THE FORUM

JAN-FEB 2026

FULLcircle

CChastity Reed’s journey to success in basketball is a story defined by determination, perseverance, and a deep-rooted passion for athletics. Born on March 3, 1989, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Reed grew up in a household where sports played a central role. Her earliest exposure to athletics came through football, a sport her father loved and introduced to her at a young age.

Although naturally athletic, Reed initially participated in sports for enjoyment rather than competition. It was not until the ninth grade that she began playing organized sports, which could be considered a late start compared to many athletes. Despite this, she quickly adapted and found her niche on the basketball court, excelling as a rebounder and embracing the physical, often overlooked aspects of the game that contribute significantly to a team’s success.

Reed attended Irving MacArthur High School, where her skills continued to develop and attract recognition. With the guidance and assistance of her high school counselor, Mrs. Tomly, her growing talent eventually led to an opportunity in Dallas, where she was recruited and signed as a package deal with her friend Ikia Starr by then assistant Coach Steve Weidower—an experience that proved pivotal in shaping her athletic trajectory.

She went on to compete at the collegiate level with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team from 2007 to 2011, where she played under the leadership of Head Coach Joe Foley. During her time as a student-athlete, Reed balanced the demands of academics and athletics while majoring in Health Science and further refining her skills on the court.

Following her collegiate career, Reed expanded her basketball journey internationally, competing in countries such as Austria, Australia, Chile, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, and Switzerland. These experiences exposed her to diverse playing styles and new challenges, broadening her understanding of the game. She noted that while the style of play in Israel differed slightly, it still reflected strong American influences. Among her international achievements, her favorite championship victory took place in Greece, marking a memorable highlight in her global career.

Now, at the age of 36, Reed serves as an assistant coach at her alma mater, bringing her journey full circle. In her current role, she sees reflections of her own path in the athletes she mentors. She recognizes great potential in Lidia Belmonte Hurtado, whom she believes has the ability to play professionally. In Brenna

CHASTITY REED’S JOURNEY FROM PLAYER TO COACH.

Burk, she sees strong leadership qualities that can shape team success, while in Blessing Teamer, she admires exceptional speed and athleticism. In Alaina Payne, she values strong court vision—the ability to read the game and make smart, strategic decisions. Through coaching, Reed continues to invest in the development of young players, guiding them both on and off the court.

In the 2025–2026 season, Reed’s legacy was formally celebrated by the university she once helped elevate. She was honored as part of Little Rock’s Hall of Fame class, a recognition reserved for athletes who have made a lasting impact on the program. This moment of recognition also symbolized something deeper—the program’s acknowledgment of a player whose influence extends far beyond statistics. As her name continues to live on in the record books, the celebration of her career reflects a legacy worthy of being remembered alongside the greatest in school history. For many, the idea of her jersey hanging among the program’s honored numbers represents not just past dominance, but a standard of excellence that continues to shape the culture she now helps lead from the sidelines.

Her impact on the program is deeply rooted in her own legacy as a player. Reed left UALR as the program’s all-time leader in both scoring and rebounding, surpassing 2,000 career points and setting a standard of excellence that still defines the team today. As a Sun Belt Player of the Year and a driving force behind multiple championship runs and NCAA Tournament appearances, she helped build a culture of competitiveness and resilience.

What makes her story compelling, however, is not just the numbers—it is what she does with them now. Those records are no longer just milestones of personal achievement; they have become a foundation for mentorship. Reed coaches with the perspective of someone who has carried the weight of expectations, competed at the highest level, and understands what it takes to succeed beyond college.

What began as a late introduction to organized sports has evolved into a lifelong commitment to excellence, growth, and purpose. Reed’s journey is not defined solely by the points she scored or the championships she earned, but by the lives she now influences and the legacy she continues to build. In every practice, every conversation, and every moment of guidance, her story lives on—no longer just as a record-breaking athlete, but as a leader shaping the future of the game.

CRAFTY A VALENTINE

OOne thing my wife loves more than anything else I do for her is when I listen: not just her words but her passions and joys. Over the last half year or so I’ve been thinking of what I could do for her for Valentine’s Day: last year I fumbled the ball a tad regarding the holiday and waited till the day of to buy her pink flowers. Turns out she hates pink flowers and was rather upset that I waited till the last minute to do something for her for the holiday.

Fast-forward to 2026 and I set the bar rather high for myself going forward. Mrs. Luzader sends me messages on Facebook frequently throughout each and everyday: do I see them all? Not always. However, last summer she sent me a video of a woman making what’s called a “book bouquet.” Now I took notes because I know how much my darling wife loves reading; she’ll often pick up a book and read it all the way through, sometimes even while I’m asleep.

I took the hint, or maybe it was I took the bait, nonetheless I started paying attention to all the books she was interested in; literally making a list to get for her. I plotted out my plan for the holiday belonging to Cupid, setting my sights on a sweet, heart-felt, handmade gift.

I wrapped each book in cellophane to protect it from any tape I’d need while constructing the back support. I went to Hobby Lobby with a “grocery-list” of supplies including cellophane bags, tape, bow wrap, gift tissue paper, and thin wooden dowels. I hid all of it away until the day before Valentine’s Day when I would put it all together.

Wrapping the books was challenging; note to anyone wanting

to do this, get wrap not individual bags, it will make the world easier for you. I then taped the wooden dowels together to make the structure that would hold the books together, before tapping the backside of the books to the dowel structure. I then cut out a piece of cardboard to put it all on top of, which helps hold it all together in place. I also had gotten her some different makeup items that I taped to wooden dowels and placed throughout the books; this was my personal touch.

After assembling all that I took the gift paper and set it behind before folding it around and tying a bow around the base to hold it all together. I fluffed it out to make it really pretty and stuck a cute Otter themed Valentine’s Day card in the bow. Giving a really beautiful gift an even cuter touch.

Not to brag but my sweet wife lit up like a Christmas tree when I handed it to her. I had her close her eyes and I put it in her hands, got my phone out to record and told her to open her eyes. It was beyond pleasant to see her smile at what I had made for her: making all the effort worth every second

It pays to listen to those who you love: and sometimes a gift you make with love will bring far more joy than anything you can simply purchase. I would even go as far as to say that an intentionally made gift will always beat a last-minute gift you can quickly grab off a shelf a billion times to one.

Now I’ve got to come up with an equally elegant and thoughtful gift for her for next year. At the least I can say I have the time to do so.

coverage by: isaac luzader

theater Heights. confidence last especially achieved

E

Every so often, a film is crafted that earns the praise of being called a masterpiece. Despite negative reviews from critics during its opening weekend, I went to the theater with my wife to see Wuthering Heights. I can say with complete confidence that disappointment is the word I would use to describe it, especially given the dynamic visuals achieved throughout the film

Disclaimer: There will be spoilers

in this critique. If you want to go into the film blind, I recommend skipping ahead.

First and foremost, the visualization deserves serious praise. In most films, light and vibrant colors suggest happiness and joy, while darkness and shadow signal despair or danger. This film completely flips that idea.

Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw, the story’s central character. She grows up in a dark and abusive household, particularly under the control of her father. Yet within that darkness she finds comfort in Heathcliff, her father’s ward, played by Jacob Elordi. The two fall in love, and Heathcliff often places himself between Catherine and her father’s cruelty, acting as a shield.

As they grow into adulthood, Catherine’s happiness seems rooted in this bleak environment. Circumstances and betrayal push her toward marrying the wealthy neighbor, Edgar Linton. Heathcliff overhears part of a conversation in which Catherine says she cannot marry him because they would live as beggars. He leaves before hearing the rest of her confession, that she loves him deeply and intends to tell him so. That misunderstanding drives him away.

Catherine marries Edgar, and the Linton estate is bright and colorful, visually full of life. Yet as the scenery grows more vibrant, Catherine herself grows emptier. The contrast becomes painful to watch.

Heathcliff eventually returns years later, wealthy and refined. A stark contrast from the rough grisly man in rags who flees on his master’s horse in the cover of the darkness that is night. Their reunion is one of the most beautifully shot scenes in the film. Through a thick fog and haze, the cinematography slowly brings him into focus as a polished gentleman. From there begins both the affair and their

shared descent into madness.

Soon after Heathcliff’s return, Catherine’s father, now jaundiced and decayed from years of alcoholism and gambling, reaches his bitter end. When Catherine stands before his corpse, flanked by towering piles of empty liquor bottles, she lashes out in anger and grief. She kicks his head, knocking teeth from his mouth. The sound design at the moment is grotesque and effective. Credit is earned by the foley work that made it so visceral.

The filming locations and shot selections are stunning. At times I felt transported to Scotland, my ancestral homeland. The rolling hills and vast desolation carry an eerie beauty that the film captures well.

The score also deserves recognition. It moves from unsettling and macabre to sweeping and emotional without ever feeling forced. The audio engineering throughout is strong and immersive.

I will not detail the ending, but I will admit that it left me in tears. My wife and I were the only two people in the theater at our showing. I suspect some of that may be due to criticism surrounding Elordi’s casting. Personally, I found him well suited to Heathcliff and convincing in the role.

I expected a dark romance. What I experienced felt closer to a psychological thriller wrapped inside tragic romance. It surprised me, and I appreciated it more than I anticipated.

Misplaced criticism aside, this is a film that deserves to be seen. From a filmmaking standpoint, the cast and crew delivered something powerful and memorable.

10/10. I will be purchasing a physical copy upon release to add to my collection.

coverage by: isaac luzader

DESCENT FROMheights WUTHURING t i 4

OF the voice heroesF

EEvery year the capital city gets to celebrate a niche, but ever-growing community of Anime fans at Little Rock’s Anime Fest held at the Statehouse Convention Center. This year drew many fans with big name voice actors from across the board inducing the majority of the voice acting cast of Hazbin Hotel, to Marty Grabstein, the voice of Courage from Courage the Cowardly Dog. One of the bigger names in anime though in attendance for fans to meet was Bryce Papenbrook, known for his voice acting roles of Eren Jaeger of Attack on Titan, Inosuke Hashibira of Demon Slayer, and Kirito of Sword Art Online: all three major successes and staples in the modern Anime world, all three roles as main protagonists.

Not only does Papenbrook have an extensive career as a voice actor in the anime community, but he has one of the most distinctive English voices in mainstream Anime. Papenbrook also happens to be one of the most engaging and friendly celebrities you could possibly meet. His love for his fans and the characters he’s portrayed can absolutely not be understated.

I had the pleasure of getting to meet Bryce at this year’s Anime Fest after waiting in his line of fans for almost three hours, and the wait was worth every single moment. He gave every fan and festival attendee who braved his line their own time to sit and chat with him. He would smile and listen to their stories and tell them, he would even get into character and fans all around were laughing hearing Papenbrook break out into his different characters. It was quite the spectacle to behold if I’m being absolutely candid, and if I’m being super honest it made me giddy like a child at the experience. The joyfulness I felt from his interactions to the fans made me appreciate him just that much more, even past his body of work.

There was a lady close to my age in front of me in line who shared that her best friend since childhood was unable to attend; they were both diehard fans of Sword Art Online and Papenbrooks character Kirito. She surprised her friend by getting several autographs from Bryce for him. However, the real treat was she had her friend on the phone and gave Papenbrook her phone where he broke into character for this lady’s friend and talked on

the phone with him for a couple minutes. It was such a delight to see this man smiling and laughing talking to these longtime fans of his.

MEETING BRYCE

PAPENBROOK

So then came my turn and I was already beyond ecstatic to get to bear witness to the joyfulness that had just occurred before my very eyes. I smiled and went to say hey and he stuck out his hand and offered me a handshake and asked me how my day was going so far. What a guy! There I was to get to meet him and he was interested in me, little ole’ me, and that really lit me up.

I fanboyed for a brief moment telling him that Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer was my return to anime after an almost ten-year hiatus from the genre. Eren Jaeger and the story within the masterpiece that is Attack on Titan is one I will think about as long as I live, and I had the opportunity to pick Papenbrook’s brain on his thoughts on his own character. I got to get his personal take on the ending to Attack on Titan and I was happy to hear he felt like I did. “I thought it was perfect! I mean Sad, incredibly sad but perfect for Attack on Titan. I felt like it tied everything together so well.” Papenbrook said regarding the show.

Bryce told me the story of recording one of the last bits of the show where Eren has this moment where he breaks down and sobs about being in the final episode and that Papenbrook was unaware that scene was going to happen until he went to record it. “They don’t give us scripts until we go to record, so I didn’t know what was going to happen until I started recording.” Papenbrook shared with me. He told me he recorded his breakdown live on his phone and posted it to his TikTok because it was such a powerful and emotionally raw moment in his career and for the character he grew to love.

He asked me “let me see these minions” in the tone and fashion of Inosuke Hashibira about my Eren Jaeger Pop and my Inosuke Hashibira chase Pop which he happily autographed for me. Papenbrook inquired with me if I had read the manga which I confided in him that I had, and he told me he wanted to start to see a different side of his characters.

At the end of the day, I was absolutely thrilled I

darth photo

heroes

PAPENBROOK

got to meet the voice of two of my anime heroes and I was even happier that it was such a pleasant experience. Far too often have I heard don’t meet your heroes because they’ll let you down. I must say that I was not let down but rather felt my spirits uplifted.

coverage by: isaac luzader

lensANIMEFEST THROUGH THE

A “PHOTO DUMP” OF LITTLE ROCK’S ANIME FEST

A OF A JOURNALING phoo t journalist

B“Beyond The Glass” - Week One on Awe

This photograph is the essence of being kept from what we desire, all the while it teases our desires. It captures nature and instinct, all while showing how a simple plane can keep the two impossibly apart.

I captured this photo of my wife’s first cat, or as she calls him her first son, as a squirrel wandered onto our porch in the snow. Flash was so enamored with the rodent and wanted nothing more than to have it as a tasty morsel.

I captured it above his head focusing on the squirrel while putting a soft focus on the cat’s ears to give a unique perspective. The lighting helped bring the temperature to a nice slightly cool tone.

I chose it because it wasn’t a picture I even intended to capture but got by mere happenstance and I thought about the message underneath it all. Here this cat, who’s absolutely domesticated, has been drawn to his true nature, predator, and how even his loving mother couldn’t take his attention away from his prey.

“As She Turns the Page” – Week Two on Joy

This is a photograph taken of my beautiful wife at her favorite store, Barnes & Noble, after a long week of being trapped at home in under half a foot of snow and ice. I knew she would be happy to go look at some new books I could get for her and I’d sneak a picture or two while she browsed about. Reading brings her true joy and I find joy seeing her smile. I may be a tad biased in my joy found from her but I know many can relate to finding joy being surrounded by books.

I got this picture using my phone in portrait mode done horizontally and

using her lips as shelves of books with a soft focus lighting from the store which gave also which helped color to her cardigan. the shot at my chest point at her lips I chose this photo wife and she is and I happened shot of her in her also quite content and framing of happened to really had me send it

as the focal point. The books around her ended up focus on it. I used the natural the overhead lights in the gave a slightly warm tone, helped to give a nice subtle cardigan. I also found getting chest level gave the focal lips right in the third line.

photo because I love my my greatest joy in life, happened to catch a good candid her joyful element. I was content with the composition the picture. My wife also really like the picture and to her so she could keep it.

B“Bounce Bounce” – Week

Three on Awkwardness

I took this shot while setting up for pre-filming Thursday’s double header between the Trojans and Lindenwood. This was on the away team. I was pulling more slightly warm tones because of the overhead lights. I was trying to get some dunk shots and I caught this awkward foot midair, ball behind him (which by the way the ball flew right out of his hand here, so he dunked without a ball) and it looked so strange seeing him suspended in mid air. The guy behind is just casually watching because this is nothing fancy or new for these guys. It just feels awkward seeing something so cool looking uninteresting to anyone.

T“The Lonely Cowboy Turns His Back to Home” – Week Four on Loneliness

I chose to take a photo of myself on the outskirts of my apartment complex overlooking The W. Rodney Parham St. area. I had to use a tripod and work the angle using the pole next to me to successfully achieve the cowboy shot angle. I chose to edit the picture to a noir also bringing the exposure down and contrasting up to make the picture have more emotion to it. I also put a slight vignette on it to add an even more dramatic effect to the tones. With color and no editing, the picture still captured the raw emotion I was portraying because of the composition of me turning my back to my home. It is symbolic but gritty. I’m quite happy with this one.

coverage by: isaac luzader

A OF A JOURNALING phoo t journalist

‘Aslan Tries to do Human’s Homework’ – Week Five on Boredom I say for days thinking about what I would do to get the shot invoking the feeling of boredom. I came back into my living room to watch some TV and found one of my boys dozing off while appearing to read my printout homework paper from Lighting/Cinematography. I got close in to try to get what I interpreted as

a medium close up shot of the cat and got him looking down at my paperwork looking bored as all got out. So, the whole time I thought endlessly to no avail on the subject matter, I would happentance to come upon the photo in the funniest of ways. If you look into his eyes, you can see he’s absolutely staring at this paper with discontent, it’s too funny to miss the opportunity to use it. My wife says he only has one brain cell, so he’s not going to be much use to it.

I could deck getting to risk 13mm I was appearance phone

A“A Resilient Foundation” - Week Six on Strength

Oftentimes when the word strength comes into the conversation, the perception of the word tends to carry the meaning of the ability to carry something heavy or to bear the weight of a load. I thought a tad outside the box with this one and realized strength can also mean resilience. So I found an old apartment complex that I had a friend who lived in years ago before they burned to the ground. It was the Mabelvale Village Apartments whose foundation still stands today.

I thought to myself this foundation absolutely resembles and embodies the very idea of strength. It used to hold up an entire complex that once housed over a dozen families, their lives, and all their belongings. Even after all these years of being burned to the ground the

foundation stands with the capability to be built on again to house yet again all those lives. This idea of resilience and weight bearing found themselves in unison at this old complex and I found the angle I quite befitting for this week’s journal entry.

II wanted to get a bit crafty this week in my photo journal so I thought about something new, and it dawned on me that I wanted to get a new perspective of the tallest building in the State. This photo took quite a bit of planning and research to find a good location to accomplish this high wide-angle shot of Simmons Tower, Regions Tower, and 200 West: all three of the biggest buildings in the state.

I got crafty using Google Maps in 3D mode to find a public building close enough and high enough that

could accomplish this unique and fresh perspective: and so I found the eighth floor of my parking deck and found my shot location on the far corner of the top level. I was quite high up and to avoid getting the concrete in the shot, while still getting the scale shot of the vehicles parked below I had risk my iPhone 16 Pro Max and hold it out over the ledge and capture the three buildings using the 13mm lens on my iPhone to get all 3 buildings.

was fortunate that it had just freshly rained and the cloud cover gave a unique textural appearance to the sky. I am quite pleased with this photograph. I’m also happy I didn’t drop my phone eight stories down to Capital Ave. what heartbreak would that have been?

CONTRIBUTION

connect WITH FORUM instagram: facebook: twitter: @ualittlerockforum

rian

newman executive editor

isaac luzader photographer & writer

emma singleton head editor & designer

daniel breen advisor