The Forum Feb. 2022

THE FORUM

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper Feb. 2022

NEWS

LGBTQ+ STUDENTS AREN’T LAUGHING AT CHAPPELLE SPECIAL

New research from Intelligent.com, a free, privately-supported, editorially-independent website, about the queer college experience comes after Dave Chappelle’s Netflix comedy special aired in October last year.

“The Closer” included commentary about transgender people, specifically Chappelle identified himself as a part of “team TERF.” TERF stands for trans exclusionary radical feminist. TERF ideology includes the belief that all trans women trying to enter spaces for women are men attempting to invade and prey on women’s spaces.

Earlier in the special, Chappelle announces he will be talking to the “LBGTQ” community and that he comes in peace and hopes to negotiate the release of rapper DaBaby, who was dropped from several festivals for homophobic comments and spreading misinformation about AIDS and HIV. The queer community was a target or mentioned in his jokes for a large chunk of the special.

The research finds that 18% of students said they feel unsafe on campus every day because of their identity and 61% said they have experienced discrimination since the special aired.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomed a new club, The Rainbow Alliance, in the Fall 2021 semester. The club serves as a way to connect queer students to build a support system and actively hosts events and provides handouts on how to be a better ally to LGBTQ+ peers.

Logan McMillan, the president of The Rainbow Alliance, could not report any change on the UA Little Rock campus for how queer students were treated on campus. According to him, both students and faculty have been supportive and he has not received any negative feedback from other groups.

But, the club does offer a virtual com-

ponent where students can change their name in order to protect their identities and keep the community safe from any negative feedback if there were to be any. Introductions are part of a normal meeting, but McMillan said students only need to share what information they are comfortable announcing.

“The university as a whole, I think we are heading towards the right track with emphasis on pronouns and Safe Zone training,” McMillan said.

With the new education standard of the pandemic, there have been a few positives for LGBTQ+ students. On Zoom there is an option to enter pronouns and choose to share them, depending on the meeting. This can promote inclusivity.

He also said there was more that could be done, however. The Rainbow Alliance does not have an exclusive meeting space, but the president felt like that would be a nice addition to the queer community on campus and provide a safe meeting place for those wanting connections or support.

McMillian also mentioned he would not mind hearing more professors encourage introductions to include pronouns and assuring students that they would not tolerate misgendering, the act of using the wrong pronouns for a person, or deadnaming, intentionally using the name of a person before they transitioned, in the classroom.

“There are a plethora of ways and different avenues that the university can go about supporting queer students,” said The Rainbow Alliance president, adding that a good start might be focusing on queer mental health.

According to McMillian, the queer community is disproportionately affected by things that impact their mental well-being, referencing the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

UA Little Rock Counseling Services has an online component known as Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) and it is free to students and requires no refer-

ral, so students can access and utilize the tool anytime they like.

While there are special lessons and activities for groups like student-athletes, people with disabilities, veterans, and even parents who have become empty nesters, there are none especially for LGBTQ+ students.

Intelligent.com, which strives to bring unbiased and fact-based information on a wide range of issues, wrote “As Netflix doesn’t seem to be taking any steps to ensure additional harmful content is not aired, it will be even more important for institutions to provide resources, support, and safety to this essential part of their student population.”

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) released their annual “Where We Are on TV” report on Feb. 17. There was a 2.8 percentage point increase from last year in LGBTQ+ characters scripted on broadcast primetime programming.

It was announced earlier this month that Netflix would give Chappelle four new specials, despite the backlash he received.

“We have to be vigilant,” McMillan said.

Those who are interested in joining The Rainbow Alliance can message the group’s Instagram @rainbowalliance_ ualr.

BY REMINGTON MILLER

DR. MELVIN BEAVERS MAKES HISTORY AS THE CHANCELLOR’S FIRST FELLOW FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AT UA LITTLE ROCK

This past January, history was made at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Dr. Melvin Beavers, assistant professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, was selected as the inaugural Chancellor’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at UALR.

In his new position, Dr. Beavers is responsible for helping organize and support the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that occur at UALR. This includes diversity recruitment, program development, policy advising, retention for students and employees, as well as further DEI training. “I’m thrilled and excited to be in this new position that is needed and warranted at our institution,” Beavers said. “I really want to be a part of a team effort to reshape how we approach diversity, equity, and inclusion at the university.”

To say that Dr. Beavers is more than qualified for this position is an understatement. “Dr. Beavers has a proven track record of thought leadership and academic research

concerning antiracist pedagogies as a means for broader social change,”

Chancellor Christina Drale said.

“As the Chancellor's DEI Fellow, he will have a larger platform from which to guide our institutional endeavors toward more diverse, equitable, and inclusive outcomes.”

He is an active member of the Institute of Race, Rhetoric, and Literacy—a national organization of scholars that provides expertise on antiracism. In addition to this, Dr. Beavers is an advocate for diversity and inclusion, writing and speaking on the subject whenever he can. Recently, he spoke at Bentley University on “Embodying Race and Language in the Writing Classroom; Becoming an Antiracist Writing Program & Becoming an Antiracist Writing Instructor.” Not only that, but Dr. Beavers has written a chapter in “Embodying Race and Language in the Writing Classroom; Becoming an Antiracist Writing Program & Becoming an Antiracist Writing Instructor” titled, “My Journey Toward Antiracist Pedagogy and Praxis: My Language and Identity.”

Going forward, Dr. Beavers plans to work with his fellow faculty

members in order to showcase how the faculty is diligently working to bring DEI solutions into the classroom. “I would love to start an intergroup dialogue with other colleges and departments and find out what other faculty are doing that we can spotlight and highlight,” Beavers said. “In my class, I highlight BIPOC scholars and writers that are writing about racial issues or things that help us have these difficult conversations. This is one way faculty can move toward centering diversity within their classrooms.”

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

IN HONOR OF JAMES MCFADDEN

James Maurice McFadden is not only known as an alumnus of UA Little Rock, but he is known as a brother to Alpha Phi Alpha. While at UA Little Rock, McFadden earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He served as the Arkansas district director of Alpha Phi Alpha, the chapter president of the Pi Lambda Chapter, the Southwestern Region executive director and he was a National Sergeant-At-Arms. In addition to this, McFadden was an ordained minister. He served as an elder at the Spirit of God Church in St. Louis, Missouri; he believed in fighting for civil rights, education, science and technology but most importantly, the youth.

McFadden tragically passed away in June of 2020 at the age of 43. In his memory, Alpha Phi Alpha announced a scholarship

in his name—the James Maurice McFadden Scholarship Endowment. “Brother McFadden was one of my line brothers, and there were 10 of us who crossed the line together in 2002,” said Nicholas Norfolk, an advisor for the Kappa Psi Chapter at UA Little Rock. “James was the heart and soul of our line, someone to cry and cheer with. When James passed away last year, we wanted to create this scholarship to honor him and his legacy.”

The James Maurice McFadden Scholarship Endowment was made in order to pay for educationrelated expenses. These could include tuition, books, fees and room and board. There is no certain requirement for this scholarship; it is open to all part-time and fulltime undergraduate students.

“James was a huge supporter of

education,” Norfolk said. “One of our national programs is called Go to High School, Go to College. We volunteered at Franklin Elementary near UA Little Rock for many years. As I’ve gotten older, I realized that having someone there made a difference. A lot of these students did not have male role models. I ran into one of those students a few years ago, and he thanked me because he didn’t think he would have graduated from high school, let alone go to college, if not for our volunteer work.”

If you would like to make a donation to this scholarship, you can mail a check with McFadden’s name in the memo line or visit ualr.edu/giving/product/campus. Under fun, select other and type “James Maurice McFadden Scholarship Endowment.”

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

THE KEY TO FOSTER CARE: COMMUNITY

The number of children entering the Arkansas foster care system yearly is drastically increasing, and something must be done about it. According to the Arkansas State Legislature’s report titled “Reducing the Number of Children in Foster Care: A Report Responsive to Act 574 of the 93rd General Assembly, Regular Session,” from October 2019 to August 2021, the state has seen an 11.5% increase in the number of children entering the system. This is greatly due to COVID-19 and the high turnover of case workers. There are other factors that feed into this increase as well, which is what led Dr. Gerald Driskill, Professor of Applied Communication, and two of his graduate students, Chantel Ceaser and Michelle Malone, to pursue their research study titled “Caring for Foster Children: Understanding and Improving Collaborative Networks Between Non-for-Profits, Congregations, and DCFS.”

Landing them all on the same path, it was fate that allowed Ceaser and Malone to contribute to this study. During her senior year of her undergraduate program, Ceaser applied to the UA Little Rock graduate program and talked a lot in her interview about her heart for foster care. She previously worked as a counselor in a camp in upstate New York where she was surrounded by kids who were either in the foster or adoption system; that was really when she saw the beauty within each foster family willing to take in each of these kids. About a week or so after her interview, she was invited by Dr. Driskill to join him in a foster parent and adoption project, thus kickstarting the first semester of her graduate program earlier than expected. “It was such a joy and so eye opening,” said Ceaser. Looking for an internship over the summer, Malone also found herself joining the study. She has a background working with children with Autism and is a former registered behavioral technician; these skills assisted her as she continued to work with children as a counselor at a health camp. Her background attests to her passion for children: “I just have a heart

for children, and I care a lot about orphans and people who work with children in foster care,” said Malone. For Dr. Driskill, this project was quite unexpected, but he knew that Ceaser and Malone were very passionate about this topic. He has done previous research in the early 2000s focused on collaborations between congregations and nonprofit organizations.

When a Christian Alliance for Orphans board member reached out to Dr. Driskill and asked him to do a project over foster care networking, he knew that he had two prospective students in mind that would take this project to the next level. After this, the group partnered with The CALL, a nonprofit organization that serves children in foster care, and City Church Network. The interviews they conducted as a part of this study gave them a bigger picture of what the state’s foster care system looked like, which allowed them to gather information useful both statewide and nationwide.

Allowing this project to take place by providing the $20,000 grant is the More Than Enough Initiative, whose mission is to provide “more than enough loving homes for every child in foster care.” They work in the space of collaboration, Dr. Driskill explains, because they want to bring people together to help their progress of making sure that children are taken care of and placed in proper, loving homes.

Throughout the study, the group learned more about the foster care community and what is needed in order to retain foster homes and keep communities intact. When asked to define the perfect or ideal home for a foster child, they all shared similar visions. “I think that for all children, the perfect home is where you feel heard, seen, appreciated, and valued,” said Ceaser. “And all of that just wraps up being loved. So I think the perfect home for any child, including foster children, is a place where they feel loved and seen.” She sees herself fostering and adopting in her future, but she adds that even before taking that step she wants to help a family that is already in that season of life.

Malone agreed with Ceaser’s thoughts, adding that there is not “one specific, ideal type of [foster]

family.” Their research, Malone explained, found that families with open, thriving homes were the “ones that really plugged in with church congregations, with support groups, whether it be actual physical support groups or…online support groups, [like] Facebook groups and social media groups.” One key detail she also mentions when talking about keeping homes open is the presence of community. Open homes and communities often had a case worker nearby and supportive families that would step in during times of need. “That would be ideal, is to have that type of a network, that type of a community for families that are opening their home,” Malone said. While some foster homes have survived without this type of community, they have faced many more challenges.

A testimony that Dr. Driskill shared from a source that will remain anonymous further demonstrated how big of a role the community plays. From church communities that brought the foster family meals every week to a local hair salon welcoming the entire family and providing free haircuts to a grandmother that taught the foster mother about proper hair care, each and every person in the community had something to offer and did not hold back. Everyone can be an advocate and a voice for these families, even those that feel they are an “unlikely advocate.” “It’s just remarkable the list of people… it’s just overwhelming,” said Dr. Driskill about the number of people involved with the foster family. “But when I think about it, that's what happened with my biological kids. I mean, we had adopted aunts and uncles and so many people pouring into their lives. So in a lot of ways, I think that’s what healthy families do. They don’t do it alone.”

As for the advocates that fight for the children in the foster care system, we must also provide a community for them as well. Malone described the hardships faced by some of the case workers they interviewed: “My heart, and I think the rest of our hearts, broke when we heard about some of the challenges that people who worked with foster children

went through.” Their plates were full with cases and yet the case workers sought out ways to be more involved with the children. “Oftentimes, they weren’t able to leave their office until they found a placement for the children. The children would be sleeping in their offices,” she adds. This is where The CALL comes in by serving as a support system and as a close contact between case workers and the families. They answered phone calls and questions, acted as case workers for each of the families, and connected with congregations in order for foster families to have some free time. Some of these congregations had volunteers mow lawns or babysit.

There can often be a negative connotation toward case workers, but Ceaser reminds us that “they’re seeing people on their worst days or dealing with things [like] the trauma of these kids. Really, they just need grace; it is up to us to sew this support, though. Workers everywhere are experiencing burnout now more than ever before. For case workers, burnout is something they are bound to experience if they don’t receive the help they need. Ceaser suggests that more funds for training on how to prevent burnout and what to do when experiencing burnout, as well as simply giving them a break are things that need to be built into legislation.

Throughout the interviews, each member picked up on some important themes and characteristics present in organizations and congregations. One theme was faith, which is what allowed many families to keep going and break down the walls that trauma had built up around their foster children. “Perseverance and commitment to their calling to help these children continue. Willpower, determination and grit…are characteristics that would help,” said Malone. A second theme was that these communities would simply “meet the kid where they are.” Their culture and views were respected, and the child was not expected to just “jump in” all the way. One way a family did this, explained Ceaser, was by fostering previous relationships that the child had before entering the system, such as at church or

other connections, allowing them to know that “what they believe in, their community and who they are is important.”

Lastly, Dr. Driskill mentions that commitment is important. Because reunification does not always happen, families must be prepared and committed to the care of their foster child. A single mother exemplified this well, a foster mother who Dr. Driskill considers a hero, as she fostered older children that were not taken in as often as younger kids. She made an active effort to send a message to each child to express her love. “You can’t coach that,” said Dr. Driskill. “That takes somebody, as Michelle was saying, that literally has a conviction that ‘this is what you’re supposed to do.’”

Final pieces of advice were given by each member. Ceaser wants to let students and anyone who wants to become involved know that there is a place for everybody. Not everybody can be a foster parent, but you can be a friend, a babysitter or even a cook, providing one meal a week for the family. Someone once told her that “instead of asking people what they need, just show up and bring them what you know they’re gonna need.” Malone also says that everybody has something that they can do, it is just a matter of making the effort. If you are unsure where to start, Malone advises you to reach out to The CALL and to join in on their informational meetings. Dr. Driskill says to pay attention to the parents that have left the foster system and see what it is that they were in need of. This will allow us to ensure that more support is in place and offer more support to current and future foster families/homes. “It really is the small things,” he says. He lastly wanted to highlight the work of Dr. Rebecca Glazier and Dr. Kirk Leach, professors at UA Little Rock, whose research overlaps the group’s focus and work: “The Little Rock Congregations Study,” a research study surrounding the impacts of faith-based community engagement.

BY VASTI HERNANDEZ

CRIME BEAT

Since the beginning of the year, UA Little Rock’s crime log has shown 55 crime or fire incidents on the website. Of those 55 incidents, all but one are still marked as active, showing they are being actively investigated. The one incident that is not active is marked inactive, compared to closed, due to the fact it was a mistakenly generated report.

Early in the semester, there were four fires detected due to smoke from burnt cooking in the residence halls on campus. Two of the reported fires were in North Hall and the other half were located in South Hall. These are still marked as active investigations on the crime log.

There have been eight arrests on campus so far.

The University of Arkansas at

Little Rock Department of Public Safety Chief Detective Roy Mayo said on a phone call with The Forum that the department has been short-staffed and that the crime log will be updated as soon as possible to reflect the actual current state of what is happening on campus and being looked into by the department.

The crime rate in Little Rock continues to increase, drawing attention from the city’s Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Police Chief Keith Humphrey. Earlier this month, the city’s violent crime was declared a public emergency. There are currently plans being made to help reduce gun violence, especially programs and resolutions targeted towards younger people.

BY REMINGTON MILLER

ASBTDC CREATES STARTUP PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), a business development service based at the UA Little Rock School of Business, created a Startup Team to help aspiring entrepreneurs succeed.

Startup Specialist Wendy Orvis says that the startup team began during the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. “We were getting so many calls and so many new clients going on that we decided we needed a separate team just to handle the startups,” she said.

Last year the Startup Team worked with 193 new clients, and they offer help in any legal business an entrepreneur has an interest in.

She says the startup was made to help new entrepreneurs who have never been in business before by providing them the resources to help them with the steps to register and start a business. The startup team is designed to work one-onone with any of the entrepreneurs to provide professional and confidential business consulting.

“We assign homework, they do the homework, and then we work together until it’s right,” she said.

MICHAEL WARRICK’S NEW EXHIBIT

This month, one of our very own award-winning professors of art had his exhibit displayed at the Boswell Mourot Fine Art Gallery.

fiberglass, and latex-painted portraits,” Warrick said.

“There’s going to be a lot of honest conversation.”

Another initiative that was brought on was BYOB, a student offer to build your own business. Students will go through training with the startup team and learn what it takes to learn and plan their own business. “Our goal is to see as many people as possible start their own business, grow and add jobs,” Orvis said.

The startup program is partially funded by the SBA and through the universities. The program is a statewide organization with 10 locations throughout Arkansas serving all 75 counties.

There is not a mandatory cost for aspiring entrepreneurs, but participants will be asked to complete a customer satisfaction survey after they work with the startup team. “It takes two minutes of their time to get our services for free,” she said.

The application process is easily accessible by visiting asbtdc.org/ grow and clicking on the contact button. Applicants can expect to hear back within 24 hours.

BY MADDIE BECKER

Michael Warrick has a Bachelor of Science in Ceramics as well as a Master of Fine Arts in both Sculpture and Ceramics. His exhibit, which he titled “Michael Warrick: Faces/Figures” was on display at the Boswell Mourot Fine Art Gallery from Feb. 5-26.

“The show [had] new lifesize and miniature cast bronze figures and aluminum portraits, numerous portraits in terra cotta clay, and wood-fired porcelain plus a new series of cast Hydrocal,

This exhibit was a continuation of Warrick’s previous exhibit, “Memento Mori,” where he explores the memories of people’s lives through objects.

“The electric kiln fired Terra Cotta clay pieces and the woodfired porcelain pieces are a continuation of the ‘Fragmented Portrait’ series that are expressively glazed works,” he said. “The new cast Hydrocal, fiberglass, and latexpainted works are a series of works that explore similar approaches to the ‘Memento Mori’ series as they include various memory-

based objects like doilies, keys, and buttons as a way to explore the meaning behind antique and forgotten personal objects from our lives.”

If you would like to visit the Boswell Mourot Fine Art Gallery, it is located at 1501 South Main Street, Suite H, in Little Rock.

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

ENTERTAINMENT

EAT BEAT

ROLL DOWN TO KAMIKAITO

Prepare your taste buds for some of the best sushi in Little Rock — dare I say, Arkansas?

Located in the up-and-coming area of Argenta in North Little Rock, Kamikaito is a sushi restaurant that has been around for a few years. The welcoming atmosphere and vibrant piano music are present throughout the establishment. Decorative touches such as funky pendant lights above the bar seating add character. One of the most important factors that take a restaurant to the next level — other than the quality of the food — is the service. Right from the beginning a well-dressed hostess greeted me at the door and took me to my table. Just a few minutes later, a friendly server came to take my drink order. They have a large bar and a variety of cocktails to choose from, but I went with an old-fashioned as it is a simple, whiskey/bourbon-based drink that you cannot mess up. Their menu is extensive and ranges from simple appetizers such as edamame to more complex Korean and sushi dishes such as Bulgogi with various sides. If you can get past the chewy nature of calamari, the sea salt calamari appetizer is sure to leave an impression. Fried calamari mixed in with vegetables including

jalapenos slices is the perfect start to your meal. I was then feeling a bit more adventurous and along with friends, we shared a Sushi Combo, a Hot Night, a Chile Tai, a Shrimp Tempura Roll, and a few nigiri. One of my favorite things was the Chile Tai roll, which includes spicy tuna along with cucumber inside the roll and is topped with red snapper, a jalapeño slice on each piece of roll, as well as a tad bit of sriracha. The crisp and crunchy feel to the jalapeño compliments the rolls so well. Not to mention the nice spicy kick it has to it — very tolerable. A table consensus was that the sushi was top-notch for Little Rock and maybe even for Arkansas. There is so much variety for anyone who is wanting to try sushi or other different kinds of foods but is skeptical, so this is a great place to go. Sushi can be intimidating because of its complex but you can start off with a simple roll like a California Roll or even a Shrimp Tempura roll and work your way up.

If you find yourself in Argenta and are craving good sushi or Korean food, I recommend you check out Kamikaito.

BY AZALEA ANDRADE

FEBRUARY: NATIONAL CANCER PREVENTION MONTH

Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells start dividing uncontrollably, potentially leading to a tumor that can invade other parts of the body. Cancer is prevalent throughout the world and is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. The most common types of cancers include breast, lung, colorectal, skin, and prostate with lung cancer accounting for the most deaths. Cancer can develop at any age but the risk increases with age. Moreover, one’s genes and environment also play a significant role in determining one’s risk.

While a significant amount of cancer research is devoted to developing new therapies for treating cancer, much research has also gone into determining risk factors. In fact, in 2014, more than 40% of U.S. cancer cases were found to be associated with preventable risk factors. In 2021, the American Association for Cancer Research released a report on evidencebased lifestyle changes that can help prevent cancer. In honor of National Cancer Prevention Month, below are some suggestions from the report on how to reduce the risk of cancer.

Avoid tobacco

Smoking tobacco is one of the main causes of cancer and is linked to approximately 30% of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S., including 90% of lung cancer deaths. The more a person smokes, the higher their risk of developing cancer. Fortunately, research has shown that quitting smoking, at any age, can decrease lung cancer risk. Tobacco use is considered the most preventable cause of cancer, which is why tobacco avoidance is often the first suggestion in any cancer prevention article.

Improve diet and exercise

A poor diet and physical inactivity are also risk factors for cancer that can be addressed

through lifestyle changes. A healthy cancer-preventing diet is filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans and limited or absent in red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highfat foods. Supplements are sometimes taken by people to prevent cancer; however, this is not recommended as it is much better to eat whole foods rather than take supplements.

First, supplements are not regulated by the FDA as drugs, so supplement labels may make health claims that have not been proven to prevent cancer. Second, supplements may actually cause harm. For example, a 2019 study from the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco found that consuming beta-carotene supplements can actually increase the risk of lung cancer. On the other hand, a 2019 study from the British Journal of Nutrition found that eating carrots, which are naturally rich in beta-carotene, may decrease the risk of lung cancer. So, it is suggested by organizations such as the World Cancer Research Fund to obtain nutrients by eating food rather than taking supplements, unless supplements are suggested by a physician.

Physical exercise can also reduce the risk of several types of cancers. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults perform 2.5-5 hours of moderate exercise or 1.25-2.5 hours of vigorous exercise weekly. Also, sedentary behaviors like long intervals of sitting should be limited.

Limit UV exposure

Exposure to UV radiation is a major cause of skin cancers like melanoma. There are several ways to limit UV exposure: avoid direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; apply 30 SPF or higher sunscreen daily (even when it’s cloudy); avoid indoor tanning, and wear protective clothing.

Get vaccinated

There are some viruses like the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus, which can cause different types of cancer. In fact, the majority of cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers are caused by HPV infection. Fortunately, there are three effective, FDAapproved HPV vaccines and one HBV vaccine. These vaccines are recommended to decrease the risk of virus-related cancers.

Cancer screenings

Cancer screenings are used to detect early signs of cancer and are recommended for many types of cancers, including breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung. Early detection of cancer is associated with better outcomes, increased survival and is generally suggested for most adults as they age. The American Cancer Society has published guidelines on their website with suggestions on when to get screening tests and which type of tests to get. However, it is best to consult with a doctor to determine the most appropriate tests and frequency.

It is important to note that these suggestions are not cures or 100% effective in preventing cancer. Cancer is a complex disease that is influenced by many biological and environmental factors that cannot be easily changed. Additionally, not all of these suggestions may be feasible for everyone to implement. Nonetheless, the goal of cancer prevention awareness is as it sounds: to ensure that everyone is aware of these preventable risk factors so that everyone can make fully informed decisions regarding their health. It is always best to consult with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about your risk of cancer and the best steps to take to reduce your risk.

BY AHAD NADEEM

(PO)OP ED UALR BATHROOM REVIEW

As a former on-campus I.T. Service worker, it was a part of the job to visit almost every building on campus. And, as a girl does, I had to go to the bathroom on the job. Beyond letting student workers visit the data closets in every building, the buildings had workers in it, and of course, that means they had bathrooms in them too. In my one and a half years at I.T. Services, I have now collected a fair and widespread database to score the bathrooms on the UA Little Rock Campus from 1-10 on the categories of: privacy, cleanliness, accessibility, and ‘Is it Picture-Worthy?’

(Shortened to IPW). This article is not affiliated with or influenced by UA Little Rock’s I.T. Services Team. I will begin with a neutral, gets-the-job-done bathroom, the Trojan Café bathrooms near the main lobby. These bathrooms offer a multitude of highs and lows, such as the immaculate lighting that offers a great value in IPW— but it is often populated with a lot of foot traffic. The automatic towel dispenser is nice, along with the extra trashcan next to the door for the germaphobes to throw away their door handle towel—but the sinks are not automatic. I have also found the toilet flushing prematurely to when I am done. I give this bathroom a friendly 6.5. Next, I will discuss a bathroom that could definitely be improved upon, but in dire cases will absolutely allow someone to do their business—the DSC bathroom next to the fitness center. (As a girl, I am only restricted to knowing the limitations of the women’s restroom, if that is not already an obvious implication.) This bathroom is in fact very spacious, has a big mirror for pictures, and scores very highly on privacy; however, the first stall door is broken, forcing the user to hold a pistol squat position over the

toilet to keep the door closed. In addition, the handicap stall has been broken for quite some time now, and while I am not the person to be using that stall, its long-term abandonment raises a general concern in me. Thus, this bathroom will be receiving a 4 to IPW standard.

Now, we will be getting into a bathroom of patrician quality. This bathroom was made to not only appease the users but allow them to leave happier and freer than before: the bathrooms in the E.I.T. buildings. A strong golden light fills the air, (along with no prevailing scents of a normal bathroom), the wider floor plan keeps the bathroom feeling open and free, and the star of the show: the giant body length mirror next to the sinks. I am a fashion person, and as a fashion person, it is in our nature to do outfit checks wherever our reflection is remotely seen. This bathroom mirror not only allows you to reflect on your outfit, but capture it holistically, and in the greatest amount of privacy. This bathroom ascends all other bathrooms on UALR, and has earned its place at a 9 on the IPW standard.

I have many more convoluted and overly thought-out opinions on other bathrooms on campus, but these are the ones that were dearest to me during my fall semester of last year. I digress. Being off-campus now, I have had more time to reflect and promulgate my thoughts on the UA at Little Rock restrooms in retrospect. I hope one day everyone can find a bathroom like the one in the E.I.T. buildings.

CHOIR BROADWAY SOIREE

The night of February 12, 2022, was a cold one, but inside the UA Little Rock Fine Arts Hall, it was warm with music and people. The UALR Choir’s Soiree and Broadway Showcase was a night to remember.

When you first walk into the music hall, you may have noticed several things, whether it was the smell of food arranged beautifully on tables towards the back, a welcoming smile from the many students that came, or maybe the soft tinkling of the piano played by Leann Jones. Either way, there was a buzz of excitement in the air, making you anticipate what would happen next.

The focus of this night wasn’t just the money, but a celebration of music and the hard work these students put in to showcase their talents. There is a strong community within the UALR music department. I asked the choir director Lorissa Mason what it was like to see her students represent the UALR choir. Her response was touching.

She said, “I am more proud of these students every day. They have built a real community together, and I am honored to be part of that. We have many extremely talented students. Many have musical gifts, but they all have other strengths as well. Some are very good at mingling with people. Some are happy to serve refreshments or usher patrons inside and answer questions. A number of students have organizational skills and they used them to put this event together. Every student has gifts to offer, and I am proud of who they are and what they bring to our choir family.”

play, and no role is greater than the other.

As the night began and the performers started to display their talents, the excitement in the room could not be kept quiet. Students had to contain their shouts of joy as powerful performances rang out in the gallery. I spoke to Jessica Arellanes, one of the many wonderful singers from the night said performing that night, “was one of the best things I have ever done in my whole life.” Singing was also not the only thing to be expected at the event. Harris Hogue, another member of the choir, who is also in the UALR band played the clarinet. There was an ensemble piece called Stormy Weather that was stunning and displayed the trust and community within the UALR choir.

Joshua Gregory described the experience: “It was a great experience because you have a lot of great singers surrounding you and they’re supporting you as you sing. You get into the piece because you’re able to listen to everything that’s going on around you. And as you sing, you get [to] convey what the peace means to you. The Broadway theme brought an element of drama to the performances. The singers were not just singing, they were acting. Putting themselves in the character’s shoes. One singer, Perry Johnson, who sang Wait For It from Hamilton said not only did he almost cry, but made everyone that listened emotional as well. The bass in his voice conveyed a certain sorrow that could be felt in your bones.

go, the highest bidder won the item. All proceeds from the event including the tickets went toward the choir. When students weren’t performing, they were talking to the guests that attended. Telling them about the department and why they should care about the UALR choir. I am convinced that by the end of this night, there were many people ready and willing to support the music department. Something else Jessica Arellanes spoke about was the upcoming choir trip to Carnegie Hall in New York they will be taking in June. This is a huge opportunity for the choir and trips like this are only possible through fundraising events like the Broadway Soiree and donations. I asked Director Mason what ways people can support the UALR choir. She said, “You can support in many ways. Attend a concert. Most of our performances are free to the public. Get to know our wonderful students and cheer them on as they continue to build this wonderful program.” If you would like to support the UALR financially online, please visit: https:// give.communityfunded.com/o/ university-of-arkansas-at-littlerock/i/alumni-memberships/s/ ua-little-rock-choirs?beAChampio n=true&storyId=29289&validateC hampion=false or you can email Director Mason at ldmason@ualr. edu.

BY CLARA MITCHELL

As you can see, in the UALR choir, everyone has a part to

The event included a silent action. Tables were set up in the gallery with auction items ready to be sold. The auction items included paintings, jewelry, and spa baskets. All you had to do was walk up and write down the amount you would like to bid. As all auctions

BY RIAN NEWMAN

ART BEAT

Arte Cubano is a traveling exhibit celebrating Cuban art that will be on display at UA Little Rock from January 18 to March 8. The exhibit is produced by MidAmerica Arts Alliance (MAAA), with the assistance of the Center for Cuban Studies, NY; Corina Matamoros, curator at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, Cuba; and collectors Kathy and Marc Le Baron, Karen and Robert Duncan. UA Little Rock hosts an exhibit from MAAA every couple of years.

The exhibit is split up between the Brad Cushman Gallery and Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery. The majority of the artwork is by artists who studied at The University of the Arts of Cuba (ISA). Some pieces of the exhibit were too big to show, UA Little Rocks’ Assistant Gallery Curator Nathan Larson explains why, “One is a full-scale bronze human sculpture

figure. The weight, we were able to get the crate into the gallery but the request was four strong people to lift it out of the crate. I only had had the help of two student assistants over the break,” he said, “that largest piece that I mentioned a moment ago the crate itself is roughly nine-foot-tall by 12 foot wide and no way for us where it's stored to lay it flat, to pull the piece out. There's no way for us to get it through any of our doors.”

Regardless of the missing pieces, there are plenty of interesting sculptures to look at.

One of Larson's favorite pieces in the exhibit is Pinocho y Napoleon Cuentan la Historia/Pinnochio and Napoleon tell the Story by Esterio Segura. “He's standing on a stack of books and the books are all philosophy, history, politics, and it's, you know, a real prescient piece because it talks about lies and misinformation and how people write books with agendas and maybe how the truth gets

massaged or covered up.” He said, “it's just, I think that that's one of those pieces where the content and the idea and the imagery come together perfectly.”

Larson gave some insight into the world of Cuban art, “I've learned that Cuban artists may have difficulty with access to materials at times,” he said, “as far as what's going on in the world, artistically, they're completely on top of all of that.” He has talked to visitors of the galleries who have gone to Cuba in years past, “one visitor said many Cuban artists work with what they have because access to materials can be difficult, so they make do.” One art piece that can be found in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery is De la Serie “Sin Lamento”/From the series “Without Regret” by Juan Carlos Rivero Cindro. The medium is lime juice on paper.

Starting Feb. 28 UA Little Rock is relaxing their face mask policy to recommend but not require a

mask on campus. Those worried about visiting the galleries should be aware that the building is newer, “The air ventilation system pulls in fresh air and it pushes out the old air. We have really healthy air circulation in the building.”

Larson said, “it's actually a fairly safe environment to be in if they're feeling cautious. And everyone is good about wearing masks”

Gallery hours are Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. but later hours and weekend visits can be arranged with Larson through his e-mail nglarson@ualr.edu.

This spring the UA Little Rock campus has the student competition to look forward to as it will be up for almost a month. Looking to the fall semester there will be another traveling exhibit, Alchemy Six, sponsored by The Enamelist Society and also the faculty biennial exhibition. For those looking for more art to see now, there is the 2nd Friday Art Night on March 11 and April 8

in downtown Little Rock spanning across multiple locations.

Arte Cubano is located in the Brad Cushman Gallery and Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery in The Windgate Center of Art and Design at UA Little Rock. “There's just a lot of great artwork, a lot of variety, I hate to say there's something for everyone but there really is.” Larson says, “That’s one of the things that’s the pleasure of an exhibition like this, that there really is something for everyone.”

BY PAYTON DHOOGE

BOOK REVIEW: “THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS” BY VANESSA DIFFENBAUGH

Victoria Jones does not have a family or a home: all she has is the language of flowers.

“The Language of Flowers” is a fiction novel written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Foster home after foster home, Victoria always found herself back in the hands of her social worker, Meredith Combs. Eventually, though, Victoria is taken in by Elizabeth who goes on to teach her about the language of flowers. Throughout the novel, readers travel back and forth between Victoria’s present and past life. Her past life is mainly filled with descriptions of her time with Elizabeth leading up to her adoption day. When adoption day arrived, Victoria was thrilled, but it wasn’t until Elizabeth would not get out of bed that every piece of her that had been mended together during their short time together shattered when Elizabeth said, “‘This isn’t a family… Just you and me in this house. It isn’t a family.’”

Rejection, pain, hopelessness - we feel it all for Victoria, and continue to feel it all for quite a while.

After Elizabeth steals any ounce of hope left in Victoria, adding a tally mark to the number of families that, as Victoria describes, “gave me back,” it doesn’t make an appearance for a long time. When she finally turns 18, Victoria moves into a group home until her six months there are up. She then finds herself sleeping on park benches, tending to the park’s small garden, speaking only the language of flowers until one day, she sees her. Renata, the florist is who she sees, who ultimately changes her life. Renata gives Victoria a job and a place to stay and a reconnection with someone from Victoria’s past life: Grant, Elizabeth’s nephew.

The loss of and hunger for life we experience throughout the book is immensely heavy. Victoria never really learned to live on her own and struggles greatly as she navigates through life. She also never really

knew love. Love wasn’t present in her previous foster homes, in the social worker that constantly reminded her of her “deficiencies,” reading them aloud like “criminal convictions.” It’s difficult to read about the lonesome life Victoria lives, moving day to day with no plan in place, dragging with her burdens from her past.

Reconnecting with a part of her past life digs up painful memories for Victoria but at the same time, readers are proud of her for taking this step. Fear settles in soon, however, after she finds herself sick with nausea, her body announcing her pregnancy early one morning. Pain resurfaces as she finds herself longing to have a motherly figure, to have Elizabeth, by her side. It’s truly heartbreaking in a way that’s so indescribable, but Diffenbaugh develops this plot so well that what happened in Victoria’s previous life cannot compare to the life she starts to live after the birth of her baby, who she struggled to welcome and love.

I would say do yourself a favor and pick up this book ASAP. The connection you develop with Victoria and her community is something that, as mentioned before, cannot be described. Not only do you learn about Victoria’s breakthrough but you learn the language of flowers that saves her and guides her. The plot develops so smoothly, never rushed or dragged out for too long. Picking up this book on a spontaneous trip to the Central Arkansas Library System in Downtown Little Rock was one of the best things I’ve done for myself. It’s not a light read, but it's definitely a must-read and deserves a place on everyone’s “to be read” list. (The book is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, in case you need yet another reason as to why to purchase and read this book immediately!)

BY VASTI HERNANDEZ

DOES “EUPHORIA” PROVIDE LIFE LESSONS?

The award-winning American teen drama

‘Euphoria’ has had 13.1 million viewers watching through HBO or HBO max since season 2 was released.

The show depicts the life of teenagers in high school that are dealing with life experiences like drugs, friendships, trauma, love, etc. The group of high school students are all connected to each other through their problems or history.

American actress and singer Zendaya is the lead character called Rue, who is a non-binary lesbian. She is a 17-year-old recovering drug addict who is struggling to find her place after her dad died.

The series displays problems and experiences some people might deal with in real life, but the show is not based on a true story. However, the creator Sam Levinson asked some cast members to tell him their personal stories to make their characters and their stories more relatable to the audience.

One example would be the character Jules Vaughn, played by fashion model and actress Hunter Schafer. Euphoria character

Jules began her transition into a woman at 13-years-old and when she was 16 she started to explore her sexuality. Hunter is a transwoman too. Sam wanted to know more about Hunter's personal experiences to make the character Jules more relatable and real to the viewers.

Euphoria is rated as TV-MA, which is recommended for viewers past the age of 17. Every episode starts with a viewer discretion warning. Some end with a message to give viewers contact information of places where they could get help if they are struggling with their mental health or addiction. But this footage helps depict the important message about identity stronger.

Rue, for example, is trying to stay clean but that means she has to deal with her mental illness by herself. She needs to find her

identity that isn’t focused and connected to opioids.

In multiple scenes, the characters are together smoking, partying, fighting, etcetera, which makes critics argue if teens who watch this would think this is “cool”. They think the show is a bad influence for young teenagers because they often want to be like their idol or are still trying to find themselves among their friends and classmates. Parental approval for younger teenagers is recommended with the heavy content this show contains.

Connecting Arkansas with the show, the state is currently struggling with an opioid epidemic. Arkansas has the second-highest opioid addiction rate in the United States. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid abuse wasn’t the number 1 priority of the public health department anymore.

Filmmaker Nathan Willis produced a documentary called: “7 days: opioid crisis in Arkansas”. This documentary shows the addiction problem of opioids and what people do to help master their addiction. Willis pointed out that it doesn’t even matter if you’re rich or poor, anyone can be an addict.

Drug addiction is a problem anywhere and everywhere and needs to be brought to everyone's attention. The show might show inappropriate graphics for some viewers but it is a learning experience for everyone. It shows consequences to actions that people might not always think about or want to think about beforehand.

Most of Euphoria’s main characters are teenagers but viewers of all ages can relate to the characters. Everyone can struggle with their identity, sexuality, mental illness etcetera. It doesn’t matter what age you are. It is relatable and that’s why so many people give this series high ratings.

BY LAURA JANSEN

JUST WHAT A ‘POST’-PANDEMIC WORLD NEEDS, A LITTLE “ENCANTO”

The rules of fight club will no longer be uttered by a new generation, instead we consumers will commit another funny faux pas. That’s right, we are going to talk about Bruno.

Featuring music created by Lin Manuel Miranda, who is known for his hit musical “Hamilton” and his work with “Moana”, the new Disney movie “Encanto” has grossed $95.1 million in the United States and Canada.

“Encanto” follows an animated magical family known as the Madrigals who live in Columbia. They have been blessed with magic that manifests a different gift in each descendant after Pedro, the grandfather to the main character, sacrifices himself in an armed conflict to save his wife and children. The magic is used to create a house and village for those escaping the conflict to live in peace, along with Abuela making a promise that the Madrigals would always use their gifts to help the community.

The story follows 15-yearold Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, who is the only one in her family to not receive a gift. Through music and beautifully animated scenes, she introduces the audience to the various gifts included in the family. From her aunt who can control the weather, to her older sister that can grow flowers at will, there is no shortage of magic in this film.

Mirabel’s uncle, Bruno, is not present at the beginning of the movie but it is mentioned that he was given the gift of prophecy and then vanished after he saw the future. However, as Mirabel sees her younger cousin Antonio receive the gift of talking to animals, she notices the magic inside their sentient house is fading and the house is beginning to fall apart. Mirabel must learn what Bruno saw and figure out a way to save her family, and ultimately, prove herself as a worthy member of the family despite not receiving a gift.

The characters in this movie are extremely well-crafted, which is impressive given the large cast. From perfect older sister Isabela and strong middle child Luisa, it’s clear to see how Mirabel could have felt eclipsed for the spotlight.

She also stands among her three cousins who are just as vivid and enchanting.

While all memorable, the Madrigals are representations of issues found in many families, but especially immigrant households according to the popular reception of the movie. The Madrigals all follow under the matriarch, Abuela, who, as Mirabel says it best “runs this show.”

The film exploits the complexities of intergenerational trauma, where the expectations of perfection are passed down from generation to generation. While the loss of the magic is the moving force for the plot, it really is a metaphor for the decaying of relationships and quality of life due to the strain placed on the family.

Mirabel eventually confronts her grandmother with a realization that no one in the family will ever be good enough, and she denounces the fact that she is to blame for the magic dying. This moving scene resonates with an older audience that struggles with feelings of guilt and shame due to things outside of their control.

We see a theme of reconnection within the film as broken relationships and misaligned ideas of a perfect life are fixed. Bruno, previously thought to be villainous, proves himself to be like Mirabel. Both are outcasts in the family that mimic the very thing that made the Madrigals magic, sacrifice for one’s family.

It adds to the depth of the movie to analyze Luisa, voiced by Jessica Darrow, who sings the popular song “Surface Pressure.” Her power is incredible strength. She shows the audience the weight children bear trying to please others, especially when that approval is based on what she can do for others.

Her strength also challenges the ideas of emotional health, as Luisa feels her physical strength prevents her from showing her more vulnerable emotions, like sadness. The pressure she is under to keep it all together all of the time consumes her, which could resonate with an audience struggling with mental health.

Tying up the last of the sisters, the eldest child Isabela, voiced by

Diane Guerrero, is often under the guidance of Abuela. Mirabel sees this and assumes her sister’s life is perfect but she soon realizes the pressure Isabela faces makes her feel isolated and unauthentic. Isabela must always put on a perfect face and act in a way that is expected of her.

The film ties in these difficult circumstances which can make an audience emotional. I cried multiple times watching the movie. The messages are heavy but relate back to the reconciliation theme. During this time and current state of events, that is comforting as a society we feel separated from each other as the pandemic continues.

Music from “Encanto” tops the charts in the United States and has a permanent place on my playlist. It plays a heavy part in the film but overall adds to the experience. It draws you into the stories and closer to the characters instead of acting as a distraction. All of the songs are implemented well and serve a good purpose for storytelling, which is really all that we could ask for.

There is even a song “Dos Oruguitas” that explains the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Much like how the Madrigals all change for the better, the audience will leave there just as touched.

“Encanto” is arguably not truly targeted for children, but being the 60th movie produced by Walt Disney Studios the company is showing they can expand their films to grow with their aging audience and create an enticing story.

This follows the trend in Disney films, like Frozen II that address the audience “looking a bit older.” It also has films that step away from romance and focus on other meaningful relationships with an emphasis on sibling connections and family ties.

The storytelling is so well done that it brings a bit of magic to an older audience, filled with beautiful animations and good songs. “Encanto” received the highest ratings from me and has ranked as one of my top three favorite movies of all time.

BY REMINGTON MILLER

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT JAELYN TUCKER

Junior Jaelyn Tucker truly does it all. As a Mass Communications major with a Mass Media emphasis and a jumper and sprinter on the UA Little Rock track team, Tucker hardly has any spare time. In her free time, she runs her own podcast, “Tea Time,” and is a sports broadcaster for ESPN on campus. She also works a part-time job in Little Rock.

“My podcast is where my passion lies,” Tucker said. “I want to be a part of the radio industry and get my voice out there. At the same time, I always want to be involved in sports, even after I finish college.”

When she was in the eighth grade, Tucker took a field trip where there was a broadcasting simulator with a microphone and green screen. That’s when she knew she wanted to do broadcast for her career.

“In high school, I took four years of Audio and Visual (AV), and by senior year, I was the lead director of our news show on campus,” Tucker said. “That is definitely one of my favorite accomplishments of my life. I knew I could do this forever at that point.”

Working in the sports industry has been Tucker’s plan for years. She ran track, played soccer, basketball and tennis, eventually earning a full-ride scholarship to run and jump for the UALR women’s track and field team.

“Running is something I was born with,” Tucker said. “I always knew I wanted to run at a collegiate level; I strived for it. Playing sports definitely made me very competitive. That is part of the reason I am so driven in my career.”

Tucker has been involved in sports since she was four years old. Sometimes being a young, Black female athlete can weigh heavily on her shoulders.

“I felt like running and playing sports was my get-out of sorts. It was my way of bettering myself and the situation I am in today,” Tucker said. “I grew up in a predominantly white, small town, and knowing that I wanted to leave, track was the way out to make a name for

myself.”

This plays into why Tucker wants to be in the media industry, and in the sports sector.

“Being a woman of color has its hardships,” Tucker explained. “We live an age where people look down on Black people, and not only that but women in general. You hardly see any women of color being able to express their voice, especially in the media. Also, with sports, there are not that many women at all. People don’t think women have the knowledge of sports that men do, but we do.”

In her future career, Tucker hopes to give women in sports a bigger name, and show that Black women deserve to be treated with respect in any industry, but particularly in the media.

“My goal in going into this career is to show people that you can achieve these types of dreams,”

Tucker explained. “I want to inspire young, Black girls to go for something big and know that they are able to do it. We are all smart and beautiful women.”

The “Tea Time” podcast is just her first step to accomplishing this goal, covering a range of topics from serious to fun, all to bring her voice to the world.

“At first I started it as a fun side-project, but it turned into something where I know that I am someone who will be able to become a voice to others,” Tucker said. “Our voices are being suppressed, we’re in the shadows being looked over, but things are about to change.”

SUSTAINABILITY THIS MONTH

LIVE SUSTAINABLY!

1

Curbside recycling is NOT the place to recycle your plastic bags and plastic film. There are, however, many convenient places to recycle plastic bags and film. Kroger, Wal-mart, Target, and other stores have drop-off boxes. A more complete list of drop-off locations can be found here. You can also take them to local Green Stations, which also take old electronics, household hazardous waste, and empty glass bottles and jars.

2

BY CHLOE MCGEHEE

3

You can bring your used razors to campus for recycling. The container is located in Commons Hall on the second floor by Campus Living. This pilot project runs through May, so bring your old razors in for recycling and help make this program successful.

Do you have to run water for a while to get hot water to your kitchen sink? Consider keeping a water pitcher to collect the water that you would otherwise just run down the drain. You can then use that water to water your house plants.

SPORTS UA LITTLE ROCK WRESTLING TEAM PARTNERS WITH EVERY ARKANSAN

The UA Little Rock Wrestling Team has partnered with Every Arkansan to donate hams to those in need for the last two years.

In 2020 the team brought in 85 hams for the holiday season and in 2021 they exceeded that amount by receiving donations for 115 hams.

Head Wrestling Coach Neil Erisman said the ham sale fundraiser was an idea from one of the wrestler's dad. “I’ve heard about a couple of highschools who’ve done it and they would make pretty good money,” Erisman said.

“We started out by selling hams that first year,” he said. “We kinda broke even on it, but it was a good start.”

He said after the first year they sat down to figure out what way they wanted to go with their partnership. “We knew we wanted to do it, but we also wanted to tie an element to where we’re doing something more than just selling hams,” Erisman expressed.

A part of Every Arkansan is the Dream Center that feeds people in the community. “I just called them out of the blue and told them what we’re doing,” he said. “I’m not sure they believed me year one. They showed up and we had 85 hams ready, and they were pretty grateful for it.”

Erisman said the goal for the wrestling team is to give back and support people.

“We are able to get out and help make a difference and really try to be a part of the solution, not just stand up and say we support

this, but actually get out and take action,” he said.

The fundraising begins after Thanksgiving and ends about five days before Christmas. There is a goal for each athlete on the team to sell 10 hams and the coaches and other supporting staff come together. “There is a sense of gratitude from them, they’re very grateful for what they have,” he expressed. “They get out and see what they have and it changes their perspective on being able to help people.”

Every athlete participates in selling, cooking, wrapping and delivering the hams. “The goal is to be visible in the community that we’re doing things and we’re active,” Erisman said. “This is one of the things we will consistently do.”

The hams are delivered not only to families across Arkansas, but to states like Missori, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas where a lot of the student athletes are from. “If they’re not flying then our hams are going with them home,” he said.

“I’m proud of them and it makes me feel like we’re doing something bigger than teaching them wrestling, Erisman expressed.“This is a really great fundraiser that has turned into supporting people in the community. It's much more than Every Arkansan.”

BY MADDIE BECKER

INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL MATCH

STUDENT ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT DARIEL JOHNSON SEIZES THE MOMENT AS TROJAN’S #13

When the UA Little Rock Women's Basketball team played against Troy on January 20th, the game nearly ended in a tie. This tie was prevented when Dariel Johnson caught the ball and sealed a 68-66 win for UA Little Rock.

Originally from Pasadena, California, Johnson first started playing basketball in 2009, the summer before her freshman year of high school. After graduating high school in 2013, she took a five-year break until she decided to play basketball at Pasadena City College, where she became the first person in California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) history to get a tripledouble with blocks (28 points, 18 rebounds, 12 blocks) in a single game. She was named Player of the Year (2019-20) and Freshman of the Year (2019-20). Her success and determination caught soon the eye of many universities, including UA Little Rock.

Johnson joined the Trojans as a forward, a position that requires versatility, speed, and strength. A forward is dedicated to supporting the team, especially against larger opponents. At UA Little Rock, with nine games played in 2020-2021, Johnson averaged 15.1 minutes, 1.4 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game.

"I have a real passion for basketball," Johnson said. "I like how basketball makes you work hard; it pushes you to do things you are usually not comfortable with."

Johnson is as driven off the court as she is on the court. In December 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree, with a triple major in criminal justice, psychology, and history. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Criminal Justice at UA Little Rock.

"I want to help people who are wrongfully convicted or wrongfully imprisoned," she said. "My parents—two weeks before my high school graduation—were wrongfully incarcerated, and they spent nearly four years fighting for

their freedoms. Thankfully, we had the means to do so, but there are almost millions of Americans who are wrongfully imprisoned and incarcerated who don't have the means to fight for themselves."

As a full-time student-athlete, Johnson has had to maintain a balance between school and athletics. "You really have to be disciplined to get your work done," she said. "Discipline is something you have to do for academics and for basketball. You have to be disciplined for how you work out and by making sure you come to practice every day, and then you have to leave practice and be disciplined enough that, after a long day of practice, you go home and get your work done. That's the hard part."

Johnson's determination allowed her to complete her Bachelor's degree in three years. She set high goals for herself academically and didn't allow herself to fall behind. The hard work left her with some advice for incoming student-athletes: "For on the court, as a freshman, I would say keep your head up. Many freshmen come into college and they don't get a lot of playing time, and it can be discouraging. But, if you work hard and keep fighting, you'll earn that playing time. Instead of giving in and giving up because you aren't playing--if you keep pushing yourself and working hard every day, the coaches will eventually notice you."

Johnson plans on continuing her basketball career after graduating from UA Little Rock. Another route she is considering is law school. Whatever path she chooses, she will be a name to follow in 2022 as she tears up the court—the basketball court and the courtroom.

BY DANIELLE SPENCE

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS CANCELS AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM OPINION

On the University of Central Arkansas’ about page over their African and African American Studies program, they have a list of notable people that have majored in the degree. Some of the people on that list are Michelle Obama, Richard W. Roberts a U.S. District Court Judge for D.C. and Aaron McGruder the creator of The Boondocks a popular comic and T.V. show.

Recently UCA has brought into question the importance of an African American studies degree during a time where critical race theory in education is being scrutinized by the public. At the end of 2021, they announced that they would be removing Arkansas’ only Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African American Studies (AAAS) due to it falling below the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board viability standards.

Viability is the ability of the program to be sustainable now and successful in the future. For the AAAS program to remain in place there needs to be a three-year rolling average of six graduates per year. UCA News reports that currently there are only 6 students that have declared AAAS as their major with three of them declaring it their second.

The backlash to the removal of

the major has been seen across social media along with on-campus student gatherings, online petitions, and a letter to Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Thomas Williams and Provost Patricia Poulter. The letter is dated Jan. 20, 2022, and signed by multiple faculty members of UCA. There are points made from the faculty of the high “return on investment” every time a student graduates with the AAAS major since UCA does not allocate specific faculty to teach the program or give any budget. They also list out changes that would possibly boost enrollment as it seems UCA has given up on the program.

UCA announced in late January that they asked ADHE for special consideration to be given for the degree and pushed back the removal date by two years to give them a chance to meet standards. There will be two options then left in 2024. The program meets viability standards and the ADHE staff recommends continuance of state support of the program, or the program does not meet standards and they recommend discontinuance of state support of the program.

If the latter is the case, there is still hope. According to AHECB Policy 5. 12. “Institutions may request a reduction of the viability targets if the academic program is crucial to the institution’s role, scope, and mission.” UCA does have the option to argue for the

importance of their degree.

There is an extensive African and African American studies program at the University of Arkansas and many Arkansas schools offer minors. However, there is no standalone major aside from UCA.

With the high amount of backlash to the idea of critical race theory being taught in public schools across the United States, there needs to be greater thought put into limiting higher education. Academia is meant to progress society and humans' understanding of the world. The AAAS program being removed would be a hindrance to that pursuit in Arkansas.

BY PAYTON DHOOGE

STAFF

The Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at editor@ ualr.edu.

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Payton Dhooge, @paytondhooge

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Vivian Angeles, @vivian.angeles

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Laura Jansen, @laura.jansennn

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Vasti Hernandez, @iamvastihernandez

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Maddie Becker, @maddiee_erin

Adrian Rogers, @togepimaster19 MARKETING/WRITER

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‘Sonny’ Rhodes, @sonny_rhodes