THEHER ALD
PHOTO, 4B A-State Convo hosts WWE Live and more welcome week events across campus.
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VOLUME 97, ISSUE 1
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6, 2017
Chancellor Damphousse addresses DACA decision
A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
In response to the Trump Administration’s announcement today regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) immigration policy, Arkansas State University Chancellor Kelly Damphousse released the following statement to students, faculty and staff: “Today’s news about President Trump’s decision to
end the DACA policy is not a surprise to the leadership of Arkansas State University. In the days leading up to the announcement, we have reached out to our A-State DACA students to reassure them that
that we include them in the concept that Every Red Wolf Counts. “As I meet with them, I am saddened to see how this policy shift dramatically affects the lives of these students. In the days and
weeks to come, we will continue to work with our DACA students to ensure that they have all of the information that they need to plan accordingly. “Like all of our students, my first priority for DACA students
is that they feel safe, that they are heard, and that their studies are not disrupted by external concerns. I remain committed to supporting all of our students, DACA, 4A
Queretaro, Mexico campus welcomes inaugural class KEITH TURNER NEWS EDITOR
On Sept. 4, over 200 students attended the first day of class at the new Arkansas State University-Queretaro. “The students are excited to be the first generation of students at A-State CQ,” said Brad Rawlins, vice rector of the Mexico campus. “They are trailblazers, pioneers, visionaries.” The Queretaro campus is the first American-style campus in Mexico, providing a U.S. living-learning experience. Traditional Mexican universities are commuter campuses, and the idea of living, playing and dining on campus is foreign to many of these students. Although their initial first
year goal of 1,000 students wasn’t met, Rawlins is satisfied with the number of students currently enrolled. Rawlins said about 220 students live on campus, and the number will increase in coming weeks. “More than 200 students in the first year is very good considering that the campus wasn’t completed until the week before students arrived, future students couldn’t meet current students or faculty during recruiting visits, and the English language requirements provided some challenges,” Rawlins said. Classes at the Queretaro campus are taught completely in English. Mexico residents who apply have to meet specific language testing requirements. The school also offers ESL courses to assist students who
fall short of these requirements. Degrees at the Queretaro campus are recognized both in Mexico and the United States. The university currently offers 10 degree paths focusing on business and communication, engineering, and science and technology. Although admissions have not yet been open to non-Mexico residents, Rawlins said plans are on the way. “We will have exchange programs once we move into years two through four and can offer the kind of courses that sophomores, juniors and seniors need.” With over 1,300 multinational companies operating out of Queretaro, QUERETARO, 4A
COURTESY OF BRAD RAWLINS The Queretaro, Mexico campus welcomes faculty and students as they prepare to start classes Monday.
Arkansas State ranked sixth best college in the state ALEXANDRA SIMS NEWS REPORT
Arkansas State University was recently awarded the title of sixth best college choice in the state of Arkansas. The ranking consisted of 20 universities, including the University of Arkansas, Henderson
State University and the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Because of its location in the fifth largest city in the state, Jonesboro, A-State provides opportunities for career building to its students. Jonesboro is home to several businesses where students can pursue internships and even employment. This
is an important feature for students, because their eventual careers will likely require practical experience. The university also offers employment opportunities to its students via the Career Services office on the second floor of the Student Union. However, a student also would be able to
Chancellor prioritizes faculty relations, student retention DESTINI LATTIMORE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On an early morning stroll around campus with his dog Maple Leif –– dubbed the First Wolf of A-State –– Chancellor Kelly Damphousse noticed a maintenance worker powerwashing the side of the Dean B. Ellis Library. He recalled noticing the man working alone around 6 a.m., before his boss had even arrived. “He was working with nobody watching him,” Damphousse said. “He didn’t see me and go ‘Oh, there’s the chancellor, better go start washing the walls here’.” The newly appointed chancellor declared this moment one of his favorite experiences during his first six weeks at Arkansas State. “It reminded me of all the people behind the scenes that nobody ever sees that are here to help students be successful,” he said.
Meanwhile, increasing faculty and staff involvement is just one of his initiatives. “The faculty are terrific and I think they want to know that their voices matter,” Damphousse said. “And I want them to know that they can trust me.” Chancellor Damphousse also said he wants the faculty to know that they are teammates. He said his goal is to lead through “servant leadership.” Damphousse emphasized the idea of togetherness and hopes the faculty, staff and students at A-State realize that his mission is not solely based on himself. “This place will get better, but it will get better faster if we are working together,” he said.
NEWS: TUITION INCREASE, 3A
seek employment within specific departments at the university. The location of the university provides students with the ability to enjoy the activities that Jonesboro has to offer. These include a variety of restaurants, COLLEGE RANKING, 4A
A-State designated “StormReady Community”
Student relations are also an important initiative for Damphousse. He said his biggest challenge will be identifying the factors that negatively affect freshmen student retention rates at the university. “Our freshmen retention rate is around 70 to 72 percent,” Damphousse said. Roughly 28 percent of the freshman class does not return to the university. Damphousse has made it his mission to determine what factors lead to students leaving the university. He also cited his passion for students as one of the reasons freshmen retention is so important to him. This passion is what ultimately lead the search committee, specifically ASU System
Arkansas State University received the National Weather Service’s StormReady Community designation in recognition of the staff ’s work on emergency readiness and procedures. “Arkansas State has demonstrated a commitment to hazardous weather preparedness,” said Jim Belles, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service’s Memphis Forecast Office. “This commitment will benefit the university staff, the Weather Service, and most importantly, the students and faculty of A-State. Whenever hazardous weather threatens, the Arkansas State community can take comfort in knowing that their local officials are as prepared as possible.” Gary Woodall, warning coordination meteorologist of the Memphis NWS office, presented A-State Chancellor Kelly Damphousse with the official StormReady road sign that signifies a local community’s inclusion. To achieve the StormReady designation, Arkansas State’s severe weather preparedness plans were reviewed and scored against six criteria including how the university receives and monitors weather, the ways it distributes that information and overall weather planning. “Arkansas State met, and in many cases, exceeded the criteria,”
CHANCELLOR, 4A
STORMREADY, 4A
OPINION: PENN STATE GREEK LIFE, 2A
ASTATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
LIFE: HOROSCOPES, 1B
SPORTS: FOOTBALL, 3B
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6, 2017
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Uber has rolled into town: service now available for students! MIKKA ROLLE & KIRSTEN LARRISON
STAFF WRITER & LIFE EDITOR
Uber, a ride-sharing service popular in big cities, reached new heights when it arrived in Jonesboro on Aug. 1. The first month served as the platform for a well-rounded clientele of incoming freshmen and other students transferring or returning to A-State. This addition has proved to be safe and effective for the student body because of its smartphone accessibility. Uber was first initiated in New York where it became quite popular among the locals. Although there are other versions of the service available such
as Lyft, Uber has remained the original and become recognized as a main contender in the business of public transportation. Branching out to other states and flourishing in major cities, Uber grew to be sought after by tourists and habitual travelers. Prices for rides may vary, but the base price for any trip is $5.95. However, the price is dependent on how long the trip will take and how far the driver has to travel. For example, to catch a ride from the Education building to Cregeen’s downtown, the cost would be $6.91. A trip from just outside the Quads parking lot at University Loop and Alumni Boulevard to Slim Chickens would cost $6. Yet a trip from University Loop
to Malco Hollywood Cinema would be $9.87. These prices are approximate, as they have been calculated during normal business hours and do not account for surge pricing during special times or circumstances. As a passenger, gratuity is not included automatically, but once the ride concludes the option to tip is present among leaving a written tip or compliment. The emailed receipt will include trip details and overall charge. The star system is also provided for rating each driver and for the drivers to rate their passengers. These ratings, as well as how many trips the driver has executed, are visible to any future passenger. Sometimes, plans can change
pretty quickly. For those who may change their minds, there is also a grace period that allows cancellation without charge. This cancellation can be performed by the passenger or the driver in the case of the passenger not being present for the ride or special circumstance. After the grace period has expired, the cancellation cost is $5. More often than expected, customers were getting into the wrong cars, mistaking them for Uber drivers, and instead being regular bystanding drivers. The new version of the app now allows for in-app chatting and provides the mobile option to speak directly to the driver appointed. As the community welcomes
such a commodity, it is becoming more common for people to take on a second or even third income by becoming an Uber driver after their day jobs or by driving on the weekends. This may create heavier traffic for the city, but it could also keep potentially hazardous people from behind the wheel. To become an Uber driver, one only needs to go to the Uber website and fill out an application. The only true requirement is to be 21 and older. Uber also does a background check that takes about two to three weeks to review, but makes it fairly simple to get started if approved. No car? Uber can provide one for long-term or short-term use. From there, it’s a simple matter
of setting the app up on your phone to accept new riders. Though Uber is available, there are other services the company provides that aren’t yet available here. UberEats is a newer service provided by the company that will deliver food to you from your favorite restaurants, but is available in 60 cities across the U.S. currently. It would be perfect for a late night pick-me-up from McDonald’s or dinner from Red Lobster. Though the ratings on the app store are low, Uber is a great way to get around after late nights at the bar or for freshman who don’t have cars yet. It is available on the App Store or on Google Play for any smartphone.
Help yourself! A bit of advice for those who need to hear it PEYTON SULLINS STAFF WRITER
I recently started college, and while I have always maintained excellent grades during high school, I am having trouble doing the same while in college. Do you have any tips that I could use to help me manage my time in college better and to help me stay ahead in my classes? Transitioning from high school to college is easy for some, while for others it is a hard adjustment. Juggling Greek life, your school work, clubs and extracurriculars as well as a part-time job can be very difficult. Are there even enough hours in the day? While all of these things are important, your school work should be your first priority. Here are some tips that I hope will help you stay ahead in your classes and might help you manage your time more efficiently. Purchase a planner. Having a planner is one of the Ten Commandments for surviving college. I advise having a planner so you can record all of the things that you have to do when class is over and so you won’t forget important information. During or immedi-
ately after class, write down homework that you have been assigned, write down which hours you work, write down dates for your extracurricular activities -- write everything down. Writing the tasks you have to complete is a great reminder and will help you complete tasks more efficiently. Make time to study. A good rule of thumb for studying for your courses is: for each hour you are in a lecture, give yourself two hours to study. I can give you all of the tips to make studying easier, but at the end of the day, you must sit down and discipline yourself. Take a seat at your desk, grab a snack and a drink, and take advantage of the free time you have to study. You will be stressed now, but all of your hard work will pay off later. Find friends with similar interests and create study groups. Overall, no one enjoys studying, but studying with friends can make it more interesting and fun. If you don’t understand what you’re studying or need help with a problem, having a friend can come in handy, and vice versa. Find a place to study that has great scenery to keep your perspective open and more interesting. Studying in the same place can quickly become boring and start to feel like a chore, so switch
The Herald Reviews “To The Bone” cuts deep
MELISSA PALUMBO STAFF WRITER
In a world where beauty is pain, “To The Bone” shows just how far is too far. Lily Collins stars in the 2017 Netflix original that jumps head-first into the touchy subject of anorexia nervosa. The film shows the difficult journey one takes while suffering with anorexia, while also providing inspiration to reach out for help and to begin the road to recovery. Collins’ admirable role in “To The Bone” comes from personal experience. In an interview with Collider.com, Collins talks about her own history with eating disorders. She explains that she used humor throughout her recovery. “That light is still there.” Collins tells Collider.com that it is important to note that her character, Ellen, still holds on tight to her spunky personality through her ups and downs. To be true to her role, Collins went as far as to lose weight to better represent her character. While this may seem over-thetop, she had a team of nutritionists by her side to keep her on the right track. Collins explains
that actors will change their hair color, gain weight, grow beards, and that her losing weight was part of that. “This was a job,” Collins explained, “I’d still be Lily.” Ellen (Collins) is a grungy, sarcastic girl. She struggles with anorexia nervosa, and insists she is in control of it. Her family tries again and again to intervene, but Ellen doesn’t take her recovery seriously. Her family feels as though they are seeing Ellen die right in front of them, and viewers may feel the same way. It isn’t until she meets with professional Dr. William Beckham (Keanu Reeves) that she begins to wonder if it truly is time to get help and mean it. Ellen admits herself into a rehabilitation center for youths and, throughout her time there, makes connections and drama, but, most importantly, friends. Luke (Alex Sharp) becomes a key component in Ellen’s recovery. His sassy, persistent attitude pushes Ellen to become the best version of herself -- even if it is only in spite of Luke. Through their conflicts, happy moments, and everything in between, both Luke and Ellen build one another up, shedding light on the
group home and the boys and girls living there. Many people praised the movie for its accurate representation of eating disorder, while keeping a lighthearted and, at times, even fun air. On the other hand, Variety describes the movie as “... Not much fun to watch but could saves lives all the same.” Although this isn’t exactly a raving review, it does point out one very important thing: anorexia is an uncomfortable but necessary topic to discuss. The Netflix original struck a chord with many survivors and strugglers, delving deep into the real issues that are seldom talked about elsewhere. The writers insisted on including realistic shots of what an active struggler would truly look like, mixing Collins’ real body with a touch of movie magic. Raw, heart wrenching, and inspirational are just a few words to describe “To The Bone.” No matter if an eating disorder has affected you or a loved one, you want to be more aware, or if you’re just looking for a great movie night, “To The Bone” is definitely one to add to your watch list.
it up a bit. Instead of studying in your dorm or the library, grab a friend and head to a local coffee shop or a nearby park. Changing your scenery every once in awhile can make studying more interesting. Get organized. Organize your notes, folders, binders and thoughts. Write in a planner, take lots of notes and write important dates on a calendar. Studying is a lot easier when you are organized. Have a plan. Make a list of the days of the week and pick times to study for each subject. When you have a plan ahead of time, it’s a lot easier to stick to studying. Find what works for you. Each person works and studies differently. The world is so diverse, and what may work for you doesn’t necessarily work for others. Find a plan that works for you. Some people are more hands-on and visual learners, while others memorize information and study with notes. No two people are the same, so finding the study methods that work for you is a way to guarantee you will be successful in the future. Hopefully these tips have given you pointers that will help you in the future. Good luck on your first year of college!
HOROS C OPES NIKKI LOGAN
MYSTIC CORRESPONDENT
Aquarius (1/20-2/18): Academia has been on your mind a lot lately, Aquarius, and you’re feeling more ready than ever to tackle this new semester. Keep in mind not to burn out too early, though; make time for some fun and relaxation every once in awhile. Pisces (2/19- 3/20): You tend to develop a very strong emotional connection to things, Pisces, and it can be easy for you to begin hoarding. If you’re feeling unorganized or overwhelmed right now, de-cluttering your space may help alleviate some of the stress. Aries (3/21-4/19): Some exciting new opportunities may have recently presented themselves, Aries, but in your haste to get started you may have overlooked a potential problem. Slow down and take time to review the full plan before moving forward. Taurus (4/20-5/20): You’re a fairly strong-willed individual, Taurus, and that may cause you to feel selfconscious about how bossy you come across. However, overcoming that fear and taking charge in your work life
may lead to more opportunities for advancement in the future. Gemini (5/216/20): Gemini’s often let their hearts rule their emotions with impunity, and this can lead to major emotional outbreaks. This week’s goal for you should be focusing on channeling those feelings into a creative outlet in order to let out that extra negative energy. Cancer (6/21-7/22): There’s a very important relationship in your life, whether platonic or romantic, that you may have been neglecting lately, Cancer, and this person may be feeling a little resentful. While your other priorities are important, don’t forget about those close to you. Leo (7/23-8/22): As the resident social butterfly, your love life right now is flourishing! While there are a few new possible romantic avenues you can pursue, there is one that feels more “right” than the others. Trust your gut on this one, Leo. Virgo (8/23-9/22): When life gives you lemons, they say to make lemonade. However, you may be tasting more of the sour than the sweet right now, Virgo. It can be easy to be discouraged when things don’t go your way, but you mustn’t allow the negative overshadow the positive.
Libra (9/23-10/22): You’ve had your share of trials and tribulations over the past few months, Libra, but you’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hard work and an optimistic viewpoint have seen you through the worst of it; it’s time to enjoy the good life for a while! Scorpio (10/23-11/21): Life may be offering you a new path, either career-wise or academically, that seems too good to be true. Not one to play the fool, you may be looking at this venture with an overabundance of skepticism. However, Scorpio, this opportunity may just be a truly good one. Sagittarius (11/22-12/21): Something you really wanted to work out may have recently fallen apart, Sagittarius, and that may have shaken your confidence. It’s natural to feel unsure right now, but don’t let this setback ruin your perspective; there’s something good just on the horizon. Capricorn (12/22-1/19): You may be fearing a great change in your personal life that you don’t necessarily want. Change in life is unavoidable, Capricorn, so the question here should be “What are you afraid to let go of, and why?”
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Penn State Greek Life Are one-size-fits-all solutions effective in seeking to eliminate Greek-related incidents on campus? to a pledging event incident that led to the death of Timothy Piazza on Feb. 4. Since the event, the fraternity involved in the incident, Beta Theta Pi, has been permanently banned from the university. However, banning the fraternity was only the first course of action taken in an attempt to improve the Greek environment. According to an article published in The Daily Collegiate, the Penn State student newspaper, Greek life participants also will be subject to random check-ins
ALEXANDRA SIMS OPINION COLUMNISTS
Alexandra Sims is a junior strategic communications major from Paragould. For many A-State students, the beginning of the fall semester brings about new opportunities to become involved in the various clubs and organizations that our campus offers. Many students choose to become more involved with the university through Greek life. Two weeks after Bid Day, the excitement of a new semester still lingers. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania State University will not be sharing that excitement this fall, as their recruitment has been deferred. Said deferment is only a small part of an extensive list of new restrictions and regulations that Greek life at Penn State will face in response
“Greek life as a whole promotes more positive student behavior than negative, by encouraging campus involvement and enforcing strict grade requirements.” from new Greek monitoring organizations, additional participation fees, stronger criminal penalties for hazing and several other restrictions. Given the grave nature of the situation, it was clear that actions needed to be taken to prevent these incidents from
occurring again. However, Greek life as a whole promotes more positive student behavior than negative, by encouraging campus involvement and enforcing strict grade requirements. Furthermore, taking more money from already struggling college students in response to an incident with which they shared no involvement will likely do more harm than good. Students will likely begin to harbor resentments against the university because they appear “money-hungry.” Admittedly, certain aspects of Greek life present opportunities for deviant behavior, however, in those situations it is important to remember that each Greek life participant should be judged as an individual, rather than blaming an entire administration for a marginalized case. While hazing is definitely a problem, the chapter responsible is no longer a part of the university, and blanket punishing everyone will just lead to tensions between the students and the administration. If the university wants to put a stop to hazing, treating innocent students like criminals simply because they’re part of a certain group is not the way to go about it, and would not be tolerated in any other environment.
KAVIN ALEXANDER | STAFF CARTOONIST
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6, 2017
Makeup or Shut Up
L’Oréal’s reaction to its first transgender ambassador’s comments about race speaks volumes about diversity in the beauty industry DESTINI LATTIMORE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The beauty industry is no stranger to controversy. Jeffree Star, a YouTube makeup artist with his own cosmetic line, has a well-documented past full of racist social media outbursts, including one in which he referred to black women as apes and other racial slurs. Fellow YouTube beauty gurus Jaclyn Hill and KathleenLights found themselves under fire when Hill posted a Snapchat video of KathleenLights using the n-word. Now, beauty empire L’Oréal has found itself in the middle of the most recent incident of racial insensitivity involving its first transgender brand ambassador. L’Oréal Paris UK was under fire last week for cutting ties with model, D.J. and activist Munroe Bergdorf. Bergdorf was sacked from the company on Sept. 1 for a now-deleted Facebook post calling out white supremacy and racism after the Charlottesville rally. The news came just three days after she was announced as an ambassador for the company’s #YoursTruly True Match campaign. “Because most of ya’ll don’t even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour,” Bergdorf wrote. L’Oréal Paris UK responded via Twitter, stating, “L’Oréal champions diversity. Comments by Munroe Bergdorf are at odds with our values so we have decided to end our partnership with her.” Many are understandably confused as to which part of Bergdorf ’s statements L’Oréal
TheHerald
feels doesn’t line up with their values. The part where she mentions white privilege? Or how about the part where she truthfully points out that white privilege is built on the backs of people of color? White privilege is inescapable and exists even in the minute aspects of society, particularly within the beauty industry where cosmetic companies cater primarily to a white consumer base. L’Oréal’s reaction to Bergdorf ’s statement did nothing more than prove her point. While several people came to Bergdorf ’s rescue and defended her against L’Oréal’s unnecessary dismissal, several people took to social media to express their disgust with the model’s comments. Many felt as though her comments were hateful and overgeneralizing. Some Twitter users also felt as though Bergdorf ’s “hate speech” was undermining L’Oréal’s message of “diversity and inclusiveness.” L’Oréal has seen its fair share “This instance is just one of many in which anti-racist statements are condemned rather than actual racist rhetoric. Silencing women of color does nothing more than prove the point several social activists are trying to convey.” of accusations of racism. In 2007, the company lost a lawsuit brought against them claiming they discriminated against people of color when seeking ambassadors for its Garnier Fructis brand. L’Oréal and its recruiting firm were required to pay fines of about $40,000 each. The brand also has been accused of lightening Beyoncé’s skin for a beauty campaign advertising their Féria hair dye.
EDITORIAL POLICY Opinions expressed in personal columns are those of the writers and may not reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole. “Our View” represents the opinions of the editorial staff and is written by members of the editorial board. The opinions are not necessarily reflective of the students, faculty or administration at A-State. Columns, letters to the editor, cartoons and other content on the opinion page are the views of the author. Content does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Herald.
KEITH TURNER: NEWS EDITOR
MIYA GARRETT: SPORTS EDITOR miyanna.garrett@smail.astate.edu
NEIL WILLIAMS: DESIGN EDITOR
KIRSTEN LARRISON: LIFE EDITOR
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Nonetheless, instances like this are all too common in the world of big brands and consumerism. The beauty industry fails to serve and market to women of color, who often have to search high and low for hair products, skincare and foundations. However, companies do not hesitate to find women of color to use as pawns to sell their products while simultaneously ignoring and contributing to their struggles. L’Oréal saw the capital gain in Bergdorf ’s diversity –– a black, transgender woman –– but wanted nothing do with her social activism. Those who are against racism, specifically black women, are often referred to as “anti-white” by those who refuse to see the bigger picture. White supremacy exists. It is engrained in our society. It’s in our schools, our justice systems, our government and even the beauty industry. This instance is just one of many in which anti-racist statements are condemned rather than actual racist rhetoric. Silencing women of color does nothing more than prove the point several social activists are trying to convey.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Story ideas or news tips may be emailed to destini.lattimor@smail.astate.edu or keith.turner@smail.astate. edu. The Herald welcomes comments, criticisms or ideas that its readership may have. We encourage you to send a Letter to the Editor to destini.lattimor@smail.astate.edu.
DESTINI LATTIMORE: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Destini Lattimore is a senior multimedia journalism major from North Little Rock.
The Herald wants its news reports to be fair and accurate. We correct all errors of fact. If you know of an error, please contact us.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6, 2017
Arkansas State falls to Nebraska 43-36 Red Wolves will host Miami Hurricanes Saturday
MIYA GARRETT SPORTS EDITOR
Arkansas State football traveled to Memorial Stadium for their season opener against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Red Wolves fell to the Huskers 43-36, dropping to 0-1 on the year. 90,171 fans attended the matchup. Nebraska has sold out every seat since 1962. “We had so many opportunities,” Arkansas State head football coach Blake Anderson said. “We didn’t create a lot of turnovers, which is something we pride ourselves on and we had a lot of dropped passes, two of which would have been touchdowns and that changes the game. All of that is fixable and it is all within our control, but not what we expected either.”
Redshirt junior, Justice Hansen completed 46-of-68 passes for 415 yards. Hansen connected three touchdown passes Saturday, while giving nine different receivers touches. Senior Kyle Wilson led the Arkansas State defense with 10 tackles, following him sophomore, B.J. Edmonds with 9. “Their running game is powerful, but I thought our defense did a good job with bend and don’t break,” Anderson said. “There is no quit in this football team and there is no quit in this staff. I think people realize we are going to play 60 minutes regardless of the score and these guys are never going to give up.” The Red Wolves will host the #18 ranked Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. Miami is 1-0 going into
this matchup. The Hurricanes defeated Bethune-Cookman 41-13 in its home opener Saturday. The Hurricanes have been chosen as the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. Arkansas State is entering Saturday’s matchup with 415 passing yards and 82 rushing yards, while the Hurricanes enter with 233 passing yards and 322 rushing yards. The Red Wolves average 36 points through week one, while the Hurricanes sit at 41. ESPN analyst projects Miami to win this matchup by 82.6 percent. Kick off is set for 2:30 p.m. inside Centennial Bank Stadium. The contest will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETICS Kendrick Edwards catches a touchdown pass from QB Justice Hansen against Nebraska. Red Wolves fell 43-36.
S U N B E LT C O N F E R E N C E S TA N D I N G S COASTAL CAROLINA
IDAHO
1-0
1-0
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
0-1
1-0
GEORGIA STATE
0-1
APPALACHIAN STATE
TEXAS STATE
LOUISIANA
0-1
1-0 NEW MEXICO STATE
0-1
ARKANSAS STATE
SOUTH ALABAMA
0-1
0-1
TROY
0-1
ULM
0-1
Blaise Taylor exceeds the standard for student athletes TEVIN BAILEY
SPORTS WRITER
Blaise Taylor, a defensive back for Arkansas State, has accomplished what most would say is impossible. He received his Bachelor of Arts in business administration and M.B.A. in two and a half years. “I had to make some sacrifices along the way because I did not have much free time with the demands of football and school,” Taylor said. “But I was told once by a coach that you can come to college and have ‘fun’ for four years or set yourself up to have ‘fun’ for the next 40 years.” Taylor, a Waco, Texas, native grew up surrounded by family who valued academic success.
Taylor’s mother, Evelyn Taylor, earned her Ph.D., in psychology. His father is Red Wolves cornerbacks coach Trooper Taylor, who previously coached at Tennessee and Auburn. As an undergrad, Taylor took six courses per semester. He normally had three hours of classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and then two classes on Tuesday and Thursdays, plus one online course. In addition to his work on the field and in the classroom, Taylor is up for consideration on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his off-field contributions in the local community. He is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; serves as a liaison be-
tween the football players and the athletic director on the Student Athletic Academic Council (SAAC); and advocates for changes to improve the environment for the student-athletes on campus. “I got a lot of help from Shaq (Renelique) and Brodrick ( Johnson), our two academic coordinators. They helped me come up with a master plan in order to be successful,” he said. Entering his senior season Taylor was the Sun Belt Conference’s second all-time leader in punt returns for a total of 3 touchdowns, trailing Leodis Mckelvin (Troy, 2004-07) with 7. Additionally, his 781 career punt return yards will be the third most among active players in the 2017 season.
COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETICS Blaise Taylor runs past defenders in the season opener against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
A-State baseball adds assistant coach to staff
A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
Arkansas State head baseball coach Tommy Raffo added assistant Rick Guarno to the staff, mid-summer “We are excited to add Rick Guarno to the Red Wolves baseball family,” Raffo said. “He brings a high level of successful playing experiences
from Division I and professional baseball. He is a passionate and energetic coach that will bring a unique dimension to the diamond and on the recruiting trail. We welcome Rick and his family to the Jonesboro community and Arkansas State University.” Guarno most recently served as the hitting coach
and recruiting coordinator for the UT Martin Skyhawks for the past three seasons, which coincided with some of the best seasons in school history. UTM won 30 Ohio Valley Conference games during his tenure for the most wins in a three-year span in school history. Last season, UTM won 25 games, which were the most
in the Division-I Era (since 1992) and qualified for the OVC Tournament for just the third time in school history. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Guarno began his collegiate career at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he was a two-year starter at catcher and in the corner outfield. He hit .342 as a fresh-
man to help the Retrievers advance to the 2001 NCAA Regional. He followed with a solid sophomore campaign when he registered a .323 batting average with 10 doubles to help UMBC to a 20-7 conference record and a Northeast Conference championship game appearance. “I’d like to thank Coach
Raffo and Arkansas State University for trusting me with such a tremendous opportunity,” Guarno said. “A-State has a proud baseball history that I can’t wait to be a part of, both on and off the field. I look forward to developing current and future Red Wolves as we aim to continue the great tradition of Arkansas State baseball.”
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Tuition hikes approved by Board of Trustees BRADLEY BREWER
have quality faculty and staff to compete and deliver a quality education that will enable students to enter the workforce and be productive,” Crowson said. Statistics support Crowson’s comment, as more students than ever are attending A-State, furthering the need to increase the quality of education and the campus in general. According to the A-State website, the 20162017 school year saw an alltime record of 14,074 students attending the university in the fall, which was a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Even though the increase in tuition benefits the university, it is troublesome for some students as the gradual growth in the cost to acquire a secondary education has undisputedly increased drastically over the past couple of decades. U.S. News reported in a July 2015 story that in-state
STAFF WRITER
Tuition rates at Arkansas public universities have been on a steady rise in recent years, and this year was no different. The Arkansas State University trustees voted on June 8 to confirm a 3.4 percent increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate students. This rise, in terms of percentages, is larger than the increase in tuition and fees from the University of Arkansas, who holds the title of the most expensive public university in the state. However, A-State continues to be the fifth most expensive college to attend in the state. A-State trustee Niel Crowson defended the move to raise tuition and fees, citing the necessity of sacrificing affordability for quality. “We want to make sure we
tuition rates have increased by 296 percent since 1995. These constant increases provide additional pressure for students to acquire the funds necessary to attend A-State. Kendal Rogers, a freshman Health Professions major from Bryant, is skeptical with the continuing rise in tuition, and said she feels as though the increasing supply of money the university receives should be used in more areas than just education. “I’m a little concerned with the rise in tuition,” Rogers said. “If they are going to take more money, I believe they are going to need to upgrade facilities and housing.” While it is uncertain how much the school administration plans to improve the living conditions for students, costs Tuition, 4A
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Construction continues on A-State Welcome Center EMMA GOAD STAFF WRITER
On June 27, officials stood with shovels lined in the dirt, pushing through the ground to signify the beginning of a new Welcome Center on Arkansas State University’s campus. The Welcome Center is a new addition to the vastly changing campus of A-State. Its main purpose is to serve as a single destination that welcomes visitors and new students and provides them with necessary information about the campus. Freshman Dianna Foucault said the Welcome Center will aid high school seniors in finding their way around the many offices around campus. “I struggled to find the Financial Aid office and get the info I needed due to my lack of knowledge as to where the office was,” Foucault said. “I hope the new Welcome Center allows new and potential students to be able to arrive on campus with full confidence knowing where everything is.” Not only will the 3,833-square-foot building be used for student services, but a portion of the building will house a fully functioning Centennial Bank branch. Centennial introduced the proposal of the building to A-State, and the contract between the school and the bank is a 25-year ground and
building lease. Centennial will be leasing the land for $100 a year while building the Welcome Center, then will begin leasing the Welcome Center portion back to A-State for $100 a year. “The fact that there is going to be a bank inside the Welcome Center is going to be a tremendous help,” Foucault said. “The bank in the Welcome Center will allow me to get cash whenever I want without having to worry about travel.” The building will be on Aggie Road, leading into the Student Union. The Welcome Center will aid in showing incoming freshmen the main entrance to Arkansas State University. Vice Chancellor Rick Stripling said this is one of the main selling points of this building. “You have to tell [visitors] to go around to the backside of campus to get to the parking garage,” Stripling said. “Having a Welcome Center on Aggie Road is really going to put our best foot forward.” Centennial Bank Regional President Davy Carter expressed the importance of the new bank and Welcome Center. “This has been a long time coming,” Carter said. “This is going to be a landmark building on campus where the administration and faculty can bring [new] students and their families. They come down this campus, and they drive down [Aggie] Road. This Welcome Center is going to be very impressive.”
Lactation room available for nursing mothers KEITH TURNER NEWS EDITOR
ATHLETIC FEE
$285
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STUDENT UNION
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STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE
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FACILITIES
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Campus Crime
CLINTON SUMMERS
CAMPUS CRIME REPORTER Campus Crime is compiled from weekly reports from the University Police Departmental logs.
Aug. 26, 2017 3:00 a.m.—Twenty-year-old Randtrel Carruthers, an at-large suspect of the recent burglaries on campus, was recently arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred last year in Little Rock. Malik Mumit, 45, was shot and killed on Sept. 17. When the Little Rock Police Department’s cold-case unit had enough evidence to secure a warrant for first degree murder, they arrested Carruthers on Aug. 18. Court records reveal that Carruthers pled not-guilty to the charge, and his bond was set at $500,000 and according to the Pulaski County Sheriff ’s Office, Carruthers bonded out on Aug. 23, three days before the incident on A-State’s campus. Officers are still searching for Carruthers, who is reported to have entered at least three residence hall rooms in
Northpark Quads Building 3 at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 26. According to University Police reports, one female student suddenly woke up to someone shining a flashlight in her room while another person was talking. She initially thought it was one of her roommates, so she went back to sleep. When she woke up again, the two suspects fled the scene. Nothing was stolen, but the student’s purse appeared to have been tampered with. The suspects, Benjamin Phipps and Carruthers, entered two more students’rooms around the same time that morning. One male student reported that Carruthers entered his room with the flashlight on his phone and made the comment, “Oh, wrong room, my bad,” and left. Both suspects were spotted on campus soon after the initial report and began to flee on foot from Officer Sean Calaway. Calaway was able to apprehend Phipps, but Carruthers escaped as he continued to flee. Officers searched the immediate area but were unable to locate Carruthers. Police are still searching for Carruthers.
Sept. 1, 2017 3:47 a.m.—In response to the recent burglaries, UPD officers Daniel Bradway and Sean Calaway began checking residence halls at night to make sure students’ front doors were secured. During the first night of checks, Officer Bradway found that 26 apartments, or 93 students, had not secured their front doors in Northpark Quads Building 1. All 93 students were referred for a residence hall violation. Two nights later Officer Bradway checked Northpark Quads Buildings 3 and 4 and discovered 11 rooms to be unlocked and referred 42 students for a residence hall violation. Officer Sean Calaway did a check of Kays Hall the same night and found 11 rooms unlocked and referred 20 students. A total of 155 students were referred to Student Conduct for a residence hall violation between the four buildings. For their safety, students are encouraged to follow University policy and always lock their doors at night.
As the first ‘patron’ of the designated lactation room on A-State campus, Michele Merritt, professor of philosophy, is a strong advocate of the service. As the acting Women and Gender Studies coordinator, Merritt hopes to spread word of the room across campus. The lactation room, on the fourth floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences building, is provided for A-State mothers who are breastfeeding. The room – a former office space that has now been transformed into a designated lactation room – has comfortable chairs, soft lighting, a radio and refrigerator, multiple power outlets, and a privacy screen so multiple mothers can use the room at one time. It’s accessible to any nursing mother who is a student, staff or faculty member at A-State who needs to express milk, either by pumping or by taking their babies with them to feed. For privacy, the room number is not publicly advertised, but the room can be accessed during normal university hours by checking out a key from the English, Philosophy and World Languages (EPWL) Office. The room was introduced to campus in fall 2016 by Deborah Chappel-Traylor, then-associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, with assistance from Janelle Collins, chair of the EPWL Department. Merritt said the room is very important, as it is legally required by the Fair Labor Standards Act
for A-State faculty and staff to be provided a space equipped to pump and breastfeed. “Many people don’t realize this, but actively lactating women often need to express milk somewhere between every two to four hours… otherwise, it becomes very uncomfortable and you run the risk of developing serious infections,” Merritt said. “For many women who are struggling already to breastfeed, going back to work poses one of the biggest challenges, especially if there is not adequate space to pump.” Merritt added that society needs to normalize breastfeeding, and that includes making workplaces ‘lactation friendly’. While there is no legal requirement for students to be granted access to a lactation room, Merritt welcomes A-State mothers to the one in HSS. “Student mothers sometimes work even longer days than faculty and deserve access to a lactation room,” Merritt said. She hopes students and faculty will fight for a law that provides such a service to student mothers. “It is my hope that this need will be recognized at the state level and that soon, all universities will be required to provide a lactation room in their student unions or somewhere similar that is accessible to all.” Merritt, the mother of one child, also wants to see a lactation room in the Student Union at A-State.
A-State students to conduct the 21st annual “Order of the Pack” A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
A-State students will conduct the 21st annual “Order of the Pack” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Centennial Bank Stadium. Order of the Pack, a campus tradition, is conducted to welcome the freshman class into the Red Wolves family. Alumni and friends are welcome to join students on the east side of the stadium to re-live their own Order of the Pack experience. Order of the Pack sponsors, Student Activities Board and Student Government Associa-
tion, work together to emphasize the traditions of Red Wolf athletics and Pack Pride. Spirit Squads will teach game day traditions and chants. Coach Blake Anderson and Athletics Director Terry Mohajir are scheduled speakers, as well as the new A-State chancellor, Kelly Damphousse. Red Wolves athletic teams will be introduced. Students attending will compete for three spirit awards this year. The “Golden Wolf ” award goes to the student organization that exhibits the most overall school spirit. A “Body Art” award goes to the student or group of
students with the most spirited, creative body painting, and the “Spirit Sign” award will go to the student or group of students with the most spirited, creative or eye-catching sign. Registered student organizations, Greek organizations and residence halls are eligible to participate in the annual contest. Participating students may pick up free T-shirts at the end of the program. SAB will host a kickoff event starting at 6 p.m. in the pine tree grove on the east side of the stadium. DJ King Vick and food ORDER OF THE PACK, 4A
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A-State track star represented team USA Jaylen Bacon ran third leg at 2017 IAAF World Championship
MIYA GARRETT SPORTS EDITOR
Arkansas State’s Jaylen Bacon capped off his incredible junior season by assisting team USA to a silver medal at the World Championship this summer. Bacon, five-time Sun Belt champion, initially qualified for the relay team in June by finishing fourth place in the 100m dash with a time of 10.10 at the USA Outdoor Championship. In order to qualify for the World Championship the runner must capture a time that falls in the top six. Bacon missed individual qualifications by one spot. Team USA posted a 4x100m time of 37.52 with the host Great Britain winning the race with a time of 37.47. Team Jamaica, led by Usian Bolt saw its 10-year streak of gold in the 4x100 come to a close. “At the time Bolt was competition” Bacon said. “You can’t
be the one to mess up and I wasn’t going to be the one to mess up, so I had to dial in. But
after the race, I felt excited that I got to be a part of his last race.” Bacon earned a bronze in the
60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Championship last season, marking the first male ath-
lete to capture a podium finish at Arkansas State. Bacon is ranked second all-
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time at A-State in Indoor competition, in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. He also is a four-time All-Sun Belt Conference holder and claims a program record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.70 seconds. “It’s been a long road since my freshman year just to get here,” Bacon said. “Then coming out and running in front of 70,000 plus people, it’s definitely something to be proud of.” Indoor for the Baconator will begin in December while outdoor competion will resume in March. “I plan to bring some NCAA championships,” Bacon said. “Ive dialed everything back. practice will resume again for me in October. It’s been an entire year of training for me, and its only healthy that you give you body a break.” “I definitely need to take a physical and mental break,” Bacon said.
Arkansas State held first invitational of the year
KRISHNAN COLLINS SPORTS WRITER
Junior Carlisa May lead the Arkansas State volleyball team with 22 kills on Friday night, but it was not enough to defeat Virginia Tech as the Red Wolves fell to the Hokies 3-1. After a great start by the home team, the visitors from Blacksburg, Virginia, turned the momentum around and won three consecutive sets to finish off the Red Wolves. A-State got off to a flying start by winning the first set convincingly 25-18. The crowd in Jonesboro was noisy for the first home volleyball game of the season and the support helped the Red Wolves jump out to an 11-7 lead forcing Virginia Tech to take a timeout. Tech never threatened in the first set. A-State increased their lead to 16-10 at one point and forced the Hokies into another timeout when the home team went up 19-14. May completed 6 kills in the first set and kept up her quality of play throughout the night. The
energy was high throughout the Convocation Center as it looked like the Red Wolves were going to carry the momentum through the following sets. The Red Wolves did keep momentum through the beginning of the second set. A-State once again jumped out
to an early lead, forcing Virginia Tech to take an early timeout behind 12-9. During the timeout, Tech seemed to rekindle their fight and brought the set to a tie at 18-18. One point later as the Hokies went up 19-18, the Red Wolves called a timeout. May seemed to slow down during most of the sec-
ond set, but toward the end when her team needed her the most, she started hitting well. Unfortunately for the Red Wolves her great play was not enough and A-State lost the second set 25-23. Arkansas State looked the better team throughout the first two sets but Virginia Tech
looked much improved in the third and fourth sets. The Red Wolves stopped hitting well and could not seem to get good sets either through the final two sets. Tech won the third and fourth sets each 25-20 without the Red Wolves looking too threatening. ***
DERONA SIMS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Drew Jones, Tatum Ticknor and Jessica Use celebrate Saturday night’s victory against Ole Miss with a winning score of 3-1.
Arkansas State split victories on Saturday after a 3-1 defeat over the Ole Miss rebels. Carlisa May led the Red Wolves with 17 kills in the matchup, while Drew Jones added 11 and 13 digs for her third double-double via tournament play. The defeat over the Rebels marks the first win over an SEC opponent since the 2009 season. “We were in a dark place the last 24 hours after the loss to Virginia Tech last night,” Rehr said. “We changed some things up and we were more like ourselves this morning against a good SMU squad, but still weren’t where we needed to be. However, we really clicked and got back to playing our style of volleyball tonight against Ole Miss. Always great to beat Ole Miss and I’m proud of the way we responded to adversity. All of our coaches did a tremendous job and I’m looking forward to a great day of practice Monday as we move forward.” The Red Wolves will return to action Sept. 7-9 at the Cen-
Four National Champions receive #Rawlings honors A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
Four members of Arkansas State University’s 2017 national champion softball team have been selected as first-team #Rawlings All-Americans by the National Club Softball Association (NCSA). The quartet includes catcher Chloe Vaught of Morrilton, third baseman Rachel Hinson of Vilonia, outfielder Mabry
Watson of Marion and pitcher Shea Cothren of Paragould. “To have four first-team All-Americans speaks to the kind of talent we have in our area,” said head coach Chris Powers. “For Mabry to make the first team as a freshman is just amazing. She is the first freshman we’ve had to make a first team. Rachel was consistent all year. She had an unbelievable postseason, and that’s what pushed her to the first team. “Chloe struggled a little ear-
ly in the season, but she put in the extra work to make herself better and it paid off. She had an amazing World Series, and caught every inning in bracket play. She’s a thorough player. This is the healthiest Shea has been the past couple seasons and it showed. Being named World Series MVP and being named as a first-team All-American— it just doesn’t get any better than that.” Vaught, a junior, finished the season batting .484 and hit five
home runs and nine doubles. She also collected 30 RBIs. Hinson, a sophomore, had 107 at-bats and four runs for a .411 hitting percentage. She also turned in six stolen bases, eight doubles and two triples for the Red Wolves. In her freshman season, Watson led the team in RBIs with 31 and hit five home runs for a .350 batting average. She also had 10 triples and eight doubles. Watson earned honors as NCSA National Player of
the Week following A-State’s regional playoff victory. Cothren had a season record of 15-3 and an earned run average of 1.84. She pitched 127 innings overall and struck out 144. This is her second straight year to receive All-America honors and was chosen as the NCSA National Pitcher of the Week twice during the 2017 season. In the final game of the tournament, she struck out seven and allowed only four hits. A-State knocked off two-
time defending champion James Madison in the title game to take the World Series crown in their fifth consecutive trip to the NCSA national tournament. The Red Wolves also won the Mid-America East conference with a perfect 12-0 mark and completed the 2016-17 season with a 30-10 overall record. “These girls are very deserving of their honors,” said Powers. “But, they’ll be the first ones to tell you that they couldn’t do it without their teammates.”
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shopping options, cinema and recreational activities. A-State also provides its 14,000+ students with opportunities to participate in 165 student organizations. The class sizes are relatively small, with several likely to have less than twenty students enrolled. This is one of the features that can have substantial effects on the long-term success of a student by leading to an overall better retention of knowledge. Emmanuel Puello, a freshman electrical engineering major from Paragould, said his favorite aspect of being an A-State student is that “the class sizes are usually small enough to have one-on-one interaction with the professors, which helps
with the class as a whole.” However, if a student is struggling, A-State also houses a tutoring service in the Learning Commons. The commons is on the ground floor of the Dean B. Ellis Library. The library is available from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., during which times students can access computers, five stories of books on a variety of topics, and printing services. Students also are eligible to participate in 20 various Greek organizations, which promote campus involvement, enforce grade requirements and provide opportunities for volunteer experience. Furthermore, the degree programs offered at A-State are numerous. There are 160 different options, so students are
able to choose from a variety of career paths. This fall, Arkansas State welcomed 1,485 students in its freshman class. The freshman class holds an average GPA of 3.48, and honors enrollment is at 85 percent, according to the recruitment office website. Of these new students, nearly half will graduate in their desired amount of time, according to A-State’s student retention and graduation rates. A-State fell behind the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, which ranked No. 1, Hendrix College in Conway, No. 2, and Lyon College in Batesville, the third best university in the state.
and I have a keen appreciation of what severe weather means to a university,” Damphousse said. “I’ve been told about how weather has impacted A-State in the past, and I’m pleased that our administration, faculty and staff have put an emphasis on weather safety.” The StormReady program began in the late 1990s and spread nationwide as local communities sought to improve their local severe weather preparedness. It is a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and emergency managers at the state and local level. The program focuses on aspects of a community’s hazardous weather operations, including: the presence of an Emergency Operations Center; a 24-hour contact for warning
information; adequate means of receiving NWS warnings and statements; sufficient local warning systems; efficient communications with the NWS Office in Memphis; and public education and outreach efforts. In Arkansas, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas-Monticello and UAMS are the other StormReady universities. For the Memphis NWS region, A-State joins University of Mississippi, University of Memphis and Southeast Missouri State. Arkansas State shares the triple with Ole Miss, as Oxford and Lafayette County are also StormReady.
executive director of Global Initiatives, to serve as our lead contact for any A-State students who have questions about how
the policy change affects their status.” (Sivakumaran is in 104E in the Administration Building.)
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Woodall said in his remarks. “However, their drills and advance planning activities for large events were particularly impressive.” Arkansas State is the largest university in the state of Arkansas named StormReady. Combined with the city of Jonesboro and Craighead County, this becomes the first “triple” StormReady college or university town in the state. For the Memphis NWS office, A-State is the first university in Arkansas deemed Storm Ready. Damphousse recognized A-State’s emergency coordinator Jon Carvell, University Police Chief Randy Martin and others who worked on the application and certification process. “As you all know, I’ve spent some time at a university with close ties to the Weather Service
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including our DACA students, to the extent that federal and state laws permit. I have asked Dr. Thilla Sivakumaran, the
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Rawlins said the new campus is a great place for students to learn. “The culture is very rich. It’s a great place to come to learn a second language. I hope students will spend a summer, semester or year on the CQ campus and have the chance to interact with students who are passionate about learning and changing the world for the better,” he said. The Queretaro campus was approved by the Arkansas State University Board of Directors back in December 2012.
Now, almost five years later, the first generation of students are gathering on the newly constructed campus for classes. The school is described as “an innovative project in partnership with Arkansas State University, a Mexican foundation and the government of Queretaro with the purpose of bringing higher education to (Queretaro).” An article co-authored by ASU System President Chuck Welch and former interim dean Doug Whitlock stated, “This partnership will provide rich opportunities for faculty in
both countries in all three major mission areas of instruction, scholarship and service.” According to the website, tuition and fees cost 99,450 Mexican pesos, which translates to roughly $5,591.57 U.S. dollars. Room and meals cost an additional $10,990 Mexican pesos ($617.91 U.S. dollars) a month. For more information about Queretaro, visit their website at astatecq.mx, or check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/ ArkansasStateQueretaro.
A-State was his calling, leaving his previous university was difficult. Many students and faculty members from OU expressed their sadness to see the Damphousse family leave. One OU student responded to the news of Damphousse’s departure via Twitter, saying, “First KD, now Dr. Damphousse.” “The worst part of coming here was leaving there,” Damphousse said. “I didn’t know how much people appreciated me until I announced that I was leaving.” Damphousse said he hopes to have that same impact on Arkansas State. “I need to do the same thing here,” he said. “The way I did that there was to just be totally sold out for that university and now I am the same way here.” Damphousse and his wife Beth, who he said is his partner in his new career, have fully committed to A-State. The two have been spotted at various campus and community events and the new chancellor never misses an opportunity for a selfie. According to the chancellor, his main point of focus is making sure everyone within the community knows they matter, and has even adopted a mantra that he hopes will set the tone during his initial time
as chancellor: “Every Red Wolf Counts.” “At the time I was presenting about it, I was talking about students and retention,” Damphousse said. Although he plans to focus on student retention, Damphousse wants the focus to be more personal and less analytical. “I had people invest in my life when I was in undergraduate and I know how much a four year degree means to change people’s lives,” said Damphousse. “It’s a huge opportunity for me to impact students’ lives.” He also said staff and faculty members, as well as alumni, also count as Red Wolves and he hopes to cater to their needs just as much as the needs of students. “If I can make sure that they all believe that they count, that’s going to help make this a wonderful university.” Meanwhile, Welch said he was impressed by Damphousse the first time he visited the campus. Now, a little over a month into his time at the university, Welch said he knows the search committee made the right decision. “The good feelings that I had and the committee had have been confirmed,” he said.
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President Chuck Welch, to choose Damphousse as the new chancellor. According to Welch, it was a unanimous decision. “I had a feeling that this was somebody that was very passionate about the work he does, that really cares for students and that understands faculty and staff,” Welch said. Damphousse’s time at the University of Oklahoma taught him a great deal about freshmen retention. He said his biggest challenge will be pinpointing the exact reasons freshmen do not return to A-State. His approach to this issue is straightforward and simple: talk to students. Damphousse said the best way to get to the root of the problem is to ask students directly. “When this year’s freshmen don’t enroll in the spring semester, then we need to call them to figure out why they didn’t enroll,” he said. Damphousse said he knows there are several factors that discourage students, especially in their first year at a university. Whether the issues are financial or personal in nature, for example, he hopes to find the solution. Although Damphousse said he believes coming to
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trucks will be on site. Students, faculty and staff will gather for a photograph on the Centennial Bank Stadium field starting at 6:30, forming an outline of the State of Arkansas. Freshmen will be highlighted as
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they form a diamond in the center. Freshmen participants will receive an exclusive A-State “Class of 2021” button, and all students in the photo will receive priority seating at Order of the Pack.
For more details, contact the Leadership Center at 870-9722055 or Morgan Crain, coordinator of student activities in the Leadership Center, mcrain@ astate.edu.
WRITE ON JOIN THE HERALD S TAFF Weekly Staff Meetings Ever y Monday at 5:00 Communications Building Room 224
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for on-campus living and meal plans have increased regardless. The cost of living in a freshman dorm with a roommate has increased by $55 to a price of $2,270, and the cost of a five-
day meal plan is $35 higher than it was last year. Even with her skepticism, Rogers said she believes the trustees made the correct decision by raising the cost of tuition
again. “In the long run I think the rise in tuition will be worth it,” Rogers said. “But I just hope they use our money for the things that are actually needed.”
Note-Taking Recruitment: Class Announcement The Disability Services Office is recruiting note-takers for several freshman, sophomore, and junior level classes. This is an unpaid volunteer position! You can use this work as volunteer hours for any organization you are a part of. DS staff will also write reference and recommendation letters on your behalf if you are an effective and consistent note-taker. This is also a great opportunity to build your resume and help fellow students! Please contact Dominique White in the Disability Services Office about how to sign up. Thank you, Dominique White Email: dowhite@astate.edu Office: 870-972-3598
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Welcome Week at Arkansas State
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chool is back in session at Arkansas State University, and the campus once again played host to numerous events during those opening two weeks. Events were throughout campus and citywide, keeping students busy and making them feel right at home. Students enjoyed watch parties, celestial alignments, outdoor arts and crafts, gallery openings, and even a wrestling match. WWE Live, held at the Convocation Center, was a high energy end to the first week of school. Students and faculty of Arkansas State University got invloved in the wrestling showcase, some even entered the ring as well.
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1. The new Raw tag team champions Dean Ambrose
4 (left) and Seth Rolins (right) get ready to face Sheamus and Cesaro in the ring on Aug. 26 at the convocation center. Photo by Emilee Ford 2. Professor John Norris stands before his work in the Bradbury Art Museum’s Opening Faculty Show. The show featured pieces from several of the A-State art department’s professors. Photo by Neil Williams
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3. SAB hosted pinot’s palette on the Heritage Plaza lawn on Aug. 22 for students. Photo by Cynthia Barnhill
4. Students gathered on Aug. 21 to view the first solar
eclipse to cross the united states in 98 years. The next ecipse will happen in seven years and will cover Jonesboro 100 percent. Photo Courtesy of A-State
5. Bradbury Art Museum attendees gather for a group
photo for Curt Bradbury himself, who established the museum in 2001. Photo by Neil Williams
6. SAB hosted Backroad Anthem, an indie country band, on Aug. 21 on the front lawn of the Reng Union performing their new hits for A-State students. Photo Courtesy of A-State
7. Seth Rollins (left) and Dean Ambrose (right) defeat
Sheamus and Cesaro and retain their tag team titles at the WWE match on Aug. 26 held at the Convocation Center. Photo by Emilee Ford
BILLIZA JOHNSON | PHOTO EDITOR