November 2, 2015
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Volume 104 | Issue 2
THE HENDRIX COLLEGE
PROFILE Rise of Donald Trump___5 Confederate Flag___7 Presidential Race___8 Progressivism at Hendrix___12
THE POLITICS ISSUE
UP FOR DEBATE
THE PROFILE
CONTENTS
Volume 104 Issue 2 November 2015
Photo by Madison Dealing
NEWS 3 Learning Commons Expanding tutoring in library
3 News Briefs
National and international news
4 HDX in Washington
Program expansion and success
OPINION 5 Donald Trump How he’s made it this far
6 Sprinklers Water conservation efforts
6 The Zucchini No more Sundae Thursday
7 The Confederate Flag Hot debate over heritage/racism
FEATURE 8 Presidential Race Overview of major candidates
10 Multicultural Groups
pg.14: Spirit Squads
Effect on cultural appropriation
11 Bernie Sanders Success with young voters
12 HDX Progressivism Disagreements on campus
THE PROFILE STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS 13 Volleyball Season after last year’s success
14 Spirit Squads Dance team and cheerleaders
15 Ultimate Frisbee Growing sport on campus
MARY KATHERINE BARKER 501-213-5885 BarkerMK@Hendrix.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
JACKIE OAKLEY LUCY MORGAN
PHOTO EDITOR
MEGAN PRETTYMAN
CASEY HAWKINS 501-231-6216 HawkinsCT@Hendrix.edu
COPY EDITOR
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
CHIRAG LALA
CULTURE
LAYOUT EDITORS
16 Franchise Movies Upcoming sequels
17 Tig Notaro Comedy review
18 Calendar ISSUU.COM/THEHENDRIXCOLLEGEPROFILE
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JAMES OWEN
MADISON DEALING JORDAN MAY KONRAD WITKOWSKI
STAFF WRITERS
CONNOR NEWTON GINNY GREER MCKENNA JACQUEMET BAYLEY KRELL SARAH GILMOUR MARLEE BIRD GREER VEON
NEWS
Tutoring 2.0
Learning Commons set to expand usage of library By Sarah Gilmour
A
t the beginning of this academic year, the Bailey Library staff opened the Learning Commons, a new space in the library designed to help introduce a restructured system of tutoring. Library director Britt Anne Murphy was one of a few key staff members to institute this change. “‘Learning commons’ is a term that is being used a lot in academic libraries nowadays,” Murphy said. “It’s a centralized place for students to come and participate in learning. That takes the form, here, of tutoring, for the most part.” Student tutoring used to occur in various academic buildings around campus before the Learning Commons came into being. “What we are doing is taking people out of the academic buildings at night, which was not great in terms of saving money for the college because of the lights and everything running at night, when only a handful of people are there,” Murphy said. “It’s also not great for security considerations to have students spread out in isolated places, maybe just one or two of them; that’s not a great idea. So, it was kind of just a logical thing.” The area where the Learning Commons is now used to contain microfilm, a resource seldom used by students, so some changes had to be made to update the area. “We repurposed some furniture for that space,”
Murphy said. “We purchased some new chairs, we have two new whiteboards that just came in this week that we will put on the walls back there, and then we also got a computer and projector back there. Potentially, that space could be used for a classroom as well, during the day, since it’s really only used at night for tutoring.” The library staff has received mostly positive feedback about the Learning Commons thus far. “Well, this was sort of a pilot,” Murphy said. “We really just wanted to see how students would use the space, if they would use the space, if we needed to do more advertising to get them to come. But I think it’s been a success so far.” The success of the Learning Commons has inspired plans to expand. “[The library plans] to put in more of the same,” Murphy said. “That could mean tables, maybe we’ll do something with the infrastructure so that students can charge their devices, whatever kind of creative space students want. We want tutoring; we want some collaborative space so students can come in and work on projects together. So whatever they would need to do that is kind of what we have in mind.” In addition to the Learning Commons, several other spaces may be added to expand the purpose and usage of the library. “We also have been thinking about putting in a coffee shop . . . as an incentive for them to come
NEWS BRIEFS
By McKenna Jacquemet
to the library,” Murphy said. “Just about every academic library in the state has a coffee shop, public ones too, so both UCA and CBC have coffee shops in their library. It’s just a good marriage. It’s a good place for students to come meet and gather to do their work. We will see about that, but, of course, all this stuff takes money.” Odyssey projects could also be added to the library in the future. “We also are really interested in using library space . . . to display Odyssey projects that students have been working on, whatever that involves,” Murphy said. “Last year, we had a Classics student who did translations from English into Latin and it was his favorite band, Coldplay. So we had the music for people to listen to and the translations to read.” Having a place to display Odyssey projects could also encourage student collaboration. “Now we have this ‘Cats at Hendrix’ display as well, which involves an Odyssey project from a student and the art from another student who took the pictures,” Murphy said. That exhibit opened on Oct. 1. Overall, Murphy hopes that the library will be increasingly useful to students in the future. “We really want to try and think outside the box, open up the space, and make it usable for students, not just a space to store traditional materials,” Murphy said.
Ancient Chinese remedy helps win Nobel Prize
NATO warns Russia on Syria air strikes
Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their work in discovering ways to fight malaria and roundworm parasite infections. Since the 1950s, the drug chloroquine has become increasingly available for the treatment of malaria, but the widespread use of the drug meant that strains of malaria became resistant. One of the winners, Youyou Tu, turned to ancient Chinese herbal medicine as a way to address this challenge. Artemisia annua had been used hundreds of years ago to treat fever; from this herb, Tu discovered Artemisinin, an active component in the herb that has proved highly effective against the malaria parasite in both animals and humans. Malaria currently infects around 200 million people every year and the drug Avermectin is now used everywhere where malaria is considered a problem.
Russia has recently intensified its airstrikes in Syria, with the goal of targeting ISIS positions. NATO issued a statement urging Russia to end the airstrikes and warning of “the extreme danger of such irresponsible behavior.” Turkey has also issued a cease and desist statement after Russian jets invaded Turkish airspace on Sept. 31. Evidence on the ground indicates civilian casualties, despite Putin’s claims that pinpoint strikes were being carried out and denying that any civilians were killed. Moscow has not responded to NATO’s comments, but Russia has signaled deepening intervention in the Syria war, hinting that its “volunteer” ground forces would soon be fighting there. The Kremlin also said that they have not ruled out the possibility of using war ships to fight the rebels. These unfolding developments reflect a dangerous new superpower entanglement in the war, causing concern especially for the Americans and the Turks.
Trans-Pacific free trade deal agreed The U.S., Japan, and 10 other Pacific Rim countries have agreed to a controversial trade agreement that is potentially a precedent-setting model for global commerce and worker standards. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will create a new economic bloc with reduced trade barriers between the 12 involved nations and covers 40 percent of the world economy. Critics say that it was negotiated in secret and is biased toward corporations. “When more than 95 percent of our potential customers live outside our borders, we can’t let countries like China write the rules of the global economy,” Obama said. Although the terms have been agreed to, President Obama must still secure Congressional approval.
Oregon shooting October began with sorrow as a man opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Rosenburg, Ore., killing nine. After exchanging fire with responding officers, the shooter committed suicide. The identity of the gunman has not been released to the public. Investigators found 14 firearms connected to the shooter, including five pistols and one rifle found at the college. All weapons were legally obtained by the shooter or family members over an extended period of time. Shortly after the incident, President Obama issued a statement offering condolences to the grieving families and beseeching action from the nation. “Somehow this has become routine,” Obama said. “The reporting is routine . . . the conversation in the aftermath of it . . . We have become numb to this.”
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NEWS
Hendrix in By Marlee Bird
T
Washington
Five Hendrix students take on Capitol Hill interests. Friday has another agenda, as Hendrix students participate in a program called LEAD, which is offered through the Washington Center. “We attend lecture series and panel discussions on anything from grassroots advocacy work to gun control to discrimination in the work place,” Moore said, explaining the program. The fourth component of the program is a course taught by Dr. Gess. With all of these components combined, the Hendrix-in-Washington students agree that the program offers them a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. “I’ve been in the same room as Senator Elizabeth Warren. I’ve sat at a round table discussion inside the White House, and I’ve been to several POLITICO events. Soon, I’m attending a women’s leadership coalition event with Gabby Giffords -- it’s been a busy six weeks.” Moore said. “But honestly, I think the most exciting part so far is just the fact that I have business cards in my name.”
Photos courtesy of Guneev Sharma and Barrett Goodwin
his year, the Hendrix-in-Washington program sent five students to one of the most influential cities in the world for opportunities like no other. The program is making big strides, as last year only one student was able to participate in the program. “It became pretty pricey over the past five years,” Dr. Peter Gess, the advisor for this program, said. With a new program started by Hendrix faculty last spring, some costs have been mitigated and more students are able to experience Capitol Hill. The program itself has been around since after World War II and has worked through American University, a well-known institution that also comes with a hefty price tag. Gess explained that the rising tuition was cutting off many students from the opportunity. “We had this mismatch of need and desire with lack of affordability,” Gess said. The new program now works through the Washington Center, a nonprofit organization that does not grant the students credit but does allow them to gain hands-on experience, sit on panels, and hear amazing speakers from all around D.C. Before this year, there had already been a program with the Washington Center but it was only available during the summer and did not count for credit, which dissuaded many students from going. The new and improved program offers a reduced tuition, great experiences through the Washington Center, four Hendrix credits, and an Odyssey Professional and Leadership Development credit. Although it takes place in the nation’s capitol, the program is not just for politics or international relations majors. Sarah Moore, a junior and one of the five students currently in D.C., is interning at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a nonprofit advocacy group. “I’m a public policy associate with a nonprofit organization, so I’m half-in, half-out of politics, which I think gives me the best of both worlds in terms of being in politics versus doing advocacy work,” Moore said. “[My experience has] helped me realize how much I want to return to D.C. for graduate school and for my career, whether I’m a psychologist in an office or with a nonprofit.” In talking about a typical day, both Moore and Gess discussed the fact that in Washington, there is no such thing as an “eight to five” job. The majority of the students’ time in Washington is spent in internships Monday through Thursday; however, these internships include evening activities such as panels, guest speakers, and other events. Every Wednesday night, the students have a three-hour class that they choose based on their
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OPINION
Making America Great Again? The rise of Donald Trump D By Casey Hawkins
onald Trump’s presidential campaign up to this point has been unlike anything ever seen in the history of American politics. Despite the election being more than a year away, Trump has already gained more headlines and stirred up more controversy than most politicians would care to experience during their entire careers. And, despite his brash nature that seemingly represents the antithesis of a traditional American politician, he still leads the projections for the Republican presidential nomination. How has he amassed such an affinity among Americans in such a short amount of time, and more specifically, why? Politics professor Dr. Jay Barth believes the answer resides in the current attitude of Americans towards their government. “I think that in the American electorate as a whole, there’s a great deal of anger at the perceived inefficacy of government,” Barth said. “The federal government in particular is blamed for that lack of getting the job done. In general, I think that creates an environment where
outside candidates or candidates who have not traditionally run for office before are seen in a more favorable light. I think that Trump himself clearly benefits from what is clearly an eyecatching personality and some name recognition that clearly built in some superficial support.” Trump is not running his campaign as a traditional politician. He has, up to this point, done a masterful job of utilizing his background as a businessman and TV personality to distinguish his campaign from the crowded Republican race. “I do think that there is a weird authenticity to him, as much a media figure as he is,” Barth said. “I think on both the Republican and Democratic sides, and certainly among independents, there’s just a lot of frustration with blow-dried, overly-prepared and very political politicians. I think there is something that is refreshing towards the one who doesn’t play those games.” “The largest appeal is that he’s not Washington,” sophomore Claire Freuauff, a politics major, said. “He’s doesn’t fall under the politicians that have been letting everybody down for the last decade. He’s a really good businessman
and people relate to him way more than they do a politician.” Despite Trump’s success, the question now becomes how much longer he can stay relevant. He has thrived up to this point by making grandiose statements on how to “make America great again,” but he has also been criticized for his lack of specificity regarding his policies. Time will tell whether he will decide to place his campaign focus on relaying these policies or if he will continue to foster the hype train he is currently riding. Barth believes we will have a clearer picture once the Iowa caucus takes place on Feb. 1. “In Iowa, you have to have a very sophisticated organization to get voters to the caucuses,” Barth said. “I think unquestionably he will have plenty of money, and he shows a willingness to spend that money. There’s a big question of how smartly does he spend that money. Does he spend that on organization, which is what really matters, or does he use that money in ways that don’t really connect to votes?”
It’s Legal. It’s Safe. It’s Anonymous. Safe Haven is a law designed to protect babies. What is Safe Haven? In Arkansas, the Safe Haven law allows a parent to give up a newborn anonymously. The purpose of Safe Haven is to prevent babies from being hurt or killed by unsafe abandonment. Unsafely abandoning a baby puts the newborn in extreme danger that can result in the baby’s death. It also is illegal, with severe consequences.
There is an option. Don’t abandon your baby. 1-888-510-BABY 2 2 2 9 w w w. a r k a n s a s s a f e h a v e n . o r g www.HumanServices.Arkansas.gov | Division of Children and Family Services
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Sprinklers Ahead T By Bayley Krell
Making Hendrix more environmentally friendly
he sun is shining; the birds are singing. Suddenly, a rouge sprinkler pops up. The prospect of something delicious had been just enough incentive to get out of bed and head to the SLTC; an adventure through the sprinklers had not been in the plans. Thrust into the middle of an unexpected aquatic obstacle course, the deluge of water coming from our sprinkler system’s coup d’état is not just annoying - it’s ineffective in maintaining our campus. We’ve all had experiences with an unfortunate sprinkler at Hendrix, whether it was by the SLTC or one of the other problem spots on campus. Though this has been a problem for the past several years, it has become one of the more prominent topics during the first couple of months of this semester. “At the beginning of this year, I started getting a number of complaints about sprinklers spraying in the wrong direction, sprinklers watering the sidewalk, or sprinklers coming on while it is raining,” senior William O’Brochta, chief sustainability officer, said. “I’ve received these complaints [before], but it was always
very isolated.” Students, it appears, are becoming more concerned with the actions being taken by the school to mitigate the water waste caused by sprinklers. The situation, however, is more complicated than it seems. Unlike most sprinkler systems we, as students, are familiar with, Hendrix operates on several different sprinkler systems. In fact there are about 450 different sprinkler systems on campus that respond to approximately 50 control centers. “I’ve heard that campus is covered by several separate sprinkler systems, which means a) it’s hard to make the same changes to all sprinkler systems and b) it might make more sense to change each system based on the area it covers,” senior Anna McCorquodale said. While changing the existing sprinkler system makes the most sense, this is more difficult than it appears. Replacing a sprinkler system that is over fifty years old requires a massive amount of technology and funding. Currently, facilities is working with the Environmental Concerns Committee, the
Campus Sustainability Fund and Student Senate to obtain funding to make campus more environmentally friendly by working on a new sprinkler system. In the meantime, students can help by reporting any rebellious or broken sprinkler heads to maintenance. The easiest way to report a malfunctioning sprinkler head is by going to the Hendrix College Sustainability Fund Committee’s page on the Hendrix website. There is an “environmental services request” form at the bottom of the page. While doing so, students should make sure to specify exactly which sprinkler in the area is not operating correctly to save the ground staff massive amounts of time spent searching for the problem. Students should also avoid breaking sprinkler heads, whether on purpose or accident. In no way does this help the problem; it just uses time and money that could be used to solve, rather than temporarily fix, the overall problem. “Ultimately, I think there is plenty of room for brainstorming ways to avoid watering the sidewalk twice a day,” McCorquodale said.
The Zucchini: Get It Before It Melts By Greer Veon
I
The Hendrix cafeteria ends Sundae Thursday
scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream…or at least we do on Thursday. Out of several beloved traditions on campus, many students would agree that Sundae Thursday in the Hendrix cafeteria is one of the most important desserts - perhaps even meals - of the week. But like all good things, the weekly treat has come to a close. Or, in this case, it must melt away. Recently, Hendrix Dining Services announced that they have decided to retire the cafeteria’s age-old tradition of Sundae Thursday and students could not be more upset. Starting next month, the cafeteria will return the remaining ice cream tubs and throw away their metal scoopers. “I don’t understand how this could happen,” one disappointed student said. “Sundae Thursday was the one of the best events the cafeteria offered.” This statement rings very true. The sundae bar is one of the most popular dessert options in the cafeteria, and perhaps the most successful station it has ever offered. “We understand that Sundae Thursday is a huge success, and we really love knowing how much the students enjoyed it,” a dining staff member said. “But part of the expectations of an award–winning cafeteria is being able to stay innovative with our menu. We felt that it was time for a change.”
So what is that change exactly? Well, the cafeteria staff has yet to reveal any sort of replacement option. “We aren’t quite sure what the next step is,” one staff member said. “But we know what our students like, and with our outstanding cooks in the kitchen, we feel that this is a way for our cafeteria to promote healthier eating habits with students.” The student body, however, seems to have their doubts. “Sundae Thursday was one of the only events that got me through the week,” one student argued. “I always eat healthy, but Thursday was when I’d choose to treat myself.” “Every time that I had a test before or after lunch on Thursday, I rewarded my long hours of studying with ice cream,” one senior said, citing years of experience. “It’s the best comfort food, especially if I felt like I bombed the exam.” “I just feel cheated,” one freshman said. “I want chocolate syrup and multi-colored sprinkles, not more brussels sprouts and broccoli.” “Maybe they’ll have a ‘make-your-own lettuce wraps’ station?” a junior said, speculating on a replacement. The dining staff doesn’t see how this change is such a major issue among students. “We have always offered a variety of delicious desserts,” one of the cooks said. “The students are still going to have great options to choose ISSUU.COM/THEHENDRIXCOLLEGEPROFILE
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from, as well as the soft-serve machine that is always available. I have a feeling that the students will accept the change soon enough.” Whatever the dining staff introduces in place of Sundae Thursday, the student body hopes that cuisine will still be just as outstanding. “I trust that the staff knows what they’re doing,” one student said. “I’m interested in seeing what new item they’re going to offer next.” *A note to the reader: The Zucchini is a spinoff column of The Onion, a satire news publication that is based in Chicago, Ill. Nothing written in an article under The Zucchini column is factually true; please do not take it seriously.
Photo by Megan Prettyman
OPINION
Confederate Flag Debate: By McKenna Jacquemet
T
he Confederate flag is perhaps the most prominent and polarizing symbol of the Old South. It has been a large part of popular culture in the last few decades; the flag has been displayed on Tom Petty’s 1985 Southern Accents tour and can be found on license plates, statues, and even bumper stickers. This summer, arguments flared over whether the Confederate flag should be hoisted on government grounds after a culmination of decades of racially charged political clashes, including a massacre of nine black churchgoers in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. A gathering sense of outrage could be felt as the nation watched 21-year-old gunman Dylann Roof pose proudly with the flag and post a lengthy racist manifesto online just before the church massacre. Before the official removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse, Bree Newsome, an activist and filmmaker, was arrested for climbing the flagpole and removing the Confederate flag. “We removed the flag today because we can’t wait any longer,” Newsome said in a statement emailed to the media. “We can’t continue like this another day. It’s time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building true racial justice and equality.” The events of the past summer have caused a ruckus of debate to flare around the nation. Opinions vary greatly. Those opposed to the removal of the flag argue that it stands for a shared heritage and a way of honoring ancestors. Among those in favor of the removal of the Confederate flag, opinions seem to be split between being against the flag flown outside government buildings or going further and not wanting the flag shown at all, by anyone. Despite this disagreement about the lengths to which the Confederate flag should be banned, one thing is agreed upon: to those who oppose it, the Confederate flag symbolizes racism, not only in the past but also in the present, not to mention a continuing separation of the races. Since this summer, the debate seems to have cooled off a bit, appearing less in the news. However, this is not the case. More states are being caught in the discus-
Heritage or hate?
sion about the Confederate flag’s appearance at statehouses, within state flags and in other government imagery. These discussions have caused a flurry of action among the southern states. So far, several southern states, including Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia have imposed legislation removing the Confederate flag from government monuments and grounds, as well as halting the use of specialty license plates created by the state. Mississippi State House Speaker Philip Gunn stated that the state’s current flag, featuring the Confederate stars and stripes in the upper left corner, should be changed, although this is unlikely after the 2001 referendum which decided to keep the flag as is. Arkansas has also been caught up in this de-
“We’re talking about our present and our future, not our past, and it’s time to look at it that way.” -Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin
bate. Although the Arkansas state capitol does not fly the Confederate flag, the state flag does feature a blue star meant to commemorate the Confederacy. “It’s part of history but, you know, it should not be utilized as a symbol for current events, it is history,” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said. This discussion is not merely going on in government offices, though. Countless rallies have taken place beginning this summer with no end in sight. Such rallies draw supporters and protesters of the Confederate flag, leading to increased tensions and occasionally turning peaceful rallies into violent events. After months of watching news headlines depicting the Confederate flag debate, I found myself becoming more aware of the flag in my everyday life. Having grown up in California, I had only seen the Confederate flag in textbooks when learning about the albeit-biased accounts of the Civil War. Here in Arkansas, I often see the symbol
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on license plates, bumper stickers, hats and hanging on the occasional dorm room wall. I wondered what Hendrix students think about the Confederate flag. So, I decided to go out and ask some. Reflecting the varying views of the rest of the nation, I found a plethora of mixed opinions, ranging from passionate to apathetic towards the debate. Sophomore Colton Morgan repeated the “heritage, not hate” slogan and added, “#AllFlagsMatter.” Upon further inspection, the #AllFlagsMatter movement compares the rainbow LGBTQ+ flag to the Confederate flag, arguing that both flags reflect pride and a sense of unity. “As someone that currently lives in and has spent 99 percent of their life in the South, my opinion is that yes, the flag is a part of our history. But regardless of that, no one can deny that its meaning and symbolism has been hijacked by racists and today means something different,” senior Nick Harrington said. I asked Harrington about what limits he thought should be put on the flying of the Confederate flag, if any. “I think that it’s something that should be remembered, but I don’t think that it should be flown on government buildings,” Harrington said. “If someone wants one in their house or on their car, then they have every right to do that, but I think that people should stop and think about what it’s become associated with today, rather than 150 years ago.” Several Hendrix students repeated this sentiment as they weighed the differences between what the flag once stood for and what it now represents. The general consensus is that the Confederate flag, while on one side stands for heritage, also can be viewed as racist and should not be flown on government buildings because of the bias. Whether individuals should be allowed to hoist the flag is a whole new kettle of fish. “What I hope we can do is unify the state, not divide it as we undertake the debate,” South Carolina Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin said. “We’re talking about our present and our future, not our past, and it’s time to look at it that way.”
Election MAYHEM Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton
Ben Carson
Donald Trump seems to be all over the media these days and is currently polling at 23 percent amongst Republican voters, according to an aggregate of polls conducted in early October. Trump has become famous lately for his controversial and extreme statements about issues like immigration. Chris Roberts, co-president of the Hendrix College Republicans, believes that Trump’s statements are attracting more extreme members of the party. “I think he’s having success right now because he’s really appealing to the hard right,” Roberts said. “The hard right really wants to hear ‘no more illegal immigration,’ ‘no more paying for anybody’s stuff.’ He’s playing to the hard right; he’s playing to the grassroots support.” That’s not all of his appeal, though. “I think it’s the PC [political correctness] thing,” Roberts said. “He will just stand up and say whatever he wants. So, I think people kind of resonate with that.” Many voters, however, find Trump to be illinformed on important foreign policy issues. “I think that Donald Trump is making assumptions based off of what he hears on Fox News,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t seem very informed of the situation. He didn’t know who the Ayatollah was. He didn’t know what Assad had been doing to his people. He was very uninformed. I’m sure his campaign manager has since made him read a book about what’s going on in Syria.” Roberts says that in light of all these issues, a Trump nomination seems pretty unlikely. “But, if you look at his numbers now versus when he first said he was running, his numbers were at like 35 percent, but now he’s down to 25 to 26 percent in some polls,” Roberts said. “I think people are starting to jump off his boat and realize that maybe this guy might not be the best man for the job.”
According to an average of polls conducted in early October, Hillary Clinton has a commanding lead amongst Democratic voters with 42 percent support. However, some worry that Clinton’s perceived inevitable electability may be detrimental to her campaign later on. “She definitely has the edge because she is raising more money and she has more endorsements, but the one thing that’s constantly behind her is that ‘inevitability,’” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of people who don’t find that appropriate. They think it’s really undemocratic that she would be unopposed. There’s a certain amount of voters who are kind of reluctant to pick her, just because they don’t like the idea of it being like a coronation.” Clinton’s campaign has also struggled with her recent scandal regarding her email server when she was Secretary of State, as Roberts pointed out. “I think Hillary’s got too much scandal surrounding her right now, too many voices,” Roberts said.
Ben Carson’s support amongst Republicans has been growing recently. At time of press, he is polling at 17%, behind only Trump in support. Peter Butler, president of the Hendrix Young Democrats, believes that Carson’s current support may be strained due to his lack of policy experience. “I think that [policy is] going to be a bigger issue for him as it goes forward, because he sometimes stumbles when you ask specific questions,” Butler said. “His mantra right now is that he’s just a really nice person and that he’s extremely intelligent, and he could learn what he needs to learn. But when he does the actual interviews with substance, you see that he hasn’t learned any of it yet.” Roberts agrees that Carson’s lack of experience could be problematic, especially when compared to Carson’s competitors. “Ben Carson is probably the least qualified, but Carly Fiorina has run for office before,” Roberts said.
Hendrix 2016 Presidential Candidates Survey Results (Top 5): Bernie Sanders
61
Hillary Clinton
19
Carly Fiorina
4
Mike Huckabee
4
Donald Trump
4
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FEATURE Breaking down the 2016 presidential race By Sarah Gilmour
Bernie Sanders
Carly Fiorina
Joe Biden
Bernie Sanders’ rank in the race may not be quite comparable to Clinton’s, as he is currently polling at about 25 percent, but his campaign still has its fair share of support. “I think he’s going to give [Clinton] a run for her money,” Butler said. “I think he definitely is more liberal than her and younger people that tend to be a bit more liberal are supporting him a lot more.” Roberts agrees that Sanders’ campaign has lots of support at the moment. “I think he’s got the most momentum going into the first democratic primaries,” Roberts said. However, many are concerned that Sanders might have views that are too extreme for him to be elected by the general public. “The one thing I would be concerned about if I were Bernie Sanders is that he’s doing well in Iowa and New Hampshire, but they’re both very small states, very rural states, and they’re fairly white states, and those are a lot of characteristics of Vermont, which is where he’s from,” Butler said. “I haven’t seen any evidence that he can go beyond the demographic of the small, rural white state. So, I’m not sure if he has a clear path to the nomination or if he has the right general criteria to win the general election. He likes calling himself a socialist and I think there are a lot of people who are still very wary of that term.”
Like the other current leaders in the Republican Party, Carly Fiorina does not come from a political background. However, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO has been steadily growing in support and is currently polling at 10 percent, putting in her in third place in the Republican field. Roberts believes that Carly Fiorina could be a strong potential nominee because of her business experience. “She has some policy experience,” Roberts said. “If you’re a CEO or some businessperson, you have experience just because you probably did lobby Congress for something at some point. You probably had to deal with the government. I think she sold servers to the government, so she has some experience, at least domestically.” Many Republican voters have been supporting non-career politicians such as Fiorina. Roberts believes that this trend is due to frustration with the Republican Party establishment. “I think a lot of people that are associated with the Republican Party are sick of the GOP, sick of the baseline Republican Party in general because they don’t think anybody is getting anything done,” Roberts said. “So, they may be looking for a candidate outside of the establishment. I think there are some good establishment candidates, but that’s why they are looking for candidates from those areas.” Butler agrees that outsider candidates seem to have an advantage in the current political environment. “I think that right now, you have a lot of frustration with Washington just because both Democrats and Republicans seem to be unable to work together,” Butler said. “So, you start looking towards people who are just successful at life . . . Fiorina has at least a solid business record.”
After polling at around 19 percent among Democrats right before time of press, current Vice President Joe Biden announced Wednesday, Oct. 21, that he would not be running as a candidate in the 2016 presidential election. According to a report from the Associated Press (AP), Biden announced his decision not to run in the White House Rose Garden and spoke about how he came to this decision with the support of his family. “Biden spoke movingly about mourning the recent death of his son, Beau, a process he said does not match the political calendar,” Julie Pace, AP White House Correspondent, wrote in her report. His decision may be a disappointment for many Democrats that hoped to vote for a candidate other than Clinton or Sanders. “Biden was seen by some Democrats as an ideal blend of Clinton’s establishment credentials and Sanders’ populist appeal,” Pace wrote. Even with the decision not to run, Biden has assured the nation that he will not disappear from the political forefront anytime soon. “While I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent,” Biden stated in his announcement.
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Photos on this page courtesy of: Donald Trump- media.zenfs.com Ben Carson- mediad.publicbroadcasting.net Carly Fiorina- jewishvirtuallibrary.org Hillary Clinton- media.hotbirthdays.com Bernie Sanders- geneticliteracyproject.org Joe Biden- upload.wikimedia.org
Additional photos on cover courtesy of: Ben Carson- static.communitytable.parade.com Joe Biden- en.wikipedia.org
Multicultural Organizations
On Campus
Fostering understanding; eroding cultural appropriation By Ginny Greer
H
endrix has over a dozen student-run multicultural organizations—each which exists to share knowledge and celebrate the diverse religious and ethnic cultures on campus. Every year, a multitude of celebrations, forums, performing arts presentations and meetings take place to offer students the opportunity to learn about the world outside of the Hendrix bubble. “It’s important to have these organizations because you hear so much about the Hendrix bubble and it’s so often sold as this great thing,” Multicultural Development Committee chair Jericka Battle said. “And while in some ways it is, it also allows us to get the sense that who we are is what’s inside the bubble and forget that everything outside it exists.” Both in and outside the bubble, young people are engaging in a new wave of conversation about the age-old issue of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of elements of a minority culture by another culture, and it is a particular issue on college campuses as students come together to socialize. Oftentimes, students engage in costuming, event themes and pop culture activities that appropriate the sincere, serious beliefs and traditions of minority groups in the United States. “Having these organizations that bring up tough topics of conversation that might not otherwise be discussed is so important because Hendrix has a majority white population,” Battle said. “Some of these problems just don’t affect them.” While Hendrix prides itself on fostering an open-minded community, it continues to struggle with issues of appropriation. Some of the party themes in recent history have made the ethnic and linguistic heritage of minority groups the subject of sexual levity. “I don’t think they’re done with malice; I think they’re done out of ignorance,” Battle said. “But it’s unacceptable at Hendrix, where we’re here to learn and grow.” Director of Multicultural Student Services, Desh Deepak, encourages students to be thoughtful in planning activities and to promote socialization that everyone can enjoy. “It doesn’t matter if your intent is just to have fun,” Deepak said. “You can have fun without having themes that are hurting some groups. People organizing [events] should be careful, because if you are hurting someone, they are
not going to want to come to your party, and it’s important to be inclusive.” Battle expressed that while there are still issues left to resolve, the Hendrix community has made good headway in encouraging cultural competency by opening dialogue in response to hurtful social events. “There was a big blow up about it my sophomore year, but the talks that it generated about what is acceptable and what is not is something that we really needed and has caused those parties to fizzle out,” Battle said. “It’s a small enough campus that you can’t stay anonymous. If you throw a party with a theme that you didn’t take the time to consider the possibility of being offensive, you’re going to be held accountable.” But cultural appropriation doesn’t exist solely in collegiate life. It is a growing problem in United States media, pop culture and entertainment. Officers of the Friends of India club expressed that the appropriation of Hindu culture is becoming more and more visible in
“Be proactive. You may not see it right away, but the changes happen because you start to speak.” -Desh Deepak American society. “Some forms of Hindu culture seem to become appropriated with the growing popularity of Bollywood,” junior Any Jivan said. “You see henna all over the place—but it’s being done in tattoo shops by people who aren’t informed on what it represents.” The members of the club explained that the key difference between appreciation and appropriation of a culture is taking the time to get to understand the significance of the practices before engaging in them. “It’s not bad that people are curious about pieces of other cultures, but we would prefer that they also learn about the background of the culture instead of doing it just because it is aesthetically pleasing, or it makes you look cool,” junior Pratheepa Ravvukimar said. Some forms of appropriation not only disrespect minority culture, but they also trivialize
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social justice movements. “Cultural appropriation became a big deal after bindis became popular, because that was a hate crime in the bigger cities in the United States in the 1990s; people were specifically targeting women who were wearing bindis,” Deepak explained. “Wearing them became a movement. But nowadays, people outside of that heritage are wearing them in music videos. It’s important to think about what you are using it for compared to what it is meant for. And the best way to do that is to ask the people it affects.” The multicultural organizations on campus encourage that very dialogue. “I don’t think people come into Hendrix very often with much knowledge about Hindu culture,” junior Dimple Shah said. “They may know people from India, but what our club does is expound on practices and traditions that most people know little about.” “Our club has a diverse population,” Ravvukimar added. “It’s not just for a certain group of people; it’s for everybody to learn about and celebrate our customs. People are excited and they ask questions, and that’s exactly what we want, because that way they can learn more about our background and culture.” Battle believes it is important to remember that what students are learning now will impact them and their society for the rest of their lives. “Hendrix is quick in complacency—we want to address the issue and move on,” Battle said. “But we’re not going to be in this bubble forever. It’s happening in the outside world. We’re going to leave and get jobs and knowing how to address those issues and determine what’s appropriate and what is not is really important.” Deepak empowers students to be agents of social justice by holding one another accountable and taking an active approach to combat issues of inequality and appropriation. “You don’t want to be the person who remains silent in the face of atrocities—whether it is regimes or smaller power structures— which disqualify people from getting things they deserve,” Deepak said. “You are the movement. If you notice something you think is wrong, there are others who believe the same. Be proactive. You may not see it right away, but the changes happen because you start to speak.”
Photo by Jordan May
FEATURE
#FeeltheBern Senator Bernie Sanders gains ground among millenial voters By Ginny Greer
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he 2016 presidential election will be the first that many Hendrix students are eligible to vote in—and thus one they will not soon forget. But before everyone crowds around the TV rooms in Couch and Galloway to watch the states light up blue and red on the electoral map next November, the nation has to decide who will represent each party in the final race. And as far as young Democrat voters are concerned, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is a new favorite. “I think that he should be president,” freshman Rachel Partridge, who represents the freshman class in Student Senate, said. “Of all the candidates, he’s the most liberal—the most open and transparent about his views. He’s straightforward about everything, which I think is important in government in general.” Sanders has taken the Democratic Party by storm in a matter of months. For a short time after Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the presidency last spring, it seemed she was the clear favorite. However, Sanders is beginning to gain ground, and it seems that young liberals are
excited about the prospect of a new Democratic candidate. “Even I was going for Hillary before Bernie came out of his shell, because at that time, she seemed to be the most ideal Democratic candidate,” Partridge said. “They share the same general views on some issues, but I think Senator Sanders is more liberal. They’re pretty polarized on foreign policy, and with situations like ISIS and the Syrian crisis, that’s a big deal.” Additionally, some speculate that Sanders appeals to people through the perception of a novel and independent political agenda. “There is a desire for authenticity and a perception that Sanders is not a pre-packaged candidate,” Dr. Jay Barth, co-chair of the politics and international relations department, said. “I think people see him as being more real than candidates like Mrs. Clinton, who have been around for a long time and are very heavily packaged.” Democratic college students have expressed the sentiment that Sanders is intimately in touch with issues relevant to the needs of the nation,
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and is poised to combat them. “I think he can do a lot for America and is the candidate with the best qualities for this generation,” freshman Jordan Borst said. “He’s for cheaper education, the LGBT community. He works with black rights activists — which is all really important in this time.” Sanders has a long history of involvement with social justice movements. In the 1960s, he was involved in both the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Committee on Racial Equality and was arrested for protesting segregation in the Chicago School District. He has participated in LGBTQ+ activism since the 1970s. Some young people feel that this consistent quality inspires faith in how he will act in the future. Young people’s support has been galvanized using the catchy phrase, “#feelthebern.” “Candidates like Clinton have changed their opinions about the LGBT community,” Borst said. “Bernie has stood by us. He’s fought for the community in Senate and in society. It’s that unwavering principle that’s made him so popular.”
FEATURE
Progressivism at Hendrix:
An Incomplete Picture
How the universal consensus around progressivism masks deeper disagreements on campus By Chirag Lala
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or Hendrix College, a cultural setting fairly uniform in its political leanings, the debates about ‘progressivism’ reflect a radically different dichotomy among the student body than one centered on left-right politics. Progressivism has traditionally been associated with seeking robust solutions to public problems, ones that generally have a center-left to left political tinge. But at Hendrix, being ‘progressive’ on campus is to make a statement, not about one’s ideology, but rather about one’s role in the ongoing struggle to define who we are as Hendrix students, our vision of the school, and how we can achieve those aims. The reason for that is our ideology is largely set. Hendrix is a predominantly left-leaning campus. LGBTQ+ issues. Student loans. Combating sexual abuse. Women’s reproductive health. The broad consensus on these issues is foundational to the modern Hendrix identity. But that consensus masks two critical caveats. For one, there are very deep disagreements among Hendrix students about just what constitutes acceptable progress on these issues. Peter Butler, the Student Senate’s academic policy representative and president of the Young Democrats, noted the wide variation in student responses just to trigger warnings, which are statements warning students about potentially distressing or uncomfortable content. “Current Hendrix policy is in line with accepting triggers in accordance with symptoms of medical conditions like PTSD. Any other concerns or discomfort that don’t have a stated medical need must be taken to a professor separately under current policy,” Butler said. “But there’s an entire debate about instituting warnings about potentially uncomfortable material without a defined medical requirement. You have students totally against trigger warnings. You have students clamoring for them. And you have professors trying to figure out how this will affect their teaching.” That same disagreement Butler described also extends to social issues. Take parties, for instance. Numerous private parties in the past few years have elicited controversy both because of their names and themes: “CEOs and
Corporate Hoes,” “Robots and Sluts,” “Thugs and Kisses,” “Cowboys and Navahoes.” “So many people got angry with these party names and for obvious reasons,” Marissa Lee, chair of the Committee on Gender and Sexuality (COGS), said. “But we also had people defending the names, claiming that they were intended to be humorous or satirical.” The disagreements don’t end there. As the head of COGS, Lee has been witness to a host of debates regarding responses to parties, drinking on campus, and being mindful of gender identity, just to name a few. To be frank, there is substantive disagreement on campus: vociferous, passionate, and rowdy disagreement. Hendrix’s consensus view of itself as progressive masks broader disagreement within the student body over just what direction the thrusts of progressivism should take. We may agree on the pursuance of gender equality or preventing intolerance, but we are nowhere near close to agreeing on specific measures. That disagreement is not bad. Indeed, diversity is critical to developing a healthy intellectual climate for fostering change. However, forgetting the existence of such diversity goes hand-in-hand with the second critical problem masked by Hendrix’s liberal consensus: complacency. “I think the difference between a liberal and a progressive is that progressives are more activist,” Butler, reflecting on his time as the head of Young Democrats, said. “They’re out there, they get their voices heard, and they’re more okay with compromising to at least get something done.” Labeling differences aside, Butler was commenting on a very real problem: enough students simply aren’t involving themselves in policymaking on campus. “Especially when it comes to student organizations, you see a definite drop in upperclassmen participating in organizations like the Young Democrats; they’re just too busy and the challenge is making sure students are still out there participating,” Butler said. “Hendrix students are very passionate and you
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can feel the anger on campus when something bad happens,” Lee said. “But the responses kind of fade after the initial fire. Enough students just don’t come forward and talk about the changes they want to see. And eventually, the fire dies out.” She gave the example of party culture. “Partying and binge drinking can cause huge problems on campus,” Lee said. “It can lead to unsafe situations, especially with regard to sexual assault. But all you often hear students saying when they’re told about reducing the amount they binge drink is that it’s all part of a ‘broader conversation.’ We all say it, but these are really just ways to talk and not actually do anything about the problem.” These examples were given not to make a point about any one issue on campus, but to display a common trend in thinking about movements for change at Hendrix. This is a school where being progressive is a crucial building block of identity. Yet the progressivism at Hendrix is incomplete, or at least more jaded than would first appear. It has internal disagreements. And there is a complacency built up in the student body that causes students to retract critical participation in campus-wide institutions and debates. These forces fundamentally set back efforts to change Hendrix for the better, whether those efforts or potential changes are progressive by the traditional definition or not. But there is room for hope. When asked about their respective visions for the future, both Lee and Butler reflected on a subtle optimism that underlines their work. Students have made changes and contributed before. The fact that we have COGS, that we have a litany of successful organizations accounting for the interests of minority groups, that we pay as much attention as we do to LGBTQ+ issues: these represent real progress garnered from student involvement. And it can happen again. Progressivism, if it truly represents a studentdriven force for change at Hendrix, can, like the students who make it up, change and learn from the past.
Coming Back Strong
SPORTS
Hendrix volleyball returns to the court after nationals run By Bayley Krell
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he 2014 season was a monumental one for the Hendrix volleyball team. After going 27-5 in the regular season, the team successfully battled their way to become Southern Athletic Association Conference Champions. Following this victory, the team was given the opportunity to be the first ever Hendrix volleyball team to compete in the NCAA tournament. After sweeping the first round, the Warrior volleyball team fell to seventhranked Washington University. “Coming in [last season], there was some tentative feelings of ‘can we win the conference, can we do this?’” head volleyball coach Ryan Meek said. “Then we did it. Now this season, the mental challenge has been understanding the consistency needed [to win].” The pressure has been on the 22-girl team to provide the same results as the previous season, as Hendrix is currently the number one seed for the conference and the team to beat. “What you tend to overlook as a coach and as a program is that if you win [the tournament], then everybody is recruiting to beat you,” Meek said. “So they’re going out to get the kids to beat you.” Despite the pressure, the team is confident in the unity they have developed in the past season to get them through the remainder of the 2015 season. “The nice thing about having mostly everyone returning is that our volleyball family gets to form deeper connections this year in the face of tougher competition on the court,” senior Felicia Beeman said. Improvement and moving on from last season seem to be themes among the players, as well as the coaches, as they look at the upcoming schedule. “I think the one thing the kids have done since last season is not falling into complacency,” Meek said. “I told them when we reconvened in the spring that 2014 wouldn’t help us in 2015. They did a great job of getting in the weight room and practicing. They haven’t let last year hang over us. They’re trying to reestablish themselves in 2015.”
Photo by Madison Dealing So far, the team has accomplished their goal. Within the conference, the Warriors are undefeated, sporting a 7-0 record. Their overall record at time of press was 13-6. Though this may appear discouraging, as the team lost six total matches last season, it is an intentional strategy to test the team against top-25 opponents. “Our preseason schedule was a lot tougher this season than it was last season, which made it evident that we needed improvement in certain areas and it showed us the level of competition we need to reach every single day in practice,” junior Mary Caroline Rogers said. The competition is not just increasing during official matches. The coaching staff is also changing up practice styles to capitalize on the growth of last season and increase the team’s likelihood to succeed. “The second thing we’re doing is in practice; we’re trying to up our competition,” Meek said. “Last season, we did a lot of teaching and going over what we wanted done. This year, we’re getting into the gym to compete. We throw [the players] into tough situations and get them to play their way out of it.” So far, the coaching staff believes that this
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strategy has helped lead the team to victory in several tough matches this season, particularly in situations where the team needed to buckle down and score to win a set. They’re hoping to take this momentum through the second half of the season and into the conference tournament. “Our first goal is always to win conference, or be one of those teams that can,” Meek said. “Winning the conference is an incredibly hard thing to do; a lot of things have to go your way. There are a lot of good teams in our conference, but that’s the goal every year. We train to be one of those teams and hopefully the ball bounces your way a few times.” Both the girls and the coaching staff have kept this goal in mind throughout the season as they try to focus on what is in front of them, not behind. “Our coaches have us well prepared and we stand by each other and pick weight up when another is struggling,” junior Allison Gaia said. “It is our goal to again win the regular season conference play, host and win the conference tournament and represent Hendrix College on the nation’s largest stage, the NCAA tournament.”
They’ve Got Spirit, How About You?
Photo by Madison Dealing
Hendrix spirit squads live to pump up both the teams and fans
By Greer Veon
A
ny student who has ever attended a Hendrix Warrior athletic game has experienced the excitement. Some say that this atmosphere stems from the team itself, yet others argue that the crowds bring it to the stands. But ultimately, the Hendrix spirit squads live to bring the excitement from the sidelines. “I think that both Hendrix dance and cheer play an important role on campus,” junior Seaera Carney, a member of the Hendrix dance team, said. “They provide support that might not otherwise be there for the teams. I think we give off a positive attitude and outlook that is needed at games.” We know that our student athletes work for countless hours in preparation for games and conferences against other schools, which is part of the implicit agreement when they are recruited to play for Hendrix. Yet, many who choose to be a part of these spirit squads develop a love for it from encouragement from previous members. “Two of my Shirttails choreographers were members of the team and they persuaded me to try out,” junior Amanda Ayers, the dance team co-captain, said. “I’m so glad I did, because I wouldn’t trade my experience on the dance team for anything.” Carney also found that encouragement from upperclassmen really inspired her to join. “I took dance lessons in a studio for years when I was younger but quit before I got to college,” Carney said. “Millie, my OR leader, gave me the tryout info, so I saw this as a perfect
opportunity to get back involved with dance, and I joined.” Some, however, knew they wanted to continue participating in their spirited passion. “I have been a cheerleader since middle school, doing both competitive and school cheer, so it has been a passion of mine for a long time,” junior Heather Hirsch said. “I’ve had such great memories and made life-long friends from cheer, and I wanted to continue that at Hendrix.” “I loved cheering all throughout junior high and high school, so it was a natural progression to keep cheering in college,” senior Kate Emery said. Emery joined as a freshman and is now captain of the Warrior cheerleaders. Although both squads work together to bring the unique Hendrix spirit to games, the cheerleaders work to create impressive stunts and fun chants, while the dancers entertain the crowd with creative and fun dance routines. “My favorite part about cheer is performing and being on the sidelines with everyone,” junior co-captain Kelly Brice said. “It’s the best feeling when the squad pulls off a new stunt in front of the crowd because you are working with your teammates and knowing that you all depend on each other.” “The most important quality or characteristic of a Hendrix dancer is attitude,” junior Elise Wells said. “You have to be able to have fun. We goof around a lot and being a part of that fun is what helps us perform our routines well.” But one thing that participants of both the cheer and dance teams can agree on are the
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bonds built between the teammates. “I love the instant friends you get from being on the dance team,” Carney said. “I also get to know a lot of the athletes on campus since we are at most of their games.” “For many of [the cheerleaders], we have been together since football started back at Hendrix, and it’s been awesome to develop and maintain our relationship as a squad and on a personal level,” Hirsch said. “I love performing with my team on the field, the basketball court and on the sidelines.” The students that take part in the spirit squads share fun memories, tough practices, and exciting games together. They all work together to make sure that the atmosphere for both the players and the fans is a unique and worthwhile experience, which isn’t a skill that can be achieved by just anyone. “We hold a leadership role in the support of the other athletic teams,” Brice said. “Our jobs are to create an atmosphere that supports and pumps up our athletic teams, along with welcoming fans to cheer and interact with the game,” sophomore Ethny Ashcraft, twirler for the dance team, said. “[The spirit squads] are leaders and represent our school in a positive manner,” Hirsch said. “Our positive attitude and encouragement is beneficial to our teams playing, and we help lead the crowd.” You can catch both cheer and dance throughout the year on the football and basketball sidelines while also supporting your Warrior athletic teams.
SPORTS
The Ultimate Relationship: Hendrix and Frisbee By Jordan May
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ompared to most sports, ultimate frisbee has only been around for a short time period, yet its progress as a popular sport has been swift. According to ultimatefrisbee.com, the first collegiate game of ultimate frisbee was played on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers between Rutgers and Princeton, 103 years to the day after the first collegiate football game was played between the same two teams. From that point forward, ultimate, much like football’s story, has risen to become a popular competitive pastime across the country. Ultimate is a noncontact sport. There are also no referees; rather, players rely on each other to do the right thing by being honest and calling their own infractions. So, this is just as gentlemanly a sport as golf. A team is made of seven players, and the object of the game, like most, is to score as many points as possible. To score these points, a player must catch the frisbee, or disc, in the endzone that is being attacked. Players are very loosely assigned roles in ultimate, as these positions tend to overlap at times; however, there will typically be handlers in the back making long passes to the middles and deeps - it’s then their job to score. This phenomenon of rapid popularity that ultimate has gained can be seen at Hendrix.
The ultimate team is an extremely structured organization with a president, vice president, treasurer, a captain for the women’s and men’s teams, and a diverse group of players. Senior Eli Kessler is the captain of the men’s ultimate team, known as the Flying Squirrels. Kessler learned to throw a disc around the age of nine or ten and has been playing ultimate com-
“Ultimate has grown across the country, and even to an extent internationally, in such a short time period.” petitively since he was a junior in high school. However, experience levels vary across the team. Like any competitive sport, the ultimate men and women’s teams go to competitions all around the country.
Photo by Konrad Witkowski
“As a team, we usually go to the same tournaments every year,” Kessler said. “We play up in Fayetteville for a Halloween themed tournament every year. We also play in tournaments in Tulsa, Nashville, and Dallas. Over spring break we do a weeklong tournament in Myrtle Beach, N.C. Every tournament is two days of back-toback-to-back games. It is a lovely mixture of completely exhausting, rewarding, competitive, and absurd fun.” Of all the expectations for players on the ultimate teams, the single most important ability is the throw, as this is the only way to score points to win in the game. The Hendrix ultimate teams practice throws every day. “It just depends on the person and where they are with each throw,” Kessler said. “Some people throw forehand better and some people throw backhand better. Really, the best way to throw a disc is just the best way that it makes it to your teammate.” The Hendrix ultimate frisbee team grows every year. Ultimate has grown across the country, and even to an extent internationally, in such a short time period. It took a long time before football became as popular as it is today. So, can ultimate rise to be one of the country’s top sports? Only time can tell.
Photo courtesy of Aditya Katke
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The Secret to Sequels E By Connor Newton
each of these sequels has its own interesting background: “The Hunger Games” looks to finish up its adaptation of the popular novels; the Bond film continues a long saga of films; the next “Star Wars” looks to revive a highly iconic franchise, a franchise that has produced some dud sequels in prior years. “Spectre” appears to show the most promise, in my opinion, of the sequels to come. The prior Bond film, “Skyfall,” was marvelous. It was dark, gritty, and the cinematography was splendid; I can still recall my feelings upon seeing the red and orange flames of Bond’s childhood home burning, reflecting, and glimmering in the dark, black waters of a Scottish marsh. “Spectre” has the potential to ride off of the success of “Skyfall,” an action film that was nominated for multiple Oscars, including Best Achievement in Cinematography. For me, one of the keys to the success of “Skyfall” was its casting of Javier Bardem as the villain. Bardem provided the film with a “Dark Knight,” Joker-esque performance, adding a level of depth to the bad guy that often doesn’t get depicted within the action genre. I believe “Spectre” could reach this level as well, considering Christoph Waltz was cast to be the bad guy. Waltz, a winner of two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, will be the key to the film. If his performance is lacking, and all we get is another film showing Daniel Craig jumping and clinging to ledges, then the film won’t be nearly as good as “Skyfall.” The film that looks to be most problematic is “The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 2.” I wasn’t a fan of the “Harry Potter” series splitting the finale into two parts, but I felt that there could be an argument made for why that was done for that particular text. However, the fact that it is now becoming a trend to stretch films out looks to be very problematic for the future of the action movie genre. We honestly don’t need a third “Hobbit” or two “Breaking Dawns,” yet we have them. Moreover, as someone who found himself tortured by the repetitive whining of Katniss in “Mockingjay” the book, I can’t imagine why someone would pay to see the movie—let alone two parts. My biggest qualm with the series comes from the fact that a book written in the first person, and one that is highly dependent upon Katniss’ subjectivity and stream of consciousness,
gets shifted into the third person in order to be adapted to the screen. Rather than receiving the crucial inner thoughts and emotions Katniss goes through, the viewer gets left with a rather expressionless Jennifer Lawrence and a plot that’s infuriatingly dependent upon its own poorly constructed dialogue. If you’re a fan of hearing Jennifer Lawrence yell the name “Peeta!” about two dozen times, then “Mockingjay Part 2” is for you. The “Star Wars” expansion proves to be the most difficult to gage. The franchise has had some ups and some downs. Starting out as easily the most successful franchise in the history of cinema, all of that got destroyed when George Lucas decided to grace us with three prequels, giving us such memorable and totally-not-racist characters like Jar Jar Binks. What bodes well for “The Force Awakens” is the fact that they got rid of George Lucas: yes, all that Disney money got him to keep his ideas to himself. In his place, they grabbed J. J. Abrams, who recently rebooted the “Star Trek” series, doing a half decent job. The struggle for “Episode VII” will be the fact that no “Star Wars” film, and very few action films, can stand up against “Episode IV” and “Episode V.” Many believe, and the kid in me has to agree, that “The Empire Strikes Back” is one of the greatest movies out there, which means that “Episode VII” will live in the Empire’s shadow, too. That appears to be the problem with sequels: these “shadows” that get created. We can’t enter the film in the “right” way (the way that makes Hollywood rich) if we haven’t seen what’s come before, right? And, sometimes, what comes before is really good, so good that it makes a decent sequel bad, which I’m afraid could happen to “Spectre.” Comparison naturally emerges from the idea of the sequel, and it’s hard to say whether a sequel serves as an obstacle to full engagement with a film, or adds a new element and context to a previous film, exposing more. If you ask me, a film shouldn’t be a five-year investment; it should stand alone, captivate the viewer, and give back—not ask for his or her attention later.
Images courtesy of comingsoon.net
very time we watch a film, that film gets filtered through our prior knowledge, pre-formed opinions, the kind of day we’ve had, and the mood we’re in. This “self” that we bring into a screening is what allows us to watch a film over and over again, extracting new meanings with each consecutive viewing, connecting the dots in a different way upon the second or third encounter. Typically, we go into a film “cold,” meaning we have little prior knowledge: possibly a recommendation from a friend, a short synopsis online, a score from Rotten Tomatoes, or a few shots from a trailer (I don’t suggest watching the whole thing). Generally, I find going into a movie cold offers the best results. This way, you’re going off of an impulse, allowing the film to mysteriously unfold before your eyes. However, it appears that Hollywood often subverts this experience with the constantly growing and ever more popular institution of sequels. Sequels alter the experience. Sequels compel, oblige, and invite the viewer to have previously seen a film, to gather a film’s worth of prior knowledge and context, and to bring this knowledge into the sequel. In this way, sequels are a means of profit for Hollywood. The thought process is this: “Well, it will be harder to understand ‘Avengers 5: Montage of Obscure Masks’ if you haven’t seen the other 14 films leading up to it.” Sequels attract a market, and whether or not that market existed prior to the film, created through popular culture or perhaps by a popular novel, the point remains that sequels get people into the seats again, and then again. For instance, the seventh “Harry Potter” book got split into two movies, and suddenly we have “The Deathly Hallows Pt.1” and “The Deathly Hallows Pt.2,” bringing the series twice as many viewers. In the upcoming weeks, multiple sequels will be entering theaters: “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” “Spectre” (the next in the latest 007 series), and “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.” Notice how clunky these titles are. There are pieces added to provide context to exactly which movie it is and how it fits in the scheme of the others, and even my description of the 007 film contains this “next-latest” jargon. However,
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A Night with Tig
Notaro
“Hendrix Hump Nights” begins revival with big name comedian By Marlee Bird
P
erhaps you have heard of Tig Notaro, a comedian who has appeared on “Conan” and “Inside Amy Schumer.” She has had a Netflix movie made after her called “Tig,” as well as an HBO Comedy Special entitled “Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted.” But perhaps you have not heard of Tig Notaro, which is one of the reasons why student activities director Tonya Hale wanted to bring her to campus. “For people who aren’t familiar with comedy or with Tig herself…it sort of introduces them to that world and to comedy and stand-up and what that means,” Hale said. Bringing Notaro to campus was no easy feat, as she was way out of a small liberal arts school’s price range. However, thanks to the Office of Student Activities and a little bit of luck, Hendrix was able to snag her. “I saw on her tour schedule that she was going to be in New Orleans the day before us . . . and I called up her agent and the price was right,” Hale said. Notaro’s performance was definitely a win for Hendrix. Her laidback demeanor and style of comedy fit in well with the Hendrix community, as Hale believed it would. “I just thought that Tig Notaro’s comedy style and also her story and what she stands for would really resonate with our community,” Hale said. As Notaro casually sauntered on stage with her water bottle, laidback jeans and khaki blazer, she looked the part of cool-hipster-comedian who knows she’s about to bring down the house. She touched on her life as a comedian at first, mentioning that she has worked many temporary jobs and was once asked, “When you’re not temping, what do you do?” to which she replied, “I’m a comedian.” According to Notaro, that moment was like saying to someone, “I’m training to be a motivational speaker.” Although Notaro’s coworker was astonished at her unconventionality and absurdity, Notaro assured us that her life isn’t really that exciting. “My fiancée [Stephanie] and I got a kitten together a few months ago and
now that’s all we focus on . . . And yet people think we’re inspiring [as a couple],” Notaro said. One of the peaks of Notaro’s performance was her recollection of the day when she got her wisdom teeth removed and how her girlfriend at the time refused to drive her back from the hospital due to “work conflicts,” even though she was self-employed. The story includes Notaro escaping from the hospital after her surgery, having “a little
tap-tap” with another car, finding a neighbor sunbathing outside who refused to help her, and thinking her friend, “Luh-ley” (Leslie), is dead due to the path of blood she finds in her house. Of course this is actually Notaro’s blood, as she reveals she had unknowingly been drooling
blood the whole time, yet her neighbor wasn’t at all concerned -- a fact that still puzzles her to this day. Notaro’s story of her friend’s estranged “Aunt Myrtle or something like that” was also a hit for Hendrix students. After driving all day, Notaro and her friend go to sleep at Aunt Myrtle’s house, but end up not sleeping at all due to a massive feast and Aunt Myrtle’s literal downfall (accompanied by a broken hip). Notaro called out a few Hendrix students for laughing and lacking empathy for Aunt Myrtle, only to end up agreeing that it was hilarious. She also questioned why swimming with diarrhea was even a conceivable thought; why an Irish woman was asking if she was farting, only to realize that she wanted to know if she was forty; and why didn’t the Beatles give Ringo Starr more songs to sing than “Yellow Submarine?” Notaro ended the show with a story about how she made the coolest kid in school play the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in class, leading to what we assume was his epic fall from popularity. Notaro’s visit to campus is just one of the many Wednesday night activities coming to campus as part of “Hendrix Hump Nights.” For a few years, the hump nights have fallen by the wayside, as Hale explained. “Campus in general became super saturated with so many different types of events and so many activities happening throughout the week,” Hale said. “It became problematic because people were programming over each other. My philosophy is if you have too much going on in one night, people choose to just not do anything.” But this year, the Office of Student Activities is rebuilding the Hendrix Hump Nights from a new angle. “We’ve reached out to student organizations to have their events be the hump night events,” Hale said. “Like we reached out to Couch and asked if Couch Acoustic could be a Hendrix Hump Night event. We just wanted to rebuild that identity and kind of recreate it again.” Image courtesy of Hendrix College Student Activities
NOVEMBER 2015
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november
CALENDAR CONWAY, LITTLE ROCK, & CENTRAL ARKANSAS NOV. 1 - NOV. 7
Color Run
Sunday, Nov. 1 7 p.m. Black Tide. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Monday, Nov. 2
1 p.m. Meet a Mule: Mule-Showing and Commentary by Judge Bill Wilson. Murphy House. Conway. 7:30 p.m. Chamber Orchestra All Souls Concert. Greene Chapel. Conway. 8 p.m. Otonana Trio. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
7:30 p.m. Salsa Night. Juanita’s. Little Rock. 8:30 p.m. Babes in Toyland. Juanita’s. Little Rock. 8:30 p.m. The Vespers. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 Thursday, Nov. 5
9 p.m. Jelly Roll: Hangovers & Hot Chicken Tour. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Friday, Nov. 6
9 p.m. Little Rock Salsa Presents: Salsa Dancing. Juanita’s. Little Rock. 9 p.m. The Lonely Biscuits. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock.
Saturday, Nov. 7
9 a.m. The Color Run 5K: Shine Tour. Little Rock. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Arkansas 2015 Cornbread Festival. Main Street. Little Rock. 1 p.m. Warrior Football. Hendrix vs Washington (Mo.). Conway. 1 p.m. Hendrix Men’s Swimming and Diving. Hendrix vs St. Gregory’s/Bethel (Tenn.). Conway. 1 p.m. Hendrix Women’s Swimming and Diving. Hendrix vs St. Gregory’s/Bethel (Tenn.). Conway. 9 p.m. Diamond Rio. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Amaranthe
NOV. 8 - NOV. 14 Sunday, Nov. 8 7:30 p.m. Dylan Holland. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock.
Monday, Nov. 9 8 p.m. The Skulx. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Wednesday, Nov. 11 Thursday, Nov. 12 Friday, Nov. 13
7:30 p.m. Salsa Night. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
9 p.m. Little Rock Salsa Presents: Salsa Dancing.
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The Vespers
Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Saturday, Nov. 14
7 p.m. Brooks Wheelan. Juanita’s. Little Rock. 9 p.m. That 1 Guy. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock.
NOV. 15 - NOV. 21 Sunday, Nov. 15
College. Conway. 8:30 p.m. Cereus Bright. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock. 9 p.m. Little Rock Salsa Presents: Salsa Dancing. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Saturday, Nov. 21
12 p.m. Range Day. River Market. Little Rock. 7:30 p.m. Andrew Jackson Jihad. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
NOV. 22 - NOV. 28
2 p.m. Hendrix Women’s Basketball. Hendrix vs Dallas. Conway. 4 p.m. Hendrix Men’s Basketball. Hendrix vs Dallas. Conway.
Sunday, Nov. 22 Monday, Nov. 23 Tuesday, Nov. 24
8 p.m. Plain White T’s - Guantanamo and Beyond. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
6 p.m. Hendrix Men’s Basketball. Hendrix vs Centenary (La). Conway. 8:30 p.m. Devin the Dude. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Monday, Nov. 16
Tuesday, Nov. 17
7:30 p.m. Salsa Night. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
8 p.m. Amaranthe. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Thursday, Nov. 19
8 p.m. Autograph. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Friday, Nov. 20
November Alumni Birthday Lunch. Hendrix
Wednesday, Nov. 25 Thursday, Nov. 26 Friday, Nov. 27
9 p.m. Little Rock Salsa Presents: Salsa Dancing. Juanita’s. Little Rock.
Saturday, Nov. 28
9 p.m. Coby Canada and the Departed. Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock.
NOVEMBER 2015
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NOV. 29 - NOV. 30 Sunday, Nov. 29 2 p.m. Hendrix Men’s Basketball. Hendrix vs UT Dallas. Conway.
Monday, Nov. 30
Photos courtesy of: Color Run http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0KBRHYj2TAI/maxresdefault.jpg
Amaranthe https://www.bhmpics.com/walls/amarantheother.jpg
The Vespers https://f1.bcbits.com/img/0000032689_10.jpg
1600 Washington Ave Conway, AR 72032