THE HENDRIX COLLEGE
ROFILE VOLUME 105 ISSUE 2
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR THE HENDRIX COLLEGE
P ROFILE Editor-in-Chief: Brooke Nelson Managing Editor: Casey Hawkins Business Editor: Chirag Lala Layout Editor: Jessica Frazier-Emerson Layout Editor: Liz Green Photo Editor: Megan Prettyman Copy Editor: Sydney Meyer Photographer: Leah Headley Photographer: Aditya Katke Photographer: Konrad Witkowski Staff Writer: Marlee Bird Staff Writer: Jenson Chier Staff Writer: Peyton Coffman Staff Writer: Hunter Herrera Staff Writer: Adam Williams
HENDRIXprofile.com . Online Editor: Sarah Gilmour
Advisor Jamie Groat
MISSION STATEMENT As a student-run and student-funded newsmagazine, The Profile uncovers the smart edge to campus culture: the people, places, ideas and trends that curious, confident students and faculty want, need and ought to know. By critically examining issues important to the Hendrix community, The Profile aims to act as a catalyst for change, a tool for transparency between the student body and faculty and a source of inspiration for its readers to begin thinking globally and acting locally.
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T
he 2016 election has been truly historic on all counts. Never before has a woman been a major party’s nominee for president. Never before has a candidate broken his own record on social media, generating more than 307 million Facebook likes, shares, comments and posts… in one week. One woman has even placed a $615,862 bet on Hillary Clinton’s win on Nov. 8—the biggest gamble ever staked on any U.S. presidential election. The media has played a historic role in this election, too. Thanks to the rapid proliferation of the internet, we have seen an explosion of political information online. On one hand, this is a good thing; objective context on important issues can educate voters who might not seek out the information for themselves, yet still come across it on their social media feeds. It presents an opportunity for voters to find information and educate themselves like never before. But more information also means more nuance in ideas, issues and candidates. After all, the information we receive on our phone screens is not always objective and unbiased. Many media outlets report events that they believe are unusual or sensational—news that they think their readers will want to click on—which ultimately generates revenue for their institutions. Yet those stories are sometimes inaccurate, twisting their commentary and slandering dissenting opinions. Studies confirm that readers are more likely to read and share stories that reaffirm their views. In this hyper-competitive media environment, media is a tool capable of doing both good and bad. It’s all dependent on how we use it. I believe the American media has a responsibility to objectively inform voters, communicating complex ideas in a clear, coherent manner. But instead, I have seen the media persuade and polarize the public, shaping political discourse into the alarmingly negative banter we have seen throughout this election. This is disheartening and disappointing. Still, I find hope in the fact that media coverage highlights some incredibly enlightening things about politics, too, which can give way to more informed voters, so long as the right information falls into those voters’ hands. For many on this campus, this is the first presidential election in which we will be eligible to vote. I know that all of the voices chattering away on our phones and computer screens can sometimes make the choice overwhelming. But as liberal arts students, we have a duty to absorb as much information as we can and listen to as many perspectives as possible, then interpret the world and make decisions accordingly. With Nov. 8 just around the corner, I ask not that you vote for a particular candidate or along certain party lines. I simply ask that you use the media to inform you, not to agitate or provoke you. And I ask not just that you are against something, but rather that you are for something. When you cast your vote on Tuesday, I ask that you are proud of your choice.
Cover art by Nicola Bryan
C O N T E N T S
VOLUME 105/ISSUE 2/NOVEMBER 2016
4 CLINTONS LOSING AR 5 CLINTON VS. TRUMP 8 THIRD PARTIES 10 GUIDE TO THE BALLOT 11 OVERVIEW: AR POLITICS 12 ARE MY VIEWS SAFE? 14 ALUMNI IN FOCUS 15 WOMEN’S SOCCER 16 VOLLEYBALL 18 MODERN LOATHING Discussing sexism in the 2016 election
What explains their decline in popularity?
Students weigh in on the presidential candidates
Highlighting third-party support on campus What to expect on Election Day
Issues on the AR ballot with guest writer Dr. Jay Barth
Does Hendrix foster a healthy political environment?
Gabrielle Schonder, creator of “The Choice” on PBS Overview of their successful season thus far Team sets sights on national championship
NOVEMBER 2016
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OPINION
MODERN LOATHING GENDER IN THE 2016 ELECTION: DONALD TRUMP IS SEXIST, AND WOMEN AREN’T TAKING IT. PEYTON COFFMAN T
o begin this meditation on gender in politics, let us briefly consider a quote from Donald Trump, the honest-to-God Republican presidential nominee: “I’m automatically attracted to beautiful [women]. I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. I just kiss, I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything—grab them by the p****. You can do anything.” This statement might be surprising to people who have not been paying attention to politics thus far. It might be surprising, if Trump had not already suggested that all women are gold diggers, cracked a joke about dating his teenage daughter, called breastfeeding “disgusting,” admitted that he found 12-year-old Paris Hilton to be “really beautiful” (and that he later watched her sex tape), pondered what his newborn daughter’s breasts would someday look like and committed a variety of other atrociously sexist acts, the list of which would be much too long for this article. How did this happen? How did this man, who is running against the first woman to win the Democratic presidential nomination, make it so far in this election? The answer is easy: sexist voters. Voters who do not care about how women are treated or talked about, who do not educate themselves on gender inequality, women’s health or consent. Voters who berate and mock Hillary Clinton for her appearance but simultaneously support a
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man who looks like a large, confused Troll doll. Women, who have a tendency to vote more and more Democratic, see this as a double standard. Women bear witness to Trump’s hideous and unashamed misogyny. In a Gallup Poll conducted earlier this year, 70 percent of women said they had an unfavorable opinion of Trump, as opposed to 58 percent of men. This could be due to his stances on women’s issues: Trump supports outlawing abortion, is on the fence about paid family leave, has no plan to reduce child-care costs and has dismissed the idea of a gender pay gap. In January, a former staffer sued him, claiming that his campaign paid men more than women for the same position. Trump denies his sexism. He becomes indignant when he is accused of it, which is ironic considering he commented in 1991 that “it doesn’t really matter what [they] write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of a**.” Hillary, despite her own shortcomings, is inarguably much more pro-women. She supports paid family leave, introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, defends women’s health and reproductive rights, has a plan to address campus sexual assault and stands with Planned Parenthood. The disparity between her and Trump’s attention to women’s issues will certainly manifest itself at the polls. This spring, NPR predicted that this election’s gender voting gap could be his-
torically large. Their data shows a 22-point gap between men and women on Clinton and Trump, and that was in May, before Trump’s more recent spouts of sexist garbage. Women’s issues are not the concern of just women, but the concern of every single decent person who believes in equality and the value of human rights. The whole of America needs to realize this truth, and then live by it on Nov. 8, and every other day to follow.
OPINION
HOW THE CLINTONS LOST ARKANSAS A
rkansas has seen a radical shift in its political sentiment since Bill Clinton became president in 1992. What was once the proud home of a Democrat in the White House now wants seemingly nothing to do with the Democratic Party whatsoever. What’s even more interesting is that this same man’s spouse could very well find herself in the same White House next year with hardly any backing from the state that propelled them into the national spotlight. What changes in Arkansas’ political climate have spurred this movement, or, more specifically, how did the Clintons lose Arkansas? The primary factor responsible for the Clintons’ downfall in Arkansas has been the state’s deeply red transformation over the past 20 to 30 years. Rapidly growing areas in Northwest Arkansas and parts of Little Rock have done their part to fuel this movement, and as of late, stark anti-Obama and anti-Democratic Party rhetoric from Republican lawmakers have deepened the
divide even further. Hillary Clinton’s association with the modern-day Democratic Party and the Obama administration have led to her downfall among today’s Arkansan voters. It was not surprising that Hillary never performed well in Arkansas during the primary season, given that President Obama only gained 38.86 percent of votes during the 2008 election and 36.88 percent in 2012. Her namesake has not carried enough weight to translate into any form of popularity among Arkansans. She is above all seen as a continuation of the Obama agenda, and anyone who carries that label, no matter the family name, is not going to make it very far in this state. I also think that, rather unfairly, media coverage during this election has placed too much emphasis on Hillary’s demeanor and perceived “coldness” behind closed doors, which provides a stark contrast to the warm and charismatic demeanor of Bill that made him so popular. The fact that Hillary is not “Southern” by nature could
Photo by Megan Prettyman
CASEY HAWKINS
explain why she does not resonate so soundly in Arkansas, but, interestingly, Bill still remains more popular than she does nationally, so perhaps there is more to this trend that extends further than the South. Sentiments can always change after the election. If Hillary wins, the Clintons will once again bear the White House spotlight, and the impact this will have on their popularity is unpredictable. Any trips they make down to Arkansas—including Bill’s yearly visits to the Clinton Library—will likely carry more pomp than in previous years, but how she will be received as a whole will be interesting to observe. There is no chance of recapturing the same affection that was present during the Clintons’ first stint in the White House, but times have changed, and, given a Democratic victory, it will be Hillary’s White House. Perhaps once the election coverage frenzy dies down and things begin to settle, we will see a gradual shift in the Clintons’ popularity in Arkansas and across the nation.
NOVEMBER 2016
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FEATURE
DE CI SI ON 2016 6
THE HENDRIX COLLEGE PROFILE
SPECIAL ISSUE
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KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES KNOW YOUR BALLOT POLITICS PROFESSOR’S GUIDE ARE MY VIEWS SAFE?
NOVEMBER 2016
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WHO ARE “I’M VOTING FOR CLINTON PRIMARILY BECAUSE I LIKE HER DOMESTIC AGENDA. HER POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON EDUCATION, ENERGY AND HEALTHCARE ARE APPEALING TO ME, ALONG WITH HER REMEDIES TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS.”
YOU
“I WORRY THAT HILLARY IS GOING TO STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE ANY SUCCESS BECAUSE SHE OFTEN DISMISSES CONCERNS ABOUT HER PERSONAL LIFE. WHILE I BELIEVE MOST OF THE ‘SCANDALS’ AGAINST HER ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED, SHE FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY EFFORT TO BE TRANSPARENT WHEN VOTERS DESPERATELY WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT FROM HER.” “CLINTON IS NOT WITHOUT FAULT IN HERSELF. TO MY FAMILY AND ME, SHE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY WITH ALL OF HER RUN-INS WITH THE TRUTH. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO US TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO TELLS THE TRUTH TOO MUCH, RATHER THAN SOMEONE WHO WITHHOLDS THE TRUTH.” 8
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Cartoon by Nicola Bryan
VOTING FOR?
STUDENTS WEIGH IN ADAM WILLIAMS
“IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO MY FAMILY TO TRUST THE PARTY THAT WE BELIEVE IN. IF IT TURNS OUT FOR THE WORST, THEN WE WILL LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL HAVE TO RETHINK HOW THEY PREPARE CANDIDATES AND HOW THEY SUPPORT EACH OTHER.” “THE LOSS OF THE COAL MINES IN OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES WOULD CAUSE A GOOD PORTION OF THE STATE TO BE UNEMPLOYED. I AM VOTING FOR TRUMP BECAUSE HE DOES BELIEVE THAT COAL IS NOT THE BEST SOURCE OF ENERGY, BUT HE RECOGNIZES THAT CUTTING THE WHOLE PROGRAM AT ONE TIME WITHOUT OFFERING ALTERNATIVE JOBS WOULD PUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, LIKE MY GRANDFATHER, OUT OF A JOB.” “OBVIOUSLY, THE WORRIES ARE TOO MANY TO COUNT. BUT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THERE ARE MANY, MANY WORRIES ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH CANDIDATES.” NOVEMBER 2016
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FEATURE
Photo by Megan Prettyman
Third Party’s the Charm? THIRD-PARTY SUPPORTERS ON CAMPUS EXPLAIN THEIR CHOICE OF CANDIDATE
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he third-party vote, long a fixture of American politics, exists at Hendrix College, too. Like the supporters of Eugene Debbs, Theodore Roosevelt or Ross Perot in days past, Hendrix students today give varying justifications for third-party votes. “In my eyes, the two main candidates represent many of the problems that plague America in both a political and social context,” sophomore Shane Warga said. “I do not agree with the approach of having to pick the least bad candidate out of the two major parties when I have more options available to me.” Two candidates dominate third-party coverage in the United States. One of them is Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, a former two-term Republican governor of New Mexico. Hoping to galvanize voters on a socially liberal and economically conservative platform, Johnson markets himself as an alternative to both major parties. He touched a chord with sophomore Arlo Stebbing, who says Johnson’s views most closely align with his own. “What I want is lower taxes across the board, increased privatization and a full market economy,” Stebbing said. “Those might be pipe-dreams, but at least in voting for candidates who attempt to make my vision for the country a reality, I can sleep at night knowing I have my integrity.” The second well-known third-party candidate is Jill Stein of the Green Party, a former physician and member of the Lexington Town Meeting in Massachusetts. Firmly to the left on social and economic questions, Stein
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CHIRAG LALA
built her campaign around the activist tradition. Her supporters, like junior Iad Alhallak, find a voice in her stances. “The third-party candidates aren’t as bad as people might think,” Alhallak said. “I think the Green Party’s, Jill Stein’s, major push for environmental change, avoiding military confrontations and to go after those who fund wars is something we need as a nation. I am not privileged enough like a white American to not worry about my family overseas getting bombed by the U.S. government, which is very possible with the two major candidates.” Third parties face long odds in American elections. But their voters, driven by diverse political philosophies, find a common motivation in a quest for change. “My vote shows discontent to the major candidates,” Warga said. “The country will stay the same as long as the Republican and Democratic parties’ backers fund the parties. The more people [who] vote for third parties, the more people in the future will vote for third-party candidates, which eventually will change the country’s stagnant parties.” “In my ideal world, 30 percent of people vote for Trump, 30 percent for Gary and 40 percent for Hillary, so she still wins, but we see that there is no longer a majority—there’s a plurality,” one student said. “Then we start actually taking third-party candidates seriously. Then we can actually make change. Then, most importantly, we have elections that are actually representative of most of the people in this country.”
GUIDE TO THE BALLOT
SEVEN ISSUES. ONE VOTE. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN MAKE IT COUNT.
HUNTER HERRERA
ISSUE 1 The Arkansas Increase in Length of Term in Office for Some County Officials Amendment. So, what exactly does that mean? This amendment to the Arkansas Constitution would increase a two-year term to a four-year term for elected county judges, court clerks and surveyors. This amendment would also prevent some county officials from holding a second civil office within this four-year term. Who supports Issue 1 and why? Those who advocate for this amendment argue that a longer term would allow elected officials to complete projects and ideas. They also argue that holding one office would keep the elected officials from dividing or losing focus. Those who oppose this amendment argue that making the officials run every two years keeps them from growing complacent.
ISSUES 6 & 7 The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment and the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act. This amendment would legalize medical marijuana for 17 qualifying conditions and would allot the tax money from marijuana sales to technical institutes, vocational schools, workforce training and the General Fund. One of the 16 qualifying conditions reads: “Any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Arkansas Department of Health.” Issue 7, which legalizes medical marijuana for 56 qualifying conditions instead of 16, was recently struck from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court. In Issue 7, the tax revenue would have been allocated towards providing patients with medical marijuana who would not have been able to afford it otherwise.
ISSUE 2 The Arkansas Gubernatorial Power When Governor is Absent from State Amendment. Gubernatorial power means that the powers of the governor go into the hands of the lieutenant governor when he or she leaves the state. This amendment would allow the governor to retain his or her regular powers when traveling out of the state. The amendment also adds feminine pronouns to Section 4. Only one person voted against this amendment in the Arkansas Legislature. Those supporting this amendment state that the old provision is outdated and that technology now allows the governor to perform his or her tasks even while traveling.
ISSUE 5 The Arkansas Three New Casinos Amendment. This amendment has also been struck from the ballot. It would have allowed a casino to operate in Boone County, one in Miller County and one in Washington County. Issues 4 and 5 will still appear on the ballot, but the Arkansas Secretary of State will neither count nor certify the results. Photo courtesy of Dr. Jay Barth
ISSUE 3 The Arkansas Removal of Cap on State-Issued Bonds Amendment. This amendment would remove the cap on the amount of bonds that the state is allowed to give to a corporation, association, institution or individual for development projects. Right now, the cap is at $250 million. This amendment would remove that cap entirely. Those who support this amendment argue that it would allow the state to compete for large development projects that could bring jobs to the state. They claim that Arkansas is at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the country in terms of economic development. The Liberty Initiative stands in opposition, arguing that this amendment would allow the government to give out taxpayer money to private entities without any limit.
ISSUE 4 The Arkansas Cap on Medical Malpractice Attorney Fees Amendment. This amendment has been struck from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court. It would have limited the award for non-economic damages in medical-injury lawsuits to $250,000. It would have also stopped attorneys from charging fees more than one-third above the amount awarded to their clients in medical lawsuits. This issue was struck because it “left critical elements undefined, such as ‘non-economic damages,’ which the [Supreme Court] ruling called a ‘technical term’ that is not readily understood by voters,” according to arkansasmatters.com.
NOVEMBER 2016
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6 TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE NOV. 8
DR. JAY BARTH
A POLITICS PROFESSOR’S TAKE ON VOTING, BALLOT ISSUES AND MORE As everyone with a pulse knows, the presidential election will be the main attraction on the Nov. 8 Arkansas ballot. But, those going to vote will see a variety of candidates and measures on the ballot beyond the presidential race. A few highlights of the Faulkner County ballot: 12
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Photo by Aditya Katke
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Arkansas has direct democracy, which allows rank-and-file voters to make policy decisions at the ballot box. Some of these measures are sent to the voters by the General Assembly, but others are initiated through a petition process in which the signatures of voters are collected. Seven proposals were originally included on the Arkansas ballot, but three—including one on the creation of several casinos in the state and another on “tort reform”—were struck from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court because of questions about the ballot titles and number of voter signatures, so four remain to be considered on Nov. 8. In 2012, Arkansans came very close to passing a medical marijuana measure to allow patients with certain medical conditions to buy marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries. Divisions between advocates for that initiative emerged and have persisted since that time. Thus, the reason for two different measures on this ballot. One measure is an initiative (Issue 7) that looks very much like the 2012 measure. It includes a “grow your own” provision (up to 10 plants) for those living over 20 miles from a “cannabis care center.” However, it was recently struck down by the Arkansas Supreme Court and will not be tallied come Election Day. A second proposal (Issue 6) is a constitutional amendment that lacks the “grow your own” provision, allows fewer conditions to justify patients to gain access to medical marijuana and has a different regulatory structure. Although voters could once vote for both measures, against both or make a choice between them, now voters can only vote for Issue 6. Many political leaders, including Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and a diverse array of advocacy groups are opposing the measure, but considerable money is being spent on advertising in support. Nov. 8 will determine, though, if Arkansas becomes the first southern state to pass medical marijuana at the ballot box.
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TERMS LIMITS
Three constitutional amendments were placed on the ballot by the General Assembly. One of these would alter several aspects of Arkansas election law. The most important of these provisions would allow county officials to be elected to four-year terms rather the current two years. Advocates of the change say that county officials need more time to carry out strategic changes in their counties rather than constantly being concerned about reelection, while opponents argue that voters deserve to have an ongoing check on these officials who carry out important governmental functions.
CONVICTED COUNTY CLERK
Many are watching the outcome of the vote on one of these Faulkner County officials on Election Day. Soon after taking office in 2015, County Clerk Margaret Darter was charged with tampering official documents, a felony charge. Despite being under a legal cloud, Darter was able to win renomination in the spring, and her name appears on the ballot with her current title. She’s no longer the county clerk, though, because, through a plea bargain, she pled guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to give up her office. The voters will now determine whether she should return to office in January.
CONWAY MAYOR
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Mayor Tab Townsell has been mayor since 1999. Over his five terms in office, Conway has seen tremendous change and population growth, but Townsell has been able to ride the waves of those changes to continually win reelection. He’s now giving up his office, and three candidates—all with current or past roles in city government—are seeking to replace him. The election will say much about the direction of city government in the coming years.
THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES
Starting with the presidential level, a number of third-party candidates are on the ballot this year, with Libertarians leading the pack in Arkansas. On the presidential ballot, six candidates will appear on the Arkansas ballot in addition to Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Libertarians also are running for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. With widespread angst about political institutions such as the traditional two parties showing itself in 2016, it will be interesting to see whether this year can be a breakthrough election cycle for third-party candidates.
HOW AND WHERE TO VOTE Voters can access a sample ballot at the Secretary of State’s website and can obtain considerable details on the arguments for and against the various ballot measures at www.uaex.edu/ballot. Voting will take place in Worsham North on Nov. 8, from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., and Project Pericles will sponsor an Election Night Watch Party in Worsham South following the closing of the polls.
NOVEMBER 2016
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FEATURE
ARE MY VIEWS SAFE? LOOKING AT LIBERALISM ON HENDRIX’S CAMPUS
MARLEE BIRD
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eing a conservative on campus is pretty tough,” junior Duwan Booker said. “I think we definitely need more diversity as far as a little bit more of a conservative understanding here. The running joke is, ‘Hendrix loves free speech, until you say something that [upsets] liberals.’” The joke has never had more meaning than during the 2016 election. The polarization of American politics is echoing across American college campuses, including here at Hendrix, and it raises the question for many conservatives—or those who just do not coincide with the mainstream left-wing—“Are my views safe?” For students who fall outside of the liberal bubble on campus, this lack of safety can take many forms. They might feel ostracized for their beliefs or be verbally attacked in a discussion about politics. Sophomore Jamie Johnson, who has come
out publicly in her support for Trump, said, “I’m public about [my support for Trump] because I feel like it’s the right choice—not that he’s the best choice—but I feel like he’s the better option.” But because of her decision, she feels uncomfortable discussing politics with other Hendrix students. “Most of the time, I won’t start a conversation about it, because I know if I start it as a Trump supporter, other people will automatically go on the defensive,” Johnson said. “I know I won’t be able to be heard.” Donald Trump supporters are not the only outliers on campus. Junior Iad Alhallak will vote for Jill Stein, the Green Party’s nominee, on Election Day. “I feel like many people on campus and social media try to shame people into voting for Hillary Clinton,” Alhallak said. “As a minority and
especially as an Arab, I find it hard to think about voting for Hillary Clinton because of her record in the Middle East. White Americans do not have to worry about their family members abroad, so many do not think about foreign policy. I do care about foreign policy for the sake of my family members.” A wide range of views on campus has at times built tension between students. While the community often prides itself on its welcoming, open environment and tolerance of divergent opinions, some say it creates an atmosphere that can instill a fear of being different. This was never more apparent than when Johnson, after being asked if she felt safe publicly supporting Trump here on campus, said, “If I had a bumper sticker that said ‘Donald Trump’ on my car, someone would smash my window in.”
Photo by Aditya Katke
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FEATURE
ALUMNI IN FOCUS: ’07 alum Gabrielle Schonder produced “The Choice,” a PBS documentary chronicling the lives of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. This time, we placed her in the interview chair. KATE SANDERS
Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Schonder
O
n the day of her graduation, Gabrielle Schonder headed off to New York City. It was 2007, a time when no industries were hiring, especially broadcast jour-
nalism. “Looking back, that was pretty reckless,” Schonder said. “I just thought, ‘I have to get back up there.’” Her risk paid off. Schonder joined “48 Hours” at CBS straight out of college and worked there for five years before moving within the network to “60 Minutes,” where she worked as a producer for another five years. For the past eight months, Schonder has been working as a producer at PBS “Frontline.” “The Choice,” which aired on Sept. 27, was the first “Frontline” episode Schonder has released. It chronicles the lives of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. “These two stories were interwoven,” Schonder said. Due to the candidates’ similar ages, “they both experienced the same historical events in different ways.” “This is politics as we’ve never seen it before,” Schonder said. “This is the only political race I can remember where policy was never really talked about on a daily basis.” At a time when most media outlets are just playing the latest sound bites on a nonstop loop, Schonder believes that elevating the conversation and providing clarity for viewers should be the top priority for political journalists. “I think we see headlines every day about the race and not the greater implications of the race,” she said. “The Choice” works to cut through the noise and biases of network news by not covering the campaign itself. Instead, it focuses on the biographies of these candidates. “I feel like everyone should watch the film before they vote,” Schonder said, “even if they’ve made up their minds already.” The full documentary can be viewed for free on the PBS website. During the making of “The Choice,” Schonder worked almost exclusively on piecing together Hillary Clinton’s life through interviews with the people closest to her. At the beginning of the
project, Schonder sat down with a list of around 70 names of people who knew Clinton well. According to Schonder, “My job [was] to get the best people with the best stories into the interview chair and make sure the best stories [were] coming out of them.” During her research on Hillary Clinton, the thing Schonder found most fascinating was Clinton’s move to Arkansas, as she left behind the incredibly prestigious and progressive environments of New Haven and Washington. This decision seemed crazy to some of Clinton’s friends on the coast, who had a very negative view of Arkansas at the time. “It never came across that she felt better than anyone, that she could have done better than the experiences she had here,” Schonder said. “There was a humbleness, and there was this quiet determination to build a life of her own here.” Part of the reason Schonder relates so much to Clinton’s experience is that she too moved to Arkansas from a very urban area: Nashville, Tennessee. “When I visited Hendrix, man, this was a weird and cool kind of hidden enclave of great academics,” Schonder said. Schonder loved that Hendrix was small, quirky and basically unheard of outside of the region. The fact that Conway was close to Little Rock, a hotbed of political activity (thanks to the Clintons), was another important factor, since Schonder planned to major in political science. However, like many incoming freshmen, Schonder remembers thinking, “Oh my goodness, I have ended up in the middle of nowhere, and I’m not sure if this is the right path for me.” Hendrix was a lot smaller than her high school and much quirkier than she had anticipated. Reflecting on the beginning of her freshman year, Schonder laughed about the misadventures on her freshman orientation trip and the craziness of living in Couch Hall. “Ultimately, some of my closest friends in the world came out of Couch, came out of that OR
trip, and remain close friends today,” Schonder said. “Arkansas was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.” As a politics major, she worked in Little Rock at the State House Democrats Caucus and interned with the legal department of a presidential campaign. She also participated in the Hendrix-in-Oxford program, which was instrumental in the course of her life. “Hands down, my favorite thing about Hendrix is that they pushed me to get the heck off campus,” Schonder said, referring to the many internships and Odyssey projects she was encouraged to take part in. During her junior year, Schonder traveled to South Africa on an undergraduate research grant to better understand apartheid education policy. She remembered thinking that she could turn her experience into some fun graduate work for political research, but that she would rather get into political journalism. “I realized I could tell research-heavy, substantive pieces and longer length stories in a way that I could uncover corruption,” Schonder said. “I could take on special interests, [and] I could really examine the system at home, whether that would be on a state level or a national level.” Despite having only a little experience in journalism, Schonder landed an internship at CBS News the fall semester of her senior year. “Hendrix was really supportive of, like, ‘yes, we’ll figure out a way to make sure you graduate on time, and we’ll help you financially,’” Schonder said. This opportunity led to her job as a freelance researcher for CBS during her spring semester and then going on to join “48 Hours” after graduation. When filming “The Choice,” Schonder got to come back to Arkansas and visit some old friends. According to her, “there is nothing cooler than that, coming full circle.” NOVEMBER 2016
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SPORTS
Photos by Leah Headley
G N I N K A C H I K RE T LL A O B M HE T JESSICA EMERSON
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WOMEN’S SOCCER BREAKS RECORDS WITH MOST WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
xcitement and tension ran high at Warrior Field after senior Sydney Meyer headed in the final goal to tie up the Lady Warriors’ season opener against the UT Tyler Lady Patriots. The fans and the team waited with bated breath and watched as junior goalkeeper Jordan Rausch blocked three shots in the final minutes, securing the win for the Lady Warriors. As the clock ran down, reality set in. They did it. The unranked Lady Warriors had defeated the No. 22 team in the nation. “It was a big step for this program,” Coach Jeff Trimble said. “It not only got the season off to a great start, but was a big win for the next couple of years. Our young players need to remember what we can do when we play well, and it gave all of them a confidence greatly needed.” Newfound confidence and a larger desire to win have motivated the team to work harder in order to attain the goals they have set for themselves. Since beating UT Tyler, they have more faith in their abilities and more support from the student body. “They were ranked, and no one expected us to win,” sophomore forward Evie Cannon said. “Everyone always thought we could only win games against easy teams. When we beat them, I think everyone realized how good we’re actually going to be this year.” Last season, the Lady Warriors only won two conference games. This season, they are looking to break school records and go deeper in the
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postseason than ever before. “We broke the record for the best start of the season,” junior defender Maddie Mae Seyer said. “I definitely think that [with] the start we’ve had, we could accomplish [anything].” The Lady Warriors’ successes haven’t been easy. They have been fighting against adversity and overcoming challenges, with eight team members injured and unable to finish out the season. “It’s been really hard,” Seyer said. “We’ve had a massive amount of injuries. It’s been really key players who are injured, and we’ve had multiple forwards who have been our goal-scorers out. It’s been really difficult to fill the holes that that has created, but we’ve found a way so far.” During the Fontbonne game on Sept. 4, sophomore midfielder McKenna Rylands broke her fibula intercepting a pass, leaving her unable to finish out the season with the rest of the team. Other injured players include sophomore Mattie Crenshaw, freshman Khenli Harp, sophomore Braxton Reed, sophomore McKenna Rylands, senior Ellen Martin, senior Vanessa Franco, senior Janie Stultz and senior Katherin Aristondo. “I feel like it’s not just me individually but all the injured soccer girls that affect the team,” Rylands said. “It’s hard to look at your bench and see half of the team injured. We don’t have that deep of a bench, so we have to work harder on the field.”
The prosperity of the team relies on a talented senior class and a group of underclassmen that add speed and aggression to the field. Freshman forward Hagan Griffith is averaging two goals a game, and Cannon is averaging .93. The team is slowly adjusting to the new offensive aspects of their game. “I add an attacking mentality to the team,” Griffith said. “I see the team growing after this year by being a more offensive team and getting up more on the attack.” Along with a strenuous practice routine and stacked schedule, the Lady Warriors have developed a family-like bond that has contributed immensely to their winning season. “I believe the team’s strongest ability is to work together and encourage one another even if we’re getting down,” Griffith said. “If we’re down in a half or doing really bad, I feel like the team is able to encourage one another to do better in the second half and play a stronger and better game.” Strong teamwork paired with versatility allows for more fluidity on the field, which is especially important with an injured bench. If the team plays to their strengths, they will be able to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. “We have a number of players that can play more than one position, which gives us an opportunity to move players around,” Coach Trimble said. “That flexibility gives us the ability to change our lineup from game-to-game at times.”
SPORTS
“MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING ON THE TEAM IS HOW THE TEAM IS A FAMILY.” -HAGAN GRIFFITH Although the Lady Warriors have a diligent work ethic and passion for the game, a lack of enthusiasm has plagued the first halves of their games, making a desire to win in the second half necessary for a strong finish. “We are definitely a second half team,” Seyer said. “We come out during the second half and we’re really great, but that’s a problem if a team comes and scores on you in the first half. We really need to work on our energy at the start of the game and keep that energy consistent throughout the game.” After a reflective period, the Lady Warriors have acknowledged the obstacles they need to overcome and what it will take to go further this season. “Birmingham Southern is one game that we really struggled in the first half,” Rausch said. “We didn’t come out ready to play, it was hot and we were on the road. Although we lost that game, we learned from our mistakes, changed the lineup and came out more ready for the next games.” For a desired season finish, the Lady Warriors will look toward fixing small aspects of each game. But winning isn’t everything; it’s the experience that they treasure the most. “My favorite part about being on the team is how the team is a family,” Griffith said. “That’s what I was looking forward to about college, having a team that is a family. Having a group of people I can rely on.” NOVEMBER 2016
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SPORTS
Q&A WITH THE CAPTAIN
Photo by Leah Headley
SENIOR SYMONE BENNETT SHARES EXPERIENCES AS A LADY WARRIOR Q:
How do you lead the team?
A: I lead the team by motivating my teammates. I encourage them and try to inspire them to do their best. I try to keep a positive attitude throughout practice and games so the energy level will stay high.
Q: Does the team have any pre-game rituals?
Make a Difference The Noyce STEM Teacher Education in the Arkansas Delta (N-STEAD) program prepares high-achieving Hendrix science and mathematics students to become effective – and employed – teachers. The N-STEAD Scholar program provides juniors and seniors with an up to $15,000 scholarship and free tuition for 5th year seniors. Learn more about our program on our website.
Scholar Application Due March 3, 2017 Mills 105 www.hendrix.edu/n-stead N-STEAD@hendrix.edu (501) 450-1379
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THE HENDRIX COLLEGE PROFILE
A: A lot of the girls, including myself, have hand-
shakes right before the game starts. I think the best pre-game ritual we have is blasting music in our locker room and dancing all crazy.
Q: How do you feel the season has gone? A: This season has been amazing. The best so far!
We didn’t meet all the goals we set for the year, but we have also done some amazing things. This program is improving each and every year, and it’s an awesome thing to be a part of.
Q: What has been your favorite part about being a Lady Warrior?
A: My favorite part about being a Lady Warrior is the friendships I have made through soccer. All of my teammates are my friends off the field.
SETTING UP
SPORTS
FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
Photo by Leah Headley
VOLLEYBALL FIGHTS FOR SEASON TRIUMPH JENSON CHIER
H
endrix women’s volleyball is inarguably Hendrix’s best chance at a Division III national championship this year. Coming after a year in which they reached the Final Four in the NCAA tournament, the Warriors look poised to compete again at the national level. Much of the team’s success has to be credited to head coach Angie Boldt, who has experience coaching at multiple Division I universities, including the University of Arkansas and the University of Nebraska. This is her first season at Hendrix, and Coach Boldt has been impressed with the depth of the team. “We have a lot of depth in every position, and each player on our roster of 24 plays an important role,” Coach Boldt said. “It takes an entire team to win a match, conference championship or national championship.”
“WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING ONE POINT, ONE RALLY AND ONE MATCH AT A TIME.” -HEAD COACH ANGIE BOLDT
Currently 14-5 and 9-1 in conference play, the team’s hot start has been bolstered by junior Lauren Petrisin, a right side hitter who has already been named SAA Offensive Player of the Week. She was also honored as one of NCAA’s Elite 90 after last year’s national tournament. “I think the culture of our team is what brought us the success we have,” Petrisin said. “Our team has created an environment of dedication and hard work. The personal accolades are always great; however, without my team behind me, it would be impossible for me to gain that recognition.” Despite their lofty aspirations, the team does not seem worried. “Our motto is ‘One’ this year,” Coach Boldt said. “We want to be number one at the end of the season; everyone wants that. What sets us apart is that we know the importance of taking one point, one rally and one match at a time.” NOVEMBER 2016
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