TheHer ald
SPORTS, 1B Howl’s Heroes hosted the fifth annual Howler Mud/Obstacle Run on Saturday
I N FO RM ING THE CAMPUS AND COMMUNI T Y SI NCE 1 9 21 VOLUME 97, ISSUE 13
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State Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit
WWW.ASTATEHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2018
Miss Black and Gold 2018
KEITH TURNER NEWS EDITOR
Last week the Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed a case made against Arkansas State University by a former student. The decision reversed a lower court’s decision to hear the case, and granted A-State sovereign immunity. “We are pleased with the Court’s decision and look forward to returning to Circuit Court to dispose of the remaining claim,” ASU System General Counsel Brad Phelps said in a statement. Kia McCoy, of Little Rock, sued Lonnie Williams, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, and Patience Bartunek, who taught in the nursing program at the time McCoy was enrolled. McCoy alleges that she was denied due process under the Arkansas Constitution and violated the Freedom of Information Act. According to court documents, McCoy was a student in the nursing program from August 2014 until May 2015. In September 2015, she took and passed a re-entry exam, but received an email from ASU soon after stating she had violated school policy. She learned that the University had found photographs of her quiz on another students phone. McCoy was accused of taking the photographs and sending them to another student. After the hearing, McCoy was suspended from the University until August 2016. She appealed her suspension, but Lonnie Williams denied the appeal. McCoy’s attorney submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University, but the request was denied until McCoy consented to the document’s release. The University stated that the FOIA claim was denied because the records requested were “shielded from disclosure.” McCoy petitioned for declaratory judgement (a judgement which determines the rights of parties without awarding damages), an injunction clearing her name and an order reinstating her to LAWSUIT, 4A
PHOTO COURTESY OF GALEN TAIT Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted its annual Miss Black and Gold pageant on Jan. 23. The 2018 Miss Black and Gold is Destini Lattimore, a senior multimedia journalism major from North Little Rock. She will represent the Theta Upsilon chapter at the district pageant on Feb. 10.
TOP (Left to right): Shane Harris, Eddie Lee, Destini Lattimore, Justin Bryles, Taron Robinson. BOTTOM (Left to right): Bralen Summons, Marvin Davis
Gipson appointed cabinetlevel chief diversity officer
Hutchinson calls for a tuiton freeze
A-STATE HERALD
KEITH TURNER
STAFF REPORT
NEWS EDITOR
Maurice Gipson becomes the first cabinetlevel chief diversity officer for Arkansas State University, Chancellor Kelly Damphousse announced Jan. 19. Gipson served the past three years as an assistant vice chancellor for diversity, and his area, the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, will now report directly to the Chancellor’s Office. “Because Arkansas State University is dedicated to the ideals of community and inclusive excellence, it is vital that our chief diversity officer has direct and regular interaction with the chancellor, and a seat at the leadership table,” Damphousse said. “Dr. Gipson has done outstanding work for Arkansas State. His new role will position him to be a key player in enhancing our efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.” Among the areas Gipson will manage for A-State are enhanced recruitment of students, faculty and staff from diverse communities. He will also provide additional leadership for university initiatives such as the Campus Climate Council, outreach to local, state and regional diverse communities, and serve on the chancellor’s Executive Council. “I appreciate the confidence Dr. Damphousse has shown in me for this position, but more so his commitment to elevating the discussion of matters related to diversity at Arkansas State
Governor asks Arkansas institutions to freeze tuition for one year In a letter sent in early January to four-year Arkansas colleges and universities, Governor Asa Hutchinson requested the schools “freeze” their tuition rates for in-state students for the upcoming academic year. “Over the last 10 years, the tuition increases have ranged from a low of 3 percent to a high of 6.2 percent, so it’s time to give our students a break,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “It is time to help make college more affordable.” Hutchinson cited the reason for this request being to “further the higher education goal of student affordability.” Arkansas State University System President Chuck Welch responded to the governor’s request in a statement released shortly after. “We respect, understand and share the governor’s
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COURTESY OF A-STATE University,” Gipson said. “I am looking ahead to the challenges of restoring our historic enrollment levels from the minority community and expanding the opportunities for persons representing the wide range of diverse backgrounds to become a part of A-State.” Gipson will continue his existing programs, including advising peer mentoring groups such as Brother-2-Brother, spearheading two faculty development programs (A-State Advance and the Future Faculty Initiative), cultivating new schools for the HBCU Graduate School Pipeline Initiative, and working with area high schools to increase participation in the suite
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concerns about keeping instate tuition affordable,” Welch said. “Our Board of Trustees and campus administrators believe strongly in producing a high-quality, affordable education, and we will certainly enter budget planning this spring with every intention of answering this challenge.” According to A-State Vice Chancellor for Finance Len Frey, the Executive Committee will soon begin meeting to plan for the 2018- 2019 budget. Frey said while the school system remains committed to entering the planning process intending to meet the governor’s challenge, freezing tuition would present a challenge for A-State’s budget. “If we hold tuition flat, that means the source of that revenue will not be there,” Frey said. A-State faced a budget deficit of $4 million, Chancellor Kelly Damphousse announced last December. However, one of A-State’s goals is to provide education to students at an affordable cost.
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Pack Pact Campaign to raise awareness begins Monday A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
Reducing the impact of sexual assault on the Arkansas State University community is the goal of a semester-long series of events to raise awareness and build support for victims. Chancellor Kelly Damphousse begins the campaign at noon Monday by inviting students, faculty and staff to take the Pack Pact and begin Acting for Change Together on sexual assault. “Sexual assault is a reality on every college and university campus, and education is how we can come together to prevent this problem,” Damphousse said. “The national statistics show that more than 10 percent of all students – male and female – experience rape or sexual assault through force. Less than 20 percent of female college-
age student victims will report to authorities what happened to them. We need to step up to support those who have felt they had no voice.” The opening event will be held in Centennial Hall at the Reng Student Union. Members of the student campus leadership, along with faculty and staff, will join together to support each other, and work toward the goal of reducing sexual violence.
“We want our students to know who to report problems to, and we want them to know we have services and support for them,” Damphousse said. “And we don’t want to overlook our faculty and staff. This is also a workplace issue as well.” Among the events planned for later in the semester are a 5K walk/run on March 13; Sexual Assault Awareness Week, April 2-6; and a campus PACK PACT, 4A
Campus Crime CLINTON SUMMERS CAMPUS CRIME REPORTER Campus Crime is compiled from weekly reports from the University Police Departmental logs.
Jan. 19, 2017 12:05 p.m.—A 19-year-old female student complained to UPD after discovering that someone had evidently “egged” her vehicle. Officer Micheal Yocum responded to the parking lot of Kays Hall to assess the damage. The female student stated that sometime between 9:40 p.m. the previous night and 10 a.m. an unknown person must have thrown eggs on her car. The eggs were found on the front hood and back right quarter panel of the 2017 Honda SUV. The report indicates that the student was parked at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house the night before when the egging took place. Photos were taken of the eggs, but there are no suspects at this time. 7:20 p.m.—Officer Billy Branch responded to the scene of a massive dumpster fire at the Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC). The dumpster in question was located at the STEM residence hall of the HLLC. According to the report, Branch arrived and soon realized that the fire was so large in size that his fire extinguisher “would have been useless.” Branch did, however, check the area to make sure the fire was not going to damage anything else outside the dumpster. Dispatch was advised, and the Jonesboro Fire Department arrived shortly after to put out the fire.
A post-fire assessment showed that both plastic lids had melted. Due to the angle and distance of surveillance cameras from the dumpster, video footage did not reveal any possible suspects or what may have caused the fire. Jan. 20, 2018 12:30 a.m.—Two Arkansas State football players were arrested for disorderly conduct after a fight broke out at the Pavilion. According to a University Police report, Officer Samantha Mitchusson was “doing security at the Pavilion for a fraternity dance party” when she witnessed a fight take place. Details of the fight, however, are masked and unavailable in the report. Both 22-year-old Dajon Emory and 21-year-old Brandon Byner were arrested for disorderly conduct and referred to Student Conduct for the incident. A third suspect, 25-year-old Jonathan Horton of West Memphis, was later served a notice of persona non grata at his residence in West Memphis. Jan. 21, 2018 9:31 a.m.—A 23-year-old male was sagging his pants when Officer Micheal Yocum observed him walking across the parking lot behind Kays and University Hall. Officer Yocum advised the male, Dionne Hudson, that there is “no sagging on Arkansas State University.” When asked if he was a student, Hudson said no. Officer Yocum told the suspect that he was going to pat him down to ensure there were no weapons on his person, and
Hudson then admitted he had a small amount of marijuana on him. Hudson surrendered the contraband and was placed in custody for possession of marijuana at that time. In addition to the drug charge, Hudson was banned from campus and charged with obstructing governmental operations because he had initially given Officer Yocum an incorrect name and date of birth. A check through dispatch also revealed there were active warrants out for his arrest. Jan. 26, 2018 12:53 a.m.—Officer Sean Calaway observed a white pickup truck run a red light after clocking it driving 53 mph in a 30 mph zone on Marion Berry Parkway. The driver, 22-year-old Colton Godsey, admitted to drinking “four beers and two shots” to Officer Calaway after he was pulled over. Godsey added that he believed he would be under .08 Blood Alcohol Content if administered a test. Calaway noticed Godsey had bloodshot eyes and was slurring his speech during their interaction. Calaway arrested Godsey for DWI after Godsey performed poorly in the standardized field sobriety tests. Godsey was also cited for speeding more than 20 over the limit. After arriving at the Craighead County Detention Center, an official test revealed Godsey’s BAC to be .18, well above Godsey’s personal estimate of his intoxication.
JUSTIN BRYLES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Zhedrick Jackson, a sophomore Spanish major of Pine Bluff, discussed diversity and race relations at A-State Student Government Association’s open forum, “Dear A-State.” During the forum, students were able to discuss diversity issues at the university and propose ways to solve the problems.
Police search for missing girl ASTATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
A 16-year-old girl recently reported missing is the daughter of two Arkansas State University employees. Arissa Farmer of Trumann was last seen at around 11 p.m. Saturday, according to police reports. Farmer is suspected to be traveling across state lines
with an older male whom she met online. Farmer is described as 175 pounds, 5-foot-2, with brown eyes and long auburn hair. The Trumann Police Department is asking anyone who has seen Farmer to contact them at 870-483-6423. The family is offering a financial reward for information leading to her return.
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2018
20th annual Soil and Water Conference held today
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A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
The 20th annual Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and Expo at Arkansas State University will address the latest issues and trends in soil and water conservation. This year’s event will be today at First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Drive, on the A-State campus. Producers from Arkansas and surrounding states are expected to attend. A number of speakers from agricultural agencies and private interests will gather to share their thoughts about soil and water conservation. “Attendees will learn about three initiatives: the Arkansas Soil Health Alliance, the Ducks Unlimited rice-sustainability program, and a new public-private partnership that seeks to foster ag innovation in the Arkansas Delta,” said Joseph Massey, steering committee chair. “Other professionals will discuss ways to detect and reduce soil compaction, and how digital technologies are impacting agriculture. Updates will be given on the state’s water plan, nutrients in the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, and conservation initiatives in the new Farm Bill. Four farmers will discuss how they have successfully approached water and soil conservation on their
own farms.” Other speakers include university experts and a representative from the Arkansas Farm Bureau. Up to 7.5 hours of Certified Crop Advisors Soil and Water Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered. More than 20 local and national vendors and agencies will have booths displaying their products and/or services. The 2018 Premier Sponsor is P&R Surge Systems, Inc. of Lubbock, CONFERENCE, 4A
A-State plans Black History Month activities A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
The Multicultural Center at Arkansas State University will host the kick-off for the annual Black History Month observance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the open court area of the Carl R. Reng Student Union. Participants will learn the Black History Month 2018 theme and get an overview of upcoming activities for the month, according to Dr. Evette Allen, director of the Multicultural Center. At the same event, the Black Student Association will mark 49 years on the A-State campus with an anniversary celebration and refreshments.
That evening at 6 p.m., the Multicultural Center will host a panel discussion in the Mockingbird Room of the Student Union. Guest panelists from across campus will participate in an open dialogue about the origins of Black History Month and why it is still celebrated. Sponsors for this year’s observance of Black History Month are the Multicultural Center, Office of Diversity, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office, Research & Technology Transfer, the Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages, the Department of History, and the College of Science and Mathematics. Major public events in February include:
Ayana Gregory, daughter of civil rights activist Dick Gregory, will address students, faculty and staff at 6 p.m. Feb. 7, in the Student Union auditorium. Through her program, “Daughter of the Struggle,” she shares powerful stories and transformative songs from Gregory’s experiences. The Strong-Turner Chapter of the A-State Alumni Association and the Multicultural Center will host the annual Soul Food Dinner on Feb. 9, starting at 6 p.m. in the Military Science Building, 1921 Aggie Road. Mark Hayes will present a lunch and learn event, “Fake News, Wokeness, and the BLM Movement” Monday, BLACK HISTORY, 4A
Online nursing program ranks among America’s best A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
Arkansas State University’s online nursing program has earned a ranking among the nation’s best programs, according to NurseJournal.org. The program stands at 16th in the list of 509 online nursing schools evaluated by the publication. “We continue to be so proud of our nursing programs,” said Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to quality and our ability to work with our students to achieve their professional goals. Our faculty is to be commended.” To determine rankings, 20 metrics were selected and sorted into five categories, including quality, affordability, convenience, satisfaction and
value. A-State scored a total 103.59 for fouryear institutions. Carly Pierce, NurseJournal.org senior editor, said, “Our mission is to create a social community for nurses around the world in which to educate, inform and share.” The website states that NurseJournal.org set out to find the all-around top nursing schools in each region of the United States and sat down with community members to talk about what makes a top nursing school. Arkansas State offers an online registered nurse bachelor of science in nursing degree that can be completed in as little as one year. The RN to BSN degree is designed to give nursing professionals the opportunity to advance their education and career.
WR IT E O N JOIN THE HERALD S TAFF Weekly Staff Meetings Ever y Monday at 5 p.m. Communications Building Room 224
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of programming within the College Access and Readiness Initiative. He is also a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Completion. “Dr. Gipson will also help lead our efforts to ensure that our campus climate remains committed to ensuring that all members of the A-State family feel welcomed and supported in their professional development,” Damphousse said. “He will be one of the key torchbearers who will help us fulfill our commitment that Every Red Wolf Counts.” Gipson joined Arkansas State in January 2015 after spending two years at the University of Texas at Austin
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where he managed and coordinated the vice president’s strategic minority mentoring initiatives as a member of the senior staff. The native of Ferriday, La., also oversaw several strategic initiatives and community projects and evaluated the effectiveness of unit planning and strategy outcomes. Before joining UT-Austin, Gipson served in various development and fundraising capacities at Wiley College, Huston-Tillotson University and Langston University. He was the diversity student coordinator at LSU from 2001-06. While there he developed the university’s
student diversity plan and provided training on diversity issues to students, staff and faculty. He also created and maintained a database of over 5,000 minority students and provided statistical analysis trends to the administration. Gipson earned his juris doctor degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge in 2010 and his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in English, history, African and African American studies. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in history at the University of Memphis.
individuals should follow the conference link at AState.edu/ soilandwater. The fee for the day-long conference, including lunch, is $40.
For more details, contact Chris Jones at (870) 9722043 or by email, chrisjones@ AState.edu.
spring semester along with other events to be announced. “What we begin on Feb. 5 will continue throughout the semester because we need to address issues that have
occurred here and on college campuses across the country,” Damphousse said. “That is why the ‘act’ in our pact stands for Acting for Change Together.”
While all women deserve pay equality, it is an ongoing process and fight. But in the midst of our fight, can we acknowledge that black women are receiving even less? If we are to fight for women, then we must truly support the entire entity. Black women have remained
at the bottom of society for centuries, and it can be disheartening to see change. Her bravery and resilience is commendable, because it is not easy to fight for what it is right when it is not trendy.
4-1 ruling, saying McCoy didn’t demonstrate a due process violation that was “sufficient to avoid sovereign immunity.”
The case will be dismissed in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
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Texas. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the conference begins at 8 a.m. To register online,
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Week, April 2-6; and a campus participation in the nationwide Denim Day, April 25. Student contests for art work and promotional activities will also take place during the
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either work and maintain their livelihood, or risk it all in the name of what is right and what is wrong. Mo’Nique’s plight to boycott Netflix may be ambitious, but her message is valid. There is a pay gap between men and women in every career field.
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the nursing program. The Supreme Court overturned the circuit court’s denial to dismiss the case with a
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“All of us in institutions of higher education understand that affordability is extremely important,” Frey said. Despite the fact that tuition goes toward many budgeted items on campus, Frey said a potential freeze would not reduce services offered to students, at least not intentionally. The idea of A-State maintaining a steady tuition for a year is appealing to students, many of whom seek additional routes to pay tuition, as evidenced in the latest special edition of The Herald. “I think it’s a good thing,
because it seems to be a big problem. Students are always worried about rising tuition,” Carson Coats, a senior finance major from Jonesboro said. “So I’m really excited that (Hutchinson) is pushing to help students.” In 2017, Gov. Hutchinson released plans for his “Higher Education Productivity Funding Formula.” The new formula changed the way public universities and colleges received funding from the state. Schools received funding based on their retention and graduation rates, rather than the number of students enrolled at the start of the academic year.
“We want the students who enroll to progress to a degree,” Hutchinson stated in a November edition of his weekly column. The new ranking would potentially place A-State near the bottom of school funding. Hutchinson’s goal to raise the rate of graduation and completion is one shared by A-State administration, especially Chancellor Kelly Damphousse who last semester began his “Every Red Wolf Counts” campaign to increase these rates. The new formula will go into effect July 1, 2018.
support of the American Heart Association. There will be a “Mixed Fit & Zumba” class, as well as a “Turbo Kick” class, at 6 p.m. at the Microsociety Elementary School. Guests are asked to bring donations of Pop-tarts, ravioli, ramen noodles, packaged crackers, breakfast bars, or individual microwaveable mac and cheese, as all donations will be donated to the Microsociety Food Backpack Program. The Minorities in Healthcare Professions student
organization will host an HIV/AIDS awareness table Wednesday, Feb. 7, to inform the A-State community about this autoimmune disease and healthy practices to prevent HIV/AIDS. Hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, Eta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will host a panel and open discussion about what it means to be a Black woman. The panel is 7-9 p.m. in the Multicultural Center.
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Feb. 12, at noon in Centennial Hall. The Office of Diversity, the Student Affairs Office, and the Multicultural Center are sponsors. Additional Black History Month campus events during the first half of February include: On Friday, Feb. 2, from 6 until 8 p.m., The Eta Upsilon and Kappa Nu Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. are hosting a “Pink Goes Red” collaborative workout in
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The Arkansas State Men’s and Women’s basketball teams continue Sun Belt play against Georgia State Thursday KRISHNAN COLLINS & BRAD BREWER SPORTS WRITERS
The Arkansas State women’s basketball team still has a great chance at finishing in the top half of the Sun Belt as the team boasts a 5-4 conference record. Nine games remain for the Red Wolves in SBC action and a strong finish in the regular season could lead to a favorable seed in the conference tournament. Arkansas State split its last five games going 2-3 in a flurry of conference matchups. During that five-game span the Red Wolves moved to first place in the SBC. Georgia State will be a much deserved break for the Red Wolves as the Panthers have had a less than mediocre season. The visitors only have one conference win and it was against Georgia Southern. Junior Akasha Westbrook leads Arkansas State with 14 points per game and will look to put up big numbers against the Panthers. The middle half of the SBC is packed tightly together, leaving no room for any mistakes. Three teams share a 5-4 record with the Lady Red Wolves while Coastal Carolina and UT Arlington follow close
behind with a record of 5-5. SBC tournament seeds will be played for until the final day of the season. The Sun Belt always makes for exciting finishes to regular season play, no matter the sport. Back-to-back games in the First National Bank Arena should give the Lady Red Wolves the boost they need to finish the season strong. With Arkansas State sitting fifth in the SBC, every game matters. Panthers might be intimidating to some, but the Red Wolves have nothing to fear in this midseason conference matchup. Tipoff is
STAFF REPORT
The Arkansas State women’s tennis team fell to the University of Missouri-Kansas City by a 4-0 decision at RidgePointe Country Club Saturday. In doubles competition The Kangaroos took match’s one and three and then earned wins in singles matches one, two and three. UMKC claimed a pair of 7-6 wins in doubles play to take the point. In singles’ competition, Shelby King lost to Aliona Ladutska by a score of 6-1, 6-1, while Anita Detlava lost to Katie Fries 6-2, 6-1. Sabina Jeresic then fell to Melinda Johnson 7-5, 6-3 as that ended competition for the day. Sunday, the Arkansas State women’s tennis lost to Central Arkansas, 4-0 in the first outdoor of the season at the A-State Tennis Complex. The Red Wolves fell behind early after dropping the doubles’ point to the Bears despite closes scores in all three matches. Kirsty Venter and Sabina Jeresic stayed close with Rada Manataweewat and QiLi Ma through the first four points of the match, before eventually falling 6-3. Anita Detlava and Berta Masdevall Masip also stayed with their opponents, Chunan
lasting from New Year’s Eve to Jan. 13, fans had many reasons to be disheartened. However, after winning two of their last three contests, the Red Wolves might have it in them to make a run to end the regular season. Unfortunately, a win this Thursday does not look probable, as the Georgia State Panthers sit 16-6 overall with a second place ranking in the Sun Belt standings, which is nine spots ahead of the Red Wolves who are only beating out the Trojans of Little Rock. Nonetheless, there is hope for A-State, as the Panthers narrowly defeated the Red
Wolves earlier in January in an offensive slugfest. All signs point to this matchup being yet another shootout, which is where A-State holds their best chance. Offense has been the one shining light for the Red Wolves this season, most recently in their most recent victory against Appalachian State as the team put up 91 points. The problem is, the defense has not been hot this year, so A-State will have to keep up with the Panthers in scoring for any chance in the game. An early deficit could spell an early end.
A-STATE HERALD FILE PHOTO
Tennis falls to University of Central Arkansas A-STATE HERALD
set for 5 p.m. Thursday. *** For the men’s team, it has been a disappointing season for the Red Wolves heading into the back nine of the season, but there is nothing better to cure the woes of a struggling team than a home stand as Georgia State will travel to the First National Bank Arena to open February for both teams. Not many expected A-State to truly compete for the Sun Belt title this year, as head coach Mike Balado has gone through the process of building his team during his inaugural year. But after a five-game losing streak
Xiang and Amiru Shimoguchi, before also dropping their match 6-3 to give UCA the point. Shelby King and Shannon O’Brien were ahead in their match at 5-4, when the point was clinched. In singles’ competition, Central Arkansas used three straight set victories to claim the match. Hee-Jin Oh downed Masedvall Masip 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 4, while Ma defeated Jeresic 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 3 match. The Bears clinched the overall match with a highly completive contest in the No. 2 when Xiang defeated Detlava 6-3, 6-3. When the match was called, King was headed to a third set with Pornpawee Pramethong after taking the first 7-5, before dropping the second at 3-6. Also, O’Brien was locked in a tight battle with Shimoguchi and was tied in the second at 2-2 after losing the first 7-6 on a tiebreak. Venter was unable to finish her matchup after fighting back from a first set 6-1 loss to lead 6-5 at the time of the match point was clinched. The Red Wolves will return to the courts Friday when they will take on Northern Kentucky in Lexington.
Balado said earlier in the season that he wanted to focus on spreading the ball around and keeping everyone involved in the game, and he has kept his word. Georgia State on the other hand loves to ride its star players. The leader of the Panthers, sophomore D’Marcus Simonds, averages an incredible 35.2 minutes a game and scored 21.3 points per game. Three more Panthers follow him in double digits, while the numbers for the rest of the players drop off significantly. Senior Devin Simms leads the Red Wolves with 16.3 points per game, but junior Ty Cockfield is not too far behind his senior teammate, scoring 13.4 points per game. The differences in approach the two teams take becomes clearer the further down each roster you go. A-State has more players to go to, while Georgia State relies on its stars, an approach that seems to have yielded more success this season. Regardless, if A-State constantly rotates players in and out of the game, the changes might throw off Georgia State’s defense just enough for the Red Wolves to get a true advantage in the game and become one game away from having double digits in the win category.
A-State rugby club captures spring season opener against Iowa Central A-STATE HERALD STAFF REPORT
Sloppy, muddy field conditions didn’t keep Arkansas State University from defeating Iowa Central Community College, 3010, in the spring season opener Saturday afternoon in collegiate rugby at Curt Huckaby Field. A-State, who was undefeated in the fall season, picked up where the team left off by knocking off the two-year-old Iowa Central program in the first meeting between the two schools. A steady morning rain that left the field in a mess created issues for both squads. “It was a sloppy day,” A-State head coach Blake White said. “It was partly due to the weather and partly by the pressure from Iowa Central. They played very well with great energy all match long. It is a team loaded with talent and will surely have a great season. It will be good for us in the long run having a tough match to start our season and set the tone before we get into the conference season.” Action got underway when the Red Wolves’ Tabo Maree stole a line out and ran it in for the score to
put the Red Wolves up, 5-0. Calvin Gentry added another try from the corner to increase the lead to 10-0. Just before the halfway point, Iowa Central connected on a penalty kick to cut A-State’s score to, 10-3. Early in the final period, Brandon Rokela added three for A-State with the penalty kick to put the score at 13-3. At the 29-minute mark, Ruan Knuppel scored the try and Rokela converted to increase
the Red Wolves lead to 20-3. Gentry capitalized on the tapand-go for another successful try, making the score, 25-3. As the clock wound down, Omphile Magome scored with no time remaining, leaving the final score at 30-10 in favor of Arkansas State. White was pleased with the play of Maree, saying, “He had a fantastic game tackling, running and every phase of the game. Also, one of our
new guys, Wallace Kwasu, had a strong game.” Kwasu joined the team earlier in the month. “It was the first live action in two-to-three months and the guys enjoyed it,” White added. “It was a good start.” Arkansas State travels to Marietta, Georgia, Saturday to face long-time nemesis Life University in the opening game of Mid-South Conference play.
COURTESY OF ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Brandon Rokela eludes Iowa Central player Saturday afternoon in A-State’s 30-10 victory.
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It’s 2018, let’s hit the gym! TUCKER PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
PHOTO VIA ATHLETIC BUSINESS The Red Wolf Center is available to all A-State students with a valid student ID.
It’s a new year, and many of us have resolved to get in shape. Actually getting started on that promise is another matter. We’ve all got access to the on campus gym, but how do we make sure we can keep it up past the beginning of the year? First off, have someone to work out with. It’s easier to keep going if someone else is there to hold you accountable. Your companion has to want to be there too, otherwise they’ll be just as likely to skip as you are. In some ways, it might be good to workout with a friend you aren’t as close to. The social awkwardness associated with canceling can be a good motivator. If you have any friends who are already fit, they would be good candidates because they can help show you the ropes.
Scheduling a regular time to workout is also helpful for creating a routine. Making a routine and sticking to it eventually makes it a normal event in your brain, instead of something extra. It also helps you schedule other things around it, making it harder to make excuses for missing. The rock wall opens weekdays at 4 p.m., and there are classes that the gym schedules for specific interests. A few more tips: bring a water bottle. Hydration is very important. There are signs posted in the gym to bring a towel, and while that isn’t always enforced, it can be nice to have around. You can’t wear jeans while using the machines, so be prepared. Let’s make 2018 the year of sticking to resolutions. So let’s get out there and get fit.
Grammy awards disappoint fans, post-Grammy comments inspire rally for change KIRSTEN LARRISON LIFE EDITOR
Sunday was the 60th annual Grammy Awards, and the overall reactions to the show have seemed to be less than positive. When the nominations were announced, the diversity was something that many music fans took as a sign of the change of the times. Some of the biggest categories were dominated by women and various people
of color. Kesha’s empowering album “Rainbow,” which cited her struggle after winning her court case against her abuser and producer, was up for best pop vocal album against Lady Gaga’s album about the pain of losing her aunt, “Joanne.” Album of the year included nominations Lorde, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, and Bruno Mars. “Despacito,” one of the most memorable songs of the summer, was up for record of the year against tracks from
Lamar, Gambino, Jay-Z and Mars. Overall, there were more than enough chances for the winners to mix up the status quo. This was not the case. Three of the four major categories (album of the year, record of the year and song of the year) went to Bruno Mars, while Alessia Cara picked up best new artist. She was one of the 11 female soloists who won a category out of 84 total categories. Many fans were certainly
disappointed by their favorite artists losing, but the most outrage sparked after the Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said that in order to win more categories, women should “step up, because I think they would be welcome.” P!nk, Katy Perry, and Charli XCX all were quick to call him out, saying that women are making great music, it’s that the people in charge aren’t picking them. Sheryl Crow even went so far as to ask that the categories
be separated back into male and female in order to spread the praise. The night wasn’t a complete bust, though. Ed Sheeran won the two categories he was nominated for, and Kendrick Lamar won five of his seven categories. Bruno Mars took home six awards, winning all of his categories. “La La Land” popped back up as well to take best score soundtrack and best compilation soundtrack for visual media. “Moana” star
Auli’i Cravalho and songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda won best song written for visual media for “How Far I’ll Go.” Overall, though the winners may have been deserving, many people were severely disappointed with the lack of women, and many fans speculate it’s because there were very few women, if any, in the Recording Academy voting process. Maybe next year the world will catch up and help women get the recognition they deserve.
Student Speak: What’s your prediction for 2018? W Name: Alfonso Ramirez Hometown: Beebe Major: Computer information technology Classification: Junior What’s your prediction for 2018? “2018 will be the year of growth not only in society, but also in technology.”
Name: Jazlyn Walls Hometown: Marion Major: Nursing Classification: Freshman What’s your prediction for 2018? “Trump’s going to get impeached. Either that or there’s going to be a war.”
Name: Hannah Turnbow Hometown: Marion Major: Biology Classification: Freshman What’s your prediction for 2018? “Trump’s going to say some more inappropriate stuff.”
Name: Kylie Eckerd Hometown: Little Rock Major: Interdisciplinary studies Classification: Freshman What’s your prediction for 2018? “Hopefully it’s better, but we’re starting off with the Tide Pod challenge, so we’ll see how things go.”
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Help yourself! College is scary to navigate--use these tips to keep yourself safe when the situation is less than ideal PEYTON SULLINS STAFF WRITER
College campuses aren’t considered very safe, due to sexual allegations or other dangerous situations that some students may encounter. However, there are ways to ensure your safety on campus, but if you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel violated, scared or apprehensive, the best thing to do is to call the campus police. Here are some tips that may be useful for staying safe during your college years: 1. Keep the Campus Police number in your phone at all times: (870) 972-2093. You never know when an emergency will come up and you may need to call someone of authority. Anytime you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in a situation, calling the campus police to come pick you up is a great option. Wherever you are, they will find a way to come get you and ensure that you make it home safe. Additionally, there are several emergency poles across campus with blue lights on the top. These poles have a phone function that will allow you to call campus police at any time and staying close to the light may deter any people who may be following you. 2. Never go anywhere on campus at night without someone else with you. No matter if you are at the library, the cafeteria, or the gym, having someone with you at all times is a good way to ensure that you will be safe. In case anything happens, you’ll have someone that can account
for you, and vice versa. Using the “buddy system” especially when you’re walking on campus in the dark is a good idea. You never know if someone has bad intentions or is dangerous, so having someone with you is a nice way to ensure safety. 3. Be cautious of your surroundings. Most of the time, when students are walking on campus, the idea or thought that something bad may happen to them may not cross their mind. Unfortunately, there are circumstances where a dangerous individual could be on campus and you may never know. When walking somewhere by yourself, be aware of your surroundings and be attentive to the people around you. I don’t mean to say that you should always be scared when walking somewhere by yourself; just be cautious and careful at all times. This can also prevent injuries such as running into people, tripping over something, or accidentally crossing into a dangerous part of traffic. 4. Never, EVER let someone fix you a drink at a party without watching them yourself. There have been many instances of women getting “dateraped” during campus functions or parties. The best ways to avoid this is to make sure that no one else fixes you a drink beside yourself or to actively watch them as they fix a drink for you. As much as I hate to say it, spiking someone’s drink is a common thing that happens on college campuses, so be actively aware of this while at parties.
5. Avoid places that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This may seem obvious, but it still deserves to be included on this list. Avoid dark, secluded places on campus, especially at night-time, but if you must, make sure to have someone or multiple people with you, just in case something happens. If you ever feel uncomfortable around someone or in a specific spot on campus, call the University Police right away and they will come get you. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
8. Keep a bottle of pepper spray with you at all times. Some of you may laugh at this, but it is actually a good defense mechanism. Whether you keep the pepper spray in your pocket or on a key chain, having some with you at all times can be a leg up in case of an attack or predator approaching you. 9. Learn how to defend yourself. We always think, “Oh, that won’t happen to me….” but truly, no one ever knows. Taking karate or any other martial arts class, or just attending a self-defense class, can help a lot in case of an emergency. Taking necessary precautions in case of an emergency before an emergency is so important, because in some instances, it may save your life. Always be prepared for the unthinkable to happen and always be on your toes and aware of your surroundings. Bad things happening aren’t something that we can expect, but we can make proper arrangements and prepare for them to happen.
6. If you’ve had too much to drink at a party, don’t get behind the wheel. Find a designated driver. This also seems obvious, but about 28 people die as a result of drunk driving. Maybe you have even had a friend or family member that this has happened to; this situation affects a lot of people way too personally. No matter if you’ve had one drink or seven, getting behind the wheel after drinking ANY amount is never a good idea. Having a designated driver can help avoid hurting yourself or someone else.
Hopefully these tips help someone who has ever felt uncomfortable or unsafe on campus, or maybe just inspires someone to take a self-defense class and prepare in case something is to happen. Never forget, if you EVER feel unsafe, call the Campus Police and tell them your location and the situation, if you can. This can be an important factor in saving yours or someone else’s life.
7. Always lock your door to your dorm and be cautious when getting into your vehicle at night. Although most dorms are considered safe, always lock your door at night or whenever you leave. You never know what could happen in the middle of the night or while you’re gone, so locking the door helps avoid an unsafe situation. Additionally, if your car is further away than you feel safe walking to, calling someone on the phone and walking with your keys ready for attack are other ways to protect yourself.
What do you think the new year is going to be like? Name: Cameia Anderson Hometown: Hot Springs Major: Exercise science Classification: Sophomore What’s your prediction for 2018? “So far it’s going good, so I think it’ll be a good year. Great year.”
Name: Christian Davis Hometown: Marion Major: Psychology Classification: Junior What’s your prediction for 2018? “Hopefully better than 2017 was.”
Fun fact: 2018 is the year of the dog in the Chinese Zodiac, and the lucky colors are green, blue and black. The element of the year will be earth. The Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 16.
Name: Uni Hometown: South Korea Major: International business Classification: Junior What’s your prediction for 2018? “I think 2018 will be good!”
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2018
Land of the free, as long as you’re straight OLIVIA RIZZARDI OPINION COLUMNIST
Olivia Rizzardi is a sophomore multimedia journalism major from North Little Rock. In a recent opinion piece published by the New York Times, Sam Brinton outlined his
DE’QUAN HALL
painful past as a middle schooler in Florida. Brinton’s parents sent him to conversion therapy for two years, where he was told that his religious community rejected his sexuality, that he was an abomination, and that he was the only gay person in the world. According to NBC News, conversion therapy is a “medically defunct practice that aims to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” A recent report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law states that tens of thousands of LGBT teenagers will undergo conversion therapy before they turn 18. This homophobic method that many conservative parents
force upon their underaged kids includes a multitude of physically and emotionally traumatizing practices. Brinton says that his therapist had him restricted to a table, forcing ice, heat, and electricity to be applied to his body. These type of tactics are known as “aversion treatments.” In 2018, one would think that conversion therapy would be seen by all as inhumane and barbaric, but that isn’t always the case. Vice President Mike Pence gained media attention when he was announced as Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2016 election cycle, following reports that he was a supporter of conversion therapy. While
Pence and his representatives have denied these claims, critics remain skeptical due to homophobic statements taken from Pence’s 2000 congressional campaign website. Brinton says in his opinion piece that going through conversion therapy was a “traumatizing” time, a sentiment that is shared by many. It’s hard to wrap your mind around the idea that there are parents who force their own children to be exposed to this; that they are so ashamed of their child’s identity that they sign them up for literal torture. The fact that a man who stands a good chance of becoming the president of our country is an open homophobe
who supports this treatment is heartbreaking. What does that say to gay youth? That the leaders of our country who are supposed to protect them wouldn’t hesitate to ruin their lives? Furthermore, what does that say about our country as a whole? Here we have this medically denounced practice, yet thousands of parents across the United States will give in to myths and sign their kids up. Can we as a society really not progress enough to get past this extreme homophobia? We already know that the United States often falls behind in terms of acceptance and social modernization, but continuing to believe in a useless, inhumane
process only further cements our place as backward bigots. As a society we need to do better-- we must do better. We can no longer continue as we are now, where children have to be afraid to be themselves. It is crucial that we continue to talk about this. It is often swept under the rug, as many believe it is a thing of the past. However, legislation is circulating that seeks to eliminate therapists who look to harm LGBTQ youth, and it is important that this gets all the attention that it can. Brinton sums it up perfectly, “Everyone should know that you can’t change what you never chose.”
Mo’Nique vs. Netflix: Know Your Worth
OPINION COLUMNIST
De’Quan Hall is a junior broadcast journalism major from Malvern. Mo’Nique explains Netflix Boycott over Gender and Racial Bias: “Playing the game means if I should bend you over and rape you, you know not to talk because I can ruin your career.” Academy Award winning actress and comedian, Mo’Nique, called for a Netflix boycott under gender and racial bias after she was offered only
$500,000 to do a comedy special for the popular streaming service. With a career spanning 25 years in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian evolving into an actress, talk show host and producer, how does the offer of less than a million dollars equate to her resume? It doesn’t. Yet, many in the self-proclaimed internet community, “Black Twitter,” have questioned her relevance, humor, reputation, and her worth. On Mo’Nique’s podcast she brought up a great point in regard to the possibility of her current relevancy being considered in her offer. She addressed the comments head on saying, “What do you think they would have offered Betty White or Roseanne?” These are white women who are legends in their own rights, who happen to come from a different era. Regardless of their currency, their body of
work speaks for itself. Would they accept an offer like that? More importantly, would they receive the same backlash that Mo’Nique has for her honesty? Mo’Nique’s fight for pay equality has been easy to dismiss and discredit because of all that she represents. Journalists are targeting her because she is heavyset, loud, black, and it is easy to paint the illusion that she is being an ungrateful, angry black woman. The question is why must she be grateful? While $500,000 is a lot of money to most, Mo’Nique is an acclaimed comedian who has earned her wage. She’s being told to be grateful for her pay even though she’s being offered below her pay grade. Many have referenced Lee Daniel’s comment that she needs to “play the game” to be welcomed back into Hollywood’s good graces. Mo’Nique responded to the cultural backlash on Sirius XM’s, “Sway in the Morning,” stating:
“Playing the game means if I should bend you over and rape you, you know not to talk because I can ruin your career. If I should put my penis in your mouth, you know not to talk because I can ruin your career. If I want you to be a slave and work for free, you know not to talk because I can ruin your career.” Harsh as it may be, she is correct. Rebutting Mo’Nique’s boycott arguing that she needs to keep corporate woes to herself are the kind of mindsets that shame others into accepting abuse. Women are actively fighting for pay equality but are they truly fighting for equality? Actresses from Meryl Streep to Jennifer Lawrence have spoken out about the pay gap, but no one sheds light on the fact that women of color are still trying to catch up to white women. Would there be a trend to fight for pay equality if white women made the same as men? It is the elephant in the room that
KAVIN ALEXANDER | STAFF CARTOONIST everyone sees, but no one dares mention. Even those who may agree with Mo’Nique and are under the same umbrella cannot
speak out because it is a matter of survival. Undoubtedly, many would choose to feed their family when given the choice to MONIQUE, 4A
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