The Magazine of the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences
Henderson State University Vol.18, Summer 2016
From the Dean
Dr. John Hardee Dean of the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences
Priority Two of our strategic plan focuses on academic program enhancement. Working toward achieving that goal, Ellis College will offer several new degree programs in the 2016-17 academic year. We will offer both a major and a minor in Innovative Media. Students in this interdisciplinary program will learn journalism skills and design skills that will enable them to create media not only on computers and cell phones but on an increasing number of everyday objects. Additionally, students majoring in fields as diverse as communication, marketing and computer science are likely to discover that they too need wide-ranging media skills upon entering the workplace; a minor in Innovative Media could give these students vital preparation for the new professional landscape. Pending Arkansas Department of Higher Education approval, we will offer a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. Compared to the Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, this degree involves a greater emphasis on technical and scientific fields associated with criminal justice and criminology. This degree will be of particular interest to students interested in forensic science. We will increase our online learning opportunities with a new online Bachelor of Science in nursing for registered nurses. As more hospitals seek Magnet status recognition, the demand for nurses with the Bachelor of Science degree will increase. New minors will be offered in engineering physics, museum studies and public administration/public management. The engineering physics minor will be attractive to students majoring in physics, chemistry or math who want to work in industry. Graduates with the interdisciplinary museum studies minor will be qualified to take a multitude of jobs in the museum field such as park interpreter, museum technician, curator or exhibit planner. A minor in public administration/public management can open the door to careers in federal, state and local government as well as nonprofit organizations and health care. Although Ellis College will continue to provide an excellent liberal arts education, in the future we will be more deliberate in bridging the liberal arts with professional aspirations.
Content Volume 18 Summer 2016
President Glen Jones
The Magazine of Ellis College
Dean of Ellis College John Hardee
An Artist’s Japanese Dream Journey Page 2
Provost Steve Adkison
Associate Dean Angela Boswell
Forge Editorial Board John Hardee David Stoddard Michael Ray Taylor Designers Natasha Cribbs Christina Millard David Stoddard Editors Scott McKinnon Contributors Emily R. Bell Ashley Bles Alex Durham Steve Fellers Scott McKinnon Kasten Searles Katie Smith Ashley Smith David Stoddard
Cover Illustration Artwork by David Warren Design by David Stoddard
FORGE is published yearly by the Henderson State University Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences. Through profiles and current news, the magazine serves as a personal link connecting the college to its alumni and other related communities. The FORGE staff, composed of students and faculty, strives for excellence in magazine journalism through fair reporting and high quality photography and design. To suggest topics for future FORGE articles or to comment on the magazine, please email hardee@hsu.edu.
Zenjo in Print
The Simonson Biological Field Station Page 4 Pilgrimage on the Camino Page 6 Adventures Out of the Comfort Zone Page 10 Journey to the Galapagos Page 12 Top Radio Jock Learned to Fail Page 14 Physics Blowin’ in the Wind Page 16 Debatable Page 18
If you like what you see Consider making a donation to an Ellis College organization or department or endow a scholarship in memory of a friend.www.hsu. edu/academics/elliscollege
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MOKUHAN Life in the wood
The rich color of water-based inks, a student’s curiosity and deep tradition drew David Warren, associate professor of art, to become one of six international printmakers chosen to participate in Japan’s prestigious Mokuhanga Innovation Lab training program this May. By Alex Durham
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Although his days were spent in complete student mode, Warren says he was lucky to be located right off Lake Kawaguchi with a perfect view of Mount Fuji from his residence. The traditional tatami-style house he and the other artists shared had a large studio classroom, which was convenient – Warren said he spent as much time in the studio lab as he could. The lab is designed to provide training of mokuhanga and its techniques. Mokuhanga is water-based woodblock printmaking that has been a part of Japan’s culture for hundreds of years. Warren says Henderson focuses on western-style printmaking that uses oil-based inks. Warren’s interest in the mokuhanga technique was piqued when he researched and found it was more eco-friendly. He plans to pass along the traditions and skills he learned to his students at Henderson. “The technique is very challenging,” he said. “It’s a balance. You think you’re never going to get it, so you spend hours practicing.” Warren said over time he would like to transform his space in the classroom to more of a Japanese-style set up, in hopes that the Henderson printmaking studio could some day resemble it. He would love for students to feel like they are in Japan while working with Japanese techniques and tools. Warren plans to incorporate this into his classes and then eventually make Henderson a place for people to come to learn this specific technique. Warren became motivated to look into this form of art when one of his students tried out some of these techniques in an art history class. He developed an interest himself, researched it and realized he needed to learn more about this technique to help his students. “You can read or play (video) tutorials to learn, but to really learn you need someone
there teaching it to you,” Warren said. This is exactly why he decided to apply for this program. The Mokuhanga Innovation Lab is an international studio that specializes in the technique with the goal of teaching it to artists all over the world. “Digital tools are mostly used now to make art, but this is more history and craft,” Warren said. “For printmaking, you have to reach out to some place to find that training, and that was there.” Warren said the area he stayed in reminded him of Hot Springs. He could walk down the hill to a lake and see people out on boats fishing. Minus the iconic Mount Fuji being a backdrop for this view, the similarities were a comfort to Warren. “They make you feel at home there.” Although there was a language barrier, he said people are the same everywhere. He could go up to someone who didn’t speak the same language and still communicate enough to understand. “Education is a big deal there, and they take the desire to learn very seriously,” Warren said. The institute admired his proposal to bring the technique back to the United States. The other artists in the program were from all over the world: two from Ireland, one from Canada, one from Singapore and one from China. “As artists, we all speak the same language,” said Warren. They lived in a situation where they were on their own sometimes. In the house, they had a kitchen, but Warren said he’s not much of a cook. “People from other places were cooking all of these great dishes,” Warren said. “I could offer to make pancakes or grill them something.” When not eating in the shared house, Warren thoroughly enjoyed the dishes at nearby noodle cafés. “They were amazing. I had to have them at least once a day,” he said.
GA NGA Warren at times struggled with missing food from the States though. He said that while he loves sushi, he missed food from home like barbeque. The house he and the other artists stayed in didn’t have central heat and air. He said at night it got quite cool, so they had to dress warm and drink lots of hot tea. “It’s similar to camping in a sense,” Warren said. “But it makes you aware of simple living and living in harmony with your surroundings.” Even with these concerns, Warren was thrilled to be in Japan experiencing it all. “There’s a lot of tradition there. Every time you turn around, there was another festival. Kids in the streets playing drums and tons of food,” he said. “Kind of like the Arkansas State Fair, but without the fried Oreos.” Warren said while there were some fried food there, it tended to be foods like octopus. He made sure to tell others of unique traditions in the States as well, like fried bacon. One of the most interesting things that people loved to hear about was Henderson. “I was always bragging about HSU, and they were all really interested in that,” he said. “Education is something everybody understands.” Warren wants Arkansans to love our heritage because it’s special too. “We’ve got good stuff in
Arkansas and at Henderson that we should be proud of,” he said. Master printmakers from the Mokuhanga Innovation Lab took all the artists on a tour in Tokyo to meet people who hand make the tools they use in printmaking. “Craft is extremely valued there,” Warren said. He constantly saw exciting new things, but one of the coolest sights had to be the robots. “They are big on design there so you feel like you’re living in a science fiction movie,” he said. Along with all the excitement of technological advances, Warren said his favorite part was getting to make art. He brought all of the pieces he created in Japan back home to display at Henderson. Warren is taking the technique he was taught and plans to interpret it in his own way to share with students, educators across the state, and eventually the country. “Be a lifelong learner,” he said. “I’m always looking at myself more as a student and always wanting to learn more.” The MILAB program, located in Tokyo and Lake Kawaguchi, Japan, focuses on the art of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Artists from around the world seek out the expertise of the master printers who share their knowledge in the traditional Japanese studio setting.
(c)MI-LAB or (c)Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory
Above: Japan is a contrast of the ultra modern and deep traditions. The workshop participants visited cultural events, craftsmen and festivals as part of their experience. The Mokuhanga Innovation Lab (MI Lab) Find out more about the 3rd Mokuhanga conference in Hawaii at University of Hawaii, Manoah. http://mokuhanga.jp/2017/
Below: Warren working with the lab’s expert artists, craftsmen and fellow students.
Left and Below: One of Warren’s prints and the woodcut he created at The Mokuhanga Innovation Lab. Bottom: The workshop and view from Warren’s neighborhood while in Japan. (c)MI-LAB or (c)Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory
(c)MI-LAB or (c)Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory
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IAnteractive learning Natural Progression Interactive learning is a difficult concept to implement at a university. People talk about it, and occasionally some are successful at accomplishing it, only to fall back into the old ways of teaching. But there is a well-kept secret at Henderson that provides an environment for interactive learning. A cabin with a classroom, the Simonson Biological Field Station covers everything that students need to be successful when it comes to the study of biological science. There’s an opportunity to pursue every avenue of scientific study at the field station, from microbiology to natural resource majors and everything in between.
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The field station sits on the northeast shore of DeGray Lake near Bismarck, making it easy for students and faculty to access the water for research and studies. Covering 104 acres of forested plot, the station provides trails, food plots and a natural setting for research and wildlife observation. “Studying doesn’t have to be boring at the field station,” Allen Leible, station manager, said. “Typically, classes don’t really interact. We do interact here.” For some Henderson students, the interactive classes at the station are their first real experiences in nature, and will often only come to an end after the sun has set. “I usually end up having to remind them that my wife doesn’t like me being out here all night,” Leible said. “But I do love seeing how students will fall in love with nature once they get out here. You may not get experiences like that at bigger schools.” With interactive learning, classes can be enhanced to teach a subject from all angles. “It doesn’t just enhance biology, but it enhances other aspects of scientific research as well,” said Troy Bray, associate professor of biology and department chair. Cindy Fuller, associate professor of biology, uses the field station for those aspects. “My (microbiology) class is gathering water samples and currently testing for E. Coli,” Fuller said. “We go out on the boat to different swim beaches to gather them.” Della Sue, the station’s pontoon boat, carries students across the waters of DeGray Lake to gather samples. The boat was named after Dr. Della Sue Simonson, alumna and a member of the field station’s biggest supporters: the Simonson family. “This would not be here without the Simonson family,” Leible said. However, studying and research is not just reserved for Henderson
affiliates. Outreach is a main aspect of the field station. “We have buses of kids come here and we teach them about subjects like monarch butterflies,” Leible said. “They go home and tell their parents about it and the whole community learns. Young people are our future leaders and policy makers.” Recently, elementary school students in Bismarck who had participated in the monarch study built a butterfly garden at their school. A small project built to make a difference became an opportunity as the school was awarded a grant to install a bigger butterfly garden. Even with a small piece of land on their playground, children are helping the environment at their school and on a larger scale learning about conservation. Leible, HSU’s 2015 Employee of the Year, has high hopes for the future of the field station as it continues to grow and improve. “If we didn’t have Allen, I don’t think we could have done it,” Bray said. “He’s brought in so many of his tools and expertise.” A large butterfly garden of their own is planned for the future, along with observation blinds dotted along the woods and shore. Interactive trails are in the works, so students can learn about nature while being out in it. A workshop to store tools and equipment is also on the wish list. “It’s a good recruitment tool for potential students,” Tommy Finley, associate professor of biology, said. “They may want to go to HSU for that reason.” Students, faculty and alumni who would like to see the field station for themselves can contact Leible at 510-865-6033 or leiblea@hsu.edu for more information. “Everyone is invited anytime to come out and visit,” Bray said.
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Story by Ashley Smith Photos courtesy of Allen Leible
“Studying doesn’t have to be boring at the field station” 5
Pilgrima MaryJane Dunn inspires students with historic Spanish trek
Shortly after the spring semester, MaryJane Dunn, assistant professor of Spanish, took nine students and a community member to Spain for 21 days, 11 of which they spent hiking on the
Camino de Santiago – the way of St. James. Story by Katie Smith Above: Katie Smith with MaryJane Dunn Right: Camino (path) marker
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age
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Pilgrimage The Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where it is said the bones of St. James the apostle lie. Beginning in Verín, the group trekked for over 180 kilometers, following yellow arrows and conch shells, which proved to be both physical and metaphorical. The scallop shell has long been a symbol of the Camino. Legend has it that the body of James was lost at sea and it returned, unharmed, covered in shells. It also served as a “certificate” to early pilgrims, because they could pick up one of the many covering the shores of Galicia as a token of their trip.
The pilgrims stayed in government albergues, refuges specifically for pilgrims to use along the Camino, and even spent a night in a monastery. Dunn had completed the Camino several times before, which inspired her to take a group of students on the journey. “Having walked the Camino during the summer after my college graduation, I knew just how life changing the experience can be for young people,” Dunn said. She went to Spain in 2013 and walked several different routes out of the 12 possible to find the one most suitable for a group made up of mostly novice hikers.
“I think the Via Sanabrés (also known as the Via de la Plata) worked out really well, as each town, experience, church or monument seemed to build toward arriving at Compostela,” Dunn said. “They could finally experience what they read about during their pre-trip Spanish seminar.” The class included a light history of Spain, the church, a history and definition of the Camino, what it means to be a pilgrim and, of course, the life of Saint James. The group that actually traveled to Spain was just a small portion of the class. The travelers may have seemed a bit like a modern Breakfast Club at first: four girls from three different
Camino Memories A student discovers the beauty of companionship while searching for herself
It’s just a really long walk, I thought when I signed up to make a 125-mile pilgrimage through the countryside of Spain. How hard could it be? I had no idea. Hiking that distance through the second-most mountainous European country became the most physically and mentally challenging task I’ve ever accomplished. On May 22, 11 of us began our pilgrimage on the Way of Saint James, in search of the Spanish city of Santiago and personal motives of our own. For me, it was all about finding myself. I wanted to get away from the “real world” and do some soul searching through isolation and a connection with nature. Instead, I learned the most about myself through connections I made on the Camino with amazing people I met along the way. On Day 2 of the 11-day pilgrimage, we had one mission: climb Mount Misery. We set out with our boots and our packs and what we thought would be the sorest muscles we’d endure. Boy, were we wrong. There’s something especially difficult about walking
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a distance uphill. Just when you think you’re at the top, there’s another steep hill to scale. I think that’s relative to life: You might think you’ve made it past all the trials and into the clear, but the uphill battle never stops. At one point during the day, a small group of us reached a flat spot on what truly appeared to be the top of this mountain. We threw off our packs and took a seat on some stones that lay below the small figure of a cross. A few minutes into our rest, another group approached and joined us. Conversation immediately kicked off as we all became acquainted and shared laughs about our utter exhaustion. We spent over an hour on top of that mountain, discussing life with our new friends, Bruce and Jeremy, a father/son duo, and Ane Maria, who joined them throughout their journey. Bruce was in his 70s, but hiked better than most of us in our 20s. He came from Canada to walk with his son, Jeremy, who was living in Australia. Ane Maria came from Denmark and was walking the way alone until their paths crossed.
As we listened to their stories of love, life and loss, tears rolled down our cheeks. I don’t think I’ll ever forget their wide smiles as we all hugged and took pictures on top of that mountain. From there, we finished the day in much better spirits, knowing that we had made our first substantial Camino memories. Days went by in a whirlwind, but as we hiked, time seemed to drag on. Putting one foot in front of the other became a new way of telling time. We were able to measure its passage through the distance we estimated we’d traveled. But as slow as the hours dragged on during hiking, the days seemed to fly by. Before we knew it, we were halfway done, and eventually we only lacked a few days of walking. I think that’s when it all became surreal. The bond between our group became closer with every passing day. We told inside jokes together, sang together, and cried together. Every night, the 11 of us had dinner together, where we’d sit for at least two hours eating and discussing our daily journey, despite how hard it was to keep our tired eyes open. Our group
sororities, a bartender, a history nerd, an ex-Navy nontraditional student, an introvert, an Eagle Scout, a 65-year-old Arkadelphia resident and a professor. In fact, when they boarded the plane, few of them had spoken more than a couple of words to each other. But what ensued over the next few weeks was quite astounding. They relied on each other as they suffered sleep deprivation, sickness, bruises, blisters and other injuries. They talked, laughed and cried with each other. They needed each other to get through what many of them considered to be the hardest thing they’d ever done. Jerry Miller, senior English major, said doing the Camino was more difficult than boot camp.
thrived on these nightly conversations –– although the bottles of wine that were served at every dinner helped, too. At the end of our pilgrimage, we had one last day of walking to endure. Most of us were limping due to minor knee and foot injuries. Our spirits, however, were not broken. Everything we had worked for was about to be achieved. It was a shorter hike that final day, but it wasn’t easy. I remember walking into the plaza outside of the cathedral and being embraced by my companions. “We did it!” they all exclaimed. It was the most overwhelming experience I could have imagined. Hundreds of people swarmed the plaza, more people than we were used to seeing in one place at one time for the past 10 days. I was hot and sweaty, crying uncontrollably; I felt my head spinning. I dropped my pack to sit and bask in the sun and glory of completion. Every step, every tear and every blister was worth that feeling — a feeling that I’ll be searching to attain for the rest of my life.
One night in particular, eight of the students had to share a sports complex, as there was not enough room in the albergue for them. They used that time to play games, talk and learn about each other. “I think that is the reason we all got so close,” Torii Cloud, Henderson alumna, said. “We were away from the other pilgrims and suffered a really cold night together. But we made the best of it.” They not only learned from and about each other, but met other people on the route as well. Over 260,000 pilgrims traveled the Camino last year, according to the regional government of Galicia, so avoiding fellow travelers along the route was almost impossible.
They met many friends along the way, some of whom taught the group new tricks. For example, a crowd favorite came from an Irish man who taught them to put two threads through a blister to keep it from filling back up. The students chose to walk the Camino for different reasons, whether spiritual, personal or merely a chance to try something different. But no matter their reason, they all left expressing similar feelings. It took a walk of over 100 miles in a foreign country to discover what people mean when they say that the pilgrimage is a metaphor for life. Nine students and a community member now unanimously agree that is true.
Photos by Madison MacNew and Katie Smith
By Madison MacNew
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“ 15 percent of your success is your hard work, the other 85 percent is how you deal with people.� 10
The Key to Success Life after graduation By Ashley Smith
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hen people think about life in a different country, they often just think about the differences between the two places. For Matthew Sparks, 2014 alumnus, life overseas reminded him of his Southern upbringing. From the Ivy League to overseas, Sparks continues to experience life in new places. After earning his degree in political science at Henderson, Sparks went on to earn another degree in national security at the University of Haifa in Israel. “A year before I graduated, a classmate went to visit a college out of the country,” Sparks said. “I wanted to be able to use my language so I looked at life in Israel.” Sparks had learned Arabic, and the language has benefitted him ever since. His military position as a linguist has him using his language to help translate.
“ T h e b e s t w a y t o l e a r n a l a n g u a ge i s t o d o i n t e n s i ve l e a r n i n g, ” S p a r k s s a i d . “ Fo r t wo m o n t h s t h e o n l y l a n g u a ge I w a s h e a r i n g w a s A r a b i c . Yo u c a n i m m e r s e yo u r s e l f. ”
The language landed him a spot in Israel, and many other places around the world. Italy, Egypt, Palestine and Belgium are just a few of the countries Sparks was able to experience. Eventually, a research assistant position opened up at a university in the states. That university was Harvard Law School in Boston, where Sparks’ next adventure took place. Office life proved be a whole different game, though. Conversation was often replaced with communicating by technology. “One day at lunch I received an email from someone who was sitting five feet away from me,” Sparks recollects. “So instead of answering, I got up and went to talk to him about it.” The office culture began to change and visits to offices replaced emails and phone calls. After Sparks would make a point to speak with people, they made it a point to come speak with him. “15 percent of your success is your hard work,” Sparks said. “The other 85 percent is how you deal with people and your interpersonal skills. It’s rare to get people that are both intelligent and are able to successfully communicate with others.” That was Sparks’ secret to success. Being an incubator for interpersonal skills is one of the most important traits people should have when trying to make it big in Boston. After a semester of Harvard life, though, Sparks was ready his next feat. “Office life was just a little too slow for me,” Sparks said. “Life in Boston was way more different than life in Israel.” Now, Sparks has had another calling in the Middle East. His time spent traveling has
proved that even a graduate from Arkansas can take advantage of the larger world. “Just because you go to a smaller school doesn’t mean you can’t reach the top,” Sparks said. “You can get out there and see the world. It gets you further in life once you’ve done so.” Comfort and complacency are two factors believed to contribute to why people don’t take advantage of the world around them. “Fear of the unknown, and people get in a rut,” Sparks said. “But my life overseas has made me more adaptable, like anyone. People are also scared of hardship. But now, I can step off anywhere and it doesn’t scare me.” His time at Henderson helped him break out of his comfort zone and get going in Israel. “The sense of community and being able to interact with my professors helped to vary my interpersonal skills,” Sparks said. “It made me more passionate about learning and gave me everything I needed.”
Layout by Christina Millard
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am Trip By Katie Smith
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he biology department traveled frontiers of science and history last summer. From Machu Picchu to the Galapagos Islands, 10 students experienced South American landmarks, culture and wildlife. James Engman, professor of biology, has been on 24 of these trips with students. However, he described this group as the best one he ever traveled with because they were so enthusiastic. The team spent two weeks exploring various parts of Peru and Ecuador. They started their journey in Lima, then flew to Cuzco. From there, they embarked on adventures to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Then they flew from Peru’s capital, Lima, to Ecuador’s, Quito. Followed by a five-day cruise through the Galapagos Islands. There, students and faculty created some of their favorite memories.
Engman said the best moment of the trip for him was when they saw whales from their ship deck on the last night of the cruise. He said the “students’ faces said it all,” and that it was a “teaching moment you can’t get in the classroom.” Kalee Holloway, sophomore biology major, described the scene as “breathtaking.” Leah Efird, senior biology major, said it was a comical moment as well. She said everyone was standing around the sides of the boat trying to “speak whale” like Dory from Finding Nemo. One of the whales seemed to respond and moved a little closer to the ship. Efird said the five-day cruise through the islands was her favorite part of the whole trip. “Every biologist dreams of going to the Galapagos,” she said “I got to see animals that not very many people get to see.”
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the trip and the stuff we did there.” – Leah Efird
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There were several other unexpected moments on the trip, much like seeing the whales. The group got to swim with sea lions while snorkeling. Holloway said she had one touch her leg. A couple of the students reported seeing sharks during the dive. They were also able to get in the water with penguins and even saw a volcano erupt in the distance. Aside from the biological lessons, the crew was able to experience some South American culture while abroad. They visited a school and met some of the children who attended it. The students there sang for the travelers. Holloway said she danced with a little boy who had special needs, and the experience moved her to tears. The explorers got to taste some of the local cuisine along the way. Engman said they were served oven-baked guinea pig in a Peruvian home. Efird said she much preferred “lomo saltado,” a popular dish in Lima.
Engman took groups to Panama and Belize in the summer of 2016. He also plans on repeating this trip in summer 2017. Efird said she believes most people’s concern with trips like these is the price, to which she replies, “it’s worth every penny.” Both Efird and Holloway said they would do it again if presented with the opportunity. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the trip and the stuff we did there,” Efird said. Similarly, Holloway said she loved getting to see a different side of the world and she would “definitely go back.”
Photos by Sarah Wolven Design by Natasha Cribbs
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Don’t be scared of failure That was the message Bobby Bones, 2002 alumnus, gave to Henderson graduates at the university’s May commencement.
“I sat here 14 years ago where all these guys are sitting and I felt like they felt. I look at you guys and I’m excited for you because I was excited for me too. Because you sit there and you think, ‘School is over. I’m about to attack the real world,’ and you are. And here’s the thing: you’re probably also filled with fear and you’re probably scared of failure and you should be.” “It’s rough out there, but it is absolutely okay to fail. For me, that’s what I’ve done the best. That’s what I’ve been better at than anything else. What I know is fail over and over again and every time that I fail, I’m able to take that failure and I use it as if I’m working out. I get stronger and stronger with every failure. Every time someone tells you ‘no,’ you learn from that ‘no.’ You build from that ‘no’ and you continue to go until you get a ‘yes.’” Bones, born Bobby Estell, was recognized as the 2016 distinguished alumni at the event. During his speech, Bones reflected on the long road he has taken to get from his first radio job on Henderson’s KSH-FM 91.1 and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in radio and television in 2002 to hosting The Bobby Bones Show, the nation’s biggest country music morning show. “I came here Bobby Estell. I started here at Henderson State and I took a little step. You’re going to learn life is all about little steps. From Henderson, I went to Hot Springs. From Hot Springs, I went to Little Rock. From Little Rock to Austin, Texas. I started a morning show in Austin. It was just me by myself and with that, I took
my own money and I took a chance. I knew I might fail and I started my own production company. I sort of syndicated my show and one city turned into seven, turned to 20, then I was off to Nashville. Then 30 cities turned into 52 and now I’m on in a hundred cities. Five-plus million people listen every week and it doesn’t feel real, but it’s all because of the little steps and all because of the failures that all happened to me along the way. So that’s why I say you guys, take the small steps, take the big risks and don’t be afraid to fail.” His mother and maternal grandmother raised Bones in the small community of Mountain Pine, Arkansas. His biological father was with him until the age of 5 and then disappeared. Bones took time to recognize graduates, like him, that were the first in their families to graduate from college and reminded them that they are now role models for others. “I say to you guys: continue to try because here I am today getting to do things that I probably shouldn’t be doing. Whenever they said, ‘Will you stand up if you’re the first person from your family to graduate,’ I look back and I look at you guys that are like that and I salute you. That’s me. I was the first person to graduate from high school in my family. I was the first person to graduate from college in my family. So congratulations to you guys, all of you guys, and especially you guys that are doing it the first time in your family because you set an example for the people below you.” “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I’m trying to do every single day is set an example for the people below me. Not even the people that I’m related to. I don’t have any kids – I can’t even get a girlfriend – but there are people there for some reason who’ll listen to what I say and I hope that’s what you guys take away from this. It’s okay to fail
because if you’re not failing, you are absolutely not trying. So continue to fail. Failing is awesome and eventually you will succeed.” Bones ended his speech by encouraging the new graduates to always follow their passions, even if their first jobs are not their dream jobs. “Find the thing that you love, even if you’re going broke at first. I made $5.50 an hour for the first seven years of my career but I knew what I loved. When you do what you love, you work harder at it. When you work harder at something, you will become successful because that’s what it’s all about: staying in every day, grinding out every day, showing up on time, being more prepared than the other person.” Today, Bones is the host of the nationally syndicated weekday radio program The Bobby Bones Show, originating out of WSIX-FM in Nashville, Tennessee. He also hosts the weekly Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones carried on over 100 radio stations. Bones has hosted the iHeartRadio Country Music Festival held in Austin and presented the award for Country Song of the Year at the first iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. Bones recently received his second Academy of Country Music award for “National On-Air Personality of the Year.” Bones is also half of The Raging Idiots, a comedy band that plays shows across the U.S. and has raised more than $2 million to benefit various charities. Their new album, The Critics Give it 5 Stars, recently made its debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Comedy chart and landed in the Top 5 on the Country Album chart. Bones also released his first book in May. Bare Bones takes his fans on an authentic, raw, and hilarious tour of his journey to becoming one of the leading country radio personalities.
FAILING…Awesome …eventually you will succeed – Bobby Bones
The Bobby Bones Show
Story by Scott McKinnon
Photo: Eddie Garcia
Jennifer Boyett, vice president for university advancement, welcomes Bones as the 2016 commencement speaker. Photo: Steve Fellers
The KSWH staff poses for the 1999 edition of the Star Yearbook. Bones is circled in red.
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It is rocket science Story and photos by Emily R. Bell
In Reynolds Science Center, beyond the taxidermied birds and the collections of fossils, there is a workshop filled with equipment that might give you the impres-
Clardy with her crew designing, building and testing
sion that Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman are nearby. Similar work does take place here, but this is not the setting for an episode of Mythbusters. Physics and engineering faculty and students have collaborated for five years on a task few universities have accomplished.
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The Henderson physics and engineering programs are constructing their own wind tunnel. The purpose of a wind tunnel is to test the aerodynamics of aircraft and other airborne mechanisms, as well as the overall performance of any automobile technology. “The original motivation behind this project was to gain a better understanding of how the angle of attack of an airplane wing affects turbulence,” said Shannon Clardy, associate professor of physics and head of the project. Since the original problem required a wind tunnel to accurately test the mechanics, Sebastian Stefanov, senior aviation major, has recently crossed departments to assist Clardy. “Most aviation students have some experience with engineering or minor in physics, so a project like this is simply fun to us,” Stefanov said. “It is for me at least.” The wind tunnel has become a necessary component to another of Clardy’s engineering and physics projects. The Reddie Rockets is a local section of the National Association of Rocketry. The group crafts rockets using the school’s equipment and resources and hosts launch events to test the functionality of their products. A wind tunnel will provide the ability to test these rockets to achieve the most efficient models possible. In May, Clardy and Brian Terry a Henderson physics graduate, discussed how to replicate the correct dimensions
for the mouth of the wind tunnel. Getting the correct calculations behind the efficiency of this piece is a crucial and troublesome portion of the project. The mouth of the tunnel involves complex curves to be carved out by hand from the inside. Basing their design from a scale model, if they are not accurate, the wind tunnel and all experiments within it will fail. The small model is a proper functioning wind tunnel, but to test aircraft wings and rockets accurately, Clardy and her crew will build a size-appropriate wind tunnel based on a one inch to one foot scale increase. Thus, a 4x4-inch curved wind tunnel entrance will be scaled to 4x4-foot. Some universities own wind tunnels, but often they are purchased outright. “Ole Miss bought a wind tunnel for their department,” Clardy said. “When I looked into buying our own, it would have cost $60,000 to $70,000. Building it ourselves, we’ll spend around $5,000.” The department has invested $4,000 in materials so far. The decision to build their own wind tunnel from scratch was not purely an economical choice; faculty and administrators believed the hands-on engineering experience would do wonders for Henderson’s budding engineering program. “The goal is that our department will be entirely self-sufficient, from the ability to build what we need from scratch to testing
all of our own projects,” Clardy said. “We will have the equipment we need right here, and we’ll have made it ourselves.” Although time consuming and strenuous, students from several areas are excited about the project and are eager to help. Along with Stefanov, Todd Baum, senior biology major, has also contributed his creativity this summer. However, the project is still focused on broadening engineer students’ professional experience for their future careers. “We’re still working to achieve our official accreditation for our engineer program, which means a student needs to go through the complete curriculum we provide and graduate through the program we set up,” Clardy said. Between Clardy’s teaching schedule and numerous other department-related projects, production was delayed. “It’s taken us longer than anticipated to finish,” she said. “But I’m on sabbatical now through the fall semester, so we can get more done. It would help if we stopped taking on new projects, which can be a definite problem.” This summer, Clardy and her crew have made daily progress. It’s tiring and certainly messy, but she and her students genuinely love the work. “Hopefully, we will have a great research and teaching tool when we are finished,” Clardy said. “I’m ready to have a wind tunnel.”
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ARGUMENTATIVELY By Ashley Bles & Scott McKinnon Design by Christina Millard
“What was seductive to me about debate was the ability to compete.” – Darrel Farmer
Arguments aren’t always impolite. Darrel Farmer, assistant professor of communication, came to Henderson in the fall of 2014 with a high level of enthusiasm for the art of debate. An award-winning debater in his own right, Farmer earned his doctorate in 2014 from the University of Nebraska, where he was one of six forensic coaches and the only one focused on debate. Farmer studied the use of popular imagery and argument toward civic discourse in networked publics for his dissertation. He wanted to understand how the use of computer-based media, like the internet, changed civic arguments when compared to arguments based on information from more traditional media. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication at Central Michigan University, where he stumbled upon the debate
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team completely by accident. Originally a journalism major, he said argument became an outlet for a competitive spirit. “What was seductive to me about debate was the ability to compete,” Farmer said. His two main focuses in argument are how persuasive arguments affect public opinion and finding new ways to measure how debate can benefit students. He said that this information is important to give to administrations at schools to encourage them to keep funding debate. His wife, Brin, is a fellow student of forensics who sometimes helps with the Henderson debate team. He joked that two debaters living in one house means he’s learned “the art of concession” and that he doesn’t win many arguments. Farmer says they chose this area to live in because it had a “metropolitan feel” with cities like Little Rock nearby and also had natural beauty and a small town sensibility. He says they love aquatic sports and “nerd opportunities” like fantasy games and Dungeons and Dragons. At debate competitions, students compete in individual events that focus on things like public address, interpretation and arguments, along with the team-based competition. The tournaments offer a “smorgasbord of opportunities” with “full helpings of very different options” for debate students to try out, according to Farmer. He sees the tournaments as an exceptional way for Henderson students to not only represent the university, but also learn valuable skills. “At competitions, HSU students are
BE well-spoken, well-informed, professionally dressed and they advocate for their positions in ways that I know will make them better citizens, stronger voices for change and better family members,” Farmer said. In late January, the debate team attended the Southern Forensics League (SFL) championship in Shreveport, Louisiana. The SFL comprises Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas for a regional championship. With four novice competitors representing the university, the debate team was able to win both the Arkansas state championship and the Southern Forensics League tri-state championship. Raymond Sims, sophomore business marketing and communications major, led the team. Sims only lost one preliminary round at the tournament before winning each of the single elimination rounds, making him the cumulative champion. “My first time ever speaking I was nervous,” Sims said. “Now I’m a debate tournament champion.” According to Farmer, Sims’ dedication to the debate team, including planning extra practices and stepping up to be the face of Henderson debate, has been an absolute joy to watch. Then in February, the debate team continued its winning ways at the 9th annual Eddy Shell Classic in Bossier City. Individually, Sims took second place and Colt Booth, freshman communication major, finished 9th. The debate team collectively won the novice division and had the third best winning percentage at the tournament. There were 47 competitors from 19 schools at the tournament.
Y
The debate team ended its successful season with an impressive national tournament showing at Lee College in Baytown, Texas in late March. Sims finished in 9th, Booth in 17th and Kiana Davis, sophomore psychology major, in 18th out of 116 competitors and nearly 30 universities. In addition to the competitive success achieved at the tournament, there was a season-long award in which all competitors that took part in debate during the year were entered. Based on his total performance, Sims was the 9th place competitor out of 496.
In his first two years at Henderson, Farmer has felt welcomed by everyone on campus and has seen an overwhelming level of support for the debate team. “I can’t say enough times how nice it is to be a part of a faculty that has administrators that care in the way that ours do,” Farmer said. “We wouldn’t have a team without the support and generosity of Ellis College, and all that they have done cannot be overstated. Dr. Hardee, from the moment that I arrived here, has always made a special effort to
support the debate team and we will be forever grateful for his support.” Farmer isn’t resting on his laurels. He plans to continue growing the Henderson debate team and continue finding more success for the students on the team. “I look forward to many more years of producing a team upon which we can count to be competitively successful and represent HSU nationally in ways that will make the university proud,” Farmer said.
ENEFICIAL Photos top right– Clockwise: 1. Darrel Farmer 2. Aubriana Scott, Colt Booth, Kansas Tye, Raymond Sims, Jr., Kiana Davis at the national tournement 3. Sims, Scott, Booth, Tye, Davis, Farmer, Farmer’s wife Brin at the Eddy Shell Classic 4. Farmer and Sims at SFL Championship
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MOE Grant
Round –Up
The Margin of Excellence proposals provide intriguing, educational events throughout the school year designed to expand student knowledge in a variety of subjects and to create a professional network for them. Thanks to the Ellis College, these proposals were met with the funds needed to bring them to fruition. The 2015-16 school year was packed with master classes, performances, speakers and events that encouraged and motivated Henderson students in their creativity and work.
Music Last fall, the music department held two series incorporating talented performers who taught classes and held concerts. The 9th Henderson Piano Concert Series, organized by Hee-Kyung Juhn, included professional pianists and instructors worldwide. Jamie Lipton organized the Low Brass Concert/Master class Series, in which the visiting musicians/ professors held a master class for students, as well as private lessons for outstanding students, and conducted a recital of 125 students. The music department held more master classes and recitals this spring, hosted by the Maniacal 4 Trombone Quartet and National Association of Teachers of Singing State Conference. Professors Jamie Lipton, Bill Higgins and Laura Storm organized the events.
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Dance Dance professor, Jennifer Maddox, invited Iyun Ashani Harrison of Ashani Dances from Seattle to conduct master classes for dance students. Members of the community were also encouraged to partake in Harrison’s series. Harrison’s extensive professional dance history provided a wealth of knowledge for area dancers to learn from. Maddox was successful in organizing a second series of master classes by having award winning performer and choreographer Amy Bramlett assist students through their own original dances. Through contemporary dance, the students gained the proper training and encouragement necessary to choreograph their performances.
Comics Studies
Art
Professor Travis Langley invited author and filmmaker John Russo to speak about his works with students and to host a screening of his first major film, Night of the Living Dead, which he created with George Romero. Afterwards, Russo spent hours with students at a Q&A, where he shared his experiences regarding filmmaking and writing, and what it was like to work with Romero on set. Students with comics studies as a minor were inspired by Russo’s stories as he encouraged them to continue creating and to promote their work. Comics studies, art and journalism students were able to meet with graphic journalist Andy Warner who shared his most recent works and upcoming projects. After his day of presentation, Warner held a workshop with students to view their professional portfolios and gave feedback.
This last Spring, art professor Aaron Calvert led the 19th Annual Student Competitive Exhibition (SCE) wherein all students are allowed to enter their creative works for cash awards. Outside peers judge the students’ works, and this year’s judges were Dustyn Bork of Lyon College and Carly Dahl of Batesville, Arkansas. The winners were Kayelyn Foote, 2nd Runner Up, Franchesca Smith, 1st Runner Up, and Joshua Emery took Best in Show for his oil painting, “Iggy.” Photos from right to left: Josh Emery recieves Best in Show at the SCE. Comics Artists Sonny Liew and Andy Warner critique student work. Franchesca Smith’s “Photographic Mind” at the SCE. Andy Warner offers advice to Digital Art and Design student Jordan Jones. Layout by Christina Millard
Find more great stories in the eBook Forged from the Embers: 20 years, 40 Stories, The Best of Forge Magazine. Find more great stories in the eBook
The Ellis College of Arts and Sciences 1100 Henderson Street Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
Forged from the Embers: 20 years, 40 Stories,
The Best of Forge Magazine. Buy from Amazon!
FORGE MAGAZINE a great learning experience for students Forge is in its 18th year of publication. Each year has featured wonderful articles and artwork created by students. Students have also had a hand in other aspects of the production of the magazine. Most articles and much of the design in this issue springs from the minds of Ellis College students. To celebrate their work, here is a look back at some of Forge Magazine’s student-designed covers.
Amy Porter 2011
Thomas Fernandez 2002
Marko Head 2009
Chrystal Seawood 2008