Amin Akhnoukh, assistant professor of construction management and civil and construction engineering, was recently appointed as regional coordinator to the International Road Federation's Fellows Alumni Association.
The UALR William H. Bowen School of Law was recently recognized as one of the nation's most innovative law schools in the 2012 "Back to School" edition of PreLaw magazine, a partner of National Jurist. Bowen, which was one of 20 law schools featured, was selected for its innovative legal skills program.
Police Chief Steps Down
Construction will soon begin on a house for UALR’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity more than four years after an electrical fire claimed the first one.
The UALR Greek Life organization, also known as the Pikes, plan to begin the project after a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 8 at the property directly across from East Hall Dormitory on Fair Park Boulevard.
The “Pike house” is slated for completion by the 2013 Fall academic semester according to organization officials
Carolyn Larson Harman, the daughter of the founder and first president of Little Rock Junior College, which was UALR's predecessor, died Aug. 23 at age 85. Harman attended LRJC while her father, John Larson, served as the college's president from 1927 to 1949.
Adjoa A. Aiyetoro will be leaving her position as inaugural director of UALR's Institute on Race and Ethnicity at the end of 2012 and return to the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. Upon her return in January, Aiyetoro will become the director of Bowen's Racial Disparities in the Arkansas Criminal Justice System project.
June Nordman Mashburn, the last surviving member of Little Rock Junior College's first graduating class in 1929, died Thursday, Aug. 23 at age 103. Mashburn graduated from UALR's predecessor institution two years after LRJC was founded in 1927.
Send tips and information for news in a flash to editor@ualr.edu.
To keep up with news and happenings at UALR, visit ualr.edu/forum!
Foreign language major faces threat of elimination
Jennifer Ellis Executive Editor
Students who are interested in a foreign language major may have one less option after the 2012-13 academic year, according to a university administrator.
The German studies major is in jeopardy of being eliminated following the spring semester due to lack of demand and too few students graduating from the program, said Sandra Robertson, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Currently there are 23 students currently enrolled in the major. “Those students will be allowed to finish their degrees in German, but we won’t be accepting any new ones, if this decision is finalized,” Robertson said. “Right now we’re not sure what we are going to do.”
Annually the vice chancellor of academic affairs is charged with examining the viability of the majors the university offers according to standards set forth by the Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board, which requires a minimum of three graduates from the major per academic year to be considered viable.
Pi Kappa Alpha has been working to raise funds to build a new fraternity house for three years since they lost their former lodge in January 2008, to an electrical fire that started the attic.
The Housing Corporation examined the situation voted they decided to take responsibility in bringing together a team to build a new Pike house.
The organization has grown tremendously since then. Just three years ago the fraternity consisted of only eight mem-
bers, but now the number sits at 42, according to organization officials.
In stark contrast to their old single-story house, with the new facility is planned to be a 9,200-square-foot, two-story house set up with like apartments. The house will cost in excess of $1 million and contain six two-bedroom apartments, housing a total of 12 members. Each resident will also have a covered parking space.
“This is going to be our first residential house we'll have. The first residential house UALR has ever seen; more of a boast to the campus life” said Trey Gibeault, president of the fraternity.
The Pikes made their first step toward building the new house by demolishing the two houses that once stood across the street from East Hall on Fair Park Boulevard. The land freed up by the demolition provided ample space for the start construction.
“We are clearly in good hands," said former Pike President Ryan McConihay in a 2011 interview with The Forum
Greenway project nears completion
Liz Fox Entertainment Editor
The Coleman Creek Greenway, a UALR environmental effort created six years ago, is showing progress as construction efforts continue on the second section of the trail.
project’s stability and success.
with Redstone Construction Group, will continue to work throughout the next month to complete the section. Barring possible weather delays, phase two is expected to be completed on Oct. 5.
“We do this with majors all the time, if there is not enough demand, then we have to, we have to,” Robertson said.
See GERMAN, page 3
To coincide with the Campus Master Plan established in 2005, recovery of the 47-acre trail was conceived by Chancellor Joel Anderson and David Millay, associate vice chancellor of facility management. Since then, a committee of individuals from private firms as well as the city's public service departments have been assembled to ensure the
“It is indeed our desire to identify and preserve the ways in which Coleman Creek has contributed to both the social and educational experience of our University classes and students, as well as those who live nearby,” Chancellor Anderson said in a press release. Phase two of the project, which started late last month, is currently taking place at the north end of campus, stretching from the portion of Coleman Creek from 28th Street to the tennis courts near the Communications Building. Pulaski County road workers, in conjunction
“Of course I would like to see the trail progressing much faster, but on the other hand it is encouraging to see the progress we are currently making,” Millay said. “Again, we are creating a significant amenity for the campus and surrounding community without consuming taxpayer dollars or student tuition and fees.”
See GREENWAY
Construction equipment can be seen near the corner of UALR Campus Drive and 28th Street as preparation for phase two of the Coleman Creek Greenway project begins. Photo by Cameron Moix
Chief Brad King resigned from UALR’s Department of Public Safety to take a position at the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. Photo by Jennifer Ellis
Cheyenne Banner Social Media coordinator
Bogus degrees devalue the rest
The Forum
A lot of students hate getting out of the bed in the morning. The typical school day could be seen as daunting for almost anyone. Balancing school, work, family and other commitments could drive even the most steadfast person up the wall.
So it’s no surprise that college courses taking place 100 percent online are becoming more and more popular. It’s even to the point where schools are offering students the opportunity to complete a degree without ever stepping foot in a classroom. Another reason for the race to online courses and degrees is in response to the rising enrollments at “for-profit” universities such as the University of Phoenix or Strayer University. (You know, those schools that you are inundated by each time you turn on the television.) Chancellor Joel Anderson
recently spoke to the University Assembly regarding his goals to keep up with the online trend here at UALR.
There is a huge problem with all of this, though. Do university leaders across the nation not realize that this is devaluing the diploma that we receive after all of our hard work? Do these same leaders really believe that someone who sits at a computer and completes a degree is as wellequipped to face the world as a student who went to class and actually got involved in academics and extracurricular activities? (Not to mention the fact that no one really knows who is actually completing the work in the first place.)
Most of the leaders probably do realize the circumstances, but most don’t have a choice. Their job is to keep a university running, and in order to do that you must have students and steady income. To do this, they have to keep up with the trends. If they don’t, they get
kicked to the curb. It is a scary thought, but definitely not a new problem. Many people would agree that most of the learning in college happens not inside a classroom, but rather in the friendships, networking, and other events outside of it. Going to class and completing the work builds a foundation. But if you don’t build upon that, it usually turns into useless information that students won’t remember after the exam. Someone who is completing a degree at home doesn’t get those experiences. Before a few people get up in arms, it is also important to realize that some working people don’t have a choice. They work and have families to care for. Online degrees are usually an ideal solution for people like this. But is it really the best option? A college education shouldn’t be something that is easy to get. That defeats the purpose. Students should have to work long hours to prove themselves worthy of the
honor of being called a college graduate. But as in most situations, the cons outweigh the pros. If this trend continues and people can graduate with a 4.0 GPA from an online program where they don’t progress as a student or professional, then the diplomas received by all graduates become worth less and less. They become just fancy sheets of paper with some signatures at the bottom. What is the value of having a PhD if you didn’t learn a damn thing in the process of getting it? With such easy access to a college diploma, higher education is on the path to a horrible death. When the job market is flooded with graduates who don’t know much more than how to tie their shoes, it becomes nearly impossible for employers to weed through the mess to find those students who worked hours upon hours upon hours to obtain, what they thought, was their ticket to a brighter future.
Fill your fridge, empty your account
Upon arrival in the dorms this year I was greeted not only by the friendly faces of Chancellors Leadership Corps and other volunteers waiting with shopping carts to help new residents move in, but all over North Hall and the commons area in general were advertisements to “fill your fridge” at the Commons Market.
Until this semester, the Commons Market didn’t even have a proper name. It didn’t even have a sign. It was referred to by residents as the C-store and I never once shopped there because I wasn’t a resident and bought my ramen at Dollar General like most people.
Once my suite-mates and I were all moved in, we and a few other residents headed down to check out the Com-
mons Market and pick up a few things for our rooms. I wandered around checking items out for a bit before noticing that none of them have any prices posted. I asked the cashier and I was told that each item had to be scanned to tell the price, except for a few items she knew. Not wanting to bring every item I was interested in up to her to check the price before-hand, I asked myself “how expensive can it be?” and I began filling my arms.
Two DiGiorno pizzas, a value pack of easy mac, a package of Gardetto’s snack mix, a box of saltine crackers and a pack of red Solo cups later (Hey! It’s college!), I’d spent nearly $50 worth of my dining dollars.
I don’t know if you buy your own groceries or not, but that is so outrageous it boggles the mind. Each frozen pizza was thirteen dollars! That’s more than a delivery pizza would cost, and as everyone knows, the only allure a frozen pizza has over a delivery pizza is that it’s loads cheaper! If I had spent fifty dollars at Walmart, or even Kroger, there’s no
doubt I would have gotten more than double the amount of food I got at the Commons Market.
The catch here is that I used my dining dollars, which can only be spent here on campus. So essentially Sodexo can charge whatever price they choose for whatever product they like and there’s not a darn thing we can do about it. I will say that the other establishments on campus that accept dining dollars such as Quizno’s and Taco Bell seem to be priced comparably to locations found off-campus, and the sandwich shop in the EIT building is nowhere near as extravagantly priced. I haven’t tried the Trojan Grill yet, but I’m pretty daunted at this point.
After saving $300 by choosing to purchase my books on Amazon.com rather than the campus bookstore, I was extremely frustrated to find this
sort of price inflation. There just doesn’t seem to be any reason for prices to be so high. I’d rather my meal plan was $150 cheaper and be devoid of dining dollars, so I can take that money to a market that doesn’t over-charge me so fantastically. The lesson to be learned here is to spend them carefully, because a fool and his dining dollars are soon parted.
Managing Editor Ricky Harris
Romney connects, o ers no details
As a busy college student, it is extremely difficult to weed through the mess of politics to try and understand what is actually going on.
Both sides in the presidential election are filled with negative ads attacking each other in vicious ways, I hope to highlight some parts of Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention and put it into perspective.
As Jon Stewart said in 2010, most Americans aren’t really a part of the “silent majority,” but rather members of the “busy majority.” It’s not that they don’t care; they just don’t have time to pay that much attention. They are busy trying to provide for their families.
At the onset, let me say this: I believe that both Mitt Romney and President Obama both love their country. They wouldn’t deal with the stress and headache of running for president if they didn’t. But I want to point out differences and call out politicians for what they say. Politics should not be personal; that is what turns voters away.
Toward the beginning of his speech, Romney said, “I wish President Obama had succeeded because I want America to succeed.” Then he went on to talk about how he would add 12 million jobs if elected president. But he offered no plan. No details. Not even close to a hint of how he would do it. If he had a plan, he should announce it now. If it was the right plan, it could have been adopted and put Americans back to work.
But instead it’s just words. It’s just fluff. There’s no meat to his plan for job creation.
“If you felt excitement when you voted for Barack Obama,” Romney went on to say, “shouldn’t you feel that way now that he’s President Obama?”
Well, Governor, a lot of Americans are still excited. Obama has ended the war in Iraq, voiced support for equal rights in reference to same-sex marriage and passed health reform for the first time in American history.
Romney used the speech to try to connect to the ordinary person. Until that point, he was seen as a rich snob who had never known what it’s like to miss a meal or not be able to provide for his loved ones. I think he succeeded ever so slightly on this aspect of the speech. He and his wife, Ann, have been through a lot in their personal lives, including her fight with multiple sclerosis. They also raised five successful sons. Whether you’re wealthy or not, that is always a hard task.
I commend Romney for his successes in life. Instead of getting a job only because of his father, he and his friends started a company that went on to be highly successful. I applaud his success. His business experience will not hurt the country. That’s an area where he has a leg up on President Obama, who has little to no private sector experience.
Both candidates bring positive attributes to the table. Your vote shouldn’t be about whom you hate less, but rather whom you agree with more when it comes to their vision for their presidency. It’s not personal; it’s about results. America has lost its civility and it needs to be found again, quick. Heck, maybe Roseanne Barr is the answer that everyone is ignoring!
Illustration by Sarah Melero
RICKY HARRIS
Construction on a new home for UALR’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity will follow a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 8 at
Boulevard. The Greek Life organization has been without a “Pike house” since the last one burned down in 2008.
PIKES, continued from page 1
The Pike’s alumni association and some campus organizations have helped the fraternity with their project.
“The very first donation to the new house building fund was from Dr. Jan Austin,” said Thomas Bratton, the Pikes’ adviser. “The old house was in ruins, still smoldering, and Dr. Austin handed me a check. … What a vote of encouragement and confidence that was!”
The fraternity’s alumni association has been a major help with the project. With a budget of $1 million, the alumni association along with the Pike members, have worked together to conduct several fundraisers
, continued from page 1
With basic clean-up and de-urbanization rapidly progressing, Millay and others are being forced to consider other parts of the project sooner than expected. Erosion has caused severe instability along the banks of the creek, rendering part of the existing surface insufficient for strong concrete foundations. Unsightly areas of brush also need to be thinned out, which could require additional time and manpower. While firms have already created plans for long-term solutions to these issues, plans have yet to be approved.
Among the largest issues facing the Greenway is lighting for the jogging trail. While LED bulbs seem to be fa-
and directly contributed to the fund.
“That’s the best thing about it,” said Gibeault. “We have alumni now that are on the Housing Corporation, and they are doing donations, a ton of great things, while they still have their own careers, families and lives, but they are still giving back to the organization. It’s an example, just evidence of showing how passionate that these guys are.”
The project will take roughly 240 to 270 days to complete, according to organization officials. “At first I’m speechless, because I can’t believe it’s actually happening,” said Gibeault.
This construction commencement comes soon after the UALR chapter of the fraternity received the Harvey T. Newell Award at the 2012 Pi Kappa
vored rather than expensive solarpowered mechanisms, a final decision has yet to be made. Motion sensors have also been proposed for some sections, but many committee members, including Linda Johnson of FTN Water Associates, are worried about safety when those sensors dim in wooded areas, notably those just outside Lot 14.
“If you’re in a wooded area and [it’s] only lighted thirty or forty feet on either side, I think I would be [a little scared],” she said.
Parks and Recreation representative Mark Webre said he was also hesitant about motion sensors because of his own experiences with parks in the city.
“When the lights are on [or off], they can attract undesirable [elements],” he
Alpha International Convention in Denver. The award was given in recognition of the chapter’s “exponential improvement in all areas ranging from scholarship to recruitment to campus involvement, according to Public Relations Chairman Tyler Moses.
Moses said the organization was also awarded for outstanding GPA achievements and recruitment techniques.
“The completion of the house will mark a milestone in both Zeta Eta and UALR history in that it will be the first residential Greek house near campus,” Moses said. “Zeta Eta alumni have been instrumental in planning and gathering funds for the project.”
said. “You just can’t predict what’s going to happen. … What should happen is that you should be able to [manually] turn lights on [and off] if you want to.”
Millay also expressed concern about the response from residents who live near the campus as well as the Methodist Children’s Home, who may object to constant lighting through the latenight and early morning hours. But since no plan has been configured for the residential areas, this is another aspect of the project that must be tabled until construction nears completion.
“We will continue to add distance a few hundred feet at a time unless a very large donation is received. It costs roughly $100 [per] linear foot to construct just the trail without regard
New Student Court Justices appointed
Jennifer Ellis Executive Editor
The Student Senate voted unanimously to appoint two associate justices to the Student Court at the Student Government Association’s first biweekly meeting of the fall semester Aug. 29.
The addition of John Bradley, a junior chemistry major and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity member, and Meri Calderon, a senior international studies major, double the number of associate justices currently appointed to the Court to four.
Bradley
“I heard there was an opening and I always wanted to be on SGA,” Bradley said. “I thought this would be a great opportunity.”
The Court is responsible for hearing appeals of student traffic tickets, governing elections and the student grievances process. The Court should consist of one chief justice and eight associate justices, which are appointed after a two-thirds vote by the Senate, according to the SGA Constitution.
Associate justices serve on the Student Court for the duration of their continuous enrollment at UALR, so long as they enroll in at least six hours in both fall and spring semesters and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Vice President Ed Hernandez also announced that fall election registration packets will soon be available. The election will be Oct. 1 and 2.
for amenities such as lighting, emergency phones, etc.,” Millay said. “It could be several years before the trail actually is complete, depending again of course on funding. We are reasonably confident that we will continue with construction of the section from 28th Street to West 24th Street starting in the spring of 2013. When that is completed, we will be about halfway finished.”
While only a fraction of the trail has been completed, the committee seems to have high hopes for its future. In its completion, the Coleman Creek Greenway will connect UALR with War Memorial Park as well as the Fourche Wetlands, both of which are located in central Little Rock.
Police Beat
Man faces ve counts
A man acting suspiciously and walking in traffic on Asher Avenue was arrested Aug. 11 and charged with five misdemeanors, according to a police report.
DPS officers Bobby Hicks and Iciephine Sykes received a call informing them that the 24-year-old man had nearly been hit by a car, and when they found him in University Plaza, he tried to escape by running back into the traffic on Asher Avenue. While chasing the suspect, the police officers noticed him throwing down a cup and a “plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance.” When the man was detained and taken into custody, the officers also found a half-empty bottle of Brandy. He was then transported to Pulaski County Detention Center, where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, public intoxication, loitering, fleeing and littering.
Diarrhea blamed for alleged reckless
conduct
The office of the prosecuting attorney will be taking charge in an incident involving a UALR employee who allegedly almost hit several pedestrians on campus with his car Aug. 29, according to police.
A call was received by DPS at about 8 a.m. Wednesday reporting a vehicle that nearly ran over UALR ROTC members as they marched on Parking Lot 13. According to the DPS report, the driver explained that he couldn’t stop his car because he had diarrhea. Officer Aaron Birmingham reported that the instructor and nine students were marching in formation as the vehicle approached.
The instructor motioned for the driver to stop, but the car “sped up and almost hit him and the formation.” After shouting expletives out the window, then the driver entered the Reynolds Building. The driver claimed that he couldn’t wait to use the bathroom and that he was not driving recklessly.
The UALR police are waiting for paperwork from the victim before
turning the misdemeanor first-degree assault and reckless conduct creating risk of death or serious injury case over to the prosecuting attorney, Detective Sharon Houlette said.
Fight on the dance oor
A reported disturbance at the Donaghey Student Center basketball courts Aug. 26 escalated to a fight in which suspects were peppersprayed, according to police.
According to officer Jessica Cazabat’s report, the fight had dispersed by the time DPS had arrived just after midnight. She walked through the middle of a dance floor but didn’t find any signs of tension. As the party continued, police received another call about a fight about an hour later.
Police officers broke up the party and detained one of the suspects, but released him on the condition that he would vacate the premises. While officers continued to control and disperse the crowd, Cazabat was informed about another fight, where officer Matthew Boyd had peppersprayed a group of three men who were “stomping on the head” of another man on the ground.
An ambulance was called to evaluate the condition of the victim, who identified himself and claimed not to be a student. He also said he was fine, didn’t want medical attention and asked to be released.
Student suspected in harassment
UALR’s Department of Public Safety responded to a call on Aug. 15 from a female UALR employee claiming that she was being harassed on campus, a police report said.
Officer William Hoolapa said the woman said a male student has been harassing her “through physical presence and email communication.” The woman told authorities that the student had asked her to go on a date and to have a drink with him. She asked him to leave her alone several times and informed her supervisor about the situation before reporting it to DPS. The police officer advised her to contact DPS if the suspect contacts her again.
GERMAN, continued from page 1
“It’s part of efficiency. We can’t be all things to all people.”
Currently there are no other majors being considered for elimination, Robertson said, but because she just recently received the final record it is too early to tell if that will remain true. As far as the fate of the German studies major goes, she said, they are still studying all the possibilities, but will make a final decision before the end of the fall semester.
But the chances of the major lasting don’t look bright when taking into consideration UALR will no longer have any full-time German professors, after the current academic year.
There were two full time German professors until the recent retirement of Jeanette Clausen, which left only Susanne Wagner, who has already been notified her position is being eliminated at the end of the academic year, Robertson said.
However when questioned about the potential elimination of the program by phone Wagner said "I don't know where you heard that. There's been no talk of that."
There are part-time instructors available to teach German courses, Robertson said. But that prospect has German
students who were asked about the possibility saying they are worried about the quality of education without a fulltime instructor to lead the program.
“As a German major, I am very disappointed. I had not heard about this, although I was aware that our program was shrinking,” said Cayley Griffiths, a sophomore and president of the German Club.
“I am concerned about the elimination of Dr. Wagner's position affecting my education,” Griffiths said. “Dr. Wagner has been a wonderful professor and has shown a great deal of care for the German program. She puts an enormous amount of effort into her classes, the German Club and the Do Deutsch cultural week. I don't think that parttime instructors will show the same amount of zeal.”
The vice president of the German club, Sam Shry, a senior double majoring in German and biology, said although he will be graduating in 2013, so the potential change would not be likely to affect him he still thinks eliminating the major is a bad idea because of the important economic relationship and heritage many Americans have with the Germany.
“I think that is one of the programs we need to push harder; we don’t need to get rid of it,” he said.
GREENWAY
the location on Fair Park
Courtesy of Pi Kappa Alpha
a 27-year-old
a
Student ‘Occupier’ fails in attempt to join candidates for city board
Jennifer Ellis Executive Editor
A UALR student who went to court to join the race for an At-Large position on the Little Rock Board of Directors will not be on the ballot this November because her petition was one signature short, the judge told her attorney Aug. 29.
Kaitlin Lott, a senior computer science major and active member of the Occupy Little Rock movement, joined fellow Occupier Adam Lansky in suing the Little Rock city clerk and Pulaski County Election Commission, after both had several signatures stricken from their petitions because the addresses the signers listed did not match their current voter registration or were incomplete.
David Couch, the attorney representing Lott and Lansky, provided Circuit Court Judge Jay Moody with affidavits confirming the signers were registered voters. Couch argued that the addresses were not required in order to be counted toward the 50 valid signatures the petitioners needed to be certified candidates, but were to aid the city clerk in determining if indeed the signers were registered voters.
“The judge notified us of his decision today that Mr. Lansky would be certified for the ballot and Ms. Lott would not be certified for the ballot, and that a written order will be filed,” Couch told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “My understanding is that he based his decision on the statute that requires a resident address when signing the petition. On Ms. Lott’s petition there was one signature
that did not include a resident address and that signature was not accepted.”
Although Lott and her attorney plan to appeal the ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court it will not likely affect the upcoming election, in which Lansky will be campaigning for Position 8 At-Large Director facing off with the incumbent Vice Major Dean Kumpuris and Lynette Bryant.
“I am honestly not surprised [by the judge’s decision],” Lott said. “I’m trying to look at it as a chance to change the existing Arkansas law, so that it won’t happen again.”
“I will most likely be running again in three years when the director of my ward Erma Hendricks is planning to retire,” Lott said.
But in the mean time, Lott said she plans to continue her activism with Occupy; Regnat Populus, a campaign to bring about campaign ethics, finance and lobbying reform; the We Shall Not Be Moved Coalition, a group opposed to the use of eminent domain to displace residents for the purpose of building a Technology Park, of which UALR is a sponsor; and Move To Amend, a grassroots organization calling for a Constitutional amendment to establish the definition of a person to not include corporations. A response to the recent ruling by the Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held corporations like people have the right to spend money as a form of political speech.
Additionally, Lott said she will help campaign for Lansky for the Position 8 seat and endorses Robert Webb, who she would have run against along with
Benton Center’s E-Commerce program rst of kind in state
Hillary Perkins Staff writer
UALR's Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology has recently launched the e-commerce degree program in Benton, which began in the fall 2012 academic semester.
The e-commerce degree is a fouryear program that is designed to prepare students for their future careers in internet technology. It is the UALR Benton Center’s first four-year degree program as well as the first of its kind in Arkansas, according to the unviersity website. The program also trains students to promote successful businesses.
E-commerce is an abbreviation of electronic commerce, which is essentially buying and selling products over the internet. It is also used to buy and sell electronic systems, computer networks and other related products.
Required courses for the program include classes in accounting, economics, marketing, business finance, organizational behavior, social networking and web application development. Some elective courses are graphic design, digital imaging, mass communications, cybercrime, social psychology and advanced web/mobile application development.
The e-commerce program also teaches students different disciplines including quantitative reasoning, information science, business and other options added to the core curriculum.
Bruce Bauer is the director of the program and has had 30 years of private sector work experience as an information technology consultant and software developer in various industries. He has also owned a software
development company and served as a UALR adjunct professor for 15 years. There are some notable individuals involved with this program, including Elizabeth Pierce, Eric Sandgren; Jerry Stevenson and Kim Jackson. Pierce serves as chair of the Department of Information Science and is responsible for the program's academic content; Sandgren, dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information, shares her vision. Stevenson is the associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, as well as the Extended Programs and International Affairs, which is a department of the Benton Center. Jackson is assistant director of the Office of Extended Program at the Benton Center and is responsible for the promotion and management of the Benton center.
“This program benefits both me and the staff by requiring us to be current in technologies,” Bauer said. “IT technology trends change every day. Instructors have to spend a lot of time to get to know these trends so that they can be taught and to teach students.”
The e-commerce program benefits the state as well as the students by preparing students for the job market. Studies have shown that companies are increasing their presence in many areas, including social media, traditional websites, and new mobile technologies. Throughout their educations, students will create personal portfolios that demonstrate their technical skills and experience.
The program is one of only five in the nation, according to the university website. For more information about the e-commerce program, contact the UALR Benton Center at 501-860-6003 or email Bauer at blbauer@ualr.edu.
incumbent Joan Adcock for the Position 10 seat. Adcock has served in the position for 19 years.
“They need younger people who have not yet been destroyed by the system, who are not afraid to get things done,” the 27-year-old Lott said. “I’ve seen that more and more, people who have just given up and will take less.”
One of the main reasons Lott said she wanted to get on the ballot was because she and other members of Occupy found it was difficult to ask the Little Rock Board of Directors to do things and them not doing them.
“So, we decided to put forth some of our own people as candidates to get inside the system and maybe do some good from there,” Lott said.
Although her attempt to get on the ballot was unsuccessful, Lott said she has learned much from the experience.
“I didn’t intend to run this time and because of that I wasn’t really paying to much attention when the deadline started and when it was set to end. I was finally talked into it not realizing I only had a week and a half to gather those signatures,” Lott said. “I did get 61 [signatures] and didn’t think I would have that much trouble getting 50 valid ones out of that, which is another lesson I learned.”
At the top of Lott’s intended campaign platform was her pledge to not accept any monetary campaign contributions. She called the notion “outlandish and radical,” but said she was planning to do it for a reason.
“My goal is to send the message that you can take the money out of politics you only have to try,” Lott said.
Experimental Archeology
Candidates for vice chancellor position to visit
Jennifer Ellis Executive Editor
Three candidates for the recently created vice chancellor for enrollment management position, which was established in an attempt to increase enrollment, will be visiting the campus in September in an effort to secure the job.
The final candidates have been narrowed to include Daniel Green, associate vice president for enrollment management at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., James Steen, vice president for enrollment management at Houston Baptist University in Houston, and Dean Kahler, executive director of Navitas at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky.
Open meetings with the candidates are scheduled in the Engineering and Information Technology Building auditorium at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 5 for Green, 1 p.m. Sept. 10 for Steen and 10:30 a.m. Sept. 14 for Kahler.
The director of the Office of Recruitment and Retention position formerly held by Cleveland James was eliminated as of June 30 following the advice of consultants.
“Our enrollment has been pretty stable over the last few years and we want to increase it, so we brought in consultants to talk to us about how we can do that and they proposed a restructuring,” said Sandra Robertson, interim provost. “… The consultants recommended that we elevate the position [of director of the Office of Recruitment and Retention] to the vice chancellor level and have it directly reporting to the chancellor.”
While the university searches for someone to fill the new vice chancellor position, Katie Young, assistant dean for academic affairs in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology, is acting as director.
During the University Assembly Aug. 21, Chancellor Joel Anderson said, “Enrollment at UALR has been flat.” He explained that overall student enrollment at colleges and universities across the state have risen by more than 25,000 students since 2007. While at UALR the student enrollment rate has seen little change, despite efforts to grow. In 2007, UALR had 12,135 students. There was a decrease of 170 students in 2008 and since then enrollment has been just over 13,000 per year.
“What we expect this person to do is to bring a kind of clarified vision and purpose to the recruitment, admission and retention of undergraduate and graduate students,” Anderson said.
Kaitlin Lott,
senior computer science major, collected signatures during a mid-August campaign event in a failed attempt to become
viable 2012 candidate for an At-Large position on the Little Rock Board of Directors.
K’Andra Perkins, sophomore undeclared major, is part of an Introduction to Physical Anthropology class taking its lab experiment outside to observe bipedal barefoot tracks in the sand. Photo by Jennifer Ellis
Photo by Jennifer Ellis
FOOD WARs
Above: Josh Rucker, junior psychology major, participates in the pink pumpkin pie eating contest, covering his mouth with lling in the process. Top right: Gurjit Singh, freshman biology major, celebrates after winning
portion of the competition. Right: Adrian Shaw, freshman
hamburgers.
That damned Ellis kid
DAVID ELLIS
Crawdad Thunder Dome
My family moved to Little Rock in 1975. We lived in a modest three-bedroom, oneand-a-half bath home in the suburb of Shannon Hills.
At that time, TV was still just a few local channels and kids spent most of their time outside. After Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo were over my siblings and I headed out to play, so Mom could watch her soap operas.
Homes in my neighborhood were sporadically being built and my street had several wooded lots and creeks at both ends.
The creeks were hang outs for the kids of the community. Each creek was a different size, so we would say let’s go to the big creek or the little creek and everyone knew which one we were talking about.
These areas were the scene of dirt clod fights and King of the Hill battles on top of large dirt mounds. The fights would always end when someone was bleeding or threatening to tell their mom. These were also the stages for a spectacle I liked to call the Crawdad Thunder Dome. We would bring five gallon buckets down to the creek to catch crawdads, or as some may say, crawfish or mudbugs.
When our buckets had a good number of crawdads in them the largest out of each batch would be set aside.
A makeshift arena of rocks and sticks would then be constructed in which we would place the two largest crawdads and they would battle to the death.
Sometimes we would mark one on its back with a permanent marker and make wagers on which one would win.
The winner of these gladiator style matches would be released back into the creek to fight another day.
This was the unwritten rule of Crawdad Thunder Dome.
Or at least it was until one particular day, when one of the girls from the neighborhood decided to boil and eat the winner along with the rest of her batch of crawdads.
I learned two very valuable life lessons that day. The first was you shouldn’t be shocked when someone breaks an unwritten rule; not everyone plays by the same rules even if they are written. And the second lesson I learned was even though you win a fight, it doesn’t mean a thing. Someone bigger than you can come along and decide to boil and eat your ass.
Worth James: a ballad of junk
Cameron Moix News Editor
Just off of Fair Park Boulevard exists a large, seemingly ancient facility that has been on UALR’s borderlands for decades, collecting its dead, its dying and dust.
Few people know, and perhaps even fewer wonder, what becomes of the university’s misfit projectors, outdated computers and worn office furniture once their usefulness has expired.
Those whose curiosities are piqued by the idea of a structure packed full of these things imagine what such a place might be like.
Could it be akin to the enormous vault of crated artifacts in the final scene of Spielberg’s 1981 classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark? Or maybe the relics accumulate dust in the deep dark recesses of an underground tomb, like cans of nonperishable food in a Red Scare fallout shelter.
But alas, the methods with which the university takes out the trash are hardly as glamorous as the aforementioned.
Instead, the items are painstakingly processed out of each department’s inventory and stored in an old warehouse, where they wait to be hauled off to a redistribution facility a few miles south of campus.
The process is what the ladies and gentlemen at Facilities Management call “M&R”, simply meaning marketing and redistribution.
“M&R is currently a free service to remove your property from your office or classroom, granted that many times we have a huge backlog to deal with,” explains Sandra Vail, director of facilities services. “We try to do it as fast as we can, but we only have a limited amount of personnel that can do what needs to be done.”
When a state agency purchases property with govern-
ment funds, it eventually has to be given back to the state — that is when marketing and redistribution comes into play.
The policy applies to every state agency, not only institutions of higher education. Evidence of M&R can be seen all across campus in the form of small barcode stickers.
These stickers are applied to many items on campus, namely computers, because they are required for all items worth more than $500.
This process can be a long and arduous one. First, the department must fill out a special form to request the process and send it to the Department of Property Accounting; second, Property Accounting removes it from the inventory of the designated department; third, a request for removal arrives at Facilities Management (or Physical Plant, as it was once called); fourth, Facilities Management sends personnel
to remove the item(s); fifth, the property is then stored in a warehouse until it is eventually taken to the redistribution center on 65th Street.
That building is what staff commonly refer to as the Worth James building; a name the large, metal Quonset hut dons in homage to its previous proprietor, Worth James Construction.
Walking into the warehouse may seem a bit like walking into a tomb. According to Vail, the facility is dusty and dimly light, as one might assume, and the abundance of refuse material is overwhelming.
In some ways, the Worth James building is even more ideal to those who are curious than any fictional scenario could be.
Vail said that the process usually takes a few weeks due to the tedious process involved, and it doesn’t help that requests come in from all
across a campus that is over 200 acres in size and consists of nearly 50 buildings.
Due to the scope of this process, Facilities Services has handled 2,933 units of M&R property within the last 12 months alone. That number excludes the 428 units on backlog, which are currently waiting to be picked up and processed.
The redistribution center on 65th Street is where many state-owned items go to be sold to the public, or put back into the system.
Once the center makes a stop at UALR, nearly anyone at all can go purchase items including furniture, office supplies and computers (most of which have had the hard drives removed).
So after a lifetime of use by college students and academics alike, those that were once left for dead may be given another chance to live.
Time management is key to academic success
Alexis Williams Staff writer
“Dude, that was assigned three weeks ago. You’re just now doing it?”
How many times have your friends gawked at you and said that same thing as we raced to type up a substandard research paper or thrash together a mediocre project that the average preschooler could have constructed?
Despite wielding a premed status, freshman biology major Gurjit Singh described himself as “a big procrastinator” when it comes to postponing impending assignments.
“I don’t do anything for time management,” Singh said. “I just go with the flow.” Kory Sanders, a freshman undecided on his major, agreed without hesitation.
“I don’t manage time. I manage money,” he said.
A number of Trojans could likely empathize with Singh and Sanders.
A recent Questia.com poll of 1,000 students nationwide revealed only 17 percent of students begin their research paper on the day the professors assign it; 5 percent begin it the night before it is due.
Mike Kirk, the director of Counseling and Career Planning Services, has observed the detrimental role that the digital age has played in this generation.
“Most American students today have grown up with technology facilitating constant connection to friends, entertainment, Facebook, Google, etc. and have become accustomed to having this connected world at their fingertips,” he said. “[The world] now comes to you electronically, enticing you as a student with distractions, rather than you having to seek them out.”
“To fully concentrate, think critically or study requires deliberately disconnecting from these distractions for extended periods of time,” Kirk said. “Many stu-
dents have difficulty in successfully doing this and thus have study time often interrupted, thus making it less effective and productive for them.”
Kirk’s theories echo the results of the Questia.com poll in an alarming way; it is no wonder that mentors are scrambling to rescue collegiates drowning in poor decisions and time management.
Kelci Lynn Lucier is author of “The College Experience” in U.S. News and World Report In her article, “Eight Steps for Strong Time Management for College Students,” Lucier offers tested tactics to keep students on task, including, but not limited to: keeping a calendar, writing everything down, and planning ahead.
She also encourages students to give their schedules “wiggle room” in which they can plan some relaxation time and rewards for staying on task.
Kathleen Combs, a senior mass communication major,
said she knows the prudence of planning ahead.
“[I] just making sure I do stuff way before it is due. If it’s like a paper, I just work on it a little each week. I figured that out my last two semesters [of college,]” Combs said. Kirk responded in a similar fashion as Lucier. “Determine your priorities, schedule your life for the semester, including study times, and make daily to-do lists.”
Kirk said academic success often hinges upon discipline to follow your schedule.
“A large part of success comes down to being organized in how you study; if you wait to study when you have time, you’ll put it off to do almost anything else,” he said.
Designating one study area, such as your favorite chair or place on campus, will help you enter “business mode” quickly and allow for more efficient study time.
“And that is the key point,” Kirk said. “You have a limited time to study, and you want to make every second count.”
Campus safety responsibility of all
Tatsianna Karaliova Staff writer
September is recognized as the National Campus Safety Awareness Month by colleges and universities across the nation. At UALR, events devoted to safety on campus started on Aug. 27.
Logan C. Hampton, the associate vice chancellor for student development and dean of students, said UALR decided to have campus safety events during the last week of August because classes began earlier than most campuses across the nation.
He said UALR wanted to give information to new students and remind returning students about safety issues.
“Last year was our first year doing [the] concept See Something, Say Something,” Hampton said. “We want to invite students to assist us in keeping a campus safe, because to some extent it is all of us taking responsibility of all of us.”
The Office of the Dean of Students held two presentations: “Shots Fired: On Campus” and “Flash-Point: Student Edition.”
The presentations communicated strategies for students to use in the event an active shooter or hostile situation occurs. Students were also distributed safety materials.
Sophomore nursing major Kristin Nelson said though she feels safe on campus her greatest concerns about safety are parking lots, because there are not enough spaces and students have to park far away and then walk.
Tyler Moses, sophomore biology major, said he was a victim of a crime last year when a group of people stole his cell phone in a university parking lot. Still, he said he feels protected on campus and believes the university has enough resources to keep students safe.
“Most important for students is to be aware of is their sur-
roundings; to be aware of the campus,” Hampton said. “If they see things that are of concern, if they see things that are troubling or out of ordinary, they should take it upon themselves to immediately contact the Department of Public Safety, to call the Dean of Students Office or to inform any official of the institution.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 1223 criminal offenses took place on Arkansas college campuses between 2008 and 2010.
The majority were burglary (922), motor vehicle theft (137), aggravated assault (65) and sex offenses (57).
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires all U.S. colleges and universities to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their campuses.
For safety information, as well as a crime log, visit ualr. edu/safety.
The Worth James building, named by UALR sta after its previous inhabitant Worth James Construction, stores the outdated and worn items discarded from UALR classrooms and o ces. Photo by Cameron Moix
Naming the 900, spotlight on the class of 2016
EAST scholar becomes unexpected Trojan
Chelsey McNiel Features Editor
Freshman information science major Marisa Damm planned to apply at the University of Central Arkansas; however, her letter of recommendation for the EAST Initiative Scholarship was accidentally sent to UALR.
“I received a phone call from the EAST lab [at UALR] and I had no idea what they were talking about,” the 17-year-old said with a chuckle. “The next thing I know I have the scholarship and I am applying [to UALR]. It was definitely a good accident.”
As a sophomore at Mountain View High School, Damm helped lay a foundation for the school’s first Environmental and Spatial Technology program; more commonly known as EAST Lab.
That work helped Damm get a scholarship that will provide $40,000 for her college education. She is also a recipient of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
Damm’s mother, Theresa Comeau, said without the EAST Initiative scholarship her daughter would not have been able to attend a four year university.
“The program gave her a whole new option for
“The program gave her a whole new option for life.”
- Theresa
Comeau
life,” Comeau said. “I love to see her come home excited and dedicated.”
According to EastProject.org, EAST is “an educational model focusing on student-driven service projects accomplished by using teamwork and cutting-edge technology. EAST classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art workstations, servers, software and accessories.
Students identify problems in their local communities and then use these tools to develop solutions, collaborating with civic and other groups in the process.
The focus, however, is not on the technology itself, but on the unique learning environment of the EAST classroom, where students are responsible for creating their own project-based learning experience.”
“I have always been interested in photography and videography,” Damm said. “I heard that they had equipment I could use. I joined [EAST] because of that, but then I got interested in the technology side of it.”
As a high school senior, Damm became a system administrator for her EAST lab and managed its computers. She also established an anti-drug and drinking program at Mt. View High School.
“I had never seen her more excited about any-
“I am an optimist. No matter what happens in life, there is always a bright side to it.”
- Marisa Damm
thing,” Comeau said. “It became a passion and gave her self-confidence.”
Before her high school graduation, Damm wrote a grant for her school to receive a distracted driving simulator.
According to Damm, the simulator plugs into a cell phone and distracts the user through text messages. Once the user “wrecks,” the simulation takes them through all the stages of an ambulance or helicopter ride, getting booked in jail and the court system.
“You actually realize how bad [distracted driving] could be,” Damm said.
Damm also worked on a project she named “Letters to Legislators.” She encouraged fellow students to thank their legislators for the specific bills they were working with and for their support of Arkansas’ EAST Labs.
Damm said her biggest challenge was engaging team members, but she has learned to delegate responsibility because part of EAST Lab is learning to work as a team.
“I found out what they were interested in and I learned it [to teach them],” she said.
In her time at UALR, Damm hopes to organize a meeting at the capital’s Rotunda Room. The meeting will allow college students to mentor high school students and also introduce legislators to the affects of EAST Labs in their communities.
“I want to show [legislatures] we are not just a regular classroom,” she said.
Damm said she believes the knowledge and opportunity to achieve her dream job at EAST Initiative will come from her education at UALR.
While her studies focus on internet safety and computer forensics, Damm said she may also be interested in setting up EAST facilities.
But for now, Damm said she is adjusting to college life and making friends. And, of course joining campus groups such as the Society of Computing and Information Technology and the Society of Women Engineers.
“I am an optimist,” she said. “No matter what happens in life, there is always a bright side to it.”
Freshmen chosen for this series are nominated by UALR faculty and staff. To nominate a freshman email clmcniel@ualr.edu.
Fair serves up opportunities to volunteer
La Shaune Rostagno Staff Writer
The Offi ce of Community Engagement will host the 2012 Service Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12 in Ledbetter Hall.
Taking time to volunteer may seem daunting for students with busy schedules, but there are many benefi ts. According to UALR’s website, the OCE was established “to facilitate the building of partnerships between UALR faculty, staff, students and the community in ways that will be mutually benefi cial.”
Susan Ellis of energizeinc.com said, “Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, begin to think of it as an exchange.”
Ellis tells readers to consider that one day they may be in need of someone else’s volunteer efforts.
Although it takes commitment, time, energy and dedication to volunteer, it also presents students with opportunities to demonstrate their passions, broaden their professional network and add experience to a resume.
Students can prepare for the fair by considering available time commitments and the issues that are important to them.
Volunteer activities can vary in time commitment anywhere from a couple of hours to years.
“Students should bring themselves and an open mind,” said Betsey Hart, community relations coordinator. “They should be prepared to converse with the organizations.”
If students are unsure how to choose the best project for their schedule, assistance will be available through OCE during the fair.
The Service Fair will have over 40 nonprofi t organizations for students to explore including:
• Easter Seals of Arkansas
• March of Dimes
• Bishop Leodis and Goldie Warren CDC
• World Services for the Blind
• American Lung Association
• Arkansas Food Bank
• Arkansas Children’s Hospital
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Arkansas
• Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
• Youth Home, Incorporated
• Pulaski County Youth Services
• Odyssey Hospice
• Junior Achievement of Arkansas
• Camp Aldersgate
• Arkansas Literacy Councils
Nonprofi t organizations respect the student body of UALR because they are stepping up and volunteering, said Hart.
“Many organizations return year after year to present opportunities for more students to have a part in
Roommates: how to soothe the feud
Taylor Hoffard Assistant Features Editor
Getting along with a new roommate, whether they are a childhood friend or the university placed you together, can be exhausting.
You and your roommate might have the same core values, but everyone has their pet peeves — including your roommate.
Figuring out who buys what and who cleans what can be difficult, especially if they don’t think they need to contribute or share chores.
In this case, communication is the golden ticket. Letting problems pile up makes everything awkward and arguements will escalate if issues are not discussed.
Setting rules in the beginning may be awkward, but can help prevent future disagreements.
When it comes to chores, make a list of everything that needs to be done, then decide who will accomplish each duty. You can also rotate the jobs so one person doesn’t have the same chores each week. Also, split the grocery list or shop together. Someone can buy the milk, the other toilet paper.
According to USNews.com, compromising with your new roommate allows both of you to feel more at ease.
Compromise does not always have to mean sacrifice. It means working together to determine the rules for your new living arrangement that you are both comfortable with.
Roommates should be reasonable and considerate of each other, said Mike Kirk of UALR’s Career
Planning and Counseling Services.
Expecting mutual respect is not too much to ask or give. When it comes to overnight guests, make sure your roommate is okay with it ahead of time.
Whether it is about cleaning or playing loud music, letting your roommate know what makes you uncomfortable is important, according to USNews. com.
“To get along you will need patience and a willingness to communicate with the person you are sharing living space with for the semester,” Kirk said. “So the sooner you have a frank conversation to establish some basic ground rules to keep harmony in your shared living space the better.”
Everyone has their own personal “bubble.” Some don’t mind if others are in their room, others do. Some like order, others couldn’t care less. To be on the safe side, regard your roommates belongings with more respect that your own.
Respecting personal space and asking to use their belongings is vital to having a peaceful living environment.
Gossiping about your roommate can cause a negative living experience, Kirk said.
Using basic manners goes a long way. Saying please and thank you is not only polite, but lets your roommate know you are trying to be courteous.
If you see that your roommate had a really tough day at school or work, just offering to let them talk about it goes far.
The golden rule is always a good place to start with a new roommate. You may not be life-long friends, but you can have a pleasant living experience.
volunteering for their organizations,” Hart said.
Questionnaires from previous volunteer organizations have shown positive feedback. The majority of vendors said UALR students responded well to volunteer opportunities and made the experience enjoyable.
“I think the fair was great,” a Girl Scouts representative wrote. “I really enjoyed speaking with students and talking with them about all the fun ways they can volunteer and get involved [in] the local community.”
An advocate of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Arkansas agreed, “As always we had a great response from the service fair [last] year.”
For a full list of attending organizations visit ualr.edu/CommunityEngagement.
Although it is not required, business casual dress is appropriate.
For more information, contact Hart at 501-569-3424 or email edhart@ualr.edu.
“I couldn’t go to bed for about four hours because my roommate fell asleep before me and was snoring loud.”
MATT CROCKETT
JUNIOR MOTION PICTURES MAJOR
“We got in an argument because I thought she ate my food, but it was really me.”
Freshman information science major Marisa Damm received the EAST Initiative scholarship. She hopes to one day begin a career with EAST. Photo by Chelsey McNiel
CAPRICE
PHILLIPS
SOPHOMORE
PHYSICS MAJOR
New campus grill o ers good food and better atmosphere
Recently-opened Trojan Grill appeals to students
Let’s be clear about one thing: the culinary options on and around the UALR campus have grown sparse and, for most students, boring — until now.
Rather than eating in Sodexo’s Diamond Cafe, which is okay if you have a meal plan or $8.50 to spend on dull cafeteria fare, much of the campus community chooses to grab a quick bite at one of the few fast-food joints in the Donaghey Student Center or bordering campus on University and Colonel Glenn Avenues. But why pay more money for less quality when an exponentially better option is just around the bend?
The start of a new academic year brought not only hoards of new freshman and stressed faculty and staff members — it also introduced a few new and impressive facilities to our humble grounds, one of which is the Trojan Grill.
Named in honor of UALR’s maroonclad mascot, a Trojan soldier whose head is depicted in all manner of university merchandise, the Trojan Grill sits adjacent to the newly-constructed West Hall. Any day of the week between 5 p.m. and midnight, variations of grilled classics including hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza and salads can be had at surprisingly affordable prices.
Acoustics aside, the building’s atmosphere is beautiful compared to the outdated and dimly lit cafeteria. The facility even comes equipped with a large flat-screen television and a fireplace, although that won’t be of any use for months to come.
After the first trek up the hill to the shiny new Trojan Grill, we were pleasantly surprised at the lack of a line, although that was 15 minutes after open-
ing; the place can get pretty packed during prime dining hours (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.). We walked in and mulled over the menu options on a large, flatscreen television and I decided to go with a something standard: a grilled chicken sandwich.
The friendly Sodexo employee at the cash register allowed me to substitute the default seasoned french fries with sweet potato fries for no additional cost. I also chose to fill my water bottle, which saved a couple of bucks, and the total came to a mere $5.30.
The kitchen staff worked efficiently and in plain sight while we grabbed our condiments and filled our bottles up with ice water at the soda fountain. Both plates were served up as soon as we chose a table.
The grilled chicken sandwich, which is the first item listed on the Signature Chicken section of the menu, was a fairly good one. The chicken was lightly seasoned, served on a savory multigrain bun and topped with thinly sliced tomato, white onion and romaine (on the side). The slight sweetness of the long, crispy sweet potato fries served as a nice accent to the tender, white meat. The lack of salt on the fries was a relief, allowing customers to control their own sodium levels.
The atmosphere of the hilltop venue and the fare that it whips up is par for the course of a traditional grill. The kitchen appears clean, the staff seem friendly, the food is good and the location couldn’t be better. But the new eatery is still very young — not even two weeks have passed since its grand opening on Aug. 23 — and only time will tell if the Trojan Grill can keep up the pace as a viable alternative to its many competitors.
Heartwarming French lm proves not
so ‘intouchable’
“The Intouchables,” a French film originally released overseas in 2011, is one of the most inspirational films to come out in recent years. Though it is peppered with moments of sadness, most scenes have some hilarity to them and make the viewing experience worthwhile. While it’s not a standard Hollywoodstyle soap, it still contains a lot of heart that leaves the viewer with a sense of optimism.
One could hardly imagine two people more different than the main characters. Driss is a poorly-educated former criminal from a dysfunctional family, and Philippe is a wealthy man who became a paraplegic after a severe accident. Philippe is depressed, moody and very picky in choosing a caretaker for himself. Still, he is admired by Driss’ ability to make fun of everything, his careless sense of humor and tomfoolery. When Philippe chose Driss to be his caretaker, his friend warns him that Driss is a former criminal and, as he thinks, ex-convicts do not know compassion. But, Philippe says he does not need compassion and that he favors the fact that Driss often forgets about Philippe’s condition. While Driss can appear childish at times, the viewer will feel relieved to see Philippe laugh-
ing and will even laugh with him too. Any embarrassing emotions you may feel will fade away with the funnier moments of the film, and there are many. For example — when Philippe, an art connoisseur, buys an expensive picture of modern art, Driss decides that it would make for good business and proceeds to draw his own picture several hours later. You can’t keep from smiling after seeing how Philippe sells this work of a “debutant artist who has exhibitions in Rome and Berlin” for several thousand euro and how it makes Driss excited. The hilarious, genuine and wholehearted nature of the friendship leads to Phillippe finding meaning in life once again. Another thing to note about the film is the fact that it’s based on a true story. French businessman Philippe Pozzo di Borgo became paralyzed and later lost his wife to a terminal illness, but he was saved from his own depression because of the Algerian ex-criminal Abdel Yasmin Sellou, who became his caretaker and a friend. In his memoir, “You Changed My Life”, Sellou tells how they both influenced each others lives. Both individuals now have their own families and live in different countries, but visit each other and remain good friends. This is a film that I would recommend to anyone. If you feel the need to restore your belief in humanity, watch the touching story of “The Intouchables.”
Cameron Moix News Editor
The Trojan Grill provides excellent versions of grill classics, such as a grilled chicken sandwich with crispy sweet potato fries. Photo by Cameron Moix.
TATSIANA KARALIOVA STAFF WRITER
Vampire bunny gnaws at life lessons for children and adults
Arkansas Arts Center production of ‘Bunnicula’ sets the stage for children’s theater with humor
Chelsey McNiel Features Editor
The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre production of “Bunnicula,” which hits the stage later this fall, will entertain audiences with the themes of family, acceptance and mystery.
“Bunnicula” is based on the book by Deborah and James Howe. The adaptation is written by Jon Klein with music from Chris Jeffries. Since the book’s publication in 1979, it has been a favorite with children and parents alike.
When the Monroe family brings home a small black-and-white bunny they find in the movie theater, after seeing “Dracula,” Chester the cat and Harold the dog are immediately suspicious. After the vegetables in the Monroe kitchen start turning white having had all the juice sucked out, Chester and Harold are certain the bunny is a vegetarian vampire.
Resident playwright and Associate Director Keith Smith is directing “Bunnicula” for the second time. Smith was in the Arkansas Arts Center acting company in 1980 and has been at the theater for about 30 years. Smith said “Bunnicula” was chosen not only because there is a new audience, but because the company and audience had such a good time with the first production in 1999.
“It’s hard to pass up that opportunity again,” he said. “A lot of what we want to accomplish is for our audience to enjoy themselves.”
UALR senior liberal arts major Sinovia Mayfield is the production stage manager for the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre. Mayfield said she chose the Children’s Theatre because she believes it’s important for young
people to have significant experiences in the arts.
“Working with all the kids whose first theater experience this is, that’s always really fun,” she said. “Seeing them experience all those little things that you take for granted like a first read-through.”
Auditions were held Sept. 2 for the children’s roles, and the adult roles will be played by the company’s professional actors.
Smith, who also designs scenery, said the set style was approached to convey “scary” by using distorted angles. The set also keeps the atmosphere “accessible and humorous with vibrant colors.”
“It’s just fun,” Smith said. “It’s the opportunity to poke fun at being scared. It’s a vampire, but it’s a bunny.”
After the rabbit is brought into the Monroe home, Smith says Chester the cat and Harold the dog learn to deal with the changes brought on by the addition of a new family member.
“It’s about acceptance,” he said. “And not judging something or someone simply because they are suppose to be scary or suppose to be something [else].”
“Bunnicula” will be on stage Oct. 26 - Nov. 11. Public performances are held at 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12.
Performances for school groups are put on at 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday through Friday.
For more information, call 501-3724000 or visit ARKarts.com.
You can “like” the Arkansas Arts Center on Facebook for the most up to date information on exhibitions, events and educational opportunities.
Facebook entertains serious gamers with ‘Battle Pirates’
DAVID ELLIS STAFF WRITER
Beta games are breathing new life into the old role playing and command and conquer genres. There are games out there to fit almost every taste from the futuristic to swords and sorcery. As the technology improves so does the gaming experience.
With this in mind, Facebook has formed partnerships with companies like Kixeye, an online gaming company founded in 2007 that specializes in defense-based games.
When asking my friends and fellow gamers which games they thought were best, Kixeye games came highly recommended. As a “Dungeons and Dragons” basement nerd and gaming junkie, I decided to sample the goods and began with a game called “Battle Pirates.” It was the game’s concept and story that pulled me in.
Like all command-and-conquer games, the player starts out having to build a compound and develop ways of harvesting needed resources for continued development. After a natural disaster renders most of the world underwater with the exception of small plots of land, you must develop a base of operations and arrange for its defense and advancement. This is done by using resources to build not only your compound, but also fleets of armored ships and boats that will be used for protection and to plunder resources from the evil and omnipotent Draconian Empire. Your ability to strategize is tested as you defend your base from both the empire and other individual players. The graphics for this game were better than I expected from a game made with Flash. The player gets the customary bird’s eye view of the
world, and the artwork is imaginative and semi-cartoonish. The background music sets the mood for the game, but it can also become distracting in later stages. The controls are easy to master and become familiar within the first few minutes of play. There is a tutorial for those in need. The guide is in the upper left hand part of the screen and it provides a list of goals, which will help a player to level up faster and gain rewards in the form of resources and credits.
As with most tower-defense games there is a waiting period, so the players base is protected from damage by other players, which becomes void if you attacked first. The development of buildings defenses, and boats is easy and in the first three levels of development quickly sped up with an instant finish option.
The variety of design and weaponry available to outfit your assets is cool ,but after level four, everything begins to take more time. Laboratories have to be built and research must be done, which requires more resources to upgrade. This can be done with the help of Facebook credits, which are paid upgrades available to users with Visa or Mastercard.
Overall, “Battle Pirates,” is impressive and enjoyable to play. My only complaint is the limitation on wall construction - the player is only allowed a certain number of walls that can be built until their outposts are above level four, so you must be conscious of that fact when designing the land structures of your base. Regardless, I’m looking forward to playing other Kixeye games, which include the highly recommended “War Commander.” More information and downloads can be found at the company’s website Kixeye.com.
Dan Deacon creates his ‘America’
In an age where garage bands reign supreme and homemade mash-ups are found on sharing sites, it’s hard to sift through the vain to get to the devoted. Everybody with an iMac has the opportunity to be the next Brian Eno or Squarepusher, and unfortunately we’re given surface attempts at sound collage that do little more than irritate.
But Dan Deacon, one of the era’s key indietronica musicians, has striven to avoid being included in that sea of nobodies. His latest release, “America,” not only affirms this idea but also serves as a wacky socio-political manifesto that has yet to be matched by previous releases.
My familiarity with Dan Deacon came with “Bromst,” his 2009 release that garnered praise from The AV Club as well as Pitchfork’s token hipsters. While it served as a less abstract alternative to his early EPs, it was, for better or worse, a transition record with live instrumentation thrown into a batch of user-created sounds. But “America” proves more solid with Deacon finding his niche in more accessible genres, favoring Animal Collective over abstraction. It doesn’t take a valiant effort on behalf of the listener to get into the album and as a result, it makes the overall experience memorably enjoyable.
The first half of “America” is vastly different from the second - that is, it is easily less confining in a musical sense. Deacon’s previous style has always been on the verge of mimicking the synthetic strangeness of the last decade’s glitch-pop, but with “America,” he has evolved to another state that’s far more accepting of formulas
and standards while also maintaining his propensity for hysteria. From small to large elements, there is subtle structure to the insanity. Even Deacon’s vocals, which have come off as artificial and derivative in the past, have been refined to match this newfound grasp of environment in most tracks found on side one.
By contrast, side two is a denselylayered, full-scale production that must be heard in its entirety without pause. While this may feel overbearing for some, it seems to be balanced out by the pop-driven songs found on the previous half. Fans have time to settle into the artist’s new endeavor before they’re confronted with an onslaught of sounds that perfectly encapsulates present-day America and provide a soundtrack for the urban anti-hero. But all four acts in his glitch opera avoid the fashionably jaded take on the United States popularized by writers of times past; despite gloomy titles, notably “USA I: Is A Monster,” they seem to be celebratory of American life while remaining rooted in realism. Even “USA IV: Manifest,” which seems to poke at our country’s solidarity, carries an odd feel of optimism - a refreshing alternative to the complaint-driven culture we’ve so endlessly cultivated in the last few decades.
“America” serves a colorful testament to our country’s current state of affairs. With moments of bleakness come glimpses of hope and in the end, the United States is quite romantic in its idealism. Ultimately, perhaps Dan Deacon is as well.
“America” is now available through Domino Records on vinyl as well as in digital formats.
Liz Fox Entertainment Editor
The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre production of ‘Bunnicula’, the story of a vampire rabbit and his companions, will be on stage from Oct. 26 until Nov. 11. Photo courtesy of ARKarts. com
Independent electronic artist Dan Deacon uses a variety of techniques to create his unique sound, some of which involve devices that have been modi ed by Deacon himself. Photo courtesy of CarParkRecords.com
Limping and searching for answers
Injury-riddled Trojans still seek rst win of the season
Greg Garcia Sports Editor
The UALR soccer team has stumbled with a 0-4 start to the season, with each game being a lopsided affair. Yet, that might be the least of the Trojan’s worries with conference play a mere two weeks away.
Injuries have overwhelmed the Trojans so far this season and appear to be coming in wave after wave.
On the offensive side of the ball, junior forwards Holly Holland and Adrianna Queen have both sustained injuries, forcing them to miss significant playing time. Last season, Queen led the Trojans with 36 shots, while Holland appeared in all 20 games and recorded two goals and one assist.
Defensively, senior Kamiya Merrick and sophomore Amanda Wilkinson are dealing with more severe injuries. Both players have suffered serious knee injuries in the past and this season has been no different.
Wilkinson saw her freshman campaign come to a halt after her injury ended her year eight games into the season.
This season, Wilkinson injured the same knee four minutes into the first home game at Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.
Unfortunately, ligament injuries to the MCL and ACL are frequent in soccer. With constant starting and stopping and changing of direction, soccer players are more susceptible to these severe injuries.
The amount of injuries can be seen as a reason why the Trojans have struggled on the field this year, but sophomore defender Betsy Blackwood feels confident that the players on the field are capable of getting the
job done.
“I definitely think that the large number of injuries this preseason has caused the slow start,” Blackwood said. “But I also feel that the small numbers of healthy players we do have is a great group, and a very hard working group.”
The Trojans have allowed 20 goals over a four game span and have been limited to only two goals offensively.
“The beginning of the season has definitely been very frustrating,” Blackwood said. “The first few games
have exposed our weakness and have given us a good outline on what we need to work on going into conference play.”
With injuries occurring to so many returning players, incoming freshman and transfers have been forced to step in and play significant minutes on the field.
Freshman midfielder Ashley Asuncion has logged in the second most minutes of any player on the team with 346. Blackwood is next with 341.
Blackwood notes that the lack of
Trojans fail to find back net, fall to Ole Miss
Ole Miss defeated UALR, 8-0, to give them their fourth-straight lost on Friday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
The Lady Trojans were held scoreless by trailing the Lady Rebels, 5-0.
Goalkeeper Shantel Wittke, who made her second career start as a freshman, finished with nine saves and allowing six goals. Junior goalkeeper Natalie Marsh had one save and allowed two goals in the game. Wittke is now 0-2-0 in the year after the loss.
Sophomore midfielder Ariel Galetti, Freshman midfielder Ashley Asuncion, Sophomore midfielder Alyson Rohane, and Sophomore forward Lexus VanPelt each contributed one shot for UALR.
depth on the bench has definitely had an impact on the young season.
With three games in a span of four days, this week should provide the Trojans with another challenge. Heavier minutes mean heavier legs, and for a team struggling to keep players on the field, this stretch will be a tough test for the Trojans.
The Trojans travel to Conway Wednesday Sept. 5 for a matchup against in-state rival University of Central Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
UALR sophomore volleyball player Edina Begic took home the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week Award for her play during the opening week of the season. Begic reached double digits in kills and digs in every game at the Memphis Invitational. She is currently leading the Trojans in kills and kills per set. Begic was also recently named to the 2012 Sun Belt preseason all-conference team. Last year’s Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Begic was recognized by coaches from around the conference, joining only one other underclassman to receive the honor.
Important Application Information for students who will be applying to enter medical, dental, physician assistant, optometry or
Students
Sophomore Betsy Blackwood ghts for possession against a Western Illinios player at the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex on Aug. 26.
Photo courtesy of Matt Johnson
By the numbers
The city of Melville
Located in the east-central portion of Saskatchewan.
Population of approximately 4,500, according to a 2011 census.
(ºF)
Trojans open season with two road wins
The UALR volleyball team opened their 2012 campaign with two wins over Austin Peay and Memphis at the Memphis Invitational last weekend.
The Trojans dropped their season opener to Eastern Michigan, but ended the weekend with a hard-fought, five-set victory over Austin Peay and a resounding straight set victory over host, Memphis.
Trojans fall short at Invitational
CJ Waters Assistant Sports Editor
Women’s volleyball fell short in three matches in two days in the University Plaza Invitational at Memphis, Tenn.
The Trojans played back-toback volleyball matches on Friday against Oral Roberts and Austin Peay. They played their last match on Saturday against Missouri State.
UALR played five sets against Oral Roberts and lost, 3-2 on Friday. The Trojans won the second and fourth sets at scores of 25-20 but lost 25-19, 25-22, and 15-6 in the other three sets.
Sophomore outside hitter Edina Begic led UALR in double-figures with a game-high 21 kills and 14 digs. Senior outside hitter Eva Xie had 13 kills, while Sophomore outside hitter Adisa Hodzic had 11 kills and five blocks. Senior defensive specialist Emily Pepperman finished the game with a teamhigh 16 digs.
After falling short to Oral Rob-
America’s pastime in Canada
Three Trojan baseball players sacri ce their summer to do what they love in a foreign country
Greg Garcia Sports Editor
In a cold basement 1,532 miles from the UALR campus laid three twin-sized beds. Under close quarters and four hours from the U.S. border, this basement would be the home of three Trojan baseball players for two months.
And John Clark, Bryson Thionnet, and Chris Burk, wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The Western Major Baseball League is a Canadian-based summer league that gives college baseball players the opportunity to play a summer baseball season. Leagues like this are found all over the United States, but this one just so happened to be north of the border.
Melville, Canada was the host town for three Trojan teammates who would join the Melville Millionaires for a rigorous and taxing 46-game regular season.
For Clark, a senior first baseman, this summer was his second time to play in Melville. After a successful first summer, Clark had no second thoughts about returning to the Millionaires for another season.
“It was fun and good competition,” Clark said. “You don’t have to worry about all the stuff that goes along with college baseball, just play ball and have fun.”
This past summer, Clark asked Thionnet and Burk to accompany him to Melville.
“My first thought was, ‘I don’t know if I want to go all the way to Canada,’ but I knew that I had to go up there to better myself and taking a summer off wasn’t an option for me,” Thionnet said.
Convincing teammates to play in Canada is one thing, but convincing them to live with someone they’ve never met before is a different story.
When college baseball players play so far from home in these leagues, volunteer host families offer to provide housing for the players.
Holly and Jason Schoffer, natives of Melville Canada, opened their home to the three Trojan teammates and immediately expressed their hospitality.
“As soon as we signed up for the league, they contacted us and wanted to know what they could do for us,” Burk said. “Holly and Jason did everything for us, and very seldom asked for anything in return.”
Thionnet said the generous accom-
modation was apparent everywhere.
“The hospitality of the town was unbelievable,” Thionnet said. “The people there were just so nice.”
Despite a little uneasiness at first, the boys felt more than taken care of.
“When you go into somebody’s house, you have no clue about them,” Thionnet said. “But the camaraderie that they brought to us just made us feel like we were part of their family.”
An example of that camaraderie was exemplified following a late game.
The guys had just returned from the field, exhausted and worn out. In the kitchen at 11:30 p.m., “Momma Holly,” as the boys called her, was in the kitchen cooking them dinner. There they sat, strangers no more than a month ago, eating dinner and talking baseball.
“You want that feeling of comfort when you come home,” Thionnet said. “It was a good feeling to have.”
On the field, the Trojan players were put through a strenuous season that tested both their physical and mental toughness. Long bus rides would often have the boys returning to Melville as the sun was coming up. They would then return home to sleep for a few hours, only to turn right around for another game the following night.
“It gives you a little taste of what professional baseball is like,” Clark said. “Summer league baseball is an everyday thing; you might get a day off a week.”
Practice makes perfect
erts in the first match of the day, the Trojans faced Austin Peay in five sets and lost, 3-2.
UALR won the first set (30-28) and the fourth set (25-21) but fell short to the Lady Governors in the last set, 15-13.
Begic led UALR in double-figures again by finishing with a career-high 26 kills and 26 digs. Xie had 21 kills and six blocks while teammate Hodzic contributed 17 kills three blocks. Pepperman finished with a career-high 30 digs while Allison Wyatt had 17 digs.
In the Missouri State matchup, Edina Begic led UALR for the third time in the invitational with a
game-high 25 kills and 13 kills, but it wasn’t enough as the Trojans were defeated 3-1.
UALR beat Missouri State in the first set, 30-28. The Lady Bears bounced back to beat the Trojans 25-18, 25-21, and 25-19.
Along with the performance of Begic, senior outside hitter Xie finished with ten kills. Pepperman lead UALR with 17 digs while Wyatt and sophomore setter Marleen de Zoete each had eleven digs.
The Trojans fall to 2-4 on the season and will travel to Carbondale, Ill. for the Saluki Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8.
With so many games in such a small amount of time, players have a tendency to get lackadaisical about the game. But, Clark said this was not the case for them.
“A lot of people get burnt out on baseball, but summer baseball I found out, rejuvenates you,” he said. “You remember why you’re there. You’re just there to have fun and play the game you love.”
Burk saw the summer as a chance to get as many repetitions as he possibly could.
“I can go hit off the tee all day, but seeing live pitching everyday is completely different,” he said. “I wanted to go up there to get as many live at bats as I could.”
As the summer progressed, the guys developed a strong bond that they hope to bring back and extend to their new teammates at UALR.
All three of them will look to their summer as experience in becoming leaders.
“On our team up there we were three of the older guys, so we took the lead role,” Thionnet said. “I think that will translate to this upcoming season here at UALR.”
With the baseball off-season upon them, the boys are more than aware of the benefits of their summer in Canada.
“Baseball is a game of timing. You need to play as much as you can,” Clark said. “You don’t want to sit at home and get rusty. There is always something to work on.”
Sept. 9
vs. UAPB 2 p.m.
Men’s Golf
Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 10 - 11
Sam Hall Invitational @ Hattiesburg, Miss.
Cross Country/Track & Field
Friday - Saturday, Sept. 7 - 8
UALR Invitational @ Rebsamen Golf
The UALR men’s cross country team was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference this year. The Trojans received one first place vote, while preseason favorite Western Kentucky finished with ten.
As for the women’s cross country team, they received two first place votes and were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference. Once again, Western Kentucky is picked to win the conference.
Calvin Schildknecht has been named the new assistant coach for the UALR swim team. Schildknecht previously worked with the Trojans as a volunteer the past couple of seasons.
John Clark, Chris Burk, and Bryson Thionnet ( left to right) helped lead the Melville Millionaires to a 24-22 record this past summer and a spot in the WMBL playo s.
Chris Burk awaits an upcoming pitch in a regular season game. Burk ended the summer with a .315 batting
Marleen de Zoete, sophomore international business major, practices at Fisher Court before the season. The Trojans will not have a home game until Sept. 28 when they take on University of Louisiana at Monroe. Photo by Chelsey McNiel
