at some family functions.

We decided to conduct a controlled experiment, like any good scientists. Joe and I would get drunk and mark the effects while Adam would be the sober control group.

We needed a container for the booze and a method of procurement. As a master thief, Adam would be our method. An old G.I. Joe thermos would serve as a container.

This would be both an indoor and outdoor experiment. The first batch of liquor was sour mash Kentucky bourbon. We took the thermos outside, into the woods behind the house. It was a cool, clear night. Joe and I perched on a concrete manhole, the access to our neighborhood’s drainage system.

I took the thermos he passed me, smelled its contents and immediately drew back with an involuntary shudder. I took a large quaff of bourbon and swallowed it quickly.

Everything burned. My nose, throat and chest were all instantly on fire. I began to choke and wheeze like a dying asthmatic. I nearly gagged, but managed to keep the liquid from coming back up. After a few moments, I regained my composure and decided to try again, only slower this time.

We passed the thermos back and forth for a while until we emptied it. Our tolerance for the harshness of the booze increased. We began to feel a combination of numbness and euphoria. I grew lightheaded and felt like I was three feet thick and bulletproof.

After stumbling around the woods in the dark, we decided it would be safer to take the party inside. We headed back into the house for round two.

Adam had emptied the bourbon bottle into the thermos on the first try, so he used other kinds of alcohol for the next fill-up. It turned out to be a kamikaze cocktail of several different types of booze.

We turned on the radio and sucked down another thermos of liquor. Soon, Joe felt inclined to dance around the room, nearly yelling, “F--- the world, F--- the world. I feel f---ing great, man.”

This went on for a few minutes, until he fell onto his bed, saying that the room was spinning. It wasn’t for me yet, but it was getting there.

Laying on his bed, Joe puked - a huge pile on his blankets and some on the floor. It was one of the nastiest things I have ever witnessed.

Adam tried to get me to help him clean up the puke. “Help me get the blankets off the bed and into the washing machine, and then find something to clean up the pile on the floor,” he said.

I did the best I could in my drunken state. We got the blankets into the washer and I set about looking for a way to clean up the puke in the floor.

I remembered my mom had gotten a machine called a DustBuster for Christmas. It was a small, hand-held device made by Black & Decker that operated like a vacuum cleaner.

I grabbed it off of its charger and went back to the bedroom. I was drunk, so I didn’t realize the DustBuster was only for dry messes, and began to suck my brother’s vomit into it. It clogged up. I didn’t think to empty it; I was so drunk, I just put it back on the charger. I cleaned up the rest of the vomit with a bucket and some soapy water and let it dry overnight.

The next day found me with a pounding headache, a queasy stomach and cottonmouth. It found Joe lying beside the toilet, moaning that he was going to die and would never drink again.

My mother’s DustBuster was ruined; she found it smoking on the charger a couple of days later. It had baked the vomit inside of it.

I learned a few lessons about alcohol that night. First, you shouldn’t mix different kinds of it. Second, consuming mass quantities of it is not only stupid but dangerous. Third, you can’t suck up vomit with a DustBuster.

'The Feminine Mystique' still significant after 50 years

Sarah De Clerk Features Editor

Fifty years ago, Feb. 19, 1963, Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” diagnosed “the problem with no name.”

John F. Kennedy had been president for two years and the country was in the midst of a Cold War. It was the height of the suburban era, nuclear families were the dominant ideal and suburban women were suffering silently.

“What we had was women, especially white, middle-class women, achieving, in larger numbers, higher levels of edu-

cation, women were told they should be wholly satisfied being what Friedan calls “the happy housewife heroine.” These limitations were “stultifying,” Estes said. “It was having very negative outcomes for women and their mental health,” she said.

In 1957, Friedan interviewed 200 women, all of whom had graduated from Smith with Friedan 15 years before. Friedan was a working mother, and from her personal experience, interviews with her classmates and additional research, she found that these women were not happy with the lives women’s magazines had sold them.

Illustration by Paige Mason

“The main point was that women need to do more than be limited to their family roles as mother, and that it was important to her selfhood,” Estes said. “It was too limiting; that wasn’t being a full person.”

Friedan’s ideas were not accepted by everyone, however. Many thought that the book was narrowly focused on middle-class, suburban women and that it “privileges women who are already the most privileged,” Estes said.

Another criticism was that the book falsely assured women that they could have equal rights, Estes said. “A lot of critics often will say ‘no, you can’t have it all, and you injured women by raising that notion.’”

Nonetheless, “The Feminine Mystique” had an “incredible influence,” Estes said. The book was a “touchstone” around

which existing feminist organizations could gather and “gave voice to a lot of things that were already happening,” she said.

The book also gave power, strength and coherence to the 2nd wave of feminism, Estes said. The 1st wave of the women’s movement achieved suffrage for women. The 2nd wave was focused on achieving equal civil rights, Estes said.

After the movement, women gradually gained more legal protection, rights in the workplace and self-determination, she said. In addition, the sexual revolution and the proliferation of birth control gave women more freedom in choosing their family structure.

Although women are closer to equality than they were 50 years ago, “The Feminine Mystique” still has some bearing, Estes said. “It seems like it’s important because it’s still needed,” she said. She noted that education is a very equitable institution, so young women in college, sheltered from inequality, might not see the need for feminism.

There is still a gender pay gap, she said, and women are more likely than men to be forced to choose between work and family. In addition, the book shows that the wonderful, family-oriented time that is often valorized was not so wonderful for everyone, she said.

“It’s still really important for people to understand the baseline and what that meant at the time,” Estes said. “The work of feminism isn’t over.”

Not just nice, art of flattery an attractive skill

Sarah De Clerk Features Editor

How did you feel last time someone told you that you did a good job on a project or have pretty eyes? Compliments make people happy, and knowing how to use them is a valuable skill.

“Compliments can make someone feel good all day,” said Carol Thompson, professor in the Department of Speech Communication. “Giving someone a compliment increases the positive atmosphere around you.”

Complimenting someone shows that you are generous and expressive – traits that people find personally and professionally attractive, she said.

“The best compliments are sincere,

heartfelt and real,” she said.

Tangible, specific compliments about a person’s accomplishments are the most meaningful, she said. She added that compliments should be immediate, although a retroactive compliment is better than nothing.

Avoid backhanded compliments intended to make someone feel bad, she said. Also, do not grasp for empty compliments, she said; find something you genuinely like about the person.

“There is something about every human being worthy of being complimented,” Thompson said. You can become better at giving compliments with practice. If you are shy, compliment people you feel safe around, she said. It also helps to start with small, simple compliments, like

“You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.”

Jeanine Mcclain undeclared post baccalaureate

“I’m positive.”

ashely alexander sophomore nursing major

“Your determination and drive shines bright through you.”

chaz sMith

senior biology and criminal justice major

praising an article of clothing, before working up to more personal compliments, she said.

When you receive a compliment, accept it and thank the person who gave it to you. Discrediting someone’s praise belittles their intent, which was to make you feel good, she said.

Humility is very important; accept compliments in a humble way and acknowledge people for giving them to you, she said. How you give and receive compliments demonstrates your self-confidence and manners.

“Respond to all human beings with graciousness,” Thompson said. “That’s something that you learn with compliments, and that will help you at work, in relationships and in daily life.”

“You all are changing the image of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.”

JereMy Jones junior criminal justice major

“I am a very good leader.”

corrigan revels sophomore mass communication major

“People compliment me on helping them outside [of] the classroom.”

Kurt Blevins junior information science major

Album’s minimalist approach disappoints Bad Seeds’ fans

Liz Fox Entertainment Editor

Most discussion about Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ “Push the Sky Away” has been littered with doubt. The 2009 departure of longtime member Mick Harvey rendered the album the first to be released without a founding Bad Seeds member (sparing its leader). Harvey, who worked with Cave since their Boys Next Door days in the mid-70s, added a layer of concise, energetic musicianship that became comfortably familiar to fans of Cave’s repertoire. As a result of his absence, the new release is instrumentally sparse – and it struggles.

The biggest drawback is that it teems with hollowness. This can easily be viewed as the other end of the spectrum, but there are points -- notably “Jubilee Street” and its sequel -when Cave acts more like a lackadaisical piece of flesh with little soul or movement. The album’s pace is slow, staggering as it wades through a caricatured depth that falls on the deaf ears of inattentive listeners. In short, there’s no way one can kick against the pricks with stagnancy.

Cave has always had a Faulkner-like quality about him, and his stream-ofconsciousness storytelling is capable of overshadowing the album’s mediocrity. But it doesn’t. Puns and namechecks weave their way into songs like “Higgs Boson Blues” and “Mermaids,” serving as subtle jokes that fall flat in the shadow of dark, vivid lyrics

for which the band’s leader is best known. If anything, these provide a mere chuckle but only fill the space as desperate glimmers of former glory.

That said, it’s possible that, in the case of 1997’s “The Boatman’s Call,” the world has temporarily fallen out of love with the Bad Seeds. Cave is frequently regarded as a man with a unique brand of shock value, a hodgepodge of western, Southern gothic and horror flavor. But these new tracks seem to be missing the nuance desired by most fans, and this can be accounted for by Cave’s entry into a tired age, the absence of a long-time friend or an implied shove in the direction of a swan song.

Oftentimes groups who exist with a sole original member -- any myriad of prog-rock groups, especially -- call for desperate touring and mediocreto-horrible output. While Nick Cave is better than this as a versatile cult presence, he’s only added a disappointing item to his catalog. He’s a Renaissance man known for his intensity, but the minimal approach of “Push the Sky Away” is far less intoxicating.

Swedish metal band hits LR on inaugural U.S. tour

Jacob Ellerbee Sports Editor

Whenever a band is playing on American soil for the first time, there are certain things they must do. Johannes Eckerström, vocalist of the Swedish metal band Avatar, said his band has a go-to-source for the American experience.

“Everything that’s featured in a South Park episode, basically, we want to see,” Eckerström said. “We rarely have time to do some real touristing, but you know, we get to do this: Oh Taco Bell? We don’t have Taco Bell at home! Hooters? We don’t have Hooters at home! And we had to see the Walmart.”

This is Avatar’s first time playing in America, but the band has already won over countless fans in being the opening act for Sevendust and Lacuna Coil. Not only has the band won over concert-goers, but they’ve captivated the likes of Sevendust and its road crew, too.

“[Sevendust] sound checked on the first show we’re supposed to play with them and we’re standing, waiting on our turn and also waiting to say hi for the first time,” Eckerström said. “Before we get to open our mouths, they come up and say ‘Hey dude! Avatar, we are so honored you’re on board. Love the album, man!’ and I’m like what?!”

“They’ve been super cool to us in so many ways and the crew has helped going way beyond the call of duty,” Eckerström said. “We’re having a blast with them and the parties are great.”

The band’s unique carnival-like spirit and their melodic metal-meetsrock n’ roll sound has been reeling in new fans and catching a few people off guard, surprising even the band members themselves.

“The reception and response we have been getting is all so over-the-top every night, so we’re having a blast,” “ Eckerström said. “We have been blown away by how blown away people have been by us.”

Avatar is touring in support of their new album, “Black Waltz.” It is the band’s fourth album overall, but their first album released in America. In crafting the new album, the band picked apart the song writing and went back to the basics.

“It was a very Black Sabbath-like principle in what we focused on in order to make good songs and that is

David Ellis Staff Writer

MTV has once again dipped its hand into the movie business with its latest genre-straddling version of a wellknown fairy tale. With “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,” writer/director Tommy Wirkola puts a modern twist on not only the story, but the dialogue as well.

After surviving their childhood escape from the hands of a witch, siblings Hansel and Gretel grow up to become international bounty hunters. The movie’s concept is original and interesting; however the dialogue is immature, childish and at times downright cheesy. One could soon tell the target audience for this film is comprised of “tweenies,” who are those caught between their late teens and early twenties.

Not to slight the younger generation, but the dialogue in this movie is lacking in any intelligence and wasn’t thought out very well. It is filled with f-bombs, cliché catchphrase and cheesy false bravado. Because of this, “Hansel and Gretel” relied heavily on its cast, which is comprised of Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, who have already starred in similar pictures.

Judging from its trailers, “Hansel and

the riff,” Eckerström said. “No riff is as good as its groove is.”

The album has spawned “Smells Like A Freak Show” as its lead single. The song has received regular play on Sirius XM’s Octane station and is currently rising up the active-rock radio charts on terrestrial FM radio. The song is best described as a Rob Zombie meets Marilyn Manson meets Ministry song on steroids. It’s a head nod-inducing track filled with incredible grooves, crashing cymbals and impressive guitar work that will encourage you to embrace your inner freak.

“It’s extra cool because at home our kind of music doesn’t get any airplay at all or most of the time in most of the countries in Europe,” Eckerström said. “So it’s strange when someone says ‘Hey, you’re rising up radio charts,’ and we’re like wait, like Madonna? Like how does that work? So, it’s awesome.”

“It’s always a top priority for us to do an album that doesn’t sound exactly like the last one and also to not always end up sounding like our own idols,”Eckerström said.

Besides technical death metal and melodic death metal, Eckerström said common interests in classic metal bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne brought the guys together to form Avatar.

These classic bands have helped to shape Avatar, but they are certainly blazing a trail of their own.

“We wanted Avatar to be more than a sound,” Eckerström said. “It’s supposed to be also sight, smell, feelingyou know, we want to mess with all senses.”

The band is giving concert goers a complete experience that will be sure to win them over. They are hoping their positive and up-beat attitude will carry them for the remainder of their first trek around the U.S.

Avatar already has plans to split off and headline some of their own shows after their commitments with Sevendust and Lacuna Coil have been satisfied.

“We’ll headline a bit across the country and then we’ll go home,” Eckerström said. “We’re working on a European tour and definitely working on coming back here.”

Avatar is comprised of guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, drummer John Alfredsson and Eckerström.

Gretel” was sold primarily as an action film. While it was heavy on the action, the rest of the story seriously suffered. One cannot blame the crappiness of this movie on bad acting; it is poor writing that drags this movie to the Davy Jones’ Locker of Hollywood. After expecting a refreshing twist on an endearing tale, I came away feeling robbed and unsatisfied.

At any rate, “Hansel and Gretel” had painful similarity to the sci-fi teen series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Fairy tales, like those written by the Brothers Grimm, are obviously out of MTV’s league, and what they did to this story was similar to buying a classic car, removing its engine, placing shopping cart wheels on the button and entering it in a soapbox race. It just was not done well, and the network might as well stick to reality television.

Can you FiND the DiFFERENCES?

Men’s golf starts off spring season in Calif.

Warren Strickland Staff Writer

The UALR Trojans men’s golf team hopes to use momentum with them into the spring season as it kicked off over the weekend in California at the fifth-annual University of Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. This three-day and three-round event, hosted by the Classic Club in Palm Springs, included eight of Golf Week’s top-100 teams.

The Classic Club in Palm Springs also played host to the PGA’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Senior Nicklaus Benton led the way for the Trojans, finishing tied for 34th with a 2-over par at the 2013 Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate and helping UALR finish the match in 10th place out of 17 schools. The Trojans finished 44-over-par with a score of 908.

Texas Christian University was the top finisher of the competition, posting a 19-under-par with a score of 845.

Sophomore Alfred Kerstis finished tied for 36th, posting an eight-over par with a score of a 224. Sophomore Benjamin Etchebarne finished tied for 69th, scoring 17-over par. Junior Luis Cedeno finished tied for 84th place with 23-over par. Sophomore Colby Benton closed out the scoring for the Trojans posting 26-over par.

TCU claimed the top two finishers of the competition.

Julien Brun finished first in the competition, earning a 10-under par over the span of the three-day event. Fellow Horned Frog, Eli Cole, finished second with a 5-under par.

The Trojans are already looking ahead to the Argent Financial Classic, which takes place March 11-12 at the Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La. After that, the Trojans will play in their home-course event, UALR/ First Tee Collegiate Classic, March 25-26, at the Chenal Country Club.

Sun Belt star radiates humility

The SBC Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year remembers roots, returns home

Alton Young Staff Writer

UALR senior pitcher Chance Cleveland, a history major, has high expectations for the team and for himself this season. It’s that drive that helped him become the player he is today. Before the season began, he was voted the number one pitcher in the Sun Belt Conference by its coaches.

Cleveland's love for the game was instilled in him early on by his father.

“[It] started when I was three years old," Cleveland said. "We started playing in the backyard and haven’t stopped since. I’ll keep playing until they make me stop.”

After last season’s success, Cleveland was voted First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and Second Team All-South Central Region. With that, along with being named the number one pitcher of the current season, Cleveland said it comes with a little more pressure to perform well.

“There’s always that pressure…but I just try to control what I can control," he said. "I just take it one game at a time, one inning at a time, one hitter at a time, and one pitch at a time.”

Cleveland started playing organized baseball at the age of four, playing teeball games and continuing for hours afterward, receiving more instruction from his father. He knew even then, that he loved the game of baseball.

One of the toughest tests of that love came in high school when Cleveland’s team lost the championship game.

“That was probably the lowest point in my career no doubt," Cleveland said. "But, after the game I talked to my dad. He wanted to make sure that I used that to motivate myself.”

The advice Cleveland received from his father was something he used to learn from and lean on when he made the transition from being a starting pitcher to a closer at Crowder College in southwestern Missouri. He was unsure about being a closer at first, but that changed in the first game.

“You can’t beat that rush,” Cleveland said.

His last season at Crowder, Cleveland led the nation with 17 saves.

“That was one of the best years that I’ve had playing baseball," he said.

It was after that season when Cleveland began to be recruited by several

different schools around the country, including UALR.

Cleveland ultimately chose UALR because of the relationships he established with the coaches and to be near his family back home. The Pine Bluff native and Watson Chapel high school graduate remains very close to his family and wanted them to have the opportunity to see him play. The team facilities and the city of Little Rock also made his decision to come to UALR an easier one.

“I’ve always liked the area…I honestly couldn’t be happier, where I am now,” he said.

The transition from closer back to starting pitcher was another challenge that Cleveland faced when he came to UALR last season.

“There’s always a question of sustaining your velocity and being able to go a full game…whereas closing requires you to give everything you got in one explosive inning,” Cleveland said. “Now [in starting], you have to pace yourself, it’s more a mental game.”

The transition was a complete success last season as Cleveland had a 9-4 record and garnered attention and high expectations for this season. None of which are higher than the goals he has for this

year. The respect given by the SBC coaches in voting Cleveland the conference's best pitcher before the season is not something that he takes lightly.

“It’s a big honor. I really appreciate the respect the coaches have shown me," Cleveland said. “Everybody likes to be noticed for their hard work…but it comes with a big target on your back, so you have to work that much harder.”

Cleveland said he enjoys the camaraderie he shares with his teammates.

“I love playing with these guys. We are a really close-knit team and I’ve made friends here that will last a lifetime,” he said.

Cleveland is aiming for a historic finish in his final season at UALR.

“My biggest goal for this team is to finish better than UALR ever has before, to be the best team that UALR has ever had,” he said. “You have a close-knit team like we have and get hot at the end, you never know where you can go.”

Cleveland and the Trojans have a fivegame homestand in which they will play Western Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University March 1-6 before hitting the road to play in the Austin Peay Tournament March 8-10.

Tennis wins five, drops two on annual spring road trip

The UALR tennis team finished its annual spring road trip with five wins and two losses, facing seven opponents over the course of eight days. The road trip saw the Trojans traveling to three different states Feb. 16 through Feb. 23.

ster and also a team of sophomore Michaela McShane and senior Veronique Luksich.

Over the course of the road trip UALR squared off against Washburn University in Kansas; Rockhurst University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Missouri and Creighton University, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University Wyoming in Nebraska.

On the first game of the road trip, Feb. 16 against Washburn, the Trojans cruised to a 7-0 victory. They won all three doubles matches and all six singles matches. In one set of the doubles matches, UALR’s team of freshman Kamilla Galieva and sophomore Dané Vorster shut out Washburn 8-0. In the singles matches, UALR freshman Christel Amsallem shut out her opponent 6-0 and 6-0.

The Trojans travelled across the state line into Missouri to play two schools Feb. 17, bringing their schedule to three matches in two days. Their first opponent of the day came from Rockhurst and the Trojans were able to come away with a 6-1 victory. However, the second match of the day, versus UMKC, turned out to be a close one. UALR squeaked by with a 4-3 win. In singles play, UALR and UMKC split the matches at three apiece. Two of UALR’s three wins in singles play warranted three rounds of play and only one match was clinched in two rounds. In doubles play, UALR won two of three thanks to a team of Galieva and Vor-

The Trojans took a day off to travel to Omaha, Neb., resuming Feb. 19 against Creighton. In the singles competition, UALR earned four wins from senior Yana Kakovkina, junior Viktoriya Plyuta, Vorster and Galieva. In the doubles, UALR earned the point by capturing two of the three matches. In total, UALR came away victorious 5-2. The following day, UALR took on Omaha. The Trojans nearly swept the singles competition, losing only one- Kakovkina’s three-set loss. Once again, the Trojans proved to be clicking in doubles competition, coming away with the point by winning two of three matches. UALR defeated Omaha 6-1.

UALR had a day off on Feb. 21, using it to rest and travel to Lincoln, Neb. to face two nationally-ranked opponents. On Feb. 22, the Trojans squared off against 15th-ranked Nebraska, failing to secure a point the entire match. The closest UALR would come to securing a point came in the number three set of the doubles competition. UALR’s team of Galieva and Vorster lost 5-8 against Nebraska’s duo of Izabella Zgierska and Maggy Lehmicke.

The final match of the road trip was played Feb. 22 against 64th-ranked Wyoming. The Trojans had another tough time finding ways to secure points and dropped the match 2-5. The Trojans got their two points from Kakovkina and Plyuta in singles competition. UALR was swept in the doubles.

UALR is now 9-4 this season and will have one home match against Louisiana Tech before hitting the road for four matches, three of which will be conference games.